Parents: Warn Your Teens about the Dangers of Using Social Networking Websites
Are you the parent of a teenager? If so, there is a good chance that you are wondering about their safety online, as you should be. Although the internet has changed for the better, that change has made it easier for people to access the internet and pretend to be someone that they are not, someone who you would likely not want socializing with your child. For that reason, you are advised to take the proper action needed to protect your child when they are online, especially when they use online social networking websites.
Online social networking websites? What are they? If you are not an internet user yourself, you may be completely unaware of social networking websites, what they are, and how they operate. The first step in protecting your teen is to famialrize yourself with them. Social networking websites are known as online communities that aim to connect internet users with each other. Unfortunately, these social networks have become the stomping grounds for many online predators and who are they after? Teenagers and chances are your teen may be one of them.
When it comes to protecting your child, your first thought may be to prohibit the use of online networking websites. Of course, you can do this if you want to. You are the parent, you can do anything that you want; however, there is really no need to. Despite the fact that danger exists, social networking sites are relatively safe, even for teenagers. However, to be safe and stay safe, your teenager needs to know what to avoid and who to be on the lookout for. Essentially, this means that they best way to protect your child from online predators is to educate them on the danger that is out there.
One of the first things that you may want to discuss with your child is who they are talking with online. Although they may not want to give you an answer, you need to emphasize the importance of knowing who they are talking to. Since social networks work to connect individuals who do not physically know each other it may seem impossible, but it can be done. Your child should fully read and try to understand the content of their friend’s online profiles. This will enable them to watch out for inconsistent stories or any inaccurate information. Tell your teen that if they learn that someone is being untruthful they need to end the conversation right away.
In addition to who your teen is taking to, it is also important to learn what they are talking about. As with who they are talking to, your teenager may not want to give you a straight answer. Even if you are unable to get an answer out of them it is important to let them know what is appropriate and what is not. Be sure they know that it is best to completely avoid individuals who like to speak of sex, drugs, and other illegal activities. Although they may enjoy having a number of online friends, there are plenty of other individuals, especially teenagers, who would more than willing to have pleasant and harmless conversations with them.
Perhaps, the most important thing to discuss with your teenager about social networking sites is arranging physical meetings. Let them know that these meeting are unacceptable. There have been numerous reports, over the past few years, of teenagers being lured away from their home in hopes of meeting a new friend, who they thought was their age. Unfortunately, many of these online friends turn out to be older and, in many cases, sexual predators. In the event that your teenager wants to meet an online friend and you feel that they would with or without your permission, you may want to offer to go with them. Of course, it is advised that you use caution and all meet in a public place.
By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, your child should still be able to use social network sites, but use them safely. In addition to the above mentioned safety concerns and precautionary measures, you may have your own. Whether you do or not, it is important that you keep your child aware of the dangers that lurk online, awareness is the key.
To your success!
Andy Huang
SEO Tool : Website Grader
Dane Carlson of Business Opportunity Weblog has posted a new tools from techcruch, a new SEO tool. Here is the article below.
After testing this tool. I would still recommand Stompernet’s Site Steer tool
Want to know how to get your Website high up in natural search results, but don’t want to pay a search engine optimization (SEO) firm just to find out what you are doing wrong?
Now you can get a free, automated evaluation of your site on Website Grader. Just type in your Website address, and it will spit out a report detailing what you can do to boost your site’s SEO juice. It even gives you a grade.
Website Grader is operated by HubSpot, a search engine and Web-marketing optimization company hoping to get leads from the site.
Photo by HubSpot.
It is time to Act now, Join Stompernet
This is going to be short and simple.
If you know your are ready to join StomperNet, [then the time has
come]
If you are not sure, then you have two options:
Go read the sales letter here:
>>>> http://www.stompernet.net/jvp/aw.aspx?B=49&A=129
Go check out our fast mover bonuses here (and you can
get to the sales letter from there):
>>>> http://www.stompernet.net/jvp/aw.aspx?B=55&A=129
Either way, the time has come for you to make the call.
