Norton Accounting Services, LLC - February 2021

Norton Accounting Services, LLC - February 2021

NortonAccountingServices.com 985-640-6072 [email protected] FEBRUARY 2021 NORTON NEWSLETTER EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™

We have moved into a new office space in Slidell! As many of you know, we had been operating out of our home. When it was just Penny and I, that worked great. During 2020, we began adding team members. We had converted the formal living and dining room area to our home office when we bought the house. Then, I had to move into my library to make room for the new employees. When we had to set up desks for employees in Penny’s craft room, that’s when she had enough and told me to find some office space. Charlie, our blind cat, has enjoyed having everyone at the house. I’m sure he believes everyone is here to see him. He’s going to miss having everyone around. In fact, he sits at the front door each morning waiting for everyone to show up. I’ve included a FROM THE DESK OF Bob Norton

A Few Presidential Facts That May Surprise You! A Day for Presidents

As we all know, presidents live fairly restricted lives. Being the head of state, rules make sense. It’s all about keeping the president and former presidents safe. Many of the rules were established by the U.S. Secret Service, while others are actually unwritten rules that follow tradition more than anything else. One of the biggest rules is that sitting and former presidents are not allowed to drive. This is one of the unwritten rules, but the Secret Service tends to be strict about it. That said, former presidents are allowed some leniency — they can only drive on their own private property or the White House property, but they cannot drive beyond that (and they definitely can’t drive without the Secret Service). The reason is understandable. Driving is precarious, and the Secret Service doesn’t want the president to take any unnecessary risks. Plus, Secret Service agents are well-versed in advanced driving techniques, and it’s literally part of their job to drive the president. The “no driving” rule was put in place after the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Most people associate February with Valentine’s Day, and thanks to all the chocolate and flowers, it gets all the attention. But history buffs and civics nerds are all about Presidents Day, which falls on every third Monday of February. It’s a day that commemorates George Washington’s birthday (Feb. 22, 1732) and has also come to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (Feb. 12, 1809), though Lincoln’s birthday never received federal holiday status like Washington’s birthday did. This year, Presidents Day lands on Feb. 15. Federal employees get the day off as do many others. Some cities, like Alexandria, Virginia, have celebrations — Alexandria being Washington’s hometown. To celebrate, many people even bake a cherry pie in homage to the old story of 6-year-old George chopping down the cherry tree. In recognition of Presidents Day this year, I wanted to dive into a few interesting and odd presidential facts. In reading about offbeat presidential history, I learned a few new things worth sharing!

picture of him sitting at the front door on a recent Saturday (I had to show him no one was there!) Our new location is 1375 Lindberg Drive, Suite A, Slidell, LA 70458.

–Bob Norton

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Along similar lines, former presidents are never allowed to venture out on their own, even if it’s just for a nice walk around their property. Secret Service agents follow them everywhere . I guess when you become president, and after you leave office, you can say goodbye to your privacy! Former presidents even have to submit their agendas in advance (sometimes months in advance) so the Secret Service can prepare. And here’s the cherry on top: The Secret Service can actually deny agenda items submitted by a former president. If they deem an activity too risky, according to former Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow, they will “push back.” Of course, they will try to reach a compromise, but a president’s safety and well-being come before everything else. Another curious rule former presidents must follow is they have to establish their own presidential library. Several former presidents have undertaken that task and now have libraries named after them, thanks in part to the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. The act was aimed squarely at former presidents as a way to preserve any and all “historical materials” created during their presidency. These historical materials include everything from simple documents signed by the president to executive orders and other major documents created during their administration. Presidents must also abide by the rule that they can’t censor content included In the famous Swiss novel “Heidi,” a little girl recovers from her fragile health — both physically and mentally — by spending time in the mountains. There are plenty of anecdotal stories about the medicinal effects of mountain air, but how much is supported by research? Here’s what there is evidence for so far: Cleaner, Pollution-Free Air One basic but important benefit of getting to a higher altitude is the escape from city pollution. It may surprise some city dwellers that air pollution is linked to asthma attacks for those with sensitive lungs and also to more serious conditions. Research suggests that prolonged exposure to air pollution may lead to chronic illnesses such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and other lung diseases.

in the library. So, if the president was at the center of a major scandal, as many have been, those documents will be there.

It’s basically like capturing history in a bottle. These libraries often act as both a library and a museum, making them an important part of our nation’s history because of the documents they house. And while the act was established in 1955, several presidential libraries have been established in the name of presidents before that time, including both Roosevelts, Lincoln, Grant, and Jefferson.

We’ve just barely scratched the surface of presidential curiosities, but there’s only so much room in this newsletter! I hope you enjoyed this peek into presidential history. Happy Presidents Day! The Benefits of Spending Time in the Mountains

Up in the mountains, you’ll likely be able to breathe a little easier.

Reduced Risk of Obesity and Heart Disease People who spend more time at high altitudes may also experience a decreased appetite and lower risk of obesity. One study from 2017 even found that living at a higher elevation is associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that include high blood pressure, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol. Even more interesting, mountain air may passively improve your weight loss journey as well. Natural Weight Loss One German study followed 20 obese men who lived in an environmental research station below the highest peak in the country. The subjects reached the peak effortlessly by railway or cable car, and they were allowed to eat as much as they liked. By the end of the week, however, each had lost an average of 1.5 kilograms or 3.3 pounds. Two factors are thought to have contributed to the weight loss: A naturally decreased appetite from the altitude (the men ate nearly 700 fewer calories than usual) and an increased metabolic rate. While there is still more to learn about the potential benefits of spending time in the mountains, these three studies give the greenlight for more high-altitude adventures.

