3 boring housekeeping things about meI want to talk about:
also, never organize your email at happy hour (yes, I am that old now) because your festive fingers will mix up the delete and reply buttons. And, yes, send out accidental emails. Lots of them.
1. I am planning to be in Vancouver and Seattle (sooner) at points within the next two months. And, possibly, (later) San Francisco and Mexico. There are things I want in Vancouver, like my snowboard, bike, and table, so I might rent a car at some point and road trip it, so if you know of anyone who would like to take a fun trip from Portland or Seattle to Vancouver & back.....I'm an excellent road vacation partner. A crappy roommate, but, a fabulous vacation partner.
or, alternatively, if anyone wants to plan a weekend in the Bay area with me....let's do that.
2. I found a job. I was kind of hoping they'd want me to start...in a week or two, but they want me to start...tomorrow.
Unfortunately, it's only 5-6 hours a day, but after being offered these stupid customer service/receptionist jobs which, while fine, would be boring and easy, I really wanted to take it, especially since one economist described the Portland economy as a bunch of "overqualified underemployed college grads serving coffee to each other".
I'm going to be working in human resources in the personnel department. I get to interview candidates all day, do background/reference checks, and see if they would be a good fit with jobs.
It would be good money if it was full-time, but I think it's going to become full-time at some point in the near future, and there's tons of room for growth, which is super good. It's sort of a starting point, but they could really see me in a more strategic sales and marketing position once there's an opening.
But for the next couple of months, until the new position opens up, I either need to be super good with money or find something extra as well- like work in a store or, or bar or something, blah. Especially because there are things I would like to buy...a new camera, a vehicle, a new bicycle, a snowboard jacket, a surfboard.
3. If you haven't, do read "Geek Love". I think I avoided it because, despite the awards it won, I just assumed it was like...High Fidelity for the World of Warcraft set, but it's not. It's a fascinating novel about a family of freaks and carnies.
I don't know if I've felt so uncomfortable reading descriptive narrative since Middlesex. But it's amazing and engrossing....
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
You tell me that you've heard every sound there is
This American Life:
1. I filled out my first US tax form. Well over two decades in Canada and I still don't understand taxes there....doubtful I'll pick it up here, either. What's this 401K Business? Where are they taking the money to? Why would I want to add extra to this?
I feel like I could star in some kind of takeoff on "The Simple Life." Yes, those are real questions.
2. I took my first drug test ever. I'm not sure if I made a faux pas by not placing the cup full of, well, you know, back into the bag before walking through the office hallway. Only 17 people saw my cup. Is there an etiquette book for this?
Yes, I passed. As if there was any question.
3. It's refreshing and nice to sit in an interview and have someone tell you what an interesting life you have (I have). I always have a hard time "selling" myself to other people seriously, if you ask me my taste in music, I'm more likely to share my most embarassing mid-1990s guilty pleasures than the more-socially acceptable albums I just bought. I think, sometimes, I end up selling myself short and people end up underestimating me. This is kind of a theme in my life. I can be sort of giggly and social and discuss pop culture and, to some people, this conveys a lack of intelligence or seriousness.
It's also really nice when someone makes it seem like all the traveling and volunteer work I've done has been worthwhile....
4. I have job interviews upcoming.
5. Come visit my lonesome self this November, por favor. So far, my weekends are open. I will be cold and wet like a bedraggled cat. I'll be all alone. All alone! Well, not really, I do have some friends.
I know it's sacrilegious for a native-born Vancouverite to say, but I hate our weather. I've talked to countless people who were fooled into moving to Seattle after spending a glorious summer in the area, only to encounter the drizzly gray that defines our fall/winter/spring. I often read these ridiculously laudatory type of articles, most recently, in The Oregonian (I do not recommend that paper, it's no Sunday Times), about how the rainy weather in the Pacific NW leads to a rich-inside life with coffee, beer, books, conversation, etc. In my opinion, that's just romanticizing the fact that it's too shitty to go outside for ten months of the year.
This is partially due to my innate hatred for gortex and fleece. The crisp Fall I dress for in my head (I think it's in Boston) is not the rainy Fall that is my reality. I never can quite master the layering thing. I am always too wet, too hot, or too cold, and it's always such an ordeal to figure out how to get to the bar looking socially presentable without having to lug around a coat and umbrella on the dance floor. Such an ordeal, in fact, I really prefer to go into hibernation between October and March.
