New players enter ETF industry

New players enter ETF industry

A number of new, smaller firms have entered the exchange-traded fund market recently, often creating funds that track alternative asset classes or serve narrow niches. But despite the new arrivals, the four key players in the market remain Barclays Global Investors, State Street Global Advisors, Vanguard Group and PowerShares Capital Management.

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dorAjjvHhYhJopYCrS

New FASB rules could reveal huge pension debt

New FASB rules could reveal huge pension debt

The Financial Accounting Standards Board is proposing new rules on reporting pension obligations that could show some companies have more pension debt than the net worth of the business. The rules would move information on pension debt out of a company's financial statements' footnotes and on to the balance sheet.

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dorAjjvHhYhJupuSbu

Sharpening Your Business Acumen

Sharpening Your Business Acumen
by Ram Charan

The ability to see the big picture, anticipate external trends, and adapt accordingly requires plenty of practice, but can create unique moneymaking opportunities. It requires executives to transcend old rules of thumb and take strategic risks that don't follow precedent; to envision the effects of change before change happens. Here's a six-step thinking process to help anticipate external influences in the marketplace and craft smart strategies accordingly.

To read the full article:
http://www.strategy-business.com/enewsarticle/enews033006

Four Reasons Why The Smaller Search Engines Matter

Four Reasons Why The Smaller Search Engines Matter
By Bill Platt, the Phantom Writers (c) 2006

These days, all search engine optimization gurus only seem to
talk about Google, as if Google was the only search engine on
the Internet.

Of course, we all know that there really are hundreds of search
engines and directories available to us, and we know that some
of the smaller search engines serve a very tight niche of users.

Honestly, I can understand why there is a lot of press on Google,
because after all, granddaddy Google is the biggest of the big.
We know that millions of people use Google daily for their search
activities, and we know that our websites receive a lot of
traffic from Google.

There are actually four reasons why you would want to extend your
search engine marketing activities beyond Google. I will discuss
each of those reasons here:

Reason #1: Targeted Traffic

Niche content search engines can be a very powerful force in
your marketing arsenal.

For example, suppose you have a website dedicated to helping
sell real estate. Does it make better sense to list a house for
sale in Google or in one of the many real estate search engines?

Let's face facts. When we look for tightly focused content such
as real estate listings, we generally seek out a search engine
that will serve our search the best. When searching for a new
home, an individual may begin his or her search at Google to find
the real estate search engines, but once the niche search engine
has been found, there is no need or desire to return to
granddaddy Google. The real estate search engine will allow the
individual to search through cities and neighborhoods, prices,
features and pictures, to find just the house they feel might
strike their fancy.

Even in the game of Internet marketing, a niche content search
engine or directory can be a very powerful addition to your
marketing portfolio. It is only a matter of searching out and
locating the niche content search engine or directory that serves
your particular niche the best.

Reason #2: Costs Management

The Big Three have each developed their own pay-per-click search
models. And, because they are the Big Three search engines, they
can also afford to charge advertising rates that permit them to
be among the most profitable enterprises on the Internet.

The perception of pay-per-click pricing at the Big Three is that
the little guy can afford to advertise with them. But with every
Internet marketer on the web trying to compete for Big Three
search traffic, their five cents per-click easily increases to
sixty cents per-click, and in some industries, it can climb to
five or fifty dollars per-click.

The pay-per-click "auction mentality" really kicks into hyper-
overdrive in some industries. And the Big Three eat it up, as do
their stockholders. Each day, they dance their way to the bank
with your money in tow.

The smaller niche search engines may not serve as much traffic,
but they definitely allow you to reach more people for the same
money. You can reach people who are more inclined to buy your
goods and services, because they were searching on a niche
website, and you can get their traffic for a lot less money than
it would cost you to get the same prospect from any of the Big
Three search engines.

Reason #3: Linking for Google Placement

For those of you who are still involved in the Google PageRank
chase, the smaller search directories can be counted on as a
really valuable asset in your linking portfolio.

Many of the smaller search directories carry some pretty decent
PageRank with them.

For example:

* www.Blog-Search.com carries a PR6.
* www.Search66.com carries a PR6.
* www.GoArticles.com carries a PR6.
* www.SearchWarp.com carries a PR5.
* www.SitesOnDisplay.com carries a PR5.
* www.SearchRamp.com carries a PR5.
* www.MixCat.com carries a PR5.
* www.TorontoMalls.com carries a PR5.
* www.OutdoorHits.com carries a PR4.
* www.FindYourForum.com carries a PR4.

As you are already aware, the PageRank of a website that is
pointing to your website plays a role in determining the value of
your own website in the Google PageRank calculations, thereby
increasing your chances of gaining ground in the Google SERP's
(Search Engine Result Pages).

Targeted directories pass their PageRank value to the websites
that list with them, which is great for your website.
Additionally, getting placed into these directories is often
cheaper and easier to accomplish, than with any other method of
linking for the purposes of increasing PageRank.

Reason #4: Extra Traffic

Yahoo, MSN, WindSeek.com, ExactSeek.com, and many others are
making changes, improving their results, and trying to position
themselves to compete toe-to-toe with Google or to compete for
searchers not happy with Google's search product (yes, there are
actually people out there who do not like to use Google). These
non-Google engines are currently serving millions of additional
searches a day or month.

The Big Three: Google, Yahoo and MSN only served 73% of the
Internet's search traffic in July 2005
(http://searchenginewatch.com/reports/article.php/3099931 ), and
81% of the search traffic in November of 2005
(http://searchenginewatch.com/reports/article.php/2156451 ). These
percentages are based on a rough estimation of just over 5
billion searches per month.

Even on the November 2005 numbers, search engines that are NOT in
the Big Three are delivering 950 million searches per month. That
is a lot of additional traffic!

If your search engine marketing activities are focused only on
the Big Three, or even worse, only on granddaddy Google, you are
throwing away anywhere from 20% to 53% of your potential customer
base!

Locating The Smaller Search Engines and Directories...

Here are a few resources that can help to find hundreds of the
smaller search engines and directories that may be available to
you:

Independent Search Engine & Directory Network -

International Directory of Search Engines -

Small Search Engines and Directories Really Do Matter...

I have just outlined four reasons why the smaller search engines
and niche directories should matter to those of us who market our
goods and services on the Internet. I have also given you a
starting point for locating these excellent search websites.

Sure, it might take a little bit more time to get listed in these
smaller resources, but if you calculate how much time you spend
developing your positioning in the Big Three, then it really is
not that much of a time investment after all.

The smaller directories can help us to improve our Google
PageRank. They can help us to get more mileage from our
advertising dollars than what we can get from the Big Three.
They allow us to tap into additional sources of targeted traffic
with a real potential for increasing our sales and profits. And,
the best reason to use the smaller search engines and directories
is that they actually serve another 950 million searches a month.

====
Bill Platt is the owner of http://thePhantomWriters.com
Article Distribution Service. He has been ghost writing for
clients since 1999, and he has been distributing client articles
since 2001. Bill regularly maintains his database of submission
resources, and he applies the human touch to every article
distribution. By reviewing every article and manually selecting
where it will be distributed, publishers and webmasters trust
that he will send only the most appropriate articles to them.

Few Would Benefit From Disappearance of Undocumented Immigrants

Few Would Benefit From Disappearance of Undocumented Immigrants

The disappearance of millions of undocumented immigrants would bring many industries to a standstill and be detrimental to the United States' economy.

http://news1.diversityinc.com/t/1881808/1393131/8916/0/

world-class companies, with powerful and proven business models

Even world-class companies, with powerful and proven business models, eventually discover limits to growth. Emerging high-growth industries are attractive, but they lack a proven formula for making a profit. And therein lies a challenge: how to build tomorrows businesses while sustaining excellence in todays?
In this specially priced collection, Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College offer practical guidance based on an in-depth, multiyear research study of innovative initiatives at 10 large corporations. It includes:

� Ten Rules for Strategic Innovators Virtual Seminar CD, a 90-minute presentation by the authors that explores the implications for staffing, leadership roles, reporting relationships, process design, planning, performance assessment, incentives, cultural norms, and more and

� Ten Rules for Strategic Innovators: From Idea to Execution (hardcover), which serves as a leader's guide for building a breakthrough business within a profitable old one.

