happiness bump - this happens because of trying to coordinate my 3 sons who each live in 3 other states away from me, their families/6 grandkids/summer schedules w/ camps, etc... so we can all join together someplace during the summer. It's definitely a "happiness bump" once it comes together, which it did a few weeks ago. I found a very large, 6 br place which also has a pool table in the place - yeah!! - a hot tub & a swimming pool for the kids, & walking distance to restaurants, etc., plus plenty of other activities which are nearby.
but after American, United is the 2nd least likely for us to use.
LOVE dreams, & I often remember them, either when I wake during the night or in the morning, for a short time. I don't care if the dreams are "good" or "bad", I just love to dream.
During a summer field practice I did for my degree in psychology, I worked w/ a psychiatrist. He was doing dream research w/ suicidal patients. He worked w/ those who had attempted suicide. I worked w/ the family members, asking them to do dream journals. During this time of course I also did my own dream journal. Trying to keep this comment short, I kept a pad of paper next to my bed, w/ a pen & when I'd wake up I'd write down my dream. The more you do this, the more you begin to remember. What was really fun, was sometimes I'd wake up & think I couldn't remember a dream, then look at the journal & notice something written, & read about a dream I had noted, THEN remember the dream! As you go to sleep, think about trying to remember your dreams & it can help. It's fun to also remember you're the writer/director/all the actors/actresses, etc, in your dreams...
as much as I avoid political comments, Trump calling Zelenskyy a dictator - uh, hello Putin???? - & trying to negotiate w/out all members at the table is, imo, totally WRONG
ok, another comment, about National Park Service... I honestly believe there are enough philanthropy groups in this country that can EASILY find replacements for those positions.
Ah, there’s nothing like starting the day learning a new expression. “Hedonic adaptation” - it’s perfect. I’ve been experiencing it all my life. Always wanting to travel somewhere new, try something new. I am so very tired of hearing this new language of all letters (LOL, TLDR…). So thank you, Bill, for teaching us new ideas, words and expressions. I really appreciate it!
Running any business is always about the proverbial “bottom line,” the net of expenses and revenue, requiring a combination of both to effective. Companies that only focus on cost cutting alone quickly find themselves in a “death spiral.”
It puzzles me why we would cut staff that improves our revenues when there is allegedly rampant fraud in the US. That’s like cutting air traffic controller staff when a shortage contributed to at least one plane crash. Guess I just don’t understand the new math.
You and me both. Lots of fraud and just lack of understanding in the small business community re: SS and payroll taxes. Those IRS folks are WAY overworked with computer systems from back in the 60s. Great place to cut people if you want to get even less money into the SS system.
This is like a broken record! They keep firing people, which only makes the already outdated system worse. It's like putting a band-aid on a broken bone! Where's the accountability in improving these systems? I've been in corporate IT for 25 years and I've never seen such a mess. But, we also don't want our government getting cozy with subscription cloud services. That's like putting all our eggs in one basket! Or pan brought to us by Microsoft, who has their hand on the gas knob. AI should remain an external consultant, like a wise old owl offering advice from the sidelines.
Now, As a small business owner, those IRS firings have me singing 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!' Finally! Maybe now things will actually improve... or maybe I'm just being naively optimistic. Either way, it feels good.
I am on board with everything you said with the exception of the last paragraph. If you can’t manage and collect revenue you are sunk. Unless they plan to still collect everything and handle audits using AI and having no humans to talk to. I just read this in the Guardian:
“Doge is axing as many as 15,000 law-abiding and knowledgeable civil servants. It is trying to coerce the agency to give Elon’s AI-wielding AV squad unfettered access to the system containing the personal and financial data of every American taxpayer, small business and non-profit.
Not only would this arrangement provide an armory of intelligence to be deployed against the president’s enemies – according to a lawsuit filed by taxpayer advocates, unions and small business alliances, it would give Musk access to his rivals’ profit and loss statements, payrolls, tax records and information about IRS investigations into their (or his own) suspected tax fraud. “No other business owner on the planet has access to this kind of information on his competitors,” assert the plaintiffs, “and for good reason.”
As a Tesla owner and currently suspended on X (yeah, auto-suspended day two with no explanation or response to appeals), I feel this in my soul. Trying to get a response from any of Elon's companies is like screaming into the void. Sure, the VA, DMV, and IRS might also leave you hanging, but someone gets paid by US to ignore you. With Tesla, it's just...crickets. My Tesla ownership comes with a bonus free feature: direct access to the same level of customer support as the IRS. Except the IRS might actually eventually send you a threatening letter. Tesla just ghosts you. I'm currently suspended from X, so I can't even publicly complain to Elon. It's a whole thing. Frustrating doesn't even begin to cover it. Guess it's back to the drawing board for a solution.
