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Thursday, April 14, 2011 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Associates’anti-Semitic assaults alienating Dear Annie: My 29- year-old daughter works at a large multinational corpo- ration. On numerous occa- sions and in different divi- sions of the corporation, she has heard anti-Jewish comments. In fact, at one event, she was so upset by what was being said at a group dinner that she had to leave the table for fear she would cry. For whatever reason, she chooses to remain silent when these remarks are made. We are Jewish, and her grandparents were Holocaust survivors. I have told her she needs to speak up, but she doesn’t want to make waves. It pains me to know that my daughter is working in an environ- ment where the employees have no qualms about displaying their big- otry, and that anti-Semitism is alive and well in the USA. I am also upset that she lets these opinions go without challenging them or, at a minimum, telling the bigot that she is Jewish and such statements are inappropriate in the workplace. Any suggestions as to what I could say to my daughter to con- vince her that it is her duty to con- front the bigotry head on? — Dis- mayed in the Boston Area Dear Boston: While we under- stand your daughter’s reluctance, it is incumbent upon everyone to speak up when they witness bigotry of any kind. We contacted David Kurzmann, assistant director of the Anti-Defamation League in Greater Chicago and the Upper Midwest. He said the law protects workers against religion-based harassment, intimidation and repeated insult, especially where it harms the employee’s employment, position or compensation. Most large companies Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar have complaint processes (usually through HR, an ombuds office or an ethics line). They will often take the complaint seriously, investigate the situation and take action to change the environment. Your daughter may also have legal claims against the company and may wish to talk to an employment lawyer. Organizations such as the Anti- Defamation League (adl.org) and Workplace Fairness (workplacefair- ness.org) may be able to offer fur- ther advice on how to proceed. Dear Annie: Please do a huge favor for those of us with hearing problems and ask the people who sponsor or produce TV programs to reduce or eliminate the loud music. It is so bad that I can’t understand what the actors are saying. If it were not for closed captioning, I would- n’t bother to watch any of the pro- grams. Even friends without hear- ing problems have a hard time understanding the dialogue. I also mute most commercials because the noise hurts my ears. The music is incredibly annoying. — Kuttawa, Ky. Dear Kuttawa: There is no ques- tion that the music and background noise in TV programs and advertis- ing are louder than they used to be. And certainly louder than neces- sary. Producers respond to the bot- tom line. Let them know you will not watch any show in which the background noise drowns out the dialogue. And inform sponsors that you will not purchase their products if the commercials are blaring. Money talks. Dear Annie: This is in response to ‘‘Midwest,’’ who has a criminal record and can’t find a job. Your answer was helpful, but you left out the fastest growing source of employment available to everyone: self-employment. In today’s economy, it doesn’t take a bundle of money to go into business for yourself. And there are thousands of companies looking to put people to work as freelance rep- resentatives, with a small invest- ment, frequently less than $50. If ‘‘Midwest’’ decides to reenter the job market later, employers are will- ing to take a good look at someone who can show she started a business from scratch. Please don’t get caught up in the idea that in order to make a living, you have to work for somebody else. — Florida Entrepreneur Dear Florida: You make an excellent point, although setting up your own business is not necessari- ly as simple as you make it seem. But for those who are having diffi- culty finding other employment, it is definitely worth looking into. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your ques- tions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Centu- ry Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Best tip for last-minute tax filers In about a week, your 2010 tax return is due. Are you ready? Here are a few last-minute tax tips. And the first one is an old Savage Truth: Haste makes waste! Sure, you should be working on your taxes right now -- but do it care- fully. If you absolutely, positively can't get your return done on time, you can file for an extension. Get IRS Form 4868 at the government web- site: www.IRS.gov, or from your accountant. Even easier, though a bit more expensive at $19.95 (or $29.95 for business returns), is the extension help you can get online at www.FileLater.com. With just a click, you can file for an extension that will delay your deadline until Oct. 17. But don't make the mistake of thinking you can delay your tax payment: All taxes estimated to be owed must be paid along with the request