Random Chatter Showing 2,251-2,300 of 6,505

[Diana Stormblessed]

Virginie wrote: "idiffer wrote: "I've made tons of comments... just most of them don't make it to the group forum, they stay in my head."

Hahaha! I'm gradually stopping filtering myself. I'm trying to keep the sar..."

I read that as sadistic and immediately remembered that I still need to finish Kushiel's Avatar. lol

[Virginie]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I read that as sadistic and immediately remembered that I still need to finish Kushiel's Avatar. lol "

Mmmh, those comments too ;)
I really need to read that series. I wish days would be 25 hours, with the extra hour ONLY for reading.

[Shaitarn]

Virginie wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I read that as sadistic and immediately remembered that I still need to finish Kushiel's Avatar. lol "

Mmmh, those comments too ;)
I really need to read that series. I w..."

Maybe we could do that instead of turning the clocks forward on Saturday?

[Diana Stormblessed]

Shaitarn wrote: "Virginie wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I read that as sadistic and immediately remembered that I still need to finish Kushiel's Avatar. lol "

Mmmh, those comments too ;)
I really need to read..."

I fully support this initiative.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm feeling really productive right now for doing my taxes... even tho, at this point I'm pretty late...

Most years I'm either gung-ho in January but can't actually file until mid-February because of government/IRS delays... or I'm like whatever and keep putting it off until the deadline is looming...

But I learned my error a few years ago when I didn't file until April 14th... THAT was a nightmare... the amount of people that must be procrastinators is enough to flood the website... it took me nearly 2 hours to do my state taxes that year, because the webpages wouldn't load...

[Diana Stormblessed]

Iain wrote: "I'm feeling really productive right now for doing my taxes... even tho, at this point I'm pretty late...

Most years I'm either gung-ho in January but can't actually file until mid-February because..."

We basically file April 14th every year. I think this year will be no different :-/

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Iain wrote: "I'm feeling really productive right now for doing my taxes... even tho, at this point I'm pretty late...

Most years I'm either gung-ho in January but can't actually file until mid-Feb..."

I have pretty simple taxes, at the moment, and I get a return, I don't have to pay...

That might change next year, now that my college loans are paid off and I'm transitioning to putting money into 401k & company stock-matching instead...

I think I have to start filing the long-form for that stuff...

[Sarah]

Iain wrote: "I'm feeling really productive right now for doing my taxes... even tho, at this point I'm pretty late...

Most years I'm either gung-ho in January but can't actually file until mid-February because..."

Ugh, that reminds me that I still have to do mine.

[idiffer]

Here the firms do the taxes for you, it's awesome really. Though I paid taxes from my salary maybe for three months 5 years ago.

PS. Welcome me to the 21st century - I bought a tablet. A shitty one, but for work it'll do.

[Siobhan]

We have PAYE - pay as you earn, we have a tax code and the right amount is taken from our pay every month (theoretically). Only have to do your own taxes if you're self employed. Thank god, I'd be awful at it...

[Sarah]

Siobhan wrote: "We have PAYE - pay as you earn, we have a tax code and the right amount is taken from our pay every month (theoretically). Only have to do your own taxes if you're self employed. Thank god, I'd be ..."

They take money from me every payday for my taxes, but we still have to file both state income (for those that have a state income tax) and federal income taxes.
During the process they decide if they have taken too much and you are due a refund (yay!) or if they haven't taken enough and you owe them (boo!).
Its irritating!

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I've done everything except Alcatraz. :) I think I'm missing one short story also.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Siobhan wrote: "We have PAYE - pay as you earn, we have a tax code and the right amount is taken from our pay every month (theoretically). Only have to do your own taxes if you're self employed. Thank god, I'd be ..."

I think that's how the system is supposed to work, but then you get tax rebates on certain types of expenses and investments... and if you're over 65 or blind... and some people use the government as a crappy savings account to get a nice refund...

Anyone that makes more than like $3000 a year needs to file a tax form to prove they paid enough taxes... and maybe get a refund... it's a whole industry, with software and "tax professionals"... but I do it myself so I don't have to spend $100+ getting someone to do it for me...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Abhay wrote: "Who all here have read everything that Sanderson has ever written!?"

Getting there... Elantris this week, Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians in August, and then I just need to read:

Rithmatist, Legion 1 & 2, Infinity Blade 1 & 2, and White Sands 2...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

You see Sanderson has a NEW secret project at 2% on his website?

[Sarah]

Iain wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "We have PAYE - pay as you earn, we have a tax code and the right amount is taken from our pay every month (theoretically). Only have to do your own taxes if you're self employed. Th..."

