Archive for April, 2008
 It’s easy to get addicted to social networks, and this is why many employers frown on them and ban them from company servers. However, with a bit of practice, even the biggest time waster can be converted into a productivity tool. Yes, even Twitter (add me here). Here are some ways to do it:
Record tasks as you’re working on them. So you know how long some tasks take. This only works if you’re posting honest tweets.
Send reminders to contacts. If you don’t want the long conversations that instant messaging tends to generate, send a quick note to your contacts via Twitter.
Pitch to someone. This is the Twitter version of an elevator pitch, and the cutesy name for it is “twitpitch”. Click here to read more about it.
Use it for communication. It can be much faster than email, and if you’re just going to state a one-sentence message to a massive group of people with active Twitter accounts, why not just send it via Twitter?
Get quick feedback. It’s very easy to reply to tweets, especially if you’re asking for feedback for a particular idea.
What do you use Twitter for? Do you find it’s a useful communication tool or just a waste of your time?
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BofA to expand efforts to help Countrywide borrowers - San Diego Union-Tribune
LOS ANGELES – A top executive for Bank of America Corp. says the company will expand efforts to help Countrywide Financial Corp. borrowers avoid foreclosure on trouble mortgages. The announcement came Monday as members of the Federal Reserve Board
AMD launches first computer brand - Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) on Sunday unveiled its first computer brand, aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, with design and sales help from its major chip customers such as Dell
Attracting Publicity for Your Business - BusinessWeek
I’m just starting to get the word out about my company and need some advice on how to pitch stories or get a writer’s attention.—K.V., Victoria, B.C. Reporters are bombarded with pitches from companies seeking exposure, but very few of those
Business owners say margin tax needs reform - Dallas Business Journal
Bills aim to help small businesses cover paperwork errors [Columbus] Economy has small businesses looking to D.C. for some assistance [Columbus] Small businesses not in the mood to celebrate economy [Baltimore] Texas business owners and workers are
Patent Reform Act would hurt small business owners - Daily Citizen-News
Small business entrepreneurs beware. The U.S. Senate is preparing to debate patent reform legislation that’s designed to aid tech titans but which could trample independent inventors in the process. The Patent Reform Act, which passed the House last
BUSINESS: Small business owners learn marketing strategy - Tonawanda News
Small businesses can have a massive budget impact on customers with some effective marketing. That’s what about 30 small business owners were told during a Greater Niagara Newspapers seminar Thursday at the Lockport Holiday Inn on Transit Road. Lisa
Expanding across say lines - CNN Money
Get small-business intelligence from the experts. Here’s a chance for YOU to ask your pressing small-business questions, and FSB editors will help you get answers from the appropriate experts. (FORTUNE Small Business) — Dear FSB: I formed an LLC
Truckers upset by fuel prices - Chicago Tribune
PIERRE, S.D. - Between 200 and 400 truck drivers and some 50 to 100 huge rigs were expected Monday in Pierre for a rally against high fuel prices. Organizer Brian Frahm of Fort Pierre expected truckers from South Dakota , Iowa and Nebraska . He stated
On the internet supplier’s web venture is glowing - Detroit Free Press
LOCATION: We are physically located in Rochester Hills and found worldwide on the World wide web at www.greenelectricalsupply.com . It is our goal to expand our business to also include a brick-and-mortar storefront in the fourth quarter of 2008, creating
Bank of America aims to help 265,000 avoid foreclosure - Boston Globe
CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Bank of America Corp. stated Monday after it completes its acquisition of Countrywide Financial Corp. it will modify or workout at least $40 billion in mortgage loans over the next two years to help customers avoid foreclosure. In
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Filed under: Estates
NeighborhoodScout.com has used their matching function to find neighborhoods that are “discount equivalents” of some of the hot and high-priced communities we recently covered in our Most High-priced Zip Codes estates.
