Washington Post Scare Tactics

Albert Crenshaw wrote an article in the Washington Post this morning that has me remembering the movie "Bowling for Columbine".

The movie showed how the media (and others) presents only the frightening, salacious news to the public, and that this constant presentation of the bad world creates an understandable fear of the world. That fear results in racism, anti-semitism, homophobia, you name it. I imagine everyone bug-eyed, peering out their curtains at their empty streets, afraid some black man is going to come rape and kill them.

The article is not about violent crime, but white crime. The auther describes how the IRS is attempting to tighten the rules relating to the sharing (selling) of private information related to your taxes, and describes how the most likely culprit of this is the tax preparer. He quotes people who describe tax preparers as "surrepticious". He points out the potential for tax preparers to make money selling your personal information, but never really gives an example. He describes how a tax preparer could spread a bunch of papers out in front of you and ask you to sign them, "surrepticiously" including one that gives him permission to sell your info.

Here are some articles I expect to see next week:

Locksmiths are the most likely to break into your house and steal your tv!

Massage Therapists are the most likely to videotape you naked!

Postal workers are the most likely to steal your Social Security check!

After reading this article, any rational taxpayer would ask themselves the following question; "I wonder if my tax accountant is going to sell my personal information?"

Now, don't get me wrong, privacy protection is a valid concern. However, it's a statement, not an article. Mr. Crenshaw builds an article around this statement that is irresponsible and, frankly, disgusting. It's an unwarranted attack on a profession that is currently unprepared to defend itself because it is otherwise occupied with your tax returns.

Read Mr. Crenshaw's article here; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/22/AR2006032202190.html, and then please send him an email pointing him to my blog. You can do so by clicking on his name under the title of the article.

Where's My Lollypop?

Daisy was looking everywhere. Under the table, on the stairs, in my pocket. She just couldn't figure out where she put her lollypop. I snapped this picture and showed it to her on the back of my camera. Her response?

"Oh".

So I waited to see if she really understood, and she did. She reached back after a few seconds and found it. Of course, it still tasted good.

Just Obnoxious

I know the gas price situation has just been beaten to death in the last couple of years. But every time my bill comes to nearly $50 (FOR A HONDA!) I almost cry. What a joke.

Darth Adam & Daisy's Ben Kinobe

Star Wars has completely taken over in my house. Adam, in particular, is enthralled, and can't do a thing unless he's holding a light saber, which, until recently was called a "light saver". Daisy has taken to calling him Darth Adam, and has decided that everyone's private parts look like Ben Kinobe. So, I have, in the interest of furthering her confusion in later years, decided to call everybody's private parts a "Ben Kinobe".