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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

ation|Web optimization|Website seo|Seo optimization|Seo optimisation} Expert Advice - Getting Ahead Using SEO

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Making Money Internet

The Gravity Of The Situation – Now With Natalie Portman UPDATE The Hollywood Reporter… reports that Jonas Cuaron has had an untitled pitch picked by by Warner Bros, even though his previous big screenplay Gravity...

Fox Like Damon Lindelof’s New Alien Prequel Script, Natalie Portman, Being Frugal Joe Sommers will take the first half of this post, which I’ll put in grey. Then I’ll take the second.
It would seem reports of...

What Part Do Ben Affleck And Natalie Portman Have To Play In The Next Superman Movie? We learned last night that Darren Aronofsky was one of the many potential options as to who might be handed control of Warner Bros....

Tom Tykwer And The Wachowskis To Direct Cloud Atlas Together, Natalie Portman Expects A Small Role I don’t know long it would take for copies of Entertainment Weekly to end up on the shelves of a British Borders but it...

Trailer And Poster For Aronofsky’s Black Swan With Natalie Portman
The trailer for Black Swan reveals that Darren Aronofsky is sticking with the loose-but-punchy aesthetic we saw in The Wrestler, rather than the more...

Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts let investors in on a little secret Wednesday during his keynote speech at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom conference in San Francisco.

The 51-year-old executive's biggest concern over the last year was nothow best to fold NBC Universal into Comcast. No, Roberts said, it was the transition to replace his No. 2 executive, Steve Burke, who had been in charge of the day-to-day operations of the company's lucrative cable business.

Last month, when Comcast took control of NBC Universal, Burke became chief executive of the television and movie company. Burke surrendered his role and title of chief operating officer of Comcast. Neil Smit -- who joined Comcast 13 months ago from cable company Charter Communications -- is now executive vice president in charge of all of Comcast's cable operations.

Roberts called the executive changes Comcast's "most important transition."

After all, Comcast's core business of cable TV, Internet and telephone service brings in $36 billion in annual revenue. Comcast's programming business, which now includes NBC Universal, generates a little more than half that amount.

Despite dramatic changes underway in the media business, Roberts remains bullish on the company's prospects. Comcast raised its dividend last month and plans to buy back $2 billion in stock. The Philadelphia-based company, Roberts said, took control of NBC Universal at a particularly advantageous time. The NBC Universal businesses are now doing better than when the deal was first announced in late 2009, and Comcast needed less money than it had anticipated -- $6.2 billion in cash versus $6.5 billion at the time of the announcement -- to pay General Electric Co., which now has a minority stake in NBC Universal.

The television advertising market has rebounded in the last year, and there's a new stream of revenue as cable companies begin to pay the broadcast networks for their programming.

Roberts said he expects NBC to help bolster Comcast's Golf Channel and Versus, a cable sports network. On the movie side, Comcast can use its clout to shorten the traditional period of time before movies become available on DVD and video-on-demand services, a benefit to Comcast customers. And soon, NBC Universal programming will be available, joining Turner channels, HBO, Starz and Showtime, on Comcast's anytime, everywhere TV service, Xfinity TV, which now has an application available for the iPad.

On Wednesday, Roberts suggested that the company's jewel is its broadband Internet service, which now has 17 million customers. That makes Comcast the largest Internet provider in the nation at a time when consumers are increasingly watching news and entertainment online.

"In the next 10 years, people will want more bits in their house than ever before," Roberts said, referring to Internet network capacity. And Comcast's investment in its high-speed networks should help it battle rivals that have cut into Comcast's customer base: satellite TV providers and telephone companies AT&T and Verizon, which now offer Internet and TV channels.

"We are focused on broadband," Roberts said. "The bet we are making is to be the best pipe. It's as simple as that."

