Question:

You obviously haven’t heard of the CGA Student Study Groups at:    http://cgastudy.fateback.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi, Being an accounting student myself, I always wanted to have a website where accounting students can get together and discuss, form study groups, share resources or network but so far I have yet to find one that caters to just Canadian accounting students. Well, I created one at www.steelhead.ca Right now I have some resources that are useful for acct. students including a bulletin board and chat channels.  Also those that want to attain their acct. designations(CGA,CMA,CA) can use this site for the links to past exams, acts and regulations.

Response:

Hi, Being an accounting students myself, I always wanted to have a website where accounting students can get together and discuss, form study groups, share resources or network but so far I have yet to find one that caters to just Canadian accounting students. Well, I created one at www.steelhead.ca Right now I have some resources that are useful for acct. students including a bulletin board and chat channels.  I am sure more info can be added in.  That is where I need you help.  Please visit my site and make it work.

Response:

Hi, Being an accounting student myself, I always wanted to have a website  where accounting students can get together and discuss, form study groups, share resources or network but so far I have yet to find one that caters to just Canadian accounting students. Well, I created one at www.steelhead.ca Right now I have some resources that are useful for acct. students including a bulletin board and chat channels.  Also those that want to attain their acct. designations(CGA,CMA,CA) can use this site for the links to past exams, acts and regulations.

Response:

Question:

There’s some sort of accounting glitch that’s resulting in many people’s balances being doubled or in some cases tripled.  Supposedly they’re working on it, just a heads-up to email billing if this hit you. Apparently Live Help is telling people to email support.

At eBay? This was a story about Wal-Mart for charges made on March 31st. http://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=11578 jim menning

Response:

There’s some sort of accounting glitch that’s resulting in many people’s balances being doubled or in some cases tripled.  Supposedly they’re working on it, just a heads-up to email billing if this hit you. Apparently Live Help is telling people to email support. — "Be advised that although this is actually a live broadcast and is being sent out at this very moment, it is quite possible that it might arrive tomorrow, right now, or perhaps yesterday."

A friend’s bill was doubled to $700 the other day.  She was quite concerned but called (powerseller) and eBay told her it was a glitch, not worry about it.  I suggested she double check the amount automatically withdrawn from her account for her bill though ’cause who knows if the glitch will be fixed by then.  Mine is fine, I still owe the huge sum of $15.  :)  Annette – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

There’s some sort of accounting glitch that’s resulting in many people’s balances being doubled or in some cases tripled.  Supposedly they’re working on it, just a heads-up to email billing if this hit you. Apparently Live Help is telling people to email support. — "Be advised that although this is actually a live broadcast and is being sent out at this very moment, it is quite possible that it might arrive tomorrow, right now, or perhaps yesterday."

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First thing to understand is that anything that went on with Enron went on in the Clinton White House, and with clearer quid pro quo than anything in the *one* year that Bush has been in office. Read the news! It started with the Bush’s in Texas, and Phil Graham, and hhis wife, during the Reagn administration. I haven’t read ALL the stories, but I’ve never see ONE link to the Clinton administration mentioned. There are MANY to the Texas and the White House baby Bush administration. Enron gave a lot of money to Clinton and the democrats. Kenneth Lay even got to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom like a lot of other big money corporate donors. Guess your news sources are lacking. By now, you should know that the lie has been debunked. Guess that YOUR news sources are lacking- IN RELIABILITY. Now, which president was it that let Ken Lay sleep over? Seems that it was George Bush. LOL….

Guess you should go back and check out the fact that between 1993 and 2000, the Clinton admin gave billions of dollars in fed funds to Enron and brokered numerous deals on their behalf and intervened in their behalf on deals in which they ripped off foreign governments. Enron officials and the Clinton admin were on *very* good terms. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

Priestcraft is everywhere, even or especially in the Mormon church. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now there’s a big surprise – right wing republicans in bed with right wing (alleged) christians, in bed with rich, corrupt republican  greedy businessmen. and all this while acting like "God is on their side!" Bill Clinton’s sexual escapades are miniscule compared with the screwing we’re getting from Bush and the republicans.

Response:

There was also a part of the constitution (I forget where) that says just because something isn’t specifically prohibited, it does not, by default, automatically give the goverment that power.

That would be the tenth amendment in the Bill of Rights and it was put there to appease the anti-Federalists, who didn’t like the idea of the first nine, because that would later be construed to be the only rights of the people. I sometimes wonder if we would have been better served if those men made it the first 1,000 amendments.

You would have had the same problem: government always expands to the limit you allow it to do so. And it is done always under the best intentions, for the sake of the children, to protect against terrorism, to prevent big businesses from controlling government, to keep politicians from being influenced. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

There was also a part of the constitution (I forget where) that says just because something isn’t specifically prohibited, it does not, by default, automatically give the goverment that power. That would be the tenth amendment in the Bill of Rights and it was put there to appease the anti-Federalists, who didn’t like the idea of the first nine, because that would later be construed to be the only rights of the people.

Some of the other Amendments were anti-federalist friendly. Esp. the Ninth. Sadly both the Ninth and Tenth have been successfully ignored since the Civil War. The 14th nullifies the Tenth without actually having to formally do so ;-(. sadly ;-(. I sometimes wonder if we would have been better served if those men made it the first 1,000 amendments. You would have had the same problem: government always expands to the limit you allow it to do so. And it is done always under the best intentions, for the sake of the children, to protect against terrorism, to prevent big businesses from controlling government, to keep politicians from being influenced.

are Governments in themselves with the resources they now control, and so are also a threat to freedoms for and by The People. I’m anti GlobalGlutton. Pro- Small Business pro People. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

– An unjust king asked a devotee what kind of worship is best? He replied: ‘For thee the best is to sleep one half of the day so as not to injure the people for a while.’ I saw a tyrant sleeping half the day. I said: ‘This confusion, if sleep removes it, so much the better; But he whose sleep is better than his wakefulness Is better dead than leading such a bad life.’

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There was also a part of the constitution (I forget where) that says just because something isn’t specifically prohibited, it does not, by default, automatically give the goverment that power. That would be the tenth amendment in the Bill of Rights and it was put there to appease the anti-Federalists, who didn’t like the idea of the first nine, because that would later be construed to be the only rights of the people. Some of the other Amendments were anti-federalist friendly. Esp. the Ninth. Sadly both the Ninth and Tenth have been successfully ignored since the Civil War. The 14th nullifies the Tenth without actually having to formally do so ;-(. sadly ;-(. What is wrong with being anti-Federalist?

Nothing at all! TheAmendments were/are pro-freedom (the first ten as least). How does the 14th nullify the 10th?  The 10th reserves power for the

people and The Tenth affirms the powers not claimed for the federal gov. are reserved to the States and the People. (Ninth is similar — but declairs Common Law and Natural Law as valid and over the Constitution itself) the 14th prevents states from abridging rights guaranteed by the Federal government.

That rights  - this amendment gives more power to the federal government (establishes a National citizenship – rather than State – thus usurping the Tenth Amendment. The 14th weakened State powers to that of a puppet entitiy subject to Federal endorsement and control. The Ninth Amendment grants rights to man that would make the States unable to abuse the Tenth by creating a State Regime. Sadly, slavery – which abused the spirit of the Tenth and violated the Ninth created the setting for the eventual creation of the 14th (which is not really needed since the Ninth does the same thing). All the 14th did was increase federal powers. they are Governments in themselves with the resources they now control, and so are also a threat to freedoms for and by The People. I’m anti GlobalGlutton. Pro- Small Business pro People. At want point in your world does a business go from small (good) to big (evil).

Small enough not to control government agenda at the expense of the public good. Small enough so that we live in a real Democracy, rather than an oligarchy. Small enough so that corporations must respect and obey our Constitutional system of Laws (which NAFTA-Chapter-11 does not). Small enough so that we can win Campiagn Finance Reform without either ending up with a watered down ineffectual law or not reform whatsoever, Saml enough so that Lobby Power is a hell of alot less. Small enough for me to beleive I have a voice in our "democracy". Small enough so that maybe a second political party will emerge which will represent The People. Say the size businesses were twenty years ago and earlier? – before they lost the National allegeince and became international gluttons owing allegance to knowone. — An unjust king asked a devotee what kind of worship is best? He replied: ‘For thee the best is to sleep one half of the day so as not to injure the people for a while.’ I saw a tyrant sleeping half the day. I said: ‘This confusion, if sleep removes it, so much the better; But he whose sleep is better than his wakefulness Is better dead than leading such a bad life.’

