Category: Life is Messy

Seasons change – sometimes more often in bitter climates.  In California, not so much.  Resulting perceived deviance in norms begs the question, just where is the intersection between the interloping congruence of observation versus another’s concrete reality?

Dunno.  Generally don’t care, except for today.

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You have to love some quotes, if not for their insight, at least for their ability to clarify or wonderfully a feeling or belief.  And, there you have it.

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“Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you say.”  Emerson

Time is constant.  I do not wonder where it went, but I do wonder where it goes…

I am not a whiz at physics.  That stated, I just inherently believe there is a direct relationship between “time” and any life event vying for one’s attention.  I need to work on this.  But then, I need to work on a lot of things…

OK, so I am working hard preparing for the onslaught of student summer finals.  I am tired.  I am busy.  And, I am not following some of the common advice I occasionally toss around – toss as in like a bad salad.

I was making note of student performance curves in several classes.  Once again, the data clearly supported a student success metric of interest.  Avoiding grading papers, a practice I have mastered, I begin a quest to tie in student performance to another variable.  I look at the clock – shit.  There went two hours.

Sometimes I wonder if I am qualified to teach students about sound business practices…  At least when it comes to executing on tasks you are trying hard to avoid… But then, I am an expert at it…

So, enough.  I may as well go see what Trump tweeted today…  I am on a roll.

So, diminishing returns, marginal utility, and risk tolerance.  Tactical approach determined and problem solved, thank you.

It is the political season.  And, once again, the script calls for a never ending battle fought on multiple levels.  The political process to elect our next president is propagated by streams of hot air arriving from the usual sources (suspects).  I observe, not too keenly, that youth is playing a larger role in all of this “stuff” – or so it seems.

Of course, what we read, hear, and see is produced by someone with an agenda, hidden or otherwise.  What is clear, talking heads and pundits are all suggesting that “youth” is more engaged and interested than usual.  This speculation borders on the perverse but is, nonetheless, of personal interest insomuch as I am around young folks nearly every working day.  I refer to them as students, but I love them like family.

So I ask them about the presidential election.  And, most confirm the notion that this political season has peaked their interest.  When asked why, student answers vary a bit.  But, when aggragated and rolled up into a neat pile of personal selective perception on my part – my generic thesis is confirmed.

It is all about entertainment.  And, they are right.  I love them so.

It is hot.  Summer is, officially, just around the corner.  Planning is ever-present, and potential summer fun is showing progress, unlike the presidential primary process.  Geez.

OK, I pay my fair share of taxes, and it is likely most folks do too.  The biggies – Federal, State, Social Security, Medicare, Sales Tax, Property Tax, Gasoline Tax (70+ cents / gallon), and a host of utility / community taxes too many to mention.  It does indeed add up – even in unseen places.

For example, of course, we pay more, much more, for many products due to antiquated economic policy “designed” to “protect us” from a flood of less expensive global goods and services.  Gosh, a big thank you to all of the special interest groups looking out for us consumers!  We do work hard to maximize our buying power by seeking value in the marketplace.  I’ll take another big helping of excessive import taxes / tariffs, thank you!

It is with this frame of reference and understanding that I now begin to complete my tax return.  I am optimistic.  I am rather certain that my hard-earned income will result in a sizable tax obligation.  I am equally certain that my tax contribution will help fund all of the necessary parts of a large complex structure of important government systems and associated civil processes that are the United States of America.

I may be ranting here, but I would not trade for or bet my way of life on some other “system” – nope.  By nearly all measurements, we have it pretty good – and the signs bearing out this reality are everywhere.  You may not have to work long and hard to come to this conclusion, but you do have to work harder and longer to pay the increasing burden of taxation to support the dream.

I know what I want for Christmas this year.  I want Uncle Sam to provide us the ability to allocate our taxes contributions.  No, not all 100% of our tax bills, but how about some nice percentage – say 25%.  Change the Tax Code to provide a checklist of services and programs and their annual cost.  Allow me to designate / target 25% of my taxes to areas that I want to support.  That would be nice.  Not going to happen (except the $3 for presidential runs), which is another whole story.  It worked, but no one uses it anymore.  Do some research about how all that came about – and how it is ending…

OK, Turbo Tax Premium, here I come.