Global Domains International (GDI) is a company that began in 2000 after the initial dot com boom. The story is rather fascinating and there is tons of information about it on the Internet.

But I’m not going to hype it up. I’m just going to present some facts and resources for you to do your own research. I fully believe that if you go into something with your eyes open then you’ll have fewer surprises and you’ll be more committed. There are some good reasons why I believe GDI is the right opportunity for achieving financial freedom.

• No. 1, success breeds success. Already, thousands of people in over 180 countries have achieved financial freedom through GDI. If they can do it, you can do it too.
• No selling involved. This might seem like a strange benefit, but many people do not feel comfortable trying to sell something to someone. With GDI, you don’t have to. Your website will do all the work.
• You can have your own Internet address – for life. Instead of building a vehicle for selling stuff, you can have your own website and Internet address. And you don’t have to build it. GDI has all the materials to make your website a top-notch website that will earn you income for the rest of your life.
• Help others achieve financial freedom. Every day there are thousands of people searching online for money-making opportunities. You can help them find what they are looking for. In fact, the potential for finding leads for your business is unlimited.
• It’s easy. Unlike your day job, you do not have to work all day to bring home that paycheck. Just a few minutes each day and you can achieve financial freedom. GDI, and me, will show you how.

Just so you know that I’m on the up and up (I’m really not blowing smoke up your you-know-what), here are a few sources you can check out on your own to research the validity and truth of what I’m telling you.

The .ws story. Many people choke on the .ws domain name. Don’t. It’s a legitimate domain name extension. They call the .com, .net and .org part of your Internet address a TLD (top level domain). The .ws is a country-code TLD for the nation Western Samoa. There are a lot of these. In fact, you can get the full list of these at Wikipedia.

Is GDI a scam? When people don’t understand something they will often refer to it as a scam. RipOffReport is one site where people will make such a claim. Read the comments on this thread. GDI is a multi-tiered multi-level marketing business. It’s a legitimate business structure that has been used by many other successful companies for years. GDI took the model and applied it to the Internet.

I understand that multi-level marketing (MLM) businesses aren’t for everyone. If it isn’t for you, that’s fine. I’d appreciate you sharing this opportunity with someone who might have an interest. But if you are serious about securing your financial freedom then I highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity right now. Don’t wait. Now is the best time. I’d love to be your sponsor.

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The new rules are centered around six classes of copyrighted works.

1. Motion pictures on DVDs
2. Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications
3. Computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable used wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network
4. Video games accessible on personal computers and protected by technological protection measures that control access to lawfully obtained works
5. Computer programs protected by dongles that prevent access due to malfunction or damage and which are obsolete
6. Literary works distributed in ebook format when all existing ebook editions of the work (including digital text editions made available by authorized entities) contain access controls that prevent the enabling either of the book’s read-aloud function or of screen readers that render the text into a specialized format

For purposes related to this blog post we’re going to discuss the second class:

Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.

Evidently, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington believes that iPhone owners should be able to use their iPhones for computer programs not specific to the iPhone. Quite frankly, I don’t know why Apple executives don’t feel the same way. I mean, you’d think they’d want to sell more iPhones.

Despite being a big Apple fan, this is the right decision, and it doesn’t just apply to Apple. It applies to all phone manufacturers. Reality is, you are buying the phone so you have the right to do with it what you please. It’s as simple as that.

To give you an idea of how things were at the time, the US was consuming 21 million barrels per day (BPD), most of which is for transportation purposes. That is 25% of total global production of oil by only 4% of the world’s population. Of those 21M barrels, 13M are imported, 5M of which come from OPEC, which Pickens and many others have dutifully classified as OUR ENEMEY.

This month Pickens explains his plan to eliminate the 5M BPD from OPEC, first by targeting the 8 million 18-wheelers in the US to convert to natural gas (CNG) which would amount to 2.5M BPD. According to Pickens, this conversion could be accomplished in 7 years. Doing this would put Obama on schedule to “cut all imports of oil from the Mideast in 10 years”, a claim Obama made during his run for presidency.

