Burningbird: Free as a bird

May 20, 2002

Free as a bird

In addition to storing away most of my worldly goods -- except my computers, clothes, cameras, telescope, home made recipe book, CDs, books, and kites -- I'm also closing down The Burning Bird Corporation.

I started Burning Bird under the name of YASD in 1996, primarily because companies had a problem employing independents; they feared that they would be stuck with the federal tax liability if the contractor didn't pay the bill. The issue was further confused by the IRS's infamous 20 question rule. If you're not familiar with this rule, don't worry about it. It's really nothing more than typical paranoid IRS/government BS.

I managed to move the corporation from Oregon to Vermont to Massachusetts and finally to California. Not as easy as it sounds because you have to close down the corporation in the state you leave, and then re-start it in your new home. This requires filing Articles of Incorporation in the new state, along with giving said state copious amounts of money and an occasional sacrificed chicken or goat.

I was kidding about the money.

The need for an independent to be incorporated isn't as much of an issue today. Combining this fact with not having either the energy or the funds to move the company, I've decided to close it down. Pull the plug. Absorb both the assets (too small) as well as liabilities (too large). File my final corporate dissolution.

I realized this afternoon while exchanging emails with Allan (he of the Dizzy fame) that for the first time in many years, I'm basically unencumbered by business, family, or belongings. I can travel the world -- or not -- writing and selling books and articles and doing an occasional contract.

When faced with two roads in the wood, the only thing stopping me from taking one road over another is my own inclination and interest.

Free As A Bird,
It's the next best thing to be
Free as a bird.
Home
Home and dry
Like a homing bird I fly,
As a bird on wing

Free as a Bird -- The guys who used to be known as the Beatles

Posted by Bb at May 20, 2002 08:55 PM

Comments

Thank god you didn't quote Skynard. I'd have never come back. Ever.

Okay, well maybe after a while.

Good for you, Shelley - what you're doing is something I've always wanted to and never had the balls. If you're in the Pennsylvania area, look me up.

(By the way, I have kin in Missouri, right outside of St. Louis in a tiny little town called Bates City, population 387. But home of the Bates City Barbecue. Hoo, boy, that's some tasty shit.)

Posted by: Shannon on May 20, 2002 10:53 PM

Hey! What's wrong with Skynyrd that 2/3 of a bottle of bourbon won't fix?

Even though you're wrapping up the corporation, are you still keeping the BurningBird domain, Shelley?

Posted by: stavrosthewonderchicken on May 20, 2002 10:56 PM

2/3 of a bottle of bourbon and I'd listen to Manilow...

Still keeping Burningbird, the other domains and the server -- I just won't have that cute little "Inc" at the end of the name. And I'll have a lot of copyright notices and other pages to modify to reflect the change in status. Small price to pay for not having to file another 941, 940, 1120s, ....

Posted by: Bb aka Shelley aka Weblog Bosswoman on May 20, 2002 11:08 PM

Oh and Shannon, this tune is for you:

Cause I'm as free as a bird now
And this bird you cannot change
Oooh ooh ooh
And the bird you cannot change
And this bird you cannot change
Lord knows I cannot change

Hee Hee Hee...

Posted by: Bb aka Shelley aka Weblog Bosswoman on May 20, 2002 11:12 PM

Ok, 2/3?? It would take 2 - 3 bottles of bourbon for me to listen to Manilow. They've started running commercials for "Best of Manilow" CD and I can't get that fucking Copacabana song out of my head again ('they' being SATAN, apparently...) Ugh, I thought I survived the 70's intact.

Nice way to lighten your load, Shell...exactly what you need. See, everything is/will/does work out the way it is supposed to.

'Her name was Lola,
she was a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair
and a dress cut down to there...'

bourbon, anyone?

Posted by: sharon o on May 21, 2002 05:57 AM

2 or 3 shots of bourbon, and "listening" would no longer be in question for me; the question would be whether I was still conscious. But even if I was passed out, I'd be tormented by Skynyrd. . . .

Posted by: AKMA on May 21, 2002 06:55 AM

Shannon and AKMA have been revenged...I can't get Copacabana out of my mind and it's driving me mad.

'Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl...'

Gag me.

Posted by: Bb aka Shelley aka Weblog Bosswoman on May 21, 2002 08:56 AM

Oh hell naw.

If we're singing about Lolas, it must be The Kinks:

"Well I'm not the world's most passionate man,
But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola.
Lola Lo lo lo lo Lo - la Lo lo lo lo Lo - la
Lola Lo lo lo lo Lo - la Lo lo lo lo Lo - la"

Posted by: Shannon on May 21, 2002 09:03 AM

"Whatever Lola wants,
Lola gets,
And little man,
little Lola wants you..."

Posted by: Bb aka Shelley aka Weblog Bosswoman on May 21, 2002 09:31 AM

Remember that Levis commercial with that song in it? Where she had sex with all those guys in paint just so she could hang their jeans in a gallery show? I loved that commercial.

Posted by: Shannon on May 21, 2002 10:10 AM

Listening to Manilow even with 2/3 bottle of bourbon would still make me shoot myself I suspect...:-)

Posted by: Rogi on May 21, 2002 11:47 AM

Manilow -- how can one person be so successful and still be despised by so many.

Except I can't get that damn song out of my mind "Her name was Lola..." Arrggghhhhh!

Posted by: Bb aka Shelley aka Weblog Bosswoman on May 21, 2002 01:52 PM