for an extension. So, when you think about it, you might as well just do your tax return and not extend the pain. If you use the "short form" -- 1040EZ -- you can file your federal taxes online free. All of the major tax preparation services facilitate this process (or allow you to prepare and print) for free -- including Turbo- Tax.com, TaxAct.com and HRBlock.com. They also do the reg- ular 1040 filing for free, if you pay for help or software for the more compli- cated forms. If you want to file for free directly with the government, go to: www.IRS.gov/efile/index. There you can learn all about the free filing process for both the short form and the standard 1040 and associated forms. The IRS says it has taken in more than 1 billion electronically filed tax returns since 1990, so there's no reason to hesitate. The index even has links to free-file online providers. Unemployment Compensation: If you were collecting unemployment compensation, then 2010 had to be a tough year. But I hope you saved some money to pay your taxes, because for 2010 all unemployment compensation is taxable. Unlike in previous years, you can no longer exclude the first $2,400 in unemploy- ment compensation. Some of your job-search expenses may be deductible if you itemize. But only those expenses attributable to finding a new job in your present occupation can be deduct- ed. Obviously the govern- ment gives only lip ser- vice, not deductions, to those who want to pay for school to train for new and better employment oppor- tunities. Home buyers: If you bought a home, or entered into a contract to buy a princi- pal residence on or before April 30, 2010, and closed by Sept. 30, 2010, you might be eligible for a home-buyers credit. First-time home buyers could get an $8,000 tax credit, while non-first-time buyers could get $6,500. But that tax credit phases out for single tax- payers with income over $125,000, and couples with joint income over $225,000, so check the details before filing. Terry Savage The Savage Truth on Money any more deductions, don't forget the best deal of all: a tax-deductible IRA contribution, which can be made up until April 18. It's easy to open an IRA at any bank, brokerage or online at a mutual-fund company. But don't wait until they're all swamped the last few days. You can open a tax- deductible IRA if you're not covered by a workplace retirement plan, and your non-working spouse can also contribute to a separate IRA. For 2010, you can con- tribute up to $5,000 to your IRA, or $6,000 if you were age 50 or older by Dec. 31. For individuals who have access to a workplace plan, the deductibility of an IRA contribution phases out at over $56,000 income -- but there are different limits for those with joint returns, or with only one spouse work- ing. So check with any IRA custodian or your tax prepar- er to get the exact amount allowable as a deduction in your case. Remember, starting an IRA is not only a tax advantage -- but a good idea in its own right. And it will be a reminder to make a contribution next year, as well. Electric cars: If you bought an electric car or a hybrid in 2010, you might be eligible for a tax credit of up to $7,500 -- depending on the model, the fuel efficiency and other regula- tions. But the credit doesn't apply to all cars, and there are restrictions depending on the manufacturer and date purchased. Self-employment: There are a variety of small changes in the tax benefits available to those who are self-employed, which includes more and more people these days. So those small deals can add up. For example, in 2010 you can deduct the cost of your health insurance premiums from your self-employment tax. And there is a larger allowance for deducting startup expenses. These complicated changes are one of the best reasons for using a tax-preparation service or software. If you still owe taxes and can't find Bottom line: There are only two ways to approach tax preparation sea- son. You can view it as a challenge, and a search for all the tax-saving opportunities to which you are enti- tled. If that's your approach, take advantage of all the qualified help you can get. Or you can bury your head in the sand, fill out the forms blindly -- and make a contribution to our national debt problem. Take the time to do it right. Get all the deductions to which you're enti- tled. You can use your money better than the government, and that's The Savage Truth. Terry Savage is a registered investment adviser and is on the board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. She can be reached at www.terrysavage.com. She is the author of the new book, "The New Savage Number:How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire?" Keep up with Round-Up! The Daily News is your source for Round-Up News, information, schedules — We have you covered forRound-Up A Clean, Reliable, Trustworthy, COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2595 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Chimney Company... Possible? ”Their tarps are always clean and my home is always clean afterward. What I like best is their reliability and quality.” “I can trust them!” Dr. Evan