YCTB Vol. 1 No. 5 Introduction

Introduction    by Brendan Woo
Happy New Year!

Here are a couple things of interest I have to share, which cover life’s two inevitabilities (death and taxes):

Taxes:
You have 92 days left to file your tax returns! As filing my taxes has become somewhat of a hobby[sic] for me, here are some resources that will allow you, too, to join in on the fun!
–IRS website for international taxpayers
-If your income is below a certain level (if Fellowship-related income was your main source of cash in 2010, you definitely qualify), you can choose from a list of tax preparation software companies that will help you prepare your taxes without charging the usual fees. Federal tax preparation is free, as is preparation for tax returns in certain states. I have used TurboTax Freedom Edition (one of the choices on the list) for several years now, and have been pleased with their software (all web-based), which walks you through all the steps, does the cross-referencing and calculating, and has answers to questions along the way. The IRS and state governments generally have their own e-file options, too, but they offer less guidance than the commercial options.

Smoking:
I happened across this articlethe other day, which offers statistical support to a different approach to anti-smoking messages: it’s bad for the economy! Excerpt:

The health and other costs of smoking already exceed the tobacco industry’s economic contributions by at least $9 billion, said a report prepared by a group of prominent Chinese public health experts and economists.

If trends continue, by 2030 an estimated 3.5 million Chinese will die from smoking each year — three times the current level, it said, citing China’s failure to take basic measures such as passing a national law to ban smoking in indoor public places and raising the price of cigarettes.

…

However, last year, authorities did instruct kindergartens and elementary, secondary and vocational schools to ban smoking on school grounds and bar teachers from lighting up in front of students.

How well is that last part going?

Safe travels to everyone as you ring in (?) the year of the rabbit!