Greene Publishing, Inc.

By Jacob Bembry
Editor

When I was a child, I loved watching westerns and crime dramas on television. I would pretend that I was Marshal Dillon, or McGarrett from Hawaii Five-O or Reed or Malloy from Adam-12.

These shows were lost to the ages for me, along with my childhood, unless I caught reruns on an obscure channel on cable or satellite and then it was hit and miss as far as the time the shows aired. Now, though, I can watch the shows anytime I like either on Netflix or on Hulu.

Along with these shows, I can also watched old childhood favorite cartoons like The Archies and Fat Albert. I can catch reruns of old sitcoms like Dennis the Menace, Green Acres and the Andy Griffith Show. For my love of sci fi, I can even watch the original (and the best) Star Trek shows.

I have watched most of the Dragnet reruns on Hulu and, right now, I am addicted to watching the Adam-12 reruns on Netflix.

There are so many newer shows that have no redeeming value to them. Even the “family” cable channels are cluttered with them. As a Christian, it is hard to swallow these shows. I would much rather dine on the wholesomeness of the old shows.

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

Editor’s note: “Stray Vectors” is the author’s byline for random thoughts on the passing scene.
The United States International Longshoreman’s union has named China as the best friend to their workers. I think those fellows are working the wrong docks. Maybe they should try the other side of the Pacific.

Should the Social Security Administration recognize survivor benefits for children conceived and born after someone’s death using invitro fertilization? The Supreme Court will decide. It’s a “brave new world” folks.

Moment of nostalgia: during my days at the “Rocky Mountain School for Wayward Boys” (aka Air Force Academy) in the late 1960s, we were serenaded at the end of every leave by the Animals “We Gotta Get Out of this Place.” Remember that classic line in the chorus: “girl there’s a better life for me and you.” Ah, to be 20 once again!

These “separation of church and state” people really get under my skin, particularly when it comes to education. For centuries, the church was our center of education. The first printed book – Guttenberg’s Bible. We’re turning away from our heritage. Shame.

It seems that Iranian nuclear scientists are dying at an alarming rate from things like car bombs and other assorted “accidents.” Strange.

Here’s a fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans. If a Democrat politician says the right thing, that’s fine with his supporters. Doesn’t matter whether or not he delivers, just so long as he says the right thing. Republicans pay a lot more attention to what a politician does rather than what he says.

Today, the most visible sign of our lack of a realistic, coherent, sustainable energy policy is price at the pump. Yes, higher energy prices and shortages cause the price of all goods and services to rise, but where it really hits home is when we stop at a gas station and begin to pump gas into the vehicle and open our wallet to pay the ever increasing cost.

Judging from his rants that the Supreme Court has no basis for overturning Obamacare, Barack Obama may have been a “constitutional law professor,” but he wasn’t very good. How may of his former students are now jurists? Just what did he teach?

It is often said that “young people are bulletproof” meaning they are foolhardy, but going on spring break to Mexico now is beyond the pale. With all the drug-related murders and kidnapping going on south of the border, a Mexican vacationer should have his head examined before attempting such a trip.

Rick Santorum claims that Mitt Romney is a Johnny-come-lately to conservatism. At least he got there!

Former baseball pitcher Roger Clemmons is going on trial again accused of lying to Congress. I say turn about is fair play. Those guys lie to us every day. Lying to Congress; that’s an oxymoron!

Anders Breivik, the whacko who killed 77 Norwegians last summer, may get 21 years in prison if convicted. Something’s not quite right with this picture.

Want to know why I’m against the so-called Buffett rule? Two reasons. First, I don’t think fairness (as defined by some politician) is adequate justification to pass a law. Second, I’m against taking any more money out of our struggling economy and giving it to politicians and Washington bureaucrats so they can wastefully spend it.

The Social Security trustees have reported again that both Social Security (2033) and Medicare (2024) are set to run out of funds earlier than expected. No surprise here. I’ve reported to you before in this column on how these dates keep backing up … and will continue to do so. What has President Obama proposed over the last three years to address this fiscal train wreck? Nothing; no leadership whatsoever.

Apparently, more illegal aliens (or whatever the politically correct term is) from Mexico are leaving the US to return to their homeland than ever before. First time this has happened since the Great Depression in the 1930s. It’s the polar opposite of economic development and prosperity.

What actually went on during the Trayvon Martin – George Zimmerman confrontation that led to the young man’s death? Beats me. I suppose that the facts will be discovered in a court of law and left to a jury to decide.

By Mark Buescher, C.P.A.
Guest Columnist

Tax filing season is finally over and our office lights on Range Avenue here in Madison are no longer shining until late at night. But as the dust settles, a concern among taxpayers seems to be growing more and more each year. That concern is identity theft.

Consumers should protect themselves against online identity theft and other scams that increase during—and after—the filing season. Such scams may appropriate the name, logo, or other appurtenances of the IRS or U.S. Department of the Treasury to mislead taxpayers into believing the communication is legitimate. In fact, right here in Madison County, I know through various sources of at least eight taxpayers this year who have had fraudulent tax returns filed on their behalf.

The Internal Revenue Service receives thousands of reports each year from taxpayers who receive suspicious emails, phone calls, faxes or notices claiming to be from the IRS. Many of these scams fraudulently use the IRS name or logo as a lure to make the communication appear more authentic and enticing. The goal of these scams is to trick you into revealing your personal and financial information. The scammers can then use your information – like your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers – to commit identity theft or steal your money.

