Question:

I’m looking for a scanning based archiving system – I .e. where I scan everything I get in a few binders, and then I can view it on my computer or easily find back the original document. It would be for both private and business purposes. It would have to have support for different (Non US) accounting needs. I.e. connect receipts, physical bank statements and home-banking output, and moving documents according to what is required by accounting standards. I don’t know so much about accounting, but I don’t think it should be an accounting system in itself, they tend to be quite rigid, but it should be able to produce output to an accouter or an accounting system. I think perhaps the best would be an open-source project, as I am a developer myself. It should also be easier to adapt and integrate. (Any business ideas here?) I am also looking for free/almost free software to create pdf documents, and to convert to pdf (print to pdf). Thanks Mike

Response:

Itemize your needs. Your request is confusing.

Response:

Itemize your needs. Your request is confusing.

It would have to have support for different (Non US) accounting needs over time: 1. I.e. connect receipts, physical bank statements and home-banking output. 2. Move documents according to what is required by  accounting standards. 3. It should also be easy to adapt and integrate. These are not requrements, just things I would like to be able to do. (Does it matter?  Are you consulting in the office solution marked?). Mike

Response:

Question:

Since the banks are shut this weekend, maybe somebody could tell me if I can get a small loan ($2000) from a bank. I’ve been making payments on a car for over two years, so I’ve established a little credit. The loan is for a van that I’m buying, as I’m getting rid of the Saturn. Unfortunately on the Saturn, I’ll probably only sell it for enough to pay off that loan. Also if I can get a loan for 2 grand, around how much interest would I be looking at? Matt

Response:

I think most banks do if you are credit worthy.  There are different ways of doing this.  I’m not an expert on this, but here’s a few that I am aware of. 1)    Unsecured consumer loan.  Loan term is generally shorter (e.g. 4 years or less).  Interest rate is higher since the loan in unsecured. 2)    Use your van as collateral.  Most banks will allow you to borrow up to the market value of the car.  Interest rates are generally tied to the cars age.  Interest is generally better than that of unsecured loans. 3)    If you own a property (e.g. home), you may consider borrowing against your built up equity.  Interest rate tends to be lower with this type of financing, and you may qualify the interest portion of your payments as a tax deductible expense on your income tax return.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Since the banks are shut this weekend, maybe somebody could tell me if I can get a small loan ($2000) from a bank. I’ve been making payments on a car for over two years, so I’ve established a little credit. The loan is for a van that I’m buying, as I’m getting rid of the Saturn. Unfortunately on the Saturn, I’ll probably only sell it for enough to pay off that loan. Also if I can get a loan for 2 grand, around how much interest would I be looking at? Matt

Response:

I think most banks do if you are credit worthy.  There are different ways of doing this.  I’m not an expert on this, but here’s a few that I am aware of. 1)    Unsecured consumer loan.  Loan term is generally shorter (e.g. 4 years or less).  Interest rate is higher since the loan in unsecured. 2)    Use your van as collateral.  Most banks will allow you to borrow up to the market value of the car.  Interest rates are generally tied to the cars age.  Interest is generally better than that of unsecured loans. 3)    If you own a property (e.g. home), you may consider borrowing against your built up equity.  Interest rate tends to be lower with this type of financing, and you may qualify the interest portion of your payments as a tax deductible expense on your income tax return.

Since the banks are shut this weekend, maybe somebody could tell me if I can get a small loan ($2000) from a bank. I’ve been making payments on a car for over two years, so I’ve established a little credit. The loan is for a van that I’m buying, as I’m getting rid of the Saturn. Unfortunately on the Saturn, I’ll probably only sell it for enough to pay off that loan. Also if I can get a loan for 2 grand, around how much interest would I be looking at? Matt

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Response:

Question:

I think the Family Value at stake here is secrecy.  You gotta remember his Dad ran the CIA. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a feeling that Cheney didn’t consult with anybody about the energy "policy" and they are too embarrassed to admit it.      Funny that when Congress wanted to know who Clintons Health Care task for met with, they got the list immediately. But when it comes to Bush’s Energy task force, the administration committed to "honesty and candor" stonewalls.    Consistency must not be one of their Mitchell Holman   "As a matter of fact, I brought Republicans and  Democrats together to do just that in the state of  Texas, to get a Patients Bill of Rights through." George Bush, 10/17/00, regarding a bill that he in fact opposed, then vetoed, then refused to sign when it was later passed by a veto-proof majority, and is now trying to take credit for.

Response:

I have a feeling that Cheney didn’t consult with anybody about the energy "policy" and they are too embarrassed to admit it.

      Funny that when Congress wanted to know who Clintons Health Care task for met with, they got the list immediately. But when it comes to Bush’s Energy task force, the administration committed to "honesty and candor" stonewalls.     Consistency must not be one of their Mitchell Holman    "As a matter of fact, I brought Republicans and   Democrats together to do just that in the state of   Texas, to get a Patients Bill of Rights through." George Bush, 10/17/00, regarding a bill that he in fact opposed, then vetoed, then refused to sign when it was later passed by a veto-proof majority, and is now trying to take credit for.

