Slashdot Mirror

Oops, the hyperlink didn't work. Here's the
perfect solution to organize my paperwork.

• I have a pile that I still need to deal with
• I enter all bills in Quicken as I pay them
• I put all paid bills in to a big box, adding them from the front (like a stack, and mostly sorted by date)
• I also keep separate tax related boxes (that I can compare against Quicken records when needed)

In addition:

I also use something akin to this or this for keeping receipts. You can usually find one of these smaller expanding files with each pocket labeled by month. When I come in each day I empty my wallet of receipts and add them to the current month's pocket. (Okay, I'm usually lazy and drop them all in a pile on the corner of my desk until sometime near the end of the month, but you get the idea.) At the end of the year, I put the folder in the cabinet beside the box with the rest of the paid bills. Combined with Quicken records, I can usually find anything I need in a matter of minutes.

Receipts and bills aren't a problem for me. More difficult for me is figuring out how to organize other important documents - retirement funds, medical benefits, etc. Here "sorted by date" isn't as useful and unlike bills, I find myself having to return to them from time to time to look up information. I've ended up just using hanging folders for each in a file cabinet, but I still find it frustrating to determine how much of the fluff you get in the mail should be stored, where to put it, and how to find it.

• I have a pile that I still need to deal with
• I enter all bills in Quicken as I pay them
• I put all paid bills in to a big box, adding them from the front (like a stack, and mostly sorted by date)
• I also keep separate tax related boxes (that I can compare against Quicken records when needed)

In addition:

I also use something akin to this or this for keeping receipts. You can usually find one of these smaller expanding files with each pocket labeled by month. When I come in each day I empty my wallet of receipts and add them to the current month's pocket. (Okay, I'm usually lazy and drop them all in a pile on the corner of my desk until sometime near the end of the month, but you get the idea.) At the end of the year, I put the folder in the cabinet beside the box with the rest of the paid bills. Combined with Quicken records, I can usually find anything I need in a matter of minutes.

Receipts and bills aren't a problem for me. More difficult for me is figuring out how to organize other important documents - retirement funds, medical benefits, etc. Here "sorted by date" isn't as useful and unlike bills, I find myself having to return to them from time to time to look up information. I've ended up just using hanging folders for each in a file cabinet, but I still find it frustrating to determine how much of the fluff you get in the mail should be stored, where to put it, and how to find it.

Just look at all the air around that desk. Complete waste of space!

Instead, get something like this.

That's all the desk you should ever need.

I would hate the expense of inkjet printing too, if I didn't know about this source for ink: MegaToners.com.

For example, the black ink cartridge for my Epson 600 normally sells for about $23. MegaToners sells a compatible cartridge for only $1.40!

No, they're not brand-name cartridges, but I've had zero problems with them.

Thing that helped me most in my college (and post-grad) career: a week-at-a-glance (paper) organizer for the academic year like this one. Filled it up with dates for midterms and exams at the start of the semester, carried it everywhere.

For better note-taking, I wish I'd know about "Mind Mapping" -- see Google Non-linear note taking with pictures, arrows, scribbles, etc.. (I've got one of Tony Buzan's books -- good, if a little hype-heavy.) Even without a note-taking "system", I learned to transcribe all the notes after class into a big three-ring that never left my room. Only took a legal pad and a couple of pens to classes.

A PDA would have been nice, I suppose, but a Swiss Army knife came in much more handy.

I bought two of these printers and never plan on buying another printer for b&w use ever.

You could just as well use one of these

Please note: Office Max is not Office Depot . Don't accidentally boycott the wrong store!

If you believe that Office Depot has made a mistake (or even if you don't), tell them yourself. I did.
Customer Service Email

I bought my recent UPS there. Most things are about equal in price from wherever you shop now. Try for instance a router or the same router. I just grabbed that product as a random example. It just goes to show that Office Depot is that terribly hhigh priced.

