Tuesday

I'm being "educated" tomorrow.  A Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program on tax issues for 2010 tax return preparers.  Exciting stuff.  All day.  Satellite feed to a room at the local convention center in Moline.

CPA's are required by the states to comply with each applicable state's CPE requirements.  Iowa and Illinois have slightly different requirements, and since we are registered in each of these two states, we have to make sure that we follow both sets of rules.  Generally, you need to secure 40 hours of CPE each year to stay in good graces. 

The Iowa folks audited me this Fall, and I was a little nervous.  My CPE covers lots of territory because of my tax, financial planning and securities work areas.  And I go to a variety of conferences and seminars that most generalist CPA's wouldn't attend.  Plus, I try to do some "double-headers" to comply with the requirements of two or more governing boards that may not formally recognize one another on a CPE basis.  After way too much hand-wringing, memo-writing and data accumulation, the Iowa Board sent me a "No Further Action" form letter within the same week that I sent the stuff to them.  Much ado...

Everyday is some "Day in History".  Some more than others.  This would be one of those "more than others" in recognition of the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Since the event itself occurred less than 25 years prior to my initial high school class on American history, it took on a much more tangible meaning for me as teachers and parents could relate very specific, first-hand stories about the day. 

Given our post-Woodward/Bernstein culture, there's lots of conspiracy theories out there on who knew what, when.  And whether absorbing such an attack was Washington's sinister plan to coalesce a favorable public opinion into entering the war.  WikiLeaks of the '40's.  The Grassy Knoll.

There was a story on the wires this week about the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Club considering disbanding.  We're one year short of the 70th (!!!) anniversary of the attack.  Do the math.  Sure. There were kids in the area who survived that day, but the sailors would now be at least in their high eighties.  Clubs with that kind of seniority need a new business model.  Maybe, "Relatives of Survivors".

There may not be much entered here in the next couple of days.  Augie has a home game with cross-town rival St. Ambrose tomorrow night, and the Figge's Christmas dinner is Thursday evening.  Writers in the 212 may need to pick up the slack.

For the record, it looks like Gap and Vicki's Secret are two more of the "Holiday Season" culprits.

Have a good evening.  And make it a "Glad" Wednesday.

BCOT