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Ask the Readers: Should I Prepare My Own Taxes or Go to an Accountant?
Published on - January 18th, 2008 (by J.D. Roth)
Earlier this month, I mentioned that I haven't prepared my own taxes since 2001. I pay somebody else to do them. I did them on my own for fourteen years before they became too much for me to handle. This comment prompted several GRS readers to write for advice about finding a good accountant. Here's an amalgamation of recent questions:
I've never looked into having an accountant prepare my return — what's reasonable to pay someone to do your taxes? Is it best/easiest to go with the Big Guys like H&R Block, or to find somebody independent? How exactly do you find a good accountant? Also, does anyone know if the tax software out there is any good?
I've never used software to prepare my taxes, so I can't vouch for its accuracy or its ease-of-use. Some people love it.
Last spring, Matt Haughey at Fortuitous wrote about how to pick an accountant for your online business. Though the article is aimed specifically at entrepreneurs, his advice is applicable to everyone who is searching for help. His conclusion? Software and elbow grease are a killer combination:
After doing my taxes online for eight years, and going through six accountants in the past four years, I've come to a few conclusions:
- TurboTax Online is pretty dang good and can get you 80% of the way. All but the best accountants I've worked with didn't do any better than me using TurboTax on my own.
- If you have time to do research and read up on tax info, TurboTax and your knowledge is probably equal to most accountants. This is a big "if", but if you have the time and you won't be satisfied unless you handle it yourself, a few books and a lot of reading at The Motley Fool can get you pretty close to the best advice you'll find in the wild.
Then again, if you're dealing with thousands of dollars and you're busy, it's best to try out an expert instead.
The more complicated your taxes are, the more likely it is you need a tax professional. Though I did my own taxes for a long time, I gave up in frustration soon after starting my own business. I have a friend who is an excellent CPA, and am pleased to pay him to do the work for me now.
From my experience — and this may not be true for everyone — having an accountant prepare my taxes has paid for itself. Though I'm a smart guy and follow directions well, there are things I miss when I do them on my myself.
My advice? First try to do your taxes on your own. If you find it's too difficult, or if you feel like you're making mistakes, seek out a local preparer. (But give yourself plenty of time! Don't wait until April 1st to begin looking.)
What's your experience? Have you found tax preparation software to be effective? What about online options? Do you prepare your own taxes? If so, can you recommend any books? If you use an accountant, how did you find her?
This article is about Ask the Readers, Choices, Taxes
Two very good sites for tax information are as follows:
Additionally, both sites offer Q&A forums. Over the years, I have asked several fairly complex tax questions on these sites that were very specific in nature. (e.g. "I did ABC, then XYZ — what exactly do I report on this form?" or "Can I deduct X if Y is true?" etc.) Each time I received (free!) answers to my questions from tax professionals.
Although I link to these sites from my blog, I have no affiliation with them. I'm just a happy customer who learned a lot and saved a lot of time/money by using them!
I have used TurboTax for 3 years now and I love it. Ironically I started using it just after I took one of those H&R Block classes to be a tax preparer. When it came time to do our own taxes my wife suggested TurboTax because she had used it before. To my suprise it was easier, faster, and more fun than I thought taxes could ever be. We even had losses/gains from a business we owned that had to be figured in. So I definitely agree that you can usually do just as well on your own (and even better sometimes) with good software.
Just a reminder: for those who don't have a lot of income (I believe the cutoff is something like $54,000 AGI), you can prepare your federal tax return for free using the IRS's Free File program. Check it out at: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html
I did our taxes for a number of years and found turbo tax to be easy and useful. Having said that though, I started paying a CPA to do them when I started running my own freelance business. I still use him to do my taxes now even though the business is no longer active. We own 1/4 of a house in another state that is rented out and I am just more comfortable having a CPA do out taxes with that little complication. If that house ever sells though then our taxes become quite straight forward again and I am sure I will start doing them myself at that point.
I'm a believer that time is NOT money. Time is only money if it is taking you away directly from income-generating activities.
Help with tax preparation, on the other hand, is a luxury that I would be exceedingly happy to pay for — as a frill, as an elective expense, whatever. Time IS sanity. Time IS frustration saved. If I pay money to go out and have some beers for fun, I'd be happy to pay money to save myself the anguish of doing taxes.
My tax situation has been complicated from the start because I file in both Canada and the US. But, at this point, my situation otherwise is relatively straightforward. I am going to take a stab at it myself, but I will start very early so that if something goes awry, there is time to compensate.
My situation is similar to honeybee in that I have to file both in Canada and the US. However, I still do my taxes myself, using TurboTax and QuickTax.
I went to an accountant for four years while my situation was complicated (moving, getting married, having a kid), but now that it's settled, I have a sense of how to do the taxes. I also pay a lesser rate to have the accountant "cross-check" my numbers (costs about 1/3 of the full price).
Another piece of advice I received; go back to the accountant every few years to do the full returns, or go back when something major changes (getting married, buying a house, investment income, starting a business). But if your situation is similar to your previous year, I've found the tax software is pretty good.
Hey J.D.,
thank you for your article. I was wondering about this myself. My main question is: "Is it paying off?". While I still think that I am able to do my taxes by myself (and a lot of help from books, software and the net) I still believe that a professional will propably do a better job (as in greater tax return). Now, I am wondering whether the cost of an accountant is greater, equal or less the increase in my tax refund? I haven't found any answers yet, but decided to do the following:
1. Use a software product to determine the tax refund I might get when I'm doing my taxes by myself (plus the software to ease things up a little)
2. Seek professional help. Some accountants offer service by the hour. I plan to see an accountant and show him my tax statement in order to determine not if, but how much better he/she could do.
Since I've been a student until last year, I never needed to do my taxes before. So I'm still experimenting with the 'best' way to do it. I'ld be happy to learn from your experience.
About using tax software… I decided to try it and I'm pretty satisfied so far. Imho the $20 are well spend (and tax-deductable). Though software might not find the best individual solution for your tax problem, it offers advice and makes it easy to come up with some solution.
Note: Since I'm not living in the US, some of the comment might not be applicable to your situation…
I've been using TurboTax for a couple of years now, and I'm satisfied enough with it. The best part is that it saves all my information from the year before, so I don't have to try as hard to keep track of that stuff. It takes less than two hours to do my taxes with TurboTax, which is worth quite a bit in and of itself. (It can actually import my W2 information from my employer's payroll administrator! I just need to double-check the figures against the hard copy.) And the speed at which you get your refund is pretty remarkable.
That said, I'm sure that a tax professional could probably get me a better refund, or a lower payment, because about a a fifth of my income is self-employment income and I know I'm not deducting everything I could be. When it gets to the point where I'm earning much more from self-employment, investments, and the like, I will probably go with a professional.
I pretty much gave up on doing my taxes a several years back once I got out of college and starting to make 'decent' money. Then after getting married and having investments, 401k, house, IRA's, life insurance. Now there is AMT to consider……blarg!!
I have no problem paying someone else to do all that work for me. Besides I did not really like doing/worrying about that junk to begin with.
I just saw a Turbo Tax commercial where you enter in the things/events that occurred within the past year (i.e. got married) and it points you to all the correct forms.
I was wondering if there was something out there that did the same thing but told you whether or not it's a good idea (feasible) to do your own taxes or if you should hire ab accountant.
It depends on your income level.
0-$100,000 – You can do it yourself or hire a competent CPA to do it for you. You might save a few bucks by going with the CPA, but probably not too much. You don't have enough income for a few percent savings to be that significant, compared to the fees you will pay.
$100,000-$300,000 – Finding a more aggressive (and expensive) CPA becomes important. Look for someone that not only knows the tax law, but knows how to bend it in your favor. You can start saving substantially more money, and as your income increases, it becomes more and more worth it.
$300,000-$1 million – The next step is to get a tax attorney to build an overall tax strategy that you can pass to your aggressive CPA. You'll have to pay $350 an hour or more, but a few additional percentage point savings on your taxes can quickly make it worth it.
$1 million-$10 million – Put together an entire tax team that strategically "breaks" the law. You'll probably have one CPA to do the taxes, another CPA to audit, a tax attorney for strategy and a final review, and a litigator to defend you against the IRS. This is how big corporations pay only 8% or less per year in taxes.
Note: I'm not a tax expert. I'm just a guy that's been through every level on that change and back again.
I've been using turbotax online for a couple years and am very happy with it.
It handled a year of half work in VA and half in OR very well (which is some sort of special case).
Also another employee at the big(gest) company in Washington County Oregon who had very similar earning as me took his to an accountant. I ended up getting a couple K back, he ended up paying 600! Obviously YMMV but I think one thing to take from it is that software is repeatable, it does the same (maybe sub optimal) thing over and over. Whereas people make mistakes and finding one who doesn't make many (or any) mistakes might be difficult, stressful or impossible altogether.
If you are in a similar tax situation year in – year out, I would suggest using a software package like TurboTax. The software is pretty easy to use if you have any computer literacy. Perhaps you could even see if you could run your forms through someone else's copy of the software to see if the numbers "look right" and are withing a few bucks of what your CPA does.
