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Wednesday 24 July 2013

How to cook the perfect Beef Nilaga

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With a clear broth and really very basic, straightforward ingredients, Beef nilaga (or, more colloquially, Nilagang baka) looks deceptively easy to cook. But just because it does not have any sarsa, or a special marinade, does not mean you can just do as you please. Beef nilaga is actually even harder to cook because the taste of your dish will essentially come from your ingredients, nothing more; except maybe a pinch of salt and some spices to taste

Here are some tips on how to cook the perfect Beef nilaga straight from Chef Gene Gonzalez, Chef Instructor and president of the Center for Asian Culinary Studies (CACS), Chef Patron of Café Ysabel and World Gourmand Book Awardee (twice!). His show Chefscapades is currently being shown on Lifestyle Network.

•    “When choosing meat for Beef nilaga (slow-boiled beef), go for the ones that have some fat and litid (connective tissue). I would recommend the following cuts:  kneecap, shins and shortplate as they have connective tissue and they give off good flavor.”

•    “Cook the beef until it is tender. You’ll know this when the meat sticks to the bones but can be gently pried off. The connective tissue should also be firm but tender.”

•    “Put in vegetables last, about 2-3 minutes before you serve the dish. Let it simmer. Starches like potatoes or plantains should be put in the pot around 30 minutes before serving.”

•    “Remember that a good portion of your water will evaporate while you are cooking. A standard amount of water would be about 12 cups per kilo of beef. This will be reduced to just 7 cups when you finish cooking.”

•    “If you want a cloudy-opaque broth, put in onions, shallots, leeks and pepper first and let them simmer for a few seconds. Then, put in your meat. This will help in giving flavor to your broth.”

•    “To get a clear broth, put the beef in a pot with water before anything else at room temperature. After a few minutes, let this simmer until it is tender. This will preserve the meat fiber.”

•    “Personally, I like to make a Visayan hybrid of the Beef nilaga. I put in green or semi-ripe plantains (saba), cabbage, pechay, a hint of lemongrass, tangkwei (a Chinese herb) and a slice of bamboo shoot.”

•    “Complement your Beef nilaga with grilled or fried fish; stir-fried seafood; or steamed vegetables in shrimp paste (bagoong) or anchovy sauce (or the Philippine version: patis).” 

Sweet and spicy chicken quesadillas recipe

Sweet and spicy chicken quesadillas recipe 


Ingredients

  1. 4 corn tortillas
  2. 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  3. 100g roast chicken slices
  4. 100g Monterey Jack 1840 Grated Cheese
  5. 1-2 tbsp sliced pickled green jalapeño peppers
  6. ½ x 200g pot sour cream and chive dip to serve

Method

  • 1. Spread 2 tortillas with sweet chilli sauce.
  • 2. Tear the chicken into pieces, then divide between the tortillas.
  • 3. Scatter over the cheese and jalapeños, then top each with another tortilla.
  • 4. Heat a large non-stick frying pan and cook each quesadilla over a fairly high heat for 2 minutes on each side until crusty and golden on the outside and hot and melting on the inside.
  • 5. Cut into quarters and serve with the sour cream dip.

Monday 22 July 2013

Newly-discovered Pandoravirus is largest virus ever found

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The phrase "giant virus" sounds pretty ominous, but that's what's been discovered dwelling underwater by researchers in France. Named 'Pandoravirus', this monster is the biggest virus ever found, but even with its size and creepy name, is it dangerous to us?
Typical viruses — ones we're used to, like influenza — are really small. Influenza measures about 100 nanometers (nm) across, whereas rabies is a bulkier 180 nm. By comparison, the width of a strand of spider's webbing is about 5000 nanometers wide. Viruses don't have to be big, just big enough to carry their key genetic material. They do their thing by injecting themselves into larger cells and using the cells' own reproductive process to make more viruses.
[ Related: Analysis of airline travel shows international vulnerability to MERS ]
Now here comes something else entirely, though. This Pandoravirus is 1,000 times bigger than the flu virus. So big, you don't need a fancy high-powered microscope to see it. That's not all that's big about it, either. Our familiar flu virus carries about 13 genes, but Pandoravirus racks up an astonishing 2,556! Even more remarkable is that 94% of those genes are completely unknown to science.
You might be wondering why it took so long to discover, if it's so huge. Among its other mysteries, Pandoravirus doesn't look much like other viruses — aside from the fact it's so large, it's more of a blob that most of its relatives. One of the researchers on the team who made this discovery, Jean-Michel Claverie, had actually received a sample of the virus 10 years ago, but he thought it was simply a mislabeled bacteria. He and his team, including wife Chantal Abergel, uncovered the truth of the matter when they got hints of giant viruses from another recent survey. They then obtained sediment samples to test from both seawater near Chile, and freshwater in Australia.
Speaking to NPR, Cleverie and Abergel related how they removed any bacteria from the samples and then set the virus loose on amoebas in their lab. Abergel told NPR "If they die, we suspect that there's something in there that killed them."
What the team ended up with was evidence of two kinds of pandoraviruses (and, presumably, a lot of dead amoebas).
Apart from being cool for having provided evidence for the 'monster truck' of viruses, this study is exciting to biologists and geneticists alike because, like its namesake Pandora's Box, these pandoraviruses seem to contain not only thousands of unknown genes but, Claverie suspects, they may come from a different origin than other viruses living today.
"We believe that those new pandoraviruses have emerged from a new ancestral cellular type that no longer exists," he told NPR. That particular belief is disputed, but either way there is a lot still to be understood about these genetic oddities.
[ More Geekquinox: WSW: Go-karting babies help researchers study fear ]
As they appear to be widespread in bodies of water around the world, Claverie is next looking into what might be their role in the marine ecosystem. But, and here's the answer to the question from the start - can they make us sick. Dr. Claverie is quoted in the New York Times, saying "I don't believe we have the proof at the moment that these viruses could infect humans. But again, never say never."
Well, that's almost reassuring.
 

