| Siof Posted: 11 May 2012 09:23 AM PDT
| 101 Tips and Tricks of Google Search Posted: 11 May 2012 06:17 AM PDT Looking for the ultimate tips for Google searching? You've just found the only guide to Google you need. Let's get started:
1. The best way to begin searching harder with Google is by clicking the Advanced Search link.
2. This lets you search for exact phrases, "all these words", or one of the specified keywords by entering search terms into the appropriate box.
3. You can also define how many results you want on the page, what language and what file type you're looking for, all with menus.
4. Advanced Search lets you type in a Top Level Domain (like .co.uk) in the "Search within site of domain" box to restrict results.
5. And you can click the "Date, usage rights, numeric range and more" link to access more advanced features.
6. Save time most of these advanced features are also available in Google's front page search box, as command line parameters.
7. Google's main search invisibly combines search terms with the Boolean construct "AND ". When you enter smoke fire it looks for smoke AND fire.
8. To make Google search for smoke or fire, just type smoke OR fire
9. Instead of OR you can type the | symbol, like this: smoke | fire
10. Boolean connectors like AND and OR are case sensitive. They must be upper case.
11. Search for a specific term, then one keyword OR another by grouping them with parentheses, like this: water (smoke OR fire)
12. To look for phrases, put them in quotes: "there's no smoke without fire"
13. Synonym search looks for words that mean similar things. Use the tilde symbol before your keyword, like this: ~eggplant
14. Exclude specific key words with the minus operator. new pram -ebay excludes all results from eBay.
15. Common words, like I, and, then and if are ignored by Google. These are called "stop words".
16. The plus operator makes sure stop words are included. Like: fish +and chips
17. If a stop word is included in a phrase between quote marks as a phrase, the word is searched for.
18. You can also ask Google to fill in a blank. Try: Christopher Columbus discovered *
19. Search for a numerical range using the numrange operator. For example, search for Sony TV between Rs 50000 and Rs 100000 with the string Sony TV Rs50000..Rs100000
20. Google recognises 13 main file types through advanced search, including all Microsoft Office Document types, Lotus, PostScript, Shockwave Flash and plain text files.
21. Search for any filetype directly using the modifier filetype:[filetype extension]. For example: soccer filetype:pdf
22. Exclude entire file types, using the same Boolean syntax we used to exclude key words earlier: rugby -filetype:doc
23, In fact, you can combine any Boolean search operators, as long as your syntax is correct. An example: "sausage and mash" -onions filetype:doc
24. Google has some very powerful, hidden search parameters, too. For example "intitle" only s earches page titles. Try intitle:herbs
25. If you're looking for files rather than pages give index of as the intitle: parameter. It helps you find web and FTP directories.
26. The modifier inurl only searches the web address of a page: give inurl:spices a go.
27. Find live webcams by searching for: inurl:view/view.shtml
28. The modifier inanchor is very specific, only finding results in text used in page links.
29. Want to know how many links there are to a site? Try link:sitename for example link:www.mozilla.org
30. Similarly, you can find pages that Google thinks are related in content, using the related: modifier. Use it like this: related:www.microsoft.com
31. The modifier info:site_name returns information about the specified page.
32. Alternatively, do a normal search then click the "Similar Pages" link next to a result. 33. Specify a site to search with the site: modifier like this: search tips site:www.techradar.com
34. The above tip works with directory sites like www.dmoz.org and dynamically generated sites.
35. Access Google Directory a database of handpicked and rated sites at directory.google.com
36. The Boolean operators intitle and inurl work in Google directory, as does OR.
37. Use the site: modifier when searching Google Images, at images.google.com. For example: dvd recorder site:www.amazon.co.uk
38. Similar, using "site:.com" will only return results from .com domains.
39. Google News (news.google.com) has its own Boolean parameters. For example "intext" pulls terms from the body of a story.
40. If you use the operator "source:" in Google News, you can pick specific archives. For example: heather mills source:daily_mail
41. Using the "location:" filter enables you to return news from a chosen country. location:uk for example.
42. Si milarly, Google Blogsearch (blogsearch.google.com) has its own syntax. You can search for a blog title, for example, using inblogtitle:
43. The general search engine can get very specific indeed. Try movie: to look for movie reviews.
44. The modifier film: works just as well!
45. Enter showtimes and Google will prompt you for your postcode. Enter it and it'll tell you when and where local films are showing.
46. For a dedicated film search page, go to www.google.co.uk/movies
47. If you ticked "Remember this Location" when you searched for show times, the next time you can enter the name of a current film instead.
48. Google really likes movies. Try typing director: The Dark Knight into the main search box.
49. For cast lists, try cast: name_of_film
50. The modifier music: followed by a band, song or album returns music reviews.
51. Try searching for weather London you'll get a full 4-day forecast.
52. There's also a built-in dictionary. Try define: in the search box.
53. Google stores the content of old sites. You can search this cache direct with the syntax keyword cache:site_url
54. Alternatively, enter cache:site_url into Google's search box to be taken direct to the stored site.
55. No calculator handy? Use Google's built in features. Try typing 12*15 and hitting "Google Search".
56. Google's calculator converts measurements and understands natural language. Type in 14 stones in kilos, for example.
57. It does currency conversion too. Try 200 pounds in euros
58. If you know the currency code you can type 200 GBP in EUR instead for more reliable results.
59. And temperature! Just type: 98 f to c to convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade.
60. Want to know how clever Google really is? Type 2476 in roman numerals, then hit "Google Search"...
61. You can personalise your Google experience by creating a Google account. Go to www.google.com/account/ then click "Create Account".
62. With a Google account there are lots more extras available. You'll get a free Gmail email account for one...
63. With your Google account, you can also personalise your front page. Click "iGoogle" to add blog and site feeds.
64. Click "Add a Tab" in iGoogle to add custom tabs. Google automatically populates them with suitable site suggestions.
65. iGoogle allows you to theme your page too. Click "Select Theme" to change the default look.
66. Some iGoogle themes change with time..."Sweet Dreams" is a theme that turns from day to night as you browse.
67. Click "More" under "Try something new" to access a full list of Google sites and new features.
68. "Custom Search" enables you to create a branded Google search for your own site.
69. An active, useful service missing from the list is "Personalised Search" but you can access it via www.google.com/psearch when you're logged in.
70. This page lists searches you have recently made and is divided into categories. Clicking "pause" stops Google from recording your history.
71. Click "Trends" to see the sites you visit most, the terms you enter most often and links you've clicked on!
72. Personalised Search also includes a bookmark facility which enables you to save bookmarks online and access them from anywhere.
73. You can add bookmarks or access your bookmarks using the iGoogle Bookmarks gadget.
74. Did you know you can search within your returned results? Scroll down to the bottom of the search results page to find the link.
75. Search locally by appending your postcode to the end of query. For example Indian food BA1 2BW finds restaurants in Bath, with addresses and phone numbers!
76. Looking for a map? Just add map to the end of your query, like this: Leeds map
77. Google finds images just as easily and lists them at the top, when you add image to the end of your search.
78. Google Image Search recognises faces... add &imgtype=face to the end of the returned URL in the location bar, then hit enter to filter out pictures that aren't people.
79. Keeping an eye on stocks? Type stocks: followed by market ticker for the company and Google returns the data from Google Finance.
80. Enter the carrier and flight number in Google's main search box to return flight tracking information.
81. What time is it? Find out anywhere by typing time then the name of a place.
82. You may have noticed Google suggests alternate spellings for search terms that's the built in spell checker!
83. You can invoke the spell checker directly by using spell: followed by your keyword.
84. Click "I'm Feeling Lucky" to be taken straight to the first page Google finds for your keyword.
85. Enter a statistics-based query like population of Britain into Google, and it will show you the answer at the top of its results.
86. If your search has none-Engli sh results, click "Translate this Page" to see it in English.
87. You can search foreign sites specifically by clicking "Language Tools", then choosing which countries sites to translate your query to.
88. Other features on the language tools page include a translator for blocks of text you can type or cut and paste.
89. There's also a box that you can enter a direct URL into, translating to the chosen language.
90. Near the language tools link, you'll see the "Search Preferences". This handy page is full of secret functionality.
91. You can specify which languages Google returns results in, ticking as many (or few) boxes as you like.
92. Google's Safe Search protects you from explicit sexual content. You can choose to filter results more stringently or switch it off completely.
93. Google's default of 10 results a page can be increased to up to 100 in Search Preferences, too.
94. You can also set Google to open your search results in a new window.
95. Want to see what others are searching for or improve your page rank? Go to www.google.com/zeitgeist
96. Another useful, experimental search can be found at www.google.com/trends where you can find the hottest search terms.
97. To compare the performance of two or more terms, enter them into the trends search box separated by commas.
98. Fancy searching Google in Klingon? Go to www.google.com/intl/xx-klingon
99. Perhaps the Swedish chef from the muppets is your role model instead? Check www.google.com/intl/xx-bork
100. Type answer to life, the universe and everything into Google. You may be surprised by the result...
101. It will also tell you the number of horns on a unicorn iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Tricks to Stop Your Dog From Barking - Tips to Help You Train Your Dog Not to Bark Posted: 10 May 2012 11:15 AM PDT It may be one of the most frustrating thing that you have to deal with when your dog is barking at everything and you can not seem to get him to stop. There are some great tips you can use to understand why he does this and you can train him to stop barking. This is one of the biggest problems dog owners have besides house training there dogs so know that you are not alone. Get Free : Dog Barking Tips It is natural for your dog to bark and dogs have been barking for a long time now but you can teach your dog when it is ok to bark and when it is not. This will make your life and many people around you lives much easier when you master these tips. What you need to do is to train them to bark when you give them the command to do so. For instance if you tell your dog to "Speak" then that is an ok time for them to bark. By doing this it will teach them that it is ok to bark when you give the command to do so and they will not feel the pressure to bark at everythin g. How to : Make Them Stop Barking Finally you want to get your dog to not bark when they are not prompted and in many cases when they bark they are trying to tell you something. Maybe they feel like you may be threatened and they are warning you of danger. You need to talk to your dog and let them know that you see the passing car and that is enough barking. Remember that training your dog not to bark is not a hard thing to do but with a little patience you will be amazed as to how your dog can learn new things. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Tricks for dogs Posted: 09 May 2012 11:18 AM PDT There are various tricks that you can teach a dog. One of these very popular tricks would be to teach your dog to rollover. This trick would entail making your pet go round and round on the ground which would be very dizzy for the pet that is doing it. There are a variety of ways that this can be done but I would just go through two of them with you. The key choice would be simplifying the whole thing at once hoping that the dog would catch on quickly. Regrettably, many pets have this problem and this is where the next option would come into play where the exercise is broken up into smaller section and then combined later on. So here we go. Firstly, you will be instructing your pet to lie on the ground. You should say "down" with the front and hind legs firmly on the floor. Dogs that do not respond promptly will need some help and so you must gently push the part lower. You should then get your pet a treat as a reward for completing these tasks. The next part is a combination of two tricks. Firstly, you will ensure that the animal stays put which is commonly known as "playing dead." You can accomplish this by having dog stomach and face flatly on the ground. Thirdly, we will be making the pet roll on from the front to the back. There are many terms that can be used and the most common are "roll or show the back." However, only one should be used because you do not want to confuse the dog. You should use your hands to initiate motion which the dog will learn eventually. Rub the belly of the dog or 'pet' it as a reward instead of just feeding it all the time as it completes the task. Now that the pet was able to roll in one direction, it is time to do it for two or three times. The command to 'roll' must be repeated slowly so the canine will understand what needs to be done. When your dog can do this, it is good to have this done also on the other. Some people have said that this is automatic already once the first three steps have been done but the rate in which the dog learns tricks varies. Another exercise that may seem silly is lying on the ground and going through the motion in the hopes the dog will follow. Some owners have said that this works while others just do this for fun to see how it feels like being a dog. If you are not successful on the first try, maybe there is something wrong in how it was delivered. So try again. If the advice is not fruitful, it's time to go pet store and buy a book or instructional video. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Magic Tricks To Do: Learn Some Magic Tricks To Entertain Your Friends - Other Posted: 08 May 2012 08:27 AM PDT Magic tricks can be entertaining to learn and to perform for your family and friends. Of course some tricks can take quite a bit of time to learn. There are some magic tricks to do that can be easily learned at home and are very impressive to those who see them. You can learn to levitate and fold money, levitate people including yourself, learn to perform several different card tricks, or learn tricks with coins. One simple trick goes like this: tell your friend or an audience member that you are going to write down a number, and when you have done so, put the paper in an envelope, seal the envelope, and give it to the person. The number should be twice the year. So, if its 2010, the number you have written is 4020. Do NOT tell the person what the number is, of course. Than ask them to write down the answers to 4 questions and to add them up. The questions are how old will they be at the end of this year, write down a year that something significant happened to them, the year they were born, and how long its been since the significant event. Than-have them open the envelope-and the number will be the same. You can also learn to levitate a dollar bill (or any other currency) A dollar bill is laid in the palm of your hand-and it begins to move. And than it folds itself up, without you touching the bill. You can use your own bill or some elses, it doesnt matter. You can also learn ro levitate yourself a few inchs above the ground, anywhere you happen to be. And you can learn to make a match or any small object jump up and down on a table. You can also learn to make any chosen playing card disappear from the deck and reappear whereever you want it to. In someones pocket, on the ceiling, or in some other location. Learn to predict what card someone has chosen from a deck of cards, or how much change someone has in their pocket. All of these magic tricks to do can be easily learned. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Learning Magic Tricks in a Simple Way - Entertainment Posted: 07 May 2012 01:52 AM PDT One of the best things to entertain your friends is to show some magic tricks. It is already common for every individual to sing and dance in front of many people in entertaining them. For sure if you do a something different, your friends will be amazed. But you have to keep in mind that you need to learn how to execute every procedure of the tricks. Learning magic tricks involve two different aspects. One is the presentation of tricks and the other one is the secret of how you will be able to perform it. Most of the time tricks are being performed with a close range between the magician and his audience. This is usually done in order to have full control of the audience and manipulate them. As you see those people who are watching tricks, they are all amused especially if the magician executes the tricks properly. These tricks are specially made so that it can bring some fun and entertainment to all people. So it is necessary for the magician to practice the tricks well in order to avoid mistake during the performance and this is a way of showing your special skills to other. In a cocktail party, short range of magic tricks are being performed and the magician try to mingle with their audience. He usually borrows some things to their audience and uses it as their props. Magicians usually borrow simple things so that it will be easy for them to carry out the tricks. People around the magician can be used as their props too. You can also be a magician in your own little way. You can be an ice breaker in an occasion. You can also perform some card tricks. Card tricks are the most common forms of illusion done by a magician. Most of the time audience get really amazed with the tricks and can even think on how it was done. If you are eager to learn magic tricks, you can start making some researches in order to gain knowledge. You can start reading books about magic, search the internet sand ask for professional magicians to teach you on how to do magic tricks. Through these simple methods, you will be able to learn tricks easily. Just keep in mind that you have to be patient in practicing and willing to give all your effort in order to learn all the procedures that you need to undergo through. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Master Mentalism and Magic Instruction Magic Tricks - Entertainment - Humor Posted: 06 May 2012 01:48 AM PDT Now, with the sudden release of this incredible information, you can take your magic and mentalism skills from wherever you are now to respected mega-skilled star status in a stunningly short time. From: Ryan Clark & Mr. XSaturday, June 4, 2011Las Vegas, NV Dear Future Mentalism & Magic Guru, If youve ever dreamed of breaking away from the pack, and quickly mastering mentalism and magic at a level that blows away even hardcore professional mentalists and magicians then this is gonna be the most exciting message you ever read. Heres why: One of the most sought-after pro magicians and mentalists in the biz has finally agreed to share the amazing Master Mentalism Magic Shortcuts that other magicians and mentalists have paid a fortune to learn from him. And some of these pros are pissed off that hes revealing these secrets to people outside the magic and mentalism industry. They dont want guys like you to know that the skills behind their killer magic tricks and awesome mentalism and mind control stunts are actually easy to master. Once you have the shortcuts. (Some of these veterans feel their careers are now threatened.) These are the secrets that can take any mentalist or magician at any level (even just starting out) and launch you into a whole new world of amazing skills that will leave other magicians and mentalists in awe. You wanna crack the magicians code revealing the secret skills that keep guys likeCriss Angel, David Blaine, David Copperfield & Derren Brown astonishing people year after year and yet not have to surfer the years of failure before finally being able to perform at the level that most mentalists and magicians fear? You wanna astonish people with fresh, powerful and nasty tricks and illusions theyll remember for the rest of their lives? You want the kind of permanent skills that earn instant respect and make doing magic and mentalism fun again? And you wanna be able to begin using your new skills tonight, in the heat of a performance? Well, guess what? It can all be yours, faster and easier than you ever dreamed possible.Because these shortcuts work for anyone whether youre a shy kid whos never done a magic trick in his life, or a veteran magician or mentalist whos hit a stale plateau and desperately needs to get to the next level. Thats right. No matter where you are now, skill-wise you can quickly and easily master the jaw-dropping feats of the best mentalists and magicians out there, youll uncover shortcuts to many skills: MentalismStreet MagicMind ReadingHypnotismLevitationRemote ViewingCard TricksSpoon BendingIllusionsAnd much, much more!Heres the story:Mr. X is the go-to guy when professional magicians have a television special or a stage show coming up and they need to quickly develop some new material for their show. (Hes been called the secret weapon behind the coolest shows ever done.) And hes freaking expensive, too. Superstars will delay the start of a new show until Mr. X has time to go over the details with them. So you know he has vision, wicked skills, and a cunning bag of tricks that keep him at the top of the game. But hes also one of the most hated guys around. Lets face it Not everyone in the industry appreciates Mr. X sharing the secrets behind their skills with people like you. If they could, they would lock Mr. X up someplace where no civilians could ever find him. This is why he refused to release this material without using an alias (which is why hes only referred to as Mr. X) But he also believes that the elite LA, Las Vegas, New York & London crowdshouldnt be the only ones that have access to these powerful insider secrets. So now youll have access to training from the most sought-after (and expensive) teacheraround. Because he can take a raw 12-year-old kid and have him constantly astonishing everyone he comes across in no time flat. So just imagine what he can do for you and your already bad-ass magic and mentalism. This will change your life. Immediately. Even more amazing the skills he reveals are so simple, you can begin doing mind-boggling magic tricks and illusions starting tonight, with total confidence and flair.(Check out the feedback from other people just like you later on this page.) Again mentalism, magic tricks, mind reading, levitation, hypnotism, illusions any style of magic or mentalism youre into just explodes and comes alive before your eyes. And you are suddenly the mentalist and magician in your town. Other guys will wanna go home and burn their decks of cards and magic gimmicks in frustration. You will own any room you walk into. Heres What Weve Got For You The second Mr. X agreed to share his secrets, we put him up in a Las Vegas hotel. We locked him in the hotel room while he was revealing ALL his secrets to quickly mastering mentalism and magic. Everything including Simple tricks that will have you astonishing people starting tonight.The super shortcut magic and mentalism system you can use onstage, in the streets or anywhere, which guarantees you can perform mind-numbing magic and mentalism with total confidence. Dont waste a second learning anything complicated that youll never use instead, Mr. X shows you ONLY what you need to know. Best part: Its easy, the way he teaches it!Move like lightning through the 3 stages of magic and mentalism mastery: From no clue at all to this is easy in just a few short hours and then on through impress all your friends to the point you scare them. This is sudden expertise that most magicians and mentalists never dream they can attain in a lifetime yet youll be performing with total mastery almost overnight.Instantly learn the insider techniques behind Criss Angel, Derren Brown, David Blaine and David Copperfield (just to name a few) super-popular stuff that will give you smoking audience appeal ri ght off the bat! How to think just like the pros the one skill that separates the really talented mentalists and magicians (who make each routineshine and leave people begging for more) from the wannabes (who use the same old tricks over and over, because they cant think out of the box). This skill alone will launch you into a whole new level of killer abilities.The brilliant X factor that allows you to quickly master the coolest tricks and illusions youll ever use and most of them will be unique your own personal mentalism and magic signature. This kind of strategic performance is so simple , youll kick yourself for not figuring it out on your own. But almost no one ever does figure it out until theyre shown the technique by a pro like Mr. X. (Priceless stuff that will change your life on the spot.) And a ton more: Stunningly explosive techniques you can use tonight to pull off magic tricks like Criss Angel or David Blaine Derren Brown mentalism feats or large-scaleDavid Copperfield style illusions that give you instant magic and mentalism credentials hypnosis methods that work the first time you use them how to do street magic or levitations on the fly (forget about having to plan everything out ahead of time heres all you need to know) plus pro decision-making tips so you know how and when to plug new tactics into your routines for maximum effect! It just goes on and on. Magic, Mentalism, Illusions, Hypnosis, Levitations, Spoon-Bending, Remote Viewing, Mind Reading, Card Tricks, and tons of variations that will instantly give you iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | It's All About Deception When It Comes to Your Credit Card Companies - Finance - Loans Posted: 05 May 2012 01:48 AM PDT Each day, credit card businesses pull much more income out of your checking account when they use a variety of devious tactics. They will do all they can to kill your goals of getting out of debt and reaching economic prosperity. One devious strategy applied by your credit card company is to season the mail. First of all, many credit cards these days are adding a time your payment has to arrive to them by on the due day. Let us say your due date is the fifteenth of the month. You may see on your paperwork that your fee has to reach them by midday that day. If your payment reaches them at 1PM on the fifteenth of the month, you are past due even if, technically, you got it there on the due date. Good, huh? The actual kicker, however, is how some credit card organizations season their postal mail. They from time to time let your mailing with your fee in it sit in the mail room for a couple nights before they get around to opening it. For this specific reason, be certain to deliver your bill a week in advance, 10 nights earlier would be better. Raising your interest charge is another devious trick these types of organizations use to damage you. Be conscious that credit card firms are seeking for any chance to elevate your interest charge and hold you from at some point stating that you have been able to get out of debt. If you are past due with your cost, they can bring that as an excuse to hike your charge. If you have never been past due before, a lot of firms will credit the past due fee back. But, a lot of will still increase your price even following the credit to your account. A cash advance can be risky, also. Commonly the cash advance fee is greater than your normal interest rate. Your future repayments will be put towards your reduced charge first so the funds you borrowed at the larger charge sits there forever costing you much more funds. If you have not examined the fine print, some credit cards will hike your whole amount owed up to the cash advance interest fee rate as soon as you do the advance. One more interest fee credit card trick is to raise your charge because they saw you were past due on another credit card. Yes, they verify your credit score record periodically trying to discover a slip-up elsewhere that they can gain benefit from. Did you know that your credit cards can increase your rate just because they feel like it? Yep, go examine all that fine print in the agreement. It is in there. It would be in your very best benefit to get serious about having to pay off your credit cards, building an crisis fund, and cease carrying these balances. Then, you will not care how many deceitful credit card tricks they come up with, will you? Just keep in mind that your individual credit card debt management does not need to be a struggle as long as you take the right time to find out the rules of the credit card financial debt game. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Top 5 Books to Learn Magic Tricks - Hobbies Posted: 04 May 2012 12:42 AM PDT I'm often asked by both adults and kids about where they can learn more about the Art of Magic. In this article, I'll recommend top 10 magic books a newcomer to the Art of Magic should consider. The good news is the majority of these books are available from Amazon or Barnes and Noble bookstores. 1. Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic by Mark Wilson Mark Wilson's book is the modern equivalent of a condensed version of the Tarbell Course in Magic series. Wilson's book introduces readers to a wide variety of magic ranging from card tricks, coin tricks, rope magic, mental magic, impromptu magic and even stage illusions! It teaches the fundamentals of magic technique and is well illustrated. 2. A Book of Magic for Young Magicians : The Secrets of Alkazar by Allan Zola Kronzek This is one of the best books on handling key cards and has excellent presentations for classic magic effects. It is written as a kids book but it has a lot of great tips and handling for common magic effects. In one lesson Alkazar demonstrates an entertaining magic trick and a boring magic trick. Both use the same method yet the book explains the importance of presentation. 3. Now You See It, Now You Don't Lessons in Sleight of Hand by Bill Tarr Bill Tarr's book provides a well illustrated introduction to sleight of hand. If you want to learn how to make cards, coins, and silks disappear and reappear, this book provides an excellent introduction. He also wrote a second book called The Second Now You See It, Now You Don't. 4. New Modern Coin Magic by J.B. Bobo Coin magic is a lot of fun to perform since coins are readily available, fit in your pocket, and can be borrowed to perform mysterious and entertaining feats of prestidigitation. Bobo's Modern Coin Magic provides an excellent resource on all the key vanishes, retentions, concealments and sleight of hand required to perform coin magic. The book also has several chapters dedicated to various classic effects in Magic such as Coins Across, The Miser's Dream, and Coin Boxes. Bobo's Coin Magic a must in any magician's library! 5. The Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue The Royal Road to Card Magic is an inexpensive book that is jam packed with card magic. Beginners and experienced magicans can benefit by reading the Royal Road and reviewing the different concepts and ideas on sleight of hand card magic. One of my magic mentors recommends that every magician - experienced and new - should review the Royal Road to Card Magic as it acquaints the reader with the fundamentals of card magic. These books aren't the only magic books I'd recommend but for the magic newbie, these are great books to start learning about the art of magic. There are thousands of books, DVDs, and articles available on the Art of Magic. In future articles, I'll explore a few more useful resources to learn about Magic. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Secrets of Card Magic Review - Entertainment Posted: 03 May 2012 01:03 AM PDT Within Secrets of Card Magic Course you will be exposed to over 40 plus video clips of Mind Blowing Card Magic, Explanations, Sleigh of Hand, flourishes, Experience Guide & So Much More.These clips are going to make you the master magician to completely freak people out with your mind blowing card magic! You will even begin to amaze yourself at the magic you can create with a simple deck of cards. With Secrets of Card Magic step by step learning on how to do card tricks you soon will be able to perform mind blowing card magic in less then 30 minutes from now..guaranteed!!!How would it feel to have the power to walk up to a complete stranger at a party or in a bar and in just minutes leave them so completely freaked by your card magic that they have to question them self to see what as actually just happened! Well the good news, this is the amazing magic tricks you will have available to you within "Secrets of Card Magic". you will be shown step by step to the most amazing mind blowing magic you could ever wish to perform.Each type of magic is fully explained and assumes absolutely no up-front knowledge on your part at all. If you know enough to take a deck of cards out of its packet then you know enough to start your journey inside "Secrets of Card Magic." Not only will you be shown what you need to do to make the cards come alive in your hands but you actually get to watch over my shoulder as I have recorded over 40 plus videos where I actually perform the tricks I am teaching you, along with the explanations, sleight of hand and flourishes this way you not only get the training but get to see real world examples of how the magic come's to live in a way that mere words alone could never show.Grab A Copy Click hereWhen you take action today and purchase Secrets of Card Magic Course I'm also going to include 2 weeks of my best keep secret in learning mind blowing card magic. Once you start learning from this secret weapon that I have created, this is going to take you and your magic to the next's level guaranteed!!! This secrets weapon is going to give you a whole range of mind blowing magic to perform that will leave all your competition in the distances, not to mention completely freak out your friends and family. SCM Training will give you Top Secrets Video Recording of close up magic, self working, mind reading, productions, street magic and colour changes that's well other 350 plus videos on card magic, explanations, sleight of hand & so much more!!!Here how it works, each week you will receive a password to give you access to login into the SCM Training room where you will learn more mind blowing card magic to perform, the very best sleight of hand to use and great tips on how to improve your magic, thats well over 10 videos clips per week!!! over 40 videos clips a month!!! Can you start to see why SCM Training has the power to take you and your magic to the next's level! That's not all, I'll also give you another Secrets bonus that you are going to love! Grab A Copy Click here iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | How Did They Do That? Types Of Magic Tricks - Entertainment Posted: 02 May 2012 01:12 AM PDT There are many kinds of magic tricks, but most fall into one of a few categories. Oftentimes, a magician will specialize in one or a few areas. For those who employ a range of techniques, they will often develop some type of persona or specialty act to differentiate themselves from other performers. Just as other entertainers often find a niche, so too do magicians. While no type of magic is particularly easy, some types are common for beginning magicians, such as learning sleight of hand tricks. Most magicians know a core base of tricks, and then develop their particular repertoire from there. Magic is based on illusion and mystery, and all types of magic tricks employ this mystery. This is what is so alluring about magic! Secrecy is of course another major element of magic. Practicing magicians are very selective about who they share their secrets with. People who work with magicians are often required to sign contracts stating they will not share the magician's secrets with anyone else. What types of tricks do magicians perform? The following list is a basic overview of magic tricks that are commonly associated with the practice of magic. Sleight of hand tricks are those that involve skilled hand movements where objects seem to appear and disappear in the hands of the performer. One of the oldest sleight of hand tricks originated in Ancient Egypt. In this trick, the performer hides balls under turned-over cups. As the performer moves the cups around, the balls change positions under the cups. The observers try to watch and guess where the balls will appear, but the magician fools them every time! Sleight of hand tricks are used with a variety of objects, including card, coins, balls, and other objects. Some magicians have even used live animals. A magician skilled in sleight of hand can perform magic almost anytime, anywhere. Illusions are those where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Some of the better known illusion tricks include those where a woman is sawed in half and levitation tricks. Other illusions involve making people, animals, or objects reappear. David Copperfield, a modern-day magician, has made such large objects as the Statue of Liberty and a jet airplane disappear in front of live audiences. Escape magic is just as it sounds. The most famous escape artist was Harry Houdini, who performed a number of daring escapes in front of large audiences in exotic locations. Suspended high in the air, Houdini would be handcuffed and placed inside locked or otherwise sealed containers and emerge moments later. Escape magic is intriguing not only because of the amazing feat, but also because of the danger involved. Mentalists are another form of magicians who appear to read the minds of strangers. In front of live audiences, mentalists will recreate drawings done by audience members that are unseen to the magician, but visible to the audience. They will also read the minds of strangers and perform an array of amazing mental tricks. The mystery of the mentalist lies in the performance in front of a live audience. Some mentalists in modern times have even created tricks for television where they seem to read the minds of viewers! How and where magicians perform varies a great deal as well. Street magic, close-up magic, and stage magic all offer amazing performances in vastly different settings. Street magic is as it sounds, performed outside and in the spur of the moment. Street magic often includes sleight of hand tricks, although a variety of magic is performed this way. One of the most famous current-day street magicians is David Blaine, who performs a wide range of card tricks, disappearing acts, and even levitation on the street. Close-up magic is performed indoors or out, and often involves such things as card or coin tricks. It is performed just as it sounds--in close range. The audience is small, and the magician sits or stands in the middle, which adds to the allure--when people surround the magician, he or she has little room to "hide" anything. Additionally, when the audience is so close, one might assume the observers could easily see the magician's tricks--but this isn't the case! Finally, stage magic is just as it sounds--magic performed onstage. These magic tricks date back in history to the 1700s, and are often very elaborate performances. Stage magicians offer an extensive range of tricks from sleight of hand to making large objects float or disappear. Oftentimes large animals are involved. There are a number of present-day famous stage magicians, including Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, and Penn and Teller. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: On Surprise Visit to Kabul, Obama to Sign Partnership Agreement With Karzai Posted: 01 May 2012 12:31 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Tuesday, May 1, 2012 -- 3:07 PM EDT ----- On Surprise Visit to Kabul, Obama to Sign Partnership Agreement With Karzai President Obama landed in Kabul, Afghanistan, on a surprise visit, to sign a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan meant to mark the beginning of the end of a war that has lasted for more than a decade. Mr. Obama, arriving after nightfall on Tuesday under a veil of secrecy at Bagram Air Base north of Kabul, flew by helicopter to the presidential palace, where he was to meet President Hamid Karzai before both leaders signed the pact. It is intended to be a road map for two nations lashed together by more of than a decade of war and groping for a new relationship after the departure of American troops, scheduled for the end of 2014. Mr. Obama was scheduled to address the American people from Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, which would be the middle of the night in Afghanistan. The address – on the one-year anniversary of the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan – will give Mr. Obama a new opportunity to make an election-year case that he has wound down two inexpensive and now unpopular wars, in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/world/asia/obama-lands-in-kabul-on-unannounced-visit.html?emc=na To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/gst/unsub.html?email=sidh.xsoul.sidh122@blogger.com&id=65195657&segment=32969&group=nl&product=NA About This E-Mail You received this message because you are signed up to receive breaking news alerts from NYTimes.com. To change your e-mail address or to sign up for daily headlines or other newsletters, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/email NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Ave. New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Tricks and Tips for Using Pre paid Calling Cards - Technology - Communication Posted: 01 May 2012 04:12 AM PDT With the increasing popularity of International calling cards in Australia, there are some fraudsters selling inferior quality calling cards on the market. These cards may use VOIP connections with variable line quality. Alternatively, the minutes on the cards may not add up due to ongoing maintenance and administration fees. "Newbs" or first timers as they are known in the scamming world are the most common victims of these calling card tricks. So, given the immense amount of competition for the international tele-calling card market, we have decided to provide you with some essential tips and tricks to avoid being getting taken advantage. It pays to do a bit of research before you buy your first phone card. Tip 1: Ask people in the know Avoid phone card scams is by simply talking to people who often use these calling cards. Usually, they will tend to be people from overseas or new migrants. Heavy calling card users in Australia are the Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern Community. So if you have a good friend in those communities ask them about phone cards as they will probably know about a good phone card. Tip 2: Shop and Compare Use calling card comparison sites such as to search by location, by brand and by price. Make sure that the site is secured with an SSL certificate before you commit to making a purchase. If you are not comfortable with ordering things online, call their customer service number on their contact us page to order your phone card by phone. They can mail or email your phone cards to you so that you can start making calls with your phone card very quickly. Payment for your phone card can be made by credit card, direct deposit, money order or cheque. When looking for viable calling cards think about: 1. Calling Destinations: if you only want to call one destination, you can often get a great deal to that country alone. This deal will not be as a good if you call a country that is not targeted by the phone card company as most calling card companies are country specific. For example, a phone card might have a very attractive rate to Thailand and another phone card might have a very attractive rate to Malaysia. However, the phone card for Malaysia will usually not have a good rate to Thailand and vice versa. 2. What are online forums saying about calling a particular country with a particular phone card? Try some specific online search queries on Google for your particular need, such as"calling New Zealand from Australia" or "call Australia to Belarus cheap" or "calling Pakistan from Australia" 3. Also try some research for specific calling card brands. You will find that brands such as GoTalk seem to have mixed reviews online, whilst other popular calling cards as the Omega Calling Card seem to have a very good reputation in terms of line quality, reliability and value for money. Use whirlpool forums. Tip 3: Read the fine print carefully Read the fine print! If you are not careful you may end up buy to a calling card that charges hidden administration fees and ongoing maintenance fees. What this means is some cards charge you a fee of up to $1 a week even though you are not using your phone card. Also ensure that your card expiry lasts at least 6 month. There are many phone cards today with an expiry period of 1 or 3 months. Unless you are a heavy user you will probably not be able to use up all your phone card credit in time. Places such as http:// provide moral and ethical calling cards online on the cheap. All cards on that website have an expiry date of 6 months from first use or recharge. Any expired credit that is not used is refreshed for another 6 months when you recharge. Tip 4: Buy in Bulk When you buy say a $50 Pre-paid calling card over a $10 Pre-pad calling card you will usually get more talk time. For example, you pay for $50 but you get $55 worth of call credits on the Omega Calling Card phone card. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Mentalism Magic Tricks - The Prediction Trick - Internet Posted: 30 Apr 2012 08:44 AM PDT It is crucial to apply the newly learned tricks until eventually you entirely know how to apply it.If a trick is offered with no sufficient rehearsal, the audience will not be late to comprehend the top secret of the trick and will scream you all the techniques how you did that. This condition is ample good reason to give up engaging in magic. The men and women who expertise these embarrassments by no means want to do magic yet again.A particular person who are really serious about being a mentalist, demands to emphasis and practice the methods 3-4 days a full week or two-3 several hours a day. Some incredibly easy tricks do not necessitate this a great deal operate. But establishing a steady discipline of training and rehearsal right until it is fully realized, is quite critical for becoming a thriving in discovering mentalism methods and magic.Don't say it! Oh no you uttered the fatal words! "Choose a card - any card." Male, cease with the card tricks previously! As quic kly as you pull out that deck people today are on to you.Pay attention. Here is a straightforward nevertheless astonishing very little gem of magic that has been about a prolonged time but will however get fantastic reactions from the public (i.e. your spectator). The ideal aspect - no card deck necessary!Here's how it goes. You are likely to make an impossible prediction. Really. You rip off a piece of your paper place mat when you are sitting at Buba's 24 hr. dinner across from your companion (or superior still, your date) and notify them you are likely to make a predication centered on a sudden feeling you just had (perhaps Buba's burger didn't go down correct). If you want to dress it up a bit, notify your close friend you typically get items backwards or reversed - mild dyslexia (this will make more feeling in a instant). Write down that prediction and inform your good friend to maintain on to it, but not to open it - just however. What you will be able to write on that piece of soggy put mat and fold up to give to your buddy is the range "1089".Now, request your buddy to produce any (thats right, no forcing, whole absolutely free selection) a few digit quantity that contain no duplicate figures (1-one-1 or one-three-3, you get the strategy, 1-2-three would be great). Remind him (or her if you are fortunate) that this is totally up to them. Ask them if they are specified that is the range they want. Just to be secure, inform them to feel of a diverse quantity if you like, just to make convinced everything is on the 'up and up'.Now ask your friend to reverse the quantity (heading with one-two-3, it would be three-two-1) and subtract the scaled-down from the much larger (say 321-123 = 198). Now consult your buddy to reverse that range (198 would now be 891). Now ask your companion to include that previous sum (say, 891) to the to begin with reply (198). You will constantly, normally arrive up with "1089".Now drastically request your buddy to study your prediction. Awesome! iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: 7 Reported Dead as Vehicle Falls From Parkway at Bronx Zoo Posted: 29 Apr 2012 11:06 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Sunday, April 29, 2012 -- 1:42 PM EDT ----- 7 Reported Dead as Vehicle Falls From Parkway at Bronx Zoo As many as seven people were believed to have been killed after a vehicle went over the Bronx River Parkway Sunday afternoon and fell to the street below, just south of the Bronx Zoo, a spokesman for the Fire Department said. Three of the dead are children, the spokesman, Jim Long, said. All the victims are believed to be have been in the vehicle, Mr. Long said. Read More: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/several-killed-as-vehicle-plunges-into-bronx-zoo/?emc=na About This E-Mail You received this message because you are signed up to receive breaking news alerts from NYTimes.com. To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to sign up for daily headlines or other newsletters, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/email NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Ave. New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Master Mentalism and Magic Instruction Magic Tricks - Entertainment - Humor Posted: 29 Apr 2012 12:10 AM PDT Now, with the sudden release of this incredible information, you can take your magic and mentalism skills from wherever you are now to respected mega-skilled star status in a stunningly short time. From: Ryan Clark & Mr. XSaturday, June 4, 2011Las Vegas, NV Dear Future Mentalism & Magic Guru, If youve ever dreamed of breaking away from the pack, and quickly mastering mentalism and magic at a level that blows away even hardcore professional mentalists and magicians then this is gonna be the most exciting message you ever read. Heres why: One of the most sought-after pro magicians and mentalists in the biz has finally agreed to share the amazing Master Mentalism Magic Shortcuts that other magicians and mentalists have paid a fortune to learn from him. And some of these pros are pissed off that hes revealing these secrets to people outside the magic and mentalism industry. They dont want guys like you to know that the skills behind their killer magic tricks and awesome mentalism and mind control stunts are actually easy to master. Once you have the shortcuts. (Some of these veterans feel their careers are now threatened.) These are the secrets that can take any mentalist or magician at any level (even just starting out) and launch you into a whole new world of amazing skills that will leave other magicians and mentalists in awe. You wanna crack the magicians code revealing the secret skills that keep guys likeCriss Angel, David Blaine, David Copperfield & Derren Brown astonishing people year after year and yet not have to surfer the years of failure before finally being able to perform at the level that most mentalists and magicians fear? You wanna astonish people with fresh, powerful and nasty tricks and illusions theyll remember for the rest of their lives? You want the kind of permanent skills that earn instant respect and make doing magic and mentalism fun again? And you wanna be able to begin using your new skills tonight, in the heat of a performance? Well, guess what? It can all be yours, faster and easier than you ever dreamed possible.Because these shortcuts work for anyone whether youre a shy kid whos never done a magic trick in his life, or a veteran magician or mentalist whos hit a stale plateau and desperately needs to get to the next level. Thats right. No matter where you are now, skill-wise you can quickly and easily master the jaw-dropping feats of the best mentalists and magicians out there, youll uncover shortcuts to many skills: MentalismStreet MagicMind ReadingHypnotismLevitationRemote ViewingCard TricksSpoon BendingIllusionsAnd much, much more!Heres the story:Mr. X is the go-to guy when professional magicians have a television special or a stage show coming up and they need to quickly develop some new material for their show. (Hes been called the secret weapon behind the coolest shows ever done.) And hes freaking expensive, too. Superstars will delay the start of a new show until Mr. X has time to go over the details with them. So you know he has vision, wicked skills, and a cunning bag of tricks that keep him at the top of the game. But hes also one of the most hated guys around. Lets face it Not everyone in the industry appreciates Mr. X sharing the secrets behind their skills with people like you. If they could, they would lock Mr. X up someplace where no civilians could ever find him. This is why he refused to release this material without using an alias (which is why hes only referred to as Mr. X) But he also believes that the elite LA, Las Vegas, New York & London crowdshouldnt be the only ones that have access to these powerful insider secrets. So now youll have access to training from the most sought-after (and expensive) teacheraround. Because he can take a raw 12-year-old kid and have him constantly astonishing everyone he comes across in no time flat. So just imagine what he can do for you and your already bad-ass magic and mentalism. This will change your life. Immediately. Even more amazing the skills he reveals are so simple, you can begin doing mind-boggling magic tricks and illusions starting tonight, with total confidence and flair.(Check out the feedback from other people just like you later on this page.) Again mentalism, magic tricks, mind reading, levitation, hypnotism, illusions any style of magic or mentalism youre into just explodes and comes alive before your eyes. And you are suddenly the mentalist and magician in your town. Other guys will wanna go home and burn their decks of cards and magic gimmicks in frustration. You will own any room you walk into. Heres What Weve Got For You The second Mr. X agreed to share his secrets, we put him up in a Las Vegas hotel. We locked him in the hotel room while he was revealing ALL his secrets to quickly mastering mentalism and magic. Everything including Simple tricks that will have you astonishing people starting tonight.The super shortcut magic and mentalism system you can use onstage, in the streets or anywhere, which guarantees you can perform mind-numbing magic and mentalism with total confidence. Dont waste a second learning anything complicated that youll never use instead, Mr. X shows you ONLY what you need to know. Best part: Its easy, the way he teaches it!Move like lightning through the 3 stages of magic and mentalism mastery: From no clue at all to this is easy in just a few short hours and then on through impress all your friends to the point you scare them. This is sudden expertise that most magicians and mentalists never dream they can attain in a lifetime yet youll be performing with total mastery almost overnight.Instantly learn the insider techniques behind Criss Angel, Derren Brown, David Blaine and David Copperfield (just to name a few) super-popular stuff that will give you smoking audience appeal ri ght off the bat! How to think just like the pros the one skill that separates the really talented mentalists and magicians (who make each routineshine and leave people begging for more) from the wannabes (who use the same old tricks over and over, because they cant think out of the box). This skill alone will launch you into a whole new level of killer abilities.The brilliant X factor that allows you to quickly master the coolest tricks and illusions youll ever use and most of them will be unique your own personal mentalism and magic signature. This kind of strategic performance is so simple , youll kick yourself for not figuring it out on your own. But almost no one ever does figure it out until theyre shown the technique by a pro like Mr. X. (Priceless stuff that will change your life on the spot.) And a ton more: Stunningly explosive techniques you can use tonight to pull off magic tricks like Criss Angel or David Blaine Derren Brown mentalism feats or large-scaleDavid Copperfield style illusions that give you instant magic and mentalism credentials hypnosis methods that work the first time you use them how to do street magic or levitations on the fly (forget about having to plan everything out ahead of time heres all you need to know) plus pro decision-making tips so you know how and when to plug new tactics into your routines for maximum effect! It just goes on and on. Magic, Mentalism, Illusions, Hypnosis, Levitations, Spoon-Bending, Remote Viewing, Mind Reading, Card Tricks, and tons of variations that will instantly give you iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: U.S. Economic Growth Slows to 2.2% Rate, Report Says Posted: 27 Apr 2012 06:20 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Friday, April 27, 2012 -- 8:45 AM EDT ----- U.S. Economic Growth Slows to 2.2% Rate, Report Says The economic output of the United States grew at an annualized rate of 2.2 percent in the first quarter of the year, easing from the prior quarter's growth rate of 3 percent, as expected, but maintaining what many economists have started to call a "sustainable" pace of recovery. Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/business/economy/us-economic-growth-slows-to-2-2-rate-report-says.html?emc=na About This E-Mail You received this message because you are signed up to receive breaking news alerts from NYTimes.com. To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to sign up for daily headlines or other newsletters, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/email NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Ave. New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Do You Really Know The Christmas History? - Education Posted: 25 Apr 2012 06:52 PM PDT The Christmas history in America really lacks a clear pathway and seems to hodge podge many different cultural narratives and traditions all together. Since the American people are really a diaspora of different nationalities, it's not surprising then that our holiday season is packed with so many rich traditions. From the German Christmas trees and English pudding, to Scandinavian yule logs and New England turkeys, Christmas Day rituals have become a larger celebration of Christmases past. Some religious scholars point out that the Christmas celebration is oddly placed, speculating that a more accurate birth might have been in September or sometime in the fall, when it was easier to travel from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. In fact, December 25th, Christmas Day, had been celebrated as "Winter Solstice" for three centuries before Christ's birth. This time marked a day where the worst of winter was behind them and they could look forward to more sunlight and better days. In Scandinavia, fathers and sons would bring home large logs that they would burn for 24 hours to bring good luck for the coming year. In Germany, people stayed inside to avoid the pagan god Oden's nocturnal flights across the sky, where he would look down and judge those who would perish and who would survive. In Rome, the licentious feast of Saturnalia would boast plentiful food and drink, honor children and allow slaves or peasants to become masters for a month. It's commonly believed that the church chose this date purposely to replace the pagan celebrations of the season and encourage people to embrace Christianity instead. Even though Christmas got off to a rocky start, the Christmas spirit had become so strong that it brought one of the world's mightiest wars to a screeching halt for just one day. On Christmas Day in 1914, an eerie calm spread over the battle field as the sounds of rifles firing quieted and shells ceased exploding. Across the Western Front, a sound rose up out of the trenches as both German and British troops began singing a Christmas carol across enemy lines. At daybreak, a few German soldiers crept out of hiding, unarmed, calling out a tentative "Merry Xmas" in their enemy's native language. When the Allies saw this was no trick, they barreled out of the trenches to shake hands, exchange cigarettes and plum pudding. A few of the soldiers played a game of soccer, while others sadly removed some of the bodies during this brief ceasefire. Just five months into this brutal war, this rare anomaly revealed how basic decent humanity shines through, even during the most disheartening times. In many ways, Americans have become alienated from the Christmas customs we celebrate today. For instance, Christmas trees are a German tradition that has been practiced since the 17th Century; yet the Puritans were hesitant to celebrate in such pagan ways, so stately pines didn't gain widespread popularity in America until a sketch of Queen Victoria, her children and a tree filled with Christmas ornaments circulated in 1846. Christmas cards had been prevalent in Britain, but America didn't catch on fully until 1850, when German card-maker Louis Prang immigrated and set up shop. Mistletoe, which dates back to the Victorian era, is a Celtic and Teutonic tradition that was believed to heal wounds, increase fertility and ward off evil spirits. Plum pudding harkens all the way back to Middle Ages England. Caroling is another English practice, where roving minstrels would come through town and play for the rich in exchange for a warm meal, a warm bed and a pittance. The tradition of hanging stockings is said to stem from the legends of St. Nicholas, as well as the Scandinavian tradition of leaving shoes on the hearth in anticipation of gold coins and candies. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: Bo Xilai Said to Have Spied on Top China Officials Posted: 25 Apr 2012 04:01 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Wednesday, April 25, 2012 -- 6:38 PM EDT ----- Bo Xilai Said to Have Spied on Top China Officials BEIJING — When Hu Jintao, China's top leader, picked up the telephone last August to talk to a senior anticorruption official visiting the city-state of Chongqing, special antibugging devices detected that he was being wiretapped — by local officials in that southwestern metropolis. The discovery of that and other wiretapping led to an official investigation that helped topple Chongqing's charismatic leader, Bo Xilai, in a political cataclysm that has yet to reach a conclusion. Until now, the downfall of Mr. Bo has been cast largely as a tale of a populist who pursued his own agenda too aggressively for some top leaders in Beijing and was brought down by accusations that his wife had arranged the murder of Neil Heywood, a British consultant, after a business dispute. But the hidden wiretapping, previously alluded to only in internal Communist Party accounts of the scandal, appears to have provided another compelling reason for party leaders to turn on Mr. Bo. Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na About This E-Mail You received this message because you are signed up to receive breaking news alerts from NYTimes.com. To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to sign up for daily headlines or other newsletters, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/email NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Ave. New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Seven Secrets Of One Hundred Percent Virtual Property Profits - Marketing - Web Marketing Posted: 24 Apr 2012 06:48 PM PDT Imagine being in charge of a business where all of the money you make is profit. Virtual property tycoons are reaping the rewards of this dream business scenario and in this article I'm going to reveal all. Big profits are achieved by big cost cuts. Mr Henry Ford coined this idea back in 1908 when he applied mass production to car engine production. The result was massive costs savings and even bigger profits. Mr Ford still had to pay factory costs, material costs, wages costs, etc, yet he still made mega bucks. Imagine the profit potential if all costs could be removed from the equation. In today's digital age minimum cost maximum profit business is now a reality if you adopt the principles of virtual property. So what's virtual property? Simple. Virtual property is anything that can be accessed and downloaded from the internet - essentially digital products. Examples include ebooks, audio products, videos, membership sites, web sites, etc. Once created and stored, any online sales won't cost the creator a dime, not a bean. The result is one hundred percent profit! All you need is internet access and these seven secrets: One. Think of a niche market that you're interested in. For example, golf, fishing, dog training, anything you like. Two. Source material on your niche subject which you can turn into a virtual property product. A trick for doing this is to look for information that's in the public domain. This means information that has no copyright, such as the works of Shakespeare. As a rule anything published before 1923 in the US is in the public domain and anyone can swipe these and do with them whatever they please. You must be certain that anything you copy is definitely in the public domain. Try gutenberg.org where you can source tonnes of books at no cost. Three. Create unique products using the content from your public domain books. You could chop up them up and create a series of ebooks, turn them into audio products by reading and recording them, make them into video seminars or home study courses. The list is endless and don't forget an old book reborn as an audio or video product is exactly what people are looking for online in the twenty-first century. Four. 'Add value' by creating simple web sites to go with each of the ten information products you create. Don't worry this is very easy and you should keep it simple for best results. If you don't know how to create a web site go to and search for "how to build a web site". Now you have ten turnkey virtual property businesses that you can sell. Five. Set up your own web site to sell five hundred re-sell licenses to each of your ten instant virtual property businesses. Market them for one hundred and ninety seven dollars a piece (proven price point). Six. Set up your own affiliate program using paydotcom.com. This is so people who want to promote your site can sign up as an affiliate and promote. Seven. Set up joint ventures with other companies. Go to google.com and search for companies that send out relevant email newsletters (ezines). Type in searches like 'internet marketing ezine' or 'internet business ezine'. Contact these people and tell them that you have a product suitable for their ezine readers. Offer to pay them a commission for any sales they make as a result of promoting your product. That's it. After you have created the virtual property products you won't have to spend any more money. All the sales you make will be for one hundred percent profit. I'm sure Mr Ford would have loved to have been born in today's generation. He's era is over now but the opportunity for the savvy entrepreneur has only just begun. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Top 5 Books to Learn Magic Tricks - Hobbies Posted: 23 Apr 2012 06:44 PM PDT I'm often asked by both adults and kids about where they can learn more about the Art of Magic. In this article, I'll recommend top 10 magic books a newcomer to the Art of Magic should consider. The good news is the majority of these books are available from Amazon or Barnes and Noble bookstores. 1. Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic by Mark Wilson Mark Wilson's book is the modern equivalent of a condensed version of the Tarbell Course in Magic series. Wilson's book introduces readers to a wide variety of magic ranging from card tricks, coin tricks, rope magic, mental magic, impromptu magic and even stage illusions! It teaches the fundamentals of magic technique and is well illustrated. 2. A Book of Magic for Young Magicians : The Secrets of Alkazar by Allan Zola Kronzek This is one of the best books on handling key cards and has excellent presentations for classic magic effects. It is written as a kids book but it has a lot of great tips and handling for common magic effects. In one lesson Alkazar demonstrates an entertaining magic trick and a boring magic trick. Both use the same method yet the book explains the importance of presentation. 3. Now You See It, Now You Don't Lessons in Sleight of Hand by Bill Tarr Bill Tarr's book provides a well illustrated introduction to sleight of hand. If you want to learn how to make cards, coins, and silks disappear and reappear, this book provides an excellent introduction. He also wrote a second book called The Second Now You See It, Now You Don't. 4. New Modern Coin Magic by J.B. Bobo Coin magic is a lot of fun to perform since coins are readily available, fit in your pocket, and can be borrowed to perform mysterious and entertaining feats of prestidigitation. Bobo's Modern Coin Magic provides an excellent resource on all the key vanishes, retentions, concealments and sleight of hand required to perform coin magic. The book also has several chapters dedicated to various classic effects in Magic such as Coins Across, The Miser's Dream, and Coin Boxes. Bobo's Coin Magic a must in any magician's library! 5. The Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue The Royal Road to Card Magic is an inexpensive book that is jam packed with card magic. Beginners and experienced magicans can benefit by reading the Royal Road and reviewing the different concepts and ideas on sleight of hand card magic. One of my magic mentors recommends that every magician - experienced and new - should review the Royal Road to Card Magic as it acquaints the reader with the fundamentals of card magic. These books aren't the only magic books I'd recommend but for the magic newbie, these are great books to start learning about the art of magic. There are thousands of books, DVDs, and articles available on the Art of Magic. In future articles, I'll explore a few more useful resources to learn about Magic. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Siof Posted: 23 Apr 2012 09:51 AM PDT
| Learn the ancient art of Magic with Magician Brisbane - Entertainment - Humor Posted: 22 Apr 2012 06:40 PM PDT Brisbane is a well renowned city in Australia that dwells in a number of reputed magicians. The Magician Brisbane enjoys esteemed name all over the world for their unusual and uncommon magical tricks. The magicians of Brisbane have revealed a number of helpful tips and tricks following which, a beginner can become a genius. The art of magic is not difficult to learn when one is accompanied by the superb assistance of Magician Brisbane art tricks. Often a beginner fails to create a magical feeling or effect in his act that is indispensable in any magical performance. Only a magical touch can leave the spectators puzzled and amazed and bring magician a round of applause for his artistic presentation. Magician Brisbane for this reason has offered several helpful magical tricks that will help a novice to bring the magical effect in his act without putting an extra pinch of effort. Magician Brisbane methods describe several key stages to learn that will act as a foundation for the entire act one is going to perform. A beginner can actually learn the art of magic only after learning the key stages involved. Come; let's learn the ancient art of magic with Magician Brisbane methods. * First key stage involves a beginner to perform the magic material manually. This will help the magic to come automatically after complete refinement and the act will look polished and natural. Talking about the material to start with, you have cards and coins that are readily available. They help you to make a commendable introduction to the world of magic. You can master a number of stunning acts with their help. For example, 'the modern magic with coin' can be performed flawlessly with the help of coins whereas you can manage to master the 'Card College' trick by making regular and repeated manual practices with the card deck.* Magic can never be entertaining if it is not accompanied by a captivating presentation. A magic can only be made look natural if one amplifies his natural personal strength in it. For instance, one should not forcibly try to act funny when he is not naturally funny. It will distract the audience attention to the extra effort put for making the a ct hilarious and will ruin the magical element completely.* Magician Brisbane is very confident in performing their magical act that makes it look believable. Magician Brisbane suggests the beginners to be confident in whatever magical trick they are going to perform. A magician trusting himself can actually make the audience trust him and his magical wonders. SummaryMagician Brisbane provides some helpful magical tricks that help a novice to become a king of wonders. To present the magic in its best form one has to learn the key stages like to first perform the magic material manually with coins or cards etc. naturally and confidently. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | How Did They Do That? Types Of Magic Tricks - Entertainment Posted: 21 Apr 2012 06:36 PM PDT There are many kinds of magic tricks, but most fall into one of a few categories. Oftentimes, a magician will specialize in one or a few areas. For those who employ a range of techniques, they will often develop some type of persona or specialty act to differentiate themselves from other performers. Just as other entertainers often find a niche, so too do magicians. While no type of magic is particularly easy, some types are common for beginning magicians, such as learning sleight of hand tricks. Most magicians know a core base of tricks, and then develop their particular repertoire from there. Magic is based on illusion and mystery, and all types of magic tricks employ this mystery. This is what is so alluring about magic! Secrecy is of course another major element of magic. Practicing magicians are very selective about who they share their secrets with. People who work with magicians are often required to sign contracts stating they will not share the magician's secrets with anyone else. What types of tricks do magicians perform? The following list is a basic overview of magic tricks that are commonly associated with the practice of magic. Sleight of hand tricks are those that involve skilled hand movements where objects seem to appear and disappear in the hands of the performer. One of the oldest sleight of hand tricks originated in Ancient Egypt. In this trick, the performer hides balls under turned-over cups. As the performer moves the cups around, the balls change positions under the cups. The observers try to watch and guess where the balls will appear, but the magician fools them every time! Sleight of hand tricks are used with a variety of objects, including card, coins, balls, and other objects. Some magicians have even used live animals. A magician skilled in sleight of hand can perform magic almost anytime, anywhere. Illusions are those where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Some of the better known illusion tricks include those where a woman is sawed in half and levitation tricks. Other illusions involve making people, animals, or objects reappear. David Copperfield, a modern-day magician, has made such large objects as the Statue of Liberty and a jet airplane disappear in front of live audiences. Escape magic is just as it sounds. The most famous escape artist was Harry Houdini, who performed a number of daring escapes in front of large audiences in exotic locations. Suspended high in the air, Houdini would be handcuffed and placed inside locked or otherwise sealed containers and emerge moments later. Escape magic is intriguing not only because of the amazing feat, but also because of the danger involved. Mentalists are another form of magicians who appear to read the minds of strangers. In front of live audiences, mentalists will recreate drawings done by audience members that are unseen to the magician, but visible to the audience. They will also read the minds of strangers and perform an array of amazing mental tricks. The mystery of the mentalist lies in the performance in front of a live audience. Some mentalists in modern times have even created tricks for television where they seem to read the minds of viewers! How and where magicians perform varies a great deal as well. Street magic, close-up magic, and stage magic all offer amazing performances in vastly different settings. Street magic is as it sounds, performed outside and in the spur of the moment. Street magic often includes sleight of hand tricks, although a variety of magic is performed this way. One of the most famous current-day street magicians is David Blaine, who performs a wide range of card tricks, disappearing acts, and even levitation on the street. Close-up magic is performed indoors or out, and often involves such things as card or coin tricks. It is performed just as it sounds--in close range. The audience is small, and the magician sits or stands in the middle, which adds to the allure--when people surround the magician, he or she has little room to "hide" anything. Additionally, when the audience is so close, one might assume the observers could easily see the magician's tricks--but this isn't the case! Finally, stage magic is just as it sounds--magic performed onstage. These magic tricks date back in history to the 1700s, and are often very elaborate performances. Stage magicians offer an extensive range of tricks from sleight of hand to making large objects float or disappear. Oftentimes large animals are involved. There are a number of present-day famous stage magicians, including Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, and Penn and Teller. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: Philip Humber, White Sox Pitcher, Throws Perfect Game Against Mariners Posted: 21 Apr 2012 03:59 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, April 21, 2012 -- 6:35 PM EDT ----- Philip Humber, White Sox Pitcher, Throws Perfect Game Against Mariners Chicago White Sox pitcher Philip Humber threw a perfect game Saturday against the Seattle Mariners. Humber's feat was the 21st perfect game in Major League history, as the White Sox beat the Mariners 4-0 in Seattle. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: Charles W. Colson, Watergate Felon Reborn as Evangelical Leader, Dies at 80 Posted: 21 Apr 2012 02:04 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, April 21, 2012 -- 4:40 PM EDT ----- Charles W. Colson, Watergate Felon Reborn as Evangelical Leader, Dies at 80 Charles W. Colson, who served as a political saboteur for President Richard M. Nixon and masterminded some of the dirty tricks that led to the president's downfall, then emerged from prison to become an important evangelical leader, saying he had been "born again," died Saturday. He was 80. The cause was complications from a brain hemorrhage, according to a statement on his organization's Web site. Mr. Colson was sent to prison after pleading guilty to obstructing justice in the Watergate affair. After having what he called his religious awakening behind bars, he spent much of the rest of his new life ministering to prisoners, preaching the Gospel and helping to forge a powerful coalition among Republican politicians, evangelical church leaders and Roman Catholic conservatives, changing the very dynamics of American politics. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: Wal-Mart Hushed Up Vast Mexico Bribery Case After Top-Level Struggle Posted: 21 Apr 2012 11:55 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, April 21, 2012 -- 2:31 PM EDT ----- Wal-Mart Hushed Up Vast Mexico Bribery Case After Top-Level Struggle An investigation by The New York Times examines a vast bribery case by Wal-Mart in Mexico and describes a prolonged struggle within the company that pitted its much publicized commitment to the highest moral and ethical standards against its relentless pursuit of growth. Wal-Mart became aware of the situation in Mexico from a former executive, who explained how the company's Mexican division had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance. But instead of deciding to expand an internal investigation, Wal-Mart's leaders decided to shut it down. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Siof Posted: 21 Apr 2012 09:45 AM PDT
| News Alert: U.N. Security Council Unanimously Agrees to Send More Observers to Syria Posted: 21 Apr 2012 09:19 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, April 21, 2012 -- 11:55 AM EDT ----- U.N. Security Council Unanimously Agrees to Send More Observers to Syria The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved on Saturday a resolution that expanded the number of observers in Syria to 300 from 30 and demanded an immediate halt to the violence that has been escalating since a cease-fire took effect over a week ago. The resolution approved Saturday gives Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the authority to decide when to deploy the additional observers, based on developments on the grounds including "the consolidation of the cease-fire." Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Halloween Child Safety: What Parents Should Know - Family Posted: 20 Apr 2012 06:34 PM PDT People from all over the world often associate Halloween with fun and treats. Parents allow their children to go out and enjoy their trick and treat activities, without thinking about their child's safety to some degree. The truth is, Halloween is not just about fun and treats. Several reports have revealed that compared to the other usual nights, the Halloween nights are more dangerous to children ages 5 to 11. A large number of children were killed and injured during Halloween nights and this happens primarily because of lack of parent's supervision. So what should parents do to prevent their children from getting injured at Halloween? How can they help their children have a safe and fun Halloween? There are a lot of things that parents can do for their child's safety at Halloween. To know more about the most advisable Halloween child safety strategies, just read on below some of the worth noting Halloween child safety tips that are perfect for parents, guardians and children as well. Halloween Child Safety Tips for Children: * It is a rule of thumb for small children to go only to a well-lit house and remain only on porches rather than entering the house. * It is important to engage on trick or treat activities with a number of peers with you. If possible, a small child traveling in small groups should be accompanied by an adult.* For ultimate Halloween child safety, it is best to keep and know phone numbers and carry coins or cell phone for emergency calls.* Prepare name tags with addresses and attached them to Halloween costumes.* If you are given treats, don't eat them immediately. Instead, bring them home before eating so parents can inspect them.* Use costume swords and knives that are not sharp and rigid. You can consider the flexible ones, instead.* Walk on the neighborhoods with flashlights.* Stay on sidewalks and avoid crossing yards.* If you want to cross the street, cross at the corner, not between parked cars.* Stay together in a group before crossing.* If possible, choose and wear clothing that are bright, reflective and flame retardant.* Don't wear masks for that will only obstruct your vision. Try to use face paint.* Don't wear baggy or oversized costumes to prevent tripping. Halloween Child Safety Tips for Parents: * Don't let your children age below 12 to go out at Halloween nights by themselves. For ultimate Halloween childen safety, it is best to supervise them and their outing.* Set a curfew for older children.* Prepare homes for tricks or treaters by cleaning and clearing your porches, sidewalks, and lawns.* Inspect candies and candy wrappers for safety before letting the children eat them.* Make sure that the pedestrian area is safe for trick or treaters.* If you are driving, watch for children crossing the streets. Drive safely and slowly. Those basically are the Halloween child safety tips. Just follow them and your children will surely have a fun and enjoyable Halloween experience. Find insightful and useful information about Schooling and Education and Pre-Kindergarden at WebArticles.com. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: Judge Sets Bail at $150,000 for Shooter in Trayvon Martin Case Posted: 20 Apr 2012 08:59 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Friday, April 20, 2012 -- 11:35 AM EDT ----- Judge Sets Bail at $150,000 for Shooter in Trayvon Martin Case Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. of Seminole County Circuit Court set bail at $150,000 for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who was arrested last week in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The judge also set conditions, including a curfew, on his release. Mr. Zimmerman will not be released from jail on Friday. The judge said that he wanted to make sure security measures were in place for Mr. Zimmerman, who has received death threats. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | How to learn magic trick online - Entertainment Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:28 PM PDT People like magic show because it's very entertaining. If youlove to play with your friends, magic shows can enlivenevents with your friends. Magic show full of miracles and make people happy. Learning magic can be online with free and paid. You can get free magic trickor search for it on youtube or metacafe with the keyword "magic trick revealed" or "magic trick explained.Paid magic trick, you have to buy on magic tricks provider website. If you are a person who will need to do magic tricks, you can learn card tricks, coin magic tricksor read people;s mind, then you can learn yourself.Learning magic can be learned via the Internet through the ebook and magic video that can be downloaded instantly. -Learning through magic ebook download Learning through the magic ebook download, you can buy it in the website that selling magic ebook that can be downloaded, of course we must pay via credit card or paypal. We must read the first effect will be played the trick, after that we canlearn the tricks pages via a secret solution. Magic trick ebook usually equipped with photos for moreeasier to learn. If we learn through the ebook and want to see the tricks that other people played, we canview on the youtube or Metacafe. -Learning through magic trick video download Learn magic tricks through magic trick videos are easier because you can watch the trick and find out the secretthrough audio and video. To learn magic through magic trick video download, first download the trick effect, and you can payvia credit card or paypal as cheap as $3, and magic tricks ready for download through your email. Learn magic online is easy because the magic is varies, from close-up magic, street magic, mentalism, coin magic,pub trick.Learn magic more easily through the video because it provides a means of audio and video, and can be re-started again. Learning through the ebook, moredifficult because we must first read and understand to learn and it can be more expensive. If you want to learn magic trick instantly, within 5 minute you'll be able to do a new magic trick.More about doing magic tricks iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: Levon Helm, Drummer and Singer for the Band, Dies at 71 Posted: 19 Apr 2012 01:26 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Thursday, April 19, 2012 -- 3:50 PM EDT ----- Levon Helm, Drummer and Singer for the Band, Dies at 71 Levon Helm, who helped forge a deep-rooted American music as the drummer and singer for the Band, died on Thursday in Manhattan. He was 71 and lived in Woodstock, N.Y. His death was announced by a spokeswoman for Vanguard Records, for which he had recorded several albums. He had been suffering from cancer for several years. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | The Dow is Crashing, and Inventions are Soaring! - Society Posted: 18 Apr 2012 06:24 PM PDT What do lipstick, chocolate, Pepto-Bismol and inventive products all have in common? They all sell better during recessions. There's been quite a media buzz about inventive products during this recession; from infomercials being the subject of documentaries, to front-page newspaper and website profiles of new innovations, never before have inventions been so hot. Newsweek even went so far as to declare The Snuggie, that soft blanket-like robe with a hit infomercial "an emblem of our times", as the sensationally funny, yet useful product became the source of jokes for Jay Leno (The Tonight Show), Saturday Night Live, countless blogs and YouTube videos. Whether they comfort or entertain, save money or time, inventions offer newness in a marketplace full of products consumers may already own. The challenge for the inventor is to tap into the needs and desires of the consumer in crisis, so that we may create products that help him in a time of need. Market research shows that while consumers in a recession may have little ability or will to spend money on big purchases like appliances or vacations, they still reward themselves with small indulgences like fancy ice creams, chocolate, modest gifts, or personal amusement and variety products. Because financial desperation is scary, there is an atmosphere of insecurity and anxiety. Candy, and other stress-relievers, such as liquor and movies, help alleviate that anxiety, and make people feel good temporarily. Saving money by "do-it-yourself" (DIY) methods is, of course, the most obvious trend in recessionary products. This includes inventions that are suitable for reuse and those that enable people to repair other products (both of which are cost-saving and environmentally green measures). It is no surprise that gardening has come back in vogue- the success of the "Topsy Turvy" hanging tomato planter and Aquaglobe automatic plant watering device are examples of this. Michelle Obama has even planted a vegetable garden at the White House- the first ever since the victory gardens of World War II. Gardening appeals to people who want to save money, but also to our survivalist, pioneering, do-it-yourself ethos. Gardening associations predict this trend to go up by 40%, while vegetable seed sales have already jumped 30%. This is also a continuation of the green environmentalist trend, and urban, container and rooftop gardening are other niche markets within this category.More Americans are stocking up on food, concerned about shortages and inflationary price gauging. Self-sufficiency is of the essence here, so inventors who create accessories for hunting, fishing and camping equipment could also do very well. Items that help people stow away, store, or can goods are useful. For a more exciting approach to grocery shopping, the fashionable Itslastik spandex bag expands to over twice it's size, and holds up to 45 pounds flexibly in any direction, while bouncing with the step of the user, making the load feel lighter. The product is meant for reuse, and is therefore certifiably "green". It is also inexpensive, bright and appealing to current 'hipster' fashion trends, and proudly made in the USA. Where there is fear, there is a need for safety. Crime rates are already spiking in these desperate times, so sales of security system and personal protection products are up. Meanwhile, the Snuggie did well because of our apparent need for a "security blanket" to comfort us. Stress relieving products (think the "Squeeze Ball") may do very well. Sex, love and romance also relieve stress, and, historically, romance has thrived during recessions, as there is more social upheaval, and the need for security drives people into the arms of another. That's why condom sales and ads for personal dating sites are up. The Snuggie, big enough for two, and clearly geared towards cuddling and nesting, also speaks in the language of love. Because many consumers lack the d isposable income to vacation or go out to restaurants, they are spending more time at home, entertaining, cooking, and organizing, so that their home is more pleasant and functional. Home organization products are critical, as consumers begin to control what little they still have- the home and their current possessions. Organizing and cleaning give a sense of control in a chaotic and unstable world. The highly successful ShamWow super-absorbent, reusable cloths are intended to replace disposable paper towels. Another popular nesting product doing well is The Wonder Hanger, an organization product that triples closet space by holding up to five garments on traditional hangers in a vertical cascade. Consumers during recessions are pushed to take stock of, inventory and repair what they already own, as opposed to going out and buying more stuff. As cheap credit has virtually dried up, the number of Americans driving significantly older used cars has seen a dramatic increase. T hese older cars often need more repair, so accessories related to auto repair and maintenance could see a huge spike in sales. 'Trading Down' to cheaper products is a given during recessions. To obtain a new look, many women replace buying a new outfit with the cheaper trick of buying a new lipstick or accessory. The "Lipstick Index", a term coined during the Great Depression, has never been so high as it is now, as women flaunt their need for visibility, and desirability, by purchasing and wearing lipstick (often red). In recessions, there is a greater need to look one's best- no slouches will be tolerated in the already precarious job market. Clothing repair and reuse is big, as are 'DIY' salon/beauty replacements. For example, the REM Spring facial hair removal tool has become a big hit, as many women who normally would pay for someone to wax off their unwanted hair are now using this reusable, battery-free metal spring instead. Meanwhile, acne and wrinkle reduction treat ment has been revolutionized with the invention of at-home light therapy kits. Verilux offers the ClearWave Soothing Skin System, a hand-held light 'wand' that uses Natural Spectrum light to kill acne bacteria and reduce fine lines. Unavailable several years ago, the market for this only stands to grow.With accessories being paramount during recessions, Tweakerz bra clip, Bosom Button and Winkee cleavage covers have all become popular for their ability to help consumers alter clothes they already own. Tweakerz bra clip creates a 'lift' in a woman's cleavage, reenergizing worn bra straps. Bosom Button is a gem-like pin that enables shirts that are too low-cut to be made more appropriate by fastening fabric together. The Winkee is a piece of fabric that attaches to bra straps and covers the gap in cleavage revealing shirts. These products make women's wardrobes more wearable and functional, saving money and facilitating re-use.The marketing of inventive products has never been more visible than it is now. Major drugstores now have prominent spaces devoted solely to 'as seen on TV' and inventive products. As traditional advertising budgets are slashed, infomercials have gained access to the more expensive primetime ad space on television. The more unemployed and underemployed people there are, the more people there are staying at home, watching TV, and thereby watching infomercials. The internet also expanded the market for inventive products. Asseenontv.com is a great place to learn about inventions on the market.I have been in the invention licensing, marketing, consulting and sales business for over 15 years. This month, in the heart of the recession, my company experienced our highest sales ever. The bottom line is that unique and inventive products do very well in a poor economic climate. If history is a guide, then innovation and invention will be essential to getting us out of this recession. Inventions could not be more relevant; the time to launch yours is now. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: Secret Service to Fire 1 Amid Inquiry; 2 Others to Leave Posted: 18 Apr 2012 03:27 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Wednesday, April 18, 2012 -- 6:03 PM EDT ----- Secret Service to Fire 1 Amid Inquiry; 2 Others to Leave The head of the Secret Service has told other government officials that the agency plans to fire one person in connection with the investigation into alleged misconduct with prostitutes last week in Colombia, according to a person briefed on the matter. The head, Mark Sullivan, has also told others that one other employee plans to retire and another will resign. Among the people leaving the agency are two supervisors. Mr. Sullivan has also told others that the one employee being fired has threatened to sue. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: Dick Clark, TV Impresario, Is Dead at 82 Posted: 18 Apr 2012 01:32 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Wednesday, April 18, 2012 -- 3:54 PM EDT ----- Dick Clark, TV Impresario, Is Dead at 82 The television legend Dick Clark, who originated "American Bandstand" and the perennial New Year's Eve celebration on ABC, died Wednesday morning, his representative Paul Shefrin said. Mr. Shefrin said that Mr. Clark, 82, had suffered a massive heart attack. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Discover Right Ways To Tie Trendy Scarves By Hilary Duff - Shopping Posted: 17 Apr 2012 06:20 PM PDT Hillary Duff has been famous dating to her youth and remains a good celebrity symbol. Her body is a bit plump but she knows how to cover it up and make her beautiful. She uses scarves exceptionally well to accent her body positively. A scarf can be very good to divert the attention so that your stout arm can be ignored. Classic scarf styles may feature multiple layered looks, creating a slenderizing effect. A scarf accompanied by large-sized jewelry in the ears can make you look attractive. The grid is a common scarf pattern and always looks great. There are mixed color as you wish, like black and white, red and black, or yellow and black. Although not bright, they work nicely with the hair color. That is the attraction of the detail and makes you unique look. This type of camouflage is slightly masculine and is typically used in the military. But, it may add to your appeal to females as long as you manage the richness of its hue. In addition, the popular element of a fringe can also be added to show your fashion taste. The big earring with a pendant, like antique coin, can make you attractive instantly. Scarves are an essential part of any outfit, so they must be coordinated with the clothing that one is wearing at that time. If you have thin clothing, scarves made of cotton or linen are good choices. Scarves are easy to wear and make a great accessory, they are also very light since they are made with thin materials. Even during hot, summer days, stylish women still wear scarves, as they cherish them as a valuable accessory. Black and white is a great color combination for the summer. A scarf that is longer than more than half of your body length is not wanted, however, you can tie it with a downward slimmer to improve it. The style is replete with classic flavor and appears cool during the heat. In addition, black scarves are great for coordinating the overall outfit. The scarf will even be interesting in the dark because the printing can make the layers feel thicker in the evening. If the above information is not able to convince you, you will believe the magic power from scarves after you do some comparison. You can try the same outfit with or without scarves and see the final look. Serving as an example, a white T shirt goes very well with a typical blue jean. When you put on a proper scarf, you will instantly notice a slimmer body revealed in yourself. Details of your hair style should be careful to add, is to adjust the whole body. If you are familiar with the trick of scarves for the body fit, you will know the power of silk scarves. A heavy appearance is avoided thanks to the light fabric, which also brings a fun accent to your wardrobe. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Do You Really Know The Christmas History? - Education Posted: 16 Apr 2012 06:16 PM PDT The Christmas history in America really lacks a clear pathway and seems to hodge podge many different cultural narratives and traditions all together. Since the American people are really a diaspora of different nationalities, it's not surprising then that our holiday season is packed with so many rich traditions. From the German Christmas trees and English pudding, to Scandinavian yule logs and New England turkeys, Christmas Day rituals have become a larger celebration of Christmases past. Some religious scholars point out that the Christmas celebration is oddly placed, speculating that a more accurate birth might have been in September or sometime in the fall, when it was easier to travel from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. In fact, December 25th, Christmas Day, had been celebrated as "Winter Solstice" for three centuries before Christ's birth. This time marked a day where the worst of winter was behind them and they could look forward to more sunlight and better days. In Scandinavia, fathers and sons would bring home large logs that they would burn for 24 hours to bring good luck for the coming year. In Germany, people stayed inside to avoid the pagan god Oden's nocturnal flights across the sky, where he would look down and judge those who would perish and who would survive. In Rome, the licentious feast of Saturnalia would boast plentiful food and drink, honor children and allow slaves or peasants to become masters for a month. It's commonly believed that the church chose this date purposely to replace the pagan celebrations of the season and encourage people to embrace Christianity instead. Even though Christmas got off to a rocky start, the Christmas spirit had become so strong that it brought one of the world's mightiest wars to a screeching halt for just one day. On Christmas Day in 1914, an eerie calm spread over the battle field as the sounds of rifles firing quieted and shells ceased exploding. Across the Western Front, a sound rose up out of the trenches as both German and British troops began singing a Christmas carol across enemy lines. At daybreak, a few German soldiers crept out of hiding, unarmed, calling out a tentative "Merry Xmas" in their enemy's native language. When the Allies saw this was no trick, they barreled out of the trenches to shake hands, exchange cigarettes and plum pudding. A few of the soldiers played a game of soccer, while others sadly removed some of the bodies during this brief ceasefire. Just five months into this brutal war, this rare anomaly revealed how basic decent humanity shines through, even during the most disheartening times. In many ways, Americans have become alienated from the Christmas customs we celebrate today. For instance, Christmas trees are a German tradition that has been practiced since the 17th Century; yet the Puritans were hesitant to celebrate in such pagan ways, so stately pines didn't gain widespread popularity in America until a sketch of Queen Victoria, her children and a tree filled with Christmas ornaments circulated in 1846. Christmas cards had been prevalent in Britain, but America didn't catch on fully until 1850, when German card-maker Louis Prang immigrated and set up shop. Mistletoe, which dates back to the Victorian era, is a Celtic and Teutonic tradition that was believed to heal wounds, increase fertility and ward off evil spirits. Plum pudding harkens all the way back to Middle Ages England. Caroling is another English practice, where roving minstrels would come through town and play for the rich in exchange for a warm meal, a warm bed and a pittance. The tradition of hanging stockings is said to stem from the legends of St. Nicholas, as well as the Scandinavian tradition of leaving shoes on the hearth in anticipation of gold coins and candies. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: 2012 Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced Posted: 16 Apr 2012 12:57 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Monday, April 16, 2012 -- 3:28 PM EDT ----- 2012 Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced The New York Times won two Pulitzer Prizes on Monday, one for its reporting on Africa and another for an investigative series on obscure tax code provisions that allow wealthy corporations and citizens to avoid paying taxes. But the bigger surprise this year came from new media. Online news outlets The Huffington Post and Politico both won their first Pulitzer Prizes, a sign of the changing media landscape. Also notable this year was the lack of prizes in some categories. The Pulitzer Prize board did not name a winner in the editorial writing category and more notably declined to name a winner in the coveted fiction category for the first time in 35 years. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Seven Secrets Of One Hundred Percent Virtual Property Profits - Marketing - Web Marketing Posted: 15 Apr 2012 06:12 PM PDT Imagine being in charge of a business where all of the money you make is profit. Virtual property tycoons are reaping the rewards of this dream business scenario and in this article I'm going to reveal all. Big profits are achieved by big cost cuts. Mr Henry Ford coined this idea back in 1908 when he applied mass production to car engine production. The result was massive costs savings and even bigger profits. Mr Ford still had to pay factory costs, material costs, wages costs, etc, yet he still made mega bucks. Imagine the profit potential if all costs could be removed from the equation. In today's digital age minimum cost maximum profit business is now a reality if you adopt the principles of virtual property. So what's virtual property? Simple. Virtual property is anything that can be accessed and downloaded from the internet - essentially digital products. Examples include ebooks, audio products, videos, membership sites, web sites, etc. Once created and stored, any online sales won't cost the creator a dime, not a bean. The result is one hundred percent profit! All you need is internet access and these seven secrets: One. Think of a niche market that you're interested in. For example, golf, fishing, dog training, anything you like. Two. Source material on your niche subject which you can turn into a virtual property product. A trick for doing this is to look for information that's in the public domain. This means information that has no copyright, such as the works of Shakespeare. As a rule anything published before 1923 in the US is in the public domain and anyone can swipe these and do with them whatever they please. You must be certain that anything you copy is definitely in the public domain. Try gutenberg.org where you can source tonnes of books at no cost. Three. Create unique products using the content from your public domain books. You could chop up them up and create a series of ebooks, turn them into audio products by reading and recording them, make them into video seminars or home study courses. The list is endless and don't forget an old book reborn as an audio or video product is exactly what people are looking for online in the twenty-first century. Four. 'Add value' by creating simple web sites to go with each of the ten information products you create. Don't worry this is very easy and you should keep it simple for best results. If you don't know how to create a web site go to and search for "how to build a web site". Now you have ten turnkey virtual property businesses that you can sell. Five. Set up your own web site to sell five hundred re-sell licenses to each of your ten instant virtual property businesses. Market them for one hundred and ninety seven dollars a piece (proven price point). Six. Set up your own affiliate program using paydotcom.com. This is so people who want to promote your site can sign up as an affiliate and promote. Seven. Set up joint ventures with other companies. Go to google.com and search for companies that send out relevant email newsletters (ezines). Type in searches like 'internet marketing ezine' or 'internet business ezine'. Contact these people and tell them that you have a product suitable for their ezine readers. Offer to pay them a commission for any sales they make as a result of promoting your product. That's it. After you have created the virtual property products you won't have to spend any more money. All the sales you make will be for one hundred percent profit. I'm sure Mr Ford would have loved to have been born in today's generation. He's era is over now but the opportunity for the savvy entrepreneur has only just begun. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Grab Your FREE StealPips VIP Traders Kit - Publishing - EBooks Posted: 14 Apr 2012 06:09 PM PDT Dear Friend, "Our Robot Isn't Illegal...It Just Performs Like It is!" - Matt Delen /y97et56 (Grab your FREE StealPips VIP Trader's Kit) I just got leaked information on a game changing forex system, dubbed Steal Pips, that will hit the markets soon...something so huge that it will leave you gasping for air. The Steal Pips System claims to ROB the forex market legally, using and exploiting proprietary technology coined Automated Price Action Recognition (A.P.A.R) and Trend & U turn Points Detector (T.U.P.D). For the first time ever, a proven robust Automated Forex Trading Robot is about to be revealed that will exponentially grow your Forex account month after month. Here an exclusive insiders peek of their website: /y97et56 Do you know the story of Matt Delen? He started off trading forex manually, but when that got too time consuming and he started to burn out, he switched to a forex robot, only to be dealt with HUGE LOSSES and mysterious behavior with his trades' "stop loss" and "take profit" points...HOWEVER he quickly figured out that it wasn't his system failing BUT rather the brokers manipulating his trades to pocket $$$ themselves...the brokers knew exactly what the bot was doing...it was as though he was playing poker with all his cards showing. After hitting the online casinos to chase his losses, he stumbled on a group of underground programmers in a gambling forum. These "black hat" geeks had become experts at creating "bots" to clean up the online poker and blackjack rooms, using the same mix of advanced "game theory" and lightning-fast sleight of hand that card counters use to fleece Vegas pit bosses. Realizing that if these programmers could beat casinos that had dirty tricks down to a science, they could easily come up with a devastatingly effective forex robot whose trading behavior would be so elusive, the dealers would never see it coming. After investing much of his remaining savings in hiring them, they built the Steal Pips software, combining his hard-won knowledge of the forex market with the programmers' dealer-beating savvyness. /y97et56 As a result, the Steal Pips forex robot doesn't use any of the common lagging-indicators that forex dealers can spot a mile away, and it easily outsmarts common dealer cons like "stop hunting" by camouflaging the stop-loss and take-profit numbers that other robots give away on command. Instead, its breakthrough Automated Price Action Recognition and Trend & U turn Points Detector technology uses "price action analysis" to spot subtle but repeating patterns in the market and use them to turn the "house advantage" on its head. And because Steal Pips uses the price itself to predict the market's next move, rather than the usual "wait and see" indicators that stall most robots (until the market's already half-way through a trend before taking action)... it trades faster and racks up more profits automatically from each trade. As a result, Matt was NOT ONLY ABLE to beat the FX dealers at their own game by keeping his trading strategies under wraps but rather DESTROY them, setting up account after account and keeping them all running on autopilot without having his winnings stolen through the dealers' underhanded tactics. /y97et56 Matt and his team of developers are so confident about how well their system performs that they are going to show irrevocable proof to convince even the most diehard skeptics. NO BACKTESTS. They plan on using Live Forex Trading Statements (actual real money accounts...no demo accounts & no backtests), Video testimonials, and Live Question and Answer Sessions to prove their point. Wow! Unbelievable, right? How is that possible? Those are my exact thoughts. This is a Game Changing moment...the tables have turned against the dealers. That's all the information I have for now. The moment I hear more, I'll let you know ASAP. I am holding my breath! /y97et56 To your forex success, Best wishes,Thanks for reading and I wish you all the success!Johnfox 2003-2010 World Marketing Media, Inc. P.S. Don't forget to grab the freebies that they have posted up on their site...I just downloaded them and they are priceless...must have tools for any one involved in Forex.. /y97et56 iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | News Alert: Ten Candidates, Including Front-Runners, Barred From Egyptian Presidential Race Posted: 14 Apr 2012 01:28 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, April 14, 2012 -- 4:00 PM EDT ----- Ten Candidates, Including Front-Runners, Barred From Egyptian Presidential Race Egypt's election commission on Saturday disqualified 10 presidential hopefuls, including the three front-runners, from running in a surprise decision that threatened to upend the already tumultuous race. Farouk Sultan, the head of the Supreme Presidential Election Commission, told The Associated Press that those barred from the race included Hosni Mubarak's former spy chief Omar Suleiman; the chief strategist for the Muslim Brotherhood, Khairat el-Shater; and hard-line lawyer-turned-preacher Hazem Salah Abu Ismail. He did not give a reason. The announcement came as a shock to many Egyptians as three of the 10 excluded were considered among the front-runners. They now have 48 hours to appeal the decision, according to election rules. The final list of candidates will be announced on April 26. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: U.N. Security Council Agrees to Send Ceasefire Monitors to Syria Posted: 14 Apr 2012 09:09 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, April 14, 2012 -- 11:39 AM EDT ----- U.N. Security Council Agrees to Send Ceasefire Monitors to Syria The United Nations Security Council on Saturday unanimously authorized the deployment of ceasefire monitors to Syria.
