Question:

The Cure Con: how you’re being deceived by charities that claim to be racing for the cure for cancer and other chronic diseases -Posted Jul 17, 2005 PT by the Health Ranger (Mike Adams)  Everywhere you go, someone asks you for money to help find the cure for some disease. It’s the race for the cure! It’s the telethon for the cure! It’s the walk or run for a cure! At grocery stores, cashiers ask if you want to donate a dollar to help find the cure. Other retailers want to sell you fashion-minded colored bracelets that raise money to find the cure. There’s always someone who wants your money in exchange for the hope that your dollar will somehow help them "find a cure" for some awful disease. I have a very big question to ask about all of this. This has literally been going on for decades. Researchers have been searching for a cure for cancer since the late 1960s, and for other diseases since at least the 1970s. At that time, they said cures were right around the corner; it was just a matter of a few more dollars; then they would have the cures available. Well, here we are, 30 or 40 years later, with still no cures. We’ve been running this race for decades, funding it with literally billions of dollars. If all this money has gone to the race to find cures for these diseases, then where are the cures? You’ve been lied to I have shocking news for all those who have been running in circles to help find a cure: you’ve been conned. For most chronic diseases, there are no cures. Why? Because the diseases themselves are fictitious. Cancer is not a disease. I’ll be covering this in more detail in my book "The Illusion of Disease," which will be published later this year, but in brief, cancer is just a name given to a pattern of symptoms appearing as a natural result of certain metabolic functions caused by lifestyle decisions. It is not a disease any more than skid marks are a disease in the Town of Allopath. Cancer can’t be cured with chemicals. It’s no germ. Similarly, diabetes is just a name given to a metabolic result caused by certain lifestyle choices. There are no pathogens that cause diabetes. You can’t put something under a microscope and say, "Aha! This is what caused diabetes," because type-2 diabetes is actually just a cause-and-effect result that follows a lifetime of consumption of refined sugars, coupled with lack of exercise. That’s no disease, that’s just a result. Think of it this way: if I told you to go run up a hill, you’d get to the top of that hill and you’d be breathing hard. Your face might be flushed. Your respiration would be rapid. Your heart rate would be high. It wouldn’t be too difficult for me to find a doctor that might diagnose these symptoms as a "disease." We could even give it a name: Hyper-Respiratory Illness or HRI. And then we could easily get a drug company to come up with a drug to mask the symptoms of HRI — a chemical that would forcibly slow your heart and slow your breathing.  

Question:

Intermediate Accounting problem from text book Is Imputed interest on funds used during construction of a new building (stock financing) charged to the asset building?

Response:

Intermediate Accounting problem from text book Is Imputed interest on funds used during construction of a new building (stock financing) charged to the asset building?

Construction interest is capitalized into the cost of the building. — Paul A. Thomas, CPA Athens, Georgia taxman at negia.net

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Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Don’t bother with taxation.  Unless you want to make partner in a Big Four Firm, you will be one of the most underpaid and overworked people in the US, taking into consideration the amount of knowledge you will have to master to be effective in your position. I work for a small firm in Dallas.  I worked 70 hours a week during busy season (8 week period from mid-February through mid-April and I’m expected to work 50 for the rest of the year.  For $59k.  That’s a minimum of 2,760 hours a year, or about $21/hour.  Imported computer programmers from India with a 1 year computer education make more than me.  And I’m told I’m overpaid at least twice a year during reviews. I bill 3 times my COST, not salary, but COST to the firm.  I have 4 years of experience, a CPA license, and a Masters in Taxation.  It’s utter BS.  Don’t do it.  Unless you can do consulting only, I would strongly urge you to not get into tax accounting at all.  It blows.

All of this is basically true except you do get valuable experience and if you really like taxation (who doesn’t !)  it can lead to jobs outside public accounting.

Response:

Hi, I’m a recent b.comm graduate starting work in audit at a Big Four firm in September.  I’m currently taking advanced taxation and am enjoying it very much.  In fact I enjoy it a lot more than the audit classes that I have taken.  This has really spured my interest in tax, and now I feel like I would really enjoy a career in tax accounting. My current plan is to put in my audit hours at my firm and then maybe try and do a part time masters in tax and move into the taxation area.  I’d really appreciate any thoughts/comments from any tax professionals. Thanks! Brendan

Response:

Don’t bother with taxation.  Unless you want to make partner in a Big Four Firm, you will be one of the most underpaid and overworked people in the US, taking into consideration the amount of knowledge you will have to master to be effective in your position. I work for a small firm in Dallas.  I worked 70 hours a week during busy season (8 week period from mid-February through mid-April and I’m expected to work 50 for the rest of the year.  For $59k.  That’s a minimum of 2,760 hours a year, or about $21/hour.  Imported computer programmers from India with a 1 year computer education make more than me.  And I’m told I’m overpaid at least twice a year during reviews. I bill 3 times my COST, not salary, but COST to the firm.  I have 4 years of experience, a CPA license, and a Masters in Taxation.  It’s utter BS.  Don’t do it.  Unless you can do consulting only, I would strongly urge you to not get into tax accounting at all.  It blows.

Response:

Question:

I had only a passing interest in money laundering when an old schoolfriend was sent to prison for 8 years. However I have been unable to find much concrete info on the web that is relevant to the situation in the UK. I am also surprised that so few people know anything about it despite the impact and the amounts of money involved. The news (tv) rarly has any reporting on the subject and part from criminals I know of no one who seems even reasonbly knowledgeable on the subject….

Response:

The news (tv) rarly has any reporting on the subject and part from criminals I know of no one who seems even reasonbly knowledgeable on the subject….

Well, let’s put it this way–the whole point of money laundering is to keep the transactions out of sight, so any "well known" system for doing so would likely not be used any longer.  More to the point, only a few people really have a use for learning about money laundering: 1.  Those who are planning to do it (criminals who aren’t likely going to be broadcasting their knowledge of the same <grin) 2.  Those who are charged with catching those who try and do it (law enforcement types who don’t want to "tip their hand" about what they do and don’t know). Generally, the purpose of laundering is to take "dirty" money (earned illegally or having some other "unpleasant" attribute) and make it appear to come from a clean location or at least "break" the link to the dirty location.  It can even involve funnelling money through an otherwise legitimate appearing business so that it looks like the funds have been earned there–that is, tax evasion may not be the point (in fact, the criminals may *WANT* it taxed to help break the link).   One case that was related to me a few years ago invovled a pizza operation that was being used to launder drug money–law enforcement spent time proving that the pizza operation hadn’t purchased enough cheese and other products needed to make a pizza to have possibly sold as many pizzas as they needed to…

Response:

Most people really don’t want to know about it.

