I want to write a book. No, not a scholarly work of history or a weighty tome of political opinions. Heck, 'm not even talking about making my blog into a book -- who would pay for what is already free?

No, I want to write a novel. Science fiction, in particular. yeah, that's right -- I'm one of those geeky guys. And no, I'm not talking about the sort of thing written by Heinlein or L. Neil Smith, weighted down with political meaning and philosophy backed up with good story-telling. No, I just want to write something fun and pleasurable to read. I think the best word for such a book might be "escapist literature."

The problem is that I don't know where to begin. Heck, it is a lot different than writing this blog, with its relatively short component pieces. I'd need to plot out a story develop some good characters, and then actually get around to writing the darn thing!. That sounds like a heck of a lot of work to me.

Now I just came across a website that claims to be able to teach me how to write a book in just 28 days. What's more, it claims that I can do this while writing only one single hour a day -- and in bursts of no more than five minutes. Frankly, I find such a claim intriguing. I'm also intrigued by the money-back guarantee if you don't have a publishing contract within three months.

Why don't you drop by WriteQuickly.com and take a look -- and then tell me what you think.

Posted by: Greg at 11:50 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Remember when I told you guys about the kid in my college speech class? You know, the one who looked like Sanjaya from American Idol. man, was he ever sold on the benefits of "self-hypnosis" for purposes of self-improvement. I laughed then, but over two decades later he is the guy I remember.

Well, I still flash back to that speech nearly a quarter century ago when i see stuff about this site for hypnosis downloads And what's more, the folks at Instant-Hypnosis.com really want you to try their material. Their offer? Two free hypnosis sessions for you! And since all sessions come with a money-back guarantee, you do not pay a thing for any session with which you are not completely satisfied. That, my friends, is a sign of confidence in one's product, being prepared to give up every penny with the assurance that one's customers will be happy enough enough to stay with the program in the future!

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i guess I've gotten a little more interested in the whole topic of cyber-bullying in the last few weeks, since a couple of my colleagues had MySpace accounts opened in their names -- one rather funny, one pornographic, and one accusing a respected educator of pedophilia. The sites have all been wiped out, but it got me to thinking in a new way about how my students can be bullied on-line.

It is therefore somewhat fortuitous that this evening I was asked to take a look at material on cyber-bullying from the Kamaron Institute. I had not realized how widespread the problem really is -- 18-49% of students in grades 4-12 may have been the victims of online contact designed to deliberately and repeatedly hurt, taunt, ridicule, threaten or intimidate them.

The Kamaron Institute has created a webpage designed to help parents, educators, and others deal with cyber-bullying. In it, there are links to all sorts of good resources, including lesson plans for teachers like me. There is also a glossary of terms related to cyber-bullying, so that responsible adults have the vocabulary to begin talking about the problem.

And in what I consider to be the most important feature, and one that I wish they played-up a little bit more, they also offer ways of tracing the cyber-bullying to its source, which will greatly enable victims and their families to put a stop to the victimization of the innocent.

Overall, I'm pleased by what I see -- I just wish there was more of it, given the problem that bullying of all sorts creates for young people.

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For all I complain about blocked websites at school, I can't argue that some sort of internet filter and/or firewall is necessary when you are dealing with kids. Let's be honest -- even the most innocent end up places they shouldn't, so parental control of what is accessible is a must.

That is where FilterGuide.com comes into the picture. The provide parental control software reviews for you, so that you can learn which of the many services out there is the right one for you and your family. There are so many choices out there – some with definite “point-of-view” biases – so you need to make sure you get the right one.

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I love my wife's perfume, almost as much as I love her. It is called Crush, and I have to tell you -- in the couple of years she has used it I have come to understand how a cat responds to catnip. Meeeee-oooowwwww!

You can get it and more over at SendMeScent.com. Their selection is unbelievable -- and they have something to bring out the feline in everyone.

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Looking for online backup? The check out IDrive-E. They have a phenomenal deal there on Online Backup services -- 2 Gigabytes free, $4.95 a month for unlimited online storage. Good grief, if only I had known and availed myself of the service before my hard drive crash last spring! I wouldn't have lost all of my materials for my college course, or my wife's extensive collection of graphics that she uses for her crafting projects. Indeed, I still regularly get asked if I've backed up her stuff -- because she has a fear of losing so many graphics that she had spent years collecting.

