8 More Big-Ass Record-Breaking Foods

In March 2010, we brought you 15 Big-Ass Record-Breaking Junk Foods. Now, we present you with more food stuffs that go beyond satisfying a craving, they could make you never want to look at food ever again.  In fact, if you ever did finish any of these items on your own you might start to question life’s bigger questions as you slip into the deepest food coma ever. Nonetheless, just seeing some of these magnified staples of ingestion might give you an equally large appetite – reader beware.

Burger

The world’s largest burger was created for a promotional event by Phoenix Seagaia Resort in Japan.  It weighs 300 pounds.  The bun looks a little strange though.  Maybe let America have a shot at this record next time, Japan.

Sandwich

What do you out on the largest sandwich in the world? Ham and cheese.  Peanut butter and jelly would have been too messy.  Plus, PB&J is not a common combo in Mexico where the record is currently held.  The Bimbo bread company made the sandwich 6,991 pounds.  Too bad they did not make a massive bowl of tomato soup to dunk it in.

Omelette

Making the world’s largest omelette is simple. All you need is 110,000 eggs, 80 chefs, and a 30 foot frying pan.  Luckily for the Turkish Egg Producers Association, they had plenty.  To celebrate World Egg Day and promote eggs as a healthy source of food, the association staged the creation of the giant omelette in October, 2010.

Gingerbread House

The holidays have passed but a giant gingerbread house still sounds delicious.  The Mall of America hosted this 20,000 pound gingerbread mansion back in 2006.  Roger Pelcher is to thank for this uniquely American giant – he is the gingerbread artist that designed and produced the life-sized creation.

Wok of Stir-fry

I do not remember ever having anything as good and stir fry when I was eating in my high school lunches in the cafeteria. Let alone so much of it that I could go back for seconds, but high schoolers in Wesvalia, South Africa managed to fry up 2320 pounds of the delicious asian dish in October, 2005.

Chunk of Fudge

This must have been a girl’s idea.  The two male chefs must have had girlfriends or wives that really needed chocolate that week.  With the help of students at Lansing Community College in Michigan chefs William Nicklosovich and “Peppermint” Jim Crosby poured 5,200 pounds of fudge into a custom wooden mold.

Batch of Nachos

The world’s biggest batch of nachos come to us from Melbourne, Australia which is strange because they do not have American football to watch while they eat them.  Someone should do an experiment to see if nachos taste as good while watching rugby.  Either way, it would take a huge team of big dudes to finish off all 2,774 pounds of nachos.  They had to bring in heat lamps to melt all the cheese.  Makes you just want to jump on top of them and roll around.

Bowl of Spaghetti

The last record is only the second American-held record on the list.  What happened to the USA being the land of gluttony and excess?  Next weekend grab all your friends and break a record for America. This massive bowl of America’s favorite pasta was made in Garden Grove, California and contains 13,780 pounds of spaghetti noodles.  Anyone else have that swimming in spaghetti fantasy from when you were a kid?

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Best English Grammar Sites

Posted by abby on Jan 21, 2011 in Business & Money, Featured | 1 comment

If you’d like to brush up on your English grammar, you don’t always have to take a class or pick up a book. You can just as easily surf the ‘net to some of these great grammar sites and learn some tips to improve your skills.
Grammar is something that gets better the more you use it and practice – and these helpful websites offer tips and examples to help you understand how to use it properly. Don’t worry about falling asleep in your chair – many of these sites are fun and even a bit entertaining! Enjoy learning more about grammar and get ready to impress us with your top notch grammar!

The Guide to Grammar and Writing

This grammar website is sponsored by the Capital Community College Foundation and offers many grammar worksheets for self testing or classroom use. Learn Word & Sentence Level, Paragraph Level, Essay & Research Paper Level and more. There are quizzes and a section where you can ask your own grammar questions. A very useful website about grammar.
Learn about grammar here http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

Grammar Girl – Quick and Dirty Tips

Now if you think grammar is boring, we suggest you visit Grammar Girl! Grammar Girl is fun and interesting. Grammar Girl has podcasts about grammar you can listen to. Grammar Girl is like that cool, hip friend explaining all of these confusing grammar rules to you in an easy to understand, bite size way.
Learn about grammar here http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

English Club.com – Grammar

At this site you’ll find great grammar tips especially for the ESL (English as a Second Language) student. Whether you are learning or teaching English, this is a very useful site as you can discover all about English grammar. Our favorite are the “hot links” to popular grammar information such as verbs, passive voice, conditionals, irregular verbs and more.
Learn about grammar here http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/

Grammar Bytes! Grammar Instruction with Attitude

Now right from the start you know this is a different website about grammar. Grammar Bytes! is fun, fresh and original. You’ll find all of the basic and advanced information about grammar that can help you improve your skills. Get useful handouts to use in your class or to self-test. Read about grammar terms; try their grammar exercises and more. At this site you’ll actually have fun learning all about grammar.
Learn about grammar here http://www.chompchomp.com/menu.htm

DailyGrammar.com

Okay, I’ll admit it: DailyGrammar.com is one of my favorite grammar sites. You’ll find tons of exercises and quizzes here. Actually 440 lessons – a lot of information about grammar. Read the first page of the site to understand which lessons cover what grammar topics. DailyGrammar is a site ideal for many users and different age ranges. It used to be a daily e-mail site but now all of the lessons are available on the web, very convenient for self study.
Learn about grammar here http://www.dailygrammar.com/

OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab

This is an excellent site on the ‘net for grammar and actually the OWL site is well known for helping students and others improve their writing and study skills. You’ll learn all about grammar at this OWL site dedicated to grammar. The OWL sites are run by Purdue University, The Writing Lab and The OWL at Purdue. Lots of great information here about grammar.
Learn about grammar here http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/5/

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Best Numerology Sites

Posted by abby on Jan 24, 2011 in Entertainment, Featured | 0 comments

What’s in a name? Plenty! According to numerologists you can discover a great deal about a person from the numerology created from their name. Each letter has a corresponding number. Add these numbers up to a final number and you’ll learn about someone’s personality, desires and what they were meant to do for a living/passion.
Whether you swear by divination or have never used it, numerology is pretty interesting. There’s just something about seeing what your name means according to the numbers that is fun, entertaining and makes for great conversation! Try this with a group of friends or family.
If you like numerology or are curious to learn more about this divination tool, there are some great numerology sites out there. Here are some great numerology sites with information, free readings and more!

