Catherine

(Disclaimer: Sent to me from someone, at some point -- for all I recall, someone here) This story may or may not be true from experiences I may or may not have had with the IRS if I ever did even work for them. During my short employment tour with the IRS in the mail room, I've found several harmless ways to mess with them and receive no recourse. Always put staples in the right hand corner. Go ahead and put a row down the whole right side. The extractors who remove the mail from the envelopes have to take out any staples in the right side. Never arrange paperwork in the right order, or even facing the right way. Put a few upside down and backwards. That way they have to remove all your staples rearrange your paperwork and re-staple it (on the left side). Line the bottom of your envelope with Elmer's glue and let it dry before you put in you forms, so that the automated opener doesn't open it and the extractor has to open it by hand. If you’re very unfortunate and have to pay taxes use a two or three party check. On top of paying with a three party check pay one of the dollars you owe in cash. When an extractor receives cash, no matter how small an amount, he has to take it to a special desk and fill out of few nasty forms. Write a little letter of appreciation. Any letter received has to be read and stamped regardless of what it is or what it’s on. Write your letter on something misshapen and unconventional. Like on the back of a Kroger sack. When you mail it, mail it in a big envelope (even if its just a single EZ form). Big envelopes have to be torn and sorted differently than regular business size ones. An added bonus to the big envelope is that they take priority over other mail, so the workers can hurry up and deal with your mess =) If you send 2 checks they'll have to staple your unsightly envelope to your half destroyed form. Always put extra paper clips on your forms. Any foreign fasteners or the like have to be removed and put away. Sign your name in ink on every page. Any signature has to be verified and then date stamped. These are just a few of the fun and exciting things you can do with the man. These methods are only recommended when you owe money.

Sounds like a weekly Sabbath is actually vitally important. I also now feel much better about the walking, light reading, and fiddle playing I use to take breaks. I remember when I was in college (note to Bulldog Tom; your son should pay attention to this) that the work load was extremely heavy and at times I could actually *feel* that my brain was "full" and could not process anything new; it needed a break. Really a feeling like having a measuring cup, open-top, full to the brim with only surface tension keeping it from spilling over, in place of my brain. No one will see me signing up for three months of meditation anytime soon, though. I did note that the article said nothing about prayer -- and while I don't recall where at the moment, I did read, some time ago, that prayer can have the same effect on the mind as meditation.

LOL!!

One thing about MIT that is really different from most schools is that people form bonds around their "living groups" (NOT "dorms"), and activities. Your son could ask about the interviewer's living group, and ask about clubs or groups that include his own interests. Some info can be found online but asking how to really delve into life at the 'Tute will certainly show that he wants to be part of it all, not just take a bunch of classes. IHTFP, after all. One meaning (out of dozens) is "I have truly found paradise." (I have tried, failed, and punted; I hate this *ummm* place; interesting hacks to fascinate people; I'll have thesis finished pronto; I have taken freshman physics; iron has three fundamental properties.... the list goes on probably for pages.)

And good luck to your son -- I am sure he will do fabulously well.

I will also add that my husband (who coaches the Pistol Team) notes over the years he sees more and more kids who are "wicket smaht" (translated: wicked (super) smart, in Boston-speak) but who have spent their young lives in front of computer screens and keyboards -- and who therefore have a VERY limited intuition about how the physical world works. This, in general, makes it much harder to learn mechanics and how calculus describes (at first, before it goes seriously esoteric) *physical* changes. Changes in slope, in acceleration, describing the way a cable "hangs" when supported at two points... Or they've never played with electronics kits and learned what happens when you stick a bigger or smaller value resistor in your circuit (or your "solar car" project, as so many schools make kids build). Someone who still understands those things will have an easier time at MIT and make a better impression at the interview. More than anything else, MIT is about the WHY that underpins and informs the "how" of things.

My buddy who does interviews (on this side of the country) cautions that every interviewer is different. Here are his comments. He says: <begin rant> I care more about how they think than what they have done. Frequently, the applicant has done some huge project in robotics or math or some such. Then when I probe, I find that they have no idea WHY things work the way they do. The ones that understand the underlying principles really stand out. Also, I care more about attitude than anything. I am asking myself if they are going to SURVIVE, and attitude is most of it. They ALL have great grades, great AP courses, great SATs and I couldn't give less of a shit about any of it. In fact, the interviewers are NOT supposed to have transcripts, scores or even resumes. Although I like resumes. I often see the #1 ranked student, and almost invariably find them boring. <rant ends> The interview is a small part of the process. It can definitely swing the vote, but if the foundational stuff ain't there, it doesn't matter. And I have been told that the interview has more effect in the negative direction than the positive. Not sure if I can corroborate that, tho.

The Declaration of Independence says it best: "...all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable (inseparable, inherent) Rights" and among these are life, liberty, and property (not in the first listing, but in the 2nd listing, a paragraph further down as well as in John Locke's 2nd Treatise on Government which has a much greater discussion of "property"). It goes on, "to secure these Rights, governments are instituted..." The places where poverty is at its worst is places where property rights (starting with the first piece of property you own; your own body) are not respected and where the government, instead of protecting rights, instead acts as a much nastier version of a schoolyard tough taking everyone's lunch money and enforcing his rule with a bunch of bullies at his beck and call. Changing our (or anyone's) taxation rules to further enrich those toughs will do absolutely *nothing* to reduce poverty in those countries. Start with respect for property, so the people have hope that working to better themselves will not make them targets of plunder. Work outward from there.