Andy just told me he doesn’t know how long the shopping cart
will be open, because they are kind of like school are they keep
our online class sizes are small so that they can provide the attention
that all their Members deserve. So when they reach their
maximum, they are going to shut it down.
Go now and the best thing you can do this year for your
online business:
>>>> http://www.stompernet.net/jvp/aw.aspx?B=49&A=129
Make the movers.
best regards,
Andy Huang
Only 2 hours until StomperNet opens up
In 2 hours, StomperNet Opens – at 3pm Eastern today.Andy Jenkins is heads down getting ready for the launch, but he
wanted to share some interesting stats with you and THANK YOU
for your interest in Going Natural 3.
Straight from Andy:
FACT: The Original StomperNet launch analytics tracked 465,000
page views to the original Going Natural 1.0 campaign.
According to our Google Analytics, GoingNatural 3 is at 822,000
page views – and climbing.
Before we open, I just wanted to tell you what a pleasure it
was to release these videos and get your incredible feedback.
Moving the Free Line is what we do, and we are so pleased that
you put the information in the GoingNatural 3.0 Videos and
StomperSite Seer to use.
Remember, the key to success is to TAKE ACTION, even if you
don’t always understand why you’re doing it. If the
information is from a trusted source, then it…s worth doing
as fast as possible.
If you haven’t seen our Fast Action Bonuses, take a peek at
them here:
>>>> Stompernet Fast Action Bonuses
This is the location of our Online Brochure and Order page:
>>>> Order Page here
I wish you the very best of luck in your future endeavors, and
the best of luck if you’re competing for a Fast Action Bonus
when you join StomperNet!
Best,
Andy Jenkins
P.S. Our countdown timer has been squished by the traffic load
and it…s not honoring actual time ‘til Cart Open – just
remember, 3pm EASTERN TODAY.
REAL ESTATE NEWS: LAND SELLS FOR $4.3 MILLION – BUYER LANDBANKS IT AS INVESTMENT
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THE LEADER IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE NEWS & INFORMATION |
San Jacinto Land Sells for $4.3M
Buyer to to hold former driving range for investment
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The Gohar Barsegian Inter Vivos Trust bought 14.22 acres of land located at 936 Idyllwild Dr in San Jacinto from 218 LLC for $4.3 million, or approximately $302,391 per acre. The seller was Danny Pakravan of Encino, CA.
Previously used as a driving range, the land has all utilites on site. The buyer intends to hold the property as an investment.
Hooman Ghaffari of Marcus & Millichap represented both the buyer and seller in this transaction.
Freedom Storage Sells for $9.5 Million
91,000+sf Self Storage Facility Sells for $104 PSF
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The Freedom Self Storage property at 30630 State Highway 74 in Homeland, CA sold in early April for $9.5 million. The 91,354-square-foot self-storage facility and car wash was built in 2004. Significant finishing work and construction was completed on the property.
The new owners will occupy the property and will continue to operate it under the Freedom Self Storage and Car Wash banner.
Thomas Leeman of Franklin Croft Inc. represented the seller, Brian Tracy International. The buyer, Strategic Property Management, represented itself.
PAUL TECSON’S NOTE: In the future, the major transportation and infrastructure projects will become a Public-Private-Partnership (P-3). In California, the first P-3 Project will be the High Desert Corridor Project, a new freeway that will link the Interstate 15, Highway 395, freeway 14 to freeway 5 located in the Inland Empire’s Victor Valley region.
SPECIAL REPORT: FEATURED ARTICLE FOR COSTAR ADVISOR
For Whom the Toll$ Billions? U.S. Infrastructure Investment Attracting Global Players
Global Interest in Infrastructure Investing Heads Down Pennsylvania Turnpike
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The nation’s oldest turnpike is now the center of attention in one of the newest developments in international private equity investments in specialty real estate. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has selected a consortium of some of the world’s top investment and infrastructure companies as the highest bidder to lease and manage the Pennsylvania Turnpike for the next 75 years. The bid to privatize the toll road totals $12.8 billion.
The consortium is led by Spain-based abertis, one of the largest toll road operators in the world; Citi Infrastructure Investors, a division of Citi, a leading global financial services company; and Criteria CaixaCorp, an investment holding company controlled by Spanish savings bank La Caixa. The deal marks abertis’ entry in the U.S. toll road market.