That being said, I believe that you should go to an accountant if there is something major going on in your life (death, marriage, etc.) A few years ago, I had to deal with inheriting money through an estate and preparing taxes for deceased family members. I bought and used the TurboTax software and it was more than happy to load up the income (and tax) side of the ledger. The deductions weren't so easy. Going to the CPA cost me about $300, but I also saved about $1500 in taxes overall.
But from year to year, I know my sources of income and my big sources of tax deductions. (Mortgage interest, tax deductions, etc) so a $40 software package will do it for me.
do not do your own taxes if you have a business. an accountant will think of things that you do not, and save enough to trump their cost.
do not use H&R block or the like, they are hacks. look at the statistics on errors made by them, it is huge. I have not used software, but with a business it is not recommended.
use an accountant from a reputable firm.
I've been a beta tester for Turbotax for a few years so I've used it for some time now and I like it a lot.
But my accountant beats turbotax every single time. He saves me the additional cost of going to him (vs. turbotax) and then some each year. And he's very conservative too.
The human element is important with taxes sometimes: Some friends of ours born outside the U.S. have used turbotax but never realized they could deduct their (significant) charitable contributions.
Not all accountants or CPAs are equal. If you have potentially complicated tax returns, hire a CPA who is also an Enrolled Agent (EA)–they have passed a much harder exam than the CPA exam.
I used turbotax for many years and was happy, but with things like real estate transactions, stock market gains and losses, stock options of different types, etc., it makes sense to go with a professional.
No matter how slowly you get rich, you will eventually reach a point where it is worth paying the right professional–ours has always found more savings than the professional fee (sometimes A LOT more!).
Keep your costs down by gathering up all the data at once and not sitting around chatting about your vacation or your dog–these professionals are charging for their TIME, and they know what it is worth.
I have done my own taxes for the past 4 years using Taxact online for free. I started this after going to H&R Block and that was a total rip off. The guy used the same software they sell and took 10 minutes to do it; final cost $120. I don't have any investment besides 401k so I'm not so complicated. Only thing I had over the years is college payments and loan and I file for learning credits. This year though I'm not sure what to do. I spent a lot of my money on medical expenses that equal more than 10% of my income. I don't know how to itemize and whether I can still claim learning credits. I don't know if turbo tax could help with that or should I get a CPA and how to find a reliable one.
I've always done my own taxes. I went to an accountant once, and he had me owing money to the IRS! With little income and three children, that was ridiculous!
I'm curious, though, as to what kinds of things you miss. I certainly don't think I'm missing anything, but perhaps you know something I don't. It's possible.
I've used TaxCut from H&R Block for 10 years or more and it has always worked out great. What I really like is the import feature where it pulls information from your bank, or MS Money, or Quicken as well as your return from last year. Talk about saving time!
I prepared my own returns for years (years ago). One innocent mistake decimated any savings I may have enjoyed in not hiring a professional.
The IRS was very understanding, and it was agreed that my error was caused by an oversight. But despite the technology available to the IRS, they somehow waited five years to inquire about my error. In those five years, interest and penalties accrued. They waived the penalties, but I was faced with the tax hit plus interest (which wasn't fun).
Unless you're an employee that gets a paycheck with no other financial issues in your life, you need to find someone good. I suspect most readers of this site have more going on in their financial lives than a paycheck.
I would highly suggest not going to H&R Block. I have found they charge CPA pricing when they are certainly not.
I interviewed two CPAs and went with the one that matched what we needed best. I read articles on how to find one and questions to ask. The biggie – if I call you for a quick question – do you charge me? I also made it quite clear I need pricing up front before they do the work.
Why did I get a CPA? Because I used Turbo Tax for a few years. One year we got laid off. I found through a coworker at my next job that Microsoft Money found that in NC, severance pay was tax free. Turbo Tax did not find this. We had to do an adjustment.
The next year we moved to TX. Turbo Tax couldn't handle figuring out my owed NC taxes for the partial year! What was I paying for?
The next year to cover some expenses we sold some stocks. These stocks were purchased for my husband by his grandmother in the 80′s. Needless to say, it was mess. The CPA cleared up the mess, found the cost basis for the future and even saved us some money because our cost basis was wrong from the year prior.
He is worth the money. I organize things for him and sum totals for large items (like medical bills). This saves me money and time for him. Work with them on what they need to save you money, and ensure they respect that you do not have an unlimited budget for their work. They are bean counters – if they are good, they will understand.
My accountant works out of his home.
My job includes the services of a financial planning firm as a fringe benefit. I have their tax team prepare my taxes every year. So, I get my taxes done professionally for free! It's great. Doing my own taxes used to be easy, but now I'd rather trust an expert to handle it.
I prefer to have someone else to do my taxes. I think that way I get an impartial look at my accounts. I have been using H&R and I have been happy so far with what they do. They are expensive but I have peace of mind.
That sounds like a great company perk, Tom.
Luckily my taxes are still pretty straight forward. I predict this will be changing in the year to come. So, until such time, I prepare my own taxes.
H& R blocks are just temporary employees using the h & r block tax software. Don't waste your time there.
I do my own taxes, with the software, but I don't own a house, and I can usually only take the standard deduction.
I have been using Turbo Tax for 7 years and it has been great. I started my own business 2 years ago and also do contract work, so I was a little concerned about how that would all work out. I bought the Turbo Tax Home & Business and it was great. It takes a little time to input everything, but the program asks questions every step of the way. It also has an Audit Check program which looks over your return to make sure there are no outlandish numbers that are going to throw up red flags. I highly recommend it.
"despite the technology available to the IRS, they somehow waited five years to inquire about my error"
Statute of limitations on (non-fraudulent) incorrect tax returns is three years! What in the world did you do?
I earn in the (low) six figures, but since I'm single, I rent, and my only investment is in my 401(k) (the rest of the money is going towards debt repayment), I still use TaxCut. If I had more complicated investments or property, I would probably go to a CPA.
I'm young so doing my taxes takes literally 15 minutes for me and I get a decent amount of money back. I use the IRS free services offered through their website since I meet the income criteria. I did use H&R block for 1 year and would never recommend it to anyone as their fees do not reflect the quality of their service. H&R Block and a few others, train their tax-preparers months prior to tax season. I would say most of their employees are seasonal whom include people who have never really done taxes but are looking for a job/extra income and take their classes in order to get hired. I would advise if looking for a tax-preparer to go to accounting firms who are reputable for their services, might cost an extra buck, but as someone said, it pays itself off.
I'm a big fan of Turbo Tax – it's pretty intuitive, and my taxes (several W2s a year plus investment income) usually don't take more than an afternoon. Once I'm done with that, I usually do my friends' returns in exchange for dinner or a nice bottle of wine.
Heads up, though – Turbo Tax usually only lets you file state returns for one state, so if you've got W2′s from businesses in different states (a common issue for college students who work in one state during the school year and another during the summers). You'll actually need two separate installations of Turbo Tax to handle two sets of state returns.
@Jnetty (comment 17)
Depending on your situation, you should still be able to claim tax benefits for your education. If you are only in your first or second year of school, enrolled at least half time, and pursuing a degree, the HOPE credit is available for up to $1,650 (reduced if income is greater than $47,000, and nothing if income is over $57,000) and is the better of the two credits if you have education expenses of less than $8,250. Otherwise there is the lifetime learning credit which is worth up to $2,000 per return (not person!) which is figured as 20% of the first $10,000 spent on QUALIFIED education expenses. If you are no longer enrolled in school (for the 2006 tax year) you will only be able to claim student loan interest since both these credits require you to be a student in the year claimed.
Also, you can itemize your medical expenses that are over 7.5% of your AGI. Though unless you have significant other itemized deductions your itemized deductions may end up less than your standard deduction ($5,350 for individual).
I've done my own taxes and also work part-time with H&R. I've seen no difference between what I do by pen and paper myself and what I get using the in-shop H&R Block software (this is a lot different than Tax Cut which is also an H&R Block product). Now having said that, it depends on who you see at Block, some of the "Tax Pros" they have are really good, and others are pretty poor. The benefit of H&R Block is the guarantee that they will pay any penalties or interest due to their mistakes, and for $30 extra, they will pay any extra tax too.
The tax code changes a lot year to year, doing your own taxes means keeping up with changes that affect you, or lots of additional research on the IRS site (my preferred refernce since any errors in translation into normal speak are due to me). This may make it worth while to hire a professional, that and any guarantee that they may provide.
An interesting point that I didn't see brought up in the comments:
TurboTax makes a "Pro" version that is sold at much higher prices to certain people who "qualify" – essentially meaning that there are a large number of "professional" tax people that are preparing your taxes using a slightly upgraded version of the software that you can use yourself.
I happen to know 3 people who are CPAs who use the "pro" software during tax season to prepare their client's taxes.
In other words – TurboTax (if used correctly) does just as good a job of preparing your taxes as your average CPA. The problems come when you're not prepared to work with the program effectively or if you try to short-cut or enter inaccurate information.
IMHO, if your return is fairly simple:
1040, Schedule A, B, D child care, other straight forward verifiable income or expenses, then do your taxes yourself. Most tax software is accurate, cheap and easy to understand.
