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Cooler Master Tempest GP27U : Un UHD a rétro-éclairage variable

Présentation du Cooler Master Tempest GP27U, un écran IPS de 27 pouces proposant une dalle capable d'atteindre 160 Hz avec une définition UHD (3840 x 2160) et la prise en charge de AMD FreeSync. Il embarque un rétroéclairage variable sur 572 zones, capable de monter jusqu'à 600 cd/m² en SDR et 1200 cd/m² en HDR. Il affiche 1,07 milliard de couleurs, couvrant 99 % de l'espace colorimétrique Adobe RVB et 98 % du DCI-P3. Son taux de contraste est annoncé à 1000:1. Cet écran intègre également un client KVM et est proposé à 700 U+20AC. […]

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Ep2: Alcohol and Bodybuilding

Ever wondered how that glass of red wine or weekend beer binge affects your muscle gain or fat loss? You're not alone! In this episode, we're breaking down the complex relationship between alcohol and performance. No, this isn't an anti-alcohol rant, but a real talk about what alcohol does to your gains.

What to Expect:

  • The Alcohol Question: From a casual drink with dinner to weekend partying, we're exploring how alcohol impacts your bodybuilding journey.
  • The Complexity of Alcohol: It's not just about "to drink or not to drink." We're diving into the nuances of timing, quantity, and the real effects on your body.
  • The Facts and Myths: No scientific jargon here, just straightforward insights into how alcohol affects protein synthesis, testosterone levels, dehydration, vitamins, and fat storage.

Highlights:

  1. Protein Synthesis: Excessive drinking can hinder how your body absorbs and uses protein, slowing down your gains.
  2. Testosterone Levels: Alcohol can lower testosterone and increase estrogen, not what you want when building muscle.
  3. Dehydration: Alcohol can dehydrate you, affecting your strength and performance in the gym.
  4. Vitamins and Minerals: Excessive drinking can deplete essential vitamins and minerals, impacting overall health.
  5. Fat Storage: Alcohol's empty calories can lead to increased fat storage, especially if consumed excessively.

Personal Insights:

  • Marc's Experience: I share my personal journey with alcohol, from daily red wine to cutting back, and how it affected my body.
  • Real-Life Stories: Hear about a friend who dropped 20 pounds just by changing his drinking habits.

Conclusion:

Whether you're bulking, cutting, or just trying to stay fit, understanding how alcohol affects your performance is key. It's not about complete abstinence but finding the right balance for your goals. Track your diet, be mindful of your choices, and remember, moderation is key.

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I do hope you enjoyed this episode of the podcast. Here's some helpful resources including any sites that were mentioned in this episode.

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Sites Mentioned in this Episode


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How to Contact Me:


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Subscribe: Find subscriber links on my site, add to your podcast player, or listen on the web players on my site.

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Ep3: Three Princples of Success as It Could Apply to Bodybuilding

Hey there, podcast enthusiasts and bodybuilding aficionados! Get ready to pump up your life with Episode 3: "Three Principles of Success as It Could Apply to Bodybuilding." This episode is a powerhouse of inspiration, and I'm here to give you a sneak peek into what's in store. Buckle up, grab your protein shake, and let's dive in!

Principle 1: Effort - Take Action!

  • Take Action: Don't just dream; start moving towards your goals.
  • Take Your Best Shots in Life: Give everything you've got, whether in the gym or in life.
  • Beware of Discouragement: It's your number one opponent. Don't let setbacks hold you back.

Principle 2: Focus - Swing for Something Specific!

  • Swing for Something Specific: Set clear, achievable goals.
  • Avoid Distraction: Stay focused and patient.
  • Gain Momentum: Keep moving forward, even when things get tough.

Principle 3: Reason - Make an Informed Decision!

  • Make an Informed Decision: Research before you leap, whether it's a new supplement or a training program.
  • What Should I Focus My Effort On?: Pick a single goal and go for it.
  • How to Best Use Your Time: It's not just about spending time in the gym; it's about making the most of it.

These principles aren't just words; they're a way of life. Whether you're a seasoned bodybuilder or just starting your fitness journey, these insights can transform the way you approach your goals. So grab a pen, paper, or your favorite note-taking app, and get ready to change your life!

Key Takeaways

  • Print Your Workout: Have a plan, and you'll be more efficient and focused.
  • Defeat Discouragement and Distraction: With a clear plan and specific goals, you can overcome these common obstacles.
  • Apply These Principles to Life: Whether it's bodybuilding, business, or personal growth, these principles are universal.

Call to Action

Ready to take your bodybuilding and fitness journey to the next level? Tune in to this episode and let these principles guide you to success. And hey, why not share your thoughts and progress with our community? We're all in this together!

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I do hope you enjoyed this episode of the podcast. Here's some helpful resources including any sites that were mentioned in this episode.

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How to Contact Me:


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Subscribe: Find subscriber links on my site, add to your podcast player, or listen on the web players on my site.

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Ep4: Quick Feedback

Feedback Request from Marc

Introduction

  • Marc from justaskmarc.com reaches out for listener feedback.
  • Aims to ensure the podcast remains relevant and useful.

Podcasting Journey

  • Started podcasting in 2007 when it was challenging.
  • Observes the ease of podcasting today.
  • Wants to bring back archived episodes that are still relevant.
  • Plans to introduce new content as it becomes pertinent.

Fitness Industry Insights

  • Notes that while some fitness techniques remain unchanged, the information is still valuable.
  • Emphasizes the importance of sharing archived content that could benefit new listeners.

