So, how about it? Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter. Do you use any of them? Do you post pictures and check-in when you visit places? While your intent may be to keep your friends and family in the loop (even when we don’t want to know), other parties may be interested too. Raytheon, a Massachusetts-based defense contractor, has been developing software that pieces together a “snapshot” of a person’s life using data obtained from social networking sites. Information about this software known as Riot, or Rapid Information Overlay Technology, was recently uncovered and reported by The Guardian (including a video of the software in use) and has sparked commentary and concern from different places.

At first glance, the software doesn’t sound that interesting. It’s picking up freely available information that we voluntarily shared. If we don’t want people knowing where we are, we should stop posting where we are. Sounds simple enough. (You may or may not know, however, that pictures are now often embedded with your latitude and longitude along with other information in its Exif data.) So then, is not using social media really the answer? As The Guardian’s article points out, the Riot software “demonstrates how the same social networks that helped propel the Arab Spring revolutions can be transformed into a ‘Google for spies’ and tapped as a means of monitoring or control.” Social networks aren’t necessarily just frivolous time wasters and places to repost pictures of cats. They can help people organize and connect in order to produce meaningful results. Not using social networks may not be the right answer.

While many of the comments made on The Guardian’s website about the article dismissed the reporting and called it sensational, I believe they are missing the point. Data mining from public websites is legal in most countries, but this data collection does not have any oversight or regulation. The Electronic Privacy Information Center’s Ginger McCall emphasizes this to The Guardian: “Social networking sites are often not transparent about what information is shared and how it is shared. Users may be posting information that they believe will be viewed only by their friends, but instead, it is being viewed by government officials or pulled in by data collection services like the Riot search.” Data collection is inevitable, but it would be nice to have more transparency about who’s collecting it and when our data is “open” to everyone. For now, though, maybe give some pause to your next social media post or check-in and remember that “everyone” may be able to see it.

The IRS has just announced plans that the 2013 tax season will begin on January 30, 2013 (a Wednesday if you’re wondering). This misses the previously set date of January 22, 2013, but given that Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) in 2013 when it should have passed it in 2012, a late start of only eight days is impressive. If we could just get Congress to get things done so quickly.

Starting on January 30, the IRS says more than 120 million households should be able to begin filing returns. Those households include people who are “affected by the late Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) patch as well as the three major ‘extender’ provisions for people claiming the state and local sales tax deduction, higher education tuition and fees deduction and educator expenses deduction.” For the rest of tax filers unable to file starting January 30, look to late February or into March to be able to submit a return. This group of tax filers includes people who claim the residential energy credits (Form 5695), depreciation and amortization (Form 4562), or general business credits (Form 3800). The IRS has posted a list of the forms that won’t be accepted until a later date at IRS.gov. It often happens that those in this tax filing group don’t file until later in the season anyway or they just go ahead and file an extension, so the delay in being able to file may not cause much of a delay at all.

The IRS does remind all of us that it will not process paper returns before the January 30th opening date, so there’s no rush to get that return finished and in the mail in the next couple of weeks. Also, paper filing is not the most efficient way to file. If you want your tax refund sooner you should e-file with the direct deposit option checked.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us here at Barnard Vogler & Co.

Have you heard? There’s an election coming up. It’s not easy to miss with the constant barrage of TV, radio, and mail advertisements.

With the General Election a little less than three weeks away, early voting is almost here. Saturday, October 20, 2012, is the first day to vote early in Washoe County and you will then have until November 2, 2012, to cast an early ballot. So, my question to you is, are you going to get out and vote early?

Early voting is an easy and painless process; at least it has been in my experience. With 22 locations in Reno, Sparks, and Incline where you can cast your ballot early, there really isn’t much of an excuse as to why you can’t make it out to vote. You don’t even have to go to your assigned polling location when casting your ballot early. I can hear some of you saying, “I don’t like any of the candidates,” and that’s ok. Nevadans can still cast a vote for “none of the above,” a voting option unique to Nevada, so exercise your voice even when dissatisfied.

If you really aren’t into voting in person, you can also cast an absentee ballot. All you have to do is fill out an absentee ballot request form and have it into the Registrar of Voters by 5 PM the Tuesday before the election, October 30, 2012, in order to receive an absentee ballot. Once you receive your absentee ballot, fill it out and make sure that it reaches the Registrar’s office by 7 PM on Election Day (November 6, 2012). Nice and easy and no waiting in line, either. I still think early voting is just as easy or even easier, but there are options out there. So, no excuses!

If neither of these early or alternative options sounds like your thing, please just remember to vote on November 6, 2012. If you vote on Election Day you will have to vote at your assigned polling location which you can find on the sample ballot you receive. If you don’t receive a sample ballot or misplace yours, you can look up your voter registration online through the Secretary of State, find your precinct, and then locate your polling location on the Washoe County Registrar’s web page.

With a record number of voters registered in Washoe County (241,400 as of October 17 according to the Registrar), we can only hope this increase in registration means an increase in voter turnout. The two don’t necessarily correlate, so that is why I am encouraging you to get out and vote. To recap:

• Early voting happens October 20, 2012, through November 2, 2012.

• Requests for absentee ballots are due October 30, 2012, by 5 PM.

• The General Election is November 6, 2012. You must vote at your assigned location.

Once again, you have many options and plenty of time to cast a ballot this election, so please, go vote!