Question:

Strategetic center

<snip stupidity This guy isn’t ~still~ posting, is he?

Response:

I got a parking ticket for an expired meter while on a business errand. I have a C corp, own my car and am reimbursed for the percentage of operating expenses incurred for business use of the car. Should my C corp pay my parking ticket? (I understand that it isn’t tax-deductible to the corporation.) Thanks in advance for your advice, Charles

Response:

I got a parking ticket for an expired meter while on a business errand. I have a C corp, own my car and am reimbursed for the percentage of operating expenses incurred for business use of the car. Should my C corp pay my parking ticket? (I understand that it isn’t tax-deductible to the corporation.)

Depends on circumstances.  You say it was at an expired meter.  Does that mean it was in a legal parking spot but you just didn’t put money in the meter?    If that is the case the corporation should not pay for the parking ticket. Are there any local regulations that would have prevented you from getting a parking ticket?  For example here if a vehicle has the name of the corporation on the side of the vehicle it won’t get a parking ticket under certain circumstances.   To send me e-mail exorcise NO Spam from my e-mail address.     —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

I got a parking ticket for an expired meter while on a business errand. I have a C corp, own my car and am reimbursed for the percentage of operating expenses incurred for business use of the car. Should my C corp pay my parking ticket? (I understand that it isn’t tax-deductible to the corporation.) Thanks in advance for your advice, Charles

if you own the corp and it’s not tax deductible whats the diff ?

Response:

I got a parking ticket for an expired meter while on a business errand. I have a C corp, own my car and am reimbursed for the percentage of operating expenses incurred for business use of the car. Should my C corp pay my parking ticket? (I understand that it isn’t tax-deductible to the corporation.)

Then does it really matter? I personally would have the company pay it, but since it doesn’t — Paul A. Thomas, CPA

Response:

ho yes !!!!!!!i am camille an you?????? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 10-A single program might be distributed over more than one governmental institution which leads to the overlapping in authorities in performing a single program  and  an overlapping in ministries’ specialties  where one ministry performs the job of another ministry which requires changing of the administrative  organizational structure on the level of ministries and on the level of the state which helps in avoiding this overlapping in ministries’ specialties . 11-The performance system provides a sound foundation for control and defining specialties but it does not serve the purposes of actual costs and determination of real cost of each performance . 12-Difficulty of determining cost unit of performance from cost elements (materials, work and services) because they are distributed in a total form and the difficulty of allocating them accurately on performance units . 13-Performance of programs and performance budget requires it to be on stages and gradually .Budget in the first stage is distributed based on functions and programs which are associated with an administrative financial system .In case this stage succeed performance units are defined ,their standards are set and cost units of performance are defined from materials, work and services . 14-Accounting records kept by the governmental entity depend in the first place on the budget concept of revenues and expenses  rather than the activity centers of cost units .There is a difficulty in converting expenditures’ names to an activity center and distributing costs of this center on cost units in its related expenditures . 15-Redistribution of specialties in the legislative and executive authorities where the executive authority makes more efforts in drafting, preparing ,implementation and control. Moreover , changing the accounting system itself and laws that organize it to conform with the implementation of budget according to programs and performance . These reservations led to the need for a more advanced budget which is budget of planning and programming .

Response:

10-A single program might be distributed over more than one governmental institution which leads to the overlapping in authorities in performing a single program  and  an overlapping in ministries’ specialties  where one ministry performs the job of another ministry which requires changing of the administrative  organizational structure on the level of ministries and on the level of the state which helps in avoiding this overlapping in ministries’ specialties . 11-The performance system provides a sound foundation for control and defining specialties but it does not serve the purposes of actual costs and determination of real cost of each performance . 12-Difficulty of determining cost unit of performance from cost elements (materials, work and services) because they are distributed in a total form and the difficulty of allocating them accurately on performance units . 13-Performance of programs and performance budget requires it to be on stages and gradually .Budget in the first stage is distributed based on functions and programs which are associated with an administrative financial system .In case this stage succeed performance units are defined ,their standards are set and cost units of performance are defined from materials, work and services . 14-Accounting records kept by the governmental entity depend in the first place on the budget concept of revenues and expenses  rather than the activity centers of cost units .There is a difficulty in converting expenditures’ names to an activity center and distributing costs of this center on cost units in its related expenditures . 15-Redistribution of specialties in the legislative and executive authorities where the executive authority makes more efforts in drafting, preparing ,implementation and control. Moreover , changing the accounting system itself and laws that organize it to conform with the implementation of budget according to programs and performance . These reservations led to the need for a more advanced budget which is budget of planning and programming .

Response:

Question:

I will appreciate if someone could tell me were to find an accounting chart of accounts for an airline. I know that airlines due to the nature of their business, have specific requirements regarding its accounting procedures. I need this information for a future job in the accounting department of a regional airline and will like to have an idea before starting. Thanks in advance for your help Livianin

Response:

I need this information for a future job in the accounting department of a regional airline and will like to have an idea before starting.

Except for federal regulations (if any apply), the chart of accounts at Delta would be a tad different than the chart of accounts at Air Jamaica. Why don’t you just let the future employer train you the way they want you trained. — Paul A. Thomas, CPA, PC Athens, Georgia

Response:

I know that your suggestion is the right thing to do. I just wanted to have an idea of what they were going to be talking about and not be totally lost.

Response:

Question:

Hi all you 2003 Great Group Cruisers, I’ve checked the GGC 2003 website often and notice that we have been at 154 pax for a month now and would like to know (Peter?) how many are booked  as of today? This will be my 3rd GGC and I am looking forward to seeing familiar names on the Pax list, but I realize not everyone wants Terry_ Seattle www.ggc2003.com

Response:

Hi Terry, We’re booked! Jo-Ann and Bob

Response:

I’m booked!   Becca  <—–See you there, Terry…

Response:

Terry_ Seattle

inlaw & his bride to be) so great we are on another cruise together!!!

Response:

I’m booked…but you knew that already Since it is an "Opt in" list for bio’s,  many people are missing. Time for Peter Berlin to give Joe & Sue an update on the totals. Steve<—hope for a lot more late "on the fence" bookings Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

Response:

This is Very on topic!! sorry Bruce that you just don’t get it!

I just had to send my regrets to Tom & Vicky, who invited me to stay at their new home. Due to many home concerns I had to beg of on going But you never knows..does ya May just show up anyways!! Steve<—gives it a 10/90 against but 10% is good!!

S<—loves BBQ Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

Response:

I wish I could say "I’m booked" but my kids start school about that time….:( Then there’s that flying…..

Response:

Ooops, Sorry about this!!

This was ment for the "Vegas" thread….But it stil, applies Steve<—-Has fast fingers and a slow mind<g at times

Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

Response:

We’re booked.  Is this a roll call? Ermalee – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m booked…but you knew that already Since it is an "Opt in" list for bio’s,  many people are missing. Time for Peter Berlin to give Joe & Sue an update on the totals. Steve<—hope for a lot more late "on the fence" bookings Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

Response:

Terry, as you saw, I will be there!  I’m really looking forward to seeing you again, along with all the friends I’ve made on the previous GGCs and here.  January seems SO far away!!! Mary

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all you 2003 Great Group Cruisers, I’ve checked the GGC 2003 website often and notice that we have been at 154 pax for a month now and would like to know (Peter?) how many are booked  as of today? This will be my 3rd GGC and I am looking forward to seeing familiar names on the Pax list, but I realize not everyone wants Terry_ Seattle www.ggc2003.com

Response:

Mom and I have the cabin opposite of Steve’s and he’s more than welcome to share our balcony. Joyce–98 days til the Statendam, 158 days til the GGC I’m booked…but you knew that already Since it is an "Opt in" list for bio’s,  many people are missing. Time for Peter Berlin to give Joe & Sue an update on the totals. Steve<—hope for a lot more late "on the fence" bookings Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

– "We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are." – The Talmud "People demand the freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid" – Kirkegarde "Software without support is hardware" – JR/1999

Response:

We’re booked too. Plus we have 4 others who haven’t put up any bios. Linda and Wayne

Response:

FYI, Actually the count has been dynamic for a short period of time.  We have had cancellations and new bookings.  The count has changed up and down, but currently it is still the same as last reported.  A "wash", as the accountants say. Hi all you 2003 Great Group Cruisers, I’ve checked the GGC 2003 website often and notice that we have been at 154 pax for a month now and would like to know (Peter?) how many are booked  as of today? This will be my 3rd GGC and I am looking forward to seeing familiar names on the Pax list, but I realize not everyone wants Terry_ Seattle www.ggc2003.com

