In an interview with “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday evening, Steve Jobs’ biographer Walter Isaacson revealed that the Apple founder had actually met his biological father face-to-face once – even though neither man had known at the time.  The extremely private Jobs sought out his biological mother and sister in the mid 1980s, saying that he felt something was missing from his life.  He became very close with his biological sister, novelist Mona Simpson.  But, after learning a bit about his father, Abdulfattah Jandali, who had left his mother when Mona was still young, he decided against it.  “I learned a little bit about him, and I didn’t like what I learned,” Jobs says in new audio recordings released by Isaacson.  “I asked her to not tell him that we’d ever met and not tell him anything about me.”  But, as it turns out they had already met, even though neither man realized it.  When Mona Simpson tracked down Jandali, he told her about a restaurant he used to manage in Silicon Valley that was very popular.  “Everybody used to come there… even Steve Jobs used to come there,” he told her.  “He was a great tipper.”  Simpson was shocked, but didn’t reveal that Jobs was Jandali’s son.  “I remember meeting the owner who was from Syria, and it was most certainly him, and I shook his hand and he shook my hand and that’s all,” Jobs told Isaacson.  Jandali, now 80, said he sent Jobs’ birthday emails after he found out he was his father, and claims that one time he received a response that just said “Thank you.”

In a scene that was eerily reminiscent of Black Friday, Target’s website crashed several times throughout the day yesterday and more than hundred shoppers lined up at many of its stores early in the morning on Tuesday for a sale of limited offerings of its Missoni for Target collection of bikes, luggage, clothes and housewares.  The 400-piece line made by the Italian luxury knitwear designer Missoni exclusively for the “cheap chic” retailer features its trademark zig-zag patterns for between $2.99 for stationary and $599.99 for patio furniture (a fraction of the price of the designer’s real duds that can cost $595 to $1,500).

So-called limited partnerships, in which high-end designers create cheaper versions of their fashions for lower-end stores, have become popular in recent years because they appeal to cost-conscious customers who want to be stylish but aren’t willing to pay designer prices.  At a time when Americans are watching every dollar they spend, the limited-time offerings are also part of a growing strategy by retailers to spur impulse buys by creating a sense of urgency for shoppers to buy.

Swedish retailer H&M, which caters to 20- and 30-somethings with trendy clothes, often attracts long lines at its stores that reach around the block when it offers limited-run affordable collaborations from upscale designers like Jimmy Choo.  It also will be launching a less expensive version of the Italian designer Versace’s fashion collection in November.

Target, in particular, has become known for creating a lot of buzz for its limited partnerships with designers and fashion brands, including its latest success with Liberty of London last year.  Target offered 300 items with the designer, which is known for its floral prints, and sold out of most of the merchandise in a couple of days.  Likewise, Target Corp., based in Minneapolis, worked hard to create buzz around the Missoni by Target collection.  Target declined to comment on how much the company spent on marketing, but it targeted social media sites like Twitter and had ads on TV and in Vogue magazine.  Obviously, their marketing campaign worked and was worth every penny they spent.

Netflix is going to raise the monthly prices of their plan that lets subscribers watch unlimited movies and video on demand and get DVDs by mail by 60%.  Customers who want both services will pay $7.99 per month to rent one DVD at a time plus $7.99 for unlimited streaming, or a total of $15.98 per month. The previous cost of this plan was $9.99 a month.

“We are separating unlimited DVDs by mail and unlimited streaming into separate plans to better reflect the costs of each and to give our members a choice: a streaming only plan, a DVD only plan or the option to subscribe to both,” Netflix Vice President of Marketing Jessie Becker wrote in a company blog post.

“Given the long life we think DVDs by mail will have, treating DVDs as a $2 add on to our unlimited streaming plan neither makes great financial sense nor satisfies people who just want DVDs,” Becker wrote.

Netflix announced the new prices on Tuesday.  The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Unlimited DVD-only plans will cost $7.99 for one at a time or $9.99 for two at a time.  The changes take effect immediately for new subscribers, and in September for current customers.

Extreme couponing has brought buying in bulk to a whole new level.  Yes, these people are saving a lot of money, but at what cost?  Time, sanity?  For the average person, when it comes to buying in bulk, savings can be hit or miss.  Stocking up on the wrong things can lead to waste and spoilage.  However, if you pick up the right items and find the right coupons for these purchases, bulk buying can save you a small fortune.  Here are ten items you should buy in bulk whenever possible.

