Odds and ends, 5/20/09

It's bad enough that the presidential election runs on a four-yaer cycle nowadays. Now at least two people have declared themselves as candidates in next year's legislative race here in Cabell County, and the primary is a few days short of a whole year away.

Give us time to breath, people, please.

But if you're a candidate who doesn't have instant name recognition, you need the time to get your name out there for people to remember. Just ask that ketchup guy.

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I took this picture about a month ago. I was sitting at a red light with my window down. I looked up and saw this steeple and said to myself, this would make a nice photo. Then I realized I could not tell you the name of this church. I've driven past it since the East End bridge opened in summer 1985, and I read the name of this church most of those times, but I still draw a blank when I try to remember it.

It sort of makes me think what else I look at daily but never see.

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Like nobody saw this one coming.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Facing mounting budget deficits and seeing few areas left to cut spending, states increasingly are turning to the only option they have left: raising taxes.

Though public officials are loath to do this, particularly during a recession, many governors are increasing personal income taxes, raising corporate income taxes, hiking cigarette and gas taxes, or broadening sales taxes.

Already, 16 states have taken this unpopular step this fiscal year, and another 17 have proposed tax hikes for the coming year, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a policy group. In many cases, they are making small increases in specific taxes, rather than imposing a broad rate hike.