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MONEY SCAMS ARE SKYROCKETING Here Are 3 Ways to Protect Yourself Right Now

For the past year, scammers have been working full time to fleece people. As a result of COVID-19, federal financial relief efforts, and state-level relief efforts, scammers have found a new way to get into their victims’ pockets. Now, they’re using COVID-19 again, this time with the “vaccine scam.” Through this scam, they’ll sign you up for the COVID-19 vaccine in exchange for a fee. They are also using variations of the grandparent scam, in which scammers pretend to be a family member in trouble (this time, they have COVID-19 or have lost their job) and they need money. Scammers make phone calls, send text messages, and craft phishing emails, hoping you’ll take the bait.

money is also trying to scam you. Never say a word back to them. Cut them off and go about your day.

2. Sign up for Informed Delivery by USPS. This free service is a great way to monitor your incoming mail. Every morning, USPS sends you an email with scanned images of the day’s mail (this doesn’t usually include larger parcels). When you pick up your mail later in the day, you can verify if anything is missing. Scammers may prefer phone calls, but mail thieves are still very much on the prowl. 3. Sign up for an identity protection and fraud detection service. You never know who might end up with your personal information, but you can take steps to keep it safe. There are several services, like LifeLock, Identity Guard, and Intelius Identity Project, that offer comprehensive identify protection. They monitor credit cards, addresses, phone numbers, bank accounts, and more with the purpose of scoping out unusual or fraudulent behavior. Many services can be customized to fit your specific needs.

How can you protect yourself from these financial scams and more? Try these three different ways!

1. Shut them down. If you get a call from a scammer, hang up immediately (better yet, don’t answer unknown callers at all). At the same time, delete scam texts or emails the second you see them. If you get a call, text, or email from someone claiming to be with the government or a government agency, it’s a scammer. No one from any federal agency will ever call you out of the blue. Anyone claiming to have a cure or pretending to be in desperate need of

Take a Break!

Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Pasta

Inspired by TheFullHelping.com

Ingredients

Directions

• 1/2 tbsp grapeseed oil • 2 1/2 lbs mixed vegetables of choice, chopped into 3/4- inch pieces (parsnips, turnips, carrots, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, etc.) • 1 red onion, chopped • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 shallot, thinly sliced • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced • 8 oz uncooked pasta • 1/2 cup vegetable broth • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 400 F.

1. 2.

In a large bowl, combine grapeseed oil, root vegetables, and onion. Toss until evenly coated, then spread the mixture across two foil-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper, then roast them for 35–40 minutes. While vegetables are roasting, cook pasta according to package directions. When vegetables are done, heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Sauté shallots and garlic for 4–5 minutes. Add the root vegetables and onion, pasta, vegetable broth, and vinegar to the pot and stir until warm. Add the arugula and cook until wilted.

3.

4.

PRESIDENTS DAY VALENTINE WINTER

HEART LINCOLN MLK JR PENNSYLVANIA PHIL

AQUARIUS BLACK HISTORY CANDY CUPID GROUNDHOG

5.

• 2 handfuls arugula • Salt and pepper, to taste • Nutritional yeast, to taste

Serve with salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast.

6.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Bob PAGE 1 Presidents Day — A Few Presidential Facts That May Surprise You PAGE 1 Can Mountain Air Actually Improve Your Health? PAGE 2 Protect Yourself From COVID-19 Scams! PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Pasta PAGE 3 The Deadly Revenge of 17th Century Chocoholics PAGE 4

17th Century Chocoholics Get Revenge The Original Death by Chocolate

description of the seven-layer confection, which takes three days to make: “The decadence begins with layers of moist chocolate cake, dark chocolate ganache, crunchy chocolate meringue, and an airy chocolate mousse. The cake is then coated

How much do you love chocolate? Would you be willing to die for a taste of your favorite candy bar? Would you kill for one? You’ve probably never thought to ask yourself these questions, but if tall tales can be believed, arguments over chocolate have, in fact, turned deadly. National Dark Chocolate Day and National Chocolate Fondue Day both fall this month (on Feb. 1 and Feb. 5, respectively), and in honor of those tasty holidays, we investigated the original “death by chocolate” — an act of legendary revenge. Rumor has it that the controversy started in the 1600s in Chiapas, Mexico, when a group of chocoholic churchgoers started bringing their favorite sweet snack to services. This annoyed the bishop, who resorted to banning parishioners from eating chocolate during church. As an article in Indian Country Today tells it, the chocoholics got back at the bishop by poisoning his daily cup of chocolatl, an Aztec chocolate drink. Who knew the ancestor of hot cocoa could be so deadly? Surprisingly, this crazy story isn’t the origin of the “death by chocolate” cake we love today. That dessert was created in 1993 by Chef Marcel Desaulniers, then-owner of The Trellis restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia. Here’s the restaurant’s mouthwatering

in a glaze of dark chocolate and served on a pool of chocolate sauce with house-made milk chocolate ice cream, topped with a hand-rolled white chocolate truffle, and finally dusted with white chocolate powder.” Is your mouth watering yet? The original version of death by chocolate might be a bit complex for the average chef, but if you’re craving a slice, you can find more accessible recipes at Delish.com and SugarGeekShow.com. Just remember that when you pull it out of the oven, we don’t live in the 1600s, so you should probably restrain yourself from poisoning anyone who steals a bite!

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