Coffee 101: How to jazz up your coffee drinks

Here's a FinancesOnline.com infographic that will help increase your coffee IQ in a flash. Just follow the nifty tips and you may be brewing your very own designer coffee soon.
If you want to know more about coffee, you may also like Coffee 101: The right way to brew coffee, Coffee 101: How to enjoy great savings in a cup, Coffee 101: How to jazz up your coffee drinks, Coffee 101: Choosing the perfect coffee pair, Coffee 101: Basic coffee recipes, and Coffee 101: Coffee around the world.

 

What your favorite ice cream flavor says about you

What your favorite ice cream flavor says about you  


Are you impulsive and an idealist? Chances are your favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla. On the other hand, is your go-to flavor at the ice cream parlor strawberry? You’re more likely to be tolerant, devoted and an introvert.
At least that’s according to “smell and taste expert” Dr. Alan Hirsch, who was commissioned by Baskin-Robbins to psychoanalyze our ice cream preferences and connect them with personality traits.
Among some of the more interesting findings, is that though vanilla -- the basic, classic standard -- has traditionally been linked to more prosaic, dull and predictable personalities, Hirsch, a neurologist and psychiatrist, says that those who order vanilla are easily suggestible, but also impulsive idealists.
Likewise, despite its “bright taste profile” and schizophrenic colors, rainbow sherbet belies a darker side, as people who choose this flavor are more likely to be analytical, decisive and pessimistic, he said.
For the report, adults aged 18 to 65 completed psychiatric and personality tests which were then analyzed and correlated with ice cream preferences.
Here’s how the other ice cream flavors stacked up.
Vanilla: Impulsive, easily suggestible, idealist
Chocolate:
Dramatic, lively, charming, flirtatious, seductive, gullible
Strawberry:
Tolerant, devoted, introverted
Mint chocolate chip:
Argumentative, frugal, cautious
Cookie dough
: Ambitious, competitive, visionary
Pralines and cream
: Loving, supportive, avoid the spotlight
Coffee: Scrupulous, conscientious, moral perfectionist
Chocolate chip: generous, competent, go-getter
Rainbow sherbet
: Analytical, decisive, pessimistic
Rocky road
: Aggressive, engaging, good listener
Nestlé also had the same idea for their site IceCream.com, which claims that those who prefer butter pecan can be characterized as fiscally conservative, hardworking, devoted, respectful and extremely sensitive to other people’s feelings.
Similarly, in line with Hirsch’s diagnosis, vanilla lovers are described as colorful, dramatic risk-takers who rely more on intuition than logic who set high goals for themselves.
 

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Green tea ice cream

Green tea ice cream 


Ingredients

500ml full-fat milk
100ml double cream
3 egg yolks
100g sugar
10g green tea powder (see tip)
Tropical fruits, such as sliced mango and dragon fruit, to serve

Method

1. Put the milk and cream in a pan over a medium heat and bring just to the boil. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, cream together the egg yolks, sugar and green tea for a few minutes, until thickened. Gradually pour in the hot milk mixture, stirring.
2. Pour the mixture back into the pan over a medium-low heat and cook, stirring, for 10-12 minutes, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not overheat as it may curdle. Sieve into a clean bowl and cool.
3. Churn the mixture in an ice cream maker until frozen, then freeze until serving. Alternatively, pour into a freezerproof container, freeze for 2 hours then whizz in a processor until smooth. Freeze and repeat 3-4 times, until smooth, then freeze until serving. Serve scoops of ice cream with sliced tropical fruits.

Nutrition

Per serving: 394kcals, 22.6g fat (12.7g saturated), 7.2g protein, 42.9g carbs, 42.9g sugar, 0.2g salt

Chef's Tip

Green tea powder can be bought from the Japan Centre, 212 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HX. If you’re not in London, visit www.japancentre.com for mail order.

