System icons may not appear in the notification area on a Windows Vista-based computer

System icons may not appear in the notification area on a Windows Vista-based computer until you restart the computer

SYMPTOMS
When you first start a computer that is running Windows Vista, one or more of the Network, Volume, and Power icons may not appear in the notification area at the bottom of the screen. You may also notice that the check boxes for the related system icons are not selected on the Notification Area tab of the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. However, the network, volume, and power features function correctly even though their associated icons do not appear in the notification area. You can access these features by using Control Panel.

CAUSE
When the system or an application wants to put an icon in the notification area, the system or the application sends a discrete communication message to the operating system "shell." If the operating system is very busy, that message may expire, or may time out. When this time-out occurs, the icon does not appear in the notification area. This issue typically occurs during the first system startup. During the first startup, the system is very busy processing many startup, application, and service initializations.

Note These startup service initializations may take from one to six hours to finish, depending on which applications are preloaded on the computer. For example, the initialization time varies depending on the number of startup applications or services that a customer has ordered or that the computer manufacturer has added to the computer.

WORKAROUND
When you first start a new computer, the operating system typically runs a "customer welcome" sequence. This sequence is also known as the "out-of-the-box experience" (OOBE). The operating system runs the sequence and also starts other applications and services for the first time. Give the operating system enough time to finish these startup service initializations before you shut down or you restart the computer. This issue will typically not reoccur after the operating system has finished initializing all the background services, becomes less busy, and then has been restarted.

Note You can determine whether these service initializations are finished by observing the hard disk drive light activity (if your computer has this feature). If the hard disk drive light blinks intermittently instead of being solidly lit, these service initializations might be finished. You can also check CPU usage on the Performance tab in Windows Task Manager. If CPU usage is less than 15 percent, the service initializations might be completed, and you can shut down or restart the computer.

How to make the icons reappear
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

If you have tried the restart workaround that is listed earlier in this article for this issue and one or more of the system icons still do not appear in the notification area after the restart, you can try the following registry modification workaround.

Note You may have to reapply this workaround after you restart the computer if the icons still do not appear in the notification area.

You can make the icons reappear by deleting two subkeys from the registry. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start Start button, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

User Access Control permission If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify
3. In the Details pane, click the IconStreams registry entry.
4. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes.
5. In the Details pane, click the PastIconsStream registry entry.
6. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes.
7. Exit Registry Editor.
8. Restart the Explorer.exe process. To do these, follow these steps:
a. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
b. On the Processes tab in Windows Task Manager, click the explorer.exe process, and then click End Process two times.
c. On the File menu, click New Tasks (Run), type explorer, and then click OK.
d. Exit Windows Task Manager.

Young Jeezy ft. Kanye West - I Put On

7 Cool Careers You've Never Heard Of

The downhill direction of the economy has us all thinking about ways we can protect our livelihood. Why not start by getting creative? Consider some little-known career paths that will ensure that you stay competitive and look forward to going to work every morning. Here are seven cool jobs to consider today:

Computational linguist
Computational linguists teach computer systems how to process natural language. For example, if you're trying to order a book from Amazon in Japanese, the site will be able to recommend other relevant similar titles for you. Enter the field with a bachelor's degree in computer science and start with a salary in the high five figures.

How to break in: Meet valuable contacts by getting involved with the Linguistics Society of America (http://www.lsadc.org/) and the Association of Computational Linguistics (http://www.aclweb.org/).

Conservationist
Conservationists work with the government, industry associations and landowners to come up with methods for combating damage and for using land without injuring the environment. They generally hold a bachelor's degree in fields such as ecology, agriculture, biology or environmental science.

How to check it out: Gain real-world experience. Volunteer or intern at a government agency or environmental or community organization.

Doula
Birth doulas advise on birthing techniques and serve as the mother's advocate during labor. Postpartum doulas assist with emotional and physical recovery from childbirth and teach coping skills to new parents. You don't need a college degree to become a doula, but to be competitive in the field you should be certified by Doulas of North America (http://www.dona.org/). The median fee for a birth doula is $700 per birth.

