How to Manage Stress

An e-mail "fwd" submitted by Barbara Leahy

The True Meaning of Stress 

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all... "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.


She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.  In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.  When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"

Dispatch from Florida

by Don Greenwood

The pictures of the shuttle launch were very good – but most of those folks at Cape Kennedy are now out of jobs or about to lose them since the shuttle program ended. I think that I read that about 11,000 jobs would be affected and the local economy (stores, restaurants, housing, etc) would also suffer. Where do 11,000 “space workers” find other jobs in Florida (or elsewhere anymore I guess?) More homes going into receivership in that area.

Florida ranks third in unemployment. The Florida Governor wants to pass a bill limiting unemployment-payments to 20 weeks versus the current 26 weeks and unemployed people must accept a job offer if it pays minimum wage. State workers are under pressure as are the folks in the Education system here. Bottom line – the State does not have the money to continue supporting programs as it’s done over the years. It’s getting darn right scary. Just my opinion of course.

TV said the national “approval rate” for Obama was: 54% - those who think he’s doing a lousy job.

Huh!!!??? Come on now – he’s doing a great job!! His purpose is to drive this country into the ground and make it a “4^th world nation”;and he’s right on course.

Best always. Cheers.

Momentarily Speechless

By JC Leahy

We passed a big inspection at work last week apparently with flying colors. This morning, just inside the doors to the building from the employees' parking lot, a prim, white, middle aged,management woman stood cheerfully announcing, "Coffee and doughnuts!  On the house!" There was a table with some coffee and boxes of bottom-of-the-line, full-of-air-and-too-much-sugar Krispy Kream doughnuts.  This was supposed to be management's thanks to the employees for doing so well at an important regulatory inspection. A pair of female employees entering from the parking lot were were walking just behind me, talking to each other in loud, ghetto-sounding demeanor.  Without missing a step, one of them replied to the management woman, "I'll take mine in cash. Then I can buy my own doughnuts."   This left the management woman momentarily speechless. I smiled to myself and wished I could think of lines like that so instantaneously.

From the E-Mail: Educate Yourself About Social Security

An E-Mail "forward" submitted by Josh Dee, MD

Subject: History Lesson on Your Social Security Card

  

Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (and some older ones) didn't know this. It's easy to check out, if you don't believe it.  Be sure and show it to your family and friends. They need a little history lesson on what's what and it doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are Facts.
Social Security Cards up until the 1980s expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes. Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the message, NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION, was removed.[9]

An old Social Security card with the "NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION" message.
Our Social Security 

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social 
Security (FICA) Program. He promised: 

1.) That participation in the Program would be 
Completely voluntary, 

No longer Voluntary 


2.) That the participants would only have to pay 
1% of the first $1,400 of their annual 
Incomes into the Program, 

Now 7.65% 
on the first $90,000 
  

3.) That the money the participants elected to put 
into the Program would be deductible from 
their income for tax purposes each year, 

No longer tax deductible 


4.) That the money the participants put into the 
independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the 
general operating fund, and therefore, would 
only be used to fund the Social Security 
Retirement Program, and no other 
Government program, and, 

Under Johnson the money was moved to 
The General Fund and Spent 


5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income. 

Under Clinton & Gore 
Up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed 

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are 
now receiving a Social Security check every month -- 
and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of 
the money we paid to the Federal government to 'put 
away' -- you may be interested in the following: 

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---- 

Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the 
independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the 
general fund so that Congress could spend it? 

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically 
controlled House and Senate. 

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -- 

Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax 
deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding? 

A: The Democratic Party. 

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 

Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social 
Security annuities? 

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the 
'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the 
Senate, while he was Vice President of the  US 

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - 

Q: Which Political Party decided to start
giving annuity payments to immigrants? 

AND MY FAVORITE: 

A: That's right! 

Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. 

Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, 
began to receive Social Security payments! The 
Democratic Party gave these payments to them, 
even though they never paid a dime into it! 

------------ -- ------------ --------- ----- ------------ --------- --------- 

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), 
the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away! 

And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it! 
If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of 
awareness will be planted and maybe changes will 
evolve. Maybe not, some Democrats are awfully 
sure of what isn't so. 

But it's worth a try. How many people can YOU send this to? 

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers. 

Residential Energy Tax Credits in a Nutshell

by JC Leahy, MA Accounting

The list of items that qualify for the Residential Energy Tax Credits is actually fairly short.  Nevertheless, everyone who has done ANY home improvement  wants the tax credit.   Here's what energy-efficient items are NOT qualified for the residential energy tax credits:

Ceiling fans
Clothes washers & dryers
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)
Dehumidifiers
Dishwashers
Electric furnaces/boilers
Electric storage tank water heaters
Electric Tankless water heaters
Evaporative Coolers (swamp coolers)
Lighting (Light Fixtures, CFLs, LEDs)
Ovens / Ranges
Power Factor Correction Devices
Programmable thermostats
Refrigerators
Roof coatings
Room air conditioners
TVs
Toilets
Window Treatments
Whole house fans




And, in short, here are the items that may qualify for the residential energy tax credits:


Tax Credit 30% up to $1,500:


Biomass stoves
Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning
Insulation
Roofs (metal & asphalt)
Water heaters (non-solar)


Tax Credit 30% up to no limit:


Geothermal heat pumps
Wind turbines
Solar energy systems


Tax Credit 30% of cost up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity:


Fuel cells (residential fuel cell and microturbine system)


For more detail, click here for my EARLIER ARTICLE

Living on a Fixed Income: T-Bill Interest Rates Down Again !!!