But like anyone who has driven the turnpike and is familiar with its potholes, heavy commercial traffic and persistent lane closures, the winning bidders may also find the road to final award of a contract will be no easy pass.
The 359-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike system services one of the most highly developed regions of the U.S., linking the major urban areas of Philadelphia, Scranton, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh and links up with toll roads to Boston, New York and Chicago. Drivers and passengers in the average 35,000 vehicles per day that stop at its 57 tollbooths and 20 service plazas generate annual revenues of more than $600 million.
If award of the contract were eventually approved, it would be one of the largest public private partnership initiatives ever undertaken in the U.S.
The U.S. represents a strategic market for abertis and its partners where abertis is already present via its airport business that manages the Orlando-Sanford airport and the Atlanta international terminal, one of the busiest in the world.
It also affords the consortium a position from which to embark on additional growth opportunities and boosts its scope for expanding into other sectors in the U.S., the largest market in the world.
“We urgently need new funding for road and bridge repair, and a turnpike lease will help us meet that need,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell in announcing the award. “Under the terms and conditions we set, the turnpike will be upgraded and tolls will be no higher than the Turnpike Commission will charge. Where Pennsylvanians will see a major difference is on our other roads. Road repair all over the state will accelerate and we will be able to cancel the plan to impose tolls on Interstate 80.”
“The $12.8 billion lease payment would be dedicated to road and bridge repair and support 73 public transit agencies across the state,” Rendell said. “By investing the money for the long term, the lease plan would generate annual payouts for transportation over the 75-year life of the lease. These payments would average 13% higher than the maximum available under the I-80 tolling plan, assuming investment returns equal to the average earnings of the Pennsylvania State Employee Retirement System over the past 20 years.”
As part of its plan, the consortium would implement a capital investment plan of $5.5 billion to improve the toll road.
Final acceptance of the winning bid will require enactment of legislation by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and will require modification of Act 44 — the most recent legislative action on transportation funding in July 2007.
Act 44 directs the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to impose tolls on Interstate 80. If approval is granted, the Turnpike Commission would make annual payments to PennDOT averaging $944 million per year for the first 10 years, and larger amounts thereafter.
However, federal legislation has been introduced that would prohibit imposing tolls on I-80. If permission to toll I-80 were not granted, payments to PennDOT would fall to $450 million per year with no escalation.
That was the impetus behind Rendell’s decision to privatize the turnpike and ensure a steady more predictable stream of income.
However, there are major obstacles facing abertis and Citi. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission opposes Gov. Rendell’s plan to privatize the road. For starters, privatization could eliminate many of the more 2,200 employees of the commission, including the 1,765 workers employed under a collective bargaining agreement.
“The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) is concerned with the current state of Pennsylvania’s aging infrastructure, but the governor’s solution to effectively sell our Turnpike for 75 years does not meet the needs of the transportation community at large,” said Jim Runk, president of PMTA. “We Pennsylvanians are anxious to repair our transportation infrastructure, but with the federal government planning to evaluate it on a national level in 2009, we should be leery of speeding forward with a plan that does not take federal solutions into account. If we bypass a thoughtful and transparent debate on how to best manage these necessary improvements, we risk punting the ramifications of a near-sighted solution to our children. We urge legislators to consider whether this proposed solution will truly improve travel for Pennsylvania motorists along our main artery.”
Robert E. Latham, executive vice president of Associated Pennsylvania Constructors and spokesman for the Transportation Construction Industries coalition, said: “Replacing one inadequate funding source with another inadequate funding source does not constitute a vision for Pennsylvania’s future mobility. Neither the I-80 tolling plan nor the Turnpike lease plan will provide all the revenue necessary to repair the existing highway system or provide for the expansion required for economic growth.”
When Gov. Rendell outlined his privatization plan in April, Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier said, “We are obviously disappointed that the Rendell administration has taken this step. We remain committed to implementing Act 44 – which was signed into law just nine months ago by Gov. Ed Rendell. We’ve made tremendous progress.”
