I really appreciate you stopping by and supporting or challenging my commments, but I want to remind everyone of a couple of rules:

1) Profanity will send a post to the trash can
2) Offensive comments are in the eye of the beholder. Since this blog is mine, the eyes are mine and I will punt a comment if I'm offended. My rule (stated in my first post) is that I need to know my grandmother could read and be proud of the space. Still, even if I'm offended, I probably won't set fire to anyone's house.

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...Muslim riots in (insert name of any Middle-Eastern nation).

Tell me again who hijacked a peaceful religion?

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...a cartoon in Al-Jazeera with Jesus flying a bomber?

Me too.

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While I'm thrilled to have a big fat refund, it bothers me that I can't do anything about it. I'd love to have less taken out of my paycheck every week, but federal law dictates that it is what it is. I could claim 175 1/2 dependents and they would still take out the same amount.

The reason I get so much back is that we give to charity. Not a huge amount, but we give about 10% of our take-home pay. Which makes me think it will be a good spring in the south where charitable giving is by far the highest (as a % of income) and where the tax refunds should be rolling in starting at the end of February.

I'm always pretty happy to get the check. Even though its my money paid back with no interest.

Anyway.

The 4.7% unemployment rate and plummeting new filings for unemployment insurance is terrific news for the economy. Apparently January was a great month as gift cards were cashed in and people hadn't spent everything they had at Christmas. One major retailer said gift cards drove a 20% increase in their quarterly earnings and the major car manufacturers had a very good January.

Adding to the good news has been the very moderate weather. Gas and electric bills will not be nearly what was feared and won't have the pummeling effect on the economy and people's pocketbooks that was forecast.

President Bush, keep the good economic news coming. We've got a lot to pay for.

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On Wednesday we got the news that a friend and co-workers 16 year old son had died in a car crash. We saw the family last night at the funeral home. He hugged me for a full minute while he said to grab my children every night and tell them that I love them and not to miss a chance to do that. My heart is broken for him and his wife and younger son. Just a nightmare.

There is a time to mourn. And nothing else seems appropriate right now.

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