Catherine

What a beautiful garden!! And SaraEA I agree with you completely; deer are garden terrorists. It's also amazing the amount of damage chipmunks can do; they ate the roots of one of my roses out completely, from the *bottom* - I only discovered it (complete with teethmarks) when the rose died and I went to dig it up. There was nothing to dig; a skin of root only a 1/4" into the dirt - everything else was gone. My garden is mainly ornamental and this is the first year we've had really noticeable deer problems (last year just a tiny bit). Last year's problem was turkeys, so I put up a 4' fence around my veggie garden. Deer got in (it's only a hop for them) and ate most of my bean plants, squashed a heavy metal fence post like it was a toothpick, then got caught in the trellis and dragged the entire trellis and two of its three posts out into the front yard, where it finally got loose. Hasn't been back inside that garden but it (or another) did nibble some bean tendrils that got outside the fence a couple weeks later.

She's 20 now; older one is 23. Just a couple weeks ago all four of us went to dinner; server thought it was a dad and his three daughters. We had a good laugh over it. We also sound absolutely identical on the phone. Only my husband can tell our voices apart immediately -- and then only if he doesn't have background noise from wherever he is calling from. Drove me nuts when I was younger, as I was in my late 20's that one could tell just by looking at me that I was probably old enough to drive. Went out with some friends in my early 20's (only had one drink all night) and got carded (a) upon entry by the door guy, ( by the waitress, © by the bartender who didn't believe the waitress carded me, (d) by the manager walking by, and (e) by a cop who came in for some reason. By that time I had given up and just left my license out on the table. A couple other folks stopped to check as well; details are lost in the mists of time.

I have a *very* comfortable one-ear headset for the same reason. I have NEVER had good luck faxing in POA's; they seem never to actually make it IN to the system. So I call on one line and use the other to fax in the POA at the time. Yes, since they moved from paper faxes to e-faxed there have been additional delays. But 20+ minutes is still way better than two-plus WEEKS with no resolution. This has gone on, for me, for years and years. Sequestration has had absolutely no effect that I can see.

Two stories on me: 2007. Had taken my younger daughter (14 at the time) to a fiddle camp in CA and we were in the airport with others, waiting for the shuttle bus to go to camp. Lady driver for the shuttle company came in, saw my daughter and I standing together, and said, "Oh, cool -- twins!" Gwen is so wonderful that she wasn't even offended. That was when I decided the grey hair needed to go (for a time, anyway) and started coloring again. (I had a sunhat on; the driver couldn't see the grey.) And about two years ago, buying champagne for New Year's at a new store - got carded. Asked the clerk, "Do you mean it or are you just being nice?" and her response, "I just need to see ID." Saw my birth year (1958) and *scowled* at me! LOL.

Depends on what you want to do. When I am on the lecture circuit doing CPE presentations, it's easy and quick to run my powerpoint presentations from our netbook to the projector the group has (I have several types of cables, to be ready - some older projectors still use USB 1.0 and can't take the higher data rates of USB 2.0 or 3.0). They are good for browsing if you can stand using a trackpad (or have a USB or bluetooth mouse). Not very good for email; the keyboards usually have smaller keys and tighter spacings than a normal keyboard and that gets aggravating fast. There is usually not very much hard drive space, so be prepared to transfer files off frequently. They are highly unlikely to work well with large or complex programs like QuickBooks or ATX, in my opinion - even assuming you could stand the limitations of smaller keyboard and NO numeric keypad. All that said, they are great for travelling, for presentations, and other low-key usage.

One would think so, Taxed -- but CCH has yet to do much of anything substantive to their existing customers. So I don't advise holding your breath. I purchased Drake for 2013 months ago. That purchase is fully refundable to 12/31 -- and CCH/ATX has a *very* high hurdle to make to get me back as a paying customer. I signed up as a beta tester in part to give them that chance.

An *excellent* question. The answer will have to wait on what we do get for beta-testing and how much of a train wreck that it. If they can't even get editing client letters right, confidence will (rightfully) be really low. How far it might go in the other direction....??