Order Now.
http://hbsp.ed10.net/h/7Z7M0/YG86M/28/HD3G0Q

Marketing Tools: Web CEO

Web CEO

Revolutionize the way you run your web site.
Download Web CEO with Free Training & Ceritification

http://www.sitepronews.com/cgi-bin/ct.cgi?id=1313

and

http://www.webceo.com

Urgent Energy Trade

Right now, shares of this company are trading for just $6 a share...
less than 1/5th the value of its biggest competitor.

But thanks to a remarkable government "secret" these shares will soon
take off!

I'm predicting this stock will gain 623%

Plus - I'm going to show you how this company's revolutionary technology
gives it an ENORMOUS advantage over the competition

Dear Investor,

If you had made a modest $10,000 investment in one cutting edge
renewable energy company on January 10 of this year, you'd have been
sitting pretty just three weeks later.

That's because your $10,000 investment would have been worth $26,043...a
remarkable gain of better than 160% in just three weeks' time.

Take a look at the chart to see just what I mean...

http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/chart1.gif

But here's the good news: over the course of the next eight months, this
revolutionary young company will present us with several more
opportunities for significant short-term gains - just like the one we
saw earlier this year.

And thanks to a little-known "government secret" it's possible
for us to make quick, easy short-term trading profits from this
company...and several others in the renewable energy sector.

http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/meet_jeff.gif
Jeff Siegel is the managing editor of Green Chip Stocks, an investment
advisory service that has had stunning success in 2005 with portfolio
returns of over 39% for the year... and for 2006 he's already up more
than 60%. Jeff focuses on stocks in the emerging and lucrative organic
food and renewable energy industries.

Jeff is a new breed of investor. Part entrepreneur, part Renaissance
man, Jeff is an accomplished musician and writer, having recorded and
performed all over the world - from London to Rome to New York. He was
even called upon to score part of the latest Exorcist prequel.

From 1994 to 2001, Jeff worked for Agora Publishing, one of the largest
financial newsletter publishers in the world.

In the past 4 years, he traveled across America searching for
mega-trends that'll usher in a new generation of wealth.

Once a week in Green Chip Stocks, Jeff highlights investment
opportunities in the fast-growing "Green" market.
In fact, the next opportunity for a significant spike in share prices -
as a direct result of legislation that is currently being debated on the
floor of one of this nation's most oil-dependent states - could come at
any time within the next two weeks.

And if it's anything like the last spike - a three-week surge that saw
investors nearly triple their money - you won't want to miss out.

Just what is this "government secret" - and how are we able to turn it
into consistent trading success?

I'll answer that in just a moment. But first I need to tell you more
about...

The $6-a-Share Company That Could Become
the Dominant Name in Ethanol Before this Summer

Over the past few years, soaring oil and gas prices - as well as federal
and state clean fuel programs - have pushed demand for ethanol to record
highs.

As recently as 1996, the U.S. ethanol industry was producing just over
1.1 billion gallons of ethanol each year. By 2002, that figure had
nearly doubled - to 2.13 billion gallons.

Then it began to take off - production reached 2.8 billion gallons by
2003...and had climbed all the way to 3.4 billion by 2004...and 3.9
billion by 2005!

But demand for ethanol is about to climb at an even faster rate...which
means an incredibly bright future for the $6 stock I'm recommending
right now.

And remember - this is a company that has already delivered three-week
gains of 160% earlier this year.

Just how hot is the ethanol industry right now?

Hot enough for Bill Gates himself to invest $84 million just last
November.

http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/usproduction.gif And hot enough
for President Bush to specifically mention it during his State of the
Union Address on January 31...

"We must also change how we power our automobiles...We'll also fund
additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not
just from corn, but from wood chips and stalks, or switch grass. Our
goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive
within six years."

Remember, the energy bill passed by Congress just last year requires an
increase in ethanol use to 7.5 billion gallons by the year 2012. That's
nearly double the current total of roughly four billion gallons per
year!

At this very moment, ethanol - and the entire renewable energy market -
are exploding with interest, venture capital money, Wall Street funds,
and incentives by state, local and federal governments.

Because of soaring demand - and pending legislation - I'm recommending
you buy shares of this stock immediately!

Listen, I've been following the renewable energy industry for over a
decade, and I've never seen the kind of enthusiasm that I'm seeing
today. Trust me when I say that this enthusiasm will translate to higher
stock prices for publicly traded renewable energy companies.
What People are Saying About Jeff Siegel and his Green Chip Winners!
_____

Jeff,

I got in at .40 with about 10,000 shares. I sold when it hit $1.45,
bought it back after it dropped to $1.20, then sold it again today at
2.00!!

Absolutely fantastic. I subscribed to your Green Trader and dumped the
profits into your new
recommendations!!

I appreciate all your hard work. Keep 'em coming!!

Regards,

R.M.

_____

Hey Jeff, your newsletter is awesome! Although I still hold a strong
position in conventional energy stocks, you've converted me!

I also signed up for the green trader new letter, and I made 18% on
*CENSORED* in a day and 20% on *CENSORED*!

As for XSNX I got in a little later, I bought it at 0.85 and this
morning i sold just enough to to get my initial investment back, so I'm
about 230% up!

I'm waiting for your next Green Trader buy recommendation!

Thanks a lot Jeff and keep up the good work. - A.A.

_____

Thanks Jeff, I sold 5K shares today for a $7,000 gain plus still have 5K
left with a zero cost basis and $600 spending money. ( Bought at .64)

Your trading service is so necessary as these alternative energy stocks
are so volatile that I have gotten out after a 2 week gain of 25% only
to see the stock up another 50%. This is where you come in to give us an
idea of what is fair value and what is speculator fluff.

Thanks again,

L.K.

_____

Hi Jeff,

While I have been an Energy Report subscriber for a while, I just
recently subscribed to Green Chip Stocks. I ended up buying 9,500 shares
of XSNX between $1.15 and $1.47 a share in just the last few weeks. I
sold 4,000 shares (approx half) last Friday at $1.80 and banked over a
$2,000 gain on that. My remaining 4,500 shares are showing a gain of
over $3,600 at today's close so I am pretty happy with a $5,600+ gain in
just a few short weeks for my first stock buy using your
recommendations. Keep it up - you have my confidence.

- Ritchie (in Ottawa, Canada)

As a matter of fact, given the soaring demand for ethanol - and the
attention it's gotten over the past few months - you could do very well
by simply calling your broker and investing in a handful of solid
ethanol plays.

But I'm going to show you how you can do much better than that. In fact,
I'll show you how you can repeatedly rake in short-term gains like the
three-week, 160% winner I mentioned earlier.

Which brings me back to the company that delivered those impressive
gains.

As I said before, this is a pure ethanol play - and I'm currently
recommending that you buy shares immediately.

That's because as demand continues to soar, more and more people will
take notice of this relatively young company.

They generated $5 million in revenue in 2005...but they're projecting
revenues of $15 million for 2006.

And here's the best part of the story: Because of this company's
revolutionary technology, they could easily become the dominant player
in the ethanol game before this summer starts to heat up.

Here's what I mean:

For the past two years, this company has been making ethanol out of
alternative sources.

So instead of producing ethanol from corn - as is most common - this
company is using materials such as candy waste, cornstalks, grass
clippings, newspapers and sawdust.

It's called cellulosic bioethanol...and it has all sorts of advantages.

First and foremost, the materials they're using to produce ethanol are
cheap and abundant, whereas corn is subject to supply problems and wild
price swings.

Just in Iowa alone, there's enough corn-based biomass (stalks, leaves
and husks) to support 600 million gallons of ethanol production.

But perhaps the biggest advantage this company has is one that hasn't
come into play.

At least not yet.

You see, in the event that corn prices rise suddenly - a very real
possibility, as you'll soon see - the company I'm recommending could
very well become the only game in town.

Why would that happen?

