{EAV:8df282e1387bf53e}

If you do a little online search, you will find that there are many Twitter tools offering different useful features, and with such a variety it’s hard to know which ones to trust with your account. Probably the most important Twitter tool is HootSuite. The only reason it didn’t make it on this list is because it so well known. Here are the alternatives, Ten Ultra Useful Twitter Tools that won’t ask for your password, and come highly recommended by the social media and industry experts.

1. Buffer

   Buffer is a great way to efficiently handle sharing on social media. It lets you schedule the posts you want to post on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin, so if you fill up your Buffer in the morning, it will automatically post them for you throughout the day. Simply keep that Buffer topped up to have a consistent social media presence all day round, all week long.

   For more details, read this informative post and see the video clip.

   

2. TwitterFeed

   TwitterFeed is a free service that allows you to feed your content (blog posts or any other content that supports RSS feeds) to Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This way you can bring your content to a wider audience and track the performance through real-time stats.

   

3. Visibili
   

   Visibili is a free tool that lets you create your own browser bar that goes with any links you share through their service. In short, this is an engagement bar which you can personalize with your name, your social media icons, and links to your website. You can also add a Tweet button which recommends your Twitter account and Facebook Like button that connects to your FB page.

   Visibili can be connected to your Tweetdeck or Seesmic desktop apps, installed on your blog for external links, and installed as a bookmarklet on your browser toolbar so that you can easily share tweets with your engagement bar at the top of every page.

   

4. BrandTweet Statistics

   Formerly known as TwitterFriends, BrandTweet offers the most extensive Twitter stats available today. It will visually show you how your twitter account is used, who replied to you, who retweeted you, how you interact with others. BrandTweet will also let you calculate stats for another Twitter user and compare them to your own.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

5. Tweepi

   Tweepi is a relatively new service for Twitter account management. What makes it attractive is its clean interface, which gives you a clear overview of your Twitter social graph, with stats. With Tweepi you can easily see who you follow, who follows you, and when the following is mutual.

   Another cool feature of Tweepi is that it lets you build your follower base by discovering other interesting people in your network.

   

6. Qwitter

   Qwitter is another useful Twitter tool, which will deliver weekly email alerts to your inbox, letting you know who unfollowed you on Twitter.

   

7. Commun.it

   Unlike Qwitter, Commun.it is an app that lets you monitor your followers, and helps you find and develop relationships with leads, supporters, and influencers in your Twitter community. If you want to grow your Twitter network, this is the place!

   

8. Paper.li

   Paper.li lets you collect tweets and then post them manually or automatically in a newspaper-style format. This digital newspaper is built from all the articles, blog posts, videos and photos shared on Twitter or Facebook and it can be automatically shared daily on your Twitter account.

   Paper.li is a great way to select the top tweets from your followers, people on a specific Twitter list, or even anyone who mentions a particular #hashtag. It will boost traffic to sites mentioned by top users, so those you mention will certainly appreciate it.
   

9. Twilk

   Twilk lets you put your followers and those you follow on your Twitter background. Cool, huh?

   

10. TweetBeep

    TweetBeep is a service for Twitter similar to Google alerts. It keeps track of conversations that mention you, your products, your company, or any keyword you specify, with hourly updates.

    Another great feature of TweetBeep is that it can keep track of who is tweeting your website or blog, even if they use a shortened URL (like bit.ly or tinyurl.com). Great for online reputation management, catching all your @replies and @mentions, finding job/networking opportunities, keeping up on your favorite hobby, and more!

    

Jacques Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer-songwriter. Son of industrialist father, he escaped to Paris to pursue his dream of becoming a famous singer. After years of struggling and writing for others, Brel finally made it. He was known for composing and performing thought-provoking, inspiring and theatrical songs.

Jacques Brel grew a large, devoted following – first in France, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson. Although he recorded most of his songs in French, Brel became a major influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers such as David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, and Rod McKuen. English translations of his songs were recorded by many top performers, as you will see in this list – Top 10 Jacques Brel Covers.

