Last-minute Conficker survival guide

Tomorrow -- April 1 -- is D-Day for Conficker, as whatever nasty payload it's packing is currently set to activate. What happens come midnight is a mystery: Will it turn the millions of infected computers into spam-sending zombie robots? Or will it start capturing everything you type -- passwords, credit card numbers, etc. -- and send that information back to its masters?

No one knows, but we'll probably find out soon.

Or not. As Slate notes, Conficker is scheduled to go "live" on April 1, but whoever's controlling it could choose not to wreak havoc but instead do absolutely nothing, waiting for a time when there's less heat. They can do this because the way Conficker is designed is extremely clever: Rather than containing a list of specific, static instructions, Conficker reaches out to the web to receive updated marching orders via a huge list of websites it creates. Conficker.C -- the latest bad boy -- will start checking 50,000 different semi-randomly-generated sites a day looking for instructions, so there's no way to shut down all of them. If just one of those sites goes live with legitimate instructions, Conficker keeps on trucking.

Conficker's a nasty little worm that takes serious efforts to bypass your security defenses, but you aren't without some tools in your arsenal to protect yourself.

Your first step should be the tools you already have: Windows Update, to make sure your computer is fully patched, and your current antivirus software, to make sure anything that slips through the cracks is caught.

But if Conficker's already on your machine, it may bypass certain subsystems and updating Windows and your antivirus at this point may not work. If you are worried about anything being amiss -- try booting into Safe Mode, which Conficker prevents, to check -- you should run a specialized tool to get rid of Conficker.

Microsoft offers a web-based scanner (note that some users have reported it crashed their machines; I had no trouble with it), so you might try one of these downloadable options instead: Symantec's Conficker (aka Downadup) tool, Trend Micro's Cleanup Engine, or Malwarebytes. Conficker may prevent your machine from accessing any of these websites, so you may have to download these tools from a known non-infected computer if you need them. Follow the instructions given on each site to run them successfully. (Also note: None of these tools should harm your computer if you don't have Conficker.)

As a final safety note, all users -- whether they're worried about an infection or know for sure they're clean -- are also wise to make a full data backup today.

What won't work? Turning your PC off tonight and back on on April 2 will not protect you from the worm (sorry to the dozens of people who wrote me asking if this would do the trick). Temporarily disconnecting your computer from the web won't help if the malware is already on your machine -- it will simply activate once you connect again. Changing the date on your PC will likely have no helpful effect, either. And yes, Macs are immune this time out. Follow the above instructions to detect and remove the worm.

Get Paid from Work Online Data Entry at Home

Job Title: Work From Home Part Time Data Entry Positions
Job Id: 6405
Employer Name: Data Direct Services
Employer Address: N/A
Posted Date: Mar 26, 2009
Position Type: Part-Time
City: Ottawa
Salary: $50000 - $100000 per year
Job Description:
Work From Home Freelance Entry Level Online Data Entry / Typing Jobs.

Make Money Online - Fill Out Simple Web Forms at Home.

Easily Make $200 ~ $500 Per Day. Guaranteed Paychecks.

Work from Home Freelance Online Data Entry / Typing Jobs are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to make money online.

Online advertising has skyrocketed over the past few years. In 2007, companies spent close to $15 billion advertising online. That figure is expected to increase substantially in 2008. What does this mean for you? Money is going into your bank account a lot faster this year. And next year. And the year after.

You see, companies worldwide are desperately searching for people just like you to type up their ads and post them online, and they'll pay you nicely in return. It's a win-win situation. They get more customers, you get paid. It's as simple as that.

All you need to get started is a computer with internet access. What you'll be doing is posting short text ads for companies and submitting them in various online forms. That's it! No prior skills or experience needed on your part. You don't need any degree in marketing to do this. Heck, you didn't even have to finish high school !

Register Online !

http://tinyurl.com/DataEntryWorkersNeeded


Requirement

You don't need any Special Skills, Training or Experience. All you need is your computer with internet access.

Simply follow the Step by Step instructions and start making money within minutes of joining.

Work from home at your own time. Anyone from any where in the world can do this job. Available Worldwide. Start making good amount of money working just 45 minutes a day.

Limited Full Time/Part Time Positions Available. Register before all are occupied.

This is a perfect work at home job for stay at home moms, students, retirees or anyone who is looking to make some extra cash.


Register Online !

http://tinyurl.com/DataEntryWorkersNeeded










Data Entry Workers come from many different backgrounds:
sales, customer service, manager, marketing, accounting, clerical, management, consultant, administrative, computer, engineer, shipping, construction, administrative assistant, operator, account executive, human resources, receptionist, entry level, healthcare, manufacturing, purchasing, sports, driver, warehouse, director, finance, hotel, cruise, retail, part time, security, maintenance, teacher, student, medical, analyst, accountant, engineering, real estate, data entry, technician, printing, insurance, customer service, automotive, controller, network, internship, telecommunications, nursing, trainer, work at home, information technology, banking, restaurant, teller, nurse, part-time, software, waiter, waitress, hostess, rebate processor, clerks, clerical, online surveys, graphic design, project management, secretary, design, call center, art, photography, publishing, advertising, supervisor, public relations, office, medical assistant, payroll, hotel, electrical, safety, executive assistant, transportation, federal, teaching, communications, programmer, mortgage, c++, php, javascript, pharmaceutical, office manager, clerk, social services, college, internet, dental, bartender, accounts payable, it, truck driver, chef, consultant, work from home, restaurant, hospitality & stay at home moms.
Contact Person: Michelle Taylor
Phone: N/A
Fax: N/A
Web Site: www.miniurl.org/MakeMoneyNow

Mendulang Dollar gratis dari Periklanan

http://www.gptoffers.com/home?ref=genevieve2009

Program CASH FIESTA Website pendulang dollar

CASHFIESTA, apa ini?
Adalah situs pendulang dollar paling terkemuka saat ini. Hanya dengan memberikan sedikit tempat bagi banner mereka, browsing kita tidak terganggu dollar lancar masuk. benar-benar mantab karena kita tetap bisa fokus browsing sementara point pendulang dolar jalan terus. Bagaimana detail cara kerjanya? Mohon pelajari dengan cermat ya……

CASHFIESTA
It makes you money!
We’ll pay you to view and explore ads displayed on the FiestaBar.
(Kami akan membayarmu, atas iklan-iklan yang tampil di FiestaBar)

Seperti Televisi Setiap orang yg memasang iklan di TV akan membayar jasa periklanan pada pihak TV. Sama dengan Cashfiesta, yang membayar jasa kepada kita, atas pemasangan iklan pada Layar Monitor kita (ketika kita connect di internet). Besarnya jasa pengiklanan itu dihitung dengan POINT yang langsung dapat kita monitor di FiestaBar…

Langkah-langkah :
DAFTAR
Harus punya account di Cashfiesta, cara nya gampang, tinggal daftar aja di link ini :
http://www.cashfiesta.com/php/join.php?ref=masheriyo
Pendaftaran Gratis (free),

nb :
pada ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Your interest …………
JANGAN DIPILIH :
Friendship and Datting
Gambling
Gaming
alasannya :
Karena dikhawatirkan yg masuk, iklan2 dari situs porno dan judi. (tapi terserah anda saja!!!)

DOWNLOAD FiestaBar
Setelah Kita terdaftar, Kita download FiestaBar,

FiestaBar adalah media yg digunakan Cashfiesta memasang iklan pada layar monitor kita, Bentuknya seperti Banner, jadi ketika menjalankan FiestaBar maka 1/8 layar monitor kita akan digunakan sebagai media iklan (sambil kita bisa tetap browsing internet dengan lancar)

INSTAL FiestaBar

It’s not spyware: It can’t monitor your online or offline activities.
It’s not malware: It can’t take control of or damage your computer.
It’s not bundled with other software. All you get is the FiestaBar

Kita Instal FiestaBar pada Komputer kita, Nggak ada 1 menit sudah terinstal (tinggal klik next, next, next,… fisnish) Tip’s buat pengguna Warnet….
Copy Instaler FiestaBar pada Flasdisk atau media lain, jd setiap anda ganti computer (di warnet) tinggal di install lagi aja….(nggak ada 1 menit)

*
o Who I Want to Meet:

Kita Jalankan FiestaBar
Masukkan user dan password nya

Bila sudah ada Banner di Layar monitor, berarti Cashfiesta sudah berjalan dan mulai menghasilkan Dollars,,,,

Bila sudah muncul Iklan, arahkan saja Pointer ke FiestaBoy (Animasi Anak Kecil) di bagian kiri FiestaBar (pada awalnya dia hanya duduk/tdr)

Saya baca di penjelasannya, bahwa :

1.000 Point = 1 $
1.000 Point = 2 $ (hari libur)

Gratis Internetan :
Setelah saya rata2,
Point yg kita dapat selama 1 jam = 500 point,
Jadi tiap 2 jam kita dapat 1000 Point
(1000 Point = 1 $)
1$ = Rp. 9.000,-
Biaya Internet per jam rata2 Rp. 3.000,- (6.000 untuk 2 Jam)
Pendapatan Kita 2 Jam = 9.000 – 6.000 = 3.000
So Kita GRATIS INTERNETAN plus DAPAT UANG

Point kita akan terus bertambah hanya bila FiestaBoy berjalan,

Nb :
Point tidak bertambah bila FiestaBoy duduk/tidur
Caranya kita tinggal arahkan Pointer ke FiestaBoy (dia akan berjalan kembali)

Program Pendulang Dollar CPM

Dalam membuat blog, tentunya kita akan merasa gembira bila dapat menghasilkan uang dari internet. Sambil terus berusaha mengoptimalkan blog kita, biar tambah semangat yuk kita intip beberapa program yang dapat memberi kita dollar.