Engaging Long-Time Listeners

  • Acknowledges listeners who might have been following since the early days on platforms like Apple Podcasts.

Media Creation Evolution

  • Highlights the rapid advancements in media creation.
  • Asks for feedback on voice preferences: real voice vs. AI-trained voices.
  • Queries if the current voice is suitable for short podcasts.
  • Introduces the idea of AI guests, like Nancy.

Voice Technology

  • Mentions the option of using 11 labs but notes its cost.
  • Jokes about the current voice sounding deeper than his real one.

Feedback Points

  • Interested in knowing if listeners prefer a mix of real and AI voices.
  • Seeks opinions on podcast length: short and concise vs. long-form.
  • Recalls the initial podcast format of a 5-minute phone recording.
  • Expresses concern over lengthy podcasts that don't offer value.

Contact Information

  • Encourages listeners to send feedback
  • Suggests adding "podcast" in the subject line to grab his attention.
  • Assures listeners that he reads genuine emails despite the spam.

Oh ChatGPT!

---

I do hope you enjoyed this episode of the podcast. Here's some helpful resources including any sites that were mentioned in this episode.

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How to Contact Me:


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Subscribe: Find subscriber links on my site, add to your podcast player, or listen on the web players on my site.

Listen to JustAskMarc Bodybuilding and Fitness

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Alaska - Breath of Fresh Air

Tags:







Alaska is also one of my favorites. During the summer months, when it never got dark outside, we would party at a night club until 2 am and immediately change into our fishing clothes. We would combat fish for salmon until 6 am almost every weekend. You may be wondering what's combat fishing?

Combat fishing is when everyone on the bank stands 12" apart and consistently cast out for the salmon. Once a person catches a salmon and begins to walk upstream, everyone yells "Fish On". This is when everyone without a fish moves away from the edge of the bank to allow the person to reel in their fish. It's combat fishing because everyone is trying to catch a fish at the same time and are standing really close to one another.

Talking about being spooked out. A baby bear cub was found in our dumpster at my apartment building. Have you ever been in the near vicinity of a bear?? Bears have a very distinct smell. It's a very sour and disgusting smell. Just to think they are still capable of being able to smell someone else. :o)

Another time, a couple of friends and I were hiking in Alaska, and guess what? We smelled that sour smell and I swore that I would never go hiking again. I just didn't want to see us have a scene from one of the horror movies where the dummies go out in the woods asking for trouble. You know the types. The ones that think they can out run a bear. Anyway, here's a lovely picture of a momma and her baby cub. They're real cute on a poster, glad I didn't see them in person. I guess you figured we didn't fish that day.







Brown Bear Carrying Cub, Alaska

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Below is a realistic picture of Alaska. I've heard all sorts of rumors about the Northern Lights. Yet, when you see them, they're breath taking.






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Just remember, if you move to Alaska, it doesn't get dark in the summer. So, if you have plans of leaving your girlfriend's house at 4 am., someone will be certain to see you. Remember how the group TLC sang about Creepin? No one Creeps in Alaska. :o) And you're definitely going to smell a bear if it's nearby. :o)


In closing, here's a picture for your thoughts from Alaska.







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Contemplation
"If today was perfect there would be no need for tomorrow."




Travel Banter Blog
@------>---------

Drifter's Memoirs





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Bitburg AB Germany Web Site!!

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Wow!

Talking about running across a great website that brought back memories of living in Germany! A very long time ago, I was stationed at Bitburg Air Base Germany where I had the ball of my life. Check my previous posts regarding Germany.

Here is a link to a website I ran across. There's going to be a reunion for the people who were stationed at Bitburg in September 2005. Take a look:

http://bitteeinbit.net/


The website even has a Roll Call for the Air Force service members who were stationed at Bitburg! Take a look:

http://bitteeinbit.org/BT/btrollcall.html

As some of you may know, there is a Military Transition Blog and website attached to this blog. See below:

http://www.veteransinmotion.com/

http://www.veteransinmotion.blogspot.com/

The two above sites are in honor of the servicemen and women who desire a Military Transition Coach. The Military Transition Blog was just added to the Veterans of America web ring.



Travel Banter Blog
@----->---------

Drifter's Memoirs




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Drifter's Comments - Bitte Ein Bit

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It's been a while since I've been able to post to this great blog of memoirs. When I first saw the web site for Bitburb Air Base Germany (previous post), I realized how much I used to really love Germany.

Being stationed in Germany was like living in a fairy tale. There was so much to do and see. I've never played so much spades, dominoes, backgammon, or shot pool in my life. Can you believe there was beer in the vending machines in the dormitory?? For $1 you could by a can of Heineken!!

Living in the dormitories over there was a blast. My first week there I think I went to a Toga Party in the Security Police Dorm lol. I made sure I was fully clothed under the Toga because I had heard so many rumors about Toga Parties lol.

Dormitory life was really fun. I remember being introduced to Milk and Apple Schnapps. Milk Schnapps was an unsual drink and I remember it looked like watered down milk and it was really good.

Well, hope I can run across the great people I knew at Bitburg. We had a really great time.

On the previous post, one of the sites has pictures of how Bitburg looks now. The whole base has been transformed. The church is now a club if my memory serves me right. The gate is gone yet, many of the buildings are still there. Oh how I wish the base didn't close. Great Place. Great Times.


Ein Bit Bitte!


Travel Banter Blog
@----->----------

Drifter's Memoirs




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Beautiful California

I have to admit that it's been a while since I've posted on this blog. Tonight, I was thinking about being grateful about my current surroundings and where I grew up at.

It's nice to talk about the many different countries where I've lived and traveled to, yet I have failed to show my appreciation for California.

