Top 5 reasons to become a Social Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are many, but social entrepreneurs are quite rare. Who wants to take the risk of investing monies that are not only expected to yield profits, but also advance a social cause? Entrepreneurs have enough tensions of their own. Why care about seeing how your business is synergized with the needs of your community? Here’s why.

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5 Golden Rules for Your Business Email !

"One shit deal…" This phrase got one of the largest investment companies in the world in a messy soup during the Global Financial Crisis. One of their employees wrote this to another in an email, which was used against them in the court of law. Well, that’s that…
Read on to know how you can avoid such blunders and a few rules that you should follow for your business email.

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Doing Business in India: Getting even worse !

I have been following the World bank reports for last 4 years and have featured it earlier on this blog as well. India is actually getting worse every year !

Infact, even in comparison to 8 South Asian Countries, India comes 2nd last just above Afghanistan. It is easier to do business in Bhutan, Nepal and

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Doing Business: Need for improving regulations & Empowering Entrepreneurs!

You have to give it to Google. It never ceases to surprise the world with its seemingly unorthodox style of operations. Be it their oh-so-cool work atmosphere, strategic marketing tactics generating tons of hype even before the product launch, the fascination with Beta launches, and last but not the least their acquisitions and business deals.
Google manages to pull out rabbits out its hat with such uncanny frequency that most of the times, the rest of the marketplace cannot predict what is going to come next. However, what is more interesting is that even after so many products and acquisitions, Advertising revenue continues to remain the Bread and Butter for Google.
However, with the dynamics of the marketplace changing, Google off late has gotten into a little diversification. The diversification though till now has been more from a “Seeing Beyond Internet Search” per say than monetization models. Android (OS) and now its own phone Google Nexus bear testimony to the fact that Google is indeed

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Top 10 Places To Work For In IT [2011]

Great people make great companies. There has been no bigger proponent of the same then the author of Good To Great – Jim Collins. A line from his book says “leaders of companies that go from good to great start not with “where” but with “who”. According to him, getting the right people on board is critical to a company’s growth. I am sure all of us experience the same in our day to day professional lives.
While the need for great employees is absolutely critical, employers also need to ensure that they offer employees everything in their power to ensure that not only can they meet company’s expectations but also

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Starting Business in India – Simplified step-by-step process

Now this is one question I have come across very frequently from our trak.in visitors, especially NRIs and foreigners who want to come to India to start their own Business.
So I thought it would be a great time to put across detailed procedure on how to Start Business in India, along with the duration it will take to start your own business in India, the costs involved, the paperwork involved and procedures for starting a company in India.
Please bear in my mind that these are standard procedures and are applicable in most cities in India, however, some in some cities there are some additional (or lack of) processes that you will have to find out.
The steps given below are for incorporating a Business in the city of Mumbai.

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Groupon Singapore – Acquired for $24 Million in Less than 1 Year

The 7th interview in our Successful Businesses Interview Series features Groupon Singapore, the most popular deal-of-the-day website in Singapore, and part of Groupon conglomerate worldwide.
If you’ve not heard of Groupon, it’s taking the consumer market by storm. Launched only 3 years ago (2008), Groupon now serves more than 150 markets in North America and 100

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How Are You Earning Money When You Don’t Have a Job?

Hi Gen, your comment reminded me of this exchange I had with a very good friend a few weeks ago in London. He came over from Singapore to London for a vacation, and at the same time to pay me a visit.
While he’s my good friend, he’s pretty much unaware of what I’m doing at TPEB, save for the things I tell him about it.

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In Remembrance of Steve Jobs: 11 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Him

Yesterday morning, I was busy writing the preparation post for upcoming 21-Day Meditation Challenge (Which is now up: 21DMC, Day 0 – Preparation. For those who don’t know about 21DMC, it’s a 21-day meditation challenge which is starting this Sat, Oct 8 to Oct 28. If you have not signed up (it’s completely free), here’s your last chance to do so. Details: 21-Day Meditation Challenge).
As I took a quick glance at my Twitter timeline, I saw a message which said, “RIP Steve Jobs”.

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Top 10 Most Expensive Houses in The World

This post is really interesting! We are here telling you guys about the top 10 most expensive houses of the world. There are people who love to live comfortably and some wants to live with luxury, style and extravagant life style. Most of the people consider it a materialistic pleasure, which is the liking of today’s people. The places we are telling you are the most beautiful one and are real fun to watch. Well here we go!

