Everyone's talking about Gmail, but it's still only a handful of lucky ducks who have snagged an account. And while the rest of us go hungry, you can be sure that the best email addresses are being gulped down by nefarious hooligans.

Higher PR page in Diamonds/Jewelry Industry links to our website get one Gmail invite!

I got a couple of Gmail invites from some of our clients the other day. I would like to do a swap with you - if you are in Diamonds/Jewelry Industry, and have a website which has at least PageRank 6 (ranked by Google®), and would make a link to http://www.DiamondsChina.com/  from that webpage and promise to keep that link for at least 1 year - then you can get one! This offer ends on 30-Aug-2004 01:00 GMT. So hurry up and write emails to me now! You have nothing to lose, only make a link to our website then you get a Gmail. (This offer is NOT affiliated with or endorsed by Google)

More info

What is Gmail?
Gmail is a free webmail service from Google, the people who do the search engine. Like Hotmail, but better.

Gmail offers 1000MB of web based storage space. It's fast, no monthly fees, with nice interface and it's from Google!

Why would I want Gmail?
There are lots of reasons. Gmail has a clean, easy interface, without any annoying banner ads. Gmail blocks spam. And Gmail offers you 1 gigabyte of space for your emails: you'll never have to delete a message again.

Can I sign up for Gmail?
Not in a straightforward way. Google's still smoothing out the kinks, and isn't letting everyone register. The only way to get an account is to be invited by a Google employee, by certain current Gmail subscribers, or by certain "active" users of Blogger.

GMail is currently limited to private Beta testers - be among the first to sign up your original name before this service open to the public. You have the opportunity to choose your preferred username instead of random number attached to your username. Write emails to me and Get it now before its open to the general public and all the good addresses are gone.

Getting Started with Gmail Welcome to Gmail - a new approach to email from Google. This guide will introduce you to many of Gmail's features, most of which are not offered by other webmail services.  A new view of your inbox The old way When you read a message, you have to rely on your memory to recall what was said in previous emails about the same subject. The Gmail way Each message you send is grouped with all the responses you receive. Grouping related messages creates meaningful 'conversations.' When you open a message in a conversation, all of your messages will be stacked neatly on top of each other, like a deck of cards. We call this 'Conversation View.' As new replies arrive, your stack of cards grows. Grouping messages this way allows you to quickly retrieve related messages and view all your messages in context. A more flexible filing system  The old way You create an elaborate filing system of folders and subfolders, then decide where to file a single message. The Gmail way Instead of folders, Gmail uses labels to give you the functionality of folders, but with more flexibility. In Gmail, a single conversation can have several labels, so you're not forced to choose one particular folder for each message you receive. That way, if a conversation covers more than one topic, you can retrieve it with any of the labels that you've applied to it. And, of course, you can always search for it. Don't waste time deleting messages The old way You have to delete messages on a regular basis so that you don't run out of storage space. The Gmail way With 1,000 megabytes of storage, the typical user can go for years without deleting a single message. You never know when you might need a message again, but with traditional webmail services, you delete it and it's gone forever. With Gmail, you can easily archive your messages instead, so they'll still be accessible when you need them. If you decide you no longer want a message in your Inbox, just hit the 'Archive' button and the message will still be available in 'All Mail' or through a search. An easy way to see all your messages at once The old way You only have a few options for managing messages: file them, delete them, print them, or leave them in your Inbox. The Gmail way Gmail simplifies this process by placing your messages in 'All Mail' when you use the archive function. 'All Mail' is the holding place for all of the messages you've sent or received, but not deleted. When you delete a message, it's gone forever. With Gmail, you have enough storage space to last for years without deleting a single message. Just archive everything and all your messages will be searchable and easily accessible. Search that actually works The old way You dig through your folders or search, but still can't find messages that you know are in your email. The Gmail way You have a variety of search options that return speedy, accurate results. Gmail features built-in Google search, and as with Google's keyword-based web search, Gmail returns fast, accurate results. As long as you archive instead of delete, you'll be able to find any message you've ever sent or received. Having reliable search also eliminates the need to create elaborate folder structures. Now you can just stick a label (or two or three) on a conversation and search by label, keyword, date range or a host of other options.

