Useful Resources for Working Online

Many of you know that I work as a freelancer and most of this work involves working online for different projects. Given here is a collection of some very useful resources that I have learnt from over the years. I have to tell you that the internet is a very fluid place and I don't know how long the sites will be available. So it would be in your interest to copy down whatever data that you find useful onto your own hard disk if you wish to study it at your own pace.

Yaro Starak is a professional blogger who teaches people to run successful online businesses in the blogging business model. He has recently compiled an amazing resource culled from his different new letters that he used to mail his followers once a week. Now you can access the entire lot in one place. Click here.

If you are looking for a job online it would be a good idea to set up a profile on a freelancer market place. These are the sites from which prospective employers pick up freelancers. Needless to say the better your profile and portfolio the more likely you are to be picked up to do a job. Here is a list of freelancer marketplaces that I have vetted. I have personally done assignments on the first five on the list and have hear of good ratings of the remaining five from friends in the field.

To get a good online portfolio going it is a good idea to set up displays of your work on different revenue sharing websites. You can use Google Adsense to earn on some of them and others will just send over your share through their own payment programs. Here is a list of sites that you would find useful. Click here for revenue sharing sites list.

Look Ma, No Wheels

Peer pressure gets to them even younger. In our days it was the teenage years, some said it had come down to the tweenies (pre tens) but I’ll have you know its hit the five year olds. In the apparent first attack of peer pressure on Rehaan he wanted his cycle’s training wheels off. Gattu has a two wheel cycle, Tejas has a two wheel cycle, I want a two wheel cycle!
(With the training wheels it becomes a four wheel cycle)

So off we went both mother and son to the cycle shop to have the training wheels removed and the shiny new stand fitted. It was exciting indeed to get a two wheel cycle and further more the promise that if he learned to ride it he would get one of those Gems balls with the Ben Ten toys was more than he could handle.

He kept prancing around happily when the cycle repair shop man was working on removing the training wheels and fixing the stand. Fifteen minutes and forty bucks later Rehaan had a two wheel cycle, just as his little heart desired.

There was just one problem, suddenly he could not ride his cycle. The training wheels were missing and the balance was yet to manifest. So after a few shaky starts on the road he dragged the cycle along with him all the way home. The plan is to learn to balance on the new two wheel cycle today with Ma.

Where to sell stuff online : 3 webshops you can sell on

You can sell everything from a pencil to table online these days. All you need to know is where and how.

There are many ways to sell your products online. If you physically produce some product it will be easy to set up your own website and sell them from there. Unfortunately not many people are willing to trust their financial data to a relatively new and mostly unknown website. So it make make more sense to stick with some more popular online shopping websites. Here is a list of the three most trusted and popular websites that you can sell physical goods on.

eBay

With a huge global presence eBay.com is the most polular website to set up shop with. They are free to register with and you can use the same account to buy and sell products. For the more serious seller there is also the option of setting up a seperate eBay shop space online. The security of the site is great and many people are already used to buying stuff at the acutions that they hold. So attracting traffic is not an issue.

Amazon

Once it was THE place to get the book you wanted, now it has expanded its product range. It is very similar to eBay and at amazon.com you even have the option of becoming an affiliate far more easily than with ebay. So you can grab that percentage of a sale even if you don't involve yourself with the product shipping or listing. Again the site is trusted by millions and traffic is not an issue. Although sales tend to be more US specific with a number of things not being delivered outside the US.

Etsy

Setting up a virtual shop with etsy.com is more for those dealing with handicrafts and handmade things. If you are looking for vintage stuff that is in near mint condition you will get it here. To sell on etsy you need to set up your own little virtual shop and add listings of articles that you would like to sell. Naturally they charge a percentage of the sale as fees and they also charge you for listing each item. The dedicated shopper here is usually a woman looking for bargains so adress yourself to her.

The Best Advice I Ever Received

When I was leaving home for higher studies, my father stood with me on the train station and told me, "Remember you are no less than anyone around you!"

It was a simple statement really, but it helped boost my morale and motivation in many a tight spot after that!

