Tax Time

"Wow. That sucked." Those were the only three words I can use to describe the experience of filing taxes with the government.  I got lucky last year when I had all of my taxes done by a tax accountant, avoiding the angst that is unavoidable when doing your taxes yourself, but I wasn't as fortunate this year.  After countless hours staring at a blank 1040 Form and wondering what to do next, I was pleasantly surprised to find an online instruction manual to help me decipher every figure, deduction, payment, and empty space. Yet, I was shocked to find that the instructional booklet for a 2 page form was over 100 pages long. Gosh, you gotta love government efficiency at its finest.

Now, I am not complaining about paying my taxes, but it is rather irksome.  At least I have managed to find comfort in the fact that I am not the only American dreading every second of this ordeal. After all, paying taxes is one of those things that everyone, at least in theory, has to do (but we obviously know that's not really the case).  The simple fact that we have to do it or else the IRS can fine us or just slightly worse, put us in jail is a very scary thought. Though, I've heard you don't have to work or pay any taxes in prison...Just a thought...  But for most levelheaded individuals that provides more than enough motivation to file their taxes and do it on time, despite it being one of the most displeasing obligations we have as citizens.  

When you finally finish decoding the jumble of incompetence that is the United States tax code the feeling is one not of accomplishment, rather a feeling of rest.  I use the word rest for one reason. Tonight, when I go to sleep, I can rest well knowing that our government spends $1.56 for every $1 they take in...Seems like a pretty good return on investment. 

It is Everywhere

Before this morning, I had never really realized the prominence alcohol has in our American society. Obviously, I have seen TV advertisements by beer companies, driven by a liquor store, and strolled down the snack and alcohol isle at the grocery store, but I had neglected to realize the farreaching impact these companies, and their beverages, have in our everyday life.  There were two experiences this morning that provided the clearest insight into this overreach.

Experience One:  As I hopped on the stationary bike this morning for a quick cardio workout, ESPN was on the TV.  It was just like any other time I had ever watched ESPN. They were playing highlights from the most recent games, talking about the NCAA Tournament, and playing video of the the ex-Rutgers University coach, Mike Rice.  But, I noticed something in the bottom right of the screen I hadn't ever seen before: There was a Captain Morgan picture advertisement.  The picture wasn't just a quick, passing marketing ad, but rather, it held its place on the screen until my workout was over.  

Experience Two:  Later in the morning, as I was leaving John's Hall, I picked up a copy of today's New York Times.  As I started reading through an article on the front page I noticed the only advertisement that was on the entire page. This time, the advertisement wasn't for Captain Morgan, but for Johnnie Walker Blue Label.  I have never heard of "Blue Label" before, but judging from the bolded words at the bottom of the picture that read "Please Drink Responsibly" I think it's safe to assume it is another alcoholic drink. 

I am still slightly intrigued by the fact that alcoholic advertisements were displayed on the front page of The New York Times and for a period on ESPN.  But I really shouldn't be so surprised by the prevalence alcohol has.  The global alcoholic drink industry is expected to exceed $1 trillion in 2014. And, as long as people continue to consume alcohol, which they will, the companies that make it will continue to pour millions of dollars into advertising to bring in new customers, promote their beverage, and build brand loyalty. As you go through the rest of your day, look around at the things that seem most basic, and you might be surprised to find an advertisement for a bottle of whiskey right in front of you. 

This Chapter: First Year of College

The end of the year is five short weeks away, and I cannot believe it.  My first year as a college freshman has  come and gone faster than I could have ever imagined. I don't necessarily like using cliches but I think this one time it is appropriate: Time flies when you're having fun. 

I still remember, as if it was yesterday, the drive down to Furman University on Move-In Day, unpacking the family car, implanting myself into a new place, and saying goodbyes to my mom, dad, and sister, and it is hard for me to believe that was more 8 months ago. As I look back at this year it is amazing all the things I have done, materials I have learned, people I have met, and organizations I have become involved with. 

The first year of college is unlike any other chapter in the book of my life.  You can't really prepare yourself for this chapter, but it is certainly one of the best. There have been times that I've struggled in classes and stayed up all night studying for tests the next day, but there have also been times where I lived vicariously, enjoying every moment for what it was.  As the end of this chapter comes to an end, it is not with sadness that I go through these last few weeks, only joy and hope, because I can only imagine what the next chapter is going to be like.  

