Thursday, December 14, 2006

Family Christmas Photo Greeting Card - A New Idea!

By Tracey -
Every year I get excited about Christmas photos that will come in the mail from each of my kids. There is a tradition in my family that every Christmas, a family picture is taken and mailed out with the annual Christmas family newsletter with greeting cards photo. When my kids were young, I decided that I wanted to record each Christmas in a concise way.

The way I came up with to record each Christmas was with family Christmas photos and a newsletter that summarized each of our family member's years. This tradition continued until my oldest son went off to college. I had known that the day would come that not all of my kids would live with me, but the first one leaving was really hard.

That was the first year that our annual Christmas newsletter had two photos. The family Christmas photo was me with my husband and only three of our kids. The other photo that I enclosed was that of our son in front of the sign for his college campus. I missed him not being in the family Christmas photos, but he had grown up and moved on.

Our annual Christmas photos kept going in the same direction, with one less kid in the picture every couple of years. My daughter was the first to get married and she sent me a Christmas photo with her and her new husband to send out with our annual Christmas newsletter. I thought that it was sweet that our tradition had grown to mean so much to her.

This last Christmas, our family Christmas photos just featured me and my husband with our pets. The newsletter, however, was filled with six photographs. My granddaughter had her first individual Christmas photos included where she was standing in front of the same college as her dad had attended.

I got out the Christmas photo with my son by himself that first Christmas after he left home and made a copy of it. I had it framed right next to the photo of my granddaughter in the same location, in the same pose. I gave these framed pictures to my son and daughter-in-law for Christmas.

I have a file now that is full to brimming with Christmas memories. I plan to take the entire newsletter collection and bind them into a book or somewhat Christmas photo cards, which includes each year's Christmas photos for our fiftieth anniversary, which is coming up this year. I will give each of our kids a copy of my own Christmas crafts.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Download TV Shows at Your Ease of Time Legally

Technology has surely made download TV shows simpler. The wonderful aspect is that it never ends. The cool things that we find amazing today will only be a fraction of what has to come. Cell phones are a perfect example of this. Think back ten years ago or more. No one was carrying around wireless phones; well, not unless they were rich.

Now days everyone is toting around a little communication device of some sort. We act as we need them or something. Well we did not seem to need them for thousands of years. Regardless of their necessity level, we love all of these electronic innovations. One of the more recent developments concern television TV. These days to easily download TV shows are actually a reality. Of course, if you are not satisfied with only your favorite reality TV shows, how about downloading movies?

After doing some toying around, I found out ways to record all of my favorite TV programs. You can allow it to save only new episodes, or just record them all. This is rather choice if you are out of town for a week. You will not miss anything since your Tivo system will be downloading TV shows even with your television off.

You can set them to remain recorded permanently as well. If you have not checked out this new phenomenon, jump online and search the different ways you can begin to download TV shows today. It has just become that much simpler. You wouldn't have lost TV show nowadays.

I remember back in the day when we got our first VCR. When I discovered that I could record a television show, I was floored. This was amazing. I could set the VCR to record a show when it came on, even if I was not there. Many of us took advantage of this new phenomenon. No longer would we miss that cool TV shows that we loved.

This concept has reached a completely new level in present time. If you are not familiar with this new technology, hop online and see how easy it is to start download TV shows. When you think of download television show, you probably think of your computer and some new software. However, downloading is now applied to many things. You probably download music all the time. Our PCs and Macs have made this task a simple one. We no longer have to buy the whole CD.

About six months back I switched my cable service to Time Warner. I liked their offer, but was not very familiar with Tivo yet. I had heard the commercials and wanted to give it a shot. I was dumbfounded by the system. It has a hard drive for you to download TV shows. Who would have thought that our cable units would come with gigabytes?

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Thursday, October 26, 2006

Pay Per Click Advertising for More Traffic

If other marketing methods just are not working for you, maybe it is time for you to check out Pay per Click advertising. This is a very straightforward, easy way to get hundreds, or even thousands, of potential customers to view your products or services with the intention to buy.

If you sell goods or services through your website, then you already know that the holy grail of Internet marketers is achieving a high Search Engine ranking on Google, Yahoo, and the alike. However, doing so can be extremely difficult, which means that average people who do not know how to play the SEO game will probably be buried way back on page 3 or 3000 of the search results.

That is not going to drive very much traffic to your website; so even if you have a high-quality product at a great price, not many people will ever know about it. Instead of waiting and hoping that your site will move up in the search engine rankings, you should try to generate traffic through Pay per Click program.

Pay Per Click advertising offers a couple of distinct advantages over traditional marketing methods. First of all, due to the nature of Pay per Click advertising, you can be sure that everyone who ends up on your website due to your ads is actually very interested in your product or service. While most potential customers find banners and Popup ads to be annoying or intrusive, they tend to feel very differently about the links that come up via Pay per Click advertising.

That is because the ads are targeted to the Pay Per Click search queries they have just entered and are therefore directly relevant to the product or service they are looking for. If a customer reaches your website from one of your Pay per Click search links, you can be sure that he or she actively sought out your site and did not come upon it by accident. As a result, you will get more and quality customers who are ready to buy.

A second advantage of Pay Per Click advertising is that it is a very cost-effective way of driving traffic to your website. In fact, most Pay Per Click advertising allow you to have complete control over your costs by specifying how much you are willing to spend on each person that clicks all the way through to your site.

Although the keyword phrases available for use in Pay per Click have a so-called "Bid Price" associated with them, you will still be able to decide how to allocate your total marketing budget for those Pay per Click costs. There are numerous companies that offer Pay per Click advertising, and each of their terms and conditions are slightly different.

For example, some of them allow you to write just about anything you want in your actual Pay Per Click ads, while others are very strict about ad content. In addition, some Pay per Click advertising are much more successful than others. Before signing up with any of them, you should do some research to see which Pay Per Click company have the best reputations for helping website operators turn clicks into sales.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Electrical Safety and Tips

Do you know what to do if you are caught in a thunderstorm and a telephone pole falls in front of your car? What will all of those loose live wires mean to you? When you have small children, there may be no time when electrical safety is more important. Because children learn about the world around them by exploring and touching, and this can cause big trouble in your home.

If you have young children, or are planning to do some work on your home, you should make sure you are up to date on electrical safety. Even if neither of those applies, you should really know the basics of what you should do, and what you should not do, in case you are faced with an emergency.

You have to learn how to keep them safe with electrical safety training, and how to teach them about the dangers around them. Electrical safety is not something anyone is born with, and children are most vulnerable to getting hurt. When an emergency occurs, you have to be prepared. Loose electrical lines are a huge danger, and when the power goes out, you should know what you can do and what you cannot do to repair the damage.

So many people think they know what they are doing, and end up extremely hurt because they think they know. Unless you have looked into fixing your electrical box, or what to do with frayed wires, you are asking for trouble. You can buy DVDs that explain electrical safety in detail, but also in easy to understand terms. You may also find that some community groups that give out these DVDs for free, or may offer classes in electrical safety that you can attend.

They do this mostly for awareness, and to try to lower the numbers of people who are killed by electrical power each year. You can also research electrical safety on your own. You only have to look as far as your computer to get the answers you need. You can find sites devoted to electrical safety, or you can find great articles on the subject.

You may also find resources to help you teach your children about electrical safety if you don’t feel you know enough about it to teach them on your own. If you are a new parent, or soon will be, you can find information about how to safety proof your home so your young children won't end up getting shocked and hurt by open outlets and other hazards. Purchase always that safety electrical rather than the one that are cheap yet inferior.

Tips: How to use 3M Electrical Tape to secure?

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Career in Public Relations and Its Job Responsibilities

A career in Public Relations means helping a company or organization establishes, maintain, and/or enhance a reputation. It means being either a Public Relations specialist, a media specialist, or a communications specialist. On the other hand, working in advertising, the media, the community, in a milieu of interested and/or invested individuals and groups, in political circles, and anywhere where two or more parties are interrelated.

Let us say, in a business-to-business situation, a private and public connection, or a consumer and business relationship. A career in Public Relations will typically require such endeavors and tasks as writing, public speaking, interstate or international travel, program orchestration, presentation design, contact and liaison, and information disbursement.

A career in Public Relations involves, as the Public Relations Society of America explains, many possible manifestations -- the PR agent working in a range of capacities and with such organizations as "public information, investor relations, public affairs, corporate communications, employee relations, marketing or product publicity, and consumer service or customer relations or within a Public Relations firm."

A person in a career in Public Relations can expect to earn his or her salary, one which implicitly covers the standard workweek plus the unexpected, the overtime, the emergent, and the critical. He or she can expect to start at an entry level when first venturing into the career in Public Relations, and then can move as high as vice president of a company, usually, devising the overall plans and working with other PR specialists in researching, developing, and implementing the communications plan(s) most suitable.

