360-Days Blog

Facebook will soon be allowing all users to claim a vanity URL pointing to their regular profile page, we’ve heard from a reliable source. The announcement should come sometime later this week. Afterwards, at a certain date and time, the landrush will begin. Users will be able to grab a vanity URL of their choice.

The Landrush rules will prohibit trademark infringement and a lots of words will be blacklisted, such as generic terms. But for the most part, we hear, users will be able to grab a name that they like.

Facebook has been toying with vanity URLs for some time. URLs for user profiles are currently user id numbers - such as facebook.com/profile.php?id=500065899 (that’s me). In March some Facebook pages started rolling out with vanity URLs, although you must have a business relationship with Facebook (or know someone there) to get one. Facebook.com/techcrunch, for example, links to our TechCrunch page.

The reason they need them - vanity URLs have proven to be a powerful tool on MySpace, Twitter and other services. It’s not just that users like them and it makes telling people your profile name easier. People have also long used MySpace URLs as their online identity. Twitter, more recently, has started to become the online identity provider of choice. Even Google is getting in on the vanity URL game. Facebook doesn’t want to give that up.

Facebook has recently polled users to see if they’d pay for a vanity URL. We have no idea if they plan on charging for the landrush at this point.

Stay tuned, and in the meantime start thinking up that perfect Facebook name. I want facebook.com/mike myself. Oh wait, I guess Facebook employees get first pick. So you’re also out of luck if you’re name is Mark.

Source
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/31/prepare-for-the-facebook-vanity-url-landrush/

Online streaming and the changes in the way satellite radio works

The recent development of satellite radio received a lot of newspaper and web page space, as well as plenty of attention from traditional media channels. There are a few things that are changing rapidly in satellite radio, changes that may or may not affect the future of the XM and Sirius Satellite Radio companies, as well as the consumers. A few major steps towards the dynamic development of satellite radio have given consumers and financial analysts different perspectives from which to analyze this phenomenon. With the MLB moving away from terrestrial radio and heading for digital radio transmissions, with a Playboy Satellite Radio channel that has over a million subscribers and several other impressive developments, we can say that satellite radio is on an ascending path. An abrupt one, filled with shock news and unexpected developments, but ascending nevertheless. An interesting idea is the one that XM and Sirius are working on a single receiver unit that can receive broadcasts from both major satellite radio broadcasters. Another event that rocked the satellite radio world was Howard Stern’s online streaming on Sirius. His appearance on the Sirius Satellite Radio gave a new light on the Sirius company, as one that offers more than radios and broadcasting means – as one that offers genuine content.

Terrestrial versus satellite

One of the problems XM and Sirius have had is with making the satellite receiver something desirable, cheap and effective. In the beginning the satellite receivers were large and expensive, and performed poorly on moving vehicles. Of course, the modern satellite receivers are much better, very small and compact and offer excellent reception in any area. The digital quality of the satellite radio has some amazing benefits on its own since there are no noise disturbances that were traditional to FM and AM broadcasts. Both XM Radio and Sirius Radio can be picked up on all the US territory and they are also available in some parts of Canada and Mexico. Since the direct line of sight from the satellite to the receiver may often become obstructed by landscape or buildings, land based devices were installed in order to eliminate the lack of direct satellite transmission The broad range of broadcast and the superior sound quality have taken satellite radio high in the preferences of the consumers. On the other hand, terrestrial radio has some strong points of its own. To begin with, it’s free and readily accessible to anyone. Also, terrestrial radio is so common, widespread and easy to use that anyone can enjoy it and most people don’t find it hard to actually create their radio stations. Many people are reluctant to move on to satellite radio, which is more complex and complicated.

The end consumer – the real winner

In this battle of the radios, the end consumer is the one that gets the most benefits. And since the competition got even more fierce when satellite radio started taking away subscribers of regular radio, things have gone one step further. Also, the competition between XM Radio and Sirius is in the benefit of the subscribers. An interesting aspect of the competition between the two satellite industry giants was realized by Interoperable Technologies - a joint effort funded by both Sirius and XM Radio, with the intention of bringing dual-subscription satellite radios to the general market. Analysts expect to see even more development in this direction, with XM Radio and Sirius entangled in a strange relationship, where they are working together on one project and battling it out on the satellite radio broadcasters market. In order to understand the way online streaming develops and the changes in the way satellite radios work we have to keep an eye open to the industry giants but also to the companies looking to obtain a license from the FCC. One thing is certain, however – no matter if satellite radio or terrestrial radio come up with new ways of attracting customers, the end users are the ones who will always come on top.

Not-So-Daily Link of the Day: The Yahoo! Japan website has posted the first free four-minute video of the making of the 18-meter-tall (59-foot-tall), "life-size" statue of the title robot from the Mobile Suit Gundam space war anime series. (The video requires Microsoft's Silverlight browser plugin.) The website will eventually update with a new video every Thursday until July 23, although the next video will be added on May 7, and the schedule is subject to change.

