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The mega search engine Google is used not only by Internet searchers but also by business owners. In fact, it serves millions of advertisers and enterprises all over the world every day. The secret: it is business friendly. Here are the top five benefits of Google for business owners:

1. Ease of Use of Applications
   Virtually all business owners do not have to build anything from scratch. The applications do not require additional use of hardware or creation of another program. However, developers can modify the codes through the developer tools and resources available at http://code.google.com/intl/en/.

   The website also promotes “one account for all applications.” Upon signing, the business owner can immediately take advantage of all the tools and resources developed by Google employees themselves. Users of Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange can switch to Google Applications in very simple steps.

2. Desktop on the Go
   Google encourages everyone to be as mobile as possible. Thus, it is easier to build network connections, stay in contact with employees even when on the road, and promote telecommuting that reduces business overhead costs.

   The website has applications that are very similar to those found in desktops. An example is Google Docs, which works like Microsoft Word. Other applications include Google Spreadsheet and Google Calendar.

   Plenty of tools can also be accessible through the mobile phone. Gmail, its e-mail client, can be synced in with Blackberry’s Enterprise Server and accessed through any type of Internet-capable mobile phones.

3. Collaboration
   Google promotes collaboration among employees, business owners, and partners. Business owners can set up and share scheduled meetings and appointments, as well as documents and spreadsheets, via Google Calendar, Docs, and Spreadsheet respectively. Google Groups permit everyone to communicate more openly and upload public files such as documents and images.

   One can purchase a business account for $50 per year and make use of 10GB site storage. All chosen employees can have 500MB. There is also a shared storage for more private videos in Google Video. Google Talk allows video conferencing.

4. Marketing
   Google provides several money-making opportunities for business owners. Google AdSense allows them to monetize their blogs while Google Adwords permits one to bring the business to the search results pages, while the keyword suggestion tool helps business owners find the best keywords to use.

   Google Analytics, one of the best search engine optimization (SEO) tools so far, is free to use and can be added into any website. This can provide valuable marketing information such as number of unique visitors, pages visited, and keywords used for searching. Business ads can be customized based on the desired geographical location. It also encourages local listing.

   The search engine has Google Finance that allows any stockholder to monitor the market on a real-time basis. It has applications such as Portfolios, Stock Screener, and Google Domestic Trends.

5. Uptime
   Virtually all applications of Google are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The website also has plenty of contact details, from e-mail addresses to phone numbers, for anyone who needs additional technical and customer support.

North Korea hired Chinese actors and actresses to pose as North Korean fans during the 2010 World Cup match against Brazil. Outrageous but understandable & depressing. NK citizens don’t even have access to cable TV and the internet.

Via: Online Schools

Opening ceremony starts today June 11, 2010 at

• 2pm (South Africa time),
• 8pm (Philippines),
• 8am (New York),
• 5am (Los Angeles),
• 9am (Brazil),
• and 1pm (London).

I just finished watching Glee (the #1 TV show in the US and the 2010 Golden Globe Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy) and to my surprise, Jollibee was on it. The Glee dance was just like the one Jollibee did at the Mall of Asia last year. Coincidentally, the Jollibee Flash Dance Mob was copied from two of the most famous flash mob dances in the world – the one at the Antwerp Belgium Train Station and the one sponsored by T-mobile (at the Liverpool Street Station). Please see the three dance videos below.   

www.Google.com  

www.Facebook.com

www.YouTube.com 

www.Yahoo.com 

www.Live.com

www.Wikipedia.org

www.Baidu.com

www.Blogger.com

www.MSN.com

www.QQ.com

*Ranked by Alexa.com

Via: Online Schools

While the term ‘sports car’ usually brings about images of a flashy Ferrari Enzo or a luxurious Lamborghini Gallardo, the same term is also almost synonymous to price tags bearing figures that the average Joe cannot imagine getting on his day job. Almost–because if you are a sports car enthusiast who is in the market for an affordable sports car, you can actually get powerful ones at a lesser cost. In this list are ten sports cars with awesome performance at a great price value.

