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When the NHL season starts in October, Zemgus Girgensons and Mark Pysyk should be in Buffalo.
Wait. Try again.
When the NHL season starts in October, Zemgus Girgensons and Mark Pysyk absolutely must be on the Buffalo Sabres' roster.
This week at Sabres' development camp, Girgensons and Pysyk looked more like mentors than young kids trying to make an impression. They played at a different speed. They skated smoother, handled the puck more confidently and, most of all, looked and acted like professional hockey players.
There's an obvious reason for that: They are. Many of the attendees at camp will either never see professional hockey or won't for several years. Girgensons spent last year in Rochester and Pysyk played with the Amerks and Sabres.
"It was a good first year pro," Pysyk said, standing in front of his locker after the morning session of camp. "I got lucky with injuries up here and got an opportunity. Experience is good no matter what you're doing. And once you get a taste, you want to stay there."
But there's more to it than experience. These two have something that has been lacking in the Buffalo dressing room: Competitiveness.
After the Amerks were eliminated from the playoffs, veteran Cody McCormick called Girgensons the best player on the ice for Rochester. When the 19-year-old was asked about his three goals in three games, he said, "I don't care about that, we lost."
Months later, with time to reflect, I asked Girgensons again about McCormick's comment.
"That's nice coming from an old guy," the Latvian forward said. "I still wish we had gone deeper in the playoffs."
Pysyk isn't quite as intense in person. He's polite. And he isn't as physical on the ice as Girgensons. But don't mistake that for a lack of competitiveness. During his final year in juniors with the Edmonton Oil Kings, Pysyk led his team as the captain to the Memorial Cup – and did so with a broken foot.
At camp, there isn't much to see. A lot of drills, some breakaways, some whacking around at the puck. Not much the untrained eye can take away. But if you look close, there's some things you can pick up on.
A few weeks ago, I talked to a pro scout about watching little things with young players – ones that might give an indication about how good they can become.
"Sometimes you can tell a lot by watching guys stand around," the scout said "Some guys just look more focused. They look more intense, even if it's just getting ready for the next drill."
Girgensons and Pysyk looked that way on Thursday. During breakaway drills, most of the players stared on attentively when either of them got the puck. When others were skating toward the goalie, the pros watched the goalie closely, looking for any inkling of a weakness. And they both wanted to win that darn shootout.
"There's just a lot more comfort and ease here," Girgensons said. "No nerves about meeting the guys or anything like that. A lot more fun, I would say."
You know what would also be a lot of fun? Seeing Girgensons and Pysyk with the Sabres.
But it's hard to say whether either will be given a real chance to make the roster out of camp.
As it's constructed now, the third and fourth line (where Zemgus probably fits best at this point) are pretty crowded. Despite Nathan Gerbe's release, the Sabres still have projected bottom six'ers Steve Ott, Marcus Foligno, Kevin Porter, Brian Flynn and Corey Tropp.
"I just take it day by day," Girgensons. "I haven't really thought about it. People have asked me about training camp and I really don't think about it.
"If you build a wall, you don't just build a whole wall at once. You do it brick by brick."
Sabres fans think about it. They think about their team trading away high-paid veterans to make room on the roster. They think about how a rebuild might actually be fun to watch. They think about seeing the next generation rise up in front of them. And they think about what a hard-nosed, all-effort competitor might look like taking opening-night faceoff.
For Pysyk, things are even more of a cluster. With the addition of Henrik Tallinder, Alex Sulzer and Jamie McBain, there's seven players who could be considered "ahead" of Pysyk. Not in talent or potential, just experience.
"You do pay attention to the moves," Pysyk said. "It's all over Twitter, all over the Sabres' website. But it's not going to change how I'll go to camp. I'll just do my best."
It's nice that both Girgensons and Pysyk are saying the right things about their possibility of being in Buffalo. But it doesn't make sense toward the long-term plan or in terms of entertainment value to not have them in The Show.
With that, two questions still have to be answered: Whose place will they take? Are they ready?
Pysyk is easier, so we'll start there.
During his 19 games last season, the 21-year-old defenseman had the third best defenseman on the Sabres in terms of puck possession. Only Christian Ehrhoff and Alex Sulzer had better Relative Corsi statistics. While he didn't face the hardest competition, Pysyk only received 46.1 percent offensive zone starts – and still performed well.
So he can do it. As for whose place he'll take, well, they could waive McBain, send Chad Ruhwedel or Sulzer to Rochester. There's plenty of options.
Girgensons only scored 17 points in 61 games during his time in Rochester. So it's harder to definitively say he's NHL ready just based on statistics. So, here's the Amerks' coach Chadd Cassidy:
"Throughout the playoffs he's probably been our best forward in terms of moving his feet, strong on the puck, finishing his checks, getting around the net," Cassidy said at the end of the Amerks' season. "He's a man physically, and I think the mental game has come so far this year."
Sure, we won't know until training camp how things will shake out. But we need to see some direction out of the Sabres. Trading for Tallinder and McBain and electing not to buy out forwards Drew Stafford or Ville Leino certainly don't scream "rebuild."
They're also nothing to get excited about. Girgensons and Pysyk? They're something to get excited about. And they MUST be on the roster come October.


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Catering >Osaka Sushi & Hibachi
12580 Riverdale Blvd Nw, Minneapolis, MN | Directions 5544845.199067 -93.350460
Open 7 Days
Food pretty good, price EXPENSIVE!!!! – I love the steak here, it's incredible. However, the shrimp sauce and salad dressing is not good, tastes like mustard. I think they have tried to copy Benihana's in almost every way possible, which isn't possible. I found it offensive that they asked if you wanted Japanese wine and then were squirting it in people's mouths, like it was an alcohol game. With children watching?????????? What moron thought this was appropriate at a family restaurant???????? The one chef tossed food at me and burned my neck, no apology either.
The prices are way too high even with a coupon of 15%. The wait staff stands behind you and watches every move you make. I understand the need for good service but this was overly close. I hated that...I almost asked if they wanted to sit down and watch the show? When two stand there during your whole meal, it's not comfortable. There should be distance between your table and hovering wait staff.
The bar is beautiful and comfortable...worth going to just for a drink without dinner sometimes.
Special Rolls are awesome! – We've only dined in the restaurant area once and from what I can remember our service was just fine... We get take out from Osaka fairly often though and I can say their specialty rolls are awesome! They're huge and they don't skimp on anything. The seafood is always fresh and veggies are always crunchy. I think so the amount of food you get the price is good! Some day we will try the hibachi.
Horrible Service – Will not be going back. Horrible service. After waiting 30 minutes, I simply asked the hostess how much longer we could expect to wait. She tried to blame us for the delay, saying first that we did not all come at the same time - we rode in one car. Then she got even more rude and said, "Well were you here right at SEVEN?" I replied that yes we had actually arrived two minutes early. She then told me it would be another 15 minutes because there were other parties in front of us. When I asked her if she realized that meant that she was telling me that there were other parties there who had been waiting for 45 minutes, she miraculously found a way to seat us immediately. At the table, three people in my party ordered the fillet mingon, while two people in the other party at our table ordered the regular steak. All steak orders were medium rare. The chef kept the different cuts of meat separate while they cooked, but then when it was time to serve mixed both cuts together, which meant not only did I pay extra for a lesser quality of meat, I unintentionally treated strangers at my table to better steak than they ordered. When I called the next day to talk to the manager, I was told there was no manager on duty. I asked who was in charge, and was told that the manager does not work every day. I again asked who was in charge of running the restaurant and was told that "Oh, well the owner is here, but is busy right now." All around a total lack of concern about providing even basic customer service.
Good teppenyaki and sushi – They have one of the better teppenyaki (cook in front of you) in the Twin Cities area. Much better flavor than Ichiban or Benihanas.
The sushi rolls are decent to good, try their dragon rolls which is smoked eel. All the other rolls are decent, nothing to blow you out of the water but still my favorite Japanese restaurant in this area.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Nuclear Physics A
Nuclear and Hadronic Physics
Nuclear Physics A focuses on the domain of nuclear and hadronic physics and includes the following subsections: Nuclear Structure and Dynamics; Intermediate and High Energy Heavy Ion Physics; Hadronic Physics; Electromagnetic and Weak Interactions; Nuclear Astrophysics. The emphasis is on original research papers. A number of carefully selected and reviewed conference proceedings are published as an integral part of the journal.
Editorial Aims and Scope click for pdf file
Benefits to authors
We also provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Please click here for more information on our author services.
Please see our Guide for Authors for information on article submission. If you require any further information or help, please visit our support pages: http://support.elsevier.com
Supervisory Editors: P. Braun-Munzinger, A. Gal, R.S. Hayano, J. Jolie, K. Langanke, L. McLerran, M. Soyeur, M. Thoennessen
View full editorial board


