The IRS is doing a great job! (really)
I received a higher refund than I submitted on my return, so I went to IRS.gov to "check refund status" to make sure it wasn't a mistake (I was worried they might withdraw the funds later). Not only did the IRS website confirm that they changed my refund, but they explained why, and provided links to help me back-track and learn from my mistake. 5-star customer service! Thank you! Keep up the great work!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Round-Trip Flights: Unfair Rules
I recently bought a round-trip flight from Chicago to Las Vegas, and back to Chicago. A week later, I found out that work was sending me there for the week leading up to my trip. So, now I won't be able to use the outbound half of my trip from Chicago to Las Vegas, because I will already be in Vegas. Airline rules (SpiritAir, and many others) require you to use the outbound portion of your trip for the return ticket to remain valid. If you can't fly outbound, your entire ticket must be canceled. You can reschedule your outbound leg, but you still must fly it in some way, and pay any fare difference and fees of course.
It's not like I'm trying to game the system. I'm not asking for a refund on half of my ticket. I'm willing to forfeit half my trip. The airline gets to keep the $200 I spent for the round-trip ticket, even though they are only flying me one way. They should thank me. They get to re-sell the outbound seat and make more money. But no. They want to take advantage of us and squeeze us for every cent. They prey on our vulnerability of being trapped.
I can't see how this is legal. A class-action lawsuit will eventually come about when someone more influential gets screwed with this. Until then, the only thing I can do is fly Southwest.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/3943287-post8.html
It's not like I'm trying to game the system. I'm not asking for a refund on half of my ticket. I'm willing to forfeit half my trip. The airline gets to keep the $200 I spent for the round-trip ticket, even though they are only flying me one way. They should thank me. They get to re-sell the outbound seat and make more money. But no. They want to take advantage of us and squeeze us for every cent. They prey on our vulnerability of being trapped.
I can't see how this is legal. A class-action lawsuit will eventually come about when someone more influential gets screwed with this. Until then, the only thing I can do is fly Southwest.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/3943287-post8.html
7. Does no-showing a flight cancel your return reservation?Booooo Spirit. Yeaaaa Southwest!!!
a. (nsx) No. On Southwest, unlike other airlines, you can no-show the outbound half and still keep your return reservation.
Friday, February 11, 2011
SUMIF() Criteria Example
The syntax to use a criteria can vary if you want to make it depend on another cell. Here are various examples of using the SUMIF() function in Google Spreadsheets and/or Excel.
Sum cells in column B if column A = 10.
=SUMIF(A1:A10,10,B1:B10)
Sum cells in column B if column A = what's in A2.
=SUMIF(A1:A10,A2,B1:B10)
Sum cells in column B if column A > 10.
=SUMIF(A1:A10,">10",B1:B10)
=SUMIF(A1:A10,">"&10,B1:B10)
Sum cells in column B if column A > what's in A2.
=SUMIF(A1:A10,">"&A2,B1:B10)
in reference to: Function list : Functions - Google Docs Help (view on Google Sidewiki)
Sum cells in column B if column A = 10.
=SUMIF(A1:A10,10,B1:B10)
Sum cells in column B if column A = what's in A2.
=SUMIF(A1:A10,A2,B1:B10)
Sum cells in column B if column A > 10.
=SUMIF(A1:A10,">10",B1:B10)
=SUMIF(A1:A10,">"&10,B1:B10)
Sum cells in column B if column A > what's in A2.
=SUMIF(A1:A10,">"&A2,B1:B10)
in reference to: Function list : Functions - Google Docs Help (view on Google Sidewiki)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Who owns DNA?
Monsanto and other biotech companies are creating strains of grain with a specific DNA, patenting the DNA, and preventing farmers from replanting the offspring of the seeds. But can you really own DNA? And if mutations occur to the DNA, are the offspring really the same DNA?
No. (Technically, the answer may be yes, but I'm saying here that it should be No. And we should allow them to do that.)
The process for creating the DNA-specific seeds should be patentable, but once you buy the seeds, you should be able to do whatever you want with them. It just doesn't seem right that you restrict what people do with stuff they buy. (yes, I'm talking to you too, Apple).
No. (Technically, the answer may be yes, but I'm saying here that it should be No. And we should allow them to do that.)
The process for creating the DNA-specific seeds should be patentable, but once you buy the seeds, you should be able to do whatever you want with them. It just doesn't seem right that you restrict what people do with stuff they buy. (yes, I'm talking to you too, Apple).