Paul Sadowski.com

While this site isn’t the most fancy one we’ve seen – give them a chance! Try the free numerology reading and you’ll learn all about your name and get a free numerology reading. This is an excellent way to introduce yourself to numerology.
Get great numerology information here http://www.paulsadowski.com/numbers.asp

Numerology at Astrology-Numerology.com

This is an excellent site for those who are new to numerology and those who need to brush up on information. You’ll find step by step lessons in numerology. It is like taking a class online in numerology! Information is explained in a friendly and easy to understand manner. You’ll learn the basics and then move into each aspect of numerology. By completing these numerology lessons you’ll have a good understanding of what numerology is and how to use it.
Get great numerology information here http://www.astrology-numerology.com/numerology.html

Numerology at Wikepedia

This article at Wikipedia gives great information about numerology. Learn the detailed history of numerology. Discover the different types of numerology. Understand how numerology can be used in relation to other things (astrology, alchemy and science). This article gives lots of information that will introduce you to the different forms of numerology and why numerology is important to many people.
Get great numerology information here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerology

Façade Numerology Readings

These numerology readings are free and you’ll get lots of great information here. Some computer generated numerology readings only use your name – but Façade uses your Public Name, Birth Name, Nickname and Birth Date. All of these details are useful in creating the most in depth numerology profile for you. While numerology focuses on your birth name and birth date, the other information can be quite useful according to some numerologists.
Get great numerology information here http://www.facade.com/numerology/

Numerology.com

This is numerologist Hans Decoz’ site. Read the Dear Hans advice column. Learn about his useful numerology software and numerology readings. There is free numerology available at the site. Numerology fans can connect with each other in the numerology forums. There are also great numerology articles at this site and Hans’ blog to read.
Get great numerology information here http://www.numerology.com/

Sun Angel Numerology

Sun Angel Numerology is a very popular numerology reading generator. Readings are free and quite detailed. You’ll be pleased with your numerology reading, there is typically more information in the Sun Angel numerology readings than in most other numerology reading generators we’ve seen so far. Their reading generator is simple to use, just type in your birth name or nickname you’d like for the numerology reading.
Get great numerology information here http://www.sun-angel.com/numerology/index.php

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7 New Wonders in Breathtaking Photographs

The New Seven Wonders of the World is a contemporary attempt to create an alternative to historical lists of the Seven Wonders of the World. This final list of seven was selected by internet users – the organization managing the vote say that over 100 million votes were counted – though people could vote more than once. Click the images to view them at their best.

1. Taj Mahal, India

Photograph By: micbaun [more...]

The Tah Mahal is a mausoleum complex in Agra, northern India, on the southern bank of the Yamuna (Jumna) River. In its harmonious proportions and its fluid incorporation of decorative elements, the Taj Mahal is distinguished as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a blending of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles.

2. Colosseum, Rome

Photograph By: Will Hybrid [more...]

Construction of the Colosseum was begun sometime between AD 70 and 72 during the reign of Vespasian; the structure was officially dedicated in AD 80 by Titus in a ceremony that included 100 days of games. The Colosseum is a freestanding structure of stone and concrete, measuring 620 by 513 feet (190 by 155 metres) overall and seating some 50,000 spectators. It was the scene of thousands of hand-to-hand combats between gladiators, of contests between men and animals.

3. The Great Wall, China

Photograph By: Charlie81 [more...]

The Great Wall is a series of sandstone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China, were built since the 5th century BC, the most famous being the one built between 220 BC and 200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.

4. Petra, Jordan

Photograph By: Taras Kalapun [more...]

Petra is an ancient city, centre of an Arab kingdom in Hellenistic and Roman times; its ruins are in southwest Jordan. The city was built on a terrace, pierced from east to west by the Wadi Musa (the Valley of Moses)—one of the places where, according to tradition, the Israelite leader Moses struck a rock and water gushed forth. The valley is enclosed by sandstone cliffs veined with shades of red and purple varying to pale yellow, and for this reason Petra was called by the 19th-century English biblical scholar John William Burgon a “rose-red city half as old as Time.”

5. Machu Picchu, Peru

Photograph By: hazelbrae [more...]

Machu Pichu is a pre-Columbian Inca city located at 2,430 m (7,970 ft) altitude on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, about 70 km (44 mi) northwest of Cusco. Machu Picchu is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It is often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”. The site was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1983 when it was described as “an absolute masterpiece of architecture and a unique testimony to the Inca civilization”

6. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

Photograph By: Pawel Z [more...]

Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue stands 39.6 metres (130 feet) tall, weighs 700 tons and is located at the peak of the 700-m (2296-foot) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city.

7. Chichen Itza, Mexico

Photograph By: itzamnavacmitun [more...]

Chichen Itza is a ruined ancient Maya city occupying an area of 4 square miles (10 square km) in south-central Yucatán state, Mexico. It is located some 90 miles (150 km) east-northeast of Uxmal and 75 miles (120 km) east-southeast of the modern city of Mérida. The only source of water in the arid region around the site is from wells (cenotes) formed by sinkholes in limestone formations.

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8 Scandalous Michael Jackson Moments

Michael Jackson who has featured on this site in the past died on Thursday, June 25. Therefore, as an odd tribute to his talent as a musician, we have put together this list of the most bizarre and scandalous moments in his 50 years.

8

Crotch Grab

In the 18-minute music video for “Bad”—directed by Martin Scorsese—Jackson began using sexual imagery and choreography not previously seen in his work. He occasionally grabbed or touched his chest, torso and crotch. While he has described this as “choreography,” it garnered a mixed reception from both fans and critics; Time magazine described it as “infamous”. The racy “crotch grab” dance move became Jackson’s trademark. The move is commonly seen in today’s music videos but at the time, the crotch grabbing shocked the world.

7

Cosmetic Surgery

In 1979, Jackson broke his nose during a complex dance routine. His subsequent rhinoplasty surgery was not a complete success; he complained of breathing difficulties that would affect his career. He was referred to Dr. Steven Hoefflin, who performed Jackson’s second rhinoplasty and other subsequent operations. Many believe that he used this as an excuse to get a nose job. In 1993, the popstar stated that he had only had two cosmetic operations – on his nose and chin – done, for medical reasons. His extreme physical transformation suggests that he’s had more than just two, however.

6

Concert Cancellations

After Jackson reportedly cancelled numerous concerts in 1999, Munich event organiser and Jackson’s friend Marcel Avram lodged a complaint of ‘breach of contract’ against the singer. Jackson then threw the same charge at Avram. After a tug of war in the court room, the two friends managed to come to an agreement.

5

Hurricane Katrina

When Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans, Jackson promised to record a song about the disaster to aid charity. He worked on the project with artists from London and Los Angeles, according to reports in the autumn of 2005 — but the single never eventuated.

4

Bad Debts

In a bizarre twist on the “rags to riches” genre, Michael returned to rags after pouring out enormous quantities of money in defending himself in the various lawsuits against him in recent years. Reports of financial problems for Jackson became frequent in 2006 after the closure of the main house on the Neverland Ranch as a cost-cutting measure. One prominent financial issue for him concerned a $270 million loan secured against his music publishing holdings. After delayed repayments on the loan, a refinancing package shifted the loans from Bank of America to debt specialists Fortress Investments. Jackson had been one of the world’s richest popstars, reportedly worth several hundred million dollars in the 1990s.

3

Neverland

Jackson’s home “Neverland” contained, among other things, a zoo and a theme park, with a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, zipper, spider, sea dragon, wave swinger, super slide, dragon wagon kiddie roller coaster, and bumper cars. It is named after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, where children never grow up. On February 25, 2008, Jackson received word from Financial Title Company, the trustee, that unless he paid off $24,525,906.61 by March 19, a public auction would go forward of the land, buildings, and other items such as the rides, trains, and art. On May 12, 2008, a foreclosure auction for the ranch was canceled after an investment company, Colony Capital LLC, purchased the loan. Jackson was in default on the $24.5 million owed on the 2,500-acre (10 km2) property. In a press release, Jackson stated, “I am pleased with recent developments involving Neverland Ranch and I am in discussions with Colony and Tom Barrack with regard to the Ranch and other matters that would allow me to focus on the future.”