6. Changes are afoot.
1. I filled out my first US tax form. Well over two decades in Canada and I still don't understand taxes there....doubtful I'll pick it up here, either. What's this 401K Business? Where are they taking the money to? Why would I want to add extra to this?
I feel like I could star in some kind of takeoff on "The Simple Life." Yes, those are real questions.
2. I took my first drug test ever. I'm not sure if I made a faux pas by not placing the cup full of, well, you know, back into the bag before walking through the office hallway. Only 17 people saw my cup. Is there an etiquette book for this?
Yes, I passed. As if there was any question.
3. It's refreshing and nice to sit in an interview and have someone tell you what an interesting life you have (I have). I always have a hard time "selling" myself to other people seriously, if you ask me my taste in music, I'm more likely to share my most embarassing mid-1990s guilty pleasures than the more-socially acceptable albums I just bought. I think, sometimes, I end up selling myself short and people end up underestimating me. This is kind of a theme in my life. I can be sort of giggly and social and discuss pop culture and, to some people, this conveys a lack of intelligence or seriousness.
It's also really nice when someone makes it seem like all the traveling and volunteer work I've done has been worthwhile....
4. I have job interviews upcoming.
5. Come visit my lonesome self this November, por favor. So far, my weekends are open. I will be cold and wet like a bedraggled cat. I'll be all alone. All alone! Well, not really, I do have some friends.
I know it's sacrilegious for a native-born Vancouverite to say, but I hate our weather. I've talked to countless people who were fooled into moving to Seattle after spending a glorious summer in the area, only to encounter the drizzly gray that defines our fall/winter/spring. I often read these ridiculously laudatory type of articles, most recently, in The Oregonian (I do not recommend that paper, it's no Sunday Times), about how the rainy weather in the Pacific NW leads to a rich-inside life with coffee, beer, books, conversation, etc. In my opinion, that's just romanticizing the fact that it's too shitty to go outside for ten months of the year.
This is partially due to my innate hatred for gortex and fleece. The crisp Fall I dress for in my head (I think it's in Boston) is not the rainy Fall that is my reality. I never can quite master the layering thing. I am always too wet, too hot, or too cold, and it's always such an ordeal to figure out how to get to the bar looking socially presentable without having to lug around a coat and umbrella on the dance floor. Such an ordeal, in fact, I really prefer to go into hibernation between October and March.
6. Changes are afoot.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
You got me chasing honey bees
It's funny, you don't really notice yourself getting older, and all of a sudden you look at photos and realize you look all grown up....One day you're all baby-faced and then, a few years later, you look like an adult.
I can't figure out if I like it or not. I mean, not how I look, which is fine as always (we don't really get a say in such things, so why lament), but looking like a....grown up. I constantly meet people (not anyone reading this or any of my friends, since I don't make passive aggressive comments like that, plus I have really attractive friends & family) who I'm convinced are ten years older than me and then I find out they're around my age.
Of course, a lot of it is the social cues you send out based on the way you look/dress. I do wonder if I'm supposed to be dressing like a "grown up" now.
But, it just goes to show the disparity between how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us.
I don't really dress like a kid but I don't exactly dress like a Banana Republic model.
In a way, I like not being a kid, because when you're 20, you can sort of rely on just being sort of cute and young, and when you're older, you really try to create interesting things and amass interesting experiences. It becomes increasingly imperative to have something of consequence to say.
It is funny, I do remember feeling so shy and intimidated when I was 19 compared to how I am now. I like that I feel confident enough to have fun with lots of different people and assert myself.
But it is weird how in the space of, oh, two years, people go from patting you on the head and saying things like "oh, you have time. you're young" to expecting things of you and treating you like an adult.
I can't figure out if I like it or not. I mean, not how I look, which is fine as always (we don't really get a say in such things, so why lament), but looking like a....grown up. I constantly meet people (not anyone reading this or any of my friends, since I don't make passive aggressive comments like that, plus I have really attractive friends & family) who I'm convinced are ten years older than me and then I find out they're around my age.
