iPhone that works on T-Mobile

There have been people to claim that their iPhone works on T-mobile. I am going to soon be trying it out as I am with T-mobile for two more years as part of my contract.

Figured it might be a good experiment. I'll report back what I find.

Signatures Custom Wine Bottles

Every wonder how to get that custom bottle of wine to give to friends and family as a gift?

Now you too can create your own bottle of wine with Signatures.




Personalized Beverages Great For Any OccasionFrom Birthdays to Holidays, Weddings to Corporate Events, Signature Wines & Beverages makes it easy for you to add a personal touch to every occasion. Choose from our huge selection of label templates or create your own. It’s so easy to do with our new and improved online custom label tool.

Personalized wine, water, and champagne make great gifts for family and friends and are also perfect options for large gatherings, holiday parties and Corporate events. Create special memories for family or class reunions. Fundraise for schools, sports programs, or religious organizations. Create one-of-a kind memories for bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts, enhance event decorations, or give unique wedding favors. Promote your business and stand out from the crowd. Send a special thank you to a new client or say “Congratulations!” on a job well done. Personalized wine, water, and champagne make great promotional items too…the options are endless.

Get started now! Create professional looking labels for gifts, holiday parties and events and much more. You’ll be amazed at what you can do.

Chef's Corner

Chef's Corner is a leading online retail website offering a wide range of cooking, dining and entertaining products. The site carries cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools and accessories, as well as tableware, appliances and more. ChefsCorner.com caters to consumers looking to take their food preparation and presentation to the next level.

Shop Chefs Corner for Kitchen Tools and Save

Vinturi Wine Aerator - review and info

Vinturi Wine Aerator

Includes: Vinturi, no-drip stand, and carry pouch.

Wine Needs to Breathe Wine which has been allowed to breathe tastes better. As wine breathes, it opens up, and releases its intended aromas and flavors. traditionally, decanters were used to aerate wine. However, decanting is time consuming, cumbersome, and inconvenient. Vinturi's patent pending design speeds up this process with ease and convenience. Perfect aeration in the time it takes to pour a glass. All the taste with none of the wait. Simply hold vinturi over a glass and pour wine through. vinturi draws in and mixes the proper amount of air for the right amount of time, allowing your wine to breathe instantly. You'll notice a better bouquet, enhanced flavors and smoother finish. It's that fast. It's that easy. When wine is poured in the vinturi, its design creates an increase in the wine's velocity and a decrease in its pressure. This pressure difference draws in air, which is mixed with wine for perfect aeration. What really matters is vinturi's affect on wine. Better Bouquet Sample the nose. You'll appreciate the subtle aeromatic differences and the full aroma of the wine. Vinturi allows wine to display its intended aromas. Enhanced Flavors Go ahead, take a sip. Vinturi's wine tastes better. It is more flavorful and has better mouthfeel. It tastes like a richer, more expensive wine. It tastes like it was intended to and is more enjoyable. Smoother Finish Ahh. Vinturi's aeration is very effective at softening tannins which results in a much more pleasant finish. Any bitterness or bad aftertaste is reduced or eliminated.

Approx. Price: $39.89

VOIP ebook from AVAYA

Avaya is offering a free VOIP for dummies, limited edition.

You can get your copy here.

click here

eBook: VoIP for Dummies
This Avaya limited edition of VoIP For Dummies shows how converging your traditional voice and data networks can save money and increase efficiency and productivity throughout your organization—just what it takes to remain competitive in today's marketplace.

Sans-Serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://nl.internet.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=1,3p24,1,1vx1,g395,1pyx,ljot" target=_blank>eBook: VoIP For DummiesSponsored by AvayaThis Avaya limited edition of "VoIP For Dummies" shows how converging your traditional voice and data networks can save money and increase efficiency and productivity throughout your organizationb�just what it takes to remain competitive in today's marketplace. Get your copy now. Click here.

Google Print Ads - in newspapers

Google has announced Print Ads, print adwords. There is no competitors bidding and each newspaper apparently will review the ads and communicate with you directly.

http://services.google.com/training/adwords/printads/print_adwords/

Prosper for Lending and Borrowing money

I've been on Prosper.com for about a year. Recently I have started to use it more actively.

Right now you can earn $25 when you signup as a lender.



In addition to those who want to lend money and earn good returns, you may want to borrow money.

Rose Parade Audio

A more direct link:
This is an audio tour of the floats featured in the 2008 Rose Parade. It begins with details about the making of a float and continues to provide interesting details about each of the 46 floats featured in the 119th Rose Parade.
2008 Rose Parade Floats.m4a

Pasadena Rose Parade 2008

We are going to the Rose Parade in Pasadena tomorrow we have seats in pretty much the same location as last year, near the Norton Simon Museum.

I'll be taking lots of pictures to share with you.

I was very interested to learn that this year the parade will feature audio tour of the floats. This is a good addition for those that want to learn more about the floats as the go by. Especially since those at the parade are not able to hear what those at home are hearing, unless then bring a radio or tv.


Contact:
PASADENA TOURNAMENTOF ROSES ASSOCIATION-->Vanessa Flores(626) 449-4100

Devon Gebhart
(316) 371-1500
Brianne Lunzmann
(949) 280-5513-->
ROSE PARADE® INTRODUCES FIRST-EVER AUDIO TOUR OF FLOATS ATPOST PARADE: A SHOWCASE OF FLOATS
Audio for walking tour available for free download
PASADENA, Calif. (December 26, 2007) – The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® announced plans for an audio tour of the floats featured in the 119th Rose Parade today. The audio files, which were created to enhance the viewing experiences of visitors at Post Parade: A Showcase of Floats, are available for download on iTunes® and Amazon MP3.
The free audio tour is the first-ever produced by the Tournament of Roses. It begins with details about the making of a float and continues to provide interesting details about each of the 46 floats featured in the 2008 Rose Parade in the order that they appear in the Parade. Tracks on the tour are matched to float numbers, which are displayed on the floats at Post Parade and are available in advance from the Tournament of Roses website at www.tournamentofroses.com.
The entire tour is approximately two hours long and is the perfect companion for the Rose Parade fan who wishes to learn more about each float while watching the Parade, visiting the float Decorating Places, or while taking the self-guided walking tour at Post Parade: A Showcase of Floats.
“We are very excited about this new way for our guests to enjoy Post Parade and the entire Rose Parade experience. We often hear that guests want to know more information about the floats and our audio tour provides an easy way to do just that,” said Pam McNeely, Chairman of the Post-Parade committee.
The script for the tour was written by Alfonso Robert Guerrero of Red Fish Productions, narrated by TJ Jones, and recorded and edited by Henry Correa of Dailey & Associates Advertising, West Hollywood. Studio and recording equipment was donated by Dailey & Associates Advertising, West Hollywood. The audio tour can be downloaded from iTunes and Amazon MP3.
Direct links to download the Audio Tour:
iTunes (can be found in the iTunes podcast directory): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/ wa/viewPodcast?id=270401288
Amazon.com/MP3 (can be found in the miscellaneous/spoken word category): http://www.amazon.com/2008-Tournament-Roses-Audio-Tour/dp/ B0011TTC5I/ref=sr_f2_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic& qid=1198265498&sr=102-1
The 119th Rose Parade themed Passport to the World’s Celebrations will take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008 at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands from throughout the nation. Following the Rose Parade, at 2 p.m. (PST), the 94th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi will feature an exciting match-up between two championship teams, showcasing the best of collegiate football. For additional information, please call (626) 449-ROSE, the 24-hour hotline, or visit www.tournamentofroses.com.

Lithium Batteries on airplanes

There's new regulations going into effect tomorrow for those traveling with batteries, in particular lithium ion batteries.

The Wall Street Journal has a good summary of the new law.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119911051123859361.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Most travelers will not be affected.

Outlook and IE Error

Today I finally spent a few minutes and resolved this issue. It appears to happen when you install and set another browser as the default.

