10waystodo

Preferred Modes of Investment

2012-11-15T16:50:00.003+05:30

With global stock markets resembling the path of an epinephrine induced Electrocardiogram, it's quite obvious that small investors look for other modes of investment that promises greater, low risk and stable returns. Traditionally, people invest part of their earnings to meet unforeseen circumstances. And one such preferred mode of investment is "Equities" which has seen a consistent growth over past few years until 2008 global recession that had it's mark on almost every stock market in the World with varying impacts. It is only then that people realized the importance of alternate modes of investment. Here are few other preferred alternate modes of investment to Equities with respect to Indian market conditions.

1. Fixed Deposits: Banks accumulate the major chunk of the fixed deposits, though there are other corporate fixed deposits that offer a better return but only with a little greater risk. The greatest advantage with fixed deposits is that the return on investment, though less compared to other investments, is guaranteed. The average ROI on fixed deposits is 8-12% depending on where you invest. Though fixed deposits seem to be flawless, there is an inherent disadvantage with this type of investment. Since ROI ranges between 8-12%, and average annual inflation hovering around 7%, the effective ROI that one can get through fixed deposits is around 2-3%. After all, it's the purchasing power that matters at the end of the day.

2. External Financing: For a 120 billion people strong country, and with a rapid economy where new businesses emerge everyday, banks and other NBFCs cannot satiate the hunger of businessmen, entrepreneurs and other household investors. Hence external financing emerged and had grown at an unprecedented rate after LPG [Liberalization/Globalization/Privatization] phase of the country in 1991-92. The conspicuous advantage with the external financing is that the interest rates offered is much higher than the standard bank rates and hence the gain is more. Also the lender can charge the interest at his will. But the risk here is much higher as the market is not regulated by any recognized body and there is a fair chance of borrower defaulting on the payment, though this can be minimized to an extent by mortgaging.

3. Business: A rather unusual one, but nonetheless an alternate mode of investment is setting up a business on one's own. The profits are indefinite here and there is a likely chance of losing the principal amount too if one isn't cautious. It takes a lot to set up a business on one's own but the returns are equally attractive if one takes prudence in various aspects of running the business. Though it seems to be an attractive one, one has to invest a lot of time to own a successful business, hence not advisable to those who seek short term gains and a heftily paid jobs :)

4. Government Bonds: These, like fixed deposits are low interest yielding investments. But, the risk is absolutely zero as it's the government with whom you are investing. The ROI hovers around 10% per year. In a volatile market, these are the best source of investment.

5.Mutual Funds: Generally mutual funds are owned by large investment companies and hedge funds. These are managed by experienced fund managers [typically those who graduate from top B-schools and with enough experience in investment banking]. The basic difference between investing in mutual funds and equities is that, in mutual funds your money is placed with fund manager who acts on behalf of you as to what shares to invest in, whereas, you invest in equities on your own in case of general stock market trading. Mutual funds are classified based on the sectors they invest in. There are low risk mutual funds i.e., index based mutual funds that invest in shares that form a stock market index. The choice of mutual funds depends on the risk one is willing to take and the ROI.

6. Gold: Gold has traditionally been indifferent to the markets. And, in countries such as India, Gold is always a safe bet. With the arrival of Gold ETFs, there is no need for physical transfer of gold and hence risk of loss is minimized greatly. Now, Gold can be traded through exchange traded funds [ETFs] just like other equities and hence is comparable with it.

7. Realty: Investing on land and houses also is one of the preferred investments among Indians. The risk involved in realty is too high as there are various factors, political, economical and geographic that influence the land rates, but so are high profits accompanied with realty. While investing in realty, one must take extreme caution in choosing where and what one is investing in. The thumb rule of realty is to invest in tier 2/tier 3 cities where the scope of growth is greater.

There are many more investments that one can make to reap benefits on the surplus money but, remember, huge profits always come with equally proportional risk and one must choose his mode of investment based on his needs.

Dennis Gartman's 22 Rules of Trading

2012-10-22T01:04:00.004+05:30

Here we go with Master Trader Dennis Gartman's 22 Rules of Trading, many of which you can apply to all sorts of life situations, as well as the markets.
Every day, Dennis Gartman gets up at about 2:30 AM and writes an information packed 4 page newsletter on the world markets, oil, currencies, commodities political happenings and much more. He is read by the major trading houses and traders all over the world, as they stumble bleary eyed into work, grabbing the Gartman Report to find out what happened as they slept and to get insight as to what the issues of the day will be, and suggestions on how to trade. Dennis puts his trades on public display and talks you through his logic. It is a most remarkable work, and I find it a key part of my struggle in trying to keep up with what is going on. I am always amazed when on the occasions I find myself in the office at an early hour to find Dennis' letter hit my inbox about 5:00 AM. His travel schedule makes mine look tame, and from wherever in the world he finds himself, he writes and sends his letter. And he still maintains a single digit
handicap on the golf course.

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, he publishes his "Rules of Trading," adding to them as wisdom increases.

Here is today's list:

1. Never, under any circumstance add to a losing position.... ever! Nothing more need be said; to do otherwise will eventually and absolutely lead to ruin!

2. Trade like a mercenary guerrilla. We must fight on the winning side and be willing to change sides readily when one side has gained the upper hand.

3. Capital comes in two varieties: Mental and that which is in your pocket or account. Of the two types of capital, the mental is the more important and expensive of the two. Holding to losing positions costs measurable sums of actual capital, but it costs immeasurable sums of mental capital.

4. The objective is not to buy low and sell high, but to buy high and to sell higher. We can never know what price is "low." Nor can we know what price is "high." Always remember that sugar once fell from $1.25/lb to 2 cent/lb and seemed "cheap" many times along the way.

5. In bull markets we can only be long or neutral, and in bear markets we can only be short or neutral. That may seem self-evident; it is not, and it is a lesson learned too late by far too many.

6. "Markets can remain illogical longer than you or I can remain solvent," according to our good friend, Dr. A. Gary Shilling. Illogic often reigns and markets are enormously inefficient despite what the academics believe.

7. Sell markets that show the greatest weakness, and buy those that show the greatest strength. Metaphorically, when bearish, throw your rocks into the wettest paper sack, for they break most readily. In bull markets, we need to ride upon the strongest winds... they shall carry us higher than shall lesser ones.

8. Try to trade the first day of a gap, for gaps usually indicate violent new action. We have come to respect "gaps" in our nearly thirty years of watching markets; when they happen (especially in stocks) they are usually very important.

9. Trading runs in cycles: some good; most bad. Trade large and aggressively when trading well; trade small and modestly when trading poorly. In "good times," even errors are profitable; in "bad times" even the most well researched trades go awry. This is the nature of trading; accept it.

10. To trade successfully, think like a fundamentalist; trade like a technician. It is imperative that we understand the fundamentals driving a trade, but also that we understand the market's technicals. When we do, then, and only then, can we or should we, trade.

11. Respect "outside reversals" after extended bull or bear runs. Reversal days on the charts signal the final exhaustion of the bullish or bearish forces that drove the market previously. Respect them, and respect even more "weekly" and "monthly," reversals.

12. Keep your technical systems simple. Complicated systems breed confusion; simplicity breeds elegance.

13. Respect and embrace the very normal 50-62% retracements that take prices back to major trends. If a trade is missed, wait patiently for the market to retrace. Far more often than not, retracements happen... just as we are about to give up hope that they shall not.

14. An understanding of mass psychology is often more important than an understanding of economics. Markets are driven by human beings making human errors and also making super-human insights.

15. Establish initial positions on strength in bull markets and on weakness in bear markets. The first "addition" should also be added on strength as the market shows the trend to be working. Henceforth, subsequent additions are to be added on retracements.

16. Bear markets are more violent than are bull markets and so also are their retracements.

17. Be patient with winning trades; be enormously impatient with losing trades. Remember it is quite possible to make large sums trading/investing if we are "right" only 30% of the time, as long as our losses are small and our profits are large.

18. The market is the sum total of the wisdom ... and the ignorance...of all of those who deal in it; and we dare not argue with the market's wisdom. If we learn nothing more than this we've learned much indeed.

19. Do more of that which is working and less of that which is not: If a market is strong, buy more; if a market is weak, sell more. New highs are to be bought; new lows sold.

20. The hard trade is the right trade: If it is easy to sell, don't; and if it is easy to buy, don't. Do the trade that is hard to do and that which the crowd finds objectionable. Peter Steidelmeyer taught us this twenty five years ago and it holds truer now than then.

