Removing the feeding tube from our aging hipster plaid pants

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Pretty Little Flower
When there is absolutely nothing happening on this board we talk about TV and movies we have seen. Which is why we talk so much about TV and movies.

Speaking of good television. Has anyone else been watching Deadwood? The show takes a bit of getting used to at first, but once you get passed all the fucks and cocksuckers, the dialogue is incredible. It resembles nothing else quite so closely as Shakespeare, in its very best sense.

There are fools, heros, villains and plots within plots galore. The soliloquies are ingenious. I think it is hands-down the best writing I have seen in either tv or movies in years.

[Alex_de_Large]

Where the hell have you been hiding Buck 65?!? That guy is a fucking genius. I saw him over the weekend and he's one of the more original acts I've seen years. Definitely check him out if you get a chance.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
I find this hard to believe.

No marathon?

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by taxwonk
Speaking of good television. Has anyone else been watching Deadwood? The show takes a bit of getting used to at first, but once you get passed all the fucks and cocksuckers, the dialogue is incredible. It resembles nothing else quite so closely as Shakespeare, in its very best sense.

There are fools, heros, villains and plots within plots galore. The soliloquies are ingenious. I think it is hands-down the best writing I have seen in either tv or movies in years.

It's interesting and disgusting all at the same time. Extremely well written, that's probably why it received 2 emmys, a golden globe and a peabody.

I was happy to see Calamity Jane return, I've seen that actress in other shows, but she's really good as Jane.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
No marathon?

No. After last year's 86 degree death run, I decided to pass. Also, I'm not currently qualified. Last year's Boston was my last marathon.*

*not for good. It was my most recent marathon. Although I don't know if I'll have the time to qualify again.

[NotFromHere]

So, there's a web cam pointed at the smokestack at the Vatican. I've seen videos of the past white and black smoke and can't really see the difference. Do they burn something different to make the smoke black?

Smoke cam

[robustpuppy]

I vaguely remember from tax class in law school that having one's tax bill paid is itself taxable income. Is my memory correct?

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/15/news...axes/index.htm

And in another highly-publicized case, Oprah Winfrey took heat when she gave away free Pontiac G6 cars to 276 members of her daily show audience but didn't cover their tax bills.

The report in Daily Variety, however, said the belated tax bills are becoming serious problems for winners of home renovation and other wish-fulfillment shows now in vogue.

"You can ruin someone's life by giving them everything they want," one Hollywood producer told the trade paper. "If you take a log cabin and replace it with a mansion, there are tax consequences to that."

The tax pain isn't limited to the initial renovation costs. Property taxes, insurance rates and utility bills all could rise too.

The producers of "Extreme Makeover" try to lower contestants' tax bills by leasing their property during the two-week renovation and filming. Those renovations are then usually tax-exempt.

Meanwhile, the producers of "Renovate My Family" told Daily Variety that they cover the tax bill for families on their show. They recently offered the Illinois family $215,000 to cover their tax liabilities.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
I vaguely remember from tax class in law school that having one's tax bill paid is itself taxable income. Is my memory correct?

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/15/news...axes/index.htm

Yes. This results in "gross-up payments" which are extra payments to pay the tax on the payment of the tax, and the tax on the tax of the payment on the tax, and so on. It's one of those multiplying by 1/x thingies. It involves, gasp, algebra. Those things can really add up, and alas can cut into one's overall relocation budget. Not that one isn't grateful to be getting grossed up, one just maybe wasn't figuring it in.

Anyway, it usually results in a payment to the person in a somewhat under double what the actual taxable payment was, I think, depending on what assumptions are used and whether the person is grossed up for state/local as well as federal taxes. And, if it's a golden parachute payment, WHOO BABY! does it ever get big if the exec gets grossed up for excise taxes as well.

Have I mentioned lately that corporate executives are some of the greediest, pettiest people on the planet? Jesus god christ, the stories I wish I could tell.

ETA *happy sigh* and it is a damn good day so far, aside from the appalling lack of sunshine.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Do they burn something different to make the smoke black?

MSN has the answer.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
No marathon?

If anyone cares, Alan Culpepper is still with the leaders at mile 15. The U.S. hasn't had a Top 5 finisher since 1987.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
So, there's a web cam pointed at the smokestack at the Vatican. I've seen videos of the past white and black smoke and can't really see the difference. Do they burn something different to make the smoke black?

Smoke cam

Its usually white, like the pope, but this time they have black paper ready to burn just in case.

