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I've always had/built desktop PC's and I've recently become a firefighter, so with my downtime at the station I've decided to pick me up a laptop.While I'm great with desktop, I don't know Jack about a laptop and was hoping to get some good info here.
I'd like to buy one that'll last a while and I do some gaming.
Don't want to spend over $1400.00.
Some main Q's I have are...
Are more cells in the battery always better?(ie. 6cell vs. 8 cell)
Are the intel Chips performing better than AMD right now?
I was going to get a nice high resolution screen. Something like 1920x1080, but was wanting to hear from anyone who has similar because im afraid the text and other things might be too small to easily read. My eyes are pretty good but is this a complaint for anyone?
Which video cards in laptops are top notch at the moment and are many of these newer laptops coming with the ability to upgrade the cards later or are they still integrated in?
A few that i've looked at say they have a Dedicated video card but I don't know if that makes them removable or not.
I'm working on finding all this stuff out, but in since I'm just getting into laptops and the tech changes so fast its hard to get good information that's current.
Thanks for helping me out and I'll take any other info/advice you may have
I recommend downloading and running Reimage. It's a computer repair tool that has been proven to identify and fix many Windows problems with a high level of success.
I've used it in the past to identify and fix everything from blue screens (BSOD's), ActiveX errors, corrupt files and processes, dll/exe/sys errors, recover lost memory, Windows update problems, defragging, malware removal etc.
You can download it direct from this link http://downloadreimage.com/download.php. (This link will automatically start a download of Reimage that you can save to your computer.)
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Guys, maybe someone's got an idea, if I'm making the right decision here. I'm about to purchase a used, but refurbished Dell Latitude E6540 from 2014 for roundabout 700 Euros. For that kind of money I could easily afford a brand new budget laptop. Thing is, the Dell is quite a powerhouse, a dated one, but still, it's packed with OK specs (I think, or more precisely, guess - I'm not really that much of a tech freak)
It comes with:
Intel Core i7-4800MQ (4x 2,7 Ghz)
15,6'' FHD Display
1. Intel HD Graphics 4400; 2. AMD Radeon 8790MQ (2GB GDDR5)
and a 24 months assurance
I use my laptop mostly for editing and rendering (Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere and such), slight gaming and research stuff.
Would be great if anyone could help me out with a little hint.
I hope this is the right kind of platform for this sort of questions.
Compared with new, one of the biggest problems I've seen with refurbished laptops is a lousy battery. Another is weight. If you can live with that though, the above looks like it could be a decent buy.
I'm experienced on home computing, but have no experience with laptops or internet while traveling, so I have a bunch of questions.
I'm going to be doing a lot of RV and auto traveling all over the U.S. So I want to purchase a good laptop and be able to have the internet as much as possible.
So the first question is: Any recommendations as far as good laptops for a person who travels a lot. (I could probably spend up to $2,000 without the DW getting too wild!) What should I make sure I have in my laptop to be able to connect with the internet wherever I am? My cellphone contract is almost due, and I've read some articles about getting a digital cellphone and using that as an access to the internet. Good idea or not? Any company have better plans and service than others? What do I need to know so I don't get talked into buying unnecessary plans, equipment, etc?
We will be staying in hotels sometimes, the RV other times. What would I want to have in my laptop so I could access any free internet available. I've read some stuff about wifi hotspots and hotels having rj45 jacks, etc, but I guess I'm at the point now where I've read so much that I am just overwhelmed with information. Any ideas like what would you do in my situation?
I am also going to be using the laptop at home (Wisconsin/Arizona), so I'd like to know a simple(if possible) way to be able to somehow use my home internet service with both my home pc and my laptop. I h... Read more
Many RV travelers have a directional antenna and a WAP (Wireless Access Point) to connect to WiFi. One of the major issues is weak signals, a good directional antenna can be aimed at the source and make a big difference. I'm led to believe that many RV parks supply WiFi connections. . Decent cellular data access is pretty expensive, $60-100/mo, probably a bit steep for your intended use.
There is no way you need to spend more than $1000-1200 for a nice laptop Any laptop will offer wired and wireless connectivity nowadays. I bought my HP DV9207US laptop through the bargain sites listed below, and I paid $800 for it. I added 2gigs of memory and an additional 120gig hard disk, and have a total of less than $1000 invested. It's certainly more than sufficient for your stated needs.
Deal News
Tech Bargains
More Stuff 4 Less
Hi, thinking of buying a laptop, is it easy to connect to the internet? and is it expensive? or am I able to hook it up to the broadband cable i use for my pc?
Thanks in advance.
You should be able to connect it to the same broadband connection you have now. You would have need a router so that both computers could be connected and access the internet at the same time. For example: http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?sec=Products&pg=Product-List&cat=4&site=c#family13
i will be a college senior and i am thinking about buying a laptop. i am sick of all the deskspace a desktop takes up, so laptops are in my thoughts right now.
anyway...i don't really know which ones are the best or worst, good priced, bargais, or overpriced, etc. i have had a compaq presario for the last 3-4 years and its a good computer, however, it had problems in which i had to backup my entire harddrive ( more than 30GB of info) onto CD's and reinstall them...not a good way to spend about 2 days.
anyway, i want a laptop that is pretty lightweight, more than 40GB of storage, good graphics card to play games, DVD/RW (if possible) if not, DVD/CD-RW combo, good screen display (15 inches), Fast processor (i don't knwo what the norm is today, but i am thinking 2.0GHz or above) appealing to the eye and good price.
I found a site that said the following laptops are good for students, but i don't think these are the latest...
Best Laptops - Education
For students, the best laptops have to be flexible, balancing between long battery life, multimedia features, and easy portability.
· Compaq Presario 2575US (Pentium 4, 2.66 GHz, 15 in. display, 512 MB RAM, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo)
· Toshiba Satellite 5205-S705 (Pentium 4-M, 2.4 GHz, 15 in. display, 512 MB RAM, CD-RW/DVD+RW combo)
· Sony Vaio PCG-V505BC1 (Pentium 4, 2 GHz, 12.1 in. display, 256 MB RAM, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo)
· Fujitsu LifeBook P2120 (Transmeta Crusoe TM5800, 933 MHz, 10.6 in. display... Read more
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So im looking at laptops to buy and im a bit unsure which one suits, it needs to be pretty affordable or cheap if im being honest, im looking for one thats got a good wireless on it with decent upload n download speeds, ill be using it mainly for my business, im a cake maker/decorator so ill be designing cupcake toppers and printing them with my edible ink printer and personalising party bags/stickers etc...
but im also prone to playing a wee bit of perfect world and other rpgs i can be an elf warrior princess in! Lol so id hate my game to be lagging constantly! Also im addicted to audiobooks and my phones memory is full up of them so i need a decent storage capacity to unload them i do listnen to them more than once so i dont want to delete them,
It doesnt need to be perfect or the best one out there! im gonna shop around on black friday for good deals but anything in perticular i should be looking for? or any tips from you lovely people here would be much appriciated thanks
Sounds like your only real hardware requirements then are whatever is needed to play your game. I would start by checking the game requirements. They usually list minimum and recommended requirements. Then choose a model that at least meets the recommended requirements for that game. If it can play your game, it will do everything else you noted easily.
Brand wise, I prefer Dell. But there are numerous brands to choose from. In the end, it usually comes down to price and warranty.
Need help buying laptop...I prefer HP since thats what i already have. Looking for something for everyday web searching, web cam, cd/dvd built in player, watching videos etc...im not a gamer. and as far as memory/hard drive, whats the MINIMUM to go after? looking to spend no more that about $650. doesnt have to be fancy, BUT do want something nice (planning to buy at best buy)
Hi, My suggestion: go to Best Buy and ask them to have a list of full models around that price and post back. We may be able to compare and let you know which one is better. Note: some models won't be available at Best Buy and also some models may ONLY available at Best Buy. RegardsRead other 1 answers
i am buying a new laptop and i need some help. here is the link to my laptop.
it comes with windows vista and i need more ram, about 2g is the reckomended so ime getting 2g. here is a link to the 2g i wanto buy.
will this ram plug into my lap top? how do i install ram on a laptop? i have installed ram before on a desktop but never on a laptop, is it any different? everyone tells me laptops are harder to work on. how do i install ram on a laptop? just open it uP? please help me. :'( If anyone here can help me, Please respong here or email me at [email protected] thanks you for you time guys ^_-
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Vista Installed
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile Processor 1.66GHz
Screen Size: 15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite LCD TFT
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M Dedicated Graphics 256mb (HDMI output)
Memory: 2GB
Hard Drive: 160GB 5400rpm
Optical: Blu-ray BD-ROM
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
5 in 1 card reader (SD), (MMC), (MS), (MS PRO), (XD)
Networking: Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b/g, Wired Ethernet LAN, 56K V.92 Fax Modem
Thats the spec's
What do you guys think is a good price to buy for ?
I am talking Australian Dollars :)Read other 2 answers
I am looking for a new gaming laptop. Was looking into the Asus G73JH-RBBX05 from Best Buy. Costs $1250, great specs...
Here's a link. Click the FIRST website on google, should be Best Buy.
Google Moogle! Click this link for that laptop!
Tell me what you guys think. Thank you.
It seems almost impossible to purchase a Laptop these days with nothing installed.
I want to buy the Laptop of my choice with a formatted but clean Hard Disk. I then wish to purchase the FPL licensed version of Windows 7 and install it myself. After that I will install my own Anti-Virus and other software. This will ensure that the only software installed on the machine is the software that I have selected and installed myself.
Sounds simple doesn't it....?
I went to PC World, selected a Laptop and told them what I wanted. They looked at me as if I was from planet Zen. So the conversation went like this...
Tabvla : Having explained in explicit detail what I wanted
PCW : No we can't do that
Tabvla : Why not?
PCW : We don't work that way - all Laptops are supplied with OEM licenses and our software
Tabvla : So what do I do - go somewhere else
PCW : (after some consideration) No, you can open a business account
Tabvla : And then?
PCW : Well if you open a business account we will supply you with a "clean" laptop
Tabvla : I don't want to do that..... but OK where is the business department?
PCW : Oh no, you cannot buy the laptop here you have to order it online for delivery here and you can then collect it
Tabvla : I think I need a drink of something really strong
The mind boggles
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I want to buy a new laptop for my partner as his is very old and slow. He's mentioned how much he likes his currect Fujitsi Seimens (Amilo Pro V2030D). Anyone know what the newest (and good) equivelent is of this?
What does he like about it? If you're looking for a simple system I'd recommend the Acer V5-571. the 571G variant has a more powerful CPU and discrete graphics good, but it's a bit more expensive.Read other 2 answers
What laptop would you recommend for a business student?
Features I want it to have:
At least one 6-cell lithium ion with 2 battery slots
WIFI, Bluetooth and Ethernet integrated
CD/DVD burner
1GB+ ram with upgradeable ram up to 4GB or more
At least 120GB+ SATA HDD (preferable 160GB+)
Fast at loading/starting programs (7200 RM)
At least 667MHz
At least 1MB L2 cache (preferable 2MB+)
5 in 1 card reader (SD Memory Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, MultiMediaCard, xD-Picture Card)
Good quality sound card
Keyboard, touchpad
Windows Vista Home Premium+
Anti-glare if possible
Must be mobile! (less than 15.4")
Silent - no humming/annoying noises
Durable, must last at least for 4 years
I won't be playing any hardcore games like Bioshock or even games like WoW with this laptop
This laptop is mainly for school purposes - taking notes, making presentations, etc.
I also will use this laptop to play movies + music
My budget is $1500 (CDN), but I want to spend less than $1000 (CDN).
How do I start a conversation on hear I need help with buy a laptop as well plz
Post your concerns / issues and we'll attempt to respond - - That's what Techspot does - - answer questions
can anyone recommend a good laptop for college, powerpoint and small business?
i have moved to hardware forum
a little more info - whats your maximum budget ?
Hi, I'm new here.
I have the following question:
I am about to buy a new laptop. I got an offer to two computers at the same price:
The first, IBM T43 comes with a Pentium M 1.86 GHz processor.
The second, a T60, comes with Duo Core 1.66 GHz processor.
All other specifications are identical, and price is identical.
Any suggestions as to which to pick? I will be using it mostly for internet, e-mail and mp3's, not heavy gaming.
Also, if I get Duo Core, is it upgradable?
Thanks a lot guys.
A ThinkPad.. Good choice
Take the T60 - it is a newer model with an improved design. For you, the CPU difference doesn't really matter.
Yes, you could upgrade the CPU later on, but it will cost you a fortune - you would have to order the CPU assembly from Lenovo and most likely they will insist on installing it by themselves too.
I am thinking of buying a new laptop under 30,000-35,000 PKR. ($300-350). Something around $400 might also work. I am not much into gaming or stuff. Usually, I play stronghold extreme or civilization V once every 2-3 months. I currently have an HP laptop, but it overheats as hell. Due to the overheating issue, I have to give it a minute?s rest after around 15-45 minutes of use.
As I am a freelance writer, I intend to use the laptop for writing, watching movies and some gaming at normal graphics (nothing hardcore).
I was looking for the following features in a laptop:
1. No overheating whatsoever.
2. Good battery life.
3. SSD preferred but not necessary.
4. A good design (hey, I plan to use it as my office).
5. And finally, Intel i3 or something of similar power (optional).
I was hoping that maybe you guys could help me out, since my laptop has started acting weird. I am currently on another machine, not much powerful. HP has a sale thing going own, maybe I can get some discount there as well.
I look forward to your recommendations.
OK guys i need help. My mom is in college going back for a nursing degree and is looking to buy a new laptop for this semester she gave me a barnes & noble list of the available laptops mainly from samsung, Toshiba and hp. We have an HP desk top already. I was also hoping to find one that is the most efficient for computer gaming something that can run planet side 2 or shogun total war on mid-high specs. I am not sure if you guys need the specs and features of all of them so i will just write down the names.
Hp 20002b6nr 15.6" Notebook.
Price 518.98
Hp pavillion G62211nr 15.6" Notebook.
HP Envy dv67211nr 15.6" notebook.
HP Envy sleekbook 6110us 15.6"
Samsung galaxytab2 10" 16gb
Samsung 15.6" np355e5ca02us
Samsung 15.6" NP365e5CSO2US
Toshiba excite at305-t16 10.1 16gb tablet computer
Toshiba satellite C855S55346 15.6" notebook
Toshiba satellite C855S5356 15.6" notebook
Toshiba sattellite C855S5352 15.6" notebook
Thanks in advance guys and sorry if this is the wrong thread to post this in. Hopefully a moderator moves it to the right section but thanks to anyone and everyone who helps me or points me in the right direction
She will most likely want an actual notebook, not a tablet.
For basic office apps and browsing, any current model will work fine. Laptops, in general, are not designed or recommended for gaming. Even under moderate use, they tend to get warm/hot. Gaming stresses the hardware and generates heat, making most laptops run hot. For gaming, you will need to at least double your budget for a laptop, or better yet, get a desktop PC. Desktop models are more suited for gaming.
Can anyone give me the name of a good website where I can search for laptops by its features? I knew one when I bought my last laptop, but I dont remember it now. Any help is greatly appreciated.
-CompUSA is a good one. (www.compusa.com)Read other 4 answers
hello , i would like some advice on which laptop i should bu i have 450 pound and i wont a laptop that can brows the internet quick and so i can do some gaming i would like to have 2 ghz or over and more then 2.00 GB ram thanks
for laptop, i would suggest to get Lenovo T400
I am forth year engineering student and i need a laptop urgently.
I searched everywhere and finally came on these two:
Lenovo 3000 N100 15.4"
Sony Vaio FJ.
My budget is around 70,000/- and these two fit in!!
I also configured Alienware m5550 which was cheaper than these two but it becomes way costly when imported to india.
Plz i need help fom you guys.
Any recommendations about other brand laptops fitting in my budget?
thanks in advance!!!!!!
Hi Sushk21
It nice to see another newbie like myself.
Have a look at the following URLs:
http://howtobuyalaptop.com/laptop-guide.htm#section1 = help for buying
http://www.pcmag.com = good reviews and advice
Hi guys. My girlfriend is looking to buy a laptop for school and is wanting to spend less than $800. She does not really need anything to crazy but I would like it to have a good processor (no celeron or sempron), 40-60GB hard drive, and 512-1GB RAM. I have been shopping around a little bit on dell.com, mrnotebook.com, and compusa.com.
1. Dell's Inspiron E1505 looks pretty nice.
what do you guys think? I am not limited to these two laptops by any means.
Asus make some very descent laptops for a very competitive price.
I havnt got time to look now, but if you remind me later I'll investigate for you.
I bought and installed a crucial M4 128GB drive in my desktop2 and now want to replace the HDD in the Toshiba laptop but am thinking of a different brand for this.