I want to work from home : How can I make money online?

It is possible thanks to the internet to work at home these days. The trouble is that most people think it is easy money.

I want to work from home like you do.

What can I do?

How can I make money online?

These are questions that I get asked a lot. Just for the record, I am an HR trainer who decided to joining the "Work At Home Mom"'s club after my son was born. The transition was not too difficult and now I am a very happy WAHM. I work not more than three hours a day. I also love to spend time online so do a lot of blogging and write articles on sites similar to this one.

One of the most difficult things that I have do deal with is not the work that I do at home, but answering the questions that I get asked about it. Almost everyone I know is totally ignorant of the options and opportunities that a person has for making money online. And a lot of them feel that it is easy money, but it is not. You are still working for it.

So what all can you do online? You need to pick something that will complement your actual training. For instance I started with freelance writin jobs because I was always fond of reading and also am an Eng Lit Graduate. Since I had a background in HR I would pick projects that allowed me to write lesson plans or do training module development.

I am also very fond of cooking up puddings. That's why I enjoy sharing my recipes on my blog online. I am not comfortable selling other people's products so I am not interested in affiliate marketing. Also I would like to keep things digital as very often I can not access physical products because of my constant shifting thanks to my husband's job.

You want to make money online? You can do it, but it is not an easy ride. You do have to train yourself to do this. New skills need to be added to old ones and once you find a system that works for you, you will be set. The initial struggle in working online is just as bad as settling into a new office with no friends. If you can stick to it, you will succeed.

Collecting things as a hobby

Are collections a good hobby? Or are they an unnecessary drain of resources?

Some people collect coins from different countries, while others prefer stamps and first day covers. There is someone I know who is crazy about scale models of popular cars and another one who collects seashells. Not to mention the number of people who go antique collecting or pick up oil paintings. All these people have growing collections of which they are proud.

One thing that they all have in common is the deep knowledge about their collectibles. They know the common ones, and search for the rare. They are even known to pay a pretty penny for a particular piece they would like to add to their collection.

Is being so obsessed with a collection good? While it may seem like a great idea to the collectors themselves, the people around them may not agree. I have seen spouses get their eyes rolling as soon as they hear another description of a collectible item coming on.

Then there is also the financial aspect. No matter what you collect, the repeated expenses can add up to a tidy sum. While certain collections may increase in value over the years, other may not. So one cannot always argue that it is a good investment.

There is a degree of knowledge that you gain as a collector. This specialized knowledge will make you an expert. This may mean invites to address people interested in the same field. However again it depends on the type of collection to figure out if you will make any money with it.

Are Vaccinations for Kids healthy?

The practice of injecting children with weakened pathogens to immunize them from disease is called vaccination. Is it really healthy for the children?

There is an ongoing debate about vaccinations for children. There are the hard core supporters who feel that it is a must for each child. Then there are the har core opposers who say there is no need to inject a child with pathogens of diseases that he may never get. And then there is the thrid group of confused parents, not sure if they should get vaccinations done for their children or not. Now lets take a look at the pros and cons.

What is the process

The American Paediatric Association has brought out an immunization schedule for children. This gives the names of the vaccines to be given to the child, the age at which it is to be injected and the diseases from which that particular vaccine protects the child. The concept is that the human body needs to develop antibodies to the pathogens which cause a disease. This set of antibodies help the person's immune system fight and defeat the disease.

The opposition

Childhood vaccinations involve injecting the weakened pathogens into the kids at a very young age. This means that the baby is healthy, but is being given disease causing elements to deal with. The child will suffer from fever and may even develop mild symptoms of the disease for a few days before recovering from the vaccine. This is what most of the opposition say is incorrect. Why make a well child sick for some potential disease that he may never get?

The risk

There is also some research which proves that the kids who get immunized are at higher risk for certain other diseases such as autism. The fact is not yet established that vaccines cause autism, but there is a greater tendency showing in the research and parents are worried about this. Why take a risk and protect the child from a disease which he may never get only to end up giving him another disease.

