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Wednesday, June 15, 2016

The MLB 2016 draft is in the books and three players either from our area or who are headed to our tri-state area teams are of the lucky ones who have made it to "The Show".  Early in my media career, I wrote and directed a documentary entitled, "Chasing A Dream," which depicted the arduous journey of little leaguer to minor leaguer to major leaguer.  With interviews with former Boston Red Sox GM Lou Gorman, ESPN analyst icon Peter Gammons, Manager Clint Hurdle and a multitude of ball players and managers representing little leagues, high school, minor and major league clubs, the message was consistent, "the road to the majors is a difficult one."

According to Chasing the Dream website, which we featured back in March when we began this column on BYB, "Approximately 1 in every 200 high school baseball players or .05% will be drafted by a major league team into the minor leagues." So my excitement is even more elevated when I learned that Blake Rutherford, who we featured in that piece in March, signed a deal with the New York Yankees,  Jason Groome from Barnegat, NJ went 12th overall to the Boston Red Sox and Nolan Jones from Holy Ghost High School in Bensalem, PA was drafted by the Cleveland Indians.

As we reported in March "UCLA-bound Blake Rutherford is a 6'2" 190 pound high school senior from Simi Valley, CA who has committed to UCLA this fall. According to scouts reviewing his performance at last year's Perfect Game All American tournament, Rutherford "showed crazy power at PG AA. Runs very well. Superstar potential." According to his high school coach, Frank Mutz, Rutherford is a very disciplined, and mature player for his age. "His baseball IQ is very high, and he understands the game. He’s a team player. It’s not about him, it’s not about his stats. It’s about what’s he going to do this at-bat to help the ballclub win." Although the Yankees' track record with signing high school outfielders is not impressive (the last kid we drafted that young was Slade Heathcott who has since been released despite some star-like performances up in the majors), Rutherford appears to have a bright future in pinstripes.

Breakfast at the diner this weekend had me scanning the news wires for information on 12th overall pick Jason Groome from down the SHORE!  "Groome was rated by Baseball America in May as the third-best draft prospect this year, and the highest-ranked high school left-hander available. BA praised Groome for his fastball, which sits from 90-94 and has reached 97, and said, "Physically, Groome is as gifted as any player in the class." Wow! And we lost him to the Sox.  Keep an eye out for this guy, pitching against us in the big leagues.

Finally, with my own son playing high school baseball and going on to Syracuse University to play ball for its only baseball team (club), I am partial to kids who play for the privates.  From Bensalem's Holy Ghost High School just outside of Philadelphia, Nolan Jones went 55th overall.  As the Philadelphia Inquirer posted this weekend, "A steadily rising shortstop with natural hitting power and arm strength, Jones was selected in the second round of Major League Baseball's amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians."  Jones had an amazing season with Holy Ghost, batting .636 with 26 runs, 24 RBIs, five home runs, five doubles, and two triples while helping the Firebirds go 14-6 overall, claim the Bicentennial Athletic League Independence Division title, and advance to the PIAA District 1 Class 3A semifinals." Again, another loss for us, but Terry Francona and the Indians' gain.

So happy for these kids as they make the leap to the majors with all of the hard work and grit that it took to get there.  And now they have to dig deeper to find their way onto the big league team's field. Play hard, guys! We look forward to writing about your successes!

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof

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Archive for the ‘Roundabout’ tag

London Welcomes Dropbox in Shoreditch Hackathon

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London Hackathon

Sure, California’s Silicon Valley may always be the birthplace of tech, but recently a few other cities worldwide have been giving Silicon Valley a run for its digital money. From New York’s Silicon Alley to Dublin’s Silicon Docks, hotbeds of innovation everywhere have begun to draw the attention of the world’s biggest tech name-brands.

The newest in this lineup is London and its “Silicon Roundabout.” Located around Old Street and bordering Central and Eastern London, this thriving tech/creative area has attracted companies like Google, Cisco … and, now, Dropbox. So MKTG LDN thought we’d give the newcomer a warm English welcome, in the form of a 2-day hackathon at Shoreditch Studios.

Over 120 developers and designers were challenged to create new apps using the Dropbox API, and were awarded for their skill and creativity in a variety of categories, including London Local, Best Design and Overall Winner. Two social hours, including an open bar and dinner, allowed ample opportunity for some members of the Dropbox product teams to meet their new neighbors.

With mentions in The Guardian, Techworld and multiple social media channels, the Dropbox hackathon proved that it will make a great neighbor in London’s new capital of tech and innovation.

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The EPK: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Polished.

W. Tyler Allen
Posted by W. Tyler Allen on Jun 3

The EPK is still an essential tool in the music industry, if you want to stand out when submitting your music or applying to perform at a show, an EPK is absolutely necessary.

However, before we get into the nitty gritty of EPKs, I wanted to take a minute to talk about a movie that, surprisingly, connects an underlying theme with the music industry.

That movie is the 1989 Patrick Swayze flick, Roadhouse.

If you’ve never seen it, it’s about a rowdy bar and their team of bouncers. Basically, any time there was a problem, the bouncers went a little over board, and resorted to overly-violent tactics -- which just wasn’t good for business.

Because beating up your customers is never a good idea.

This is when Patrick Swayze’s character is hired as head of security, and decides that the bouncers are going to straighten up their act. Instead of beating up patrons, he decides that the bouncers are simply going to: “be nice”.

If there’s a fight, they’ll be nice and politely break it up.

If a patron mouths off to a bouncer, they’ll be nice and politely escort them out.

If someone is rude to a bartender, they’re going to be nice, and handle it in a business-like manner.

And as odd as it may sound, there’s actually a huge connection here with the music industry, just instead of “be nice” it’s “be professional”.

Instead of spamming links to journalists, we’re going to be professional, and create media lists with unique pitches.

Instead of blindly posting on Twitter, we’re going to be professional and develop a content mix strategy.

Instead of buying on to shows and messing up our money, we’re going to develop our own materials, pitch and be professional about booking.

In an industry of literally millions of artists, the number one way to stand out, is simply by having a professional presence and approach. Being professional in the industry is what “Act Like You’ve Been Here” is all about, and one of the cornerstones to a professional approach is the EPK.

What Is An EPK?

An EPK stands for electronic press kit, and it’s a summary of your career and your brand. It includes items such as hi-res photos, recent news coverage, streaming links and more.

Basically, it’s a quick way for press, venues and other influencers to see all of your info in one spot, rather than having to dig through your website, or a series of links when writing a story on you, or looking to book you for a show.

So, if you’re emailing a venue to get booked, or contacting a writer to cover your music, sending them your EPK gives them a detailed look at you, your career and your brand as an artist. It also has all of the materials they need to quickly move if they make a decision.

Typically an EPK includes the following information:

  • Hi-Res Photos

This is important for writers to have, so they can quickly put together an article for you. Similarly, it’s helpful for venues to grab photos for promo materials. A quick note: Be sure to have live performance photos in your EPK. This helps show venues that you’re familiar with the stage, and gives them a feel for your live set.

  • A Biography

This is a good place for a long-form (yet still succinct) biography. This is great for writers who are covering your work, or a venue working up promo copy.

  • Recent and Upcoming Live Performances

For getting booked, it’s essential to list your upcoming and recent shows. This proves you’re active, and makes venues feel more comfortable in booking you.

  • Your Music (and videos)

This one is obvious, but you need a place for venues, writers and anyone else to check out your music. I recommend they be in a streaming format, embedded in your EPK, rather than anything that needs to be downloaded or linked-out.

So, in other words, SoundCloud and YouTube embeds are great for EPKs.

Where Is An EPK Housed?

Okay first, and foremost, let’s end the streak of the PDF EPK. I’m always surprised with the amount of artists who still send over an EPK housed in an PDF format, because it’s simply just a pain in the ass -- for both the artist and the recipient.

A PDF doesn’t allow for easy updates for the artist -- you have to redesign your PDF EPK each time there’s new updates, news or releases. Similarly, a PDF has to be downloaded and clicked through. It’s just not very user-friendly for the person you’re sending it to.

Granted, I’ve seen some that are linked with Dropbox in a way that’s clean and smooth, but they still require major maintenance any time there’s a new show, track or blog coverage that needs adding.

The PDF trend is actually a remnant of when EPK’s were actual physical folders that were mailed to press and venues. With the introduction of the internet and email -- press kits became electronic press kits, and were attached as a PDF to venues and writers.

Later, as the internet grew and making a website became easier -- some artists began simply creating a webpage for their EPK. However, some, still stuck with sending the PDF.

So, to answer the question on where to house your EPK:

  • Best Option: Your Website.

The best place for an EPK is it’s own page on your website. So, -- and then have areas of your website designated to press quotes, images and tracks.

This way, if a venue or writer stumbles across your website and they want to know more, they can just quickly move over to your press page to get all of the details. Similarly, sending someone a URL in an email, is much more clean than an attachment, or a series of Dropbox links.

A good example of this can be found on a lot of major label sites, or large indie artist websites. For instance, Wiz Khalifa’s EPK is a great example of a one-page EPK, housed on his website (via Atlantic Records).

  • Second Best Option: A Third Party Application

Perfecting the website EPK means that you need a good web designer, or a good template to begin with. Not all artists have this, so therefore, sometimes folks want to reach out to an existing service.

I’ve used this with clients, and I know plenty of labels and distributors that also use third party applications. Some of the first to pop up were ReverbNation and Artis ECard. Nothing against these two platforms, but personally, I feel as if the design is limiting as well as the functionality. They can still function as an EPK if you spend time with them, but I tend to advise against these.

