Crazy Stuff

Crazy Stuff --is full of unusual, well, crazy things. Its a fun book to page through. There are even practical items as well as the unusual. From high-tech to low-tech and everything in between, Crazy Stuff is a wonderful gift idea. Who doesn't need to know how to get their hands on the world's best off-beat, insane and plain fun stuff. Well, maybe not everyone, but then again, not everyone would want this book. If you're a bit tilted away from the side of normal, then this book is right up your alley. At first it reminded me of the Sky Mall catalog that you can get when you are flying. Crazy Stuff is different, however. Its not a catalog and its purpose is to showcase all the weird stuff that is definitely not main stream. Unlike Sky Mall, Crazy Stuff is meant to be fun, not a shopping experience. Check it out, who knows, you might just find something you like.

Embarrassing names decline in the UK

According to a researcher in the UK, the names Cockshot, Balls, Death and Daft have decreased remarkably in the last few decades. When something like this happens, it is usually due to extenuating circumstance rather than natural selection. Outside of the obvious reasons like marriage or mass emigration to other areas the reasons seem to demonstrate how language has evolved. Names, which were once considered acceptable are now embarrassing due to modern definitions and innuendos given to them. The researcher, Richard Webber, has a site called "mapyourname" where anyone can go and do their own surname research. Knowing the various surnames of the modern world can be an important tool for writers and genealogists. A writer can use names which are common to a geographic area or choose to make up a name which does not exist. The genealogist can compare the evolution of their own surnames and predict the future of their family lineage. They know that the spelling of their family name has changed and branched out over time. Understanding the trends and reasons behind this in invaluable in creating links in their ancestral chain. The meanings of words changes with the times. An offensive word in ancient Rome is not necessarily offensive today.
Changing your name is a big deal. It not only affects you but also your decendents. You may decide that you are protecting your children and grandchildren from public ridicule. If you had some of the names listed in the research, you would be right.

Saucer Fleet

The Saucer Fleet is a guidebook of fictional sci-fi saucers. You know, the kinds from the War of the Worlds and my all time favorite, Forbidden Planet. Star Wars has its guidebooks, now we have one for the rest of the sci-fi world. I grew up watching these eerie space vehicles land in fields where the locals would stare then shoot. Sometimes they would wait to see if someone or something would emerge, but, in the end, shooting always ensued. This is a fine addition to any geek or sci-fi buff's library. This book is a follow up on to the authors’ previous title the Spaceship Handbook. I recommend this to anyone who loves flying saucers and the genre from which they came. Here's to flying saucers, long may they invade fiction!

From the Publisher:

An ideal companion for any sci-fi fan, space buff, or alien aficionado, this movie guidebook discusses six of the most famous and significant science fiction films ever produced. Each film’s backstory and production histories along with plot synopses and detailed analyses of the featured flying saucers are included. Featuring film classics such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Forbidden Planet, This Island Earth, and War of the Worlds, this guidebook also includes an extensive look at the groundbreaking television show Lost in Space.

Pirate Parenting

With all the self-help books out there, it isn't any wonder that another, more helpful, book should emerge. Enter Pirate Parenting by Tim Bete. As one who admires the art of parody, I decided to take a gander at this unique parenting book. I mean, who isn't curious about pirates and their parenting techniques? Pirates had to be children first, they didn't start out that way. Thanks to Pirate Parenting, the underground world of raising a pirate has surfaced for the rest of us. No longer is it a dirty little secret only known among a select few. Now we can raise our little pirates out in the open. The book lays out the parenting tips in an easy to follow guide for new parents.
This book would make a great baby shower gift. You certainly wouldn't have to worry about the recipient already getting one. Also, humor is the greatest gift of all. Everyone knows an expectant mother needs all the humor she can get before the baby arrives. Better yet, give the book to the expectant father, who really needs a good laugh after putting up with the expectant mother for nine months.
From the publisher:
In Guide to Pirate Parenting you’ll learn:
• Ten benefits of raising a pirate
• At what age your child should be able to remove a bottlecap by taking out his glass eye and using it as an opener
• Which offense requires administering The Flying Dutchman Wedgie
• How to prevent sogging the quartermaster
• The best place to maroon your disobedient child
• How to remove chewing gum or a giant octopus from your child’s hair
• The difference between plundering and pillaging
• How to convert your minivan into a pirate schooner

Corny? yes, dull, no! Hey, if you don't like it after shelling out your hard earned money for it, you can always kidnap the author and make him walk the plank. At the very least, you'll feel better and know you did your part for the pirate community.
That about sums up this literary enigma full of fun and tongue-in-cheek advice. Of course, I like sock puppet shows, so what do I know?

