incipit vita nova

Author Solutions . . . Send Your Dollar Now

I just finished watching the PR Video made by Author Solutions' President Kevin Weiss.  This current conglomerate, made up of bits and pieces of previous bottom-feeding organizations such as my former erstwhile employers iUniverse, is the brainchild behind approaching legitimate publishers such as Harlequin and Thomas Nelson with a deal they thought was too good to turn down - some sort of kickback for referring authors with rejected manuscripts on to a "special" side deal with Author Solutions.

The "Solution" for these authors?  Paying handsomely for the privilege of "publishing" their books, which Harlequin made vague noises might, if surviving the logjam of unpublishable slushy manuscripts now slapped between covers, someday, somehow become "real" Harlequin books.  This is why all legitimate writers' associations have now censured or outright said that Harlequin no longer qualifies as a professional publisher for the purposes of membership in the organizations.  Victoria Strauss correctly points up that Thomas Nelson hasn't gotten as much flak as they should have gotten, as a Christian publisher with an already-going concern offering high-end, pricey services to Christian writers and manuscripts that have failed the "traditional" publishing route - i.e., rejected by Thomas Nelson legit publishing, and sent on to their new, theoretically lucrative "pay to play" option.

Would it be an awesome new Quentin Tarantino film - Inglourious Basterds II, with an "all-star" cast of fresh new faces who'd paid for the privilege of being in the film?  Heck, why not push Brad Pitt aside, and find somebody with some real money who'll finance the picture for the privilege of starring in it?  That old acting system, where some people never get to be the stars . . . oldfashioned and outmoded.  Smart auteurs like Quentin will soon recognize the business potential here, and the person who can pay the most for the privilege clearly will be the best for the role.  And heck, when Academy nomination time comes around, the same rules should come into play.  The person who can most afford a starring role in the best director's film, can also pay for the best reviews, the best ads, and can offer the most lucrative awards to the Academy members to nominate, and later vote for them.  Clearly, the stars of "The Hills" should be ahead in this regard; "Speidi" already thinks it is the most famous, talented duo on the planet.

Most professional writers do earn barely at or above a poverty wage and I'm no exception to that.  However, it will be a cold day in inglorious hell before I bow to greasy, greedy, unscrupulous individuals such as this Weiss, preying eagerly on the dreams and hopes of well-meaning, innocent people.

Protect Yourself From Credit Scams

The scary number of credit-related scams out there can be overwhelming.  One of the most serious is credit repair companies that take large sums of money from people who can little afford such expenses.  They promise all types of credit repair, and the truth is - most credit repair that is possible can be done by the customer themselves at low- or no-cost.  By low-cost, I mean the cost of time for keeping accurate records, writing creditors, and pursuing repair. 

I had a chargeoff account on my credit for a period of time that was not mine.  I tried many times to remove it.  What it turned out to be was some sort of bank artifact related to my former husband Mike's and my long, long ago checking account.  It wasn't an unpaid bill, but when it was discovered, bills somehow were sent to an address where neither I nor Mike had ever lived.  The terrible total was around $80.  For this, I was slagged 50 or more points on my credit for a long time.  Finally, after spending quite a few hours on this, I first talked to a horrifying woman in the Bank of America "delinquent accounts" department.  You don't want to have to talk to those people.  Ever.  This bothered me so much that I put my corporate cap on.  I wrote a letter to the President of the Bank of America.  Two days later I received a call from his assistant.  The next day, the horrid thing was off my credit report.  And it did not return, not even to the MacArthur of Credit Bureaus (Equifax).  I call Equifax the "MacArthur" because if there's ever an old account that you EVER had, it will return.  Two, three, four times - maybe more.  I don't necessarily mean any credit mistakes.  In just one example, Equifax "discovered" the information that I had a Target Card back in the dark ages.  They readded it to my credit report, even though I cancelled the card in 2002 or 3 and it wasn't much of an active account to begin with.  What will they add next - the auto loan for my Ford Escort, paid off between 1989 and 1993?

Other really bad scams are payday advance loans which charge exorbitant interest, and people who advertise they can improve your credit through file segregation, which is illegal and can produce terrible consequences for the people who try it.  This is a good article about scams to watch for in brief.  Here is the straight info about file segregation direct from the FTC.

