With less than 5 days to go before our planet switches off, its time to tell your friends, family and everyone you know about Earth Hour

Updates

• To date we have more than 23,000 individuals,companies,schools and organizations that have signed up in Malaysia.
• More than 350 companies have pledged their support
• More than 9 events have been planned for you to celebrate Earth Hour with. (Log on to earthhour.org/malaysia -> events for details)
• 2140 cities have pledged their support to go dark in support of Earth Hour, this is more than the target of 1,000 cities that was set for Earth Hour 2009
• Earth Hour Facebook Group has more than 35,000 friends and growing by the day
• Earth Hour Malaysia Youtube channel now has all video’s and tv commercials
• KLCC,Dataran Merdeka,KL Tower,Putrajaya are amongst the famous Malaysian icons that have confirmed their participation and more will be updated on earthhour.org/malaysia -> news

10 Things To Do During Earth Hour

1. Gather family & friends for a night picnic
2. Dine in one of the many Earth Hour participating restaurants by candlelight
3. Organise a family night playing board games
4. Throw an Earth Hour street party with your neighbours
5. Arrange a house party lit by torches
6. Take the dog for a night walk
7. Hand write a letter to loved one by lantern
8. Sit in the dark and share stories
9. Read a book using a book light
10. Share a romantic night in with your loved one

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Pernah lihat atau baca ayat2 tersebut? Sebagai pereka grafik, pereka web mahupun yang seangkatan sudah tentu mengenali ayat2 tersebut. Ada yang mengatakan ianya adalah ayat2 “dummy” atau ayat2 contoh untuk digunapakai dalam perihal men”design” sesuatu artwork. Ianya bukan ayat2 kosong, tetapi mempunyai makna atau translasi.

Untuk mengetahui dengan lebih lanjut Lorem Ipsum – All the facts – Lipsum generator

In the 1950s and 60s, scantily clad women populated many automotive ads. These women served to attract the reader’s attention (commonly referred to as “borrowed interest”) but served other purposes as well. For example, one study found that sexual images like the one to the left could influence perceptions about a car’s styling and performance.

A recent analysis indicates that only about 1% of automotive ads in today’s mainstream consumer magazines contain sexual images. It’s more likely that these images are showing up in local “free” publications like Trocas; a truck magazine targeting Latinos in the in greater Atlanta area. Guys buy trucks so this ad, appearing in a 2007 issue of Trocas, used pinup material to keep them staring at the page long enough notice a truck.

Actually sekarang pun kalau kita pi ke kedai spare-part kereta atau bengkel motor pun kita masih boleh tengok advertising sebegini yang tertampal kat dindingnya. Kalau diikutkan memang betul apa yang Dr. Tom Reichert katakan bahawa kita ni yang “guys” kalau melihat iklan2 tersebut memang akan mengambil masa yang lama untuk menyedari apa produk sebenarnya yang diiklankan… hahaha… damn jers… what everlah bro…

What Is This Twitter You Speak Of?

So what is Twitter and how can it be of benefit to you or your business? Twitter is a free online micro-blogging application which gives you the ability to send out short messages (up to 140 characters) called “tweets” to people who are following you on Twitter.

You can send tweets either through your computer or by using your cell phone via a text message. These tweets/messages can be about anything you want and they can include links, as well.

Making Twitter even more useful is the ability to send a direct message to someone you are following (this is done by entering @username at the beginning of your message) or replying to someone’s tweet with your tweet. You would be surprised how common it is to reply to someone’s message then to have someone who is either following you or the person you sent the reply to reply to your initial message and so on.

People can follow you and your tweets by first signing-up for their own free Twitter account at the Twitter site then adding you to their líst of people they are following. Once you have created your account, you can either check your Twitter page (your personal page which appears after you sign-in at the Twitter home page) for any of your friends’ new messages or you can send out your messages. But it is much easier, in my opinion, to use one of the many online or desktop applications which give you the ability to do all of this and more.

Twitter As A Communication Tool

Twitter is a quick and easy way to communicate with family, friends, business associates, and also within a company setting. Being an online service, Twitter is available to anyone with online access. All you have to do is login to your account through any number of third-party applications developed for Twitter or through the Twitter site and you are ready to go.

Within a company setting, employees could have a Twitter account created for them with the option to have their messages protected. This means only people they (or you or the person in charge of creating the Twitter accounts) approve will be able to send and receive messages from them. The same thing could be done using an instant message program but with Twitter, there would be no software to install and it would be accessible from anywhere with an online connection. Additionally, the person who is in charge of the Twitter accounts will have the power to control who is and who isn’t part of this private Twitter network.

Even though there are tons of online communication applications available, Twitter can also be used as a way for people who are collaborating on a project to stay in touch with one another regardless of where they are. And depending on which third-party application they are using to Twitter with, these conversations can be saved for future reference. There are even some third-party apps which you can use to send files up to 10MB to anyone you are following as long as they are using the same application, that is. Still, a handy feature to have and one which may become a feature of Twitter if there’s a big enough demand for it.

