Everything I have been blogging about is true in regards to your Facebook posts, etc. If you don't believe me watch the movie "Terms and Conditions" as it has not been advertised... but the movie is now available on Netflix. After you watch it you will know why it was quickly shoved under the rug.
No, I'm not some crazy whack-job......and yes, your egos continue to sell you all out.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Civic Duties: Responsibility for ALL Americans
I am dumbfounded that our education system completely ignores the most basic necessities and requirements for life -- death and taxes.
Yes....death and taxes. The ONLY two predictable things in life....we ignore....and do not teach our children how to deal with....Why?
This topic is too broad for one mid-morning-coffee-break rant, so I will break it down to taxes. Each and every citizen will be required to file taxes. I'm astonished at how many people do not know how to do this basic task despite the fact that it is required once per year and will impact all races, education levels, income levels, religions, creeds, sub-species, etc. Knowing the basics on taxes is essential and WAY more important than learning advanced algebraic functions that have limited practical use upon stepping out of the classroom.
Another essential fact of life that we tend to ignore is that we will all be an employee or an employer, unless you have the rare fortune of being a "trust fund brat" who was set up financially by a family member or the like. Anyway, I'm getting off track. You will either be an employee or an employer.
If you are an employee, do you know where to find the Cal-OSHA legally required postings? Do you know basic wage and hour laws? Do you know what FICA is on your paycheck withholding and where that money goes? Do you know what SDI stands for on your paycheck stub? Do you know if you're doing exempt or non-exempt work?
If you're an employer, do you know who gets a 1099 form at the end of the year and who gets a W-2? Do you know who is handling your books is honest? You'd be surprised at the number of business owners who deal with fraud and embezzlement because doing such tedious, boring work was beneath them. Suckers. Do you know how to hire and fire legally?
Do you know which expenses are legitimate tax deductions and which ones are not? You are all winging it. I see you doing it daily.
Branching out from being able to do THE most practical function of filing taxes, is the ability to shop insurance. We are now required by LAW to have health insurance. What do you know about purchasing health insurance? Probably not much as this has "been taken care of" for you (at least in part) by your employer and/or parents. Wake up, people. Employer sponsored health insurance is about to end. You will soon be on your own if you're not already left to navigate the confusing, misleading traps insurance companies have left for you to bumble through. The goal of ALL insurance companies is to collect your money in premiums and not pay out.
I have more, but I must get back to work. The most important education we all need for everyday of our lives is not addressed. I don't get it.
Yes....death and taxes. The ONLY two predictable things in life....we ignore....and do not teach our children how to deal with....Why?
This topic is too broad for one mid-morning-coffee-break rant, so I will break it down to taxes. Each and every citizen will be required to file taxes. I'm astonished at how many people do not know how to do this basic task despite the fact that it is required once per year and will impact all races, education levels, income levels, religions, creeds, sub-species, etc. Knowing the basics on taxes is essential and WAY more important than learning advanced algebraic functions that have limited practical use upon stepping out of the classroom.
Another essential fact of life that we tend to ignore is that we will all be an employee or an employer, unless you have the rare fortune of being a "trust fund brat" who was set up financially by a family member or the like. Anyway, I'm getting off track. You will either be an employee or an employer.
If you are an employee, do you know where to find the Cal-OSHA legally required postings? Do you know basic wage and hour laws? Do you know what FICA is on your paycheck withholding and where that money goes? Do you know what SDI stands for on your paycheck stub? Do you know if you're doing exempt or non-exempt work?
If you're an employer, do you know who gets a 1099 form at the end of the year and who gets a W-2? Do you know who is handling your books is honest? You'd be surprised at the number of business owners who deal with fraud and embezzlement because doing such tedious, boring work was beneath them. Suckers. Do you know how to hire and fire legally?
Do you know which expenses are legitimate tax deductions and which ones are not? You are all winging it. I see you doing it daily.
Branching out from being able to do THE most practical function of filing taxes, is the ability to shop insurance. We are now required by LAW to have health insurance. What do you know about purchasing health insurance? Probably not much as this has "been taken care of" for you (at least in part) by your employer and/or parents. Wake up, people. Employer sponsored health insurance is about to end. You will soon be on your own if you're not already left to navigate the confusing, misleading traps insurance companies have left for you to bumble through. The goal of ALL insurance companies is to collect your money in premiums and not pay out.