At that time Brimmeier outlined a long list of concerns about the plan – none of which he backed off of this week, when the consortium submitted its bid.
- What will the impact be on the Commonwealth’s 73 mass transit agencies, which have already started to see the benefits of Act 44? (Act 44 provides mass transit with $37 billion in the next 50 years.)
- What is the Commonwealth’s plan for the inevitable reconstruction of I-80 (the need for which will now be accelerated due to the diverted traffic from the mainline of the Turnpike)?
- Will the winning bidder be held responsible for any capital improvements for projects required after the first 10 years of the lease?
- How will the administration ensure that any lump-sum payment for the lease agreement will be properly invested and safeguarded against re-direction for non-transportation purposes?
- What will happen in the event of a default by the concessionaire? Will its creditors have the ability to step in?
Salvador Alemany, CEO of abertis, says his firm is equipped to handle the controversy.
“Gov. Rendell’s decision presents our group with a new challenge, similar to the one we faced when we integrated Aurea and Acesa Infraestructuras back in 2003, or when we acquired TBI’s airport business in 2005, thereby gaining a foothold in the U.S., and when we participated in the privatization of sanef in 2006, a process which set a precedent for the tender awarded today by the state of Pennsylvania. We will rise to the challenge and the trust placed in our consortium,” Alemany said this week.
Global interest in infrastructure investments is increasing, according to Deloitte, a global professional services and accounting firm.
And it’s not just in toll roads. Bridges, ports, schools, public housing, prisons and defense facilities and water treatment plants around the world are in urgent need of repair and upgrade. This infrastructure deficit, as it’s called, is expected to grow a lot worse without concerted remedial action, Deloitte reported this spring in a report entitled: Closing the Infrastructure Gap: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships.
In the U.S. alone, the potential infrastructure market may amount to $3 trillion, Deloitte estimated.
Infrastructure assets offer stable long-term returns with running yields and have high barriers to entry. Also, as budgetary pressures worldwide provide greater incentives for governments to explore alternatives to financing public services as Pennsylvania is doing, there is a steady flow of new opportunities coming to market either through public/private partnerships, or direct private investment.
Fourteen investment groups initially looked at the opportunity of taking over the Pennsylvania Turnpike and eventually three serious bidders stepped forward.
A consortium made up of Spain-based Cintra and Australia’s Macquarie Infrastructure Group decided against increasing their bid and New York’s Goldman Sachs, which partnered with Transurban and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, came in below abertis and Citi.
Citi Infrastructure Investors was formed in May of last year to capitalize on the growing trend to manage equity investments in infrastructure assets and to oversee a management company focused on the operation of these investments. The Pennsylvania Turnpike bid was its second major win this past week. It also entered into a partnership with the Vancouver Airport Authority to pursue the sourcing, funding and maximization of potential airport opportunities.
Babcock & Brown, an international investment and specialized fund and asset management group, is working with Citi. Earlier this year, Babcock & Brown raised $450 million of committed capital for infrastructure investment opportunities in the North American markets. This increased its capital raised for investment in North American infrastructure projects to approximately $1.85 billion. Babcock & Brown holds investments in the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and the ICS port.
Now is the perfect time to built your wealth portfolio in land. To your continual success!
Andy Huang
StomperNet members show us how they “did it”
Here’s 3 short videos (combined into one) from the StomperNet gang, and this time, no expert faculty or staff to watch.
http://ultimatewealthsystems.com/casestudy
These videos are from real MEMBERS of StomperNet, and they’re going to tell you EXACTLY what they accomplished, and HOW they got these results. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this.
Video 1 – Kristie is going to show you how she went from making $1,000 a month to $10,000 a month – in 45 days. She made $75,000 last holiday season, too! She’s learned this stuff so well she’s now an expert e-Biz consultant in her home town.
And, oh yeah, she started this 18 months ago.
Video 2 – Cassia is going to show you how she started with making only $5,000 a month – and she had been struggling at her business for YEARS. She and her husband Steve got the “Home Study Course” videos when they signed up for StomperNet, and the next month, they DOUBLED. 3 Months later, they hit $27,000 a month, and have been holding there – even while Cassia had a baby and they moved to their dream home in Colorado.