Imagine if you were running a business, and lost everything. Say goodbye to your accounts receivable spreadsheets, your other financial records, and your crucial correspondence that you've been keeping an eye on. Imagine the lost good will with customers as orders went unfilled and leads went unanswered. It would be enough to put the small businessman out of business -- or worse. So seriously, you have got to take a look at getting some Online Backup now. And now, you can even create and manage multiple accounts for small business -- making IDrive-E an even better service for you.

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Interested in living in Miami Beach or South Beach? Those are some hot places to live, no doubt about it, surrounded by beautiful people and a beautiful environment. But how to find new home in one of the hippest places in America today?

You need a good information. And if you are after South Beach Miami real estate, the best way to find it is to start accessing the MLS listings for the area. Oh, and you need a good real estate agency -- which is where South Beach Investment Realty can be a great help to you. With the help of SBIR, you can find the place you want -- whether we are talking condos, houses, or even places in luxury retirement communities. SBIR has agents with expertise in all of these areas, and so they can get you settled in the just the right place, because there really is no place like home.

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I teach. I don't make any secret of that. But would you like to know what my biggest frustration is as a teacher? It isn't discipline or lack of respect from students. No, it is that too many kids have weak reading skills -- and read at a pace that is slow as molasses.

What can be done for these kids. Well, there are a number of solutions to deal with the comprehension and vocabulary issues that such students have, but one thing that would help many of them now and in the future would be speed reading. What's more, it has been demonstrated that speed reading helps increase comprehension, because it relies on seeking out the key words for meaning.

Want to learn more? There is a great site over at SpeedReadingSecret.com that can give you more information and help you -- and your student -- improve reading skills today!

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Debt is a two-edged sword. It can allow you to acquire things you want or need, but it can also strangle you economically if you are not careful.

I look at the situation some friends found themselves in a few years ago. They were a nice couple -- he in his 50s and her in her 40s, with two wonderful kids. The problem was that they had allowed themselves to live a lifestyle that was well beyond their means. I mean they were in serious trouble. The had lots of unsecured and secured loans -- everything from student loans to car loans to credit cards to a mortgage. And then he lost his job, and they nearly lost it all. Fortunately, a new job for my friend and refinancing of their home to lower monthly payments and tap into their equity in their house allowed them to recover and live a more scaled-back life by use of this Secured Loan.

If you are facing financial need and you are looking for personal loans, might I suggest Loanwize.co.uk??

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Movies fascinate me. They always have. Even those films that are not well-made have to them a certain magical quality, combining elements of sight and sound with a narrative structure that is found in the written screenplay that gives the basic structure to the film. While my film art class in college was concerned with the technique of the final product, I have always been fascinated by the screenplay itself (just as I am with the theatrical play as a literary form). Indeed, you can't have a good film without a good screenplay.

Well, now you have the chance to learn to write a screenplay in under a month. No, I don't mean the lessons will take under a month -- I mean that the idea is that you can write a screenplay in 28 days -- that is merely four weeks! I know, that sounds crazy, but that is the promise over at MovieInAMonth.com -- you can learn to write good screenplays in only four weeks -- screenplays that sell.

MovieInAMonth.com is the brainchild of James Lamberg, who has written or ghost-written over 50 screenplays. His basic principle is that writing quickly means writing successfully Now that makes sense in a rather intuitive fashion. after all, the more you write, the more you can sell, write? And if writing quickly forces you to keep things real, so much the better.

Am i ready to buy the course -- I don't know, because I don't know that I want to be a screenwriter. However, this is definitely a program to consider if that is your goal in life.

Posted by: Greg at 12:43 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I love artwork. I really do -- a beautiful piece of art can lift one to new heights.

Park West Gallery is a fine art gallery that conducts art auctions throughout the United States and Canada. Indeed, they are the world's largest art gallery, dealing in the works of such diverse individuals as Chen Alexander, Friz Freleng, and Pierre-Aguste Renoir. I'm particularly struck by their work with animation art, something I have been interested in since I was a college kid and bought my first animation cell from them.

What is also interesting is that the company has expanded its horizons to include taking art and auctions onto the high seas. One affiliate, Park West at Sea, holds auctions on cruise ships -- let's hope that there are no pirate crews out there looking for a little bit of artistic booty!

But in all seriousness, Park West Gallery is a well-respected player in the field of art. If you are an art lover, a stop by their site would be well-worth your time.

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Now here is what I'd like to do for my darling wife. For her, I'd love to get that king sleigh bed that we have wanted since we got married, as well as a nice two tone sectional -- preferably with the chaise that she has always wanted.