How to get a jump-start: Get to know established midwives and doulas in your area and ask if you can witness a birth or postpartum counseling session to see if the field's for you.

Futurist
Using data from the past and present, futurists study how the present will evolve into possible alternative futures and how humans will adapt to the resulting technological, demographic, political, environmental and sociological changes. The majority of jobs require an undergraduate degree in a liberal arts or business discipline, and consulting futurists for companies and governments often command a six-figure salary within a few years.

How to penetrate the field: Check out the World Future Society's (http://www.wfs.org/) directory of consulting futurists and do informational interviews with firms located in your area.

Image consultant
Image consultants advise people with discretionary income how to make positive impressions -- through appearance, wardrobe, etiquette and communication skills -- in order to get ahead in their careers and social lives, and boost their self-confidence. You don't need a college degree, but organizations such as the Training Institute School for Image Consultants (http://www.newyorkimageconsultant.com/) in New York City offer course work in color analysis, wardrobe and style analysis, and personal shopping.

Want to make this your dream job? Join the Association of Image Consultants International (http://www.aici.org/) and see if you can work as an apprentice to someone who has already established herself in the field.

Life coach
Coaches love talking to people, figuring out what makes them tick and developing plans to help them succeed in their personal and professional lives. They meet with clients in person or over the phone on a regular basis and listen to challenges, set goals and monitor progress. While anyone can call himself a life coach regardless of education, it's best to be certified by the International Coaching Federation (www.coachfederation.com/ICF).

How to get moving: Hire your own life coach so that you can gain an in-depth understanding of the coach-client relationship.

Professional organizer
Organizers provide personal assistance, planning and products to help people de-clutter their homes and offices. While the National Association of Professional Organizers (http://www.napo.net/) does offer a certification program involving a mix of paid work hours and course work, most organizers agree that formal education isn't necessary. The average organizer is paid $50 per hour, with individual projects taking a full day or even several days.

How to get your foot in the door: Offer to help your disorganized friends and family members for free so that you can create some initial written success stories and be able to showcase "before and after" photos on your marketing materials.

Read more HERE!!

Lil Wayne - A Milli Freestyles & Remixes..

* There is a version of "A Milli" made for radio, which was released on The Drought Is Over 5.
* There is a version of "A Milli" which features Cory Gunz, which was the first version that leaked.
* There is a version that is called "A Milli (Young Money Remix)" which was supposed to be featured on Tha Carter III as a bonus track, but didn't make the cut, it was suppose to feature Tyga, Cory Gunz, Hurricane Chris, Lil Mama, & Lil Chuckie. This has not been released.

* Freestyle by Cassidy
* Freestyle by Jay-Z, titled "A Billie"
* Freestyle by Red Cafe
* Freestyle by The Game
* Freestyle by Cory Gunz & Jadakiss
* Freestyle by Fabolous
* Freestyle by Chris Brown
* Freestyle by Lil Mama
* Freestyle by Jibbs
* Freestyle by Drake (Toronto)
* Freestyle by Cyssero (Philly - Former BWS)
* Freestyle by Mims
* Freestyle by Gillie Da Kid, Bump J, Meek Mills, & Peedi Peedi
* Freestyle by Papoose
* Freestyle by Killa Kyleon
* Freestyle by Tyga
* Freestyle by The Pack
* Freestyle by Pitbull
* Freestyle by Reed Dollaz
* Freestyle by Los (from Bad Boy Records)
* Freestyle by Iceberg (from Cash Money Records)
* Freestyle by Willy Northpole (from Disturbing tha Peace)
* Freestyle by Uncle Murda (Fabolous Diss)
* Freestyle by Will Smith
* Freestyle by LL Cool J
* Freestyle by Charles Hamilton
* Freestyle by Chip Tha Ripper (Cleveland)
* Freestyle by Montega
* Freestyle by Juice (BWS)
* Freestyle by K Dot (Compton, CA)
* Freestyle by Rock City (Konvict Music)
* Freestyle by Lil' Chuckee
* Freestyle by
* Freestyle by Rukas called 9 millie
* Freestyle by Curren$y & JD Era
* Freestyle by Magnus