-- Meg James

Photo: Brian Roberts. Credit: George Widman / Associated Press

BenchCraft, LLC announced that it will debut its Concert Series, a brand new line of recliners with an integrated sound method, at Higher Point Marketplace on October 17-22, 2009. Concert Sequence recliners characteristic two built-in stereo speakers along with a subwoofer created exclusively to make a full assortment of sound. It's got tactile motors which may possibly vibrate with the sound or be chosen independently like a massage technique, and separate controls that enable for particular person adjustments to be crafted to the volume, bass/treble, plus the tactile/massage element. The method, that will possess a starting up price tag point of $699, may also include things like a mini audio jack so users can connect to their diverse audio resources (i.e. iPods, MP3 players, cell phones, and so on.). To that conclude, Sinning noted that Berkline will even be introducing in decide on motion
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Monday, March 14, 2011

Making Easy Money

When Pocketgear changed course recently and announced it was going to be a white-label app store provider for other companies called Appia, I said we should be prepared for an app store onslaught. Well, it appear it may be starting now with Opera opening the Mobile App, a web storefront where 100 million Opera browser users will be able to buy apps.

Opera said the store will be a Speed Dial link in the Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers and will offer apps for Android, Symbian, BlackBerry and Java. The number of apps available will vary according to the end device, with the store only presenting apps that work on that phone. Users will get a tailored store experience that includes local language and currency support, too. By leveraging Appia, Opera will have the ability to offer some 140,000 Appia apps on various platforms and will be able to boast its own store with minimal effort.

As I said earlier, the app market is booming with some projecting off-deck app markets eclipsing native app stores in revenue by next year. Forrester Research recently turned heads by predicting the mobile app market will be worth $38 billion by 2015. That’s a staggering sum, considering Apple’s App Store has generated a little less than $3 billion since it opened in July of 2008, with developers taking $2 billion so far. But it shows there’s a lot of optimism in app stores.

Opera is clearly angling to get a piece of the pie by extending beyond simply providing a mobile browser to being a purveyor of content. It’s hoping to leverage its existing reach in 200 countries, which gives it a leg up in competing for eyeballs. Opera said a pre-launch of the Opera Mobile Store in February attracted more than 15 million users, who racked up more than 700,000 downloads per day.

With everyone rushing to create app stores, I don’t know if anyone but a handful will get the kind of traffic needed to be really successful. The ones that simply resell and don’t create much value for developers or consumers may not see much success. Opera is trying to build relationships with developers through the Opera Publisher Portal, which is meant to make it easy for developers to upload their apps. But unless developers see a lot of money-making opportunities to warrant supporting additional stores, many will concentrate on the destinations that command attention and are willing to promote and market their apps, not just try to make some money off of them. And unless consumers of these stores get exclusive apps, better security, improved discovery or cheaper pricing, I’m not sure many will spend a lot of time in these markets. It’s not proving easy to make a store. The challenge now is ensuring its equipped to compete.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub. req’d):

Why RIM’s Future (Unfortunately) Hinges on BlackBerry OS 6

Why Google Launched App Inventor

Is Amazon the New Self-Publish Kingpin?

That said, for the non-exact nature of figuring this out, if you don't want to wait for your fortune it probably comes as no surprise that technology is your best bet and is tied for the lowest average billionaire age (thanks, Facebook billionaires) with metal and mining. So if it's young money you're after, pick up a mine or two while you wait for your social network or search engine to catch on. You'll be making the other billionaires feel like slackers in no time.

That's not where the biggest money is though. Perhaps surprising to some is that fashion and retail (which includes grocery stores), is the category that accounts for the most cumulative wealth. More than investments, more than finance and more than technology. Selling actual, physical stuff to consumers is still your best bet of making money. Oh, and for those who noticed Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficking leader Joaquin Guzman Loera on the big list (he falls under "logistics")? {Forbes} Stick to the legal, actual, physical stuff like fashion or food. Not only is the life expectancy better, in the long run so are the profits. You never know though, maybe Loera's already diversified by blinging out weapons.

Now what if it's easy (relatively speaking) wealth you're after? Gaming has relatively few billionaires, and on average they're kind of old. The amount of competition is comparatively small, most will be retiring in general or retiring to that great casino in the sky, so this is a prime market to go after. How to go after it? Well, that's up to you and probably a bit of genetic fortune. If you missed out on being born into a dynasty, your next best bet is to marry into one. If that still doesn't work, there's always the do-it-yourself model. We'll give you a few pointers on that once we appear on the list rather than doing the grunt work of analyzing it. Off to the single billionaires list it is then.

