Markus Allen

About Markus Allen

2010-12-14T14:35:00.003-05:00

If you're on this page looking for my websites, here we go:

Stump Markus
Every Thursday at high noon (NY time), I brainstorm business-building ideas with members of my marketing co-op. I've been doing this weekly since April of 2008. We have a blast. Come join us (it's FREE).

Marketing-Ideas.org
This is my main website for marketing junkies (like me).

TruthIn7Minutes.com
If you always thought something wasn't right about life, but can't figure out what it is, this is the site for you. I help you see the dots and connect the dots without the scare.

JavaScript problems in Internet Explorer

2005-03-16T09:56:00.000-05:00

Do you have JavaScript problems in Internet Explorer?

If you're trying to access one of my websites behind a firewall, an anonymous proxy service, or with JavaScript turned off, I've had to block your access.

Unfortunately, my site is getting hundreds of "rogue" visits a minute, and the only way to stop it is to require that JavaScript be turned on.

Here's how to turn on your JavaScript for Internet Explorer:

Find the "Internet Options" option in the menubar of your browser (it's probably located in the Tools menu). Click on the "Security" tab. Make sure the "Internet" zone is highlighted. Click on the "Custom Level..." button to bring up the security options for your browser. Search through the menu for the "Active scripting" option. Make sure "Enable" is selected. Click the "OK" button. Close this window and click the "Refresh" button of the page requiring Javascript.

Once you've turned on JavaScript, you can visit my marketing ideas website.

FunWebProducts removal

2005-03-14T08:25:00.000-05:00

You've landed on this page because of the adware FunWebProducts...

If you're trying to access my free marketing ideas website and you've got FunWebProducts adware installed within your browser, you're not going to be able to view my site. It's creating a huge load on my site.

Apparently, FunWebProducts spreads at virus speed and "pings" a specific webpage (I first saw this with my AOL mail webpage ... hundreds of times "hits" per minute -- and you didn't even know it... these hits are generated by your computer without your knowledge.

So if you've had FunWebProducts installed in your browser for some time, you're actually contributing to what's called a DDoS attach. In simple speak, you (and hundreds or even thousands of computers with FunWebProducts installed) are secretly viewing my one webpage without your knowledge. If you notice that your computer takes longer and longer to perform, you can thank spyware and adware programs like FunWebProducts... and the really bad news is FunWebProducts removal is tough because it's smart enough to reinstall itself when you try to remove it.

This FunWebProducts removal software claims to help rid the FunWebProducts adware... last time I checked, you can try the FunWebProducts removal scan free.

According to this No Fun with FunWebProdcutsarticle, "FunWebProducts is notable because it acquired a large user population with remarkable speed. Iwon is responsible for a series of notorious adware products including IWon, iWon Co-Pilot, iWon Search Assistant, and MySearch/MyWeb."

"... The FunWebProducts code is built into a number of 'free' products offered by the same company. These products include Smiley Central, PopSwatter, My Mail Signature, My Mail Stationery, and My Mail Stamp -- tools that claim to be 'enhancements' for e-mail. FunWebProducts has managed to sucker thousands of naïve end users into running its software."

Donald Trump sound clips

2005-02-21T12:16:00.000-05:00

Sound clips... it's a popular search phrase.

For example... thousands and thousands of people search for Donald Trump sound clips every day... especially the audio of the Donald Trump fired clip.

Bottom line: If you're looking to generate a nice flow of free traffic to your Web site, you might consider including sound clips on your site.

Ground Hog Day 2005

2005-02-02T09:28:00.000-05:00

Ground Hog Day 2005 is today February 2...

... Punxsutawney Phil arrived to a beautiful, sunny day (and created a crisp, cold shadow). The good news for winter lovers is winter will last six more weeks. But for the rest of us, we might rush to our doctor for ideas to combat Tramadol withdrawal<:

This Dog Can Dance

2004-12-27T21:25:00.000-05:00

I'm hanging out with my buddies Dave and Damon from This Dog Can Dance...

... While I'm out of the band promotion business, I'm teaching them how to use a blog to get noticed.