– Peter Berlin’s Travel Center 800-874-6040 / 954-974 -6040 Host Agency GGC2003-Golden Princess / MGC2003.com-Carnival’s Legend http://ggc2003.com http://mgc2003.com http://peterberlin.com

Response:

I guess I should say that Judy and I are booked….. We’re booked too. Plus we have 4 others who haven’t put up any bios. Linda and Wayne

– Peter Berlin’s Travel Center 800-874-6040 / 954-974 -6040 Host Agency GGC2003-Golden Princess / MGC2003.com-Carnival’s Legend http://ggc2003.com http://mgc2003.com http://peterberlin.com

Response:

Terry, as you saw, I will be there!  I’m really looking forward to seeing you again, along with all the friends I’ve made on the previous GGCs and here.  January seems SO far away!!! Mary

Ron and I are looking forward to seeing you again too Mary! (and everyone else, of course <g) Barbara <—will be next door to some ‘GROK’ stacked: Ocean Princess – trans-canal from San Francisco 9/30 Golden Princess – 11/16 Golden Princess – GGC2003 Norway ‘89 & ‘93, GGC, GGC2000, Mercury – trans canal 10//00, NCL Wind 11/00, NCL Sky 12/00, NCL Sky 12/00  9 Millennium – Eastern 12/01 10 Golden Princess – 1/12/02 11 Ocean Princess – trans canal 9/30/02 12 Golden Princess – GGC2002 C705 1/25/03

Response:

Hi all you 2003 Great Group Cruisers, I’ve checked the GGC 2003 website often and notice that we have been at 154 pax for a month now and would like to know (Peter?) how many are booked  as of today? This will be my 3rd GGC and I am looking forward to seeing familiar names on the Pax list, but I realize not everyone wants Terry_ Seattle www.ggc2003.com

Response:

Hi Terry, We’re booked! Jo-Ann and Bob

Response:

I’m booked!   Becca  <—–See you there, Terry…

Response:

Terry_ Seattle

inlaw & his bride to be) so great we are on another cruise together!!!

Response:

I’m booked…but you knew that already Since it is an "Opt in" list for bio’s,  many people are missing. Time for Peter Berlin to give Joe & Sue an update on the totals. Steve<—hope for a lot more late "on the fence" bookings Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

Response:

This is Very on topic!! sorry Bruce that you just don’t get it!

I just had to send my regrets to Tom & Vicky, who invited me to stay at their new home. Due to many home concerns I had to beg of on going But you never knows..does ya May just show up anyways!! Steve<—gives it a 10/90 against but 10% is good!!

S<—loves BBQ Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

Response:

I wish I could say "I’m booked" but my kids start school about that time….:( Then there’s that flying…..

Response:

Ooops, Sorry about this!!

This was ment for the "Vegas" thread….But it stil, applies Steve<—-Has fast fingers and a slow mind<g at times

Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

Response:

We’re booked.  Is this a roll call? Ermalee – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m booked…but you knew that already Since it is an "Opt in" list for bio’s,  many people are missing. Time for Peter Berlin to give Joe & Sue an update on the totals. Steve<—hope for a lot more late "on the fence" bookings Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

Response:

Terry, as you saw, I will be there!  I’m really looking forward to seeing you again, along with all the friends I’ve made on the previous GGCs and here.  January seems SO far away!!! Mary

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all you 2003 Great Group Cruisers, I’ve checked the GGC 2003 website often and notice that we have been at 154 pax for a month now and would like to know (Peter?) how many are booked  as of today? This will be my 3rd GGC and I am looking forward to seeing familiar names on the Pax list, but I realize not everyone wants Terry_ Seattle www.ggc2003.com

Response:

Mom and I have the cabin opposite of Steve’s and he’s more than welcome to share our balcony. Joyce–98 days til the Statendam, 158 days til the GGC I’m booked…but you knew that already Since it is an "Opt in" list for bio’s,  many people are missing. Time for Peter Berlin to give Joe & Sue an update on the totals. Steve<—hope for a lot more late "on the fence" bookings Steve in FLL Life is short. Make fun of it. http://www.ggc2003.com http://www.cruisemaster.com/norway

– "We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are." – The Talmud "People demand the freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid" – Kirkegarde "Software without support is hardware" – JR/1999

Response:

We’re booked too. Plus we have 4 others who haven’t put up any bios. Linda and Wayne

Response:

FYI, Actually the count has been dynamic for a short period of time.  We have had cancellations and new bookings.  The count has changed up and down, but currently it is still the same as last reported.  A "wash", as the accountants say. Hi all you 2003 Great Group Cruisers, I’ve checked the GGC 2003 website often and notice that we have been at 154 pax for a month now and would like to know (Peter?) how many are booked  as of today? This will be my 3rd GGC and I am looking forward to seeing familiar names on the Pax list, but I realize not everyone wants Terry_ Seattle www.ggc2003.com

– Peter Berlin’s Travel Center 800-874-6040 / 954-974 -6040 Host Agency GGC2003-Golden Princess / MGC2003.com-Carnival’s Legend http://ggc2003.com http://mgc2003.com http://peterberlin.com

Response:

I guess I should say that Judy and I are booked….. We’re booked too. Plus we have 4 others who haven’t put up any bios. Linda and Wayne

– Peter Berlin’s Travel Center 800-874-6040 / 954-974 -6040 Host Agency GGC2003-Golden Princess / MGC2003.com-Carnival’s Legend http://ggc2003.com http://mgc2003.com http://peterberlin.com

Response:

Terry, as you saw, I will be there!  I’m really looking forward to seeing you again, along with all the friends I’ve made on the previous GGCs and here.  January seems SO far away!!! Mary

Ron and I are looking forward to seeing you again too Mary! (and everyone else, of course <g) Barbara <—will be next door to some ‘GROK’ stacked: Ocean Princess – trans-canal from San Francisco 9/30 Golden Princess – 11/16 Golden Princess – GGC2003 Norway ‘89 & ‘93, GGC, GGC2000, Mercury – trans canal 10//00, NCL Wind 11/00, NCL Sky 12/00, NCL Sky 12/00  9 Millennium – Eastern 12/01 10 Golden Princess – 1/12/02 11 Ocean Princess – trans canal 9/30/02 12 Golden Princess – GGC2002 C705 1/25/03

Response:

Question:

Hello, I am a student trying to gather information for a paper. Can anyone tell me how people use communication skills in the accounting field and how other people tend to benefit from these skills. I would also be interested in any websites or online publications that one might refer to to get information on the accounting field. — Talk soon, Sara

Response:

Very good question.  While it is no longer true (generally speaking) that accountants are the ‘trolls in the dungeon’ of the company, accountants as professionals cannot lose sight of the need to communicate effectively. I recently attended a 2 day session at our corporate offices hosted by the group Controller.  It was a room full of accountants, moderated by an accountant.  Great, I thought, I hope there’s a Starbuck’s nearby and the coffee of the day better be Yukon blend or I’m not gonna make it!  The reality was quite different and it was a very dynamic and informative 2 day session. Consider the tools available: overheads, PowerPoint, Excel, slides with motion graphics, handouts of publisher-quality, color copies, color prints, a presentation with active links to the internet, etc.  And these are all pretty basic. Now consider the speaking skills:  there are no rules anymore; energy, enthusiasm, humor, and (obviously) a very deep knowledge of the subject matter and the audience. In a different forum, perhaps the accountant is preparing internal managerial reports.  Aside from grammar and vocabulary it is useful to have something of an artistic eye: statements need to be formatted and a number of graphic tools can be incorporated for this, the verbiage that accompanies the statements should be professionally formatted and bound.  Window dressing. But none of the above will compensate for a poorly delivered message.  It is vital for the accountant to understand all functional areas of the company so (s)he knows how to communicate with her/his managerial peers.  The message must match the audience, it should be devoid of techno-babble where ever possible, it should be short and it should be thorough and accurate. Generally the more you have to say to get your point across, the less you will be understand and the less you will be perceived to understand your own subject matter.  If you can’t answer questions on it, don’t get up and speak about it. The rule of thumb that I have followed (learned from explaining tax law to lay-persons) is that my message should be understood by the least financially-inclined person I can expect to encounter.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I am a student trying to gather information for a paper. Can anyone tell me how people use communication skills in the accounting field and how other people tend to benefit from these skills. I would also be interested in any websites or online publications that one might refer to to get information on the accounting field. — Talk soon, Sara

Response:

Hello, I am a student trying to gather information for a paper. Can anyone tell me how people use communication skills in the accounting field and how other people tend to benefit from these skills. I would also be interested in any websites or online publications that one might refer to to get information on the accounting field.

