customizing minibuffer and the message bar, ie mode-line

[gnuist006]

I have a number of questions and things to do.

(1) How to hide typed commands in the minibuffer or not show them. Normally, 
the commands are temporarily shown. Is there a way to disable it or make fg 
equal to bg in that area for some of the text?

(2) How to make time up to the second in the message bar?

(3) Whats the meaning of symbols like %%- and **- in the message bar?

(4) How to make the message-bar more professional?

(5) How to make the minibuffer more professional?

Thanks for all your help.

Bolega