Leaderboard

That's an inappropriate installation. Everyone knows that duct tape is the only acceptable means of attaching an auxiliary cooling unit to an electronic device.

I believe preparers who put most expenses on the "other" line have a method to their madness. A detailed list of expenses helps you know what to look for the following year and to catch anything that's missing. If someone has a service contract for their HVAC and you lump it in with utilities, you might not remember to ask about the cost the following year. And some of the categories on the C, and the E for that matter, are so broad you're sure to miss things. "Office expense," for example, includes paper, toner, postage, maybe the IT guy and window washers, etc. If the total seems too high it could raise a flag, so maybe it's best to break out a few of the included items and put them on "other." There most be a middle ground for using that line.....

You do need two monitors. You just don't know it yet until you have them. Then you will realize you want 3. Tom Newark, CA

Last year I was in my favorite store and asked a 20 something for a pint of the Tuscan bean soup. She pointed to the board and said they only have 16 and 32 ounce sizes. First time I was at a loss for words. Don't want to discredit all our youth because there are many really bright kids out there, a testament to their parents and their teachers who really care. We don't thank teachers enough, they have a hard job these days.

Pretty good one, FD (I assume you went for the 16 oz .). While I try to remain optimistic about these things, the more glaring transgressions do tend to stand out. I've got one too. Stopped at Mt. View Pizza Hut; two large pepperonis on sale for $12. Paid with a twenty; clerk punched it in register, I got two dollars back. BB: I think you've made a mistake. CLERK: What? BB: The sale is twelve dollars, I gave you a twenty, you gave me two dollars change. CLERK: Yes? BB: Well, twelve from twenty is eight dollars. CLERK: Dumbfounded stare. BB: Same. CLERK: Do you want me to run it through the register again? BB: Please do (second time I lucked out).

I have two portrait for tax returns so I can get a whole page on the screen and a third landscape that has email on the right and Chrome on the left with tabs for message boards, email programs for my two largest biz clients, etc. I use the landscape to open Excel spreadsheets. I love three monitors.

Laugh at you?? I'm taking notes...

Please don't laugh at me. I did that. My Dell fans kept breaking and overheating the computer and frying the motherboard and video card, and Dell argued before they'd send out a tech to replace the fans again and again. So, I brought out my small fan I bought for Appalachia Service Project and set it on the floor with the CPU, aiming at the area with the most faulty fan. I nursed it through the prior tax season that way. It bought me time until I was less busy and could accept the replacement they sent me and set it up. My feet and legs got really cold during that winter, because the computer and fan were on the floor under the "table" that reaches out from my desk. Lots of air circulating. But, not overheating with the fan sitting there. I'm all for free, low-tech solutions to high-tech problems.

So we've beat up the Win 10 upgrade pretty well on here, but what about on a new machine? My computer has been giving me troubles since Sunday and I think it's the graphics card, doesn't matter anyway. This machine has been in service since mid 2011, I've gotten good service from it, and now it's time for a new machine. Once I lose faith in the equipment, even if repaired, I usually don't trust it completely and move on. Luckily for me it's a slower time of year and I'm between large projects. I have current backups of all data files to 3 different types of media so I shouldn't lose anything important. For perspective, my current machine is Win 7 64-bit, i7-2600 processor 3.40GHz, 12GB RAM, one 22" monitor. My quandry is what to shop for and where. For OS - I see that Win 7 is still available, as is Win 8.1 also. How bad are the reports of Win 10 on new machines? For hardware - What should really be on my wish list besides the responses I expect of SSD and dual monitors (I don't *need* two but since we're dreaming here). DVD drive? Some older programs and files are on disks, so I'd need that. I'm considering adding in a new HP printer too. Lastly, where to shop for this dream machine? So if I seem to disappear off the interwebz for a while, you'll all know why. **Waves goodbye** now just in case.

My first "real" job was as a cashier in Woolworth's. My only entertainment was with the cash register - the ones that calculate change for you had *just* come out (and boy oh boy did they confuse the elderly folks!). So I would try to beat the register at calculating the change. I got really fast at it and can still figure faster than the machines. Confuses the dickens out of the math-impaired ninnies I hand the money to.

That's too funny! Sometimes I try to be helpful and give them the loose change to round it off to make it easy for them. So many times they can't figure out the change and think I'm a fast change artist. Once manager had to come over to help. Got to stop doing that, it's a time waster....for me.

Too bad they don't have a system to prevent them sending all the "new" offers to customers who have already renewed. Not very good PR. Might have to call my rep when I get home from vacation.

