Too much of a good thing
In case you didn't know this, my absolute favorite film is "Lawrence of Arabia". It's long, but every time I see it, I'm engrossed in its magnificent vistas and tremendous story for every single minute. I even sometimes get impatient during the intermission for the film to resume.
Toward the middle of last year, I went with two good friends to see it on a big screen, at L.A. Live, and it was wonderful. Today I discovered that it is playing one show only, today, at the Arclight Dome (forever the Cinerama Dome in my mind) at 1:30. I immediately thought about buying tickets on-line, so as to not get shut out. But as a few minutes pass, I realize it hasn't been a full year since I last enjoyed this classic. There are so many other movies I want to see and doing this means I'll miss at least one, possibly two (the ticket for LOA represents the price of two bargain matinee tickets at my local theater). So even though this is my favorite film and it never gets old, I won't be trekking to Hollywood to see it today. At least I don't think so. You never know until the start of the show.
Yesterday at work, a customer walked in. He'd had his taxes done at that location during the "regular" season and he wanted to talk to the preparer who had done them. That person isn't working during the "pre-season" and I offered to try to help him if I could. He'd received a letter from the IRS, wanting him to pay a lot more money for a prior year's return. He said that his preparer had written a letter to the IRS and he wanted a copy of it. I could find no such copy. So I looked at the return, determined he didn't owe the money and I wrote a new letter for him to send. No biggie, right?
Except that I found two minor errors in his returns. One for 2010 and one for 2012. So I ended up doing amendments on those two returns that will put another $500 in his pocket. I said nothing negative about the preparer. It's a mistake many preparers with limited experience can make. It only comes up in unusual situations. But what it did for me was to cement in my mind the notion that I will teach that particular item to students in the coming year. There was no harm done. The client ended up getting everything he was entitled to. He left very happy. And I learned something to help me in my work. So it was a good day.
But I will admit that the idea that there are only three days of work left (I have to go in on Tuesday to help a client with a big problem, but I'll only be there 3 or 4 hours). When I go home on Wednesday at 2 p.m, I'm done until July 10th. I can finally catch up on my rest. I can finally let myself just relax and maybe it will help. The fatigue level in my body is rising almost daily and I feel it. It is a bit frightening. Last night, even though it wasn't that late, I could not stop yawning on the way home. Or when I got home.
There is a good article in today's L.A. Times on yet another reason why some of California's financial woes can be traced to Prop 13. Corporations avoid millions in property taxes through loopholes in this law. Millions annually. That's money that could fund the day-care programs, adult-care programs and programs for seniors that are being cut.
Remember that big fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas? Turns out that the company that owns it had only $1 million in liability insurance. The damage estimates are in excess of $100 million. Where will the money come from to make those whose homes were destroyed in this tragic incident whole? That a state would allow such a big operation to operate with such minimal insurance is gross negligence. An example of utter irresponsibility. The legislature of Texas needs to correct this immediately.
This Date in History:
On this date in 1260, Kublai Khan becomes ruler of the Mongol Empire.
On this date in 1494, Christopher Columbus lands on Jamaica and claims it for Spain.
On this date in 1762, Russia and Prussia sign the Treaty of St. Petersburg.
On this date in 1809, Aargau, a canton in Switzerland denies citizenship to Jews.
On this date in 1821, Napoleon I dies in exile on St. Helena.
On this date in 1862, Zaragoza leads his troops at the Battle of Puebla, halting the French invasion. Today this victory is the reason Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo.
On this date in 1866, Memorial Day is celebrated for the first time in the U.S.
On this date in 1891, what is now known as Carnegie Hall has its grand opening.
On this date in 1904, Cy Young throws the first ever perfect game in major league baseball.
On this date in 1920, Sacco and Vanzetti are arrested.
On this date in 1925, a warrant was served on John Scopes for teaching evolution in violation of The Butler Act.
On this date in 1934, the first short by The Three Stooges is released.
On this date in 1961, Alan Shephard becomes the first American to travel into outer-space.
On this date in 1973, Secretariat wins the Kentucky Derby in what is still a record time.
On this date in 1980, troops of the British SAS storm and take the Iranian Embassy in London after a six day siege. The plan was known as "Operation Nimrod".
On this date in 1987, Congress begins holding televised hearing into the "Iran-Contra" scandal.
Famous Folk Born on This Day:
Emperor Uda of Japan
Karl Marx
Soren Kierkegaard
Nellie Bly
Tyrone Power
Johnnie Taylor
Tammy Wynette
Michael Palin
John Rhys-Davies
Kurt Loder
Melinda Culea
Tina Yothers
Sage Stallone (RIP)
Movie Quote of the Day comes from "Gladiator", a movie that opened on this date 13 years ago.
Commodus: How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name.
Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.