So your fellow small businesses withholding SS taxes from employees paychecks and then not sending them in to be used as funds later to pay out benefits. You’re okay with that?
Now, As a small business owner, those IRS firings have me singing 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!' Finally! Maybe now things will actually improve... or maybe I'm just being naively optimistic. Either way, it feels good.
I was, granted, assuming you as a small business owner, if you had employees, did not keep the SS taxes withheld from their pay for yourself. But many others do and 3200 of those IRS employees you were happy about getting fired had the job of getting those funds back into the treasury. That group has been undermanned and working with antiquated IT systems for years. Firing help is not the answer but updating the systems would be wonderful. Though not what the IT guru and his folks are doing.
I'm sorry I don't understand the villainization of small business owners or the assumption they are fraudsters or criminals. Small business owners are more burdened by the immense tax code than any other group.
That is not to say they pay more in taxes. W2 earners bare that burden.
I have no sympathy for IRS workers because of my experiences with IRS workers.
Last January I made a quarterly tax payment based on the previous years earning and filing.
In may, after making another quarterly payment we received a snail mail letter indicating the first payment was not accepted, due to an adjustment the IRS made to the previous year return. There was explanation of what was changed or the amount the payment should have been do to the change.
I called the IRS. Gave up after 1 hour.
I called them again two days later, got through after about 40 minutes. The agent was unable to help me because my return was locked. Suggested I call back in two weeks.
I called back after two weeks to learn the payment was obviously accepted, but not applied against our taxes. They couldn't help because the file was still locked. Suggested I call back in two weeks again.
This has gone on all year and I'm now working with the accountant to file our taxes with the question still open.
Is this general incompetence? Incompetence in managing their obvious 1980s packet based system?
Regardless, something needs to change at the IRS.
Something need to change with our tax code. W2 earners carry too much of the burden and business deals with too much complexity.
Issue number 2.
Here is the price gouging of our quickbooks subscription. A simpler tax code and more efficient and capable IRS could limit control Intuit has over accounting and business.
06/2021 $217.49
06/2022 $380.61
12/2023 $661.44
11/2024 $999.00
When you question the current state affairs, do you forget the past? Do you live in a place that this inflation hasn't weighed on you and you haven't needed to interface with this terrible bureaucracy?
I've been regaling my wife with my nightly dream adventures for years now. It's a testament to her love (and possibly her high tolerance for weirdness) that she's still around.
I remember most of my dreams. And planning vacations does not give me a happiness bump, it just causes a lot of stress. To the point where I would rather stay home. Travel is not fun any more
Planning used to be my jam. I loved it. Then 2019 hit, and something shifted – big time. It's like the joy just evaporated. I refer to that as the "before times". Frankly, it's the *&$%ing technology. All these retirements (mine included!) have left us with systems designed and maintained by, well, let's just say inexperienced folks. And navigating that mess? Pure frustration. Forget it. Plus, with the same issues plaguing mass transit, you won't catch me on a plane or a train anytime soon.
I'm clinging to a sliver of hope that things will get better. That eventually, experience will replace inexperience. But honestly? We're at a tech crossroads. We either figure this out, or we're in deep trouble. The question is, which way will we go?
H! Thanks for what you do. I did experience a bit of disappointment though when, in the Zelenskyy/Trump piece you referred to them both as having exchanged ‘terse comments’ - I didn’t hear Zelenskyy’s comments as ‘terse’ as much as ‘factual’. Additionally, you neglected to include that Trump first accused Zelenskyy as having started the war (if I have my info about the exchange correct). I understand that you’re trying to be succinct, but I feel that that was an important point missing. Just sayin’.
Bill! I saw this post come through yesterday morning when I woke up and I panicked thinking it was Monday! But no worries! I waited until today to read it 😁
I used to live on the East Coast but a few years ago I migrated West in my converted school bus. I brought your newsletter along with me! After bouncing back and forth between Arizona and Utah for two years we finally decided to stick around in Northern Utah on the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. It's gorgeous here and there is so much outdoor stuff to do! Over the summer I manage the cabins at Rocky Ridge Outpost. I wanted to drop a link in case you're coming this far North during your trip out this way. Bryce Canyon is also a fantastic place to stop in Utah and we are right along the National Parks circuit that goes all the way up to Yellowstone. Hope you'll consider visiting up here!! https://www.rockyridgeoutpost.com/
happiness bump - this happens because of trying to coordinate my 3 sons who each live in 3 other states away from me, their families/6 grandkids/summer schedules w/ camps, etc... so we can all join together someplace during the summer. It's definitely a "happiness bump" once it comes together, which it did a few weeks ago. I found a very large, 6 br place which also has a pool table in the place - yeah!! - a hot tub & a swimming pool for the kids, & walking distance to restaurants, etc., plus plenty of other activities which are nearby.
but after American, United is the 2nd least likely for us to use.
