Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Making Money Uk

..........and bullshit walks! Easy as that for start-ups when it comes to making up your mind about raising additional capital. Are we in a bubble? No idea but this question keeps creeping up. Those of us who went through the bubble at the turn of the century are secretly hoping we're not in another one. Those who don't remember the last one are also worried wondering whether all the old-timers are right. One way or another, it doesn't really matter. 


You'll hear multiple opinions on whether to raise money at times like this. I have a very clear opinion on this. It's based on the fact that I believe the best venture backed businesses are in it for the long haul. These are companies with a real product that add value to their customers. These are businesses generating real cashflow intent on growing to significant scale. Finally, these are businesses which will use additional money to expand. Hence, here's my take on when to take money (with focus on EU based businesses): 


1. Sequoia or Kleiner are on the phone. Start negotiating, get the best deal you can get and make sure to raise the money. Say what you will but Tier 1 VC's from the US will lead to a far larger exit. Specifically the top tier funds have access to management for your businesses, access to potential partners and are likely to sit on the boards of the companies that could buy you. You'd be dumb not to take money but do so wisely. 


2. A tier 1 fund from Europe is interested. Find out whether there's a good fit with your businesses. I've often enough written about how to figure this out and I say to focus on the partner and not the fund when doing your due diligence. Negotiate a good deal and take the money. Tier 1 funds in Europe have learned to add value, have significantly better networks nowadays and will most likely get you bought by a US based business.    


2.5. A tier 1 fund from your home country calls up. I've labeled this 2.5 because Tier 1 funds in Europe tend to only differentiate themselves based on where they are located. The rest is mostly the same. The benefit of a tier 1 locally invested in your business is the proximity. It's in your interest. You want them closer than further. If the terms are right and you have offers from abroad and locally, I'd sway towards local but the vibe has to be right. You won't be necessarily doing anything wrong taking money from a London VC verses a German VC when you are in Germany. The London VC may even be around more than the German VC. This all depends on the partner. 


3. A tier 2 fund from the US calls up. Ask yourself first why they found you? Go ahead and ask. Further, research the fund and find out what they've done in the past. Have they invested in Europe before? Are they only looking to Europe because their dealflow in the US sucks? Think twice about whether they will invest the necessary time to be in Europe and invested in your business. If the deal terms are good and you are comfortable with the partner doing the deal, take the money. They can still be helpful in accessing US buyers. They are highly unlikely to open as many doors as Kleiner or Sequoia but they definitely know more people in the US than many European partners. Plus make sure you want to go to the US. They will probably eventually ask you to move the company there.


4.  A tier 2 fund from outside your home region in the EU finds you. Ask yourself how the hell they found you. More importantly, if you found them, ask yourself why the Tier 1 funds from your local region aren't interested in what you are doing. Say what you will but a UK based fund prefers to invest first in the UK and then rest of Europe. A German fund in Germany and then rest of Europe, etc. Although valuations are good and the power is in your hands to some extent think twice. There are times when taking money could be detrimental to the health of your business (as well as to your equity stake). It's nice to get a higher valuation and some extra cash but make sure it doesn't ultimately cost you more than you think. 


5. A tier 2 fund from your local region calls up. Again, ask yourself first why the tier 1 funds aren't interested. Don't underestimate the value of many tier 2 funds though. Maybe they aren't the best known name in the market. At the same time, maybe they are striving to become a better fund. Maybe the number two in the market will work harder than the number one for you. This may be in your interest. Maybe! Do your homework and if you are comfortable with terms, take the money. Be far more diligent in this case though. Think longer and harder about whether you really can do more with the money now or prefer to hold out a bit. 


6. Some tier 3 fund you've never heard of and can't find out much about approaches you. Be really careful. There are lots of people in this business who sure won't be around in a couple years. Money from these guys can be a nightmare. At the same time, maybe your business is the nightmare and you couldn't raise money at any other time. One way or another, things aren't going right one way or another. If you need the money to survive and know you'll never get more down the road, do everything you can to raise cash now. Maybe you've just been approached by the future Kleiner or Sequoia of Europe. Maybe not.....but money talks and bullshit walks!


You'll notice a general trend from 1. through 6. above. Take the money! If you can get good terms, know how to put the money you raise to work for growth and like the partner from the funds approaching you, go for it. The getting is good right now. As a VC I'm worried about valuations and bursting bubbles, etc. but as an entrepreneur you should be optimizing for you business. Money is always good. Ignore all the crap about having too much money and being negatively swayed by this. In this post I am defaulting to the fact that I think you are a smart entrepreneur. You aren't going to raise money to get that Porsche as a company car. You're going to grow your business and become amazing. Some will say I am wrong but I'd prefer to have the cash in the bank and worry about being wrong later.  






Chris Huhne will lead a review into the use of feed-in-tariffs (FITs) in the UK in a bid to end subsidies going to large scale solar farms rather than small scale users.


The Secretary of State for Climate Change acknowledged the successful take-up of photovoltaic panel in Britain so far since the FIT scheme began last year.


Since then 21,000 installations have been registered, with the majority of these apparently having domestic applications.


However Huhne highlighted his concerns that the subsidies were making their way into the pockets of big businesses rather than to small scale users.


 “I have become increasingly concerned about the prospect of large scale solar PV projects under FITs, which was not fully anticipated in the original scheme and could, if left unchecked, take a disproportionate amount of available funding or even break the cap on total funding,” said Huhne.


“Several large solar installations have already received planning permission. Industry projections indicate there could be many more in the planning system.”


Huhne thinks a procedural review may be necessary to address a number of problems.


 “In light of this uncertainty and the risk that such schemes could push FITs uptake off trajectory and may make the Spending Review savings difficult, I have decided to end the potential for damaging speculation and bring forward the review of the Scheme to look at ways of correcting these early teething problems.”


“I recognise that industry needs a long term plan for investment in which it can have full confidence,” he continued.


“Today I am announcing a comprehensive evidence based review in to the FITs scheme and, to provide further certainty to the renewables industry, I can confirm that we also hope to publish next month measures to support renewable heat within the envelope agreed at Spending Review."


The review of FITs will be completed by the end of the year, with tariffs remaining unchanged until April 2012, unless there is specific need for greater urgency.


Some say Huhne may be rather hasty in tinkering with FITs, including Ash Sharma, Research Director at IMS Research.


Talking to TechEye, Sharma says: “While it may mean that installation demand is pulled forward, with many businesses seeking to invest before any changes are implemented, in the long term it may damage both the commercial and residential markets rather than provide any benefits.”


“The government are perhaps concerned that the market may take off to quickly, alongside of course wanting to save money, but this may be too early in the UK market’s growth.  In fact the British market was only around one percent the size of the German one last year, having only had a subsidy programme for eight months.”


