Re: [CGUYS] Turbo Tax help
If you're an employee and don't have complicated deductions, I think TurboTax, filed on-line, works fine. However, there are at LOT of new tax laws this year that you may be able to take advantage of, so unless you stay current on individual tax law I don't see how you have any choice BUT (1) to use a PROFESSIONAL preparer (not Jackson Hewitt or H&R Block unless someone you trust recommends one of their preparers) or (2) use tax software and CAREFULLY answer every question. For example, due to the stimulus bill, this year I should be able to (a) take an energy tax credit, (b) deduct sales taxes on a new car, and (c) take a college tuition credit, none of which I did (or could have done under 2008 tax law). Also, I found this item handy to organize tax info "on the fly" or prior to completing a tax return: http://www.amazon.com/Smead-89202-Expanding-File-Organizer/dp/B001NPD012/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1249909627&sr=1-1 I'm sure it may be available at traditional Office Supply Stores as well. -- Original message from Mike Sloane : -- > I am hardly the most organized of people (a big understatement at best), > but I am very careful with anything to do with taxes (US and state). > When the first piece of paper comes in that has anything related to a > year's taxes, I put it in a big manila envelope marked "200X Taxes". As > the year progresses, that is where everything related to taxes goes > immediately. Being retired, my tax returns aren't all that complicated, > but I have been using TurboTax ever since it came out on a couple of > floppy diskettes, and I have never had a problem either filing or being > questioned by the IRS. (and, like the other posters, I do NOT file > electronically and don't have direct deposit of my refund.) I am > guessing that the IRS has a little more confidence in returns filed by > TurboTax than they do returns filled out by hand - at least they know > the math is right, even if some of the numbers might not be. > > I think that, if I ever came in to large sums from the lottery or an > inheritance or was involved in my own business (all highly unlikely!), I > would seek professional advice (NOT from a storefront operation!), but > so far I have not encountered any financial situations that were outside > the application's capabilities. The big challenge will occur when we are > forced to start redeeming IRA's that are very, very old. One of the best > parts of TurboTax is being able to import data from the federal filing > directly into the state return. I can usually do both in a couple of hours. > > Mike > > Wayne Dernoncourt wrote: > > b_s-wilk > >>> On Aug 9, 2009, at 2:08 PM, Wayne Dernoncourt wrote: > I'm thinking we should go to a tax person to deal > with this. > > > >>> Yes you should. I found that fighting the software > >>> distracted me from other important tax issues, causing > >>> a mess. I filed and then had to hire a human to refile > >>> a correct form. > > > >> We do our own taxes, small business and all. Tax software > >> isn't particularly efficient, but having everything in a > >> database/spreadsheet at the end is convenient. It often > >> takes more time to use software or an accountant than to > >> fill out forms yourself. Most of the work is gathering > >> all of the pieces of paper, records, notes, numbers, > >> statememts, forms. I use my own Excel spreadsheet, then > >> sometimes TurboTax. > > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Availability of Cell Phone Batteries
Bought a OEM battery on eBay ten days ago for a LG VX8300 phone for $3.99; no shipping added. I usually go through Amazon.com, eBay, or CellPhoneShop.net when I buy batteries, in that order. -- Original message from "Rev. Stewart Marshall" : -- > look up in your phone book places that do batteries. > > They do pop up. Some of them specialize in larger (Car, utility) > > Others do remanufacture batteries for cell phones. > > Stewart > > At 02:49 PM 1/11/2009, you wrote: > >>Batteries are usually made up of cells. It is not unreasonable to open > >>the container and replace the cells. > > > >You are right. Do you know of any company that actually does this for > >cell phone batteries? > > > > > >>Other batteries contain an aluminum > >>pack. It is not unreasonable to replace this pack with a newer one. > >>I did > >>this with my iPod and the new pack had a much longer run time than the > >>original. > > > >Isn't the "aluminum pack" the battery itself? So when you open the > >iPod and remove and replace the "aluminum pack" you are not > >refurbishing the battery. You are refurbishing the iPod by replacing > >the battery. > > Rev. Stewart A. Marshall > mailto:popoz...@earthlink.net > Prince of Peace www.princeofpeaceozark.org > Ozark, AL SL 82 > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Redefining history [was: Taxes and good life]
