Posted by TJ on Friday November 7, 2008 @ 02:02 PM
[Tags: guide, internet, craigslist]

Okay lets say you want to sell something on Craigslist. How about we say it's refrigerator.

A good description to sell this is not:

"White refrigerator for sale"

This is missing a lot of information and you are not going to get a lot of serious replies. You may also miss serious takers because they are not willing to email every ad asking for more details.

Here is some important information that should be included in every ad:

• Brand
• Model #/Part #
• Photo ... if you do not have a digital camera find a stock picture of item off the internet... do a Google image search.
  
• Color
  
• Size
  
• Price
  
• Condition (good/decent/bad/like new)
  
• What is included? (list all separate items included/power cord/ice tray/)

If you do not want to list all this information and the item is still for sale find the item on Amazon.com or other retailer and link to it.

If applicable:

• List if the product Manual is included. If you don't have manual you can usually find the manual on manufacturers website. Find the manual and include link to it in your ad.

Spend a little time on your advertisement and you will be surprised at the responses you receive.

Posted by TJ on Tuesday November 4, 2008 @ 09:52 AM
[Tags: news, health, facts]

I just saw that a second runner died after running the New York City ING marathon. There were about 38,000 people who ran in the race in NYC. I think this makes running the marathon more dangerous than parachuting. Of 2.2 million jumps by parachuters there were only 18 reported deaths according to the US Parachute Association USPA.org. Going by these statistics alone you are 15 times more likely to die from running in a marathon then by jumping out of a airplane.

NY Times:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/sports/othersports/04marathon.html?ref=sports

Posted by TJ on Wednesday October 29, 2008 @ 01:06 PM
[Tags: economy, politics, rant]

Okay so you really can't believe everything the candidates are saying now will actually happen. But the differences in both McCain's and Obama's tax policies is quite alarming. I can only hope that the candidates have such a wide variance to swing voters to their side. On this policy alone McCain would definitely win the high earners and Obama would win middle class voters and lower class.

	MCCAIN	OBAMA
Income	Avg. tax bill	Avg. tax bill
Over $2.9M	-$577,148	+$699,872
$603K and up	-$109,214	+$121,689
$227K-$603K	-$15,877	+$942
$161K-$227K	-$6,322	-$2,796
$112K-$161K	-$3,736	-$2,135
$66K-$112K	-$1,487	-$1,264
$38K-$66K	-$608	-$1,118
$19K-$38K	-$259	-$892
Under $19K	-$65	-$567
* Not all proposals are slated for 2009. Example: Obama's proposal to increase what high-income earners must pay into Social Security. The campaign said such a measure wouldn't take effect for 10 years. Source: http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/29/news/economy/candidates_tax_plans/index.htm?cnn=yes

Considering only my own tax bill I can be considered quite bias on the issue as either candidate for me would lead to modest tax cut on both sides (less than $300 difference). From my standpoint it does seem that Obama has more sound and realistic ideas to back up his policies.

Obama plans call for increasing the cap on Social security to $250,000. This would lead to and extra 9,000 of tax to individuals who make more than 250,000. In my view the only way to cure the social security issue is to raise this cap or raise the rate (which increases tax for everybody). Increasing tax on everybody does not sound like a good idea. McCain plans to privatize Social security a plan that is risky, controversial, and not a sure cure to the issue.

The nation is in debt... more debt than ever. We have more 10 trillion in debt. Is cutting taxes going to pay off the debt? I am really tired of the government giving tax incentives and then not curving the government spending.

We really need the guy who is going to give real answers -- who is going solve the social security issue, help pay down our national debt, and stop government overspending. I will gladly pay more tax if it's going to help these issues and not go towards some politicians vacation in the Hamptons or a government subcontractors mansion in California.

Posted by TJ on Wednesday October 29, 2008 @ 11:39 AM
[Tags: accounting, economy, careers]

A lot of people are telling me my job must be tough with the stock market and all. And I heard comments that accounting is a bad career move currently with the economy in shambles and everything.

In reality the state of the economy has the same effect on accountants as it does other business. People/businesses have less money so they less spend money to spend on you. Demand for accountants stays relatively stable though. The need to file tax returns, prepare financial reports, perform audits, bookkeeping, stays the same.

