None who attacks them can escape, and none can catch them if they desire not to be found – Herodotus, on the Scythians – 5th Century BCE
Over here at Bourke Accounting, Bill breezed by and, nonchalantly, asked what I was working on (sometimes he wonders what he’s paying me for). In a perfectly rambling manner, I explained my obsession and love for the Scythian people. Bill’s eyes glazed appreciably as he subtly backed away and disappeared around the corner. I haven’t seen him for quite a while now.
I first learned about the Scythians back in college and it’s a society that has stuck with me these many years. The Scythians were a group of nomads who hung out around Siberia from about 900 BCE to 200 BCE (Blog.BritishMuseum.org). Yeah, I know, that definition doesn’t exactly inspire adoration, but wait! There’s more! First off, the Scythians were pure terrors on horseback. Not only were they the best riders in the area, they were such great horse breeders that Clearsky Farms would be envious. And once on horseback, the Scythians were one of the first groups to use mounted warfare with one of the “earliest fully composite bows” (Archeryhistorian.com). These bows were shorter than those of their enemies and a lot more accurate. In addition, Scythians made sure their enemies didn’t get up again by poisoning their arrowheads with Scythicon – a mixture of putrefied vipers, human blood and animal poop (Historyhit.com).
Besides being the fiercest fighters in the land, Scythians were hardcore partiers. They got drunk often and had a ritual based around “getting high on hemp in a kind of mobile ‘weed sauna’” (Blog.BritishMuseum.org). After battling and riding for hours, the Scythians understood and respected the medicinal attributes of wacky tabaccy. Not to be mistaken for Burning Man attendees, the Scythians were also heavily tattooed with intricate animal designs, using methods that closely resemble modern tattooing (Blog.BritishMuseum.org).
One other thing: all of the above were the common, day-to-day activities of both men and women. For example, women would “remain virgins until they could kill three of their enemies” (En.Wikipedia.org) in battle. My professor said this was because a woman had to prove her strength in order to show that she was worthy of childrearing and marriage (the same was expected of boys). Another example of the equality between men and women showed in their burial rites. When Scythians died, they were mummified and buried with all of the weaponry and honors befitting a warrior (including their sacrificed horse, sadly) (Ancient-origins.net); discovered remains show that “over a third of the…skeletons…are typed as females with heavy battle scarring” (Vice.com). It’s believed by anthropologists that Scythians were labeled “barbarians” by their contemporaries because of the equal opportunities shared by the sexes (Ancient-origins.net). For example, women of Greece (the closest comparable culture) had no political rights and were “controlled by men at nearly every stage of their lives” (Penn. Museum). Scythian women were obviously not the gentle and perfumed creatures sequestered inside well-appointed homes.
Scythian culture was based on equality, nobility and courage (and weed and blood). Because the ladies were expected to carry their weight, the Scythians were able to utilize their entire population toward a common goal. When everyone is included and respected, everyone wins.
Bourke Accounting women are as highly trained as Bourke Accounting men (and just as fierce with the IRS). Bourke Accounting doesn’t believe in different standards for different folks. When you sit down with your Bourke Accounting bookkeeper or tax preparer, our promise of accuracy and efficiency is of the greatest import and it really shows.
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, I am the only one without children. So, when my co-workers tell me the things their kids do, I listen as intently as a sociologist learning about a bizarre and lost civilization. It doesn’t matter if my colleagues are recounting tantrums or “I love you, Mom” cards, it’s all so interesting and alien. But when one of my co-workers told me about The Jump Prank, a viral sensation that some kids are into, I had to do some investigating.