Generally, the IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails to taxpayers. Further, the IRS does not discuss tax account information with taxpayers via e-mail or use e-mail to solicit sensitive financial and personal information from taxpayers. The IRS does not request financial account security information, such as passwords and PIN numbers, from taxpayers.

Most scams impersonating the IRS are identity theft schemes. In this type of scam, the scammer poses as a legitimate institution to trick consumers into revealing personal and financial information – such as passwords and Social Security, PIN, bank account and credit card numbers – that can be used to gain access to their bank, credit card, or other financial accounts.

Attempted identity theft scams that take place via e-mail are known as phishing. Other scams may try to persuade a victim to advance sums of money in the hope of realizing a larger gain. These are known as advance fee scams.

Here is how an identity theft scam works. Typically, a consumer will receive an e-mail that claims to come from the IRS or Treasury Department. The message will contain an enticing or intimidating subject line, such as “Tax Refund,” “Inherited Funds,” or “IRS Notice.” Usually, the message will state that the recipient needs to provide the IRS with information to obtain the refund or avoid some penalty.

The message will instruct the consumer to open an attachment or click on a link in the e-mail. This may lead to an official-looking IRS Web site. The look-alike site will then contain a phony but genuine-looking online form or interactive application that requires personal and financial information, which the scammer then uses to commit identity theft.

Alternatively, the clicked link may secretly download malware to the consumer’s computer. Malware is malicious code that can take over the computer’s hard drive, giving the scammer remote access to the computer, or it could look for passwords and other information and send them to the scammer.

In reality, taxpayers do not need to complete a special form to obtain their federal tax refund. Refunds are triggered by the tax return they submitted to the IRS.

The contents of other IRS-impersonation scams vary but may claim that the recipient will be paid for participating in an online survey or is under investigation or audit. Some scam e-mails have referenced Recovery-related tax provisions, such as Making Work Pay, or solicited for charitable donations to victims of natural disasters. Taxpayers should beware of an e-mail scam that references underreported income and the recipient’s “tax statement,” since clicking on a link or opening an attachment is known to download malware onto the recipient’s computer.

Nevertheless, scams involving the IRS are on the rise and literally involve tens of thousands of taxpayers. Consumers who believe they are or may be victims of identity theft or other scams may visit the U.S. Federal Trade Commission website for guidance on what to do. The IRS is one of the sponsors of this site.

Mark Buescher, CPA is owner and principal of Buescher and Ruff, LLC, a local full service accounting firm in Madison, specializing in tax preparation and planning, business consulting and assurance services. Tax laws contain varying effective dates and numerous limitations and exemptions that cannot be summarized easily. For details and guidance for your specific situation, contact your tax advisor.

By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist

When it comes to money, you are in the driver’s seat and it is up to you to manage all of your resources. Where does your money go? Do you let it slip out of your hands or do you control it? During Financial Literacy Month, make an effort to take charge of your money and other resources to achieve your goals and get from where you are to where you want to be.

If you want to control your money, first distinguish between “needs and wants,” consider your values, goals and all of your resources. It is ok to have a list of “wants”, we usually don’t have enough money to pay the bills and purchase all of the things we want. It becomes necessary to cover basic needs, then prioritize those “wants” and make a plan to acquire things one at a time.

You can save up to 15 % of your take home pay by making and following a spending plan that covers your fixed expenses, flexible expenses, and funds for emergencies and future goals. Another 25 to 30 % can be cut by shopping with a list, and doing comparative shopping before you make a purchase. Look at flexible spending categories and find ways to cut back, then direct the difference toward savings or paying off debts.

In these economic times, the price of gas and transportation takes a big chunk out of our budgets. Stretch your transportation dollars by keeping your automobile in good shape. Get regular maintenance and service checkups and use your care owner’s manual to plan maintenance. Make your car last longer by taking care of it and you will delay the need for purchasing a newer vehicle.

Spend less by taking care of what you already have, whether it’s clothing, appliances or your home; regular maintenance keeps you from making big repairs that cost big money. Use care – recycle, remodel and recreate. Use your skills to repair or trade off with someone who has the skills you don’t. For example, a friend or relative might be able to do a roof repair for you if you do the painting job at their house.

Food is another spending category that can be controlled if you plan in advance. Buy only what you will use within a week and eliminate food waste. . The average family wastes about 20 % of their food through improper storage; buying too much and then eat out all week or not using leftovers. Just think about all of those science projects in the back of the refrigerator you have to throw out. Next time you clean out the refrigerator, add up the cost you are putting into the garbage can. Plan meals and snacks around weekly sales, start preparing more food at home and you will spend less on food.

Manage credit wisely. If you use credit, try to buy at the start of the billing cycle so you won’t be billed for 25 days and charge only what you can pay off. Pay the bill in full to save the interest fees. Try operating on a cash only basis for a couple of months while you work on paying down those credit card debts.

Check your spending habits. Do you waste money? We often spend more than we think and money slips our wallets without much thought. Try this exercise – for one week, whenever you take your wallet out, write down how much you spend. You may be shocked at the amount of money that leaves your pocket each week. We call these small amounts spending leaks, and they can add up to large amounts over time. Remember, a dollar a day saved is $365.00 a year.

Money control is in your hands. It’s up to you to manage your resources and direct money where you want it to go. For more information on how you can cut costs and take charge of your money, contact the Madison County Extension Service.

The IFAS/University of Florida Extension – Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin.