This is from the Microsoft site:

The Locate Link Browser dialog box appears when you open a Web link in an e-mail message in Outlook 2003
View products that this article applies to.
function loadTOCNode(){}
Article ID
:
821692
Last Review

June 22, 2007
Revision


SYMPTOMS

When you click a Web link in an e-mail message in Outlook 2003, the Web site opens in a browser window and the Locate Link Browser dialog box appears.
Back to the top
CAUSE

This problem occurs on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer that has a third-party browser that does not support Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), such as Netscape Navigator and Mozilla.
Back to the top
RESOLUTION
loadTOCNode(1, 'resolution');
To resolve this problem change the registered file type for the URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol file type to use Internet Explorer. To do this, follow these steps:
1.
On the desktop, double-click My Computer.
2.
On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the File Types tab.
3.
In the Registered File Types list, click URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol, click Advanced, and then click Edit.
4.
In the Actions box, type open.
5.
In the Application used to perform action box, locate Internet Explorer (Iexplore.exe), and then click Open.
6.
In the Application box, type IExplore, and then click OK.

Thankfully the grave site situation is resolved

Upon our return to the Prairie Cemetery we found that the dirt and mess was removed from our aunt's grave site, and we were able to pay proper respects and say a prayer together as a family. It was unfortunate to have had this experience but we will be returning in years to come.

free virtual radio on your mobile.

Now get a free virtual radio on your mobile.

VirtualRadio brings Web radio stations to your phone. Listen to Internet radio stations from all over the world on your mobile phone with VirtualRadio software on your phone. VirtualRadio connects to the Internet through your mobile phone operator's network and links to more than 800 radio stations from all over the world. If you have a modern phone, you can directly connect to the Internet by using Wi-fi (WLAN or hotspots) and you can hear radio without being charged by your mobile phone operator. Just type www.vradio.org in the browser of your mobile phone and download the software to your phone. Enjoy and tell your friends! Please make sure you have either a S60 3rd edition or a UIQ 3 phone. Some Nokia S60 2nd editon are supported too. For mor information, visit the official website.
Labels: Mobiles, Software

Tillamook Air Museum

Tillamook Air Museum
Tillamook air Museum, See one of America's finest collection of over 30 War Birds including our P-38 Lightning, F4U-Corsair, P51-Mustang, PBY Catalina and ...
6030 Hangar Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141
Map of 6030 Hangar Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141
www.tillamookair.com/ - 20k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Craft List
Information
BLDG
How to Get Here
Gift Shop
Kids like the Air Museum too
Cafe
More results from tillamookair.com »

Blue Heron Cheese and Wine Tasting

Tomorrow we hope to go visit the Blue Heron Cheese Factory.

This is the site:
http://www.blueheronoregon.com/


Open 7 Days a Week, All Year!Summer Hours: 8am to 8pm (by Memorial Day)Winter Hours; 9am to 6pm
Address:
Blue Heron Cheese & Wine Company2001 Blue Heron DriveTillamook, Oregon 97141
email:
blueheron@oregoncoast.com
Numbers:
Tel - 1.503.842.8281Tel - 1.800.275.0639Fax - 1.503.842.8530

Live Help Kasamba

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Funeral Home and Cemetary Situation

My wife Jennifer Caballero and I are in Astoria, OR visiting my Uncle Felix who recently lost his wife Eileen Caballero. So today we decided to take some flowers to the grave site where Eileen was buried. She was buried last month at the Prairie Cemetery in Knappa, Oregon, which is located between Astoria and and Clastskanie. It's a small cemetery with less than 100 plots. There really isn't even parking.

At about 12noon we drove out and to our shock and dismay the grave site was covered with about 5' of dirt from a grave site next to the one for our family member. To top things off the tombstone had about 4' of sod stacked on top.

To say we were a little upset is an understatement. There is no contact info at the cemetery or office, nothing. There is a private road next to the cemetery where people drive to get to a private residence.

So we decided to stop by the funeral home, Caldwell Funeral Homes in Astoria. Owned and operated by Renee Caldwell.

Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary & North Coast Crematory
1165 Franklin Ave. • Astoria, Oregon 97103 Phone (503) 325-1811 • Fax (503) 325-2275 The Caldwell family has owned and operated the funeral home since 1976.

As a principal of the business, Renee acted very unprofessionally in my opinion, basically handing the phone to my wife to leave a message for the "manager" of the cemetery. Renee, get with the program on customer service and being proactive. We brought pictures and video of the situation. Why Renee didn't take control of the situation and have an immediate resolution is beyond me. I decided to confront Renee and speak up, asking her to take control and resolve the situation, and yes I was a little angry and emotional about it. She basically walked away and said that she would call the police if I didn't stop demanding her to take action.

Wow was my blood boiling when she walked away. What kind of coward is Renee, more importantly, what kind of business is she running? Where when a customer who is still grieving brings a situation like this to her attention and she reacts as she did? Basically walking away from the situation trying to wash her hands of the situation and passing the buck to someone else.

Later in the day my wife did speak with the wife of the gentleman who runs the cemetery where Eileen is buried. We received assurances that the situation was being resolved tonight. We are going back Saturday to pay our proper respects.

Apparently the they have no backhoe and did the plots by shovel(hand) and stack the sod on top of the tombstones, to keep them from getting muddy. That's at least the answer we received.

I don't know much about cemetery regulations and what is allowed and not allowed, but this whole approach seems wrong. You don't pile a heap of dirt on a plot that has just been closed less than two months ago. And why in the world is the only way to keep dirt or mud off a tombstone to stack sod on top?

Here's the text from the Caldwell Web Site:
http://caldwellsmortuary.com/about_us
The Care That Our Family Can Offer Yours, Simply Knows No Bounds"
Our Business
We pride ourselves on doing the best job for you possible. We advise and educate our customers so that they know their options and make the best and most meaningful arrangements for them, no matter how complex or how simple. We are adaptable to meet the wishes of all.
Why are we the best choice for you and your family?
I feel that is a question best answered by a trusted friend, medical professional, minister, or just the neighbor next door. After serving this community for 30 years I have the pleasure of letting my name and reputation speak for me. I accept the challenge of letting others give you the information that you are seeking about me, rather than me printing it for you to read here.
Renee' Caldwell
Who We Are
Funeral Directors
Renee' Caldwell
Brian Dutton
Devon Skelton

Our staff are all dedicated to the profession of caring for families in need of kindness, compassion, and advice at any time. These are caring people in a caring profession, available at a moments notice to offer their assistance.

Renee, please read your own site and take a refresher course on how to address these types situations. Remember the customer is always right! In this case the FAMILY is #1 anything you need to do, do it!

I hope to have closure to this in the next day.

More to follow.

SHALLON WINERY in Astoria, Oregon

THE BUILDING AND THE WINERY:
SHALLON WINERY is located in downtown Astoria, Oregon, two blocks from the Maritime Museum and across the street from the Heritage Center. You will pass the winery at the bottom of the hill on 16th street if you come down 16th street from having visited the Astoria Column. The address is 1598 Duane Street, but the main entrance is on 16th street.
The winery building was built and owned by a well known architect, John E. Wicks, in 1925, after the Astoria fire in 1922, in the Mediterranean style for which there are other examples in Astoria. It first opened as an automotive showroom for Packard, Pontiac, and Oakland automobiles. In 1939 it was remodeled into a freezer-locker for the public and has six inches of solid cork in all the walls and under the concrete on the floor, and two feet of ground cork overhead. The sub-basement is at original Columbia river beach level which is below street level (after the 1922 fire, Astoria's wooden streets on pilings were returned to the original elevation with concrete chair-walls and concrete streets, leaving extensive underground chambers conveniently used for utilities).
The building remained a refrigerated locker rental business for 30 years until 1969. It was a bicycle shop from 1973 to 1977. The winemaker started a complete remodeling of the upper street level in 1977; the one floor now containing the manufacturing room, a full laboratory, office, storage room, printing room, tool room, and tasting room.
The tasting room looks out over the four to five mile width of the Columbia river and the green hills of Washington state across the river. The Columbia River flows west to the Pacific Ocean another ten miles. Visitors may also view the lab and manufacturing room that has a green floor, pink and grey walls, a lot of hospital white and stainless, and no windows except four "trope l'oeil" windows.
The "windows" view three things separated in time and space. One is of Fort Astoria as it actually would have looked through the winery window - if the window were there after 1811. One is of the airship Akron as viewed by Paul from Astoria when he was a youngster. The third view is of the Hawaiin Islands - at a great distance - in the direction they are from the winery. (The next two wineries southwest of Astoria are on Maui and on Hawaii.)
The TASTING and SALES room in the winery is open most every afternoon in the year, even Christmas and New Years. The sign says "1 to 6 p.m.," but as the winemaker gets older, the one o'clock opening gets pushed a little later. (365 days a year for some 26 years is devotion!) If Paul misses one day and can't get anybody to stand by for him, there will be a nasty note on the door, "We drove 200 miles to get to your winery, and you weren't open!"
You can call the winery at (503) 325-5978 or e-mail to paul@shallon.com

