Hey, everyone. I am in Columbus, helping my brother move. It is supposed to be 86 degrees today, and I am wearing my sweat-proof underwear, to give you an idea of the glamour I’m operating under.
However! I have a great read for you today. Remember my friend Nathan Gotsch, who ran for Congress last year in Fort Wayne, as an independent? He’s been up to other stuff lately, namely producing the LGBT-themed play that got all the bigots up in their feelings. The Washington Post story about it dropped today (gift link), and it’s a great story about taking from bigots and giving it to deserving kids.
Enjoy. I’m off to sweat and clean a bathroom.
FDChief said on May 31, 2023 at 9:05 am
“Entartete Kunst”, like every fetish object of the current GQP, sounded better in the original German.
106 chars
Suzanne said on May 31, 2023 at 9:11 am
Gotsch is a graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School in Ft Wayne as well as one of the Lutheran grade schools. I am guessing he will not be winning any alumni awards from either of them for his involvement with this play.
223 chars
JodiP said on May 31, 2023 at 10:15 am
Thank you Nancy–that was a great, uplifting story.Nice early kick-off to Pride month!
86 chars
alex said on May 31, 2023 at 10:18 am
As an alumnus of Carroll, I’m disappointed that a relatively small number of whiny right-wing ninnies has more clout than the vast majority who have some common sense, but then it’s really not much different than it was when I graduated 44 years ago. I’m used to living under the tyranny of the minority I guess.
312 chars
Julie Robinson said on May 31, 2023 at 10:40 am
Gotsch taught video production at Concordia for a few years, and no, I don’t think they’ll be having him back. Our kids followed this through their FW friends, so I had heard about it and am thrilled for it to be in the Post. Unfortunately it’s not the first time I’ve heard of such doings in that school system. Book banning was just the start.
Yet in ultraconservative Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a cousin’s kids have been in several high school productions that other schools wouldn’t do, including a very sexy version of Chicago. People continue to surprise me.
561 chars
Conrad Rader said on May 31, 2023 at 11:33 am
As a former Fort Wayne librarian and active with the theater community, my heart was lifted by this article. Theater always helps rise above circumstance and deliver a message. If we continue to push past the institutions that fail us and succeed with our determinations, those institutions will be left behind as irrelevant, and staffed by those unwilling to try and fail.
373 chars
Jeff Borden said on May 31, 2023 at 4:01 pm
If we can stave off the chuds for a few more years, maybe these youngsters will lead the revival our nation needs.
114 chars
jcburns said on May 31, 2023 at 4:51 pm
It’s going to take me a few more years to figure out what “stave off the chuds” means.
86 chars
Jeff Borden said on May 31, 2023 at 5:32 pm
I used stave off more than once when writing headlines because it filled the proper space better than avert disaster.
Chuds is obscure. It references a mid-80s horror film about hideous creatures who lived in the subway tunnels of NYC. “C.H.U.D.” stood for cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers. I think it’s a splendid description of today’s QOP.
BTW,the movie is a lot of fun despite its low budget. Certainly more fun than any Republican these days.
460 chars
LAMary said on May 31, 2023 at 6:58 pm
The junk news that shows up on my laptop when I log on reports that Miss Universe has come out as bisexual. Also Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Argentina 2022 are getting married. To each other. I assume they were all exposed to drag queens when they were children.
260 chars
FDChief said on May 31, 2023 at 9:03 pm
While the wingnuts gyre and gimbel about gay and trans people and drag the courts and jails fill up with “youth pastors” and priests and scout leaders and Duggars and Congressmen who have been busy raping away at any kid they can get their dickbeaters on.
Ummm…maybe it’s not “them”, QANuts. Maybe it’s you.
324 chars
Mark P said on June 1, 2023 at 1:47 am
Most of the chud variety of Republicans are just like Trump, textbook examples of projection.