I would suggest you check out the field of management and/or cost accounting.  In order for an accountant to start accumulating data on various operations of an organization, he/she must be able to communicate with field personnel (the bread and butter of the operations) and gain an understanding of the cost/benefit flows.  This is so that the accountant may set up models and reports that actually pertains to the operations and provide a useful diagnostic tool on resource use and profitability.  A model set up in the back office alone, with a bean counter who has no idea of what the real world is like will generally lead to reports that makes no sense to the users and be filed in the circular file (garbage can). After the models and reports are established, the second crucial need for communications skills become self effident.  The accountant must teach the users how to use the models to their own benefit. The accountant must also keep in mind that certain users are great at what they do, but when it comes to numbers….. duh….. This does not mean that they’re stupid, merely that the accountant failed to explain the model in terms understandable to a layman. And the most important use of communication skills in accountant: convincing senior management to give you a raise Seriously, though, the accountant must convince senior management of the usefulness of the reports generated.  I’ve seen too many organizations where the accountants generate reports, and senior management just ‘files’ it away. Good luck on your paper. Kam The above mailbox is spamblocked.  It will not receive mail dated midnight to 6:00am EST.  Nor will it receive any mail containing the following words: FREE, $, SEX, LOSE WEIGHT, WORK AT HOME, MEET WOM?N, MAKE MONEY, AOL.  Nor will it accept mail from addresses with a foreign country code at the end.

Response:

Question:

I just bought from a company here in town going out of business a MAS90 Windows CD. How do I go about getting the release codes and registering this product?? Stan

Response:

Each MAS90 install has its own Registration ID and unlocking keys. If you purchased the company that owned the software then Sage has indicated they will allow you to transfer the license. If you merely purchase the CD then you are not able to transfer the license unless you find somebody very sympathetic at Sage. They recently sent around a bulletin on the very subject (license transfers). That being said, you can check http://www.s- consult.com/mas901.htm for an idea of what the pricing on MAS90 is. Also , PLEASE if you own (or know anybody who does) the windows versions of competing products like Solomon, Macola, Great Plains, Realworld, Epicor, etc. — you can get $400 off per module through the end of september (the deal actually closes prior to the end of september). Good luck! Regards, Wayne Schulz http://www.s-consult.com/mas901.htm http://www.s-consult.com MAS90 Accounting Software Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

I keep on posting this warning and will do so again — before you try to purchase any high-end software whether it be financial, manufacturing, HR, etc., check with the software’s manufacturer as to if the license is transferable or not and if so, is there a cost involved.  Each vendor has a different policy.  Hopefully the guy below didn’t spend too much on a CD that now only has value when used as a coaster. Alan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Each MAS90 install has its own Registration ID and unlocking keys. If you purchased the company that owned the software then Sage has indicated they will allow you to transfer the license. If you merely purchase the CD then you are not able to transfer the license unless you find somebody very sympathetic at Sage. They recently sent around a bulletin on the very subject (license transfers). That being said, you can check http://www.s- consult.com/mas901.htm for an idea of what the pricing on MAS90 is. Also , PLEASE if you own (or know anybody who does) the windows versions of competing products like Solomon, Macola, Great Plains, Realworld, Epicor, etc. — you can get $400 off per module through the end of september (the deal actually closes prior to the end of september). Good luck! Regards, Wayne Schulz http://www.s-consult.com/mas901.htm http://www.s-consult.com MAS90 Accounting Software Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

Question:

Keep looking and venting. Take good care Charla o.k…. I was actually looking forward to this new year as total chaos and everything.. But no its not…. Its the same bullshit day… Y2K this, Y2k that…..It would of been better if all the lights went off and there was total confusion everywhere…..  I feel like breaking something right now….I’ll probably feel better after..

Well then by almeans break something…Not to expensive,make sure it is yours to break and wont miss it,Less messy the better,If messy take it to the tub in a towel,or outside. Let yourself go and break it real good.I am not responsible for any damages. Charla

Response:

Keep looking and venting. Take good care Charla

o.k….   I was actually looking forward to this new year as total chaos and everything.. But no its not…. Its the same bullshit day… Y2K this, Y2k that…..It would of been better if all the lights went off and there was total confusion everywhere…..  I feel like breaking something right now….I’ll probably feel better after..

Response:

Thanks for your concerns… I’m not feeling much better though…..Its just the same shit over and over for me…. whats the use of feeling better when this pain always is there to bring me down…. but if any of you are interested this webtv account will expire at midnight..and my take-care

Response:

Thanks for your concerns… I’m not feeling much better though…..Its just the same shit over and over for me…. whats the use of feeling better when this pain always is there to bring me down…. but if any of you are interested this webtv account will expire at midnight..and my take-care

There will be something that will help your perseption of your situation . Keep looking and venting. Take good care Charla

Response:

((((((Mike))))) Mike, Go ahead and hate the psoriatic arthritis, hate the psoriasis, hate the panic disorder, hate the depression – they all suck – but LOVE YOURSELF. You have done nothing wrong and I know that you have many good qualities to share with the world. As for getting a girlfriend, you will find "the one" if you do not concentrate so much on outer beauty.  You will find that kindness and a good heart can be the sexiest thing of all.   My boyfriend also has psoriasis and the beginnings of psoriatic arthritis.  He has fought back against these conditions by being an active volunteer.  When I first saw him he had several lesions on his face, which he felt had kept him from being attractive to women.  At the same time I thought I would never meet someone who could understand my panic disorder.   Now we are a happy couple.  I laugh because he has such a large collection of medical remedies in his bathroom, and he teases me because I am afraid to go on a ferry ride.   I am not saying you should look for a person with a defect, I am only saying to look for an understanding partner, and the rest will follow. As for a job, I believe you could get some kind of a grant to go to school – Have you thought about studying meteorology? (go to www.newjerseyweather.com to see Mike’s fantastic website) What has helped me is to focus on the the future.  I picture you with a great-paying job as a meteorogist, with a wonderful wife and a big house filled with puppies, kittens, and maybe even children!  Stay focused on this.  With or without medical poblems, it can be beautiful.   Sorry if this sounds too much like a lecture – I just wish I could take away all of your pain. Love, Dot

Response:

Mike – just about all has been said that can be.  Just remember that these feelings pass, they don’t stay forever and you’ve been there before.  When I was first diagnosed with DDD I was in a relationship with someone I really loved but I was afraid I would end up in a wheelchair one day and tried to break offf with him.  He just laughed at my efforts and we have been married over 30 years now (and I am not in a wheelchair yet) so pull yourself together and get on with life. I’ll be thinking of you.  Love – Evelyn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -x-no-archive: yes I am just so damn down right now….I’ve been taking this methotrexate for my psoriatic arthritis for 2 months now and it just makes me tired as hell and I cant do anything….Also Sulindac (an anti-inflamatory) .. And xanax just makes me feel zombied out…I wanted to withdraw from it, but after reading that article about the withdraw symptoms can last for months, that made me even more depressed… So, I guess i’m stuck with it.. I cant work because the physical work I used to do, I cant do anymore because of the arthritis..Filed for S.S. disability 6 months ago and still havent gottin anything from those assholes…Now, my aunt is here from hungary and I just feel even worse….She’s all enthousiatic and motivating, and I just want to stay in my room….I cant even look her in the eyes..And that makes me want to cry that I cant even look at my own blood in the eyes…Plus, she doesnt know one word of english and I barely know any hungarian..  I just feel useless…. I can forget about finding a girlfriend because nobody wants to live with someone who has arthritis.. especially at 24….Only god knows how cripple he is gonna be when he’s 50… Its like my whole life is revolving around doctor visits now..I just dont know how something like this could of happened to me…I should of committed suicide when I was 17 , when I had the urge, and when I was halfway there…. Now , I dont even have the urge or i’m scared to do it..So I have to live with this forever..My therapist is nice and all, but he could only do so much… Plus, I just feel like friggin crying whenever I go there… what a great life i have…