If you're looking to hear their stuff, you can visit their official site at:

This Dog Can Dance

And I've even got a Website with This Dog Can Dance sample audios -- enjoy.

Health news, views, and reviews

2004-12-19T19:42:00.000-05:00

I just launched another blog about Health... part of my blog to site strategy.

Online live traffic map

2004-12-18T01:01:00.000-05:00

Yahoo just announced an online live traffic map service...

... It features the first all-in-one, real-time traffic report on a clickable map.

It's amazing!

Account receivables collection

2004-12-17T13:22:00.000-05:00

If you're in business or you're promoting an affiliate program, you don't have to be reminded about the stress associated with chasing down past due invoices.

The good news is I stumbled upon a unique, step-by-step system that combines the power of pay per click advertising, a simple blog entry, and the "ego factor" to turn the tables on deaadbeats and get paid within 72 hours... sometimes even less.

Instead of hiring expensive lawyers or greedy collectioin agencies, I'm using the power, speed, and low cost of the Web to collect... for example, I created two blogs to get deadbeats listed quickly into the top search engines... ultimately "inspiring" these evil companies and scoundrals to finally pay their debts. Here's my deadbeat blog at Microsoft.

If you're frustrated and can't collect a past due invoice or past due affiliate payment, I'd like to help -- just visit my Account Receivables Collection Webpage.

FREE marketing ideas

2004-12-16T01:13:00.000-05:00

I'm testing a ping a blog strategy of my free marketing ideas blog... I'll post my results at my $10,000 Marketing Tip of the Day newsletter (yes, shameless plug).

the whole 9 yards

2004-12-13T22:56:00.000-05:00

My friend and old college roommate Dave and I were hangin' out watching the Eagles game last night. Dave hit me up with a bunch of word origins. And one controversial phrase was the whole 9 yards...

... It's controversial because there's apparently no definitive origin of the whole 9 yards.

But according to a Google researcher, "The most plausible modern explanation, comes from the more recent 1940’s, when, as you know, American culture was rife with slang and “old sayings”, many of which originated from World War II military vernacular. As the explanation goes, the phrase “the whole nine yards” first gained fame among fighter pilots who employed the use of .50 caliber machine guns onboard their planes. The gun belt for this weapon is said to have been exactly 27 feet long, so if a pilot was really determined to hit a specific target he might completely discharge his weapon in the enemy’s direction, thus giving his enemy “the whole nine yards”.

Free legal advice online

2004-12-05T23:17:00.000-05:00

How would you like to get free online legal advice.

Now you can:
Lawyer message board forum

Poptarts and hurricanes

2004-11-23T22:55:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Poptarts are the most popular foods purchased right before an approaching hurricane... according to Walmart officials?

presidential pardons

2004-11-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

WorldNetDail posted an interesting news flash that Peter of Peter, Paul, and Mary was the godfather of Kerry's daughter...

... What's even more interesting is Peter Yarrow (singer of Puff the Magic Dragon) is a convicted child molester (he admitted wrongdoing and plead guilty when (allegedly) the then 14-year old Alexa Kerry visited his hotel room for an autograph but came away with what Yarrow later describes as, "immoral and improper liberties."

Even more interesting is Yarrow only served three months jail time of a one- to three- year sentence thanks to a President Jimmy Carter pardon back in 1981.

Get the latest news, views, and reviews about presidentail pardons

Prescription drugs that are dangerous

2004-11-18T21:59:00.000-05:00

Officials at the top pharmaceutical companies were scrambling, rebutting charges that they dragged their feet on prescription drugs that may be dangerous.

Dr. David Graham, the FDA reviewer who initially recommended the arthritis drug Vioxx be taken off the market, warns that at least five other drugs should be looked at seriously to see whether they should remain on the market.

He cited:

• Accutane -- the acne drug made by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche).

Regulators have known the risks of Roche's Accutane since before the drug was approved. If taken by pregnant women, the medicine can cause birth defects.

• Meridia -- the weight-loss drug made by Abbott Labs.

An FDA advisory panel in 1996 recommended against approving Abbott's Meridia, citing risks including high blood pressure.

• Crestor -- the anti-cholesterol drug made by AstraZeneca.