The conclusion

And this is my opinion, as a parent I have given my son all his mandatory shots. Why I did that is beacuse there is a greater risk in India of children getting these diseases. Also I  have avoided giving him flu shots because I don't think I should totally stiffle his immune system. It too needs to stay active with the minor illnesses of childhood so that it gets stronger as my child grows. So the choice is up to the parents.

In the end remember it is your child and your choice. Listen to every one else but make up your own mind.

How to add a Signature to your Email Account

The easiest way to get people to know your website is by adding a link to your site in your signature block in the email id. That is the most likely place that people will seek to get back in touch with you and the link will them right to your site. So use it wisely. Here is how you add your email signature block in the following services.

Yahoo - How to add a signature:

Login to your Yahoo email account using your password and user name. Click on the Options button in the top right corner. From the Options drop down menu select More Options. Click on Signature on the left menu. Click on the Rich Text link so you can include a link in your signature. Click on Save Changes in the top left when you add the above signature.


Gmail - How to add a signature:

Login to your Gmail account using your user name and password. Click on Settings in the top right corner. Scroll down and add your signature. Click on Save Changes at the bottom when you add the signature.


AOL Mail - How to add a signature:

Login to your AOL account using your user name and password. Click on Setting in the top right corner. Click on Compose on the left menu. Under Rich Text/HTML heading there is a Signature drop down. Select Use Signature. Now create your signature and hit Save when you add it.

The easiest way to get people to know your website is by adding a link to your site in your signature block in the email id. That is the most likely place that people will seek to get back in touch with you and the link will them right to your site. So use it wisely. Here is how you add your email signature block in the following services.
 

Hotmail - How to add a signature:

Login to your Hotmail account using your user name and password. Click on Options in the top right corner. Find the Customize Your Mail menu. Now click on Personal Email Signature. Here you can input the signature you want. Click on Save when you add the signature.

Thunderbird - How to add a signature:

Login to your Thunderbird account using your username and password. Click on Tools. Select the Account Settings button. Now select the check box to right of Signature Text so you can use HTML. Type in the signature text and link. Click on OK to complete when you add the above signature.


Evolution - How to add a signature:

Login to your Evolution account using your username and password. Click on Edit then on Preferences. Click on Edit on the desired email address. Under the Identity tab, click on Add New Signature. Type it in and click on Save and Close when you add the signature.


Outlook Express - How to add a signature:

Login to your Outlook Express account using your username and password. Click on Tools. Click on Options. Choose the Signature tab. Input the desired signature. Click Apply when you add the signature.


Windows Mail - How to add a signature:

Login to your Windows Mail account using your username and password. Click on Tools. Then click on Options. Now select the Signature tab. Click on New. Input the signature. Click on Apply when you add the signature.

Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day?

The festival of lovers has a eerie past.

As the winter melts into spring and the first bird sings outside your window, you look at the calendar and note that it is almost Valentine’s Day. The 14^th of February is celebrated all over the world as the day of lovers, but how did it all begin? Who was St. Valentine? He is not one appointed by the Roman Catholic Church, that much we know for sure.

Though no one has been able to verify it the origin of the holiday is said to be in memory of a Priest called Valentino. In Ancient Rome there was a rule that soldiers in active duty could not marry. The king believed that a married man did not make a tough soldier. Any who did marry would be put to death instantly.

Consider that the army is full of young men. And these attractive and physically fit young men of the army were sure to have sweethearts. And these young couples who longed to be wed were helped by Valentino in his church. Under threat of death the Priest united many soldiers with their beloved ones.

This was the old man's way of serving the power of love. Eventually the poor priest was caught out one day when a wedding was in progress and so he was martyred. So in his memory lovers celebrated his contribution to the cause of true love. And gradually the day for love and its celebration caught on all over the world. And that is why we celebrate Valentine’s day.

3 Ways to Make Money Online

Are you a woman who studied all the way through college and worked? Then decided to get married and had a baby? Are you now sitting at home looking after home and family and wondering what you can do sitting at home? I have news for you! You can make money online working from home.

