|
Friday, August 30, 2002
NASAA top 10 scams list
Check it out! The top 10 ways to get ripped off this year as told by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA). The top one is:
1. Unlicensed individuals, such as independent insurance agents, selling securities. In hundreds of cases from Washington state to Florida, scam artists are using high commissions to entice independent insurance agents into selling investments they may know little about. The person running the scam instructs the independent sales force – usually insurance agents but sometimes investment advisers and accountants – to promise high returns with little or no risk. For example:
· In an alleged scam sold almost entirely by independent insurance agents, investors in at least 14 states lost close to $30 million. According to Ohio securities regulators, money raised from the sale of fictitious limited partnerships was used to make interest payments to another group of promissory note investors. Both groups were promised double-digit returns. In April a court issued a preliminary injunction and appointed a receiver in connection with the allegations.
· Earlier this month, an Arizona insurance agent was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling $1.8 million in worthless stock and bogus promissory notes to investors. Another Arizona insurance agent was sentenced in May to five years in prison for scamming 32 elderly investors out of nearly $2 million by first soliciting them to purchase ‘living trusts’ and then switching them into annuities and finally into bogus promissory notes. A third Arizona insurance agent, working with his two sons, scammed $16.2 million by selling high risk brokered CDs, viatical contracts, real estate deals and equipment leases. They were ordered to repay all $16.2 million and fined another $133,000.
To verify that a person is licensed or registered to sell securities, call your state securities regulator. If the person is not registered, don’t invest.
-When in doubt, remember, big gains and low risk mix as well as oil and water...
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 12:48 PM
Wednesday, August 28, 2002
MSDN Home
Here's the area to grab some of microsoft's OS code...it's huge...it's confusing...it's microsoft.
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 1:08 PM
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
Internet addicts surf on work time
1 out of 4...25%...yep, that's the percentile of workers surfing for non-work materials 1 out of the 5 business days each week. Slows down productivity? On the surface, yes. But look deeper...when you work, do you take a break? Hell yes, everyone does...you must let your mind clear a bit...so surfing on the internet is like watching TV when we get home...an escape, only interactive...which also lets workers set up for their daily lives. The bottom line...don't ever believe you're getting 100% from anyone...people have to breath and make an escape...developers, designers...everyone. As long as the work that needs to get done IS done, that's what matters.
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 1:07 PM
Monday, August 26, 2002
The networked car
Imagine...no brake or gas panel and sleeping in the car...alone. True, we've seen this as a futuristic hollywood-esque cars blazing along with such movies as Demolition Man or Minority Report. But, isn't that how most inventions are manufactured...from the ideas of others. The more you say it, the more others listen and make it.
“To put it very simply, you are turning the car into a computer,” says Rainer Kallenbach, general manager of the group that modified the prototype for Bosch, a major auto industry supplier based in Stuttgart. The car into a computer? The computer will eventually be a TV? All hybrids coming together in one unified system. And, since we're seeing more and more mergers, it's only time to see the "giant" one of networking filling in these gaps and making the new type of wireless universal connectivity. It's not a matter of if...it's a matter of when.
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 12:42 PM
Friday, August 23, 2002
New device to help with stuttering
Cure? Well, maybe not the cure, but with device using Choral Speech, it will be a item in high demand for the more than 3 million people in the US alone. And, as technology improves, the $4k price tag will continue to spiral down. What a great item to advertise and market...something that will actually change a person's life for the better...
It all comes down to this:
“I’ll have the McAllister’s club, and a large ice tea please,” says Kennedy, speaking just like everyone else. “I’m free.”
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 1:26 PM
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Wireless Web comes to Starbucks
Internet Cafe's now at your local Starbucks...it's finally happened. And, it's about time! I love the idea of accessing my files via WiFi any day at any time. It also creates a lot of potential for bandwidth providers and possibly hosting arenas. Now, if 802.11b can go to each of our homes, the business posibilities are endless!
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 12:32 PM
Monday, August 19, 2002
Taking the slow lane into broadband
So, the phone companies are finally offering service at a cheaper rate...the catch? Slower bandwith for users of emails. Anyone still wanting to watch streaming video or develop webpages will still want the faster connect (cable and up).
Some rates, however, are going as little as $26.95/month. I guess it comes down to what you're needs are and what your "wants" are. I'm just wondering one thing...isn't it time to just lower it all? Haven't bandwidth prices come down? Think of how many people aren't being reached due to that price scheme...for some, $22/month is stretching...
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 1:05 PM
Friday, August 16, 2002
Multi-Mac homes get OS break
Looks like apple is taking a bite out of it's own...um...apple. For multi-user liscences, the cost will be $199 for up to 5 computers. What I find most interesting is this snipet of info:
“Our software has never had draconian activation,” said Bereskin. However, he said that many Mac owners want their installations to be legal, but they’re not willing to pay full price for each copy of the operating system. “This is a great way to allow honest people to remain honest,” Bereskin said. "
I guess it's like every other corporate business...the #2 guys always bends a bit more than the #1 guy. How else can they get to be #1?
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 12:39 PM
Thursday, August 15, 2002
Hello World!
In the land of Cold Fusion, everyone has to go through the "hello world" initiation. I am no exception...and I'm sure I'll be crying tomorrow trying to figure this out. Well, anyways, there's the link to find it if you need it. I'll keep you posted on what to do if and what snags you might incur with this tutorial.
Well, also on a good note, I found another company to do some business with. They seem great...friendly...and wanted to excel in the community effort around here in southwest florida. In any case, I've got to contact a client in Colorado...it's nice to see business picking up a bit... :)
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 5:05 PM
Tuesday, August 13, 2002
Guru.com - The Name Game
This page is great! It talks all about the ideas of marketing your meme (identity slogan) through word of mouth, branding, and all sorts of networking. Here's an excerpt:
Cooking Up Your Meme
So how do you create a powerful meme for your business? It's a bit of an art, but here are some guidelines. First, ask the key question: "What do my clients get as a result of using my services?" Don't worry about the wording yet -- just brainstorm to develop a number of sentences that capture the gist of your key benefit. To broaden your thinking, you might consider doing this with a group of friends and former clients who are familiar with your work.
You might come up with something along the lines of: "Our clients have problems with employee conflict, and our services help reduce that conflict while building cooperation and trust." There's a core idea in there, but the expression is pretty long. Start paring down to get at the essential ideas you want to communicate. The next cut might go: "We reduce conflict while building cooperation." This is better, but it seems a little vague. The next attempt yields: "Reducing conflict and building cooperation within organizations." This is a bit snappier, but are we now trying to say too much? The message here is about both solving a problem and offering a solution. Maybe we should go with one or the other. How about this as a tagline: "Building cooperation within organizations." It's simple, benefit-oriented, and easy to remember. You've got a meme!
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 3:24 PM
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 10:15 AM
Monday, August 12, 2002
This is a blog from ross.
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by admedia at 2:02 PM
Well, it looks as if Silicon Valley has and continues to go "belly-up". The days of venture-capitalism are gone. Ground-up and/or practical solution-making business is more on the rise. Take a look who went down this week:
From MSNBC:
There was a time in Los Angeles, after the land boom of the Eighties, when it was safe to say that the definition of “movie producer” was “anyone who owned LA real estate prior to 1985.” In Silicon Valley in the late Nineties the definition of venture capitalist was “anyone with an MBA and a few rich friends.” VCs ruled and the competition for their attention was intense. For example, drivers on Highways 101 and 280 between San Francisco and San Jose were often baffled by huge billboards promoting Web sites that wouldn’t launch for months. These billboards were rented by entrepreneurs trying to reach the handful of VCs who drove those freeways every day on the way to VC world headquarters on Sand Hill Road.
Red Herring and Upside were also ways to reach that small, elite audience, so both thrived on an even more esoteric kind of advertising than your average technology publication.
Now the VC shakeout is underway-last quarter, for the first time since 1970 (as far back as the data go), VCs returned more money (unused) to investors than they raised. That has profound implications for the segment of Silicon Valley — real estate, law, public relations, accounting, even publishing — that has grown up to support the pre-eminent entrepreneurship engine on the planet.
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 12:42 PM
Monday morning...time to make some calls to fill in for the rest of the week. I've got my long-term projects to reevaluate for a meeting early this week. Also, I have to finish up on some short-term and freelance work. I found a great site over the last month called "The end of free.com". They mention all kinds of new businesses going from free to fee paid services. It looks as if many are jumping on this bandwagon. Hopefully, though, the internet will always stay informative and connective...for this is what it's all about.
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 9:59 AM
Friday, August 09, 2002
Today I got a big chunk out of the way. The updating on the site is almost complete. The site is now Cold Fusion-ready. I've added a great little script for my navigation areas so they can be easily updated on all pages at one time. I'm also introducing web hosting plans and I've updated my web design section. There are now over 25 sites shown. Later, I'm adding an index of all my projects and such.
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 1:05 PM
Thursday, August 08, 2002
Well, today was a pretty big update for the site....I've added a bunch of stuff and I'm in the process of converting the whole site to Cold Fusion files. So, try not to judge the site today...she's feeling sick. Well, write more tomorrow...i've got a meeting at 6pm.
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 5:39 PM
Tuesday, August 06, 2002
Other Links Related to This Story
posted by Brian & Brian at 10:19 AM
|