I was looking at the Intel 520 series 128GB @ $205 and was quite mpressed by the specs.
But as a matter of cost cutting I did also look at the Corsair Force GT series 120GB ? $160 (alternative Corsair Force series 120GB @ $195) and the Patriot Pyro SE 120GB ? $159 (alternative the Patriot Wildfire 120GB @ $225 ? a shade under the Samsung - $229).
The Corsair Force GT however looks to work only with a 6Gbs interface whereas the rest all support 1.5, 3, and 6Gbs. The speed of the Wildfire if the ad is right is amazingly fast.
Hi there
I'd go for the SAMSUNG -- the reason I say this (apart from the fact they make excellent phones and TV's) is that with the SSD you get quite a useful USB===>SATA cable connector -- this makes it easy to say use the usb disk you've taken OUT of the laptop like an external USB drive -- why not format that one and use it for backup.
You don't need this cable to install the disk in your laptop - just plug it in to the same place where you remove the old one --takes literally seconds.
Another use for this cable is that you can then after imaging your OS (backup) restore it to the SSD easily and you can then boot your computer straight away.
The price of all these 128 GB SSD's is around the same and performance on these newer models is also outstanding.
i am looking to buy a used laptop off of ebay.i only need it for 3 sems. of school and will only be using it for writing papers when away from the desktop at home.what are the key elements i need to look for (mhz, petium,drives etc.).i dont need to much and i dont want to spend alot.i notice alot of used laptops come with no os loaded is this ok and is it easy to load a os.if you know of any other web sights that would have a better deal let me know.thanks
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I am going to buy a laptop and I'm lost about which one to buy. I just need it for the basics: Word, Excel, the Internet... any suggestions?
Hello and welcome to TSG!
Take a look at my post at http://forums.techguy.org/t269675.html.
I'm going to ask that this be moved to hardware where more people will see your post.
Buying daughter a notebook for school (friends recommended Dell or Toshiba).
Question is: Can another monitor, keyboard & mouse be docked to the notebook so she can save the screen? Wants to use computer processor not screen when she doesn't have to. Does this make sense?
Yes you can.
Check the connectors on the laptop when you are shopping.
Most have a connector in the back for an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Some may not have PS/2 type connectors for the mouse or keyboard, in which case you would just use a USB type keyboard or mouse as most laptops come with at least 2 USB connectors these days.
Im trying to decide between these 5 laptops. I Want a Gaming laptop that I can also carry around to classes because I use my laptop everyday in college, but Im tired of having to replace my laptop every year or so so I want something good that wont be out of date in 2 years but isnt super heavy or overpriced either.. Heres what im thinking of:
Samsung - 15.6" Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Laptop - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive - Titan Silver
3rd Gen Intel® Core? i7-3635QM processor- 6MB L3 cache. 2.4GHz processor speed.Turbo Boost=3.2GHz.
8GB DDR3 memory
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media.
15.6" LED high-definition widescreen display
1TB Serial ATA II hard drive (5400 rpm)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M graphics
Built-in 1.3MP high-definition webcam and microphone
Weighs 5.3 lbs.
2. ASUS N56DP-DH11 15.6" Laptop Computer - Black $529
AMD A10-4600M Quad-Core Processor
Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit)
1TB 5,400RPM Hard Drive
8x Super Multi Double Layer Drive
Memory Card Reader
AMD Radeon HD 7730M
10/100/1000 Network
802.11b/g/n Wireless
Bluetooth 4.0
15.6"... Read more
What did you decide on?...
I need a laptop that can be used for Graphic Design, Animation, Programming, and Gaming/Recording Gameplay. I need a laptop not a PC. Here are the two options I have decided:
Thank You,
Connor G.
P.S. Just view it as whichever would be optimal for my needs listed above.
Depends on specs, but the Lenovo.
im looking to buy a new laptop.. something that does medium gaming and also work. all of these cost more or less the same.. im changing all the vista operating system in the package to xp so maybe that would reduce the price a little bit. so which of these do u guys recommend id get? ive rated the price rating 5 for most expensive and the cheapest 1.
Option 1:-(expensiveness = 1 )
ACER Aspire 5584WXMi ( Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5600 1.83GHz )
-Genuine Windows® Vista? Home Premium
-Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology Intel® Core?2 Duo processor T5600 (1.83GHz, 2MB Cache, 667MHz FSB) supporting Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel® EM64T)
-Intel® 945PM Express Chipset Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945abg Wireless Connection
-14.1" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite colour LCD, supporting 1280 x 768 pixel resolution
-NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7200-SE with 128 MB of external GDDR2 VRAM, supporting NVIDIA® PureVideo? technology (WMV HD, High-Definition MPEG-2 Hardware Acceleration), Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0, Shader Model 3.0, OpenEXR High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, NVIDIA® PowerMizer® 6.0, PCI Express®
-1G DDR2 RAM (upgradeable to 2GB)
-Integrated 56Kbps modem & 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN Integrated Slot-Load
-8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive
-Integrated Bluetooth® 2.0+EDR
-Integrated 1.3-megapixel Acer OrbiCam CMOS Camera with Acer VisageON & PrimaLite Technology Acer Video Conference featuring Voice and Video over Internet ... Read more
Avoid option 1 Acer, and Option 5 Dell.
Option 1: Acer; Option 2: Unknown; Option 3: Unknown; Option 4: Aceer; Option 5: Dell XPS M1210.
You left out the most important part of the configuration: number of cooling fans and size of cooling channels.
Laptops used in gaming have an extremely high failure rate... due primarily to heat and inability to move out the hot air.
If you cannot inspect the laptop to observe cooling channels, do not get it.
The Dell is doubly handicapped with Roxio instead of Nero. But you do not tell us about the burner software of the other four.
My choices would be Options 2 and 3 but I would have to know the brands and models, and model of DVD player.
Whatever your choice of these, you can expect early screen failure and early video graphics failure... so get the one with the longest warranty.
Hey all.
I plan to buy a laptop for uni. I know you have to make trade offs (cringe) but I'll list what approximate specs I'm looking for:
- 14" screen or less
- DVD drive
- A decent battery life (5+ hours)
- A decent processor
- Not too heavy
- I would like an ATI/NVIDIA dicrete graphics card but it's not absolutely neccessary as I won't have many games on it.
At the moment I'm looking at:
The Compaq Presario 14" CQ41-209TX
The Lenovo Thinkpad SL 410 Performance (although possibly customized a little)
I've built PC's but never shopped for a laptop before so any help would be great.
Cheers, Brent.
thats quite a basic requirement so most should meet your needs
The 2nd link opens a choice of 4 different laptops - so not sure which spec you are after
we need a max budget really to work with
Im looking two laptops with a veiw to buying one of them.
one is a Compaq cq60-307ea
Amd sempron sl-42
3gb ram memory
160gb hdd
the second one is HP.6735
AMD Turionx2 dual core rm-70 26ghz
3gb ram
250gb hdd
They are both roughly priced at £360 if any one could give me some advice on these laptops especially the processors ie best performer i would really appreciate it.
Go with the Turion X2.
Semperons are the low end of the CPU chain.
So, I'll be buying a new laptop - sometime before Sept. 2013.
I live in India, so prices here are close to 50% higher than US prices.
(Which is why the only decent laptop for my budget that I can get here is an AMD APU, whereas I can get an Intel core i7 from the US)
[I have a few cousins in the US, who can get a me a laptop from the US if required.]
I have two in mind :
1. HP Pavilion G6-2313AX Laptop ( in India, 700$ )
CPU - AMD APU A10 4600M ( 4 core, 2.3 ~ 3.2 GHz )
GPU - AMD Radeon HD 7660G + HD 7670M Dual Crossfire ( 0.5 GB + 2 GB DDR3 )
Display - 15.6 " 1366x768 LED backlit
2.HP DV6TQE Series Custom ( in USA, 710$ )
CPU - Intel i7 3610QM ( 4 core, 2.3 GHz )
Display - 15.6 " 1366x768 LED backlit
The biggest difference here is the CPU+GPU combo.
According to benchmarks and real-world tests on modern games - notebookcheck.net shows a huge difference between the two GPUs and cpubenchmark.net shows a huge difference between the two CPUs.
And, the overall winner is the Intel option.
However, I'm yet to find a good comparison between battery consumption and performance in moderate usage and gaming.
I'm going to be using the laptop for moderate gaming (maybe some 1-2 year old games), multimedia usage (movies, music) and general internet and software usage.
I also need moderate battery life ( 4 hours atleast ). Which one offers more?
What looks like a ... Read more
Im going to be buying a laptop today but i cant decide on which company to go with after a long frustrating thing of research.
Ive looked at alienware but there way to overpriced
ibuypower or cyberpower but ive heard that they are poorly built and havnt heard good things about them.
could someone enlighten me or give me a good company to buy a laptop for gaming from 1300 to 1600 thanks
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Hello I could need some help , to decide which laptop to buy. First I thought about getting a macbook air or some other ultrabook , but they are just too small. So yeah after that I wanted to get the asus n56vz , but here in Wien it's only sold online , so that option is out of reach (can't wait 7 days , I am leaving in 4).
Ok to keep it short can you suggest me some good laptops with the screen size 15,6'' or 17,3'' (15,6" preferable) that cost up to 1020 Euro.
Also I prefer intel-i7 processors and dedicated graphics , and I would use the machine for web development (front-end) so it should be able to run photoshop cs6.
15inch MBPs are pretty overpriced. Dedicated graphics cards are pretty rare nowadays in non-gaming machines because they suck up power and most users dont need dedicated GPUs. Will you be gaming on this laptop? Or just for GPU acceleration purposes?
Need to buy a laptop under 55k in INDIA. Any advices.
hi im buying new laptop and there are a choice of 3 all with win 8 no its been out a while is win 8 better worse than vista 7?
also would appreciate if someone has the tech knowledge
wich of the 3 processors would be best over all ARK | Compare Intel? Products
thanks for any help you can provide
The i3 is the stronger cpu, as it has hyperthreading. But it'll cost more.
Is win8 better than vista or 7?? hmm I'd say no, as I find all 3 to be just fine.
my sister asked for my opinion the other day, she wanna buy a laptop, i honestly havent bought one before and i know very little about them, i actually i dont like them at all =P, anyway, she want something in the range of 450USD, she need it for basic stuff like microsoft office, internet browsing, something to carry with her to work, blah blah (i wasnt really listening =P), i know there are a lot of brands out there, hp, dell, acer..etc which one do you recommend? and what should i know about laptops before i buy one? thx
Read other 16 answers
OK I do some gaming a bit of shooters RTS's and Im also going to school and sometimes wish I had a laptop so does anybody have any suggestions on a specific model mind you my budget will be around $1,200.00 sometime after Christmas
Might look at some of these.....
hi everyone,
its not for me but my mate has asked for advice on a new laptop after a very violent virus destroyed his old desktop. all he wants it for is photos from a 10MP camera, sending the odd email and writing a few documents. i cant imagine he wants to spend to much. however my experties lies in desktops and not laptops or spelling =P. can anyone suggest anything that is any decent and where i can point him to get one from?
Well how much he'd want to spend?
And check out this recent thread
Hi Folks,
After a long time I decided to move from my current laptop and buy a new one for myself. However, I've zeroed the below listed laptop and is little confused on deciding which one to choose as they all are got almost the same configuration.
Thought of taking some smart and intelligent advice and nothing comes to mind except my folks at "sevenforums".
So, need suggestion and advice:
Lenovo Essential G505s (59-380146) Laptop (APU Quad Core A10/ 8GB/ 1TB/ DOS/ 2.5GB Graph) VS
HP Pavilion G6-2312AX Laptop (APU Quad Core A10/ 4GB/ 1TB/ Win8/ 2.5GB Graph) VS
HP Pavilion G6-2313AX Laptop (APU Quad Core A10/ 6GB/ 1TB/ DOS/ 2.5GB Graph)
Thank you!
As you said, the specs on all three machines are pretty close. But I'd choose the Lenovo since it already comes with 8GB RAM. You'd probably spend more money shortly after getting either of the HPs just to upgrade their RAM. Also, HP computers seem to be a lot more bloated with unnecessary "stuff". One of the Forum experts prepared a tutorial on how to do a clean reinstall of an OEM computer with a special "note" at the bottom for HP owners. So that's my opinion and others may disagree. Don't know if this counts as smart or intelligent.
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
I am new to this website and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to help me with buying a new laptop. I have bought a laptop which was refurbished it was 12gb ram and 480GB SSD. I have not seen any other laptops with these specs and was wondering if I should be worried?
I'm not entirely certain this is the right part of the forum for this question, but it seems like the best place.
My HP Pavillion broke down recently, seems to be the hard drive. It's about four or five years old and I'm considering buying a new laptop even if it can be fixed without great expense, because the keyboard and mouse click area also failing, and it's been problematic from the first few months I've had it.
So my question is whether now is a good time to buy a new laptop, and what I ought to get. I have up to about £500 to spend, although I could spend a bit more if there was a very good reason to. (I'm in the UK if it matters.)
I use my laptop mainly for browsing, multimedia and messengers, but also want one able to run games. Obviously I want something that's going to last, not one that will break down of be obsolete within a few years, I don't want to be asking this same question again for at least another 5 years.
ASUS makes the most reliable laptops, but Dell and HP offer better support... so theirs one key question to consider.
I would look for a Core2Duo, 4GB RAM and a good integrated graphics card, also make sure the Hard drive is 7200 RPM, since you care about performance.
Hey all,
I've gotta buy a Laptop for Work and School, and I'm thinking about buying from the Home Shopping Network webpage since I can split it into 5 payments. I know HSN isn't the cheapest place to buy from, but the split payments really helps since my credit is only so-so (of course if you have any suggestions for other sites that split up payment feel free to tell me!).
The question I have is, which one should I get? I've never been a big fan of pre-mades, but I really don't know enough to build my own laptop, and I also heard its not like building a desktop price-wise -- I heard it actually costs more to build your own laptop. Anyway, they only have two brands, Compaq and Ashton Digital...which would you suggest? By the way, I really want a DVD drive, but other than that I don't really care...
I'm not a big fan of Intel in general, but I don't know much about their mobile products.
Any input would be helpful!
Read other 9 answers
I found an Asus 650VT on Craigslist for $500. This is by far the best deal I've seen on CL lately. I'm going to suck it up and buy last generation hardware - the newest lineup is sexy but the only hardware intensive thing I'll be doing is playing SC2 and compressing the occasional movie to watch on my phone.
This brings me to my question. What should I look for when I'm checking out the laptop before I buy it? I'm planning on running Memtest86+, and doing some stress tests to make sure the temperatures aren't insane, as well as entering BIOS and confirming that nothing is overclocked (not that it wouldn't be easy to clock back to factory settings before showing the laptop off). Is there anything else I should check for? Are there hard drive diagnostic tools?
Get one that has the install/reinstall/restore disk as part of the package... Sometimes they will throw in an older hard drive than the one that came with the machine... Find out what hard drive is installed... and avoid it if the drive is not a Western Digital, Seagate, or Fujitsu... If a solid state drive, avoid it.
Were it my choice, I would buy one from a regular store... there will be lots of sales now that school is out... and they will offer a warranty... Sometimes even a 30 or 90 warranty is all you need to make the computer as good as new.
I would think of that ASUS 650VT at $500 to be a price too high.
I'm really interested in buying a new laptop. I hate Windows Vista very much, so I would like it to have Windows XP on it. I can't seem to find any sites where I can customize laptops to have Windows XP on them though. So, could anyone provide me some links to customizable laptops that have an option to come with Windows XP instead of Windows Vista?
Thanks in advance
Hi and Welcome to TSG,
Where in the world are you? That'll affect where/who you buy from and who here at TSG can point you in the right direction.
.... in the UK.
Hey guys, I'm not exactly sure where to post this question so I'm sorry if I picked the wrong board. I am going to be buying a new laptop after finding out that it would be pretty expensive to upgrade my current one as it has a soldered motherboard. I'm willing to pay a pretty penny for a new one, but I want to make sure I'm doing so wisely. I definitely want to stick with an HP laptop, but I was wondering which one to get. I've read that the 6th generation intel i7 core processor isn't that significantly different to the 7th generation, so if I could get a 6th that would decrease how much I'm spending. I've also read up on hard drives versus solid state drives and the efficiency of both, as well as intel's HD Graphics cards versus NVIDIA graphics cards. Essentially what I'm asking is what should I be paying attention to and be willing to spend a little extra for because it will greatly improve the performance of the laptop. I use my laptop for school work but I also like to play Sims on it which has been ridiculously slow and laggy on my current laptop with an i3 processor. Thanks for any information you can give me.
Hi, Please read the following articles first: http://www.laptopmag.com/t/laptops http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/laptop-buying-guide http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/laptops/best-laptops-1304361 After that you can see bangs for bugs and make decision. Regards.Read other 2 answers


