Articles by T. O Donnell on ArticleSnatch.com

Some Super Simple Software For The Busy Web Designer

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Here are a few handy programs for the busy web designer. Most are free, and make getting your pages on the \'net much easier. If you\'re taking a long time to do something computer-related, you\'re either doing it wrong, or you don\'t have the right tools! (Note: Because some web publishers don\'t like having hyperlinks in their articles, I\'ve omitted them here. The following programs can be easily found by typing their unique names in a search engine.) 1. Easy Text To HTML Converter. This software can batch convert text files to HTML. A simple way to get your articles ready for the web. See also: dirHtml. Another software, WordCleaner, can convert Microsoft Word documents to HTML. 2. WinSCP. This is a very clever piece of FTP software. For newbies, you can drag and drop files as you would in Windows. For the more advanced webmaster, it has an SSH command line option; you can run commands on your server. 3. Putty Telnet/SSH Client. A simple-looking, but sophisticated, freeware telnet and SSH client. Can be run from a floppy disk. Useful for the mobile webmaster. If you are an old-school designer, this is a must. 4. CGI-Telnet. **End Summary** Topics: web design software]]> web design freeware]]> web development software]]> webmaster software]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is a credit broker offering free Wordpress themes and real estate software in London, UK.

How To Choose Your Web Host

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Here are a few tips on finding a good web host, and avoiding bad ones. Webmasters tend to look for the cheapest. This can be a false economy. 1. Use a popular web host. That cheapo one might be an uncommitted reseller. I used one a few years ago. Very cheap, and very helpful. Then my site went 'missing'. By the Grace Of God I was able to get in contact with the owner, and make a backup, before the service was closed down. I found out later he had only about six customers. Use a popular web host. Avoid ones that are trying to attract customers by undercutting rates to silly levels. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. 2. Their Google PageRank gives a clue as to how popular they are. This will irk the smaller hosts, but if your site is a serious one, put it on a serious host. Web hosting costs peanuts these days. People can be funny about spending an extra $5 a month. You'll wish you'd paid $500 when your site goes skew-whiff, and you can't get a reply from their technical support. 3. **End Summary** Topics: web host]]> web hosting]]> cheap web host]]> cheap web hosting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell runs entrepreneur , real estate , and webmaster sites in London, UK.

Mortgage Tips For The Frantic

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

It's a curious fact of human nature that people will haggle over the price of an umbrella, but buy a house on a whim. We understand small amounts of money; we know what they can buy. 400,000 quid is harder to grasp; you can't fit it in your pocket. The desire to acquire, combined with the stress of the purchase, can make people do funny things. With this in mind, here are a few tips to review when getting a mortgage. Watch out for the 'Deal Of A Lifetime', the deal that seems too good to be true. The company may be saving money by cutting back on their level of service. When getting a fixed rate: get a written statement which details the interest rate, how long the rate is fixed for, and the conditions attached. When interest rates fall: try and leave your repayments as they are. You will therefore be paying more than the minimum each month. You'll repay your loan much earlier. When rates rise again you may not have to change your payment. Consider a fifteen or twenty year term. Try to pay off your mortgage quickly. **End Summary** Topics: mortgages UK]]> UK mortgage]]> mortgage tips]]> mortgage advice]]> mortgage UK]]> mortgages]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is an author running websites offering advice about mortgages and remortgages in London, UK.

Getting An Offshore Bank Account Via The Internet

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Looking for an offshore bank account? There is no need to use the many middleman websites you will find via a search engine. Most of these are *bogus*, even the slick-looking ones. More and more banks are offering offshore bank accounts direct. Just get a list of banks in the country you're interested in, and go to their web sites. Opening an offshore bank account is like opening one in your high street; meet their criteria, and you're in. The only difference is you're not there in person. The first thing is to find out whether they will accept citizens or residents of your country. For example, Swiss banks tend not to want US customers; they don't want the hassle from the IRS. You will need to prove your identity, and the legal existence of your company, if you wish to open an account for it. If applying by mail, DO NOT PART WITH ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. Get copies notarised by a notary public. Originals can be used for fraud or identity theft. Or they can get lost. A Notary Public is a public officer commissioned by the State to perform notarial acts. A Notary is an impartial witness. **End Summary** Topics: Offshore bank account]]> offshore banking]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is an ecommerce consultant and offshore banking advisor in London, UK.

