Deployed Magician Brings Laughter, Entertainment to Iraq

This is another great article about Scott Anderson who is serving in Iraq:

Deployed Magician Brings Laughter, Entertainment to Iraq

By Spc. Beth Gorenc, Task Force 38 Public Affairs



JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq, - Often National Guard Soldiers apply their civilian training to enhance their military deployments. A Soldier in Task Force 38's medevac unit, Company C, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment did just that during his mobilization here.

When the Canby, Ore., resident was not using his military skills as a medevac pilot for Company C to help people receive medical attention during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Chief Warrant Officer William S. "Scott" Anderson applied his civilian skills as a magician to help people in a different way.

Anderson used illusions mixed with comedy to provide an escape from deployment life and entertain fellow servicemembers, civilian contractors and local Iraqis.



"He's professional when he needs to be, but he can lighten the mood when it's needed," added Sgt. John McCully, a medevac crew chief and Camas, Ore., resident.

In his free time, Anderson performed frequent shows at the medevac company's coffee shop, during holidays and at unit events. He also participated in, and won, Joint Base Balad's October talent show.

"He has helped the moral of the company," said McCully. "Whenever we have events, at work, pretty much whenever he's around, the guy has a gimmick up his sleeve. He loves entertaining people."



Anderson's illusions ranged anywhere from impromptu card tricks for friends, pulling a participant's previously signed dollar out of an uncut lemon randomly chosen by that participant, to transforming handkerchiefs into candy for Iraqi children.

Anderson also used his magic and comedy as a way of breaking the ice with new people around JBB and forming relationships with Iraqis.

"He is good at building relationships with people," said Sgt. Candice Westlund, Corvallis, Ore. resident.



Anderson worked through translators to perform shows for groups of Iraqi children during base-hosted events and completed illusions for the Iraqi special weapons and tactics officers. He also worked with parents to entertain children under care of the hospital here.

"His tricks make kids smile and forget that they are in pain or injured," said Westlund.

While entertaining others and helping them through the deployment, Anderson said his magic provided an outlet for him.

"It's a piece of home I got to bring with me," he said. "It's something I can do that's fun, and it is good for stress."



Anderson has been a performance magician since 1999. He started entertaining elementary kids at Fort Lewis, Wash., during drug abuse resistance education he taught by using illusions he learned from a friend. From there, he expanded his audience to birthday parties, state fair goers and stage acts including large scale illusions.

"The better I got, the more shows I could get," Anderson said. "I was doing side jobs at nights and on weekends."
When he deployed to Afghanistan, Anderson continued his magic shows to entertain Soldiers and Afghanis. He continued to develop his shows by incorporating personal experiences from his deployment, and then used those experiences to once again entertain Soldiers and Iraqis during his latest deployment.
While magic proved beneficial during times overseas, it was those same deployments and experiences that proved beneficial to Anderson's magic career.

Chief Warrant Officer William "Scott" Anderson, a Canby, Ore., resident and medevac pilot for 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, performs illusions for an injured Iraqi child at the Joint Base Balad hospital. Anderson provided magic shows, mixing illusions with comedy for Americans and Iraqis during his deployment to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo contributed by Chief Warrant Officer Scott Anderson (released)

New Home Construction - Numbers Down

Today I read an article on CNNMoney.com that spoke of the current numbers that are associated with the current construction of new homes.  Overall, the numbers are down, and down more than anyone predicted.  According to the article:

Homebuilders began construction at an annual rate of 529,000 new homes during the month, 10.6% below the revised September rate of 592,000 and 30.7% below the 763,000 rate during October 2008. It was the lowest level of housing starts since April, when the annual rate was 479,000.

A panel of industry observers compiled by Briefing.com had forecast housing starts of 600,000 during the month. It was the second month in a row of dashed housing start expectations.

"The numbers stink," said real estate analyst Mike Larson of Weiss Research. "They're negative across the board."

That weakness included the number of building permits issued in October, which fell to seasonally adjusted annual rate of 552,000. That was 4% below the revised September rate of 575,000 and 24.3% below the October 2008 estimate of 729,000.

The slowdown in construction means that there are many fewer new homes for sale, about 251,000 in all. That's the smallest inventory since 1983, according to Larson.

"The new home market, which was dramatically oversupplied during the boom, is now dramatically undersupplied," he said.