All this is outlined on the 10:48 video below of T. Boone Pickens on his whiteboard, a follow-up to the day he got started in July 2008.

If you are reading this, take a moment to consider what’s in front of you. Here is a man, an oil man at that, who has essentially dedicated the rest of time here on earth to ensure America’s energy independence, something that US presidents dating back to the 70′s have promised and done nothing to achieve. Here is a man with a plan, something few politicians have and something oil companies are not going to do because the economics are not in it for them.

Case in point…1 mcf of natural gas costs $5 and provides the equivalent of 7 gallons of diesel which at $3 per galling is $21. That is FOUR TIMES the cost. Why would an oil company want that?

America’s energy independence is about social change. It’s about each of us as individuals taking the necessary steps towards our independence, much like what was done in the 1770′s for this great nation to get out from under British rule.

You can start today by signing up at PickensPlan.com and when you do, drop me a note on the site to let me know you did.

Toyota has had a respectable brand name since coming to U.S. shores in 1957. Its reputation really preceded it. By the mid-1960s, Toyota had entrenched its reputation as a great car manufacturer in the United States. While Toyota doesn’t exactly have the sales to prove its commitment to eco-friendly driving, it is recognized as the manufacturer of the most fuel efficient gasoline vehicle on the road – the Prius. But that’s just one vehicle.

Toyota’s success with the Prius coupled with its financial power and Tesla Motors’ commitment to alternative energy in automotive manufacturing make their partnership a very powerful one. The two companies made their finalization announcement last week.

The vehicle the two companies will partner on as a first effort is an electric version of the Toyota RAV4. The RAV4 is a Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive, a compact SUV that really set the market for compact SUVs. Toyota is known for its innovations and that’s why partnering with Tesla Motors to make the RAV4 an all-electric vehicle makes sense.

The RAV4 is expected to hit the streets in 2012. It will feature a Tesla electric drivetrain inside the RAV4 body and integrated with other key components of Toyota manufacturing. The only question that seems to be unanswered regarding the all-electric RAV4 and Toyota’s marriage to Tesla Motors is “Is the market ready for it?” I’m banking that, by 2012, it will be.

Learn more about the 2010 Toyota Prius. Get the latest information on the Tesla Roadster by Tesla Motors.

There are, in fact, more automakers (and not all are U.S.-based) willing to offer vehicles powered by alternative energy than ever before, and it seems that the energy that they may settle on is all-electric. Or is this just false hope?

Here’s a list of some of the manufacturers who have rolled out all-electric vehicles in just the past couple of years:

• General Motors – The 2011 Chevy Volt comes with an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
• Liberty – The manufacturer got its start in 2007, but introduced the all-electric Range Rover SUV in 2010. However, they’ve improved on it in 2011.
• Mitsubishi - The i-MiEV isn’t the most attractive vehicle on the road, but it is one of the less expensive all-electric vehicle options.
• Tesla – You just have to see the Tesla Roadster. You’d be surprised it’s all electric.
• Toyota – Toyota has not done well selling its hybrids so it has partnered up with Tesla to produce all-electric vehicles. None have hit the market yet, but the company plans to introduce all-electric vehicles outside its Tesla partnership in 2012.
• Nissan – Nissan got in on the all-electric market early with the LEAF.
• Smart – You know those funny-looking European cars? They now have a scooter equivalent that will be powered by all-electric energy.
• Citroen – The French automaker has its own sports car powered electrically.
• Luxgen – Even Taiwan automaker Luxgen is going electric with the Luxgen 7 all-electric MPV.
• Volkswagen - Look for it in 2013.
• Th!nk – A Norwegian company with an American division. Think Ox will hit the streets soon.
• Electric City Motors - Manufactures the all-electric vehicle the Current.
• Chrysler – Chrysler created an entire division for all-electric production: ENVI.