Video 3 – Chris is going to show you how he was virtually killing himself – getting up at 4:45am – 7 days a week, to be a personal trainer at a gym. When Chris joined StomperNet Andy Jenkins couldn’t figure out whether he was just a guru groupie, or dead on serious.
http://ultimatewealthsystems.com/casestudy
Turns out, he was NOT JOKING about his business. Today, he’s got 8 OTHER TRAINERS working for him, ranks all over the FIRST PAGE of Google for his Money Keywords, and just got back from a
6 WEEK (not day) vacation – and when he came back, his business was BIGGER than when he left. Oh yeah – Chris has been a Stomper just about 1 year now.
These case studies don’t pull any punches either. Listen for each Stomper’s FRANK and Candid discussion of the StomperNet monthly tuition. Listen to how they talk about how both members AND Faculty discuss Controversial topics in the Member Forums. Listen to how they GO OFF about the StomperNet live events. It’s freakishly sharp and honest.
It’s Tuesday, and StomperNet is opening again on Thursday.
Already the rush has begun for the very LIMITED number of slots they will make available. And once they’re full, and I’m dead serious, they’re closing.
The last time they closed, THEY WERE CLOSED FOR A YEAR.
Watch those case-studies – they’re all successful e-Business owners who took a chance, stuck it out, and WON.
They have things to show you.
http://ultimatewealthsystems.com/casestudy
Tomorrow, StomperNet will make a STUNNING announcement.
If you’ve ever wanted some personal attention for your business, you need to look for tomorrow’s announcement. I can’t tell you EXACTLY what it is, but… it has improved every StomperNet member’s business by 68%.
Talk Tomorrow!
Andy Huang
Orkut: Google’s Social Networking Website
Are you interested in meeting new people online? How about people that share the same interests as you? If so, one of the best ways to find those individuals to use online social networking websites. Social networking websites are often compared to neighborhoods or communities, but ones that are online. If are interested in making use of these popular websites, if you haven’t been already, you will need to find a social networking website to become a member of. One of the websites that you may be interested in joining is Orkut.
Orkut, sounds interesting doesn’t it? With other popular websites such as Yahoo! 360, Friendwise, Classmates, and MySpace, there are many who wonder how Orkut became the name of this popular online community. Orkut is named after the individual who created it. That man was an employee of Goggle and he is known as Orkut Buyukkokten.
If the name of the website doesn’t automatically draw you in, there is a good chance that the website features will. Like many other social networking websites, Orkut has a number of different member benefits. These benefits are what makes it worthwhile to become a member of this popular social networking website. As popular as Orkut is and as much as you would like to join, there are special procedures that you must follow. Unfortunately, Google does not allow just anyone to become a member, you must be invited.
Current community members are the only ones who can extend you an invite. This means that you should not waste your time trying to convince Google to let you join. Being invited to join Orkut really isn’t as difficult as it may sound. Orkut is so popular that there is a good chance that you know someone, if not personally than online, who can extend you an invite. By performing a standard internet search, you should also be able to find Orkut members who would be willing to extend you an invitation, without even knowing who you are.
Although many internet users refrain from joining Orkut, just because of the invitation requirements, there is a good reason for limited membership. Orkut is a social networking website that is free to use. Unfortunately, free means that many people would wish to use the website. Many online social networking sites, that are free to use, have literally become ridiculous. A large number of internet users get joy out of creating fake accounts and causing online controversy. Google decided to make Orkut a special membership online website to prevent instances like that from happening.
Orkut, like many other online social networking websites, has a number of different purposes. Of course, the main purpose of Orkut is to allow you to connect with your friends, especially the ones that have extended an invitation to you, but you can do much more than that. Once a member of Orkut, you can easily famialrize yourself with other website members who share the same interests as you do. This will not only help you make new friends, but it may also result in the finding of your next romantic partner. That is what is nice about Orkut, once you are a member, just about anything is possible.
If you are interested in learning more about Orkut, before trying to obtain an invite, you will want to visit their online website. You can do this by going to www.orkut.com.
Happy friending!
Andy Huang