93 chars
Dexter Friend said on June 1, 2023 at 2:23 am
Fort Wayne area news was cut off from us when cable and satellite forced Toledo stations upon us and WOWO-AM turned to shit. Oh , and then the newspapers disappeared , no more newspapers in town except Defiance and Bryan. So since I have heard nothing about the kids’ play, I’ll just offer a Detroit video-tutorial, just a couple years old, which proves Detroit is really progressing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnFGYqj2UQA
431 chars
Suzanne said on June 1, 2023 at 6:56 am
Meanwhile, Indiana’s lunatic Representative Jim Banks, after telling anyone who would listen that he would vote against the debt ceiling bill, apparently didn’t quite get to the floor in time to actually vote. Appearing on right wing media takes up so much of his time, he couldn’t actually do his job.
https://twitter.com/nkellyin/status/1664088824895471617?s=61&t=YOnjsG5n5GNlEz7X-ugsGA
399 chars
Jeff Gill said on June 2, 2023 at 9:12 am
Snow crash?
11 chars
FDChief said on June 2, 2023 at 9:22 am
How sad is it to be satisfied when the wingnuts knuckle to money power, the way traditional Republicans have since the sainted Reagan? Led by supposed “populist” firebrand Gym Jordan and CrossFit cougar Empty G?
Glad that we’re not finding out. But it’s pretty galling that the fortunes of millions weren’t a moment’s pause to these assholes fucking around…but the moment their plutocratic master jerked the leash the supposed patriotic rebels came whimpering to heel.
485 chars
Jeff Borden said on June 2, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Some encouraging news from the political hellhole of Floriduh emanating from a county that went for the orange cancer by 41 points. Parents and students went hard and aggressive at the right wing school board goobers, who’ve been so zealous in following DeathSantis’ fascist attacks on education a large number of teachers in Hernandos County just quit. Clearly, there’s a limit even in red zones for how much citizens will take before they push back.
BTW, last time I checked, Floriduh is short some 6,000 K-12 teachers. I wonder why?
538 chars
Deborah said on June 2, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Standing in line at the local grocery store today I saw a headline on the cover of The Enquirer that said something like “Sex Creep pays Melania to keep quiet”, something about the humiliating (for her) E Jean Carroll verdict. And there was a photo of Trump and Melania holding hands, she with a disgusted look on her face, him with a sly smile. Does this mean his friends are turning against him? I thought the guy who owns that swill of a tabloid was one of his major supporters.
481 chars
David C said on June 2, 2023 at 2:39 pm
I think Trump’s old pal David Pecker was given an offer he couldn’t refuse from Jack Smith so why shouldn’t the Enquirer hang him out to dry. Pecker is leaking all over the place.
179 chars
Heather said on June 3, 2023 at 12:01 am
Welp. Got a letter from the IRS that I owe them about $7K for unreported income and penalties from 2021. Huh? I emailed my tax preparer immediately and to her credit, she responded right away. BUT–it looks like her office screwed up and they didn’t download one of my 1099s from the online portal because it was password protected, and of course that one was for my biggest client that year. I do remember them asking me for the password, but of course I don’t have any proof of that. Any advice? Sounds like I am on the hook for the taxes owed but I am hoping she will at least offer to pay the penalties and file and amended return–really it’s the least she could do after I’ve recommended her to so many people. Shame on me for not double-checking the Schedule C I guess.
This just comes at a terrible time–work has been slow this year and I’m on track to make significantly less than in recent years. I have the cash but it’s going to come out of a cushion I really need. I have already been anxious about money and work, and this is sending me into a spiral.
1069 chars
Jeff Borden said on June 3, 2023 at 9:56 am
Heather,
I’m not sure about current rules, but. . .
Many years ago, when I was still living in Ohio, I wound up owing the IRS over $3,000 because of an error made when I prepared my returns. (I’ve been paying to have them done ever since.) I was quite surprised at how low the interest was on the unpaid amount and after calling an IRS representative, I was allowed to make a series of payments instead of a lump sum.
So, my first move would be to reach out to the IRS. Despite the reputation, they’re not all werewolves. My second move would be to pressure the hell out of your preparer to cover your debt. She should have some kind of business insurance, right, that would help? Everyone makes mistakes. Tax preparers included. They must have some mechanism in place for dealing with this.
Good luck. Again, my observations are from close to 40 years ago, but it wasn’t the nightmare I originally feared.
