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Business Credit Cards - Good or Bad?

2011-01-14T01:41:00.000-08:00

Business credit cards are among the more popular kind of credit cards available. Being on the receiving end of credit is always a privilege and pleasure. Business credit cards are tailored to enhance this pleasure in ways that meet your business needs. Small business credit cards offer various intangible benefits to small businesses in addition to the regular perks.

The Perks of a Business Credit Card

1) Frequent Flier Programs - For business users who travel around the world, additional air miles are one of the exciting perks offered by business credit cards. When a business traveler travels by air and pays through the credit card, they earn bonus miles. These miles can be redeemed in terms of additional air tickets. Another benefit is the regulation and monitoring of business travel by employees by payment through credit cards.

2) Rebates - Some credit cards give rebates on business spending. It can be looked at as a huge saving to the company.

3) Reward Programs - Points are given on each dollar spent through your small business credit card. These points can then be exchanged for a range of exciting merchandise.

The Intangible Benefits of a Small Business Credit Card

One of the benefits of a small business credit card is bringing about a sense of organization. Apart from the separation of business expense from personal expense, the small business credit card also brings great convenience. You can use it to transact via the internet or even the phone.

Tracking business expenditures becomes easy with a small business credit card, giving you organized financial statements at the end of the year.

Individual employee spending can be monitored and regulated through the use of small business credit cards. An important but often overlooked benefit of small business credit cards is the building of business credit. Over time your credit card give you better credit, this is useful as emergency cash when your business grows.

Think Smart for Your Long Term Needs

1) Applying for a card at your bank makes it easier for your application to be accepted. Your existing relationship and their knowledge of your credit history simplify the process.

2) Remember, having too many credit cards not only makes managing them a chore, but also affects your credit rating negatively.

3) Use your small business credit cards effectively, for instance by paying online. Not only does your card offer you faster methods of payment, but also in many instances is a cash saver.

4) Using cash advance should be only for emergency purposes, since they incur interest. Make your payments in time, as not doing so incurs costs that eat into the benefits of owning your business credit card.

Small business credit cards are the new currency of a fast paced, time efficient world. The privilege of owning a business card is balanced with its responsibility. Choose the one that is right for you. Take your business needs into account, and also weigh each credit card against the perks they offer relevant to you. Use good financial sense and do not overextend credit.

Business credit cards are valuable tools that were invented in response to current business needs. Remember to choose wisely, and use wisely.

Starting A Home Based Business? - Avoid These 6 Costly Blunders

2011-01-14T01:40:00.000-08:00

A lot of people would like to start an internet home based business. However, many people do not know where to start.

Starting a home based business can be overwhelming and confusing for the inexperienced. The fact that there are a lot of 'business opportunities' on the internet does not make it any easier.

You can easily succeed with your home based business if you just avoid some common mistakes which people make.

So what are some of the common mistakes that people who are starting a home based business usually make?

? No Plans & objectives. A lot of people start their business with no plans, and this is a very costly mistake. It is important to take the necessary time and effort to plan the business and clearly state the objectives you intend to achieve. Some people start their home based business like a hobby and treat it like one. Do not expect to make millions with your online home based business if you treat it like a hobby.

? Reinventing the wheel. Some people starting a home based business make their learning curves very hard and long. The internet is full of proven money making business models. You can succeed easily by identifying the business type that you would like to have your home based business focused on, try to find someone who has succeeded with that business and learn from them, and duplicate what they have done to succeed. It is also important to have the necessary support network, which can be a relevant forum where you can learn more about running your home based business successfully.

? Thinking that you can make money overnight. This is a common misconception which people have, which is also the reason why many people fail and give up easily. Your online home based business is like any other business - you will need to apply the necessary effort and dedication to make it work.

? Believing that your online home based business doesn't need any capital. This is another very common misconception. If you think you can start and develop a home based business without spending a dime, you are misleading yourself. Be prepared to spend some money to get all the resources you will need to develop your business. Although it varies with the type of the home based business you want to set up, you would need some initial resources that you have to invest in the business. This can be for setting up your website, just as an example. You may also need to buy some resources to make your online home based business fully set up.

? No market study before creating a product or starting the business. Yet another very common mistake. For your home based business to succeed, you will need to have a market for whatever you will be offering. Demand for your products is the most important factor that determines the success of your home based business. A market study on the current market size and future potential of the product or service is therefore very important.

? Lacking focus and commitment. Your online business will need a lot of effort for it to succeed, especially during the first two years. You must therefore be prepared to give your business your total commitment.

If you avoid the 6 mistakes outline above, you will succeed with your home based business.

Failing to Plan Your Business Financing Can Be a Death Sentence for Your Business

2011-01-14T01:39:00.000-08:00

Most businesses start out thinking the first thing they need is a great business plan. The popular myth is that potential lenders will place great stock in your business plan as a major consideration for approving the financing you need.

While a well written business plan will assist you when you are seeking financing, it is far down on the lenders list behind things such as your business management teams experience, your past business successes and your lending character. Having a plan for accessing the business capital you need to execute your business plan is what is required to bring your business success. Not having a viable business financing plan is the direct cause of why 90% of all new businesses fail.

