A

When I usually go to one of these "chain" barbershops, I always tip the person giving me a haircut. But today I went to a small, independent shop where the barber, I think, was also the co-owner. I wondered in that case if I had to tip him or not, and did for good measure. But is tipping in this particular circumstance necessary?

When I usually go to one of these "chain" barbershops, I always tip the person giving me a haircut. But today I went to a small, independent shop where the barber, I think, was also the co-owner. I wondered in that case if I had to tip him or not, and did for good measure. But is tipping in this particular circumstance necessary?

I know that if you hold your investments (in stocks and bonds and other financial instruments) for more than a year, a lower tax rates applies to any gains you've had from holding them. However, what I want to understand is, Does this work only if you hold the stocks for more than one year, that is, holding particular stocks or funds for this period continuously or just having your capital in the form of stocks and bonds?

To elaborate more, do I need to hold GE stocks for more than one year in order to enjoy the long-term capital gains tax rate, for instance, or can I in the meanwhile sell those GE stocks and instead buy some 3M and still be able to take advantage of the long-term capital gains tax rate?

Thanks!

I've actually filled out the form and submitted it online (the I-90 form). My lingering question is, whether I should file a certified copy of my legal name change or just a photocopy of it to the immigration service?

I'm 19 years old and even though have never filed taxes on my own, my name has always been included in my parents' tax forms.

Now I've gone through a legal name change, and wonder if I have to inform the IRS about this, or merely updating my information on my Social Security card would suffice?

And if I have to inform the IRS separately, how can this be done?

Thanks.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61...

I know from a distance it may look like an ascot, but it actually isn't once you zoom in. Is there a name for this particular kind?

My Delta flight will arrive in Logan (according to the ticket) at around 10:37, and I will have to catch a train headed for Springfield from the South Station at around 11:50. I know there's a real possibility that I might miss that train, so I can't even waste a minute.

I've read there's the Silver Line bus service from Logan to South Station. Is this the fastest means of reaching South Station? Also, since I don't want waste scarce time looking for its stop/station outside the terminal, could you also please tell me whether there are visible sign there helping one find the stop? Or should I just go and ask someone for it?

And then the second challenge is when I arrive at South Station. Are there explicit signs there guiding one to the Amtrak section/platforms? Are there going to be security lines, etc. that might slow one down?

Thanks very much for the information; it's an extremely stressful task, and I have to pre-plan as much as possible. I can't miss the train!

I ordered a 40 tall of this jacket (http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63015?feat=sr&term=... because I'm too tall for any size shorter, but still too slim even for the 40 size. So I went to a tailor and he said he would add a bit to the sleeves and bring in the torso to make it slimmer--and said it would cost $55.

Now I'm having doubts whether it's silly to pay $50 to alter a jacket which is itself only $100. Do you think it's unreasonable?

Amtrak vs. Greyhound Bus

By bus it takes shorter. The prices are more or less the same. Are there any other pros and cons to consider? Which one is more comfortable? Which one offers better scenery?

Thanks!

According to the plans, my flight back home from Boston is at 6am in the morning. I thought if I could find something to do or somewhere interesting to go, then I could skip staying at a hotel for this short period of time. Any suggestions?

I'm 19, from Minneapolis. I've been contemplating whether to move to New England or not. So I thought this summer I would undertake an extensive trip of New England, from Boston and the coasts further in to Williamstown or Amherst and then Vermont and New Hampshire.

I had wanted it to be as low-cost and efficient as possible, more or less backpacking. But now I'm having doubts about whether even New England is suitable for such adventures (also cheap places to stay in), and whether the only way to have a meaningful, plausible travel is to have a car.

Hi,

I know there are a few hiking and camping guidebooks out there, but my focus isn't the nature; it's backpacking from city to city.

How possible is it at all, to begin with? Are there cheap places available to sleep at? What's the average price in these places? Any other tips or warnings are welcome indeed. Thanks!

Hi,

I have a route and I want to sketch it out the way it's done here in this map (with the red lines): http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?source=embed&hl=e...

How can I do that?

Looking at this Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_free_tr... I was surprised to find out that there're no trade agreements between Europe and America. Is this because barriers have historically been low between the two regions, and therefore no need for an agreement, or is it something else involved?

Also the same question from Europe's point of view (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_free_t... as regards countries such as Canada and Australia: has the absence of any trade agreements been due to little need for them or something else?

Hi,

I suppose this is a bit of a complicated question to answer. I've done, I think, what can be done from reading and doing research, looking at statistics and guessing from them etc. But I think deep experiencing and actual exposure can provide an answer that reading and studying doesn't: so my question is, after all that has changed over the past few decades in America, how Yankee socially and culturally New England still is? For some reason, understanding this is of utmost importance to a decision I'm trying to make.

Thanks then!

Thanks!

Preferably as compared to the other branches of the military. More precisely, what types of people, socially and culturally, is one going to encounter there?

I'm an American who holds permanent residency of Australia (so in matters of education treated just like an Australian by universities).

I'm thinking of considering going for my undergraduate studies to either the University of Sydney or Melbourne, the only real reason being my deep personal interest in their older residential colleges (Trinity, Janet Clarke Hall, or Queen's at Melbourne and St. Paul's and Wesley at Sydney) and the whole culture and tradition that comes with it.

So, as stupid as it may sound, I'm willing to move half way around the world only for the sake of these residential colleges. I've surfed their websites and their Wikipedia pages a lot, but still I don't feel I *understand* them--especially what I'm wondering about is how tough it is to get into them, given one does get admitted to said universities.

Where will I be able to find British/English-style classic men's attire? I've suits, jackets, shirts, shoes, and especially anything tweedy in mind.

Are there any well-known Australian brands that can be found anywhere across the country?

What are some famous places in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, etc.) that sell traditional English suits and other clothing?

Are there any big name, national stores such as Brooks Brothers is in America?