How To Waste Your Time And Money In Internet Business

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The internet is a great way to make money while sitting on your bottom. You lounge around in your pajamas, and the cheques drop in your letter box. Sure, that happens. For some. There are many ways to waste your time, money and energy online. Many people give up on their internet business because they get caught up in these snares: 1. Content Is King. You can write hundreds of eloquent, informative pages, only to have them ripped off by a 'scraper'. You can be _the_ definitive site on a topic, only to have sites which have better SEO and SEM outrank you. You need something that is unique, or near it; something a lazy spammer can't duplicate easily. Also: Anyone who uses the word 'content' to describe what they're offering is halfway to being a spammer. Think about an 'elevator speech' for your site. How would you describe it in five words to someone? (That someone is also a non-techie, by the way). You've got to be able to tell Joe Public what the main benefit is in a short and simple sentence. If you can't, you're probably wasting your time. People don't want 'leveraged media aggregation services'. **End Summary** Topics: internet marketing]]> web development]]> software development]]> internet business]]> ecommerce strategy]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is an entrepreneur publishing Wordpress theme , loan and mortgage softwares in London, UK.

Are Chat Rooms A Menace To Your Children?

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Are chat rooms a menace to your children? My answer would be: yes, with qualifications. I've been running internet chat rooms since 1998. Nothing fancy. The software was freely available. I just had to make some important modifications: adding bad word filters and automated 'kicking' (ejection from the rooms). You think free speech is a good thing, until you read what anonymous, malevolent young men say to fifteen-year-old girls. It isn't Shakespeare, let me tell you that. That's another key point: anonymity. A pillar of the free speech argument. Let freedom fighters and the repressed masses have their say! Except it's more likely a twenty-five-year-old sociopath pretending to be sixteen and making young girls cry with his sickening profanity. Free from all social restrictions, and safe from physical retribution, we see the contents of the subconscious pour forth unrestrained. And a hellish stream of psychic sewage it is. This can be combated by bad word filters and having human moderators. The most important shield of all, I think, is education. "Don't take candy from strangers", "You don't need drugs until you're ill", and now: "Don't bandy words with trolls" (people who deliberately upset other internet users with provocative language). **End Summary** Topics: Chat rooms]]> internet chat rooms]]> free chat rooms]]> children]]> kids]]> teens]]> family.]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is an author running friendship , dating and chat room web sites in London UK.

How To Get And Stay Healthy

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Here are six tips that are guaranteed to work, if you follow them all religiously. There's no point eating well, then taking drugs and staying out late! 1. Eat Wholesome Food. Eat plenty of fruit, fish and vegetables, drink clean water. Depending on where you live, you may need the bottled stuff, or the tap water could be OK. Avoid chlorinated water. If you're in a First World country, and the tap water looks clear, and doesn't taste of anything, it's probably OK. Packaged food is full of additives. These are flavourings, colourings and preservatives. The more ingredients a food has, the less healthy it's likely to be. The preservatives are poisons, put into kill bacteria. Try and get organic food, if you can. It's less likely to be tainted. A healthy diet makes for a healthy body. 2. Sleep. Get at least eight hours a night. If you need twelve, take them! Ignore those fools who say they can manage on four hours a night; maybe they can, but if you're like a zombie at work, or you sleep longer at the weekends, you're chipping away at your health. Lack of sleep is very ageing. **End Summary** Topics: get fit]]> getting fit]]> health]]> wellness]]> diet]]> healthy diet]]> looking good]]> well being]]> exercise]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell publishes self improvement , Wordpress theme , and loan calculator softwares in London, UK.