OH NO!!!!

Get it while you can. I doubt the following will pass the certification!

I don't think they do now.

If they do, their search engine doesn't know about it.

Downside is that the serial interface to the controller tops out at 300 kbps, but for $33 (in 10K quantities) it's a cool, easy way to net-enable just about anything."

The size is a big factor but there are already full blown devices that can do far more then this and are cheaper. Take a look at some DSL/Cable routers. Siemens sells one that is a 10/100 4 port switch, web interface and control, printer port, firewall, etc... for $19 and $28. Many SMC barricades and Linksys models are going for under $40. These devices might not fit into a toaster but I know they could be made smaller. I know comparing these to the articles product is not apples to apples but there are cheaper and more robust web and network enabled devices already out on the street.

Papermate now sells a ballpoint pencil. The price is a little steep but it really is a wonderful invention. I'm left handed and because of the way I push an ordinary or mechanical pencil I end up with a lot of graphite on my hand and I break a lot of lead. Not so with this new ballpoint pencil. The only drawback is the sucky eraser it comes with. I suggest replacing it with better ones.

If the genuine Lexmark ink cartridges are that good, then they shouldn't have a problem convincing people to buy genuine ones. Oh wait... the ink cartridges are only expensive because of an artificial monopoly on replacement parts? Not because they're actually that good? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Now that the IRS's e-file program is officially available, Intuit will have to radically change their business model for TurboTax. I completed my federal and MA state taxes online last night through TaxAct. It was quick, easy and without hassle.

There are several other IRS e-file Partners, many of which will allow you to file online for free. And if you don't qualify for free filing, you can file for as little as $4.95 for federal and $7.95 for state taxes, which is much less than the cost of TurboTax Basic Plus State, never mind the additional $9.95 cost of filing each return.
Web filing will beat out packaged tax software because it can be delivered more cheaply and is platform independent.

Now that the IRS's e-file program is officially available, Intuit will have to radically change their business model for TurboTax. I completed my federal and MA state taxes online last night through TaxAct. It was quick, easy and without hassle.

There are several other IRS e-file Partners, many of which will allow you to file online for free. And if you don't qualify for free filing, you can file for as little as $4.95 for federal and $7.95 for state taxes, which is much less than the cost of TurboTax Basic Plus State, never mind the additional $9.95 cost of filing each return.
Web filing will beat out packaged tax software because it can be delivered more cheaply and is platform independent.

Tell that to the pilots of United who have just seen their entire retirement go up in smoke with the bankruptcy of that company.

And whose fault is it that those pilots didn't take a few minutes every once in a while to wonder if their employer's finances were healthy and if they were going to be around for a while? Whose fault is it that they put all their savings and investment eggs in one basket?

I used to have a nice programming job. I spent most of my money on rent and the rest on toys, food, and airplane tickets. When the tech industry stumbled, the investors got spooked and didn't go for a 3rd round, and most of us got laid off. I was forced into working for painful corporate chain retail under dehumanizing conditions. But I took the responsibility for that. Yes, external circumstances were the catalyst, but had I gotten a cheaper apartment and saved more, I would probably have had an extra year or so (living with my parents, which is what I did while working retail) to try to find a job I liked.

I managed to get a job as a night auditor for a hotel. I like the work and the people I work with, but I make less than half of what I did programming. I'm very close to the edge financially, and I'm still paying off some credit card debt. I'm staying with others rather than getting my own house or apartment in order to save money. I will say, though, that I'm twice as happy with half the money than I was in the programming job.

Your failure to plan for your future is not my responsibility. Go get another job and work like the rest of us, and don't come complaining to me, of all people, about the bad economy. Yes, it sucks. But I, for one, have learned my lesson from this arguably minor recession, and I'm doing my best to ensure that I'm financially stable and have a little bit of a cushion should things get bad for me again.

As far as the environment goes, it's not that difficult to be somewhat conscious of the consequences of your actions, even without a lot of available cash. Where I live now (northwest Colorado), there is no viable regional mass transit, so I drive a car. But it's a Civic, which runs very reliably, is fairly fuel efficient, and handles extremely well. I'm pretty sure my payments are quite a bit less than those of the SUVs and giant trucks that are popular around here, and it costs me less to fill up my tank from empty with the highest-octane gas I can find than it does for them to top off their tanks with crappy gas, and I get farther.

And use shred oil. Have they never heard of shred oil?

Not a joke. I'm talking about this kind of pen, and it doesn't "levitate" . . . but it does clearly show some lift. Try it.

-Windows open: Fresh Air + Sunlight = GOOD!

I like a quiet mostly dark room myself, but frequent breaks to the outside are great!

-Swivel Chair/Titlty Chair: So you can move around some and 'stretch' out.

When I was in retail prison, I used to try to sell this chair all the time ("Wow, your 6yo girl's first homework setup? Try this chair! It'll, um, last her for life..."), because it's comfortable! If only it leaned backwards a little farther. Just don't let those silly stripey-shirted inquisitive helpful salesbots fool you: it already has the good fabric (might be nice in a black and dark green, though...).

-Music up: Radio or playlist, either way try to get a variety of songs/music you know.

Back when I had bandwidth, Digitally Imported would protect me. Now that those fee guidelines are in place, can it even push me down the stairs anymore? :( (Sorry, long night...)

-Coffee/Mountain Dew/Jolt/Bawls/Etc: 'nough said

Bzzt! Tea. Hot, high-quality green or herbal tea, such as ginger.

-Food: Good snacks that don't really drain you. For me, these include things like Cashews, Chex Party Mix, and Kettle Chips (if you haven't had these potato chips, SHAME ON YOU!). Avoid anything that is really sugar-rich though, as it'll give you that little boost, then kill ya and make you want to sleep. Wanting to sleep=bad code.

Just had that happen. I had a good 6hrs sleep before coming to work, which is usually plenty for me to make it through the night. I didn't feel like making anything, so I grabbed a can of SpaghettiOs. Big mistake. After consuming half the can of starch/sugar, I immediately passed out on the floor for 3hrs. (I work nights at a hotel, and it's allowed, but still.)

Sugar is poison in large quantities. Ever wonder why jellies and jams don't really go bad?

Avoid anything sugar-rich or massively starchy, period. It'll make you fat and kill your energy in general, plus for me it causes skin problems. Protein and some fat, mostly; that'll keep you energetic for the long haul, and you should be able to stay up longer without an unpleasant crash in the middle. (Just be sure to wash hands and face if you eat anything greasy, or you'll feel gross and get grease on the keyboard besides.) Try any of Morningstar's hot dogs or Boca's sausages (brats, italian sausages, etc); they're basically pure wheat/soy protein and they taste great.

My advice: stay away from retail at all costs. Try something secretarial, in hospitality, or even manual labor. Anything is better than being told all day why your reservations about hard-selling extended warranties are invalid, and that if a product is carried by the company, there can't ever be anything wrong with it, etc. Keep your dignity at all costs.

Oh, and find a job with consistent shifts, if it's hourly. Nothing sucks more than noon one day, 8am the next, 3pm the next. Especially when instead of giving you the schedule the Wednesday before, like you were promised, they decide that Sunday morning is a better time.

I'm optimistic, personally... 23:00-07:00 5 nights a week, with a 2-day break, and no micromanaging bosses.

I'm not sure where you shop, but if you pay $2-3 for twenty sheets of regular paper and $1 for photo paper, I have some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

Office Depot sells 500 sheets on inkjet paper for $5 and copier paper for $4. I bought 75 sheets of Premium Kodak Photo Paper for $20 at Sam's. Lasers may give better quality, but you'll pay for it.

