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I've highlighted in red the parts of this that I think are most important. For clarification, the part that talks about fatigue uniforms refers to any uniform that your branch or local commander has deemed may not ever be worn off base. If you have a uniform that falls into this category, you know what it is. If you would get in trouble if you wore it home and stopped to pump gas on the way, that is the type of uniform they're talking about.
You may deduct insignia, corps devices, epaulets, aiguillettes, and swords.
If you have deductible uniform expenses, they are limited to the amount of expenses that exceed 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). For example, if your AGI is $30,000 for the tax year, your deductible uniform expenses would have to be more than $600. If you had $700 in deductible uniform expenses, you could deduct $100.
If your total itemized deductions are less than the amount of your standard deduction, there is no tax benefit.
When you put these three tests together, there are nearly no circumstances in which uniforms are going to be deductible to the point of having any impact on your total tax liability. If your income is low enough that your uniform expenses exceed 2% of your AGI, then you probably don't have any tax liability from which to deduct the cost. If your income is high enough that you owe taxes, then the 2% of your AGI is likely to be more than the deductible part of the uniform costs. With all the smoke and mirrors of how the income tax return is structured, even if it appears that you are saving money by deducting your uniforms, it often isn't making any difference in the number at the bottom of the return.
have a tax liability after the regular exemptions, deductions, and non-refundable credits are calculated.
If you want to save the receipts and do the paperwork, go ahead. I would love to hear if it actually saves anyone any taxes.
Can I Deduct My Uniform Costs on My Income Tax Return?
EXAMPLE: I'm sure many of you will find my example confusing, but I'm including it for the small percentage of readers who find it helpful.
Let's say you did have a deductible uniform (that you could not wear off base) that cost $500. (I'm making this up for the example.) Then let's say that you are male, have been in the military more than 3 years, and you are in the Air Force. Your yearly clothing allowance would be $388.80 per year. Take the $500 of actual deductible cost, subtract the yearly clothing allowance, and you will come up with $111.20.
You then take that number and compare it with 2% of your adjusted gross income. To really stretch this example as far as possible, let's say you were deployed to a tax-free combat zone for the entire year and therefore your AGI was $0. With an AGI of $0, you could put that $111.20 on your 1040 Schedule A, Itemized Deductions.
You would take that $111.20 and add it to the rest of your itemized deductions (usually only mortgage interest, taxes and charitable deductions) and then see if the entire total was more than your standard deduction (2011 rates: single, $5,800; married filing jointly, $11,600.) Let's then imagine that you were already over the standard deduction and so you are adding the entire deductible part of this uniform to your itemized deductions, resulting in an addition $111.20 deduction from your AGI before you get to the calculation of the taxes.
It wouldn't really matter, because you would be deducting from an AGI of $0 and there are no negative numbers permitted before you get to the tax calculation line of the return. Zero minus anything still equals zero up until a certain point in tax calculation, so you haven't benefited at all.
This post contains information a previous post, Can I Deduct My Uniform Costs On My Income Tax Return?
The big news this week for Pennsylvania hunters was the shift in the state’s firearms deer season opener from the Monday after Thanksgiving to the Saturday after the holiday. Lost amid all the discussion about the huge change to the state’s most popular hunting day, however, was the fact that the Pa. Game Commission made alterations to several other seasons as well.
When it comes to bears, the agency has once again expanded bear hunting opportunities by adding a muzzleloading bruin hunt to run concurrently with the antlerless deer muzzleloader season Oct. 19-26, as well as a firearms hunt for juniors and seniors to take place with the special firearms deer season for juniors and seniors Oct. 24-26. In addition, the archery bruin season dates have changed and the hunt has grown from one week to two, with sportsmen allowed to pursue bears with stick and string Oct. 28-Nov. 9. The late season firearms hunt has also expanded from 4 to 7 days in many wildlife management units.
Sportsmen who enjoy the late archery and flintlock muzzleloader deer season will have more time to head afield, as the after-Christmas season has been extended by a week, concluding on Martin Luther King Day. The 2019-’20 season will run Dec. 26-Jan. 20.
