If papers had clickers you’d click this column First, a little history about income taxes. (Don’t click yet. It’ll get better.) The first income taxes in the U.S. were imposed in 1861 and 1862 to pay for the Civil War. Rates were raised in 1872. Then, the courts got involved with direct taxes and apportionment. […]
If you’re like me, and I hope you’re not when it comes to shopping for some things like ointment, you don’t read the fine print. Like too many men, I know ointment is ointment. I know Vaseline, Bag Balm, Suave, etc. They all do the same thing. I know that for a fact. And, all […]
We who have retreats up north are always concerned that vermits of some kind will make their way into our units. We always vacuum before leaving, not for dirt, (we’re not dirty) but for crumbs, things that ants might live on while we’re gone. We’ve caged the chimney top to eliminate that entry, and our […]
As a way of proving to myself that I’m no longer relevant, that I’m terribly uninformed in certain areas and would be lost in conversations with theater-goers, I read the entire list of Oscar nominees. I recognized none of the movie titles, though I probably should have picked up on publicity for ‘No Country for […]
We open presents so fast on Christmas we seldom look to see who the presenter is. That’s why I don’t know who gave me the book, ‘Nature Calls: The history, Love and Charm of Outhouses.? What a great remembrance gift for those of us who made that daily trip through rain and snow and dark […]
A couple Oakland County commissioners have told me about the financial wizard in this county’s government. They credit him with keeping Oakland County in black figures, something not that familiar to other counties, though a balanced budget is required by law. So, when Commissioner Brad Jacobsen gave me a flier inviting me to Rochester to […]
It is so much easier on a person when they do something they want to do versus being told they have to. Attitudes are more refreshing, smiles come quicker, life itself is more pleasant and complaints fewer. I don’t recall a time when I fought going to work. When I worked for someone else or […]
Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at Hillsdale College recently. What he said about freedom isn’t being said on anyone’s campaign trail. He was raised by his grandfather and grandmother starting at age nine. He said, ‘They made me what I am today. I always take offense when I hear it said that Yale or some other […]
As you review your resolutions this month (you know, lose weight, work out more, etc.) maybe this thought will help: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways — Chardonnay in one hand, chocolate in […]
Thank goodness for good Samaritans. Ma’dog Shayna’s electronic tether allows her to go about 90 feet from our house. She has been so controlled over two years. The ‘collar? shocks her, or me, when I forget to take it off in the car. And, I take it off at night. So, sometimes, when I know […]