TinkoMatic: Your Source For Deals And Job Hunting
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 15th, 2010
David Tobiano is ‘The Man’ when it came to getting my blog up and running. (I couldn’t have done it without him and ‘My Man’.) More importantly, David also happens to be the genius behind the birthing of his brain baby TinkoMatic, a very user friendly tool to help you find just about any classified item you desire, including a job. And hey, with the job market so challenging, we could all use as much help as we can get. And with the economy the way it is, aren’t we always searching for a better deal? In either case, TinkoMatic is the website to use.
So…what makes TinkoMatic so special? Well, I have only used it a few times so far but I love the way I can view all that is available, all at once in one location - it is genius. And evidently I am not the only one who thinks so. Mashable, The Social Media Guide, listed TinkoMatic in their Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. But…I’m getting ahead of myself, and you’re probably thinking, ‘What is Michelle talking about?”
Instead of me explaining the simplicity of this super startup, here’s a recent article from Tech Crunch:
TinkOmatic Makes Deal and Job Hunting More Organized (500 Invites)
In this economy, everyone is looking for a good deal. Startup TinkOmatic
(currently in private beta) allows deal-hunting consumers to search and track classifieds or auction sites for multiple items at once, all in one location. Tracking classifieds on Craigslist or deals on Ebay can be overwhelming and tedious to consumers and TinkOmatic is hoping to provide an easier way to view these listings (The first 500 readers to enter the code “techcrunch” will get access to the beta).
The search aggregator application allows users to find items on Oodle, Kijiji, Ebay and Craigslist (Which opens in a new window). TinkOmatic also allows users to add RSS feeds from Trulia, Google Base and others to track items, jobs, apartments and cars. The results from each site are displayed in separate panes, a.ka. TinkBoxes, within the page. The user can access the site-specific searches (on Ebay or Craigslist) by clicking on the corresponding TinkBox. Searches can be limited by both location (TinkOmatic offers over 20 geographic locations) and by type of item. All searches can be saved and refreshed whenever the user accesses TinkOmatic. The site also enables people to create advanced search filters within their RSS readers and TinkOmatic searches featured on the site.
One economy-relevant feature is the ability to hunt for jobs, track listings and have the job searches updated each time a user logs in to the site. And of course, it’s a useful tool to organize updated multiple classified and auction searches in one area. In theory, it’s sort of similar toTrackle, NotifyMe and Yotify, except devoted to a concentrated area.
Here’s a instructional video about the site:
Readers: What do you think? Pretty cool eh? I think searching multiple services at once and having the ability to refine and save searches not only makes a lot of sense but can save you oodles of time. And we all could use more time in our lives. So if you’re a big eBay or Craigslist user, I suggest you give TinkoMatic a try, and bookmark it! I think you’ll love it, and find it so useful for all of your searches.
And my disclaimer: “No I am not getting a kickback from David. I just think his idea is brilliant and I wanted to share it with you.” :)
Thoughts? blog me.
I just want to add that I appreciate you all cutting it up right (Love that), in regards to the spacing of your articles. So yes Sui, you did cut it up right – Thanks. :)
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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April 15th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Mischa, that does sound like a brill idea, I’ll give it a go tonight as I’m trying to locate a few things that I’d usually attempt in eBay or craigs list.
I’d love to hear Anonz’s two on the voting in Sudan. Are you available to comment, sweet pea?
Off to talk to a man about a job ; ) he probably wants a courtesan, hahaha…!
Caio, and pluvness, Zen Lill
April 15th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Should You Hire a Tax Preparer Or Do It Yourself?
Ian M. Weinberg, CFP
Family Wealth & Pension Management LLC
As April 15 nears, taxpayers face a decision. Is it worth the expense to hire a tax preparer to do your tax return? Or should you use tax software and do it yourself?
HOW TO DECIDE
A knowledgeable tax professional might charge $500 or more to prepare your return, depending on its complexity. Big companies, such as H&R Block, might charge somewhat less.