Your lending character means the lender sees you having the ability and stability to repay the loan. They also ask how far they believe you can take the business to maximize the potential earnings and therefore their chances of getting repaid.

The first thing a lender is going to look at is how did you structure the business and were you responsible and knowledgeable in that. Are you Incorporated or an LLC? If not you are declined for a business loan and everything becomes based solely on you as an individual. Did you do your EIN, State, business licenses and bank filings correctly? If not, you are declined because a lender requires attention to detail.

A simple business credit report check by a lender will quickly show whether or not you are even in the ballpark for getting approved for financing. If the lender finds that you have not bothered to insure that your business has active reports with all three major business credit reporting agencies, then of course you are immediately declined.

Next, the lender will look at the character of your business credit reports. What do they say about your business? What kind of payment histories have you had with debts that are easy to get such as vendor trade lines, small business credit cards, equipment leases, etc? If your business has no credit history or very minimal history then no lender will even consider your business for a larger loan when you have no track record of paying smaller debts.

If you pass these simple tests, now a lender will get to the heart of you business loan application and it is only at this point that you even get the opportunity to present your funding request. Unfortunately as high as 90 percent of all business loan applications never get to this point, because most business owners never take the time to complete the initial steps.

So you have made it this far, The next question you need to ask is what is a lender going to want to see? Debt service! Here is where the lender finally looks at your business plan, or at least the financial pat of it, to determine if your business can debt service the loan. To make this determination a lender will test the reality of your numbers. Basically this means do your numbers add up and do they make sense.

If you do not know anything about accounting you had better get help. When a lender looks at your projected financial statement and finds simple accounting errors, then in most cases you will again be declined. They do not want to lend money to someone who cannot produce a simple proof and loss statement; or someone that cannot balance a balance sheet. There is a lot of help out there, get some.

Next, a lender will look at the market niche section of your business plan. While most business owners think that this is the place that sets them apart from the competition, it actually is the part where lenders will compare you to your competition. Here is where lenders must see that you have done you market research. Can the revenue claims that you are making in your financial projections be backed up by the actual market demographics for your specific business industry, location, customer base, etc.? It essentially comes down to the need for your product or service.

All of this can seem overwhelming and in truth it can be. It is the reason that 97 percent of all business loan applications get declined. The overriding reason is that business owners are not taught this in school and typically only gain this knowledge through years of brutal experience that normally includes having one or two failed businesses under their belts.

This will give you plenty of information to get you started on putting together a business funding request.

Home Business Resource - What You Will Need To Start A Successful Business

2011-01-14T01:38:00.004-08:00

Starting a home business is a very important decision, and there are some typical home business resources you will need to have in order for you to succeed. Home business resources are assets, services and systems you will need to make your home business run smoothly; and also other steps you will need to take to make sure that you will succeed with your business.

So, to start a successful home business, what resources and steps do you need to take?

? A clearly laid out business plan. Without a business plan and goals to achieve, then you can not get anywhere. A business plan will map out what you need to succeed and how you will achieve your goals.

? Good research. Whatever your business will need, you will need to be well informed about it. So you will need to do me research so that you become an expert on the niche, product or service. Knowledge about the business is an important home business resource, so you must do the necessary research to be well-informed about the industry or product/service.

? A well set-up office. Your office is another important home business resource. You will need to be productive while working from home. You will therefore need an office that has all you will need to run a smooth business; a computer, printer, internet access, fax, telephone, business cards and a conducive work environment. A suitable desk and appropriate lighting in your office is also an important resource that is often underestimated in its importance. You will sometimes work for many hours in a day, and your work space needs to be comfortable. Allocate some money towards setting up a working environment you will enjoy working from everyday!

? Some money to cover capital outlay and running costs is an important home business resource which you will need. Any business requires some form of investment, and you will need to know how much you have, and how much investments and ongoing marketing your business will need for it to succeed. It is therefore recommended that you start your business while you are still employed, so that you have some income to live on while you are still building your business.

? Support system. This can be a mentor; someone who has succeeded with a similar business, or simply your family and friends. You need to have people close to you who will encourage you and give you any support you need. You can also join a forum of people with the same business like yours. A good support network is a very important home business resource.

? Business leads and clients are a crucial home business resource. Making and creating contacts and networking is very important - you need to start building your potential clients base before you launch your business. Start marketing your business by giving away some products and services. By creating a relationship with your potential customers, you build trust with them, and when you launch your business, it will be easy for them to buy from you.

? Be professional! The way you run your business and relate to your customers is very important. Be prepared to 'go the extra mile' with your customers. Care about your customers, and provide all the information they may need.

? Hire any professional help you may need. Treat your business professionally, and if you need the services of a lawyer or accountant, hire/outsource it. It is more productive and effective to get experts to do what you can not do, leaving you time to focus on your business. You will want to do the best for your business; so if there are any home business resources you do not have, outsource them.