Of course, a lot of it is the social cues you send out based on the way you look/dress. I do wonder if I'm supposed to be dressing like a "grown up" now.
But, it just goes to show the disparity between how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us.
I don't really dress like a kid but I don't exactly dress like a Banana Republic model.
In a way, I like not being a kid, because when you're 20, you can sort of rely on just being sort of cute and young, and when you're older, you really try to create interesting things and amass interesting experiences. It becomes increasingly imperative to have something of consequence to say.
It is funny, I do remember feeling so shy and intimidated when I was 19 compared to how I am now. I like that I feel confident enough to have fun with lots of different people and assert myself.
But it is weird how in the space of, oh, two years, people go from patting you on the head and saying things like "oh, you have time. you're young" to expecting things of you and treating you like an adult.
Friday, October 3, 2008
I glide by slip a cigarette in your bed
There is no First Thursday
like a First Thursday spent with an anarchist commune that travels by a converted bus drinking home-brewed Blackberry Absinthe Beer (apparently).
Also, I forgot to mention, but 16mm has a preview of their video shoot on their website here. You win at life if you can guess which director/actress they're, ahem, inspired by.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Last weekend, Oliver, the frontman for "A Place to Bury Strangers" was kind enough to guestlist my broke ass to see their show at the Doug Fir. The Doug Fir is funny, it just seems so LA to me, like young professionals do "hipster".
But it's a nice place, although the crowd on Saturday was a little bit too "bridge and tunnel" for my liking. Anyways, new friends John and Candy were telling me about how their band (with Paul) Cold Metal is playing an upcoming fundraiser for their friends' bus trip across the continent. To me, this is my dream. They bought a black bus that, I believe (but my mind invents things after two gin and tonics) will run on vegetable oil and they have it all set up and can even brew beer on it! And they're planning on funding their trip by throwing parties and selling beer.
Amazing! A traveling bus microbrewery? That coupled with the feature in this month's Bust Magazine called "Field of Dreams" about three nomadic friends who travel around the US farming and attending bluegrass festivals has given me a severe case of wanderlust. I am so tempted to sell most of my possessions and....buy a bus. We'll see. Anyways, the bus myspace is
here.
Also, I saw Burn After Reading last night, and it is amazing. I just died in the theater. Of course, everyone who was with me started laughing hysterically and comparing me to Brad Pitt's character since I'm the only one anyone knows who works out in spandex while dancing to my IPOD. Yes, sometimes I do dance a little bit while running in place at intersections. I can't help it when LCD Soundsystem comes on.
The preview doesn't do it justice. I loved "No Country for Old Men" but it was so time for the Coen brothers to do another comedy. Plus I had to love they made a couple of jokes at the expense of Seattle. The Portland crowd loved it too.
It is kind of funny- everyone in Seattle was like "why are you moving to Portland? it's so boring, there's nothing to do there" and everything down here says the same thing about Seattle. I didn't hate the city. Before I moved down there, the summer of 2007, I thought it was so fun, but that was partly because I went to all of those house parties and shows with people who since moved to San Francisco. I just, because of various life developments, had nothing tying me there as of September.
But it's a nice place, although the crowd on Saturday was a little bit too "bridge and tunnel" for my liking. Anyways, new friends John and Candy were telling me about how their band (with Paul) Cold Metal is playing an upcoming fundraiser for their friends' bus trip across the continent. To me, this is my dream. They bought a black bus that, I believe (but my mind invents things after two gin and tonics) will run on vegetable oil and they have it all set up and can even brew beer on it! And they're planning on funding their trip by throwing parties and selling beer.
Amazing! A traveling bus microbrewery? That coupled with the feature in this month's Bust Magazine called "Field of Dreams" about three nomadic friends who travel around the US farming and attending bluegrass festivals has given me a severe case of wanderlust. I am so tempted to sell most of my possessions and....buy a bus. We'll see. Anyways, the bus myspace is
here.
Also, I saw Burn After Reading last night, and it is amazing. I just died in the theater. Of course, everyone who was with me started laughing hysterically and comparing me to Brad Pitt's character since I'm the only one anyone knows who works out in spandex while dancing to my IPOD. Yes, sometimes I do dance a little bit while running in place at intersections. I can't help it when LCD Soundsystem comes on.