2

Balcony Baby

In 2002, Jackson brought his new born son (Prince Michael Jackson II – also known as Blanket) onto the balcony of his hotel room in Berlin, as fans stood below. Holding him in his right arm, with a cloth loosely draped over the baby’s face, Jackson briefly extended the baby over the railing of the balcony, four stories above ground level, causing widespread criticism in the media. Jackson later apologized for the incident, calling it “a terrible mistake”.

1

Child Abuse

This is undoubtedly the most controversial scandal that occurred in Michael Jackson’s life. In 2003, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in order to commit a child sexual abuse felony against Gavin Arvizo, who was under 14 at the time. Earlier that year, a Granada Television documentary, called Living with Michael Jackson, showed the pop star holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with Arvizo. Jackson denied these allegations, saying that the sleepovers were in no way sexual in nature. Jackson was found not guilty but this ultimately ended his music career.

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15 Historical Facts You Don’t Know

We all love facts – especially historical ones and ones that are new to us. This list looks at 15 facts that are, hopefully, unknown to most of us here. From the Ancient world to the early modern times, these are all entries that have not appeared before on Listverse. Be sure to add your own unusual or little-known facts to the comments.

1

Facts 1 – 5

1. Saint Simeon Stylites (pictured) was a monk who gained fame in the 5th century for spending 37 years standing on a small platform on top of a tall pillar in Syria. He did it for ascetic reasons and his example was followed in later years by other well known stylite saints. His story is quite amazing and you can read more about it here.
2. In the First Dynasty of ancient Egypt, hoards of staff and family members were walled up with the body of the dead king. The humans and animals buried with the king were expected to help him in the afterlife.
3. In 1927 Otto Rohwedder invented sliced bread. He made the first machine to slice and wrap bread and won a patent for the process. After only six years from invention, more sliced bread was sold than unsliced.
4. In 1911, pigtails were banned in China because they were seen as a link with its feudal past.
5. To save the effort of sailing boats upstream, Mesopotamian traders built collapsable boats which they would sail downstream with a donkey on board. At the other end of their journey they would sell the frame and when they finished trading, they would use the donkey to return home.

2

Facts 6 – 10

6. In ancient Rome the punishment for killing one’s father was to be drowned in a sack along with a viper, a dog, and a rooster. The reason behind this? I have no idea.
7. Alexander the Great (pictured) invented a spying technique still used today: he had his soldiers write letters home, which he then intercepted and read to discover who was against him.
8. In Gubbio, Northern Italy, a race has been run every year since the 12th century – and the outcome is rigged. Villagers carry three statues in the race, Saints Ubaldo (for whom the race was started), Anthony and George. Every year Saint Ubaldo comes first, Saint George second, and Saint Anthony last.
9. When anaesthetic was used for the first time in childbirth in 1847, the mother was so amazed and relieved at how painless the birth was that she named her child Anaesthesia.
10. The last time a cavalry charge was used in war was in the Second World War. A mongolian cavalry division charged against a German infantry division – the result? Not one German was killed and 2,000 of the cavalry were.

3

Facts 11 – 15

11. The grid layout used in many cities around the world is not a new invention – it first appeared in the city of Mohenjo Daro, in India, 4,500 years ago. The houses to the side of the streets had bare walls facing the street to keep out the sun and dust from carts.
12. The first policewoman was Alice Stebbins Wells (pictured) who joined the LAPD in 1910. Because she was the first (and only) policewoman, she designed her own police uniform. Four years later, Britain had their first woman policeman.
13. In the 1700s in Paris, women wore hats with lightning rods attached when venturing outdoors during bad weather. Bad idea.
14. In circa 3100–3050 BC Egypt was ruled by its very first Pharaoh – King Menes. It was said that he was the first human ruler – inheriting the throne from the god Horus.
15. Gorgias of Epirus (3rd century BC), a Greek sophist, was born in his dead mother’s coffin! Pallbearers heard him crying out as they carried his mother’s coffin to the grave.

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Top 7 Ways To Build Your Online Empire

Starting an online business is a great hedge against inflation and a poor economy. Working from home, or from wherever you happen to be, can be beneficial to your family as well as your bank account.

It took me a full year to figure out how to do this, but now I am on my way. You can do the exact same thing to create a business that will build over time.

1. Choose a niche that you are interested in, have some experience with, and one that has people who are willing to purchase information on and you will be in business.

People search on Google and the other search engines for ways to solve their problems, so think of yourself as a problem solver. Provide information that they can use right away.

2. Start a blog on this topic and post to it regularly.

I posted every day to my blog for the first two months or so and that made me very visible in a short amount of time. Use your keywords in the title of your posts and tell people how to begin solving their problem.

3. Write articles based on these blog posts.

This is called repurposing and can be used to save time and get your information out to a wider audience. When you give solid information in your articles, readers are more likely to visit your blog afterwards. Make sure you have a way for them to leave their name and email address so they will be added to your list.

4. Hold a weekly teleseminar on the same topic you have been writing articles about and posting to your blog.

When people hear you discussing the topic they become more involved with what you are doing. This engages them and makes them more likely to want to purchase more information from you.

5. Start a show on internet radio.

This is free, and one of most underutilized methods I know of. Your internet radio show can include the same information that you give during your teleseminars, but will potentially reach a much wider audience.

6. Become active in the social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

These sites give you instant access to hundreds of thousands of people from around the world. Some of them will be interested in your exact topic, so invite them to read your articles, comment on your blog, and attend your teleseminars and radio shows.

7. Stay focused, and never give up.

So many people become discouraged when they don't make money within a few months. Instead, just keep writing and speaking on your topic and soon you will have a loyal audience of people that will follow what you are telling them about how to solve their problem.

And now I invite you to download a Special Report and audio recording on how you can build your own online empire by visiting http://www.OnlineWritingSuccess.com to get started right away.

Connie Ragen Green has been helping others to achieve their online business goals since 2007.

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Top 7 Reasons to Switch to FireFox

There are many reasons to love FireFox. But a big benefit is the ability to install little applications that perform specific tasks. In the FireFox world these are called “extensions”. If you’re like me you’ll find extension are sorta like potato chips – you just can’t have just one. So let me share my 7 favorites:

1. Favorite Extension #1: Auto copy

Auto copy is a killer keystroke saver. You’ll never Ctrl-C again. Simply highlight the desired text on the web page with your mouse and it’s instantly copied to the clipboard. Jump over to whatever application you want to paste that text into, paste it and you’re done.

2. Favorite Extension #2: ScrapBook

How many times have you book marked a site only to return and find it changed? Or worse it’s vanished? That makes the ScrapBook extension the web researcher’s indispensable friend. It lets you take a snapshot of any page. Or you can grab just a chunk it. ScrapeBook keeps such snapshots organized and even lets you add comments if you like.

3. Favorite Extension #3: TinyURL Creator

How often do you want to sent a friend a URL only to discover it’s a mile long? Like this one for instance:
http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=50&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq
=%22john+gergye%22&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_
occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images

Wouldn’t it be easier to send something like this: http://tinyurl.com/427gg?