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Each TAG Heuer Communication Instrument is built to the most exacting requirements in order to bring you complete satisfaction.
A complete qualification program has been applied to each components and materials to guarantee the best reliability, resistance and long-lasting to every handset.
Each mobile phone is put through countless reliability and quality tests prior to launch to ensure performance and reliability. All the key components have been tested (mechanical, physical and chemical tests) in TAG Heuer uncompromising quality insurance laboratories of La Chaux-de-Fonds to deliver a unique luxury experience, combining striking and timeless design, advanced performances on mobile phones key functionalities such as power reserve or antenna sensitivity, as well as setting a new benchmark in terms of quality standards in the booming premium mobile phones category.
For example, more than 57 stringent tests are carried out on each MERIDIIST to ensure that the materials and components of each device are reliable and resistant to the extreme.
Stainless Steel
316L stainless steel used for the manufacturing of TAG Heuer fine watches and chronographs, allows for perfect polished mirror-polished surfaces, as well as being corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic. It is one of the best alloys available for its mechanic resistance and famous for its robustness, it offers the best resistance to damages resulting of rough environment thanks to ultimate tooling precision up to 10 microns.
Scratch resistant sapphire crystal (only for MERIDIIST)
The display front is made from scratchproof 60.5 carats sapphire crystal, one of the largest glass ever made for a mobile, combining exceptional light transmission with great stability in all thermodynamic conditions.
Premium Alligator
Genuine alligator leather sourced exclusively from breeding farms as well as certified W (Wild) and legally approved for sale. They are cut, sewed and tanned by highly qualified craftsmen.
Leather and rubber
Calfskin leathers are offering multiple choices of colours and textures. Vulcanised rubbers are providing comfort and soft touch feeling.
A tailor-made manufacturing process, derived from watch strap technology is used. The delicate stitching gives the final refined touch and detail. Each decorative leather or rubber is selected and tested to resist to environment as well as mechanical stress.
ELEGANCE Smartphone TH2M10S15A00
The styling is quietly refined, but underneath it lies the ultimate performance of a TAG Heuer LINK smartphone. As in the entire range…
The styling is quietly refined, but underneath it lies the ultimate performance of a TAG Heuer LINK smartphone. As in the entire range of TAG Heuer LINK, shockproof construction - including Gorilla® glass shielding the touch screen – protects the powerful responsiveness of the Android™ platform. The surgical grade 316L steel housing is corrosion-resistant and finished using techniques perfected by expert watchmakers. Alternating both mirror-polished and fine-brushed steel surfaces, the detailing includes fine vertical lines running down the sides. On the rear cover, the sensual comfort of the finest genuine alligator skins in black or brown. TAG Heuer LINK. Elegance is calling.
Funzioni e caratteristiche
The luxury handset is composed of classic watch components and cutting-edge technology. Fully shockproof, the body is engineered like the case of a TAG Heuer watch. Other signature TAG Heuer references include the screws on the handset's reinforced chassis, which echo those on the casebacks of TAG Heuer chronographs.
The unique autolock system on the side, which gives quick access to the SIM card, the connection port and the memory card, sports the TAG Heuer's shield in black lacquer and looks like a classic TAG Heuer timepiece crown.
Extreme reliability and robustness are guaranteed through a battery of quality tests well exceeding industry standards. Fully shockproof, the body is engineered like the case of a TAG Heuer watch As airtight and locked-down as a strong box, it provides full protection of the precious contents—your videos, photos, files and data—sealed in its interior.
Luxuriously crafted and detailed, the TAGLINK incorporates the most prestigious materials and advanced components in the watchmaking and automotive worlds, including black PVD, diamonds and pure 18k rose gold. The mirror-polished and fine-brushed stainless steel is premium grade surgical 316L, corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic. The exclusive, hand-worked coverings are in calfskin, alligator or lizard. Every material, precious stone and exotic skin or leather is sourced within the strictest industry standards.
The first luxury smartphone with a tactile screen is equipped with upgradeable and the best-in-class Google Android™ software, meaning unparalleled access and connectivity. Android's ability to switch quickly between applications brings incomparable multitasking power, making the TAGLINK one of the fastest phones on the market: menus open at lightning speed, tabs are super responsive, web pages load with virtually no lag time, access to news and weather widgets and Skype messaging is instantaneous.
TAGLINK is a communication instrument of uncompromised calibre and capabilities. Equipped with Android™, the TAGLINK comes with dedicated and embedded applications.
So Apps
A complete selection of applications classified under specific categories: communication, entertainment, news sports, games, business, productivity and travel.
TAG Heuer Mobile Security
The best in class application to protect your mobile data and privacy.
For further information on these applications, please visit our dedicated website at http://link.tagheuer.com
Mastering speed with 1 GHZ of processor power; the TAGLINK is a high-performance machine of unprecedented functionality.
Stand out features include lightning-fast connectivity, 16-million color screen resolution, a large 3.5'' highly damage-resistant Gorilla glass®, a high-definition 5-mega-pixel auto-focus camera, 11 hours of music play time, and, through its avant-garde Android operating system, download access to over 250,000 applications. It also comes fully loaded with a host of TAG Heuer add-ons: customized screen designs, widgets, animations, wallpapers, icons and ring tones.
• Dimensions: 118mm x 67mm x 16.6mm
• Weight: 200 grams (battery included)
• Operating System: Android 2.2
• 3G Talk time autonomy: 3 hours
• Stand by time autonomy: up to 220hrs (~9 days)
• 1 GHZ processor power
• End-user memory: 8GB (up to 16GB)
• Stereo Bluetooth
• Wifi, WAPI
• Compatible with any SIM card
• Worldwide WCDMA, HSDPA (3G+) network-compatible for best performance
• Quad-band: covers all GSM countries
• Tri-band WCDMA
• Radio: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA 7.2
• Music play time: 11 hours (MP3, AAC, AAC+, RA, WMA)
• Video player and recorder
• 5-mega-pixel auto-focus camera (JPEG / GIF / BMP)
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Emails (Predictive Text Input XT9)
• Apps: Clock, Alarm, Agenda, Calendar, Calculator, Emails, Goggles, Places, Lattitude, News & Weathers
• Voice recorder
• Android Market with up to 250 000 applications such as: Adobe Flash Reader, Google Search, Google Maps, GMail, YouTube, E-Blogger, Facebook, Angry Birds, etc.
• PC synchronization
• Screen: LCD, 480 x 800 pixels, 16-million colors, TFT – 3.5'' Gorilla glass®, Capacitive touch panel with multi-touch capability
• Long duration battery: Li-lon 1400mAh
Materiali e manutenzione
|BATTERY COVER :Brown Alligator
|FRAME :316L Stainless steel
|SIDE FINISHING :Polished with 3 vertical lines
Your phone is a highly sophisticated electronic device. You communication instrument is a product of superior design and craftsmanship and should be treated with care.
The suggestions below will help you to fully enjoy this product for many years.
• Keep it in a clean and dust free place. Keep your phone dry.
• Be careful not to scratch your product and avoid shocks.
• Do not drop or knock with a sharp object. Rough handling may cause damage to internal electronic components.
• Avoid placing your phone close to lit cigarettes or near flammable material.
• Keep your phone and all its parts out of young children's reach.
• Do not attempt to disassemble. Non-expert handling of the device may cause damage.
• Do not expose the phone to liquid or moisture.
• Do not paint your phone as the paint could obstruct the earphone, microphone or any moveable parts and prevent normal use.
• Do not expose your phone to extreme hot or cold temperatures.
• If the phone or any of its accessories are not working properly, take them to your nearest qualified service centre.
To clean your TAG Heuer communication instrument, wipe it with the soft and dry cleaning cloth provided with your phone.
Never use soap or solvents such as benzene, thinner or alcohol.
• Do not use any charger or battery that is damaged in any way.
• Use ONLY the approved and provided chargers for the MERIDIIST or the TAG Heuer LINK.
• When a charger is not in use, disconnect it from the power source.
• Battery charging time depends on the remaining battery charge and the type of battery and charger used.
• If left unused, a fully charged battery will discharge itself over time. When charging after complete discharge, the phone will not display anything for about 30 minutes.
• Do not leave the battery connected to a charger for more than a week, since overcharging may shorten the battery life.
• Extreme temperatures will affect the charging capacity of your battery. ( 40° C = 140° F )
Li-ion batteries are particularly affected by temperatures below 0°C ( 32°F ).
• If you have any problem with your battery, we kindly invite you to contact the authorized service center.
• Dispose of batteries according to local regulations. Always recycle. Do not dispose of batteries in a fire.
Altre finiture
BATTERY COVER :Deep blue alligator FRAME :316L stainless steel SIDE FINISHING :Blue PVD screws
Battery cover / Frame / Side
BATTERY COVER :Black Alligator FRAME :316L Stainless steel SIDE FINISHING :Polished with 3 vertical lines
Battery cover / Frame / Side
BATTERY COVER :Brown Alligator FRAME :316L Stainless steel SIDE FINISHING :Polished with 3 vertical lines
Battery cover / Frame / Side


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Barclays Personalised Card
Always remember the good times
We've all got a photo that makes us smile. Now you can put it on your debit card 1 free of charge.
- Upload a favourite photo from your computer, mobile phone or tablet 4. Create your own design or choose an image from our online gallery 2
- We'll check it against our image guidelines for trademarks, images of celebrities or other unsuitable content
- You'll need to have a Barclays debit card 1
- Your new debit card will have a new card number so remember to change any stored details on online shopping websites
- It's important to protect your card details. Since you picked the photo that makes you smile for your new personalised card, we know that you might want to show it off to your friends when it arrives – but please remember not to post any images of your new card online, as this could increase your risk of becoming a victim of fraud
Please note that the Barclays Personalised Card 3 service is only available on personal debit cards. The service is not available for Barclaycards or business debit cards. Please see our FAQs for more information.
Secure and convenient
- Easy to use, secure card designer – there are just 4 simple steps to a personally designed debit card 1
- Continue to use your old card until your new personalised card arrives
- Personalised cards are just as secure
- Use your new card in exactly the same ways as before – in shops, cafés or restaurants, online, at ATMs and while you're abroad
- If your existing card is contactless enabled, you can continue to make purchases under £20 in seconds with contactless technology. No need to enter your PIN – just hold your card near the reader and you're ready to go
Did you know that you can personalise your bank account too?
Shape your account around your life by using our interactive Features Store.