If you have the home business resources outlined above, then your business will succeed. Although your home business may only be a small venture, treat it like a real business, and get all the home business resources any business will need in order to be successful

Creating A Business Image That Counts

2011-01-14T01:38:00.003-08:00

Many things can contribute to creating the business image that you want and they should all be considered before you rush into having anything printed to promote your business.

Start with the very name you call your business. When deciding on the name consider just what the image is that you are trying to convey e.g. fun, serious, sensitive, caring, knowledgeable, etc. Don't have the name too long or too difficult to pronounce or spell.

As well as a short name, if possible it should also give an idea of what the business is about. This will help your potential customers to recognise and remember your service/product. You can also create an image or 'branding' by supporting the name with a logo (a graphic or drawing) to help customers visually recognise you. A logo does not have to be complicated - it can simply be your name, which is written in a particular way e.g. Coca Cola just uses the name of the product written in a specific style.

In most countries you have to legally register your business name. In Australia registration allows you to have an individual name for your business that is not identical or similar to another business name within the State where it is registered. The cost of registration is around $70 in most Australian States.

As you may not get your first choice of a name, the registration form allows for alternative suggestions. Do not make the name of your business too long. It is difficult to fit in computer fields, and you may find clients end up abbreviating it.
Registration will not necessarily protect the rights of the name from being used by other businesses especially if they create a company or add another word in front of the name.

In Australia, the registration lasts for three years and can be renewed. The Certificate of Registration you are given must be displayed in a prominent position at the place of business or outside every location where business is conducted under that name.
The registered name also must appear on all stationery such as letterheads together with the ABN (Australian Business Number).

It is important that you do not commence using the name you have chosen, or have it printed on anything, until you receive notification that it has been accepted for registration (you will receive a Certificate with your business name attached). You cannot claim any expenses in relationship to your business until you have a registered name (unless you trade only using your actual name)

Business cards are a cheap and most effective way to promote and advertise your business and are an invaluable networking tool. Each business card should contain the business name, persons name, title, address, phone, fax, email and web address. If the name of your business is not self descriptive, put a couple of words to explain what your business does, e.g. Gabogrecan Enterprises - Art Commissions, Tourist and Fashion Product.

Your card should be designed with the image you want to create, in mind. Colour, style and size of fonts, logo and the quality of card used, can all contribute to the image you wish to create.

Business cards are often stored in special containers or plastic sleeves by participants. If your card cannot fit these receptacles, they will be placed in a drawer and forgotten. If you want to have a magnet card, or some other type of interesting format - produce and present two business cards. One for storing with others and the special one to make an extra impact.

When exchanging a business card, take the trouble to read the information at that moment (it shows genuine interest and helps you remember the person). Jot some details on the back e.g. Date and function at which cards were exchanged, and any special details to assist you in remembering the contact e.g. opened the door for me!

Business cards that have a great deal of information printed on the back, are laminated, or are of a very dark colour, make this networking function impossible.

Always have business cards with you. Keep them in a wide variety of places so you do not forget them. Carry blank cards with you for those people you meet who have forgotten theirs.

Remember, business is often about perception. If you are targeting the small or micro business sector and your printed material is 'over the top' this can lose customers just as quickly as promotional material that is scatty and obviously disjointed.

This 'over the top' material is something big business does all the time and then they wonder why they cannot win over customers from smaller business. The bigger and bolder the 'splash' of your promotional material is the more is will suggest that what you have to offer is expensive - is this the image you want to portray? Remember that the smaller business does not necessarily think expensive means quality service or product.

Think out your image before having a single thing printed and this includes how you will present it e.g. will a brochure, flyer, business card be presented in a folder? Once you have decided on your image - then promote it and build up your brand recognition.

Starting a Home Business Using the Internet

2011-01-14T01:38:00.001-08:00

Starting a home business I not an easy task and to make things harder there are so many myths attached to starting a home business that it can become quite confusing. Some people get an idea in their head and just take off. Starting a business for them is easy. The majority of people, however, end up having the desire to start a home business before the actual business idea comes to them. Once they begin thinking about actually starting a home based business they are overcome with many myths that make it seem next to impossible to succeed.

One of the biggest myths about starting a home business is associated with the internet. The internet has opened many doors to home business owners, but at the same time the complexity of the internet has caused many to give up and abandon hope that they can ever get a business to be successful. Many people believe that the internet is a vast marketplace that is too he to compete in. That is simply not true. There are many small home businesses that are doing great on the internet. It is all a matter of knowing how to run a business website. A person has to understand about marketing and setting up a website. Once they've established their online presence they can make great money.

Another internet related myth about starting a home business is that there is no help available for the business owner. Anyone who has went to a search engine and typed in business will now this is not true. There are online networks of websites that are all aimed at helping people succeed in internet business. These people offer free information and plenty of support. A person can find answers to almost any question they have and even talk to others who have started their own business. The internet business environment is one of helping others.

One myth that may hold some truth is that marketing online is impossible. While it is, obviously, not impossible it can be difficult for the beginner. Starting a home business online requires plenty of research into internet marketing. The marketing tools used online are very different from those used in the traditional environment. A person has to understand how to drive traffic to their website and how to catch the attention of their target market. As mentioned above, there are plenty of resources available to help a person get their marketing plan in order.