So true–and the reason why so many frauds are so simple to pull off.  But the fact is that the only people who initially have an interest in frauds are generally a) those that are going to pull one off and b) those charged with keeping frauds from happening. Of course, those who are victims of frauds normally end up with a lot more interest from that point forward…

Response:

Of course, those who are victims of frauds normally end up with a lot more interest from that point forward…

Victims, and associates of victims.  That is how I got interested in it. — Jim Hudspeth, CPA – http://home.att.net/~jdhcpa/mainpage.html – Washington, USA Associate Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The news (tv) rarly has any reporting on the subject and part from criminals I know of no one who seems even reasonbly knowledgeable on the subject…. Well, let’s put it this way–the whole point of money laundering is to keep the transactions out of sight, so any "well known" system for doing so would likely not be used any longer.  More to the point, only a few people really have a use for learning about money laundering: 1.  Those who are planning to do it (criminals who aren’t likely going to be broadcasting their knowledge of the same <grin) 2.  Those who are charged with catching those who try and do it (law enforcement types who don’t want to "tip their hand" about what they do and don’t know). Generally, the purpose of laundering is to take "dirty" money (earned illegally or having some other "unpleasant" attribute) and make it appear to come from a clean location or at least "break" the link to the dirty location.  It can even involve funnelling money through an otherwise legitimate appearing business so that it looks like the funds have been earned there–that is, tax evasion may not be the point (in fact, the criminals may *WANT* it taxed to help break the link). One case that was related to me a few years ago invovled a pizza operation that was being used to launder drug money–law enforcement spent time proving that the pizza operation hadn’t purchased enough cheese and other products needed to make a pizza to have possibly sold as many pizzas as they needed to…

There is a lot of information readily available to anyone who cares to look at it. An interesting sidebar. Much of the public thinks that CPAs look for fraud.  Unfortunately, few (at least few of the ones I know) have even a hint of a clue as to what to look for or how to look for it. As to money laundering and CPA practice. Money laundering, drug dealing and organized crime tend to go together.  It is not uncommon for a drug operation to use an otherwise legitimate business as a front. Once the money goes through the accounting process and is taxed it looks just as clean as legitimate sales.  Normally, it is only after considerable forensic effort that illicit activity can be ferreted out. In my opinion, it is exceedingly unwise for a practicing CPA to confront a client he /  she suspects of money laundering, certainly not without a lot of backup and support from law enforcement.  These people can be very dangerous. — Jim Hudspeth, CPA – http://home.att.net/~jdhcpa/mainpage.html – Washington, USA Associate Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

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Money laundering often involves rich, influential people who have the wealth and power to see that things are kept quiet.  They often seem like nice, upstanding citizens on the surface, but derive a lot of their largesse from illegal activities. Peter

Response:

I had only a passing interest in money laundering when an old schoolfriend was sent to prison for 8 years. However I have been unable to find much concrete info on the web that is relevant to the situation in the UK. I am also surprised that so few people know anything about it despite the impact and the amounts of money involved. The news (tv) rarly has any reporting on the subject and part from criminals I know of no one who seems even reasonbly knowledgeable on the subject….

It appears you have lost your innocence.  Until your friend got sent up you had "only a passing interest" in money laundering.  You were entirely normal. Most people do not have friends who have been sent up and have "only a passing interest" in money laundering.  Same with fraud in general.  Most people really don’t want to know about it. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners has published an extensive report on the status of fraud and white-collar crime in the U.S. It is called the Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud and Abuse, and it is the largest known privately-funded study on this subject. http://cfenet.com/newsandfacts/fraudfacts/reporttothenation/ Other interesting fraud facts. http://cfenet.com/newsandfacts/fraudfacts/ — Jim Hudspeth, CPA – http://home.att.net/~jdhcpa/mainpage.html – Washington, USA Associate Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Response:

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners has published an extensive report on the status of fraud and white-collar crime in the U.S. It is called the Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud and Abuse, and it is the largest known privately-funded study on this subject. http://cfenet.com/newsandfacts/fraudfacts/reporttothenation/ Other interesting fraud facts. http://cfenet.com/newsandfacts/fraudfacts/

A virtual directory of money laundering sites.  Please note the uk address. http://info.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/scandals/launder.html One of the above referenced sites.  Very specific. http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/notes/48/48scott.html

Response:

The news (tv) rarly has any reporting on the subject and part from criminals I know of no one who seems even reasonbly knowledgeable on the subject…. Generally, the purpose of laundering is to take "dirty" money (earned illegally or having some other "unpleasant" attribute) and make it appear to come from a clean location One case that was related to me a few years ago invovled a pizza operation that was being used to launder drug money

The pizza connection is a famous case, but any retail concern with a lot of cash going through it and not so much check or plastic money — those are the ones to keep an eye on.  If you look at the federal regs on which businesses are NOT exempt from the $10,000 cash transaction reporting requirement, you will see a list of interesting businesses.  E.g., car dealers are NOT exempt. Another famous marker for fraud in general is a city: Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Back in the 60s and 70s it was like a magnet for all kinds of swindlers and fraud specialists to set up their phony offices.  So anytime a businessman said he was from Fort Lauderdale, many wary money men turned up their radar — or just plain laughed.  Kind of like Bill Clinton saying he did not inhale.  Perhaps Fort Lauderdale is still a magnet like that today.

Response:

Some good replys, thanks. I guess I am still surprised at the lack of interest the press and TV show. I understand billions of

Question:

For a totally different perspective, go read some of the articles in the various legal professional organization publications.  To them, accountants are the great threat to the legal profession as a whole, being "business savvy" and "marketing oriented" (and no, I am NOT kidding) types who will end up controlling the delivery of legal and financial services in America.

Fom time to time I go to seminars sponsored by lawyers.  Somewhere along the line my name got on some lawyer related mailing list.  As a result, I get a local magazine intended for lawyers. Recently the cover story was about the "Most dangerous man alive", an accountant.  The accompanying picture was certainly a blast from the past – the frumpiest looking accountant I have ever seen. The article, however, was indeed serious.  They are very concerned that we are stealing "their" work. I’m beginning to think the best thing for the egos of attorneys and CPAs would be for us to have Barry and Bob only be allowed to give their talks to attorneys, and for the leaders of the ABA to be only allowed to talk to CPAs.

– Jim Hudspeth, CPA – http://home.att.net/~jdhcpa/mainpage.html – Washington, USA Associate Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Response:

Jim said Jim said,… To them, accountants are the great threat to the legal profession… "business savvy" and "marketing oriented"  who will end up controlling the delivery of legal and financial services in America. I get a local magazine intended for lawyers. Recently the cover story was about the "Most dangerous man alive", an accountant…. I’m beginning to think the best thing for the egos of attorneys and CPAs would be for us to have Barry and Bob only be allowed to give their talks to attorneys, and for the leaders of the ABA to be only allowed to talk to CPAs.

This thread is hilarious.  Of course the real problem is just between the professional organizations.  There is a whole industry of professional organizations, that feed on professions.  Their management and staffs have much more in common with each other, than with the professions they pretend to serve.   They are really pure corporate businesses.  TO them, lawyers, doctors, accounants etc. are just a kind of domesticated farm animal that you feed the proper mix of hays and alfalfa, to grow the types of herds that give you the most milk.  When this objective conflicts with the needs of society, or the needs of practitioners, it is the milk (dues income) that they pursue everytime. Of course when the farm down the road is also growing big strong herds, the corporate farmer screams about every issue they can dream up… like this nonsense that accountants might practice law.  The legal cartel has got their franchise buttoned up as tight as the english language allows.  Nay, tighter.  They create new languages. My advice to both the Accountants and Lawyers: you’re right: your basic franchise is eroding.  But it’s not because of the other professions but rather your own neglect of the customer, and the changing needs of society.  The doctrines written generations ago, and enforced by your police power today are mismatched against what society ACTUALLy needs today, TOdd * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * XML accounting, webledgers, BSPs, ASPs, whatever it takes

Response:

Mike Wing said Gee whiz… How much of the "globe" is left? <g I’m not sure, since as I recall the UK bodies were a significant segment of the "global" nature of the Cognitor group.  And let’s not forget.. opposition to the concept in the US, and the AICPA Council has delayed their vote once already. It may be time to go back to the drawing board…