Ternyata ada banyak model CPM (Cost Per Million) alternatif maupun PPC (Pay Per Click) alternatif selain Google AdSense. Dalam CPM program-program iklan membayar blog kita berdasarkan pengunjung yang datang ke blog tersebut dan melihat iklan. Sedangkan dalam PPC pembayaran dilakukan berdasarkan berapa orang pengunjung yang meng-klik iklan tersebut. Program-program iklan tersebut antara lain (dikutip dari buku "Monetizing" Your Blogger Now! karangan Adam Pahlevi Baihaqi) :

1. AdsDaq
Untuk mengikuti program AdsDag ini tidak ada persyaratan khusus bahkan program advertising AdsGaq dapat digunakan oleh negara mana saja. Situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://www.adsdaq.com/

2. Ad Dynamix
Untuk mengikuti program ini juga tidak ada persyaratan khusus. Tapi katanya Ad Dynamix tidak seserius AdsDaq karena itu custorew Ad Dynamix lebih sedikit daripada customer yang dimiliki AdsDaq. Situs ini dapat dilihat di http://www.addynamix.com/

3. ValueClick
Persyaratannya 3,000 pageviews per month. Katanya sih ValueClick terkesan pilih-pilih terhadap situs mana yang mereka approve. Situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://www.valueclickmedia.com/

4. Morning Falls
Persyaratannya 10,000 pageviews per month, jasa-jasa customer hebat, pengimplementasian mudah, dan laporan harian mudah dimengerti. Program CPM Morning Falls ini hebat dan baik digunakan untuk beginner (tentu saja yang sudah memenuhi persyaratan 10000 page views per month). Situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://www.morningfalls.com/

5. CPX Interactive
Persyaratan 10,000 pageviews per month. Merupakan program CPM yang menarik karena CPX interactive menghadirkan iklan dengan model game. Situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://www.cpxinteractive.com/

6. Burst Media
Merupakan media advertising bagi para publisher yang sudah berpengalaman. Laporannya agak susah dipahami. Kunjungi situs mereka di http://www.burstmedia.com/

7. Casale Media
Persyaratan 10,000 unique visitors per month. Merupakan ad-publisher yang mengesankan, butuh pengalaman. Yang dapat mengikuti program ini hanya situs yang memiliki jumlah pengunjung yang terkendali dan banyak (10,000 visitor unik). Casale Media memiliki jaringan yang luas, situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://casalemedia.com/

8. Tribal Fusion
Persyaratan 60,000 unique visitors per month. Merupakan ad-publisher yang berpengaruh kuat, bergantung pada niche blog kita. Tribal Fusion memberikan beribu-ribu situs yang memiliki kategori yang sama dengan kita. Situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://www.tribalfusion.com/

9. Brightroll
Persyaratan 100,000 video views dan 250,000 pageviews per month. Sangat cocok untuk situs penyedia video. Persyaratan yang tinggi membuat Brightroll hanya dapat dimiliki publisher yang benar-benar advance. Situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://www.brightroll.com/

10. Adtegrity
Persyaratan 500,000 pageviews per month. Adtegrity merupakan jaringan customer yang bagus dan mungkin menjadi leader dari advertising network. Situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://www.adtegrity.com/

11. Advertising.com
Persyaratan 2 million pageviews per month. Karena tingginya persyaratan yang diminta, tidak semua orang dapat menggunakan jasanya. Situs ini dapat dikunjungi di http://www.advertising.com/

12. Video Egg
Persyaratan 10 million video views per month. Video Egg berkonsentrasi bagi publisher online video dengan jumlah video views yang tinggi. Situs ini dapat dikunjungi d http://www.videoegg.com/

Wah ternyata kebanyakan program ini mensyaratkan jumlah pengunjung / page view minimum ya. Wah harus lebih giat meningkatkan Alexa Rank dan jumlah trafik nih...Ayo terus belajar strategi internet marketing.

Women and Diabetes

Today, almost 21 million children and adults in the US have diabetes -- including 9.7 million women -- and almost one third of them do not know it. Diabetes can be especially hard on women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique, because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children. Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy such as a miscarriage or a baby born with birth defects. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without diabetes.
Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States, and it has no cure. For women who do not currently have diabetes, pregnancy brings the risk of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes develops in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies but disappears when a pregnancy is over. Women who have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a baby weighting more than 9 pounds are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
The prevalence of diabetes is at least 2-4 times higher among African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, and Asian/Pacific Islander women than among white women. The risk for diabetes also increases with age. Because of the increasing lifespan of women and the rapid growth of minority populations, the number of women in the United States at high risk for diabetes and its complications is increasing.
ADA's Women and Diabetes Workgroup
Because of the significant impact diabetes has on women, the American Diabetes Association created the Women and Diabetes Workgroup. Its mission is to represent, involve, and affect all women in our efforts to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of people affected by this disease. This will be accomplished through gender and culturally tailored strategies to direct the Association's activities and through targeted research, information, and advocacy efforts.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.
In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.

Major Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetesResults from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes Immediately after pregnancy, 5% to 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have diabetes, usually, type 2.
Pre-diabetes Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 57 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 23.6 million with diabetes.
Additional Information

Recently Diagnosed You or someone you love has just been diagnosed with diabetes -- chances are you have a million questions running through your head. This area of our Web site can help ease your fears and teach you more about living with diabetes or caring for someone with diabetes, and connect you with others affected by diabetes who will listen and share their own experiences.
Diabetes Learning Center Take the first steps toward better diabetes care by visiting the Diabetes Learning Center -- an area for people who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, or those needing basic information.
Diabetes SymptomsOften diabetes goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Learn what they are in this section.

Diabetes Risk Test 23.6 million Americans have diabetes -- nearly one in four does not know it! Take our diabetes risk test to see if you are at risk for having diabetes. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Diabetes MythsFind the truth about some of the most common myths about diabetes.
Diabetes StatisticsWith so many people affected by diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has compiled statistics on the impact of diabetes and its complications. We have statistics listed by population, complication, and economic impact.
The Genetics of DiabetesYou've probably wondered how you got diabetes. You may worry that your children will get it too. Unlike some traits, diabetes does not seem to be inherited in a simple pattern. Yet clearly, some people are born more likely to get diabetes than others.
Who's on your health care team?No matter what kind of diabetes you have, it affects many parts of your life. You can get help from health professionals trained to focus on different areas, from head to toe. A health care team helps you use the health care system to its fullest. So whom do you need on your team? Find out here.
Books & MagazinesVisit our bookstore for a variety of cookbooks, meal planners, self-care guides and other educational materials to assist you in managing diabetes.

Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies for Diabetes

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, defines complementary and alternative medicine as a "group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine." Complementary medicine is used with conventional therapy, whereas alternative medicine is used instead of conventional medicine.
Some people with diabetes use complementary or alternative therapies to treat diabetes. Although some of these therapies may be effective, others can be ineffective or even harmful. Patients who use complementary and alternative medicine need to let their health care providers know what they are doing.
Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies are discussed below. For more information, talk with your health care provider.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a procedure in which a practitioner inserts needles into designated points on the skin. Some scientists believe that acupuncture triggers the release of the body's natural painkillers. Acupuncture has been shown to offer relief from chronic pain. Acupuncture is sometimes used by people with neuropathy, the painful nerve damage of diabetes.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a technique that helps a person become more aware of and learn to deal with the body's response to pain. This alternative therapy emphasizes relaxation and stress-reduction techniques. Guided imagery is a relaxation technique that some professionals who use biofeedback do. With guided imagery, a person thinks of peaceful mental images, such as ocean waves. A person may also include the images of controlling or curing a chronic disease, such as diabetes. People using this technique believe their condition can be eased with these positive images.
Chromium
The benefit of added chromium for diabetes has been studied and debated for several years. Several studies report that chromium supplementation may improve diabetes control. Chromium is needed to make glucose tolerance factor, which helps insulin improve its action. Because of insufficient information on the use of chromium to treat diabetes, no recommendations for supplementation yet exist.
Ginseng
Several types of plants are referred to as ginseng but most studies of ginseng and diabetes have used American ginseng. Those studies have shown some glucose-lowering effects in fasting and post-prandial (after meal) blood glucose levels as well as in A1C levels (average blood glucose levels over a 3-month period). However, larger and more long-term studies are needed before general recommendations for use of ginseng can be made. Researchers also have determined that the amount of glucose-lowering compound in ginseng plants varies widely.
Magnesium
Although the relationship between magnesium and diabetes has been studied for decades, it is not yet fully understood. Studies suggest that a deficiency in magnesium may worsen blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that a deficiency of magnesium interrupts insulin secretion in the pancreas and increases insulin resistance in the body's tissues. Evidence suggests that a deficiency of magnesium may contribute to certain diabetes complications. A recent analysis showed that people with higher dietary intakes of magnesium (through consumption of whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables) had a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Vanadium
Vanadium is a compound found in tiny amounts in plants and animals. Early studies showed that vanadium normalized blood glucose levels in animals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A recent study found that when people with diabetes were given vanadium, they developed a modest increase in insulin sensitivity and were able to decrease their insulin requirements. Currently researchers want to understand how vanadium works in the body, discover potential side effects, and establish safe dosages.
Additional Information on Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies for Diabetes
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse collects resource information on diabetes for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Reference Collection. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources. The NIDDK Reference Collection is a service of the National Institutes of Health.
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information WayBethesda, MD 20892–3560Phone: 1–800–860–8747TTY: 1–866–569–1162Fax: 703–738–4929Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.govInternet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1978, the Clearinghouse provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes.

How to Manage a Small Business at Home

There are thousands of people working from home now, a lot of them running their own business . But what some people don't realize is that running your own business from home takes just as much effort, if not more, than working for someone else.InstructionsDifficulty: Moderately Challenging Things You’ll Need:• work space • quiet time to work • willpower Step1There are thousands of people working from home now, a lot of them running their own business. But what some people don't realize is that running your own business from home takes just as much effort, if not more, than working for someone else. Sure, they may think that running your own business is hard but some see the fact that you're your own boss and believe that it's all roses and rainbows.Sure, my business is casual and I don't have deadlines so I can sleep late and work when and if I want to. But having success with your business is different than just running it. Step2If you decide to work your own business from home, keep in mind a few key points. This is your business and you only have to answer to yourself. This means that if you fail, you must own up to your shortcomings. That can be a hard dose to swallow. So treat your business like it's one of the most important things you'll do. Set a schedule for yourself if you are not inclined enough to get up on time. Make sure that you make yourself a goal to follow. Let's say you run a commission type business. You want to set yourself a daily or weekly goal to reach. My goals are daily so I work until I reach that goal or "borrow" from the previous day if I exceeded it Step3Stay focused and make sure your work area is clean and uncluttered. Focus can be harder than it sounds. When you're at home, you're always distracted by friends or family calling, children or pets, deliveries, telemarketers, and yes...the television. A good guide is to use your breaks to do something around the house that you'd like to do. After sitting in front of the computer for hours on end, I like to get up and do one chore that needs doing such as putting the laundry up or loading the dishwasher. That gives me a chance to get away from the computer for a few minutes. In fact, if you're a home-workaholic like myself, take a day off during the week just for yourself. Watch a movie, visit a friend, go swimming even! You need that break to unwind and relax so you're not burnt out faster than a candle in a windstorm. Step4Put money aside. I'm the worst at this part but make sure you do have enough to tide you over in case of some kind of emergency. You can become sick; there can be a natural disaster that keeps you from working, etc. I live on the Gulf Coast so a tropical storm or hurricane can keep my electricity off for days and even weeks. I can't work with no electricity so it's good to plan for those times. You might even decide to take a vacation and will need to have money set aside for those times when none is coming in. Step5Advertise your business. Spend that extra time when you're not actually selling your product to advertise. I use strictly Internet advertising and business cards but both help tremendously in my sales. And remember, success is not an overnight thing. A lot of people get discouraged. What I encourage people to do is to keep their full time job at first and do their own business part time until it takes off. It took about a year for mine to make me enough money that I can solely work at home . Now I can take days off when I want, go on vacation when I want and not worry that I'll be broke. Thousands are doing it, you can too! Tips & Warnings• have willpower • advertise • plan ahead save extra money