Tax Tip of the Day: The credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses stops for children when they turn 13 (for children who are considered totally disabled, it never stops). But that doesn't mean you can't claim the credit for expenses incurred for child care in that part of the year before they turn 13.
Toward the middle of last year, I went with two good friends to see it on a big screen, at L.A. Live, and it was wonderful. Today I discovered that it is playing one show only, today, at the Arclight Dome (forever the Cinerama Dome in my mind) at 1:30. I immediately thought about buying tickets on-line, so as to not get shut out. But as a few minutes pass, I realize it hasn't been a full year since I last enjoyed this classic. There are so many other movies I want to see and doing this means I'll miss at least one, possibly two (the ticket for LOA represents the price of two bargain matinee tickets at my local theater). So even though this is my favorite film and it never gets old, I won't be trekking to Hollywood to see it today. At least I don't think so. You never know until the start of the show.
Yesterday at work, a customer walked in. He'd had his taxes done at that location during the "regular" season and he wanted to talk to the preparer who had done them. That person isn't working during the "pre-season" and I offered to try to help him if I could. He'd received a letter from the IRS, wanting him to pay a lot more money for a prior year's return. He said that his preparer had written a letter to the IRS and he wanted a copy of it. I could find no such copy. So I looked at the return, determined he didn't owe the money and I wrote a new letter for him to send. No biggie, right?
Except that I found two minor errors in his returns. One for 2010 and one for 2012. So I ended up doing amendments on those two returns that will put another $500 in his pocket. I said nothing negative about the preparer. It's a mistake many preparers with limited experience can make. It only comes up in unusual situations. But what it did for me was to cement in my mind the notion that I will teach that particular item to students in the coming year. There was no harm done. The client ended up getting everything he was entitled to. He left very happy. And I learned something to help me in my work. So it was a good day.
But I will admit that the idea that there are only three days of work left (I have to go in on Tuesday to help a client with a big problem, but I'll only be there 3 or 4 hours). When I go home on Wednesday at 2 p.m, I'm done until July 10th. I can finally catch up on my rest. I can finally let myself just relax and maybe it will help. The fatigue level in my body is rising almost daily and I feel it. It is a bit frightening. Last night, even though it wasn't that late, I could not stop yawning on the way home. Or when I got home.
There is a good article in today's L.A. Times on yet another reason why some of California's financial woes can be traced to Prop 13. Corporations avoid millions in property taxes through loopholes in this law. Millions annually. That's money that could fund the day-care programs, adult-care programs and programs for seniors that are being cut.
Remember that big fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas? Turns out that the company that owns it had only $1 million in liability insurance. The damage estimates are in excess of $100 million. Where will the money come from to make those whose homes were destroyed in this tragic incident whole? That a state would allow such a big operation to operate with such minimal insurance is gross negligence. An example of utter irresponsibility. The legislature of Texas needs to correct this immediately.
This Date in History:
On this date in 1260, Kublai Khan becomes ruler of the Mongol Empire.
On this date in 1494, Christopher Columbus lands on Jamaica and claims it for Spain.
On this date in 1762, Russia and Prussia sign the Treaty of St. Petersburg.
On this date in 1809, Aargau, a canton in Switzerland denies citizenship to Jews.
On this date in 1821, Napoleon I dies in exile on St. Helena.
On this date in 1862, Zaragoza leads his troops at the Battle of Puebla, halting the French invasion. Today this victory is the reason Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo.
On this date in 1866, Memorial Day is celebrated for the first time in the U.S.
On this date in 1891, what is now known as Carnegie Hall has its grand opening.
On this date in 1904, Cy Young throws the first ever perfect game in major league baseball.
On this date in 1920, Sacco and Vanzetti are arrested.
On this date in 1925, a warrant was served on John Scopes for teaching evolution in violation of The Butler Act.
On this date in 1934, the first short by The Three Stooges is released.
On this date in 1961, Alan Shephard becomes the first American to travel into outer-space.
On this date in 1973, Secretariat wins the Kentucky Derby in what is still a record time.
On this date in 1980, troops of the British SAS storm and take the Iranian Embassy in London after a six day siege. The plan was known as "Operation Nimrod".
On this date in 1987, Congress begins holding televised hearing into the "Iran-Contra" scandal.
Famous Folk Born on This Day:
Emperor Uda of Japan
Karl Marx
Soren Kierkegaard
Nellie Bly
Tyrone Power
Johnnie Taylor
Tammy Wynette
Michael Palin
John Rhys-Davies
Kurt Loder
Melinda Culea
Tina Yothers
Sage Stallone (RIP)
Movie Quote of the Day comes from "Gladiator", a movie that opened on this date 13 years ago.
Commodus: How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name.
Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.
Tax Tip of the Day: The credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses stops for children when they turn 13 (for children who are considered totally disabled, it never stops). But that doesn't mean you can't claim the credit for expenses incurred for child care in that part of the year before they turn 13.
posted by me at 10:27 AM
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