1. The quick and agile Mazda MX-5 Miata is a good sports car to consider. It is great on gas, has good handling, and impressive build quality. One of the pluses of owning this is its long-term value.
Starting MSRP: $23,560

2. Another sports car to consider is the Ford Mustang Coupe. It has V6 210 horsepower, bigger tires, and fog lit grilles.
Starting MSRP: $22,145

3. If you want the lightweight version of the Ford Mustang Coupe, the Pontiac Solstice would be good for you. It is cheaper, has 177 horsepower, and it has good handling and response.
Starting MSRP: $24,000

4. When it comes to sturdy value, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe fits right in with its rear-wheel drive sports car abilities. It is comparable to the Infiniti G37 but costs significantly less. It may lag a bit in terms of sports performance but as a whole, it is a great package.
Starting MSRP: $22,000

5. If Mazda MX-5 Miata made it to this list, so should the snazzy Nissan 370Z. It is a stylish sports car that is fast, has incredibly good looks, and an interior cabin that spells out quality. It offers power and utmost capability at an affordable price.
Starting MSRP: $30,410

6. The Toyota Solara Convertible is another good addition to the list. It is a sleek four-seater, with a curvy tail. It also has a neat interior and a dual color scheme option.
Starting MSRP: $20,180

7. You can also check out the gas-saving Chevy Cobalt 2005 series that has also been receiving critical acclaim. It has a low weight to horsepower ratio, summing up to better acceleration; clear versatility at a modest price.
2005 Starting MSRP: $13,625

8. Another Mazda made its way to the list: the RX-8. The Mazda RX-8 (sport-type model) is a cheaper alternative to Ferraris and Porsches. Its impressive profile includes rear opening doors that resemble swinging Ferrari doors and an engine with 9000 rpms/238 HP. Its body has great curves and a sturdy overfenders—a sumptuous combination of power and good looks, not bad for a price of under $28,000.
Starting MSRP: $27,245

9. Gliding along is the BMW Z4, inheriting some style from the 7-Series. It offers almost the same fun experience as the more expensive 6-series to the driver.
Starting MSRP: $46,000

10. And last but not least is the Mitsubishi Eclipse, which would please anyone who’d rather go for the tamer look, instead of the usual aggressive-looking sports car models.
Starting MSRP: $20,699

Yes, you can definitely enjoy affordable sports cars having comparable horsepower, comfort, audio options, traction, and style as McLarens and Shelbys, without making a huge dent on your bank account.

NOTE: All prices indicated are for 2010 – 2011 models (unless otherwise stated).

There are a lot of reasons why you should blog. Topping the list is the ability to earn income out of it through product reviews, text link advertising, and Google AdSense. Depending on your knowledge on the subject, you can be tapped as one of the resource persons. A lot of bloggers become motivational speakers and even authors of high-selling books.

These people who find success in blogging are one of a kind, since most will just vanish into oblivion. The former are those who have followed the basic yet effective rules of blogging, which are the following:

1. Focus on content
   Some readers will not really mind the layout of your blog, provided that you can provide them with content. Now, it is important that you know what this content means. It means substantial, accurate, and fresh information. Do not steal other people’s work. If you cannot avoid quoting them, make sure that you can add some references. Research newer data. You want them to keep coming back to your blog because they always learn something that is totally unheard of or seldom discussed.

   If you do not know where to look for them or you want to be more inspired, you can read blogs and websites from mentors or experts in the field. You can also read magazines, books, and journals. You can just let your imagination and inquisitiveness come up with a new topic to talk about.

2. Avoid “read more”
   As much as possible, you should avoid letting them read more of the blog post by clicking on “read more.” You have to remember that your readers do not really like to follow a lot of commands when they visit your blog. It is like getting invited into someone else’s home. You do not like to be instructed on what you should do, do you? You want to create a more succinct blog post for your audience.
3. Put them in the right categories
   Classify all your entries, even the most personal ones. Not all readers will be interested in knowing about your travels but may want to read what your take is on search engine optimization. It does not matter if a single post will belong to several categories. The most important thing is you can add some sense of organization into your blog.