Sonicbids isn’t a bad choice. A3C uses Sonicbids for booking, and I was actually a columnist for the Sonicbids blog for some time. If you’re unfamiliar, Sonicbids assists artists in booking through their unique online system. You create a Sonicbids EPK, and then find shows in your area, and apply through the Sonicbids platform.

Finding a show near you, or one you’re interested in, might not always be possible. However, events like A3C, Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival and even Bonnaroo uses Sonicbids for booking purposes. So having an account does payoff.

My main gripes with the Sonicbids EPK is that it’s really intended to focus on Sonicbids gigs.

The layout isn’t that customizable, and the end-user has to click around a bit to find information. Which, they should  expect if it’s a Sonicbids event. However, sending a Sonicbids EPK outside of Sonicbids, isn’t always design friendly. It can even be a bit off-putting. To have a Sonicbids EPK, you also need an active Sonicbids account, which isn’t much ($10 a month) but it is an investment.

My Preference, is a relatively low-key platform, but I really enjoy it. It’s also 100% free. The company is now run by Caroline Distribution, which is owned by Universal. It genuinely mimics a microsite, while having all the information succinct, and just a click or two away.

You can easily incorporate streaming embeds, as well as “wins” which showcases your latest news. I’ve used this for my artist for the past few years, and so has Caroline Distro, which is a very solid major-fueled distribution and promo company. The above photo is for artist See.Francis, check out his EPK and see if you dig!

The Do’s & Don’ts of an EPK:

Your EPK is going to differ depending on your personal taste as well as where you are in your career. However, to ensure optimum use of your EPK, ensure the following:

  • Do update it weekly or monthly, Don’t leave it unattended.

As someone who has reviewed EPKs as a writer, as well as within the label scene, there’s nothing more off-putting than an out-of-date EPK. Be sure to keep it updated with recent news -- and more importantly, anything that’s a few years old, get rid of it.

Sure, you may be proud of that Complex feature, but if it was from 2010, might be time to scrub it and build up new wins.

Also ensure that your latest tracks, images and more are uploaded, so press and more have an updated view of your work.

  • Feel free to tell your story, but don’t go on too long.

A bio should always be succinct, however, feel free to go a bit more in-depth in your EPK bio than you might in your website, a pitch or other online outlets.

  • Keep everything quality, don’t post poor quality images or bad grammar.

Don’t include demos, or MySpace selfies. These materials are for press use, or for applications to gigs. Ensure that your photos, images, and even the text portions showcase your professional side.

  • Link to your social channels, don’t forget to showcase your social media presence.

Any artist in today’s market relies on their social media. Ensure your social media links are included -- and more importantly, that you’re utilizing your social media to it’s fullest advantage.

How to Use Your EPK.

This is the easiest part: Just include it in your pitches!

The point of an EPK is that you don’t have to give a venue or journalist a myriad of links when you reach out. This keeps your pitch to press and venues to-the-point.

Pitching a venue or blogger is another article in itself, but the inclusion of a solid EPK can really boost your chances, as it makes research less heavy on their part.

An example of a good booking letter might be below:

“Hey Chris,

My name is Roger X and I’m currently mapping out a quick tour through the south. I just wrapped up a SXSW showcase in March, and will soon be performing at A3C this fall as well.

We will be in Lafayette in June, and was wondering if you had any availabilities during that area for a time slot. We’d love a chance to perform, and we’ll certainly be in the surrounding area that month.

You can stream my latest album at the link below, but I’m also including my EPK which includes live photos and videos from past performances.

Hope to speak soon.

Thank you.”

Then of course, add the EPK link and that other direct link you mentioned in the pitch. Simple, but effective. Also, be sure to always follow up every few days, so you can ensure you get a response.

The EPK is a pretty straight-forward tool, but it ensures that you look professional and put together. Even simply having an EPK makes you come off as polished, and more put-together than others vying for that same spotlight.

W. Tyler Allen

Written by W. Tyler Allen

As a music marketing strategist, Tyler Allen works with an extensive array of artists, labels, music tech, and music retail entities. Tyler began his music industry career with Sony Music Entertainment and RED Distribution, as well as the advertising industry. He is dedicated to giving veteran artists the tools to preserve their legacy, and new artists the tools to begin theirs (as well as everything in between). Learn more at:

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Thursday, April 30, 2009

good news man.. im in love again with pernec.. i have been told by management that im gona be asign for another project.. awesome.. so now i will be working with 3 project at one time.. the cool thing bout it, i got the opportunity to expose with oracle.. awesome.. gosh.. my god.. alhamdullilah.. i cant wait..

currently im based at PNB building, near Menara Tabung Haji.. soon on next next monday ill have to move to TM Tower.. but still i have to commit here at PNB.. maybe 1 to 2 day at PNB and the rest at TM.. we will see.. thank god both are near with lrt stesen, so i just have to take train.. save time and still i can claim for mailage + toll.. hahaha (jahat giler, langsung xberkat nanti ilmu yang bakal diterima...) no..i wont do that..

OOps.. how bout my freelance work ek.. hmm.. still have to do it.. since i need extra $$ everymonth...

Ya ALLAH tuhanku.. give me the strength to get thru this...

soon.. with oracle in hand.. i can demand for higher monthly salary without taking master... hahahaha.. and that is all about..

p/s: but still i hate TM.. those streamyx and telekom are sucK!!

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Best Friends Pet Care : The Dog Dish
Best Friends Pet Care : The Dog Dish

Tags: #PetScares, 4th of july, 4th of july dog, 4th of july pets, 4th of july safety tips, Activity, Adopt senior pets, Angel Tree, Animal Health, Animal safety, Animal Shelters, Ask a Vet, Ask the Vet, ASPCA, Beat the heat, Best Friends Boarding, Best friends news, Best friends pet care, Best Friends Pet Hotel, Best Friends Spotlight, Best summer ever, Cat, Cat chip, Cat health, Cat litter, Cat safety, Cat tips, Cats, Check the chip, Contest, Cute, Dental Health Month, Dentistry, Diet, Disney, Dog, Dog agility course, Dog allergies, Dog chip, Dog grooming, Dog health, Dog hotel, Dog obstacle course, Dog owners, Dog puzzles, Dog Rescues, Dog safety, Dog social play, Dog socialization, Dog spa, Dog stories, Dog tips, Dog training, Dog travel, Dog tricks, Dog-cation, Doga, Doggy day camp, Doggy daycamp, Dogs, Donations, Earth Day, Earth Day 2017, Easter, Exercise, , Food, Food safety for cats, Food safety for dogs, Food safety for pets, Funny dogs, Grand Opening, Grooming, Halloween, Health, Heartworm, Holiday pet safety, Holidays, Homemade dog toys, Homemade dog treats, Hurricane harvey, Indoor activities for dogs, Instagram, Kitties, Labor day, Labor day weekend, Lakefield Veterinary Group, Lily, Limited Ingredient Diets, Lost pet, Microchip, Military dogs, Nicaragua Pets, Oklahoma city, Organic Pet Food, Pet advice, Pet allergies, Pet behavior, Pet care, Pet Dental Health, Pet dental health month, Pet Events, Pet Facts, Pet Food, Pet health, Pet Hotel, Pet info, Pet Information, Pet News, Pet Ownership, Pet Plan, Pet Poisoning, Pet Safety, Pet safety tips, Pet tips, Pet Toys, Pet travel, Pet Vacation, Pet videos, Pets, Pets and road trips, Pets and trips, Pets on Halloween, Photo contest, Pinterest, Preventative pet care, Professional trainers, PSPCA, Puppies, Puppy, Raw Food Diets, Safety, Senior cat, Senior cats, Senior dog, Senior dogs, Senior pet health, Senior pets, Spring, Summer, Summer camp, Summer tips, Summer tips for dogs, Take your dog to work day, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Food, Thanksgiving Pet Safety, Tips, Toxians, Toxic foods, Toxic for pets, Travel, Travel with pets, Traveling with Pets, Treats, Vacation, Vet, Veterinarians Volunteering, Videos, Weight, Willow Grove, Winter, Winter weather tips, World Vets, Yoga for dogs
Best Friends Pet Care : The Dog Dish

Tag Archives: Contest

Dirty Dog Contest Winners Announced!

The Dirty Dog Pet Photo Contest ended Monday night and we are happy to say it was a big splash.  We laughed, we cried, we saw so many muddy mutts! With all of these dogs in desperate need of a deep clean grooming, the judges had the tough task of choosing only ten winners. It was a mucky job, but someone had to do it!

Congratulations to the final ten:

“Wheelbarrow Fun”

“Proper Grooming is a Must!”

“The Dirty Dude”

“White Dog at a Muddy Dog Park”

“A Muddy Muffin”

“Helping Mom With Her Gardening”

“Future Archaeologist”

“Ruby Towel Dries (In Dirt) Herself After a Swim”

“Spa Mud Bath”

We loved all of your entries and had a ton of fun seeing your photos throughout the month. Congratulations again to the winners, you will all receive a free grooming package good at any Best Friends Pet Care location. Thank you so much to everyone who participated! We had a blast and we hope you did too!

Tags: Best friends news, Contest, Cute, Dog stories, Dogs, , Funny dogs, Grooming, Instagram, Pet behavior, Pets, Photo contest

The Best Friends Dirty Dog Pet Photo Contest

Dirty Dogs Wanted!