Furthermore, the UK is likely to fall even further behind other EU countries.


“We are way behind Germany of course, but we are also falling a long way behind many other countries such as Italy, France, Belgium, Greece and more.”


“This could in fact have a negative effect on the economy rather than helping it, with jobs for installations and distributors going if there is no demand for panels due to unattractive prices.”


“For example if the big businesses are not attracted to countries large scale solar plants then that will have a knock on effect on many others area, such as making component prices more expensive for residential users, which of course consequently means that there is less demand to have panels installed.”




bench craft company

House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act - FoxNews.com

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

Olbermann to become “chief <b>news</b> officer” of Al Gore&#39;s cable <b>...</b>

First, Arianna Huffington gets $315 million from AOL for the HuffPo and winds up with editorial control of their entire content. Keith Olbermann gets … a nightly news show on an all-but-invisible cable channel and editorial control of ...

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro <b>...</b>

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro pricing: CP+ 2011: In addition to its latest lens announcements, Sigma has announced the price and availability of its 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM and Macro 150mm F2.8 EX ...


bench craft company

..........and bullshit walks! Easy as that for start-ups when it comes to making up your mind about raising additional capital. Are we in a bubble? No idea but this question keeps creeping up. Those of us who went through the bubble at the turn of the century are secretly hoping we're not in another one. Those who don't remember the last one are also worried wondering whether all the old-timers are right. One way or another, it doesn't really matter. 


You'll hear multiple opinions on whether to raise money at times like this. I have a very clear opinion on this. It's based on the fact that I believe the best venture backed businesses are in it for the long haul. These are companies with a real product that add value to their customers. These are businesses generating real cashflow intent on growing to significant scale. Finally, these are businesses which will use additional money to expand. Hence, here's my take on when to take money (with focus on EU based businesses): 


1. Sequoia or Kleiner are on the phone. Start negotiating, get the best deal you can get and make sure to raise the money. Say what you will but Tier 1 VC's from the US will lead to a far larger exit. Specifically the top tier funds have access to management for your businesses, access to potential partners and are likely to sit on the boards of the companies that could buy you. You'd be dumb not to take money but do so wisely. 


2. A tier 1 fund from Europe is interested. Find out whether there's a good fit with your businesses. I've often enough written about how to figure this out and I say to focus on the partner and not the fund when doing your due diligence. Negotiate a good deal and take the money. Tier 1 funds in Europe have learned to add value, have significantly better networks nowadays and will most likely get you bought by a US based business.    


2.5. A tier 1 fund from your home country calls up. I've labeled this 2.5 because Tier 1 funds in Europe tend to only differentiate themselves based on where they are located. The rest is mostly the same. The benefit of a tier 1 locally invested in your business is the proximity. It's in your interest. You want them closer than further. If the terms are right and you have offers from abroad and locally, I'd sway towards local but the vibe has to be right. You won't be necessarily doing anything wrong taking money from a London VC verses a German VC when you are in Germany. The London VC may even be around more than the German VC. This all depends on the partner. 


3. A tier 2 fund from the US calls up. Ask yourself first why they found you? Go ahead and ask. Further, research the fund and find out what they've done in the past. Have they invested in Europe before? Are they only looking to Europe because their dealflow in the US sucks? Think twice about whether they will invest the necessary time to be in Europe and invested in your business. If the deal terms are good and you are comfortable with the partner doing the deal, take the money. They can still be helpful in accessing US buyers. They are highly unlikely to open as many doors as Kleiner or Sequoia but they definitely know more people in the US than many European partners. Plus make sure you want to go to the US. They will probably eventually ask you to move the company there.


4.  A tier 2 fund from outside your home region in the EU finds you. Ask yourself how the hell they found you. More importantly, if you found them, ask yourself why the Tier 1 funds from your local region aren't interested in what you are doing. Say what you will but a UK based fund prefers to invest first in the UK and then rest of Europe. A German fund in Germany and then rest of Europe, etc. Although valuations are good and the power is in your hands to some extent think twice. There are times when taking money could be detrimental to the health of your business (as well as to your equity stake). It's nice to get a higher valuation and some extra cash but make sure it doesn't ultimately cost you more than you think. 


5. A tier 2 fund from your local region calls up. Again, ask yourself first why the tier 1 funds aren't interested. Don't underestimate the value of many tier 2 funds though. Maybe they aren't the best known name in the market. At the same time, maybe they are striving to become a better fund. Maybe the number two in the market will work harder than the number one for you. This may be in your interest. Maybe! Do your homework and if you are comfortable with terms, take the money. Be far more diligent in this case though. Think longer and harder about whether you really can do more with the money now or prefer to hold out a bit. 


6. Some tier 3 fund you've never heard of and can't find out much about approaches you. Be really careful. There are lots of people in this business who sure won't be around in a couple years. Money from these guys can be a nightmare. At the same time, maybe your business is the nightmare and you couldn't raise money at any other time. One way or another, things aren't going right one way or another. If you need the money to survive and know you'll never get more down the road, do everything you can to raise cash now. Maybe you've just been approached by the future Kleiner or Sequoia of Europe. Maybe not.....but money talks and bullshit walks!


You'll notice a general trend from 1. through 6. above. Take the money! If you can get good terms, know how to put the money you raise to work for growth and like the partner from the funds approaching you, go for it. The getting is good right now. As a VC I'm worried about valuations and bursting bubbles, etc. but as an entrepreneur you should be optimizing for you business. Money is always good. Ignore all the crap about having too much money and being negatively swayed by this. In this post I am defaulting to the fact that I think you are a smart entrepreneur. You aren't going to raise money to get that Porsche as a company car. You're going to grow your business and become amazing. Some will say I am wrong but I'd prefer to have the cash in the bank and worry about being wrong later.  






Chris Huhne will lead a review into the use of feed-in-tariffs (FITs) in the UK in a bid to end subsidies going to large scale solar farms rather than small scale users.


The Secretary of State for Climate Change acknowledged the successful take-up of photovoltaic panel in Britain so far since the FIT scheme began last year.


Since then 21,000 installations have been registered, with the majority of these apparently having domestic applications.


However Huhne highlighted his concerns that the subsidies were making their way into the pockets of big businesses rather than to small scale users.


 “I have become increasingly concerned about the prospect of large scale solar PV projects under FITs, which was not fully anticipated in the original scheme and could, if left unchecked, take a disproportionate amount of available funding or even break the cap on total funding,” said Huhne.


“Several large solar installations have already received planning permission. Industry projections indicate there could be many more in the planning system.”


Huhne thinks a procedural review may be necessary to address a number of problems.


 “In light of this uncertainty and the risk that such schemes could push FITs uptake off trajectory and may make the Spending Review savings difficult, I have decided to end the potential for damaging speculation and bring forward the review of the Scheme to look at ways of correcting these early teething problems.”


