February 15, 2010
While doing my 2009 taxes, the portion for charitable giving came up on my tax software. Now I don’t contributed all that much to non-profits, and too be honest I probably should contribute more. I know it is perfectly legal, but somehow it does not feel right. Lots of people intentionally give large donations near the end of the year to reduce their tax burdens, but I still don’t know how I feel about it.
I feel like Charitable giving should be a selfless act, and I should not be thinking about the tax benefit I will get at the end of the year, rather that I am helping those less fortunate then myself. Maybe I will simply donate the money I saved on my taxes back into a charity.
Having Charitable giving being tax deductable is actually a way that the government uses tax policy to encourage (or discourage) a certain type of behavior. They think that if they give people a break on their taxes for being a good person, then that will encourage more giving, and be a larger benefit to society.
I guess I will only deduct the portion that I contribute through work because that is deducted out of my paycheck and I know exactly how much that is. I will ignore my church tithes, and boy scout popcorn. It still feels strange though getting money for giving money away.
Do you deduct your charitable giving?
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Posted by fubar1383
February 12, 2010
Well I have had my Iphone for two weeks now and I still love it. I like just about everything about it, and I have had no trouble with the AT&T network save for 1 call that did not get connected the first time. There are lost of things I like about it, and a few that I don’t.
The Touchscreen: its actually super easy to use, and the software is smart enough to know when I tapped the screen by mistake. Typing takes a little getting use too espically in the portrait orientation.
Email: I have never had a smart phone before, so getting the Iphone was like going from a 1987 Ford Fremont to a band new Lexus. I had my first “Iphone moment”. We have had a fair amount of winter weather recently, and I was wondering if my classes were going to be cancelled. I did not know the schools weather hotline number, but I knew I had it in my emails. With in seconds I pulled up the email, tapped the number and found out that I did indeed have to go to class.
Apps: They make apps for everything of course and some are just so dang useful you wonder how you ever got around before. I could try to explain the awwwesomeness that is the Iphone Apps, but it is just something you have to experience yourself.
The Camera: again, just so easy and convenient to use. Most pictures I want to take I am not going to hang in a studio, so the need for a 10MP photo is moot. Here is a hint, the apps utilize the camera in ways that I never thought possible.
Cost: Now this is something I don’t like! I got my first bill for $124 this included some prorated charges as well as an activation fee. Cell phone plans are not cheap for any phone and since I think this is the best phone that money can buy, it is justified. So the cheapest plan with unlimited data and texting should run $85ish a month.
Final thought: Zero buyer’s remorse.
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Posted by fubar1383
February 1, 2010
Oink Oink!!!
Welcome to one of the biggest pork-spending boondoggle also known as the “3 C Corridor” it will connect Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.
This all sounds like a good idea in theory, except that every single person who does not live on the island of Manhattan actually owns a car and has no use for a train. Last time I check we just spent 10 billion on American car companies to keep them producing cars, maybe we should buy some of them? Amtrak estimates that it will take $17 million a year annually to subsidize a train that no one is going to ride.
Furthermore this plan is not going to be free. Even though it is also federal dollars they still have to come from somewhere. The cost is going to be around $400 Million dollars. Yes dollars, not yen, or rubles good ole American Greenbacks, all 400 million of them.
The third reason this is a terrible idea is that the trains are going to go 79 MPH*. Yes that sounds quite fast, maybe a little faster then you would drive in your car. This is the best reason I have heard so far for building a train, oh there is one little note. Factoring in all the stopping this train will be doing it will average about 39 MPH. So yes this train will have the same average speed as a Vespa! So a drive to Cincinnati from Columbus takes 1.5 hours, yet you can jump on a train for $20 and get relatively close to where you want to be in 3 hours.
So needless to say the idoits who run my state got their barrels of pork. For the price of $400 million we will get a train that:
1. Won’t get ridden
2. Wastes $400 Million
3. Goes about as fast as a senior citizen in the slow lane.
Moral of the story: I think buying 2 Million Ohioans IPhones would have more utility and a greater economic benefit then this train.
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Posted by fubar1383
