Among my Bourke Accounting colleagues, the number of homeowners and home-renters are about even. Naturally, I might be a bit envious when a co-worker mentions what color she’s going to paint her bedroom, as my landlord doesn’t allow redecorating. However, it sort of balances out when another co-worker is forced to replace an air-conditioning system, since my landlord is responsible for all of the big things at my place. And, whether owner or renter, 100% of Bourke Accounting employees are still working.
It made sense to me that, in most states, landlords aren’t allowed to evict tenants during the lockdown. Obviously, putting more people on the street during a pandemic would do absolutely nothing to stem the flow of infection. Also, homeless shelters, during the best of times, are not ideal; whereas tuberculosis was the lurking threat in communal living situations, now the homeless must deal with Covid, too. And, just to up the stakes, Nature.com cites projections that show that “21,300 homeless people in the US will need to be hospitalized for Covid-19 and 3,400 will die.” So, of course, creating a new wave of homeless people would not be a great idea.
Also, as a renter for my entire adult life, the thought of landlords being stiffed made me vindictively happy. When I say I’ve encountered some slumlords…seriously, I have met the worst! I once went eight months without an oven because my slumlord dodged my calls. He only fixed it when I started paying less rent. Regarding rent moratorium, my mentality was very much: Ha, Ha! Evil landlord! No new Benz for you this year!
Then, I started speaking with unemployed friends. Unemployment for my friends has proven to be way more lucrative than their jobs ever were; economists at the University of Chicago estimate that, for some people, unemployment is paying them two to three times more than their former jobs did (NPR.org). Most of my friends are paying rent and are happy that they have a little extra money. However, some of my friends have told me that they’ve stopped because, “What’s my landlord going to do? Throw me out?”
Between that asinine question and a New York Times article, I started feeling a little bad for landlords. Craig L. Price, a real estate lawyer, pointed out that, because “real estate is considered a ‘passive’ industry, landlords do not qualify for a small-business loan or paycheck protection under the…CARES Act” (NYTimes.com). Well. I didn’t know that. So, if these landlords aren’t getting paid by tenants or the government, how are they supposed to pay for essentials – like medicine – let alone mortgages and taxes? Leave it to me to feel bad for a vague enemy.
If you have money, pay your rent. If you don’t have money, speak with your landlord. There are a lot of decent ones out there and, if you don’t try to dodge, they’ll probably be understanding. I hate to admit that my wayward friend is right, but it’s not like your landlord can throw you out right now – however, it’s always best to keep things civilized.
Your Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers are working, even if you’re not. While they can’t give you extra money, they can help you save the cash you have. In addition, all Bourke Accounting employees are pretty good decorators and, whether you rent or own, we can give you neat little pointers to make your place a bonafide home. See! You receive full service with Bourke Accounting.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
As I’ve said numerous times, Bourke Accounting denizens try to keep healthy. Whether it’s taking a morning multi-vitamin or drinking plenty of water, we want to feel and look good. We’re not attempting to cheat Death, we only want to roll out of bed – without body parts screaming in protest.
Bourke Accounting workers don’t really subscribe to esoteric practices; we generally land on the boring side of the wellness spectrum. However, some of you out there are using home remedies that are anything but boring:
1) Kratom. Note: I’m a liar. I use kratom. Kratom is an herbal extract that “comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree” (MayoClinic.org) and is available in pill or powdered form. It’s used for pain relief, anxiety and as a mild mood elevator. I have difficult lady times and have found that a teaspoon of kratom in a cup of Green Apple Gatorade affords me hours of relief. There are a few drawbacks to using this, of course. First, the powdered form is hard to completely dissolve, so you end up drinking something akin to wet sand. Second, if you use too much, it will make you jittery. The Mayo Clinic also points out that, since kratom isn’t regulated, there is a chance that it could be “contaminated with salmonella bacteria.” Finally, because some people are incapable of reading instructions, poison control centers have documented 1,800 reports centered around the use of kratom between 2011 and 2017 (Mayoclinic.com).