Good for you -- may they serve you well!

New Egg is always a good resource.

Just a bit. Yes, it is hard to ensure compatibility with every possible piece of software out there -- but Office, QuickBooks, Sage, CFS Tax Tools -- the sort of software that could almost invariably be expected on the computers of a tax and accounting firm -- that should be tested. DOSbox and APL emulators? Those can be skipped with impunity on the part of CCH, and if you have trouble in your own office that's a shame but that's the way it goes sometimes.

Hi folks -- Woot is selling a new HP 21" monitor today or until gone. Since lots of folks have talked about multiple monitors I thought someone might be interested. The few things I have purchased from them (one does need to register; that is free) have been shipped speedily and are as advertised. One item the shipper sent the wrong thing (drop-ship; NOT Woot's fault), they bent over backwards to make it right. Very lame "commentary" about their various items, separate from the real information. HP Pavilion 2211x 21.5" 1080p WLED Monitor $129.99 - 35% off List Price of $199.99 Catherine http://sellout.woot.com/offers/hp-21-5-1080p-wled-monitor?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=a76eeaaafe-Daily+Digest+-+20130815+-+Accessories.Woot&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c5ca76da11-a76eeaaafe-291056889

Just spoke with ATX on the beta testing. They are still taking names for testers (in case anyone else is interested). Starts on 9/9 and goes for three weeks. Week #1: installation (stand alone AND network; they need both) Week #2: client letters Week #3: printing You will note there is NOTHING in all that addressing functionality, non-glacial processing speeds, or any of the other major problems we had. Just those three areas. I will still test, but it's looking more and more like Drake. Anyone here going to the Drake seminar in NJ on Nov 7&8? I may see you there.

Loved the video from KC!! How many, though, I wonder, no longer know the old term "bun in the oven"? That is going the way of the *much* older phrase, "sprained my ankle" as a euphemism.

Well, not quite a laugh -- but far too cute - if you don't at least smile at this, have someone take your pulse to make sure you're not deceased. http://www.wimp.com/bathsloths/ (Note for the link-leery; this one is safe so far as I can tell. It shows a less than two-minute video of baby sloths on bath day.)

Watt watt watt watt watt watt watt? Only 7 watts; you're not so smart! (Goon Show; British radio series) Not only did I get the joke, I *have* one of those meters downstairs and still use it. My husband has two wigglescopes down there, too (oscilloscopes; extra points to whoever gets the source of the term I used for them).

Wile E Coyote versus Acme Corporation http://boomslanger.com/CoyotevsAcme.htm

Under the heading of "can't go wrong with the classics" I present: A few minutes before the church services started, the congregation was sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the back entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from the evil incarnate. Soon the church was empty except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, seemingly oblivious to the fact that God’s ultimate enemy was in his presence. So Satan walked up to the man and said, “Do you know who I am?” —The man replied, “Yep, sure do.” —”Aren’t you afraid of me?” Satan asked. —”Nope, sure ain’t.” said the man. —”Don’t you realize I can kill you with one word?” asked Satan. —”Don’t doubt it for a minute,” returned the old man, in an even tone. —”Did you know that I can cause you profound, horrifying AGONY for all eternity?”persisted Satan. —”Yep,” was the calm reply. —”And you ‘re still not afraid?” asked Satan. —”Nope,” said the old man. —Totally perplexed, Satan asked, “Why aren’t you afraid of me?” —The man calmly replied, “Been married to your sister for 48 years.”

Don't do this in Massachusetts! Those public fax machines store the scans internally until they are "wiped" and most store personnel don't know how to do that. Identity thieves know how to retrieve it, though. So in MA, the private information protection laws forbid leaving such info (name, address, ssn!) anywhere they could be accessed. I had a fax to send last year when my machine was on the fritz and found most alternative methods (pay-for-fax at Kinko's, some email fax services) didn't pass muster.

And yet, when time comes to actually vote, people overwhelmingly vote to send their particular congress-vermin BACK to DC, to wreak more havoc.