If, like myself, you have self-employed income and rental properties, I'd recommend a tax preparer. Find someone who can represent you if you're audited like an enrolled agent. My guy prices himself to be competitive with H&R block and has software to handle state and local returns as well.
For me, I file 1040 long form, schedule A, B C (three business entities), D, home office expenses + plus state and 4 local city return (rental properties + business expenses); (I feel I have a "audit me" sign on my back) just thinking about the paperwork gives me a headache. My guy does all this for around $300 and can/will represent me if I'm audited.
If your business interest are bigger than mine and have employees, I'd recommend hiring an accountant preferably a CPA with expertise in small business returns.
Full disclosure: I am a tax preparer.
I believe that only the simplest of tax returns (for example, a W-2 and bank interest) should be attempted by hand. Anything more and you run the risk of missing deductions and credits. Even with the simplest of returns, an uninformed preparer could miss out on the child tax credit, the Hope and Lifetime Learning credits, the retirement savings contributions credit, and the earned income credit. Tax returns are not easy if you don't have a lot of familiarity with them.
H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt and the other national tax prep services do a nice job, but the fees are very high. A married couple who are homeowners with one child with 2 W-2s, some mortgage interest and real estate taxes, and charitable contributions can expect to pay $250-300 to have their return done. Not to mention on the back end, they try to sell you very very expensive audit protection, refund anticipation loans, and other services.
For the married couple's return I mentioned above I would charge about $200 to my clients. I would recommend finding a good local preparer who will be cheaper and will pay more attention to YOU than the national chains.
And for those who think $200 is a lot of money to have your tax return done, missing deductions and credits can be much more costly. I've taken over clients' returns who have self-prepared in the past and been able to amend the previous three years and get them back $6,000 or more in credits they had missed.
I hope this helps, and please feel free to email me with any questions.
I'm single, no children & just purchased a home last year. One W-2, no other sources of income. What would you recommend I pay to have my taxes done? Someone was recommended to me for $200, but everyone says its too much for taxes that should be straight forward. Thoughts?
This is perfect timing — we have always done our own personal taxes, and just this year we are going to have a CPA do them. We had a business which we had gotten tax help for, but it turns out he made an expensive error that we could only partially fix (past 3 years). And I found this out when I finally started doing the business taxes myself.
Then why are we using a CPA this year? Well, when we closed our business, we used a different CPA because of all the complexities (C corp vs S corp switchovers, etc.). He saved us a significant amount of money because of really understanding the tax implications of our situation. So, this year, he's doing our household taxes.
But… so am I. This year I will still buy TurboTax and run the numbers myself, and see if he comes up with anything that I wouldn't have found. If it is worthwhile, then we will return the next year.
To save money, it helps to have all your records (non-cash contributions, charitable miles, capital gains, etc.) all organized. That minimizes the tax preparers time figuring out what is what. And I would go with an independent (perhaps working out of their house) type of CPA, not H&R Block.
As a tax preparer working for a CPA firm, I LOVE this topic. My advice is:
– If you have a straightforward return (W2, investment or bank interest/dividends, home ownership or renter), do your taxes yourself. Use whatever software you are comfortable with.
– If you work from your home, sell any real property or investments, work as a consultant paid via 1099, etc… find yourself a CPA. That person will know what you can and can't deduct (work out of your home? did you know that you *might* be able to deduct part of your utility bills, mortgage, and home owners or renters insurance?)
– If you usually have a straightforward return, but run into something more complex (high medical bills, bankruptcy or foreclosure, dependent in college, inheritence, etc), use a CPA.
I would strongly recommend NOT using places like H&R block or Jackson Hewitt. First, their employees are simply trained on the software, NOT on tax law. Second, last year one of the major tax prep firms faced charges of fraud, creating a nightmare for taxpayers that used their services. Third, IF they mishandle your return, causing an audit or notice to be generated, you're on your own. Good luck finding your H&R Block preparer in July.
Finally, I think the best way to find a CPA is to ask people you trust. Family and friends are our greatest source of referrals, and if they are referring a professional, it's because they have been satisfied with the service they've received. Some important things to ask:
– Do they offer a free consulation? A professional should be willing to meet with you, look over your most recent tax return, and give you a general idea of what the current year's tax return prep will cost.
– Will they charge you for phone calls? The idea at our firm is that we'd MUCH rather a client contact us with a question in June, getting GOOD advice on how to handle something that will impact their tax return, rather than have to "clean up a mess" come year end.
Some things to remember:
– Most firms can't give you an exact prep fee until the return is completed. When I quote, I give the potential new client a range, with the understanding that the quote is based on the information they provide me with at that time. If things are looking to fall beyond that range, a quick phone call to get the client's approval only takes a few moments. If they fall under the range… I just get to surprise them with a smaller bill.
– If you go to a large firm, prepare to pay a large fee. The firm I work for has 1 CPA and 1 tax preparer. Our bills are at least a third less than many of our competitors. Why? Less overhead.
– You are trusting this person with your finances, be sure you trust them. Have a few consultations until you find someone that you are comfortable with.
– Do NOT wait until April to find a professional. Even if you don't yet have all the information you'll need to prepare your 07 return, you can still make phone calls and set up consultations. Have your 06 return ready, and start the search.
"Even with the simplest of returns, an uninformed preparer could miss out on the child tax credit, the Hope and Lifetime Learning credits, the retirement savings contributions credit, and the earned income credit."
Yeah no kidding. The one time that I took my taxes to a professional, she neglected to tell me that if I recharacterized a few hundred dollars of my IRA contributions from Roth to Traditional I could have squeaked under the income threshold and taken a $400 retirement savings credit.
Unfortunately I didn't notice myself until I could not do that. So much for the $$ I spent on her.
Personally, I am willing to read and calculate and take my time to get my taxes right. I have sometimes double-checked with software, but in my experience the software also overlooks easy stuff. Maybe I'm just a purist, but I really do it by hand.
I agree with Beth above. I think that whether you do your own taxes or use a CPA is a factor of how difficult of a return you need to file. In the past, when I was in business for myself, I had the same CPA that did my business return also do my personal return. This way I had one guy to defend me if I was audited or questioned by the IRS. Now that things are simpler, I do my own return using online software. The mainstream tax software is really amazing today especially combined with e-file.
I've found TurboTax to be good when your return is time-consuming rather than complicated. For example, my husband and I get over ten W-2s each year due to the nature of our careers. It isn't hard to figure out what to do, it just takes forever, so having the program automatically input last year's data to start with is such a relief.
I do them myself using ufile.ca. Very good service!
I've been going to my tax preparer for years, and she knows us well, which allows her to ask more relevant questions. I used to do my own taxes, but when they started getting complicated (mid-year moves to another state, then a move overseas while we rented out our house), I went to a professional. I did actually try some tax software and compared its results with what I got from the professional. It wasn't pretty. There were forms that she used that the software didn't even seem to have available. I couldn't get the software to give me numbers anywhere near hers, and she is very conservative. The peace of mind is worth any potential savings from software.
I'm a firm believer that saving your sanity is worth paying for. My taxes are only slightly complicated and I'm a smart girl. I "could" do them myself, but I'd rather have a root canal then do my own taxes. I'll pay someone else to do the work. I'll save money in other areas (like doing my own housework and yardwork).
I normally do my own taxes with the website TAXSLAYER.COM. Their program is easy to navigate, plus it's free for members of the military. I only opt for a local accountant if my tax year was especially complicated. I don't go for the big names like H&R Block. I look for businesses that have been around for several years and that have minimal negative feedback.
I am a Luddite. I do my taxes with pencil and paper. Then again, I worked for H & R Block for two tax seasons. In their defense, their preparers are trained "the hard way" with the pencil and paper forms, it's not just data entry. Part of the skill in preparing taxes is knowing WHICH numbers to put in, which software may or may not be able to do for you. On the other hand, H & R is expensive. The vast majority of people I did taxes for did not really need professional help. And by all means, stay well away from anybody's "value added" products like refund loans and the like.
How to find a good accountant? Ask around. I asked the owner of my son's preschool and she gave me a great referral. I think it's similar to finding a good auto mechanic or handyman for repairs around the house.
I e-filed last year by going through NC's Dept of Revenue. They actually recommended a few sites (including Turbo Tax) with some information about which you should choose depending on your situation.
Simple and easy to use. I thoroughly recommend it.
I suppose it's like anything else. If it's worth the $200-400 to hand your taxes off to someone else for the reasons discussed above and you HATE doing them, do it.
I kind of enjoy doing our taxes. I try to stay on top of the changes to tax laws that will affect us, I am willing to read the tax regulations and research topics I don't understand. Doing the taxes myself gives me a solid understanding of how our income, expenses, donations, investments, retirement savings, etc. affect our tax burden, so that we can plan for the following year. I use TurboTax, and haven't had any problems with it for our standard, grown up (house, kids, investment income, job income) situation.
On the other hand, someone else is currently cleaning my house, because we both hate doing that, even though I'm smart enough to figure out how to clean a bathroom.