2) Essential Oils. A lot of people use oil diffusors around their homes for aromatherapy purposes. Hey, lavender smells nice! However, some people are applying these oils directly to the skin and even swallowing them. If it is diluted enough, small studies have shown that dabbing oils like peppermint to the forehead can relieve headaches (Healthline.com). However, if not properly handled, these oils can burn the skin and ingestion of oils is almost never recommended. In a scary trend, some parents are foregoing antibiotics in favor of oils to treat their children’s illnesses (Parents.com). While using aromatherapy may lead to reduced levels of stress, a parent shouldn’t expect basil oil to cure their kid’s cancer. I have personally read horror stories on Reddit.com of parents replacing their epileptic offspring’s seizure medication with Eucalyptus oil and wondering why authorities would like to have a word.
3) Urine Therapy. Uh, yeah. This. Since ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, “drinking or the local application of human…urine for medicinal purposes has been practiced all over the world” (NCBI.nlm.nih.gov). People who believe in pee claim that it cures acne, whitens teeth, protects against infections and even fights cancer (Health.com). Kayleigh Oakley, a British Youtuber, says that, since she’s started practicing Urine Therapy, she’s no longer in pain, her skin has cleared up and she has a lot more energy (Health.com). Doctors are less than excited. As it turns out, urine isn’t really sterile and “modern research has found virtually no benefit” (Health.com) in chugging pee pee. And, urine left outside of the body develops bacteria, so rubbing it on yourself invites a slew of infections (Health.com).
I have no problem with people trying new remedies for age-old illnesses. However, I think we must keep certain things in perspective and do proper research before trying radical new regiments (and by “research,” I don’t mean following the advice of CaptainSparklePants223 on Facebook).
Bourke Accounting professionals are very openminded. Your Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers want you to live the best life you can, even if it involves urine. However, if you do espouse some of the more exotic medical practices, please make use of our strategically placed bowls of mints. There’s no judgement at Bourke Accounting, but fresh breath is a gift to everyone!
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
In the wake of recent, devastating events and the social fallout, the Coronavirus doesn’t seem to be taking up as much space in the collective unconscious. Perhaps this is because, after fighting an unseen enemy for months, Americans now have a tangible personification of evil in Derek Chauvin. Like the rest of the world, Bourke Accounting employees are talking about little else.
It was during one of these conversations that Bill asked me if I had heard about the protests that have been taking place worldwide. I allowed that I saw a headline or two, but hadn’t really looked into it. When I did look into it, I was surprised.
Since the Revolutionary War, America has sort of been like the tough, cocky, reckless (sometimes mad dog dumb) younger sibling to the rest of the world; as far as countries go, we’re the baby. And as far as our attitude goes, “My Way” might as well be acknowledged as our theme song.
It’s wonderful that people, thousands of miles away, are empathetic and strong enough to lend their voices to protest despicable and lethal racist practices. While our current troubles are clearly a dark mark on America’s reputation, it is astounding that the gravity of our plight has reached so far. For example, a few days ago in Berlin, Germany, protesters demonstrated outside of the U.S. Embassy (NPR.com). Also, in London, England, in Trafalgar Square, demonstrators took a knee for nine minutes (NPR.com). Even Iran hosted protesters for a candlelight vigil, complete with “Black Lives Matter posters and illustrations of Floyd posted” (NPR.com).
So far, the international protests have been extremely peaceful. Maybe it’s because protesting another country’s problems is one thing and destroying your own city is quite another. Maybe they’re just better behaved than us. From what I’ve read, the only incident that even hinted at potential violence was in Australia; apparently a demonstration was cancelled because people on social media “threatened to create havoc and protest against the event” (TheGuardian.com). Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison also warned protestors against “importing things happening in other countries” (TheGuardian.com) to their own. After watching some US protests, it’s hard to blame him.
Besides showing solidarity against prejudice in general, many international activists point out that there are race relation difficulties within their own countries. For example, Australian protesters mention that, since 1991, there have been “more than 400 Indigenous deaths in [police] custody” (TheGuardian.com). These deaths have yet to be explained. Additionally, in England, riots erupted after police shot and killed Mark Duggan, a man “under suspicion of planning an attack” (BBC.com). During the riots, it was discovered that the police were “four times more likely to use force against black people than white people” (BBC.com).
Sadly, bigotry is not just an American pastime. With the world watching, we can prove that the US does not condone discrimination. We can also demonstrate that change can happen without violence and destruction. We must not allow ourselves to be drawn into a bloody civil war because some guy, squatting in the White House, has nothing better to do than antagonize a wounded nation. Let’s show the world that, while we may be cocky, we’re not as dumb as we look.