21. There is never one cockroach! This is the "winning" new rule submitted by our friend, Tom Powell.

22. All rules are meant to be broken: The trick is knowing when... and how infrequently this rule may be invoked!

10 Ways to Make the World a Better Place

2012-10-06T19:08:00.001+05:30

An important part of our growth and motivation as people lies in contributing to the greater good, being part of something greater than ourselves. While “making the world a better place” often calls to mind images of great leaders at the head of mighty social movements, white-coated researchers developing new medicines or energy sources, or geniuses dreaming up theories that explain the world around us, there is plenty of room for less lofty acts that create small measures of happiness in the lives of those around us. Little gestures can create or strengthen our sense of community and of shared humanity, lightening our burdens for just a moment and giving us something to smile about. And that’s no small matter.

Here are ten little gestures, all of them easily within our grasp, that can spread goodwill in our own communities, as well as increase our own sense of mindfulness about the people around us and our relationship to them.

Tip generously: As often as you can afford, leave a tip of 25%, 50%, 100%, or even more. (Obviously this applies mostly in countries where 15% tips are the norm.) Unless the service was simply awful – and even then, it might pay to consider what your server goes through – leaving as large a tip as you can afford not only puts a little extra extra money in your servers’ pocket, it tells them that they’re appreciated, a message that often slips our minds in our demanding, service-now society.
Compliment someone: Tell someone how much you like the job they’re doing, their outfit or new haircut, their singing voice – whatever. Be honest and sincere. I like to practice “drive-by compliments”, sending an out-of-the-blue email to someone whose website, post, or comment on a post I really liked. Don’t expect anything in return, just let someone know that something they’re doing works and move on.
Be totally open with someone: Let someone know exactly how you feel about something on your mind (though not something negative about them – there’s a different “protocol” for that sort of thing). We often keep too much to ourselves; letting someone into your confidence can be a great way to show your trust and appreciation of them. Of course, you have to judge what is and isn't appropriate – it is possible to move past openness to dragging others into your problems, and that’s not making the world a better place.
Give someone a book you've read: Making a gift of something you've read and enjoyed is more than just a nice gesture, it’s a way of showing someone that a) you think of them, b) you understand them, and c) you want to share something with them. The moment doesn't end when they take the book – once they've read it, you can talk about your reactions together. Don’t do this with people around you who don’t read, though – you’ll build up an obligation that will be painful for them to discharge.
Make something for someone: Bake an extra batch of cookies, draw a picture, decorate an extra Christmas ornament, and give it to someone for no good reason. Like giving someone a book, it tells them that you were thinking about them and wanted to do something nice for them, and that it’s something you made adds a nice touch. Give without expectations – whether they return the favor or not, whether they like it or not, whether they’re nice to you or not, these are all irrelevant.
Send a letter, email, tweet, or text message out of the blue: Email someone you haven’t spoken with for a while, or text someone you see every day just to be nice. Maybe they’ll respond, maybe not – it’s beside the point. They just need to know that they’re important to you.
Commend an employee to their manager: It’s one thing to tip or compliment someone for their service, it’s another to contact their manager and tell them what a great job they've done. If you don’t have time at the time of service, note the employees name and call, email, or write a letter later.
Teach someone how to do something: Share your skill or talent with someone by showing them how to do something. Not so they won’t bother you with it, but so they can move a little bit towards improved mastery of the world around them. Have patience and respect for the person you’re helping – you’re giving them a gift, not compensating for some lack in their character.
Let someone shine: Put a spotlight on someone else’s talents by letting them take over a presentation, deferring to their wisdom, asking them advice, or otherwise flex their “talent muscles”. Especially if they are junior to you, giving them a chance to strut their stuff shows that you trust them and appreciate them, as well as allowing them to get the attention they deserve (and which might often be obscured by your own shadow).
Connect like minds: Introduce two friends or colleagues who you feel have something to gain from each other. You’ll be letting them know you value them – and maybe creating a partnership that will make everyone better off.

The 10 Commandments

2012-10-06T18:51:00.000+05:30

And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage".

You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

It isn't about the God that WE believe or the religion WE are that makes a difference. But, it's the values WE hold and the things WE do that matters.

15 Laws of Life - By Swami Vivekananda

2012-10-06T18:39:00.002+05:30

1. Love Is The Law Of Life: All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore, love for love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.

2. It's Your Outlook That Matters: It is our own mental attitude, which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light.

3. Life is Beautiful: First, believe in this world - that there is meaning behind everything. Everything in the world is good, is holy and beautiful. If you see something evil, think that you do not understand it in the right light. Throw the burden on yourselves!

4. It's The Way You Feel: Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.

5. Set Yourself Free: The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him - that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.

6. Don't Play The Blame Game: Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way.

7. Help Others: If money helps a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better.

8. Uphold Your Ideals: Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.

9. Listen To Your Soul: You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.

10. Be Yourself: The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves!

11. Nothing Is Impossible: Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin - to say that you are weak, or others are weak.

12. You Have The Power: All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.

13. Learn Everyday: The goal of mankind is knowledge... now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man 'knows', should, in strict psychological language, be what he 'discovers' or 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.

14. Be Truthful: Everything can be sacrificed for truth, but truth cannot be sacrificed for anything.

15. Think Different: All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.

10things you can do to save the planet

2012-01-22T01:49:00.000+05:30

Going green is easier than you think. There are little things you can do every day to help reduce greenhouse gases and make a less harmful impact on the environment. Taking care of the Earth is not just a responsibility -- it's a privilege. In that spirit, HowStuffWorks came up with 10 things you can do to help save theEarth.

1. Pay attention to how you use water. The little things can make a big difference. Every time you turn off the water while you're brushing your teeth, you're doing something good. Got a leaky toilet? You might be wasting 200 gallons of water a day [Source: EPA]. Try drinking tap water instead of bottled water, so you aren't wasting all that packaging as well. Wash your clothes in cold water when you can.

2. Leave your car at home. If you can stay off the road just two days a week, you'll reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year [Source: EPA]. Combine your errands -- hit the post office, grocery store and shoe repair place in one trip. It will save you gas and time.

3. Walk or ride your bike to work, school and anywhere you can. You can reduce greenhouse gases whileburning some calories and improving your health. If you can't walk or bike, use mass transit or carpool. Every car not on the road makes a difference.

4. Recycle.You can help reduce pollution just by putting that soda can in a different bin. If you're trying to choose between two products, pick the one with the least packaging. If an office building of 7,000 workers recycled all of its office paper waste for a year, it would be the equivalent of taking almost 400 cars off the road [Source: EPA].

5. Compost. Think about how much trash you make in a year. Reducing the amount of solid waste you produce in a year means taking up less space in landfills, so your tax dollars can work somewhere else. Plus, compost makes a great natural fertilizer.Composting is easier than you think.

6. Change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) last 10 times longer than a standard bulb and use at least two-thirds less energy. If you're shopping for new appliances or even home electronics, look for ENERGY STAR products, which have met EPA and U.S. Department of Energy guidelines for energy efficiency. In 2006, the ENERGY STAR program saved energy equivalent to taking 25 million cars off the road and saved Americans $14 billion in utility costs [Source: ENERGY STAR]. (Learn more about proper disposal of CFLs.)

7. Make your home more energy efficient (and save money). Clean your air filters so your system doesn't have to work overtime. Get a programmable thermostat so you aren't wasting energy when you aren't home. When you go to bed, reduce the thermostat setting -- you won't miss those extra degrees of heat or air conditioning while you're asleep.

8. Maintain your car. Underinflated tires decrease fuel economy by up to three percent and lead to increased pollution and higher greenhouse gas emissions [Source: EPA]. Underinflation also increases tire wear, so it will save you money in the long run if you're good about checking your tire pressure.

9. Drive smarter. Slow down -- driving 60 miles per hour instead of 70 mph on the highway will save you up 4 miles per gallon. [Source: Consumer Guide Automotive]. Accelerating and braking too hard can actually reduce your fuel economy, so take it easy on the brakes and gas pedal.

10.Turn off lights when you're not in the room and unplug appliances when you're not using them. It only takes a second to be environmentally conscious.

10 best ways to start a business

2011-06-19T07:39:00.001+05:30

Good business ideas are all around you! Here are just a few ways to find the real opportunities to start your own business.

Business ideas are all around you.

They are lurking in your garage, in your basement, in your kitchen, and in your children's room. You'll find them in magazine ads, at your neighbor's house and at work.

They are right there in the vegetables you brought in from the yard... in the stack of papers next to your laser printer... in the back of your truck... and at the back of your mind.

You don't need to be a genius or an MBA to spot those ideas and turn them into profits, either. Identifying business opportunities is often as easy as identifying problems many people share and finding a way to solve them.

1. Do what you love to do

Businesses don't just happen. They are made. Whether you plan to profit by twisting balloons into smile-generating shapes or orchestrating the growth of multimillion dollar, multinational companies, your success relies on what you bring to the business. If you love what you do, your passion for the business will drive you to be knowledgeable, creative and persistent. On the other hand, if your feeling for what you do is lukewarm,

your success will be, too.