And for me? How about home office furniture so that when I work on the blog I am nice and comfortable?

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I don't know about you, but I want to know the score of the game right now. What game? Well, whatever game happens to catch my fancy. With Flash Score, I can get that information in a flash!

Do I want to know how my Astros are doing? The score is there.

How about the Chicago Bulls, the basketball team of my youth? I can find out in a flash.

And if the Texans are on the road, just one click will get me the score I need.

And for my colleagues at school who have a strange fascination with British soccer, all those scores are there as well, as well as scores from around the world.

So, sports fans, check out FlashScore.com!

Posted by: Greg at 07:20 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I'll be honest -- I didn't think much about mortgages before I bought my house. Yeah, I knew that mortgages were secured loans with the money guaranteed by a lien on/interest in the house itself, but never about the process of getting one. I went in blind, never stopping to look at a mortgage calculator to figure out what I could afford or considering different types of loans. Fortunately, I got in with a good broker who found me an excellent mortgage loan at a good rate -- but I hear today about a great many folks who didn't luck out like I did, and are losing their homes because of adjustable rates or outrageous payments.

Frankly, I'm glad I'm not looking for a house today or seeking to refinance because I am locked in at a very good rate that I've found I cannot beat. However, my friends seeking mortgages today appear to be entering the process with a lot more understanding and knowledge than I had. In addition, recent financial setbacks in the mortgage market are making those high-risk and exotic loans a little less common, as lenders seek to protect their capital -- which in turn protects buyers from getting into financial trouble, though that isn't out of any sort of altruistic motive on the part of lenders.

For information on types of mortgages and refinancing your home, visit Rebuild.com. They have many great articles on motgages and other loans.

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Well, folks, you know I've become a real fan of PayPerPost over the last several months, where I get paid to blog. There are lots of them -- indeed, over 2900 of reasons, if you want me to be specific. That is why the big changes that have been happening around PPP have really been exciting to me. Beats the heck out of Google's offering, doesn't it?

Perhaps the biggest of late has been the introduction of PayPerPost Direct -- a new way of connecting advertisers and bloggers to their mutual advantage. Now, not only can we bloggers choose from the advertising opportunities that are posted at PPP, but now advertisers can come to us directly to propose opportunities for specific bloggers on specific blogs. The process is well-explained in this video from the PayPerPost.com blog.

Now some of you may want to know how this differs from some other programs out there, like ReviewMe. Well, take it from someone who signed up for their program -- they are worlds apart. For starters, there is the cost to advertisers and the revenue that goes to the bloggers. They mark up the cost of the ads by 100%, and keep the rest as profit for themselves. In other words, a $20 ad buy by an advertiser yields only a $10 payout to the blogger. That sure does eat up an advertising budget quickly, and keeps all but a handful of bloggers from seeing any serious payout for accepting offers. PayPerPost Direct, on the other hand, has only a 10% markup. How can they do it -- by being bigger and more efficient than the competition. That means that the same $10 payout to a blogger only costs and advertiser $11. I don't know about you, but if I were an advertiser i'd be willing to buy a whole lot more ads with PPP Direct bloggers -- simply because my budget would go further. And as a blogger, I'd know that my offers would be higher and/or more plentiful for precisely the same reason -- the advertisers could buy more advertising!

So consider signing up today -- the link is over in the right column if you wish to join PPP as a blogger or an advertiser, and there is one in the left column if you want to make me an offer.

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And maybe more importantly, how come the motivational articles for entrepreneurs he has posted are so good?

Well let me begin by telling you that Andreas Bard is a 22-year-old Swedish guy who is on what he calls a journey to freedom. He has caught the entrepreneurial spirit in a big sort of way, and loves to start and grow businesses -- and he wants to inspire you to do the same thing, if you dare.

Now what Andreas wants to do is help the young entrepreneur get started in business and persevere until he or she has been successful. It is all in how one thinks and what one does, you see. Anybody with sufficient motivation and desire can start a business and learn to make it grow into a going concern that makes money. To that end, he has written and/or posted motivational articles for you -- if you are really interested in making that big leap into the world of entrepreneurism.

And there are lots of areas for the young entrepreneur to consider. For example, have you ever considered how much self-discipline it takes to start and run your business? Really, it does, because with no boss watching over your shoulder or giving you direction on what to do and how to do it, you are on your own. If you don't do something, it doesn't get done and your business -- your livelihood -- disappears. Not a good thing at all.