The preview doesn't do it justice. I loved "No Country for Old Men" but it was so time for the Coen brothers to do another comedy. Plus I had to love they made a couple of jokes at the expense of Seattle. The Portland crowd loved it too.
It is kind of funny- everyone in Seattle was like "why are you moving to Portland? it's so boring, there's nothing to do there" and everything down here says the same thing about Seattle. I didn't hate the city. Before I moved down there, the summer of 2007, I thought it was so fun, but that was partly because I went to all of those house parties and shows with people who since moved to San Francisco. I just, because of various life developments, had nothing tying me there as of September.
Left in Dark Times
The life of the unemployed is surprisingly busy. I feel like the aimless protagonist in Hornby's "About a Boy" who wonders how people ever found the time to fit work in. I could feel quite fulfilled retiring....now, I'm not going to lie. I just started to look for a job this week, unfortunately.
Anyone want to hire an over-educated under-experienced under-achieving girl? My greatest work strength: Coordination of outfit with accessories.
My greatest work weakness: procrastination, laziness, disorganization, general malaise, internet time-wasting, tardiness....
Do hire me. I've been trolling the Goodwills looking for socially acceptable work outfits (since I realized that not one of the 75 or so skirts and dresses I own extends past mid-thigh, I would definitely not pass the fingertip test at a Catholic school). Somehow, I've spent my entire life up until now totally unaware of how to dress "business professional" and "business casual". I keep calling my mom and describing outfits to her and asking if it says what I'm trying to convey: that I'm not the type of girl who frequents dive bars until 5 AM on a Tuesday. So, I'm looking for a costume. Speaking of costumes, does anyone else find their favourite outfits in the Goodwill costume section? It's my favourite next to the little girl dress section. Speaking of costumes, I'm trying to make this exact outfit for Halloween:
Yes, I'm going as Dawn Weiner for Halloween:
Onward and upward:
I went to see the French philosopher Bernard Henri-Levy last week on his book tour to promote his latest release, "Left in Dark Times".
The title is an approximate translation of a Sartre quote and, in English, works as a pun: the "left" can refer to the liberal movement he is criticizing.
BHL, as he's known in France, has been both acclaimed and derided. I haven't read the book yet since I'm still on hold at the library, but I've read quite a bit about his argument. The New York Times review ishere. His argument in this book has been misunderstood, in many ways, if the irate sixtysomethings in the audience were any indication of the general consensus. All of the baby boomers, understandably, get rather testy when there is a perceived attack on the liberal cause. I am left wing, more so than the American democratic party, but some of his critique did resonate with me.
Although he generally aligned himself with the left and protested over the Vietnam war, his support of the American intervention in Iraq (which, obviously, I was always against, not that I have any kind of say) has been particularly controversial.
The book begins with a call from Nicholas Sarkozy, the now-French President, asking for Levy's endorsement (in his speech, Levy did take a bit of a jab at North American culture when he suggested that, true enough, no American politician would ask for a writer's endorsement) in his campaign for the presidency.
Levy refuses and explains that the left is his family, and Sarkozy offers a few valid criticisms of the Left movement, at least in France.
Anyways, the Times can explain it better than I can, but, I did agree with his suggestion that the Left tends to get trapped in the prevailing or trendy paradigm or dialectic of the time, which influences their perception of current events and causes them to ignore events that do not fit into that dialogue.
According to Levy, the defining dialectic right now has to do with (all interrelated) globalization, anti-Americanism, post-colonialism, and anti-Imperialism.
For example, he suggests that the liberal cause is, albeit mostly justifiably, quick to blame American imperialism for all the evils in the world, and, regardless or whether this assertion is correct, it doesn't explain everything.
Levy critiques the left for being too laissez-faire by not wanting to interfere and impose western ideals onto other nations. By allowing, in his assessment, immoral governments the right of unchecked self-determination, we do the subjugated groups in that country a disservice. Levy suggests that this liberal resistance to globalization and cultural American-imperialism is responsible for the lack of "universal values" today. His belief is that we should impose our ideals of democracy, equality, freedom of expression, and justice onto developing (for lack of a better term, I realize that one is controversial) nations that mistreat their population.