Russia and China joined the other 13 council members and voted in favor of the Western-Arab draft resolution. The first 30 unarmed military monitors are expected to leave within days. The vote had been expected Friday but was held up by Russian objections to much of the text.. The Russian ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said Saturday that "substantive changes had been made to make it more balanced." Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Learn the ancient art of Magic with Magician Brisbane - Entertainment - Humor Posted: 13 Apr 2012 06:04 PM PDT Brisbane is a well renowned city in Australia that dwells in a number of reputed magicians. The Magician Brisbane enjoys esteemed name all over the world for their unusual and uncommon magical tricks. The magicians of Brisbane have revealed a number of helpful tips and tricks following which, a beginner can become a genius. The art of magic is not difficult to learn when one is accompanied by the superb assistance of Magician Brisbane art tricks. Often a beginner fails to create a magical feeling or effect in his act that is indispensable in any magical performance. Only a magical touch can leave the spectators puzzled and amazed and bring magician a round of applause for his artistic presentation. Magician Brisbane for this reason has offered several helpful magical tricks that will help a novice to bring the magical effect in his act without putting an extra pinch of effort. Magician Brisbane methods describe several key stages to learn that will act as a foundation for the entire act one is going to perform. A beginner can actually learn the art of magic only after learning the key stages involved. Come; let's learn the ancient art of magic with Magician Brisbane methods. * First key stage involves a beginner to perform the magic material manually. This will help the magic to come automatically after complete refinement and the act will look polished and natural. Talking about the material to start with, you have cards and coins that are readily available. They help you to make a commendable introduction to the world of magic. You can master a number of stunning acts with their help. For example, 'the modern magic with coin' can be performed flawlessly with the help of coins whereas you can manage to master the 'Card College' trick by making regular and repeated manual practices with the card deck.* Magic can never be entertaining if it is not accompanied by a captivating presentation. A magic can only be made look natural if one amplifies his natural personal strength in it. For instance, one should not forcibly try to act funny when he is not naturally funny. It will distract the audience attention to the extra effort put for making the a ct hilarious and will ruin the magical element completely.* Magician Brisbane is very confident in performing their magical act that makes it look believable. Magician Brisbane suggests the beginners to be confident in whatever magical trick they are going to perform. A magician trusting himself can actually make the audience trust him and his magical wonders. SummaryMagician Brisbane provides some helpful magical tricks that help a novice to become a king of wonders. To present the magic in its best form one has to learn the key stages like to first perform the magic material manually with coins or cards etc. naturally and confidently. iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software  | | Siof Posted: 13 Apr 2012 09:34 AM PDT
| Paddington Bear - News - Business News Posted: 12 Apr 2012 06:00 PM PDT History Origin Bond based Paddington Bear on a lone teddy bear he noticed on a shelf in a London store near Paddington Station on Christmas Eve 1956, which he bought as a present for his wife. The bear inspired Bond to write a story, and in ten days, he had written the first book. The book was given to his agent, Harvey Unna. A Bear Called Paddington was first published on 13 October 1958, by William Collins & Sons (now Harper Collins). The toy Paddington Bear The first Paddington Bear was created in 1972 by Gabrielle Designs, a small business run by Shirley and Eddie Clarkson, with the prototype made as a Christmas present for their children Joanna and Jeremy Clarkson (English broadcaster and writer). Shirley Clarkson dressed Paddington in Wellington boots to help the bear stand upright. (Paddington received wellingtons for Christmas in Paddington Marches On, 1964.) The earliest bears wore small children's boots manufactured by Dunlop until their production could not meet demand. Gabrielle Designs then produced their own boots with paw prints moulded into the soles. Shirley Clarkson's book describes the evolution of the toy Paddington from Christmas gift to subject of litigation and ultimately commercial success. Storyline In the first story, Paddington is found at Paddington railway station in London by the Brown family, sitting on his suitcase (bearing the label "WANTED ON VOYAGE") with a note attached to his coat which reads, "Please look after this bear. Thank you." Bond has said that his memories of newsreels showing trainloads of child evacuees leaving London during the war, with labels around their necks and their possessions in small suitcases, prompted him to do the same for Paddington. He has arrived as a stowaway coming from "Darkest Peru", sent by his Aunt Lucy (one of his only known relatives, aside from an Uncle Pastuzo who gave Paddington his hat), who has gone to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima. He claims, "I came all the way in a lifeboat, and ate marmalade. Bears like marmalade." He tells them that no one can understand his Peruvian name, so the Browns decide to call him Paddington after the railway station in which he was found. Bond originally wanted Paddington to have "travelled all the way from darkest Africa", but his agent advised him that there were no bears in darkest Africa, and thus it was amended to darkest Peru, home of the spectacled bear. They take him home to 32 Windsor Gardens, off Harrow Road between Notting Hill and Maida Vale. The stories follow Paddington's adventures and mishaps in England. When he gets annoyed with someone, he often gives them one of his special "hard stares" (taught to him by Aunt Lucy), which causes the person to become flushed and embarrassed. Characters There is a recurring cast of characters, all of whom are in some way implicated by Paddington's misadventures. These include: Mr. Brown (Henry): A friendly and often ineffectual city worker. Mrs. Brown (Mary): Mr. Brown's equally friendly wife. Jonathan and Judy: The energetic and friendly Brown children. It is never established if one is older than the other, leading to the perception that they are twins. Mrs. Bird: The Browns' stern, but ultimately friendly, housekeeper. Mr. Gruber: Owner of an antique shop on the Portobello Road, with whom Paddington has his elevenses every day. He is a Hungarian immigrant. Mr. Curry: The Browns' mean and bad-tempered next-door neighbour, who addresses Paddington simply as "Bear!" He often invites himself to many of the Browns' special occasions (though just to sample the snacks). Aunt Lucy: Paddington's aunt from South America. Books A Bear Called Paddington was first published in 1958 and was followed by ten more books. In order of publication, the titles are: A Bear Called Paddington (1958) Featured Stories: Please Look After This Bear - The story of how the Browns first met Paddington at Paddington station, hence his name. He has a sticky situation with some pastries in the station buffet. A Bear In Hot Water - Paddington's first attempt at having a bath is a disaster. Paddington Goes Underground - Paddington's first journey on the Underground causes chaos - he finds himself in trouble with one of the inspectors. A Shopping Expedition - Paddington gets lost in Barkridge's, a local department store. Mrs. Brown has to enlist the help of a police detective. Paddington and "The Old Master" - This story introduces Paddington's friend, the antique dealer, Mr. Gruber. After hearing Mr. Gruber talk about painting, Paddington decides to try his hand at painting himself. He completely ruins Mr. Brown's entry for a painting competition, but all is forgiven when his abstract painting wins Mr. Brown his first ever prize. A Visit To The Theatre - Paddington goes to see a play with the Browns, and ends up acting as prompter for the lead actor, who keeps forgetting his lines. Adventure At The Seaside - Paddington takes part in a sandcastle competition, but his castle is washed away, and he gets lost. A Disappearing Trick - Paddington enjoys his first birthday with the Browns - he is given a magic set, which he uses to entertain everyone. This story also introduces Mr. Curry, the Browns' bad-tempered next-door neighbour. Other titles More About Paddington (1959) Paddington Helps Out (1960) Paddington Abroad (1961) Paddington at Large (1962) Paddington Marches On (1964) Paddington at Work (1966) Paddington Goes to Town (1968) Paddington Takes the Air (1970) Paddington's Blue Peter Story Book (1973) Paddington on Top (1974) Paddington Takes the Test (1979) Paddington on Screen (1980) Paddington Rules the Waves (2008) Paddington Here and Now (2008) Special publications Paddington Rules the Waves (2008) A 1 World Book Day Book Paddington Here and Now (2008) Published as part of the series' 50th anniversary celebrations.. Blue Peter Author Michael Bond was also a BBC TV cameraman who worked on the popular children's television programme Blue Peter. After this was revealed in 1965, a special Paddington story in which he got mixed up in the programme itself appeared annually in the Blue Peter Annuals for many years. They were collected in the novel-length Paddington's Blue Peter Story Book in 1973. Featured Stories: "Paddington Goes Halves": Paddington enters a craft competition for Blue Peter. He is allowed to use Mr. Curry's guest room as his studio, on condition that he gives Mr. Curry half his winnings. Paddington wins a prize, but it isn't what Mr. Curry expected. Paddington is put in charge of looking after Joey, the Blue Peter parrot, whilst the team are away. "Paddington Weighs in": Paddington sees an item on Blue Peter, and thinks that the team are in trouble. It turns out they were only trying out the fitness machines in a new health hostel. Paddington only finds this out after he has attempted to investigate, resulting in an uncomfortable fitness session with the hostel's over-zealous coach, Mr. Constantine, and a nasty scene in the hostel restaurants when he tucks into a non-too-healthy marmalade sandwich. A second book based around Blue Peter is Paddington on Screen. Many other picture books and other publications have since featured Paddington. Television The BBC television series Paddington, produced by Michael Bond and London-based animation company FilmFair, was first broadcast in 1975. This series had an extremely distinctive appearance: Paddington was a stop-motion puppet moving in a three dimensional space in front of two-dimensional backgrounds (which were frequently sparse black-and-white line drawings), while all other characters were 2D drawings in one scene, a character hands Paddington a jar of marmalade that becomes 3D when Paddington touches it. Animator Ivor Wood also worked on The Magic Roundabout and Postman Pat. The series was narrated by Michael Hordern. In the United States, episodes aired on PBS, on the syndicated series Romper Room, on Nickelodeon as a segment on the program Pinwheel and on USA Network as a segment on the program Calliope in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as in between preschool programming on the Disney Channel throughout the 1990s. The series also aired on HBO in between fea tures, usually when they were airing children's programmes. The series won a silver medal at the New York Film and Television Festival in 1979 the first British animated series to do so. A second television series, produced by Hanna-Barbera, debuted in 1989 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. This series was traditional two-dimensional animation and featured veteran voice actor Charlie Adler as Paddington and Tim Curry as Mr. Curry. The character of an American boy named David, Jonathan and Judy Brown's cousin who arrived in London on the same day as Paddington, was added to the stories in the 1989 cartoon. The most recent series, produced by Cinar Films, was first broadcast in 1997 and consisted of traditional two-dimensional colour animation. The show was called The Adventures of Paddington Bear. On the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire in the United States, contestant David Goodman had a question worth $1 Million saying "In the children's book series, where is Paddington Bear originally from? A: India, B: Peru, C: Canada, D: Iceland". With the use of all 3 of his lifelines, he answered with B: Peru and won. Film adaptation In September 2007, Warner Bros. and producer David Heyman announced a live action film adaptation of Paddington Bear. Hamish McColl, who penned Mr Bean's Holiday, will write the script. The film will not be an adaptation of an existing story, but "will draw inspiration from the whole series" and will feature a computer generated Paddington Bear interacting with a live-action environment. Advertising Paddington Bear features in the Marmite UK TV advertisement (first broadcast on 13 September 2007), in which he tries a marmite and cheese sandwich instead of his traditional marmalade sandwich. Paddington was featured on the Royal Mail 1st class stamp in the Animal Tales series released on 10 January 2006, and had previously been featured on one of the 1st class Greetings Messages stamps, released on 1 February 1994. In 2008, the Pobjoy Mint in London issued a series of Paddington Bear legal tender coins under authority of the government of the Isle of Man. Coins were minted in copper-nickel, silver and gold. Google On 13 October 2008, Google celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Paddington publication by placing an image of the travelling bear with a sign showing Peru and London incorporated into Google's logo. References Simon Sheridan's book The A to Z of Classic Children's Television (Reynolds & Hearn books, 2004, reprinted 2007) ISBN 1-903111-27-7 contains an informative chapter on the 1970s TV series of Paddington ^ paddingtonbear.com ^ Happy birthday little bear - Sunderland Echo ^ Paddington brand ^ Paddington returns to his station as children's favourite, Andy McSmith, The Independent, 24 May 2008 ^ Paddington bear celebrates 50th birthday, Jack Riley, The Independent, 13 October 2008 ^ Shirley Clarkson, 'Bearly Believable: My Part in the Paddington Bear Story', Harriman House Publishing, 23 Jun 2008 ISBN 978-1905641727 ^ Icons of England - Paddington Bear. Accessed 2008-07-12 ^ Michael Bond, 'Paddington Here and Now', Harper Collins, London 2008 ISBN 978-0-00-726940-2 ^ Michael Bond and R.W. Alley Paddington Bear ^ The Books ^ World Book and Copyright Day ^ BBC NEWS | England | London | Paddington Bear's birthday book ^ Paddington Bear: a welcome immigrant - Daniel Hannan, Daily Telegraph. Accessed 2008-07-12. ^ /watch?v=IiolajBTuao&fmt=18 ^ Adam Dawtrey (2007-09-13). "'WB bears down on 'Paddington' film". Variety. /article/VR1117971958.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved 2007-09-14. ^ Paddington Stars in a New Series of Marmite Ads ^ Sweney, Mark (2007-09-12). "Paddington gets taste for Marmite". MediaGuardian.co.uk. /advertising/story/0,,2166949,00.html. Retrieved 2007-09-13. ^ Paddington image at google External links Paddington Bear Peru - The Peruvian Website and Store online Paddington Bear - The Official Website Paddington at the Internet Movie Database Michael Bond Biography wiseGEEK - Who Is Paddington Bear? Further reading Bond, Michael; and, Ash, Russell (1988). The Life and Times of Paddington Bear. London: Pavilion. ISBN 9781851452866. OCLC 59889284. Pfeffer, Susan Beth (1999). Who were They Really?: The True Stories behind Famous Characters. Brookfield, CN: Millbrook Press. ISBN 9780585248080. OCLC 40230491. Categories: Fictional bears | Characters in British novels of the 20th century | Series of children's books | London in fictionHidden categories: Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages  | | News Alert: North Korea Launches Long-Range Missile, U.S. Official Says Posted: 12 Apr 2012 04:36 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Thursday, April 12, 2012 -- 7:10 PM EDT ----- North Korea Launches Long-Range Missile, U.S. Official Says Defying weeks of international warnings of more censure and even sanctions, North Korea reportedly launched a rocket on Friday, which Washington feared was a cover for developing an intercontinental ballistic missile that one day might be able to carry a nuclear warhead. The three-stage Unha-3 rocket blasted off from the Soehae launching site near North Korea's western corner with China, said South Korea's national news agency Yonhap and YTN, an all-news cable channel. A spokesman at the Joint Chiefs of Staff who insisted on anonymity until the government's formal announcement said that South Korea believed that the launching indeed took place.
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Siof Posted: 12 Apr 2012 09:48 AM PDT
| Halloween Child Safety: What Parents Should Know - Family Posted: 12 Apr 2012 03:00 AM PDT People from all over the world often associate Halloween with fun and treats. Parents allow their children to go out and enjoy their trick and treat activities, without thinking about their child's safety to some degree. The truth is, Halloween is not just about fun and treats. Several reports have revealed that compared to the other usual nights, the Halloween nights are more dangerous to children ages 5 to 11. A large number of children were killed and injured during Halloween nights and this happens primarily because of lack of parent's supervision. So what should parents do to prevent their children from getting injured at Halloween? How can they help their children have a safe and fun Halloween? There are a lot of things that parents can do for their child's safety at Halloween. To know more about the most advisable Halloween child safety strategies, just read on below some of the worth noting Halloween child safety tips that are perfect for parents, guardians and children as well. Halloween Child Safety Tips for Children: * It is a rule of thumb for small children to go only to a well-lit house and remain only on porches rather than entering the house. * It is important to engage on trick or treat activities with a number of peers with you. If possible, a small child traveling in small groups should be accompanied by an adult.* For ultimate Halloween child safety, it is best to keep and know phone numbers and carry coins or cell phone for emergency calls.* Prepare name tags with addresses and attached them to Halloween costumes.* If you are given treats, don't eat them immediately. Instead, bring them home before eating so parents can inspect them.* Use costume swords and knives that are not sharp and rigid. You can consider the flexible ones, instead.* Walk on the neighborhoods with flashlights.* Stay on sidewalks and avoid crossing yards.* If you want to cross the street, cross at the corner, not between parked cars.* Stay together in a group before crossing.* If possible, choose and wear clothing that are bright, reflective and flame retardant.* Don't wear masks for that will only obstruct your vision. Try to use face paint.* Don't wear baggy or oversized costumes to prevent tripping. Halloween Child Safety Tips for Parents: * Don't let your children age below 12 to go out at Halloween nights by themselves. For ultimate Halloween childen safety, it is best to supervise them and their outing.* Set a curfew for older children.* Prepare homes for tricks or treaters by cleaning and clearing your porches, sidewalks, and lawns.* Inspect candies and candy wrappers for safety before letting the children eat them.* Make sure that the pedestrian area is safe for trick or treaters.* If you are driving, watch for children crossing the streets. Drive safely and slowly. Those basically are the Halloween child safety tips. Just follow them and your children will surely have a fun and enjoyable Halloween experience. Find insightful and useful information about Schooling and Education and Pre-Kindergarden at WebArticles.com. 0  | | News Alert: George Zimmerman to Be Charged in Death of Trayvon Martin, Law Enforcement Officials Say Posted: 11 Apr 2012 03:01 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Wednesday, April 11, 2012 -- 5:26 PM EDT ----- George Zimmerman to Be Charged in Death of Trayvon Martin, Law Enforcement Officials Say The Florida special prosecutor will announce charges on Wednesday against George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, law enforcement officials said. Angela B. Corey, the prosecutor, called a news conference in Jacksonville for 6 p.m. Wednesday to announce the charges against Mr. Zimmerman, 28, a crime watch volunteer, who fatally shot Mr. Martin, an unarmed teenager, in a case that has captivated the country and brought to the fore issues of race, violence and precisely what constitutes self-defense. Critical to the decision of the prosecutor will be whether or not the shooting fell under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which gives wide leeway to people who claim self-defense, and which does not require people to retreat before using deadly force. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: Special Prosecutor Schedules Announcement in Trayvon Martin Case Posted: 11 Apr 2012 12:33 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Wednesday, April 11, 2012 -- 3:04 PM EDT ----- Special Prosecutor Schedules Announcement in Trayvon Martin Case The Florida special prosecutor investigating the shooting death of Trayvon Martin has scheduled a news conference for 6 p.m. Eastern, officials said on Wednesday.