4. Diversify your blog
   Even the most famous bloggers in the world are fond of adding pictures, videos, and podcasts into their blog. They let a web designer (or sometimes themselves) spend time developing the most effective and niche-related layout. They produce buttons and icons that readers can use and attach to their own blogs and websites. They provide great downloadable resources such as e-books, reports, and software. They also share links from websites whose information, they think, will be truly helpful to their readers.

5. Stick to the rules
   Besides keeping in mind the above-mentioned tips, you also need to remember the rules that have been set by search engines such as Google. Your efforts will be in vain if your blog is penalized or worse, banned from these websites. This means that you should avoid keyword spamming. Avoid linking in websites that are actually link farms. Stay away from black hat techniques.

Grownups pretty much have the say in what to do and where to go at Disney, but it would mean putting up with whines or tantrums if your kid has something else in mind. What are the things that kids must not miss in Disney World?

  (The fireworks and the parade)

1. In Magic Kingdom Park, the fireworks display over Cinderella’s Castle is must-see. Preschoolers would love Dumbo, the Flying Elephant, It’s a Small World, and Mickey’s PhilharMagic. They could experience Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel and Cinderellabration there too. Of course, the traditional 3 o’clock parade must not be missed, so better find a good curbside location.

                                             (Turtle Talk with Crush)

2. Bring your tots to Turtle Talk with Crush, or bring them to the Kidcot Fun Stops. Characters on Holiday will surely appeal to their taste or better yet, try the Journey into Imagination by Figment. 

    
                                     (Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage)

3. In Disney-MGM Studios, kids will love the “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!”, “Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage,” and “Voyage of the Little Mermaid.”

                                           (Festival of the Lion King)

4. Kilimanjaro Safaris in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will bring the wonder of African savannah right in Florida for the kids and adults to explore. Aside from this African-inspired adventure, Disney also features the “Festival of the Lion King.” It is said to be the most colorful pageantry at Disney Park that will delight young and old alike.

                                    (Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.)

5. In Epcot, there is a nightly fireworks display called “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.” It is the day’s “final act” at closing time.
6. Pony rides are available at the Petting Farm. Children from ages 2 and up can enjoy these, as long as they weigh up to 80 lbs.

   
                                    (Disney’s Wonderland Tea Party)

7. Wonderland Tea Party shouldn’t be missed especially by young girls because characters from “Alice in Wonderland” will tell a story, eat lunch or have “tea” with them. If your kids are not into it, maybe My Disney Girls Perfectly Princess Tea Party will be. Here, girls are encouraged to dress up in their favorite princess get-up. They also get a chance to meet Princess Aurora from “Sleeping Beauty.”

Children will love the different activities in Disney World. To make sure nothing is going to be missed, do ask your kids to help you list the places to go and help you plan the trip. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring with you your guide maps—map out your itinerary so you won’t miss an attraction.

Disney World has all kinds of fun for the kids and the kids-at-heart, and new attractions are added from time to time. A trip to Disney World will be a great bonding (and did I mention fun?) time for you and your little ones.

Enjoy!

The Gold Souk offers everyone setting foot in Dubai, an overwhelming display of gold in seemingly countless forms.  An average of over 25 tons of gold are said to be in display at any given time and they are sold by weight. Dubai is definitely the ‘City of Gold‘–literally.

A good thing about the gold souks in Dubai is that, there is always something in gold for everybody. Gold of all colors like white, yellow and red, can be found in almost every imaginable forms of jewelry like bracelets, watches, earrings and many more. They can also be set with expensive valuable stones and their price range varies. This is where the ‘art of haggling’ would come in handy because when the shopkeeper says the price, you could get to have the item 60% cheaper if you’re good at bargaining.

If you are planning to buy a piece of gold jewelry for your significant other, or just buy it for some form of investment, your trip to the Gold Souk of Dubai would definitely be worth it. The savings you can get here may even cover the cost of your travel. If buying is not what you have in mind, the experience in visiting the gold souk would still be worth your while. Your eyes could drink in the magnificence of the displayed pieces there and you’d get to appreciate the craftsmanship.