I have more, but I must get back to work. The most important education we all need for everyday of our lives is not addressed. I don't get it.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Filing Taxes.....grrrrrrrrrrrr
It's that time of year (again) for Quiet Rage to go on a rant regarding filing taxes. Being I'm an organizational freak of nature (total German characteristic) with balancing my accounts to the penny each and every month, scan my receipts and supporting documentation and meticulously file, and use accounting software to track all of my personal finances even *I* cringe at the amount of detail and TIME required in justifying keeping my own money I worked very hard for.
It takes a tremendous amount of effort to keep my personal finances in order. Each and every one of us are all operating like a business owner -- the business is called life. Sure, I'd rather be at the beach, hiking, or traveling to some fun place than managing a general ledger for Uncle Sam to raid on his whim. Why am I putting so much effort to please the government?
For a long time I was everybody's go-to tax filer being I had the basic skills. If your taxes are not complicated and pretty standard I can whip them out pretty quickly. I did this pro bono for years just because I naively believed that good deeds produce good karma. The problem was that I was being taken advantage of. The straw that broke the camel's back was preparing and filing taxes for an acquaintance and then she asked me for a LOAN so she could pay Uncle Sam.
What???? Come again??? Yeah. I prepared her taxes for FREE and then she had the audacity to ask me for a LOAN. Why it rubbed me so raw was that as she was dumping her bag of receipts on my desk for me to vet through she was gushing about the wonderful time she had with her boyfriend over the summer touring Italy. She had plenty of money for that.
That was it. I was done being everybody's tax organizer, filer, and personal bank. The icing on the cake? She was upset that I would no longer do her taxes nor fund a loan. I can't make this stuff up, people.
It takes a tremendous amount of effort to keep my personal finances in order. Each and every one of us are all operating like a business owner -- the business is called life. Sure, I'd rather be at the beach, hiking, or traveling to some fun place than managing a general ledger for Uncle Sam to raid on his whim. Why am I putting so much effort to please the government?
For a long time I was everybody's go-to tax filer being I had the basic skills. If your taxes are not complicated and pretty standard I can whip them out pretty quickly. I did this pro bono for years just because I naively believed that good deeds produce good karma. The problem was that I was being taken advantage of. The straw that broke the camel's back was preparing and filing taxes for an acquaintance and then she asked me for a LOAN so she could pay Uncle Sam.
What???? Come again??? Yeah. I prepared her taxes for FREE and then she had the audacity to ask me for a LOAN. Why it rubbed me so raw was that as she was dumping her bag of receipts on my desk for me to vet through she was gushing about the wonderful time she had with her boyfriend over the summer touring Italy. She had plenty of money for that.
That was it. I was done being everybody's tax organizer, filer, and personal bank. The icing on the cake? She was upset that I would no longer do her taxes nor fund a loan. I can't make this stuff up, people.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Three And a Half Months Later
It's been three and a half months since my sister's husband died in a car crash at the end of their driveway where it joins a busy highway in Swedetown, Minnesota. It's about now where the reality of everything is setting in. He's gone. She is instantly a widow. It's not a nightmare she can wake herself up from.
I'm trying to help my sister maneuver her way through the stages of grief -- shock, denial, bargaining, anger, and depression....and hopefully acceptance at some point. She's not there yet. She cries every day, and she's not one who EVER cried. She's as tough as tough can be. This is breaking her.
The emptiness and the loneliness is now overwhelming for her. The flurried flood of people who initially offered help and support with words of "please let me know what I can do" have all vanished. Now that she's getting a grasp on what needs to be done she's finding out who really meant what they said. Those who really care did not disappear a week after the funeral and do random acts of kindness for her like snow blowing the driveway, taking the garbage cans down to the curb, and dropping off a meal as she hates cooking.
I guess the moral of the story is to not forget about people who have endured a tragic loss. Often times they need you months later.
I'm trying to help my sister maneuver her way through the stages of grief -- shock, denial, bargaining, anger, and depression....and hopefully acceptance at some point. She's not there yet. She cries every day, and she's not one who EVER cried. She's as tough as tough can be. This is breaking her.