As to scam-busting, I might have vague ideas I might bust some kind of scam someday.  Younger, better, stronger, faster than me has already jumped out ahead of the pack.  These guys are smart, fast, and any complaints they receive merely indicate what an amazing job they did.  Even Meredith and her friends have heard about the ACORN scams, and seen some of the pimp and ho videos.  Hannah Giles and James O'Keefe, I salute you.  In the real world, I've never known of anybody to successfully work with ACORN, and never known of a single beneficial project they've carried off.  The only thing I've ever known of that they did with any vigor was the voter registration.  I also worked with voter registration organizations previously, and I wasn't favorably impressed with what I saw and heard regarding ACORN in this regard.  Signing up a person to vote who hasn't done it before is a good thing.  Dragging corpses out of their graves or repeatedly pressing the fingers of convalescent patients in the voting booth?  Not so much.  Prior to busting ACORN, James' previous expose consisted of writing donation checks to Planned Parenthood and filming them agreeing to put the money toward aborting African-American babies.  Niiiice.

This is the way I feel about this stuff now - Can we as a society afford it?  People have lived beyond their means for so very long.  But the first things cut are things that just aren't productive or important.  I watched the "San Bernardino" ACORN video - about half.  It was so horrendously dumb and awful that was all I could take.  ACORN is actually alleging that the big hair woman who was going along with each appalling request and statement of Hannah and James was "playing along."  Riiiite.  I bet if he would have given her a check to abort black babies, she would have agreed to that, too.

And plus - if you're "liberal"?  Don't condone this crap.  This is no more condonable than Fairy Larry's wide stance, after years of persecuting gay people.  It's wrong either way and any way.  None of this is about politics, really.  It's about decency and honesty.  

How To Avoid a Bad Lawyer, and Find a Good One

I've been privileged to work with outstanding attorneys in my business and nonprofit career, and as a volunteer.  My current counsel are marvelous, and the right representatives for me.  I think my friends at Popehat and Overlawyered probably would have a few trenchant things to say about finding a good attorney and avoiding bad lawyers.  If you are an author looking for information about legal issues affecting writers, one of your best resources is going to be ScrivenersError.

First of all, unlike the process of obtaining a literary agent, the best time to obtain a good attorney is not at the point when you're exercising your right to a single phone call.  The best way to obtain a good attorney is the old-fashioned way:

•  Ask friends and/or business associates for recommendations - be specific about types of legal work done, satisfaction with the work, and fairness of price/billing practices (two separate issues).
• Research via local courthouses (most have search functions that will provide basic case information) to determine if the attorney you are considering has successfully represented clients in matters similar to your needs.
• Consult your bar association; see if the attorney has any complaints of any type.  Do not patronize attorneys that have a record of complaints.  Here in California, the most frequent cause for complaints and investigations (and disbarment) is financial malfeasance - commonly, use of trust funds, or misappropriation of funds to be held in escrow or complex real estate or other business transactions.

If you find yourself searching on the internet for the name of an attorney, and you come across negative information, that could mean one of two things:  first, the attorney may be a criminal attorney, and in that case, it's possible that a disgruntled client who was convicted, or family members, may have been aggravated enough in the case of a conviction to put some type of negative information on the internet.  However, if the attorney is any other type of attorney - and you find someone has written negative information about them on the internet, it's easy enough to find another qualified representative who isn't carrying around that kind of baggage.  A good attorney is carefully-spoken, behaved and discreet.  If you find their name featured frequently on the internet, ala Mark Geragos, maybe this isn't the attorney for you (but rather - for himself!).

Most normal attorneys will not charge for a brief consultation and determination whether or not your legal situation would be a good fit for their services.  Some extremely successful attorneys do charge fees for consult; it seems to me that even the highest-priced attorneys I've known don't do this in situations where they are a) nearly certain the situation isn't a good fit for them; or b) certain that the situation is a good fit - and that the prospective client will likely sign a retainer with their firm.  ALWAYS ask for an estimate of costs at the beginning of your relationship, especially if you are asking the attorney to represent you on a certain matter.  Especially in these economic times, this is a "given" - and I agree with this basic resource article for small businesses:  if the attorney balks at such an estimate, find one who will be more accurate and forthcoming.

Lawyers often get a bum rap.  They have a bad general reputation - they are seen by people as rapacious, amoral, and totally out for themselves.  While there certainly are some attorneys who fit this description, while others - one wonders how they ever passed the bar, or how they can look anybody in the eye, they do so much dirt and are so dishonest - the majority are ethical, decent people with specialized skills in one of our world's most complicated environments - our legal system.  If every attorney could be like the great attorneys I've known, like Joe Arias, Michael Lewis, and C.E. Petit, then our world would be a much better place.  Since our world is the place that it is, however, it is up to you to protect yourself by carefully seeking out the best legal representation for your needs.