Commensurate salaries, then, start at about 20k and can reach to 250k, respectively (according to Public Relations Society of America and Bureau of Labor Statistics), depending upon the region where he or she practices his or her career in Public Relations. Also according to PRSA and BLS, the required qualifications are not set in stone, are not standard by any means, but the person intending a career in PR can make him or herself best suited and most marketable by getting a Bachelor's or Post-Secondary degree and combining that with some tried and true, hands-on experience.

This combination, whether the future PR specialist goes into the public sector or works in government relations, whether he/she engages in counseling or research, or whether he/she goes into the community, into media, or into finance, it will be a lucrative and satisfying one! You can try to get the job beforehand with Public Relations firms.

A career in Public Relations is one which is among the most competitive, most industrious, and most enjoyable of jobs, according to the many that hold a coveted career in publications, anyway. This makes sense, as PR is rife with responsibilities, those that can make or break a company within their Public Relations jobs abilities.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Children Internet Safety From Online Activities

Often nothing is as it seems. Although Cyberspace can be tricky, we do not want to let the bad over-ride the good. When it comes down to children Internet safety, you simply need to keep a watchful eye on your kids and monitor what they are doing online with those popular children activities.

How often do you surf the Web? Well, if you are like many of us Cyberspace junkies, then you are probably on there everyday. The Internet has just made it so simple and convenient to accomplish routine tasks these days. And that is not counting all the fun stuff that goes along with it.

How often do you browse through Chatting sites or Web Stores? We can pinpoint virtually anything we want in Cyberspace. It is a perfect communication device if we want to converse with friends, regardless of where they reside on this massive planet.

Yes indeed, the Internet can entertain for hours and make our lives so much more convenient overall. How did we ever survive without these electronic wonders? Now that we have praised our PCs and Macs, it is time to examine the other side of the coin. This side involves the dangers of Net-Land. And one of them is around child safety.

Do you have little ones? Have you seriously pondered the concept of children Internet safety? When it comes to our offspring, we humans tend to be a little on the cautious side. We keep them out of the streets, and tell them to look both ways before crossing the road. We instruct them never to talk to strangers, and to stay away from drugs.

Now days we even try to educate them on the taboo topic of Sex. However, many parents do not consider children Internet safety. Let us not forget that while the World-Wide-Web does allow us access to wondrous places all over the globe, it also allows predators into our very homes. The issue of children Internet safety is quickly becoming more prominent in recent years due to this very factor.

Did you catch the special on Dateline? It addressed the Website entitled Myspace.com and delved into the children Internet safety aspect of it all. What is on Myspace.com? Well, that is just it; anyone and everyone are on Myspace.com or other similar Web portal. Now, this can be a good way for individuals to meet and converse with one another. It is completely free.

Although the site was developed with no harm in mind, predators inevitably flocked to it like a feeding ground. Apparently, no good deed goes unpunished. The topic of Children Internet Safety is certainly a pertinent one nowadays. Parents want to be sure to educate there little ones on the dangers of the Internet with safety guidelines.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Business Marketing Databases Research and Analysis

Quick, what is the most important component of your business? If you belong to a product-based company and say that it is "intellectual property" or "patents", you are just partially right. If you belong to a service company and mentioned the "human capital invested" in your services, you are again partially right.

If you belong to any other company and mentioned any of the arrays of things that make the modern enterprise thrive, you are again, only partially right. Nevertheless, if you are among those rare breed of professionals, whose job it is to harness data, especially on Marketing Databases, and then you have your finger on the money! Moreover, it has become the important part of a marketing strategy.

It is indeed difficult to imagine how a company would survive in the present day world without suitable Marketing Databases. In fact, it is difficult to imagine anyone going into business without proper access to a good Marketing Database. Today, access to such information is what spells the difference mediocrity and success. In addition, for those who are not equipped with the right tools like Marketing Databases, the battle for the consumer is going to be very tight indeed.

It may seem difficult to believe, but Marketing Databases, especially those with true data are the ones that drive the modern enterprise. Think about it. Any number of companies makes products, even good products or excellent products. The same is the case with service companies who may offer good, great, or even exemplary service.

However, unless these companies can pitch their products and services to the right kind of target audience with the right kind of Marketing Database, they will not be able to sustain their business. This is where Marketing Databases enter the picture. Over the past few decades, Marketing Databases have become more and more important. They have not only guided the way marketing professionals do business, they have in fact shaped the very way products and services reach us.

While the mass media still continues to be the mainstay of advertising a product or service, Marketing Databases have taken this sort of promotion one-step further by making the communication more personalized. The earliest Marketing Databases were little more than the contact details of friends, acquaintances and professional contacts.

Slowly, as marketers realized the wealth of opportunities these provided, the scope and nature of Marketing Databases grew. Today, typical Marketing Databases can contain not just the contact details of the intended target audience, but also a wealth of information on the likes, dislikes, preferences and even more such information on the target profile.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

The Technology Of Web TV

One of the biggest players in the newly emerging Web TV market is the media conglomerate Microsoft. SMNTV is the Web TV arm of this large corporate and have been inventing several innovative concepts to bring Web TV and Web TV content to your home.

MSN Web TV is capable of integrating video, audio, e-mail and even text messages, and bringing them onto your regular television set. You can surf for the latest and the best entertainment. You can use the large screen display of your television monitor to access, read, and send e-mail.

You can surf online, shop and even search the Internet and its vast content from your regular television. You can also view and share photos, indulge in instant messaging, and use your television as a networking tool. What's more! You can also enjoy music and video downloads that are Windows Media player compatible on your regular television set.

Your good old television, which has been getting better and better in any case, can now be a super-charged, turbo television that does a whole lot more. All it takes is a set top box, a regular internet connectivity plan and you are set to blast on to the Web TV world! This interactivity is what makes Web TV the most hyped invention around.

Several Americans are already enjoying the benefits of Web TV. Websites like www.wwitv.com, www.webtv.com and several others already offer a wealth of information on Web TV and on-demand TV in the USA and other parts of the world. Music, news, sports and several other ‘channels’ of choice are already available as Web TV content and it is only time before other channels crop up. So, why stay out of the loop. Discover how you too can be a part of the Web TV sphere today!

Recent news reports indicating that popular Internet monoliths like Google and Yahoo are getting into the Web TV sphere has indicated a lot of interest. After all, these are two of the most popular search engines that rule the Internet. And they, above all others, realize the value of content in this search crazy world.

So if they are entering what has for long been considered a technology enabled dream, there must be something to I right? Several mainstream and trade publications have been reporting this as a trend, and as a forerunner of things to come. Other Web TV specialists have been touting these developments or rather, announcements of Web TV developments as the one thing that will change the way we view the Internet. However, it is and will remain a natural progression.

For when the web initially came on the seen these same specialists predicted the death of traditional print and television. We have all lived through that phase and have only seen both print and television survive and thrive. Nevertheless, Web TV has always existed in the realm of the possible. The technology available earlier was insufficient to create and sustain Web TV content.

But more people have broadband connection today than five years ago. More people are streaming and receiving interactive web content than ever before. Most regular TV broadcasters have web exclusive websites. And all of this comes together to make Web TV much more than mere fantasy. Web TV today is a realization of a dream that the today’s interactive technology has made possible.

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Saturday, September 30, 2006

What Can Paging Systems Do?

Businesses can greatly benefit from good Paging Systems. These allow employees to communicate quickly and effectively, and are a great way for customers to gain entrance to an office that is kept locked for security reasons. Paging Systems are great if you have many employees that are out in the field working. This allows quick and effective communication between the office and those employees. Companies that deal in construction and sales often have Paging Systems in place to stay connected.

When shopping for Paging Systems, remember to ask many questions, and ask about special features. You do not want something that is too complicated to use, but you want something that will suit your needs and has room to grow if the need arises. Ask about warranty, and make sure service will be readily being available if there comes a time when something goes wrong.

When you have a business, or a rather large home, you may find that you need a better way to communicate. Yelling down the hallways will not work when someone is engrossed in listening to their favorite album, and it is not exactly professional to yell in the office building. Phones are not always the answer. If you want a better way to communicate, perhaps you should look into Paging Systems for your home or your business.

For homeowners, Paging Systems can be used to communicate from different levels of the home, or even with those who are at your door. Paging Systems are also great if you have a detached garage or workshop. You can install these Paging Systems so you can communicate without adding an extra phone line, or trying to yell across the lawn. Paging Systems are also a great idea if you live in a second floor apartment. This allows you to communicate with those at your door without having to run up and down the stairs twenty times a day to see who is at the door.

Many large apartment buildings use Paging Systems as a form of security as well as a way to communicate. Each apartment has their own button on the system, and guests can call up to see if anyone is home. Once communication is established, you can use the Paging Systems to allow that guest entry into the building without having to go down and let them in. Some Paging Systems also include a camera so you can view who is paging you via your television or other monitor.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Downloading Music In A Legal Way

It seems like everybody is into downloading Music these days. Having songs handy in such a portable format allows for lots of uses. You can burn CDs to play in your Car, set background Music to photo displays and even send a song to a friend. Friends of ours have created their own play lists on our computer. When they come over, they are able to add to their Music lists and even burn their preferences to CD to take home with them.