Love the newsletter. Please don’t fret about a “schedule”. It’s your newsletter—write what you want when you want! No explanations needed.
I agree, the happiness bump is real and helps us live our best lives!
LOVE dreams, & I often remember them, either when I wake during the night or in the morning, for a short time. I don't care if the dreams are "good" or "bad", I just love to dream.
During a summer field practice I did for my degree in psychology, I worked w/ a psychiatrist. He was doing dream research w/ suicidal patients. He worked w/ those who had attempted suicide. I worked w/ the family members, asking them to do dream journals. During this time of course I also did my own dream journal. Trying to keep this comment short, I kept a pad of paper next to my bed, w/ a pen & when I'd wake up I'd write down my dream. The more you do this, the more you begin to remember. What was really fun, was sometimes I'd wake up & think I couldn't remember a dream, then look at the journal & notice something written, & read about a dream I had noted, THEN remember the dream! As you go to sleep, think about trying to remember your dreams & it can help. It's fun to also remember you're the writer/director/all the actors/actresses, etc, in your dreams...
as much as I avoid political comments, Trump calling Zelenskyy a dictator - uh, hello Putin???? - & trying to negotiate w/out all members at the table is, imo, totally WRONG
ok, another comment, about National Park Service... I honestly believe there are enough philanthropy groups in this country that can EASILY find replacements for those positions.
Ah, there’s nothing like starting the day learning a new expression. “Hedonic adaptation” - it’s perfect. I’ve been experiencing it all my life. Always wanting to travel somewhere new, try something new. I am so very tired of hearing this new language of all letters (LOL, TLDR…). So thank you, Bill, for teaching us new ideas, words and expressions. I really appreciate it!
Running any business is always about the proverbial “bottom line,” the net of expenses and revenue, requiring a combination of both to effective. Companies that only focus on cost cutting alone quickly find themselves in a “death spiral.”
It puzzles me why we would cut staff that improves our revenues when there is allegedly rampant fraud in the US. That’s like cutting air traffic controller staff when a shortage contributed to at least one plane crash. Guess I just don’t understand the new math.
You and me both. Lots of fraud and just lack of understanding in the small business community re: SS and payroll taxes. Those IRS folks are WAY overworked with computer systems from back in the 60s. Great place to cut people if you want to get even less money into the SS system.
This is like a broken record! They keep firing people, which only makes the already outdated system worse. It's like putting a band-aid on a broken bone! Where's the accountability in improving these systems? I've been in corporate IT for 25 years and I've never seen such a mess. But, we also don't want our government getting cozy with subscription cloud services. That's like putting all our eggs in one basket! Or pan brought to us by Microsoft, who has their hand on the gas knob. AI should remain an external consultant, like a wise old owl offering advice from the sidelines.
Now, As a small business owner, those IRS firings have me singing 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!' Finally! Maybe now things will actually improve... or maybe I'm just being naively optimistic. Either way, it feels good.
I am on board with everything you said with the exception of the last paragraph. If you can’t manage and collect revenue you are sunk. Unless they plan to still collect everything and handle audits using AI and having no humans to talk to. I just read this in the Guardian:
“Doge is axing as many as 15,000 law-abiding and knowledgeable civil servants. It is trying to coerce the agency to give Elon’s AI-wielding AV squad unfettered access to the system containing the personal and financial data of every American taxpayer, small business and non-profit.
Not only would this arrangement provide an armory of intelligence to be deployed against the president’s enemies – according to a lawsuit filed by taxpayer advocates, unions and small business alliances, it would give Musk access to his rivals’ profit and loss statements, payrolls, tax records and information about IRS investigations into their (or his own) suspected tax fraud. “No other business owner on the planet has access to this kind of information on his competitors,” assert the plaintiffs, “and for good reason.”
As a Tesla owner and currently suspended on X (yeah, auto-suspended day two with no explanation or response to appeals), I feel this in my soul. Trying to get a response from any of Elon's companies is like screaming into the void. Sure, the VA, DMV, and IRS might also leave you hanging, but someone gets paid by US to ignore you. With Tesla, it's just...crickets. My Tesla ownership comes with a bonus free feature: direct access to the same level of customer support as the IRS. Except the IRS might actually eventually send you a threatening letter. Tesla just ghosts you. I'm currently suspended from X, so I can't even publicly complain to Elon. It's a whole thing. Frustrating doesn't even begin to cover it. Guess it's back to the drawing board for a solution.
