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This article by Katie-Anne Gustafsson is a recommendation for a program called ListPro, a software application that allows users to create, store, and keep track of your favorite lists. According to the author, ListPro works especially well with pocket-sized PCs such as the T-Mobile MDA.

I’m a mom with two pre-schoolers. I am also a freelancer who runs a writing business. I have deadlines for clients and kids coming out of my ears. I need to know whether there’s something to eat for dinner in the freezer, what to buy at the grocery store, whether the bills are paid, if I have any invoices outstanding, what projects need completion by the end of the week, which days the boys aren’t at pre-school, whether I’ve sent out the right number of birthday cards this month – and so the list, or should I say lists, go on. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find something that would help me keep up with all of this, and then one glorious day last summer, a friend handed me a gadget that has completely revolutionized my life — an unlocked T-Mobile MDA pocket PC!

By inserting the SIM card from my old cell phone, I suddenly had everything at my finger tips…well almost everything. I could make notes, put in appointments and deadlines etc, but the lists were still not really accessible enough.

Then an Internet search brought me to a software program that has changed my life and lowered my stress levels dramatically — ListPro from Ilium Software. I used the demo not expecting anything out of the ordinary but boy was I ever mistaken. This software allows me to make lists either via the computer and sync them to the MDA, or to make lists “on the go” and have them sync back to the computer when it’s linked up. I have lists now for everything from shopping to deadlines, and from a systematic cleaning routine for the entire house to a list of threads I need to buy for a stitching project. It helped me keep track of which gifts I’d bought for Christmas presents and which were still needed and it even automatically totals up my income for each month by balancing the column with the project invoice total. I can’t believe how much easier this one piece of software has made my life.

As for the MDA, a birthday gift of a 4GB memory card has allowed me to transfer all of my music from the computer so that I have a portable jukebox with me – it’s like an iPod, but better! I can even play my favorite board games of Monopoly, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit whilst I wait for hospital appointments!

For anyone who has a busy lifestyle, whether you’re a corporate executive or a mom juggling too many things at once, I thoroughly recommend a pocket PC such as the MDA, and once you have this, try the free version of ListPro – I’m pretty sure you’ll pay the license fee at the end of the trial!

This article by Shane Dayton is a review of a TechSmith product called SnagIt, a software program that is able to capture and edit professional quality screenshots. Clicking on the image will take you to the Amazon page for the latest version of the product, which is currently SnagIt 9.0.

Looking for a better way to grab a screenshot than sitting in front of your computer with a camera? The good news is that there are various software products that are designed to be able to run and take a picture of anything taking place on your computer screen. SnagIt is one of these software bundles, and is a favorite among freelance writers and other professionals who need to be able to take pictures of what is happening on their computer screens.

SnagIt is downloadable from its web site, which can be found easily with any search engine. The cost is approximately $40, with another $6 to get sent a back up CD version through the mail. This CD is often sent the same day as the download, and is a very good deal considering future upgrades to SnagIt are downloadable for free. Like many other software types, SnagIt searches its own web site to find out whether upgrades are available or not, and then asks you if you want to add them. This feature makes keeping current fast and easy, two words that professionals love to hear.

The software is easy to use, and the help section comes with instructional videos for those who need to know every in and out of the program. It is also easy to figure out and offers several features that enable you to take pictures. The software can be set to capture a region that you outline manually, a window, the full screen, a scrolling window (handy for an extra long web page or paper) or a web page (keeping links active). You can also switch between these manually, and the software is designed in a very simple manner to make this as user friendly as possible.

The one drawback to SnagIt is that once an image is snapped, you are brought immediately into edit mode. This means that if you have an assignment requiring several successive shots (such as an online poker table, for example) this may not be the best software since every picture takes you away from that table until you confirm you’re done with the one image. However, this seems to be the only drawback to a software package that is an excellent and well-priced option for professionals.

One of the checks that I have received recently was from Mindfield Online, a survey company from which I have now been paid multiple times and can be officially placed in the “non-scamming” category. Most of their surveys that I have encountered are generally in the $1-5 range, although occasionally they will offer higher amounts. While this will not exactly catapult you into Uncle Scrooge style money piles very quickly, if you’re struggling through difficult economic times and are trying to make a little extra money from home, this program is another one that you can add to your repertoire. Here is a screenshot of my most recent check for $19.