To accommodate the shift in the firearms deer season opener, the state has also shortened the November turkey seasons, with the last days to hunt the birds being Nov. 28-29.
One other major change of note is that archery hunters will no longer need to wear fluorescent orange during the archery deer, bear or elk season portions that overlap with firearms hunting seasons. Sportsmen previously had to wear orange while moving or post a piece of orange material while in a fixed position. Fall turkey hunters are also now excluded from the fluorescent orange requirements.
The recreation area also offers a $45 annual pass good for all fee areas for the entire season. For additional information, visit www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/fees.htm.
Author Charles Fergus, who has written for Pennsylvania Game News for more than two decades, will hold a book signing for his new book, “Make a Home for Wildlife,” ($29.95) 7 p.m., April 22 at Firefly Bookstore, 271 W. Main St., Kutztown.
A longtime Keystone State resident, Fergus and his family purchased a 120-acre farm in Vermont in 2003, doing a variety of habitat projects to enhance the landscape for birds, mammals and other wildlife. In “Make a Home for Wildlife,” the author offers insights and perspectives on how landowners can look at their properties in news ways to enhance food and cover for everything from butterflies and songbirds to amphibians and deer. Whether a person owns a 500-acre hunting parcel or just wants to improve the habitat in their backyard, Fegus shares tips and tactics that can make a difference in your life and the life of the area’s wildlife.
A resident of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Fergus has authored 17 books during his career, as well as written for New York Times, Audubon, the Yale Review and others. In addition to the 208-page “Make a Home for Wildlife,” he will offer signed copies of his historical mystery, “A Stranger Here Below,” during his appearance at Firefly Bookstore. Both books are also available at Amazon.com.
Angling seminars, an American shad fishing presentation and a variety of vendors offering fishing and boating equipment for sale highlight the annual Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Association’s Spring Sportsmen’s Night April 17, 7 p.m., at Se-Wy-Co Fire Company Social Hall, 3621 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem. The evening, which is free and open to the public, will also include light refreshments and raffles for deep sea and Lake Ontario spring brown trout angling trips. For more information, contact DRSFA President Mike Topping at thetoppings1@gmail.com.
Sportsmen who enjoy pursuing coyotes may want to check out “Master Coyote Hunting,” the new book from hunting expert Michael Huff of Macungie.
Billed as the most comprehensive coyote hunting book ever written, Huff’s book focuses on mastering the art of finding and calling coyotes within range of firearm or camera. The book takes an in-depth at everything needed to pursue the mammal, including firearm selection, mouth and electronic calls, lights for nighttime hunting and more.
A nationally recognized coyote hunting authority, Huff is also the author of the award-winning “Understanding Coyotes: The Comprehensive Guide for Hunters, Photographers and Wildlife Observers.” He is a popular speaker at outdoors shows and seminars on the topic of coyote and fox hunting, and has also assisted municipalities dealing with coyote issues.
“Master Coyote Hunting” is available for $19.95 at amazon.com.
With all he debate raging regarding whether this season's Heroes is good or not, I'll be curious to hear what your thoughts are on this trailer. To me it looks like they took a pretty similar concept and turned it into a feature film.
It stars Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans (who played the Human Torch in Fantastic Four), Camilla Belle, and Djimon Hounsou.
For higher-res versions head over to Apple.com.
I'd provide a link to the official site for the movie, but they don't even have a "coming soon" page for it - right now it's Godaddy.com page: Fail.
Push opens on February 9, 2009.
The agreement was announced at the International Aviation Women Association (IAWA) Reception hosted by Airbus Group at Farnborough Air Show on Wednesday 16 July 2014. The MoU will promote closer collaboration between the organisations and provide women across the globe additional opportunities for professional development through membership, networking and events.
Upon announcing the agreement, Jenny Body, Immediate Past President of the RAeS said, "I am very pleased to see the MoU being signed between the RAeS and IAWA as a further demonstration of the work the Society is doing to improve diversity and inclusion in the aviation sector."
"The opportunity for IAWA to create an affiliation with the RAeS is a significant development towards increased diversity throughout the industry on a global basis," noted Abby Bried, President of IAWA. She went on to say that IAWA is honored to enter into this collaboration which supports IAWA’s mission of providing a global forum through which members connect.