Similarly, handling criticism is very important. Let's be honest -- you and your business are going to be criticized by customers and (if you have any) employees. And to tell the truth, at least some of that criticism is going to be true -- and some of it will not be presented in a constructive, helpful manner. What do you do? Do you listen to it? Do you ignore it? Do you mine out the nuggets of truth amidst the garbage? Andreas talks about that at length.

And there there is one that might not come to mind at first -- but is key to making your business a success. It is starting a healthier lifestyle. Don't forget -- your biggest asset in your business is you, especially at the beginning. If you don;t take good care of yourself, you will not be operating at your peak efficiency, and as a result your business will be at a distinct disadvantage.

Andreas has a lot of interesting stuff to say -- drop by and look, even if you are not an aspiring entrepreneur. To be honest, the healthier lifestyle one has hit really close to home for me, and has caused me to reassess some things about how I live my life.

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Hearing that there is a new Police cd out has gotten me thinking and reminiscing as I think lustfully about owning a copy of this new compilation of the group's greatest songs.

I must have been fourteen or fifteen -- certainly in Ninth Grade -- when I first heard that rather striking opening wail.

Roxanne!
You don't have to put on the red light.

I'll be honest -- I was sold on the song and the singer and the group right then, just based on the first two syllables standing by themselves. The fantastic guitar work blew my mind. And the fact that the song itself was about a rather edgy and forbidden topic at my Catholic high school (love songs to hookers were not exactly a favorite of priests or nuns), I had to own the album, Outlandos d'Amour. And yes, I am talking VINYL. It was, in fact, the first thing I bought with my first paycheck from my first job. Cool.

I needn't tell you, of course, that Reggatta de Blanc quickly came into my music collection when it came out -- I fell in love with Message in a Bottle and, under the inspiration of the song and and a bit of vodka out of my Dad's liquor cabinet, actually penned a dreadful poem about a shipwrecked sailor sending a message in a bottle. It became my first published piece of poetry, in my high school literary magazine. I can only hope that all copies have been destroyed in the intervening quarter century.

And I'll be honest -- I never lost faith with Sting, Andy and Stewart. I always loved their music, even if I have not bought every release. Indeed, I have one song that makes me cringe every time I hear it -- as a teacher, Don't Stand So Close to Me cuts way to close to home for me to ever be able to listen to it the same way, though I still love Zenyatta Mondatta.

And of course, there are the final two projects that the group released. Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity became the sound track of my college years. I think I wore out at least to cassettes of each during the 1980s.

And now, as the group makes its triumphant return, to the concert stage in what is probably the second-most-desired reunion in rock history (and sadly, the Beatles are an impossibility), there is a new Police cd out compiling the best of the music of the Police.

And look at the music you get on it!

Disc: 1
1. Fallout
2. Can't Stand Losing You
3. Next to You
4. Roxanne
5. Truth Hits Everybody
6. Hole in My Life
7. So Lonely
8. Message in a Bottle
9. Reggatta de Blanc
10. Bring on the Night
11. Walking on the Moon
12. Don't Stand So Close to Me
13. Driven to Tears
14. Canary in a Coalmine

Disc: 2
1. Do Do Do de da da Da
2. Voices Inside My Head
3. Invisible Sun
4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
5. Spirits in the Material World
6. Demolition Man
7. Every Breath You Take
8. Synchronicity I
9. Wrapped Around Your Finger
10. Walking in Your Footsteps
11. Synchronicity II
12. King of Pain
13. Murder by Numbers
14. Tea in the Sahara

What can I say -- I want it. I need it. I've got to have it. Somebody -- please -- give me a copy of this CD!

Posted by: Greg at 06:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Where can you go for treatment when you have an addiction? That is a question that some folks have to face in their lives.

There is a new drug rehab program in Michigan, First Step Rehab, that treats folks from around the country. It is not a Twelve Step program, but instead uses a five stage program to get patients off drugs and into a healthy lifestyle. If you or a loved one needs drug rehab, stop by their website for more information.

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You know, I've got lots of questions about Lap Band Surgery. I know that one of my colleagues underwent the procedure last year, and she certainly lost lots of weight and has kept it off. I've never really known, though, how it works and what the cost of the procedure is.

That is why I find the concept behind MyLapbBandSurgery.com to be a really interesting one. This website, which has helped thousand of happy patients receive life-saving and lifestyle altering gastric bypass surgery to facilitate weight loss. Indeed, it is a real God-send for folks who don't have the sort of insurance coverage to get the surgery done under their health plan -- and I know that I don't.

