Nonefb777.ph 。

realme Closes 2024 with Record-Breaking Growth and Launches the Industry’s Best Waterproof Smartphone, realme C75

AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:07 p.m. ESTRising From The East, Sweeping Across The Globe, Double Dutch Shanghai Vol.8 Ignites ShanghaiBella’s Bartok takes the stage at the Stone Church for the third annual New Year’s Eve “Strange Ones Ball – Babylon in Brattleboro” on Tuesday, Dec. 31. “ We're excited to host Bella's Bartok's 7th Annual Strange Ones Ball for the third consecutive year! This will be their 8th show at the Church and every one is always a highlight of the year,” says Robin Johnson, owner and manager of the Stone Church. Johnson continues, “Their wild and exuberant genre-fluid carnival of sounds is a perfect match for our rock ‘n’ roll church of misfits. The New Year’s show always takes the church to another level and this year will be no exception — with the addition of the incredible Hayley Jane Band.” Bella’s Bartok’s current lineup includes: Julia Posin on lead vocals/washboard; Chris Whearty on lead guitar; Kade Parkin on drums; Zach Effman on bass; Vida Cripps as the puppeteer and Asher Haidak-Putnam on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. The Sentinel caught up with musician and founding member Asher Haidak-Putnam by phone recently at his home in Northampton, Mass. to talk about all things band and New Year’s Eve Ball at the Church. Here’s an excerpt of the conversation. V.C.: Hey Asher, good talking to you! Usually Bartok does two nights at the Church for New Year’s Eve, why only one show this year? A.P.: NYE fell on a Tuesday, so we weren’t sure we could get people out on a Monday night. V.C.: What’s the theme of the Strange One’s Ball this year? A.P.: It’s Babylon in Brattleboro — an all-night cacophony of cabaret that puts the roar back into the roaring ‘20s. Given the political dimensions of the country and the world at large, it feels a bit like 1925. There is a lot of progressive movement going forward and outright fascism — one step forward two steps back. Moving us back — like to the 20s — and I think people are picking up on that. We’re getting loud about it. V.C.: You started Bartok in 2008 and met as UMASS students, now you’re in your third lineup. What’s the band’s origin story? A.P.: We all met playing music in the Northampton area and on the scene in Albany, N.Y. and Brattleboro, Vt. I’m promoted to singer now! Back then I was just a guitarist. Given our lineup change which has settled since Covid, we found a group of folks that we have known or met through music. We’re jamming in different ways. We meet every Monday and work on new tunes. All of us are within a block of each other in Northampton which is really convenient. V.C.: So what’s the real story of how you started in 2008? A.P.: The myth or the truth? I think I’ll tell you the myth. I was back from school on break, playing with my brother and some other family members and started playing on the street in Great Barrington, Mass. to get some beer and gas money. It went from there. It was magnetic — people coming out and dancing around — we were playing our old Balkan, eastern European folk songs or punk rock songs acoustically. That was our gateway into folk punk. That’s what we were then. Now we are more dance punk. V.C.: Your band is named for Hungarian ethnomusicologist and composer Béla Bartók? A.P.: Yeah. My grandfather is from Romania and we grew up listening to that stuff. My grandmother was very interested in folk music of the mountains. Are you familiar with the music by Alan Lomax from the 1920s? He brought to the fore ethnomusicology and that is what Bela did with Roma, Jewish and mountain people, it was folk music. V.C.: This is your 8th time playing at the iconic Stone Church in Brattleboro. What should the audience expect at the NYE Strange One’s Ball at the Church this year? A.P.: Before Covid our themes would be “The Muppets” or post-apocalyptic and people were dressed to the nines! The Muppet show was amazing. We had so many pigs in space characters, I was blown away. “Very well done, Kermit!” Post Covid, no one is dressing up; the audience is not getting into costuming. No one dressed up for our heaven and hell theme last year. We are going for the roaring ‘20s, cabaret style. If you have something to dress up with, do it and come and dance! We are finally playing with our comrade in arms Hayley Jane and her crew. We’ve been playing festivals with her since 2015 but we’ve never shared a bill together. She’s opening the show with her band. I’ve known her since my early 20s. She is great. She has the same vibe and same sound and same message as we do. V.C.: You are really a band of street performers at heart who are passionate about social justice and other current events. Say more. A.P.: Absolutely! We are very passionate about lots of issues of the day. We are kids or grandkids of immigrants, a lot of us are queer or gay. A lot of us have partners or family members who are black, brown, Muslim or Jewish. The mainstream of this country doesn’t tend to like us. It’s a passionate thing when you love someone and you see that there are government policies or social norms that are enacted to ensure their discomfort or death and “that just ain’t right.” V.C.: What was your first instrument and how did you start playing music? A.P.: Piano at age 8 or 9. My dad is a musician, and his siblings are all musicians. I grew up in it. He was in a touring band for a long time. V.C.: Who were some of your early musical influences? A.P.: System of a Down, TV on the Radio, definitely Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails and Weird Al. V.C.: What is the most important aspect of a live performance? A.P.: No one has ever asked me that. That’s cool. Wow. It’s the people. That’s it. The back and forth; it’s the symbiosis. V.C.: Where are you touring next year? A.P. : We tour extensively from January to November. We have every weekend booked out. We never made it past the Rockies before. We go from Detroit to New Orleans, from Boston to Colorado, Southeastern Canada into Ontario. We haven’t hit Texas or California yet. V.C.: What is your favorite part of being in this band? A.P.: I can hold the boss accountable! We lean on the collective end of things. We are each other’s bosses, so we hold each other accountable and get things done. It’s the healthiest relationship that is celibate. Imagine being a nun except a little wilder and perhaps later nights. I look at us like an emotion processor machine for the masses. We are so tuned into creative aspects of our lives and other people have a more difficult time engaging with that, so we can help them do that. They say, “Hey, this performance really got me through a hard time in my life!” That is the ultimate high, really. SHOW DETAILS Join Bella’s Bartok for an evening of joy, revelry and defiance for the 7th Annual Strange One's Ball, with special guest Hayley Jane Band and LJ as Emcee, on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at the Stone Church, 210 Main St., in Brattleboro, Vt. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show is at 9 p.m. Open to all ages. For more information, visit www.stonechurchvt.com/#/events/109807 . For more information on Bella’s Bartok, visit www.bellasbartok.com/home , their Facebook page www.facebook.com/bellasbartok or on Instagram @BellasBartok. Steve Rice piece

