(NewsUSA) – Looking to save money? There are ways to leverage great technology without burning a hole in your wallet.

Here are some safe, secure options — all of them free — that can help make your computer more productive, useful and fun:

* Firefox Browser:

(www.GetFireFox.com) — Get onto the Internet with this alternative to Windows Internet Explorer that is compatible with both Macs and PCs. It is fast and secure and allows you to download lots of free plug-ins that provide information, social media integration and multimedia capabilities.

* TweetDeck:

(www.TweetDeck.com) — This free program enables you to easily manage, monitor and post to all of your social media networks, including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, from one place.

* Trillian:

(www.Trillian.im) — Not everyone uses the same instant message service. You might use AOL while your friend uses Yahoo. Trillian lets you combine all of your instant message accounts — AOL, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ and IRC — into one program. Recently updated, it can integrate your Facebook and Twitter accounts, too.

* LogMeIn:

(www.LogMeIn.com) — The free version of LogMeIn lets you securely access your computer from anywhere in the world. Want to check your home computer while you’re on the road? Go to a web browser from any Internet-enabled computer or mobile device, and log in to your account to instantly connect and access any programs, files, photos or music on your desktop.

* Windows Live Desktop:

(www.WindowsLive.com/desktop) — Windows 7, which will be loaded on many new computers and mobile devices this year, does not include its own email program. Instead, Microsoft offers a mail program as a free download from this site, along with other programs, including a photo organizer and an application for creating videos.

* Picnik:

(www.Picnik.com) — Picnik is a free alternative to Photoshop and offers photo-editing capabilities such as cropping, resizing, sharpening and red-eye reduction. You can add special effects, fonts, or various shapes to turn your precious memory into a work of art. Google’s Picasa is another good option for free photo-editing software.

Any or all of these programs will immediately add value to your Mac, PC or laptop — at absolutely no cost.

Do your homework first and check out product reviews from reputable technology sites such as CNET’s Download.com to find out more about free and safe software options before you install them on your computer.
City5nc Business Directory Raleigh, Cary, Apex and Holly Springs NC

(NAPSI)-Only 15 years ago, the world of personal money management changed forever with the introduction of online banking.

Today, with high-speed Internet access common and mobile phones even more so, people not only appreciate but demand the ability to bank “anytime, anywhere.”

While it’s possible to simply check your balance online or transfer money–among the first two services offered–today, most banks offer a wider variety of services.

Here are a few that may save you time and money and help the environment:

Budget: If you have trouble making ends meet each month–or if you want to get a better handle on what’s coming in and where it’s going–try online budgeting.

Many banks also offer the option to track your spending automatically with a tool such as Wells Fargo’s My Spending Report.

Save: It’s now possible to set up an automatic savings plan online to help meet a specific goal like a down payment, or a long-term objective like retirement.

Spend: Online bill-pay services enable you to pay bills quickly, cheaply and securely. And newer services such as person-to-person payments let you easily transfer money, making it more convenient to split the check at lunch or to pay your babysitter.

Go: New mobile banking services allow you to do all your banking on the go, and the newest–text banking, offered by some banks–don’t even require that you sign up online first!

The technological innovations that have revolutionized the way people manage their personal finances have changed small-business banking as well.

Jennifer Hogan owns a successful women’s accessories company called Toss Designs (www.tossdesigns.com) and once spent hours each month at the bank sending wire transfers and reconciling accounts.

“I thought the technology that allowed me to bank over the phone was amazing, but now we do everything online with Wells Fargo, which is even more amazing–I save at least 10 hours a week,” she said.

The ability to manage invoicing and receivables online can speed up payment and maximize cash flow.

Whether you’re an individual or own a small business, if you haven’t tried online banking in a while, it may be time to take another look. Today’s online banking is faster, cheaper, greener and more secure than ever before.

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The Environmental Management Commission, or EMC, has scheduled two hearings to gather public input on proposed rules to reduce nutrient pollution in the Falls Lake Reservoir.

The public comment period is open until Aug. 16.

Falls Lake Reservoir, the primary drinking water source for Raleigh and several nearby communities, is impaired for excessive amounts of chlorophyll a, an indicator of high levels of nutrients. Nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, can be carried by stormwater runoff into Falls Lake and the watershed streams that feed it. While nutrients are beneficial to aquatic plant and animal life in the proper quantities, excessive levels can cause algae blooms that impair aquatic habitat and may lead to fishkills, increase the cost of treatment for drinking water and affect recreational activities. In 2005, the N.C. General Assembly passed legislation which requires the EMC to adopt a nutrient strategy for Falls Lake.

