How to watch football (Soccer) for free!

How to watch football (Soccer) for free!

I thought I'd share how I get to Watch Manchester United, Chelsea FC and others for free.

Scam e-mails warn of FBI monitoring, agency says

The F.B.I. on Monday said e-mails made to look like they come from the agency are warning computer users that the F.B.I. is monitoring their Internet use.

"These scam e-mails tell the recipients that their Internet use has been monitored by the F.B.I. and that they have accessed illegal Web sites," the F.B.I. said in a statement. "The e-mails then direct recipients to open an attachment and answer questions."

"These e-mails did not come from the F.B.I.," the statement said. "Recipients of this or similar solicitations should know that the F.B.I. does not engage in the practice of sending unsolicited e-mails to the public in this manner."

Opening e-mail attachments from an unknown sender is risky, the F.B.I. said, because such attachments can contain viruses that infect the recipient's computer.

The agency said it was investigating the matter and urged anyone who received such an e-mail to report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Europeans are moving toward TV over the Internet

Around 8.7 million Europeans will be watching TV over the Internet by 2009, or 9.4 percent of a market currently dominated by cable and satellite operators (like Sky, Telewest and NTL), according to a forecast issued on Monday.

A 13-fold increase in demand for Internet protocol television, or IPTV, from around 658,000 subscribers currently, will be driven primarily by telephone companies seeking to tap their customer bases.

Phone companies are hoping services such as IPTV will bring fresh profits as their core residential fixed-line telephone businesses battle rising competition and falling prices.

It will probably grow faster in Europe and Asia than in the United States as initiatives by U.S. telecommunications companies are only just getting underway.

In France, for example, the three major operators -- France Telecom, Free Telecom and Neuf Telecom already have about 280,000 IPTV customers among them, making the Gallic nation the market leader in Europe.

In Italy, broadband group Fastweb has 190,000 subscribers, while dominant rival Telecom Italia has said over 4 million Italians should have IPTV coverage after the completion of its trials, which began in July.

Screen Digest forecast that the strongest uptake for IPTV will be in France, Italy and Spain, where it will account for 20 percent, 17 percent and 16 percent shares of their respective pay-TV markets over the next four years.

The fresh threat is forcing cable and satellite TV companies to roll out the service as well.

Many traditional pay-television providers are finding that they too must adopt IPTV technologies in order to remain competitive.

Meet Average-Joe Spammer

The spammer next door says business just ain't what it used to be.


Watch Out for Holiday-Related Scams. Phishers love the holiday season because they view the boost in online shopping as an opportunity: The security firm AppRiver reports that spam volumes nearly double over the holidays. Be particularly on guard for e-mail messages that purport to come from your credit card company or your favorite online merchant.

It's tough being an average-Joe spammer these days. Divorced and in his 40s, Mike has two kids to help support, a skyrocketing home heating bill, and a mortgage. And spamming just isn't paying the bills like it used to.

In the beginning of his spamming career, from 1997 to 2000, profiting from sending out unsolicited bulk e-mail was easy, Mike says. On an average month he made $40,000 pelting millions of inboxes with spam. Now, he complains, spam filters have become too effective and block most of his e-mail. Also, he adds, spamming for a living has become increasingly risky, as evidenced by recent arrests, and fines imposed on-spammers. He himself is currently being sued by a large ISP for using illegal methods for sending spam, he says.

"Spamming becomes a little more unprofitable and a little more high-risk every day," says Mike, who agreed to be interviewed on condition that his real name be withheld. "I don't know why I still do it."

In fact, spam is no longer Mike's sole, or even principal, source of income. He now works in construction by day and devotes only 20 hours a week at night to spam.

And because of the lawsuit, Mike has changed the nature of his activities. He makes $500 a week by selling lists of IP addresses for compromised computers, sometimes called zombie PCs. These are systems that have been hijacked by a hacker so that they can be used to send spam. The people who own these computers (which can be in homes or businesses) have no idea their PCs are being used for such purposes. By routing junk e-mail through these PCs, spammers can hide their identity and can also save money on the bandwidth required to send large volumes of e-mail.