2. Start With The Easy Stuff: Eliminate Expenses

Don’t rent an office! – work from home. Or better yet work from the best free office with locations everywhere: Starbucks. If you need to meet with a client and are worried about seeming small time without an office, don’t be. Just meet them at a restaurant for a lunch meeting. This is what people with the nicest offices do anyway.

Don’t hire lawyers, technical people, graphic designers, or assistants (see below)

Don’t hire any employees! – do it all yourself until you have some $ coming in the door.

3. Turn old standbys into new products

Truly new concepts are few and far between. Most new products or new business ideas are simply spin-offs of old ones. Inline skates is one good example. Essentially, they are ice skates on wheels. Or, depending on your point of view, streamlined roller-skates. Other new business ideas are nothing more than new ways of marketing mundane products. Take1800flowers.com, for example. Florists were around as relatively small, local stores for years --but then Jim McCann, who started with a single retail shop in 1976, acquired the phone number 1-800-Flowers and developed a network of florists. The company saw an opportunity to grow online, and started selling through the early commercial online services, and then the Internet.

You may not have the money, management ability, contacts or desire to launch a major new product like inline skates or the energy or desire to turn your single store location into a multimillion-dollar sales organization. But you don't have to launch anything that large to start a business or introduce a new product. You need to think about what people want to buy and how they would like to buy it.

Years ago when my kids were little, I made money selling beanbags. The twist? I designed them in the shape of frogs and I filled them with birdseed instead of beans to make them pliable and less lumpy to the touch. To attract attention at craft shows, I displayed them in various human poses (sitting up, laying on their side resting their head on their hand, or hugging each other, for instance). I could produce them quickly and kept my costs low by making the frogs from inexpensive fabric remnants. That allowed me to price the frogs low enough to make them great impulse buys for parents who wanted to buy a small, inexpensive gift for a child.

You can spin almost any skill or industry knowledge into marketable new products or services.

A neighbor turned his skill at fixing cars into a repair and tune-up service. His angle? He was mobile. Customers didn't have to drop their car off at the shop. Instead, the "shop" (a van outfitted with tools and auto parts) came to them. Another acquaintance built a business by purchasing large quantities of chemicals and repackaging them in smaller quantities.

4. Look for mundane money-makers

You don't need to create exciting new products or services to go into business, either. Millions of business owners profit by selling routine and sometimes unglamorous services such as window washing, car repair, sandwich making, building maintenance, house cleaning and plumbing. The key to making money with the mundane is to sell something your customers can't do, don't want to do, don't have the time to do, or can't get done well elsewhere.

Tip: one way to making really big money with mundane services is to develop a unique and reproducible method for marketing and delivering the service and then open up multiple offices, or franchise the concept. If you plan to franchise your idea or sell it as a business opportunity, retain an attorney early on who is familiar with franchise law and can help you steer clear of the pitfalls

5. Turn that hobby into cash

Do people ooh and ah at your handiwork? Whether you are a whiz at creating floral arrangements or at writing software, look for ways to turn your hobby into a business. You might want to manufacture your items in quantity, license them to other manufacturers, sell them by mail order, at flea markets or on consignment, or open your own retail outlet selling supplies to others with similar interests.

Ask the reference librarian at your public library to help you find trade magazines pertaining to your hobby, and read those to generate new business ideas.

6. Turn a former employer into a valuable source of new business

Just because you leave a company doesn't mean it doesn't need your services. Companies often retain the services of former workers on a freelance or consulting basis. That way they get the benefit of trained personnel without having to pay payroll taxes and benefits. If you leave a company on good terms, ask about contract or freelance opportunities. Don't stop with contacts who work with the former employer, either. Call your former employer's suppliers and customers and tell them about your capabilities. Call their competitors, too. Stress your industry knowledge, contacts and skills. You may soon find that the income you earn exceeds what you made as an employee.

7. Modify one of your existing products

Sometimes all it takes to create a "new" product is a slight change in an existing product.

Harrison-Hoge Industries is a mail order company in Port Jefferson, NY, that sells fishing lures, inflatable boats and other outdoor gear. To expand their line, the company added a wide-brimmed, canvas hat called the Campesino to its catalog. The hat was a big success, but the owners of the company thought there might be more they could do with it. And there was.

They discovered they could adapt the hat to sell in specialized markets just by changing the hat band. As a result, they began to supply the Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim Museum (both in New York City) with hats. Each museum's hat has its own distinctive hat band.

8. Reach out and teach someone

Do you have a skill others want to acquire? Do you have a knack for explaining things so others can understand them? If so, don't give your expertise away. Start charging for it!

For instance, if you are a karate expert, you might teach at a karate school or open your own karate school. If you're a talented artist, you could teach art at home or in a school.

Tip:: Make extra money selling books, supplies, or other items your students will need to buy to complete the course.

9. Make a website for your business

Don’t pay a premium for a top end domain name, there are plenty of good ones left.

Test out your ideas by writing to a blog, you’ll get feedback on what people like and don’t like

Don’t pay a premium for a top end domain name, there are plenty of good ones left

When you’re ready to have your own domain, register it at domain.com and add this as a custom domain to your WordPress or Tumblr site.

Get a free business website at www.wordpress.com or tumblr.com. It won’t be your own domain (it will be something like yourbusiness.wordpress.com) but…

Get a professional website design for free with a wordpress theme that you can install with a few clicks (no programming knowledge needed)

10. Always be learning about business

Go to a meetup.com groups in your city related to business/entrepreneurship

Read all the best business books by getting them from the library

Get 3 of the top 10 books on building wealth for free in PDF

Make friends with other entrepreneurs and share material.

I hope this material, though theory, might help you in realty. Please feel free to comment, either good or bad, it might help in improving the blog.

10 ways to fight poverty

2011-05-08T23:57:00.000+05:30

Top 10 Ways To Fight Poverty in America by Leslie Graham

There are immediate and longer-term ways to join the movement to end poverty in the U.S. Consider donating new and gently used clothes, books, toys, and cars (ok, maybe not new cars), for instance, or join an organizing or legislative campaign committed to poverty eradication and fulfilling the human rights of our nation's poor. What follows is a non-exhaustive list; please tell us how you've been successful in fighting poverty!

1. Recognize our shared humanity: Our desire to erase the poor through public policy only denies all of us full access to the government programs and services we expect. Too many of us do our damndest to not see the poor, or to blame them for their lot. This is psychologically reassuring, denying the reality that any one of us is at risk for losing our job or having a catastrophic accident, or being paid less than our co-workers, or making heat-of-the-moment choices that might lead to an unplanned pregnancy - all risks that can lead to rising costs, unpayable bills, prolonged unemployment, hunger, eviction or foreclosure. The current recession will kick millions of Americans (back) into poverty - are you one of the 4 million on "shaky ground"? Either way, opening your mind to your linked fate with poorer Americans is the critical first step in fighting poverty.

2. Educate Yourself! There are a handful of intertwined issues that compound disadvantage for poor Americans: a nationwide lack of affordable housing leads to displacement and lack of access to good jobs. The same can be said for our country's sorry state of public education, college un-affordability, dependency on cars and lack of public transportation systems linking jobs and residential neighborhoods. Racial injustice leads to housing end employment discrimination, denying low-income people of color full access to safe neighborhoods and well-paying, secure jobs, which reinforces their entrapment in low-wage work and in dangerous neighborhoods. In the latter the criminal justice system has become the de facto guardian for too many young black men. Domestic violence and policies restricting access to contraception and abortion disproportionately hurt low-income women. Through reading and outreach you can deepen your understanding of the anti-poverty aspects of workers' rights, immigrants' rights, women's rights, reproductive justice, environmental justice, racial justice and economic human rights movements.

3. Reframe the debate: You're going to see the phrase "economic human rights" (see Article 11) a lot around here. This is a somewhat dormant movement that's been revived in recent years, as anti-poverty and human rights activists coalesce around the reality that living in deprivation quashes people's human rights. That is, due to a lack of money and resources, people also lack access to good jobs, secure housing, quality education, adequate nutrition and good health, and full participation in society. Economic human rights activists fight for the fulfillment of these rights to housing, education, work, food and health, framing poverty as both a cause and consequence of human rights violations. It's powerful, and fits well with the concepts of social inclusion/exclusion. Think about it.

4. Speak Out! "Stand Up and Speak Out" is an annual global action against worldwide poverty and inequality. We need to be doing the same about domestic poverty. Speaking up and speaking out is what motivates all of us here at Change.org; it's the impetus behind the rise of poverty simulations in cities to raise awareness about poverty. Being vocal and being active about poverty and social inequality is a minimum daily activity for each of us in the fight to end poverty.