“I recognise that industry needs a long term plan for investment in which it can have full confidence,” he continued.


“Today I am announcing a comprehensive evidence based review in to the FITs scheme and, to provide further certainty to the renewables industry, I can confirm that we also hope to publish next month measures to support renewable heat within the envelope agreed at Spending Review."


The review of FITs will be completed by the end of the year, with tariffs remaining unchanged until April 2012, unless there is specific need for greater urgency.


Some say Huhne may be rather hasty in tinkering with FITs, including Ash Sharma, Research Director at IMS Research.


Talking to TechEye, Sharma says: “While it may mean that installation demand is pulled forward, with many businesses seeking to invest before any changes are implemented, in the long term it may damage both the commercial and residential markets rather than provide any benefits.”


“The government are perhaps concerned that the market may take off to quickly, alongside of course wanting to save money, but this may be too early in the UK market’s growth.  In fact the British market was only around one percent the size of the German one last year, having only had a subsidy programme for eight months.”


Furthermore, the UK is likely to fall even further behind other EU countries.


“We are way behind Germany of course, but we are also falling a long way behind many other countries such as Italy, France, Belgium, Greece and more.”


“This could in fact have a negative effect on the economy rather than helping it, with jobs for installations and distributors going if there is no demand for panels due to unattractive prices.”


“For example if the big businesses are not attracted to countries large scale solar plants then that will have a knock on effect on many others area, such as making component prices more expensive for residential users, which of course consequently means that there is less demand to have panels installed.”




bench craft company>

House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act - FoxNews.com

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

Olbermann to become “chief <b>news</b> officer” of Al Gore&#39;s cable <b>...</b>

First, Arianna Huffington gets $315 million from AOL for the HuffPo and winds up with editorial control of their entire content. Keith Olbermann gets … a nightly news show on an all-but-invisible cable channel and editorial control of ...

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro <b>...</b>

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro pricing: CP+ 2011: In addition to its latest lens announcements, Sigma has announced the price and availability of its 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM and Macro 150mm F2.8 EX ...


bench craft company
[reefeed]
bench craft company

Make Serious Money eBay UK Back Cover by wilsondan


bench craft company

House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act - FoxNews.com

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

Olbermann to become “chief <b>news</b> officer” of Al Gore&#39;s cable <b>...</b>

First, Arianna Huffington gets $315 million from AOL for the HuffPo and winds up with editorial control of their entire content. Keith Olbermann gets … a nightly news show on an all-but-invisible cable channel and editorial control of ...

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro <b>...</b>

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro pricing: CP+ 2011: In addition to its latest lens announcements, Sigma has announced the price and availability of its 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM and Macro 150mm F2.8 EX ...


bench craft company

..........and bullshit walks! Easy as that for start-ups when it comes to making up your mind about raising additional capital. Are we in a bubble? No idea but this question keeps creeping up. Those of us who went through the bubble at the turn of the century are secretly hoping we're not in another one. Those who don't remember the last one are also worried wondering whether all the old-timers are right. One way or another, it doesn't really matter. 


You'll hear multiple opinions on whether to raise money at times like this. I have a very clear opinion on this. It's based on the fact that I believe the best venture backed businesses are in it for the long haul. These are companies with a real product that add value to their customers. These are businesses generating real cashflow intent on growing to significant scale. Finally, these are businesses which will use additional money to expand. Hence, here's my take on when to take money (with focus on EU based businesses): 


1. Sequoia or Kleiner are on the phone. Start negotiating, get the best deal you can get and make sure to raise the money. Say what you will but Tier 1 VC's from the US will lead to a far larger exit. Specifically the top tier funds have access to management for your businesses, access to potential partners and are likely to sit on the boards of the companies that could buy you. You'd be dumb not to take money but do so wisely. 


2. A tier 1 fund from Europe is interested. Find out whether there's a good fit with your businesses. I've often enough written about how to figure this out and I say to focus on the partner and not the fund when doing your due diligence. Negotiate a good deal and take the money. Tier 1 funds in Europe have learned to add value, have significantly better networks nowadays and will most likely get you bought by a US based business.    


2.5. A tier 1 fund from your home country calls up. I've labeled this 2.5 because Tier 1 funds in Europe tend to only differentiate themselves based on where they are located. The rest is mostly the same. The benefit of a tier 1 locally invested in your business is the proximity. It's in your interest. You want them closer than further. If the terms are right and you have offers from abroad and locally, I'd sway towards local but the vibe has to be right. You won't be necessarily doing anything wrong taking money from a London VC verses a German VC when you are in Germany. The London VC may even be around more than the German VC. This all depends on the partner. 


3. A tier 2 fund from the US calls up. Ask yourself first why they found you? Go ahead and ask. Further, research the fund and find out what they've done in the past. Have they invested in Europe before? Are they only looking to Europe because their dealflow in the US sucks? Think twice about whether they will invest the necessary time to be in Europe and invested in your business. If the deal terms are good and you are comfortable with the partner doing the deal, take the money. They can still be helpful in accessing US buyers. They are highly unlikely to open as many doors as Kleiner or Sequoia but they definitely know more people in the US than many European partners. Plus make sure you want to go to the US. They will probably eventually ask you to move the company there.


4.  A tier 2 fund from outside your home region in the EU finds you. Ask yourself how the hell they found you. More importantly, if you found them, ask yourself why the Tier 1 funds from your local region aren't interested in what you are doing. Say what you will but a UK based fund prefers to invest first in the UK and then rest of Europe. A German fund in Germany and then rest of Europe, etc. Although valuations are good and the power is in your hands to some extent think twice. There are times when taking money could be detrimental to the health of your business (as well as to your equity stake). It's nice to get a higher valuation and some extra cash but make sure it doesn't ultimately cost you more than you think. 


5. A tier 2 fund from your local region calls up. Again, ask yourself first why the tier 1 funds aren't interested. Don't underestimate the value of many tier 2 funds though. Maybe they aren't the best known name in the market. At the same time, maybe they are striving to become a better fund. Maybe the number two in the market will work harder than the number one for you. This may be in your interest. Maybe! Do your homework and if you are comfortable with terms, take the money. Be far more diligent in this case though. Think longer and harder about whether you really can do more with the money now or prefer to hold out a bit. 


6. Some tier 3 fund you've never heard of and can't find out much about approaches you. Be really careful. There are lots of people in this business who sure won't be around in a couple years. Money from these guys can be a nightmare. At the same time, maybe your business is the nightmare and you couldn't raise money at any other time. One way or another, things aren't going right one way or another. If you need the money to survive and know you'll never get more down the road, do everything you can to raise cash now. Maybe you've just been approached by the future Kleiner or Sequoia of Europe. Maybe not.....but money talks and bullshit walks!