My friend has well over 1500 songs in his Music library. Those are in addition to tons of Music stored in CD format. I have some decent Stereo equipment and regularly uses his Music library, Computer and Stereo System to DJ private parties for friends and family. We are able to create play lists in iTunes and we can customize these lists according to the preferences of the host. We are always downloading Music for one purpose or another and we have amassed quite a collection in all genres of Music.

Nearly a year ago, a friend of ours was getting married. She has a different taste in Music than we do. She wanted to play several sets of country Music along with more popular Pop and Rock. This required several hours of downloading Music that would suit her tastes. We did not have any Country Music in our library at that time. Now, we have a couple of dozen songs of that variety.

The program we use to is called "Acquisition". It makes downloading Music extremely easier and user-friendly. In fact, even my friend's son is able to quickly locate and download tunes without any adult supervision. His little girl whom is only 4-year-old knows how to find and play several of her favorites as well.

Sometimes one of us will get in a nostalgic mood and think of a particular song. It is so easy to check the library to see if it's already ready and waiting for music down loads, or to run a simple search and you are downloading Music in no time! It is a legal Music download.

In addition to downloading Music, you can also find stand-up comedy skits to add to your collection. Every once in a while, I will get in the mood to hear some of the antics of The Jerky Boys. Within seconds, I can find and play the clips, again, using iTunes. The technology that is available these days, makes downloading Music, movies and more as simple as a click of the button and/or a Credit Card. I cannot remember the last time we resorted to playing a CD, since our Music library has become too user-friendly and accessible.

columbia house dvd.jpg

Monday, September 25, 2006

Telephone Sales Training - The Role-Playing

I have received several Telemarketing phone calls and I cannot tell you how many times I could not get a word in edgewise. It is clear to me that the employee has had no Telephone Sales Training. The salesperson typically speaks over my statements running them over like a steamroller.

It is apparent that the salesperson is only trying to finish her story and get on to the next call. I am not your typical customer because I sympathize with the employee but I have to bite my tongue to keep from vehemently suggesting that the individual get some Telephone Sales Training. I used to do this for a living and I know that it can be a painful process. You just should not act as if it is.

This also speaks volumes about the company as well. I am hesitant to purchase anything from a company that will not invest in Telephone Sales Training. If you do not invest in your staff how can I be sure that you will invest in my interests.

One of the most challenging jobs you will ever have is the position of Telemarketer. This position poses more obstacles than a typical job as a sales person for a few reasons. Telephone Sales Training can help you overcome those obstacles and help you reach your maximum earning potential.

Many companies have scripts that Telemarketers read during their phone calls. As a former Telemarketer, I can tell you that nothing turns a customer off quicker than having a conversation with a person who is reading a script. Telephone Sales Training is geared towards helping employees work around the script in order to speak in a natural manner.

One thing that a good Telephone Sales Training program will do is to help employees use their natural speaking voices while working with a script. The important thing to remember is that the script is a guide. You have to speak naturally. If you are reading the person on the other end of the phone will probably want to hang up as soon as possible.

Keeping a natural flow of speech is more difficult than you may expect. You may think that you sound perfectly normal but the person on the other end definitely knows that you are scripting your conversation. One way to show employees how obvious reading can be to a listener is to include role-playing in your Telephone Sales Training program.

Role-playing is a great tool for exposing your employees to what it is like to be a customer. Taking the customer's point of view is crucial to your selling strategy. If the employee can be empathetic to the listener, he is more likely to make a sale. A big part of being empathetic involves listening as well as speaking.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Meeting New Friends With Different Ways

If you have just moved to a new area or you are just looking to expand your Social Network, you have probably realized that meeting new friends is not quite as easy as it sounds. How are you supposed to finds a friend, just walk up to them on the street and ask them if they would like to hang out and grab a cup of coffee?

Another great way for meeting new friends is to join a club or a group of people who are interested in the same sorts of things you like. If you are a movie buff, why not find a Film Club in your area? Do you like quilting? You can probably track down a Quilting Club. Community sports and recreation programs are also great places to look, since they often offer the standards like Softball leagues or Tennis tournaments along with other sports like Kickball or Dodge Ball.

If you like reading, try to track down a book club in your area. These interest-based clubs are usually excited to have new members to contribute to the club, and they will allow you to meet a whole bunch of people at once who all share some of the same interests as you.

Though some strategy may work for some people, most of us are not quite so brave. The bar scene is often an option for meeting new friends, but as it’s usually full of singles looking for a mate it can be tough to sell the idea that you’re really just looking for friendship.

Some may suggest that the Internet is an excellent place to finds a friend, but sometimes the online prospects can be shaky at best. If you are bored on a Friday night, meeting new friends who live halfway across the country are not much fun to hang out with. Granted, most personal sites that are based on locality, like Craigslist, make things a little bit easier, allowing you to meet these people in person, and sometimes they can breed worthwhile friendships.

The best strategy for meeting new friends online who you’ll really connect with in real life is to pay attention to shared interests, as it’s a lot easier to meet up with someone to spend time over a shared passion, be it Football or a Bike Ride, than it is to sit together over lunch and try to find topics for conversation. This is especially true when meeting up with someone you contacted online, since you obviously have not shared any other experiences together.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Internet Search Engines - Which One to Use?

With the Internet, we are clearly able to shop for any products. It does not matter if you are looking for baby supplies or rare Baseball cards, the World-Wide-Web will provide you with some results to tickle your fancy. After testing out a number of Internet Search Engines in my own life search, I honestly found Google.com to be the most helpful.

When researching literature and historical writers for papers, Google typically came up with the best results. I am sure that each Internet Search Engine has something substantial to offer a variety of people and needs. I found that it is wise to take advantage of various Internet Search Engines when doing an important search. You may find that some have additional sites to offer.

When it comes to the Internet, you cannot lose. These magnificent innovations have certainly made life a great deal easier for all of us. If you do not typically browse the web, hop online and see what you can find. A whole Cyberspace out there can put you in touch with places around the globe. Once you find that perfect Internet Search Engine, anything is possible. There are too many incredible things at your fingertips, not to give it a try.

If you think about it, the computer has completely changed our world. Infinite things that we used to do outside of the home are now accomplished in Cyberspace. The convenience is outstanding. With the speed of cable Internet, we are able to watch movie trailers, download music, and make quick business transactions with hardly any effort.

How often do you pop open an Internet Search Engine on any given day? Well, if you are like most of us, probably a lot. The information, photos, downloads, and products that can be found through an Internet Search Engine are phenomenal. These trusty digital tools have become part of our daily lives.

I recall the first time I popped open an Internet Search Engine. I was not exactly Computer savvy at the time. I had just heard that I could look up anything I wanted. It is amazing how these websites can take us on a ride to places around the world. In Cyberspace, travel is so quick and inexpensive.

With the number of Internet Search Engines at your beck and call, you are surely to locate whatever you desire. From Yahoo to Google, and Lycos to AskJeeves, the list of Internet Search Engines is rather profound.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Discussion Boards - The Good and The Bad

Discussion boards are not all happy places, however. On almost any board you find, there are people who are looking for trouble. These are commonly called trolls. Trolls go from board to board trying to stir up trouble just for the sake of doing so. They may go onto a board for that sole purpose and nothing more. Trolls and other troublemakers will even target discussion boards you may think are tame, like one for The Wiggles or other children’s shows. Many have found discussion boards as places to swindle others, so use care in your communications.

The Internet has made the world a smaller place in many amazing ways. Information from all over the world is shared at lightning speed, and people have formed friendships that may not have been possible otherwise. Both email and discussion boards are great tools that have helped people get together.

You can find discussion boards online that are geared towards almost any subject you may be interested in. You can find boards for mothers to share parenting advice and struggles. You can find support if you are going through a divorce, or if someone you know has a frightening medical condition. There are many discussion boards that are for fans of almost any celebrity you can name.

Many have official sites with boards, and there are many unofficial sites for fans to gather as well. If you are looking for something specific, discussion boards are a great place to look. You may find a great recipe for blueberry pie, or real life moms who can help you find a way to get your child to sleep at night. Some people use discussion boards to network, look for job leads, and the latest news about their chosen careers.

One parenting board I used to frequent had one particular woman who was a long-standing member. Her life seemed to be full of drama, and she continually talked about leaving her husband, and how horrible her life was. She gained a lot of sympathy from many of the board members, and many felt they needed to watch over her. What happened next is a common story on some discussion boards.

This particular woman faked an illness. She told everyone she had had a stroke and needed help. Many people sent her flowers, and even worse, they sent her large sums of money. In the end, someone did not quite believe her story, and had her checked out. She was, in reality, as healthy as a horse, and using the money sent to her for personal pleasure.