Because U.S. government forecasters have recently gone on record calling
for the drought that has plagued a good deal of the Southwest and the
central and southern plains to continue - and perhaps even worsen -
through at least June.

At a mid-March press conference, David Johnson, director of the National
Weather Service, warned that, "We need to monitor this drought situation
very closely."

But not only do forecasters and farmers need to monitor this
situation...so do those investors expecting easy profits from
"traditional" ethanol stocks.

"Corn-based" ethanol companies could take a terrible beating as the
price of corn rises. And there's no telling just how severe this drought
might be.

If corn is in short supply - or priced at excessively high levels -
corn-based ethanol production could be forced into a massive slowdown.

But because the company I'm recommending uses alternative materials -
including waste products, wood chips and candy waste - they'll continue
production completely unaffected by the drought or by a decrease in the
supply of corn.

Given the soaring demand for ethanol, the value of this company - thanks
to its revolutionary technology - could skyrocket quickly in the event
of a drought.

After all, the ethanol needed to comply with legislation is going to
have to come from somewhere. And if corn-based ethanol producers are
struggling to meet demand due to rising production costs...our trade
will look even sweeter!
<http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/sidebar1.gif>

What's the potential upside for this company?

It's hard to say, really - and I don't want to throw any outrageous
predictions at you that have no basis in fact.

So let's look at it this way...

Pacific Ethanol (PEIX - NASDAQ) is a California-based ethanol producer
that has had extraordinary success to date. Right now, Pacific Ethanol
has a market cap of roughly $651 million.

The $6-a-share company I'm recommending right now actually has a
brighter future - due to their advanced technology ...and their market
cap currently stands at $90 million.

So we're talking about the potential for growth of 623% or more...

At this point, though, I've only told you part of the story. Now it's
time to reveal...

The Government "Secret" That's Just Like Money in the Bank!

There is absolutely no question that right now is the best time to own
renewable energy stocks. From the CEOs of Chevron-Texaco and British
Petroleum to Wall Street brokerage houses and mainstream media
outlets...everybody is talking about renewable energy.

But here's the key - the renewable energy bull market is still very much
in its infancy.

<http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/sidebar2.gif> Even more
importantly, the renewable energy market has just entered a long-term
phase of fast-moving gains.

This sets up perfectly, of course, for "hit and run" traders who are
interested in making a year's worth of gains in as little as a week or
two - week after week.

But it gets even better...

Renewable energy stocks are now prime candidates for quick trades thanks
to a government "secret" that's as reliable as Old Faithful.

Every time a State government debates or passes a renewable energy bill,
I'm finding more and more stocks that rally around the news.

And guess what? There are no less than 25 State initiatives pending
regarding renewable energy.

That means, there's going to be at least 25 separate occasions to make
quick, easy trading profits in the weeks and months ahead. And I'll
guide you to them, every step of the way.

The most recent one was the State of Washington, which passed a
renewable energy-ethanol bill on February 13 - and this is a perfect
example.

In a two-day period, Pacific Ethanol - the company I mentioned earlier -
went from $16.50 a share on Friday, February 10 to $19.95 on Monday,
February 13. It was a gain of 21%...or more than 2.5 times the gain that
the Dow experienced over the last two years.

<http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/sidebar3.gif> However, an even
smaller ethanol stock experienced an even more dramatic run-up. On
February 9, this ethanol stock that I'm recommending now was trading for
about $4 a share. After the Washington bill was passed, it traded for
$5.30 a share, a gain of 33% in three days!

Buy the Bill, Sell the Law

The Washington bill is a great example of what traders can make playing
renewable energy stocks this way. But nothing compares to what occured
in January.

160% in just 15 trading days. $10,000 into $26,000.

That's what the California legislature and President Bush handed traders
between January 10 and January 31.

In those days, the California legislature passed its renewable energy
law and President Bush gave his State of the Union speech.

The tiny ethanol stock I want you to buy now went from $2.30 on January
10 to $5.99 on January 31.

It was easy money. Take a look at 3 stocks that went ballistic during
those 2 weeks.

http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/eslr.gif

http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/peix.gif

http://www.greenchipstocks.com/trader/xsnx.gif

In fact, every time a State debates or passes a renewable bill or law
(especially if the law has an ethanol provision), this stock is going to
skyrocket in price.

The next opportunity is coming up quickly, as the Hawaii State
Legislature is right now debating a bill proposed by its governor that
would transform Hawaii from the nation's most oil-dependent state into a
leader in the renewable energy game.

The very moment that this legislation passes, a number of renewable
stocks are going to see a surge in price.

But I'd like to tell you how you can best take advantage of this
opportunity - and the others coming up in the weeks ahead.

You may not have heard about my advisory service - Green Chip Stocks -
but we've been taking advantage of renewable energy profit opportunities
for quite a while now. Take a look at how we've done over the past 15
months...

Company Symbol Exchange Date Price Current Status Percent
Organic Food Stock #1 **** Nasdaq 01/01/2005 8.81 $20.31
open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 130.5%
Renewable Energy Stock #1 **** OTCBB 01/01/2005 0.30
$0.445 open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 48.33%
Organic Food Stock #2 **** CDNX 01/01/2005 .90 $2.46
open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 173.3%
Organic Food Stock #3 **** Nasdaq 01/01/2005 20.67 $25.96
open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 25.59%
Renewable Energy Stock #2 **** CDNX 01/01/2005 2.95
$3.74 open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 26.77%
LOHAS Stock #1 **** Nasdaq 01/01/2005 5.90 $16.35 open
<http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 177.1%
Renewable Energy Stock #3 **** Nasdaq 01/01/2005 7.18
$8.30 open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 15.59%
Renewable Energy Stock #4 **** NYSE 01/01/2005 16.28
$38.10 open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif>
134.0%
Natural Supplement Stock #1 **** Nasdaq 01/01/2005 9.23
$8.11 open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/down_arrow.gif>
-12.1%
Natural Supplement Stock #2 **** Nasdaq 01/01/2005 15.27
$15.08 open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/down_arrow.gif>
-1.24%
Renewabl Energy Stock #5 **** Nasdaq 01/05/2006 10.82
$22.281 open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 105.9%
Hybrid Stock #1 **** TSX 9/9/2005 1.05 $1.19 open
<http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 13.33%
Renewable Energy Stock #6 **** Nasdaq 10/12/2005 8.50
$15.30 open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 80%
Renewable Fuel Stock #1 **** OTCBB 03/24/2006 0.50 $0.75
open <http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 50%
Hybrid Stock #2 **** Toronto 2/2/2006 4.22 $4.36 open
<http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 3.317%
XSUNX Inc* XSNX.OB OTCBB 10/21/2005 $0.36 $2.53 closed
<http://www.wealthdaily.net/images/up_arrow.gif> 564.55%
*Half of the XSUNX Inc. position was sold on 3/6/06 at $2.10. The
remainder of the position was sold on 3/17/06 at $2.53, the percentage
gain is the total gain of the entire position after both sales.

Total Portfolio (+/-) :
UP 95.941 %

The truth is, my subscribers and I have had a pretty good run.

But I'm not writing you about the traditional, buy-and-hold
opportunities that Green Chip Stocks readers have been cashing in on for
more than a year.

Instead, I'm writing to you about a chance to make even more money - and
in less time...

Hard, Fast & Often

With the growing number of renewable initiatives, you just have to take
advantage of these stock rallies to make 20%, 33%, and 160% jumps in a
matter of days.

And because the renewable energy market is in a long-term bull, I've
decided it's time to offer a new, fast-paced, adrenaline pumping service
called The Green Trader.

Now let me tell
you right up front...this service is only for traders who want to make
quick profits in the hottest industry since the Internets of the 1990s.

Quite simply, by not trading, you're missing out on quick and easy
energy profits... and I want you to take advantage of these trading
opportunities, as they come, on a moment's notice.

These are the magical opportunities to get in and get out fast - and
with some whopping gains over and over again.

Just recently, my publisher launched a pair of services that are similar
in scope to The Green Trader.