Savoring win, Obama celebrates `major milestone'

Obama savors big legislative victory, calls stimulus passage 'major milestone' toward recovery • David Espo, AP Special Correspondent • Saturday February 14, 2009, 5:17 pm EST • Yahoo! Buzz • Print WASHINGTON (AP) -- Savoring his first big victory in Congress, President Barack Obama on Saturday celebrated the newly passed $787 billion economic stimulus bill as a "major milestone on our road to recovery."Speaking in his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said, "I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we'll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done."At the same time, he cautioned, "This historic step won't be the end of what we do to turn our economy around, but rather the beginning. The problems that led us into this crisis are deep and widespread, and our response must be equal to the task."The bill passed Congress on Friday on party-line votes, allowing Democratic leaders to deliver on their promise of clearing the legislation by mid-February. Obama could sign the measure as early as Monday."It will take time, and it will take effort, but working together, we will turn this crisis into opportunity and emerge from our painful present into a brighter future," the president said.Obama "now has a bill to sign that will create millions of good-paying jobs and help families and businesses stay afloat financially," said Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat who was a leading architect of the measure."It will shore up our schools and roads and bridges, and infuse cash into new sectors like green energy and technology that will sustain our economy for the long term," he added in a statement.Hours earlier, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell offered a different prediction for a bill he said was loaded with wasteful spending."A stimulus bill that was supposed to be timely, targeted and temporary is none of the above," he said in remarks on the Senate floor. "And this means Congress is about to approve a stimulus that's unlikely to have much stimulative effect."Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, in the GOP radio address Saturday, contended Democrats settled "on a random dollar amount in the neighborhood of $1 trillion and then set out to fill the bucket."Obama, who was spending the weekend in Chicago, planned to fly back to Washington on Monday. His schedule for the week ahead includes trips to Denver on Tuesday to talk about his economic agenda and a visit to Phoenix on Wednesday to present a plan to fight foreclosures.In a struggle lasting several weeks, lawmakers in the two political parties both emphasized they wanted to pass legislation to revitalize the economy and ease frozen credit markets. But the plan that the administration and its allies eventually came up drew the support of only three Republicans in Congress -- moderate Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.Their support was critical, though, in helping the bill squeak through the Senate on a vote of 60-38, precisely the number needed for passage. Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown cast the 60th vote in favor in a nearly deserted Senate, hours after the roll call began. He arrived after a flight aboard a government plane from Ohio, where he was mourning the death of his mother earlier in the week.The House vote was 246-183.The legislation, among the costliest ever considered in Congress, provides billions of dollars to aid victims of the recession through unemployment benefits, food stamps, medical care, job retraining and more. Tens of billions are ticketed for the states to offset cuts they might otherwise have to make in aid to schools and local governments, and there is more than $48 billion for transportation projects such as road and bridge construction, mass transit and high-speed rail.Democrats said the bill's tax cuts would help 95 percent of all Americans, much of the relief in the form of a break of $400 for individuals and $800 for couples. At the insistence of the White House, people who do not earn enough money to owe income taxes are eligible, an attempt to offset the payroll taxes they pay.In a bow to political reality, lawmakers included $70 billion to shelter upper middle-class and wealthier taxpayers from an income tax increase that would otherwise hit them, a provision that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said would do relatively little to create jobs.Also included were funds for two of Obama's initiatives, the expansion of computerized information technology in the health care industry and billions to create green jobs the administration says will begin reducing the country's dependence on foreign oil.Friday's events capped an early period of accomplishment for the Democrats, who won control of the White House and expanded their majorities in Congress in last fall's elections.Since taking office on Jan. 20, the president has signed legislation extending government-financed health care to millions of lower-income children who lack it, a bill that President George W. Bush twice vetoed. Obama also has placed his signature on a measure making it easier for workers to sue their employers for alleged job discrimination, effectively overturning a ruling by the Supreme Court's conservative majority.

How To Tell When The Economy's Getting Better

• Rick Newman • Friday February 13, 2009, 8:19 am EST • Yahoo! Buzz • Print The stimulus package is finally finished. President Obama is promising a tough new bank-rescue plan to boost lending and limit outrageous pay. Troubled homeowners may even get some relief. All told, the government could spend more than $3 trillion to help end the recession.So now all we have to do is sit back and watch the economy grow like a beanstalk, right?If only. One risk of the unprecedented government intervention is that it won't do all that much to hasten the end of the recession. Another risk is that consumers, expecting a magic-bullet fix, could fail to prepare for tough times that still lie ahead. "This is going to be a difficult year," Obama himself said at his first press conference. "If we get things right, then starting next year we can start seeing some significant improvement."[Read 4 myths about Obama's bank-rescue plan.]Next year? Afraid so. Most economists agree that it will take that long, at least, before the biggest problems - mounting layoffs, the housing bust, the banking crisis, and plunging confidence - start to turn around. Here's what to watch for to tell whether the stimulus package is actually working, and when the economy might start to mend.An improvement in the unemployment rate. Of all the economic indicators, this is probably the single most important. But you might want to avert your eyes for awhile.Obama has talked about creating 3 to 4 million new jobs, and if the stimulus plan works, it might come close to that - over several years, combined. But it's almost certain that through this summer and into the fall, there will be a net job loss, not a gain. Most economists expect the unemployment rate, now 7.6 percent, to hit at least 9 percent by the end of this year. That represents up to 2 million more lost jobs. Many of those cuts are already in the works - just follow the recent layoff announcements from companies like Caterpillar (20,000), Boeing (10,000), SprintNextel (8,000) and Home Depot (7,000). But the pink slips haven't all gone out yet, so the layoffs haven't shows up in the official numbers.[See 15 companies that might not survive 2009.]The first sign of an improvement will be...corporate silence. As in no more draconian job-cut announcements. Once that happens (or doesn't), the unemployment rate will plateau. Then, companies might start hiring again, and a couple of months after that, the unemployment rate will start to fall. Three straight monthly declines would be a good sign that the economy is really on the rebound. That probably won't happen until 2010.If you're wondering what's the point of the stimulus package if it won't do much to help workers in 2009, look to 2010. And 2011. That's where the plan will make a bigger difference. Moody's Economy.com estimates that by the middle of 2010, the unemployment rate will start to drift back toward 8.5 percent. But without any stimulus plan, it would have hit 11 percent. Viva la government.More stable home prices. The realestate boom and bust is what torpedoed the economy in the first place, and the economy won't start to recover until the housing bubble fully deflates. The good news is that housing prices have already been falling for more than two years, with prices down more than 20 percent nationwide. And we might be more than halfway toward the bottom: Moody's Economy.com predicts that housing prices should stop falling nationwide by the second half of 2009. Overall, the forecasting firm predicts a 30 percent drop in home values from the peak values of 2006.[See why the feds rescue banks, not homeowners.]Others think it will take longer, but whenever it happens, an end to the housing slide will mark an important turning point. Hardly anybody thinks that prices will shoot back up or there will be another buying binge. But a boomlet, maybe. Once prices stabilize, buyers will stop worrying that they could be purchasing a costly asset that's falling in value. As they buy, other kinds of consumer activity - like shopping for furniture and kitchen upgrades - will follow. Slowly.A consumer confidence rebound. Since consumer confidence closely tracks the job market, the dismal numbers of the last few months probably won't improve by much until late in 2009, or 2010. Homeowners have lost more than $3 trillion worth of value in their homes over the last three years, and investors have seen their stock portfolios shredded. So even people who feel secure in their jobs are dour.[See how Wall Street continues to doom itself.]A turnaround in the housing or stock markets would break the gloom and help some people feel better off. So would easier lending by banks, which would help solvent consumers buy a few more cars, appliances, and other goods. But consumer confidence won't really start to improve until workers start to feel more secure about their jobs and income. Think 2010.A less volatile stock market. Every investor hopes that beleaguered stocks will come roaring back in 2009 and regain some of the ground lost since the peak in 2007 - when the S&P 500 stock index was nearly 50 percent higher than it is today. But a better indicator of economic health would be a steady recovery - without the manic swings that seem to come from every hint of undisclosed trouble at some big bank or rumor of new government intervention.The stock market is harder to predict than most other parts of the economy, since it's deeply dependent on psychology and other intangibles. The market could bounce back by mid-summer. Or it could remain stagnant for years, like it did for most of the 1970s. The experts can't be any more sure than you or I.[See why "Wall Street talent" is an oxymoron.]One hopeful sign would be less market sensitivity to events in Washington. The biggest market mover these days is the federal government, since fortunes stand to be won or lost - mostly lost - depending on how deeply the government intervenes in the activities of megabanks like Citigroup and Bank of America, and how much federal spending will be available to stand in for plunging consumer spending. The markets will be back to their old selves when earnings reports, IPO announcements, and M&A deals are what send stocks up or down, and utterings from Washington amount to little more than an echo. Since the government seems to be the only institution spending money so far in 2009, it could be awhile before Wall Street returns to form.Economic growth turns positive. By economic standards, the current downturn has already lasted longer than the typical post-World War II recession. Yet there's still a lot more pain to endure. A recent survey of economists by the Wall Street Journal found that the majority think the economy will continue to contract for the first half of 2009, with growth turning positive in the second half of the year. That outlook is much worse than a few months ago, and even when growth turns positive the economy could sputter along without many new jobs or bold moves in the private sector.[See why lousy unemployment numbers are no surprise.]It's always possible that impatient consumers will get sick of holding back, and start running up their credit card balances once again (if the banks let them). The bank-rescue plan might spur more lending than expected, goosing businesses and consumers alike. Or the stimulus plan might spread goodwill and optimism throughout the land. If you get the urge to spend, that might be the strongest indicator of all. Call the economists

