April 2008
April 2, 2008: A Letter To The IRS
Dear IRS:
I have my W2 and tax information from my mortgage company and all else.
I've been trying to file my Income Tax Return for a few weeks now, but it's not been easy.
See, it's been icy, snowy and cold. I'm sure you'll understand when I tell you how uncomfortable and dangerous that is for me walking to the bus stop and waiting for the bus to go downtown to have my taxes done. Until a few years ago my brother-in-law filed my taxes for me; but because you, the IRS, offered me exemptions in the past couple of years because of something that was personally humiliating to me and my brother-in-law didn't know what to do, I've been going to a professional tax service.
Anyway, I've not been able due to weather and circumstance to get to the downtown office of the tax service to file my tax return.
It's not for lack of trying; I want to do what I need to do as a citizen of the United States. I want to pay my fair share.
So, I'm writing to you to explain that I will not be able to file my tax return this year. It's just become too inconvenient. Would the IRS want me to slip on the ice and fall and break a leg, or worse a hip, or broken neck, or sustain severe brain damage from falling, on my way to file my tax return?
Of course you wouldn’t because you, the Internal Revenue Service, care deeply for us. As your name implies, you are a SERVICE and your first priority is our satisfaction as well as our personal and financial well being. I along with the rest of tax-paying citizens, truly appreciate your compassion, interest and "feeling our pain"; as well as your understanding and patience.
So, anyway, I've tried and it just doesn't seem like it will work out. I have made all of my best efforts. I know the deadline for filing tax returns, but as I have said, I've tried. I'm afraid I'm not able to meet your deadline.
I'm sure you'll understand and let it go this one time. After all, I've never missed a single year since I was sixteen years old.
As additional information: I made very little, I paid a hell of a lot in taxes. Does that help?
Thank you for your understanding of my circumstance and situation.
Sincerely yours,
An American Taxpayer
P.S. If you should choose to respond to my letter, please address it "in care of" Federal Penitentiary, Tax Evasion Cell Block.
There is an expression, "Some people aren’t happy unless they are unhappy."
How many of us does that describe? How many of us look for things about which to gripe? How many of us look for something about which to complain? How many of us view any situation only seeking that ONE part that will fuel our fire of discontent without looking at the whole picture?
I suppose that is "human nature", to some degree.
But why is that? Are we really so bitter, angry, suspicious that we cannot step back and look at the "whole" instead of focusing on just what we think will justify our negativity?
That’s what it is: negativity. Too many of us have "bad attitudes" and we thrive on them; the more miserable we can make ourselves with our discontent, the happier we seem to be.
All it takes is a word or an action to set us off on our magnum opus of indignant and embittered feelings and attitudes. Not that that word or action IS a personal attack, we take it as such. A simple question asked is NOT necessarily an attack from the questioner; an answer is not necessarily an attack against the questioner by the answerer.
Oh, but aren’t we all ready for the fight? We seem to be immediately defensive; ready to insult one another; eager to prove everyone else wrong; ready to use loud voices and offensive and defensive language in an effort to demonstrate just how "right we are."
But then there are very many of us who are able to admit we don’t understand something; or after having something explained, admit we didn’t "see the whole picture" and didn’t have all the information before we spoke out. Many of us are able to listen and LEARN. Many of us are able to admit when we are wrong and apologize, if necessary, if we "popped off" without knowing all the facts; many of us are able to admit to mistakes and errors and do what is required to correct them.
What separates these two different "personalities?" Honor, integrity, honesty, responsibility, self-esteem; what separates us is our personal need to be "right" even though we all know NONE of us are EVER "right" all of the time.
If we would allow ourselves, we could learn from one another. NO ONE has all the answers. However the negative, angry, resentful attitude does nothing; a smile, listening ear, a mind open to hearing and understanding can do EVERYTHING.
Sure, we can choose to be bitter and angry and resentful about everything; but wouldn’t we be happier and more content without those negative feelings toward others and those emotions within ourselves?
Are we really happier when we’re unhappy?
Our law enforcement all too often does not get the credit they deserve from those whom they protect and serve; US. I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank our law enforcement officers and show my appreciation for all that these men and women do EVERYDAY.
A friend of mine sent the following to me in an email. I’d never read it before and I was very moved by it. It is my hopes that everyone who reads it will really think about all that they do for us: their dedication, the risks they face each day on the job. Many may have read it before, but I think it is worth repeating. They are NOT the enemy, they are on OUR side; it is WE who should give them our gratitude and support.
COPS ON THE TAKE...
First they take ... the oath.
Then:
They take ... it in stride when people curse at them and call them foul names.
They take... a second job sometimes to make ends meet and support their family.
They take ... time to stop and talk to children.
They take... your verbal abuse while giving a ticket, which was really deserved.
They take ... on creeps you would be afraid to even look at.
They take ... time away from their family to keep you safe.
They take… your injured child to the hospital.
They take ... the graveyard shift without complaint because it's their turn.
They take ... their life into their own hands daily.
They take... time to explain why both your headlights have to work.
They take... the job no one else wants -- telling you a loved one has died.
They take ... in sights that would make you cry. Sometimes he cries too, but they take it anyway because someone has to.
They take ... memories to bed each night that you couldn't bear for even one day.
They take ... time to explain to their family why they can't make the ball game their child is in and why they have to work on the holiday when other parents are off.
Sometimes... They take a bullet.
And yes, occasionally.... They take a free cup of coffee.
If they are lucky ... They take retirement.
Then one day they pay for all that has been taken ...and hopefully, God will take them.
Have you thanked a cop lately for all they do? Try it. When you see a cop in the super market, standing in line in a cafeteria, shopping, or anywhere else. Try it. It will make the cop's day. It will certainly be a blessing to you also!!
Written by Texas police officer as a tribute to his brother, Police Officer Rodney Kendrick, who died in the line of duty... July 2001
SMALL IS HOT
April 30, 2008
You know, men often define themselves by how big their dicks are. We men are so concentrated on our dicks that we believe "the bigger the dick, the bigger the man." THAT is an erroneous assumption that we males struggle with.
The size of our penis does NOT in any way define who we are as men; cock size, length, girth has no bearing at all on masculinity, honor, responsibility or being a man.
We see gay porn populated with big-dicked guys and we measure ourselves to that. THAT is as much an unrealistic goal as wanting to be six feet tall, when we are only five feet and seven inches tall. We are what we are.
MOST of us will never look like the guys in gay porn. They may be nice to look at, but remember how many others were turned away because they were "average" or "normal," "regular men," rejected in order to showcase those who are "more well endowed" than the majority of us.
Personally, like many of us, I'm a grow-er, not a show-er.
I may not have a big dick, but that doesn't mean that I am a small man; my thought and respect for myself, and others, is NOT related to the size of my penis. I'm not less of a man because I don't have an eleven-inch penis.
We call ourselves "small" because "the big dick" is supposedly defining of the man; gay porn portrays only guys with big cocks.
We ARE NOT SMALL. WE are average, regular men. WE are the majority; those horse-hung guys are just the ones who receive attention because, as men, we think, "Bigger is better." Bigger IS NOT better; BETTER is WHO the man is, not the size of his cock.
REAL men are more beautiful than what we are told by society and media "is the ideal of manhood and masculinity."
I'd rather be a real man with an average-sized penis, that grows to double it's flaccid size with erection, and be an honest and honorable man than be a man who defines himself by his dick.
bravenet.com