I'm eavesdropping in on the COBRA conversation, since my husband is about a hair's length away from quitting his job in disgust.

Also, if we have a penalty for underpayment of taxes, is that going to have any sort of lasting effect on us? Is it an audit flag? Will the IRS hate us forever? Or is it no big deal if we just pay it?

Or is it no big deal if we just pay it?

IME, this is the case. (Though I read somewhere that the IRS is starting to go after little money cases more seriously, because the cumulative effect of people with low-middle incomes shrugging and saying, "Eh, I don't make enough for them to notice," turns out to be a fairly huge chunk of change, so you'll probably want to pay it in a relatively timely manner.)

you'll probably want to pay it in a relatively timely manner.

Oh, we'll cheerfully pay it when we file.

Or is it no big deal if we just pay it?

I had one once because of contracting; paid it, never had a problem again.

That's what I did! See, I moved the education to the bottom when I thought people wouldn't really care about my degree anymore, professionally. But now it matters again, I guess.

Yup. My general rule as a resume writer is that if you're currently in school at any level or are less than three years out, education goes on top.

But I'm dying of curiosity. How does one get a cast attached to one's nose? Is it actually plaster, or is it more like bandages? Are the other kids impressed? Do they sign nose casts, or just arms and legs? Are nose ones colored, like most other ones now, or white?

It's a regular white plaster cast. It's shaped to the nose. There's tape in the cast, and tape on top of the cast. It's just taped down on to the cheeks, which worked pretty well until Monday morning. Since then we've been picking it up and taping it back on every two minutes. The kids at the school were staring at him - a little more gawking than admiring. No signing the cast since putting pressure on the nose is counter productive to the healing. Also, very little space.

I'm so tickled that you're saving the cast.

I'm thinking maybe a shadowbox with a little old fashioned typed up scientific type tag, except saying, "Emmett broke his nose March 23, 2005. He was a trooper." Emmett wants black velvet backing.

Oh no, Peter Jennings.

I am BORED BORED BORED with the deadness of the Pope. This is as bad as the late Princess of Wales, the page after page of after-coverage that adds no new information.

It isn't that the death of the Pope wasn't news; it is. But the space between the death of the Pope and funeral services for the Pope is a minor news event, or should be.

I am BORED BORED BORED with the deadness of the Pope.

Yeah, it's pretty boring. He just seems to lay there....

Betsy, I get the feeling they're treading water until the election of the new Pope.