US Gun Violence
Interesting video (and article) from VOX – 7 minutes, but worth the time to view and listen.
I appreciated the research and the comparison with other countries. Stay informed.
Link to the article: American’s Gun Problem Explained (tracks the video, including charts)
Carroll County, Indiana
A great place to live, work, and play. Check it out!
NASA: 50 Years of Space Technology
This is what the space program has done for the advancement of technology:
One Small Step
Tax Code Roadmap
Thanks to Kelly Phillips Erb @ TaxGirl for this one. She has an article in Forbes on the story behind the Roadmap: Taxpayer Advocate: You Literally Need a Roadmap to Navigate Our Tax System (So They Made One).
Note that this is not a roadmap to how to prepare your taxes (except for the upper left corner, where it lists various methods for having a return prepared) – It’s a roadmap that follows your tax return through the process once it gets to the IRS.
Download a PDF of the map:
Check out an overview video from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service:
If you don’t follow Kelly, you should – she has terrific tax tips and a sometimes hilareous twitter feed.
Happy Independence Day!
Top 3 Myths About Ag Pesticides in Food
This is a MUST READ – there are many myths, misconceptions, and mistakes in popular understanding of chemicals in our food supply. Much of what you hear or read is fear-mongering, and over-uses incorrect terms to create the targeted response.
This article clarifies terms (most important phrase: “the dose makes the poison”) and debunks popular misconceptions.
Top 3 Myths About Pesticides in Your Food, from Ag Daily
And now for something completely different…
The great Christopher Walken excerpts from 50-ish of his movies dancing.
This is not new, but it crossed my desk today, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it again. Hope you do, too. Mr. Walken has great moves.
But the best one of all is Fatboy Slim – Weapon of Choice:
Top 10 Rules to be a Success(ful Lawyer)
This is from the ABA Journal, but the tips are great for anyone. By James Grey Robinson.
- Do not be a prisoner of your past
- What comes out of your mouth is more than what goes in it
- People will admire you more for your health and happiness than your bank account
- Take 10 minutes each day to not think but just breathe
- Lawyers are admired more for their honesty (and humanity) than for winning
- You have to balance and take care of your body, your mind, and your family/community.
- Nothing is more powerful than kind words.
- Embrace change. Change is good.
- If you don’t control your emotions, they will control you.
- Being a lawyer is a gift.
The details in each of the points are worth the read – check it out.
Farm Work and Dedication
Please read this terrific Washington Post column by Purdue President (and former Indiana Governor) Mitch Daniels.
In Farm Children, I See Virtues That One Sees Too Rarely, These Days.
I don’t claim that people (and young people) who live in urban environments are devoid of hard work and virtue, but – speaking from personal experience – the characteristics described in the article seem to be more highly concentrated in rural communities.
My son was 20 at the time this picture was taken, and an experienced farmer