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There was also a part of the constitution (I forget where) that says just because something isn’t specifically prohibited, it does not, by default, automatically give the goverment that power. That would be the tenth amendment in the Bill of Rights and it was put there to appease the anti-Federalists, who didn’t like the idea of the first nine, because that would later be construed to be the only rights of the people. Some of the other Amendments were anti-federalist friendly. Esp. the Ninth. Sadly both the Ninth and Tenth have been successfully ignored since the Civil War. The 14th nullifies the Tenth without actually having to formally do so ;-(. sadly ;-(.

What is wrong with being anti-Federalist? How does the 14th nullify the 10th?  The 10th reserves power for the people and the 14th prevents states from abridging rights guaranteed by the Federal government. are Governments in themselves with the resources they now control, and so are also a threat to freedoms for and by The People. I’m anti GlobalGlutton. Pro- Small Business pro People.

At want point in your world does a business go from small (good) to big (evil).

Response:

Enron going belly up because of shady accounting does not imply that removing the energy industry from socialized state control is a bad idea. Oh …. but because a few welfare recipients are dishonest – that whole plan should be scrapped? No, it should be scrapped, because government should not be doing your

charity work for you. It is an oxymoron for the government to be involved in charity. The government has no vested interest in the welfare of it’s people? Because some liberal agendas do not work perfectly, the whole liberal agenda should be scrapped? Make your case, and they’ll be scrapped or not. It is a republic, you know. There is debate.

The case has been made for decades. Business are out for profit; if given a chance, many will go to the greatest extremes of using, abusing, and endangering others to get that profit. Governments and unions are the ONLY resources we have to balance the scales to prevent a totalitarian society run by the most rich, and the most greedy. I haven’t seen a single liberal scam, I mean plan, get scrapped yet.

As if the "trickle down" theory (no matter how many times it fails to produce the claimed results) will ever go away. BTW .. The whole idea of worker, and food, safety MUST have been a "liberal scam", because Reagan changed things so that our meats are no longer inspected, and more and more workers are getting hurt on the job. Under Reagan, people with OBVIOUS disabilities were automaticaly dismissed by Social Security. It was ONLY when they appealed eough times to get a hearing before a neutral judge, did they get a fair judgement. Bush bypassed environmental laws in Texas (the same way Reagan bypassed meat insepction laws) by saying let the companies police themselves. (i.e. – the fox guarding the hen house) Texas has one of, if not the, worst, enviromental records. And, as we ALL know, having the right to live in a clean environement is a liberal scam!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They are not more moral, they are just more corrupt and greedy! I doubt it.             Just as I doubt God will ever give you wealth and status and power (and an attractive young trophy wife) in this world or the next. Paul

Is this something you aspire to? — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They are not more moral, they are just more corrupt and greedy! I doubt it.             Just as I doubt God will ever give you wealth and status and power (and an attractive young trophy wife) in this world or the next. Paul

Oh, and Paul, please don’t send me email. I will read and reply in the newsgroup if I care to. You had to make special effort to send me this privately please don’t do it again. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First thing to understand is that anything that went on with Enron went on in the Clinton White House, and with clearer quid pro quo than anything in the *one* year that Bush has been in office. Read the news! It started with the Bush’s in Texas, and Phil Graham, and hhis wife, during the Reagn administration. I haven’t read ALL the stories, but I’ve never see ONE link to the Clinton administration mentioned. There are MANY to the Texas and the White House baby Bush administration. Enron gave a lot of money to Clinton and the democrats. Kenneth Lay even got to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom like a lot of other big money corporate donors. Guess your news sources are lacking. Then correct me with your own sources. BTWit is common for corporations to donate to both parties, so they have an inside no matter who gets in. Their loyalties lie where MOST of the money goes. I recall specific numbers, but I cannot remember, absolutely, that they were ENRON’s …. 25% to Democrats, and 75% to Republicans. To put it in simplistic terms, Clinton may have let Lay sleep in the bedroom, but Bush let him run the energy department.

Your right – he’s wrong. I have the numbers – heard them on HRP two days ago……48-percent demos, 52-percent repubs. BTW in case you havent noticed we have one party now (its been this way all the Republicrats are just for the privilaged. We need a second party by and for the people badly!! – I’m a former demo who Libertarian, Nature Law, Communist, Socialist, any damn thing that is about the people and not global corp and rich bastards ;-/ — An unjust king asked a devotee what kind of worship is best? He replied: ‘For thee the best is to sleep one half of the day so as not to injure the people for a while.’ I saw a tyrant sleeping half the day. I said: ‘This confusion, if sleep removes it, so much the better; But he whose sleep is better than his wakefulness Is better dead than leading such a bad life.’

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Enron going belly up because of shady accounting does not imply that removing the energy industry from socialized state control is a bad idea. Oh …. but because a few welfare recipients are dishonest – that whole plan should be scrapped? No, it should be scrapped, because government should not be doing your charity work for you. It is an oxymoron for the government to be involved in charity. The government has no vested interest in the welfare of it’s people?

the gov. itself (judical, executive, legislative) otherwse the gov WILL become corrupt and tyranical — power whether in gov, or in big business will corrupt and end freedoms! To trust the federal gov. is foolish! ALWAYS ALWAYS constrain their power as much and increase the power of "The People" is much as your can (this means power to the States and Communities). Governments and unions are the ONLY resources we have to balance the scales to prevent a totalitarian society run by the most rich, and the most

greedy. Actually Small Business is not pure evil, they are just "folks" like "the People" and not egomanics like Gobal Maga Corps. The power of global corps is anti-constitution, but it is folly to beleive your government will defend that same democracy when the power of teh corps have bought-out our very democracy!! The government is just a puppet of Big Business now…….folly to beleive otherwise. The "balancing of the scales" will not be by the government! since they are bought-out, nor the Lobor unions since they are dissapearing!! democracy, but an oligarchy. And until "the People" literally rise-up and threaten the establishment (as some have done in the M$ debackle) and say "we are mad as hell" we will contine to loose more freedoms until Mr Orwells forcast is a truth ;-( Do you like all the vid-cameras on all the trafific lights today?, WashingtonDC is ow fully under servailance since last week – you like that? You like the idea that any global corp can suit the US gov and win – even overide the US Constitution – all in a private court tribunal in some FatCat’s board room (NAFTA-Chapter-11). Already a Jury award in our Constitution has been overturned by a closed to the public tribunal under a NAFTA court of three appointees. Do your approve of how Jury Powers have been eroded by the Lawyer lobby interests these last 75-years – to the point that Jury Nullification is claimed is "illegal" now, even though Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay affirmed this right in rulling in 1790’s? How about the recent Patiot Act – which ignore the Fourth Amendment(search) for all folks, denies non-citizens the right to the Fifth (due process)? Or maybe how we no longer have to treat POWs in accordance with the Geneva Convention – which the U.S. DID sign!? We have lost alot of rights in the last century, and we are loosing more tube and do nothing for our freedoms? Your right about meat-inspection. It’s a joke, self-policing never works. We have 187, and Festeria to worry about (and MAD COW!) now. MadCow is real and we have no safe guards. Hunters are NOT warned about the fact that 5-percent of the deer herd in Co/Wy have CronicWasting Desease (MadCow)…and that you can get it from eating this meat!! The gov. only — An unjust king asked a devotee what kind of worship is best? He replied: ‘For thee the best is to sleep one half of the day so as not to injure the people for a while.’ I saw a tyrant sleeping half the day. I said: ‘This confusion, if sleep removes it, so much the better; But he whose sleep is better than his wakefulness Is better dead than leading such a bad life.’