1. Antilla

This house is the world’s most expensive house which is in India and owned by one of the richest people of the world i.e. Mukesh Ambani. It is worth 1 billion dollars and has 27 floors. This house has a health club and a garage that can hold more than 150 cars and you know why it can hold 150 cars? Because the person who owns it has himself 168 cars. Well this house is made entirely of glass and is 570 feet tall.

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Anil Ambani Office Address

Anil Ambani Office Address
Anil Ambani is the chairman of Reliance ADA Group. Many people ask me that how they can contact Mr.Anil Ambani.
Well, one of the (I am not sure about it) way to contact anyone is by email address. You can send message to Anil Ambani’s e-mail address.
Another way to contact him is via the address of his corporate office. You can visit the website Relianceadagroup.com and send mail to the address of his corporate office.
However, I am not really sure that weather he will answer people in personal or not? So better do a try and see weather someone

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Before Starting a Business - Introduction

"Before Starting a Business" is a short course that will teach you what things you have to keep in mind before you start a New Business step by step.

This is a step by step guide of "What you should do before starting a Business"?

Starting a new business is like jumping from a airoplane with parashutte and hoping that parashute will open. Statastics don't favour in starting Businesses.
Unfortunately 99 out of 100 new businesses fail before its 5th Anniversary and those which survive again 99 out of 100 businesses fail before its 10th Anniversary.

There are so many books, articles and literature is written on how to start a new business, what things to keep in mind, tips for new enterpreneures, successful enterpreneruships.....and many more....But according to me, the reason why 99 out of 100 new businesses fail is not the improper business skill or lack of experience in business.

But it is something different. According to me the reason why most of the new businesses fail before its 5th Anniversary is because they have not taken proper precautions before starting a New Business.

They have not done what to do before starting a Business. In fact they don't know which things to keep in mind before starting a new Business.

I have seen so many people who have started their business with a Borrowed Seed capital because in the Business, Investing and personal finance books they have read that, Spending in Business is an Asset because you are developing an Asset. So any loan that you are taking for your Business is a Good Debt. This is the power of Leverage and so on.

Well, this is true that, if you take a debt for Business than it is a Good Debt. But the statement is not properly written. The statement is written for established Businesses means the statement is true once your Business is satteled. But the statement is not in anyway true for Start up Capital.There is no where in literature written that to start a Business you require borrowed Money. Actually to start a Business you need to raise the Money.

So this is a one common mistake that people do before starting a Business. They start their Business with borrowed Money.

There are so many other mistakes that people do before starting a Business.

This short Course will teach you what exactly you should do before starting a Business so that it Never fails. If you want to beat the statistics of new Business (Al most failure) than you must complete the following short course.


Here are the Lessons on "Before Starting a Business" -

Lesson: 1) Getting Out of Debt

Lesson: 2) Stay Away From New Debt (Stop Borrowing Money....NOW..!!!)

Lesson: 3) Build an "Emergency Fund"

Lesson: 4) Start Regular Savings & Investing

Lesson: 5) The Most Powerful Force in the Universe - The Compound Interest

Lesson: 6) Monthly Passive Income >= 2 * Monthly Expense (Financial Freedom...!!!)

Lesson: 7) Write a Succesful Business Plan

Lesson: 8) Build a "Business Fund" & Start a Business

Lesson: 9) Control Your GREED & FEAR (Stay away from Greedy as well al Fearful People)

Lesson: 10) To earn Money Versus To Raise Money

Lesson: 11) Understand The Company - Myths Versus Reality

So the above lessons will teach you what to do before starting a Business. Once you learn and master the above lessons you are ready to start your Business without any Worry.....!!!!!!!