It was not yet clear whether the prosecutor, Angela B. Corey, had decided to charge George Zimmerman, a crime watch volunteer, who fatally shot Mr. Martin. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Siof Posted: 11 Apr 2012 09:06 AM PDT
| The Dow is Crashing, and Inventions are Soaring! - Society Posted: 10 Apr 2012 04:20 PM PDT What do lipstick, chocolate, Pepto-Bismol and inventive products all have in common? They all sell better during recessions. There's been quite a media buzz about inventive products during this recession; from infomercials being the subject of documentaries, to front-page newspaper and website profiles of new innovations, never before have inventions been so hot. Newsweek even went so far as to declare The Snuggie, that soft blanket-like robe with a hit infomercial "an emblem of our times", as the sensationally funny, yet useful product became the source of jokes for Jay Leno (The Tonight Show), Saturday Night Live, countless blogs and YouTube videos. Whether they comfort or entertain, save money or time, inventions offer newness in a marketplace full of products consumers may already own. The challenge for the inventor is to tap into the needs and desires of the consumer in crisis, so that we may create products that help him in a time of need. Market research shows that while consumers in a recession may have little ability or will to spend money on big purchases like appliances or vacations, they still reward themselves with small indulgences like fancy ice creams, chocolate, modest gifts, or personal amusement and variety products. Because financial desperation is scary, there is an atmosphere of insecurity and anxiety. Candy, and other stress-relievers, such as liquor and movies, help alleviate that anxiety, and make people feel good temporarily. Saving money by "do-it-yourself" (DIY) methods is, of course, the most obvious trend in recessionary products. This includes inventions that are suitable for reuse and those that enable people to repair other products (both of which are cost-saving and environmentally green measures). It is no surprise that gardening has come back in vogue- the success of the "Topsy Turvy" hanging tomato planter and Aquaglobe automatic plant watering device are examples of this. Michelle Obama has even planted a vegetable garden at the White House- the first ever since the victory gardens of World War II. Gardening appeals to people who want to save money, but also to our survivalist, pioneering, do-it-yourself ethos. Gardening associations predict this trend to go up by 40%, while vegetable seed sales have already jumped 30%. This is also a continuation of the green environmentalist trend, and urban, container and rooftop gardening are other niche markets within this category.More Americans are stocking up on food, concerned about shortages and inflationary price gauging. Self-sufficiency is of the essence here, so inventors who create accessories for hunting, fishing and camping equipment could also do very well. Items that help people stow away, store, or can goods are useful. For a more exciting approach to grocery shopping, the fashionable Itslastik spandex bag expands to over twice it's size, and holds up to 45 pounds flexibly in any direction, while bouncing with the step of the user, making the load feel lighter. The product is meant for reuse, and is therefore certifiably "green". It is also inexpensive, bright and appealing to current 'hipster' fashion trends, and proudly made in the USA. Where there is fear, there is a need for safety. Crime rates are already spiking in these desperate times, so sales of security system and personal protection products are up. Meanwhile, the Snuggie did well because of our apparent need for a "security blanket" to comfort us. Stress relieving products (think the "Squeeze Ball") may do very well. Sex, love and romance also relieve stress, and, historically, romance has thrived during recessions, as there is more social upheaval, and the need for security drives people into the arms of another. That's why condom sales and ads for personal dating sites are up. The Snuggie, big enough for two, and clearly geared towards cuddling and nesting, also speaks in the language of love. Because many consumers lack the d isposable income to vacation or go out to restaurants, they are spending more time at home, entertaining, cooking, and organizing, so that their home is more pleasant and functional. Home organization products are critical, as consumers begin to control what little they still have- the home and their current possessions. Organizing and cleaning give a sense of control in a chaotic and unstable world. The highly successful ShamWow super-absorbent, reusable cloths are intended to replace disposable paper towels. Another popular nesting product doing well is The Wonder Hanger, an organization product that triples closet space by holding up to five garments on traditional hangers in a vertical cascade. Consumers during recessions are pushed to take stock of, inventory and repair what they already own, as opposed to going out and buying more stuff. As cheap credit has virtually dried up, the number of Americans driving significantly older used cars has seen a dramatic increase. T hese older cars often need more repair, so accessories related to auto repair and maintenance could see a huge spike in sales. 'Trading Down' to cheaper products is a given during recessions. To obtain a new look, many women replace buying a new outfit with the cheaper trick of buying a new lipstick or accessory. The "Lipstick Index", a term coined during the Great Depression, has never been so high as it is now, as women flaunt their need for visibility, and desirability, by purchasing and wearing lipstick (often red). In recessions, there is a greater need to look one's best- no slouches will be tolerated in the already precarious job market. Clothing repair and reuse is big, as are 'DIY' salon/beauty replacements. For example, the REM Spring facial hair removal tool has become a big hit, as many women who normally would pay for someone to wax off their unwanted hair are now using this reusable, battery-free metal spring instead. Meanwhile, acne and wrinkle reduction treat ment has been revolutionized with the invention of at-home light therapy kits. Verilux offers the ClearWave Soothing Skin System, a hand-held light 'wand' that uses Natural Spectrum light to kill acne bacteria and reduce fine lines. Unavailable several years ago, the market for this only stands to grow.With accessories being paramount during recessions, Tweakerz bra clip, Bosom Button and Winkee cleavage covers have all become popular for their ability to help consumers alter clothes they already own. Tweakerz bra clip creates a 'lift' in a woman's cleavage, reenergizing worn bra straps. Bosom Button is a gem-like pin that enables shirts that are too low-cut to be made more appropriate by fastening fabric together. The Winkee is a piece of fabric that attaches to bra straps and covers the gap in cleavage revealing shirts. These products make women's wardrobes more wearable and functional, saving money and facilitating re-use.The marketing of inventive products has never been more visible than it is now. Major drugstores now have prominent spaces devoted solely to 'as seen on TV' and inventive products. As traditional advertising budgets are slashed, infomercials have gained access to the more expensive primetime ad space on television. The more unemployed and underemployed people there are, the more people there are staying at home, watching TV, and thereby watching infomercials. The internet also expanded the market for inventive products. Asseenontv.com is a great place to learn about inventions on the market.I have been in the invention licensing, marketing, consulting and sales business for over 15 years. This month, in the heart of the recession, my company experienced our highest sales ever. The bottom line is that unique and inventive products do very well in a poor economic climate. If history is a guide, then innovation and invention will be essential to getting us out of this recession. Inventions could not be more relevant; the time to launch yours is now. 0  | | News Alert: Santorum Suspends His Campaign, 2 Advisers Say Posted: 10 Apr 2012 11:38 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Tuesday, April 10, 2012 -- 2:10 PM EDT ----- Santorum Suspends His Campaign, 2 Advisers Say Rick Santorum is suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday, according to two people with knowledge of his plans.
Mr. Santorum is due to make the announcement at a stop in his home state of Pennsylvania after a weekend in which he tended to his three-year-old daughter, Bella, who had been hospitalized with pneumonia.
The decision abruptly ends his quest for the Republican presidential nomination after weeks in which he has struggled to compete with Mitt Romney's well-financed, highly-organized campaign apparatus. Read More:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/santorum-to-suspend-presidential-campaign/?emc=na About This E-Mail
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Siof Posted: 10 Apr 2012 09:17 AM PDT
| News Alert: Facebook Buys Instagram for $1 Billion Posted: 09 Apr 2012 10:55 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Monday, April 9, 2012 -- 1:27 PM EDT ----- Facebook Buys Instagram for $1 Billion Facebook has acquired Instagram, the popular photo-sharing application, for about $1 billion in cash and stock, the company said Monday. In a Facebook post, the company's chief, Mark Zuckerberg, said he planned to build Instagram independently from the social network, allowing users to post on other social networks, follow users not on Facebook and opt out of sharing on Facebook. Read More:
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/facebook-buys-instagram-for-1-billion/?emc=na About This E-Mail
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Discover Right Ways To Tie Trendy Scarves By Hilary Duff - Shopping Posted: 09 Apr 2012 10:13 AM PDT Hillary Duff has been famous dating to her youth and remains a good celebrity symbol. Her body is a bit plump but she knows how to cover it up and make her beautiful. She uses scarves exceptionally well to accent her body positively. A scarf can be very good to divert the attention so that your stout arm can be ignored. Classic scarf styles may feature multiple layered looks, creating a slenderizing effect. A scarf accompanied by large-sized jewelry in the ears can make you look attractive. The grid is a common scarf pattern and always looks great. There are mixed color as you wish, like black and white, red and black, or yellow and black. Although not bright, they work nicely with the hair color. That is the attraction of the detail and makes you unique look. This type of camouflage is slightly masculine and is typically used in the military. But, it may add to your appeal to females as long as you manage the richness of its hue. In addition, the popular element of a fringe can also be added to show your fashion taste. The big earring with a pendant, like antique coin, can make you attractive instantly. Scarves are an essential part of any outfit, so they must be coordinated with the clothing that one is wearing at that time. If you have thin clothing, scarves made of cotton or linen are good choices. Scarves are easy to wear and make a great accessory, they are also very light since they are made with thin materials. Even during hot, summer days, stylish women still wear scarves, as they cherish them as a valuable accessory. Black and white is a great color combination for the summer. A scarf that is longer than more than half of your body length is not wanted, however, you can tie it with a downward slimmer to improve it. The style is replete with classic flavor and appears cool during the heat. In addition, black scarves are great for coordinating the overall outfit. The scarf will even be interesting in the dark because the printing can make the layers feel thicker in the evening. If the above information is not able to convince you, you will believe the magic power from scarves after you do some comparison. You can try the same outfit with or without scarves and see the final look. Serving as an example, a white T shirt goes very well with a typical blue jean. When you put on a proper scarf, you will instantly notice a slimmer body revealed in yourself. Details of your hair style should be careful to add, is to adjust the whole body. If you are familiar with the trick of scarves for the body fit, you will know the power of silk scarves. A heavy appearance is avoided thanks to the light fabric, which also brings a fun accent to your wardrobe. 0  | | News Alert: Bubba Watson Wins Masters Title in Playoff Posted: 08 Apr 2012 05:14 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Sunday, April 8, 2012 -- 7:47 PM EDT ----- Bubba Watson Wins Masters Title in Playoff Bubba Watson won his first major golf championship by making a tournament-saving par to top Louis Oosthuizen's bogey on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at Augusta National on Sunday. Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/sports/golf/masters-final-round.html?emc=na About This E-Mail
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Can you legally Steal Pips? (Must Watch Video Inside) - Advertising - Online Advertising Posted: 08 Apr 2012 10:05 AM PDT Dear Friend, "Our Robot Isn't Illegal...It Just Performs Like It is!" - Matt Delen /y97et56 (Grab your FREE StealPips VIP Trader's Kit) I just got leaked information on a game changing forex system, dubbed Steal Pips, that will hit the markets soon...something so huge that it will leave you gasping for air. The Steal Pips System claims to ROB the forex market legally, using and exploiting proprietary technology coined Automated Price Action Recognition (A.P.A.R) and Trend & U turn Points Detector (T.U.P.D). For the first time ever, a proven robust Automated Forex Trading Robot is about to be revealed that will exponentially grow your Forex account month after month. Here an exclusive insiders peek of their website: /y97et56 Do you know the story of Matt Delen? He started off trading forex manually, but when that got too time consuming and he started to burn out, he switched to a forex robot, only to be dealt with HUGE LOSSES and mysterious behavior with his trades' "stop loss" and "take profit" points...HOWEVER he quickly figured out that it wasn't his system failing BUT rather the brokers manipulating his trades to pocket $$$ themselves...the brokers knew exactly what the bot was doing...it was as though he was playing poker with all his cards showing. After hitting the online casinos to chase his losses, he stumbled on a group of underground programmers in a gambling forum. These "black hat" geeks had become experts at creating "bots" to clean up the online poker and blackjack rooms, using the same mix of advanced "game theory" and lightning-fast sleight of hand that card counters use to fleece Vegas pit bosses. Realizing that if these programmers could beat casinos that had dirty tricks down to a science, they could easily come up with a devastatingly effective forex robot whose trading behavior would be so elusive, the dealers would never see it coming. After investing much of his remaining savings in hiring them, they built the Steal Pips software, combining his hard-won knowledge of the forex market with the programmers' dealer-beating savvyness. /y97et56 As a result, the Steal Pips forex robot doesn't use any of the common lagging-indicators that forex dealers can spot a mile away, and it easily outsmarts common dealer cons like "stop hunting" by camouflaging the stop-loss and take-profit numbers that other robots give away on command. Instead, its breakthrough Automated Price Action Recognition and Trend & U turn Points Detector technology uses "price action analysis" to spot subtle but repeating patterns in the market and use them to turn the "house advantage" on its head. And because Steal Pips uses the price itself to predict the market's next move, rather than the usual "wait and see" indicators that stall most robots (until the market's already half-way through a trend before taking action)... it trades faster and racks up more profits automatically from each trade. As a result, Matt was NOT ONLY ABLE to beat the FX dealers at their own game by keeping his trading strategies under wraps but rather DESTROY them, setting up account after account and keeping them all running on autopilot without having his winnings stolen through the dealers' underhanded tactics. /y97et56 Matt and his team of developers are so confident about how well their system performs that they are going to show irrevocable proof to convince even the most diehard skeptics. NO BACKTESTS. They plan on using Live Forex Trading Statements (actual real money accounts...no demo accounts & no backtests), Video testimonials, and Live Question and Answer Sessions to prove their point. Wow! Unbelievable, right? How is that possible? Those are my exact thoughts. This is a Game Changing moment...the tables have turned against the dealers. That's all the information I have for now. The moment I hear more, I'll let you know ASAP. I am holding my breath! /y97et56 To your forex success, Best wishes,Thanks for reading and I wish you all the success!Johnfox 2003-2010 World Marketing Media, Inc. P.S. Don't forget to grab the freebies that they have posted up on their site...I just downloaded them and they are priceless...must have tools for any one involved in Forex.. /y97et56 0  | | News Alert: Longtime Correspondent Mike Wallace Dead at 93, CBS News Reports Posted: 08 Apr 2012 08:08 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Sunday, April 8, 2012 -- 10:40 AM EDT ----- Longtime Correspondent Mike Wallace Dead at 93, CBS News Reports Mike Wallace, a pioneer of American broadcasting who confronted leaders and liars for the newsmagazine "60 Minutes" for four decades, has died, CBS News said. He was 93. His death was announced on CBS by the anchor of its Sunday morning program, Charles Osgood. The network did not immediately specify when or where he died. Mr. Wallace had been ill for several years. As one of the original correspondents and hosts of "60 Minutes," which was started in 1968, Mr. Wallace helped to establish the television newsmagazine format. "60 Minutes" is now the most popular such program on American television. An earlier version of this news alert incorrectly stated that Mr. Wallace was 94. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Grab Your FREE StealPips VIP Traders Kit - Publishing - EBooks Posted: 07 Apr 2012 09:57 AM PDT Dear Friend, "Our Robot Isn't Illegal...It Just Performs Like It is!" - Matt Delen /y97et56 (Grab your FREE StealPips VIP Trader's Kit) I just got leaked information on a game changing forex system, dubbed Steal Pips, that will hit the markets soon...something so huge that it will leave you gasping for air. The Steal Pips System claims to ROB the forex market legally, using and exploiting proprietary technology coined Automated Price Action Recognition (A.P.A.R) and Trend & U turn Points Detector (T.U.P.D). For the first time ever, a proven robust Automated Forex Trading Robot is about to be revealed that will exponentially grow your Forex account month after month. Here an exclusive insiders peek of their website: /y97et56 Do you know the story of Matt Delen? He started off trading forex manually, but when that got too time consuming and he started to burn out, he switched to a forex robot, only to be dealt with HUGE LOSSES and mysterious behavior with his trades' "stop loss" and "take profit" points...HOWEVER he quickly figured out that it wasn't his system failing BUT rather the brokers manipulating his trades to pocket $$$ themselves...the brokers knew exactly what the bot was doing...it was as though he was playing poker with all his cards showing. After hitting the online casinos to chase his losses, he stumbled on a group of underground programmers in a gambling forum. These "black hat" geeks had become experts at creating "bots" to clean up the online poker and blackjack rooms, using the same mix of advanced "game theory" and lightning-fast sleight of hand that card counters use to fleece Vegas pit bosses. Realizing that if these programmers could beat casinos that had dirty tricks down to a science, they could easily come up with a devastatingly effective forex robot whose trading behavior would be so elusive, the dealers would never see it coming. After investing much of his remaining savings in hiring them, they built the Steal Pips software, combining his hard-won knowledge of the forex market with the programmers' dealer-beating savvyness. /y97et56 As a result, the Steal Pips forex robot doesn't use any of the common lagging-indicators that forex dealers can spot a mile away, and it easily outsmarts common dealer cons like "stop hunting" by camouflaging the stop-loss and take-profit numbers that other robots give away on command. Instead, its breakthrough Automated Price Action Recognition and Trend & U turn Points Detector technology uses "price action analysis" to spot subtle but repeating patterns in the market and use them to turn the "house advantage" on its head. And because Steal Pips uses the price itself to predict the market's next move, rather than the usual "wait and see" indicators that stall most robots (until the market's already half-way through a trend before taking action)... it trades faster and racks up more profits automatically from each trade. As a result, Matt was NOT ONLY ABLE to beat the FX dealers at their own game by keeping his trading strategies under wraps but rather DESTROY them, setting up account after account and keeping them all running on autopilot without having his winnings stolen through the dealers' underhanded tactics. /y97et56 Matt and his team of developers are so confident about how well their system performs that they are going to show irrevocable proof to convince even the most diehard skeptics. NO BACKTESTS. They plan on using Live Forex Trading Statements (actual real money accounts...no demo accounts & no backtests), Video testimonials, and Live Question and Answer Sessions to prove their point. Wow! Unbelievable, right? How is that possible? Those are my exact thoughts. This is a Game Changing moment...the tables have turned against the dealers. That's all the information I have for now. The moment I hear more, I'll let you know ASAP. I am holding my breath! /y97et56 To your forex success, Best wishes,Thanks for reading and I wish you all the success!Johnfox 2003-2010 World Marketing Media, Inc. P.S. Don't forget to grab the freebies that they have posted up on their site...I just downloaded them and they are priceless...must have tools for any one involved in Forex.. /y97et56 0  | | Info Product Killer 2010 What Is So Unique About It? - Marketing Posted: 06 Apr 2012 09:45 AM PDT There are a variety of good, relatively recent products coming on the market each week. A few of these may be promising, worth an additional look. Some of these have distinguished themselves amongst their users, are spoken well of within the forums and are also growing rapidly in user acceptance. Among those that appear to be very good within the product category of Internet marketing, is one called Info Product Killer 2010. This powerful marketing system is the brainchild development of Craig Kaye, a recognized top earner at Amazon and ClickBank, who has put together the entire marketing system he uses in a simple to apply way that anybody can learn to do themselves. What exactly has Info Product Killer 2010 been doing so well that it's growing its client list, is to deliver step by step instructions to help crack the nut of finally making those most profitable purchases on Amazon and CB.. There are actually three different features that set Info Product Killer 2010 apart from the other players in the pack. These three unique and useful features are it reveals to you a brand new technique of taking a look at product marketing that almost no one has considered before, and it supports that unique product marketing angle with tutorials to make it idiot proof for virtually any brand new marketer and the Info Product Killer even has a add-on web building system specifically made to create Info Product Killer marketing system websites a breeze. Let's discuss each one of those functions, in turn. When you learn the core concept of the system, you won't think that you haven't already tried with all the secret of IPK product marketing! It is glaringly obvious initially, but because you study the system fully you will note its not something anybody might make work simply by listening to the trick... you'll want to learn the step of working it being profitable.That is why the next unique feature is crucial. Craig truly explains almost every possible step and detailed instruction you may want ever need youngster should be apply this technique profitably. There's simply no stone left uncovered. There's nothing else to master once you have invested in learning this technique. The many answers are in your hands, ready for you to implement immediately! Then like a total killer feature, Craig even made a web building system that's copy and paste with click and drag income generating modules for those biggest suppliers of the products you happen to be promoting, and also built-in modules for Google adsense, YouTube, and many types of the features you could ever want to generate totally unique and SEO optimised websites. Nevertheless the next killer feature of the Info Product Killer 2010 is the fact that if you absolutely hate the thinking behind creating websites, you don't need websites to utilize this technique. You'll be able to simply create free web2 properties like Squidoo to advertise your products... and I know it works, because I've been making money with this system on Squidoo! On the other side of the coin, the biggest drawback to the Info Product Killer 2010 setup may perhaps be because you actually have to make your time and effort to master the system in several hours. Then to start out earning an income, this requires that you spend a few moments doing your research as instructed, after which it following some steps to generate an internet marketing property.The bottom line here is that the Info Product Killer 2010 is an excellent product full of superior features as well as a fast-growing new client list. If you're in any way active in promoting products online, it would be worthwhile taking a closer look at it, possibly even give it a try. A growing number of happy clients are seldom wrong. 0  | | News Alert: U.S. Added Only 120,000 Jobs in March, Report Shows Posted: 06 Apr 2012 06:21 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Friday, April 6, 2012 -- 8:43 AM EDT ----- U.S. Added Only 120,000 Jobs in March, Report Shows The United States economy added a relatively weak 120,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate dipped to 8.2 percent from 8.3 percent, the Labor Department said on Friday.