The first video, "For the next step," discusses the genesis of the project to mark the 30th anniversary of the first Gundam series. Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino was involved in the initial process and visited the site during construction. The final section of the first video episode is a time-lapse video of the statue's onsite construction from March 31 to April 3. The next video will focus on the internal frame.

Starting this July, the statue will be available for free public viewing for two months at the Shiokaze Park on Tokyo's artificial Odaiba island. The theme of the three-phase Mobile Suit Gundam 30th Anniversary Project is "Always Beginning." The life-size Gundam represents the "Real G" phase of the project, while this August's Gundam Big Expo convention represents the "Feel G" phase. "Soul G" will be a collaborative music event planned for the Gundam franchise this year.

Source: Phile Web

Image © Sotsu, Sunrise via Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web
Source
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-23/18-meter-lifesize-gundam-making-of-video-streamed

Giving a cat a pill can be a nightmare. No cat wants something shoved down his throat, and he will fight you tooth and nail to prevent it. Although most cats are small in size, you’d be quite amazed with how much power they actually have. There are ways that you can get your cat to take his pills, which we will cover below.

The easiest way to give a cat pill is to crush the power into a powdery form by putting it between two spoons. Once the pill is powder, mix it in with some wet cat food. Cats that are used to eating dry cat food will see the wet food and think of it as a treat. They will normally eat it up, unaware that they just took their medicine.

If the medicine happens to be in capsule form, all you have to do is pry the capsule apart then sprinkle the medicine on some wet food and serve it to your pet. If the food also contains the pill or if your pet is sick, chances are he won’t eat it. In this event, you should look into a pet piller. You can get these handy devices from your veterinarian. They are plastic rods that hold the pill until you press a plunger. When you get one, you should always get a long one with a softer tip.

When you get your gun, your vet should show you how to use it. The most difficult aspect of using the gun is getting your cat to open his mouth. The gun will more or less shoot the pill in the cat’s mouth, and down his throat. You’ll need to hold him tight, to make sure that he doesn’t wiggle his way loose. Once you have his mouth open, you’ll need to squeeze the trigger and pull the gun away quickly. After the pill has been inserted, make sure you give your cat a treat.

If you aren’t comfortable using the gun, you can always try giving your cat his pills by hand. To do it this way, you’ll need to hold your cat still, and open his mouth with your hand. Once you have his mouth open, you should aim for the back of his throat and throw the pill in. Once it is in his mouth, you should close his mouth with your hand and hold it shut for a few moments. This way, your cat will swallow the pill if he hasn’t already.

If you can’t get any of the above techniques to work, you can always go to a local pharmacy and get them to a make flavored gel or liquid using your cats medication. You should use this as a last resort though, as it can tend to get expensive.

The Techniques Of Muay Thai

A majority of the offensive techniques that are used in Muay Thai utilize a students hands, feet, elbows, and knees to strike an opponent. In order to bind the opponent for both defensive and offensive reasons, there is a small amount of grappling on the feet that is used - the clinch.

The clinch occurs when someone gets in your circle of radius, inside of your comfort zone. To execute knees and short kicks from the inside, the clinch can be very useful. The Thai fighter makes great use of the clinch, tying up on opponent on the feet then pounding his stomach, ribs, knees, and legs with brutal knees. Knees are very popular techniques with Muay Thai, as Thai fighters spend a lot of time training their strikes - especially knees and elbows.

Although high kicks to the opponents head looks amazing during the fights, experienced Thai fighters always say that knees and elbows have a lot more impact, and they do the most damage to the body. If a Thai fighter is very experienced and has enough power in his strikes, he can quickly and easily kill someone with his techniques.

In all Muay Thai techniques, two in particular have become very popular with other styles of martial arts.

The roundhouse kick
The roundhouse Thai kick is a very useful technique for both self defense and competitions, proving to be very efficient when it is executed properly. Thai stylists execute the roundhouse kick by a straight leg and the entire body rotating out from the hip. The hip is locked shortly before the thrown leg makes impact with the opponent. If executed properly, the roundhouse kick can easily render someone unconscious.

The low kick
The low kick is a common Muay Thai attack, that involves a circular movement from the stylist’s body to kick the opponent in his upper shin area. If the low kick isn’t blocked or defended, it can quickly lead to fight being ended. After a few well placed low kicks, the opponent will be unable to put pressure on his legs due to the bruising, and will eventually crumble.

With other martial arts styles, such as Tae Kwon Do, stylists use snapping kicks that are indeed faster to execute, although they have less power. Muay Thai on the other hand, teaches stylists to follow through with kicks, using the shin instead of the foot. Nearly all of the techniques involved with Muay Thai emphasis movement with the entire body, which means rotating the hip each time the stylist kicks, punches, or blocks. The techniques are slower, although they are far more powerful that techniques found in Tae Kwon Do and even Karate.