Just to throw in a wrinkle — we just bought our first duplex income property, which we'll owner-occupy. I bought TurboTax Premier for this year, which is supposed to cover the real-estate stuff, so I'll play around with those forms and wizards once I get our real taxes done for this year. DH is agitating to hire an accountant, but even if we do, I'll still likely run our own taxes with TT and see what works better.
I agree you should go to a pro if you have a more complex situation. I would just add, it depends on the pro.
As a freelancer, getting someone who knows your field (or at least can get your job title right) is important. I used my dad's CPA and since we're in completely different professions it was WORSE than doing it myself. He didn't understand what I did or what my real expenses were. I found a CPA who dealt with freelancers in my profession. For under $500 a year, I've saved/got back thousands.
As with anything (doctors, jobs, spouses), it's not just getting someone who's got the title, it's getting the right one. Which unfortunately can be a difficult search – but worth it.
I was actually just looking into tax preparation classes as a 2nd seasonal job. My cousin (a social worker) just started doing it. Basically, you do have to go through a class on tax preparation that timewise (I couldn't say about quality) is roughly equivalent to one college semester class. Any Joe Schmoe can do it though, you don't even have to have a high school diploma! So I would go to a CPA rather than H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt.
Now for the software. First of all, my husband and I have owed every year since we got married due to the marriage penalty. For several years we used Turbo Tax. A few years ago Turbo Tax said we owed about $2,000, common for us. So we paid. Then several months later we got a letter from the IRS saying we owed an additional $1,200. My husband checked and sure enough, we did owe the money – it was purely due to a bug in Turbo Tax that hadn't correctly calculated it.
So after that we started using Tax Cut software. Cut to last summer, and we got a letter from the IRS that we owed $15,000! It turns out that the exact same thing happened to a friend of mine from work and several other people, so we weren't the only idiots who made the same mistake. The short of it is that there was a separate schedule related to selling stock options that we should have filled out, but we didn't know and the tax software didn't help us know about that separate schedule. So we went to an accountant who charged us $150 per return to redo our 2005 and 2006 returns. She did mention a lot of things when I met with her that we can deduct that I didn't know about it.
This year I am using Tax Cut because we did not sell any stock or do anything fancy. But I would say if you have anything at all beyond the basic entering your W-2s and claiming basically deductions, an accountant can save you money, time and aggravation.
We pay an accountant to do ours because my husband has a consulting business, and he gives us a discount because we've been going for years and have referred another dozen customers.
Sidenote: If you are a State Farm customer and registered online (easy, free), they offer TurboTax free to their customers.


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I've noticed recently that, of all the hygiene product advertisements—ads for deodorant, toilet paper, diapers, soap, tissues, etc.—menstrual pad and tampon commercials are by far the weirdest.
Many involve cheerful women in colorful clothes and tampons that bloom and twirl in mid-air. Many demonstrate the effectiveness of pads and panty liners by pouring blue liquid —to represent red menstrual fluid, as if red fluid was somehow unavailable that day —onto the product. Many show random men staring at attractive women—these seem to say "You need our product so that men will still enjoy looking at you while you have your period."
Freakier still, a Russian tampon brand released an ad in which a woman is eaten by a shark because she decides to swim in the ocean with a leaky tampon. Admittedly, I laughed when I watched this, because I know that it is highly unlikely—maybe even impossible—that menstrual blood would attract a shark, but tampon companies certainly shouldn't perpetuate these typRead more...
I am 23, so this will probably sound silly and foolish but I don't have anyone else to ask these things so here goes: First off, how do you know it's in the right hole? My boyfriend and I were getting involved last night for the first time, and at first it hurt horribly like I was being ripped apart.
He re-adjusted and it still hurt a little but nothing like before, it was mostly just a lot of pressure. Was he in the wrong hole before? How do I keep that from happening? Also his penis is BIG and my vagina is not. How far in should he go? Can he cause damage by going too far? Thanks for the advice.
I am 20 years old and I cannot insert anything into my vagina, not even a tampon. After a month of practice, I have managed to be able to insert a finger about halfway into my vaginal canal. After that I freak out because it's uncomfortable and I pull out very quickly, which hurts a bit.
I know I'm not the only one with this problem because one of my close friends has it too, but I haven't figured out what to do about it. I would really like to be able to have vaginal sex sometime in the future, if not exactly now, or at the very least be able to use tampons! I haven't figured out anything that works.
I'm 13 and so is my boyfriend. I know we shouldn't be doing this kind of stuff at this age but just a couple weeks ago we started getting a little more "touchy" and one thing led to another and he started "eating me out".
Well I want to give him a blowjob but he's scared that I won't like "it" because he thinks it's small and he's embarrassed. What should I do? Also, is it normal to start having sexual intercourse at 16 or 17?
Information on this site is provided for educational purposes. It is not meant to and cannot substitute for advice or care provided by an in-person medical professional. The information contained herein is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or for prescribing any medication. You should always consult your own healthcare provider if you have a health problem or medical condition.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
5 U.S. Code § 3384 - Regulations
Source(Added Pub. L. 92–297, § 3(a),May 16, 1972, 86 Stat. 143; amended Pub. L. 96–347, § 1(b),Sept. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 1150.)
References in Text
For definition of Secretary, referred to in text, see section 2109 of this title.
1980—Pub. L. 96–347substituted "Secretary" for "Secretary of Transportation".
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–347effective on 90th day after Sept. 12, 1980, see section 3 ofPub. L. 96–347, set out as a note under section 2109 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective on 90th day after May 16, 1972, see section 10 ofPub. L. 92–297, set out as a note under section 3381 of this title.
The table below lists the classification updates, since Jan. 3, 2012, for this section. Updates to a broader range of sections may be found at the update page for containing chapter, title, etc.
The most recent Classification Table update that we have noticed was Tuesday, August 13, 2013
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Mariya & Tatiana Triumph In Baku
Published July 24, 2011 09:23
BAKU, Azerbaijan - Mariya Koryttseva and Tatiana Poutchek won the very first event they competed in together at Guangzhou in 2008. In the 10 events they played after that, they failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals. However, they found success again this week in Baku, capturing their second title as a duo. It did not come easily, though, as they were extended to match tie-breaks in each of their last three matches, including in Sunday's final - a 63 26 108 victory over Monica Niculescu and Galina Voskoboeva.
"We're really happy. Winning a tournament is always nice and that final was tough," said Poutchek, who now has six WTA doubles titles. "Monica and Galina are great doubles players and a great team. We knew it would be tough and we would have to stick together."
"I'm so happy for this week," said Koryttseva, whose eight WTA doubles titles have all come on hardcourts. "Finally some results are coming out for me. It has been a good week and I've enjoyed being here so much."
This was the seventh time this year the No.1 and No.2 seeds have played in a doubles final. Here are the results of those matches:
|(2) Huber/Martínez Sánchez d. (1) Peschke/Srebotnik
|(1) Peschke/Srebotnik d. (2) Huber/Petrova
|(1) Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova d. (2) Groenefeld/King
|(1) Peschke/Srebotnik d. (2) Huber/Raymond
|(1) Medina Garrigues/Rosolska d. (2) Grandin/Uhlirova
|(1) Errani/Vinci d. (2) Hlavackova/Zakopalova
|(2) Koryttseva/Poutchek d. (1) Niculescu/Voskoboeva
No.1 and No.2 seeds have played three times this year in singles finals. Here are the results of those matches:
|(2) Zvonareva d. (1) Wozniacki
|(2) Pavlyuchenkova d. (1) Jankovic
|(2) Petkovic d. (1) Bartoli


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SLAM contributor J. Gamble [making his debut with us next issue] hears from a close personal friend of Rasheed Wallace's that unless Sheed gets $8 million to play next year, he's going to retire. If that's true, we've probably seen the last of Sheed in the NBA.
Maybe this is what Wallace thinks now. But my guess is he will play next season and for fewer than $8 million.


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FOXBOROUGH, Mass.—Terrell Suggs stood on the sideline, and the man who is never at a loss for words could only mouth the words "Oh, my God."
Ray Rice and Torrey Smith said nothing, choosing instead to stare straight ahead and wonder in silence how a long football season full of legitimate Super Bowl aspirations could possibly end like this.
Ravens watched two potential touchdown passes get broken up, and then Billy Cundiff pushed a 32-yard field goal wide left with 15 seconds remaining.
The season-ending 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots at raucous Gillette Stadium appeared to sting worse than any of the Ravens' previous playoff failures. The Ravens, who dressed in near silence after the game, had the lead early in the fourth quarter and had three late opportunities to regain it.
However, they squandered each one and instead put the AFC championship on the right foot of Cundiff, then watched in disbelief when he couldn't prolong the game.
"It [stinks]," Suggs said. "It was a special year from start to finish. Even with 22 seconds left, we thought we had it. But hey, congrats to them, can't take anything from them. Rest assured, we are going back to work. We're going to take the necessary time off, but when we train, we know what our destiny is."
For the seventh time in franchise history and the first since 2008, the Patriots' destiny is the championship game — this time, Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, where they'll meet the New York Giants, who defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 20-17 in overtime, in the NFC championship game Sunday night.