You may already be familiar with these two services - Extreme
Opportunities and The Pure Energy Stock Trader - which both come from
natural resource guru Mike Schaefer.

Here's why I bring them up: when those two services were launched, the
number of available seats for each was limited to 200 and 2,000,
respectively.

In the case of Extreme Opportunities, Mike filled all 200 seats within
48 hours.

With the Pure Energy Stock Trader, the service is still only a few weeks
old...but I can tell you that more than half of the spots were gobbled
up pretty quick.

I'm taking a similar approach with The Green Trader...and because of the
soaring bull market in renewable energy stocks, I expect this service to
sell out soon.

You should know that I have limited The Green Trader to a maximum of
2,000 seats. And since an invitation has already been extended to my
regular Green Chip Stocks readers, we've been filling seats for more
than a month now.

But before all of the spots have been taken, I wanted to give everyone
who reads my articles a fair shot at climbing on board with us.

Now, I can't guarantee that the service won't be sold out by the time
you sign up - that's why it's imperative that you act right away.

The truth of the matter is we're anticipating the need to create a
waiting list shortly after this letter is sent out, as more than 150,000
people will now have a limited-time opportunity to sign up for this
revolutionary service.

But if you act quickly, you can reserve your space now by following this
link: http://wealthdailymail.com/cntdir.asp?num=597

A Mean, Green Traders Club

I'm also adopting another feature that Mike and company have implemented
in their exclusive, premium services. And that feature is secrecy.

In order to become a member of The Green Trader, you must
"digitally" sign our online confidentiality and term of service
agreement.

This agreement
states that you agree not to pass along any of the confidential analysis
or trades you receive in The Green Trader.

This is vitally important.

The confidentially agreement is designed specifically to protect your
interests as a member of The Green Trader.

It's simple...too many people trying to buy the same stock - especially
stocks like our $6-a-share ethanol superstar - could literally push it
to the stratosphere, and destroy the trade.

I understand that this additional step is likely one you've never had to
take before. So before I go any further, let me tell you in plain
English just how the confidentiality agreement works...

Loose Lips Sink Ships

Not a week goes by that a reader of Wealth Daily or Green Chip Stocks
doesn't send me an email saying, "Somebody is posting the recommendation
on the bull boards of Stockhouse.com. Why do I pay for this service if a
couple days later the recommendation shows up on a public message board?
Isn't this a copyright violation?"

Yes it is. And we take it seriously.

That's why Mike made all 200 members of Extreme Opportunities sign and
submit a confidentiality agreement. And so far, everyone has abided by
the terms of the agreement.

But in the case of The Green Trader, as it was with Extreme
Opportunities, it's not so much the copyright violations that we're
worried about.

We're worried that these small stocks will get blown out of the water
because thousands of message board readers are buying it... and pushing
the share price through the roof.

If that happens,
it will jeopardize not only the trade, but this entire service. And the
last thing that anyone wants is for us to have to cancel the trading
service entirely.

That's why we're limiting The Green Trader to 2000 people. That's it.
And there won't be any exceptions to the rule. If you miss out, we'll be
happy to put you on the waiting list.

Based on our expectations, and our experience with the other services,
we think we'll have twice as many interested parties as we'll be able to
admit to the service.

We believe that we'll make a couple of dozen recommendations per year in
The Green Trader. That's a lot of trades. But we don't plan on holding
these positions very long. In and out. Take the profit and run. That's
what this service is about.

Now, if the amount of trades bothers you, then this service isn't for
you.

But if you've got the courage to make quick profits, I urge you to join
right now.

As I mentioned before, we have already made The Green Trader available
to my regular Green Chip Stocks readers. And those spots have begun to
disappear quickly...

Get Ready

Another point I want to discuss is how the trades will be delivered to
you. The trades will be sent via e-mail. No Faxes. That's because we
want everybody to receive the trade at approximately the same time.

So everyone will be on equal footing.

If you're comfortable with what I said so far, I urge you to consider
joining.

Again, I know this style of trading isn't for everybody. As a member of
The Green Trader, you're elevating yourself into the top tier of the
trading community. If you have second thoughts on the price or the
frequency of recommendations, stop reading now...the service isn't for
you.

If you're interested, welcome aboard.

Now Listen Carefully...

When you fill out the membership form (assuming there are remaining
slots), you'll receive a confirmation and a welcome letter. Attached to
that welcome letter will be the Green Trader Confidentiality and Terms
of Service Agreement.

When you digitally sign the Agreement, you are bound by it. Now, I don't
want to come off as a tough guy, but trading stocks is serious business.
We're all here to make money. If you breach the agreement, we'll revoke
your membership with all due haste. You'll get a refund, but you will
not be permitted back into the trading service.

The Agreement will state, in clear terms, that the service is for you
and you alone. You simply cannot share the trades, in any way, with
anyone.

Heck, you cannot tell your family or friends about any of the stock
trades. This Agreement is meant to protect us and our contacts. And it's
meant to protect you.

As I mentioned earlier, if we have problems of this kind, we may be
forced to shut down the service, and nobody wants that to happen.

So it's imperative you understand why the Agreement must be followed. It
is important for us... and more importantly, for you and your trades.

It's important for everyone in this service.

The price of a subscription to The Green Trader is $1,995 per year.

I know for many of you $1,995 is a big lump of money to take down, even
considering that many of you have made tens of thousands of dollars
following my advice.

So here's the deal. We're also offering a quarterly bill program. If you
chose that method, you'll be charged $550 every three months.

That's about as good as I can make it.

So again, remember. Only 2000 investors will be allowed to join The
Green Trader. And every member must digitally sign the Confidentiality
Agreement.

Believe me, we take this service seriously. And we expect you to as
well. That's why we have the confidentiality agreement.

But for our part, we want to make sure you're satisfied. So, if for any
reason you're unhappy with The Green Trader, you can get a full refund
at any time before the end of the first month of your membership.

After that, the refund is prorated.

If you understand that and you sign up, you'll immediately receive
2-FREE trade reports. These reports tell you all about the ethanol and
geothermal stocks that are going to rally with the euphoria that's being
unleashed on renewable stocks.

But you have to act now.

I expect the 2000 slots to be full in short order.

So if you're considering joining us, please do so quickly.

http://wealthdailymail.com/cntdir.asp?num=597

Sincerely,

Jeff Siegel

Maximize Your Selling Price

Maximize Your Selling Price

Did you know that by spending a minimal amount of time and money on small projects around your home you can maximize the sale price? Don't forget these simple guidelines:

- Paint: add a fresh coat to dull or dingy walls
- Organize: remove clutter to open up space
- Fix: make minor repairs to little things you have been meaning to fix(doors, knobs, etc.)
- Landscape: remember the importance of curb appeal; trim bushes, cut the grass and remove the clutter

Home Price Check
http://chasehomefinance.domania.com/homepricecheck/index.jsp

Get a low rate mortgage or refinance
Call: 866-TAX-7755 or 866-829-7755
Web: www.TaxProsOnline.com

Avoid Penalties For Using Contract Workers

Avoid Penalties For Using Contract Workers

Skyrocketing labor costs are prompting more businesses to hire independent contractors, and it�s no surprise: ICs can save businesses up to 30 percent per worker, says the U.S. Department of Labor. But before you hire an IC, it�s important to know the legal and financial risks.

Find out how to properly declare your independents. Click on: Avoid Penalties For Using Contract Workers.
http://newsletter.smallbizresource.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/nvLp0ITmhF0NqJ0EORq0E4

The Cocktail Napkin Test

The Cocktail Napkin Test
SMALLBIZ ADVISOR By Warren G. Purdy

When I first evaluate a potential business venture or an idea for a new product/service, the tools I need for my initial phase of analysis are simply a #2 pencil and a cocktail napkin. With these simple tools I try to determine the level of sales needed to generate enough income to cover my costs.