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Auto rickshaw Network – A New Cheaper Advertising Medium -

After the TV, Radio, News papers, Magazines, Mobiles, Internet, Skyscrapers, Railway stations & Public Places….. The new Advertising Media come into exists.
And that is “Auto rickshaw Network”.
Yes, In search for cheaper media for client, NGOs have started to train auto rickshaw drivers to speak on different brand.
And running a Company around this idea is a Great Business Idea….!!!!!
Nyaya Bhoomi, A Delhi based NGO has started to train auto rickshaw drivers to speak on different brands. This is part of program to launch 1000 autos by April 2009, which would be branded in and out.
Each auto rickshaw will have commercial ad spaces on in and out.
A handful of rickshaw drivers are already undergoing training for etiquette, honesty and politeness.
So from now onwards, if you want to know which car to buy, just hop onto an auto rickshaw. The driver will provide you all kind of Information including History of the Company, New offers, its benefits and other Vital Information.
In Jaipur, Rakesh Agarwal is running another NGO. Rakesh has also initiated Auto Rickshaw Star Club, a program that will increase camaraderie between these daily wage earners.
The NGO which already has 8000 autos registered with it to use for the branding exercise, will completely overhaul these vehicles.
The Vehicles would have backlit LED panel apart from 2 similar side panels. The entire interior of the vehicle would be used for branding. A hard top would replace the soft top surface of the vehicle. The cost of remodeling each auto would be Rs. 10,000.
Rakesh is in talk with different sectors of mass consumption like banking, insurance and telecom.
Around Rs.120 per day per Vehicle would be the price to advertise on the vehicle…..
So I think Auto Rickshaw Network will emerge as a new media for advertising. And this Industry has a potential to grow very faster in the current economic slowdown…..!!!!!!!!

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Secondshaadi.com – A Great Business Idea….

Secondshaadi.com
Vivek Pahwa, CEO, Secondshaadi.com has founded the Secondshaadi.com
Vivek’s Eureka Moment…!!!!
“ The idea to start a dedicated website for remarriages stuck my mind when I heard about my best friend and her struggle with a fading marriage. Also she was undergoing a lot of stress. Primarily, second marriages are not wholeheartedly accepted in the Indian Society. This particular incident really moved me to start something which could give thousands of people like my friend a platform to interact with like minded and situationed people and remarry within the circle. My ‘Eureka Moment’ was when I launched Secondshaadi.com as India’s first official website for remarriages for those who want to start all over again.”
And thus the great Web Business born – Secondshaadi.com. Today the site has literally thousands of members on it. and is growing like anything……

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Indian Technopreneurs-

Asav Patel

The Mobile Value Added Services (MVAS) market continues to proliferate in the India. Instead of the slowdown in the Economy, Indian MVAS Market is growing.
The Indian Mobile market is the second largest subscriber base in the world with 375 Million subscribers after China.
MVAS is witnessing a faster growth rate. And because of this growth trend, a large number of entrepreneurs are exploring opportunities in this segment.
Here are some Technopreneurs….
01) K Sheker, Director, Bay Talkitec who founded Bay Talkitec with his partner Arunan in 1991.
According to Skeher, “We are the true technopreneurs ate at heart. At the beginning of this decade, we had a strong inkling about mobile communication emerging as a key mode of communication in the future and we weren’t entirely wrong about that. Also we has in-house resources and expertise to cater to this market as well. Hence we decided to foray into the Mobile VAS (Value Added Service) Market.
And early last year we launched a 3G compliant mobile video service delivery platform that can be used for applications in mobile marketing, mobile education & mobile entertainment.”
02) Oxygen Services (India) Pvt. Ltd was founded in 2003 as an electronic virtual distribution and a single platform for all online payment services. Pramod Saxena, Chairman and MD, Oxygen Services says,
“ OxiCash, launched in 2008 is a prepaid offering that enables the user to buy whatever they wish to just by clicking a few buttons on one’s mobile phone. Since I have spent a long time in the telecom Business, I wanted to leverage my telecom expertise to virtualise payment systems for people belonging to middle and lower income segments.
03) Ybrant Digital offers comprehensive end-to-end digital marketing services worldwide and focuses on maximising ROI to advertisers and monetisation to publishers.
The Company started off with providing products and services related to the Internet in 1999. It was a natural transition to move to mobile space as the consumers adapted more digital formats for their media consumption needs.