1. Ne me quitte pas – If You Go Away

   Ne me quitte pas was written after Brel’s mistress “Zizou” (Suzanne Gabriello) left him. She had been pregnant with Brel’s child, but Brel refused to acknowledge he was the father. Zizou later had an abortion as a result of Brel’s actions.

   The song is considered to be “Brel’s ultimate classic”. He would later say in an interview that the song is not a love song, but rather a song about the cowardice of men.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   The song was written in English by Rod McKeun. It has been covered by most famous singers, such as Édith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Barbra Streisand, Julio Iglesias. More recently, it has been done by Patricia Kaas, Ayo & Iggy Pop, even Madonna. Here is my favorite cover, by Sting.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

2. Amsterdam – In the port of Amsterdam

   Amsterdam combines a powerful melancholic crescendo with a rich poetic account of the exploits of sailors on shore leave in Amsterdam. Brel never recorded this for a studio album, and his only version was released on the live album Enregistrement Public à l’Olympia 1964. Despite this, it has been one of his most enduringly popular works.

   It was one of the songs Mort Shuman translated into English for the Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris musical.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Although originally it was Scott Walker who first released this song in English, In the port of Amsterdam was made famous by David Bowie and then by John Denver. Recently, it was covered by The Dresden Dolls, and a punk version has been released by Parabellum, a Colombian extreme metal band.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

3. Au suivant – Next

   In Au Suivant Jacques Brel compares the army to a gigantic, factory-like brothel that prostitutes an endless queue of young men.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   A captivating performance of this song was done by Alex Harvey in 1973.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   More recently, a version was done by Barry Adamson and Nick Cave.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

4. Mathilde

   The femme fatale has rarely been described with such passion as by Brel in this song.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Mathilde was made famous to the English speaking world by Scott Walker who sang the Shuman/Blau adaptation. You are now in the audience of it’s first public presentation, July 23, 1963 at the casino of Knokke-le- Zoute by the seaside in Belgium.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

5. Le Moribond – Seasons In the Sun

   When in 1961 Brel found out he was dying, he wrote Le Moribond (The Dying Man).

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   The song became real famous thirteen years later, when it was re-invented in English by Terry Jacks. “Seasons in the sun” was sickly sweet, not reminiscent of Brel’s declamatory grotesque way. It was written in English by Rod McKeun. Here is Nirvana‘s version of Brel’s classic.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

6. La chanson de Jacky – Jacky

   Jacky (La chanson de Jacky) is an autobiographical song written by Brel in 1965.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Scott Walker recorded and released the song as a single in late 1967. It was later covered by Marc Almond, Momus, Camille O’Sullivan, etc. Here is my favorite version by David Ford.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

7. Madeleine

   The muse who inspired one of Jacques Brel’s most famous songs was Madeleine Zeffa Biver, a youthful bohemian and a fixture of Paris nightlife in the 1950s.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Here is an instrumental jazz cover of this song by Patrick Artero.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

8. La Chanson des Vieux Amants – Song for Old Lovers

   Written to his wife, the song speaks of the pain and the rewards behind a long term relationship, estranged lovers and life.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Sung to perfection by Jose Carreras and Alison Moyet. This beautiful cover of The Song for Old Lovers was done by Camille O’Sullivan.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

9. Les Vieux – Old Folks

   One of Brel’s masterpieces, this heartbreaking song is about old age and the approach of death.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Sang by Ellie Stone, the English cover of this song is from the musical Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, written in 1972 by Mort Shuman and Eric Blau. It was also covered by John Denver.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

10. Quand on a que l’amour – If We Only Have Love

    Quand on a que l’amour is Jacques Brel’s second studio album, originally released in 1957.

    

    Click here to view the video on YouTube.

    Sang by a wide range of artists, from Shirley Bassey, Dalida, Barry Manilow, Nana Mouskouri, and Celine Dion. Here is a contemporary cover by South African artist Karin Hougaardtdt.

    

    Click here to view the video on YouTube.

11. La Mort – My Death

    By some called seductive, by others – disquietingly ravaged, “La Mort” (“My Death”) is the essential Brel.

    

    Click here to view the video on YouTube.

    Covered by various artists, such as Scott Walker, Amanda McBroom,  David Bowie gives a haunting interpretation of Brel’s La Mort – My Death live on the GQ Awards show. Featuring Mike Garson on Piano.