This is a common story, but do not let it scare you away from forming friendships on discussion boards. Just remember to use common sense when dealing with folks you do not know, and remember that not everything you read is real. Use the same instincts you use in real life, and you should be able to tell the difference between a fraud and a real person with real problems.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Online Communities - One of Those Stories

By Mike -
You know, some of us have mixed feelings about Online Communities. I did some work for an online home schooling last year. I developed Advanced Placement (AP) courses that meet the requirements of education and that translate well after some challenging adjustments to the internet.

But after I spent literally hundreds of hours designing interactive peer tasks and assignments that were virtual adventures (required emailing and web surfing to Online Communities and interaction in those Online Communities' Chat Rooms etc.), I was told by the Curriculum Manager I would have to re-do all lessons that involved renting videos outside of the home, emailing between students, and all bulletin board activity.

As a teacher I was offended, pissed, hurt… Mostly because good pedagogy was being compromised and good students would be getting sub-standard lessons. Nevertheless, I was also stunned… when a fellow instructor working on site emailed me and explained why the courses could not be 110% academically sound: the parents of those getting home-schooled did not want their kids having anything to do with others, especially with Online Communities.

While as a teacher, I expect and accept no less than ideal educational rights, facilities, exposure, etc. for my students. However, as a compassionate and thoughtful being, I am aware of the risks involved with Online Communities and appreciate the dangers such parents are working to avoid. If, then, you are a kid bothering to read this far, think about the nasty creeps or psychologically damaged people out there: they troll the web and sneak into Online Communities (Chat rooms, Forums, and other meeting places) and pretend to be someone they are not, specifically, someone your age, so they can take advantage.

If, however, you are a parent reading this, consider the following:
Forget about keeping your kids under "Control"; they are not the ones to suspect. They are the ones to trust… as you have taught them well, haven't you? You trust yourselves, right? Here is an example of how kids are most often underestimated (and how smart protective measures, while not punishing kids by disallowing them any access to other humans work)

Five teenaged boys created a fake profile (posed as a 15-year-old girl) on the most popular of Online Communities, MySpace. They did so not out of malevolence or brattiness, but to create a mockery, a joke, to cheer up a sick friend. A 48-year-old man started posting messages to this fake girl. He made the boys suspicious with sexual implications in his messages, with a picture of himself, and with an invitation to meet in a local park. So the boys went to the park at the agreed upon time, spotted the man, and called the police.

Too bad we cannot put the same faith in our kids we put in our higher powers and we give to strict methods that prevent rather than teach kids well.

Keep the following in mind when you use Online Communities:
You have the power and the RIGHT to protect your privacy. No one should ever be enabled to shame you into giving up information. You are smart and therefore will refuse to allow strangers to trick you, as well.

Check out the Online Communities safety suggestions at safe sites, such as at Safe Kids Online. There is a page called "My Rules for Online Safety" at http://www.safekids.com/kidsrules.htm

There is no need to panic or live in constant fear; advanced thinking and self-protection beat being scared any day. Read also about Online Dating Service.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Internet Maps - Free or Built-In?

If your vehicle haven't already came with a built-in GPS system or similarly an Auto Navigation Systems, you are probably like me, taking the advantage of those free websites like Mapquest, Google, MSN or Yahoo, which offer directions to anywhere you want to go. With a simple Starting Point Address and Destination Address, you can create a personalized Map specific to any trip. Suddenly, not only you have the quickest route to take, but you also have the total distance and time in a glance it takes to get there.

I made use of Internet Maps when venturing from Oregon to North Carolina a couple years back. This was a long trip, but I did not get lost. I simply punched the addresses in the Computer, and it gave me a route to follow, I printed it out and took it along with me. It is as easy as that. Even if I travel 15 miles to a particular Shopping Plaza or Doctor’s office, Internet Maps still prove handy if you do not know exactly where you are going.

Since the Internet took over the world with its unlimited access to all that is good and bad, users such as myself have certainly took advantage of its never-ending information and short cuts. We currently thrive on benefits such as Internet Maps and email. From what I can tell, there simply isn't a sufficient downside to this deluge of data.

Remember the older days when you would go on vacation with the folks. Dad was driving and Mom was unfolding a ridiculously large road Map in an attempt to find your route and destination. Those days are gone with the wind. Nowadays, Internet Maps are the key to finding a destination ahead of time.

With the modern technology of GPS systems and online Mapping, paper road Maps have became obsolete when traveling along. Most of us no longer endure the teeth-grinding agony of locating our path of travel on a large, folded up piece of paper.

As for the old school paper Maps, I do think they will slowly becoming outdated. It is hard to compete with the new age of technology and Cyberspace. Before we know it, GPS systems will be a standard in all vehicles, but until then, the rest of us can surely make use of the free directions provided for us with Internet Maps.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Computer Information Technology Is Not A Best Deal Anymore

There are hundreds, if not thousands of places tells you that you can get your Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Technology online, but really, it's not the most prudent career-move anymore. Let's face it, the Computer Information Technology field is pretty full right now. Since the "dot-com" crash, it's hard for even people with degrees from prestigious Universities to find employment in Info Tech.

Anyone with knowledge about current job trends will tell you that Computer Information Technology has passed, and that if you are interested in getting a high-tech, innovative job, Biotechnology is the way to go and not just . Biotechnology is the wave of the future, with genetic research and engineering, as well as the promises of new cures for diseases, hardier crops, and many other avenues providing all kinds of excitement.

Of course, Biotech research does require Computer Information Technology people to write and run the complex programs that required doing with genetic sequencing, but they really aren't too likely to hire someone with only that training alone.

Many people are studying both Biotechnology and Computer Information Technology to make them more employable in emerging high-tech fields. This dual area of studies allows them to be able to get a job ahead of the others, because they will be more qualified to do a wider variety of tasks, and have a better understanding of the issues involved in organizing and working with complex data.

Another field where Computer Information Technology training is helpful but not essential is the field of Advertising. Because everything is now done with Computers, an Advertising Agent with knowledge of Computer Information Technology is at a great advantage. He can more easily demonstrate his ideas with fancy presentations, can do some work in predicting long term trends, and have the option of doing Internet Advertising too, an option not available to people without the Computer Information Technology training.

Moreover, today's consumers have a shorter and shorter attention span and is more and more jaded towards Advertising; the more fancy and interactive advertisements with the computer generated special effects are, the more likely to generate the response which the Advertisers desires.

In addition, let's not forget that many of these so-called Computer Science and Information Technology schools actually offer you nothing -- A degree not worth the paper, which it is printed on. Unless you are really passionate about Computer Information Technology, it pays to get a degree in another field. However, if you like to have Computer Education alone, it is always a good thing to learn more.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Email Spam Filter Protection From Those Spammers

How often are you on the Computer? Well, if your life resembles mine, and those millions of other individuals, then you are probably on the Computer for a great portion of the day. It is for something called "Work." So many of us work on a Laptop or Desktop, doing a variety of tasks for companies or privately owned business.

Then there are those who go to great lengths creating trashes that we don't want and have nothing to do with. Yeah, you should know what I am talking about and the trash I am referring to. It is formally known as SPAM. Did you have any in your email inbox today? OK, let me guess. Yes, you had. Heck, it is almost unavoidable. Well, that is unless you have a new-age email Spam Filter. And this can come in handy.

Does your Laptop, Notebook, or Desktop have an email Spam Filter built-in? Well, chances are if it is a relatively new machine, it has already a decent Pop-Up Blocker. However, the email Spam Filter is a tad different. It mostly depends on which provider you have an email account with.

You see, I personally have a Hotmail account. Now, I can guess what you are thinking. Hotmail hit the Cyberspace airwaves and everyone and their dog snatched up a free Hotmail account. This is probably fairly accurate. We all want free email accounts for one simple reason. They are free!

In fact, if you don't have a complimentary Hotmail account, then you probably will have a Gmail account through Google or the Yahoo! Mail. It is also Free-of-Charge. As far as the email Spam Filter goes, that is a tough one. With the Hotmail account we have something called Junkmail. Therefore, when you receive email that is clearly Spam, it is re-directed into the Junkmail account or folder. Now, is this an effective email Spam Filter? In my opinion, it is not.

I say this because I still have to go in and empty the stupid Junkmail box all the time. This is a hassle. I want an email Spam Filter that does not let Junk Mail through in the first place. If it comes through the first time, that is not a problem. However, immediately afterwards, I want the ability to label it as SPAM, so that it can never breech my email account walls again.

Doesn't this sound like an ideal email Spam Filter? Then we wouldn't have to continuously click UNSUBSCRIBE or Report Spam on the bottom of every email that slips through, only to have them sent back 50 more times. That is a pain! However, I do believe that Anti-Spam technology will get better and better in future. Just one thing in dilemma, will those Spammer's "Technology" catch up with it?

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

How To Create A Web Page From The Ground Up?

Increase your web site's income today

If you are wondering how to create a Web Page, chances are that you are not all that Internet savvy. Really, creating a Web Page can be easy or difficult, depending on how ambitious you are, and what you want to include on your Website. If you are only after creating your own Blog, then there is absolutely nothing to it. All you really have to do is to register with one of the many services set up to make Blogging easy. Did I tell you most of them are free?