Good news. There’s a handy extension that will cut any unwieldy URL it down to size using TinyURL. Even better it will also inventory those you’ve created in case you want to use any of them again.

4. Favorite Extension #4: Popup Blocking

Okay so this one's not really an extension. It's more of a built in feature that lets you stop pop ups dead in their tracks. I mean there’s nothing like seeing this message “Firefox prevented this site from opening a pop up window” to give you a warm glow inside.

5. Favorite Extension #5: Google Pagerank

Want to know the Google PageRank of a page? Sadly the Google Toolbar only runs in Internet Explorer. But never fear. If you like to eyeball PR, say to check out potential link partners, the Google Pagerank Status extension displays pagerank. In numeric form so you can tell at a glance the PR of a given page.

6. Favorite Extension #6 LoremIpsum Content Generator

Whenever you need some quick content to check a web page layout this is your tool. You can tell it to create so many characters, words or paragraphs. Giving you a variety of “Latin-like” content in the blink of an eye.

7. Favorite Extension #7: Copy URL

Instead of copying a snippet from a page and then going back and grabbing the URL you can do it all at once with Copy URL.

All of these tiny apps can be downloaded here: https://addons.update.mozilla.org/extensions

John Gergye is author of “Street Smart Linking”. To learn more about this 131 page, step by step guide to link building visit http://www.highprlinkclub.com/j/ssl.shtml. Or test your search engine IQ by taking his seo quiz and get the free special report "Coming Out On Top".

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Top 7 Ideas For Email Advertising Success

1. Always personalize.. It's much better to receive an email addressed specifically to you than "Dear Friend" or "Dear Customer".

2. Identify the relationship that you have with the recipient early on. If you are sending to say.. your customer list, it's important to answer the recipients first question "How did they get my name?". A good example would be "Hi Chris, Recently you downloaded a free copy of our new demo..." This knocks down that invisible barrier and answers the question right away.

3. You must make sure that the recipient will benefit from what you are sending them or you will receive complaints. Be 'benefit' oriented.

4. Include a way to remove the recipient from your list and honor it. Include your full contact information in every promotion. If possible, have this removal/signup process available on a web site form that gives them confirmation that they were removed.

5. Test, Test, Test. When working on a new email campaign, test different offers to find the one that generates the most interest. Have each version respond to a separate email address or web site so you can gauge the response and identify the copy that pulls.

6. No dead ends. Make sure and give the recipient a way to find out more about the topic of your email or actually place an order quickly. Every step you place between your desired end result and the prospect/customer slows down the process and causes them to lose interest. For example, don't tell them about your latest and greatest widget, then send them to your website home page where they have to look for a link to the product. Send them directly to the order or product information page.

7. Check for duplicate addresses. No one likes getting multiple copies of the same email.

B e y o n d
Internet Media Design and Marketing

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Top 7 Ways To Improve Your Business Using Online Surveys And Quizzes

Surveys are often used online to measure customer satisfaction on websites, however there are many other creative ways that you can use a survey or quiz to improve various aspects of your business.

1. Improve your website.

You can improve your website by creating a short survey and put it on your website. Ask your visitors why they are visiting your website, if they succeeded in doing what they came for and if they have any suggestions. Using the feedback you get you can improve your website to turn more of your visitors into customers.

2. Stay in touch with your customers.

After completing a sale, send a follow up by email a few weeks later. Ask your customers how they feel about having done business with you. This will not only provide you with valuable answers but also provide you with an opportunity to remind your customers about your business, and show them that you care about their opinion.

3. Help customers select products with a product chooser.

If you offer a variety of products and services you can help your customers feeling confident about choosing the product or service that matches their needs. The customer has to answer a number of questions and will be guided towards different outcomes depending on the answers that he or she selects.

4. Do product research.

Before launching a new product or service you can find out how to design, market and price it by doing a survey first. This will give you a good impression of what people think about your idea and how you should market it.

5. Improve your presentation and sales skills.

After giving a presentation or a pitch invite your audience to evaluate it using an anonymous survey. This will give you valuable feedback from you audience that people might not dare to say to in person, and also shows that you care about their experience and want to improve yourself.

6. Create a fun quiz about your business.

Engage your customers in a playful way by creating a quiz about your business. It's a fun way to educate people with facts about your business and products. Because people have to think about it the information that you provide sticks with them for a long time!

7. Employee recruitment survey.

Use a survey to find possible candidates for job openings. A survey will allow you to ask questions about their skills and experience, contact information and test the knowledge of candidates before inviting them to an interview.

Create free and professional grade surveys and quizzes at http://youaks.com with much more information about how they can help improve your business.

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Top 7 Deadly Sins Of The Home Based Business Owner

Why do 95 - 98% of all home based Business fail within the first 3 months? What are the most common mistakes made by rookies? A home based business is just that, a BUSINESS. It is not a hobby or a get rich quick think or I'll try it and see how it works out thing. It must be treated with all due respect of any business. Here are seven deadly sins of the beginner.

1. No business plan.

So many people, especially those who sign up motivated by hype, do not even think about how they will run their new business. Your plan will need to Include several key elements. How will you advertising and how much should you spend on advertising. How will you attract prospects? Will you uses out sourcing? How much time will you have to devote to your business. What are your resources? If you fail to plan you plan to fail.

2. Fail to implement the Plan.

If you can not follow instructions from others who are having success you will waste a lot of time and money taking half measures. Take your business plan and the steps you are provide and “GETER DONE”. Most people don’t implement because of fear of the unknown. It is ok, push into that place wear you are uncomfortable until it feels ok. Then do it again and again and again. You must implement your websites, advertising, auto responders and all the tools you need to attract prospects. You must communicate with them and build relationships. Your business will not run itself. If someone tries to convince you that their system will work on it’s own they are in never never land.

3. Hesitating to advertise.

Waiting until you think all your mediums are just the way you want them. Your website just right or your videos just the way you want them. Everything is a work in progress. As you work with your team you will be given tips and hints on how to start. Place your ads develop you websites and videos and go for it. This is the only way you will find out what works for you and what dose not. But if you wait, I can guarantee you what will happen (NOTHING). As you begin to learn what is not working you tweak and tweak some more until it begins to work.

4. Hesitating because of a lack of knowledge and success.

Well if we all took this attitude no one would be successful. First no one that is starting a new business, job or any venture is completely up to speed on all aspects of their task. That is why the team support is so important. You will have access to multiple resources that will give you all the information you need. If you wait to implement anything until you can show some success you have already failed, you are putting the cart before the horse. If you do change your plan later when you are successful and decide to show off the; nice car, vacation home, jewelry, then what are your prospect going to think they have to do? You are placing them in an awkward spot of trying to duplicate something they don’t have yet. So go forward with what you have, use the team for support, and grow your business by helping others and you will succeed.

5. Not being dedicated to your Business.

If you think “I’ll try it out and see if it works”, don’t even sign up. This way of thinking has already doomed you to failure. You must be dedicated to your business 110 %. “In for the long haul”, as they say. You must make up your mind that you are going to give it your all for as long as it takes to succeed. You must be dedicated to self development, further education, seminars, reading and study. As a Real Estate agent I was required to attend classes every year. You must continue to grow and change with the times or you will fall behind and your success will suffer. To obtain the correct mindset you need to read books like; The Go Giver, The world greatest network marketer, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. You will need to stay tight with your team and attend; training calls, summits and conferences. A home business is a serious venture not something to try and see.

