MORTGAGE TAX RELIEF ACT

Under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, a taxpayer does not have to pay federal income tax on debt forgiven for a loan secured by a qualified principal residence. This tax break applies to debts discharged from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2009. Qualified principal residence indebtedness is debt incurred in acquiring, constructing or substantially improving the residence (up to $2 million for refinances). Arcadia Assoc. of Realtors

LOWER YOUR PROPERTY TAXES

Roughly 1/3 of the people who appeal the assessment of their property end up with lower taxes. Your chances may be especially good when home prices are on the decline. If you want to challenge the assessment of your property, here is what you should do:

1. Don’t Delay: You usually have 30 to 60 days from the time you receive your notice of assessment to file an appeal. Call your county assessor’s office and ask for the necessary forms to file an appeal.

2. Gather the Evidence: Head to the assessor’s office to see your property card. Mistakes in square footage, lot size, etc., could be adding to your home’s assessed value. Be sure to take addresses of similar homes and ask to see the cards on those properties. Next, get quotes from a local real estate agent showing what houses similar to yours are selling for.

3. Get an appraisal: Some jurisdictions require an appraisal as a basis for an appeal -- others don’t. Ask about this requirement when you call for the appeal forms. AARP, March/April 2008

WORDS OF WISDOM

Don’t find fault, find a remedy. Henry Ford

PREVENTING BACK INJURY

To help prevent back injury when lifting objects, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggest:

* Do not try to lift or move heavy objects in a hurry. Take your time and plan what needs to be done.

* Bend at the knees right in front of the object.

* Make sure your feet are positioned shoulder-width apart.

*With your stomach muscles tightened, lift with your leg muscles instead of your back as you stand up.

*If the object is too heavy, ask for help. VitaCost, Daily health Tip

THE REAL ID ACT

The Department of Homeland Security released regulations giving states until 2014 to issue tamper-proof licenses to drivers born after 1964, and until 2017 for drivers born before 1964. The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in response to the 9/11 Commission’s recommending the U.S. improve its system for issuing identification documents.

The new license will include a digital photograph and a filament or some other security device that cannot be reproduced, but not a radio-controlled computer chip.

States are required to verify every applicant’s personal information, their lawful status in the U.S. and their Social Security Number before issuing a REAL ID license or card. Thanks Fred C.

PASSPORT CARD TECHNOLOGY

Passport cards for Americans who travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean will be equipped with a technology that allows information on the card to be read up to 20-feet away. The card will not be physically swiped through a reader, as is done with passports. The card could be used by U.S. citizens instead of a passport when traveling to other countries in the western hemisphere. Thanks Fred C.

A Massachusetts Appeals Court ruling enforced an e-mail settlement agreement of a contractual dispute. This should be a reminder for all of us, e-mail settlements carry the same weight as those on paper. See Basis Technology Corp. v. Amazon.com Inc., No. 06-P-1048 (Mass. App. Ct.). The decision shows the courts will enforce e-mails that meet the traditional criteria for an enforceable contract. Thanks Fred C.

DEALING WITH CANKER SORES

Canker sores are painful ulcers that develop in the mouth, most often on the lip, inside the cheek, on the tongue, gums or the palate. Most canker sores clear up on their own. To help reduce canker sore pain and aid in healing:

* Apply an over-the-counter pain medicine specifically for canker sores.

* Rinse your mouth with a salt-water solution.

* Create a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide and one part water. Apply to the sore with a cotton swab. VitaCost, Daily Health Tip

KIDS’ SCIENCE EXAM

Q. What causes the tides in the oceans?

A. The tides are a fight between the earth and the moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight. Thanks Dave S.

http://www.santabarbaraca.com.

INTERNET ALERT

Scammers are sending out fake e-mails, allegedly from the FBI, in an attempt to get personal information from people. Some claim to represent the domestic FBI office and others, overseas. The schemes cover a range from threats and extortion to website monitoring containing malicious computer program attachments (malware) and on-line auction scams. If you receive such an e-mail notify IC3 by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

The FBI does NOT contact citizens by e-mail. Be extremely careful about opening these e-mails and do NOT respond to them. If you are not sure what to do, simply delete the e-mail. More information on cyber scams can be obtained by going to the FBI website and visit New E-Scams and Warnings.

Thanks Fred C.

If your adjusted gross income is $54,000 or less, you are eligible to prepare and file your federal tax returns on-line. Go to www.IRS.gov to access the legitimate IRS Free File program. Thanks Fred C.

SKIN CELLS TO STEM CELLS

Scientists report they can now transform ordinary adult skin cells into stem cells. These induced stem cells appear to be identical to embryonic stem cells. Thanks Fred C.

SMALL LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN BOOST LONGEVITY

People who do not smoke, are physically activity, use little or no alcohol and eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily, live an average of 14 years longer than people with none of these behaviors. This suggests these four healthy lifestyle habits could markedly improve the health of middle-aged and older people. VitaCost, Daily Health Tip

DEALING WITH STROKES

Sometimes, symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify and the lack of awareness can spell disaster. Severe brain damage may occur when nearby people fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

REMEMBER S. T. R.

S-Ask the person to SMILE

T1-Ask the person to TALK; they need to speak a simple sentence (coherently)

T2-Ask the person to stick out their TONGUE. See if the tongue is crooked (goes to either side)

R-Ask the person to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If the victim has trouble with any of these tasks, call 911 immediately. A stroke victim has a much better chance of making a full recovery if they get treatment within the first three hours. Thanks Sally S.

EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECKS IN CA

If you are looking for a job in CA or even if you have one, a prospective employer is almost certain to conduct a background check. It is what can be expected as employers are faced with workplace violence, falsified credentials, embezzlement and lawsuits resulting from bad hiring decisions.

On the other hand, you have well-founded concerns if an employer asks about things not connected to the job. You may also worry about a past incident being discovered and your not being able to explain.

Also, you want to be sure the information your employer receives about you is accurate, complete and not misleading. You also want to be sure the report is about you and not an identity thief who has stolen your name.

CA law now provides you greater access to the information an employer sees. This guide provides a summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); the national standard for employment background checks. It explains your right to get a copy of a background check and what to do if the report contains wrong or incomplete information. The complete FCRA can be viewed by going to www.ftc.gov/os/statutes.fcra.htm. Thanks Fred C.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CATARACTS

1. Sign of Aging: Cataracts are a clouding of the lens that affects the vision. By the age of 80, more than half of all Americans either have at least one cataract or have undergone cataract surgery.

2. Causes: Not known for certain. It may be the protein in the lens changing form over the years.

3. What Happens: Clumps of protein reduce the sharpness of the image reaching the retina. The clear lens slowly changes to a yellowish or brownish color, adding a brownish tint to vision.

4. Prevention: Wear a hat with a brim and sunglasses to block ultraviolet sunlight. Stop smoking. Eat more fruits and vegetables. If over 60, have a comprehensive dilated eye exam every year.

5. Surgery: Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in the U.S. About 90 percent of the people who undergo cataract surgery report having better vision. Thanks Fred C.

LINOLEUM’S COMEBACK

After taking a back seat to vinyl flooring, linoleum is enjoying a revival. Linoleum is made of linseed oil, jute, wood, cork and rosin. Vinyl flooring, from polyvinyl chloride, a petroleum product that releases cancer causing dioxins during production. AARP

FLOWER OF THE MONTH

The flower for March is the daffodil. The stone is the bloodstone which stands for courage.

COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS?

Call, write or e-mail Paula: paulasmith1000@hotmail.com

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