Let me start by saying that the pranks my friends and I pulled were fairly tame. “Ring and Run” was good for a few laughs. We even did the flaming dog poop in the bag trick – except we thought putting poop in a bag was rude and we never had the nerve to light it, so really, we just left paper bags on the neighbors’ doorsteps. I must admit, though, kids today are a little scary:
1) The Jump Prank (or Skull Breaker Challenge). I don’t usually believe cautionary internet horror stories, but a demonstration was included in an article I read and I was actually able to witness this. It starts with three people where one, the victim, has no idea what’s going on. The two culprits angle themselves on either side of the target and say something along the lines of, “Let’s see who can jump the highest!” When the clueless one jumps, the others kick the legs out from under her/him. It’s the height of entertainment to watch a pal smack that cranium into the concrete, right? Obviously, this little trick can cause a lot of damage. In November of last year, this prank caused so much damage that Emanuela Medeiros, aged 16, died after her “friends” pulled it on her (Somersetlive.co.uk).
2) Drano Bombs. Similar to the fun of watching a friend suffer cracked vertebrae, some little savages think blowing fingers off is comedy at its finest. With this prank, aluminum foil, Drano and water are placed in a plastic bottle; the chemical reaction “releases hydrogen gas” (Snopes.com). The bottle is placed in a mailbox or on a lawn. When an unsuspecting victim picks up the bottle, the bottle explodes. Besides the harm the explosion causes, the victim is drenched with caustic chemicals that burn the skin and can lead to blindness (Rare.us). When I read that authorities have warned against picking up discarded bottles on front lawns, I thought that this reeked of “urban legend” (IHeart.com). However, over the decades, children have been arrested for creating these bombs (News.WBFO.org, Fox19.com) and people have been injured (ABC7NY.com).
I didn’t have to pass Psychology 101 to know that the brains of kids aren’t done baking and that they have trouble understanding the repercussions of their actions. The kids aren’t evil – they’re just very, very stupid. To avoid having your kid end up on the local 5 o’clock news, here are a few bits of advice for you: talk to your kids, check out her/his computer’s search history and caution them against cracking skulls and blowing off appendages. Look at that! It’s almost a pity that I didn’t want kids – I, obviously, have this parenting thing down!
Bourke Accounting experts won’t kick your legs out from under you. In fact, if the world blows off a finger, your Bourke Accounting bookkeeper or tax preparer will be the one to find it for you. Bourke Accounting professions will do everything in their power to keep you financially secure and physically intact in a world filled with sharp objects.
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.
Forgive my intrusion, but fine as those sentiments sound / Little has changed for us peasants down here on the ground – “The Actress Hasn’t Learned the Lines” – Evita
At Bourke Accounting, Bill is the leader – what he says goes. However, he’s not a megalomaniac; if he is presented with coherent evidence regarding why an idea is not feasible, he will concede. I am not a leader (I’m paranoid and don’t want anyone behind me). I am also not a follower, as I find it difficult to blindly allow someone to make decisions for me. Maybe it’s my Gemini nature or maybe I just can’t be bothered.
Because of my reluctance to “play along,” I started thinking of celebrities. The last time I emulated a celebrity, I was 8-years old, wearing jelly bracelets and pretending to be Madonna. Years later, I cringed as the Michigan native spouted nonsense in an unbearable British accent. Had she suffered a severe brain trauma or, more likely, was she a victim of inflated self-importance? The lines of reality have softened when one is furious over not being allowed to use a cryogenic chamber on one’s brand new plane (Thelifeandtimesofhollywood.com).
We’ve seen celebrities do bizarre and anti-social things simply because they could – that’s not new. However, I am constantly amazed when fans imitate that behavior. For example, when Paris Hilton began to carry chihuahuas as fashion accessories, it was vaguely disgusting. Then, animal rescue workers noticed the number of these little dogs surrendered had risen to make up a third of all dogs in shelters (TheGuardian.com). I’m guessing that these fans didn’t have much patience when Ms. Fuzzy Wuzzy Snookums pooped inside of an expensive purse. Dogs need care? I’m surprised, too.
