BlogCatalog Goes Totally Social And Absolutely Viral

We had a member-driven idea. And we think you’ll love it.

What would happen if your newest post was Dugg and all your friends at BlogCatalog knew about it? And then what would happen if they Dugg it too, letting all of their friends know it. That would be pretty powerful, right?

In the next couple of days, BlogCatalog is launching a social Dashboard beta, a new feature that displays your latest activities across many social networks — Digg, Flickr, Last.fm, Twitter, YouTube, and many others. That means automatic cross-networking and promotion right from your personal profile page. It also means that the your post updates, Twitter comments, Digg submissions, and other activities will appear on the Dashboard of all your BlogCatalog friends, and maybe their friends too. This is the kind of networking that can make posts go viral. And that’s just for starters.

Our Dashboard will help you keep up on the activities of your friends. It’s almost like having the ultimate social network feed reader made up of your friends. In fact, everyone here at the BlogCatalog team thinks you’ll love it. It will help you streamline networking and stay up to date with friends across the Web. When they upload a new Flickr photo or submit a new article to Digg, you will know and you can then share it with your friends.

Use it promote your activities. Use it to keep up on friends.

We also think the Dashboard will strengthen the BlogCatalog community for you. It helps make profile pages much more dynamic, giving people a reason to visit them again and again. It’s what some bloggers told us they wanted.

Now, we would like to know what you think. Let us know after the launch. If you like it, great! If not, it’s super easy to opt out. We don’t think you will, but it really will give other members a reason to visit your profile page. They’ll be able to check for blog updates, Twitter messages, Flickr photo updates, Digg submissions, your YouTube videos and whatever else you might want to share. And by sharing with them, they might share with their friends.

We’ll be rolling out a beta version in the next few days. Please watch for it. And, let us know what you think!

original post: blog catalog

New MacBook & MacBook pros

Apple has just released updated versions of their MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops. These new laptops are based on a brand-new version of the Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. (AKA Penryn) The new chip should deliver faster performance without using more precious battery power.

What’s new about the MacBook?

1. •CPU performance has been notched up. The base model now comes with a 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo, the mid and top models with a 2.4GHz chip. The CPU’s themselves are new generation Intel Penryn chips.
   

2. •Hard-drive space has been upped to: 120GB, 160GB and 250GB for the: base, mid and top models respectively.
   

3. •Mid and top models now come with 2GB of RAM as standard.
   

What’s new about the MacBook Pro?

1. •New track-pad which supports multi-touch and advanced gestures. First seen on the new MacBook Air.
   

2. •All models now feature new generation Intel Penryn CPU. running at faster clock-speeds. The base model comes with a 2.4GHz CPU with 3MB of shared level 2 cache. The mid and top models come with a 2.6GHz CPU with 6MB of shared level 2 cache. The extra level 2 cache will make an enormous difference when running realtime applications like Logic Audio and Final Cut.
   

3. •A new version of the Nvidia 8600M Graphics processor unit has been introduced across all models. Base MBP now comes with 256MB of graphics memory, the mid and top models now come with 512MB.
   

4. •Hard-drive space has be considerably increased to: 200GB for the base model and 250GB for the mid and top models.
   

5. •The 17” model now comes with a new generation LED display. LED displays were previously only available on the 15” models. LED display technology: uses less power, produces a brighter image, requires no warm-up time, are easier to recycle, include no mercury and the displays themselves should last longer.

original post: iuseapple.com

Google Search A Tab Away

The easiest method for Google Search in Safari or Firefox is to Press Tab when the Address Bar is Highlighted. This will highlight the Search Tab and you may begin typing your Search Query. Press Return to Search.

Now why doesn’t Apple, Inc. ever include Tab for Buttons? I find it so annoying not to be able to Tab through buttons on a website or in a Message Box. Hear my plea Apple!

original post: iuseapple.com

What Do You Think, Are Debit Cards Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde?

America is quickly becoming a cashless society. Whereas it would have seemed odd, or even in poor taste to do so in the past, people routinely use plastic to pay for even the smallest purchases, such as a Slurpee from 7-Eleven. Almost all gas stations allow you to "pay at the pump," and even fast food restaurants began accepting "debit or credit" a few years ago. And that's not to mention the millions of cashless transactions that occur every day in cyberspace, through web sites like eBay, Amazon.com, and other popular e-tailers.

Clearly, having some form of cashless payment is essential to being a fully functioning American consumer these days, and millions of people are opting to use a debit card attached to their checking accounts rather than traditional credit cards. Is this a wise move?

Dr. Jekyll's Lovely Little Debit Card

The primary advantage of debit cards is that they give you access to cash. A little known fact about cash advances on traditional credit cards is that they begin accruing interest from the moment you get your hands on the money. This means that even if you paid last month's bill in full, you will still have interest charges on your next bill whenever you take out a cash advance. Debit cards allow you access to cash through ATM's at no interest - after all, it's your money.

The other major benefit of debit cards is that they're an option for credit constrained consumers. While it may seem like credit card companies will give cards to anyone, the truth is that once you make a serious mistake - such as falling behind on your card for a few consecutive months, resulting in a "charge off" - it can be very difficult to qualify for credit again anytime soon. Since some form of plastic is required for so many of life's necessities, debit cards offer these people a means of remaining viable members of our cashless society.

Mr. Hyde's "Instrument of Financial Death"

But there is a downside to debit cards, too. Consumer advocate, Howard Strong, even refers to debit cards as "financial death" cards. While his perspective may be a little over the top, he does cite several disadvantages of debit card usage in his 1999 book, What Every Credit Card User Needs to Know.

First, by using a debit card, you lose the advantage of using the credit card company's money interest free. This interest free period occurs from the time you make a purchase until the due date of your bill. If, for example, you used your credit card to buy a $2,500 sofa the day after receiving your statement, you would then have more than 30 days to come up with the $2,500 before being charged interest. If you used a debit card, you would have $2,500 sucked out of your account the moment you made the purchase.

Secondly, using a debit card typically has no positive impact on your credit. Credit card companies report payment information to the three major credit bureaus each and every month. When you pay your bills on time, it has a positive effect on your credit score. Debit cards don't utilize credit, so there's nothing for the bank to report - unless, of course, you overdraw your bank account and then are unwilling or unable to pay whatever egregious fees the bank charges. In this way, using a debit card can have a negative effect on your credit.

Finally, using a debit card puts you at more risk than using a credit card because it is easier to "stop payment" of erroneous or fraudulent charges with a credit card. When Mr. Strong wrote his book in 1999, this was more of a problem than it is today, since much has been done to improve the security of electronic transactions. Still, the fact remains that someone could use your debit card to empty out your bank account, and while you would almost certainly get your money back, it could take some time. Since credit cards have no ability to draw on your savings or checking, this possibility doesn't exist with them.

The Reality - You Need Both

If you can qualify for a credit card, even at a high interest rate, you should almost definitely have one. After all, credit cards help you build credit and the interest rate is irrelevant if you're responsible and pay your bills in full and on time. You should also have a debit card for getting cash quickly and easily without the up-front interest that credit cards charge on cash advances.

If you're really worried about the "Mr. Hyde" effects of debit card usage, consider opening a separate account tied to your debit card. You can set up automatic weekly or monthly transactions that move money from your primary account to this special account, so that the amount you could lose is always limited to $200, $500, or whatever you decide.

original post: addicted 2 credit

will it blend- this is so awesome!!!!!

How To Find the Best Credit Card Rewards

If you’re using a rewards credit card it’s important to that you get the best credit card rewards possible. Why? Because if you’re not putting your rewards to work for you, you’re technically throwing money away. Here are some factors to consider when looking for the top rewards cards and redeeming your credit card rewards.

Who Doesn’t Love Cash?

Some of the best credit card rewards have nothing to do with points or miles. The best rewards are often cold-hard cash — and who’s complaining? There’s something to be said about getting paid to use your credit card. If you pay your statement in full each month, you won’t be paying interest and you’ll be getting cash back for each purchase you make. It’s like getting paid for good spending habtis.

Double Your Rewards?

Oftentimes the best credit card rewards are rewards that can be doubled. Some credit card companies, such as Discover Card, allow you to double your rewards if you redeem them at participating merchants. For example, if you’ve earned $25 in rewards you’ll be able to get $50 if you use your rewards at a participating store or website. It’s a great way to get more mileage out of the rewards you earn.

No Limits

Not all rewards programs are created equal. The best credit card rewards are unlimited. Some credit card companies cap the amount of points, miles or dollars you can earn each year. If you want to get the most from your credit card spending, opt for a card that doesn’t impose rewards limits.

Understanding Miles vs. Cash vs. Points

Credit card rewards come in different shapes and sizes. Some cards offer miles, others offer cash and others offer points. Finding the best credit card rewards means understanding how to compare the three different types.

Before opting for a points-based card, check to see how many points equal a dollar. To do this, look at a monetary reward (gift cards, etc.) and see how many points are needed to get that card. For example, if 2500 points are needed for a $25 gift card, it takes 100 points to earn $1. Miles-based rewards, as a general rule, are worth from 3 to 9 cents per mile depending on how you use them.

If you’re going to opt for a rewards card, why not make the most of the rewards you get? While getting the best credit card rewards takes a bit of research and some proper planning, it will be well worth it when you see your rewards stretching further and further.

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For more tips on the best credit cards, saving money and avoiding getting taken, check out the best credit card section at CreditCardTipsEtc.com, a website that specializes in providing credit card tips, advice and resources.

orignal post: articles, finance, and investments

How To Apply For The Best Business Credit Card For Your Small Business

How To Apply For The Best Business Credit Card For Your Small Business

March 10th, 2008

Updated List Of the Best Business Credit Card Offers Below!

Like most small business owners, I have my eyes on the prize with expectations based on the potential of future expansion. While my current small home business is still in the early growth stages and has not developed to the size where I needed to incorporate, I decided early on that now was a good time as any to start keeping my personal and business expenses separate by taking advantage of the expense tracking and management benefits afforded by business credit cards.

Whether you are a small business owner who works from your own home, or have your own dedicated virtual office setup, there may eventually come a time when you will need additional cash and credit infusion to pay for business expenses such as inventory, office supplies, or utility fees including wireless services. More than half of all small businesses currently use credit cards to pay for expenses, but less than half of the users utilize business credit cards. While most seem content on relying on their existing consumer cards, there are a number of key reasons why it’s better to use business credit cards under your company’s banner.

For those running a business as a sole proprietorship like myself, you may have already applied for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), sometimes referred to the Federal Tax ID. If so, you will need to enter it when applying for a business credit card. If you are a regular non-business consumer who wants to take advantage of the rewards and benefits that business cards have to offer, you can still apply by entering your personal name as the name of the business, thereby leaving the Federal Tax ID part on the card application blank. That’s generally permissible because individuals can always declare themselves to be a sole proprietorship business unto themselves.

Benefits And Advantages Of Using A Business Credit Card

Business credit cards provide a focused selection of business oriented tools to help business cardholders better manage their expense transactions and day to day employee operations. Many of their advantages are not available in ordinary consumer credit cards. Here are some of the important small business benefits that they offer:

1. Special Business Rewards - Business credit cards offer unique discounts and rewards for an array of business expenditures that range from office furniture and equipment, to airline travel, gas fill-ups, car rentals, and utilities such as wireless services. Many businesses also choose to carry multiple business cards - using low to 0 interest APR offers to carry 0 interest balances, while using reward oriented cards to earn airline miles or cash back of up to 5% on business related purchases.
2. High Credit Limit - Compared to their consumer card counterparts, most business credit cards tend to offer higher initial credit lines, an attractive benefit for growing businesses in need of access to lots of credit. The higher business credit limit is particularly attractive when coupled with 0% introductory offers for purchases and balance transfers. High credit limits and 0 APR offers help businesses build start up venture capital to better grow and expand their enterprises.
3. Avoidance Of Asset and Expense Commingling - For solo proprietorships, commingling your personal and business expenses is not as big of an issue. But as your business expands, due to liability and taxation concerns, you may ultimately want to convert your business into a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation - operations that mandate the separation of your personal expenses from your business transactions. By using dedicated small business credit cards now sooner than later, you make it easier to complete the transition in the future.
4. Multiple Cards For Employees - One useful benefit of business credit cards is the ability to request multiple linked credit cards for your business employees. By adding employees as cardholders to your account, you enable the consolidation and tracking of your business transactions from one location. Most business credit cards also offer free expense accounting, with transactions broken down by each authorized employee’s card access account.
5. Itemization and Expense Tracking - The usage of business credit cards also offers the flexible and scalable ability to fix preset credit limits for each employee. Not only can you place credit usage limits for each employee cardholder working off your account, many card programs allow you to set limits on how much particular employees can spend in specific purchase categories. Business credit cards make it easier for small business owners by providing monthly and year end credit card statement summaries, with all transactions conveniently itemized and categorized. Rather than having to fumble around with a bulky envelope full of receipts, business credit cards make it easier for you to manage your cash flow and daily business transactions.
6. Opportunity To Build Business Credit - A small business credit card also offers your new business the opportunity to link your business tax ID to the account, enabling your business to build its own credit history. Maybe not now, but having a developed credit report and ready access to credit are key ingredients to growing your future business. One day, your business may very well require a capital infusion through credit loans to take it to the next level.

List Of The Best Business Credit Card Offers:

1) Discover Business Card - With this card, businesses can earn 5% cash back reward bonuses on office supplies, 2% on gas, and up to 1% on everything else. The card also offers a 12 month 0 APR balance transfer deal with a 3% balance transfer fee, capped at $75. There is no annual fee. Perks for small business owners include free employee cards with customizable spending limits and monthly reports, categorized online quarterly and annual statements, and free travel benefits.

2) American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card - This card is the best hotel and airline miles credit card for businesses looking to earn travel rewards. Often touted as the swiss army knife of travel credit cards, the Starwood Preferred offers the ability to earn airline miles that can be redeemed for free airline tickets towards virtually all major airline carriers and good for most existing frequent flyer plans. With the card you earn rewards by accumulating Starpoints, with 1 Starpoint for each $1 spent. Your earned Starwood points can also be redeemed for free nights at participating luxury hotels that include the Sheraton, W Hotels, and the Westin. The best payoff deal is reserved for businesses that are particularly big spenders - once you spend $30,000 in one year, your status gets upgraded to Starwood Gold Preferred Guest, allowing you to earn 3 Starpoints for every dollar spent. Not a bad deal at all - especially for businesses that require employees to travel frequently.

3) American Express Simply Cash Business Card - Earn 5% cash back on gas, office supplies, and wireless services, and 1% cash back on virtually all other purchases. This business card provides a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months and a competitive APR thereafter. Cash back rebates are automatically credited to the statement each month. As part of Open Savings, business owners get to save more on hotels, airlines, and car rentals. There is also no annual fee.

4) Chase Business Rebate Card - This Chase business credit card offers 3% cash back on a wide array of eligible purchases at restaurants, office supply stores, gas stations, building supply stores, and home improvement stores. Cardholders earn 1% cash back everywhere else. There is also a 12 month 0% interest APR offer for purchases and balance transfers with a balance transfer fee percentage of 3%, capped at $99. There is also no annual fee.

5) Citi Professional Cash Card - Earn 3% cash back on purchases made at restaurants, certain office supply merchants, gas stations, and auto rentals. Plus, you can earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Citi business customers also have free access to an online expense organizer that can create customized quarterly and annual account summaries, and categorized reports for client billing, tax purposes, or reimbursement. There is also no annual fee.

original post:money blue book