As a lot of people already know, the training and conditioning training found in Muay Thai is nothing short of legendary for the intensity and rigorous training. The training in Muay Thai aims to harden the weapons used in the martial art to a high degree. Students who have been training in Muay Thai for many years can absorb a beating, yet if they land a shin kick it will feel as if you have just been hit with a sledgehammer.

All in all, Muay Thai is a very dangerous martial art that teaches punishing blows with very little grappling. Thai stylists are physical strong, capable of taking an opponent out with just one well placed strike. Muay Thai is also one of the most well known and most popular styles in the world today - which is why you shouldn’t hesitate to study.

Palm Pre on June 6th for $200: It's official!

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 19th 2009 at 7:00AM
The day you've been waiting for is here. Sprint just announced that the Pre will cost $199.99 after $100 mail-rebate and 2-year contract and will launch on June 6th as rumored this morning. The phone will go on sale nationwide (US-only for the moment) at Sprint stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and select Wal-Mart stores. The Pre will be available under Sprint's Everything Data or Business Essentials with Messaging and Data plans. Accessories include the optional $69.99 Touchstone charging dock kit that includes the $49.99 dock and $19.99 Pre back cover. June 6th, that's two days before the WWDC keynote. Poor Apple.

Note: Looking more info? Check out our giant Palm Pre hub!
Source
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/19/palm-launching-pre-on-june-6th-official/

A source closely connected to Apple’s hardware team claims to possess knowledge of the next-generation iPhone’s specifications and release date.

The source told iPhone fan blog Apple iPhone Apps that the new iPhone will launch July 17. Many of the provided specifications corroborate with past rumors that the device will introduce a digital compass and a video recorder, among other features. (The source did not provide a photo; the image to the right is from a past rumor report for the sake of comparison.) Here’s the list:

* 32GB and 16GB storage (up from the current 16GB and 8GB models)
* $199 and $299 price points to be maintained
* 3.2-megapixel camera (up from the current 2-megapixel camera)
* Video-recording and editing capabilities
* Ability to send a picture & video via MMS
* Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device
* OLED screen
* 1.5 times the battery life of the current models
* Double the RAM and processing power
* Built-in FM transmitter
* Apple logo on back will glow
* Rubber-tread backing
* Sleeker design
* Built-in compass
* The camera, GPS, compass and Google map combined will identify photo and inform about photo locations
* Turn-by-turn directions

Overall, if these claims are true, this is a relatively minor upgrade. The most notable new features would be the built-in compass (which appeared in earlier rumor reports), the video recorder and editor (the current iPhones don’t support video recording unless you Jailbreak them), the built-in FM transmitter and the OLED screen (which would improve battery life).

One of the features that sticks out to me is the built-in FM transmitter. I see no compelling reason for Apple to put this in the iPhone, as it is not a feature that users have been demanding, and it hasn’t appeared in other iPods.

Another specification I find strange is the OLED screen. That would be a welcome change because it would look nicer than the current LCD screen. But OLEDs are generally pricey, and if the current price points are maintained, I’m not sure if I believe this one.

Otherwise, the rest of the specifications appear not too far-fetched. If the source is simply taking shots in the dark, then most of these specifications are very conservative guesses derived from previous rumor reports.

What do you think, readers? I’m curious as to whether this list of purported specifications is enough to get you to upgrade from a current iPhone. Or if you don’t own one, will you buy one if these rumored features turn out to be true? Let us know in the comments below.

I, for one, will be standing in line for Apple’s next iPhone this summer whether or not these rumors are true. After all, my iPhone is resting in rice.

Updated 1 p.m. PDT to correct a typo: The current iPhone features an LCD screen, not an LED screen.

Updated 8:20 a.m. PDT to clarify earlier in the story that the source approached Apple iPhone Apps, not Wired.com.

Source Reveals Specs And Release Date of Next iPhone! [Apple iPhone Apps]
Source
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/next-gen-iphone-specs-launch-date-revealed/

We've just been sent a rather interesting picture from a Taiwanese motherboard maker.

After MSI announced its first motherboards with Power Over eSATA recently, we just had to get a look at one of the compatible cables to get a full grasp of the technology. And as it turns out, it seems like MSI isn't the only one to take on the new eSATA concept released by SATA-IO earlier this year.

The shot below is of a Power Over eSATA cable that bridges from a single eSATA port to a connector that includes the normal SATA power and data connectors. You'll end up seeing cables like this at the start and later "normal" single eSATA cables that transmit both data and power.

First Look - Power Over eSATA cable pictured

We suspect during Computex Taipei to be held early next month that we will see many motherboard makers showing off new boards with Power Over eSATA and we may even seen SATA products without power connectors, but they'll like stay on for backwards compatibility.

