Question:

As a panic disorder sufferer who has it under control through medication and therapy and who refuses to let it control my life as much as I can, I understand what you are saying. The best thing I can tell you is this, do not rush to judgement about things especailly when you are in a panic or depressed state. I can get both sometimes. You make bad decisions and when you do feel better you regret them. Instead wait a few hours or even a day then re evaluate everything. Also as people with panic, we often have difficulty adjusting to new scenarios and situations. You had just started a new job which may have been great for you if you had taken some time to adjust. Just some advice based on the experiences I’ve had.

Response:

The important items have been covered.  I’ll add a little ‘oblique-angle view’ to consider. It is thought that anxiety, as a disorder, has origin in genetics, neurochemistry anomalies, thinking style and for some it seems there are psycho-social background issues involved.  I would not begin to presume to know why you personally have anxiety attacks when triggers present themselves. It may be helpful to consider the idea of "safety", since that is a common theme in your accounting of events and reasons for actions taken/not-taken. Many people who become anxious, including people who have no disorder at all, feel anxiety due to a feeling of not being safe.  If they lose their job, how will they pay their mortgage?  What if they can’t get another job? What if their house is foreclosed?  What if they end up homeless?  (sound familiar?) A lady was placed into an ambulance today, in Augusta Georgia, and it went driving down the expressway (as ambulances do) and was struck from the side by an SUV of some sort.  The ambulance was flipped, and the lady was unfortunately the one fatality from the accident.  She may have felt "more safe" than just prior to the paramedics arrival at her house, she may have felt like she was on her way to a better situation, she may have felt unsafe, or very worried.  Her feelings (which are unknown to me; I did not know her) did not ultimately affect the outcome – she died, and not from the health problem that made her seek help.  This is obviously a relatively rare circumstance.  Unforeseen events (like an accident) can suddenly change everything, so that something that was "reasonably safe" suddenly became "utterly unsafe" and ultimately fatal, in this case.  The cognitive strategy here is to focus on "enough".  E.G. – I’m safe enough.  I’m well-employed enough, I’m happy enough, I’m loved enough and ultimately I am enough.  It promotes a center-continuum thinking style, and keeps us from being too far on one end or the other (in this case, too safe/sheltered/self-imprisoned vs. in total peril).  Control is the other obvious issue – your safe job could end tomorrow (probably not, but the point being – you can’t "control" it) and so could a new job.  The trained ambulance personnel attempted to exert as much control as is feasible, I’m sure, but they could not ultimately control the outcome today.  I hope they will focus on all the times that they did succeed in helping the person, rather than on this, which they could not prevent – at least they lived, and have the opportunity to consider it on any level.  I hope that you will take a look at what aspects of safety/control exist in your life that may hold inordinate dominion over your own decision-making. This issue is but one of many that are usually explored in great detail in a cognitive-behavioral therapy scenario and I’d encourage you to seek that out, as has already been suggested.  Things will be alright. Kindly, Gary

Response:

Hi all,   A few months ago, I felt that while I did enjoy my current position, I should try to see what else was out there. I knew that there was an opportunity for me to make more money at another company, as well as move to a higher level. I received a job offer from a company that was financially strong, and the offer was about 15% more, not counting bonus potential. I accepted the offer, put in my notice at work and immediately had an anxiety attack…..the attack was so intense that the next day, I immediately notified my current employer that I had made the wrong decision and wanted to stay. They were happy I wasn’t leaving, so all was well.   Of course, following that anxiety attack, I had two weeks of "aftershock"…….worrying about everything, like whether my current employer would fire me……I was a wreck for almost a month. I didn’t want to do anything, I was constantly sad…..   A few months passed and I was feeling back to normal. I rationalized that my anxiety attack was due to the fact that I didn’t feel up to the job that I had been offered (could have been a lot more hours, and I would have needed to specialize in areas I am unfamiliar with and manage people that I do not know…..unfamiliar territory is not my friend!). Anyhow, I started to have thoughts of starting to look again, and I was contacted by a headhunter that was very impressed with my resume. So impressed, that he told me of a position at a very large company in town that needed someone with my credentials for a position that was being vacated due to an internal promotion. The job itself didn’t sound all that exciting, but the pay was very good, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to take a look. I met with the department managers and they were all VERY nice….and the benefits at the company were exceptional….and I would even have my own office. Yet, the feelings of an anxiety attack started to creep up. I felt that I needed to be happy with my work, so I decided to call them and tell them that while it was a great company, I knew that the position wouldn’t be very exciting or enticing to me. Still, they wanted me to consider taking the time to meet with the head honcho of the company….so I did. He was also VERY nice, and they were all so impressed with me that they wanted to create a position for me just to get me on board.   Anyhow, the anxiety started to creep up again. I spoke at length with my wife about everything, especially knowing that the salary impact would be 30%+ higher than where I am currently at. 30%!!! There were things I like about my current job (I enjoy my work, my co-workers, my proximity to home….I know there is advancement potential) and things I knew I wouldn’t like about the offered job (not close to home, unknown situation, not sure what I would do….and why would they pay me so much more to do less than I am now…..I’m very skeptical!). At the end of the day, I decided to pass on the job, knowing that I am happy where I am at, excluding the compensation piece of things. Plus, so many of my friends are miserable in their jobs, that I know that it might be a bad idea to jump ship from a solid, stable company that I am happy at to go to an unknown situation where I would make a lot more money but could be miserable (and stuck).   My decision was made….still, I had a full blown anxiety attack after the decision, and I then followed up with weeks of "aftershocks" worrying about whether I made the wrong decision, wondering why I was having an anxiety attack that I couldn’t explain, worrying about whether I could ever take a new job again without having an anxiety attack, worrying about whether I   I am just curious if there are others out there that have had the same experience? If so, is there anything you have done to prevent the anxiety attacks? Is this just a disability that one must live with? I have seen a psychologist, and there is no "cure", just breathing exercises you can do and pills you can take (for me, lorazepam). Sorry so long…….thanks!!!!