918 chars
Julie Robinson said on June 3, 2023 at 11:18 am
Heather, I haven’t experienced it personally, but if you make payments I think the interest still accrues. Do you have a written agreement with your preparer? If so, look at it very carefully as to what obligations they have in case of errors. Definitely put pressure on them, since this is exactly why you turned it over to them in the first place.
You have time and don’t need to make a decision immediately.
I’m so sorry. What a blow.
444 chars
LAMary said on June 3, 2023 at 11:31 am
I appreciate the “original German” reference, FD Chief. It’s a classic. On the other hand, the leaking Pecker? Ew.
114 chars
Deborah said on June 3, 2023 at 12:59 pm
I agree with Jeff B, Heather. I had an issue when I was divorced, and single, this was about 30 years ago, I did my own taxes but didn’t have a clue what I was doing and screwed up. I contacted IRS and got it squared away. They let me pay it off slowly and even knocked a big chunk off of the amount because I was paying it back diligently.
I finished Succession last night. I knew how it ended because there were just too many spoilers out there. It was still entertaining to see how it all played out though.
We’ve been gardening up a storm here in Santa Fe. I’m in the process of digging holes for 18 lavender plants, and let me tell you that’s not fun because of the caliche soil here, it’s as hard a concrete after get about 6-8″ down. Backbreaking.
760 chars
Jeff Borden said on June 3, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Deborah,
I thought the “Succession” finale was pretty much perfect. I loathed the Roy clan in its entirety –even ‘Cousin Greg’ Hirsch by the end– but my lord those performances were absolutely smashing. In an interview after the ending, Jeremy Strong said that the roles actors play are sometimes compared to athletic feats. He said playing Kendall was the decathlon for him.
My only wish was that “Succession” not be so true to life. We are indeed ruled by ultra-wealthy plutocrats who play with the lives of others –not to mention democracy and the rule of law– as if it were a board game. The series was almost too much on the money.
646 chars
Icarus said on June 3, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Bummer Heather. Since we are sharing IRS stories, back in 2007 I did my taxes incorrectly using some tax program and got a bigger than-I-should-have tax return based on the sale of some stock options I activated.
IIRC, a call the IRS, when I was eventually able to get through, resulted in waiving the penalty as long as I returned the extra refund.
In your case, if you legit owe the IRS $7K they might not be willing to reduce that amount but should still allow you a payment plan and waive any penalties.
516 chars
beb said on June 3, 2023 at 9:52 pm
LAMary@9 – I think all beauty content entrants are effectively “drag queens.”
I read today that a Utah school district has banned the Biblr from elementary and middle schools because of pornography, incest, and violence. All I can say is “about time.”
254 chars
Dexter Friend said on June 4, 2023 at 1:37 am
I did my taxes, easy it was, as my employer held out the dough and all I had to do was sorta connect the dots and get a refund like most all of us factory hands did.
Then my wife started a couple businesses and fuck-all for doing anymore taxes. We began using well-rated tax people then switched to an accountant because I always checked the best I could, and a couple of these “pros” weren’t too awfully good at their jobs. The accountant actually dedicated his time to business accounts but he hired seasonal college kids who were real tax sharps to do the outline then the accountant would give the forms a once-over…anyway, it worked great. Now I am so old and poor I ain’t even gotta file any forms. My V.A. disability is non-reportable and tax-free.
761 chars
basset said on June 4, 2023 at 10:14 am
I had an accountant leave out a W2, seriously underreport our income, and then say it wasn’t his fault because I should have caught the mistake when I picked the return up.
174 chars
Icarus said on June 4, 2023 at 12:30 pm
I suspect your garden variety tax preparer doesn’t want to do complicated tax returns. They are looking for EZ form people who don’t know how easy their tax return would be so they make quick easy money off them.
These are also the people who lobbied against free online tax filing and even bipartisan bills where the government would do automatic filing on behalf of citizens.
383 chars
Icarus said on June 4, 2023 at 12:32 pm
We end the day with five minutes of mindfulness, a.k.a. a nod to New Age Wiccan Pagan anti-Christian practices. During this time, Muslim students are allowed to pray, and atheist students can play with Legos. Christian students are persecuted.