I am torn on whether this is good or bad. I know for the short term, this is a bad thing. Home building produces a lot of jobs and when building is up, usually the economy follows. However, I see the last sentence in the quote and I see that as a positive. We have been dealing with falling home prices across the board, and the only way I see that changing is if we don't have the inventory. It's economics 101, when supply is down, prices go up! So, if we want home values to start increasing, we need to get inventory down. If there aren't new homes to be purchased, people will have to buy existing homes.

However, I hope this isn't a long lasting trend. I would like to see new homes being built. I have seen a bit of a gain locally, but I don't have the numbers. I would also think part of the problem with new home construction is the instability to get construction financing. I've known several builders that have tried to get projects up and running and they simply can't get the money to do it. So, until banks start to loosen their lending guidelines on new construction, I think this will keep its slow recovery.

Time will tell, but in the long term, I don't think this is a terrible thing.

Sansai Sushi - NW 21st Portland

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Last night I was in the mood for sushi so I went to SanSai Japanese Grill on NW 21st Ave in Portland.  I cannot say that it is the best sushi I've ever had, but for the price it's tough to beat.  I've read reviews talking about how there is poor service, but I did not experience that what so ever.  The guy that helped me was actually quite friendly and the food was back in short order.  The best part about SanSai Japanese Grill is they have a selection of rolls that are half priced all the time!  So, if you are looking for some quick cheap sushi, without it cruising by on a track, I would recommend SanSai on NW 21st Ave.

Portland Housing Inventory Lowest Since August 2007

I just received the latest market action report and there is more good news coming out of the Portland, OR real estate market.  Inventory for the Portland Metro area is down to 6.5 months which is the lowest since August of 2007.  If you don't know what inventory is, the simplest way to define it would be to say that if no other houses were listed for sale, it would take 6.5 months to sell all of the homes currently on the market. 

While this may not mean a lot to the average person, but for people trying to sell a house, this is great news!  Basically it says that houses are moving!  Let's hope this trend continues and the potential for and $8000 or $6500 tax credit is pretty enticing! 

Thank You Veterans

On a day like today it's easy to give a quick thought to our veterans. At least I hope it's easy as it's a day set aside to do just that.  However, I look at the life I have here in the US and take it for granted most of the time.  I've never served in the military, but have thought about it many times.  I actually grew up wanting to be a fighter pilot, but I think most of my generation did after 'Top Gun'.  However, that was not the course I took in life. 

That being said, I look at the times when my Grandfather and my Dad were my age and must be thankful that the world has changed since then.  My Grandfather was in the navy during WWII as were almost all able bodied American men during the early 1940's.  Had my Dad not been in a motorcycle accident and broke his femur, he would have gone to Vietnam.  Now say what you want about the politics of the current wars, or even the first Iraq war, but here is what I see.  We are still an all volunteer army and there are not near the death totals from previous wars.  You can take a single day in either WWII or Vietnam and it has to be close to the casualty totals for the entire war we are currently fighting.  Now I don't say to take away from what the current soldiers are doing, but instead to say that I'm glad that the officials in charge are starting to see the value in human life.  These are not just soldiers, but they are people with families and friends back home.  They have hopes and dreams and are not just expendable pawns. 

These people are giving up months and years at home in order to serve our country.  How many of you out there could leave the life you are living for a year at a time???  I know it would be almost impossible for me.  So for that, I thank you veterans!  The sacrifices you make are far beyond just putting your life on the line every day.  May you all come home safely and to thankful and open arms from everyone here at home in the US. 

Details of First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Home Buyer Tax Credit - The New Credit is Signed into Law!

Who Gets What?
First-Time Homebuyers (FTHBs): First-time homebuyers (that is, people who have not owned a home within the last three years) may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit for FTHBs is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $8,000 Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

Current Owners: The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years. Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

What are the New Deadlines?
In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.

What are the Income Caps?
The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased. Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible. Joint filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible.

What is the Maximum Purchase Price?
Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sale price of $800,000.


What is a Tax Credit?
A tax credit is a direct reduction in tax liability owed by an individual to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the event no taxes are owed, the IRS will issue a check for the amount of the tax credit an individual is owed. Unlike the tax credit that existed in 2008, this credit does not require repayment unless the home, at any time in the first 36 months of ownership, is no longer an individual’s primary residence.


