User talk:NMexEA

From TaxAlmanac

Representation

Norm: there are a couple of guys here that exclusively do representation: Irsfixer, and Skasslea. Both of them seem to be very good at it. I don't do tax full time. However, I think you could build a pretty good practice in represenation, with a lot fewer hassles than you might encounger doing only returns. Or, you could have some cash flow outside of tax season.

In my market, there is so much advertising for tax help of this kind that I feel I would be lost in the crowd. However, from what I hear from the two guys mentioned above, there is plenty of business.

There is one EA CPE provider that offers a 3 part course in representation, if memory serves. You may already know of them. I can't recall the name, but Kevin is always a good source of information on CPE. Nice to have another lawyer around here!! P.S. I just noticed you are getting your LLM, so you might want to do anything but sit through some other class!CrowJD 18:35, 14 November 2008 (CST)

Good plan

Job security is a huge plus nowdays. We have three law schools (really 4) in my state (GA), and they are all full, and I truly wonder what these young kids are thinking. There are way too many lawyers running around down here for them all to eat.

I think the EA is a great thing, it's good nationwide. Our active status bar dues in GA has gotten outrageous (at least to me). You could go on inactive status with your law license at some point, and the EA still allows you to practice in front of the IRS.

One thing I will never walk into again as a student is a traditional law school! lol. I got enough of that years ago. I am about 15 minutes by rapid transit from Ga. State Univ. law school, so I do make use of their law library quite a bit. However, it's not the same, as so much research material is on computer now, and I still learn better from the old fashioned book. Take care. CrowJD 12:23, 15 November 2008 (CST)

Hi, I moved your thread

to the General Chat page - why are there so few EAs?

My answer: not well promoted. Only about 1/3 of those eligible even join the NAEA. Who else will promote us? Kevinh5

Live course for Enrolled agent exams in Los angeles

Hi, My name is Nikhil and I am preparing for enrolled agents exams. Please can you guide me how to plan my studies and can i take live classes and who offers them. Currently I am using study material from WISE GUDES.

Thanks

Actually I don't.

NMex, actually I don't prepare any returns any more. If I was an EA, and I could just go on inactive status with the Bar, then I might consider it.

I didn't like the clients that showed up for me to do their returns. Might not be that way for every attorney.

I found out that I don't want to prepare a client's return if my status is that of a lawyer. Now, fiduciary returns are a different matter.

I'm really just a general practice lawyer.CrowJD 19:18, 4 September 2009 (CDT)

Do you know?

Hello NMexEA,

I am trying to make heads or tails of this entire EA initial enrollment issue. As I mentioned several times, I am a part-time tax practitioner who is trying to make ends meet and also have a fallback position in case of loss of my full-time job. Accordingly, it is very important that I do not waste money. Just getting the designation thus far has cost almost $500 that ate into my profits--and more importantly, cash flow--for the year.

My SSN ends in 0 which means that my current renewal period is Nov. 1 through Jan. 31 for an effective date of April 1, 2010 through March 30, 2013. If I were to send in my form 23 today, I would POSSIBLY be enrolled before November 1...if that's the case, I would have to re-enroll before Jan 31 and pay another $125 if my understanding is correct. This is what happened with SJPAccounting.

I want to enroll to be ready for next tax season without having to enroll twice. I am thinking that if I wait until late October to send in my Form 23, I SHOULD land in the Nov 1 to Jan 31 period to have an expiration date of 2013...is that your understanding? I have been scouring the internet for hours trying to find the answer to this question, the IRS Circular 230 still shows my enrollment period as 2004 so it's no use.

Thanks,

Michael

Got it

NMexEA,

Thank you, I basically confirmed the answer with the OPR. The answer is that I just have to wait until Nov 1 to mail the Form 23 and I will not technically be eligible until April 1 but that will give me the ability to extend my tax season I hope.

Since I will not be eligible until a new, full season I will just do CPE as if I were renewing. Kewl.

Not sure why the BrockEA didn't show up.....I did everything per normal.

Michael (BrockEA)

Editing

You can - and may - edit your own posts any time you like. In any given discussion, go to the top of the page, you should see a tab labelled "edit" and when you click there you get an editable version of the entire discussion. You are only supposed to edit your own contributions. Note - try not to mess with the starting and ending brackets (like {{ or }}) and the header of each post, unless you're taking out your entire post in which case you highlight from the opening brackets to the ending brackets and delete the entire thing.