Evelyn Check out my woodcarving site at:  http://home.swbell.net/lbiggio

Response:

x-no-archive: yes I am just so damn down right now….I’ve been taking this methotrexate for my psoriatic arthritis for 2 months now and it just makes me tired as hell and I cant do anything….Also Sulindac (an

anti-inflamatory) .. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And xanax just makes me feel zombied out…I wanted to withdraw from it, but after reading that article about the withdraw symptoms can last for months, that made me even more depressed… So, I guess i’m stuck with it.. I cant work because the physical work I used to do, I cant do anymore because of the arthritis..Filed for S.S. disability 6 months ago and still havent gottin anything from those assholes…Now, my aunt is here from hungary and I just feel even worse….She’s all enthousiatic and motivating, and I just want to stay in my room….I cant even look her in the eyes..And that makes me want to cry that I cant even look at my own blood in the eyes…Plus, she doesnt know one word of english and I barely know any hungarian..  I just feel useless…. I can forget about finding a girlfriend because nobody wants to live with someone who has arthritis.. especially at 24….Only god knows how cripple he is gonna be when he’s 50… Its like my whole life is revolving around doctor visits now..I just dont know how something like this could of happened to me…I should of committed suicide when I was 17 , when I had the urge, and when I was halfway there…. Now , I dont even have the urge or i’m scared to do it..So I have to live with this forever..My therapist is nice and all, but he could only do so much… Plus, I just feel like friggin crying whenever I go there… what a great life i have…

Dear Mike,     Oh man, you have soooo much going for you!!  You are articulate, handsome and self aware!!  I had a psoriatic arthritis as well and it has lessened over time.  My mood has so much to with it.  I had a really bad time 4 years ago and it’s been up hill since then.  I like what Jackie said about taking one day at a time.  Don’t assume you will be crippled by 50, don’t let it be a self proposed prophecy.  SSIRs helped me immensly, my mood improved, my arthritis got better.  Of course this is my own experience.  Don’t ever give up hope. Love, Annette

Response:

x-no-archive: yes :I am just so damn down right now….I’ve been taking this methotrexate :for my psoriatic arthritis for 2 months now and it just makes me tired :as hell and I cant do anything….Also Sulindac (an anti-inflamatory) .. :And xanax just makes me feel zombied out…I wanted to withdraw from it, :but after reading that article about the withdraw symptoms can last for :months, that made me even more depressed… So, I guess i’m stuck with :it.. I cant work because the physical work I used to do, I cant do :anymore because of the arthritis..Filed for S.S. disability 6 months ago :and still havent gottin anything from those assholes…Now, my aunt is :here from hungary and I just feel even worse….She’s all enthousiatic :and motivating, and I just want to stay in my room….I cant even look :her in the eyes..And that makes me want to cry that I cant even look at :my own blood in the eyes…Plus, she doesnt know one word of english and :I barely know any hungarian..  I just feel useless…. I can forget :about finding a girlfriend because nobody wants to live with someone who :has arthritis.. especially at 24….Only god knows how cripple he is :gonna be when he’s 50… Its like my whole life is revolving around :doctor visits now..I just dont know how something like this could of :happened to me…I should of committed suicide when I was 17 , when I :had the urge, and when I was halfway there…. Now , I dont even have :the urge or i’m scared to do it..So I have to live with this forever..My :therapist is nice and all, but he could only do so much… Plus, I just :feel like friggin crying whenever I go there… what a great life i :have… Dear Mike, I am sorry that you are feeling so down. You are dealing with alot right now and it is okay to feel sorry for one`s self….. for awhile.  Mike, none of us know what we are going to be like when we are 50 years old. *Assuming* that you are going to be crippled at the age of 50 would scare the shit out of anybody. I really believe in taking one day at a time, you just never know.   Why do you assume that *nobody* would want a person with arthritis?? If you find the right person, they will love you for you, with or without arthritis. see what happens. You should tell you MD and pdoc how badly you feel, they can help you. It sounds like you are depressed and maybe a med adjustment or change would help you. (((Mike))) Jackie "Not only is life a bitch, but it is always having puppies." –Adrienne Gusoff

Response:

New Jersey: No one has responded yet that has been there. I can say that I was. I was diagnosed with juvenile ruhmetoude(sp) arthritis when I was 3 years old. I probably had it since birth. I am one of the lucky ones that didn’t get disfigured badly. I also out grew it after puberty. But there was damage done to my joints from all the years of swelling, and such. I still have painful joints, but no swelling. I have had the blood test to see if the arthritis is still there, but they all come back normal. I believe that I will have to have joint replacement by the time I am forty. That’s about 12 years from now. I know how you feel. But with medications, and careful observation you can live a good life. I know what a pain it is, I have been there, but you never know what will happen in the future. You have got a lot of things happening at one time, and that is very stressful. It will get better, you will get better. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to get there, and you will. You will find someone to love you, with or without arthritis. Have faith, even if it seems hard to right now. Don’t give up, you never know what tomorrow will hold if you don’t make it there. Take Care, and know that you are thought of dearly by many people, myself included. Chawk

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive: yes I am just so damn down right now….I’ve been taking this methotrexate for my psoriatic arthritis for 2 months now and it just makes me tired as hell and I cant do anything….Also Sulindac (an anti-inflamatory) .. And xanax just makes me feel zombied out…I wanted to withdraw from it, but after reading that article about the withdraw symptoms can last for months, that made me even more depressed… So, I guess i’m stuck with it.. I cant work because the physical work I used to do, I cant do anymore because of the arthritis..Filed for S.S. disability 6 months ago and still havent gottin anything from those assholes…Now, my aunt is here from hungary and I just feel even worse….She’s all enthousiatic and motivating, and I just want to stay in my room….I cant even look her in the eyes..And that makes me want to cry that I cant even look at my own blood in the eyes…Plus, she doesnt know one word of english and I barely know any hungarian..  I just feel useless…. I can forget about finding a girlfriend because nobody wants to live with someone who has arthritis.. especially at 24….Only god knows how cripple he is gonna be when he’s 50… Its like my whole life is revolving around doctor visits now..I just dont know how something like this could of happened to me…I should of committed suicide when I was 17 , when I had the urge, and when I was halfway there…. Now , I dont even have the urge or i’m scared to do it..So I have to live with this forever..My therapist is nice and all, but he could only do so much… Plus, I just feel like friggin crying whenever I go there… what a great life i have…

Response:

I am just so damn down right now….I’ve been taking this methotrexate for my psoriatic arthritis for 2 months now and it just makes me tired as hell and I cant do anything….Also Sulindac (an anti-inflamatory) .. And xanax just makes me feel zombied out…I wanted to withdraw from it, but after reading that article about the withdraw symptoms can last for months, that made me even more depressed… So, I guess i’m stuck with it..

I cant work because the physical work I used to do, I cant do anymore because of the arthritis..Filed for S.S. disability 6 months ago and still havent gottin anything from those assholes…

The goventment is involved, they can’t do these things too quickly you know. Be patient, easier said than done. Now, my aunt is here from hungary and I just feel even worse….She’s all enthousiatic and motivating, and I just want to stay in my room….I cant even look her in the eyes..And that makes me want to cry that I cant even look at my own blood in the eyes…Plus, she doesnt know one word of english and I barely know any hungarian..  I just feel useless….

You are not useless, this would be frustrating for anybody.     I can forget about finding a girlfriend because nobody wants to live with someone who has arthritis.. especially at 24….Only god knows how cripple he is gonna be when he’s 50…

Mike, You could not be further from the truth.  Don’t get so down about what lady will ever want to be with me.   My sister in law, has a husband and a baby and she has rhumathoid (sp) arthritis,  and she’s 21.  There are people that look beyond the physical and mental problems.  And when you do find that special lady that thinks your just the greatest guy on earth, she will see past the arthritis and the anxiety, and happily ever after is possible.   Its like my whole life is revolving around doctor visits now..I just dont know how something like this could of happened to me…

I should of committed suicide when I was 17 , when I had the urge, and when I was halfway there…. Now , I dont even have the urge or i’m scared to do it..So I have to live with this forever..