I agree with this to a certain extent. I agree with the sentiment at the heart of it, but if we have someone like George W. Bush imposing their values on other nations, it always seems to be a cover for oil interests, no? Advocating for political intervention in other nations, not like it doesn't already exists is kind of a dangerous justification for......any number of of economic and political interests.
We do have international intervention, with the International Monetary Fund, hahahahah. Joking.
Also, I don't really know if the American government, for example, is preferable to that of socialist-communist countries. I'm really not sure. For example, the American news coverage of Venezuela is so biased, but Chavez also engages in some pretty heavy press censorship himself. Same with Cuba.
But I do agree that humanitarian intervention and prevention of genocide and subjugation is important. Levy suggests that Republicans have co-opted humanitarianism as a cover for their economic interests and, consequently, the same kind of humanitarianism has become distasteful for leftists.
I do agree that humanitarianism should be universal, not political, but I'm not sure if it's possible.
It is interesting to listen to Levy's critique of the post-colonial paradigm, and how that whole mode of thought is severely outdated, and the same argument is prevalent in current critiques of Latin America. Those critiques generally suggest that post-colonialism defines a country by oppression, whereas, in order to progress (another loaded term) and become more self-reliant, the country needs to develop its own identity (and well, pay back its IMF debt, hah).
Here is an article by Levy in the New York Times discussing his point of view more eloquently than I can:‘Left in Dark Times’: The First Chapter
I know Levy's so famous, but I first took notice of him when I was a preteen reading an interview of him and his wife in, I believe, Vanity Fair. To me, they seemed so lovely and French, that it precipitated a life-long desire to move to France and become chic.
I don't think he's the most brilliant writer/philosophe ever, if anything, he is a good speaker and self-promoter, but I did like how he said how strange it was that Americans are all obsessed with the Stock Market.
That does make me feel a little better about my total ignorance about such matters. Even in light of yesterday's stock market crash. In my defense, I do have ADD, but somehow my total lack of concentration only really manifests itself when I find something boring. Oh, I know the stock market can be interesting once you consider all of the contributing factors, but the issue is that these stock and financial people are usually shitty writers. I mean, accountants aren't universally praised for their communication skills. That's what I tell myself to make myself feel better about my lack of academic/work prowess: that I have "people skills". Except I don't really, I'm kind of a condescending jerk sometimes (hopefully in a somewhat charming way?) and I'm totally cynical. Oh, and I don't really like that many people. I'm working on it. My mom says that's "discerning," which is partly why I love my mom.
One of my life goals is to become a nicer person. I sort of am.
One day, I hope.
And only related in that she epitomizes that French "je ne sais quoi" that I, sadly, will never quite possess, and I have a strange love for French pop music, Francoise Hardy:
Anyone want to hire an over-educated under-experienced under-achieving girl? My greatest work strength: Coordination of outfit with accessories.
My greatest work weakness: procrastination, laziness, disorganization, general malaise, internet time-wasting, tardiness....
Do hire me. I've been trolling the Goodwills looking for socially acceptable work outfits (since I realized that not one of the 75 or so skirts and dresses I own extends past mid-thigh, I would definitely not pass the fingertip test at a Catholic school). Somehow, I've spent my entire life up until now totally unaware of how to dress "business professional" and "business casual". I keep calling my mom and describing outfits to her and asking if it says what I'm trying to convey: that I'm not the type of girl who frequents dive bars until 5 AM on a Tuesday. So, I'm looking for a costume. Speaking of costumes, does anyone else find their favourite outfits in the Goodwill costume section? It's my favourite next to the little girl dress section. Speaking of costumes, I'm trying to make this exact outfit for Halloween:
Yes, I'm going as Dawn Weiner for Halloween:
Onward and upward:
I went to see the French philosopher Bernard Henri-Levy last week on his book tour to promote his latest release, "Left in Dark Times".
The title is an approximate translation of a Sartre quote and, in English, works as a pun: the "left" can refer to the liberal movement he is criticizing.
BHL, as he's known in France, has been both acclaimed and derided. I haven't read the book yet since I'm still on hold at the library, but I've read quite a bit about his argument. The New York Times review ishere. His argument in this book has been misunderstood, in many ways, if the irate sixtysomethings in the audience were any indication of the general consensus. All of the baby boomers, understandably, get rather testy when there is a perceived attack on the liberal cause. I am left wing, more so than the American democratic party, but some of his critique did resonate with me.
