In a way, understanding this is more important than understanding the internet. This is because this is where you get a choice that actually impacts your every-minute life.

A browser is a program that helps you get where you want to go on the internet. Think of it as your virtual Uber, but for information. You announce where you want to go by typing it into the search bar. A page of options comes up. You pick the one you like. Click! And you are there.

Your browser actually gets you where you want to go by using hyperlinks (thanks, CERN!) or more specifically, by using HyperText Transfer Protocol, aka HTTP. You may have noticed that a lot of addresses on the internet start their names with http://…. Now you know why.

Okay. You have your hardware (laptop, tablet) and you have a subscription to some kind of task-accomplishing software that’s actually physically located hundreds or even thousands of miles away from you in a well-guarded high-security high-tech warehouse. How do you use it? The internet!

The internet is also called the World Wide Web, which explains the “www.” portion of all the “web addresses” or “internet addresses” that you “go to” in order to be productive. (Or to kill trolls. Your preference.)

First, there is no cloud.

Having said that, I also need to say that “The Cloud” occupies some of the most valuable real estate on the planet. You see, “The Cloud” is a euphemism (aka, pretty word) for vast server farms scattered across otherwise unimportant swaths of the world, all networked together.

Imagine you are driving down a country road. Corn and soybeans on one side. Anonymous warehouses on the other. Get it? (Now imagine all the wires. Not enough twisty ties in the entire world to keep that straightened out.)

It’s never wise to assume, right?  So we’ll start with the very basics.

HARDWARE is equipment.  Back in the introduction, you may have noticed some of the advances were equipment upgrades.  Writing with that erasable No. 2 pencil on smooth (cheap) white paper probably would have moved Bob Cratchit to tears.

Computer.  Keyboard.  Mouse.  Server.  And wires.  Lots and lots of wires, right?

SERVER by the way, means a dedicated computer that simply houses information.  Servers are generally used in a business environment when the company’s needs have grown such that multiple users need to access the same information simultaneously, so everybody gets a computer, (also called a terminal,) but all the information is actually kept on a separate computer.  The separate computer is the server.

SOFTWARE is harder to define.  “Anything that is not hardware, but is used with hardware,” says dictionary.com.  Merriam Webster tells us software is “the entire set of programs, procedures, and related documentation associated with a system, and especially a computer system; specifically computer programs.”  Gobbledy-gook.

1494 – Luca Pacioli (Venice, Italy) codified the double-entry system of bookkeeping in a mathematics textbook and earned the title, Father of Accounting and Bookkeeping. Although versions of double-entry accounting can be found for hundreds of years prior, this publication established  both terminology and technique, going so far as to provide sample year-end closing entries and ethical admonishments.  It is interesting to note that Pacioli was a contemporary of Leonarda da Vinci, to whom he taught mathematics, including calculus.  In turn, da Vinci is thought to have illustrated many of Pacioli’s works.

1843 – Charles Dickens (London, England) published A Christmas Carol, introducing Bob Cratchit to the world.  Armed with a simple quill pen and course rag paper, Bob Cratchit became the world’s best-known bookkeeper.  His obvious meticulous care of the numbers in spite of his working conditions (cold, dark, long hours, and with the one of the world’s worst bosses,)

(Better than Cake Day)

Saturday, May 14, we held our first ever client appreciation SHREDDING EVENT.  It was a huge success.  Whether the person brought a truckload of boxes full of Granny’s old tax returns, or a simple armload of utility bills, they all came with broad grins of happiness.

One client said she just cannot keep up with it at home, and was delighted to know she could take care of everything in one fell swoop.  Several people hauled boxes of paperwork out of their attics.  Nearly everyone said they will prepare better for next year, and bring more!

And “more” would be fine by us.  Not only does this event help my clients clean their homes and attics, but they also worry less about identity issues, because the paper is shred into tiny little bits, barely larger than a speck of dust.  AND… then the shreds are recycled.  Win-Win-Win.

And how is this better than Cake Day?  Easy!  No calories to count.  No waistline to watch.  No insulin to inject.  No gluten to dodge.  No snow to sidestep.  Good for you, good for the environment.

We are definitely doing it again next year!

Our shredding partner is Pro-Shred Southern Jersey.  If you missed our event, and can’t wait for next year, or you want to set up your own shredding event, call 856 . 336 . 2820 or you can find their website here.

Yup.  There’s a form for that, too.

Chef Louie was in a pickle.  It was tax season.  And those taxes weren’t going to prepare themselves.  Cash was tight.  Despondently, Chef Louie walked down the street with his hands in his empty pockets.  Then, Hark!  What was that?  He heard of a guy, Tax Man Stan, who was into barter.  No money changes hands?!  Could there be a way out?  Chef Louie’s spirits were rising like a double decker devil’s food cake.

They met.  Tax Man Stan’s ex-wife Nan had been needling him to provide something for their daughter Fran’s baby shower.  Tax Man Stan agreed to do Chef Louie’s $650 taxes, and Chef Louie agreed to cater $650 worth of pink and blue themed delicacies.  They smiled, shook hands, and got to work.

What does it really mean?  And why you should care!

If you’re in business, you’ve probably noticed the term “Reasonable Compensation” has been in tax news more than ever in recent months.  It’s not a new term, but it is receiving new attention by the IRS.

Who should care?

Anyone associated with a Subchapter S Corporation.  You might call yourself an owner or a shareholder or even a partner.   (I’m going to use ‘owner’ because it is short.)

Why?