Kindle 2

The Kindle, Amazon's latest greatest gadget, has been re-invented. Is it worth the high price tag?

The screen is not illuminated like a phone or laptop. As a result, the battery consumption is low. You use power only when you actually turn the page, The image remains on the screen without power. You don't have to worry about turning it off.

Its wireless connection. Thanks to Sprint’s cellular Internet service, is always online, like a cell phone.

This sort of service costs $60 a month for laptops, but Amazon pays the Kindle’s wireless bill, in hopes that you’ll buy the e-books. You can buy and download books in seconds.

It’s all a thousand times more convenient and more exciting than loading books from a PC with a cable, as you must with Sony’s Reader, the Kindle’s competition. As a bonus, the Kindle includes a simple Web browser, great for quick wireless Wikipedia checks and blog reading.

The new Kindle is priced at $359. Amazon calls it the Kindle 2. The upgrades are noticeable, yet minor.

The page-turn buttons are now much smaller — and the clicky part is on the inward edge of each button — so you no longer set off page turns just by picking the thing up.

The new, square plastic joystick gets the job done. The back is now brushed aluminum. Turning pages on the Kindle is a tad faster now. The screen shows 16 shades of gray now, not four, so photos look sharper; you can also zoom in and rotate them.Too bad the image isn't full color. Now that would be an improvement worth making. Amazon says that it is trying to keep the price from sky rocketing. I would hate to think what they consider sky rocketing since the current price is far from cheap.

The memory card is built in and not expandable. However, it holds 1.500 books, which is a tidy sum, to say the least.

The battery is also sealed inside. Amazon says, however, that it lasts 25 percent longer per charge (four days of reading with wireless turned on, or two weeks if it’s off). If that battery ever needs replacing, Amazon has to do it ($60).

The Kindle will also read aloud to you through its tiny stereo speakers or headphone jack, and even turn the pages as it goes. It is a computer voice with no emotion, which still makes the audio book more appealing. Nevertheless, it can come in handy when driving and listening.

As before, your books, annotations and clippings are auto-backed up on Amazon.com. But now, if you buy multiple Kindles, all of them remember where you stopped reading in each book. (This feature will be more useful if, as Amazon has hinted, you’ll soon be able to read your e-books on other machines, like your laptop or iPhone.

The Kindle catalog is bigger, too; now 240,000 books are available. New York Times bestsellers are $10 each, which is less than the hardcover editions. Older books run $3 to $6.

You can have any of 30 newspapers wirelessly beamed to your Kindle each morning ($10 to $14 a month) — minus ads, comics and crosswords. Magazines (22 so far, $1.50 to $3 monthly) and blogs ($2 a month) can arrive automatically, too.

Finally, you can send Word, text, PDF and JPEG documents to the Kindle using its private e-mail address for 10 cents each. Or transfer them over a USB cable for nothing.

Not to worry, the printed book is still alive and well. The average, budget conscious, individual will find the Kindle too pricey. Also, who can resist the second hand bookstore where you can buy tons of books for pennies on the dollar? Not only that, not every book is available in e-format.

The Kindle has the usual list of e-book perks: dictionary, text search, bookmarks, clippings, MP3 music playback and six type sizes. No trees die to furnish paper for Kindle books, either.

But as traditionalists always point out, an e-book reader is a delicate piece of electronics. It can be lost, dropped or fried in the tub. You’d have to buy an awful lot of $10 best sellers to recoup the purchase price. If Amazon goes under or abandons the Kindle, you lose your entire library. And you can’t pass on or sell an e-book after you’ve read it.

Some claim that the Kindle has missed its window. E-book programs are thriving on the far more portable (and far more popular) iPhones and iPod Touches.

Regardless, this is the dawn of a new age in publishing. E-books are convenient and won't fill up your book cases. That being said, however, book cases are a wonderful way to show case your library. In an e-reader, no one can see all the wonderful, intelligent books you've read. You will have to be content with the knowledge that only you know. Plus, how can you pass your book along to your friend or relative?