Bourke Accounting understands the importance of solidarity – not just regarding their clients, but concerning the world, as well. Your Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers know that teamwork makes the dream work (laugh at me all you want, but you know I’m right). With Bourke Accounting, as with life in general, cooperation makes us better than we are alone. When we stand up for each other, we stand up for a greater, more peaceful world.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned, in a Bourke Accounting blog, that I am going back to 2019 until 2020 gets fixed. I’ve changed my mind. I am now going back to the Mesozoic Era. And I’m not sure if I’m ever coming home.
Yesterday, the cashier at my local grocery store decided that I was the perfect person to hear her problems (I have never seen this woman before). Her husband has been unemployed for two years, her kids are running wild, she thinks her uncle is doing drugs again, it went on for a while. At the end, she looked at me expectantly. Like a talking deer in headlights, I made a few sympathetic noises and then said, “Aw, man, it’s gonna get better.” I smiled comfortingly (and invisibly) behind my mask.
“Thanks,” she said, through tight lips. “You know, that was just toxic positivity, right?” I was about to apologize, but since I didn’t know what I would be apologizing for, I accepted my receipt and left. Got to say, I was a little bummed and severely confused.
I’ve heard of “toxic friendships,” “toxic masculinity,” “toxic relationships,” “toxic chemicals,” even. But what, WHAT in the name of all things holy is “toxic positivity?” I found out.
According to ThePsychologyGroup.com, toxic positivity is the “excessive and ineffective overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state,” no matter what the situation. In English: Toxic positivity is putting on a happy face when you’re dying inside. However, you can also be “guilty” of toxic positivity when dealing with others if you encourage “people to always see the bright side, and not open up about anything bad” (TheTab.com).
When I offered that things would get better, I, unbeknownst to me, was “disallowing the existence of certain feelings” (ThePsychologyGroup.com) and neglecting to give her emotions validation. In addition, I will now be responsible when the clerk falls “into a state of denial and repressed emotions” (ThePsychologyGroup.com). Apparently, I should have said something along the lines of: This is hard, but I believe in you and I’ll be thinking of you. Instead, I, most likely, made her “feel unsafe expressing negativity” (TheMighty.com) and now she is going to stuff all of her emotions inside, forever and ever.
Obviously, we all know that it’s unhealthy to pretend that everything is always great, even when it’s not. Shrinks have warned that “suppressed emotions can…manifest in anxiety, depression or even physical illness” (ThePsychologyGroup.com). I believe this to be true, but I also believe that there’s a time and a place for everything. Maybe it’s my fear of publicly airing dirty laundry, but if I’m having a rough time in my personal life, I’m not sure that my employers, customers or co-workers really need to hear about it.
However, from all that I’ve read about “toxic positivity,” I am making the lives of those around me worse because I don’t talk about every problem. How? Since I don’t discuss every problem, I am leading them to believe that they are somehow abnormal. Yup. Because I don’t believe anyone needs to hear about a current bout of constipation, I am making them feel bad about themselves.
Who knew? I guess we should all take the advice of ThePsychologyGroup.com: If you recognize yourself as a transmitter of toxic positivity, it’s time to cut it out. Hey, guys! Did I mention constipation? There, everyone feels better now.
Your Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers actually need to know about messy divorces. However, as a Bourke Accounting client, you’re not going to have to make sympathetic noises as your expert relates childhood trauma. Like I said, there’s a time and a place. Maybe as you develop a close relationship with your Bourke Accounting pro, we can all share little secrets. Until then, rest assured that no one is going to accuse you of toxic positivity.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
If income taxes were suddenly abolished, I would be out of a job. Since I like working for Bourke Accounting, and hate job interviews, that would be hard for me. Also, we’d all notice quite a change in our society if taxes were no longer a thing: sure, we’d have more money in our pockets, but no one to call if a stranger, emerging from a dark alley, decided to relieve us of that money.
We understand that taxes are a necessary evil that we simply have to live with. Well, most of us understand that. There are, however, people who refuse to accept the inevitability of our American taxation system. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you The Tax Protester.