Tomato, basil and mozzarella penne

Tomato, basil and mozzarella penne 


Ingredients

  1. 4 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  2. 3 fat garlic cloves, crushed
  3. 1 small onion, finely chopped
  4. Large sprig fresh rosemary, leaves picked and chopped
  5. 600g canned chopped tomatoes
  6. 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato purée
  7. 1 fresh bay leaf
  8. 300g penne
  9. 2 x 125g balls half-fat mozzarella, drained and cut into 1cm pieces
  10. Handful fresh basil, leaves picked
  11. 60g rocket leaves
  12. 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Method

  • 1. Put 3 tsp of the olive oil and the crushed garlic into a medium pan and place over a medium heat. As soon as the garlic starts to sizzle, add the finely chopped onion and chopped rosemary leaves and cook gently until very soft but not browned. Add the tomatoes, sun-dried tomato purée and bay leaf and leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring every now and then, until reduced and thick. Season to taste, and remove the bay leaf.
  • 2. Meanwhile, bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil. Drop the penne into the boiling water and cook for 13 minutes or until al dente. Drain well, return to the pan and stir in the tomato sauce, diced mozzarella and basil leaves. Divide the pasta among 4 warmed bowls.
  • 3. Toss the rocket leaves with the balsamic vinegar and the remaining 1 tsp olive oil, pile on top of each bowl of pasta and serve.

Nutrition

Per serving: 367kcals, 12.3g fat (6.2g saturated), 11.7g protein, 65.7g carbs, 9g sugar, 0.5g salt

Countries Pinoys can visit without a visa





It’s more fun in the Philippines, but amid good economic news, many Filipinos are traveling abroad both for business and leisure. Japan has recently allowed multiple-entry visas for Filipino citizens. South Korea is also reportedly mulling improving visa requirements for Pinoys.

But did you know that as of June 30, 2013, Filipinos can go to at least 25 other countries without having to worry about visas?

This is according to an “unofficial” and “indicative” list the Department of Foreign Affairs made available to Yahoo! Southeast Asia. Filipinos have however been told to always check with embassies or consulates when making travel plans, as visa policies change from time to time. (Text by Kim Patria)






Colombia  

COLOMBIA. This ethnically diverse South American country is visa-free for Filipinos! (PHOTO: A picture made available on 28 August 2011 shows tourists walking outside historical wall that surrounds Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias, 28 May 2011. EPA/Ricardo Maldonado)

 

 

 

Cambodia  

More places Here!

CAMBODIA. Filipinos can enjoy history in this kingdom in Southeast Asia without a visa for 21 days. (PHOTO: Tourists view Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, 13 April 2012. EPA/MAK REMISSA)

 

 

 

 Girls in traditional costumes waits to greet foreign ministers before a cultural event at the ASEAN security conference in Bandar Seri Begawan 

More places Here!

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM. The Philippines’ fellow ASEAN country allows Filipinos to visit its territory visa-free for 14 days. The golden mosque here is a must see. (PHOTO: Girls wearing traditional costumes laugh while waiting to greet foreign ministers before a cultural event attended by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during the ASEAN security conference in Bandar Seri Begawan July 1, 2013. REUTERS/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool)

 

 

 

 Brazil 

More places Here!

BRAZIL. Filipinos may stay for 90 days without a visa in the largest country in both South America and Latin America. (PHOTO: Tourists walk in front of the Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue atop Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 05 December 2012. EPA/GERNOT HENSEL)

 

 

 

 

Bolivia 

More places Here!

BOLIVIA. This South American country bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru is visa-free from Pinoys for 60 days. (PHOTO: Picture taken 31 July 2004 shows the Bala strait on Beli river in Bolivia, one of the symbols of the new tourist attractions on this country, near to Rurrenabaque port on the border of the Andes and the Amazonian. EPA/MARTIN ALIPAZ)

 

 

 

Countries Pinoys can visit without a visa

Turtle Island Resort on Fiji 

FIJI. Pinoys may visit this Melanesian country composed of 332 islands visa-free for 120 days. (FILE PHOTO: Turtle Island Resort on Fiji)

 

 

 

 Ecuador 

WOW Topics Here!

ECUADOR. Do you wish to visit the famous Galapagos Islands in Ecuador? You may do so without a visa for 90 days. (PHOTO: Tourists watch an ash column emanated from the Tungurahua Volcano at the central Andean mountain range in Ecuador, on Sunday 21 of May 2006. Tungurahua is one of the fifty volcanoes that are in Ecuador and is one of seven most active in this South American country. EPA/STR)

 

 

 

 Costa Rica 

WOW Topics Here!

COSTA RICA. This Central American country whose name means “rich coast” in Spanish is open for Pinoys without a visa for 30 days. (PHOTO: General view of the Irazu volcano, in Costa Rica, 11 August 2011. EPA/Jefferey Arguedas)

 

 

 

 An island dots Muri beach on the Island of Rarotonga, the largest island in the Cook Islands 

WOW Topics Here!

COOK ISLANDS. This nation comprised of 15 small islands over the South Pacific Ocean may be visited by Pinoys visa-free for 31 days. (PHOTO: An island dots Muri beach on the Island of Rarotonga, the largest island in the Cook Islands. File photo)

 

 

Countries Pinoys can visit without a visa

Laos 

LAOS. This country, which is a favorite backpacking destination in Southeast Asia, allows Filipinos visa-free for 30 days. (PHOTO: Tourists visit Pha That Luang, a golden Buddhist stupa, that is considered to be Laos' most sacred monument, in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 02 November 2012. EPA/BARBARA WALTON)

 

 

 

 South Korea 

More Places Here!