6. Quit because of frustration.

This can occur as a result of all of the above. If you do not take this opportunity serious it won’t take long before you are frustrated and ready to give up. We call these the 98 percenters. They start off very excited. They get ready to start their business with a lot of busy work. They order leads and talk to friends and family, Who make fun of them, and no one is interested. After two or three weeks they have no sales and decide they have been scammed. They are looking for someone to blame for their failure. Lets be realistic, owning and running a business is going to take some effort. You will need to learn about internet marketing technology, communications, advertising and many more skill sets. To become effective and efficient you will have a learning curve. These are things you must do on your own, but with assistance. If you are not willing to work at obtaining the skills and mind set necessary you will fail.

7. Neglect personal development.

I have saved the most important for last. Many business owners fail because of this mistake. Success has it’s foundation in your mind. You must transform your thinking to produce new habits and behaviors that in turn will achieve wealth and prosperity in your life. Taking time to read and meditate 30 – 60 minutes a day is essential to this process. I recommend starting with a gratitude list, write down everything you are grateful for and each day add something from that day to your list. To enhance a relationship make a gratitude list about the person you wish to get closer to and watch things change between you. Next create a goals list, not a to do list, but a list of things you wish to achieve and obtain. After this make a dream board. Take your goals list and create a collogue with pictures of your dreams, and place it were you can see it everyday. Last, be sure to RAED inspirational and developmental books. The best way to learn is from others who have had success.

If you are interested in learning how I am creating a six figure income using Home based Businesses please give me a call. I use three separate opportunities to generate a constant flow of income. A luxury Vacation membership, http://www.298aweek.com/info.html

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Top 7 Strategies to Get Your Property "SOLD" in a Slow Market

With the economy not flourishing and newspapers negatively guiding the Real Estate market, it is crucial for sellers to get help from the best agent while learning simple tactics to increase the chances of selling their home. In a slower market, enthusiastic buyers are few and far between. It is in the seller’s best interest to be prepared and informed of potential buyers needs and expectations.

Below are simple strategies and techniques that can benefit sellers and get their properties “sold” in this slow Real Estate market.

1. Pricing to Sell:

With market conditions being a catalyst in the establishment of property value, realistically pricing your property is vital to selling your home. As the market becomes slow and idle, buyers gain the advantage and are inclined to hesitate at looking at overpriced properties. When a property is first listed on the market, it attracts the most attention, enthusiasm and curiosity, but overpricing it at the initial listing might deter numerous potential buyers resulting in reluctant views and the property just “sitting” on the market.

2. Incentives:

With a highly competitive market, enticements of all sorts are being used to persuade buyers, like you see home builders do. Follow their example and present an attractive offer with an appealing incentive to the buyer. A few noteworthy examples could be, “$5000 Design Credit at Closing,” or “We’ll make your first two mortgage payments.”

3. Seller Financing:

As the seller and home owner, considerable amounts of equity can be built up over several years allowing the possibility of owner financing. With loans being more difficult to acquire these days, offering an enticing seller financing might attract more buyers who wanted to buy but couldn’t obtain a loan. With more home-financing options for buyers, your possibility of selling increases dramatically.

4. Appealing inside and out:

Most homes only have one chance to make a great impression, and it is imperative that the seller does their best in creating an attractive external appearance. You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but in the intense real estate world, most people tend to skip unattractive homes even if it is appealing inside. With a myriad of properties on the market, buyers become overwhelmed and impatient after going through dozens of unmemorable homes; which makes it very crucial that your home looks great from the inside and out.

5. Spotless and Well-kept:

Common sense says that buyers do not want to purchase a dirty or cluttered home. As simple as it gets, one of the most important and easiest things to do to improve the possibility of selling your home is to keep it immaculate and organized. A home is usually someone’s largest investment and a complete turn off would be an un-kept or a disorderly home, even if the property details were perfect on paper.

6. Staging:

There is no harm in getting additional help, which could mean getting your home staged. Clean homes are great, but when empty, buyers have a hard time envisioning themselves in that home and therefore make’s it unmemorable. Professionally staged homes inevitably sell faster than un-staged homes, just because it is more appealing to the eye.

7. Hire a Full-Time Realtor with a Strong internet Presence:

As 80% of today’s home buyers search the internet for property, it is vital that sellers find an agent, who is aggressive in all fields, especially the internet during a slow market. Find an agent who has a great track record and specializes in your area to ensure your odds of selling quicker. Expect a detailed marketing plan along with a strong internet display from your Realtor. To search for agents in your area with the most internet exposure, simply explore GOOGLE, YAHOO! or MSN for your area or neighborhood.

John Allen is the broker and owner of Allen Real Estate Services, Inc. He represents buyers and seller's of fine Sarasota, FL real estate. For more information, visit his website - http://www.buysarasota.com.

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Top 7 Steps To Domain Name Success

1. Search for domain names that describe your product or service. Don't worry if the .com is unavailable. Go for a .co.uk or a .org or .net. The important part is to get your keywords in the domain name.

2. Register variants on your company name, i.e., for TAMBA Internet register tamba.co.uk and tambainternet.co.uk. You don't want to lose any customers simply because they assume your domain name wrongly.

3. Finish every phone conversation with "If there's anything else you want to know, please take a look at our Web site. It's at www..." People won't find your Web site unless you tell them about it.

4. Always use an email account on your own domain name, not a free email account such as Hotmail. This brands Hotmail and not your company.

5. If the domain name you want is unavailable, make a note when it's registered until. Lots of domain names are released after their initial registration period expires and you can pick it up from a registrar when it's expired.

6. Register as many domain names as possible. Use company name, slogan, description of product and/or service. The more routes into your Web site, the better.

7. Don't forget domain names expire. Always note down when yours expire and remember to re-register them. Someone could be waiting to get your domain name!

Today's Top7Business was submitted by Kay Hammond, Managing Director of TAMBA Internet.
Tel: +44(0)121 689 4651 Fax: +44(0)121 689 4653
TAMBA Internet
http://www.tamba.co.uk
kay.hammond@tamba.co.uk

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Top 7 Best Practices for Corporate Blogging

Blogs have become one of the hottest communication tools on the Web. Offering the opportunity for anyone to create their own free Web site, encouraging opinions and interaction, blogs provide forums for individuals to create their own highly personal presentations to the Web audience, and for consortia of all types to experience the sort of online community feeling that was pioneered by early newsgroups and by the phenomenal success of AOL in the 1990s.

Blogs have reached into the corporate and government sectors as well. What started out as an outlet for teenage expression and grassroots journalism has turned into a lucrative communications tool for small and large businesses alike.

Corporate Blogging refers to a company producing or supporting a blog that it uses to accomplish business objectives. While there are drawbacks to blogging, followin these seven "best practices" can ensure your company reaps the optimum benefits.

1. Fine Print. Blogging can lead to legal issues. Companies should have real concerns about liability, exclusions and limitations, and indemnity. Although there are laws that protect against libel, misappropriations and other injuries suffered as a result of posts on the Web, companies can still be held “vicariously” responsible for statements made by employees that are harmful to others. Since there are so many legal issues surrounding blogs, it is imperative that the site has some sort of disclaimer and limitation of liability.

