IRS Notices To Go Out

There’s got to be a better way to do this:

Don’t be alarmed. More than 130 million households will get letters from the Internal Revenue Service beginning next week and it’s good news, not bad.

The letters are part of an extensive outreach effort to make sure people don’t miss out if they are eligible to receive a tax rebate check under the recently passed $168 billion economic stimulus plan.

The IRS letters will remind people to file a 2007 tax return so they will receive the stimulus payment.

Is it really necessary to send out 130 million pieces of paper, in 130 million envelopes, requiring the appropriate postage, for this effort?  Who, by now, doesn’t know there’s talk of a rebate?  What’s the cost of this mailing alone? 

Ummm, Forums?

Since they’re free, I decided to create some forums for you all.  And me.  Whoever.  They’ll probably go unused, but I’d appreciate it if someone would try them out and give suggestions for colors, categories, or whatever. 

And what better day to start a new thing than today, when I’m over 2500 hits just from people who can’t get into their hotmail!  Hey, even if you just need a place to vent!  Just no racist or homophobic remarks. 

Thanks. 

“And Her Answers Will DESTROY Her Marriage”

Viewers heard those words 3 times within the first half hour of Moment of Truth last night, as the producers of this gameshow abomination stretched what would normally be a half-hour contestant to an hour-long Springer-like celebration of unfaithfulness. 

While I normally tend to read while Norm watches this show (it’s usually on some other night, and we were both waiting for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles to come on), I couldn’t help but notice the booming voice at every break repeat 3 awful questions and then pronounce, “and her answers will DESTROY her marriage!”  I had to put the book down and transcribe some of this disaster for you. 

Getting Ready For The Growing Season

Between writing furiously and keeping up with the normal chores, I’ve been toying with different parts of the yard, trying to determine where would be the best place for our garden this year. 

Last week I picked up some seed packets to start this year’s garden with.  Since we had such good luck with our tomatoes last year we thought we’d see how well we could do with an expanded garden this year.  (Last year our tomato plants grew–quite literally–as tall as the roof of the house.) 

This time around, in addition to the tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and peppers, we’ve decided to section off a part of the yard to grow additional veggies, such as carrots, radishes, cucumbers, watermelon (I know it’s a fruit), zucchinis, and a few other items.  In fact, Norm already has started some seedlings for the pepper plants that are probably going to have flowers on them by the time the ground is soft enough to dig in! 

We have very fertile soil where we live, and given the news I just read about ever-rising food prices, I’ll be glad to save the money, as well as know where the food is coming from.  Depending on how well the crop does, I may have pictures up this year of the garden and such.  We’re thinking that if the other stuff grows like the tomatoes did last year that we’ll have to start a roadside farmstand!  We also have chickens, as you may or may not know, and are getting a couple of dozen eggs a week.  Who knows, maybe we’ll be able to sell eggs as well. 

If you happen to know of something that grows well in the northeast that people may not think to try, drop me a line and maybe we can plant some suggestions!  (Legal plants, people, LEGAL plants.)

Yer Not Gettin’ My Bud Light, Johnny . . .

I always thought that Bud commercial where the guys are fishing was pretty funny.  Oh, how life imitates art–badly:

A 60-year-old Redding man has pleaded not guilty to a charge that he attacked a friend with a machete in a dispute over a case of beer.

James Henry Smidt is accused of attacking Randall Jackson after the two men argued over a case of Bud Ice on Tuesday night. Police say the 57-year-old Jackson suffered gashes on his neck, arm, head and face.

Have no fear, however.  It’s not this Randy Jackson.  Idol will continue apace.

(h/t The Leaky Brain)