    

    Click here to view the video on YouTube.

12. Je ne sais pas

    Romantic, sad, hopeless… Another Brel classic from 1958.

    

    Click here to view the video on YouTube.

    Here is Sting again, singing Brel.

    

    Click here to view the video on YouTube.

     

    In conclusion, what can be said? At the risk of sounding like a hardcore Brel fan, I have to point out that no one could do it like him. Wouldn’t you agree?

     

     

If you are one of those people who can appreciate the healing power of a good cry, you may want to bookmark this list. Here are the Top 10 Songs That Will Break Your Heart. Enjoy them!

1. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley

   Written by Leonard Cohen and originally released on his studio album Various Positions (1984), “Hallelujah” achieved little initial success. Over the years several cover versions have been performed by a large number and broad range of artists, both in recordings and in concert, but none of them as heart-breakingly as Jeff Buckley.

   Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (Live à Chicago 1995)

2. Why – Annie Lennox

   “Why” is the first solo single by Annie Lennox, released in 1992. It was taken from her debut solo album Diva.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   This is an unforgettable interpretation of this song with Annie Lennox playing the piano on the Arista Records 25th Anniversary Celebration.

3. Heart’s a Mess – Gotye

   “Heart’s a Mess” is a song from Gotye’s acclaimed album Like Drawing Blood.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   This beautiful video clip was made by animator and film director Brendan Cook.

4. Hurt – Johnny Cash

   “Hurt” is a song written by Trent Reznor, first released on Nine Inch Nails’ 1994 album The Downward Spiral. Covered by several other artists, most notably by Johnny Cash in 2002.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   The music video, featuring images from Cash’s life and directed by Mark Romanek, was named the best video of the year by the Grammy Awards and CMA Awards, and the best video of all time by NME in July 2011.

5. Hey You – Pink Floyd

   Written by Roger Waters, “Hey You” appears on Pink Floyd’s famous The Wall album (1979).

   The video cannot be shown at the moment. Please try again later.

   “Hey You” was shot for the film Pink Floyd The Wall, but the sequence (also known as Reel 13) was ultimately not included. However, a rough version is available as an extra on the 25th Anniversary Edition DVD.

6. Ne me quitte pas – Jacques Brel

   Jacques Brel first recorded this song in 1959, after his mistress “Zizou” (Suzanne Gabriello) threw him out of her life. Zizou was pregnant with Brel’s child, but Brel refused to acknowledge he fathered the child. Zizou later had an abortion as a result of Brel’s actions.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   It is considered by some as “Brel’s ultimate classic”. He would later say in an interview that the song is not a love song, but rather a song about the cowardice of men.

7. Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

   One of the greatest rock songs of all time, “Stairway to Heaven” was composed by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant for the band’s untitled fourth studio album (usually referred to as Led Zeppelin IV), released in late 1971.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   This footage is from the concert film “The Song Remains the Same”. The concert took place in Madison Square Garden, New York City.

8. Help – Tina Turner

   The famous Beatles song has been reinvented by Tina Turner, almost beyond recognition.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   No one can sing this like Tina.

9. Mad World – Gary Jules

   Written by Roland Orzabal, “Mad World” is a song by the British band Tears for Fears. The song would eventually become Tears for Fears’ first international hit, reaching the Top 40 in several countries between 1982 and 1983.

   Two decades later, the song made a popular resurgence when it was covered in a much slower, minimalist style by composers Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the soundtrack to the movie Donnie Darko in 2001. This version reached #1 in the UK in December 2003, and also became an international hit.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   This music video, directed by Michel Gondry, has since been very popular on YouTube, with its most popular posting garnering over 41 million views as of 6 December 2011.

10. Black – Pearl Jam

    Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Stone Gossard, “Black” is without a doubt – one of the saddest songs of all time.

    

    Click here to view the video on YouTube.

    Black – Pearl Jam

 

If you are looking for ways to make your life easier with iphone or ipad apps, check this list out. Reviewed here are the most useful iphone apps, and the ones designed to spur your creativity on the go, all tested and approved by many happy users.

