Your Money: A Contrarian on Retirement Says Wait
An economics professor suggests that retirees should delay collecting Social Security benefits to maximize their returns. (Read on Source)
Jobs up for grabs: Offense
Did you notice that the Colts concentrated on offense in the draft even though the 'experts' had them drafting defense? The truth is, the league's most feared offense needed a bit of reloading. There are jobs to be had and there are prospects who want to have them. (Read on Source)
Spicy Science Extra
At Sciencebase, we attempt to cover all bases when it comes to science news, but sometimes there are great stories out there that other sites and outlets have covered that our vast team of reporters (hmmmm) simply cannot cover in the detail they deserve. Step up to the plate, Hot Science and Science Extra, collectively known, for today only, as ... (Read on Source)
U.S. bald eagle numbers making recovery
AP - The American bald eagle, a national symbol once almost wiped out by hunters and DDT poisoning, has not only survived but is thriving. (Read on Source)
Creating online forms
Building an online web form using a form creator is a simple task, even for those who are not in to programming and design. A form usually has a simple layout and consists of practical and functional ...
OnOrbit.com Logo Design Contest
Editor's note: On Orbit is holding a logo design contest . We are looking for all designers, from professionals to amateurs, to take their best shot at creating a logo that will be used by On Orbit to brand our website, t-shirts, and anywhere else the On Orbit name might appear. 1st Prize: An Apple TV (160GB model) 2nd Prize: An Apple iPod nano ( ... (Read on Source)
Researchers say Sony software makes PCs vulnerable (Reuters)
Reuters - Software included with high-end memory sticks sold by Sony Corp can make personal computers vulnerable to attack by computer hackers, according to researchers with two Internet security firms.
Serious vulnerability found in Gmail
Security researcher Petko Petkov has revealed a cross-site request forgery vulnerability in Gmail that makes it possible for a malicious web site to surreptitiously add a filter to a user's Gmail account that forwards e-mail to a third-party address.
Petkov's proof-of-concept exploit for this vulnerability, which has been independently verified but not publicly released, uses a multipart/form-data POST to send instructions to Gmail's internal API. The vulnerability can only be exploited when the user is currently logged in to the Gmail service.
This is the second major Google security vulnerability to be revealed this week. On Monday, security researcher Fernando Bedford provided a proof-of-concept exploit for a Google cross-site scripting vulnerability in Google's Blogspot polls API that facilitated e-mail hijacking and address book sniffing. That vulnerability was fixed by Google shortly after it was reported, but it is presently unclear whether or not the vulnerability discovered by Petkov has been fixed yet.
View: Full Article @ Arstechnica
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Web Hosting News: Homeconvenience.com Increases Trust With Comodo EV SSL Certificates
Microsoft is readying its Flickr competitor
A posting on Microsoft's career website shows that they are working on a competitor to the popular photo sharing site Flickr.
Realtime-Spy 3.10
Spytech Realtime-Spy Monitor and Spy on any Computer from Anywhere Realtime-Spy is the latest in high-tech surveillance software that allows you to REMOTELY INSTALL the monitoring software and access the activity logs from ANYWHERE [New | License: Shareware $79.95 | Requires: Win 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista | Size: 2989KB]
First N. American Carrier Commits to the HTC Touch Diamond
... it doesn't have a hardware keyboard but instead is focused on its touchscreen.It runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, but includes an updated version of HTC's overlay for this operating ...
Oracle warns over unpatched vuln
Zero-day BEA WebLogic flaw gets up Oracle's bonnet Oracle has decided to break its quarterly update release cycle with plans to develop a patch against a zero-day exploit.?
Uncertainties Prevail Over Human Health Benefits Of Polyphenols
Despite scores of studies documenting the effects of healthful plant nutrients called polyphenols in protecting nerves from damage, it would be "unwise" to assume that the same protective effects occur for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other human disorders, a new report concludes.
Unis melden immer mehr Erfindungen an
Die österreichischen Universitäten melden immer mehr Erfindungen an. Von 2004 bis Anfang 2007 wurden 651 Einreichungen von 405 Erfindern aus 15 Hochschulen unternommen. (Read on Source)
Ted Mininni: Sharing the Wealth: Shopping Private Labels to Competing Retailers
An interesting article appeared in Supermarket News recently. ?Can Safeway Become a Lab for Other Retailers?? discusses the food retailer?s decision to expand distribution of its O Organics private label line and Safeway Select, Eating Right health and wellness line to other food retailers. Apparently Safeway?s subsidiary, Lucerne Foods, ... (Read on Source)
Top 5 Cellphone Busts of 2008
We've seen a lot of gadgets this year. A lot of them have been awesome devices. And a lot of them have been miserable failures. Cellphones especially. Here's a list of the top 5 cellphone busts of 2008.
