IRS & Taxes: Free Tax Preparation and efile if You Made $57,000 or Less

by Daniella Nicole

If you made less than $57,000 for 2009, you may qualify for free tax preparation and efile. The IRS website lists all the companies they are working with who offer free efile. Some offer free state efiling, as well. Check the limitations of each offer. Be sure to use the IRS link to the site in order to get the free efile.

Find a free tax preparation and efile company here: Free eFile

Please note that the earlier in the year that you file, the more quickly you can get your return. The time right now is about 8 business days. As it gets closer to April 15th, that time could increase to 21 business days or so.

You don't have to have everything ready to begin the efile process - the information can be saved and worked on as you go.

Who is Hiring? More Jobs for the Week Feb 14 – 20

by Daniella Nicole

As I go about my daily business for work and home, I have begun to check out the jobs/careers section of each business site I come across in order to see if they have openings I can pass along. Here are some more that I came across:

Staples is hiring across the country. This is the link for the non-hourly (corporate/managerial/etc) openings.

Novell is hiring. Multiple locations, including international. Mostly tech, a few internships and one tax/finance (internship).

Hulu is hiring. Multiple locations. 24 openings, currently.

eBay is hiring. Multiple openings and locations.

Home Shopping Network is hiring. Multiple job types and locations. Currently there are 69 job openings.

TicketMaster is hiring. Multiple job types and locations.

If you get a job from these listings, please let us know. Good luck!

Who is hiring? Job Search Information for This Week Feb 14 - 20

by Daniella Nicole

I know a number of people who are seeking work. I always keep my eyes open for them, and in the course of my normal work day I occasionally come across helpful information and job leads.

Here are some companies that are hiring and some job search tools I found recently:

Intermountain Healthcare (Utah) is hiring.

Franklin Covey is hiring. Multiple job types and locations.

Fox News is hiring. Multiple locations and job types. Not all are media-related.

Angie’s List is hiring. Current listings in Indianapolis, IN. Multiple job types.

Upillar is hiring. Not much information, but an email addy for resume submission.

Facebook is hiring. Facebook HQ is in Palo Alto, CA. Multiple job types.

Home Depot is hiring. Multiple locations.

Indeed and Simply Hired are both free job search tools that allow you to use advanced tools to search multiple job listing sites at once.

If you know of any additional listings or tools, please feel free to add them in the comments section. Please no soliciting, paid sites or other such posts.

Please let us know if you apply for and get a job through these listings. Good luck!

G-Man, Baby

by Daniella Nicole

I've read a lot of news and postings about the government following blogs, tweets, Facebook postings and the like. Being ever opportunistic, I previously came up with a way to use this to my advantage (monetizing online endeavors = free 'government' healthcare). Yesterday, I came up with another way: finding me a nice G-man (they are totally hot!)

The playful postings to Facebook yesterday lead me to create this lyrical parody of Santa Baby (Eartha Kitt version) that flirts with those sexy G-men while also addressing the government spying issue. Feel free to sing along! Lyrics below the video.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
G-Man, Baby

G-Man baby, just put away the warrant you see,
For me.
been an awful good girl,
G-Man baby, and hurry on over tonight.

G-Man honey, bring your sweet Glock pistol too,
22.
I'll wait up for you dear,
G-Man baby, and hurry on over tonight.

Think of all the fun we've missed,
Think of all the times that we could’ve kissed,
Next year I could be oh so good,
If you'll just take me off the watch list,

G-Man honey, I want a shot,
And really that's not a lot,
Been an angel all year,
G-Man baby, and hurry on over tonight.

G-Man Cutie, there's one thing I really do need,
Your lead
To a G-Man all mine,
G-Man Cutie, and hurry on over tonight.

G-Man baby, and fill my time with face rubs,
And love.
Just don’t cross the line,
G-Man cutie, and hurry on over tonight.

Come and sweep me off my feet,
with the way you follow all of my tweets,
I really do believe in you,
Let's see if you believe in me,

G-Man honey, forgot to mention one little thing,
A ring.
But, not on the tapped phone,
G-Man baby, and hurry on over tonight.

Hurry on over tonight,
Hurry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a Mom I Understand Things Congress and Others Seem to Have Forgotten

by Daniella Nicole

As a mom, I understand the importance of thinking through actions and understanding the laws of consequences. I understand the importance of values such as honesty, integrity and personal responsibility. These are the concepts I teach my child and practice myself, as a mom and an example to my child. I expect no less from our elected public servants.

As a single mom and sole bread-winner, I understand the importance of balancing budgets, not overspending and making careful choices about time, prioritization and money. I teach these concepts to my child and expect our public officials to adhere to these same concepts when dealing with our time, our issues and our money.

As a mommy-preneur and sole proprietor, I understand the business world, the importance of reading documents before signing them and the importance of adhering to the law. I understand the difficult choices that sometimes must be made and the fact that you cannot please everyone. I understand the importance of communication with those I work for and the importance of doing my homework so I can give the best of myself and my work to those I work for. I also understand that even when it isn't popular, it is still important to do what is right and to stand up against what is wrong. Torpedos be danged! I expect the same of those elected to represent we, the people.