Source
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/12159/first_look_power_over_esata_cable_pictured/index.html

Google’s Android mobile OS is expected see a growth rate of 900 percent in 2009, Strategy Analytics is predicting in a new report. The Apple iPhone OS will follow behind it, as the second fastest-growing smartphone OS, and the RIM BlackBerry is also in good shape, as the second-largest overall smartphone OS in the U.S. in 2008.

Google’s Android operating system is expected to grow by 900 percent in 2009, encouraged by vendors, developers and operators, a May 11 report from research firm Strategy Analytics is predicting.

The report, “Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: 2008,” breaks down smartphone market growth by region and operating system.

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“The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009,” wrote Tom Kang, the author of the report, in a statement.

Kang additionally expects the iPhone OS to grow 79 percent in 2009—outpaced only by Android, which is expanding from a lower user base.

Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics, also remarked in the statement that Android’s “relatively low-cost licensing model, its semi-open-source structure and Google’s support for cloud services have encouraged companies such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, T-Mobile, Vodafone and others to support the Android operating system. Android is now in a good position to become a top-tier player in smartphones over the next two to three years.”

Despite the global economic climate, global smartphone shipments reached 152 million units in 2008, and Kang’s report states Asia Pacific is still the biggest market for smartphones, followed by North America and then Western Europe.

Core markets for Symbian have been sluggish Kang additionally writes, but the RIM BlackBerry has also seen success, pulling ahead of Microsoft Windows Mobile to become the second largest smartphone OS in 2008.

Source
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Google-Android-Will-Grow-900-Percent-in-2009-Analysts-Say-557897/

A once-cachet Washington tradition, the annual dinner may have completed its final transformation this year into a crushing gathering of several thousand, increasingly less a celebration of journalism than a parade of Hollywood and television celebrity. Photo positions for paparazzi dotted the Washington Hilton space where the dinner has been held for decades; midway through the evening, in the center of the room, a cluster of a half dozen tables became a traffic jam of Hollywood rubbernecking, as guests glommed around Sting, Kevin Bacon, Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw, Forest Whitaker, Natalie Portman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Donatella Versace, among others, who were attending as guests of various news outlets. When the dinner ended, many of those in attendance then fanned out over the city for additional celebrations, though at a time of unprecedented economic difficulty for most news organizations, it is hard to say of what, exactly. (Read the Twitter coverage of the White House Correspondents' dinner, a.k.a. #nerdprom)

The President, who by tradition attends and delivers comical remarks at the dinner each year, won the crowd over early. "Most of you covered me." After a beat, he added, "All of you voted for me." Noting that Sunday is Mother's Day, Obama reported that it was a tough holiday for his sometimes profane chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. "He's not used to saying the word 'day' after 'mother.'" (See an eight-year retrospective at the attempts at comedy at the White House Correspondents' dinner.)

Obama also made fun of RNC chairman Michael Steele for seeking a bailout for the GOP and noted that former vice president Dick Cheney was not in attendance, busying writing his memoirs which Obama said would be titled, "How to Shoot Friends and Interrogate People." He mocked the reporters' recent obsession with his first 100 days by announcing that he was immediately building a presidential library in honor his first 100 days. "My next 100 days will be so successful, I will complete them in 72 days. And on the 73rd day, I will rest."

Obama said that in his next 100 days he will learn to give a speech without a teleprompter — something he has been criticized by some for relying too heavily on — while his vice president Joe Biden, who has made a string of ill-advised comments lately — will learn to use one.

The President said he was taking credit for "revitalizing the Democrats... bringing in fresh young faces like Arlen Specter." He suggested that his Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, had urged Specter to make his recent jump from the Republican to the Democratic party with the advice, "If you can't beat em, join em."

Obama's less successful riffs — a few of his jokes fell flat — were overlooked because the room is traditionally forgiving of its top guest and because the professional comic who typically follows the president — this year it was Wanda Sykes — can almost always be counted on to go much further overboard. Sykes came through in that department. While delivering a number of one liners that the crowd applauded, she included several — including one about Rush Limbaugh's drug problems and another about the fashion habits of previous first ladies — that would have been better to have scratched from her script.

Source
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1897164,00.html

A nagware anti-piracy feature in Windows isn't going away, it's just getting a marketing makeover by Microsoft.

Windows Genuine Advantage is being re-branded Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 and for updated versions of Windows Vista, the company has said.

Microsoft claimed the change reflected the use of "fundamentally" different technologies - new code and "latest methods" that work with Windows 7 and Vista components that are different to Windows XP - to stop PCs running pirated or illegal copies of Windows.

But the explanation makes no sense, given Windows 7 is based on the Windows Vista code and it was Windows Vista that saw long-running complaints over WGA reach their zenith with the creation of the ill-advised Windows Vista kill switch.