Do you have a messy mutt? A filthy fido? A grubby puppy? Show us why your pet needs a spring cleaning! Our new pet photo contest kicks off on March 2, 2015 with the submission period running through March 30, 2015.

Just submit a photo of your dirty dog or a mess he’s made and you could win a free grooming for your pup at Best Friends, just in time for spring cleaning. We are giving away ten free grooming packages for the muddiest mutts!

Not familiar with the grooming services at Best Friends? From a quick shampoo to a full day of pampering, our groomers and pet stylists will make your pet “paw”sitively gorgeous.

To enter the contest, head over to our Facebook page, click on the contest tab and upload a photo of your pet making a massive mess! Then, come back and vote for it every day and be sure to tell your friends to do the same. Don’t forget to like our page while your there to stay up to date with contest news and other fun stuff. If you are using a mobile device, please click this link to access and enter the contest.

If you prefer, you may enter a photo to the contest via Instagram as well by uploading an image to your Instagram account. You must then add the contest hash tag (#dirtydogscontest) in the caption of your image. Any photos that are uploaded to Instagram with this hashtag will automatically be imported into the main contest Dashboard on Facebook as an entry.

The 50 photos with the most votes will go on to our private judging round where we will choose ten mucky winners to receive a free grooming at Best Friends Pet Care!

Good luck everyone! We’re looking forward to your entries!

Tags: Best friends news, Contest, Dog stories, Dogs, , Funny dogs, Grooming, Instagram, Pet behavior, Pet info, Pets, Photo contest

Best Friends #PetScares Instagram Contest Winners

A huge thanks to everyone who entered our Best Friends #PetScares, Halloween Instagram Photo Contest! It was a big hit and we are thrilled with ALL of the entries. In fact, the judges had such a hard time narrowing down a top three that they decided to name five winners instead. The lucky five will receive a $50 gift certificate to use at any Best Friends Pet Care center or Veterinary Hospital.

Please help us in congratulating:

#1 @kristinkittle

#2 @pixelieee

#3 @Caitlind1212

#4 @stinkster11235

#5 @zeppelin_the_chih

All of the entries were really really awesome, including all of the runners up! We hope you enjoyed this contest as much as we did. Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @bestfriendspetcare for more fun photos, contests and more!

And now, take a look at the runners up—-

Tags: Best friends news, Cats, Contest, Cute, Dogs, Funny dogs, Instagram, Pets, Photo contest
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Archive for April, 2008

Touchscreen Computer Coffee Table

Monday, April 28th, 2008

This Microsoft surface video is about a coffee table where you can organize your photos, view maps and videos. It is a touchscreen computer. It sees anything you put on it and it shows it also. It can share photos from a camera to a cellular device just by dragging the picture–no wires needed.

New Skype International calling for $9.95/month

Monday, April 21st, 2008

Skype is now offering $9.95/month for unlimited calls to 34 countries. Some of the countries include, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. Skype has already been selling unlimited calls to the U.S. and Canada for $3/month. It is increasing that offering with another plan, for $5.95/month, that offers free calls to Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

World’s Thinnest Laptop

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

MacBook Air is the worlds thinnest laptop. The computer weighs 1.3 kilograms and is 0.76 inches. It does not have a CD or DVD drive in order to save space. It was built to be a wireless machine. This laptop comes in either a 80 Gigabyte hard disc drive as standard or a 64 Gigabyte solid state drive. It also feature a 75 watt power adapter, and a USB port for Micro-DV, as well as WI-FI, Bluetooth, and a headphone jack. How could they make something this thin and sleek?World’s Thinnest Laptop

Flexible Phone “Tag”

Monday, April 7th, 2008

Here is a new Flexible phone called the “Tag”. It is a soft shell mobile phone, with a camera. It is not only soft but it is also flexible. It can hang on users belt, or it can also be wrapped around the users arm. It has a shape-memorizing material and multiple pressure sensors, which allows the phone to change its shape according to the mode. The user can also alternate the mode but changing the shape.

Bad Behavior has blocked 7 access attempts in the last 7 days.


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Joe Karlgaard named Rice athletic director

Rice president David Leebron officially named Joe Karlgaard as its new athletic director at a news conference Monday morning.

Karlgaard, the former senior associate athletic director for development at Stanford, replaces Rick Greenspan, who stepped down June 30.

Karlgaard was athletic director for six years at Division III Oberlin College, helping raise $8 million for improvement to athletic facilities. Eleven varsity sports achieved their highest conference finish in school history.

He received a bachelor’s degree in history at Stanford in 1996 and was a four-year letter winner on the school’s track and field team and later assistant coach. In 2011, Karlgaard returned to his alma mater to serve in his current position.

Karlgaard received his doctoral degree in educational policy and administration from Minnesota in 2005.

Jenny Dial Creech


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SBOE members say they need staff before more seats

 Some members of the State Board of Education don’t favor increasing the number of districts beyond the current 15, but told Texas legislators Tuesday it would be good if they got help answering phone calls, sending out newsletters and generally responding to constituents.

 The Texas House Redistricting Committee took testimony because of concerns that population growth will make it hard for the 15 members to represent their districts. They currently represent about 1.6 million people each without any staff. That number could increase to 2 million per member after the 2020 Census.

 “The current structure works well,” State Board of Education Chairwoman Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands, told the committee.

Texans are able to find board members, she noted, referring to some 12,000 emails from folks offering opinions on new science curriculum standards and another 15,000 emails regarding history curriculum standards.

 “Keep the board at 15 members. I think it works very well,” she said.

 House Redistricting Chairman Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, remains concerned that future redistricting sessions will make it hard to carve up the vast state into 15 State Board of Education seats.

“What do you do as the state grows phenomenally? It just concerns me,” Solomons said as some members must represent a hundred or more school districts and have no staff. “Our concern is the size and number of people and how (members) communicate with their constituents.”

SBOE member Bob Craig, R-Lubbock, represents more than 200 school districts spread out over 75 counties. Carlos Garza, R-El Paso, has to travel more than 700 miles from one end of his district to the other.

“I don’t know how this is manageable. Constituents don’t know who you are,” House Redistricting member Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, said.

No one disputed a need for State Board of Education members to get some staff help. George Clayton, R-Dallas, noted that he has to use his own computer and printer and ink to respond to constituents.

It will be easier for the Legislature to appropriate money for the 15 State Board of Education members to hire help than increasing the number of board seats.

 Solomon emphasized he simply wanted “to start the discussion” for future lawmakers to continue as the state’s population keeps growing.

Gary Scharrer | Capitol Reporter


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Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Boston - San Jose, Costa Rica - San Francisco - Sydney, Australia - Melbourne, Australia

December 21, 2017 Peace and Good, It has been a very busy couple of weeks, both in terms of travel and in terms of cultural background. After the Minister General and I dropped fr. Donald off into the care of fr. James, the provincial, we continued on to Costa Rica for the inaugural chapter of a new custody. This custody was formed by the merger of a delegation in Costa Rica and a custody in Honduras. We have been working on this union for seven years, and it is a joy that we finally saw it occur. We had the official union on December 12th, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The day after that celebration, I flew up to San Francisco. This was just a stopping off point, for I was then flying out to Australia. It took me eight hours of flight to get to San Francisco, so I decided to stay the night in a hotel and then fly out the next day rather than trying to fly the whole way that same night. This was a good choice, for the flight from San Francisco to Australia was 14 hours in itself. I visited the friars in Kellyville and Warrawong which are near Sydney, and yesterday I flew south (only about an hour flight) to visit our friars in the Melbourne area (Springvale and Dingley). We have about 15 friars here, including two from the States, one from the Philippines, and one from India. This is a delegation of the Chicago Province (St. Bonaventure), and the visit is a preparation for the provincial chapter in Chicago which will take place right after Easter. I will be heading back to Rome on the evening of the 23rd, arriving in Rome around noon on the 24th. I have finished some reading: The Book of Jubilees by R.H Charles I have often heard about the Book of Jubilees, but I had never read it. This is a book that did not make it into the Bible, but which had a considerable influence in its days (just before the birth of Jesus). It is a type of rewriting of the Book of Genesis with the elements of the story favored by the intellectual background of the author’s school of thought emphasized. It is longer than I expected, but well worth going through at least once. William Wallace by Charles River Editors This is a short life story of the famous Scottsman who was portraayed by Mel Gibson in the film Braveheart. It is a sad story of rebellions, betrayals (often by his own Scotts), the relentless pressure exerted by King Edward I (known as Edward Longshanks). It was a brutal time, and both side used war techniques that would be considered cruel and outragerous today. How the Dog became the Dog: From Wolves to our Best Friends by Mark Derr This is a book that speaks about how dogs evolved from wolves (and possibly with a bit of jackal and/or fox). One can see in the book that the author is head over heals in love with dogs, and sometimes his retoric becomes a bit overly canine centered. He talks about how packs of wolves probably travelled along with packs of the first humans and that somehow they began to interact (maybe even learning hunting techniques from each other). He bemoans the limited breeding of dogs today because it forces attributes on dogs and lead to genectic abnormalities. It is not a bad bood, but not a great one either. Supreme Power: Franklin Roosevelt and the Supreme Court by Jeff Shesol This is the account of how FDR had a running battle with the Supreme Court which outlawed a number of his New Deal laws and organizations. The court was rather old, and five of the justices were quite conservative. FDR came up with the proposal to add members to the court, up to fifteen. This took various forms, either adding a member for each justice over 70 (and later over 75) or just adding members, etc. The Congress which was overwhelmingly Democratic after the 1936 election nevertheless turned down his proposal. In spite of this, the proposal seems to have frightened some members of the court who then changed their stance on a number of controversial cases to be in favor of FDR’s position. In a sense, he lost the battle but won the war. Thirty Million Gallons Under the Sea by Antonia Juhasz This is the account of a dive near the oil well platform that blew up in the Gulf of Mexico a few years ago and what the scientists found on the bottom of the gulf. The oil that had been dumped there was largely still there. The micro-organisms which ate the oil at first seem to have eaten only parts of it, leaving some of the most toxic elements still there. Furthermore, those elements are entering the food chain which could cause serious health problems in the future. The Night of the Long Knives by Charles River Editors Shortly after Hitler took power in Germany, he turned on the SA led by a brutal thug named Ernst Rohm. The industrialists who financed the Nazis and the leaders of the army demanded that Hitler do something about the SA who were street thugs and who were causing chaos in the land. Hitler along with Goering and Himmler led a purge against the SA in what has long been called the night of the long knives in which many of the SA leaders (along with other enemies of Hitler) were killed. I hope you have a good week as you prepare for Christmas. Shalom fr. Jude

