The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 8

A8 Monday, Dec. 12,1994 Business-Labor Kokomo Tribune Son seeks better interest rates lear Bruce: My son recently graduated from college, holding student loans at 9 percent. Is there anything he can do such as refinancing to get a better interest rate? A.H., Gastonia, N.C. SYNDICATED COLUMNIST Women get 'own room' on superhighway Dear A.H: In today's world, 9 percent isn't bad. For an unsecured loan, which is what a student loan is, 9 percent in most areas would be difficult to match.

I doubt seriously if he'll be able to do better, given the present market conditions. His best bet is to apply himself and try to get that debt knocked down as quickly as possible. Of course, keep your eye on interest rates and if they do drop precipitously, there may be an opportunity to refinance, but I wouldn't count on it. Dear Bruce: I recently called the IRS, explaining that I intend to have a man de my yard work. I wanted to know if I had to deduct withholding tax and Social Security.

I was toldthat I would if I paid him more than $50 a quarter. They added that if the man uses his own tools, he can be considered a private contractor and nothing would have to be withheld. I said, "Suppose I rent him my tools for a nickel a day." Her reply was, "You can't do that," suggesting that the government wants to control what you charge to rent something, and to whom you rent it. Then I asked if I could avoid the withholding deductions if my yardman rents my neighbor's tools, and my neighbor's yardman rents mine. Naturally, she said, "I'll have to refer you to someone else." Is this a legal avenue to pursue? D.B., Weflsboro, Pa.

Dear D.B.: I've got to give you an for regulation circumnavigating. As you mentioned, if you have someone come in to do your lawn work and they bring their own tools, they are a private contractor. You should insist that they provide some evidence of insurance, specifically compensation insurance. Otherwise, if one of their workers is injured, they may very well come after you, likely with some success. If you hire the person by the hour and they exceed the wage minimums, you are obliged to get a federal I.D.

number and deduct both Social Security and tax withholding, and make the appropriate contributions on their behalf. The information you received from the IRS is outdated, however. On Oct. 22, President Clinton signed into law the Social Security Domestic Reform Act. Sparked by various politicians who ran into trouble because of nannies they hadn't paid taxes for, the law is intended to make it easier to hire light help.

Therefore, you only need to make those deductions if you pay your help more than $1,000 a year, instead of the old rate of $50 per quarter. The easiest way to go is to use a legitimate lawn and garden service that is appropriately licensed and carries the necessary insurance. Once again, though, you certainly get an for inventiveness. (Send your questions to: Smart Money, Post Office Box 503, Eifers, FL 34680. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns.

Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.) By CAROL NESS Associated Press If you could have a room of your own on the information superhighway without hideously mixing cliches you'd have the Women's Wire, the nation's only online service focused on women. Though informed by feminism, the small and spirited computer network ranges far beyond the bounds of politics. Where else can you chat online with a Holocaust survivor one day and sex expert Susie Bright the next? Or read Willa Gather's Pioneers" along with "Are nice guys boring in bed?" from New Woman magazine? Or consult a women's finance pro about your 401(k) and a doctor about your period? Or organize to fight domestic violence, read movie reviews, take part in a healing circle and, yes, exchange recipes? And all in a friendly environment its subscribers inevitably describe as "supportive," devoid of the flaming and hyper one- upmanship of America Online, CompuServe and the other huge, male-dominated online services. "Women's Wire was my first online service, and I fell madly in love on first click," said Susan Berkson, a free-lance writer in Minnetonka, Minn. "On Women's Wire, people speak my language.

It's not that men are not present, it's just that they're not central. It makes a world of difference." Said Betsy Wheeler, 55, in Schenectady, N.Y., "I use it to feed my soul." Max Hoffman, 41, a San Mateo software marketer and one of the 10 percent of Women's Wire users who is male, subscribed as "this man who was going to come in and help women get technical." Quickly, however, he became the student, fascinated by what he's learning about "what women "Our big vision is to become an international communications network focused on women's issues. It's not just for women, it's for everybody. But it's focused on women's interests." Nancy Rhine, Mill Valley, founder of Women's Wire deal with" and hooked on "a level of emotional involvement and information that I've never been able to find anywhere else in my life." Women's Wire sprang from the brains of Nancy Rhine, 43, of Mill Valley, and Ellen Pack, 29, a recent transplant from New York to Silicon Valley. Naturally, they met online, through the Well in Berkeley, where Rhine worked and Pack joined to find a local doctor.

"Our big vision is to become an international communications network focused on women's issues," said Rhine, who has worked in computers for more than 10 years. "It's not just for women, it's for everybody. But it's focused on women's interests." They took Women's Wire online in January, and recently had to move out of their cramped South San Francisco offices into bigger quarters in San Mateo, Calif. They also just secured an infusion of expansion capital (Rhine won't say how much) and with that a new president, Marleen McDaniel, who Rhine said comes from Silicon Valley and has "grown six successful businesses." Her appointment will be announced in January. A consultant with Women's Wire from its inception, McDaniel has held executive positions at Interop, Ziff-Davis, Sun Microsystems and Crescendo, now known as Cisco.

Women's Wire has grown to 1,300 subscribers, largely by word of mouth, and is plotting its first marketing campaign, with the aim of doubling the number of users by next fall. At $15 a month, including two free hours, it's competitive with the online giants. Ninety percent of the subscribers to Women's Wire are women, compared with an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent in the rest of the online world. One- third are in California. The oldest subscriber is 75, the youngest 16, according to Rhine; the average is probably 35.

