Things have been changing. The Ann Arbor News is no longer a daily- but exists on the web. Newsweek has basically disappeared (but would probably still be on the newsstands- at least today- had Sid Harman not met his demise.) The Washington Post makes a profit- because it owns for-profit schools. Everywhere we turn, we hear that our news delivery is changing.
Monthly Archives: January 2013
Tax Time!
It’s tax time. No, really.
Corporations have to file by the ides of March. And, those entities that need to provide K-1’s to their stockholders (S entities, LLC’s operating as S) incur substantial penalties for late filing. About $ 100 per K-1 per month. (Yes, it can amount to thousands of dollars for those entities with numerous stockholders.)
Into every life…
We had a good week. One we deserved. We lost two of our clients last year- one to death and the other to the retirement of the principal. One was expected, the other was devastating. I’ve written about one of them already.
How is college changing?
I was blessed with a visit from my eldest (daughter), her husband, and my grandson. It’s amazing to see the innocence, the insouciance, the love, and energy that this almost 4 year old has- and how he infects his parents with his essence. It made my home resonate.
Really? This is the Fiscal Cliff Act?
Many of you know I spent a great portion of my life in the dialysis arena. From the time I was eight years old, I wanted to develop an artificial kidney. So, I’ve seen a lifetime- and then some- of changes to the therapy. From the first “washing machine” devices, to flat-plates that required soaking-spreading-tightening, to the disposable devices of today.
Tu B’Shvat
Tomorrow is Tu B’Shvat. The 15th day of the month. A full moon. The New Year for Trees.
Was that a bird? A plane?….
I have often been reminded that my claim that I no longer race cars is not terribly accurate. Oh, it’s true that I don’t have a race car, that I don’t compete on the track, but…to say I have a lead foot would be a grand understatement.
Infrastructure problems are NOT going away
I have been complaining for a long time that our governments- federal, state, and local- are doing us, the citizens, a grand disservice. They have basically shirked one of their primary duties- to maintain and upgrade our infrastructure. To be honest, upgrading is so far from what they’ve done, I’m sure that most of us would be thrilled with their simply maintaining what we have.
Simpler Taxes Are Not Always Better
Another change in the tax situation for 2013…
Many folks are afraid to claim their duly earned home office deduction, because they fear they will be audited. About 3.5 million folks used this deduction in the past years- which is a lot lower than the number of folks who maintained a home office. (NASE- the National Association for the Self Employed- did a survey in 2008 and found more than 60% of those entitled never took this deduction.)
Whither R&D
OK. This is rant time. Corporate profits are doing fine- even if we (the consumer, the population) are not. A lot of this profit is due to the fact that workers are not being paid well, or that there are not enough workers (i.e., corporations are “running lean”, often meaning there are too few workers for the tasks at hand).