2. Know What You’re Doing. Senior management should be educated by the corporate communications and legal department about what blogs are and how they might affect business. That way, they can be contributing members of the blog, further improving employee relations. Their support and participation is often what makes a blog more effective.

3. Create blogging policies. In any medium where an employee is sharing information, there is the possibility of leaking trade secrets or financial information. Blogging also has a tendency to become personal. A company should have a list of policies regarding blogging to ensure that trade secrets are kept secret and personal lives do not become public. Policies may include keeping financial information from being posted, as well as severe consequences for anyone using the blog for negative publicity.

4. Avoid the Marketing Blog. Making your blog into a blatant marketing campaign is a bad idea. Customers are looking for real answers and honest opinions. They will pick up on insincerity instantly. Use the blog for what it's for, transparency. This is an opportunity to make a real connection with your customers. Don't ruin it by filling it with empty advertising.

5. Keep It Fresh. Blogs are usually judged by their amount of new content. Easy to add on to, they are designed to be updated constantly. To keep your readers coming back, make your content relevant and timely. Don't forget, content can include anything from product releases to job openings, recent news to thoughts from the CEO. It's practically impossible to run out of material.

6. Reinforce the company’s core values. Use your blog to reflect your company's inner soul: its mission, goals and direction. A blog is just another medium by which you interact with your customers and employees. It's another part of the brand experience. It should be consistent with the impression the company wants to make.

7. Encourage employees to use it. Give them an atmosphere where they feel comfortable asserting their concerns and opinions. Make sure, however, that you remind them of the public nature of blogs and the ramifications of their actions should they choose to make a questionable post.

Kari White is a Content Developer for Brook Group, a Web site design firm near Washington, DC. For more articles by this author, visit Usability and Branding.

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Copyright Law: Top 7 Online Copyright Myths

One of the most misunderstood issues online has to do with copyright. Both with e-mail and Web site copyright issues. For some reason, as with many things online, there is this incorrect perception that anything goes. However, many are finding out the hard way that when it comes to protecting creative collateral, copyright is law. And, copyright laws can and are being enforced online.

No, I am not an attorney. Nor do I play one on T.V. But I can help you avoid potential problems based on guiding clients for over a decade. Hopefully, this effort will help others from finding out the hard way that copyright is alive and well online.

1. “I can right click, save anything online and use it how I
wish.”

This is a perfect example of just because you can doesn't mean
you do! Those graphics or files were created by someone out
there. They legally attained the copyright upon that file’s
creation. Without their specific permission to use that file or
graphic, you have no right to just take it and use it as you
please. Always ask a site owner before you illegally swipe
anything off their site.

2. “As long as I note the author’s name, I can use their site’s content on my site.”

Although you are being nice and giving credit where credit is
due, you still need to ask the author’s permission to post their
work on your site. The author may not want their information
posted anywhere off their own site or they many not approve of
your site as a venue for their information ­ that is their choice
to make not yours. Always ask a site owner if you can use their
content before you put it on your site.

3. “I can link to graphics on other sites so that they display on my site.”

O.K., maybe you didn't actually download the graphic and put it
on your server, but if you are displaying someone else’s work on
your site without their permission the bottom line is still the
same. And, you are using their server’s resources to display
something on your site. Shame on you!

4. “I can display pages from other’s Web sites within frames on my site.”

Many site owners prohibit their site pages from being framed
within another site because it gives the impression that the
other site created the information. Many times folks innocently
do this so they don’t have to send site visitors off their site
for information they want to provide. Others do so to precisely
give the impression it is content they created. A better option
is to link to the information you like and create a new window to
open when doing so to ensure your site is still available to your
site visitors.

5. “If I only quote a portion of other site’s content and link
to them I do not need their permission.”

Again, it would behoove you to have permission to do so. Using
only portions allows you to possibly give the wrong impression
about the author’s overall content and this can be misleading at
best. If you want to quote any written work in whole or part you
need to ask permission to do so.

6. “If I pay someone to create graphics for my Web site, I own the copyright to those graphics.”

Not necessarily. Unless your agreement with the graphic artist
explicitly states that upon your payment all of their rights are
then transferred to you, you most likely only have exclusive
license to use those graphics. And to purchase the full
copyright will cost you a bunch more than simple exclusivity!

Understand that the moment anything is created whether it be
written or drawn, the creator owns the copyright ­ that’s the law.
Over the years I've had clients claim they own copyright just
because they paid me to create this or that. It simply, legally,
is not the case (and my contract(s) clearly state this - including
their option to purchase my copyright if they so choose).

Copyright can _only_ be transferred in a written legally binding
agreement signed by the creator of the work stating they are
transferring their rights to you. Saying you own it because you
paid for it doesn't make it legal fact. If you do not have a
written agreement specifically transferring the copyright to you,
you do not own the copyright to those graphics.

7. “E-mail is not copyright protected once it is sent.”

E-mail is a written work that once created is copyright protected
by the author. This means you cannot post publicly an e-mail
sent to you privately. You cannot post private e-mails to your
site, to message boards or to your blog without the author’s
specific permission to do so.

Just because an e-mail was sent to you as a private communication
does not mean you then own it and can do with it what you like.
In addition, e-mail that is posted to a group of people, on a
mailing list or Newsgroup does not make the e-mail available for
reposting, copying, or any other use - not without the express and
written consent of the writer.

What's the bottom line with online copyright?

Courtesy! Don't assume that you can use, repost or take
anything you find online simply because you can. Be a
courteous Netizen and always ask first!

You might be interested to find a DMCA (Digital Millennium
Copyright Act) page and policy statement on your ISP and hosting
provider’s Web sites to handle complaints and reports of the
above types of copyright abuse. Take some time to read that
information and make yourself aware of your rights and make sure
you do not infringe on others. The main resource for all the
legal mumbo jumbo on online copyright and the DMCA is on the
Government’s site @ http://www.copyright.gov.

Again, I am not an attorney nor am I providing legal advice. I
hope I've informed you of some of the issues that need to be
seriously considered by all who are online whether they are
creating their own or using others creative or written works.

Judith Kallos is an authoritative and good-humored Technology Muse.
Check out her new book: "Because Netiquette Matters! Your
Comprehensive Reference Guide to E-mail Etiquette and Proper
Technology Use" @: http://www.BecauseNetiquetteMatters.com

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Top 7 Steps To Writing Attention Getting(and Keeping) Copy

Whether you’re writing copy for a newsletter, a full blown website, or traditional newsprint ads, keeping certain key principles in mind will help you to appeal to the wary reader/consumer of today. In today’s world of information overload, people are becoming burned out on all the hype that’s presented to them on a daily basis, especially online. The old protocol of trying to establish trust with the reader is harder than ever to do. Today’s savvy web-surfer wants information presented in a succinct manner, with the big question being “In 2 seconds flat… what you can do for me?”

1. Choose the single most important benefit of the service or product you provide. Highlight only one upfront. Is it the price, reliability, uniqueness? Listing too many things out of the gate tends to give the distinct impression of pushiness. If the most important thing you have to offer doesn’t catch their attention, chances are the rest of what you have to offer probably will not be enough to keep them in the seats, either.

