12/21/2012 03:00 PM EST
Image description: NASA’s Cassini spacecraft delivered this view of Saturn while the spacecraft was in the planet’s shadow. Learn more about this view of Saturn.
Image from NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
12/21/2012 02:00 PM EST
As 2012 comes to a close, individuals and businesses need to remember some key tax provisions for making contributions to charity. The IRS offers these reminders for year-end giving:
- To deduct monetary donations you must have a bank record or written document from the charity stating the name of the charity, the contribution amount and the date.
- Contributions are deductible in the year made, even if the credit card bill isn’t paid or the check isn’t cashed until 2013.
- Only donations made to qualified organizations are tax deductible. Make sure the organization you want to donate to is qualified before making any contribution.
- Individuals must itemize their deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A or use a short form (Form 1040A and 1040EZ) to claim the standard deduction.
12/21/2012 01:00 PM EST
Make sure that everyone gets to enjoy the holiday season by keeping the four-legged members of your family safe this December. It’s easy to get distracted at this time of year, so if you have pets, try to keep these ideas in mind:
- Avoid tinsel and clean up strings and ribbon right away. Swallowed decorations can seriously damage internal organs, leading to a painful and dangerous situation.
- Display and dispose of holiday plants safely. Poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, leading to bad gastrointestinal upset if eaten.
- Be careful with pet treats. Your lucky dog probably loves his biscuits, rawhides, or jerky sticks, but if he eats them whole - or too many at once - he may not be able to digest them. Unchewed treats can get stuck in the windpipe or gastrointestinal tract.
- Human food. Don’t feed your cat or dog people food. Food with bones (choking), chocolate, or xylitol (both toxic) can hurt your pet right away. Fatty holiday people foods can cause the painful and life-threatening disease pancreatitis in the long term.
12/21/2012 10:39 AM EST
Give the Gift of Service This Year:Sometimes the greatest gift you can give is service. Find volunteer opportunities in your area from Serve.gov.
12/20/2012 03:00 PM EST
Image description: A maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus, at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The maned wolf stands about three feet tall at the shoulder and weighs about 50 pounds. They’re omnivorous, eating small mammals, insects, reptiles, birds, bird eggs, fruits, and vegetation. In January of 2012, four maned wold pups were born at the Zoo.
Photo from the National Zoo.
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