The Story of Chip The Chipmunk
Baby Chip
Big Chip
After reading my daily barrage of non-stop bad news, this story made my day. It's a pretty awesome story that's definitely worth a read.
Chip on a Mac
(via Reddit)
The End Is Near for the Human Race
History, or the beginning of the end of it for humans, was made tonight at the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles baseball game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Aliquippa, PA based RoPro Design and Beaver County Area Vocational Technical School, will deliver the first pitch as the Pirates square off against the Baltimore Orioles on "Robotics Night" at PNC Park.
The "first ever" robotic pitch is in conjunction with the Department of Defense's Joint Robotics meeting program, which will host more than 200 government employees working in the robotics field, in Pittsburgh today and tomorrow.
The S-3, which weighs about 200 pounds and resembles a small car, will be joined by a handful of other robots that will be on display on Federal Street prior to the game. These include the Sherpa DM, a heavy-duty robot made for the Army by Lawrenceville start-up Re2 Inc., and the Talon, which is made by a Boston firm and is being used by American troops in Iraq to disarm bombs.
"We want the public to be aware of the importance of the robotics industry to the region and see the neat products that are being developed locally," said Bill Thomasmeyer, president of the Lawrenceville-based National Center for Defense Robotics.
Sure. Next thing you know, you'll be talking to a robot about your traffic ticket. Then comes Skynet...
(via Engadget)
Honest Criminals and the IRS
True and amusing bits from IRS Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income, Other Income:
Bribes. If you receive a bribe, include it in your income.
Found property. If you find and keep property that does not belong to you that has been lost or abandoned (treasure-trove), it is taxable to you at its fair market value in the first year it is your undisputed possession.
Illegal income. Illegal income, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.
Kickbacks. You must include kickbacks, side commissions, push money, or similar payments you receive in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.
Stolen property. If you steal property, you must report its fair market value in your income in the year you steal it unless in the same year, you return it to its rightful owner.
I would love to see the stats on how many taxpayers actually itemized items from the list above. The stolen property line item made me spit up the water I was drinking. I can just picture some thief trolling the internet to determine the fair market value for the 40 GB I-Pod he stole out of someone's backpack at the local library last fall...
(via Jacqueline ) and (eclecticism)
