Final exam is today and I should be studying...

or should I?  I know the material cold.  The tax return that I have to use to fill in the "fill in the numbers from line XX" questions is perfect.  So I haven't studied or even looked at my books since Friday.

I promised in yesterday's headlines to explain how taking a bonus from your employer might cost you more in taxes than it's worth.  The situation only comes up for high-earning taxpayers who might be phased out of deductions when their combined state, federal and local (this is very common in New York City) is above 50%.

So if you only get to keep 46 cents out of every dollar more you earn, and you're losing 50 cents worth of deductions for each dollar you earn, you might be losing 4 cents on the dollar.  Not a big deal, but it could happen.  This is especially true for those who own rental real estate that loses money "on paper" due to depreciation.  Bottom line is always talk to your tax professional about such things and don't rely on internet articles or blogs.

I was out and about yesterday and pondering something I've pondered before.  The loss of all the bowling alleys around town.  I was just thinking about what has replaced them.  So here's a short list:

Picwood Bowl - The Westside Pavilion's addition
Kingpin Lanes - An office building
Santa Monica Lanes - An office building
Glenn Allison Bowl - A parking lot
Samoa Bowl - Fred Segal
Rodeo Bowl - A 7-11 and minimall
La Cienega Lanes - Heck if I remember.  It was a roller disco and then became the flagship store for some fashion line.  I think it's a drug store now.

I know I've probably ranted about this before and apologize for being repetitive.  Bowling was a very central part of my life and now there is no bowling at all in my life.  I gave it up because in my opinion technology ruined the sport.

Another thing I noticed is how there just aren't many corners with two gas stations on them any more.  I can only think of one intersection that still has three.  That's the corner of Cloverfield and Michigan in Santa Monica.  There is a Shell, a Mobil and an Arco station.  Are there any others out there with three?  Considering that in New York, there are lines that are multi-hour in duration to get gas, I wonder how we'd fare in a natural disaster that put most gas stations off-line when there are so few left.  I'll be filling up whenever I get blow half-a-tank more fervently in the future.

More help wanted ads:

"Candidate must have extensive office experience and must be eloquent in English."  Fluency isn't good enough, eloquence required..."

"Formal Household looking for a professional House Manager,  Please send resume with a photo first."  Formal?  Suit and tie 24/7?  Photo for a house manager position? 

I won't cut and paste this one, but it's one ad for two positions, one a bi-lingual (English and Spanish) receptionist and the other a Mandarin speaking AR/AP person.  The ad only asks for a "valid work permit" from applicants for the latter position.

"Apprentice barista?" I don't drink coffee, and I know some people take their coffee very seriously, but is it really that complicated you need to do an apprenticeship?

This one is great.  A "fitness company" wants women in their 30s/40s who have lost weight in the past but are now fit to shoot a video about their product and supply their own "before" and "after" photos.  So basically they're going to pay women $200 to lie and say it was their product that led to the weight loss.

"Do you know your Bible? A MAJOR CABLE NETWORK is now casting a BIBLE TRIVIA Game Show!"  Is there a real audience for this show on any network other than a religious one like CBN or Trinity?

Today in history:

On this day, 50 years ago, President Kennedy sent a note to the King of Pakistan pledging U.S. support in the event of an attack by India.  This promise would remain secret for nearly a decade.  Also on this day 50 years ago, Saudi Arabia and Egypt broke off diplomatic relations, due to several Saudi Princes defecting to Egypt.

On this day, 46 years ago, 38 African states united in a demand that Great Britain use force against the government of Rhodesia.

On this day 35 years ago, a group of American Indians broke into and occupied the offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

On this day in 1978, almost exactly one year before the U.S. Embassy in Tehran is seized, the British Embassy there is attacked by rioters.

On this day in 1986, three U.S. Navy vessels made the first visit to China since 1949.

and on this day in 2006, Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants were sentenced to death.