In 2008, stakeholders from local governments, agriculture, environmental groups and other concerns began work with the N.C. Division of Water Quality to formulate a nutrient management strategy. The stakeholders used three years of lake watershed data and subsequent modeling to help form the nutrient management strategy. The draft rules were approved for public comment by the EMC in March 2010.

Read More:Mync.com

Wooden Birdhouses Made In Raleigh NC

Ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, AAA Carolinas will begin to broadcast a graphic anti-texting video on cable television.

In a press release sent out by AAA, the video will begin airing June 30 in hopes of educating Carolinians the possible consequences of texting while driving.

“This video may shock some viewers and that is the intent: to create a lasting impression that texting while driving is deadly,” said Thomas Crosby, president of the AAA Carolinas Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Read More:MYNC.COM

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Garner NC Business Directory Free & affordable business listings”>

(NewsUSA) – During these tough economic times, as America continues to look at cost cutting options, many people will be shopping for a health insurance plan. It’s important to know that there are health plans that are affordable and are a fit for you and your family while still offering the coverage you need to protect your family.

Know your needs. What types of coverage are most important to you? Do you or a family member take a prescription regularly? Knowing how much coverage you need is important when deciding which health care plan is best.

Learn the lingo. Some insurers are working to use more consumer-friendly language. Learning how a high-deductible plan tied to a health savings account (HSA) that offers choice among physicians and hospitals and how it works best with your needs, is important.

Availability when you need it most. Many insurers are working hard to ensure customers have health-related information when they need it, such as:

* Use of understandable consumer-friendly language

* Access to customer call centers and nurse hotlines 24/7, 365 days a year, giving constant access to a nurse or person to help solve a claims issue

* Online tools to search for claims information and check for benefit qualifications, co-pays, and deductibles

* Tools to compare prices on the drugs you need, helping find the best prices available

Schedule that yearly appointment. Regular checkups can help prevent potential problems or catch conditions early, saving money.

Note to editors: The following states may find this story useful: CA, CO, AZ, TX, TN, FL, GA, NC, CT, SC

Look for “extras.” Many insurers offer discounts for programs such as smoking cessation, weight loss, fitness club memberships and other services already being used by an individual.

Quality matters. Feel confident about choosing the right individual plan for you. Check out report cards for different plans on the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Web site, available at http://reportcard.ncqa.org/plan/external/plansearch.aspx.

For information about individual health products from CIGNA, visit www.cignaforyou.com/hctips.
City5nc Business Directory Wake County NC

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The Cary Town Council adopted a $348 million budget Thursday that keeps the property tax rate unchanged at 33 cents per $100 valuation and holds the residential garbage, recycling and yard waste fees the same at $14 per month.

The total operating budget is a modest 3.7 percent higher than its Fiscal Year 2010 predecessor, which was adopted last June.

Highlights of the adopted budget:

$128 million for the State-mandated Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facilities (WWRWMF), which will allow Cary, Morrisville, Apex and Holly Springs to comply with the State’s requirement to return water to the Cape Fear River Basin.
It also reserves $2.7 million for street improvements and other transportation initiatives, $3 million for fire and $700,000 for park renovations and $2.8 million for general government including $700,000 for open space.

The addition of 12 new positions, four of which will be needed toward the end of the fiscal year for the new Cary Community Arts Center, which is expected to open in late Spring 2011. Three police officers will be hired to begin developing a new neighborhood crime prevention program as well as one school resource for the new Mills Park Middle School. With the adoption of the budget, 31.25 vacant positions will be eliminated, saving the Town about $1.5 million next year. Town staff will be reduced to 1,140.375 full-time equivalents, or about 8.1 staff members for each 1,000 Cary residents, which is one of the lowest citizen to staff ratios for a large community in North Carolina. Read More:Wake.MyNC.Com

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Social media: The best advertising money can’t buy for your small business

(ARA) – Used to be, a diligent small business owner with a great idea and plenty of gumption could grow a business through word of mouth alone. In many ways, that’s still true.  Yet today, much of the “word of mouth” conversations and recommendations, which can make or break a business, are happening online, not face to face.