You can preview the effect by clicking "show preview" in the little oval box at the bottom of the page, and click "save page" when you're ready.

However - not sure there's a need for you to edit your posts in that discussion today - that guy takes any opportunity to pounce on Kevin. He doesn't like Kevin, we get it, but he feels the need to rub it in, and has even created multiple new user names just to make it look like there's more than one person with his problem. He'll let it go eventually.

Trillium 12:55, 3 December 2009 (CST)

Editing because I'm not sure my last paragraph made much sense!

Hi - I see Kevin has taken you up on your offer to edit out your responses to his posts on that problem discussion, so this is maybe moot, but anyway... what I was trying to say above was that Kevin, by taking away his own posts, had already taken away any steam that the stalker guy could have built up - it was clear that he wasn't going to get Kevin to rise to the bait, and so it should all blow over soon. Not sure that came through quite clearly (then or now, in fact!). Hope the info on editing was helpful, at least... Trillium

A few words

NMex, I got the bright idea to prepare taxes from the example of a semi-retired lawyer I knew back in the late '80s. He was retired from the IRS estate tax division, but he was doing mainly income tax returns. He was a member of the Rotary Club, and a big memeber of his church, so he had some very tame and compliant clients.

I, on the other hand, stepped into the malestrom. First, thank God I had the rest of my practice to lean back on, because I lost money. I got more books than I know what to do with. I feel confident that I got the returns I did right, but it literally took me hours, sometimes fighting my clients tooth and nail. I think every single one of them had an ulterior motive for having a lawyer prepare their return (it did them no good, of course, but to their mind). However, all my experience was with income tax, I never got one call about fiduciary tax.

So, if I had it to do over again, I would definitely get better educated in the subject, and steer toward the representation side of it, it just seems to fit the way a lawyer thinks better to my mind.CrowJD 10:58, 10 December 2009 (CST)

Hi Norm; Would you mind giving me some feedback once you get the EA Book? I'd appreciate your honest opinion once you’ve had the chance to read through it.

Best, Christy

NMex....Thank you for your congrats!! You are the first to do so.

Karen Bair

Hi,

would you mind sharing the website of the tax attorney forum you mentioned?

thanks in advance,

christine Suite829 07:05, 20 May 2010 (CDT)

The only thing for sure

NMex, as far as I know, the only thing we know for sure about Jesus is that he would have had no idea what a Christian was.

He seemed to see himself as announcing the Kingdom of God on earth, and not as bringing it about. "The Kingdom of God is here among you". Would be the motif.

I wouldn't exactly say that Jesus was a strictly observant of Jewish law. He took a common sense view of them so he would "work" or "do work" on the Sabbath etc.

However, he definitely saw himself as a Jew. It turned out he was a Jew who didn't make the High Priest too happy since if the Kingdom is here among you, you may not need the High Priest!

However, almost everything you will find at the corner Christian Church was created by Paul, who never even met Jesus.

I think I would be correct in saying that most modern (serious) Christian scholarship is focused on James, who many believe to be Jesus' brother. It was James who was the actual leader of the Jerusalem Church after Jesus died, and he appears to have been an observant Jew. In other words, a Jew who followed the teacher Jesus.

There has been a ton of new Christian scholarship over the last 25 years, and a good deal of unrest now exists between the liberal and conservative "Bible Based" Christians as to where this is leading.CrowJD 18:11, 8 September 2010 (CDT)

How many of us are there?

Norm,

As a fellow synagogue-dues-payer, I'm wondering: if we started a Tax Almanac subgroup for synagogue-dues-payers, how large would it be?

Steve

IRS Regional Practitioner Meeting

Norm, did you happen to attend the IRS Practitioner Regional Meeting in Las Cruces or El Paso in August? -- Larry Hess, CPA ~ Albuquerque, NM

If you know anyone who did attend, I am particularly interested in what they liked and what they didn't.

