Simple Steps to Stop Spam

Internet marketing is a billion dollar industry. Rogue marketers on the Internet will do anything they can to get a fresh list of victims to send their spam email. The average computer user has had more than one instance where their inboxes are full of illicit advertisements. Black hat marketing campaigns will spend thousands of dollars to your favorite websites to find out your email and other contact information. They stick you onto their spam list and study your demographic, and then they can try and sell you their products, even if you have no interest in buying them.

Fortunately, there are many ways to stop this unwarranted and annoying advertisement with a few easy steps.

How to stop Spam:

1.) Look for websites with a comprehensive privacy policy and a spam-free approved logo. These websites will never sell your personal information to third-party sources.

2.) If a website in question does not have certification, use a secondary email account for your registration to prevent spam from getting to your main account.

3.) Stop spamming by using an email provider with a good spam filter. Examples include Yahoo.com, Gmail.com, Hotmail.com and other mainstream email programs.

4.) Install anti-spam software on your web server if you run a POP3 email program off of your own website.

5.) Do periodic scans for spyware and adware that sell your email and information to third-party companies.

These are just a few of the ways you can stop inexperienced spammers and marketers, however, most marketers are smart and will make alternate email accounts send you email even after you block their main accounts. Luckily, there is a way to stop them from e-mailing you on secondary email accounts.

Use an email search website to find information about email addresses, including alternate and secondary accounts, as well as IP addresses linked to that email account's use.

How To Choose A Domain Name For Your Niche Website

A domain name is the address that your website will get found by people. In layman terms, it is the physical address you provide for others so that they can visit you. Hence with a domain name, your friends and target can find your website. It is the first most important criteria towards starting an online business.

Deciding on a domain name requires some prior study to the market and the target crowd. Here's some tips for you to take note on how to choose a domain name for your website.

Market Research

In order for you to have a better chance to get found by Google the search engine, you need to identify the keywords that is widely searched by your target market. Actually this is the toughest step in deciding the domain name for your website. It usually takes days and sometimes even months to do the market research.

Luckily, Google has made it easy to understand the terms commonly search by the market via its Google Keywords Tool. Remember to use it to find out your niche before jumping into choosing your domain name based on emotions.

Choose .com Domains

As a newbie, often the decision which type of domain should one choose? Always choose a .com domain if possible. .com domains are the defacto in the industry and most people are accustomed to .com domains. It provides more credibility to your business compared to.net or.biz domains.

Keywords Rich Domains

Domains should be keywords rich. Your domain names should be short and contain the commonly searched terms that your audience will search when you are doing your market research. This will ensure that your websites have a higher chance to be ranked on the first page of Google.

Short Domains

Domains should short and concise so that it is easier to remember. Remember if you have long domain name, chances are it is easier for misspellings and errors; it will make your website harder to be found. In the market these days, it is almost impossible to find 2 worded keywords. If you can, you have probably hit a goldmine. 3 to 4 worded keywords are still acceptable to most people. Anything more than that will be hard for your users to search.

Numbers and Hyphens

Avoid numbers and hyphens as much as possible. These not are natural keywords terms that people will type in the searchbox. A hyphenated domain does not rank as well as one that is non hyphenated. In addition, a hyphenated domain made it seem it is trying to copy the real domain, hence it gave the impression of an inferior website. You definitely do not want that to happen to your website and lose out on the traffic.

After deciding the on the domain name for your website, you can register them in domain registrar such as Godaddy and Namecheap for a mere amount of USD$10 annually.

Save Money on Workers' Compensation Insurance by Implementing Return to Work Program

Workers' Compensation can be expensive, but it is mandated by the government that businesses carry it. The cost of Workers' Compensation is determined by a company's Experience Modification. The Ex Mod takes into account previous loss history, so the more losses and the bigger the losses the more you pay. Obviously the way to keep the lowest premium is to have zero losses, but if a loss does occur there are certain things that a business owner can do to limit the loss and in turn save money down the road. One program that a business can implement, to keep their Ex Mod lower, is a Return to Work program.

Return to Work (RTW) is also referred to as Modified Duty or Transitional Work. Return to Work is a process that an employer can set up to bring injured employees back to work quickly and safely. When an employee is injured badly enough that they cannot perform their regular duties an employer can bring them back to work doing a different task that is not as physical, as long as the physician Okays it. For example, if a roofer hurts his knee and cannot resume his normal job activities he may be able to help file in the office or just be an assistant to the manager. The positions that are created do not have to be full-time; they just need to be enough to keep the employee busy and still earning some money. By the employee working and earning money again it limits the amount that the insurance company pays the employee for lost time, and when the insurance company pays less it will not increase the Ex Mod as much. Another benefit of RTW is that it gets the employee back into their regular routine faster. When a person gets used to laying on the couch everyday it can sometimes be difficult to get motivated to go back to work. By getting the employee off of the couch it also stops them from seeing the many commercials for Workers' Comp attorneys that play during day time TV. In addition, since the employee is still coming to work everyday it is easier for the employer can make sure that the employee is attending physical therapy sessions and other medical treatments as they should.

Some Workers' Comp insurance companies will help you set up your own Return to Work program. If your insurance company will not help you create your own Return to Work program talk to your insurance agent and they should be able to help you.

New Theory On Increased Military Suicides Considered

In previous wars, we've had our military war fighters come back and often they had psychological challenges readjusting to society. This is normal, it has been talked about since Roman times in Western culture. It is also been discussed in ancient Chinese and Japanese writing as well. It's no secret, warfare, that is to say real war up close and personal changes a man. The young gung ho soldier running into battle is all about bravado, but their steely eyes once it's done don't lie, their innocence is lost.

We already know this, we don't need more psychologists studying this topic telling us what we already have discovered, and humankind has not changed from that historical record for as far as we can tell in the last 6000+ years; so why would it change now, because our technology has; doubtful?

The RAND Corp recently put out an interesting report in the 4th quarter of 2012 titled; "The War Within - Preventing Military Suicide" by Rajeev Ramchand, Joie Acosta, Rachel Burns, Lisa H Jaycox, and Christopher G. Pernin. The report's introduction discusses combat stress in the theater, prolonged deployments, multiple deployments, etc. and then on the issue of stress it stated;

"This stress can manifest itself in different ways - increased divorce rates, spouse and child abuse, mental distress, substance abuse - but one of the most troubling manifestations is suicide, which is increasing across the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The increase in suicides among members of the military has raised concern among policymakers, military leaders, and the population at large."

The report also noted all the military is doing with "state-of-the-art suicide prevention programs" and "prevention science" including robust monitoring. That's all well and good, and it makes sense to get to the bottom of the problem and find a way to prevent it.

However, I have a different theory on all of this, it is a new theory, one you haven't heard before, and I would like to discuss it with you. First of all we know that sand often has in it lots of bacteria. This shouldn't surprise anyone because if you look at sand particles under a microscope you see it is all filled with old organic material. As that old material decays, and since it is high in nutrients and minerals, there is an abundance of bacteria around even with all of the sunlight and UV radiation constantly on it.

These last two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq occurred in regions filled with sand. That bacteria in the sand does have an effect on the human bio system, gene expression, and disease. We already know that people in the Middle East often feel it is their duty to commit suicide through suicide bombings and terrorist attacks. Maybe they've been subjected to this bacteria in the sand all their lives.

Now that we have brought hundreds of thousands of Americans into that theater to fight a war, they are experiencing the same thing now, to a greater degree in previous wars. I'd say this bacteria effect is an enhancement or force-multiplier to the suicide problem and psychological issues of human warfare. There's your new theory, do with it what you will, but don't deny what I've said unless you can empirically prove me wrong. Please consider all this and think on it.

How Secure Are Online Data Backups?

Processing DATA is what all businesses do. Protecting data is what SMART businesses do. Smart businesses understand that if they lose their data they lose their business.

If you are considering taking steps to ensure the integrity and safety of your important computer data you may be concerned about the security involved when dealing with such a task. When considering a third party such as an online secure data backup solution there are a few things to consider:

For starters, it is critical that your data be secure not only while in the possession of a third party but also while in transit to them. Most modern online secure data backup providers make there services available via the Internet and will provide you with the necessary software to back up a predefined set of your critical data, which is then encrypted (typically up to 448 bit), before it is transferred over a high speed connection to a secure data storage facility. By securing your data before transferring it over the Internet, you can be assured that your sensitive data (such as financial reports, company memos, and client databases) are safe from prying eyes. For ultra-critical, or highly sensitive applications, the data may be transferred over a completely encrypted channel (also known as an encrypted "tunnel" or virtual private network). If you will be backing up sensitive data that demands the utmost of privacy be sure to inquire about the level of encryption offered by the online secure data backup you are considering.

When considering a remote data backup vendor you should also take into consideration the facilities in which your sensitive data will be physically stored. In addition to encryption technology other things to be on the lookout for are fully secure facilities, biometric security systems, facility lockout policies, and human security. Depending on the level of security you need there are many levels of protection for your data that can be provided by remote data backup companies.

Be sure to do your research and investigate the track record and reputation of the online data backup company you are considering doing business with and never hesitate to ask questions when it comes to ensuring the security of your mission critical confidential data.

Your DATA is your LIFE. Protect it!

Contest Advice for Screenplay Writers

Introduction

There are many screenplay contests available to the aspiring screenwriter. These contests can be a good avenue to getting one's work noticed and/or make a sale. So, it's important to make certain that you have written your screenplay to the best of your ability and according to industry standards.

The most important thing to do for any aspiring screenwriter is to first learn the basic techniques of screenwriting before sitting down to write one. I come across many hopeful writers who think that all it takes to write a script is a good story idea and a lot of explosive special effects. While a good story is important, with or without the special effects, writing that story using proper industry standards is equally important. (Please visit http://www.coverscript.com/education.html -- Tips for Screenwriters link for further information.)

There are specific techniques to the craft of screenwriting involving everything from act structure to proper screenplay format, which must be followed. It's difficult to write engaging characters, focused plots and entertaining screenplays without having a solid framework in which to bring it all to life.

Before any money is spent submitting your work to a screenwriting contest, it would behoove the writer to first educate himself in the "tools of the trade". There are many, many screenwriting books available as well as workshops and seminars, both online and in live classroom situations. My advice is to take advantage of them. Then, armed with the basics, write, write and then write some more.

Then before submitting your work to any screenplay competition have it copyrighted and WGA registered. (United States Copyright office: http://www.loc.gov/copyright Writers Guild of America: [http://www.wga.org] )

Advice and Suggestions

I am a judge for many contests and as such, have read thousands of TV scripts and screenplays. I can assure you that the winners are chosen because their screenplays or TV scripts contain great stories and are written to industry standards. Therefore, putting your best foot forward is a must. Below are some pointers to keep in mind before you submit your screenplay.

· If your purpose is to "break into the business", make certain that the script contest you enter offers meetings with agents and/or producers as part of the prize for winning and not just cash prizes. Of course, if it is just the extra cash you're after, then go for it!

· Make certain, before you write that entry fee check and send in your material, that the screenplay contest or TV script competition is a reputable one and indeed has, in the past, delivered to its winners what it promised in its promotion.

· Presentation of your screenplay does count so make certain your screenplay follows the accepted industry standards. This not only includes using the proper screenplay format but also such things as a typo-free screenplay and the correct binding.

· Keep in mind that the industry professionals who sponsor some of these film and TV competitions do so in order to find good producible material, hopefully for lower rather than higher budgets. Therefore, entering a screenplay in a genre with a story that screams "high budget" lessens the writer's chances of winning. This means that

(1) Sci-fi special effects stories taking place on purple planets populated with giant, paisley-skinned, seven-armed, Plasmanian Wooglegorps who magically float through the air using anti-gravity belts or

(2) a 1920's Period Piece necessitating Model-T's, Zoot suits and flappers or

(3) an action/adventure story that has the bad guys blown to smithereens, along with their Lear jet, over the ocean, followed by a high-tech nuclear submarine underwater search and rescue mission while the oil slicked water burns out of control, may not be the best way to go.

· Make certain that your story is told visually. Film is a visual medium.

· Make sure you don't have "on the nose" dialogue or too much dialogue and that all the dialogue sounds natural.

· Check to make sure that your characters are interesting, engaging and have good character arcs. Nothing worse than having an unlikable hero, a wishy-washy bad guy, or a protagonist who starts out angry at the world and by the end of the story is still angry at the world having learned and changed nothing in his nature.

Conclusion

Once you've gone through your screenplay and are satisfied with it, have it read by someone else. After all, your story is intended for a movie-going audience so honest opinions from friends and family members will give you a feel for that audience reaction.

Then do yourself a favor and have your screenplay read by an industry professional that has experience and good credentials in the area of script analysis. A writer can become too close to his work and not be able to "see the forest for the trees". It is to your advantage to have any possible format, story, character, dialogue and structure flaws found and corrected before it is submitted to a movie or TV script contest.

While there is never any guarantee your screenplay or TV script will be a winner, writing one to the best of your ability and which meets industry standards is a must, as the competition is fierce.

I wish you great success in your present and future story-telling adventures.

Lynne Pembroke

Coverscript.com

URL: http://www.coverscript.com

Copyright © 2004 Lynne Pembroke, Coverscript.com