Old Otter Holler Farm

Change is in the Air

With the days getting longer and spring just around the corner, I can sense change in the air...not just a seasonal change, but big changes that will affect every part of my life to include my lifestyle, livelihood, spirituality, health, and personal relationships.  Changes of this magnitude are not uncommon in my life.  In fact, over the years I have made several life-altering changes, some deliberate and some in response to situations out of my control.  Thus far, each change has been successful resulting in new opportunities, challenges, and increased knowledge and wisdom.  For me, change is not the enemy.  I plan for it, embrace it, guide it to the best of my ability, and seize every opportunity that arises.  In fact, I have already made some moderate changes in my life since the New Year, namely I discontinued my satellite TV service, modified my diet, and resumed reading and writing several hours a day again.  I can already feel the satisfaction, energy, and strong feeling of liberation that comes from positive change.  Yes, big changes are coming and I am ready.  It's time to put into action what I've been planning for the past ten years.  Wish me luck!

My Thoughts on the Ubiquitous Cell Phone

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that radiation from cell phones and other electronic devices may be carcinogenic, especially for young people.  No need to provide references here - just do a WWW search and you'll see what I mean.  It is hard to believe folks that it takes scientific research to prove that.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist of know that electromagnetic radiation is bad for you, especially when you are bathed in the signal day and night (leaving your phone and other devices on) and hold it next to your head as it transmits.  I learned that over three decades ago in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.  Ever since cell phones first came out,  I have told all who would listen and these things are bad for you and just wait until people have been using them for 20 or so years and you begin to see all sorts of health issues brought on by the radiation.  That time has come.  But, the negative health aspect of the cell phone is not what I wanted to write about today, but rather the brilliant idea someone had to put a GPS in the phone.   Now, instead of the government spending billions of dollars to implant an RFID chip on everyone's body, they can track your every movement and even listen to your conversations...and you are PAYING for it.  It does not get any better than that.  The genius who thought of that probably got an award.

How Can I Legally Avoid Paying Taxes?

Here we are again.  Another tax year has come and gone and now it is time to settle up with the federal, state, and local government.  Every year I review my pay stubs, W-2, and tax return I am awestruck over how much money the federal and state governments withhold from my income each year.  Unfortunately, that amount as a percentage of my income is significantly more than the 15% paid by the multi-millionaire Mitt Romney or the billionaire Warren Buffett.  That aside, what is more incredible though is that amount is probably less than the amount I pay in other taxes over the course of a year to include the ultimate hidden tax known as inflation.  I have often wondered just how many and what types of taxes that we Americans pay in any given year.  Below is a list I found that is eye-opening:   

