Adrian manages to find a silver lining even when there is no dark cloud! All of us are busy filing our taxes and lamenting on how much it’s eaten into our savings. Rick has promised to cut down on booze! While all these are going on, Adrian is busy making calculations. He’s expecting a refund! Now, don’t you think it’s the height of optimism? While most of us are amused, he is happily tapping away at his calculator conjuring values that will send any tax specialist squirm with disgust.

That reminds me, in my earlier post on ‘Do You File Taxes Online?’, a friend made an interesting comment. This one’s by Pattie:

“I still use snail mail when I send in my taxes. Why should I bother getting it to them any sooner. I’m not getting anything back.”

Would you like to comment on that? Are you looking forward to a refund? Share your concerns with us.

Donna is a privacy freak. She is very particular about her private life and keeps, as they say, the cards close to the chest. She was appalled to read a news item in the New York Times which reported that the National Security Agency intercepted more emails and phone calls than they were allowed by the U.S. Congress. She was very vocal about it as well, “How can they do that? Isn’t there any privacy for us anymore? Anyway we have been compromising on that for reasons of security.” Do you think she’s right on this? Do you feel your privacy is being threatened in the name of security? Have your voice heard.

Adrian feels that American Idol is the only show where a judge is more in the news than the contestants. And the judge in question is, of course, Simon Cowell. Love him or hate him, you have to have an opinion on him. Through the eight seasons, Simon Cowell has been a figure much feared, much talked about. Adrian feels that Simon Cowell’s attitude prepares the American Idol contestants to be ready for the big bad world outside. For Adrian, he’s more of a necessary evil. How does Simon Cowell come across to you? Do you think he says all he does to grab headlines or he has an underlying motive? Write in.

Bow to Bo! Since the Obama kids got Bo, Portuguese water dogs are the current favorites and all over the headlines! Rachael, my niece, has a pup named Max. After she saw snaps of the Obama kids with the Portuguese water dog, Rachael wanted one as well. It’s come on me to find her one and I’m at my wits end trying to figure out how I’m gonna do that. I’m in a real fix and I really don’t want to disappoint her. Do you have any ideas how I can get her a Portuguese water dog? Folks, your inputs are desperately needed!

Eleanor is slowly waking up to the wonders of digital technology. She’s used to filing her taxes in the traditional way. When Alex, her son, tried to show her how to file taxes on the internet, she was a little apprehensive. She isn’t sure if she’ll be clicking the right buttons. She’s worried about the money landing up at the wrong place. She needs a little assurance from you guys. Do you file taxes online? Did you have a hassle free experience? Eleanor needs your support to go ahead with this.

The call came in early morning. It was ringing for some time because I couldn’t find my phone beneath the rubble of paper that lay heaped in my room. When I finally dug it out, I saw it was Fred. He has not been keeping well lately, as you know from my newsletters. So I feared the worst. But his voice assured me that it wasn’t bad news. In fact, he sounded thrilled. “Have you heard the news Bob?” he boomed over the phone.

I was not sure which news he was referring to. My head was groggy and a New Yorker without coffee is not someone you want to deal with! He didn’t wait for an answer. “The White House announced that Obama has decided to lift restrictions on the Cuban Americans!” He went on to say hurriedly how it will help Cuban Americans to connect with their folks back home.

Fred disconnected the phone because he wanted to talk to his friends about it. I thought about it more clearly. I checked up on the news. This could be a historical decision, don’t you think? Do you think that despite being an issue concerning the Cuban Americans, it has more to do with touching base with your folks back home? Write in.

The US Masters not only gave us a champion in Angel Cabrera, it also gave us a Rick-Kaitlin fight. It happened after a long time really, going by their frequency! Rick is a self-proclaimed sports freak and he was glued to the US Masters. But the poor chap got the timing wrong! Kaitlin’s mom was down with a headache and Kaitlin was worried. She wanted to discuss this with him, but each time she brought it up, she found him focused on the game. The only replies she got were “Umms” and “Hmms”. This infuriated her and they had a huge row!

Rick felt that Kaitlin was exaggerating a small problem like a headache at a time when Angel Carbera was fighting it out with Kenny Perry. Kaitlin feels that he was insensitive enough to continue watching US Masters when she had a problem to share with him. Both claim to be correct from their points of view. I’d like to know what you think of this problem. Was Rick being insensitive or was Kaitlin blowing it up? Have you been in a similar situation? Do you think it was an issue about communication and giving each other space in a relationship? Share with us.

“Because we don’t think about future generations, they will never forget us.” - Henrik Tikkanen

Adrian, who takes his planet and its problems seriously, is very excited about this new bill that is being talked about. Adrian feels that this new bill, which enables citizens to sue the federal government if they think they are being made victims of global warming, will be a rather ambiguous change. “Imagine the number of lawsuits that will be filed Bob!” he told me sarcastically, “people will go bonkers to extract money claiming damages caused by global warming!” Adrian doubts if this step will do anything about the problem of global warming. He feels it will take the focus out of the actual issue. Do you agree with him? Do you think this bill will be beneficial to the common citizen, or will it just be another point on global warming that we should do something about, but never do?

I was witness to a huge row the other day. Rachael, my seventh grader niece and her mom Liz, fought over a movie! It so happened that I dropped by at their place, wanting a quick coffee on my way home. Rachael wanted to go to a show of the Hanna Montana movie this Easter weekend. Her friends had asked her if she wanted to join in, and Rachael was excited about it. Liz, being the protective mother that she was, wasn’t willing to allow her to the show with her friends. She wanted to accompany her. But Rachael was adamant about going out with her friends and not tow her mom along. This started a war of words between mom and daughter. Rachael wants to go out tomorrow. So folks, what is the right thing to do here? Let Rachael go? Or is she too young to get a taste of what’s out there? Do you go through similar issues? Your inputs might help Liz make a choice.

Mrs. Michelle Obama is well on track to be one of the most famous and popular First Ladies of the United States of America. She’s creating waves in fashion and fitness and comes off with flying colors, whatever she touches. Irina, my fashionista friend, is a great Michelle Obama fan. She loves to keep an eye out for what she’s wearing and how she’s carrying herself. “She’s such a fashion icon, don’t you think Bob?” she always says. She went on to say how Michelle Obama stays fit and manages to carry off those wonderful dresses. I think Irina has got a point there, what say? Would you agree that Michelle Obama is a serious fashion icon? I’d like to know what you feel.