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“For-She” – A ‘For-Women’ Taxi Service……A Great Business Idea

“For-She” is a ‘For-Women” Taxi Service.
You just require an Entrepreneurial spirit to execute the Great Business ideas. “For-She” is one such example of it. “For-She” is the ‘For-Women’ Taxi Service.
Revathy Roy, 49 years old lady is the founder of The Company, ”For-She Travels & Logistics Pvt.Ltd”
Roy, who used to be a distributor of polymer windows, started ‘thinking seriously’ about a business like this since December 2006 and began operations on March 8, 2007 – International Women Day in Mumbai with 2 Cabs.
A New Company, “For-She Travels & Logistics Pvt. Ltd” was incorporated and she had started her Business with a seed capital of Rs.14 Lakhs which was raised through friends.
Advertisements were put uo in newspapers for female drivers which resulted in 2 of the applicants with ‘no road experience at all’.
After that, Orix Auto Infrastructure Limited (OAIS), a joint venture between Japan’s Orix Corporation and IL&FS already having a presence in the business through radio cabs in Delhi, approached Roy for strategic tied-up in November 2007.
“I parted with a minor part of equity held by me in the company for the tie-up. OAIS have a fleet of over 300 cabs in Delhi and bring a great deal of operational expertise” – She said.
Post-deal, she was successful in convincing Maruti to make minor adjustments for delivering a customised version of Versa model and 20 cabs were ordered.
Currently, the entire operations and expansions of the fleet are handled by OAIS while in her capacity as the managing director, Roy has a majority stake and over looks the entire training part.
The Car has features like GPS/GPRS systems and a panic.
A Woman driver earns Rs.6,500 per month and additional incentives depending upon the business which she does. A woman driver works 1 12-hour shift for 26 days in a month and can ply anywhere in Mumbai and outside as well.
By, 2009 end, the company plans to be operational in 5 cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai.
So I think this is a great Business idea……..!!!!!!!
Do you know any such great business idea? Than let me know…. I will publish it on this Blog…..!!!!!

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Foreign Entrepreneurs in Indian Ventures -

India is a growing Economy having more than 1 Billion (100 Crores) Population. And many Foreign Entrepreneurs are very optimistic on India.
So many Foreign Entrepreneurs have started their new Ventures in India in last 3-5 years. They have chosen the Indian Economy over Western Economy. This shows that India has a great market potential for almost any kind of Business.'
According to them, “East (India, China, Singapore, Japan) is becoming West (USA, UK, Europe).”
According to many entrepreneurs, The next Centuries are of Developing Eastern Countries like India & China. Because the developed countries don’t have enough market space to grow any new Business.
Here are some Foreign Entrepreneurs who have started their Ventures in India -
01) Rene Seifert of Level 360 -
Rene Seifert was a former radio presenter, war journalist and marketing professional. He had to leave his job as director-entertainment for Lycos Europe after the dot com bust in 2002.
He used his fund to travel the world. He travelled to eastern world such as India, china, Thailand, Russia & Cuba.
In july 2003, Seifert came to India and launched Level 360. Level 360 initially tried to make money by selling low-cost gold and silver jewellery on EBay to customers in Germany and the UK. The Jewellery was sourced from Canada and shipped to the buyers. But after that he was realized that, this Business was not profitable enough.
After that he realized that, a lot of German Companies could benefit from the outsourcing wave, if only only someone could connect them to software vendors in India. It was an idea that clicked.
4 years down the line, Level 360’s 12-member team works for 25 German Clients spread across sectors such Internet and Web Solutions, retails, logistics and manufacturing and has annual revenues of around a million dollar.
02) Quentin States-Polet, CEO and co-founder of Mumbai based “Kreeda Games” -
States Polet started Kreeda in Mumbai in August 2006. Polet used his contacts to obtain funding from 2 VCs, Soft Bank China & Indian Holdings and IDG Ventures India. The 2 funds collectively hold under 50% stake in Kreeda.
Kreeda’s first product was Dancing-Mela, a multiplayer online dancing cum social networking game which was free for users.
In last two and half years, Kreeda has got about 1,00,000 registered users. However, the largest chunk of Kreeda’s Revenue come mainly from lighter online games that they develop for foreign clients.
03) Brian Choudhary & Guiseppe Mozillo – Co-founders of Exito Gourment -
Both of the co founders are in the food processing industry. Exito Gournment processes cheese, milk and other food products. The total initial investment in company was over Rs.10 Crore.
04) Roger Langbour, The founder of French Farm -
French airmen Roger Langbour was posted at the French Embassy’s administrative wing in the 70s. But when he retired in 1975, he didn’t leave India. He married an Indian in 1981 and tried setting up a Business of his own.
He had decided that, he wanted to do – Sell organic poultry and vegetables to hotels in India. And today French Farm’s turnover is above Rs.1 Crore.
05) Ema Trinidad of S2 -
According to Ema, the beauty Business is a recession proof. So she she has started her beauty clinic in Bangalore. Its actually an anti-ageing clinic.
Today S2 earns Rs.20 Lakhs per Month.
And S2 is charging Rs. 1000-2500 per one sitting.
06) Chris Baker of Bangalore Buddy.com -
Chris Baker, 45 years old came to India 5 years ago to join an MNC real estate firm. He has left his job just 9 months ago and started a Web Business known as Bangalore Buddy.com
BangaloreBuddy claims to have 1500 registered users. This site aims to be one stop shop for expat travellers, and has a dedicated team of writers who are carefully chosen to review and rate various places in town like hotels, restaurants and weekend gateways.
Baker invested Rs.20 lakhs as a start-up.
The Revenue come from Service Providers like hotel chains who are paying to get listed on site. The registration fee is Rs.20,000-25,000.
Baker is now searching for VC Fund to expand its Business.
So the above are some great ventures and Business ideas that foreign entrepreneurs have started in India…….
So what are you waiting for? Start Building your own Empire Now….!!!!!!!