Raspberries need picking but it rained and thundered all day. Blackberries are starting to ripen. Waste of time meeting tonight; glad it's over. Have only two (of ~12) IRS letters for 2011 left to respond to; they all arrived suddenly last week sending clients into panic mode. Just about all of them were IRS errors (well, one was a MassDOR error), and one was a small error on my part now all fixed. Have been practicing my fiddle tunes for the NHHG competition come September. Got a new type of rosin to try and it seems to be better for this real humid weather we've been having. Have only been on my bike once or twice - it's either raining or obscenely hot.

Why the Services Can't Work Together From a military buddy (active duty Air Force). - - - One reason the Services have trouble operating jointly is that they don't speak the same language. For example, if you told Navy personnel to "secure a building," they would turn off the lights and lock the doors. Army personnel would occupy the building so no one could enter. Marines would assault the building, capture it, and defend it with suppressive fire and close combat. The Air Force, on the other hand, would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy. (Insert MAS' drum roll here...) - See more at: http://www.jumbojoke.com/why_the_services_cant_work_together.html#sthash.6ID0uAuy.dpuf

I don't bother with tomatoes anymore, but I made raspberry jam yesterday (about 7 half-pints, but froze them after instead of BWB canning) and saw, out picking, that the blackberries are starting to ripen up. They'll be next to get jammed and canned! The neighbors cut back their pear tree last year so much that I only have about a half-dozen myself; there was no cross-pollination. May have to buy myself another pear so I get that in the future. Meanwhile I can eat up the last few years' worth of canned pears. My girls are usually not home to help these days but the folks next door (other next door; not the tree-pruners, lol) have three kids who all want to learn to can. Years of help on the hoof!

Jokes for Geeks (once again from our friends at Jumbo Joke; see link below) A friend sent me 21 jokes "only geeks will understand". I have to admit I "got" all of them. But not all of them were good! Here are the Top 10: A Roman Centurion walks into a bar and asks for a martinus. "You mean a martini?" the bartender replies. The Centurion says, "If I had wanted a double, I would have asked for it!" Q: Why do engineers confuse Halloween and Christmas? A: Because Oct 31=Dec 25. A logician's wife has a baby. The doctor hands the newly born kid to his father. "Well?" the wife demands. "Is it a boy or a girl?" The logician replies (completely correctly!) "Yes." Two scientists walk into a bar. The first one says, "I'll have some H2O." The second scientist says "I'll have some H2O too." After taking a drink, the second scientist dies. There are only two hard things in Computer Science: cache invalidation, naming things, and off-by-one errors. Three logicians walk into a bar. The bartender asks, "Would all of you like a drink?" The first logician says, "I don't know." The second logician says, "I don't know." And the third logician says, "Yes!" Helium walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender says, "Sorry: we don't serve noble gases here." He doesn't react. Did you hear about the man who got cooled to absolute zero? He's 0K now. Jean-Paul Sartre is sitting in a French cafe and tells the waitress, "I'd like a cup of coffee, please, with no cream." The waitress says, "I'm sorry, but we're out of cream. Would you like that with no milk?" Q: How do you tell the difference between a chemist and a plumber? A: Ask them to pronounce "unionized". - - - And an oldie bonus: There are 10 kinds of people: those who understand binary, and those who don't. - See more at: http://www.jumbojoke.com/jokes_for_geeks.html#sthash.qfijXxg7.dpuf

What you say about Mr. Gomez -- who was and is a supporter of Obama and Governor Patrick, ideologically and monetarily -- proves my point exactly. He ran as a Republican, but he is not one. But as long as he has the "R" next to his name, folks like you will vote against him, even against Mickey Mouse. Gomez would have pushed all the D positions as well -- and at least have been a resident of the district. But he ran under R, not D, and was against an incumbent -- and that is more than enough for those who refuse to think.

PGP encryption also does the whole disk -- and has an email interface, as well, for those of you who use Outlook. So even if they steal the computer, without the password all they can get is gobbledygook. Other than a different (PGP instead of Windows) initial login screen, it is seamless.