You'll notice a general trend from 1. through 6. above. Take the money! If you can get good terms, know how to put the money you raise to work for growth and like the partner from the funds approaching you, go for it. The getting is good right now. As a VC I'm worried about valuations and bursting bubbles, etc. but as an entrepreneur you should be optimizing for you business. Money is always good. Ignore all the crap about having too much money and being negatively swayed by this. In this post I am defaulting to the fact that I think you are a smart entrepreneur. You aren't going to raise money to get that Porsche as a company car. You're going to grow your business and become amazing. Some will say I am wrong but I'd prefer to have the cash in the bank and worry about being wrong later.  






Chris Huhne will lead a review into the use of feed-in-tariffs (FITs) in the UK in a bid to end subsidies going to large scale solar farms rather than small scale users.


The Secretary of State for Climate Change acknowledged the successful take-up of photovoltaic panel in Britain so far since the FIT scheme began last year.


Since then 21,000 installations have been registered, with the majority of these apparently having domestic applications.


However Huhne highlighted his concerns that the subsidies were making their way into the pockets of big businesses rather than to small scale users.


 “I have become increasingly concerned about the prospect of large scale solar PV projects under FITs, which was not fully anticipated in the original scheme and could, if left unchecked, take a disproportionate amount of available funding or even break the cap on total funding,” said Huhne.


“Several large solar installations have already received planning permission. Industry projections indicate there could be many more in the planning system.”


Huhne thinks a procedural review may be necessary to address a number of problems.


 “In light of this uncertainty and the risk that such schemes could push FITs uptake off trajectory and may make the Spending Review savings difficult, I have decided to end the potential for damaging speculation and bring forward the review of the Scheme to look at ways of correcting these early teething problems.”


“I recognise that industry needs a long term plan for investment in which it can have full confidence,” he continued.


“Today I am announcing a comprehensive evidence based review in to the FITs scheme and, to provide further certainty to the renewables industry, I can confirm that we also hope to publish next month measures to support renewable heat within the envelope agreed at Spending Review."


The review of FITs will be completed by the end of the year, with tariffs remaining unchanged until April 2012, unless there is specific need for greater urgency.


Some say Huhne may be rather hasty in tinkering with FITs, including Ash Sharma, Research Director at IMS Research.


Talking to TechEye, Sharma says: “While it may mean that installation demand is pulled forward, with many businesses seeking to invest before any changes are implemented, in the long term it may damage both the commercial and residential markets rather than provide any benefits.”


“The government are perhaps concerned that the market may take off to quickly, alongside of course wanting to save money, but this may be too early in the UK market’s growth.  In fact the British market was only around one percent the size of the German one last year, having only had a subsidy programme for eight months.”


Furthermore, the UK is likely to fall even further behind other EU countries.


“We are way behind Germany of course, but we are also falling a long way behind many other countries such as Italy, France, Belgium, Greece and more.”


“This could in fact have a negative effect on the economy rather than helping it, with jobs for installations and distributors going if there is no demand for panels due to unattractive prices.”


“For example if the big businesses are not attracted to countries large scale solar plants then that will have a knock on effect on many others area, such as making component prices more expensive for residential users, which of course consequently means that there is less demand to have panels installed.”




bench craft company

Make Serious Money eBay UK Back Cover by wilsondan


bench craft company

House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act - FoxNews.com

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

Olbermann to become “chief <b>news</b> officer” of Al Gore&#39;s cable <b>...</b>

First, Arianna Huffington gets $315 million from AOL for the HuffPo and winds up with editorial control of their entire content. Keith Olbermann gets … a nightly news show on an all-but-invisible cable channel and editorial control of ...

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro <b>...</b>

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro pricing: CP+ 2011: In addition to its latest lens announcements, Sigma has announced the price and availability of its 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM and Macro 150mm F2.8 EX ...


bench craft company

Make Serious Money eBay UK Back Cover by wilsondan


bench craft company

House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act - FoxNews.com

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

Olbermann to become “chief <b>news</b> officer” of Al Gore&#39;s cable <b>...</b>

First, Arianna Huffington gets $315 million from AOL for the HuffPo and winds up with editorial control of their entire content. Keith Olbermann gets … a nightly news show on an all-but-invisible cable channel and editorial control of ...

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro <b>...</b>

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro pricing: CP+ 2011: In addition to its latest lens announcements, Sigma has announced the price and availability of its 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM and Macro 150mm F2.8 EX ...


bench craft company

House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act - FoxNews.com

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

Olbermann to become “chief <b>news</b> officer” of Al Gore&#39;s cable <b>...</b>

First, Arianna Huffington gets $315 million from AOL for the HuffPo and winds up with editorial control of their entire content. Keith Olbermann gets … a nightly news show on an all-but-invisible cable channel and editorial control of ...

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro <b>...</b>

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro pricing: CP+ 2011: In addition to its latest lens announcements, Sigma has announced the price and availability of its 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM and Macro 150mm F2.8 EX ...


bench craft company

House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act - FoxNews.com

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

Olbermann to become “chief <b>news</b> officer” of Al Gore&#39;s cable <b>...</b>

First, Arianna Huffington gets $315 million from AOL for the HuffPo and winds up with editorial control of their entire content. Keith Olbermann gets … a nightly news show on an all-but-invisible cable channel and editorial control of ...

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro <b>...</b>

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro pricing: CP+ 2011: In addition to its latest lens announcements, Sigma has announced the price and availability of its 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM and Macro 150mm F2.8 EX ...


bench craft company bench craft company
bench craft company

Make Serious Money eBay UK Back Cover by wilsondan


bench craft company
bench craft company

House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act - FoxNews.com

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

Olbermann to become “chief <b>news</b> officer” of Al Gore&#39;s cable <b>...</b>

First, Arianna Huffington gets $315 million from AOL for the HuffPo and winds up with editorial control of their entire content. Keith Olbermann gets … a nightly news show on an all-but-invisible cable channel and editorial control of ...

Sigma announcements include 120-300mm F2.8 and 150mm F2.8 Macro <b>...</b>

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From time to time everyone has to turn to others for support, advice and practical assistance. They may need help with a job they're working on, emotional support or a loan.

Life is full of ups and downs and during those times when the coffers are empty, whether because of a miscalculation, unexpected job loss or you just need some money fast, here are some quick and easy ways to make money.

Cash in on your old mobile phones -

If you have any old or broken mobile phones lying about the house, why not get paid for recycling them? According tomazumamobile.com they will pay £80 for a Nokia N95 and £280 for an Apple iPhone 3G S 32 GB. At simply drop you can recycle your old mobile phones, MP3 players and digital cameras. While at mobilephone recycling you can compare prices across mobile phone sites. So shop around to find the best price and service for you.