"As IAWA represents the interests of women across all sectors of aviation we have a strong affinity toward the RAeS. We hope this thrilling opportunity for knowledge exchange will strengthen our associations long into the future."
Judith Milne, Chair of the RAeS Women in Aviation and Aerospace Committee added, "We believe that by increasing collaboration across the industry we have an opportunity to make a step change in the aviation and aerospace industry's approach to diversity and look forward to finding new ways to work together to increase the talent pool in aviation."
The signing of the agreement was followed the next day with the RAeS Amy Johnson Debate when the question was posed to executives at Airbus Group, Rolls-Royce and Thales of “what would Amy think of diversity in the aviation industry?” The panellists agreed she would be fairly disappointed however spirited discussions suggest the industry is taking measures to address these issues and bring about change.
1. The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is the world’s only professional body dedicated to the entire aerospace community. The Society promotes the highest professional standards in all aerospace disciplines; provides specialist information; acts as a central forum for the exchange of ideas; and plays a leading role in influencing opinion on aerospace matters.
2. See http://aerosociety.com/News/Society-News/2331/International-collaboration-to-help-develop-diverse-skilled-leaders-in-aviation for accompanying photo.
It's bad enough that the San Francisco Giants dumped Barry Bonds, that he's still ensnared in a steroids scandal and that he might end up in prison. Now he's been demoted by the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf.
On Thursday, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie took the home run king's prime lobby spot while he settled into a new life downstairs, next to his godfather, Willie Mays, and nine other sports heroes.
"We're moving him because he's not signed with the team for this season," said museum curator Curtis Huber. "I don't have a crystal ball but, if I did, I'd say his career is over. And for our purposes, he's done everything he's going to do as a San Francisco Giant."
As Huber removed Bonds' heavy, wax-filled head on Wednesday afternoon and loaded his body onto a rolling cart, museum patrons shrieked at the unexpected show.
"He's mechanical," said Smitty Marvin, a 44-year-old undertaker and coroner from Elizabethtown, N.Y. "That's why he hit all those home runs. Now he'll definitely have to have an asterisk after his name."
Huber pushed the inanimate Bonds into the elevator, cradling his fearsome head in his arms.
"Barry's head weighs a ton," he said.
At least at the museum, the slugger's popularity appears to be both waxing and waning.
"We want to have figures upstairs who are of current interest," Huber said.
The wax residents in the lobby change seasonally. The replica of Bonds, created in 2003, had the longest run in the museum's 45-year history - a full year. Before that, he'd been rotated in and out, moving to a lesser berth during the off-season.
"He's been demoted from the lobby, but he's graduated to being with the rest of the exhibits," Huber said diplomatically.
People have to pay to visit those exhibits, however. The few figures in the lobby, which opens to the street, can be seen by any passer-by.
Bonds, who batted left and played left field, occupied the left corner, while basketball player Yao Ming stands on the right side. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush, singer Jennifer Lopez and Pope Benedict XVI whirl around on the central turntable.
Proprietor Rodney Fong, 42, the third-generation owner of the museum that his grandfather started in 1963, said Bonds didn't participate in the modeling process but visited his waxy counterpart one day with his children.
"Who wouldn't want to see himself?" Fong said.
He added that former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown fully cooperated with the crafting of his figure, but insisted the creators visit clothier Wilkes Bashford to make sure everything fit properly.
Fong, who is vice president of the Port Commission, said 250,000 people a year visit the museum. About 10 percent come from other countries, and a large percentage are Bay Area residents.
When they descend into the underground exhibits, they find more than 270 figures and scenes, ranging from "The Last Supper" and "Wizard of Oz" to the Chamber of Horrors and King Tut.
There are scientists, queens, presidents and dictators. Actress Julia Roberts, musician Carlos Santana, actor Will Smith and artist Salvador Dali can be found there.
"You can mix and match some odd couples," said Fong, who grew up on the wharf and at the wax emporium. "Gandhi is across from Hitler."
