Shit, shit, shit, and shit. The IRS audited me.
  No joke. I received a large packet from the IRS in the mail yesterday with all sorts of forms, instructions, and explanations. Ironically, I was being audited for tax year 2003 rather than last year, which is when I started my business. I figured if any year was wrong it would be last year. But no, they dug up 2003.
  And how did I do? Well, everything was correct except for one thing. Apparently, I overlooked the fact that I needed to pay an extra 10% tax on the lump sum payment from my IRA. I thought that the 20% withholding was all they took out. Oops. That one kinda hurt.
  And oddly enough, they don't call it an "audit" anymore. They call it an "examination". Hmm. I guess I got a B+ on that exam.

  Ow. I got smacked in the ass by a throw from the outfield on Sunday. I was trying to score from second base on a single and the throw nailed me right in the goddamn left check. I'm now the proud owner of a hideous 6" full-blown black and purple bruise. Fortunately or maybe unfortunately, it only hurts when I shit.
  Oh, and of course I was safe.

Glenn,
  I immediately thought of you when I came across this web site about the Innocence Project and the death penalty (http://www.law.wisc.edu/FJR/innocence). As different our views on politics go,,, there is something to be said about a state not having the death penalty. If Wisconsin had the death penalty, several of the people the the WIP helped may have been put to death before hand…

Barney,
  There are several Innocence Project affiliates working in different states. And it’s true: they may have saved lives. The Innocence Project (all affiliates) reports they have helped exonerate 154 incarcerated people (death row accounts for 30 or so of these) in the last 12 years based on DNA testing done post-conviction. HOWEVER--and this is a big however--no evidence currently exists of an innocent person being executed.

Glenn,
  I still believe that the death penalty works. To me, if it deters just one person from committing murder, then it has done it's job. However, my views on how the death penalty is applied is changing. I'm starting to think that it should only be applied in cases where there is absolutely NO shred of a doubt about what the person did. I'm talking video tape, DNA - things like that which undeniably convict someone. 

Barney,
  Oh, I definitely see your point about “without doubt” convictions. Although my stance on the death penalty will never change, if the death penalty was applied fairly (racially, economically, legally, etc) AND was for those who no doubt committed the crime AND used only for the worst of the worst, then the death penalty probably wouldn’t be an issue for me. I’d still be against it, but I know I wouldn’t be actively working against it. As for deterrence: there are an equal number of statistics saying that it is and that it isn’t a deterrence. Nothing has been proven one way or the other, really. So I never even bring up that argument. And I’m glad you’re at least thinking about your position. Most people are too stubborn to even consider re-forming their opinion.