In addition, they will tell you systematically how to create a Web Page with their Supports Tutorial, but believe me, it is easy to do on one of those Blogging sites. The layout or Template is already set up for you, the page is basic and functional, and no extra programming knowledge for example, HTML, PHP, or even JavaScript is required. If you can type words and send an email, have tried logging on to your personal Websites with those User Names and Passwords, you have the basic requirements for it.

If you are after something more elaborate, than more effort is certainly required. You can register a Domain (The name for your Website), for example, which will cost some money. That way, you get to choose what name your Website goes, and set it up yourself. Remember, by getting just a Domain name is just the beginning. You will need Hosting services, which in terms, a hosting company that allows your Web Pages and other related files to be uploaded and stays on their Web Server 24/7 days;

Other people will be able to type in your Domain name and directed to the necessary files or pages on that server. On the other words, Domain name is just a name you preferred like, "creditcardsbest.com" While Hosting Server is the server where all the necessary files are kept and waiting to be view by visitors when "creditcardsbest.com" is pointed to it.

Once you do that, you can set out to learn HTML (Stands for Hyper Text Markup Language). It is the authoring Software Language used on the Internet to create World Wide Web pages. However, this takes a long time, and you are recommended to learn from the basic up to where you can fool around with those advance Markup languages as technology goes better.

A shortcut is to learn one of the many programming languages set up for people who do not know much about how to create a Web Page, but want to do something customized on their own. Of course, learning one of these programs will take more effort than just pasting your text up on your Blog, but if you want to know in depth how to create a Web Page instead of using some prefabricated Template, there is no better solution, but to learn gradually. To your surprise, those basic tutorials are everywhere on the Net. Search around and you are supposed to find it.

Of course, once you have learned How To Create A Website, there is still the question of what contents to put on it. The Internet has so much junk already, just there to look cute and take up space, so it would be a shame to just add more to the trash. Honestly, the secret to how to create a Web Page, which people would want to read, is to understand, and write for your audience.

If your desired audience is just your friends, then it is easy. You simply have to put up things that your friends would like, such as pictures of social gatherings that you have together, and maybe information about what you are doing. If you do want wider audiences from all over the Internet, a little more good thoughts must go into creating your Website. Think about Web Tools people can use with your site, articles (just like this one!) that have words and information on it for those information seekers, or even Product Sales Pages where you can sell some of your recommended stuffs. The imaginary is up to yours.

I used to build websites with WYSIWYG software like FrontPage or Dreamweaver for easy viewing of how my Web Pages looks like while typing similarly with those Windows application software. The best thing is it generates HTML on the background for you automatically without keying all the required tag and codes by yourself. However, things started to get complex when you are building and maintaining lot of websites and pages day after day.

Today, I managed to get on hold of a more dynamic Web Design software that does more than easy building, which is easy linking and maintaining. If you are getting lesser time with more creation, XsitePro should be the solution. Read the "7 Reasons Video" demo on its Homepage and decide how it will help you more.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Change Of Address Announcements - The Best Time To Fill It

It is important to make sure that you've filled out the Change Of Address Announcements once you are certain that you are making the big move. Waiting until last minute to fill out the information can make the process tedious and sometimes overwhelming. Completing your Change Of Address Announcements in advance will allow you to concentrate on packing and unpacking before or even on moving day.

I've learned my lesson through experience when my family bought a new house last two years. I thought that I had all things good in order and ready to go but when it comes to moving, nothing went as planned. I ordered the change of Address Cards in advance and I figured out that I could fill them out right before we started packing.

After that we started packing. Things were everywhere and nowhere all at once. I had a great deal of difficulty finding a pair of socks, let alone my Change Of Address Announcements. What was aggravating was that I put off filling out the information for a couple of weeks. The entire group of Change Of Address Announcements could have been filled out in a few hours. Now it was going to take weeks.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that a few family members were packing items at once. One was packing things and some others had no idea where the stuffs were. Our Change Of Address Announcements wound up at the bottom of a box that was, of course, not labeled. By the time we found them we had already moved into the new house.

This was not really a big deal but the holiday season was coming up very soon. Many of our friends and relatives had no idea that we even moved. They had no way to find our new address without our sending the Change Of Address Announcements. Unfortunately, unpacking our belongings took precedence over filling out the announcements.

Many of our friends and relatives got our new address from the return address on the envelopes for the holiday cards we mailed. Many did not even notice the new information. I found myself filling out Change Of Address Announcements just one week after Christmas. My hands sure were tired.

If you are planning a big move, make sure that you take a little time to fill out your Change Of Address Announcements as soon as you have your information in order. You will be glad that you did it soon. Never put it later.

Anyone who is planning to move in the near future should consider the purchase with Change Of Address Announcements. These handy announcements can help you and your friends and family stay organized during the hectic time. Home moving is never easy. Change Of Address Announcements can help you stay ahead of the game.

Need to know other Communication information? Read it at The Answering Machine Feature Article Topics.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

The Online People Searches Functionality

The people searches functions of the worldwide web, then, are my relaxing and personal way of using the Net. With people searches, I have found what I suspected, what I wanted, and what I dreaded to find, all good in the end.

People searches can lead us, that is, to where we want to go, hope to go, once wanted or wished to go, or to where we dreaded we might end up going. They can prevent us, too, from going there. If that is preferable; I love the invention of the Internet!

I started people searches on ex- girlfriends, or ex-lovers whom I had wished were my girlfriends. Or those unattainable friendly girl whom I had, along with 99 percent of the High school girls, wanted to just get the time of day from a glance, a smile, a little tiny hello. I found the one who was dubbed the most beautiful in the yearbook had turned Christian singer.

I found the sexy bad boy with no goals has become a leading Artisan building staircase for the mansions of the well-to-do. I found the quiet hockey goalie who had accompanied me home on Winter nights and later had walked all the way to his home alone one cold and bizarrely Winter night just to tell me others were setting me up for some gag or my friend Simon was now a happily married man who ran his own Silk and other Screen Printing business.

Of course, I also found in my people searches, which were such delightful departures from otherwise delightful work research, the lovers, and friends who had died from car crashes and Cancer, certainly not from aging that is far away, as far as I am concerned.

Nevertheless, people searches can go beyond stoking the curiosity fires. They can aid us in checking out potential clients, employees, or those at the other end of investment sources or deals. People searches can reveal the truth when a fellow Freelancer makes claims that are questionable or a POD (Publish on Demand) publisher is reputedly a Scam Artist taking the money of Writers who want so badly to be published they will fall vulnerable to the snares of the greediness.

I am online using the Internet about 15 hours a day, 7 days a week. I use the Net for everything from emails to weather to researching whatever I am writing on and of course to search people too. I usually have a serious intent, seeking only the most scholarly, technical or informative materials, as the Net is ideal for me a global library which I do not have to drive to, borrow from, and then pay the inevitable late fees if any.

But another gift the Internet brings me is the ability to recall my High School years or even childhood, revisiting my previous High school and checking up on whatever happened to etc. Learning about personal -- unbelievably -- is dead or who is high profile in a career none of expected the guy or girl to go into in the first place.

There are quite a few ways to search people. One of those ways is through Address Lists. Visit Answering Machine Website for information about Network searches.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Looking For Girls Is Never That Easy

Are your thinking for a girls date? Well, I should know your problem, because I am a guy too. Looking for girls is never a very easy task. Sure, sometimes they seem everywhere; they’re in Bars, Restaurants, Clubs, and of course in Shopping Malls. Girls like shopping, isn't it?

They populate Super Markets, Sidewalks, and Cab Stands. Unfortunately, the cute girls that you see in these sorts of places are usually unapproachable at best, and at worst they’re definitely not the sort of girls you’re looking for.

So far, the best way to get together with a girl is to find out that the two of you share a number of common interests. You don’t necessarily have to love exactly the same things; for example, if you like Mountain Biking and she enjoys Fly Fishing, the two of you share a mutual love for the outdoors, and you can probably expose each other to different activities and interests related to the outdoors.

However, if you love Monster Trucks and she enjoys painting her nails more than anything else in the world, it’s going to be tough to find similar common ground between the two of you.

Sure, you can always try looking for girls on the Internet, but that’s just about as scary, since it’s tough to tell if the woman who shows up on your Computer screen is the same woman who’s going to show up for the romantic dinner. So what can a guy do?

The best strategy when looking for girls, therefore, is to look up for groups of people who share your interests. Clubs are great for these sorts of interactions since their entire purpose is to bring people together who share a common interest. If you like reading books, get out there and join a Book Club. Enjoy sports or Sporty girls? Join up in a Community Clubs' Softball or Basketball Team (co-ed, of course).

Not only will these sorts of Clubs allows you to meet a bunch of different girls, they open you up into completely different Social Networks. Before you know it, the married woman on your Softball Team is introducing you to her attractive sister, or you’re getting to know the friend of your Shortstops who is really cuteeee.