How to Make the Forbes Billionaire List: Young, Big & Easy Billions by YM Ousley originally appeared on Signature9

Surface Encounters proudly ensures client satisfaction and price installing granite assurance. “I’m constantly skeptical heading with new companies, but your staff has created me a believer!” - Steve, Indianapolis

Surface Encounters may be a fast-growing surface encounters organization and, but they've stored pace with each of the current buyer referrals. “This enterprise is probably the most reasonably priced, trustworthy and pleasant agencies while in the entire state. I would highly recommend them to any one.” - Mike R., South Bend

Loads of operate goes into creating breathtaking countertops from nature. The method consists of laser measurement creative vein matching, precision diamond and water-jet cutting, edging and expert installation. An individual can't only simply call in their purchase for any custom countertop and also have it inside of each day or two. Top notch requires time.

Surface Encounters encourages many people to visit a showroom to learn far more about all natural stone countertops. Besides the choice and fabrication process, one other necessary component of buyer care is making sure one knows how to treatment for his or her granite countertop to maintain it seeking new for a long time to arrive.

Granite can be a beautiful organic stone product or service which can be a common materials used for countertops and floor tiles in kitchens and bathrooms. Granite has surpassed marble in popularity due to the fact is it a lot more resilient and less difficult to treatment for. Granite is unmatched by artificial solutions for its strength and durability, tolerance to temperature modifications and resistance to stains and scratches.

Granite is actually a by natural means shaped stone that is certainly quarried from deep inside earth, harvested, reduce, polished, sealed and set up in properties to add attractiveness, elegance and type. As a result of it's a healthy solution, no two slabs are specifically alike. Granite is obtainable in numerous colors from your various minerals which might be found from the rock. Given that it comes from throughout the world, diverse areas and environmental things ensure it is one of a kind.

Granite is primarily developed up of quartz crystal, nonetheless it also is made up of varied amounts of other metals like feldspar, mica, copper and iron. Some granite may perhaps incorporate bits of gold or silver. The quantity of each metal is dependent on the region it arrives from. All granite is shaped into a tricky stone by warmth and strain. Rain adds other minerals because it is forming. It will be available all over the entire world, in each and every country, and just about every region will make a surface encounters distinctive selection of granite.

Surface Encounters state-of-the-art machinery ensures the greatest top notch completed products because they design and style and make a few of the best kitchens and bathrooms. Granite Countertops enrich the warmth and elegance of homes although growing their worth and bettering lifestyles.

Surface Encounters is also worried with employee morale; pleased workers are more most likely to contribute towards the good results of a business. Furthermore to currently being a successful organization and an individual which is wonderful to labor for, Surface Encounters does their element to protect our planet.

Surface Encounters does what is proper for his or her users, workers plus the setting. Surface Encounters uses innovative drinking water recycling capabilities to recycle up to 43,000 gallons of water daily. Additionally, one hundred percent on the scrap created in establishing elegant kitchens and lovely baths is re-used as aggregate in street constructing, surface preparations and concrete.

The Columbus, Ohio Grand Opening of Surface Encounters elements an art gallery showroom of Granite, Marble, Quartz and Engineered Stone counter tops. Keep Supervisor, Scott Donnelly unlocked the doors on the showroom at 4717 Roberts Road, just west for the I-270 Beltway. The Surface Encounters production method employs precision, automated technological know-how all the way through the fabrication of the customer's customized counter major, this kind of as: a laser measuring alignment that applications the diamond-tipped sculpturing blades. Surface Encounters' practice incorporates computer-driven program that perpetuates the stone's natural veins. Each individual Surface Encounter retail outlet has at the least a single registered, interior designer to assist you in producing the completed venture you will be seeking for. The craftsmanship continues through the

Homeowners are deciding to remodel instead than offer their properties in today’s market
Granite countertops have become a prime alternative amid Wixom people for kitchen remodeling tasks. Kitchen remodeling is often the primary undertaking tackled with families investing 3,000 hrs or even more annually in their kitchen. Granite countertops give an environment that enhances the good quality time spent with family members and acquaintances. Granite countertops last a lifetime and enhance the level of quality of residences.