Charlotte in same predicament as Wall Street

Banktown Charlotte feeling the sting as economic downturn hits Wall Street South • Ieva M. Augstums, AP Business Writer • Saturday February 14, 2009, 11:05 am EST • Yahoo! Buzz • Print CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The financial collapse has hit the city known as Wall Street South.For years, Bank of America Corp. and Wachovia Corp. helped turn Charlotte into a financial powerhouse. Now, the big banks have thrust it into the same predicament as the real Wall Street -- the city is losing thousands of jobs and an unquantifiable amount of prestige. Residents who invested heavily in the banks have seen their wealth dissipate and lifestyles change radically."It's kind of sad, disheartening because the banks have been the backbone of Charlotte for so long," said Carl Clayton, a 55-year-old retired school teacher.The loss of so many bank jobs is causing upheaval in other industries. Consumers who have been laid off or fear being out of work are curtailing their spending, forcing restaurants and retailers to close -- among them Morton's, a high-end steakhouse, and a 15-month-old Home Depot Design Center. Even some of the Charlotte's lively night clubs have shuttered their doors."There's a bit of a state of disbelief," said Bob Morgan, president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. "We are seeing things happen that no one else has contemplated before."Charlotte remains the nation's second-biggest bank town by assets -- second to New York, and in front of San Francisco. But, Morgan said, "we don't know what the city is going to look like once we emerge.""We do know that tremendous wealth has already been lost."A big reason why is the amount of banking shares owned by people who have worked for Wachovia, now owned by Wells Fargo & Co., and Bank of America. Both have used their stock to compensate employees.Bank of America's shares have been among the hardest hit among financial companies. The company has lost more than 56 percent of its value since it closed on its acquisition of investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co. at the beginning of the year. The stock is down nearly 85 percent from a year ago.Last year, before Wachovia was acquired by Wells Fargo, its shares had slid 85 percent.Clayton estimates he has lost about $60,000 because of stock holdings in the two banks, along with other North Carolina banks, including BB&T Corp."I had a lot of bank stock, but now it's gone," Clayton said. "What wealth I had, is gone."Residents and employees never expected such a downfall. Wachovia, once headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., joined the Top 5 ranks of national banks after it was acquired by Charlotte-based First Union Corp. in 2001. The combined company took Wachovia's name.Banker Hugh McColl Jr. led NationsBank Corp. through some 70 acquisitions starting in the early 1980s. His biggest coup was San Francisco-based BankAmerica Corp., a financial institution bigger than NationsBank. He adopted the name and also moved the headquarters to Charlotte.Some say Charlotte's troubles began in 2006, when Wachovia acquired mortgage lender Golden West Financial Corp. for roughly $25 billion at the height of the housing boom. With that purchase, Wachovia inherited a $122 billion portfolio of deteriorating mortgages, leaving the company with huge losses. Charlotte residents were unnerved as they watched Wachovia falter and then be taken over by Wells Fargo in what amounted to a fire sale late last year.Down the street, at Bank of America, things were looking just as bleak. A series of bad bets in the investment banking unit over the past year sank companywide profits, and as Bank of America completed its acquisition of struggling investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co., shareholders watched its stock price slide to historic lows.Both Wells Fargo and Bank of America have said they remain "committed" to Charlotte.Wells Fargo, based in San Francisco, has said Charlotte will be its eastern headquarters, though it remains unclear exactly what that means. The fear is that Wells Fargo, as it completes its integration of Wachovia, will keep shedding Charlotte positions. Wachovia has about 20,000 employees in the city.Bank of America, meanwhile, with about 15,000 employees in Charlotte, is eliminating some 35,000 jobs companywide.North Carolina already has nearly 400,000 unemployed workers. The jobless rate was 8.7 percent in December, the highest since 1983, according to the most recent available data.Charlotte, with a population of nearly 700,000, is the 20th-largest city in the country. About 45 percent of the residents of its home county, Mecklenburg, make more than $50,000 a year, according to data supplied by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.Outside the downtown offices buildings filled with bank employees, there's a sense of disbelief as people huddle together drinking coffee or smoking cigarettes and then shuffle off to their jobs. When a reporter approached employees for interviews, they declined to speak, or said they didn't want to give their names, worried about keeping their jobs.Charlotte relies on the banks for more than employment -- its lifestyle, even its skyline has depended on Wachovia and Bank of America.Wachovia sponsors the city's annual PGA tournament, among the most popular on tour, while Bank of America's name is on the football stadium and the bank is a sponsor of one of NASCAR's top auto races. Both fill towering downtown office buildings -- Wells Fargo, now by way of Wachovia, is building a 48-story headquarters and adjoining city arts campus. The bankers and traders who work for both helped create the demand -- and now vacancies -- for the high-rise condos near by."I have received more calls over the past month from people wanting to list their homes, with a majority of them having financial problems," said Rich Ferretti, a broker at Jamison Reality in Matthews, a suburb of Charlotte.Stores in the city's affluent SouthPark area are less crowded on the weekends. And a recent happy hour at Capital Grille, located just across from Bank of America's headquarters, was sparsely attended.Charlotte also faces civic and philanthropic repercussions. Unlike Wachovia, Wells Fargo's executives have few North Carolina ties. Bank of America typically offers up the lead gift on projects."We will honor our existing commitments and we are still in the process of determining any future commitments," Wells Fargo spokeswoman Mary Eshet said.Now, the city is waiting for major changes."A lot of our friends work for the banks," said Leslie Hunter, a 38-year-old mother of two. "People are not stopping everything, but their awareness has increased."After being laid off from his bank consulting job 11 months ago, Jim Edwards' daily routine of networking, applying for jobs and going to the gym keeps his spirits up."I've been out of work and living on my retirement income," said the 62-year-old, who added it's been a struggle finding employment because no one is hiring.While many unknowns remain, Mayor Pat McCrory is optimistic."Charlotte does have very strong resilience and I anticipate that a lot of the talent that's moving out of the banks will stay," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.Some job relief may be moving in. GMAC Financial Services and Morgan Stanley are rumored to be looking to move at least parts of their companies to the Charlotte area.GMAC Financial Service's chief executive, Al G. de Molina, used to be Bank of America's chief financial officer. Morgan Stanley has already hired at least four former Wachovia executives to help the New York-based firm's retail banking expansion effort.McCrory wouldn't talk about the two firms, but said the large amount of talent in Charlotte will "attract others in the financial services industry to set up here.""We're going through a major adjustment, but when the economy rebounds, I think Charlotte will rebound the quickest," he said.

Florida banks temporarily halting foreclosures

Pair of Florida banks joins national parade temporarily halting foreclosures • Saturday February 14, 2009, 2:36 pm EST Related:• Bank of America Corporation • , BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. • , BankUnited Financial Corporation MIAMI (AP) -- Two Florida banks are joining some of the country's largest lenders in temporarily halting foreclosures as the federal government tackles the housing crisis. On Friday, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and major banks JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. said they were halting foreclosures for at least a month. Coral Gables-based BankUnited and Fort Lauderdale-based BankAtlantic followed suit, all saying they hoped to learn more soon about President Barack Obama's $50 billion plan to keep more people from losing their homes. Obama is expected to provide more details in an Arizona speech Wednesday."We want to help people remain in their homes," said Ramiro Ortiz, BankUnited's president and chief executive officer. "... Treasury's plan may provide different avenues of relief for consumers, and we don't want them to miss an opportunity to take advantage of the program."Ortiz said his bank's moratorium would affect 1,400 homes statewide with $426 million in mortgages."This amounts to a triage until they can come up with a permanent solution," said Anne L. Weintraub, a Sarasota attorney who specializes in real estate. "Banks are finally trying to come up with an alternative to foreclosure because it's expensive and they don't want to become property managers."Florida is one of four states -- along with California, Nevada and Arizona -- that accounted for nearly half the nation's 2008 foreclosures, according to RealtyTrac Inc., while comprising just a quarter of U.S. mortgages overall.Florida's banks have also shouldered more of the burden. Two of the 13 financial institutions that have failed this year were based in Florida, including Cape Coral-based Riverside Bank of the Gulf Coast, which was overtaken Friday.Chase hopes soon to open five counseling centers around Florida, where homeowners can meet directly with counselors to avoid foreclosure.More than 2.3 million homeowners faced foreclosure proceedings last year, an 81 percent increase from 2007. Analysts say that number could soar as high as 10 million under some worst-case scenarios.

Flip Mino HD ( Camcorder )

Kecil-kecil cabe rawit. Barangkali ungkapan ini pas untuk Flip Mino HD. Ukurannya yang mungil, bahkan di klaim sebagai yang terkecil didunia, tidak menghilangkan kemampuannya sebagai camcorder handal.Flip mino HD mampu merekam hingga 60 menit dengan kemampuan resolusi tinggi hingga 720p widescreen HD video. Dengan memiliki berat hanya 85gr serta layar LCD anti silau 1.5 inci, dan dapat diisi ulang dengan menggunakan baterai lithium ion, semakin melengkapi fitur-fitur sebagai keunggulan yang dimiliki Flip Mino HD.Keunggulan lainnya yakni adanya fitur MPEG 4 encoding untuk semua memori digital. Dia juga dilengkapi memori internal hingga 4GB, one touch recording dengan 2x digital zoom, koneksi tv, dan tripod Mount.Flip telah terintegrasi dengan software Flip Share untuk memudahkan pengguna mengelola, mengedit dan meng-upload video ke situs, seperti MySpace atau YouTube, Flip Mino HD dijual dengan harga pasaran sekitar US$230, tidak terlalu mahal, jika dibandingkan dengan keunggulan yang akan didapat.

Ego Bentley

Tren penggabungan desain laptop dengan merk kendaraan roda empat mewah kini semakin marak. Setelah Acer membuat laptop berdesain khas Ferari, Asus mengikuti dengan meluncurkan laptop desain Lamborghini. Vendor laptop Ego pun akhirnya ikut –ikutan dengan membuat sebuah laptop yang mengusung desain khas Bentley.Berbeda dengan merk lainnya, Ego tidak hanya sekedar menempelkan logo mobil diatas sebuah mobil high end. Lebih dari itu pastinya, setiap produk laptop Bentley dibuat menggunakan jahitan crossover asli oleh Bentley. Bagian metal didalamnya memantulkan warna cat dari luar sementara lapisan kulit luarnya mengunakan bahan yang sama dengan bahan kursi mobil Bentley.Laptop Bentley Ego akan dipersenjatai dengan prosesor 64bit, harddrive sebesar 160GB dan system operasi Microsoft Vista. Fitur dan kelebihan lain yang dimiliki oleh laptop ini akan sama dengan laptop biasa yang beredar di pasar. Nantinya laptop Bentley-Ego ini akan diluncurkan pecan ini dalam ajang British Motor Show dengan harga US$ 10.000

Zune

Saat ini, peranti pemutar MP3 bisa dibilang identik dengan iPod keluaran Apple. Dari sekian banyak produk yang membanjiri pasar, salah satunya layak dijadikan tandingan produk iPod yaitu Zune yang diproduksi Microsoft. Sekilas, generasi ketiga dari Zune yang kini dilengkapi media simpan sebesar 120GB ini terlihat masih mengusung desain yang sama dengan pendahulunya.Bagian lain seperti layar berukuran 3,2 inci dan system navigasi serta konektor yang adapun tak mengalami perubahan apapun. Yang membedakan mungkin hanyalah cover belakang yang sekarang berwarna hitam dan bagian depan yang kini diganti dengan casing plastik dengan finishing glossy. Tambahan lain yang cukup menarik adalah dimasukkanya dukungan audio book sehingga anda sudah bisa mendengarkan format Audible dan Overdrive pada generasi ketiga Zune ini. Zune ini sudah mendukung format film 30fps dan dapat menampung film dengan resolusi 720x480 pixel meski nantinya akan dikecilkan hingga sesuai dengan resolusi layar Zune. Dari sisi kualitas audio, generasi ketiga Zune ini masih menawarkan kualitas yang prima seperti pada generasi sebelumnya. Yang patut disayangkan justru adalah digantinya earphone yang selama ini masih disertakan dengan kualitas yang buruk. Namun secara keseluruhan kualitas Zune ini masih tetap bagus seperti pendahulunya meski pada generasi ketiga ini Microsoft masih merasa belum perlu menyertakan equalizer.