Response:

I have a feeling that Cheney didn’t consult with anybody about the energy "policy" and they are too embarrassed to admit it. —  Dan Listermann Check out our new E-tail site at http://www.listermann.com Take a look at the anti-telemarketer forum.  It is my new hobby!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are you contending that there is a NEED for Bush to keep his advisors a secret?  It’s not like this is a national security issue.  It’s an economic planning issue pure and simple, and the public has a right to know what is being discussed and with whom. Yes, lets find out who they are so we can trash them. Can’t have any good ideas popping up…bad news, they are equaliy divided from both camps…and have blacks and women on it..sooooooo, it will be hard for the Dems to whack them…but they’ll try…lol Pressure Building on Bush to Reveal His Energy Advisers by Andrew Buncombe in Washington A United States government watchdog is poised to take legal action against the Bush administration over its refusal to divulge the names of advisers secretly consulted before the announcement of its controversial energy policy. The General Accounting Office (GAO) – the investigative wing of the  http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0808-01.htm — Jenn http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/newsnight/palast.ram http://democrats.com http://members.tripod.com/progressive_2001 http://members.tripod.com/classicliberal/classicliberal Brian (not wanting to be a messiah): "You are all individuals…" Crowd (in unison): "We are all individuals…" Monty Python’s "Life Of Brian"

Response:

Pressure Building on Bush to Reveal His Energy Advisers by Andrew Buncombe in Washington A United States government watchdog is poised to take legal action against the Bush administration over its refusal to divulge the names of advisers secretly consulted before the announcement of its controversial energy policy. The General Accounting Office (GAO)

Question:

Stop invoicing, your business clients and their customers will thank you!

Cool!  Great post.  Good food for thought. Anybody interested in billing and payments generally should read the Killen report, a weekly free email. Here are the topics the most recent week Sent: Monday, July 03, 2000 4:27 PM Tumbleweed Interfaces ESP World 2000 The San Francisco Conference is set Global WebCast An interview with London-based ClearMoney Ltd. will be aired on July 12, 2000. Supplier Profile docHarbor eMail, the New eDelivery Method Implementation Count Implementations eDocs Working Overtime Online Resources Gains Three FirstEnergy Electrifies Bill Payment TransPoint’s Prodigy Truly Virtual Intuit Makes Sense Wired Canadians are Wireless Vendor News PayMyBills Embraces OFX Open Solutions Buys NDC eCommerce Products Digital Insight Enters ESP World Your Bills Anywhere New MarketDirect Released * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * XML accounting, web ledgers, BSPs, ASPs, whatever it takes Stop invoicing, your business clients and their customers will thank you!

[/..] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -There are two basic options for setting up customers on automatic payment. 1.  Paper bank drafting… The customer fills out a one page application and sends this and a voided check to the business.  Subsequently each month on the due date a preauthorized paper check is printed for the customer and delivered to the business for deposit. 2.  Electronic funds transfer — This option is newer and is available to all business sizes.  The customer fills out the same kind of application as with option 1 and then each month on the due date, the business uploads a simple flat file to the Automated Clearing House system that results in electronic funds transfer from the customers’ bank accounts to the business’ bank account within 48 hours.

Put me on record as opposed to both of these methods unless they are provided free by the banks (which of course they aren’t for most small businesses.) Web based payment methods are emerging which are cost free. You’re absolutely right, it’s nice to have customers who pay their bills.  And for some customers the preauthorised payments are the perfect service.  My own view is that businesses should simply stop extending credit to those people until they reach a minimum threshhold of capacity to conduct their affairs in a free economy without a parent or guardian taking care of them. The existence of large numbers of these dumbshits creates a criminal class (banks and governments) that exploit them, perpetuating the problem. Elizabeth Paulsen, President Cascade e-Commerce Solutions, Inc. Ph:  206.244.9092 http://www.bizincome.net

yours, Archie Bunker * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * XML accounting, web ledgers, BSPs, ASPs, whatever it takes

Response:

Stop invoicing, your business clients and their customers will thank you! The Small Business Administration estimates that it costs $4.17 to send out a standard invoice.  Then there’s the cost of waiting for the payment to return in the mail and the cost of following up with 2nd and 3rd invoices. Large businesses learned decades ago that setting up customers on automated payment plans makes sense.  It improves their receivables rate, reduces their overhead, and improves customer retention as the customer doesn’t stop to reevaluate his relationship with the business every month at bill paying time. Now medium and small businesses can experience the same positive results. There are two basic options for setting up customers on automatic payment. 1.  Paper bank drafting — This option has been available to big businesses (businesses with over $500,000 in receivables per month) for over 40 years.  Today it is available to businesses of any size.  The customer fills out a one page application and sends this and a voided check to the business.  Subsequently each month on the due date a preauthorized paper check is printed for the customer and delivered to the business for deposit. 2.  Electronic funds transfer — This option is newer and is available to all business sizes.  The customer fills out the same kind of application as with option 1 and then each month on the due date, the business uploads a simple flat file to the Automated Clearing House system that results in electronic funds transfer from the customers’ bank accounts to the business’ bank account within 48 hours. In both options the business is paid on time every time and the customer no longer has to take the time to write and mail a payment out to the business. Both options cost less and take less time than invoicing or lock box setup.  Option 2 includes on-line real-time reporting. With recent developments in legislation and technology, both options are available to any business regardless of size or monthly sales volume. If you’d like a free evaluation of how much time and money a business would save through converting to automated payments, please e-mail your request to me. Elizabeth Paulsen, President Cascade e-Commerce Solutions, Inc. Ph:  206.244.9092 http://www.bizincome.net

Response:

Question:

Hey guys tell mw what you think…ever been told you are obessed with this WOE??  My husband told me today at lunch that there is more to life that lcing and this newsgroup.  I am always up here checking things out.  Hey I do think more about just this, the very reason I am lcing is so that I can be in better health so that I can be around for along time for my husband and 9mos son. gotta go

Response:

Hey guys tell mw what you think…ever been told you are obessed with this WOE??  My husband told me today at lunch that there is more to life that lcing and this newsgroup.  I am always up here checking things out.  Hey I do think more about just this, the very reason I am lcing is so that I can be in better health so that I can be around for along time for my husband and 9mos son. gotta go