Response:

Wow what a story and you write SO well! I can see why you are getting so many job offers. You seem to be so intelligent and down to earth. My advice won’t be very long. I’m sure there will be others who can elaborate better than I can, but I’m thinking a therapist might be able to help you right now. You’re already on Lorazepam, do you think the dosage is high enough? It sounds like you might be having some obsessive thoughts. Do you take an anti-depressant? I’m sorry I just realized that you did say that you have seen a psychologist. What is your diagnosis if you don’t mind? It’s pretty obvious that you have GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, but there is more to it than that. Self esteem issues, afraid of change. Would you consider seeing a psychiatrist instead?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all,  A few months ago, I felt that while I did enjoy my current position, I should try to see what else was out there. I knew that there was an opportunity for me to make more money at another company, as well as move to a higher level. I received a job offer from a company that was financially strong, and the offer was about 15% more, not counting bonus potential. I accepted the offer, put in my notice at work and immediately had an anxiety attack…..the attack was so intense that the next day, I immediately notified my current employer that I had made the wrong decision and wanted to stay. They were happy I wasn’t leaving, so all was well.  Of course, following that anxiety attack, I had two weeks of "aftershock"…….worrying about everything, like whether my current employer would fire me……I was a wreck for almost a month. I didn’t want to do anything, I was constantly sad…..  A few months passed and I was feeling back to normal. I rationalized that my anxiety attack was due to the fact that I didn’t feel up to the job that I had been offered (could have been a lot more hours, and I would have needed to specialize in areas I am unfamiliar with and manage people that I do not know…..unfamiliar territory is not my friend!). Anyhow, I started to have thoughts of starting to look again, and I was contacted by a headhunter that was very impressed with my resume. So impressed, that he told me of a position at a very large company in town that needed someone with my credentials for a position that was being vacated due to an internal promotion. The job itself didn’t sound all that exciting, but the pay was very good, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to take a look. I met with the department managers and they were all VERY nice….and the benefits at the company were exceptional….and I would even have my own office. Yet, the feelings of an anxiety attack started to creep up. I felt that I needed to be happy with my work, so I decided to call them and tell them that while it was a great company, I knew that the position wouldn’t be very exciting or enticing to me. Still, they wanted me to consider taking the time to meet with the head honcho of the company….so I did. He was also VERY nice, and they were all so impressed with me that they wanted to create a position for me just to get me on board.  Anyhow, the anxiety started to creep up again. I spoke at length with my wife about everything, especially knowing that the salary impact would be 30%+ higher than where I am currently at. 30%!!! There were things I like about my current job (I enjoy my work, my co-workers, my proximity to home….I know there is advancement potential) and things I knew I wouldn’t like about the offered job (not close to home, unknown situation, not sure what I would do….and why would they pay me so much more to do less than I am now…..I’m very skeptical!). At the end of the day, I decided to pass on the job, knowing that I am happy where I am at, excluding the compensation piece of things. Plus, so many of my friends are miserable in their jobs, that I know that it might be a bad idea to jump ship from a solid, stable company that I am happy at to go to an unknown situation where I would make a lot more money but could be miserable (and stuck).  My decision was made….still, I had a full blown anxiety attack after the decision, and I then followed up with weeks of "aftershocks" worrying about whether I made the wrong decision, wondering why I was having an anxiety attack that I couldn’t explain, worrying about whether I could ever take a new job again without having an anxiety attack, worrying about  I am just curious if there are others out there that have had the same experience? If so, is there anything you have done to prevent the anxiety attacks? Is this just a disability that one must live with? I have seen a psychologist, and there is no "cure", just breathing exercises you can do and pills you can take (for me, lorazepam). Sorry so long…….thanks!!!!

Response:

Question:

Anyone have any information regarding Checkmark accounting software?  They have a web site (http://www.checkmark.com) but there isn’t much on it. One of my clients is asking me about it. Jim Hudspeth

Response:

Unless your client is on a Mac, it’s a bit pricey. I remember the name but it never has been a big player. Regards,     Dana Persells

Response:

Question:

Look at the properties of each message……look the same dont they? Right click on the message and hit properties… Plus the wording in each message was a little to "alike" TH

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – LMAO….replying to yourself as spam……hmmm the "new" spam? brutal…. TH how do you know? and how do you do it? Dear Semeon! We want to offer you our new inventory system for any kind of business. Inventory Executive System is a complete system for  management of sales, purchases and payments. This system will help you in creation invoices, sale orders, purchase orders, receiving lists, payment receipts, product labels with barcodes and any kinds of the reports for monitoring your business. System allows to control  customer balances and vendor balances. http://executivpro.tripod.com Executive Property Investment Dear friends! Recently  I began the retail business. What inexpensive programs can I  use for the inventory and financial accounting? Semeon

Response:

LMAO….replying to yourself as spam……hmmm the "new" spam?   brutal…. TH

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Semeon! We want to offer you our new inventory system for any kind of business. Inventory Executive System is a complete system for  management of sales, purchases and payments. This system will help you in creation invoices, sale orders, purchase orders, receiving lists, payment receipts, product labels with barcodes and any kinds of the reports for monitoring your business. System allows to control  customer balances and vendor balances. http://executivpro.tripod.com Executive Property Investment

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear friends! Recently  I began the retail business. What inexpensive programs can I  use for the inventory and financial accounting? Semeon

Response:

LMAO….replying to yourself as spam……hmmm the "new" spam?   brutal…. TH

how do you know? and how do you do it? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Semeon! We want to offer you our new inventory system for any kind of business. Inventory Executive System is a complete system for  management of sales, purchases and payments. This system will help you in creation invoices, sale orders, purchase orders, receiving lists, payment receipts, product labels with barcodes and any kinds of the reports for monitoring your business. System allows to control  customer balances and vendor balances. http://executivpro.tripod.com Executive Property Investment Dear friends! Recently  I began the retail business. What inexpensive programs can I  use for the inventory and financial accounting? Semeon

Response:

Dear friends! Recently  I began the retail business. What inexpensive programs can I  use for the inventory and financial accounting? Semeon

Response:

Dear Semeon! We want to offer you our new inventory system for any kind of business. Inventory Executive System is a complete system for  management of sales, purchases and payments. This system will help you in creation invoices, sale orders, purchase orders, receiving lists, payment receipts, product labels with barcodes and any kinds of the reports for monitoring your business. System allows to control  customer balances and vendor balances. http://executivpro.tripod.com Executive Property Investment – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear friends! Recently  I began the retail business. What inexpensive programs can I  use for the inventory and financial accounting? Semeon

Response:

Question:

Hello! I am looking to help people in the US and Canada who may be or have ever been buried under the tremendous cost of attorney fees.  I just recently signed up as a member (and actually just became an associate once I saw the power behind this service) for a company called Prepaid Legal Services. This program is legitimate and has helped me tremendously with my post-Divorce legal matters.  Had I known about this service before my divorce, I would have save THOUSANDS of dollars in attorney fees. Two plans are offered by the company:     * Individual – $17 per month     * Family     – $25 per month The benefits breakdown is too complex to describe here since coverage varies slightly from State to State.  If you go to my website, you will find all the information there broken down by individual State or Province. If you still have questions, either about the company or how the company has helped me personally, please feel free to call anytime.  I’m fairly busy, so please leave a voicemail if I don’t answer and I WILL return your call.  I am genuinely convinced that this company will help change the lives of many people and I want to be a part of bringing that to fruition. Thank you and I look forward to working with you! Steve Hampton www.prepaidlegal.com/go/stevenhampton 505-350-3826

Response:

In South Africa there are also companies that offer this, but a common characteristic is that domestic issues are excluded e.g. divorce, custody, maintenance and domestic violence, as well as pre-existing situations. Read the fine print before you sign up… — –Tariffs– -Answers: $1-00 -Answers requiring thought: $10-00 -Correct answers: $50-00 -Special for this month only: dumb looks are still free.

Hello! I am looking to help people in the US and Canada

who may be or have ever been buried under the tremendous cost of attorney

fees.  I just recently signed up as a member (and actually just became

an associate once I saw the power behind this service) for a company called

Prepaid Legal Services. This program is legitimate and has helped me

tremendously with my post-Divorce legal matters.  Had I known about

this service before my divorce, I would have save THOUSANDS of dollars in attorney fees. Two plans are offered by the company:    * Individual – $17 per month    * Family     – $25 per month The benefits breakdown is too complex to describe

here since coverage varies slightly from State to State.  If you go to my

website, you will find all the information there broken down by individual State or Province. If you still have questions, either about the

company or how the company has helped me personally, please feel free to call

anytime.  I’m fairly busy, so please leave a voicemail if I don’t answer and I

WILL return your call.  I am genuinely convinced that this company will

help change the lives of many – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -people and I want to be a part of bringing that to fruition. Thank you and I look forward to working with you! Steve Hampton www.prepaidlegal.com/go/stevenhampton 505-350-3826

Response:

Hello! I am looking to help people in the US and Canada who may be or have ever been buried under the tremendous cost of attorney fees.  I just recently signed up as a member (and actually just became an associate once I saw the power behind this service) for a company called Prepaid Legal Services.

Just a quick note to the unwary – Prepaid Legal is a rip-off, these schemes are run by the stupidest bunch that I can remember coming across. I’ve got over 20 years in the business and financial field, and I can assure you that Prepaid Legal is a scam. Best – Fido

Response:

Just a quick note to the unwary – Prepaid Legal is a A what? Your words are pretty strong……

I’ve been doing this for too long. I’ve listened to too many prepaid legal schpiels, and I’ve known of too many "salesmen" that got suckered into shilling for this racket to have the smallest amount of respect for this crap. Crap. Is that a better word? Their service is very useful for someone with realistic expectations of what they get.

Yeah, yeah, it’s a big bargain. You will certainly get you money’s worth. Not. Expensive, ripoff lawyers may not like them, but the public should.