(Source: www.newrochelletalk.com/node/2103)
1. Accounts Receivable Tax
2. Accounting and Tax Preparation (cost to taxpayers $300 billion)
3. Accumulated Earnings Tax
4. Accumulation Distribution of Trusts
5. Activity Fee (Dumping Permit Fee)
6 . Air Tax (PA coin-operated vacuums)
7. Aircraft Jet Fuel Tax
8. Aircraft Excise Tax
9 . Alcohol Fuels Tax
10. Alcoholic Beverage Tax
11. Alternative Minimum Tax – Amt
12. Ambulance Services (Air Ambulance Services, SD)
13. Ammunition Tax
14. Amusement Tax (MA, VA, MD)
15. Animal Slaughter Tax (WI, others, Per Animal)
16. Annual Custodial Fees (Ira Accounts)
17. Ballast Water Management Fee (Marine Invasive Species)
18. Biodiesel Fuel Tax
19. Blueberry Tax (Maine)
20. Bribe Taxes (Pay If You Dare)
21. Brothel licensing fees
22. Building Permit Tax
23. Capital Gains Tax
24. California Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
25. California Redemption Value (Can and Bottle Tax)
26. CDL License Tax
27. Charter Boat Captain License
28. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee
29. Cigarette Tax
30. Cigarette Tax Stamp (Acts) (Distributors)
31. Compressed Natural Gas Tax
32. Commercial Activity Tax (OH – for Service Providers)
33. Corporate Income Tax
34. Court Fines (Indirect Taxes)
35. County Property Tax
36. Disposable Diapers Tax (Wisconsin)
37. Disposal Fee (Any Landfill Dumping)
38. Dog License Tax
39. Duck Hunting Tax Stamp (PA, others)
40. Electronic Waste Recycling Fee (E-Waste)
41. Emergency Telephone User Surcharge
42. Environmental Fee (CA – HazMat Fees)
43. Estate Tax (Death Tax, to be reinstated)
44. Excise Taxes
45. Facility Fee (CA – HazMat Fees)
46. FDIC tax (insurance premium on bank deposits)
47. Federal Income Tax
48. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
49. Fiduciary Income Tax (Estates and Trusts)
50. Fishing License Tax
51. Flush Tax (MD Tax For Producing Wastewater)
52. Food License Tax
53. Fountain Soda Drink Tax (Chicago – 9%)
54. Franchise Tax
55. Fresh Fruit (CA, if Purchased From A Vending Machine)
56. Fuel Gross Receipts Tax (Retail/Distributor)
57. Fuel Permit Tax
58. Fur Clothing Tax (MN)
59. Garbage Tax
60. Gasoline Tax (475 Cents Per Gallon)
61. Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
62. Generator Fee (Recycled Waste Fee)
63. Gift Tax
64. Gross Receipts Tax
65. Habitat Stamp (Hunting/Fishing in some states)
66. Hamburger Tax
67. Hazardous Substances Fees: Generator, Facility, Disposal
68. Highway Access Fee
69. Household Employment Taxes
70. Hunting License Tax
71. Illegal Drug Possession (No Carolina)
72. Individual Income Tax
73. Inheritance Tax
74. Insect Control Hazardous Materials License
75. Insurance Premium Tax
76. Intangible Tax (Leases Of Govt. Owned Real Property)
77. Integrated Waste Management Fee
78. Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
79. Inventory Tax
80. IRA Rollover Tax (a transfer of IRA money)
81. IRA Early Withdrawal Tax
82. IRS Interest Charges
83. IRS Penalties (Tax On Top Of Tax)
84. Jock Tax (income earned by athletes in some states)
85. Kerosene, Distillate, & Stove Oil Taxes
86. Kiddie Tax (Child’s Earned Interest Form 8615)
87. Land Gains and Real Estate Withholding
88. Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee (Occupational)
89. Lease Severance Tax
90. Library Tax
91. Liquid Natural Gas Tax
92. Liquid Petroleum Gas Tax
93. Liquor Tax
94. Litigation Tax (TN Imposes Varies With the Offense)
95. LLC/PLLC Corporate Registration Tax
96. Local Income Tax
97. Lodging Taxes
98. Lump-Sum Distributions
99. Luxury Taxes
100. Make-Up Tax (Ohio, applying in a salon is taxable)
101. Marriage License Tax
102. Meal Tax
103. Medicare Tax
104. Mello-Roos Taxes (Special Taxes and Assessments)
105. Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (addition to hunting license)
106. Minnow Dealers License (Retail – For One Shop)
107. Minnow Dealers License (Distributor – For One+ Shops)
108. Mobile Home Ad Valorem Taxes
109. Motor Fuel Tax (For Suppliers)
110. Motor Vehicle Tax
111. Music and Dramatic Performing Rights Tax
112. Nudity Tax (Utah)
113. Nursery Registration (Buying and selling plants)
114. Occupancy Inspection Fees
115. Occupation Taxes and Fees (Various Professional Fees)
116. Oil and Gas Assessment Tax
117. Oil Spill Response, Prevention, and Administration Fee
118. Parking Space Taxes
119. Pass-Through Withholding
120. Pay-Phone Calls Tax (Indiana)
121. Percolation Test Fee
122. Personal Property Tax
123. Personal Holding Company (undistributed earnings)
124. Pest Control License
125. Petroleum Business Tax
126. Playing Card Tax (Al)
127. Pole Tax (TX – A $5 Cover Charge On Strip Clubs)
128. Profit from Illegal Drug Dealing
129. Property Tax
130. Property Transfer Tax (DE, ownership transfer between parties)
131. Prostitution Tax (NV – Prostitute Work Permits)
132. Poultry Registered Premises License (Sales License)
133. Rain Water Tax (Runoff after a Storm)
134. Rat Control Fee (CA)
135. Real Estate Tax
136. Recreational Vehicle Tax
137. Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Fees
138. Regional Transit Taxing Authority (Trains)
139. Road Usage Tax
140. Room Tax (Hotel Rooms)
141. Sales Tax (State)
142. Sales Tax (City)
143. Sales And Use Tax (Sellers Permit)
144. School Tax
145. Service Charge Tax
146. Self Employment Tax
147. Septic And Drain Field Inspection Fees
148. Sex Sales Tax (UT, when nude people perform services)
149. Sewer & Water Tax
150. Social Security Tax
151. Sparkler and Novelties Tax (WV Sellers of Sparklers, etc)
152. Special Assessment Tax (Not Ad Valorem)
153. State Documentary Stamp Tax on Notes (FL RE Tax)
154. State Franchise Tax
155. State Income Tax
156. State Park Fees
157. State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
158. Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) Fuel Tax
159. Stud Fees (Kentucky’s Thoroughbred Sex Tax)
160. Tangible Personal Property Tax
161. Tattoo Tax (AR Tax On Tattoos)
162. Telephone 911 Service Tax (some states)
163. Telephone Federal Excise Tax
164. Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
165. Telephone Federal Surcharge Taxes
166. Telephone State Surcharge Taxes
167. Telephone Local Surcharge Taxes
168. Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
169. Telephone Recurring Charges Tax
170. Telephone Universal Access Tax
171. Telephone Non-Recurring Charges Tax
172. Telephone State Usage Charge Tax
173. Telephone Local Usage Charge Tax
174. Tire Recycling Fee
175. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Consumer Tax)
176. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Dealer Tax)
177. Toll Road Taxes
178. Toll Bridge Taxes
179. Toll Tunnel Taxes
180. Tourism or Concession License Fee
181. Traffic Fines (Indirect Taxation)
182. Transportable Treatment Unit Fee (Small Facility)
183. Trailer Registration Tax
184. Trout Stamp (Addendum To Fish License)
185. Use Taxes (On Out-Of-State Purchases)
186. Utility Taxes
187. Unemployment Tax
188. Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee
189. Underpayment of Estimated Tax (Form 2210)
190. Unreported Tip Income (Social Security and Medicare Tax)
191. Vehicle License
192. Vehicle Recovery Tax (CO, to find stolen cars)
193. Vehicle Registration Tax
194. Vehicle Sales Tax
195. Wagering Tax (Tax on Gambling Winnings)
196. Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) Fuel Tax
197. Water Rights Fee
198. Watercraft Registration Tax
199. Waterfowl Stamp Tax
200. Well Permit Tax
201. Wiring Inspection Fees
202. Workers Compensation Tax