An even darker trend took place in 2014 after Robin Williams committed suicide. In the four months following his death, studies showed a “10% increase in suicides” (CNN.com). It could have been caused by the 24-hour news cycle, a steadily more depressed society or a combination of the two. It could have also been the last straw for people already suffering from disordered thinking: if a rich and beloved star can’t be happy, there’s no hope for the rest of us. While celebrities are real people, with real emotions, they must also be aware that their actions are capable of influencing some of the masses.
Whether it’s supporting animal rights, the environment or attending our current protests, I always question the motivations of celebrities. For example, I find the practice of celebrities posting pictures of themselves at protests problematic. If the message is the important part, why do we have a very determined – and maskless (we wouldn’t recognize him otherwise, duh!) – Ben Affleck posing for pictures? While some really do believe in the cause, I think others are there simply to be seen. And interestingly enough, these tourists are not like you and me. As soon as it gets dark, or violent, these celebrities have the option to quietly and safely retreat to gated communities. After spending two hours walking down a sunny street, they won’t have to live among the ashes if fires break out. While everyone is lauding these brave stars for demonstrating with the people, I dare you to try to protest amongst the Beverly Hills mansions.
America allows for differing opinions and that’s great. However, don’t follow what anyone tells you to do if repercussions aren’t equally shared. And remember, stars are just people with better hair.
Bourke Accounting experts aren’t easily led. Bourke Accounting experts also aren’t very impressed by money and status. No matter who you are, you will be treated just like everyone else when you sit down with your Bourke Accounting bookkeeper or tax preparer. In short, you will be treated as an equal with the capacity to make up your own mind.
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 just realized that I have never gotten an internal parasite from eating lunch at Bourke Accounting’s weekly staff meeting. As internal parasites are one of my greatest fears (2nd only to bedbugs), I am pleased by this streak of good luck. However, since some of you may be traveling this summer, I decided that a public service message was in order. So, for everyone hitting that open road, here are three hitchhikers to avoid picking up:
1) Tapeworms. Tapeworm infections aren’t common in the US; the CDC estimates that fewer than 1,000 people are infected each year (Health.com). Since the longest worm ever found in a human was 82 feet long, it pays to be careful, though (Healthfacts.blog). Tapeworms may enter our bodies if we eat the undercooked meat of an infected animal. Then, they set up camp to share in our dinner plans. Interestingly, tapeworms have evolved their craft to the point where they, generally, don’t cause many symptoms; “when they do, it’s usually a stomachache, diarrhea or weight loss” (Health.com). If the worm and the human are able to get along, the worm lives “for up to a few years” (Health.com) and dies, whereupon the human’s body either absorbs the dead critter or passes it. However, the pork tapeworm is a different customer: this one can live in your brain, cause seizures and death (Health.com). This infection is caused by eating pork worm eggs “directly from infected human fecal matter” (Health.com). So, make sure you wash your hands and the hands of others. Often.
2) The Human Botfly. This fly lives in Central and South America and, while the fly itself doesn’t cause disease, her babies are evil. The botfly grabs a carrier (usually a mosquito), glues a bunch of eggs to her underside and lets her go (Wired.com). When the mosquito gets close to a human, the human’s body heat causes the eggs to hatch, allowing the babies to tumble onto the victim (Wired.com). The kids either slide down the hole the skeeter made or any other cuts that might be available (Wired.com). The baby then makes whatever hole bigger and shoves its face further in, “the opposite end barely pokes out the skin, allowing the larva to breathe” (Wired.com). They breathe out of their butts, I guess. As they get older, the host usually notices something’s up – botflies “rotate in their little burrows…creating this sort of intense shooting periodic pain” (Wired.com). Womenshealthmag.com suggests covering the botfly hole with bacon, nail polish or petroleum jelly to suffocate it before pulling it out. If you’d like to let it grow up in a good home though, let it be. After about three months, these guys will just sort of fall out and squish away (Wired.com).