Wired.com
Networking Through Strategic Alliances
Networker's know that you always get back more from your network then you have to give to it. However, that should not stop you from thinking about new ways you can help the people in your network. Your network is full of people who would like to partner with you, though neither of you may have approached the idea or formalized a plan. Here are some suggestions for ways that you can form strategic alliances with other businesses in your network.
BNI (Business Networking International) coined the phrase ?giver's gain?, which basically means that if you give referrals, leads or resources the recipients will want to repay you somehow. The problem is that as your network grows, it will become increasingly difficult to give referrals to everyone in your network.
This is somewhat counterintuitive because most people would think that as they add contacts to their network it will be easier to refer the new members of your network to each other. However, if you know five accountants it is difficult to refer to all five of them equally. One way to give back to your network is to develop a number of strategic alliances.
There are a few basic steps you should follow to help ensure that your new alliances are effective. First, be sure to think about what you want the alliance to accomplish. Are you simply trying to reach new potential customers? Or are you also trying to reduce your marketing costs? In general, think about the goals of the alliance. Here are some things you might want to consider.
- You will get access to the networks of your partners.
- You will get to associate your business with another, potentially, more established brand.
- You can decrease your overall marketing costs, while expanding your reach.
- You can learn from other businesses. What has been successful for them in the past?
Next you should think about who you want to partner with. If you are a Realtor, you might think of mortgage originators or real estate attorney's that you could partner with. Bear in mind that your partner does not have to have the same goals are you, but they should be complementary. Here are several ways you can potentially form and alliance with another business.
- Create an alliance with a customer - Creating a mutually beneficial relationship with a key customer can strengthen the relationship and reduce your risk of losing this key customer.
- Create an alliance with a market leader ? If you are a small business, you may be able to reap hue rewards from partnering with the market leader in your area. You may be able to offer a level of local penetration that a big company may have trouble creating on it's own. The alliance may not offer a huge financial incentive for the small business but you can leverage the alliance in your own marketing program. If you are the market leader, consider partnering with a young, easer business that might be able to offer you this type of market penetration.
- Create an alliance with a non-profit organization ? You might be able to create an alliance with a trade organization or local community organization, which offer not only direct rewards, but also in-direct rewards from helping a good cause.
- Create an alliance with a former employer ? Your company may offer a service that complements the services offered by a former employer.
- Create an alliance with a competitor ? while you have to pay very close attention to detail when partnering with a competitor, you might be able to tap into their resources to extend your reach. They might be a competitor, but may not have the specific expertise that you do. For example, many people would consider Yahoo! and Microsoft's MSN internet portal to be competitors, but MSN recognized Yahoo! Strengths in keyword driven advertising and started featuring Yahoo! Ads with their search results. Of course, MSN is now developing their own contextual advertising system, which means the partnership is coming to an end soon.
- Create an alliance with a parelell industry ? simply stated, find another business in your market but that is not a direct competitor and then team up to market to the same customer base. Each company can pitch in financially and see incremental results from their marketing activities.
Planning out exactly how the alliance will work is the next step. You and your partner should clearly outline what each party is going to be responsible for and how results are going to be monitored. Be sure to discuss the costs involved in the alliance and make sure that each party has a clear understanding of what all of the costs will be. Here are some ideas to consider.
- Ask your partner to display your literature and/or products. A Realtor may be able to display brochure from a mortgage broker in their office or include it in the packet of information they present new clients.
- Ask your partner to link to your website from theirs. An accounting firm may be able to place a link to your financial planning practice on their website.
- Include your brochure in a partners mailings. A delivery company might be willing to include your brochure in the invoices they send to their customers each month.
- Develop joint marketing materials that promote both businesses and share the expenses of implementing the plan. For example, a handyman and a landscaper may develop a direct mail piece that promotes both companies and then each company can contribute to the mailing expenses.
- Develop a ?preferred partner? program that offers customers a financial incentive to buy products in tandem from two companies at once. For example, a car dealership might form a partnership with a service station and offer maintenance bundled with the purchase price of a car. A health club may offer a joint membership to a local tennis or pool club.
- Develop a seminar with another business ? develop a educational seminar program with a business in your industry and then market the events as a team.
- Publish news about the businesses you have developed an alliance with.
- Introduce your new partners to your key clients. Perhaps you can invite your partner to events you are involved in.
- Serve as a sponsor for events your partners are involved in.
Once you have set up your alliance and implemented your plan, it is critical that the lines of communication stay open and that you pay attention to the relationship you have formed. Check in with your partner to make sure they are happy with the way things are going.
Set up a weekly meeting or conference call with your partner and go through a progress report. You may also find it helpful to create a ?report card? for your project before it begins. Base your report card on the goals you laid out early in the relationship and then revisit it over time. By laying out the goals in advance, each person involved with the project will understand what is expected of them. In addition, it is harder to ignore setbacks and bumps in the road if expectations are fully developed and everyone is on the same page before the project begins.
