JohnF

Mebbe I need to take my wife down to Woodstock to visit Jos. I won't get my hopes up though. JF

As far as I know the form is just something you want/need to have in the event of an audit. Ask your employer for it. Then, as several here have said, get some professional advice on what you can and can't, should and shouldn't claim. I've been writing off business expenses for over 30 years and have always deferred to my accountants on what I should claim. They advise, and I agree, that a conservative approach is better than pushing the envelope. I've only had one thing refused in all those years and it was minor. I could have tested the system a whole lot more and saved a few bucks but the savings were hardly worth the grief of messing with the taxman. Some battles just aren't worth getting into. It's like hunting muskies with a pink Barbie Baitcaster. The thing that surprises a lot of folks new to the business expense situation is just how much you are actually entitled to claim, and the kinds of things that constitute legitimate expenses. My son wouldn't listen to me for years and finally changed careers and started writing off a lot more expense stuff and is kicking himself now for all those years he ignored my advice. So basically - get good professional advice (a real accountant, not a bookkeeper), be honest, don't be greedy, and keep good records all year with lots of receipts. That's the way to avoid grief. Sorry if this is all a rehash of what others have told you but I just got around to reading this over coffee this morning. JF

Another guy who isn't worried about photographing the evidence. I dropped in to the Fishing Store in Stratford (run by a protege of Joslyn's from Woodstock) the other day and walked out with a Quantum baitcaster combo and an Okuma flyrod setup. He had too many great deals. I'm becoming adept at mixing the new stuff up with the old in my toy room downstairs so She Whom I Fear The Most doesn't catch on. She still thinks my rod/reel sets cost $19.95 at CTC or Gander Mountain. One thing about fishing - it's sure a lot cheaper than scuba diving. I just sold a lot of my coldwater & cave type dive gear, so I could be buying great fishing stuff for quite a few years with what I got. She doesn't have any sympathy with that argument though. She wants to fritter away the money on new furniture for the pool yard and new floor covering for the back deck. JF

Wouldn't that be kinda like videotaping the speedometer as you head up Hwy 400 at 175 kph? At least shut off the autodate feature on the camera. JF

OK. That's what I meant to say. And I'm embarrassed that I forgot Nov 11. JF

Actually, it's not real simple. Whether or not you're at fault, the perception of fault is more important. If you're dealing with a credible consumer (i.e. one who has the ear of many folks in your market area) then the main concern has to be their perception of the problem. You can be right as rain, but if the consumer doesn't think so, it's gonna cost you, one way or another. The real trick for a savvy businessman is to figure out how much he has to give to get the most benefit. He also has to concern himself with how much he can afford to give without getting a rep as a pushover. Most folks respect real professionalism, but sometimes it has to be explained to them first. That takes a certain amount of diplomacy. I think diplomacy is the one thing that really makes the distinction between a true businessman and a mere mechanic (no offence to the mechanics in our midst, but if you're astute, you already know the difference). Methinks Wayne might be a pretty good example of a true businessman here. At the end of the day you get back more than what you give in business, if you do your giving judiciously. JF

It's a tough call. The problem being that someone has to decide who's life is important enough to warrant lowering the flag. Personally I don't believe one life is more important than the next (except my own of course) so I don't believe the flag should be lowered for anyone except for the Monarch, and then only because tradition dictates it. I could argue that even then it should be left aloft in celebration of the new Monarch. I say leave it flying all the time. That way no one is offended. JF

It doesn't always work out well, but in this case I'd be inclined to sit down with the client and simply ask ask what he thinks would be fair. It might just work out to your advantage in the end. If he's unrealistic then you blow him off, but if he's being fair you can make lots of points and get some some positive promotion out of it. Again, follow your gut. JF