Below are a few pictures of places in California that caught my eye. California is by far a beautiful place and the beach and ocean are hypnotizing. Take a look at this beautiful picture of the ocean. This is a picture of the California coast.








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Now for a nice picture of where I currently live. Long Beach is known for the beautiful Queen Mary and it's a sight to see. Below is a picture of the Long Beach Coast.







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Now below is my old stomping ground. San Francisco is where I used to spend most of my time as a teenager. Below is a captivating picture of the Transamerica Pyramid.







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Last but now least I'd like to share a common scene we used to see in San Francisco:







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Travel Banter Blog
Drifter's Memoirs
@------>----------



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Drifter's Memoirs' New Turn - The Art Lover Remembers Paris France

Drifter's Memoirs is buying in on the idea of being able to display additional art for our art lovers in a bigger way. As you probably can tell, I love art and the creative aspects of it.

When I was assigned in Alaska, I started purchasing numbered prints. Well today, may have been a new turn for me. I may be able to make a difference in artists' lives.

When I went to Paris, France, there was a place that I went to that had a lot of stairs and it was where all of the artists painted and sketched. I think it was called the Student's or
Artists' Square or something like that. Folks, I was 19 when I was in Paris and I'm Forty..... (cough) (cough)...uhhh something now lol. So please help me remember the name of the place I went that's well known to artists.


Forex Enterprise

One thing was to see the Mona Lisa and how her features are so captivating. I remember staring at her and saying to myself, "So this is the painting everyone admired for thousands of years." To be honest, I never thought that a small town person like me would end up in front of the Mona Lisa at the age of 19 years old. I had known a young man for 45 days that wanted to get married. He had already had orders to go back to the states. There was one thing he promised before he went on leave.

"I promise to take you to Paris for New Years." Can you imagine that?? Well, we went and I had a wonderful time. He was really a great guy, I was just too young to get married....ok...I trailed off again...I do that when I speak of Europe. I loved it there. Europe gave me an appreciation for museums, art, culture, cathedrals, and castles. Did I forget wine? lol
The Louvre Museum in Paris is where you'll find the Mona Lisa and the artist is Leonardo Di Vinci. What an awesome artist. He had a way of playing jokes on people through his paintings he was commissioned for paint for them.

Some say Leornado Di Vinci painted himself as a woman. Some say the painting is an androgynous depiction of him. They also say that the only way he could have painted the picture was by looking at himself in the mirror while painting. (This wouldn't be any different than how Freida painted herself when you think about it). This wasn't revealed to me until I read "The Di Vinci Code". Wow, now that was an awesome book!


HurryDate


There are many fascinating stories about the Knights of Templar and the ....wow...I can go on and on about this. To sum it up, life is under a Law of Balance (some say the Law of Opposites) and each opposite polar energy has to exist simultaneously with the other. (Next I'll start saying a mantra and wear the Yin Yang symbol around my neck....I do like those you know). This is part of the reason why I believe Leonardo Di Vinci depicted Mona Lisa the way he did. He was a brillant man and understood felt the Laws of Nature on a deeper level. A man before his time and a very cunning man in his art. His pictures speak a different message than what's on the surface. He seemed to always have hidden messages in his paintings.

Then again, this is just me rambling, yet the Egyptians and the Art of Tantra believe in the Laws of Nature and it's opposites. Uh oh, guess I'm really getting deep here. Guess I have too much time on my hands lol. Soooo, how's football? I sure love those Niners and Raiders lol. Pass the chips and dip lol.


Eat. Drink. Save!


I'll keep you posted on the art developments and trust me, I'm going to share every juicy detail as it occurs. I'm sure any art lover will feel pleased.


Johnetta Matthews
Drifter's Memoirs
My Secret Hiding Place
The Art Lover
@------------>--------
Travel Secrets




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Blog Format

We apologize for our blog format. We're not sure what's going on but it's affecting all of our blogs. Blogger has been notified.


Johnetta Matthews




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New Cocktail Dresses and Heels Blog

Well,

It's been a while since we've posted on Drifters. We're drifting
as usual :o). In a good way this time.


We added another blog to our blog group. I've always had a
fascination with cocktail dresses and heels. My fascination
started while singing in bands and competing in talent shows
in the military.

There was one thing all of us ladies would shop for prior to
a talent contest, "Cocktail Dresses". We here always
discouraged from wearing short dresses and always had a
hard time finding dresses. Especially when we were in
Germany. Well, I started a Cocktail Dress and Heels Blog
in memory of playing the dress up game.

Check out our latest post: Here

Our most recent post is on Red and Black Short Tight Cocktail
Dresses (Blush). What can I say? I love fashion and travel.
Let me know your thoughts.

Most of the dresses can be used as cruise dresses, New Years,
and dresses for the upcoming College Spring Break! Once again
check out our site. Hope you like it:

Glamour and Cocktail Dresses


Drifters Memoirs
Travel Banter Blog
@-------->-------




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Drifter in Manhattan - The Big Apple






New York, New York - Brooklyn Bridge

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Wow, let me tell you about my adventures in New York City.
I wouldn't advise anyone to go to New York like I did. Yet,
I can say I had a bonified blast.

I had been online for a short period of time and had spent a
great deal of time in several AOL Chat Rooms. I lucked
across this one chat room where everyone would chat for
hours. We laughed so much in this chat room that
we all became like family.

After several months talking in this chat room, someone
decided to get together and go clubbing. At the time,
I was living in Delaware. The plan was to meet in
Manhattan at a night club.

