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.

Share the fun! You may re-distribute Top Drawer Ink as long as the entire newsletter is left intact. Please respect our copyrights.

Top Drawer Ink is self-syndicated. Send reprint, licensing, syndication or other inquiries to editor -at- TopDrawerInkCorp.com.

***

January 9, 2010
Volume 8, Number 1
ISSN 1554-6330

In this issue:

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

***

CARPENTER COUNTRY

What's Happening in Our Neck of the Human Experience

 

Hoo-hah! The holidays are over. Some of us are glad. Some of us are sad. And some may have ignored the 'shop till you drop, dine till you whine' days entirely.

Whatever category you fall into, here's hoping you all made it through – and now it's on to other exciting activities like the latest fad, which according to the newspapers is – running barefoot.

When Carpenter Country's short one read the reasons going shoeless was a good thing, her first thought was: Twenty-ten will be the year for broken toes, cut feet, stone bruises and, yuck, ringworm, should the runner step into any strange, unexplainable masses.

That made her wonder if this craze, which is already receiving a lot of hype and could catch on like wildfire, was being promoted by band-aid companies and drug firms.

It seems like every time there's a need to push a product, the propaganda machine swings into high gear. Think pomegranates. Who ever heard of pomegranates? But there must have been a bumper crop one year and suddenly the juicy red fruit was the health fad of the century.

So it will probably be with barefoot running ... at least until hospital emergency rooms and doctors who treat banged up tootsies become overwhelmed and start complaining. Then it will be on to another amazing rage.

As for going shoe-free, the short one's been there, done that and unless she's at the beach sliding her bare feet through the sand, she's staying out of this parade.

Hopefully the next flavor of the week will be something really new.

***

TOP DRAWER ARTICLE

Independent Contractor - or Employee?

by
HL Carpenter

 

As the economy begins looking up, you realize you need some help in your business. Instead of hiring an employee and incurring FICA, Medicare and unemployment taxes, you're thinking of paying the new person as an independent contractor. But is that truly the right classification for your worker?

Click here to read the rest of this article

***

TOP DRAWER TIPS
Topics and Tidbits

 

Tip: In the past, the IRS used a "Twenty Factor Test" to determine whether workers were employees or independent contractors. Those factors have been condensed into three categories (behavioral control, financial control, and relationship), consisting of eleven tests. You can find a discussion of the categories and questions at the IRS web site. Look for Publication 15-A, Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide.

Glossary Term: Common law rules. Law arising from court decisions rather than statute. The term 'independent contractor' is not defined in the Internal Revenue Code, so in cases of disputes, common law rules are used to determine the status of workers.

Financial Horoscope: No matter if you're an employee or business owner, you work hard. Give yourself some credit during January, National Human Resource Month, by celebrating your accomplishments. Just be careful not to go overboard with your celebrations, since January is also host to Peculiar People Day.

***

TOP DRAWER SATIRE

Connecting the Dots

by
HL Carpenter

 

Looking for a job? Here's a tip: The US government is actively seeking Dot Connectors, a career civil service position with the potential for explosive growth.

Click here to read the rest of this satire