Gmail is more promise than threat, ZDNET UK
http://comment.zdnet.co.uk/rupertgoodwins/0,39020691,39152540,00.htm

What is PageRank^TM and how can I check my rank?

Google's patented technology: http://www.google.com/technology/
Use a Google toolbar is one of the best ways to check PageRank of every page, http://toolbar.google.com/

Special Notice from RAPAPORT®

RAPAPORT are pleased to present RAPAPORT new Princess Cut Price list. This price list replaces the Emerald Cut price list and is intended for use with Princess Cuts, Emerald Cuts, Radiants, Asscher Cuts, Cushion Cuts and other square or rectangular cut diamonds. The discounts from this Princess Cut price list will be much lower than the discounts from the Pear Shape price list and will vary depending on the supply/demand conditions for specific sizes and qualities.

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING DISCOUNTS AND THE USE OF THE PEAR SHAPE LIST:

The dealer markets have traditionally used the Pear Shape price list to establish pricing indications for Princess Cuts and other square cut diamonds. Discounts for Princess Cuts from the Pear Shape Price list have been relatively high. Prices on the new Princess Cut price list reflect a significantly lower "normal" level of discounts similar to the discounts for rounds from the round price list. Please note that effective immediately RAPAPORT INDEX®- Internet Diamond Exchange and RapNet®diamond trading networks will use this new Princess Cut price list for all square/rectangular shapes.

BUYERS PLEASE NOTE:

The introduction of RAPAPORT new Princess Cut price list at prices lower than the Pear Shape price list does not reflect any lowering of Princess Cut prices. On the contrary, Princess Cut prices are strong and getting stronger. The reason RAPAPORT Princess Cut prices are lower than Pear Shape prices is because RAPAPORT have adjusted RAPAPORT new prices to allow for a much lower level of discounts from the Princess Cut price list. Buyers should not expect to be able to buy Princess Cuts from the Princess Cut price list at the same high discounts they were getting for Princess Cuts from the Pear Shape price list. RAPAPORT expect discounts from RAPAPORT new Princess Cut price list to be in range with the discounts commonly offered for round diamonds.

©Copyright 1982-2004 by Martin Rapaport. All rights reserved.

Good to see a new jewelry retailer, Blue Nile Inc. (NILE), went public last Thursday at $20.50 and closed last Friday at $32.82 -- a 60% jump. I've heard from some source that Blue Nile had announced plans to go public in March. Unlike other industries, in diamonds business, there are not many companies came public. They just have a very simple philosophy as Offer high-quality diamonds and fine jewelry at outstanding prices. And the results they achieve is a miracle, the market is really embracing Blue Nile.

The mass media recently warn all Internet users a new worm,W32.Sasser.Worm, is widely spread. Unlike other worms infected by emails or email attachments, the Sasser attacks computers through broadband connections between millions of computers worldwide. According to the NAI, "this self-executing worm spreads by exploiting a Microsoft Windows vulnerability [MS04-011 vulnerability (CAN-2003-0533)]"

The worm spreads with the file name: avserve.exe . Unlike many recent worms, this virus does not spread via email. No user intervention is required to become infected or propagate the virus further. The worm works by instructing vulnerable systems to download and execute the viral code.

The virus copies itself to the Windows directory as avserve.exe and creates a registry run key to load itself at startup

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Run "avserve.exe" = C:\WINDOWS\avserve.exe
As the worm scans random ip addresses it listens on successive TCP ports starting at 1068. It also acts as an FTP server on TCP port 5554, and creates a remote shell on TCP port 9996.

A file named win.log is created on the root of the C: drive. This file contains the IP address of the localhost.

Copies of the worm are created in the Windows System directory as #_up.exe.