Part of the secret is to have the lap band surgery performed in Mexico. Yes, you read that right -- you travel to Mexico and have the surgery done there. This seriously reduces teh cost of the procedure, and puts it within reach of many more patients seeking to lose that excess weight. Of course, many of you reading this might have some serious doubts about going to another country -- especially Mexico, to get surgery done at an inexpensive price. But that does not mean that you are putting yourself at risk. MyLapbBandSurgery.com is affiliated with a reputable hospital and works with licensed, certified physicians to see to it that every surgery is successful and has no problems. Indeed, the team has performed over 48,000 lapband and other gastric bypass surgeries with a success rate of over 98%.

How does it work? You fly into Mexico and are taken to the hospital for your surgery, You spend one night as an in-patient in a private room, and a second ioght in a local hotel before returning to you home. The staff with whom you work all speak English. All materials and procedures meet American standards for care. It is just that everything is so much less expensive in Mexico that you will save thousands of dollars, even with the travel.

So contact MyLapBandSurgery.com for more information, and look at their resource guide to waht you can expect.

Posted by: Greg at 10:29 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Years ago, when I was in college, I took a speech class. To be honest, I don't remember much about it -- except for one speech. It was by a guy who sort of looked like Sanjaya from this season's American Idol, and he was talking about the benefits of "self-hypnosis" for purposes of self-improvement. I laughed -- but over two decades later he is the guy I remember.

Well, when I came across this site for hypnosis downloads, I was intrigued, and flashed back to the mid-1980s. What did I find but dozens of programs to help improve people's lives -- all available over the internet. Frankly, i was astounded by the number of programs available to choose from. You can find programs for memory improvement, skill development, ending destructive personal habits, or even to help cope with pain. There are all sorts of possibilities for you.

And what's more, the folks at Instant-Hypnosis.com really want you to try their material. Their offer? Two free hypnosis sessions for you! And since all sessions come with a money-back guarantee, you do not pay a thing for any session with which you are not completely satisfied. That, my friends, is a sign of confidence in one's product, being prepared to give up every penny with the assurance that one's customers will be happy enough enough to stay with the program in the future!

Posted by: Greg at 10:15 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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How do you deal with the issue of doing an Online Backup of Oracle files? To be honest, there have always been some problems with this, due to the special nature of the data involved and its critical nature for small businesses. Well, the friendly folks at IBackup have stepped into the breach to help small business owners deal with those special needs Oracle users. You can read all about it over at IBackup.com, where they have a whole array of backup solutions for individuals and businesses. Remember -- lost data means lost information, lost time, and lost business, all things that you cannot afford to waste.

Posted by: Greg at 06:25 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Hey -- we've all seen the dating "reality" shows on television. You know, Joe Millionaire, The Bachelor, and all the rest. Frankly, there isn't a whole lot of reality to the reality that you watch on them -- but lots of folks try to participate. heck, we even had one local teacher on one of the shows recently.

But would YOU want to get into the act? Would you want to win a date with -- perhaps even seduce -- a celebrity? Come on, folks -- be honest.

That's the premise of the new online reality show Seduce a Celeb. It is one of the Free videos at GoFish.com, and features actress Mirelly Taylor, who you have seen on shows like “Las Vegas”, “Punk’d”, and “Numb3rs”. You can submit videos at GoFish.com and try to win yourself a date with the lovely Mirelly, who is a real Latin hottie!

Now I'll be honest -- Mirelly is cute. I suppose that in my younger days I might have even been willing to give this game a shot. But you know what – I think that the next celebrity they bring into this should not be an actor or actress, but instead alone of the hot young country music artists who are just breaking into the industry. Or maybe former reality show contestants – could you imagine this with Sanjaya as the celebrity?

Posted by: Greg at 06:22 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Derek Bok once said, "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

Education used to be the way to ensure that you were on the path to making good money. It often still is -- but now it is also the way to making yourself indebted. But you don't have to deal with your debt in ignorant way -- a Student Loan Consolidation Program is an option for many individuals. In fact, you are probably one of those individuals if you are still paying on your college loan debt – especially if that debt is a heavy burden.

And there are lots of programs out there for student loan consolidation, if you know where to look. That is where FinancialAid.com comes into the picture. They offer many programs to help you get that college debt under control and paid off, so that you are running your life, not your student loans. So click on in and take a look -- they can save you money on those student loans! And everybody can certainly stand to have a few extra dollars in their pocket each month – and some programs can make a considerable cut in your monthly payments.