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StarAgro Warehousing & Collateral Management – A Great Business Idea

Indian Agriculture Industry amounts for more than 1/5th of the GDP and that is 20% of the GDP. So This Industry has a very huge market.
StartAgro Warehousing & Collateral Management is a Company in Agriculture Industry -
- The Company founded by 4 founder members 2 years ago. Amith Aggarwal is one of the founder member.
- All the 4 founder members have put Rs.5 lakh each from their own Savings as a start-up Capital & Launched a StarAgro Warehousing & Collateral Management Company
- In just 2 years, the Business has grown to revenues of Rs.2.86 Crores and a profit of Rs. 86 Lakhs with clients like ITC, Britannia and Adani
- The Company has 4 basic Revenue streams. The First involves producing commodities from farmers and than selling them to farmers. The Second is what they started with 50 hectares of land. Today, the Company owns 200 Hectares. The third is the Business of collateral management. Here if a farmer wants a loan, he can pledge his produce to be stored in StarAgri’s warehouses for which he gets a receipt, which is accepted by banks as collateral. The farmer gets 75% of the loan, and this has become quite popular, making up to 25% of Star Agri’s revenues.
More importantly, they have the money lender out of Business by providing credit to farmers at 11% interest. The Fourth is, Start Agri has also ventured in commodity Insurance.
- This year the company will be setting up around 25 agricultural marketing yards where farmers and buyers can come together without any meddling intermediaries, making the middle man redundant. Star Agri has already tied-up with NCDEX.
- StarAgri has now presence in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana & Madhya Pradesh.
So over all, StarAgri is a great Business Idea. StarAgri helps farmers escape the clutches of the money lenders and intermediaries. While start-ups have been the vogue in Industries like IT & telecom, even big companies have bad second thoughts while venturing into Agriculture Industry, These types of start-ups are a great start-ups….!!!!!!!!!!

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Shilpa Shetty Yoga

Bollywood Actress Shilpa Shetty goes into Fitness Business – A Great Business Idea
Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has entered the celebrity physical fitness business, launching a new yoga video she called a "management system for life."
The 32-year-old actress, who produced and stars in the video, said she made it in response to fans' questions about how she stayed fit.
"A lot of fans have asked about my fitness regime -- I think this is the best way to tell them what to do to be healthy," Shetty told reporters.
Shetty said her aim in producing the 72-minute video entitled Shilpa's Yoga, whose cover features the actress sitting cross-legged in a yoga pose, was "to make it simple for people to do yoga."
"It can be done by a 10- or 60-year-old," she said, adding yoga had a "spectacular impact" on her own life.
"It has helped my mind, body and soul," said Shetty, who also recently launched a perfume.
Shetty made the headlines last year when she won British reality show Celebrity Big Brother UK, during which she faced racist attacks by housemates.
"Today fitness in India is a style statement. My idea of fitness is to be healthy. Even if I am slightly bulky, I am well-toned, I am happy," she said

Shemaroo brings Shilpa Shetty’s Yoga on Mobile Phones -
Shemaroo Entertainment has released Shilpa Shetty's yoga DVDs and VCDs on mobile. The company has tied up with various mobile operators to offer content for download to mobile phone customers.