1. Toilet Paper

We all need toilet paper and it doesn’t go bad.  So why not buy it in bulk?  Buying in bulk can be up to 50 percent cheaper than just buying a few rolls at a time.  So find a place to store some extra (like under your bed or furniture with storage in it) and save yourself a few bucks.

2. Soap and Shampoo

Soap and shampoo are two more things everyone needs.  Buying these items in bulk saves a few cents an ounce on shampoo or per bar of soap.  While this may not seem like very much, over time it definitely adds up.

3. Alcohol

Would you rather pay $8 for a 6-pack or $14 for 20-pack?  Definitely go with the 20-pack so you can save some money and don’t have to hit up the beer store the next time you want a beer (and also save money on gas because you will be making fewer trips to the store).

4. Office Supplies

Next time you need office supplies such as pens, folders, or staples, be sure to buy them in bulk.  Doing this can save you up to 50 percent off the price you would have paid if you didn’t buy in bulk.

5. Toothbrushes/Toothpaste

If you practice good dental hygiene, you purchase toothbrushes and toothpaste every so often.  You could either buy two toothbrushes for $8 or six for $14. Similarly, you could buy a tube of toothpaste for $5 or get three for $10.

6. Vitamins

Spending money in the name of health is always a good idea.  You can save a few cents per pill by buying in bulk.  Again, this may not seem like very much, but over time the savings add up.

7. Non-Perishable

Food items when it comes to buying food items that will not perish quickly, such cereal, tuna, or soft drinks, opt to buy in bulk.  Doing so is 30 percent cheaper than just buying one box, can, or drink at a time.

8. Blank CDs and DVDs

Next time you want to burn a CD or make a DVD, buy in bulk.  Sure, you may end up with enough blank CDs or DVDs to last you the rest of your life, but you will save 25 percent off the price you would have paid had you not bought in bulk.

9. Detergent

Everyone does laundry, and there is no way to get around it.  By spending a little more to get a huge tub of detergent instead of a smaller one, you can save up to 17 cents a load.

Unless you’re ridiculously lucky or have extreme tolerance, you’ve probably had your share of annoying co-workers over the years.  Here are the six most common types and how to deal with them:

1. The interrupter: Whenever you’re talking with a coworker, this is the person who always finds a way to interject themselves.  They answers your questions to other people, they turn the conversation around to focus on them, and you can’t have one private conversation without them ending up in it.

The solution: There’s only one way to make it stop.  Tell it like it is.  The next time this happens, say something like, “Actually, I really wanted to get Jane’s input on this. Would you give us a minute?”  If they don’t back off, say it again: “Thanks. Actually, I really want to talk to Jane about it.”  Say it nicely, but be firm.  Think about it as though you are talking to a 5-year old.

2. The know-it-all: This is the person that has an opinion about everything and loves to tell you how you can do YOUR job better.

The solution: Let it roll right off your back.  The more you ignore this person and don’t let them get to you, the better.  When they offer an unsolicited opinion, say, “Thanks, I’ll think about that.”  And if you find yourself getting frustrated, comfort yourself with the knowledge that this person is more than likely considered obnoxious by many; you’re definitely not the only one annoyed.

3. The slacker: You’re working away and she’s playing on Facebook or online shopping.  Every day.  It’s obvious to you and your other co-workers that she’s not pulling her weight, but for some reason your boss doesn’t do anything about it.

The solution: Try to ignore it.  Sure, it’s possible your boss is letting her get away with it, but it’s also possible your boss is addressing it behind the scenes; you probably wouldn’t know about it if that was the case.  Either way, the answer for you is the same: If it’s not affecting your work, it’s really not your business.  If it does affect your ability to do your job (because you have to take on her work, or you’re dependent on her work in order to do your own job), then raise it with your boss from that perspective, keeping the focus on how it affects your productivity.

4. The grumpy guy: The grump exudes negativity.  Suggestions, new practices, the new guy down the hall – he hates them all and he makes sure people know it.

The solution: Have a sense of humor.  Try to see this person as your own office Eeyore.  If that doesn’t help, remember that this person is miserable.  Happy people don’t behave that way, and remembering that might make dealing with him somewhat easier.  He may actually be dealing with other things at home contributing to his mood.

