Today I officially disqualified myself from serving in the Obama Cabinet: I paid my taxes.
We had to pay an additional large sum of dollars because Yumi receives one paycheck from her employer, and I receive two paychecks: one from BYU (part time) and one from TLS (full time translation), so each employer withholds taxes at the lower level of each of these incomes. When combined together, we are shoved into a higher tax bracket and we end up short every year. Last year, I changed my BYU withholding from 4 exemptions to 0, but to no avail, we still come up short. Looks like we'll have to not take any exemptions whatsoever for the remainder of the year.
If I knew that my tax "contributions" were being spent wisely, I wouldn't feel so badly about it, but as it stands, it is a meaningless contribution to AIG, banks, car manufactures, executive bonuses, congressional staff bonuses, pork spending, reckless spending (e.g., $90 hammers), wasted foreign-aid spending, Kobe wagyu beef for the White House, office remodeling for every Senator and Representative, and so on.
In contrast, what do I need said large sum of dollars for? I am putting a child through college, I need to add to Robin's savings account for her future needs, I need to pay ongoing medical expenses for Robin's doctor appointments and medications, I have a mortgage to pay, and the list goes on and on. So it is disheartening to see an additional large sum of our hard earned money disappearing into the gaping maw of the federal treasury.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Best Comeback
If you ever testify in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this policeman.. He was being cross-examined by a defense attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer was trying to undermine the policeman's credibility...
Q: "Officer -- did you see my client fleeing the scene?"
A: "No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away."
Q: "Officer -- who provided this description?"
A: "The officer who responded to the scene."
Q: "A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?"
A: " Yes, sir. With my life."
Q: "With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?"
A: "Yes sir, we do!"
Q: "And do you have a locker in the room?"
A: "Yes sir, I do."
Q: "And do you have a lock on your locker?"
A: "Yes sir."
Q: "Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?"
A: "You see, sir -- we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.."
The courtroom EXPLODED with laughter, and a prompt recess was called. The officer on the stand has been nominated for this year's "Best Comeback" line -- and we think he'll win.
Posted by Alan for Mom.
Q: "Officer -- did you see my client fleeing the scene?"
A: "No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away."
Q: "Officer -- who provided this description?"
A: "The officer who responded to the scene."
Q: "A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?"
A: " Yes, sir. With my life."
Q: "With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?"
A: "Yes sir, we do!"
Q: "And do you have a locker in the room?"
A: "Yes sir, I do."
Q: "And do you have a lock on your locker?"
A: "Yes sir."
Q: "Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?"
A: "You see, sir -- we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.."
The courtroom EXPLODED with laughter, and a prompt recess was called. The officer on the stand has been nominated for this year's "Best Comeback" line -- and we think he'll win.
Posted by Alan for Mom.
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Glenn Miller Mystery
Hunton Downs is the author of a book titled "The Glenn Miller Conspiracy: The Secret Story of His Life - and Death." The book contains his research into a cover-up in the death of famed big band leader Glenn Miller. Downs contends that Miller wasn't killed in a plane accident over the English Channel in 1944-- that was a story made up by the US government, because they didn't want the public to know how he really died.
Downs suggests that Miller, who spoke German, had been enlisted by Eisenhower to serve as a secret envoy, to try and convince some German officers to end the war early and offer terms of armistice, but Hitler got wind of the effort, and Miller was captured. Miller was eventually taken to a Nazi-controlled brothel in Paris, where he was interrogated, tortured, and killed. Reportedly, some US soldiers saw Miller's body dumped there. The cover-up was intended to save embarrassment about his being found in a brothel.
I haven't read the book, but since I work late at night, I often listen to the Coast-to-Coast radio program. The radio host had Hunter Downs as a guest, and this is the first time I had ever heard of the Glenn Miller mystery.
Downs suggests that Miller, who spoke German, had been enlisted by Eisenhower to serve as a secret envoy, to try and convince some German officers to end the war early and offer terms of armistice, but Hitler got wind of the effort, and Miller was captured. Miller was eventually taken to a Nazi-controlled brothel in Paris, where he was interrogated, tortured, and killed. Reportedly, some US soldiers saw Miller's body dumped there. The cover-up was intended to save embarrassment about his being found in a brothel.
I haven't read the book, but since I work late at night, I often listen to the Coast-to-Coast radio program. The radio host had Hunter Downs as a guest, and this is the first time I had ever heard of the Glenn Miller mystery.
A Tale of Two Reporters
Three pirates killed and a hostage rescued.
Whose story do you believe?
Chris Cizilla spouts the White House line.
Jeff Emanuel spouts the right-wing line.
Choose your favorite Kool-aid flavor. I suspect that the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Whose story do you believe?
Chris Cizilla spouts the White House line.
Jeff Emanuel spouts the right-wing line.
Choose your favorite Kool-aid flavor. I suspect that the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Travel plans to Kim's Retirement Ceremony
I am not trying to drum up business for Debbie (she is doing just fine) but if you need airline tickets, car rentals, or hotel you might want to give Debbie a call because quite often she can come up with some good deals. We were talking with Dad and Mom tonight after dinner and she found round trip airfare from Las Vegas to Dulles National for $212! Sometimes she can get some really good deals. Her business name is Star Travel & Cruises and her toll free number is 1-866-684-3232.
As for Debbie and I we are still looking at traveling out there but we have not made a final decision yet.