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West Cork attractions pick up awards for Responsible Tourism

West Cork is known for boasting some of Ireland’s most scenic and rugged coastline. The area attracts many people taking a vacation in Ireland due to the fantastic whale watching and sea kayaking opportunities it offers.

To add to this, a host of West Cork attractions scooped up top awards in the recent Irish Responsible Tourism Awards. One of the top winners on the day were West Cork based Atlantic Sea Kayaking which was named as the outright winner of providing responsible tourism in Ireland. The family-run business will now go on to represent Ireland in the World Responsible Tourism Awards. It is a fantastic accolade for the company, which was established in the mid 1990’s. With a concern for the environment at the core of their activities, owners Jim and Maria Kennedy run not only kayaking trips but also walking tours of the West Cork area.

‘We are very proud to be picked to represent Ireland,’ said owner Jim Kennedy to The Southern Star. ‘It is great to see a responsible approach being recognised as something that makes tourism better. It is certainly something that helps us give our kayakers and walkers a fantastic experience. ‘We are fortunate to enjoy and work in one of the most beautiful marine environments in the world. But we know that for others to enjoy this special place, we have to respect and protect it. Every day we are helping our visitors to recognise not just the beauty but the fragility of the marine environments they are exploring.’

The region’s strengths in providing and promoting responsible tourism were also recognised with Whale Watch West Cork, Sheep’s Head Way and the Mizen Head Experience also winning silver awards. To host of places to stay in West Cork there has never been a better time to visit this wonderful part of Ireland.

The Sheep’s Head Way received its silver award in the ‘Best Responsible Destination’ category. The award recognises the work completed to establish the Sheep’s Head peninsula’s renowned walking route by promoting a range of experiences to people taking trips to Ireland including Wild Atlantic Way Cruises, guided walks and stone carving weekends.

Whale Watching West Cork also received an award for Best Tour Operator for Responsible Tourism. The successful business runs the popular whale and dolphin watching tours from Baltimore, West Cork. Whale Watching West Cork’s respect for responsible tourism as well as its establishment of a code of conduct for whale watching has received many accolades.

Another popular attraction, the Mizen Head Visitor Experience, received a silver award for Best Cultural Heritage Attraction. Exploring the geology of the region, the popular tourist hotspot has been drawing visitors to West Cork with its visitor centre for years. It’s popular walk over an arched bridge to the signal station showcase the region’s stunning scenery along with the possibility of seeing seals, kittiwakes and gannets along the walkway.

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One Response to West Cork attractions pick up awards for Responsible Tourism

  1. Here on the Sheep’s Head Way we were absolutely delighted with our award, and to be in such fine company with West Cork neighbours who share our commitment to creating experiences for tourists that are good for our community and our environment too.

    It’s great to have these awards helping visitors to discover exciting things to see and do!

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The Ford GT supercar doesn’t just have a gorilla under the hood in its 600-plus horsepower, 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 engine. Now it’s also got one in its windshield and engine cover. The company has teamed up with Corning to deploy Gorilla Glass for the front and rear windows.

The material may be familiar—it’s a version of the tough, durable and scratch-resistant glass that is now used in the screens of 4.5 billion smartphones, tablets and computers around the world. However, this is the first time Gorilla Glass is being used in a production vehicle.

Gorilla Glass test
Gorilla Glass passing the hail test in Ford’s test lab

Ford chose Corning’s glass because it is extraordinarily tough. Five times stronger than ordinary glass, it can survive golf ball-sized ice spheres fired from an air cannon that destroyed regular automotive safety glass. It’s also 30 percent lighter than regular glass, allowing engineers to improve the GT’s fuel efficiency and handling, while reducing the likelihood of potential glass damage.

Peeling back the layers

The specially designed Gorilla Glass Hybrid for Automotive is actually a sandwich of complex layers – with an inner layer, a plastic adhesive interlayer and annealed soda lime glass as the outside layer.

All this and more in the 2016 GT

Gorilla Glass now joins the long list of cutting-edge technologies Ford has announced will be included in the 2016 GT supercar. Other features include a shape-changing rear wing designed to optimize airflow over the vehicle, a frame made of carbon fiber and aluminum, ultra-lightweight carbon ceramic brakes and ride height that lowers to improve performance.


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FLIR ONE Pro Thermal Imaging Camera Attachment – Product Spotlight

The FLIR ONE Pro is a thermal imaging camera attachment available for iOS and Android devices. Its VividIR thermal imaging processing technology allows you to see more details than ever before, whether you’re inspecting electrical panels, looking for HVAC problems, finding water damage, or numerous other troubleshooting tasks.

The FLIR ONE can assist you in locating heat differences that can be indicators of missing, damaged, or inadequate insulation, building envelope air leaks, and moisture intrusion or damage. The attachment also useful for finding sources of energy loss, destructive water damage, and structural issues.

Additionally, this thermal imager is useful for getting accurate non-contact temperature measurements while staying away from energized equipment, helping you safely and accurately diagnose issues.

The FLIR ONE Pro offers multiple video performance improvements over the earlier FLIR ONE model. Thermal video resolution has doubled to 160×120, allowing you to view your thermal output in greater detail. It supports a temperature range of -4 degrees F to 752 degrees F, with up to three spot temperature meters and six temperature regions of interest. Nine different thermal palettes are available, allowing you to view the data in the way most suitable for your application.

The Android version of the camera is equipped with a USB Type C connector, commonly found on phones released in 2015 and onwards. For older Android devices with micro USB connectors, FLIR has stated that they will offer a solution later in 2017.

For more information on the FLIR ONE Pro and other FLIR products, contact our experts today!

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Tag: architecture

Friday’s favorite things: June 12th

Every Friday we round up some of our favorite finds on the web this week, from illustrations and videos to fonts and photography. Every kid’s dream house Last spring, Foster Huntington decided to fulfill his childhood dream by building a truly magnificent house in the trees. Huntington calls the treehouse Cinder…


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Tag: del mauricio

Why the best content marketers are creating videos

I was recently blown away to learn that one of Hightail’s customers, a relatively small agency, was producing more than 100 videos this year for their client. Video content is now, indisputably, a cornerstone of great marketing. Animoto’s 2016 Social Video Marketing and Advertising Forecast – a report based on a survey…


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Keep Blount Beautiful, Maryville, TN

Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) is proud to announce the 3rd annual Recycled Elegance Trash Fashion Show. The event will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, 7:00 p.m. at the Palace Theater in downtown Maryville. This is a one of a kind event in East Tennessee!

KBB is currently accepting fashion show applicants. The entry fee is $50 and the deadline is Oct. 11, 2014. Applicants may seek sponsors or work in teams if preferred. The Best in Show prize is $500; the second-place winner receives $100; and $50 is the third place award. Honorable Mention will be awarded to the designer or team of designers as chosen by a vote of audience favorite through “voting with bucks.” The outfit with the most bucks wins a KBB framed artwork. There will also be a special prize this year to recognize K-12 students.

Recycled Elegance Trash Fashion Show’s mission is to engage the community to create fashion out of trash to entertain, educate and inspire others to rethink, reuse and recycle. The show seeks to present our society’s trash in the form of a fashion show, and through this artful expression, we hope to change the way our community sees the world of trash and waste. Material used in the construction of garments must be post-consumer, post-industrial, or post-agricultural waste. Trash destined for the landfill or recyclable items.

Designers may use materials for construction such as glue, tape, dyes, marker, staples, thread, zippers, elastic, wire, Velcro boning, buckram, grommets, laces, starch, paint, etc. Recycled content fabric may only be used as a lining that doesn’t show. The percentage of new material should not exceed 10% of total garment weight. Underwear that does not show is acceptable under the garment. Shoes and accessories are acceptable; however shoes and accessories made from trash materials are preferred.

Each garment should have a title, byline, and a short description about the design that makes a statement. Social commentary, source of inspiration, and use of humor can be helpful in the telling of your story. Please include a mention of the trash materials used. This is a great way to promote the sponsor or business/organization presenting the garment.

For guidelines, entry form and waiver visit the Keep Blount Beautiful website or call 865-681-4809.

Keep Blount Beautiful is an award winning 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization located in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Its mission is to improve our community by encouraging litter prevention, waste reduction, and beautification.


