Welcome to the Desert of the Real
Twenty years ago, sci-fi fans geeked out to a new thriller called The Matrix following a dystopian vein established in Blade Runner, Total Recall, and The Terminator. It starred Keanu Reeves as “Neo” and Laurence Fishburne as “Morpheus”: freedom fighters in a world where machines have trapped humanity in a computer-generated dreamscape called the Matrix, to distract their minds while […]
Teeny Little Slices
Here in the United States, we spend a lot of time arguing about income taxes . . . who should pay, how they should pay, and how much they should pay. Right now, the average American forks over 13.5% of their income in individual income tax, and 30% of their income in federal, state, and […]
Deductible Man
“Burning Man” is a celebration of creativity and community that pops up for nine days every year before Labor Day in the Nevada desert. (Turn right at Reno, go about 100 miles, and when it looks like you’re actually driving on the moon, you’re there.) It started as a simple bonfire for a handful of […]
By the Time We Got to Woodstock…
Fifty years ago, a dairy farmer named Max Yasgur thought it would be a rockin’ idea to rent his field to a bunch of kids who wanted to throw a concert. From August 15-17, 400,000 hippies, peaceniks, and plain old music fans converged on the scene. If you’re a 60s fan, Woodstock represents the high […]
Now We Know Why They Call It a “Joy” Stick!
Parenting is full of special moments that create lifelong memories. Your heart bursts in joy as you watch them take their first steps, ride their first bike, and bring home their first report card. When they get a little older, there’s the pride you feel when they bring home their first “real” paycheck, tear into […]
Presto Change-o
Back in December 2017, while you were finishing up your holiday shopping and spiking the eggnog, Congress spiked the tax code. The goal was simple. First, eliminate a bunch of deductions that made the whole thing more complicated. Then, take advantage of that broader base to cut overall rates. There’s nothing radical about that sort […]
All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye
On March 12, the “Varsity Blues” scandal hit the headlines, and gossips across America leaped at the fresh meat. That’s the day we learned about a group of 1%ers who paid anywhere from $15,000 to $6.5 million to cheat their kids’ way into some of the most prestigious colleges in America. The Department of Justice […]
Risky Business
Turn on any television, any time of day or night, and you’re likely to see an insurance ad, or two, or a dozen. Flo is showing off her “name your price” tool, which sure looks like her company’s way of saying “you may not be able to afford all the insurance you need, but we’re happy […]
Summer Reading for Tax Geeks
Memorial Day has come and gone, and while summer doesn’t officially unlock the door and open for business until June 21, who’s waiting? Craft beer fans are swapping out those dark malts that taste like tree bark, and stocking up on summer brews with hints of lemon, lime, and cherry. Sports fans are turning their […]
Tax-Free Smarts
Graduation season is here, and grads of all ages are excited to move on! Kindergartners are celebrating mastery of letters, shapes, and not eating crayons. Awkward eighth-graders just want to finish getting through puberty. High-schoolers are looking forward to careers, college, and moving out of their parents’ nests. College grads are looking forward to crushing […]