Small business owners still recognize the value of word of mouth – 63 percent say it remains the most effective way to market their business and find new customers, according to a recent survey by Citibank. Yet that same survey found that 81 percent of small business owners do not use social media – word of mouth in the technology-driven world.

“Many small businesses have yet to really harness the marketing and communication power that online tools can provide them,” says Raj Seshadri, head of small business banking at Citibank. “Our survey  of 552 small business executives throughout the country reveals a huge opportunity for many businesses to begin using some of the basic online tools, such as e-mail marketing, to drive their sales.”

Moreover, business owners should utilize a variety of social media and online platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, their Web site’s homepage and even blogs, experts say. Profiles on multiple networks expand your business’ reach and help engage current and potential customers.

Studies show that after a purchase, online shoppers “friend” or follow businesses more than 50 percent of the time. Reasons include an affinity for the business, allegiance to a company, and the opportunity to receive invitations to special events and/or exclusive offers and promotions through social media.

Here are some tips for using some of the top social media options to help grow your small business:

Blog about it

Short for “weblog,” a blog allows you to speak directly to customers and establish yourself as an expert in your industry. You can use your blog as the main source for information about your business, to feature customer testimonials, answer frequently asked questions, or even to resolve problems. Blog posts are usually short and pithy – you don’t have to write the great American novel for each post. Just make each interesting, useful and brief.

Facebook is your “friend”

Facebook is the largest social network, with more than 450 million users around the world, and another 100 million logging on from mobile devices. Create your free Facebook account and begin inviting customers (through direct e-mail, signs posted in your store and other communications) to “friend” your page. Use it to interact with your community of customers, offering them specials and deals. You can also share customer reviews online, feature a “customer of the month” and even chat directly with customers during scheduled chat times.

You should know YouTube

Smart companies use this online video library to distribute news of their products and services to a broad community. Create a quick video that spotlights what’s special about your product or service, new products or to highlight your product in the context of current events.

The buzz about Twitter

Twitter accounts are also free. More than 105 million users  post in excess of 50 million “tweets” daily – short posts about current events or what’s going on in their lives at that moment. Use Twitter to relay stories of positive customer experiences, mentions of your company in other media, product announcements and updates, links and photos from your blog, or even to directly thank a specific customer in a public way.

Linking up with LinkedIn

Think of LinkedIn as the professional version of Facebook. The networking site allows you to post information about your qualifications, your work experience and your business, and to connect with other professionals.

To learn more about Citibank small business services that can help your company grow, visit www.citibank.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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City5nc Business Directory

RALEIGH — Alarmed by the prospect of competing for customers against local governments, the cable TV industry is pushing for a state law to prevent North Carolina cities from offering Internet and cable systems to their residents.

The industry, led by Time Warner Cable, wants to protect itself from what it calls unfair competition. The industry’s concerns are gaining urgency as some two dozen towns in the state are either planning or exploring their own telecommunications and television service for residents and businesses: Source:News & Observer

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/22/545221/cable-tv-fights-municipal-broadband.html#ixzz0rh0HwRhv

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Know the facts to help you stay in control

Overdraft fee changes are on the way

(ARA) – There are new regulations going into effect this summer that could change the way your bank charges overdraft fees for debit card purchases. Are you ready? Officials hope the changes will help consumers avoid unexpected fees, but even after the new government rules go into effect on July 1, many banks will continue to charge a fee if you opt in to their overdraft service. It’s important to know how these changes might affect you and your money.

A recent Harris Poll survey reports that many consumers are lukewarm about overdraft services that allow them – for a fee – to make a purchase with a debit card or withdraw money at the ATM when they don’t have sufficient funds in their checking account. In response, some banks, like Bank of America, are going one step further than what regulations require and will eliminate overdraft fees for everyday debit card transactions by no longer authorizing those types of transactions if a customer does not have enough money in their account at the time. That means if customers don’t have enough money in their accounts at the time, their transactions will be declined and they won’t be charged an overdraft fee.

“Our customers have been clear that they want to know if a purchase is going to overdraw their account,” says David Owen, payments and products executive from Bank of America. “Our solution is simple, clear, and helps customers control their finances by reducing the possibility of over-extending themselves with a debit card.”