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tipstricksMagisto takes the work out of video editing and even improves upon your footage with image stabilization, color correction and the addition of filters, effects and transitions. That being said, your final result will always be better if the footage you give us to work with is well-shot. Last week we gave you some tips on how to shoot better video on your smartphone – this week we’re breaking things down further with some easy-to-apply tips for shot composition. Get ready to shoot some phenomenal footage!

When it comes to shot composition, there are two main principles you should always keep in mind – The Rule of Thirds and Head Room.

The Rule Of Thirds

The rule of thirds is an easy way to find a nice way to frame your shot.  This camera composition technique divides your frame into 9 equal sections with 2 horizontal and 2 vertical lines, like a Tic Tac Toe board.  Points of interest should be placed at the intersections of these lines for the most visually appealing shot. The reason? When objects are slightly off center it makes for a more interesting shot than when they are perfectly aligned and symmetrical.

You can see The Rule of Thirds in action in the image below. Notice how the dog is lined up along the left side of the screen, in line with the left side of the Tic Tac Toe board, with his head and nose placed at two of the intersections. Click here to read more about The Rule of Thirds.

Head Room

When shooting a person, specifically one that is talking to the camera, you have to keep headroom in mind.  Headroom is the amount of space between the top of the person’s head and the top of the screen.  Too much or too little headroom can ruin a shot.  Think about the Rule Of Thirds and imagine that you are lining up the subjects eyes with the top horizontal line.  In the image below you see that on the left there is too much headroom and on the right there is too little.  The center is just right.

While we’re on this subject – we’ve noticed that a lot of you are uploading videos of yourselves dancing with your heads completely cut out of the shot. You have awesome dance moves – own them! Showing your face won’t only let you take the credit for your skills, but will also make your Movies much more interesting and engaging.

Use a tripod

If you have the option, using a tripod can help you with your composition by allowing you to set up your shot and then hold it steady. When you shoot by holding a camera or smartphone, it can be hard to keep your hands steady, so even if you start out with a nice shot, things might get shaky and as your arms get tired you may start to lose your carefully crafted composition.

If you don’t have a tripod, not to worry – Magisto has image stabilization built in to counteract any shake we encounter in your footage. You can cut down on shaky footage and keep your composition steady by holding your camera or smartphone with two hands and bracing your arms against your body.

Practice makes perfect

When it comes to video shot composition, the more you practice the better you’ll get. Ask friends for feedback when you show them your Movies and improve based upon their suggestions. Additionally, if you’ll want to include movement in your camera work, take some time practicing panning from side to side and zooming in and out.  Use slow, steady, fluid motions.  Many people zoom and pan too quickly and it can be nauseating.  Additionally, remember that you don’t want to be moving the camera all the time.  Frame your shot and leave the camera still to capture the action – Magisto may incorporate movement into your shots after the fact!

Do you have any tips for video composition that you’d like to share? Feel free to leave them in the comments below!


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Mundo Flo's Soundtrack

All your tears

Wheres the magic that you wear
That keeps you safe
and keeps you feeling free
Whose arms have held you
that you don't know who you are

Is that music that you hear
a distand sound from a distant year
yeah something changed
and you lost your defence
and now it's gone

Something changed my friend
yeah something changed
all your tears have come at once
and now you're lost

Whats the sense in moving ground
a hard sun is never hard to find
Just close your eyes
turn your face to the wind
and you'll be fine

(Mojave 3)

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Marijuana Legalization Initiative Falls Short By 4 Votes on Maine House Floor; Senate to Vote Soon

  • by Erik Altieri, NORML Executive Director June 9, 2013

    On Friday, marijuana reformers recorded the closest vote for a legalization measure on the floor of a state legislature in recent history.

    Rep. Diane Russell’s LD 1229, which would place the question of legalization before Maine voters this fall, was narrowly rejected in a 71 to 67 vote. We only managed to get this vote so close because of the outpouring of support via phone and email that Representatives heard from their constituents. Never doubt the power that making you opinion known to your elected officials has a very quantifiable effect.

    The good news is that the fight for legalization in Maine still isn’t over for this year. Representative Russell just informed us that she intends to continue the fight for legalization to the floor of the State Senate. The Senate will vote on LD 1229 as soon as Monday.

    [UPDATE: Unfortunately, Monday’s Senate vote fell short: http://bangordailynews.com/2013/06/10/politics/state-house/maine-senate-opposes-sending-recreational-marijuana-question-to-voters/. The Senate defeat ends the legislative effort for this year.]

    15 responses to “Marijuana Legalization Initiative Falls Short By 4 Votes on Maine House Floor; Senate to Vote Soon”

    1. Douglas says:

    2. TheOracle says:

      Cancel the vacation to Maine. I just heard that flushing sound. Looks like it was the plan for all those tourist dollars that went down along with the plan. Guess Maine doesn’t need the money they got so much of it already.

      It’d be nice if they could find out what people want in exchange for more votes for the legislation.

      Then it’d be like Maine, we got moose, lobster, the Kennebunkport Bush compound and WEED! Come and visit. We’re conveniently located on the East Coast so you don’t have to drive all the way to Colorado, or even farther Washington. We’re Maine and we got WEED!

    3. Paulpot says:

      Wow, if they legislators are this close to voting for legalization the end of prohibition must be close at hand.

    4. Dennis King says:

    5. Greg says:

      This fighte to leaglize marjana is getting absurd, the state, n country are broke, n the gov, doesn’t realize that legizatione would be a huge income for the state n country, n if the government,want to make thing eleagle then start with tobacco n cafene, so u can see fighting to stop legizatione is stupid n dome, n the state will stay broke! and i will get my smoke somewhere else, with no tax! So think about it, is it that bad,

    6. Denny Strausser says:

      I truly thought it was going to pass.

    7. Galileo Galilei says:

      We don’t want the voters voting on something like this. That’s not democracy. It’s dangerous. Such a reckless approach to government could change everything!

      It could be the end of the world as we know it.

    8. Maineiac says:

      It IS the end of the world as we know it…and I feel fine… 🙂

    9. Ruben says:

      I Hate Being Opressed !

      Why do people act as if just because marijuana is illegal their kids won’t use marijuana ?

      All prohibition does is make it so that if and when they do want some marijuana it’s more likely for that person they get it from to be either a gang member or somebody who also sells hard drugs or both.

      Why must marijuana have to have medical benefits to be legal but the poison alcohol can just be legal ?

      Why do people try to blame marijuana as the gateway drug but not alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, energy drinks, caffeine, etc. and why don’t they look at the types of situations people are in, the people that they hang out with, or their personality traits for the cause.

      How come people don’t seem to care about the many side effects of prescription drugs but are scared of the natural plant cannabis ?

      Why don’t people understand that legalizing marijuana will reduce the drug cartels’ profits ?

      Why does society accept tobacco products but not the safer cannabis ?

      Why do people who hardly ever or never use cannabis act like they know so much about it ?

      Why do some people think that just because they don’t like or use something that nobody else should ?

      Why is it so bad for people to recreationally use marijuana because it makes them happy, relaxed, more aware and enlightened ?

      Marijuana should be legal before alcohol and tobacco because marijuana is far safer and better.

      Why don’t people give a F about freedom anymore ?

      If people don’t defend people’s simple civil liberties like cannabis freedom then it sets the precedent for more of their own freedoms to be taken away.

      Why is it acceptable to buy and advertise the poison alcohol everywhere but you have to get a prescription from a doctor and pay for a medical card every year to get cannabis or not be able to get it at all in some states ?

      They try to boast like America is the “Land of the Free” but you can’t even grow a plant !

      The only state you are allowed to grow cannabis is Colorado but you can only grow 6 plants !

      They don’t care that alcohol destroys their brain, muscles and liver but a natural herb scares the daylights out of them.

    10. Cat Cassie says:

      @Ruben, You said it all and covered everything. So sad isn’t it? Maybe someday freedom will be restored to all of us.

    Leave a Reply

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VW online programming: No need German server

The 2017 new Launch v431  scan tool- launch x431 v 8 inch tablet nowadays is verified to 100% work perfectly in VW online programming without the German server!

Online function through VW V28.0 software:

No need the German server

– save a lot

– a must for an auto repair shop

– the only tool can realize it

TOP 5 reasons to get 2017 Launch x431 v 8-inch obd2 scan tool:

1- Special functions available

2- Brazilian, Indian, Chinese, Australian, European, USA cars…OK

3- BMW 2017 new cars coding/ key programming…OK

4- Toyota 2017 new cars…OK

5- VW online programming without German server…OK

Also, there are lots of benefits of it, such as

– 8 inch bigger screen with higher resolution
– reasonable PDA design
– better Bluetooth connector, distance: 10M(Without Obstacle)
– no need activation
– no IP and language limitation
– change the setup language yourself

– fast running speed

If you wanna know more about this new x431 v scan tool, you can go to https://launch-x431-v.blogspot.com/; all details you want can be found there.

If you wanna look for a good man of his word to trust, you can go to http://www.obdexpress.co.uk/


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IRS Warns of Pervasive Telephone Scam

The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

“This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country.  We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves.  Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. “If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling.” Werfel noted that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail

Other characteristics of this scam include:

  • Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
  • Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
  • Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
  • Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
  • Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
  • After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:

  • If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue.
  • If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.
  • If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint.

Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS.

