Mathematics moves at such a crawl

[vovat]

The new They Might Be Giants podcast is up, but it's not all that great. Most of it is just made up of Venue Songs performances from one of the New Year's Eve shows. As much as I like the songs, they're pretty much identical to the versions on the Venue Songs CD and DVD, which makes the release somewhat pointless. Okay, I guess it wouldn't be pointless if you hadn't heard the songs before, but if I like a band enough to check out their podcasts, I'm probably going to have most of their released material. Maybe it's different for other people. And it IS nice to hear Robin Goldwasser's introductions to the songs, even if they're nowhere near as funny the second time, let alone the third.

Speaking of podcasts, the latest frankblack.net podcast includes a cool country version of "Fiddle Riddle," which I think I like better than the official recording on Teenager of the Year (or, as bethje calls it, "King Frank Black on Valentine's Day"). And speaking of Frank, the release date for his next album has been...uh, released. Fastman Raiderman (I'm still not so keen on that title) will be out in North America on 20 June.

I've filed my federal and state taxes. I still have to pay my local taxes and file my non-resident return for New Jersey. Working in two states is kind of a pain. It's also a pain that New Jersey won't let non-residents file online. Anyway, it looks like I'm getting a little more back this year than I did last year, which is good. It would really help matters if I didn't have to pay those local taxes. Lousy Pennsylvania.

I should re-read The Magical Monarch of Mo soon, so I can contribute to the discussion on Regalia (my Oz e-mail list). That shouldn't take long, though.

Finally, Beth and I will be seeing Belle and Sebastian in Philadelphia tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to that.

Comments

[3x1minus1.livejournal.com]

hey, i haven't heard any venue songs, and i subscribe to the podcast. :) it's a lot easier to hear stuff via podcast, and have it all update automatically; as opposed to seeking this stuff out on my own. in fact i wouldn't know about this venue songs stuff if not for mentions from you and a couple other people on my friendslist. i don't know if it's my lack of time to keep up with every band i like, or the fact that tmbg neglect the rest of the non-nyc-area world. but hey. {g}

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I suppose there IS an advantage to only liking a few bands. {g} And TMBG is my favorite band, so I tend to keep up with everything they release. The fact that I'm on mailing lists for some of the bands I like also helps.

or the fact that tmbg neglect the rest of the non-nyc-area world

In terms of live shows, you mean? It's not like they only release their albums in New York now. {g}

[loz]

You have federal and state taxes you have to file?

I'm seriously hoping I don't either. I don't think I do.

Hmm.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we have state and federal taxes, and some states have local ones as well. How do they manage income taxes where you live?

[loz]

I have absolutely no idea.

:D

[vovat.livejournal.com]

So you don't have to do your taxes?

[loz]

So far I've only ever had to pay tax through GST.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

What's that?

[loz]

Oh. They have the GST in Canada. I assumed you'd know. (Because, clearly, everyone knows everything about Canada, and it's not just my freakish obsession.)

The GST stands for Goods and Services Tax. It's a 10 percent tax on every product minus fresh fruit and vegetables and a few other things. It's 10 percent in Australia, anyway. In other parts of the world, it's slightly more or less. So, I pay ten percent tax on a bar of chocolate, or a bottle of maple syrup. Or tins of fruit. (But not an apple from the greengrocers.) In this situation, no tax return needs to be made. But I still end up paying quite a lot of tax.

We have other taxes here, income tax, it's just that I've never had a part time or full time job, so I've never had to file a return. I'm relatively sure we don't have individual state taxes, though.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

We have other taxes here, income tax, it's just that I've never had a part time or full time job, so I've never had to file a return.

Okay, that makes sense. I actually had to file tax returns before I had a job, since I had money in mutual funds.

There's sales tax here, but the amount and the goods taxed vary from one state to another. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both charge a 6% tax on everything but food and clothes. I know Virginia DOES charge taxes on both of those things. Delaware has no sales tax at all. And taxes are often higher in cities.

[loz]

Dude.

If I knew America had a great health system there'd be no complaints, but it kind of sounds like they're robbing you blind.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Every once in a while, you'll hear someone say they should eliminate income taxes and raise sales taxes. Not surprisingly, the people who say this are usually rich.

[loz]

Well, that is essentially what the Australian government are trying to do. We never even used to have the GST.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

King Frank Black AT THE PROM on Valentine's Day

[vovat.livejournal.com]

But what schools hold their proms on Valentine's Day?