First off, a tax protester should not be confused with a tax resister. A tax resister is someone who refuses to pay taxes because s/he disagrees with something the American government is doing. For example, before women won the right to vote, many Suffrage organizations suggested that, as a form of passive resistance, taxes not be paid. These thoughts were later reflected during the Vietnam war when many protestors, as “conscientious objectors,” decided that they did not want to fund a war that they felt was immoral (En.Wikipedia.org).
Tax protesters are a little different. Tax protesters refuse to pay taxes, “claiming that the tax laws are unconstitutional or otherwise invalid” (En.Wikipedia.org). Naturally, there are some tax protesters who believe that the government “covers up the ‘truth’ about the income tax in order to continue oppressing the people and taking their money” (ADL.org), but we’re just going to slide right past that one.
One argument that tax protesters use is that “money you receive for working isn’t technically income [but] an equal exchange of your labor for fair market wages” (USAToday.com). Because this is a “trade,” there is no “’gain’ to be taxed” (USAToday.com). They concede that taxes should be paid if one sold a lot of stocks or won the lottery, but W2 earnings should be left out of every taxation equation.
Another tax protester rationalization compares paying taxes to slavery. The belief suggests that, since slavery is illegal, so are taxes. Kentucky’s own Rand Paul pontificated that “if we tax you at 50%, you are half-slave, half-free” (USAToday.com). The Internal Revenue Service has never felt this to be a compelling debate issue.
Then there are the folks who have decided that a tax bill doesn’t pertain to an individual, since “IRS correspondence is written in all capital letters” (TheDailyBeast.com). Because of this, protesters feel that a tax bill is really addressed “to a legal entity which shares your name but is not you” (TheDailyBeast.com). Again, the tax courts don’t agree with this defense in the slightest.
Having the tax court disagree with a claim is one thing; however, if the IRS deems you are filing a frivolous argument, you can be fined from $5,000 to $25,000 (USAToday.com). In addition, there’s the chance that the IRS will prosecute for tax evasion – complete with prison and penalties (USAToday.com).
Perhaps I have become complacent, but it seems to me that defiantly refusing to pay taxes is rather like screaming at a cloudy sky because you wanted to go to the beach. It might make you feel better in the moment, but what is it really going to accomplish?
Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers don’t want you to go to prison. Your Bourke Accounting pro will listen to you vent about the tax system, but as soon as you suggest some hairbrained scheme, your expert will shut you right down. Your Bourke Accounting specialist wants to keep your good name intact, as well as making sure that you never have to learn how to make a shank.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Bourke Accounting clients are pretty nice. They’re polite, they’re friendly and they don’t make ridiculous demands that are impossible to meet. Most importantly, our clients don’t talk down to any of us. I like them.
I realized how very lucky I am yesterday while at a Walgreens. Prominently displayed was a sign in the window advising that face coverings must be worn. All right, no problem, let me just fish this out of my purse and, yay – I was compliant. The masked gentleman guarding the doors acknowledged me with a nod and I returned my own masked head nod. Within five minutes, there was a commotion.
The source of the trouble was an unmasked woman who had just walked in, accompanied by a little girl (who was similarly devoid of facial covering). The employee informed her that she would have to leave if she did not have a mask. The woman mentioned that she lived in America and had no idea what country he was from. She then, inexplicably, enlightened him that her handbag cost more than he made in a month. Finally, she proudly stated that some kid, from somewhere, wasn’t going to tell her what to do. The employee sighed, pulled out his phone and said that his only choice was to get the authorities involved. The poor child looked mortified as her mother stalked out of the store, four-letter words and disparagement of the gentleman’s parentage raining down.
I looked over at the employee and said something along the lines of, “Jeez, relax, Karen,” he chuckled and I went about my business. It has recently come to my attention, however, that some people find the term “Karen” to be sexist, ageist, classist and on par with a racial slur. Eh, say again? Okay, what is a “Karen”? A “Karen” is typified by the example above: an entitled, culturally insensitive, snobbish nightmare. Generally, “Karens” aggressively treat those they deem “beneath” them as sub-human.
The Guardian argues that the term is used to silence women in general and confident women specifically. In addition, because “Karens” are generally on the older side of 25, it’s a way to tell mature women that they are irrelevant. Finally, because a “Karen” is thought to be well-off, the title engages in “wealth shaming” (seriously, this is a thing now).