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Enron going belly up because of shady accounting does not imply that removing the energy industry from socialized state control is a bad idea. Oh …. but because a few welfare recipients are dishonest – that whole plan should be scrapped? No, it should be scrapped, because government should not be doing your charity work for you. It is an oxymoron for the government to be involved in charity. The government has no vested interest in the welfare of it’s people? the gov. itself (judical, executive, legislative) otherwse the gov WILL become corrupt and tyranical — power whether in gov, or in big business will corrupt and end freedoms!

Sounds like we need a document that limits the power of the government over the individual .. wait ….. we have one. That was the purpose of the first ten amendments. There was also a part of the constitution (I forget where) that says just because something isn’t specifically prohibited, it does not, by default, automatically give the goverment that power. I sometimes wonder if we would have been better served if those men made it the first 1,000 amendments.

Response:

Bill Clinton’s sexual escapades are miniscule compared with the screwing we’re getting from Bush and the republicans. Oh… and Billy Boy’s sexcapades were a smoke screen for a multitude of treasonous acts and smoke-filled back room deals with corporations.

I didn’t like many things that Clinton did – but the republican bashing him for 8 years, ending up with the sex scandle (after years, and millions of dollars) was their big theatrical play. There are things going on with NAFTA, right now, that are close to the same league as ENRON … but, since the republicans bashed Clinton heavily for the sexcapade, their actions made them appear as the "moral" party. They have no reason to hold their heads high with a more important, heavy handed, long term greed based albatross on thier necks. They are not more moral, they are just more corrupt and greedy!

Response:

They are not more moral, they are just more corrupt and greedy!

I doubt it. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

First thing to understand is that anything that went on with Enron went on in the Clinton White House, and with clearer quid pro quo than anything in the *one* year that Bush has been in office. Read the news! It started with the Bush’s in Texas, and Phil Graham, and hhis wife, during the Reagn administration. I haven’t read ALL the stories, but I’ve never see ONE link to the Clinton administration mentioned. There are MANY to the Texas and the White House baby Bush administration.

Enron gave a lot of money to Clinton and the democrats. Kenneth Lay even got to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom like a lot of other big money corporate donors. Guess your news sources are lacking. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

Enron going belly up because of shady accounting does not imply that removing the energy industry from socialized state control is a bad idea. Oh …. but because a few welfare recipients are dishonest – that whole plan should be scrapped?

No, it should be scrapped, because government should not be doing your charity work for you. It is an oxymoron for the government to be involved in charity. Because some liberal agendas do not work perfectly, the whole liberal agenda should be scrapped?

Make your case, and they’ll be scrapped or not. It is a republic, you know. There is debate. I haven’t seen a single liberal scam, I mean plan, get scrapped yet. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

They are not more moral, they are just more corrupt and greedy! I doubt it.

            Just as I doubt God will ever give you wealth and status and power (and an attractive young trophy wife) in this world or the next. Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First thing to understand is that anything that went on with Enron went on in the Clinton White House, and with clearer quid pro quo than anything in the *one* year that Bush has been in office. Read the news! It started with the Bush’s in Texas, and Phil Graham, and hhis wife, during the Reagn administration. I haven’t read ALL the stories, but I’ve never see ONE link to the Clinton administration mentioned. There are MANY to the Texas and the White House baby Bush administration. Enron gave a lot of money to Clinton and the democrats. Kenneth Lay even got to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom like a lot of other big money corporate donors. Guess your news sources are lacking. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First thing to understand is that anything that went on with Enron went on in the Clinton White House, and with clearer quid pro quo than anything in the *one* year that Bush has been in office. Read the news! It started with the Bush’s in Texas, and Phil Graham, and hhis wife, during the Reagn administration. I haven’t read ALL the stories, but I’ve never see ONE link to the Clinton administration mentioned. There are MANY to the Texas and the White House baby Bush administration. Enron gave a lot of money to Clinton and the democrats. Kenneth Lay even got to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom like a lot of other big money corporate donors. Guess your news sources are lacking.

Then correct me with your own sources. BTWit is common for corporations to donate to both parties, so they have an inside no matter who gets in. Their loyalties lie where MOST of the money goes. I recall specific numbers, but I cannot remember, absolutely, that they were ENRON’s …. 25% to Democrats, and 75% to Republicans. To put it in simplistic terms, Clinton may have let Lay sleep in the bedroom, but Bush let him run the energy department.

Response:

Now there’s a big surprise – right wing republicans in bed with right wing (alleged) christians, in bed with rich, corrupt republican  greedy businessmen. and all this while acting like "God is on their side!" Bill Clinton’s sexual escapades are miniscule compared with the screwing we’re getting from Bush and the republicans.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now there’s a big surprise – right wing republicans in bed with right wing (alleged) christians, in bed with rich, corrupt republican  greedy businessmen. and all this while acting like "God is on their side!" Bill Clinton’s sexual escapades are miniscule compared with the screwing we’re getting from Bush and the republicans. First thing to understand is that anything that went on with Enron went on in the Clinton White House, and with clearer quid pro quo than anything in the *one* year that Bush has been in office.

Read the news! It started with the Bush’s in Texas, and Phil Graham, and hhis wife, during the Reagn administration. I haven’t read ALL the stories, but I’ve never see ONE link to the Clinton administration mentioned. There are MANY to the Texas and the White House baby Bush administration.  The Democrats are in reality dirty in this from the tops of their scraggly balding heads to the tips of their Birkenstock sandals. And their even dirtier in Global Crossing, and that has national security implications, maybe even treasonous.

and you get your information from ….? Mine was recently read in Time magazine, and the Public Citizen web sites. Ralph Reed is a lobbyist. Wow, he makes money from it.

Ralph read is a political advisor. Ralph Reed is an administration insider. Ralph Read is a well connected power broker for Texas milionaires, the religious reich, aand republican politicians. He got that way because he’s close buddies with them all. A politician – were he honest – would distance himself from such insider power brokers the moment he becomes an elected official for ALL the people! Enron going belly up because of shady accounting does not imply that removing the energy industry from socialized state control is a bad idea.

Oh …. but because a few welfare recipients are dishonest – that whole plan should be scrapped? Because some liberal agendas do not work perfectly, the whole liberal agenda should be scrapped? It was pure greed that cause the debacle … and, although the democrats are not much better, republicans and their bed partners, big business, live by greed. The energy industry is such a needed commodity it MUST be watched carefully. The REASON it must be watched carefully should be plainly apparent now!

Response:

Bill Clinton’s sexual escapades are miniscule compared with the screwing we’re getting from Bush and the republicans.

Oh… and Billy Boy’s sexcapades were a smoke screen for a multitude of treasonous acts and smoke-filled back room deals with corporations. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

Now there’s a big surprise – right wing republicans in bed with right wing (alleged) christians, in bed with rich, corrupt republican  greedy businessmen. and all this while acting like "God is on their side!" Bill Clinton’s sexual escapades are miniscule compared with the screwing we’re getting from Bush and the republicans.

First thing to understand is that anything that went on with Enron went on in the Clinton White House, and with clearer quid pro quo than anything in the *one* year that Bush has been in office. The Democrats are in reality dirty in this from the tops of their scraggly balding heads to the tips of their Birkenstock sandals. And their even dirtier in Global Crossing, and that has national security implications, maybe even treasonous. Ralph Reed is a lobbyist. Wow, he makes money from it. Enron going belly up because of shady accounting does not imply that removing the energy industry from socialized state control is a bad idea. — You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you. I am @home wherever I am. Send email there.