KOREA. Are you a fan of K-Pop or Korean culture in general? South Korea requires visa, except the picturesque Jeju Island which is visa-free for Pinoys. (PHOTO: Cyclists biking through tunnels of cherry tree blossoms on the outskirts of Busan, in the south of South Korea 25 March 2013. EPA/BARBARA WALTON)

 

 

 

 Indonesia 

More Places Here!

INDONESIA. Filipinos can visit this archipelagic country comprised of more than 17,500 islands visa-free for 30 days. (PHOTO: A picture made available 27 May 2013 shows foreign and local tourists waiting for the sunrise at the ancient Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java province, Indonesia, 24 May 2013. EPA/MAST IRHAM)

 

 

 Hong Kong
 

More Places Here!

HONG KONG. You may shop and dine in Hong Kong and even visit Disneyland without a visa for 14 days. (Tourists have their photos taken with Disney characters at Hong Kong Disneyland Park, Monday 12 September, Hong Kong. EPA/ALEX HOFFORD)

 

 

 

 Haiti 

More Places Here!

HAITI. If you want to experience one of the most popular carnivals in the Carribean, visit Haiti. Filipinos are allowed visa-free in this country. (PHOTO: Hundreds of people participate in the opening of the carnival of Jacmel, Haiti, 27 January 2008. EPA/KENA BETANCUR)

Countries Pinoys can visit without a visa

Peru 


PERU. Filipinos may visit this South American country that is home to ancient cultures without a visa for 60 days. (PHOTO: A man dressed as an Inca is carried on a platform during the parade at the streets of the city of Cusco, Peru, 24 June 2009 in celebration of the Inti Raymi, which means 'Festival of the Sun' (Fiesta del Sol), in quechua language, a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honour of the god Inti. EPA/SENGO PEREZ)

 

 

 Mongolia 

More topics Here!

MONGOLIA. This country bordered by Russia and China allows Filipinos to visit without a visa for 21 days. (PHOTO: Mongolian spectators and tourists wait for a horse racing competition during a rural Naadam Festival in Karakorum, Mongolia, 08 July 2012. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG)

 

 

 

 

 

 Malaysia 

More topics Here!

MALAYSIA. Filipinos may visit this neighboring country, the home of Petronas Towers, without a visa for 30 days. (PHOTO: Foreign tourists take pictures near the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 10 July 2011. EPA/AHMAD YUSNI)

 

 

 

 Macau 

More topics Here!

MACAU. This Chinese territory dubbed the “Las Vegas of Asia” is open for Filipinos without a visa for 30 days. (PHOTO: Tourists walk past the Grand Lisboa Casino in Macau, China 18 December 2009. EPA/YM YIK EPA)

 

 

 

 

 

Countries Pinoys can visit without a visa

Vietnam 


VIETNAM. Popular destinations in Vietnam include Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and world heritage sites. Pinoys may visit visa-free for 21 days. (PHOTO: Tourists walk through the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, Vietnam, 11 March 2010. EPA/JULIAN ABRAM WAINWRIGHT)

 

 

 Thailand 

Places Here!

THAILAND. This neighboring country, which is one of the top tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, is open for Filipinos for 30 days. (PHOTO: Chinese tourists riding on elephants at the elephant camp in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT)

 

 

 Baby green sea turtles crawl to the water from their nest on Babunsanti Beach in Marowijne District 

Places Here!

SURINAME. Amazon rain forests can be found in the southern part of this country, which Filipinos may visit without a visa. (PHOTO: Baby green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), known locally as the krape, crawl to the water from their nest on Babunsanti Beach in the Galibi nature reserve situated on the eastern edge of the Marowijne River estuary, May 5, 2013. REUTERS/Ranu Abhelakh)

 

 

  Singapore 

Places Here!

SINGAPORE. The highly urbanized Southeast Asian city-state is the world’s fourth leading financial center. Pinoys may visit Singapore without a visa for 30 days. (PHOTO: Tourists view the Singapore skyline from the Marina Bay in Singapore, 12 April 2013. EPA/STEPHEN MORRISON)

 

 

Travel Ethical Destinations Samoa  

Places Here!

 

SAMOA. Halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand is this Polynesian country of Samoa. Pinoys may visit this country visa-free for 60 days. (FILE PHOTO)

 

 

 St. Vincent And The Grenadines 

Places Here!

