Saturday, December 3, 2011

Buzz: Thicker fries, taxes, simpler holidays

By Al Olson

What did we learn this week in Life Inc.? Americans love french fries. They love simpler holidays. And they love getting money back from Uncle Sam.?

A post this week about Burger King revamping its recipe for french fries generated quite the debate among our readers. Their reviews were not all positive. ?Sorry, BK, but my affair with you has to end. I cannot support the new fry. I prefer the skinnier, crunchier, tastier version,? Meghan Herr wrote.?

My favorite comment was from FreedomRingsLoud, who wrote: ?The great French Fry debate has, is and will rage on until the end of times. Perhaps we should try a new recipe for our Congress and get the fat (pork), salt (corruption) and high calories (spending) out of it to fix our nation?s economy.? This reviewer may not make it as a restaurant critic, but shows promise as a political pundit.?

Tax stories are always popular and this week?s revelation that Uncle Sam owes about 100,000 Americans a refund generated a lot of interest. The IRS is hoping to pay out a total of $153.3 million in refund checks that couldn?t be delivered because of mailing address problems. Are you among the lucky taxpayers who will get a little holiday bonus? Check here.??

Our two most popular stories dealt with the stress and over-commercialization of the holiday season. Allison Linn?s excellent story about Americans? efforts to focus on the true meaning of the holidays received more than 3,500 votes. A whopping 84.5 percent of you said you will simplify things this season. My favorite comment from a reader: ?Unfortunately, every year I say I'm going to rein in my spending and every year I either spend the same or more. Oh well, at least I try.? Sounds familiar to me.?

What are you dreading most about the holidays? Fighting the mall crowds? Gaining weight? Going in debt? Dealing with your sister?s creepy fianc?? This season can bring out the best in all of us ? and often times it brings out the worst in us. We love the holidays at the same time we dread it. A survey conducted by Consumer Reports found that 23 percent of us can?t stand the incessant, inescapable Christmas music. And, believe it or not, 15 percent just dread the very notion that they ?have to be nice.?

Coal in the stockings for you!

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Source: http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/02/9169345-this-weeks-buzz-thicker-fries-taxes-simpler-holidays

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