The Ravens, meanwhile, start an offseason filled with lament after coming so close to getting back to the Super Bowl. Nobody felt any worse than Cundiff, who got a good snap and hold and just missed the kick.
"It's a kick I've kicked a thousand times in my career," Cundiff said. "I just went out there and didn't convert. That's the way things go. There's really no excuse for it."
To their credit, the Ravens rallied around Cundiff and acknowledged that it should have never come down to a game-tying field-goal attempt. Two plays earlier, Joe Flacco, who had one of the better performances of his career given the circumstances, made a perfect throw to wide receiver Lee Evans. He appeared to catch the ball in the right corner of the end zone, but as he was coming down with it, Patriots rookie cornerback Sterling Moore slapped it away.
Thinking it was a touchdown, Flacco threw his hands up and started running toward Evans, and the Ravens' sideline erupted.
"There's really not a whole lot to say about it. It was an opportunity for us to go to the Super Bowl, and I let it go," said Evans, who had his best game as a Raven, catching three balls for 39 yards after entering the game with just five catches all season. "Honestly, the most disappointing part of all this is that I feel personally that I let everybody down. This is the greatest team that I've been on, and I feel like I let everybody down. Yeah, it's on my shoulders. It's as tough as it gets."
That sentiment was echoed by safety Bernard Pollard who signed with the Ravens before the season, feeling that they represented his best shot at getting to the Super Bowl.
"Eighteen seconds, man. I don't care who you are. You can't drive the field 18 seconds against us. But shoulda, coulda, woulda and we didn't," Pollard said. "It was the biggest game of my career, so it's the biggest loss of my career. It hurts, it [stinks] . We got to bounce back someway, somehow. To do what we did, that's hard. For us, we got to find a way to get back there."
Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who has guided the Ravens to the playoffs in all four of his seasons but is now 0-2 in AFC championship games, pleaded for the referee to review the play by Evans to determine whether he had held it long enough for the touchdown, but the coach didn't get his wish.
"Obviously a disappointing, stunning loss at the end there," he said. "I thought our guys played their hearts out. We made plays and came up a play or two short at the end, but it doesn't lessen what they accomplished this year, and it doesn't lessen what they accomplished in this game. … I like our football team and I like where we are going."
The Ravens played exactly the game that they wanted against the Patriots, giving up plenty of ground on defense but holding in the red zone, and gaining chunks of yards on offense behind a sharp Flacco, who was 22-for-36 for 306 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
A 16-10 deficit early in the third quarter became a 20-16 Ravens lead by the start of the fourth. That's because Flacco hit Smith (Maryland) for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 3:48 left in the third quarter, and then the Ravens converted Danny Woodhead's fumble on the ensuing kickoff into a 39-yard field goal.
But Brady, who was 22-for-36 for 239 yards and two interceptions but consistently moved his team down the field behind short passes and the running of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, answered with an 11-play, 63-yard drive. It ended with Brady plunging in on fourth-and-goal from the 1.


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I have to laugh at some of these because you could do this with android in 2.3 with an app without needing to jailbreak/root the device.
I have a dell all in one wifi printer I'm able to print (AirPrint) wise straight from my phone directly
I've tried truprint to print to my wifi HP printer, but the app wouldn't even detect my printer.
TruPrint opens AirPrint to different printers.you get a 3-day trial to ensure compatibility with your printers.
buckysam have you tried the hp app HP ePrint?
also you can print from an ipad iphone etc by trying printcentral or print n share from the app store
i use both, but gutted as they are now half price!!! and i only downloaded mine the week before! ah well
See what I did there! 😉
Hardy-har-har-har!!! ...I'm an idiot...
So this is interesting...
I have the Netgear Genie program installed and originally thought it didn't work cuz my ip5 doesn't see my printer. I just tried to 'see my printer' using my jailbroken iPad on iOS 5.1.1 and it detected it! *BTW, I don't have TruPrint installed on the iPad*
Then, I decided to try my wife's ip4S w/ iOS 6 and it doesn't see the printer, either!?!? So it must be an iOS 6 issue; I just wish I knew how to create a workaround...
Printopia solved the problem! My ip5 now sees the printer and even more if I choose! It lets me send to my Dropbox Folder on my Mac and then I can access the Document on my phone through the Dropbox.app!!! SWEET...this is way better than AirPrint Activator!
BTW, iOS 6 is what killed AirPrint for a lot of people. Read several forums verifying this...


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- You are here:
- Photos >
- 1956 cadillac eldorado brougham town car concept
1956 Cadillac Eldorado Broughham Motorama show car cruises to RM Amelia Island
by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) on Jan 29th, 2011 at 5:39PM
1956 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Town Car concept – Click above for high-res image gallery These days, automakers routinely unveil concept cars and new models at major auto shows. Back in its heyday, General Motors played by a different set of rules. It organized its own car shows under the Motorama banner. Running throughout the 1950s, Motoramas were GM's opportunity to showcase its products to the public and whet consumers' appetites. Few Motorama cars were as showy as the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Town Car concept. Unveiled at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan for the 1956... Read More


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NEW YORK — Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of Osama bin Laden who once served as a spokesman for Al Qaeda, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday morning in US District Court in Manhattan, where he was charged with conspiring to kill Americans.
John P. Cronan, an assistant US attorney, said in court Abu Ghaith had spoken at length with US law enforcement officials after his arrest by federal authorities on Feb. 28. Cronan cited a 22-page document detailing his statements but did not characterize them. The statements were not made public.


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Image may not necessarily represent the actual item -Please read the title and description before purchasing.
Last Price: $391.82
Guns can only be shipped to a location within the USA that holds an FFL (Federal Firearms License) - this can be your local gun shop, pawn shop, sporting goods store, etc. Your local gun dealer will then handle the transfer of the firearm to you.
Please ensure that you have familiarized yourself with the process before placing a firearm order. Please note that you must confirm your acceptance of all of these policies to place a firearm order:
Welcome the Taurus Protector, the handgun designed for personal protection. Protector features a fully shrouded zero profile hammer that can be manually cocked/decocked in single action operation when needed. Protector also functions smoothly in full double action. The Protector features the Taurus Security System built in at no extra charge and carries the Taurus unlimited lifetime repair policy. Unlimited lifetime repair policy included.
Please Note: This description may represent a general group of products. Please read the item's title and specifications for more specific information about this particular item.
Type : RevolverAction : Single / DoubleCaliber : 38 SpecialBarrel Length : 2"Capacity : 5 rdSafety : Transfer BarGrips : RubberSights : FixedWeight : 25 ozFinish : Matte Stainless
Reviews of Taurus Model 851 CIA Revolver 2851129, 38 Special, 2 in BBL, Sngl / Dbl, Rubber Grips, Fixed Sights, Mt Stainless Finish, 5 Rds
As thanks for your feedback, we will send you a $5 coupon code for writing a product review!
Just click the 'Write Review' button on the product's information page.
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text:
-- Robert Preidt
TUESDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- Most cases of bloodstream
infections (sepsis) among newborns in the United States are caused
by group B streptococci (GBS) and E. coli, a new study finds.
Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, occurs when bacteria
invade the bloodstream and cause a system-wide infection. It can
lead to serious complications and poses a high risk of death in
Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends universal screening of women at 35 to 37 weeks of
pregnancy for GBS and antibiotics for those who are colonized, the
researchers noted that many health providers fail to do such
screening, even for some at-risk women.
This nationwide study of nearly 400,000 newborns found that the
overall rate of sepsis was 0.98 per 1,000 live births, with 0.41
per 1,000 involving GBS and 0.28 per 1,000 involving E. coli.
GBS is the most common cause of sepsis in full-term newborns and
E. coli is the most common cause in pre-term newborns.
"Infections occur in almost one case per thousand live births," lead investigator Dr. Barbara Stoll, professor and chair of the department of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, said in a university news release.
"With approximately 4 million births a year in the United States, this equates to a substantial burden of disease. We estimate that approximately 3,000 infants a year develop early-onset sepsis. With current mortality rates, approximately 300 to 350 deaths per year are associated with neonatal sepsis."
Early-onset sepsis refers to sepsis that occurs in infants less
than 72 hours old.
"Our findings suggest that accurate point-of-care diagnostic tests at the time a woman comes in for delivery would enhance our ability to identify at-risk women," said Stoll, who also recommended increasing the use of electronic medical records.
"A community health record that links the medical record in a physician's office with the hospital where the woman gets care could enhance identification and therapy for at-risk women," she said. "If a woman has been screened for GBS and is known to be colonized, that information should be available to the health care team taking care of her at the time she is in labor."
The study was published online April 25 and appears in the May
print issue of the journal
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about
children and sepsis.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved.