My wife is getting sick of me using the word "carbohydrate"!       — – Mike 235+/190/190 PP 5/4/99

Response:

I *was* obsessed for the first few months.  It was very hard for me to not go about continuously preaching the LC word.  And I can’t say that I completely controlled myself. lol!  But I got a few people on this WOE.  A couple are even on this group.  You know who you are. Cat PP 6/28/99: 189/155/155 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey guys tell mw what you think…ever been told you are obessed with this WOE??  My husband told me today at lunch that there is more to life that lcing and this newsgroup.  I am always up here checking things out.  Hey I do think more about just this, the very reason I am lcing is so that I can be in better health so that I can be around for along time for my husband and 9mos son. gotta go

Response:

x-no-archive: yes My wife is getting sick of me using the word "carbohydrate"!       So use carb instead.

Somehow I think she’s be on to me there too! Accountants are pretty clever people!               — – Mike 235+/190/190 PP 5/4/99

Response:

There is? — Debbie Cusick "When I get a little money I buy books: and if any is left over I buy food and clothes. "  - Erasmus Check out the asdlc FAQ at: http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My husband told me today at lunch that there is more to life that lcing and this newsgroup

Response:

SNIP!   My husband told me today at lunch that there is more to life that lcing and this newsgroup.

There is????  Why didn’t you guys tell me!!! geese, just when you think you have it figured out, someone tells you there is a world away from the ng. go figure! Jae lifeless

Response:

No one has ever told me that but I have to wonder  if I am or if others think I am. I think I have to be kind of obsessive about it, at least until it becomes as natural as eating low fat/high carb used to be. Stephanie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey guys tell mw what you think…ever been told you are obessed with this WOE??  My husband told me today at lunch that there is more to life that lcing and this newsgroup.  I am always up here checking things out.  Hey I do think more about just this, the very reason I am lcing is so that I can be in better health so that I can be around for along time for my husband and 9mos son. gotta go

Response:

: : My wife is getting sick of me using the word "carbohydrate"!       : — I’ve driven my mom crazy on the weekends when I go home and now I’m not allowed to mention the diet anymore.

Response:

Diet Coke and said : I *was* obsessed for the first few months.  It was very hard for me to not go about continuously preaching the LC word.  And I can’t say that I completely controlled myself. lol!  But I got a few people on this WOE.  A couple are even on this group.  You know who you are.

I was too. I was convinced that *any* carbs I ate were going to make me gain 800 pounds. But I made myself accept that that was not true.

Response:

hmmmm, obsession with the LC WOE, or obsession with the chocolate cake and ice cream….LC…chocolate cake…LC….I think if I’m going to be obsessed with one or the other..LC RULES  JMHO! …and I figure the obsession will disappear….along with the weight. kat lc 10/99 380/342/160 next mini goal 330 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hey guys tell mw what you think…ever been told you are obessed with this WOE??  My husband told me today at lunch that there is more to life that lcing and this newsgroup.  I am always up here checking things out.  Hey I do think more about just this, the very reason I am lcing is so that I can be in better health so that I can be around for along time for my husband and 9mos son. gotta go

Response:

If I remember correctly, my DH did say something about his not becoming obsessive about eating low carb or staying on this diet.     (If he really wants something, he’s gonna eat it, damn it!) Hmmmm….could that be why he put back on all the weight that he lost…and then some? Me? I’ll stay "obsessive" if that what it takes. Jo NJ

Response:

Obsessed??? Me obsessed???  Nah…..although I did have to fight off the urge to ask how many carbs were in the piece of pasta I accidently ate in the pasta salad I was served at lunch today. (I was really going for the broccoli and pepperoni in it instead). Ann Marie 259/227/130 1/10/00

Response:

I might be "obsessed" with eating and living low carb but my husband better not say a word since he is "obsessed" over my new body!

Response:

I’m sure my friends are sick of hearing about my diet…..who cares, I feel better. Jillena – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey guys tell mw what you think…ever been told you are obessed with this WOE??  My husband told me today at lunch that there is more to life that lcing and this newsgroup.  I am always up here checking things out.  Hey I do think more about just this, the very reason I am lcing is so that I can be in better health so that I can be around for along time for my husband and 9mos son. gotta go

Response:

Question:

Like many amateur photographers I find that the time I can devote to my hobby is limited by work and family obligations.  Also, like many I have reached the point where I know the basics (for example, exposure, depth of field, rule of thirds, showing motion, basic composition and so on).  It is time to move up to the next level and start really improving my work.  It is time to combine the technique and artistry to produce good ( and dare I say sometimes great?) photographs.  But how does one do this? Several people have suggested that I enroll in the correspondence course offered by by the New York Institute of Photography.  I would like to hear from people who have taken this course or tried it and rejected it, or have closely known and followed somebody who has taken this course.  I want to find out how good it is and who it is directed at.  Most of all I want to find out if a person who knows the basics can significantly profit from this course.  Please don’t repsond if you have not taken the course or you don’t have a close relationship with somebody who has. The second part of this search for knowledge is to find out what books, seminiars, and other sources might a person who knows the basics use to move on.  There are a ton of books out there, but many are too basic.  I don’t need to read another book that discusses the rule of thirds or how to through a background out of focus.  The same is true for seminars.  I don’t need Mr. Famous Photographer to tell me about including a foreground in my scenic shots or focusing on the eyes of the animal.  What I need and I think many others need is to know what is the next step. One can go out and shoot a ton of film, use the brain while shooting, keep notes  and learn a lot.  But, if possible I would like to get more direction so I can learn more in the limited time I have each month to shoot.  I guess one can say the the entire point to this request for information is to make my limited shooting time a  more productive learning experience. Your knowledgable help  is appreciated.