The videos have been cut and edited such that each video captures one complete Asana. The Asanas are categorized according to the benefits they provide like Back Asanas, Stomach Asanas, Neck & Shoulder Asanas and Pranayam [Breathing] among others. Also on offer are detailed write-ups explaining the benefits and description of each Asana. Apart from these videos, consumers can also have Shetty in her Yoga poses as their mobile wall-papers and screen-savers.

Vodafone is offering a pack of Rs 99 where the user can download unlimited Shilpa's Yoga videos in one hour. The pack also contains a step by step process of each Asana. Likewise Airtel, Tata, Reliance, BPL and Idea are also offering Shilpa's Yoga content for download.

Shilpa's Yoga is picturized on the scenic beach in Kerala with ceremonial elephants and Kalaripayattu fighters in the background. And the Asanas are demonstrated in a simplified manner.
Over all Fitness (Yoga) Business by a Bollywood Actress is the Great Business Idea…..!!!!!
[NOTE: I have tried to search the Financials of Shilpa Shetty’s Yoga Business but I can’t find it. If anyone of you have any Financial Information about her Yoga Business than please let me know. I would really like to review the Financial Statements of her Yoga Business. I would really like to know that weather her Yoga Business is doing a Profit or not and how much?]

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Top 25 Best Web Businesses on the Web

This Article is all about Best Web Businesses on the Web. These are the Best Web Businesses. I have published this list for you so that you can have a better idea about best Web Business. Not only this but you may find some great Web Business idea over here.
Here are the Top 25 Best Web Businesses on the Web -

Apartment Therapy
www.apartmenttherapy.com
Having an attractive, organized, and healthy home to retreat to will fortify you against just about anything the outside world has to throw at you. Apartment Therapy can help you create such a space for yourself. This excellent blog is packed with design, style, and shopping tips suitable for any home, whether your taste (or budget) inclines more to simplicity or luxury.
Epicurious
www.epicurious.com
Who can afford to eat out anymore? The rising cost of food doesn't mean that you can't eat well, however. It just means you need to learn to cook. An enormous collection of recipes and a vibrant user community make Epicurious your top stop for any meal you want to create yourself.
ESPN
www.espn.com
From world-spanning events like the Olympics to local high-school football, ESPN covers it all, and is the Web's premiere sports site.
FoodNetwork.com
www.foodnetwork.com

If you're addicted to the Food Network TV channel, chances are you'll love FoodNetwork.com. Tons of quick and easy recipes, cooking tips, and a shopping site that'll sell you the tools you need to make the meals you want (and the stuff hawked by your favorite FoodNetwork host) add up to a great site.
io9
io9.com

If you dig the science fiction of Iain M. Banks and William Gibson and Ronald Moore's Battlestar Galactica, if you like science fiction that intersects more with present-day reality and politics than tired old Cold War-era franchises like Star Trek, then this blog's for you.
PostSecret
postsecret.blogspot.com
Got a secret you want to share anonymously? Send it to PostSecret on a home-made postcard (you'll have to dig around to find the address) and maybe it'll be posted for the world to see. It's one of the Internet's coolest ongoing art projects, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than therapy.
Project Gutenberg
www.gutenberg.org
While e-books are suddenly a hot business thanks to the Kindle and its competitors, the originators of the e-book idea had something a little more egalitarian in mind: free e-books. Project Gutenberg is a vast collection of works no longer under copyright, free for download in a wide variety of formats.
TreeHugger
www.treehugger.com