3) Loa Loa. This is known as the “eye worm” (Businessinsider.com). Can you guess when it hangs out? If you get bitten by an infected deer fly in Africa, you’ve just made yourself a new pal! After Loa Loa gets inside of its victim, “the worm begins floating around tissue…until it stops and causes swelling and irritation in that spot” (Businessinsider.com). Your vision will usually be fine, but Loa Loa can “be painful when moving about the eyeball or across the bridge of the nose” (Web.stanford.edu). Besides being visible in the eye, they can also sometimes be seen slithering under the skin. Surgery can be used to get them out of eyes and there are medications available to clear up the entire little colony (CDC.gov). Oh, and by the way, they can live inside of you for up to 17 years (Businessinsider.com).
You know what? Don’t go anywhere. Don’t go anywhere, don’t eat anything – let’s just hide under the bed.
You won’t contract any of the above at Bourke Accounting. And if you must go traveling soon, make sure you see your Bourke Accounting pro first; filing your returns before July 15th with a Bourke Accounting expert will make your vacation so much more relaxing. Also, your Bourke Accounting prepared tax return refund will come in handy! Happy (and safe) travels!
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 am currently sitting in my little corner of Bourke Accounting. The air conditioner is humming its peaceful white noise from somewhere above me and I’ve just put my sweater on. It’s hot and muggy outside, off and on thunderstorms. My little corner is well-decorated. It smells clean and, sort of, like scented Kleenex. If I felt like it, I could binge on free snacks in the kitchen right now. I know how good I have it.
Absently appreciating my current situation – and feeling a little guilty about it – is making me think of the people who don’t have it so nice.
In my NYC youth, I had some homeless friends. While some of them blamed mental illness or drug abuse for homelessness, some held that our entire system, political and social, was the culprit. However, the one thing they agreed on was the need to avoid homeless shelters at all costs. It was the consensus that a flattened box on the pavement was a better life choice than risking sexual assault, violence, theft and contagion in the shelters.
While being homeless is bad in the best of weather and economies, the coronavirus has exponentially worsened the circumstances of thousands of people. As social services are struggling to keep up with the demand of those in need and with businesses still not completely open, more people have been driven to shelters (Globalcitizen.org). If these were well-funded and well-appointed programs, there wouldn’t be any trouble. However, that’s not the case. Many (if not all) of these places are “overcrowded and…unsanitary” (Globalcitizen.org); in short, these are perfect breeding grounds for transmission of the virus. In addition, many of those in the most desperate of situations aren’t in good physical condition. Besides having to worry about threats they can see, now they must also fear what might be lurking in the air they’re breathing.
It would appear that they are right to be afraid: in a CDC study, recording from March 27 to April 15, it was found that “25% of residents in 19 shelters tested positive” (Factcheck.org) for the virus. While some shelters have been staggering mealtimes, trying to “limit congregation points…at entrances and exits” (Vice.com) and taking temperatures, it isn’t enough. Shelters are notoriously understaffed and, like mentioned above, dirty. There aren’t enough people to take every temperature and to disinfect all the time.
While America seems to have grown bored of the virus, I’m fairly certain it has not tired of us yet. Within the past 14 days, 20 states have reported a rise in new cases (Advisory.com). This is concerning enough for healthy people with access to food, shelter and health care. However, this is even more devastating to those going into battle empty-handed. Unfortunately, with our world in turmoil, these people are forced to suffer in the dark as they quietly slip through the cracks. This is not to say that more affluent Americans are cold-hearted – it’s literally a matter of “out of sight, out of mind.”
Obviously, we must protect our most vulnerable citizens. On a purely selfish level, if we don’t eradicate COVID-19 among the ranks of our nomadic and homeless populations, our country will forever be at risk of re-infection. We are, literally, in this together. If one of us has corona, it is just a matter of time until we all have corona.
Bourke Accounting encourages you to donate whatever resources you can towards helping each other. While Bourke Accounting knows how unsteady the ground is, we stand with our community in the hopes of combatting injustice and infection. When all is said and done, we will show that our country is one of compassion and courage.