Oh honey, it gets better.  You did the right thing by not committing suicide when you were 17.  I have been there too, belive me.  I won’t go into the gory details but I have been close to doing myself in, and once thought of taking my then boyfriend now husband along with me.  I am so glad I didn’t do it.   My therapist is nice and all, but he could only do so much… Plus, I just feel like friggin crying whenever I go there…

Maybe you should, if thats what you feel like doing, a good cry can make you feel better.    what a great life i have…

I am sorry that you feel so bad right now,  when your at the bottom there is no where to go but up.   (((((Mike))))) Love, Jess  

Response:

Hi!  I don’t see in your post where you are taking any anti-depressive meds… um… that may be a good place to start? — <//< Cynthia / Southern California "For it is God which worketh in you both to will  and to do of His good pleasure"   Philippians 2:13

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive: yes I am just so damn down right now….I’ve been taking this methotrexate for my psoriatic arthritis for 2 months now and it just makes me tired as hell and I cant do anything….Also Sulindac (an anti-inflamatory) .. And xanax just makes me feel zombied out…I wanted to withdraw from it, but after reading that article about the withdraw symptoms can last for months, that made me even more depressed… So, I guess i’m stuck with it.. I cant work because the physical work I used to do, I cant do anymore because of the arthritis..Filed for S.S. disability 6 months ago and still havent gottin anything from those assholes…Now, my aunt is here from hungary and I just feel even worse….She’s all enthousiatic and motivating, and I just want to stay in my room….I cant even look her in the eyes..And that makes me want to cry that I cant even look at my own blood in the eyes…Plus, she doesnt know one word of english and I barely know any hungarian..  I just feel useless…. I can forget about finding a girlfriend because nobody wants to live with someone who has arthritis.. especially at 24….Only god knows how cripple he is gonna be when he’s 50… Its like my whole life is revolving around doctor visits now..I just dont know how something like this could of happened to me…I should of committed suicide when I was 17 , when I had the urge, and when I was halfway there…. Now , I dont even have the urge or i’m scared to do it..So I have to live with this forever..My therapist is nice and all, but he could only do so much… Plus, I just feel like friggin crying whenever I go there… what a great life i have…

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -:I am just so damn down right now….I’ve been taking this methotrexate :for my psoriatic arthritis for 2 months now and it just makes me tired :as hell and I cant do anything….Also Sulindac (an anti-inflamatory) .. :And xanax just makes me feel zombied out…I wanted to withdraw from it, :but after reading that article about the withdraw symptoms can last for :months, that made me even more depressed… So, I guess i’m stuck with :it.. I cant work because the physical work I used to do, I cant do :anymore because of the arthritis..Filed for S.S. disability 6 months ago :and still havent gottin anything from those assholes…Now, my aunt is :here from hungary and I just feel even worse….She’s all enthousiatic :and motivating, and I just want to stay in my room….I cant even look :her in the eyes..And that makes me want to cry that I cant even look at :my own blood in the eyes…Plus, she doesnt know one word of english and :I barely know any hungarian..  I just feel useless…. I can forget :about finding a girlfriend because nobody wants to live with someone who :has arthritis.. especially at 24….Only god knows how cripple he is :gonna be when he’s 50… Its like my whole life is revolving around :doctor visits now..I just dont know how something like this could of :happened to me…I should of committed suicide when I was 17 , when I :had the urge, and when I was halfway there…. Now , I dont even have :the urge or i’m scared to do it..So I have to live with this forever..My :therapist is nice and all, but he could only do so much… Plus, I just :feel like friggin crying whenever I go there… what a great life i :have… Dear Mike, I am sorry that you are feeling so down. You are dealing with alot right now and it is okay to feel sorry for one`s self….. for awhile.  Mike, none of us know what we are going to be like when we are 50 years old. *Assuming* that you are going to be crippled at the age of 50 would scare the shit out of anybody. I really believe in taking one day at a time, you just never know.   Why do you assume that *nobody* would want a person with arthritis?? If you find the right person, they will love you for you, with or without arthritis. But you need to put yourself in situations where you can meet see what happens. You should tell you MD and pdoc how badly you feel, they can help you. It sounds like you are depressed and maybe a med adjustment or change would help you. (((Mike))) Jackie "Not only is life a bitch, but it is always having puppies." –Adrienne Gusoff

mike you have a hard road ahead of you-but you can’t fortell the future-there are great advances in the treatment of arthritis and more to come. As far as someone wanting to Marry you with the potential disabiling disease-I married one- We can  have disabilities and still enjoy our life-after all ask any here! You now have two disabilities so you have more work to do then others but it can be done. Tell your doc about the fatigue from the methotrexate-also that fatigue can be from the arthritis you may be anemic. I hope you feel better today LM

Response:

aww mike:( i dont like to hear of you being so upset!! i know how you feel though, and i think a majority of us do. dont give up!!! pleasE! heh i know you wont:) you are just down, as we all get. itll be otay buckweet:) heh im a dork! atleast your not as lame as i am!! take it easy SmiLe GoD LoVes You!!!!

Response:

Hi Mike, Gosh I just might get bashed for this…I hope not because the intention is good and it made sense to me when I was down. Ok here it goes .No one in this world is going to feel sorry for you like you doWaller there for only alittle while..Shucks we all do that now and again..But the thing is it is not getting you know place but stuck in a self defeating rut. I dont have athritis and so I can not say what the pain is like but Know it can be disabling.And on that account I have been disabled with Ag.and know it can zap self confidence and self esteem.The thing is though to get my self esttem back self loathing and feeling sorry for myself had to go.I feel sorry for myself once in awhile even now and I soak it up for a day or to then jump right back in the arena.Battered and beaten by my own negative self talk.For everything you have stated there is a solution.You are not helpless and you can do things to improve your outlook. For one You are ashamed not your Aunt and you have nothing to feel ashamed about.You are right where you need to be in your life right now.So look your Aunt in the eyes and see the love that is most likely there. The girlfriend thing..Do you think that all females are so superficial with out depth of perseption of love.You are lovable. Believe it You are. It is not the athritis that will scare the ladies away.Your true self will endure them to you.Youll find that the more you overcome the obstacles and rise above shortcomings they will see the person you are.Lovable. The artical you read I read also..But my perseption of that post was different from yours.Mine was This  post is in ones own experience and does not have fact backing it up that all people that take it are addicted and will have the same effect coming off of it.My thought was I hope that people reading it will take the question to there own doctors and get a more indavidualized answer.Of course if I took xanax and wanted to wean off Im sure I would of had the same scary feelings as you.Ask your doctor though for some ways to wean off of it. You might never be able to do physical work again..I have know way of knowing that But there is other things you might be pretty good at.Using your mind you might be able to do accounting with computer programs or parralegal…really you have not been severed from living a productive life…just a change of view of what productive is. Only wish you the best and hate to see you beating yourself up..When I feel you have alot of wonderful exciting things ahead of you…the skys the limit. Charla

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive: yes I am just so damn down right now….I’ve been taking this methotrexate for my psoriatic arthritis for 2 months now and it just makes me tired as hell and I cant do anything….Also Sulindac (an anti-inflamatory) .. And xanax just makes me feel zombied out…I wanted to withdraw from it, but after reading that article about the withdraw symptoms can last for months, that made me even more depressed… So, I guess i’m stuck with it.. I cant work because the physical work I used to do, I cant do anymore because of the arthritis..Filed for S.S. disability 6 months ago and still havent gottin anything from those assholes…Now, my aunt is here from hungary and I just feel even worse….She’s all enthousiatic and motivating, and I just want to stay in my room….I cant even look her in the eyes..And that makes me want to cry that I cant even look at my own blood in the eyes…Plus, she doesnt know one word of english and I barely know any hungarian..  I just feel useless…. I can forget about finding a girlfriend because nobody wants to live with someone who has arthritis.. especially at 24….Only god knows how cripple he is gonna be when he’s 50… Its like my whole life is revolving around doctor visits now..I just dont know how something like this could of happened to me…I should of committed suicide when I was 17 , when I had the urge, and when I was halfway there…. Now , I dont even have the urge or i’m scared to do it..So I have to live with this forever..My therapist is nice and all, but he could only do so much… Plus, I just feel like friggin crying whenever I go there… what a great life i have…

Response:

Question:

Ed, the client in question is approaching 25 employees and a lot of transactions.  Its just slowing down too much.  It still works, but obviously QBs Job Cost capabilities were never anything to write home about.  For my information, I want to know a mid range package that is easy for one person to operate.  

I think the key issue is going to be the capabilities of that one bookkeeper.  Jim has mentioned a couple of options, though I note that in each case there seemed to be an experienced and capable bookkeeper in place.  *That* is generally a very important issue because I’ve found there are some people who simply aren’t capable of handling any program complexity and/or accounting terminology–in essence, the very thing Jim talked about for flight training. In that case, you might end up having to deal with a personnel issue as well as a software issue when you try and upgrade–and that can be problematical if the current bookkeeper is the owner’s kid or spouse. Because if the client’s only complaint is speed, what they likely *want* is a QuickBooks on steriods <grin.