Norm, I respectfully disagree regarding the states. The decisions of the US Supreme Court in Sperry v. Florida, 373 U.S. 379 and the Federal Circuit in Augustine v. Dept. of Veteran Affairs 429 F.3d. 1334 seem to me to be unequivocal in asserting a state has no authority to compromise authority to practice under federal law. Do you have a different take? Tim 16:06, 17 November 2010 (CST)

Norm, I respectfully disagree regarding the states. The decisions of the US Supreme Court in Sperry v. Florida, 373 U.S. 379 and the Federal Circuit in Augustine v. Dept. of Veteran Affairs 429 F.3d. 1334 are unequivocal in asserting a state has no authority to compromise authority to practice under federal law.Tim 16:09, 17 November 2010 (CST)

Norm, I respectfully disagree regarding the states. The decisions of the US Supreme Court in Sperry v. Florida, 373 U.S. 379 and the Federal Circuit in Augustine v. Dept. of Veteran Affairs 429 F.3d. 1334 are unequivocal in asserting a state has no authority to compromise authority to practice under federal law.

Hello

Hello Norm....thank you for your replies.... I am in San Antonio, TX.

The good thing about science

Thanks for the thought provoking post. I hope I don't come across as a worshipper of science because I'm not. However, from an employment perspective I like the fact that the laws of science are rarely repealed. (smile) I think you know what I mean by that!

P.S. I just edited a lot of my response out as it was too depressing to read during tax season. CrowJD 02:39, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Double Entry Bookkeeping Foundation of Science

NMex I ran into this on Grok (a science radio show). This is more about the philosophy of science than it is about bookkeeping and modern science but you may be interested. I don't know anything about this professor they interviewed. CrowJD 21:57, 30 January 2011 (UTC)

Link: http://www.archive.org/details/OnExistentialismAndIslamism

This Series is Better

I wonder if you have ever seen these? Bryan Magee's interviews with philosopher's on Youtube.

Here's one on Spinoza. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmbGbo-oyKc

Also, if you are interested in science, he does one with philosopher of science Hillary Putnam (just do youtube search), and a lot of other philosophies and philosophers. I have personally enjoyed a lot of these interviews that Magee does.

One other thing, I happened to run into this: God and Spinoza Lecture Prof. Nadler. I don't know anything about this professor. I listened to a little of it and it sounded interesting. I am not well versed on Spinoza.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZPzivgc7aQ&feature=related

This will give you some idea of my playing around on youbube. lol. CrowJD 22:06, 30 January 2011 (UTC)

He/she

I have a recollection that Bluetieman is a "she" rather than a "he" - and that she is somewhat sensitive about being assumed to be a man (which is ironic since the name implies male), so I snuck a "/she" into your reference to "he" in that last post. You can review his/her prior posts (click edit next to the user name) to see for sure... hope you don't mind the little edit.

Trillium 19:30, 1 March 2011 (UTC)

Hehe

NMex you're quick as whip. :)CrowJD 23:11, 25 March 2011 (UTC)

Congratulations

NMex: Congratulations on the LLM! It's still not too late to consider scrapping all this and becoming a Rabbi. I mean an official Rabbi.  :) CrowJD 13:30, 22 April 2011 (UTC)

My problem

I give you a lot of credit for seeing it through. My problem as I've gotten older is that I enjoy dabbling in a variety of subjects but I don't have the discipline to see it through to the end! CrowJD 22:54, 26 April 2011 (UTC)

Cervantes saved me

The picture of Don Quixote with books overflowing his house and coming out of his windows drawn so masterfully by Cervantes might have saved my life. lol.

I was alluding to the Don the other day when I mentioned that I was reading books on knights and damsels. If I remember the book correctly, Don Quixote's insanity was blamed (by his friends) on his reading too many books of chivalry.

If they could just keep him away from his books, there was a chance he might get better!

The only wisdom I have is that at least I MAKE myself use the library now instead of buying more books (even though I do slip from time to time). Have a great day. CrowJD 13:12, 27 April 2011 (UTC)

What have I done now?

I was feeling cantankerous this morning and it looks like I've stirred up the Hawaiians. I've got to get myself out of this diplomatically before a feud starts up. They are awful hot tempered out there. Don't let me get you into any trouble.CrowJD 22:44, 7 June 2011 (UTC)

Tax Court Exam

I have purchased some study material on my own (FRE, etc) and have perused them. I spoke with Sherril Travato, EA, USTCP at the NAEA conference two weeks ago about her class, it won't start until late Sept or early Oct. Kevinh5

Hello NMexEA, I am Taxjoy currently in Arizona and currently just working as EA despite passing California Bar exam. However, IRS thinks your client is guilty if you put EA on any stuff and your E&O insurance is 5 times as expensive.....thus I'm going to take the November 2012 tax court exam--------I would like to buy used any study material you may have for this exam. The book no (I have way too many of evidence, normal civil procedure, and just retook ethics exam for licensing in Nevada---so what I need is sample written answers from past exams and tax court procedure guides. please e-mail if you have any fun tax issue also. insurancebyjoyce@yahoo.com