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.
Yes, so I can dream of escaping this h*ll of a life called work and live my days at my beach house sunning and reading Danielle Steel novels – Bill when asked if he plays the lottery.
I’ve never been a gambler, but as you can see from the above statement, Bourke Accounting’s Bill is. In Bill’s mind, a few wasted dollars is well worth the chance to be independently wealthy. Bookkeeper Christina plays, too, saying, “I play sometimes just for fun and hoping that I can win some big money.” Perhaps I just don’t have the competitive drive of my managers, but I avoid games of chance with an almost Puritanical intensity. Because of my bias, I am sharing Sweepstakes-Gone-Bad stories:
Beginning in 1997, television network HGTV has run a “Dream Home Giveaway.” This year’s winner can choose between a house worth $1,787,809 (plus $250,000 in cash, home furnishings and a car) or a cash prize of $750,000 and a car (HGTV.com). Who wouldn’t love to own an architectural masterpiece in a great neighborhood? As it turns out, many would like to, but few actually can. According to Cheatsheet.com, in the entire history of the contest, “only six [winners] have stayed living in the house for more than a year.” What’s the problem? Murderous neighbors and the angry ghosts of realtors past? Maybe. Or maybe it could just be taxes.
According to one study, winning the house comes with “an average income tax bill of $700,000,” not including state and real estate taxes (Cheatsheet.com). In addition, the houses are huge, so one must consider the horror of utilities. Finally, this year’s house is located on Hilton Head Island, SC. Ever been? Put it this way, chain stores are forced to use tasteful wooden signs (even McDonald’s had to tone down the color of the Golden Arches), so landscaping and maintenance on the new house alone would be enough to bankrupt the winner.
Speaking of bankruptcy, HGTV’s contest actually did bankrupt one of the winners. 2005 winner Don Cruz lost his house after two years. He said that his “tax liability was close to $800,000 and [when he gave up the house] he was already $1.4 million in debt” (Doyouremember.com). One could argue that he should have sought professional financial help before it got to that point, but come on, he was a winner!
So, what about the average joe who buys an average lotto ticket at the local bodega and wins millions? A good story, unless you were Abraham Shakespeare. In 2006, he won $31 million; by 2010 his body was dug out of a shallow grave in his backyard. Shakespeare was illiterate and not great with money when Dee Dee Moore walked into his life in 2008, under the pretense of writing a book about him. By April of 2009, Moore told his friends that Shakespeare was on vacation to avoid moneygrubbers. At one point, Moore pretended to be Shakespeare and texted friends to tell them that he was okay. Friends, surprised that Shakespeare had learned to read, contacted authorities. Moore offered a few scenarios of the murder, one of which featured her 14-year-old son as the killer. The jury didn’t buy any of her concepts and she is now serving life for murder and theft (Murderpedia.org).
So, as you can see, my argument regarding the evils of seemingly innocent contests is valid; the evidence shows, wasting money is bad, but winning money can be even worse.
Although some Bourke Accounting pros play the numbers, you don’t have to worry about getting a new bookkeeper or tax preparer if they win. Bourke Accounting experts are so dedicated to meeting your needs that they could never walk away. While your Bourke Accounting specialists may, one day, be the richest financial authorities in the world, they’re definitely the best right now.
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.
When you’re born, you get a ticket to the freak show. When you’re born in America, you get a front row seat – George Carlin
Earlier this year, my Bourke Accounting co-workers were really into the television series, Survivor. I haven’t watched the show in years, so their conversations rolled gently past me like an amicable brook. My co-workers were invested – characters’ bad behavior offended them on an ideological level and they seemed to care about contestants’ advancement. As far as reality television shows go, this one isn’t too bad. From what I remember, people engage with each other and work towards a common goal. The contestants are shown actually doing stuff. Of course, this got me thinking about America’s weird obsession with reality TV.