2. Use attention-getting headlines, but make it approachable. Using too many capital letters for instance tends to “scream” at the reader, and looks too much like hype. If you want to draw their attention to a point, use bold letters, or underlining. Bit don’t overuse. Avoid the following: “It’s Hot!” or “Create Serious Wealth!” How many times have you seen these tag lines? And do you believe them? Exactly.

3. Use bulleted lists to describe the features of your product or service:

* The eye naturally goes directly to lists

* Information tends to be provided in a more concise manner

* The reader doesn’t have to hunt for the important stuff (many won’t take the time to do that anyway)

4. Make the reader/consumer “feel” the need for what you sell. Listing an inventory of features for your service or product won’t necessarily make anyone want to buy it. Which of these examples resonates more with you? “This product will help increase your productivity.” (Doesn’t every product claim that?) Or “You’ll cut out hours of tedious labor every week, simply by…” Less work? I’m in!

5. Believable testimonials sell. Use real customers along with their pictures, and provide their contact information if at all possible. Using photos that are a little grainy or off center actually lends to the credibility of the testimonial. Using slick or professional photos make people think “actor” or worse... “salesperson”.

6. Write in a natural, conversational style. The best suggestion is to write your first draft, then read it aloud, preferably to another person. Does it make sense? Sound too pretentious or hi-brow? Remember you must be able to appeal to a broad spectrum of people. Many of these people may not appreciate the “smart-alecky” humor of today, so leave that out. Keep it simple.

7. Finally, if you want the reader/consumer to take some kind of action – ASK! Tell them very clearly what they need to do next. Adding a special deal within a short time frame (Get 1 free if you call in the next 24 hours!) will help create the urgency to act on your buy request.

Karla Benson-Cook is owner/operator of Light The Way Creations, which helps new Home Business Owners steer through the confusion of online marketing. Her site http://www.lightthewaycreations.com offers low cost, easily run, startup business opportunities. In conjunction, http://www.helpmestartabiz.com provides motivational training videos.

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Top 7 Ways People Don't "Ace" The Interview

Not everyone who interviews will be offered a position. Understanding the reasons for rejection will help improve your interviewing skills and prepare you for the next interview.

According to Katherine Burik, founder and owner of the Interview Doctor, employers value candidates with drive and commitment. Those who show they are determined and do not make mistakes in an interview often land jobs over more qualified applicants. These candidates impressed the employer with enthusiasm and flawless interviewing style.

To be successful, you must come across as upbeat, positive, energetic and friendly. Here are the top seven reasons candidates may be rejected by a potential employer.

1. Poor attitude or appearance.

The first three to five minutes of the interview establishes the first impression. Many candidates come across as arrogant. While employers can afford to be self-centered, candidates cannot. Be friendly, open and interested. Make sure you are neatly and professionally dressed. In particular, wear nice, shined shoes and do not wear cologne.

2. Lack of career direction.

Job hunters who are not clear about their career goals often cannot spot or commit to appropriate opportunities. Know what you want. No one will decide your career direction for you. Not knowing what you want wastes everyone’s time.

3. Lack of research.

It is obvious when candidates have not learned about the job, company or industry prior to the interview. Research the company, visit their website and then talk with friends, peers and other professionals about the opportunity before the interview. The more you know, the more you separate yourself from other candidates.

4. Not readily knowing the answers to interviewers’ questions.

Each interview is not a discrete event. If you have been interviewing you know that interviewers ask similar questions. Anticipate and rehearse answers to the most common interview questions. These questions are readily available (http://interviewdoc.com/documents/MoreInterviewingQuestions.pdf). Think about your answers ahead of time and write down your responses. Practicing with a spouse or friend before the interview will help to frame intelligent responses, particularly to those tough questions about issues raised by your background, such as a recent termination or an employment gap.

5. Not having questions to ask.

Asking questions shows that the interviewee is interested in the company and available job. Prepare a list of intelligent questions in advance. Incorporate what you learned from your research into your questions.

6. Not telling your own story.

Employers hire people, not paper. Although a resume can list qualifications, it is the interview dialogue that will portray you as a committed, responsive team player. Conditioned not to brag, candidates are sometimes reluctant to describe their accomplishments. Explaining how you reached difficult or impressive goals helps employers understand your capabilities.

7. Not relating your skills to the employer’s needs.

A list of sterling accomplishments means little if you cannot relate them to a potential employer’s requirements. Just saying, “… and I am certain I could do it for you,” can turn a past achievement into a future benefit.

To learn more tips on how to make the most out of an interview, contact The Interview Doctor at 330.453.1199 or visit http://www.interviewdoc.com.

The Interview Doctor is a team of 12 certified human resource professionals and coaches who are available to help both young and experienced professionals master the art of the interview. Using their 25+ years of experience gathered from having conducted hundreds of interviews for major companies and organizations, the Interview Doctors will work with job hunters to define their “Essential You”™, educate them on the interview process, work to hone their interviewing skills, as well as go through a practice interview to polish responses. After the interview, the Interview Doctors will also work with applicants to establish what went right or wrong, and to refine areas before the next interview.

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Top 7 Reasons to Be a Business Owner

With all the uncertainty there is still hope and ways of creating security for the future. The key is finding your passion in life and investing in your self. Starting your own business is one of those ways that can create many benefits. Here are the top ten reasons to be a business owner.

1. Job Security. Business owners have job security. They never lay themselves off. As a matter of fact if business slows they have the option of doing what it takes to increase sales.

2. Maximum Pay. Business owners choose their wage. They can create more business when they need or want more money. Employees work to make the business owner rich.

3. Flexibility. Business owners can choose their work schedule. They can plan around family events such as weddings, ball games and school programs. Vacations can be incorporated into business trips.

4. Control. Business owners are free from being told what to do and when to do it. There is no supervisor to answer to, judge them or look over their shoulders.

5. Tax Benefits. Business owners have the advantage of more tax savings than employees. There are things that are deductible such as a home office which includes deducting a portion of utilities, insurance, taxes, interest and improvements. These expenses you would be paying for anyway, but if you have a business they can become tax deductible. This is just one example - there are many more.

6. Retirement. In today's world, retirement is unsure and risky. People who have worked for the same company plan on a good retirement and then one day it is gone. Creating a business that you love can last long beyond retirement age. Business owners can train others to run their business and when they choose to retire, it can be with a good passive income.

7. Product flexibility. An employee has to push whatever product the company says to. Business owners have the flexibility to change products and services according to the market. If a product or service becomes outdated or unpopular it is exciting to move on and keep up with the times.

Christopher Anderson wants to share his success as a business owner with others who desire to own their own business. He also believes that the economy is stronger with more business owners, and as a result, he is focused on helping business owners succeed. http://www.lonepeakbusiness.com

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Top 7 Tips to Lose Weight While While Eating Out

When I eat out I want it to be special. It's not likely I'm going to order a spartan meal, so I just eat out infrequently. Many people can't do this though. Some eat lunch out every day. Many order take-out most nights or eat at fast food places often. Unless you're able to pay restaurant prices for plain food, you're not likely to start ordering the "fruit plate" instead of a burger and fries. How then to solve the dilemma of too many calories when you eat out?