There are a lot of things the Bar Association doesn’t like but I doubt if they care too much about Pre-paid Legal. I’d be surprised if they lose a single billable hour because of the thing. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ray Gordon, the jerk women love

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A what? Your words are pretty strong…… I’ve been doing this for too long. I’ve listened to too many prepaid legal schpiels, and I’ve known of too many "salesmen" that got suckered into shilling for this racket to have the smallest amount of respect for this crap. Crap. Is that a better word? Definitely NOT.  Someone with REASONABLE expectations from this type of service can get WONDERS done with it. For example, I can break up an internet case among four states with attorneys who will work TOGETHER and not all bill me redundantly, with a lot of the preliminary work INCLUDED in the premiums. Their service is very useful for someone with realistic expectations of what they get. Yeah, yeah, it’s a big bargain. You will certainly get you money’s worth. Not. Do you realize you’re defaming this company? Expensive, ripoff lawyers may not like them, but the public should. There are a lot of things the Bar Association doesn’t like but I doubt if they care too much about Pre-paid Legal. I’d be surprised if they lose a single billable hour because of the thing. Since PPL’s lawyers are bar members in good standing, probably not.

Drip, drip. drip…

Response:

<snip Do you realize you’re defaming this company?

<snip How do you defame a spammer?   Can you really defame scum? Thana …

Response:

Drip, drip. drip…

Oh, man, hope you don’t have the clap! Best – Fido

Response:

Do you realize you’re defaming this company?

I am doing nothing of the sort. Their actions and sales tactics speak for themselves. No matter how thin you slice it, it’s still crap. Best – Fido ( "Pre-paid Legal is Crap!" TM )

Response:

Oh, man, hope you don’t have the clap!

No, just watching ice melt. It’s more exciting and productive than responding or reading posts by BFAL. GGG

Response:

<snip Do you realize you’re defaming this company? <snip How do you defame a spammer?   Can you really defame scum?

Actually, pre-paid Legal, despite the fact that over-eager salesmen feel compelled to post *here*, is listed on the NYSE, I think. Some fun facts: The company collected about 30 million dollars in "associate service" fees from their salespeople, which is what the salesmen *pay* the company for the privilege of touting their product. The sales structure is classic multi-level marketing. In the cost department, about a third of the company’s collected legal premiums go to the 1,000 or so lawyers, who work for PPD on a fixed monthly fee basis. About the same amount goes commissions and marketing. Actually, the company spends a little more on commissions and marketing then it does on legal services. After administrative costs and taxes payments, the company showed a cash profit of about 15 million, which it used to buy back its own stock. Profit accounting by the company has been mildly aggressive, they show a pre-tax accounting profit of about 70 million, but the SEC has gently challenged some of their accounting policies – for example, when an "associate" (salesperson) sells a prepaid legal contract, that salesman receives a commission up front. Rather then call these commission payments expenses, the company calls them "assets". It occurred to the SEC that the company was never going to collect those "assets" and required that the company write *some of them* off. Even after that gentle SEC rebuke, the company is still showing $155 million dollars of prior payments to salesmen on its balance sheet as "assets". Oh, well, the historical accounting model is outdated, anyway, I don’t even know why those old-fashioned quill and parchment auditors, who don’t understand the new economy anyway, even bother with stuff like "balance sheets" anymore. What a useless concept in our virtual economy. Are PPD legal customers satisfied? Well, consider that about half of the PPD customers leave the program after a little more then a year, on average. Actually, my analysis on this company shows it to be a more substantial thing then I imagined. The hyped-up salesmen, though, who resort to spam to peddle this thing, and the promise of financial independence that the MLM marketing pyramid entails, frankly, though, leave me with the strong impression of "sleeze" when I think Prepaid Legal. And, really, they could clean up their balance sheet a bit. Hey, Harland, take a hundred million dollar hit, (and then some,) and get this thing on track. They can *not* continue to puff assets, while squeezing liabilities forever in order to show the percentage growth that keeps them in Inc. Magazine, or whoever they are trying to impress. Best – Fido – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thana …

Response:

Question:

I have been selling a little on eBay for a few months.  I seem to have an endless amount of paperwork to do.  Please tell me what I need to keep track of, and I’d love ideas on the most efficient and easiest way to do it.  Will IRS catch up to us, if we only sell about $200. month gross? Please help!  Thanks. Before you buy.

Response:

(snip) Will IRS catch up to us, if we only sell about $200. month gross? Please help!  Thanks.

SHHHH!!!! They will now!

Response:

I can’t give any answer regarding the KGB but will tell you what I keep a record of – I made a simple database in MS Works with the following catergories: Item number, item description, my price, selling price, have I received payment, have I shipped item, and tracking number.  If I need to add a note about an item that doesn’t fit the above I place it in the "have I shipped" column with an asterisk before it to make it stand out. When I do taxes this year I am adding up the cost of all the items that sold and I have been paid for, am subtracting that from the selling price (not including shipping), subtracting the total ebay fees for the year, and reporting the resulting figure as non-declared income.  At least that’s my plan, will talk to a CPA about it beforehand.  I am not bothering to adjust for exemptions regarding it, if I err I plan on erring in the IRS’ favor – any mistake will be minimal and far outweighs the penalty if it was the other way around. If the KGB wants more detail I’ll write something but I’ve long since given up on a full detailed accounting with all receipts.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been selling a little on eBay for a few months.  I seem to have an endless amount of paperwork to do.  Please tell me what I need to keep track of, and I’d love ideas on the most efficient and easiest way to do it.  Will IRS catch up to us, if we only sell about $200. month gross? Please help!  Thanks. Before you buy.

Response:

You can link from item# to ebay listing, and such..