How Much are First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Eligible to Receive?
An eligible homebuyer may request from the IRS a tax credit of up to $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price for a home. If the amount of the home purchased is $75,000, the maximum amount the credit can be is $7,500. If the amount of the home purchased is $100,000, the amount of the credit may not exceed $8,000.

Who is Eligible fort FTHB Tax Credit?
Anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the previous 36 months, prior to closing and the transfer of title, is eligible. This applies both to single taxpayers and married couples. In the case where there is a married couple, if either spouse has owned a primary residence in the last 36 months, neither would qualify. In the case where an individual has owned property that has not been a primary residence, such as a second home or investment property, that individual would be eligible.

As mentioned above, the tax credit has been expanded so that existing homeowners who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years are now eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500.

How Much are Current Home Owners Eligible to Receive?
The tax credit program includes a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.


Can Homebuyers Claim the Tax Credit in Advance of Purchasing a Property?
No. The IRS has recently begun prosecuting people who have claimed credits where a purchase had not taken place.

Can a Taxpayer Claim a Credit if the Property is Purchased from a Seller with Seller Financing and the Seller Retains Title to the Property?
Yes. In situations where the buyer purchases the property, even though the seller retains legal title, the taxpayer may file for the credit. Some examples of this would include a land contract or a contract for deed.

According to the IRS, factors that would demonstrate the ownership of the property would include:
1. Right of possession
2. Right to obtain legal title upon full payment of the purchase price
3. Right to construct improvements
4. Obligation to pay property taxes
5. Risk of loss
6. Responsibility to insure the property
7. Duty to maintain the property

Are There Other Restrictions to Taking the FTHB Credit?
Yes. According to the IRS, if any of the following describe a homebuyer’s situation, a credit would not be due:
• They buy the home from a close relative. This includes a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild. (Please see the question below for details regarding purchases from “step-relatives.”)
• They do not use the home as your principal residence.
• They sell their home before the end of the year.
• They are a nonresident alien.
• They are, or were, eligible to claim the District of Columbia first-time homebuyer credit for any taxable year. (This does not apply for a home purchased in 2009.)
• Their home financing comes from tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. (This does not apply for a home purchased in 2009.)
• They owned a principal residence at any time during the three years prior to the date of purchase of your new home. For example, if you bought a home on July 1, 2008, you cannot take the credit for that home if you owned, or had an ownership interest in, another principal residence at any time from July 2, 2005, through July 1, 2008.
Can Homebuyers Purchase a Home from a Step-Relative and Still be Eligible for the Credit?
Yes. As long as the person they buy the home from is not a direct blood relative, the purchase would be allowed.

If a Parent (Who Will Not Live In The Property) Cosigns for a Mortgage, Will Their Child Still be Eligible for the Credit?
Yes, provided that the child meets the other requirements for the tax credit

Scott Anderson - The Army's Way To Win Hearts and Minds of Iraqis

This is an actual e-mail I got from my buddy Scott Anderson who is currently serving in the Army in Iraq:

There is this town to the Southwest of our camp, that is the primary source of all rockets and mortars being launched into our base (average 15 attacks per week since May). In an attempt to win over the hearts and minds of the tribal elders the military decided that we would host a day and cater to these peaceful gentlemen and their children. The theory was that, we would get to know them....they would get to know us....and that they would feel bad knowing that they were attacking their friends. Overall the day was a success....if not for one MAN!!! (now honestly, are any of you feeling any suspense at all as to who I am going to start talking about?....I didn't think so) That man was none other than ME! I was asked to be the highlight of the field trip for these fellow Iraqi's and perform a magic show for the 100 or so kids that would be coming, as well as some magic for the Tribal Elders and/or their representatives. I can tell you that the event was not going nearly as well as the military planners had thought it would. I mean everyone was having fun and all, but there really didn't seem to be any connection between anyone....until the "ringer" showed up! Afterwards they couldn't get the Iraqi's to leave, they wanted pictures with everyone, they wanted to ride our bikes, play games, learn English (although I don't think that learning English from U.S. Soldiers is a good idea), and most of all....see more magic. I was even requested by the Iraqi Head Honcho to perform a private show for him and his family! For some reason it was a real big deal to do that. So all in all it was a real fun day. I signed my autograph on over 100 playing cards for the kids and their parents, and they all went away smiling and asking when could we do this again. As far as any more rocket and mortar attacks......only time will tell......but if it works, as one Air Force Colonel put it, "It was 90% because of that Army guy who did those (insert expletive here) up, crazy magic tricks." Here are some pictures from the day.