Those Old-Time Values (Keep Your Credit Score Up)

Like so many millions of others, my divorce negatively impacted my credit. I had managed to earn a very high credit score during the 15 years of my marriage, after starting out like many young people, with no credit and having difficulty obtaining both a decent job and any type of credit or loan.  First, I paid off a car loan that I received from a local bank, where, surprise, the bank President had known me since I was a baby, and the lady who processed my loan was my "second mom" who also gave me plenty of tips about how to behave in business or social situations over the years.

They are on television right now talking about the mortgage bailout and discussing fears that people will purposely stop paying their mortgages on time, just in order to get some of the bailout money for people who are in arrears.

Well, I'd like to think that the check-and-balance on this is the havoc that stopping paying your mortgage for even one payment will wreak on your credit score.  Wallet Pop has a feature on the bad consequences of a poor credit score.  There have been a lot of arguments about credit scores -- are they fair?  What is the legerdemain that produces them?  Why do some people who we can know intuitively are "bad risks" have seemingly "good" credit scores?  Why do good people who are good risks sometimes have poor credit scores -- like the horrible discovery I made when, in the days before I monitored my credit frequently, that my former husband's failure to make two house payments on time had sent me down into the category of miserable grifter.  Don't think I didn't get treated that way, too.  When I applied for a modest loan to further my defunct home plans in Calabasas, you would have thought I was the Octomom by the way they treated me.

Now, five years later, my credit score is back over 750.  I hadn't even thought about extending any credit since the terrible financial conditions of last fall.  With all of the negative information coming out, I was beginning to think that all of the financial truths that I had known or learned throughout my life were meaningless.  Why bother to pay bills?  There'd be a bailout.  Why make any effort whatsoever?  Somebody would come along and pay the mortgage.   

Well, Wallet Pop is holding the standard forth and explaining why, even with all of the turmoil, the old financial truths still hold true.  A poor credit score doesn't just cause pain with credit cards, car loans and mortgages, in some cases, prohibiting them.  It also prohibits or inhibits small business loans (don't pay attention to those "incorporate and pretend you with lousy credit is someone else" schemes).  As an executive, I have been aware for some time that any responsible corporation is going to check my credit, or that of any other employee who's going to be involved with matters of money and confidentiality.  People with scores below 600 aren't going to be considered, and it will cause some difficulty with those security clearances for those involved in government/government contracting.  Now, insurance companies are getting wise and also taking credit scores into consideration, having discovered that the people who don't pay their bills also make more insurance claims.  Private student loans are also taking credit scores into consideration, so your education or that of your children can also be negatively impacted by poor credit.

Do I sound like a credit Nazi?  There are many reasons why honest people can have poor credit scores.  My case is one -- I had no idea the house payments weren't being made until I discovered through being treated like a criminal by the lending company. Sudden, unavoidable disasters, like layoffs, illnesses or a death in the family can also wreak havoc, and in these cases, the best strategy is to stay on top of one's accounts and communicate with lenders.  Your credit score will dive, but it will recover at the same rate that you do if you deal with the crisis openly and honestly.

I really was questioning whether or not any of the things "we" as honest people thought were true and important over the years.  The financial meltdown has caused so many questions and so much fear, and has impacted so many people's long-term plans.  However, I feel that there is simply nothing for people to go to except the old-fashioned approach of paying one's bills on time, not living beyond one's means, and having a care about one's dealings with others - be they Verizon (I swear, that company is going to melt down) or American Express or auto or home lenders.  I don't think that the bailouts mean that nobody has to pay bills any more and we'll all have free breakfasts, lunches and dinners on President Obama.  In fact, I'm seeing signs of more of a lockdown than ever.  I think once all is said and done, it will be a stricter, more conservative financial climate in general.  This will not be a bad thing.  Most writers live simply and modestly and don't want $100,000 cars or multi-million dollar estates that they can't afford.  The underlying basis of credit, business and lending is reasonableness.  Ultra-high interest rates aren't reasonable (try renegotiating now, by the way - people are having some success reducing their credit card interest rates these days) and neither is taking out credit or loans that one has no intention of ever repaying, then making up some excuse later and going on to the next poor sucker.