The kill switch penalized Windows Vista customers who'd failed to activate or register their copy of the operating system within 30 days or three days after a major change to the PC's hardware configuration by blocking certain key features.

Users would be denied access to features such as Aero Glass, ReadyBoot, and BitLocker, with Windows Vista running in an "out-of-grace reduced functionality mode."

Windows Vista's Service Pack 1 removed the kill switch, but WGA had already earned itself the kind of reputation where people start Googling work-arounds to de-install it.

Built to detect and prevent installation of pirated or illegal copies of software, WGA failed genuine copies of Windows in large numbers for reasons never explained.

One in five PCs running Windows XP have failed WGA tests since July 2005, but less than 0.5 per cent were reported to be running counterfeit software, according to figures from Microsoft released in January 2007. In 2006, Microsoft said that more than 20 per cent of WGA failures had been caused by something other than piracy of the keys used to activate the software.

Along the way, alerts would pop up. If WGA found your copy of Windows to be not genuine, unauthorized or not validated, you got repeated warnings of: "This copy of Windows is not genuine".

Despite these failures, Microsoft remains committed to the idea of WGA - hence the name change to break from the past as it introduces a brand new operating system.

If you chose not to activate your copy of Windows 7 immediately, the company said Thursday, you're still going to get an annoying alert - but more in the vein of a peppy and irritating health and safety manager than a harsh headmaster ready with the cane. According to Microsoft, it has updated the Windows Vista SP1 reminder so: "When customers choose to activate later they will see a dialog box highlighting how activation helps them identify if their copy of Windows is genuine and be allowed to proceed immediately without a 15-second delay."

WGA is not going away. Microsoft has also hinted at changes in the Windows Vista and Windows 7 management tools to cater for virtualized images and volume activation. Also, the company promised: "More can always be done - which is why you'll continue to see us invest in anti-piracy efforts such as Windows Activation Technologies over the long term."

Interestingly, Microsoft did not tackle the hot-button issue of WGA from either the roadmap or re-branding perspective during its recent outing at the security industry's annual San Francisco, California - the RSA Conference. The company's corporate vice president trustworthy computing Scott Charney instead rehashed a previous pitch for "end-to-end trust" using its planned Geneva identity management and sign-in framework. ®
Source

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/07/microsoft_wga_rebranding/

Developing strategic priorities focused on the customer, an organization should encourage its sales people to work in a collaborative style to leverage business potential within the marketplace. Jeanne M. Liedtka suggests, in her research on how collaborating across lines of business gain competitive advantage, that by establishing a collaborative approach, a focus on internal organizational strengths and on the needs of the customer, there is then potential for gaining (or pulling) a larger segment of market share. Customers have to deal with external influences, their own preferences and multiple competitive choices in order to make informed decisions. Organizations that can take a holistic, collaborative approach to identifying and satisfying customer needs will more likely obtain a greater share of the market. The sales manager’s role is therefore to ensure they optimize their sales person’s performance against the customer. For example, while sales managing a unified sales force targeted at providing holistic solutions for our customers, while the organization had multiple product lines fighting for shelf space, I found myself spending a lot of time preventing our internal silos from looking like our competition - fragmented and confusing.

Create a mental image of a tug of war with the customer in the center – Not just one rope being pulled at both ends but many ropes pulling in all directions. First, they have their own established preferences and habits. Given we are creatures of habit these can be well anchored and difficult to move. Second, they have external influences coming at them all the time by way of marketing, subliminal messaging and information highways to name a few. Thirdly, there is your competition trying to influence them and attempting to pull them in multiple directions. Hopefully they are fragmented and more confusing than your own value proposition. Lastly, there is your own organization and in my own situation various lines of business or products attempting to secure the customer through a single sales force. You can either look like your competition and be pulling your customer in multiple directions or you can collaborate and unify yourself to be the power line that wins the customer’s heart, mind and soul then ultimately their business.

For collaboration to exist, Liedtka suggests that shared goals and partnerships are important and the sales manager’s role is an integral part in developing these relationships. Sales managers and sales leaders today should use a less directive approach to obtain commitment and manage the risk of forfeiting control of what often has been ownership of outcomes for many managers of the past. This is consistent with humanistic-encouraging behaviours in sales managers as described by Dr. Clayton J.C. Lafferty as these sales managers believe that they can assist others in fulfilling their potential by providing a supportive climate that inspires self-improvement, motivation and confidence.

Certainly with my own experience when we were unified, all pulling for the customer to win we had double digit growth, business leaders that were exceeding plan, sales people making more money than they had ever contemplated and we had established brand recognition that clients wanted to be associated with. When we were not unified all of these indicators slipped away and more quickly than it took to establish them.