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18320 W Woodland Terrace
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Jezebel inbox receives all sorts of interesting messages, from helpful tips to furious gibberish. Often, the missives strike us as poetic - in the chaos of the mailbag, we can find a sense of peace. As such, we have taken it upon ourselves to let some messages grow into the poetry they are meant to be. And we will do so by presenting them, word-for-word, as Haikus. In today's installment, one of the many emails we received in response to a post entitled, "Racist Hunger Games Fans Are Very Disappointed."
Date: March 26, 2012 9:31:59 PM EDT
Subject: You're a black person
Why are people like
you always purposely look
ing for things online
to cause fights? It's the
media and it's journal
ists like you that put
people against each
other. I'm going to have one
of my friends do a
blog about YOU and
your post. Don't you have better
things to do? Why did
n't you search what pe
ople say about Hispanic
people or White peo
ple and post that? Of
course not because you're black and
you decided that
only discrimin
ation against blacks matter -
so inherently
you're a racist as
well [Insert eleven dumbass syllables here.]
Image via Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock.


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For most PGA golfers, playing in the Masters is their chance at the spotlight. For Tiger Woods, it's a chance to escape it.
The former champion attempted Monday in a much-anticipated press conference to begin shedding the sordid sexual scandal that's followed him since last Thanksgiving, when a now-infamous car crash began to unravel a tale of deceit and adultery that landed him in rehab and on countless tabloid covers.
Woods opened his Masters debut in the packed presser, where he apologized to anyone and everyone in the golf community, pledged to play a calm, collected Masters game, and dished -- albeit briefly -- about his 45-day spin in rehab, though he wouldn't admit what he'd been treated for.
The golfer also admitted wife Elin wouldn't be showing her face at the tournament, answering a reporter in one of the tensest moments of the afternoon to say his former golf groupie, once by his side through every hole, wouldn't be here for this one.
Now that Woods has laid out his Masters plan -- to go it alone, play to win, and keep it cool -- experts remain divided over how Tiger's strategy will play on the course and whether his majorly hyped presser earned a double-bogey or a hole-in-one.
"I have to say that this time, Tiger scores an A-plus," Levick Strategic Communications senior vice president Gene Grabowski said after Woods' meeting with the media.
"This may be the best appearance of Tiger's career," said Grabowski, whose Washington, D.C. firm has also worked with athletes like scandal-plagued Roger Clemens.
The golfer earned points for appearing "natural" and not "controlling" as in past spins with members of the media, Grabowski said -- but also admitted Woods lost some credibility for being vague in the presser about details of his car accident, his mistresses, and his stint in rehab.
"He needs a better answer. He needs an answer that closes the door" on issues like his Ambien use and adultery, said Grabowski, the head of Levick's crisis and litigation committee.
Crisis management specialist Mike Paul, however, said Woods sunk big-time in the presser, missing choice opportunities to clear the air on what Paul called his "three Achilles' heels: the drug doctor, the case he thinks he closed that could easily be reopened...and the other women who want their 15 minutes of fame."
"He should've taken the opportunity before he played golf to focus on the crisis itself, which deals with his family," Paul said after Woods' appearance.
"He continues to say the treatment is private. He continues to say that his family is private. Then why is he wasting our time having a press conference?" said Paul, the president of MGP and Associates Public Relations. "He was there for a half hour and we still have no idea what he was in treatment for."
Paul also said that Elin's decision not to show up means she's no closer to forgiving Tiger than she has been in the past.
"For him to feel comfortable enough to share with us that she is definitely not coming didn't even leave room for her to change her mind," Paul said.
"The translation of that message is that she is upset about him coming back early to play golf. She doesn't want anything to do with it," said Paul, the "Reputation Doctor" who specializes in crisis management and has counseled clients from New York Jets player Mark Gastineau to companies like Merrill Lynch.
Grabowski, however, said Woods can benefit from Elin not being at the tournament -- and refocus the attention of fans and the media back on the golf game.
"I've said all along it's better not to have Elin there. In my experience, it's better to focus on golf and not make Elin part of this story," Grabowski said.
Although Woods was vague -- and wife Elin will be a no-show -- Woods earns points for his decision to tone down his emotions on the green, said management expert Michael W. Robinson, who argues the Masters is Woods' chance to paint himself as a redeemed golfer -- and man -- willing to temper his notorious attitude.
"Every inch of this guy will be under a microscope," said Robinson, a senior vice president at Levick Strategic Communications who works with Grabowski. "Tiger needs a mulligan."
But to get that mulligan, Robinson said Woods has to be "quietly contrite," cutting back on his signature fist-pumps and angry shouts into the stands, both signs of the "Tiger of youth": the Tiger that stepped out on wife Elin Nordegren with multiple mistresses.
"He has to show a new level of maturity, on the course and off," said Robinson who felt Woods aced the press conference. "He has to proove he's a changed man."
In other words, Woods' days of yore are dead in the golf-course pond.
"He needs to be more Jack Nicklaus and less Happy Gilmore," Robinson said. "A more mature golfer."
More than anything, Woods must continue appear "joyful" to be back on the Tour if he wants to repair his broken image, Grabowski said.
"Even if he finishes first, I think he has to express gratitude for the fans, gratitude for his supporters who have stood by him, and say, 'where I finished today on the leaderboard is not nearly as important as where I finished in your hearts,'" Grabowski said.
If Woods continues the positivity, Grabowski said the golfer stands a chance at being welcomed back by his PGA pals -- and by the public.
"I think if he can show the joy, we can all join with him in that," Grabowski said. "One can never underestimate the willingness of the American people to forgive."
Woods will tee off Thursday, April 8 live on ESPN.