After the initial signup, you will receive an internal account where you can track your total earnings, change your preferences or password, and access information related to common questions you might have about the program. There are also a few introductory profile surveys that you can take from here. It is recommended that you complete these because they can qualify you to receive more paying surveys in the future. Moreover, they can also help to pre-screen you, which means that you will not be sent as many surveys that you would not qualify for anyway. This can save you from wasting your time later by starting to fill out a survey, only to be screened out halfway through it and not receive any reward at the end.

Interestingly, Mindfield allows participants from outside the United States and even encourages them to join. Here is the relevant snippet from their Frequently Asked Questions section:

UPDATE: The redacted portions of text above are no longer accurate. As of October 29, 2008, Mindfield changed their terms such that only members from the United States and Canada are allowed to join. Here is the new version of their FAQ section:

Can I join if I live somewhere other than the United States?

We are currently only accepting residents within the United States and Canada. We expect this to change in the near future.

Payment requests are nice and easy — you can simply log into your account and press the “Get Your Check” button when your balance reaches $10 or more. According to the site, payments are processed within a week from the request date and reach most locations within 2-3 weeks. My checks have always arrived within a 7-10 day period after the request.

The only major disadvantage to Mindfield from my point of view is that they do not have any true affiliate program. Annoyingly, like several of the other rewards programs that I have seen, they simply have a “refer a friend” page inside the internal account, from which you must individually email each prospect in order to have any hope of gaining referrals. There are no referral links or banners that you can promote on your website like a regular GPT program. They do not offer any cash incentives or commissions for referrals either; you only receive entries into sweepstakes drawings for each person who clicks through from your email. UPDATE: This portion of the Mindfield terms has also changed as of October 29, 2008. Fortunately, they do have more of a true referral program now. You just need to log into your main account and click on a link to activate your “referral account”. Afterward you will be provided with a real referral link that you can use on your website, in PTR programs, on forums, or anywhere else you are allowed to promote. We can now earn $1.00 for each new signup who registers and completes at least one survey.

Although the payment for collecting referrals is not exactly the greatest of affiliate marketing opportunities, Mindfield still offers a handy little account to build up small amounts of money in for those “rainy day” periods where you might need to give your cash flow a little extra boost. In the future, I am hoping that they will find a way to enable PayPal functionality, which would potentially speed up payments and avoid the need for us to deal with paper checks and snail mail. Meanwhile, if you would like to join Mindfield Online and have not already done so, you can register for the program here.

Although real estate prices have declined somewhat in many areas, even in a bear market there is still money to be made by fixing up homes and selling them for profit. This article by Ariana Thompson discusses how to improve a home’s “curb appeal” so that it can appear more attractive to potential buyers and therefore retain a more favorable selling price.

The secret to great curb appeal is making a home look loved, cared for, and ready for a new owner. Whether you are selling your family home or an investment property, the key is ensuring buyers know the home has been looked after. A house that has earned its owner’s affection is universally appealing. A house that appears to have been neglected raises fears of unaddressed maintenance issues, which often scares off buyers.

The first thing thing to do in your quest for curb appeal is to freshen your perspective. Go for a drive and take note of the houses and yards that are appealing and inviting. This is a great way to get ideas for the general mood and feel you want to create. Return from your drive using a route that is different from your usual one, approaching your house from a new direction. Try to see your home through fresh eyes. What strikes you about the front yard or the facade?

Decluttering and cleaning are the best way to start; then a few extra touches are all you need to polish off your look. The yard needs to be clear of equipment or toys. Make sure the driveway, porch and facade of the house are all clean. Rent a pressure washer if necessary. Make certain everything works, from the front porch light, to the doorbell, to the garage door opener. The lawn must be kept mowed and trimmed, and shrubs and flower beds should be watered and groomed. This is especially important for investment properties. A house that has not been lived in can appear forlorn, so create a welcoming yard by giving it the love and attention a family would. Trim or remove shrubs that have become overgrown and are obscuring the house and address any tree branches that extend over the house or block the view. Garden and lawn edging is a great way to add a finishing touch to your well-groomed presentation. Also consider giving the door or trim a fresh coat of paint. Choose a color that is eye-catching without being over the top.