Response:

Michael, Here are a few suggestions that may fit into the upper end of your budget, but are not as High end as DYnamics, etc. Vigilant (just came out with a 32bit windows version ) Business Vision (again they have a 32 bit application as well) Red Wing ( Their software is based in Access so the reporting is very good and the user interface is similar to MS Office so the learning curve is decreased) What industry is your client in?  There may be some industry specific software that might be suitable as well. Best of Luck (Now that we are on the right wave-length for you) David Spence – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, everyone.  I am just talking the hard costs for the software. Hardware will have to be upgraded and the setup and training time are being budgeted in the 4 to 5 thousand dollar range….

Response:

Ed, the client in question is approaching 25 employees and a lot of transactions.  Its just slowing down too much.  It still works, but obviously QBs Job Cost capabilities were never anything to write home about.  For my information, I want to know a mid range package that is easy for one person to operate.  

Are you running on a network? You can about double speed (especially if less than 100mh or more than 6 users, even if QB is single user) by not using a network. We often copy QB files to local drives, work on them and then copy back to the network. QB99 has an anti-network warning which certainly should have been in earlier versions. Of course, this does not say much for QB multi-user capability, which we often use, even though it is much slower. Do you use less than 64m of main memory, W98, NT or several programs at once, besides QB? That is not enough. At current prices, 64k to 128k is cheap and can put QB on steroids. If the audit trail is on, it slows QB a lot. How big is your QB file? It really starts to slow down after 30m. Do you bill with QB, so it cannot condense transactions? Have you reconciled all asset accounts, not just cash accounts, and then condensed? mike block I think the key issue is going to be the capabilities of that one bookkeeper.  Jim has mentioned a couple of options, though I note that in each case there seemed to be an experienced and capable bookkeeper in place.  *That* is generally a very important issue because I’ve found there are some people who simply aren’t capable of handling any program complexity and/or accounting terminology–in essence, the very thing Jim talked about for flight training. In that case, you might end up having to deal with a personnel issue as well as a software issue when you try and upgrade–and that can be problematical if the current bookkeeper is the owner’s kid or spouse. Because if the client’s only complaint is speed, what they likely *want* is a QuickBooks on steriods <grin.

  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:

Greetings: We are looking for a FINDER with our vision TO RECEIVE EUITY FREE to find Equity Partners

Question:

Below is a reply from Martin Bryan to the above thread, shamelessly reposted here for alt.accounting readers.   But first, a "commercial" on XML, from Todd: Have you ever noticed that there is a phase during the expansion of any new technology, when there is a lot of discussion?  A year from now you won’t even be able to get answers to questions like this, let alone having a chance to comment on the standards that we are going to have to accept. XML is *the single most important* technology for improving both automation of accounting software, and telecommunication of transactions like POs, invoices and payments over the internet.  Do you want this to happen?  Do you want it to be free and cheap, or do you want it proprietary and licensed? TURN ON, TUNE IN, and DROP OUT of manual, standalone accounting systems.  And get involved in XML standards.  Don’t accept a bunch of complicated bullshit by mega software companies, who are working hard to continue their lock-in of your accounting data. * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * 9745-128th Av NE, Kirkland WA 98033       (425) 827-3107 * XML Accounting Web ledger ASP netledger, web GL Dialtone, whatever. As an accounting user I hope you guys come up with a design in which XML files containing various kinds of transactions can be immediately recognized and processed by all accounting software. In other words, within the area of accounting I don’t want any negotiation phases as you describe.

This can only be true if *all* accounting packages agree on a standard form for passing data to them. While there is more than one option then negotiation is required. I expect to receive XML transaction files by a variety of transports including email, and drag them out of the email and drop them into my accounting software for viewing and approval.

This presumes that all documents will use the same data model, which is unlikely. What will actually happen is that when you drag your document tothe accounting package it will look to see if it has knowledge about the DTD specified in the DOCTYPE declaration at the start of the message. If it does it will invoke an XSL Transformation specification that can convert that document type into the standard XML form(s) required for loading into its local database(s), discarding those elements of the message that are not relevant to the local databases. It will retain the original message as is for display be the XML browser associated with the package. Large businesses need a spec capable of arbitrary levels of expression. But small biz. just have invoices, items, and so forth.    I expect small biz. will pickup the part number, description and all info. about their inventory from sellers, at time of purchase.  They won’t maintain part numbers– they may never even view them.

They will need to – as these are the key to any dispute. The point is that they do not need to load them into their accounting packages: they will maintain these separately from the message archive that allows them to record details like the part number they actually asked for rather than the name of the product they thought they were asking for. Accountants have been fairly shocked at how simple business really can be.   For example, small business has embraced Quickbooks without even using general ledger account codes.  A series of icons have fallen in the 1990s.  As another example, retroactive editing of transactions without audit trail is now the norm in small biz!

Until they have to come to prove a case in court:-( Small business bookkeepers and accountants are looking for simple mechanisms to send bills, POs and payments electronically.  Here is more explanation: http://www.GLDialtone.com/EcommAcctg.htm  (I’m not selling anything here.) All of these things could have been accomplished by ASCII files long ago if there were standards.

Note the key word – if! Until there are agreed standards we cannot do this with XML any better than could be done with ASCII files. Its the standardization that allows us to automate the process. I am watching with gleeful anticipation as the big software companies roll out XML, and stampede the vertical markets into standard DTD’s.

So far I have not seen any "standard DTDs" from big companies – its only small companies that respect the need for agreed standards. Try telling Sage that they should use Microsoft’s or IBM’s specs. (Why is it that all successful accounting packages were developed by small companies?) This is about to happen in accounting, perhaps in August as AICPA is expected to announce some sort of move towards GAAP XML.

Lets hope so – but will it be US GAAP compliant or UK GAAP compliant? Having just been reading about the problems created for the BP/Amoco/Richfield merger by the differences between the two I have my doubts about a global standard for exchange of accounting information:-( As soon as there is agreement on a DTD, I’ll bet we’ll see C and Xbase programmers use the tags, and ignore the rest of the DTD.  They will ignore the DOM, and write tiny programs, with the tags compiled in, to parse accounting transaction documents in and out of general ledgers. This is going to be a cakewalk after all the work we’ve been doing parsing ASCII text.

No doubt those with existing programs will adjust them to do DTD-less processing. On the other hand XML experts will want to use the DTD to manage the DOM as this means they can reuse existing tools. The real question is what someone from neither of these backgrounds will choose to do. Some interesting recent conversations in other groups has pointed to experienced programmers, after careful evaluation of both options, selecting to use the DOM route. I expect once we have an ontology, it won’t be 6 months before numerous accounting packages are retrofitted to import and export XML transactions for transport by email.

Agreed, but note the key phrase: "once we have an ontology". How about putting up a strawman? Martin Bryan

Response:

in a thread over on biz.comp.accounting: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – has to evolve to manage the metadata via web programs that involve little or no human involvement. Even electronic mail invoicing seems to be literally an unknown resource in many businesses. Hearing the problems Quickbooks users are having in importing iif files makes me remember how much there is still yet to be done in this area (with kudos to datablox). As someone who is a classical accountant with minimal database/programming skills I found the iif construct process onerous.  My vision is an accounting system where data is managed/reconciled to a central g/l utilizing people from different parts of the country sharing the system in real time. Where source and output data move through the g/l system with out having to sit and post for hours upon hours. I’ve even starting using items like Yahoo Calendar and HotOffice as a first step in that direction This is my y2k challenge!! Pete Mara

There is a thread on this exact topic raging right now on XML/EDI mailing list.  Take a few minutes and savor what the XML gurus are designing for us.   Martin Bryan posted, for example, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Martin, got an example of what you mean by "common ontology"? I’m not arguing against it – I may agree. Just exploring what you mean by the phrase. A common ontology could be something like UN/EDIFACT, ANSI X12, ISO BSR, BizTalk – some agreed set of business objects that can form the basis of exchanging XML data. My scenario would be something along the following lines: 1) New customer asks permission to join a service. System sends HTTP request to service provider asking "Which Repositories do you support". Response comes back with URI identifying supported repositories (e.g. URI for relevant UN/EDIFACT directory and the ISO BSR semantic repository) 2) Client machine checks which of these is supported locally. Sends HTTP request saying "Use Repository x". 3) Service sends over list of public URIs for DTDs for messages supported in selected repository. Client machine checks which of these it already knows, and which it will need to be told about. 4) Client says "I already know about URIs X,Y and Z and will use these where appropriate" and "Please send me DTDs referenced via URIs A, B and C so that I can use them in exchanges with you" 5) On receiving DTDs the client either activates an automatic mechanism for processing a new message type, or asks the user to manually set up the relevant procedures. (This part of the process could include a request to the service provider to supply any XSL stylesheets they have for displaying and or processing the message into reusable formats.) 6) Once ready to proceed the client selects, or asks the user to select, the message format required for the current process and creates messages that conform to the agreed DTDs.