The most common mistakes involve failing to clearly communicate through each stage of the alliances growth. Think about the overall value proposition, where each parties goals are aligned and mismatched, the level of commitment or excitement from each party. Always think about how the alliance can become a win-win for everyone involved. If you do not think you can really add value, don't participate because you do not want to damage your credibility. Finally, if the alliance simply does not add measurable value to your business, do not participate.
Creating these formal alliances will help you develop and strengthen the relationships you already have. Power networkers can create multiple alliances with multiple members of their network. These alliances have the added benefit of allowing you to add value to a number of businesses without having to actually give specific referrals to a number of businesses individually.
Stephen Labuda is considered by many to be a "professional networker". He combines years of business development, networking and sales experience on his blog at <a href="http://www.stephenlabuda.com">http://www.stephenlabuda.com</a>.
Despite IBM profits, a tech gloom still looms (AP)
AP - Even after IBM Corp. surprised Wall Street with a healthy profit in the third quarter and a reaffirmation of its earnings outlook for the rest of the year, the broader technology sector dived again Thursday. There's just not enough of what lifted IBM to go around. 213
Exclusive Interview With James "Lights Out" Toney - "I'm The Peoples' Champion!"
31.10.08 / by James Slater ... (Read on Source)
Looking for a classic or sports car - you could get a car finance option that suits your needs
When you are buying a new car, before you look for a car finance deal you need to make sure you are buying the right car for you. Will it suit your needs for the length of your lease purchase deal, or will you suddenly find you have nowhere to put your new baby seat? The best type of Independent financial adviser or IFA will do a whole of the market search. This means they will not be tied to any products. There are lots of advices guides on the web you can use when looking for a personal contract purchase deal (or lease purchase as it's otherwise known). Make sure you look for the recommended price of the car you are looking for and make a note of important information such as manufacturers' recalls. You should also look for information about their processes. The process in which you will go through and how much money or time or effort you will need to go through before you actually get the quote. An application process should be very simple and should not require intrusive or excessive amounts of information at the initial stage just some basic information about yourself and the car you are buying or refinancing. As with any big financial decision, make sure you get everything in black and white before you commit to your new car finance deal, and for that matter the car itself. If the seller puts in writing their agreement to carry out any work that needs to be done for example paintwork. Hire purchase (or lease purchase as it is sometimes known) can now be done easily for personal use through Personal Contract Purchase (PCP). This is a great way to finance a new car. As will all car finance or refinance deals, make sure you get it all in writing before you commit.
IFA Car Finance are Specialist in <a href="http://www.ifacarfinance.co.uk">Car Finance</a> and Car Refinance and <a href="http://www.ifacarfinance.co.uk">Car Loans</a>. Mancala Technology are specialist in <a href="http://www.mancala.co.uk">Internet Marketing</a>.
Lowell wins 13th straight AAA volleyball title
The Lowell High girls volleyball team had a mission after bowing to Balboa in five games in league play: not to let it happen again. The Cardinals swept the Buccaneers 25-18, 25-23, 25-10 to capture their 13th consecutive San Francisco Section title on Friday... (Read on Source)
Methamphetamine Abuse Linked To Underage Sex, Smoking And Drinking
Teens who have never done drugs, but engage in other risky behaviours such as drinking, smoking and being sexually active, are more likely to use crystal meth, medical researchers have concluded.
Clowe's 2 goals lead Sharks in 7-2 win over Caps
Coach Todd McLellan insisted his San Jose Sharks had a good bit of rink rust after a four-day layoff. He thought their legs were heavy and their passes weren't crisp for about 30 minutes. That was news to the Washington Capitals, who couldn't spot a weakness... (Read on Source)
Confessions of a man who does the layoffs
It's easy to vilify the guy who hands out the pink slips. But contrary to popular notions, these aren't decisions that are taken lightly, at least with the executive we interviewed.
The political argument against health IT
... M4. Versions less than 0.11.6 are affected. Debian Security Advisory 1684 - Two vulnerabilities have ... of commandline utilities for image color management. Ubuntu Security Notice USN-678-2 - USN-678-1 fixed a ...
Size Keeps the Huskies Undefeated
Jeff Adrien scored 21 points, Hasheem Thabeet had 20 and second-ranked Connecticut remained unbeaten against undersized Fairfield in a 75-55 victory. (Read on Source)
Dell Adamo rumored for Blu-ray, lower base price
More leaks surfacing today regarding the Dell Adamo have hinted at the initial notebook's early features and at a lower than expected price. A Google cache of information on Dell's own site indicates that the purported MacBook Air competitor will use DisplayPort for video out and eSATA storage and will have a number of peripherals ready on or near launch, including a 2X Blu-ray combo drive as wel...
Amazon Deforestation Trend On The Increase
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon forests has flipped from a decreasing to an increasing trend, according to new annual figures recently released by the country's space agency INPE.
name: MAGPIE