Get good advice on calculating the break-even sales point for your products or services. Read Warren G. Purdy's column, The Cocktail Napkin Test
http://newsletter.smallbizresource.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/nvLp0ITmhF0NqJ0EORt0E7

Plan Ahead, Then Keep Track

Plan Ahead, Then Keep Track

There are two critical, yet common, ways that new small businesses run into trouble: insufficient planning, and loose record keeping. This week, SmallBizResource.com has two must-reads to help you avoid these pitfalls:
http://newsletter.smallbizresource.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/nvLp0ITmhF0NqJ0EORr0E5

Research Takes Risk Out Of New Ventures
Learn how one entrepreneur used in-depth market research to manage the risk of launching his new venture.
http://newsletter.smallbizresource.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/nvLp0ITmhF0NqJ0EORr0E5

Financial Statements That Can Make Or Break You
Brush up on the "Big 3" records (Cash, Profit-and-Loss, and Balance Sheet) that every owner needs to monitor to run a successful business.
http://newsletter.smallbizresource.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/nvLp0ITmhF0NqJ0EORs0E6

Stop, Look, And Listen To Job Candidates

Stop, Look, And Listen To Job Candidates
THE HR COACH By Linda J. Lerner

Question: I have made some mistakes in the past when hiring clerks for our store. I know I need some pointers on what to ask when interviewing these potential employees. Do you have some advice for me?

Most people who don�t interview for a living make a similar mistake; they talk too much. We want so much to have the job requirements understood that we describe the type of customer, the hours, the working conditions, and other relevant facts.

In order to get a real sense of whether an applicant will make a potentially good employee for your store, you need to ask the type of questions that will give you the opportunity to assess their suitability to your needs.

Want to know the right questions to ask. Read Linda J. Lerner's column, Stop, Look, And Listen To Job Candidates.
http://newsletter.smallbizresource.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/nvLp0ITmhF0NqJ0ENZ80EF

Morgan Stanley cuts 15% of New York retail brokerage managers

Morgan Stanley cuts 15% of New York retail brokerage managers

Morgan Stanley cut 15% of the senior managers who supervised retail brokerage operations from the company's New York City area headquarters. Brokerage chief James P. Gorman also announced a plan to consolidate 61 areas into 23 districts, which also included naming several company veterans as associate division directors.

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dogIjjvHhYhdbRTIlz

========
FYI...
Tax Pros has a great tax savings program for your business associates, friends and family. Pass it on.
Get FREE tax services and a financial plan when you join the Wealth Builder Program!
http://www.TaxProsOnline.com/WealthBuilder
========

Financial-services execs worried about foreign-investment legislation

Financial-services execs worried about foreign-investment legislation

Executives from JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup, MetLife Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group are among those who wrote a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard C. Shelby expressing concern about a plan to regulate foreign purchases of U.S. assets. Financial services companies are concerned that pending legislation would scare away foreign investment and invite retaliation overseas. An additional letter, mailed from the Organization for International Investment to Banking Committee members, was signed by the Securities Industry Association, among others.

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dogIjjvHhYhdeFUswS

Pension-overhaul legislation hits speed bump

Pension-overhaul legislation hits speed bump

Compromise talks on federal pension-overhaul legislation already passed by the House and Senate have broken down, despite the April 7 deadline set by the chairman of the committee working on the bill. The impasse makes it unclear whether some companies' required financial contributions toward pension-plans could be increased.

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dogIjjvHhYhdfdqIOu

========
FYI...
Tax Pros has a great tax savings program for your business associates, friends and family. Pass it on.
Get FREE tax services and a financial plan when you join the Wealth Builder Program!
http://www.TaxProsOnline.com/WealthBuilder
========

Trends" examines codependent relationship between New York and Financial Services Industry

Trends" examines codependent relationship between New York and industry

The importance of the securities industry to New York City and New York state is long-standing and well recognized. The industry has a profound impact on and makes a disproportionate contribution to personal income, tax revenues, and overall economic growth of the state and local economies. This issue of "Securities Industry Trends - The Street, The City and The State: The Securities Industry's Importance to New York City and State," examines this co-dependent relationship. Click here to view this issue of Trends.

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dogIjjvHhYhdgVFLkf

Give Your Workforce an Edge With Tablet PC's

Give Your Workforce an Edge With Tablet PC's

Tablet PC's are transforming how people with a
broad range of needs learn, work and interact.
From solution providers, consultants and SMB's,
to enterprise decision makers and IT executives,
Tablet PC's offer the ability stay ahead of the tech
curve when dealing with an increasingly independent
and mobile workforce.

Toshiba, in partnership with Microsoft, introduces
the Live Event Roundtables
Mobilize your enterprise employees, improve customer
interactions, automate workflow and eliminate paper processes.

Tablet PC 101
An introductory guide to the latest terms used
in Tablet PC technology.

Microsoft Tablet PC Resources

Ziff Davis Media Inc., 28 East 28th Street, New York, NY 10016

WealthBuilder Online Groups

WealthBuilder Online Groups
Great groups forming on www.MeetUp.com
Network with others and build your wealth and communities together.

One Minute Millionaire Meetups
Meet other local readers of the best seller, One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth. Network and share financial tips and info discussed in the book.
http://oneminutemil.meetup.com/

The New York Financial Engeneering Group (New York, NY)
The group will focus on a dynamic process of building and protecting wealth. The goal is to help achieve additional benefits in the area of wealth building, tax savings, and improved protection management for a more enjoyable financial life.
http://financialchaos.meetup.com/29/

How to Raise Your Own Salary (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ)
Meet people that are involoved in raising their own salaries through the concept of a Master Mind. Discussions will include: passive income, building a legacy business, key financial concepts, transfer of wealth, etc.
http://entrepreneur.meetup.com/633/

Black Millionaires in Motion (San Diego, CA)
We are working on the Black Prosperity Now and Forever Financial Seminar Series to advocate financial independence and wealth for Black professionals around the world through credit repair, option trading and ownership of real estate.
http://blackbiz.meetup.com/149/

The Real Estate Networking Association (New York, NY)
The Real Estate Networking Association of NYC is a group dedicated to connecting people of the real estate community. Our goal is to energize and boost the careers of our membership.
http://realestateagent.meetup.com/14/

The New York City Landlords Meetup Group (New York, NY)
http://landlords.meetup.com/2/

Money Managers Prove a Tough Asset Class to Value

Money Managers Prove a Tough Asset Class to Value

With almost a century of experience to go on, you might think the world would have decided by now what a competent mutual-fund manager is worth.

It hasn't. The subject is more hotly disputed than ever, with what amounts to a gaping spread between the ``bid'' and the ``asked.''

Fund management is customarily considered a big-money, high- prestige occupation. A 2005 study put the median pay of ``senior portfolio managers employed by mutual funds'' at $482,000 a year.

Full Article:
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&refer=columnist_currier&sid=a7EI9lJxFf3I

Securities-Lending Manager in Deal With TA

Securities-Lending Manager in Deal With TA
By Jeffrey Kutler

TA Associates, a Boston-based private equity firm with an expanding portfolio of financial technology holdings, has announced an agreement to become the majority owner of eSecLending, which operates a platform for managing auctions of securities loans. As majority owner, TA will displace global asset manager and eSecLending founder Old Mutual, while a minority stake will be held by the target firm's management.

Full Story:
http://www.securitiesindustry.com/article.cfm?articleid=17243

I.R.S. Quickly Answers Study on Audits of Rich Americans

I.R.S. Quickly Answers Study on Audits of Rich Americans

In a rare disclosure, the Internal Revenue Service said yesterday that it had audited 11,715 � or 5.2 percent � of the 225,000 Americans who reported incomes of more than $1 million in 2005.

Full Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/business/29tax.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Goldman deals put private equity practice to test

Goldman deals put private equity practice to test

Goldman Sachs' (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) involvement in a flurry of high-priced, high-profile takeover deals, may run the risk of upsetting its private equity clients
**Wall Street's highest fee-paying customers.

Full Story
http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=bankingFinancial&storyID=nN28294796&imageid=&cap=

More articles on Goldman Sachs Private Equity Group
http://www.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=goldman+private+equity&ie=UTF-8

Dress the Part of a Leader

Dress the Part of a Leader

Whether they -- or you -- realize it, your business associates will
judge you by your attire. Check out this advice before suiting up

Slide show
http://newsletters.businessweek.com/c.asp?id=607066&amp;c=22f6a904cf512287&l=1

The 10 Worst Presentation Habits

The 10 Worst Presentation Habits

Speakers can be their own worst enemies. Here are our expert's tips on how to make a presentation sing

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/02/mistakes/index_01.htm

Give Yourself Some Credit

Give Yourself Some Credit

Building a credit record for your small business is imperative. The
tricky part is doing it without endangering your own

http://newsletters.businessweek.com/c.asp?id=607066&amp;c=22f6a904cf512287&l=4

Making Sense Of Sales

Making Sense Of Sales

Software to improve your sales process may finally be ready for prime
time

http://newsletters.businessweek.com/c.asp?id=607066&c=22f6a904cf512287&l=5

Management: Dig Before You Decide

Dig Before You Decide

Eager to act fast, entrepreneurial companies too often ignore the root
of problems. Take a lesson from the National Parks Service

http://newsletters.businessweek.com/c.asp?id=607066&amp;c=22f6a904cf512287&l=6

Homeowners of Color Swindled on Loans

Homeowners of Color Swindled on Loans

Neighborhoods with a majority of people of color have gone from untouchable to the "promised land�or at least the land of promises," when it comes to loans.

Full Article
http://www.diversityinc.com/members/20593print.cfm

The Surprising Truth About Ugly Websites: Ugly Simply Sells Online

The Surprising Truth About Ugly Websites
By Mark Daoust (c) 2006

Ugliness has never looked better. I have spent the last few days
examining a surprising trend in web design that has made ugly
websites look absolutely irresistible. No, it's not the bolded,
18 point Times New Roman font shouting at me as I access the
page that has me excited, nor is it the harsh colors that have
actually managed to make my eyes hurt and distort my vision. In
fact, it's not even that logo which is so pixelated from being
processed, resized, saved, and edited so many times that it
appears to be blurred to protect the identity of the company who
owns the website that has me singing the praises of ugly
websites. What is it?

Ugly sells.

That's right � ugly websites are surprisingly effective in
making money. As a person who puts business before technology,
a profitable website is a website that is an unbelievably
attractive website to me.

The Case of Plenty of Fish

I was struck by an example of just how effective ugly websites
can be this past week as I was browsing through some web related
news. I stumbled across the story of Plenty of Fish
(http://www.plentyoffish.com/ ). This is a very plain looking
website that offers a free online dating service much like
Match.com (but without the subscription fee). There was nothing
specifically impressive about the website that stood out to me,
in fact the site was actually rather ugly.

What caused me (and I am sure several other people) to take a
second look at the website was its reported earnings. It is
reported that this website brings in over $10,000 from Adsense �
in one day. Yes, you did read that correctly. For those of you
counting, that is $300,000 per month and nearly one million
dollars in just three months.

The example of Plenty of Fish led me to consider how an ugly
website could be so successful. As I looked around, I suddenly
realized that this was not the only successful ugly website.
Ebay is unbelievably ugly; Craigslist has never won an award for
innovative design, and IMDB has never even bothered to format
their text out of the default Times New Roman. What is it about
ugly websites that makes them so successful?

The Ability to Convey Trust

A while back I wrote an article on Controlling Your Visitors
Eyes (http://www.site-reference.com/articles/Website-Development/Controlling-Your-Visitors-Eyes.html ). The main point to this
article was that you have less than a second to convey your
marketing message to your visitor, and that every aspect, from
your font selection, to the colors, navigation, and layout of
your website plays a part in conveying your marketing message.

When I wrote this article, I had beautiful, CSS designed
websites in mind. The idea that an ugly website could present a
positive message never crossed my mind. Yet the fact is, ugly
websites do have the ability to present the perfect marketing
message. What is that message?

You can trust us. We are a family run business and do not employ
a marketing team. Our website is simple, but functional. Most
importantly, our goal is to serve our customers, not necessarily
learn HTML.

As Internet professionals, we often forget that a large part of
our society is actually afraid of the Internet. Although online
shopping is growing, most people still have concerns about
online security and the impersonal nature of the web. Most
people do not know how to surf efficiently and use only the
default tools that are given to them when they take their
computer out of the box.

And this is one reason that ugly websites can sell. The lack of
professionalism and a polished look leads one to believe that
they are dealing with an individual. Websites cannot be trusted,
but individuals can be trusted.

Function Over Form

Although the above theory holds true in many examples, I believe
there is more to the success of ugly websites than just
conveying trust. Many of the websites that I referenced above
have one underlying trait that can be attributed to their
success: they are extremely easy to use.

Google is probably the best example of how functionality over
form can lead to success. When Google initially launched, every
other major search engine was in the process of transforming
themselves into a portal that would offer users all the
information they could possibly want, and probably more than
they really would want. Google, on the other hand, made their
website ridiculously simple. There is one purpose to Google � to
search the web. Nothing else was there to distract you from this
one goal. It certainly did not hurt that Google was able to
serve up relevant results, but the simplicity of the system was
key to winning over users.

Sites like Drudge Report and Craigslist can also trace much of
their success back to their functionality. Drudge Report is a
very simple website that is essentially a collection of links to
news stories. Most of the time, the Drudge Report does not even
link over to content on their own website. Users who wanted an
interesting collection of links to various news stories could
find them all on one simple page. Craigslist also boasts
simplicity. The website is simple to browse, simple to post, and
simple to use. Because of its simplicity, it grew.

The general lesson here is simplicity. A beautiful website may
draw a user in initially, but a simple website will keep your
users coming back. If one of your users gets lost trying to
navigate your website, check out of your web store, or find
simple contact information, then you unnecessarily are
increasing the chances that this user will simply leave.

Ugliness By Application � Not By Rule

Although ugly websites are often easier to use and can convey a
unique sense of trust, ugliness is not a rule that should apply
to all websites. In fact, the vast majority of websites can be
improved by adding formatting and focusing on good site design
principles.

There are two general rules that you must keep in mind when
building your website: 1) What type of message will resonate
with my visitors, and 2) Is the site easy to use?

Knowing the answer to the first question is knowing what type of
visitors you are trying to reach. Are your visitors web-savvy
and thus looking for a well-designed website? Are your visitors
uncomfortable with the impersonal nature of the web and just
looking for a simple website that is easy for them to use? Are
your visitors scared of using online payment processing, or do
they prefer the convenience of paying online where they do not
have to talk to a person?

The second question is a rule that should apply to every
website: functionality is more important than the design of your
website. This does not mean, however, that a beautiful website
cannot be easy to use. What this does mean is that you should
never sacrifice the usability of your website for a fancy design
effect or a more visually appealing website.

In Conclusion � It's Not Necessarily Ugliness That Sells

As website owners, it is very easy to get caught up in the
design of our websites. We want to present our businesses to
visitors in the best way possible, and as we get familiar with
web technologies and design techniques, it is easy to focus
solely on the design of a website from the standpoint of what
looks good rather than the message our website conveys.

What we need to keep in mind, is that websites are meant to be
used � used for reading, used for networking, used for shopping,
etc. Websites, like any other marketing tool, convey a message
and are an invitation for visitors to trust us. Our design needs
to reflect this.

Take a moment today to look over your website. Is it really easy
to use? Have you been more worried about the look of your
website than its functionality? Would it be more effective if it
were simpler in its design?

=====
Mark Daoust is the owner of Site Reference
(http://www.site-reference.com/ ).

This article may be reprinted as long as all links are active,
including a link to the article's original location which can be
found at (http://www.site-reference.com/articles/Website-Development/The-Surprising-Truth-About-Ugly-Websites.html )
=====

Business Search vs. Consumer Search

Business Search vs. Consumer Search: Five Differences Your Company Can't Afford to Ignore
by Autonomy

http://ct.enews.webbuyersguide.com/rd/cts?d=212-346-9-63-283050-50436-0-0-0-1

The High Price of Hybrids

The High Price of Hybrids

What should consumers look for to figure out the best model for the
environment -- and their pocketbook?

http://newsletters.businessweek.com/c.asp?id=606631&amp;c=22f6a904cf512287&l=7

Don't Be Afraid of Offshoring

Don't Be Afraid of Offshoring

Diana Farrell of McKinsey Global Institute takes a close look at the
workforce in China and India and says U.S. workers have little to fear

http://newsletters.businessweek.com/c.asp?id=606631&amp;c=22f6a904cf512287&l=11

Recruiting Interviews

Recruiting Interviews

Typically there are three types of interviews that recruiters use to screen job candidates. Though every recruiting interview is different, it is much easier to prepare if you know what to expect.

Click here to learn more about the different...
http://glclk.about.com/?zi=6/208c

Retirees on 2 Drug Plans Must Make Choice

Retirees on 2 Drug Plans Must Make Choice
By ROBERT PEAR

Hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries listed on the rolls of two prescription drug plans were notified that they would soon be dropped from one.

Full Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/28/politics/28medicare.html?th&emc=th

A Surprise in Tax Case on KPMG

A Surprise in Tax Case on KPMG
By LYNNLEY BROWNING and COLIN MOYNIHAN

David Rivkin, a former KPMG partner, pleaded guilty to helping rich people escape millions of dollars in taxes.

Read Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/28/business/28shelter.html?th&emc=th

SEC promises crackdown on "free lunch" scams

SEC promises crackdown on "free lunch" scams

The SEC will lead a crackdown on the "free lunch" -- investment scams aimed at the elderly. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox told the Consumer Federation of America that his agency would try to remedy the problem through investor education, aggressive enforcement and targeted examinations.

Read Article
http://registeredrep.com/news/SEC_Targets_Investment_Traps_Set_For_Seniors

Fed Reserve offers Web site for kids

Fed Reserve offers Web site for kids

The Federal Reserve has launched an educational Web site aimed at kids ages 11 to 14. The site is meant to boost financial literacy and offers Fed history and a 10-question quiz.

Visit the web site
http://www.federalreserve.gov/kids/

Full Story
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12039571/

Number of U.S. millionaire families reaches new record

Number of U.S. millionaire families reaches new record

The number of millionaires in the U.S. rose to a new record last year, according to the British market research firm TNS Financial Service. Some 8.9 million American households have a net worth of more than $1 million, up from 8.2 million two years ago.

Full Story
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/28/business/28rich.html

========
FYI...
Tax Pros has a great tax savings program for your business associates, friends and family. Pass it on.
Get FREE tax services and a financial plan when you join the Wealth Builder Program!
http://www.TaxProsOnline.com/WealthBuilder

========

UAW: Delphi makes new wage-cut proposal ($11/hr pay cut)

UAW: Delphi makes new wage-cut proposal
Report: Workers could see $11-per-hour pay cut

Delphi Corp. has delivered its latest proposal for cuts in wages and benefits to the United Auto Workers, which represents the majority of the auto-parts supplier�s 34,000 hourly workers, the union said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12036026/

Financial Planning Concepts: Create Wealth for Your Fututre

Financial Planning Concepts

Want to learn more about creating a financial plan for your future?

Visit the new Guided Trip section of the "Path to Investing" Web site for a lesson on Creating a Personal Financial Plan led by Don Kittell, SIA's Executive Vice President. Here Kittell will walk you through the steps of getting started, establishing a time frame, planning your financial goals, and evaluating what those goals will cost. While at Path to Investing, make sure to check out the Hot Topic section of the website to learn more about The Broker/Adviser Distinction.

Start your Financial Plan today.

Broker vs. Advisors: What's the Difference?

Personal bankruptcies hit all-time high

Personal bankruptcies hit all-time high

More Americans filed for personal bankruptcy last year than in any other time in history, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The 30% increase from the previous year was attributed to a surge in filings ahead of new limits imposed on Chapter 7 proceedings by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which went into effect Oct. 17, 2005.

Full Story
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dneEjjvHhYeLjxWxMz

Deutsche Bank to triple offshore jobs

Deutsche Bank to triple offshore jobs

Full Story
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dneEjjvHhYeLgVZmLB

S&P to launch series of home-price indexes

S&P to launch series of home-price indexes

Full Story
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dneEjjvHhYeLfZIBix

Globalization could tame inflation

Globalization could tame inflation for Bernanke:

Rising productivity was seen as the factor that allowed Alan Greenspan to keep the economy moving, and economists believe the push toward globalization could do the same for Ben S. Bernanke. Overseas competition has forced companies to turn to outsourcing and improve overall efficiency.

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http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dneEjjvHhYeLdxIBix

Jobs: Interviews - Know what you want.

Jobs: Interviews - Know what you want.

'I'll Take Anything' Attitude Can Backfire in Interviews

Full Article
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Careers/story?id=1764632&page=1

Tax Time: Are You Overpaying?

Tax Time: Are You Overpaying?

Learn how to avoid paying too much in taxes. Great information for do-it-yourself tax preparers.

<VIDEO>
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1754313

Tricks of the Real Estate Trade

Tricks of the Real Estate Trade

Learn how to be a top notch real estate investor.

<VIDEO>
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1763785

Real Estate: Home Price Check , Neighborhood Statistics

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Bush Is Facing a Difficult Path on Immigration

Bush Is Facing a Difficult Path on Immigration
By ELISABETH BUMILLER

Many Republicans object to the president's call for a guest-worker system, insisting that the focus be on stopping illegal immigration.

Full story
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/24/politics/24bush.html?th&emc=th

What's Bad for G.M.

What's Bad for G.M.

The troubles at G.M. worsen the nagging worry about an America without the kinds of jobs that can provide a blue-collar middle class.

Read Story
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/24/opinion/24fri2.html?th&emc=th

Marketing: Tap Into Massive Sources of Traffic With Virtually No Competition!

How To Tap Into Massive Sources of Traffic With Virtually No Competition!
By Jack Humphrey, Tale Chaser Publishing, Inc. (c) 2006

Things haven't been this perfect for a long time. In fact,
not since one of the big engines really started to take
off, when those who were lucky enough to be already seated
firmly in the Top 10 for their keywords, has there been
such a plethora of new traffic opportunities.

The internet marketing world has become multi-dimensional
in ways that are surprising to most people who are still
hooked on search engine marketing as their sole website
promotion strategy.

Here are the new avenues of traffic that most people are
NOT taking advantage of outside of the big companies and a
handful of savvy marketers:

1. Podcasting

While it was "the word of the year" for 2005, most people
still have no idea what Podcasting is really about outside
of being able to download music at iTunes.com.

And, frankly, it's because the people who "get it" are, for
the first time ever, keeping quiet about it! Or at least
keeping the information of how they are profiting wildly
with Podcasting behind closed doors and in small groups.

And I am not going to get too far into it here for the same
reason as the others: I don't want the competition that
will be here by the end of 2006 to come any earlier because
I blabbed about how it is done in public!

Sorry, but you will have to pay something to become a
millionaire using this information!

But I will give you a clue. Go to iTunes.com and download
the free software that allows you to, yes, download music.
But ignore that part for a minute.

With the iTunes software you can grab Podcasts from major
news organizations and tiny garage websites mostly focusing
on short comic bits.

Pay attention to what you are NOT seeing. One thing is
there isn't a lot of video Podcasts - period. Not even
comedy! And there are no how-to podcasts save a couple
from the people I talked about above.

The savvy marketers are already in the game and getting
traffic from a source all other marketers seem to be
totally discounting right now. To the tune of 6 million or
so pairs of eyeballs dying to see and hear more content,
especially video content, at iTunes.com alone!

Last year you could see the word "Podcasting" uttered
thousands of times by marketers trying to gauge the buzz
worthiness of it among their customer lists.

Well, without showing people how marketing with Podcasts is
done, and with article marketing doing a great job of
bringing people traffic in ways they COULD understand, not
too many marketers really got into it.

We were lucky recently to have a guest speaker from none
other than the Hawaiian Tropics site come in and talk to
our clients about how easy it has been to blow away the
likes of Playboy and other major competitors by offering
their content through Podcasts.

We got to see the inner workings of a successful marketing
campaign on a very very high level. And we gained valuable
insight into how marketing with Podcasts can be done on the
guerilla marketing level.

You watch. By the end of this year you will wish you
started caring about including Podcasting in your marketing
a year ago!

2. Audio and Video Syndication

Article syndication is not dead. It actually has yet to
see its true "boom" period. I say that because until the
content people syndicate gets MUCH better overall, we are
basically using sophisticated software and networks to
distribute garbage.

But as the article syndication industry slowly comes around
to the fact that demanding good content is not going to
hurt business, quite the opposite, there are new networks
developing that will have us creating, syndicating and
streaming much more audio and video around the web to
promote our sites.

All-text content is wearing thin on the patience of surfers
and possible customers. As the bigger sites lead the way
(they almost always do when it comes to new web technology)
we are seeing that our own customers, formerly content to
read 15 page sales letters, are leaving for something more
exciting.

As we all get used to the internet everyone promised us
would be here long ago, we see that as we buy stuff and
entertain ourselves on the web, we also expect small
websites to measure up to the speed, excitement, movement
and sound we see on many other sites today.

Less text. Much more multi-media. And as many different
ways to access and consume content as we can possibly dream
up. That is what's on the menu and the source of traffic
is MASSIVE!

Think of all those people who left your all-text site in
the last month without buying or clicking on a thing.
Where exactly to you think they were headed? That's right.
To sites with motion and sound to feed their brains
without ruining their eyesight trying to read 10 point font
at high resolution for 15 pages!

You have probably bought a product from a choice between a
few different dealers just because the site was more
engaging than the others. I know I have. And usually I
buy from sites that look like they are really in business.

Any monkey can get a merchant account and slap up some text
to sell a drop shipped product. I want to buy from people
who take the time to take their business (and my credit
card information) seriously! That means people who are
into displaying information in formats other than all-text.

Audio and video editing and syndication tools have come a
long long way in the last year. Anyone can get into the
game and dominate in areas where the traffic is theirs for
the taking because no one is competing with them for it yet!

So, after you are done writing your next article, while you
are syndicating it around the web, make sure you remember
that you are not done until you figure out ways to convert
that article into an audio for your site or for a Podcast.
Or a video script to power a how-to video for the same
purpose.

Articles, audio, and video should become synonymous with
syndication and traffic generation when thinking about your
marketing campaign. Leaving any of them out of your
marketing is going to cost you big time in 2006 and beyond!

====
Jack Humphrey (http://www.jackhumphrey.com ) is the
managing partner at Content Propulsion Lab. To learn more
about how to propel your content around the web at the
speed of sound, visit Content Propulsion Lab at
http://www.contentpropulsionlab.com
====

The other China: Parts that the bulldozers have not yet reached

The other China: Parts that the bulldozers have not yet reached

Once the cradle of China's planned economy, the north-east is now a rustbelt. Reviving the region is one of the biggest challenges facing the leaders in Beijing

Full Article
http://www.economist.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=2329842

America's Most Powerful Black Women Honored

America's Most Powerful Black Women Honored

The women who were honored on Tuesday night�including Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, president of Bennett College for Women and chair of the United Way of America�at the National Council of Negro Women's 8th Annual Uncommon Height Awards Gala are three of America's most powerful black women in business and media.

Full Article
http://www.diversityinc.com/members/20543print.cfm

The Dangers of America's Increasing Public Debt Load

The Dangers of America's Increasing Public Debt Load
By Jeff Neal, Optionetics.com

The ever increasing national debt in the United States has many leading economists alarmed and concerned about just how long these current debt levels are sustainable. Presently, the national debt is right around $8.3 trillion, which is at a point that very well could force Congress to increase the debt ceiling. By the way, this would mark the fourth time it's happened in George Bush's presidency.

All politics aside, this rising debt level is a reminder that the country is on an unsustainable fiscal course. The current national debt most economists assert is more serious and dire now than in 1980, when it was at the $1 trillion figure. The reasons are that the public debt is larger as a share of the American economy, more than half is held by foreigners and the wave of baby-boomer retirements is no longer decades away.

A former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve contends that the United States cannot go into the next decade running deficits as the primary way of coping. Most economists agree that devoting an ever increasing share of the Gross Domestic Product [GDP] to paying off interest on the debt is not very healthy economically.

The problem is that there is a very distinct possibility that government spending will increase even more during the upcoming baby boomer retirement wave. In fact, this trend could be even worse if those who finance the debt, such as foreign investors, actually begin to demand higher interest rates due to the risk that the debt level will contribute to inflation in the United States. Currently, spending on medical care has been rising faster than the GDP.

The present $8.3 trillion total debt is comprised of two kinds of debt: the type owed to the public, which includes foreign lenders, and the kind owed from some government entities to others. The public debt is the biggest nemesis because at $4.8 trillion, it is now a much higher share of GDP than it was in 1980. Of course, the larger this country's debt becomes, the greater the risk premium that foreign investors are going to demand in the form of higher interest rates.

With the higher costs associated with baby boomer retirements, taxes are projected to be raised 50 percent just to cover the increased entitlement costs. Given all these forecasts and gloomy scenarios, it is absolutely imperative that the current administration gets a handle on their deficit spending. Otherwise the standard of living for generations down the road will be adversely impacted. Increased federal spending coupled with lower government revenues due to past aggressive tax cuts might very well be a tremendous burden in the future, bordering on economic disaster.

Happy Trading.

Jeff NealSenior
Writer, Options Strategist & Profit Strategies Radio Show Market Correspondent

Visit Jeff's Forum
http://www.optionetics.com/bbs/forum.asp?forum_id=141&forum_title=Ask+Jeff+N

Listen to Jeff at www.ProfitStrategiesRadio.com

Skype Dials for Small Business Dollars

Skype Dials for Small Business Dollars

The PC-to-PC calling company is wooing small businesses with its
low-cost services. But competition is building quickly to tap into
a vastly underserved market

Read Article
http://newsletters.businessweek.com/c.asp?id=606055&amp;c=22f6a904cf512287&l=15

Management Essentials package distills a broad range of essential skills

The Harvard Manage- Mentor� Management Essentials package distills a broad range of essential skills into four self-paced CD-ROM programs:

Improving Productivity
Improving productivity is more than just a matter of working faster; it's about accomplishing more with limited resources. The four topics covered will help you boost the productivity of your staff and yourself: Leading a Team, Project Management, Running a Meeting, and Managing Your Time.

Improving Performance
Developing the capabilities of your staff is one of your greatest challenges. The four topics covered will help you improve your ability to manage others for better results: Leading and Motivating, Assessing Performance, Coaching, and Giving and Receiving Feedback.

Working with Teams
Effective teamwork is essential to getting work done in today�s organizations. The four topics covered will help you develop the skills you need to lead a team successfully: Keeping Teams on Target, Leading a Team, Working with a Virtual Team, and Leading and Motivating.

Managing Your Career
While you're busy helping your company achieve its goals, you also need to set aside time to manage your own advancement. The four topics covered will help you set your career on the right track: Managing Your Career, Becoming a Manager, Managing Upward, and Setting Goals.

Each CD-ROM includes four one-hour modules packed with tips, tools, and tactical advice to enhance your performance in each area. You'll have quick and easy access to each topic in the format you prefer: a comprehensive overview, a set of "how to" action steps, and audio-enhanced exercises. You�ll sharpen the techniques required to manage effectively, efficiently, and with complete confidence.

Order the Management Toolkit
http://hbsp.ed10.net/h/DXW1H/UL151/B7/XTAKE8

Strong Service Management Cuts Costs

Strong Service Management Cuts Costs

Training Press Releases:
A customer survey for training company QA about the most important benefit of implementing the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework revealed a somewhat surprising answer: cost cutting. Other possible answers offered to respondents: improving support and delivery practices, accurate billing, better customer satisfaction, standards and guidance, increased skills for IT, process change support or meeting a business requirement. A QA representative said using ITIL provides the cost-cutting benefit by "preventing the project slippage that can lead to soaring budgets."

Full Article
http://ct.itbusinessedge.com/t?ctl=DAAABB:3C5015E