With so many traditional automakers introducing all-electric vehicles, you’d think this was a big market to tap. The current political and social landscape in the U.S. makes me think it is. Al Gore preached about the evils of the internal combustion engine and he was laughed off the planet, but now it seems that all the auto manufacturers that are worth a darn are singing his praises. Maybe not literally, but figuratively in the act of rolling out their all-electric creations.

General Electric has manufactured a charger for the vehicles. Nissan and Chevrolet are fighting over a passing gear. And Nissan offers further encouragement by offering to plant a tree on your behalf.

Clearly fuel and energy alternatives are here and making their footprint. Like the days of Cable vs. DSL, the alternatives are battling things out for a shot at mainstream.

Independence Day was a special day for NASCAR, Joe Nemechek and Hostgator, the Web hosting company, and it has more to do with than just fireworks.

The Internet company sponsored Nemechek’s car for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on July 4, but the company is also extending that sponsorship beyond the race.

The sponsorship also extends to Nemechek’s Nationwide Car for its upcoming races at Chicagoland Speedway, Gateway International Raceway, and O’Reilly Raceway Park.

A part of what makes this sponsorship special for NASCAR is that Hostgator is a sponsor of green initiatives. Having an environmentally friendly company sponsor one of the most criticized sports like NASCAR is a step in the right direction and we may soon start seeing race cars on the track sporting more modern eco-friendly features with hybrid technology, natural gas or even all-electric.

Here’s an example of Hostgator’s commitment to green energy:

Earlier this year, HostGator.com announced a renewed commitment to keep more than 1,800 of its web hosting servers green through Renewable Energy Certificates for wind farms in the state of Texas.

We’ll be looking for more marriages like this between traditional auto industry professionals and green companies in the future. Meanwhile, read more great stories about automotive green technologies.

The question is, is that a good bet?

Consumers don’t seem to be all that interested in all electric or hybrid cars. Maybe they’ll be interested in natural gas. The problem is, there aren’t that many fueling centers for natural gas. Here’s the dilemma:

“It’s a chicken-and-egg thing,” Hill explained. “If there were a lot of delivery points, [automakers] would make the vehicles. And fuel providers say that if there were more vehicles, they would provide the fuel. You probably needed some sort of government intervention to subsidize more fuel stations.”

Perhaps GM is testing the market. If the automaker can create a demand for natural gas vehicles then perhaps more service stations will begin offering natural gas filling centers. Then, if more service stations begin providing natural gas more automakers will start making these vehicles to fill the demand. Or, maybe it’s all just a pipe dream.

But you do have to hand it to GM for making the move. For decades, automakers have been fixated on body style design and technological innovations. This is a welcome change.

There are two ways to pump up demand for natural gas vehicles and cars powered by other alternative energy sources. One is a free market solution and the other involves government grants, or investments.

1. The free market solution so far has not worked too well. Automakers have been building eco-friendly vehicles for years. Drivers just haven’t been interested in them. One reason is because they are so expensive coming off the floor. But new technologies generally are more expensive until they are widely accepted. Maybe we just haven’t reached the point in the marketplace where consumers are willing to make the commitment.
2. Government subsidies could open the floodgates to alternative energy. Grants for service stations to add natural gas pumps might create more demand for the vehicles. Or perhaps the federal government could subsidize the building of the vehicles and offer incentives to consumers to purchase and drive natural gas vehicles, which would spark the demand for more fuel.

Whether you are a proponent of supply-side solutions or demand-side injections, one thing is clear: If natural gas is to be the sexy solution that GM is banking on it being then something has to give. The endless tug of war between supply and demand will need to break.

Click here for more great reads on the use of alternative energies in the automotive industry.

Nissan is leading the way with its Nissan LEAF, a vehicle based on electric power and zero emissions.