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RECIPE # 4194 - DECADENT CHOCOLATE BANANA DESSERT - Wednesday, September 10, 2008
2 c whipping cream
1/2 c sugar
1 (8-oz) reduced fat cream cheese, softened
36 chocolate cream-filled sandwich cookies (16 or 17-oz pkg)
5 bananas, sliced
2 T chocolate syrup
2 T caramel syrup
1/4 c chopped, toasted pecans
Maraschino cherries or whole strawberries for garnish, optional
Beat whipping cream with an electric mixer while gradually adding sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl beat cream cheese. Add whipping cream to cream cheese, gradually, while beating with mixer; set aside. Crush sandwich cookies in a food processor. In a large serving bowl layer half of cookie crumbs, bananas and cream mixture. Repeat layers and drizzle with chocolate and caramel syrup. Sprinkle pecans and place cherries or strawberries in center of bowl, if desired. Yield: 8-10 servings. **May also drizzle with caramel sauce on top.
- Latest


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Elizabeth News
Local news for Elizabeth, NJ continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.
Inked out Popular tattoo show brings international fans to the Meadowlands
22 hrs ago | The Hudson Reporter | Comment?
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End the absurd bureaucracy around DNA testing: Editorial
Friday Sep 19 | NJ.com | Comment?
Union County Savings Bank denied family health coverage to female...
Thursday Sep 18 | NJ.com | Comment?
Jamie Fox is on the road to his old job, as Christie hires 3 Democrats
Thursday Sep 18 | Clarks Hometown New... | Comment?
Summit Police Blotter
Thursday Sep 18 | TheAlternativePress... | Comment?
Garwood Knights conducting 'St. Joseph's Donations Project'
Thursday Sep 18 | The Jersey Journal | Comment?
NYPD warns homeowners to watch out for 'deception burglars' who pose as utility workers
Wednesday Sep 17 | SILive.com | Comment?
Elizabeth mayor says state won't ban fracking so towns, counties should
Wednesday Sep 17 | NJ.com | Comment?
With Heroin Purity Among Highest In Nation, Berkeley, Ocean County Fight Back
Wednesday Sep 17 | Patch.com | Comment?
Union County Man Convicted Of Reckless Manslaughter
Wednesday Sep 17 | Patch.com | Comment?
Freeholder Granados kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month at Union County College
Wednesday Sep 17 | The Jersey Journal | Comment?
Man convicted of sex crimes at Hillside pool; fled while jury deliberated, prosecutor says
Tuesday Sep 16 | The Jersey Journal | Comment?
Two shootings in Elizabeth this week, one man dead, police confirm
Tuesday Sep 16 | The Jersey Journal | 1
Prosecutors: 1 dead, 1 wounded in street shootingProsecutors: 1 dead, ...
Tuesday Sep 16 | Asbury Park Press | Comment?
'Wittenberg' review: Hamlet and Faustus as 'bros with big ideas'
Tuesday Sep 16 | The Jersey Journal | Comment?
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Written By Kath
Katherine is a mom of two girls, a teacher and a self-described dilettante. Join her in Losing It as she shares slices of her hectic life and eclectic interests.Read Her Blog "Losing It!"
Summer Movie: The Trip To Italy
By Sonya
The Seven Stages Of Back-To-School As Told By GIFs
By Marianne Litman
People Respond To Robin Williams' Death In The Worst Way Possible
By Tanya Cruz
Top Five Tips for Orlando's Theme Parks
By Kath
Remembering Robin Williams: Best Fan Tributes
By Tanya Cruz
The Importance Of Eating Breakfast Before School
By Marianne Litman
Okay, I'm not going to pull any punches here: we LOVED this car. I was a mite worried at first that the B-Class was going to be a sort of dumbed-down version of a Mercedes; a cheaper, less luxurious and essentially stripped-down version of the archetypal luxury vehicle. Wrong! The 2010 B-Class Mercedes Benz was everything you would expect from a Mercedes, and it comes with a very palatable price tag, too.
This is such a cute little car! I love it! Adding it to my list.
So how do I become a Mercedes product tester? I am not even joking! My son is almost 16 and I told him he would get my car when he gets his licence and that I was buying a Mercedes. Would love to be able to test one out.


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Hundreds of homeowners from Louisiana's St. Charles Parish crammed into a public meeting in a local high school in mid-April, looking for answers about the future of flood insurance and levee protection in their low-lying communities, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune ("St. Charles town hall meeting on FEMA flood maps draws huge crowds eager to voice concerns," by Juliet Linderman).
Residents are upset that they're going to bear a higher cost for insurance because of being outside the federally accredited levee system. "The irony created by Biggert-Waters and unaccredited levees has a lot of people in this room angry," said St. Charles Parish Coastal Zone Manager Earl Matherne. "The federal government built accredited levees in areas of high flooding. That only makes sense; where do you build levees? In areas that flood. The areas without accredited levees are left to be most affected by Biggert-Waters. Which areas are left? The areas that don't flood so much. That's the irony."
St. Charles has a hundred-year-old levee built to protect Paradis, Bayou Gauche, and parts of Des Allemands. But FEMA doesn't recognize that structure as affecting its new flood maps, or consider it a factor in premiums paid by homeowners for flood insurance. However, as in other regions of the country, FEMA says its flood maps are still a work in progress, and may change before final versions are published.
"Right now, these maps aren't moving forward until we work everything out," FEMA Region 6 engineer Matt Dubois said. "That could be six months, it could be two years. Once we do move forward with these maps, we still need to go through a 90-day appeal. Then, there is a period of time where we have to respond to those appeals. It will take however long it needs to take. Then the parish has six months to adopt the maps. Not until this point will these maps affect your flood insurance."
But for parish residents, it's already time to freak out. One low-lying homeowner, Harriet Parrish, said her premiums were about to rise from $450 a year to $5,100. "I'm dead in the water," said Parrish. "This is the stuff heart attacks are made of. I don't want all this to be explained to me. I want to hear that this isn't going to happen to us."
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Good Question: Best Modern Shopping Carts?
Here's a good question from reader Ria on the best modern shopping trolley or carts. We have answers below...
Any idea of where to find a modern shopping cart to fit my modern self?
Ria B.
Great question, Ria. In small urban apartments there's no room for a proper shopping trolley. We want something that will store away flat or hide in a closet. And of course trolleys and carts are a virtual necessity in the city. Unless you shop every day or just always take a cab from the grocery back home, it's hard to tote all those jars and milk jugs home.
Here are a few good ones we've seen lately. We're especially impressed with the Riesenthel; it folds up smaller than a travel cosmetic case. It's completely flat; you could store it between the refrigerator and the cupboards, or on the shelf like a book.
The Sur La Table model is very different; it's just a frame for you to hook your own bags on. We like the flexibility this gives, however, and it's quite small.
• Above left: Riesenthal Trolley, $24.95 at ReusableBags.com
• Riesenthel Flowered Trolley - A rather cuter design. $25 at FuturGarb
• Above right: 'Hook and Go' Urban Shopper, $59.95 at Sur La Table.
Do you have any other favorite shopping trolleys?
Related: Good Canvas Shopping Totes
PLUS... Reisenthel's Colorful Market Bags
8 Comments
I bought the Rosenthal Trolley. It is a great design in concept. I found it awkward and too short for me. I am about 5'10". It was a total impulse buy and I am sorry I bought it.
Oops, I meant Riesenthel.
i'm starting to suspect the best bet is to make peace with getting the metal mesh foldable ones and accessorize with awesome bags. the hook-and-go doesn't protect your stuff from getting squished by all the people who bump into you at a crowded market. if i had perfectly ripe peaches dangling from it and they got mashed by someone's shins as that someone tried to reach over me for a handful of artichokes, i'd be pretty peeved.
I've tried so many carts and trolleys and finally found one that works. The Rolser Mountain Original. I had a tall friend try it recently and she was able to use it in comfort.
Since I live in Boston, I just walked over and bought one. But, this is a long established business.
It folds flat to hang in the closet and can carry a lot of stuff over all kinds of terrain. I live on a street in the Back Bay with brick sidewalks and tree roots that you have to climb over.
I love my riesenthel trolley. honestly, I have a big handbag and I just throw it in there for "just in case" and I am never sorry I brought it. I originally bought it for a particularly long bus trip to see family for christmas, and I filled it full of gifts. when I got there I emptied the bag out under the tree and folded it up and put it away!
Thanks, Bostonzest! I have one of those and I was going to google its name and get a link so I could recommend it fully. I love it.
I have that Riesenthal Trolley (and another similar no-name brand one), and to be honest, I can't stand the thing. If your sidewalk is at all uneven and you're carrying a full load, you risk scraping the bottom and ending up with holes after a few trips. It also isn't the most ergonomic and can cause your hands to hurt.
I was looking into something like the Rosler one at one point, but ended up using an expandable rolling backpack for grocery trips. The downside is that the backpack isn't really practical for spontaneous shopping trips, but they're great for a planned grocery run.
Even though I generally love Riesenthel products, I have to agree the trolley is seriously flawed. I tried to use it for my farmers' market trip and it was a disaster. I am 5'6" and had serious problems dragging it around.
I have the Gourmet/Bon Appetit page promoting the Sur La Table one on my fridge, so I was hoping to see some reviews here. For now, I have attached a removable basket to my bike so we'll see how that functions at the market tomorrow.


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BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 30 (UPI) — Well-meaning but overzealous parents can ruin team sports for kids — and some who start at age 3 can lose interest by middle school, U.S. researchers say.
Sandra Sims of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education said child athletes have two needs — to have fun and feel worthy.
