Web Browsers

Who needs another Web browser? Maybe you do. 

If you don’t want to use either Internet Explorer or Firefox, there is another free alternative.

It’s called Opera. Opera It also is free. With Opera, you can use the mouse or keyboard shortcuts to speed up browsing. For instance, you can reload a Web page by right-clicking and moving the mouse. Opera also features “hotclicks.” Double-click a word or some text and a menu will open. This menu offers a translation, a dictionary search or an Internet search.

And Opera includes pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, integrated searches, and advanced functions like Opera’s E-mail program, RSS Newsfeeds and IRCchat.

Cost: Free

Link: www.opera.com

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Common Sense

Check out these videos. Then use Common Sense and act!

Long live Bob Basso! 
 
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92999

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Tune Up Your PC

Many things can bog down a computer. And there are few things worse than a slow computer. So, it’s important to make sure everything is running smoothly.

As I said, a lot of things can slow down a computer. You may not know what to check. Even if you did, would you know how to test it? It’s a good bet that you wouldn’t.

PC Pitstop has come to the rescue. OverDrive is a free diagnostic tool. It can do a full check of your computer over the Web. It will then advise you on how to improve your PCs performance.

You can create a free account and track your performance. Or you can test your PC without an account.

OverDrive should be run in Internet Explorer. According to PCPitstop, it is not reliable in Firefox or Opera.

Cost: Free

Link: pcpitstop.com/betapit

System: Windows XP and Vista

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Ways To Track Your Mileage

These days, we’re all watching our spending. That’s especially true at the gas pump. We are privileged to see real-time expenditures there!

I can’t do anything about the price of gasoline. And, if your vehicle hogs gas, I can’t help you with that. But I’ve found free programs that can help you trim your costs.

Knowing your car’s mileage is helpful. Adjusting your driving or maintenance habits can save you money. But, unless you keep records, you’re just guessing.

You must record gas prices, odometer readings and gallons bought and used. Tracking those numbers is a pain. Even if you fill up only once a week, it’s tough to remember. But the right tools can help.

MPGTune.com

This site is great for tracking your vehicle’s mileage. You can see how efficiently you’re using gas over time. And you can compare it with EPA ratings and others’ vehicles.

Hang onto your pump receipts. Enter that information into the site. You’ll see exactly how your car is doing.

My Mile Marker

This site can project your future gas costs. Just pick a date. It will predict how many miles you’ll drive by then. And it’ll estimate how much you’ll spend on gas.

The more fill-ups you enter, the more accurate its predictions. This can help you budget for the future.

This site can connect to your Twitter account for convenience.

Vehicle Maintenance Log

There are many reasons to give your vehicle regular maintenance. It will extend your car’s life. It will keep you safer. And it can improve gas mileage.

Keeping a maintenance log is important. This Excel template lays out common maintenance tasks. Print it out, or use it on your computer. It’s really painless.

Cost: Free

Links:

MPGTune.com – mpgtune.com

My Mile Marker – mymilemarker.com

Vehicle Maintenance Log – office.microsoft.com 

Systems: Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X

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All My Faves

Every now and then something good hits my email.  This is one of those somethings….  Enjoy!

http://www.allmyfaves.com/

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Split and Merge PDF Documents

PDF is a handy file format. It’s usually the standard in an office environment. And you’ll find it everywhere on the Web. But it isn’t the most flexible of file formats.

Manipulating a PDF file isn’t easy. You may only want one page of a large PDF file. But you can’t pull it out into its own file. The reverse is also prohibited. You can’t combine separate PDFs into one file.

PDF Split and Merge (PDFSam) is the solution. It makes working with PDFs so much easier. You can split large PDF files into smaller parts. And you can merge multiple PDFs into a single file. What else could you ask for?

Cost: Free

Link: www.pdfsam.org 

System: Windows XP and Vista, Mac OS X

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The Value of VA (Virtual Assistant)

 

The Virtual Assistant industry is booming in the wake of our economic Tsunami!  Yes, you heard me correctly – booming!  

 

We are coming to the rescue of large businesses that have had to lay-off full-time administrative support.  VA’s can crunch an 8-hour day into as little as 2 hours/day.

 

We are providing much needed support to small business owners who cannot afford to hire even part-time assistance.

 

We are putting America back to work, by contributing to America’s growing work force of stay-at-home Mom’s and other individuals.

 

Here’s the value of hiring a virtual assistant over a part-time or temporary employee:

 

ü You only pay for time worked on task or project to the minute, no rounding up.

ü Devoted full-time assistance and availability during normal business hours for as little as 10 hours/month.

ü We are a full-time VA practice rather than those who work full-time and start a VA practice part-time on the side.

ü You have access to services outside of normal business hours via email and appointment.

ü You have a committed partner and advocate at your service with years of executive level expertise to help you grow your business rather than a “temporary employee”.

ü You have no expenses associated with benefits such as vacation, 401k, sick time, down-time or over-time pay.

ü You have no expenses associated with insurance such as unemployment, Worker’s Comp, FICA or employer Social Security taxes.

ü You do not have to provide and maintain costly office equipment, computer equipment, software or additional office space.

ü You have no loss of privacy if your office is located within your home.

ü 100% tax write-off for you.

ü Highly experienced, professional, mature staff dedicated to you and your company.

ü Strategy planning, marketing development and implementation.

ü 24/7 Online access to production reports and your database.

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High School Friends and “Clicks”

I am so excited that this Saturday I’ll be meeting a few friends from my high school days.  For the most part, we have kept in touch through the years.  Of course, not nearly enough.

We are planning our 35th (yikes ,where did the time go) class reunion for this summer.  Most of our classmates are thrilled to be getting together.  They don’t seem to care where we go or what we do, just as long as we get together. 

During some of our phone calls to the classmates, there was some concern and apprehension about the same ole “clicks”.  As I pondered this, I realized something.  And you might be asking what does this have to do with business. 

Well, it doesn’t seem to matter whether you are at a networking function or a high school reunion, there are the inevitable “clicks”.  Why is this?  My feeling is that when you enter a room full of people, our natural instinct is to gravitate to those who you know and obviously those who like you.

It can be rather daunting to jump out of our “comfort zone” and talk to strangers or people you may have forgotten along the way from high school.  My best advise, is to hold your head up high, step out of your comfort zone, and just say “hi”.  You might just be surprised to find that the other person was just as uncomfortable  (or even shy) as you!

And hey, you never know where that “hi” will take you!  Until next time, enjoy your week.

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Mileage Rate for 2009

It’s important to keep up on the rules!  Here’s a new one regarding the standard mileage rate.

Beginning last month, the standard mileage reimbursement rate for business use of a personal vehicle DROPPED to 55 cents per mile.  The new rate is lower than te 58.5 cents per mile rate established for the second half of 2008 due to higher gasoline prices at that time.  Addtional information on IRS standard mileage rates  may be found in Revenue Procedure 2009-72.

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Shipping Costs

This week we received a huge box measuring 18″ x 18″ x 6″.  Wow, I couldn’t imagine what was in this box.  It turned out to be a small item measuring 2″ x 2″ x 2″ weighing 1 pound.  The box weighed 3 pounds.

Now with the Post Office raising it’s shipping costs and the economy as it is, wouldn’t you think shippers would get real – stop wasting shipping materials and charging exorbitant prices for shipping.  We do have an idea what it costs and don’t appreciate the waste.

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