Haggling is entirely a normal thing when in Dubai–in fact, many people hop from one stall to another just to listen to others haggling. If you are a bit shy at first, you’ll find out sooner or later that gradually, you become used to it and would enjoy doing it yourself. It is however important to note that the seller keeps a minimum price in mind. The expert haggler could beat him or her to the price while some, who are not yet good at haggling, could end up paying more than the price they should have gotten the piece for.

The price of gold items in Dubai, as mentioned earlier, is sold by weight. This means that the price is the current price of gold plus the amount they charge in making the item. What people haggle over actually is the making charge because the sellers will definitely sell below the standard price of gold. It would make quite some sense if you visit the gold souk armed with the knowledge about gold’s current price and the average making price. This way, you can get the item for a price that is agreeable to you and of course, the seller.

The best time to visit the gold souk would be in the evening because it can get really busy during the day. You definitely would enjoy the trip more if you are not on heels–comfortable shoes are definitely a must when in Dubai because you definitely will do a lot of walking.

The gold souk is not entirely offering just gold. There are many stores offering precious and semi-precious stones. Silver and platinum could also be found and other metals and alloys. If gold is not really your thing, you can go to fabric shops. There is also a variety of gift shops in the area.

You can find the Gold Souk on the Deira side of the Creek. To say that you actually have gone to Dubai means that you must not miss visiting the Gold Souk–it is a good advice therefore to practice haggling and be ready to have a blast on your visit.

So you’ve decided to take a chance on moving to the Big Apple—are you prepared?

To some, it is a daunting challenge to become part of the dynamic hustle and bustle of this famous concrete jungle of skyscrapers, dazzling lights, and busy people. We’ve asked several people who moved to New York from a while back to give us some advice. What do people who’ve done what you are still about to do, have to say to New York movers? These are the top ten things to remember when moving to New York:

1) Bring a map – yes. You may ask around but you definitely cannot do that all the time.

2) Hypochondriac? It would be good to have a bottle of hand sanitizer with you. This city is filled with different people who have different habits. What’s clean for you might not be the same to the perception of cleanliness of the person next to you.

3) How much cash to bring? Bring lots of it but below $10,000 though. If you bring more, you could be held for questioning, thus causing unnecessary delays. This is because $10,000 is the limit set by federal law. If you bring too much cash, you would raise suspicion among the authorities.

4) How much will you set aside for rent? That depends on how much you would like or able to spend for it. You can get a decent apartment for about $500-600 per month. You could cut costs if you have someone to split it with. There are also places that are a lot cheaper but the usual cost that people shell-out is more or less $500.

Skyline patio dining in Manhattan

The casual lunchtime in New York 

5) Food during lunchtime in Manhattan could go for $10-20, however, if you are adventurous enough to find great but inexpensive food spots, you could get good food for $6. Should you decide to go for a nice dinner for two, you could get these at $75-150.

6) Let’s talk weather. Weather in New York is a balance of extremes. Winters here are really cold and summers are as imaginably sultry. Rains make New York City hot and humid. This would give you an idea on what clothes to bring–which brings us to the next thing to remember.

7) If you want to blend in, black is a safe color of choice for clothing. Make sure you have enough clothes to wear for the different seasons. You would not want to catch pneumonia or freeze your toes off because you are wearing inappropriate clothing.

8 ) The fun is in finding your way in and out New York, so you’d make things easier and better for you when you settle in. Do not be afraid to take some time to “get lost” in order to know your way around. Just be sure to heighten your senses so you will not get into any unpleasant surprises. Should you really get lost, you can always go to the subway and get a subway map. Subway maps are free and you can get it from the subway booth. Of course, take some time to read your map and be familiar with it.

New York’s primary mode of transportation – the subway train 

9) For transportation, the subway runs 24/7, the whole year. You should get a monthly swipe card called the metro card. It costs $89 and you can use it for 30 days. You might want to bring an iPod or a music player, because some destinations take up to more than an hour (for example: you are working in a company that is an hour and half away from where you live) and you might want the company of your playlist to break the boredom.