Free Credit Report dot Com

All right. I'm well-known for being shallow and brain-free.  I can't vouch for "freecreditreport dot com" as a credit monitoring service, but I love their commercials, and especially the three unfortunate guys, who they are very smart to feature on their commercials.

Yes, here they are, in all their glory.  I have no idea who these actors really are, but the commercials are perfect.  My favorite is of course the seafood restaurant, which is uncomfortably reminiscent of Judge Reinhold's horrible job as big brother Brad in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (that's a link to a "where are they now?" article).

If Chowder-Head Guy had checked his credit, he wouldn't have had his identity stolen, and be wearing a stupid pirate outfit serving "chowder and iced-tea."  Although updated for today, there is just something so "Fast Times" about these three chowderheads.  They're actually called "the singing pirates." 

Free Credit Report ISN'T actually free and it isn't the government "get your credit report free" thing at all.  That is located at annual credit report, and you can read how it works via the internet, phone or mail here.

A lot of news and information has come out recently about the value or lack thereof, of services like Lifelock, which I use, but may not continue forever. Many banks now offer credit monitoring services to customers for a modest fee, and I highly recommend TransUnion's service, True Credit.  For $9.95 a month, this service offers unlimited credit checks and scores, 24 hour a day monitoring, and the only downside is they ping the heck out of you with ads for credit-related products.  These days, it is of benefit to regularly check your bank accounts and credit cards online (via a secure connection), to shred all old bills and paperwork, to take care with securing your mail, and to be extremely cautious and careful about online credit purchases.  Even with the prevalence of fears of online credit theft, most credit is stolen using the old-fashioned methods of trash-searching, or of obtaining an expired card (particularly easily fooled things like gas cards, etc.), changing the address, and milking it for all it's worth in the period of time between the card's activation and the victim becoming aware.  Remember, both the credit grantor and the individual are victims. 

While major credit/identity theft rings are out there, most of this is done by low-level, messed-up people who steal a few hundred bucks here and there by basic means.  By following the methods I recommend above, most people should be able to avoid becoming unwary victims.  Monitor all accounts frequently, and consider investing in one of the credit reporting services that will send you an alert any time a change is made.  Be careful in your personal habits, shredding old bills and so-on, and have all the information you need separate from your wallet or purse, in case either is stolen while you are out - always call all banks, credit card companies, stores and gas cards and cancel immediately in case of any theft. 

Noticing things that are "out of place" is a characteristic of people with good survival skills.  A few weeks ago, I was filling up at a gas station that I don't use very often.  I saw a woman put a credit card into the pump, and it didn't work.  Then, she withdrew a THREE INCH STACK of cards from her jacket pocket, which was secured with a rubber band.  I went in the station and told the owner, and they cancelled the transaction and were questioning her as I drove off.  She didn't look very happy.  There's no reason for somebody to have a huge stack of credit cards - except for the one that you, I, and the gas station owners suspected.  I hope they busted her, good.

 

More Pop for Your Undie Dollar

I freely admit that Wallet Pop is one of the most-common websites that I read.  I don't watch the Dolans, but I do sort of wonder and marvel at what seems to be going on with them (not that they don't have good advice - if you're a financial novice, they're a good resource). 

So the ever-popular customer service horror stories caught my eye today.  They recycle these puppies, and I think most were drawn from contests or promotions on AOL.  No matter.  It's like "Dear Abby" for getting screwed while attempting to be a consumer.  One person was confronted with a teenaged clerk at FYE wearing a hat that said "F-You" and when they asked for "Hootie and the Blowfish," the clerk asked, "Are you a fag or something?"  Amid the many "bests" (from Nordstrom employees contributing $500 worth of basics to a family whose home had burned down to a Sears employee tracking down and getting hold of a Land's End coat for a traveler) were the usual nastygrams that probably drive middle and upper management at these companies out of their minds. 

I was particularly taken by the Victoria's Secret tale, because a similar incident occurred when I was shopping with my best friend.  When I was younger and Victoria's Secret had just started to become popular, I found that their undergarments weren't the best-fitting or flattering for me.  Early Victoria's Secret seemed designed for the typical "pear shape" figure - now there are options for all figure types. They have changed their lines and their offerings over the years, and now, my favorites are pretty much all that I wear.  This does not make me feel better to know that it's the same damn company that is dressing all of us from head to toe - "The Limited."  And to think I used to like their jeans.  I will purposely buy Levis so I don't have to be dressed 100% by this megalopalyptic clothing Leviathan.