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Wednesday, April 23, 2014
By Randy Billings firstname.lastname@example.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND – Thompson's Point, the former industrial site slated for a massive redevelopment, is being eyed for a college-level school for contemporary circus arts that its founders and a local developer say will be the first of its kind in the United States.
Thompson's Point in Portland could be redeveloped into the new home of the Circus Conservatory of America, which is seeking to offer an accredited degree program.
John Ewing / Staff Photographer
Peter Nielsen is part of a team planning on opening a circus college on Thompson's Point in Portland.
John Ewing / Staff Photographer
The newly formed Circus Conservatory of America is expected to announce plans Thursday to convert an existing 33,000-square-foot brick building into a performing arts school, where students will be able to earn a bachelor's of fine arts in contemporary circus performance.
"This isn't Ringling Brothers we're talking about," said Peter Nielsen, an officer of the fledgling nonprofit, in an interview Wednesday. "We're not going to use animals. The audience is going to be sophisticated and therefore willing to pay more, and the performers are going to be artists and incredible athletes."
The announcement marks the first new tenant for the $100 million development since the project was first rolled out in 2011 with the promise of the Maine Red Claws playing their home basketball games at an arena also proposed for the site.
The proposed conservatory reflects the evolution of the circus business, which now supports youth camps and training schools around the country and the world.
Over the last 25 years, contemporary circus performances have become popular in Europe, Canada and, more recently, the United States. Performances rely on theatrical, acrobatic, and artistic elements, rather than old-fashioned clown acts and making animals do tricks.
Outfits such as Cirque du Soleil and Circus Smirkus have helped fuel interest in contemporary circus in the United States.
Such high-flying, gravity-defying performances can be dangerous. A Cirque du Soleil performer was killed during a Las Vegas performance in July when she slipped from her harness and fell to her death during a live performance.
There are many contemporary circus training programs in the United States, most of which offer weekend or week-long training sessions geared toward children.
What will set the Circus Conservatory of America apart, Nielsen said, is the fact that its founders are pursuing an accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
NEASC could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Nielsen said students will be able to earn bachelor of fine arts degrees through the school. The current business plan foresees a full enrollment of 120 students, he said.
However, Nielsen said on Wednesday that it is too soon to provide other details, such as start-up costs, funding, the conservatory's opening date and whether the students would live on or off campus.
Nielsen also would not say whether the conservatory was purchasing or leasing the building. "It's fair to say we have a signed agreement and have made a nonrefundable deposit," he said.
Details about the seven founding officers of the conservatory are expected to be released Thursday at a Portland news conference.
Nielson, 49, graduated from the University of Maine in Orono, and recently served as Vermont College of Fine Arts' executive director of marketing and enrollment. He has produced theater, music, performance poetry, dance, and visual arts festivals and events throughout New England for more than two decades, according to his biography.
Nielsen said he has been working on establishing the conservatory for a year.
Amity Stoddard, of Warren, is another officer of the nonprofit. Stoddard, 39, graduated from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, and has experience working with Circus Smirkus, the Big Apple Circus in New York City and Cirque de Soleil.
Thompson's Point Developer Chris Thompson of the Forefront Partners said he is excited that the conservatory chose Portland.
"It's the first of its kind in the country," Thompson said. "These guys are making history. It's going to add a lot of life to Portland."
(Continued on page 2)


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SOURCE Ozmott
Ozmott releases new Android version of its free mobile discount marketing application.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Jan. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Traverse City, Michigan-based mobile shopping platform, Ozmott, is excited to announce the recent update for Android. The update was launched January 20, 2014 and will provide users with new features that make the app more user-friendly. The update includes new Facebook integration that will allow users to connect their Ozmott account with their Facebook account, allowing them to quickly create and sign into Ozmott through Facebook. Users will also be able to share their offers through Facebook making is easier than ever to earn rewards and take advantage of the biggest deals!
With new merchants joining Ozmott weekly there are always new ways to save! Don't be left out of the fun, join the club today, and discover Ozmazing offers at the tap of your finger!
The free app allows users to receive deals from over 8,000 other local and national retailers and service-based businesses. Ozmott also delivers cool perks for user loyalty! When redeeming and sharing deals, Ozmott users are rewarded with "Pips" – Ozmott's free, virtual currency that can be redeemed for "Luxe" offer deals.
With this built-in loyalty system, the more friends you have the more rewards you get. Ozmott celebrates "real" shopping, encouraging consumers to shop in-store and support local merchants. Users can experience all kinds of in-store discount offers, redeemed with a touch of the screen on Apple and Android devices.
Deals today and more tomorrow, so download Ozmott today from iTunes or Google+.
For more information please call Matt Lapham at (231) 883-9812.
About Ozmott:
Ozmott is a mobile platform built to connect retail merchants with consumers through a virtual, fully functional economy. The application relies on a sustainable deals model that allows consumers to take advantage of in-demand, merchant- supplied offers. Popularized by websites such as Groupon and Living Social, daily deal sites have seen increased growth over the past few years. Yet Ozmott is different. Where most sites rely on individual purchases to unlock group deals, Ozmott aims to create a community; where users interact, make friends and gain access to 'Luxe Offers'. By introducing their own brand of virtual currency, or Pips, Ozmott users are encouraged to share deals with their friends to earn additional Pips where they later can be applied toward otherwise out of reach high-end lifestyle products. www.ozmott.com
©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.


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To checkout a magazine to your Zinio account, simply click on the checkout button.
April 01, 2014
The House Beautiful reader is someone whose home is her bedrock. She is always improving it because the process – and result – delights her. Happiness in her home comes from easy luxury and highly personal style. Her home is a gift to share with family and friends.
Available on:
iPhone, PC, iPad, Android PDF, Zinio Reader 4, RIM, Win 8, Win 8 Phone
country: United States
language: English
genre: Home


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Newspaper staff receive 8 awards from state society
Republican-American staff members received eight awards Thursday from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists at the organization's annual dinner, held this year in North Haven. The newspaper competed against other daily newspapers with circulations exceeding 40,000.
Tracey O'Shaughnessy, associate features editor, and Robert Falcetti, assistant managing editor for photography and graphics, took first place in the in-depth series category for "A locked-in love." The series of stories and photographs chronicled the struggles of Naugatuck resident Robert Veillette and his family following a severe stroke. Veillette, the former managing editor of the Republican-American, was left paralyzed following a stroke in 2006. His condition is called "locked-in syndrome" because his only ability to communicate is through blinking his eyes. In 2012 doctors implanted a sensor in Veillette's brain, eventually allowing him to move a robotic arm by using his thoughts.
Read more of this story and more!
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You can purchase a single-day subscription for only $0.75 to read this and access all of our content and our E-Edition.
CLICK HERE purchase a single day subscription.
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IOU wrote on May 25, 2013 7:52 AM:
" cheers Rep Am "
More stories from Local


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Raquel Welch: The Goddess Factor
From Cocktail Hostess to international icon, the actress-entertainer considers life beyond her sex symbol image.
David Giammarco
From the Print Edition:
Raquel Welch, Jul/Aug 01
"I think I was always more intimidated by my image than anyone else," Raquel Welch admits with a wry laugh. "I mean, there's a tremendous loss of self, because you really are in a job where this image has been created. You get tired, you wake up ugly, you don't have anything new to say to people and you feel like a lemon that's had all the juice squeezed out of it.
"And especially in the beginning," she continues, "you feel like you are going to be discovered as a fake. Like everyone is going to think, 'Well, why did we think she was so great?' It's human nature to pick people apart, and you just can't stand that you're under all this scrutiny. And yet at the same time, you're saying, 'I'm the luckiest person in the world because I've got this chance that everybody dreams of having.' It's really bittersweet."
It was 1966 when Racquel Welch first aroused a worldwide stir, bursting on the scene in a now-infamous fur bikini in One Million Years B.C. Thirty-five years later, Welch proves she still knows how to own the room. Sitting for an interview at her palatial Mediterranean-style home nestled in the Hollywood Hills, Welch is dressed in snakeskin-tight leather pants and a white stretch T-shirt. She radiates an energy so palpable, you could probably wipe out California's electricity crisis by simply hooking her up to the West Coast power grid. Sporting a healthy golden-brown tan, tousled auburn hair and a dazzlingly white smile, there's simply no mistaking that the bombshell gods broke the mold after they created Raquel Welch.
Her living room walls are adorned with numerous paintings and photographs. Framed snapshots of her two children -- Tahnee, 39, an actress (1985's Cocoon, for example), and Damon, 41, a computer consultant and actor -- line the fireplace mantle, as do pictures of Welch in loving embraces with husband Richard Palmer, whom she married in 1999. An autographed photo of Welch with Burt Reynolds is perched near the sofa. It reads: "I've loved you for over 20 years -- no reason to stop! Love always, Burt."
Reynolds' sentiment is unquestionably one still shared around the world. A recent British survey listed Welch as one of the Top 10 sexiest stars in film history, while Playboy magazine's list of the 100 sexiest stars of the twentieth century placed Welch third -- right behind Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield.
"She was the single woman that I most wanted to have in the magazine," admits Hugh Hefner, who finally got his wish when Welch consented to a rather risqué Playboy shoot back in 1979. "She seems to be ageless. Good genes, health food -- I'm not sure what it is, but it's magic."
With one look at Welch, you quickly realize that not much has changed since she first broke the stereotype of the vulnerable sex goddess. Except that now, at 60 years old, she is finally at peace with her legacy.
"I think whether you're Gwyneth Paltrow or Raquel Welch or Jennifer Lopez, there's a certain thing about that white-hot moment of first fame that is just pure pain," she says. "It's just not comfortable. I felt like I was supposed to be perfect. And because everybody was looking at me so hard, I felt there was so much to prove. It was an enormous burden. But I do think that part of that was my fault, because I couldn't adjust. I think I could've been just a little more patient with myself and not taken some of that early criticism so seriously."
Welch says she understands the obsession with physical beauty. "I like beautiful people, I like beautiful things, I like beautiful poems, beautiful literature, beautiful paintings. I love beautiful nature. But the thing that was so piercing for me was that things aren't beautiful without substance. It's like a plastic flower; it looks so attractive and you want to take in the fragrance, but then you go to inhale and you suddenly realize there's nothing there. And I felt like I was getting into that, that I was sort of in danger of having that happen to me. Because I think I soaked in too much the way that people were objectifying me, and the more that they did, the more I did."
Welch pauses, gazing out the window at the darkening woods near her home, recalling that pivotal, and overwhelming, period of her life. She continues, but her voice has now lowered to a soft whisper. "I really think that sexuality -- if you are a person than can elicit that kind of response -- gives you a lot of power in a way. But it's a very specific thing. It doesn't really open the door to other things, because sexuality is traditionally something that's behind closed doors. So really then, you're only a fantasy figure. And if you're a fantasy figure, nobody wants to wake up from the dream. Nobody wants you to be in real situations.
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Soft Structured Carriers
" I don't have enough good things to say about this carrier, and I'm very sad that they're not being sold right now. My first experience with it was wearing a tester for hours at a conference with a heavy child on my back. Almost every other carrier I owned was causing shoulder pain, but the sculpted, shaped shoulder straps made shoulder pain nonexistent with this. Not only that, I'm a..." --jenrose
Angel Pack LX Organic Soft Structured Baby Carrier (Chocolate Sherbert)
" I bought my angel pack about 4 years ago. The price tag may sound a bit steep but for a product that continue to use and reuse I think it has more then paid for itself. With my first child we purchased a popular brand and model and after about 3-6months we gave it away and only used it maybe 2-3 times. It was bulky, complicated and uncomfortable. The angel pack was a..." --eclipsegrafx
BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original
" This is the carrier I used for small infants. It is the easiest to get them into and out of. I own two of the same ones, one for in the house and one for the car. Also good for babies who like to face outwards. Once the babies get bigger, though, the straps dig into your shoulders. It is great for easy, short trips like the grocery. " --nicolerenee515
Baby Bjorn Active Carrier
" Awful straps around the back, very uncomfortable. Dangling crotch area is obviously uncomfortable for baby as well. I hate it! " --Ps Mamae