It's time for a gut check. Did you screw up on the original job? If so, then eat it now and take max advantage for the future. If the problems were through no fault of your own, then make sure the client understands that, and then make some kind of gesture, but never do anything to suggest that your work or your judgement were faulty in the beginning. That being said, if the client is one who can hurt or help you in the future, then factor that into your profit/loss calcs now. If it looks like favourable treatment will be worth enough referral or direct business in the future then cut the client some serious slack, but let him know (diplomatically) that you're really doing him a favour in return for what he can do for you in the future. If he's business savvy he'll understand and reciprocate. If he gives you the "Ya screwed up and owe me" line then be honest. That means being fair to yerself. Pay yourself what you're worth. Don't be guided by phony moral constraints. Ya got a family to feed I assume and for the most part reasonable folks know when they're being treated reasonably, and the dickheads - well, most folks recognize dickheads, even when they're their friends, and give their opinions dickhead value. Be sincere, and be firm. My experience is that reasonably intelligent folks respect honesty and nobody who counts listens to anyone who isn't reasonably intelligent. Trust your own competence. If you can't, then crank it up till you can. That's the only way to succeed in a service business. Good luck. JF

Hah! I had Sykora too. Better yet I also have Roberts. He was my longshot extra man. I always liked him as a player. I believe he scores for the winning goal as well. JF

I took the $50 on the Energy baitcaster, but I've got some other points banked from the Energy spinning reel I got last summer and with the points for the new Tour Edition rod I've got some to spend. I might as well get them to send me some of that advertising. JF

I'm in. JF

Keith's Negra Modelo (for a change) Bock (in spring) It seems the only one available right now is Holsten Festbok. It's okay.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda .... it's fun to dream, and they woulda had a few years to bring it all together. JF

You might see him occasionally hunting carp down around St.Marys too. He's a very entertaining guy. It was kinda funny the first time I saw him down there. I was wading tossing out Rapalas kinda halfheartedly, just relaxing, and saw these two flyfisherpersons down the way a bit so I stopped to admire from a distance. My first thought was that the guy didn't really have much of a knack for this flyfishing stuff. He just flicked the line back once and then forward, no false casts. Bear in mind I was, and still am, a rank amateur in the art of flyfishing. I've since learned that Ian's not a huge proponent of false casting. Says it's just a way to spook the fishies. Speaking of Ian, if you can find a copy at your local library get his book. It's a funny read and kinda interesting because it's about our own turf - err - water. JF

I too am a Toronto fan, Heaven only knows why, but I am. I'm not a McCabe fan but I don't blame him for his silly contract. That was someone else's screwup. He'd have been crazy to refuse it. As for his ability as a player perhaps an interesting test will come if the Leafs decide to park him in the minors for a while because of the cap and his high price. Depending on how it all takes place and assuming his pride is sufficiently battered that he rises to the challenge I'd be curious to see how he stacks up against all the tyros and hopefuls working their butts off for a chance at the big show. It might just surprise more than a few folks to see the difference between the seasoned big leaguers and the aspiring ones. As for the leafs I'd be in favour of replacing Kubina, Kaberle and McCabe as long as they're rebuilding anyway. I like defencemen who defend instead of leading the rush. The occasional pinch or jump into the slot is one thing but when a defenceman is usually somewhere ahead of the forwards on the rush it says something about either the forwards or the defenceman, or both. All the wonderful rushes Kubina and Kaberle execute kinda lose their shine in the glow of the sloppy defensive errors they make, often because they're looking for a chance to rush again. I'm sure there are plenty of teams with a spot for an offensive dee. The Leafs have a surplus. YMMV JF

If everyone gets a bootleg copy of Photoshop (and learns to use it well) the problems are all solved. JF

I had a very graphic lesson in brake fade coming into the gate at the bottom of Whiteface Mountain in my Safari van. That was in the pre-disc brake days. If I'd known that song then I'm sure it would have been front and centre in my mind too. JF

You mean Harry Chapin's song? http://www.harrychapin.com/music/30000lbs.shtml JF

[quote name='Dan Bouck' date='Apr 5 2008, 06:41 PM' post='182449' and quit lookin' at my johnson! Then don't leave it layin' in the driveway. JF

Learn to love sushi. Then you won't have to be so fussy. JF

No hurry. Apparently the reel prices hold until the end of May. Not sure about the rods. JF

I couldn't resist. I bought one tonight, along with a Quantum Tour Edition(?) rod that was on sale. The rod was only $50 so I won't feel bad if it doesn't work out. Let me know if you want me to get him to set one aside for you. I'll be coming down to Kitchener every day from the 14th for two weeks so I could even deliver it. JF

Mebbe you should try bunking with him. JF

Saw the Quantum today for $100 after the rebate. The store in Stratford had it. Had some left handers too. JF