The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.  This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message. Instead, forward the e-mail to

For more information:

Italy’s Supreme Court Clears Sophia Loren of Old Tax Evasion Charges

Italian actress Sophia Loren has been cleared by Italy’s high court of tax evasion charges dating back to her 1974 tax return.

The charges stem from Loren’s appearance in Vittorio De Sica’s movie “The Voyage,” for which her compensation was deferred, according to the Hollywood Reporter. As a result, her income that year put her in the 60 percent tax bracket, rather than the 70 percent bracket. Italian tax authorities at the time, however, said the actress should have been in the 70 percent bracket.

Loren appealed the ruling and kept away from her native country for a number of years. She came back in 1982 to serve 17 days of her 30-day sentence in a low-security Italian prison. Meanwhile, her appeal ground on for the past 39 years and Italy’s Supreme Court ruled last week that she never should have been imprisoned on the charges.

Loren reportedly called the court’s ruling a “miracle of justice,” noting that when “it seems there is no longer any hope, it is still possible justice will be done.”

For more information:

IRS: Shutdown to Delay Tax Season

The Internal Revenue Service announced on Tuesday that it will delay the start of the 2014 tax filing season by as much as two weeks due to delays caused by the recent closure of the federal government.

Citing the need for “adequate time to program and test tax processing systems,” the service announced that it expected a one- to two-week delay in the start of tax season, and that it would start accepting and processing 2013 individual tax returns no earlier than Jan. 28, 2014, and no later than February 4. Tax season had been expected to start on January 21.

Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel said in the statement that the service was exploring options to shorten the expected delay, but also noted, “Readying our systems to handle the tax season is an intricate, detailed process, and we must take the time to get it right. The adjustment to the start of the filing season provides us the necessary time to program, test and validate our systems so that we can provide a smooth filing and refund process for the nation’s taxpayers.”

The 16-day government shutdown came during the peak period for preparing IRS systems for the upcoming tax season, which involves programming, testing and deployment of more than 50 systems.

About 90 percent of IRS operations were closed during the shutdown, with some major workstreams closed entirely, and the IRS noted that it is also facing extra demands due to the need for systems to prevent refund fraud and ID theft — and that it is still dealing with a backlog of over 1.4 million pieces of correspondence that piled up during the shutdown.

The official start date will be announced in December.

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Congress Ends Shutdown, but Stage is Set for Next Round

After the partisan passions and heated rhetoric, the disruptions of a government shutdown and displays of dysfunction, Congress did what it could have done weeks ago: voted to fund the government and lift the debt limit.

The passage last night by wide margins—an 81-18 vote in the Democratic-led Senate, followed by a 285-144 vote in the Republican-controlled House—allows the U.S. to avoid default and ends the shutdown that began Oct. 1 and has taken $24 billion out of the economy.

President Barack Obama signed the bill just after midnight, according to a White House statement. The measure puts government workers back on the job as soon as today and permits the U.S. to continue paying its debts, benefits and salaries.

“We’ll begin reopening our government immediately and we can begin to lift this cloud of uncertainty and unease from our businesses and from the American people,” Obama said last night at the White House after the Senate voted.

Lawmakers didn’t show they’re any closer to resolving the underlying issues of spending priorities and deficit-reduction measures, particularly in the House where a shrinking political middle makes compromise elusive as the latest events show.

The focus now shifts to a new series of deadlines—the first for budget negotiations with a Dec. 13 target—that set up more rounds of political combat over taxes and spending on programs including Social Security and Medicare. The deal funds the government at Republican-backed spending levels through Jan. 15, 2014, and suspends the debt limit through Feb. 7.

Health Law
Tea Party-allied Republicans, such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, said they would find ways to keep up the fight against Obama’s health care law.

The votes conclude a four-week fiscal standoff that began with Republicans demanding defunding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and objecting to raising the debt limit and funding the government without policy conditions.

They achieved almost none of those goals. Obama and the uncharacteristically unified congressional Democrats stared down Republicans, particularly those allied with the Tea Party movement, who had sought to use the shutdown and debt ceiling as leverage even as more experienced lawmakers realized they didn’t have the votes.

Judd Gregg, a former New Hampshire Republican senator and veteran of Obama’s first-term fiscal commission, said members of his party took on the wrong fight when they made it about Obama’s health care law. Gregg is now chief executive officer of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

‘Dysfunctional Government’
“It was an exercise in dysfunctional government,” Gregg said in an interview. “It was a loser position from the beginning because there was no way in divided government you’re ever going to repeal Obamacare. We should have been debating as Republicans how we fix our fiscal house.”

The practice of governing by crisis has become so established in Washington that financial markets weren’t disturbed by the impasse, correctly anticipating a deal would come at the last moment as happened in a similar standoff two years ago.

U.S. stocks rallied yesterday on news of the agreement, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index toward a record. The benchmark index rose 1.4 percent to 1,721.54 yesterday in New York after sliding 0.7 percent when the deal looked uncertain the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 205.82 points, or 1.4 percent, to 15,373.83.

Shutdown’s Toll
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.4 percent to 314.42 at 8:44 a.m. in London. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures slipped 0.2 percent, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.9 percent.

In China, Dagong Global Credit Rating Co. downgraded its local and foreign-currency assessments of the U.S. to A- from A. Dagong is based in Beijing and one of the nation’s four biggest credit-rating companies. China has the largest foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries, and the latest monthly U.S. government figures showed it increased its total in July.

Federal agencies were instructed to begin opening offices today in a “prompt and orderly manner” and furloughed employees were allowed to return to work, according to a memo from White House budget office Director Sylvia Burwell.

“We will work closely with departments and agencies to make the transition back to full operating status as smooth as possible,” Burwell said in the memo released early today.

Still, the 16-day shutdown hasn’t been cost-free. It has taken a toll on workers who lost paychecks—furloughed employees will receive back pay—and on the U.S. economy. Standard & Poor’s said yesterday the shutdown has shaved at least 0.6 percent from fourth-quarter 2013 gross domestic product growth, or taken $24 billion out of the economy.

Confidence ‘Shaken’
“Millions suffered,” said Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat. “Millions didn’t get paychecks. The economy was dragged down and confidence and faith in United States credit and in the United States around the world was shaken.”

Macroeconomic Advisers LLC said in a report prepared this week for the Peter G. Peterson Foundation that the budget fights in Washington have lowered U.S. economic growth by about 0.3 percentage points a year since 2009. The fiscal standoff added more than a half-point to this year’s unemployment rate, or the equivalent of about 900,000 jobs, the report said.

It may be weeks or even months before the government resumes issuing loans, payments and contracts at a normal pace. The budget impasse also raised doubts that will linger about U.S. reliability among major creditor nations such as China and frustrated many Americans.

Provide ‘Stability’
“The compromise we reached will provide our economy with the stability it desperately needs,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The Nevada Democrat negotiated the agreement with his Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, after House Speaker John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, was unable to come to terms within his caucus.

“It would appear as though we’re kicking the can down the road one more time,” Representative Jim Bridenstine, an Oklahoma Republican, said in an interview.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the country’s largest business group, supported the agreement, as did the Business Roundtable, an association of large-company chief executives. Several small-government groups, including the Club for Growth and Heritage Action for America, urged lawmakers to vote against the accord.

The votes were held just hours before the nation was set to exhaust its borrowing authority, which the Obama administration had warned would have dire consequences within days given global reliance on U.S. Treasuries.

Credit Rating
The Senate accord was unveiled a day after Fitch Ratings put the U.S. AAA credit grade on ratings watch negative, citing the government’s inability to raise the debt ceiling in a timely manner. After a 2011 debt-ceiling fight, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the United States’ credit rating to AA+ from AAA, criticizing the nation’s political process and lawmakers for failing to cut spending or raise revenue enough to reduce the budget deficit.

Boehner, acceding to the demands of the White House and Democratic-led Senate, said in a statement that blocking the bipartisan deal would only create a “risk of default” on U.S. debt, which he previously said would not happen.

Republicans say Boehner’s willingness to heed their concerns will leave his position as speaker unchallenged in the year ahead.

“We fought the good fight,” Boehner said yesterday on WLW, a radio station in his home state of Ohio. “We just didn’t win.”

At the end of a weeks-long stalemate, Obama managed to stave off a frontal assault on his health care law by House Republicans and forced them to surrender on raising the U.S. debt ceiling without conditions.

‘Next Battle’
“It’s clearly a win for the president,” said Patrick Griffin, a congressional lobbyist in the administration of President Bill Clinton, who faced two government shutdowns and a combative Republican Congress. “Whether it’s a battle win or a war win for the president we don’t know. The next battle will come soon.”

The reaction of independents may determine whether Republicans have a chance to make inroads in the Senate in the 2014 election. Republicans need a net gain of six seats to win the majority in the 100-member chamber. Democrats are defending seven seats in states Republican Mitt Romney won in the 2012 presidential election.

“For now, the default debate, coupled with the shutdown of the government, has been to the detriment of Senate Republicans,” said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the Washington-based Cook Political Report, which tracks congressional contests. The Republicans’ “path to the majority was narrow before the shutdown and has gotten considerably more narrow since.”

Tea Party
While public opinion polling shows Americans disproportionately blame Republicans for their handling of the debt fight, members have more than a year before they have to face voters again in midterm elections.

The Tea Party is less popular than ever, with many Republicans viewing the movement negatively, according to a poll released yesterday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press in Washington. Overall, 49 percent of the public has an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party, up from 45 percent in June, while 30 have a favorable opinion, down from 37 percent two months ago.