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t give any answer regarding the KGB but will tell you what I keep a record of – I made a simple database in MS Works with the following catergories: Item number, item description, my price, selling price, have I received payment, have I shipped item, and tracking number.  If I need to add a note about an item that doesn’t fit the above I place it in the "have I shipped" column with an asterisk before it to make it stand out. When I do taxes this year I am adding up the cost of all the items that sold and I have been paid for, am subtracting that from the selling price (not including shipping), subtracting the total ebay fees for the year, and reporting the resulting figure as non-declared income.  At least that’s my plan, will talk to a CPA about it beforehand.  I am not bothering to adjust for exemptions regarding it, if I err I plan on erring in the IRS’ favor – any mistake will be minimal and far outweighs the penalty if it was the other way around. If the KGB wants more detail I’ll write something but I’ve long since given up on a full detailed accounting with all receipts. I have been selling a little on eBay for a few months.  I seem to have an endless amount of paperwork to do.  Please tell me what I need to keep track of, and I’d love ideas on the most efficient and easiest way to do it.  Will IRS catch up to us, if we only sell about $200. month gross? Please help!  Thanks. Before you buy.

Response:

Do any of you attempt to write off part or all of your ISP costs for doing eBay business?                                Donna in Texas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Also, what about recorded mileage to the post office for an IRS write-off?                       Donna

Response:

I don’t say anything–I don’t claim it–won’t ever get a business license–etcetera. If I made a million at a garage sale–I wouldn’t pay taxes–why should we with eBay?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do any of you attempt to write off part or all of your ISP costs for doing eBay business?                                Donna in Texas

Response:

Because Ebay and your bank have a record of every single transaction you’ve made on Ebay, which they would be happy to supply to the IRS if you ever got audited.  Unlike yard sales, which are done on a cash basis. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I don’t say anything–I don’t claim it–won’t ever get a business license–etcetera. If I made a million at a garage sale–I wouldn’t pay taxes–why should we with eBay?

Response:

Question:

We are a small but growing web hosting company that is looking for a software package that will produce combined Invoices and statements for reoccurring monthly billings. We are looking for something that will produce an invoice that show current months billing in detail and then summarizes the previous invoice showing if paid. Also if there are multiple prior invoices still open these should show up as well. Quick books pro sort of works except it won’t automatically generate bills each month…you have to manually generate each invoice…a pain for 300+ invoices! (unless of course we have missed something). Any suggestions… Neil

QB cannot include prior balances on an invoice. If this did not only appears on statements we would use QB for client billing. However, QB is very good for recurring bills, which you can easily memorize in groups.   Mike Block, Tax Fighting C.P.A.              World’s #1 QuickBooks Top Tester 450+ page QB book/free updates $10 QB add-ons http://www.blocktax.com/       Ft Lauderdale FL 954-566-7540

Response:

I’m also very interested in an accounting program that will show detail of each invoice on a statement – like I get from the credit card companies – so that I can invoice customers for misc services during the quarter, then at the end of the quarter send a statement with a closing date and a line with detail for each envoice during the previous period.  Also, memorized transactions are important.  Any help would be greatly appreciated! VH – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -We are a small but growing web hosting company that is looking for a software package that will produce combined Invoices and statements for reoccurring monthly billings. We are looking for something that will produce an invoice that show current months billing in detail and then summarizes the previous invoice showing if paid. Also if there are multiple prior invoices still open these should show up as well. Quick books pro sort of works except it won’t automatically generate bills each month…you have to manually generate each invoice…a pain for 300+ invoices! (unless of course we have missed something). Any suggestions… Neil QB cannot include prior balances on an invoice. If this did not only appears on statements we would use QB for client billing. However, QB is very good for recurring bills, which you can easily memorize in groups.  Mike Block, Tax Fighting C.P.A.             World’s #1 QuickBooks Top Tester 450+ page QB book/free updates $10 QB add-ons http://www.blocktax.com/      Ft Lauderdale FL 954-566-7540

Response:

Question:

Chris Browne said, on Free Linux ERP developers list: There has been a very significant development on the commercial side, http://www.netledger.com …Performance is quite snappy As always, milage will vary based on a) one’s proximity to their site, b) whether they’re still in business, and c) whether I’ve paid whatever they charge this month. Outsourcing can work given some significant safeguards; the notion that it’s wise in general is Just Not Obvious…