There were several men in the group and the women
were really close. So it was on! I was going to ride the
train from Delaware to New York City.

I rode a four hour train ride and as I arrived at the
Penn Station, my palms became really sweaty. I realized
I was going on a blind date. I was going to meet at least
50 people that I had spoken to online and didn't have a
clue about New York City (Manhattan).

Needless to say, I arrived at the hotel and stood in the
middle of the room and asked myself, "What the heck
are you doing?" I got dressed and rode the cab to this
booming night club that had an upstairs and downstairs.
It had at least four rooms with different types of music.

I wish I could remember the name of the this off the
hook club. It was awesome.

I remember walking downstairs to meet everyone. The
music was jammin and there were a lot of people dancing
and talking everywhere in the room.

The first thing I did was walk to the bar and order a
drink. When I turned around, someone asked, "Is that
you *&)*&(%?" I said, "Yes". And that's basically how the
whole night went. We all would walk up to each other
and ask if the other person was a certain screen name.
We danced, partied, laughed, and had an awesome time.

We went out to breakfast and eventually said good night.
I really miss the people from the chat room. We had such
a great time. This all occurred in 1998.

The next morning, I figured out how to ride the train
to Times Square. I went to a restaurant on Times Square
and had the best Chili I have ever had. I think it was called
the Chili Factory. I'm really not sure.

I saw the Empire State Building, went to Tower Records
and fell in love with a group called
Alabina, and basically
drifted along Times Square. Be sure to click on the
Alabina link,
it's an awesome Flamenco, Arabic sound. The Megamix is off
the chart if you like this type of music.

When I was in Manhattan, I was captivated how it could
be peaceful in such a large city.

Manhattan, you will forever be the apple of my eye.

I highly recommend seeing Manhattan and Times Square.

Drifters Memoirs
Travel Banter Blog
@-------->----------







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Beautiful Santa Monica

Hi,

Wow has it been a while or what? I've been singing
karaoke and working on a new job. Haven't had much
time to travel.

On my next post, I want to share with you when I went
to the I Cugini Restaurant by the Santa Monica Pier.

I'll locate my cord so I can post pictures. If you've
never listened to The Wave, you may be unaware that
may Jazz listeners gather at the I Cugini and Spagatini
(spelling) restaurants to listen to live Jazz for a Sunday
Brunch.

Okay, I won't rattle on. Stay tuned for the pics.

The Drifter




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Kansas City, Missouri - Home of Great BBQ

Wow, it's been an amazing time since I've written on this blog.
Right now as I type, I'm in Kansas City, MO checking out
commercial property and visiting family.

There isn't enough time to go to all the places I want to go
here, but there is one place someone may want to check out.
Yesterday, I went somewhere I hadn't been since I was
around 10 years old.

My father and I stopped by the Liberty Memorial. It's a WWI
memorial. It's at the top of a hill that overlooks KCMO and it's
a place you'd want to stop and see. The statues and monument
are colossal.

Liberty Memorial is quite a sight to see. Take a look and see this
beautiful place.

Another place that is very popular in KCMO is Gates Barbeque.
My mother grew up with the owner, who name is Ollie Gates.
He's one of the leading entrepreneurs in KCMO. He owns all of
the Gates Barbeque restaurants and they are known for their
famous BBQ and BBQ sauce. He also owns many properties in
town. He's definitely a role model to emulate.

The other BBQ chain is Bryants BBQ. These are two places you'd
want to see if you travel to Kansas City. Kansas City is known for
their BBQ nationwide.

I'm here to check out the commercial property in the area. Many
homes and apartments are boarded up. It's so sad to see. Online
I checked the retail shopping centers that are for sale in the area.
Many of those are corporate owned for unknown reasons. Not
sure what has happened to the economy here, but looks like it's
taken it's toll.

Well today, I'm scouting a few residential properties to get a feel of
the real estate market. If I see something interesting or with
potential, I'll be sure to submit a letter of intent. We'll see what
happens. This evening I'm going to see if I can locate a Karaoke
spot to hang out at.

Well, until then, take care and thanks for stopping by.

Johnetta Matthews
Johnetta Matthews Corporation
President
Work For Yourself
New Search Engine Vulcoo
Commercial Real Estate Investing




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Never present a problem without a solution

A posting from Brand autopsy that really makes us think.

Do SomethingOne of the earliest business rules I can recall that made a HUGE difference in my professional style was...

Never present a problem to your boss without having a suggested solution ready. Don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution.In their book, Why People Business People Speak Like Idiots, Fugere, Hardaway & Washawsky take this lesson further. They call it... Do Something.

Here's an excerpt of the passage...

"...Never present a problem without actually doing something that represents a positive step to fix it. Even if it's nothing more than scheduling a trip to visit the disgruntled customer, do something. Show momentum toward and answer, even if you don't know what the answer is. There's a difference between bad news with signs of hope and bad news presented from the deepest pits of despair. You don't want to be the happy messenger, but it's not much better to be the hopeless prophet of doom."

For those passionate professionals wondering how they can position themselves for the next role at their organization this is one of those priceless tips.

For more tips on being better at your job, I highly recommend the book The Unofficial Guide to Power Managing by Alan Weiss. We've mentioned this before on Brand Autopsy... This book is so good you won't want to tell your co-workers you're reading it.




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6 Hats Thinking by Dr. Edward de Bono

Continuation from my posting in http://www.livejournal.com/users/bryanong/:

White Hat
When you think of white, think of neutral. de Bono has categorized information as a neutral subject. The white hat has to do with data and information.
What information do we have here?
What information is missing?
What information would we like to have?
How are we going to get the information?
When you ask for white hat thinking at a meeting you are asking people to forget about proposals and arguments and to concentrate directly on the information. What information is needed, what is available, and how it can be obtained.