Software, such as TurboTax, TaxACT and TaxCut, have various versions ranging in price from $12.95 to $79.95 or more depending on your tax needs. (TurboTax and TaxACT also have free versions available.) Thus, a program seems to save you money.
Caution: Such programs are fine for typical taxpayers with straightforward returns. For example, you might have nothing more than W-2 income from your employer, bank account interest income and some basic itemized deductions, such as state income taxes and mortgage interest.
However, taxpayers with more complex financial affairs probably will save more in taxes by using a tax preparer than it costs to hire one.
Example: Jim kept some stock in a brokerage account, but he also held some shares personally, in certificate form. One year, he prepared his own tax return using software.
Trap: Although all of Jim’s dividend income qualified for the bargain 15% tax rate, his software program applied that low rate only to the dividends from his certificate shares. On the dividends reported by his broker, Jim’s software calculated tax payments at his 35% ordinary tax rate.
Result: Jim overpaid tax on that dividend income by thousands of dollars.
TRICKY TAXES
Complex issues that might be better handled by a tax preparer include…
Capital gains.
Sale of a residence.
Rental property losses.
Casualty losses.
Employee business expenses.
Medical costs incurred for a dependent parent.
Margin loan interest.
Investment advisory and other professional fees.
For these and other complex tax issues, you might want to work with an experienced professional, such as a partner in a certified public accounting (CPA) firm or someone recognized by the IRS as an enrolled agent (EA). To find a good tax preparer, ask trusted professionals you already work with.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
If you have been in the habit of preparing your own return, one strategy to consider is to use a software program, enter all the data and prepare a tax return but don’t file it. Bring this preliminary return to a tax preparer, on paper or on disk. This approach might save you money if it saves the tax pro time.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Ian M. Weinberg, CFP, chief executive officer, Family Wealth & Pension Management LLC, Woodbury, New York. He advises privately held companies on investing and advanced wealth planning and lectures in the Certified Financial Planning Program at Long Island University-CW Post Campus.
April 15th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Al, how is Howie doing?
April 15th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Michelle
I tried that TinkoMatic. It’s great.
April 15th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Michelle
As usual you are on the cusp of all the good stuff. Tinkomatic is a winner.
April 15th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
A WOMAN’S WEEK AT THE GYM
This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine.
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
________________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It’s a whole new life for me.
April 15th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Hafa adai
I’m going to try that TinkoMatic as soon as I get off work. My comments will be reported tomorrow. I hope it is not another promise.
I trust you Michelle, so I will give it a go.
April 15th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Subject: Take two aspirin…
Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays.
These excerpts are published each year for their amusement.
Here are last year’s winners…
5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just
before it throws up.
April 15th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
I like the way it allows me get to the heart of my efforts. Is this listed on the stock exchange?
It might be a good investment. You know like google.
Danielle
April 15th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Ladies, those of you married to a military man there is some good news about filing your tax return.
=====================
IRS Grants Military Spouses Six-Month Extension to Pay 2009 Tax
APRIL 15, 2010
On April 15, the IRS issued Notice 2010-30, which gives certain civilian spouses of service members on active duty an extension of time through Oct. 15, 2010, to pay their 2009 federal income taxes.
However, civilian spouses were not granted an automatic extension of time to file a return.
The extension applies to civilian spouses of service members who were away from their tax residence during 2009 to be with their service-member spouse serving on military duty in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands and who maintained their tax residence in a state or in D.C. under the terms of the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (PL 111-97), which was enacted Nov. 11, 2009.
To be eligible, the civilian spouse must have worked in a U.S. territory and claimed tax residence in a state or D.C.;
however, federal employees working in American Samoa, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands are not eligible for the extension and neither are individuals working in Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands to whom IRC § 935 applies (under which taxpayers may treat amounts withheld and paid to the relevant U.S. territory as being paid to the IRS).
The notice provides procedures for eligible taxpayers to follow. These include marking “MSRRA” in red ink at the top of the tax return and attaching a signed and dated declaration, using wording specified in the notice.