The Neighborhood Scout chooses Southwest Harbor, Maine as a seaside equivalent to the pricier island of Nantucket. On Nantucket the median home value is $1.56 million but Southwest Harbor has a median home value of just $266,936. The two locations have much in common including a quaint New England charm and island beauty, you just trade in Nantucket for Mt. Desert Island. It’s a little colder and doesn’t have as much of a reputation as a summer getaway but it has some beautiful properties.
Today’s home is actually on Greening’s Island and has views of Mt. Desert Island. This shingle-style cottage was constructed in 1932 and sits on 9.75 acres of meadows and woods reaching all the way to the granite ledges. The property has western views of Southwest Harbor and Manset villages, and North to the views of Somes Sound and there’s 1,544+/- feet of shore frontage. The property includes a shared dock and the “Captain’s Cabin” a special retreat near the dock. It is listed at $2.65 million. A bargain compared to the shingled home we recently featured on Nantucket which is listed at $11.75 million.
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Continue reading The Bargain Neighborhoods, Southwest Harbor, ME, Estate of the Day
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Filed under: Decor, Estates, Journeys, Services, Art, Garden
 William (Bill) Stubbs, a Houston-based designer and one of Architectural Digest’s top 100 designers, shares his knowledge and philosophy in 13 half-hour episodes of the new PBS series A Moment of Luxury. Presented nationally by WLIW New York, the series premiered nationwide this month (check local listings for your channel and broadcast time). Its aim is to make “the experience of luxury — excellence, comfort and high quality — accessible at any budget with transformational tips inspired by international locales and top experts. The website has lots to read, such as an episode guide, a list of Stubbs’ travels and of course, a blog, so you can “create your own interaction with luxury.” Don’t we all want that?
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Filed under: Estates
 He’s already rumored to be building the most high-priced yacht in the world, now The Telegraph reports that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is working on a home that will be the most expensive private residence in Britain. The home in Knightsbridge, London will join two existing townhouses that are currently divided into apartments in Lowndes Square. The two-houses will be combined into one eight-bedroom home with a home theater, indoor swimming pool and steam room on eight stories total. The home is expected to be worth around
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Posted by: in Small Business
Filed under: Small business
 No doubt, small businesses are a powerful force in the U.S. economy in terms of job creation and innovation. And, according to a current study from the Kauffman Foundation, it looks like things are still going strong, despite the slowing economy. For example, each month, about 500,000 new businesses are started (of course, there are certainly a good number that fail as well).
So, what are some of the key trends? Well, interestingly enough, there’s quite a bit of growth from immigrants. In fact, they are more apt to start businesses than native-born Americans.
Something else: men are twice as apt to start a business then women. Actually, I think this is unfortunate because diversity certainly grants for stronger growth.
However, looking at the next decade or so, I suspect we’ll see much more entrepreneurial activity. Why? It’s when the Baby Boomers will reach their prime years for new business formation. They will have the wisdom and resources to take a flier. What’s more, a new business might actually became an interesting way for Baby Boomers to essentially change the definition of “retirement” — that is, leaving the rat race and doing what they really want.
Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook (www.mergerbook.com) and is also a principal in Averiware, which provides an ERP system to small and mid-size businesses.
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Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping
I’ve always thought British actress Alex Kingston was a class act and her home proves it, Celebrity Big TIme Listings found her Los Angeles home for sale. This 4,257-square-foot home in the Hollywood Hills was built in 1964 and remodeled by Paul Hinckley. The six-bedroom home just hit the market and probably won’t remain on sale long, it’s a beautiful home that gently treads the line between boring and zen. The living room has Douglas Fir ceilings, a two-sided fireplace and concrete floors. It has a beautiful Bulthaup kitchen and a meditation/spa room with an indoor/outdoor bath area.The master suite is located up a mahogany staircase and has a private balcony. The outdoors includes a big lawn, pool and spa and views of the Lake Hollywood reservoir. This home is listed at $4.75 million.
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Continue reading Kingston in the Hills, Estate of the Day
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Benefits of money back life insurance policy - Economic Times
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Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping
From the NY Post’s Gimme Shelter:
–Madonna has paid $7 million for the unit directly above her current 6,000-square-foot co-op at s 41 Central Park West. Last year, she filed suit against the building co-op board saying that they had wrongfully prevented her from buying the apartment. She also bought the apartment under her maiden name.
–Seagrams heir Edgar Bronfman Jr. is on the move again. The CEO of of Warner Music Group and his wife sold their East 64th Street townhouse last year for $50 million, then bought an 11-room co-op apartment at 1040 Fifth Ave. for about $19.5 million which they relisted for $24 million. They also paid $19.2 million for a 10-room penthouse condo in the Carhart Mansion but now that property is back up for sale, this time for $24.5 million. The listing is here.
–Kevin Spacey has reduced the price of his TriBeCa duplex apartment to $4.67 million. The three bedroom penthouse of nearly 2,300 square feet has a 900-square-foot terrace off the master bedroom with a built-in grill, planters with a timed irrigation system and retractable awnings. Bob at Big Time Listings unearthed the listing which can be found here.
From the NY Observer’s Manhattan Transfers:
–Photographer Thomas Struth and his wife, the writer Tara Bray Smith, paid $2.1 million for a two-bedroom apartment on East 67th Street, near Park Avenue.
–Asher B. Edelman, a corporate raider-turned-art dealer and an inspiration for the character of Gordon Gekko from the motion picture Wall Street, has been leasing a townhouse at 134-136 East 74th Street for years. Why rent when he has the ability to afford to buy? Edelman states the market is still over-inflated. The house sold for $12 million this month to real estate magnate Laurence Gluck. Edelman just got a new one-year lease for “a tiny more” than $20,000 according to Gluck but he is planning to restore the building eventually.
–Brian Brille, the global head of investment banking for Bank of America, and his wife, Leslie Simmons Brille, have listed their brick mansion at 117-119 East 69th Street for $32 million after buying for $12.4 million back in 2005. The couple had plans to make it into a family home again (it had once belonged to Muppets creator Jim Henson and his company) but decided it was too much hassle and expense so they are selling the raw space.
–Carol Burnett sold her apartment at Trump International this month for $5.58 million.
From Berg Properties Huge Time Listings:
–Actress Alex Kingston has listed her Hollywood Hills home for $4.75 million. it is our estate of the day later this day.
–Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub has sold her 762-square-foot bungalow in Venice, CA for $1.2 million.
–Comedian Brett Butler has put her Hollywood Hills home, shown above, on the market for $2.347 million. The listing shows that it has is in the process of being sold (it is listed as being “looking for backup”). The property website is here.
From the Real Estalker:
–Rumor has it that Veronica Hearst, who recently lost her Florida home Villa Venezia in a foreclosure fracas, has been encouraged to sell (or might have already sold) her expensive New York co-op at 4 East 66th Street before the dogs are at the gate in NYC.
–America Ferrera has picked up a house in the Hollywood Hills for $1.415 million.
–I knew Dwayne Wade’s personalized house in Pinecrest, Florida would be a hard sell when I covered it as an estate of the day last year. One year later it’s still on the market and the price has been reduced from $8.9 million to $4.999 million.
–Christina Aguilera and her husband Jordan Bratman have put their former residence on Devlin Drive in the Hollywood Hills on the market for $7.5995 million but the listing hasn’t surfaced yet.
From the LA Times Hot Property:
–David Geffen has paid $9.8 million for a 1,473-square-foot home in Malibu that is located near his massive Malibu compound. Geffen owned the home once before, he purchased it in 1996 for approximately $1.2 million and sold it two years later to Richard Lovett, president of Creative Artists Bureau. In 2007, it was bought by Peter Morton, co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe chain, who sold it back to Geffen earlier this year.
–Robert Duvall and his Argentine wife, Luciana, have sold their Home of Jasmines, the seven-room boutique hotel near Salta, in northern Argentina.
–Dan Aykroyd has paid $14,500,000 to buy a 5,244-square-foot house in Pacific Palisades.
From the Wall Street Journal’s Private Properties:
–The Sonoma, CA home of Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold, who commanded U.S. Army air forces in World War II, has gone on the market for $2.65 million. The listing with Robert and Kathleen Leonard, of Sotheby’s shows that it has already gone into escrow. The property includes a 2,000-square-foot home and a vineyard planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
–The Manhattan apartment of fashion designer Fernando Sanchez has gone on sale for $6.5 million. The 4,000-square-foot co-op in the Osborne has 10 rooms on three floors, with a 27-foot entry gallery, a formal dining room, a library and four baths. The listing is here with Stephen Wald.
–Prince is renting a Beverly Hills spec house created by developer George Santopietro. The home is still listed for $50 million and Prince is paying $200,000 a month.
–An Upper East Side townhouse lived in by Eleanor Roosevelt is now listed for rent for $60,000 and is also for sale for $19.95 million. The listing is here.
From AOL Real Estate:
–10 ways to transform outdoor space.
–What $1 million buys.
–Ghost cities of the future.
–Best cities for sellers.
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Norm for cities: Enrich say, see less benefit - Miami Herald
While South Florida taxpayers might be startled to learn that they send the say more money than they receive each year, most metropolitan areas in other says have the same gap. ”We nickname those the donor counties,” stated Jacqueline Byers
Manistee police turning to foot patrols to save money - Chicago Tribune
MANISTEE, Mich. - Feeling the squeeze from lofty gas prices, the Manistee police department is making changes in the way it patrols city streets. Officers will be doing some foot patrols to cut down on fuel costs. Police Chief Dave Bachman tells WKLA
Keep your foreign hands off our oil - Chicago Sun-Times
MEXICO CITY — Even with oil prices at record highs, Mexico’s state-run oil company is managing to lose money. But a presidential plan to mend Petroleos Mexicanos by inviting foreign help is stirring deep-seated emotions over sovereignty — and
Ford springs surprise profit - Chicago Tribune
Ford Motor Co. posted an unexpected first-quarter profit Thursday but the carmaker stated it probably will lose money for the full year as the company’s North American operation continues to struggle. Ford reported net income of $100 million, or 5
What kind of park does L.A. need? - Los Angeles Times
Save the snark for another public folly. Sure, the just-revealed plans for the Grand Avenue civic park, which will run downhill from the Music Center to Spring Street, come nowhere near to living up to the hype that accompanied the park’s
No tax relief this year - Baltimore Sun
People sitting comfortably at home in Baltimore, paying their mortgages monthly, might feel no connection to the subprime mortgage crisis. But it just cost them a cut in the property tax rate. Faced with budget shortfalls, Mayor Sheila Dixon has
Bush says rebates going out Monday will help with gas, food prices - KRON4
WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush says tax rebates will begin going out Monday, but some Democrats are saying that the economic stimulus money will end up in the pockets of multinational oil companies. At the White Home this morning, Bush said
A new style of turncoat - Los Angeles Times
During much of the Cold War, the typical American spy — spy for the enemy, that is — was a single, native-born, high-school-educated white male in his 20s, employed by a branch of the military and with top-secret security clearance. Most of the
Pastor Convicted Of Stealing $400,000 From Church - NewsNet 5
CLEVELAND — The pastor of a Cleveland church has been convicted of stealing almost $400,000 from his former parish. Artis Caver was found guilty Thursday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court of money laundering, perjury and theft. He faces more
Pauline Hanson accused of taking money from party - News.com.au
Pauline Hanson accused of siphoning celebration funds Party treasurer says he feels ’stabbed in the back’ Pressure on to crack down on serial campaigners PAULINE Hanson has been accused of siphoning off more than $200,000 in taxpayers’ money from the bank
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