I wanna do my taxes, but I don’t wanna pay the full amount for filing, so I have been searching for sites that offer discounts. It seems there are not many places that have the current discounts listed, so I figured I’d start one. Check back as I will update this as I find new site… well, until I file, anyway… then you are on your own. Oh, these are places that you do not have to be a member, you only have to assess TurboTax from their site. You my also want to check financial institutions, insurance companies, etc you do business with as they may offer additional customer benefits. Enjoy!

Fidelity - 25%

Navy Federal - 20%

USAA - 25%

Wachovia - 30%

Also, if you are a State Farm customer, you can file your taxes for free. Kinda wish I had them now… ah well. Geico offers 35% for H&R Block.

I was in the shower this morning and had an epiphany of sorts (we all know this is where all great ideas are conceived). I was watching CBS Sunday Morning, and they had an interview with Alecia Keys. (Did you know thats not her birth name? She changed it… I never knew. anyway…) She mentioned that she refused to say the “n” word in her role in Smokin’ Aces. That was what inspired my idea.

It hit me that if art imitates life, until we (especially Black people) stop using it in everyday life, it will continue to be used in music, movies, etc. I don’t believe the idea that if we remove the power from the word, it will be ok. Its a negative word, and nothing will ever change that. I also don’t believe that we can change the meaning of it, nor do I believe that it can be used as a term of endearment. Bad is bad is bad.

Some people believe that only Black people can use the word, and that’s just ridiculous. I understand the idea that people believe that they can fight with their family, but when others do, its a big problem. But that assumes that its ok and acceptable for them to fight with their family. Say you have a brother and sister who are fighting. We are taught that it is never OK for a male to hit a female, relation being no exception. Sure, you get more leeway with family, but wrong is wrong, as is the use of this word.

We will continue to have situations like the Imus and Dog until we stop being hypocritical and decide to stop saying it. No one has the right to claim sole use of a word based on race or any other reason. To my knowledge, they are not handing out patents on words.

Art imitates life, so make sure the one you live is worth being  imitated.

Two times we have tried to register, and twice we have been unsuccessful. Last night, we went to Macy’s and met with the bridal consultant. We set up an account and were on our way to scanning china, luggage and more kitchen gadgets that you could imagine. Well, that was until we hear someone come over the store PA system calling for an evacuation.

“Evacuation? Did we hear that correctly? Nah, couldn’t have been.” Then we heard one of the sales people talking about closing up her register. Then we saw two firemen walking up the escalator.

“The store cant be on fire,” we thought. It didn’t matter. We weren’t gonna wait around to find out. As we were heading out of the store, we were thinking about how crazy the situation. The we got outside. SMOKE! “Wow, Macy’s really is on fire.” Well, obviously that was the end of that for the day.

Fortunately, it was only a dumpster or something on fire and there was no damage (that I know of) to the store. So we decided to return the following day. While our reason for not being able to add items to our registry is not nearly as interesting, we were still unsuccessful. Guess the bridal consultant decided to take the day off, and there is no one else who knows how to sign out the scanners. Well, we will not be defeated… one day the registry will be ours!

Heard this on the radio this morning, and had to come home to research this. I thought they were joking. They were not. Evidently some fathers got together to create a bulletproof bookbag. They said they were inspired by the 1999 Columbine shootings.

As crazy as it sounds, if it saves a child’s life, it will have proven its utility. Hopefully we will never have to see that day. On the flip side, in the event of a tragedy, whats the likelihood the bookbag will be effective. I mean, it can only protect areas of the body it is covering. That means the majority of the time, it will only protect children if someone is shooting at their back. Heaven forbid the child is facing the shooter. The website states that it can also be used as a shield. Unfortunately, if a child is in such a terrifying situation as a school shooting, I question the number of kids that will reach for their bookbag. My guess is they will run in fear. Even the best protection is only effective is the person uses it, and assuming the majority of the time a child will not have the bookbag with them, I am skeptical.

I say teach your children how they should react in dangerous situations, and most importantly, how to avoid them. Save your $175 and do something nice with you family. Or you can send it to me… after all, I do have a wedding coming up.

Yes, I have been absent from blogging for like two months and this is the best I can come up with. Funny thing is, I was in the gym, and her cleavage was all over CNN… well, not literally of course. It’s sad that this is what makes news these days. Not that I am saying that she will win (I have not decided on who I plan to back yet), but if she does, I am sure it will not be on the merits of her chest.

I guess its all about entertaining people instead of informing people on the news stations these days. If you think about, its true… one of Larry King’s most popular interviews in recent history was with Paris Hilton. We get blow by blows of Lindsay Lohan’s life, and everyone’s opinion of Michael Vick. What about what really matters?I have no clue what Hillary was talking about when she was reportedly revealing all because everyone is just reporting on how low cut her blouse was. In all honesty, it wasn’t that low. Sure, she wasn’t wearing a shirt buttoned to the top and a neck tie like the men, but that’s because she is not a man! Its not like she looked like she was about to hit the club. Trust me, images of her are not about to replace the millions of gigs of porn out there on the world wide web… nor will it replace that smut magazine under your 13 year old neighbor’s mattress.

I guess until they decide to report on something news worthy, I will just continue to watch high speed chases involving old men trying to save their cats and Filipino inmates perform choreographed dance routines set to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Someone save us.

Its been a while since I’ve last written, I know. So much has happened, and yet I feel I have nothing to write about. I have been to Vegas (for the first time), California, and continued planning for our upcoming wedding.

Vegas… well, nothing really happened. It was rather uneventful. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Now I am looking forward to visiting with the fellas so we too can have an uneventful trip. Honestly, we had a good time… gambling was the least of what we did. There is so much to see and do there. From visiting the different casinos and hotels with the different themes, to window shopping at the mall and high-end stores in the Ceasars, to watching the fountains at the Bellagio and visiting the lions at the MGM Grand, it was a great time. While after a few days you are ready to go home, there is no way you can do it all during one trip. For those who have not been, I recommend visiting. There is something for everyone.

Like I said, i feel liek I have very little to say, so this post will be short. Not to worry, I am sure there will be more of my random rantings up here in no time.