Finally, don’t forget the back view and the night view! Extend your curb appeal efforts to any side or back yards that could be visible. Pack up garden implements as well as lifestyle items like wading pools or trampolines. They take up valuable visual space, making the yard appear smaller. They also create the impression the house is still yours, making potential buyers feel awkward. The evening or night view of your home is important for buyers who may be house hunting after work. The porch lights and driveway lights should be left on all night. If you don’t have any yard lighting, look into low-wattage or solar-powered lights to highlight paths and landscape features. Remember also that the inside of your home is visible at night, so your window treatments and room presentation influence your evening curb appeal. Again, this is especially important for properties that are not occupied. Consider leaving the drapes or blinds of an empty house partially open and putting lamps on timers to give the house more life. Choose bulbs that cast a warm, golden light that looks inviting.

Remember that you are starting a new life and your home needs to be a blank slate for another family. Your personal tastes will be traveling with you to be expressed in your next house. The house you are selling must be redressed to look less like it belongs to you and more like it is ready to fulfill someone else’s dreams.

In order to keep up with eligible search queries during the week, I have been keeping a running list of them in a separate text file on my computer’s desktop. However, in addition to the queries that I eventually answer in these posts, there are several others of a different type that have been accumulating in the list from previous weeks. These are queries that I do not have immediate answers for because they fall outside my particular areas of expertise and would require more research than I have time for at the moment. Therefore, this week I have decided to switch things up a little bit and post some of these phrases from my “not sure” section in the hopes that some of you can answer these more easily than I can. If you happen to have some relevant information for any of them, you can simply copy and paste the phrase into the comment section and type your answers below it.

what is the maximum withdrawal from atm machine in us — This probably varies according to the associated bank or maybe even the ATM network, but I do not have an exact figure handy for the overall maximum limit. There may be regulations at the state or federal level that would apply here also, but I would need to research this.

processor specs — They are probably referring to a computer’s CPU (Central Processing Unit) and are looking for an easy way to access the technical specifications.

how to change processor speed from registry — Similar to the processor specs query above, it is possible to use the registry entries to alter the CPU? Changing the registry is usually seen as a fairly drastic step and not something that should be attempted by novice users, so I would definitely want to get more specific information on this before recommending anything.

will tv work after getting wet? — Back when I was a small child, I remember managing to short circuit a TV once when I accidentally spilled some soda through the little grooves in the back of it. As far as I know, the TV never worked afterward. However, I’m not sure about whether modern televisions are still similarly vulnerable to getting wet and malfunctioning like this. It has been a long time since I have done any serious TV watching.

how to trick the atm — This is somewhat of a “black hat” query, but if anyone knows of a situation in the past where an ATM has been successfully tricked, it might make an interesting article idea for my humor category.

something to snack on that won’t make me fat — I could probably come up with some relatively low-calorie snack options if I thought about it long enough, but I wouldn’t really consider myself an expert nutritionist at this point. Some of you may have some creative ideas on this, which could also form the beginnings of a separate article.

maximum withdrawal ATM machine bank of america — This is something that I would actually like to know because I happen to use a Bank of America ATM for local cash withdrawals. However, my account is with another bank, so I don’t know what their maximum limit is. The most that I have ever withdrawn from one of their machines at any one time is $200, but the daily maximum amount may be higher than this.

do i need photographic proof for having a mortgage — I’m not sure about this one because I have never tried to apply for a mortgage before. But I know that lots of other people have.

do you have to claim child support on mortgage application — I asked my mother about this one, and she seems to think that the answer is no. But again, I have no personal experience with this, so it never hurts to get a second opinion.

should the internet be blamed for decrease in standards of grammar and written language — According to my mother, who has ample experience as a professional educator, part of the reason for the decline in correct English grammar usage is that it is simply not being taught or emphasized in the schools nearly as much as it once was. I’m not sure that I would credit/blame the Internet as a contributing factor to poor English usage, however. If I could gather enough opinions and/or statistics on this, it could make for a very interesting (and perhaps controversial) editorial opinion piece.

During the past week, I have encountered three separate instances of lead vs. led usage errors. Normally this would not be Earth-shattering news, but what surprised me was that in each instance, the error was contained in a public press release that was presumably vetted by professional proofreaders or copyeditors before being published. Moreover, the organizations in question — one of which was a well-known affiliate network –were large and well-established enough to be expected to follow standard English guidelines when it comes to public correspondence.

Naturally, seeing the prevalence of these errors has led (not lead) me to our next English lesson. First I will deal with the different meanings of lead:

As a verb, pronounced LEED:

• To show the way; guide, conduct, direct, steer, or escort.
• To proceed on a course or for a certain distance, often used in reference to roads, pathways, and the like; extend, reach, go on.
• To be in a position of authority, take command of something, or play an executive role of some sort.
• To pass through in a certain way, usually used in reference to a person’s life.
• To begin with some type of introduction or preamble, often used in reference to written works; introduce, precede, preface.

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This article by Francis Leary describes some of her ideas for ways in which parents who have successfully implemented the work-at-home lifestyle can spend some “quality time” with their kids. Interestingly, the last time I published an article that had anything to do with kids turned into an unexpected controversy in the comment section when someone submitted the article to StumbleUpon under the “Parenting” category. Apparently some of the Stumblers disagreed with the author’s suggestions for relatively healthy snack foods that parents could get their children to eat without too much fuss. If you want to read the article and register your opinions on this topic, it can be found here at Healthy Snacks Your Kids Will Love.

As work-at-home parents, we’re due some time to reflect on how we can thrive in our businesses and continue to be good parents too. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the work. It’s easy to tell our children “wait a minute” or “as soon as I finish this”, and then before we know it the day is gone.

The reason we’re working at home in the first place is so we can be with our children, so it’s absolutely necessary that we not only make time for them but that we enjoy them each and every day. Independent play is an important skill to learn, and our children can develop that during the parts of the day when we’re working. But…this CANNOT be the entire day. They need direct interaction and affection from their parents.

So…how do we fit it all in? Well, preparing a schedule is essential. What else can we do to make sure we spend enough time with our children?

Here are some fun and easy ways:

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The popular traffic exchange EasyHits4U has launched its own toolbar today, hoping to provide members a convenient way to access the site’s surfbar along with many other options. Recognizing that some of my search engine visitors have been looking for information on this particular program, I have posted their latest news update below. Meanwhile, if you already have too many toolbars and are looking to remove some, you can look at my posts on uninstalling the Yahoo toolbar from Internet Explorer and Firefox.

To bring your EasyHits4U traffic exchange to the next level, we have created a special toolbar which is full of handy features and absolutely free for all our members. It has absolutely no spyware or adware. This toolbar platform is used by Greenpeace, Discovery Networks, Answers.com, Lufthansa and many other respective companies.

Preview of EasyHits4U toolbar — in reality it has way more features than above and highly interactive:

Here are some of the main reasons to use it:

1. Direct surfing links and complete EasyHits4U site navigation;
2. Highly customizable — if you don’t need some of its components, just choose “Toolbar Options” in the system menu between the EasyHits4U logo and the search box to remove those unneeded items. You can always put them back later if you change your mind.
3. Email Notifier (get notified of new messages in your mailboxes), Messages Center, Community Chat, Web Radio, Weather, Google Search, and cool Gadgets (you can switch off any of these options any time);
4. Optional popup blocker, cache/history/cookies cleaner;
5. And of course, some special bonuses/contests will be available to our toolbar users only (as soon as our toolbar community gets enough members, which we hope will be very shortly

Try It Now!

Fully compatible with both Firefox & Internet Explorer. Installation takes about 15-20 secs.

Even if you were not going to use any kind of toolbar, just give it a try — simply install and use it. We really hope that you will like it and it will become your everyday tool with all those handy features inside.

This morning I received an email from LinkShare, a large affiliate network that I signed up with a few months ago. Apparently the company is appointing two people to act as co-presidents and has issued both an email notification to its affiliates and a press release to the media announcing the recent change in leadership.

Interestingly, I detected an English usage error in the very first sentence of their letter — they used the word “lead” where they were supposed to use “led”, which is the correct spelling for the past tense of this particular verb. I have marked the error in the reprinted copies of the letter and press release below with the strikethrough feature. This will make excellent fodder for my next English lesson post that is scheduled for the upcoming weekend.

Meanwhile, if you’re a webmaster who would like to make some extra money by adding some more affiliate marketing opportunities to your repertoire, you can sign up for LinkShare’s publisher membership by clicking through to their site from the banner below.

Dear Valued Partner,

I am pleased to announce that beginning today, LinkShare will be lead led by Jonathan Levine, who you may know is our CTO, and Yasuhisa “Yaz” Iida from Rakuten. They will be co-presidents.

Jonathan brings extensive knowledge of LinkShare’s technology and our Lead Generation, Affiliate, and Search businesses to the organization’s presidency. His appointment underscores our commitment to technological innovation and leadership.

Yaz brings deep experience in merchant services and sales from our parent company, Rakuten. As Executive Officer of Rakuten’s Ichiba Business Unit, he managed merchant services and sales during a period of great growth there. He will also help LinkShare continue to leverage Rakuten’s experience and resources as we grow and diversify our business. Yaz has lived and worked in the US and UK, and held senior management positions at Gilette, The Walt Disney Company, and Dyson Ltd.

On a personal note, while I will remain Chairman of LinkShare’s board, I will be stepping down from my executive roles at Rakuten and LinkShare on July 31.

Please join me in congratulating Yaz and Jonathan. I look forward to seeing many of you at the LinkShare Symposium in New York on June 24.

Best Regards,
John J-H Kim
Chairman
LinkShare Corporation

Here is the official press release. It seems that the lead/led error managed to slip past their proofreaders and copyeditors — oops!

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Unless you’re a libertarian political junkie, you may not have noticed that the Libertarian Party’s website was redesigned over this past weekend. The new facelift comes at an opportune time, as the LP has recently nominated former Republican Congresscritter Bob Barr as their Presidential candidate for the 2008 election cycle. Although somewhat dependent on the outcome of upcoming ballot access drives, Bob Barr is slated to achieve record-setting vote totals for the Libertarian Party this year. Here is the official announcement from the LP on the new site design:

If you haven’t looked at the LP in a while, you might want to take a look again. We have given the old LP.org Web site a facelift, and are proud to announce our new look for 2008!

The new LP Web site provides the functionality, utility and information needed to make the Libertarian Party even more successful in 2008, and the years thereafter. By existing as a portal to volunteer activities, information distribution and member resources, the new LP Web site will engage visitors in a way that was never possible before.

One of the most noticeable additions to the Web site is a live donation bar that currently is set to track ballot access for the LP. The interactive view, which allows visitors to see their name pop up on the front page of the Web site, makes donating to the Libertarian Party exciting. I personally took a screen capture of my donation to proudly display!

The Web site also makes volunteering easier to do with a simpler way to sign up with our volunteer coordinator. Additionally, it is easier to become a member of the Libertarian Party, or to renew your membership.

You may notice that the new LP Web site looks familiar, especially if you’re coming from the Ron Paul Revolution. That’s because the Libertarian Party was fortunate to retain the services of the SAME PEOPLE who designed Congressman Paul’s presidential campaign Web site!

We’re very excited about our new look, and hope you are too. The praise has already been coming in from many of you, and the Independent Political Report noted that the LP now has, “quite easily, the most functional and best looking website of any third party in the United States.”

Please take some time to explore all the new features that the Web site offers, and while you’re at it, donate to the Party and watch your name come up (or not, there is that option too!) on the front page!

In Liberty,

Andrew Davis
National Media Coordinator
Libertarian Party

Although I personally do not use screensaver programs anymore, many people still enjoy them as a form of “eye candy”. This article by Lynn Sullivan describes a new type of virtual aquarium screensaver that has become popular over the past few months. Also included is a brief history of why screensavers were originally developed and were actually necessary before the advent of modern types of computer monitors.

Screensavers enable consumers to personalize their computers and cell phones. Although they are no longer strictly necessary, the popularity of screensavers has not diminished. Millions of users from the United States visit Screensavers.com each month to select from thousands of virus-free and spyware-free downloadable content items. Some screensavers have even advanced to the point that they deliver real time images on their displays.

Originally, screensavers were intended to prevent phosphor burn-in, or screen burn, on CRT computer monitors. When this happens, “ghosting” can be seen on the surface of the screen. Phosphor burn-in was widespread with monochromatic CRT screens such as the amber or green monochrome monitors commonly used with older computer systems. The most prevalent burn-in image on early televisions was caused by the RCA Indian Head test card. Anyone who remembers the earlier days of television might remember this icon – it was the one that was displayed before color bars were introduced. This picture would appear after the American national anthem was played as stations shut down for the day. People would forget to turn off their televisions at night and the phosphor dots would burn out over time, thus imprinting an outline of the image into the affected TV screens. Here is a picture of what the original image looked like:

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