Reasor Flue Season 527 3331 THE Chimney Professionals 9th Annual FIBER ON THE FOOT Natural Fiber Producer’s Liverstock Show & Fiber Festival May 7, 9 to 5 Fairgrounds, RB You are Cordially Invited to Red Bluff Garden Club’s “Elegant Affair” 50th Annual Standard Flower Show Tehama Co. Fairgrounds Saturday & Sunday, May 7 & 8 10 am to 5 pm Free Admission HUGE PLANT SALE Flower Design & Plant Propagation Demo’s Info: Call 530-527-9403 Home Arts Building • MEN • WOMEN • CHILDREN AFFORDABLE • CONVENIENT $1000 $1000 With coupon, Regularly $12 (Expires 5/30/11) FREE HELIUM BALLOONS 530-529-5766 855 So. Main St. (Walmart Shopping Center) Pick’s disease resembles Alzheimer’s DEAR DR. GOTT: Some years ago, you wrote an article on Pick’s disease that I misplaced. Can you discuss it once again? DEAR READ- ER: Pick’s is a rare but permanent form of dementia similar to Alzheimer’s disease. It has a tendency to affect only certain areas of the brain and can affect peo- ple as young as 20; how- ever, it is more common in people closer to 55 or 60. People with Pick’s have abnormal substances known as Pick bodies and Pick cells inside nerve cells within damaged areas of the brain. Tissue in the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain shrink over time and result in impaired thought processes, behav- ioral changes and diffi- culties with speech. It’s the early personality changes that allow physi- cians to differentiate between Pick’s and Alzheimer’s, which ordi- narily presents with memory loss. People with Pick’s behave inappropri- ately, might exhibit an inability to function pub- licly, be unable to main- tain a job, may withdraw socially, have mood changes, and fail to exhibit concern and empathy. They may have difficulty speaking or cannot speak at all, can’t find the right word to say, have coordination prob- lems, increased rigidity and weakness. There may be a problem with urinary incontinence. Testing to rule out other dementia-related causes might include an EEG, MRI of the brain, CT of the head and neuro- logical examination; how- ever, a brain biopsy is the only test available for an accurate confirmatory diagnosis. Treatment might include antidepressants or antipsychotic drugs to control mood swings and agitation. Depending on a person’s symptoms and the severity of the Pick’s, a person may require assistance with self-care and personal hygiene. Pick’s will worsen with time, and a patient may become totally disabled in the course of the dis- ease. Readers interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s can order my Health Report “Alzheimer’s Disease” by sending a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money Dr. Peter Gott order made payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wick- liffe, OH 44092- 0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my web- site’s direct link at www.AskDr- GottMD.com/order_form. pdf. DEAR DR. GOTT: I am puzzled as to why eating lamb causes such an extreme reaction to my system. One bite of lamb cooked any way or lamb dishes of any kind causes me to become nauseated within 10 min- utes. It continues for up to three days and includes continuous vomiting and diarrhea. The first time this hap- pened, I was hospitalized for three days. The sec- ond time it happened, I ate lamb by accident because my great-aunt did not believe me when I said I could not eat it. I was pregnant at the time and almost lost the baby. It took five days to total- ly rehydrate my system. Do you have any idea why lamb meat would cause such a violent reac- tion? DEAR READER: Meat allergy may be more common than thought. An intolerance to any food is ordinarily caused by an enzyme deficiency. Either that or the intestines may be overly sensitive to this particular food. In an allergic reac- tion, the offending sub- stance — in your case, lamb — the body per- ceives the protein (or sugar in other cases) as foreign, causing the release of histamine, which leads to the body’s overreaction. Other common prod- ucts for people to consider are the sugar in milk that causes lactose intolerance, shellfish, soy, wheat, nuts and food additives. An allergic reaction can occur within minutes of inges- tion and might include hives, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, itching and difficulty breathing. Lamb intoler- ance is uncommon, but does occur. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com Housing options for elderly Where should Mom & Dad live? Housing Options for the Elderly is taking place 10 a.m. to noon April 19 at 545 Vallombrosa Ave., Chico. Learn about housing options as we age, including home modifications, universal design, real estate projections, independent senior housing, and more. Upcoming events include: • May 17, 10 a.m.—1 p.m. Long Term Care Insurance: Is it Right for You? • June 7: 2—4 p.m.: Veterans Aid & Attendance Bene- fit: What is it and how do I qualify? Long -Term Care Planning Series Spring 2011 is co- sponsored by Chico Area Recreation and Park District. Also sponsored by Butte County Public Library. Admission is free and there will be refreshments. Reser- vations can be made by calling 898-5923.