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Kodak Z980 ( Camera )

Baru-baru ini, diajang CES 2009 Kodak meluncurkan kamera prosumer terbarunya, Kodak Z980. Dengan mengusung beberapa fitur ciamik, Z980 menjanjikan hasil foto yang lebih berkualitas. Dilengkapi dengan sensor 12MP, lensa wide angel 26mm SCNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON dengan image stabilizer dan zoom hingga 24x, dan HD video capture 720pHD video 60 atau 30fps.Fitur menarik lainnya adalah adanya Smarta Capture Feature. Fitur ini dapat menganalisis scene dan mengetur kamera agar sesuai dengan kondisi pemotretan, sehingga akan menghasilkan gambar yang indah. Untuk recording video, Kodak mengatakan memerlukan 1GB untuk durasi 20 menit recording pada 30fps.Selain itu, Z980 memiliki desain body yang kompak dan rancangan grip yang ergonomic, menjadikan kamera ini nyaman digenggam. Termasuk pada pengambilan gambar secara vertical. Z980 dilengkapi dengan vertical shutter release dan vertical grip yang dapat dibongkar pasang. Jika anda berminat siapkan saja kocek $399.5

HTC Touch 3G

High Tech Computer Corp (HTC) kembali meluncurkan produk terbaru dari seri Touch, HTC Touch HD. Perangkat penuh gaya ini bisa terhubung dengan koneksi internet 3,5G karena memiliki kemampuan teknologi jaringan HSDPA. Alhasil, kecepatan yang bisa diraih Touch HD maksimal 7.2 Mbps. Dengan kecepatan tersebut mampu mengunduh hingga 18 kali lebih cepat dibanding koneksi 3G biasa. Selain itu, pengguna juga dengan mudah bisa browsing situs favorit serta mencari dan memutar video streaming dari YouTube dengan tampilan layar sentuh 3,8 inci.Hadir dengan kamera 5MP autofocus, ponsel cerdas ini menggunakan system operasi Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. Dengan berat 147 gram, Touch HD juga memiliki kontrol perangkat TouchFLO 3D dan koneksi internet wi-fi.Ponsel ini akan tersedia dipasaran mulai Desember 2008 dengan kisaran harga US$ 950. Paket ritel HTC Touch HD sudah dilengkapi dengan memory card 8GB microSD

Top 5 Wi-Fi Handphone From Cheap to Expensive

Top 5 Wi-Fi Handphone From Cheap to Expensive

1. Nokia E51( Rp. 2.500.000,- )Ponsel Nokia seri E ini diperuntukkan bagi segmen pebisnis. Alhasil fitur yang dijejalkan kedalam E51 benar-benar sarat akan fasilitas kantoran. Ada dokumen viewer (word, excel, powerpoint, pdf), wi-fi dan lainnya. Bahkan HSDPA pun turut didukungnya, yang memungkinkan akses data berkecepatan tinggi bisa dilakukan. Pastinya label harga ponsel ramping ini pasti pas di kantong.

2. Samsung i550W( Rp. 3.000.000,- )Tak sebatas memiliki piranti Wi-Fi, ponsel Samsung ini pun cakap di sektor navigasi, dengan memiliki fitur GPS terintegrasi. Akses internet via network HSDPA pun mampu dilakoninya. Untuk system operasi, i550W sudah mengadopsi OS Symbian S60 versi 3.0 serupa Nokia E51. Hanya saja, disisi kamera Samsung i550W sudah melekatkan dual kamera, yakni kamera utama 3,15 megapiksel dan kamera videocall (VGA).

3. O2 XDA Stealth( Rp. 3.100.000,- )Ponsel slider ini masuk kategori PDAphone, yang notabene bergenre bisnis. Uniknya, sedikit berbeda dengan PDA lain, Stealth melekatkan keypad numeric layaknya ponsel biasa. Jadi tak perlu selalu mengandalkan layar sentuh untuk input karakter pesan. OS Windows mobile O2 Xda Stealth cukup apik berkolaborasi dengan perangkat wi-fi, guna mendukung aksi kantoran semisal mengakses internet dan messaging.

4. Samsung i600( Rp. 3.125.000,- )Untuk ukuran ponsel pintar, SGH-i600 bisa dibilang lebih dari cukup. Ya, selain mengadopsi keypad QWERTY, wi-fi dan HSDPA juga system operasi Windows Mobile, ponsel kantoran elegan berbodi slim ini lihai pula mengakomodasi layanan 3G operator. Sebut saja video call.

5. Nokia N81( Rp. 3.150.000,- )Ponsel slider ini relative piawai di segmen multimedia. Alhasil fasilitas khas ponsel multimedia tersedia di Nokia N81. Mulai dari kamera, system operasi, media hiburan, slot memori hingga Bluetooth A2DP. Kemampuan koneksi wi-fi N81 relatif handal. Baik untuk akses internet maupun fungsi yang lainnya.

6. Sony Ericcson G900i( Rp. 3.200.000,- )Tak kalah dengan ponsel Symbian Nokia, G900i tampil lewat OS Symbian versi 3.0. Berbekal wi-fi dan browser HTML handal, G900i bisa dipakai akses internet di area hotspot nyaman tanpa kendala. Kelebihan lain dari G900i yaitu kamera 5 megapiksel, 3G, layar sentuh, player musik dan Bluetooth A2DP.

7. Nokia N78( Rp. 3.250.000,- )Kelengkapan fitur yang dibenamkan kedalam N78 tak jauh beda dengan N81. Hanya saja Nokia N78 turut dijejali teknologi penjejak GPS. Bahkan urusan transfer data N78 terbukti lebih hebat, dengan adanya teknologi HSDPA. Meski begitu ada sedikit kekurangan di N78, dimana tekstur dan kontur keypad terasa kurang ergonomis bagi sebagian pengguna.

8.Sony Ericsson W960i( Rp. 3.250.000,- )Dukungan fasilitas wi-fi di handphone ini melengkapi keperkasaan W960i di sisi fitur. Maklum saja, ponsel walkman Sony Ericsson ini sarat akan fitur mumpuni terutama di sector musical. Lihat saja, ada OS Symbian UIQ, layar sentuh lebar, dual kamera, teknologi 3G, Bluetooth A2DP dan memori 8GB.

9. Sony Ericsson G705( Rp. 3.275.000,- )Dandanannya slider, namun relatif ramping. Tak sebatas wi-fi, fitur lain yang dimiliki G705 pun tercatat handal dan tangguh. Ada GPS terintegrasi, kamera 3.15 megapiksel dan VGA, HSDPA, player musik dan lainnya. Bahkan tak kalah dengan Nokia N78, kamera G705 mampu menyuguhkan menu image geotagging. Jadi hasil pemotretannya bisa disisipi peta koordinat local pemotretan.

10. Nokia E63 ( Rp. 3.600.000,- )Sudah barang tentu ponsel ini memiliki koneksi wi-fi. Maklum saja, E63 merupakan adik kandung Nokia bisnis E71. Kelengkapan fiturnya mirip E71, hanya saja dipangkas kualitasnya semisal kamera 2 megapiksel, OS Symbian S60 3rd edition, keypada QWERTY, player music dan Bluetooth A2DP. Tapi tanpa dukungan fitur GPS dan HSDPA.Diambil dari Koran Pulsa Edisi 150 Th VI/2009/5-18 Feb

"Apa Ide Bisnis Anda?"

"Apa Ide Bisnis Anda?" Baiklah, Anda sudah mengambil keputusan memulai bisnis baru. Anda faham bahwa itu keputusan tepat. Anda sangat yakin bahwa inilah kesempatan yang Anda tunggu-tunggu. Entah full time atau part time, sangatlah menyenangkan mengetahui bahwa Anda sudah mulai berbisnis.Sekarang jawablah pertanyaan ini: usaha apa yang Anda kerjakan? Ini pertanyaan yang harus Anda jawab dengan yakin. Apa yang Anda jual? Memilih bisnis plan rumahan merupakan salah satu keputusan penting. Jika Anda memilih suatu ide brilian yang tidak seorangpun mengerjakannya, kemungkinan Anda akan jalan sendiri, lama, dan sulit. Bisa saja Anda menjadi perintis-perintis di industri yang baru.Akan tetapi jika Anda melihat sejarah, suatu bisnis plan yang sama sekali baru umumnya gagal. Tetap FokusUntuk lebih memperjelas bisnis Anda, Anda juga harus menjawab pertanyaan ini: apa yang Anda tidak jual? Mencoba menjual banyak hal tidak akan menghasilkan. Tetaplah fokus.Ambil Contoh Bisnis apa yang Anda kerjakan? Konsultan untuk bisnis manufaktur.Apa yang Anda jual? Saya jual jasa konsultan untuk memecahkan masalah manufaktur. Apa yang Anda tidak jual? Saya tidak menjual mesin-mesin.Ada banyak ide bisnis rumahan yang bisa Anda kerjakan. Ide bisnis yang paling baik adalah yang Anda ketahui. Dan pelanggan pertama Anda adalah yang sudah kenal Anda. Sudah tahu reputasi Anda. Tidak ada batasan untuk apa yang Anda dapat kerjakan. Namun ada baiknya Anda menyaring ide bisnis itu sesuai kriteria tertentu sehingga Anda akan menjalankan bisnis yang terbaik buat Anda. Kriteria1. Anda senang sekali menjalankannya.Ketika Anda bangun pagi-pagi, Anda ingin segera menjalankan bisnis tersebut. Anda menyukai setiap menit Anda bekerja di sana baik dalam waktu bagus maupun masa-masa sulit. 2. Memberikan arus kas positif setiap bulan.Fokuslah pada arus kas, bukan profit. Hati-hatilah ketika Anda mengevaluasi suatu bisnis yang membutuhkan modal yang besar di depan, tetapi harus menunggu lama untuk balik modal. Jika memungkinkan, hindari bisnis ini.3. Cari tahu cara memperluas bisnis Anda.Ini sulit di awal-awal, tetapi penting untuk kesuksesan Anda dalam jangka panjang. Apakah bisnis ini dapat diperbanyak? Dapatkah Anda menambah orang-orang penjualan dengan mudah, contohnya? Bisnis yang paling baik sebenarnya adalah bisnis yang paling sederhana, Anda dapat meninggalkannya setiap waktu dan bisnis itu masih menghasilkan uang sesuai harapan Anda. 4.Anda tahu blok-blok untuk membangun usaha AndaSebagai contoh, Anda tahu target pasarnya, para pemasok dan vendor. Anda tahu bagaimana memenuhi order. Anda tahu bagaimana beriklan dan menjual. Kadangkala proses ini membutuhkan waktu 3 bulan untuk mengetahui informasi yang dibutuhkan. Secara alamiah kalau Anda tidak yakin, ide itu akan mati dengan sendirinya. Tak Punya Ide?Jika Anda tidak yakin, bergabunglah dengan bisnis plan yang sudah diatur oleh perusahaan prinsipal. Carilah bisnis plan terbaik dengan produk yang dibutuhkan orang. Program afiliasi atau bisnis jaringan akan membawa Anda ke suatu bisnis baru