Response:

The second part of this search for knowledge is to find out what books, seminiars, and other sources might a person who knows the basics use to move on.  There are a ton of books out there, but many are too basic.  I don’t need to read another book that discusses the rule of thirds or how to through a background out of focus.  The same is true for seminars.  I don’t need Mr. Famous Photographer to tell me about including a foreground in my scenic shots or focusing on the eyes of the animal.  What I need and I think many others need is to know what is the next step.

Just found this last Friday. Check out http://www.mountainlight.com/ Look for information about workshops Galen Rowell hosted and you can also see some result photos from the attendees. I think you can judge whether the workshop fit your need by those photos from the students. BTW, I also read a very good review from phot.net about these workshops and rate Galen as one of the best photographers that is really willing to share his visions. Eric.

Response:

I love NYIP.  I finished 4 of 6 units and have learned a lot from it.  I started out by reading all the books in the library I could get my hands on, but felt I really needed some feedback from professionals, and NYIP gave me that.  The lessons go way beyond the basics, in my opinion, and I’m constantly reviewing the material to refresh it in my head because there’s so much to absorb.  They taught me most of what I know!  I still have a ways to go, but I think we all learn continuously throughout our lives.  I hope I never stop wanting to learn!  Let me know if you want to know more. — Jennifer Clark http://www.lightlink.com/jclark/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Like many amateur photographers I find that the time I can devote to my hobby is limited by work and family obligations.  Also, like many I have reached the point where I know the basics (for example, exposure, depth of field, rule of thirds, showing motion, basic composition and so on).  It is time to move up to the next level and start really improving my work.  It is time to combine the technique and artistry to produce good ( and dare I say sometimes great?) photographs.  But how does one do this? Several people have suggested that I enroll in the correspondence course offered by by the New York Institute of Photography.  I would like to hear from people who have taken this course or tried it and rejected it, or have closely known and followed somebody who has taken this course.  I want to find out how good it is and who it is directed at.  Most of all I want to find out if a person who knows the basics can significantly profit from this course.  Please don’t repsond if you have not taken the course or you don’t have a close relationship with somebody who has. The second part of this search for knowledge is to find out what books, seminiars, and other sources might a person who knows the basics use to move on.  There are a ton of books out there, but many are too basic.  I don’t need to read another book that discusses the rule of thirds or how to through a background out of focus.  The same is true for seminars.  I don’t need Mr. Famous Photographer to tell me about including a foreground in my scenic shots or focusing on the eyes of the animal.  What I need and I think many others need is to know what is the next step. One can go out and shoot a ton of film, use the brain while shooting, keep notes  and learn a lot.  But, if possible I would like to get more direction so I can learn more in the limited time I have each month to shoot.  I guess one can say the the entire point to this request for information is to make my limited shooting time a  more productive learning experience. Your knowledgable help  is appreciated.

Response:

see http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/classes.html for info on NYIP and other photo learning resources… esp., there is a discount if you elect NYIP and wait out their "best offer" you may also want to review their materials and see if the level is right for you – much of the material is basics you may already know… personally, I recommend a local community college if you can make the class schedule – more hands-on and live feedback, often darkroom access, and more fixed time-frame – plus college credit option Oftentimes, classes are really cheap (locally, $70/semester 3 hr class) – a great way to recycle your tax dollars regards bobm — * Bronica 6×6 medium format: http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/bronica.html site * * Medium Format Cameras: http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/index.html megasite*

Response:

You might try joining a local camera club.  The club I joined meets weekly. There is slide judging every other week, a print night, and a fourth week special lecture or slide show.  The judging is done by outsiders, often pros or semi-pros who give brief but incisive comments on the work.  I can only display 2 slides a week, but looking at other member’s work and hearing the judge’s comments has been great for me.  I have gone over all the work I have ever done with a fresh eye(most of it is not very great), and more important I have been producing much better work since.  I have even won 2 first places for slides!

Response:

I understand exactly what you are telling. I was at the same situation when I decided that I will go through the NYIP course. I have done only unit 1 and sent in the results for the feedback today. I can summarise what NYIP is doing for me. It is teaching me almost everything that I already know, but consolidating all the knowledge logically. Also the feedback by professionals after looking at your work IMO is very useful, friends have long been going ooooh aaaah over my photos even if I can notice flaws. Also I want to ask some questions and the fact that a professional is there to answer the question is helpful. Last, I have found that the community college course contents are too basic for me. Hope this helps. Roby Jacob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Like many amateur photographers I find that the time I can devote to my hobby is limited by work and family obligations.  Also, like many I have reached the point where I know the basics (for example, exposure, depth of field, rule of thirds, showing motion, basic composition and so on).  It is time to move up to the next level and start really improving my work.  It is time to combine the technique and artistry to produce good ( and dare I say sometimes great?) photographs.  But how does one do this? Several people have suggested that I enroll in the correspondence course offered by by the New York Institute of Photography.  I would like to hear from people who have taken this course or tried it and rejected it, or have closely known and followed somebody who has taken this course.  I want to find out how good it is and who it is directed at.  Most of all I want to find out if a person who knows the basics can significantly profit from this course.  Please don’t repsond if you have not taken the course or you don’t have a close relationship with somebody who has. The second part of this search for knowledge is to find out what books, seminiars, and other sources might a person who knows the basics use to move on.  There are a ton of books out there, but many are too basic.  I don’t need to read another book that discusses the rule of thirds or how to through a background out of focus.  The same is true for seminars.  I don’t need Mr. Famous Photographer to tell me about including a foreground in my scenic shots or focusing on the eyes of the animal.  What I need and I think many others need is to know what is the next step. One can go out and shoot a ton of film, use the brain while shooting, keep notes  and learn a lot.  But, if possible I would like to get more direction so I can learn more in the limited time I have each month to shoot.  I guess one can say the the entire point to this request for information is to make my limited shooting time a  more productive learning experience. Your knowledgable help  is appreciated.