1. Hipstamatic

   Hipstamatic is a popular app for iPhone that makes square image and allows the user to change various aspects of that image to give it the appearance of an old photo print. Hipstamatic brings back the look and feel of the past, a retro note that is both fresh and vibrant. It makes digital photography look analog. Amazing!

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Hipstamatic

2. Viber

   Viber is an iPhone and Android application that lets you make free phone calls and send free text messages to other users that have Viber installed. When you use Viber, your phone calls to any other Viber user are free, and the sound quality is much better than a regular call. You can call or text any Viber user, anywhere in the world, for free.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Viber

3. Around Me

   Around Me is a useful app, available for both iPhone and Android, that – based on your current location – lets you see the nearest shops, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, restaurants, etc. It will save you having to ask people where the nearest supermarket is, where to find a taxi rank, or whether there are any decent bars or restaurants in the vicinity.

   

   Around Me

4. Dropbox

   Dropbox is a quality online data backup service with excellent sharing and syncing abilities. It lets you store up to 100GB, plus it’s also a good way to sync your files across your various work and home computers and mobile devices. Extremely easy to use.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Dropbox

5. Air Video

   Air Video is a clever, inexpensive app which allows you to stream video from your computer to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, quickly and with very little effort. No more syncing, no more need for free space, and, best of all, you don’t even have to convert videos into a compatible format.Better still, since it works over both Wi-Fi and 3G networks, you can stream movies almost anywhere. And best of all, there’s a free version (Air Video Free) that lets you try all of Air Video’s features but limits the number of movies you can access.

   

   Air Video

6. MapQuest 4 Mobile

   Previously known as the MapQuest Navigator, this app has been thoroughly revised, and now provides a clean, smooth, and easy-to-navigate interface, complemented by excellent Contacts address handling. It offers an intuitive way to view POIs, where you can choose one or more categories to view, or wipe them all out.

   MapQuest 4 Mobile is free and includes traffic at no cost, as well as automatic rerouting based on traffic conditions. Tap the traffic POI icon, and current conditions are overlaid on the map. Driving instructions with voice guidance deliver a hands-free experience.

   
   MapQuest 4 Mobile

7. FlipBoard

   Flipboard is an innovative application that draws on links from your social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, and from pre-selected news sources, and in this way it creates a ‘social magazine’ that is lovely to look at and simple to use.A new section, Cover Stories, brings together new material from across your sources, providing the ideal channel to skim through while you’re in a queue or on the bus. There are now Flipboard accounts too, so that iPad users can bring across their content.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Flipboard

8. Shazam

   If you like music (and who doesn’t?), you’ll find this app an essential tool for discovering the music you like. When you hear that great song on the radio that you really like but don’t know the name of it, just turn on Shazam and point your iphone to the radio. It will scan the song and identify its name, the album and the artist. Shazam is surprisingly fast and accurate.

   

   Shazam

9. PhotoFunia

   PhotoFunia is a cloud-based photo editing tool that lets you be extra creative. You get over 150 scenes to play with. You can put your face on a billboard, a stamp, or in a Warhol-like work of pop-art. Become the Mona Lisa or a bodybuilder.

   You’re not cutting and pasting; instead, the app “finds” the face in your photo and integrates it with the scene of your choice. Just select an effect you like from over 100 different effects, select a picture from Camera Roll or take one with iPhone’s built-in camera and wait to see the magic. New effects are being added every week.

   

   PhotoFunia
   

10. Movie360

    Created by the passionate group of Camera360, Movie360 is a Phone Filming App. with real-time filming function. Memories, Sketch, Elegancy, Charm, Magic, Silence, Jelly, Aesthetic, Jewelry, Coldness, Love, Sweet, and Bloom, with these 13 effects, and distinguishing “Pause” function, Movie360 makes it possible for you to record the whole fantastic movie without any trash part at one go. It also can save 1/2 memory space for you by decreasing size of movie files. Easier, better, and wonderful, Movie360 can make you a cool life director.