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lliam wrote:Giant Communist Robot wrote:It's obvious they have the legal right to build there, but they show a real lack of sensitivity and compassion. What bugs me about this is that even if they do build, they will not see it as a victory for the rights of minorities over the opinion of the majority but as the will of Allah. In other words, not because we live in a democracy but due to the devine plan of Allah.
Years ago I used to hang out at the Islamic Center in Los Angeles on Vermont. I found that when Muslims speak in public they will always take the moderate line, but not in private. It's like they've been coached about what to say. In private I have never been able to get a single Muslim to repudiate extremism and terrorism. What they told me was "what is extremism? It is love of God. Which is better, love of God or love of man?" and so on. I know this is anecdotal, but it is striking that I could not get a single individual to agree that murdering in the name of Allah is wrong.
Have you heard this guy G.C? His name is Michael Savage and he's on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK9yOi0V ... r_embedded
It's a bit strong but this guy says it as it is.
I think this guy says it better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjS0Novt3X4


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Join/Renew Today
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Fitness: Mom
Fitbit Flex tracks steps, calories and sleep and syncs with desktop and mobile devices
Contributor Haley Burress has struggled with infertility for years, and she is sharing her experiences leading up to and during her IVF treatments in July as she tries for Baby No. 2. Please join...
Some suggestions from the AAP to keep young children active and healthy at any stage
When play is the primary mode of exercise, how do you know if it's really, well, exercise? Here's a list of fun home cardio activities that qualify—ranging from most heart-pumping to least...
Easy ways to lose the baby weight and get back in shape. Plus: Easy, healthy recipes and snacks for moms!
Take this quick health assessment to get a sense of what areas might need improvement. Plus, get healthy eating tips, exercise ideas, and more ways to shape up with Parenting's...
Simple pick-me-ups will help moms increase their stamina during those first weeks home with baby
How to love and appreciate your post-baby hot mama body
Get a good idea of whether your child is getting enough exercise by answering these questions. Plus, get healthy eating tips, exercise ideas, and more ways to shape up with Parenting's...
What parents can do to boost fitness levels together as a family, and ways to make lasting changes to improve everyone's overall health
Why yoga is a great exercise for kids -- and a few poses to try out with them
Moves you can do throughout the day to make sure your back survives all the lifting, lunging, bending, and reaching of being a mom
Whether you like working out alone or in groups, whether you don't have time for or hate exercising, find the work out program that is best for you.
The Days of Our Lives star and host of The Biggest Loser shows knows a thing or two about weight loss and staying in shape.
Tired? Sad? Stressed? Here's how to reverse your bad day
Natural ways to fight winter bugs -- colds, flu, and more
You can do these moves anywhere -- even the playground!


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Learn what animal corresponds with your birth year.Happy Chinese New Year! 2014 is the Year of the Horse, but there are a menagerie of animals in the Chinese Zodiac.This handy printable will show you the animal that corresponds with your birth year, and the most likely compatible signs. Download the template and follow the included instructions.
What You'll Need
Download Zodiac Wheel Template
Related: 20 Chinese recipes to welcome the Year of the Horse
1. Attach the inner wheel to the larger wheel with a brad. Then line up the black arrow with your sign/animal.
2. Once you have the black arrow lined up, the red arrow will point to your opposite, and the yellow arrows point to people who are compatible with you.
For 22 more Chinese New Year crafts and recipes to help you celebrate in style, visit Spoonful!
25 crafts that make the most of googly eyes
Dozens of coloring pages to help unleash any kid's creativity
20 creative projects (shoe-box dinosaur feet!) that start with


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Narrow your search
The term "peripherals" is wide-reaching on purpose to include all the accessories that will surely c
With a little help from JBL, the LG Tone Ultra wireless stereo headset gets a design and sound quality upgrade -- along with an unwelcome price bump.
The FMP-X10 is Sony's second-generation 4K media player, equipped with a 1TB hard drive, access to hundreds of 4K movies, and Netflix's 4K streaming service.
Pricing not available
Unless you want the thinnest smartphone on the block, the more powerful HTC One and Droid Maxx are better buys.
Leave flat-screen TVs in the dust with the Sony 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector, which delivers a 147-inch 4K image on your wall. Just be prepared to pay upward of $40,000 when it hits stores later in 2014.
The Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition's insanely large size and stratospheric price make the Nexus 5 and Note 3 better options for pure Android power.
This phablet packs the Xperia Z's beautiful design in a supersized 6.44-inch frame and looks set to give the Samsung Galaxy Note range a run for its money.
Pricing not available
The shiny Samsung Series 7 Ultra has a long battery life and nice design, but its now-older processor gives us pause.
The WD My Passport Ultra is one of the best portable drives you can buy with software that makes backups fast and easy.
Xiaomi's Redmi offers exceptional value for its low price, and blows all other budget handsets out of the water. If you're looking for a cheap Android smartphone without having to compromise performance, look no further.
The Ultra extends Fitbit's already impressive personal fitness data measurement abilities, but for the same $99.95 price. Already a high-tech pedometer, the Ultra now has an altimeter to record stairs climbed, too. It isn't as advanced as more expensive mobile fitness gadgets, but the tiny device is easy to wear all day long and fun to use.


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"TrustLink not only gives consumers a platform to share their experience with the public, it also creates great buzz at our company, knowing we have yet another reason to do a great job and provide a great service to our clients."
- Ram Katalan (Owner),
NorthStar Moving Company
You can also setup your profile and sign in to TrustLink with your Facebook account by using Facebook Connect. Click on the "Connect with Facebook" button to get started.


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Weekend Day Trip: Drumlin Farm
Lincoln, Massachusetts
As we wandered through the barns and garden areas, we found interactive displays describing what we were seeing and were encouraged to touch, smell, and listen. The farm also has several nature walks and runs daily educational activities with staff members.
Photo Gallery
• 1, 2, and 3. When we were there a few weeks ago, the baby sheep, goats, and pigs were still a big attraction! Although we weren't really allowed to pet or interact with the animals, we could get very close and see the animals feeding, sleeping, and playing together.
• 4. The feeding schedule for the pigs.
• 5. The chicken house made us want our own backyard chickens more than ever. These chicken coops were like designer jungle gyms for birds! Drumlin Farm keeps several varieties and each pen is adorned with a plaque explaining that breed's temperament, laying capacity, and other details.
• 6. The eggs are collected and sold at the farmstand. (Check out the "Flew the Coop" sign for chickens exiting to the outdoor space!)
• 7. A greenhouse surrounded by a "learning garden" where people can wander among the beds and even pitch in if they want.
• 8. The compost heap is displayed prominently in the garden area.
• 9. We finished our tour with a walk to the fields. This early in the season, there still wasn't too much going on except for a few plots of this plant - looks to us like leeks or onions?
• 10. Frozen meat from animals raised on the farm is also for sale at the farmstand. If you're interested, there was also plenty of offal for sale! We saw lamb kidneys, lamb hearts, goat hearts, and more.
Drumlin Farm is open Tuesdays through Sundays all year round, and admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children (free for members). It's an hour or so out of Boston, so it makes a perfect day trip.
• Check out their website for more info on Drumlin Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary
Do you ever fantasize about working on a farm?!
Related: Meeting vs. Eating: How Do You Feel About Meeting Farm Animals?
(Images: Emma Christensen for The Kitchn)
5 Comments
My kids will love this! Thank you for posting, sounds like a good stop on our way to visit family this weekend :).
Hi Emma,
What a neat place! Sounds like a really fun day. I love all the educational stuff they're doing. The Audubon Society only had a bird sanctuary near where I grew up - yet I still became a farmgirl. ; )
P.S. Those are garlic plants.
Having gotten really into eating seasonally and locally - I actually did get a job this season working full-time for a farm :) It is fantastic doing real work that actually means something.
Drumlin is a wonderful treasure and I'm blessed to live ten minutes from there. I encourage all parents with small kids to join Mass Audubon and reap the benefits of free admission. Keep your eyes peeled for special events (Strawberry Festival, for one).
I went there for the first time on a field trip on kindergarten. I have been since and cannot wait to take my own children there.