Huber was hired 32 years ago, when he got a cashier's job at age 19 and was required to wear an English bobby's uniform and pretend he was wax.
Now the 51-year-old curator cares for and restores the inhabitants of the rebuilt museum, which reopened in 2000 after a two-year renovation.
"I'm only one person, and I have 270 children here," Huber said. "They all seem to need something."
He motioned to the "Sermon on the Mount" exhibit.
"People look like they've been in an earthquake," Huber said. "This scene needs so much help."
A very careful observer would notice that the tableau included Sophia Loren, depicted in her role in the 1960 film "Two Women." She was acquired when Southern California's Movieland Wax Museum closed in 2005, but she didn't fit in Huber's "Glamour Girls" section, so he stashed her in "Sermon on the Mount."
"This way I get to keep my Sophia," he said.
The bodies of the wax people are made of wood, fiberglass, papier-mache or other materials. The wax heads of those who are missing in action reside in a workroom where accidents, mistakes and duplicates are kept.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong is there because he took a tumble. The Phantom of the Opera got smashed while on loan for a Halloween party. Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" head wasn't fleshy enough, and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev broke his legs.
Humphrey Bogart had been wrongly given blue eyes and Princess Diana - "the baby-fat Di, not the anorexic Di" - had her bangs trimmed too short.
Paris Hilton was in particularly bad shape. A wharf fisherman, perhaps inebriated, attacked her last year on the Fourth of July while she was on the turntable in the lobby, Huber said.
"Her head is up there in a plastic bag," he noted, gesturing to a shelf.
Huber said various artists have created the museum's lineup. The process can take as little as four months or as long as a year.
"If you're immersed in making a figure, you can easily lose perspective," he said. "And then, as soon as it goes before the public, people can say, 'Who is that?' "
If the resemblance is too murky, the figure is removed. Some wax luminaries are exiled when their fan base fades or when they need updating. Actor Steve McQueen, actress Dorothy Lamour and the Shah of Iran have all been retired. Other figures are auctioned, Huber said with a shudder.
"I think they should go to people in the industry," he said. "It's not right that someone can buy Madonna and have her sitting at the end of a table in suburbia.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — A trade fell apart involving the Dodgers and Reds at the winter meetings last year that would have sent Aroldis Chapman to Los Angeles. It collapsed because the Dodgers backed out after learning Chapman could be facing domestic-abuse charges in Florida.
It is always worthwhile to remember how this began, not to lose sight that Chapman ultimately would serve a 30-day suspension under the domestic-abuse protocols. I never want to minimize that reality, that Chapman accepted the punishment and that it is part of his permanent legacy.
It also started a cascade of events that pretty much has worked in the Yankees’ favor.
They decided to accept the risk and negative public relations of acquiring Chapman late last December for a meager package, so desperate was Cincinnati to move the closer. The Yankees essentially bought a dollar for 10 cents.
Chapman accepted his punishment and was viewed by both management and his teammates as a low-maintenance good teammate.
Chapman appreciated the atmosphere around him and loved being a Yankee. He performed superbly on the field. The Yankees were just borderline contenders and decided to be sellers at the deadline. The Cubs, without a championship since 1908, viewed closer as their weakness. So Chicago was willing to include Gleyber Torres as the key to a package for a few months of Chapman.
Torres, at age 19, would go on to be the MVP of the Arizona Fall League and probably will be one of the majors’ top 10 prospects in every major list released before spring training. And, now, the Yankees have re-signed Chapman for five years at $86 million. This would be the baseball version of having your cake and eating it too.
But will the winning streak continue? Chapman had every reason to be on his best behavior last year, what with the domestic-abuse incident and being in his walk year. Plenty of teams, the Cubs included, shied away from him in free agency, concerned his demons would emerge on a long-term contract.
But they also invested in a dominant guy that — who knows — might team with Torres some day to help the Yankees do special things. Chapman is one of the handful of great relievers in the game with Andrew Miller and Zach Britton and Wade Davis. He is a pitcher fans want to watch and a closer who allows the Yankees to put Dellin Betances where they prefer, setting up, all to lessen the burden on a rotation that will be filled with injury red flags and youngsters.