If someone exhibits uncommon traits, humans naturally take notice. This is quite evident when considering the “freak shows” of our past. As early as the 16th century in England, people suffering from physical deformities were put on display by enterprising – if unethical – businesspeople (Britannica.com). In America, P.T. Barnum is perhaps the best known for this practice. By Barnum’s time, performers were paid extremely well (En.Wikipedia.org) and many were saved from institutional living because of this financial freedom. However, as science, morals and disability rights progressed, “freak shows” fell out of favor (Priceconomics.com).
Since we are now an empathetic species, we no longer partake in anything as exploitive as these dishonorable past times – except when we do. For example, in 2012, cable TV’s TLC debuted a “five-part miniseries involving four morbidly obese patients” (En.Wikipedia.org) called My 600lb Life. This series followed people as they attempted to lose enough weight to safely qualify for bariatric surgery. However, since the show was so wildly popular, TLC began airing the show on a weekly basis. This is a sad indictment on both America’s health and sensibilities. The popcorn munching masses tuned in each week to cringe, judge and (is it possible?) feel better about themselves. Obviously, the only differences between this and “freak shows” of old is the comfort and anonymity of the viewer.
Another quasi-public service program is A&E’s Intervention. This show features people suffering from horrific substance abuse issues while their families try to get them into treatment. The addicts are filmed going about their addicted lives, often shown doing highly embarrassing, illegal and dangerous things. The final payoff is when the addict, filmed months later and happy, has renounced drugs forever. While over 30 people have died as a result of substance abuse after being filmed (NickiSwift.com), it’s fairly obvious that these addicts were never treated as legitimate sick people. Instead, it appears that they were only important until the primetime ratings came in.
Profiting from human frailty and disability is disturbing. While TV’s “freak shows” might include high end graphics, they are no more noble than their darkened tent, sawdust on the floor, ancestors. Put bluntly, the proper word for entertainment gained from suffering is “sadism.” As the people of the past turned their faces from exploitive amusements, I think we might want to do the same.
You will, most likely, never see camera crews at Bourke Accounting. Although Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers are intelligent and talented, watching them work isn’t extraordinarily interesting. Now that I think about it, I could picture a Bourke Accounting expert on America’s Got Talent. There is no one who can process paperwork as quickly and as accurately as a Bourke Accounting professional.
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.
Since I began writing Bourke Accounting blogs, I’ve written about unscrupulous tax preparers pumping up fake deductions and I’ve written about illegal practices of stockbrokers. I’ve even written about people claiming kids who are in the sole custody of exes. The amount (and diversity) of shady and petty things we get up to is astounding.
I stumbled across something yesterday that really exemplifies some bad apple taxpayers of the past. The interesting thing about what I have learned is that implications of deception were almost instantly apparent.
With incredulity, I give you The Tax Reform Act of 1986. Under this reform, taxpayers were obligated to include the social security numbers of any dependents aged five or older on their tax returns (SSA.gov). For some of us, we can’t remember a time when a social security number wasn’t required; including our socials (and that of our dependents) is as second nature as filling in first and last names. Shaking our collective head, we question: Wait, if you didn’t need an identifying number, what was to stop people from claiming as many kids as they wanted? Remember that instantly apparent deception? The tax reform was responsible for turning a big old spotlight on less than legal practices.
In 1986, tax returns listed 77 million dependents (LATimes.com). That’s a lot of kids, but perfectly understandable, considering the meager television offerings of Alf and Growing Pains. However, by 1987 (the first year the tax reform went for a spin), “only 70 million exemptions were identified” (LATimes.com). I’m no demographer, but it seems kind of strange that 7 million kids all turned 19 the same year. And in terms of money, this wasn’t the same as taking a penny from the little tray at the store register: 1987 filers ended up paying an “extra $2.8 billion in taxes” (LATimes.com). I can just picture armies of 80s IRS agents smiling gently and saying, “we foxed you, you bad, bad civilians.”