8 Things That Maketh Not The Lady

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

As a man, there are some female fashions that annoy me. We all think of ourselves as unique, yet subconsciously we follow the herd. I propose that Western women have been tricked into adopting certain fashions that make them look unattractive. Read on and see if you agree. 1. Tattoos. Tattoos used to be the colouring of soldiers, sailors, mafiosi and punk rockers. About fifteen years ago, they became fashionable. The lower-middle classes started taking them up. Unfortunately, unlike last years' shoes, tattoos can't be taken to the thrift shop and disposed of. To a certain class of person, tattoos are 'cool'. To another, they are a graffito on the temple of the soul. They mark a woman definitively as lower class, alienated, depressed, and perhaps a bit daft. They're also a handy way to identify one absolutely to the authorities. Which shows how stupid some crooks are. The same goes for piercings. My family are farmers. I associate nose rings with bulls, and piercings with cattle tags. They are a haven of dirt, infection, and their openings look unsightly. With tattoos and piercings, before you've opened your mouth, you've already typed yourself to people you meet. 2. **End Summary** Topics: beauty]]> fashion]]> makeup]]> hair]]> tattoos for women]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is a credit broker and curmudgeon living in London, UK. His latest project is an ebook on conservatories . T. O' Donnell freeware may be downloaded at TTFreeware.Com .

Internet Merchant Accounts For Innocents Abroad

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

If you want to sell on the internet, you need to accept credit cards. To accept credit cards, you need a merchant account, or access to one. There're two ways of getting this: Get your own merchant account, or 'pimp' off someone else's. The latter is the option most new merchants choose. You use a third-party to process your payments, and they take percentage. Here are a few popular ones: PayPal.com ( http://www.paypal.com ) I don't recommend them as your main processor. See http://www.paypalsucks.com. PayPal is popular because it was 'firstest with the mostest' on auction sites. For this reason, eBay bought them out. PayPalSucks.com alleges that if you have a bad order they freeze your account, and can even dip into your bank account to make up any shortfalls. Mitigating circumstances are not taken into account. I've read enough complaints about PayPal on webmaster forums to heed them. The usual rejoinder is; "But I've never had any problems with PayPal". To which is usually retorted "Just wait 'till you get a chargeback!" A chargeback occurs when someone asks their credit-card company for a refund. **End Summary** Topics: merchant account]]> internet merchant account]]> international merchant account]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is an author offering advice about credit cards , merchant accounts and insurance , in London UK.

10 Tips On Buying Real Estate

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Here are a few tips on buying any property. It's a major purchase, yet some people spend more time on choosing where they go on holiday, than on buying a new home. 1 - Be an intelligent home buyer. Anyone looking to buy a home should do so carefully. Take your time to find the right one. Do not treat home buying like you are shopping at the mall. A serious buyer looks at their present needs in addition to their future prospects. This will help you purchase the right place. 2 - Consider hiring a buyer's agent. A buyer's agent is one who's there to look out for your needs. They'll know the best tips, tricks, and solutions to any problem you may have. 3 - Inquire about the owner's title insurance. If the owner is set to renew the home's title insurance, save money by buying a reissue. A complete new title insurance policy can range in price. You lose nothing by reissuing insurance. This is one to save money when buying. 4 - Have your money in the right spot. If you are an investor, you need to be prepared when you are ready to buy. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> buy real estate]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell runs entrepreneur , real estate , and webmaster sites in London, UK.

Simple Tips For Getting Your Loan

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

So, you want to get a loan? Here are some simple tips that will help you make an informed decision about what kind to get, and who to get it from. First ask yourself: do you really need it? Can you manage without it? Is it for something frivolous, like a holiday? Could you get the money by other means: part-time job, from a relative, the sale an asset? Don't put a monkey on your back if you can avoid it. A loan varies according to: The amount borrowed; The interest rate; The type of rate (fixed or variable); The term (repayment time in months or years); Deposit (downpayment); Associated fees (broker, origination, prepayment etc.); Insurance required by the lender. You are buying money for more than it cost the lender. Simple. It's a mistake to only care about the interest rate; there are also arrangement fees and prepayment penalties to consider. Many 'no fee' credit lines have a pre-payment penalty. This is how brokers and lenders make their money. Work out the total cost of your loan before committing. To ensure you get the best terms, keep your credit-line as small as possible. **End Summary** Topics: personal loans]]> secured loans]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is an author offering advice about bad credit , cheap and secured loans in London, UK.