Honoring Edgar Allen Poe's 200th birthday

Edgar Allen Poe's 200th
birthday is a cause for
remembering the great author of wonderful, eerie tales of woe and suspense. He died at the young age of 40, yet is still remembered today through his literary works.
There are several sites who honor the famed author. There is the the Baltimore Poe House and Museum.
Richmond Virginia has even set up a site commemorating the author's 200th birthday.
Philadelphia has their own claim on the author. Not to be left out, Bronx, New York has preserved Poe's cottage for visitors who wish to see where Poe had written and lived. It was here that Poe's beloved wife, Virginia, died. Poe, himself, died two years later.
In honoring his bicentennial, we shall put an excerpt from one of his works.
"I looked upon the scene before me - upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain - upon the bleak walls - upon the vacant eye-like windows - upon a few rank sedges - and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees - with an utter depression of soul which I can compare to no earthly sensation more properly than to the after-dream of the reveller upon opium - the bitter lapse into everyday life - the hideous dropping off of the veil. There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart - an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the imagination could torture into aught of the sublime. What was it - I paused to think - what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the House of Usher?"

-All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.—A Dream within a Dream

The Longest Trip Home

John Grogan, author of the best selling book, Marley and Me, has penned his memoir entitled, The Longest Trip Home. Delving into his Detroit childhood and subsequent metamorphosis into adulthood, Grogan chronicles not only his life but the transformation of middle class suburbia in the 1960s and beyond. He comes to terms with his parent’s conservative Catholic teachings and the pilgrimages to holy sites disguised as family vacations. Grogan vividly draws the reader in to the world as he saw it. I could feel the unrest of the 60s and almost smell the church incense from his Catholic youth. He faced the usual adolescent hurdles as he began to question his own faith within the strict dogmatic teachings of his environment. His anecdotal humor took a light hearted glimpse of Catholic schools, from being an alter boy to his first confession. His narrative approach, like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, gave his youth a witty retrospective from the eyes of the man he had become. Grogan doesn’t blame his parents, which he could have easily done, but rather celebrates their stability and devotion. It’s refreshing to read a memoir from an author who is able to see all sides of his family without unnecessary finger pointing.

Grogan wraps up his book with a heart felt picture of his aging parents and the roles he and his siblings portrayed in their care. I would highly recommend this book for its moving sensitivity, humor and unique insight. It caused me relate to my own childhood amidst the backdrop of the turbulent 60s and 70s. The vibrant imagery and tender story made this book a wonderful, easy read.

There I Grew Up

In 1859 Abraham Lincoln wrote about his youth in Indiana when asked to enlighten the public about his life.
“We reached our new home about the time the State came into the union. It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals in the woods. There I grew up.”
Taking from this autobiographical paragraph, William Bartelt titled his book on Lincoln's time in Indiana. It is a thorough account of Lincoln's "coming of age" years when he and his family cleared the forest in southern Indiana in order to make a life for themselves. Bartelt, in true academic form, delved into the research and writings from Lincoln's contemporaries, including William Herndon, Lincoln's law partner and biographer. Herndon painstakingly interviewed and researched Lincoln's life in order to write a precise biography of his former partner and friend. He wanted, not only to enlighten, but to set the records straight. After Lincoln's death, many tales were being imparted about the former president which weren't always accurate. The public wanted a legend and the writers of the day set about giving them what they wanted. Bordering on legend and fantasy, Lincoln began to become something of a mythical icon.
Herndon interviewed Lincoln's family and friends who knew him best. Bartelt covered Herndon's interviews and his notes concerning these examinations. The book also reveals, through the words of those who knew him, Abraham Lincoln’s humor, empathy, and quest knowledge. It gives a distinct overview of the community where the Lincolns settled in southern Indiana during the years 1816 to 1830.
Bartelt is a retired educator who, for more than fifteen summers, was employed as a ranger and historian at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. He is a member of the Federal Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission's Advisory and Education Committees and serves as vice chair of the Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
Many books have been written about Abraham Lincoln and many more still to come. With the approaching Lincoln's bicentennial, this book makes a fine addition to any Lincoln library.