Many economists had expected March to be the fourth consecutive month of solid employment growth, with the addition of more than 200,000 jobs. In the week leading up to the government report, statistics suggested that hiring was picking up pace. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Paddington Bear - News - Business News Posted: 05 Apr 2012 09:35 AM PDT History Origin Bond based Paddington Bear on a lone teddy bear he noticed on a shelf in a London store near Paddington Station on Christmas Eve 1956, which he bought as a present for his wife. The bear inspired Bond to write a story, and in ten days, he had written the first book. The book was given to his agent, Harvey Unna. A Bear Called Paddington was first published on 13 October 1958, by William Collins & Sons (now Harper Collins). The toy Paddington Bear The first Paddington Bear was created in 1972 by Gabrielle Designs, a small business run by Shirley and Eddie Clarkson, with the prototype made as a Christmas present for their children Joanna and Jeremy Clarkson (English broadcaster and writer). Shirley Clarkson dressed Paddington in Wellington boots to help the bear stand upright. (Paddington received wellingtons for Christmas in Paddington Marches On, 1964.) The earliest bears wore small children's boots manufactured by Dunlop until their production could not meet demand. Gabrielle Designs then produced their own boots with paw prints moulded into the soles. Shirley Clarkson's book describes the evolution of the toy Paddington from Christmas gift to subject of litigation and ultimately commercial success. Storyline In the first story, Paddington is found at Paddington railway station in London by the Brown family, sitting on his suitcase (bearing the label "WANTED ON VOYAGE") with a note attached to his coat which reads, "Please look after this bear. Thank you." Bond has said that his memories of newsreels showing trainloads of child evacuees leaving London during the war, with labels around their necks and their possessions in small suitcases, prompted him to do the same for Paddington. He has arrived as a stowaway coming from "Darkest Peru", sent by his Aunt Lucy (one of his only known relatives, aside from an Uncle Pastuzo who gave Paddington his hat), who has gone to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima. He claims, "I came all the way in a lifeboat, and ate marmalade. Bears like marmalade." He tells them that no one can understand his Peruvian name, so the Browns decide to call him Paddington after the railway station in which he was found. Bond originally wanted Paddington to have "travelled all the way from darkest Africa", but his agent advised him that there were no bears in darkest Africa, and thus it was amended to darkest Peru, home of the spectacled bear. They take him home to 32 Windsor Gardens, off Harrow Road between Notting Hill and Maida Vale. The stories follow Paddington's adventures and mishaps in England. When he gets annoyed with someone, he often gives them one of his special "hard stares" (taught to him by Aunt Lucy), which causes the person to become flushed and embarrassed. Characters There is a recurring cast of characters, all of whom are in some way implicated by Paddington's misadventures. These include: Mr. Brown (Henry): A friendly and often ineffectual city worker. Mrs. Brown (Mary): Mr. Brown's equally friendly wife. Jonathan and Judy: The energetic and friendly Brown children. It is never established if one is older than the other, leading to the perception that they are twins. Mrs. Bird: The Browns' stern, but ultimately friendly, housekeeper. Mr. Gruber: Owner of an antique shop on the Portobello Road, with whom Paddington has his elevenses every day. He is a Hungarian immigrant. Mr. Curry: The Browns' mean and bad-tempered next-door neighbour, who addresses Paddington simply as "Bear!" He often invites himself to many of the Browns' special occasions (though just to sample the snacks). Aunt Lucy: Paddington's aunt from South America. Books A Bear Called Paddington was first published in 1958 and was followed by ten more books. In order of publication, the titles are: A Bear Called Paddington (1958) Featured Stories: Please Look After This Bear - The story of how the Browns first met Paddington at Paddington station, hence his name. He has a sticky situation with some pastries in the station buffet. A Bear In Hot Water - Paddington's first attempt at having a bath is a disaster. Paddington Goes Underground - Paddington's first journey on the Underground causes chaos - he finds himself in trouble with one of the inspectors. A Shopping Expedition - Paddington gets lost in Barkridge's, a local department store. Mrs. Brown has to enlist the help of a police detective. Paddington and "The Old Master" - This story introduces Paddington's friend, the antique dealer, Mr. Gruber. After hearing Mr. Gruber talk about painting, Paddington decides to try his hand at painting himself. He completely ruins Mr. Brown's entry for a painting competition, but all is forgiven when his abstract painting wins Mr. Brown his first ever prize. A Visit To The Theatre - Paddington goes to see a play with the Browns, and ends up acting as prompter for the lead actor, who keeps forgetting his lines. Adventure At The Seaside - Paddington takes part in a sandcastle competition, but his castle is washed away, and he gets lost. A Disappearing Trick - Paddington enjoys his first birthday with the Browns - he is given a magic set, which he uses to entertain everyone. This story also introduces Mr. Curry, the Browns' bad-tempered next-door neighbour. Other titles More About Paddington (1959) Paddington Helps Out (1960) Paddington Abroad (1961) Paddington at Large (1962) Paddington Marches On (1964) Paddington at Work (1966) Paddington Goes to Town (1968) Paddington Takes the Air (1970) Paddington's Blue Peter Story Book (1973) Paddington on Top (1974) Paddington Takes the Test (1979) Paddington on Screen (1980) Paddington Rules the Waves (2008) Paddington Here and Now (2008) Special publications Paddington Rules the Waves (2008) A 1 World Book Day Book Paddington Here and Now (2008) Published as part of the series' 50th anniversary celebrations.. Blue Peter Author Michael Bond was also a BBC TV cameraman who worked on the popular children's television programme Blue Peter. After this was revealed in 1965, a special Paddington story in which he got mixed up in the programme itself appeared annually in the Blue Peter Annuals for many years. They were collected in the novel-length Paddington's Blue Peter Story Book in 1973. Featured Stories: "Paddington Goes Halves": Paddington enters a craft competition for Blue Peter. He is allowed to use Mr. Curry's guest room as his studio, on condition that he gives Mr. Curry half his winnings. Paddington wins a prize, but it isn't what Mr. Curry expected. Paddington is put in charge of looking after Joey, the Blue Peter parrot, whilst the team are away. "Paddington Weighs in": Paddington sees an item on Blue Peter, and thinks that the team are in trouble. It turns out they were only trying out the fitness machines in a new health hostel. Paddington only finds this out after he has attempted to investigate, resulting in an uncomfortable fitness session with the hostel's over-zealous coach, Mr. Constantine, and a nasty scene in the hostel restaurants when he tucks into a non-too-healthy marmalade sandwich. A second book based around Blue Peter is Paddington on Screen. Many other picture books and other publications have since featured Paddington. Television The BBC television series Paddington, produced by Michael Bond and London-based animation company FilmFair, was first broadcast in 1975. This series had an extremely distinctive appearance: Paddington was a stop-motion puppet moving in a three dimensional space in front of two-dimensional backgrounds (which were frequently sparse black-and-white line drawings), while all other characters were 2D drawings in one scene, a character hands Paddington a jar of marmalade that becomes 3D when Paddington touches it. Animator Ivor Wood also worked on The Magic Roundabout and Postman Pat. The series was narrated by Michael Hordern. In the United States, episodes aired on PBS, on the syndicated series Romper Room, on Nickelodeon as a segment on the program Pinwheel and on USA Network as a segment on the program Calliope in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as in between preschool programming on the Disney Channel throughout the 1990s. The series also aired on HBO in between fea tures, usually when they were airing children's programmes. The series won a silver medal at the New York Film and Television Festival in 1979 the first British animated series to do so. A second television series, produced by Hanna-Barbera, debuted in 1989 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. This series was traditional two-dimensional animation and featured veteran voice actor Charlie Adler as Paddington and Tim Curry as Mr. Curry. The character of an American boy named David, Jonathan and Judy Brown's cousin who arrived in London on the same day as Paddington, was added to the stories in the 1989 cartoon. The most recent series, produced by Cinar Films, was first broadcast in 1997 and consisted of traditional two-dimensional colour animation. The show was called The Adventures of Paddington Bear. On the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire in the United States, contestant David Goodman had a question worth $1 Million saying "In the children's book series, where is Paddington Bear originally from? A: India, B: Peru, C: Canada, D: Iceland". With the use of all 3 of his lifelines, he answered with B: Peru and won. Film adaptation In September 2007, Warner Bros. and producer David Heyman announced a live action film adaptation of Paddington Bear. Hamish McColl, who penned Mr Bean's Holiday, will write the script. The film will not be an adaptation of an existing story, but "will draw inspiration from the whole series" and will feature a computer generated Paddington Bear interacting with a live-action environment. Advertising Paddington Bear features in the Marmite UK TV advertisement (first broadcast on 13 September 2007), in which he tries a marmite and cheese sandwich instead of his traditional marmalade sandwich. Paddington was featured on the Royal Mail 1st class stamp in the Animal Tales series released on 10 January 2006, and had previously been featured on one of the 1st class Greetings Messages stamps, released on 1 February 1994. In 2008, the Pobjoy Mint in London issued a series of Paddington Bear legal tender coins under authority of the government of the Isle of Man. Coins were minted in copper-nickel, silver and gold. Google On 13 October 2008, Google celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Paddington publication by placing an image of the travelling bear with a sign showing Peru and London incorporated into Google's logo. References Simon Sheridan's book The A to Z of Classic Children's Television (Reynolds & Hearn books, 2004, reprinted 2007) ISBN 1-903111-27-7 contains an informative chapter on the 1970s TV series of Paddington ^ paddingtonbear.com ^ Happy birthday little bear - Sunderland Echo ^ Paddington brand ^ Paddington returns to his station as children's favourite, Andy McSmith, The Independent, 24 May 2008 ^ Paddington bear celebrates 50th birthday, Jack Riley, The Independent, 13 October 2008 ^ Shirley Clarkson, 'Bearly Believable: My Part in the Paddington Bear Story', Harriman House Publishing, 23 Jun 2008 ISBN 978-1905641727 ^ Icons of England - Paddington Bear. Accessed 2008-07-12 ^ Michael Bond, 'Paddington Here and Now', Harper Collins, London 2008 ISBN 978-0-00-726940-2 ^ Michael Bond and R.W. Alley Paddington Bear ^ The Books ^ World Book and Copyright Day ^ BBC NEWS | England | London | Paddington Bear's birthday book ^ Paddington Bear: a welcome immigrant - Daniel Hannan, Daily Telegraph. Accessed 2008-07-12. ^ /watch?v=IiolajBTuao&fmt=18 ^ Adam Dawtrey (2007-09-13). "'WB bears down on 'Paddington' film". Variety. /article/VR1117971958.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved 2007-09-14. ^ Paddington Stars in a New Series of Marmite Ads ^ Sweney, Mark (2007-09-12). "Paddington gets taste for Marmite". MediaGuardian.co.uk. /advertising/story/0,,2166949,00.html. Retrieved 2007-09-13. ^ Paddington image at google External links Paddington Bear Peru - The Peruvian Website and Store online Paddington Bear - The Official Website Paddington at the Internet Movie Database Michael Bond Biography wiseGEEK - Who Is Paddington Bear? Further reading Bond, Michael; and, Ash, Russell (1988). The Life and Times of Paddington Bear. London: Pavilion. ISBN 9781851452866. OCLC 59889284. Pfeffer, Susan Beth (1999). Who were They Really?: The True Stories behind Famous Characters. Brookfield, CN: Millbrook Press. ISBN 9780585248080. OCLC 40230491. Categories: Fictional bears | Characters in British novels of the 20th century | Series of children's books | London in fictionHidden categories: Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages 0  | | News Alert: 5 Ex-Officers Sentenced in Post-Katrina Shootings Posted: 04 Apr 2012 02:05 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Wednesday, April 4, 2012 -- 4:23 PM EDT ----- 5 Former New Orleans Police Officers Sentenced in Shootings After Katrina Five former New Orleans police officers were sentenced Wednesday to prison terms ranging from six to 65 years for their roles in deadly shootings of residents on a bridge after Hurricane Katrina. Four of the former officers were convicted of firearms charges in the shootings. Another, assigned to investigate the shootings, was convicted of helping orchestrate a cover-up. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Writing Articles, But Still Not Getting Traffic? That's Because Your Articles Suck - But I Can Help! (Part 1) - Marketing Posted: 04 Apr 2012 09:28 AM PDT Weve all been there. We hear about how articles will generate HUGE publicity for a site, (the old If you build it, they will come) so we sit down, write an article, submit it to places like , , , etc, then wait. A week goes by, you get a trickle, another week, still a trickle, a month, still a trickle (if that). What happened to all the promise of thousands and thousands of people coming to the site? Nothing - thats the problem. Very few (if any) ezines, newsletters, or web sites reprinted your article. Just the RSS feeds (they were probably responsible for the trickle). Lets take a look at how an article should be written for maximum exposure.Headline/Title (This just in)The headline is arguably the most important part of the article. If the reader isnt interested after reading the headline, they wont read the rest. It should be something catchy. My first article was entitled Branded Email: Email Branding is the Next Generation of Email and after posting that to a site or two, I shortened it to Branded Email: The Next Generation of Email. By now, Im sure you realize that the introduction paragraph was describing my first experience at article writing. My title was not catchy, (in fact, it sucked) and nobody came.What is catchy? How to headlines are good. 10 Tips (or 5 tips, or 47 tips) are often read. Case studies are great. Alliteration (putting words that begin with similar sounds together in a row Gary Guesses Googles Gauge Wow, that was bad, but you get the point) grabs a readers attention. Using common phrases and clichs is quite effective, putting a funny spin or changing those same phrases and clichs works well too. Questions get readers. Pique the readers curiosity, and theyll read.Also, depending on your audience, you can use "shocking" words and phrases - mild swear words and words that the industry deems taboo work well to get readers. Shocking headlines create emotion, and emotion gets a visitor to read the article. I probably offended you (or made you laugh) with my headline and youre reading the article now. Just make sure that if you decide to go with a shocking headline, you also propose a solution. - but I can help! takes your offence and changes it to Wow, hes right, Ill read the article and find out how he can help me! Some readers wouldnt keep reading if I just made the headline Your articles suck thats just plain mean. For example: If I was writing an article about plastic surgery, I could make the headline Are you ugly? I can fix that.Byline (By: ME!)Bylines are simple just type your name in the box. Dont use your business name - businesses don't write articles! If you're writing for your business, include it with a copyright at the bottom of the body of the article.Summary (That about sums it all up)Summaries are there to pull the reader in. Their job is to tell the reader what the article is about, and to grab their attention so the reader clicks and reads the article. Much like a h eadline, these need to be fairly catchy, but concentrate on informing the reader about the article. This is not the place to generate emotion (especially if your headline already has), but instead its where you need to leave the reader wanting more.For example, "These tips will help you make over $5000/month" is a good sentence to put in your summary, as is "Find out the secrets of how to start your own business, without a lot of startup costs." Do NOT make this sound like a blatant sales pitch, or your article won't get read.Next Time (Same bat time, same bat channel)Check out Part 2 of Because your articles suck for tips and tricks on how to write a great Article Body and a wonderful Resource Box. 0  | | News Alert: Romney Wins Wisconsin Primary, According to Exit Polls and Early Returns Posted: 03 Apr 2012 07:21 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Tuesday, April 3, 2012 -- 9:51 PM EDT ----- Romney Wins Wisconsin Primary, According to Exit Polls and Early Returns Mitt Romney won the Wisconsin Republican presidential primary on Tuesday, according to exit polls and early returns, dealing a significant setback to Rick Santorum, who had campaigned hard for a victory there to persuade Republicans that he still has a clear path to the nomination. Mr. Romney's victory in Wisconsin, a key Midwestern industrial state that many Republicans hope to put in play in the general election in November, showed that he could win the support of a number of groups that are key to Republican candidates. He won pluralities among Tea Party supporters, those who consider themselves very conservative, and those who care about the economy and the federal budget deficit. And he overwhelmingly won the votes of those who said that they most wanted a candidate who could defeat President Obama. Mr. Romney also easily won the primary in Washington, D.C., where his closest rival, Mr. Santorum, was not even on the ballot. Mr. Romney's victory in the nation's capital came despite the fact that he has spent considerably less time there over the years than his rivals who did appear on the ballot — Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker, and Representative Ron Paul of Texas. The city only has 30,000 registered Republicans, but it has 19 delegates to award — more than the 12 New Hampshire had. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: Mitt Romney Wins Republican Primary in Maryland, A.P. Reports Posted: 03 Apr 2012 05:34 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Tuesday, April 3, 2012 -- 8:04 PM EDT ----- Mitt Romney Wins Republican Primary in Maryland, A.P. Reports Mitt Romney easily won the Maryland primary on Tuesday night, according to The Associated Press, steadily adding to a comfortable delegate lead that he hopes will soon be formidable enough to drive his lagging rivals from the race for the Republican presidential nomination. The Maryland primary did not attract nearly as much attention as the one in Wisconsin. Maryland has been reliably Democratic in recent years, while Wisconsin is a swing state that is sure to be contested in November. Maryland has long been seen as a stronghold for Mr. Romney, while the race between Mr. Romney and Rick Santorum appeared to be much closer in Wisconsin. But Maryland still has 37 delegates to award, just five shy of Wisconsin, which makes a victory there important as the nominating contest has increasingly become a delegate hunt. But few expect his victory in Maryland to augur much for November: the state has reliably been one of the most Democratic states in recent presidential elections. But the state could figure in future presidential politics: its governor, Martin O'Malley, is already being mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential candidate – in 2016.
