Hiya!

I know it's been awhile since you've heard from me. I took a rather
unplanned "vacation" from the ezine this summer with all that has
been going on. I had a great time with my 8-year-old niece here
and she took up just about all the free time I had. It's tough to
get much work done when she demanded so much attention,
but I sure did enjoy having her here for the summer. As soon
as she left, I left for Tampa, Florida for the first annual DHS
convention. I had a great time there and spent some time
with old friends before returning home. Thanks to DHS,
I saved nearly $400 on my travel expenses last month!

I graduated from a local community college before Darlene
arrived. I am now attending Grand Canyon University, a
local Christian private school that I absolutely LOVE! The
people there are so warm and friendly that it is worth the
30 minutes or more that it takes me to make the drive each
way. It's just SOOOOO wonderful to be in a school where
prayer is not only allowed, it is encouraged! It warms my
heart.

As if the Man Upstairs hasn't done enough for me over
the last several months, yesterday, I received a promotion
in DHS that has put me into the President's Club. I am
now earning $2000 a month, much more than I have ever
earned with any other business opportunity I have spent
any time with. Needless to say, I am no longer actively
dabbling in other business opportunities. I'm planning
to focus all my energies on DHS so that those who
I have sponsored can also join me in the President's
Club! I already have 3 people I'm very proud of whom
I have personally sponsored.

Erlanda Crisp was promoted to Diamond Director.
She is now earning $1500 a month.

Connie and Charlie Lepovsky were promoted to
Gold Manager. They are now earning $500 a month.

Jeannie Powell was promoted to Bronze Manager.
She is now earning a mininum of $125 a month,
though she actually earns over $200 a month.

As you can see, it pays to find a solid business
opportunity and focus on it. When you're ready
to try one that works, please let me know and
I will be happy to give you more details. :)

IN THIS WEEK'S EZINE...

This week's ezine is pretty short as I try to get
back on track. For now, I'm planning on putting
it out every 2 weeks. I am still doing the free
3 line ads so if you have anything you'd like to
advertise, please do get your ads in to our
subscriber submissions address at the end of
the ezine. You'll notice there aren't any in this
week's because we've been quiet so long so I
haven't seen any sent in.

Thanks so much for your patience. I do hope
you had a great summer! :)

Warmest Regards,

Dawn Allen
AACESTAR Biz Ezine Owner/Editor
http://www.profitventures.com/solo-ads.html

IN THIS ISSUE:

I Marketing Article - I Do Not Like That Stuff Called SPAM...
II Inspiration
III FREE Ads Due Date for Next Issue

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I Do Not Like That Stuff Called SPAM, I Do Not Like It, "Spam I
Am!" © 2000, by Harmony Major
-----------------------------------------------------------------

How annoying is unsolicited email? Pretty darn annoying indeed.
Even so, spam (unsolicited email) is inevitable in your online
business, as much as we hate to think so. However, there ARE
definite measures you can take to reduce the amount of junk mail
that consumes your time on a day-to-day basis.


1. SET UP EMAIL FILTERS.

My primary advice to you is NOT to waste time tracking down each
and every spammer that crosses your path, but instead, to focus
that energy and effort on profit-generating endeavors like
marketing your business. After all, our time as online business
owners is already an endangered species. Instead, use your email
program to filter suspect email directly into the trash bin.

The trash filter can be an exceedingly dangerous weapon if you
don't know how to use it, and you can send end up sending
legitimate emails and offers right to the garbage. So, to avoid
that, here are some words and phrases that are *generally* safe
to filter directly into that email heaven in the sky.

NOTE: The words and symbols below would appear in the subject
line of spam-related e-mail. In the case of phrases, be sure
to filter the phrase EXACTLY as shown below. As an aside, the
filters on most email programs are usually not case sensitive.