Posted by TJ on Monday October 27, 2008 @ 03:13 PM
[Tags: guide, business, economy]

US First Class Stamp: 44 cents

Effective May 12, 2008: the current price of a stamp is 44 cents. First-Class Mail Letter (1 oz.) is 44 cents. Each additional ounce costs 17 cents. Postcard stamps are now 28 cents.

Update: On May 11, a first-class stamp will go up by 2 cents to 44 cents. Other rates are set to rise as well. The updated prices are reflected above.

The post office adjusts rates each May, but any increases must be at or below the rate of inflation under a 2006 law.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09101/962044-28.stm#ixzz0HxzFnoH3&D


Source: United States Postal Service (USPS.com)

The price of a stamp increased 1300% from the value of $.03. in 1917

However, this increase is in line with increases of other items as well....

a Dodge Sedan was $1,185 in 1917, that's also 1300% less than today

You could also could buy a pair of men's shoes for less than $6

And your local paper for $.01
Eggs were .39/dozen

A color TV cost.. oh wait a minute...

Okay now I will stop sounding like your grandpa.

1917 Prices from survey in Morris County, NJ

Posted by TJ on Wednesday October 22, 2008 @ 03:20 PM
[Tags: humor, list, bored]

I found this list when looking at some old files. This list of way's to annoy people was a favorite of the Jokepage. I stopped updating the jokepage so I figured I'd resurrect the list for you to enjoy.

101's Different Ways to Annoy People - Tjshome.com

1. Sing the Batman theme incessantly.
   
2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sensual massage."
   
3. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."
   
4. Learn Morse code, and have conversations with friends in public consisting entirely of "Beeeep Bip Bip Beeep Bip..."
   
5. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
   
6. Amuse yourself for endless hours by hooking a camcorder to your TV and then pointing it at the screen.
   
7. Speak only in a "robot" voice.
   
8. Push all the flat Lego pieces together tightly.
   
9. Start each meal by conspicuously licking all your food, and announce that this is so no one will "swipe your grub".
   
10. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 98 copies.
    
11. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.
    
12. Sniffle incessantly.
    
13. Leave your turn signal on for fifty miles.
    
14. Name your dog "Dog."
    
15. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."
    
16. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think."
    
17. Claim that you must always wear a bicycle helmet as part of your "astronaut training."
    
18. Declare your apartment an independent nation, and sue your neighbors upstairs for "violating your airspace".
    
19. Forget the punch line to a long joke, but assure the listener it was a "real hoot."
    
20. Follow a few paces behind someone, spraying everything they touch with Lysol.
    
21. Practice making fax and modem noises.
    
22. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc:" them to your boss.
    
23. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
    
24. Invent nonsense computer jargon in conversations, and see if people play along to avoid the appearance of ignorance.
    
25. Erect an elaborate network of ropes in your backyard, and tell the neighbors you are a "spider person."
    
26. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
    
27. Wear a special hip holster for your remote control.
    
28. Do not add any inflection to the end of your sentences, producing awkward silences with the impression that you'll be saying more any moment.
    
29. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears.
    
30. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.
    
31. Give a play-by-play account of a persons every action in a nasal Howard Cosell voice.
    
32. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.
    
33. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."
    
34. Drum on every available surface.
    
35. Staple papers in the middle of the page.
    
36. Ask 1-800 operators for dates.
    
37. Produce a rental video consisting entirely of dire FBI copyright warnings.
    
38. Sew anti-theft detector strips into peoples backpacks.
    
39. Hide dairy products in inaccessible places.
    
40. Write the surprise ending to a novel on its first page.
    
41. Set alarms for random times.
    
42. Order a side of pork rinds with your filet mignon.
    
43. Instead of Gallo, serve Night Train next Thanksgiving.
    
44. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a "croaking" noise.
    
45. Honk and wave to strangers.
    
46. Dress only in clothes colored Hunters Orange.
    
47. Change channels five minutes before the end of every show.
    
48. Tape pieces of "Sweating to the Oldies" over climactic parts of rental movies.
    
49. Wear your pants backwards.
    
50. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints by the cash register.
    
51. Begin all your sentences with "ooh la la!"
    
52. ONLY TYPE IN UPPERCASE.
    
53. only type in lowercase.
    
54. dont use any punctuation either
    
55. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.
    