Although he generally aligned himself with the left and protested over the Vietnam war, his support of the American intervention in Iraq (which, obviously, I was always against, not that I have any kind of say) has been particularly controversial.
The book begins with a call from Nicholas Sarkozy, the now-French President, asking for Levy's endorsement (in his speech, Levy did take a bit of a jab at North American culture when he suggested that, true enough, no American politician would ask for a writer's endorsement) in his campaign for the presidency.
Levy refuses and explains that the left is his family, and Sarkozy offers a few valid criticisms of the Left movement, at least in France.
Anyways, the Times can explain it better than I can, but, I did agree with his suggestion that the Left tends to get trapped in the prevailing or trendy paradigm or dialectic of the time, which influences their perception of current events and causes them to ignore events that do not fit into that dialogue.
According to Levy, the defining dialectic right now has to do with (all interrelated) globalization, anti-Americanism, post-colonialism, and anti-Imperialism.
For example, he suggests that the liberal cause is, albeit mostly justifiably, quick to blame American imperialism for all the evils in the world, and, regardless or whether this assertion is correct, it doesn't explain everything.
Levy critiques the left for being too laissez-faire by not wanting to interfere and impose western ideals onto other nations. By allowing, in his assessment, immoral governments the right of unchecked self-determination, we do the subjugated groups in that country a disservice. Levy suggests that this liberal resistance to globalization and cultural American-imperialism is responsible for the lack of "universal values" today. His belief is that we should impose our ideals of democracy, equality, freedom of expression, and justice onto developing (for lack of a better term, I realize that one is controversial) nations that mistreat their population.
I agree with this to a certain extent. I agree with the sentiment at the heart of it, but if we have someone like George W. Bush imposing their values on other nations, it always seems to be a cover for oil interests, no? Advocating for political intervention in other nations, not like it doesn't already exists is kind of a dangerous justification for......any number of of economic and political interests.
We do have international intervention, with the International Monetary Fund, hahahahah. Joking.
Also, I don't really know if the American government, for example, is preferable to that of socialist-communist countries. I'm really not sure. For example, the American news coverage of Venezuela is so biased, but Chavez also engages in some pretty heavy press censorship himself. Same with Cuba.
But I do agree that humanitarian intervention and prevention of genocide and subjugation is important. Levy suggests that Republicans have co-opted humanitarianism as a cover for their economic interests and, consequently, the same kind of humanitarianism has become distasteful for leftists.
I do agree that humanitarianism should be universal, not political, but I'm not sure if it's possible.
It is interesting to listen to Levy's critique of the post-colonial paradigm, and how that whole mode of thought is severely outdated, and the same argument is prevalent in current critiques of Latin America. Those critiques generally suggest that post-colonialism defines a country by oppression, whereas, in order to progress (another loaded term) and become more self-reliant, the country needs to develop its own identity (and well, pay back its IMF debt, hah).
Here is an article by Levy in the New York Times discussing his point of view more eloquently than I can:‘Left in Dark Times’: The First Chapter
I know Levy's so famous, but I first took notice of him when I was a preteen reading an interview of him and his wife in, I believe, Vanity Fair. To me, they seemed so lovely and French, that it precipitated a life-long desire to move to France and become chic.
I don't think he's the most brilliant writer/philosophe ever, if anything, he is a good speaker and self-promoter, but I did like how he said how strange it was that Americans are all obsessed with the Stock Market.
That does make me feel a little better about my total ignorance about such matters. Even in light of yesterday's stock market crash. In my defense, I do have ADD, but somehow my total lack of concentration only really manifests itself when I find something boring. Oh, I know the stock market can be interesting once you consider all of the contributing factors, but the issue is that these stock and financial people are usually shitty writers. I mean, accountants aren't universally praised for their communication skills. That's what I tell myself to make myself feel better about my lack of academic/work prowess: that I have "people skills". Except I don't really, I'm kind of a condescending jerk sometimes (hopefully in a somewhat charming way?) and I'm totally cynical. Oh, and I don't really like that many people. I'm working on it. My mom says that's "discerning," which is partly why I love my mom.