THE NAME OF THE WINERY:
The winemaker's favorite local wild plant is the Salal with it's flowers and unusual berries. The Latin name for Salal is Gaultheria shallon. Salal grows from southern Alaska to northern California usually west of the Coast Range mountains. It is used in landscaping and flower arrangements, much of its wild foliage is picked and shipped to florists throughout the country where it is known as "lemon-leaf". It grows all along the highways, low to the ground and again taller in the woods. It has a small urn shaped pinkish white drooping flower and a round black berry with not much juice. Half the people that grow up here do not know what it is, and the other half's mothers and grandmothers told them it is poisonous. The fruit is not poisonous; the Indians used it all the time; it makes an excellent jam, jelly, or pie, but we cannot make wine from it, because it needs to be diluted with water, and the government wouldn't let us add that much water to a wine. The evergreen leaves are sturdy and leathery, making nice Christmas wreaths, the older leaves dark green, the younger leaves light green.
This is a good botanical drawing of the Salal (Gaultheria shallon):

Columbia River Maritime Museum

Tomorrow we are going to the:

Welcome to the Columbia River Maritime Museum
Columbia River Maritime Museum 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, Oregon 97103 Telephone: 503.325.2323 Fax: 503.325.2331. Open Daily 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Admission ...
1792 Marine Dr, Astoria, OR 97103
Map of 1792 Marine Dr, Astoria, OR 97103

Victor Caballero

Tillamook Air Museum

We are going to try to make it to this museum in Tillamook.
Tillamook Air Museum
Museum is located in Tillamook, Oregon in a WWII blimp hangar. The museum showcases combat aircraft

Tilamook Cheese Factory

Today we went to the Tilamook Cheese Factory. A pretty popular place right off the 101 in the town of Tilamook.

We got to sample some cheeses, including a new Garlic Cheddar and Pepper Cheddar.

I'll post some video of the factory later.

There are people that find it interesting to see the kiosks at facilities with errors or crashed. Well I report that one of the kiosks at the Tilamook Cheese visitor area had an error and dumped out to Windows. I'll post the screen picture later.

In Oregon

We are in Oregon for the next few days and the weather has been something to write about.

We have seen hail, snow, rain and sun. Cold! In the 30's at night and daytime maybe 40.

Today we had breakfast in Cannon Beach, a lovely place.

We then went on to Tilamook to see our Uncle and his new wife. Manolo and Sheila Garcia. They live on 3rd Street near the town center. They have a beautiful home that and she is a great cook. She didn't stop feeding us. What a great host and Manolo can carry a discussion on any topic. Today we discussed a book my Carroll Quigley, who carries many credentials and tells the histor of events. Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time (1966) ISBN 094500110X

More to follow on our trip. Stay tuned.

Apple's Stock

Apple is doing an amazing job of exceeding investor expectations as illustrated by the performance of the stock. In one year the stock is approaching almost 300% growth. Many speculate that it will continue.

52 - Week Range
76.77 - 200.96
12/27/06 - 12/26/07

The iPod has become an integrated instrument of life for many of us. The iPhone is the latest introduction making great headway into that area as well. If the price comes down and the phone is sold unlocked to work on any network, WOW, that would be a major score for Apple!

Nokia is doing this and people are responding very favorably to this.

More to follow.

Victor Caballero

Leaving for Astoria

We are leaving for Astoria, OR in the morning.
Merry Christmas to everyone!

2007 Holiday Shopping Season

Reports are coming in that sales in 2007 are up only 19% over 2006 and that this year is one of the worse in the past five years.

December 26, the day after Christmas should offer some good sales as retailers attempt to make up some sales.

More details are coming in.

Bible on a pinhead!!!

Wow now this is pretty impressive.

Technion researchers have succeeded in putting a full version of the Hebrew Bible, with vowel points, on 0.5 square millimeters – an area smaller than the size of a pinhead.
The nano-Bible was written as part of an educational program developed by the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute. The program aims to increase interest, on the part of youth, in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The idea to write the entire Bible on an area smaller than a pinhead was conceived of by Prof. Uri Sivan, head of the Nanotechnology Institute. The project was managed by physics’ doctoral student Ohad Zohar, the institute’s scientific advisor for educational programs, together with Dr. Alex Lahav, former head of the FIB laboratory in the Wolfson Microelectronics Research and Teaching Center.
The nano-Bible was written using a scientific device called FIB – Focused Ion Beam. With the aid of this device, it was possible to send focused beams of tiny particles (gallium ions) towards a specific object. When the particles hit the object, they cause the atoms of that object to bounce off of it, thus etching it. This is similar to digging a small hole in the earth using a water jet from a hose.
The nano-Bible was written on a silicon surface covered with a thin layer of gold (20 nanometers thick). “When we send the particle beam toward a point on the surface, the gold atoms bounce off of this point, thus exposing the silicon layer underneath. The diameter of the exposed point is about 40 nanometers. When we look at the written example using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the exposed silicon point looks darker than the gold surrounding it. By sending a particle beam towards various points on the substrate, we can etch any pattern of points, especially one that represents text,” explains Ohad Zohar.
The structure of the nano-Bible was built using a special software developed in the project’s framework, which enables etching text on the surface layer.
The nano-Bible project is part of an educational program that asks the following question: “How small can the Bible be?” The program uses this intriguing question in order to investigate modern methods of creating miniature structures and imaging on a nanometric scale, to present advanced technology for high-density information storage and to discuss future topics such as information storage using DNA molecules or other bio-molecules.
“The fact that the Bible contains a lot of information (some 10 million bits) – is the main thing. We are aware of many ideas for high-density information storage, but almost always, an attempt to apply these ideas for large quantities of information exposes new challenges and, in the end, leads to deeper understanding of the proposed method and its limitations,” say the Technion researchers.
“The nano-Bible project demonstrates the ability of miniaturization at our disposal. We are working hard at present on photographing the nano-Bible using the SEM, with the aim of enlarging the photo by 10,000 times and displaying it on a giant wall in the Technion’s Faculty of Physics. In this picture, which will be 7 meters by 7 meters, it will be possible to read the entire Bible with the naked eye (the height of each letter will be some 3 millimeters. Near this picture, the original – the nano-Bible itself, which is the size a grain of sugar – will be displayed,” explains Ohad Zohar.
Source: Technion

Happy Holidays

Want to wish everyone Happy Holidays!

I am hoping to launch two new ventures in 2008.

One is sure to be a hit with everyone who drives a car, especially in LA.

Wishing you the best 2008.

McDonalds Wi-Fi

A while back McDonalds started to offer wi-fi in their restaurants. I have yet to try it. I am going to try it on my trip to Oregon. Apparently if you are an AT&T DSL Pro subscriber you can use the service for no additional charge. We will find out how that works!

McDonald's - More Than 15,000 Wi-Fi Enabled Restaurants Around the Globe!

We believe in bringing you innovative and convenient services that enhance your McDonald's restaurant visit, and Wi-Fi is a perfect example. As McDonald's continues to deliver fast and friendly food service at more than 30,000 convenient locations around the world, you can now enjoy the possibility of staying connected with friends, family and co-workers. Just find a Wi-Fi ready Golden Arches (click here for Wi-Fi enabled locations in your area) and you can check e-mail or chat with your friends while your kids are having fun in the Playplace.

To access the Wi-Fi services in a restaurant, you need a Wi-Fi enabled device, such as a laptop or PDA. If you are unsure whether your laptop or PDA is Wi-Fi enabled, click here to determine what hardware is required.

Our local service providers provide high-quality Wi-Fi service through several convenient connection options: on-line credit card payment, subscriptions, prepaid cards, or (sometimes) promotional coupons. If you have questions or need technical help, the Wi-Fi provider's customer support number should be handy in the restaurant.