Mike either buys the lists of compromised PCs from hackers and fellow spammers, or he gets them free from sites run by spammers, such as the Russian-based FreeProxy.RU. Once he gets a list, he checks the validity and quality of the addresses, weeding out those that don't respond or that have been put on spam blacklists. He then sells the "cleaned" lists of zombie PCs to other spammers.

Mike is one of the thousands of spammers in the world who make up the majority of junk e-mail purveyors. "There are only a few dozen spammers worldwide that are making 90 percent of the spam profits," he says. "The rest of the bulk e-mailers are people like me."

After I found Mike through a Web site where spammers meet and share tips, he agreed to a phone interview. Here is an edited transcript of that conversation.


Interview With a Spammer
Q: Don't you think what you do is wrong?

A: I don't care what people think. If nobody was really interested in spam and never bought anything that was advertised to them, spam would go away. But people are interested in spam. As long as people buy things advertised in spam then people like me will send bulk e-mail. Are we really that different from so-called legitimate bulk e-mailers? I don't think there is a whole lot of difference.

Q: Why don't you send bulk e-mail legally? The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act [the federal law regulating unsolicited bulk e-mail] allows you to.

A: You are correct. CAN-SPAM created a lot of opportunity for spammers. However, playing by the rules is too risky, and it's bad for business. Here is what I mean.

The only way spammers can sneak by an ISP's anti-spam filter these days is by tricking spam filters. The techniques to trick anti-spam filters are illegal, according to CAN-SPAM - not to mention a growing number of state anti-spam laws. To get past spam filters you can't play by the rules.

Those illegal spammers who try to go legit are finding themselves in court for violating different anti-spam laws. CAN-SPAM was great because there was one law to abide by for sending bulk e-mail. Now ISPs and states are coming after us. If you want to be sure you don't end up in a court, don't let them find you.

Q: Are anti-spam laws and better filters working to stop spammers?

A: Yes. Today big ISPs block e-mail from suspicious sources. They filter out spam based on e-mail addresses, words, links in the e-mail, pictures, or anything. For people like me it's just not worth it anymore. However, this forces a lot of spammers to send more spam.

In the old days you could earn, say, $1000 by sending out 20,000 spam messages. Today, to earn $1000, you have to send out 2 million spam messages or more.

The better filters get, the more determined we will get. It's not as if spammers really want to break the law. It's just that we are looking for any edge possible to get past the filter. Right now we are targeting smaller ISPs that don't have a lot to spend on good spam filters.

Q: So why spam, if it's getting riskier and less profitable?

A: Good question. For me, it's what I know how to do. And I just would hate to give up. It's like admitting defeat. But I am planning on quitting this spring.

Q: How did you make money when you were actually sending out spam?

A: For me it was mortgage and debt consolidation leads. For every person that called a mortgage broker based on my e-mail I would earn between $22 and $26. Dating sites would pay me $2 for every trial membership I brought them, and $15 for anyone who joined.

Q: What does the future of spam look like for average-Joe spammers?

A: Not good. The capital investment in computers and software required to make it worth the risk is enormous. A lot of people younger than me are spamming. But for a lot of people like myself, it's no longer easy money. We are throwing in the towel.

Q: So you are seeing a changing of the spam guard, so to speak?

A: Here is the deal. Spammers make money through advertising. And spammers today are diverse. They work with adware; they control botnets of computers; they are virus writers. Today's spammers don't just want to sell you Viagra; they want to trick you into handing over your credit card number, or infect your system and turn it into a zombie.

Q: Will spam ever go away?

A: Spam will never go away. Filters may get better and more spammers may get arrested, but there will always be spammers. We adapt. I don't know what the next great spamming technique will be. But I can promise you spammers are working on it right now.

As I said before, so long as people click on spam and buy things advertised in their inboxes, spam will exist.

Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)

Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) - tax breaks aren't everything.

