Rear View Wonder

Ok, we've all seen the ones with like 12, maybe 14 kids (certainly not on a compact pickup), and the one with two moms, and the collection of flipflops . . . but this one takes the prize.

Due to questionable photo quality (I didn't want to chase this woman to a parking lot . . .), I will provide an inventory:

Parents = 2

Kids = 4

Dogs, Medium Type = 6

Dogs, Small Type = 4

Cats, General = 7

Horse, White = 1

The coup de grace sticker is right above the license plate: "Does Not Play Well With Others" to which I must say, "Lady, you are selling yourself short. With the household you've depicted, you must play well with others -- many, many others!" Isn't Gilbert Arizona just the BEST?!?!

Who Needs This Sign?!?!

I am actually offended that Costco now has to instruct people buying gas in this visual manner NOT to put the nozzle in upside down. WHO DOES THAT?!!? These people should not be allowed to operate a vehicle or buy gas!!! And if they are allowed to purchase gas, they should be charged a stupidity tax. To offset higher gas prices for the rest of us. Hmmm . . . studpidity tax ... now here's an idea that could work in many many aspects of the economy. What do you think?

Look: Laney Dressed Herself!

Well, the shirt and shoes anyway. Hmmm. . .I hope she wouldn't qualify for scrutiny by the authorities in this outfit. Note reverse application of footwear. And "monster face" -- always a crowd pleaser.

Yikes! Bikes!

We've had three quick bike rides without training wheels since yesterday . . . and they went very well!


Check out the champ riding -- Day 2.
Roman also demonstrates how to fall and get back up! And yes, I know his helmet is too big.

Blog Readability -- It's ON . . .

Ok, so blogging ringleader kim1champ checked a bunch of the blogs for readability ratings and (codicil -- she didn't necessarily agree with the results) . . . but found many of those checked rated "high school readability" level by some automated on-line reading level checker which may I add indignantly included not a word of criteria, justification, or explanation. So . . . it's ON. Now I will add a list of words I like to use (just ask my friends, I'm the vocab nerd) that I consider above high school reading level.

egregious
sanctimonious
savory
untenable
inexplicable
incongruous

That's just for starters. I am officially fired up like an Obama supporter on primary day in an underpopulated red state! Next time lets run the family xmas newsletter through the readability meter . . . (still fired up) . . . okay, how's this for readability . . . without cheating, I made it to level 49 on http://www.freerice.com/. If you haven't played, check it out -- it's a vocabulary quiz where sponsors donate rice to 3rd world nations for every word players answer right. It's fun and it's a good cause.

How to Look Good in Front of the Camera!

I eagerly clicked on the above Yahoo! "news" -- and they use the term loosely -- link, hoping for some really great insider scoop BUT NO! Just the same old "flattering 3/4 view" not very cleverly renamed the "cheerleader pose" (clearly, cheerleaders have changed their pose from back in my day . . .what happened to one leg straight, other leg bent at 45 degree angle with both arms straight overhead clutching school colored pompoms?).

Here's a few great LoSpace tips they didn't include:
1. holding a heavy kid makes your arms looked toned, if no kid is immediately available, avoid smushing arms against sides; it makes them look wider.
2. big sunglasses hide crow's feet around eyes.
3. there is truly no help for short legs (unless photographer crouches down really low to the ground.
See below for demo:

See the tips for yourself: http://www.geeksugar.com/1130170

Ron Paul is WRONG!

I am the new biggest fan of the IRS . . . for some inexplicable reason the "system" kicked back the federal tax credit for my environmentally conscious 43 mpg Civic Hybrid, and I have called the IRS 800-number three times to get an explanation. It has something to do with Alternative Minimum Tax but beyond that, color me befuddled. So it's back on the phone tomorrow. Call time invested to date:
3/5: 58 minutes (spoke to 2 nice enough people)
3/12: 67 minutes (at least half on hold), then 57 minutes (56 on hold) -- accidentally hung up both times by face-beeping. Oh well.

3/13 update: 40 minutes more, some on hold, this time the issue is being referred to a reviewer, none of the customer service ops can explain it, apparently a very obscure question. Yeah, like they never get asked "Can I please have my $2000 back?!?!" Now we will apparently hear something in 30 days . . .

Here's the kicker: no one can exlain the "correction" but they surely are nice! So I have to say we need the IRS. At least these people aren't telemarketers calling us, right? Towit, here are a few new proposed taglines for this venerable government institution:
The IRS: a nice place for nice people to work!
The IRS: what does Ron Paul know anyway?
The IRS: somebody has to take our money . . .

Let me know if you come up with something better!