Hi again, OK I am not currently active as lawyer because---E&O cost 5 times more as lawyer than EA, I went to cheap Western University of Law in Fullerton California at night when it was only weswtern regional approved not ABA so I cannot be licensed in Arizona where I now live (family stuff), and if I study for and take the lead in studying for this test my partner/co-worker Ted Watkins EA,MBT, CFP will probably study with me (he has 2 year of law school completed) thus we are amiming at putting together a directional study to get to Washington DC on November 12, 2012 for 3 hours of bliss at the treasury building.....face it most attorneys know nothing about Tax Court so this is also a way to get prepared for when we need it. THIS ALSO EXPLIANS WHY I DO NOT WANT TO PAY THE $1,345.00 MINIUM TO $7,500.00 (ON cpa SITE) FOR A COURSE----SOME WHERE OUT THERE IS MATERIAL FOR THE PARTS WE HAVEN'T LEARNED GETTING EAs, BASIC LAW SCHOOL EVIDENCE AND PROCEDURE. Writing we will have no problem with. What we have heard is that merely having the initials USCT behind the EA helps settle some cases faster....not going to the court just quicker settlement with IRS. Check out Ted's website TedWatkinsEA.com for some of the articles he's written. I'm changing my website --eventually it will be Taxjoy ---the happy tax site. We have a growing tax resolution business which is beginning to hit some big cases where there is a possible question on whether the cases will end in court----up to this point we have had to turn them over to a good tax attorney-----because my attorney experience was working for the SEC and I learned absolutely nothing about normal civil attorney work there. Contact me direct at insurancebyjoyce@yahoo.com. Yes, I do sell insurance and financial products too-----very safe downside protecting investment mostly annuities and whole life----the dumb clients have been asking since 2000 why none of their investment with me went down when all their friends lost money. Taxjoy

Economy

NMex, there has been a multi-year propaganda program against "entitlement" programs run by Wall Street and the Insurance companies.

They want their hands on the SS money. (Do you know what a failure the 401(k) has been for most Americans?

SS is good until 2036. Medicare can be fixed.

Remember, if we get rid of these programs, we don't get rid of the human costs. These costs merely get transferred to states, localities and private famililies.

Why not cut some of the fat out of defense? Why don't we ever hear anything about that from the Right? The only one who will discuss that is Ron Paul. We could cut a lot of fat out of defense. We need a "Foreign Base Closing Commission". CrowJD 11:08, 22 September 2011 (UTC)

D not I

NMex in my humble opinion you are thinking "Inflation" and Weimer.... instead of Deflation and deleveraging.

One interesting piece of history to look at might be what happened in 1937.

You may already know about this.

The U.S. thought a depression was over and they could pay down the deficit and all it did was plunge the nation back into depression.

Quote:

"The specter of 1937 hangs over the economy and the stock market.

That's the year when overconfidence that the Roosevelt administration had whipped the Great Depression and that it was time to balance the federal budget led to another deep recession that wiped out three years of growth and sent the economy reeling back to the Depression depths of 1934." Jim Jubak, MSN

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/JubaksJournal/will-us-repeat-mistakes-of-1937.aspx

2009 article but still worth reading. It's a BAD time right now to worry about the deficit in my opinion. Gazoo 21:16, 22 September 2011 (UTC)

Hey NMexEA

Shoot me an email at M.BrockEA@gmail.com. I don't have yours or I would email you.

BrockEA

I think we are wasting our time (Smile)

I often thought it would be a good idea to teach real law in highschool but then I thought about the people they would hire to teach it and I changed my mind.

Everybody in America today considers himself or herself a lawyer. It's all common sense you know. The Constitution tells you everything you need to know and the Constitution is not vague and it speaks for itself. Yup. <Smile> What a world! Take care NMex. CrowJD 18:50, 7 January 2012 (UTC)

Wow

I have not run into a client quite like that....yet. I just hope at some point people will stop flirting with such ideas and get interested in something else. The attacks on lawyers are bad enough, but the continued attacks on our judicial system really bother me. I am not very optimistic. I have dreams sometimes of a remote island or a big ranch to escape all this! Take care of yourself. CrowJD 01:19, 8 January 2012 (UTC)

Do something until I drop

NMex, I'll have to take in work or figure out some way to make money till I die. Even though I may dream about a private island or a big ranch I sure can't afford one. <smile> I'll never be able to get away from the madding crowd. CrowJD 17:02, 10 January 2012 (UTC)

I have a good friend who works

I have a very good friend from highschool days who has worked for the state of Ga. as a systems analyst for years.