“Nissan is committed to affordable, sustainable mobility. What we’re doing here will radically transform the automotive experience for consumers. Today is a major step in helping create a green economy in the United States,” said Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Mr. Ghosn continued:

“Production of Nissan LEAF and lithium-ion batteries in Smyrna brings the United States closer to its goal of energy independence, creates green jobs and helps sustain American manufacturing. Nissan is a leader in global manufacturing innovation, and this state-of-the-art battery plant will strengthen that leadership.”

LEAF is an acronym that stands for Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car. It is a huge step forward in the green movement with a 100% electric vehicle that is affordable and is good for the environment.

Production for the vehicle is to begin in 2012.

Prior to production of the LEAF by Nissan, the plant will begin producing lithium-ion batteries, another technological product that is good for the environment and that will enthuse green advocates. The Nissan plant is expected to provide a good number of jobs and help improve the economy as well.

Reasons cited for going with Saginaw over Corpus include 7 years of employment tax credits and $10 million in tax credits. You can read more about that news at MLive.

One of the reasons for looking at Saginaw in the first place has to do with other industry already located there. Local leaders are proud of the fact that Saginaw has a strong interest and a huge leg in the alternative energy R&D sector. As the nation begins to move toward alternative energy and toward energy independence, these plants – and Saginaw, Michigan itself – could prove to be an important aspect of the nation’s energy needs.

This statement from the above linked-to story illustrates how local Saginaw leaders perceive GlobalWatt’s presence in their area:

Officials locally say GlobalWatt would fit well with solar industry growth they are pushing in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

With other businesses like Hemlock Semiconductor and Dow Corning in the area, Saginaw looks to be a major player in alternative energy, particularly solar technology. It looks like GlobalWatt is a feather in the cap of Saginaw, Michigan industry.

Despite the fact that the state of Michigan lobbied like heck to get this deal and wrapped it with huge incentives to get its own sputtering economy revived, the element of this that seems to be overlooked is the tie in to how the push towards energy independence in the USA is one of the best avenues to fixing the broken US auto industry. Granted it is automobiles that will fix the auto industry, it’s sustainable energy solutions that can help the loss jobs recovery, and this deal is the perfect example.

Expected to generate to more than 2700 indirect jobs in the area by 2016, including 500 direct jobs, this deal epitomizes how such a deal can and will create jobs in the sustainable energy industry to replace jobs that were lost as a result of the crumbling auto industry.

Founded by two U-Penn engineering grads Jay Parekh and Aakash Mathur who have set out to change the world, literally, Hydros Bottle is a reusable filtered water bottle designed with a filter that enables you to run tap water through with no lag so that you always have filtered drinking water on hand with you where you bring the Hydros Bottle.

So simple, yet so ingenious.

Now, a good invention is often an obvious idea once you see it. But the invention is not even the half of it. What impressed me the most was Parekh’s and Mathur’s social mission to improve the quality of drinking water worldwide with Operation Hydros.

With Operation Hydros, $1 from each Hydros Bottle sold will go towards a water infrastructure project designed to be socially, economically, and environmentally viable. Such sustainable development projects meet the needs of people today without compromising those of tomorrow.

For their first project, Hydros Bottle has partnered with the Engineers Without Borders USA to deliver fresh water to the village of Gundom. Once they have set aside enough funds to meet the current and expected future financial needs of the Gundom project, Hydros Bottle intends to do a second project to support.

Below is a 1-minute video we agreed to do for Hydros Bottle because we were so taken by their cause and wanted to go a little farther to help support their cause. You can visit the Hydros Bottle Facebook Fan page to keep up with everything they have going on. We too hope to keep up with them and help make their endeavor a success which I have no doubt will be.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtiSEsBw3mw[/youtube]

Shouts out to Jay & Aakash for the great demo and a sample bottle. I have been using it every day and plan to buy some as Christmas presents later this year.

Hydros Bottle™ holds more than water. It is a chance to help the 1.1 billion people who do not have access to clean drinking water.