Microsoft Account (For Windows 8): You Must Do E-Mail Verification From Internet Explorer!
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.by Anura Guruge
One Pertinent Post:
+++++ do a SEARCH (>>>>) on ‘Android’ or ‘Windows’ for others’ >>>>>
1. 2 (or more) Androids on Same Google — October 12, 2012.
Today is Teischan’s 7th birthday. I got her a refurbished Toshiba laptop (from TigerDirect for an amazingly good price), with Windows 8, to replace her 4 year old, second hand Edubuntu PC.
This was my first foray into Windows 8 and I was fully aware that the laptop did not have a touch screen. But, I also know that the core Windows 8 software is even better than Windows 7 when it comes to Wi-Fi, security and overall stability.
I went to activate Windows 8 yesterday. I guess I should have seen it coming — having activated two Google Nexus 7 pads for the kids last year.
You can’t do anything until you set up a Microsoft Account.
Of course I am bummed. But, to be fair, both Apple and Google do this too. The difference is that Google’s account activation is painless.
Not so with Microsoft.
It just would not let me verify my e-mail. Kept on saying that it had encountered a problem and that I should try again. I Googled. Yes, others had run into this too, BUT I couldn’t find a resolution.
So this morning I called Microsoft. It wasn’t too bad. I was talking to a real person in about 4 minutes. Yes, I got transferred. The lady I ended up was good. After about 9 minutes she asks, coyly: ‘have you tried it using Internet Explorer?’.
I had NOT. I had thought about it last night and dismissed it. This is 2013. Microsoft couldn’t be that stupid.
Well they are.
You have to use IE.
May they all get the pox.
This is diabolical. This is outrageous. Microsoft has no shame.
Well at least this post will help some one else who runs into this problem.
The one thing that made my day. The lady who helped me. She is a Microsoft employee. She confessed that she uses Chrome. Bingo.
NH Town Tax Rates: Comparing The Rate Of One Town With That Of Another Is Meaningless!
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.by Anura Guruge
A FEW Pertinent Posts:
+++++ do a SEARCH (>>>>) on ‘Tax’ for others’ >>>>>
1. NH Property Tax Comparison — Nov. 26, 2012.
2. Alton, NH: 23rd Lowest Tax Rate — Nov. 26, 2012.
3. Alton, NH Property Tax ‘Impact’ Has Gone Up 4% Since Last Year
>>– Nov. 28, 2012.
4. Alton Tax Base Went Down for 3 reasons — Dec. 18, 2012.

Given that one of my pictures is worth 360 words written by me, I hope this picture alone explains everything.
In the last month of so I have been getting 40 hits a day on my NH property tax posts. Thank you. I am glad I can be of help.
I guess folks have started getting their new mortgage rates for 2013 and have finally come to terms with what is happening with property tax rates.
There is, however, a key point that I am not sure that I have still managed to get through.
In NH, comparing the tax rate of one town, say Alton, with another, say Franconia, is meaningless and pointless.
Why? Because the tax rate is dependent, tied at the hip, to the property values of that town.
There are no standardized property values — and there can never be such a thing, because property values have to, in some form, reflect market demand and market prices.
Hence, the above example. Same house. Different assessed values. [This is a hypothetical example. I do not know exactly what the assessed value will be in Francoina. Just a guess.]
So it doesn’t matter that Franconia’s tax rate is $2.24 per $1,000 assessed value higher than Alton.
The tax bill in Franconia will be lower than Alton.
I don’t know why but people always overlook this tax rate ≈ assessed value relationship. It is an inviolable. Tax rate by itself means diddly.
In the end it is all a question of the town’s budget. They have to set the tax rate based on their property base.
So there is no point going on about the tax rate of one town versus that of the other. Just doesn’t work.
Hope this helps.