Cooking Tips For All

Cooking Tips For AllCooking simply means the preparation. This is for the purpose of eating through the use of heat. It comprises of a wide selection of methods, ingredients, and cooking utensils needed to bring out the flavor of the food that you are making and to make it edible as well.Cooking simply means the preparation. This is for the purpose of eating through the use of heat. It comprises of a wide selection of methods, ingredients, and cooking utensils needed to bring out the flavor of the food that you are making and to make it edible as well.With the appropriate process of selection, measurement as well as proper mixture of your ingredients in a step by step manner can be achieved. This is in order to create mouth watering dishes. The outcome of this is also affected by certain factors that you can input on your actual cooking. Such factors are your ingredients, cooking utensils, ambient conditions, and most importantly, the skills of the cook himself.The vast variety of cooking methods in the different parts of the world reflects one's cultural, social, religious, agricultural, nutritional, economical as well as aesthetic values. It mirrors the colorful yet diverse complexities and distinctiveness of each country and its character. It is a way of expressing one's national pride, leaving an impact on the one who is actually tasting it.In cooking, the use of heat is very important for it is one of the main components in order to create your own delicacy. Through the use of heat, food is transformed in its chemical content. Thus, altering its flavor, nutritional properties, texture, consistency and also its appearance is advisable.The following are the type of cooking techniques based on kind of cooking you like:Heat Based Cooking Techniques:Drying Cooking* Baking * Broiling * Barbecuing * Flash Bake * Rotisserie * Grilling * Toasting * SearingWater-Based Type of Cooking (Boiling)* Braising * Coddling * Blanching * Creamed * Infusion * Double Steaming * Poaching * Simmering * Parboiling * Steaming * Stewing * SimmeringOil-based Type of Cooking (Frying)* Deep Frying * Pan Frying * Sautéing * Hot Salt Frying * Stir Frying * Hot Sand FryingDevice-Based Way of Cooking* Microwaving * Crock Pot * Advantium * Pressure Cooking * Roasting or Pressure Frying * Vacuum Flask Cooking * TrivectionConfectionary and Baking Techniques* Blind Baking * Baking * Conching (Chocolate) * Kneading * Parbaking * Tempering (Chocolate) * Creaming (Food) * ProofingChemical Techniques* Drying * Brining * Fermenting * Ceviche * Pickling * Marinating * Salting * Sugaring * Souring * Smoking * SproutingMechanical techniques* Dicing * Chopping * Grinding * Kneading * Julienning * Shaving * Peeling * MincingIn addition, by using heat on food preparation, this means that you can actually kill as well as inactivate harmful organisms such as viruses and bacteria that are potentially harmful. However, this will also depend on the length of the cooking time, and temperature. Moreover, the technique is also the main factor applied.Hence, avoid cooking in temperatures that would range from 5 degrees up to 60 degrees Celsius. This is considered as the "food danger zone" mainly because bacteria can grow fast in this kind of temperature. Although the food being prepared may seem to be edible or clean, it can still cause harm due to the improper way of cooking it.As for dairy products, poultry, meat and others, the food should be prevented from in the "food danger zone" so that it can be consumed safely. As for freezing food as well as refrigerating it, these methods just slow down the growth of organisms but not kill them.Another means for safe food preparation is to practice proper hand washing and cleaning technique. In preparing your food, always make sure that you wash your hands before and after handling foods, cooking and when handling soiled utensils.Moreover, you should wash fruits and vegetable thoroughly in order to wash out organisms that are harmful. Also, clean your utensils by washing them with antibacterial soap and cleanser. Plus, rinse them thoroughly with water. Lastly, always maintain your cooking area clean by sanitizing them with a bleach mixture that is a combination of 1 gallon of water with 1 tablespoon of bleach.Cooking is like a fun adventure, if you are into it. Many famous Chefs did not learn their art by just following recipe books and techniques handed over by the elder generation. Chefs follow their own calling and experiment with the knowledge they have about food. They try different ingredients and test it out. Of course, no one can perfect a recipe at the first attempt. It is only in the desire to learn and the skill to do it that one learns to master the art of cooking.Some of the popular Celebrity Chefs are as follows:* Bobby Flay * Mario Batali * Emeril Lagasse * Rachael Ray * Jamie OliverIn a chef's world, the measure of success in this field can only be achieved in one program on TV, the competition called Iron Chef.

Creating a Recipe

Creating a RecipeCreating your own recipe can be a lot of fun, especially if you make it a group effort. It's all about being creative and finding complimentary tastes. I love cooking and my husband is an artist, so you'd think we'd be naturals, right? Not exactly.We patrolled through the local grocery store aisles, looking for something to create our masterpiece recipe. At first, we couldn't agree on flavors or even the type of dish we wanted to create. It's easiest to first choose the basics. For instance, do you want to bake, fry, broil, etc.? do you want to experiment with fish, beef, poultry or pork? Pasta, potatoes or veggies? It's all a matter of taste, literally.It's good to play on what you know. Think of some of your favorite recipes and what makes them your favorite. Is it texture or subtlety of taste or even a mixture of colors? Also think about some of your favorite dishes from restaurants you like to visitDon't expect to get it perfect on the first try. Great recipes are developed over time. Be open to suggestions from family members and friends, and don't take their words as harsh criticism if they suggest, "Why don't you try . . . instead?" Try different brands, subtle changes in flavors, textures and colors. Cooking is an artwork that takes time to develop and perfect.Lastly, be creative! A recipe is your own design, so make it your own. Add something a little unexpected or perhaps your signature ingredient. Everything, down to the dish's name, is up to you!What recipe did my husband and I come up with? We call it, "Cheese Ravioli with Clams." (It was temporarily and unofficially titled, "Darth Vader's Cheese Ravioli with Clams" because we figured, hey, it's our recipe, we can call it whatever we want! Maybe Darth Vader would have loved this dish! In the end, it was misleading, though. People would think he created it, and we wouldn't get the credit.)Our recipe starts off very simple, it's still not perfected, but we enjoy it on occasion. The ingredients are: 1 package cheese ravioli, prepared according to package's instructions, 1-2 tbsp. Olive oil, 1 tbsp. Butter, 1 clove garlic, finely chopped, 1 can whole baby clams (drain and reserve juice), 1-2 tbsp. clam juice reserve, salt & pepper to taste, parsley, parmesan cheese.Here's how you make it: Glaze a pan with olive oil. Add 1 tbsp. Butter, 1 garlic clove finely chopped, 1 can whole baby clams (drained), 1-2 tbsp. reserved calm juice. Toss with cooked cheese ravioli and top with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese.

Creating a Recipe

Creating a RecipeCreating your own recipe can be a lot of fun, especially if you make it a group effort. It's all about being creative and finding complimentary tastes. I love cooking and my husband is an artist, so you'd think we'd be naturals, right? Not exactly.We patrolled through the local grocery store aisles, looking for something to create our masterpiece recipe. At first, we couldn't agree on flavors or even the type of dish we wanted to create. It's easiest to first choose the basics. For instance, do you want to bake, fry, broil, etc.? do you want to experiment with fish, beef, poultry or pork? Pasta, potatoes or veggies? It's all a matter of taste, literally.It's good to play on what you know. Think of some of your favorite recipes and what makes them your favorite. Is it texture or subtlety of taste or even a mixture of colors? Also think about some of your favorite dishes from restaurants you like to visitDon't expect to get it perfect on the first try. Great recipes are developed over time. Be open to suggestions from family members and friends, and don't take their words as harsh criticism if they suggest, "Why don't you try . . . instead?" Try different brands, subtle changes in flavors, textures and colors. Cooking is an artwork that takes time to develop and perfect.Lastly, be creative! A recipe is your own design, so make it your own. Add something a little unexpected or perhaps your signature ingredient. Everything, down to the dish's name, is up to you!What recipe did my husband and I come up with? We call it, "Cheese Ravioli with Clams." (It was temporarily and unofficially titled, "Darth Vader's Cheese Ravioli with Clams" because we figured, hey, it's our recipe, we can call it whatever we want! Maybe Darth Vader would have loved this dish! In the end, it was misleading, though. People would think he created it, and we wouldn't get the credit.)Our recipe starts off very simple, it's still not perfected, but we enjoy it on occasion. The ingredients are: 1 package cheese ravioli, prepared according to package's instructions, 1-2 tbsp. Olive oil, 1 tbsp. Butter, 1 clove garlic, finely chopped, 1 can whole baby clams (drain and reserve juice), 1-2 tbsp. clam juice reserve, salt & pepper to taste, parsley, parmesan cheese.Here's how you make it: Glaze a pan with olive oil. Add 1 tbsp. Butter, 1 garlic clove finely chopped, 1 can whole baby clams (drained), 1-2 tbsp. reserved calm juice. Toss with cooked cheese ravioli and top with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese.

Save Time and Cook Once a Week

Save Time and Cook Once a WeekYou can save time by cooking meals days in advance and storing them. If you are a busy individual and you don't have time during your crazy work week to cook dinner, try cooking on the weekends.If you plan your meals carefully, you can quickly and easily prepare them. Try purchasing meats and seasoning them on Saturday or Sunday. Then, you can use a vacuum food sealer to keep them fresh and store them until you are ready to cook and eat them. If you would like, you can even cook the meats, and then vacuum seal them. Once you have sealed them in a bag, put them in the freezer so that they won't go bad.Another way that you can save on cooking time during the week is cutting up ingredients like bell peppers, garlic, celery, or onions and storing them away. Chop or slice the vegetable into the size and amount required for your recipe, and use your vacuum food sealer to store them and keep them fresh. All you will have to do during the week is open up the bags and add the ingredients together. You can also put everything together as a meal, vacuum seal it, and freeze it for a quick microwave meal.You can even prepare dessert in advance. Fruits make a wonderful dessert, and you can keep your fruit fresh with a vacuum food sealer. You can prepare toppings for a cheesecake, filling for a pie, or prepare a fruit salad. Strawberries, grapes, blueberries, pineapples and watermelon can all go into a fruit salad and you can put it together at the beginning of the week for easy access later on. Just make sure that you keep it nice and cold.The final tips for saving time by cooking on the weekend is making sandwiches. You may be thinking, "Sandwiches for dinner? How can I do that?" Many sandwiches are delicious when they are toasted or heated up. You can prepare the sandwiches early, seal them up, and when you are ready, just pop them in the oven. They can be nice and filling. Hot sandwiches are a great option for a quick and easy dinner that you can prepare in advance.Now that you know all of the ways you can save time cooking, go ahead and start planning your meals. Be creative. I am sure that you will come up with more ideas on your own.About the author:Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used clothing, used watches, and vacuum food sealers. When shopping for used clothing, used watches, and vacuum food sealers, shop only at the best online stores for used clothing, used watches, and vacuum sealed dinner.