5. The speakerphone lover: For some reason, this co-worker always plays back her voicemail messages on speakerphone … or worse, has whole conversations on speakerphone, with an utter disregard for how annoying it is to those around her.

The solution: Be straightforward.  Say something like, “Hey Meredith, would you mind taking your phone off speaker? It makes it hard to concentrate.”

6. The blabbermouth: The blabbermouth goes on and on and on.  They’re especially talented at roping you into long conversations that never end when you’re on deadline or trying to make a phone call.

The solution: Be assertive, and don’t let the blabbermouth have so much power over how you spend your time.  Speak up! Say, “Sorry, but I’m on deadline and I’ve got to finish something up.”  If they continue talking, be even more direct: “I need to stop talking and get back to work.”

In fact, with most types of annoying co-workers, the solution is simply to be straightforward and assertive.  Not angry, not hostile, just direct – but that’s something that can make people anxious, so it’s important to know that it’s really okay to speak up for yourself in a matter-of-fact, professional way.  And if that fails, just be glad you don’t live with these people.

So your 2010 taxes are done, or they should be if you didn’t file an extension.  But, as we all know, nothing is certain except death and taxes, so you might as well start planning for next year.  While you actually have your 2010 tax forms and documents handy, this is the perfect time to analyze last year’s finances and use those insights to lower your taxes in 2011.   The sooner you get started, the more you can save.  Here are 5 easy steps that you can follow to start your saving:

1. Avoid a Big Tax Refund

You think it’s fantastic when you get a tax refund, right?  Wrong.  A refund is really just the return of a year-long, interest-free loan that you graciously extended to that thrifty spender known as Uncle Sam.  Even with interest rates in the toilet, earning some money is better than none at all, right?

You can do much smarter things with that money, like putting it into a retirement plan or a college savings fund, or maybe paying down outstanding debt.  So if you will be receiving a 2010 refund of more than a few thousand dollars and you’re an employee, adjust your withholding at work.  If you’re self-employed, lower your quarterly estimated tax payments accordingly.

2. Save More in Your Retirement Plan

If you are not maxing out your employer-sponsored, tax-deferred retirement plan, you’re missing out on the single best opportunity to save on taxes.  The idea of saving more may be difficult, especially as the costs of gas and food are soaring.  But if you can squeeze just an extra 1 or 2 percent out of your paycheck and pour that cash into the plan, you’ll reduce your taxable income and your 2011 tax bill.

Doing so might also bring your income under certain thresholds that will let you qualify for bigger tax breaks you’d otherwise miss — such as personal exemptions, itemized deductions, an Individual Retirement Account, the Child Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

3. Look into Muni Bonds and Funds

If you have money in interest-paying bank accounts, CDs, money market funds, or taxable bonds or bond funds, you could be adding to your tax liability.  High-income taxpayers need to be especially concerned, since their tax liability could rise with the 2012 expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts.  You may want to consider moving some of those taxable savings and investments into tax-free municipal bond funds. (Yes, those same bonds that Meredith Whitney trash-talked on “60 Minutes.”) Since that time, investors have been bailing out of municipal bonds, fearing that states, towns and municipalities could default on their obligations.  That exodus has forced prices down and yields up.

4. Lower Your Mutual Fund Taxes

Now that stock and bond markets have recovered from their bear-market lows, be on the lookout for mutual fund taxable distributions.  A distribution is one of the most aggravating features of a managed mutual fund: You are on the hook for capital gains on the fund’s investments as well as the fund’s tax liability.  You may even be taxed on gains the fund incurred before you owned it!  One way to limit the damage before you invest is to ask the fund company if it will be making a distribution soon.  If the answer is “yes,” hold off buying until afterward.  Or you might invest in funds with low turnover ratios, such as index funds, since they’ll be less likely to throw off taxable distributions.  A turnover ratio below 10 percent is generally tax-efficient.

5. Keep Better Tax Records

Organizing your tax records might not only lower your tax liability, it could help you get rid of the tax-filing headache sooner.  Create a file called “Taxes 2011” and throughout the year toss all your paperwork into it: business receipts; bank, brokerage, and mutual fund statements; W-2s; 1099s; property tax bills; and mortgage interest statements.  Also keep track of your purchase price, commission, and sales price for any investment transactions in 2011.  You’ll be much happier come April 2012.

And while you’re in the organizing groove, now is the perfect time to purge your files of unnecessary statements and documents.  Get ready to shred!