Please note that currently there are no roaming capabilities between different countries, neither for customers nor McDonald's employees. You will have to connect separately with the respective Wi-Fi service provider.

Enjoy surfing and working in your local McDonald's!

t-mobile wireless

T-Mobile USA, Inc. is a leading global provider for mobile communications services across America. T-Mobile offers the best in wireless price plans that give customers big buckets of minutes that can be used anytime during the day, nights and weekends.

Additionally, our nationwide rate plans feature free nationwide long distance and free nationwide digital GSM roaming.

T-Mobile services and technology and how it's changing the mobile communications industry while providing consumers nationwide coverage and rates for their mobile devices.

Toothbrush Sanitizer Germs: Germ Terminator Steam & Dry Heat Toothbrush Sanitizer

Now here's a product that has some uses in todays time of people being so concerned with germs.




The Germ Terminator Steam & Dry Heat Toothbrush Sanitizer and Clean Storage System (GT100 System) is the only FDA 510(k) cleared medical device of its kind designed for household use that kills greater than 99.9999% of all germs tested. After killing the germs on toothbrushes the system stores toothbrushes in a germ-free environment.

Here are the major bullet points regarding this fantastic, patented and revolutionary health-care system:

The GT100 System has been tested at three major independent laboratories.

Total kill rate against E. coli, staphylococcus aureus, salmonella, listeria, gingivalis, meningitidis, candida, herpes, HIV, flu virus, cold virus, hepatitis, and s. mutans.

The system is recommended by dentists, doctors, and dental hygienists.
Invented by James Song, author of the book "Why Your Toothbrush May Be Killing You Slowly

– How chronic, silent infections from toothbrush germs cause damaging, long-term and silent inflammation throughout the body."

Seen on TV by over 30 million people worldwide on PrimeTime Live with Diane Sawyer.
Approaching nearly one million units sold worldwide.

In a recent consumer study, over 92% of current GT100 customers would recommend the product to a family or friend.






When you hear it steam, you know it's clean. Finally, there is a safe, simple and completely effective solution to the dirty problem of toothbrush germs, and it makes perfect sense. There are actually a few methods floating around out there, but only one is the safest, most reliable, and most effective: the Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer. Using the Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer is hands-down the best way to make sure that your toothbrush is completely germ free. The Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer uses the proven power of steam to kill all germs, bacteria, viruses, fungi (molds and yeasts) and any other disgusting microbes that may have collected on your toothbrush. Most importantly, the Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer also provides a clean, germ-free environment where your toothbrush can be safely stored until the next time you use it.

The Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer is entirely unique with its patented steam-sanitization and germ-free storage system. Using the pre-measured Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer cup, you just add a little water to the sanitizing unit. The Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer generates a burst of continuous germ killing steam that safely, efficiently, and effectively wipes out greater than 99.9999% of all germs tested in major laboratory testing with absolutely no germs detected after any test! Again, all you need to do is add water!

You may have heard about other methods for cleaning your toothbrush, like soaking it in bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or mouthwash, boiling it, placing it in the dishwasher, exposing it to ultra-violet light radiation or ozone, or simply leaving it out to dry to get rid of the germs. A few of these techniques might work to kill some of the germs, but they are either essentially ineffective and/or potentially hazardous to your health.

With numerous worldwide patents and patents pending, the Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer is the most effective, natural, simplest to use and safest device ever created to sanitize your toothbrush. It takes only seconds of your time and it might be one of the most significant health decisions you can make for you and your family. It just makes sense. When it comes to something you put in your mouth, the bottom line is "CLEAN has got to be better than DIRTY". How can anyone argue with that logic?

Visa Gift Cards

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Claremont Farmer's Market

December 23, 2007
Jennifer and I went to the Claremont Farmer's Market. It was a beautiful day. They weather was great. Some areas got into the mid 70's. After the market we walked around a bit.

Here's some info on the Claremont Farmer's Market:

Name: Claremont Farmers & Artisans Market
Day: Sunday
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Indian Hill and 2nd Street
City: Claremont
County: Los Angeles
Manager: Oscar de Leon
Office Address: 111 S. College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: (714) 345-3087

Printable Map


Then we headed back to Monrovia and had breakfast at the Peach Cafe with my brother Dan Caballero and our nephew Justin Caballero. We ate on the patio. The Peach Cafe is a pretty good place. It took a while to get seated, about 20min. Which was fine as my Dan was driving over from Whittier. The water the server brought was frozen, I showed it to them and they said they use a fork to poke it..... go figure.... we did have a little sun and it started to melt. The only complaint I had about the food was that the potatoes in the skillet I had did not appear to be cooked, only boiled and then cut up. It would have been nice if they would have been fried, or heated on the "skillet". The pancakes here are really good. I think they use real buttermilk.

If you want to the Peach Cafe:
Peach Cafe
http://www.thepeachcafe.com/
141 E Colorado Blvd
Monrovia, CA 91016
(626) 599-9092

After breakfast we went to visit my folks, Victor Caballero and Margarita Caballero. We also saw my uncle and his wife. Fernando Caballero and Elva Caballero.

We had a nice visit outside in the patio.

After our visit with my folks we came home and fixed up a few things. I made another attempt to fix the leaking valve going into the new refrigerator we bought from Sears(I'll have more to say about it in another post).

Before dinner we decided to take a drive up to see the lights in the UHRA(Upper Hastings Ranch Association) lights on the streets. There are so many streets with lights. It is really one of the most organized lighting events around.
Then we went to the Balian home in Altadena, at Mendocino and Altadena. Every year there are so many people driving and walking around this mansion. This year we even saw vendors(3 of them) selling santa hats and various toys. It is really a pretty amazing display of lights.

We then came home and ate a bowl of sourdough clam chowder and salmon(from our Dream Dinners) and a salad.

It was a pretty busy day!

The Biggest Potluck in the Nation

The Biggest Potluck in the Nation

Union Station Foundation’s Annual Christmas Dinner-in-the-Park Brings 3,500 meals and holiday cheer to Pasadena's homeless community members.

Pasadena, CA, December 21, 2007 --(PR.com)-- This Christmas, those with no place to call home are invited to eat at the nation’s largest holiday potluck. Union Station Foundation, the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency serving homeless adults and families, will hold its Annual Christmas Dinner-in-the-Park on December 25 from 12-2 pm in Pasadena's Central Park.

This community event brings bountiful meals and holiday cheer to 3,500 people, many of whom are homeless, senior citizens, alone at the holidays or unable to afford a holiday meal.

“Our supporters bring donated turkeys, hams, side dishes and desserts to the park,” said Marvin Gross, Executive Director of Union Station Foundation. Community members will drop-off home cooked food at Fair Oaks/Del Mar from 9am -12pm.

Volunteers work together to accept drive-up food donations, decorate the park, set-up food stations, and serve more than 3,500 meals. Ten buffet lines, staffed with hundreds of volunteers of all ages, serving food to our homeless and low-income community members. The outdoor dining in the park will seat hundreds, and will have special areas designated for handicapped and senior citizens. In Santa’s Village, children will receive holiday gifts, donated by the Foy Foundation, Children’s Hunger Fund and Platte College.

Call (626) 240-4550 or visit www.unionstationfoundation.org to donate or learn about volunteer opportunities.

###

Union Station Foundation is the largest, most comprehensive social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income people in the Pasadena and West San Gabriel Valley area. Their mission is to offer homeless individuals and families the resources they need to transform their lives and become productive, stable, and self-supporting. Their programs are based on a belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every individual and they strive to provide the highest quality of services based on a foundation of respect for all people.

To accomplish their mission, they operate Passageways intake and assessment center, the 56-bed Adult Center, the 50-bed Family Center, Euclid Villa transitional housing apartments, and SOURCES career development program. Their team of skilled professional staff and volunteers provide homeless men, women, and children with the services they need to permanently escape homelessness and achieve self-sufficiency. With the exception of their transitional housing facility, all programs and services are provided free of charge.