Those numbers may be misleading, as the Tea Party movement is most effective as a political force in Republican-dominated Congressional districts where incumbents look for a primary challenge.

Hobby or Business? Why It Matters

Millions of Americans have hobbies such as sewing, woodworking, fishing, gardening, stamp and coin collecting, but when that hobby starts to turn a profit, it might just be considered a business by the IRS.

Definition of a Hobby vs. a Business

The IRS defines a hobby as an activity that is not pursued for profit. A business, on the other hand, is an activity that is carried out with the reasonable expectation of earning a profit.

The tax considerations are different for each activity so it’s important for taxpayers to determine whether an activity is engaged in for profit as a business or is just a hobby for personal enjoyment.

Of course, you must report and pay tax on income from almost all sources, including hobbies. But when it comes to deductions such as expenses and losses, the two activities differ in their tax implications.

Is Your Hobby Actually a Business?

If you’re not sure whether you’re running a business or simply enjoying a hobby, here are some of the factors you should consider:

  • Does the time and effort put into the activity indicate an intention to make a profit?
  • Do you depend on income from the activity?
  • If there are losses, are they due to circumstances beyond your control or did they occur in the start-up phase of the business?
  • Have you changed methods of operation to improve profitability?
  • Do you have the knowledge needed to carry on the activity as a successful business?
  • Have you made a profit in similar activities in the past?
  • Does the activity make a profit in some years?
  • Do you expect to make a profit in the future from the appreciation of assets used in the activity?

An activity is presumed to be for profit if it makes a profit in at least three of the last five tax years, including the current year (or at least two of the last seven years for activities that consist primarily of breeding, showing, training, or racing horses).

The IRS says that it looks at all facts when determining whether a hobby is for pleasure or business, but the profit test is the primary one. If the activity earned income in three out of the last five years, it is for profit. If the activity does not meet the profit test, the IRS will take an individualized look at the facts of your activity using the list of questions above to determine whether it’s a business or a hobby. (It should be noted that this list is not all-inclusive.)

Business Activity: If the activity is determined to be a business, you can deduct ordinary and necessary expenses for the operation of the business on a Schedule C or C-EZ on your Form 1040 without considerations for percentage limitations. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your trade or business. A necessary expense is one that is appropriate for your business.

Hobby: If an activity is a hobby, not for profit, losses from that activity may not be used to offset other income. You can only deduct expenses up to the amount of income earned from the hobby. These expenses, with other miscellaneous expenses, are itemized on Schedule A and must also meet the 2 percent limitation of your adjusted gross income in order to be deducted.

What Are Allowable Hobby Deductions?

If your activity is not carried on for profit, allowable deductions cannot exceed the gross receipts for the activity.

Note: Internal Revenue Code Section 183 (Activities Not Engaged in for Profit) limits deductions that can be claimed when an activity is not engaged in for profit. IRC 183 is sometimes referred to as the “hobby loss rule.”

Deductions for hobby activities are claimed as itemized deductions on Schedule A, Form 1040. These deductions must be taken in the following order and only to the extent stated in each of three categories:

  • Deductions that a taxpayer may claim for certain personal expenses, such as home mortgage interest and taxes, may be taken in full.
  • Deductions that don’t result in an adjustment to the basis of property, such as advertising, insurance premiums, and wages, may be taken next, to the extent gross income for the activity is more than the deductions from the first category.
  • Deductions that reduce the basis of property, such as depreciation and amortization, are taken last, but only to the extent gross income for the activity is more than the deductions taken in the first two categories.

If your hobby is regularly generating income, it could make tax sense for you to consider it a business because you might be able to lower your taxes and take certain deductions.

For more information:

Tax Provisions of the Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, in concert with the enactment of the Health Care and Education Tax Credits Reconciliation Act of 2010, resulted in a number of changes to the US tax code. As such there are a number of tax implications for individuals and businesses. With healthcare exchanges set to open on October 1, it’s time to take a closer look at what it all means for you.

Healthcare Exchanges

Healthcare Exchanges, which are also referred to as Health Insurance Marketplaces, are officially open for enrollment on October 1, 2013. Some of these exchanges are run by the state in which you reside. Others are run by the federal government.

Individuals (including self-employed) who do not currently have insurance or buy insurance on their own can use these marketplaces to buy insurance, which becomes effective January 1, 2014. When you get health insurance through the Marketplace, you may be able to get the new advance Premium Tax Credit that will immediately help lower your monthly premium.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that seven million–primarily uninsured people–will use the exchanges to purchase private health insurance. The rest, including the 170.9 million people already covered by their employer’s insurance, as well as the 101.5 million enrolled in government health programs, are not affected and need not take any action.

Individual Mandate

Starting January 2014, United States citizens and legal residents must obtain minimum essential health care coverage for themselves and their dependents, have an exemption from coverage, or make a payment when filing a 2014 tax return in 2015. The Individual Mandate is also known as the Individual Shared Responsibility Payment.

The payment varies and is based on income level. In 2014, the basic penalty for an individual (no dependents) is $95 or 1% of your yearly income (whichever is higher), with substantial increases in subsequent years. For example, in 2015, the penalty is $325 or approximately 2% of income, whichever is higher. In 2016, it increases to $695 or 2.5% of income (again, whichever is higher), indexed for inflation thereafter.

Most people already have qualifying health care coverage and will not need to do anything more than maintain that coverage throughout 2014. Self-insured ERISA policies used by larger employers, as well as Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), and all of the health insurance plans offered by the exchanges fall under the category of minimum essential health care coverage.

Note: Certain individuals are exempt from the tax and include: (1) people with religious objections; (2) American Indians with coverage through the Indian Health Service; (3) undocumented immigrants; (4) those without coverage for less than three months; (5) those serving prison sentences; (6) those for whom the lowest-cost plan option exceeds 8% of annual income; and (7) those with incomes below the tax filing threshold who do not file a tax return($10,000 for singles and $20,000 for couples under 65 in 2013).

Refundable Tax Credit

Effective in 2014, certain taxpayers will be able to use a refundable tax credit to offset the cost of health insurance premiums so that their insurance premium payments do not exceed a specific percentage of their income. Qualified individuals are those with incomes between 133 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. A sliding scale based on family size will be used to determine the amount of the credit. In addition, married taxpayers must file joint returns to qualify.

FSA Contributions

FSA (Flexible Spending Arrangements) contributions are limited to $2,500 per year starting in 2013 and indexed for inflation after that.

New Rules for HSAs and Archer MSAs

Tax on non-qualified distributions from HSAs and Archer MSAs that are used to cover the cost of over the counter medicine without a script increased to 20 percent starting in 2011. Medical devices, eyeglasses, contact lenses, copays, and deductibles are not affected, nor is Insulin even if it is non-prescription.

Medicare Part D

Medicare Part D, the tax deduction for employer provided retirement prescription drug coverage, was eliminated in 2013.

Increase in AGI Limit for Deductible Medical Expenses

In 2013 the limit for deductible medical expenses increased to 10 percent of AGI (7.5% in prior years); however, the 7.5 percent threshold continues through 2016 for taxpayers aged 65 and older, including those turning 65 by December 31, 2016.

Health Coverage of Older Children

The cost of employer provided health care coverage for children (through age 26) on tax returns is excluded from gross income.

Medicare Tax Increases for High Income Earners

Starting in 2013, there is an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 for individuals ($250,000 married filing jointly).

Also starting in 2013, there is a new Medicare tax of 3.8 percent on investment (unearned) income for single taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over $200,000 ($250,000 joint filers). Investment income includes dividends, interest, rents, royalties, gains from the disposition of property, and certain passive activity income. Estates, trusts and self-employed individuals are all liable for the new tax.

Exemptions are available for business owners and income from certain retirement accounts, such as pensions, IRAs, 401(a), 403(b), and 457(b) plans, is exempt.

If you run an income-generating business with no employees, then you’re considered self-employed (not an employer) and can get coverage through the Marketplace and use it to find coverage that fits your needs.

Note: You are not considered an employer even if you hire independent contractors to do some work.

If you currently have individual insurance, that is a plan you bought yourself and not the kind you get through an employer, you may be able to change to a Marketplace plan.

Note: You can’t be denied coverage or charged more because you have a pre-existing health condition.

Small Businesses (50 or Fewer Employees)

If you have 50 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (generally, workers whose income you report on a W-2 at the end of the year) you are considered a small business under the health care law.

As a small business, you may get insurance for yourself and your employees through the SHOP (Small Business Health Options Programs) Marketplace. This applies to non-profit organizations as well.

And, if you have fewer than 25 employees, you may qualify for the Small Business Tax Credit (see next section). Non-profit organizations can get a smaller tax credit.

Note: Beginning in 2016, the SHOP Marketplace will be open to employers with 100 or fewer FTEs.

As an employer, you must provide notification to your employees of coverage options available through the Marketplace and are required to provide this notice to all current employees and to each new employee beginning October 1st, 2013, regardless of plan enrollment status or full or part-time employment. The Department of Labor has sample notices that employers can use to comply with this regulation. One notice is for employers who do not offer a health care plan and the second for employers who offer a health care plan.

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

Small businesses and tax-exempt organization that employ 25 or fewer, full-time equivalent workers with average incomes of $50,000 or less, and that pay at least half (50%) of the premiums for employee health insurance coverage are eligible for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. For tax years 2010 through 2013, the maximum credit is 35 percent for small business employers and 25 percent for small tax-exempt employers such as charities.