I had been having trouble sleeping since I got out of the hospital in December.

At first, I blamed it on the hospital, since they send nurses in during the night and poke you. Some even would wake me in the middle of the night and give me a chocolate milkshake named Glucerna, because my sugar had dropped way too low. Nurses. Nurses. Nurses. Can’t a man have any peace?

After I got over blaming it on the nurses, I blamed it on a friend who would text me all through the night. I couldn’t really blame it on her, though, could I? My cell phone does have an off button, doesn’t it? The fact is, I was texting her back also.

After the texting between me and my friend came to a halt, I had no one to blame it on. I still could not sleep.

I tried reading. I tried counting sheep. I even tried counting my many blessings but nothing would help me sleep.

I tried melatonin, which had always helped in the past. It did not work. I went to the doctor and she prescribed trazadone. Still, it did not work.

One night, I was playing with my iPod Touch, looking at different apps, when I discovered an app called Bible.is. I downloaded the app, excited that I had something to read the Bible to me during the day.

When I went to bed, I thought, “I’m going to try something.” I put my ear buds in and began listening to the Bible. I left them in all through the night and slept like a baby. The next night, I did the same.

I thank God that I was able to discover this app and there is nothing better than going to sleep hearing the words of God in your ear and then waking up to them each morning.

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

For those of you who follow newspaper crash reports, you know that I was involved in an auto accident on Good Friday (see last week’s Carrier front page). I never go by my first name David, but always by the shortened version of my middle name Joseph.

For the record, I was stopped at the intersection of highways 255 and 6 when a violent, two-car collision occurred not 20 feet in front of me. I caught the ricochet on the driver’s side. Other than flying glass, Linda and I weren’t injured although our Camry was totaled. The other parties walked away from this too, fortunately.

The driver who caused the crash apparently completely missed the warning signs (two signs, rumble strips, flashing red light, and stop sign) and bolted through the intersection only to be broadsided by a pickup motoring on SR 6. For whatever reason, the young driver was apparently distracted from the primary job of safely driving her vehicle.

That got me to thinking about the business of distraction, a frequent and often deadly occurrence. In my flying career, I investigated many aircraft accidents where the only plausible answer was that the pilot became distracted from his primary duty (flying) and “put the aircraft into a position from which recovery was not possible.”

What caused that distraction? Could be a lot of things. For example, the distraction could be: another aircraft; a warning signal in the cockpit; focusing attention on something away from the motion of the aircraft; etc. Whatever the reason, the pilot diverted his attention to some other activity other than his primary job.

One such accident was a single Phantom flying a low level over southern Germany. He came across two A-10s working over a simulated target on the ground. As the F-4 turned to keep the other two fighters in sight, he failed to notice a tower on a hill secured by guide wires. When the pilot did turn his head around to the front, he was nose-to-nose with one of those cables. When he snatched the stick to avoid the collision, the aircraft “departed controlled flight (high speed stall).” At that instance, they were so close to the ground that they were dead. The ground always wins those encounters!

In another instance, the test pilot was so engrossed in helping the engineer calculate the airspeed for the next test point that he failed to follow the checklist and transfer fuel forward for the next configuration. The plane was tail heavy because it was out-of-balance and stalled, crashing into the desert floor. And this accident wasn’t caused by inexperience; the test pilot was the most experienced large aircraft test pilot in the world.

Whether we’re flying a high-speed jet, operating a car, or doing a myriad of other things, what causes our attention to be diverted? There are many answers to that question. Does that mean we can’t multi-task? No, but some people are better at this than others. Back in my flying days, I could read the checklist, talk on the radio, check the radar, scan the horizon for bogeys … literally a jillion things at once, but when I was flying at 540 knots at 75 feet above the ground, I didn’t do any of those things. Instead, I was focused on the immediate threat – the ground and obstacles in front of my jet. A moment of inattention in that regime could spell disaster.

There are lessons in this for all of us. Do not narrow our focus (aka tunnel vision) on anything other than our primary duty. If you’re driving a car, then that is your primary duty. And focus your attention commensurate with driving conditions. For example, I frequently talk on my cell phone when driving, but I won’t do that if I’m driving at high speed on a crowded freeway.

We can all learn from every mishap. I hope the others in my accident did. While I didn’t do anything wrong to cause the accident, I’ll never again approach that intersection the same way. I’m much more cautious as the result of my experience.

This day in history: Seventy years ago, Jimmy Doolittle led 16 B-25 medium bombers to attack targets around Tokyo. The Army Air Force bombers were launched from the USS Hornet, a Navy carrier. It was a daring attack that really boosted American morale in the early days of World War II. Check out “30 Seconds over Tokyo,” a classic movie that is frequently broadcast on TCM.

By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist

Easter is this weekend and that means many of you will be dyeing eggs for decoration and egg hunts. These days, there are so many interesting ways to dye and decorate eggs. Keep in mind, each time you handle an egg, it increases the chances of contact with bacteria. This is why it’s important to follow food safety guidelines and keep your Easter eggs from ruining your holiday celebrations.

If you are having an Easter egg hunt, it is best to use plastic eggs and leave the real ones in the refrigerator. There are many food safety issues with using real eggs; it just makes sense to opt for plastic. Real eggs should not be out of the refrigerator for longer than two hours, and if you hide them outside there is the issue of warmer temperatures and the problem of avoiding areas where they may come into contact with pet, wild life, insects and lawn chemicals. So, you can see why it makes better sense to use artificial eggs for outdoor activities.

