TOP DRAWER INK NEWSLETTER

 

Here's the latest issue of Top Drawer Ink, the newsletter written by author HL Carpenter that's chock full of humor and common sense information.

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November 3, 2007
Volume 5, Number 21
ISSN 1554-6330

In this issue:

1. Carpenter Country
2. Top Drawer Article
3. Top Drawer Tips
4. Top Drawer Satire

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CARPENTER COUNTRY
What's Happening in Our Neck of the Human Experience

 

The little ghosts and goblins have collected their candy and left the scene. Halloween is over, but spells, witchcraft and superstitions are alive and well.

Here in Carpenter Country - where knocking on wood, refusing to walk under a ladder or picking up coins from the sidewalk is a common practice - we decided to check out the meaning behind a few of these rituals and how they’ve changed over time.

Centuries ago knocking on wood was a way to pacify jealous gods who might avenge themselves on anyone silly enough to boast about being happy. Today this rite is used to ward off bad luck.

Walking under a ladder has always been a precarious undertaking. In the past it was thought supernatural beings ascended and descended ladders set up between heaven and earth – therefore walking under a ladder became a big risk since you might accidentally meet up with one of these mystical souls. Now we’re more afraid of falling objects.

These days finding a heads-up penny on the ground means good luck. Folks from another era called it a gift from an angel.

Superstitious beliefs are worldwide and cover a multitude of notions. Most everyone’s heard about never opening an umbrella indoors. Not allowing women on ships. Or that spells and witchcraft can cure any illness.

Contemporary education may make a modern person laugh at such ideas, yet many of us go out of our way to step around a crack or avoid the number 13.

And a whole lot of us still knock on wood.

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TOP DRAWER ARTICLE

Tax Penalties - Part I
by
HL Carpenter

 

You’re late. You’re late for a very important date: Meeting your personal tax obligation to the Internal Revenue Service. Now it’s the hour of reckoning. How much is it going to cost you?

Read the entire article here

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TOP DRAWER TIPS
Topics and Tidbits

 

Tip: Never ignore penalty notices from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), even if you believe the assessment is in error. Instead, call taxpayer assistance and ask that the penalties and interest be placed on temporary hold until your explanation is evaluated. Then write a letter detailing your reasons for believing the penalty should not be assessed.

Glossary Term: Reasonable cause. As a general rule, the IRS will reduce or abate many penalties for “reasonable cause”. Reasonable cause means you had a reasonable justification for your underpayment, late filing or failure to file. In some cases you can find specific examples of acceptable “reasonable cause” statements on the IRS web site.

Financial Horoscope: You may have reasonable cause for putting financial matters on the back burner during the last two months of the year. But the penalty for procrastination is missed opportunity. Give yourself a gift instead. Prepare a budget for holiday spending and talk to your advisor about year-end tax and financial planning.

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TOP DRAWER SATIRE

CEOs Earn From Mistakes
by
HL Carpenter

 

Most people believe mistakes are valuable as learning experiences. Corporate chief executive officers have mastered the art of turning them into earnings.

Read the rest here