Businesses are flocking to Facebook for its widely distributed use, friendly user base, and cost of use. As a matter of fact, many businesses are devised entirely around the influx of social media, and specifically, Facebook. But many use it poorly. Many see it as an opportunity to exploit and make sales. This is poor thinking. Just because it is social media, does not mean it cannot directly come across as spam. There is a smart way to market, and a poor way to market. One methodology has wide benefits, the other will get you banned.

At its core, Facebook is about profiles and pages. A business can set-up a specific profile or fan page, but it still has to accumulate individuals who are interested in following. This is at the essence of Facebook. It is where and how you accumulate followers which will substantiate your success. Spamming every person manually is unproductive and unnecessary. Try importing your email contacts when you devise your profile. Try messaging people who may be interested and ask them if they would like a coupon for your product. This way you openly address them without asking for a friend request, and is a way to remove the barrier.

Announcing contests, sales, and coupon codes is only at the surface of what a successful Facebook marketing campaign can offer. Being able to speak directly with fans and potential customers through the means of the Facebook instant-access chat, offers a sort of connectivity that would have been unrealistic outside this social marketing medium. The problem occurs when businesses use facebook to spam their content. The idea with social media is to interact with fans. Supplying coupons and special exclusive information is wise. Spamming yourself with email generators and 5000 friend request in 7 days is simply not.

Facebook’s recent update spanned all users, and redesigned a profile layout. Now when you visit a profile, you are subject to a whole timeline of their history. This is good in that it refocused a lot of the attention from spam worthy comments and realigned it to the core history of the user you are visiting. This redesign is interesting and a little polarizing, but any change affecting 800 million people will have some sort of ramifications. It is wise for marketers to be aware of these changes, and how it effects their display.

The appeal of Facebook lies in its direct connectivity. It allows a medium of interaction that if properly harnessed, can explore social media to its full extent. With a user base of 800 million, users spanning virtually every country, and entry limited to making an account with an email, Facebook is the playground devised for marketers. The problem is that many marketers use Facebook as a means to an end, and it should be an extension of marketing. If used properly, Facebook’s structure and innovation will restructure and innovative YOU.

Throughout the years, Houston struggled in relationships, as well as addiction with hopes of having a new start and her life back on track. Even though her second chance did not turn out for the best, fans did not see this coming. I don’t think anyone, but her close friends and family actually saw this coming. We do not know what happens behind closed doors, all we see is what the media portrays someone to be. We should respect her family’s privacy during this difficult time and let her voice live on forever. RIP Whitney.

Update:
Here is a statement from Beverly Hills Police Lieutenant Mark Rosen “I can confirm that Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. PST at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. We received a call at 3:43 p.m. from hotel security and Beverly Hills Fire and police responded minutes later.” “It’s unclear who notified hotel staff because she has quite an entourage here at the hotel. We attempted to resuscitate her, to no avail.”

As to whether there was any evidence of drugs or foul play, Rosen responded: “We don’t know yet, her death is under investigation.”

Apple is notorious for innovating in an industry, but not dominating the market. Sure, the iPod was a massive revolutionary success that essentially defined the mp3 market, but there laundry list of past products proves that they don’t particularly become a dominant mainstay in a certain medium. Many fear this is the fate of the iPhone. As Google’s Android gains market share, only having recently passed Apple with their latest iteration and other competitors enter, their longevity is questionable. LG released their LG Voyager to wide acclaim, as it enters the smart phone industries upper echelon. And Microsoft is planning their Microsoft Windows Mobile 7, which essentially takes the PC entirely mobile. With tough competition, it is hard to see Apple remaining relevant for long in the field. And with the recent death of Steve Jobs, many reconsider Apple’s ability to compete.

The iPhone 4 was plagued with many minor issues; some simply baffle fans and industry members. For one, Apple chose to go forward with Bing for their searches, as opposed to Google. It seems like a small issue, but with the massive popularity and appeal of Google, it seems an odd choice. More importantly, the Wi-Fi use is sporadic at best, being often barely functioning despite a close Wi-Fi network. They have improved the technology on paper with a special steel band to pick up on Wi-Fi networks, but it doesn’t work too well in reality. It also hurts that Apple is insistent on limiting the amount of networks they work with, exclusively AT&T. If they truly are insistent on being the most accessible smart phone in the industry, their unwillingness to work with all networks remains contradictory to their marketing and branding.