Though you may not want to date any of your current friends, if you get connected with new Social Networks; you may not have to keep looking for girls because they’ll manage to find you on their own.

Not only that, these girls will probably share more interests with you than some girls you randomly meet in a Bar or at the Supermarket. Making a relationship more probable and more fun. Are you still reading this ending? You better shut down your computer now and get to them before someone else does…

Thursday, September 07, 2006

The Changes Of Cellular Phone Service

It is cool to be able to only have one phone bill with several phones in our family. I also like the fact that with my cellular phone service, network to network calls are free. Many things, I loves for having a cellular phone, for example one of those add-a-line, friends and family plans.

In fact, I am not sure how we managed to live without it. I remember when I got my first cellular phone service subscription. I think we paid about $30 a month for 60 minutes a month. At the time, I even thought the phone provided with the cellular phone service was pretty cool.

Today, I look at that phone and realize how big and ugly it is compared to today. And that was only about 15 years ago. Back then, the coverage area for our cellular phone service was very local and we used the cellular phone service mainly for emergencies. A lot have changed.

I am still having cellular phone service. I am a big fan of cellular phone service. I am even at the place where I have seriously thought of getting rid of my traditional phone service and becoming a cellular phone service user only. I am not quite there, but who knows what future years will bring.

No minutes charged against my monthly allotment. My cellular phone services, like most services that are available have free nationwide long distance. It makes calling anywhere easy! Though some things are not so cool with my cellular phone service. My house is like a cellular dead zone.

The signal hardly appears in my home. So that is why I have both traditional phone service as well as my cellular phone service. I think GSM network are always better than PCN, don't you think so? If you have any doubt on your plan, feel free to consult your service provider.

What is getting more popular with cellular phone service? I think the latest thing to come that is cool is the new Pay As You Go Phone service plan. I like the idea of being in control of how much you are paying for your cellular phone service.

I also like the idea of having no ugly surprises when you open your monthly bill; Really hate the fees that comes when you go overhead your monthly minutes. Today, thanks to competition, nasty overage fees from your cellular phone service provider are becoming a thing of the past.

Many of the main cellular phone service providers and networks companies are beginning to offer this as an option for their customers. Who knows, perhaps we are catching up to the rest of the world. Pay As You Go is very common as one of those cellular phone services in many other countries including Europe, Africa and of course, Asia too.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Free Email Accounts For Every Needs

Having an email account is almost a necessity in today’s society. Almost everyone has at least one email account. Some people choose to pay for the service, but if you really shop around and do a little research, you will find many ways to establish reliable free email accounts. More than one free email account will help you organize your messages into categories for fun, work, friends and of course, unlimited imagination.

There are many ways to set up a number of email accounts free. I make sure to have at least two working emails and it is important to have free email accounts when you have more than one. I chose to use Hotmail as one source of getting email accounts free and I was very pleased with the service at the beginning. However, later I noticed that other competitors' email services are better than what I had, so I opened another email account from them too. Needless to say, a free email accounts with Yahoo and of course received one from my high-speed cable Internet provider.

I use my Hotmail free email account for most of my routine email, which I have used to. This is a great place to do a lot of online shopping and more casual interactions. I chose a fun name for this free email account because it relates my general attitude about the messages that come from my Hotmail account; fun and light-hearted. This free email account was a good choice for casual interactions because it has a wonderful Anti Spam feature that really weeds out unwanted Spam. The Anti Spam feature puts possible unwanted email into a junk folder firstly.

My Yahoo free email account was created for communications that are more serious. I use my Yahoo email account to communicate with my online learning instructors and for many in-depth freelance writing assignments. This free email account has a more serious, professional user name and it fits my general attitude about the messages that are sent from my professional free email account; diligent and proficient.

This free email account does have a good Anti Spam feature that puts possible junk mail into a bulk mail folder too. One thing for sure, this Anti Spam feature is necessary in email service. If you have an account that does not supply this feature, please scream and run to another better service provider, nowadays probably Google Gmail.

Another place that I turn for free email accounts is my high-speed cable Internet Service Provider. My cable company offers free email accounts to its customers and it is a wonderful place to keep messages for friends and family without mixing up with all recipients.

Hardly anyone knows my email address from the high-speed cable free email account, so I rarely have any messages and virtually no Spam. If I have unsolicited visitors to my free email account provided by my cable company, I would still be protected with the company’s Anti Spam feature that weeds out unwanted junk mail.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Get New Email Address To Avoid Spam

Many email services have different methods to help you deal with junk emails. Yahoo has a Bulk Folder, and it tries to sort through and figure out which emails you want, and which ones should be sent to the Bulk Folder. This doesn’t always work since it is based on software programming, but they are trying to do a pretty job as time goes on.

Yet, some problems still remains. Seeing a large number of junk emails in your Bulk Folder is still disheartening. When you have to find a missing email, you may have to sort through them or using the search function. This is why so many people are constantly looking for a new email address, and feel they need to begin anew.

A new email address is pretty easy to find. Some are free, while others are for a fee. Some come with your Internet service, which can be a blessing. Remember that free email addresses may not be as good as you would like it to be, and some don’t offer those Must Have features. If you are looking for a new email address to avoid spam emails, you should find one service provider with a proven track record of getting rid of the spams. This is pretty hard, however, because the spammers are always finding new loopholes around email filters.

If you need a new email address for business reasons, you want one that is tough on spam and junk emails as possible. You don’t have time to waste wading through the useless and annoying unsolicited emails you didn’t ask for. You should find a new email address service that will only allow email to come from those in your address book, which is considered one of those Must Have features.

This should filter out a lot of the junk firstly, but remember that this also means new clients might not be able to reach you. You may also want to have a business email in addition, with fewer restrictions, just for new people to reach you. When you have determined on a working relationship, then at that time, give them your prior email address for further communication.

It is a common problem to us, and no one likes to put up with it. There are millions of junk or spam emails floating around the Internet. Many days, you may feel like every single one of them is ending up in your inbox. When you use your email address to sign up for promotions, you run the risk of it being sold to an email list collector or company.

When this happens, you begin to get junk mail. As times goes on, your email address can be sold over and over again, leaving you feeling overwhelmed by the amount of junk messages coming into your inbox. When this happens, it may be time to switch to a new email address.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Laptop Computer Sale Is Everywhere

Not all sales and stores are created equal, but that does not mean you cannot save money. One type of Laptop Computer sale is not a deduction in price tag. But instead, they offer a huge rebate for your purchases. There are two different kinds of rebates, In-Store, and Mail-In-Rebates.

In-Store rebates are often taken off the final price, while Mail-In-Rebates comes after the sale. Many stores like to use the rebate Laptop Computer sale. As wonderful as these rebates are, there are many people who will not actually following up on the rebate, and the company gets to keep the money.

If you find a Laptop Computer sale price that seems too good to be true, find out why. They may be offering a low quality model to get you in the store so they can talk you up to a pricier model. If you want to take advantage of the Laptop Computer sale, do your best to ignore the sales pitches, or you may end up spending more money than you wanted to.

Sometimes, a Laptop Computer sale is not really a price break on the computer itself, but is instead an offer for extras. These extras can include free upgrades or even a Digital Camera and most probably a printer, which is commonly used in those sales. Read the fine print first. The upgrade may not be something you need, and the Digital Camera may be low quality, and not worth the price. Again, read the fine print first.

There is a place where there is always a Laptop Computer sale, and that place is Auction Sites. Many, many sellers have Laptops they are trying to sell within their satisfactory bids, and if you are patient enough, you can find a great deal on a top of the line, a quality laptop, despite those used item.

The most important part of finding a bargain at a Laptop Computer sale is to read all the fine print, and make sure there are no hidden charges, fees, or costs that will jack up the price of the model. Also, remember, a deal is not a deal if you do not get what you need.

On almost any given day, you could find a store that is having a Laptop Computer sale. Those are hot items, and many people are beginning to prefer Laptops over to Personal Computers because of their portability. This means that stores are fighting for that share of pie with computer sales.

To find a Laptop Computer sale in your area, all you have to do is either look through your local paper, or keep an eye on local television ads and even Computers Technology Exhibitions. Laptops are often hot items, and discounts are typically used to draw customers into the store.

If you have a Credit Card, you may consider a purchase with 0 Interests Installment plan. This type of plan will let you purchase your item through a scheme of one to two years installment plan with your card's Credit without any interests added on. However, your credits on the Credit Limit are deducted firstly on your purchase until your repayments has been repaid time by time.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

How Can You Find Back Missing People?

A good way to start to find those kinds of missing people is to start with one of the many internet search tools available. These will let you search public records to see if your missing people have simply moved to another location and are living somewhere safe and sound where they can be contacted.

Eventually, however, you will probably have to hire a private investigator. There are many of them who actually specialize in finding missing people, so that they have by far the best chance of doing a successful search for whomever it is that you happen to be looking for.

