Monthly Archives: January 2015

Health & Medicine, Law Enforcement, Science and Environment, The Media

IRS RULES: ONLY 80 PERCENT OF ‘ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE’ DONATIONS IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE

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NBC 'Today' host Matt Lauer taking last summer's Ice Bucket Challenge
NBC ‘Today’ host Matt Lauer taking last summer’s Ice Bucket Challenge

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – It’s that time of the year when U.S. taxpayers start receiving their tax forms like W-2’s and 1099’s, as well as their donation receipts for their 2014 charitable donations which are fully tax-deductible (unless they received goods or services as part of their donations).

The summer of 2014 saw one of the most successful donation campaigns in nonprofit history — the Ice Bucket Challenge to benefit the ALS Association.  It was a campaign that went viral worldwide, raising hundreds of millions of dollars for ALS research.

As Americans begin to file their 2014 income tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a ruling that only 80% of donations to the Ice Bucket Challenge is tax-deductible.  The remaining 20% will be used by state governments to make up for all the water that went to waste as a result of the ice bucket challenge campaign.

In California, which continues to experience a severe drought, taxpayers can only deduct 60% of their donation to the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Taxpayers who made donations to the campaign are advised to consult with their tax attorneys to avoid being audited by the IRS.

Politics, Religion

POPE FRANCIS EXCOMMUNICATES PHILIPPINES SOCIAL WELFARE SECRETARY DINKY SOLIMAN

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imageTHE VATICAN, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) –  As she wiped her tears, Philippines Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman finally admitted on Tuesday that she had homeless people rounded up to put Manila in order for the visit of Pope Francis last month.

Soliman testified at a hearing of the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development that was called to investigate persistent reports that she rounded up homeless people and  street children, sending  them on a paid vacation for the duration of the papal visit. She explained that the 100 families, or 427 individuals, living along Roxas Boulevard that traverses the cities of Manila, Pasay and Paranaque were brought to Chateau Royale resort in Batangas, south of the capital. It cost the government 4.75 Million Pesos.

Upon learning of the admission, Pope Francis immediately signed a pastoral document excommunicating Soliman from the Catholic Church.  As per tradition, excommunication bars a Catholic individual from receiving or participating in church sacraments, including, but not limited to, receiving Holy Communion or a church burial.

“I visited the Philippines to be with the poor, homeless, sick and down-trodden,” Francis said, “and it is unconscionable  that they were hidden from me just so the government will look good.”

The Pope promised to return to Manila for a private visit later this year to be with the children and homeless who were rounded up and hidden by Soliman.

International, Politics, Sports

MISS U.S.A. LOST THE MISS UNIVERSE CROWN TO MISS COLOMBIA IN THE Q & A

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Sanchez
Sanchez

MIAMI, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles) – In last Sunday’s Miss Universe Pageant held in Doral, Florida, Miss Colombia Paulina Vega beat 87 other contestants to win the coveted crown. Miss U.S.A. was first runner-up.  It all boiled down to the Q&A portion during which members of the celebrity panel of judges asked a question of the final five finalists.

Miss U.S.A. Nia Sanchez picked Filipino world champion boxer, and here is the full transcript of that nerve-wracking moment:

Pacquiao: “If you were given 30 seconds to deliver a message to a global terrorist, what would you say?”

Miss U.S.A. : If I happen to meet a global terrorist, I would not say a thing. I would just punch him in the face and hopefully knock him down like you do with your opponents in the boxing ring!”

The rest is history. Miss U.S.A. lost the crown to Miss Colombia.