As a mom, I understand these are all very basic principles that are at the core of success in any personal or professional venture. They should be at the heart of all our elected officials do in their capacity as our employees. It is time they remember these values and principles as well as what their role really is - as our employees - not our masters.

Remembering 9/11 – Why its Important

Image from FEMA - Public Doman. Wikimedia Commons.

I will never forget the events of 9/11 – nor where I was and how I felt that day and in all the days that followed. Few things have caused me to cry so long and so hard as I did then.

Today, I have been reflecting and remembering. For me, its about so much more than us being attacked. Please understand – us being attacked is horrible and I in no way mean to minimize it. It IS a big deal that we were attacked.

There are also other aspects of what happened that should be considered.

In the months leading up to the attack, we were being attacked around the world. Do you remember the U.S.S. Cole incident? There were others, too. Americans were being targeted. Since 9/11 things have changed a great deal and the terrorists and the war they launched against us were taken off our soil.

When the World Trade Center towers were hit, it was not just Americans who died. In the towers and on the planes were people from many other countries, too. The World Trade Center was just that – a place of business for people all around the world. When the towers were chosen as targets, war was declared on the world.

News reports that day and in the days following as officials struggled to find out who was behind the attacks showed people in some countries in mourning – sending prayers for those they lost and for us, or just shedding tears and sending prayers for the losses we experienced, guiltily feeling grateful that their country did not experience losses, too.

Other clips showed people in other countries taking to the streets, celebrating and cheering. It wasn’t just the ‘radical Muslim al-Qaeda members’ who wanted us dead. There are other groups, people and countries around the world who share the sentiment.

We need to remember this – not to stir up anger and hate, but so that we can be aware and prepared. If we know who ‘the enemy’ is it’s a lot easier to know how to protect ourselves and defeat them in their efforts against us.

The people who died that day and in the days following due to the attacks are numerous. The pain still felt to this day by those left behind is immeasurable. We cannot change what happened, but we can stand strong and show those who wish us harm that they have failed. We can honor the memories of those we lost best by making their death more than a senseless tragedy. Let us use it to be better, kinder, more united and stronger.

Let us honor them by rebuilding the towers – bigger, better and stronger.
Let us honor them by remembering the days following 9/11 and reclaiming those feelings of love, kindness, compassion and togetherness we had. We are Americans, first and foremost. United we stand – divided we fall.
Let us never forget this day; using every anniversary as a renewal to our commitment to be united and to never let ‘our enemies’ (foreign or domestic) destroy us.

Let us keep the focus on the day as it should be and not allow the impact of 9/11 be minimized by calling it “A day of service”. We already are highly charitable and service-minded as a people. A day of service can be proclaimed any day – do not dishonor those who died or give a win to those who attacked by repackaging this day and ignoring the history of this country.

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Let us not condemn ourselves by forgetting, whitewashing or repackaging this day and the important lessons we have learned. Those lessons and how we became united, strengthened and inspired is why remembering this day is important.

Try Again, Mister President, Try Again

Not only did President Barack Obama use his time at the AFL-CIO to push his healthcare agenda on Labor Day, rather than celebrate the day/event, but he stood in front of the massive crowd (10,000 tickets were distributed for this) and told bold-faced lies. Get the full video and text HERE.

"But I've got a question for them: What's your answer? What's your solution? The truth is, they don't have one. It's do nothing."

The Republicans and some Democrats have been presenting other ideas for the healthcare bill. Additionally, “We, the People” have been voicing our concerns with solutions and answers in person at town hall meetings and at the offices of our elected officials; in protests; and in letters, email and faxes. That, Mister President, is ‘the truth’. Solutions and answers are being presented, you just aren’t listening. The truth is not that no one else has an answer, its that you are not interested in hearing any alternatives. Its your way or no way.

Apparently, we need to remind you, Mister President, that this is the United States of America and you are the elected leader of a constitutional republic. You are not the king, emperor or dictator. It is not a position that allows or entitles you to rule the country by whatever whims you decree.

“I want a health insurance system that works as well for the American people as it does for the insurance industry. They should be free to make a profit. But they also have to be fair. They also have to be accountable."

Your plan does not accomplish this, but suggested changes from others do. If you have read your own bill and know what is says, you know this. If you have not read the bill, you have no business pushing it.

“That's the lesson of this day-that some things are always worth fighting for. Equal pay. Fair wages. Dignity in the workplace. Justice on the job. An economy that works for everyone, because in America there are no second-class citizens. An economy where you can make a living and care for your families. Where you leave your kids something better.

Where we live up to our fundamental ideals-those words put on paper some 200 years ago. That we are all created equal; that we all deserve a chance to pursue our happiness and achieve our goals.
That is the calling to which we are summoned this Labor Day. That is the cause of my presidency. And that is the commitment we must fulfill to preserve the American Dream for all of America's working families.”

That would mean upholding the Constitution and supporting capitalism in this country – two things you have spoken against. A capitalist system works for everyone in that everyone who works can benefit. Those who only want a hand-out do not. If your idea of the American dream is a system that rewards laziness, punishes ambition and hard work, and collapses the entire economic system with entitlements, your idea is flawed in addition to not being in line with the Constitution.

Right now, you are ensuring that what we are leaving our children is not ‘something better’ but debt that even their children cannot pay off. Try again, Mister President. Try again.