Consumers should consider all the issues before deciding to invest in Venture Capital Trusts. Companies are marketing VCTs strongly since the government changed the tax relief on investments in VCTs. Investors receive 40% income tax relief on investments made in the 2004/5 and 2005/6 tax year. However, VCTs are not the same as other tax-efficient products such as ISAs and you should make sure that you fully understand the potential risks, as well as the tax benefits, before investing.

What are VCTs?

Venture Capital Trusts are similar to Investment Trusts but they invest in companies that are not quoted on the stock exchange, although they can be AIM (Alternative Investment Market) listed. VCTs must invest 70% of their funds in UK companies with gross assets of no more than £15 million at the time of investment. They can invest the remaining 30% in other ways from cash deposits through to riskier investments, including derivatives.

Investors in VCTs can get tax relief of 40%, freedom from any capital gains tax on their investment and no income tax on any dividends paid. However, investors must hold their VCT investment for three years - if you sell your VCT shares within three years, the Inland Revenue will claw back your tax relief. You should consider a VCT investment as long-term - many commentators suggest 7 to 10 years is necessary.

What do you need to know?

VCTs may be a useful, if spicy, addition to a broad portfolio of investments. But if you are thinking of investing in a VCT you should read the available information, such as the VCT prospectus, mini-prospectus and marketing material, thoroughly to ensure that you understand the risks.

Are VCTs risky? The short answer is that they are riskier than, say, the average unit trust because the underlying investments are high-risk. They invest 70% of their capital in small companies that the VCT manager believes will be profitable. However, some of these companies may fail, so you may not get all your capital back.

VCTs traditionally hold the remaining 30% of their capital in cash, but in some cases invest it in other, riskier investments.

You may find it difficult to sell your VCT share after three years as there may be a shortage of buyers. You should consider what share buy-back arrangements may be on offer.

You should consider what information is available and how you will check how your investment performs.

You should also consider the charges, in particular any performance fees, and what effect they will have on your investment.

You should also consider getting professional advice.

Matthew Bags Sexiest Gong

So, just who is the sexiest man alive?

You'd think that what with Hollywood being full of hotties, it would be a difficult decision for People magazine to make...


But no, to them the fairest man of them all is Mr Matthew McConaughey.

Long have we thought that the Sahara star is a bit of a stud... but sexier than Brad, sexier than George or hunkier than Orlando or Johnny?

According to People magazine's spokesperson Julie Jordan, there was no one else:

"He's pretty much the perfect package."

And we're sure his girlfriend Penelope Cruz is in agreement - although it's not new for her, her ex Tom Cruise was also voted Sexiest Man Alive... back in 1990.

The other contenders in the running for this year's title include Jake Gyllenhaal, Owen Wilson, Patrick Dempsey and Antonio Banderas.

And then there are the usual blokes such as Brad, George and Orlando.

Last year's winner was Jude Law - but Brad still reigns supreme as the only star to be given the title twice, once in 1995 and then again in 2000.

Premium Bonds

My advice to people who have a bit of money in savings who want the lowest risk possible, is obviously to steer clear of anything to do with the stock market, or any other type of investment where there is no guarantee that you'll get back the amount you invest (insurance, trackers, Investment Vehicles, even property).

My preference are Premium Bonds, which are available by filling out a form on the www.nationalsavings.co.uk website. You can invest up to £30K, each bond is worth £1, and for every 30,000 bonds in existence there is a monthly prize of anything from £50 up to £1M. Statistically therefore if you invest £30K you should get at least £50 a month, which equates to 2% (basically not much worse than an average savings account after you've paid tax, since the "prizes" are tax free).

You can draw out the money at any time therefore it's flexible and you're guaranteed the full amount back, and I think you can set up a direct debit to pay funds in, therefore using it as a primary savings account.

I'm no professional on this, and I'm sure there are higher interest rates available, but the advantage here is that each month you basically play a lottery to win anything up to £1M, so it's a bit of fun! I forgot about mine and last week got £150 cheque!

Also, if you haven't seen it, some good financial info on the net I find is the motley fool website: www.fool.co.uk - you can subscribe for free to their excellent weekly newsletter.