Nowadays, auto insurance is really expensive. A typical insurance policy can cost a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars a year. And the insurance rates you pay are hugely dependent on the insurance company or agent, your age, your car type, your driving record, and even the area you reside in!

You should never go without auto insurance though, despite the costs. Almost all the states require you to protect yourself with a minimum amount of liability coverage. Naturally, the bare minimum is not adequate enough for the average car owner. And as you add in additional coverage for your car, you realize that you will be paying a fairly large sum annually.

So, understanding auto insurance can actually help you to decide on a suitable insurance policy that won't vacuum clean your wallet! Here, we have gathered 10 of the best tips for lowering your auto insurance, by as much as 40

Always compare insurance policies. There are states which regulate auto insurance rates, but the insurance premiums can vary by hundreds of dollars for the exact same coverage. It is definitely worthwhile to shop around. The first thing you can do is to check with your state insurance department. They often provide information about the coverage you need, as well as sample rates from the biggest companies. You can also ask your friends or look up the yellow pages. Checking consumer guides and asking insurance agents can pay off as well. You can easily find out the price range for your insurance policy, as well as discover the lowest prices in town.

However, you should not be shopping based on price along. The insurance company should provide good service at the best price. Excellent personal service is available as well, and they provide added conveniences, although they cost a fair bit more. Ask the company how you can lower your costs, and also check their financial ratings. The rule of thumb is always to get three price quotes from three different companies, and pick the one with the best value.

It can also be a good idea to increase your deductibles. When you file a claim, the deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance company pays for the rest of the damage. A higher deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage can lead to a much lower premium. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $400 can reduce your premiums by up to 25àHowever, you must ensure that you have the financial resources to handle the largest deductible when the time comes.

Remove certain types of coverage from your policy. Almost all the states require liability coverage for your car, but the rest of the coverage is probably dispensable. However, you do not want to be underinsured if you're in an accident, so it isn't advisable to remove all of your additional coverage. Optional coverage includes medical payments, uninsured motorist, collision, and comprehensive coverage.

Drop collision and comprehensive coverage for older cars. If you drive an older car that's worth less than $2,000, it's probably more cost-effective to drop collision and comprehensive coverage since you'll probably pay more for the coverage than you'll collect for a claim. You can find out the worth of your car by asking auto dealers and banks.

Make sure your credit report looks good. Car insurance companies often look at your credit history as there is a correlation between the risk to the company and your credit history. If you pay your bills on time and maintain a good credit history, you can enjoy lower insurance rates.

Drive less. Insurance companies often offer low-mileage discounts to motorists who drive less than a predetermined number of miles each year. You can use public transportation more often, car-pool with friends, and take the train or a plane instead of driving to another state. And you'll save on more than your coverage as you'll need to spend less on gasoline (of which prices are incredibly high).

Maintain a clean driving record. The company will give you a price break and you can save on your insurance policy after a specified period of a clean driving record. This means that you have no accidents, no serious driving violations etc, during this period of time. The simplest and surefire way to qualify for this discount is to drive carefully and defensively all the time.

Choose a low-profile car. Insurance rates vary among difference models of vehicles. Generally, sports cars and high-performance cars tend to cost more to insure, mainly because they represent more risk of theft and the drivers are often the people who drive more recklessly. Newer cars will cost more to repair or replace than older ones, so naturally they can more to insure. Low-risk vehicles include station wagons and sedans.

Ask about safety and security discounts. The insurance companies sometimes offer discounts on your insurance if your car is equipped with the following: anti-lock brakes, air bags, automatic seat belts, car alarms, tracking systems. These reduce the injury risk to you, as well as the chances of your car being vandalized or stolen.

Finally, ask about other discounts. You may receive a discount if you buy more than one type of insurance from the same company or if you insure multiple cars under the same policy or company. You may also receive discounts for taking a defensive driving course, staying with the same company for a few years, being a driver over 50, good-student discounts, and being an AAA member. If you already have adequate health insurance, you can also eliminate paying for duplicate medical coverage, thus lowering your personal injury protection costs by a substantial amount.
Source
http://www.recent-articles.com/automotive/auto-insurance-rates-insurance-policy.php

Congratulations Blu-ray, you might be ready to step into the zone of mass market acceptance, as NPD's retail tracking service found Q1 sales of standalone players up 72 percent over last year, moving over 400,000 units with a 14% increase in dollar sales. Last year sure the format survived mad fights but high prices were a setback; fast forward to March when an online survey of 6,994 people found awareness has reached 90 percent in the last six months, with customers fascinated by its updates. Although BD-Live is looking more and more like an unneeded gimmick, the real facts are people care about cost and average player prices dropped from $393 last year to $261 in 2009. The "Blu-ray report" suggests the magic number is $214 for folks like Shawn Marion, so more room might be needed to breeze, and could come as soon as this fall around the time Vizio's player finally appears. It might be tragic for Vudu, CBHD and others trying to get a foothold, but Blu-ray's magic wand is word of mouth - so while much talked about, but much lower selling tech like Kindle is happy as hell to get a record deal, right now Blu-ray's unique skills can't be compared.