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES. This Caribbean country, which is formerly a French and British colony, is open to Pinoys visa-free. (FILE PHOTO: Young Island Resort in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft aims to power mobile effort in major overhaul

Microsoft CEO Ballmer gestures during his keynote address at the Microsoft "Build" conference in San Francisco 


By Alexei Oreskovic
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp launched its biggest internal overhaul in five years to streamline the development of products from Windows to tablets, hoping to catch nimbler rivals in mobile and cloud computing.
Lack of coordination and infighting have hurt innovation within the $74 billion revenue, 98,000-employee organization, which hopes to accelerate the design of products that appeal to a new generation of users more accustomed to smartphones and tablets than laptops or desktop PCs.
Some analysts see Thursday's moves, which include centralizing business-oriented functions such as marketing and research expenses under separate units, as helping shore up Ballmer's control over the sprawling corporation.
Removing major responsibilities for profit and revenue accounting allows the main divisions to focus on innovative products and eliminates the fiefdoms - Windows, Office for instance - that may have encouraged infighting in recent years, analysts said.
"You don't do a major reorganization like this unless you have some serious problems," BGC analyst Colin Gillis said. "It consolidates power around the CEO."
Development of Windows will now be folded into one group headed by Terry Myerson. He had previously focused only on Windows Phone and now has responsibility for tailoring the flagship operating software for devices ranging from the traditional PC to tablets and gaming consoles.
Julie Larson-Green, previously co-chief of the main Windows division, will oversee a new division charged with all hardware devices, from the Surface tablet to the Xbox.
Nearly all of the most senior managers have a new role after the reorganization, which did not include any major new hires.
The moves realign the company that helped revolutionize the personal computing industry in the 1980s into what Chief Executive Steve Ballmer calls a "devices and services" corporation - a nod to Apple Inc, which has surpassed it in profit and market value in recent years.
It is also an implicit rejection of "software", the business which Microsoft helped pioneer and drove the worldwide adoption of personal computing, but in which it faces stiff competition from new rivals that have popularized Internet-based services.
Executives told reporters and analysts on a conference call they did not plan layoffs for now. But a certain amount of employee disruption is to be expected as the company modifies its device marketing and development strategies.
"It can be a major distraction. The details have to be ironed out, there will be a lot of water-cooler talk and that's happening as the company has some critical products coming out, like a unified phone, Xbox," Gillis said.
Microsoft's shares have gained almost 30 percent this year, helped by a rally that began in late April when the company released strong revenue and earnings during what was one of the worst quarters for PC sales on record.
They closed Thursday up 2.8 percent at $35.685.
Microsoft's stock hit a high of more than $59 at the height of the first dotcom boom, but have mostly been in a range of $23-$32 for the last decade. While rivals Apple and Google Inc have shot ahead of it in market value, Microsoft is nearly unique in its staying power near the top of the tech pyramid, and its Windows and Office businesses keep it a profitable giant.
BE LIKE APPLE
Ballmer, who took over as CEO from co-founder Bill Gates in 2000, said he wants the company to be more like Apple, which has roared past Microsoft in sales and stock market value in the past few years by smoothly melding its devices with online services such as iTunes.
He is trying to bring products to the market faster and make the company more efficient, and wants to entice people to use Microsoft products on a variety of devices besides personal computers.
Microsoft, which has been struggling to compete in a world of mobile devices and Web-based services dominated by Apple and Google, launched the Surface tablet in 2012. But the device has failed to make meaningful headway against the iPad or Android devices made by Samsung Electronics and others.
Its Windows 8 release last year also alienated PC users accustomed to a long-established interface, prompting Microsoft to bring back, among other things, the familiar "Start" button in a hasty update. All operating systems now come under Terry Myerson, who had previously headed up Windows Phone and the software giant's efforts to crack the mobile market.
"We are rallying behind a single strategy as one company — not a collection of divisional strategies," Ballmer said in a memo to employees published on Microsoft's website on Thursday.
Microsoft's last significant reorganization came in July 2008 when Ballmer split Microsoft's 'Platforms & Services Division' into three separate units - Windows, Online Services and Server and Tools - in the wake of the failure to buy Yahoo Inc.
Microsoft has been struggling with sharply declining personal computer sales that cut into its software revenue as consumers and some businesses increasingly favor smartphones and tablets. Worldwide PC shipments declined 11.4 percent in the second quarter, the fifth consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline, according to industry research firm IDC.
Now, the four new engineering groups include Myerson's operating systems unit, and applications and services engineering to be led by Qi Lu, who had previously overseen the perennially money-losing online services arm. He also will be responsible for Office software, one of Microsoft's biggest cash cows.
Kurt DelBene, the former president of Microsoft Office, will retire. His departure follows that of gaming chief Don Mattrick, now CEO of Zynga, and Steven Sinofsky, formerly head of the Windows unit.
Satya Nadella, the company's leading authority on Internet infrastructure, takes over all Web-based cloud services such as Azure, which competes with Amazon.com Inc's AWS.
It was unclear whether the changes will mean that Microsoft will offer less financial data about certain products.
"It's a major concern if they use this opportunity to reduce the transparency, so we're hoping that's not the case," Cross Research analyst Richard Williams said.
"From a strategic perspective, it seems that they're just streamlining the operating groups to bring all ... into one group, all the applications all the cloud focus, all the devices," he added. "There's a certain logic to that that makes sense to us."
(Additional reporting by Sinead Carew and Nicola Leske in New York and Supantha Mukherjee in Bangalore; Editing by Edwin Chan and Leslie Gevirtz)