One of my life goals is to become a nicer person. I sort of am.
One day, I hope.
And only related in that she epitomizes that French "je ne sais quoi" that I, sadly, will never quite possess, and I have a strange love for French pop music, Francoise Hardy:
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tax Rates
Money: Canada VS. America
Disclaimer: I've never handled my own tax return (when I called the Canada tax people- edit: the Canada Revenue Agency- about my rebate cheque, they laughed at me since I knew quite literally nothing about my income or deductions for the previous year), so this knowledge is really up for correction.
Everytime someone discusses universal healthcare with me, they end up saying, "it would be nice, but I suppose you must pay so much in taxes"...
Well, let's see.
As far as I can tell, despite what everyone says, American taxes aren't any lower than Canada's (except if you live in a state, like Washington, where you don't pay state income tax), and Canada's tax, well, covers health care and other nice things.
As far as I can tell, provincial and federal tax in Canada, if you live in BC runs from 20%-around 44%. Also, for practically every moderately poor (I think making under 37,000 a year) young person I know, we receive this nice cheques from the government which total to about 400/year in sales tax rebates.
Recently, I just got a cheque for about 100 to "fight climate change" in my community.
Federal tax rates for 2008 are:
* 15% on the first $37,885 of taxable income, +
* 22% on the next $37,884 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $37,885 and $75,769), +
* 26% on the next $47,415 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $75,769 and $123,184), +
* 29% of taxable income over $123,184.
British Columbia Tax Rates are:
5.24% on the first $35,016 of taxable income, +
7.98% on the next $35,017, +
10.5% on the next $10,373, +
12.29% on the next $17,230, +
14.7% on the amount over $97,636
U.S.A.
For 2008, the Federal tax brackets for a single (unmarried) person are:[1]
* 10%: from $0 to $8,025
* 15%: from $8,026 to $32,550
* 25%: from $32,551 to $78,850
* 28%: from $78,851 to $164,550
* 33%: from $164,551 to $357,700
* 35%: $357,701 and above
And in Oregon, for example, the tax rates range from 5% to 9%.
So, it is fairly comparable. If you make lots of money in Canada, you're taxed at 44%, and in Oregon you're taxed at 44% too (although you don't pay sales tax in Oregon).
There are a couple major differences in tax deductions though. One major one is that interest paid on mortgages in the US can be used as a tax deduction, and there is no limit to this. You could own 35 homes, or so many you're not sure how many you own (like my pal John McCain), and that just adds to your tax deductions.
And, that, obviously, benefits middle class to upper class people (bigger the mortgage interest, the larger the deduction, as far as I understand).
Another thing, which I don't believe that is deductible in the US, but is in Canada, is school tuition. I'm not sure though- I asked Paul a year ago, but he had no idea. He fronts as a self-sufficient skid, but he never really had to pay his own tuition/rent in Philly.
Of course, tuition is generally lower in Canada since we don't really have "private" universities. It's like if, hypothetically, you were from the US, you were from New Mexico, and could pay in-state college tuition at Yale and Harvard. And, I'm too lazy to google this, but I believe that the most expensive law school tuition in Canada is around 12,000 at the University of Toronto. In contrast, I believe law school tuition in the US usually runs between 30-40,000 a year. This, obviously, creates less of a two-tier society...but, I'll stay on topic.
But, for example, the tax credits I earn on my tuition have meant that I basically haven't ever had to pay tax in Canada. I can also transfer them to my parents to compensate for them helping me out at school or I can transfer them to my future earnings. This means that, if you went to school for 4 years but didn't really make any money, you can use the tax credits you accumulated during school and apply it to your post-graduation income for up to 5 years. I believe this is the case.
Off-topic, but another nice thing is that if you're struggling with student loan debt and not making very much money for a while, you can apply for "interest relief" for up to 3 years, I think, if you can't afford the payments.
So what it comes down to is that the mortgage tax break helps people with money and school tax break helps people like me.
I'm only thinking about this now since I'm looking for jobs in Portland, Oregon.
Another thing is that it seems like the executive positions in the US generally pay higher salaries than in Canada (as in a few hundred thousand) but the "other" jobs pay a lot less.
I keep coming across these jobs with lists and lists of requirements, and the salary is something laughable, like 19,000.