Fly -Like The Wind

Fly a work by Bridgette Z. Savage is written with the unique perspective of a horse. Fly. was a mare who served in the civil war with her owner, George M. Barrett. George treasured his beloved, Fly. When George enlisted in the Calvary at the start of the Civil War, he brought Fly with him. The army encouraged soldiers to bring their own horses. Fly, fit in well and was a quick learner. One day when George was sick, Fly broke free and joined the other horses and their riders. Fly followed the maneuvers perfectly. Fly's personality and dedication set her apart from the rest.
The editorial description: Based on the true story of a horse and her rider in the American Civil War, "Fly Like the Wind" recounts the adventures of two life-long friends from Posey County, Indiana. A young man and his treasured mare travel with the Indiana Cavalry into the deep South where their friendship and faithfulness carry them through unimaginable events. Strength of character and sense of purpose are important elements in this historic adventure. Woven around stories that have been told and retold for more than one hundred years, this book brings Fly to life in the hearts and minds of readers of all ages.

What's even more amazing is that you can actually see Fly's skeleton at the Workingman's Institute in New Harmony Indiana. This hidden treasure is a remarkable tribute to the mare who not only served but survived the Civil War. Not only that, Fly lived a long life for a horse. She was an example of what love and dedication can accomplish, even for a horse.

Neil Gaiman's Graveyard Book

For those of you who prefer to see the reader, here is a link to do just that. Neil's people have uploaded videos of him reading the chapters. They will, in time, upload videos of him reading each and every chapter. So, in effect, he will have gifted the entire book to his fans. Why, would he do this? First, I'm sure it won't stay up forever. Second, he has realized that it pays off in the long run. After having given out, for a limited time, American Gods and Neverwhere, his publisher has noted an increase in sales across the board for all of his books. It makes sense really. There are so many books available on this planet that it boggles the mind. If you can get someone to actually read your book you have a potential reader for all your books. You can't catch a fish without bait. Its a win win situation for the author and his fans or potential readers. How great is that?

Banned Books Week

This is Banned Books Week, an event founded by the American Library Assn. back in 1982 and observed -- and debated -- ever since. Is there a fine line between protecting impressionable minds vs. the freedom of speech? It seems obvious that young readers shouldn't read adult oriented material. When is it OK to ban a book from the entire reading population? Should all books be available to every grown adult? The debate over "dangerous" books is never ending. The definition of what is considered dangerous or harmful is arguably the most difficult definition to come up with. Maybe a book called "1001 ways to commit suicide" or possibly a book called "how to kill people without getting caught" could be considered dangerous. The problem is, it isn't that clear cut. You won't see books with those titles. You will see such subject matter hidden inside works of fiction and and non fiction. Who's to judge? I can honestly say I couldn't take on such an ominous task. Nonetheless, books Americans have grown to love have, over the course of history, been banned. The freedom of speech must be defended, but to what extent? We would like to think that we enjoy freedom in our American democracy. As such, we expect to be able to exercise the free choice in what we read and write. Do we need censorship? I would like to say emphatically, no! However, I know what danger lurks between the leaves of those pages of many marketed novels. Yet, who am I to say you can't read it?

Back from the Aether

Life has its way of grabbing you by the lapels and shaking you awake. I've been reading, writing and then reading again. That is when I'm not working for a living and maintaining a home. After a hiatus I'm back and loaded with books and things to discuss. Check back soon as I've got some great books to review and enlighten.

Book lovers love free books

A wonderful "YA" novel is available for free.I put "YA" in quotations because the book is great for all readers, it just happens to be marketed within this category. The author, Cory Doctorow, believes in the free flow of information for all. If you like the book, then by all means, buy a hard copy of it. Pass it along to your friends. Doctorow mentions how Neil Gaiman stated that he was all for free use and passing along books to friends. The idea is that authors can get their work read easily through the free exchange of words. In other words, if its readily available, it might just get read. How does one discover a new author? Not by going out and buying their books. Something has to make them want to buy it in the first place. More often than not, someone is loaned a book or picks up one at the library and finds a great read. As such, they are inclined to purchase the wonderful author's other books. Even the best marketed writers must grab an audience. It isn't easy in the competitive literary marketplace to find a reader. There are millions of titles full of millions of stories looking for you, the reader. When a book isn't sitting in the front display then it is more difficult to capture someone's attention. Offering your writing for free is a way of telling others that you are a good writer, go ahead, take a look. It is a win-win situation for both parties. The author gets noticed, and hopefully liked and the reader gets a free book. For one who loves to read and write I can definitely empathize with the need to connect people to great reads. Kudos to Gaiman and Doctorow who understand how it really works, at least in an ideal world.