How To Buy Stuff On eBay Or Any Other Online Auction

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Internet auctions are a terrific place to find a bargain and also to get ripped off royally. So how can you get the sweet deals, and avoid the snake-oil peddlers? Here are a few tips that have helped me: 1. Look at vendor reviews. A vendor having 2000 satisfied customers is a good one to buy from. Check that the ratings go back years. Some scammers can get lots of good reviews by selling cheap items. Then they start selling the expensive rip-off stuff to the marks. 2. Look at completed listings. These give an idea of how much the going rate is for an item. Whatever the price is now, the item will likely hit the standard second-hand value, so don't get too excited about how cheap it seems. Everyone bidding knows the true second hand value of the item. They've done their homework. So can you. 3. Buy name brand items. No-name cheapo brands will lose their resale value fast. It's all about marketing. A name brand will likely have more support and be more reliable. This is especially true of electronics. **End Summary** Topics: auction]]> ebay]]> online auction]]> ebay auction]]> buy at auction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell is an entrepreneur publishing loan , mortgage and Wordpress template softwares in London, UK.

How To Move House

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Moving house is one of the most stressful life events. When I first came to London I had about twenty addresses in three years. After the first few moves I got pretty good at it. I had to! Here's what I did: 1. Pack well in advance. It used to drive me wild how some people in our house left it until the last minute. The result was they'd still be going back and forth from the old place, to the new, days later, for the last pot plant or bit of cutlery. Make up your mind that you are quitting this house for good, then don't stay a minute longer than you have to. Otherwise you'll be wasting time that could be more profitably spent doing something else. 2. Put small things into a large container. This saves multiple trips. Sturdy medium-size boxes are a life saver, as they can be stacked easily. 3. Containers should be light enough for one person to lift. Some people try to fill up a big box with books, for example. **End Summary** Topics: house move]]> moving house]]> new home]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell runs entrepreneur , real estate , and webmaster sites in London, UK.

12 Quick Tips On Selling Your House

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

You're going to sell your home. You could go at it bald-headed, or think for a bit. Imagine you were a potential buyer; what would be foremost in your mind? Here are some simple and inexpensive ways to get the best price possible: 1 - Determine the fair market value for your house. The best way to sell your home is by having the right price. Buyers will be looking for a deal. You might be looking to make some money but don't over-price your home. Doing so will ensure you don't sell it right away. A home that sits on the market too long is unappealing. This makes people afraid to buy it. 2 - The front of the house is where the first impression starts. If you want to sell your home, make the front look perfect. Start with the outside. Lawns should be well mown and landscaped. There should be nothing to distract the eye from its best features. Tidy, clean, uniform and pretty should be your watchwords. The first look will sway buyers towards or away from your home. 3 - Remove your personal items. Most lived-in homes have pictures and items of sentimental value. **End Summary** Topics: real estate]]> selling real estate]]> real estate sales]]> sell your house quick]]> sell my house fast]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell runs entrepreneur , real estate , and webmaster sites in London, UK.

How To Get Great Web Design Done Fast

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

So you need to get a web site done quickly? Here are a few tips to keep in mind: 1. Define The Job. What do you want the site to do? Successful projects are ones where the intent is well-defined. Avoid going off half-cocked buying software or services you don't need. Changes mid-build can be very expensive; just like building a bricks-and-mortar house! 2. Suit The Design To The Purpose. Do you just want a simple site, like a placeholder? Do you want something even an amateur can edit? Or do you want a CMS with Ajax and a coffee maker? A super-simple site: Use a text-to-html generator to create web pages from text files. Then use an index generator to make an index HTML page of these files. Tart these pages up in a WYSIWYG web page editor. Then FTP upload them to your webhosting account. Voila! A super-simple web site. What, you want something fancier? Get a web hosting account with Cpanel and Fantastico. Look for the 'Wordpress' option in Fantastico, and install it. Then get a search-engine optimised theme for your blog; the default install isn't search-engine friendly. Hey presto, you've got a Web 2.0 site! **End Summary** Topics: web design]]> web designer]]> web development]]> web developer]]> freelance web design]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> T. O' Donnell runs entrepreneur , real estate , and webmaster sites in London, UK.