Source
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/blu-ray-making-greenbacks-sales-up-72-to-start-09/

Ever imagine what Starbucks would be like if it didn't have an espresso machine? The famous coffee spot just wouldn't seem the same. So, where did this machine originate from and who do we thank for this convenience of "foam" coffee? An espresso is nothing more then coffee that is brewed by mixing hot water with ground up coffee beans. Believe it or not, the coffee espresso machine has been in existence for almost 100 years.

The first official coffee espresso machine comes to us from France. It was created by a gentleman named Louis Bernard Rabaut in 1822. The machine was a simple contraption that allowed steam and water to flow through a filter lined with fresh coffee beans. Mr. Edward Loy Sel de Santias showed his version of the espresso machine at the Paris Exposition in 1855. He impressed the crowd by being able to brew up 2,000 cups of what was then called fast coffee in an hour.

Mr. Luigi Bezzera, an Italian, received a patent for his coffee machine in 1901. The machine used the same principle as Louis Rabaut's in the early 1800s. The machine was supposed to enable people to make fast foam coffee without the need of waiting 10 minutes for a cup of hot Joe.

In 1903, Desiderio Pavani purchased Bezzera's patent and La Pavoni machines were introduced to the U.S. in 1927. Americans gawked over this fast foam coffee. The taste however was another story. The steam and boiled water gave coffee a burnt flavor.

That changed with the invention of a spring lever for the machine. The purpose of the spring lever enabled the machine to able to apply pressure to the beans. Applying this pressure to the beans instead of simply adding boiling water improved the taste immensely.

M. Faema supplied the finishing element to the evolving espresso machine in 1961 by adding an electric pump which would change the way we drink coffee all together. With this advancement to the espresso machine the way was paved to have the machines introduced to households worldwide. In 1991, the first ever espresso machine was able to be purchased by ordinary households.

The next time that you get that good old cup of of espresso or cappuccino in the morning just take a second and reminisce. Try to envision the pioneers whose inventions paved the way to make a simple cup of cafe latte possible. It's hard to think about all the hard work and effort that is put into one simple cup of coffee.

A good deal of dedication and discipline was put into play to allow this simple creation to evolve into what it is today. The final result has triggered an American favorite as evidenced by the numerous specialty coffee bars springing up everywhere. We now can enjoy this delicious crema coffee all at the push of a button.
Source
http://www.amazines.com/Cooking/article_detail.cfm/874960?articleid=874960

Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux use as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share barrier. As significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets. Linux will never be a big player in the desktop market, nor should it be.

Net Applications tracks operating system usage on the Internet. In its latest results, it reports:

Linux usage share on client devices has surpassed 1% for the first time in our tracking. Linux has been successful primarily as a server operating system, but client usage share has not kept pace with server share. Linux has reached this important milestone on the client as Linux-based systems have become more functional, easier to use, and pre-installed on computers from vendors like Dell.

Linux guru and my compatriot in blogging, Steven J. Vaughn-Nichols, believes that Linux may eventually reach 10% to 20% of market share.

I think that Steven's estimate is far off the mark. I'd be shocked if Linux ever came close to approaching even 5% of market share, and I believe even 2% will be a stretch.

To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market share. Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1% market share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially considering that the operating system is available for free.

For most of Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market share figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence, and deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers.

The desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too many variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you need to install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated.

As I wrote about in Living free with Linux: 2 weeks without Windows, I've become a fan of Linux. It can use less-powerful hardware than Windows, and is surprisingly simple to use --- with the exception of updating and installing software, that is. I now use Ubuntu regularly.

Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks. Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the 1% breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on desktops, where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you try hard enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay.

Linux will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so for client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market surveys have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of netbooks.

Given that, how will Linux ever reach 10% to 20% of the market? The answer: It never will. It will remain a niche operating system, and a very good one at that.
Source
http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux_use_reached_1_world_yawns

This herb will improve your sexual health and your overall level of health; here we will look at its advantages and some great herbs to combine with it to make it even more effective...

Today, the trend is to multi herbal sex pills which combine a number of herbs to improve erectile function and libido and Horny Goat Weed is found in all the best with the complimentary herbs listed below.

The advantages of Horny Goat Weed are:

- It increases testosterone
- It reduces stress and lifts overall energy levels
- It increases nitric oxide secretion

Nitric oxide you may not have heard of but if you haven't, it's the key to an erection, as it's the chemical that allows the blood vessels to relax and widen and to allow more blood to enter the penis and harden it. In fact, if you don't secrete enough Nitric Oxide, your manhood can never get hard at all it's vital.