    

    Movie360

 

Guest post by Bronnie Ware

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

   This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

   

   It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

   This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

   
   By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

   Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

   
   We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

   Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

   
   It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

   This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

   
   When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Based on this article, Bronnie has now released a full-length book, titled The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing. It is a memoir of her own life and how it was transformed by the regrets of dying people. The book may be ordered through bookstores worldwide or from Balboa Press. It is also available via the link on this page. Details for wholesale orders may be found on Bronnie’s official website.

I just spent a few days watching amazing animal videos on Youtube. There is so much to see and learn about the wildlife, the unusual animals and curious animal behavior. Here I’d like to share this list of Top 10 Fascinating Wildlife Videos that you might have missed.

1. ‪Battle at Kruger‬

   This has got to be one of the most viewed videos on youtube. If you haven’t had the chance to watch it before, don’t miss it now. And if you did watch it before, I’m sure you won’t resist the second viewing.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

2. The Cougar Scene

   Another amazing piece of film capturing the wildlife, from beautiful to ruthless to ultimately touching.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

3. Wild Owls Hunting

   Beautifully filmed, this video will give you a new appreciation of the owls’ hunting abilities.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

4. Leopard Slug Mating

   There is nothing more fascinating than the mating ritual of the Leopard Slug.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

5. Amazon Ants

   In the jungles of the Amazon, a colony of ants will build a boat with their bodies in order to get to the other side of the river.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

6. The Amazing Lyre Bird

   The Australian Lyre Bird can reproduce with amazing accuracy any sound it hears. You gotta see it to believe it.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

7. Flying Penguins

   Recently an unusual colony of Penguins was discovered: the Penguins that can fly!

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

8. The Fearless Honey Badger

   Here is one unseemly creature that can stand up to any enemy. The African Honey Badger may have gotten its name for showing no fear when faced with the dangerous African bees, but it is known for being capable of defying a lion.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

9. Jesus Christ Lizard

   ‪The Basilisk lizard ‬is ‪found in Central and South American rainforests near rivers and streams.‬ ‪It is also known as the Jesus Christ Lizard, or Lagarto de Jesus Cristo‬,‪ for its ability to run on the surface of water.‬

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

10. Anaconda Hunts

    Anacondas don’t need venom to take down their pray. This short video shows the anaconda hunting down a capybara, the world’s largest rodent, weighing around 100 pounds. I can’t decide what’s stranger, the anaconda or the giant rats.

    

    Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Valentines Day is fast approaching. If you are thinking of popping the big question, be creative! Think of something different and unique, something that will blow your lover away. Take a look at some great marriage proposals from Youtube.

1. NUMBER ONE

   Scare her to death…

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

2. NUMBER TWO

   Take her to the movies…

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

3. NUMBER THREE

   Take her for a walk in the park…

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

4. NUMBER FOUR

   Take her to Disneyland….

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

5. NUMBER FIVE

   Organize a Mob Flash proposal…

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

To make a great impression, all you need is a little creativity. And remember, everybody wants to be surprised.

 

Expanding on the Top 10 Musician Resources Lists, we come to one of the most important questions of every musician: How do you sell your music online?

For years, major labels have held a monopoly over the traditional distribution channels. Now any artist can use the Internet to distribute their music through the same channels. And more importantly, you don’t have to give up money from each and every sale of your music. You don’t have to enter into exclusive deals or sign binding contracts. You don’t have to give up your rights and the ownership of your own music to some other company just to gain access to music stores.

Here are the five best web sites through which you can sell your music.  Check them out.

1. CD Baby

   CD Baby is the largest online distributor of independent music. It began as a garage startup in 1997 and has grown to serve more than 2.2 million customers worldwide. Artists get paid within a week of making a sale, and until now more than $160 million was paid directly to the artists.

   As a member, you can sell your CDs and MP3s in the world’s most popular music stores, both online and offline. CD Baby makes your music available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, CDBaby.com, Facebook, Spotify, and dozens of the most popular music sites. It also lets you sell your CDs worldwide and make them available for special order sale in over 2,500 brick-and-mortar retail stores. You can even sell vinyl on CDBaby.com.
   
   CD Baby offers a handy Music Store Widget, so you can sell your music directly to your fans wherever they follow you online. From CD manufacturing to web hosting and podcasts, CD Baby offers a big assortment of artist services.