If you need help with student loan debt consolidation, visit FinancialAid.com. You'd be ignorant not to.

Posted by: Greg at 06:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Cooperative Bank is a consumer led, ethically driven bank in the UK. It offers a wide array of options for its customers, including co-oploan offerings for its online customers.

The Cooperative Bank offers its customers loans that are made without using profits made from unnecessarily polluting companies or companies that engage in or cooperate with human rights abuses. For some folks, this is an important consideration, and so a bank like this one makes day-to-day economic transactions much easier on the conscience.

One of the neat things about the bank is that the it operates on the following principles.

Through our investments, we seek to support the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In line with this, we will not invest in:

* any government or business which fails to uphold basic human rights within its sphere of influence.
* any business whose links to an oppressive regime are a continuing cause for concern.

Now I would be interested in understanding a little bit better how they make the determinations about the regimes deemed "oppressive", but presuming they are acting in an ethical fashion I believe that I could actively support that policy. I'm a little bit less excited about certain other aspects of their ethical policy, but fully support the right of consumers to seek out services from businesses that follow their moral values. And that is key -- the Cooperative Bank offers consumers a viable choice for meeting their ethical and economic obligations.

Posted by: Greg at 10:16 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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You folks may remember the computer tragedy I had last spring. My darling wife and I lost everything in a moment of electronic infamy as my hard drive crashed, taking with it 120 GB of data that literally could not be replaced because I had not taken the time to back it up. Ouch!

Now I had bought a backup storage device, but i hadn't gotten it hooked up and running yet. But the truth is that I didn't really need it -- Online Storage is available at reasonable rates through iBackup.com. The nice thing is that the data would have been easily available to me, because the online data maps as a drive from your computer. So drop by and check out the solution to your backup needs -- iBackup.com.

Posted by: Greg at 10:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Going to Europe? Thinking about going to Europe? Know where you are going to stay while you are there? Well, have I got a site for you -- EuroBookings.com!

Seriously, this site offers Top hotel tips for you about the best places to stay in the popular destinations of Europe. Not only that, they can help you get the best prices available for your stay in hotels that meet your needs. With over 30,000 hotels listed on their site, you can find accommodations in virtually any stop in the UK or Europe. So stop by and take a look before you book UK or Germany or France Hotels with any other travel site -- you won't be sorry!

Posted by: Greg at 06:50 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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BackgammonMasters.com online game company is expanding worldwide, placing its attention and resources on Latin American markets. That is the latest word from the innovative online backgammon company that has been making waves in the internet world.

And now that they've set up shop south of the border, what fun our Spanish-speaking neighbors will be able to have. I suspect that Jean-Claude the tiger will soon be sporting a distinctly Latin flavor.

Why this expansion? Well, even though BackgammonMasters.com is a backgammon provider, that is not the only game they offer. One of their recent additions is Perudo, a popular Spanish dice game that has taken off big-time in Latin America. As a result, the company decided that they needed an office located somewhere in Central America. But even with the new office, customers in Latin America can take advantage of the full range of payment options, including making payments via Visa or MasterCard.

What this means, of course, is that BackgammonMasters.com is working its way into regional markets, and setting itself up for fantastic growth. Having created a market for realistic gaming using software that makes virtual play very realistic, now the goal is to introduce more games beyond backgammon, poker, and Perudo. Indeed, if the company introduces more regional games, they may be able to take over the world of internet gaming!

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Do you need CRM software? Well if you do, AIMpromote is a fantastic on-demand lead management program. AIMpromote allows you to track every lead, trace every dollar, and check data on every business campaign in real-time, without having to wait for data to be gathered and reports generated -- because AIMpromote does it all for you! What more can a manager ask for in customer relationship software?

One of the nice features about AIMpromote is that the company sets it all up for you, configuring the program to your needs and providing your people with the training that they need to use the program. You and I both know that is better than most other lead management programs. They sell you the program, and then charge you for technical support. But AIMPromote provides dedicated support representatives to work with you in the event you have difficulties or concerns.

Not convinced? Try AIMPromote free for 14 days.

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Some folks fall prey to drug and/or alcohol addiction. In such cases, there needs to be some sort of intervention and treatment to deal with the addiction.

That is where StoneHawk, a drug rehab facility in Michigan, can be of assistance. StoneHawk provides drug addiction and alcoholism treatment using the Narconon program, which is a program that focuses on addiction as a biochemical process that can be overcome using behavioral approaches, with education providing of skills to assist an individual through daily life problems and disorders. StoneHawk is not a program of medical intervention, so it doesn't substitute one drug for another, which is really nothing more than a switch in drugs to be abused, with the twist of multiple addictions. The Narconon program's rejection of that approach is therefore a healthy thing in my eyes.