Scott, The Army's Newest Weapon, Anderson

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended

It's official, with a vote of 98-0 in the Senate, the first time home buyer credit has been extended to contracts signed by April 30 and closed by June 30. The controversial credit, which many say has boosted home sales in recent months, was set to expire after Nov. 30.

The Senate's bill also created a $6,500 credit for those who buy a home after owning one for the last five years. That measure would apply to contracts signed by April 30 and closed by June 30. The current credit defines a first-time homebuyer as someone who has not owned a residence within the past three years.

The Senate bill would raise the adjusted gross income cap to $125,000 for single filers and $225,000 for joint filers. The amount of the credit currently begins to phase out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.

"It's gonna put people back to work, the home builders, put people in the real estate business," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn. "The kind of jobs that can make a difference."

The extension will cost $10.8 billion over 10 years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. Through mid-September, 1.4 million tax returns had qualified for the credit, according to the IRS. Some portion of those returns, which the IRS couldn't specify, represents buyers who took advantage of an earlier version of the tax credit, which was only worth $7,500 and has to be repaid over time.

By the end of November, the credit will have been used by 1.8 million homebuyers, at least 355,000 of whom would not have bought a house without the tax break, according to estimates by the National Association of Realtors.

"The data on the present home buyer tax credit show that the credit has had its intended impact -- sales have jumped in recent months to a projected 5.1 million for the year and housing inventory has been trimmed, thus stabilizing home prices noticeably," said Ron Phipps, the association's first vice president, in Senate testimony last month.

The credit, however, has also posed many problems. Critics say it's a waste of money because most of those claiming the credit would have bought homes anyway. It's also been the target of fraud. Some 74,000 people claimed more than $500 million in credits even though they may not be first-time homeowners, according to Treasury officials. And more than 580 children, including some as young as 4-years-old, have claimed the credit. "Some key controls were missing to prevent an individual from erroneously or fraudulently claiming the Credit and receiving an erroneous refund of up to $8,000," said J. Russell George, Treasury inspector general for tax administration, before a House subcommittee last month.

On a separate note, the FED decided to leave interest rates at near 0%. This will effect things like credit cards and home equity lines of credit. It's also an indicator on inflation. According to the articles I've read, most people believe it will be next spring or summer before they start to tick up.

Tillamook Cheddar Cheese

Oh Tillamook Cheddar, I try to ignore you when I am walking down the isle of the grocery store, but you call me in like a siren song. I think about all of our good times making grilled cheese sandwiches, putting you in mac and cheese, or just eating you plain. Now you may not be the flashy cheese , or the party cheese like a Gouda or Brie, but Tillamook you're oh so steady. I can put you on anything and the meal instantly tastes better. I have never have a bad experience with you oh Tillamook Cheddar, and appreciate your steady cheesy goodness. I could go on like a Billy Mays infomercial and tell you about all of cheddar's uses, but you already know them! So, as every 4th grader in America has said at one point or another, 'If you love it, why don't you marry it?!?' Maybe I will!

Tax Credit Extension

I have been getting a lot of questions about both the current first time home buyers tax credit, and the proposed extension. The main question regarding the current tax break is whether or not it's too late to take advantage. In simple terms, it depends. Most likely if you need FHA or conventional financing it's too late. With the delays in funding and the Thanksgiving holiday, it's going to be tough to get it closed by the end of November. However, if you have cash or a really fast mortgage broker, it is still possible. So, I would say try to close by the end of the month, but home it gets extended.

Now, as for the proposed extension, there are actually some new things being added that could help out. First off, it allows the current credit to be extended until the end of April 2010. According to Bloomberg, there is also another key addition to the bill. They stated that:

Homebuyers who have lived in their prior residences for at least five years may receive a credit of $6,500 under the plan, said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. Also, couples earning as much as $225,000 and individuals as much as $125,000 would qualify for the extended break, Baucus said. That’s up from a $75,000 limit for individuals and $150,000 for couples.

If this is the case, I think this will be huge! This will give incentive for those people that have been considering upgrading a reason to pull the trigger. It will also bring new inventory to the market for the first time home buyers. From what I've read, we should have a vote on the bill this week. I'm crossing my fingers and I would suggest calling your senator to be sure they vote for it!

I'm always here for questions if you have them!