PC sales slide again, Lenovo takes top spot: survey

Customers check the Apple's tablet iPads at an electronics shop on May 31, 2013 


Worldwide sales of personal computers dropped for a fifth consecutive quarter in the April-June period, the longest decline in the PC market's history, a research firm said Wednesday.
The survey by Gartner found China's Lenovo edging past Hewlett-Packard as the world's largest vendor, reclaiming the top spot it had captured briefly last year.
The preliminary figures showed a worldwide drop of 10.9 percent in the second quarter compared with the same period a year ago, with PC shipments falling to 76 million units.
"We are seeing the PC market reduction directly tied to the shrinking installed base of PCs, as inexpensive tablets displace the low-end machines used primarily for consumption in mature and developed markets," said Mikako Kitagawa, analyst at Gartner.
"In emerging markets, inexpensive tablets have become the first computing device for many people, who, at best, are deferring the purchase of a PC. This is also accounting for the collapse of the mini notebook market."
Gartner's survey showed Lenovo taking a 16.7 percent global market share with shipments of 12.67 million units, just ahead of HP's 12.4 million and 16.3 percent share. Both firms saw sales declines, but Lenovo's was limited to 0.6 percent while HP sales fell 4.8 percent.
Dell was the number three vendor, with sales of 8.9 million and a market share of 11.8 percent.
Number four vendor Acer experienced a drop of 35 percent, and fifth-place Asus showed a 20.5 percent drop as the two Taiwan-based firms decided to exit the mini-notebook market.
The PC market has been struggling amid a shift to tablets, and got little help from the new Windows 8 operated system introduced by Microsoft last year.
"While Windows 8 has been blamed by some as the reason for the PC market's decline, we believe this is unfounded as it does not explain the sustained decline in PC shipments, nor does it explain Apple's market performance," Kitagawa said.
Apple was not among the top five global vendors, but was third in the US market with a 4.3 percent drop in sales in the past quarter, Gartner said.
Overall US sales totaled 15 million units in the second quarter, a 1.4 percent decline from a year earlier, and the figure was 8.5 percent higher than the first quarter.
Kitagawa said the US market showed resilience because of "solid growth in the professional market," with some replacements of corporate computers.
In the region including Europe, the Middle East and Africa, PC sales saw a 16.8 percent year-over-year drop, Gartner said. In Asia, the drop was 11.5 percent.
A separate survey by research firm IDC showed a similar picture, estimating the decline at 11.4 percent and 75.6 million units.
But IDC said the decline was not as bad as its earlier forecasts.
"We are still looking for some improvement in growth during the second half of the year," said Jay Chou, an IDC analyst.
"While efforts by the PC ecosystem to bring down price points and embrace touch computing should make PCs more attractive, a lot still needs to be done in launching attractive products and addressing competition from devices like tablets."

Microsoft slashes price on Surface tablet

Microsoft slashes price on Surface tablet 


Microsoft has quietly cut the price of its entry-level Surface tablet computer by some 30 percent, after surveys indicating sluggish sales.
The Surface RT tablet was being sold for as low as $349 for US customers on the Microsoft website on Monday, down from the introductory price last year of $499.
The move comes amid a price war for tablets and a flood of new devices on the market.
Amazon has slashed prices of its Kindle HD tablets to as low as $169 in the US and 139 pounds in Britain, while Barnes & Noble has cut the price of its Nook to as low as $129, and has announced plans to outsource production of its tablets.
Microsoft introduced its Surface last year at a premium price, promoting the device as a substitute for a personal computer with an attachable keyboard.
But a survey by the research firm IDC estimated the company sold just 900,000 units in the first quarter, in a global market of some 49 million.
Microsoft previously cut the price of the Surface as low as $199 for education buyers.

Monday 15 July 2013

The health benefits of tomatoes

Natural Wonders - Tomatoes 

They are sweet, juicy, delicious, and considered to be one of world’s healthiest foods! Umm, wondering what we are talking about? Yes, you are right, we are talking about tomatoes!
Did you know that tomatoes are also called ‘love apples’? It was a name that the French adoringly gave this lovely fruit in the 16th century.
Well, what’s not to adore about tomatoes – they are fat-free, low in calories and packed with vitamins C. However, there’s more to these tomatoes. Today, let’s take a look at why this fruit is considered so amazingly healthy.