Red Hat
When you think of red, think of fire and passion. The red hat allows people to show their emotions on a subject, their gut feelings. People don't need to justify their statements. It is often important to get feelings out in the open, rather than have people at a meeting have hidden agendas, feelings, or misgivings. The red hat allows these feelings to be expressed, to come out in the open.
This is what I feel about the project...
My instincts tell me this won't work.
I like this, I don't like that. The idea is that these statements are known to be "feelings" and nothing more. Once they are stated, the meeting can move on to a more constructive approach.

Black Hat
When you think of black, think of negative, or caution. The black hat is for critical judgment. It points out what cannot be done. The hope is that the black hat role will prevent us from making mistakes.

Yellow Hat
When you think of yellow, think of the sun and sunny, positive thoughts. The yellow hat role is for discussing ONLY the positive view of problems and solution possibilities. The yellow hat looks for benefits (and feasibility), but must be logically based, not intuitive like the red hat.
We are often better with the black hat. We are good at seeing what won't work, as opposed to what will. Forcing ourselves to look only at the positive aspects can be very valuable, since otherwise we don't always move forward.

Green Hat
When you think of green, think of plants and growth. The green hat is for new ideas, for creativity, for new alternative solutions.
Could this be done in another way?
Might there be another explanation?
Does anyone have another idea? (See brainstorming)

Blue Hat
When you think of blue, think of the sky and an overview. The blue hat is the hardest one to understand. It deals with controlling the thinking process. The blue hat is often "given" to one person, who controls what hat will be "worn", hence controlling the type of thinking being used. The different colours don't always follow in the same order. Depending on the situation, and the mix of people, it might be better to let people get their negative thoughts out first, or their intuitive sense, and then use yellow or green to move ahead. The blue hat comments on the thinking being used, asks for conclusions, decisions, etc. The blue hat can move from person to person, or can be a chairperson.

Source





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Website history

Wanna see how other websites look like in the past? Check out Wayback Machine for an archive of all websites since 1996. This is cool.





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Three Column Blogger Template

This is by far the best site to download three column blogger template. It has all the blogger templates and it is really easy to install. Most of the sites I've visited have very limited templates or either have problems or makes it very difficult for a beginner to install. Check Webtalks blog out.




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SA Median House Prices (September Quarter)

SA median house prices. The biggest drop is within the Adelaide metro region. Regional SA prices have also dropped as well. With consumer confidence dropping, SA median house prices will continue to drop into the year 2009.
SA median house prices




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Green Shopping Bags

Non Woven Bags Direct Australia directly manufacturers and imports eco-friendly non woven polypropylene bags commonly referred to as green shopping bags, green bags or eco bags to Australia.

Non Woven Bags Direct Australia chooses strong, premium quality non-woven polypropylene, an eco-friendly and non-toxic material used in surgical wear. Their non woven bags are 100% recyclable and washable, which is an easy and cost effective way to promote your business

They have 39 colours of non woven fabrics in stock. For orders of 10 000+, you may choose from any colour from the Pantone Matching System (PMS) range.

Our Non Woven Bags containers are directly shipped to major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. When you order through Non Woven Bags Direct Australia, there are no hidden import costs and many businesses across Australia are happy dealing with them for their no hassle, cost effective business practices. Non woven polypropylene bags are also known as green shopping bags or green Bags. The more green bags you order, the less expensive the price. They can also supply their quality green bags to international markets directly from their factory in Shenzhen, China.




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Sales 2.0: Improve Business Results Using Innovative Sales Practices and Technology

What is your sales organization doing about the current economic downturn? What will make a difference for your company? While the economic forecast may be “uncertain,” it is certain that our customers are reducing their budgets and spending more carefully, forcing their vendors to do the same. This economic challenge will accelerate the adoption of Sales 2.0 from a “nice to have” to a “need to have” philosophy. Companies that continue to sell the way they sold in the past will become less profitable or fail altogether. Customer preferences, the ever-rising cost of sales, and the availability of next-generation technologies are making change mandatory for companies that want to outperform the competition and minimize the impact of the economic slowdown.

What is Sales 2.0?
Sales 2.0 is not a new technology. It is the use of innovative sales practices to improve business results, creating value for both the buyer and seller, and is often enabled by Web 2.0 or next-generation technology. Sales 2.0 initiatives typically center on process and customer-engagement improvements to increase sales productivity. Sales 2.0 practices combine the science of measurable, process-driven operations with the art of collaborative relationships, using the most profitable and expedient sales resources required to meet your customers’ needs. The goal of Sales 2.0 is to produce greater, predictable, repeatable business results, including increased revenue, decreased sales costs, and sustained competitive advantage.

Sales 2.0 initiatives require changing mindset and adjusting sales strategies. A relatively simple Sales 2.0 practice involves selling more through video or web conferencing. This can be done by inside salespeople or by field salespeople who perform more of their jobs from their desks. Selling more efficiently should also mean selling more effectively, as many buyers now prefer to meet remotely via conference calls with video or web conferencing, and salespeople benefit from additional selling time that otherwise would be spent traveling. A traditional sales process that included three or four onsite visits might now have zero or just one face-to-face visit. The financial impact of reducing travel expenses can be significant and is easily measured, but the economics of giving your most expensive sales resources — your field salespeople — additional selling time is even more compelling.

Many products and services, especially those of relatively small to average value, can only be sold profitably with a remote or low-touch sales model. The definition of “small to medium orders” is different for every company, but they are generally those that fall into your bottom 50% in value. If ignored, these mid-market customers or transaction types are missed opportunities for organizations that rely solely or too heavily on a field-based sales model. And when they are sold through field sales, these smaller opportunities can derail focus and drain the organization’s profitability.

Another Sales 2.0 practice uses some “science” to accurately capture key market information and metrics such as average sales cycle, average deal size and sales-cycle conversion rates. By using a defined sales process and data analytics, you can determine how your sales force should be structured and which customers and transaction types justify the assignment of field account executives, inside salespeople, channel partners or no selling effort at all. Data analytics in this sense can range from rudimentary (pen and paper) to moderate (spreadsheets, CRM, and most reporting systems) to advanced (dashboards and on-demand sales intelligence). Rather than simply measuring the final result (revenue), a Sales 2.0 approach measures the effectiveness of every stage in your sales process by salesperson, giving managers the opportunity to provide targeted coaching. Data analytics also can be used to correlate and analyze the specific characteristics of your most profitable customers (size, industries, locations, buyer types, etc.) that produce the most revenue and profit. Sales and marketing leaders can then use this information to fine-tune your sales model and activities to ensure the loyalty of your most valuable customers and find more prospects like them.

How do I begin a Sales 2.0 initiative with limited staff and budget?
A key Sales 2.0 tenet involves experimentation, often through testing new process ideas and piloting new technology. Testing a new sales message, pricing options, new technology, or even a new sales process enables the organization to be innovative with minimal risk. Small pilot programs that use minimal resources enable ineffective ideas to fail on a small scale, while good ones can be rolled out more aggressively.

Becoming a Sales 2.0 organization requires that we proactively adapt and continually improve so we can become closer to our customers and weather the economic storm better than our competitors.




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Avoiding the Blame Game Between Sales and Marketing

Avoiding the Blame Game Between Sales and Marketing
by Anneke Seley
coauthor, Sales 2.0: Improve Business Results Using Innovative Sales Practices and Technology

One of the strategic prerequisites of Sales 2.0 — the use of innovative sales practices enabled by technology — is the alignment of sales and marketing. Organizations often have different executives with separate goals, perspectives, and compensation-plan objectives running sales and marketing. This can lead not only to internal unrest but also to negative customer experiences or perceptions of your company, not to mention poor sales results. Those companies that engineer their organizations to guarantee sales and marketing cooperation, however, achieve both competitive advantage and improved revenue.

One company that exemplifies a high level of collaboration between sales and marketing is newScale (link to newScale.com), a company that offers IT service catalog and service portfolio management software solutions. This is due to the close working relationship and shared compensation-plan targets of the company’s EVP and head of sales, David Satterwhite, and VP of marketing, Mark Hamilton. Their partnership commitment is so strong that they not only co-develop integrated programs and practices, but they also make presentations as a team. These executives’ dedication to collaboration, elusive in many companies, earned them a market-leading position in its field, with more than 1.5 million users worldwide, including 20 percent of the Fortune 50.

David and Mark are evangelists of sales and marketing communication and collaboration at the top level.

They make it a priority.
Both believe alignment has a critically positive impact on both top- and bottom-line results and frees them to focus on making their numbers. They also stress that it is a prerequisite to a healthy and productive company culture.
David and Mark maintain their commitment to alignment by considering each other members of their management teams, attending the other’s management meetings, and holding weekly one-on-one meetings or phone calls. They treat the annual marketing plan as a customer proposal, with sales being the customer, and share staffing and head-count planning.

They develop shared rules of the road.
This includes assuming a positive rather than adversarial intent on the part of the other department, which they model at the highest level, and recognizing that they have a shared ultimate metric of success — revenue growth — on which compensation in both sales and marketing is based.
David underlines the importance of upbeat psychology, as well as personal relationships, in business. By coaching his sales team to give marketing staff the benefit of the doubt when something goes wrong and by helping them resolve conflicts through trust, he avoids hours of management “therapy” and keeps his group focused on sales effectiveness and efficiency.

They leverage each other’s strengths.
David contributes his sales instincts for what produces revenue, understands what motivates his customers to buy and his sales team to sell, and has highly developed skills negotiating and winning deals. Mark is expert at operations, systems, and processes, distilling and analyzing complex concepts, and seeding and growing markets.

They collaborate on designing and implementing sales tools and technologies.
Price lists, closed-loop lead processes, weekly sales tips, win/loss programs, and continual surveys of marketing-program effectiveness are some of the tools the company developed that have passed the sales “sniff test.” Because they are designed by both sales and marketing, they actually get used.
Mark describes the difficulty he faced getting newScale’s sales people to report on lost deals. Sales people like to celebrate successes, not dwell on failures. By documenting the deals they haven’t won, sales people may feel they bring attention to their weaknesses in sales process or skills. When he asked his marketing group to call “lost” customers, though, Mark uncovered a solution to the problem of engaging the sales team. The calls revealed that many customers weren’t lost at all, as they weren’t happy with their chosen alternative solution to newScale’s product. Though newScale’s sales team didn’t win these sales initially, these customers became part of the pipeline a second time through Mark’s calling program. The sales group happily adopted the program when they understood it as a sales campaign that could unearth recycled, newly qualified leads.
Mark also recognized an opportunity to improve lead qualification and pipeline building using products from Genius.com (link to genius.com), but he wouldn’t dream of signing up to try them without running the idea by the manager of David’s deal-development team. Genius’ products truly support a Sales 2.0 (link to phoneworks.com/sales20) collaboration between marketing and sales by allowing reps in both departments to track and act on important data on potential customers (such as who is responding to e-mail messages, and what web pages they are looking at right now and for how long). By including the sales team in the evaluation and decision-making process, Mark succeeded in bringing a valuable sales tool into the company that is enthusiastically embraced by the lead qualifiers.

As customer requirements and economic conditions change, the old way of selling — independently of or in contradiction to marketing efforts — doesn’t work. Sales 2.0, the evolution of the sales function, includes rethinking sales strategy, people, process, and technology. With a business strategy that emphasizes sales and marketing alignment and collaborative planning and execution, companies will stay competitive and achieve sales success.

Anneke Seley is the CEO and founder of Phone Works, a consultancy that helps large and small businesses build and restructure sales teams to achieve predictable, measurable, and sustainable sales growth. As the 12th employee at Oracle, she designed the company’s revolutionary inside sales operation. Her book, Sales 2.0: Improve Business Results Using Innovative Sales Practices and Technology, is available at online retailers including amazon.com, bn.com, booksamillion.com, and borders.com. For more information, visit www.sales20book.com.




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Government unveils $42 billion economic stimulus package

MORE than 10.6 million Australians will receive cash bonuses under a $42b Government plan to boost the economy.

As the Reserve Bank prepares to announce another cut in official interest rates this afternoon, the Government has released details of its plan to support up to 90,000 jobs. It also revealed a $22.4 billion fiscal budget deficit will blow out to $33.3 billion by 2009-10.

Under the economic stimulus package:
FROM March, families eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A will receive a $950 Back to School Bonus for each eligible child.One-off $950 payments will also be made to: AROUND 1.5 million single-income families who receive Family Tax Benefit Part B; FARMERS and rural-dependent small business owners receiving exceptional circumstances assistance;YOUTH Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy and Education Entry Payment recipients;FROM April, workers earning up to and including $80,000 will get a $950 tax bonus;THOSE earning $80,000 - $90,000 will get $650;PEOPLE earning between $90,000 - $100,000 will receive $300.

The Government will also: INSTALL free ceiling insulation in 2.7 million homes;CONSTRUCT 20,000 public and social housing dwellings and 802 Defence houses;DOUBLE the rebate to landlords who install insulation in rental properties to $1000 INCREASE the Solar Hot Water Rebate from $1000 to $1600;SPEND $850 million on fixing roads, building boom gates for rail crossings and building community infrastructure such as town halls, libraries and sport centres.

Schools will also benefit: ALL 9540 Australian schools will receive up to $200,000 for maintenance and building works; EVERY primary, special and combined Prep - Year 12 school will receive money for large-scale infrastructure such as libraries and multi-purpose halls;ABOUT 500 new science laboratories and language learning centres will be constructed in high schools.Meanwhile, businesses will be eligible for a share of $2.7 billion worth of investment tax breaks. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan will hold a press conference this afternoon to discuss the plan and the budget and economic outlook.




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SA Median House Prices (December Quarter)

The latest South Australia median house prices for December 08 is up. Overall, both metropolitan and regional areas have dropped in prices. With the worldwide economy deteriorating and the Australian economy moving into recession, house prices will continue to drop.




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Portable Media Expo - final thoughts

Its 5am here in California and I’m awake. It’s either the excitement around the Portable Media Expo or the fact that my body still hasn’t adjusted to the time difference. It’s a good job I’ve been waking early because there...




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Do bloggers have any power?

As part of the Today Programme Christmas poll about who runs the country they broadcast a short discussion on bloggers, and what kind of power they wield. Judy of adloyda and Tim Ireland of bloggerheads took part in the discussion...




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Broadcasters give citizen journalists tools to report

The BBC is expanding the number of reports available for UK viewers to download online. Over 80 online news reports covering iconic events from the past 50 years have been made available this week by the BBC. It follows a...




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Testing times - web survey pilot

How much credibility do consumers lend to information from different sources online? I’ve already written about the ethical considerations in blogging – and the fact that bloggers seem to see no need for a code of ethics. So are consumers...




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Blogwatch: Why is the BBC getting involved in blogging?

Why is the BBC getting involved in blogging? It's a question that was raised in a session I was running the other day. Followed by the comment: 'Blogging is for amateurs, and provides an easy way for them to put...




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Volvo blog revs-up for success

Back to blogging, with news of a really effective corporate blog. My dissertation is done and the MSc complete – more of that in future weeks. In the meantime, what sparked my interest was the new Volvo C30 – a...




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How to Write and Publish your own eBook... in as little as 7 Days

How to Write and Publish your own eBook... in as little as 7 Days: "�How to write and publish your own OUTRAGEOUSLY Profitable eBook in as little as 7 days � even if you can�t write, can�t type and failed high school English class!�"




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ClickBank Mall Authorized ClickBank Marketplace Income System

ClickBank Mall Authorized ClickBank Marketplace Income System: "The 1stPromotion Pro2 System - A Perfect Marriage Of Technology & Opportunity

1stPromotion.com, the trusted source of ClickBank utilities and premium work-at-home opportunities, announced today the introduction of their newest web mall and affiliate income portal. "




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Making Home Business Do Big Business

Making Home Business Do Big Business: "Everyone talks about the power of the internet, and how people harness millions of dollars from it. Regular folks like you and me are very successful home business owners without risking their financial livelihood."




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Making Home Business Do Big Business

Making Home Business Do Big Business: "I barely knew how to write e-mails and surf the internet when I started in July of 2002. I was quite desperate back then, because I was unemployed and without any immediate prospects for a job. In my Internet search for employment I came across many home business opportunities, but all too often they looked like 'too good to be true'. Then I discovered the SFI Internet Income Course, and, because it is free, decided to give it a shot.

I knew that I had to learn a lot, because I was a novice. What better way to learn then through a step-by-step training course! "




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Making Home Business Do Big Business

Making Home Business Do Big Business: "We'll teach you how to earn globally, 24 hours a day, both front-end cash income and residual money, 'do-it-once-get-paid-forever'-style. And there is no ceiling to your earnings!"




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Empowerism - International Success Mentoring and Global Business Opportunity!

Empowerism - International Success Mentoring and Global Business Opportunity!: TESTIMONIAL: "Janet - you have created something truly AWESOME! My dream was to work-at-home fulltime. Thanks to Empowerism that dream is now a reality!

What really gets me EXCITED is all my friends around the world are achieving their dreams too! We are making a difference in peoples' lives and that's worth more than words can describe. It feels GREAT to share an opportunity that actually works. It works because we believe in ourselves, we believe in Empowerism and we believe in YOU!

Trey Whitaker, 123Clicks.com,
Georgia, USA "




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ClickBank Mall Authorized ClickBank Marketplace Income System

ClickBank Mall Authorized ClickBank Marketplace Income System: "Are You Ready To Take Total Control Of Your Future?
Are Your Ready To Break Out Of The Plug-In Income Mold?
Now You Can Have Your Very Own Custom Money-Making Site And Complete
Dynamic Income System...
That's Absolutely Perfect For You! "




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Personal Development - Ultimate Basis of Success

I haven't been active on this blog now for almost a year. Why? - I have been busy building my website revolving around personal development. In addition, I created some additional blogs which link from within my website.

If you are interested in developing your personal, spiritual and business growth, check it out now!




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Not Just Brilliant - 10-Grand-A-Day Brilliant!

It's real! Yesterday, I thought it was big, but I didn't even know HOW big. Get yourself over here and see for yourself. What I saw, just 24 hours ago, was based on seeing a pre-launch, unfinished version of “Google's Dirty Little Secret.”

But just this morning... at 12:01 AM... I was lucky enough to get my hands on the final version.
I couldn't sleep. I stayed up all night, devouring the material. I learned stuff I never imagined.
I almost accidentally called what I learned, “tricks” but these aren't little gimmicks that will make you a few dimes for a little while. This is a brand new way to make money with AdSense.
After reading just half the book, all I can say is, “WOW!”

It's finally available, so you can read the secret page yourself here.

Let me tell you, this “Insider” is an interesting character. A dark and secret sort... but one with the kind of knowledge I've never seen before. And I guarantee you haven't either.
And you know how some guys out there write books that are supposed to reveal the secrets, but they keep the real secrets to themselves?

Not this guy... He's revealing so much, it's like he has a vendetta against someone at Google!
He shows step by step, exactly how he...

--Sucks $10,000 PER DAY out of Adsense.
--Plies his nasty practices while never being detected by the powers that be... or his competition!
--Follows a simple blueprint that can make him INSTANT money anytime he needs it.

And he shows you in simple language, exactly how you can do it too!
See for yourself.

If I were you, I'd go there right now, because depending on what time you're reading this, the floodgates may have already been opened.

And how would you feel if you missed out on what could be the single greatest money making opportunity you'll ever be offered?

You know, I just read back what I wrote above, and I think my theory of the “Insider” having a vendetta against Google, isn't right. It can't be. Because I'm pretty sure Google knows he's doing it. I'm convinced he's ripping off Adsense, and they're just sitting back and letting him steal THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS everyday!

Why?

Because his tactics make Google... HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS... maybe even MILLIONS daily.

Listen... I already know this package is probably going to be the single most important investment you make this year...
...and the thing about investments is, you have to strike while the iron is... cheap!

I spoke to Chris from DayJobKiller and even though “Google's Dirty Little Secret” has only been out less than an hour, he's already talking about raising the price.
So get in now, while the getting is good.

So stop checking your email already. Get over to this site and don't so much as blink your eyes before you make it to the bottom of that page.

I'm sitting here thinking of something else to say, when all that comes to me is something I said earlier... “Wow!”

To Your Success!




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Business Development - Be competent in Home Business, Sales, Marketing and Internet Marketing!

Business Development - Be competent in Home Business, Sales, Marketing and Internet Marketing!

Attention Self-starters, entrepreneurs, home business professionals, corporate employers and sales & marketing professionals: Find expert internet marketing advice here serving your personal development and professional training success and leadership. Build yourself a library of business expertise that will save you time, money and effort in the pursuit of home money making business opportunity




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Google Toolbar Button Gallery

This is pretty cool to customize your Google toolbar. I just added the button to allow me to publish to my TypePad blogs with one click of the mouse.

Google Toolbar Button Gallery




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Geen belasting

Geen belasting bij Sky Europe in de eerste week van het nieuwe jaar.




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REBAJAS

Want kan een prijzenoorlog op z'n Spaans toch goed klinken.




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Burqa Dancer

A dancer wearing a burqa dances to middle eastern music, in front of the pyramids in Egypt.




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Dancing Rabbi

A rabbi gets down to some disco




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Drum and Bones

A skeleton takes to the dance floor to some seriously hectic drum and bass beats.




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shockwave animations by David Wilhelm




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Apr 28, Have Any Passion? Turn It with Any Hobby Into A Small Biz!

If you have passion for anything, whether it is your professional experience, hobby, or knowledge, you could turn it into par-time, or full time job online through the biz guide on this page.