Get paid for your opinions on on-line surveys

Sign up on a paid survey website and earn money, prizes or rewards for each survey you complete. These are genuine money-making opportunities. In the days before the internet, when a company launched a new project, they would do research through call centres and getting out in the public to work out whether it would be a popular idea. Nowadays, companies pay out great sums of money to those who are doing these surveys on-line. Some of these companies will demand an up-front payment but you might prefer those you can register with for free.

There are a number of cash survey sites but try the following links to get an idea of what you are looking for:

Surveyclub
toluna.com

While this link paid-surveys gives a list of paid survey websites.

If you aren't keen on filling in hundreds of surveys, or you don't want to give too many personal details of yourself away, why not try participating in market research. At Saros Research you can earn £30 to £100 by taking part in a couple of hours market research.

Have you thought about selling your photographs on line?

There is no registration fee to join fotolia Here you can upload your photos and expose our work to thousands of professional buyers around the world. As long as you are 18 years old, the author of all files you upload and you won all rights to the files, they can be sold and you will receive a royalty based on your ranking within the site.

At picture nation you can upload your photos and make money on each one downloaded and you can get money from images sold at 123rf.com

Sell Your Unwanted Items on Ebay

Set up an Ebay account and it won't take long to get your head around this system of buying and selling. Many people make a steady income from selling on Ebay. A good way to start is to wait for eBays '10p listing' days and that way even if your things don't sell, you won't be out of profit.

Amazon is probably one of the best sites to sell second-hand books while at music magpie you can get cash for your old CDs, DVDs and Games.

Check your accounts

Often people subscribe to magazines or internet sites annually and forget to cancel their subscriptions when they stop using these. You could save money through going through your bank and credit card statements to check for subscriptions you no longer use. Cancel these immediately. If you have cable or satellite TV contact the company and they may renegotiate your account and perhaps will drop the number of channels you receive as a way of reducing your bill.

Get Paid for Spending

Cashback credit cards pay you back a proportion of what you spend whenever you use them.

Are you claiming your full benefit entitlements?

Could it be you aren't aware of benefits you could claim if you're struggling to pay your bills or cope with everyday expenditures? At the direct gov web site you will find a calculator that will give you an idea of what you may be eligible to claim.

Join a police ID Parade

At one time volunteers would stand on ID parades along with the suspects of a crime. ID parades now take the form of a short video clip that shows people on screen. To ensure the database remains current, West Yorkshire Police are constantly recording new volunteers. Volunteers are paid a fee of £15 for their time and they promise no volunteer's identity will be disclosed. Further details can be found at Yourkshire Police

With a little research you will find there are ways to make money on-line and off-line and some of these will bring a quick response depending on the money-making venture you might choose.





















































Tuesday, February 8, 2011

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Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


surface encounters

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 2/8 - Arrowhead Pride

NJ Chiefs Fan is having technical difficulties (which he told me about yesterday, which I promptly forgot this morning, which is why Arrowheadlines is so late today).

Nightly <b>News</b>: Richard Gere Is in &#39;Arbitrage&#39;; &#39;The Beaver <b>...</b>

Richard Gere is close to nabbing the lead role in 'Arbitrage,' a financial drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his.

Small Business <b>News</b>: Marketing Your Online Business Like Arianna <b>...</b>

With the announcement today that online media giant AOL will buy the Huffington Post for $315 million from entrepreneur and founder Arianna Huffington, online.


Sunday, February 6, 2011

Making Money System


We’ve been promised for a while now that our phones will become our personal assistants. Executives from Cambridge, Mass.-based Vlingo sat down with me this week to talk about how they’ve delivered on that promise — and started turning it into real revenue.


It seems like all the big guys are trying to get into this business. The incentive, as a Googler put it when the company launched a similar service last year, is that voice is much more natural than typing as a way to interact with your phone. Apple, meanwhile, showed its interest by acquiring a startup called Siri. And Microsoft included voice commands on Windows Phone 7.


The difference, according to Vlingo’s vice president of business Hadley Harris, is that the startup has built all its basic technology, including speech recognition (something that Siri outsourced) and the “intent engine” that allows the app to translate your words into actions that it understands. Vlingo is working with other companies to integrate a wide range of apps into the system, so that you can use your voice to buy a plane ticket off travel site Kayak or check your updates on Facebook.


Vlingo has been downloaded 7 million times, Harris said. BlackBerry users represent most of those downloads, since that’s the phone that Vlingo focused on first, but iPhone and especially Android are catching up. The company’s strategy is to release new features on Android first, then port them to other phones as resources and technology allow.


The app is free, so Vlingo makes money through advertising and revenue sharing with its partners. Specifically, Harris told me it currently earns $7.74 for every 1,000 Web searches, $49 for every 1,000 local searches, and $24 for every 1,000 “other” monetizable actions, such as a ticket purchase on Kayak. With users performing an average of 30 actions every month, Harris said Vlingo is making about 14 cents per user per month.


That might seem a little low, Harris acknowledged, but the plan is to dramatically increase both the number of users and the number of actions over the next year. Most promisingly, he said Vlingo has made deals with a number of Android handset manufacturers who don’t want to direct all of their usage to Google services. (He said it’s too early to reveal who the manufacturers are.) Not only will that put Vlingo on more phones, it will also make the application more prominent on those phones by turning it into the default app whenever you want to use voice commands.



Next Story: Why display ads are cool again Previous Story: Gamification gets popular, but it’s still finding its feet








BBC Online is meeting its obligation to commission 25 percent of eligible production work from external suppliers - but must make wide-ranging changes to the process, a review by its regulating BBC Trust has concluded (release, review)



The BBC has met the quota requirement every year since it was recommended by the 2004 Graf report. Last year, it commissioned external interactive producers for work totalling £20 million.

See more of our latest BBC coverage
or add an alert for future coverage of BBC.



But a Deloitte review in to the quota commissioned by the trust slates the system for lack of transparency, management, direction and value for money.



Consequently, the trust - whilst it is not raising the quota - has ordered BBC Online to “discuss with industry what form strategic goals for a quota system might take”, and to simplify the current process.



This BBC Trust review has been many months in the making - the BBC executive had already known the outcome and recommendations before Friday’s publication and has partly responded - it has already agreed to give the trust, after speaking with industry, a review within three months. The trust says the whole issue requires “urgent attention”.



Deloitte’s review (highlights):-



“The BBC is complying with the requirements set out in the BBC Agreement. However, the Online independent supply quota does not appear to be working well in practice. Whilst steps have recently been taken to remedy the issues surrounding it, both the BBC and the independent sector recognise there is a lack of: communication around how the commissioning for online takes place, clarity around how the quota is calculated and tracked; and, consistency and efficiency in commissioning practices. Most significantly, interviews demonstrate a strong belief in the independent sector that BBC online commissioners select suppliers to pitch for commissions based on the commissioners’ personal knowledge, rather than any rounded evaluation of who is equipped to deliver quality and value for money.