At the end of the day, CPAs are people.  The CPAs who are doing audit work are probably not the ones pushing this diversification. And at the end of the day, 95% of the deep knowledge of the enterprise that comes out of an audit process is locked in these auditors’ heads anyway.   Wouldn’t it be funny to find that it costs the Cognitor firm even more money to provide IT or management consulting to the enterprise than a purpose-built IT consultancy starting afresh? CPAs knowledge acquisition process to provide IT services to the enterprise has at least three heavy costs:  1) the whole overhead of licensing, accounting and tax training      which must be maintained, CPE and library costs etc.  2) the cost of knowledge transferrence from the audit or tax people      who actually know anything about the client giving CPAs an      advantage in the first place, and  3) the overall incorrect foundations of CPAs knowledge which is      inevitably oriented around the cognitive framework of GAAP or      tax ideologies and assumptions. Everybody in America who wants to sell financial services, IT services or business services sooner or later focuses on the accounting industry, as a channel.   They see us going right to work on every business’ accounts, and consulting regularly and extensively with managers and owners –and without thinking about what we’re really doing, they envy us and wish they could get a foot in. Envying the CPA’s access to the enterprise is like envying the fed-ex delivery driver, who walks right into a good portion of US businesses every day— a lot more often than CPAs.  So, why doesn’t FedEx form a Cognitor designation?  Simple.  Because they don’t have the skills, and they don’t have any particular advantage in the knowledge food chain. Clearly the CPA’s access to American business owners is worth $billions, but nobody has ever found any systematic way to exploit it. If somebody up there in the management of the firm, or AICPA, wants to make money off Cognitor they should sell their SPAM list, in a sophisticated way.  With velvet gloves they should cultivate the CPA and mesmerize them with the vision of riches, telling them that they are qualified to become IT and knowledge consultants, and carefully, insert those new products and services where the real money is going to be made. Of course without retraining the whole thing will implode. And the men and women who already understand that, and undergo the hardships to retrain and compete in this new industry, will quit these overloaded boats which are full of slower colleagues. Those men and women who are now CPAs and want to move forward into conducting business over the internet, and the whole associated IT challenge, would go off on their own or ally themselves with an IT firm, i.e. a bunch of programmers or ecommerce people.   The CPAs who want to specialize in the knowledge management, or HR or CRM aspects of the new economy will likewise split off from the Cognitor firm.   The Cognitor firm by its very nature will contain some Rabbits, some Hares, and the usual 60-70% cost overheads.   Why on earth would the Rabbits stick around? The AICPA should spin off its Cognitor thing– sell it to some other corporation who can more easily realize the profits in it. Instead of handing it to a bunch of insiders for free, they should put a price tag on it, and auction off the AICPA member list on eBay, * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * XML accounting, webledgers, BSPs, ASPs, whatever it takes

Response:

This thread is hilarious.  Of course the real problem is just between the professional organizations.  

I could buy that *EXCEPT* that most of the Chicken Little statements ("the sky is falling") are coming from the rank and file in both professions.  And that includes a number of posts here and on other online vehicles, as well as published articles in both organization controlled publications and the general industry press. If anything, the staff and leadership of the ABA is way ahead of their membership on issues like multi-disciplinary practice (the rank and file voted it down).  Now, whether that’s for the good or not is another issue altogether–but it seems to me that the professional *organizations* today are much less likely than the membership in general to want to fight to preserve the franchise.

Response:

Clearly the CPA’s access to American business owners is worth $billions, but nobody has ever found any systematic way to exploit it.

If you look at the Big 5’s revenues, you’ll find that they seem to have done a pretty good job of exploiting their access.  In fact, that’s the whole reason for the big fight at the SEC…

Response:

Clearly the CPA’s access to American business owners is worth $billions, but nobody has ever found any systematic way to exploit it. If you look at the Big 5’s revenues, you’ll find that they seem to have done a pretty good job of exploiting their access.  In fact, that’s the whole reason for the big fight at the SEC…

Amen! — Jim Hudspeth, CPA – http://home.att.net/~jdhcpa/mainpage.html – Washington, USA Associate Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Clearly the CPA’s access to American business owners is worth $billions, but nobody has ever found any systematic way to exploit it. If you look at the Big 5’s revenues, you’ll find that they seem to have done a pretty good job of exploiting their access.  In fact, that’s the whole reason for the big fight at the SEC… Amen!

I find it interesting that the only group who seems to think that the future of accountants in general is terrible are accountants <grin. It probably says something about the profession and our pessimistic view of the world in general–we seem to enjoy bad news (or at least many of clients seem to believe that <grin). For a totally different perspective, go read some of the articles in the various legal professional organization publications.  To them, accountants are the great threat to the legal profession as a whole, being "business savvy" and "marketing oriented" (and no, I am NOT kidding) types who will end up controlling the delivery of legal and financial services in America. I’m beginning to think the best thing for the egos of attorneys and CPAs would be for us to have Barry and Bob only be allowed to give their talks to attorneys, and for the leaders of the ABA to be only allowed to talk to CPAs.

Response:

‘Cognitor’ Designation Moves Forward, Despite Defections Following last week’s defections by the Scots and Irish institutes, Bob Elliott, Chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants confirmed that the remaining partners are pressing ahead with plans for the new global credential, currently referred to as "Cognitor." http://www.accountingweb.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=27905&d=101 HOWEVER Editor’s Note: Since this story was published, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has also decided to pull out of the global designation project. — Jim Hudspeth, CPA – http://home.att.net/~jdhcpa/mainpage.html – Washington, USA Associate Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Response:

Since this story was published, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has also decided to pull out of the global designation project.

Gee whiz… How much of the "globe" is left? <g MTW

Response:

Gee whiz… How much of the "globe" is left? <g

I’m not sure, since as I recall the UK bodies were a significant segment of the "global" nature of the Cognitor group.  And let’s not forget that, as the California society article noted, there *IS* some relatively high profile opposition to the concept in the US, and the AICPA Council has delayed their vote once already. It may be time to go back to the drawing board…

Response:

Question:

Hello All, My dad has Instant Accounting 2000 by Sage, and he has a problem.  When ever he does a P & L or balance, it should do a lovely report, but, instead it has little blocks of black. If I zoom right in and set the font to size 72, it looks like the letters are all ontop of each other.  To get an idea write a few letters on paper and write each one over the top of the last, eventually you will have a blob of mess. If anyone has had this problem before, or knows how to sort it out, please contact me. Thankyou in advance.

Response:

I have never seen or used this program, but it seems to me it might be using the wrong printer drivers. Just a suggestion. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All, My dad has Instant Accounting 2000 by Sage, and he has a problem.  When ever he does a P & L or balance, it should do a lovely report, but, instead it has little blocks of black. If I zoom right in and set the font to size 72, it looks like the letters are all ontop of each other.  To get an idea write a few letters on paper and write each one over the top of the last, eventually you will have a blob of mess. If anyone has had this problem before, or knows how to sort it out, please contact me. Thankyou in advance.

Response:

Question:

Lets keep all the boats. One half fish one year and the others the next. Who knows after five years there may be enough fish to allow all boats to fish again.

Response:

     FYI CCA IN UNPRECEDENTED AGREEMENT TO CONTROL LONGLINES, SHRINK FLEET      In late August, CCA, in conjunction with The Billfish Foundation and      the American Sportfishing Association, entered into a memorandum with      the Blue Water Fishermen’s Association (which represents longliners),      pursuant to which 160,000 square miles of US waters would be      permanently closed to longlining, additional time and area closures      would be instituted, the size of the longline fleet would be reduced      by 30% and longliners would be required to participate in an extended      study aimed at reducing bycatch.      The permanently closed area would stretch from the North      Carolina/South Carolina border to Key West, Florida, an area      identified in Billfish Foundation studies as the U.S. region      accounting for the greatest incidence of sub-legal swordfish and      billfish bycatch.  (Early this year, CCA opposed NMFS’s original      proposal of a seasonal closure encompassing only the Florida Straits,      since we realized that the more extensive closure provided by the      current agreement was not only possible, but necessary.)  Large areas      in the northern and western Gulf of Mexico will also be subject to      seasonal closures.      As part of the agreement, the longline fleet will be reduced by      approximately 30% through buyouts.  50% of the money for the buyouts      will come from the federal government.  The remaining costs will be      shared equally by the remaining participants in the longline fishery      and by anglers fishing in the closed areas (or by state governments      assuming the anglers’ share).      While the agreement is, in the words of Walter Fondren, CCA’s      Chairman, "maybe the biggest conservation measure for offshore      fisheries ever," it is, as he acknowledges, only a "step in the right      direction."  CCA, other conservation organizations and the longliners      themselves will now go to the International Commission for the      Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, and request that similar conservation      measures be implemented in international waters.  Such international      management is essential, since about 95% of Atlantic billfish      mortality, and most mortality of juvenile swordfish, is caused by      foreign longliners.      For the agreement to become effective, it must be approved by      Congress.  CCA has already lined up a list of influential sponsors and      cosponsors in both the House and the Senate.  Unfortunately, a      negative campaign with some false information regarding the agreement      is encouraging anglers to ask their Congressman to oppose the deal.      Since any piece of legislation is a very delicate construct,  that      campaign could succeed.  Therefore, CCA NY members are being provided      with the following information so that, properly informed, they can      spread the truth regarding the agreement:      Vessels that are "bought out" of the longline fishery will not be able      to enter any other commercial fishery.  Such vessels are federally      documented.  Pursuant to the buyout agreement, not only the vessels’      longline permits, but also the commercial fishing endorsement in their      documentation, will be purchased.  After such purchase, the vessels      may be used as dive boats, party boats, whale-watchers, oil-rig      tenders or any other purpose except commercial fishing for the rest of      their working lives.      The buyout will substantially reduce effort in the domestic swordfish      fishery. Longliners remaining after the buyout have agreed to support,      at ICCAT, at 10-year rebuilding plan for swordfish, and will insist      that American negotiators press for such a plan.  Since a 10-year      rebuilding plan will require harvest reductions of at least 27%, both      the reduction in fleet size and the reduction in harvest will be      roughly proportional.  The remaining longline vessels will not reap a      significantly larger share of the swordfish quota.      There should be little displacement of longline effort from the closed      areas to the mid-Atlantic and New England.  The east-coast longline      fishery is broken into distinct segments.  a)  Longliners in the Gulf      of Mexico primarily target yellowfin tuna in a short-set, live bait      fishery that provides most of the fresh tuna steaks to the eastern      United States.  Employing methods designed to get fish from the water      to the consumer in a matter of hours, Gulf longliners have already      agreed that they could remain in local waters and serve their      traditional markets under the terms of the agreement.  Under the terms      of the agreement, they have agreed to participate in a multi-year      scientific study of longline bycatch.  b)  Southeastern longliners      primarily target swordfish, and is the group that will be the most      affected by the closures.  Some may opt to travel from traditional      ports, and fish in waters north of the closure line.  However, most      are expected to accept the buyout offer instead.  c)  Mid-Atlantic      longliners, most operating out of New Jersey, are unique in that they      target both swordfish and tuna.  They are not expected to be      significant participants in the buyout, and their operations will see      little immediate impact from the agreement, although they will also      participate in a multi-year bycatch study.  d)  New England longliners      are primarily swordfishermen, and comprise a distant waters fleet that      frequently fishes for extended periods outside of the EEZ.  They will      see the least immediate impact from the agreement, and will remain in      traditional waters.      Vessel owners who accept the buyout will not be able to re-enter the      fishery unless another owner leaves.  Because a limited-entry system      has been instituted in the longline fishery, the only way such a      vessel owner would be able to obtain a permit would be to buy it from      another owner who will then no longer be able to fish.      A direct ban, without some of agreement from longliners may even hurt      the fishery.  Longlining is a frighteningly effective and terribly      destructive means of catching fish.  However, American vessels,      fishing under a permit issued by NMFS, are required to obey American      fishery management plans even when they fish in international waters.      Thus, U.S.-permitted longliners may not retain billfish, fin sharks or      commit similar offenses whenever and wherever they fish.  A vessel      banned in the U.S. might  decide to reflag in Trinidad, Haiti,      Venezuela or other foreign jurisdiction, and would free such vessels      of the restrictions imposed by American law.  Since more than 95% of      billfish and more than 50% of juvenile swordfish are already killed by      foreign-flag boats, an American ban would do virtually nothing to      rebuild the fishery, but would end America’s moderating influence.      Pursuant to the agreement, vessel owners who accept the buyout will      not be able to reflag in another nation.      Armed with the above information, CCA NY members will be able to      refute fallacious arguments and urge adoption of the longline      agreement-the first real breakthrough in the conservation of highly      migratory species since CCA spearheaded the drive to outlaw the sale      of Atlantic billfish, more than a decade ago. — Joseph M Tyson Bellport, Long Island

Response:

Just my opinion, but buying out 68 boats of dubious condition for $1 million each using our tax dollars is pretty depressing.  I haven’t read the fine print of this "deal with the devil" pact, but I’d like to see the longline fishery’s total quota reduced by at least 50% if we can’t succeed in banning the (longline) fishing method altogether. Dollars to donuts the NMFS will take any quota reduction from lost longliners and stick it back in another fishery’s quota. While it sounds prosaic… longliners should all convert back to harpoon boats for swords, and the NMFS should put a minimum of 250 pounds dressed carcass weight for a commercial-sold fish.  Right now longliners are landing juvenile fish in the sub-100 pound category on a regular basis, and these fish aren’t even old enough to spawn… so it’s only a matter of time before the species is wiped out and these jerks are holding their hands out again.  Just look at the mess up in New England in the George’s Bank. I’ve seen longliners out in the deep transferring fish carcasses from one boat to another, and you know that something fishy (no pun intended) is going on.  Probably selling a decent sized blue marlin to a foreign boat.  Yeah, it’s OK because it’s dead bycatch.  Saw that out around Washington Canyon a couple of years ago while we were fishing in the Mid-Atlantic 500.  Everyone should work so hard to eliminate the longline fishery altogether without a cash buyout, and support the Recreational Fishing Alliance and the 90+ groups, companies, and other organizations that are opposing the CCA deal. I’ve suggested to Doug Kelly of Sport Fishing that the next FACE OFF article should feature this debate… hopefully with someone like Al Ristori/Jim Donofrio on one side supporting the RFA, and John McMurray supporting the NY-CCA and their position.  Doug has already responded to muy email and agreed that this would be a good one… so look forward to two conservation groups with different perspectives going at it soon. Maybe we’ll have some surprises on both sides, but this issue needs to be discussed, since both groups want strong stocks of billfish, tuna and shark. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     FYI CCA IN UNPRECEDENTED AGREEMENT TO CONTROL LONGLINES, SHRINK FLEET     In late August, CCA, in conjunction with The Billfish Foundation and     the American Sportfishing Association, entered into a memorandum with     the Blue Water Fishermen’s Association (which represents longliners),     pursuant to which 160,000 square miles of US waters would be     permanently closed to longlining, additional time and area closures     would be instituted, the size of the longline fleet would be reduced     by 30% and longliners would be required to participate in an extended     study aimed at reducing bycatch.     The permanently closed area would stretch from the North     Carolina/South Carolina border to Key West, Florida, an area     identified in Billfish Foundation studies as the U.S. region     accounting for the greatest incidence of sub-legal swordfish and     billfish bycatch.  (Early this year, CCA opposed NMFS’s original     proposal of a seasonal closure encompassing only the Florida Straits,     since we realized that the more extensive closure provided by the     current agreement was not only possible, but necessary.)  Large areas     in the northern and western Gulf of Mexico will also be subject to     seasonal closures.     As part of the agreement, the longline fleet will be reduced by     approximately 30% through buyouts.  50% of the money for the buyouts     will come from the federal government.  The remaining costs will be     shared equally by the remaining participants in the longline fishery     and by anglers fishing in the closed areas (or by state governments     assuming the anglers’ share).     While the agreement is, in the words of Walter Fondren, CCA’s     Chairman, "maybe the biggest conservation measure for offshore     fisheries ever," it is, as he acknowledges, only a "step in the right     direction."  CCA, other conservation organizations and the longliners     themselves will now go to the International Commission for the     Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, and request that similar conservation     measures be implemented in international waters.  Such international     management is essential, since about 95% of Atlantic billfish     mortality, and most mortality of juvenile swordfish, is caused by     foreign longliners.     For the agreement to become effective, it must be approved by     Congress.  CCA has already lined up a list of influential sponsors and     cosponsors in both the House and the Senate.  Unfortunately, a     negative campaign with some false information regarding the agreement     is encouraging anglers to ask their Congressman to oppose the deal.     Since any piece of legislation is a very delicate construct,  that     campaign could succeed.  Therefore, CCA NY members are being provided     with the following information so that, properly informed, they can     spread the truth regarding the agreement:     Vessels that are "bought out" of the longline fishery will not be able     to enter any other commercial fishery.  Such vessels are federally     documented.  Pursuant to the buyout agreement, not only the vessels’     longline permits, but also the commercial fishing endorsement in their     documentation, will be purchased.  After such purchase, the vessels     may be used as dive boats, party boats, whale-watchers, oil-rig     tenders or any other purpose except commercial fishing for the rest of     their working lives.     The buyout will substantially reduce effort in the domestic swordfish     fishery. Longliners remaining after the buyout have agreed to support,     at ICCAT, at 10-year rebuilding plan for swordfish, and will insist     that American negotiators press for such a plan.  Since a 10-year     rebuilding plan will require harvest reductions of at least 27%, both     the reduction in fleet size and the reduction in harvest will be     roughly proportional.  The remaining longline vessels will not reap a     significantly larger share of the swordfish quota.     There should be little displacement of longline effort from the closed     areas to the mid-Atlantic and New England.  The east-coast longline     fishery is broken into distinct segments.  a)  Longliners in the Gulf     of Mexico primarily target yellowfin tuna in a short-set, live bait     fishery that provides most of the fresh tuna steaks to the eastern     United States.  Employing methods designed to get fish from the water     to the consumer in a matter of hours, Gulf longliners have already     agreed that they could remain in local waters and serve their     traditional markets under the terms of the agreement.  Under the terms     of the agreement, they have agreed to participate in a multi-year     scientific study of longline bycatch.  b)  Southeastern longliners     primarily target swordfish, and is the group that will be the most     affected by the closures.  Some may opt to travel from traditional     ports, and fish in waters north of the closure line.  However, most     are expected to accept the buyout offer instead.  c)  Mid-Atlantic     longliners, most operating out of New Jersey, are unique in that they     target both swordfish and tuna.  They are not expected to be     significant participants in the buyout, and their operations will see     little immediate impact from the agreement, although they will also     participate in a multi-year bycatch study.  d)  New England longliners     are primarily swordfishermen, and comprise a distant waters fleet that     frequently fishes for extended periods outside of the EEZ.  They will     see the least immediate impact from the agreement, and will remain in     traditional waters.     Vessel owners who accept the buyout will not be able to re-enter the     fishery unless another owner leaves.  Because a limited-entry system     has been instituted in the longline fishery, the only way such a     vessel owner would be able to obtain a permit would be to buy it from     another owner who will then no longer be able to fish.     A direct ban, without some of agreement from longliners may even hurt     the fishery.  Longlining is a frighteningly effective and terribly     destructive means of catching fish.  However, American vessels,     fishing under a permit issued by NMFS, are required to obey American     fishery management plans even when they fish in international waters.     Thus, U.S.-permitted longliners may not retain billfish, fin sharks or     commit similar offenses whenever and wherever they fish.  A vessel     banned in the U.S. might  decide to reflag in Trinidad, Haiti,     Venezuela or other foreign jurisdiction, and would free such vessels     of the restrictions imposed by American law.  Since more than 95% of     billfish and more than 50% of juvenile swordfish are already killed by     foreign-flag boats, an American ban would do virtually nothing to     rebuild the fishery, but would end America’s moderating influence.     Pursuant to the agreement, vessel owners who accept the buyout will     not be able to reflag in another nation.     Armed with the above information, CCA NY members will be able to     refute fallacious arguments and urge adoption of the longline     agreement-the first real breakthrough in the conservation of highly     migratory species since CCA spearheaded the drive to outlaw the sale     of Atlantic billfish, more than a decade ago. — Joseph M Tyson Bellport, Long Island

… read more »

Response:

Question:

Our company is looking for a accounting package. Any suggestions?? Currently reviewing solomon IV (MS SQL version) Anyone know of this system? All suggestions appreciated. Patrick Kwok

Response:

Without knowing what your organization does, it is tough to tell you for sure what to look at.  But it is probably worth your time to investigate Dynamics C/S+ from Great Plains Software.  Call 1-800-456-0025 to get the name of a VAR in your area or check out their web site at http:/www.gps.com. Alan C. Whitehouse The Resource Group Renton, WA Great Plains Software VAR & ISV – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Our company is looking for a accounting package. Any suggestions?? Currently reviewing solomon IV (MS SQL version) Anyone know of this system? All suggestions appreciated. Patrick Kwok

Response:

Soloman’s implementation on MS SQL has been less than exemplary.  The Btrieve version seems to be much more stable.  Since the core product is designed to run on multiple platforms they can’t optimize it for any one – and this is certainly the case with the MS SQL version. Although I’m biased, you should really take a look at State of the Art’s Acuity Financials product.  It was developed from the ground up to be a 32-bit, MS SQL product.  This State of the Art product has won Microsoft’s Backoffice Challenge the last two years for Best Technology Integration. This is really the way to go!  For information on Acuity, you can check out State of the Art’s web site: www.sota.com/acuity. Check out the following link for information regarding the major change of direction of Soloman IV development: http://www.informatic-inc.com/sotumessage398.htm Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Our company is looking for a accounting package. Any suggestions?? Currently reviewing solomon IV (MS SQL version) Anyone know of this system? All suggestions appreciated. Patrick Kwok

Response:

what type of business and how much are you wanting to spend?

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody know where I can find a program to reconcile any two given accounts, based purely on the amounts? reconciliation difference from among the detail amounts in a large list.   For example, your Cash in Bank is not equal to the bank statement, its off by $123.45    If you have a list of 200 checks which includes $90.00, 10.00, 15.00 and 8.45 which add up to the magical $123.45, need a program will find them. In a prior life I used to work with these reconciliation programs as part of mainframe banking/finance software.  you can probably find companies that sell this software in bank technology trade publications, (sorry, don’t have any now) I was excited to read your comment– do you think there are any programs available on teh windows platform, or are all these things like hardwired ISAM mainframe databases? After using the program to find a difference of 14,209.14 in a list of 220 items, my Clipper program came up with no less than 25 combinations of 4 numbers among the 220 details which add or subtract to yield 14,209.14.  I was astounded to find that many matches, and after review, that none of the combinations were usable at all.  They were random matches among the billions of combinations, crunched out over 6 hours on a Pentium 120. I could have picked out 4 items that were plausable and made a journal entry which would have baffled the hell out any later auditor… they would never figure out how the entry could balance to the penny, unless it were correct. So watch out for that in future audits… bookeepers have been known to match up a handful of junk numbers which makes their cash reconcile, and this experiences just proves how many combinations are workable.  Conclusion: make them balance to the penny and when you check the bank rec, just look at the last few entries laid into the cash account and make sure they really make sense… Another lesson: Double entry accounting doesn’t necessarily mean a darn thing.  With this reconcilation program I can gin up a dandy plug entry for you any time.  Do you see the implications of this mathematical fact? Another more positive lesson:  automatic reconcilation is really workable today and it is NUTS to pay human beings to find routine differences in payables, receivables and cash, manually.