[Replaced_Texan]

So I put up a fence this weekend. There had been a thin wire trellis between my yard and the neighbors' before, and the neighbors had extended the trellis to attach to their roof to form an arbor. Theoretically vines are supposed to offer privacy, but the vines are really sparse on the fence though fairly lush on the top of the trellis. I can see into their kitchen and TV room, and they can see all of my back yard. I have no idea who put the vines in, though I'm assuming they put in the trellis.

They're moving in a few weeks, and I told them about the fence a few weeks ago. I told them again about the fence earlier in the week when I got the date confirmed.

Fence building begins on Friday, and I talk to the contractor about the vines, saying that anything intertwined into the trellis stays, except for the bouganvillas (which would die without sun) and anything clearly on my side of the fence line.

I stop by and look around 6:00 on Friday. A note is taped to my door sometime later from irate neighbors saying that we'd cut all of the vines and that they were irreplacable since there won't be any sun to help them grow back up the trellis. It concludes with "we have to talk."

I inspect damage, and it turns out that 2 bouganvillas were cut and 2 vines. One of the vines had a rotted root system. Three major vine systems were totally untouched. I go next door at 9:00 the next morning to find no one home. I leave note with all of my contact information.

I also go and dig up a 20 foot honeysuckle from my front yard and put it where the cut vine was. I also bought a bouganvilla and left it on their front step.

Neighbors never returned on Saturday, and I was out of town on Sunday until around 8:30.

Acknowledging that I should have probably gone plant by plant with the neighbors before giving any instructions to the contractor, is there anything else I should do? I've had excellent relations with the neighbors up until this point.

(There's a longer version with helpful map of the afflicted areas and detailed descriptions of the plants in question if anyone's interested.)

The fence, btw, looks great, and I may be frolicking in my backyard naked for the next few days.

[Not Bob]

Originally posted by Pretty Little Flower
When I got that e-mail, it made me think of Jack Manfred. Or, perhaps more accurately, it made me think of the abstract internet persona that is the representation of Jack Manfred for me. Where is Jack? Does he post any more or is on the road following Neko Case?

Apropos of Jack, I just heard a catchy little ditty called "Coin Operated Boy" by the Dresden Dolls. Not exactly something that the ClearChannel stations here in my town are likely to play anytime soon. Thanks, Sirius.

Has my posting raves about Sirius satellite radio become tiresome yet?

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
So I put up a fence this weekend. There had been a thin wire trellis between my yard and the neighbors' before, and the neighbors had extended the trellis to attach to their roof to form an arbor. Theoretically vines are supposed to offer privacy, but the vines are really sparse on the fence though fairly lush on the top of the trellis. I can see into their kitchen and TV room, and they can see all of my back yard. I have no idea who put the vines in, though I'm assuming they put in the trellis.

They're moving in a few weeks, and I told them about the fence a few weeks ago. I told them again about the fence earlier in the week when I got the date confirmed.

Fence building begins on Friday, and I talk to the contractor about the vines, saying that anything intertwined into the trellis stays, except for the bouganvillas (which would die without sun) and anything clearly on my side of the fence line.

I stop by and look around 6:00 on Friday. A note is taped to my door sometime later from irate neighbors saying that we'd cut all of the vines and that they were irreplacable since there won't be any sun to help them grow back up the trellis. It concludes with "we have to talk."

I inspect damage, and it turns out that 2 bouganvillas were cut and 2 vines. One of the vines had a rotted root system. Three major vine systems were totally untouched. I go next door at 9:00 the next morning to find no one home. I leave note with all of my contact information.

I also go and dig up a 20 foot honeysuckle from my front yard and put it where the cut vine was. I also bought a bouganvilla and left it on their front step.

Neighbors never returned on Saturday, and I was out of town on Sunday until around 8:30.

Acknowledging that I should have probably gone plant by plant with the neighbors before giving any instructions to the contractor, is there anything else I should do? I've had excellent relations with the neighbors up until this point.

(There's a longer version with helpful map of the afflicted areas and detailed descriptions of the plants in question if anyone's interested.)

The fence, btw, looks great, and I may be frolicking in my backyard naked for the next few days.

Your neighbor's note was quite pissy in light of your earlier conversation, and your response was very considerate. (I fucking hate notes like that, by the way; the writer gets to vent without dealing with the recipient's reaction. Face to face is much better for neighbor issues.) It sounds like your neighbor overreacted; maybe the response was just overly territorial. Does it look bad, and they're worried about how the house will show?

Enjoy your yard. I just bought a house with a fabulous privacy hedge surrounding the back yard. Now all I need is a soft quilty hammock; the rope one is too scratchy on the skin.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Its usually white, like the pope, but this time they have black paper ready to burn just in case.

Papal Ballots are made of People?!?!?