Anyway, you know where I'm going with this, right?  I get daily websearch hits from people asking, I kid you not, if "only good-looking people can wear Abercrombie & Fitch" (also part of the octopod monolithic "I Dress You, Zombi American' conglomerate). 

That's right, Virginia.  Victoria's Secret does NOT have a line for larger customers.  I naively dragged my friend into one of their stores in the blithely mistaken knowledge that they would have her size.  They did not - and in our case, the manager was courteous enough to simply state the sizes they did have without making any type of negative weight statements.  The true customer service horror story arose from a customer who stated she was overweight going to a different Victoria's Secret, where the manager informed her, "if you'd lose some weight, you might be able to fit our sizes."  Considering the number of years this company has been shutting larger consumers out, I don't think they'd have much success if they did decide - in today's economy - that they could no longer afford to only dress a certain portion of the population.

This is coming from the perspective - everyone pretty much needs to wear underwear, and they need to buy it.  Shoes, socks, undergarments.  These are the - not to put too fine a point on it - FOUNDATION of fashion.  I'm sure Victoria's Secret has its rationale for only offering a narrow range of sizes plus thong floss.  But my recommendation in today's economic times, for females and males?  Land's End.  Your best money will always be spent on quality products that will last.  It is better to pay a few dollars more on a product that will last two to three years (or longer, in the case of good shoes, coats, etc.) than it is to get those 99 cent floss panties out of the Victoria's Secret (or worse - discount store) bin.  Anyway, I haven't shopped there since before Christmas.  So, they started the new year out with awesome swimwear items like this:

 Referred to by Sarah at "In the Trenches of Mommyhood" as the "attacked by a shark" swimsuit.  One of the others, with a minimal boob strip and chain thong bottom, Sarah said would be a "perfect pregnancy suit."  Yeah - for any of those naked, barefoot, pregnant moms-to-be out there to wear while hubby whacks them with his club and drags them by their hair back to their PETA/GEICO caveman cave (see yesterday's post).

At least online, Victoria's Secret DOES seem to carry sizes up to 40 DD.

Check this out - these stories are everywhere!  "Go to a Lane Bryant store!"  Another customer was told her underwire popped out because her bra was too small!  Now, this has happened to me before, but not with a Victoria's Secret bra, which is why I have tended to buy my favorites there.  This post is bizarrely suspect (as the writer seems to be indicating an anatomically impossible size if she's positing she's not a "large" person) - but it describes the size situation in more detail.  And this post is a "booster" recommending different alternatives.  And here, from the ladies in Glendale, is a pretty accurate description of most of the mall Victoria's Secret outlets - not very helpful, some condescending clerks, and "ferret through the drawers" until you find your size.  I also know the exact bras this blogger was looking at when she had her disturbing IQ test conversation with the VS clerk.  And honey - a hint - if you wear a "30" B - you don't need a bra, you need a camisole and probably a depilatory for the peach fuzz on your chin because you're probably a boy - the smallest size they and most other adult manufacturers carry on their official size chart is "32." 

Anyway, it's not super-sexy, but it is well-made, well-priced, and it won't fall apart after one washing (in or out of a lingerie net bag).  Land's End underwear.  Because only mentally-ill people should want floss that falls apart in their . . . er . . . Now, that's uncomfortable.

The Law for Writers

First off, Google's search page today is Las Meninas.  I have no clue as to why (maybe it is an anniversary for the great painting?).  Second, I thought today would be a good idea to address legal issues as they pertain to writing.  This is a good general resource of basic books, websites and samples of legal issues for writers.  Here is another, more comprehensive resource.

Many people ask about registration of copyright.  For years, publishers routinely registered the copyright of works they published.  However, it came to people's attention that in the 1990's, some publishers who had very big programs weren't doing the registration.  People had "assumed" their books had been registered, when in fact, they had not.  Now, authors are registering their work on their own, in increasing numbers.  Another issue is "work for hire" vs. advance/royalty contracts.  This is a good article about that issue.  Another question that arises is the issue of pen names and copyright -- Ivan Hoffman has another good discussion of that.