High doses of Crestor have been linked to rhabdomyolysis, a muscle weakness that affects the kidneys and can be fatal.

• Bextra -- the pain reliever drug made by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche).

Pfizer's Bextra belongs to the same class of medicines as Vioxx, and a study of an experimental, injectable form of the medicine showed a higher rate of heart problems in bypass patients. Graham called for additional monitoring of the drug, and the FDA is holding a hearing as early as January to weigh potential risks of drugs from the same class as Vioxx.

• Serevent -- the asthma drug made by GlaxoSmithKline.

The FDA has already asked for the most prominent warnings to be added to prescribing information for Serevent, after a study found black people who took the Glaxo asthma medication had more deaths and illnesses than those taking placebo

wedding gowns

2004-11-17T22:23:00.000-05:00

Did you know the average bride spends $799 on her wedding gown... $147 for bridesmaids?

Source: Fairchild Bridal Information

Guide to planning a wedding

United States time zones

2004-11-15T22:52:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for the official day and time zone of the United States to snag an eBay auction bid at the very last moment, you might bookmark this link as your favorite:

eBay time zones in the United States

NBA referee trivia

2004-11-11T07:20:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to become even more fan friendly, NBA referees have their own Web site.

By the way, here are some interesting NBA referee facts:

Average age of an NBA referee: 44 years old
Youngest official: Zach Zarba at 29-years old (April 29, 1975)
Oldest official: Jack Nies at 66-years old (November 11, 1937)
Most NBA Playoffs Experience: Joe Crawford - 210 games
Most NBA Finals Experience: Joe Crawford - 34 games
Most Seasons Officiated (including 2004-05 season):
Dick Bavetta - 30 seasons
Joe Crawford - 28 seasons
Jess Kersey - 28 seasons
Jack Nies - 27 seasons
Bernie Fryer - 25 seasons

Number of NBA referees with eye difficiencies - 99.97% (sorry, I couldn't resist:>)

National Center for the American Revolution

2004-11-10T07:02:00.000-05:00

At the end of Tina Brown's Topic [A] Sunday night, guest Jim Matthews got my attention about plans for buiding a National Center for the American Revolution in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

It grabbed my attention because I used to work minutes from Valley Forge Park several years ago.

The National Center for the American Revolution promises,"... A comprehensive view of the events leading up to the Revolution, the 1777-78 encampment of General George Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge, as well as chronicle the war itself. The Valley Forge Historical Society and the NPS will combine impressive collections of artifacts to present immerse and interactive presentation of the American War for Independence. The Center will serve as the trailhead for touring the 3,400 acres of Valley Forge National Historical Park."

Emergency room wait

2004-11-09T07:31:00.000-05:00

According to a new Time Magazine study, the average emergency room wait is 6.2 hours.

Scott Peterson trial

2004-11-08T17:33:00.000-05:00

Could the end of the Scott Peterson trial be near?

Get the latest news, view, and reviews about the Scott Peterson trial

Keyhole Google purchase

2004-11-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

Last week, Google™ purchased Keyhole.com -- a company that let's you type in a street address and "fly to see it" from space photos.

The question is, will Google incorporate Keyhole into it's free search engine?

Funny QVC video

2004-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Whenever I feel like an immature loser looking for a quick, guaranteed laugh...

... I head on over to watch this funny QVC video.

Election fraud scandal

2004-11-03T11:53:00.000-05:00

In less than a hour, Senator Kerry will official concede yesterday's election.

Yet watch... you're going to see the beginning of a firestorm hit the bloggers concerning election fraud.

Whether you like the guy or not, Dick Morris is one person I always listen to. And he just started the election fraud scandal accusation drumbeat:

"Exit polls are almost impossible to get wrong this way," Morris said in a column posted to the New York Post's Web site early Wednesday morning.

The fact that they were so totally, disastrously wrong is a national scandal," the former White House pollster said.

He called for "a national investigation to unearth the story behind the bias."

Even Rush Limbaugh agrees that the exit polls were way off... just said so at 12:16 on his show... except he blames the other side for the exit poll mismatch.

I agree with Dick Morris on this one... exit polls are the gold standard... and this election doesn't pass the sniff test.