The emptiness and the loneliness is now overwhelming for her. The flurried flood of people who initially offered help and support with words of "please let me know what I can do" have all vanished. Now that she's getting a grasp on what needs to be done she's finding out who really meant what they said. Those who really care did not disappear a week after the funeral and do random acts of kindness for her like snow blowing the driveway, taking the garbage cans down to the curb, and dropping off a meal as she hates cooking.
I guess the moral of the story is to not forget about people who have endured a tragic loss. Often times they need you months later.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Friday the 13 - Lucky Day
Oh yeah, I'm one of "those" who think that Friday the 13th is the luckiest day ever. I'm certain I was burned at the steak in a previous life. People are freaked out by things they don't understand and want to kill what they believe is the source... as they can't handle things that push the limits on whatever their perception of reality is.
This last Friday the 13th was one for the record books. I could not have planned it any better. It was like the universe was rejoicing in the fact that I hosted my own coven weekend. What we do and talk about is confidential as there is a sacred trust that must be honored. It's only after we place hexes on people who piss us off and do a sacrificial killing do we break out the wine and sit around the cauldron and laugh.
Some things we do talk about that can be shared....
Why Waylon Jennings refried his donuts...which stemmed from his survivor's guilt for not being on the plane that crashed with the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens.
Is grass fed better than corn fed? I dunno. This "organic" shit is driving everybody nuts. Also, remember oleo? It's original purpose was to feed to farm animals to fatten them up. The animals would not eat it (they are smarter than humans) and it was passed off to the human population as margarine -- and being healthier than butter. Wow. We were soooooo wrong.
Bullying. Why is it OK for the press to pick on, harass, and hound celebrities and make up lies? At what point does it become ok and accepted in our culture? If the kids pulled the kind of crap that the press does at a middle school every bored mom on prozac would be storming the principal's office.
How we fought over boys in high school. The ones who made our hearts pound are now pot bellied, bald, alcoholics who can't hold a job. We've become better friends with their wives at this point. We pity them and can console them.
This last Friday the 13th was one for the record books. I could not have planned it any better. It was like the universe was rejoicing in the fact that I hosted my own coven weekend. What we do and talk about is confidential as there is a sacred trust that must be honored. It's only after we place hexes on people who piss us off and do a sacrificial killing do we break out the wine and sit around the cauldron and laugh.
Some things we do talk about that can be shared....
Why Waylon Jennings refried his donuts...which stemmed from his survivor's guilt for not being on the plane that crashed with the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens.
Is grass fed better than corn fed? I dunno. This "organic" shit is driving everybody nuts. Also, remember oleo? It's original purpose was to feed to farm animals to fatten them up. The animals would not eat it (they are smarter than humans) and it was passed off to the human population as margarine -- and being healthier than butter. Wow. We were soooooo wrong.
Bullying. Why is it OK for the press to pick on, harass, and hound celebrities and make up lies? At what point does it become ok and accepted in our culture? If the kids pulled the kind of crap that the press does at a middle school every bored mom on prozac would be storming the principal's office.
How we fought over boys in high school. The ones who made our hearts pound are now pot bellied, bald, alcoholics who can't hold a job. We've become better friends with their wives at this point. We pity them and can console them.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham
....and while I'm ragging on singers another strange compilation comes to mind. I NEVER understood why Stevie Nicks was a singer. She sounds like a sheep getting stuck -- by some horned up farm boy -- BAAA-AAAA-BAAA-AAAA-BAAA-AAAA-aaaaaaaa. Sorry, but bleating sheep should never be given lead vocals....just sayin'
On the other hand, I think Lindsey Buckingham was the mastermind behind Fleetwood Mac. I think he is underrated as a guitarist. Watch below videos if you think I'm making all of this up. You'll quickly see what I mean.
On the other hand, I think Lindsey Buckingham was the mastermind behind Fleetwood Mac. I think he is underrated as a guitarist. Watch below videos if you think I'm making all of this up. You'll quickly see what I mean.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Black is White and White is Black
Let's pretend for a few minutes. Listen to the two songs below and pretend you know absolutely nothing about how the artists look. I think Diana Ross's voice is what white bread would sound like if it could sing. On the other hand, Janis Joplin sounds like a cross between Joe Cocker and Aretha Franklin. Moral of the story? White woman has more soul.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
CURSive Writing
What's disappearing from our modern culture with the proliferation of technology faster than the buggy whip of the last century with the proliferation of the automobile?