The Power of Viral Marketing

___________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤») ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
The Power of Viral Marketing
___________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤») ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Viral marketing! Eeek! What's that? Virus plus computer does not a happy marriage make....or does it?

Simmer down Simbad! There's a flip side to every story! You're right! A virus is not a pretty thing. Unless....

...you put it to WORK for YOU!

Simply put, let your message or advertisement spread like a virus! Once it gets going, there's no remedy to stop it! That's what we call, VIRAL MARKETING! ______________________________________________________ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
If you want the word to get out, tell a network marketer! ______________________________________________________ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

I've always been amazed at how fast news travels in the network marketing world! If a new company launches or an old one closes, the word is around the world in 80 minutes! Have you ever noticed that?
______________________________________________________
Word-of-Mouth to the Zillionth Power! ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
In the old days, we called it word-of-mouth advertising. Now, thanks to the Internet, we've got word-of-mouth on steroids! ______________________________________________________
Let me show you what I mean! ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Have you ever sent or received a joke or an inspirational message in an email? Chances are you received that same joke again and again over an extended period of time, right?

Let's do the math! What if you sent a joke to five people and those five sent it to five more, and those five sent it to five more who send it to five more. When this happens a total of eight times, your message has been seen by more than one million people!______________________________________________________
This is no joke!
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Get clear on this...I'm not telling you to waste your time or the time of others sending out a million jokes. What I am saying is "MAKE YOUR MESSAGES COUNT"!

Here's the killer secret!______________________________________________________
Include Signature Files in Everything You Send! ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
The secret here is to send things of "VALUE"! When you come across a great training article or inspirational message or helpful tool, forward it along to everyone in your data base!If it is something of true value, they're going to do the same thing, and so on!

In practically no time, your signature file with the link to your program will be seen by a million or more people!
______________________________________________________
A True Story!
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
In one email campaign we ran, we pulled some really great results, about 10% to be exact! Now here's the kicker! We got an even higher response rate to the link in our signature file!
______________________________________________________
"Show Me An Example!" ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Here's a signature file we created for our Newsletter:

Andy and Eti Murray
Founders
NetArcher Marketing
http://www.Netarcher.co.uk
_____________________________

"OUTSMART, OUTGUN & OUTLAST Your Competition!" Learn How!
FREE Subscription NOW at:
>> www.NetArcher.co.uk


I Would Tell your friends but not your competition! _________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«) ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

We have never advertised for our newsletter other than one link on a web site and the signature file above and after one year, we still get new subscribers almost every day!
______________________________________________________
The Moral of the Story! ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Put your signature file on every email you send! They're infectious!

Attitude is everything!

Why it pays big dividends to make allowances for the foibles
of other people.

I have a short fuse. I am one of those people who growl
the moment that something is not right but equally I forget
about it very quickly.

Many times in my business I have snapped and snarled at
people, often with good reason, sometimes without. By and
large my outbursts have been overlooked and we have all
carried on.

Occasionally somebody close to me has taken exception, and
decided to end our relationship.

Just yesterday a friend wrote me what I felt was a really
quite unreasonable email that made me want to get in the
car and go and see him face to face for a “bit of a chat”.

Instead I wrote a reply immediately (but didn’t send it)
reviewed it a few hours later once I was calm and toned
it right down then sent it.

My chum replied pretty much straight back with a “sorry
mate, having a bad day, didn’t mean it how it came out”
type of reply and now its all behind us and we will continue
to be good friends as well as making money by doing
business with each other.

Conversely I have noticed that those people who cannot do
this and would have to end the relationship tend to be
failures.

They have a string of relationships, both personal and
business that could have been great but that they have
ended with the consequence that they are normally lonely
and generally either struggling in some grotty job or with
a business that never really prospers.

A worthwhile by-product of this “forgive and forget” approach
is that you will probably live a lot longer as well. I know
many people who suffer from things as mundane as high
blood pressure through to extreme mental illness as a direct
result of getting all gnarled up and stressed out constantly.