“There is a high degree of external scepticism as to whether reported performance is real or the result of an accounting allocation.



“Overall BBC Online expenditure is expected to go down rather than up



“There are issues with the management of the current arrangements that impact the value for money and quality BBC Online achieves for licence fee payers



“BBC Online has failed to provide sufficient transparency to the sector in terms of: strategic direction, emerging opportunities, decision making processes, and reporting of performance relative to the quota.



“An average commission size in FY 2009/10 of less than £5,000 and only 17 commissions over £100,000



“The revenues of the top 100 interactive agencies totalled c. £790m in 2009. In 2009/10 the BBC spent c. £20m externally as part of the BBC Online quota. Although the BBC will spend more on digital content (for example on those areas excluded from the eligible base), in absolute terms the impact that the BBC makes on the online content sector is limited.



“In this context, BBC Online’s c. £20m of ‘eligible’ annual spend lacks the scale to have as significant an impact on the shape of market as the BBC does in TV broadcasting.”






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Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


bench craft company reviews

We’ve been promised for a while now that our phones will become our personal assistants. Executives from Cambridge, Mass.-based Vlingo sat down with me this week to talk about how they’ve delivered on that promise — and started turning it into real revenue.


It seems like all the big guys are trying to get into this business. The incentive, as a Googler put it when the company launched a similar service last year, is that voice is much more natural than typing as a way to interact with your phone. Apple, meanwhile, showed its interest by acquiring a startup called Siri. And Microsoft included voice commands on Windows Phone 7.


The difference, according to Vlingo’s vice president of business Hadley Harris, is that the startup has built all its basic technology, including speech recognition (something that Siri outsourced) and the “intent engine” that allows the app to translate your words into actions that it understands. Vlingo is working with other companies to integrate a wide range of apps into the system, so that you can use your voice to buy a plane ticket off travel site Kayak or check your updates on Facebook.


Vlingo has been downloaded 7 million times, Harris said. BlackBerry users represent most of those downloads, since that’s the phone that Vlingo focused on first, but iPhone and especially Android are catching up. The company’s strategy is to release new features on Android first, then port them to other phones as resources and technology allow.


The app is free, so Vlingo makes money through advertising and revenue sharing with its partners. Specifically, Harris told me it currently earns $7.74 for every 1,000 Web searches, $49 for every 1,000 local searches, and $24 for every 1,000 “other” monetizable actions, such as a ticket purchase on Kayak. With users performing an average of 30 actions every month, Harris said Vlingo is making about 14 cents per user per month.


That might seem a little low, Harris acknowledged, but the plan is to dramatically increase both the number of users and the number of actions over the next year. Most promisingly, he said Vlingo has made deals with a number of Android handset manufacturers who don’t want to direct all of their usage to Google services. (He said it’s too early to reveal who the manufacturers are.) Not only will that put Vlingo on more phones, it will also make the application more prominent on those phones by turning it into the default app whenever you want to use voice commands.



Next Story: Why display ads are cool again Previous Story: Gamification gets popular, but it’s still finding its feet








BBC Online is meeting its obligation to commission 25 percent of eligible production work from external suppliers - but must make wide-ranging changes to the process, a review by its regulating BBC Trust has concluded (release, review)



The BBC has met the quota requirement every year since it was recommended by the 2004 Graf report. Last year, it commissioned external interactive producers for work totalling £20 million.

See more of our latest BBC coverage
or add an alert for future coverage of BBC.



But a Deloitte review in to the quota commissioned by the trust slates the system for lack of transparency, management, direction and value for money.



Consequently, the trust - whilst it is not raising the quota - has ordered BBC Online to “discuss with industry what form strategic goals for a quota system might take”, and to simplify the current process.



This BBC Trust review has been many months in the making - the BBC executive had already known the outcome and recommendations before Friday’s publication and has partly responded - it has already agreed to give the trust, after speaking with industry, a review within three months. The trust says the whole issue requires “urgent attention”.



Deloitte’s review (highlights):-



“The BBC is complying with the requirements set out in the BBC Agreement. However, the Online independent supply quota does not appear to be working well in practice. Whilst steps have recently been taken to remedy the issues surrounding it, both the BBC and the independent sector recognise there is a lack of: communication around how the commissioning for online takes place, clarity around how the quota is calculated and tracked; and, consistency and efficiency in commissioning practices. Most significantly, interviews demonstrate a strong belief in the independent sector that BBC online commissioners select suppliers to pitch for commissions based on the commissioners’ personal knowledge, rather than any rounded evaluation of who is equipped to deliver quality and value for money.



“There is a high degree of external scepticism as to whether reported performance is real or the result of an accounting allocation.



“Overall BBC Online expenditure is expected to go down rather than up



“There are issues with the management of the current arrangements that impact the value for money and quality BBC Online achieves for licence fee payers



“BBC Online has failed to provide sufficient transparency to the sector in terms of: strategic direction, emerging opportunities, decision making processes, and reporting of performance relative to the quota.



“An average commission size in FY 2009/10 of less than £5,000 and only 17 commissions over £100,000



“The revenues of the top 100 interactive agencies totalled c. £790m in 2009. In 2009/10 the BBC spent c. £20m externally as part of the BBC Online quota. Although the BBC will spend more on digital content (for example on those areas excluded from the eligible base), in absolute terms the impact that the BBC makes on the online content sector is limited.



“In this context, BBC Online’s c. £20m of ‘eligible’ annual spend lacks the scale to have as significant an impact on the shape of market as the BBC does in TV broadcasting.”






bench craft company reviews

Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


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benchcraft company scam

Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


benchcraft company portland or

We’ve been promised for a while now that our phones will become our personal assistants. Executives from Cambridge, Mass.-based Vlingo sat down with me this week to talk about how they’ve delivered on that promise — and started turning it into real revenue.


It seems like all the big guys are trying to get into this business. The incentive, as a Googler put it when the company launched a similar service last year, is that voice is much more natural than typing as a way to interact with your phone. Apple, meanwhile, showed its interest by acquiring a startup called Siri. And Microsoft included voice commands on Windows Phone 7.


The difference, according to Vlingo’s vice president of business Hadley Harris, is that the startup has built all its basic technology, including speech recognition (something that Siri outsourced) and the “intent engine” that allows the app to translate your words into actions that it understands. Vlingo is working with other companies to integrate a wide range of apps into the system, so that you can use your voice to buy a plane ticket off travel site Kayak or check your updates on Facebook.


Vlingo has been downloaded 7 million times, Harris said. BlackBerry users represent most of those downloads, since that’s the phone that Vlingo focused on first, but iPhone and especially Android are catching up. The company’s strategy is to release new features on Android first, then port them to other phones as resources and technology allow.


