One of my not so favorite things to do here at National Care Advisors is payroll. It’s not that I mind paying our folks (me included), they work very hard and earn every dime they get. What drives me nuts is the employer withholding and taxes and filings and such. I had good grades in college in accounting but my taxation grades weren’t that hot. For these reason, we decided to bring in the pros from Dover to assist us with our payroll.
So the pro calls me this morning and sounds oh, not so cheery. Look, I’m a gregarious Irish guy- I can’t help but be cheery. So she’s asking me questions that I’m trying to answer and proceeds to ask if we’ve filed a From 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Tax Report). At 10 AM this morning, I didn’t know what a Form 941 was. Hello? That’s why I called you. The pro was none to happy with me and could not proceed until I found out what was up with the 941 (with is beginning to sound like TPS report to me) and she’ll have to get back with me.
News flash! No need to get back with me because you’re fired. See, here’s my letter revoking your power of attorney. We later went with a firm who had earlier pitched us and they were just great. Anyhow, here’s the moral of the story- if you are called in to be an expert, chances are you know more about your field than the person you’re dealing with. That’s why you’re an expert. Don’t belittle them, talk down to them, or for God’s sake don’t sigh heavily into the phone. That will cause your behind to become fired in no time flat. It is an honor to be hired to work for someone (especially at the gawd awful rates some folks charge). At least pretend to have manners.
Thus endeth the sermon.
This has nothing to do with Hillary Clinton’s book (thank God) but rather some thoughts on the déjà vu I’ve been experiencing the last few weeks. Becky is taking American History this year through Kenyon College. This allows her to get five semester hours of credit and it saves me several thousand dollars (I believe Kenyon’s tuition is in the $30K per year range). Twenty-two years ago, I took the same course. I love history and considered becoming a history teacher but I also loved science (biological, not physical) and it won out. Becky is working on her final research paper which, like it was for me, is her first experience with writing a college level paper. It’s been a bear. Fortunately, she found a subject she was passionate about (the Kent State shootings) much as I did (the inner workings of the House of Representatives) and has really done well. I even got to be footnoted for doing an analysis of the settlement for injuries and death that was paid out (I did the work pro bono since there’s no ways she’s going to pay).
I am not normally wistful about my high school experience. There were a number of good points but in no way do I wish to go back and re-live the past. But it has been fun watching my kid have some of the same experiences I did and getting to enjoy them a second time. Let’s just hope she avoids the stupid mistakes I made. I think she will.
I have never liked red-light cameras. I do not trust them and think they violate a basic tenet of due process (can’t face my accuser if it’s a machine). Apparently, I have good reason not to trust these cameras. According to this article, six cities have been sited for tampering with these intersections, specifically shortening the amber cycle to less than is allowed by law. It makes one think that it’s less about safety and more about money.
HT: Jeff Nolan