Response:

Hi Jennifer I took the same course about 5 years ago and my opinion is that the course is simply terrific. The course consists of many excellent lessons and in my opinion it was worth every penny. It’s worth to mention how they emphasize and teach exposure technique. In the section of "Eye of the Photographer" their philosophy is  to see "the world of photography" the same way the Pros do..

Response:

The second part of this search for knowledge is to find out what books, seminiars, and other sources might a person who knows the basics use to move on.  There are a ton of books out there, but many are too basic.  I don’t need to read another book that discusses the rule of thirds or how to through a background out of focus.  The same is true for seminars.  I don’t need Mr. Famous Photographer to tell me about including a foreground in my scenic shots or focusing on the eyes of the animal.  What I need and I think many others need is to know what is the next step.

From what I’ve heard of on the medium format digest, supported from what I’ve read on their webpage, if you already have good photographic technique, you’re not going to learn anything at NYIP. If you want to become a pro photographer, I don’t think the way to do it is to "major in photography." You’re better off taking accounting/marketing courses and learning photography on the side. In the end, it’s the marketing that sells the pics. According to one web article I read, pro wedding photographers spend about 1.5 days/week on the average shooting. The rest of the time is spent dealing with customers and trying to find new customers. –Jim

Response:

Do you think the course is valuable even if you have no interest in Portrait or Wedding photography. My interest is nature and landscapes….Any help would be appreciated……Joe

Response:

Hello Jim Photographers who think they have a good  "photo technique" might find out one N.Y.I.P. course. I agree with you that marketing is essential for photographers who promote their work. Another benefit from marketing is a high level of self confidence….

Response:

Question:

My brother has a beer wholesale business. We are using Peachtree at this time.  But it does not fit our needs. We are looking for new software for a complete solution. 1. Bar code reading for incoming and out going stock. And compare it with the sales      invoice. 2. Able to handle varies deposits on bottles and kegs, that will automatically credit the      customer for there next invoice. (Very hard to find this) 3. Software that is client server based. 4. Can handle multi business locations and able to allocate stock from one to the other      to handle rush order. And time it with inter truck transfer. These are the main points. Cost is also a factor. I am open to any operating systems Linux, Os/2, WinNT. Any recommendations Thanks for the Help. Sarat

Response:

You might consider a product called Navision Financials.   This is a very stable, comprehenive and customizable client server accounting system.  Their web site is located at  www.navision-us.com .  If you are located in the Houston/Austin Tx area,  I’d be glad to talk to you in person. Ron

Response:

One of my partners is supporting on Macola (which we resell) a beverage distributor who bottles and has trucks to distribute.         I do not know the details but know they have two warehouse locations and transfer stock, Macola is "client/server" in that it is designed to run on a network (NT or Novell).         However, it is a big step from P-tree as are most of the higher end systems; SBT, Solomon, Navisson, etc.         We sell a middle step in Red Wing which might cover you.         Sometimes, you have to make a decision on dollars versus the ability of the system to accomplish your objectives. I think you will go into shock at the price of a network, workstations, software, setup costs, and then an accounting system on top. Putting in a five workstation network from scratch can easily run $10,000 (I would use $15k for a budget). High end accounting software can run another $15k to $20k and up when you add the bells and whistles with training another $10k to $15k.         Some may suggest even higher (or lower) numbers for any or all of these thoughts. You set a budget based upon where you are, where you’re going, and when you’ll be there. It does no good to look at $50k systems when you already know that your budget is $10k. Best of luck, Dana

Response:

I can give you a few software links for you to check out: http://www.adams1.com/pub/russadam/share.html http://www.taltech.com/freesoft.htm http://www.sharedirect.com/                             David Hicks              http://www.vector-usa.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My brother has a beer wholesale business. We are using Peachtree at this time.  But it does not fit our needs. We are looking for new software for a complete solution. 1. Bar code reading for incoming and out going stock. And compare it with the sales      invoice. 2. Able to handle varies deposits on bottles and kegs, that will automatically credit the      customer for there next invoice. (Very hard to find this) 3. Software that is client server based. 4. Can handle multi business locations and able to allocate stock from one to the other      to handle rush order. And time it with inter truck transfer. These are the main points. Cost is also a factor. I am open to any operating systems Linux, Os/2, WinNT. Any recommendations Thanks for the Help. Sarat

Response:

Question:

Hi, I have quickbooks 5 and I was hoping that someone could tell me how to set it up so each customer has a different rate for each item, instead of typing it in everytime. Thanx, Shawn

Response:

QuickBooks can only have one price per item. If this feature is a must have for your business then you should look into higher end accounting systems. Many of these accounting systems have multiple price lists as well as the ability to adjust the sales price by a discount percentage or markup based on the type of customer you are selling to. In addition many have provision for special sales prices that have start and end dates.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi, I have quickbooks 5 and I was hoping that someone could tell me how to set it up so each customer has a different rate for each item, instead of typing it in everytime. Thanx, Shawn

Response:

Question:

Pierre: Yes, accounting can be boring and one dimentional.  My partner and I both "quit" the traditional corporate accounting world for that very reason. Additionally, in my opinion, CPA firms are not that exciting either. However, accounting knowledge and experience can catapult you into rewarding and exciting by-product careers.  Check out our web site to see what I mean, and don’t hestiate to email me directly for some follow-up discussion. Paulette — SBS Associates, Inc. specializing in accounting and information systems http://www.sbsassociates.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I am 15 years old and trying to make plans and decide on a career. I am interested in accounting so I thought I would ask here. I hope you will not mind. Basically, I find accounting interesting, and I like mathematics. So I think a career in accounting would be nice. However, I have a few questions: Accounting seems to require a lot of manual mathematics. Is this true, or does computerisation result in less manual math? From what I’ve seen/read/heard about it, accounting is portrayed as a very dull and boring job. Not only that, accountants themselves are generally thought to be very boring people who never have fun. Is the job truly lousy and does it convert one into a boring person? What is the office atmosphere like? Is it fun or very dull? Are you happy doing it? What are the career prospects like? Does one get to higher positions over the years? I know maybe it’s too early to decide on a career, but I am curious since it may help make up my mind later. Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Pierre Theremin.

Response:

Ask your local CPA firm for permission to "hang out" in the office  for a three days — Noel Nichols Return mail is for Spam

Response:

        One exciting new field in accounting is accounting information systems consulting. If I could do it over again, I would have gotten a B.S. degree in Computer Science and an MBA with a concentration in accounting. Instead, I have a BS in Finance and an MBA with a concentration in accounting (still not a bad combo).

Response:

I have a client that uses the DOS version. They like it. (they use ar/ap/gl/po and payroll. Payroll was recently changed to ABRA because Platinum no longer sells their own. They are not real high on ABRA. I like it because it is btrieved based and we run many audit and analytical reports using Access which reads the files directly using ODBC. We also wrote a simplified bill of material for them that links directly between the live Platinum files and the Access files. I have seen some negative comments on the Windows product but do not have any experience with it. — Karl E. Irvin, CPA  -  Arlington, Texas

Response:

Computers definitely help.  The name of the game is to get the job done as efficiently as possible.   A boring person will be boring no matter what his or her profession.  Maybe you’ve had teachers that knew a lot but just couldn’t get you interested in the subject, and other teachers who have made you want to learn whether you were interested in the subject or not.  More reserved accountants "do the numbers."  More outgoing accountants bring in the business.  An accounting firm needs both.  Some people are both.     Accounting seems to require a lot of manual mathematics. Is this true, or does computerisation result in less manual math?

  Not only that, accountants themselves are – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – generally thought to be very boring people who never have fun. Is the job truly lousy and does it convert one into a boring person? What are the career prospects like? Does one get to higher positions over the years?

Response:

Accounting expressions come and go, and currently in vogue seems to be ’shareholder value’. What do you understand by this, and how is it important? My personal take on the term is anything which raises the stock price gives or has positive shareholder value.  New organization, new product, new partner any and all can create a perception of increased value over yesterday’s prices. Sue

don’t forget dividend payments … not so common in the US due to the tax regime, I understand, but still the way forward for British companies.  These are included in shareholder value measurements, such as "Total shareholder return". — andrew what law am i breaking now?

Response:

I’ve seen various interpretations of the expression, the latest being that SV means the net present value of future cash flow, but I don’t know how many years of cash flow that would mean. I have also been told that it certainly does not mean the current market capitalisation of a company.

        The net present value of future cash flow should be the current market capitalization (theoretically), which would also be the shareholder value.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve seen various interpretations of the expression, the latest being that SV means the net present value of future cash flow, but I don’t know how many years of cash flow that would mean. I have also been told that it certainly does not mean the current market capitalisation of a company.         The net present value of future cash flow should be the current market capitalization (theoretically), which would also be the shareholder value. I understand market capitalisation to mean shares in issue multiplied by the market price. I’ve been told that this approach represents a short term approach to company valuation whereas the projected cash flow is long term.

The above definition of market capitalization is generally accepted as correct (shares issued and outstanding x market price).  The second sentence re. short vs. long term is also generally correct although the current market price would include consideration of future cash flows, indeed, some would argue that the current market price reflects ALL currently available public information (some would also add insider information). Market makers won’t know from day to day the projected cash flow.         The shareholder value (or stock price multiplied by the number of shares) *should* be the net present value of all projected cash flows, ad infinitum, or until the projected end of the existence of the corporation, if it is known that the company will be of limited duration.

I think that this is overly simplistic.  It is true that one method of valuing publicly traded shares is to base the calculation on the dividend stream in perpetuity (or the projected end of the corporation as you state).  Keep in mind that the farther you go out from today the less impact those future cash flows will have on the value – indeed, it quickly approaches an insignificant amount depending on the discount rate applied. Market value can be affected by MANY factors that don’t involve cash flow – can you say Bre-X? The discounted cash flow valuation approach (as distinct from dividend stream) is another method of valuing shares of a company – however, so is tangible asset backing, capitalized maintainable earnings, modified tangible asset value, liquidation value, rules of thumb etc., etc. There is also a significant difference between the valuation of a public and a private company.  Too many to go into here. [snip investment discussion] —  Carl

Response:

    I wish my 25 year old kid wrote as well as you do !!!     Good luck kid. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I am 15 years old and trying to make plans and decide on a career. I am interested in accounting so I thought I would ask here. I hope you will not mind. Basically, I find accounting interesting, and I like mathematics. So I think a career in accounting would be nice. However, I have a few questions: Accounting seems to require a lot of manual mathematics. Is this true, or does computerisation result in less manual math? From what I’ve seen/read/heard about it, accounting is portrayed as a very dull and boring job. Not only that, accountants themselves are generally thought to be very boring people who never have fun. Is the job truly lousy and does it convert one into a boring person? What is the office atmosphere like? Is it fun or very dull? Are you happy doing it? What are the career prospects like? Does one get to higher positions over the years? I know maybe it’s too early to decide on a career, but I am curious since it may help make up my mind later. Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Pierre Theremin.