I rather think these opponents of the “Karen” moniker are missing the point; it is a term that attacks who a person is, rather than what a person is and is not meant to characterize all women; “Karen” even has a male counterpart, which I’ve seen as “Kyle” or “Bill.” When we see a customer berate a store clerk and scream for a manager because an expired coupon cannot be honored, we are judging the behavior of the shrieking individual, not the quality of her/his shoes.
While it’s true that our country still faces discrimination issues, I don’t believe that we should go looking for fire where there isn’t even any smoke. There are enough legitimate examples of prejudice to fight against. And, really, people who misbehave and treat others terribly should not be surprised when the recipients of their abuse get a little snarky.
Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers, being utter professionals, can handle a “Karen” or a “Kyle.” However, it doesn’t come up much as, like I stated, Bourke Accounting clients are wonderful. Perhaps it’s the fact that Bourke Accounting experts are personable and impressively knowledgeable or perhaps it’s just that Bourke Accounting got lucky. Either way, here’s a big “thank you” to all of Bourke’s great clients!
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
A while ago, in a Bourke Accounting blog, I mentioned that I am a big fan of old radio dramas. One of my favorites is called The Black Museum, hosted by Orson Welles. On this program, Welles describes a mundane object, like a coat button, and proceeds to illustrate how everyday items have been integral in providing evidence against murderers.
Welles is supposed to be speaking from the “repository of death” (Oldradioworld.com) that is Scotland Yard’s “Black Museum.” On the show, The Black Museum is a collection of catalogued items “all touched by murder” (Oldradioworld.com) that have provided invaluable proof of guilt to London’s police. Naturally, I started wondering if such a warehouse of the macabre actually exists underneath Scotland Yard. I should have known better than to doubt Orson.
The Black Museum was “established in the mid-1870s” (Wemakemoneynotart.com) as a storage space for the belongings of arrested individuals. When these belongings went unclaimed, generally because the owners had been convicted, the police started to display the objects as “a teaching tool for newly trained officers” (Wemakemoneynotart.com). It was given its ominous moniker in 1877, when a reporter from The Observer was denied entry (En.Wikipedia.org), as the general public was (and is still) not authorized to visit.
The Black Museum (now, sadly, renamed “The Crime Museum”) houses and preserves over 500 various objects (Atlasobscura.com). Included are letters allegedly from Jack the Ripper, reconstructions of IRA bombs and run-of-the-mill weaponry such as guns and knives. Perhaps one of the most grotesque exhibits is a small pile of gallstones, which effectively put the noose around Acid Bath Murderer, John George Haigh’s, neck in 1949. Haigh dissolved the bodies of a least six people in vats of sulfuric acid. When it was discovered that Haigh was the last person to see victim Olive Durand-Deacon, the police searched his residence. At the bottom of one of the vats, undissolved, police found a partial set of dentures and, yeah, Ms. Durand-Deacon’s gallstones (Theguardian.com).
Remember that example of a button I mentioned earlier? The Black Museum aired an episode in 1951 (“The Brass Button”) that was based on true events. In 1919, David Greenwood was convicted of the rape and murder of Nellie Trew after a very unusual button was found next to the body. When the police published a picture of the button in the newspaper, Greenwood was arrested for the crime (Blackkalendar.nl). A button. Something as simple as a snazzy button was responsible for taking a violent killer out of the game.
Perhaps it’s the shear ordinariness of the objects in The Black Museum that make them so frightening. Behind glass, there is a pair of binoculars from 1945 – seemingly interesting only as an antique. However, when one tries to adjust them, spring loaded spikes shoot out from the eyepieces. These were given as a gift from a man to the woman who left him (wemakemoneynotart.com). They look innocent enough.
Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers know that the big picture is important. However, Bourke Accounting experts also know that the tiniest of mistakes can lead to trouble down the road. Because of this Bourke Accounting pros meticulously verify that every document you receive is 100% accurate. Hey, the devil is in the details.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Sick days are no fun (legitimate ones, anyway): moping around the house, feeling awful and, maybe for extra happy awesome time, spending a few hours in the doctor’s office. And then there’s the added bonuses of lost money and guilt for having co-workers take up the slack. Sick days are no fun.
If you think about it, a lot of America has been having a legitimate sick day for these last two months. Hopefully, you weren’t hanging out at the doc’s or feeling guilty, but there was certainly a lot of money lost.
