With sufficient traffic, this can get pretty lucrative. As I was thinking about what to write for this post, I was reminded of an article I read a little over a year ago which discussed the revenue sources of the Mozilla Foundation, owners of the useful and increasingly popular FireFox browser. It turns out that they had earned approximately $55 million in revenues during 2005, most of it coming from the Google search box that appears as the default start page for many FireFox users.

Yesterday I received an email from AdSense reminding me about this option because Google had detected that I was not yet using it. Apparently Google has recently improved its AdSense for search feature, and after reading about it, I decided to go ahead and implement it on this site to see how it would work. For now, I have replaced the old WordPress search box with the new Google custom search, but I have backed up the old code to a text file in case I ever need to revert to the old search function in the future. Meanwhile, I have the Google search box set up to open results for any queries in a new window; initially, these results will come from within the Karlonia.com site itself, but afterward you can choose the “Web Search” option to access results from the whole Internet if you wish.

Because it does a pretty good job of explaining the new features and how to get started with it, I have reprinted the email text below. I have modified it slightly in order to include the video that was linked to from the original email text; I have placed this in the appropriate spot just below the jump.

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Meanwhile, I had a commenter on my SendEarnings Payment Proof page yesterday who wanted me to “make sign up access quicker” with “better links”. Apparently it was not clear to some people that you’re supposed to click on the banner to get to their home page, and then click on the “Not A Member - Join Free” button to reach the signup page. Therefore, I will make my link a little more obvious:

Click Here To Join SendEarnings

Here is the text of the latest newsletter (yes, the banner is clickable too).

To better serve our members, we recently launched our Insurance Center. This new feature gives you money saving tips and provides a quick and easy way to get the best deals on insurance. Check out this new SendEarnings feature to learn, compare and save up to 40% on your insurance!

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Meanwhile, back on May 16 I had joined the DoubleClick Performics network in order to take part in the Barnes & Noble affiliate program while also gaining access to a plethora of other high-end companies offering affiliate programs with widely varying commission incentives and qualifying criteria. Although the recent email states that the platform for our accounts will continue to be hosted at ConnectCommerce.com, DoubleClick Performics will now be officially renamed and operated as the Google Affiliate Network. There will also be changes to the user interface happening over the next few weeks that reflect the changeover to Google. Here is the full text of the email update from the new company’s Group Product Manager:

We are pleased to introduce Google Affiliate Network . Effective Monday, June 30, 2008, DoubleClick Performics Affiliate will operate as Google Affiliate Network. The integration with Google’s brand is a reflection of efforts to quickly assimilate our business and teams, as well as reinforce Google’s commitment to the Affiliate channel. Together with our new colleagues at Google we are creating new opportunities for monetization, expansion and innovation in Affiliate Marketing.

Within the next couple of weeks you will see some exciting changes to the user interface reflecting the new brand. The platform will continue to be hosted at www.ConnectCommerce.com, but will eventually migrate to a google.com product url.

As noted in earlier communications, DoubleClick Performics’ Search operations are being spun off and sold to a third party. While many advertisers have relationships with both DoubleClick Performics’ Affiliate and Search, there have always been separate account teams and product-specific specialists servicing clients’ search and affiliate programs. These teams remain intact. While the formal separation will occur when the Search business is sold, the businesses are functionally separate today.

We are proud of what we achieved as Performics and this name change signals a new milestone. Google provides world-class resources and enables us to continue to attract the best talent to support our advertisers and publishers. Now as part of Google we have an exciting and unprecedented opportunity to advance our industry. We remain committed to ensuring you receive the quality service you have come to expect from us.

We appreciate your business and look forward to doing great things together.

Sincerely,

Chris Henger

Group Product Manager
Google Affiliate Network

Recent News

The Center for Disease Control says the current outbreak, as of June 27, 2008, is linked to a rare form of bacteria called Salmonella Saintpaul. Thus far, it has spread to include 810 cases in 36 states and the District of Columbia. The specific source of the outbreak has not been found. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes, and those sold with the vine still attached are considered safe, but health authorities are advising people to avoid eating raw Roma or red round tomatoes. However, tomatoes cooked to 145 degrees for 15 seconds will kill the bacteria, which generally causes fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. The outbreak, which has affected several types of tomatoes, has hit hardest in New Mexico and Texas.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that lives in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. Bacteria are transmitted to humans when they eat foods contaminated with animal feces. Salmonella bacteria are subdivided into serotypes based upon their biochemical properties. Although salmonellosis can occur throughout the year, most cases occur during the summer months.

Several people have asked about the color of the salmonella bacterium itself. This can be somewhat difficult to track down because most images show the specimens only after they have been treated with some type of colored dye or other agent. It turns out that natural salmonella are nearly colorless but are opaque and can be seen on a nutrient plate after sufficiently large colonies have been nurtured. For an image of what plain salmonella looks like, see this picture from MicrobeLibrary.org.

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increase alexa rank without toolbar — If you want to do this by surfing your own site, you can use the Firefox extension Search Status and you will get Alexa credit for the page views just as if you had the toolbar installed. For other tips on increasing Alexa rank generally, see 10 Methods for Increasing Your Alexa Rank.

computer running too slowly — Try some of the tips from my Fix the Computer CPU Speed page. Most of the time a slow computer is a symptom of too much clutter, either in terms of installed programs that shouldn’t be there (viruses, malware, and the like) or having too many processes running at one time. On the other hand, if you’re trying to run a high-end application such as a modern PC game and it’s too slow, you may have a hardware issue to deal with as well.

how can i have weblog for free — Interestingly, I came up #5 in Yahoo for this one, and the listed result was my page on free text links. As for the question, you can always get started with a free weblog rather easily with blogspot.com or wordpress.com. However, if you’re really serious about blogging, I would recommend getting your own domain name and a reliable paid hosting service.

eponyms with examples — This is a page I have not received traffic to in a long time, so I am glad to see that someone searched on a relevant query for it. You can find my essay with examples of eponyms here.

is sendearnings.com real? — Yes, SendEarnings is certainly real. Better yet, they actually pay! See SendEarnings Confirmed as Paying Program for details.

can i put my cell phone in the refrigerator — Sure, why not? If you have any other household members, they might see this as a little odd but I certainly won’t mind!

dual monitor aquarium screensaver — Fortunately I have an article that deals with a virtual aquarium screensaver program, and my mother confirmed that it actually works well with dual monitors.

what could you make your kids as a sweet quick snack? — There are lots of options here of course, but one thing that I have used myself for a quick snack is the good old bowl of cereal. Most cereals are pre-sweetened anyway and it is certainly easy to prepare. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a somewhat more nutritious alternative, you could start with an unsweetened cereal and add some of your favorite fruit to it for sweetness.

To begin with, there is no such word as alot - it is not even in the dictionary, and the few credible online sources that address its usage indicate that it is considered substandard or nonstandard English. Interestingly, I discovered earlier today that there is actually a town in India called Alot (capitalized), but this is a proper noun and has nothing to do with the general concept of “a lot”. Therefore, unless you’re referring to the town, alot should never be used in written English.

Meanwhile, a lot is an informal expression that is commonly used to mean “a large number”, “a large quantity”, or occasionally “often”. It is one of those phrases that is usually acceptable in spoken conversation but should not be used in any type of formal writing or journalism. If you’re writing anything formal or semi-formal, it is better to use the words much, many, or often in place of a lot depending on the context of the sentence. As a general guide, use many if what you are referring to can be counted as separate units, much if it cannot. Use often if you simply mean “frequently”. Here are some examples to illustrate the proper usage:

1. We import a lot of oil from Saudi Arabia. (informal)
2. We import much oil from Saudi Arabia. (formal, standard)
   
   
   
   

3. We import a lot of barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia. (informal, rather awkward)
4. We import many barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia. (standard, much better)
   
   
   
   

5. We seem to import oil a lot from Saudi Arabia. (informal)
6. We seem to import oil often from Saudi Arabia. (standard)

Finally, although the word allot is sometimes used as a misspelling of a lot, it actually means to allocate, apportion, or parcel out. It is always used as a verb. For example:

1. The market research company chooses to allot five dollars to every member who qualifies and successfully completes its surveys.
2. The United States Constitution provides that we allot two senators for each state so that they have some measure of equal representation in Congress.

Now we can look at examples of incorrect vs. correct usage:

Incorrect: Do you spend alot of time changing between numerous profiles? — Yahoo Answers question, posted by “Twigs”

Correct: Do you spend a lot of time changing between numerous profiles?

Incorrect: My cat used to do this alot. Its no problem at all. She probably likes you alot. Yahoo Answers response by “lightworker27″

Correct: My cat used to do this often. It is not a problem; she probably likes you very much.

Incorrect: If you alot a certain amount for one thing that you really don’t spend as much on monthly, alot the money to something that you are always falling short on. — Yahoo Answers response by “Dave O”

Correct: If you allot a certain amount for one thing that you really don’t spend as much on monthly, then allot the money to an an item in your budget for which you always seem to have insufficient funds.

Incorrect: I have researched allot of different ways to make money and what I found out is that most of them are scams. — “Making money From Home” page at opportunities4yousite.com

Correct: I have researched many different ways to make money and have found out that most of them are scams.

Quick Summary: Never use alot, use allot for allocations, and use a lot if you are in an informal setting. Otherwise use much, many, or often depending on the context of the sentence.

With all the hype about biofuels and their great potential for replacing our current fossil fuels as alternatives, there is usually very little talk about when exactly this replacement might take place. Or the talk is in vague terms like “the next thirty to fifty years” or “the next few decades.”

The reality is that most biofuels on the market are not very well positioned to replace anything more than a fraction of our current fossil fuel use. Current numbers from the Department of Energy, for instance, show that ethanol only accounts for about 3.5% of our total gasoline usage in the USA. Biodiesel holds a larger market share worldwide, accounting for almost half of Europe’s total diesel fuel usage (according to the European Union).

Given these numbers, the future might look bright. The problem is that both standard biodiesel and ethanol require the use of crops that would otherwise be eaten by humans or animals or of croplands that would otherwise be used to grow them. This takes food off our tables or at least raises the price of it, which limits our economic freedom in other areas.

Alternatives such as hydrogen are becoming more and more viable, but it will still be decades before the fuel cells can be made at a cost low enough to make the vehicles they power marketable. Similarly, electric-only vehicles are plagued by their relatively short range because of limitations in battery storage.

This summer, however, marks a huge stepping stone for algae as a production-level biofuel. Despite setbacks due to funding cuts by the Clinton administration of the 1990s, new funding and a renewed interest by large corporations in the energy industry have rekindled algae’s possibilities.

Two years ago, not even a handful of companies were experimenting with algae as a fuel source. Now, in 2008, there are dozens. Chevron, Shell, and other large energy companies are teaming with smaller algae experimenters to research and begin production on oil-producing algae. An operational plant in Arizona and another in Texas are already producing on a small scale while new plants in Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado, and other locations are being built right now.

All of this means that within the next decade, algae-based biofuels could be readily available for your purchase at the pump. In fact, it may be available at the airport too. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has teamed with Honeywell to come up with a J-8 jet fuel for use in military aircraft.

So expect to see algae-based biofuels on the market sooner rather than later. The high price of gasoline in America has at least one upside: it drives corporations to look for alternatives to polluting fossil fuels!

Want to spend less on the road? Drive safer. The same driving techniques that keep insurance cost under control can curb other car costs as well. Through a combination of safe driving habits and preventive maintenance you can stay safe, reduce costs, and cut your accident risk.

Low tire pressure, a dirty air filter, or oil made heavy and thick by accumulated debris can increase your risk of a sudden and potentially dangerous breakdown. On the financial front, fueleconomy.gov reports the savings from properly inflated tires alone can reduce effective gas cost by as much as 11 cents per gallon.

Preventive maintenance is crucial, but small changes to your driving habits will make the biggest difference over the long haul. Key among these changes is simply slowing down. According to research conducted by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc. speeders pay an additional 20 cents per gallon for every five miles above 60 miles per hour.

The usual argument for a faster pace is a lower travel time, but the numbers just don’t add up. A poll conducted by Gallop.com estimated that the average round trip commute lasts about 46 minutes. Even assuming you spend the whole time going 80 on a 60 mile an hour interstate, your total time savings is about five minutes each way. This small time savings will cost you nearly two dollars extra on every fill-up.

Saving safely isn’t just about the way you move. The way you stop and park can plays a role as well. By watching for upcoming red lights and stop signs you can slow down in preparation and reduce the need to slam on the brakes. In the short term this will cut the amount of time your engine is burning money going literally nowhere. A safe following distance and earlier, less drastic reactions to road changes could also lower your accident risk. As an added bonus, consistent application of this driving style will extend the life of your brakes.

Gas-saving enthusiasts squeeze an extra drop out of longer stops as well. Those who keep close watch on the fuel gauge wince at the gas wasted backing out of parking spaces. Why waste gas backing your car out of a space only to go forward again? The simple solution is to pull forward when you park. The safety advantage comes from a better field of view and easier control of the car.

Regardless of the exact safe saver techniques you choose, the key is consistency. The daily impact on your gas budget can seem small, but it will quickly compound. Some of the more dramatic savings are even easier to miss. You might not even notice it when you slow down early ahead of a fast braking car and avoid a collision. It is even less likely that you will see the concealed highway trooper who clocked your safe speed and let you pass without adding a ticket to the price of your commute.

Imagine driving to a car dealership, purchasing the brand new car of your choice and being back on the road in 20 minutes. Impossible? It’s not! Not only can you buy a brand new car without the usual hassle, but you can get the exact price you want (less than the manufacturer’s suggested selling price). Here’s how:

1. Do your homework. The Internet is a wonderful tool! Once upon a time, car buying meant physically going to a car dealership and talking to the (somewhat overzealous) salesmen. Now, you can shop for a vehicle in the comfort of your home! You can compare prices, research options for the vehicle of your choice, and determine what vehicle fits your budget. You can even research the value of your current vehicle prior to selling it! By the time you set foot on the car lot, you are an educated consumer, and you know exactly what you want.
2. Let’s make a deal. If you’re not comfortable with face-to-face haggling, you can still get a great deal. Many car dealerships allow you to contact their Internet sales department online and make an offer. Once you know what the vehicle is selling for at one dealership, you can negotiate with another for a lower price.
3. Application made easy. With the size of a loan application these days, it can take longer to complete the paperwork than it does to decide on a vehicle! Once you’ve reached a deal, have someone at the dealership email or fax you the required documents. You can submit all the required information before you even get to the dealership, saving you lots of time.
4. Make an appointment. Once your vehicle has been selected, your price negotiated, and your financing in order, talk to the representative you’ll be meeting with. Pick a time that works best for you (mid-week evenings are usually a slower time for dealerships) and make an appointment to wrap up your deal.

With everything in order, you will literally be out of the dealership cruising down the road in your new car quicker than it takes for a trip to the grocery store. You will have saved yourself lots of stress and can now just relax and enjoy your brand new car!

1. Plan your meals. The first step in saving money on your grocery bill is taking time to plan your weekly meals. Plan each evening meal’s entree as well as side dishes. Select several items that are cheaper to fix to easily save money on your groceries. Good examples of inexpensive meals are spaghetti, meatloaf, soup or stew, and meatless meals.

Planning ahead also allows you to take advantage of using leftovers for meals or for packing lunches. Both can save you quite a lot on your grocery bill.

2. Shop once a week. Each time you go to the store, you’re tempted to buy more than you need. Limit that temptation by only shopping once a week. As a bonus, you’ll save gas and time. This is one reason for planning your meals; you can easily buy everything you need in one visit.

If you really feel that you need to go back for milk, bread, etc., then force yourself to just buy those things.

3. Buy in bulk. The key to buying in bulk is being familiar with what items normally cost at the supermarket. Many canned goods are cheaper when purchased at the big box stores, but you do need to double-check since some items are actually more expensive. Take some time and jot down the prices of items you typically buy so you can do some comparison when you start buying in bulk.

Be careful about buying perishable goods in bulk; they often spoil before you can use it all. Many times the big box stores sell only name brands, and while they’re cheaper, you might still be able to beat the price by buying generics where you normally shop.

4. Freeze leftovers. You may be accustomed to tossing leftovers, but don’t. Instead, freeze them and use them for easy meals when you’re too busy to cook. This is a much better and cheaper choice than takeout. You can also take leftovers for lunch and save even more. While you’re buying your weekly groceries, buy plastic wrap and bowls to put your leftovers in so you won’t have an excuse not to save them.

Many meats, rice, bean dishes, and soups freeze well. Frozen vegetables and fruits are quick and healthy choices.

5. Buy cheaper brands or generics. You may be used to buying certain brands, but keep an open mind. Try a cheaper brand or even a generic. Often these are just as good as the brand you’ve been using. Generics are particularly good when you’re mixing them in with other items. For example, while you may notice the difference in generic lunch meats, you’re not likely to notice when you change to generic sugar, oil, or flour.

When trying a new brand, buy only one or two just in case you don’t like it. After all, if you won’t eat it, it’s not saving you anything.

6. Buy less meat. Meat is one of the most expensive items on your grocery list, but you don’t have to fix meat for every meal. Instead, try bean, pasta, or rice based dishes. You’ll save money and eat healthier at the same time. As a bonus, these dishes often freeze well and make great lunches and leftovers.

7. Shop at local markets. Fruits and vegetables are often cheaper and fresher at local markets than at the grocery store. Many markets offer deep discounts on fruits and vegetables that are over-ripe. These are still good, as long as you can use them within a day or so. They are also great options for freezing.

8. Buy only groceries at the grocery store. Don’t buy laundry detergent, shampoo, cleaning supplies, etc. at the grocery store. You’ll spend a lot more than you should. Instead, buy these items at a dollar store and you’ll save money. Don’t forget to explore cheaper brands and generics for these items as well.

9. Avoid boxed convenience foods. Ready-to-eat foods are real budget busters. A precooked box of beef and gravy can cost five or six dollars. For the same amount of money, you can buy twice as much meat that you’d cook yourself. Take the time to prepare your own meals and you’ll save a lot of money. As a bonus, you’ll avoid all the preservatives that these foods contain.

10. Make your own desserts. Instead of buying cookies, cakes and candy pre-made, make them yourself. For example, a pre-made frosted cake can cost $7-$10, but you can make one homemade in less than an hour for about $3.

11. Clip coupons. Coupons are a great way to save money on your groceries as long as you don’t let them tempt you into buying items you normally wouldn’t use. Also, coupons are typically for boxed convenience foods that are already more expensive. Use good judgment and only buy items that are real money savers.

With a little time and effort, you can see a big reduction in what you pay for groceries. Cook more, use leftovers, and explore cheaper brands. You’ll soon find even more creative ways to save money and feed your family.