If you're concerned with sustainability, the ecology, and green topics in general, you really ought to be reading this blog. The site has the resources of the Discovery Channel behind it, and that translates into a wealth of posts every day, including news, how-tos, editorials, and more.
Yelp.com
www.yelp.com
Whether you're new to an area or just trying to break out of old ruts, if you're looking for local restaurants, clubs, or stores, Yelp is a great place to start. The site's made up entirely of user-submitted reviews, so it gives you a real sense of what's good in your area.
Bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com
Bloomberg.com is where the pros go for their financial news and updates, and it's open to us regular folk, too. Track stocks, read breaking news, and use Bloomberg's investment tools and calculators to aid your financial decision making.
Indeed
www.indeed.com
Indeed makes online job hunting as painless as a Google search. Simply enter the kind of work you're looking for and your location, and Indeed will give you matching job postings from across the Web, including listings from job sites like HotJobs and Monster.
Kotaku
www.kotaku.com
Still our favorite gaming blog, Kotaku is constantly ahead of the pack when it comes to digging up leaked gaming news and info. And it's one of the few blogs whose comments we actually enjoy reading, most of the time.
Lifehacker
www.lifehacker.com
We're sure there was life before Lifehacker, but we're glad our memories of such a cumbersome, frustrating existence have been mercifully stripped away. The blog's steady stream of tech-leaning tips and advice just makes life easier.
MakeUseOf.com
www.makeuseof.com
This technology blog is one of the best on the Web at finding cool, free software and Web apps, and at providing walk-through tutorials for them. Whereas some blogs obsess over what's new, MakeUseOf.com emphasizes what's good. That's a big distinction, and one that its readers (including us) appreciate.
1Up.com
www.1up.com
1Up.com is a sister site of PCMag.com, but screw the conflict of interest: It's the best gaming site on the Web. 1Up.com is overflowing with gaming news, plus expert and user reviews of games and hardware, and previews of the hottest upcoming titles.
PCMag.com
www.pcmag.com  The Web site for PC Magazine includes everything the magazine has built its name on: hands-on product reviews from our PC Magazine Labs, expert commentary, and breaking tech news. But the Web site also offers features that we can't stuff into a magazine, like our award-winning product guides, episodes of DL.TV and Cranky Geeks, PCMag Radio podcasts, our Security Watch blog, and so much more.
Phone Scoop
www.phonescoop.com
With its breaking news coverage and in-depth reviews, Phone Scoop is one of the best and most comprehensive sources for mobile-tech info on the Web.
ProcessLibrary.com
www.processlibrary.com
Need help deciphering the gobbledygook names of processes running on your PC? ProcessLibrary.com can help. Most of those processes will turn out to be innocuous, but others with similar-looking names could be nasty malware. For instance, nvcpl.exe is a malicious worm, while nvcplui.exe is an nVidia control-panel app. You may not be able to spot the difference from the process name, but ProcessLibrary.com
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The Register
www.theregister.co.uk

El Reg skewers the tech and IT industry with its perfect mix of in-depth news reporting and snark. And if you're having a bad day on the IT desk, perusing the brilliantly biting headlines on The Register's homepage will serve as the perfect pick-me-up.
Silicon Alley Insider
www.alleyinsider.com
The Valley might have the smut of Valleywag and the ferocity of TechCrunch, but New York is all business. Luckily, the New York tech community has its own perfectly complementary blog in Silicon Alley Insider, which covers technology with a steely, Wall Street-informed approach.
Slashdot
www.slashdot.org
"News for Nerds" indeed. After 11 years, this user-submitted-CmdrTaco-vetted-news site is still one of the best ways to keep a finger on the pulse of the tech community.
SourceForge.net
www.sourceforge.net
SourceForge.net is the world's foremost repository of open-source software, and the site hosts a near-ridiculous amount of software downloads across many different categories. SourceForge.net also gives users access to the software's source coding, so you can follow along at home or even improve on what's there.
TechCrunch
www.techcrunch.com
In the past couple of years, TechCrunch has grown from a not-so-humble tech blog to a media empire, complete with spin-off brands, events, and heady (but speculative) valuations. Why not get into hardware manufacturing too? It remains to be seen whether all the extra heft will add to the actual blog's appeal or sink it entirely, but so far, it looks like the former.
VersionTracker
www.versiontracker.com
Looking for that one utility that can solve all your problems and make your whole life better? Sorry, it doesn't exist. But if you're okay with solving your problems piecemeal and improving your computing experience, go raid VersionTracker's incredible library of freeware utility downloads.
Wired
www.wired.com
The Web site is just as multifaceted as the magazine, covering technology, gadgets, science, environmentalism, gaming, music, movies, politics—all with a cool look and a geeky slant.

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