A major difference is in user creation. Google’s Android has an app market that allows you to upload applications and content. There is little to no regulation, so anyone can upload what they see fit. With that said, there is a wide influx of poor content on the Android app store. Yet regardless of this, the free domain allows for creative forethought and less oversight that is appealing to users. Apple chose the opposite route. It is also worth nothing that Apple regulates all content posted, and get approval is not partiocuarly easy. You have to pass their regulations to get your content live, and it is inconsistent at best. It also deters people from delivering content, as you can see from the exponential growth on the Android market- eclipsing Apple’s iPhone market.

With the apparent flaws in Apple’s latest iPhone iteration, and the death of their main innovative, Apple lost a significant amount of headway. Also considering their track record of initial innovation-poor follow through, Apple may have found a collection of issues that may have deterred their ability to succeed in the future with the iPhone. Tough competition doesn’t help either.

By pure power of processing, the Xbox 720 is expected to be about six times as powerful as the Xbox 360. This includes graphical power, as well as physics within the software and character artificial intelligence. For example, characters may be far smarter, even pedestrian level characters, and will be able to act with a far more powerful system of A.I. Now the six times as powerful comment discovered by the rumor mill is slightly substantiated by those directly involved with Microsoft. And though it remains a rather arbitrary number at best, it does represent the expectations and goals of Microsoft in developing their new system.

For many video game players and Gamestop employees, one rumor in particular becomes borderline frightening. It is widely mentioned from those involved in the Xbox 720 project that used games will be unplayable on the Xbox 720. The system will have a built in anti-used game system that will reject used titles. Once you purchase a game, it will “download” to your system, and be unplayable on other consoles. This is a conscious effort to offset the dent the used game market makes on software sales. It will likely work similar to the PC market, that offers a download code that is a one-time use. Though there is further speculation that this is not likely, and the Xbox 720 will use a download system as well as a regular physical disc system. For example, an individual could download the game to their hard drive or purchase a physical copy, for what will likely be a premium price.

For fans of motion controlled movement, one rumor in particular is barely one at all. It is strongly reaffirmed that the Xbox 720 will expand on the Kinect product, building the Kinect into the actual system and making improvements to the technology. For those who are unaware, the Kinect is the extremely successful motion-controlled add-on for Xbox 360 that has sold approximately 10 million units since its launch. Expect this idea to be expanded exponentially for the new system.

Microsoft has confirmed their path to making the Xbox 720 an entertainment hub. Though the degree of its crossover functionality is unknown, expect the Xbox 720 to strongly support the idea of crossing into many other mediums. This includes movies and other such products that will make the Xbox 720 a fully functioning entertainment hub. This may even include blu-ray technology.

With all the rumors circulating, there is very little actually confirmed. Microsoft is not planning to launch the system anytime soon, as fans and industry insiders expect a 2013-2014 release date. But as Microsoft has said many times, they expect to get a healthy ten years out of the Xbox 360. Considering the 360 launched in 2005, that puts us around 2015 for a launch of the new system. Ouch.

New advances in technology have really taken off in the last decade, fictional movies such as the “Terminator” don’t seem so far fetch. Geniuses over at Boston Dynamics have created a life like robot that can, run, squat, do pushup and probably your Algebra homework! It took a total of 13 months to design the bot and another 17 months to assemble it.

For being a prototype I would consider the build a success, it’s kind of eerie to think what humankind has achieved and what is right around the corner, looking at the robot you get that ominous feeling, could the build of machines lead to the ultimate demise of mankind? Or will it help us to flourish like never before? Either way, it looks like it’s the way to the future and who knows, we might be purchasing our very own robots before long!

Anyhow, I know I am way of tangent this morning, but I want to discuss “DMV STOPS” in FL, do to a couple emails that I have received.  If you aren’t already familiar, DMV stops are added when your financial Institute is searching for your vehicle do to non payment or when forced placed insurance is added and they are trying to protect their asset.

Typically, it’s a last resort but more and more people are hiding collateral, which is against Florida’s state law (FL STATUTE 320.1316). Once the “notice to surrender letter” is sent and expires your financial institute can send the request straight to Tallahassee to place stop on the tag and prevent future registrations until the issue is resolved, (meaning either pay current or turn the vehicle in). Some people are claiming that this action isn’t legal but in Florida, it is another line of defense that has recently been implemented to help recover unpaid collateral.