10) Last but not least, bring a camera. There are so many things to see and do in New York and what better way to document your thrilling beginning than shooting the sights with your handy camera. Of course, you have to know camera etiquette when you decide to be trigger-happy in a city that is a melting pot of people coming from different races. You would not want to deal with people who would get mad because they are thinking that you are taking their pictures.

Moving to any new place needs careful planning. New York movers have to learn to be street-smart and be able to think on their feet. You should already have an outline or a general idea on where you should go, who your contacts are, and everything on this list would then be useful to you, once you get to New York.

Moving to New York is a big and exciting decision—and you can make the most out of it while having fun.

Along with chocolates and long-stemmed, deep red roses, soft and adorable teddy bears are a traditional gift for the ladies during Valentines’ Day. So show your girlfriend, fiancée, lover, lady-friends, mother and the many ladies in your life how much they mean to you with especially personalized teddy bear gifts from online teddy bear stores this Valentines’ Day. Cute and cuddly, the girls—both young and old—in your life will love and treasure these little guys they received from you.

The Internet provides you a wide array of choices for which teddy bear to give your significant other. Teddy bears purchased online can be personalized by adding the receiver’s name and your own message for them that can be written on the greeting card it comes along with. Personalized teddy bears make a unique and meaningful Valentines’ day gift because part of the effort—not just the purchasing but the personalizing too—in preparing the gift coming from you.

Shopping online comes with ease, comfort and guaranteed satisfaction for the clients. Purchasing from the online sites offers a lot of benefits. First is that it is relatively easy to browse through the sites. The sites are accessible from the comforts of home and anywhere else with Internet connection. You can browse through the different kinds of teddy bears displayed on the sites until you find one which you think your loved one is going to like.

Included in the display picture of the teddy bears are their descriptions. These make shopping for the perfect Valentines’ day gift easier. Then you can personalize the teddy bear before you bag it and virtually head to the check-out counter. You can choose from the different the modes of payment offered on these sites. In a matter of days after you have made your purchase, your especially personalized teddy bear gifts will be sent right in front of your door. There is no need for a trip to their store to claim it.

Second, if you and the recipient of the gift find the product unsatisfactory, you can get your money back after airing your complaint and concern to the staff. The online teddy bear gifts shopping sites guarantees you your money back if you find the gift purchase unsatisfactory. The comments and complaints from their clients help them spot what needs to be improved in their products and services. This way, they can give out even better services to their most loyal and even the prospective clients.

Not only does online shopping offers a stress-free shopping spree, shopping in the teddy bears online sites also are risk-free.

As leaders in the teddy bear- and gift-personalizing industry, purchases made online may come with delightful freebies. The freebies may also be teddy bears or something equally delightful.

If you want a wonderful, comfortable and easy Valentines’ Day gift-online shopping experience, go online and start browsing! Personalize your teddy bear gifts to show your special someone how important they are to you.

When it comes to search engine optimization, or SEO, you may have heard the criticism that any Web site could be number one if you pick a keyword that is obscure enough. There are also a lot of criticisms that say that SEO is not effective in putting your Web site in a higher search engine ranking and in bringing in sales and customers to your site; that everything is just based on pure luck.

What adds to the confusion are companies and services that claim to be able to put your site on the first page or top spot of any search engine for any keyword you specify and then they use black hat techniques composed of deceitful and underhanded tactics to put you on top only as long as you keep paying them. Once you have stopped paying, your rankings fall, sometimes it becomes worse off than when you started. What is more, these black hat techniques can prove to be a bane to your ranking because search engines are very dynamic and are constantly updated and be able to detect these sooner or later. There is always the possibility that your site would be banned for using these techniques.

Over the years, people have come out with pronouncements that SEO is dead. They claim that you cannot influence how your sites would be ranked by search engines with its algorithms being constantly updated. Additionally, they say that SEO companies are just guessing at how search engines rank sites because these algorithms are closely guarded secrets in the first place.

The truth of the matter is that SEO works. It is not dead. It is not an art, but a science. SEO companies and experts have made educated guesses and made changes to Web sites that have seen better rankings than when left alone. The process is very much like how scientists and academics have their own theories and they do experiments to test it out. SEO experts and scientists strive to prove causality between one process and its results.