You could mount two monitors on a stand like these, and that should work on one varidesk. Or get a 3 monitor stand.

There are wall mounts that adjust, swing out, etc. And, floor stands like the TVs I watch while on the elliptical machine at my gym. And, stands that clip onto a desk or shelf. Lots of ways to mount monitors.

I am trying to figure out how to get three monitors on my desk. I really wanted to get a veridesk, but I'm pretty sure that my two monitors already ruled that out.

I have three monitors turned portrait which effectively gives me six functional monitors. If I had more real estate, I would add a couple more. I do not believe I could function with just one or two monitors anymore.

If it is legitimate expenses and there is not a line that better fits, use it. I have seen Sched. C with almost every deduction listed there instead of on the front.

I can't remember which late night show it is but these type of (difficult) questions are asked on the street. The answers really make you wonder if people are paying attention in school, or if they really care and would rather be texting, daydreaming, or maybe they have a learning disability, because there is really no other excuse for the ignorance. They don't see the usefulness of what they should be learning in school. Take algebra for instance, what possible use could there be for it in life they think. I for one use it all the time in landscaping, personal financial decisions, cooking....the list goes on. If a kid isn't made to realize early on it's better to work with your head than your back, they may be losing out. Parents should listen to that song, and "teach your children well." In our field, many people can't even grasp the basics when you try to explain the difference between a tax deduction and a credit. There seems to be no computing or reasoning ability in the head for the average Joe. A smart client makes our jobs so much easier.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4937667939001/can-beach-bums-pass-the-watters-world-quiz-on-us-wars/?intcmp=hphz05#sp=show-clips The War of 1812 question was tough.

I try to break clients of lumping expenses together for the very same reason. I have one doctor who lumps differently every year. I had a talk with him this year after being thoroughly confused.

Even those cash registers can't compete with people who won't use their brains. My sister managed a grocery store for a major chain at one time, and I remember her telling me about the cashier who called her over because the cash register said to give back 0.25 change, and she was out of quarters. Sis pointed out that she had a drawer full of dimes and nickels, but the cashier still didn't understand - she needed to give them twenty five cents and she was out of quarters!

I don't even know who my rep is. I have not heard from a human in at least two years. When I do get an email, they never answer their phone or call me back.

I try to make subsidiary worksheets for all those break-outs. Specifically because of the items that I would otherwise forget to ask about. Just this year, a client who pays a monthly fee for "suite maintenance" (basically the landlord bills separately for cleaning and snow removal) forgot to include it. It was in my worksheet, so off went the email query. Those worksheets prevent the "Other" section from getting overcrowded; another benefit.

I am a big proponent of getting a new PC when there is a new OS. The odds of any OS/Hardware issues are much less. For the most part, any off the shelf PC is going to be fine, unless you are gaming. Amazon has been fine for me. No matter what source, if it does not fail soon after beginning use, it is likely not to fail for a long time. Leave it on for the first week or two, not sleeping or hibernating, will fairly test the hardware. If one is inclined, you can run some stress test software as well. I do add a video card, so I can have multiple monitors. I like smaller multiple monitors over large screens, given what a person's eyes can easily scan. The key for me is to keep the tops of the monitors at or lower than my eye level to avoid neck pain at end of day. Portrait is easiest on the eyes, but landscape can be handy for something with ling lines (like program code). -- For work, I use an old computer. It is plenty fast, and more closely simulated what our customers might be using. I have W10 and W7 via dual boot. The box is probably 10 years old now. I have personal and other PC's, newer and older, which I can use when needed. The only time I wish it was faster is for a long program compile, but it is still just seconds, versus tens of minutes in the "old" days.

The problem with Costco and Sams Club computers is they usually come with the home version of windows.

Yes, me too. You can go too far in either direction. LOL.

Continuing Education

I like "Marketing Seminars Expense".

"Other" and list it as seminar expense.

Mine could be 1 1/2 pages shorter since I don't live in MA.

Katherine: That's a nice organizer. Much more compact that most we see, but it covers all the major bases. mrewa: Whatever type of organizer you use, it's a great idea to email it to your clients (if you aren't already doing that).

There's a picture in the dictionary, in fact.

Unfortunately, it IS that bad. One of my acquaintances makes a habit of asking high school and college age kids wherever he sees them (bagging groceries, clerk at a convenience store, etc) what years were World War One fought, and who the US fought against. Not a one of them has ever been able to answer him. A few have been able to answer for WW2, but some of those gave answers learned from that alternate-history movie, Inglorious Basterds. So they are learning false history if they are learning anything at all.