There is no major investment involved and all you have to do is have a computer with an internet connection and some basic writing skills in the English language. You don't have to be a computer software engineer to make money online, just a few basic skills will do.

Does that sound good? Do you want to know more? So read on to discover how to make money online. Essentially I am covering three basic methods here, you can do a whole lot more online. However these three have been working well for me so I am confident that if I can do it, so can you.

Method One - Freelance Writing Jobs

There are any number of freelancer sites in the market place online today. Be it odesk, guru, get a freelancer, elance or get a coder, there are literally thousands of writing jobs open in the market today.Plus new ones keep getting posted every hour. 

What you need to do is get registered for the basic free account with these sites as a writer. Then start bidding on the jobs that you feel capable of handling. It can take some time to get your first job, but once you have got that and your employer's review, things flow faster.

Tip to get that first job faster? Try and bid at a lower rate than the competition. It may be worth a lot more money, but if you invest in it as a build up for your portfolio it will help.

Method Two - Set Up A Blog

There are so many blogs online today that it will be easy to find a niche for yourself. True there is great competition, but if you are providing quality content, you will have yourself a good fan following soon enough. Then the monetisation will help you make money from the traffic that hits your blog.

What you need to do is register a domain name and get web hosting services in place. Then set about populating your blog with blog posts. Make sure you choose a niche that you know well. It can be very difficult blogging regularly about a topic you are not conversant with.

Tip to make blogging easier? Try and write as many posts as you can and then schedule them to be published one a day on the blog. That way you get free time to do other stuff and the blog still gets updated.

Method Three - Sell On Ebay

From a used pencil to any hand made craft you can sell just about anything online these days. There are many sites that allow you to open up a virtual store and make money online selling your products. However since Ebay is an established brand, it is easier to sell stuff when you are associated with them as plenty of traffic exists on the site.

What you need to do is register an account with them and post product details and photos online. You will need to set up a payment method by aligning paypal with your bank account and you may need to use your credit card to be verified. All this does not take any money from you. You will only pay Ebay when you make sales.

Tip to sell more things? Try and stick to a single category of products. For instance if you are good at procuring gadgets sell all kinds of interesting gadgets. Or if you are able to produce hand made cards stick to those. It will give you a better presence in the niche and people will be more likely to buy from you.

Erotic Sculptures in Khajarao

Are the erotic sculptures in Khajarao temples inspired by the Kama Sutra. Or is it some other purpose that they serve?

 

From the land of the Kama Sutra it is expected to find ancient erotic sculptures. The eroticism in ancient Indian sculptures is legendary. The sculptures on the walls of the temples at Khajarao are just such an example. This set of about twenty temples is said to have been built during the reign of the kings of the Chandela dynasty during the 9^th and 10^th centuries AD. The UNESCO has declared these temples a world heritage site.

The artists have used the “Mithunas” or couples to depict all forms of colorful sexual imagery. That is not to say that only sculptures of couples adorn these temples. There are also groups involved in the art of making love. The sculptures show many positions which can be used by lovers. Some have been admired and others have been criticized, but everyone has had something to say about the statues. It is like visiting a visual guide of the Kama Sutra.

You may ask why a temple, a place of worshiping the lord is adorned with these graphic sexual images. There are many schools of thought here. For one set the answer lies in the fact that a person was supposed to overcome all desires in order to be near the lord and gain salvation. Of all the desires, it is the sexual ones that are the most basic and instinctive. So the sculptures were set as a test of self control. If the devotee could keep his mind on his prayers despite being surrounded by these erotic art forms he was indeed in control of his emotions.

For the second set there was a spiritual meaning behind every erotic sculpture. If a man and woman were in sexual embrace, it also signified the meeting of their souls as one in the eyes of the lord. So each sculpture can be interpreted in a deeply spiritual manner as well as in an erotic manner. It was also believed that man and woman could increase the fertility by visiting these temples.

