Posted on 03/28/2013 5:46:35 PM PDT by a fool in paradise
This video image from an Internal Revenue Service video shows an IRS employee portraying Mr. Spock.
William Shatner has made up his mind about the Star Trek parody video produced by the Internal Revenue Service. He tweeted:
"So I watched that IRS video. I am appalled at the utter waste of US tax dollars."
If you haven't been paying attention, the IRS released the video last week after CBS News filed a Freedom of Information Act Request. The video, which shows IRS employees boldly going "where no government employee has gone before," was supposed to be used for training purposes.
It's pretty elaborate, showing the inside of the spaceship made famous by the TV series. The crew is approaching planet Notax, which the characters, including Mr. Spock, say has many problems including "alien identity theft."
But since CBS revealed that video and another parodying Gilligan's Island cost tax payers $60,000, the agency has said its making was a mistake.
CBS reported:
"IRS Acting Commissioner Steven Miller said in a statement that one of the two videos was played in 400 locations and saved taxpayers $1.5 million over what it would have cost to train employees in person.
"Nonetheless, the IRS issued a statement that reads: 'The space parody video from 2010 is not reflective of overall IRS video efforts, which provide critical information to taxpayers and cost-effective employee training critical to running the nation's tax system. In addition, the IRS has instituted tough new standards for videos to prevent situations similar to the 2010 video.'
"In response to the release of the Gilligan's Island parody, the IRS said in a statement, 'This approach reflects a newer IRS model of using video to dramatically save on training and travel costs. Using video provides a more cost-efficient way of doing business than face-to-face meetings.'"
We'll leave you with the video itself, so you can make up your mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjYrursFkJQ
(also here's the Gilligan's Island IRS inhouse training video we paid for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jW04WmOw7s
Kirk for president!!
The Shat hit the fans.
He would need big time Bimbo eruption task force
Don’t bother checking out Ginger and Maryann in the Gilligan video.
As training videos go, it’s not the worst. It probably goes over better with employees.
It would be interesting to see parodies of other shows, say “Roots”. It could show hapless citizens captured and doomed to live out their lives in tax bondage. Even their children, and their children’s children would spend their lives in tax bondage. Their former tax-free lives would be but a dream. The IRS employees would learn ways to extract the most money from them.
I am open to correction, but from what I have read Bill is a good liberal.
I like the guy, but I don’t give a damn what liberals think.
PINGing for further review.
Wow... Whoever made that star trek training video should beat with a stick....
Too painful to watch the whole thing...
You and me both, Billy boy.
"The crew is approaching planet Notax, which the characters, including Mr. Spock, say has many problems including 'alien identity theft.'"
Shatner is Canadian. He was rumoured to be a possible appointment to be Governor General of Canada (ceremonial representative of the monarch) but when word got to him he said he would have turned the offer down. It was never officially offered to him.
Tony Williams new Lifetime: Mr. Spock:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtD8IQLlfqU
yaddadoodle
He found people that overact more then him.
The production values make public access look epic by comparison. And this cost $60,000? Who’s nephew got the gig?
Not eligible, he’s Canadian.
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