5. Join a campaign to end poverty: Umbrella groups like the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign post actions needing support, as well as list member organizations nationwide that have their own initiatives and need for volunteers, donations and your commitment. See for different rights-based movements through which you can fight poverty.

6. Take legislative action: Most campaigns include a legislative advocacy component. Citizen-driven resources like GovTrack.us have search engines where you can research and track anti-poverty legislation. Support national and local non-profits such as the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, the Louisiana Association of Non-Profits or MA Interfaith Worker Justice in their efforts to develop and drive pro-poor, anti-poverty legislation in areas such as affordable housing and education, living wages, food security, universal healthcare, child care, Gulf Coast recovery, adult literacy, early childhood education, prisoner re-entry, and sanctuary for undocumented workers.

7. Volunteer: With kids, families, the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, women, and the mentally ill; in shelters, community centers, after school programs, prisons, and employment centers; teach literacy, resume development, job training courses, ESL classes, and computer classes; coach sports; serve food; provide counseling; help low-income Americans apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit this spring.

8. Donate: money, toys, clothes (especially sizes L/XL for women!) - including suits, food, cars, and furniture.

9. Join Boycotts & Support Unions: If you can afford it, join boycotts of corporations that exploit workers or prey on low-income communities. Furthermore, unions offer higher wages, benefits and economic security to workers in all economic brackets. For low-wage workers, union wages can make the different between living below the poverty line or rising above it. Support the AFL-CIO and Change to Win labor federations, and the Employee Free Choice Act, which could come up for a vote this spring.

10. Support Gulf Coast recovery: Katrina was the "tipping point" in the public's wholesale rejection of Bush. Pollster John Zogby thinks it will be the "defining moment" for at least a generation. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest and one of the deadliest disasters in American history, and it has permanently displaced almost 70,000 low-income New Orleanians (never mind their neighbors across the Gulf Coast) - that's almost 20% of the city's pre-storm population! Our nation was horrified by the depth of poverty and gross government negligence on display after the flood, yet in less than six months the phrase "Katrina fatigue" was in our lexicon. New Orleans was one of the poorest cities in the country prior to the 2005 storms. Its post-storm population is now more affluent, on average - and also more white. Close to 5,000 units of subsidized housing have been demolished; thousands more remain vacant and damaged. Less than 40% of renters across Louisiana now have access to affordable units; the homeless population in New Orleans alone has doubled - while most of the agencies that serve them are gone. The public hospital remains shuttered and slated for demolition to make way for a newer version of an existing operating hospital. The city is one of the deadliest in the country. Mobilizing around New Orleans and Gulf Coast recovery is a signature test of our commitment to fighting poverty and inequality.

10 ways to fight global warming

2011-04-28T05:11:00.001+05:30

The debate is over. Scientists agree that planet Earth is in the middle of a warming cycle and human activities that dump CO2 into the atmosphere are helping to turn up the heat. With melting glaciers, more intense weather patterns and vanishing species, we're already starting to see the consequences of rising temperatures. How we choose to deal with the impacts of this problem is going to shape the future of all life on our planet. By taking individual action we may not be able to stop global warming, but we can certainly slow it down. Here are 10 simple things that you can do today to fight global warming.

1. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents light bulbs (CFLs). It may not sound like much, but CFLs last up to 10 times longer than regular light bulbs. Replacing just one can save 150 pounds of greenhouse gases per year.

2. Drive less. It may sound difficult, but it really isn't. Plan ahead and combine your trips. Take public transportation to work once per week, or better yet, walk or ride a bicycle if possible. Every mile you don't drive keeps one pound of CO2 out of the atmosphere, and every gallon of gas you don't use keeps 20 pounds out of the atmosphere.

3. Unplug appliances and electronic devices when you're not using them. This doesn't include your refrigerator, of course, but it does include your stove, washer and dryer, microwave, television and computers-even your toaster! Even turned off, appliances and electronic devices continue to draw electricity. In fact, as much as 18 tons of CO2 per year is used in the U.S. just to light up clocks and keep memory chips working. Keeping your appliances and electronic devices turned off and unplugged when you're not using them saves thousands of pounds of CO2 per year (and saves you money).

4. Plant a tree. Deforestation is responsible for 1/4 of the carbon emission in our environment. A single tree will absorb 1 ton of CO2 during its lifetime, while it provides food and shelter for wildlife, reduces your air conditioning bill and pumps fresh oxygen back into the atmosphere.

5. Recycle. If your community doesn't offer curbside pick up, find out where you can drop off your recyclables. Recycling just half of your household waste annually saves 2,400 pounds of CO2.

6. Use less hot water. Wash your clothes in cold water and turn down the setting on your hot water heater to save 500 pounds of CO2 per year. By installing a low-flow showerhead, you can save as mush as 350 pounds of CO2 per year.

7. Adjust your thermostat. Turning it up 2 degrees in the summer and turning it down 2 degrees in the winter will save 2,000 pounds of CO2 per year.

8. Keep your tires properly inflated. Rising prices at the pump make this one a no-brainer. Buy yourself a $3.00 tire gauge and check your tire pressure. If your tires need more air, it's free! Proper tire pressure translates into better gas mileage and you'll save 20 pounds of CO2 for every gallon of gas you don't use.

9. Buy fresh organic food from local producers. Organic soil traps and stores CO2 much more efficiently than soils on conventional farms. Fresh foods require 10 times less energy to produce than frozen foods and buying locally helps saves energy and keeps the local economy healthy.

10. Educate yourself and spread the word. See Al Gore's new movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" or check out the book by the same name. Visit www.climatecrisis.net to assess your carbon impact and learn about more ways to fight global warming. Let local, state and federal officials know that you're concerned about the impacts of this issue.

10 ways to detect computer malware

2011-04-24T22:52:00.000+05:30

Cyber-criminals are putting forth every effort to make malware difficult to detect. Successfully, I might add. Ever optimistic, I thought I would have a go at providing information on how to make their job a little tougher.

Note: This article is also available as a download, which includes both a PDF and a PowerPoint version of this information.

Baselining is an important reference

Knowing exactly what is running on a computer is paramount to learning what shouldn’t be. Creating a reference baseline is the best way I’ve found to accomplish this. Let’s look at three applications that do just that.

1: Microsoft Process Explorer (formerly Sysinternals)

"Process Explorer" provides an excellent way to determine what processes are running on a computer. It also describes the function of each process.

More important, you can use Process Explorer to create a baseline of the running processes used by the computer when it’s operating correctly. If for some reason the computer starts behaving poorly, run Process Explorer again and compare the scans. Any differences will be good places to start looking for malware.

2: Trend Micro’s HiJackThis

"HiJackThis" is Process Explorer on steroids, making the application somewhat daunting to those of us not completely familiar with operating systems. Still, running HiJackThis before having malware problems creates a great reference baseline, making it easy to spot changes.

If it’s too late to run a baseline scan, do not fear. Several Web sites offer online applications that will automatically analyze the log file from HiJackThis, pointing out possible conflicts. Two that I use areHiJackThis.de Security and NetworkTechs.com. If you would rather have trained experts help, I would recommend WindowSecurity.com’sHiJackThis forum.

3: Kaspersky’s GetSystemInfo

Kaspersky has an application similar to HiJackThis called "GetSystemInfo". I like the fact that Kaspersky has an online parser. Just upload the log file and the parser will point out any disparities.

GetSystemInfo, like the other scanners, is a good way to keep track of what’s on the computer, and if need be, it can help find any malware that happens to sneak in.

Be careful: As I alluded to earlier, removing processes suggested by the scanners is not for the faint of heart. It requires in-depth knowledge of operating systems or being able to compare before and after scans.

Next, I’d like to discuss two vulnerability scanners.

It’s simple: No vulnerabilities, no malware

Anti-malware includes any program that combats malware, whether it’s real-time protection or detection and removal of existing malware. Vulnerability scanners proactively detect vulnerabilities so that malware can’t gain a foothold. I’d rather update applications than chase malware any day.

4: Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) is a vulnerability scanner that detects insecure configuration settings and checks all installed Microsoft products for missing security updates. I recommend using MBSA when upper management needs convincing. Making a case for needing a vulnerability scanner is sometimes easier if the product is from the OEM.

5: Secunia inspection scanners

Secunia’s scanners are similar to MBSA when it comes to Microsoft products. But unlike MBSA, Secunia products also scan hundreds of third-party applications, which gives Secunia a distinct advantage.

All the Secunia scanners, online and client-side, have an intuitive way of determining what is wrong and how to rectify it. They usually offer a link to the application’s Web page, where the update can be downloaded.