Thinking about Web GLs in general is very disorienting and turns some of our previous ideas upside down.  Accountants will approach most business problems and intellectual inquiry by reference to experiences of the past — i.e. fighting the last war. The term "outsourcing of accounting systems", for example evokes images that may not apply.  I don’t know.  There are many and diverse readers, and it’s a challenge to find terminology that is not ambiguous. But alt.accounting and other forums, people question the idea of Web Ledgers on issues like performance, security, inappropriateness of thin clients based on experience with character based unix terminals 20 years ago, etc. We’re trying to perceive the reality with conceptual building blocks that are models of previous territories that don’t exist anymore.  Here read this http://www.chaordic.org/chaordic/accounting_for_the_XXI_century.htm Anyways, many of the issues that people raise are not timely or specific, in addressing the actual facts by reference to specific Web GLs or software approaches.  (i.e. most of the posts are of little value after you investigate; they have not done their homework.) Gently I wish to inform you, the issues you raise regarding performance over DSL, or the cost of $5/month, or security of the Oracle BOL or NetLedger website, and liquidity of its owners (the 2nd largest software company in the world, and Larry Ellison) are not the central points that need evolution and discussion. The fact is, it’s cheap enough, stable enough, reliable enough and performance is good.  Today.  And it is just as secure as your Bank’s website, or anyplace else where ecommerce or credit cards are used on internet.  Probably more secure. The central points IMO are *how*, and *to whom*, this technology will deliver the most benefits in comparison to other technologies for operating the accounting infrastructure of a business.  Every business would need to quantify their benefits before proceeding, especially consultants who are serving those businesses.  Huge and far-reaching questions. And questions like, how will we avoid Lock-in?  Wake up one morning and the functionality of these things may be so terrific that they will destroy the standalone software market, resulting in fewer choices than ever. Even if they gladly provide 100% export of your data, what good is that, if no other accounting software companies exist selling sufficient functionality? The whole problem killing the standalone software is it cannot do e-commerce. It is quite likely there will be no standalone accounting software vendors in 5 years.  Exporting your company from a Web GL vendor in the year 2005 will be like exporting your Microsoft Access and Excel files to linux. Boiling it down to the common denominator for sole-proprietor CPAs and software VARs, the issue is, now that Web GLs are here, what are the business models for *ME*, carrying them into small businesses that give me a percentage of the likely very large financial benefits which will be gained by my client.  In other words, now that software is something they click on and use without installation, should I go into the training business?  Or implementation?  Or setup a bookkeeping biz. and hire 5 bookeepers, and service the growing market remotely?  If so, where can I find a packaged Web GL software to offer my clients? Or, are some of these Web Ledger companies going to pay a commission? Should I create a network marketing network?  Should I have lunch this week with local barter operators?  Or go to Busines Network breakfasts with this? Or should I approach CPA firms and establish service contracts, install linux/squid DSL gateways for them?  Or what?  Etc etc etc. BTW I installed a Web Forum for discussing Web GLs on my website over the weekend.  You’re all welcome.  There’s no banner ads.  It is for your own use and benefit. * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * 9745-128th Av NE, Kirkland WA 98033       (425) 827-3107 * XML accounting, web ledger, ASP, GL Dialtone, whatever it takes

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Seeing the word "outsourcing" used in the above message flagged a conversation and Email I had with a major vendor of accounting software. They are planning, it seems, to take action against outsourcing use of their software while trying to keep an open door for writeup.  His immediate concern was how to define those two terms. — Franklynn Peterson, Editor CPA Computer Report newsletter

CLIPPED – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Outsourcing can work given some significant safeguards; the notion that it’s wise in general is Just Not Obvious… Thinking about Web GLs in general is very disorienting and turns some of our previous ideas upside down.

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I just compared the 200mm of my new Sigma 28-200 (new Aspherical lens) with my Canon 80-200 f4.5-f5.6 USM. …I was shocked to see that 200mm on the Sigma (appeared through the viewfinder) to be equivalent to roughly 135mm on the scale of my Canon…

You’re not going bonkers. This new Sigma lens was briefly described, along w/ some comparison points, by Bert Keppler in the July Pop Photo:  "…The Sigma [like the Tamron] also has a substantial focal-length loss at 200 mm close focusing."  He pegged the focal length at about 106 mm actual at the 200 mm setting. (With the Tamron set at "200 mm," closest focusing, the focal length is 110 mm. He went on to say that "this [focal length shortening] came as a shock [to him]..but he "did point out that the focal length loss at close focusing was [in his opinion] insignificant compared to the gain in close focusing ability up and down the entire focal-length range." I don’t know enough about optics to explain why this occurs, BTW. The important point, of course, is whether the loss is (in)significant to you. I was thinking of getting the same Sigma as you for a back-up body, but was somewhat put off by the FL loss and what I found to be rather stiff/tight action of the zoom ring (and the stiffness didn’t seem "even" over the 28 – 200 range). M. Shlafer

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I just compared the 200mm of my new Sigma 28-200 (new Aspherical lens) with my Canon 80-200 f4.5-f5.6 USM. I had the camera on a tripod looking at some sheet music and counted have many staves I could see in each case. I was shocked to see that 200mm on the Sigma (appeared through the viewfinder) to be equivalent to roughly 135mm on the scale of my Canon. 200mm on the Canon appeared to be massively more magnified. I am only a beginner, but surely 200mm is 200mm. Is there some other characteristic of the lenses I am not accounting for? I still do not understand ‘macro magnification factors’, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and so on. Could these be different for these lenses and be having this effect? Or should 200mm look the same through the viewfinder with any lenses? Dave

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I have the same lense and I once compared it with my old Quantum lense (70-200 mm). What I found was that the Quantum lense magnifies a little more at 200 mm as compared with the sigma. But if I reduced the focus length to 190 on the Quantum lense, it appeared that it is the same as the sigma on 200 mm. I think the sigma probably has actual focus length of 190 mm. 135 mm is not reasonable. Make sure you look something far away when comparing, since when you look something close, you subject to bigger error due to the lense physical size’s difference, how well it is focused, etc. -SZ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just compared the 200mm of my new Sigma 28-200 (new Aspherical lens) with my Canon 80-200 f4.5-f5.6 USM. I had the camera on a tripod looking at some sheet music and counted have many staves I could see in each case. I was shocked to see that 200mm on the Sigma (appeared through the viewfinder) to be equivalent to roughly 135mm on the scale of my Canon. 200mm on the Canon appeared to be massively more magnified. I am only a beginner, but surely 200mm is 200mm. Is there some other characteristic of the lenses I am not accounting for? I still do not understand ‘macro magnification factors’, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and so on. Could these be different for these lenses and be having this effect? Or should 200mm look the same through the viewfinder with any lenses? Dave