Response:

Just before the last presidential election, Bush campaign adviser Ralph Reed offered to help Enron Corp. deregulate the electricity industry by working his "good friends" in Washington and by mobilizing religious leaders and pro-family groups for the cause. For a $380,000 fee, the conservative political strategist proposed a broad lobbying strategy that included using major campaign contributors, conservative talk shows and nonprofits to press Congress for favorable legislation. Reed said he could place letters from community leaders in the opinion pages of major newspapers, producing clips that Reed would "blast fax" to Capitol Hill. "We are a loyal member of your team and are prepared to do whatever fits your strategic plan," Reed wrote in an Oct. 23, 2000, memo obtained by The Washington Post. "In public policy," he wrote, "it matters less who has the best arguments and more who gets heard – and by whom." The memo offers a glimpse into the relationship between Enron and the influential conservative, who was first recommended to the company in 1997 by Karl Rove, now a senior adviser to President Bush. Reed, head of the Atlanta-based consulting firm Century Strategies, is the former executive director of the Christian Coalition and current chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. Reed has drawn criticism for his 1997 work on one Enron issue, a Pennsylvania deregulation matter, but Century Strategies Vice President Tim Phillips said yesterday the firm’s relationship with Enron continued until October 2001, when it ended by "mutual agreement." Phillips said Enron never finalized the specific lobbying job outlined in Reed’s memo, but he declined to answer questions about what tasks Reed did carry out for the Houston company. Reed did not return phone calls. Last month Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, asked for a federal investigation into whether Rove arranged the 1997 Enron contract to avoid paying Reed from Bush campaign funds. Others have questioned whether the Bush camp had hoped to ensure Reed’s allegiance during the early days of the campaign. Enron has offered little information about its dealings with Reed, one of many prominent political figures and commentators the company cultivated ties with before it collapsed in bankruptcy late last year. Rick Shapiro, the Enron vice president to whom Reed addressed the memo, declined to comment. Reed’s influence has escalated over the last decade. He claims credit for helping Bush win several key presidential primary victories, and he has served as an adviser to members of Congress. Since 1997, when Reed opened Century Strategies, his consulting clients have included political candidates and corporations with interests in Washington. He dropped Microsoft Corp. as a client in 2000 after charges that he had lobbied Bush on behalf of the software company while Bush was governor of Texas. The seven-page memo to Enron illustrates for the first time how Reed pitches his services to major corporations and how he draws on alliances he forged during ideological battles fought alongside conservative religious leaders. It also shows how political consultants have increasingly brought tactics once seen only in campaigns into the legislative arena. Enlisting Reed’s aid would have been in character with Enron’s strategy of aligning itself with high-visibility political figures and pundits. Those who have accepted pay from Enron for their advice and other help include Bush economic adviser Lawrence B. Lindsey, Weekly Standard editor William Kristol, economist Paul Krugman, CNBC commentator Larry Kudlow, U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and incoming Republican National Committee chairman Marc Racicot. Reed referenced his previous Enron work in the October 2000 memo, noting Enron had seen his "capabilities at work in the 1997 effort in Pennsylvania," where Reed helped Enron build support for electricity deregulation. "Since that time, we have built a formidable network of grass-roots operatives in 32 states," he wrote. Reed offered to mobilize that network in an effort to deregulate the electricity market. At the time, Enron was seeking open access to the nation’s power grid so it could compete with traditional utilities. Reed’s memo stresses that his firm’s "long history of organizing these groups makes us ideally situated to build a broad coalition" benefiting Enron. He said Enron’s arguments for deregulation were less important than commanding attention by enlisting the aid of elected officials’ friends and supporters. "There are certain people – a friend or family member, key party person, civic or business leader, or major donor – whose correspondence must be presented to the [elected] official for his personal reading and response," Reed wrote. Such prominent figures could act as surrogates for Enron while pressing lawmakers to rewrite statutes, Reed said. "We have the capacity to generate dozens of high-touch letters from an elected official’s strongest supporters and the most influential opinion leaders in his district," he wrote. "Elected officials and regulators will be predisposed to favor greater market-oriented solutions if they hear from business, civic, and religious leaders in their communities." Reed’s memo said his organization had a record of harnessing the "minority community" and the "faith community" to support his clients. Reed proposed two lobbying strategies, one costing $177,000 and the other $386,500. "I will assume personal responsibility for the overall vision and strategy of the project," he wrote. "I have long-term friendships with many members of Congress." Reed proposed sending 20 "facilitating letters" to each of 17 members of the congressional commerce committees that handle deregulation. Under the proposal, Enron would pay Reed’s firm $170,000 for generating the letters, each signed by a third party. Reed asked Enron to pay his firm $25,000 to generate letters to the editors of newspapers, each signed by a prominent figure. "These op-eds and letters are then blast faxed to elected officials, opinion leaders and civic activists for use in their own letters and public statements." He said his firm had recently "placed" opinion pieces in The Washington Post and the New York Times. A $79,500 telemarketing campaign would have cold-called citizens and offered to immediately patch them through to Congress. "For one recent client, we generated more calls to a U.S. Senate office than had been received since impeachment" of President Bill Clinton, he wrote. "The result was a major victory for the client." Finally, Reed said he had enjoyed "great success" in using conservative news-talk programs to spread his clients’ message to "faith-based activists." "Our public relations team has extensive experience booking guests on talk radio shows, and has excellent working relationships with many hosts," he wrote, proposing a $30,000 fee. "We look forward to working with Enron," he said. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22380-2002Feb16.html

Response:

Question:

It’s a great money-losing strategy Advantage: less money to count, lower taxes… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, Generally,  is any advantage to be gained in the long-run, by including the shipping cost with the high bid? Should one ever do this or not ? Please explain Thanks, Jim "sudden financial difficulty" Jones

Response:

Hello, Generally,  is any advantage to be gained in the long-run, by including the shipping cost with the high bid? Should one ever do this or not ? Please explain

See Tim’s good reply re bidder psychology / sales tactics. My two cents… If you include the shipping cost in the bid, then you have to charge sales tax on that shipping cost when the Buyer is in your state.  There are also accounting / IRS implications, especially if you’re audited.   So it’s really best that the bid be only for the item itself.  All other costs should be clearly stated in the auction. – Dan. — – South Jersey, USA, Earth  <http://www.crosswinds.net/~darmok – You cannot make History.  You can only survive it.

Response:

There are also accounting / IRS implications, especially if you’re audited.

Please explain.  

Response:

There are also accounting / IRS implications, especially if you’re audited. Please explain.  

Auditors like things "neat".  Amounts that are "expenses", so they’re deducted from your gross, need to be broken out cleanly.  If they don’t like the way you’ve done it, they won’t allow the deductions. eg: Buyer from within your state wins your auction for a wobulator.  FAV $1000, shipping included.  State tax is 7%, so he pays you $1070. (At this point, you’ve overcharged the Buyer – he should have paid sales taxes only on the actual item and not on the shipping.  But because your shipping was included you can’t break it out.  Legal, but ethically eh). Shipping costs you $10.00.   Now, figure your taxes. Gross of $1070  minus $?? for the basis cost of the wobulator,  minus $70 sales tax,  minus $10 shipping,  minus eBay fees etc… The sales tax is specifically tracable to that auction.  Allowed. The eBay fees are specifically tracable.  Allowed. But the only proof of shipping costs you have is the receipt from the USPS – which only specifies the ZIP code (IF it’s an updated USPS cash register, and the thermal register tape hasn’t faded).  Since you can’t specifically prove that that $10 shipping cost was to that specific auction — disallowed. You now pay income tax on that $10 shipping cost. If the auction closed at $900 and you collected $10 for shipping, you’d have a trackable deduction… Of course, then there are capital gain implications if you’d had the wobulator sitting around your house for 40 years. Yes, there are accounting tricks that can be used to figure things differently, eg  Total annual gross receipts minus total annual expenses, etc.  The problem is that online auctions are new — so the irs auditors might want to see proof of costs for a particular auction, esp if a capital gain calculation is involved.  (Had this happen)  <G Ok… for the extra point… What exactly is a "wobulator"? clue: It’s one of those inventions without which we wouldn’t have most of our electronic technological toys – everything from fm radio to cell phones to satellites to computers. – Dan. — – South Jersey, USA, Earth  <http://www.crosswinds.net/~darmok – You cannot make History.  You can only survive it.

Response:

<important stuff snipped Ok… for the extra point… What exactly is a "wobulator"? clue: It’s one of those inventions without which we wouldn’t have most of our electronic technological toys – everything from fm radio to cell phones to satellites to computers.