Then David RR Weber posted – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Gap analysis reveals that the complexity has to be hidden. Therefore, I’m seeing a broader scheme based on BizCodes and XLink that allows the wires and glue to be hidden at the level of the DTD and critically therefore allows the end user to create well-formed XML messages in a natural and intuitive way without any overhead. Then on the receiving side a simple map based on the BizCodes of the sender and BizCodes of the receiver allows direct transformation of like items. Similarly XSL was never designed for eBusiness – but rather as a document stylesheet tool.  Therefore its missing some key pieces right now.  However – the basic idea is that XSL like generic mapping combined with BizCodes would allow you to publish single XSL-like scripts that will work with ANY well-formed XML that has an BizCode aware DTD associated with it.   (I’ve already created XSL scripts that handle ANY input XML and perform basic formatting to flow objects that the end user can then select). Your interchange process then becomes a whole lot simpler. 1) Connect to repository – use human level glossary to determine if like business function already exists (directed searching based on business domain and business function to be performed – key here is making this simple choices, NOT hit or miss word based searches).  Find appropriate match. 2) Take these repository definition(s) and using BizCodes map at level of DTD to your local database/application. This then creates a BizToken = DTD + XML + Map. 3) XSL-like scripts available from repository will automatically handle display level interactions based off the DTD you selected and the map (i,e your BizToken). 4) Send BizToken to trading partner who can then similarly automatically assimulate your information. 5) Data that exists only in your local repository can be added to the global DTD definition with a simple %include; concept to add in addtional fragments of DTD(s).  Notice we want this as ‘drag and drop’ simple as possible, and we also want ability to make this flexible, not rigid, which has bedevilled traditional EDI. Thanks, DW.

I replied, as an accounting user I hope they come up with a design in which XML files containing various kinds of transactions can be immediately recognized and processed by all accounting software, without assuming an online intercourse with distant DTD servers etc.  (That seems like another lunge at our wallets by gaining control over the tags and semantics in financial transactions and financial reports.) In other words, within the area of accounting I don’t want any negotiation phases as you describe.  I expect to receive XML transaction files by a variety of transports including email, and drag them out of the email and drop them into my accounting software for viewing and approval.   Perhaps large businesses need a spec capable of arbitrarily deep levels of expression. But in small biz. we just have invoices, items, and so forth.   I expect small biz. will adopt the part number, description and all info. about their inventory from sellers, at time of purchase.  They won’t maintain part numbers– they may never even view part numbers. Accountants have been fairly shocked at how simple business really can be.   For example, small business has embraced Quickbooks without even using general ledger account codes.  A series of icons have toppled in the 1990s.  As another example, editing of past months’ transactions without audit trail is now the norm in small biz!  Shocking! Small business bookkeepers and accountants are looking for simple mechanisms to send bills, POs and payments electronically.  Here is more explanation: http://www.GLDialtone.com/EcommAcctg.htm  (I’m not selling anything here.) All of these things could have been accomplished by ASCII files long ago if there were standards.   I am watching with gleeful anticipation as the big software companies roll out XML, and stampede the vertical markets into standard DTD’s. This is about to happen in accounting, perhaps in August as AICPA is expected to announce some sort of move towards GAAP XML. As soon as there is agreement on a DTD, I’ll bet we’ll see C and Xbase programmers use the tags, and ignore the rest of the DTD.  They will ignore the DOM, and write tiny programs, with the tags compiled in, to parse accounting transaction documents in and out of general ledgers. This is going to be a cakewalk after all the work we’ve been doing parsing ASCII text. I expect once we have an ontology, it won’t be 6 months before numerous accounting packages are retrofitted to import and export XML transactions for transport by email.   (The XML/EDI Group members-only discussion list Homepage is http://www.xmledi.com It is provided by Online Technologies Corporation, home of BizServe – http://www.bizserve.com —  Thanks guys, good stuff! ) * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * 9745-128th Av NE, Kirkland WA 98033       (425) 827-3107 * XML Accounting Web ledger ASP netledger, web GL Dialtone, whatever.

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Question:

I’m so angry right now I’m almost shaking.  I’d love to destroy something, but since I’m at home, I think I’d only get more angry at myself later. Here’s the deal in a nutshell: I’m getting financially screwed by a bunch of nameless, faceless incompetents in some goddamn billing office somewhere.  When I went through my alcohol outpatient program, I agreed to pay a certain amount every 2 weeks until I reached the agreed-to sum.  Well, I’ve faithfully been paying that amount on time EVERY TIME, and now the hospital has so fucked up my billing, that they are not ONLY saying that I owe them hundreds more than I agreed to, but I’ve been sent to a collection agency for not paying my bill. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?  I’m so angry I could cry.  Damn it, I’m so angry I could just fuck it all and get drunk. And the worst part is- I have called the billing office four times in the past two weeks.  The first two times I gave them my credit card in hopes that I could just pay off whatever was "due" over the phone.  THe last two times, they told me that I was wrong, and them patronized me and treated me like a fucking child or a psycho.   People, I am not wrong.  I’ve done the math over and over, and it’s not hard math.  But who can I talk to when the billing people themselves don’t give a shit?  Oh, and one other thing- one billing office is in Portsmouth, VA, and one is in Atlanta.  I’ve talked to both offices- I swear, I don’t think either knows that the other exists. I’m furious.  I need an outlet BAD! jb

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I’m going through about the same thing now with a hospital, and they now tell me that I don’t have insurance. I asked them why the hell they presented the other bills to XYZ insurance Co. for payment then. It if wasn’t so damn frustrating it would be hilarious. It’s like "The Three Stooges Meet the General Accounting Office". Hang in there and stay sober! Don’t get drunk at them. Rick (MrWalker)  I’m so angry right now I’m almost shaking.  I’d love to destroy something, but – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – since I’m at home, I think I’d only get more angry at myself later. I’ve talked to both offices- I swear, I don’t think either knows that the other exists. I’m furious.  I need an outlet BAD! jb

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just be like me and shrug off all the hospital bills, i’m about 15 grand in the hole. i just don’t answer the "unavailible" calls on my caller id. hell, it’s just credit and the bad only last 7 years! "Remember, when someone annoys you that it takes 42 muscles to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and whack them in the head." http://members.aol.com/unfun26/enter.htm

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People, I am not wrong.  I’ve done the math over and over, and it’s not hard math.  But who can I talk to when the billing people themselves don’t give a shit?  Oh, and one other thing- one billing office is in Portsmouth, VA, and one is in Atlanta.  I’ve talked to both offices- I swear, I don’t think either knows that the other exists. I’m furious.  I need an outlet BAD!

Why not just go to the hospital admitting department and demand that they admit their mistake… after all, isn’t that what an "admitting" department SHOULD do? Sorry… couldn’t resist Snit — Snit’s Anxiety Suggestions: http://www.treefort.org/~snit/anxiety.html Ramblings about my journey toward recovery.  

