Iwritecode

I've thought about this many times. First thing would be to hire a lawyer and possibly a financial advisor. Next would be a bigger house. My kids could finally all have a room of their own. As for my current house, I'd have to make a decision. I could just pay it off and try to sell it as is for whatever I could get for it., I could fix it up and sell it for a bit higher price. I could fix it up and rent it out. Or I could just bulldoze the thing and build a new one and then either sell it or rent it. I'd get a bigger trailer and a newer gas-guzzling SUV to pull it. Or possibly just get a permenant site at the campgrounds we always go to. Then I could get a big RV and travel around the country when the kids aren't in school. I'd probably give some money to my parents and my in-laws. I could finally afford to catch up technology-wise and get DVR and HDTV and a better computer, etc... I want a corvette, my wife wants a camaro. After all that, I'd probably invest the rest.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Jul 12, 2008 -> 11:15 AM) Smear the Queer. We used to call that "Kill the guy with the ball". It was usually a football. When we played we had a mandatory fumble rule where whoever got tackled had to fumble the football (or at least make an attempt) as they were going down.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ May 20, 2008 -> 09:09 AM) Here's one: The largest supermarket chains give up plastic bags. The store we do 90% of our grocery shopping at doesn't even have paper bags...

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 21, 2008 -> 08:55 AM) That is really my pet peeve. I can't stand it, yet so many people do it. I always ask 2 things to people when they complain, either out loud or silently to myself. 1. Do you have a SUV or a big pickup with poor gas mileage? Yes but I rarely drive it. In fact, it sat in my driveway pretty much all winter long. We only use it when we need the extra room for something or we are pulling our trailer. QUOTE (lostfan @ May 21, 2008 -> 08:55 AM) 2. Do you live in the city? If yes, is public transportation accessible to you? If yes, do you use it at least on occasion? If the answer to all 3 questions is no, again, I have to wonder about your mentality and whether or not you think people owe you something. Yes, no, no. I drive 40 miles one-way to get to work. But my gas consumption has decreased signifigantly in the last 2 years. First, my company lets me work from home one day a week. Second, we bought a new car that gets much better gas mileage than the old minivan I was driving. So I'm somewhat doing my part. B)

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 20, 2008 -> 01:32 PM) Yes, but you will be made to wear a silly hat. Awesome.

Will I still be allowed to play if I also play in the WSI game?

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 16, 2008 -> 12:51 AM) Canceled NBC: 1 vs. 100, Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Phenomenon, Quarterlife, The Singing Bee, Scrubs (moved to ABC) ABC: Men in Trees, Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen, October Road, Women's Murder Club, Cashmere Mafia, Miss Guided, Notes from the Underbelly, Oprah's Big Give, Here Come the Newlyweds, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann CBS: Moonlight, Shark, Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain, Secret Talents of the Stars, Kid Nation, Power of 10 The CW: Aliens in America, CW Now, Life is Wild, Online Nation, Beauty and the Geek, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious Fox: Back to You, New Amsterdam, Nashville, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, The Return of Jezebel James, The Next Great American Band, Unhitched There are a couple of shows in there I thought were decent but didn't really get a chance to watch them a whole lot. There are also a few that I'm not surprised at all about. Cavemen and Amnesia for example...

QUOTE (Brian @ May 16, 2008 -> 08:30 AM) You had to remind me about the cancellation of "JourneyMan". Sob Sob. I actually liked that show. It gave me something to watch after Heroes.

QUOTE (knightni @ May 4, 2008 -> 04:00 AM) Knock knock Who's there? Banana Banana Who? Knock knock Who's there? Banana Banana Who? Knock knock Who's there? Banana Banana Who? Knock knock Who's there? Banana Banana Who? Knock knock Who's there? Banana Banana Who? Knock knock Who's there? Orange Orange Who? Orange ya glad I didn't say 'Banana' again? This was my youngest daughter's favorite joke when she was like 4 or 5. The problem was that she could never remember how it went. her: Knock knock? Me: Who's there? her: Banana. Me: Banana who? her: Arent you glad I didn't say orange! (falls over laughing)

I had blond, curly hair when I was younger. It looks better on my daughters than it did on me. I had a mullet for a short time in the early 90's.

How do you shoot a blue elephant? With a blue elephant gun! How do you shoot a pink elephant? Hold his nose until he turns blue and then shoot him with the blue elephant gun!

Good piece of writing but I have to say that I disagree. Maybe I'm one of the few but I really don't pay attention to the numbers all that closely. I can still watch a game for the fun of it and have no idea what any of the guys' batting average is. I can still root for my favorite player just because I like him, not because he's the best. I mainly use the internet to get the information faster. Who won, what place are they in, who got traded, etc... The other reason I use it is to connect with other fans and read their thoughts on the team. There aren't too many Sox fans around me, so this is the next best thing.