Americans have tried just about everything to get out of paying their taxes but very few ever work.  The IRS recently released its annual The Truth About Frivolous Tax Arguments report, which outlines not only the most popular arguments people have presented over the years to avoid paying their taxes, but also the policy statements and inevitable tax court decisions the government has used to debunk them.  “Anyone who contemplates arguing on legal grounds against paying their fair share of taxes should first read the 84-page document,” the IRS said in a statement.

Taxpayers’ contentions have run the gamut over the years.  Whether you’re arguing that you don’t have to pay your taxes based on moral grounds or because only “employees” of the government are subject to federal income tax, though, it’s likely to cost you a significant amount of time and a decent sum of money.

Back in 2006, Congress increased the penalty for frivolous tax returns to $5,000 from $500.  The penalty is applied when a person submits a tax return and any portion of the submission is based on a position the IRS identifies as frivolous.  Filers typically present forms that indicate they have no income or tax liability, also known as a “zero return.”  Their reasons for not paying usually come up in tax court when the filers try to contest an audit or lien.

Contention: Taxpayers can refuse to pay income taxes on religious or moral grounds.

The IRS says taxpayers have frequently used the First Amendment to argue that they don’t have to pay taxes because it is against their moral or religious beliefs, since it says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”  The Supreme Court has frequently asserted that saying your religious beliefs are in conflict with the payment of taxes provides no basis for refusing to pay, though.

Contention: Paying taxes violates the Fifth Amendment.

The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution says a person shall not be “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”  This might sound like a sound argument if the law hadn’t already decided it is well within the government’s rights to charge residents to live here.  According to the IRS, the Supreme Court stated in Brushaber v. Union Pacific R.R., 240 U.S. 1, 24 (1916), that “it is … well settled that [the Fifth Amendment] is not a limitation upon the taxing power conferred upon Congress by the Constitution.”

Contention: Taxes are a form of servitude in violation of the 13th Amendment.

Residents have argued that paying taxes is a form of servitude, which is problematic, since the 13th Amendment prohibits slavery (as well as the imposition of involuntary servitude).  Courts have consistently found that paying taxes is not considered forced servitude, though, calling the claim “clearly unsubstantial and without merit,” as well as “far-fetched and frivolous.”

Keep in mind that the IRS does have payment plans available for taxpayers who find themselves significantly impaired financially.  In fact, the IRS recently made changes to its lien system, the main way the agency penalizes people who can’t pay their taxes on time.

This year, the IRS wants a Schedule M filled out if you file a long Form 1040 or the slightly shorter Form 1040A.  Taxpayers who can file the shortest return, 1040EZ, will simply use a work sheet on the back of that form.  Calculations made on Schedule M will help taxpayers determine whether they received the full credit in their paychecks or are due more money from the credit.  Once you complete Schedule M, you’ll transfer the dollar figure you come up with on line 11 of that document to either line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A.  Form 1040EZ filers will take their work sheet calculation and enter it on the EZ’s line 8.

All these lines on the various tax returns are in the section that records all your tax payments. This includes withholding amounts from your W-2s, certain 1099s and any estimated tax payments you made.  Essentially, at filing time the credit is treated as additional withholding that can increase your refund or reduce any tax you might owe.

Because the Making Work Pay credit was in effect for all of 2010, there shouldn’t be as much filing confusion as there was at this time last year.  Also, retirees didn’t receive a special payment last year, so they don’t have to file the form this year.  But there still could be some issues with claiming the credit, especially for higher income earners.  The Making Work Pay amount is reduced for joint filers whose modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI, is between $150,000 and $190,000.  Single taxpayers whose MAGI is more than $75,000, but less than $95,000, also won’t get the full credit amount.  If your adjusted income is greater than the maximum for your filing status, then you won’t get any of the credit.  Also, the Making Work Pay tax credit is not available to nonresident alien workers or to individuals who can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.

What do you need to do to get your credit score in the highest range possible?  Before you make any changes, you need to know the most important information used from your credit report in determining your score.   Here are the two things that account for two-thirds of your credit score:

Your payment history: Having a long history of making payments on time on all types of credit accounts is one of the most important items lenders consider before approving you for a loan.

Owed versus available credit: This compares the amount you owe versus the total amount of credit available.  Your credit score can be lower when you use more than 50 percent of your available credit for each account.  The simple reason – when you are close to maxing out on all of your credit limits, lenders see you as a higher risk and more likely to make late payments in the near future.