This is quite interesting:
LIARS! All exit polls matched results except OH and FL

Is this a smoking gun? Look at the Bush/Cheney bumper sticker in the window of the truck... wny is this partisan carrying sealed votes in the back of her truck? Source: http://americablog.blogspot.com

Black Box Voting filed the largest Freedom of Information action in history. At 8:30 p.m. Election Night, Black Box Voting blanketed the U.S. with the first in a series of public records requests, to obtain internal computer logs and other documents from 3,000 individual counties and townships.

But here's the real bombshell:
US election fraud scandal

Vote fraud and the bankruptcy of the United States
Are the elections in the United States fair and honest? A review of the facts is far less than rassuring more...

By the way, I'm 100% willing to admit that my prediction didn't come true... but let's see how this plays out first.

Electoral College

2004-11-02T15:32:00.000-05:00

Are you curious about The Electoral College?

The Electoral College contains 538 electors representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia. A candidate needs a majority of electors -- 270 -- to win the president.

Everything you wanted to know about the Electoral College...

President John Edwards

2004-11-01T00:16:00.000-05:00

President John Edwards... yep, John Edwards will be our next President...

... After John Kerry wins tomorrow's election, that is.

That's my prediction. John Kerry and John Edwards will win big -- over 300 electoral votes...

... And by this time next year, John Edwards will assume the role as leader of the free world. I know, pretty crazy stuff, eh? But if it happens, come back here, and I'll reveal the details.

Full disclosure
I'm neither a Repulican or Democrat... in fact I'll be skipping the vote tomorrow and instead eating Buffalo Wings with my he-man buddies in Wilmington, Deleware.

funny bumper stickers

2004-10-29T13:38:00.000-04:00

Isn't it funny how many people ruin their cars with bumper stickers?

According to a recent Roper study for Mercedes-Benz (sourced in USA Today), many use bumper stickers as a billboard for self-expression. Here's what the bumper sticker study found:

Promotional 9%
University-related 9%
Political 6%
Humorous 6%
Religious 5%

Funny how the study only totals 35%... I guess the other 65% are too embarrased to participate.

Lunar eclipse October 2004

2004-10-28T22:13:00.000-04:00

Last night's lunar eclipse was amazing, eh? And this October 2004 lunar eclipse is the last total lunar eclipse we'll see until March 3, 2007.

Lunar eclipse sources
Lunar eclipse photos

Guess the October surprise

2004-10-27T13:05:00.000-04:00

Did you guess the Ocotober surprise yet?

Maybe this is it... minutes ago, Matt Drudge posted this alert on his site:

In the last week before the election, ABCNEWS is holding on a videotaped message from a purported al Qaeda terrorist warning of a new attack on America, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

The terrorist claims on tape the next attack will dwarf 9/11. "The streets will run with blood," and "America will mourn in silence" because they will be unable to count the number of the dead. Further claims: America has brought this on itself for electing George Bush who has made war on Islam by destroying the Taliban and making war on Al Qaeda more...

Drudge suggests the name Adam Gadhan (a.k.a. Adam Pearlman) will be a name we'll all be familiar with over the next few weeks.

Is it okay to hate Jews?

2004-10-26T19:14:00.000-04:00

Is it okay to hate Jews?

Thanks to a tip from Aaron Swartz, search engine giant Google™ apologizes in advance for it's search results for the word Jew:

http://www.google.com/explanation.html

Ashley Simpson video

2004-10-25T13:51:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for Ashley Simpson lyrics, be warned... they might not be real.

It appears Ashley Simpson's Saturday Night Live appearance was as authentic as Milli Vanilli's.

Get this, Simpson's record company blamed a computer glitch. Ashley Simpson blamed her band. Saturday Night Live officials had no comment. Yikes!

Odds are good that a commonly used "guide vocal" was what we heard on the video.

Will Ashley Simpson survive the firestorm? What do you think? Get paid to give your opinion...

Blood types

2004-10-23T18:29:00.000-04:00

• Blood type is inherited, just like eye color.

• Certain blood types are more common in certain countries.
In China, over 99% of the population has Rh+ blood.

