There are apparently stories that the word “luck” was derived from “Lucifer.” Randomhouse dispels that by explaining that the two words come from different origins. “The word luck was borrowed from Middle Dutch or Low German…It seems to have been first popularized as a gambling term.” Lucifer is Old English derived from Latin “lux” or light and ferre “to bear; carry.” The use of Lucifer as an epithet for Satan comes a passage in Isaiah 14:12, which refers to a king of Babylon who was compared to the morning star. The passage has been interpreted to refer to the fall of the archangel hurled from heaven because of wickedness.
Author Archives: RF_Alum
Turbo Tax Hint: Removing Problematic Forms
I’ve been using Turbo Tax to file my taxes for years. I have become more comfortable with using the package and particularly enjoy letting the computer download capital gains and losses, dividends, and interest directly from financial institutions.
I learned something this year while talking to the help center looking for assistance to correct an error. The error was associated with the information on a 1099-R form received on my withdrawal of funds from a retirement account. However, the hint applies to any form that has an error.
I don’t know whether the errors on both federal and state taxes were from a glitch in the software or, more likely, I had made an error in entering the information. I tried going back and retyping the information, but the error persisted. The call center (and it took some work to find the number to call) told me deleting and retyping information often does not correct errors. They had me click on the “Forms” icon that is the third icon to the left on the top right side of the page. (Warning: I understand that the Mac version might show the forms icon in a different location. Look for the icon that represents a stack of papers and is labeled “Forms.”)
Clicking on the “Forms” icon opens the entire menu of forms for both federal and state taxes to on the left side of the page (federal forms first followed by state forms). I scrolled down to find the federal form that had an error, opened, deleted it, and filled out the information again. (I understand the Mac version uses the term “Remove” instead of “Delete.”) I was told that “delete or remove,” depending on whether you are using Windows or Mac, is the only way to correct a form that has an error.
The next step was to once again to click on the “Forms” icon to locate the erroneous state form generated from the previously incorrect federal data. I was instructed to delete that form. The program immediately completed a new and correct form.
The “Forms” icon was replaced by “Step-By-Step” after I fixed my problematic forms. The error check after clicking the new icon gave me clearance that the mistakes had been corrected and I was able to file my return. Good luck with completing the increasingly complex tax filing process!
The Lever of Riches
The subtitle of this book by Joel Mokyr is “Technological Creativity and Economic Progress.” I requested the book to be sent to my local library after reading a reference that sounded interesting in “A Case for Nuclear-Generated Electricity” (reviewed previously). The author of that book observed that Mokyr discussed how China transitioned from being a technological, military, and economic power to becoming a backward country pushed around by the world because, simplistically, it stopped embracing innovation. I wanted to learn more so I obtained Mokyr’s book. Continue reading
Square Deal
Theodore Roosevelt became President in 1901when William McKinley, who had strong support of industry titans, was assassinated. Roosevelt used the phrase “Square Deal” as his campaign slogan in 1904. Roosevelt was a Progressive who had strong belief corporations had too much power over workers. The slogan was based on the “3 C’s.” These were Control of Corporations, Consumer Protection, and Conservation of Natural Resources.
Gun Sales Surge
The tragic massacre of children and teachers in Newtown, Connecticut, created understandable outrage and many legislators decided they must do something. Legislators in my state of Colorado rushed to pass new legislation to “control guns.” Some or all of the legislation will undoubtedly be found unconstitutional, but the legislators and their anti-gun constituents have been repeated portrayed by the media celebrating that they “have taken action.” They were unfazed by the fact the laws they passed would not have stopped the tragic massacres in the Colorado theatre or the Connecticut school.
Photo: www.myfoxboston.com
Colorado residents responded to the highly publicized actions by overloading the background check system to buy guns. At one point there was a week or more delay in obtaining approval to make a purchase. The effort to “control guns” resulted in a surge in gun sales.
Colorado wasn’t the only place where guns sales increased. I recently heard a short report on CNBC that retail sales in the U.S. were up by a bit under 2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2012. The primary reason for the increase was attributed to the 20 percent increase in gun sales. Continue reading
White Elephant
The Phrase Finder defines this idiom as meaning a burdensome possession that creates more trouble than it is worth. Albino elephants were considered holy in ancient Thailand. A subordinate who displeased the Thai King would be given a white elephant, and the cost of the special food and providing access to worshipers would often ruin the person receiving the gift.