Response:

Accounting expressions come and go, and currently in vogue seems to be ’shareholder value’. What do you understand by this, and how is it important?

Response:

Accounting expressions come and go, and currently in vogue seems to be ’shareholder value’. What do you understand by this, and how is it important?

My personal take on the term is anything which raises the stock price gives or has positive shareholder value.  New organization, new product, new partner any and all can create a perception of increased value over yesterday’s prices. Sue

Response:

don’t forget dividend payments … not so common in the US due to the tax regime, I understand, but still the way forward for British companies.  These are included in shareholder value measurements, such as "Total shareholder return". andrew what law am i breaking now?

I’ve seen various interpretations of the expression, the latest being that SV means the net present value of future cash flow, but I don’t know how many years of cash flow that would mean. I have also been told that it certainly does not mean the current market capitalisation of a company. Apparently the use of SV is intended to tackle the way trying to satisfy stockmarket short termism can be harmful to a company in the longer term. I look forward to seeing more comments on this thread. Roger

Response:

I would suggest looking at the web pages of the accounting firms, www.gt.com www.anderson.com www.bestcpa.com These should give you a good insight – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am 15 years old and trying to make plans and decide on a career. I am interested in accounting so I thought I would ask here. I hope you will not mind. Basically, I find accounting interesting, and I like mathematics. So I think a career in accounting would be nice. However, I have a few questions: Accounting seems to require a lot of manual mathematics. Is this true, or does computerisation result in less manual math? From what I’ve seen/read/heard about it, accounting is portrayed as a very dull and boring job. Not only that, accountants themselves are generally thought to be very boring people who never have fun. Is the job truly lousy and does it convert one into a boring person? What is the office atmosphere like? Is it fun or very dull? Are you happy doing it? What are the career prospects like? Does one get to higher positions over the years? I know maybe it’s too early to decide on a career, but I am curious since it may help make up my mind later. Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Pierre Theremin.

Response:

Hi, I am 15 years old and trying to make plans and decide on a career. I am interested in accounting so I thought I would ask here. I hope you will not mind. Basically, I find accounting interesting, and I like mathematics. So I think a career in accounting would be nice. However, I have a few questions: Accounting seems to require a lot of manual mathematics. Is this true, or does computerisation result in less manual math? From what I’ve seen/read/heard about it, accounting is portrayed as a very dull and boring job. Not only that, accountants themselves are generally thought to be very boring people who never have fun. Is the job truly lousy and does it convert one into a boring person? What is the office atmosphere like? Is it fun or very dull? Are you happy doing it? What are the career prospects like? Does one get to higher positions over the years? I know maybe it’s too early to decide on a career, but I am curious since it may help make up my mind later. Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Pierre Theremin.

Response:

Question:

Once we have admitted to the necessity of having some form of government, we are faced with the problem of financing this organization. The standard solution has been taxation. We’ll attempt to understand what happens and how it could be avoided, in a real world situation. In the current model, there are two major tax families: income, or direct tax, and consumption, or indirect tax. Ideally, income taxes are perceived at the source, which is to say directly from employers. Indirect taxes are taken out of the till of retail businesses. Value added taxes (VAT, GST) are merely variations on the latter. The collection of this revenue involves a large number of people using uncounted control and verification measures, in general, with hugely invasive powers in the case of direct taxation. This being the life and blood of government, tax laws are  applied with the full power of the State, with little compassion, no tolerance, few motivations to be rational, and hardly any of the normal restraints expected in a democracy.  Because taxation levels are so easy to raise, and so hard to challenge, efficiency is never a concern. In the name of taxation, complex and inefficient systems must be put in place, lawyers and accountants must be consulted, and a lot of time will be spent conforming or in the futile hope of saving a few dollars. The greatest part of the income is spent by the State in the exercise of collecting, administering, and managing it. Out of control bureaucrats impose enormous frustrations on people who don’t know enough to protect themselves, or are not rich enough to get proper advice. Bookkeeping is the single largest activity of business and government, timewise. In Canada, the largest bureaucracy, by far, is concerned with the finances of government. It is bigger even than the next two largest agencies combined. If you think that’s bad, think about what happens next. The money so collected by governments is spent. Without getting into the details of how well it is spent, let’s consider that those who get paid with this money must then pay taxes on it, which taxes are spent again, after going once more through the system, inefficiencies and all. Wait, it is getting worse. Once the average citizen cashes his or her paycheck, the remaining money (after tax witholdings) is spent on goods and services on which indirect taxes are collected. So, if you earned $100 out of which $30 were taken out in taxes, you can spend $70, out of which you will pay around 15% in sales taxes of some sort, which comes to about $10. It means you are being taxed at $40 for every $100 you earn. The $60 income left for the merchant is in turn taxed, at around $20 for every $100, which means another $12 goes into the pot. Your $100 has so far generated roughly $52 for the bureaucrats. And every iteration through the tax system makes each dollar skinnier and skinnier because of the (high) cost of its accounting and inefficient administration. But the highest price for society and for individual citizens is paid in freedom. Because they are judge and party, politicians and bureaucrats give themselves dictatorial powers in the name of tax equity. Our privacy is invaded, our business is spied upon, our life is scrutinized, and we must spend time and money in the service of the State, just so we can satisfy their ever increasing demands for reporting. The survival of the State has become much too onerous for its  citizens. "So, what we you do about it?" you may well ask. The answer is not obvious, but it is not new: inflation. The State has the power to print money, as well as to spend it. Let the State print the money it needs when it needs it. The current system lowers our purchasing power, and our freedom. Inflation would only lower our purchasing power, and more of the money so raised would be available for spending, as opposed to bureaucratic costs of collection and administration. It would also be a lot easier to assess the true cost of government than it is now, with the endless loop of tax and spend, in which the actual level of taxation at any given time is hard to track. Inflation is the path of lesser evil, which is as good a definition of the art of government as any. Since we can’t seem to be able to put a damper on the greed, and spending habits of the State, we may as well remove the gross inefficiencies, stupidities, indignities, abuses, and the threats on our individual freedoms from the equation. But this raises the next question: "aren’t the bureaucrats and politicians glad to have this excuse (taxes) to invade our privacy and exercise growing controls on citizens?". Their reaction to the idea of inflation as a substitute to taxation will tell us a good part of the answer. — Virtually me, really… http://w3.e-sense.net/Alain   PGP public key (FingerPrinted: 13EF7332C45976D729569FDD7D84FF19)   available on usual servers   Slogan of the day: Liberalize breathing!