Surface Encounters Wixom keep supervisor, Sal Dellacasa, says there are various causes customers are deciding on granite for his or her countertop desires. “Granite countertops add magnificence and elegance to a kitchen. Granite is offered inside a number of vibrant colours and prosperous textures and its strength and sturdiness is unmatched by every other pure stone or synthetic countertop material.”

Surface Encounters’ people savor skilled services including a friendly, useful staff to guide them with the kitchen remodeling procedure. A large number of of Surface Encounters new clients are referred to them by past prospects.
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Surface Encounters Macomb could be the residential home of half-off granite for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Granite countertops by Surface Encounters have quickly develop into the high option for Macomb residents that are remodeling their kitchens. Kitchen remodeling requires priority with families spending 3,000 hours or even more each year within their kitchen. Granite countertops provide an natural environment that enhances the top notch time put in with spouse and children and friends and improve the good quality of properties.

Surface Encounters Macomb keep manager, Sal Dellacasa, says there are numerous factors buyers are deciding on granite for their countertop requires. “Granite countertops add beauty and elegance to a kitchen. Granite is offered in a very selection of vibrant colours and abundant textures and its strength and sturdiness is unmatched by any other surface encounters natural stone or synthetic countertop content.”

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Making Money Secrets

Founded in 2009 by Amanda Steinberg, DailyWorth is really a regular email newsletter that features material on monetary literacy and capital management skewed towards a female audience. DailyWorth’s subjects variety from learn how to organize your finances to tax ideas to saving information. And DailyWorth has an extraordinary editorial staff to make subject matter. MP Dunleavey, earlier a personalized finance columnist with all the Ny Times and at present a contributor with Money magazine, is leading DailyWorth’s editorial team.

Irrespective of unions’ lengthy hatred of Scott Walker, the new governor is shifting to deal with each the symptoms of the illness and therefore the illness itself-the public-sector union scheme that has molested Wisconsin’s taxpayers and their kids by gaming the program. Unions like Wisconsin’s teachers’ union [WEAC] (which was Wisconsin’s biggest-spending lobby in 2009) are extraordinarily adept at fixing the method via spending hundreds of thousands to elect politicians who, in turn, reward the unions at the expense from the taxpayers.

the Wisconsin fight, when compared to private-sector negotiations is about: 1) the Scope of Bargaining, 2) Union “Income” Safety [Right-to-Work vs. Forced Dues], 3) whether Wisconsin should really be the unions’ dues collection company [payroll deduction of dues], and four) regardless of whether public-sector unions must be ‘recertified’ by keeping elections each and every yr.

put the photos web based to show our projects crew at msnbc.com, and photographer Jim Seida explained, why really don't we just publish it like a slide display? I used to be skeptical at first - would that crimp the writing? - but inside the finish I used to be advocating carrying out it by doing this once the picture group was skeptical. I assumed far more most people would read through it this way, and it might be truly worth an experiment.”

industrial fishing boats based in Crescent Metropolis put to sea last night time once the tsunami alert was first of all broadcast. It's simpler and easier to trip out large waves at sea than at the dock. Now a lot of these boats are working minimal on fuel, nevertheless they are unable to return to port whereas the surges continue, said Chris Renner, proprietor of C. Renner Petroleum Co. in Crescent Metropolis, which serves the fleet

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Making Money Work

On Monday night, I watched my first, The Previous Phrase host Lawrence O’Donnell.
Even when O’Donnell laudably tried to focus the audience’s consideration onand hopefully last, Charlie Sheen trainwreck interview, courtesy of the tragic undertow that threatens to pull Sheen underneath for high-quality, I used to be overtaken, not from the pulling about the thread, as well as the voracious audience he serves. It didn’t make me unfortunate, it built me angry.

Concerning celebrities, we could be considered a heartless nation, basking within their misfortunes like nude sunbathers at Schadenfreude Beach. The impulse is understandable, to some diploma. It may be grating to listen to complaints from men and women who delight in privileges that many of us cannot even picture. In case you can not muster up some compassion for Charlie Sheen, who would make alot more dough for a day’s give good results than the majority of us will make inside of a decade’s time, I guess I cannot blame you.