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The Cook County Assessors Office is responsible for determining fair assessments on all residential, commercial and industrial property in Cook County. Each parcel is reassessed once every three years. The Assessors Office also administers a variety of exemptions providing relief to Senior citizens and all Cook County Homeowners, as well as incentives encouraging development throughout Cook County.
For more information, visit the Assessors website at Cook County Assessor or visit or contact one of the local offices listed at the left.
Assessor, Office of the
118 N. Clark Street 3rd Floor
10200 South 76th Ave. (Room 237)
Bridgeview, IL 60455
Telephone: (708)974-6451
Hours: M-F: 9AM-5PM; Sun-Sat: Closed
16501 S. Kedzie Avenue (Room 237)
Markham, IL 60426
Telephone: (708)210-4100
Hours: M-F: 9AM-5PM; Sun-Sat: Closed
1500 Maybrook Square (Room 005)
Maywood, IL 60153
Telephone: (708)865-6032
Hours: M-F: 9AM-5PM; Sun-Sat: Closed
Rolling Meadows:
2121 Euclid Avenue(Room 237)
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Telephone: (847)818-2444
Hours: M-F: 9AM-5PM; Sun-Sat: Closed
5600 Old Orchard Rd. (Room 149)
Skokie, IL 60077
Telephone: (847)470-7237
Hours: M-F: 9AM-5PM; Sun-Sat: Closed


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Background: Range of motion is recognized as an important indicator of the success of a total knee replacement; however, an optimal range of motion has yet to be defined. This study was designed to determine the optimal range of motion for knee function after total knee arthroplasty with a posterior cruciate-retaining prosthesis.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 5556 primary total knee arthroplasties performed with posterior cruciate-retaining prostheses between 1983 and 2003. The relationship between postoperative range of motion and pain, walking ability, stair-climbing ability, and knee function scores was examined at three to five years postoperatively. The relationship between a postoperative flexion contracture or hyperextension and knee function was also examined.
Results: Patients with 128° to 132° of motion obtained the highest scores for pain, walking, and knee function and the highest Knee Society scores. The outcomes became substantially compromised with motion of <118°. Patients with 133° to 150° of motion had the highest scores for stair-climbing. A postoperative flexion contracture and hyperextension were associated with lower scores for pain, walking, stair-climbing, and knee function.
Conclusions: The best functional results following total knee arthroplasty are achieved with 128° to 132° of motion. A postoperative flexion contracture and hyperextension of =10° are associated with a poorer outcome except that stair-climbing is improved with more motion.
Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Download citation file:


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2139 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616 312-328-0001
Description: CHINATOWN. This unassuming noodle shop offers some of the best Pan-Asian eats in the area. The menu boasts a collection of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai items. Try Thai pad woon sen (glass noodles mixed with chicken, shrimp, and vegetables), or order their signature pork buns or chicken satay. The prices are very low, making this an extra enjoyable experience.
Hours:Mon-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm; Fri-Sun 11am-10:30pm
Payment Methods:Visa,Master Card,Discover,American Express,Diner's Club
Website:Visit Joy Yee's Noodle Shop Online
Content provided by www.10best.com


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Has anyone looked at getting the 3Gs features running on previous iphone, like the voice control and the nike accessory?
Rather annoyed that features that should have neen there right from the start got excluded like that..
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Has anyone looked at getting the 3Gs features running on previous iphone, like the voice control and the nike accessory?
Rather annoyed that features that should have neen there right from the start got excluded like that..
no you wont get voice control on a 3G iPhone with FW 3.0
The new 3GS Hardware provides compass and auto map orientation, 3 mg camera including focus zoom, video recording, and voice control (but no voice dial on ATT USA unless you pay a monthly fee, in which case you can have it on 3G)
for a complete list of 3g-S hardware dependent upgrades here:
Apple - iPhone - View all the features of the new iPhone 3G S.
new 3.0 software provides cut copy paste, global search, landscape keyboard, stereo bluetooth, and sync Notes, (and MMS photo text for a per message fee..)
here is the complete list of FW 3.0 features that Will work on a 3G, not just a 3GS:
Apple - iPhone - New features in the iPhone 3.0 Software Update.
Get RunKeeper Pro, it's way better than the Nike+ step counter.
It uses the GPS to track your location and speed.
RunKeeper | GPS Fitness Tracking Using 3G iPhone for Running, Cycling, Hiking, Walking
Do you bother understanding things before you hit the reply button ?
Obviously, I'm not expecting features based on a hardware upgrade to be available on an iPhone 3G (like the compass or the 3MP camera).
I am referring to new features that are obviously software only and which have no valid technical reasons for not being available on a 3G other than Apple wanting to differentiate enough their product to justify a new purchase.
Those are:
-Nike adapter
-Voice control
Those are two features that Apple could have added to the existing iPhone 3G (and 2G) : they are software only.
While RunKeeper is great, many times I found that it had lost GPS signal and the report was completely messed up. The area where I live and run has a lot of woods ; not good GPS coverage there
Been using my nike for almost 2 years now, and the battery is still okay... so it doesn't bother me too much
afaik the Nike+ thing is hw, but accessibility and voice control are sw.


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It's simply not true that the guards are always set flush to the finished surface: it depends on the valve. It's always a bad idea to set the valve
at one extreme or the other of the allowed depth: there's always some leeway, and you should use it. You can calculate the wall finish depth closely
enough, but you gotta have at least some idea if you're using 3/16 mosaic tiles or 1 1/8 stone slabs, etc.


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How to make a tutu with recycled silk sari ribbon
December 21, 2010
DarnGoodYarn.com owner, Nicole, walks you through the very basic steps of making a tutu. If you (as an adult) are working on this project on your own it'll take a little over an hour. Plan for a little more time if you're working on this with "tutu wearer"
Personally, I am making tutus with some children and I chose to pre-cut all of the materials so we can just get to the looping and wrapping part of making the tutu. Because I suggest fabric scissors to neatly cut the tulle and the recycled sari ribbon which you can get at darngoodyarn.com I would keep those away from little fingers!
video loading…
Buy the Recycled Sari Ribbon Here!
9 Comments
Comment Below Subscribe To These Comments
Thanks for this! Ironically I knitted gifts for most folks on my list but bought tons of tulle to make tutus for my little great niece for Christmas. She starts ballet lessons in January. I just found your website yesterday and love what you are doing!!! I also am in Utah and work as a volunteer for the Forest Service on the Green River! Loved the fly tying comment!!
"tutu" sweet !!!
I want a tutu like that!!!!!
love it.. will make for my granddaughter i who thinks she is a prima ballerina.. she is 4.. will send you pics.. AND Io really am going to make your purse with the sari yarn.. really really.. don't give up.. shows over.. and i want to play with the sari.
I don't have any sari ribbon… but I'm definitely going to go get some. You know, I have followed you on fb for ages and this is the first time I've been to the site. Lol. Great vid and tutu! So unique and wicked cute! I just made tutus for the little girls in my family at request of their moms. Next time, I'll make them with the sari ribbon. I usually add satin or grosgrain ribbon for added color, but I just love the texture you've got going! Thanks for the great tutorial!
I love that you are doing a Memorial Day Sale and thanks for allowing a few extra days. It was busy on the weekend. Just recently been buying your yarn and love it!!! So very nice of you to always take time to answer and help others (like me). I want to get more yarn, but need to know how much recycled yarn for a tutu. Please advise, so I can get my next order in.
PS- I can't download the video.
Thanks in advance,


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Reversible Heathered Jersey Sham
$34 - $44
One of our most versatile collections, our channel-stitched jersey bedding has the soft hand and just-right warmth that's ideal year round, and is fully reversible for two coordinated looks in one cozy package.
- Channel-stitched 100% cotton jersey quilt and sham feature navy on both sides
- Finished with charcoal piping
- Sham has hidden-zipper closure
- Machine wash
- Imported
- In navy/grey or navy/red
- Sham, if personalized, will be personalized on the grey side
- View bedding dimensions
Shown in navy/grey.
Color Options
Reversible Heathered Jersey Sham
$34 - $44
Reversible Heathered Jersey Quilt
$149 - $179
Featherblend Pillow Inserts
$16 - $34


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This photo provided by the Nevada Highway Patrol shows Jean Soriano, 18, who was booked into the Clark County Detention Center after he was treated and released at University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Soriano has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in a southern Nevada crash that killed five members of a California family and injured the suspect and three other people. (AP Photo/Nevada Highway Patrol)
Read the article: Bail $3.5M for teen in Nevada crash that killed 5
Read the article: Teen in Nevada crash that killed 5 was fugitive
Read the article: Warrant had been issued for teen in Nevada crash