Contact Information

Union Station Foundation Dana Bean 626 240 4550 dbean@unionstationfoundation.org www.unionstationfoundation.org

IMEEM and Universal Music - the state of labels and new media

There's been a lot of articles on how companies like IMEEM, SpiralFrog, and others are able to make deals with the major distribution labels. From everything I have been reading the labels are requiring a big upfront commitment with cash. This appears to be the only way the record companies will do deals. Money upfront.

I will write more about this in the next few days.

United Online postpones IPO

United Online postpones the ClassMates IPO, stating the climate for an IPO is not favorable.

Microsoft goes after pirates

According to the LA Business Journal, Microsoft has been actively taking tips from consumers about illegal copies of software being available from on ebay and Craig's List.

I have posted requests for software on CraigsList.org and have received several people offering copies. Even after I stated that I am only interested in original software NOT copies.
Sometimes I don't think people can read. Anyway, apparently Microsoft is hammering down further on the illegal copying of software.

More to follow.

TicketMaster and Live Nation

In an interesting move things are moving forward with Live Nation controlling its ticketing and disolving the TicketMaster partnership according to this story in the Wall St. Journal today.

Live Nation to Drop TicketMaster for German Rival
By ETHAN SMITH
December 21, 2007; Wall St. journal Page B5

Moving to take control of a key part of its business, concert-promotion
giant Live Nation Inc. said it plans to sell tickets to most of its
events with the help of Germany-based CTS Eventim AG when its agreement
with TicketMaster expires at the end of next year.

The announcement comes four months after TicketMaster said that it and
Live Nation had reached an impasse in talks to extend their 10-year
contract.

Details of the new arrangement have yet to be worked out, but its broad
strokes appear to offer Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Live Nation
important logistical and financial concessions it couldn't get from
TicketMaster. Under the new agreement, Live Nation's tickets are to be
sold primarily through LiveNation.com, and Live Nation will have control
over customer data. Live Nation said it also plans to sell tickets to
events being staged by third parties -- positioning itself as a direct
competitor to TicketMaster. It also is likely to give up less money in
transaction fees than it does under its deal with TicketMaster, which
typically takes half the "convenience charge" assessed on each ticket sale.

"We will provide the infrastructure and technology required to reshape
how Live Nation consumers access ticket inventory." CTS Eventim Chief
Executive Officer Klaus-Peter Schulenberg said in a statement.

It is unclear whether service fees are to be levied on tickets sold
under the new Live Nation-CTS Eventim regime, and how any fees would be
divided.

Such issues were the main stumbling block in Live Nation's talks with
TicketMaster. Live Nation wanted to change the system so that people
attending the company's events would buy tickets primarily through
LiveNation.com, rather than through TicketMaster's Web site. Live Nation
also wanted to control data about customers' buying habits and other
information. TicketMaster didn't want to cede that control.

The development comes as Live Nation has been trying to reposition
itself as a player with broader ambitions than promoting concerts, which
is minimally profitable. It recently struck a 10-year, $120 million deal
to represent pop star Madonna in nearly every aspect of her professional
life, including sale of recorded music and licensing of her image.

Live Nation has said it plans to sign as many as three dozen other
artists to similarly wide-ranging contracts. It also has acquired
companies that run online fan clubs and manufacture and sell merchandise
such as T-shirts.

Selling tickets is an important piece of what Live Nation Chief
Executive Michael Rapino recently described as a three-year
transformation of his company, whose stock price has sunk since the
October announcement of the Madonna pact, amid broader market problems
and concerns the deal is overpriced. The shares rose 10 cents to $14.12
in 4 p.m. composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Write to Ethan Smith at ethan.smith@wsj.com1

iPhone Observations

A couple items I thought I would share about the iPhone after having some friends and people at the office buy them and helping them set them up.

1. There is no voice recognition option. Many users have really become accustomed to using this feature on many other phones. Apparently this will soon be available, but having released a product without this feature was somewhat of a mistake.

2. The screen typing is somewhat difficult to use. I know there are options to adjust, but it is a little frustrating trying to type in a character and the wrong character comes up, the one next to the one you wanted. Maybe in the setup there could be something to help learn from the users point characteristics how to center better.

3. The screen does get dirty easily, looks like it does scratch as well. Apple should have included a couple of those screen guards with the iPhone.

4. Make it available to any carrier's network.

I love the iPhone, don't get me wrong.

Nanosolar and Solar Future

I am a firm believe in solar power and how solar will become a large part of our energy production in the this country. As more all electric cars start to hit the street, we are going to need more sources of energy for the electric grid. Solar is going to become one of those growing sources.

This week Nanosolar started to roll out their first panels. Nanosolar is backed by Google.

The quote the NYT from CEO Martin Roscheisen is that "with #1-per watt panels, it is possible to build $2-per-watt systems."

Here's some more info from the blog:

Our product is defining in more ways I can enumerate here but includes:

- the world’s first printed thin-film solar cell in a commercial panel product;

- the world’s first thin-film solar cell with a low-cost back-contact capability;

- the world’s lowest-cost solar panel – which we believe will make us the first solar manufacturer capable of profitably selling solar panels at as little as $.99/Watt;

- the world’s highest-current thin-film solar panel – delivering five times the current of any other thin-film panel on the market today and thus simplifying system deployment;

- an intensely systems-optimized product with the lowest balance-of-system cost of any thin-film panel – due to innovations in design we have included.

Today we are announcing that we have begun shipping panels for freefield deployment in Eastern Germany and that the first Megawatt of our panels will go into a power plant installation there.

As far as the first three of our commercial panels are concerned:

Panel #1 will remain at Nanosolar for exhibit.

Panel #2 can be purchased by you in an auction on eBay starting today.

Panel #3 has been donated to the Tech Museum in San Jose.

[These are obviously not the first three we ever produced – we have produced loads for testing – but these are the first three of what we consider our commercial panels.]

I think we will be hearing more about Nanosolar. I image that as Google is a big consumer of electricity with their datacenters they will invest in finding more cost effect forms of power. Solar on the buildings in Mountain View and various data centers around the world is going to grow!

I attended the first annual open house in LA for Solar and I was impressed. Sweatwater Digital in the San Fernando Valley was in the process of installing a solar power system comprised of 600 panels. One of the largest in the city.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8

Word is that Microsoft is preparing to release IE 8 Beta 1 in first half of 2008.

According to the IE blog, IE 8 has been in development for the past year and now renders the Acid2 Face in IE8 standards mode.

This according to Dean Hachamovitch - General Manager - Internet Explorer for Microsoft
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/

There have been many updates to Windows and IE this past year. It appears that Microsoft is doing everything they can to make Internet Explorer the best product it can be.

I am still open to using IE but have also been using Firefox and the latest beta is impressive. We will see how it shakes down and what program becomes the preferred browser. It's also interesting to mention Safari as it is now available in version 3 for Mac and Windows.

Google and Doubleclick Deal gets ok

Today we receive word that the Google - Doubleclick acquisition is has received the green light from the FTC, at least the FTC is not going to attempt to stop it.

This deal earlier this year and several groups attempted to prevent the deal from happening.

At the same time we hear Microsoft and Viacom have signed a $250 million deal.

iPhone from Apple

There is lots of interest in the Apple iPhone this year.

Use this link to buy your Apple iPhone today!

Local Advertising and Newspapers

Shelly Palmer reported that local newspapers are losing their share of advertising revenue. Here is the story Shelly reported.

NEWSPAPERS have lost the lead in local online advertising for the first time. According to media research from Borrell Associates, newspapers have seen their share of local ads drop to 33.4% - down from 44.1% just three years ago. Internet companies now have 43.7% of the local ad market. Meanwhile, ad spending on social networks is expected to almost double next year, reaching $2.2 billion dollars. $1.2 billion was spent on the social nets in 2007, with MySpace and Facebook earning 70% of the revenue.

If you haven't been to Shelly Palmer's site you should check it out.

At www.media30.com.

Affiliate Summit and Shawn Collins

I want to thank Shawn Collins and the folks at Affiliate Summit for the book I received yesterday. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The book is Be Unreasonable: The Unconvential Way to Extraordinary Business Results by Paul Lemberg. Click Here to buy

I will read this on my trip to Astoria, OR to visit my Uncle Felix next week.

I am trying to find room in my budget to attend Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas Feb 26-28, 2008. I know there are some pretty good discounts floating around.
It is a great event Shawn and the Affiliate Summit Team put on.