Hopefully you will never need a drug or alcohol rehab program, and neither will those you love. If you do, though, please consider StoneHawk as an option.

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When I was younger, i never saw much of a need for Renters insurance, After all, didn't my landlord have a responsibility for anything that went wrong in my place?

I got lucky -- I never had anything serious go wrong. The same can't be said for the apartment below me, which got flooded when a pipe broke, destroying most of the furniture. They didn't have Renters insurance either -- and got no compensation for the damage because the problem was not due to any fault of our landlord. That was when I decided I needed to get some -- and I kept it as long as I rented a place.

Don't be foolish -- get yourself some Renters insurance -- and here is where you can find great rates here in Houston

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Tax debt can be one of the worst problems you can run into financially. After all, with Tax debt you have the full force of the government coming after you, not just some company or individual.. What's more, such debts can often be collected by means not allowed to other creditors.

But there are places to turn to help you with Tax debt, if you find yourself fighting that problem. Most importantly, they have a lot of good articles to help you out, like this one on your options for paying your tax debt.

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If you are like me, you grew up getting some sort of allowance related to doing household chores. It was a way of teaching us kids some responsibility, and the value of work. I remember that each week we boys would be standing in front of Dad waiting for the cash to be doled out.

Well times have changed. PAYjr Visa Buxxis a new system that lets parents put their child's allowance on a debit card. In effect, it allows for keeping a spreadsheet/checklist of chores for each child. As the chores get done, the money gets transferred to the child's debit card. No chores, no cash -- pretty simple. This way a parent can also monitor where and how the money is being spent -- and restrict certain transactions and locations.

If this sounds familiar to you, it may be because you heard about it on the CBS Evening News last week. The service launches in July, but you can check out the demo now at the PAYjr Visa Buxx website.

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I like to cook. In fact, I do most of the cooking around the house by choice. I've been trying to vary our menu somewhat, but don't always feel safe experimenting. That is why I'm thrilled about this site for free recipes. The recipes they have are tasty, easy to cook, and even include a number that are particularly healthy for folks like me who are dealing with health issues that require a restricted diet. Drop by and check them out!

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I never knew there was such a thing as air ambulance service when I was young. It never crossed my mind that such a service would be necessary. After all, I figured you went to the hospital and stayed until you got well -- or until you died.

And then family tragedy hit. My grandmother remarried to a wonderful man who swept her off her feet and promised to provide for her very well. He showed her a marvelous couple of years -- and then came the day that his cancer struck. He went into the hospital for treatment -- but the cancer was way too aggressive to be treated in the local hospital, and he was advised to head over 300 miles to a hospital in a major city associated with a very prestigious medical school. But the question was how to get this frail old man there -- because it was going to be at least seven hours by car.

And that is where an air ambulance service entered the picture. My uncle hooked up with a company that provided this critical medical transportation service. They made arrangements to get this sick family member from his hospital bed in a rural hospital to the local airport, and from there to a business airport just a few miles from the new hospital -- and then checked in. Total time from bed to bed? Only a little over four hours, and they were even able to continue his treatment in the process. Some months later, this same service brought him home, as the doctors pronounced his case terminal, these same folks brought him home again with great care and dignity. Indeed, they made the whole process as painless for him and the family as it could have been.

Now you know I do my advertising through PayPerPost, and I take available offers as they come up. By interesting coincidence, that same air ambulance service is now one of their advertisers. They are called Air Ambulance America. And while I profoundly hope you do not need ever need their services, I hope you will remember them if you ever do.

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Do you golf? Do you like to travel to golf? is your dream vacation one that gives you the opportunity to golf in a beautiful setting? If it is, then here's a great opportunity for you to golf in Myrtle Beach!

So what is the secret to this myrtle beach golf opportunity? Well, you can find out more about it through CoastalGolfAway.com and find out about their inclusive packages -- tee times and accommodations for you and your party in luxurious settings.

Think about it --you can play at Wicked Stick, International Club, Indigo Creek, and Wachesaw East. Or maybe you and your group can hit the links at Long Bay, Rivers Edge, Founders Club, and Carolina National. In fact, there are reasonable packages available for you throughout the year that let you play the courses you've always wanted to play. Heck -- with access to 30 golf courses in the area, you could be set for years-worth of hot action on the links!