"I don't think any adult would do this purposefully, but some have taken the joy away and that is killing sports," Sims says in a statement. "Children age 6 and younger need unstructured play. Period. They want to pick up grass, throw rocks or play with butterflies, meanwhile parents are saying, 'You're going to be an NFL star' to their 2-year-old. We often treat them as mini adults."
Most children should not commit, or specialize, in one sport until they are age 15. Sims recommends parents let children complete a season in one sport and then evaluate it and talk about exploring other choices.
"Don't worry that waiting will negatively affect their chances of getting a scholarship," Sims says. "Switching sports lets your child to decide which they like best and are most willing to work at to excel in."
Parents should be aware that being on a sports team may not mean a child is fit — wearing a uniform does not mean a child gets 60 minutes of physical activity each day, this depends on the sport, the position they play and how much time they get on the field, Sims says.


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This might be one of the stranger stories of the week. Melissa Mansfield took a bus from Knoxville to Nashville, then took a limo to Kenny Chesney's home to wait for the superstar. She was discovered Wednesday morning at 2 am hiding in the bathroom near his swimming pool with two bottles of wine. She had found a way around Kenny's gate and set off the alarm when she got on the property. Kenny was not home at the time.
Mansfield has been charged with trespassing and public intoxication. She claims that she has a relationship with the superstar and that he had sent her the limo, which his publicist and the sheriff's office both deny. Mansfield posted $1,000 bail.


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When Fergie and Josh Duhamel tweeted their pregnancy news this week after four years of marriage, it made me think about how awkward it can be for a couple when it's been a while and no babies have arrived. Whether you're purposely waiting to have kids or whether you're trying -- and failing -- and more than a little stressed about it, it's amazing how tossed off questions about your "plan" can land like grenades.
Fergie and Josh have been gamely telling interviewers for years that they're "not ready" for kids, that they want seven kids, five kids, two kids, that it's "not really in our hands," but that they're having fun trying! Who knows. The deflection-with-a-smile is part of their job as famous people. But what about the rest of us? Why is the are-they-or-aren't-they question so tempting even for our friends?
Here's some advice: If you know a couple like the Duhamels of a week ago, you should not utter/ask/offer/suggest the following 10 things, even though you really, really want to.
1. It's so wonderful you've made your career such a top priority for so long -- I mean, when would you even find time for kids? Translation: "I guess you really don't want any."
2. How old are you guys? I hope fertility isn't going to be a problem. So many people I know have had trouble. Trouble, really? I thought the stork just dropped babies on your doorstep when you stopped taking the pill.
3. Is everything really OK in your marriage? I.E. Are you guys even having sex?
4. You've probably seen every single Oscar movie. You're so lucky you have so much free time. Because not having kids means you have absolutely nothing to do.
5. Are you not drinking for a reason or just not drinking? Yep. Some folks still ask this!
6. Having children changes EVERYTHING. This one is a little scary. It implies there's a world you as a childless individual can't possibly wrap your head around. It also implies creepy things about what having kids does to your body. TMI.
7. I didn't feel alive until I had children. The secret club thing again. It's like the mom version of Mean Girls.
8. So what ARE you waiting for anyway? Everyone wants a reason. See #1 above.
9. You seem so stressed out. If you ever want to have kids you need to just relax. The worst. Has anyone ever successfully relaxed when told to relax?
10. It's so cute how your dog is like your baby. Just to be clear, dogs are not babies.
What's the most inappropriate question someone asked you before you had kids?
Image via enchantedbelles/Flickr
I had a girl that I just met ask me if I wanted her fertility doctor's business card. Um, no...I haven't even done the laundry from my honeymoon yet. Seriously, we had only been home for a week! I'm sure the fact that I was 37 when we got married had something to do with it. But that doesn't mean we necessarily needed any help in that department. I was stunned.
While I would never say or ask any of these things to anyone, anyone who has children will agree that it does change everything. It is very true that childless people can not begin to wrap their minds around a parents life or emotions, because it's not something you can understand until you have kids!
I really don't think #6 is that bad. I mean... really. It does. And really.... you have no idea how much until you have them.
I've heard that choosing to have children is like choosing to have a facial tattoo done. You need to be really really really really sure that you want one.
Personally, I think it's a good discussion to HAVE- with friends.
I joke with my sister about being childless, she's been married for 5 years now and no kids yet. But she does spoil her nieces and nephews so it works out for her.
married 3 years, no children yet by choice. I get all of these questions and then some. I hate how people say "soon by you"
My husband and I have been married for almost four years and don't have kids yet. We're both in our early 30's and plan to wait a few more years until we have our first child. Luckily, there's been no pressure or comments from either side of the family.


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Linux pre-installed on laptops
I am a long-term Linux fan and I want to buy my youngest daughter a netbook. A couple of years ago I bought her older sister an Acer Aspire One with Linpus, which I switched to UNR. However, today in the UK I cannot find that or any other netbook which doesn't run Windows.
I bought myself an Windows computer a year ago and zapped it straight away to install Ubuntu, but I really don't want to shell out money to support Microsoft when I have no intention of using their software.
So what is the situation in the States? Do any other UK readers know of any suppliers who can provide Linux based (or OS free) netbooks?
I have heard of people claiming a refund for the OS... does anyone have real world experience of doing this in the UK? If so, with what company? I'm feeling very frustrated right now that no manufacturers are supporting the Linux community, and are in this way making Microsoft even more ubiquitous. I just wish I had the money to start my own business importing and selling hardware from the Far East with the best OS choice in the world - any flavour of Linux you like!
I look forward to any responses!
As Linux continues to play an ever increasing role in corporate data centers and institutions, ensuring the integrity and protection of these systems must be a priority. With 60% of the world's websites and an increasing share of organization's mission-critical workloads running on Linux, failing to stop malware and other advanced threats on Linux can increasingly impact an organization's reputation and bottom line.
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Most companies incorporate backup procedures for critical data, which can be restored quickly if a loss occurs. However, fewer companies are prepared for catastrophic system failures, in which they lose all data, the entire operating system, applications, settings, patches and more, reducing their system(s) to "bare metal." After all, before data can be restored to a system, there must be a system to restore it to.
In this one hour webinar, learn how to enhance your existing backup strategies for better disaster recovery preparedness using Storix System Backup Administrator (SBAdmin), a highly flexible bare-metal recovery solution for UNIX and Linux systems.
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Lobbying Databases
- Foreign Lobbying Influence TrackerA a joint project of ProPublica and the Sunlight Foundation, digitizes information that representatives of foreign governments, political parties and government-controlled entities must disclose to the U.S. Justice Department when they seek to influence U.S. policy. You may query the database by member of Congress contacted, country, client or lobbying firm. You can also search by "contact issues" as reported by lobbyists.
- Query the Lobbying Disclosure Act Database
- African Activist ArchiveThis is an excellent resource for materials related on transnational civil society.
General Africa Advocacy
- Constituency for Africa (CFA): Linking U.S. and Africa Through PolicyCFA is charged with educating the U.S. public about Africa and U.S. policy on Africa; mobilizing an activist constituency for Africa; and fostering cooperation among a broad-based coalition of American, African and international organizations, and individuals committed to the progress and empowerment of Africa and African people.
- Foreign Policy in Focus Project (FIFP)From the Institute for Policy Studies. FPIF tackles critical issues getting short shrift by policymakers and in the mainstream media: military outsourcing, drone attacks, immigration, Islamophobia, terrorism, military bases, and so much more.
- Free Africa FoundationMission of the Free Africa Foundation: 1) To free Africans from intellectual bondage, empower them to take charge of their own destiny and devise African-based solutions to Africa's problems; 2) To advocate and seek establishment of which will help promote and safeguard the four cornerstones of freedom: intellectual freedom, political freedom, economic freedom and religious freedom; 3) To resist the imposition of alien ideologies and systems on Africa; and 4) To provide an "African input" in international fora and the formulation of Western (aid) policies toward Africa.
- Phelps StokesTheir programs are created with a dedication to the individuals and organizations using their big ideas to create lasting social change across Africa and the Americas. They've developed and nurtured an extensive network of leaders across the world whose visions we are proud to support.
African Organizations
- African Union MissionAfrican Union Mission in the U.S.
African Union Mission
1640 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007
Telephone:(202)-293-8006 Fax:(202)-293-8007 Email African Union Mission
The African Union (abbreviated AU in English, and UA in its other official languages) is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 52 African states. Established on July 9, 2002,[3] the AU was formed as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
- African Development BankThe African Development Bank (AfDB) Group's mission is to help reduce poverty, improve living conditions for Africans and mobilize resources for the continent's economic and social development
International Development Partners for US Agencies
- United Nations Development Programme - AfricaUNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.
- United Nations. Economic Commission for AfricaECA's dual role as a regional arm of the UN, and a part of the regional institutional landscape in Africa, positions it well to make unique contributions to member States' efforts to address their development challenges. Its strength derives from its role as the only UN agency mandated to operate at the regional and subregional levels to harness resources and bring them to bear on Africa's priorities.
