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Monday, June 2nd 2008 Life Update
It’s June 2nd and I have approximately 15 days remaining as an independent contractor. This is the night gig. The night gig was never needed and I surely didn’t pursue it. But when friends ask for favors and whittle you down to a mere twig of resistance it’s easy to say yes to extra work.
The project is working with is Oracle Databases and I’m doing data migrations. There exists a bunch of data in Database A and it needs to get into Database B. The only problem is that Database B is a completely different data structure. An easy example: Database A has a table called customers. Each row in the table contains all the relevant customer information Database B has a table called customers, which only contains their Name, email and user name. Then there is a customer address table which contains only their address information, and customer archive information which contains old customer records and reflect changes. Forgive me if this sounds sappy, but the only thing I've learned from this project is the knowledge that there is no amount of money on this planet that can replace the time that I spend with my friends. (Note: Since I did sign a contract, I’m at least honoring the damn thing even though I wanted to quit 2 months ago. Another life lesson: If you say you’re going to do something, you do it, or fail trying.) Anyway. The lack of social life that I’ve had for the past year is about to end and I can’t be more excited. If you’re wondering why I haven’t been blogging about the presidential election, it’s because of the aforementioned contract. Too bad i missed the fun. Also. stream.dejafoo.net
permalink posted by: stan -- 15:02:35 PST
Saturday, April 12th 2008 Taxes!
Today I paid my federal and state taxes. Here are the following forms that I was sent that I had to figure out what to do with. 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, W-2, 1099-B. Those were the "inputs" the outputs for state and federal taxes ended up being somewhere around twice that number. It's insane.
For the past few years I've been using Turbo Tax, this year I wanted to try the HR Block Tax cut. Overall the HR Tax Cut software was really easy to use. Except I couldn't use it. After spending a few hours getting all of my information in and starting on my "PA" taxes, it asked me to fill in "Line 12" from the 2006 PA-40. Ok.... Except there is no Line 12. I have only line 11. Shit. After searching around and realizing that I really didn't have "line 12" I said screw it and jumped on over to Turbo Tax.
Turbo Tax is a wonderful little software product that frighteningly enough, keeps all your past returns that you've filled with their system. I was able to basically copy last year into this year and make modifications as needed. They even take the extra step to get your W-2's over the internet from ADP so that it's less you have to fill in. I was ready to submit my taxes from turbo tax in 20 minutes!!! (Should have used this in the first place!) Unfortunately, the schedule c / 1099-misc system is all messed up. I as an independent contractor don't have a business name. The Schedule C form has a check box that you're supposed to check if your name is the same as the business name, turbo tax doesn't let you set that... but they do make you fill out the line that says "Business Name leave blank if your name is the business name." Which it complains about if you do.
Ehh. I'm tired this may be incoherent. Lunch was yummy though.
permalink posted by: stan -- 14:08:39 PST
Tuesday, April 1st 2008 Dean and the DNC
I saw this on Drudge earlier today:
NYT WEDS: PRESSURE MOUNTS ON DEM LEADER DEAN; INSIDERS QUESTION ABILITY TO NAVIGATE PRIMARY FINISH... DEVELOPING...
permalink posted by: stan -- 16:27:40 PST
Saturday, March 22nd 2008 3,000 Robots and Global Warming
The Mystery of Global Warming's Missing Heat
Some 3,000 scientific robots that are plying the ocean have sent home a puzzling message. These diving instruments suggest that the oceans have not warmed up at all over the past four or five years. That could mean global warming has taken a breather. Or it could mean scientists aren't quite understanding what their robots are telling them.
permalink posted by: stan -- 11:31:20 PST
Friday, January 25th 2008 Economic Stimulus Package Tax Rebate
Is it wrong of me to plan on spending my entire tax rebate in Canada on Cuban Cigars?
permalink posted by: stan -- 08:39:22 PST
Tuesday, November 20th 2007 Surprise! Obama takes lead in Iowa!
I consider this to be good news:
While the top three Democratic presidential candidates are locked in a fierce campaign battle for Iowa, one candidate is riding a new wave of support. According to the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday, Sen. Barack Obama has surged to a 4 point lead over Hillary Clinton, and an 8 point lead over John Edwards.
permalink posted by: stan -- 11:32:12 PST
Monday, October 1st 2007 Omri isn't happy unless he's unhappy.
Omri is mad at me for waking him up at 8:15am.
Yes I know how time zones work. Omri doesn't sleep, his complaint is unwarranted. Besides, he likes illustrating how scary Putin is any chance he gets! The story in question is this: MOSCOW (AP) - President Vladimir Putin said Monday he would lead the dominant party's ticket in December parliamentary elections and suggested he could become prime minister, the strongest indication yet that he will seek to retain power after he steps down as president early next year. Putin is barred from seeking a third consecutive term in the March presidential election, but has strongly indicated he would seek to keep a hand on Russia's reins.
permalink posted by: stan -- 09:38:09 PST
Sunday, September 30th 2007 Hey Taiwan! Shut Up!
Taiwan only spends 2.2% of it's GDP on military expenses.
They spend so little because of this US law that kind of sort of declares that we will defend their sovereignty. (5) to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character; and (6) to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan. (c) Nothing contained in this Act shall contravene the interest of the United States in human rights, especially with respect to the human rights of all the approximately eighteen million inhabitants of Taiwan. The preservation and enhancement of the human rights of all the people on Taiwan are hereby reaffirmed as objectives of the United States. IMPLEMENTATION OF UNITED STATES POLICY WITH REGARD TO TAIWAN So I should let them get a free pass for free-loading off of our defense system and then doing stuff to piss off China why? Taiwan's ruling party passed a resolution Sunday asserting the island's separate identity and calling for a referendum on its sovereignty, but failed to put any real force behind it, apparently out of fear of provoking rival China.
permalink posted by: stan -- 20:41:08 PST
Saturday, August 25th 2007 Florida's Democratic Primary No Longer Counts
So the DNC decided that it will no longer listen to Florida when it comes to little things like "Who Florida Democrats would like to represent them in the next Presidential Election."
The Democratic Party has taken a swipe at the nation's fourth biggest state, stripping Florida of all of its '08 delegates as punishment for jumping the gun with its Jan. 29 primary. Florida's early date could force other states to move up and up to stay at the front of the pack. Under a nearly unanimous vote taken moments ago by a powerful committee of the Democratic National Committee, if things don’t change, Florida’s primary will be a "beauty contest" — the delegates won’t count toward the party’s presidential nomination.
permalink posted by: stan -- 13:13:11 PST
Sunday, August 12th 2007 UN Website Hacked.....
The UN's Website was hacked...... and this is what they did
The official website of the United Nations appeared to have been hacked early Sunday, and was displaying a message protesting US and Israeli policies in the Middle East. Ok... so... are they sure it was hacked? I mean... this is different from any other day how?
permalink posted by: stan -- 13:18:46 PST
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