I agree automatic reconciliation saves a lot of grunt work but I have only seen it used in the banking industry, just don’t know of any PC programs that do this.  The versions I worked with were all bank-to-bank (special accounts) using IBM "CICS" –    PC use by individuals would depend on a bank supplying formatted transactions.  There were companies, e.g. "Back Room Systems Inc." that wrote special programs to work with IBM mainframe programs.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Why not do away with the bother of month end bank recs altogether? Create a liability account called ‘Outstanding Checks’, as you cut checks the JE would be to debit payables and credit Outstanding Checks. Each day when you get your daily transactions from the bank, you make a JE to debit ‘Outstanding Checks’ and credit ‘Cash’. Your books balances will match your bank balances on a daily basis and eliminate the need for tedious month end reconciliations. I would also recommend setting up a spreadsheet with a list of your outstanding checks that will be updated on a daily basis. Delete the ones that have cleared the bank and create a SQL report to download all the checks cut during your check runs. I know this saved our company about 12-18 hours spent reconciling at month-end.

Why not do away with the bother of month end bank reconciliations by letting QuickBooks do them for you automatically, with on line banking, as often as you like? As a CPA, I know these QB bank recs are far faster, more accurate & cheaper than the best CPA on his best day.    Mike Block, C.P.A. Tax Fighter,  954-566-7540    QuickBooks Beta Tester & Professional Advisor biz.comp.accounting co-moderator for spam free news       NO TAX INCREASES without voter approval   275 E Oakland Park Blvd, Ft Lauderdale FL 33334

Response:

Ditto to Mike Block….. Gordon Fell, C.P.A. Lasker, Kim & Co. Los Angeles, CA – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Why not do away with the bother of month end bank reconciliations by letting QuickBooks do them for you automatically, with on line banking, as often as you like? As a CPA, I know these QB bank recs are far faster, more accurate & cheaper than the best CPA on his best day.

Response:

Why not do away with the bother of month end bank recs altogether? Create a liability account called ‘Outstanding Checks’, as you cut checks the JE would be to debit payables and credit Outstanding Checks. Each day when you get your daily transactions from the bank, you make a JE to debit ‘Outstanding Checks’ and credit ‘Cash’. Your books balances will match your bank balances on a daily basis and eliminate the need for tedious month end reconciliations. I would also recommend setting up a spreadsheet with a list of your outstanding checks that will be updated on a daily basis. Delete the ones that have cleared the bank and create a SQL report to download all the checks cut during your check runs. I know this saved our company about 12-18 hours spent reconciling at month-end.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody know where I can find a program to reconcile any two given accounts, based purely on the amounts? I’ve written a DOS program which can find combinations of numbers which add up to a missing difference…  Free with Clipper source code http://www.isomedia.com/homes/tboyle/download.htm But I’m looking for something in Win32, with a GUI. The purpose of my DOS program is to find the components of a reconciliation difference from among the detail amounts in a large list.   For example, your Cash in Bank is not equal to the bank statement, its off by $123.45    If you have a list of 200 checks which includes $90.00, 10.00, 15.00 and 8.45 which add up to the magical $123.45, this program will find them.   MAGIC!  yeahhh! All you need to do is put all the 200 detail lines into an ASCII file called A.PRN, and execute the program.  There is a menu choice to import the ASCII file into the programs database to begin the search. When the program finishes, there is a menu choice to  save the search results into file named B.PRN.  A listing of all combinations of 1,2,3, or 4 elements is provided. If you have 200 items in the list, you can search all  combinations of 3 numbers in around 10 minutes.  There are 200×199x198 = 8 million addition checks to perform. Addition checks take extra time to check both positive  and negative values of each number.  If your reconciliation problems has only 2 or 3 elements in the solution you’re done pretty fast. It will take around 4-8 hours on a Pentium 90 to search  all posssible combinations of 4 elements.  On a Pentium Pro its 30-60 minutes, somehow it seems to keep the numbers in cache on the chip. Like I said, this thing works ok but **now** I want something with more intelligence, working on rankings of numbers, with cut and paste to load **two entire lists**, running multithreaded and multiprocessor, etc.

In a prior life I used to work with these reconciliation programs as part of mainframe banking/finance software.  you can probably find companies that sell this software in bank technology trade publications, (sorry, don’t have any now)

Response:

Does anybody know where I can find a program to reconcile any two given accounts, based purely on the amounts? reconciliation difference from among the detail amounts in a large list.   For example, your Cash in Bank is not equal to the bank statement, its off by $123.45    If you have a list of 200 checks which includes $90.00, 10.00, 15.00 and 8.45 which add up to the magical $123.45, need a program will find them. In a prior life I used to work with these reconciliation programs as part of mainframe banking/finance software.  you can probably find companies that sell this software in bank technology trade publications, (sorry, don’t have any now)

I was excited to read your comment– do you think there are any programs available on teh windows platform, or are all these things like hardwired ISAM mainframe databases? After using the program to find a difference of 14,209.14 in a list of 220 items, my Clipper program came up with no less than 25 combinations of 4 numbers among the 220 details which add or subtract to yield 14,209.14.  I was astounded to find that many matches, and after review, that none of the combinations were usable at all.  They were random matches among the billions of combinations, crunched out over 6 hours on a Pentium 120. I could have picked out 4 items that were plausable and made a journal entry which would have baffled the hell out any later auditor… they would never figure out how the entry could balance to the penny, unless it were correct. So watch out for that in future audits… bookeepers have been known to match up a handful of junk numbers which makes their cash reconcile, and this experiences just proves how many combinations are workable.  Conclusion: make them balance to the penny and when you check the bank rec, just look at the last few entries laid into the cash account and make sure they really make sense… Another lesson: Double entry accounting doesn’t necessarily mean a darn thing.  With this reconcilation program I can gin up a dandy plug entry for you any time.  Do you see the implications of this mathematical fact? Another more positive lesson:  automatic reconcilation is really workable today and it is NUTS to pay human beings to find routine differences in payables, receivables and cash, manually.

Response:

Does anybody know where I can find a program to reconcile any two given accounts, based purely on the amounts? I’ve written a DOS program which can find combinations of numbers which add up to a missing difference…  Free with Clipper source code http://www.isomedia.com/homes/tboyle/download.htm But I’m looking for something in Win32, with a GUI. The purpose of my DOS program is to find the components of a reconciliation difference from among the detail amounts in a large list.   For example, your Cash in Bank is not equal to the bank statement, its off by $123.45    If you have a list of 200 checks which includes $90.00, 10.00, 15.00 and 8.45 which add up to the magical $123.45, this program will find them.   MAGIC!  yeahhh! All you need to do is put all the 200 detail lines into an ASCII file called A.PRN, and execute the program.  There is a menu choice to import the ASCII file into the programs database to begin the search. When the program finishes, there is a menu choice to  save the search results into file named B.PRN.  A listing of all combinations of 1,2,3, or 4 elements is provided. If you have 200 items in the list, you can search all  combinations of 3 numbers in around 10 minutes.  There are 200×199x198 = 8 million addition checks to perform. Addition checks take extra time to check both positive  and negative values of each number.  If your reconciliation problems has only 2 or 3 elements in the solution you’re done pretty fast. It will take around 4-8 hours on a Pentium 90 to search  all posssible combinations of 4 elements.  On a Pentium Pro its 30-60 minutes, somehow it seems to keep the numbers in cache on the chip. Like I said, this thing works ok but **now** I want something with more intelligence, working on rankings of numbers, with cut and paste to load **two entire lists**, running multithreaded and multiprocessor, etc.