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Link Baiting Idea - Search Engines - SE Positioning Posted: 03 Apr 2012 09:24 AM PDT One of the best and the far most the effective way to gain links to your website or blogs is link baiting idea. What do you mean by Link Baiting?This is a new idea born among webmasters to gain popularity for their blogs/web page. As you all know getting attention is an old trick, weather in real life or online. Politician uses this often to stay in limelight. This same rule applies to link baiting as well. There are two different flavors in link baiting idea. Good and bad. Good ones are those to create news first like exposing scams and create news, which will surprise everyone. Bad ones are those you create a controversy or attach some leading personalities in your blogs. Think that you are trying to gain traffic not really hurt anyone. These kinds of tricks or ideas will bring in 1000's of website/blogs linking to your site. Link baiting idea is a blackhat technique that's why most webmasters think it is not legitimate to use it. But the effects of link baiting have profound effect and gradually drive traffic to your blog or site. If implement properly it can draw huge links with minimum effort from your side. Some link expert's call that "hooks" has mentioned the 5 types of "hooks" as News, Contrary, attack resource and Humor. Matt Cutts the Google Engineer in his blog about SEO advice has mentioned "LinkBait" as something interesting to catch people's attention. He say's Linkbaiting is not a bad idea. So creating attention is the key to that also person should be creative in his thought to get that idea into place. You might all have heard of Alex Tew of he created an idea to raise a Million $ to raise funds for his college education by selling 1 pixel for a $ on his website. After four months he accomplished the task. This is the kind of news you should create to get attention. His site was also mentioned in CNN News as well. After his idea there are 100 of sites mushroomed over the web like one cent pixels but they are not gaining to achieve the results Alex could drew to his website. So be first to create news before it gets crowded. Actually the term "linkbait" was started by Aaron Wall of SEO book in his post way back in August 2005. He says in his post that if "you are in a field that can't build links naturally create linkbait". By creating something on your web site that's funny, controversial, informative, or creative, it will gain natural links--which is the key to top search engine rankings. Andy Hagan's has come up with an idea to throw a contest to get links. The idea is simple give Andy a link baiting idea and if that works you will earn $1000 for that. He has posted that on BizNicheMedia.com blog. So his idea for a contest itself is an example of link baiting. Generate information or ideas which will make people to talk which will definitely a great to generate a good inbound links. 0  | | The Importance of Meta-tags: Providing the Human Touch - Internet Posted: 02 Apr 2012 09:16 AM PDT For the uninitiated, meta-tags are pieces of code within your website that contain information about each page. These tags are supposed to tell search engines and users what the page is about. If you're a little rusty on your Internet jargon, here's a primer. There are essentially three types of meta-tags that concern most marketers: * Title - This is the text that appears in the title-bar of your web browser * Description - This is a quick summary of the information on the page * Keywords - These are words that are important in the article Up until about 4 years ago, there was a tremendous focus on meta-tags as a method of improving search engine rankings. Webmasters could stuff all sorts of words into the meta-tags to improve their search engine rankings for the words they wanted to rank well for. It wasn't long before the search engines caught on to this little trick, and as a result the efficacy of "keyword-stuffed" meta-tags dwindled over time. Posts on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) boards heralded the demise of the meta-tag with posters claiming that Google all but ignored the meta-tags. It seemed that there was no use for meta-tags anymore - at least from the perspective of the online marketer. Meta-tag Re-emergence But then a funny thing happened. The search market started to fracture. Yahoo and MSN both spun up their own search engines and dropped Google's results from their engines. Both Yahoo and MSN's new engines seemed to use content from the Title and Description meta-tags to display in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). These observations appear to be the case even today. By running a query for the term, "Online Advertising" on MSN, I got some interesting results (screenshots available at /articles/support/meta_msn.asp) Now, if you look at the screenshots in the link above, you'll notice that the clickable link on the search engine matches the page's title tag verbatim, and the site's description in MSN starts off with the first sentence of the description tag. Yahoo operates in a very similar fashion. Many of the results on the SERPs of both search engines will use the content from the meta-tags heavily (as long as the pages have meta-tags at all). Google is less predictable with regard to the use of meta-tags. Google often uses the title tag to determine the clickable link on it's results pages, but only occasionally uses the description tag content in the page summary that it displays. Remember the Human Beings Ok, now that I've put you to sleep with technical details and observations it's time to wake up, because there is a very important marketing point that I'm working towards here. The point that I'm driving at is that although the search engines probably have devalued the SEO value of the meta-tag to a great extent, that doesn't mean that it isn't important. When people search for keywords in your industry it isn't enough to be #1 on the list of results. You still need to convince those humans to click on your link. The way to do that is to design the most effective page description that can possibly appear in the SERPs. Steps to Take To Improve Your Meta-Tags As a general rule, Yahoo uses the first 25-30 words of your Meta Description tag in the site description it displays on your SERPs; MSN uses the first 15 or so. Write out a 30-word description of each page of your website that is broken up into two parts. The first 15 words need to get across what the page is about - this is all the MSN searchers will see. The second 15 words should support the first - this will be visible to Yahoo searchers. Google searchers will sometimes see the first 7 - 15 words as well (although you can't count on it). With meta-tags you have to just focus on the things you can control, and right now Google is an unknown quantity so it's probably best not to worry about optimizing for Google. Don't Drop the Meta-Tags Several years ago the search engines devalued the use of meta-tags in determining rankings. But because they use the meta-tags as page descriptions in their SERP pages, you must make special efforts to ensure that the content presented to searchers inspires them to click on your links rather than your competitors'. If you don't put meta-tags on your website's pages, then Yahoo and MSN (with a combined market share of around 45%) will just guess at what to put in the description of your website. They will pull phrases out of context (much the way Google does) from your site and slap them in there. The result is not nearly as inviting as it could have been otherwise. That's why it is always beneficial to learn to write effective meta-tags. 0  | | News Alert: Baylor Moves On to N.C.A.A. Women's Championship Posted: 01 Apr 2012 09:07 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Sunday, April 1, 2012 -- 11:20 PM EDT ----- Baylor Moves On to N.C.A.A. Women's Championship Undefeated Baylor beat Stanford 59-47, breaking the Cardinal's 32-game winning streak and earning a face-off against Notre Dame in the N.C.A.A. women's basketball championship. With 13 points from star junior Brittney Griner and a strong bench performance from Terran Condrey, the Lady Bears advanced after a tightly contested first half gave way to a largely one-sided finish. A victory in the championship would give Baylor an N.C.A.A.-record 40 wins. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: Notre Dame Advances to N.C.A.A. Women's Championship Posted: 01 Apr 2012 06:45 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Sunday, April 1, 2012 -- 8:53 PM EDT ----- Notre Dame Advances to N.C.A.A. Women's Championship Notre Dame secured an overtime victory over perennial women's basketball powerhouse Connecticut, winning 83-75 to send the Fighting Irish to the title game. The result was a repeat of last year's national semifinal, when Notre Dame beat UConn to set up a showdown with the eventual champion, Texas A&M. Natalie Novosel led No. 1-seeded Notre Dame with 19 points, and Devereaux Peters added 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | How To Start A T-Shirt Business, Part One - Getting Started - Business Posted: 01 Apr 2012 09:12 AM PDT Selling T-Shirts has become big business and it's a growing industry on the Internet where there are already thousands of shops and websites where you can purchase almost any design or T-Shirt style imaginable. Thanks to the many T-Shirt companies that now print and create the T-Shirts for you, with no risk involved, many people have been able to start their own T-Shirt business without having to invest any money. This however, has turned the T-Shirt business online into a fierce, competitive battle against all T-Shirt shop/website owners. There are now millions of T-Shirt websites online for customers to choose from and this is why starting your own online T-Shirt business can be stressful, disappointing, and very difficult to attract customers and make the sales that you are expecting. Now, I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm just saying it's going to take a lot of time, effort, and maybe even some money for you to get started and get customers visiting your shop/website. There are many things you need to consider when starting your own online T-Shirt business. Simply creating a design, putting it on a blank T-Shirt, and expecting it to be a big seller isn't going to do the trick and bring you many sales, unless of course, you are a very lucky person, whom I can assure you, there aren't very many of them around. If you want to start a T-Shirt business just to make easy money fast like many other schemes on the Internet claim, then you're looking at the wrong business. There is no such thing as easily making money fast and you're always going to have to put in the effort to get the results you are looking for, especially for a T-Shirt business. Now, I'm not trying to scare you from owning your own T-Shirt business, as there are many successful individuals who have started their business in the T-Shirt industry and are doing very well. I just want to give you the facts of reality so that you're not disappointed when your business isn't doing as well as you thought it would. You may succeed at one aspect of the business, but fail in another, or you just might be that person who is successful at all the aspects of the business, which will obviously make your business a success. Either way, you're still going to have to spend the time and work very hard to achieve success. Below I've listed some of the things you need to consider before you setup or start your own T-Shirt business: Business GoalsBefore you start your own T-Shirt business, you need to think of your business goals. These goals should be realistic and they should point you in the direction you would like your business to go and what you hope to accomplish. An example of a goal would be to have 100 visitors visiting your shop/website a day or to create two new designs a week and put them up on your website. Whatever the goals may be that you have set for yourself, you then need to strive for them and once you have accomplished your goals, then you know you're on the right track. PassionYou have to have an interest in what you are doing or you're not going to enjoy spending the time and effort your business requires. Everybody has a passion in one thing or another whether it is creating the designs, promoting, or any other aspect of the business, but you should have an interest in it. If you're not passionate about a certain subject, then you need to think of another theme that you would be more interested in doing. Remember, you are going to spend a lot of time on the subject/theme that you choose, so if you aren't passionate about it, then you're going to get bored very fast and it's not going to be enjoyable. Subject/ThemeThis is very important in the T-Shirt industry as some subjects/themes do much better than others and receive more customers, but like all styles, they come and go. It's possible to have a general subject/theme, but it makes it harder for you to market/promote your shop/website. I suggest choosing just one subject/theme to begin with as you can start adding other subjects/themes later when you are established. You should by all means choose a subject/theme that you are knowledgeable about and have a passion for, like I mentioned under the passion paragraph. Target AudienceWho are you targeting? Will you be targeting a certain age group, occupation, style, general public, etc. Finding out who your primary target audience will be or is, will help you with marketing/promotion. This will also help you with creating and designing your T-Shirts and shop/website to suit your target audience. Once again you can choose to go for a general audience, but this will only make it harder for you to market/promote your shop/website. ResearchYou need to always do your research and find out what's new, what's not, what's in style, what kind of designs people are looking for, etc. You also need to keep up-to-date with your subject/theme as some change on a regular basis (Example: Politics). Keeping informed and up-to-date will give you the leading edge over your competitors, bring back customers time after time, and most importantly it will make sales. Third Party shops Vs. Your Own WebsiteShould I invest in my own website or use a third party website to host my T-Shirt designs? If you are thinking about doing every aspect of the T-Shirt business yourself (including making the T-Shirts), then I suggest you invest in a website (not a free website hosting service), but first try out a third party website that makes the T-Shirts for you (no risk involved or investment needed) to see if you can make your business a success. Once you're confident in your business, then you can upgrade to making and owning your own website. There are many online third party websites available on the Internet that you can choose from that will create and ship the T-Shirts to your customers (risk free with no money invested) and therefore, save you the hassle of actually having to deal with the customer aspect of your T-Shirt business. There are as many cons as there are pros when using a third party service. Some of the cons are: You don't get your own website and you are in some way connected to them, you don't make as much profit (you have to pay them to do all the work, like printing the T-Shirts and shipping), and they make all the rules (Example: not providing you with the E-mail address of your customers or refusing any designs that you create). When you sign up with one of these third party services, you are actually working for them and that includes promoting their site. The customers that purchase your T-Shirts are actually their customers meaning they have full control and every time you make a sale , they make a profit. In other words, these third parties depend on your success and if your business goes under, theirs doesn't because there'll always be someone else to take your place. Marketing/PromotingThis will be your biggest enemy in the T-Shirt business and many businesses fail because of this. I suggest you do your research on the web for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and about how the basic search engines works, as there is a lot of information about them. Do not just resort to search engines as being your source for traffic as there are many other websites that can help bring in quality targeted traffic to your website like T-Shirt ranking sites (Example: ). The major search engines (Example: Google) are complicated in how they work and many people have been trying to figure out how they work for years. The search engines change their algorithms on how pages are ranked every once in a while so you're better off not focusing your attention on just getting to the top in the search engines. If you do manage to make it to the top and are very successful, then your marketing/promotion shouldn't stop there. You have to always be marketing/promoting your site one way or another because it won't take long before someone else over takes you, simply because links can die and you need incoming links from other websites to get traffic. T-Shirt Ranking WebsitesDo ranking sites work? Yes, ranking websites are a great way to market/promote your T-Shirt designs and shops/websites. Many people don't want to waste their time searching all over the web trying to locate websites that sell specific designs that they are looking for. This is where T-Shirt ranking websites come in handy and allow customers to view thousands of different T-Shirt designs and styles from many different websites. Ranking sites are a great way of bringing many unique and different T-Shirt websites/designs together and help to bring the buyers to the sellers. is a great example and offers many different categories to choose from including: Animal, Artistic, Attitude, Automobile, Biker, Computer, Floral, Funny, Holiday, Kids, Logo, Misc., Movie, Music, Novelty, Occupation, Offensive, Patriotic, Pets, Political, Religious, Sports, Unusual, Vintage, and Western. Many T-Shirt business owners think that they can just upload their T-Shirt designs to a ranking website and expect to receive sales. This is a myth and it's not true. Ranking sites, like , bring high quality targeted traffic to your website, but it's your T-Shirt designs in the end that have to convince the customer to buy/purchase the product. T-Shirt ranking websites only make it easier for you to market/promote your site/designs and to get the high quality targeted traffic that every business wants. The next article in this two-part series outlines some advice, problems, and solutions from other T-Shirt businesses that they encountered when they were starting their own T-Shirt business. 0  | | News Alert: Kansas Heads to N.C.A.A. Championship With a 64-62 Victory Over Ohio State Posted: 31 Mar 2012 08:55 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, March 31, 2012 -- 11:26 PM EDT ----- Kansas Heads to N.C.A.A. Championship With a 64-62 Victory Over Ohio State Kansas defeated Ohio State, 64-62, advancing to the N.C.A.A. men's basketball championship. After trailing the Buckeyes for most of the game, the Jayhawks took advantage of an Ohio State cold streak in the final minutes, earning their second appearance in the title game in five years. Kansas plays overall No. 1 seed Kentucky on Monday in New Orleans.
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: Kentucky Beats Louisville, 69-61, Moving to N.C.A.A. Final Posted: 31 Mar 2012 06:03 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, March 31, 2012 -- 8:32 PM EDT ----- Kentucky Beats Louisville, 69-61, Moving to N.C.A.A. Final With a balanced attack led by freshman forward Anthony Davis, Kentucky beat its rival Louisville, 69-61, and moved on to the N.C.A.A. men's basketball championship. Davis, who earlier Saturday was named The Associated Press's college basketball player of the year, scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help the top-ranked Wildcats advance to the title game on Monday, where they will play the winner of Saturday night's game between Ohio State and Kansas. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | News Alert: Jeremy Lin Out for Rest of Regular Season With Knee Injury Posted: 31 Mar 2012 04:08 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, March 31, 2012 -- 6:37 PM EDT ----- Jeremy Lin Out for Rest of Regular Season With Knee Injury Jeremy Lin's basketball season has come to an abrupt and untimely end, because of a knee injury that will require surgery. Lin, the Knicks' point guard, has a small, chronic meniscal tear in his left knee, the Knicks announced Saturday night. He will undergo arthroscopic surgery and is expected to miss six weeks, wiping out the rest of the regular season and possibly the first round of the playoffs, assuming the Knicks make it. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | The Future of Article Marketing - An Interview - Website Promotion - Online Promotion Posted: 31 Mar 2012 09:05 AM PDT Chris Ellington is the CEO and Founder of Article Marketer. With over 20 years of marketing experience and expertise, he works with small business owners, clarifying strategic business initiatives. He guides them in focusing on the most important and profitable aspects of their businesses. Less than a year old, the Article Marketer site already serves thousands of authors and has successfully completed more than 3.3 million article submissions. Question: I stumbled across your site by accident one day when I was approving articles on a list I owned. That's how I found you. Tell me how you got started in article writing and promotion. Answer: Content is the foundation of any internet marketing campaign. No matter what you choose to do, whether it's hard-core SEO, Google AdWords, search enging marketing, email marketing, or any other form of online marketing - the web is fundamentally built around content. Creating and providing content to the literally millions of content sites and newsletters just seemed to be a smart move. Did you know that there are now more websites on the net than there are people on the planet? The webmasters of those sites simply don't have time to create the sheer volume of content they need to fill their newsletters. I started sending articles to people who wanted content, and I was amazed at the results. More targeted traffic started showing up at my various sites. With more targeted traffic comes greater conversion - which means more people to opt-in to my lists, more affiliates join my programs, and more sales of my products and services. The problem was I was spending too much time submitting articles by hand. I knew there had to be a better way. There were services to do article submission - some charging up to $400 per article! - and there was software to download and install - but I was still chained to my desk to do the actual submission work. My consulting work with small business owners had taught me that what the market needed was a low-cost, automated, hands-free solution. I set out to build a service that would alleviate all of the problems that I'd seen with article marketing: either time-consuming and tedious drudgework or high expense for the author, while being spam-ridden for the newsletter editors and content site owners. I put together a team and we created completely automated submission, free article review to help each author get better results, and a team human-spam-blockers who make sure that spam never goes through our servers. Article submission is affordable to small business owners through a unique subscription model that allows an author to submit an unlimited number of articles without having to factor in the expense of each and every article. Question: What changes have you seen in article writing and promotion since you started your service? Answer: The article marketing landscape is constantly changing. Some once very popular article sites have completely vanished, overwhelmed by spam and the sheer volume of new articles being submitted. At the same time, new sites come online all the time. Keeping up with these changes is almost a full time job. As people started understanding that they could get one-way (as opposed to reciprocal) links, better search engine placement, improved pagerank, more traffic and sales just from writing articles, we've seen the inevitable entry of spammers into the market. These are people who are not interested in providing good content, but only want a free link in someone's newsletter. The result is that the article directories and content site owners are putting more restrictions on the articles they'll accept. While in the early days we could submit short (150-250 word) articles, these days if an article isn't at least 400 words, it's unlikely to be accepted. A number of sites have now banned the use of 'tinyurl' URL replacements because spammers mask their affiliate links or links to bad neighborhoods. It used to be that we could incorporate URLs into the article body, but more and more article sites are rejecting anything they find with a.com address. We have worked out an arrangement with most of the content sites to allow the specific use of URLs under certain circumstances, and we teach our authors how they can effectively incorporate URLs into their articles and yet avoid having their accounts banned. We've seen a surge of "Private Label" articles in the market. These are canned, pre-written articles that people can buy and submit under their own names. Unfortunately, only the first few people who submit those articles are successful, everyone else is an "also ran". Private Label articles are like jokes on the internet. The first time you see one, it's funny. The 50th time it's just annoying. Question: What do you think article writers should be aware of when writing articles? Answer: There are three rules when it comes to writing articles:Rule #1: Provide Good ContentRule #2: Provide Good ContentRule #3: When in doubt, see Rules #1 and #2 If you follow those three rules, you'll do just fine. What is "good content"? It's approximately 750 words that allows the reader to come away with some knowledge that wasn't there before. Focus on a topic and make sure that the reader gets something of value at the end. Authors should ask themselves this question:Must a reader buy my product/service in order to take action? If the answer is "yes", then go back to the drawing board. Of course, the author may need to substitute "visit my website", "subscribe to my newsletter" or any of a dozen other calls to action based on the author's desires. When providing newsletter content, it's important to remember that you are speaking directly to a specifically targeted audience. These are people who have subscribed to "Dog Weekly" or "Fish Tank Monthly", so if your thing is dogs or fish tanks, this is your perfect audience. Put your best foot forward. Give them really good information and they'll want to visit your site for more information. At that point you can sell them something. Another important point is that articles stay on the article banks forever. When you include a call to action in your resource box, make sure it's not a 'limited time offer'. Don't use contact information that might go away. It's always best to send your readers to a website you control (and can update) so that if your email address or phone number changes, they will still be able to reach you. Question: Share a few of your best article writing tips with us. Answer: The title is key. It's the first thing people see and the first decision they make about your article. If they don't get past the title, they'll never read the rest. A title should never be a noun. If you have a great article about fish tanks, and you title it "Fish Tanks", you're unlikely to get as many readers as you would with, for instance "How to Keep Your Fish Tank Sparkly Clean" (assuming, of course, that the article is about keeping a fish tank clean.) Add some action and some excitement to your title to draw people into the content. Your article itself should be about one thing. Don't try to cover all aspects or every angle in a single article. Break it down into component parts and explain the most important points. Try not to write a multi-part article series. I know that goes against some other advice you may have heard, but there are some important reasons to avoid multipart articles. The first problem is that a reader may not have access to the other parts. How terrible would it be to find "Fish tanks Part 2" and not know how to find the first part? The second problem is that newsletter publishers may not be willing to commit to running all 16 parts of your masterpiece, and so will not print any of your work. Each article you write must be able to stand on its own, with a beginning, a middle and an end. Don't require that a reader be fluent in parts 1-3 before they read part 4. Never end your article with "to be continued..." or "the rest of this article can be found on my website..." because the content site owners are expecting you to provide content - all of it - in exchange for the link and the targeted audience they'll be delivering to you. Question: What trends do you see in article writing and promotion, and what do you think the future holds for article writing and promotion? Answer: We're seeing a shift in the marketplace. While at one time only "polished authors" would submit their articles, it's become much more common to get really good articles from average business owners. People who have never written an article before are discovering that it isn't that hard. Our editors help them put out a good quality article the first time through. I can't tell you the number of emails we get thanking us for the detailed assistance provided by our review team. Anyone can write an article about a topic they're passionate about (and isn't that why they started a business in the first place?) and they can create interesting content just based on their own experiences. I believe that the surge of "Private Label" articles will go away as people discover that only original content actually delivers the results of marketing with articles. While re-writing those articles can be effective, just replacing certain words with synonyms is not enough. You can't expect a dog newsletter owner to put "Combing Your Mutt" in the newsletter after publishing "Grooming Your Dog" in last week's newsletter. I think people are getting more excited about bringing their own expertise to the fore. Different dog groomers can write about combing dogs and have each of them published in the dog newsletter, because each tells a specific story or anecdote, provides original tips and tricks learned "in the trenches", and brings a fresh perspective to the subject. Will article writing and submission ever go the way of banner ads, pop ups, and FFA sites? No, because content is the foundation of the web. Other forms of marketing have come and gone - even email marketing is difficult these days - but anyone who provides good content to the content-hungry audience will see their work published all around the net, will get links from relevant sites, will see their pagerank increase, and will get more targeted traffic to their websites. 0  | | News Alert: Obama Clearing Way to Tighten Sanctions Targeting Iranian Oil Posted: 30 Mar 2012 11:55 AM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Friday, March 30, 2012 -- 2:22 PM EDT ----- Obama Clearing Way to Tighten Sanctions Targeting Iranian Oil President Obama has determined there is enough oil in world markets to allow countries to rely less on imports from Iran, a step that could ramp up western sanctions to deter Tehran's nuclear ambitions, an administration official said Friday.
Mr. Obama is required by law to decide by March 30, and every six months after, whether the price and supply of non-Iranian oil is sufficient to allow for countries to cut their oil purchases from Iran.
The new sanctions, passed as part of the defense budget and mandated by the Senate in a rare 100-0 vote, penalize foreign corporations or other entities that purchase oil from Iran's central bank, which collects payment for most of the country's energy exports. The sanctions are meant to pressure Iran to curb its nuclear program. Read More:
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New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company  | | Advanced Link Checks - Internet Posted: 30 Mar 2012 09:00 AM PDT You should be able to find several indispensable facts about SEO in the following paragraphs. If there's at least one fact you didn't know before, imagine the difference it might make. View the source of each and every page: is there JavaScript and CSS on the page? Remember that spiders may not index pages that have more than 10k or so of JavaScript or CSS embedded in them. Spiders don't enjoy getting tangled up in JavaScript. So as a general rule you should avoid putting out prompts and alerts using JavaScript every time that a page loads. Because of this rule, it is also wise to avoid link partners who do so on the pages that they link to you from. If anything looks fishy, it probably is. CSS won't give you many problems. If you are going to use CSS, it is best to link to it from another source. Create a separate CSS page and use the tag to work it into the head of your HTML. This method will keep your file size down considerably, and since you will probably be using the same CSS on several pages, decrease your bandwidth usage. Normally a large quantity of CSS within the document isn't indicative of any suspicious behavior on the part of the linker. If you feel that you are, indeed, suffering from the fact that the site uses such an excessive proportion of CSS on the page itself, suggest to the webmaster that he/she may want to create an external CSS document and link to it in his/her header. Check that you're still on the domain you clicked on a link to, and you haven't moved to another site or a subdomain. Some people will move you to another domain while telling that's their site and your link is there, relying on you not checking the address bar. This trick is all too common and happens to folks who are new to SEO every single day. This sad fact will continue until people begin to catch it every time. If you don't have accurate details regarding SEO, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don't let that happen: keep reading. If the domain has changed, delete your backlink to the site in question immediately and then email the webmaster with your complaint. If the webmaster does not fix the problem you may even want to request that they remove the link as the site may wind up discredited as a link farm or some such thing that you do not want to be associated with for fear of being banned from many popular search engines with technology used to combat link farms. On a related subject, when you check your back links, make sure that these links appear in legitimate places. If the site is completely dedicated to linking to other sites and doesn't seem to be a directory or something similar you will want to get your link removed as soon as possible. There is no time when one link is worth the risk of being permanently banned from any popular search engine. Aside from the traffic that you will lose from that one search engine, you may wind up "red flagged" so to speak. It seems to be common practice among search engines that if one finds faulty activity the rest seem to find out soon afterwards. Overall, if it seems dodgy, leave it alone. It's better to sacrifice one link in caution than to destroy your site's rankings by accepting one you're not sure of. There are hundreds of situations aside from link farms that can and will give you trouble. It would be impossible to list every scam as there are people who make their living (or seem to anyway) in creating and executing these scams. Whenever there is a new form of "SEO" technology that "can't fail," you should watch out because it is almost guaranteed to blow up in your face. The only truly powerful and guaranteed method of SEO is to make your site valuable to your visitors and then let it fall where it may in the realm of the search engine. It is difficult, after you have optimized your pages and submitted them to search engines and directories, to sit back and wait, but there is not much that can be done aside from attempting to accumulate links from good, solid places. The work that you have done is bound to pay off sooner or later as long as you stay honest. When it comes to the world of SEO, honesty is, indeed, the best policy. When word gets around about your command of SEO facts, others who need to know about SEO will start to actively seek you out. 0  | | News Alert: Apple Supplier in China Pledges Changes After Report Cites Violations Posted: 29 Mar 2012 02:08 PM PDT Breaking News Alert The New York Times Thursday, March 29, 2012 -- 4:14 PM EDT ----- Apple Supplier in China Pledges Changes After Report Cites Violations Foxconn, which manufactures electronics for such companies as Apple, Dell, Amazon and others, has pledged to sharply curtail the number of working hours within its Chinese factories and significantly increase wages. The moves come after a wide-ranging inspection by the Fair Labor Association, a monitoring group, found widespread problems — including numerous instances where Foxconn violated Chinese law and industry codes of conduct by having employees work more than 60 hours a week, sometimes for more than 11 days in a row. Apple, which recently joined the association, had asked the group to investigate plants manufacturing iPhones, iPads and other devices. In recent months, a growing outcry over conditions at overseas factories has prompted protests and petitions, and several labor rights organizations have started scrutinizing Apple's suppliers. Read More:
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