The above are great advantages but the testosterone increase is small and also the herb does nothing to improve blood circulation to the pelvic region, for Nitric oxide to allow it to enter but that's easily corrected by combining it with these herbs:

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus is also a great circulatory system tonic and dramatically increases testosterone. The herb contains protodioscin, a saponin constituent which boosts libido and desire. This is the ultimate herb for more sexual stamina and energy.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is the ultimate blood circulation it also protects blood vessels and reduces furring. Ginkgo also increases the half-life of the endothelium relaxation factor, to ensure strong and continued blood flow to the penis.

Cnidium

Cnidium increases blood flow around the body the release of nitric oxide while inhibiting PDE-5 (just like synthetic prescription drugs) and relaxes the corpus cavernosal tissue, to provide an increased flow of blood into the penis. Finally, the herb increases blood circulation to all areas of the body.

The above herbs are found in all the best natural sex pills, so try them and boost your libido and health at the same time.
Source
http://www.articlesbase.com/men%27s-health-articles/horny-goat-weed-increases-libido-and-overall-wellness-quickly-899147.html

Astral Projection Book

If you are looking for an astral projection book that will teach you everything you need to know about astral projection, then you need not look any further after reading Astral Projection Underground by Abhishek Agarwal. In this 350 page book, he reveals some of the most closely guarded secrets from India about astral projection. In fact, what he teaches in this book is so powerful that you are guaranteed to have your first astral projection in 30 days or less.

You may be wondering what exactly does Agarwal teach in this book that makes it so special? Well I will try my best to break it down for you.

The first thing I thought I should mention is that this astral projection book has been written based on 15 years of research and experience. It is not based on myth or any personal beliefs, it is based on the author's personal experiences and the techniques he has used to master this almost lost skill.

Just a few of the things you will learn include:

*The basics of astral projection (covered in Chapter 1)

*There are actually benefits from astral projection that you might not have been aware of. (covered in Chapter 2 )

* In Chapter 3, all the myths and misunderstands regarding astral projection are set straight for the record.

*8 Tips that will help prepare you and get you ready for astral projection

*22 techniques for astral projection

and much more! I have just covered a few of the things included in this astral projection book.

If you would like to learn more about Astral Projection Underground, you can download the first 2 chapters for free at AstralProjectionRevealed.com.

Also, you can read another review of this book by visiting Astral Projection Book

Related Articles - astral projection guide, astral projection, astral projection how to, learning atral projection, astral projection book
Source
http://www.amazines.com/Books/article_detail.cfm/871426?articleid=871426

Do you know where your patients have their point of pain when it comes to hearing loss? If you don't, then you are missing a great opportunity to your Audiology marketing to address those pains and make revenue gains. Pay attention to the feedback you get from people when they are on your Audiologist website or when you are sitting live with a patient. The complaints are just as important as the praises they leave.

If you don't have an area for feedback, or you aren’t currently measuring patient satisfaction with a formal measurement system, then you are missing a good way to improve your Audiology and hearing aid practice and increase your bottom line. So, offer a way for customers to provide feedback, once they become members or register with your website. Having a blog that patients can find to get their questions answered will help and also give you a way to have fresh and new content consistently on your Audiology website that will improve your marketing.

If you hear someone complaining of a headache and you offer them an aspirin or aspirin substitute, what do you think they will do? They are in pain and the longer they don't address that pain, the more they will continue to suffer. So, most people will take the pill and take you up on your offer as quickly as possible, with immense gratitude, no less. So, what's the difference between that and the type of pain your patients have when they are looking to solutions to their hearing problems? Nothing! If you can find a way to address a complaint about something that irritates or makes them suffer, you will experience success online and offline.

The real opportunities for improvement come from listening to your patients when they do complain about what they are experiencing. Listen very carefully so that you can design your blog or website to address the pain they are feeling or experiencing in their lives that will justify the purchase of hearing aids. This should not be limited to just your website, you can use it in your Audiology marketing as well. Use a patient satisfaction measurement system to learn what motivates people to buy as well as, the other strategies we have discussed and you will always stay one step ahead of your competition in your Audiology marketing campaigns.

Kevin D. St.Clergy, M.S., Author of "The Death Of Audiology" Discover what is killing our industry and what you can do about it.

Kevin St. Clergy helps Audiologists attract more patients and increase profitability. He has worked with hundreds of practices nationwide to help Audiologists reach their goals to run a more successful organization by improving operations and increasing patient satisfaction. Kevin is a regular speaker at many state and national conferences on a variety of Practice Management subjects. His ideas have been published widely and his articles have appeared in several industry publications.

If you're serious about seeing your practice flourish, visit http://www.educatedpatients.com to learn how Kevin can help you reach your goals.

Ready to grow your practice?
Source
http://www.amazines.com/Books/article_detail.cfm/872395?articleid=872395