Examples

c:\WINDOWS\system32\11583_up.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\16913_up.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\29739_up.exe
A side-effect of the worm is for LSASS.EXE to crash, by default such system will reboot after the crash occurs. The following Window may be displayed:



This worm spreads by exploiting a recent Microsoft vulnerability, spreading from machine to machine with no user intervention required.

Infected systems should install the Microsoft update to be protected from the exploit used by this worm. See:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-011.mspx 


Please update your virusscan defintions if you've installed one, or use NAI's McAfee AVERT Stinger to detect and remove the virus:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

You can also try one of the following antivirus software vendors' web sites:

Computer Associates:
http://www3.ca.com/threatinfo/virusinfo/virus.aspx?id=39012

F-secure:
http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/sasser.shtml

Network Associates:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_125007.htm

Norman:
http://www.norman.com/Virus/Virus_descriptions/14919/en-us?show=default

Panda:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/encyclopedia/overview.aspx?IdVirus=46865&sind=0

Sophos:
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/articles/sasser.html

Symantec:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sasser.worm.html

Trend Micro:
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM_SASSER.A

It is reported that "Mesothelioma" become probably the highest-paying-keyword thus far, and by the end of this month both Yahoo! and Google will ban or reject currently highest-paid "online casino" ads because US federal authorities increase the pressure on the media to stop "aiding and abetting" offshore Internet casinos that have been illegally accepting bets in the United States. Mesothelioma literally means a usually malignant tumor of mesothelial tissue, especially that of the pleura or peritoneum, but in fact, the "Mesothelioma attorney" is the highest paying one, guess what? such cases mostly are highly cash paid, and lawyers say a typical award in a mesothelioma settlement is $1 million, and attorneys get 40%. I ever think of my industry, the highest ones only worth $8 or $2 for a click, but according to the report, Mesothelioma ranges from $70-$110 for single a click, and most personal-injury law firms still hard to buy one, weird...

AdSense changes something big after April 1, 2004, many publishers feel the uncertainties and I noticed a very long thread on the WebMasterWorld's forum, so far totally 16 pages with 30 posts each on that single thread titled "Major changes to AdSense", how long or how popular -- if print whole on letter-size paper could be 143 pages! To most the posters there apparently earnings slump comparing to previous month's performance, even some got stomachache because of that change.

While few reported a jump because of this tweak of AdSense. In fact on the day one my earnings increased a lot, then day two it even touched three-month-lowest while page impressions still soar. I don't want to complain about it like others, I do really want to know how to improve it. The market force, as always, will have its way. I ask myself "How will I benefit from this change?" "What is the specific result I am committed to achieving?"I reread the email from Google about this change many times, and read that thread thoroughly...

It's time to stop ANXIETY now, let's try something to Cure ourselves, and enjoy life again to the full, like you used to, free from anxiety and panic:

1. How to Stop Your Anxiety Now! buy @ $59.95
2. The Linden Method buy @ $82.50

Today is April 4, 2004, most areas of US, on local time 2:00am DST (daylight savings time) started, for instance, at NYC today, just 1 second after 01:59:59 EST(-0500 UTC) was 03:00:00 EDT(-0400 UTC). But our server located in Arizona, where don't have daylight savings time, still use Standard Time, MST(-0700 UTC).

Even now, most businessperson still feel confused about the DST and time zone differences, I had to inform them occasionally, but it somehow complicated...

DST stands for Daylight Saving Time, also referred to as Summer Time. Daylight Saving Time is used in many locations around the world as a time adjustment to local clocks, hoping to take greater advantage of available natural light during the summer months. But not all areas started at the same time, in fact in Europe and Russia DST started last week on March 28, 2004.

Today I just notice some Alexa users comes from Amazon website, thanks for bring traffic and good reviews.

I've just noticed something like that, when searching the Internet for the keyphrase "diamond rings", dozens of "sponsored adverts" competing for that. Apparently Yahoo!, Google and MSN now go after this huge Internet searching market - a US$20b yearly, who says "there is no money ..." . And it’s been predicted that online transactions in 2004 will reach $6.8 trillion ... we are all going to win our share...