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It may be worth noting that the focal length lost occurs more when you focus closer, thus for subjects near infinity (far away buildings, mountains, etc), the focal length lost is smaller. So use the lens at 200mm to photograph far subjects. I just compared the 200mm of my new Sigma 28-200 (new Aspherical lens) with my Canon 80-200 f4.5-f5.6 USM. …I was shocked to see that 200mm on the Sigma (appeared through the viewfinder) to be equivalent to roughly 135mm on the scale of my Canon… You’re not going bonkers. This new Sigma lens was briefly described, along w/ some comparison points, by Bert Keppler in the July Pop Photo:  "…The Sigma [like the Tamron] also has a substantial focal-length loss at 200 mm close focusing."

<— note!

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I need a simple program to manage orders for a small mail order business.  Requirements are: Sales orders Invoices Good back order handling Partial shipping on back orders Inventory 3-4 users I don’t need any other accounting functions.  All sales are either credit card or prepaid, so I don’t need to track receivables.  Even a quick-n-dirty Access program would work, as long as it’s easy to use and works well. Can anyone suggest something? Thanks.

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You would be looking at purchasing Inventory Control and Order Entry. You would probably have to purchase the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable as well.  Business Works has a very strong Inventory and Order Entry that accepts Credit Card Sales and keeps history on the Card itself.  Since you will need most of the modules, you might as well get the General Ledger and Payroll and save yourself a lot of hassle.  Go to my web site at dbhenterprises.com and take a look at Business Works. You can also go directly to sota.com and download a test drive for you to review.  If you have additional questions, please call – 303-694-9599 DeeDee Heyne D.B.H. ENTERPRISES – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I need a simple program to manage orders for a small mail order business.  Requirements are: Sales orders Invoices Good back order handling Partial shipping on back orders Inventory 3-4 users I don’t need any other accounting functions.  All sales are either credit card or prepaid, so I don’t need to track receivables.  Even a quick-n-dirty Access program would work, as long as it’s easy to use and works well. Can anyone suggest something? Thanks.

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>The media here in states is reporting a majior flew outbreak all over >GreatBritian.  Is it as bad as claimed?  I haven’t seen any posts  about this >problem on this NG.   Has this affected access to physicians for MS problems? >Could someone from the other side of the water tell me what is happening? >Thanks >Mac

It’s hard to say.  The authorities are claiming there is not technically an epidemic, but are also telling people not to bother their doctors if they have flu, so most cases go unreported.  There is a myth going about that people with flu are calling up ambulances to take them to hospital, but one consultant wrote to The Times last week to say he had seen hundreds of people in his hospital with flu and not a single one that did NOT require hospital treatment.  It is thought that the myth has been put about to divert blame for the fact that the hospitals are over-stretched and cannot cope. A health service administrator announced on the radio the other morning that you should not bother your doctor with flu unless you had a life-threatening complication, and several doctors rang to complain that the administrator was not qualified to give medical advice and they were the only ones who could tell whether or not someone had a life-threatening complication.  So, the doctors appear to be on the side of the public, but it is still difficult getting to see them. Personally I don’t know anyone who has bothered their doctors with flu, but several who have had it quite severely lately. I have spent the last few weeks arranging a funeral for my great-uncle who died on Christmas Eve aged 90 from bronchopneumonia, and had not had a flu jab (he always refused), and looking after my great-aunt aged 87 (who sensibly always had one). Whether he had flu or not I do not know, but he was dead within 24 hours of falling ill.  Mind you, he didn’t do too badly; he only started going downhill when he retired on his 90th birthday. Anna friend of George who has MS —————- Anna Whelan London, UK a.whe…@ic.ac.uk —————-

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Hi All,IMHO, here is a nifty useful idea for folks in the US………….a flue tracker map……….perhaps the shape of things to come.You can follow the flue now, weekly, as it makes its rounds.Now…. how can politicians get in on this one,and steal the show……….hmmm? http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?t=8166&p=~br,IHW|~st,408&r=EMIHC000 Regds Sean —–Original Message—– From: John Smith <123seane…@INDIGO.IE> To: MSLIS…@TECHUNIX.TECHNION.AC.IL <MSLIS…@TECHUNIX.TECHNION.AC.IL> Date: 12 January 1999 13:16 Subject: Re: Is the Sidney Flu as bad as US news reports are telling us? >Buzz in MI wrote in message

<19990111175631.10382.00011…@ng141.aol.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>The media here in states is reporting a majior flew outbreak all over >>GreatBritian.  Is it as bad as claimed?  I haven’t seen any posts  about >this >>problem on this NG.   Has this affected access to physicians for MS >problems? >>Could someone from the other side of the water tell me what is happening? >>Thanks >>Mac

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The media here in states is reporting a majior flew outbreak all over GreatBritian.  Is it as bad as claimed?  I haven’t seen any posts  about this problem on this NG.   Has this affected access to physicians for MS problems?   Could someone from the other side of the water tell me what is happening? Thanks Mac

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On 11 Jan 1999 22:56:31 GMT, buzzi…@aol.com (Buzz in MI) wrote: >The media here in states is reporting a majior flew outbreak all over >GreatBritian.  Is it as bad as claimed?  I haven’t seen any posts  about this >problem on this NG.   Has this affected access to physicians for MS problems?   >Could someone from the other side of the water tell me what is happening?