These myths about starting a business all make it look impossible to tap into the internet marketplace. These myths are quite untrue and should be ignored. It does take hard work and dedication to start any business, but using the internet just opens up a business to a huge marketplace and offers additional opportunities that a traditional, offline business does not have. It is worth it for every business owner to look into the internet when starting a home business.

Pros And Cons of Different Types Of Investments

2011-01-14T01:36:00.000-08:00

When deciding where to invest your money, you need to always take into account your investment goals and objectives. Different types of investments carry varying degrees of risks and potential return.

CD

A bank CD is a very safe investment. The CD is FDIC insured up to $100,000, so there truly is minimal risk. The only downside is that you cannot withdraw that money in the CD for a specific amount of time or else you'll receive a penalty. Bank CDs generally only pay up to 5% interest.

Bonds

A bond is essentially a loan you make to a company or a government. Bonds have varying degrees of risk, from essentially risk-free treasuries to junk bonds. The higher the risk of the bond, the higher the return will generally be.

Stocks

Stocks are investments in companies. Depending on the company, the risk of the investment can be high or low. Obviously, buying stock in Johnson and Johnson is a lot less risky than a new internet startup company. In general, the stock market returns on average about 10% a year, though the actual return of any given stock will vary significantly.

Mutual Funds

A mutual fund typically invests in over 100 stocks, so it's an instant way to diversify your portfolio. However, the mutual fund generally charges a fee, which is about 1% of your assets per year. Because of this fee, most mutual funds do not outperform the market; a monkey blindly picking 100 stocks but not charging you a fee could easily outperform most mutual funds.

Real Estate

Real estate is a popular investment. The most obvious real estate investment you'll make is when you purchase your home. Your home can go up or down in value when you sell it; it depends on the housing market in your area.

Tips For Choosing High-Performance Mutual Fund

2011-01-14T01:35:00.000-08:00

Most people who invest in mutual funds don't know what they are doing. They take advice from someone at a bank or perhaps a friend and plunk down money into a fund. Sometimes this strategy works, but most of the time, it doesn't.

When you invest your money in a mutual fund, you are trusting someone to invest in the stock market for you. Because of this, you want to be sure this person knows what he or she is doing. Also, you want to make sure that this person is not charging you too much to manage your money for you. Mutual funds fees are "hidden," in the sense that they do not charge you an upfront fee but rather a percentage of the amount of money in your account. If this percentage is too high, you would do better just blindly picking stocks yourself.

Here are five helpful tips for choosing the right mutual funds.

1. Keep the fees low. Generally, expense fees should not be much higher than 1% if it is just a basic domestic equity fund. You should never invest money in a fund that also charges a "load," which is an additional fee that is ridiculous to pay. Never invest in funds that charge loads; those funds are for suckers.

2. Check the asset base. Mutual fund managers only know of so many good investments. When they have too much money to manage, they begin investing in stocks they don't like much but need to invest in anyway or else they'll just have money laying around. There's little reason to invest in a fund with over $5 billion in assets. It's best if it's under $2 billion generally.

3. Consider an index fund. This is a fund that tracks a stock index, such as the S&P 500. For these funds, the manager just buys whatever stocks happen to be in the index. Since this is not much work, the fees are much lower. Even though this method is simple, it has proven to perform better than most mutual funds. Some high performance index funds include FSMKX (Fidelity S&P 500) and VIMSX (Vanguard S&P 400 Midcap.

4. Evaluate the fund's strategy. If you have a long term outlook, look for a more aggressive fund that invests in small-cap stocks, international stocks, and riskier stocks in general. High risk tends to result in high performance in the long run. If you are more risk-averse, consider an S&P 500 index fund.

5. Keep the fees low. Did I mention this already? Well, I'll mention it again. This is where most people mess up. Make sure you are not paying a load or paying too much in fees to the mutual fund.
More information about mutual funds can be found at Research Mutual Funds.

Terrell Suggs to Press: The Shirt has no Message

2011-01-14T01:31:00.000-08:00

ST LOUIS (LALATE) – “No, there ain’t no message [in the shirt]” said Terrell Suggs to news today. The shirt is, however, sparking controversy today. Yesterday, Antonio Cromartie of the Jets went on a tirade to New York news about Tom Brady’s hand gesture to him during the Jets recent loss to the Patriots.

Now Terrell Suggs of the Ravens is sparking controversy with, not his own hand gesture, but that of an animation raven on a t-shirt.

Terrell Suggs’ t-shirt “controversy” started Thursday when he met with local news today wearing a custom t-shirt. The meeting was not an organized news conference; rather, it was meeting with press after practice. The top of the t-shirt says “Hey Pittsburgh.” The bottom of the t-shirt features as animated purple raven in a particular gesture.

When asked about the shirt, Terrell Suggs said that his animated raven is not sending a message. “They rep their city, and I’m repping mine. So here we go.”