Do you think big overdraft fees are a fact of life when you need cash on the spot? Think again. Find out if your bank will link your checking account to another account, such as your savings account, credit card or line of credit. Bank of America says for customers enrolled in its overdraft protection program, the bank will automatically transfer available funds from a linked account to the checking account if and when they’re needed to cover an overdraft. When linked to a savings account the typical cost is $10 for each day it is used, no matter how often funds are needed. That’s a big difference compared to the $35 per purchase fee some banks will charge if you opt in to their overdraft service.

But what happens if you’re at the ATM and need cash? You won’t necessarily be declined if you don’t have enough money in your account. While many banks don’t offer this service at the ATM, starting this fall Bank of America will alert their customers when a withdrawal may overdraw the account at one of their ATMs. Customers may still get cash after they acknowledge and accept an overdraft fee.

In the past, consumers have worried that if they’re on the go, they’ll have to guess if their account balance is low. Today, many banks offer mobile money management tools that can help. Find out if your bank offers mobile banking, online banking, or text banking options so you can quickly check your account balances anywhere – in your office, at the airport, and even while traveling overseas. With a few clicks, you’ll know if you’re in danger of overdrawing your account. This is especially useful if you have several family members sharing a joint account. With some banks, mobile banking and online banking allow you to transfer funds so you can put money into your account before you overdraw it.

While you may or may not have paid an overdraft fee before, knowing what changes your bank is making will help you better manage your accounts and keep your finances under control. For more information about money management, savings, and planning for retirement, visit www.bankofamerica.com/solutions.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Garner NC Banks

A five-step plan for keeping your pet safe from fleas and ticks

(ARA) – Protecting your pet from harmful fleas and ticks is a vital part of pet care. And since this summer is projected to be unusually rainy and warm, extra caution is needed. Fleas and ticks not only irritate your pet, but are capable of transmitting serious diseases like Lyme disease and flea allergy dermatitis.

There are about 20,000 reported cases of Lyme disease annually in the U.S. Furthermore, the likelihood of being exposed to ticks, and subsequently to diseases transmitted by ticks, is about 10 to 20 times greater than it was 10 years ago, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council.

Dr. Melinda Fernyhough, veterinarian and manager of scientific affairs at Hartz, offers tips on how to help your pet avoid the dangers of fleas and ticks, and considerations when purchasing and applying flea and tick treatments to ensure best results.

“Health and safety is the number-one priority for pet parents, and there are several reliable products available at your veterinarian, local retail or pet specialty store that can help keep pets free from fleas and ticks all year round,” says Fernyhough.

* Choose the appropriate flea and tick treatment. Several types of products exist that can help prevent fleas and ticks – shampoos, collars, and the most popular form of protection: topicals, or spot-ons. These monthly applications go on the back of your pet’s neck or are striped down the back, depending on the manufacturer, and keep your pet pest-free for 30 days. A great example is Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea & Tick Drops, designed to kill fleas and ticks on your pet and prevent new fleas from developing. All EPA-registered flea and tick products, whether sold in vets’ offices or through retail channels, are held to the same safety and efficacy testing standards.

* Carefully follow label directions when applying topical flea and tick treatments.
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s weight recommendation – you don’t want to put too much product (or too little) on your dog by misjudging the weight. Use the entire tube on one animal – don’t split one dose between several animals. Never use a dog product on a cat, and if you have both animals, you need to keep them separated for 48 hours after applying treatments. Read the label carefully and don’t be afraid to call the manufacturer if you have questions.  

* Regularly check your pet for ticks to prevent permanent damage. If ticks are found on a pet, remove them with tweezers while avoiding squeezing them since that could cause disease carrying bacteria to enter your pet.

* Avoid hot and humid areas for your pets. The ideal climate for fleas and ticks is approximately 55-89 degrees Fahrenheit and 50-92 percent humidity. Keep your pet away from hot, damp and wooded areas. Fleas like to hide in shady areas of the yard, so treat these areas with a product designed to kill them outdoors.

* Consider a year-round flea and tick treatment for your home and pet. The best way to solve a flea and tick problem is to prevent it in the first place. Use topical drops or collars on your pet year round, regularly treat your yard, and vacuum to remove any potential flea eggs in your carpeting. Also, consider products such as Hartz Ultra-Guard Carpet Powder and Hartz Ultra-Guard Plus Flea & Tick Home Spray, formulated to kill fleas around your home and prevent new ones from developing.

To learn more, visit www.hartzultraguard.com. Through August, you can download a coupon for Hartz Ultra-Guard Pro Flea & Tick Drops on this site.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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