Health benefits of tomatoes

Tomatoes are loaded with vitamin A, C, K, folate and potassium. They also provide magnesium, copper, vitamin B6 and thiamin. As tomatoes are high in water content, they are quite filling and protect you against heart disease, strokes, blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Tomatoes are great for your skin. The beta-carotene found in tomatoes protect your skin from sun damage. Also, lycopene, the anti-oxidant which givestomato its colour stops the occurrence of fine lines and wrinkles.
This fruit/vegetable is also good for your bones. The vitamin K and calcium in tomatoes are excellent for strengthening and repairing your bones. And so, eating tomatoes is a great way to keep osteoporosis at bay!
Tomatoes are cancer fighters, thanks to the lycopene in it! It helps reduce the risk of cancers such as throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, prostate and ovarian cancer.
Tomatoes also keep your blood sugar under control as it is an excellent source of chromium. It is the chromium that helps regulate the blood sugar level.
Did you know that this humble fruit helps a great deal in improving your vision? Studies have shown that making tomatoes a part of your daily diet can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, which is an irreversible eye condition.
Tomatoes can give your hair a shine as they are packed with Vitamin A which help make your hair really strong. However, let’s warn you that tomatoes might not be of great help if your hair is thinning. It only helps in strengthening your hair and make it look shinier.
Tomatoes are good for your kidneys. Research has shown that eating tomatoes without seeds can help prevent kidney stones and gallstones.
Tomatoes are full of bioflavonoids and carotenoids, which are in fact anti-inflammatory agents. So, if you are suffering from arthritis or back pain, make sure you eat tomatoes every day as they can help in reducing mild or moderate chronic pain.
Last but not the least, if you are planning to lose weight, just add tomatoes to your bag of balanced diet and workout plan! Tomatoes have a lot of water and fiber, which means you feel full for a long time. It can be a snack by itself, or you can add it to your sandwiches and salads.
Tomatoes are so versatile, that you can add them to your curries, sandwiches, soup, omelets and stews. You can also make tomato juice or make a vegetable juice with tomatoes in it – a nutritious, filling mid-day snack! And, don’t forget the ever-present tomato sauce on your table which goes with just about any dish from chapatis to bread to pasta! So, go tomatoes and get healthy!
 

Sunday 14 July 2013

Chicken of the Week: Pot-Roasted Chicken with Mushrooms

 

 In this fabulous roast chicken recipe, chicken is sealed inside a pot using store-bought pizza dough, a twist on a very old French technique to help maximize flavor. The dough underneath the lid gets flavored with the juices, while the dough on the outside bakes to a deliciously crackery crust. More Fantastic Roast Chicken Recipes

© John KernickPot-Roasted Chicken with Mushrooms
INGREDIENTS
20 thyme sprigs
4 bay leaves
The contents of 4 chamomile tea bags
One 3 1/2-pound chicken, patted dry
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 pounds fresh or thawed frozen pizza dough
3/4 pound Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, smashed
3/4 pound mixed wild mushrooms, such as Shiitake and oyster, stemmed and thickly sliced
2 cups canned chicken broth, boiled until reduced to 1 cup

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the thyme, bay leaves and chamomile in the bottom of a large, deep, enameled cast-iron casserole. Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper and set it directly on the aromatics. Rub the top of the bird with 3 tablespoons of the butter.
2. Roll the pizza dough into a rope that is long enough to encircle the casserole. Press the dough onto the rim of the casserole and cover with the lid, pressing it into the dough. Pinch the dough up onto the lid slightly to seal the pot completely. Roast the chicken in the center of the oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Remove the lid, cracking the dough, and pierce the thigh to make sure the bird is cooked through. Replace the lid and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the Brussels sprouts, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat until just wilted. Transfer the Brussels sprouts to a platter.
4. Heat the olive oil in the skillet. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat until golden, about 5 minutes; discard the garlic. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately low heat until softened and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the reduced chicken broth and simmer until the mixture is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
5. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and strain the pan juices into a measuring cup. Discard the fat from the juices, then add the juices to the mushrooms. Remove the chicken skin and slice the breast meat. Cut off the legs, cutting them into two pieces each. Arrange the chicken on the Brussels sprouts on the platter, spoon the mushrooms and sauce on top and serve with chunks of the baked pizza dough, for dipping.

Roast loin of lamb with apricot stuffing

Roast loin of lamb with apricot stuffing 



Ingredients

  1. 850g boneless lamb loin (see tip below)
  2. For the stuffing
  3. Large handful dried apricots
  4. Handful almonds
  5. 1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs, such as thyme or parsley

Method

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 180°c/ fan160°c/gas 4. Cut the apricots into quarters with scissors, and put into a bowl. Cut the almonds in half with a knife and add to the apricots. Add the chopped herbs and mix everything in the bowl together with your hands.
  • 2. Open the lamb loin out flat and rest on a board, with the darker meat facing upwards sprinkle it with a little freshly ground black pepper.
  • 3. Put the apricot stuffing in the middle of the lamb and roll the meat around the stuffing to make a long roll – fold the flap of skin over, to keep the stuffing inside the meat. Hold the roll of lamb together, and ask someone to tie a piece of kitchen string around it. It’s a good idea to tie it around in 2 places, to hold it all together during cooking.
  • 4. Put the lamb in a roasting tin and cook in the oven for 55 minutes, until it’s piping hot all the way through. With lamb, it doesn’t matter if it is still slightly pink in the middle – it’ll taste good and is safe to eat. Leave the lamb to ‘rest’ on a plate for 10 minutes before carving (this makes it more tender and juicy). Ask an adult to carve, and serve with the roast potatoes and cabbage.