By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE The Central Bank recently announced the rollout of the new polymer banknotes series (₱500, ₱100 and ₱50), in addition to the previously released ₱1000 note, which was front-page news as well as meriting a massive two-page colored ad in national- circulation newspapers (must have cost hundreds of thousands pesos). The topic also trended in social media, arousing much interest and garnering hundreds of comments. The new banknotes, which are legal tender, and therefore, of great interest to all, are said to be longer lasting (up to seven years) than paper notes, more hygienic, have more security features to prevent counterfeiting, and also have “accessibility features to help the elderly and persons with visual impairment.” The new notes did away with the portraits of heroes and past presidents, but now boasts of the biodiversity of Philippine flora and fauna. Not a few are lamenting that we are forgetting “those who have fallen during the night” and asking if we really want a country devoid of heroes. They have a valid point there, since we Filipinos do have short memories. Setting aside that point (which I’m sure will fester during this current politically charged election season), let’s examine the Central Bank claims about these new banknotes. Looking at the notes’ much-touted symbols of national pride, we can’t help but notice the absence of our beloved Waling-Waling (Vanda sanderiana), the queen of all orchids. Instead, what is featured is the sampaguita flower (Jasminum sambac), which is not even an endemic species but native to India and other neighboring countries. The fact that it is still the national flower of the Philippines in spite of it being foreign speaks volumes of our colonial mentality and lack of awareness of what is ours. The Waling-Waling has given rise to a burgeoning orchid industry elsewhere (Hawaii, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan) but has sadly been neglected at home. It is time the Waling Waling is named the national flower instead of the foreign sampaguita. The new notes may be longer lasting, it being made of polymer plastic, they are not as environment-friendly as their paper counterparts. Even when destroyed, their plastic nature means they are not biodegradable and will persist for hundreds of years in the environment. These new notes are said to be more hygienic than paper notes, since viruses and other bugs “do not live long” on their surfaces compared to paper notes. The two-page ads showcase 15 security features of the “First Philippine Polymer Banknote Series.” I can’t wait to see and feel these new features! No, really, we should be able to appreciate how hard it is to counterfeit these new notes. But we know, counterfeiters are also smart and will soon figure out how to make reasonable facsimiles of these notes. But while they haven’t, let’s enjoy the security features these new banknotes sport. What’s more interesting are the comments elicited by this social media-trending event. Pundits are saying that the ₱1000 note should have featured a turtle instead of an eagle, so that it wouldn’t fly off your hands the moment you grasp it. With a turtle, it will at least take a while before it can amble off at its leisurely pace. It speaks of the current economic climate of inflation and how quickly we spend our hard-earned money. Another commented that while it is nice to hold new banknotes, many can’t even touch the bills, since they don’t have the wherewithal to earn them. Others decry the loss of the ₱20 bills, which were replaced by the heavy coins that are hard to carry around. While you can’t please all of the people all of the time, we should at least take care of the more pressing issues (inflation, corruption, joblessness, poverty) more than just changing banknotes. But this is a season for counting our blessings. So, as the President said, the advent of the new banknotes will “add excitement to our kids when they come and ask for their Aguinaldo.” Merry Christmas, everyone!

None

Sudbury non-profits demand action after Black woman alleges racism at Food Basics