• Different kinds of animals have different kinds of blood:
- Dogs have 4 blood types...
- Cats have 11...
- Cows have about 800.

• Some people think blood type tells about personality:
- Type A is calm and trustworthy...
- Type B is creative and excitable...
- Type AB is thoughtful and emotional...
- Type O is a confident leader.

Everything you wanted to know about blog types...

Homemade butter recipe

2004-10-22T18:06:00.000-04:00

Ever run out of butter in the middle of the night (and you're too lazy to drive to the convenience store)?

Don't fret... here's Emerald Legassi's homemade butter recipe:

1 pint heavy cream, very cold
Pinch salt, optional

Find a large jar with a tight-fitting lid that will hold the cream about half full. Refrigerate the jar for at least 1 hour. Pour the cream into the cold jar. Tightly secure the lid and shake as hard as possible until chunks of butter start to form, 15 to 30 minutes. Pour into a strainer set over a bowl. The chunks in the strainer are butter, and the liquid in the bowl is buttermilk.

Pour the buttermilk into a clean container, cover, refrigerate, and reserve for another use. Turn the butter into a clean bowl and cover with very cold water. Pour into a strainer, discarding the liquid. Continue rinsing the butter with very cold water until the water runs clear. (The cloudy water is buttermilk which will make the butter turn sour.) When the butter is clean, work with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to press out any remaining liquid. Discard this liquid. If desired, add salt to the butter. (Salted butter will keep longer.)

Transfer the butter to a clean container for keeping, pressing with a wooden spoon or spatula to dispel any air bubbles. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Q Television Network

2004-10-22T17:54:00.000-04:00

I just heard on CNBC that 1 out of every 10 people are gay...

... That stat sounds a bit lofty, but don't tell that to Q Television Network. Q Television Networkis a gay- and lesbian-themed network that's now debuted to New York area cable subscribers.

Q Television Network news, views, and reviews

Rockler rocks

2004-10-21T17:16:00.000-04:00

Ever since I traded in the city life for the country life, I've been into wood...

... Woodworking tools that is.

And if you're into wood like myself, you've got to get on the Rockler mailing list. Their catalog is free and offers a treasure trove of woodworking goodies to dream about.

I just ordered from Rockler a second time -- the entire order from Website to delivery was flawless... amazing... (and fair pricing, too.)

Here my tip:
When you're offered priority shipping, go with the least expensive option. On both orders, my shipment arrived just days after my order. Plus it was shipped with a tracking code (I think it was UPS) so it even includes tracking FREE.

Gmail invites

2004-10-19T17:27:00.000-04:00

If you don't have a Gmail account and you have a couple of spare bucks in your PayPal account, do yourself a favor and bribe your way to get one...

... I got mine from an eBay auction a few months ago and it was the best $3.25 investment ever -- here's the link to the latest Gmail ebay auction

Boiling water and salt

2004-10-19T17:08:00.000-04:00

I just read in Real Simple Magazine that adding salt to a pot of water hardly speeds its boil. Technically it does, but it's harly noticeable...

... And starting your pot with cold water for a faster boil appears to be a myth, too. Instead, you might fill your pot with warm water... it takes less time to reach boiling temperature.

Speaking of how to boil water, I just found out that the TV show on Food Network similarly titled, "How to Boil Water" ranked dead last in this week's cable rating's war -- I only mention this because someone at my local park thought I looked like the host Tyler Florence...

... And get this, I've also been told I somewhat resemble tennis legend John McEnroe -- who happens to have the second-worst rated who on cable TV this week.

They say things come in threes... I'm wearing my lucky underwear today.

Martial law in the United States

2004-10-18T14:12:00.000-04:00

Question-
Why did President Bush's brother declare martial law 4 days before September 11th 2001?

One of the provisions of Execuctive Order Number 01-261 in section 5 was:
This Executive Order supersedes Executive Order Number 01-17. Executive Order Number 01-17 is hereby revoked.

When you compare the two Executive Orders, it appears the addition of an anti-terrorism provision (and drug-smuggling prevention) is about the only difference.

Why would the President's brother make this declaration 4 days before September 11th?