Not always simple

Remember when I said, “It’s simple: No vulnerabilities, no malware”? Well, it’s not exactly that easy. It would be, except for those nasty things called zero-day exploits and zero-day viruses. That’s where antivirus applications come into play, especially if they use heuristics.

6: Antivirus programs

Lately, antivirus software is getting little respect. Like everyone, I get frustrated when my antivirus program misses malcode that other scanners mange to find. Still, I would not run a computer without antivirus. It’s too risky. I subscribe to the layered approach when it comes to security.

Choosing the correct antivirus application is personal. Comments come fast and furious when someone asks TechRepublic members which one is the best. A majority feel that any of the free versions are fine for nonbusiness use. I use Avast or Comodo on Windows machines.

Anti-malware enforcers

The next class of anti-malware is capable of both detecting and removing malware. I’m sure you are wondering why not just use these from the start. I wish it was that simple.

Scanners use signature files and heuristics to detect malware. Malware developers know all about each and can morph their code, which then nullifies signature files and confuses heuristics. That’s why malware scanners aren’t the cure-all answer. Maybe someday.

More caution: I want to emphasize that you need to be careful when picking malware scanners. The bad guys like to disguise malware (antivirus 2009) as a malware scanner, claiming it will solve all your problems. All four of the scanners I have chosen are recommended by experts.

7: Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool

Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) is a good general malware removal tool, simply because Microsoft should know whether the scanned code is theirs or not. Three things I like about MSRT are:

The scan and removal process is automated.
Windows Update keeps the signature file database current automatically.
It has the advantage of being an OEM product, thus it’s less intrusive and more likely to be accepted by management.

8: SUPERAntiSpyware

SUPERAntiSpyware is another general purpose scanner that does a good job of detecting and removing most malware. I have used it on several occasions and found it to be more than adequate.

A number of TechRepublic members have mentioned to me that SUPERAntiSpyware was the only scanner they found capable of completely removing antivirus 2009 (malware).

9: Malwarebyte’s Anti-Malware

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) malware scanner was the most successful of the four I tested. I was first introduced to it by world-renowned malware expert Dr. Jose Nazario of Arbor Networks. For a detailed explanation of how MBAM works, refer to my post Malware scanners: MBAM is best of breed.

Still, MBAM does not catch everything. As I pointed out in the MBAM article, it misses some of the more sophisticated malware, especially rootkits. When that happens, I turn to the next malware scanner.

10: GMER

In Rootkits: Is removing them even possible?, I explained why it’s hard to find rootkit malware. Fortunately, GMER is one of the best when it comes to detecting and removing rootkits — enough so that it’s recommended by Dr. Nazario.

Final thoughts

Using the above anti-malware techniques will go a long way in making it tough for malware developers, especially if you:

Make sure all software on your computer is up to date.
Run a baseline scan and save the log file. (You may need it later.)
Scan for malware on a regular basis, since sophisticated malware runs quietly.

10 ways to save fuel

2011-04-13T23:19:00.001+05:30

We all know India is facing a severe fuel crisis. In view of this, the PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) is encouraging fuel conservation with the help of advertisements.

In the following points, I have considered all transport vehicles as cars for generalization. So, here I go with my 10 tips for saving fuel:

Visit a petrol pump only if your car has little or no fuel. I don't find any reason of buying fuel if your car already has sufficient fuel. This method shall directly or indirectly save valuable fuel of the respective petrol pump. You can bypass this advice in emergencies.
Turn off your car in slow traffic and at traffic signals. It is estimated that you can save about 20% of fuel in this process.
Minimize the use of brakes. The more frequently you apply brakes, the more fuel you spend. You can avoid braking by maintaining a constant speed of your vehicle.
Encourage car pooling. This is a very effective way of saving fuel as well as reducing traffic on the roads.
If possible, use electric-powered cars.
Always insist on buying cars having an excellent mileage.
Don't be a fan of Michael Schumacher! Drive at a constant speed. The faster you drive, the faster your fuel vanishes. Tests on Indian cars prove that you can get upto 40% extra mileage at 45-55 km/hr. as against 80 km/hr.
Use public transport systems as much as possible.
Place your right hand on your heart and say the following - "I solemnly swear that I will conserve fuel as much as possible and try to use it economically. I shall dedicate my mind, body, heart and soul for the conservation of fuel."
Spread awareness for fuel conservation amongst your friends and relatives.

10 best ways to handle stress

2011-02-25T22:09:00.000+05:30

The word stress is used to describe both external events that make demand on us and the internal responses they trigger. In fact, stress is the body's general response to any demand made on it, regardless of whether that demand is pleasant or unpleasant, or whether it is emotional or physical.

Relaxation helps reduce stress by distracting your mind from stress provoking thoughts. Besides various relaxation techniques help to counter effects of 'fight or flight' reaction.

Check out these Ten simple and effective ways of handling stress

TALK ABOUT IT:

Where you feel you can, discuss your problems with your partner or close friend in order to see the situation more objectively.

PLEASE YOURSELF:
Make sure you do something you really enjoy at least once a day.

LAUGH IT OFF :

Laughter is a fabulous healer and encourages social bonding. The act of laughing also increases the oxygen supply to the lungs, stimulates the production of endorphins and can produce a feeling of euphoria. Occasionally it may also open the gates to tears-another positive release.

EXERCISE :

Burn off the energy that stress generates before it burns you up. A study at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, shows that 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise that raises your heart rate to about 120 beats per minute at least three times a week can lower depression and anxiety within 12 weeks. Performing some stretching exercises or regular exercise pattern can help you combat stress.

SAY NO :

Make space for yourself and get some respect. State your options clearly and calmly. Don't wait to be asked, then feel angry and overlooked if you're not.

BE CREATIVE:

Women often feel stressed, frustrated and depressed when family or business management pushes creativity out of the picture. Taking up a stimulating new interest helps you to keep an open and progressive mind.

GET REAL :

Accept your personality, don't try to alter it. Instead, learn to manage your strengths and weaknesses. Likewise, stop chastising yourself for past mistakes. Learn from them - then let them go.

PLAN AND PRIORITIZE :

Organize your life better by tackling important issues early to get them off your mind, and don't take on too much.

THINK POSITIVE :

Approval-seeking and self-doubt both erode self-esteem. Tell yourself you can do things not merely to stay popular but because you genuinely enjoy them.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF :

When you're stressed, give yourself physical and emotional support. Treat yourself to your favorite foods. Pamper yourself in an aromatherapy bath or book in for a relaxing massage. Make sure that you regularly do things just for fun. It might be as simple as taking a walk in a park, going to movies, or even doing something you would normally Consider as childish, such as jumping into a pile of fallen leaves or splashing in puddles.

If you regard happiness as coming from outside, you will waste a lot of time chasing it, because all the evidence suggest that happiness comes from within yourself. The same lies true with all other aspects of your life physical, mental, social and emotional life.

Warren Buffett's 10 ways to get RICH

2011-02-17T22:34:00.003+05:30

1. Reinvest Your Profits: When you first make money, you may be tempted to spend it. Don't. Instead, reinvest the profits. Warren Buffett learned this early on. In high school, he and a pal bought a pinball machine to pun in a barbershop. With the money they earned, they bought more machines until they had eight in different shops. When the friends sold the venture, Warren Buffett used the proceeds to buy stocks and to start another small business. By age 26, he'd amassed $174,000 -- or $1.4 million in today's money. Even a small sum can turn into great wealth.

2. Be Willing To Be Different: Don't base your decisions upon what everyone is saying or doing. When Warren Buffett began managing money in 1956 with $100,000 cobbled together from a handful of investors, he was dubbed an oddball. He worked in Omaha, not Wall Street, and he refused to tell his parents where he was putting their money. People predicted that he'd fail, but when he closed his partnership 14 years later, it was worth more than $100 million. Instead of following the crowd, he looked for undervalued investments and ended up vastly beating the market average every single year. To Warren Buffett, the average is just that -- what everybody else is doing. to be above average, you need to measure yourself by what he calls the Inner Scorecard, judging yourself by your own standards and not the world's.

3. Never Suck Your Thumb: Gather in advance any information you need to make a decision, and ask a friend or relative to make sure that you stick to a deadline. Warren Buffett prides himself on swiftly making up his mind and acting on it. He calls any unnecessary sitting and thinking "thumb sucking." When people offer him a business or an investment, he says, "I won't talk unless they bring me a price." He gives them an answer on the spot.