Excellent addendum, Michaelmars!

Amen to that!!

I have a half-dozen or so from whom I had heard *nothing* since extensions were filed -- not even email notes from reminders I sent in May. Three of them called yesterday and I told each of them to bring/send papers but that no work would be done until after the 15th. Two of these clients need independent contractor 1099-MISC's sent out... I have two left from whom I need bank info for payments, and signature forms, before filing. Otherwise done. A couple to whom I sent electronic review copies and got signatures and after today will get everything printed and mailed out to them. Our returns are usually the first done every year, as a test for the new software. This year I think they got delayed 'til early April for some late document (notice of a corrected statement to come? -sounds about right; there were lots of those this year, for scads of people). As for me, I am out of my office this afternoon with an accounting client and this evening for a twice-a-year meeting of the pistol league team captains and league officers. So if any of the remaining three call after noontime, they will get my voice mail.

My grandparents, who lived downstairs from us, were married for 46 sometimes tempestuous years (Italian tempers). After one of their not-terribly-rare scream-fests, I asked my grandmother if she had ever considered divorce. "Divorce?!?!" she exclaimed, looking aghast. "Divorce?!?!?!" "Never! Murder...."

I still have a half-dozen from whom I have *nothing* but an email from August-ish claiming they'll get me stuff within the week. Wish I had THAT kind of calendar! If they show up on Monday expecting me to pull out all stops I will be hard pressed not to laugh in their faces.

Government Shutdown Pickup Lines "I don't care what the Government says. You'll always be essential to me!" "Want to go back to my place and strip some legislation?" "Is that a debt ceiling in your pants or are you just happy to see me?" "If you're with me, under the Hastert rule, we can take this motion straight to the floor." "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but I'm on furlough, so call me maybe?" "You must be laid off from the CDC because your smile is infectious." "If I were a congressman, I'd filibuster about you all night long." "What's really non-essential are these clothes we're wearing." "Where have you been sequestered all my life?" "Hey, my place is not government-operated, so it's still open." "Are you furloughnsome tonight?"

Congratulations -- WONDERFUL news!! Erasmus, the ancient Christian monk and philosopher, used to wish expectant mothers "that the child comes out as easily as it went in."

Tom -- see PM.

Not so much -- even if the 16th was repealed today, there would be ten years of work (collections statute) on folks not current. Then there is still plenty of work in accounting and bookkeeping -- plus state taxes on sales, incomes, etc. However, our time of listening to the endless muzak loop while our calls are on "ignore" would be diminished and eventually DONE.

Signed by Woodrow Wilson 100 years ago today. Story and analysis by ZeroHedge. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-04/100th-anniversary-income-tax

Tom -- this is absolutely FABULOUS. Were I the alum interviewing him, and he came to me with an recommendation like the one you posted, I would recommend him in the strongest terms available. If you would like another take (as if you need it -- you should be busting your buttons with pride over this!) I would be happy to pass this along to a couple of classmates of mine who DO interview potential students for MIT (those who can't make it to Cambridge in person for interviews). Catherine

I really respect Jack's expertise in this area. My comments were specific to ME and to my practice. I did not see anything on the preview that specifically addressed areas where I had substantive issues last year (annoying ones, yes - substantive, no). CCH also dropped the ball a couple of different ways just getting me set up to beta-test -- and it took following Jack's specific advice to fix the final glitch. For me, for my practice, I simply cannot afford another season like last year. It was too hard on me, my family, my clients, and the rest of my life. To face that again or quit the tax field entirely -- I'd quit, and never look back. So for the 2013 tax year I will use Drake and hope that I hear nothing but rave reviews of how wonderful ATX 2013 is, so that I can come back for 2014.

That's about where I am, michaelmars. Everything I tested worked. Some was more cumbersome than it needed to be, and I wonder why they spent time and money in the effort of making fancier bells and whistles while there were so many systemic problems last year. What we were given to test did NOT address many of the areas where we all had SO many problems last year. Nor do we even have an indication that we can get through to tech support by phone, without going through customer no-service first (like last year) -- and that's before we even peek at the wait time issue. I will stick with Drake for 2013 taxes. I really prefer ATX -- but I can't trust them this year, and as a one-person shop with NO room in my practice for another software disaster like last year, I just don't see that I can afford the risk. Perhaps if I had seasonal help I could rely upon to take up some of the accounting slack and client interface work -- but my seasonal help is document handling only (scanning paperwork as it comes in and printing/collating/stapling finished returns). Another year like this past one is NOT worth enduring.

I'll be interested in seeing the "Preview results" -- to see if they mention anything resembling any of my voluminous comments, suggestions, and findings.

My daughter sent me this one -- a REAL voicemail from a Jack In The Box employee, calling in to his boss because he was held up in traffic. What happens next is priceless. For those skeptical of clicking on links, I clicked on it and all there is there is the voicemail -- and it's not auto-run; you have to click on it to start it. http://95rockfm.com/best-voicemail-giving-play-by-play-of-car-accident/

Yes!