Whether you agree with the timing or not, it seems that our country is going to be reopening very soon. Within a few weeks, if luck is with us, life is slowly going to return to normal. Well, at least to the extent that backyard barbeques can be planned again. However, we are going to be facing long-lasting and far-reaching financial issues that won’t be as easily solved as deciding between hot dogs or hamburgers.
First, let’s start with the enormous hospital bill corona will leave for us. According to a study reported by CNBC.com, the average cost of a coronavirus hospital stay is $30,000. Some insurance companies have promised that patients won’t have to pay “deductibles, copays…and other charges” (Marketwatch.com) associated with the virus. That’s nice, but some companies are free to decide not to promise anything. And what about the uninsured? When all is said and done, it’s projected that about 2 million uninsured people will end up hospitalized (CNBC.com). The White House announced that “funding under recently passed legislation [will be used] to help cover the cost of treating the uninsured” (CNBC.com). It’s great, it’s tremendous, it’s the best! Oh, um, but, at some point, all of this money has to be replaced somehow, right?
Obviously, raising income taxes right now wouldn’t really work – you can’t squeeze a brick and expect a Tequila Sunrise. Also, raising sales taxes wouldn’t help the economy, either – the hardest hit individuals would just buy less.
Naturally, as an off-white collar worker, my first thought is to tax corporations and the wealthy. They can afford it! Sadly, we’re treading in murky waters and, what might have worked in the past, might not work today. Let’s say that everyone goes back to work and everyone is happy and secure again. Then, companies are told to pay a lot more in taxes for doing business. I’m not going to say Big Business is ruthless, but who would suffer the most on account of these taxes? If companies can lay off a large number of employees to offset their IRS bills, face it, they will. Instead of having a Depression–like economy, we might see ourselves in a Depression-Depression economy.
Forbes.com mentions the possibility of a “one-time levy on existing wealth” for the richest taxpayers. I’m not trying to sound like Ayn Rand here, but I don’t know if that’s totally fair, either. Rich people buy stuff, rich people pay tax on stuff, then they must pay another tax because they have so much stuff? Bloomberg.com suggests that perhaps taxing “individuals and companies differently depending on how well they fared during the lockdown” would be a suitable alternative. I agree. I wouldn’t mind paying a bit extra to help, as I’ve been writing and filing in my own little safe bubble throughout this thing.
No matter how we go about paying for the pandemic, it won’t be totally painless. We must understand that “this too shall pass” and keep everything in calm perspective. What’s the alternative?
While Bourke Accounting has no input regarding tax changes, they will be well-versed in new laws before you even sit down. Bourke Accounting tax preparers and bookkeepers will happily take the time to make sure you understand everything about our quickly transitioning world. And, as always, you know that you will receive the most effective and comprehensive service available.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Within the next few weeks, it looks like America is going to be opening for business as usual. I know your Bourke Accounting experts are looking forward to sitting down with you again. While it’s been a blast for them to have entire conversations traded through Post-It notes, crackling cellphones and weird Jetsons-type video calls, they like the good ol’ fashioned face-to-face encounters best of all.
However, just because we say it’s going to be business as usual, that’s not really the case; we are going to be feeling the effects of the last few months of quarantine for a long time. Between probable tax hikes, bankruptcies and a general reluctance to stand close to strangers, we are going to have to relearn what it means to be social and working animals again.
Because of this, I was thinking of certain aspects of American life that might take a bit longer to rebuild:
1) Familial relationships. While we love our families, the extended lock-down could prove fatal to marriages. Divorce attorneys are predicting that, once courts are completely open, the surge in break-ups might be astounding (ABCnews.go.com); familiarity breeds contempt and all. Sadly, the causes of Corona divorce are more existential than simply noticing how often your spouse has a finger up her/his nose. Marcy Katz, attorney, suggests that higher divorce rates may be caused by people “coming to terms with their mortality and want[ing] to make positive changes in their lives” (ABCnews.go.com). Basically, it’s a “It’s not you, it’s me and I don’t want to waste the rest of my life with you” scenario.
