Here be grrrrrr.

[byslantedlight]

I'm calm now. At the time I may have been somewhat - terse - with both the woman in human resources, and the one in the college who decided to send me the information two days before christmas. I slammed the door. I kicked the file cabinet (steel-toed boots). My lovely sister-in-starbucks, the gorgeous Stepheeee (*waves*) did an admirable job in a 90 minute international phone conversation in preventing me from rushing downstairs and bloodying the lovely carpet. I've taken out all my aggression on random shoppers at the supermarket - don't worry, only with glares, and none that were intercepted. And finally, I've watched Judge John Deed who is calming, right? So it's okay now.

I don't think I need to swear any more. But I do need to say that the people who decided that, since I have spent some five years in this country, and despite it not being by any means consecutive, I need to pay both FICA and Medicare are... somewhat unkind in their interpretation of economics, and rather acting against what we might call the spirit of encouraging international academics. And I would like to say here that I am perfectly happy to pay federal tax, and to make a contribution to the social security and health systems of any country in which I live. However I find the fact that I am expected to make such contribution and at the same time am disallowed from ever claiming on either support system to be somewhat... contradictory. I also find it somewhat disagreeable that they take these payments in the sum of nearly 8% of my gross "salary" which itself amounts to something less than £6000pa. Furthermore, I was a tourist for one of those alleged "five" years, travelling on money that I had worked hard for and already payed taxes. Furtherfurthermore I spent more time outside of this country than in it since I originally visited, and I have no intention of living here permanently. You have to be kidding. (Nothing personal guys - you I like, it's just the people at the top). And-and-and I've brought into this country money that projects wouldn't have otherwise had. So - gargh bastards.

And almost worse - human-fucking-resources who decided that the best time to send me an email about this would be the day before everyone breaks up for christmas - two days, in fact, before the season of alleged goodwill itself. Where did that piece of psychological wormery originate I wonder?

So the short of it is that the pay rise I was happy and relieved about a week ago has been all but wiped out by this charming piece of beaurocratic wankery.

And I can't even walk long and far and hard to get it out of my system because it is december and we are therefore constrained to the Fairbanks Shuffle for another 4 months or so - which does not help in the release of anger and general grumpiness. So - gaaaaaargh!

Sorry. Hmmn. I may have been somewhat mistaken about the level of my calmness.

Comments

[empty-mirrors.livejournal.com]

That sucks like a huge sucking thing. Are they going to insist, or can you find a way to do the tax avoidance shuffle?

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

BLOODY BASTARDS! Where do they live? (I've got a clenched fist and I don't want to waste it).

[metabolick.livejournal.com]

What rotten timing! The situation you describe certainly doesn't seem fair, but then when was the last time you ever heard of tax laws being fair?

Look on the bright side, Sunshine. Don DeMarco is on his way to cheer you up! :-D

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it does. *sighs* I think it's one of those things where there is no shuffling to be done, like NI - I already pay other tax which is the stuff I can claim back because I'm a poor student. This is summat else again... Ah well. Thanks for agreeing how much it sucks!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee! Just as well I don't have me own handgun too, eh..?! Except of course that the bastards probably live on the east coast... Now who do we know on the east coast...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I know - I'm almost more mad about that daft bint's timing than I am about the taxes. Well, almost. And you're right, tax laws are not about fairness.

Look on the bright side, Sunshine. Don DeMarco is on his way to cheer you up! :-D
This makes me smile hugely! Thank you! *is excited*!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Hee! Just as well I don't have me own handgun too, eh..?! Except of course that the bastards probably live on the east coast... Now who do we know on the east coast...

Which number bus goes to the East Coast of Alaska? I could do with some fresh air...

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Look on the bright side, Sunshine. Don DeMarco is on his way to cheer you up! :-D

Sorry, I'm being very pushy and nosey here but blame it on my upbringing. If this means you'll soon be watching Ladder of Swords, then you're in for a wonderful experience! I think Martin Shaw is at the height of his beauty in this film.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Not at all - push and nose away as far as I'm concerned!