Under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, the fact that a military spouse is present in or absent from a jurisdiction in the United States will not affect that spouse’s residence or domicile for tax purposes,
as long as that presence in (or absence from) the jurisdiction is due to the service member’s compliance with military orders. In addition, any income the military spouse earns in a jurisdiction will not be treated as income from services performed or sources within that jurisdiction if that spouse is not treated as a resident of the jurisdiction under the act.
According to the notice, certain taxpayers who worked in a state or D.C. in 2009 and who claimed residence in a U.S. territory in 2009 under the act can apply for a refund of federal taxes that were withheld by the taxpayer’s employer or for estimated tax payments.
The notice outlines the procedures civilian spouses should use to submit a refund claim under these circumstances.
======================
Michelle
I’m sorry about the run on sentences. I broke the story up the best I could.
Hafa adai
Anna
April 15th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Oh Michelle
I’m going to give Tinkomatic a try too.
April 16th, 2010 at 7:11 am
As we told you if we do not get the cooperation we want, volcanos will erupt.
Let this be your notice. There are other volcanos in places opposite this one that could complete the grounding of your aircraft.
Be mindful
April 16th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Thanks Michelle for the clue about TinkoMatic. I’m going to use it to check the validity of some of these politicians claims.
The Right has already started to scare their base about the new Supreme Court appointment from Obama. They are using it like everything else to get more money.
—————————
Dear Friend of a Just America,
The inevitable has now happened.
After hinting around about it for weeks, U. S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has announced that he is retiring. The Court’s oldest member, and a liberal’s liberal, made the announcement just 11 days shy of his 90th birthday.
A Supreme Court Justice is allowed four law clerks. When Justice Stevens only hired ONE law clerk for this Supreme Court term, the writing was on the wall.
In spite of his leftist leanings, Justice Stevens has received much praise from many areas, even from Conservatives:
“He has enriched the lives of everyone at the Court through his intellect, independence, and warm grace.” -Chief Justice John Roberts.
“I commend Justice Stevens for his lifelong commitment to public service…I respect his devotion o the institution and the gentlemanly manner in which he always carried out his work.” –U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
BUT HERE IS THE WORRISOME BOTTOM LINE:
Barack Hussein Obama now has the unprecedented opportunity in his very first-term to make a SECOND nomination to the Highest Court in the land!
As liberal as Justice Stevens was, Mr. Obama is even more radical!
That’s why you must help us inform our United States Senators that we demand that the nominee to replace him is more conservative than Justice Stevens!
Please, CLICK HERE to FAX every United States Senator to make sure that they support a Constitutionalist judge, not an ideological liberal judicial activist to replace justice Stevens!
AND, your DONATION to the United States Justice Foundation (USJF) will help us to INFORM SENATORS of the judicial and other records of any nominee that Mr. Obama puts forward!
Justice Stevens was nominated by President Gerald Ford after Justice William Douglas resigned. He has overwhelmingly voted with the liberal bloc on the Supreme Court, including in favor of abortion and a strict separation of church and state.
He has been part of a group of liberal Supreme Court Justices that have tried to twist the U. S. Constitution to fit their political agenda.
Our next Supreme Court Justice must respect the United States Constitution!! American citizens require a Supreme Court nominee who respects the rule of law, who will leave his or her personal bias aside, and who will respect and be faithful to the U. S. Constitution, regardless of the President or Congress.
A political and judicial ACTIVIST, promoting anyone’s agenda will not be tolerated!!
Justice Stevens’ retirement takes effect when the Supreme Court’s term is complete in June.
His most recent opinion was a dissent in a major case involving campaign finance laws, that showed the eloquence of his writing.
He has usually sided with the Supreme Court’s liberal bloc in the most controversial cases. Mr. Obama’s replacement will no doubt be just as liberal, if not more.
YOUR VOICE IS URGENTLY NEEDED to help present the public opinion of Supreme Court Justice Nominees to United States Senators!
U. S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is a realist– he said: “As we await the President’s nominee to replace Justice Stevens at the end of his term, Americans can expect Senate republicans to make a sustained and vigorous case for judicial restraint and fundamental importance of an even-handed reading of the law.”