-- Original message from Matthew Taylor : -- > On Feb 11, 2009, at 2:33 PM, db wrote: > > > To me the cutting tax (ad nauseum...), small hands off government, > > "free" trade concepts are just "me me me" first types trying to make > > sure nobody gets in the way of "them getting theirs" > > And you determine this how? > > > and they have been increasingly motivated in the last 25 years or so > > to come strongly and selfishly forward by a trend of increasing > > American scarcity and diminishing prospects. > > What scarcity? What is America running out of in your view? In what > way are our prospects diminished? Most libertarians believe that if > there is a scarcity, it represents a market opportunity, and believe > that with the right choices made our prospects look good indeed. > > > > > > I wouldn't want to be standing in line for the lifeboats on a > > sinking ship with any of these types around. > > Amazing how many military who might be coming to your rescue are of a > more conservative or libertarian bent though. > > > > I think you'll find rank and file military donations to Ron Paul, Obama and the Dems in general dwarfed those to McCain and the Repubs. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/mccain-edges-obama-with-military-donors/ > > That they argue that such policy is best for all of us is just > > superficial and insincere BS propaganda > > You have some secret inside source that tells you that libertarians do > no believe what they are saying? > > > ... a slim cover for an otherwise socially unacceptable self serving > > philosophy. > > Self reliance within a greater community, a long standing American > tradition, is now socially unacceptable? > > > I'm convinced that by nature they subjectively don't really give a > > functional damn about the good of the whole > > By nature? So you are saying there is a libertarian gene? > > > so debating the economic and governance points with them makes about > > as much sense as trying to talk a wolf out of eating meat. > > Or say vegetarians who feed their dogs and cats vegetable diets? > > > > > > If the last decade didn't prove out the bankruptcy of their theories > > of governance, I don't know what ever will. > > The spendthrift Republican congress of 2001 - 2006 were hardly an > exemplar of libertarian fiscal policy. > > > > > > But I do learn a lot from other types in discussing such matters so > > I guess our string is worthwhile. > > Other types. Do you mean types you already agree with? I find I > learn more from being challenged with demonstrable reason backed up by > facts. > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Redefining history [was: Taxes and good life]
I've concluded after reading through this thread that you may be (and there are plenty of contenders) the winner of the "Legend in His Own Mind" award. I congratulate you. -- Original message from Jeff Wright : -- > > One of the consistent trends of our recent political history is that > > the broadly conservative and libertarian thinks the left is badly > > misguided but educable, while the left thinks conservatives and > > libertarians are evil and selfish. > > IME, what most non-libertarians seem to think is that libertarians are born > as libertarians. From my own observations, most people start out as > liberals and a good many stay that way for the rest of their life, never > re-evaluating their beliefs. Some do, and turn into conservatives and the > truly reformed turn into libertarians. I think that this is where the above > dynamic comes from. > > Throughout my youth and well into college, I was a solid Kennedy Democrat. > I barely missed voting in 1980 and would have voted for Anderson; I never > even heard of Ed Clark. Later on, I worked with hard-line conservatives for > years (doing their IT). So, I'm very familiar with the arguments from both > the left and right. A former list member (old listers may remember JB) is > the one who turned me onto libertarianism many years ago (and after years of > arguments) when we worked together. > > This is to say that I've re-evaluated my beliefs many times over the years. > When I started having doubts about the correctness of libertarianism, I > would look at what the 2 dominant political powers were doing and my > admittedly non-conformist beliefs were quickly reaffirmed. > > That someone would start as a libertarian first and then morph into either a > liberal or conservative, well, that person is the proverbial unicorn. > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] "Discussion" Rules [was: Redefining history]
I joined the list-serv to see how people with more computer skills than me address IT problems. While the politics are interesting... It seems to me that the problem with many of the arguments here is not only does the author give his/her point of view, but then they also ascribes motivation behind the other (you know the illogical/emotional opposition) party's reason for their obviously disjointed thinking. That's not a discussion; that's practicing medicine without a license. It's also snarky, by the way. I operate by the following rule of thumb: Anyone who is certain that they are right, about something that cannot be proven, is in all likelihood wrong. I'll try to get some more frequent flyer miles before I weigh in on the process again. -- Original message from b_s-wilk : -- > Jeff Wright escribió: > >> > I've concluded after reading through this thread that you may be (and > >> > there are plenty of contenders) the winner of the "Legend in His Own > >> > Mind" award. I congratulate you. > > > > It's called a "discussion" Ray. It's when 2 or more people share their > > experiences, thoughts and ideas. > > > > I see that you have nothing to add to it, tragic for a lurker's first post, > > so thanks for playing. > ...snip... > > Others can beat their heads against the unyielding wall of incurious > > partisanship, but me? Nah. Life's too short. > > > > Ray, you gotta pay yer dues before you're allowed to get snarky. Agree > or disagree. Flame and be flamed. > > Oh, and welcome to the land beyond lurking. Thanks, Jeff. Seems that > some people like beating their heads against the wall because it feels > so good when they stop--whatever turns 'em on. > > What? Me worry? > > Betty > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