We went to college together and we are still good friends. He got his degree in psychology and religion. lol. He hates computer work. He loathes it. He's been rather underpaid all these years.

But now he's fairly close to retirement and he has a very good retirement. He's a happy guy. Still fairly young and he can do something else that appeals to him more if he feels like it.

Now he'll be laughing at me for a change while I slog on through life's difficulties. hah! CrowJD 17:32, 11 January 2012 (UTC)

Health benefits too

NMex, I understand they are bad about cutting post retirement health benefits too. You can't count on anything these days. CrowJD 20:53, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

Looking for 2010 Phoenix Study Cards

Hello! Am taking all three parts of the SEE before the end of this month (Feb 2012). I was looking for the Phoenix Tax Group Study Cards, but they are all sold out on their website. Was wondering if anyone has all three sets of study cards that they would be willing to part with? Below are my scheduled test dates and below that is my TaxAlmanac profile. Thanks! ~Elizabeth

Feb 12, 2012: Part 1 - Feb 19, 2012: Part 3 - Feb 21, 2012: Part 2

Hello my name is Elizabeth. I am a sole proprietor offering business and taxation services since April 2000. I have offices in San Francisco, CA and Utah.

I passed the old SEE exam back in 2006, but did not file a Form 23. I am retaking all three parts before the end of this month, Feb 2012, hoping that the new test is similar and that I am able to pass. I am also a CPA candidate needing to take the exams. My plan is to begin studying for them in March 2012. And aim to complete them within the year. Am finally biting the CPA bullet, as I have been able to take them since Aug 2004... Have been and am currently struggling with the 2000 hours of slave labor...

My main taxation interests are individuals and small businesses.

I didn't think about that, thanks for letting me know. I am just so upset and feel an overwhelming desire to warn everyone. I won't say anything else. My attorney did tell me not to speak to the media after I put something in the paper.

Customs Broker

NMex, I'm sorry if I came across as flippant in my comments to your question.

I don't know how much you've looked into the Custom Broker line of work but my understanding is that they do not work on the routine stuff. They work on the issues where the classification is "close" and I think they earn their commission by getting a "proper" (read cheaper) classification put on the imported product. Frankly, I don't know how they get the volume of work they need to sustain their business but it must be there. See how many are listed in the Yellow Pages is what I would do. Of course, the Yellow Pages is old fashioned now I guess.

I went to a SCORE class one time about all kind of import-export stuff.

I was serious about the Freight Brokering business. I think it's tough to break into as an independent, but I think it can be quite profitable and I do believe it's licensed. I've thought about taking that Freight brokerage class myself. I remember years ago talking to a fellow I grew up with who had gotten into the business but he worked at a company and he really enjoyed it and he made good money. CrowJD 02:15, 14 April 2012 (UTC)

You are correct

You are of course correct. I guarantee you that once a matter is joined (Petition-Answer) in Tax Court, they don't just sit around and wait for trial. The judges would revolt. Either the Civil Practice Act or some version of it applies in Tax Court. They have motion practice. There is no need for a lot of this to reach the trial stage. I don't know hardly anything about Tax Court but it just makes sense that they would have motion practice. Gazoo 17:25, 19 July 2012 (UTC)

Definitely some Civil Practice going on rather than just trial

I think Dave's particular expertise is with the tax law itself, and not so much with the procedure in Tax Court. Gazoo 18:16, 19 July 2012 (UTC)

I don't know

I don't know if I ever got around to stating my point correctly or not, but we are in the same ballpark. Sometimes I wish we were all sitting around a large table for these discussions since they would go much more smoothly and quickly. lol. Have a great weekend. Gazoo 18:47, 19 July 2012 (UTC)

JD

curious as to what state you can get admitted to the bar without law school (Or with correspondence school) Kevinh5

Thanks for info on the JD issue

I'm curious if one passed the bar exam in California after completing a correspondence law school, couldnt the person then apply to the bar of their home state, showing they were already a member of the bar of California?

As you know, I'm working on the Tax Court exam. Had another 2 day study group this week in Atlanta with some study partners. Kevinh5

Thank you so much for your kind words.