4. Spell Out The Deal Before You Start: Your bargaining leverage is always greatest before you begin a job -- that's when you have something to offer that the other party wants. Warren Buffett learned this lesson the hard way as a kid, when his grandfather Ernest hired him and a friend to dig out the family grocery store after a blizzard. The boys spent five hours shoveling until they could barely straighten their frozen hands. Afterward, his grandfather gave the pair less than 90 cents to split. Warren Buffett was horrified that he performed such backbreaking work only to earn pennies an hour. Always nail down the specifics of a deal in advance -- even with your friends and relatives.

5. Watch Small Expenses: Warren Buffett invests in businesses run by managers who obsess over the tiniest costs. He one acquired a company whose owner counted the sheets in rolls of 500-sheet toilet paper to see if he was being cheated (he was). He also admired a friend who painted only on the side of his office building that faced the road. Exercising vigilance over every expense can make your profits -- and your paycheck -- go much further.

6. Limit What You Borrow: Living on credit cards and loans won't make you rich. Warren Buffett has never borrowed a significant amount -- not to invest, not for a mortgage. He has gotten many heart-rendering letters from people who thought their borrowing was manageable but became overwhelmed by debt. His advice: Negotiate with creditors to pay what you can. Then, when you're debt-free, work on saving some money that you can use to invest.

7. Be Persistent: With tenacity and ingenuity, you can win against a more established competitor. Warren Buffett acquired the Nebraska Furniture Mart in 1983 because he liked the way its founder, Rose Blumkin, did business. A Russian immigrant, she built the mart from a pawnshop into the largest furniture store in North America. Her strategy was to undersell the big shots, and she was a merciless negotiator. To Warren Buffett, Rose embodied the unwavering courage that makes a winner out of an underdog.

8. Know When To Quit: Once, when Warren Buffett was a teen, he went to the racetrack. He bet on a race and lost. To recoup his funds, he bet on another race. He lost again, leaving him with close to nothing. He felt sick -- he had squandered nearly a week's earnings. Warren Buffett never repeated that mistake. Know when to walk away from a loss, and don't let anxiety fool you into trying again.

9. Assess The Risk: In 1995, the employer of Warren Buffett's son, Howie, was accused by the FBI of price-fixing. Warren Buffett advised Howie to imagine the worst-and-bast-case scenarios if he stayed with the company. His son quickly realized that the risks of staying far outweighed any potential gains, and he quit the next day. Asking yourself "and then what?" can help you see all of the possible consequences when you're struggling to make a decision -- and can guide you to the smartest choice.

10. Know What Success Really Means: Despite his wealth, Warren Buffett does not measure success by dollars. In 2006, he pledged to give away almost his entire fortune to charities, primarily the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He's adamant about not funding monuments to himself -- no Warren Buffett buildings or halls. "I know people who have a lot of money," he says, "and they get testimonial dinners and hospital wings named after them. But the truth is that nobody in the world loves them. When you get to my age, you'll measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you. That's the ultimate test of how you've lived your life."

10 best movie quotes on advertisements

2011-02-15T16:57:00.005+05:30

The movies have not been very kind to advertisements, portraying them as manipulative devices that flaunt and fuel our consumer-centric society. Here are the best ten film quotes about advertising that you don't want to fast forward through.

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“You know what the sadder version is? The people who commercialize fear. You know, they scare you to death so they can sell you something you don’t need.”You Can’t Take It With You (1938) – Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur)

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“Miss Stellwagon says advertising makes people who can't afford it buy things they don't want with money they haven't got.”
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) – Joan Blandings (Sharyn Moffett)

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“In the world of advertising, there's no such thing as a lie. There's only expedient exaggeration.”
North By Northwest (1959) – Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant)
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“As we speak, consumers everywhere need reminding of just how fat and unattractive they are.”
Roger Dodger (2002) – Roger (Campbell Scott)

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“And what are children after all, but consumer trainees?”
Child’s Play 3 (1991) – Mr. Sullivan (Peter Haskell)

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“People want to back a winner. They need to feel a part of something bigger than they are. They used to advertise the quality of a product - tastes great, whitens your teeth, shaves close, rides like a dream. Now what do they push - America's number one soft drink, best-selling mid-sized utility vehicle. It isn't ‘buy the product’. It's ‘join the club’. You make people feel part of a winner, they'll follow you anywhere.”
Silver City (2004) – Wes Benteen (Kris Kristofferson)

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“Corporations don't advertise products particularly - they're advertising a way of life, a way of thinking, a story of who we are as people and how we got here and what's the source of our so-called liberty and so-called freedom.”
The Corporation (2003) – Richard Grossman (himself)

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“I know what I'm talking about, all right. I know you better than you know yourself. I can see right into you because I made you. I dressed you. You reek of every billboard, every magazine cover, every commercial I put out over the last two years. You're a perfect demographic fit. You know, mid-teen, male, upper-middle income, bored, hip-hop listening, underage drinking, pathologically masturbating little consumer.”
Treed Murray (2001) – Murray (David Hewlett)

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“I love it when you talk like a beer commercial.”
All of Me (1984) – Terry Hoskins (Victoria Tennant)

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“Brad, for 14 years I've been a whore for the advertising industry. The only way I could save myself now is if I start firebombing.”
American Beauty (1999) – Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey)

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10 ways to make money online

2011-02-15T16:23:00.001+05:30

So you want to ditch your corporate cubicle and join the ranks of web workers? But you have a mortgage, maybe a dependent or two, and a taste for Venti Mochas from Starbucks? You canmake money in the new economy, though it might not be as easy or cushy as keeping your old economy job.

I’m not talking about advertising or affiliate marketing or selling your junk on eBay. Those are so last millennium! I’m talking about the new new economy.

1. Offer your professional expertise in an online marketplace.These days, you can do more than just sell your old books via Amazon and your old Coach handbags via eBay—now you can sell your professional capabilities in a marketplace. No longer are you limited to looking for a permanent or contract job on Web 1.0 style job sites like Monster or CareerBuilder. The new breed of freelancing and project-oriented sites let companies needing help describe their projects. Then freelancers and small businesses offer bids or ideas or proposals from which those buyers can choose.

Elance covers everything from programming and writing to consulting and design, whileRentACoder focuses on software, natch. If you’re a graphic designer, check out options likeDesign Outpost or LogoWorks–you don’t have to find the customers, they’ll come to you. Wannabe industry analysts might sign up for TechDirt’s Insight Community, a marketplace for ideas about technology marketing.

2. Sell photos on stock photography sites. If people regularly oooo and aaaaah over your Flickr pics, maybe you’re destined for photographic greatness or maybe just for a few extra dollars. It’s easier than ever to get your photos out in front of the public, which of course means a tremendous amount of competition, but also means it might be an convenient way for you to build up a secondary income stream. Where can you upload and market your photos? Try Fotolia, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, and Big Stock Photo.

3. Blog for pay. Despite the explosion of blogs, it’s hard to find good writers who can turn around a solidly-written post on an interesting topic quickly. GigaOM is always looking for bloggers with great content ideas and solid writing skills. How do you get noticed? Comment and link to blogging network sites. Write blog posts that are polished and not overly personal (although showing some personality is a plus).

4. Or start your own blog network. If you like the business side of things–selling advertising, hiring and managing employees, attracting investors–and have the stomach to go up against the likes of Weblogs, Inc., GigaOmniMedia, b5media, maybe you should make an entire business out of blogs. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll get a lot of time to write yourself though.

5. Provide service and support for open source software. Just because the software is free doesn’t mean you can’t make money on it–just ask Red Hat, a well-known distributor of Linux that sports a market cap of more than four billion dollars. As a solo web worker, you might not want to jump in and compete with big companies offering Linux support, but how about offering support for web content management systems like WordPress or Drupal? After getting comfortable with your own installation, you can pretty easily jump into helping other people set them up and configure them.

6. Online life coaching. Who has time to go meet a personal coach at an office? And don’t the new generation of web workers need to be met by their coaches in the same way that they work: via email, IM, and VoIP? You could, of course, go through some life coaching certification program, but on the web, reputation is more important than credentials. I bet Tony Robbins isn’t certified as a life coach–and no one can argue with his success. For an example of someone building up their profile and business online as a coach, check out Pamela Slim of Ganas Consulting and the Escape from Cubicle Nation blog.

7. Virtually assist other web workers. Freelancers and small businesses desperately need help running their businesses, but they’re not about to hire a secretary to come sit in the family room and answer phone calls. As a virtual assistant, you might do anything from making travel reservations to handling expense reimbursements to paying bills to arranging for a dog sitter. And you do it all from your own home office, interacting with your clients online and by phone. You can make $20 and up an hour doing this sort of work, depending on your expertise.

8. Build services atop Amazon Web Services. Elastic computing on AWS is so cool… and so incredibly primitive right now. Did you know that you can’t even count on your virtual hard drive on EC2 to store your data permanently? That’s why people are making money right now by offering services on top of AWS. Make it easier for people to use Amazon’s scalability web infrastructure like Enomaly has with elastic live, a scalable web hosting platform built on AWS.