Marketing With Twitter

Herein lies the great thing about Twitter from a business perspective: the marketing potential it offers users. Sure, it is great to send messages and chat using Twitter, but it can also be a great marketing tool if used correctly. Have some breaking news you want to get out quickly? Send it out as a Tweet. Made an important update to your blog or web site? Let people know about it instantly with a Tweet.

Want to promote your project, book, movie, whatever by giving away a free download or preview? Send out a Tweet with a URL to the free download. Only want to market something to certain individuals you are following? Simply enter their username preceded by the “@” and you are set.

Another simple marketing tool available with Twitter is the ability to befriend people who are following someone you already follow. While this practice could backfire on you if you begin to add everyone you find following someone you are following, be picky and just befriend those who either share similar tastes that you do or work in the same field as you or already follow many of the same people you do. Otherwise, you could come off as a spammer which will be a hard image to shake.

Twitter Now And Beyond

Twitter represents a fundamental change in the way people communicate online. There have always been instant messengers and they have their place and purpose but they don’t provide the one thing which sets Twitter apart and that is the ability to instantly communicate with either a couple of people or potentially thousands without the need for proprietary software. No need to download this piece of software in order to communicate with this person or that organization.

Much like how blogging has become a staple of today’s society, Twitter and “twittering” is on the same path to becoming ingrained in today’s culture despite only being around for less than two years. So simple in its execution, powerful in the marketing opportunities it offers, and ease of use, Twitter will be one of the top web technologies to gain worldwide prominence in 2009.

by: Wesley Craig Green

Salam Sejahtera!

Sifoo.com akan terpaksa ‘bergelap’ seketika di atas sebab teknikal. Kami mengalami masalah server yang kronik. Server ‘usang’ kami sudah tidak mampu lagi menampung apa yang ada sekarang ini.

Untuk pengetahuan, server ‘usang’ tersebut dibeli pada 2004 dengan sumbangan-sumbangan yang diterima daripada pengunjung-pengunjung setia Sifoo.com. Sifoo.com hidup dengan wujudnya komuniti ‘Sifoorian’ yang sangat harmoni dan saling berkongsi ilmu dan pandangan.

Oleh yang demikian, kami di Sifoo.com sekali lagi ingin memohon ‘bantuan kemanusiaan’ agar Sifoo.com ‘bercahaya’ kembali. Kami ingin membuat kutipan sumbangan kilat agar dapat membeli server baru dalam lingkungan harga RM4,500.00. Di waktu sedang menulis ‘ucapan’ ini, kami sudah pun menerima sumbangan lebih kurang RM2,000 (secara verbal).

Jadi, kami harap sangat jika ada yang sudi membantu bagi menambah kutipan sumbangan. Nilaian tidak penting, asalkan yang ikhlas. Kecil atau besar, kami terima. Asalkan Sifoo.com boleh kembali memberi sumbangan kepada anda semua, masyarakat Malaysia. Sifoo.com akan terus kekal sebagai komuniti besar (percuma) di atas sokongan anda semua.

Terima kasih. Semoga dengan sumbangan anda diberkati sepanjang hayat. Insya-Allah.

Yang benar,
IMRAN ABDUL JABAR
Pengasas Sifoo.com
(ijabar@yahoo.com)

JUMLAH KUTIPAN SETAKAT INI : RM2841

Maklumat Sumbangan:
Akaun: 162106329055
Bank: Maybank Berhad
Penama: Elita Fariza Binti Shafee (Bendahari Sifoo.com)
Emel: eelliete@yahoo.com

Sifoo.com dan komunitinya telah banyak membantu aku dari mula aku menceburkan diri dalam dunia grafik ini. Kepada yang muda mentah belia mungkin tak terasa keperitannya. Kepada otai2 lama jom tolong beb!

Kepada yang ingin membantu dipersilakan membuat sumbangan ke maklumat akaun yang tertera. Kepada yang hanya nak membatu… duk ontok2 jer… Sekian

Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Ja’afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman, mangkat di Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Seremban (HTJS), di sini, kira-kira jam 11.45 pagi semalam kerana angin ahmar. Baginda berusia 86 tahun.

Jenazah Almarhum baginda ditempatkan di Dewan Balairong Seri, Istana Besar Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah untuk penghormatan terakhir daripada kerabat diraja, pemimpin dan orang ramai. Istiadat pengebumian jenazah Almarhum baginda akan diadakan esok (Isnin 29-12-08) selepas solat Asar. Pelantikan Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan yang baru akan diumumkan esok sebelum jenazah Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar disemadikan di makam diraja Seri Menanti.

Takziah kepada semua kaum kerabat Baginda Tuanku Ja’afar.