Oven-baked parmesan chicken tenderloins

Oven-baked parmesan chicken tenderloins by Tracy HanifyParmesan cheese gives a tasty coating to the chicken. InstructionsStep 1 Preheat oven to 210ºC. Cover a baking tray with a sheet of baking paper.Step 2 Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan, chives and lemon zest and spread over a plate. Place flour on a separate plate. Coat a piece of chicken in flour and shake off excess. Brush with egg, then dip in breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly to coat. Place on prepared tray and spray lightly with olive oil. Repeat with remaining chicken. Bake for 5 minutes, turn and bake for a further 10 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.Step 3 Meanwhile, boil, steam or microwave carrot, broccolini and potato (if using) until tender. Serve with chicken.Recipe by: Wendy Berecry Recipe InformationPortions: 4Time to make: 30 minutesTotal cost of all ingredients: $21.20 / $5.30 per serve • High fibre • Low fat • Low sodium Ingredients• 1 1/2 cups wholemeal breadcrumbs • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese • 2 tablespoons chopped chives • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest • 1/4 cup plain flour • 12 (about 600g) chicken tenderloins • 1 egg, lightly beaten • olive oil spray • 2 carrots, thickly sliced • 8 stems broccolini • 4 (about 600g) medium potatoes, peeled and quartered (optional) Nutrition Informationper serveEnergy 1770 kJ (427 Cals) Protein 46gFat- saturated 10g 3gCarbohydrates - sugars 40g 3gDietary Fibre 7gSodium 320mgCalcium 160mgIron 3.5mg* NS: Not specified

Roast chicken dinner

Roast chicken dinnerby Tracy HanifyIt's a favourite for many of us, but roast chicken can be full of fat and kilojoules. We show you how to cut the fat and keep the flavour. InstructionsStep 1 Preheat oven to 180ºC. Remove excess fat from chicken. Rub skin with crushed garlic. Fill cavity with herbs and lemon pieces, or make stuffing (see below). Place in oven bag. Tie bag. Pierce to let the steam out. Place in an oven dish.Step 2 Cook for about 1 hour 40 minutes or until juices run clear when chicken breast is pierced.Step 3 Remove from oven, rest for 5 minutes. Cut a corner off the bag and allow juices to empty into a jug. Remove skin before serving chicken.With stuffingStep 1 In a bowl, combine all stuffing ingredients.Step 2 Fill chicken cavity and cook as above.Serve with Healthy gravy and Garlic roast vegetables.How they compareTraditional roast chicken dinnerTotal energy per serve 3420kJTotal fat per serve 51g (18g saturated fat)HFG roast chicken dinnerTotal energy per serve 2320kJTotal fat per serve 25g (7g saturated fat)Tips for a healthy roast chicken• Use oven bags to keep chicken moist without added fat. Drain juice and save for gravy (remove fat first). • Increase flavour with garlic, fresh herbs or lemon. Or make a stuffing. • Remove skin before serving – most of the fat is found under the skin. A lot of this fat melts through the chicken and into the juices during cooking but there is still a significant amount that clings to the skin. • Cook lots of vegetables. Leave skin on where possible, spray or brush with oil and cook separately from the chicken. To shorten cooking time, partly cook first in boiling water and drain thoroughly before roasting. • Make gravy the low-fat way. Juices that collect in an oven bag can have up to 100g fat. If the juices are used as they are to make gravy, that’s an extra 10-25g of mostly saturated fat per serve.Recipe by: Bronwen King

Curry Fish

Ingredients:500g fish (black pomfret cleaned and cut into 5 pieces)200g tomato (cut into 5 pieces)1 cup water½ tbs tamarind juice1tsp saltA:60g big onion (sliced)26g ginger/garlic (chopped)4tbs oil1 sprig curry leaves1 ½ tbs chilli powder2 pip cardamon2 cloves¼ tsp fenugreek2tsp coriander seedsMethod:1. Combined ingredients A and fry in a casserole on power High, uncovered for 6 minutes.2. Add in water, tamarind juice, salt, fish slice and tomato.3. Cover and cook on power High for 6 minutes.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Fish Masala

Ingredients:1 black pomfret (350g cut into 4pcs)1/3 cup yoghurt1/3 cup water¼ tsp saltA:1tbs ghee10g coriander leaves (cut into 4cm lengths)10g ginger (shredded)50g big onion (sliced)5g curry leaves1cm cinnamon stick2 clovesB: (to be blended with ¼ cup oil)1tsp cumin seed20g dried chilli (soaked)10g garlic50g small onionMethod:1. Combine ingredients A and fry in a casserole on power High, uncovered for 2 minutes.2. Stir in ingredients B and further fragrant on power High for 4 minutes.3. Add in fish, yoghurt, water and salt.4. Cover and cook on power Medium-High for 7 minutes.5. Serve hot with rice.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

KembongThai

Ingredients:4pcs kembong fish (500g)A: (to be blended with 2tbs, oil)6pcs fresh red chilli10g galangal root10g garlic15g lemon grass½ tsp pepper cornB:1tsp oyster sauce1tsp sesame oil1tbs brown sugar½ tsp white sugar1 ½ salt salt1tbs tamarind1 cup waterMethod:1. Fry blended ingredients A in a casserole on power High, uncovered for 4 ½ minutes.2. Add in ingredients B and fish.3. Cover and cook on power High for 5 minutes.4. Serve hot with rice.Makes: 4-6 servings Taken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Otak-Otak

Ingredients:400g tenggiri fish (deboned, skinned and divided into 4 portions)4pcs banana leaf (each 29cm x 28cm)A: (to be blended with 3tbs, oil)160g big union20g ginger10g dried chilli (soaked)15g candle nuts15g turmeric10g garlic10g galangal rootB:2g kadok leaves (whole)2g kadok leaves (finely sliced)2g lime leaves (finely sliced)90g thick coconut milk2 eggs (slightly beaten)1tsp saltMethod:1. Fry blended ingredients A in a casserole, stirring frequently, on power High, uncovered for 9 minutes.2. Cool fried ingredients, stir in ingredients B and divide mixture into 4 portions.3. Spread some mixture on a banana leaf, place 1 portion of fish on mixture and cover fish with more mixture. Fold up banana leaf and secure with toothpick. Repeat process till all fish and mixture are used up.4. Place wrapped fish in an oval dish and cover with plastic wrap.5. Cook on power Medium-High for 8 minutes. Change position of wrapped fish after half time.6. Serve otak-otak hot.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Dragon and Phoenix

Ingredients:24pcs medium size prawn, shelled and deveined leaving tails1tsp sugar2tbs spicy season all12pcs toothpicksCooking oil for shallow fryingGarnishing:3-4 lettuce leaves1 tomato, slices1 chilli, cut into strips6 lemon, slicesMethod:1. Marinate prawns with sugar for 10 minutes. Coat with spicy season all. Thread 2 prawns into each toothpick making 12 pairs of dragons and phoenixes.2. Preheat browning dish on power High for 8 minutes. Add sufficient oil for shallow frying, heat up for another 2 minutes.3. Shallow fry coated prawns at half-timing). Drain prawns well.4. Arrange dragon and phoenix rolls attractively over a platter lines with lettuce.5. Serve with garnishing and your favourite chilli or tomato sauce.Makes: 4-6 servings.Taken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Assam Cuttle-Fish

Ingredients:400g cuttle-fish160g tomato (cut into wedges)50g tamarind pulp mix and remove seeds½ cup water¼ tsp salt½ tsp sugar15g mint leaves for garnishingA: (to be blended with 1/3 cup oil)100g small onions20g garlic20g lemon grass10g turmeric10g prawns paste (belachan)8g dried chilli (soaked)Method:1. Fry blended ingredients A in a casserole, stirring occasionally, on power High, uncovered for 6 minutes.2. Stir in cuttle-fish, tamarind mixture, tomatoes, salt and sugar.3. Cover and cook on power High for 6 minutes.4. Serve hot with rice, garnish with mint leaves.Makes: 4-6 servings.Taken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Prawn Masala

Ingredients:500g big prawns (with shell)¼ cup yoghurt½ tsp salt2 springs curry leavesA: (to be blended with 1/3 cup oil)50g small onions20g garlic8g dried chilli (soaked)1g cinnamon stick2pcs cloves1tsp cumin seed½ tsp peppercornsMethod:1. Fry curry leaves with blended ingredients A in a casserole on power High, uncovered for 5 minutes.2. Mix in prawns, yoghurt, and salt.3. Cover and cook on power High for 6 minutes.4. Serve immediately.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Fried Crabs

Ingredients:4(500g) crabs (remove shell, clean crabs and cut to halves)1pc egg (beaten)Spring onions and parsley for garnishingA:100g big onion (chopped)30g ginger (chopped)3 ½ tbs oilB:130g tomato (sliced)3tbs tomato sauce3tbs water½ tsp salt½ tsp sugarMethod:1. Combined ingredients A and fry in a casserole on power High, uncovered for 6 minutes.2. Add in ingredients B and crabs.3. Cover and cook on power High for 6 minutes.4. Stir in beaten egg and cook on power High, covered for 2 minutes.5. Garnish with spring onion and parsley and serve hot.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

BRAISED TEOCHEW DUCK

Ingredients:1 whole duck (1.3 kg)2 tsp thick soya sauce1 ½ tsp cornflour1 tbs waterA: 20 g ginger (sliced)50 g galangal root (sliced)6 cloves2 star anise2 cm cinnamon stick2 ½ tbs oyster sauce1 tsp sugar2 tsp wine1 tsp salt1 cup waterMethod:Rub thick soya sauce all over the duck and leave to dry.Conventional way: Deep fry duck for 5 minutes and split duck at breast and spread open. Place duck in a dish.Combined ingredients A and pour over duck.Cover tightly with plastic wrap and cook on Microwave power Medium-High for 30 minutes or until duck is done.At half time, turn duck over, recover and cook for remaining time.Thicken gravy with cornflour mixture.Serve braised duck hot.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

GINGER DUCK

Ingredients:A: 80 g young ginger, sliced30 g soya bean paste10 g garlic (chopped)2 tbs cooking oilB: 500 g duck pieces (remove skin and fat)1 cup water1 ½ tbs dark soya sauce1 tbs cornflour2 tbs water mixed together sugar, salt, pepper to tasteMethod:Stir fry ingredients A in a casserole, uncovered on Microwave power High for 5 minutesAdd ingredients B, mix well, cook covered on power High for 8 minutes.Continue to cook duck on power Medium - Low for 45 minutes.Serve ginger duck hot with rice.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Sugar Cane Mince