They have come a long way since they were developed. The early ones were unstable and tended to drift quite a bit. The latest generation of the wobulator solved these problems and is also very compact. Thank goodness for technology… – David –

Response:

Auditors like things "neat".  Amounts that are "expenses", so they’re deducted from your gross, need to be broken out cleanly.  If they don’t like the way you’ve done it, they won’t allow the deductions Having been in the accounting, bookkeeping and tax return business or racket, what ever you want to call it, for more years than I want to admit, your statement does not make any sense. As long as the deduction is proper, no IRS auditor is going to disallow it regardless of how you put it on a piece of paper.

The only time it would come up is if the IRS did an audit, then you would simply have to prove that your deduction is legal.  It’s actually the bookkeepers and accountants that like things to be "neat".  If your books aren’t neat, and you want to hire someone (bookkeeper/accountant), don’t be surprised when they quote you a nice hourly rate. Peter

Response:

Auditors like things "neat".  Amounts that are "expenses", so they’re deducted from your gross, need to be broken out cleanly.  If they don’t like the way you’ve done it, they won’t allow the deductions

Having been in the accounting, bookkeeping and tax return business or racket, what ever you want to call it, for more years than I want to admit, your statement does not make any sense. As long as the deduction is proper, no IRS auditor is going to disallow it regardless of how you put it on a piece of paper. John

Response:

Hello, Generally,  is any advantage to be gained in the long-run, by including the shipping cost with the high bid? Should one ever do this or not ? Please explain Thanks, Jim "sudden financial difficulty" Jones

Response:

Generally,  is any advantage to be gained in the long-run, by including the shipping cost with the high bid? Should one ever do this or not ?

It’s really all a matter of opinion. On one hand, many people will see "free shipping" or "shipping included" and might be more interested in bidding.  Another way to look at it is that as items get heavier, that will necessarily require a higher opening bid price and might make people turn away. Keep in mind that by including shipping in the bid price, you’ll be paying fees on it as well… again, it depends a lot on the weight of the items and your volume of business. It’s really a matter of opinion, but I’d tend to guess that for items less than 2 pounds (3.20 priority, that is), that you expect will sell for at least $30-40, you might be able to stir up more bidding action by doing a "shipping included" kind of deal.  If it’s any heavier, I’d think it would weigh down the bid price too much; likewise if we’re only talking about $5-10 items. Another thing I always like to consider is that this is not retail business, and the inherent differences are important.  Because the sale price (final bid) is the value that’s important, and is also something that is not really in your control, there’s a good amount of risk.  Having a fixed shipping charge separate from the bidding action can (for some auctions) be a way to help defray some of the risk.  (ie. if a low ticket item goes for the starting bid value when you’ve said that shipping is included, you’ll be out much more money than if shipping had been listed separately and the item didn’t get any bids… this make sense?) Again though, a lot depends on the items.  If you could give us perhaps some price ranges or a little more info about the types of items, it will probably be easier for all of us to give better advice. -Tim K.

Response:

Question:

Hurray! I just checked amazon.com and they shipped my copy of A Stitch in Time today! That gives me two new books this week – the other being Harry Potter, of course….so much for getting any stitching done. Lyanne — WIP: L&L – Angel of the Sea, TW – Mermaid, Celtic Bird glasses case, Lizzie Kate – Cherish All Living Things, Just Nan – All Aboard, and a really nasty UFO

Response:

I’m still waiting on my Harry Potter.  Grrrr……Oh, well.  Just like everyone else, I have a stack of reading to go along with my stack of stitching.  Maybe I have more hobbies than I thought. Isabel

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hurray! I just checked amazon.com and they shipped my copy of A Stitch in Time today! That gives me two new books this week – the other being Harry Potter, of course….so much for getting any stitching done. Lyanne — WIP: L&L – Angel of the Sea, TW – Mermaid, Celtic Bird glasses case, Lizzie Kate – Cherish All Living Things, Just Nan – All Aboard, and a really nasty UFO

Response:

I stopped at the bookstore on the way home from work Monday and bought my copy! Tama – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – May I take a little space here to remind those of you who know about Betsy that the third novel, A Stitch in Time, should be in the stores by Monday.  I actually received a report that it is in at least one bookstore now.  I’d've been boring you all to tears about it, but I’ve been a little busy.  If any of you happen to come across a copy, and read it, let me know what you think, okay? Mary Monica aka Moncia Ferris

Response:

   I love the summer when all the new books come out!! <G Nina said… Yes, but — they all come out at the SAME TIME!!!!  I’m reading Elizabeth Peters’ latest Amelia Peabody mystery, and Spider Robinson’s Callahan book tantalizes me every time I pass it.  Or should I read Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy mystery?  Or Mary Monica’s?  Or one of the two Annes — McCaffrey and George — that aren’t new, but new to me?  And Harry Potter IV will be here any day!  It’s more than I can stand!

Whoa…new callahan book? Hold up! I missed that….what new Callahan book? And to think I thought I’d be stitching tonight…. Kali on her way to Amazon to see..

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    I love the summer when all the new books come out!! <G Nina said… <snip Spider Robinson’s Callahan book tantalizes me every time I pass it… Whoa…new callahan book? Hold up! I missed that….what new Callahan book? And to think I thought I’d be stitching tonight…. Kali on her way to Amazon to see..

Oh good, now someone else will be facing the Impossible Choice with me! Stitch or read, stitch or read, stitch or read…. One can learn a lot hanging around in alt.callahans; we’ve known about Callahan’s Key for a looooong time.  Come on over and I’ll buy your first BOYC! Nina — Professional proofreading doesn’t cost – it pays!

Response:

Mary Monica,    I’m dancing all over the place here!!  New books!  New books!!    I love the summer when all the new books come out!! <G Deborah Pesa – New York http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/1646 WIP: Flora-StitchWorld, A Midsummer Night’s Fairy – Mirabilia, Chickadee – Crossed Wings Dogs’ lives are too short.  Their only fault, really.  - Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Response:

   I love the summer when all the new books come out!! <G

Yes, but — they all come out at the SAME TIME!!!!  I’m reading Elizabeth Peters’ latest Amelia Peabody mystery, and Spider Robinson’s Callahan book tantalizes me every time I pass it.  Or should I read Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy mystery?  Or Mary Monica’s?  Or one of the two Annes — McCaffrey and George — that aren’t new, but new to me?  And Harry Potter IV will be here any day!  It’s more than I can stand! Nina, trying to play eenie-meenie-miney-moe Finished in July: Peaceful Sea, Amaryllis Artworks WIPS: The Lord is my Shepherd, Just CrossStitch; Random Thoughts, Drawn Thread; A Cat with Heart, glasses/cel phone case [purse project] UFOs: too many to list… <sigh — Professional proofreading doesn’t cost – it pays!

Response:

Yes, but — they all come out at the SAME TIME!!!!  I’m reading Elizabeth Peters’ latest Amelia Peabody mystery, and Spider Robinson’s Callahan book tantalizes me every time I pass it.  Or should I read Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy mystery?  Or Mary Monica’s?  Or one of the two Annes — McCaffrey and George — that aren’t new, but new to me?  And Harry Potter IV will be here any day!  It’s more than I can stand! Nina, trying to play

Yes, and I just finished the new Janet Evanovich book, Hot Six.  I drool over the new Susan Conant book (which I will wait for in paperback)  I bought two JS Borthwick mysteries yesterday which I didn’t have, yet.  My waiting to be read pile is about a mile high and I’m still buying more books!  And everytime I go to the library I find another author that I have to read.   Now I need to win the lottery so I can quit work and spend all day reading or stitching – maybe I’ll get something finished then<G Deborah Pesa – New York http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/1646 WIP: Flora-StitchWorld, A Midsummer Night’s Fairy – Mirabilia, Chickadee – Crossed Wings Dogs’ lives are too short.  Their only fault, really.  - Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Response:

I’m reading Elizabeth Peters’ latest Amelia Peabody mystery, snip Nina,

If you haven’t finished this one yet, make sure to allow yourself to read the last 100 pages or so in one fell swoop.  You won’t want to put it down! The one before this one left me kind of unsatisfied, but this last one definitely makes up for every unfulfilled moment of the one before. ))) Also, anyone who wants to read the series and really enjoy it, should NOT read this one first. ))  I’m hoping the library will eventually get them all on tape (with Barbara Rosenblatt reading, of course <lol) and I can start at the beginning again and "read" the whole series while I stitch. ))))) Liz from Humbug

Response:

I’m reading Elizabeth Peters’ latest Amelia Peabody mystery, snip Nina, If you haven’t finished this one yet, make sure to allow yourself to read the last 100 pages or so in one fell swoop.  You won’t want to put it down! The one before this one left me kind of unsatisfied, but this last one definitely makes up for every unfulfilled moment of the one before. )))

Thank you, Liz!  I’ll make a note of that.  And did I miss a book somehow?  I don’t recall "hearing" the events involving Ramses and Nefret that he recounts (the ones nobody else knows).  This one is excellent so far!  She’s a fantastic writer under any name; I have two of her "serious" Egyptology books (autographed) and they’re just as fascinating.  Such talent! Also, anyone who wants to read the series and really enjoy it, should NOT read this one first. ))  I’m hoping the library will eventually get them all on tape (with Barbara Rosenblatt reading, of course <lol) and I can start at the beginning again and "read" the whole series while I stitch. )))))

Nonono, new readers MUST start from the beginning and read Amelia in order!  I didn’t realize *any* of them were on tape … now I know what I want for Christmas!  Last year I got all of the Levenger "For the Reader" CDs, and three GCs to LNSes.  It was a very good year!!!! Thank you again, Liz!  May your floss never knot! Nina — Professional proofreading doesn’t cost – it pays!

Response:

I put Raveled Sleeve, the fourth Betsy Devonshire mystery, into the mail this morning,

Yippee!! May I take a little space here to remind those of you who know about Betsy that the third novel, A Stitch in Time, should be in the stores by Monday.

Yup. A couple of weeks ago, I reserved a copy at Barnes & Noble. They called on the Fourth saying it was in. When I picked it up Thursday, I saw that they’ve given you the prime spot at the display in front of the cash registers, to tempt everyone who’s standing in line. Kathy K — X/USA/S/-/-/-/27B/Monolog in Blue, various little things/X,Bw,D,P/E,L/D,S,Od/:-P~ /S/M+/B/b/R-/S/K-/E+/L/G-/Wo/Sam Elliott/David Weber/pizza

Response:

Mary, Okay…..I’m new to this newsgroup….I am just getting back into cross stitching (left it for a few years while I returned to college to get my accounting degree) and I am an avid reader. So, after reading this ‘thread’ and realized that people were saying the books were very good, I checked out your books on amazon.com and placed an order for all three…… Hope all is well…..good luck with the 4th book….. Carol

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – About all I’ve been able to do lately is go to rctn only to dump everything that’s arrived because I didn’t have time to read it all. But now I can start reading again.  Because I put Raveled Sleeve, the fourth Betsy Devonshire mystery, into the mail this morning, and it will take my editor a few weeks to read and notate the manuscript: Hurrah, rah, rah!  A big THANKS to all of you who answered questions and gave suggestions to me in writing this most difficult novel (so far) in the series.  Some of you will discover who you are when you notice the names of the women at the stitch-in that is at the heart of Raveled Sleeve.  But it’s done at last, and only a week late getting into the mail (with my editor’s permission — she was on vacation this week, so it wasn’t holding anything up).  That last week really put a shine on the manuscript. May I take a little space here to remind those of you who know about Betsy that the third novel, A Stitch in Time, should be in the stores by Monday.  I actually received a report that it is in at least one bookstore now. I’d've been boring you all to tears about it, but I’ve been a little busy.  If any of you happen to come across a copy, and read it, let me know what you think, okay? Now I think I’d better start shoveling out the accumulated mail, notes, magazines, stitchery books, and other stuff that piled up while I was trying to get this thing out of my head and onto paper. And maybe do some serious stitching, too. Again, thanks to everyone who helped; I couldn’t have done it without you. Mary Monica aka Moncia Ferris There are three rules for writing a novel.  Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. -Somerset Maugham

Response:

Congrats!!! I’ve had an advance order in for your third book thru Amazon.com for the last two months.  Now I can hope to get it soon (but not until I read the next Harry Potter one <VEBG) Lil Banchik BTW, have you ever considered publishing your books in the Rocket e-book format? Mr. Cole’s Axiom:  The sum of the intelligence of the planet is a constant. The population is increasing.

Response:

ay I take a little space here to remind those of you who know about Betsy that the third novel, A Stitch in Time, should be in the stores by Monday.

     You know we will all be waiting — not so patiently — when the bookstores open up tomorrow AM!!!  I have already told DH that we need to make a trip into town to look for this newest needlework novel )). If any of you happen to come across a copy, and read it, let me know what you think, okay?

           Uh-OH — You’ve asked for it now — LOLOL!  Do you think there’s a snowball’s chance in he** that we WON’T tell  you what we think???  Especially since you asked us for input on this one )).  If it’s anything like the last two then it is going to be GREAT!!!   OOOO I can’t wait to get to the bookstore!  I do hope it is there or I will be majorly disappointed!   CiaoMeow ^;;^<

. PAX, Tia Mary   ^;;^<     Angels can’t show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS!!   Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs! No husband was ever shot doing dishes! Visit my photo album  http://www.photopoint.com

Response:

About all I’ve been able to do lately is go to rctn only to dump everything that’s arrived because I didn’t have time to read it all. But now I can start reading again.  Because I put Raveled Sleeve, the fourth Betsy Devonshire mystery, into the mail this morning, and it will take my editor a few weeks to read and notate the manuscript: Hurrah, rah, rah!  A big THANKS to all of you who answered questions and gave suggestions to me in writing this most difficult novel (so far) in the series.  Some of you will discover who you are when you notice the names of the women at the stitch-in that is at the heart of Raveled Sleeve.  But it’s done at last, and only a week late getting into the mail (with my editor’s permission — she was on vacation this week, so it wasn’t holding anything up).  That last week really put a shine on the manuscript. May I take a little space here to remind those of you who know about Betsy that the third novel, A Stitch in Time, should be in the stores by Monday.  I actually received a report that it is in at least one bookstore now.  I’d've been boring you all to tears about it, but I’ve been a little busy.  If any of you happen to come across a copy, and read it, let me know what you think, okay? Now I think I’d better start shoveling out the accumulated mail, notes, magazines, stitchery books, and other stuff that piled up while I was trying to get this thing out of my head and onto paper. And maybe do some serious stitching, too. Again, thanks to everyone who helped; I couldn’t have done it without you. Mary Monica aka Moncia Ferris There are three rules for writing a novel.  Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. -Somerset Maugham

Response:

Question:

does anyone know how much water/lb of grain it would take during sparging to get to s.g. 1.010? i want to know how much sparge water to have in my sparge vessel. matt Before you buy.

Response:

does anyone know how much water/lb of grain it would take during sparging to get to s.g. 1.010? i want to know how much sparge water to have in my sparge vessel.

There is no set amount. It all depends on the efficiency of your sparge and lauter process, the ratio you mashed at, and the absorbtion of the grain. Bear with me for a moment. Lets say you were using 10 lbs of grain, used a ratio of 1 qt/lb to mash, and wanted to collect 6 gallons of wort. You would expect to use 2.5 gal. to mash, but lose 1.5 gallons to grain absorbtion, and, lets say a half a gallon to equipment losses. To collect 6 gallons, you would need 5.5 gallons of sparge water. But lets say you used a mash ration of 1.2 qt/lb. instead. You would mash with 3 gallons, have the same losses, and need 5 gallons of sparge water. But here’s the rub: in neither of these are you gauranteed to collect _all_ the available sugars with the amount of sparge water given. If you have a shallow grain bed, or the sparge water forms channels through the bed, or other problems I can’t currently think of occur, then when you run out of sparge water, you might find the gravity of the runnings is 1.018, not 1.010. So, you have a choice: continue sparging until the runnings drop to the gravity you want, then boil the wort longer to boil off the excess water. Or, stop sparging, boil what you have, knowing that while you may not have collected all the sugars, you will still make beer! Or split the difference, figure out how much extra boiling you want to do, and stop sparging when you get to that point. Personally, this is what I do. I’ve never had my runnoff go below 1.010 with the sparge water I’ve calculated, so I check the gravity of the wort I’ve collected, see if it’s near where I want to be (accounting for increased gravity as the wort loses volume), and go at it. I hope this helps. Brew On! David Whitwell Half-Whit Brewing Tacoma, WA "Because Half the Whits Brew, and Half the Whits Don’t"

Response:

Question:

Here is a really remarkable table, comparing the features which ISPs find most important.   Good work, Shawn D. Hogan! http://www.digitalpoint.com/products/isp/compare.html This is an incredibly valuable resource I’m glad people find it useful, because *damn* it was a lot of work… especially the arm twisting of all the vendors to actively participate to get accurate data.