Done right, SEO can help your site get good rankings on keywords that are used by your customers and potential buyers. What this entails is that, like other marketing initiatives, you should know who your customers are in order to find the keywords that would give you the most benefits. More than this, you should also know the various techniques of SEO and how to execute them. This includes learning how to implement white hat techniques like on page optimization, off-page SEO, link building, creating better content that is both SEO-friendly and natural sounding. Over and again, companies that implement these techniques have reaped rewards after rewards.

Critics could easily dismiss it as fluff and nothing but putting in a good word for a dying man. A look at how real world companies approach their SEO, however, proves another point. In June 2009, Forbes Magazine released its study of Ad Effectiveness. The Magazine found that:

• SEO, along with e-mail and newsletter marketing remains to be the most popular form of e-marketing among senior marketing executives.
• 48% of these executives said that SEO was most effective in generating sales and conversions.
• 92% of marketing executives will keep their existing SEO budgets or increase it within the succeeding six months.

What these marketers are saying is that SEO is effecting at not only putting your site where your customers are, but it works so well that they are willing to bet their money and keep on spending for it.

People have long been fascinated with fire since time immemorial. In colder times, we gravitate to it for warmth; hence we have over 55 million U.S. households that have at least one fireplace. It would not be surprising then for people to invest time, money, and energy on having outdoor fireplaces as well. You can hire someone to make it for you, buy patio fireplace kits, or just build one of your own.

Here are some things to consider so you can safely build your own outdoor fireplace:

• Make sure that you are aware of your city ordinances and acquire the necessary permits or licenses that you need in order to have one.
• Check with your homeowner’s insurance company because it might affect your policy.
• Ask your utilities company about the pipes and cables that are underground.
• Your outdoor fireplace should have a safe distance from your house, and any other buildings.
• It should be a level ground that is free of trees and overhanging branches or vines.
• If you are going to construct it on an existing deck, make sure it can support the weight of the fireplace. If you have a wood deck, it could be a potential fire hazard, therefore it is important to surround the area with heatproof masonry.
• Consider the use of your outdoor fireplace. If it is mainly for ambiance, do keep in mind your home’s architecture style.
• There should be at least a three-foot distance between your seating area and the fire, regardless of the design you choose.

There are two kinds of outdoor fireplaces—and they are very much like a campfire. Choose the diameter and then have a stake driven into the center of the ground where you want the pit to be. This will mark how big you want your fireplace. The diameter of your outdoor fireplace should be about four feet and the walls should be approximately 12 inches thick.

Mix your pre-mix concrete with water until it is soft and has spreadable consistency. Place it where the base of your wall should be. Then spread the concrete and tamp it down until it is about an inch or so. Put the rebar and tap them in until they are covered with concrete and allow it to set completely. The mortar should be spread on the outer portion of the concrete base before setting the stones. Put the face stones first then top it with the capstones for an even look.

If you have never tried masonry work before, you may need to go over a guide on setting bricks first.

Enjoy and have fun with your patio fireplace!

Watch this 23-minute behind the scenes video to see how the number 1 movie of all time was conceptualized and created by James Cameron.

According to Box Office Mojo, as of January 26, 2010, Avatar earned approximately US $1,878,025,999 worldwide (that’s almost 1.9 billion US dollars). In the United States alone, the movie’s ticket sales for 40 days is a staggering $558,179,737. That domestic gross accounted for almost 30 percent of the revenue worldwide. Next to the US is China (with $103,113,774), Russia ($96,259,863), and South Korea ($79,691,558). The Philippines ranked in the bottom ten with only $5,197,803 ticket sales since the movie debuted on December 17, 2009. Maybe this figure was caused by the MMFF with almost all Philippine cinemas showing only local films from December 25 to January 6?

I predict that Avatar’s total box office sales will increase to 2 billion dollars in the middle of February 2010. And when this happens, the Pandora 3D movie will be the first film to reach the 2-billion-dollar mark.

FYI: The Titanic reached the 1.8 billion dollar profit in 70 days. Avatar did it only for 38 days.  I myself watched the movie 4 times. How many times did you watched it?