I really really hate applying for jobs, which is what I'm doing right now. I hate it so much, I'm tempted to return to school.
Disclaimer: I've never handled my own tax return (when I called the Canada tax people- edit: the Canada Revenue Agency- about my rebate cheque, they laughed at me since I knew quite literally nothing about my income or deductions for the previous year), so this knowledge is really up for correction.
Everytime someone discusses universal healthcare with me, they end up saying, "it would be nice, but I suppose you must pay so much in taxes"...
Well, let's see.
As far as I can tell, despite what everyone says, American taxes aren't any lower than Canada's (except if you live in a state, like Washington, where you don't pay state income tax), and Canada's tax, well, covers health care and other nice things.
As far as I can tell, provincial and federal tax in Canada, if you live in BC runs from 20%-around 44%. Also, for practically every moderately poor (I think making under 37,000 a year) young person I know, we receive this nice cheques from the government which total to about 400/year in sales tax rebates.
Recently, I just got a cheque for about 100 to "fight climate change" in my community.
Federal tax rates for 2008 are:
* 15% on the first $37,885 of taxable income, +
* 22% on the next $37,884 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $37,885 and $75,769), +
* 26% on the next $47,415 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $75,769 and $123,184), +
* 29% of taxable income over $123,184.
British Columbia Tax Rates are:
5.24% on the first $35,016 of taxable income, +
7.98% on the next $35,017, +
10.5% on the next $10,373, +
12.29% on the next $17,230, +
14.7% on the amount over $97,636
U.S.A.
For 2008, the Federal tax brackets for a single (unmarried) person are:[1]
* 10%: from $0 to $8,025
* 15%: from $8,026 to $32,550
* 25%: from $32,551 to $78,850
* 28%: from $78,851 to $164,550
* 33%: from $164,551 to $357,700
* 35%: $357,701 and above
And in Oregon, for example, the tax rates range from 5% to 9%.
So, it is fairly comparable. If you make lots of money in Canada, you're taxed at 44%, and in Oregon you're taxed at 44% too (although you don't pay sales tax in Oregon).
There are a couple major differences in tax deductions though. One major one is that interest paid on mortgages in the US can be used as a tax deduction, and there is no limit to this. You could own 35 homes, or so many you're not sure how many you own (like my pal John McCain), and that just adds to your tax deductions.
And, that, obviously, benefits middle class to upper class people (bigger the mortgage interest, the larger the deduction, as far as I understand).
Another thing, which I don't believe that is deductible in the US, but is in Canada, is school tuition. I'm not sure though- I asked Paul a year ago, but he had no idea. He fronts as a self-sufficient skid, but he never really had to pay his own tuition/rent in Philly.
Of course, tuition is generally lower in Canada since we don't really have "private" universities. It's like if, hypothetically, you were from the US, you were from New Mexico, and could pay in-state college tuition at Yale and Harvard. And, I'm too lazy to google this, but I believe that the most expensive law school tuition in Canada is around 12,000 at the University of Toronto. In contrast, I believe law school tuition in the US usually runs between 30-40,000 a year. This, obviously, creates less of a two-tier society...but, I'll stay on topic.
But, for example, the tax credits I earn on my tuition have meant that I basically haven't ever had to pay tax in Canada. I can also transfer them to my parents to compensate for them helping me out at school or I can transfer them to my future earnings. This means that, if you went to school for 4 years but didn't really make any money, you can use the tax credits you accumulated during school and apply it to your post-graduation income for up to 5 years. I believe this is the case.
Off-topic, but another nice thing is that if you're struggling with student loan debt and not making very much money for a while, you can apply for "interest relief" for up to 3 years, I think, if you can't afford the payments.
So what it comes down to is that the mortgage tax break helps people with money and school tax break helps people like me.
I'm only thinking about this now since I'm looking for jobs in Portland, Oregon.
Another thing is that it seems like the executive positions in the US generally pay higher salaries than in Canada (as in a few hundred thousand) but the "other" jobs pay a lot less.
I keep coming across these jobs with lists and lists of requirements, and the salary is something laughable, like 19,000.
I really really hate applying for jobs, which is what I'm doing right now. I hate it so much, I'm tempted to return to school.
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