- $
- !!!!
- [x]
- ADV
- (adv)
- (Ad)
- Spy guide
- long distance
- debt
- University Diplomas
- bulk email
- President please
- Homeworkers Needed
- Email your ad to
- Homeowner
- Work from home
- Win a free
- Free cash grant
- offshore wealth
- extra income
- Viagra
- work at home
- make money
- weight
- surf
- bizop
- cable TV
- a million dollars
- Increase business sales!
- ground floor
- retire
- income
- fat burning
- home based business
- fulfill your potential
- gasoline
- breaking news
- vacation
- prosperous
- web hosting!
- extra money
- visitanos
- downline
- waistline
- stop smoking
- this email is sent in compliance with
(This particular phrase is for the BODY of an e-mail.)

All of the suggestions above are arguable. Depending on the type
of business you're running, some of the words or phrases may very
well be legitimate when included in the subject of an email. But, in
my experience in the online marketing field, subject lines containing
those words almost always signal spam, and can be safely filtered
into the trash.

You can also filter using the "From" field, and send e-mail from
particular addresses, domains, or even the name of a person known
to send frequent spam mail right to the trash bin. Here are a few
proven spammers and domains that I filter into the trash, based
on past experience:

- iiac.net
- Susan Cohen
- money3@...
- teampro@...

And remember, even if you happen to be interested in things like
the best deals in "long distance," getting out of "debt," or how
to bulk "email your ad to" thousands, millions, or whatever ...
would you honestly consider doing business with (and especially
buying something from) a stranger that uses such an annoying and
*poorly targeted* marketing tactic? Or, would you ask a trusted
and well-respected colleague to give you a reliable reference?

And, doesn't it make much more sense to buy a "safe, *no-spam*
e-mail list" from a legitimate business or company -- NOT from
someone that just so happens to be spamming YOU?

How goofy is that?!


2. CHECK THE TRASH BEFORE PERMANENTLY DELETING MESSAGES

This one is important if you followed step #1. Every single time
I check my e-mail, I *always* look in the trash folder to see if
any legitimate requests or questions were filtered there. ALWAYS.

The fastest way to do that is to SORT the messages by their
SUBJECT LINES, and scan through them for legit business emails.
Open anything questionable and quickly check it out. The first
line (if not the first 2-3 words) of a message will let you know
whether it's spam. Before you open messages, you can also check
the "From" header for email addresses like xK8aeoi4szi@...,
which are usually safe to trash.

You might be wondering, "What the heck is the point of filtering
in the first place if I STILL have to look at the messages?" I'm
sure you'll agree that it's easier and faster to sort and scan
subject lines of messages that have ALREADY (and automatically!)
been identified as spam, than it is to look through HUNDREDS of
messages in an overflowing inbox that's filled mostly with
legitimate emails. =)


3. PROTECTING YOURSELF FURTHER AGAINST UNWANTED EMAIL

Even with filters, a lot of spam can still sneak through.
Although considerably less, you'll likely spend a good amount of
time ridding yourself of the useless smelly garbage we call spam.
Here are a few resources to help you further reduce the chances
of getting spam e-mail:

-> http://spam.abuse.net/spam/join.html
Has an online petition you can "sign," along with updates on
anti-spam efforts, what NOT to do about spam, and more.

-> http://www.nags.org/spamfilter.html
An e-mail filter for use on UNIX systems that filters out
e-mail from known spammers.

-> http://www.newhorizon.org/Info/spam.htm
Gives you an EXACT javascript code to use on Web pages to hide
your email address from spambots and e-mail harvesters.

-> http://people.yahoo.com/
Find out which of your e-mail addresses (and phone numbers)
are readily available to the public.

-> http://www.arachnoid.com/lutusp/antispam.html
Lists of domains that allow spam, known spammers' e-mail
addresses, tips on how to identify a spammer, and more.

-> http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1998/9807/dozen.htm
The FTC's (Federal Trade Commission's) list of the 12 most
likely scams to arrive via unsolicited e-mail.


4. REPORT EXCESSIVELY AND CONTINUALLY ABUSIVE SPAMMERS

Although you shouldn't waste time reporting all spammers, you may
want to report the ones that just won't leave you alone. I
personally consider it a waste of time with all I have to do --
especially since filters are handy for bouts of recurrent email
from the same source.

But if you're concerned with stopping spammers, or are just fed
up with receiving all that junk, the resources below will help
you take EFFECTIVE action:

-> http://ddi.digital.net/~gandalf/spamfaq.html
A VERY detailed FAQ on how to identify, trace, and report
spam, along with a lot of other good info and resources on
spam-related issues.