Here are 7 painless ways to get the calories out of those restaurant meals and still eat your favorites.

1. Just say NO to super sizing. The size you ordered is already too big. Stop super sizing and you'll save money. Better still, order one dinner and ask for an extra plate. Many restaurants will do this for a dollar or two, and it's well worth it. Then share the meal with your friend and you split the cost straight down the middle. Another option is to order from the so called "appetizer" menu. Two people could order three entrees and one dessert and split the whole thing and it's still a ton of food!

2. Skip the bread and rolls served with most meals. Most family restaurants still serve a bread basket with your meal. Unless it's a fresh baked loaf or some really special bread, just skip it. You don't need to fill up on ordinary bread when you're paying good money for a meal. Just ask for it to be taken away if you can't resist, but frankly, you're an adult, you can resist, if you want to. You can simply choose not to put a roll on your plate. Try it, just once and see if you don't walk out of that restaurant feeling strangely powerful.

If you can't skip the rolls, at least skip the butter. That's right. Eat it plain. Whole grain bread is delicious all by itself.

3. Stop ordering drinks with your meals. Soft drinks are a huge cash cow for restaurants. For pennies they sell you a squirt of syrup and carbonated water and act like they're doing you a big favor by only charging you $1.29 for a giant 64 ounce soda. Start saving those dollars. Especially if you're ordering "to go" skip the drink. If you're eating it there, ask for water, or at least switch to diet drinks. Never drink "fat pop."

4. Slow down you eat too fast! What's the rush? Take your time, savor the moment, enjoy the flavors. A big part of getting in touch with your hunger signals and learning to eat what really will satisfy is learning to recognize the subtle signs of hunger. You won't know when you're approaching satisfaction if you've gobbled everything down in five minutes. Take a bite then notice how many times do you chew before you start wanting to swallow? Once, twice? Make an effort to chew your food and your body will be much happier. A very large part of digestion begins in your mouth, not to mention you'll get much more pleasure if you let the food linger.

5. Trim visible fat and skin. I know, you really love the skin--of course you do, it tastes good, it should, it's pure fat. Do you want to get leaner, or do you want to eat fat? You choose. I never eat chicken skin and never eat the visible fat hanging off a steak, good taste or no. You have to decide what you want more, the second's worth of pleasure of a yummy taste, or a lifetime of carrying around an extra 40 lbs? I know this is counter to the low carb crowd's belief that fat is good, carbs are evil, but I've maintained an 80 pound weight loss for 18 years without dieting and I don't eat visible fat or skin. Enough said.

6. Ask for a doggie bag at the beginning of the meal. When the food is served, immediately portion off some to take home for tomorrow. Most restaurants in the US serve way too much. There is no law you have to eat it all. Do this frequently and soon you'll find you're getting an extra lunch out of that meal.

7. Get a copy of Restaurant Confidential by Michael F. Jacobson and Jayne Hurley, and start checking out how many calories you're really eating. If you eat out frequently and you carry extra weight, then that's probably the problem right there. This little book can help you realize why it seems you don't eat that much yet you can't lose any weight. Hardees recently introduced a new burger that clocks in at just under 1200 calories all by itself! Now that's frightening.

~~ Kathryn Martyn, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com lost 80 pounds over 17 years ago. She maintains her weight using the techniques she teaches in her 8-week Ending Emotional Eating online weight loss program, private coaching practice and her popular workshops.

Source: http://Top7Business.com/?expert=Kathryn-Martyn

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Top 7 Reasons To Buy Used Network Hardware

Refurbished network hardware is the latest thing for hip IT managers who consider themselves "in the know". The used equipmentis often renovated by various resellers and integrators, reset and error free. They are then sold in the secondary market at up to 90% off of list price. Products are available even in the most sophisticated and obscure models, and often come with a warranty that supersedes even that of the original manufacturer. Here are 7 specific reasons why you should consider Used Cisco in your next project.

1. Networking products usually pass a grueling inspection, upgrade and update checklist. This includes testing under a variety of conditions to ensure that electronics, connectivity ports, memory configuration, firmware/software and electrical components perform to standards.

2. Most resellers offer a minimum warranty of three months. It varies with the policy of the supplier. Extended warranty up to two years can be availed from some retailers.

3. There is a growing concern in the industry surrounding fake equipment. Anyone who has taken a stroll down Manhattan's Canal Street lately has no doubt become aware of the thriving market for fake Rolexes, Luis Vuitton hand bags and the like. This phenomenon has recently infiltrated the network hardware market. These fakes, often referred to in the industry as, "Chisco" (fake Cisco products originating in China), are popping up more and more. Cisco Systems is the largest provider of Internet telephony equipment in the world, and account for some 80% of all used equipment sales worldwide. This enormous popularity has made them the obvious target for such fake product reproduction.
It helps to have a few tools to protect yourself from fraud. Rule 1 when shopping for used equipment is to be wary of suppliers from China. Historically, most of these fakes have originated somewhere in China. So be careful when dealing with a Chinese supplier. Try to deal with a reputable supplier and develop a relationship. It helps to look for quality business certifications such as "ISO 9001" and others when choosing a reseller.
When using online auctions, feedback is king! Make sure you deal exclusively with resellers who have significant positive feedback from multiple people. Take a quick peek at the actual responses and confirm that they in-fact come from unique sources and not all the same person. People have been known online, to buy large inexpensive quantities from one another to essentially stuff the ballot box and artificially flood the others feedback score.

4. Full service providers offer a full suite of services for the IT customer. In this model, relationships are formed between the salesperson and customer. The sales cycle can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 year. The customer will usually disclose all relevant information regarding their project or current network configuration. Educated sales people here will assist the customer to make decision about what product or products might best solve their particular business needs. These providers will often offer integration services as well, helping the customer to install the new equipment into their existing set-up. A prime example of this type of sale would be Digital warehouse. DW is a certified NY based full service supplier of refurbished network hardware. Their mission is "reducing the cost of network infrastructure", and that's exactly what they do. With a rigorous reconditioning and testing process coupled with a warranty program that rivals anyone else's in the industry, they allow you to feel safe and secure that you are getting quality second hand hardware at a great price.

5. Online outlet sales have recently emerged as a new trend in the used hardware industry. Direct selling online has become the latest luxury for IT professionals who know what they want or need. Usedcisco's. website is the ideal address for such transactions. They borrowed Michael Dell's direct approach to selling online and moved away from the traditional consultative sales approach. Basically, assuming that many of these products have become commoditized and listed products and pricing directly on their site. For the first time, an end user could go online quickly and source product at a reasonable price, place the order and be finished in record time. Never once having to deal with a salesperson along the way.

6. Refurbished hardware are renovated, reset and fully tested. The term "used hardware" is often used synonymously with refurbished hardware in this industry. However; on occasion, particularly in online auctions, the term "used", may also mean that it has not been tested or reconditioned in any way. Under such circumstances it is preferential to inquire about the specifics before purchasing under the title "used".

7. You can expect to save anywhere form 30 - 90% off list price when buying used. Traditionally people would shy away from used equipment because of the inherent risk that it presented. However, with current competition in the secondary market resellers have raised their quality standards. They now provide guarantee's that outlast the original warranty given when the unit was new.

Article by Joshua Levitt

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