Whenever you are handling eggs, thoroughly wash your hands each step of the way. Whether you are cooking, cooling or dyeing eggs — wash your hands. If you won’t be coloring your eggs immediately after cooking, store them in their original carton in the refrigerator. Inspect eggs for cracks before and after coloring. All cracked eggs need to be thrown away. If you use cooked eggs for a centerpiece or other decoration, and know they will be at room temperature for a day or two, discard them after use.

While we are on the topic of eggs, here are a few steps on cooking the perfect hard cooked egg. According to the Egg Board, there is a correct way to prepare hard cooked eggs, and it is not boiling. If your eggs have a green ring around the yolk, you have cooked them too long. To cook an egg to perfection, follow these simple steps:

Place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan. Add enough tap water to come at least 1 inch above the eggs.

Cover. Quickly bring the water to a boil and turn off the heat.

If necessary, remove the pan from the burner to prevent further boiling. For hard-cooked eggs, let eggs stand covered in the hot water for 18 minutes for extra large, 15 minutes for large and 12 minutes for medium.

Immediately run cold water over eggs or place them in ice water until completely cooled.
To remove the shell, crack it by tapping gently all over.

Roll the egg between your hands to loosen the shell.

Peel, starting at the large end. Hold the egg under running cold water or dip in a bowl of water to help ease the shell off.

For more information on food safety, contact the Madison County Extension Service.

The University of Florida Extension – Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin.

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

Editor’s note: “Stray Vectors” is the author’s byline for random thoughts on the passing scene.

I hear a lot of my friends extolling the virtue of solar energy. What I don’t hear them talking about is land use. It takes a huge amount of space (acreage) to collect enough of the sun’s energy to be useful. Until scientists can figure out how to concentrate the energy, it simply isn’t economically viable.

I read an article on retirement which named the ten worst states to live out your “golden years.” Let’s cut to the chase. They’re all in the northeast and upper Midwest where it’s cold and taxes are high. Two of Florida’s great advantages for growth have been our mild climate and zero income tax. Ya’ll come on.

The Obamamites are proud of the fact that high gas prices are leading to less use, but is that good? Aren’t higher energy expenditures tied to a booming economy?

As 2011 closed, the national debt stood at $15.22 trillion (with a “t”). Is this the road to ruin? How quick is the trip?

California retread Governor Jerry Brown has proposed to his legislature a “modest” 7 percent increase in spending … to be paid for by higher taxes. “Tax & spend” liberals (but wait; I repeat myself) like Brown can’t help themselves – it’s in their DNA.

Presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett claims that unemployment stimulates the economy because the unemployed spend their government checks on consumer goods. How ignorant is that? These are the people who are running the country … into the ground.

Is it proper to drug test welfare recipients and deny benefits if the test comes back positive? In my opinion, yeah, it makes a lot of sense! Why should we use taxpayer funds to subsidize illegal drug activity? Some argue this is demeaning. I say tough cookies. If you’re on the dole, prove that the money won’t be used to get high.

In February, there were no new jobs created in the critical construction industry. Wonder how much that situation would improve if the administration would get behind building the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast refineries?

President Obama’s main reelection campaign message is that “everyone should pay their fair share in taxes.” That’s hard to argue with … but what’s “fair?” Maybe your definition of fair and mine differ. If the top one percent pay 38 percent of all income taxes as is currently the case, is that fair? If 46 percent of the people pay no income tax at all, is that fair? What do you mean by “fair share?”

Could stepping up domestic oil exploration have a positive impact on the price of fuel? I bet it would. Just the announcement that we are: a) opening ANWR to oil and gas production; b) approving the Keystone XL pipeline; and c) expanding offshore drilling leases would have an immediate effect on speculators and the high prices they’re driving.

From all that I can gather, Cindy Vees is doing a fine job as our Chamber of Commerce executive. This is a subject I have personal experience with since I had the same job a dozen years ago. She appears to have the vision, personality, and patience to do excellent work for our community. Way to go Cindy.

Is it discriminatory to require a voter to show a photo id to prove his identity? All the law requires is for you to prove that you are who you say you are before voting? You can’t board an airplane without a photo id. There are lots of things you can’t do without proving who you are. Why should voting be any less important?

The “official” unemployment rate may be 8.3 percent, but 24 million unemployed and underemployed Americans tell a different story. If the job inventory when Obama took office was the same as today, the unemployment rate would be 10.8 percent. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t feel like much of a recovery.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) now estimates the cost of Obamacare for the ten years from 2013-22 to be $1.76 trillion, nearly double the 2010 estimate of $940 billion. Congress and the president lied to us. As Gomer Pyle said, “surprise, surprise.”

For those who are paying attention, the national debt has increased more in Obama’s three years than George Bush did in eight.

Liberal commentator Paul Krugman of the New York Times is upset because the public is “paranoid” over high gasoline prices. Typical thinking for someone who lives in a metro enclave like NYC with tons of mass transit options. Does the guy even own a car?

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

Paul Ryan is a young congressman from Janesville, WI. I say young – he’s 42 and been in Congress since 1999. Normally, I have little regard for youthful politicians because they generally lack enough life experiences to put them in a position of power over us, but Ryan is different. Since the Republicans took control of Congress in 2011, he has been the Chairman of the House Budget Committee. I’m confident in this assertion – there is no one in elected office other than Paul Ryan who better understands the intricacies of the Federal budget and how to fix its’ inherent problems.