As for Debbie and I we are still looking at traveling out there but we have not made a final decision yet.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Band of Brothers (minus one)
Great photo we just need a caption and or a story to accompany it.
Be truthful or creative or maybe both!
Costa Rica was a blast!
I just thought I would throw on a couple of photos of our trip to Costa Rica. We ziplined over the jungle canopy, surfed the waves, climbed volcanos and saw some beautiful volcano lakes. It was a great vacation.
Mom's Message
Dear children,
We have been recuperating and now doing well. I have some minor health problems but that kind of thing is about normal for me. Dad is in very good health for his age. We still share our chores and like to work as a team. We love each other very much.
Next week will be kind of busy: I have an appointment with the Urologist on Monday, we have an appointment with the Dentist for cleaning on Thursday and I have some X-rays done on Friday. We still attend the temple weekly and love it. I am in the process of cleaning the house, some things are easy but I want to go through my file drawers and trash some of the things that I have been keeping for years. We are also busy with Family Search Indexing, Dad indexes and I arbitrate (not his work).
We have been invited by Debbie to have Easter dinner with the family and we will enjoy that.
Our new LTZ car is really nice and Dad often says that it is luxury. I never thought that Dad would have bought a burgundy red car.
We will be speaking at church on the 19th but I think that my talk will be short and let Dad do most of the talking as he is much better orator than me.
We plan on going to Fabienne's on the 22nd to come back on the 25th as we speak in an other Ward on the 26th. We will be attending Kim's retirement ceremony in May and have the Family Reunion in June.
We are busy every minute....except when we nap....
Have a great Easter Day!
With my love,
Mom
We have been recuperating and now doing well. I have some minor health problems but that kind of thing is about normal for me. Dad is in very good health for his age. We still share our chores and like to work as a team. We love each other very much.
Next week will be kind of busy: I have an appointment with the Urologist on Monday, we have an appointment with the Dentist for cleaning on Thursday and I have some X-rays done on Friday. We still attend the temple weekly and love it. I am in the process of cleaning the house, some things are easy but I want to go through my file drawers and trash some of the things that I have been keeping for years. We are also busy with Family Search Indexing, Dad indexes and I arbitrate (not his work).
We have been invited by Debbie to have Easter dinner with the family and we will enjoy that.
Our new LTZ car is really nice and Dad often says that it is luxury. I never thought that Dad would have bought a burgundy red car.
We will be speaking at church on the 19th but I think that my talk will be short and let Dad do most of the talking as he is much better orator than me.
We plan on going to Fabienne's on the 22nd to come back on the 25th as we speak in an other Ward on the 26th. We will be attending Kim's retirement ceremony in May and have the Family Reunion in June.
We are busy every minute....except when we nap....
Have a great Easter Day!
With my love,
Mom
I am 45...not 44!
Hey everyone, FYI I am now 45 not 44. I was born in 1964. Thanks for the well wishes though.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Deric Wins the College Basketball Tournament Pick'em!
Deric Wins the College Basketball Tournament Pick'em!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Happy Birthday Deric
Just wanted to remind everyone that today is Deric's 44th birthday. In my email to him I said the only other reason I could think of that the number 44 was significant was that Barack Hussein Obama is our 44th president.
Obama bows to King of Saudi Arabia but not to Queen of England
Obama bows to the King of Saudi Arabia (SA)...but he did not bow to the Queen of England. Is this a ploy to show the Muslim world of his willingness to be subserviant or respectful, or was he just cleaning the floor? Protocol says that he should not have to bow to his counterpart in any foreign country. Only the subjects of the SA Kingdom are expected to bow to the King. So why do you think Obama bowed to him and none of the other heads of state (either political or representational)that he met on his trip? I think he did a fine job to try and close the gap with his "words" in Turkey. He gave a very positive speech there to try and show respect to the Muslim world. I think the bow could be misintrepted in the Muslim world. Some radicals may now think that Obama agrees that there is a natural inequality and that Westerners (Infidels) should think of themselves as less than them. I don't beleive that as a general rule all Muslims beleive that...but radicals may read something very different and it might not help the war on terror effort.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tumbleweeds and Crickets
As I check into the Wortham Family and Friends Discussion (blog) I see an occasional tumbleweed blow by. Every now and then I can hear a hidden cricket chirp... Is anyone out there or has this forum dried up in the dusty wind? Hello---Hello---Hello. Well I even hear an echo. What the heck, I wonder if the nearby Saloon is open so that I can get a cold sasperilla... Oh good, it is open. I reckon I'll just sit here and crack open a few peanuts, throw the shells on the floor and wait for someone else to ride into town.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
More details on my retirement ceremony
Here are some more details on my retirement ceremony which is scheduled for Thursday, May 28th 2009. It will be held at Fort Myer, VA. This is located next to Arlington National Cemetary just minutes from downtown Washington D.C. The ceremony starts at 3:00p.m. at Summerall Field and will be followed by a dinner reception at the Spates Community Club there at Fort Myers. If the weather is bad the retirement ceremony will be held indoors at Conmy Hall (Building 241).
The ceremony includes a jaw dropping performance by the Army Band and the Old Colonial Fife and Drum Corps. The pagentry is legendary and will certainly provide you with entertainment, a sense of patriotism, and memories to last a long time. I really hope everyone can come. I will however need a count of those who plan to attend so that I can order the right amount of food for the reception. Believe me, it will be worth your time and nickel to visit D.C. Kim
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