There are, however, three other factors that account for about a third of your credit score:

Length of credit history: In general, a credit report containing a list of accounts opened for at least 10 years or more will help your credit score.  The score considers your oldest active account and the average age of all accounts.

New credit: Opening several new credit accounts in a short period of time can lower your credit score.  Also, multiple credit report inquiries may be seen as risky credit behavior on the near horizon, and can therefore lower your credit score.

Type of credit you use: Your mix of credit cards, retail accounts, finance company loans, and mortgage loans is considered.

Your credit score ignores your age, salary, and occupation.  It also does not take into account financial gifts, support you receive, or your financial assets.  For this reason, credit scores are less important for borrowers who seek loans that take these factors into account.

About 13 percent of people have credit scores of 800 or higher.  If you look at their credit profile, they have:

• four to six credit card accounts
• no late payments in the past seven years
• at least one installment loan – a mortgage or a car loan (with excellent payment history)
• an average of 10 years credit history per account and a few accounts with 20 years of good history
• a low number of credit inquiries (fewer than three in the past six months)
• no bankruptcies, foreclosures, charge-offs or collections
• debt levels at no more than 35 percent of their overall credit limits per account

Thanks to the Tax Relief Act passed in December, your 2010 taxes are a lot less complicated than they might have been, but there are a few changes that could trip you up.  Lawmakers’ agreement to extend the Bush-era tax cuts means many of the tax provisions you’ve come to know and love are still in place — and the Form 1040 is similar to last year.  But there’s bad news for some taxpayers…

For instance, in 2009 unemployed workers could exclude up to $2,400 of unemployment benefits from income; that provision did not get extended for 2010.  This was quite surprising to me, as well as many taxpayers I’m sure, considering the unemployment rate is still so high.

Other tax breaks are gone, too, such as the three extra standard deductions:  Real estate taxes, taxes on a new-car purchase, and disaster losses.  Still, other than the disappearance of Line 40b to claim those extra standard deductions, Form 1040 is essentially the same as last year.

For high-income filers, the new law extends through 2012 the Bush-era provision repealing the income limits on itemized deductions and personal exemptions.  Before, taxpayers above certain income levels lost part or all of their exemptions and itemized deductions.  Those limits were slowly phased out; 2010 is the first year they’re gone completely (separate income limits still apply on some deductions).  Plus, Congress extended the alternative-minimum-tax patch, preventing millions of taxpayers from losing access to a number of tax breaks under that parallel system.  The AMT exemption amount in 2010 for single filers is $47,450 and for married-filing-jointly filers it’s $72,450.

A big perk, for eligible families: The adoption credit is now refundable, and worth up to $13,170 in 2010 and 2011.  In 2012, it drops down to $12,170 and won’t be refundable.

Also thanks to the new law, people 70 1/2 or older can donate up to $100,000 to an eligible charity directly from their IRA, count it as a required minimum distribution, yet still avoid an income-tax hit on that money (but they can’t deduct it as a charitable donation).  And they get until Jan. 31 this year to make such a contribution for 2010.  The tax break is also available in 2011.

However, if in 2010 you took advantage of the ability to roll money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, income limits on such transfers no longer exist;  but you can choose to pay the income tax on that conversion over two years, half in 2011 and half in 2012.  Or, you can include that income on your 2010 return.  If you want to pay the tax now (maybe you’re in a lower tax bracket in 2010 than you expect to be this year) be sure to check the appropriate box on Form 8606.

Are you eligible to claim the home-buyer tax credit on your 2010 return?  You won’t be able to e-file.  The IRS wants you to mail the information with your return.  The credit is worth up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers and $6,500 for long-time homeowners who lived in their home for more than five years.  If you claimed the credit in 2008 however, you are among the unfortunate group that must pay the credit back over the next 15 years — and 2010 is the year your first bill will arrive.

Also, if you claimed the home-buyer credit in 2008 or 2009 and then moved out of the house, you may have to pay back the credit.  Check out Form 5405 for the details.

But, bad news for homeowners who didn’t jump on the tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements, such as new doors and windows: That tax break got trimmed for 2011.  Still you can take it for 2010 if you made the eligible energy-efficient upgrades by the end of the year.

But, hey, if you are confused, not to worry, you get an extra weekend to sort it all out.  The tax deadline is April 18, thanks to a holiday in Washington on April 15.