For the second consecutive year, Ryan has introduced a budget plan, titled “The Path to Prosperity. Last year’s version passed the House of Representative but died in the Senate where majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) refused to allow for a vote. This year, Ryan has returned for a second bite at the apple, but this year’s budget has one major change from last year’s – instead of making Medicare strictly fee-for-service, this year’s plan says that Medicare-eligible beneficiaries can choose between existing Medicare or the new plan.

Ryan’s plan, which over a ten year period reduces spending by $5.3 trillion (from the president’s proposed budget) and the deficit by $3 trillion, tackles one of the three entitlement programs which spell doom for us until they are responsibly addressed. Those three bank-busting entitlements are: Social Security; Medicare, and Medicaid. Social Security was enacted in 1935 and represents old age pensions. Medicare is health insurance for the elderly while Medicaid is health insurance for the poor and indigent. These last two entitlements were the product of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society in 1965.

The two entitlement programs which will blow a hole in any budget and doom the economy are Medicare and Medicaid. Rising health care costs and the retirement of 75 million baby-boomers spell doom for Medicare. Medicaid will quickly spiral out-of-control when 30 million formerly uninsured are added to its roles in 2014, thanks to the (not really) Affordable Care Act.

These entitlement programs and Social Security too, are largely unfunded. They were sold on the cheap and have been sustainable only because more taxes were raised initially than benefits paid. Now the bill is coming due, and we simply cannot afford it. These entitlements represent promises made by politicians in the past that cannot be paid over the long run. The politicians we elected over-promised and we believed them. The bill is coming due and it will break our collective bank.

You don’t believe me? Look at what is happening in Greece today. On the near horizon are the rest of the PIIGS – Portugal, Ireland, Italy, and Spain. When we see the economy of Italy and Spain blow up with downgraded bonds and rising inflation, you’ll begin to understand the impact of unsustainable debt. But nothing will prepare the world for (if and) when the economy of the United States implodes. We must avoid this at all cost.

There are other things in Ryan’s plan besides simply reigning in the cost of Medicare. The Path to Prosperity lowers tax rates and simplifies the tax code by cutting out most tax shelters, the caveats used by the wealthy and corporations to avoid taxes. Their special interests and army of accountants will fight tooth-and-nail to preserve the status quo, but if Republicans and some Democrats find bi-partisan agreement, the tax loophole dragon can be slayed. This important combination of lower tax rates and shelters promises to broaden the tax base.

Democrats decry Ryan’s budget with the usual attacks – war on the elderly and poor; destroying the social safety net; ending Medicare as we know it; blah, blah. But there is one thing missing in their attacks – where’s the alternative plan? They have none. The Democrat controlled Senate hasn’t passed a budget in nearly three years. By default, the Democrat (non) plan is the status quo. That means trillion dollar plus deficits as far as the eye can see until the public debt becomes so great that it crushes our economy … and the world’s as well!

I urge you to study Paul Ryan’s proposal and be informed. He is a young man on a mission and, in my opinion, deserves our attention and support. One more thing – he’s young enough and plenty smart; we probably haven’t seen the last of young Mr. Ryan. Bigger things lie ahead.

By Jacob Bembry

We are known by the company we keep. I am associated with Greene Publishing, Inc., so many times I get mistaken for a family member. I have even been called Jacob Greene before. When I am away from the newspaper, though, I am usually not seen with any employees of the company, except for Bryant Thigpen, who has been my friend since he was a little boy. I am also seen with my family in public, including my mentally challenged sister Abbie, who is my BFF (best friend forever) or I may be seen in the company of any of my friends. On Monday, I could have been seen enjoying lunch with Bryant and with Jackie Watts, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church.

Sister Cora Huckaba was discussing the Book of Nehemiah in Sunday School this past week. As she taught, I was struck by the passage where messengers are sent to Nehemiah asking him to come meet with them. Nehemiah refused five different times. He had prayed and he understood (through God’s wisdom) that the people who sent for him meant to do him harm and in fact to assassinate him so the building of the walls would not continue. When Nehemiah was able to accomplish in 52 days what others had failed to do for 70 years, they were shamed and recognized that Israel’s God had helped Nehemiah and the others do that work.

The most important part of the lesson was that Nehemiah had prayed and listened to God. Many times, I am a fool. I may pray. I may read the Bible, but I do not wait on God and meditate on Him and listen to Him. When I do not wait and listen and meditate, I do more harm than good. I find that out again and again. Pray. Read. Meditate. Wait. Listen. Wait and Listen, Jacob, you idiot.

I was listening to a minister online the other night who shared that some of the people we hang around with can hurt us. Sometimes other Christians can even be harmful to us. For example, I have Christian women friends who are married. I may go to lunch with them and it will just be a nice lunch between two friends. If I keep going with them, it can be toxic. People may see us together and start to talk. Soon, my reputation is ruined, or maybe what started as an innocent get-together proceeds into something that can become caustic. Or I may begin hanging around with non-Christians. The minister pointed out that Jesus was a friend to sinners and that the way to tell if we are helping or hurting them is to try the “Tug of War Test.” He said to imagine that you are in a tug of war with the non-Christian friend. He said that on your side are the Christians – your church, your Christian friends and Jesus Christ. On the other side is the world. If you see that you are being pulled to the world’s side to drop the rope. (Because the world can diminish our personal witness.) If you see that the non-Christian is being pulled to your side then hold on and keep pulling.