Types of Hard Drives

Today, I’m here to talk to you about hard drives. Hard drives can be messy; I mean you got cables, cables, different kinds of cables, power cables, different types of cables, and then the hard drives themselves. They have different connectors; there are different kinds. This is called serial ATA, this is IDE and I’m here today to help you understand why they are important and why you should change them and how to do it. So right here I have two different kinds of hard drives as you can notice they got different pin arrangements; they got different connectors. This one has an old school different connector and this is the newer kind. The top hard drive is a serial ATA. Most computers today come equipped with a serial ATA and most of the older machines and still some of the newer machines have this IDE connector.

Check out more Video Tutorials HERE!!

Avoid brain drain with memory-boosting foods

Improve your mental health with common fruits, vegetables — even coffee

Every cell in your body needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients in order to stay alive and work properly, including brain cells. Because oxygen and nutrients are carried in the blood stream, anything that impedes blood flow will starve those all-important brain cells. The plain truth is that a healthy heart makes for a healthy brain. So keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check, exercise regularly, don’t smoke and get at least seven hours of sleep each night.

Compelling research also indicates that certain foods and nutrients can help enhance your memory. Read the facts on fish, berries, leafy greens and coffee — and be sure you remember to incorporate them into your diet.

Fish (3 servings per week)
Research suggests that when it comes to food and memory, fish plays a starring role. Specifically fatty fish like salmon and sardines, thanks to the ample amounts of omega 3 fats they provide. In fact, a study published in the Archives of Neurology in November 2006 found people with the highest levels of omega 3 fats were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with dementia, compared to people with the lowest levels.

Another earlier study conducted by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago followed more than 3,000 men and women for six years to see how diet affected memory. People who ate fish at least once a week had a 10 percent slower decline compared with those who did not eat fish, a difference that gave them the memory and thinking ability of a person three years younger.

Fatty fish is concentrated in the most potent form of omega 3 fats (EPA and DHA), so go out of your way to incorporate three to five ounces portions at least three times each week.

Best fish to eat (low in contaminants AND high in omega 3 fats): Wild salmon, sardines, lake trout, pacific oysters, and Atlantic mackerel. If that’s not feasible, you can buy fish oil supplements or at the very least incorporate plant based sources of omega 3 fats (significantly less potent than fish): ground flaxseeds, omega-3 fortified eggs and walnuts.

Berries (one cup a day)
Studies that focus on food and memory suggest that the more overall produce you eat, the better. But when it comes to fruit and your memory, berries rate number one! Berries have some of the highest antioxidant concentrations among fruit, and ALL berries are rich in healthy compounds called anthocyanins and flavanols… which may help protect against the breakdown of brain cells.

Plus these days, it seems you can’t say enough about the health benefits of blue-berries. What makes them so powerful? Their deep blue hue — caused by flavonoids — those natural compounds that protect the brain’s memory-carrying cells (neurons) from the negative effects of oxidation and inflammation. Blueberries are one of the best sources of flavonoids around, and encouraging animal studies suggest that diets rich in flavonoids may help reverse memory loss in humans. In fact, a new British study, published just last month, reveals eating plenty of blueberries can enhance spatial memory and learning.

Buy firm-fleshed berries from a farmer’s market, local supermarket, or health food store. For off season months, take advantage of frozen, unsweetened varieties. Berries taste great mixed into plain yogurt, as a topping for hot or cold cereal or right out of the bowl.

story continues HERE!