For yet another school of thought more in touch with the Indus Valley civilization, the erotic sculptures exemplified one of the four stages in man’s life. When a man was in the householder stage the desire for “Kama” was natural and part of living. This is reflected in the erotic statues of Khajarao.

No matter why these sculptures were commissioned by the Chandela kings, the fact remains that they are in existence today. A very interesting take on ancient porn set in stone for immortality. These sculptures can provide insights into the ancient love making techniques that were prevalent in India long ago. These erotic statues are worth visiting if you can. So when you plan your trip to India, put Khajarao on the itinerary.

Romance on a Budget : Celebrate Valentine's Day

 With Valentine's Day almost looming large and the economic crisis refusing to go away, how do you romance a loved one on a budget?

Most Valentines seem to think of expensive jewellry, flowers and chocolates as the most appropriate gifts. However, what really counts is the feeling of being shown that you are cared for. Yes if the person you are showering gifts on can be made to feel loved without all the money being spent, it would serve you very well.

So how do you romance someone on a budget? The start up to Valentine's day should be made a week in advance. Remember its not just on that day that you love them. Its on each and every day that you care for them and should remind them of it.

Start with collecting some memorable love quotes. You can get these from the internet if you are not too keen on writing your own. Now put seven of these onto small notes and post its. Make sure that you leave them in places where the love of your life will find them.

One note a day is good enough. Then another way to show you care is to take on some of their chores. If you can get the grocceries or put out the garbage do it. It will reduce their work load and make them feel more loving towards you. I promise it works.

Save the best for the D day. You don't need to take them out to a restaurant for a really great time. Pack a picnic basket and head out to the nearest lawn or park that you like going to. Make sure that you have enough food that they might like. Plus add a little romantic surprise such as a single flower.

It will not cost too much, but it will be worth the smile that you get. Now give your personal gift. Again it may not be an expensive thing. You can make a handmade pendant or a charm bracelet and it will work just fine. Remember the object of the whole thing is to make your love feel cared for.

Toll Free Numbers in India

Toll Free Numbers in India , Please forward it to all you know in India .