But the Steelers-Ravens dispute is not the only dispute making news this week. Antonio Cromartie is upset about gestures also, specifically those by Tom Brady. “He’s doing the pointing at our defensive line and stuff like that. That’s the kind of a guy he is.” Yesterday Cromartie told news that he “hates” Brady because of those and other hand gestures he allegedly tends to give Jets players when they are losing.

But Cromartie says “I don’t have to play against him. I play against the receivers. If I beat the — out of his receivers, he can’t — throw the ball.” Brady’s response is ”I’ve been called worse”.

Popular boy names, Christie Brinkley, Heather Locklear, Batman - 'Million Dollar Money Drop' random facts

2011-01-14T01:30:00.000-08:00

It seems like "Million Dollar Money Drop" fans just can't wait for a contestant to answer a question to find it out themselves. As per usual, the show's questions have taken over trends on Google. Let's see what we learned on the Jan. 13 episode, shall we?

First up was the most popular boy's name in 2009. Jacob (Thanks, "Twilight"!) was the correct answer over Michael and Ethan. Next, we have "Which celebrity woman has been divorced the most?" The choices were Christie Brinkley, Heather Locklear, Drew Barrymore and Britney Spears. The correct answer was Brinkley and Locklear.

Another random fact we learned from the episode was that Christian Bale starred in the highest grossing "Batman" movie, beating out Michael Keaton and George Clooney.

Also, did you know that "American Pie" is the longest classic rock and roll song? Well, now you do. "American Pie" is 8 and 1/2 minutes long, while "Bohemian Rhapsody" is around 5 minutes and "Ramblin' Man" clocks in at 4 minutes and 48 seconds. This question knocked out the first girls playing in the episode and the two split their money between "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Ramblin' Man." Kind of funny considering "American Pie" almost doubles their running time, no?

Ginseng: Dr Bob Beyfuss and Ginseng

2011-01-14T01:29:00.000-08:00

Dr Bob Beyfuss and Ginseng: Bob Beyfuss retired from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County in 2009 where he served as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader and also as the NY State specialist for American Ginseng Production for Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

Bob received his Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in 1973, majoring in Botany and his Master’s degree in Agriculture from Cornell University in 1987.

His Master’s project was “The History, Use and Cultivation of American Ginseng”
He is the author of “American Ginseng Production in NY State”, “The Practical Guide to Growing Ginseng” (a 65 page grower’s guide), “Ginseng Production in Woodlots” “The Economics of Woodland Ginseng Production”, (both published by the USDA National Agroforestry Center) “Growing Gourmet Mushrooms from A to Z” “Companion Planting” and several other fact sheets regarding ginseng, organic gardening and mushroom growing in forested environments. Bob is also an Internationally Certified Arborist.

He was the prime organizer, conference chair and editor of the official “Proceedings” from the International Conference “American Ginseng Production in the 21st Century” held September 8,9, 10 2000 in Leeds NY. He has made presentations on American ginseng production and other topics related to Agroforestry at conferences in NY, Kentucky, Ohio, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Ontario, Quebec, Maryland and Nevada.

Mr. Beyfuss is currently conducting research on woodland production of ginseng and other botanical crops. He offers Agroforestry Consulting and continues to teach courses on Woodland Ginseng Production, Mycology and several other topics related to Natural Resources Income Opportunities.

Love takes backseat for Christie Brinkley

2011-01-14T01:28:00.000-08:00

New Delhi At 56, one-time mega-model Christie Brinkley is saying that she is in no hurry to find love again.
Considering that she is the mother of 3 kids aged 25, 15 and 12, that is a huge statement that she made to People magazine.

Christie has been divorced for the last two years (most recently married to Peter Cook and previously to the sensational singer Billy Joel) but insists that she has recovered well, courtesy a 'novel way' of bouncing back from the blues.

That however, remains a secret.

People will remember Christie as the leggy model who appeared in the extremely poplar video song 'Uptown Girl'.

She insists though that her current work makes her a better mom and that she does not at all neglect her kids.

“It gives me a little door to step out of my parenting and bring back the excitement from olden day back into my life, she says.

Most Popular Boy Names 2009: Million Dollar Money Drop Question

2011-01-14T01:27:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for the most popular boy names of 2009? If you watched the Million Dollar Money Drop tonight that was one of the questions. The final question on Thursday’s show had the best friends penniless after they gave the wrong answer.

The question that made everyone gasp at the end of the show: “ Was what was the most popular boy’s name in 2009?” Do you know the answer?
To find out the answer and to view all of the most popular baby names 2009 then click after the jump!

The three possible answers for the question were: Michael, Jacob and Ethan. The correct answer was Jacob.

Most Popular Boy Names of 2009

Ethan
Noah
Jacob
Aiden
Logan
Jackson
Jack
Ryan
Matthew
Jayden
Liam
Joshua
Benjamin
Michael
Alexander
Tyler
Gavin
Lucas
Evan
William
Nathan
Mason
Dylan
Caleb
James
Andrew
Luke
Gabriel
Elijah
Owen
Daniel
Conner
Landon
Nicholas
Carter
Joseph
Zachery
David
Christian
Brayden

New Astrological Signs 2011 – Zodiac Signs Changed

2011-01-14T01:26:00.001-08:00

Millions of people woke up this morning to find out that their world has drastically changed and that they can no longer blame their personalities, their luck and their mood swings on their zodiac signs. Your date of birth may not have changed – but your zodiac sign just did.

