Build Recurring Income

I am a US Citizens living abroad. I am in the process of filing tax return for 2008 for foreign earned income based on IRS' publication 54. Our earned income has already been taxed once by the country we live in.
I see that there are two ways to avoid double taxation on your income -the foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit.
Can somebody please explain the difference between the two and point out advantages to use one over another?

I didn't see it on the website. Is there an income guideline for number of people living in the house compaired to the income, if so what is it (where can I find it)? Thanks!~

I am a trustee of a complex trust as well as the primary beneficiary.
All income is distributed to the primary beneficiary annually.

I received a payment from the trust for reimbursement expenses and for payment of my time as trustee.
Is any or all of this taxable income to me?
Can the trust give me a gift up to $13,000 annually?
Is the reimbursement treated differently than the compensation for services?
Does it need to show on the K1?

Can the trust give a secondary beneficiary a gift without issuing a K1 to the secondary beneficiary?

Thank you. If you have any IRS sources that would be helpful.

I've already accumulated about $45,000 in short term capital gains this year. I need to liquidate another $40,000 in stocks or sell part of an inherited IRA which, as I understand, will be taxed as income. Is the tax hit going to be the same either way?

Last year I had taxable income of about $53,000 with next to no capital gains. This year I expect about the same taxable income plus the capital gains.