Perhaps it was because of the stark evidence of ne’er do wells in our midst that Congress, in 1988, decided to join the game as Player 2. Congress’ idea was for all parents who took “a special tax credit for childcare expenses to identify their daycare providers” (WashingtonPost.com). Likes socials, this is another simple requirement that we’re all accustomed to. It was most likely a result of those 7 million kids who all grew up at once, but by 1989, “2.6 million babysitters” (CSMonitor.com) also disappeared. Without those caregivers, taxpayers claiming the credit dropped by 30 percent (CSMonitor.com), decreasing credits from “$3.7 billion in 1988 to $2.5 billion in 1989” (WashingtonPost.com).
Since these new rules have come into effect, one would think taxpayers would stop claiming invented children. You should know better. As recently as 2011 Norma Coronel was given an 18-month Federal prison sentence and ordered to pay $302,186 to the IRS (LATimes.com) for tax fraud. After having one kid, she “applied for and obtained Social Security numbers for at least 20 fictitious children” (LATimes.com). She claimed that she had all of these kids on the same day and, uh, well, I guess no one thought that was weird.
There’s nothing I hate more than a thief. Well, except for a stupid thief. I’ve said it before, but paying taxes is paying for the upkeep and future of our country. As citizens, it’s our job to pay our share and to play the game fairly. You know, those streets don’t fix themselves with happy thoughts.
At Bourke Accounting, the customers are always right – unless they’re not. While Bourke Accounting experts like kids, they’re not willing to play catch with fake ones. Your Bourke Accounting bookkeeper or tax preparer might not be keen on bending the rules, but with their vast knowledge and skill, there’s never any reason for them to cross the moral, or legal, line.
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 doesn’t believe in body shaming. This is not because Bourke employers fear lawsuits; this is because body shaming is cruel, infantile and inappropriate. In addition, my Bourke boss, Bill, understands that a hostile work environment inevitably leads to a decrease in work production. While Bill might be a decent fella, the bottom line is still definitely important to him.
Unfortunately, not all workplace cultures avoid body shaming. In fact, at some places, body shaming is so rampant and casual that one begins to ignore it. For instance, I once had a job where comments about my weight were a daily occurrence. Being on the thinner side, I was constantly accused of being on drugs (I’m not) or having an eating disorder (I don’t). It got to the point where I began absently responding to the nickname, “Bones.”
While being equated to the Crypt Keeper didn’t make me feel great, at least I was openly insulted. For people in heavier bodies, an insult is often wrapped in “good” intentions. For example, during lunch, a co-worker can “sweetly” ask a heavier co-worker if s/he really needs another slice of pizza. The question is obviously offensive and publicly humiliating, but the co-worker can argue that it was only asked out of concern for a colleague’s health. Call me Crypt Keeper all day if it means I won’t be subjected to wide-eyed, “oops, didn’t mean to” abuse.
In early 2020, USNews.com reported that more than 40% of Americans are obese, with 1 in 10 qualifying as severely obese. Because of these statistics, it would make sense if weight discrimination in the workplace was declining. However, that’s not the case. According to a study by the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, “obese adults are 37 times” more likely to endure bias regarding employment; the severely obese are 100 times more likely (WestSoundWorkforce.com). According to Forbes.com, employers could possibly justify not hiring larger applicants, as the losses for “obesity-related absenteeism is estimated to be $8.65 billion per year.” To make everything just perfect, another study found that “61% of [poll] respondents did not consider negative remarks about weight to be offensive” (Forbes.com).