text:
Subscribe To Blood Ties, Starring Clive Owen And Billy Crudup, Gets Picked Up By Lionsgate Updates
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Though he has won much acclaim—including a Cesar for Best Director—in his own country, actor/writer-director Guillaume Canet has yet to breakthrough Stateside. That could change with some surprising news out Cannes. Variety reports Lionsgate has snagged the U.S. distribution rights to the helmer's first English-language effort Blood Ties just ahead of its world premiere at the prestigious festival. Reportedly, the corporation paid more than $2 million for the right to distribute the crime drama domestically. Considering this is the highest price paid for US distribution rights so far at this year's festivities, it suggests Lionsgate has high hopes for Blood Ties' commercial appeal.
Based on the novel by Bruno and Michel Papet, Blood Ties centers on two brothers, Chris and Frank Pierzynski. Living in 1970s Brooklyn, the pair take very different paths in life. Chris becomes a cop, while Frank falls into a life of crime. But as the NYPD puts pressure on organized crime, these estranged siblings are forced to face off.
Clive Owen and Billy Crudup (pictured above) front the film as the brawling brothers; James Caan, The Dark Knight Rises' Marion Cotillard, The Wire's Domenick Lombardozzi, Star Trek Into Darkness' Zoe Saldana, The Conjuring's Lili Taylor, and Jupiter Ascending's Mila Kunis co-star.
It's premise sounds promising, and Canet's celebrated 2006 crime drama Tell No One suggests he's well suited for the material. But the most obvious draw here is a cast stacked with attractive stars with international appeal. Basically, buying this one seems like a no-brainer.
Blood Ties will debut out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 28th. It's unknown at this time where Lionsgate is planning to place the crime drama in their release schedule.


