A good writer friend of mine sent me an article yesterday from an issue of Psychology Today. It was written by Dr. Neel Burton, in conjunction with release of his Book Hide & Seek: The Psychology of Self-deception, which expounds insights into mental disorders and related effects. My friend Tony sent it because it focused on Bipolar Disorder, what I've had for 35 years and still counting. I've read medical books on it, and tons of articles and essays, riveting personal accounts from Kay Jamison and Marya Hornbacher, Patty Duke et al. Heck, you know I've written and published my own story about my experiences. Yet this article was very different. Unique. Something I'd never contemplated and I'm sure most people are clueless about.
Like most of the billions of facts, histories, opinions and conjectures we've never heard or read, unless we searched them out or remembered them because they affected us directly, this little article might disappear as well. I mean, I've already written that in this age Content is King, and publishers online and off are inundating us with news, personal stories and opinions. So what's another mental illness article?
Here's the phrase that struck me: "...thus that they (our genes) must be conferring an important adaptive or evolutionary advantage..." followed by "...the genes that predispose to bipolar disorder also predispose to greater achievement and success..." Wow and wow again. To me, the full article is stating that our genes, human genes, have been and are adapting, evolving, . . . in a bipolar direction! Is that wild?
This means so much to me! It confirms what I've always felt -- I'm not crazy, not mentally ill. I functioned halfway around the world for nine full days while in a fully manic state. How could I do that? Being predisposed to non-aggression helped. But what I felt and knew and manifested -- untold energy; commitment to a vision, even compulsion; possibly solving hundreds of world problems; inspiration; and keen awareness of what was around me; my purpose, and the confidence and will to see it thru; were all elements of my manic state 5,000 miles away from home, alone.
No doubt without daily medications these past decades, I'd be divorced, homeless, an alcoholic or druggie, institutionalized or dead. That's reality. But Dr. Burton is saying to me, by giving so many, so many, examples of hypomanic or manic entertainers, artists, even statesmen, that bipolar has positive benefits on creativity, insight and is a knowledge generator. I've always known this. I have tried to express this in concrete terms in my memoir. All I can do is try. We have much to learn.
What I'm trying to say is that all humanity has been and will continue indefinitely to move to higher consciousness. That's a promise from all the Prophets of God thruout millenia. Each has provided fuller knowledge, expanded thinking and new civilizations by the billions of hearts and minds. These Gems of Holiness could be classified as the ultimate, controlled, fully manic leaders of ever more progressive ages.
As so many accounts of manic episodes prove, mania accelerates higher consciousness. And to Dr. Burton's well-taken point, bipolar "illness" is not being diluted in the gene pool, but is trending upwards, expanding. More and more hypomanic and manic states and examples are appearing every day, already approaching 10 million teens and adults here in the U.S., even if not properly labelled or diagnosed for years, or until too late to prevent their own suicide at a 30% rate. Of course, we have not reached perfection.
Of course it would be so. We are as adolescents on our way toward fuller maturity, wiser knowledge, greater cooperation and a time when "The lion and the lamb shall lay down together," symbolizing our animal and human natures in harmony.
And our hearts and chemical brains are leading us all to a glorious future.
by Rodney Richards Copyright 2014
Would love your comments. Subscribe for free or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
Surviving Bipolar Disorder in the modern age . . . a journey of Hope for the afflicted.
My poetic memoir Episodes available at www.amazon.com/episodes-rodney-richards/dp/0615914705/
Like you, I've had many ups and downs, and quite a few sideways experiences. I firmly believe everyone should write theirs and share them, whether just for themselves or their kids. Here are some from my memoirs, observations and thoughts.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
The Joys of Tax Deductions
It's that time of year when, for married people like me, one decision is paramount: Filing a 1040 singly or jointly. For our lean years together it was easy to fill out both versions of the 1040 ourselves to see which was best, especially since Janet was an accountant and bookkeeper previously, and has only honed her skills since. Even back in '71 when we started out together, penciling in various hardcopies was the norm. It's become much easier now to run multiple scenarios online to see which would provide the greatest benefit, or God be praised! a refund. And without many exceptions, filing jointly has cost us less.
Even today, most people know that filing singly is about half the deduction you both can get filing jointly. Marriage is a benefit to society, in dozens of ways, so is encouraged by the U.S. Government, and rightly so. Hence it has significant ramifications for the LGBT community, just as innumerable laws and regulations do on each of us. Tens of thousands of laws, even more regulations, all regulate our behavior, except for our thoughts. The future days of general telepathy will even change that freedom.
And we received deductions for dependents (e.g. our younger children), which category is broadly defined, thank goodness. Yet the deductions seem minimal: a few thousand dollars, not indicative of their real living costs at all, but better than nothing. And they don't apply to certain ages.
And significant costs such as healthcare rarely meet the 7% of income to even qualify as a deduction.This of course is a criminal flaw. Healthcare is a human right, like getting married and having children, and just as costly. At least Obamacare is helping in other ways.
Then we have deductions as homeowners, such as certain improvements, mortgage payments, and in recent years, things like energy credits. Deductions and credits are different. Of course amounts on the many Tax Tables can change every year, and credits come and go yearly, so it pays to subscribe to IRS.gov and its regular newsletters to see how these things change, and come and go, going usually because a law is left to lapse.
Take energy credits on solar installations, where powerful industries lobbied congressmen to extend them, and thankfully they were, until 2016 and a new round of concerns will begin. Janet and I used the credit to save $324 off our own tax liability by spraying insulation in our attic, thereby decreasing our heating bills by 10%. So this is a perfect example of how government changes and molds our lives based on tax policy, since these credits are only meant to jump start new energy conservation measures until they reach a self-sustaining level.
And I like this about some government supports - they're temporary. Wouldn't it be fantastic if all were so? Another example being research such as cold fusion to power our vehicles, like we've already done with compressed gas and electricity. I count renewables as the true future of energy supply since obviously all accessible fossil fuels are rapidly decreasing, if you take the hundred year view.
I could go on, but for me, also receiving business deductions, and charitable contribution deductions for a Faith we love, are benefits to all sole proprietors and all non-profit donors. I can't imagine what would happen to non-profits, religious and other kinds, if those deductions weren't there.
So here's the IRS website that helped me most: http://www.irs.gov/Credits-&-Deductions Hope it helps you.
Oh, and by the way, now paying our friend Joe a nominal fee for preparing multiple 1040 filings and calculations, is a real Godsend. You see, even with the 260 page 1040 Instruction Booklet available online, I'd rather trust our expert Joe, rather then decipher those "instructions" myself.
By Rodney Richards copyright 2014
Sign up for more posts, or to comment, both free, on the right side of your screen.
Even today, most people know that filing singly is about half the deduction you both can get filing jointly. Marriage is a benefit to society, in dozens of ways, so is encouraged by the U.S. Government, and rightly so. Hence it has significant ramifications for the LGBT community, just as innumerable laws and regulations do on each of us. Tens of thousands of laws, even more regulations, all regulate our behavior, except for our thoughts. The future days of general telepathy will even change that freedom.
And we received deductions for dependents (e.g. our younger children), which category is broadly defined, thank goodness. Yet the deductions seem minimal: a few thousand dollars, not indicative of their real living costs at all, but better than nothing. And they don't apply to certain ages.
And significant costs such as healthcare rarely meet the 7% of income to even qualify as a deduction.This of course is a criminal flaw. Healthcare is a human right, like getting married and having children, and just as costly. At least Obamacare is helping in other ways.
Then we have deductions as homeowners, such as certain improvements, mortgage payments, and in recent years, things like energy credits. Deductions and credits are different. Of course amounts on the many Tax Tables can change every year, and credits come and go yearly, so it pays to subscribe to IRS.gov and its regular newsletters to see how these things change, and come and go, going usually because a law is left to lapse.
Take energy credits on solar installations, where powerful industries lobbied congressmen to extend them, and thankfully they were, until 2016 and a new round of concerns will begin. Janet and I used the credit to save $324 off our own tax liability by spraying insulation in our attic, thereby decreasing our heating bills by 10%. So this is a perfect example of how government changes and molds our lives based on tax policy, since these credits are only meant to jump start new energy conservation measures until they reach a self-sustaining level.
And I like this about some government supports - they're temporary. Wouldn't it be fantastic if all were so? Another example being research such as cold fusion to power our vehicles, like we've already done with compressed gas and electricity. I count renewables as the true future of energy supply since obviously all accessible fossil fuels are rapidly decreasing, if you take the hundred year view.
I could go on, but for me, also receiving business deductions, and charitable contribution deductions for a Faith we love, are benefits to all sole proprietors and all non-profit donors. I can't imagine what would happen to non-profits, religious and other kinds, if those deductions weren't there.
So here's the IRS website that helped me most: http://www.irs.gov/Credits-&-Deductions Hope it helps you.
Oh, and by the way, now paying our friend Joe a nominal fee for preparing multiple 1040 filings and calculations, is a real Godsend. You see, even with the 260 page 1040 Instruction Booklet available online, I'd rather trust our expert Joe, rather then decipher those "instructions" myself.
By Rodney Richards copyright 2014
Sign up for more posts, or to comment, both free, on the right side of your screen.
Surviving Bipolar Disorder in the modern age . . . a journey of Hope for the afflicted. Check out my poetic memoir Episodes available at www.amazon.com/episodes-rodney-richards/dp/0615914705/
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Recurring Revenue: The Holy Grail of Modern Business
In the old days repeat customers, and new customers, kept the business alive. Especially retail and business to business (B2B) sales. Their were limited means to attract new customers: advertising, advertised store sales, and, if lucky, word of mouth. Which, before the Internet, meant "fad." there wasn't much thought given to capturing customer personal information, since scattershot newspaper, magazine and TV, and radio advertising, was about it. Everyone knows that direct mail campaigns, if successful, will generate a one percent (1%) response rate - but not even one guaranteed sale. Coupons were and still are found in the weekend papers.
It costs much more money to capture a new customer than to keep an existing customer. And you can see that from all the large budgets companies have for advertising. A good share of their profits is mostly wasted on blanket advertising vs targeted advertising. Direct mail and hand-holding by the sales rep with a few annual phone calls, was all that was necessary in the past to maintain the same customer year over year.
Today, it seems to me, all advertising is of only two kinds: special sale price ads or discounts, and branding ads with no specific pricing given, or they're combined. That is loyalty advertising. Promoting the brand name and the qualities the company wants people to remember: the product works, and the company is stable and solid. Every company will and does say "Customer Satisfaction is Our Number One Priority." And unfortunately, until we need something else from them, like a refund, we don't find out they're lying, or, as in most cases, haven't told us the full truth. "The small print" in other words. Yet sometimes customer's outrageous demands should be ignored. But when the company is always a poor responder, or doesn't provide multiple feedback and contact mechanisms, then the best thing to do is go to small claims court and get your money back (but no damages). In Mercer County where I live, that means claims under $3,000. I had to appear their once for a $75 doctor's bill I disputed in the early '80s - I paid it off for $50.
And today sales are all about establishing personal relationships. Companies want three things from you on the Internet: Name, email and mobile phone number. And there's tens of thousands of "free" sites, free trials, free gifts, "no obligation" company websites, and blogsites to prove it. They want you to subscribe to their regular newsletter or "sales updates," or "third party offers." And all these free outlets, even free community newspapers, generate most of their income from ads they show you, whether fixed price or by the click. This is called, in part, 'The Subscription Model,' and increasingly companies and websites are cherging for their subscriptions, either monthly or annually.
Recurring Revenue.
In the 'late 70's workin' for the State of NJ, we paid big bucks for mainframe software from companies like ADR, IBM, Computer Associates, SAS and others. We paid a one-time fee for a "perpetual license' - we owned it, yet also paid annual maintenance for updates and their tech services. "Perpetual" became "99-year," but new versions had to purchased again, so ultimately, they became annual licenses to use the software, with an annual fee subscription (like Microsoft) for updates and tech support seperately. Recurring revenue coming from both angles, the best of all possible scenarios.
This is the new mantra for all sales. Rent, lease etc. What's in a name? What can I do to generate recurring revenue from the same customer?
After all, its much, much cheaper for any kind of company to retain customers than it is to obtain new buyers.
Caveat Emptor
by Rodney Richards 2014.
Subscription to this blog is free or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com with comments
Surviving Bipolar Disorder in the modern age . . . a journey of Hope for the afflicted.
My poetic memoir Episodes available at www.amazon.com/episodes-rodney-richards/dp/0615914705/
It costs much more money to capture a new customer than to keep an existing customer. And you can see that from all the large budgets companies have for advertising. A good share of their profits is mostly wasted on blanket advertising vs targeted advertising. Direct mail and hand-holding by the sales rep with a few annual phone calls, was all that was necessary in the past to maintain the same customer year over year.
Today, it seems to me, all advertising is of only two kinds: special sale price ads or discounts, and branding ads with no specific pricing given, or they're combined. That is loyalty advertising. Promoting the brand name and the qualities the company wants people to remember: the product works, and the company is stable and solid. Every company will and does say "Customer Satisfaction is Our Number One Priority." And unfortunately, until we need something else from them, like a refund, we don't find out they're lying, or, as in most cases, haven't told us the full truth. "The small print" in other words. Yet sometimes customer's outrageous demands should be ignored. But when the company is always a poor responder, or doesn't provide multiple feedback and contact mechanisms, then the best thing to do is go to small claims court and get your money back (but no damages). In Mercer County where I live, that means claims under $3,000. I had to appear their once for a $75 doctor's bill I disputed in the early '80s - I paid it off for $50.
And today sales are all about establishing personal relationships. Companies want three things from you on the Internet: Name, email and mobile phone number. And there's tens of thousands of "free" sites, free trials, free gifts, "no obligation" company websites, and blogsites to prove it. They want you to subscribe to their regular newsletter or "sales updates," or "third party offers." And all these free outlets, even free community newspapers, generate most of their income from ads they show you, whether fixed price or by the click. This is called, in part, 'The Subscription Model,' and increasingly companies and websites are cherging for their subscriptions, either monthly or annually.
Recurring Revenue.
In the 'late 70's workin' for the State of NJ, we paid big bucks for mainframe software from companies like ADR, IBM, Computer Associates, SAS and others. We paid a one-time fee for a "perpetual license' - we owned it, yet also paid annual maintenance for updates and their tech services. "Perpetual" became "99-year," but new versions had to purchased again, so ultimately, they became annual licenses to use the software, with an annual fee subscription (like Microsoft) for updates and tech support seperately. Recurring revenue coming from both angles, the best of all possible scenarios.
This is the new mantra for all sales. Rent, lease etc. What's in a name? What can I do to generate recurring revenue from the same customer?
After all, its much, much cheaper for any kind of company to retain customers than it is to obtain new buyers.
Caveat Emptor
by Rodney Richards 2014.
Subscription to this blog is free or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com with comments
Surviving Bipolar Disorder in the modern age . . . a journey of Hope for the afflicted.
My poetic memoir Episodes available at www.amazon.com/episodes-rodney-richards/dp/0615914705/
Friday, March 7, 2014
How I Love Thee Mickey D's
Okay, love is pretty strong for Big Macs, but they have been my second-most liked sandwich for decades, w/out heavy dressing. The sauce isn't bad, but they slap so much on my hamburger it's inedible after 4 bites. I do love the tiny onions on it tho. And I loved their Quarter Pounders also, until Burger King Whoppers w/out mayo came along. Unfortunately, the Burger King nearest us, on Quakerbridge Road, has too few tellers/order takers, and the wait is interminable. So I don't stop by there as much anymore. (Even tho their warm Cinnabons are to die for.)
My favorite Mac's sandwich, which has only changed slightly since my youth, is the Filet-O-Fish. Yes, it's frozen then deep-fried, so the fish is soggy and has no substance, melting in my mouth. The tartar sauce, innocuous but with a little pleasing taste, has barely changed. Yes, the bun and square fish patty is probably smaller, but, I really like seafood.
My first food preference is homemade or good pasta, al dente, with meatballs and sweet Italian sausage, fresh torps and butter -- well you get the picture if you've had good mostacolli, rigatoni, ravioli with meat sauce (homemade or from Mannino's on Rt 130).
Hey, I even love the hard yellow spaghetti with meat sauce from Pizza Hut on Rt. 33, with cheese on the bread (love that). Sometimes I just have 5 slices, say for dinner after my Lawrence Library writing class -- but that Pizza Hut, on Rt. 1, recently closed. No wonder, hardly ever any customers at dinner when I ate there. How'd it survive?
Then comes fish/seafood. After that, good Queen-cut prime rib or steaks. Brothers is still in business (closed?) on Quakerbridge Road. Great lunch menus, with Southwestern rolls -- very tasty and cheap. Sometimes I just have a four-item appetizer plate for dinner. Janet and I went there for prime rib and salad bar before Longhorn Steakhouse opened just a mile away from us at Hamilton Marketplace, the best outdoor shops and only a mile away. The Longthorn brown bread, warm, with whipped garlic butter is delicious as a start, and we always look forward to that, devouring it. And their butter-drowned mashed potatoes are fantastic. Love the real butter for my heart and arteries. Never will cut that out, since I grew up in the '50s without tasty margarines.
But I don't understand where I got my fish urgings from. Even Red Lobster (at least fresh), on Rt. 1 (still there), was a fav site of mine years ago, until fish was offered everywhere, like the Rock skewer shrimp at Longhorn, or the Talapia with salsa available everywhere. Never had fish much growin' up -- my single-workin' mom couldn't afford it I guess. But that changed in '62 when she married my Italian stepdad, Ralph. Excellent cook. And at Easter or Christmas we had complete 7 fish dinners. But I'm picky. Didn't develop tastes for mussels, calamari, baccala, scungili or oysters. Huh? And I'm half Italian? I mean my real family name from Grandad is Ricci, not Richards.
But I love all forms of shrimp; not crab legs in the shell, but otherwise yes, like in crabcakes. But back to Filet-O-Fish. How can I stand it? Its so overcooked and not fresh. Fresh makes all the difference in seafood, any food, between loving and tolerating. Well, I happened to notice the writing on its Mac Ds box. "Dive right in...Because it's made with light flaky white fish filet, topped with tangy (?) tartar sauce all in a lightly steamed bun." "I'm lovin' it (TM)" and then the golden arches.
So I think, What kinda white fish? It's Alaskan Pollock, according to the other side of the box. It's a cod fish found in the Bering Sea. 3,000+ miles away from my Mac's in Hamilton Marketplace. So of course, its frozen. Probably been so for days. But I still like it. And when mom handed me Mac's coupons yesterday, I saw the reusable $2 coupon for it, a good deal. I think its only worth $2, but that would be its price from years and years ago. So unlikely to stay that way.
But I gotta hand it to Mac's - a small bag of fries, the same overly salted, tasty thin fries, is only $1.19 plus NJ sales tax. $1.19! And there's more fries in the bags now then when I had my first Mac's fries in the 60s. That bag cost me $.19, but that means inflation really hasn't been that bad! Well, not really. I suppose like all industries in America, from agriculture to car-making, they get subsidies and tax deductions like every other large company (not as much for small businesses -- I have two). So keepin' the fast food prices down is a real art and costs big $$$ paid to big lobbyists.And that one bag of fries averages 20% of calories, AND tons of salt. Wow. No wonder we're thirsty for Big Gulps.
But hey! This is America, right? Gotta keep some prices artificially lower (like bread and milk), and taxes, or the population would go nuts. And I love America next to God and family.
I don't want to go nuts over these realities. I've been nuts five times but didn't know it. Just like we don't know the real cost of products, what with coupons, or even food with all their agriculture and processing subsidies.
But Filet and Fries taste great! And the chocolate plastic milkshake.
By Rodney Richards Copyright 2014 Subscribe for free or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
My favorite Mac's sandwich, which has only changed slightly since my youth, is the Filet-O-Fish. Yes, it's frozen then deep-fried, so the fish is soggy and has no substance, melting in my mouth. The tartar sauce, innocuous but with a little pleasing taste, has barely changed. Yes, the bun and square fish patty is probably smaller, but, I really like seafood.
My first food preference is homemade or good pasta, al dente, with meatballs and sweet Italian sausage, fresh torps and butter -- well you get the picture if you've had good mostacolli, rigatoni, ravioli with meat sauce (homemade or from Mannino's on Rt 130).
Hey, I even love the hard yellow spaghetti with meat sauce from Pizza Hut on Rt. 33, with cheese on the bread (love that). Sometimes I just have 5 slices, say for dinner after my Lawrence Library writing class -- but that Pizza Hut, on Rt. 1, recently closed. No wonder, hardly ever any customers at dinner when I ate there. How'd it survive?
Then comes fish/seafood. After that, good Queen-cut prime rib or steaks. Brothers is still in business (closed?) on Quakerbridge Road. Great lunch menus, with Southwestern rolls -- very tasty and cheap. Sometimes I just have a four-item appetizer plate for dinner. Janet and I went there for prime rib and salad bar before Longhorn Steakhouse opened just a mile away from us at Hamilton Marketplace, the best outdoor shops and only a mile away. The Longthorn brown bread, warm, with whipped garlic butter is delicious as a start, and we always look forward to that, devouring it. And their butter-drowned mashed potatoes are fantastic. Love the real butter for my heart and arteries. Never will cut that out, since I grew up in the '50s without tasty margarines.
But I don't understand where I got my fish urgings from. Even Red Lobster (at least fresh), on Rt. 1 (still there), was a fav site of mine years ago, until fish was offered everywhere, like the Rock skewer shrimp at Longhorn, or the Talapia with salsa available everywhere. Never had fish much growin' up -- my single-workin' mom couldn't afford it I guess. But that changed in '62 when she married my Italian stepdad, Ralph. Excellent cook. And at Easter or Christmas we had complete 7 fish dinners. But I'm picky. Didn't develop tastes for mussels, calamari, baccala, scungili or oysters. Huh? And I'm half Italian? I mean my real family name from Grandad is Ricci, not Richards.
But I love all forms of shrimp; not crab legs in the shell, but otherwise yes, like in crabcakes. But back to Filet-O-Fish. How can I stand it? Its so overcooked and not fresh. Fresh makes all the difference in seafood, any food, between loving and tolerating. Well, I happened to notice the writing on its Mac Ds box. "Dive right in...Because it's made with light flaky white fish filet, topped with tangy (?) tartar sauce all in a lightly steamed bun." "I'm lovin' it (TM)" and then the golden arches.
So I think, What kinda white fish? It's Alaskan Pollock, according to the other side of the box. It's a cod fish found in the Bering Sea. 3,000+ miles away from my Mac's in Hamilton Marketplace. So of course, its frozen. Probably been so for days. But I still like it. And when mom handed me Mac's coupons yesterday, I saw the reusable $2 coupon for it, a good deal. I think its only worth $2, but that would be its price from years and years ago. So unlikely to stay that way.
But I gotta hand it to Mac's - a small bag of fries, the same overly salted, tasty thin fries, is only $1.19 plus NJ sales tax. $1.19! And there's more fries in the bags now then when I had my first Mac's fries in the 60s. That bag cost me $.19, but that means inflation really hasn't been that bad! Well, not really. I suppose like all industries in America, from agriculture to car-making, they get subsidies and tax deductions like every other large company (not as much for small businesses -- I have two). So keepin' the fast food prices down is a real art and costs big $$$ paid to big lobbyists.And that one bag of fries averages 20% of calories, AND tons of salt. Wow. No wonder we're thirsty for Big Gulps.
But hey! This is America, right? Gotta keep some prices artificially lower (like bread and milk), and taxes, or the population would go nuts. And I love America next to God and family.
I don't want to go nuts over these realities. I've been nuts five times but didn't know it. Just like we don't know the real cost of products, what with coupons, or even food with all their agriculture and processing subsidies.
But Filet and Fries taste great! And the chocolate plastic milkshake.
By Rodney Richards Copyright 2014 Subscribe for free or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
My poetic memoir Episodes now available at www.amazon.com/episodes-rodney-richards/dp/0615914705/ Check it out without obligation
Thursday, March 6, 2014
How I Hate Thee Google
Okay, nobody, nobody confirmed for me that they or someone they knew had trouble signing in/logging on to their multiple Google accounts. In fact, I seemed to be okay for a few days myself (or maybe I didn't check each one?). Either way, I'm shut out again!
For example, I have a "Google Gmail" link on my Toolbar. Clicking it I used to get a normal "blank" gmail login screen. Not any more. Now the name field is automatically filled in with "rodrichards62," which is my every day gmail account. All from their darn cookies. But I also have two critical business accounts, and one old one I never deleted because I have newsletter and other energy accounts linked to it.
Another example. I can click Google.com/gmail, and my "rodrichards62" login screen will automatically appear. No way around it. None. That name comes up every single time, no matter what gmail login screen I find and try. Before, when I first started having this problem, I searched and found a Google login screen that still logged me in as my every day account name, but at the bottom of the screen was a link that said "Sign in with a different account," and for a while it worked! It let me enter a different email address and my unique password, and it worked. Thank God -- I was happy again.
For a while. But now when I click it, it comes with a non-login screen. And my regular Gmail address is automatically filled in. Filled in! But underneath it says "Add account." I don't want to add an account! Don't you see that? Just give me access!
But clicking it, Google wants me, to, you guessed it, "Create an Account." Create! So it's that easy to create a new Gmail account, but Google won't let me. It's stone walling me, won't let me access another account that I've had since 2000 or so, or the business one I've been using for five years! Google, have you done another stupid crazy thing to your users? Oh, How could I forget. Yes you have -- Google+.
And I've tried all means, all links, to get to and log onto my other three accounts. All to no avail. No way.
All this whining and I have only one question for you Google: Why did you change the old, the regular old, blank login screen? Well, I'm no dummy. This problem occurred when you decided to impose this "One Account" campaign you are forcing on us. Oh! "One account will get you to all things Google!" I never asked for that! Are you very effectively telling me and showing me that I have to "abandon" my other three valid gmail accounts? It doesn't say this in your Terms of Service. No, it only asks if I'm using a gmail account for business. I guess so you can charge me hard cash in the near future? Otherwise, why do you need to know if accounts are "free?"
This "One Account" business came about the same time as implementing Google+. What an abomination. Poor explanations or worse, none, on how to set it up or use it. As if EVERYONE on the Internet, all 2.5 billion+ of us, should know what you mean and what clicking blue words really implies? Why can't you use the "Learn more" button like the truly enlightened companies do?
That innocuous blue link you sent to everyone which said "Try Google+ for _________," was the worst, baddest, sorriest link I ever clicked. If it wasn't for my many "friends" on it now, and new connections, I would go to your ridiculous Settings screen and click the red "delete." And thanks for not providing a complaint form.
But I digress. After much search and trial and error, it hit me that you were always populating "rodrichards62" each and every time, because it was cookie embedded and attached to my gmail. Well, Ha! I fixed you. When I want to use a different gmail account than the one you automatically supply, I just clear my cookies first, a very good thing to do periodically anyway. Even tho it's a pain refilling out my HGTV Sweepstakes info.
Then the "Name" field on your login screen comes up a blessed blank, and I can fill in any account name I want. So there. Blah!
Thank the programmers there's always a minimum of two ways to do the same thing on these marvelous new computers (except Windows 8, of course). That is, if you're savvy enough to find the alternative.
by Rodney Richards Copyright 2014
Click the free "Subscribe" button or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
For example, I have a "Google Gmail" link on my Toolbar. Clicking it I used to get a normal "blank" gmail login screen. Not any more. Now the name field is automatically filled in with "rodrichards62," which is my every day gmail account. All from their darn cookies. But I also have two critical business accounts, and one old one I never deleted because I have newsletter and other energy accounts linked to it.
Another example. I can click Google.com/gmail, and my "rodrichards62" login screen will automatically appear. No way around it. None. That name comes up every single time, no matter what gmail login screen I find and try. Before, when I first started having this problem, I searched and found a Google login screen that still logged me in as my every day account name, but at the bottom of the screen was a link that said "Sign in with a different account," and for a while it worked! It let me enter a different email address and my unique password, and it worked. Thank God -- I was happy again.
For a while. But now when I click it, it comes with a non-login screen. And my regular Gmail address is automatically filled in. Filled in! But underneath it says "Add account." I don't want to add an account! Don't you see that? Just give me access!
But clicking it, Google wants me, to, you guessed it, "Create an Account." Create! So it's that easy to create a new Gmail account, but Google won't let me. It's stone walling me, won't let me access another account that I've had since 2000 or so, or the business one I've been using for five years! Google, have you done another stupid crazy thing to your users? Oh, How could I forget. Yes you have -- Google+.
And I've tried all means, all links, to get to and log onto my other three accounts. All to no avail. No way.
All this whining and I have only one question for you Google: Why did you change the old, the regular old, blank login screen? Well, I'm no dummy. This problem occurred when you decided to impose this "One Account" campaign you are forcing on us. Oh! "One account will get you to all things Google!" I never asked for that! Are you very effectively telling me and showing me that I have to "abandon" my other three valid gmail accounts? It doesn't say this in your Terms of Service. No, it only asks if I'm using a gmail account for business. I guess so you can charge me hard cash in the near future? Otherwise, why do you need to know if accounts are "free?"
This "One Account" business came about the same time as implementing Google+. What an abomination. Poor explanations or worse, none, on how to set it up or use it. As if EVERYONE on the Internet, all 2.5 billion+ of us, should know what you mean and what clicking blue words really implies? Why can't you use the "Learn more" button like the truly enlightened companies do?
That innocuous blue link you sent to everyone which said "Try Google+ for _________," was the worst, baddest, sorriest link I ever clicked. If it wasn't for my many "friends" on it now, and new connections, I would go to your ridiculous Settings screen and click the red "delete." And thanks for not providing a complaint form.
But I digress. After much search and trial and error, it hit me that you were always populating "rodrichards62" each and every time, because it was cookie embedded and attached to my gmail. Well, Ha! I fixed you. When I want to use a different gmail account than the one you automatically supply, I just clear my cookies first, a very good thing to do periodically anyway. Even tho it's a pain refilling out my HGTV Sweepstakes info.
Then the "Name" field on your login screen comes up a blessed blank, and I can fill in any account name I want. So there. Blah!
Thank the programmers there's always a minimum of two ways to do the same thing on these marvelous new computers (except Windows 8, of course). That is, if you're savvy enough to find the alternative.
by Rodney Richards Copyright 2014
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My poetic memoir Episodes is available at www.amazon.com/episodes-rodney-richards/dp/0615914705/ Check it out at no obligation
More Internet Unfairness
Today's NJ Spotlight News had this article:
Push to expand online sales tax collections pits Christie against most GOP presidential rivals
Christie’s treasurer, Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, decided to include $28 million in his budget for Fiscal Year 2015 for sales tax collections by online retailers who have no stores or outlets in New Jersey after the U.S. Supreme Court decided in December not to take up an appeal challenging the right of New York State to require out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax from its citizens.
Is this crazy? Aren't we tired yet of 50 States AND the Federal Gov't passing tax law after tax law? And then there's fees which in the last 10 years have been another form of taxation? Look at the luggage "fees" on airlines, or the filing and application fees to do anything in this country, from starting a business (differs by state), to getting your Credit Report whenever you need it?
Thank God for the U.S. Post Office and the IRS. At least their customer and citizen charges are across the board, written and searchable, and printable, applying to all Americans. Not like the various states cigarette taxes which can vary from $.30 in Virginia to $4.35 in New York City! Will this be how Internet Sales Taxes end up? Give me a break!
Look at all the complexity, paperwork and business and consumer costs these varied rates add to the cost of everything we buy. These varied rates are as stupid as New Jersey's Use Tax -- yes, Use Tax. Which means that if I, a New Jerseyan, legally buy something, anything, from another state, and pay THEIR tax, that if it's LOWER than NJ's, I need to pay NJ Taxation the difference up to NJ's 7% Sales Tax! Are you kidding me? What person in their right mind fills out the special form and does that for every out-of-state purchase?
No, varied tax rates are all crazy and stupid and unnecessarily costly to me, you and all businesses. That's why I like the USPS. Yes it has its problems, yes it should cut out Saturday deliveries to cut costs (but politicians won't allow it, because "the public" likes it). I won't like it but I see why it needs be done. The USPS would be smart to start a special website for email services, with fancy cards etc like Blue Mountain. Maybe then it would make money?
Take the US Corporation Tax as well. A flat 35%. Most companies in the U.S. pay less than 20 because of their congressional and state deductions. We must make it 25%, FLAT RATE, for ALL businesses IN THE WORLD, in every country, with no loophole tax deductions. 25% is now the average competitive rate everywhere now anyway (2013). A fair rate without those loopholes. If a country wants to give a deduction? Fine, but then they MUST come up with revenue to replace the loss in their budget. Same with these hog wild states and the exhorbitant start-up deductions they're giving for locating business buildings or factories in their states (and countries).
How hard is this? Is there any logic and fairness left? Why, really, why, is there a need for extreme complexity other than to satisfy very specific interest groups and lobbyists?
So I agree with Steve Forbes' idea when he was running for President years ago. A Flat Tax -- for ALL Internet sales, in ALL countries. The central government would collect it all, take a small portion for administration, finding deadbeats and fighting cybercrime, and apportion the rest back to the "State" or region or county, where the purchaser resided.
Let's end this Internet tax conundrum once and for all.
Besides, with every purchaser paying it, on anything that costs money, it wouldn't be more than 1 or 2 percent anyway. Anything else would just be another tax ripoff.
by Rodney Richards
Subscribe or email comments to 1950ablia@gmail.com
My poetic memoir Episodes available at www.amazon.com/episodes-rodney-richards/dp/0615914705/ Check it out at no obligation
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