Al-fatihah…

If you wish to be a graphic designer you must be prepared to receive a college degree in advertising or fine arts focusing in graphic art and computer graphics. Although there are some who make it to the industry just by talent alone, most still need a degree or some sort of certificate to land a job as a graphic designer. Employers won’t even look at you if you lack the piece of paper that shows that you have been trained in graphic design related program. In addition, much of your competition would be graduates from college so it is better if you come prepared before plunging into the exciting world of graphic designs.

There many schools that offers graphic design related courses. There are courses in visual communication, graphic design, animation, advertising, and multimedia and web development among others. There are short term and long term programs offered in different schools. Short term programs are usually for one or two years while long term programs such as Bachelor of Fine Arts degree are often for three to four years. Nevertheless, both these programs offer a work placement in a business or studio during or after your studies. This can be a stepping stone for you in gaining the experience that you need to get hired.

To improve your experience in graphic designs, you can also do freelance work whenever you can. This will help you have a solid portfolio to present to your prospective employer when you get out of school and hunt for a real job. Likewise, you have to pay attention to the packaging designs and advertising trends in all forms of media to keep you updated with what is the latest in the industry.

Remember that being a graphic designer necessitates you to learn new software and be up to date on design trends constantly. There is more to being a graphic designer than sitting in front of the computer. Thus, you need to learn how to speak efficiently and learn how advertising and PR influence design decisions.

by: Viojieley Gurrobat

There’s no denying the hard work and dedication behind the numerous digital images in the world today. But even serious Photoshoppers know how to have fun. Get together to see what wonders the world of Photoshop has to offer. Anyone – beginner, amateur or professional – can learn from Photoshop experts at Photoshopworld Asia 2007. Come and play: register for your free seat today.

Who Should Attend

• Graphic Designers
• Computer Illustrators
• Art Directors
• Digital Photographers
• Photo Retouchers
• Web Designers
• Web Developers
• Videographers
• Video Producers
• Computer Animators
• Motion Graphics Engineers
• Design Students & Educators
• Photoshop users

Date: 6 November 2007
Time: 08:45 – 17:30
Venue: Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Networking

Networking involves getting together with people from other businesses and talking about what you do and what they do.The idea is you either meet someone who needs your service, or they will know others who will want it and refer your name on to them.

Networking meetings take three basic forms: casual networking where people chat in small groups, more formal networking where attendees each make a short talk about what they do, and meals where you talk to people on your table. Some groups will have a short lecture from a successful person, with a mix of networking afterwards.

When going to a networking event it is important to have two things: a clear idea of your service or offering, and business cards to aid the memory of whoever you’ve talked to. It is helpful to have a memory for names and faces, or at least a pen so you can take notes about people you have met, but these are skills you can build up as you practise making an impression over several events.

There are many different groups offering networking events, in the UK there is the BNI, BusinessLink, local Chamers of Commerce, and many others. Ecademy started in the UK but is now a worldwide organisation and has meeting in many countries. It is worth checking their website to see if they have a meeting near you as they can be a friendly introduction in to the world of networking and you can ask questions through their website before you go to a real life meeting.

An important thing to remember is people who go to networking events often go to more than one. If you make an impression, they will often be happy to refer people to you who have a need for your skills. Effectively they become your sales force, and all they ask you return the favour and refer people you find who need their skills or services.

Partnerships

Get together with someone with complimentary skills and share work and bid for larger projects together. The classic example in the web world is a designer and developer pairing up – they can each handle different parts of the same job and together can pitch for jobs that individually they would not get.

Within a partnership it is important for the personalities of those involved to mesh and also that the balance of work is well distributed. If one person gets most of the work in, the other could take on more administrative duties, or offer that the person gaining clients takes a fee within the project money for doing this work. This helps keep the relationship as a partnership rather than it becoming that of a manager and worker, which often does not work out when both parties are coming from an independent freelancing background.

Networking events are good places to find someone that you can get on with and have compatible skills in a relatively relaxed atmosphere while avoiding the feeling of a formal interview.

Referral

The holy grail of freelancers and small businesses; getting a referral from a previous client means you don’t have any expenditure on advertising and the potential client is going to be much happier to talk to you as they all ready know you’ve done a good job in the past.

The best way to get referrals is to have clients who are very happy with your work. Hopefully when you have a few clients where you have done good work that they like, and that you have a good relationship with, they will refer to you any enquiries they get that match your skills.

By using a combination of these three methods of finding work, I’ve been kept busy since I became a freelancer two years ago. I’ve built up a network of contacts, created partnerships with interesting people, and even gained a few referrals. If you’re willing to give them a go, I’m sure you will too.

by: Paul Silver

The international providers are carrying out immediate restoration works to rectify the problem. We will be making further announcements when the service has resumed.

TM Net Sdn Bhd apologizes for any inconvenience caused whilst at the same time, we would like to assure you that we are doing all that is necessary in order to restore the service as soon as possible.

Customers can call TM Net Customer Interaction Centre at 1-300-88-9515 (24 hours) or 1-300-88-1515 from 8:00 a.m. till midnight or e-mail us at custcare[at]tm.net[dot]my for further enquiries about this matter.