56. Pay for your dinner with pennies.
    
57. Tie jingle bells to all your clothes.
    
58. Repeat everything someone says, as a question.
    
59. Write "X - BURIED TREASURE" in random spots on all of someone's roadmaps.
    
60. Inform everyone you meet of your personal Kennedy assassination/UFO/ O.J Simpson conspiracy theories.
    
61. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times: "Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, its gone now."
    
62. Light road flares on a birthday cake.
    
63. Wander around a restaurant, asking other diners for their parsley.
    
64. Leave tips in Bolivian currency.
    
65. Demand that everyone address you as "Conquistador."
    
66. At the Laundromat, use one dryer for each of your socks.
    
67. When Christmas caroling, sing "Jingle Bells, Batman smells" until physically restrained.
    
68. Wear a cape that says "Magnificent One."
    
69. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
    
70. Stand over someone's shoulder, mumbling, as they read.
    
71. Pretend your computer's mouse is a CB radio, and talk to it.
    
72. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "no, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
    
73. Drive half a block.
    
74. Inform others that they exist only in your imagination.
    
75. Ask people what gender they are.
    
76. Lick the filling out of all the Oreos, and place the cookie parts back.
    
77. Cultivate a Norwegian accent. If Norwegian, affect a Southern drawl.
    
78. Routinely handcuff yourself to furniture, informing the curious that you don't want to fall off "in case the big one comes".
    
79. Deliberately hum songs that will remain lodged in co-workers brains, such as "Feliz Navidad", the Archies "Sugar" or the Mr. Rogers theme song.
    
80. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head. like a parakeet.
    
81. Lie obviously about trivial things such as the time of day.
    
82. Leave your Christmas lights up and lit until September.
    
83. Change your name to "AaJohn Aaaaasmith" for the great glory of being first in the phone book. Claim it's a Hawaiian name, and demand that people pronounce each "a."
    
84. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
    
85. Chew on pens that you've borrowed.
    
86. Wear a LOT of cologne.
    
87. Listen to 33rpm records at 45rpm speed, and claim the faster speed is necessary because of your "superior
    mental processing."
    
88. Sing along at the opera.
    
89. Mow your lawn with scissors.
    
90. At a golf tournament, chant "swing-batabatabata-suhWING-batter!"
    
91. Ask the waitress for an extra seat for your "imaginary friend."
    
92. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.
    
93. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions, and then scribble their answers in a notebook.
    Mutter something about "psychological profiles."
    
94. Stare at static on the TV and claim you can see a "magic picture."
    
95. Select the same song on the jukebox fifty times.
    
96. Never make eye contact.
    
97. Never break eye contact.
    
98. Construct elaborate "crop circles" in your front lawn.
    
99. Construct your own pretend "tricorder," and "scan" people with it, announcing the results.
    
100. Make appointments for the 31st of September.
     
101. Invite lots of people to other people's parties.
     

Posted by TJ on Tuesday October 21, 2008 @ 03:34 PM
[Tags: scam, internet, career]

Note: This is part three of the job scam series.

Ok this scam is too easy to spot. I give it an F for no effort. Why? He spelt his company name wrong (soltions??) in the email subject line. I guess if that was intentional that would be creative but I have an inclination this was not. These are becoming no challenge. Also, these scammers should read my post on using free email providers for their professional business.

This is an obvious scam and an attempt to steal your personal information.




What should I do if I provided my information to scammers?

1. Do not respond to further communications.
2. If you sent bank Information: Call your bank immediately and tell them what happened. They should be able to change your account number or cancel your account.
3. If you are still concerned you might want to enroll in credit monitoring such as LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention
4. You can also file a claim with The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). They are probably overloaded with these types of claim though, so I would not expect an individual response.
   Please let me know if you received this email too.
   

Posted by TJ on Tuesday October 21, 2008 @ 12:44 PM
[Tags: guide, accounting, excel]

Let's see how this goes...

I am a CPA and use Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software everyday. Being advanced in Excel makes my job extremely easier. I figured I'd see if there is anyone out there who has quick questions in excel that I can help. Hey what can I say I'm a generous guy.

To ask your question, use the comments form below! I will post responses to your questions below. I do not answer replies through email, as posting the answer here will help others who may have the same question as you.

Ask away...

Note: Please provide enough information for me to be able answer your question (the more info the better). The more effort you put into your question the more effort I will put into my response.