Books, beautiful inside and out

As a self proclaimed book lover, I truly appreciate books. Now I've discovered there is an artist who appreciates books in a whole new way. Nicholas Jones is a book artist. He takes books and turns them into his own sculptural art forms. What a unique idea. I can't help but feel a bit sorry for the words written on the pages, which after being turned into art, are not able to be read and enjoyed. Of course, there are plenty of books out there, and unless he is sculpting the only copy, a duplicate can be read. Is he destroying the book or recreating it? It is obviously a little bit of both. Destroy, however, is a strong word which I don't think applies here in its literal sense. Jones is passionate about his art. In his own way, he is paying tribute to the books he uses. Not only is he honoring the author but also the publisher and printer. He is demonstrating that there are more uses for a book than just reading and shelving. I guess, if someone has an artist's eye, he could see design in just about anything. Take an inanimate object and carve, paint, paste, sculpt, etc and create something new and fresh. As one who appreciates art in all its forms, I can value Jones intrinsic view upon the printed word. He sees potential in the volumes of bound paper around him.
I remember, as a child, I was taught to create a Christmas tree out of a Reader's Digest. We folded each page into a triangle. Then we spray painted our fanned out Digests and added glittery decorations. I wonder if Jones had created the same thing as a child? I always thought that it was a wonderful craft idea but, even then, I hated to see the written words destroyed so easily. I knew that the Digests had already been read and would only end up in the trash. The Christmas trees created from them was surely a tribute to the small magazine.
Michelangelo once said that within every block of marble there is a great sculpture waiting to come out. Apparently, Jones sees the same thing in the books he uses. Here's to art in all its wonderful forms. May each one of us learn to see the potential in all things.

Support coming from all sides

Since Amazon blacklisted many of the POD and small publishers who refused to sign with Booksurge, support has been filtering in from all over. Several groups have stepped up to the plate like Nothing Binding, You Write On, Google, American Society of Journalists and Authors with more each day. On the surface, it makes sense that Amazon would support it's own POD business over its competitors. However, Amazon isn't just a POD publisher. Amazon is a huge retailer.
Walmart has spent years trying to be everything. They force manufacturers to cut back on their product quality in order to sell for less. Walmart even forces the music industry to cut out offensive lyrics in their CDs if they want to sell through America's largest retailer. Amazon, like Walmart, seems to be dealing in ultimatums rather than good old fashioned marketing.
Booksurge customers are beginning to speak up about the poor quality of their books. Amazon has to decide who they want to be. If they want to be a huge online retailer, then they must play by the rules that govern retailers. If they choose to be a publisher, then they must follow those guidelines. The laws which curtail monopolistic practices must be carefully considered when analyzing this latest move by Amazon. Amazon depends on the publishers more than the publishers depend on Amazon. Publishers have shown, much to Amazon's chagrin, that they can sell their own books very well. Read this. Without the product to sell, Amazon wouldn't exist. There comes a time when the hard working manufacturers, publishers, writers, etc. must band together in the effort of fair play. There is power in numbers. Amazon's numbers exist because of the millions of people behind the products they sell. Most independent countries of the world exist because a group of people banned together and said "enough!"

Amazon monopolizes the small publishing industry

Amazon has decided to remove the "buy" button from all self published and select small or independently published books. Amazon has decided that if the company doesn't print their books through their own Booksurge, then they will stop selling their books. Not only is this a monopolistic attempt to rule the publishing industry, it is also unfair. Authors deserve to have their dreams encouraged. A book will stand on its own merits regardless of how it was published. The book, The Celestine Prophecy, started out as a "self published" title before being picked up by a mainstream publisher. It has since gone on to top the New York Time's Best Seller List and has been made into a movie. This is, by far, not the only book to have become successful after a small start.
There is a petition against Amazon's strong arm tactics here.
Amazon, like Walmart, has become too big for their own good. What started out as a wonderful avenue for readers and writers to unite has turned into a "big brother" type of company who can tell readers what to buy. Amazon is still allowing secondary sellers to peddle the books they removed. However, the prices on some of the books are inflated and unfair. Also, when buying from a secondary seller, you must pay shipping costs on each seller. That would really add up if you have more than one seller in your basket.
Book burnings and banned books have long since been condemned in modern society. Amazon must be brought to task for their refusal to sell competitor's books. Otherwise, the millions of authors who are ostracized should ban together and create their own Amazon-like company where ALL books are sold in the effort of fair play.

