@IzzyChambers Thanks! I’ve run VirtualBox for… something? Probably linux as a guest OS (on MacOS) for something container-ish. I can’t imagine MS would be okay with running Windows without a license on a machine real or virtual, though. If I got good at VirtualBox, at least it’d save me the unpleasantness of Parallels!
@djc That’s an interesting idea! There is an InstallShield, though. I wonder whether they’d allow that.
@phillmv yeah. it’s already been a bit ridiculous. it seemed like it should be a no brainer, just what Azure should be good for. it’s a reminder of how infuriatingly and ruthlessly MS wields intellectual property that something so trivial they are well-placed to provide is such a nightmare. (if you have that youtube link, i’m curious!)
@sidereal i totally agree. i’ve started doing that for simpler returns, and would do it for this one if i had a template to work off of. going through what i’d need to put together, i found stuff that seemed unclear to me, even checking the IRS instructions. i’d end up paying a tax accountant for phone time, or be nervous that i made a poor choice.
@phillmv on AWS i can spawn Windows Server, and connect with it by remote desktop. i do that occasionally. but the tax software demands Windows 10 or Windows 11. (i could try the latest Windows Server and see if it works anyway, but grrr.) 1/
@phillmv Azure support (i’ve talked a bunch to MS customer service people, who strike me as simultaneously nice and helpless) says I should choose a server image without BWOL terms. For the desktop Windows editions, no images include information about licensing terms at all, and all that I’ve tried demand clicking a box that would create legal jeopardy for me (admittedly because I’d be fibbing), and I don’t trust Microsoft not to make me miserable. 2/
@phillmv I’ve not been able to find any Windows desktop OS AMIs on AWS, or my usual (usually linux) virtual cloud server providers. (I haven’t tried GCS, but it seems unlikely and annoying to get into.) I’m pretty sure MS is intentionally trying to force people like me to their expensive Windows365 subscription product.
I won’t feel bad about just taking the free trial under these circumstances. If it works for me! MS is so flaky. But I’ve no plan for next year. /fin
the project of trying to get economical access to tax software in order to do a trivial partnership tax return has been kind of wow nightmarish. turbotax business desktop would do it for $190, but i don’t have windows. online it’s $700+. taxact is economical online, but i’m unhappy with it. azure won’t let me spawn a windows cloud PC without affirming i have some kind of license. windows365 is $40.50 a month, and wants an annual commitment. parallels would be a $70 upgrade + Windows 11 $139. 1/
windows 365 has a one-month free trial, so I’ll do that for this year. but the overlap of two consolidated, crappy, markets — tax software, and MS’ restrictive Windows OS licensing in the cloud — has made this all stupidly expensive and hard.
partnership returns are new to me, so i have no examples, am afraid to just wing it despite very simple accounts. i suspect next year i will just end up filling out the IRS’ PDF forms, using this year as an example, and sending them in by mail. /fin
the wild year this has not, in fact, been.
A stylized cat with a bite taken out of it (Apple-logo-style) sits on a black-and-white clip-art style couch.
“Conservatives always descend from some sacred, impregnable prior truth. As Sheffield says: ‘The reasoning is about affirming the concept.’” @Rickperlstein https://prospect.org/politics/2024-09-11-zeal-of-the-convert-matthew-sheffield/
@realcaseyrollins yeah, wrinklier. but his facial expression looks a bit more sprightly today than in that older image!
@realcaseyrollins that’s who he is! i knew i kind of recognized that guy. but he looks really weird, his facial expression in this shot.
weird family photo. via https://x.com/calltoactivism/status/1833852880354267336
Photo from a 9/11 anniversary ceremony (screenshot of video) including Joe Biden & Kamala Harris, Donald Trump & JD Vance, Chuck Schumer, others.
you put it all together and it makes sense why he’s terrified about the immigrants. https://universeodon.com/@memeorandum/113118632649708855
@kyozou 👍
he’s like a love child of howard hughes and henry ford.
@seachanger @inquiline@union.place at some level, i wonder if he doesn’t really think the peak of anybody’s aspirations would be to bathe in the light of his good graces and carry forward his extraordinary genes.
how does a person with that world view wield and exercise power?
@seachanger it is. and a completely unimaginable level of narcissism.
this person single-handedly controls space, communications, and defense infrastructure our nation increasingly relies upon. https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1833728804579111268
Screenshot of Elon Musk tweet: “Fine Taylor … you win … I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life”
@laprice it’s aspiration under occupation.
“Students at New College are becoming more and more isolated by various actions of the administration, including…new rules that prevent ‘unauthorized’ gatherings of 5 or more students.” https://ncffreedom.org/%5B-%5D-blog/f/the-death-of-community-gathering-at-new-college
// can this be for real?
@djc it’s your 4 stars that are doing the hurting. uber taught us all that 4 stars is a failing grade.
@realcaseyrollins oh, yeah. i’m not talking about people who treat me disrespectfully. i’m talking about people doing the best they can, when clearly the systems they are working with don’t let them resolve the problem for you. so the overall experience with the company is horrible, but it’s not the agent’s fault.