By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist

We are still in March, National Nutrition Month, so this week, let’s look at another updated recommendation from the revised Dietary Guidelines. Americans need to work on reducing daily consumption of two food categories; solid fats and added sugars. A new acronym, SoFAS has been coined by USDA to describe this trend in the American meal patterns; the “SoF” stands for solid fat and the “AS” represents added sugars. While the intention is a catchy phrase, it might leave some people confused.

Let’s break this down and look at solid fats (SoF) first. Fats are categorized into three groups know as fatty acids; they can be saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. All fats contain a combination of three fats, but they are in different amounts. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature; the exceptions are palm and coconut oils. These fats tend to raise cholesterol levels in the human body, which over time can cause a plaque build-up in blood vessels leading to coronary heart disease. Foods high in saturated fats are meat, whole dairy and baked products made with palm or coconut oil.

Healthier fats are liquid at room temperature, are higher in poly or monounsaturated fats and do not contribute to cholesterol levels. Oils that are high in monounsaturated fats are canola, safflower, olive and peanut oils. Examples of polyunsaturated fats are corn, cotton seed and soy bean oil. This gives you a variety of fats to use, but always use fats sparingly.

Trans fats are also a fat that can lead to increased cholesterol levels, these are formed during food processing. When hydrogen is added to a fat to make it more solid, trans fats are formed making the fat more saturated. Synthetic trans fatty acids are found in margarines, snack foods, peanut butter and prepared desserts. Small amounts are naturally found in meat and milk foods.

How does all of this information translate into the food choices you make every day? Eat lean cuts of meat and chose low-fat and fat free dairy foods to reduce solid fats and naturally occurring tans fats. Consume less prepared desserts and snacks to reduce trans fats and saturated fats that are added to foods as an ingredient.

Consumers always have questions about margarine, there are so many on the market. Read the ingredient list and start with a spread that has a monounsaturated fat as the major ingredient. Then, read the nutrition label and find the smallest amount of saturated and trans fats with a higher number of unsaturated fats.

In food preparation, both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are much better alternatives to solid fats. While they still have the same amount of calories, unsaturated fats have a more positive affect in your body.

Now, for the “AS” or added sugars in SoFAS, by itself, it is not a bad ingredient and it adds sweetness to our foods and serves as a browning agent in many foods and most have few nutrients, and are high in calories. According to the Dietary Guidelines, added sugar contributes an average of 16% of the total calories in the American diet. This translates into added calories and excess calories can only mean extra pounds.

Sugars come in many forms. Read the nutrition labels, added sugars may be high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, malt syrup, maple syrup, fructose, dextrose molasses or honey.

Can you guess the food source highest consumption of added sugar? Sugary drinks like soda, energy drinks and sport drinks account for 36% of extra sugar in our diet. Sugar sweetened fruit drinks account for about 10% of the extra calories in the American diet. Sweetened tea, which adds extra calories to our Southern diet is a sweetened drink. The message is to cut back on foods high in sugar; eat or drink them less often.

Solid fats and added sugar can contribute a large portion of calories to the American diet. It is estimated that on average 800 calories per day come from these two food ingredients. Remember too, most foods that are high in these ingredients are also low in other nutrients and it is well documented these foods contribute to weight gain. The recommendation from USDA is to eat these foods less often. Instead, focus on nutrient-dense forms of foods from all food groups.

For more information on any nutrition topic, contact the Madison County Extension Service at 973-4138.

The University of Florida Extension/IFAS Extension – Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs or disability.

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

During my recent trip to the Holy Land, one of the most fascinating sites we visited was the ancient fortress and palace of Masada, high atop a plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. Just before the birth of Jesus, King Herod had a magnificent three-tiered palace built into the north face of the plateau, with 4300 feet of fortifications built around the edge of the mountain top. From the west, the plateau rises 1300 feet about the valley floor.

Approach to Masada is in two forms, a switch-back “snake path” or a cable car. We took the easy way by cable car. The mid-February day we visited was clear, cold, and quite windy. High atop a plateau with no tree in sight, there isn’t anything to stop the wind.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the location of Masada was discovered and archeologists began to unearth what wind and sand had covered. The excavations of the ruins of Masada are extensive and show baths and worship sites that behold this once majestic site. Herod (known as the builder) ruled for a third of a century and commissioned many great sites which exist to this day. During his reign, the second Temple was built as the focus of Jewish worship in Jerusalem. It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD during the great revolt. The remnants of the destruction are visible today.

That Jewish revolt against Roman rule occurred from 66-73 AD and is the focus of one of Masada’s most enduring stories. Nearly a thousand Sacarii rebels retreated to the fortress of Masada and stored food to await the siege they knew would come. The Roman Legions arrived under command of Flavius Silva and established garrisons (still visible today) to conduct their year-long siege. When the Sacarii realized that they would succumb, they committed mass suicide rather than face slavery. The handful of women and children who escaped told the story to the first century historian Josephus who recorded their zealous act. In the 1960s, a popular movie by the same name staring Peter O’Toole recounted this epic.

The engineers who designed the fortress two thousand years ago developed a marvelous way to collect water in a region that receives only four inches of rainfall each year. A series of gravity fed aqueducts collected rainwater off the rock and channeled it to cisterns. There is a model of their engineering today to demonstrate this creative method.