My dad has always done mine for me, but this year he said he wants me to do it so that I know how.
I got the "disapproving scowl" when I said I'd rather pay someone to do it than have to hope I got it right on my own.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Abhay wrote: "Who all here have read everything that Sanderson has ever written!?"

Me me me!

[Diana Stormblessed]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I've done everything except Alcatraz. :) I think I'm missing one short story also."

Ok, yeah, i haven't read books 3-5(6?) in Alcatraz yet, but I've done all the short stories and unpublished work.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I forget about them a lot when considering Sanderson's body of work. I'm loosely planning to tackle them with the group in August.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Sarah wrote: "Iain wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "We have PAYE - pay as you earn, we have a tax code and the right amount is taken from our pay every month (theoretically). Only have to do your own taxes if you're self..."

It's not that hard unless you have tons of deductions and stuff... I do the 1040A , the middle-ground form... and all I do is copy over my W2 information to the W2 attachment and the 1040 form, list myself as an exemption, fill in the standard deduction, my untaxable college loan interest, and my tax bracket from the manual... from there I just hit the "Do the Math" button and fill in my bank information for my refund (or tax debit payment)...

If you have kids or other things, the form can grow more complicated...

And you can always have your dad double-check before you submit it to the IRS... I use Freefile Fillable Forms...

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Only our group can integrate a Sanderson discussion with a tax discussion.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Gotta keep Random Chatter random...

[Sarah]

Iain wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Iain wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "We have PAYE - pay as you earn, we have a tax code and the right amount is taken from our pay every month (theoretically). Only have to do your own taxes ..."

Its just me, so its supposedly pretty straightforward.
I told him I'll do it myself, but he will be sitting with me the entire time to make sure I'm doing it right.
I do admit it is probably a good thing to know how to do.

[Hailee]

Siobhan wrote: "We have PAYE - pay as you earn, we have a tax code and the right amount is taken from our pay every month (theoretically). Only have to do your own taxes if you're self employed. Thank god, I'd be ..."

Amen!! I wouldn't even know where to start. Yet another of the many many reasons I would never want to be self employed.

[Ahdam]

Well then this week has been something it’s pretty much been deadline week since I had so much shit to get sorted this week but now I can chill for a bit till my next deadline 😂😂😂

Honestly my reading this year has been shocking I’ve had so much going on with uni and my slumps were just making reading difficult to get to 😂😂😂

But on the bright side what’s left are some of my favourite modules which I’m excited to get into soon

[Siobhan]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Only our group can integrate a Sanderson discussion with a tax discussion."

Hahaha 😂 we're the best!

[Siobhan]

Ahdam wrote: "Well then this week has been something it’s pretty much been deadline week since I had so much shit to get sorted this week but now I can chill for a bit till my next deadline 😂😂😂

Honestly my read..."

I'm glad some of your deadlines are out of the way! You can breathe now haha. :)

[Ahdam]

Yep and I’m gonna chill by watching Pacific rim tonight

[John]

I have read some of Brandon Sanderson (absolutely in love with The Way of Kings), but I recently read the Dragonbone Chair, and I am looking at reviews from Shadowmarch and Otherworld.

Just looking for ya'lls opinion on which author you like better: Sanderson or Tad Williams?

[Ahdam]

John wrote: "I have read some of Brandon Sanderson (absolutely in love with The Way of Kings), but I recently read the Dragonbone Chair, and I am looking at reviews from Shadowmarch and Otherworld.

Just lookin..."

I don't know if I can compare the two since to me Williams pretty much kills the classic fantasy ad to me he is the American Tolkien and Sanderson is the face of modern fantasy so in my opinion they are incomparable

Have you read stone of farewell yet John me and Chris have and loved it that we are gonna read green angel tower in a couple of months so if you read it now you could catch up with us or you can go with the other group who are the the dragonbone chair right now and follow the series with them

But yeah I'm itching to read Williams other works I read War of the Flowers and I enjoyed it despite its flaws

[RuinEleint]

Tad Williams struck me as Tolkien, with a sprinkling of Martin. He excels in world building and description with decent character work and dialogue. His weakness is that the books tend to be a bit too long sometimes.

Sanderson writes fantasy like its arithmetic. He emphasizes world building and magic systems. All his magic systems can be easily quantified and understood as opposed to the more mystical magic that Tolkien or Williams liked. His stories are fast and action packed, but his characterization and humourous dialogues are very weak.

[John]

I have the rest of the trilogy, but have not gotten to it yet. I do not read as much as I would like, and the buddy read for Wheel of Time is keeping me hopping.

But, I am ready for a break, so I may jump to Stone of Farewell (after 350 more pages of The Shadow Returns). Thanks for the reply!