Ingredients:300 g chicken fillets100 g shelled prawnsA:1 tbs egg white1 tbs fish sauce½ tbs cornflour½ tsp pounded fresh turmeric (kunyit)1 chilli, sliced1 stalk spring onion, slicedSugar, salt and pepper to taste2 pcs/10 cm length sugar cane, skin removed and cut into (1cmx10cm length)Oil for shallow fryingGarnishing:1 tomato, sliced parsleySauce: chilli sauce and tomato ketchupMethod:Mince chicken fillets and prawns in National food processor until it forms a paste. Place mince meat in a deep mixing bowl. Add A and gradually beating against the bowl until comes away from the side of the bowl easily. (This is to bring out the elasticity/texture of meat).Divide meat into 1 portion. Wrap each portion around each sugar-cane quarters.Preheat browning dish for 8 minutes. Add sufficient oil for shallow fry, heat oil on power High for 2 minutes.Place prepared sugar cane-mince and cook on power High for 2-3 minutes, turning food during half timing.Drain sugar cane-mince over kitchen papers. Place on an attractive dish, garnish with tomato slices and parsley. Serve hot with chilli sauce and tomato ketchup.Makes: 12 portions

Cantonese Roast Duck

Ingredients:1 whole duck (about 1.5kg)Stuffing:A:5 pickled onions, sliced3tbs Hoi Sin sauce2tbs water1tbs salt1tbs sherry (optional)2 tsp sugar1 tsp sesame oil1 tsp garlic powder California style½ tsp black pepper, finely ground¼ tsp Chinese five spiceCoating:B:2tbs vinegarHot boiling waterRed and yellow coloringC:2tbs vinegar1tsp dark soy saucePickles15 pickles onions, sliced½ cup roasted cashew nutsMethod:To prepared duck:1. Clean and wash duck thoroughly. Wipe dry the inside of duck with kitchen paper.2. Combine ingredients A in a bowl, mix well.3. Spoon mixture A into the cavity of the duck. Secure openings of duck with needle and thread or skewers.4. Using a straw, insert into the duck below the wing area. Inflate with air until duck is 'blown' up.5. Immediately, pour boiling water, B over the duck skin, pat dry with kitchen paper.6. Rub duck skin with coating C. Hang the duck up by the neck to dry under the hot sun or in a well-ventilated place for about 5-6 hours or until skin is dry.To roast duck:7. Line a round casserole dish with several wooden chopsticks.8. Place duck over wooden chopsticks.9. Roast duck on . Tap Convection Browning pad twice, tap Serving/Weight pad 3 times and press Start pad.10. Remove duck, cook slightly and cut into bite-size pieces.11. Serve roast duck with pickles.Makes: 6-8 servTaken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbookings.

Empress Smoked Chicken

Ingredients:1kg chicken portions2tbs peppered season allA:1tsp dark soya sauce¼ tsp mixed spiceB:100g sugar40g tea leaves1tbs sesame oilGarnishing:1 tomato sauce, cut into slices½ cucumber, cut into slicesMethod:1. Clean, pat dry chicken portion and prick with fork on the skin. Set aside.2. Place peppered season all in a microwave safe dish, toss on power High for about 1 minute.3. Marinate chicken portions with peppered season all and A, inside and outside chicken. Leave to marinate overnight or at least 4 hours.4. Place a large piece of greased proof paper on a flat microwave safe dish. Sprinkle B over paper. Place a rack over B and place marinated chicken o rack. Bring greases proof paper over chicken and fold together to seal.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Secret Parcels

Ingredients:6 chicken drumstick (prick skin with fork)1-2tbs garlic season all450g frozen puff pastry, thawed1 egg yolk, brushingMethod:1. Marinate drumstick with garlic season all for about 20 minutes or overnight in the fridge.2. Partially cook drumstick on Combination 4 for about 10 minutes. Leave drumstick to cool well.3. Preheat oven to 230° C on Convention Bake function.4. Roll thawed frozen puff pastry into 0.5cm thick on a lightly floured board. Cut pastry into 6 long strips of 3cm width.5. Wrap each strip of pastry over partially cooked drumstick forming a seal well. Place in a greased tray, brush with egg yolk.6. Bake 'secret Parcels' in preheated oven at 230° C for 15 minutes and reduce to 200° C for another 15 minutes or until pastry is done.7. Serve hot or cold with your favorite salad.Makes: 6 servings.Taken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Ginger Beef

Ingredients:300g beef (thinly sliced)2 ½ tbs oyster sauce100g spring onions (cut into 4cm lengths)A:2tbs oil1tsp wine½ tbs cornflourB:150g young ginger (sliced thinly)½ tbs chopped garlic2tbs oilMethod:1. Season beef slice with ingredients A.2. Fry ingredients B in a casserole on power High, uncovered for 3 minutes.3. Add in oyster sauce and cook on power High for 1 minute.4. Stir in seasoned beef and spring onions.5. Cover and cook on power High for 3 ½ minutes.6. Serve hot with rice.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Sambal Beef Semur

Ingredients:600g beef (thinly sliced)¼ cup waterA: (to be blended with 4tbs, oil)100g small onion20g garlic10g dried chilli (soaked)10g galangal root10g candle nut8g lemon grassB:150g big onion (thinly sliced)160g tomato (cut into wedges)¼ cup thick coconut milk1tsp saltMethod:1. Fry blended ingredients A in a casserole, stirring occasionally, on power High, uncovered for 6 minutes.2. Add in water and beef slices.3. Cover and cook on power Medium for 8 minutes.4. Stir in ingredients B and cook on power High, uncovered for 2 minutes.5. Serve hot with rice.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Devonshire Roast Beef

Ingredients:600g striploinA:1 ½ tbs regular season all1tsp lea and perrins sauce1tsp rosemary1tsp cooking oil3. potatoes, cut into wedgesB:2. small carrots, cut into wedges200g asparagus, cut into 3cm lengthMethod:To roast beef:1. Marinate beef with ingredients A for 2-3 hours. Place onto a plate with potato around the meat.2. Put to roast on Combination 4 for about 15-18 minutes or under One Touch Menu - : press Convection Browning pad once, tap Serving/Weight pad once, and press Start pad.To cook vegetables:3. Place carrots in the outer ring of the microwave safe plate with asparagus in the center. Sprinkle with some water and cover with microwave save plastic wrap.4. Cook on power High for 2-3 minutes or until tender.5. Serve slice Devonshire roast beef with vegetables, brown sauce and country salad.Makes: 4-6 servings Taken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Lasagna

Ingredients:125g lasagna noodles (precooked)30g grated parmesan cheese for topping30g grated mozzarella cheeseMeat SauceA:250g Australian minced beef1 celery, chopped1 bombay onion, chopped1 tomato, chopped¼ cup button mushroom, chopped1tsp garlic powder1tsp parsley flakes1tsp oregano1tsp rosemary1tsp thyme1tsp black peppercorn2 ½ cups concentrated tomato pureeSalt and pepper to tasteCheese sauce:1x35g pkt cheese sauce mix1cup milk½ tsp nutmeg powder¼ tsp pepperMethod:1. Boil water for 10 minutes. Cook lasagna for 10 minutes. Remove.2. Place ingredients A in a casserole dish and mix well. Cover and cook on power Medium for 25 minutes.Prepare cheese sauce:3. Pour cheese sauce mixture in a microwave safe dish and cook on power High for 2 minutes until the mixture thickened, stirring occasionally. Set aside.4. Preheat oven to 180° C on Convection Bake function.5. Place half of the meat in a casserole dish, layer with lasagna noodles.6. Top with remaining meat and another layer of lasagna noodles.7. Spread cheese sauce on top and sprinkle with parmesan and mozzarella cheese.8. Cook on Convection Bake function at 180° C for 25 minutes.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Aromatic Beef Rendang

Ingredients:550g beef, cut into bite-size portionsIngredients to be blended:A:14 dried chilies, pre-soaked15 shallots6 cloves garlic2cm/pc galangal root2cm/pc ginger1cm/pc yellow ginger2 ½ -3tbs cooking oilB:½ - ¾ cup water mix together¼ cup instant cream coconut powderC:15g palm sugar½ cup toasted coconut1-2pcs turmeric leaves, finely slicedSalt to tasteMethod:1. Fragrant blended ingredients A on power High for 8 minutes or until aromatic.2. Stir in beef portions, cook on power High for 2 minutes.3. Add ingredients B, cook on power High for 5 minutes.4. Stir in ingredients C, cook on power High for another 5 minutes.5. Serve hot with rice, ketupat or bread.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from "National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Butter Cake

Ingredients:150 g self raising flour1 tsp baking powder sifted togetherPinch of salt150 g butter130 g caster sugar240 g (4) eggs, beaten1 tbs milk1 tsp vanilla essenceMethod:Line and grease a 20cm ring cake pan.Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Gradually beat in eggs and essence.CAKESlowly fold in sifted flour alternating with 1 tbs of milk. Mix cake mixture well and pour into greased ring pan.Place cake pan over oven rack. Bake under One Touch Menu : tap Convention Browning pad 5 times. And press Start padWhen cake is done, invert cake to cool on a rack and transfer onto an attractive serving dish.Taken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Spice Layer Cake

Ingredients:Spice layer:A: 100g butter90g castor sugar60g egg yolkB: 95g self raising flour5g mix space5g cocoa powder5tbs milk110g egg whitePlain Layer:A: 100g butter90g castor sugar60g egg yolkB: 105g self-raising flour5tbs milk110g egg whiteMethod:Cream butter and sugar till mixture is light and fluffy.Add egg yolks to cream mixture, beating mixture until well blended.Fold in flour and milk alternately until completely combined.Whisk egg white till stiff and fold gently into cake mixture.Steam in 24 cm round microwave cake pan on power High for 4 minutes 10 seconds.Standing time: 10 minutes covered with paper towel.Do the same for the other layer.When the cakes are cold, slice each cake into 2 layers and sandwich the flour layers with whipped cream. Decorate accordingly.Makes: 4-6 servingsTaken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Peanut Cookie

Ingredients;100g peanuts, coarsely chopped1 egg, beatenA: 100g plain flour100g margarine/butter, melted75g sugarMethod:Preheat oven to 180° C on Convection Bake function.Mix together ingredients A with chopped peanuts and knead to smooth dough.Roll into small balls and place onto greased baking tray.Place baking tray on over rack and bake at 180° C for 10-15 minutes or until cooked.Glaze cookies with beaten egg at the last minutes.Makes: 2 ½ dozen of cookies.Taken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook

Coconut Candy

Ingredients:A: 200g sweetened condenses milk200g desiccated coconut1 tsp vanilla essencea few drops red/greed or yellow coloringMethod:Grease a 14 cm square pan, set aside.Place ingredients A in a microwave safe bowl, mix well.Cook uncovered on power Medium for 4 minutes, stirring every now and then.Continue cooking on power High for another 2 minutes, stirring every now and then.Press cooked coconut mixture onto greased pan firmly. Allow to cool down and cut into dainty small squared.Store coconut candy in pretty storing jars.Makes: about 20 squaresTaken from “National Microwave/Convection Cookbook