Starting in 2014, the tax credit is worth up to 50% of your contribution toward employees’ premium costs (up to 35% for tax-exempt employers). The tax credit is highest for companies with fewer than 10 employees who are paid an average of $25,000 or less. The smaller the business, the bigger the credit is.

Note: The credit is available only if you get coverage through the SHOP Marketplace.

Additional Tax on Businesses Not Offering Minimum Essential Coverage

Effective January 1, 2015 an additional tax will be levied on businesses with 50 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees that do not offer minimum essential coverage. This penalty is sometimes referred to as the Employer Shared Responsibility Payment or “Play or Pay” penalty.

You may have to pay this additional tax if you have 50 or more full-time equivalent employees and at least 1 of your full-time employees gets lower costs on their monthly premiums through the Marketplace.

Note: Employers with fewer than 50 FTE employees are considered small businesses and are exempt from the additional tax.

The amount of the annual Employer Shared Responsibility Payment is based partly on whether you offer insurance.

  • If you don’t offer insurance, the annual payment is $2000 per full-time employee (excluding the first 30 employees)
  • If you do offer insurance, but the insurance doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, the annual payment is $3000 per full-time employee who qualifies for premium savings in the Marketplace

Note: Unlike employer contributions to employee premiums, the Employer Shared Responsibility Payment is not tax deductible.

A health plan meets minimum value if it covers at least 60% of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under the plan. To determine whether other coverage meets minimum value, please contact us for assistance.

Note: All plans in the Marketplace meet minimum value, so any coverage offered through the SHOP Marketplace should qualify.

Excise Tax on High Cost Employer-Sponsored Insurance

Effective in 2018, a 40 percent excise tax indexed for inflation will be imposed on employers with insurance plans where the annual premium exceeds $10,200 (individual) or $27,500 (family). For retirees age 55 and older, the premium levels are higher, $11,850 for individuals and $30,950 for families.

Excise Tax on Medical Devices

Effective January 1, 2014, a 2.3 percent tax will be levied on manufacturers and importers on the sale of certain medical devices.

Indoor Tanning Services

A 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning services went into effect on July 1, 2010. The tax doesn’t apply to phototherapy services performed by a licensed medical professional on his or her premises. There’s also an exception for certain physical fitness facilities that offer tanning as an incidental service to members without a separately identifiable fee.

For more information:

Oct. 15 Deadline Still in Effect, IRS Warns

The Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers that the October 15 deadline remains in effect for people who requested a six-month extension to file their tax return.

While the current government shutdown has shuttered many offices and turned off many services, it “does not affect the federal tax law, and all taxpayers should continue to meet their tax obligations as normal,” the IRS said in a statement.

Over 12 million people filed for automatic six-month extensions earlier in 2013, most of whom will have to file by the October 15 deadline. Some groups do have more time, the IRS noted, including members of the military and others serving in Afghanistan or other combat zones, as well as people in parts of Colorado affected by severe weather, flooding, landslides and mudslides.

The service encouraged taxpayers to e-file their returns, but said that it would accept returns both electronically or on paper, and accept and process payments accompanying either type of return. It will not be able to issue refunds, however, until normal government operations resume.

For more information:

IRS Suspends Tax Refunds and Tax Court Closes during Government Shutdown

The Internal Revenue Service has temporarily stopped sending out tax refunds, and the Tax Court has suspended operations during the federal government shutdown, as lawmakers in Congress continue their battle over delaying or defunding “Obamacare” for a year.

The IRS announced contingency plans for the government shutdown on Monday ahead of the looming shutdown (see IRS Releases Gov’t Shutdown Contingency Plan). On Tuesday, with the House and Senate failing to reach an agreement on a budget resolution to continue funding government operations—and with the impasse continuing over the insistence by Republican lawmakers that the health care reform law should be delayed as a necessary pre-condition for agreeing to a budget deal—the IRS elaborated on the shutdown plans on its Web site, including a temporary stoppage in tax refunds.

“Tax refunds will not be issued until normal government operations resume,” said the IRS. The IRS emphasized, however, that the underlying tax law remains in effect, and all taxpayers should continue to meet their tax obligations as normal.

“Individuals and businesses should keep filing their tax returns and making deposits with the IRS, as they are required to do so by law,” said the IRS. “The IRS will accept and process all tax returns with payments, but will be unable to issue refunds during this time. Taxpayers are urged to file electronically, because most of these returns will be processed automatically.”

In addition, the IRS noted that no live telephone customer service assistance will be available. However, most automated toll-free telephone applications will remain in operation. IRS walk-in taxpayer assistance centers will be closed, though.

While federal government offices are closed, people who have appointments with the IRS related to examinations and audits, as well as tax collection, appeals or Taxpayer Advocate cases should assume their meetings are canceled, the IRS noted. IRS personnel will reschedule the meetings at a later date once the government shutdown ends.

In addition, IRS computer systems will continue to mail out automated notices to taxpayers, but IRS employees will not be sending any paper correspondence during the period when the federal government is shut down. The IRS provided some basic steps to follow during this period:

• Continue to file and pay taxes as normal. Individuals who have requested an extension of time to file should file their returns by Oct. 15, 2013.

• All other tax deadlines remain in effect, including those covering individuals, corporations, partnerships and employers. The regular payroll tax deadlines remain in effect as well.

• Taxpayers can file their tax returns electronically or on paper—although the processing of paper returns will be delayed until full government operations resume. Payments accompanying paper tax returns will still be accepted as the IRS receives them.

• Tax refunds will not be issued until normal government operations resume.

• Tax software companies, tax practitioners and Free File will remain available to assist with taxes.

A number of IRS services will remain available, but in a limited way. For taxpayers and preparers seeking assistance, only the automated applications on the regular (800) 829-1040 telephone line will remain open.

The IRS Web site,, will remain available, but some interactive features may not be available. IRS Free File partners—tax software vendors who partner with the IRS to provide free tax prep and processing for taxpayers with incomes up to a certain threshold—will continue to accept and file tax returns. Tax software companies in general will also continue to accept and file tax returns, the IRS noted.

Tax Court Closed
The U.S. Tax Court also said on its Web site Monday that it would suspend operations in the event of a shutdown. The Tax Court Courthouse in Washington, D.C., was only open on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Petitions, motions and other papers were received only during those four hours on that day. “After 12:00 noon no documents will be received by the court until the shutdown is concluded or the court posts other further notice on this Web site,” said the court.
Documents could be submitted to the Tax Court’s Web site for e-filing only until noontime on Tuesday, October 1, but the Tax Court said it would not receive submissions of documents for e-filing after that time until further notice.

In addition, the Tax Court said it would serve no documents starting Oct. 1, 2013 if the federal government was shut down.

Due dates previously set by a Tax Court Rule or Order for filing a document or completing discovery or any other act will be extended, with all such due dates on or after Oct. 1, 2013 extended by the number of days that court operations are suspended, up to a maximum extension of five days from the date the Tax Court resumes operations. If the extended due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday as defined in the Tax Code, the due date will then be the next succeeding day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday.

However, the Tax Court said it lacks the authority to extend statutory filing deadlines imposed in the Tax Code. For example, Section 6213(a) provides that a taxpayer must file a petition with the court to re-determine a deficiency within 90 days after the mailing of a notice of deficiency, and Section 6330(d)(1) provides that a taxpayer must file a petition to review a determination involving a proposed lien or levy within 30 days after the mailing of the notice of determination.

Even though hand delivery to the courthouse is not available during the period the Tax Court is closed due to a government shutdown, taxpayers still need to comply with the statutory deadlines by mailing a petition to the Tax Court on a timely basis. “Timeliness of mailing of the petition is determined by the United States Postal Service’s postmark or the delivery certificate of an approved private express delivery company,” the Tax Court noted.

For further information, visit the Tax Court’s Web site at, where notices about the Court’s closure and resumption of operations will be posted and updated throughout the period of any shutdown.

IRS Employee Furloughs
The IRS also provided a link to information for its employees. “An IRS-wide furlough began on Oct. 1, 2013 for everyone except already-identified excepted employees,” said the site.

For continuing information on the furlough, the IRS encouraged its employees to monitor news outlets, the Web page for employees or the 24/7 Emergency Hotline, (866) 743-5748.

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents IRS employees, said Wednesday that it supports legislation introduced in the House and Senate to provide back pay to federal employees who have been sidelined by the furlough caused by the government shutdown. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Reps. James Moran, D-Va., and Frank Wolf R-Va., introduced the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act. Approximately 800,000 federal workers—including many represented by NTEU—were forced off their jobs by the shutdown.

In separate letters to the lawmakers who introduced the legislation, NTEU president Colleen M. Kelley thanked them and stressed that through no fault of their own, dedicated federal employees “are being held hostage—unsure when they might be able to return to their federal offices, unsure whether or not they will be able to make their next rent or mortgage payments, and frustrated and scared about their future.”

The NTEU noted that retroactive pay for shutdown-related furlough days requires congressional action. Such a step was taken in the last government-wide shutdown in 1995 and 1996.

Kelley pointed out that that many federal employees, like many Americans, live paycheck to paycheck and face similar financial obligations and pressures. She also noted that many federal employees have in recent months needed to take unpaid furlough days as a result of sequestration, and that all of them have been operating under a three-year pay freeze.

“NTEU is continuing its efforts not only to bring the current shutdown to a prompt end, but to secure the end of the damaging policy of sequestration and ensure that federal agencies have sufficient funding moving forward,” she said.

For more Information: