Home > Tag Archive > "giving"

The Bookstores Begged Me to Wait

Posted on July 31, 2008 11:40 PM

I was all set. Today was going to be the day. I knew from the pre-orders on my new book, "Click Here to Order: Stories of the World's Most Successful Internet Marketing Entrepreneurs", that we were on the verge of making history with an instant best-seller. And then... it happened. I received a call from my publisher, David Hancock. David is not one to be given to overexcitement, but there was something in the sound... Continue Reading

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Win a Day with Joel in Colorado

Posted on July 21, 2008 05:17 PM

Want to spend a day with me and my team in our Colorado offices? You can win it in the "Click Here to Order" contest! My new book, "Click Here to Order, will be available on August 1st. In celebration, I am giving away thirteen prizes, including signed copies of the book, telephone consultations and a grand prize day with me in Colorado. Find out how to enter now! Click here! Continue Reading

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The Rules For Giving Away Freebies

Posted on May 15, 2008 11:54 PM

I love giving things away. I know, I'm supposed to be a marketer. I'm supposed to know how to get the full value for everything I supply. But every year, I give away tons of fantastic freebies. I give away content, e-books, videos, training sessions, teleseminars and all sorts of other wonderful things. If I had to calculate the total value of the goodies that I pass out for nothing every year, I'd need to... Continue Reading

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You Can Make a Difference

Posted on April 6, 2008 01:39 AM

What is the definition of true success? Is it having a large bank account? Is it having a garage full of cars? Is it having a mansion with so many rooms you can't fill them all? I would say that all of these material things are an indicator that a person may have succeeded in business, but without one key component I don't believe a person is truly successful. Continue Reading

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Beat Mike Filsaime at His Own Game

Posted on April 4, 2008 08:46 AM

I recently had the privilege of spending time with Mike Filsaime. The guy is one of the most brilliant marketers in the world, and he told me how he is "moving the free line"... again! Mike knows viral marketing unlike anyone else and he understands the power of providing free high quality information to people. He also understands the power of branding the reports and allowing others to give them away for you. Continue Reading

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Skyguy the Bag Handler

Posted on March 31, 2008 09:56 PM

There are those who start at the bottom of a company with the aspiration to rise to the top, and there are those for whom the words upwardly mobile do not apply. I encountered Mr. Latter attending to the United Skycap station in LAX today. My associates and I bring our bags to the guy and we go through the regular procedure. "What is your destination?", "Show me your identification" and "How many bags will... Continue Reading

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Gyutae Park Gives it All Away

Posted on March 16, 2008 05:50 AM

I've long been a proponent of using contests, sweepstakes and giveaways to drive traffic to web sites. In fact, if you do it correctly, you can get others to provide all the prizes in exchange for a link back to their site! Gyutae Park of WinningTheWeb.com has done just that. Gyutae has pulled together over $7600 in prizes and I am guessing that the amount will grow as more people catch wind of this contest. Continue Reading

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Jason Calacanis Insults Affiliate Summit Attendees, Says They Pollute The Internet

Posted on February 25, 2008 05:54 PM

I've been wanting to meet Jason Calacanis face-to-face for some time. For those that don't know, Jason is the co-creator of Weblogs, Inc., which was sold to AOL for $25 million. I'm at Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas where Jason Calacanis delivered the keynote address this morning. I really didn't know anything about Jason as a person, so I was looking forward to an insightful talk with fresh ideas. Wow, was I in for a... Continue Reading

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Tax Benefits of Running a Home-Based Business

Posted on February 20, 2008 01:54 AM

I get a lot of questions from people who are eager to start Home-Based Businesses. They wonder if they can afford office equipment, pay for outsourcing, purchase expensive courses, and go to Internet Marketing Seminars. What many people don't realize is that having your own home-based business offers many tax advantages that will really help you with these expenses. Whether you're joining a Network Marketing Company, starting a commercial website or plan on being a... Continue Reading

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2008 Internet Marketing New Years Resolutions

Posted on January 1, 2008 11:15 AM

Happy New Year! It's officially 2008, and you know what that means. It means I'll probably mess up a bunch of checks by writing 2007 as I get used to the idea of the new number! But it also means the holidays are over. Time to get back to work. It's a good thing I enjoy my work! How about you? Maybe you've bought revenue-generating training material and software but you aren't using it. Is... Continue Reading

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'Twas the Night Before Christmas 2007

Posted on December 24, 2007 10:44 AM

'Twas the Night Before Christmas An Internet Marketing Adaptation for 2007 ----------------------------------------- 'Twas the night before Christmas and all cross the 'net Marketers were hoping that clickthroughs, they'd get. The products were finished and ready to go outsourced and prepared by those "in the know" Continue Reading

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WidgetBucks is a winner

Posted on December 20, 2007 06:21 AM

I love keeping my eye out for new ad services that can make you and me money. Google AdSense continues to pay off. Kontera is a winner is my books. And I've had some positive things happen with YPN and Chitika. But I've come across something new which pays off INSTANTLY! Continue Reading

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Where do you want to go in 2008?

Posted on December 19, 2007 12:36 AM

With 2007 almost gone and 2008 on the way, I am doing quite a bit of reflecting on where I've been, where I am going, and how I can best serve you in the upcoming year. So this is going to be an interactive newsletter, because I am counting on you to tell me what you would like to accomplish in 2008, and perhaps give me an indication of how I can best help you... Continue Reading

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The Secret Classroom is now available!

Posted on December 5, 2007 10:00 AM

The day has arrived! I don't think there has ever been such excitement over one of my product launches, and I am excited to say that the excitement really has nothing to do with me! Instead, this product is all about YOU, and the opportunity you now have to receive the Internet marketing education that can last a lifetime. The Secret Classroom It's not an ebook that overpromises and underdelivers. It's not a software tool... Continue Reading

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Google Kills off Site Targeting

Posted on November 29, 2007 10:13 AM

It's a sad moment, but it was easy to see coming. Google has now officially killed off site targeting. The function that allows advertisers to choose to advertise directly on your Web pages still exists. But now it's called "placement targeting." There are two differences. Continue Reading

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Black Friday Shopping Deals

Posted on November 22, 2007 08:55 PM

I don't know about you, but I am still stuffed from the Thanksgiving meal! Anyhow, today is Black Friday. It's not a holiday, but with all the crazy shopping, you would think it is. You know how I always talk about building sites that interest you? Well, back in 1999 I was big into saving money online with coupon codes. Continue Reading

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$10,000 in Bonuses for the Price of a Book!

Posted on November 7, 2007 10:06 AM

Hey Are you sitting down? I hope so. It would be strange to check your email standing up. The reason I ask is because what I am about to show you is going to absolutely blow you away! How would you like to receive of $10,000 worth of bonuses for the price of one absolutely incredible book? Seriously. Continue Reading

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Reality TV

Posted on September 27, 2007 02:57 PM

Reality TV. The words conjure up images of people doing crazy things for cash. On Survivor its having the endurance to brave the elements and make it on a deserted island with a bunch of strangers. On American Idol its being embarrased before the entire country as Simon Cowell makes you his whipping boy. On The Apprentice its about giving up your well-paying business to take a lower paying job with Donald Trump. And what... Continue Reading

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Win an Autographed Copy of The AdSense Code

Posted on August 10, 2007 12:21 AM

May I get your opinion please? I am giving away a FREE autographed copy of my book, The AdSense Code, to one person who will give me feedback on a one-minute video I have created. This will literally take just a couple minutes. Continue Reading

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How to Select a Popular Topic

Posted on August 1, 2007 07:42 AM

Deciding on a topic for a blog post isn't always easy. Sometimes, you'll know exactly what you want to write. Other times, you'll struggle for an idea. But there are times when a subject just seems unavoidable. Whenever Apple releases a new product, Nintendo brings out a new game system or Harry Potter hits the news again, it seems as though everyone is writing about the same thing. And of course, those aren't the only... Continue Reading

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The 7 Figure Code

Posted on July 6, 2007 10:02 AM

It was fall of 2005. I was in Charlotte, North Carolina, preparing for my very first public speaking engagement. I would be speaking before an audience of 25 people who had paid to hear me and a handful of other Internet marketers share how we make our millions online. It was at this time that I had begun preparing the manuscript for my first traditionally published book. But I was lacking a title for the... Continue Reading

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Gambling with Your Business

Posted on June 11, 2007 05:56 PM

I had the pleasure of enjoying the company of my brother and his family this past weekend. They live in suburban Chicago, so it was a treat for them to come to the mountains and enjoy a little slower pace for a few days. By the way, you'll want to watch for my bro. He is a brilliant CPA with some keen insights into money management. I foresee a website and a book in the... Continue Reading

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Enough is Enough

Posted on June 5, 2007 01:08 AM

I can't take it any longer. I've seen a few trends taking place in Internet marketing lately, and I don't think they are right. It's time to take off the gloves because I've got something to say. I'm throwing caution to the wind because I think someone has got to stand up and speak the truth. If I take heat for it, so be it. Here goes... Continue Reading

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You're Not Giving Up Now, Are You?

Posted on May 21, 2007 12:03 AM

One of the things that I love most about attending seminars is hearing people's stories. Everyone has their own reason for wanting to set up an online business. For some, it's the pull of being their own boss and working on their own terms. For others, it's the push of a job they can't bear and a lifestyle they want to change. For a few people though, it's not much of a choice. They might... Continue Reading

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New Money for Old Content

Posted on May 15, 2007 12:08 AM

Darren Rowse's blog at ProBlogger.net is always worth a read. He's a guy who's making a great income out of online publishing, and he's not afraid to share his knowledge. Recently, Darren put up a very interesting post about giving a second chance to old content. Sometimes, he points out, you'll put up a post that you're sure will get lots of traffic only to find that it dies away without doing anything special. There... Continue Reading

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Spring Cleaning

Posted on May 8, 2007 08:09 AM

Google has been doing a bit of spring cleaning lately. First it redesigned its ad units. Now it's changed the look of the AdSense home page. What effect have all these changes had on your revenues? Almost none, I would think. The new ad units are slight more attractive than the old ones. But I doubt if the new look is worth more than a click or two each month. Continue Reading

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Are You An Army of One?

Posted on April 16, 2007 12:33 AM

Internet publishing is a strange thing. On the one hand, you can do everything yourself. It doesn't take two people to write a blog post. It doesn't take a team to design an attractive website. And it doesn't take an entire office to optimize your ad units. But on the other hand, it does take thousands of other publishers to place links to your site on their Web pages to push you up the search... Continue Reading

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Naked and Penniless in Washington, D.C.

Posted on March 24, 2007 11:54 PM

I am currently in the Nation's Capitol for an Internet marketing conference and I am the victim of a crime, even a felony. It happened while I slept. I was robbed and left for naked... and didn't even know it until late in the afternoon. Amazingly, there isn't a bruise on my body. Nor have I lost any material possessions. So what happened? Read on... Continue Reading

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Having the Last Word

Posted on March 14, 2007 11:09 PM

I love it when people add comments to my posts. Sure, I write a blog to share my information and tips... and to tell the world what I think sometimes too. But it helps to know that someone out there is actually reading what I'm saying. It helps even more to see what they think about what I'm saying! But comments at the end of articles aren't just a nice boost for the writer of... Continue Reading

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Be in My New Book - What's Your Story?

Posted on March 13, 2007 11:58 AM

Andy Warhol once said that every person gets their fifteen minutes of fame. I don't know if that is true, but I do know that every person has a story to tell. I am in the process of writing a new book centered around Internet marketing and individual success stories... ... and I am looking for real life stories to include in the book! So what's your story? Continue Reading

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The Profit Vault

Posted on March 10, 2007 12:15 AM

Buzz! No, you didn't get the answer wrong. In fact, that would be impossible since I haven't even asked a question yet. I'm talking about a different kind of buzz. I'm talking about the kind of buzz that has generated over 1500 comments on one blog in just one week. I'm talking about the kind of buzz that indicates something BIG is about to happen. Here's the buzz... and the big news... Continue Reading

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Momentum

Posted on February 22, 2007 09:30 AM

Momentum. From Dictionary.com... "A force or speed of movement; impetus, as of a physical object or course of events: The car gained momentum going downhill. Her career lost momentum after two unsuccessful films." Let me throw in one more example... Continue Reading

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AdSense Traffic Secrets - Earn 100% Commission!

Posted on February 19, 2007 06:01 PM

I'm going to do something I've never done before. No, I'm not talking about sky-diving or bungee-jumping. I'll leave those for my friend, Yanik Silver. I'm talking about giving you an opportunity to resell one of my best-selling AdSense ebooks... ... and keep 100% of the profit! Here's the deal... Continue Reading

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Byte by Byte

Posted on February 13, 2007 12:21 AM

The writer Anne Lamott likes to tell a story of how her brother had to create a school project describing a huge number of different birds. He didn't know how he was going to complete it. Lamott's father had some wise advice. He told his son to do it "bird by bird." Lamott used that analogy to describe the process of writing a book. You can think of it as a way of creating a... Continue Reading

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Breaking News for All Site Publishers!

Posted on February 5, 2007 08:24 AM

I hope it got your attention, because what I am about to share with you can be HUGE. And I have THREE things I need to share with you. So be sure you read all the way to end or you might miss out on the best stuff! Ok, here's the deal (pardon my excitement, but this really is big!) As you know, AdSense is not the only contextual advertising service on the web. Google... Continue Reading

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Monthly Templates Available January 10th

Posted on January 4, 2007 09:38 PM

It was a moment in time... ... and it went by in a flash. Did you miss it? Don't feel bad. Thousands of people did. Three months ago, I leveled the playing field as much as it could possibly have been leveled. On October 10th, the Instant AdSense Templates VRE Building System hit the web with a fury, and became one of the most-talked-about and valuable products of the year! On October 15th, the product... Continue Reading

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Free Instant AdSense Templates from Santa Joel

Posted on December 17, 2006 11:20 AM

I love giving gifts. I can't help myself. I am one of those who prefer watching others open presents on Christmas morning to opening my own. There's just something special about seeing a smile on someone's face when they open a present I've given them that brings joy to my heart. Continue Reading

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A Christmas Gift from Joel

Posted on December 14, 2006 01:09 PM

I've got a Christmas gift for you! No strings attached. It's a gift, pure and simple. :-) As you are probably well aware, Google AdSense is not the only way to generate money on your site with contextual ad services. I've written a brand new report called: "Contextual Ad Systems: Earning Beyond AdSense" And I want to give it to you for free... Continue Reading

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DotCom Secrets Free DVD

Posted on December 12, 2006 04:13 PM

I remember when I bought my first DVD player, many years ago. I instantly fell in love with the high quality audio and video that came from the DVD. And I also loved the "special feature" aspect that DVDs allowed... deleted scenes, out-takes, behind the scenes documentaries, etc. I've got a DVD collection featuring over 750 discs to date. Now I just need time to watch them! And speaking of DVDs, my friend Russell Brunson... Continue Reading

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Making Your Content and Ads Match the Times

Posted on December 4, 2006 10:54 AM

As an AdSense publisher, one day can be much like another. Each day, you update your content, check your stats and make sure that your traffic is flowing freely. With users coming, clicking and giving you income all day every day, it can be very easy to forget which day, week or even season it is. That’s a waste of an opportunity. It’s also not true that Internet time is separate from real time. You... Continue Reading

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Stranded at Chicago O'Hare International

Posted on November 29, 2006 05:24 PM

I am blogging from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, where I am my family are awaiting an 8:55 pm departure to Oklahoma City. We've been here since 1 pm and our first flight was cancelled. With bad weather in Chicago and OKC, I'm not sure we're going to make it home tonight at all. Such is life, right? So I thought I'd make the best use of my time and write for a bit. In particular... Continue Reading

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The Death of Internet Marketing

Posted on November 11, 2006 10:03 AM

Remember the hype about "The Death of AdSense" a few months back? Of course, that turned out to be a load of silliness because AdSense is more alive than ever before. So what are we to think when Mike Filsaime releases a free report called "The Death of Internet Marketing"? At first glance, I thought Mike was going to give away this report and then try to sell me something. Guess what? Continue Reading

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Give and Take

Posted on October 25, 2006 12:08 AM

We live in a reciprocal Universe. All of us are trained at a very young age to take. Hopefully, we are also trained to give. Give and take. Someone asks you how you are doing... ... and you ask them how they are doing. Someone gives you a gift... ... and you are more likely to give them a gift in the future. Give and take. That's the way the Universe operates. Continue Reading

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Win a Free Year of Premier AdSense Coaching Club

Posted on August 19, 2006 10:58 AM

On September 27th, I am going to award FIVE people with a free one-year membership to the Premier AdSense Coaching Club, my members-only site designed to help people increase the profitability of their web sites. How can you enter to win one of these five memberships? Easy! I present you with... The AdSense Code Sightings Contest! Here's the deal... Continue Reading

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The Importance of Community

Posted on July 19, 2006 07:17 PM

My good friend Lee Dodd, who I feel is the king of online forums has recently rocked the forum world with the creation of Earners Forum. Watching the growth over the past 2 weeks has been an amazing experience, seeing the forum go from nothing to more than 1,000 members and 15,000 posts. Continue Reading

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The Link Sizzler is Hot!

Posted on June 29, 2006 02:13 PM

I have been INUNDATED with email asking me how I created my site, 500Words.com. As you know by now, I generated over $20,000 with this site in under 24 hours. And this site which I launched just this past Monday has now earned over $37,000 to date! Everyone wants to know how I did it and where they could get a copy of the software. I am pleased to announce that the software I used... Continue Reading

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The Water Cup

Posted on May 21, 2006 11:31 PM

I feel a rant coming on. Yes, it is time for "Joel's pet peeve". So what's my beef today? It's fast food restaurants that treat you like a second class citizen if you request water instead of a soft drink by giving you a special cup for your water. And this cup is different than the regular soft drink cup. It's always smaller than the smallest soft drink size. Continue Reading

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ZipSense

Posted on May 10, 2006 08:00 AM

When I look at the Internet marketing landscape, I often see a vast wasteland of "me too" products and services. It seems many people are simply trying to capitalize on someone else's success. However, every now and then I see an ORIGINAL product come along... and I am excited to share it with you! Today I want to tell you about ZipSense, the world's first ZBook! Continue Reading

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I Bought Yahoo

Posted on January 6, 2006 01:08 PM

No, I didn't buy the entire company. But I did purchase some Yahoo stock last year. It appears to have been one of my better stock decisions. Continue Reading

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Merry Christmas 2005

Posted on December 25, 2005 01:36 AM

It doesn't always feel like Christmas in Oklahoma. The temperature on Christmas Eve peeked at 58 degrees. There is no snow on the ground. It's a far cry from my childhood in the freezing Chicago lakefront suburbs. And yet, Christmas really has very little to do with snow. It has little to do with jingle bells. And it has little to do with the materialism which drives our economy at this time of year. Continue Reading

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Religion and Politics

Posted on November 25, 2005 05:15 AM

"Bush is stupid" is always a great way to start a conversation. Seriously... bold, definitive statements are the doorway from which we can expand our knowledge base and increase in wisdom. Continue Reading

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Home for the Holiday 2005

Posted on November 24, 2005 09:48 PM

We awoke at 8 am so, preparing for our Thanksgiving journey to Chicago. You won't believe how smoothly that journey went. Continue Reading

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Quickstart Guide to Building a Website

Posted on November 23, 2005 11:05 AM

I regularly receive email from people wanting to make money online, but aren't sure how to go about doing it. Building a website can be a daunting task for someone who has never done it. Learning HTML, search engine optimization, affiliate linking, marketing and all the other areas of the business can be complex and overwhelming. Continue Reading

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Win my Chitika eMiniMalls Secrets ebook

Posted on November 9, 2005 09:04 PM

Here's a contest that gives some of the best odds on the web. On Monday, November 14th, I release my ebook on Chitika eMiniMalls. I am giving away a copy to one lucky winner via my AdSenseChat web site. For more details, visit AdSenseChat.com Continue Reading

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Life throws a curveball

Posted on October 26, 2005 10:04 PM

My favorite Aunt in the whole world is my Aunt Joan. She is my mother's younger sister and I have some fantastic memories of her from my childhood. She was always bubbly, gregarious, fun-loving and pleasant to be around. She loved her parents, her sisters, her children, her nieces and nephews and her grandchildren with a passion. Everyone knew when Joan was in the room. Her laugh was something akin to a "cackle", and she... Continue Reading

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Free Popcorn!

Posted on October 5, 2005 02:13 PM

Who doesn't like popcorn? Seriously... I just came across this offer from Dale & Thomas Popcorn, and wanted to pass it on for your culinary please. For the month of October (apparanty it is "Popcorn Month"), they are giving away FREE popcorn to their site visitors. Don't believe me? Click here for free popcorn. These folks make all kinds of gourmet popcorn, including peanut butter with white chocolate drizzle, toffee crunch, caramel and more. You... Continue Reading

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Bush Nominates Harriet Miers to Supreme Court

Posted on October 4, 2005 10:54 PM

In a move that has brought criticism from both sides of the political aisle, President Bush has nominated White House lead counsel, Harriet Miers, to the highest court in the land. Though Ms. Miers has no paper trail related to judicial decisions (as she is not a judge), she does appear to be a pro-life Christian, and one with definitive views towards the Constitution. Continue Reading

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Worst kind of racists

Posted on September 10, 2005 09:23 AM

Let's play a word game. I'll say the name of a popular camera-hogging celebrity, and then I'll say the first word that comes to mind. Yeah, I know. Not much fun for you, but it's not your blog. Here we go. I say "Reverend Jesse Jackson" First word? "Racist" "Al Sharpton" Racist Kanye West "Stupid Racist Punk" Oops, that was three words. I guess I lose. Actually, the minorities in America lose when these so-called... Continue Reading

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Buy Joel Dessert

Posted on February 20, 2005 08:59 PM

This year, WorldVillage.com turns ten years old. Yup, that's TEN big ones. An eternity in Internet years. For all that time, I have been giving of myself to millions of visitors. Giving, giving, always giving. And what do I get? Email complaining about this feature. Posts whining about that web page. Blah blah blah. (Oh, I get paid a few dollars for advertising, but does that count?) Now people can really show their appreciation for... Continue Reading

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Win a Spongebob Squarepants Inflatable

Posted on February 17, 2005 10:42 PM

Spongebob is everywhere. He's on TV. He's at the movies. He's on tshirts, socks and underwear. He's on my watch (really...) Let's face it. Spongebob is a mega-superstar. Remember those Spongebob Inflatables that were being stolen from Burger King restaurants last year? My friend, David Lawrence, is giving away FIVE (5) of these Spongebob Squarepants inflatable characters via his web site and radio show, Online Tonight Enter to win one of these cool thingamajigs, and... Continue Reading

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The Amazing Race 6

Posted on January 20, 2005 11:13 AM

The Amazing Race 6 has turned into a hit show, gathering more steam as each season goes by. Pretty impressive for a show many thought would not return after season 2. Unfortunately, this season contains some of the least likable people the show has seen. The producers have opted for cookie-cutter model types for many of the couples. Several of the others have just been utterly uninteresting. Fortunately, the exotic locations and unusual tasks continue... Continue Reading

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Are we stingy?

Posted on January 4, 2005 06:46 PM

I'm getting real tired of the mainstream press and other countries telling the United States that we are stingy over the amount of support we are giving and bringing to the Tsunami victims. Granted, the irrelevant and ever-more annoying United Nations is backpeddling from their comments, but many are continuing this lament just the same. The fact of the matter is, the United States and our people are the most generous people in the world... Continue Reading

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Let the Winnings Begin

Posted on January 3, 2005 12:27 AM

WinMyStuff.com officially launched just a few minutes ago. Today, I am giving away a brand new copy of Two Brothers on DVD. Anyone can win, so go check it out. A new prize each day, except for weekends! Continue Reading

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Win My Stuff

Posted on December 30, 2004 05:00 PM

I have too much stuff. CDs, DVDs, computer software, books, tchotkes, Tupperware, you name it. What's a fella to do? Give it away! Starting Monday, I will be giving away my stuff to one lucky winner each day. Bizarre? Odd? Fun? Perhaps all of the above. Visit my newest creation today and read all about it! Win My Stuff Continue Reading

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Girl Born without a Face

Posted on December 14, 2004 10:05 PM

This has got to be one of the most heart-breaking stories I have heard in a long, long time. It is one that actually had me weeping after seeing the video. It's a story of God's grace and of gratefulness for how good the majority of us have it in this life. Jeannie Blaylock of First Coast News in Florida reported this story of a baby girl born without a face. Here are some excerpts... Continue Reading

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Target BOOTS the Salvation Army

Posted on December 2, 2004 12:52 PM

I am ticked off at Target. We shop there regularly, but not today. You may ask "why Joel, why?", and I'll tell you. For years, the Salvation Army has stood in front of various department stores and chain outlets ringing their bells, spreading good holiday cheer and collecting funds for very worthwhile causes, such as feeding the hungry and clothing the poor. When I was at Target earlier this week, I remember noticing the absence... Continue Reading

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Applying for Credit Cards

Posted on November 29, 2004 04:56 PM

Friends occasionally ask me which credit card I like to use. I have had dozens of cards over the years. First USA. Citibank. Bank One. Etc, and so forth. I have tried multiple programs. Cashback from Discover. Sharper Image store credit rewards from First USA. General Motors rewards (never did buy another GM vehicle). American Express privileges. And so on. I finally settled on Citibank Aadvantage card as giving me the most bank for my... Continue Reading

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My Black Friday Experience

Posted on November 26, 2004 10:15 PM

On Thanksgiving Day, I did what any respectable guy would do. Besides stuffing my face, I took some time to browse the sale papers for Friday's big bonanza. I found the usual suspects. Circuit City, Comp USA, Best Buy and Ultimate Electronics. Even Target's ad got a once over from me. Many of the bargains looked quite appealing, but there was no way in the world I was going to get up at 5:30 am... Continue Reading

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Left Coast Insanity

Posted on November 25, 2004 12:07 AM

It is political correctness and anti-God behavior gone nuts. From the Reuters news wire... LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California teacher has been barred by his school from giving students documents from American history that refer to God -- including the Declaration of Independence. Steven Williams, a fifth-grade teacher at Stevens Creek School in the San Francisco Bay area suburb of Cupertino, sued for discrimination on Monday, claiming he had been singled out for censorship... Continue Reading

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Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Posted on October 3, 2004 10:18 PM

Mary and I had the opportunity to enjoy a "date night" on Friday. First we enjoyed a nice dinner at Johnny Carinos Italian restaurant. Next we went to the mall and pigged out on ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery (superior to Marble Slab in case you are wondering). Finally, it was on the cinema to take in a showing of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I received a great deal of chastisement... Continue Reading

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Bush vs. Kerry - Who is more compassionate?

Posted on September 10, 2004 06:16 PM

I came across some very interesting information regarding the history of charitable contributions for the President and Senator Kerry. Check this out. John Kerry's charitable contributions from 1991-1995 Kerry's returns from 1995 and earlier, before his marriage to Heinz, have sometimes attracted criticism over the issue of charitable giving. In 1995, according to published reports, Kerry reported a taxable income of $126,179, and charitable contributions of $0. In 1994, he reported income of $127,884, and... Continue Reading

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Google Adsense

Posted on May 25, 2004 05:47 AM

Over the past few years, Google has come on strong as a leader in the Internet search engine industry, giving Yahoo!, MSN and AOL a run for their money. With an initial public offering just around the corner, can anything stop this behemoth? I hope not. I love Google! One of their most recent additions to the site is their pay-per-click advertising program, Google Adwords. Here's how it works. You advertise your site on Google... Continue Reading

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Survivor All Stars

Posted on May 9, 2004 11:06 PM

I am a Survivor fan and I am not ashamed to admit it. Tonight was the finale of Survivor All Stars, where 18 former Survivor contestants came back for another chance to win $1,000,000. Even thought Boston Rob Mariano schemed his way to the final two, along with his new love, Amber Brkich, I thought he was deserving of the money. As it turned out, Amber won by one vote. However, it was a moot... Continue Reading

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Eliminate Spyware

Posted on May 3, 2004 03:28 PM

A couple months back, I discussed my trials and tribulations with Spyware, the insidious software that automatically installs itself on your PC when you visit certain web pages. Once installed, it proceeds to hijack your machine by delivering annoying pop-up advertisements, unwanted browser toolbars, and generally causing havoc with your computer. I have recently discovered a new program which has been extremely effective in removing spyware from my computers (yes, I had it on THREE... Continue Reading

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#10 - Groundhog Day

Posted on February 2, 2004 12:17 AM

Not be confused with my groundhog day rant a couple weeks back, this entry concerns itself with the title of the Bill Murray film from 1993. Caddyshack was funny. Ghostbusters was trendy. The Razor's Edge was dramatic. But Groundhog Day is Bill Murray's finest hour and comes in at #10 on my list of The 15 Best Movies Ever. Groundhog Day is the story of Phil Connors (Murray), a cynical weatherman who feels he is... Continue Reading

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Stumble Upon

Posted on January 21, 2004 12:15 AM

I "stumbled upon" StumbleUpon.com yesterday and have added their free toolbar to my Internet Explorer. A fantastic concept, the StumbleUpon toolbar allows you to easily rate sites and leave comments if you like the site. I recommend downloading the toolbar and giving it a go. Click the button below for more info. Oh, and one more thing. If you DO install it, please visit this blog again and click the "I Like It!" button. Thanks! Continue Reading

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I actually won something

Posted on January 16, 2004 01:13 AM

I was listening to talk radio this morning on the way to work and the host began discussing a story that I had heard about on the Glenn Beck Program the day before. The story centered around a Cleveland, Ohio TV news Anchorwoman and some indiscretions that occured when she was in Florida with her husband several months earlier. Essentially, this "anchorette" got blotto and entered a wet t-shirt contest at a local bar in... Continue Reading

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Me and my sidekick

Posted on January 13, 2004 11:30 PM

I have been wanting to get my hands on a PDA/phone that would allow me to have wireless access to the web and email. The technology is finally at a level where the download speed is tolerable, so I have been shopping around for a unit. Today, I took a leap of faith and purchased a T-Mobile Sidekick. T-Mobile allows you to try out their products for 14 days. If I am not happy, I... Continue Reading

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Where's the Mayor?

Posted on December 8, 2003 06:42 PM

Things have been hectic lately. Lots of traveling. One month on the road with family. One week in Chicago with family over Thanksgiving. Three nights in Boulder, Colorado for an Internet conference. And now its time for the Christmas rush. Jenna's birthday is next week. Gotta buy gifts. Gotta work. Gotta remember to stop and smell the roses. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Deep cleansing breaths. Inhale. Exhale. There, don't you feel better? #13 in my Best... Continue Reading

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Shopping Madness

Posted on November 28, 2003 11:40 PM

I have never been one to hit the stores the day after Thanksgiving. I have heard about the craziness, but never experienced it myself. It always made way more sense to wait until a more reasonable time to shop. I know there are some great deals for those willing to shop at 6 am, but I also know good deals can be found year 'round if you know where to look. For example, smart shoppers... Continue Reading

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Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2003 10:18 AM

When we were on our month-long road trip, one of our key stops was in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the place where the pilgrims first set foot on the continent after disembarking the Mayflower. Click here to read about our journey to this historic location. And click here to learn more about the first Thanksgiving. One of the stops on our trip was in Niagra Falls, Canada. While we were there, we visited a church. As it... Continue Reading

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Step Down, Senator Kennedy!

Posted on November 17, 2003 01:53 PM

Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable. The liberal media is once again, allowing Senator Ted Kennedy to get away with murder. No, it's not another Chappaquiddick. No, this time Senator Kennedy has put his foot in his mouth with incredibly racially insensitive comments. Regarding the President's judicial nominees, Janice Rogers Brown and Miguel Estrada (African American and Hispanic, respectively), Senator Kennedy called them "Neanderthals"! Kennedy is not apologizing and the liberal media is not holding him accountable. If... Continue Reading

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Day 17: A Bite of the Big Apple

Posted on October 21, 2003 09:15 PM

We had a horrible night at the Quality Inn in Lyndhurst, NJ. It was supposed to be a non-smoking room, but the odor was there just the same. I went to the front desk and they gave me an ionizer to use in the room. We gave it a shot, but it didn't do the trick and the odor was giving Mary a headache. It was late and the kids were already falling asleep, so... Continue Reading

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Throwing money away

Posted on September 16, 2003 01:18 PM

There is a charitable guy in Florida called the "Money Man" who likes to give away his cash to encourage others to do likewise. Check out this story. Money Man' Tosses Cash Into Fla. Crowd ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Hundreds of people at a shopping mall fought over nearly $10,000 launched into a crowd by a real estate investor known as the "Money Man." Six people were taken to hospitals and six others were treated... Continue Reading

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Giving Christians a bad name

Posted on August 27, 2003 01:16 PM

It's stories like this that give Christians a bad name. These kooks tried to "exorcise" an 8-year old little boy of the "demon of autism" by praying over him and SITTING ON HIS CHEST for two hours! Absolutely crazy. Continue Reading

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Glenn Beck's "The Real America"

Posted on August 13, 2003 12:42 AM

Definitely the best thing to come along in talk radio since Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck is rapidly becoming the "must-listen to" host of the decade. Limbaugh is still the King of talk radio (sorry Howard Stern), but Beck brings a freshness that has been missing. Politically, he manages to hit the nail on the head again and again, giving voice to what many of us already think and believe, but with an insightful approach that... Continue Reading

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Finding Nemo

Posted on June 7, 2003 03:04 PM

While on vacation in Enid, OK, we took the kids to see Finding Nemo. It may just be the BEST Pixar animated feature to date! As they have done with several recent flicks, Pixar first taunted us with a short film. Knick Knack was their very first computer animated short film. This story of a snowman in a snow globe pining for the disproportionate blond from Miami had me in stitches for several minutes. 'Nuff... Continue Reading

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