Guess the price of the item and win $3500

I am a little skeptical when I see ads like these, just more examples of what marketers are trying to do to capture people as leads.

Car Loans

This site offers to provide users with options for car loans.

Try it out if you are looking for a car loan in your area.

More on Bob Dylan at the Skirball Cultural Center

Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956–1966
Skirball Cultural Center presents BOB DYLAN’S AMERICAN JOURNEY, 1956–1966, Organized by Experience Music Project
January 11–March 30, 2008


Multimedia exhibition features newly developed interactive gallery that invites visitors to re-mix and re-imagine original Dylan recordings

LOS ANGELES—Few figures in the history of American popular music have attained the status of Bob Dylan (b. 1941). To critical and popular audiences alike, his distinctly American body of work matches the legacies of Walt Whitman, Louis Armstrong and his own early hero, Woody Guthrie.

On view at the Skirball Cultural Center from February 8 through June 8, 2008, Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956–1966, organized by Experience Music Project (EMP), is a visual and aural recounting of Dylan's transformation from rock 'n' roll–loving Midwestern teenager to Greenwich Village folk troubadour to the rock star/poet who electrified contemporary songwriting. The exhibition not only illuminates this fertile decade in Dylan’s personal and artistic development, but chronicles a tumultuous period in American history, marked by the Civil Rights and anti-war movements.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Katie Klapper
(323) 874-9667
katie@katieklapper.com

Mia Cariño
(310) 440-4578
communications@skirball.org

Hothouse Studios

Richard Morales and his crew are doing some amazing things in the rehearsal space community. Be sure to check out his hotsheet. You can subscribe by clicking here.

Even if you are not in the area you will want to subscribe as there are many articles you can read and a good source of information in the business.

Subscribe to the HotSheet
Email:

Facility with HD video

CenterStaging has an amazing facility where you can walk out of their facility with high-definition video or even go through their post production facility.

What makes this facility unique is that the video is shot with 12-16 robotically controlled cameras. With a 150TB Apple SAN. There are no camera people in the room. Like the "fly on the wall"

Specializing in music but any type of production can be accomodated. Music videos, rehearsals, table reads, and more.

See some of the content at rehearsals.com.

Call the folks at CenterStaging at 818.559.4333 for more info and to schedule your shoot.

The Top Deal

www.thetopdeal.com

Fix your movies with FixMyMovies.com

I just heard about this site, www.fixmymovie.com, from Jay over at SteamingMediaDojo. The service offers to enhance your movies through the use of DSP. It is also a video sharing site. Powered by MotionDSP patent pending video enhancement technology.

Fixmymovie will take videos from mobile phones, digital cameras, or a webcam.

You can try it for free at www.fixmymovie.com.

Priceline air travel and hotels

Looking to name your own price on travel?

Car rental and hotels as well as airlines.

Travelocity deals

Travelocity is a good site to check when you are getting ready to take a trip.
Airline, Hotels, Air, car rental

Best Buy Specials

Look to save a few buys this season at Best Buy, they offer in store pickup.

Staples Weekly Specials

If you are looking for the Staples weekly specials, this is a pretty good place to go.

Skirball Milestone

I just learned that since opening in June 2007, the Noah's Ark Exhibit at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles has been visited by 50,000 people!!!

This is a great accomplishment for an establishment offering a rich experience.

I went through the exhibit last weekend and can only say great things about it. The creativity and interactivity with and by the kids is fantastic. The story of Noah's Ark is a great way to communicate so many messages to kids and families.

This is the kind of place you want to keep coming back to visit. Kids will have a different experience every time, I can assure you it will always be good.

Check out more on the Skirball Cultural Center at www.skirball.org

-Victor Caballero

More info on Starbucks and the Marines

Summary of the eRumor
An email from a Marine who says some Marines wrote to Starbucks to say how much they liked Starbucks coffee and to request some donated coffee for the Marines.
The eRumor says Starbucks responded by saying they don't support and war and will not send any coffee.
The writer urges a boycott of Starbucks.





bullet The Truth
TruthOrFiction.com contacted Starbucks about the story.

Starbucks says that the originator of the email, Sgt. Howard Wright, and talked with him about his complaint.
He has now sent a follow-up email to his email list, which appears below.

Starbucks assured him of their support of the military and that the only reason any coffee was not donated was because the official Starbucks donation policy authorizes such gifts to officially designated public charities, including libraries and schools, and that the U.S. military or military personnel do not qualify.
It was not meant to be a comment on the war or the service of military personnel in the war.
The company said that there have been employees that have showed their support through donations of coffee.
Starbucks told us that many of the company's employees (called "partners" by Starbucks) receive one pound of free coffee each week and some of that coffee has gone to members of the military or related organizations.
For example, the employees in the Starbucks in Atascadero, California, decided to send their weekly free coffee to troops in Afghanistan and there are other such stories about Starbucks coffee finding its way into the hands of military personnel.

Here is Sgt. Wright's follow-up email after Starbucks spoke with him:

Dear Readers,



Almost 5 months ago I sent an e-mail to you my faithful friends. I did a wrong thing that needs to be cleared up. I heard by word of mouth about how Starbucks said they didn't support the war and all. I was having enough of that kind of talk and didn't do my research properly like I should have. This is not true. Starbucks supports men and women in uniform. They have personally contacted me and I have been sent many copies of their company's policy on this issue. So I apologize for this quick and wrong letter that I sent out to you.



Now I ask that you all pass this email around to everyone you passed the last one to. Thank you very much for understanding about this.



Howard C. Wright

Sgt USMC

1st Force Rcon Co

1st Plt PLT RTO

Starbucks and the Marines

Here's some interesting email I got today.....

Recently Marines in Iraq wrote to Starbucks because they wanted to
let them know how much they liked their coffees and to request that they
send some of it to the troops there. Starbucks replied, telling the Marines
thank you for their support of their business, but that Starbucks does not
support the war, nor anyone in it, and that they would not send the troops
their brand of coffee.

So as not to offend Starbucks, maybe we should not support them by
buying any of their products! I feel we should get this out in the open. I
know this war might not be very popular with some folks, but that doesn't
mean we don't support the boys on the ground fighting street -to-street and
house-to-house.

If you feel the same as I do then pass this along, or you can
discard it and no one will never know.

Thanks very much for your support. I know you'll all be there again when I
deploy once more.

Semper Fidelis.
Sgt. Howard C. Wright
1st Force Recon Co
1st Plt PLT

PLEASE DON'T DELETE THIS . . ALLOW IT TO BE
PASSED TO ALL IN MEMORY OF ALL THE TROOPS WHO HAVE DIED SO THAT WE MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE TO SUPPORT THEM OR NOT! ! !

Also, don't forget that when the Twin Trade Towers were hit the fire
fighters and rescue workers went to Starbucks because it was close by for
water for the survivors and workers and Starbucks charged them! ! !

JUST A NOTE TO THIS; STARBUCKS HAD STORES ON SEVERAL MILITARY BASES IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARE NOW BEING REMOVED BECAUSE OF THIS. GO GET 'EM AMERICA. STAND-UP FOR OURSELVES!

As an American and a fellow Marine I will back my brothers in boycotting Starbucks! SEMPER FI
~PFC. Donnie Tice
2nd FSSG
Camp Lejune NC


-------------------------------IN GOD WE TRUST-------------------

What to Include on Your Music Promotion Website

What to Include on Your Music Promotion Website
by: Ty Cohen

One of the powerful tools you can have as when attempting independent music promotion is a website. This is a given. There is absolutely no excuse for a musician, in this day and age, to not have a website. Your website is how you will reach the world. This is how you will market yourself to every single person you come in contact with. The internet and your website will be two of the most powerful music promotion resources you will have.

If you are sold on the idea of online music promotion and are ready to start your site but don’t know what to include, then you have come to the right place. It is crucial that you properly design your site and include all the correct information. You want to be as creative and stylish as possible, all the while staying true to who you are and what your music is about.

Other independent artists are making a killer living online selling their music and merchandise and so should you. independent music promotion on your website will be best achieved if all the right information is displayed. Your online music promotion success depends on it.

First, you need to add all of your contact information onto your site. This includes all phone numbers, email addresses, mailing address etc…In addition to this, you are going to need a bio of you or your band. Remember, with independent music promotion, you have no one else to rely on so try to be as thorough as possible.