9. Write reviews for pay or perks. If you blog for any length of time on a particular topic–parenting, mobile phones, or PCs, for example–you will likely be approached to do book or product reviews. You can get free stuff this way, but are you selling your soul? Is there any such thing as a free laptop? These are decisions you’ll have to make for yourself, because no one agrees upon what ethical rules apply to bloggers. Even less do people agree on services like PayPerPost that pay you to write reviews on your blog. Check out disclosure rules closely and see whether such a gig would meet your own personal standards or not.

10. Become a virtual gold farmer. A half million Chinese now earn income byacquiring and selling World of Warcraft gold to gamers in other countries. If you’re not a young person living in China, this probably isn’t a viable option for you. But what’s intriguing about it is the opportunity to make real money working in a virtual economy. People are making real-world money in Second Life too.

10 best foods for kids

2011-02-14T22:48:00.003+05:30

10 Best Foods for Kids: Ages 1 to 3

1. Milk If your child is under 2, he or she should drink whole milk; full-fat dairy promotes growth and development in babies and toddlers. Kids over 2 should be drinking low-fat milk: it's packed with Vitamin D and calcium, for good skin and strong bones.

2. Whole Grains
Whole-wheat breads and cereals contain whole grains and fiber, which are good for the heart and digestive system.

3. 100-Calorie Snack Packs
There will probably come a point--or several points--in your life when your kids are begging for processed snacks like Oreos or Hostess cupcakes. Sometimes it's just impossible to deny them a treat. If you must buy these snacks, buy the pre-packaged 100-calorie packs: this way you can control the portion size, fat and sugar content. You can also buy healthier cookies such as Fig Newtons and make mini-portions yourself.

10 Best Foods for Kids: Ages 4 to 6

4. Blueberries
If fresh blueberries are not in season, pick up a bag of frozen blueberries. Because freezing can affect some nutrients in fruit, the frozen kind are not quite as good as fresh berries, but they still have plenty of health benefits. They contain fiber and antioxidants.

5. Pomegranates
Pomegranates are fun to eat and filled with nutrients. Younger kids might choke on the arils, or seeds, of the pomegranate, however: give them pomegranate juice instead. While giving your kids juice generally isn't the best way for them to get their daily servings of fruit, you can make an exception for this antioxidant-rich juice.

6. Extra-Lean Ground Beef
Make burgers or bolognese sauce with extra-lean ground beef rather than the full-fat kind. Beef is a great source of protein.

10 Best Foods for Kids: Ages 7 to 10

7. Skinless Chicken Breast
This is a good source of lean protein. If you're going to bread it, bake it in the oven rather than pan-frying it with oil: baking will keep the fat content low.

8. Lentils
Packed with protein, these little legumes give kids caloric bang for the buck. One cup of cooked lentils contains around 230 calories and hardly any fat or cholesterol. Lentils are high in potassium, fiber and iron as well as protein.

9. Spinach
Dark leafy greens, if you can get your kid to eat them, are incredibly nutritious. Spinach has lots of Vitamin A and potassium, and is completely fat-free. Try adding raw spinach to a salad, or sneaking cooked spinach into some lentil soup.

10. Pumpkin
This low-calorie squash has plenty of Vitamin A and fiber, and can be made into a sweet, healthy mash with just a little butter and brown sugar. You can also steam it and put chunks of it on top of brown rice.

10 worst foods for kids

2011-02-14T22:04:00.025+05:30

10 Worst Foods for Kids: Ages 1 to 3

1. French Fries
These greasy treats taste great, but have little nutritional value and are very high in fat. Make your kids baked potatoes instead.

2. Soda
A 12-oz. serving of soda can contain 10 tsp. of sugar, which isn't good for your kids' waistlines or their teeth. Even if your kids drink diet soda, they're still ingesting large amounts of chemical sweeteners: have them drink milk or water instead.

3. Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are high in fat and sodium, and not as high in protein as non-processed meats like chicken or beef. Small children can choke on hot dogs. If you must feed your kids hot dogs, try turkey or veggie dogs, and cut them into very small pieces for your little ones.

10 Worst Foods for Kids: Ages 4 to 6

4. Juice
Check the label carefully before giving your child fruit juice: some store-bought drinks contain only a very small percentage of juice. The rest of the drink is sugar or other sweeteners and water. It's better to give kids whole fruit instead.

5. Bagels
The average bagel has 200 to 400 calories and a lot of sodium. While it does contain a fair amount of protein and iron, it's a calorically dense way to get those nutrients: a kid would be better off getting his protein and iron from eating meat. Whole-grain bread has more fiber and less calories per serving.
6. Fruit Leather
This supposedly healthy treat often contains sweeteners, and doesn't have much fiber or many vitamins. Again, it's better to give kids whole fruit.

10 Worst Foods for Kids: Ages 7 to 10

7. Chips

Most chips are high in fat and sodium, and don't contain very many nutrients. This goes for potato chips, tortilla chips (corn and flour) and Cheetos-type corn puffs.

8. Sugared Cereal
The extra sugar in cereals like Frosted Flakes can add up to weight gain and tooth decay. It's best to stick with whole-grain cereals like Kashi and Raisin Bran.

9. Fried Chicken
Breading or battering chicken adds extra empty calories, and frying adds extra fat. Chicken nugget dipping sauces can also contain a lot of sodium. Serve your kids grilled or baked skinless chicken breast instead.

10. Doughnuts
These are dense little calorie bombs. They're low in nutritional value and high in fat, sugar and salt. The fats in a doughnut are the worst kind: they're saturated and trans fats, which can contribute to heart disease. One small doughnut can equal 200 to 300 calories.

10 ways to gain weight

2011-02-14T21:19:00.002+05:30

Gaining weight has a stigma of being unhealthy. However, for body builders or people with a high metabolism, skinny genes or active lifestyles, gaining weight could actually improve their health. The idea is that the weight is gained through nutritious sources that do not negatively impact overall health. Results will vary person to person, but increasing your calorie intake is a good first step to gaining weight.

Eat More Meals
Eating smaller meals more often is not only healthier for your digestive system, but it can help in weight gain. Eat four to six full meals a day. To gain weight faster, eat until you're full. If the meals are not filling after a while, increase the portion size. This just means the stomach has expanded.
Take Weight Gain Supplements
Weight gain supplements are a part of most body builders' regimen. Professional body builders can not physically consume the amount of food needed to support the amount of energy they need. Weight gainers can be found at health food and nutrition stores. They are loaded with weight gaining vitamins and minerals. Using a weight gain solution can add up to an extra 4,000 calories a day, which may be more than the body can process. All this means is that the extra calories will not be assimilated by the body and they will be processed as waste. It is not dangerous or unhealthy.

Eat The Right Foods
Certain foods are so low in calories, they'll burn off entirely too quickly for people looking to gain weight. Foods like lettuce and celery are good for dieters looking to lose weight not gain weight. Hearty food, dairy products, meats, pasta and root vegetables (potatoes) are more likely to increase weight.

Work Out
Working out may seem counter productive to gaining weight but this depends on the exercises done. Muscle weighs more than fat, so develop a strength building workout schedule. Low repetitions of heavier weight is a good formula to follow for weight gain.

Load Up On Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the best types of food products to consume for weight gain. Pasta, whole grain bread, pastries, rice, juices, potatoes, beans, corn and broccoli are all great for loading up on carb, which are essential for weight gain.

Load Up On Protein
Protein is very important especially for building muscle. High-protein foods, such as dairy, eggs, fish, meats, flax, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes all are loaded with protein. People who work out regularly must load up on protein. Consider protein supplements, such as shakes, in addition to weight gainers.

Take Vitamins and Meal Replacements
Vitamins help the body process and assimilate foods. They help maximize the nutrition gained from meals and support the body's chemistry. At the bare minimum, multivitamins should be consumed. Meal replacements shakes are a great way to add calories and essential vitamins on the go.

Cut Out Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise is designed to help lose weight, not gain it. Avoid all heavy aerobic exercise. Consult a physician regarding cutting out all aerobic exercise as certain medical conditions, including diabetes, may require it.

Indulge More
Instead of worrying about what you eat, enjoy more foods. Have dessert, have seconds and have a drink. Alcohol, especially beer, is high in calories. Keep in mind this may not be ideal for overall health, so use judgment and moderation. Fruits and juices are rich in carb and a healthier indulgence.

Slow Down Metabolism
Metabolism regulates how quickly or slowly a body processes food. A person with a high metabolism burns more calories. Metabolism can be slowed down by eating before bedtime and cutting out green tea and other high metabolism burning foods, such as coffee.