According to Minnesota Planetarium Society board member Parke Kunkle the signs of the zodiac have changed because the gravitational force of the Moon has managed to tilt the planet’s axis a bit since the Babylonians determined the dates of the Zodiac couple of a million of years ago.

Today we have also learned that not only the way you read horoscope has changed – we have also discovered that there may be a 13th Zodiac sign called Ophiuchus.
Thanks to those new findings, you are strongly advised to remove your Capricorn tattoo – as it turned out you are really a Sagittarius. The next time you open a new paper and want to read your horoscope take the following information into consideration:

Capricorn: Jan. 20 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May 13 – June 21
Gemini: June 21 – July 20
Cancer: July 20 – Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 – Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 – Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 – Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 – Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 – Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17 – Jan. 20

NAMM 2011 kicks off preview day with Kara DioGuardi, Phil Collen & Mike Huckabee

2011-01-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

The NAMM Show opened on Wednesday, January 12 for a Preview Day for the media. The event featured the music industry’s newest musical instruments and state-of-the-art technologies as well as the new NAMM Music App. Pavilion. The 2011 NAMM Show is the largest music trade show in America, with more than 85,000+ attendees and more than 1,500 exhibitors from over 100 countries. The NAMM show runs from January 13- 16.
Singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi received the NAMM Music of Life Award for her extensive contributions to the music industry and its artists.

DioGuardi told the crowd that she was happy to receive the award and to be a part of the business. She explained that the major of the people are not aware what song writers actually do.

DioGuardi has written for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Pink and Kelly Clarkson to name a few. She served as a judge of the eight and ninth season of American Idol. In 2008, she became the executive vice president of talent development at Warner Brothers Records where she has signed Jason Derulo and Iyaz.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was on hand with his bass guitar and played impromptu with Phil Collen of Def Leppard. Huckabee recently helped launch the benefit album “I Wanna Play!,: An Album to Put Musical Instruments into the Hands of Every Child in America.”

Agile Partners featured Phil Collen of Def Leppard and Alex Skolnick (Alex Skolnick Trio and Testament) who both did guitar demonstrations.
Exhibiting companies included Alfred Music Publishing, Blue Microphones, Brady Drums, DR Handmade Strings, IK Multimedia, JamHub, Jammit, Kala Brand Music Co., Wells Co., Leone Music Reader, Magic Fluke Co., Martin Guitar Misa Digital Instruments, Orange Music Electrical Company, Reactable Systems RJM Music Technology, Roland, Samson, and Yamaha, all showcasing what’s new for 2011.

Other artists who appeared at preview day were Terry Bozzio and Janae Rockwell.
Please note that the NAMM show is not open to the public.
Your LA Music Examiner was on hand at the event, so check back for the full report and NAMM updates all weekend long.

Barack Obama's Tucson speech rose to the moment and transcended it

2011-01-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

Throughout his presidency a doubt about Barack Obama has lingered, one that first surfaced during his campaign for the White House that began nearly four years ago. The fear was that – for all his oratorical brilliance – Obama somehow lacked empathy, that he was a slightly chilly, aloof figure, that he struggled to connect emotionally.

We'll hear much less of that talk now.

For the address he gave at last night's memorial service for the victims of the Arizona shootings was elegiac, heartfelt and deeply moving. It both rose to the moment and transcended it: after days of noise and rancour, he carved out a moment of calm.

Much of the speech was dedicated to its core function: to commemorate the dead and comfort those in mourning. He spoke in detail about those who had been slain, describing them one by one – the elderly couple who had lived life as if it were a "50-year honeymoon", the husband who shielded his wife from the bullets, dying so that she might live. Most affecting, he spoke of Christina Taylor Green, the nine-year-old girl born on 11 September 2001 – the president, doubtless thinking of his own daughters, seeming to brim with emotion, at one point emitting a noise somewhere between a sigh and a suppressed sob.

In all this, he spoke less like a politician than a pastor or priest comforting a grieving community. The focus on those who had saved lives was an attempt to offer hope amid the sadness: "Heroism is here," he said, an echo of his own famous declaration that "We are the ones we have been waiting for." He reminded his flock of what really mattered: it was "not wealth, or status, or power, or fame – but rather, how well we have loved".

This is part of the US presidential job description that sets the office apart: more than mere head of government, an American president is required to be almost a spiritual leader to his nation. Obama ascended to that role in Tucson yesterday, with no less aplomb than Bill Clinton summoned in Oklahoma City in 1995.

For all that, such a moment will – inevitably – have political reverberations. This was no ordinary memorial service – that much was clear from the cheers and ovations that greeted frequent chunks of the stadium speech (and that might have grated on some ears). What, besides proving Obama's ability to empathise, will be the political impact?

