By Jonathan Stoddard
As my wife and I went over what Christmas gifts we planned to give people, I was painfully reminded how expensive this time of year can be. I hope this column will give you some ideas on how to save money if software is on your shopping list. You see, there is a little-known category of software called “open source.” This software is free and quite powerful. So, before dropping a couple hundred to buy Microsoft Office or Windows 7, consider checking out some open source alternatives.
One of the best-known examples of open source software is the Firefox web browser. Firefox was created by a large community, composed primarily of volunteers. Just as Firefox is an open source web browser, there are literally thousands of open source alternatives to traditional software.
Often people wonder if software created by volunteers can be any good? The answer is a resounding yes! Did you know that a majority of the world’s busiest websites trust open source software to run their servers?
Windows Alternative:
Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.com)
Afraid of what a Windows 7 upgrade is going to do to your computer? There is hope! Ubuntu is an open source operating system. If you’re feeling adventurous, try installing Ubuntu on an old computer and see how you like it.
Microsoft Office Alternative:
Open Office (www.openoffice.org)
While Open Office is not as polished as Microsoft Office, it’s free. You can even open and save documents in the Microsoft format so that you can still work with Office documents.
Adobe Illustrator Alternative:
Inkscape (www.inkscape.org)
Inkscape is a vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw. Inkscape uses the Scabable Vector Graphics format, which means you can share your files with Illustrator or CorelDraw users.
Adobe Photoshop Alternative:
GIMP (www.gimp.org)
If you find that Picassa or iPhoto doesn’t meet your needs, but you don’t want to shell out the money for Photoshop, you should check out GIMP. Photoshop users will quickly discover that many of the keystrokes, and programs features are very similar.
You can find more open source software by visiting www.sourceforge.net
Open source software isn’t for everyone. One of the biggest differences with open source software (besides that it’s free) is that it doesn’t come with support. While there are often extensive tutorials online, if you are someone who relies of 24-hour technical support, open source software probably isn’t for you. Another thing to note is that open source software is created by geeks and used by geeks. (I’m a proud geek, so I don’t mind saying this!) But you will notice that some open source software doesn’t have the polish or aesthetic appeal you are used to.
Remember, the software is free, so there is no harm in trying an open source alternative before spending money on traditional software. Perhaps with the money open source saves you, you can convince your spouse to get you that Christmas gift you’ve wanted all year.
Jonathan Stoddard owns an IT consulting firm based in the Mayfair neighborhood.
By Elizabeth Lewis
As individuals and families get ready for the holidays and parties that come with this time of year, it is important for business owners to do their own preparation. For most small businesses, December 31 isn’t just the time to pop the cork on the champagne bottle, but also time to make sure that the year-end business tasks are finalized and start preparations to have a great 2010.
Organize and Prepare
Maintaining and finalizing the year-end books and records can be a tedious task for small business owners, but it is also one of the most important. As soon as the Christmas wrapping paper is thrown away, tax season begins. For companies that have employees or independent contractors, it is important to talk to your tax preparer to ensure that W2s and 1099s are mailed to those individuals by the IRS deadline. By having all payroll records organized, you can make things easier for your accountant and your wallet. For companies with or without employees or independent contractors, having organized books and records (including receipts, mileage logs, and entertainment logs) ensures that your accountant can correctly prepare the business return and, many times, prevents having to file for an extension.
Legal Review
The end of the year is also a good time to have your company records reviewed by an attorney. For companies that are set up as sole proprietorships, a good business attorney can help you decide whether setting up a corporation or LLC can provide legal or tax benefits that you may be missing out on. A review of client contracts, lease agreements, and other legal documents can ensure that they comply with any changes in the law that may have come up in the last year (or longer if it’s been a while since you’ve had a good review).
Reflect and Plan Ahead
Many business owners write a business plan when they start up and never review it again. For businesses that slow down during the holidays, it may be the perfect time to dust off that old business plan sitting on your shelf. Review it to determine whether you are where you want to be and, if you aren’t, what you need to do to get there. For most businesses, this has been a tough year; however, that doesn’t mean that you can’t look forward to building your business next year. Reflecting on what marketing has worked and what hasn’t can help you brew up new ideas to use next year. Whether it is a Facebook fan page for your business or sending holiday cards to clients, a renewed sense of purpose will give you something to work on while waiting for business to pick up. For business owners struggling, the Small Business Development Center and SCORE can both be great ways to get free help with business planning.
As always, this article is for informational purposes only and does not contain legal or tax advice. Please consult with your attorney or accountant for legal or tax advice to ensure that you end this year on the best possible note - and have a great 2010!
Elizabeth Lewis is a MNI board member, and attorney.
By Mike Nelson
Looking for this issue’s subject, we stumbled upon a truly wonderful little gem hidden behind a thicket of tropical plants in every window - Tacos el Chorizo. When the owner told me that they have been in business almost 4 years, after taking over a BBQ joint and then expanding into an adjoining space, I felt embarrassed that it took us this long to give this place a try. If you are looking for freshly cooked, authentic Mexican food, I don’t think that our part of town has anything that compares to what is served here. Once inside, you forget about the world outside and have the feeling that you have run away to Mexico City. Of course, we’re not here to talk about dreams of travel, we’re here to talk about food and Tacos El Chorizo does it right!
Menu Adventure
Be adventurous when working with the menu. I must admit that my lack of knowledge of the Spanish language hindered me a little; thankfully, the menu is mostly bilingual with lots of pictures and the friendly man behind the counter was happy to answer all of our questions.
Most items, including the ricos tacos, que ricas tortas, quesadillas, and burritos, come with your choice of about ten different kinds of meats. Much to my family’s chagrin, I’m a big fan of their lengua (beef tongue). If that’s not you’re thing, you can’t go wrong with the asada (grilled steak), pastor (marinated pork) or any of the other choices. My daughter considers herself a quesadilla connoisseur and she positively raved about hers. I’ve had several of their smothered burritos and loved every one. The burritos are served with a tasty side of sliced avocados and tomatoes that balance the heat of the optional salsas that are available ala carte and self-serve.
The Basics
In addition to our entrees, we had chips and the BEST guacamole we have ever had. The guacamole at Tacos el Chorizo does not come in a tub filled with avocado-like substance, laden with chemicals to keep it green – they make it AFTER you order it! This stuff was so good that I think my wife actually licked the bowl clean to make sure she didn’t miss any.
The highlight of our meal was the Caldo De Camaron (shrimp soup) that was prepared, as is just about everything in this quaint little joint, completely from scratch and fresh to order This dish is a meal in and of itself as it comes in a huge bowl with your choice of bread or corn tortillas.
To quench your thirst, you can get a margarita, or choose from a vast selection of Mexican beer and soda. There are plenty of dessert choices to satisfy your sweet tooth. If there was any way that we could have stuffed one more morsel into our really full bellies we would have tried one of the many cakes or a refreshing frozen Mexican popsicle. Our entire bill came to less than $40, on top of which I added a well-deserved gratuity.
Take-Out or Eat-In. Either way, plan to wait a bit, as your meal is cooked to order. Soak up the music in the juke box, have a cocktail, or even play a game of pool on one of their two tables. It’ll be worth the wait, trust me.
Tacos el Chorizo. 4550 E. Colfax Avenue (SW corner of Colfax & Cherry). 303.322.4431. Open every day 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Accepts cash, VISA, Mastercard, and Discover.