Airlines
Indian Airlines -1800 180 1407
Jet Airways - 1800 22 5522
Spice Jet - 1800 180 3333
Air India -- 1800 22 7722
Kingfisher - 1800 180 0101
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Banks
ABN AMRO -1800 11 2224
Canara Bank - 1800 44 6000
Citibank - 1800 44 2265
Corporation Bank - 1800 443 555
Development Credit Bank - 1800 22 5769
HDFC Bank - 1800 227 227
ICICI Bank - 1800 333 499
ICICI Bank NRI - 1800 22 4848
IDBI Bank - 1800 11 6999
Indian Bank - 1800 425 1400
ING Vysya - 1800 44 9900
Kotak Mahindra Bank - 1800 22 6022
Lord Krishna Bank - 1800 11 2300
Punjab National Bank - 1800 122 222
State Bank of India - 1800 44 1955
Syndicate Bank - 1800 44 6655
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Automobiles
Mahindra Scorpio -1800 22 6006
Maruti - 1800 111 515
Tata Motors - 1800 22 5552
Windshield Experts - 1800 11 3636
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Computers/IT
Adrenalin -1800 444 445
AMD - 1800 425 6664
Apple Computers - 1800 444 683
Canon - 1800 333 366
Cisco Systems - 1800 221 777
Compaq - HP - 1800 444 999
Data One Broadband - 1800 424 1800
Dell - 1800 444 026
Epson - 1800 44 0011
eSys - 3970 0011
Genesis Tally Academy - 1800 444 888
HCL - 1800 180 8080
IBM - 1800 443 333
Lexmark - 1800 22 4477
Marshal's Point - 1800 33 4488
Microsoft - 1800 111 100
Microsoft Virus Update - 1901 333 334
Seagate - 1800 180 1104
Symantec - 1800 44 5533
TVS Electronics - 1800 444 566
WeP Peripherals - 1800 44 6446
Wipro - 1800 333 312
Xerox - 1800 180 1225
Zenith - 1800 222 004
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Indian Railway Enquiries
Indian Railway General Enquiry 131
Indian Railway Central Enquiry 131
Indian Railway Reservation 131
Indian Railway Railway Reservation Enquiry 1345,1335,1330
Indian Railway Centralised Railway Enquiry 1330/1/2/3/4/ 5/6/7/8/9
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Couriers/Packers & Movers
ABT Courier -1800 44 8585
AFL Wizz - 1800 22 9696
Agarwal Packers & Movers - 1800 11 4321
Associated Packers P Ltd - 1800 21 4560
DHL - 1800 111 345
FedEx - 1800 22 6161
Goel Packers & Movers - 1800 11 3456
UPS - 1800 22 7171
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Home Appliances
Aiwa/Sony -1800 11 1188
Anchor Switches - 1800 22 7979
Blue Star - 1800 22 2200
Bose Audio - 1800 11 2673
Bru Coffee Vending Machines - 1800 44 7171
Daikin Air Conditioners - 1800 444 222
DishTV - 1800 12 3474
Faber Chimneys - 1800 21 4595
Godrej - 1800 22 5511
Grundfos Pumps - 1800 33 4555
LG - 1901 180 9999
Philips - 1800 22 4422
Samsung - 1800 113 444
Sanyo - 1800 11 0101
Voltas - 1800 33 4546
WorldSpace Satellite Radio - 1800 44 5432
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Investments/ Finance
CAMS -1800 44 2267
Chola Mutual Fund - 1800 22 2300
Easy IPO's - 3030 5757
Fidelity Investments - 1800 180 8000
Franklin Templeton Fund - 1800 425 4255
J M Morgan Stanley - 1800 22 0004
Kotak Mutual Fund - 1800 222 626
LIC Housing Finance - 1800 44 0005
SBI Mutual Fund - 1800 22 3040
Sharekhan - 1800 22 7500
Tata Mutual Fund - 1800 22 0101
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Travel
Club Mahindra Holidays -1800 33 4539
Cox & Kings - 1800 22 1235
God TV Tours - 1800 442 777
Kerala Tourism - 1800 444 747
Kumarakom Lake Resort - 1800 44 5030
Raj Travels & Tours - 1800 22 9900
Sita Tours - 1800 111 911
SOTC Tours - 1800 22 3344
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Healthcare
Best on Health -1800 11 8899
Dr Batras - 1800 11 6767
GlaxoSmithKline - 1800 22 8797
Johnson & Johnson - 1800 22 8111
Kaya Skin Clinic - 1800 22 5292
LifeCell - 1800 44 5323
Manmar Technologies - 1800 33 4420
Pfizer - 1800 442 442
Roche Accu-Chek - 1800 11 45 46
Rudraksha - 1800 21 4708
Varilux Lenses - 1800 44 8383
VLCC - 1800 33 1262
=================================
Insurance
AMP Sanmar -1800 44 2200
Aviva - 1800 33 2244
Bajaj Allianz - 1800 22 5858
Chola MS General Insurance - 1800 44 5544
HDFC Standard Life - 1800 227 227
LIC - 1800 33 4433
Max New York Life - 1800 33 5577
Royal Sundaram - 1800 33 8899
SBI Life Insurance - 1800 22 9090
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Hotel Reservations
GRT Grand -1800 44 5500
InterContinental Hotels Group - 1800 111 000
Marriott - 1800 22 0044
Sarovar Park Plaza - 1800 111 222
Taj Holidays - 1800 111 825
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Teleshopping
Asian Sky Shop -1800 22 1800
Jaipan Teleshoppe - 1800 11 5225
Tele Brands - 1800 11 8000
VMI Teleshopping - 1800 447 777
WWS Teleshopping - 1800 220 777
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Others
Domino's Pizza -1800 111 123
==================================

Cell Phones
BenQ -1800 22 08 08
Bird CellPhones - 1800 11 7700
Motorola MotoAssist - 1800 11 1211
Nokia - 3030 3838
Sony Ericsson - 3901 1111

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