2) Our bellies. A lot of people eat out of stress and fear. Because of the 24-hour news cycles, scary internet conspiracy theories and too much free time, many people are turning to food for comfort. In addition, without the structure of a normal workday, people may be eating out of boredom or simply because they can. Also, when the only chance to leave the house is to visit the grocery store, people stock up on items that aren’t really needed and make more frequent trips. And, finally, in uncertain times, there is solace to be found in over-flowing pantries and fridges.
3) Our feet. So, you’ve been padding around the house in your socks for the past few months and now your feet, back, knees, everything hurts. Miguel Cunha, MD says that “walking barefoot on hard surfaces for long periods of time alters the distribution of pressure and weight across your feet” (Menshealth.com). While it feels great to kick off those confining work shoes for the weekend, going without support for too long can cause problems throughout the entire body. To help your feet and to avoid tracking alien bacteria and viruses all through your place, Dr. Cunha suggests buying supportive house shoes that never touch the outside (Menshealth.com).
We know it’s going to be a long road back to normalcy; none of us have ever before experienced the events of these last months. With patience, hard work and diligence, we will eventually and really return to business as usual.
Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers can’t wait to see you. While Bourke Accounting has continued to offer the most knowledgeable and accurate service available, they, too are anxious for the good ol’ days. Bourke Accounting experts enjoy holding your hand through the tough times and being a shoulder to cry on through the even tougher times. While they may be bean counters, they are very social bean counters.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
At Bourke Accounting, we have a few transplants from the North: I’m from NYC, Bill is from NYC, Phil is from Jersey. I thought we were the upmost in hardcore. And then, this weekend, I watched the television show Outsiders on the WGN channel. It must be said – New Yawk ain’t got nuthin’ on Kentucky in terms of toughness. If you don’t know, this is a 2016 show about a clan of outlaws living in the mountain wilds of Kentucky (even though it’s filmed in Pennsylvania), distilling moonshine and, basically living on the fringes of the world by a well-established code of their own.
It is violent, it is interesting, it is rather sexy and I am hooked. The pal who hipped me to this program mentioned that it’s based on real events and that I shouldn’t walk around the Daniel Boone Forest. Huh? I’ve been to this national preserve and it is beautiful. Whaddya mean I shouldn’t walk around there?
Booby traps and psycho mountain folk, my friend informed me. Wait, what? Yeah, well, you know I had to look it up.
In November of 2009, Bill Sparkman, a census taker was “found bound and gagged and hanging from a tree… “Fed” scrawled across his chest” (ABCnews.go.com). My God! That’s horrible! You can’t trust these weirdo mountain Kentuckians! They’re wild, they’re terrible and, and, and…annnd, it was all BS. The deceased was in debt, he was depressed, he was ill, he disrobed himself, he wrote on himself and the only DNA found on the accoutrements of his demise was his own. He even told a friend the rudiments of his plan (who didn’t take him seriously) (Kentucky.com). So, Clay County, KY witnessed as a bunch of cops and agents descended upon their land, looking for some Deliverance-type extras.
However, the fact that Mr. Sparkman thought that this was a believable plan, with ready-made suspects standing by, makes one wonder about the reputation of the area. As it turns out, yes, there very well might be some hard customers in the forests of good ol’ KY.
Take, for example, the Cornbread Mafia. This is a group of folks who grew marijuana in some pretty rural places of Kentucky, after they discovered that weed generated a lot more revenue than ‘shine. It turns out, to protect their crops, they did in fact use booby traps: “including fishhooks hung at eye level, trip wires tied to dynamite and live rattlesnakes tied to poles” (Courier-Journal.com). However, Johnny Boone (the “leader” of the group) was sort of a homegrown hero, as he donated money to the desperately poor people in the community. Deputy marshals, trying to find Boone and his cohorts, were met with resistance from the townsfolks. Often the agents of order were told that they wouldn’t be told where anyone was, even if the townsfolk knew, which, of course, they did not. (Courier-Journal.com).
I am in no way trying to defend the lawless. However, it seems to me that we must look into the reasons why some go outside the law in order to feed their families and communities. Lawlessness is a mark of desperation and, while no one should get off scot-free, mitigating circumstances should be introduced and examined.
Most Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers won’t set up booby traps around your house. However, if you have an issue with a government agency, I urge you to contact your Bourke Accounting expert before doing anything rash. Your Bourke Accounting pro can defend you and protect you better than rattlesnakes ever could (and you won’t have angry, bitten agents breaking down your door).
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.