Even-handed…h-m-m-m. Is he talking about Mr. Obama and his lieutenants? NOT LIKELY!
Please, CLICK HERE to FAX every United States Senator to make sure that they support a Constitutionalist judge, not an ideological liberal judicial activist to replace justice Stevens!
AND, your DONATION to the United States Justice Foundation (USJF) will help us to INFORM SENATORS of the judicial and other records of any nominee that Mr. Obama puts forward!
Of course, a fight is brewing in the Senate over Justice Stevens’ replacement. Judging by the backroom deals that the Obama Administration and their cronies pulled off to pass the unpopular healthcare bill (OBAMACARE), a Republican filibuster is not totally out of the question!
Here is the Democrats misconception: “With 59 votes, the President can nominate anybody he wants.” The perception is that not all Republicans will stand their ground, like they did against OBAMACARE. You and I can change that perception!
It is still possible, even without a filibuster, to DELAY the confirmation proceedings until after the November elections, which will give the Republicans a shot of being in the majority in the United States Senate.
There are three main prospective Obama nominees that have been talked about for a long time. You need to be aware of each one, so that you can get more involved in trying to stop their particular nomination process:
ELENA KAGAN, U. S. Solicitor General. Law Clerk for former liberal Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Associate White House counsel to President Bill Clinton.
Became Dean of Harvard Law School in 2003. First female Solicitor General–nominated by Mr. Obama in 2009. She barred military recruiters from the campus of Harvard Law School, because she opposed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on homosexuals serving in the military!
JUDGE DIANE WOOD, 7th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Taught at the University of Chicago Law School. Nominated (and confirmed by a unanimous Senate vote) by President Bill Clinton to the federal appeals bench in 1995.
Strong commitment to the “right of privacy” viewpoint that helped to shape Roe v. Wade; giving her abortion and pro-same-sex marriage stances. She also believes in the “dynamic” view of the Constitution’s legal principles. In other words, a liberal judicial activist!
JUDGE MERRICK GARLAND, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Also nominated by President Bill Clinton to the federal appeals court in 1995, after serving as prosecutor in the Clinton administration’s Justice Department. Law Clerk for former liberal Supreme Court Justice William Brennan after graduating from Harvard Law School in 1977.
Please let the United States Senate know what kind of Supreme Court Justice America really needs today: A liberal judicial activist, bent on twisting the U. S. Constitution to fit their political agenda; or someone who believes in our Constitution, and the rights and liberties that it gives to all of us?
Please, CLICK HERE to FAX every United States Senator to make sure that they support a Constitutionalist judge, not an ideological liberal judicial activist to replace justice Stevens!
AND, your DONATION to the United States Justice Foundation (USJF) will help us to INFORM SENATORS of the judicial and other records of any nominee that Mr. Obama puts forward!
No matter who is nominated, the appointment procedure will begin a tedious, and divisive, battle over the U.S. Supreme Court, especially if Mr. Obama nominates a judicial lightweight who is more of a combative ideological militant.
Just a side note: Justice Stevens is the only remaining United States military veteran left on the Supreme Court, and even he indicated in an earlier interview that he would like to see a veteran on the High Court, just as a “frame of reference.”
We need to urgently hear from you today! And, we must be ready to support a filibuster in the U. S. Senate, if that is what is necessary, due to the socialist leanings of the Obama Supreme Court nominee. YES! We must keep up the pressure.
For true justice, beginning at the very top,
Gary G. Kreep, Esq.
Executive Director
P. S. Remember, it’s the U.S. Supreme Court that decides what is the “law of the land.” This nominee is one of the most important acts that Mr. Obama can carry out to help insure that his socialist agenda is preserved. We must stop the liberal activists NOW!
Please, CLICK HERE to FAX every United States Senator to make sure that they support a Constitutionalist judge, not an ideological liberal judicial activist to replace justice Stevens! AND, your DONATION to the United States Justice Foundation (USJF) will help us to INFORM SENATORS of the judicial and other records of any nominee that Mr. Obama puts forward!