Give Up Yer Aul Sins

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I've posted the above clip. The voices are Irish children that their teacher recorded telling bible stories. It was done in the 60's, but someone decided to add the cartoon to it. I think it is pretty darn cute.

In case you wonder what this little girl is saying, I have posted the transcripts of the story. Enjoy!

He grew up and they called him John the Baptist, cause he used to go down and tell everybody, baptizing all the big people, and kids an' all., and telling people to do penance and give up their old sins. And so, didn't he come to this terrible wicked woman, and he said to her, Do penance and give up yer old sins. And so she knew penance was hard , and so she said, no, I won't give up me-- I won't do penance and I won't give up me old sins. And so he said, well then you'll end up in hell in the big fire. And then she got raging and she said to herself, I'll get me own back.

And so he got thrown into jail, and this day didn't the man coming to visit him, and St. John the Baptist said to him, "will you do me a favor?" And the man said, "yeah". And so he said Will you go to Jesus and ask him, is he really God or is he a shockin' holy saint? And so the man went to Jesus and he said, "poor John the Baptist, he's in prison and he wants to know Are you really God, or are you a shockin' holy saint? And so he said tell him what you have to see, and the lepers are cured, the people that are blind can see and the people that are on crutches can walk. And lepers means that we're all full with sores all over them. And so he came back and the man told John the Baptist all about it, and so John the Baptist said oh they're all miracles, that's God.

And so, then this same wicked woman knew this - wicked king, and so the wicked king had a party, and so he asked the woman to it and the wicked young one, and so he said to her, do you want to come to the party, and she said yeah, and he asked the wicked young one, and she said yeah. And so they went to the party and so, he said to her, Would you do a dance for me, and so she was only learning, and she said, yeah, and so she went up and she did a dance, and he went over to see (her tea) and she was real cunnin', and so it was finished and the king said, Oh that was gorgeous, I'll give you anything you want, and instead of taking earrings or um a necklace or a watch or a bracelet or something... or a ring or a gold brooch, 'cause, uh, kings are always rich and they have loads of gold, and so instead of doing that, she went over to him and said, what'll I take, and she said, John the Baptist's head on a plate. And so wasn't he in jail when he sent out all his soldiers. And so they came and they cut off his head.

Best Christmas Present Ever!!!!

The Christmas that I was 11, my mom asked me if there was anything that I wanted for Christmas. My father was having employment issues and it was going to be simple Christmas. So they wanted to know if there was one thing that I really wanted. That was all they could promise us, one cool thing that we really wanted. I didn't know (I've never been good at making christmas lists), so I said I didn't care, thinking that I would still get something cool.

Christmas morning comes, and we really did have a good christmas that year. When it came time to open the "the" gift from mom and dad, I was quite surprised. My siblings had received something fun that they got to play with that day. There wasn't much playing to be done with mine. You see, they had gotten me a calculator. It was a nice one, a Texas Instruments one that I used through the many years ahead of school, but it was still just a calculator. I couldn't really complain then, but I sure love to tease them now and say that because of that gift, I was destined to become an accountant. :)

Some friends of mine found this clip and thought of my story....I found it hilarious, hope you enjoy it.

Hire a Professional! (Advice from Dave Ramsey)

(article about Dave Ramsey, I did not write any of this)

Tax Software vs Tax Pro: Which Is Right for You?

Tax season is just around the corner. If you're smart, you'll start making plans now to avoid future headaches. But should you use tax software or a tax professional?

Dave always leans toward hiring a pro for anything important. By hiring the right professional to do an important job, you will save more time, money and stress than you would by trying to learn how to do it yourself. Tax software can save you a little money on the front end, but that doesn't mean it's the right choice for you.

Here are some situations that can help you decide which option is best for you.

You're young, single, and don't own a home.
Your tax return will probably be simple and straightforward. This is especially true if you plan to take the standard, no-questions-asked deduction. Solution: Your return may be simple enough to choose software. However, the potential savings may not be enough to justify the risk of doing your taxes on your own.

Forms make you nervous.
If you're not comfortable sorting through documents, typing in numbers, and proofreading your forms, then avoid all tax software. Solution: Get a tax pro to give you peace of mind.

You have no idea what you're doing.
Most people fall into this category. If you've tried to read the U.S. tax code, you probably got confused. It's so complicated that it can drive a Harvard graduate to fits of rage. Solution: If you don't want to spend days and weeks researching your deductions, then get a tax pro.

You're older, married, and own a home.
You can expect a complicated tax return if you have bought or sold a home, own a rental property, are self-employed, trade stocks, or have a lot of itemized deductions. Solution: Hire a tax pro to save yourself a headache.

You experienced a major life change in the past year.
Did you get married or divorced? Did you start your own business or receive an inheritance? These life changes cause confusion when it's time to file taxes. Solution: Get a tax pro to make sure you file your return correctly under your new circumstances.

Your Next Step
If you think tax software is the right choice, you'll have no trouble finding options. However, if your situation requires a tax pro's help, make sure you get someone who is reliable and trustworthy.

Dave ends the article by recommending people contact one of his "certified professionals" in their area.

The article references information from this Kiplinger's article published in January 2007.