2. TuneCore

   If you don’t know TuneCore, you should definitely check it out. It is a marketplace for digital music and video distribution, and its success lies in keeping things simple. TuneCore doesn’t ask for “membership,” it doesn’t have minimums or maximums, and it doesn’t insist on exclusivity. It simply provides artists with valuable information and resources.

   

   With TuneCore you can:

   • Get digital distribution with all the online retailers non-exclusively and without giving up any of your rights, royalties or income streams.
   • Place your music and items on the shelves of retailers everywhere.
   • Have the freedom to pick and choose where and how your music is made available.
   • Get the money generated from the sale of your music the moment it becomes available.
   • Print promotional material, from buttons to posters to t-shirts.
   • Produce top-quality audio CDs with full high quality art in ultra-small batches and ship them wherever needed.
   • Get all the money from around the world owed to you, including money you might not have otherwise collected due to copyright laws, international tariffs or regulations of other countries.

3. The Orchard

   Founded in 1997, The Orchard provides an innovative and comprehensive sales and marketing platform for musicians. Operating in more than 20 global markets, with over 2,500 labels from over 50 countries and thousands of artists representing every music genre, The Orchard is without a doubt a big player in the independent music and video distribution.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   If you go with The Orchard, your release will be registered with All Music Guide, Muze and Soundscan, and encoded to meet the specific requirements of each digital music service and retail outlet, thus optimizing it for mass exposure. The Orchard’s distribution agreement is non-exclusive and lets you retain full ownership and rights to your recordings.

4. IODA

   IODA (Independent Online Distribution Alliance) is one of the longest established digital music aggregators with a huge distribution network and an impressive list of services. Founded in 2003, it has since built a catalog of nearly two million tracks that is licensed to more than 400 digital stores worldwide.

   

   IODA‘s catalog represents a diverse range of music from over 50 countries, including rock, electronic, hip-hop, metal, punk, indie, world, latin, jazz and classical. IODA‘s distribution network includes all major digital music services like iTunes®, Amazon MP3 and MySpace Music, and mobile carriers and outlets such as Verizon Wireless, Sprint and Nokia.

5. SongCast

   SongCast offers music distribution, but also a variety of other useful tools for promoting your music online. Their distribution service covers all major digital stores such as iTunes, AmazonMP3, Google Music, Spotify, Rhapsody, Emusic, and MediaNet and you’ll have access to all of their respective international stores like iTunes Europe, Amazon UK, etc.

   

   SongCast provides monthly accounting and royalty payments, along with world class artist & label support. It also allows musicians to create their own profile where they can display photos, list show times, and provide links to buy their music. Although SongCast is probably not the cheapest solution available (it will run you $5.99 per month plus an initial $25 set up fee), it is well worth considering since you will never have to pay them any commission for sales after that.

   Watch this short tutorial video to understand better how SongCast works.

 

If you travel by plane a lot, either for business or for pleasure, then this here is a shortlist of Frequent Flyers’ Essentials, well worth bookmarking. It will save you time and money when you’re on the move.

1. Priority Pass

   If you ever wondered if there was a stress-free way to travel, well – this is as close as it gets. The Priority Pass Card will open doors to exclusive airline lounges throughout the world, even when you are flying economy class, and regardless of the airline.If you’ve had the chance to stay in one of these VIP lounges, then you know what the hype is all about. They provide a safe haven from the chaos of the public airport terminal. You will get complimentary drinks and snacks and comfortable lounging chairs in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere, with free wireless internet. If you need to have a flight rescheduled, or your seats changed, the lounge’s hostess will take care of it while you relax.

   The Priority Pass Card card gets you into more than 600 airport lounges in over 100 countries. Membership plans start from $99 per year, depending on your travel frequency and needs, there are different options. For instance, in some plans, if you are traveling with guests or family they can come into the lounge with you. There are also corporate rates for business.

   Overall, the benefits of the Priority Pass Membership are so obvious that everyone who flies as little as twice per year should be taking the advantage.