So your fellow small businesses withholding SS taxes from employees paychecks and then not sending them in to be used as funds later to pay out benefits. You’re okay with that?
Please re-read my comments. I never advocated what you said.
So you fellow humans buying puppies for dog fights. You're ok with that?
Now, As a small business owner, those IRS firings have me singing 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!' Finally! Maybe now things will actually improve... or maybe I'm just being naively optimistic. Either way, it feels good.
I was, granted, assuming you as a small business owner, if you had employees, did not keep the SS taxes withheld from their pay for yourself. But many others do and 3200 of those IRS employees you were happy about getting fired had the job of getting those funds back into the treasury. That group has been undermanned and working with antiquated IT systems for years. Firing help is not the answer but updating the systems would be wonderful. Though not what the IT guru and his folks are doing.
I'm sorry I don't understand the villainization of small business owners or the assumption they are fraudsters or criminals. Small business owners are more burdened by the immense tax code than any other group.
That is not to say they pay more in taxes. W2 earners bare that burden.
I have no sympathy for IRS workers because of my experiences with IRS workers.
Last January I made a quarterly tax payment based on the previous years earning and filing.
In may, after making another quarterly payment we received a snail mail letter indicating the first payment was not accepted, due to an adjustment the IRS made to the previous year return. There was explanation of what was changed or the amount the payment should have been do to the change.
I called the IRS. Gave up after 1 hour.
I called them again two days later, got through after about 40 minutes. The agent was unable to help me because my return was locked. Suggested I call back in two weeks.
I called back after two weeks to learn the payment was obviously accepted, but not applied against our taxes. They couldn't help because the file was still locked. Suggested I call back in two weeks again.
This has gone on all year and I'm now working with the accountant to file our taxes with the question still open.
Is this general incompetence? Incompetence in managing their obvious 1980s packet based system?
Regardless, something needs to change at the IRS.
Something need to change with our tax code. W2 earners carry too much of the burden and business deals with too much complexity.
Issue number 2.
Here is the price gouging of our quickbooks subscription. A simpler tax code and more efficient and capable IRS could limit control Intuit has over accounting and business.
06/2021 $217.49
06/2022 $380.61
12/2023 $661.44
11/2024 $999.00
When you question the current state affairs, do you forget the past? Do you live in a place that this inflation hasn't weighed on you and you haven't needed to interface with this terrible bureaucracy?
I've been regaling my wife with my nightly dream adventures for years now. It's a testament to her love (and possibly her high tolerance for weirdness) that she's still around.
She seldom remembers her own.
I remember most of my dreams. And planning vacations does not give me a happiness bump, it just causes a lot of stress. To the point where I would rather stay home. Travel is not fun any more
Planning used to be my jam. I loved it. Then 2019 hit, and something shifted – big time. It's like the joy just evaporated. I refer to that as the "before times". Frankly, it's the *&$%ing technology. All these retirements (mine included!) have left us with systems designed and maintained by, well, let's just say inexperienced folks. And navigating that mess? Pure frustration. Forget it. Plus, with the same issues plaguing mass transit, you won't catch me on a plane or a train anytime soon.
I'm clinging to a sliver of hope that things will get better. That eventually, experience will replace inexperience. But honestly? We're at a tech crossroads. We either figure this out, or we're in deep trouble. The question is, which way will we go?
H! Thanks for what you do. I did experience a bit of disappointment though when, in the Zelenskyy/Trump piece you referred to them both as having exchanged ‘terse comments’ - I didn’t hear Zelenskyy’s comments as ‘terse’ as much as ‘factual’. Additionally, you neglected to include that Trump first accused Zelenskyy as having started the war (if I have my info about the exchange correct). I understand that you’re trying to be succinct, but I feel that that was an important point missing. Just sayin’.
Again, thanks for your upbeat newsletters!
Bill! I saw this post come through yesterday morning when I woke up and I panicked thinking it was Monday! But no worries! I waited until today to read it 😁
I used to live on the East Coast but a few years ago I migrated West in my converted school bus. I brought your newsletter along with me! After bouncing back and forth between Arizona and Utah for two years we finally decided to stick around in Northern Utah on the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. It's gorgeous here and there is so much outdoor stuff to do! Over the summer I manage the cabins at Rocky Ridge Outpost. I wanted to drop a link in case you're coming this far North during your trip out this way. Bryce Canyon is also a fantastic place to stop in Utah and we are right along the National Parks circuit that goes all the way up to Yellowstone. Hope you'll consider visiting up here!! https://www.rockyridgeoutpost.com/