Why does body shaming exist in professional environments? The simple answer is because it’s “legal in almost all states” (Bustle.com), except for Michigan and a few scattered cities (Time.com). We all know that discrimination based on sex, race and religion is illegal, but discrimination regarding weight is okey dokey. However, there are two occasions where this sort of prejudice wouldn’t stand. For example, if weight is only mentioned in connection with one sex, there could be a basis for a sexual harassment complaint (Bustle.com). The second circumstance is if the comments “could relate to someone’s disability status” (Bustle.com), as disability discrimination is prohibited under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In my own situation, it must be admitted that my fellow employees were savages towards everyone. While I was made fun of for being too thin, my other co-workers were ridiculed for being too tall, too short, too heavy, too hairy or too stinky. We all know it’s not nice to speak negatively about a person’s appearance, so we shouldn’t do it – don’t make the workplace Eighth Grade – Part II.
Bourke Accounting professionals aren’t tacky and they know how to stay in their lane. No matter where on the spectrum your weight falls, you won’t hear about it from your Bourke Accounting bookkeeper or tax preparer. While Bourke Accounting specialists will have to ask you personal questions, your dietary habits will never be one of them.
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 watched The Purge for the first time last year. I didn’t find it to be a charming story on film and the live-action version certainly isn’t any more endearing. We’re doing this wrong. From tips to toes, we are doing this entire thing all wrong. Protesting deplorable actions is a good thing. Police officers protecting bystanders and businesses is a good thing.
So, why is it that we’re getting everything wrong? The amount of violence in our streets is ridiculous. Peaceful protests are turning violent within seconds; police and protesters are ripping each other apart. Is this mob mentality taking control or is it simply stark evidence of deep-rooted resentment and hatred flowing through everyone involved? Or is it both?
For example, on May 30, eight young men brutally beat an unarmed woman with their fists and with 2X4s in front of a shop. There is clearly nothing that says “justice and equality” quite like a group of men punching a lone woman in the head. So, don’t you worry, Status Quo, not matter what social changes are made in the future, it will, most likely, still be permissible to humiliate and hurt women. After all, we can’t have too much progression at once.
What else? Oh, let’s not forget 77-year-old retired officer and security guard David Dorn, who, on June 2, was shot and killed by Stephen Cannon. What was the retired officer’s crime? He was responding to an alarm at the pawn shop he watched over. Mr. Dorn, who had nothing to do with the travesty that befell George Floyd, lost his life anyway. For what? Pawn shop trinkets?
Obviously, we must not ignore what the police have been up to. Who could forget Officer Vincent D’Andraia, NYPD’s Newest Hit Maker, shoving Dounya Zayer to the ground, causing a concussion. Naturally, he had to remind her that she’s a “stupid f——- b—-” (Businessinsider.com) as he pushed her. He showed her that standing peacefully won’t be tolerated on his watch.
And then there was the stellar performance of Buffalo, NY cops as they gracelessly pushed Martin Gugino, causing him to fall and hit his head. Mr. Gugino, bleeding in the video, “suffered a brain injury as a result” (NBCNewYork.com). Although the White House Bunker Squatter accused Mr. Gugino of being some super deadly “ANTIFA provocateur” (NYTimes.com), I’m not sure the 75-year-old man was posing enough of a threat to warrant brain damage, anarchist or not.
We’re doing this wrong. The police are causing violence to prevent violence; the people are causing violence to protest violence. We must realize that behind the badges and behind the protest signs are real humans, scared and angry. Not every cop is an evil tool of the devil and not every protester is a blood-thirsty criminal (and to be clear, it must also be noted that not everyone out in the streets are even legitimate protesters. Some are merely opportunists). It must also be remembered that the innocent bleed the same color as the guilty. We must stop burning each other down and start putting ourselves back together.
Bourke Accounting professionals share your confusion. At Bourke Accounting, we look forward to a peaceful future, changed for the better. Having your tax returns completed by July 15th isn’t going to erase the horrific images that are now playing, but consulting a Bourke Accounting specialist will ease any financial anxiety you may be feeling. If we can offer you even a tiny measure of security, it’s worth it.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. Stay Sane!
Written by Sue H.