   

   Priority Pass Card

2. Points.Com

   If you are a rewards programs junkie, you will like Points.Com. It is a place where you can keep track of all the many different promotional websites and programs where you gain these points and lets you manage them. For example, if you have accumulated points with several different airlines, on this site you can merge these points into one and use them all together. You can do a number of things with your accumulated points: sell them, trade them, convert them into gift cards or redeem into cash!

   Anyone can register for free. Gold Membership is optional at $4.95 per month, and will get you up to 50% off travel and dining benefits. You also get more bonus points to the reward program of your choice.

   

   Points.Com

3. World Taximeter

   Here’s a great online tool that will take the guesswork out from your next budget trip planning. World Taximeter calculates an estimated fare for a taxi ride in cities around the world.

   

   World Taximeter

4. Sleeping in the Airports

   As the site says, airport sleeping is no longer just for the cheap young backpackers. Nowadays, you’ll find travelers of all ages and incomes stretched out on airport floors. The Guide to Sleeping in Airports is a fun resource of airport reviews from travelers around the world.

   

   The Guide to Sleeping in Airports

5. AirlineMeals.Net

   This curious little website offers extensive photo documentation of airline meals. You can browse by airline, or upload your own photos to the site.

   

   AirlineMeals.Net
   

Have you ever wanted to make your own social network? It is probably much easier than you think. All you need to know is where to look.  Whether you want to start a dating site or a collaboration community, chances are that the tools you need are already out there. Why pay a lot of money to web developers to make a costly web application from scratch, when you can use and customize the social networking scripts that have proven to work well?

Listed here are the best solutions for inexpensive web development for online communities and social networks available today. Take a look, see which one of these sites best suits your needs, and start building your very own social network today!

1. Ning

   Anyone looking over the options for social networking development will quickly realize that Ning is the king. Even though the company stopped offering free products since April 2010, everything indicates that Ning still supports the largest number of sites.

   Basically, Ning incorporates a number of separately available technologies in a single unified, hosted, user managed platform. It integrates a blog, wiki, forum, photo/video gallery, “latest activity” micro feed, events calendar and member manager. Extended functionality allows you to add widgets, form sub groups and organize projects. Ning’s interface is user-friendly on both member and administrator end. There are many ways in which you can fine tune the look and feel of your site.

   Ning offers a solid product that provides most of the features a social network site should have. If what you need is the most basic of sites, then Ning’s lowest tier may be a good option. However, if you require more advanced features, Ning does not come cheap. there are still plenty of free or less expensive options out there.
   

2. Elgg

   Elgg is a free, open source CMS that has been online sine 2004. Over the years, the community has grown and now boasts a rather active set of users. With a plugin repository of over 1000 available plugins and a huge selection of themes, Elgg has quickly become the go to CMS for open source social networking.

   Similar to Drupal in that it is more of a content management framework than a CMS, Elgg provides the foundation to build a powerful social networking  website and you get to customize it by adding modules and setting up plugins. At first Elgg can seem very basic, but the real power of the system comes from the ways it can be extended and built upon. You decide what will be added, how it will be configured and as you add the individual plugins, the system begins to take on the form of full fledged social networking CMS.

3. Grou.ps

   Grou.ps is a big player among social network providers. If you have a complex project and require special additional plugins, you will find that Grou.ps have covered pretty much every feature you might desire in a social network. Their system is robust and functional, interface is user friendly and they provide good customer support.

   Free account gives you 100MB of storage, 500MB bandwidth and is limited to 25 members. If you want more options, there are different pricing plans.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

4. Groupsite

   Groupsite is different from other sites on this list whose main focus is on social networking. Groupsite is more of a hybrid between social and professional networking, and it emphasizes collaboration and project completion. It offers many unique features including separate public and professional user profiles, user objectives and personal networking and last but not least, a very extensive event/calendar solution.

   Unfortunately, there is one big downside to Groupsite – it doesn’t leave much room to creativity in customization. The layout and design are fixed, and although you can change the colors and put your own banners, you are stuck with the basic layout and menu order.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

5. Boonex

   Boonex Dolphin is another open source Social Networking system based on the PHP scripting language and MySQL database software under the GPL license. It includes blogs, events, groups, video chat, video messenger, players, mobile app, desktop app, files, media sharing, store, profiles, friends, boards, media sharing, store, and files sharing. It also features paypal supported affiliate management, which makes it ideal to use as a dating script.