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Table of Contents
A. Opening Comments
i. Disclaimers and Terms of Use
ii. Introduction
iii. Methodology
B. Recommended Build
iv. Option 1
v. Option 2
vi. Option 3
vii. Option 4
viii. Option 5
C. Resources
ix. Graphics Card Analysis
x. Processor Rankings
xi. Recommended Sites
xii. Compatibility Guide
xiii. How to Build Your PC
xiv. Recommended System Builders
xv. Useful Programs
xvi. Stress Testing
xvii. Peripherals Guide Useful Programs
xviii. Glossary
A. Opening Comments
i. Disclaimers and Terms of Use
Disclaimer: This is merely a guide to what is currently available in computer hardware, it is up to you to buy, build, and use responsibly. Neither I nor anyone else in this thread will be held liable or responsible for any damages, monetary or otherwise, incurred as a result of the content in this thread to any party whatsoever.
No portion of this post is endorsed by any company, the opinions given forth in this post are purely my own, formulated from benchmarks and other resources with the intent to avoid bias.
All references and resources used are property of their respective owners.
Terms of Use: This information may be freely used and distributed, but it would be nice to get some credit.
ii. Introduction
This post is meant as a guide and resource for people planning on buying or building a gaming PC. It showcases the most value and performance that can be bought for a gaming PC at 5 price points, $600, $800, $1000, $1200 and $1400. It also serves as an educational resource for those not familiar with computer components. I've seen many people asking for help building a PC or buying parts at a particular price point, so hopefully this guide will prove useful. The following is my methodology, the recommended builds, and a resource center containing such information as a glossary, recommended sites, and how to build your machine. Please feel welcome to discuss hardware, ask questions or help others in this thread as well. If this is your first time here, please read the disclaimers, terms of use and methodology first.
(June 30, 2012 Changelog)
After a long hiatus, I've finally come back to update this guide. Sorry for the wait guys, I knew I said I would update earlier but I've just been severely busy.
Build section has been changed to a "core build" plus graphics options. Increase in price of HDDs and lack of mid end graphics options has forced this change; $600-$800 builds have much lower value than before, as $200+ components have replaced $100-$150 components as value leaders. Although more expensive in an absolute sense, you get much more performance per dollar and increased longevity of components (for instance an overclocked $200 Ivy Bridge quad core will be quite sufficient for gaming for something like 5 years; on the other hand a $100 dual core will become outdated within a year, if not already). Applicable games still remains.
Graphics Card Analysis graph also updated with all the new cards; note that cards more than 1 generation in the past no longer have a value measurement, because their prices are no longer established. Power efficiency and performance data for these cards are estimated as best as possible by scaling legacy data with new data. Also updated tier lists.
Added "Useful Programs" and "Compatibilities Guide" sections.
iii. Methodology
Builds are chosen with the intent of running the games listed under "Applicable Games" at their maximum quality settings with around an average of 60fps or above. The settings considered are 1920x1080/1200 (fairly standard resolution for most modern monitors), 4xAA (significant image quality improvement for relatively little performance cost), 16x AF (significant image quality improvement for next to no performance cost) and highest in-game settings. The hardware recommended is not necessarily required for gaming at lower settings, or with less performance demands, but are chosen due to the widespread availability of benchmark data tested at such settings, and because they are are the settings used by many PC gamers. Anything beyond these specifications, such as 8xAA, 2560x1600 resolutions or supersampling are considered "beyond" highest settings in the context of this guide.
Builds will not include the cost of a monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers or OS as it is presumed the buyer will get these based on their personal tastes and needs. In general, the cost of a typical monitor is $200 and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit is $100. Mouse, keyboard and speakers will possibly be an additional $100 or more on top of that. Shipping and tax costs will also not be included since they will vary significantly for person to person, but 10-20% is a good ballpark. The final cost of builds may therefore be significantly more expensive than as listed. Factor in the previously mentioned costs as applicable. All pricing will be from newegg.com, the largest North American e-tailer of computer components. Newegg has competitive prices, and a good reputation amongst customers. There are other places where you may find similar or the same items such as Amazon or TigerDirect.
Component choices will be based on their stock performance, value and futureproofness. I will do my best to provide a fair conclusion for performance based on benchmarks and reviews.
B. Recommended Build
Prices and recommendations are as of August 17, 2012
iv. Radeon HD 6850/6870 ($140 - $170)
Applicable Games (will be optimal for anything equal to or less demanding than the following at 1920x1080, 4xAA and max settings with 40-60+fps average performance target):
Assassin's Creed series
Call of Duty series
Civilization IV
Older Codemasters racing games (Dirt 1, Dirt 2, GRID, Fuel)
Dawn of War II series
Dead Space series
Diablo III
Far Cry 2
Guild Wars
HAWX series
L.A. Noire
Mount and Blade series
Sniper Elite V2
Street Fighter series
Supreme Commander series
Telltale games (Sam and Max, Monkey Island etc.)
Most Unreal Engine 3 games (Batman: Arkham series, Mass Effect series, Mirror's Edge, Gears of War, Duke Nukem: Forever, Alice: Madness Returns etc)
Valve games (Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead series etc.)
World of Warcraft
This build will play most of today's games at highest settings at the indicated performance levels.
v. Radeon HD 7850 ($250)
Applicable Games (will be optimal for anything equal to or less demanding than the following at 1920x1080, 4xAA and max settings with 40-60+fps average performance target):
Alan Wake
Dragon Age: Origins
Fear 3
Mafia II (without PhysX)
Red Faction: Armageddon
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Spec Ops: The Line
The Witcher
This build will play most of today's major games with little to no difficulty and will also hold its own in some more demanding titles.
vi. GTX 660 Ti ($300)
Applicable Games (will be optimal for anything equal to or less demanding than the following at 1920x1080, 4xAA and max settings with 40-60+fps average performance target):
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Civilization V
Crysis 2 (DX9)
Dirt 3, Dirt Showdown
Dragon Age II
Fable 3
Just Cause 2
Lost Planet 2
Max Payne 3
Risen 2: Dark Waters
Saint's Row the Third
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat
This build will play the vast majority of today's titles at excellent performance and quality settings. The most demanding games still won't have perfect performance, but will be playable even at very high detail settings.
vii. Radeon HD 7850 Crossfire ($500)
Applicable Games (will be optimal for anything equal to or less demanding than the following at 1920x1080, 4xAA and max settings with 40-60+fps average performance target):
Aliens vs. Predator
Anno series (Dawn of Discovery, 1701 etc.)
Borderlands (with AA enabled through driver)
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Grand Theft Auto IV
Mafia II (with PhysX, if Nvidia listed)
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Starcraft II (with AA enabled through driver)
World in Conflict
This build will play almost all games with perfect performance at their highest settings. Other than a handful of demanding titles, no game proves a challenge.
viii. GTX 660 Ti SLI ($600)
Applicable Games (will be optimal for anything equal to or less demanding than the following at 1920x1080, 4xAA and max settings with 40-60fps average performance target):
Arma II series
Crysis and Crysis: Warhead
Crysis 2 (DX11)
Metro 2033
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl and Clear Sky
Total War series (past Medieval II)
Witcher II
This build represents the reasonable maximum that anyone should try to attain in terms of game performance. Even the most demanding games will perform excellently at maximum quality settings with this build. In addition, it will be comfortable with more advanced and demanding features such as tessellation, supersampling and ambient occlusion.
C. Resources
ix. Graphics Card Analysis
Last updated August 17, 2012
*Measurements for value, performance and power efficiency are relative and directly proportional, and use the left axis. Prices shown are based on the most common price for that graphics card, and use the right axis. This graph will be updated quarterly, or as deemed necessary.
- Each category below is a binning of approximately 36%, that is, the total performance difference from the weakest to the strongest card in each category is about 36%, as is that from the average card in each category. This value was derived using the fifth root of the performance multiple between the strongest card and what is commonly considered the mid end card.
- The following is based purely on performance, with the strongest at the top, weakest at the bottom. Look above for exact relative performance.
Very High End
High End
HD 7950GTX 660 Ti
Upper Mid End
Mid End
GTX 560 Ti
x. Processor Rankings
There are dozens of different processors within each tier, so the CPU rankings are not comprehensive. They simply list the most popular and/or most worthwhile processors at that tier and are meant to give you an idea. To construct the chart I used my own experience looking at CPU reviews, as well as Passmark data as a point of reference. Processors are listed alphabetically within each category (or close to it; no performance ordering is implied except for the categories). Like the GPU section, each category is separated by about 20% relative performance in games.
Intel Core i7 3700/3900 Series
Intel Core i5 3400/3500 Series
Intel Core i7 2600 Series
Intel Core i5 2500 Series
Intel Core i7 965-995X series
Very High End
Intel Core i5 2300/2400 Series
Intel Core i7 920-960 Series
Intel Core i7 860/870
Intel Core i5 750/760
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T-1090T
High End
Intel Core i3 2100 Series
Intel Core 2 Q9000 Extreme Series
AMD Phenom II X4 960-980 Series
AMD Phenom II X6 1035T-1045T
Upper Mid End
AMD Phenom II X4 945/955
Intel Core 2 Q8000 series
Intel Core 2 Q9000 series
Mid End
AMD Athlon II X4 640/645
Intel Q6000 series
It should be noted that differences in CPU performance after a certain point (around the High End-Very High End area) are largely academic - that is, the extra performance makes little to no difference in actual gameplay since the framerate will be above 60, the refresh rate of most monitors. The GPU is the bottleneck for the vast majority of games, so the benefits of a top-end CPU are usually realized in only a handful of RTS games during certain heavy load scenarios. That is why, given the choice, it is almost always smarter to spend more money on the GPU than the CPU after a certain point. Tom's Hardware recommends spending no more than around $200 on a gaming CPU as stated in their monthly CPU articles.
xi. Recommended Sites
These sites provide valuable price vs. performance articles, game performance analyses, and industry insights.
These sites house the most knowledgeable community, and are a good source of leak info and hardware discussion.
EVGA Forums (Nvidia-centered)
These sites offer up to date news for your hardware and other tech needs.
These sites offer reviews across a wide range of games with a large range of cards.
The Rest of the Best
These are the sites not mentioned in the above categories, but are still high quality and deserve a look.
xii. Compatibility Guide
Here are important things to look for regarding compatibility
1. Motherboard-CPU. Different motherboards use different CPU sockets. Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge processors use LGA 1155, last gen Core i5 processors use LGA 1156, and Nehalem Core i7 processors use LGA1366. Check that your CPU and motherboard are both of the same socket.
2. Case-Motherboard. A midtower will not fit some of the larger motherboards. Make sure that both your motherboard and case are of the same size standard. This will be "ATX" the vast majority of the time, but it's wise to double check.