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Making money off porn is easy, as long as you work hard and pay attention to the little things that really matter.
It all started when I was working as a tech support for a computer company back in 1996, and I decided to take a smoke break with a guy I barely knew. He told me how he setup the backend billing for a friend creating adult websites. I started playing around designing WebPages before that conversation, and when I heard about the money he made, I knew I had to give it a try. So I signed up with a couple of good affiliates sites and started building traffic.
I remember vividly the day a search engine ranked me #1 for "cum facials" (Alta Vista) and #2 for "Bukkake" (Excite). I checked my signups that cold morning and saw 16 for that day. Then I realized that all those people would be re-billed again the following month. Sitting on the toilet (It didn't feel that cold at all); I just knew my life would never be the same.
10-12 months later I was making $36,000 US dollars a month. Needles to say I quit my tech job and it's allowed me to live out my dreams.
I've probably sat down and taught maybe 6 people who wanted to make their living selling porn. 3 of those people are making decent money and 2 of those make close to what I am making. So I figure about 80% of you have a real shot at making decent money at this. TOP
Do you want know what the real secret is? Work your ass off for a year or two and don't give up. If you don't waste your time but instead, work on the things that really make a difference, it will pay off in the long run. Those that failed usually got a few signups and stopped working, or were lazy, or didn't focus on the important things. TOP
Sell the BEST niche sites you can find. I've heard lots of people say traffic to your sites is king, but if what you're selling them isn't appealing, they're gone.
A surfer who takes out their credit card once will generally sign up at multiple similar sites over their lifetime. High quality exclusive movie sites that specialize in a particular niche and update daily are the most sought after. You will probably only want to signup with a few affiliates at first, the ones you know that make money.
If you get too broad and try promoting "teens", or "big tits" you will find the competition tough. It's best to specialize and find a few partners that are really good at keeping members a long time. Sites that simply look good on the outside don't cut it, they have to deliver in the members area and keep them rebilling. TOP
Quality Traffic and lots of it is crucial. Obviously once you have a tour that sells, then more targeted traffic equals more money. There's no reason the sites you pick shouldn't convert at least 1 out of 1000 surfers. We've seen partners converting 1 in 100 regularly but they're usually excellent at the art of ranking high in the big 3 search engines; Google, MSN and Yahoo. TOP
Re-bills are the real King and if the tours and members area are truly excellent, you can assume half the customers who signup will generally stay 3-6 months. The power of recurring billing (re-bills) is truly amazing. TOP
Search Engine feeder sites or gateway pages should be a large part of your marketing efforts. Writing in your webpage might get you listed but remember it's the content or images you display that are going to sell it. Once they hit your webpage, their eyes will always scan your images first and then move to your text.
Here comes the work part: Original natural writing and not copying or plagiarizing is the absolute best thing you can do. Figuring out an engines specific algorithm is tough and it's always changing over time.
There are some great programs out there that can generate gateway or doorway pages to drive traffic to your site. It creates the page, sitemap and the site template for you but do your best to plug in original text. If you're an affiliate with us, we'll be happy to share a couple of programs we use.
I have always taken a shotgun approach and tailor some feeder sites specifically for a Search Engine while we try different things with Google who ranks primarily on link popularity along with the other basics.
Try to target keywords and phrases that are not so competitive. Most of the really serious porn surfers will use 2 or 3 words to find what they're looking for. Use those words in the domain name, html file names, and movie names but don't go overboard. The writing should come out naturally. If you're creating a TGP or MGP, include some original writing. Don't forget to learn what Meta tags are (Title, keywords, and description) but most importantly, do not spam and get blacklisted.
Getting a top listing in Google is a bitch in this day and age, I'll admit. Yahoo and MSN are easy, in my opinion, but overall it's an art and is always changing. I could write a novel on what to do so if you're an affiliate and want to use some of our resources contact us and we'll make them available. TOP
Concentrate on the content
Don't give away too much; selling porn is the art of teasing and leaving the surfer wanting more. Show them you've got the goods and lots of it but don't let them "get off" before they hit the join page. TOP
Stop worrying about bandwidth and hosting costs, it will only hold you back. If you're wasting 1,000 gigs in bandwidth a month and not making any money you're doing something wrong. TOP
Promote a niche you're generally interested in. If you like the content, you're in a better position to sell it. However, if it's a program that obviously sells, don't be afraid to get your feet wet. TOP
Always use unique or individual IP's when registering new domains; it's just safer with search engines. Sharing IP's with someone who has been blacklisted in Google already is only shooting yourself in the foot. TOP
TGP's, MGP's and CJ's (Circle Jerks) are all good promotional tools. Find a good script and use it to promote your affiliates hosted galleries. We are a trusted partner and submit hosted galleries to several large MGP sites weekly. TOP
Trade traffic with people promoting a similar niche, it can help boost your search engine listings, especially with Google who primarily uses link popularity. TOP
Webmasters Guide
Rabbits Reviews
Tylers Porn Reviews
Webmaster Vault
Bdsm Porn Reviews
Porn Site Reviews
Sex Herald
BDSM Fetish Porn
SignupSluts Porn
WebPages look best using 3 consistent colors and similar fonts. Always optimize for 800x600 and generally make sure your pages load fast. Get the surfer to see what you're selling as fast as possible. That's what they're really interested in! Complicated backgrounds, table graphics, and huge flash animations don't get you much in the long run. TOP
So what are you waiting for, open up an html editor and get to work! If there's anything you'd like to discuss, feel free to contact me and start making serious money now. Join Now!


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US Judge: Baidu's Decision To Block Certain Sites Is Protected By The First Amendment
from the of-course-it-is deptWe were bothered a few years ago to see the usually insightful Tim Wu suddenly arguing that search engine results had no First Amendment protections. The idea seemed ludicrous. Search engine results are opinions from that search engine about what is the most appropriate response to a query. It is clearly a form of speech and thus should be protected. The specific question, however, has barely been tested in court. However, a new ruling makes it quite clear that search engine results are protected by the First Amendment. Of course, it's in a case where this may feel somewhat ironic: some activists had sued Chinese search engine Baidu for refusing to show results pointing to their own pro-Chinese democracy writings. They argued that this violated New York's "public accommodations law."
And while it may seem funny to think that a website that is clearly trying to block access to certain content is standing up for the First Amendment, the ruling gets it exactly right, in noting that search engines have every right, under the First Amendment, to make editorial decisions about what to include and what not to include:
In short, Plaintiffs' efforts to hold Baidu accountable in a court of law for its editorial judgments about what political ideas to promote cannot be squared with the First Amendment. There is no irony in holding that Baidu's alleged decision to disfavor speech concerning democracy is itself protected by the democratic ideal of free speech. As the Supreme Court has explained, "[t]he First Amendment does not guarantee that . . . concepts virtually sacred to our Nation as a whole . . . will go unquestioned in the marketplace of ideas." Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 418 (1989). For that reason, the First Amendment protects Baidu's right to advocate for systems of government other than democracy (in China or elsewhere) just as surely as it protects Plaintiffs' rights to advocate for democracy. Indeed, "[i]f there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." Id. at 414 (citing cases). Thus, the Court's decision — that Baidu's choice not to feature "pro-democracy political speech" is protected by the First Amendment — is itself "a reaffirmation of the principles of freedom and inclusiveness that [democracy] best reflects, and of the conviction that our toleration of criticism . . . is a sign and source of our strength."My first thought on hearing about the case was that there clearly should be no issue here at all, since Baidu is a private corporation, not a government actor. But the real issue is over NY's public accommodations law -- and whether or not that compels Baidu to "speak" in a certain way by changing its algorithms and results. It's that point that the judge is making. The public accommodations law cannot be used to compel speech in this manner, which leads him to properly note that Baidu's choices are a form of protected expression.
The judge highlights a number of similarly applicable cases, first comparing Baidu to a newspaper, in which editorial decisions are considered protected speech. Then it compares it more directly to a different, though in some ways similar, case -- Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Group of Boston, in which the courts said that private parade organizers can't be forced to include groups they disagree with:
The question in Hurley was whether Massachusetts could "require private citizens who organize a parade to include among the marchers a group imparting a message the organizers do not wish to convey." Id. at 559. The Court held that allowing the state to do so would "violate[] the fundamental rule of protection under the First Amendment, that a speaker has the autonomy to choose the content of his own message." Id. at 573; see also, e.g., Pac. Gas & Elec. Co. v. Pub. Util. Comm'n of Cal., 475 U.S. 1 (1986) (plurality opinion) (relying on Tornillo to invalidate a rule requiring a privately owned utility to include with its bills an editorial newsletter published by a consumer group critical of the utility's ratemaking practices). "'Since all speech inherently involves choices of what to say and what to leave unsaid,'" the Court explained, "one important manifestation of the principle of free speech is that one who chooses to speak may also decide 'what not to say.'" Hurley, 515 U.S. at 573 (quoting Pac. Gas & Elec. Co., 475 U.S. at 11, 16 (plurality opinion)). Notably, the Court found that principle applied even though the parade organizers did not themselves create the floats and other displays that formed the parade and were "rather lenient in admitting participants." Id. at 569. "[A] private speaker," the Court stated, "does not forfeit constitutional protection simply by combining multifarious voices, or by failing to edit their themes to isolate an exact message as the exclusive subject matter of the speech. Nor . . . does First Amendment protection require a speaker to generate, as an original matter, each item featured in the communication."In both of these cases, I would personally disagree with the choices made. I think it's awful that a Chinese search engine regularly attempts to block access to pro-democracy writings and I equally think it's ridiculous that various St. Patrick's Day parades actively seek to block gay, lesbian and bisexual groups from participating. Yet, in both cases, as private organizations, they have the right to decide what to include and not include. Just as everyone who finds those decisions despicable has the right to speak out against them.
This ruling may feel ironic in that it appears to further the cause of Chinese government censorship in the name of the First Amendment, but as Judge Jesse Furman notes, there's really nothing ironic at all in protecting the right of private parties to make their own editorial decisions, no matter how offensive they might seem.
Filed Under: blocking, chinese democracy, editorial choices, first amendment, free speech, search engines
Companies: baidu