   A word of warning: Boonex does not have a coding standard, which causes a lot of bugs in the system. So unless you are a programmer and know how to work on fixing and adjusting the code, you may want to look at other options.
   

6. SocialGO

   SocialGO is a very attractive DIY solution for creating your own social networking site. Its interface is user friendly, has tab-based navigation, and offers a wide array of features, even in the free version (Forums, SubGroups, Photos and Events).

   If you don’t need more than 1GB of storage and are happy with 10GB Bandwidth, then the free Ad supported account is for you. However, if you want additional options, such as the ability to use your own domain name, your advertising instead of SocialGO‘s, expanded layout features, unlimited storage/bandwidth, etc, you will need to upgrade to premium account.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

7. Sprūz

   Sprūz is another service worth looking into if you are searching for a social networking solution. It features very powerful tools for customizing themes and layouts, and an easy to use drag and drop style editor. User profiles even have the option to add custom fields to user permissions/roles administration. However, there are a few disadvantages: the forums are not threaded, and subgroups can’t create group events, house group photos, or subscribe to group forum posts.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

8. Wall.fm

   Wall.fm If you want to make a private social network, or an online community that focuses on specific groups of people (clubs, people who play a certain game, a hobby, etc.) rather than a general social network, then Wall.fm is an excellent option. It is the free, hosted version of an open source social networking software called Oxwall, which you can opt to install on your own domain. Depending on the features you want you can choose between the free and paid options.

   Wall.fm has been called the walled Facebook. All you can do on Facebook you can do here as well: content can be tagged and commented on, and you can  participate in forums, blogs and wikis. However, it provides high privacy, so it is ideal for these social interactions that are not suitable to a site as general as Facebook, and also convenient for educators who want their students to interact in a safe and secure setting, free from any kind of distraction.

   

9. ONEsite

   ONEsite Platform offers a rich community experience with Blogging, Photo and Video Sharing, Tagging, Rating, Flagging, Commenting, Built-in Messaging, and Groups. Their Widget and API libraries let you integrate the ONEsite community with  existing Web properties, search, registration, and authentication systems.

   A subsidiary of Catalog.com, ONEsite has a staff of 40, including developers, designers, systems operations, and their own in-house customer support and service center. They will give your project personal attention and work with you on its concept, design, implementation, and launch.

10. SocialEngine

    SocialEngine is a social net­work system that will let you start a self-hosted social net­work. Based on Zend Frame­work, it is quite easy to customize.

    If you are looking for an application that is affordable then this is a good bet, and one of the better options available on the market today. Priced at $250 for a license, SocialEngine also has a number of plugins which can be installed and configured for use. Plugins are available for between $30 to $50  depending on the plugin.

    

11. phpFox

    phpFox is another online community software packed with features. It is very easy to install and comes with out of the box functionality. The core phpfox script is well written and unencrypted, but you will need to know php and mysql to customize it.

    phpFox interface is simple and features pretty much everything you would need. It has a great events calendar; however, there is no video chat or phone. Priced at $300, it is still another inexpensive alternative.

    

12. Pearse Street

    If you would like to have a professional team handling your project, check out Pearse Street. It has been providing social media services since 2005, giving its clients professionally designed and programmed new media solutions, from social media marketing campaigns to blog development to large-scale social networking websites. Their portfolio is quite impressive.

    Pearse Street‘s biggest advantage in the world of web giants is that they are small enough to give you personalized attention, and yet large enough to be able to easily address the many aspects of your project, including graphic design, advanced programming and marketing support.

Finally, one word of warning as to the cost involved: Unless you opt for a free, open source script, most of the networking software will have a price tag attached to it. Keep in mind that even though you pay the initial fee for a license, you will have to pay extra for all the other things: additional apps and plugins, ads removal, branding removal, etc. So the final price can easily go up to $100 per month, or even more. But don’t despair, and don’t stop here. Do your own research and find the solution that best suits your needs and your budget.