If nobody has thanked you lately, THANK YOU!   I know what you’re talking about, I’ve done comparisons like that, such as http://www.gldialtone.com/adsl.htm which took upwards of 100 emails to get them right. But… just to clarify a few things… all the systems *do* currently handle Accounts Receivable… that’s the foundation of all the systems, which is why it wasn’t listed as a "feature".  That would be like a comparision matrix on email programs and listing the ability to send email as a feature.  :-)  It sort of just goes without saying.

It is crucial that you understand the downstream processing that’s provided by the better accounting packages –and which your ISPs need.  For example, managing receivables involves a whole raft of functions including aging, credit limits, approval authorities for different sales people/users, interest charges, followup letter printing, etc. One of the facts most commonly overlooked by developers of business systems is the requiremnt for the receivables system to be integrated with the cash account.  The process of building a deposit ticket with numerous checks received in the mail, is a considerable piece of programming.  So is the module which, later, assists the bookkeeper to reconcile their cash acct. Cash reconcilation also involves the clearing of checks (the expenses module of the system. ) Another important deliverable from an accounting package is the cash flow statement, and cash flow projection.  As ISPs grow thru the 1000, 10000, 50000 user level, sooner or later this really is going to bite them.  The ability to publish cash flow and cash projection right out of the latest billing data is kind of nice. It is frankly impossible to list all the intereconnections that ought to be integrated between the typical ISP billing system and the accounting system.  You get the general idea. Accounting software really goes on way beyond what these ISP BIlling vendors appreciate. For example a number of these packages integrate directly to tax software, payroll systems, etc.  Some of them are excellent multicompany consolidation platforms.  When your ISP merges with another ISP, that’s when you realllly wish you had a real accounting system. So it takes a very great wisdom to recognize "We should not try to build an accounting system."  and to decide where is the frontier, between the ISP billing modules, and the general accounting package.  This is complex, it cannot be done in a vacuum, because accounting software each have different integration points.   For example if you’re integrating with Quickbooks, you can read deeply from the database, directly, with 3rd party addons like http://www.datablox.com but you’re really limited on import. Many have tried.  Whole books could be written, the episodes we’ve seen on alt.accounting and b.c.a.  But you COULD build quite a nice, effective 2-way, almost realtime integration with Quickbooks if you really exploited every fact available in the Quickbooks database with Datablox and applied extensive logic to create and manage your IIF import to Quickbooks, and the transaction management forced upon your external system by various data entries that are made in Quickbooks (i.e. if a customer is deleted in QB you would popup a flag to the ExternalProgram user interfaces, "YOU MUST REVISE OR DELETE YOUR BILLING TO XXX CUSTOMER BECAUE IT HAS BEEN DELETED IN QUICKBOOKS" Most developers eventually come to the conclusion that multiuser Quickbooks at $500/year plus payroll table upgrades, etc. is way more trouble than it’s worth, for an ISP.  I feel sorry for the many ISPs who post the ISP-Billing list, saying they do all their billing with it, manually. Far better for developers to just buy an honest package like Visual Accountmate, CYMA IV, AFD Accounting for Delphi, Adapta Accounts, or any of at least 10 other completely modern 32-bit packages with very nice COM object hierarchies ready to rock n roll. For the most part, the billing/management systems on the compare page do everything except Accounts Payable and Payroll as of today.  There are a few of them that are working on incorporating A/P into their systems as well, but "in development" features are not listed on the list, so until they are in a shipping product, they won’t be listed.

I would urge you to add some good detailed columns focussing on how the ISP Billing software integrates with whatever accounting package they use.  Not to discredit the packages that actually are trying to build accounting systems, it’s just highly doubtful they will end up as best of breed. ALl that time they’re spending trying to get up to the level of functionality already available in the midrange accounting packages, is MIS DIRECTED.  They should be applying it to those functions/features most needed by the ISP market.  Come on in out of the cold, guys.  You need accounting software, and we need YOU. Optigold ISP *does* create the static transaction batches to accounting systems, as some others may also (they just haven’t said so), but I think it’s less of a needed feature since they do handle the A/R side of things… No reason to really duplicate the data into another A/R system. Shawn D. Hogan President, Digital Point Solutions http://www.digitalpoint.com (858) 452-3696

I applaud their batch integration.  I would urge them to look at realtime COM approaches if they’re on NT platforms. I especially urge them to look into CBL2, BizTalk or other XML schema as transport for transactions to accounting systems. A/R side of things… No reason to really duplicate the data into another A/R system.

There are *many* reasons to pipe all their transactions out to another A/R system.  Hmmm here are 2,150 reasons to consider, http://www.excelco.com/allqonly.htm * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * 9745-128th Av NE, Kirkland WA 98033       (425) 827-3107 * WebLedgers, accounting ASPs, XML accounting, e-commerce * sending/receiving invoices, orders and payments over the internet

Response:

Here is a really remarkable table, comparing the features which ISPs find most important.   Good work, Shawn D. Hogan! http://www.digitalpoint.com/products/isp/compare.html This is an incredibly valuable resource for any WebLedger vendor, for its encyclopedic list of what electronic billing and payment solutions are actually practiced by online ISPs.   The DigitalPoint table also illustrates some fascinating facts, such as the nearly total non-integration with ANY accounting platforms, by ANY of the ISP Billing and receivables platforms.  Can you imagine that?  What a grim existence they must be suffering through. These peasants are of hardy stock, uncomplaining they labor away into the wee hours reconciling their banks, receivables, merchant card summaries and revenues and checks they receive in the mail.  With their primitive perl scripts they parse their bank statments, I guess. In their ignorance they don’t understand .CSV file imports to almost any general ledger product, or the COM interfaces to at least 20 good solid GL products below $1000. They don’t understand where to divide their app. from the rest of the company’s financial accounting system.  They work with realtime data events.  Hard to package into a static billing batch, I guess. Also interesting:  the word XML doesn’t even appear on the whole product comparison.  So hammered are they, by their unique problems of integrating with their IP services, they’re fifty miles down the road in their vertical domain before they ever realize they’re practically building an accounting system. As if they were the first companies that ever needed to service orders, send and receive billings and payments over the internet. Also seems ODD that this group so unaware of the emerging general-purpose WebLedgers emerging on the internet, into which they could pipe their billing events, in realtime.   Oh well.  It won’t take them long. * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * 9745-128th Av NE, Kirkland WA 98033       (425) 827-3107 * WebLedgers, accounting ASPs, XML accounting, e-commerce * sending/receiving invoices, orders and payments over the internet

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here is a really remarkable table, comparing the features which ISPs find most important.   Good work, Shawn D. Hogan! http://www.digitalpoint.com/products/isp/compare.html This is an incredibly valuable resource for any WebLedger vendor, for its encyclopedic list of what electronic billing and payment solutions are actually practiced by online ISPs. The DigitalPoint table also illustrates some fascinating facts, such as the nearly total non-integration with ANY accounting platforms, by ANY of the ISP Billing and receivables platforms.  Can you imagine that?  What a grim existence they must be suffering through. These peasants are of hardy stock, uncomplaining they labor away into the wee hours reconciling their banks, receivables, merchant card summaries and revenues and checks they receive in the mail.  With their primitive perl scripts they parse their bank statments, I guess. In their ignorance they don’t understand .CSV file imports to almost any general ledger product, or the COM interfaces to at least 20 good solid GL products below $1000. They don’t understand where to divide their app. from the rest of the company’s financial accounting system.  They work with realtime data events.  Hard to package into a static billing batch, I guess. Also interesting:  the word XML doesn’t even appear on the whole product comparison.  So hammered are they, by their unique problems of integrating with their IP services, they’re fifty miles down the road in their vertical domain before they ever realize they’re practically building an accounting system. As if they were the first companies that ever needed to service orders, send and receive billings and payments over the internet. Also seems ODD that this group so unaware of the emerging general-purpose WebLedgers emerging on the internet, into which they could pipe their billing events, in realtime. Oh well.  It won’t take them long.