Coraline in 3D

Neil Gaiman's book, Coraline, is on its way to becoming a 3D animated film. Reminiscent of The Nightmare Before Christmas or Corpse Bride, Coraline is a dark fantasy with a whimsical side to it.
The official link is here.
Coraline, who discovers a door to an alternate universe, journeys into a bizarre domain of talking cats and chocolate eating dogs. In this parallel world resides her "alternate" parents who enthusiastically greet her. Eventually, Coraline begins to miss her "real" parents. She ensues a dangerous, precarious journey back to find the "real" world in which she left.
Gaiman, a master story teller, weaves a full tapestry of fantastic happenings and wonderful mysteries. If the movie is half as good as the book, it should be a sight to see. Here is a trailor.

When I Crossed No-Bob

This book is the sequel to, How I Found The Strong, by Margaret McMullan. Fresh from the Civil War, families in Mississippi strive to adjust to the reunited country with all of its new problems. The book is written from the perspective of Addy, an abandoned twelve-year-old girl who was taken in by the reluctant Frank Russell and his new bride. Frank's, coming-of-age story was portrayed in the prequel, How I found the Strong. Now, Frank is married and facing a life of added responsibilities due to the addition of Addy. Addy's past and family reputation precedes her as she is from the aggressive O'Donnell clan.
Addy's attempt to please is overshadowed by her former life as an O'Donnell. Unfortunately, the past which she is determined to defeat comes back to haunt her. Addy, like the man who took her in, must face some tough decisions.
McMullan takes the idealistic adolescent girl and infuses a coarse, tomboyish charm. Addy is full of the idiosyncrasies and flaws which come from living a hard life. Addy's loyalties are put to the test. She rises above her circumstances and demonstrates that ancestry doesn't have to define you. No, Addy proves that character is not guided by blood.
Written in the language of the times, this story develops a genre all its own. Historical references along with life changing events weave an intense vignette of post war life in nineteenth century Mississippi.
No-Bob, like the patch of woods it is named after, takes the reader off the beaten track deep into the grueling life facing the war-torn, post-war south.

Free Book!

Author Neil Gaiman and his publisher, Harper Collins, asked fans what Gaiman book would they like free. The votes were tallied and the winner was American Gods. On his blog, Gaiman has posted the link to the free book. He asked that everyone spread the word since it will only be free for a limited time. So, I'm doing my part and letting people know. What a great idea this is. It gets his work out there for those who had never read it, plus it promotes reading. Its a win win situation. So read and enjoy.

Why writers have day jobs.

One case in point illustrates the reason why many, very good writers, must work in big buildings following corporate warlords in order to survive. The author of The Cheetah Girls thought life was taking a turn for the better when Disney opted to use her stories in a movie franchise. We're talking Disney here. Deborah Gregory had visions of a debt-free world where she could actually live off her craft. See link
What wonder of wonders, her creation, The Cheetah Girls, had actually hit the big time. Now, as time has passed and merchandising has hit an all time high, Deborah Gregory has yet to see her riches! It turns out that Hollywood accounting is so creative that it baffles the mind. The corporations behind the movie/book franchise is covered but not the creative genius behind it. To think that during the writer's strike, there were those who actually accused the writers of being greedy. We need to have the accounting books, for writing related franchises, laid out for all to see. People would be amazed at how much the corporations are making off the creative minds who feed them the ideas that make them rich. The profit is sometimes funneled into the expense and overhead category. Those who work for the corporation could, say, go to Macy's and buy a new wardrobe. Then, they could write off the cost as a work-related expense. This happens more often than most people realize. The problem isn't just the questionable expenses, though. The problem is that once the money is pushed through the accounting funnel, there doesn't seem to be any left for the creative mind that started the whole thing to begin with.