They will be able to dedicate themselves full time to tracking down missing people, and although their services can be, accordingly, quite expensive, with private investigators, you stand the best long-term chance of finding your relative or friend and having a successful reunion.

There are a variety of services available to help you find missing people, but often the search can be long and frustrating. There are many reason that you might not be able to find missing people, from the possibility that they have been kidnapped or died in a remote location, were murdered and well hidden, came down with amnesia, or possible just decided that they don't want to be found.

The bottom line is that, when it comes to missing persons, you should use every resource available, and as quickly as possible. One of the best ways to track down missing people is to file a missing persons report with the police as soon as they go missing. According to many experts, most people who go missing and are successfully found are found within the first few days of going missing.

The police will have plenty of resources to pursue the most successful search possible, especially if the circumstances make it appear that some foul play may have been involved. Because of advanced and enhanced communications, combined with the presence of surveillance everywhere, there are greater and greater chances that who ever go missing will be found than ever before.

Of course, if you are looking for missing people who you haven't seen in years, your best source of information will be something different than the police. You simply can't file a missing persons report about someone who has been gone in nowhere for years, possibly as part of a move or other legitimate reason.

One resource that may be able to help your searching is Address Finding. Read this as well from Writer's Resources Article website.

How Do You Manage Your Change of Address?

If you have moved, and refuse to put a change of address in because you don’t want to be found, don’t be so sure it won’t happen. Bill collectors have a way of finding people. All they have to do is figure out where you have moved, and they can pay a fee at the post office to get your address. They can also do this by tracking you by phone number, or by records of your current bills.

A change of address is something you have to deal with each and every time you move. This allows your mail especially those important ones to be forwarded to you for six month at your new address. You should notify utilities and other companies when you move, although some stuff will not necessarily need a change of address right away.

Filling out the forms at the post office will ensure that everything gets to you after you move. The forms for change of address are available at any post office. You simply fill out the information and hand it back to the post office.

The information you provide is very simple. You must give them your old address, your new address, and the date you wish the change to take effect. You can also do a change of address if you are leaving for a few months, and the date to return. You have to fill out the forms a little differently, but it is basically the same thing.

You can also do a change of address online. Everything can be taken care of by entering your information at home on your computer. Keep in mind that you must have a valid email address to do this, and you will be charged a fee of one dollar. If you don’t want to pay the fee to do it online, you can still print out the forms at home, fill them out, and deliver them to the post office yourself for free.

As an extra precaution, notify everyone you can think of when you move. Most magazines and even at the back of your Credit Cards and other similar financial company have a change of address form in each issue if you are a subscriber or applicant. You may be able to change this information online, but it depends on the information stated on it.

Don’t you forget to notify any financial companies you are dealing with, as well as any music or video clubs memberships you own. Remember that some items that come in the mail specifically say they cannot be forwarded, so make sure you notify everyone as needed.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Web Addresses And Domain Available On The Net

If you look hard enough, you can find great deals on Web addresses also referred to URL or Domain. You will have to search to see if the name you are thinking of is available. If it is not, the site you are searching may suggest alternatives to you that you may not have considered. If one Domain provider or registra does not have what you are looking for, keep looking. Something more promising may come along somewhere else.

If you can find a great deal, and the name you want, grab it. Web addresses can be bought up quickly; so don’t let your preferred name slip away. There are some people that try to keep ahead of the trends by buying up Domain names they think others will want in the future. They then try to make money by selling it to an interested party. This usually happens to bigger corporations, but it can happen to anyone.

The prices you find in different Domain registrar varies. You can get a Domain name, in some cases, for as cheap as 2.99 a month. Normally those registrar will charge you annually. Remember that while this is a great deal, it might not come with anything extra. If you want email addresses, storage space, and other related website needs, you will have to pay more.

That is why you should read the fine print when looking at an offer. Once you have chosen your Web addresses and have your sites built, make sure you get listed in relevant Web directories. This will make it easier for people to find you. You can also submit your site to the major search engines, and don’t forget to use social book-marking sites like Furl to get your name and your Web addresses out there.

No matter what you wish to do, in order to be found on the Internet, you need one or two Web addresses. They are how potential customers find you if you have a new business, or how people find you if you are offering a service for hire. Web addresses can be a little complicated, but finding the right one may be easier than you think.

Web addresses used to come with .com, .net, .gov, or .org at the end of them. This has changed in recent years, and you can now get ones that end in .tv, .biz, or .info. These may help you distinguish what your website has to offer before someone even clicks on your link.

If you have a business, you want a .com address. If you are a TV station, or related site, .tv might be just what you need to draw viewers to your site. It is possible to buy your address in a regional form, .com.sg etc. while "sg" stands for Singapore.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Sirius Satellite Radio Has It All

You will enjoy your Sirius Satellite Radio system that you will never want to listen to traditional radio again! It may become a part of your daily routine that you just need to have it on, all the time. If you are a fan of Howard Stern, he is now on the Sirius Satellite Radio network and is available to listeners worldwide. Satellite radio is your choice, there is nothing better, and Sirius Satellite Radio has everything you will ever want. All for a great low price. Enjoy in the privacy of your home or vehicle for those great channels at your fingertips.

What's so great about it? Well, you may live in a part of the country that just does not have a great selection of radio stations and programs, let alone have anything you want to listen to in your taste. For less than $13 a month, you can have access to over 125 channels with Sirius Satellite Radio, which are completely commercial free. For a nominal price, you can purchase a Sirius Satellite Radio system for your vehicle or your home, or you can buy an extra docking station or use one transmitter and switch them between the two.

Sirius Satellite Radio systems can be purchased at many electronic retail stores, including Best Buy and Circuit city as well as other websites online. Also from time to time, www.sirius.com offers systems at a reduced price, or rebates are offered that you can print out and take to your nearest Sirius retailer. There are also different models available, so just ask an informed sales associate for help in deciding which Sirius Satellite Radio system is right for you.

There are various program categories you can choose from, for example, Electronic/ Dance, Hip-Hop/ R&B, Country, Jazz/ Blues, Standards, News/ Talk, Entertainment, Sports, Pop, Rock, Classical and also Latin/International. Aside from listening via your Sirius Satellite Radio transmitter, you can even use your PC and personal login information to listen online, which is great for when you are at work or anywhere else that you do not have your transmitter handy.

You can set up your system to hold up to twenty of your favorite stations for your convenience also, making your Sirius Satellite Radio system that much more enjoyable not matter where you are. If there is a certain sports event or scheduled program you would like to be reminded of, just set an alert that will let you know when your favorites are on, in that case, you won’t miss a second!

Visit The Answering Machine for more Network and Communication related.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Learn To Answer Job Interview Questions

The worst situation in which to answer job interview questions is when you really do not want the job. In my younger days when getting a job was a case of needing cash quickly, I went for all manner of different positions. When this is your situation, you always seem to want you to answer job interview questions like "Why did you choose this particular company?" You need to quickly come up with an answer. Out of all those companies manufacturing ball bearings in the world, why did I choose them? Quite a tough one.

Answering job interview questions is an art. In the end, the only person you can be is yourself. Trying to be who they want you to be is hard to sustain, especially if it is a panel of interviewers peering at you. Each job interview gets easier by so. Well, it is marginally preferable to going to the dentist then answering those questions.

There is nothing I dislike more than attending a job interview. They are unavoidable, no doubt, but I have always dreaded them. It seems to me that all you do is to show that you are good or bad at job interviews, and not whether you are good at the job as a candidate for. Some job interviewers approach the interview very scientifically, reading up on techniques, psychological profiling, and so on. For the interviewee, you must know how to answer job interview questions as prompted.

A job interview is the art of telling people what you think they want to hear in their mind. However, there must be a degree of honesty there. We all exaggerate our experience and skills a bit from time to time, but remember that if you claim to have a four-year record of accomplishment of flying passenger airplanes, you will need to back it up later on. So do not over exaggerate.

To answer job interview questions is to walk through a thin tightrope. The questions tend to be designed to find out lots of contrary information. For example, are you a good team player and do you also enjoy working alone? Do you like to lead others and are you good at following instructions?

Sometimes, I have been so nervous at job interviews that I do not tend to listen properly to the questions, which make it difficult to answer job interview questions at all. In fact, the key is to swallow your nerves and listen intently. Otherwise, you will have to wing it. The questions are not there to trip you up, but to find out more about you, and what's more fascinating than talking about yourself!

When I answer job interview questions, I try to be calm and collected. I have had some success with meditation exercises before going into the interview. Some people do the much-recommended technique of imagining the interviewer in his or her underwear. I tried this once and got a fit of the giggles. Unsurprisingly, I did not get the job. Try to think of it as a conversation between equals, rather than a job interview. More about communication at The Answering Machine website.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

What Is Your Best Cell Phone Plans?

To me, the best Cell Phone Plans must offer a standard monthly rate for services. This monthly rate should cover all minutes. You could not imagine having to worry about the number of minutes you use each month and I really could not imagine having to consider the best times (non-peak hours) to place phone calls.