So, how does the average person legally avoid taxes like the big dogs?  Why, the answer of course is to take advantage of all the tax loopholes in the U.S tax code put there by those in power and powerful lobbies to help them pay less in taxes.  Unfortunately, the average person does not have the money nor the connections to take advantage of these loopholes in the form of tax breaks, subsidies, write-offs, etc.  So if taking advantage of our tax code is out of the question, what else can we do to save our hard earned money from taxation?  I'm open for suggestions.

The Police State Grows

Can you believe it!  According to a recent article in the Washington Examiner, the Obama administration has created another government agency to further consolidate power and the grip of the police state - the Bureau of Counterterrorism - this on the heels of the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  The NDAA, which essentially nullifies the Bill of Rights, was quietly passed into law by our elected officials over the holiday season giving the government authority to apprehend and detain anyone (including U.S. citizens) anywhere in the world (including the USA) and detain them indefinitely without charging them with anything.  In addition to killing the Bill of Rights, in one stroke our politicians also managed to  undo the foundation of the western legal system in place since the 12th century - the writ of Habeus corpus

It is difficult for me to believe that the citizens of this country are not up in arms over these and other recent government actions that are destroying our individual freedoms.  I for one and not willing to trade my freedom for so-called security.  Sadly, the republic is already dead with the NDAA being the last nail in the coffin.  I hope that  all the politicians who voted for this bill are satisfied and ready to be one of the first to test this new law.  After all, history shows us that politicians who fall out of favor with the military are one of the first to be apprehended, along with journalists and activists.

Solar Year More Important Than Calendar Year

Now that both the beginning of the solar year (winter solstice) and calendar year (New Year's) have passed, I have been reflecting on just how much more important the solar year is for me at this time in my life.  When I was younger with no spiritual or physical connection to the land, I would fall into the consumer trap at Christmas, then stay up until the break of dawn on New Year,s day swilling spirits and smoking cigarettes one after the other, then feel bad for what was then the first day of my new year.  Now, with much of my life's activities and well-being revolving around the seasons and the land, I look back and wonder how in the world I could have led such an unfulfilling lifestyle.  Don't get me wrong.  I still like to party, but there is much more meaning in this time of year than meets the eye.  Mid-December is a time to strengthen bonds between family and friends, bless and decorate your home, and share with those in need.  Although the winter solstice signifies the first day of winter, we still rejoice in the fact that the days will become longer minute by minute each day until eventually a tipping point between temperature and amount of daylight is reached where all living things begin to come alive after their seemingly long dormant spell.  Being close to the land and witnessing this renewal is indeed spiritual and an important component of one's  mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.