- The New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentNEPAD's Primary Objectives are to eradicate poverty; to place African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development; to halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process and enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy; and accelerate the empowerment of women.
- Mo Ibrahim FoundationThe Mo Ibrahim Foundation invests in governance and leadership to catalyse Africa's transformation.
By providing tools and advocating for progressive leadership and responsible management, the Foundation works to bring about meaningful change in Africa.
Africa Lobbies in the United States
The following is a list of US-based associations that have incorporated Africa advocacy as part of their mission. Several are full-fledged lobbies, some are professional groups that double as ethno-racial advocates, while others relate to their constituencies primarily on the basis of issues. Key institutional entry points to the Africa policy process are often headed by actors who facilitate lobbying. These entities are listed separately below.
The majority of these groups have been engaged in ongoing efforts by US foundations to build an "informed," multi-racial Constituency for Africa. In the 1940s, the Phelps-Stokes Foundation initiated such a strategy. In recent years, the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations have funded such initiatives. Only a handful of the groups listed take a an explicitly critical stance toward the global economy, racial oppression, and America's role in the world. TransAfrica Forum is a noted exception.
Ethno-racial Groups
- Constituency for Africa (CFA): Linking U.S. and Africa Through PolicyCFA is charged with educating the U.S. public about Africa and U.S. policy on Africa; mobilizing an activist constituency for Africa; and fostering cooperation among a broad-based coalition of American, African and international organizations, and individuals committed to the progress and empowerment of Africa and African people.
- African Diaspora for Change: Educating, Empowering & Engaging the Next Generation of LeadersAfrican Diaspora for Change (formerly African Diaspora for Obama-ADO) has a mission to create an alliance of African Diaspora voices representing the common concerns as a constituency in the U.S. and affecting change through education, empowerment and engagement of the next generation of leaders.
- American Association in Blacks in EnergyThe American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) is a national association of energy professionals founded and dedicated to ensure the input of African Americans and other minorities into the discussions and developments of energy policies regulations, R&D technologies, and environmental issues.
- The Presidents' RoundTableA results-driven organization of African American businesses that strives to impact access to opportunities for all minority entrepreneurs, enhance the quality of life in our communities, help our fellow members build business capacities, and support our members through sharing resources and peer experiences.
- Diaspora African Women's Network (DAWN)DAWN provides its members with special invitations and networking opportunities, job announcements and access to various voices and organizations focused on African affairs. In addition to maintaining an active listserv, DAWNers also host private monthly events , gatherings and dinners for its members in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area.
- International Association of Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA)BPIA labors to expand the opportunities, roles and numbers of the African Diaspora and other minorities in international affairs in general, and in professional and leadership positions in the global arena, in particular.
- TransAfrica ForumTransAfrica Forum is the oldest and largest African American human rights and social justice advocacy organization promoting diversity and equity in the foreign policy arena and justice for the African World.
- Africans in BostonAfricans in Boston (AiB) works on challenges and meets the needs of the African Diaspora in Massachusetts by:
-Connecting the African Diaspora with various resources;
-Strengthening the African constituency in the region and increasing its political stature;
-Providing Africans and friends of Africans a platform that transcends the cultural, educational, and professional barriers between different African communities.
- The National African Immigrants and Refugees Health Advocate Program (AIR Health)
- Human Rights Watch--AfricaHuman Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.
- Save DarfurThey are committed to the goals that the Save Darfur Coalition advocates for, including: * Ending the violence against civilians; * Facilitating adequate and unhindered humanitarian aid; * Establishing conditions for the safe and voluntary return of displaced people to their homes; * Promoting the long-term sustainable development of Darfur; and * Holding the perpetrators accountable.
- AfricareSpecializes in helping Africa by helping alleviate hunger, building water wells, treating childhood diseases, and supporting social empowerment.
- Enough ProjectThe Enough Project fights to end genocide and crimes against humanity, focused on areas where some of the world's worst atrocities occur. We get the facts on the ground, use rigorous analysis to determine the most sustainable solutions, influence political leaders to adopt our proposals, and mobilize the American public to demand change.
- Pathfinder InternationalAn NGO/lobbying organization that focuses on reproductive and sexual health around the world, with quite a bit of emphasis on the African continent.
Trade and Development (including Technology Transfer)
- AGOA.info: African Growth and Opportunities ActThe African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a United States Trade Act that significantly enhances U.S. market access for (currently) 39 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries
- Care International Africa ResourcesThe CARE Resource Center compiles an extensive number of documents that can be easily found in a user friendly database. This includes CARE policies, fact sheets, and lessons learned on various topics such as advocacy, emergency response, and CARE International work and structure as a whole.
- The Corporate Council on AfricaThe Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), established in 1993, is at the forefront of strengthening and facilitating the commercial relationship between the United States and the African continent. CCA works closely with governments, multilateral groups and business to improve the African continent's trade and investment climate, and to raise the profile of Africa in the US business community.
- International Foundation for Education and Self‐HelpSince 1981, they have been implementing self-help partnership projects focusing on impacting poor and vulnerable populations. They specialize in education systems, health, community development and conflict mitigation. They achieve our goals by working with: • African governments at the local, state and national levels • International donors and U.S. government agencies • Civil society, including local communities and community based organizations • The private sector They currently oper
- The Leon H. Sullivan FoundationThe Leon H. Sullivan Foundation empowers underprivileged people worldwide by promoting the principles of self-help and social responsibility. These goals are the articulation of the vision of the Reverend Leon Howard Sullivan. In order to fulfill their mission and in order to take the vision of Leon Sullivan to a higher level of effectiveness and expansion, the Foundation will support and create programs where such principles and ideals are implemented to improve the lives of the vulnerable.
- Oxfam AmericaOxfam America works on the scene, helping people gain the hope, skills, and direction to create a new future. We are also active in the global arena, addressing social injustice through our advocacy, public education, and emergency assistance programs.
- The Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in AfricaThe Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa was formed in early 2000 out of concern that the U.S. response to rising hunger and poverty in Africa was increasingly inadequate.
- US Angolan Chamber of CommerceThe U.S.-Angola Chamber of Commerce is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of trade and investment between the United States and Angola.
- The Whitaker Group: Business ResourcesThe Whitaker Group (TWG) is the premier strategic consulting firm in the US committed to creating sustainable prosperity in Africa. They are a mission-driven organization that believes in the capacity of Africa and her people to meet the challenges of the 21st century. They build partnerships bettheyen people, governments and the private sector to bring trade and investment to Africa. They advocate for greater integration of Africa into the global economy, and they seek innovative and practical
- World Cocoa FoundationCocoa can be an economic engine in rural areas of the tropics, generating improved incomes and opportunities for farm families and communities. Realizing this potential, however, requires that cocoa farmers receive the knowledge, training and assistance they need to move from economic subsistence to a truly sustainable model that allows them to succeed and prosper. The World Cocoa Foundation promotes economic and social development as well as improved environmental stewardship at the farm level
Institutional Points of Entry for Lobbying – US Government
- Representative Karen Bass (D-‐CA)
- Representative Keith Ellison (D-‐MN)Member, House Financial Services Committee and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
- The Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of GenocideThe UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide acts as a catalyst to raise awareness of the causes and dynamics of genocide, to alert relevant actors where there is a risk of genocide and to advocate and mobilize for appropriate action.
- USAID AfricaThe U.S. Government provides assistance to 47 countries in Africa, and USAID operates 23 bilateral missions on the continent. Three regional missions support activities in countries with a limited USAID presence and manage programs that strengthen institutional capacity to contribute to stable and secure development in Africa.
- Africa | Office of the United States Trade RepresentativeUSTR's Office of African Affairs develops and coordinates U.S. trade and investment policy for the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. It leads the negotiation and implementation of U.S. trade agreements and initiatives that further the Administration's economic and development policies in the region.
- U.S. Department of State -- Websites of US Embassies, Consulates, & Diplomatic MissionsWebsites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions
- Department of State -- Special Envoy to SudanDepartment of State, Bureaus/Offices Reporting Directly to the Secretary
- Bureau of African Affairs - US Department of StateAssistant Secretary Johnnie Carson leads the Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs, the division in the Department focused on the development and management of U.S. policy concerning the continent.
- House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International OrganizationsRep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman
Rep. Tom Marino (PA)
Rep. Randy K. Weber Sr. (TX)
Rep. Steve Stockman (TX)
Rep. Mark Meadows (NC)
Rep. Karen Bass (CA), Ranking Member
Rep. David Cicilline (RI)
Rep. Ami Bera (CA)
- US Senate Foreign Relations Sub-‐Committee on African Affairs -- BlogChris Coons' Blog.
Subcommittee on African Affairs
Majority Members: 6 Total Members: 11
Minority Members: 5
Members: Members:
Coons, Christopher A. (DE), Chairman
Cardin, Benjamin L. (MD)
Shaheen, Jeanne (NH)
Durbin, Richard J. (IL)
Udall, Tom (NM)
Menendez, Robert (NJ), Ex Officio
Flake, Jeff (AZ), Ranking Member
McCain, John (AZ)
Barrasso, John (WY)
Paul, Rand (KY)
Corker, Bob (TN), Ex Officio
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