The Madness

And then there were four.  Though the month of March is now over, the madness that consumes March isn't over yet.  With only four of the original 64 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament it's nearly finished, and the victor crowned. But this years tournament hasn't passed without a few defining moments. In the beginning there was the upset of New Mexico by Harvard. Then, it was the unexpected rise to fame by Florida Gulf Coast. And most recently, Louisville's Kevin Ware's horrific leg break. No one knows what the future holds for the last three games, but it is surly going to be a good show.  But when the dust finally settles and the last baskets are scored many of us will be left looking at our brackets and wonder what just happened?

For all the hoopla that surrounds March Madness I can't quite understand it.  To me, a non-sports fan, the month of March actually looks like a month where people actually go mad.  I can hardly walk past a TV, laptop, or iPad screen on my college campus that isn't streaming one of the games. It could be that I am just not that into it, but I have a hard time believe so many people are into it just for the sake of being into it.  Maybe it's the lure of winning of the big office pool that draws people to college basketball craze. But maybe it is deeper than that. Could it be that March Madness is the one time a year to let your inner-fan free, to join in a celebration that reminds you of your days at a  particular college, with the excitement of your friends, joys a new relationship, remembrance of classes, and aspirations for the future? I certainly think that is a possibility...and if it's not, maybe it is just a bunch of people acting crazy, for no reason, during the month of March.

Gun Control

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government"
-- Thomas Jefferson, 1 Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
As a teenager in America there are two birthdays that are welcomed with more hoopla than the others- the 16th and 18th birthdays.  Everyday thousands of fifteen year olds count down the days until they can apply to get their driver's license. When the day comes that they can walk into the glorious DMV (one of the most pleasant places I've ever been) many will leave with a sheet of paper indicating that they're ready to hit the roads alone.  The 18th birthday is greeted with a similar amount of excitement. For the first time in your life, you are legally considered an adult.  Many teens greet adulthood by going to the local gas station convenience store and picking up a handful of lottery tickets, some buy cigarettes, and other guys grab their first copy of a Playboy magazine.  I didn't do any of the things, but I did exercise one privlege my new age allowed.  Four days after I turned eighteen, I drove up to the small gun store in Matthews, North Carolina and picked up my first firearm, a Browning .270 X-Bolt rifle. 
I take my right to bear arms very seriously, and I will not allow someone to take that fundamental right away from me. Ever. 
The gun control debate that is occurring in cities across America and in the chambers of Congress could limit our Second Amendment right.  Senator Diane Feinstein has introduced, to the 113th Congress, a bill that does the following:

• Bans the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of 157 specifically-named weapons including the Bushmaster, Smith & Wesson M&P15, AK-47, Streetsweeper and others
• Bans the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of all semiautomatic rifles and handguns that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one "military" feature
• Bans the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of all semiautomatic rifles and handguns that have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds or are belt fed
• Bans the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of all semiautomatic shotguns that have a detachable magazine, revolving cylinder, fixed magazine capable of accepting more than 5 rounds or at least one military feature
• Bans the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of all ammunition feeding devices (magazines, strips and drums) capable of accepting more than 10 rounds.

These proposed bans have no place in this country.  Senator Diane Feinstein, Piers Morgan, Michael Bloomberg, and people of the same likes are fear mongering the citizens of this republic.  They misuse wording like "military style" and "assault weapons" to describe a specific type of semi-automatic rifles that merely looks threatening.  They make it seem unreasonable for any person to own a rifle like that. They try to use the voice of reason when they say that no one needs a "high capacity magazine" that holds more than 10 rounds.  They argue that hunters do not need an assault weapon.  

I never want to see another mass shooting like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  And, I also never want my right to legally and responsibly own a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22, an "assault weapon" that would be banned under the proposed bill, to be hampered.  The way to reduce gun violence is not to ban the firearms that so many American's lawfully use to recreationally shoot, hunt, and protect ourselves.

Is the Pope Catholic?