Cursive handwriting.
Oh yeah... cursive handwriting is going the way of the do do bird. Think about it. Cursive handwriting was a way to keep the feathered quill constantly on the parchment paper to avoid messy and sloppy-looking ink drips. It's obsolete.
The younger generations spawned from the internet age will gaze in wonderment letters and documents scribed in the mid 20th century and prior like archeologists at Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Wait. We don't have to wait until we are mummy dust to have some fun now with little whipper snappers who think they know all. Want to get back at annoying teenagers who roll their eyes at you because you are sooooooo UNCOOL and dorky trying to use LOL, WTF, BRB, etc.? I think everybody over the age of 40 should use NOTHING but cursive writing. Take THAT little shits!
Cursive handwriting.
Oh yeah... cursive handwriting is going the way of the do do bird. Think about it. Cursive handwriting was a way to keep the feathered quill constantly on the parchment paper to avoid messy and sloppy-looking ink drips. It's obsolete.
The younger generations spawned from the internet age will gaze in wonderment letters and documents scribed in the mid 20th century and prior like archeologists at Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Wait. We don't have to wait until we are mummy dust to have some fun now with little whipper snappers who think they know all. Want to get back at annoying teenagers who roll their eyes at you because you are sooooooo UNCOOL and dorky trying to use LOL, WTF, BRB, etc.? I think everybody over the age of 40 should use NOTHING but cursive writing. Take THAT little shits!
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Opera Singers, Somoans, and Dance Performances
Quiet Rage had a birthday recently. Yup. Another one. Oh well.. being I don't like the alternative I'll take the birthdays.
This birthday was special -- and not in a short, yellow bus kind of way. It was special because it was unique. My dance troupe consists of a bunch of women of mixed backgrounds and races. At practice the entire troupe belted out the happy birthday song at me. One woman in the troupe is an accomplished opera singer and teaches opera down in the peninsula. I have NEVER had a happy birthday song sung to me by a professional opera singer. Wow!!!!!! Everybody within earshot dropped their jaw and paused to see what was going on. It drew people from out of nowhere. It was spectacular!
The other unique happening was getting birthday greetings from a Samoan in his native language. Again, I've never had a Samoan say that to me;)
Now it's onto dance...my therapy. I'm getting snotty about the condition of the dance floor much like a skater gets particular about the condition of the ice. Humidity makes the floor sticky and can jamb your knees and/or ankles when turning or spinning. On the opposite end, if the floor is too slick due to dance dust or whatever it can make you slip and loose your footing. Just like a skater never walks on solid surfaces with blades, I have my shoes that I NEVER wear anywhere but on the floor.
Which brings me to performances. I was invited to participate in a troupe in San Francisco that performs publicly. It's not a fancy competition or anything like that, but this group gets together and does public performances. I have not performed publicly since high school.
This birthday was special -- and not in a short, yellow bus kind of way. It was special because it was unique. My dance troupe consists of a bunch of women of mixed backgrounds and races. At practice the entire troupe belted out the happy birthday song at me. One woman in the troupe is an accomplished opera singer and teaches opera down in the peninsula. I have NEVER had a happy birthday song sung to me by a professional opera singer. Wow!!!!!! Everybody within earshot dropped their jaw and paused to see what was going on. It drew people from out of nowhere. It was spectacular!
The other unique happening was getting birthday greetings from a Samoan in his native language. Again, I've never had a Samoan say that to me;)
Now it's onto dance...my therapy. I'm getting snotty about the condition of the dance floor much like a skater gets particular about the condition of the ice. Humidity makes the floor sticky and can jamb your knees and/or ankles when turning or spinning. On the opposite end, if the floor is too slick due to dance dust or whatever it can make you slip and loose your footing. Just like a skater never walks on solid surfaces with blades, I have my shoes that I NEVER wear anywhere but on the floor.
Which brings me to performances. I was invited to participate in a troupe in San Francisco that performs publicly. It's not a fancy competition or anything like that, but this group gets together and does public performances. I have not performed publicly since high school.
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