Holiday . . . it would be so nice.

For a bargain lover like me, this weekend is a very very special weekend.  No, it's not my birthday (though it sort of feels like it.)  It's not even an Anthropologie sale.

But it IS the annual tax-free holiday in Massachusetts!  (I know, those of you in New Hampshire are laughing at me, not with me.)

Since we're in the market for living room furniture, I've been talking with a lot of retailers in advance of the weekend.  Quite a few of them didn't know the rules, so ever the intrepid lawyer, I took it upon myself to do a bit of research on the mass.gov website.  If you'll be making purchases this weekend, here's what you need to know:

• Only certain items qualify for the exemption.  This includes items purchased for personal use only (not business).  Among the items it doesn't apply to are motor vehicles, tobacco items, services, and meals.
• The exemption applies only on qualifying items retailing for less than $2500.  BUT -- and this is very important -- if you're purchasing multiple items, so long as each individual item is under $2500, there is no upper limit on the tax-free amount you can purchase.  So don't let Best Buy or Design Within Reach tell you that they need to invoice each item separately.  That's just bullshit to get you to pay multiple delivery fees.
• Internet sales are also included in the tax-free holiday, so long as the item(s) are paid for in full this weekend and even if the delivery date is later.
• Unlike in previous years, alcohol is included in the exemption.  So purchase your holiday bubbly early!

If you're interested in the nitty gritty, all the details are available from the mass.gov website here.  The website also has lots of helpful examples to clarify the rules.  I'd suggest taking a printout of the applicable page with you on your shopping trips, so that you can gently, but authoritatively, remind clueless sales clerks of the rules.

Image Source

We'll be taking advantage of the holiday to splurge on my beloved Noguchi table.  Oh how it makes my heart go pitter patter.

If you're in Massachusetts, will you be going shopping this weekend?  What's on your must-buy list?

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Skating Rink at the Court!

My favorite dean got formally nominated as a Justice this morning!

Image Source: NY Times

Yes, she's an academic superstar.  Yes, she's a badass in front of the Court (she gave Roberts a steady death stare during the whole Citizens United argument).  Sure, she's a master power broker and peace maker (she wrangled the Harvard Law School faculty into submission for goodness sake).  But really I'm excited because:

• She turned a mudpit in front of Harkness into an ice skating rink.  That's right -- she was the Lesley Knope of HLS.  I can only imagine what awesomeness she will transform the old, nasty Supreme Court gym into . . . . Justice O'Connor used to do her Jane Fonda tapes up there, so maybe in her honor, Justice Kagan will build a hiphop studio and hire Shane Sparks as the official SCOTUS choreographer.  Or maybe she'll kick it old-school, turn the gym into a retro roller rink, and invite Kristen Chenoweth for a skate-off and duet?
• She put free tampons into every ladies' bathroom at the law school.  FREE tampons.  I didn't have to go to CVS for a year.  She will bring on an era of complimentary feminine hygiene products at the Court.  This should reassure the misogynist assholes: even if all the lady Justices get on the same cycle, they'll be well equipped.
• She's just like us!  The last time I saw Dean Kagan, she was coming out of Brooks Pharmacy with a ginormous 24-roll pack of toilet paper.  Not only does the woman have a healthy GI system, she also does her own shopping.  This is not some hoity toity Justice who will forget the little people.  She'll be standing right behind you at the Walgreens.

In all seriousness (and I don't usually post about serious things on this blog), I am really excited about this nomination.  She's brilliant, fearless, and focused, but also personable and thoughtful.  I don't have any delusion that she, alone, will shift the trajectory of the Roberts Court, but I have no doubt that she's going to put up quite a fight.

It's a good day!

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