Response:

In the current model, there are two major tax families: income, or direct tax, and consumption, or indirect tax.

The only other type of tax capable of raising the quantity of revenue expended  by modern states is an asset tax.  It is very revealing that few people seem to be aware even of the existence of this alternative, and that discussion of it is rarely permitted in fora where the agenda can be easily controlled. [Accurate description of the evils of income taxation snipped] In its ease of administration and compliance, its effect on the economy and people’s behaviour, and its fundamental morality, asset taxation would be far, _far_ superior to income taxation. [Proposal of inflation snipped] Bzzzzzzt. Inflation as an alternative to taxation has been tried, many times.  It generally destroys the economy, by destroying people’s ability to make time-value economic calculations. — Roy Langston

Response:

Once we have admitted to the necessity of having some form of government, we are faced with the problem of financing this organization. The standard solution has been taxation. We’ll attempt to understand what happens and how it could be avoided, in a real world situation. In the current model, there are two major tax families: income, or direct tax, and consumption, or indirect tax. Ideally, income taxes are perceived at the source, which is to say directly from employers. Indirect taxes are taken out of the till of retail businesses. Value added taxes (VAT, GST) are merely variations on the latter. The collection of this revenue involves a large number of people using uncounted control and verification measures, in general, with hugely invasive powers in the case of direct taxation. This being the life and blood of government, tax laws are  applied with the full power of the State, with little compassion, no tolerance, few motivations to be rational, and hardly any of the normal restraints expected in a democracy.  Because taxation levels are so easy to raise, and so hard to challenge, efficiency is never a concern. In the name of taxation, complex and inefficient systems must be put in place, lawyers and accountants must be consulted, and a lot of time will be spent conforming or in the futile hope of saving a few dollars. The greatest part of the income is spent by the State in the exercise of collecting, administering, and managing it. Out of control bureaucrats impose enormous frustrations on people who don’t know enough to protect themselves, or are not rich enough to get proper advice. Bookkeeping is the single largest activity of business and government, timewise. In Canada, the largest bureaucracy, by far, is concerned with the finances of government. It is bigger even than the next two largest agencies combined. If you think that’s bad, think about what happens next. The money so collected by governments is spent. Without getting into the details of how well it is spent, let’s consider that those who get paid with this money must then pay taxes on it, which taxes are spent again, after going once more through the system, inefficiencies and all. Wait, it is getting worse. Once the average citizen cashes his or her paycheck, the remaining money (after tax witholdings) is spent on goods and services on which indirect taxes are collected. So, if you earned $100 out of which $30 were taken out in taxes, you can spend $70, out of which you will pay around 15% in sales taxes of some sort, which comes to about $10. It means you are being taxed at $40 for every $100 you earn. The $60 income left for the merchant is in turn taxed, at around $20 for every $100, which means another $12 goes into the pot. Your $100 has so far generated roughly $52 for the bureaucrats. And every iteration through the tax system makes each dollar skinnier and skinnier because of the (high) cost of its accounting and inefficient administration. But the highest price for society and for individual citizens is paid in freedom. Because they are judge and party, politicians and bureaucrats give themselves dictatorial powers in the name of tax equity. Our privacy is invaded, our business is spied upon, our life is scrutinized, and we must spend time and money in the service of the State, just so we can satisfy their ever increasing demands for reporting. The survival of the State has become much too onerous for its  citizens. "So, what we you do about it?" you may well ask. The answer is not obvious, but it is not new: inflation. The State has the power to print money, as well as to spend it. Let the State print the money it needs when it needs it. The current system lowers our purchasing power, and our freedom. Inflation would only lower our purchasing power, and more of the money so raised would be available for spending, as opposed to bureaucratic costs of collection and administration. It would also be a lot easier to assess the true cost of government than it is now, with the endless loop of tax and spend, in which the actual level of taxation at any given time is hard to track. Inflation is the path of lesser evil, which is as good a definition of the art of government as any. Since we can’t seem to be able to put a damper on the greed, and spending habits of the State, we may as well remove the gross inefficiencies, stupidities, indignities, abuses, and the threats on our individual freedoms from the equation. But this raises the next question: "aren’t the bureaucrats and politicians glad to have this excuse (taxes) to invade our privacy and exercise growing controls on citizens?". Their reaction to the idea of inflation as a substitute to taxation will tell us a good part of the answer. — Virtually me, really… http://w3.e-sense.net/Alain   PGP public key (FingerPrinted: 13EF7332C45976D729569FDD7D84FF19)   available on usual servers   Slogan of the day: Liberalize breathing!

Response: