Bizcards Blog

E-File Your Taxes For Free

Steve Patterson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:53:41 +0000

It may sound surprising, but two out of three taxpayers file their income taxes electronically, also known as e-filing. Once people e-file, they often don’t go back to paper because e-filing puts them more in charge of their money, time and life.

E-filing can mean you get your refund faster than with old-fashioned paper filing. If you select direct deposit, your refund can be in your checking or savings account in as few as 10 days. You even save money on paper, ink and postage — and you save time because there are no last-minute trips to the post office. Everyone can use Free File, a service that lets you prepare and e-file your taxes at no cost.

Here’s what you do:

Step 1: Get all your tax information together.

Step 2: Go to http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html to view your Free File options. Taxpayers with a 2009 Adjusted Gross Income of $57,000 or less can prepare and e-file taxes for free using one of the many commercial tax software offerings located at the IRS.gov Free File page.

For help in figuring out which company and software package is right for you, the easy-to-use tool, “Help Me Find A Company,” will give you the best options.

If you don’t require a software package with step-by-step help, you can choose Free File Fillable Forms. There are no income limitations, and you can use the free online forms to complete and e-file your taxes directly through IRS.gov. Free File Fillable Forms are available to everyone and look like blank IRS forms but also include basic calculations and even allow you to file an extension.

Step 3: Prepare and e-file your federal income tax return using a Free File software package or Free File Fillable Forms.

Electronically filed returns are transmitted by the company to the IRS using the established e-file process, which is safe and encrypted for your protection. You’ll get an electronic receipt for your records soon after your return has been received by the IRS. You can also print a paper copy of your federal tax return for your records. You never need an appointment to get your taxes done. The program is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can even request an extension online.

Learn more at http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html.

I went and used the the Free e-file from IRS last year and this year. I thought it was easy to do, but everyone is different. I plan to do it again next year.

Compliments of NAPS

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

E-File Your Taxes For Free

Tags: Taxes

100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America

Steve Patterson — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:06:27 +0000

It is hard to believe the the Boy Scouts of America just celebrated it’s 100th Anniversary on February 8, 2010. I am an Eagle Scout. I attained the highest honor in 1994. I even remember being in the Boy Scouts as they celebrated the 75th Diamond Jubilee. I started out in the Cub Scouts as a Bobcat and went all the way through to Boy Scouts to the highest rank you can earn, Eagle. ONCE AN EAGLE, ALWAYS AN EAGLE! I have have got to help a few Boy Scouts troops as an Assistant Scoutmaster. Scouting has done a lot for me and I am very proud to be part of the Scouting Community. Here’s to many more years of Scout. Thank you Lord Baden Powell. Boy Scouts of America 1910-2010.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America

Tags: Scouting

More on blog

Steve Patterson — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:34:29 +0000

I am still working on my blog. Some images and links are not working. I am working on fixing that so please bare with me as I correct these issues. Some how I lost some of my images, thank goodness I have most of the images backed up somewhere. As for some of the Web site links, well, some of them will have to be unlinked. As I go along, I may have to remove some older post due to the fact I cannot find the image and/or the link no longer exist on the Web.

Side note, as I finish that, as I have promised I will work on posting my poems onto my blog. So please be patient as I do that. As always feel free to subscribe to my RSS feed to keep updated on my post in my blog.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

More on blog

Tags: blog, poems

Business Cards & Where’s George

Steve Patterson — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:36:33 +0000

I have been asked about business cards and Where’s George.

BUSINESS CARDS
I still do collect business cards. I just have had a lot go on and haven’t got to keep up with it. I do hope that I will get back to counting the new business cards I have received over the last year I believe or so. So be patient with me and you will soon start to see my total of business cards start to increase on my blog. I keep my total there on the side bar of this blog. So please keep the business cards coming into me. If you include an E-mail address with the cards I personal send you an E-mail saying thank you for the business cards you have given me. I appreciated any and all business cards that you send!

WHERE’S GEORGE
I have gotten behind in doing Where’s George too over the last year. Lack of internet access is one reason why. Plus, lack of carrying cash. For those who are reading this blog entry and asking, What is Where’s George? Where’s George is a Web site where you can track your US Currency. (www.wheresgeorge.com). I do hope to be able to start to EMS again. EMS if you don’t know what that means is Enter, Mark and Spend! So if you see a bill marked for Where’s George, enter it! You never know, it could be one of my bills. But, if not, you will be making the day of some happy Georger (a person that uses Where’s George). I also hope to be able to start going back to some of the Where’s George gatherings. I am sorry I missed this past Knoxville gathering.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

Business Cards & Where’s George

Tags: Business Cards, Where's George

Updated blog!

Steve Patterson — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:48:28 +0000

I just got done updating my blog.
I have a new look to it.
I noticed I just had a problem with single pages and single post loading all of the way.
I figured out it was a plug-in.
I have no clue how long my blog wasn’t working right, but I am sure I have lost a lot of visitors, traffic and even ranking in the Web due to it.
It is now fixed.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

Updated blog!

Tags: blog

Turkey Tips That Save Time And Money

Steve Patterson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:39:55 +0000

Turkey Tips That Save Time And Money

A good entertainment plan that saves time and money is something to be truly thankful for. With the right plan, all that cooks will need to do on Thanksgiving Day is put dishes into the oven and remove them when they are done.

A few hints from professional chef Jim Coleman can help you save money while affording you more time to spend with your guests.

Plan and Prepare

• Start freezing stale bread a few weeks before Thanksgiving so you can use it to make stuffing.

• Plan the menu the weekend before Thanksgiving. Compile recipes into a recipe booklet for easy reference.

• Save gas and time by making lists of ingredients so you will only need one trip to the store.

• Cut up celery, carrots, etc. and store in ziplock bags for ease of use during the next few days of prep.

• Make stuffing the night before and make it a little dry so you can add gravy on Thanksgiving day to moisten.

• Cranberry sauce, pie, gravy, and side dishes can be made a few days ahead.

• Save money by asking guests to bring wine, desserts, a salad or a side dish.

Table and Tools

• Set your table in advance; everything from a centerpiece and glassware to plates and napkins.

• Enlist the help of family members in preparation and cleanup.

• Sharpen your knives beforehand to save time on food prep. That includes your carving knife.

“A sharp knife is one of the most important tools and essential for the holiday season with all the food prep and carving of the bird,” said Coleman. “Preparation can save time and money, and a quality knife sharpener can renew the knives you already own and save you from the expense of having to buy new knives.”

Thanksgiving Day

• For a quicker cooking time, start at 400ºF with breast side down; after 45 minutes, turn over and lower heat to 325ºF. An 8-12-pound bird will cook in about 21/2 hours.

• Get your carving knife ready. After the turkey is cooked (meat thermometer should read 180° when inserted in the thickest part of the turkey), cool the bird for 20 minutes.

Cooling makes the meat firmer and easier to slice. Remove and set aside the turkey legs and the last joint of each wing. Make a long, deep (to the bone), horizontal “base cut” into the breast just above the wing.

Slice down vertically through the breast until you meet the original base cut. This will release nice, even slices.

• Refrigerate leftovers immediately. Add leftover cranberry sauce to mayonnaise to jump-start leftovers for sandwiches.

Here’s a quick and easy recipe to help prepare your tasty turkey in advance:

Chef’s Choice Brine

(For 8-12-pound bird)

1 cup kosher salt (per gallon of ice water)

1 lime, cut into wedges

1 orange, cut into wedges

1 medium onion, cut into wedges

5 cloves garlic

4 bay leaves

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon dried sage

1 tablespoon white or black pepper

Place a frozen turkey in a large enough container, such as an ice chest, to submerge it in the brine.

Pouring with a gallon measure, pour in ice-cold water to completely submerge your turkey. Add 1 cup of kosher salt per gallon of water. Then add remaining ingredients. Stir until well combined. Top with ice cubes and store in cool spot overnight.

Use more lime, orange, onion, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, sage and pepper for more than 3 gallons of water. Discard brine after removing turkey and rinse turkey before placing in oven.

If you follow these tips, you will keep costs down and have more time for fun on Thanksgiving.

A well-carved turkey may be easier to achieve than many realize.

Do you have any more tips? Feel free to leave your tips as comments.

Courtesy of NAPS.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

Turkey Tips That Save Time And Money

Tags: holidays, Recipes, Thanksgiving

Where’s George hit

Steve Patterson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:36:23 +0000

I just got a hit on a bill I entered into Where’s George in 2005.
My Where’s George Hit

This bill has traveled 479 Miles in 3 Yrs, 299 Days, 10 Hrs, 36 Mins at an average of 0.34 Miles per day.
It is now 448 Miles from its starting location.

I entered it in Knoxville, TN and then it went to Sevierville, TN.
It is now in Ferndale, MI. (Which took 3 years since Sevierville.

I want more hits and I want them now.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

Where’s George hit

Tags: Where's George

Fire Safety 101

Steve Patterson — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:23:31 +0000

Fire Safety 101

As the time change nears, there are a few simple things you can do to make your home and family safer.

This Fire Safety 101 guide will show you easy, affordable and ultimately life-saving precautions you can take today that can help prevent a fire in your home.

While 96 percent of American homes have at least one smoke alarm, 19 percent do not have at least one smoke alarm that works, mostly due to missing or dead batteries. This means roughly 25 million homes are at risk because of non-working smoke alarms and an additional 4.5 million homes are at risk by not having smoke alarms.

Get the Facts

Home fires seem to be things that happen to other people – so why should you be concerned?

Approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation.
Two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes without working smoke alarms.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. According to the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by providing an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape.

For the 22nd year in a row, Energizer and the IAFC are partnering in the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program. Established to help reduce the tragic number of home fire deaths and injuries,

Change Your Clock Change Your Battery urges Americans to change smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall – this year on November 1.

In addition to changing smoke alarm batteries, take some time to learn about fire safety and to complete a home fire safety checklist. You can make your home safer – today.

For more information, visit energizer.com/preparedness.

Fire Facts

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) believes that fire deaths can be reduced by teaching people the basic facts about fire.

Fire is FAST!

In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire.
It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house. In minutes, a house can be engulfed in flames.
If you wake up during a fire, you won’t have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick. There is only time to escape.

Fire is HOT!

Heat is more threatening than flames. A fire’s heat alone can kill.
Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this air has the potential to scorch your lungs. This heat can melt clothes to your skin.
In five minutes a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once: this is called flashover.

Fire is DARK!

Fire isn’t bright, it’s pitch black.
Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.
If you wake up to a fire you may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around the home you’ve lived in for years.

Fire is DEADLY!

Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire uses up the oxygen you need and produces smoke and poisonous gases that kill.
Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath.
The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. You may not wake up in time to escape.

Statistics provided by the National Fire Protection Agency and the United States Fire Administration.

Home Fire Safety Checklist

This is a very basic checklist to help you identify potential fire hazards in your home.

General Fire Safety
YES __ NO__ Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries are changed at least once a year. Use the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program as a reminder to help keep the batteries fresh.
YES __ NO__ You have both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms.
YES __ NO__ There are working smoke alarms near the sleeping areas.
YES __ NO__ There are working smoke alarms on every level.
YES __ NO__ The smoke alarms are cleaned regularly and tested once a month.
YES __ NO__ Portable fire extinguishers are available and family members know how to use them properly.
YES __ NO__ You have a home escape plan and practice it regularly.

Heating Hazards
YES __ NO__ Combustibles such as clothes, curtains and furniture are away from stoves and heaters.
YES __ NO__ Heating appliances are tested every year.
YES __ NO__ All alternative heating devices used are Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) approved.
YES __ NO__ Carbon monoxide detectors are installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.

Electrical Hazards
YES __ NO__ Electric cords are not worn, frayed or damaged.
YES __ NO__ Extension cords are not under rugs, over nails, through water or across passageways.
YES __ NO__ Electrical outlets are not overloaded by multiple plug devices.
YES __ NO__ Electric appliances are not used near water.

General Housekeeping Hazards
YES __ NO__ Closets, basements, attics and garage areas are clean of old paper, boxes, paint cans and other trash.
YES __ NO__ Flammable liquids and oily rags are disposed of after use or stored in a tightly closed metal container.
YES __ NO__ All combustibles are stored a safe distance away from any possible heat source.

Kitchen Hazards
YES __ NO__ The stove and oven are in good working condition.
YES __ NO__ The stove area is kept clean and free of grease.
YES __ NO__ Combustible materials are kept away from open flames and heat sources.

SOURCE:
Energizer

Compliments of Family Features.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

Fire Safety 101

Tags: change batteries, change clocks, fire safety

Red Oak vs. White Oak

Steve Patterson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:39:31 +0000

Do you know the difference between a Red Oak and a White Oak?

Red Oak Leaf

RED OAK has pointed corners. Just think Red Man used arrows.

White Oak Leaf

WHITE OAK has rouneded corners. White man used bullets.

This was something I remembered while in Scouting. It came back to my attention going camping a few weeks ago and then noticed a White Oak Tree while walking the trail in Norris by the dam. So I figured I would share with you in a post in my blog.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

Red Oak vs. White Oak

Tags: Scouting, vs

It’s football time in Tennessee

Steve Patterson — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:10:07 +0000

It is football time in Tennessee! GO VOLS!.
This season will prove interesting with the new football coach, Lane Kiffin.
I wish you the best of luck with the new season.
I am looking forward to this new season.
Phillip Fulmer you will be missed, but I wish the best of luck to you as well where ever your new career path takes you.
At the time of the post, official kick off is in about a little over 3 hours from now.
We play Western Kentucky.

Do you have any experiences with being at the Vols football games?
I do you can read this old blog entry of mine at: http://tinyurl.com/volsnight.

Thank you for reading a post from: Bizcards Blog. Feel free to Subscribe To My Feed! Have a great day! This entry is ©2004-2010 by Steve Patterson.

It’s football time in Tennessee

Tags: Photos, Vols

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