WiFi Savvy

A lot of people ask me how I make the maps of our travel route that are on our home page, http://www.jimandchris.com/ .  I use clipart of a map, then with a program called Fireworks I use the pen tool to draw the route. 

Most RV Travelers have a map of the states they’ve visited pasted somewhere on the outside of their RV.  Like the one in the photo upper right corner of this page.  We just love it when we visit a new state and we get to put it on our map.  But, what if you want that map on your webpage?  I’ve just run across a really cool website that let’s you do just that.  It’s called Visited States.  There’s also one called Visited Countries.  Since you’ve already seen the states we’ve visited, I’ll do the Countries:

It’s so easy.  Once you get to the website, you’ll see a list of states (or countries).  Simply check the box next to each state (or country) you’ve visited and click ‘Go’.  When it’s done, you should see the map.  Below the map is a box containing the HTML code you need to put into your webpage - just copy and paste it.

I did one more step because I didn’t like the size of the graphic - it was too big for this page.  I right-clicked on the map and used the ‘Save picture as …’ command to save the .gif file on my computer.  Then I could resize it as I saw fit and upload it to display on this page.

Note added August 2006: I found another ‘visited states’ map that I like even better at http://www.epgsoft.com/VisitedStatesMap/.  The main difference is that it colors in each state with a different color.

This is the 4th year in a row that I’ve used TurboTax for the web to prepare my personal tax return.  You gotta understand, me and paperwork don’t get along.  I can ignore it for months, even years.  Add to that the fact that we live in a motorhome and there’s no place to spread papers out, and you got the picture.  I avoid filling out forms until I have no other choice.  Web-based systems are *made* for me.

The fact that I’ve used TurboTax for the web for 4 years now helps SO much, I almost want to kiss the screen.  All our personal info is already filled in, I just keep clicking ‘next…’ ‘next…’.  All our acct numbers are already filled in.  The 1099’s that I received last year are all there.  My only job is to fill in this year’s numbers.  And, this year I didn’t even have to do that because my bank is a participating institution.  I do all my banking online.  This year TurboTax has a button to click to retrieve all 1099DIV info directly from my bank/broker.  I’m in heaven.

I always choose to file electronically and to receive my refund electronically.  I just pressed ‘Transmit my Return’ this morning.  I expect to see money show up in our personal bank account in 10 days to 2 weeks.  All this convenience cost me $19.95. 

I also had to file a corporate return.  TurboTax doesn’t have any online system for that.  But, I can get the forms I need from www.irs.gov and they are now ‘fill-in forms’.  In years past I either needed to handwrite in the forms or find someone with an old typewriter.  Neither of those would be a feasible option living in a motorhome.  The fill-in forms are great.  I have to do the calculations manually, unlike with TurboTax, but at least I can make a change and just reprint the form.

I know lots of people who would not like the fact that their income tax return information is all ‘out there’ online, in TurboTax’s computers.  Well, they don’t have to use it.  Maybe I’m not paranoid enough.  I may sing a different tune if I ever get burned.  But, so far, so good.  There are risks of identity theft no matter what methods you use to transmit sensitive information.  From what I know, I truly believe that electronic transmission is just about the most secure method you can use.  It’s certainly the fastest and the most accurate.  I’ve already received confirmation that my return was received. 

I *almost* look forward to using TurboTax online for filing my taxes again next year!

Oh yeah - and I’m using the free WiFi provided in this park to get online.  It’s a good thing cuz there are too many trees to raise our dish.

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