Now I am not an advocate for banks but if you borrow, then you should pay it back, especially if you are still driving the vehicle. I understand many fall into hardship and that is understandable, make sure that you keep communication and call to see if your bank offers loan modifications or extensions. Worst-case scenario you can’t afford the vehicle. It’s best to try and sell it out right or return the vehicle to prevent wear and tear so the highest dollar is earned at auction, thus preventing a higher deficiency balance in which you will ultimately be held responsible for.

 Use this link https://services.flhsmv.gov/MVCheckWeb/ to check and see if you have an existing stop, for additional information on FL STATUTE 320.1316. Please visit http://reposites.com/stop.pdf.  I hope that I have answered your questions thoroughly, if you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask. Remember this is not a substitute for legal advice, just a better explanation of what a “DMV STOP” is.

Reports indicate that there is currently more student loan debt then credit card debt. What the younger generation is quickly learning, is that once they obtain that 100k degree and graduate, there isn’t a six figure job waiting for them. In others words, there is no gold at the end of the rainbow. Our economy is struggling now to keep our heads above water but who is considering the future crisis that we have at hand?

Our government has emphasized greater collection powers and unlike mortgages and credit card debt, student loans cannot disappear via bankruptcy. College Board has recognized that we are ultimately on a path of destruction and leading ourselves into more debt. This article isn’t meant to discourage anyone from acquiring a degree but to hopefully enlighten people on a topic that needs more consideration and thought when applying for these schools that literally require you to hand over your first born.

More and more educated people are being succumbed by “wage slavery”. This ultimately is delaying folks from leading their life like you typically would. This means purchasing your home, cars etc… later and most importantly delaying your 401k and retirement. One thing the younger generation must realize is that social security probably won’t be around for their retirement and people should be paying themselves before anyone else.

I took a moment to recommend a few tips that may help save money when considering your education:

1. Scholarships – Work hard in high school and keep your GPA as high as possible, speak with your advisor about participating companies offering scholarships. In some instances you can get a full ride to an “A” rated school.  Imagine having zero debt upon completion of your degree. (Some would kill for this) It does exist but requires extreme dedication and hard work.
2. Government Grants – Another great opportunity that people have is to apply for grants that don’t require repayment as long as certain terms are met. A popular financial aid is the FASFA. Generally speaking it’s simple to complete online and only takes a couple days to receive feedback if you qualify.
3. Community College – you can save thousands by earning your associates at a community college and then transferring to a university to obtain your bachelors degree. So many people over look this, because they want to fit in with their peers and be considered “cool”. Think with your pocket book not your ego in this instance.

Hopefully this will shed a little light on where we are headed and maybe help people to take in consideration possible future ramifications, for not just yourself but the economy as a whole. We can’t keep relying on the government to save us, we have to start taking responsibility for our actions and if we don’t start focusing on this issue, I GUARANTEE it will be a future problem for us all.

Know where your money goes

Many experts say that keeping track of your spending will help you have a better picture of where you are financially, and give you a better idea of what you can actually afford. And no – having your spending patterns all up in your head is not enough. You need to literally jot down everything that you purchase or pay for everyday, no matter how small it is.

Little things such as signature latte, magazines you never read, or clothes you buy impulsively because they are on sale, all add up – sometimes to hundreds a month. A list will help you realize how these ‘little’ things drain your bank account, so you can cut back on spending.

Pay yourself first

Make it a point to set aside a definite amount every month for yourself. Some experts recommend saving at least 10% of your salary, but if this impossible, a smaller, more manageable amount will do. The key is to do it regularly and religiously. Do not let anything derail your savings plan.

Invest in health insurance

Your health is one of your greatest assets. Without it, you will find it very hard to work. Do not scrimp on your health insurance plan because you never know how much you will need in the future. Choose a plan that offers the widest coverage.

Live well, spend well

Being “money wise” does not mean being a penny-pincher. Just cut back on things you don’t need, and instead put your money on things you enjoy. For example, do not pay for 150 channels of cable TV when you only watch 10 or 15.