text: Jack Chen, M.D. on Health Matters Jack Chen, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon, explores the latest advancements in back surgery. More Orthopedics Videos Tour our orthopedics unit Tour our orthopedics unit Dr. Smith Background for Dr. Smith Osteoarthritis featuring Julio Talesnik, M.D. Because we are driven by What If.... At. St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, we are driven by What If? Surgical Alternatives in Treating Arthritis featuring Ayaz Biviji, M.D.


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Posted by Dr Rick Hanson at July 5 2018, 2:25pm
Dr Rick Hanson is a clinical psychologist who regularly responds to reader questions (like this one) about work, life and family. Find Rick on Facebook or via his blog.
One of my readers recently asked the question;
"We've got a two-year-old and a four-year-old and I love them to pieces, but they're always getting into things or having tantrums or squabbling with each other or getting sick or throwing a ruckus when my husband and I are trying to talk to each other. Or all the above! It's probably normal, but it's a chaotic swirl day to day that I can't seem to see a clear way out of ..."
Well, you're not alone!
Like you and millions of other parents, we got caught in the same swirl when our kids were little, and it's hard to figure out which parts are normal kid stuff, or discipline issues, or child temperament, or parental stress overload, or couple's issues - or something else! We learned that it really helps to have a simple plan you can keep returning to - like having a lighthouse to guide your family out of life's whirlpools and riptides and fog. Obviously, the plan changes depending on the age of the child, so adjust it to your situation, but here are the ten headlines:
1. Give tons of nurturance to your children
In the press of daily life, it's all too easy to get caught up in moving kids along from place to place and task to task. It's worth asking: How many minutes a day do my children get my undivided and nurturing attention - or my mate's? By giving our kids a little extra, that often settles them down, defuses sibling rivalries, and makes them more cooperative. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
2. Encourage your kids to let the good feelings sink in
Even with a toddler, you can help a child slow down, take a breath, and let a sweet moment sink in. That will help build up resources inside that the child can draw on in the future to soothe or calm herself, exercise age-appropriate self-control, and tolerate better reasonable separations from her parents. And it will help balance the brain's tendency to over-emphasise negative experiences and skim over positive ones.
3. Teach positive values
In age-appropriate ways, model and talk about good character with your kids. For example, comment on what other people do (in real life or on TV or in stories), read books that support various virtues, expose children to spiritual or moral teachings, or explain the reasons why you're giving a child a consequence.
4. Optimise your child's physiology
Most kids' mood and ability to control themselves - and mind their mother! - is quite affected by their physical wellbeing. Make sure they get lots of sleep and protein with every meal. We've seen behavior problems diminish or even go away entirely after a child started taking vitamin/mineral supplements. All kids benefit from reasonable amounts of essential fatty acids - typically in fish oil (get a good brand that is "molecularly distilled" for purity) - but especially those children who tend to be inflexible, resist transitions, etc. Keep an eye out for potential allergies or food sensitivities: the signs often include a chronic runny nose, dark circles under the eyes, or digestive problems (like frequent tummyaches or diarrhea).
If your child has an anxious/rigid or spirited temperament, these guidelines are especially important. Sometimes it helps to work with a licensed health care practitioner (in addition to your pediatrician) who is knowledgeable about complementary medicine with children.
5. Have a reasonably structured home life
Lots of child misbehaviors are the result of too much 'wiggliness' from day to day. Consistent routines - with some room for variation and occasionally declaring the day Wacky Wednesday! - help kids feel secure and less stressed.
6. Remember that you're the boss
Parents have to be the ultimate authority in the home, and comfortable in a vertical relationship with children in which the adult is definitely the one on top. This needs to be Rule number one in your home.
7. Have clear expectations for your kids' behavior, and consistent consequences
You need both rewards and penalties for their behavior. If there is any question what the "house rules" for your home are, write out them out. They're usually pretty obvious, like do what mom and dad say, no hitting, no screaming, no put-downs, pick up your stuff, and help out when we ask you.Think ahead about the consequences for both good behavior and bad. Ideally, they should be given to a child both consistently and as soon as possible after the behavior.
As a general principle, it's best to emphasise rewards (like smiles, praise, extra hugs or stories, stickers that convert to little toys, etc.). Reasonable negative consequences include frowns, glares, scolding, brief time outs (if a child will accept them), and the loss of rewards (like no dessert at dinner). Our personal opinion is that it's best to avoid corporal punishment, since there's always an alternative punishment, and hitting kids is especially frightening and upsetting to them (and often, their parents . . .).
If a child past the age of 20 months or so keeps doing a particular misbehavior, you've got to do more than correct it and direct the child toward better behavior. You have to give a reasonable consequence for the misbehavior in the first place. Otherwise, for the child it's like pulling a slot machine handle: sometimes there's a payoff and there's never any cost to pulling, so why not just keep yanking on it?! And don't let a child punish you for trying to punish him. Go back to Rule number one just above!
8. Be on the same page with your partner
Minor differences in parental style are actually good for kids because they prepare them for the different teachers, coaches, and ultimately, bosses, they will encounter in life. But big disagreements - whether it's how long to let a baby cry before you pick her up or how polite a 6-year-old should be - confuse kids and create conflicts between their parents. If this is an issue for you and your partner, try to talk about the underlying values or family experiences you had yourselves as children that lead to strong feelings about childrearing practices; this will help you understand each other better and take things less personally. Try to pin down your differences to concrete details - like "You want to send him to his room for half an hour but I think ten minutes is enough" - and then negotiate compromises with each other about those details.
9. Do the basics to improve your own health and wellbeing
Of all the factors that help children turn out to be happy and productive members of society, the one that usually has the most influence of all is their parents' well-being and level of personal functioning. For example, it's a lot harder to stay patient if you're getting mentally frazzled or physically depleted. Plus, everyday hassles with children will wear on you a lot harder.
So take an inventory of where you stand with these basic wellness practices: Are you eating three healthy meals a day, each with a solid serving of protein, and minimizing sugar, white flour, artificial ingredients, and unhealthy fats? Are you taking a good vitamin supplement, plus additional calcium and essential fatty acids? Are you exercising three to four times a week? Are you getting any time to yourself? Do you routinely engage in some sort of personal practice that feeds your inner being, like playing music, doing a craft, meditating, reading inspirational literature, dancing, or yoga? Do you spend time each week with supportive friends? If you have any significant issues with your physical or mental health, are you addressing them successfully? Based on your answers, write down a little plan for yourself for what you commit to doing differently from now on. Putting it in writing will give it more impact!
10. When you're with the kids, keep the needle of your personal stress metre out of the red zone
Do little things throughout your day to de-frazzle yourself, like taking a big breath, washing your face, making a cup of tea, or just looking at the play of sunlight outside. Remember that your child is just trying to get what she wants, she's too young to have the mental capacity to deliberately manipulate you, and that she's not trying to do it to you personally. Remember that she's suffering, too, when she's misbehaving. Think about the big picture, and relax as much as you can. Remember that time is on your side, that most kids behave better as they get older - and that when they finally leave home, you'll miss even the hard parts of raising children!
This post was originally published on Rick Hanson.net.
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Helping our children understand and regulate their emotions is one of the most important things we can do as parents. But it's not always easy when they've just thrown tomato…
There's no such thing as 'bad habits' with a newborn
New parents, listen up!
Mummy and Daddy, this is what I want you to know when I'm sick
Don't you wish they had the words to explain what they are feeling?
Move over hangry - parents are 'slangry'. Science says so.
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Feels... Parenting your first baby versus your third baby
Parents of three will definitely relate!
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There is no "right" way to breastfeed - and these cultural differences prove it.
Oh, that's right, I have a name that's not "Leon and Sam's mum"
Do you often introduce yourself like this? You need to read this.