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-woke-third-grade-teacher-as-imagined-by-a-far-right-politician
sounds about right
397 chars
Heather said on June 4, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Unfortunately the problem is even worse than I thought. I decided I should check my return for 2022 as well, and a couple of 1099s I uploaded to their portal were not included as well, so I probably owe twice as much as I thought. I talked to the accountant and she was extremely apologetic. Sounds like her staff screwed up, but really, this is just beyond and is veering into negligence. One mistake I could see, but two years in a row?
Unfortunately I’m not sure there’s all that much I can do. Based on my research, she’s not obligated to do anything, but there is the threat of me reporting her to the IRS and giving her bad reviews on social media, etc. She has offered to pay the interest and all that. I am going to try to get her to refund her fees for those years as well, as her services are not cheap. But I am going to talk to a lawyer, as suing is the only option for trying to get more, based on my research. I mean, whether or not she screwed up, I’m the one who earned the money and so I owe the taxes on it.
I’m furious but I’m trying to put that aside for now while negotiating with her. I would have made very different financial choices for the last year or so and now I’m going to feel the pinch for sure. Plus I did everything I was supposed to! I was so careful about making sure I accounted for every penny I earned. Grrrr. This woman also promotes that she works with self-employed creative types, and we’re the ones who can least afford these kinds of mistakes.
1491 chars
Julie Robinson said on June 4, 2023 at 2:13 pm
Not to mention that creative types tend to struggle with making and managing money. At least every single one I’ve known. Bills don’t get paid, receipts go missing, reimbursements don’t get filed because the brain just can’t orient and organize itself that way. I speak out of love and admiration for creatives. But there are two in my family so I’ve both seen and experienced the consequences.
394 chars
Sherri said on June 4, 2023 at 5:35 pm
I recently watched both the Hillsong docuseries and Shiny Happy People, the one about the Duggar family. Basically very similar stories: white men, mega churches, prosperity gospel, sexual abuse and harassment, exploitation of children and young idealistic followers.
Thinking about that and about the AI hype makes me think about overlaps there. The AI hype (not the tech itself, but the hype) is being driven by some of the same people as the Effective Altruists, who overlap with the people who were pushing the Singularity (aka Nerd Rapture), who overlap with the people who believed we were all living in a huge simulation. Mostly white men, with their own version of the prosperity gospel, sexual abuse and harassment, exploitation of workers, only instead of doing it in the name of Jesus, they create their own god in the form of the sentient AI or the Singularity or the computer simulation.
It’s like there’s always a market for a white guy with one simple trick for the mystery of life, and if we just follow him, we’ll all get as rich as him and have as much sex as him. Put Jesus on it, don’t out Jesus on it, doesn’t seem to make a difference.
1173 chars
David C said on June 4, 2023 at 8:18 pm
Our taxes are so simple, I do them myself. It takes a couple of hours after I get my W2 and I’m done. I’d be happy if the IRS sent me a filled out form to sign. They know everything I know. I did our taxes when my wife did family day care in our house. We pretty much broke even on the child care bit, but writing off normal daily expenses using our time-space percentage did pretty well for us. I always feared an audit, not because I did anything illegal but because it seemed like a pain in the ass. I was ever so grateful though when Mary decided she didn’t want to do it anymore.
584 chars
Mark P said on June 4, 2023 at 9:57 pm
Since I didn’t do any consulting work last year, I could use one of the free online tax prep sites. We’re drawing Social Security, and I took some money out of our IRA, but we ended up owing nothing. That was nice. In previous years even a small self employment income kicked me out of the free services.
308 chars
basset said on June 5, 2023 at 12:35 am
Helped with a dog rescue run today, Mesquite, TX to Vandalia, OH. We took em from Nashville to Bowling Green, KY… the Lab wiggled out of his harness in the first ten minutes and spent much of the trip trying to climb up front with me.
after the handoff we went to the southernmost Meijer’s we know of, right there in BG, and found the first Michigan blueberries of the new season; groceries around here are still bringing em in from North Carolina. Some Win Schuler’s cheese too, got enough to last us for awhile.
The pups, one Lab cross and one Golden cross, got to foster homes in Vandalia a few hours ago and are said to be happy and comfortable.
661 chars