Of course the Pope is Catholic! But is the Pope the Head of the Catholic Church? Most people would say yes, without a doubt...but those people would be wrong.  Under church doctrine, Jesus is the Head of the Catholic Church.  The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the highest ranking ordained member, and the leader of the faithful under Jesus.  Catholics recognize the Pope as the successor of Saint Peter, which in Catholic teachings, Jesus calls the shepherd of the Catholic Church.  Being the shepherd of 1.2 billion Catholics across the globe requires a commitment to a ministry few could fulfill.

“In the decisive moments of life — indeed, if we look closely, in every moment — we are at a crossroads. Do we want to follow the self or God? Individual interest or the real good?” Over the past few weeks, the great shepherd, the Pope, found himself at a crossroads.  After prayerful consideration, Pope Benedict XVI decided that the deterioration of his mind and body had compromised his ability to adequately carry out the duties of the position. In a letter to the cardinals of the church, he announced his resignation.

His abrupt resignation seemed unexpected, unwarranted, and absolutely wrong to many followers and non-Catholics alike. However rare, the resignation of the Pope should not come as a complete surprise to everyone.  Even though a resignation hasn't been tendered in six centuries, there were many signs that Pope Benedict's time was coming to an end.

The day after news of the resignation spread, the Vatican announced that the Pope had undergone a secret surgery to replace the battery in his pacemaker, an intensive procedure for anyone, especially for an 84 year old man.  Another serious incident occurred during a March 2012 trip to Mexico where the Pope sustained a head injury.  The bleeding was severe enough to cause his pillow and sheets to be covered in blood.  Although the Vatican insists that these injuries are minor and played no major role in his decision to step down, one must question whether that is actually the case. For, if the Catholic Church managed to keep those injuries and surgeries hidden, who knows what other secrets might be hiding in the shadows of the ministry.

Whether there is a conspiracy in this resignation has yet to be seen. What is known is that Pope was confronted by his own crossroads in life leading to his departure from the church. Now, today, the Catholic Church has found themselves at a crossroad of their own- Who will be their shepherd?

Flowers for Valentines

Sunday, February 9, 2008 I walked down to the basement playroom in my home, determined to return to the civilization above in due time with a gift for the woman I loved most in this world, my mother.  Like most thirteen-year old boys, my income (allowance) was pretty limited at about $30 per month. So, my gift buying ability was slightly hampered. I spent the week prior trying to figure how I could best stretch my dollars to buy a gift that would be meaningful and truly show my love.  Flowers, chocolate, stuffed animals, a cute Hallmark card, or a gift card all seemed like decent ideas, but each of those gifts lacked the originality I wanted my gift to have.

So there I found myself in the basement, with nothing to show for all the mental effort I had already given this Valentine's gift.  I sat behind the computer for a few minutes and that's when I stumbled on a how-to video showing how to make a paper rose.  "That was it!" I thought as I watched the video. "I will make an entire bouquet, a dozen roses." It had all the elements of the perfect gift for my mom.

After watching the video through a few times, I was ready to start making my own.  I gathered everything I needed: a hot glue gun, construction paper, scissors, and a pencil.  I sat down on the floor and began.  Five hours into the crafting, my fingers were dried and cut from the paper, my knuckles were red and swollen from the scissors, and my hands had areas burned by the hot glue gun.  I had only four roses finished.  Unable to finish the dozen I had hoped for, I was slightly disappointed, but I was proud of the beautiful roses I had made, and I knew that they would make her happy.  

A few days later, Valentine's Day had come.  I placed the intricate roses in one of the crystal vases we had in our cabinets.  At her place on the kitchen table, I set the vase and a simple, handmade card.  When the time came to open the presents we had been given, my mom's reaction to the roses and card made my battered hands and hours spent in the basement worth it. She loved it then, and loves it still.  

The gift I gave was perfect in her eyes.  The time and thoughtfulness I put into those roses showed her how much I love and care for her.  An economist might say that my gift was not the most efficient use of time or resources, and that it would have been far more efficient for me to give her cash; however, I know that it is not the monetary value of the gift that really matters.  The personal value is what matters; the handmade roses exceeded anything my money could buy. 

The four-rose bouquet still sits in the crystal vase as it did the day I gave it to her. The symbolism of the roses endures even today and, unlike money, it will never lose its value. It cannot get more efficient than that.