The app is free, so Vlingo makes money through advertising and revenue sharing with its partners. Specifically, Harris told me it currently earns $7.74 for every 1,000 Web searches, $49 for every 1,000 local searches, and $24 for every 1,000 “other” monetizable actions, such as a ticket purchase on Kayak. With users performing an average of 30 actions every month, Harris said Vlingo is making about 14 cents per user per month.


That might seem a little low, Harris acknowledged, but the plan is to dramatically increase both the number of users and the number of actions over the next year. Most promisingly, he said Vlingo has made deals with a number of Android handset manufacturers who don’t want to direct all of their usage to Google services. (He said it’s too early to reveal who the manufacturers are.) Not only will that put Vlingo on more phones, it will also make the application more prominent on those phones by turning it into the default app whenever you want to use voice commands.



Next Story: Why display ads are cool again Previous Story: Gamification gets popular, but it’s still finding its feet








BBC Online is meeting its obligation to commission 25 percent of eligible production work from external suppliers - but must make wide-ranging changes to the process, a review by its regulating BBC Trust has concluded (release, review)



The BBC has met the quota requirement every year since it was recommended by the 2004 Graf report. Last year, it commissioned external interactive producers for work totalling £20 million.

See more of our latest BBC coverage
or add an alert for future coverage of BBC.



But a Deloitte review in to the quota commissioned by the trust slates the system for lack of transparency, management, direction and value for money.



Consequently, the trust - whilst it is not raising the quota - has ordered BBC Online to “discuss with industry what form strategic goals for a quota system might take”, and to simplify the current process.



This BBC Trust review has been many months in the making - the BBC executive had already known the outcome and recommendations before Friday’s publication and has partly responded - it has already agreed to give the trust, after speaking with industry, a review within three months. The trust says the whole issue requires “urgent attention”.



Deloitte’s review (highlights):-



“The BBC is complying with the requirements set out in the BBC Agreement. However, the Online independent supply quota does not appear to be working well in practice. Whilst steps have recently been taken to remedy the issues surrounding it, both the BBC and the independent sector recognise there is a lack of: communication around how the commissioning for online takes place, clarity around how the quota is calculated and tracked; and, consistency and efficiency in commissioning practices. Most significantly, interviews demonstrate a strong belief in the independent sector that BBC online commissioners select suppliers to pitch for commissions based on the commissioners’ personal knowledge, rather than any rounded evaluation of who is equipped to deliver quality and value for money.



“There is a high degree of external scepticism as to whether reported performance is real or the result of an accounting allocation.



“Overall BBC Online expenditure is expected to go down rather than up



“There are issues with the management of the current arrangements that impact the value for money and quality BBC Online achieves for licence fee payers



“BBC Online has failed to provide sufficient transparency to the sector in terms of: strategic direction, emerging opportunities, decision making processes, and reporting of performance relative to the quota.



“An average commission size in FY 2009/10 of less than £5,000 and only 17 commissions over £100,000



“The revenues of the top 100 interactive agencies totalled c. £790m in 2009. In 2009/10 the BBC spent c. £20m externally as part of the BBC Online quota. Although the BBC will spend more on digital content (for example on those areas excluded from the eligible base), in absolute terms the impact that the BBC makes on the online content sector is limited.



“In this context, BBC Online’s c. £20m of ‘eligible’ annual spend lacks the scale to have as significant an impact on the shape of market as the BBC does in TV broadcasting.”






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cashgiftingyear1 by j91romero


bench craft company reviews

Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


benchcraft company portland or

cashgiftingyear1 by j91romero


benchcraft company scam

Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


bench craft company reviews

Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


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Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


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Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


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I am one of so many who dare to try their hand at making money online. While I've only been at it for 3 or 4 months now, I thought I would share my experiences on being a member of Zazzle. Zazzle is an online website that gives you access to having your own on-line "gallery." (http://zazzle.com) It is actually tons of fun if you are a photographer, love to draw, or if you can create witty sayings to put on t-shirts, mugs, posters, etc. The concept is brilliant! Whatever you create, you can put it onto one of their products. These products vary from mugs to t-shirts to U.S. postage stamps. You can create your own ties, Keds shoes, greeting cards, and baby onesies. The list goes on. It's quite impressive actually. Did I mention its fun?

Immediately you are the owner of your own gallery. Not only that, you can sell your art for free. Zazzle does not charge for anyone to be a member. You are paid a percentage of what you sell your art for. This percentage is chosen by you and is anywhere from 10 percent up. The more of a percentage you collect, the higher the price of your product is. With this system, Zazzle gives you the opportunity to make money while guaranteeing that they will always make money. It's up to you to decide what you're worth and to factor in what people might be willing to pay for your creations. Personally, I started at 10 percent and worked my way up to 20 percent for most of my items. Some of the items are quite pricey. For instance, the Ked's shoes are approximately 55 to 60 dollars and up! That, to me, is crazy! I think I will go lower my shoes to 10 percent after I write this article. Most other items are quite reasonable. The stamps are my favorite. They are the price of a normal package of stamps plus 10 percent and up. I chose 20 percent. I'm proud of my art, but I want it to be affordable to many.

Am I incredibly successful with my Zazzle gallery? I feel I am successful because I enjoy the creative outlet and the comments I get from other artists in the Zazzle community. However, I will admit I have not earned one dime. There, I said it! I still have hope I might sell something. I might even sell more than one something! I've learned from other members that in order to be even a little successful you have to network. For instance, go through the website and leave comments for others on their art. It's fun and is a good way to become a part of the community. Pick out some favorites and join their fan clubs. This will let them know that you appreciate their art while giving them a link to visit your gallery. Most times, people you favorite or leave comments for do visit and may even favorite you as well. If they like you enough they can choose to link you to their gallery, so you will get more exposure. Also, Zazzle has many ideas on how to make more money. They advise you to put a link to your gallery on your web pages and email signatures. They also have something called an associates account where you can promote other's art and make 10 percent off of it if someone visits them from your link and buys something. Does this sound confusing? I won't lie and say I have it all figured out. If you don't, you can consult their tutorials and their forums. Overall, this site is very easy to understand.

My advice to you is to give it a try and see if you enjoy being a member. I can almost guarantee that the creatively inclined will enjoy it, money or no money. It is a thrill to have your own art gallery and look at other's galleries. I love having my own products up for sale and expressing myself through those products. If you have a moment, check out my gallery, "Pomeranian Dream Clouds" at http://www.zazzle.com/grrlcpc .

Site Title: http://www.zazzle.com
My Zazzle Guru: http://www.zazzle.com/audrart


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Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


big seminar 14

Small Business <b>News</b>: What&#39;s Your Brand?

What's your brand? Branding in small business can be the key to success. When marketing globally or locally, branding sets you apart. But there is much more.