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Unfortunately, Netcom does not care. Countless people have lodged complaints against Steve, apparently to no avail. Feel free to contact Netcom, but don’t be surprised if Steve doesn’t disappear. And, BTW, he already has other accounts. I don’t know if he’s used them here or not. Hi Lisa,         What you say is generally true if the notes are addressed to the tend to be fairly responsive.         Again, it’s best to include a full message (headers intact) which detail what an overall waste of food & oxygen a particular user is (with regard to this newsgroup, uv korse).  ;) stress this enough…*with headers intact*), and we’ll see ol’ SBA vanish in short order.         …and if she shows up under another account, well, I’ve been around far more persistent types than Steve…  Boursy, Jeff "SpamKing" Slaton and Dr. "Kook of the Year" Grubor come to mind…         Now back to the wedding schtuff!  8D -Jay

Jay, when are you going to learn that forcing people to leave a newsgroup by whining to their postmaster about unpleasant opinions isn’t going to work?  If you had done a tiny bit of research into NetCom’s Terms of Service (http:www.netcom.com/netcom/ncterms.html), you would have discovered that they don’t give a flying flip about opinions expressed but specifically classify abuse as "spamming, pyramid schemes, chain letters, flooding and unsolicited email" (as defined in Section 7.0 Abuse of Services).  Since Steve has not engaged in spamming, a pyramid scheme, or chain letters, those certainly cannot be attributed to him.  He cannot be accused of flooding the newsgroup since a DejaNews query indicates many other people who post far more than he does and with far more lengthy, off topic posts.  The only way people can nab him is when he sends unsolicited email.  *Then* the recipient should send a copy of the But NetCom is not going to pull his account because he said things people don’t like on a newsgroup.  People who throw tantrums to postmasters about things people say are generally viewed as bratty, immature people who need to get a life and stop restricting the free speech of others by use of force.   I suggest people do the "delete key boogie" by sticking your tongue out at the offending poster,do a spin in your office chair, wag your butt at the poster and hit the delete key.  Ahhh, don’t we all feel better now? Btw, no fair comparing Steve to the Spammer Hall Of Fame since he has not done that.  Spamming  multiple newsgroups will get your account pulled.  A more comparable comparison would be to Tom Evans who harrassed and trolled this newsgroup last year and who was nearly impossible to get rid of. Jeanne – Just casually waiting for Steve to email her so she can pounce on him *legitimately*. ***** Knowledge is power and ignorance is not bliss. *****

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Really?  Have you gotten positive feedback from Netcom?  This has not been – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -my (or others’ judging from news.admin.net-abuse.misc where Netcom appears to be universally hated!) experience with them at all.  It took over three I got a reply and all they said was, "We’ll montior the situation."  And this was when Steve was posting his charming "virginity testing" and other vulgarities!  Now that he has cleaned the language up (relatively), regardless of how annoying he tries to be, I doubt Netcom will take much notice. MJ (who did however notice an annoying number of unsolicited e-mail ads maybe they sell addresses?!

I think MJ is right. Netcom DOES NOT care. If you guys think Steve has posted some off-color comments here (and you’re right), it would absolutely curl your hair to read some of the stuff he’s posted in other newsgroups.  He’s not going anywhere, unfortunately, at least as long as he stays with Netcom. Lisa

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You should subscribe to: alt.its.my-way.or.no-way.

Steve, it sounds like you should subscribe to alt.its.my-way.or.no-way. Rebecca (& Bruce) 9/15/96

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Unfortunately, Netcom does not care. Countless people have lodged complaints against Steve, apparently to no avail. Feel free to contact Netcom, but don’t be surprised if Steve doesn’t disappear. And, BTW, he already has other accounts. I don’t know if he’s used them here or not.         What you say is generally true if the notes are addressed to the tend to be fairly responsive.

Really?  Have you gotten positive feedback from Netcom?  This has not been my (or others’ judging from news.admin.net-abuse.misc where Netcom appears to be universally hated!) experience with them at all.  It took over three got a reply and all they said was, "We’ll montior the situation."  And this was when Steve was posting his charming "virginity testing" and other vulgarities!  Now that he has cleaned the language up (relatively), regardless of how annoying he tries to be, I doubt Netcom will take much notice. MJ (who did however notice an annoying number of unsolicited e-mail ads they sell addresses?! Mary Jane N. Shroyer          "Results!  Why, man, I have gotten a lot of Dept. of Microbiology          results.  I know several thousand things Oregon State University        that won’t work." Corvallis, OR                                   Thomas Edison

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My fiance and I have talked about it, and have decided that we do want to go through pre-marital couseling. We also have recently had some serious intimacy problems, and feel like we need an unbiased, and trained third party to intervene.  My question is this:  Where do we find a good pre-marital counselor for not too much $$?  I would love to go to our preacher, but there are a lot of issues surrounding that which will prevent us from going to him with this.  I think it would be easier to be completely honest with someone we do not know. However, we are both po’, and cannot afford $100/ hour sessions.  Any suggestions? Thanks much, Joanna Joanna Schmehl Accounting Economics and Finance The University of Texas at Dallas

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: completely honest with someone we do not know. However, we are both : po’, and cannot afford $100/ hour sessions.  Any suggestions? : Thanks much, : Joanna hi joanna. if you are affiliated with the univ. of texas, you may be able to get free counseling through the school’s "mental health" (or whatever they call it there) services. i’m a grad student at the univ. of penna, and we have a huge "counseling service" here (read: we penn students crack easily! *grin*). they offer "couple counseling" as one of the many items on the mental health menu. these services are free for students. i don’t know about staff. my fiance and i hope to go. it just seems like a good thing to do (even after 4.5. years of living together). good luck! francy (and ben)

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My fiance and I have talked about it, and have decided that we do want to go through pre-marital couseling. We also have recently had some serious intimacy problems, and feel like we need an unbiased, and trained third party to intervene.  My question is this:  Where do we find a good pre-marital counselor for not too much $$?  I would love to go to our preacher, but there are a lot of issues surrounding that which will prevent us from going to him with this.  I think it would be easier to be completely honest with someone we do not know. However, we are both po’, and cannot afford $100/ hour sessions.  Any suggestions? Thanks much, Joanna

Joanna: A former housemate of mine when I lived in Boston is a therapist.  At the agency she worked for at the time, they accepted many clients on what is called a "sliding scale" fee.  This basically ignores their normal rates, and charges based on the clients ability to pay. Usually, a service-oriented organization like Family Services Association (I’m sure there are many others) or even a community Mental Health organization (please– absolutely no offense intended) might be able to steer you in the right direction.  You can generally find them in the phone book. A private practicing therapist might also be willing to work on a sliding scale, but that’s not quite as likely. Good luck, JB They say that in the end true loves prevails But in the end true love can’t be some fairy tale To say I’ll make your dreams come true would be wrong But maybe, Darlin’, I could help them along               -Bruce Springsteen (I Wanna Marry You) Jon Boroshok  http://www.tripod.com/~jonboroshok http://members.tripod.com/~jukebox/engage

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My fiance and I have talked about it, and have decided that we do want to go through pre-marital couseling. We also have recently had some serious intimacy problems, and feel like we need an unbiased, and trained third party to intervene.  My question is this:  Where do we find a good pre-marital counselor for not too much $$?  I would love to go to our preacher, but there are a lot of issues surrounding that which will prevent us from going to him with this.  I think it would be easier to be completely honest with someone we do not know. However, we are both po’, and cannot afford $100/ hour sessions.  Any suggestions? Thanks much, Joanna Joanna Schmehl Accounting Economics and Finance The University of Texas at Dallas

Check out counselling services available at the University… maj We Apologise For The Inconvenience.