I believe that one's choice of literary agent is not only based upon whether that agent believes in you and your work, and can effectively market it, it is also based on that agent's knowledge and understanding of contractual negotiations -- not just for the short-term gain, but also the long-term responsible protection and preservation of your work.  If you're any good as a writer, you will write something that will last more than one printing.  You will have something that needs to be considered and protected over a significant period of time.  So, choose your representation not only based upon what you think they can get for you today, but also tomorrow.

Ivan Hoffman also has an excellent article about online content providers, beyond print publishers that have an online presence (i.e., people who maintain content portals, etc.).  He points up that ordinary liability insurance does not generally cover online content.  His article was written in 2001, but this remains true today.  Most book publishers have legal departments that vet work (more or less!) prior to publication.  Other smaller presses have legal advisors they can consult prior to publication, if they have reason to believe they might have some type of problem.

I can say from experience in both business and personal life that there are litigious individuals out there who will waste an unbelievable amount of time and money on meritless lawsuits.  Even small businesses are aware of the abuses of the workers' compensation system and various other penny-ante false harassment claims.  Dealing with this type of situation is a cost of doing business -- and any liability insurance provider will provide training in appropriate procedures to avoid this situation entirely, or to mitigate it in the event it does occur.

This is a difficult matter for individuals, because I believe that one of the most pernicious internet behaviors is that of the serial lawsuit-threatener - the individual who threatens to lawyer up to enforce his or her desires at the time via the internet.  Many people can get business riders on personal insurance policies, but the chances that this would cover this type of activity are very slim.  Dealing with only one fake harassment lawsuit can easily cost you $10,000.  And frankly, being targeted for something like that is a cost of doing business in the public eye, and if you are going to put yourself out there on the internet, be aware that such events could occur to you.  It is very unlikely that an internet troll would actually go to the extent of bringing a legal action that was threatened during the trolling activity. 

However, all people should be aware that there is a difference between filing a civil action, and defending one.  There are some low-level attorneys out there who will file any number of civil actions, in full awareness that their behavior must rise to an extreme level before they suffer any type of personal sanction (i.e., many spurious cases filed, many violations - even the CA State Bar focuses on financial, not courtroom, malfeasance).  For example, there are workers' compensation attorneys who will take on as many as 200 cases for no up-front fees, in the hope of winning just one. However, this same attorney will require payment if asked to defend a legal action.  So basically, a litigious lunatic can file and file until eventually he or she is stopped - and it could take a very long time.  However, such lunatics will have to pay should anyone file a legal action against them.  The point of civil court is money.  And because most people who file spurious lawsuits have little or no money, few people think to file lawsuits against them, or are dissuaded from it by responsible attorneys -- because there is simply nothing to recover even in the case of an award.  Does it sound wrong?

Absolutely.  It is totally immoral, and totally wrong.  It's called the "tyranny of the poor."  It bothers large corporations with "deep pockets" because it exacts a fairly high cost of unnecessary expenses - their insurance rates increase tremendously, and they do pay nuisance awards to make these people go away.  It's one of the central tenets of tort reform (that's unlikely to ever happen in this country - that has been the law in the UK since 1967 - why should we copy them? Ha!).  This term was explained to me by the brilliant, excellent attorney Joe Arias in 1992 or so.

Legal liability and knowledge is actually a serious matter for writers working in the public eye.  They would do well to have counsel to consult in all matters where there could be a question, and to follow attorneys' guidance and advice.  That is certainly what I do, on a routine basis. 

 

Possibly, Maybe, Kind of Amazing Jobs

As Memorial Day approaches, many people are graduating from high school and college, and it seems there's a recession developing, I think it's good to review job opportunities, career choices and some of the new realities of the workplace.  First, there's an interesting, if a little bit silly article by Rachel Zupek for the AOL career section.  Rachel shows her emphases by including both news reporters and writers on her A-Z list of "amazing" jobs.  Rachel also says that kindergarten teaching "pays well."  And the salaries are clearly national averages (for some, they might be including American Samoa and Guam - yes, they're that low) not what one might expect in So. Cal.  But it's an interesting rundown.  For those looking toward starting college in the fall as undeclared majors, reviewing lists like this can jog an interest that will help you to develop your major and eventual career plan.  They could help you decide to try an internship or summer job, too -- then you can learn whether or not that career field is for you.  (Actually - she puts "embalmer" as "E" on the list - I don't think the majority of students are going to want a summer job learning how to do that).