Many offers have peak hours that really rack up the cost of your phone service. These offers try to balance the high costs with special rates during certain times of the day. This is not appealing to me at all. You have enough trouble scheduling your time and organizing your day, but not to those calls.

Having to schedule phone calls as well would put you in a tailspin. The best cell phone plans do not make customers schedule their calls or wait for the most opportune time to contact friends and family. You should be able to make calls around the clock without worrying about the rates.

Finally, there are the personalized offers that allow callers to contact people within a certain circle. Not everyone has the same plan and in the same vein as scheduling phone calls, you also don't want to organize your friends, family and associates by their calling plans. The best cell phone plans will allow you more freedom than that.

The most beneficial time to shop for the best cell phone plans is during the Christmas Season. The specials are wonderful this time of year and you can find a great deal that will save you money for years and years to come. In addition, the upgrades during the Christmas season are amazing. If you are planning to search for the best cell phone plans in your area, try shopping around the holidays.

During the next holiday season, consider shopping for a new offer from your phone company. You may find that the best cell phone plans make the best presents as well.

I have discovered the benefits of adopting a cell phone plan during the holiday season by accident. My friend bought a phone as my Christmas gift a few years ago and I was glad that she did. She managed to seize one of the best cell phone plans I have ever encountered and there is no way we are changing one thing.

The monthly payment never changes. The standard rate covers everything, including calls out-of-current state as well. Of course, you cannot call coast to coast without a charge but your calling area covers several states in the northeastern part of the United States, which is really more than you need. Try to find one online if you don't want the hassle to shop around offline.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

How To Improve Communication Skills?

In Community college, one of the best courses I took was on how to improve Communication skills. The teacher was a trip, and was equally adept at making the class interesting as well as informative. I still recall the tools and techniques often. First, acknowledge that public speaking sucks for most human beings. One comic or maybe it was an ad said that "If the number one fear is speaking in public and the number two fear is death, does that mean people would rather die than talk aloud to a crowd?"

I trick myself, which is, into shifting my focus from how I will speak to what I will speak on… forgetting all about being afraid! Screw that “Imagine the audience in their underwear” thing. I am not sure that works anymore.

Next, stand straight and speak out your mind. If you speak out over the heads of the audience, you should get a good thing going with the acoustics in the room. I know you need to look down at your notes, but since we all understand that notes are involved, there is no need to try to hide the notes… how about holding them in your hand at chest level when you refer to them? Screw the podium, unless you are nervous. If you are, the thing blocking you will relieve nerves a bit. If it doesn’t refer back to the first suggestion for how to improve communication skills.

Finally, take ownership. Just as you will stand proud and just as you will feel the love, so shall you learn how to improve communication skills by owning that stage, pulpit, podium space, or head of the table area in the conference room. Look at the listeners. Imagine you have knowledge of something they know much less about and therefore they NEED you to be good, kind, and direct.

Moreover, for your audience's sake, be interesting. If you aren't a typically funny person, smile. Studies show a smiling presenter gets more evaluation that is positive anyway. Move about, change your tone. Try it. Try yammering away to a crowd, then suddenly dropping into a whisper. Check out how many will perk up all of a sudden.

I won’t get into the metaphysics of how words and language can be misinterpreted, unheard, neglected, abused, etc., but will instead stick with the basics for how to improve communication skills as I learned them and as I try to practice them. In addition, I will share what I remember for those who wish to speak in public, not for those in an interpersonal relationship or what have you…. You are in control. Take it and respect it!

Monday, August 21, 2006

View Satellite Images Of Earth Online

While Satellite images of earth have certainly answered many of our redundant questions about our planet and the way it looks and functions, there is still much more uncovered. Satellites and trips into space are always unveiling new and exciting things concerning our universe overall.

You can find out a great deal about space and view Satellite images of earth online, in the comfort of your own home now with software that comes free too. It doesn't get much better than that. The Internet provides you with a deluge of information and photos of earth and surrounding planets that will blow your mind. Hop online and take a peek.

One thing we can always be certain of is our advancement in technology. Ever since that first trip to the moon, our curiosity has more than heightened. We now have the ability to achieve Satellite images of earth. This has given the human race an incomparable new take on space and how the earth fits into the scheme of things. With the Satellite technology we currently enjoy on a daily basis, anything seems possible, and nothing out of our reach.

Much of the mystery and awe were relieved when we received our first Satellite images of earth. The layout and contrasts of land and water can be seen in a whole new light. It's funny if you think about actually seeing the world we live on from that point of view. It can leave you in constant wonder, and keep you pondering the possibilities.

With the Satellite images of earth we take these days, it is actually possible for us to have a better understanding of the surrounding planets. After all, all are quite different in many respects.

Through Satellite technology, we can predict weather before it arrives. This is probably one of the most common ways we make use of Satellites. In understanding that storm front approaching, we have a much better chance of dealing with any problems. Each night when we tune into the news, we can witness the results of Satellites through the weather forecast.

Your local meteorologist always shows Satellite images and gives predictions. In addition to weather reports, Satellite images of earth and surrounding areas offer us a consistent update of what goes on around our planet. We would surely want to know if meteors or any other damaging elements were drawing near. Satellites make it possible for us to stay ahead of the game.

More about networking and phones, please read Answering Machine Articles.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Have You Personalized Your Answering Machine Messages?

In recent times, probably because of the urge of something better, Answering Machine messages have achieved a sort of cult status. Most people I know shudder at the thought of creating and storing the right kind of Answering Machine messages. This is not because they do not know what to say or how to say it, but purely because everyone seems to be in the quest for the perfect sort of Answering Machine messages that are funny, catchy, and better than the scores of Answering Machine messages they have already heard commonly.


I still remember that Answering Machine message I heard that went, “Hi! You have reached ABC. I am not home right now. If it is mom or dad, please send money. If it is the bill collector, the check is in the mail. If it is the IRS, I don’t have money and if you owe me money, tell me where you are and I'll get there right away!” There is no doubt that an Answering Machine message that sounds like that will surely have your sides in splits as well.

There was another Answering Machine message I heard that went, “You have reached the house of the DEF’s. Obviously, we are not in right now, so why don’t you call us back at a more reasonable time? We promise to take your call if we are in.” To me, this sort of a message sounded near to rude! Nevertheless, when it comes to Answering Machine messages and a sense of humor, consistency or sameness can hardly be expected!


However, Answering Machine messages don't just stop there. Even those who leave messages on Answering Machines tend to take humor rather seriously. One memorable response replied to a rather plain Answering Machine message went as follows. “Hi there! When I called in, I was hoping to find someone interesting to sell this service to. However, after I heard your Answering Machine message, I am not sure you are the right sort of person I am looking for. So ciao. And don’t bother calling me even if you have my number on your machine!”

Now how does that grab you as a clever retort to Answering Machine messages? Do you own an Answering Machine? If so what sort of Answering Machine messages do you have? I have been noticing that most people have started personalizing their Answering Machine messages. Exclude those who never bothered to do so for years and years.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

What Can Phone Answering Service Do For You?

In today's world, the most well known use of a Phone Answering Service has to do with Cellular phones. Because Cell phones cannot hook up to Answering Machines, they all rely on various message services as an alternative. Typically, when you sign up for a Cellular phone plan with a phone company, the Answering Service is included in the deal.

A Phone Answering Service is a company designed to take and record missed calls, much like an Answering Machine would. The phone rings a designated number of times before redirecting to the answering service, where the caller then hears recorded instructions on how to leave a message or alternative ways to contact the person they were trying to reach. Checking your messages is usually as simple as dialing a number, and then typing in a preset password.

Any institution or organization that involves many employees, a lot of incoming phone traffic and various phone lines usually rely on a Phone Answering Service to record missed calls, including hospitals, and government owned facilities. Doctors too busy to take a call do not have to miss out of important information, nor do politicians or other government workers.

In the business world, a missed call can often time be the deciding factor in the future of a company, and often thousands of employees. In the medical field, a missed call could be a deciding factor in a patient's life. It is easy to see how a good and reliable Phone Answering Service can be very important!

Another common usage of Phone Answering Service is in business around the world. Since most businesses have many different phones and phone lines, using answering machines would be complicated and inefficient. Rather, businesses sign up with a phone answering service, and all their missed calls are directed there.

Each member of the business can have his or her own personalized recording that plays when someone tries to reach him or her. Answering services are also used by businesses to keep potential customers on the line while they wait for a live operator to aid them.


A more recent phenomena occurring today is the rising popularity of Live Answering Services. A Live Phone Answering service works much the same way as a regular one, except that the redirected calls are met by a living breathing person, an employee of the Answering Company, as opposed to a recording.

These Live Answering services have become more popular based on a series of recent studies that suggest that people are more likely to leave messages or stay on the line if they are talking to an actual person rather than a machine. Much of the work done by these new Answering companies is outsourced to countries like India or China where lower wages can be paid to cut costs.