He sometimes wears gloves and a baseball cap during the crimes. Couple sues IRS, gets their refund Trying to claim a $2,513 tax refund that the IRS would not budge on after an idntity thief filed a fake return, a Largo couple took the matter to federal court last week. Days later, the refund has come through. The couple, Jay and Christine Gordon, learned that someone had filed a fraudulent 2010 return using Jay Gordon's identity. They later filed a real one. But their attorney, James A. Staack, said the IRS was sitting on the refund and filed the lawsuit in federal court in Tampa to get it. On Friday, while checking their bank account, Christine Gordon discovered the refund had been deposited. Staack said the couple received $2,570 — more than they were owed most likely due to interest. 

It's unclear if the Gordons will continue with the suit, which seeks class-action status. "The Gordons are no longer good plaintiffs because they received payment (and) the other side will argue they don't have standing," Staack said. But others also have come forward, interested in joining the suit. "We're contemplating amending the suit," he said. Park's ice rink sees fewer skaters Just over 20,000 skaters hit the ice rink at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park over the holidays — about 2,600 fewer than last year. Kitty Lyons, executive director of Friends of Tampa Recreation Inc., attributed it to several factors, including warm weather and a perception by some parents that Occupy Tampa protesters also in the park would hassle their children. She said an informal poll of mothers' groups found that some parents believed the park was filled with protesters who'd block the ice rink. In reality, she said, "it was 10 people" who typically were there. The ice rink opened in early November and closed New Year's Day.

She also asked me why I started smoking all those years ago. I remembered why instantly, and told her that I always thought smoking made me feel sophisticated. After tipping the waitress, I hooked up my I-pod and listened to Saxophonist Frank Morgan blowing a few long notes on the drive back to the newsroom. His sophisticated music reminded me to take deep breaths and relax when nicotine cravings kick in again. I have to tell you about my drive to work. I thought I’d have a hard time driving past the gas station where I’ve stopped to buy cigarettes at for the past few years. It wasn’t that tough after all. In fact, the only temptation I had was to lower my window and scream “suckers.” Keeping Busy Experts say it’s important to keep busy when you’re quitting. I spent the morning keeping my hands occupied. I’ve been typing up story notes, transcribing interviews, preparing tonight’s 10 pm news story, and snapping the rubber band around my wrist. In my view, there’s nothing wrong with a little pain aversion therapy. I’ve also been walking out in front of the studios and avoiding my smoking colleagues who light up out back. I’m not judging them, but I think the smell of smoke would simply be too much to handle. 

I think the real challenge for me will be when I get back home tonight. Normally, I smoke when I read or watch television. If the urges peak tonight, I may call my quit coach or wait until the Chantix folks make their evening phone call around 8pm. Another option I'm considering is putting on some comfortable shoes, a warm coat and hat, and taking a walk around the neighborhood. Heck. I may need the diversion. Besides, everyone who knows me understands I could use a little exercise. I've worked too hard planning Quit Day and I have no intention of blowing it tonight. Sure, the first couple of days will be hard, but then I’ll have a life time of freedom.

 Another entrepreneur, Ursula Frerichs, from the UMW association of mid-sized businesses, said: "Additional breaks for smokers should be banned. Non-smokers should not be put at a disadvantage." But the call ran into immediate opposition. Such an initiative "would hardly contribute to a good atmosphere in companies," said Martina Perreng from the DGB trade union federation. Around one-quarter of Germans are smokers -- about average for the European Union according to Eurostat figures -- and the tobacco lobby has a strong influence in the country. The last of Germany's 16 states made lighting up in bars and restaurants largely illegal from July 2008, driving many smokers out of pubs. However, the law was riddled with loopholes and many pub owners managed to circumvent it.

According to the Alberta Tobacco Reduction Strategy, the number of teenaged smokers -- between the ages of 15 and 19 -- dropped from 24 per cent to 19 per cent in 2003. The decrease came of the heels of a similar price increase in 2002. According to the latest stats from Alberta Health Services, 15 per cent of teens in that age category currently smoke. The results of the Ipsos-Reid poll are considered accurate within 3.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

Mr Chenda said the measures his ministry has taken will also enable the board to start operating in accordance with the financial regulations that Government has put in place. “I want to emphasise that the actions I have taken are designed to send a message to all those serving in public institutions that appropriate action will be taken against them if found wanting. “The time when audit reports were counted for nothing is over. The Patriotic Front government will work tirelessly to curb misuse of public resources,” Mr Chenda said. The minister said the suspended officers are chief executive officer, finance and administration manager and the operations manager. He directed the three suspended officers to stay away from their offices until the audit is concluded.

“As the nation is aware, President Michael Sata has on numerous occasions alluded to the Patriotic Front’s commitment to fighting corruption in its various forms in our country. There must be accountability, transparency and honesty in how public resources are used. “Year-in year-out, Zambians from all walks of life have been lamenting the fact that even when the Auditor General has exposed serious irregularities in the use of public resources, no corrective action has ever been taken by supervisory authorities,” he said. He also said Government has started reviewing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to help align it with the PF government’s vision of enhancing food security in the country. Mr Chenda said Government is happy that more vulnerable but viable farmers are receiving farm inputs under FISP and that it will continue working out effective interventions to ensure more farmers are put on the programme. He said Government will soon pay farmers who have not yet been paid their dues for the maize they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency in the 2011 crop marketing season. Mr Chenda said Government has so far paid out K2.2 trillion to farmers and that it is only remaining with a balance of K187 billion before finishing paying all the farmers.