Mall Cop Hoax! ABC <b>News</b> Sends Actor Posing as Security Guard to <b>...</b>

Furthermore, in the wake of the hysterics from left-wing media watchdog groups over the ACORN and Planned Parenthood undercover stings, it's pretty incredible to see ABC News employ the same tactics without any criticism. ...

Rachel Maddow - Fox <b>News</b> - Egypt Revolution | Mediaite

Rachel Maddow's patience with Fox News appears to have finally fully waned. Having spent a good amount of time on her program calmly arguing her side of the story in an attempt to debunk the loudest voices of her rival network, ...


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Regulators at the Environmental Protection Agency got the message early.


A month before President Obama promised to review all government regulations to remove unnecessary burdens on small business, EPA lawyers asked a federal court for a 16-month delay in implementing a new rule that would limit toxic air pollution from industrial boilers. The rule had been more than a decade in the making, and was issued last June only after the agency had been forced to act by the courts.


The EPA’s initial proposal would have cost companies an estimated $9.5 billion to bring more than 2,000 heat and steam plants across the U.S. into compliance, according to the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), headed by regulation czar and Obama confidante Cass Sunstein.


However, the OIRA analysis also showed that reduced particulate matter, carbon monoxide, chlorine, mercury and dioxin emissions from the rule would prevent about 1,900 to 4,800 premature deaths, 1,300 cases of chronic bronchitis, 3,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 3,200 hospital and emergency room visits and 250,000 lost work days each year. The total health benefits, calculated at $17 billion to $41 billion a year, far outweighed the cost of the proposal, according to OIRA.


Environmentalists feared the EPA’s request was a harbinger of a new administration approach to regulation now that Republicans are in control of the House and the president is focused on creating jobs. “The EPA was running scared because the White House wouldn’t back them,” fumed Frank O’Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch. “After the election things changed.”


The January 18 executive order and memorandum outlining the administration’s new regulatory policy seemed to confirm that analysis. Again in his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, the president pledged to weed out unnecessary and duplicative rules and promised to halt any rules that stood in the way of small business’ ability to create jobs.


“When we find rules that put an unnecessary burden on businesses, we will fix them,” Obama said. “But I will not hesitate to create or enforce common-sense safeguards to protect the American people.”


The administration has moved quickly to cozy up to business. In the past week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration withdrew two rules that had angered business lobbyists, one a proposed rule that would reduce noise pollution in workplaces and the other that would make companies keep records on musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace."Hearing loss caused by excessive noise levels remains a serious occupational health problem in this country," said OSHA chief David Michaels, whose agency often bears the brunt of small business antagonism toward government regulation.


During the Bush administration, Michaels, then a professor at George Washington University, frequently criticized OSHA and other regulatory agencies for failing to follow science when setting rules for protecting workers and public health. “It is clear from the concerns raised about this proposal that addressing this problem requires much more public outreach and many more resources than we had originally anticipated,” he said as he withdrew the noise rule.


Regulation has always been at the heart of corporate and Republican concerns about the direction the federal government takes under Democratic control. Long before there was a “job-killing” health care bill, there was the job-killing EPA, the job-killing Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the job-killing Mine Safety and Health Administration and any number of agencies that stand accused of undermining economic growth when they enforce laws designed to protect America’s air and water, food and drugs, and working and housing conditions.


Industry lobbyists invariably play the job-killing theme in public when lobbying against proposed rules, even as they use scientific arguments, which they must, while making their case before regulatory agencies. But that gets industry only so far. Science and economic analysis usually support tighter rules as more becomes known about the health effects of hazards and the cost of pollution-control technology drops.


For instance, the EPA’s clean air scientific advisory committee, a panel of outside experts that evaluates scientific evidence presented by stakeholders, had endorsed the tougher standards contained in the EPA’s original rule on industrial boilers.


The Council of Industrial Boiler Owners fought back. It commissioned a report that claimed the EPA’s June rule would put 338,000 jobs at risk and cost twice as much as the EPA/OMB estimate. “There are so many things that have to be changed (in the rule) to make it economically viable. They need to provide some flexibility,” said Robert D. Bessette, president of the Council, whose membership includes most of the nation’s largest chemical and paper products manufacturers. Their industrial boilers are among the largest stationary sources of air pollution outside the electricity generating and oil refining industries.


Earlier this month, the District of Columbia federal court turned down the EPA’s request for a delay and gave the agency until mid-February to come up with a final rule. “We are working to complete the final rules now,” a spokeswoman said.


“Congress will be closely monitoring the final rules when they are released next month and considering what steps can be taken to protect jobs and prevent reckless regulation,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “The EPA will come up with a rule that I’m sure will make no one happy,” predicted Bessette. “Either the enviros or us will petition for a reconsideration.”


The final industrial boiler rule doesn’t just have economic significance, it could signal the future direction of Obama administration policy on major regulatory issues. A number of major decisions coming down the pike will either please or enrage some of most powerful lobbying organizations in Washington, whether on the industry or environmental side. They include administration plans for regulating greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide; coal-burning electricity generating plants whose emissions cross state lines, the so-called clean air transport rule; and the next round of automobile fuel standards, which will go into effect in 2016.


Those major decisions, not skirmishes over minor or duplicative rules, will determine how far the administration is willing to go to please business. “We’re hoping that the agencies and Cass Sunstein will be doing a lot more cost-benefit analysis and offer more regulatory flexibility,” said Susan Eckerly, senior vice president for federal policy at the National Federation of Independent Businesses, a small- business lobbying group. “Those big EPA decisions might not impact small businesses right away, but they will affect our energy costs.”


Environmentalists and other public interest groups are getting ready to push back. “We want 60 miles per gallon by 2025 and a 6 percent decrease in emissions,” said Ann Mesnikoff, director of the green transportation campaign at the Sierra Club. “California shows the technologies are there to get there very cost effectively.”


With unemployment stuck at 9.4 percent, environmentalists recognize the general public is concerned about getting the economy humming again, so they are touting the job-generating potential of green technologies. Much of the intellectual muscle for their new approach is coming out of California, which has taken the lead on regulating greenhouse gases.


Charles Cicchetti of the Pacific Economics Group, a professor emeritus at the University of Southern California and a Republican, recently issued a report that said the coal plant and industrial boiler rules would create one million jobs by generating $150 billion in new capital investment in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure.


“These are real jobs that can be generated right now,” he said. “The technology exists; the capacity to produce it is sitting idle; and the electricity industry can self-finance anything… This is a far more effective way of creating jobs than the stimulus bill since the feds won’t have to borrow money and go further into debt.”


This post originally appeared at The Fiscal Times.


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Good morning Chiefs fans. Another good day for Kansas City Chiefs news. I think the best part is the Kielbasa receipe. Enjoy.

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