What’s the opposite of “tax”

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “What’s the opposite of “tax”?, my temple friend Richard explained, "The opposite of “tax” is when Congress is in recess.  This, of course, brings to mind the old question:  If 'pro' is the opposite of 'con,' what is the opposite of “progress”?"

My business development friend Ray observed, "More disposable income," to which my dad's beach buddy Bob provided an example when he wrote, "A new car."

My sailing friend Mike concluded, "The opposite of tax is of course spend," while my social media friend Mark lamented, "I think it is nothing.”

My sailing friend Norm shared his financial advisor experience, "Tax Free is the opposite of Tax. It is amazing how much "tax" ordinary folks actually pay these days. When you add up income tax, social security and medicare payroll tax, capital gains tax, ad valorem taxes, sales taxes, the average middle income person is paying close to 50% or more of their cash flow in taxes of one sort or another. Our politicians always want more and always claim they need more.  Then when you retire, most pay tax on some or most of their social security that has already been taxed !!  Funny thing about taxing, though, whenever the government takes too much, the economy stalls and government revenue falls at higher tax rates."

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

     How do you know if a word is misspelled in the dictionary or dictionary.com?
        from my friend Bob J

Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

It's matzah and chocolate weekend.  OK, being more spiritual, wishing you a Happy Passover and Happy Easter.  May your holiday provide you with insight, wisdom, calmness.....and not too many calories.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.

     

Is breathing optional?

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “Is breathing optional?," my disc golf friend Blake replied, "Depends on how long you wish to live."

My social media friend Mark pointed out, "Yes, but not breathing is not."

My equestrian friend Royce advised, "It would depend upon where you are and the circumstances," to which my biz dev friend Ray stated succinctly, "Depends upon your end game.

My production management friend Ray Hughes surmised, "Yes, as long as you think you will look good in that shade of blue!"

My dad's beach buddy Bob observed, "Not when you are under water and not wearing a scuba outfit," to which my sailing friend Norm concurred, "Normally, yes, if you want to live.  But not when you are snorkeling and want to dive down below the surface of the water to see a fish or a lobster."  

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

     What’s the opposite of “tax”?

Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

It's matzah and chocolate weekend.  OK, being more spiritual, wishing you a Happy Passover and Happy Easter.  May your holiday provide you with insight, wisdom, calmness.....and not too many calories.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.

Is a foot-long shoe always the right size?

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “Is a foot-long shoe always the right size?," my birthday bud Jon observed, "Not at Subway."

My dad's beach buddy Bob pointed out, "Not if you wear a size 13" while my social media friend Mark replied, "Yes, it’s not always the right foot though," 

My equestrian friend Royce called out that ,"According to the Euclidean theory of mathematics, naaaaa"

And my cycling friend Ted responded, "I never really gave it much thought that 12 inches could be a variable distance! The real issue here is that we use an average male foot to define 12 inches of distance, so that the fundamental conclusion is that the world is just intensely Sexist!! Good luck to all the power girls out there trying to make it in a world measured by Men!!  How's that for a rambling Rant!"

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

     Is breathing optional?  from my friend Paul T

Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

I was listening to a TED Talk about altruism and appreciation. While the majority of people are very good at either, I'd like to think that this blog's readership are "all above average."  Continuing this line of thinking, if you find that these weekly email or blog post provide a little happiness or joy, I'm asking that you find one person to share it with -- and if they are OK with it, I'll add them to the email list.  To spread the joy, simply reply with their name and email address.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.

     

t's Spring. What needs cleaning (or uncluttering)?

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “It's Spring. What needs cleaning (or uncluttering)?,"  my writing and sailing friend Rich called out, "The space between  ears.  It turns out the less I know, the happier I am.  My wife told me this was true, I did not believe her for many years, but once I let go and let her tell me what I needed to know, my life go better."

My equestrian friend Royce noted, "the gutters" while my sailing friend Norm admitted, "My teeth! 😁😁"

My social media friend Mark cautioned, "It’s a little early, but the White House could use some serious 'taking out the trash'."

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

     Who do you know who is motivated by “a carrot”?
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile!
 
Hal
 
Happy Birthday to my birthday bud Adam, Jon, Jim and Aman:  Congrats on another trip around the sum!  May Hump Day this week for a fun day.
Also: My temple friend Bill responded to when during the week should we change from Standard to Daylight Saving Time, "Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.. We could all use the extra  Time at happy hour." while my doctor friend Dwana shared, "In residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, when my “ on call duties” were lengthened by one hour by daylight saving’s time, I came to know that 24 plus 1 was not 25.  Residents did not leave when their 24 hour shift was over. We were expected to work until we had assessed and appropriately cared for patients admitted through the ER  and did not leave for home until they were signed over to the next shift in stable condition. The VA patient admitted to me in the “ extra hour” of daylight savings time with a GI bleed and hepatic encephalopathy from his alcoholic liver disease took 9 hours to completely work up and stabilize. In the new math of daylight savings time: 1+ 24 = 32 !

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.

     

Is there a better time of the week to Spring forward than Sunday at 2:00am?

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “Is there a better time of the week to Spring forward than Sunday at 2:00am?,” my social media friend Mark announced, “Friday at 4:00…that last hour of the work-week is so long,” to which my production management friend Ray explained, “That would make it five o clock and you would get paid for 8 hours only working seven and get to go home an hour early.”

My sister-in-law Lorrie proposed, “Mondays so that you have one less hour to get through on a Monday morning! In all honesty,  in retirement it hardly matters.  If I was still working the earlier would apply.”

My engineering friend Steve advised, “Yes, 20 minutes into the future.”  But my business development friend Ray called-out, “Keeping it at 2am does allow the workers in bars to shut down an hour earlier.”

My temple friend Kevin explained, “Yes, when we fall back to real time.  Daylight Savings Time is a lie and completely useless.  Studies have shown that there really is no longer any need for it and it should be done away with.  In fact, human productivity is worse during the weeks after these changes than during periods where ‘time’ is static,” to which my cycling friend Ted declared, “I think we should stay ‘Sprung” all year round!”  And my dad’s beach buddy Bob added his support, “There is never a good time to spring forward.  Takes time for we old timers to adjust to standard time without having to spring up on our feet with vertigo.”

My sailing friend Norm replied, “Yes, a better time would be Saturday night. 😀 “

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

How do you know if you’re Irish?

Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

To the prior week’s question, “What do people who write "u" instead of "you" do with all the time they save?,” my HIPnation friend Dwana pointed out, “in my neck of the woods, we say ‘all y’all’”. 

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.