Along with the quick pace of occasions online and therefore the info revolution sparked by the Web, it is rather uncomplicated for your know-how trade to think it is unique: repeatedly breaking new ground and executing things that no person has actually done earlier than.

But you can get other kinds of organization that have currently undergone several of the very same radical shifts, and also have just as good a stake with the future.

Take healthcare, for instance.

We quite often assume of it as being a massive, lumbering beast, but in fact, medicine has undergone a series of revolutions from the previous 200 years that happen to be at least equal to individuals we see in technologies and data.

Significantly less understandable, but even now within the norms of human nature, may be the impulse to rubberneck, to slow down and look at the carnage of Charlie spectacle of Sheen’s unraveling, but of your blithe interviewer Sheen’s lifestyle as we pass it inside most suitable lane of our every day lives. To become honest, it might be tough for folks to discern the distinction amongst a run-of-the-mill consideration whore, and an honest-to-goodness, circling the drain tragedy-to-be. On its individual merits, a quote like “I Am On the Drug. It’s Labeled as Charlie Sheen” is sheer genius, and we can’t all be anticipated to get the total measure of someone’s life every last time we listen to one thing humorous.

Rapid forward to 2011 and I am wanting to take a look at indicates of being a little more business-like about my hobbies (primarily new music). From the finish of January I had manned up and commenced to advertise my weblogs. I had designed plenty of unique weblogs, which were contributed to by pals and colleagues. I promoted these routines through Facebook and Twitter.

2nd: the very little abomination the Gang of Five around the Supream Court gave us a yr or so back (Citizens Inebriated) definitely consists of a little bit bouncing betty of its individual that could quite perfectly go off during the faces of Govs Wanker, Sacitch, Krysty, and J.O. Daniels. Considering that this ruling extended the notion of “personhood” to each firms and unions, to attempt to deny them any perfect to run inside of the legal framework that they had been organized underneath deprives these “persons” from the freedoms of speech, association and movement. Which suggests (as soon as once again, quoting law school skilled family members) that both the courts really need to uphold these rights for your unions (as particular person “persons” as guaranteed through the Federal (and most state) constitutions, or they have to declare that these attempts at stripping or limiting union rights really need to use to leading businesses, also.

Marco Arment, the former CTO of the Tumblr blog platform, is best known these days for his time-shifting reading app Instapaper. But he could start a side-job as a financial advisor to start-ups. His motto: Get the money from your customers, not investors.

Arment’s more traditional take is built largely on the idea that if he puts out a good product, there’s no shame in asking customers to pay for it. And the more they pay, the less he needs to rely on outside investors. Arment said many developers are of the mindset that they need to amass a huge number of eyeballs through free services. But they don’t focus enough on building a solid product that can command loyalty and payment from consumers, and instead try to gain profitability through advertising and turning to outside venture capital.

By contrast, Arment says his efforts to monetize Instapaper have been successful because he was able to leverage the hard work he put into his paid versions and the good will he’s gotten back from consumers. And that has allowed him to avoid outside funding, something he plans on doing for the forseeable future.

Don’t Take Funding if You Don’t Need It

“If a service can be profitable and breakeven without VC money, you don’t need to take it,” Arment told me in an interview. “There’s no reason for developers to get a lot of users without charging. There’s another path. My goal is to spread that message: Charge for something and make more than you spend.”

Arment launched Instapaper as a free website in January 2008 and became profitable later that fall when he first began selling a paid iPhone app alongside a free version. He’s been profitable ever since. Arment won’t disclose his revenue, but he said he can cover his expenses and can afford to hire a couple more people if he needed. He left his Tumblr job in September to devote himself to Instapaper.

Though Arment maintains a free iPhone app, he said the focus of the company has been on the paid versions which are updated first (a new update is expected in the next month or so). He has yet to release a free iPad version and has only gotten three emails about the lack of it. Most seem happy to pay for the $5 iPad version. Between 25 and 33 percent of people pay for the $5 paid iPhone version. In fact, as an experiment, he pulled the free iPhone app from the app store for a week a little while back and found that only one person emailed. Sales of the paid version didn’t go up, but they didn’t go down either, he said.