I'm not sure where you shop, but if you pay $2-3 for twenty sheets of regular paper and $1 for photo paper, I have some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

Office Depot sells 500 sheets on inkjet paper for $5 and copier paper for $4. I bought 75 sheets of Premium Kodak Photo Paper for $20 at Sam's. Lasers may give better quality, but you'll pay for it.

1. In color, an inkjet will cost you (rough estimate) $2 to $3/week at that rate. That's not taking the cost of special paper into account. (Ask yourself if you need color -- what are you going to use it for?)
2. At the same rate, a used LaserJet will cost you roughly 50 for the same number of pages.

   Really important point:
   

3. Laser printers produce a lot better output on cheap paper. Inkjets sometimes require paper that costs more than blank CD-Rs! ($1.00/sheet for photo quality paper!)

If you really need color, an inkjet is hard to beat.

• HP Inkjet printers can "mix" ink to create better-blended colors on a page. (I don't think they're alone in this capability, either.) HP calls it "Color Layering" -- it works because injets dyes and pigments aren't completely opaque, where laserprinter toner is.

• Color laser printers are limited to placing 4 different colors of toner next to each other and letting your eye perceive something that's not really there. Sure, you could stack pixels just like an inkjet, but instead of blending colors, you'd just see the one on top (best case), or a melted brown smear (worst case).

• Other side of the coin: Dyes fade. Pigments (for the most part) don't. This is why you can still dig out 20-year-old laserjet-printed material and it's perfectly readable. Print out a picture of your cat on an inkjet, leave it tacked up in your cube, and print out a new one -- same printer, same file -- a year later. You'll notice the fading.

  There are some inkjets moving to pigment-based instead of dye-based inks. (It's a premium expense, though.) The output from these is supposed to be colorfast for much longer periods, but I haven't seen this first-hand.

Nope, I use one of these.

And what about these evil bastards?

Make your voice heard on this...

I got hired, got a chair (real crap), nice work area and so on. I've noticed that my back hurt after 3 hours.

I figured I'd just go and get something usable.

I've decided to shop around. The chair I finally bought is called Global Supreme Executive. Here is a link

I bought it with my own money. Then I bought another one for my house. It hunted through several stores before I found another one.

How does it feel? It basically makes you look for your car seatbelt. If you like the feel of a car seat, this one has the feel of the expensive car.

The headrest is a wonder. I also use a fellowes footrest. I am 6' tall and love to seat very high. This chair is a true wonder.

To make this story short, the company later bought Leaps for all of us. I tried it, and kept my chair :-).

Everyone who had a chance to sit in my chair wants to buy it, so give it a try at your local OfficeDepot :-)

Consider this hypothetical situation. You go to one of the numerous electronics or computer retailers across the fruited plain and you buy a computer off the shelf. (Please...you can stop laughing now at the absurdity of this possibility.) The thing's preloaded with the latest bluescreen inducer. (We're also assuming that, for whatever reason, thinking different isn't an option.) You'd rather replace the preloaded software with something that's a little more reliable. You borrow a copy of $LINUX_DISTRO|$FREEBSD_DISTRO from a friend and blow away Win$YEAR when Billy sends some attack lawyers down from Redmond and slaps you with a lawsuit for depriving him of any future revenue when Win`expr $YEAR + 1` comes along.

How is the above hypothetical any different than what Gracenote is trying to pull off here? They seem to be under the impression that once you use their service in your software, you're stuck with them forever.

(Does anybody have a tool and/or a project (probably of a distributed nature) going to brute-force CDDB for all possible data and pass the info along to one of the free (as in speech) alternatives?)

The caveats are that you need to find the height of the cabinets to be agreeable (but there are a few cheap cabinet offerings of slightly different heights that you can pick from), and the legs of your desk must leave room for the cabinets.

Try it if your work environment satisfies the above requirements. With benefits like these, those 4 extra shelves are really just a little icing on the cake :).