[expat_panama]

An alert freeper pinged about reason # 2 ("consider donations when they itemize in Schedule B") and how the freerepublic home page says "Donations to Free Republic are NOT tax deductible."  What I got is the Freerepublic is not incorporated under section 501(c)3 so donations are not charitable.  

So the same applies for money given to Investors Business Daily, yet for years now I've entered my IBD subscription cost (which pays for the IBD chat investment forum) into my tax program.  This should now be perfectly clear to anyone who does not understand it because it's confusing.  Tax law is so convoluted that one tax court can say that a particular way of filing federal taxes is just fine, and some other court can call for stiff penalties for the same action --so we're talking probabilities.  

fwiw, if I were to bet money (preferably someone else's money) I'd say that anyone here listing the FR expense wouldn't see any difference in the final tax bill anyway.

[expat_panama]

Good Morning & a happy 'bounce-day' to all!   Futures are starting out w/ stocks indexes flat and metals strong ---a respite from the heavy down turns we saw w/ both last week.  No major econ reports today and tomorrow.  fwiw:

Dam breaks in Europe as deflation fears wash over ECB rhetoric
Global stocks start week lower, China data cannot lift gloom Reuters - 7:25am LONDON (Reuters) - Stocks started the week on a negative note and crude oil prices fell to near-four-year lows with forecast-beating Chinese trade data unable to lighten investors' mood about the health of the global economy.
Strong dollar delivers blow to FOMC officials
Why Everything Elizabeth Warren Told You Is Wrong - Forbes
Why The Market Could Sell Off Another 10% - 24/7 Wall Street
Buybacks: Money Well Spent? - Financial Times