It’s being blamed for the overload on the health service which is why it’s in the news. I only know four people who have had it and two who have it at the moment. The four people who have had it weren’t too bad, it only lasted a few days and none needed medical attention. Apparently more than one type of flu is involved. Steve — Stephen Wolstenholme Neural Network Shareware http://www.tropheus.demon.co.uk

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Hi Mac and All,IMHO, I live in Ireland,and being quite close to the UK hear the reports also.I will try to be as objective as possible in this message,but expect to be no wiser,regarding the virus at the end of it.Such is the nature of this great media information age. Full disclosure…….I have MS,and live in Dublin,and have observed such a condition in my wife and son over the past two months.I have had what appears to have been a cold,and have experienced some of,what appears to be MS problems (mild) immediately following this. As a casual observer(concerned observer on the ground in one city location) ,reports have been coming in on the RTE/BBC news for the past few weeks of a surge in hospital admissions around Ireland and the UK due to chest infections and breathing problems,particularly among the elderly and groups of patients at risk?.I assume they mean those with underlying problems such as compromised immune systems and lung problems such as asthma,emphysema,and many other such problems.Some hospitals have reported what appears to be extreme measures in accommodating new admissions,such as placing patients in corridors on trolleys.THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL EVENT HERE…..and due to bed cutbacks over the preceding years means that hospitals have been forced to reduce the number of beds which they have as a cost cutting measure. To draw an analogy………….Anyone who has experience of manufacturing and distribution in the "consumer goods market" will be only too well aware of the cyclical nature of market demand especially around holiday periods.Similarly hospital admissions for such events as flu tends to surge during winter months.ACCOUNTANTS (spit derisively)tend to cost medical services using the humble "bed" as a unit for evaluating associated financial resource quantification.Personally ,I  respect  the nursing fraternity and sympathise with their dilemma.Accountants……….well lets say they are humans.(only joking):-) The news reports largely focus on the health services Health Boards/NHS in both countries,and the level of stress (on resources)they deal with in the face of such an event.Please be aware that a crisis exists among the medical staff in these countries,both nurses and doctors,with regard to morale and general disillusionment with the previous few years in their profession.IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THIS SITUATION OBJECTIVELY WHILE IT IS GOING ON AND HINDSIGHT WOULD BE GREAT IN ADVANCE, EXCEPT IT NEVER COMES IN TIME.:-) Basically what I am saying is that there are two exacerbating events occurring…….one an outbreak of flue………two,a crisis in the medical industry at a hospital resource supply level.The former has been raised repeatedly over the past few years around this time during such outbreaks. While at the GPs over the weeks preceding Christmas there seemed to be a lot of people looking to see the doctor,many seemed to have this chest infection,many are children attending school where such conditions spread quite easily.In my local GPs,the nurse separated those suffering from infections from those accompanying patients……….an obvious sensible measure meant to reduce the likely hood of spreading the infection,and not intended to cause concern or panic among those present. I suppose the media are not the most reliable for reporting medical news, in a clinical objective fashion,and tend to focus more on the sensational aspect of things…….such is the nature of competitive news reporting………..but in fairness the national channels (RTE/BBC)of both countries tend to be better and less prone to the tabloid version of events……..see  "Woman is abducted and interrogated by Rabbits in Surrey" style of reporting of some of these ……programs(spit derisively twice). In conclusion there appears to be an outbreak taking place,and while FLUE is one of them the other appears to be a outbreak of "discontent and frustration" among those in the front line of this war.Political parties will always use such events to create discontent and gain advantage,and genuine real issues are far from the top of their agenda.Getting control of power is their one and only concern.Ignore the political squabbling and listen to the people in the front line. Bottom line here…………..we haven’t a f….. clue about the flue but certainly are well versed in the crisis affecting Frank Dobson et al. in the politics surrounding this event. Sorry if this does not answer your question,and it obviously does not,……..but the analysis of the outbreak will not come until well after the event has passed.Flue currently has the following priorities….. 1)The political embarrassment of Health Ministers in power.(remember there are no problems….only opportunitys) 2)The promotion of the crisis facing medical practitioners. 3)The crisis facing the medical care industry. 4)Publicising the broken promises made by political parties during the previous elections. 5)Selling TV subscriber ratings. 6)Selling tabloids. 7)Publicising the risk of being abducted by Rabbits and worse,……. being interrogated by them. …………………….. …………………….. 1,049,257) Categorising and quantifying the risk from this virus,and advising the public regarding precautionary measures.(scheduled for 2010 AD,but likely to be reviewed next year,……sometime,…….maybe) I dont see any mention of whether it is Beijing or Ballinamuck flue here or any statistical analysis of the risk facing the public………do you.?This is impractical so close to the event any given the available resources,and the transient nature……………………. Personal advice………relax,be happy,avoid obvious risks of catching the flue. Regds Sean – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Buzz in MI wrote in message <19990111175631.10382.00011…@ng141.aol.com>… >The media here in states is reporting a majior flew outbreak all over >GreatBritian.  Is it as bad as claimed?  I haven’t seen any posts  about this >problem on this NG.   Has this affected access to physicians for MS problems? >Could someone from the other side of the water tell me what is happening? >Thanks >Mac

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