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Hey -- what can I say about TestFreaks.com? I mean, they do all the heavy lifting for you when it comes to finding the best new products!

Now right now, they are running their alpha site -- but very soon, TestFreaks.com will be up and running, showing you all the best in electronic accessories and consumer products. For example, when it comes to mp3 player reviews, TestFreaks has a bunch of good ones about all different brands and varieties -- from Apple to Transcend! As the full site gets up and fully operational, they will have even more mp3 reviews, plus reviews of many other consumer electronic products. You won't have to do the comparing, because TestFreaks.com will have done it all for you.

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I'll be honest -- I lucked out on my financial aid needs when I hit college. I didn't need much because of merit scholarships and a decent college fund. However, I did need to take out a couple of student loans to get me over the hump. But that didn't debt didn't go away easily after graduation, and I found myself having to pay off what seemed like a small fortune.

Fortunately, I was able to get a student loan consolidation package that really helped me out. I was fortunate to get to pay the thing off quickly, so I didn't have to swim in debt.

My darling wife, on the other hand, needed more in the way of student loans and other financial aid to make it through college and graduate school. She got the best student loan consolidation out there at the time, and we are working on retiring that debt as well.

And there are lots of programs out there for federal student loan consolidation, if you know where to look. That is where FinancialAid.com comes into the picture. They offer many programs to help you get that college debt under control and paid off, so that you are running your life, not your student loans. So click on in and take a look -- they can save you money on those student loans!

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Hey -- we've all sen the dating "reality" shows on television. You know, Joe Millionaire, The bachelor, and all the rest. Frankly, there isn't a whole lot of reality to the reality that you watch on them -- but lots of folks try to participate. heck, we even had one local teacher on one of the shows recently.

But would YOU want to get into the act? Would you want to win a date with -- perhaps even seduce -- a celebrity? Come on, folks -- be honest.

That's where the new online reality show Seduce a Celeb comes into the picture. It is one of the Free videos at GoFish.com, and features actress Mirelly Taylor, who you have seen on shows like “Las Vegas”, “Punk’d”, and “Numb3rs”. Over the next 14 weeks, you can submit videos at GoFish.com and try to win yourself a date with the beautiful Mirelly, who is a real Latin hottie!

And the neat thing is that YOU can be the winner of this date. Yeah, you, the person reading this post. It isn't limited to some homogenized group of pre-screened cookie-cutter cut-outs like on The Bachelor, or a group of screaming trashettes with no self-respect on Flavor of Love. It is a chance for any guy to catch the starlet -- just by being himself.

So here is your chance, guys -- enter! And for everyone else -- watch!

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Want to make money for buying stuff you would ordinarily purchase anyway? Want to potentially earn up to $1 million towards your retirement by doing so? Well, that is the premise behind uTango.com, a new shopping and saving site.

How does the utango rewards programwork -- and how could it work for you. Simply put, you make your ordinary shopping purchases using the uTango program and you build up credits towards your eventual retirement savings nest-egg – up to $200 a year.

It begins by joining uTango. It is free, but the program is limited to thoee who are single, engaged, or married for less than three years. Once you sign up, you simply go about your normal life -- except you rack up credits for those purchase you make through places like CompUSA, Target, or Southwest Vacations or any of 300 other stores affiliated with the program.. Or maybe you will eat your way to some of those credits through their dining out program. But regardless, those credits grow every year -- and the commissions uTango gets will be invested and grow. When retirement comes around, you could have up to $1 million through the utango rewards program.

My only complaint? I’m not eligible, since I’ve been married too long.

Posted by: Greg at 10:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I work with teenagers every day. It isn't easy -- and I can only imagine how hard it is to actually parent one. Where do you turn for help when you don't know what to do for your teen? How do you deal with issues like teen curfew times, questionable friends, and the like?

Really, at that point parents need good information. Where can you find it? Try Parenting Teens, a site devoted to parenting teenagers. And I'll be honest -- I'm impressed with the section on education, and some of the questions it deals with. They are ones i know are dealt with at my school every day -- issues of sexual harassment, academic problems, bullying, and drugs. While I wish sites like this were not necessary, I'm pleased to see that this one is available.

There are a couple of other neat features at ParentingTeenagers.com as well. One is a referral list for parenting support groups, where parents can seek out the help of other parents who have faced or are facing the same sorts of problems. In addition, there is a forum where parents can seek help online from other parents who are struggling with or have struggled with the same sorts of issues. Such support is vital for parents.

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