Kids - Why We Buy Books

On spring break we drove back to Michigan. I bought a power adapter for the car so my sons could play games on a computer laptop throughout the trip. Since they sit all day and play on computers I figured they could sit all day in the car and play on the computer. Not once did they say “Are we there yet?”

However, they were annoyed with the external wireless USB mouse as it was working on top of some luggage but they hate the mouse built into the laptop even more so. At Hope, Arkansas, the boys wanted subs so we stopped at a Wal-Mart Subway shop off the interstate.

While at Subway, Steven said something that made me all almost fall off my chair, "Dad, can I buy a book?"

I was happy that all the private tuition money I shelled out was maybe making a difference that one of my sons would actually read a book in this computer age.

I proudly explained to him this was a great idea because when I was his age on long distance trips, reading books was one of the things I did to pass the distance.

“No dad,” he said, “I want a book to use as a flat stable and smooth surface for the USB mouse.”

Steven is always thinking outside the box.

Kids - Dad, did the Reichstag fall today?

On April 30th Anthony (age ten) asked me if the Reichstag (the Nazi capital building in Berlin and housing for Adolf Hitler) fell that day. He was testing to see if I knew the date and I replied recalling the Battle of Berlin was during April 1945. He then informed me Hitler killed himself on April 30th. Anthony was correct on both accounts.

His homework and report cards indicate he is not the best reader nor the best memorization skills. Yet I know this is not a true reflection of his abilities, he reads history and his memory is amazing.

While watching the History Channel series “The Story of Us (America)” as they began to discuss the World War II era he described in perfect detail the June 6th Allied D-Day beach landings by country: Sword Beach (British), Juno Beach (Canadian), Gold Beach (British), Omaha Beach (American) and Utah Beach (American). I couldn’t remember this when I was ten.

Below is a clip from “Saving Private Ryan” which is very violent as war is very violent.

D-Day was the beginning of the end for the Third Reich.



[Credit to Paramount Pictures, “Saving Private Ryan” and the videographer MarineSniperMK for his video post]

Kids - Uncle Vincent McKay

Sixty-six years ago this was a big night for my Uncle Vincent McKay. He was in the airborne and parachuted into Normandy, France in anticipation of the D-Day naval invasion on June 6th. Given the chaos of the air drop, as with so many airborne soldiers, he was captured by the Germans. Although a prisoner of war, he spent the rest of the war working forced labor for the Nazi war machine. He was lucky to survive the jump and his time with the Germans.

One of the best mini-series ever made by HBO was “Band of Brothers” chronicling the story of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division. Below is the jump scene over Normandy.

The clip starts off calmly as they travel over the safety of the English Channel but at 3:43 on the track the German flak begins to zero in on the troop carrier aircraft and the terror begins.



[Credit to HBO the Band of Brother Series and the videographer Timecomtinum145 for his video post.]

Biz - A Maestro for the Masses

I first came across Andre Rieu when I was teaching my kids about St. Patrick’s Day and was searching for classical Irish music. He is headline news in the Wall Street Journal’s Weekend Journal section for June 4, 2010.

Few people know of him but the article states, “Mr. Rieu grossed about $96 million on tour last year. That haul landed him at No. 6 among the world’s top touring acts, according to Billboard’s 2009 tally – ranked just below U2, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and above Britney Spears, Coldplay and Metallica.” The classical musical critics hate him, probably because he is very successful and makes too much money. Capitalism is about allowing consumers to make personal choices to decide, including what music they want to listen too. This is why ITunes and IPods are so popular, kids can choose their own music.

My kids even listen to his music and the songs below are in our ITunes library. Below is the song Irish Washerwoman. The gentleman in the silver hair is John Sheahan (from the Irish group Dubliners) and Andre Rieu when he was much younger than the sixty years old he is today.



Credits to: Wall Street Journal, June 4th edition, the article by John Jurgensen. Videographers: Irish Washerwoman - Escoscando]

Kids - Outsourcing 3rd Grade Homework

Outsourcing is the global economy. A few weeks ago my son Anthony who is in the 3rd grade decided to join this trend and outsourced a small multiplication worksheet to his brother in the 6th grade for $50 so he could his maximize video game playtime.

Anthony recently had a birthday and received cash as a gift. At his age money is magical and he hasn’t grasped its value or how difficult it can be for people to earn. In 3rd grade reality, money is some mysterious material that grows on trees, like cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets.


I told Anthony it was outrageous that he paid his brother $50. I told him Dad would have done it for $25.

I explained competition makes free markets efficient. Putting on my regulatory hat I explained the job of regulators should be act as referees to insure there is fair and vigorous free competition in marketplaces. Then I put on my Dad hat and told him to do his own homework.

It occurred to me that Anthony’s grasp of the value and worth of money is about the same as a United States Senator. If this continues, Anthony will probably become a US Senator someday. Steven charged a steep fee of $50 for his services so he has a future as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs.

[Credit for the hamburger tree image to http://shirt.woot.com/derby/entry.aspx?id=35516
Here is the link to the art site ! ]

Kids - I Haven't Met You Yet

One Stevens’ and Anthony’s favorite songs/videos I hear being played over the internet is Michael Buble’s “I Haven’t Met You Yet.”

In my book it beats rap and hip hop music.

Biz - Value Added Tax 1099 Reporting?

Buried in the 2,000+ page Health Care Reform Bill are new reporting requirements for 1099’s that appear to begin to lay a foundation for Value Added Tax reporting.

Currently businesses issue 1099’s to document income and certain securities transactions for individuals and other entities which creates a reporting challenge for the financial services industry. The purpose of the 1099 is to assist the Internal Revenue Service help taxpayers voluntary comply with income tax reporting.



Under the new law, businesses will have to issue 1099s whenever they do more than $600 of business with another entity in a year.

Not just reporting income, all business purchase payments.

Businesses make lots and lots of purchases.

Hope I am wrong in raising a red flag. Why would the Internal Revenue need this information for current tax compliance? Hopefully the tax attorneys will figure this one out, and soon.

[Credits:
Tax Prof !

Cato !

Instpundit ! ]