For about two-thirds of the users, Women's Wire is their first online service. Rhine said the company has made a special effort to reach out to women intimidated by theii lack of computer know-how. Susan Klee, 58, a Berkeley teacher, said ads for other online services made them seem daunting, but Women's Wire appeared small and friendly enough that "1 was going to be able to navigate." Finding a job through your computer Stuff By PAULA ANCONA Scripps Howard News Service Conducting an effective job search without a computer and modem is like crossing the country by bicycle instead of jet. You'll get there, but it will take you longer and be less convenient and far less direct. "If you're not connected (to electronic information services) you are going to be passed over and will miss a good: number of the opportunities that are out says James Gonyea, author of "The Online Job Search Companion" (McGraw-Hill, 1994).

Through your computer and telephone lines you can become visible to employers around the clock (via resume databases); find job leads that others never hear about (using electronic mail and public message forums), and research potential employers quickly (with business and media databases). Other tools, like software, fax machines and cellular telephones, also will help you organize, communicate and complete standard job-hunting tasks more efficiently than traditional methods. Here are ways to start updating your techniques. They are from Michael Willis, career management consultant, Syracuse, N.Y.; James Gonyea, director, America Online Career Center, and distributor of the Worldwide Bank and Help Wanted-USA electronic services, New Port Richey, and the book "Electronic Job Search Revolution," by Joyce Lain Kennedy, John Wiley Sons, 1994: Start small. Ask if your public or university library has the 'Help Wanted USA' microfiche compilation of classified employment ads from about 60 major metropolitan newspapers, updated weekly.

Ask for electronic listings of magazine and journal articles you can peruse to research industries and employers. Get software to help you define career paths, produce and mail resumes and manage job- search tasks. Select the best by scanning reviews in "Software Reviews on File" (a book) and Computer Select (a CD-ROM directory) in your public library. Get a modem to link your computer to phone lines (a basic model costs about $100). Then you can use an online service for a monthly fee (major ones are CompuServe: 800-848-8199; America Online: 800-827-6364; Prodigy: 800-776-3449, and Delphi-Internet: 800-695-4005).

Use them to find job and resume databases, career guidance, discussion groups in your field, corporate information, and e-mail service. Use your phone. Call the Career America Connection, the federal government's employment information service (912- 757-3000). Review "Job Hotlines USA," (Career Communications, Harleysville, PA, 1994-95), a national telephone directory listing moe than 1,000 pre-recorded employer job hotline telephone numbers. Buy a telephone directory on CD-ROM.

For less than $30 you'll have millions of business names in your computer. Sift them to find potential employers with the characteristics you want. 918 8. Kokomo 888-2888 Stietf Bears North American Bears Berjusa Dolls Annette Himstead Dolls Tux Blouses Seymour Mann Dolls Sweatshirts Christmas Ornaments Many Gift Items I rVMWIWI WVTMn Inc. to i positions.

PUMPKIN PIES RED RASPBERRY FREEZER 8ALE FROZEN BAKED PIES Homemade from Scratch Mo Shop 457-2980 Forest Park Shopping Center IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST TIRE MANUFACTURERS, IS NOW HIRING FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: ngqu es for various production NMimia nut with experience and completion of industrial apprenticeships. Experience must include: Machine repair, eleckical or mechanical troileOnooting and blueprint reading. Electricians must have PLC knowledge high voltage industrial experience. Excellent benefits and earnings potential. Hourly wages beginning at $18.45 per hour.

one of the worids largest tire manufacturers, Is seeking experienced first-One production supervisors for Hs Decatur, Illinois plant. Applicants must have supervisory leadership abilities with proven accountability for safety, quality and production of hourly employees, and a demonstrated track record in motivational 8Mb. CandUatos must be Improvement minded," with initiative in developing and improving utilization of equipment and manpower required. Written andvema) communication skUs a must Applicants will be required to pass a pre-employment assessment process. Excellent benefits, Including a 401 (K) matched program, and earnings potential.

Inc. Is currently subject to a strike by the U.R.W. In our efforts to support a drug-free work-place, Inc. administers a substance abuse lest prior to employment. TO APPLY: Applications may be completed at the Decatur BFS Plant between the hours of 7:00 a.m.

to 7:00 p.m. di Or send work history to: IMC. Strvlcu 2500 N. 22nd St. Decatur, IL 62526 Or Call 1 -600-621 -0102, Employment Information Line We are an equal opportunity employer; minority candidates an encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employers COUPON RETAIL VALUE 5.99 FREE 10" Holiday Bear when you bring in this coupon and purchase at least of merchandise from our store. Offer Good Thru Friday Dec. 16,1994 or while supplies last. Limit 1 coupon per person per visit with this coupon. Webb's Maple Crest Plaza 453-4855 9:00 pm, Sun.

11-6 FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Harp the Family Chiropractor Open Monday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Wed. Fri.

9 a.m.-1 p.m. 2 p.m.-5 p.m. NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED! 3421 S. LaFountain (West of Howard Community Hospital) 15.00 Per Visit NO OTHER CHARGES! LANDSCAPING CHRISTMAS MAGIC Gift Items Fresh Greenery Custom Bows Gift Certificates Real Trees Make Scents. Frazier Fir Scotch Pine Flocked TYees Potted Christmas Tree Third Thursday 453-5531 mi.

W. of Dixon on St. Rd. 26 Joseph CENTER present "Going My Wav Travel Tips and Ideas" Presented by Lanny Carolyn Beach Destinations Travel, Inc. 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, December IS, 1994 Saint Joseph Conference Center (Basement Level) Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SH11P) counselors will be available prior to the program to help with health ittijurance question.