I also have some real-world news and advice.  STAY IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATE! According to one of my expert informants in the field of jobs and employment, employers who might have accepted job applicants with GED's in the past are no longer accepting them.  They are demanding verified high school diplomas.  The recession is real, as I said yesterday, despite the efforts of some pundits to state there's nothing wrong (by the same token - I'm not saying "vote" for anybody - like that will matter!).  This means that, at least in urban areas like Los Angeles, people are being laid off of better-paying jobs and are taking any job they can get, pushing entry-level workers out of the running for the jobs they'd have easily gotten as recently as a year ago.  By entry-level, I mean minimum wage to $10 an hour.    People who failed to graduate from high school, or who just have a GED, perhaps obtained through some type of rehabilitation program, are in a much weaker position these days.  They are being pushed into jobs that have been traditionally held by "undocumented workers" in the past (i.e. - GED doesn't even matter - are you a live body and can you push a lawn mower?).  Lower-skilled and educated citizens are increasingly moving into landscaping, housekeeping in private homes, and individual child care (nannies or "au pairs").  It is true:  the undocumented are being pushed aside -- people hiring these workers do prefer U.S. citizens because of the legal issues.  It's also true that poorer quality work often comes from the new au pairs, nannies, housekeepers and gardeners, who may have, after failing to complete, oh, say 8th GRADE by choice, think for some moronic reason they are "better than" somebody from Central or South America who completed 4th grade -- because that was all that was there for them!

Kids are having trouble getting summer jobs right now.  One young man I know applied for more than 25 jobs before getting hired.  The message of all this?  Don't take your education for granted.  People who have struggled in the past as a result of not understanding the importance of education (school dropouts), or those with poor or sporadic work histories are at even more of a disadvantage right now.  As one of the smart, tough and survivor types, it might seem "easy" for me to say, because fulfilling my responsibilities always came naturally (it literally never occurred to me to drop out of school, nor to try "my own methods" as opposed to the generally-accepted ones - gaining skills and experience and building upon past successes).  But it's terribly important.  When times get hard, the weaker applicants do find themselves unable to work.  Some people's solution to this is "politics," which can hardly do an effective job over the long run to create new jobs and opportunities.  The government is already employing at maximum as it is (taking up 30% of GDP as it does).  Every one of those jobs takes another one from somebody else who isn't so lucky as to live in a special pork barrel town or neighborhood.  So, if you're going to graduate soon, good for you!  And if you've made some poor choices in the past, get back to school, and get to work.

The DAY Looms . . . April 15

TurboTax is faster than ever - it seems that the program is still giving its traditionally conservative information about when returns will be accepted, and when refunds will be mailed - but the state and the IRS accepted my returns almost immediately.  If you haven't yet filed, TurboTax has a completely free online version for the 1040EZ (this form will not accommodate writers filing a schedule C).  The always helpful About.com also has a complete review of free online tax filing programs.  TurboTax is at the top, but there are several others the author says are good.  The IRS also has a page of links to free online filing progams.  Having made many strides in recent years, the IRS also offers many options for people to file their taxes online for free, or a very limited cost.

Or, you can order this t-shirt and show them how you feel.

Once In A Lifetime TurboTax Experience

First, I just finished my federal and state tax filing with TurboTax online.  I use the premium home and  business version, which has gone up a bit in price.  I remember when it was about $55 or $60.  Now it is about $100.  There is also a charge to file, and I got the "Audit Defense" although my audit risk was "low" according to the program.

It probably had something to do with the horrific amount of tax I paid last year, which led to this year's . . .

ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

Yes, that's right, I didn't just get modest refunds (as has been typical throughout my life - though careful planning was required due to my cash income/no withholding as a writer).  I got the biggest refunds ever!  I mean, I got refunds of almost every penny I withheld last year!  I mean, my paychecks make me want to cry as it is, but - this is the first time I've ever gotten any significant amount back.

Why, that almost means I actually . . . earned . . . almost what I did!

So there's even less excuse that this book isn't done. 

Now, my "method" for achieving this miracle isn't something I'd advise anybody to emulate (it involved what happens when one has a long-deferred capital gain - OW!).  Your prior year state tax is deductible on current year Federal.  And I also refinanced my house (to a low-interest 30-year fixed conforming loan).  That's a powerful combo.

The message of the day is that TurboTax is more powerful than ever, with many new improvements this year.  There are online help functions with real people, opportunities to interact with others, and the system is completely streamlined to take you from start to finish with as little trouble as possible.