BLUE THING #3: Amazing New Facts and Statistics

Sunday, April 04, 2010

BLUE THING #3: Amazing New Facts and Statistics

Why? These amazing facts and statistics are informative, fascinating, fun to forward to friends, and occasionally hysterical. This post is unbelievably hysterical. We promise. Read it. Click on the little envelope-shaped icon at the very bottom of the whole BLUE THING POSTING, and send this to 10 friends, colleagues or business associates with your own custom transmittal email attached. They'll thank you. Oh yes. They surely will.

NOW FEATURING A TAG CLOUD FOR THE WEEK - This cloud is generated from the TNNW RSS Feed and Daily Email Blog at http://TheNationalNetworker.blogspot.com (You should be getting either the RSS Feed or the Daily Email to supplement your membership). The cloud is featured below, following the Amazing New Facts and Statistics.

We strongly encourage READER PARTICIPATION.

If you have an amazing fact, statistic or hysterical story to share with out readership, tell us right now. Don't be selfish. Share if you care. Just click:

HERE'S MY AMAZING FACT, STATISTIC OR STORY!

You are invited to submit your favorite amazing fact or little-known statistic and get it published here, boldly showcased in the perfectly rectangular enclosure of BLUE THING #3. But be advised that you must be a subscriber in order to participate. If you're not already a subscriber, click on the following link before you read on: http://twitlik.com/IN. If you are already a subscriber, please proceed to the next paragraph for "the elevator pitch."

HEY YOU! Yes you. Since you are now a subscriber to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER NEWSLETTER, you are invited to submit your own favorite amazing fact or statistic. If you’d like, we’ll even publish your name (or your organization’s name) and give you credit for your contribution. Note: Unless you are particularly dense, you will recognize that we are actually offering you FREE PUBLICITY in exchange for a mere tidbit of information.

Simply click on the hyperlink below to submit your gem:

*I/WE HAVE AN AMAZING NEW FACT OR STATISTIC!*

If the hyperlink above isn’t working, first you must first blame your browser (Internet Explorer 8 seems to be an exceptionally popular source of consumer dissatisfaction), then your ISP Provider, then Bill Gates (or Steve Jobs), and mutter a rapid string of profanities under your breath. Kick furniture if you feel it necessary. [Feel better?] Then, just click on this one, and get direct access.

https://ciof.wufoo.com/forms/iwe-have-an-amazing-new-fact-or-statistic/

AND NOW...

A compilation of utterly useless information brought to you by Huffington Post: A Dozen Dumb Taxes (from a compilation by Nick Sabloff) and THE NATIONAL NEWSPICKER™.

Following is a veritable cesspool teeming with trivial items to use in pick-up lines in bars, to fill awkward silences in credit committee meetings, and to forward (via email) to the spam filters of Oprah, Bill O’Reilly, Bono, Paris Hilton, Harry Potter [either one], any member of the board of directors of Bank Of America, the president or prime minister of your home nation, or one or more of your many friends, family members and people who have far too much time on their hands.

Here goes:

In honor of the Peter the Great's Beard Tax that went into effect on April 6, 1705, we proudly present:

Interesting Facts About Dumb, Annoying, Crazy or otherwise Controversial TAXES

Beard Tax: To Shave or Not to Shave? Peter the Great taxed all (non-clergy) facial hair in 1705.
As much as 90% of Peter the Great's tax revenue used for military. (also taxed souls)

Facial Hair Tax: Massachusetts has a law on the books that makes it illegal to have a goatee without first purchasing a license to do so. A small fee must be paid in order to wear the facial hair in public, and one can be fined if a license is not presented to a law enforcement official upon request.

Urine Tax: Nero and Vespasian taxed collections from latrines. (used for textiles)

Bribe Tax: According to Page 87 of the IRS code, "if you receive a bribe, [you must] include it in your income."

Salt Tax: Worth your weight in salt. 1930 Ghandhi's first steps toward Indian Independence.

Amusement Tax: In most states including Massachusetts and Virginia, is considered a tax on the patrons of places such as ski resorts, craft shows, and golf courses, but in reality is collected from the operators of such places. The government taxes the owners of places that offer “amusement” and in return those businesses pass the aforementioned taxes on to us.
Fountain Soda Drink Tax: Illinois has on record a tax rate on fountain drinks of 9 percent, as opposed to the standard sales tax of 3 percent.
Take-out Tax: Little did you know some areas levy a 0.5 percent tax on all take-out food. Chicago and Washington, D.C. both have enacted a tax on fast food, purportedly to pay for the removal of litter often accrued with the purchase of burgers and dogs. This tax applies to everything take-out, from your morning egg McMuffin to your late night cheese steak.

Blueberry Tax: In Maine, “anyone who grows, purchases, sells, handles, or processes the fruit in the state” makes those persons eligible for a ¾ cent per pound tax.

Playing Card Tax: Alabama has in place a 10 cent tax on the sale of all playing cards with 54 cards or less.

Sparkler and Novelties Tax: West Virginia imposes a special fee on all businesses selling sparklers and other novelties. On top of the state’s 6 percent sales tax you can expect to pay an addition fee courtesy the state.
Illegal Drug Tax: 11 states in the U.S., including North Carolina and Nevada, tax citizens on possession of illegal drugs. After acquiring an illegal substance in North Carolina you are supposed to go to the Department of Revenue and pay a tax on it. In exchange, you will receive a stamp to affix to your drug which serves as evidence that a tax was paid.

Nudity Tax: In the State of Utah, taxpayers that own businesses where "nude or partially nude individuals perform any service" have to pay a 10% sales and use tax. It applies to all revenue from admission fees as well as the sales of merchandise, food, drink and services. These expenses are paid by the business owners who likely pass along the additional costs to their customers.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

As promised, here's the Tag Cloud generated from our RSS Feed and Daily Email Blog Site at http://TheNationalNetworkerWeblog.blogspot.com. The words appearing largest and boldest are those which occur most frequently.