iSlsk lets iPhone users search for and download files directly on their phone. The software also imports downloaded files to the iPod music database so that they can be played with native iPhone controls.

• The fewer the parameters in your dynamic URL, the better. One or two parameters is much better than seven or eight. Avoid superfluous/nonessential parameters like tracking codes.
• A static looking URL (containing no ampersands, equals signs, or question marks) is more search optimal than a dynamic one.
• Having keywords in the URL is more optimal than no keywords.
• A keyword in the filename portion of the URL is more beneficial than in a directory/subdirectory name.
• Hyphens are the preferred word separator, although underscores are gaining acceptance over times past . So if you have multiple-word keyword phrases in your URLs, I’d recommend using dashes to separate them.
• Stuffing too many keywords in the URL looks spammy. Three, four, or five words in a URL looks perfectly normal. A little longer and it starts to look worse to Google, according to Matt Cutts.
• The domain name is not a good place for multiple hyphens, as it can make your URL look spammy. Although that said, sometimes a domain name should have a hyphen, as the domain faux pas ‘arsecommerce.com’ demonstrates (you may not get this joke if you don’t recognize Queen’s English!).

Source: Search Engine Land

Stepping out of an aircraft at 7,500ft, Rossy unfolded the 10ft rigid wings strapped to his back as he plummeted earthwards.

Passing from freefall into a gentle glide, he triggered the four jet turbines and accelerated to 190mph above the mountaintops.

With his first big test under his belt, Rossy, 48, is ready for bigger challenges: he plans to cross the English Channel later this year, before attempting to fly through the Grand Canyon.

So far, Rossy and his sponsors have poured more than $240,000 and countless hours into building the device.

If the franchisor has not held up its end of the deal, however – that is, the franchisor has either made misleading statements to you or has not followed through on advertising agreements or training – you may have a case to work with. Should arbitration or mediation be unsuccessful, you can always pursue a lawsuit. Though some franchisors allow subfranchising or reselling, the franchisor sometimes maintains the right to buy your franchise back from you, which ultimately may garner a less than market value price.

The franchisor has an easier route to ending an agreement than do franchisees should a franchisee default on the franchise contract. There are agreements that contain disclaimers allowing franchisors to end the agreement at their discretion, though these types of clauses are quickly losing popularity. Alternatively, franchisors are rewriting disclaimers so that they limit their ability to terminate contracts. For the franchisor to cancel the contract, one or several conditions must be met: the franchisee stops doing business, the franchisee declares bankruptcy, the franchisee is defrauding the company, the brand name is being damaged, or there has been a substantial loss of revenue and brand value. Even in the case that the above conditions are met, most franchisors will offer a cure period to the franchisee which provides the franchisee the opportunity to rectify the default.

The legal issue is compounded by the fact that franchisors are always trying to woo potential franchisees. Producing earnings projections and statements takes effort, time and money away from sales efforts. If accurate earnings results effectively turn franchisees away from a concept rather than woo them forth, this lack of sales funding hardly seems like a good move. If you want a straight answer about earnings, you should ask a franchisee — they’re more likely to be unbiased in this regard.

In a passive investment situation, you should be able to earn 10 to 15 percent ROI over time; however, most franchisees are not passive participants, which means that the opportunity to make more money could be substantial. Remember, there is no locked-in earnings guarantee. Generally, franchises yield earnings of at least 30 percent of their total investment annually, a record that you could easily expect to reach by your third year as a franchisee. Clearing a six-figure income, however, might take a few years, so you should be prepared to be patient.

Some industries, such as hotels, typically offer higher returns. A good rule of thumb is that the higher the investment the higher the ROI, though this is not always the case and you must always, always do your due diligence before making any weighty investment. For instance, if a franchisor requires a high initial investment but several current franchisees inform you that the earning potential is about the same as a competing franchise, you should probably go with the competing franchisee.

Some home-based business franchises require very little upfront cash but show promising earning potential. These franchises include IT, computer support and tutoring/education franchises . . . keep these industries in mind!

To test it out I went to the local hardware store and asked the girl behind the counter if she could scan the barcode from my phone. The first look I got was pure amazement. To her the physical card was transformed into a picture on a shiny device. On top of that the barcode was scanned successfully. The result; a slightly confused girl and a happy me.

It obviously works fine. I’ve always wanted to try this with my airline boarding pass. Maybe I should give it a try next time I fly.