Chapman’s return to the Yankees is richer and far less ignoble than when he joined them initially. Now, the tough part. Can the marriage work as well as it did the first time around?
Look again, O heart of mine, and see what passes by!
The streets are full of marching men, or tramping cavalry.
Memorial Day is mostly thought of as the beginning of our tourist season, but its real significance is as a time to remember our veterans, especially those who have given their lives for America. And nothing is more American than picnics and backyard gatherings with hot dogs, baked beans and lots of friends and family.
For 8 all-beef frankfurters (preferably skin on) and hot dog buns of your choice, prepare the following condiments: yellow ballpark mustard, chopped cucumber (remove seeds), chopped pepperoncini, chopped onion, chopped fresh tomato, celery salt and dill pickle spears. Grill the franks and toast the buns and then spoon on equal portions of condiments, placing the dill pickle on the side.
Start with 16 frankfurters of your choice with buns. Make the sauce by browning 1 pound of ground beef in a sautÃ pan. Pour off excess fat and stir in 1 can of tomato paste and 2 cups beef broth. Add 1 1/2 cups chopped onion, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon oregano, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce. Cover and simmer for one hour. Serve over the grilled dogs with mustard and chopped fresh red onions.
For 8 hot dogs and buns of your choice. In a sautÃ pan heat 1 tablespoon canola oil and add 2 sliced Vidalia onions along with 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper and 1/2 cup diced green pepper. SautÃ until soft and remove from the heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint, 1 teaspoon honey and coarse salt and cayenne pepper to taste.
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil and add the franks. Bring them back to a boil and remove. Place them in toasted buns and top with onion relish.
Prepare a marinade by pouring 2 bottles of dark beer into a soup pot and adding 2 cups chopped onion, 1/2 cup mustard, 1 tablespoon caraway seeds, and 1 teaspoon ground coriander. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Add 12 bratwursts and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave bratwurst in liquid until service time.
For the sauerkraut, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a sautÃ pan and add 1 cup chopped onion and 1 tablespoon caraway seeds. Cook until onion is soft and stir in 1 tablespoon mustard, 2 cups rinsed and drained sauerkraut and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Cook on low heat for 10 minutes.
Drain the bratwurst and split lengthwise. Grill until brown on the chargrill. Toast kaiser or other rolls and coat them with mustard. Add a slice of Swiss cheese to each roll along with the bratwurst and kraut. Sprinkle chopped dill pickle on top and serve.
Purchase 2 pounds of fresh kielbasa (not smoked). Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and simmer kielbasa for 30 minutes. Drain, then cut sausage into 4-inch lengths and split lengthwise. Thinly slice half of a green pepper, half a red pepper, and 1 medium-sized onion. Heat a sautÃ pan, add 2 tablespoons canola oil and sautÃ onions and peppers until soft. Stir in 2 tablespoons minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in one 6-ounce can tomato paste and 1 small can tomato sauce. Season with 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/2 cup chopped parsley and 1 teaspoon each of coarse salt and pepper. Grill the split kielbasa and place on toasted ciabatta rolls. Cover with sauce.
Soak 2 pounds of dried navy beans overnight in 3 quarts cold water. Drain and rinse. Remove the rind and dice 8 ounces of salt pork. Brown in a Dutch oven and add 2 cups diced onions. Cook the onions until soft and add the beans along with 2 quarts water, 1 cup molasses, 1/4 cup mustard and 1 tablespoon coarse salt. Bring to a boil, cover and place in a 300-degree oven for 3 hours. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon cider vinegar and another 1/4 cup molasses if desired.
Purchase 2 pounds of dried lima beans. Soak overnight in 3 quarts cold water. Drain and rinse. Dice 6 slices of bacon and brown in a Dutch oven. Add the lima beans, along with 1 tablespoon coarse salt and 1 whole peeled onion studded with 6 cloves. Add 1/2 cup maple syrup, 1/2 cup dark rum, 1/2 cup mustard and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Cover with 1 quart of water and bring to a boil. Cover, place in the oven and cook at 300 degrees for 2 hours. Check for seasoning and serve.

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