Today, Israeli military cadets regularly visit Masada to take their oath of allegiance. Like the defenders of old, they vow never to succumb to the threats they face from their neighboring enemies.

Perhaps it was more than symbolic that the day we visited the old fortress, four Israeli Air Force F-15 Eagles thundered overhead. They made two trips headed east, turning over the Dead Sea along the border with Jordan before heading south to their training areas over the Negev Desert. The Jews were destroyed by the Romans in the first century and by the Nazis in the last. They vow never again.

By Mark Buescher, C.P.A.
Guest Columnist

If you have driven by our office on Range Avenue recently, you have probably noticed the lights on until eight or nine o’clock each evening. The reason is obvious – it’s tax season. It’s the time of year that everyone is frantically gathering up last year’s income and expenses in order to file their tax returns.

North Floridians are like everyone else. We all want to save money when it comes to filing our income taxes. Even though 2011 has past, you may still be able to trim your tax bill this year.

The 2011 Form 1040 reflects a number of new tax breaks along with some of our old favorites. Some are straightforward. Others are complex. But they all provide an opportunity to save money. Here are a few reminders.

First, consider maximizing your 2011 IRA contribution. You have until April 17, 2012, to make deductible 2011 contributions. The maximum 2011 contribution is $5,000. But if you were age 50 or older last year, you can contribute up to $6,000.

Look into itemizing deductions if you usually take the standard deduction. Search for allowable deductions that you might have overlooked, such as the restored deduction for state and local sales taxes. Since Floridians generally pay no state income tax which would be deductible in lieu of the sales tax, the deduction for sales tax is even more valuable.

Medical deductions are allowable to the extent they exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI). Don’t forget items such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, and even Lasik eye surgery. Also, you can deduct mileage for 2011 medical appointments at 19 cents per mile through June 30, 2011 (23.5 cents per mile after July 1, 2011), plus parking and toll fees.

Other items you do not want to overlook include tax preparation fees, safe deposit costs, and certain investment advice. They all qualify as miscellaneous itemized deductions, subject to a two-percent AGI limit.

There are several types of deductions for education expenses that are often overlooked. One of the biggest is student loan interest. Up to $2,500 of student loan interest is deductible whether you itemize or not.

Another education related provision available for 2011 is the deduction of up to $4,000 for qualified tuition and school expenses. This deduction was slated to expire but was extended through the Tax Relief Act passed in December 2010. Qualifying amounts for you, your spouse, and dependents may be deductible, subject to income limits.

If you’re a teacher or teacher’s aide, you can deduct up to $250 for classroom supplies, including computers and accessories, that you purchased with your own money. This deduction was recently extended as well.

If you made energy-saving improvements to your home, check into the credit of up to 10% of your cost (30% of certain types of solar and wind energy systems). Although this credit was recently extended, it is subject to a $500 limit for amounts spent in 2011. But keep in mind, a credit is more beneficial than a deduction. A credit is a dollar for dollar reduction of your taxes.

For those of you who changed jobs in 2011, make sure you didn’t have excess social security taxes withheld. You may claim a credit for the excess on your Form 1040 if you paid over $4,486.

Also, do not forget several new benefits available through the health care legislation passed in 2010. For 2011, a self-employed person who paid for health insurance may be able to include in his health insurance deduction any premiums paid to cover his child who was under age 27, even if the child was not his dependent.

Another benefit under the new health care law is the small business health insurance credit. The new tax credit is available to eligible small employers who make qualifying contributions to buy health insurance for their employees. In general, the new credit is 35% of premiums paid.

These are just a few basic tax-saving ideas. Opportunities abound if you just dig below the surface.

Mark Buescher, CPA is owner and principal of Buescher and Ruff, LLC, a local full service accounting firm in Madison, specializing in tax preparation, business consulting and audit and assurance services. Tax laws contain varying effective dates and numerous limitations and exemptions that cannot be summarized easily. For details and guidance for your specific situation, contact your tax advisor.

By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist

Since it’s National Nutrition Month for the month of March, we will continue to explore simple dietary changes that can make a big difference in your health. This week let’s look at the latest recommendations on sodium. Revised every five years, USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans now recommends Americans consume less than 2,300 mg. of sodium each day. It goes further to ask consumers to work toward an intake of 1,500 mg. For adults over 51 years of age and people with diabetes or hypertension, USDA strongly recommends the intake need to be at the 1,500 mg. level. This means consuming less than one teaspoon of salt each day in all of the food you eat.

Sodium is an essential nutrient needed by the body in relatively small quantities. The health concern is that most Americans consume a high intake of sodium in their diets which over time can lead to higher blood pressure. According to the research review by the Dietary Guidelines committee, on average, the higher a person’s sodium intake the higher the blood pressure. Keeping blood pressure in a normal range reduces risk of heart disease and kidney failure.

In the American diet, sodium is consumed as salt, an ingredient used in curing meat, baking, and enhancing the flavor of food. The salt added in cooking and at the table only account for a small amount of sodium in our diets. Most of the sodium in our diet comes from processed foods.

Americans love to eat out, so be aware restaurant foods are usually very high in sodium. Your food may not taste salty, but don’t let that fool you. Sometimes a restaurant meal can have over 2,000 mg. of sodium. It’s the sauces, fries and condiments that have hidden sodium.

