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Taxes filed!

My taxes have electronically drifted off to the IRS. This is an incredible relief! See, the last time I filed taxes as April 15, 1999. Most people don’t know how to respond to a statement like that. Typically the jaw drops and the subject changes quickly. I also had an IRS agent come a hair short of calling me a moron.

Obviously there is a backstory but I have to consider the movie rights before revealing the whole plot. I can say it has some classic themes that the Coen brothers would really enjoy.

I just feel a little more human being a good citizen again. Now that 2005 is filed I can go back and start fixing the other years.

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Public Outcry Does Change Things – Safe to drink in TX again

A bit of news made the rounds not long ago. Texas was arresting drunks in bars (you know, fish in a barrel). They assumed these drunks would try to get behind the wheel of a car (guilty until proven innocent – doesn’t imply I want drunks on the road). After much ridicule and public protest, "Operation Last Call" has been "temporarily suspended."

[Source]

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AC Very Cold

Outside: 23.8° C Inside: 25.5° C

Outside AC unit
This is the outside unit.
Inside the outside ac unit
This is inside the outside ac unit. Note that the white stuff is ice and should be copper.

This is inside the inside unit. Note that the white is ice and should be copper.

So, today’s research challenge is to figure out why an air conditioning unit ices over.

Update: Anwer – I knew this. It’s either 1) low coolant – ie. leak or 2) the cold air return is blocked

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WWASD

My favorite television show is Lost. My 2nd favorite is Boston Legal. One of my favorite characters on Boston Legal is Alan Shore portrayed by James Spader (starred in Stargate the movie).

So I have this new anger management plan. Whenever a situation arises with the children, or a phone call (call), or anything else, particularly if I feel myself starting to boil, I pause and ask myself, "What would Alan Shore do?" I did this for several weeks with much success before confiding my plan with my wife. Now she is aware and periodically calls out, "you’re doing it now!" with a grin. I tilt my chin up slightly, give a Mona Lisaesque smile, and reply, "of course I am."

This morning I forgot to ask, "What would Alan Shore do?" It really does make a difference! So, next time the tension hits, just ask, "What would Alan Shore do?"

See also http://boston-legal.org and http://jamesspader.org/.