Archive for September, 2009

I have often come across these work from home websites and wonder do any of them yield any realistic success.
The prolonged details seem to steer around outlining exactly what the ‘work’ involves form day to day or month to month and how an income is actually made. They insist on no selling or keeping stock and not being MLM. Can anyone tell me more ?

For the most part, they’re just scams, but more expensive than the ones that only take $19.95 or so from you.

I need a grant to start my photography and poem business. I need Photoshop CS3 and better camera and equipment and a place to work and money to run me while I’m getting it going.

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for starting a for-profit business.

One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/index.html , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.

Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups — minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples include

Iowa Women’s Foundation http://www.iawf.org/
New Mexico Women’s Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.html

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.html

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE’S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women’s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women’s business center that will train women entrepreneurs

I am going to go do a photo session for a friend and her two dogs. they are small and feisty (pekinese). Any suggestions for camera settings to get nice sharp images even in fast motion? Posing techniques? I am using a Nikon d200 with a 18-55mm VR lens.

1. Find a great place to take the photo. Suggestions would be your backyard, your room, or the beach.
2. Make sure there is not too much in the photo besides a nice focused backround and your dog. Having too many details in the backround takes away from the main object.
3. Make your dog sit or lay down, whatever pose looks good to you. If your dog doesn’t listen to you, don’t pressure him. He will just grow to dislike you and will not want to cooperate in the future. You want your dog to look happy in the photo.
4. Kneel or sit down so that you are level with your dog. You don’t want to take a far away picture or one that is too far up or down from the subject.
5. Make your dog look at you by calling its name, waving a treat, or whistling. Just make sure he doesn’t get up from his position!
6. Take the picture. Once you have some practice, you should have tons of well-focused, well-positioned photos of anything!

I personally think her work is artistically profound. Though that is in the eye of the beholder. i.e. others observations could differ to "kiddie porn". Depending their state of mind. I’m not sure I would be comfortable with my future child(ren) posing for such photos, then posting them up on the net for all to see. Nevertheless, I do view her work as art and believe her to be very artistic. What are your views?

yes, i find it artistic as well… they are usually nude, but it’s more artistic than pornographic… it doesn’t have a sexual feel to it.

I have received 15+ calls in the last two days from places I didn’t signup online for their products.

go to options of your mail and under blocked addresses just add that e-mail. Also, spam the next message from that address that comes in.

I’m having trouble looking for a particular type of photograph, which I really need for a photography project, and I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me out? I’m looking for photography of women and children affected by war. Not necessarily photographs of women and children hurt physically, but photographs which capture their physiological state at the time. If anyone could help, thank you so much (:
Kate.

"migrant mother" by lange

not about war but pain is pain

Dear Brandy,

Laura J said it all. Do your due diligence and start your business with those who can mentor you and show you how personally for they had done it themselves like Laura J. (not by buying 95 CDs and e-books with another $1,700.00 worth of free bonus if you order now)

You may want to start with this free information
www.debtfree.the7greatliesofnetworkmarketing.com for getting involved in Network Marketing is generally (not always) the least expensive way to start your business plus with good mentor and you being coachable your success is practically guaranteed. All the best to you.

Word of caution: stay away from those who claim if you order their course or CD "how to" you will make zillions just like John B. who made 60K in three weeks. They make their money selling you mostly very useless course.

HAHAHAHAHA, well played OP, well played.

I am looking for a digital camera to use as a photography beginner. I’m looking for something just above your regular run-of-the-mill snapshot-type camera, but nothing in the thousands of dollars.

Any advice you can give to this photography newbie is appreciated.

Well, I’m assuming you would buy a camera under $1000. If so, I would recommend a digital SLR. If you’re taking up photography as a serious hobby, you will eventually buy a DSLR later on. The digital point & shoot (P&S) cameras are good for casual photo taking (parties, occasions, etc.) and known for their simplicity and small size. But once you learn more about basic photography and the features on a DSLR, you’ll be able to take far better photos that are not obtainable on a P&S camera.

With that said, if you want an affordable DSLR, there’s 2 to choose from that I recommend:

Nikon D50 and Canon EOS 350D

The Nikon is more affordable at under $700, and the Canon is under $800. All depending on what you want. Just get the basic lens and a high capacity memory card, I suggest 1GB. You can still take really good pictures even if you’re a beginner and don’t utilize the camera to it’s full capacity, because there are a few auto options. But when you’re ready, you’ll have the right camera to take awesome photos.

from mowing lawns to mobile mining, fictional or non, we just want to make some cash with no box. Anybody got any milk runs they’d care to share? Or any online reasources that deal with making money in a general way.
i don’t like online businesses per say unless it’s mine. I just mean a web site that discusses various money making ways used by actual businesses.

almost like theoretically, one is to gather reasources, two is refine, then retail or service industries. I want to squeeze into the process and do some freelancing in the real world. If that makes any sense.

generally you have to be careful about online business . not all are frauds but some are. You can make a general search at yahoo or google to find some free online business. You can also visit
http://a2zhomebusinesstips.blogspot.com
and
http://a2zhomebusinesstips3.blogspot.com
and
http://a2zhomebusinesstips4.blogspot.com