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My fiance and I went through our (Catholic) church’s Evenings for the Engaged classes.  Although it was a group session, with 3 other engaged couples and 2 "sponsor" couples, it was very helpful.  You may also try your church’s other resources.  When I first met with our church’s wedding coordinator, we had the choice of going through the Evenings for the Engaged or Engaged Encounter weekend (non-denominational).  She also gave us brochures of local marriage counselors.  If you aren’t comfortable (and I don’t blame you, I wouldn’t be either) talking with your priest, just ask him if there are other people associated with the church that could help. Hope that helps. Jennifer September 28, 1996

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our rabbi told us after talking with him on several occasions that pre-marital sounseling is most helpful for couples with problems communicating.  also, it provides an opportunity to discuss household set up (financial, physical, etc) and an arena to discuss children, etc.  we had already discussed this many times, and our rabbi agreed that pre-marital counselling would probably be low-yield for us. sheri

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writes: our rabbi told us after talking with him on several occasions that pre-marital sounseling is most helpful for couples with problems communicating.  also, it provides an opportunity to discuss household set up (financial, physical, etc) and an arena to discuss children, etc. we had already discussed this many times, and our rabbi agreed that pre-marital counselling would probably be low-yield for us. sheri

Why anyone would seek out a Rabbi for anything is beyond my personal comprehension.  They are shallow, narrow-minded and arrogant. Steve

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steve, you and i have been through this before.  go bother someone else.  from your post, it sounds like you are the rabbi you describe.  i can see how any benefit of having a rabbi is beyond your level of understanding.  now, i know you can be nice (you were when you emailed me directly), but this is going nowhere, so please go consult another newsgroup. sheri : Why anyone would seek out a Rabbi for anything is beyond my personal : comprehension.  They are shallow, narrow-minded and arrogant. : Steve

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writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -steve, you and i have been through this before.  go bother someone else. from your post, it sounds like you are the rabbi you describe.  i can see how any benefit of having a rabbi is beyond your level of understanding.  now, i know you can be nice (you were when you emailed me directly), but this is going nowhere, so please go consult another newsgroup. sheri : Why anyone would seek out a Rabbi for anything is beyond my personal : comprehension.  They are shallow, narrow-minded and arrogant. : Steve

Shari, This was uncalled for.  You gave an opinion and I gave an opinion.  Why should I leave this group just because you and some other yentas don’t like my opinion?  These groups are for an exchange of ideas.  You should subscribe to: alt.its.my-way.or.no-way. Also please do not publicly state that I am nice.  It will ruin my reputation. Steve

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Why anyone would seek out a Rabbi for anything is beyond my personal comprehension.  They are shallow, narrow-minded and arrogant.

ah…nothing like a snotty generalization about a few hundred-thousand people to shed light on a subject.

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Hi folks,         Just a quick note to pass along some vital information:         To notify Netcom of the consistent and persistent disruption of this e-mail address:         In this note, cite how long you have been witnessing the disruption by this user.  Include also a copy (with all headers intact) of one of SBA’s most recent notes.           Judging from past experience, Mr. Alpert will either quickly mend his ways or forfeit his account per Netcom’s terms of use.  If the latter event comes to pass, keep all records of this matter so that the next ISP Mr. Alpert chooses will soon know that he is both a problem user and a threat to their reputation.  In time, he will find it rather difficult to get a connection to the Internet.         And it will be nobody’s fault but his own. Sincerely, Jay D. Dyson Administrator Alt.Wedding Home Page    (    (   .–="There’s always time for a good cup of coffee."=–. _______    ))   ))  | Jay D. Dyson – Administrator, Alt.Wedding Home Page |  ====<–.  C|~~|C|~~| |—–= http://www.point-2-point.com/altwedding =—–| |    = |-’

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi folks,    Just a quick note to pass along some vital information:    To notify Netcom of the consistent and persistent disruption of this e-mail address:    In this note, cite how long you have been witnessing the disruption by this user.  Include also a copy (with all headers intact) of one of SBA’s most recent notes.      Judging from past experience, Mr. Alpert will either quickly mend his ways or forfeit his account per Netcom’s terms of use.  If the latter event comes to pass, keep all records of this matter so that the next ISP Mr. Alpert chooses will soon know that he is both a problem user and a threat to their reputation.  In time, he will find it rather difficult to get a connection to the Internet.

Too bad Jay that I have an opinion that you don’t like.  Netcom doesn’t censor opinions.  However if you do write them make sure you tell them that I think you are a net-nazi asshole. Steve

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: Why anyone would seek out a Rabbi for anything is beyond my personal : comprehension.  They are shallow, narrow-minded and arrogant. : Steve NOW THAT’S NOT A WILD GENERALIZATION… (heavy sarcasm) Get a life already! julie

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes: steve, you and i have been through this before.  go bother someone else. from your post, it sounds like you are the rabbi you describe.  i can see how any benefit of having a rabbi is beyond your level of understanding.  now, i know you can be nice (you were when you emailed me directly), but this is going nowhere, so please go consult another newsgroup. sheri : Why anyone would seek out a Rabbi for anything is beyond my personal : comprehension.  They are shallow, narrow-minded and arrogant. : Steve Shari, This was uncalled for.  You gave an opinion and I gave an opinion.  Why should I leave this group just because you and some other yentas don’t like my opinion?  These groups are for an exchange of ideas.  You should subscribe to: alt.its.my-way.or.no-way. Also please do not publicly state that I am nice.  It will ruin my reputation. Steve

Because your "opinions" are racist, thats why. No one minds hearing your thoughts on subjects, but keep your racist offal to yourself. By the way, are you getting married or just tormenting this NG? Can’t imagine anyone marrying you!–(my opinion! :^o )

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Unfortunately, Netcom does not care. Countless people have lodged complaints against Steve, apparently to no avail. Feel free to contact Netcom, but don’t be surprised if Steve doesn’t disappear. And, BTW, he already has other accounts. I don’t know if he’s used them here or not.

Hi Lisa,         What you say is generally true if the notes are addressed to the tend to be fairly responsive.         Again, it’s best to include a full message (headers intact) which detail what an overall waste of food & oxygen a particular user is (with regard to this newsgroup, uv korse).  ;) stress this enough…*with headers intact*), and we’ll see ol’ SBA vanish in short order.         …and if she shows up under another account, well, I’ve been around far more persistent types than Steve…  Boursy, Jeff "SpamKing" Slaton and Dr. "Kook of the Year" Grubor come to mind…         Now back to the wedding schtuff!  8D -Jay    (    (   .–="There’s always time for a good cup of coffee."=–. _______    ))   ))  | Jay D. Dyson – Administrator, Alt.Wedding Home Page |  ====<–.  C|~~|C|~~| |—–= http://www.point-2-point.com/altwedding =—–| |    = |-’

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Maybe no one would have to censor your "opinions" if you could manage it your self. These negative remarks aren’t constuctive, they are just hurtful.   Didn’t anyone ever teach you that if you can’t say anything nice you shouldn’t say anything at all?

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi folks,    Just a quick note to pass along some vital information:    To notify Netcom of the consistent and persistent disruption of this e-mail address:    In this note, cite how long you have been witnessing the disruption by this user.  Include also a copy (with all headers intact) of one of SBA’s most recent notes. Judging from past experience, Mr. Alpert will either quickly mend his ways or forfeit his account per Netcom’s terms of use.  If the latter event comes to pass, keep all records of this matter so that the next ISP Mr. Alpert chooses will soon know that he is both a problem user and a threat to their reputation.  In time, he will find it rather difficult to get a connection to the Internet.

Unfortunately, Netcom does not care. Countless people have lodged complaints against Steve, apparently to no avail. Feel free to contact Netcom, but don’t be surprised if Steve doesn’t disappear. And, BTW, he already has other accounts. I don’t know if he’s used them here or not. Lisa

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