If you are interested in a healthful meal plan to reduce sodium intake, a proven researched based diet is the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). DASH emphasizes consuming fresh vegetables, fruit and low-fat milk product, whole-grains and lean meats. When this meal plan is followed it also reduces the intake of saturated fats. In several DASH studies, participants were able to reduce their blood pressure and improve their blood lipids which reduced their risk of heart disease. The point is to choose fresh foods whenever possible and prepare them with ingredients other than sodium.

Learn to read nutrition labels and identify the amount of sodium in the foods you buy and eat. If a label claims to be low in sodium, it should have no more than 140mg. Products claiming to be “very low sodium” must have 35mg or less. When a label claims to be “reduced sodium” it only has to be 25% lower than the original version, so may still be high in sodium. Look at the percent of daily value, if it is less than 5%, the food is low in sodium.

How does all of this information translate into daily food choice? Here is a list of eating tips to reduce your intake of sodium:

Eat less processed foods such as deli meat, salty snacks and crackers, processed cheese, canned soups and meats, pickle, relishes and other condiments.

Learn to cook with herbs and spices which add wonderful flavors to your food.

Cut back on salt used in cooking pasta, rice and noodles. Use half the amount you would normally use. If you are making cooked cereal like oatmeal, leave the salt out.

Cook fresh vegetables instead of canned and use seasoning other than salt.

Buy “low-sodium” versions of canned goods when available.

Make your own salad dressings and omit salt as an ingredient.

Use no-salt – added ketchup or low sodium soy sauce.

When eating out, be selective. A grilled chicken sandwich can have as much as 1000 mgs. of sodium.; whenever possible, order food without sauces and extra cheese.

To learn more about how to reduce sodium intake, call the Extension office for a free copy of “Nutrition for Health and Fitness: Sodium in Your Diet.”

The University of Florida Extension/IFAS Extension – Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs or disability.

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

Last month, the Obama Administration announced under the auspices of the new healthcare law that all insurance policies must offer women’s contraceptive services including the abortifacient RU-486 (morning after pill). This touched off a firestorm of controversy with many religious orders because Obama reversed himself on promises to honor the “conscience clause” afforded religious liberty. At the forefront of this controversy is the Roman Catholic Church which violently objects to being forced to cover services at their many schools and hospitals which are contrary to their doctrine.

When liberal Democrats who back the president’s pronouncement tried to present a view supporting their position, they invited a Georgetown Law student named Sandra Fluke to give her opinion. Then radio host Rush Limbaugh weighed in, using some ill-advised adjectives to describe Ms. Fluke which he has since apologized for.

Liberals have painted this brouhaha as an issue of women’s rights. In the process, they have (intentionally) obscured two very real issues: is this a violation of religious liberty captured in the First Amendment to the Constitution; and should services like these be mandated in any healthcare law?

Putting the first objection aside for now, let me tackle the second question under the rubric “what is healthcare?” You see, if we don’t define our terms, then nearly anything can be called healthcare. If we don’t set a specific definition, then I promise you that the pledges made by vote-hungry politicians will break the bank, sooner rather than later. We simply cannot afford all they will promise.

Let me use a personal example. I’m recovering from prostate surgery two weeks ago (nothing serious folks). I’ve been under the care of my urologist for five years. In January, he informed me that we needed to correct my problem with surgery because medication wouldn’t do the job. My insurance company quickly agreed and authorized the surgery.

But if I went to a plastic surgeon and said that I needed my double-chin removed and thinning hairline re-rooted to improve my self-esteem, I would not be surprised at all if they declined to cover the procedures. In the first case, there is a medical necessity that was increasingly becoming a problem to my health. In the second case, the problem would be in my head and the evidence that it would make any meaningful difference is shaky. It is the difference between health related and elective surgery.
There is nothing wrong (yet) with me or you paying directly for elective surgery. But if lawmakers require insurance to cover this, then it will skyrocket the cost to all of us to cover the few who actually will have this surgery.

Here’s another thing I think about healthcare: before I depend on my doctor, my insurance company, or the federal government, I need to take personal responsibility for my own healthcare. That means five things. First, I’m responsible for what and how much I eat. Second, I need to watch for health sign indicators for things like blood pressure and see a specialist if I detect a problem. Third, I need to exercise sufficiently to keep in good shape. Fourth, I need sufficient emotional health to keep my mind and spirit in unison. And last, I need to avoid self-destructive things to my health like alcoholism, smoking, narcotics, etc.

These things are my job. I cannot lay off this responsibility on another. If I’m overweight and out of shape, it’s my fault, not someone else’s. I’m responsible; only I can correct it. Genes and culture may be working against me. If so, it simply means that I have to work harder. Life isn’t always fair.
I’m inclined to think that contraceptive services are a matter for personal responsibility, not the governments. Before leaving the subject of Ms. Fluke, she argued in a law paper that health insurance should also cover sex-change operations, now called gender reassignment in modern language. Now I ask you in a direct appeal to your common sense, does a sex-change operation sound like a medical necessity that should be covered under health insurance? I hope your answer is no.

We need to narrowly define what is included in healthcare coverage and what is not. So much mandated coverage has been added to these policies by vote-crazed lawmakers that they have driven up the cost incredibly. It is virtually impossible to buy a low cost, high-deductible, catastrophic coverage insurance policy because of so much meddling by lawmakers and lobbyists. They have larded up the insurance requirements so much that the cost of these policies has skyrocketed.

The conservative answer to healthcare is to (really) drive down the cost to make coverage more affordable for more people. This is what the president said he was going to do, not what he actually did.

Debt update: the federal deficit for February added a record $229 billion to the debt.