I just have to wait 5 or 6 months for the results. Kevinh5 21:41, 15 November 2012 (UTC)

NMex, don't know

NMex, I don't know if you got a chance to see my reminiscence about a trip I took to an African animal trophy room as a boy . It's on the Gods, Guns, Gold thread in chat. The story is true, but I've taken certain liberties with some facts, which every writer is entitled to do. lol. I enjoyed writing that story. Well I guess I better finally get out of here from a while so I can get something productive done before Thanksgiving. Have a good holiday. CrowJD 00:40, 21 November 2012 (UTC)

Added a new one tonight about the party at the Koch mansion this week.

I really do need to get out of here and smell the roses every once and a while. Take care. Safe Holiday. CrowJD 03:20, 21 November 2012 (UTC)

Norm,

I just happened to look at my message page and I noticed with horror you had left me a message way back in October. I sincerely apologize for not seeing this question.

I have a niche doing tax returns for law enforcement, because that's what I did for 30 years, and the professional has many predators doing their taxes. We have all seen the haircuts, gym fees and on duty meals issues, so I use my position as an attorney to tell members of the profession about this mythology.

But my main practice is tax litigation, where I receive referrals from CPAs and EAs who have exhausted administrative remedies and who are smart enough not to start drafting tax court petitions and send their clients into litigation pro se. I also do a lot of refund work in district court although I have never filed a Court of Claims case.

I hope this answers your question.

Take care,

Tim

Nope, we were told it would be

late March to mid-April. I guess it's technically late March now that it's past the 15th. I know I will cry either way. Tears of joy or tears of anguish. I've got a pail full of tears saved up. Thanks for your belief in me, though! Kevinh5

Thank you again for your kind words

While waiting on the mail this morning I couldn't get any work done. Now I've got the results and I can't get any work done, other than to have my appointments with clients. HAPPY DAY! I'm doing the Snoopy happy dance right now! Thanks! Kevinh5 17:44, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

EA Background Check Question

Hi NMexEA,

My name is Nelson Shum and I have worked as an accountant in private industry for several years. I was interested in becoming an EA but am concerned about the background check.

Twenty years ago, I graduated from university but unwittingly omitted information on my college application. Will this become an issue during the background check? My concern is that the omission of information will be viewed negatively because it may appear as an act of deception, or fraud. In other words, I was not completely honest, which goes against the moral standards of the profession. Can I make the argument that i was simply young and stupid?

Your response would be greatly appreciated.

Best, NS

Will he start dunking me in water to test me?

lol. I feel like I'm one of the Salem witches on trial today. Instead of pinks and commies now we are known as unfavorables. PollyAdler 20:21, 24 June 2013 (UTC)

I need a Yiddish dictionary

I knew it was Yiddish, I just couldn't find the exact word. I think I know what it is. :)

We're the Victims!

NMex, have you ever noticed that WE are the ones that usually get the brickbats thrown at us, and I have the feeling that we have both worried about, and studied more, and searched our consciences more on the topic of religion than practically anyone else on the board? How is it that we are the heretics? I've been victimized. Wasn't it the "so-called Old Testament" prophet Amos or someone who came out of the wilderness or desert preaching repentance? I think he caught hell too. PollyAdler 01:46, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

So true

"They just don't like to be reminded of what they know in their hearts is true. They tend to ideology, at least in theory if not practice. We distrust ideology because we know it's always a fraud and usually ends up killing someone."

I agree. To me it is the difference between seeing something as perhaps a helpful narrative, one way to look at life, one way to benefit from the experiences of our forbears....but the hardened ideologies of today...and the tiny slit of light that we call "choice" and real freedom, is shrinking quickly. The mass of our population has now been trained to take a really thin gruel in place of solid food, and eat it from cradle to grave....and for a lot of them...to be delighted by it. PollyAdler 18:31, 15 October 2013 (UTC)

You may have heard by now that the Tax Almanac ( www.taxalmanac.org ) web site forum is permanently closing its doors effective June 1. Perhaps you have seen the pink bombshell “Important Service Announcement” when logging in.

Long-time TA user ChrisV2 has volunteered to set up a new website where TA users may continue the discussion. The site is up and running now and has an active base of contributors.

We invite you to take a look www.taxprotalk.com and join your fellow TA refugees.

Frankly (TA member and new member of TaxProTalk)