As we enter the hectic part of tax season, just a reminder that "tax-preparer" is not a regulated industry. Oh, and having worked in a lot of franchises, yea, there are things they could do, they just don't wanna.
Also, funny story about taxes. Person I know, very staunch conservative (of the wing nut variety), who once asked me to my face how I could be a liberal (no, really, in front of people I work with, at lunch), was hit with a tax scam (the one where somebody files taxes for them, all to get a refund). They tried calling the IRS, which they were on hold for hours, then told to leave a message, which was never returned. They then had to drive an hour to the nearest office and wait 2.5 hours to meet with someone. This is intolerable to them, which they blame of Pres. Obama, naturally. This is a person who is constantly talking about "shrinking government" and "cutting out those lazy federal employees" and supported the sequester (even though it seriously hurt our business). They're complaining about it on Facebook. Sorely, very sorely, tempted to explain cause and effect in this case. Seriously, it's also the fucking height of tax season. Be glad you could even leave a message, because when it's not tax season they can't afford to man the phones at all and won't even take messages (I know this from personal experience). This is one of the reasons I'm no longer conservative, because too many other conservatives don't understand the basic result of their policies and actions.
Bad Harry Potter Comics. Hahahahaha. (Grokked from Janiece)
"Do not be perfect. Perfect will kill you." Also a little on doing things that make you happy, and that might make other people happy.
Holstered attack dogs. I, uh, okay, I've got nothing. Well, one thing, I'm sure this sounded like a fantastic idea in the conference room. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
Artists in residence for the National Parks Art Foundation. The also accept writers. (Grokked from Annalee Flower Horne)
Good news, everybody! It's a new battery technology. Nanomaterial engineering, living in the future. Several years out from industrial production, though. And while they say the polymer the battery is made of is cheap (as compared to Lithium), they don't mention how expensive it is to fabricate it so it holds all those electrons. (Grokked from Dan)
Empathy helps ease loss. We are human, which means that for the most part we are social. Empathy helps. Even just sitting with someone and not talking (because they don't want to, introverted or just tired of talking, or not able to put their feelings into words) helps. It says, "You are human, it's okay, we are here for each other." In the past year I've hugged two people at work, held them up when they were falling down. Because no one else was there. Because screw the ramifications. Because my fellow human was breaking and the only glue I had was to hold them while they cried. Fuck cancer. (Grokked from Janiece)
In West Virginia the politicians need to make sure students don't learn about how the politicians and ancestors sold their birthright for ashes. "'In an energy-producing state, it's a concern to me that we are teaching our kids potentially that we are doing immoral things here in order to make a living in our state,' Republican Del. Jim Butler said of the standards…". He then went on to deny climate change as a political construct, as you'd expect. Well, Jim Butler, I hope all that coal money can buy back your soul.
Two Brits get sentenced to 2 years for selling marijuana, which the judge then suspended, go on Facebook and bad-mouth said judge. Said judge then hauls them back to court and un-suspends their sentences. (Grokked from John)
So how's that reformy, businessy idea going? Ah, Mt. St. Mary's brings in an outside, business oriented President who is praised for his ideas of getting their financial house in order and bringing "unity". All good until he discloses his plans for circumventing reporting requirements by tossing low-performing freshman early. Like before mid-terms. All to boost retention and graduation numbers. Some faculty firings occur when some faculty, rightly horrified by the callousness of their President, speak out against the plan. And then the alumni and donors get involved. Next thing you know, the President is run out on a rail (make no mistake, "resigned immediately" is academic politeness for "being told not to collect his things from the desk, and don't let the door smack your ass on the way out") while all is sweetness and light. Except that having just passed their accreditation review, that accreditor now wants to see a little more documentation about some things. (Grokked in a roundabout way from John Scalzi)
How can you tell if a Justice is an "activist judge"? Well, one metric would be if plaintiffs or defendants felt they couldn't win unless that specific justice heard the case.
Or when a justice ignores the obvious conflict of interest just to advance their viewpoint (and protect their legacy).
Oh fuckstockings. A VA Crisis line set up to help vets who are contemplating suicide that sometimes when to voice mail or had ridiculously long waits?! You're making me beat up on grass! (Grokked from Janiece)
I personally deplore the violence against the KKK members, even as I appreciate the emotions that lead to it (I've gone to witness against KKK marches 3 times, each time it was very tense, but the counter protesters kept it together and just let the KKK know they were not welcome in the community). But this type of violence is exactly what the KKK is looking for. This is why they march in places that they know are hostile to their message. Now they can say they were the victims. When they're able, they try to get local police protection for their marches. This way, it looks like the government supports their positions. In this case, the local police said "We don't do that" and explained how to hire off-duty officers for security. The Klan refused. Because they wanted the confrontation.
Dr. Carson vows to stay in the race until the money is gone. Ah, yep.
Damn it, Jim, get outa my head.
John Oliver's piece on Donald Trump. I also love how people say, "he tells it like it is" and how "authentic" he is, and then how he "tells the truth", but then don't believe his racist statements.
A storify series of tweets that explains the problem quite well. (Grokked from Patrick Nielsen Hayden)
This just in, Mikee Huckleberries is still in denial about Trump's racism. Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham suggest that Mitt Romney has gone liberal for his critique of the Trumpster. And Lewis Farrakhan doesn't actually endorse the Trumpster, but says he likes what he sees (about Trump not taking any of that Jewish Money). And then this totally isn't fucking dangerous or frightening. With friends like these… And Trump's campaign wouldn't be so stupid to create ethnic sock puppets, would they? (Last link grokked from Saladin Ahmed)
Step outa line, the Man comes to take you away. A photojournalist gets slammed by Secret Service for stepping out of the press pen (also, probably for yelling profanity at the Secret Service beforehand). Still, the Secret Service is a professional organization, who is not there to enforce "the code" (or beliefs) of their charges, but to secure their persons. The Secret Service also has a history of making sure that their charges understand just what their job duties are (they aren't babysitters). So I find this incongruous with their mission. My guess is there's an agent who is about to explore the exciting career opportunities in private security. However it would be interesting to know if the Secret Service has been employed/directed to keep reporters in the pen. That would be an interesting (and severely disconcerting) development. (Grokked from Jim Wright)
Strange, that map of new voter ID restrictions looks awfully similar to this other map of black populations. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)
I appreciate the sentiments this person is espousing. But no. No, progressives should not cross party lines to vote for Marco Rubio in the primary. One, it is direct conflict with how progressives feel about and view the electorate and devolves to crass partisanship and poor politics. Two, we don't believe in gaming the system as much as conservatives do. And three, it won't work anyway.(Grokked from John Scalzi)
Tweet of my heart: @ferretthimself While I love Jon Oliver, it's not like his Drumpf attacks "destroyed" Trump. Comedians made fun of Reagan, two (sic). Through both his elections.
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