Do you have any press releases, reviews or customer testimonials? If you do, incorporate these. It will let your future fans know that you presently have happy, committed fans. And of course you are going to need an upcoming schedule of some sort so your fans know where to go to hear you.

One of the most powerful music promotion resources you can acquire is an email list. With this list you can keep your fans up to date on the latest news and happenings with you or your band.

Lastly, you have your sounds and sights. Post some photos or video clips from live events. Action photos are always great so if you don’t have some, get some. Include downloadable sound clips from your CDs, this will entice folks to want more. And the best part, place your CDs, MP3 tunes and merchandise for sale! Incorporate all of the above things into your site and you will no doubt be an online music promotion success.

About the Author:
Ty Cohen, the online music industry's most recognizable voice is the former owner of a successful independent record label, current owner of Platinum Millennium publishing and nation-wide music industry seminar speaker and panelist. He is also the author and creator of over 40 best-selling music business books, reports, courses, audio products and other music industry "How to" resources, that have helped tens of thousands of individuals like you to successfully find their way in the music business. Visit: http://www.musiccontracts101.com/cmd.php?Clk=2198789 for more information on online music promotion, music promotion resources and independent music promotion.

Warriors vs. Worriers

Listening to a conference call with Ty Cohen. He is talking about the differences with WARRIORS and WORRIERS.
Tonight's Motivational Music Tele-seminar

Here's some of the highlights from the call:

Recognize your uniqueness.
Stay true to what makes you happy
India.Arie
Jay Z - knows how to do it, creates value in him and his music

Being a person of integrity and ethics, strong work ethic, companies will come seek you out.

You have to do things to get the word out, YouTube, MySpace, Fan Generation, Giveaways, Articles, etc...

Traits:
Warriors
Born for success and destined for greatness
Decisive -
Don't worry about what other people think
Do what is in their heart
Don't try to please everyone with your music
Takes action for themselves, constantly on the go, constantly trying to help their carriers, to teach themselves something
Give it 120%
stay focused, I am focused to put things into perspective. What is important for the day.
Elevated expectations - they want more, they know they can have more, not that they have to be broke, waiting for handouts, they know they do things that will get them what they want.
No worries, aim high to sell 50 cds a day, with no discounts, full price
No holds bar, set goals and achieve them
Have a faith in themselves
Take chances away from the normal
Focused - they know what they want and devise a plan until they achieve or surpass.
Don't play for peanuts, don't beg for deals, position themselves to draw people to see value and people can't turn you down,
Build value in yourself
Prepared and Plan - every night they plan the next days activities the goals, keep a pen with you and piece of paper

Worriers
Indecisive - worry so much about making a decision. Ty mentioned one of the artist
They worry about what other people think, every little thing
Try to please everyone or too many people, never please themselves and cause a mess
Try to cater to everyone
They claim to always be planning waiting for right moment, they never take action,
Worried about selling a limited amount, i.e. 50 cds for a week
live meager lives
never been taught to make money with their talent or that they need someone to assist them
Stop being afraid of going to the next steps, like signing with a major label or not being able to do it yourself, do you need a major label?
Expect labels to hand them a deal
Worry about what if
Full of fear, nobody will listen, color of background, simple things
Worried about putting it out
Easily distracted
No idea, no plan, no idea what they are doing from day to day, not getting things done, wasting time


Change your attitude, people will start to recognize you!

Testimonials! Be a fanatic and put in 120%!

Getting you music out there. Sell music online like crazy with the website, www.sellmusiconlinelikecrazy.com How to use the internet to sell your music on a global level. Like Soldier Boy

Ty holds this call weekly, I recommend it.

Next week, "call to action" How to get people to your site. To recognize your business, services, talent

Imeem To Offer Universal's Music And Videos

December 10, 2007

Imeem To Offer Universal's Music And Videos
Imeem now has deals with all four major music companies to compensate them and their artists by sharing ad revenue.

Universal Music Group's entire digital music and video catalogue will stream for free on the social media networking site, imeem.
The companies announce an agreement Monday that completes deals between all four major music companies and imeem, which compensates labels and artists by sharing ad revenue. The arrangement is a new model for the music industry, which has been struggling to increase profits as the distribution of music changes radically because of the Internet.

According to eMarketer, spending on advertising on social networks will rise from $900 million this year to more than $2.5 billion in 2011.

The social media networking site, imeem, claims 19 million unique visitors each month and 50,000 new registered users each day. Users can upload their favorite music, videos, and photos, search for and stream videos, find new content through social discovery, and create custom playlists to share with friends on and off the site.

In October, comScore ranked imeem the fastest growing social site in the United States. Hitwise ranked imeem the fourth largest American social networking site and the fourth largest American media and entertainment site. The site has drawn ads from Apple, Microsfot, AT&T (NYSE: T) Wireless, T-Mobile, Nike, Puma, and others.

Universal's catalogue includes works from Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani, the Pussycat Dolls, Maroon 5, and Nelly. The company has operations or licenses in 77 countries. Its labels include Island Def Jam Music, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Verve, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Deutsche Gramophone, among others.

"imeem has developed an innovative way to make our artists' music a central part of the social networking experience," Doug Morris, chairman and CEO of UMG, said in a statement. "More importantly, they've done so the right way -- by working with UMG to provide an exciting musical experience for consumers, while ensuring that our artists are fairly compensated for the use of their works."

The Universal deal comes after imeem has announced deals with Warner Music Group, EMI Music, and Sony BMG.

Microsoft starts offering U.S. ads on MSN Mobile

Microsoft starts offering U.S. ads on MSN Mobile
Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:28am EST

Microsoft Corp. began on Monday to place advertisements on its U.S. MSN Mobile page, moving into the nascent mobile phone advertising business.

Computer-based Web usage dwarfs mobile Internet use in the United States, but companies like Microsoft, Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. see advertising tied to mobile phones as potentially more lucrative than the $40 billion online advertising market.

The company will start with advertisements from Bank of America, Paramount Pictures and Jaguar. Microsoft already sells mobile phone advertisements in Belgium, France, Spain, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Microsoft's idea is to offer customers the option to place advertising across a wide range of platforms from the Internet to mobile phones to its Xbox Live online video game service.

Microsoft also plans to bring new features such as astrology and movie ticket buying to its MSN Mobile page.

California Hall of Fame 2007

California Hall of Fame - Class Of 2007:

Ansel Adams
Best known for his dramatic photographs of the American West, Ansel Adams achieved a popularity that few other photographers have known. Dedicated to wilderness preservation, he succeeded in changing the way Americans perceived their natural environment.

Milton Berle
Milton Berle (Berlinger), who became known as "Mr. Television" for his role in popularizing the new medium, had a career that was one of the longest and most varied in show business, spanning silent film, vaudeville, radio, motion pictures and television.

Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple, which he co-founded in 1976. Apple leads the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook Mac computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also leading the digital music revolution with more than 100 million of its iPod portable music players sold and more than 2.5 billion songs legally downloaded from its iTunes online store.

Willie Mays
To many, Willie Mays is the greatest all-around baseball player in history, excelling in hitting for average, hitting for power, fielding, throwing and base running. During 22 seasons of major league play, the "Say Hey Kid" hit 660 home runs, putting him in fourth place for the all-time home run record.

Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi, a global symbol of American wine and food, introduced technical improvements and marketing strategies that brought worldwide recognition to the wines of California's Napa Valley.

Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno is one of the few performers to have won all four of the most prestigious showbusiness awards: the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony.

Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson will always be remembered as the civil rights pioneer who broke baseball's color barrier. When he stepped up to the plate for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, he became the first black player to play modern-day Major League Baseball.

Jonas Salk
Jonas Salk became an international hero when he developed the first successful vaccine against polio, which once crippled or killed thousands every year. Thanks to his work and that of others in the field, the disease has been nearly eradicated today. He never patented the vaccine, nor did he earn any money from his discovery, preferring to see it distributed as widely as possible.

John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck's writing, deeply rooted in the Salinas Valley of his youth, earned him worldwide recognition. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 for "his realistic as well as imaginative writings, distinguished by a sympathetic humor and a keen social perception."

Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor has been enchanting audiences for more than 60 years. Born in England of American parents, Taylor relocated with her family to Los Angeles during World War II. Stunningly beautiful even as a child, she soon caught Hollywood's attention, and in 1944, "National Velvet" catapulted her to stardom. She went on to star in more than 50 more films. Nominated five times, she won Best Actress Academy Awards for "Butterfield 8" (1960) and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966). One of her most famous roles remains "Cleopatra" (1963), in which she became the first actress to earn $1 million for a film.

Earl Warren
One of the most influential Supreme Court Chief Justices in U.S. history, Earl Warren created fundamental and lasting changes in American society. Born March 19, 1891, in Los Angeles, Warren was the son of immigrant parents. As a youth in Bakersfield, he worked summers for Southern Pacific Railroad. He later said that his progressive political and legal attitudes were the result of seeing firsthand the lives and struggles of working people.

John Wayne
Appearing in more than 175 films during a career that spanned a half-century, John Wayne became the personification of the Western hero and an American icon. Nearly 30 years after his death, he still consistently ranks among the most popular movie stars of all time.

Tiger Woods
Born and raised in Southern California, Tiger Woods dreamed of being the world's best golfer from the time he was a child. Encouraged by his father, also a golfer, he revealed his talents early, swinging his way onto television with Bob Hope at age 2, and making it into Golf Digest magazine at age 5.

More Resources:

www.CaliforniaMuseum.org

CenterStaging Cutbacks

I want to do a special post for a few of my fellow co-workers who have been laid-off in the past week.

Just today we learned that Warren Weideman and Courtney McGhee have been laid-off from CenterStaging(CNSC)/rehearsals.com in Burbank, CA.

Some of the others laid off include:
Todd Roberts
Matt Johnson
Jacquie Johnson
Hank Daniels
Jason Green
Bernard
Jordan Torso
Rik Reinholdtsen
Antonia

More updates to follow. But my thoughts go out to these people. I enjoyed working with them in the limited time we worked together.

-Victor

Plastic Shell Packaging

I thought I would bring up a sore subject. How many times have you purchased a product that is encased in one of those plastic shells, that is nearly impossible to break into?

The biggest problem with these packages isn't that most of us can't get into them without much difficulty, but that what you end up in the process. I just bought one of the TomTom ONE GPS units and I must say it had to be one of the most difficult shells to open, not only was he plastic extra thick, but there are metal pieces on the hole where the package goes onto a display rack.

Why not have packaging that is sealed, but also hard to open unless you have purchased it? Perhaps once you purchase the item the store has a device that removes part of the seal so that it is easier to open.

Or instead of using these plastic shells, use a recycled box material. I prefer this packaging any day. Plastic is bad for the environment and is unecessary.

Here are a few tools which can be of help with opening these shells.

OpenNX:
http://www.myopenx.com/home.htm

Pyranna:
http://www.pyranna.com/

Shears and scissors will also work, but these above devices are a little more effective.

North By Northeast Music Festival & Conference

North By Northeast Music Festival & Conference (NXNE) is accepting submissions.
70,00 fans and over 600 accredited media show up for the Music Festival and gives
over 500 artists the chance to showcase for agents, talent buyers, media, promoters,
labels and other industry professionals. Over 2,300 delegates show up for the
Music Conference to listen to demos and attend mentoring sessions. The Festival is held
June 12 to 15, 2008 . Sonicbids will automatically submit you band for consideration
with a six-month, "risk free," membership ($25). Go to www.sonicbids.com for details.

A weekly radio program on KPFK 90.7 FM called For The Record and hosted by Samm Brown
is seeking artists/bands for airplay and critique. The program focuses on the music business,
but also presents a segment that showcases new and emerging artists. To submit you music for
airplay and critique, send a package to Samm Brown's For The Record, KPFK Radio, 90.7 FM,
11054 Ventura Blvd. No. 237 , Studio City , CA. 91604

Solar Power Event in Los Angeles: Solar Open House Dec 8, 2007

I am excited to learn about this event this weekend here in Los Angeles. It's the first annual Solar Open House at one of the leading facilities for Hi Def video production and editing.

Solar Open House & MUCH more!
The first annual Solar Open House and Green Holiday Gift Fest, hosted by Renewable LA, is Sat. Dec. 8th and is FREE and open to the public. There will be free clean car rides, a solar tour of one of San Fernando Valley's largest solar installations (100KW!!!), organic food, entertainment, continuous screenings of Who Killed the Electric Car, and some green seminars as well. This sounds like a great event you won't want to miss!!!

More info/Press Release: http://www.renewablela.org/Renewable%20LA%20Release.pdf

Date: Sat. December 8

Time: 10-5

Location:
American Hi Definition and Sweetwater Digital
7635 American Business Park Way
Van Nuys, CA 91406

View Larger Map


Cost: FREE FREE FREE (and free parking)

Some of the seminars will cover:
- Who's reviving the electric car?
- Solar Home Financing
- Environmentalism for Dummies
- Biodeisel: Out of the FOG (Fats, Oils & Greases)
- The Present and Future of Clean Car Technology

For more info visit: http://www.renewablela.org/

Nasty Spyware

So I've been hit with a nasty spyware.

My IE browers wants to launch a new window usually an address of 67.201.36.14 will come up in the browser window. But I get all sorts of pops and the sites that come up range from search sites, to adult sites. I imagine that these people that created this somehow are getting backend revenue from the clicks?

These are some of the steps I am taking now to fix and prevent this from happening again. I thought I was protected against spyware, I guess not.

Thanks to the folks at SWI Forums.

Please download VundoFix.exe, and save it to your Desktop.
Double-click VundoFix.exe to run it.
Click the Scan for Vundo button.
Once it's done scanning, click the Remove Vundo button.
You will receive a prompt asking if you want to remove the files, click YES
Once you click yes, your desktop will go blank as it starts removing Vundo.
When completed, it will prompt that it will reboot your computer, click OK.
Please post the contents of C:\vundofix.txt and a new HiJackThis log.Note: It is possible that VundoFix encountered a file it could not remove.In this case, VundoFix will run on reboot, simply follow the above instructions starting from "Click the Scan for Vundo button." when VundoFix appears at reboot.Then, please download Combofix by sUBs.1. Save it to your Desktop.2. Double click combofix.exe & follow the prompts.3. When finished, it shall produce a log for you. Post that log, as well as a fresh HijackThis log, in your next reply


First, navigate to Start --> Run, and type Combofix /u in the box that appears. Click OK afterwards. Notice the space between the X and the /uNext, Please download OTMoveIt
Double click OTMoveIt.exe.
Click the CleanUp! button.
Select Yes when the "Begin cleanup Process?" prompt appears.
If you are prompted to Reboot during the cleanup, select Yes.
The tool will delete itself once it finishes.Note: If you receive a warning from your firewall or other security programs regarding OTMoveIt attempting to contact the internet, please allow it to do so.After that, please open HijackThis, and select Do a system scan only.Place a checkmark next to the following entries:R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blankO2 - BHO: (no name) - {BBB05D9E-0297-404D-A6BF-D8F2876B84A6} - (no file)O2 - BHO: (no name) - {F15BC6B6-0D55-4470-AC4F-2D14913FDD47} - (no file)Then, close all other open windows, leaving only HijackThis open, and select Fix checked.Now, restart your computer, post a fresh HijackThis, and let me know how things are running now.



Please open HijackThis, and select Do a system scan only.Place a checkmark next to the following entry:O20 - Winlogon Notify: iifdedb - iifdedb.dll (file missing)Then, close all other open windows, leaving only HijackThis open, and select Fix checked.Besides that, good work. Your log appears to be clean!Now that your computer seems to be in proper working order, please take the following steps to help prevent reinfection:1) Download and install Javacool's SpywareBlaster, which will prevent malware from being installed on your computer. A tutorial on it can be found here.2) Download and install IE-Spyad, which will place over 5000 'bad' sites on your Internet Explorer Restricted List. A tutorial on it can be found here.3) Go to Windows Update frequently to get all of the latest updates (security or otherwise) for Windows.4) Be sure to update your Antivirus and Antispyware programs often!Finally, please also take the time to read Tony Klein's excellent article on: So How Did I Get Infected in the First Place?