Here's the direct link to Executive Order Number 01-261

Bush wired debate?

2004-10-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

"What appears to be a bulge in the back of President Bush's coat prompted widespread speculation."

That's what the CNN Website caption says just under this picture:

Bloggers are buzzing about the theory that Bush was wired at the debate... I'm 99% sure that's the case. After all, it's hard to believe we're looking at the same skilled debator Texans head and saw from 10 years ago... you've got to check out this video comparison:

George Bush Before & After (Source: Advertising Veterans for Truth.)

But here's the most amazing video/audio proof... during a press confrence with Jaques Chirac in France last June, there was an inadvertant "feed" of Bush's ghost prompting that was carried live by all major networks. Bush supporters claim it's simply feedback. If that were true, then Bush's speech would match word for word and pause for pause exactly. They don't. Here's the proof:

http://www.musiccoop.org/Bush-Chirac.zip
(Note: This is a large, compressed file and requires an unzipping program and requires video/audio software to see and hear it).

Tailor reveals source of buldge
I understand the President's tailor claims the hump is, "... Merely a bulge from his suit when he folds his arms." That statement makes me think President Bush gets his suits from Milli Vanilli.

IFB & Cueing
Here's a Website describing the RC-216 Receive-A-Cue system thought to be used to aide President George Bush during his public appearences.

Questions about Bush's wire
• Who is President George Bush's left-hand wo/man?

• Why are the Democrats silent about this?

• Why is the mainstream (obviously pro-Kerry) media ignoring this?

Here are a handfull of sources about the Bush wire:
IsBushWired.com
Bush's mystery bulge
Getting to the bottom of the bulge ($)
Slideshow of Bush's wired bulges
Mr. President, may I look in your ear?

Fahrenheit 9/11 unbiased review

2004-10-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Stephen Lee offers his unbiased review unbiased review of Michael Moore's Farenheit 9/11.

Bill O'Reilly sexual harassment

2004-10-15T10:52:00.000-04:00

Will a sexual harrassment lawsuit against Bill O'Reilly bring the self-proclaimed no-spin zone host down?

It seems both sides are spinning, and the media loves it.

When you read (Warning: adult language) TheSmokingGun.com revelations and court documents, it's tempting to convict O'Reilly without even going to trial.

Whether it's fair or not, both words and body language can say a lot more than any spin. Here are some interesting observations:

Bill O'Reilly on Regis & Kelly:
"If I have to go down, I'm willing to do it," he said. "I'm going to take a stand. I'm a big mouth on the air and I'm a big mouth off the air."

"... and I'm a big mouth off the air." Wow... this is either a hint to Bill O'Reilly's defense or a slip up... perhaps an admission of guilt.

Fast forward to last night's TV show and O'Reilly uses ye ol' "My lawyers told me to keep quite about this" spin on his show last night. While that's good advice to use from a legal standpoint, it's hard to swallow from a PR standpoint.

But here's the unbelievable part... on last night's show, O'Reilly flirted with Anne Coulter! I watch The Factor a lot, and I can't remember O'Reilly going down that path -- mabye he has all of this time because we're looking for it.

I wonder if Vegas has odds on the size Mrs. O'Reilly's new ring sure to be a comin' her way.

I must admit I dig watching "phonies" get caught... first it was "sweet" Martha Stewart, then it was "mostly right" Rush Limbaugh, and don't forget about "wholesome" Bill Bennett (who was outed about a big-time gambling addiction)... now it's "no spin" Bill O'Reilly. I wonder who is going to write the next one-word book title called "Hypocracy". Are you listening Bernie Goldberg?

It's hard not to be dissapointed... I actually enjoy these people. And it's hard to blame them for living a double-life... the truth is most people don't really want the truth -- I know this first hand as a publisher of a daily marketing newsletter... hype sells and the truth hurts.

Stay tuned... it will be interesting to see how Bill O'Reilly's sexual harrassment lawsuit will flesh out.

Update 10/18/2004 @ 6:24 p.m.
Apparently, Mr. O'Reilly has been hinting about his alleged sexual thoughts for quite some time according to this online movie (Warning: adult language).