Hee, yes, it does mean that - as soon as postie gets his act together!

MS at the height of his beauty? Oh ye gods...

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

yeahhhhhh, mind you, that's just a personal thing, you know. Some people prefer him at the beginning of Pros, when he's looking slightly wild-eyed and more self-conscious, sort of thing. There were some great pics from the film on someone's site around 2000/2001 but I haven't been able to find the site again for ages now and I can't remember the name. I *thought* it was someone like Zoe Rayne or Rosawestphalen who had the photos.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Had to go and do a search when I read this! The only LoS pic I can find is the one with the bear - and actually he does look a touch gorgeous in that, doesn't he... One of my fave pics of him is the one where he's sitting on the floor, against a wall with one leg tucked under him and the long-ish straight hair. All billow-y white shirt and workboots...

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

MartinsPlaceA2a archive group has screencaps galore. *heh*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Gargh! Yahoo won't let me apply to join A2a, it just says it's membership only. *sighs* Managed to apply for the others okay... Thanks for the heads up though, I shall try again later : )

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Just email Georgina (shaw012145) from the main list & ask for an invite.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Will do - cheers! And happy shiny chistmassy things, though you're nearly done, right? When I was a kid desperate to travel it didn't occur to me that I'd end up having to juggle three or four different time zones at once... I've not even started over here yet, my mum's having her morning cuppa, and my sister (down your way-ish) is probably about for bed!

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and same to you. It's about 8:15 here in Sydney, which is 2 hours ahead of NZ(I'm a transplanted Kiwi). Still got dessert to go - too full after a late lunch and snacking to get to it earlier. Enjoy your day.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

One of my fave pics of him is the one where he's sitting on the floor, against a wall with one leg tucked under him and the long-ish straight hair. All billow-y white shirt and workboots...

Oh yeah, I know that one, he's gorgeous there. The pictures from LoS included one in a 'phone box and one in a low, evening light, talking to his co-star, and a couple of others. Really like him at that stage of his life.

Merry Christmas! by the way Slanted and hope you're having a good day and that your chicken tasted good. Cheers, to you. (I've just seen the singing in the rain scene in Singing in the Rain and now my day is complete).

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

gargh - missed this one too! Notifications being dodgy again... sorry!

This reply is so belated that I've almost recovered enough from my chicken dinner (yum) to think about going to bed in a few hours, and you're probably about ready to start Boxing Day! But before all that I'm gonna have another glimpse at The Gun, from what you said the other day, and also from seeing a clip on hisluvpet's new vid from the Gun with Bodie unbuttoned nearly to his waist... have to remind myself how that came about!

Not seen Singing In The Rain for years... ooh, I can feel a yen for old black and white movies coming on... and actually I still have The Third Man to watch, come to think of it... ooh.... after half-naked Bodie though...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Reduced to effectively replying to myself, but oh well! ... Bodie was, of course, wearing a shirt that blended in completely with his skin tone on my pc screen... *sighs*, but - yes I did like the interaction between the lads at the beginning - and how they were coming from somewhere they'd been together overnight because Doyle didn't have his car.... And it was obviously a morning after a night before, because Doyle was shaving on the way to work and they were both cheerful, not exhausted. Right? And so easy and natural with each other, very much a morning after, right? Hee! (go with me on this one, okay?)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

OOoooh, I can't remember what I said about The Gun. Was it even more memorable than all the other things I say?

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Whoops, just read this, sorry. Thanks for explaining. Oh yes, very post-coital, I'd say. I just love the way Doyle looks at Bodie in the cafe, when the awful clingwrap, Inger, is trying to muscle in on their space, introducing herself. (Spits) What do they care? They're too busy devouring each other with their eyes. Get the message woman! Butt out.