Ploofle

So, what with Melissa and I starting up a web development company or some such, I’ve been scurrying about setting up tax id numbers and City of Seattle business licenses ad nauseum. Although I cannot yet set up a free business checking account with WAMU (they want at least 2 partners there in order to get it going, and Melissa’s in Japan), I’m starting to look for accounting software. My dad used Peachtree in the past (which I recall as super expensive and complicated), I’ve used Quicken for NCLYN (which sometimes was complicated and moderately expensive), but neither of em quite fit my needs currently, I think. Quickbooks is often recommended for small businesses but at Best Buy it was waaay to pricey at over $450. This business will be pretty much me and her (so no employees/payroll), out of office, creative/intellectual products and mostly service-based. Plus, it’d be nice if there was something specifically for internet/technology businesses.

So, internet search commences.

The first two I’m trying (downloading slowly and sadly — damn you wifi!) are MYOB and Simply Accounting. Both aren’t the bigname types, but they’re cheaper and, more interestingly, come in Mac and Windows editions. So, when things go to Melissa eventually, assuming she wants to do it, the ledgers can still move gracefully with her. I’m especially interested in the forecasting bits and integration with electronic access to bank accounts, and both of em say they have special templates for “certain businesses” tho of course without installing the product you don’t know what those certain businesses are. I think one of em talks about their super duper bits for project/service estimates, which would be nice from an invoicing perspective if they’re tailored to our kinds of products.

For those still reading (as I’m of the opinion that accounting articles prolly aren’t top priority for my friends), I’ll be writing more about the usage results later in true happy charlene style.

Tags: DIY

No Need to Click Here - I’m just claiming my feed at Feedster

Tags: praxis

Um…translating to: A CMS I’ve used in the past (but haven’t lately due to performance issues)’s dev team has just split with their foundation due to philosophical differences in order to continue development in the “right” direction. Chaos and evilness may or may not result from this, depending on how the fork goes. Slightly chagrined, but also slightly relieved, as I don’t have anything live or critical using this CMS currently. I’d also prolly wait a bit til using it again while waiting for the forking to settle…

Tags: DIY

From the Onion: Rumsfeld Makes Surprise Visit To Wife’s Vagina

WASHINGTON, DC—Amid rumors of sagging morale on the home front, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld greeted his wife Joyce Monday with an unanticipated visit to her vagina, according to the Pentagon.
fulltext

Tags: currents

What with a new computer and all, I’ve been looking for some nifty new games to, erm, test if it works. I’ve been fond of RPGs in the past, and so I figured I’d look for some. Now, where have they all gone?

If I search for new titles that are RPGs, 95% of them are online, and I’d say all of them are diablo-style, meaning there’s lots of clicking, killing, and levelling. I’m a bit of a fan for storyline, character development, final fantasy III for snes-type games…and there were some good ones for the PC (Planescape: Torment comes to mind). I don’t want to pay for a subscription, I don’t want to have to complete “scenarios” or “levels”, and I don’t want to click quite so much. Does this mean I have to go to a platform for it? That I can’t afford. For now, looks like I have to stick to other standbys - downloading old RPGs from www.the-underdogs.org and playing more tactical/strategy games, like rise of nations.

Speaking of RPGs I’ve liked on consoles, I liked Skies of Arcadia, Grandia II, Final Fantasy (SNES ones), Secret of Mana (ok, not quite rpg), Chrono Trigger…anything like that out for PCs?

Tags: computers, games