Panhandling Is Getting Out of Hand

I'm generous. I give to known organizations and many random causes. But I will not give to panhandlers for several reasons. We stopped in Grand Rapids, Michigan yesterday for a bite to eat.



A guy approached the car shouting, waving his arms and begging for money. He was wandering in the street disrupting traffic, accosting passers-by. We didn't give anything. But he kept following.   Panhandling Is Getting Out of Hand

Write What You Know (Don't Fake It)

I've freelanced online since 2010. I have 6,000+ articles published and I maintain 55 different niche blogs. Many people ask how I make it work. With a lot of

trial, error and learning. Today's mistake cum tip: write what you know.



Alanon says "fake it till you make it." Writing's NOT the place for that. I'm not saying you have to know everything about grammar or SEO. SEO is organic and we adapt. Semantics you can learn along the way. So you who write in a second language, keep practicing.   Writing for the Web 101 Write What You Know (Dont Fake It) - News - Bubblews

Phone Solicitor, Learn Manners or Expect a Dial Tone

The phone rings. I rush to answer because husband is sleeping and I don't want the upstairs phone to disturb him. I trip over people, laundry and a cat. I bark my shins. Breathlessly, I say "Hello?" Silence.

  Phone Solicitor, Learn Manners or Expect Nothing But a Dial Tone

Shooting Off my Mouth on Bubblews Buys My Groceries

This is just to say that I'm grateful for Bubblews. They're buying my groceries. I'm cashing out twice a week now and that's enough to buy our food for the week. Sometimes even some health and beauty aids and paper products. When all four kids were at home, it might not have been enough, but with two out of the house, my Bubblews earnings feed us just fine. Bubblews Buys My Groceries

Target Finally Alerts REDcard Holders of Data Breach, Months Later

I just got a letter from Target about a data breach on REDcards. Yes, the same leak on automatic withdrawal cards that occurred back in November. Three months later, they finally get around to telling us they fouled up and leaked bank data? And they want us to trust them with our account info? All that letter did was remind me to close my account. Read on.  Target Backpeddles on Data Breach, Months Later

IRS Income Tax and Self Employment Woes with 1099K

Being self-employed is, at the best of times, unpredictable. At the worst, like tax season, it can be a nightmare. Take this new US law that companies don't have to issue 1099-Misc income forms, unless they take out taxes--the old way was if you made $600 that year, you got one, regardless.



The IRS still requires you to report all income, regardless of whether you get a form or it reaches the $600 threshold. Yes, even your Bubblews income. But the 1099-Misc helped as it proved that you and the company were on the same page about what you earned and what they reported. And it was helpful for record-keeping. Some of us earn thousands of dollars across numerous writing sites. It doesn't matter if you file or pay someone--it's a lot of miscellaneous income to be responsible for reporting correctly. And a lot of margin for error without a checks and balance.   IRS Income Tax and Self Employment Woes--1099-Misc and Paypal 1099K

If You Want Someone's Attention, Rant

Remember the commercial that said "if you want to capture someone's attention, whisper?" In real life, eh, doubtful. Too many competing voices. Writing online? Definitely not. Say it loud and clear. Timid won't cut it. Go bold or go home.

I've written news since 2005 and I've been a regular for Yahoo! News since they started the program on Voices in 2010. I've written about a thousand news pieces, a lot about Detroit. And I assure you, readers like straight talk, especially op/ed. They love to gnaw on the carcass of scandal, to snarl over politics, to mud-wrestle in the moral quagmire.  If You Want Bubblews Interaction, Rant on Inflammatory Topics