10 ways to control anger

2011-02-14T16:51:00.001+05:30

" For every minute you are angry, YOU lose 60 seconds of happiness" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
1. Take a deep and continuous breath. Count up to 50 or imagine your aggressor just naked, only in socks. This will help you to calm and smile.

2. Have a walk. Look at high sky. Continue to breathe deep and easily. So you appraise the situation and calm down.
3. Do some physical exercises. When you are angry- your body is very tensed and tough. If you stretch your muscles it will relax your body, as you will spill out all your negative energy into action. Your brains will get more oxygen and it assists to clear your thoughts.
4. Write down all your thoughts. Write down that you are mad and why. Avoid being rational, logical or laconic. Write on paper all you are feeling this moment. Try to write all in details. The function of this technique is to shift all your anger out of your head on paper.
5. Be grateful. Find someone to thank. Do you not forget about yourself. Thank that you have woken up today, thank that that the Sun is shining for you, that the sky is blue and the grass is green.
6. Prayer. Ask God to be with you during this anger moment and lead you.
7. Meditation. Close your eyes, look into solar plexus, and be all your anger, breathing deeply.
8. Change of places. Move yourself on your enemy’s place. And look at situation from his point of view. Better look at the situation from the ceiling. Focus on details, especially on funny and absurd ones. Strive to forgive your enemy as well as forgive truly yourself.
9. Go back to your childhood memories. Recollect state when you were angry. Hug this child and say: “All is ok. I am here. You are good child. I love you and I will not leave you.”
10. Your values. What is the most significant thing in your life? Who are the most important people in your life? What kind of person do you want to be? Think and accept that point that you are living your life, and you are living your values. There is a good man inside you that wants to help you. I wish you good luck!

10 ways to improve your health, diet and life

2011-02-14T16:38:00.001+05:30

The Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Diet, Your Health & Your Life!

1. Eat less.

2. Drink more water. .

3. Eat more fruit. [As Benjamin Franklin said, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."]

4. Eat your vegetables.

5. Eat more rice and baked potatoes.

6. Stretch when you feel like it.

7. Avoid elevators.

8. Spend time with friends.

9. Laugh every day. [Have some fun coz Life's short].

10. Plan for dessert! [a bite of chocolate or a cup of low-fat pudding or a handful of fresh grapes will do]

It's OK to "slip" once in a while. At least it better be OK...I seem to do it periodically. Just get up again tomorrow, make the rules simpler, more fun or more appropriate for your situation and get right back on! I don't think the objective is perfection -- there's no point in having a heart attack getting all stressed out about the rules!

Just go have some fun! and reply if u like this post

10 ways to protect nature

2011-02-14T13:10:00.000+05:30

These are 10 very simple ways to protect our mother nature. Please be selfish to do your contribution to protect the nature.

Reduce home energy use by 10%
Choose an energy-efficient home & appliances
Don't use pesticides
Eat meat-free meals one day a week
Buy locally grown and produced food
Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle
Walk, bike, carpool or take transit
Choose a home close to work or school
Support alternative transportation
Learn more and share with others

10 ways to decorate your room

2011-02-14T12:59:00.002+05:30

Your bedroom is the one room in the house where you can really indulge yourself to create a relaxing, comfortable and stylish retreat. The secret is in combining colour, pattern and texture for an individual scheme that really works for you.

Here are those 10 ways that you like,

HAPPY READING :)

1. Use colour cleverly

Pale, cool colours are receding, and will make the room appear bigger, whereas stronger, warm shades advance to create a cosy atmosphere. In a long, narrow bedroom, painting the shorter walls in a deeper colour than the longer ones will help to widen it. In a dark room, choose reflective wallpapers.

2. Choose soothing shades in your bedroom for a good night's sleep

Soft blues and greens are calming and tranquil, so conducive to a good night’s sleep. But the more pastel these colours are, the colder they can look in a north-facing bedroom, so go for pinks and lilacs for an injection of warmth, instead.

3. Pick dramatic tones for a contemporary look

Don’t be afraid of stronger, deeper tones, such as sage and aubergine, deep turquoise or chocolate brown - either all over or on a single wall as an accent - which look smart teamed with fresh white bedlinen.

4. Neutral shades are easy to add to

Neutral, natural shades work well too, though creams are far more relaxing than wall to wall white, which can appear stark and clinical, and you can always add extra colour with bedlinen, throws and other accessories.

5. Test your color choices

As your scheme needs to look good day and night, test out the colours first by painting them on to sheets of paper which can be moved round the room, so you can see how changes in light affect them.

6. Introduce pattern

Chosen carefully, pattern will lift a room and bring it to life, but get it wrong and it will look fussy and confusing. To avoid this, stick to the same key shades throughout, and balance patterned areas with expanses of single colours.

7. Play with your room's proportions

If you want to disguise the fact that your bedroom has a small window, but a great fireplace, decorating the fireplace wall with a pattern, then hanging a plain, co-ordinating blind will play to the room’s good points. Equally, pattern can exaggerate the size of a room – for example, vertical stripes – perhaps in floor to ceiling curtains - will give the illusion of extra height.

8. Create a focal wall

The easiest way to introduce pattern is by papering one wall – behind the bed, for example – or by adding curtains in a coordinating printed fabric. If you’re not sure about pattern, and want something less something less permanent, ring the changes with a new set of bedlinen.

9. Pile on the layers

Adding colour in your bedlinen choice is a really easy option – and simple to swap about if you get bored. Once you’ve decided on the bedlinen, add texture by piling on throws and cushions in varying sizes to create a sumptuous, yet cosy effect that will make early nights a top priority.

10. Texture will make the room welcoming

Adding texture with different fabrics and materials is also a great way to enhance your bedroom’s scheme. Quilted or embroidered silks are sophisticated yet romantic, while tactile lace or mohair knitted blankets are warm and inviting. Look out too for faux furs, faux animal skins and thick chenilles, perfect for cuddling up to on a chilly night.

10 ways to be happy

2011-02-14T12:40:00.000+05:30

This time lets start with number 10 and get to the best as we move on..........

10. Get lots of sleep. There's no better way to start the day than waking up totally rejuvenated.

9. Don't stress too much over your job. Whatever happens, it's just a job.

8. Stay away from unhappy, egoistic, super-emotional people who refuse to be helped.

7. Never let anyone force you into doing anything that you don't want to do.

6. Shop. Buying stuff for yourself is good.

5. Eat. Screw diets (unless, of course, they are needed for health or medical reasons).

4. Celebrate. All achievements need to be celebrated

3. Do some crazy stuff which you thought of doing before[ like engaging in a fisticuff, proposing a girl just fro the sake of it etc etc whichever comes to your mind].

2. Spend some quality time with your friends and family.

1. Don't ask yourself if you're happy. You are perfectly happy as long as you don't ask yourself if you are.

10 ways to impress a girl

2011-02-14T12:36:00.000+05:30

There are a hell lot of ways to impress a girl, but i confine myself to discuss only few best.

Let's start with number one. Do not try and impress her. Women in general, can see right through it when a man is trying to impress them. In actual fact, it is one of the sure fire ways of her knowing that you like her and that you may be going over the top.

Number 2 - Honesty, for the love of God do not go over to woman and BS your mouth off. This is the number one killer when it comes to impressing women. Be yourself and be honest.

Number 3 - A good decent smile. That's right do not stand there like you are awaiting the death sentence. Sure she may reject you but at least have a smile on your face.

Number 4 - Good manners really impress a woman. Now you may think that the modern woman does not want the door opened for her because she is independent and so on - but this is not the case today as it wasn't yesterday. Women like good manners.

Number 5 - Do not take yourself too seriously. Have a sense of humor. Be willing to poke fun at yourself. Have a laugh and make her laugh. This helps to get all parties involved relaxed and having fun and she will be impressed by it.

Number 6 - Be sensitive towards her. Be considerate and understand her needs. You do not need to be some rude hard ass who is just trying to show off.

Number 7 - Having the smarts really helps. Intelligence is a very attractive trait. Intelligence comes with substance and ones own understanding. Generally those who are intelligent are independent yet socially and conversationally adaptable.

Number 8 - This is a given. Be thoughtful. Listen to her and do not try and override what she is saying with your opinion. Be thoughtful relative to her sensitivities.

Number 9 - Having a job helps to impress and being able to keep that job may even impress her more. However it is not just about having a job, running your own business will also be impressive. If you find you are in a dead beat job at present the very aspiration to do better will also impress her.

Number 10 - Last but not least, be sincere. Once again do not jump on the BS train. Women are impressed by sincerity.

Guys if you are serious about getting the girl of your dreams then you need to seriously work on solid techniques to achieve your goal. If you know what a girl is thinking it is far easier to approach her.