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I’m sorry you are being treated like this JB, hospitals are notorious for screwing up patients billing, and not so coincidentally in their favor. It is sad they have so little regard for their patients. Do whatever you need to release your anger constructively, beat up a pillow, a box, exercise, (just don’t beat me up<G) it would be a travesty if this hurt your pursuit of sobriety. You know you can vent here as well. If they are screwing up your billing, you may have rights until they get it straightened out, might be something to look into. Myself, I would refuse to pay them another cent until they got their act together. Good luck JB, Ray – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m so angry right now I’m almost shaking.  I’d love to destroy something, but since I’m at home, I think I’d only get more angry at myself later. Here’s the deal in a nutshell: I’m getting financially screwed by a bunch of nameless, faceless incompetents in some goddamn billing office somewhere. When I went through my alcohol outpatient program, I agreed to pay a certain amount every 2 weeks until I reached the agreed-to sum.  Well, I’ve faithfully been paying that amount on time EVERY TIME, and now the hospital has so fucked up my billing, that they are not ONLY saying that I owe them hundreds more than I agreed to, but I’ve been sent to a collection agency for not paying my bill. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?  I’m so angry I could cry.  Damn it, I’m so angry I could just fuck it all and get drunk. And the worst part is- I have called the billing office four times in the past two weeks.  The first two times I gave them my credit card in hopes that I could just pay off whatever was "due" over the phone.  THe last two times, they told me that I was wrong, and them patronized me and treated me like a fucking child or a psycho. People, I am not wrong.  I’ve done the math over and over, and it’s not hard math.  But who can I talk to when the billing people themselves don’t give a shit?  Oh, and one other thing- one billing office is in Portsmouth, VA, and one is in Atlanta.  I’ve talked to both offices- I swear, I don’t think either knows that the other exists. I’m furious.  I need an outlet BAD! jb

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It doesn’t seem fair to have to go to so much trouble and spend so much time trying to correct mistakes that big companies make in their billing. It is a fact of life though, and you might as well just calmly do what you have to do to fix it. I had mistakes in my phone bill and electric bills this year that amounted to several thousand dollars and it took months to get it corrected. I know it can be very frustrating, I was enraged but I only was hurting myself with all the anger. Linda – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – JB, Don’t let this get to you. All people have these types of problems in life. In fact, a large part of life is  facing  these sorts of problems. You’re sober now. So the next step is to deal with these problems soberly, calmly,  and deliberately. Remember what your desired end point is: (1) to stay sober and (2) to  deal with these people patiently, but persistantly untill you  prevail. Don’t feel they are picking on you personally. They are   screwups that probably get the billing  messed up for alot of people. Take care, Chip I’m so angry right now I’m almost shaking. I’d love to destroy something, but since I’m at home, I think I’d only get more angry at myself later. Here’s the deal in a nutshell: I’m getting financially screwed by a bunch of nameless, faceless incompetents in some goddamn billing office somewhere. When I went through my alcohol outpatient program, I agreed to pay a certain amount every 2 weeks until I reached the agreed-to sum. Well, I’ve faithfully been paying that amount on time EVERY TIME, and now the hospital has so fucked up my billing, that they are not ONLY saying that I owe them hundreds more than I agreed to, but I’ve been sent to a collection agency for not paying my bill. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? I’m so angry I could cry. Damn it, I’m so angry I could just fuck it all and get drunk. And the worst part is- I have called the billing office four times in the past two weeks. The first two times I gave them my credit card in hopes that I could just pay off whatever was "due" over the phone. THe last two times, they told me that I was wrong, and them patronized me and treated me like a fucking child or a psycho. People, I am not wrong. I’ve done the math over and over, and it’s not hard math. But who can I talk to when the billing people themselves don’t give a shit? Oh, and one other thing- one billing office is in Portsmouth, VA, and one is in Atlanta. I’ve talked to both offices- I swear, I don’t think either knows that the other exists. I’m furious. I need an outlet BAD! jb

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Hi JB, Do you have any paperwork from when you agreed to pay your bill on instalments? Do you have the original bill for the treatment? Perhaps the extra amount is interest the hospital is charging on the bill. I would send the billing office photocopies of your cancelled cheques/payment receipts to prove to them that you are, in good faith, regularly making payments on your bill. This whole situation horrifies me! It is not as if you spent all this $ on a fun time or lots of nice clothes. Hang in there JB-don’t let them get to you. Stay calm and write out what you are going to tell the collection agency when/if they call. What is this world coming to when people seek treatment and the cost is enough to make them need MORE treatment? ((((JB)))) Charley

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m so angry right now I’m almost shaking.  I’d love to destroy something, but since I’m at home, I think I’d only get more angry at myself later. Here’s the deal in a nutshell: I’m getting financially screwed by a bunch of nameless, faceless incompetents in some goddamn billing office somewhere. When I went through my alcohol outpatient program, I agreed to pay a certain amount every 2 weeks until I reached the agreed-to sum.  Well, I’ve faithfully been paying that amount on time EVERY TIME, and now the hospital has so fucked up my billing, that they are not ONLY saying that I owe them hundreds more than I agreed to, but I’ve been sent to a collection agency for not paying my bill. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?  I’m so angry I could cry.  Damn it, I’m so angry I could just fuck it all and get drunk. And the worst part is- I have called the billing office four times in the past two weeks.  The first two times I gave them my credit card in hopes that I could just pay off whatever was "due" over the phone.  THe last two times, they told me that I was wrong, and them patronized me and treated me like a fucking child or a psycho. People, I am not wrong.  I’ve done the math over and over, and it’s not hard math.  But who can I talk to when the billing people themselves don’t give a shit?  Oh, and one other thing- one billing office is in Portsmouth, VA, and one is in Atlanta.  I’ve talked to both offices- I swear, I don’t think either knows that the other exists. I’m furious.  I need an outlet BAD! jb

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Hi jb:                                                                                                                        jb wrot: [snipped]                                saying that I owe them hundreds more than I agreed to, but I’ve been sent to a collection agency for not paying my bill. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?  I’m so angry I could cry.

Were I you, I would first write a letter to the collection agency disputing the allegations of you owing the money. Then wait untill the hospital calls you! The hospital will have to explain to you why they chose to turn the bill into that agency for collection. Once you dispute the claim, the collection agency cannot do anything as yet –this puts it back on the hospital,  whereupon you can remind them of the agreement you made with them.— other than that, depending how much that they claim you owe them, its up to them to take futher action or "negoiate"—bet they choose to negoiate–good luck–jk

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JB, Don’t let this get to you. All people have these types of problems in life. In fact, a large part of life is  facing  these sorts of problems. You’re sober now. So the next step is to deal with these problems soberly, calmly,  and deliberately. Remember what your desired end point is: (1) to stay sober and (2) to  deal with these people patiently, but persistantly untill you  prevail. Don’t feel they are picking on you personally. They are   screwups that probably get the billing  messed up for alot of people.   Take care, Chip I’m so angry right now I’m almost shaking. I’d love to destroy something, but since I’m at home, I think I’d only get more angry at myself later. Here’s the deal in a nutshell: I’m getting financially screwed by a bunch of nameless, faceless incompetents in some goddamn billing office somewhere. When I went through my alcohol outpatient program, I agreed to pay a certain amount every 2 weeks until I reached the agreed-to sum. Well, I’ve faithfully been paying that amount on time EVERY TIME, and now the hospital has so fucked up my billing, that they are not ONLY saying that I owe them hundreds more than I agreed to, but I’ve been sent to a collection agency for not paying my bill. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? I’m so angry I could cry. Damn it, I’m so angry I could just fuck it all and get drunk. And the worst part is- I have called the billing office four times in the past two weeks. The first two times I gave them my credit card in hopes that I could just pay off whatever was "due" over the phone. THe last two times, they told me that I was wrong, and them patronized me and treated me like a fucking child or a psycho. People, I am not wrong. I’ve done the math over and over, and it’s not hard math. But who can I talk to when the billing people themselves don’t give a shit? Oh, and one other thing- one billing office is in Portsmouth, VA, and one is in Atlanta. I’ve talked to both offices- I swear, I don’t think either knows that the other exists. I’m furious. I need an outlet BAD! jb  

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Question:

A friend sent me this:, I’m forwarding it to this group.

Ah……Neil, about your "friends"! Only kidding. It was a riot <g Thanks, — Lynda

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A friend sent me this:, I’m forwarding it to this group. DIFFERENT VIEWS ON TWO COWS AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures.

Related: A few years ago, the governor of Alabama was convicted of bribery. Among the charges against him were accepting a cow.

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A friend sent me this:, I’m forwarding it to this group. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – DIFFERENT VIEWS ON TWO COWS FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk. FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk. PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk. APPLIED COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk. DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you. MILITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes both and  drafts you. SINGAPOREAN DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. The government fines you for keeping two unlicensed farm animals in an apartment. PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk. REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk. AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures. The press dubs the affair "Cowgate." BRITISH DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. You feed them sheep brains and they go mad. The government doesn’t do anything. BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows. CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. HONG KONG CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly-listed company, using letters of credit opened by yourbrother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a  tax deduction for keeping five cows. The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the right to all seven cows’ milk back to the listed company. The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one  more. Meanwhile, you kill the two cows because of bad fung shui. FEMINISM: You have two cows. They get married and adopt a veal calf. TOTALITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned. POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: You are associated with (the concept of "ownership" is a symbol of the phallocentric, warmongering, intolerant past) twodifferently aged (but no less valuable to  society) bovines of nonspecified gender. COUNTERCULTURE: Wow, dude, there’s like…these two cows, man.  You have *got* to have some of this milk. SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to  take harmonica lessons.

- Neil –

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