Here’s a start: Brew fresh coffee at home and bring it to work so you won’t have to spend on Starbucks, eat out only on special occasions, and use your mobile phone only when necessary. You will be amazed at how much money you can spend doing these simple things.

 But what should I do when I’m already buried in debt?

When all else fails and you really become financially drained and burdened by debt, remember that bankruptcy is not your only resort.  There are other alternatives you can explore.

 a.  Try restructuring. Talk to your creditors and ask if there are alternative payment methods available to you. Many credit card companies agree to restructure your debt into manageable increments until you are able to pay it fully. Many of them will agree to work on a new payment plan with you, especially if your reasons for not being able to pay are valid. They are especially friendly to borrowers with good credit history. They also usually give special consideration to people who cannot pay because of sudden unemployment, illness, and other such reasons.

b.      Try debt consolidation. Debt consolidation allows you to simplify your debt servicing – you simply make one monthly payment to one financial institution and in most cases, this monthly payment is actually much lower than the sum of all your multiple payments. How is this possible? A third-party agent (a debt consolidation company) agrees to pay off all your debt on the condition that you put up collateral, such as your house.

How to Measure the Glycemic Index Value of Meals
To calculate the GI value of a meal, you need to know two things:

- The total grams of carbohydrates in the meal.
- The percentage of the carb-total contributed by each food.

Once you know this data, which is typically obtainable from most food composition or nutrition tables, the GI calculation for a meal is simple:

Multiply the GI value of each food by their percentage of total carbohydrate. Add up the totals, to get the GI value for the meal.

Calculating GI For a Simple Meal
Suppose you eat 2 slices (2oz) of toast and a glass (4oz) of milk.
The toast contains about 26g of carbohydrate; milk about 6g of carbs.
The total carb content is 32g. (81% from bread; 19% from milk)
The GI of bread is about 70; the GI of milk is about 28.
Calculation = GI X Percentage of carb contribution

Toast: 70 X 81% = 57
Milk: 28 X 19% = 5
Total: 57 + 5 = 62

The GI value of the meal is 62.

Calculating GI Value of Meals Not Always Possible
If we eat meals with non-standard foods that either do not have a GI rating, or are cooked in ways that have not been tested for GI effect, it is not possible to calculate a precise GI value for them. Even so, by using food composition tables and GI rating lists, it is possible to arrive at ballpark GI values for most meals.

The keyboard hook is built into every Windows system, and it’s a part of a file called user32.dll. You can access this on your Windows registry sequence under windows\\system or windows\\system32 directory. It’s essential that you never delete this file, since it’s a vital part of your Windows installation. The essential reason for this program is so that you can create hot-keys and macros for commonly used tasks. However, keyboard loggers are designed to intercept this system and can build instructions that capture all of your keys.

Keyboard logger software programs are designed to record every keystroke made on the computer, and are often undetectable without the right software program. They can track almost any keystroke entry, and become invisible to most users. Some of the programs are also designed to generate reports of results, log all activity, and send it via e-mail to a third party. They may also monitor chats, websites, and provide screenshots of user activity. They are ultimately a surveillance tool that can appear as encrypted files, and come packaged with other virus and spyware programs. Many are delivered to a user’s computer through a Trojan or e-mail attachment.

There are a few protection techniques that can help you to find keyboard loggers with ease. You will need to consistently monitor programs that are installed on your computer, and run a virus scan on each program download. This can alert you of anything that seems out of order, and also highlight any spyware installations. Anti-spyware programs are commonly designed to detect and remove keylogger software as well; as long as the anti-spyware program is a legitimate one, you can prevent the keylogging program download in the first place.

Enabling a firewall can help prevent unauthorized data transmission of any files, but won’t effectively recognize or help prevent the download of keylogging software. You can use the firewall as added protection and as an extra measure of security. Additionally, a network monitor can be used to alert you of any keylogging activity. Running a spyware scan may also help you detect suspicious programs, but you will need to tap into your windows registry to find any details of keylogging activity.

Keyboard loggers are very difficult to detect and remove, and once installed, can be very hazardous to your personal security. Many employers use keyboard logging software to monitor employees and manage employee productivity; however, you may be at risk for having this on your personal computer system if you have not protected your computer against antivirus threats, spyware programs, and downloads on a regular basis.