Years ago, I was walking by a “hole in the wall bar” on St. Mark’s Place. The misspelled sandwich board outside advertised David Johansen playing TOONIGHT ONLY! What?! David Johansen? The New York Dolls front man, the godfather of punk, the man, briefly (and for his sins) known as Buster Poindexter?
I paid my five bucks and went inside.
He put on a good show and, after, I was able to get to the storage closest that was his dressing room. I knocked, he allowed me entrance and all of my sycophantic utterances dried up in my mouth. The man looked depressed. He told me to sit and proceeded to tell me about the death of his 13 year old cat that morning.
This was not how I thought I would meet the man who has been referenced in countless books about punk, New York City and Andy Warhol. I was taken aback that this, this deity, this over-the-top superstar, this historical figure had the same problems that I had. We commiserated over lost pets, I drank a few shots of his peppermint schnapps and went on my way, a more enlightened person.
Naturally, this got me thinking. Every time someone snipes at a celebrity behind a computer screen, that person is saying terrible things about a real, viable and living, human being. Some “keyboard warriors” type things that they’d never have the audacity to say to their worst enemy in real life.
Why? What makes us think that, simply because of one’s occupation, that person isn’t as feeling as the rest of us? Take, for example, accountants. Accountants go through a number of years of schooling, have to pass the Uniform CPA Examination, have to participate in continuing education and basically, be on the up and up all of the time. Accountants have families and friends, hopes, dreams, fears, just like the rest of us. So why would some people think it’s all right to ask their accountant to take part in sordid practices?
Number three on Inc.com’s list of “3 Things to Never Ask Your Accountant” is: Never ask your accountant to bend the rules. Ominously, the article predicts that “it will eventually come back to haunt you, and you’ll pay a heavy price for that act in the future, even if you don’t get caught.” I’m wondering if there is a special, ethical accountant mafia out there. Ask your accountant to launder money and you’ll wake up with the head of Rosette The Purple Unicorn beanie baby under the 1,000 thread count in your bed?
The professionals at Bourke Accounting know what they’re doing. They can protect you from the dark side of accounting. However, as tax season draws near, please remember that your Bourke Accounting professional is a real person with real feelings; don’t ask them to do anything too crazy. Rosette might be a real threat.
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!
I think, that for renters, the almost impossible dream at the end of the day, is home ownership. There is something attractive about a little corner of the world that belongs to you. After five years of renting a place, there is a letdown when one is left with only a myriad of sagging boxes and a denial of a security deposit refund for a fabricated reason.
There are some perks to renting, of course. If the toilet backs up, you get to call and complain. Snow removal is something generally handled by a maintenance team. There is no responsibility for the day to day upkeep. But. Even with our lavatorial needs addressed, sometimes we want more.
With this in mind, I phoned up T.A., a realtor at Push Pin Rentals out of Brooklyn, NY (in NYC, even the realtors are too hip for last names). I wanted to know his tips for, very green, first time home buyers. During our October 21st conversation, he had this to offer:
1) Understand the tax implications of any purchase.
This is actually pretty useful. Realestate.usnews.com points out that home ownership makes one eligible for quite a few tax breaks. According to Realestate.usnews.com, “a major benefit of home ownership is that you can deduct your mortgage interest on your taxes.” In addition, your real estate taxes can be used as a deduction, as well. For someone used to renting, it’s nice to know that all of your hard work will be rewarded.
2) Invest in markets you know and understand.
At first I wasn’t sure what T.A. meant by this. He then mentioned that, “even though you found a steal of a house, you might not really want it”. For example, in Housely.com’s article, “The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Detroit,” the “median real estate price $26,318” for the area of Mack Avenue and Helen Street. This is great! I can buy a house today! Oh, wait. There are a number of abandoned properties, most workers commute long distances and, well, the wages aren’t very good. I get it, T.A. Know and understand the market.
3) Have a good accountant.
I think I understand this one. According to T.A., “just like going through a realtor is safer and easier than buying a house from the actual owner, figuring out your new tax status is safer and easier if you work with a reputable accountant.”
No matter if you are making your first home purchase or if you’ve been buying properties for years, Bourke Accounting can help navigate the ins and outs of your new financial situation. The experts at Bourke Accounting will make sure that you are reaping the benefits of being a home owner. Don’t be shy, though, they can also help all of you renters and sub-letters! So why not stop by, talk with a Bourke Associate, and maybe also get some really neat decorating advice?
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.
I did it. I finally did it!
I feel like I bumped into Gandhi at Walgreens. I feel like I sat down at Bull McCabe’s and shared a drink with Richard Hell. This is the level of coolness regarding my latest experience.
I met a former Chippendales dancer.
For those of you unaware, Chippendales was a place where, mostly women, could objectify half-naked and dancing men. Growing up in the 80s, a lot of movies called attention to this phenomena: 1984’s Bachelor Party, 1987’s Summer School, just to name a couple.
So, having met a Chippendales dancer in the wild, I, naturally, had a lot of questions. Were the women as predatory as in the movies I grew up with? How was the pay? Did you see a chiropractor if you threw your pelvis out? Sadly, he had to go and I was left with unanswered queries.
But it got me thinking. I’ve done a bit of research and it seems that there are still Chippendales reviews going on. Las Vegas has a few and, oddly, there are shows all over Germany this coming November (secure your tickets now!). But it seems like these are just kitschy and possibly ironic throwbacks to older times. Sure, there are a few around Manhattan proper, but no longer are there barkers making my ma blush and asking if she’d like to see real beefcake.
I hate change. I hate feeling nostalgic for events I’ve never experienced. I hate the way cities bulldoze over their history as soon as it happens. Take, for instance, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. If you were to walk around Greenwich Village in Manhattan, you might see a tiny little plaque on an NYU building commemorating the deaths of over a hundred women and the dawn of labor law change. Chances are you would miss this plaque completely if you weren’t looking for it. That’s it. A tiny little plaque:
Personally, I like cities like Savannah, Georgia. If you live in the Historic District, and want to change the outside of your house, you have to “receive a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit can be obtained” according to the Metropolitan Planning Commission. This can be annoying, but it can also protect the history and aesthetic flow of the architecture of a given area.
I think we should always be willing to learn from our past, the good, the bad, the ugly and the shaved chests. If we, as a species, mean to progress, we need to study the historical footprints of our ancestors.
And this is why I like working for accountants. Tax laws might change, but the concept of accounting does not. If you made $5 dollars and spent $6, well, pal, you’re not doing it right – it doesn’t matter if it’s 1955 or 2055. Here at Bourke Accounting, our experts are looking towards the future with their toes firmly based in a rich and traditional past. Bourke Accounting professionals are well versed in the newest law changes, but they also know good old fashioned arithmetic.
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!
P.S. If I go AWOL for a minute, you can find me, front row, at a certain little show in Las Vegas.
Written by Sue H.