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New Resource from NIJ and
PoliceArmor.org offers information on how to select, purchase, wear, and care for body armor.
On this page, learn about:
Age is not the only factor that affects degradation of body armor. Wear and tear from normal use can also contribute to deterioration. All armor on the compliant product list must have a declared ballistic warranty period (it is up to the manufacturer to determine that period based on its test date). NIJ has taken various actions to address related issues, including:
Some substances, such as dry cleaning solvents, harsh detergents, bleach and accumulated soap residue, can damage body armor and reduce its effectiveness. Improper storage also can degrade performance. For example, storing body armor on a hanger, rather than letting the vest lie flat, can reduce the armor's effectiveness. NIJ requires that all compliant armor models include care instructions.
Law enforcement officers also should perform visual inspections to ensure that covers and armor materials are not ripped, worn through or damaged.
In 2009, NIJ funded the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to conduct a national survey of police officers.[1] Among other things, the survey examined what officers knew about caring for and maintaining their body armor. The survey revealed that while most officers are knowledgeable about many body armor care and maintenance practices, a substantial number do not understand certain aspects of recommended practices or do not adhere to the practices they do understand. The researchers recommended additional training and education on body armor care and maintenance.
Learn more:
[note 1] Grant, H., B. Kubu, B. Taylor, J. Roberts, M. Collins, D. J. Woods.
Body Armor Use, Care, and Performance in Real World Conditions: Findings from a National Survey. November 2012, NCJ 240222.
National Institute of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531


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The big event in Los Angeles has come and gone, and the world now knows that Microsoft is indeed throwing its hat into the ring with the Surface tablet. Geek.com has already provided a look at what you can expect from both the Surface for Windows RT and Surface Pro (x86) models… and now it's time for some early comparisons.
How does the entry-level Surface stack up against the competition? Let's look at it side-by-side-by-side with the new iPad and Amazon's Kindle Fire:
There are a few key unknowns, of course. Microsoft has yet to announce specifics about the processor (such as the number of cores and clock speed) and the resolution of the display, and we also don't know how much the Surface tablets will cost. Those who got to spend a little hands-on time with the devices said they found the display to be "gorgeous" and pegged it at 1366×768 — which at 10.4 inches equates to a PPI of about 150. The new iPad pushes 264 PPI, but if the Surface display looks as great as members of the press said it does, the general public probably won't consider this difference a shortcoming.
On the pricing front, all we know is that Microsoft said that the Surface would be comparable to other ARM tablets (or Ultrabooks, in the case of the Pro model). It's very likely, then, that the Surface for Windows RT will sell at or below the price of the iPad.
Another unknown is just how many Windows RT apps will be available in the Windows Store come launch day. We know for sure that certain big-name apps and games will be on offer — like Evernote, Netflix, Kobo, and Cut The Rope. The number won't come anywhere near the App Store's total inventory, and it's likely that Amazon will have more to offer, too. But if the average user can find the key apps they expect to find, this shortfall won't matter much either.
While the Microsoft Surface event lived up to the hype and answered a number of questions, there's still a long way to go before we'll know exactly how Microsoft's device measures up. October's not far off, however, so you won't have to wait too long to find out.


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FAMILY Husband: Christopher Voshell; Son: Greyson
EDUCATION Undergraduate degree from Wesley College; masters degree from Wilmington University
Courtney Voshell, Dover High School's assistant principal, began her teaching career Dover High school in 2003. She left for two years in 2005 to teach in Georgia, but later returned to Dover High School. Since returning, Voshell has left the classroom and moved into an administrative role as the assistant principal. The Dover Post caught up with Voshell to discuss her nomination for National Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year.
Q How does it feel to be nominated as Delaware's applicant?
A It is an extreme honor to represent Delaware and, most importantly, the Capital School District, as this has been my home since I was in high school. The improvements seen in student achievement at the high school are because of the hard work of our students and teachers and I am just proud to work with them every day.
Q Why did you get into education?
A I had teachers that inspired me throughout my school years, who encouraged me to not only be a great student but also be a positive leader among my peers. Education is a very powerful and important career, and we need the best people serving our students. I strive to be one of the best every day.
Q Why do you love your job?
A I knew before Pre-kindergarten that I wanted to teach. There is nothing more rewarding – or tiring – than what we do every day. There isn't one thing specifically that makes me love my job, but to watch students enter as kids in the ninth grade and graduate as adults is an amazing feeling. As an administrator I also love being able to work with the teachers in the building and other administrators within the district and state. Every day I am learning something new from them and that is what keeps me inspired.
Q What was the process like that you had to go through to become the state's nominee for assistant principal of the year?
A I was nominated by a district supervisor, Dr. Darren Guido, as well as my current principal, Dr. Evelyn Edney. The application required a six page reflective essay that showed how I helped to invoke student improvement using the Breaking Ranks framework. The application required data to support my essay as well as four letters of reference.
Q What happens now that you are the state's nominee for nationals?
A The National Association of Secondary School Principals will review all nominees and will select three finalists to interview in February at the National Principals Convention. All state nominees will go to D.C. in April and the winner will be announced.
Q What do you think your being nominated does for the high school and for the district?
A I hope it shines a huge light on the teachers that have worked so hard to help Dover High be where it is today and I hope it shows the amazing talented students we have within the walls of our school that do not always get the recognition they deserve.
Q Do you have any specific future plans for yourself or for the high school?
A Our immediate plans entail the big move into our new building, and I am so thrilled to be a part of this legacy. While it is bittersweet leaving the halls that I once walked as a student, I am so excited at the opportunities our students will have in the state of the art building we will be living in.


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The wait to see rookie defenseman Danny DeKeyser in a game with the Detroit Red Wings continues.
Wings coach Mike Babcock decided his only lineup change along the blue line for Thursday night's game against the Phoenix Coyotes was inserting Brian Lashoff for Ian White.
'It's interesting with Danny here, we have so few practices to get him up to speed to where we want,' Babcock said. 'We sure like what we see. We've just got to have enough courage to fire him in and get on with it. Originally it was going to be (Thursday), it's not.'
DeKeyser completely understands Babcock's decision.
'I've been off for two weeks or so without a game, so (they're) just trying to make sure that I'm conditioned enough and not going to get tired and stuff like that. So, I just want to be ready.
'I never know until the day of (if I'm playing),' DeKeyser added. 'So I'm just preparing myself to be ready to go whenever it is. It's a little tough (waiting), I'm anxious to go, but whenever it comes I'll be ready.'
DeKeyser agreed that getting up to 'NHL speed' is kind of like cramming for an exam.
'A little bit,' DeKeyser said. 'A lot of the system stuff here is kind of similar to what I had at Western (Michigan). It's not much different.'
DeKeyser, a De La Salle graduate, agreed on Friday to a two-year, entry-level deal to join the Wings.
'All the guys here have been really good,' DeKeyser said. 'I was a little nervous the first day when I stepped into the locker room. But everyone has made me feel really comfortable so it's a good thing.'
He said it took a few practices before his nerves were finally gone.
'Once you get out there, skate around with a few practices, guys joke around with you a little bit,' DeKeyser said. 'That makes you feel a little more comfortable, kind of gets the nerves out.'
DeKeyser, 23, was one of the NHL's most sought-after free agents last year before deciding to stay at WMU.
That again was the case this year where DeKeyser's representatives met with a number of teams over last week, including Toronto, Anaheim, St. Louis, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Ottawa and Nashville.
The Wings said all along the only way DeKeyser will get in the lineup is if he's ready.
'Certainly Danny understands we're fighting for a playoff spot and we're not holding tryouts,' Wings general manager Ken Holland said on Friday. 'It's a competition. We need wins. We're not putting people out there in position where they're quite not prepared for the opportunity.'
But that hasn't stopped his family with bombarding him with questions as to when he'll get in the lineup.
'My family asks me every day, so it's the same thing I tell you guys, whenever my name's up there is when I'll be in,' DeKeyser said. 'I definitely understand it's tough (call). Just a few points separate everybody. The standings change every night. It's a heated race in both conferences, so it's a tough situation and I understand that.'
In three seasons at WMU, DeKeyser, who was undrafted, appeared in 118 games and had 12 goals, 37 assists and 107 penalty minutes.
'I've been feeling good the last few days and I'm ready to go,' DeKeyser said.
DeKeyser might night play Friday in Colorado either, unless Babcock decides to make two changes along the blue line since he's already said Kyle Quincey will play against the Avalanche.
'I had this theory all mapped out, it's not the same,' Babcock said when asked how he was going to handle the ice time for the overabundance of healthy defensemen now. 'It's day-to-day. I'm just going to play who I think is going to help us play that night.'
A different injury for Sammy Forward Mikael Samuelsson couldn't even last a game since returning from a broken left index finger before suffering another setback.
'It's a different injury,' Samuelsson said. 'I'm falling apart. Not lucky at all. I bruised my (left pectoral) muscle.'
Samuelsson said he was injured along the boards on Sunday against Chicago when he was going in for a loose puck with Michal Roszival.
'It's day-to-day,' Samuelsson said. 'I thought maybe (I'd) play (Thursday) but that's not going to happen.
'I'm OK when I have the puck in front of me but once I got back here I can't do that,' Samuelsson added. 'It's a little frustrating. But, at the same time, what can you do. I thought it was over. It's not a very common injury. It shouldn't happen but it did.'
Send comments to email@example.com and visit his blog at redwingsfront.wordpress.com


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I love to make homemade food gifts for the holidays. Last year I made some delicious Christmas Spice Tea Mix. I gave it as gifts to my co-workers, and they all loved it. This year, I am making this Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix. The mix tastes great. It has the perfect kiss of peppermint in every sip. I gave some away at Thanksgiving. Everyone gave it two thumbs up.
I bought the jars at World Market for $1.50 each. I crushed the candy canes in the food processor until they were turned into candy cane dust. I just mixed the crushed candy canes with the rest of the ingredients and poured the mix into the jars. This makes about 5 1/2 cups of mix. To make hot chocolate, combine 1/3 cup of mix with 1 cup of hot water or milk.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix
(Printable Recipe)
- 6 oz candy canes, finely crushed in food processor
- 2 1/2 cups dry milk
- 1 cup dutch process cocoa (can use Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp corn starch
Mix together and pour in jars. To make hot chocolate, combine 1/3 cup mix with 1 cup hot water or milk.
To make hot chocolate: combine 1/3 cup of mix with 1 cup of hot water or milk.