HP exec cuts birthday cake with MacBook Air

My friend over at PhoneTag, James Siminoff, thought it would be funny to hand over a Macbook Air as a "gift" after I blew out the candle on a birthday cake. I immediately used it to cut the cake, it's so damn sharp it did a fine job. People thought it was funny enough to blog. So before this thing spreads, I thought I'd explain myself: It was a combination of some fantastic wine, constant ribbing from my friends, and a hand rolled cigar that did this.

As I see the Mac fans are coming out in droves, much respect... and um... it was a joke - I guess you had to be there ;) I assure you no Macs were harmed in the taking of this photo.

...and for those of you who keep emailing me to send you the Mac, it's not really mine, it's my friend who was hosting the party. They are constantly ribbing me about the Mac vs PC debate and thus the reason I was presented with the Mac as a "gift" -- get it? Now smile a little, it helps the day go by.

Ahh well, I wouldn't be needing this notebook for long anyways... :) Stay tuned for more...

Speedtest - How Fast are You.

So You Think You Can Type Fast Huh!!
Come Prove It HERE!!!

Here you can test how fast you are. Just type in the words. Are you faster than all the others? A nice side effect: these are the most used english words. Every time you try to beat the score, you improve your typing speed :)

Shrink Your Belly in 14 Days

I have some great news for your abs: The ultimate piece of belly-flab-busting equipment is a $30 stability ball. When researchers at California State University, Sacramento, hooked up electrodes to the midsections of 18 people, they found that ball moves recruited twice the number of muscle fibers as traditional crunches or yoga/Pilates-inspired workouts. Scientists credit the ball's instability with doubling the toning power of these moves. To amp up results, we combined ball exercises from the study with high-energy cardio and simple calorie-cutting tips. In 2 weeks, you could lose up to an inch from your waist; in 4 weeks, shed up to 8 pounds or more.

The Experts: Rafael Escamilla, PhD, PT, study author and professor of physical therapy at California State University, Sacramento, and Wayne Westcott, PhD, research director at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, MA, designed these workouts.

Program at a Glance

Your Workout:

WEEK 1

Monday — Cardio Routine 1 (45-60 minutes)

Tuesday — Belly Workout, on page 2, (once, 25-30 minutes)

Wednesday — Cardio Routine 2 (35-45 minutes)

Thursday — Belly Workout (once, 25-30 minutes)

Friday — Cardio Routine 1 (45-60 minutes)

Saturday — Belly Workout (once, 25-30 minutes)

Sunday — Cardio Routine 2 (35-45 minutes)


WEEK 2

Monday — Belly Workout (twice, 45-50 minutes)

Tuesday — Cardio Routine 1 (45-60 minutes)

Wednesday — Belly Workout (twice, 45-50 minutes)

Thursday — Cardio Routine 2 (35-45 minutes)

Friday — Belly Workout (45-50 minutes)

Saturday — Cardio Routine 1 (45-60 minutes)

Sunday — Belly Workout (twice, 45-50 minutes)


Your Eating Plan:

How it works: Our Eat for a Slim Belly plan relies on simple food swaps to cut about 500 calories from your diet daily. Our recommendations also boost your intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and whole grains — studies show both shrink belly fat faster.

Belly Workout:

Do 12 to 15 reps of each exercise on the next page. Between each exercise, do a cardio burst — 2 minutes of jumping rope, marching or jogging in place, stair climbing or stepping, or doing jumping jacks. Remember to warm up and cool down by marching or stepping side to side in place for 3 to 5 minutes at the beginning and end of your workout.

Cardio Burst: These 2-minute high-energy bouts will double your calorie burn to speed up fat loss and reveal a slimmer belly in less time.

How to Buy a Ball

Most people need a 22-inch (or 55 cm) stability ball. If you're under 5-foot-1, choose an 18-inch (or 45 cm) one, or a 26-inch (or 65 cm) ball if 5-foot-8 or taller. They're available in sporting goods stores (about $30) or online. We like the Gymnic Plus (performbetter.com) because it's made with burst-resistant, latex-free vinyl, and if punctured, it will deflate slowly.

Read more HERE!!