Stock Trading Fees
ING Sharebuilder (and other banks and trading companies) need to stop charging surcharge fees on stock purchases based on the price of the stock. This is unfair, and has no correlation to cost or value of service being performed.
I like ING Direct. Two main reasons I like ING Direct: (1) Simple website navigation, they don't try to crowd the world of financial services and product offerings in one little site, and (2) Fair rates and fees.
ING acquired Sharebuilder a few years ago, so I gave it a try. The rates (fees) are in the ballpark, but not the leaders (not like their interest rates on Savings were). The website is a little bulky, but it improved after integration. My main beef is that they charge extra for the purchase of stocks priced below $1 per share.
https://www.sharebuilder.com/sharebuilder/Help/Topic.aspx?CategoryCode=&FaqCode=FRTTLPSS#FRTTLPSS
Large Order surcharge (defined by quantity of shares purchased) made sense to me. Perhaps large orders cost them more to process. But basing it on price is senseless! They are just taking advantage of the fact that people buy these low-priced stocks because "penny stocks", as they are known, have this magical perception that they have a greater upside potential. New flash, stock price means NOTHING!!! A share of stock is just a percentage of the company. Stock exchanges should allow people to buy fractions of a stock. In fact, get rid of stock altogether. Just sell percentage stakes in the company. Stock is so 1800's. And do away with fees based on meaningless characteristics, it makes you look money hungry, ING.
I like ING Direct. Two main reasons I like ING Direct: (1) Simple website navigation, they don't try to crowd the world of financial services and product offerings in one little site, and (2) Fair rates and fees.
ING acquired Sharebuilder a few years ago, so I gave it a try. The rates (fees) are in the ballpark, but not the leaders (not like their interest rates on Savings were). The website is a little bulky, but it improved after integration. My main beef is that they charge extra for the purchase of stocks priced below $1 per share.
https://www.sharebuilder.com/sharebuilder/Help/Topic.aspx?CategoryCode=&FaqCode=FRTTLPSS#FRTTLPSS
The low-priced security surcharge is an additional commission on real-time trades when the average execution price per share in the trade is less than $1.00.
Large Order surcharge (defined by quantity of shares purchased) made sense to me. Perhaps large orders cost them more to process. But basing it on price is senseless! They are just taking advantage of the fact that people buy these low-priced stocks because "penny stocks", as they are known, have this magical perception that they have a greater upside potential. New flash, stock price means NOTHING!!! A share of stock is just a percentage of the company. Stock exchanges should allow people to buy fractions of a stock. In fact, get rid of stock altogether. Just sell percentage stakes in the company. Stock is so 1800's. And do away with fees based on meaningless characteristics, it makes you look money hungry, ING.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
On Atheists and Believers
What does it mean to be Christian, Jew, or Buddhist? If you go to church and try to believe, does that make you a Christian, or do you have to actually believe?
Are Atheists bad because they don't believe in God? What if a person goes to church, prays, studies the bible, lives by the ten commandments, and even WANTS to believe... but in the end, doesn't really believe in God. They are an Atheist. Are they not welcome in your society (I'm speaking to people that are intolerant of Atheists).
We need to get past what people believe is out there, and instead, focus on how people live, their morals, and how they treat others.
You can choose what organization you belong to, you can choose what rules to follow, but you can't really choose what you believe.
Are Atheists bad because they don't believe in God? What if a person goes to church, prays, studies the bible, lives by the ten commandments, and even WANTS to believe... but in the end, doesn't really believe in God. They are an Atheist. Are they not welcome in your society (I'm speaking to people that are intolerant of Atheists).
We need to get past what people believe is out there, and instead, focus on how people live, their morals, and how they treat others.
You can choose what organization you belong to, you can choose what rules to follow, but you can't really choose what you believe.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Healthcare Reform
Repeal the healthcare bill!
Declare it unconstitutional!
You can't force people to buy stuff (unless you are Apple).
Yet, it is badly needed. It makes moral sense. It makes financial sense.
Two options:
Also, need easier way to track general health indicators (i.e. wieght) daily. Maybe hook scale up to bed, or car.
Declare it unconstitutional!
You can't force people to buy stuff (unless you are Apple).
Yet, it is badly needed. It makes moral sense. It makes financial sense.
Two options:
- Nationalize Healthcare
- Vouchers (for minimum care insurance)
Also, need easier way to track general health indicators (i.e. wieght) daily. Maybe hook scale up to bed, or car.
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