“The free version isn’t really competing as much as I expected with the paid version; a lot of people go straight to the paid version,” he said. “It was only a week but the people who were going to the free version would not have gone to the paid version.”

Let Users Thank You by Paying You

That’s what’s allowed Arment to really focus on the paid segment. In fact, he still questions the value of the free version at times because it can leave a more negative impression for users with its limited set of features. Arment said his paying users have surprised him with their support. He started a $1 a month subscription plan in October that didn’t actually offer much in the way of extra features. It was more of a way to let users show their support for Instapaper. He said the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“That was a huge surprise to me how well it’s doing given there’s no real incentive to do it besides good will. But it ends up that good will is powerful,” Arment said. “It shows that people will pay for something they like because they want to ensure its future.”

Arment is testing the theory again with a new API that leverages his subscription plan. For developers who want to build apps with Instapaper integration, Arment said last month he will require their users to subscribe to Instapaper. Again, the response has been very positive, said Arment. Two hundred developers have applied to get access to the API. All this money-making has allowed Arment to sidestep venture capital money. He has had repeated offers, but Arment said accepting VC funding is akin to taking on a new boss, and the act of raising and maintaining money is a full-time job, he said.

Venture Capital Is Like Having Another Boss

“If you can go without funding, you can be a one- or two-person shop without a whole level of bosses,” he said. “You’re not worried about getting more money and getting diluted anymore.”

Arment’s approach doesn’t work for everyone. He was fortunate to be able to this as a side job and build it up while at Tumblr. And he acknowledges that the lack of funding could be a problem if he wanted to build a staff quickly. But he believes his experience shows that a more old-school approach to building a business and developing a following with consumers is a viable one for entrepreneurs that should be explored more. He may not the biggest company, but he can be a profitable one for a while.

“I don’t need the entire market,” Arment said. “I can get five percent of the market and be rich.”

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):

Why Apple Hasn’t Sewn Up the Tablet Market — Yet

Lessons From Twitter: How to Play Nice With Ecosystem Partners

Rogue Devices: The Consumer Influence on Enterprise Mobility, Part 1

Some context:

I am basically a one-man design team for a bimonthly magazine.

As a startup, I was never really making much money here. About $48k.

In fact, marketwise, I was barely getting paid what a single designer should make even tho I am doing the job of at least two people.

I havent received a raise since fall 2007, even for cost of living.

In the time since then, my work (and remember that there is only one designer here) has won us about 6 industry awards.

In fact, in 2010 we won 3 awards and they were all design awards.

The reason I bring all this up is because one would hope that a performance record like that would merit a certain amount of base respect. However since this is the first business my boss has owned, I feel like they are simply spoiled into thinking that this work is just a given. Maybe they just dont know any better.

So now, with the industry souring and ad sales dropping a bit, I have taken a significant pay cut and am now doing all of the advert design that they once jobbed out to freelancers. Ad to that our rush to launch an iPad version and I am now doing far more work for even less money.

I wasnt offered flex time. I wasnt offered furlough days. In fact, for a salaried employee that ends up working heavy deadlines once every two months, my bosses still treat me like an employee that needs to saty til the very end of his "shift" regardless of whether I have work to do at the time.

Another issue (more context) is that they seem to think they have some kind of exclusivity with me. At first they asked that I let them know if I was doing any freelance work, as a "courtesy". But the very first time I mentioned that I was doing a poster on my own time on a dead weekend for a friends band for FREE, my boss acted very butthurt. AS if he should wield a veto power over my work on my own time. This has had the effect of me simply hiding the freelance I do from them. I really dont feel its their business.

So annnnnnnyway. Ive had enough and I am building my portfolio site to hopefully begin shopping myself around. I know the economy sucks, but Im not planning to leave until I get a better offer.

Knowing all that you know about the attitude of my boss presented above, should I worry about them trying to prevent me from using the work Ive created here the last 5 years in my portfolio? CAN they prevent me? Should I be worried?

BONUS: am I being treated unfairly? Ive been in this industry for 15 years and Im giving up hope that Ill ever not work for knobs. Does it suck everywhere?