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Latest media releases
Swiss industrial activity in full swing
Activity in the Swiss industrial sector is continuing to run at full speed. According to the latest UBS survey, business accelerated again in the second quarter and the optimistic mood remains intact for the months ahead.
The results of the quarterly UBS business survey of around 330 industrial companies in June confirm that the strong expansion continued through the second quarter of 2006. The companies responding to the survey estimate that momentum may have reached its peak, but their optimism for the third quarter is virtually undaunted.
UBS Business Cycle Indicator peaking
The strength of the economy is reflected in the UBS Business Cycle Indicator, which is calculated from the quarterly survey data and gives a very reliable signal as to Switzerland's near-term economic performance. As a trend barometer for gross domestic product (GDP) it is forecasting year-on-year growth of around 3.5% for the second and third quarters.
Marked surge in second quarter
Companies reported improvements - some of them quite marked - in all aspects covered by the UBS survey for the second quarter, and especially in production, export orders and order backlogs. Total sales grew apace, as in the previous quarter, whereas earnings, although better across the board, could not quite keep pace with volume growth.
Hiring requirements becoming more urgent
Utilization, at 88.7% of technical production capacity, is extremely high and prompted 33% of the companies polled to take on more staff in the second quarter. Only 21% were forced to reduce headcount. The resulting positive net figure of 12% of companies with growing headcounts could even increase further to 14% in the third quarter, to judge by respondents' statements.
Continuing confidence
For the third quarter firms expect business activity to continue strong but then gradually slacken off. Sales and order backlogs will expand at a faster pace, while production and orders should slow somewhat. The small to medium-sized businesses surveyed were marginally more cautious in their assessments than the larger companies.
UBS Business Cycle Indicator and GDP
(Year-on-year change in %)
Data (in %):
Alexander Kobler
Wealth Management Research
Tel. +41 44 234 59 43
Karin Schefer
Swiss Economic Research
Tel. +41 44 234 43 94


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Leighton Meester and Blake Lively Shoot Gossip Girl
Blake Lively and Leighton Meester Spend a Night on Set
Blake Lively and Leighton Meester Spend a Night on Set
A glammed-up Blake Lively and Leighton Meester were spotted yesterday evening on set. The actresses sported cocktail attire and extrahigh platform heels as they taped a scene for the final season of Gossip Girl, which begins airing on The CW in October. The cast got back to work on the show last month, and were joined by 7th Heaven alum Barry Watson during a recent day of shooting. The actor will be playing Blake's love interest this season. Off screen, Blake still appears to be going strong with Ryan Reynolds. The pair spent some of Blake's final days before returning to Gossip Girl vacationing with her family in New York state. Blake wore a bikini during one of their days spent lakeside, and both she and Ryan were seen spending some time with Blake's nieces and nephews during the getaway.


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RALEIGH (AP) � North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says he supports issuing distinctively marked drivers licenses to some illegal immigrants.McCrory told The Associated Press Monday he signed off on what he called the �pragmatic compromise� unveiled earlier this month by his transportation secretary to issue licenses to young adults in the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Obama administration initiative grants valid federal work permits to qualified applicants brought to the United States without legal authorization when they were children.
McCrory declined to say what he thought of the proposed design for the licenses, which includes a bright pink stripe and the words �NO LAWFUL STATUS� in bold. But McCrory said the licenses must be clearly marked to prevent the bearer from accessing government services or registering to vote.


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A couple performers in the Philadelphia area link up once a month and session at a local bar/restaurant in the suburbs. The sessions rarely have any primary focus; the performers simply come together and discuss and share whatever they like. Last night was particularly interesting as there was a strong focus on mentalism. I started talking about the use of billets and wanted to elaborate on some thoughts here. Hoping more experienced guys like Craig can contribute to the discussion as well.
In my opinion, the use of billets are often overlooked in contemporary performance. Over the past decade, the industry released several clever peek wallets, impression devices, and even electronic apps to help a performer secretly acquire information for use in mentalism. The low-tech, rudimentary presence and use of such billets--in my opinion-- outweigh a lot of the benefits that such 'advances' offer in terms of real-world practicality, pocket space, and versatility. I carry billets everywhere I go and often rely on them to perform for formal and causal audiences, alike.
Last night, I was asked how I justify the use of a billet-- or how I justify someone writing a thought down on paper. I did some reflection on the spot, and noticed... the way I personally present billet work doesn't require justification at all. I simply tell a person to write down the name of a close relative that I obviously would never know; the more unique a name, the better, to disqualify any chances of mere guesswork. Here's the thing... a participant shouldn't exactly know what to expect when they first write a name down on the paper. At that point, it's simply a request for them to do a task. Too often, I observe other performers have the spectator think of the name/information FIRST... commit that name/information to memory... and THEN have the individual write the name down. In my opinion, if the participant knows you're a supposed thought-reader, the last thing you want them focus on a thought before they write it down. It's subtle, but I think it's very important. It makes no sense for them to think of something first, expect you to read their minds, only to have them write the information down. That's where you'll see the majority of spectators grow skeptical and resistant to your performance. On the other hand-- if you just hand them the paper and tell them to write down a name... they're completing a task rather than making a thought. They have no context to make any assumptions. They can't tell what you're about to do because you haven't given any inclination. Even if they know you're a thought-reader... at this point, the name isn't a thought to be revealed yet; it's simply a name written on paper. Hoping that makes sense.
I also found that effective billet work is nearly completely reliant on attitude. After the participant writes down the information and folds the billet in preparation for a peek or tear, it should appear to be the last thing on the performer's mind. I tell the participant to "just toss the paper aside" and solely focus on the information. I interact with the participant a lot here and try to (a) develop some time misdirection between the reveal and the spectator writing the information down and (b) legitimately attempt to read the participant. This is a great time to practice and grow proficient a cold reading. At the end, you're going to have a surefire personal revelation, so you can take your time here to branch off and attempt to explore the relationship between the participant and the information they wrote down. Try to turn misses into hits. Make it a two-way conversation and get the participant emotionally invested in what you're attempting to do. I find that some of the most memorable moments occur in this dialogue of the performance. For instance, at a recent Sweet 16 gig, I had a girl write down the name of her childhood best friend. After tossing the paper to the side the following exchange happened:
"Just toss the paper aside. We'll try this instead. Hold my hands; take a deep breath and relax. No one else is here but you and me. Drown out the party; drown out everyone watching... if we can both focus on one another, something amazing will happen that you'll remember for the rest of your life. I promise."
"Imagine this person standing before you right now. Take in what they looked like when you last spoke to them. Focus on their features and posture and mannerisms. ...Good. You're looking up. Noticing hair right now; I'm assuming this is a female figure, yes? A brunette girl..."
"YES! It's a girl, but she's not brunette..."
"But she does have her hair back in your imagination-- The important thing here is to focus more on your relationship with this person. You're close; almost like sisters-- but you're not related, that's right? And for some reason, it's been a while since you reached out to one another..."
"...Yeah." (I personally noticed she hesitated as if she was almost uncertain of something. I felt the need to explore it.)
"Wait... you did. Not too long ago; about a week... maybe two. Did she text you or did you text her?"
"No." (I noticed she smiled as if there was something I was 'on' about but not enough to be accurate)
"There's something here though. Don't give anything away. You did text someone... someone close to her. Was it her sister?"
"OH MY GOD, YES! Her sister texted me about a picture she found from a birthday they had!" (This was like a Godsend for me. They. Twins?
"Awesome! Now wait... there's something interesting about your friend and her sister. I might be totally offbase, but they're really close in age, right?"
"They're TWINS!"
"Wait, wait, wait... they're twins. But there's a difference between the two... Don't give me any names, but did one of them dye their hair?"
"OH MY GOD! YES! They didn't dye their hair, but they were identical twins except one was blonde and the other was brunette! That's just like what you said! How are you doing this?!"
That is a genuinely true story. Most people will say I just came out stupid lucky... I'd agree with that, but I wouldn't have gotten lucky if I didn't attempt to do a genuine read in the first place. It might sound static and too good to be true on paper, but in practice, as a performer, you get so much comprehensible input to work with. Hints in body language, facial expressions, verbal responses, all assist you in making choices in dialogue. And I did all that without touching the billet at all. In fact, that interaction played so well, I contemplated leaving it there and not even referring to the name again. I ultimately decided to execute a tear and leave the pieces with the participant as if I was finished. She ultimately asked me if I knew the name she was thinking about. When I answered, I whispered in her ear, and she freaked out. It was one of the major highlights of the entire evening. Played even stronger, because she specifically asked me to reveal the information.
I suppose I'll end this post here. I could literally talk about little pieces of paper for hours, but I hope there's enough food for thought here. To recap, in my opinion-- I believe effective billet work follows this structure:
1. The information isn't initially treated like a thought.
2. After the information is written, the paper is completely disregarded.
3. Billet work/revelations make for perfect opportunities to make strong cold readings.
4. The written information isn't considered a thought until well after the paper is disregarded/discarded.
So long as the performance follows the guidelines above, I believe the billets are essentially rendered invisible among the spectators.


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What Staff think of Oxford's Podcasting Activities
The Listening for Impact project team conducted student surveys to find out their views on Oxford's podcasts. Those survey results were analysed in other blog posts. The project team released that it is equally important to consult the staff who … Continue reading
Posted in Qualitative, Quantitative, Statistics, Tech-Lite, WP9: Final Report Tagged Podcasting, Staff, Surveys Comments Off on What Staff think of Oxford's Podcasting Activities