3. RAM-CPU-Motherboard. LGA 1156, LGA1155 and AM3 use dual channel RAM. LGA 1366 uses triple channel RAM and LGA 2011 uses quad channel RAM. Make sure that your RAM, CPU and mobo are all compliant with one another in terms of RAM channels. Other specs to look out for are DDR# and number of pins. These should all be provided in the motherboard spec, just find the RAM to match.
4. Motherboard-GPU. Graphics cards require PCIe 2.0 or 3.0 slots. In addition, you will need at least 2 for multi-GPU, and they will need to be at least 8X speed each to avoid bottlenecking your cards. Some motherboards have 2 or more slots but the slots beyond the first one are at 4X or below; these you should avoid.
5. Motherboard-GPU (2). Nvidia uses a specific chipset for SLI. You should check whether the motherboard is SLI-compatible if you intend on using it for SLI. Generally, any board with 2 PCIe 2.0 slots can run Crossfire, and most modern motherboard chipsets like Z68 can run both SLI and Crossfire.
6. Power Supply-System. Add up the total system wattage at peak load. The GPU and CPU are the main power users in the PC, so a good approximation is to add up the max wattage of the GPU and CPU, then add about 100W for the other components. On top of that, add another 100-200W for headroom. Your final tally should be the size of the PSU that you will be using for the system.
7. Power Supply-Graphics Card. Graphics cards require some multiple of 6 and 8 pin connectors in order to have enough power to run. Check that your power supply has all of the necessary 6 and/or 8 pin power connectors. 8 pin connectors are generally just 6 spin with an additional 2 pins attached loosely (so you can use it for either 6 or 8-pin connections).
xiii. How to Build Your PC
(Video from HardwareCanucks )
xiv. Recommended System Builders
There are many services to cater to those that have their PC in mind, but for one reason or another choose not to build it themselves. For a fee, you can pick out your parts and have a professional build it for you. Sometimes this is a wise decision, as the package usually includes not only building the PC, but also system testing, professional wiring, overclocking, technical support and a warranty. I've included the Resellerating for each company, which are aggregate reviews for each company (similar to how metacritic or gamerankings are average reviews for a video game). That way you can compare things like reliability and customer service as well.
Best overall system builder:
CyberPowerPC: Following the theme of this post, CyberPowerPC offers the best value in terms of build quality and price. They also have one of the widest selections of components and builds that I've seen. In some cases (during sales and such) a custom built PC may even be the same price as one that you build yourself, making this a smart option. Resellerating.
Best extreme system builder:
Digital Storm : If you're looking for an extreme end system, Digital Storm is where you want to go. They offer incredible deals on Core i7-class systems, overclocking, liquid cooling, and the best quality control in the business. Their builds are high-priced but even higher powered. Resellerating .
Other system builders:
xv. Useful Programs
The following programs are for protection and general maintenance of your PC that I recommend.
Avast Antivirus. One of the best free antivirus out there. Constantly updated, attractive interface, comprehensive protection and quick scanning.
Defraggler. Good interface, easy to use.
MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. Constantly updated, easy to use interface, extremely effective detection, and relatively quick scans.
Microsoft Security Essentials – One of the best security softwares – and it's free.
FRAPS – good for taking game screenshots, recording video or monitoring FPS.
RealTemp – for general monitoring of CPU and GPU temperatures
MSI Afterburner – for overclocking, fan control, and monitoring of graphics cards
Nvidia Inspector – for deep driver tweaking with Nvidia cards
Radeon Pro – for driver tweaking with ATI cards
xvi. Stress Testing
Upon building or buying a new PC, it is always a good idea to stress test it. Beyond speed and power, reliability is also a very important aspect of how your PC will perform. Those that buy their machines from reputable builders will have less of an issue with this, as their systems are already pre-stress tested, but doing so yourself never hurts either.
Computer components are extremely complex pieces of hardware. Even the best company with the best quality control can't avoid defective products. On average, about 2-3% of all shipped products may have some defect that prevents it from working properly. If you happen upon one of these products, it is good to activate an RMA (return merchandise authorization) from your retailer immediately, or claim your warranty if applicable.
Stress testing typically takes a day to complete, but you can save yourself a lot of headaches in the future by doing it. You don't actually have to sit around for the whole day either.
There are 3 main components that can be stress tested directly, the CPU, the RAM and the graphics card(s). They should all be tested separately, as well as all at once.
Prime95 is the staple application in testing CPU stability. The Small FFTs test pushes the CPU to 100% load, essentially a "worst-case-scenario" test. It can also test a mix of memory and CPU using the Blend Test. Since the program can push both CPU and RAM usage to 99-100% load, any real world application such as gaming will run stable if the computer runs stable in Prime95 (gaming will stress the computer significantly less than Prime95). Prime95 should be run for at least a couple of hours, most people prefer to run it overnight or even 1-2 days (for the really diligent). If any errors occur, then the CPU is not completely stable.
If you get an error or a system crash while stress testing an overclocked CPU, trying slightly increasing the core voltage, or decreasing the clock (as always with overclocking, learn what you're doing beforehand and do so at your own risk). If you get an error or a system crash with a stock CPU, then it is most likely faulty and you should RMA it for a new one. CPUs at stock clocks with stock cooling should not be crashing under Prime95, since they are designed to be fully loaded at those specifications.
Monitor temperatures with program such as RealTemp at all times. A CPU at maximum load at stock should not be exceeding 70-80 degrees Celsius. With a good heatsink, it should only be 50-70 degrees Celsius. If it's exceeding these temperatures, slightly push the heatsink against the motherboard and see if the temperatures decrease. If they do, then you haven't affixed the heatsink tightly enough. If it doesn't, you either have inadequate case cooling, an inadequate application of thermal paste or a faulty CPU. The TjMax for most CPUs (maximum temperature before the CPU shuts off or throttles itself to avoid damage) is 100 degrees Celsius, but you should not be approaching it.
RAM is typically tested with Memtest86. It can be used in conjunction with Prime95 to isolate CPU or RAM problems. You will need to burn it on to a CD or USB and then boot your computer from CD or USB (typically by pressing F8 while the computer is booting up and choosing which device you want to boot from). There should be zero errors while running this test. If overclocking, you could try to increase the memory voltage slightly (again, overclock only when you fully understand the process, and do so at your own risk). If it's at stock and experiencing errors then you should return the RAM. Even a single memory error in Memtest can prove problematic in usage.
There are two main factors you should stress test regarding GPUs, performance and temperature.
Update first to the most recent drivers for your system, and using any heavily GPU-oriented benchmark such as Unigine Heaven or 3DMark, you should compare it to the results of a website that tested your card using the same benchmark at the same settings. The numbers should be reasonably similar to each other (within 5%).
Temperatures can be tested by a program called Furmark (also known as Kombustor). It is essentially the Prime95 of graphics cards, and will push your card or cards to the max. The temperatures reached in Furmark will exceed the temperatures that you will get in any game, since no game will put 100% load on your cards 100% of the time. Furmark should be ran until card temperatures stop increasing (typically just a couple of minutes), or until you deem it necessary to stop them from experiencing damage (read below). Cards in Crossfire or SLI may run 5-10 degrees higher than their single configuration variants; e.g. if a single card runs at 70 degrees C at load, then two of them in SLI may run at 80 degrees C in SLI at load. Also, one card may be slightly hotter than the other due to proximity to the CPU, motherboard heatsink and RAM.
Google your card SKU (e.g. "GTX 460") and Furmark together and search for a review that benched their card in Furmark, and compare. Results shouldn't differ more than 5 degrees C from one another. Also in general, most cards shouldn't exceed 90 degrees Celsius in single GPU configuration. The maximum safe temperature for most cards is 105-120 degrees C (at which point they will either shut off or throttle themselves to avoid damage), but ideally you should avoid getting anywhere near those temperatures since you may damage the surrounding components from the heat output.
Judging from the above, if anything looks off you should consider RMA-ing your card or getting better case cooling depending on the size of the deviation.
Finally, it is possible to test all 3 component areas at once by running the Blend Test in Prime 95 and Furmark at the same time; if your computer can survive a few hours of this then it is most likely completely stable.
xvii. Peripherals Guide
Unlike most other PC components, when it comes down to peripherals such as mice, keyboards and headsets there aren't any definitive benchmarks, so it really comes down to taste. There is also a lesser correlation between price and performance; while quality generally increases along with a product's cost, it's also well within the realm of possibility for a $70 headset to sound and perform better than a $200 headset. Therefore, this section is not split into tiers nor will it even make recommendations, it will simply provide a stepping stone to help you determine which product is right for you.
Roundups are where websites take a good variety of products in the same category and compare them. A good way to use this information is to first look at where a product compares overall against its competition, and then search for individual reviews of that particular product to get a more in-depth feel for its strengths and weaknesses. Remember, no product is perfect and although one may be rated "best of the bunch" you may find that its features are not to your personal liking or needs, so therefore it's worthwhile to get more information.
Gaming mice can significantly improve your gaming prowess. Faster response times, greater tracking, button macros and ergonomic design can go a long way. When considering gaming peripherals, a good mouse should be a top priority. One good research method that works particularly well with mice is to search for video reviews on Youtube; if not for anything else, it's to see the mouse in "3-D", e.g. rotated about its axes and held in people's hands so that you can get a better idea about how it would look and feel in real life.
Established brands (in alphabetical order):
New or alternative brands to consider (in alphabetical order):
Mousepads are more based on preference than any other gaming product; very few technical specifications go with them except for physical dimensions. Qualitatively, most mousepads are hard (plastic feeling), soft (cloth feeling) or both (either feels midway between soft or hard, or is soft on one side and hard on the other). Some mousepads claim greater tracking ability; while this may be true to some extent, keep in mind that mousepads are a mature technology and most good mousepads perform similarly. As mentioned before, the main difference you want to look out for is hard vs. soft. You may also want to consider the dimensions of your mousepad depending on how much free space you have on your desk, and how large you like to make your sweeping motions. As seen in the following roundup by Tom's, even a magazine can function in a pinch.
Established Brands (in alphabetical order):
New or alternative brands to consider (in alphabetical order):
When buying a headset, you should consider whether you want it for gaming, music or both. A gaming headset can still be good for music and vice versa, but a specialty headset will always be the best at its respective area.