[John]

Arkadeb wrote: "Tad Williams struck me as Tolkien, with a sprinkling of Martin. He excels in world building and description with decent character work and dialogue. His weakness is that the books tend to be a bit ..."

Thanks for the insight!

[Anni]

Ngrh... where is my missing hour of sleep :/

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It's in October/November waiting for you

[Siobhan]

Anni wrote: "Ngrh... where is my missing hour of sleep :/"

😭😭

[Ahdam]

Yep I just woke up now and I’m already annoyed 😞😞😞

[Siobhan]

I set an alarm thinking I'd be up before it anyway, then wondered why I was so tired when the alarm went off. :'(

[RuinEleint]

I woke up at 5 AM on a holiday. I literally couldn't sleep any more.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I work overnights, so 1 day a year I get off an hour early... another day a year I have to work an hour later (still just 8 hour shifts, we just ignore the clock changes except where we can't be on lunch during time change without problems occurring)

[Ahdam]

Since it is nearly April and right now I am having more of my deep thoughts about this year and to be honest with you I think this years has been pretty big for me since it's not like every other year where I'm sitting on my bed getting fat and that crap this year I feel like I made a change. Also I've just realised I've been a part of this group for about a year so that's an excuse

First off I finally got a job after a year and a half looking up and down forwards and backwards for a job I finally found on where I'm quite alright with in terms of the exercise (I walk a lot for my job) and I'm looking to buy a new bookcase with my wages soon

Also I finally have some aspirations on what I want to do with my life and that is making films if it wasn't obvious to you since I LOVE stories and I have so many ideas that I want to develop into scripts and develop those into films and I honestly feel this is something I need to do and one day I want to become a writer and director

Finally perhaps the most significant change of all is FBR and to be honest I'm glad I joined this group because before I didn't really talk to many people since I was an introvert and was shy also I didn't know how to get along with people in fact I was sceptical to join a group here but I'm glad I did cause it has been such an amazing experience to talk with such amazing people and gaining some fond memories like the time I spent the whole day chatting to you guys or the times Zaara manages to have me scratch my head at times which is funny since I should e the one doing that and lets not forget that one of you guys were sweet enough to send me a frickin postcard which I will definitely return the favour soon

Well that's it and all I have to say is thank you guys for being there with me every step of the way and just being there for me when I'm happy, sad and slightly narcissistic and just helping find my way and I cant wait to see what will happen next.

image:

[Ahdam]

Well then that was a bit gooey wasn't it I'm not usually like this but fuck it

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Practicing Acceptance Speeches already? :D

[Ahdam]

Yeah I was thinking that when I get my first award I’ll be very sentimental but when I get to the big awards all just list everyone in this group how about this

“I’d like to thank Iain whose resilience and almost unreadable personality similar to that of idiffer has helped me strive to face adversity head on without hesitation and for helping me created character B in this film”

😂😂😂😂😂

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm embarrassingly giggling right now...

[Anni]

Soooooooon!!! 🎊
Yeah, sorry about that! 😂🙈

I'm glad everything worked out for you that well! You should be proud of you, for everything you achieved this year. I'm a tiny bit jealous because I'm still not sure what I really want to do with my life after finishing my thesis...

[Ahdam]

Don’t worry Anni I’m sure you’ll find your way out of curiosity what are you doing you thesis on I think you said you were doing a science degree or something

I got a lot to look forward for next year since I have a dissertation, 10 minute short film and some essays but at least I get to do a module on science fiction which I’m excited about 😂😂😂

But good luck on the thesis though 👍🏽👍🏽😂😂☺️☺️

[Anni]

The topic of my thesis is the influence of maternal adipositas and a high-fat diet on the offspring, especially lung development. It's known that adipositas is unhealthy and there is evidence that it plays a role in heredity as well (the offspring has a predisposition to obeseness, diabetes, asthma and many other diseases). The point of my thesis is to find out (sure not only in my thesis, it's just a little step in the research cycle 😂) what's going on and what we can do about it. My focus is on the lung development and if a change in the mothers diet (still fatty but with some changes in the composition of fatty acid) could have a beneficial effect. I hope that's not to much into detail 🙈

After graduating I would like to do something like this in medical research, but it's wide field so that's not a very concrete idea 😂

[Ahdam]

Wow....I’m just gonna do a dissertation on south Asian representation in hollywood and how it has evolved since the 60’s but if we are going with the most interesting I think your lung adipose fatty acids definitely win so good luck with the thesis 😂😂😂😂

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Time to change your thesis to the Body Shapes of Hollywood since the 1960s :D