Another fun day brewing, but a little colder than the last few days. But I will take this over the flooding, ice, snow and cold happening in the north country. I think that is why Utah, Arizona and Texas are the top three destinations for people fleeing the northern winter, oppressive taxes and no jobs. New York is talking about taxing the sugar in soft drinks....amazing. Is the fat in food next? I'm very glad I live in Texas where taxes are low, the economy is good and the weather is reasonable.

A few weeks ago I was playing the slots in Shreveport and what I won was above the amount set by the IRS and the casino took out federal tax and Louisiana state tax. I now have to show this on my federal return. But in order to get the $112 held out by Louisiana I have to file a state tax form. Their website did not have the current forms so I had to call and ask that they be mailed,,,which they will on 19 Jan 09. What was amazing to me is the state of Louisiana requiring its citizens to declare what they purchased out of state and then pay Louisiana sales tax on those items. No wonder Louisiana ranks close to the bottom on everything but political corruption. I would rather be celibate that live there. I have filed state income forms in Oklahoma, Kansas, Massachusetts (I didn't live there, just a mistake made by the account of a company I worked for based in Montreal) and now Louisiana. I'm sure glad I live in a sensible state where state income tax is not collected. It is very true that the only thing certain is death and taxes...and one can cause the other.