Nutrition


Chef's Tip

Ask the butcher to take the bone out of the lamb loin, and to leave a flap of skin to fold over to keep the stuffing inside the meat. You can also ask him to score the fat, so that it looks nice when it is cooked.

I scream for ice cream

 

Aside from the larger ice cream companies that have been around forever, Manila is now experiencing a surge of smaller scale ice cream businesses with flavors that will blow your mind, and your tastebuds. Since they are catering more to individual tastes more than the mass market, you can bet that you will find something to satisfy your sweet tooth, whether it craves chocolate or a more fruity taste.
Here are a few delicious treats to cool you off in our still scorching weather:

Pinkerton Red Velvet Ice Cream:  Imagine a thick, creamy vanilla packed with red velvet cake chunks--it's every dessert lovers dream! Owner Alexandra Rocha can even collaborate with you to get your perfect flavor.
More about ice cream Here!Mochiko Avocado Mochi:  A personal favorite, this little ball of goodness has all the flavor and creaminess of real avocado, wrapped in a sticky rice flour sheet. They also have fun flavors such as Chocnut and their newest offering, potato chip-chocolate, for those who love the sweet and salty combination. Check out their More about ice cream Here!
Related: More about ice cream Here!
Merry Moo Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream: Again, sweet and salty combo lovers will be delighted with this flavor! The caramel tastes very toasted , but not burnt and it has a hint of saltiness that enhances it's sweetness without giving you a toothache. The people at Merry Moo are also very adventurous in their flavors so check for new ones form time to time. .

Carmen's Best Brazilian Coffee: For those who can't live without your cuppa joe, Carmen's Best Brazilian Coffee might be able to hit your caffeine and dessert needs at the same time. They use only the freshest milk and cream from their own farm to make their ice cream.
 

"Glee" star Cory Monteith dead in Vancouver hotel room at 31









By Alex Dobuzinskis
(Reuters) - Canadian actor Cory Monteith, 31-year-old heartthrob of Fox's musical comedy television series "Glee", was found dead on Saturday in his Vancouver hotel room, police said.
Police and paramedics found no signs of foul play and the cause of death was not clear, British Columbia Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said at a news conference.
Monteith's representatives issued a statement, saying, "We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss" but offering no details on the possible cause of death.
Monteith had talked openly about struggles with substance abuse, and in April he completed voluntary treatment for unspecified substance addiction at a rehab facility. He had also been treated in a facility at age 19.
Asked whether Monteith had died of a drug overdose, Vancouver Police Department Acting Chief Doug LePard said he would "not discuss anything that we might have found in the room at this time."
On "Glee," Monteith played Finn Hudson, a high school football player turned enthusiastic singer in the glee club, or vocal group.
The actor grew up in Victoria, British Columbia and told Parade magazine in 2011 that he had a serious drug problem during his teenage years for which he received treatment. His mother, Ann McGregor, still lives in nearby Victoria.
Other people were in Monteith's Pacific Rim Hotel room on Friday night but evidence, including fob key entries, indicated he returned to his room by himself early on Saturday and was alone when he died, police said. He was due to check out of the hotel later that day.
Vancouver police said Monteith left his hotel with three friends on Friday night, returning alone around 2:15 a.m., the Globe and Mail newspaper reported.
The actor had been dead for several hours when his body was discovered by police and paramedics answering an emergency call.
"The death of a young person is a tragedy for their family, friends and community," Lapointe said. "A sudden death is more shocking and our hearts go out to the family and friends who are mourning the loss of this young man."
An autopsy was set for Monday.
SHOCK, SADNESS
Friends and colleagues expressed shock after having seen Monteith who they said seemed fine in recent weeks.
Adam Shankman, who directed "Glee" episodes, told CNN, "I had several interactions with him yesterday where he said that he was doing amazing. He even said I am feeling fantastic."
"I'm like everybody else, really devastated and confused by what happened," Shankman said.
Monteith began his career in a number of small roles leading up to a recurring part between 2006 and 2007 in the ABC Family science-fiction drama "Kyle XY" and another role around the same time on the MTV series "Kaya."
But "Glee," a show set in the small town of Lima, Ohio, was Monteith's breakthrough. A big part of the show was his character's on-again-off-again romance with glee club star Rachel Berry, an aspiring entertainer played by Lea Michele.
Monteith and Michele followed in the footsteps of their fictional counterparts by dating in real life. They appeared publicly together as recently as last month at a charity ball.
A representative for Michele said she had not issued a statement following Monteith's death.
Dot-Marie Jones, who plays "Glee"'s football coach, said on Twitter, "I have no words! My heart is broken."
In recent episodes of the series, Rachel had left to attend college in New York while Finn stayed in Lima, where he worked at his father's auto repair shop and later got involved in helping lead his former school's glee club.
In a statement on the "Glee" Twitter page, the show's executive producers and Fox said they were "deeply saddened by this tragic news".
"Cory was an exceptional talent and an even more exceptional person," the message said. "He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones."
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles, Jennifer Kwan in Victoria and Chris Michaud in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)