Thursday, December 27, 2012
If Congress fails to pass an extension of the Bush era tax cuts by midnight Monday, American paychecks will get smaller. You can use the fiscal cliff calculator to see the impact on your paycheck.
With leaders of Congress becoming more and more skeptical a deal will be reached before midnight Monday to avoid the fiscal cliff, it becomes more likely American paychecks will get smaller Tuesday, according to a story in today’s New York Times. “I have to be very honest,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in the New York Times article. “I don’t know time-wise how it can happen now.” The Senate reconvened today in an unusual session between Christmas and Jan. 1. Even if the Senate passes legislation, the House of Representatives will not come back into session until Sunday barely 24 hours before the deadline, according to a story today on Politico. If no deal is reached, a single person with two exemptions earning $50,000 per year …
It will cost more to mail postcards and one ounce letters come Jan. 27, 2013.
Get ready to pay more at the post office next year. The cost to mail a one ounce letter will increase to 46 cents a stamp on Jan. 27. That’s up from 45 cents in 2012. Mailing a postcard will also cost one penny more at 33 cents. The same increase was imposed in 2012. New Domestic pricing for Priority Mail Flat Rate products are as follows: If you want to save a few bucks mailing one ounce letters, stock up on Forever stamps now. They can be used anytime in the future regardless of price increases at the post office.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Patch checked with experts around the North Shore and put together a list of their suggestions.
Are you searching for that perfect bottle of bubbly to bring to a New Year's Eve party or to enjoy during a quiet evening at home, but you're overwhelmed by the choices in the sparkling wine section? Patch is here to help. We checked in with experts around the North Shore to get their recommendations. Here's what they said: Sandeep Ghaey, owner of Vinic Wine Company, 1509 Chicago Ave. in Evanston. Ghaey said they like to "steer people away from the names that they're familiar with. … You can get a lot of bang for your buck from smaller sellers and smaller producers," he said. For a good value, Ghaey recommends sparkling wine from France. It's cheaper if you don't buy from Champagne region, because the land is so expensive there, he said. …
Dan Arenov
11:20 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Hello all, I guess i shouldn't post something like this without providing more details. The idea for this blog, which i've run by the local Patch editor, is to have a small group of people who either lean left or lean right and to be part of a small 'debate' team. We would pick a hot topic each week (maybe pulling from a Brian Slupski news item, etc) on e.g., Monday, and would select one person … more ›