Crude though it is to say so, it will have boosted the president's standing enormously. After the partisan bickering that followed Saturday's killings, Obama stepped forward to be what analyst Nate Silver called "the adult in the room" . This was meant to be the Republicans' week, as they took control of the House of Representatives and its legislative agenda. Instead they look small – as well as defensive, fending off accusations that it was the violent rhetoric of the right that fuelled the current toxic political environment. None smaller than the de facto leader of today's Republican party, Sarah Palin, who preceded the Tucson address with an aggressive, self-regarding and petty-minded videotaped message that claimed she had been the victim of a "blood-libel". The contrast between the two performances could not have been sharper.

Obama looks the bigger man, calling for a discourse that heals not wounds. That puts him in the place all presidents covet: above the fray, beyond mere Democrat or Republican. The challenge will be to maintain that position into the re-election year of 2012.

But such thoughts are for later. What will be remembered today are moments like those when he told his audience that Gabrielle Giffords had opened her eyes for the first time – moments when only the most cold-hearted would not have felt a tear. What we saw from Obama in Tucson will be a defining, even cherished moment in his presidency.

The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

2011-01-13T05:03:00.000-08:00

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Investigators looking into the deaths of two people at a home in rural Freeborn County say that at this point they have not ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of those deaths.

But with the weather we've been having so far this winter, the danger of CO poisoning is going up.

"Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas," explained Austin Fire Chief Mickey Healey.

And there are potential sources all around us.

"Like your hot water heater, your stove, furnace, anything that has natural gas, propane, kerosene or anything like that," Healey added.

And if those appliances malfunction or aren't vented properly, the result can be carbon monoxide.

"Make sure they're serviced annually, your furnaces, your hot water heater, check your chimney," said Fire Chief Mickey Healey.

"Also be very careful about not running any gasoline powered engines in confined spaces," said Mower County Public Health Director Margene Gunderson.

Part of the problem with CO poisoning is that you might mistake it's symptoms for the flu:

"You might feel sort of nauseous, get a headache, just feel kind of out of the ordinary," explained Margene Gunderson."It's that time of the year anyway and you don't really put two and two together and then it's too late."

"Carbon monoxide accumulates in the body and pretty soon it can replace the oxygen in the blood, and that's when you have your fatales," added Fire Chief Mickey Healey.

Your best line of defense might come in a trip to the hardware store.

"A carbon monoxide detector watches for carbon monoxide build-up," Healey said.

It could be an investment of a few dollars that helps cut into the estimated 500 people who die of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in the US every year.

Peter Fonda Comes Across A Dead Body

2011-01-13T05:02:00.000-08:00

One of the odder stories to get attention late Wednesday was TMZ.com's report that it had been told by "sources" that actor Peter Fonda discovered a dead body in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon.

Peter Fonda, who played "Captain America" in the 1969 counterculture film Easy Rider, poses atop a Harley-Davidson motorcycle based on the one he rode in the film, Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, in Glendale, Calif.
The Associated Press now writes that Los Angeles police confirm the story. Sgt. Carlton Cook at the West Los Angeles Community Police Station tells the AP that Fonda called police after seeing a car parked on the side of Sunset Boulevard, a man's body inside.

According to TMZ, authorities believe the man may have committed suicide and that his body might have been there for a couple days.

Fonda, the son of Henry and brother of Jane, is probably best known for his role as "Captain America" (or "Wyatt") in the 1969 movie Easy Rider. He turns 71 next month.

Brett Favre’s Sister Arrested For Running Meth Lab

2011-01-13T05:01:00.000-08:00

If you thought Brett Favre was the troublemaker in his family, think again. A $50,000 fine and a pending lawsuit for sexual harassment are nothing for the 41-year-old NFL quarterback when compared against the troubles of his sister. That’s right, Brett Favre’s sister, Brandi Favre, makes Brett look like a Boy Scout. Brett Favre’s sister, Brandi Favre, was arrested after a police raid on a crystal meth lab in Diamondhead, Mississippi.

According to Sgt. Abe Long of the Hancock County police, Brandi Favre is one of three people who were arrested after police witnessed a drug buy at a local gas station. Cops followed them back to a condominium development, where a check of the unit yielded an active meth lab hidden in a bathtub. Brandi Favre and the two others were arrested and charged with the manufacturing of methamphetamine and generation of hazardous waste; they were taken to decontamination before being locked up.

This isn’t 34-year-old Brandi Favre’s first brush with the law. In 1999, Favre was charged with felony shoplifting after stealing clothing from a Biloxi, Mississippi, department store. She was previously charged with unlawful use of a weapon in connection with a 1996 drive-by shooting at a motel in Slidell, Louisiana.

Heat's road streak Clipped at 13

2011-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Entering Wednesday, the Miami Heat boasted a 12-0 record when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined to score at least 71 percent of the team’s points. Against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Big Three combined for 84 of the team’s 105 points (80 percent), but it was not enough as the Heat fell and snapped their 13-game road win streak (tied for fourth-longest in NBA history).

