2010 Estate Planning Pitfalls
by admin on Jul.02, 2010, under Estate Planning, Law
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Much has been said about a lapse
in the United States estate tax for the year 2010. It’s as though there is a
legal holiday with only winners and no losers. In point of fact, I’m expecting
the year 2010 to give rise to the biggest fest of professional malpractice
liability on record. I’m also
expecting this to be a year in which individuals who own appreciated capital
assets, even if they are of relatively modest means, to get screwed in terms of
tax consequences, beyond anything they might have possibly imagined. Even people
with large estates, where the first spouse dies, but the surviving spouse does
not, are likely to find themselves in awful postures with respect to the
reintroduction of the estate tax in 2011 at 2001 estate tax rates and
exclusions.
Visiting Charleston, SC in the Summer
by admin on Jun.24, 2010, under South Carolina, Travel
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When I was invited to attend a
conference regarding internet marketing at The Citadel, all I could think of
was the heat and humidity.
I pondered the amount of time I
would likely spend indoors, or in an air conditioned car, and what a sweaty
dash from car to building would feel like. Wow! Was I ever pleasantly surprised.
I had no idea what a splendid experience it would be to visit Charleston, even
in the summer. (continue reading…)
Religion: “See you on down the road!”
by admin on Jun.15, 2010, under Religion
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For
whatever reason, my articles concerning religion appear to draw a high
readership with much less emotional upheaval than some of my political
scribbling. Could it be that people are
actually more rational about religion than politics? I’m beginning to think this may be the case.
As I
bounce from one religious venue to another in the quest for a spiritual home, (continue reading…)
Inflation: The Sleeping Giant (Long Term 2010 U.S. Economic Outlook)
by admin on May.28, 2010, under Finance, Investing
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A day or so ago I walked past a
newspaper rack and noticed that the Wall Street Journal headline was, “Inflation
at 44-year Low.” I no longer read the Wall Street Journal, ever since it
was purchased by Lester Murdoch, figuring that it either is or ultimately will
become a right-wing propaganda machine, just like Fox News.
But I was taken by the headline,
thinking it’s probably both sincere and accurate. (continue reading…)
Movie Review: Letters to Juliet
by admin on May.17, 2010, under Movies, Reviews
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Plot: A young couple goes to Italy, so the groom to be can learn about Italian cuisine for a restaurant he intends to open in New York. While entertaining herself, while he is occupied with this project, the fiance stumbles upon a wall, where women leave notes to "juliet," of Romeo and juliet ilk. The fiance ends up finding and answering a note that has been stuck in the wall for approximatley 50 years. In so doing, a romantic adventure unfolds. Starring:Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia Bernal, Franco Nero, Charles Egan Directed by: Gary Winick |
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Genre: Romantic Comedy |
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Barack Obama’s First Trimester as President: A Report Card
by admin on May.14, 2010, under Politics
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Can you believe it? Barack Obama’s first trimester in office is now over. Yes, 16
months of his 48 month first term, perhaps entire presidency, is behind us.
I had
intended to give him a first year report card, but was busy to the point of
distraction, so I’ll do it now. If you’re expecting a knee-jerk reaction,
platitudes, a recitation of ideology, or foregone conclusions not based on the
evidence, you’ve come to the wrong place. If on the other hand, you’re looking
for reasoned analysis, I think you’ll find it below. (continue reading…)
Movie Review: Date Night
by admin on Apr.14, 2010, under Movies, Reviews
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Plot: A couple gets bored with their normal routine and feels threatened by close friends deciding to divorce. So, they try to make their date night more interesting and get far more than they bargained for by unwittingly impersonating someone who has offended the mob. Starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fay, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P Henson, Jimmi Simpson. Directed by: Shawn Levy |
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Genre: Comedy |
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Avatar Movie Review
by admin on Mar.02, 2010, under Movies, Reviews
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Plot: Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Michelle Rodriguez. Directed by: James Cameron |
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Genre: Science Fiction |
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Whatever you do, be sure to see this in 3-D, because I’m confident that it would lose much of its impact, if you saw it any other format. My overall experience with the movie begins with the special effects. They were not only aesthetically pleasing, but also exceeded my expectations by a very wide margin. These are the best special effects, given my own personal tastes, that I can ever remember seeing. Beyond that, this was just an ordinary movie. It reminds me of an adage that we have, as novelists, that you can sell a lot more popcorn and French fries than champagne and caviar. This was much more the former than the latter. While the plot was stable in every respect, it was not a unique story, notwithstanding the setting. It was a typical action film, whose plot, challenges, emotional ups and downs, and sense of urgency has been repeated thousands of times in different contexts. What comes to mind for me is that it could easily have been told with animated characters as a Saturday morning cartoon. I found that to be the depth of the plot. Insofar as acting is concerned, I didn’t feel as though there was any, except when the actors were not represented by their own personal avatars. I heard Director James Cameron interviewed on the Charlie Rose Show, where he talked about the painstaking efforts that were made to preserve human facial expressions on the avatars. However my brain is programmed, it didn’t work for me. I would describe an avatar as a blue dolphin with legs, walking upright. I wasn’t drawn into their humanity, which I found only in their voices. |
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The Thirteenth Tale book review
by admin on Feb.23, 2010, under Book reviews, Reviews
Click here to see a video review with Author, Deb Atwood, regarding The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Sutterfield
by admin on Feb.09, 2010, under Book reviews, Reviews
Leave a Comment :Alice Hoffman, book reviewer, Book reviews, Books, guest reviewer, literary, literature, The Story Sisters more...