-> http://uppereastside.about.com/msubspam.htm
A lot o' links on how to stop spam, gadgets that will filter
AND report e-mail from known spammers automatically,
"auto-delete" spam devices, and more.

-> http://www.junkemail.org/
How to take action against spammers, including suing (is it
REALLY worth it, folks?), legislation, and reporting spam
incidents to the FTC.

-> http://www.scambusters.org/stopspam/
Tons of oh-so-helpful links to resources on how to stop and
dramatically reduce the amount of spam mail you receive.

-> http://www.oitc.com/Disney/WhatToDo.html
Getting tons of e-mail from one or two *valid* domain names?
This article tells you how to decipher the TRUE sender, and
what you'll need to have handy when reporting the offender to
their Internet Service Provider (ISP).


5. LIVING HAPPILY ... WITH SPAM

I know, I know ... you do not like green eggs and spam. Even so,
there's only so much you can do to curb the problem. Your last
resort? Accept the fact that spam is going to be a part of your
online business no matter how hard you fight it, and no matter
how many measures you take to prevent it.

There's just no such thing as a spam-free existence for online
business owners.

But, if you use some of the resources and methods above to help
reduce it, you'll definitely see a dramatic decrease in the
amount of spam you get. And is that REALLY so bad? You can't
spend your life trying to shut down spammers instead of growing
your business. If you do, you'll have more enemies, and less
profit. And, if push comes to shove, your delete button still
works ... doesn't it? ;-)


>>> ABOUT THE AUTHOR <<<
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Want to create a colossal avalanche of profit from your full-time
e-business? Harmony Major is the Webmistress of ExpertOnEbiz.com,
where she helps YOU increase sales, market recognition, and
website traffic quickly and effectively. Visit her site now, and
subscribe to any of her 3 ezines! Go to: http://ExpertOnEbiz.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
*******INSPIRATION*******
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Three Little Birds . . .

There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a
small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he
came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old birdcage, and
set it by the pulpit. Several eyebrows were raised and, as if
in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak. "I was walking
through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward
me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were
three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped
the lad and asked, "What you got there son?"

"Just some old birds," came the reply

"What are you gonna do with them?" I asked.

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm
gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight.
I'm gonna have a real good time."

"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will
you do then?

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds.
I'll take 'em to them."

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want
for those birds, son?"

"Huh??!!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just
plain old field birds. They don't sing - they ain't even pretty!"

"How much?" the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill.
He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.
The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end
of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting
the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the
bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty birdcage on the pulpit, and
then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation Satan
had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating
and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people
down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist.
Got 'em all!"

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them
how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse
each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna
teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other.
I'm really gonna have fun!"

"And what will you do when you get done with them?"
Jesus Asked.

"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.

"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.

"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why,
you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you,
curse you and kill you!! You don't want those people!!"

"How much?" He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your tears, and all your
blood."

Jesus Said, "DONE!" Then He Paid the price.

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked
from the pulpit.

NOTES:
Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then
wonder why the world's going to hell?

Isn't it funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but
question what the Bible says?

Isn't it funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they
do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says.
Or is it scary?

Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still
follow Satan (who, by the way, also "believes" in God)?

Isn't it funny how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail
and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending
messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing?

Isn't it funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass
freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of
Jesus is suppressed in the school and workplace.
FUNNY, ISN'T IT?

Isn't it funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on
Sunday, but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week.
Are you laughing?

Isn't it funny how when you go to forward this message, you
will not send it to many on your address list because you're
not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for
sending it to them?

Isn't it funny how I can be more worried about what other people
think of me than what God thinks of me?
==============================================
I hope you enjoyed our short ezine. Our next issue should be
back to normal, with free ads and humor.

Please send your free 3 line classified ads to our subscriber
submissions address of: mailto:Profitventures@...

The next issue is scheduled to go out late September 13th
and should be in your email box by the morning of Thursday,
September 14th. Hope to see you there!

Until next time....