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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January 23, 2010
Volume 8, Number 2
ISSN 1554-6330

In this issue:

1. Carpenter Country Essay
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

 

Here we are, three weeks into the New Year, and Carpenter Country’s short one is still finding it hard to believe the date on her calendar is 2010.

It seems like only yesterday twenty-ten was the stuff of pulp science fiction - and the comic strip high adventure heroes of the day were Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon.

Those guys ruled the future, swash-buckling their way through outer space on rocket ships faster than light. While Buck explored the universe, Flash traveled from meteor-pocked earth to the planet Mongo, where he and his cohorts, Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov cleared the planet of ruthless warlords.

The excitement dulled a bit when the short one found out Flash’s real first name was Steven and Buck had originally been christened Anthony. But as soon as she learned her parents weren’t too thrilled with her heroes’ impossibly daring exploits, their place of honor was restored.

What amazes the short one today is that the science fiction of the past is the reality of the 21st century. Robots, ray guns and nanotechnology already exist. More recently astronomers discovered star systems no one ever knew about. Soon they may find life on a distant world ... and then before we know it we’ll not only be reading about other galaxies, we may be moving to one.

Wow - what an adventure that will be!

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TOP DRAWER ARTICLE

Business Tax Credits

by
HL Carpenter

 

A quick glance at financial news reveals plenty of federal income tax credits for personal tax returns. But are any of these dollar-for-dollar reductions in tax available for your business?

Click here to read the rest of this article

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TOP DRAWER TIPS
Topics and Tidbits

 

Tip: The 2009 edition of IRS Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business, lists 29 federal tax credits that can save you money. Look for it on the dot-gov IRS web site. Then head over to the web site of your state tax department and learn about additional credits your business may qualify for.

Glossary Term: Tax Credit. Tax credits directly offset tax liability. To claim them, you calculate how much tax you owe, then reduce that sum by the credit(s) you qualify for. Credits can be non-refundable, meaning you can use them solely to offset your tax, or refundable, which means when the credit exceeds the amount you owe, the excess is paid to you.

Financial Horoscope: Do you deserve credit for the way you’ve managed your finances during these tough times? Go ahead and celebrate National Compliment Day this Sunday, January 24, by giving yourself a well-earned pat on the back.

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TOP DRAWER SATIRE

Re-Plumbing the Laws of Economics

by
HL Carpenter

 

Tuesday’s election results might slow the progress of health legislation currently snaking through the US Congress. However, those in the know say it will have no impact on another congressional piece of work still in the pipe: BS 101, a bill that will re-plumb the Laws of Economics.

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