Bowled a 300 game when I was 16. Hit a cow with my car on the way to work.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 18, 2008 -> 04:01 PM) Your company doesn't offer tuition reimbursement? My company offers 100% (provided you stay for 3 years after the class completion otherwise it's pro-rated) and 70% for wage guys. They do but it has to be approved and be "work-related". I'd have to pay for tuition and book out-of-pocket and then they re-imburse us based on our final grade. I've pretty much gone as far as I can at the local community college. The only thing left I could really take is a couple of introductory courses. I was taking courses through the RVC-NIU partnership but that got really expensive really quick. Of course I make "too much" to qualify for financial aid. QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 18, 2008 -> 04:01 PM) If you can't afford college at a local community college, how do you expect to help your kids after high school for their college education? I didn't get any help from my parents getting my 2-year degree. My wife didn't get any help and didn't even go to college. Sadly, I doubt we'll be able to do much for our kids. Keeping the bills paid is more important right now.

QUOTE(almagest @ Feb 15, 2008 -> 11:50 PM) Not sure if you spoke with RockRaines about this yet, but you are SEVERELY underpaid. Software Engineers coming out of college are making close to 60k/year at this point. I'd highly suggest looking in Chicago, Naperville, and/or Schaumburg. What's your area of expertise? Tell me about it. Overworked and underpaid. It's the story of my life. I was in contact with a head-hunter during a job search once and when I told her what I made she laughed... I do mostly mainframe stuff. Programming languages that are older than I am. I messed up by getting my 2-year degree just before the web programming stuff really took off. Back in 97-98. I really need to go back to school (which I can't afford) or become self-taugh in the newer programming languages. QUOTE(almagest @ Feb 16, 2008 -> 01:15 PM) True, but he already said he drives quite a distance to work, so perhaps a bit further for more money wouldn't be a bad idea. Also, the areas I've mentioned seem to be the best bets in the state for tech jobs. At some point he may consider moving, so I thought it worth mention. QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 16, 2008 -> 06:46 PM) relocation pays, but with a family I understand how difficult that can be. That's one reason why engineers make a lot, they tend to have a strong willingness to relocate. I moved to the middle of Iowa, one friend moved to KY now he's in Indiana. One moved to TN. Another started out in Arkansas and is now in OK. A few are on the west coast. One's in Boston, another in Pittsburgh. That's all I can think of off the top of my head, and most of us grew up in the Chicago area. I'm willing to commute. I already drive 40 miles (about 1 hour) one-way. I can't imagine it would be that much different taking 90 into the western burbs. Relocation is a slim possibilty but not something I'd rule out right away. The kids are getting a little older so after-school care isn't as much of a concern as it used to be.

Turbo Tax allows you to file online. Even if you buy the box you can still file electronically.

QUOTE(Steff @ Feb 13, 2008 -> 12:11 PM) In 12 years I have never, ever seen that happen. If I were you I would have it looked over before submitting them to ensure no delay in processing your refund, if it's correct. I don't think it's really that unusual. Back when I was working retail and making like $6.00 an hour I got something like a $4000 return because I was able to claim head of household with 2 dependants. Then I got married and haven't seen a return like that since. I'm thinking the $3000 I get for the child tax credit has something to do with it. My return isn't really all that complicated. All I have is mine and my wife's W-2s and a 1098 (I think?) from my mortgage company. It's only like $5 difference between what I paid and what I'm getting back.

QUOTE(Steff @ Feb 12, 2008 -> 10:07 AM) I wish I had a nickel for every person who's taxes I've done over the years that says "hu???" when I tell them this. They act like their refund is a gift from the g'ment. And these are not stupid people.. (well, most of them aren't). They just refuse to manage a savings account on their own despite the fact that the g'ment doesn't pay interest. I just did my taxes last night and I'm actually getting more back than what I paid in.

I can't remember anything that I've forgotten.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 11, 2008 -> 03:37 PM) You really need to shop around. Just about all my engineering/programming buddies make bank. Don't you also make a long commute to work as well? 40 miles one-way. Plus we've lost 6 programmers in the last year (only 1 left voluntarily) which means my work load has sky-rocketed. Where ever these high-paying programming jobs are, they're not around me...

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 11, 2008 -> 03:08 PM) 2. Computer applications software engineers - $38.36/hour Computer applications software engineers create or improve programs and software in response to user needs. Their applications might be bundled with other software or they might be created specifically for a client’s private use. Median annual salary: $79,780 I don't even make 50% of that...

I usually go with the Lee dungaree carpenters. I get them on sale for about $30 at Kohl's. I'm >30 and married with kids so I'm certainly off the fashion train. I'm pretty sure I'm also the last person in the world that likes to wear black jeans.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 11, 2008 -> 11:27 AM) I never make enough money, never. My salary has almost quadrupiled my salary since I graduated college, but it seems like I have less money now than then. I'm pretty sure that when I factor in inflation, I'm not making a whole hell of a lot more than when I started. My gross salary has only went up 30% in 10 years.

I had one buyer that won the auction and then absolutely refused to answer a single email I sent him. I ended up reporting him to Ebay and he didn't respond to them either. Finally Ebay agreed to drop the costs from the auction and let me re-sell it. I left him negative feedback and only THEN did he finally respond and left me negative feedback as well. He tried to claim that he'd sent out 2 checks and that I was trying to scam him. He's no longer a member so the feedback is gone. That is one change that Ebay is making that I like.

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Jan 23, 2008 -> 11:39 AM) this image is pulled from a larger one on NASA's website.