Source: http://removeripoffreports.net/ corporate Reputation Management

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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Making Money With Website

Republicans are considering ways to trim the federal budget — and the funds that go toward public broadcasting are on the chopping block. Now it appears that certain public radio stations may be violating federal law to convince listeners to lobby Congress to stop these cuts.

Reps. Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) already staged a silly press conference this week with Elmo, Grover and Big Bird dolls, along with someone in an Arthur the Aardvark costume, to try to embarrass Republicans into continuing to pay for public broadcasting. Of course, using these characters was probably not a good marketing idea to begin with, given the money-making powerhouse that Sesame Street represents and the enormous profits that have been earned through merchandising these characters.

Now public radio stations such as KCRW 89.9 in Santa Monica are sending out press releases with detailed information about the recommended spending cuts from the House Appropriations Committee in H.R. 1, the Full Year Continuing Appropriation Act. KCRW’s message comes from Sarah Spitz at kcrw.org and urges listeners to “take action in support of public broadcasting” by visiting another website. That website allows you to “Click Here to Write Congress” and asks visitors to “contact your representatives in Congress now and urge them to stand up for public broadcasting funding.”

What KCRW is doing, however, may violate the federal Anti-Lobbying Act. 18 U.S.C. § 1913 provides that “No part of the money appropriated by any enactment of Congress shall, in the absence of express authorization by Congress, be used directly or indirectly to pay for any personal service, advertisement, telegram, telephone, letter, printed or written matter, or other device, intended or designed to influence in any manner a Member of Congress, a jurisdiction, or an official of any government, to favor, adopt, or oppose by vote or otherwise, any legislation, law, ratification, policy, or appropriation, whether before or after the introduction of any bill, measure or resolution proposing such legislation, law, ratification, policy or appropriation.”

Under a prior version of the statute as it was interpreted by at least one court decision, this anti-lobbying provision applied only to federal officers and employees. But the law was amended in 2002 and now applies to anyone who receives federally appropriated funds including recipients of federal grants such as NPR. Such grants cannot be used to lobby Congress directly or indirectly, which would include trying to persuade NPR listeners to lobby Congress on NPR’s behalf. So if any of the funds received by KCRW from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting were used to pay Sarah Spritz’s salary in writing this lobbying appeal or to fund the facilities used to broadcast her message on behalf of the radio station, then KCRW has violated federal law. And if any federal funds were used to pay for this website, that is also a violation of the law.

This is not an isolated incident either. Both of the public radio stations in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capitol (WETA and WAMU) have postings on their websites telling listeners that they should call their congressional representatives to stop these proposed funding cuts.

The amended 18 U.S.C. § 1913 has gone largely unnoticed and has not yet been used to prosecute the recipients of federal funds (e.g., Planned Parenthood) who appear to lobby Congress regularly. But there is no question about the reach of this federal provision and the possibility that public radio stations such as KCRW may be violating the law in their lobbying efforts to stop Congress from getting rid of taxpayer funding for public broadcasting.

Will the Holder Justice Department do anything about this possible violation of federal law? Unfortunately, given its record over the past two years of politicized law enforcement decisions, that is very doubtful.

However, note to entrepreneurial lawyers: These possible violations of the Anti-Lobbying Act by public radio stations may trigger the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act, which applies to every organization that receives money from the federal government. The FCA imposes civil liability and stiff penalties on anyone who defrauds the government by getting a false or fraudulent claim paid. Using federally-appropriated funds to engage in illegal lobbying activities may very well violate the FCA. Private parties can assert qui tam claims under the FCA and can recover up to triple damages and reasonable attorneys’ fee and costs.

So even if Eric Holder’s Justice Department doesn’t want to go after NPR, private parties and their lawyers may be able to do it and make a profit on it.

Don’t Take Funding if You Don’t Need It

Let Users Thank You by Paying You

Venture Capital Is Like Having Another Boss

“If you can go without funding, you can be a one- or two-person shop without a whole level of bosses,” he said. “You’re not worried about getting more money and getting diluted anymore.”

“I don’t need the entire market,” Arment said. “I can get five percent of the market and be rich.”

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