Cute story

An old man and woman were married for many years, even though they hated each other. Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, 'When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!'


Neighbours feared him. They believed he practiced magic, because of the many strange occurrences that took place in their neighbourhood. The old man liked the fact that he was feared. ---To every one's relief, he died of a heart attack when he was 98.

His wife had a closed casket at the wake. After the burial, she went straight to the local bar and began to party, as if there was no tomorrow.

Her neighbours, concerned for her safety, asked, 'Aren't you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?'

The wife put down her drink and said, 'Let him dig. I had him buried upside down. And you know men won't ask for directions.'

Americans Work More Than 2 Hours Per Day to Pay Taxes

Americans who work 9 to 5 don’t get to earn money for themselves until 11:13 a.m. each day — before that, they’re working to pay taxes.

In 2011, Americans will devote 2 hours and 13 minutes of each 8-hour workday, or 27.7 percent of their working hours, to pay their share of taxes at the federal, state, and local level, the Tax Foundation reports.

But if the federal government was collecting enough in taxes this year to finance all of its spending, instead of borrowing, Americans would work past lunchtime, until 12:07 p.m., to cover their overall tax tab.

Americans Worked 102 Days to Pay Taxes

Tax Freedom Day arrived on Tuesday, April 12 this year — Americans worked for the first 102 days of 2011 just to earn enough to pay their federal, state, and local taxes.

The date is three days later than in 2010, meaning that taxes across the board have gone up this year, according to the Tax Foundation, which computes Tax Freedom Day each year.

Americans will pay more in taxes this year than on groceries, clothing, and shelter combined, the Foundation noted.

The computation of Tax Freedom Day ignores the budget deficit and figures in only taxes that will actually be collected this year. If the federal government was seeking to collect enough in taxes to finance all of its spending, Tax Freedom Day would not arrive until May 23.

The latest-ever Tax Freedom Day was May 1, 2000.

On top of federal income tax, all but seven states levy an income tax, as do some localities. The Foundation projects that Americans will work 36 days this year to pay those income taxes, plus 22 days to pay for payroll taxes, which fund Social Security and Medicare.

They will also work 15 days to pay sales and excise taxes, 12 days to pay property taxes, and 12 days to cover corporate income taxes.

Due to different state and local tax rates, and differences in average income subject to federal taxes, total tax burdens vary from state to state. This year Americans in 13 states will work more than 102 days to pay their taxes, including Connecticut (122 days), New Jersey (119 days), and New York (114 days).

The lightest tax burden will affect workers in Mississippi (85 days), Tennessee (86 days), and South Carolina (88 days).

Never a Foreigner

I remember many years ago, in high school, graduated in 1950, I think it was a Civics teacher who made a comment I have never forgotten ... "Americans never visit a foreign country"

I am afraid that there is a lot of truth to that. I remember years ago visiting Canada, I don't think I felt like I was in a foreign country, and I was surrounded by foreigners. Later on, the same when I visited Mexico, Japan and Okinawa and other countries.I think I have always looked upon them as being foreigners, never myself as a foreigner, even though I was in their country.

Times are changing, now attitudes should.