By Don Greenwood

TV says that gas may go up to $5 per gallon. Whoa!!!!???

T-Bills yields (interest rate) keep falling.

Guess I may have to get the new “Spam cooking Recipe Book” that’s just been issued I understand (?) – I’m told that some of the book recipes are:



-        Stuffed spam peppers,

-        Spam-burghers,

-        Cold spam slices on a bed of lettuce & tomato, etc.

-        Mid-eastern spam omelet

-        Detroit spam-wrap with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise,

-        Spam-dip and crackers

-        Spam/Mutton soufflé

-        Creamy breakfast-spam-spread for bagels -  and of course the international favorite,

-        Fried thick spam slices, fried eggs, fried tomatoes, fried potatoes, and toast.

Best always. Cheers.

The "Golden Years" - love them or leave them -  "that's the way it is".

Income Tax Question: Are Bankruptcy Attorney Fees Tax Deductible?

By JC Leahy

LOL!!  That's a good one!! No, attorney fees related to bankruptcy are not tax deductible.  The only exception is if the bankruptcy attorney prepares your tax return, the portion of the attorney fees for tax return prep is tax deductible on your Schedule A as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2% of Adjusted Gross Income threshold.

Illinois Taxpayers Beware of New Tax Penalties !!!!!!!!!

By JC Leahy

When you pay your income taxes, it's not enough that you tally up on April 15 and fork over the cash.  The IRS, and states, require that you pay your taxes in ADVANCE as the year progresses. Otherwise, you get slapped with an ugly penalty.

People who earn wages/salaries take care of this by having taxes withheld from their paychecks.  People with other income make estimated tax payments quarterly.  One of the IRS's benchmarks is that you have to pay 100% of the prior year's tax in order to avoid a penalty for the current year.  Most states use the same benchmark.

This year, the State of Illinois decrees that for 2011 and beyond, you will have to pay not 100%, but 150% of the prior year's taxes to avoid that nasty "late payment" penalty.  Unsuspecting Illinois taxpayers are at risk of an ugly penalty surprise on April 15, 2012 unless they plan accordingly.  Thanks a lot, Illinois legislature!!!

(PS -  Of course, there is an alternate standard for avoiding late payment penalties.  If you have a crystal ball, you can just pay 90% of the current year's tax liability, and then pay the balance by April 15.)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Washington

April 11, 2011

To All Federal Employees:

Late Friday evening we reached an agreement on the budget that will keep the Government open.  I know the past few weeks have been a time of uncertainty and concern for you and your families, but your patience and professionalism throughout this entire period have affirmed my confidence in you, and everyone who works in our Government.

You do your jobs without complaint or much recognition.  But it is men and women like you who help make America all it is, by responding to the needs of our people, and keeping our country safe and secure.  And so, I want to thank you not only for your forbearance in recent weeks, but for the service you render each and every day to the United States of America.

Barack Obama

Photography Notes: Nikon F4 Quick Review

Nikon F4

By JC Leahy


If you want a classic-looking professional SLR camera, consider using a 35mm film Nikon F4 and spending the $3,000-$5,000 savings on lenses, lighting, tripods, and other supporting peripherals.  You can go full-frame digital later and migrate all the lenses and most or all peripherals to the digital platform. 

The F4 was the "big Kahuna" among pro SLR's from its introduction in 1988 until the F5 was introduced in 1996.  It is built rugged like a tank and shouts to the world that you are a serious photographer with a serious camera. It feels like a work of art in your hands and the sound of the shutter is exquisite.  Why choose the F4 rather than an F5 or F6?  It's much cheaper on the used camera market.  It's lighter to carry.  With it's analog-looking dials and controls, it has that classic look that disappeared with the F5.  Very importantly, the F4 allows matrix metering with non-chip Nikon lenses; something (amazingly) not possible with the F5 or F6.  This gives the F4 the BEST OLD/NEW LENS COMPATIBILITY OF ANY NIKON F-SERIES CAMERA !!!!!!! 


Given this old/new lens compatibility, you can use the F4 with just about any Nikon lens manufactured since 1959. This provides you a big selection of the best lenses that money can buy. The F4 looks good and feels good in your hands. It runs on standard AA batteries. The F4 can be a full manual camera or you can employ different modes of automation. The camera can track a moving subject, continuously refocusing on it and taking pictures at a rate of up to 5.7 per second. Light metering can be set for traditional spot metering, center weighted, or an intelligent evaluative matrix metering. It's electronically controlled, vertical-travel focal plane shutter can sync with flash at a shutter speed of up to 1/250 of a second.  Shutter speed can be set as fast as 1/8000 of a second.  For exposure control, you can choose from shutter priority, aperture priority, programmable automatic, or full manual. There is, of course a shoe mount for attaching a flash.  Oddly missing, however, is automatic exposure bracketing unless you have an unusual, optional date back.

All in all, with lighter weight, extremely rugged construction, lower cost, and greater lens compatiblity, the Nikon F4 is a solid and satisfying choice for a professional film camera.