Gaming headsets are generally very percussive and allow you to hear gunfire and footsteps quite clearly and from far away. They usually also carry good surround sound effects so that you can determine direction accurately.
Audiophile headsets are good for watching movies and listening to music. They have a nice "full" midrange sound, which is the range where most voices and instruments tend to belong.
Other headsets are great all around, and work well for both gaming and music, but being the best in neither.
Generally though, buying any set of quality headsets from a reputable company can't steer you too wrong, and unless you're a professional sound designer, you will most likely be unable to notice any small deficiencies between one good headset and another. Thus I recommend simply reading a few reviews, finding one that is well-liked and that has features and aesthetics you're comfortable with, and going with that one.
Established Brands (in alphabetical order):
Turtle Beach
New or alternative brands to consider (in alphabetical order):
In the area of keyboards, you should search for reliability and aesthetics. Keyboards are arguably the least valuable gaming asset; that is, a gaming mouse will likely perform significantly better than a non-gaming mouse, but a gaming keyboard will probably only perform marginally better than a conventional office keyboard. Therefore I believe it is wise to go on Amazon or a similar site and read the reader reviews to see the "breakage rate" (e.g. how long it takes before it becomes unusable, which is outside the realm of critic reviews), and just choose one that has aesthetics to your liking.
Established Brands (in alphabetical order):
New or alternative brands to consider (in alphabetical order):
Wolf King
xviii. Glossary
ATX – Form factor of motherboards. Typically the larger the form factor, the larger the amount of ports and slots there are to use. ATX is the standard size which will fit in pretty much all cases, and other common types include MicroATX (smaller size board typically designed for very specialized uses) or EATX, which is a larger board that can generally only fit in full towers. Examples of such boards are the EVGA X58 Micro and the EVGA SR-2.
CPU – Central Processing Unit. The "brain" of a computer, it essentially directs all of the actions of the other components. In gaming, it's usually the GPU that is most important in determining performance but an abnormally weak CPU will bottleneck the performance of the graphics card.
GPU – Graphics Processing Unit. This powers your graphics card and specializes in processing intensive 3D graphics in real time. In contrast to CPUs, they are highly parallel, with lower clock speeds but many more individual processing units. The most important factor in graphics performance.
HDD - Hard Disk Drive. This is your mass storage device that usually runs on the SATA interface. Windows users are probably familiar with it, it is the drive usually labeled "C:\" in My Computer.
OS - Operating System. For gaming PCs this will be Windows. The newest version of Windows is Windows 7, and it along with Windows Vista supports DirectX11.
PCIe - PCI express. This high bandwidth slot is where your graphics cards are inserted. The current version is 2.0, with a 2.1 revision. 3.0 may be arriving soon.
RAM - Random Access Memory, also referred to as just "memory". These act essentially as worktables for the applications that you run, storing the data of currently active applications to be used. The most demanding games currently consume around 1.5GB of RAM, and the Windows OS with typical background programs consumes another 0.5-1GB. It is thus recommended to use at least 4GB RAM at this point in time. RAM is also present in graphics cards in the form of VRAM, and acts as local, speedy memory for the GPU. Currently, DDR3 is standard for system RAM and GDDR5 is the standard for VRAM. There are also currently dual channel and triple channel variants, with the triple channel RAM only usable on the LGA1366 platform.
Tower – Otherwise known as a "case", these will come in mid-sized and full sized varieties. Mid-sized towers are good for most configurations, but for hot running high end systems or systems containing large components like the higher end Radeon 5000 cards, a full tower or a large sized mid-tower is better for air flow, space, and cooling. Larger cases also allow for easier further expansion such as larger motherboards, additional hard drives or disc bays, and liquid cooling. It is recommended to get a good full tower if you can, since it will be the component that stays with you the longest.
Bottlenecking – When one component significantly limits another. Components depend on each other to operate, and if one component reaches its maximum performance level, the corresponding performance level of a component that depends on it will be "bottlenecked". Example: Game X has a maximum framerate of 100fps using an extremely fast processor and graphics card, and a framerate of 20fps using an extremely slow processor and the same fast graphics card. The graphics card is capable of attaining 100fps, but can't due to the slow processor, and is thus being bottlenecked. The extra graphical power it is capable of is essentially being wasted. Thus in system builds it is important for components to be both powerful and balanced; if one is completely overpowered compared to another, then a lot of potential is being wasted.
Derivative – Any product coming out after an original hardware launch that is based on the same architecture, but has different specs thus delivering different performance. Generally referred to lower end models of the product line.
Frequency - Also referred to as the "clock". This pertains to the general speed of a component, or how many operations it can execute a second. The basic unit is the hertz (hz) and you will see them described with your processor, graphics card and even your memory. Generally the higher the hertz the better; the actual range of values that the hertz will be in is dependent on the component type and the architecture. For example, CPUs can have frequences over 4Ghz (Giga = billion) with overclocking, and over 3Ghz at stock values. Graphics cards on the other hand currently have hz measurements only in the 600-900Mhz (Mega = million) range, however they have hundreds or even thousands of smaller processors that do work in parallel (in comparison to the 4-8 that exist on a modern CPU). The architecture of the component will also affect speed; for instance, quad core intel CPUs based on the Nehalem architecture are faster than corresponding AMD quad cores at the same clock speeds. The GTX 295 with a core clock at 576 Mhz is actually almost twice as fast as the GTX 275 at 633 Mhz, since the 295 is dual GPU and has much more mini-processors (known as shaders and raster operators, and stream processors in ATI's cards etc). While a high frequency is indicative of speed, it always comes down to the real world benchmarks when measuring performance.
Multi GPU – Either SLI or Crossfire configuration; when 2 or more graphics cards communicate to each other over the PCI express lanes, achieving a theoretical x-scaling in performance where x is the number of graphics cards. In reality you usually see less than the theoretical scaling, but the performance benefits from multi-GPU can still be very significant, typically resulting in a 70-80% performance boost depending on the game.
Ambient Occlusion – Technique that provides realistic lighting effects on irregular surfaces. Generally very GPU-intensive.
Anisotropic Filtering – Filters textures so that they look more accurate over a distance at certain angles. A cobblestone road without AF will look like a muddy road in the distance; with AF turned on, it will still look distinctly like a cobblestone road even as it approaches the horizon. AF is generally not very GPU intensive, even on its highest setting (which is 16x at the moment).
Antialiasing - Image quality method that reduces the "jaggies" or pixilation around the edges of in-game objects. Typically carried out using the multisampling method, but many other variants exist. Some forms sacrifice image quality for performance (such as MLAA), while others sacrifice performance for image quality (such as SSAA). Transparency antialiasing is antialiasing on transparent textures; things like the spaces in fences, trees or bushes. Forcing supersampling for transparent textures (SSTsAA) is generally recommended since you get much better image quality for relatively little cost.
Deferred Rendering - Rendering method that many modern games use which makes shaders and post-processing more efficient, but can affect the ability for the game to allow antialiasing.
DirectX - An application programming interface for 3D applications including games, usually distributed in runtime libraries. DirectX11 is the newest version of the 3D development platform, sporting features including tessellation, better multithreading support, Shader Model 5.0, and more optimized performance.
Frames per second (framerate) - The amount of frames that are being processed through hardware per second. Each frame is a fully realized and fully processed view of the game. Games start to feel significantly laggy below 40fps, and 60fps is currently the standard for optimal performance, as that's the refresh frequency of most displays. The frames per second in games is slightly different from the frames per second in television in movies in that it typically lacks motion blur, so high amounts are needed in order to compensate for smoothness. This is why TV and movies look smooth at 24fps, while games are basically unplayable at that framerate. In addition, you "feel" framerate in games whereas you only observe it in television or movies, which makes low framerate even more apparent in gaming. Your framerate cannot exceed the refresh rate of your monitor; 240fps on a 60hz monitor and 60fps on a 60hz monitor will look the same (in fact 240fps may even look worse due to screen tearing; see 'vertical sync').
Resolution – This will affect the overall detail of your game. Changes in resolution decrease performance as more pixels need to be processed per frame, but in return you get more detail. Currently, standard PC gaming resolutions are 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, and 2560x1600.
Vertical sync – Locks your framerate to that of your monitor (usually 60). The benefit of this is it prevents screen tearing, which appears as a thin horizontal line that stretches across your screen momentarily due to the frames exceeding that of your monitor and not matching up, and smooths the overall look of the game. The downside is it reduces performance and creates stuttering if you can't achieve a consistent 60+ framerate.
CF - Crossfire, ATI's multi-GPU scaling solution. Crossfire generally refers to 2 cards, Tri-fire 3, and Quad-fire 4.
FRAPS - Handy program that measures framerates, records benchmarks and movies, and takes screenshots. Generally what reviewers use to measure framerates for their benchmarks.
GTX - Nvidia's line of GPUs, the higher the number the better. Currently in the 5xx series.
Hyperthreading - Intel's built in feature in some processors that allows a single physical core to be divided into 2 logical threads; enhances multitasking. Usually has little effect in games but functionality may increase as games become more multithreaded.
HyperTransport - Replacement for the front side bus, this system has a higher bandwidth and universalizes several different FSB frequencies.
LGA 1155 - "Sandy Bridge", Intel's newest CPU architecture as of 2011. SKUs range from Core i3 to Core i7, from dual cores to quad cores with hyperthreading.
PhysX – Nvidia's onboard physics solution. Many of Nvidia's newer cards come with an onboard PhysX chip, which enables exclusive PhysX effects for games that support it. Physx actually doesn't require much hardware power, but it will take up an entire graphics card in a multi-GPU setup. ATI cards are unable to run Physx. Some people opt to buy a single, cheap Physx capable card such as the GT 220 and use that as a dedicated card to do Physx.
QPI - Quick Path Interconnect. The successor to the front side bus and originally seen on AMD chips in the form of HyperTransport, it allows for extremely fast transfer rates from the memory controller to the CPU.
Radeon HD - ATI's line of GPUs, the higher the number the better. Currently in the 6xxx series.
SLI – Scalable Link Interface. Nvidia's multi-GPU scaling solution. SLI generally refers to 2 cards, Tri-SLI 3, and Quad-SLI 4.
Socket AM3 - Socket for AMD's current generation of processors including the Athlon II and Phenom II lines. The Phenom II series consist of quad core CPUs while the Athlon II series consists of dual and triple core CPUs. These currently span the mid-end.