Although the Big Three contributed 80 percent of the offense (their highest percentage in a loss), it was the Heat’s team defense that let them down. The Clippers scored 44 points in the first quarter, which is the most against the Heat in any quarter this season. Miami's 18-point deficit after one quarter (44-26) was the highest of the season. It was also just the fourth time this season that the Heat allowed an opponent to shoot at least 50 percent from the field. Oh and the 111 points allowed were the fourth-most in a single game by Miami this season.

Most Consecutive Road Games Won
Single Season in NBA History
1971-72 Lakers 16
1994-95 Jazz 15
1996-97 Heat 14
>> Heat’s 13-game streak snapped Wed.

The Clippers, on the other hand, have now won eight of the last 10 against the Heat at home. Blake Griffin extended his double-double streak to 24 consecutive games, one behind Kevin Love for longest this season. Griffin also notched his league-high 23rd game of 20 points and 10 rebounds. It was his 13th-straight 20-10 game and since the 1996-97 season, only Shaquille O'Neal has a longer streak (18).

Speaking of streaks, there were a few that were extended and a few more that ended Wednesday:

• Amar'e Stoudemire scored 22 points and extended his streak of games with at least 20 points to 23 straight (fifth longest streak in New York Knicks history).

• The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors and have won 12 straight meetings. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Lakers-Warriors rivalry dates back to 1948 when the teams were located in Minneapolis and Philadelphia, respectively. The Lakers' 12-game win streak matches the longest win streak for either team in the rivalry's history. The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the Philadelphia Warriors 12 straight times from 1952 to 1954.

• The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets to snap an 11-game road losing streak and got its first win in Houston since February 2005, when the team was still based in Seattle.

• And finally, the Orlando Magic lost to the New Orleans Hornets and snapped its nine-game win streak (tied for the longest in team history).

Grow Your Business With Alibaba.com

2009-09-23T23:40:00.000-07:00

Introduction of Alibaba.com
Alibaba Group (Chinese: 阿里巴巴; pinyin: ā lǐ bā bā) is a privately owned Hangzhou-based family of Internet-based businesses that include business-to-business trade, online retail, a payment platform, business management software and regionalized classified listings. Founded by Ma Yun (Jack Ma) in 1999, it operates five e-commerce sub-companies which operate different aspects of trading, including business-to-business trade, retail, payment, business management software and classified listings.

The five core companies are:

* Alibaba.com (SEHK: 1688) - Publicly traded company in business-to-business e-commerce marketplace
* Taobao.com - online retail marketplace
* Alipay - third-party online payment platform,
* Alisoft - Internet-based business management solutions
* Yahoo! Koubei - Chinese regionalized classified listing website

According to iResearch, it was the largest online B2B company in China in 2006 based on the number of registered users and market share in China by revenue.

Business
As the flagship business, Alibaba.com (SEHK: 1688) has transformed from a bulletin board service for businesses to post buy and sell trade leads to a global marketplace for SMEs. Originated from Hangzhou in eastern China, Alibaba.com has offices in more than 40 cities across Greater China as well as in Europe and the United States. As of May, 2009, Alibaba.com has nearly 9 million registered users on its global marketplace and more than 31 million registered users on its Chinese domestic marketplace.[citation needed]

Japan's Softbank was one of the earliest investors in Alibaba. Its founder, Masayoshi Son, invested $18 million in the company in 2000 and also participated in subsequent rounds of financing.[1]

On 11 August 2005, Yahoo! announced that it would purchase a 40% stake in the company for US $1bn plus Yahoo!'s Chinese assets (worth about US$700m). Alibaba then took charge of Yahoo! China, and Alibaba's founder Jack Ma remained in charge of Alibaba Group

New Apple Iphone 3GS Model

2009-09-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Introducing of iPhone 3GS

The Fastest iPhone Ever

The first thing you’ll notice about iPhone 3GS is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and you can view email attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3GS is up to 2x faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G.

Video
Now you can shoot video, edit it, and share it — all on your iPhone 3GS. Shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape. Trim your footage by adjusting start and end points. Then share your video in an email, post it to your MobileMe gallery, publish it on YouTube, or sync it back to your Mac or PC using iTunes.

Camera
The new 3-megapixel camera takes great still photos, too, thanks to built-in autofocus and a handy new feature that lets you tap the display to focus on anything (or anyone) you want.
Voice Control

Voice Control
Voice Control recognizes the names in your Contacts and knows the music on your iPod. So if you want to place a call or play a song, all you have to do is ask.

Maria Ozawa Porn Film in Indonesia

2009-09-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Japanese AV idol Maria Ozawa's plans to work in Indonesia outrage religious leaders.

The Clerics' Council, Majlis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), has protested plans to bring Japanese porn star Miyabi to Indonesia to play in the film "Menculik Miyabi" (Kidnapping Miyabi). Miyabi, real name Maria Ozawa, is a hugely successful pornographic film star from Hokkaido, and is of mixed Japanese/French-Canadian descent.

Mr Methane - Britains Got Talent 2009

2009-05-28T01:42:00.000-07:00

Britains Got Talent 2009

Memorial Day

2009-05-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service.

There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War.