I’m glad people find it useful, because *damn* it was a lot of work… especially the arm twisting of all the vendors to actively participate to get accurate data. But… just to clarify a few things… all the systems *do* currently handle Accounts Receivable… that’s the foundation of all the systems, which is why it wasn’t listed as a "feature".  That would be like a comparision matrix on email programs and listing the ability to send email as a feature.  :-)  It sort of just goes without saying. For the most part, the billing/management systems on the compare page do everything except Accounts Payable and Payroll as of today.  There are a few of them that are working on incorporating A/P into their systems as well, but "in development" features are not listed on the list, so until they are in a shipping product, they won’t be listed. Optigold ISP *does* create the static transaction batches to accounting systems, as some others may also (they just haven’t said so), but I think it’s less of a needed feature since they do handle the A/R side of things… No reason to really duplicate the data into another A/R system. Shawn D. Hogan President, Digital Point Solutions http://www.digitalpoint.com (858) 452-3696 Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

A big hug from me to you. Robin I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. Walt Whitman

Awww thank you Robin…that was really sweet!  I needed that! Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

A big hug from me to you. Robin I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. Walt Whitman

Response:

I am so depressed I don’t know what to do.  My whole life I have been a freak & an outcast. I had a job for 12 years where I actually advanced to the accounting dept, but the company closed and I have been employed with various horrible jobs for 2 years.  The skills I learned at this company don’t translate to other jobs…no one I have applied with will hire me.   I have no marketable skills…my computer skills are limited and I can’t even do physical labor because I am a big fat nothing that can’t stand for long periods of time or lift stuff due to a bad back w/sciatica problems.  So my brief career at the post office is over.  I am witty and bright and funny, and absolutely useless.  I can’t get a boyfriend, much less ever hope to marry again.  I married the 1st time as I was pregnant, and I figured this little redneck drunken druggie was all I could get so I better go for it.  We are divorced now & he rarely pays child support, the DNR is supposed to take care of it for me but so far nothing.    Due to abnormal amounts of testosterone I must shave daily and I have a big gut & no breasts or hips.  Therefore I look like a guy w/long hair.  Oh yeah, and I used to have tons of hair, and it was my one vanity and now, I have a bald spot in the front & my hair is thinning.  I have a daughter & I am so afraid I will ruin her with my bad essence. I hate myself and keep thinking how easy it would be to just go to sleep & never wake up.  I have a wonderful family & friends & yet I am always feeling alone & weird & no good.  I am in therapy with the county clinic, and they are so busy they don’t really care about me, the therapist I have is this woman who never smiles & I don’t like her but my choices are limited, as I can’t afford a reg therapist.  I am trying Wellbutrin for the 1st time, I’ve been on Paxil and Prozac and they keep me from crying all the time, but I am still fat & have a chaotic house & even though I think how nice it would be to be normal sized & have a neat clean house, deep down I could give a rats ass.  I can’t get a job doing cartoon voices or being a smartass, so I have no idea what to do.  I’m sick of crying and I am sick of the bill collectors and I am sick of my life.  I don’t even know why I am typing this.  I guess the jist of  the whole thing is I am a big fat ugly hairy nothing and I needed to vent. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Question:

Hello all! I am new to the group. I am attending my last year of school now to get my BA in Accounting. I plan on sitting for the CPA exam but how important is the CMA exam. There does not seem to be as much focus on the CMA. Also for all the accountants out there. What do you need to do when you get certified in one state and have to move to another. Is there a new test that needs to be taken. Please advise. Thankyou, Christi

The CPA and the CMA are not especially duplicative.  The CPA, of course, is for public accounting, and the CMA is for management accounting.  There are not as many CMAs as there are CPAs; however, over 50% of the membership in the American Institute of CPAs is now composed of members not working in public accounting. Which designation you need depends upon what you want to do.  And, to a certain extent, the lines are blurring.  Looks to me like the various accounting organizations are starting to have "turf" wars.  My advice is to get either one, work a couple of years, and then get your Master’s degree–in international accounting with a foreign language. Many of the states now have reciprocity, and by the time you get a CPA certificate, they will all probably accept CPA certificates from each other. Regards, — Robert W. Scroggins, CPA A Texas CPA http://members.aol.com/rscrogg562/ Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Hey Christi! Last year of classes, huh?  If at all possible, I recommend a good internship if you can fit it in.  Good experience and probable job opportunity! The CMA is great if you do not want to enter public accounting.  Where the CPA is still the real dominant "seal of approval" in the profession, it can be overkill in the employment sector with the most numerous job opprtunities outside of public accounting: the small and middle market privately held companies. In terms of salary, they are roughly the same; But it depends upon which track you are following.  A CMA in E&Y or AA would probably not go very far, I understand. As corporate controller for a private, mid-sized, multi-national, I would prefer the CMA since they would be more pragmatic and have a wider field-of-vision about how to tackle an issue. Those are opinions. Take them as you will. John

Response:

I am going to graduate next year as well and I am looking at the big five. What has your experience been with recruitment.  I am actually suprised that you mentioned cma, I took managment accounting I got an A but it was pretty dull.  At least I think so, which is why I choose tax.  Do you know what tax accountants and tax attorneys get paid.  "welcome to the good life"   The waters great.

Response:

Hello all! I am new to the group. I am attending my last year of school now to get my BA in Accounting. I plan on sitting for the CPA exam but how important is the CMA exam. There does not seem to be as much focus on the CMA. Also for all the accountants out there. What do you need to do when you get certified in one state and have to move to another. Is there a new test that needs to be taken. Please advise. Thankyou, Christi

Response:

The CPA examination is a uniform nationwide test. Many states now have reciprocity agreements so you do not have to take the test over again if you move to another state. However, you would have to check with the state CPA society in the state you are moving to in order to be sure. I don’t know how imprtant the CMA certification is. But I do know that I don’t see it as a requirement that often in job announcements, probably because HR people and other non financial executives who develop the specs for jobs aren’t even aware of it. Good luck. http://www.baranskyvaccaro.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all! I am new to the group. I am attending my last year of school now to get my BA in Accounting. I plan on sitting for the CPA exam but how important is the CMA exam. There does not seem to be as much focus on the CMA. Also for all the accountants out there. What do you need to do when you get certified in one state and have to move to another. Is there a new test that needs to be taken. Please advise. Thankyou, Christi

Response:

Question:

John, I have successfully used Microsoft Access to do this.  However, you need to have some knowledge of the software and the time to set it up properly or pay someone else to do it. — Jason Hagerman Carroll Publishing Federal Charts and Directories 1058 Thomas Jefferson St, Washington DC, 20037 voice (202)333-8620 Fax: (202)337-7020 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m looking for either a small business accounting package that has contact management functions built in, or some combo of accounting and contact management software. Customers will often repeat, and I’d like to automatically import invoice/product information into the contact management software. Any clues? I’ve looked at Act! And GoldMine, but they do not really seem to be setup to do this easily. Thanks for any help. -John Baima

Response:

I’m looking for either a small business accounting package that has contact management functions built in, or some combo of accounting and contact management software. Customers will often repeat, and I’d like to automatically import invoice/product information into the contact management software. Any clues? I’ve looked at Act! And GoldMine, but they do not really seem to be setup to do this easily. Thanks for any help. -John Baima

Response: