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Once the dumplings are nice and brown and crusty looking they're done to perfection.
This is a simple syrup. Years ago we boiled on the stove for 10 minutes, now you can put this microwave safe bowl in the microwave, once it reaches a boil then put on the timer.
6-8 baking apples peeled,sliced and cored
Place apples in a greased 13x9 baking dish
1 cup sugar
1 cup water boil for 10 minutes
Pour boiling syrup over apples in the greased pan.
In a large bowl mix together to form a soft dough below:
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoons salt
6 tablespoons shortening
3 teaspoons baking powder
Drop by tablespoons on top of apples. Melt together 3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon or more if you like .
Pour teaspoons of mixture over dumplings and bake at 400*
for 30 minutes.
minutes until brown. Serve warm with whipped cream and caramel topping or vanilla ice cream with caramel topping . Dust with more cinnamon.
+claudia lamascolo author

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Polaris Industries
June 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019
Legal disclosure
Offers vary by model. Offers valid on select new 2017 – 2019 Polaris snowmobiles purchased between 1 June 2019 - 31 July 2019. This is a limited time offer which is valid for the purchase of selected qualifying models and is subject to credit approval from TD Auto Finance (TDAF) on qualified purchases financed during this program. Offer may not be combined with certain other offers, is subject to change and may be extended or terminated without further notice. See participating retailers for complete details and conditions. Rates from other lenders may vary. Monthly payment and cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed and down payment/trade. Minimum amount to finance is $2,500. Example: $7,500 financed at 4.99% over 36 months = 36 monthly payments of $224.75 with a cost of borrowing of $590.93 and a total obligation of $8,090.93. Freight, license, PPSA/RPDRM, insurance, registration, any retailer administration fees and other applicable fees and taxes are not included in the financed amount. Dealers are free to set individual prices, but must be enrolled with TDAF to participate. Offer is valid only in Canada and does not apply to prior purchases. The Promotional Limited Warranty consists of the standard 12-month factory warranty plus an additional 12 or 24 months of additional promotional limited warranty coverage for a total of 24 or 36 months of warranty coverage. Any additional warranty coverage after the initial 12-month factory warranty is subject to a $50.00 deductible per visit. All rebates are paid to the dealer. Valid at participating Polaris dealers only.


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Dubai Airport instals aquariums with facial recognition
DUBAI, U.A.E. - In keeping with its technologically upgraded infrastructure, now the Dubai Airport has said that it will be installing secret hi-tech facial recognition security hidden inside virtual aquariums.
Due to the new installation, passengers leaving the Dubai Airport will be subjected to hi-tech facial recognition.
According to the airport, the futuristic tunnels will hide 80 cameras which scan faces and irises as outbound passengers walk through.
Further, walls can now be changed to show any images including fish, which make it seem as though the passenger is inside a virtual fish tank.
At the end of the tunnel, a cleared passenger will reportedly be prompted to have a nice trip, while anyone flagged will be routed to extra security with a red sign.
By using the video walls, it encourages passengers to look around, increasing the quality of facial scanning.
Major Gen Obaid Al Hameeri, deputy director general of Dubai residency and foreign affairs said in a statement, "The fish is a sort of entertainment and something new for the traveller but, at the end of the day, it attracts the vision of the travellers to different corners in the tunnel for the cameras to capture his/her face print."
The tunnels will have a moving walkway and will be installed in Dubai's Terminal 3, which houses the Emirates for next summer.
The airport is hoping to introduce them to all terminals by 2020.


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Amelia Springs
Other Names: None
Location: Amelia Springs
Campaign: Appomattox Campaign (March-April 1865)
Date(s): April 5, 1865
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. George Crook [US]; Maj. Gen. Rosser and Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee [CS]
Forces Engaged: Divisions
Estimated Casualties: 250 total
Description: On April 5, Confederate cavalry under Fitzhugh Lee and Rosser assaulted Union cavalry under George Crook as they returned from burning Confederate wagons at Painesville. This running fight started north of Amelia Springs and pushed through and beyond Jetersville.
Result(s): Inconclusive
CWSAC Reference #: VA091
Preservation Priority: III.3 (Class C)
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Privacy & Disclaimer


text:
The Kansas City Chiefs have toyed with the pistol formation during this month's offseason team activities, suggesting just how different this offense under Andy Reid might look from last year's dead-on-arrival attack.
Another trend coming out of recent practices: heavy use of two-tight end sets.
Adam Teicher of The Kansas City Star revealed Friday that free-agent signee Anthony Fasano and rookie Travis Kelce were frequent targets in the passing game. Veteran Tony Moeaki, coming off a knee scope, didn't take the field, but when healthy, he gives the Chiefs another viable pass-catcher.
"I think the offense is very friendly for a tight end," Fasano said. "You can tell they're becoming a very valuable position in this offense. We ultimately determine (how many passes they catch) by how we play, if we make plays, exploit mismatches. The tight ends have a good opportunity in this offense."
That bodes well for quarterback Alex Smith, who flourished throwing the ball to Vernon Davis while with the San Francisco 49ers. It also speaks to a core need in Kansas City, where, outside of Dwayne Bowe, there isn't much to boast about at wide receiver.
It's May -- and I won't go all Michael Fabiano on you -- but drafting a Chiefs tight end sounds like a fantasy option worth investigating.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.


text:
Baracuta Mens Beige G9 Original Harrington Jacket
Baracuta G9 original harrington jacket with COOLMAX lining in Natural. Zip fastening and button neck detail. Button fastening hand warmer pockets, ribbed cuffs and hem as well as the wave style vent detail on the back of the jacket. This is a Slim fitting garment, which is tighter fitting in the body and across the chest. You may require to order a bigger size to compensate for the slimmer fit.
- Baracuta Original G9 Harrington
- Slim Fit
- Zip Fastening
- Button Neck
- COOLMAX Lining
- Button Hand Pockets
- Ribbed Cuffs and Hem
- Check Lining
- Made In England
Sizing 40 = Medium 42 = Large 44 = X Large 46 = XX Large
Info & Care
- Shell - 50% Cotton,50% Polyester
- Lining 1 - 75% Cotton, 25% Polyester
- Lining 2 - 100% Polyester
- 30°C Wash
- Cool Iron
- Do Not Tumble Dry
We aim to dispatch all orders placed before 15:30 on the same day, Monday – Friday. Orders placed after 15:30 or placed at weekends/bank holidays will be dispatched on the next working day (working days are classed as Mon-Fri).
Please see the Delivery page for further information.
Masdings offer 7 delivery options across the UK, Europe and Rest of the world, for more details check the delivery page.
Please return the item(s) to us in their original condition complete with labels* within 14 days of receipt in a protective postage bag/box.
For more information please see the Shipping & Returns page.


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text:
ANAHEIM — Four years ago, Angels pitcher Jered Weaver was leading the league in strikeouts. The annual All-Star game, in Anaheim for the first time in 21 years, was weeks away.
As the days dwindled leading up to the roster announcements, Weaver's attitude morphed from indifference to annoyance.
When he was snubbed at first by American League All-Star manager Joe Girardi, Weaver snapped, saying, "It is what it is. What do you want me to say?"
Garrett Richards isn't there yet. He's still politely deflecting questions these days about the All-Star game, which will be played July 15 in Minneapolis.
"Obviously I want to be there," Richards said after beating the Texas Rangers for his seventh win of the season Friday, "but that's out of my control."
Here are some things that fall under Richards' control: A .203 opponents' batting average (second in the American League), two home runs allowed (first among qualified AL pitchers), 94 strikeouts (eighth), a 1.11 WHIP (fifth), and 2.4 Wins Above Replacement (10th).
Richards is also 7-2 with a 2.79 earned-run average. Those numbers aren't totally under his control, but they tend to get more attention from All-Star Game managers like John Farrell of the Boston Red Sox.
"The reality of it is that if he keeps going, there's no doubt he's going to get consideration," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Richards' success can't merely be explained in statistics. He is using basically the same repertoire of power pitches that he had a year ago, when he went 7-8 with a 4.16 ERA over 17 starts and 30 relief appearances.
This season, the 26-year-old righty has relied slightly less on his cut fastball while adding an extra mile per hour or so to each of his pitches, which can go a long way.
A bigger factor, in Richards' opinion: "I got a job."
"They gave me a job right out of spring training," he said. "I don't have to worry about going up and down, don't have to worry about pitching in Triple-A. Butch [pitching coach Mike Butcher] called me in the off-season and told me I was going to make 33 starts this year. That's all I needed to know."
Using the small sample size of June, Richards is showing signs of improvement. He's 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 27 innings this month.
But statistics mean little in isolation, especially when it comes to the All-Star Game. At least one player from each team must be chosen. The fans will almost certainly vote Mike Trout to start in the American League outfield, so there is no inherent need for Farrell to choose a pitcher from the Angels' staff.
Farrell might have to select a less-deserving pitcher in order to meet his one-player-per-team quota. A good pitcher on a poor team, like Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros or David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays, probably has a better chance of making the All-Star team than Richards.
Not counting injury replacements, 12 pitchers have been chosen to the American League All-Star team each of the past two years. There's no guarantee Richards will be among them next month, even though he leads the Angels in winning percentage, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.
When presented with the numbers, Richards sounds a lot like Weaver did four years ago on the verge of his first All-Star game.
"I can just control what I do every fifth day," he said. "Hopefully I continue to do what I'm doing and hopefully I get a bid to go."


text:
New album 'Ice on the Dune' Coming June 2013.
Pre-order new album on iTunes + get first single "Alive" now:
Empire Of The Sun – Alive
New album 'Ice on the Dune' Coming June 2013.
New album 'Ice on the Dune' Coming June 2013.
Pre-order new album on iTunes + get first single "Alive" now:
"Welcome to Versailles!" … [Read More...]
Get ready to celebrate … [Read More...]
Get ready because FOX has … [Read More...]
Lucifer returns! The … [Read More...]
Tonight at 9/8c on TNT, don't miss an all-new episode of Animal Kingdom. Photo: TNT https://twitter.com/AnimalKingdom … [Watch Now...]
OZZY OSBOURNE POSTPONES ALL 2019 PERFORMANCES OZZY OSBOURNE will postpone all his 2019 tour dates, inclusive of shows in North America and Europe, as he recovers from an injury sustained while dealing with his recent bout of pneumonia. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy®-winning singer and songwriter and 2019 Grammy® […]
I spoke with RJ Mitte about Who's Driving Doug, Breaking Bad, Switched at Birth, people's misconceptions about disabilities, his anti-bullying campaign, working with Shriners Hospitals for Children and United Cerebral Palsy, his fashion work, and so much more. RJ played Walter White, Jr. on one of the best shows in television history, Breaking Bad. RJ […]
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All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Copyright © 2006-2013 Lena Lamoray-2019 · Login ·


text:
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
F A Qs on Finacle CBS
To view, please CLICK HERE.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
President Shri Manjunatha G. Huballi, ASP(HQ), Haveri Division, KN, 09449849271, email@example.com. General Secretary Shri Arup Kumar Seal, ASP(P), O/o CPMG WB Circle Kolkata, 09830711266, email@example.com. Treasurer Shri Praveen Prasoon, ASP(Vig.) East Region, Patna, 09472874007, email@example.com All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendent Posts (AIAIASP) Quarter No.12, P &T Colony, Khurshid Square, Civil Lines, Delhi 110 054.
TA Bill form (.pdf)
APP.11 (Word Document)
PSS Group B - CR Form (Word Document)
Financial Powers to Head of Postal Divisions
Financial Powers to Head of RMS Divisions
All India Seniority List of IPs/ASPs


text:
Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar was arrested Sunday morning under the accusation of driving under the influence of alcohol.
From Cleveland.com:
Kosar was pulled over for speeding on SOM Center Road at 2:42 a.m., and police officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle, according to a press release from the Solon Police Department.
He took sobriety tests, and was then taken to the Solon Police Department without incident, the press release said.
Kosar was the car's only occupant.
Last year, Kosar talked on a radio show segment while sounding incredibly intoxicated. At this time, Kosar has no comment.
Photo: Jack Dempsey/AP


text:
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By submitting this form, you are granting: Mad River Outfitters, 813 Bethel Rd., Columbus, Ohio, 43214, United States, http://www.madriveroutfitters.com permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy for details.) Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.


text:
Sheriff's department
No insurance
A case of a driver without insurance was reported at 6 p.m. March 10 at the intersection of Third and Main Sts., Tampa.
Assault was reported at 6:55 p.m. March 12 on 170th Rd. between Eagle and Falcon Rds. No injury was reported.
Battery was reported at 6:25 p.m. March 14 on Sunflower Rd. north of Marion. No injury was reported. The suspect was known to the victim but was not family.
Criminal damage to property
Damage to a field sprayer boom assembly estimated at $500 was reported at 3 p.m. March 19 on 310th Rd. near Lost Springs.
Criminal damage to property
Damage to a decorative John Deere mailbox estimated at $500 was reported at 3 p.m. Thursday on Bluestem Rd. near Burdick.


text:
I always find myself becoming obsessed with a new food which I then shove into every recipe I make. Last winter it was toasting spices in oil, recently I've been putting sumac into everything from soups to on top of my bagels. While doing research for our Polynesian meal, I discovered the amazing properties of the papaya seed. And now... I'm hooked.
"What can you use papaya seeds for", you ask? Well, lets show you in a bulleted list. Papaya seeds:
- make a great meat tenderizer,
- have been used as a pepper substitute by various Southeast Asian cultures for thousands of years,
- can help you eradicate any intestinal parasites you may have (nice!)
- apparently have proven scientific effects for and when used as a male contraceptive**
- or make a salad dressing for a more pedestrian approach
Crunching into a fresh seed releases a tart bitter flavor which is nice and fresh especially with the mellow sweet papaya flavor of the pulpy flesh surrounding the hard inner core. Its so good, I've been integrating into all my sample recipes for our Polynesian fest.
papaya seeds used as a tenderizer on striped bass ceviche and for a leg of goat.
I remember back when I found the slimy seeds to be an annoyance when cutting into a ripe papaya, but now, I've been buying the fruit just for the seeds. Now the question is what can I do with all this left over fruit??


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There's a simple explanation for Vikings running back missing both team buses last weekend in Chicago.
"I overslept," the Vikings running back said, via Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. "I slept through the alarm, through the calls."
That caused a momentary panic, before Peterson caught a cab to Solider Field and joined his teammates around 20 minutes late.
While a special teamer might have been made example of, Peterson started the game, but turned the ball over twice in the 28-10 loss.
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said it was a "big deal," whenever a player isn't where he's supposed to be, when he's supposed to be there.
"It was something we just discussed, talked about," Peterson said. "It's over and done with. So, I'm moving forward, worrying about what's important now."
At least no one tried to compensate by offering him a cup of hot tea.


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Even as the U.S Supreme Court reviews Maryland's law on police collection of DNA samples, many law enforcement agencies in the state are collecting and holding genetic material from murder victims and people never convicted of crimes.
The practices have raised concerns among some legislators and the public defender's office, who fought for privacy protections and other restrictions in a 2009 state law that allows DNA collection from people arrested on suspicion of serious crimes.
Now, those critics say, police are taking advantage of loopholes and using the genetic material in ways not contemplated by state law. The objections have emerged at a crucial moment for the law, which is up for renewal in Annapolis this year and was argued this week before the nation's highest court.
Law enforcement officials say that everything in the state database of more than 110,000 DNA samples is there legally, and argue that not all samples are covered by the same law that governs collection upon arrest. For example, some are taken based on warrants issued by judges.
But Stephen Mercer, the forensics chief at the public defender's office, said that the theory police are using to keep the samples — that they were originally lawfully obtained — opens up the potential for a wide range of abuses.
"Where do you draw the line? Where do you stop?" he said, describing scenarios in which police pick up and analyze genetic material from cigarette butts and drinking cups. "If you buy into this rationale that 'we're in lawful possession of it,' you can go anywhere."
The case now before the Supreme Court will decide the constitutionality of Maryland's widely used program to take DNA from people arrested — but not yet convicted — on suspicion of violent crimes and burglaries. The case is likely to affect similar programs that have sprouted up in recent years in 27 other states.
But police have been collecting DNA in various forms since it first became available as a law-enforcement tool.
Before 2009, the only way for investigators to get genetic information from the subject of an investigation was to either secure a warrant or get the suspect to submit it voluntarily. When Gov. Martin O'Malley proposed a year earlier to allow collection upon arrest, it touched off a political battle in the General Assembly over privacy and racial profiling.
To allay concerns, proponents of the law agreed to protections — including a provision that requires that suspects' DNA be thrown out if they are acquitted or their cases are dropped.
Police say the restrictions do not extend to collections taken using warrants, and with the law back before lawmakers, members of the Legislative Black Caucus and others are pushing for more privacy safeguards in those and other cases.
Police in Baltimore City have kept DNA from homicide victims, for example, according to a technical manual the agency provided to the public defender's office under a public records request. And police in Montgomery, Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties all confirmed that they do the same.
William Alexander, a spokesman for the Prince George's County Police Department, said samples from homicide victims are used as part of the murder investigation. And Ray Wickenheiser, the director of the Montgomery County Police Crime Lab, said they can be used to solve missing persons cases.
"To me, that's a responsible use of that index," he said.
O'Malley is urging lawmakers to renew the 2009 law without adding any additional restrictions. Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman, said the different types of collection are separate issues.
"They are two distinct different policies and procedures, one that is lawful and has been in existence and didn't have to do with the folks that are charged," she said. "The suspect database existed way before any of us were here, and it was only after a judge signed a warrant."
Del. Jill P. Carter, a Baltimore Democrat and member of the Black Caucus, said she will push for changes and said lawmakers may not have known all of the ways police could use DNA when they passed the bill.
She pointed to the case of Earl Whittley Davis, who was linked to a Prince George's County murder after police there analyzed bloody clothing taken when he was the victim of an earlier shooting in Howard County.
"It's an example of something that we didn't anticipate," she said.
The Davis case reached the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, and last year the judges ruled that his DNA had been unconstitutionally stored in Prince George's County's local database. But the conviction was allowed to stand because the judges decided that police had made a series of honest mistakes.
Greg Shipley, a Maryland State Police spokesman, said departments in the state have collected information from 6,602 suspects outside of the arrestee database. He said there is no easy way to tell how many of those records are of people who were not ultimately convicted.
Shipley said that while there is no requirement that such records be automatically removed from state databases, people can apply to have their information expunged.
"We, I think, are working well within existing law and case law," Shipley said. "Whether or not … various aspects should be clarified, that's an issue for the legislature to consider."
Shipley pointed to the case of a Wicomico County man who he said was convicted of rape after police collected his DNA in another, ultimately unsuccessful criminal investigation. That case played out well before the 2009 law took effect, he said.
The state police do not use information from murder victims in the statewide database of genetic information, but Mercer believes the law is unclear about whether there's anything to stop the agency from doing so.
The DNA system in the United States works on a three-tiered system, linking up local and state databases with a federal one.
Baltimore police had DNA for 2,005 suspects and 3,106 victims on file as of last March, according to documents provided by the public defender's office. Agency officials did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
In contrast, Baltimore County Police spokeswoman Elise Armacost said her department had just 15 suspect samples and no crime victim profiles.
Searches of the local databases are not mentioned in the 2009 state law, and Mercer warned in a letter to lawmakers that police could use them in ways that undermine privacy protections and leave open the door to racial discrimination.
"DNA is a powerful investigative tool to identify and apprehend criminal offenders, but its potential for abuse is real," he wrote. "Extension of statutory regulation to local police DNA collection … will clearly advance these ends."
The state DNA law was itself stuck down by the Maryland Court of Appeals, which ruled that it stepped on constitutional protections. Maryland officials appealed the case to the Supreme Court, where this week Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. called it "perhaps the most important criminal procedure case" in years.
It could be months before the court issues a decision.
Carter said she was hoping to delay the renewal of the law until the high court decides, but said delegates have been facing an "extremely aggressive" push from O'Malley.
The challenge that made it to the Supreme Court came from Alonzo Jay King, also of Wicomico County, who was convicted of a 2003 rape after his DNA was collected in a 2009 assault arrest. But his case is just the latest in a series of legal battles that have shaped the way police use genetic information in Maryland.
In using DNA collected through warrants, police have relied on a Maryland Court of Special Appeals decision on a 1990s Montgomery County rape case.
Police had charged Raymond Davis Wilson with the masked rape of a 76-year-old woman, then matched DNA taken from his victim with a blood sample taken from him in an separate 1991 investigation in which had not been convicted at the time.
Wilson unsuccessfully appealed his conviction on the later charge, arguing that police had no right to use the genetic material.
"I thought of that case when [the Supreme Court] case came up," said Martha Gillespie, a public defender who represented Wilson in his appeal. "I've been there and done that."
The Maryland court compared genetic material to fingerprints, which police are allowed to use over and over if they obtained them legally. Debate over whether that is an appropriate analogy came up before the Supreme Court this week.
In an opinion on the Montgomery County case, Judge Charles E. Moylan praised the advent of DNA as a crime-solving tool.
He wrote, "The development of such a new and scientifically reliable investigative tool should give rise, in any sane society, not to a cry of alarm but to a sigh of relief."


text:
From Our Home Care Family To Yours
Providing Peace of Mind
When someone you love can't take care of themselves like they used to, a million different things run through your mind. You worry about their health and safety: their quality of life. You might wonder if you'll be able to balance taking care of them while taking care of yourself and your own family. You wonder if they'll be able to stay at home, but if they do, then what? You want to be there for them like they've been there for you, but how can you be sure of what to do?
We can help by providing the best home care. We'll work with you to create a caregiving partnership that's built on trust, communication, and a special understanding of your family's needs. And what's more, we give you everything you need to monitor the quality of home care we provide. Our goal is to ensure your loved one's quality of life so you have the peace of mind and confidence to enjoy yours. At FirstLight Home Care, we provide in-home care for your loved ones wherever their home may be – in a nursing home, assisted living facility, retirement home, or their own home.
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This secure, Web-based tool lets you monitor the schedule and detailed in-home care of your loved one while also keeping you in touch with our extraordinary FirstLight caregivers. It provides the opportunity to submit feedback and unrivaled peace of mind from virtually anywhere you have Internet access.
This is a unique tool for companion and personal care that helps us match specific caregivers to your loved ones' interests and habits, whether you need long term care or short term care. This helps in the initial transition to an in-home care arrangement and often provides the foundation for enriching, long-term relationships.
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This is our commitment to your total, 100% satisfaction. If you or your loved one is unhappy with our senior care, elderly care or chronic condition care services for any reason, we will resolve the issue in a timely, thorough, and caring manner.
Contact us today to learn more about FirstLight's senior care, elderly care, dementia care, respite care and rehabilitative care services.


text:
The launch of Haswell-E ushered in a triumvirate of new technology – a new CPU line, a new motherboard chipset and DDR4 memory! With the new generation Intel Core processors, you can boot your PC, load applications and resume from sleep nearly instantaneously, all thanks to Intel's responsiveness technologies such as Intel Smart Response and Intel Rapid Start Technology.
With the increase in magnitude of the usage of computers to more than 8 hours a day, there are additional demands placed on the processor. The processor then starts generating a lot of heat which is caused by the internal electrical energy of the components, and gets warmer the harder the components have to work. Improper maintenance of heat and overheating of the processor can reduce the lifespan or cause irreparable damage to the processor, it may also damage other components like circuits, RAM, or hard drives, and makes the computer inoperable. In order to avoid damaging the components and prevent loss of data, it becomes essential to have good cooling equipment. For your convenience, our technical team has put together the most recommended cooling solution options around so you don't have to sort through hundreds of choices available.
If memory cooling solution is desired, please make sure that the quantity of heat spreaders matches the quantity of memory sticks ordered.
Dual monitor support can be achieved through using a separate PCI-Express video card with at least 2 of the following video outputs, DVI, VGA, HDMI & DP (Display Port). For Triple or Quad monitor support, 2 video cards must be used with dual outputs along with the motherboard containing 2 PCI-Express x16 slots.
The computer power supply is a vital part of your computer and provides the power to the components in your system, and also cools your computer with a fan. Minimum wattages range from 300W to 500W, standard wattages range from 550W to 650W, high-end gaming power supply wattages range from 700W to 850W. It would be wise to get a higher wattage PSU so that you can rest easy knowing your PC is being powered properly, and without having to worry about upgrading the PSU anytime soon.
Multiple selections can be made in this category.
In order for your PC to recognize more than 4GB of RAM you must install 64-Bit Operating System. If more than 16GB of RAM is desired, you must have Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8 or Windows-10 - All in 64-Bit!
Huge selection of monitors at unbeatable prices and complimentary free shipping!


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Givenchy Bag Replica Pandora vs Real: When The Price Is Too Good To Be TrueCategories:Other Brands
You can already find two detailed posts on how to spot a replica Givenchy Antigona bag and also plenty of replica handbags reviews that will help you learn how to stay away from bad fakes. So this time I want to write more about another Givenchy bag replica that's also very popular, the Pandora messenger bag.
I will also make a few mentions on other popular styles from the brand, such as the replica Givenchy Rottweiler bag or the Givenchy Lucrezia bag. When it comes to celebrity favorites, I don't think there's a Givenchy bag that could ever surpass the Antigona's wild popularity. Still, if there's a certain Givenchy bag replica you'd like to know more about, just let me know.
Givenchy Bag Replica Pandora vs Real
I recently received an email from a reader who wanted me to authenticate her Givenchy Pandora bag in distressed leather:
"Hi Eva!
I came accross your blog as I was browsing pics of real vs fake givenchy Pandora. I really want to buy this bag. (Photos attached) The seller says all her bags were from an auction in Japan where they get luxury nags in . Thank you so much for your help and I await your reply.
More power to you and you blog! Tags: bag replica Givenchy the Price Be To VS PANDORA is Real: When Too Good True
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Real vs Fake Coach Authentication Tips: How To Tell The DifferenceCategories:Other Brands
I know this post on real vs fake Coach is a bit surprising for those of you who know I'm not the biggest fan of knockoff Coach handbags out there. But that doesn't matter as long as some of you girls are interested in this brand. Still, I have to admit that the new Coach 2016 bags are much more to my taste than the classic monogram pieces. They look much more current and elegant but don't get your hopes up. Good Coach knockoffs are difficult to find in general and the new ones even more.
There is a lot of information on real vs fake Coach online but some of the authentication tips either no longer apply or are wrong. So here are some real vs fake Coach authentication tips you should look out for.
Real vs Fake Coach: Myths vs Facts
The CC patterns should always align throughout the bag
Every real vs fake Coach guide will mention the CC canvas pattern. And that's because it's one of the easiest ways to spot a fake signature Coach handbag and also one of the most obvious. Most Coach knockoffs you will find online are made of this type of canvas, so it's really important to know how to spot the fake. The C pattern should always contain two rows of vertical and two rows of horizontal Cs that are perfectly aligned to the center of the bag. The only exception are the really small signature C bags where the pattern might be slightly off on the sides. The authentic CC pattern will not break even if there are pockets and seams on the bag! Also, the edge of the horizontal "C" and that of its vertical "C" counterpart should touch. Just remember that the C monogram pattern should always be symmetric at the center of the bag, without exception.
YKK Zippers
Even though most Coach bags feature YKK zippers that are of very good quality, this doesn't mean that an original Coach handbag cannot feature a different type of zipper. This includes older models and their smaller items. Coach has also used Talon zippers and IDEAL zippers in addition to YKK zippers and many other zippers suppliers so the fact that a Coach bag has or doesn't have YKK zippers is not enough to tell a real vs fake Coach.
The serial number
This is also an outdated real vs fake Coach authentication tip in most of the guides you'll find online. The serial number used to be embossed on the leather creed patch inside the bag but now it is sewn into the bag on a white fabric tag. But just like the old serial number, the current one should also start with N° followed by 2 numbers representing the year and 2 other digits. If the serial number has 5 digits, then it's probably a fake. So just because the bag does not have the serial number on the creed doesn't automatically mean it is a fake; on the contrary!
The new Coach bags are much subtler branding-wise and their designs have evolved a lot in my opinion. For example, all their pre-fall 2016 bags are made of gorgeous leather and most of them will only feature the signature horse and carriage logo on the hanging leather tag or the metallic logo on the exterior for their smaller items.
As you can see, Coach bags are some of the most difficult to authenticate replica bags online. So every time you check out a real vs fake Coach post or video, you should also take into account the fact that many things have changed in the past years. So don't authenticate your bag based on old information because some of the rules that applied 4 or 5 years ago do not apply anymore.
So forget about all the Cs and start paying more attention to their newer styles! Even though not all of them are particularly special or unique, they look much more elegant and luxurious than their older designs. But I'm sure it will take some time until we will find replicas of these Coach bags.
Tags: Coach fake the Real To VS Authentication Tips: How Tell Difference
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Mulberry Bag Versus: Bayswater vs ChesterCategories:Other Brands
For this edition of Bag Versus, we have compared two bags from the English brand Mulberry, the Bayswater and Chester. The Bayswater Bag has been around for 14 years now, while the Chester was recently introduced this 2016.
Both bags features top handles with a simple yet classic design. Check out the comparison between the two.
The Mulberry Bayswater Bag is the English brand's most popular handbag. It was first released in 2002 and created by designer Nicholas Knightly. The bag was named after an area in West London, and has been a huge hit ever since. Celebrities, fashion bloggers and fashionistas have all been seen carrying the Bayswater Bag. Over the years, Mulberry has offered different styles for the Bayswater such as Satchel, Double Zip Tote, Buckle, Piccadilly and even Clutch Wallet. Despite of the various styles, the classic Bayswater has remained the best seller.
The Bayswater features two top handles and has the brand's signature postman's lock. It has belted sides that can be adjusted, provide more space. The interior includes one zip pocket and two slip pockets. The bag can be carried by hand, in the crook of the arm or on the shoulder. It is available in a variety of materials, such as Leather, Deep Embossed Croc Print and Ostrich.
Price starts at $1,430.00 (USD) for Natural Leather and measures 10 ½" H x 14 ¼" W x 6 ½" D.
The Chester is the brand's newest offering. It was recently introduced during the Fall/Winter 2016 runway show under Mulberry's new Creative Director Johnny Coca. This bag also has two top handles. It presents a sleek and classic design. It differs from the Bayswarer as it is divided into three compartments: one main zipped and two side compartments. It has a zipped closure with long leather zip pull.
The Chester Bag features three press stud closure and has the new Mulberry logo. It includes an adjustable and removable shoulder strap. It can be carried by hand or on the shoulder.
Currently, the Chester is available in Textured Goat and Polished Embossed Croc, it measures 8 ¾" H x 13 ¼" W x 7 ¼" D. The Mulberry Chester Bag in Textured Goat retails for $1,995.00 (USD).
The winner in this round is the Bayswater Bag. It has been an iconic bag for years now, and one of Mulberry's best designs. The Bayswater is a perfect everyday bag and more affordable than the Chester.
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CELINE RING BAG VS ZARA GRADUATED BOWLING BAGCategories:Other Brands
It's showtime for two of our bags today, ladies – the Celine Ring Bag and Zara Graduated Bowling Bag. Just a disclaimer though, we're not exactly battling-out pieces today for bag supremacy…instead, we just want to set out similarities and differences, and maybe (just maybe) be able to give you some clarity about possible alternatives. Well then, let's start!
First of all, the Celine Ring Bag needs no introduction – it's a classy piece made with only the finest skins available (goatskin, calfskin, crocodile, take your pick). Also, it comes in an array of colors to choose from – for the past seasons, this piece has been undergoing some welcome twists. It has a fine structure, pockets and side folds which expand to accommodate all of your stuff…for the price of around €1,800 EUR. Hmmm…we'll see about that.
Next, the Zara Graduated Bowling Bag offers the same kind of functionality, but let's just say that it falls short on the luxury appeal (like comparing a stone to a boulder) when it comes to the main materials used which is polyester and polyurethane. Depending on use and care, this bag may last you some time though. Also, it has that same outside pocket with the Ring Bag, which gives you more space for organization…for the price of around $70 USD. A far cry from the Celine Ring Bag, but well, it's really up to you to decide.
So, what is it going to be? Are you in it for the long run, or are you after a great bargain? Tell us your thoughts and comment now!
Tags: bag Celine Bowling VS RING ZARA GRADUATED
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CELINE TRIO BAG VS PROENZA SCHOULER PS11 MINI BAGCategories:Other Brands
You know what's the worst thing that can happen after you've purchased your favorite designer handbag? And especially when the bag is expensive. It's when something breaks within a week or month.
Even when it breaks within five months, it's heart-breaking.
Instead of joy and happiness, the whole experience taste bitter.
At BRAGMYBAG we heard this a lot – the chains are damaged, the leather strap broke, the serial code tag in the interior is missing, leather is starting to wear off and so on…
You need to take your bag and go back to the store to check it out. What a drag! And when you get bad service, it's even worst. If they tell you they will send it back for repair, you will miss your bag for weeks.
We talked to Gabriela the other day, after we posted an article about the Celine Trio Bag. Her leather strap broke after a few months of use. She did not even carried heavy stuff, but only her keys and small wallet, so weight was not the issue.
But there are a lot of bags with thin strap, and we need to be very careful. Gabriela went back to the store, luckily she bought it at Neiman Marcus, and they were kind enough to change the bag. But because she had bad experience with the Celine Trio Bag, she picked the Proenza Schouler PS11 Bag (via Elyse Walker for $1950 USD).
The PS11 bag is a great choice though; it's also stunning, spacious, functional and great as an everyday bag. However, the Celine Trio Bag is still the favorite among fashionista's, it's popular and gorgeous.
Sometimes you can get a designer bag that breaks within a few months, we even heard this from Chanel products or Dior products. But in your case, what will you do? Switch to another brand or get it repaired? Tell your story below.
Tags: bag Celine Mini Trio VS PROENZA SCHOULER PS11
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LOUIS VUITTON LOCKME 2 BAG VS SAINT LAURENT MOUJIK BAGCategories:Louis Vuitton
Shortly after we dropped a review about the Louis Vuitton Lockme II bag, Adrena sent us this message: 'It resembles the Saint Laurent Moujik Bag, can you do a comparison?'
And yes, we want to.
So we took an image of the 'Lockme 2 Bag' and the 'Moujik Bag'. We compared the looks:
One large obvious difference is the front flap. The Lockme2 Bag has a larger flap while the Moujik Bag's flap doesn't even cover 50% of the front.
But there are also similarities – the luggage tag, the leather strap, the shape is not entirely the same but it's close to. And both of the top handles are connected to the bag with eyelets.
Another obvious different is the LV closure on the front, while the Saint Laurent bag logo is printed very small on the flap.
The interior is also quite interesting. Both have two roomy compartments, one large and one small. The Moujik Bag has one more internal slot pocket while the Lockme 2 Bag has 1 inside pocket, 2 smartphone pockets.
On the exterior, the Moujik Bag features one back slot pocket.
If you take a closer look, there is one hidden difference that makes the Lockme 2 Bag quite interesting. It's the 2 press buttons on the sides of the bag. These buttons are made to expand or tighten the bag depending on how much essentials you're carrying. It makes the bag more comfortable to carry as its flexible and you can adjust to your needs.
The Saint Laurent Moujik Bag has been around longer than the Lockme 2 Bag, and furthermore, the Lockme 2 Bag is the upgrade and modernized version of the Lockme Bag.
About the Sizes & Prices:
Saint Laurent Medium Moujik Bag
Measuring: 12.1 x 9.4 x 5.5 inches
Price: $2490 USD
Louis Vuitton Lockme 2 Bag
Measuring: 11 x 7.9 x 4.3 inches
Price: $2910 USD
Conclusion: the Saint Laurent Moujik Bag has a longer history and its larger in size, and cheaper. The Louis Vuitton Lockme 2 Bag is quite new, but it has more interesting functions and features, it's smaller and a bit more expensive.
Honestly, which one would you choose?
Tags: Louis Vuitton bag Saint Laurent Lockme 2 VS MOUJIK


text:
Use the refresh-period-in-seconds element in the sun-ejb-jar.xml file to refresh a read-only bean periodically.
If the value specified in refresh-period-in-seconds is zero or not specified, which is the default, the bean is never refreshed (unless a transactional method is accessed).
If the value is greater than zero, the bean is refreshed at the rate specified.
This is the only way to refresh the bean state if the data can be modified external to the GlassFish Server.
By default, a single timer is used for all instances of a read-only bean. When that timer fires, all bean instances are marked as expired and are refreshed from the database the next time they are used.
Use the -Dcom.sun.ejb.containers.readonly.relative.refresh.mode=true flag to refresh each bean instance independently upon access if its refresh period has expired. The default is false. Note that each instance still has the same refresh period. This additional level of granularity can improve the performance of read-only beans that do not need to be refreshed at the same time.
To set this flag, use the asadmin create-jvm-options command. For example:
asadmin create-jvm-options -Dcom.sun.ejb.containers.readonly.relative.refresh.mode=true


text:
Keith, Sharp and Toews named to Canada's Olympic rosterby Dan Rosen / Chicago Blackhawks
|Sharp, Toews and Keith will play for Team Canada in Sochi. (Getty Images)
Eleven players from Canada's Olympic gold-medal winning team in Vancouver four years ago have been selected to play in the 2014 Sochi Olympics next month.
Hockey Canada released its highly anticipated 25-man Olympic team roster Tuesday in Toronto, naming goalie Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks); defensemen Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks), Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) and Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings); and forwards Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins), Rick Nash (New York Rangers), Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks), Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks), Corey Perry (Ducks) and Patrick Marleau (San Jose Sharks) as the returning players from the 2010 team, which defeated the United Statesin the gold-medal game.
The first-time Olympians picked to play for Canada in Sochi are goalies Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) and Mike Smith (Phoenix Coyotes); forwards John Tavares (New York Islanders), Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning), Chris Kunitz (Penguins), Jeff Carter (Los Angeles Kings), Patrick Sharp (Blackhawks) and Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars); and defensemen Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues), Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver Canucks), P.K. Subban (Montreal Canadiens) and Marc-Edouard Vlasic (San Jose Sharks).
Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is returning to the Olympics after failing to make the roster in 2010. He played on Canada's 2006 Olympic team with Nash and Luongo.
The bigger news might be the players who were not selected to go to Sochi. Among them are five players who were on the 2010 team in Vancouver and were invited to Canada's Olympic orientation camp in August: Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes), Joe Thornton (San Jose Sharks), Dan Boyle (Sharks), Mike Richards (Kings) and Brent Seabrook (Blackhawks).
Among the other top candidates who did not make the final roster are Martin St. Louis (Lightning), Claude Giroux (Philadelphia Flyers), Logan Couture (San Jose Sharks), Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers), James Neal (Penguins) and Corey Crawford (Blackhawks).
Couture will have surgery Wednesday to repair an upper-body injury, reportedly his hand. The Sharks are expected to know more about his timetable for a return to the lineup following the procedure.
Here is Canada's 25-man roster:
Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks)
Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens)
Mike Smith (Phoenix Coyotes)
Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks)
Shea Weber (Nashville Predators)
Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings)
Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues)
Jay Bouwmeester (St. Louis Blues)
Marc-Edouard Vlasic (San Jose Sharks)
P.K. Subban (Montreal Canadiens)
Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver Canucks)
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Chris Kunitz (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins)
Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks)
Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks)
Rick Nash (New York Rangers)
Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks)
Patrick Sharp (Chicago Blackhawks)
John Tavares (New York Islanders)
Patrick Marleau (San Jose Sharks)
Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Jeff Carter (Los Angeles Kings)
Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche)
Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars)


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You know what's really scary? Kids. Or maybe I should be more specific: Kids' imaginations. We knew this going in, to be fair.
You know what's really scary? Kids.
Or maybe I should be more specific: Kids' imaginations.
We knew this going in, to be fair. This is the fourth time The Tuscaloosa News has created a Monster Makeover, where we go into a school — Westwood Elementary for 2013 — and ask first-graders to draw us some nightmares.
And then....
And then we asked for descriptions.
Many of our adult artists, who take the kids' drawings and re-interpret them in various media — sculpture, paintings, fabric art and more — get as much meat and bone and, um, blood, from the descriptions as from the visuals.
For example, this one by Athena Garner is about as unsettling as anything written by a young Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen King or Clive Barker:
"There are two spiders and a dog on a bike. They are at a bloody place where they eat their stuff. The dog just sits on the bike. They are in the forest. Actually, it is not nighttime. The stars are over the sun. They don't have parents ... they are bad guys! There is a skeleton in a cage, and the cage hook is hanging on the tree. There is a potion on the bottom that turned them into bad guys. His kids are asleep in their home under the cage. He has two kids. He goes to sleep in the cage. There is a spider above the dog in the bike. The trees are different worlds. Their home is in the trees. The water is in between the two worlds. There is a human coming out of the water, and then he died."
But note the codicil: It seems to be because they don't have parents that the villains became evil. Good save, Athena.
Artist Tony Bratina, who chose her work to re-create, noted "If she would have had more time, she could have written an entire book."
And maybe she will some day. Because despite the fact that we like ghoulies, ghosties and long-legged beasties at this Halloween time of year, what Monster Makeover is really about is releasing imagination, for both the kids and the grownups. We could as easily have asked them to draw fairies or hobbits or unicorns or an entire Marvel Comics' lineup of super-heroes.
The idea grew out of a website spotted by former Tuscaloosa News videographer Steve Mullen — www.themonsterengine.com — where professional artist Dave Devries was posting work by his nieces, which he'd then redrawn in more painstaking detail. Devries had worked as a comics artist for Marvel and DC, but also drew and painted monsters for Universal Studios. Yet he found deeper inspiration in the unfettered imaginations of his nieces' drawings.
Devries projects the sketches, traces their lines, then paints the images in hyper-realistic manner, working mostly with acrylic paint, airbrush and colored pencil. Mullen showed that concept to me.
Realizing we needed the real visual eyes for the monster guys, we roped in graphics editor Bratina, former design editor Shweta Gamble and photo editor Robert Sutton. This team, which also began to involve other News staff, expanded on the idea by involving numerous local artists and a schoolroom full of kids; Capitol School that first year.
We also let the artists' interpretations run wild. Some of them seem almost abstracted from the kids' art, while some follow more closely the line and form, as Devries does.
In writing each year's stories, I've talked with educators, artists and psychologists about what we're doing, including Joy J. Burnham, an associate professor of education at the University of Alabama who has done years of study on childhood fears. She explained that as children mature, they can tell real from make-believe, and thus most of our first-graders are probably not working reliving nightmares. Mostly, they're just having fun with their brains, putting playful creativity down on paper, because that's what Halloween is: a rollercoaster ride, thrilling and chilling, something to make the blood pump, but ultimately a safe outlet for spooky stuff.
"My view is that Halloween is play, compared to some of the very real things that we deal with," Burnham said.
Perhaps inspired by "Monsters Inc." and its recent sequel "Monsters University," quite a number of this year's works describe "good monsters," or at least some with less human-centered nastiness.
Gisell Benitez's Tucky eats trees, "Because he really loves trees." The colors of the leaves lend him his own multi-hued coat. Landon Carpenter's monster is going to eat rainbows. Not sure if that's good, bad or indifferent, but it's not as directly gory as Truman Davis', who "... likes killing people with a chainsaw." But: "He has a spider on his head an it is mean to him." So maybe, you know, there's some motivation for all that chainsawin'.
Like many of the young artists, Chastity Dickerson blends and matches easily: "It's a skeleton man. He has fish fins and a horse head and a knife. He is wearing blue jeans and a shirt. There are sharks flying in the air. He standing in water. There is a squirrel at his feet. His pants are underwater. The squirrel has to swim up to go to land. He has blood coming out of his nose and mouth. He is a mad monster. He swims underwater."
Spencer Anders' Tyrannosaurus Rex has legs that "are electricity .... There are spines on his legs. When they come over, he stabs them with his vampire teeth and eats them."
Christopher Dailey knows how to build the suspense: "He lives in a cave and in water .... All of them have bloody eyes. They live under the ground under your bed. The red is fire."
Yes it is, Christopher. Yes it is.
To see more of the outcome, including books containing all the art, the young and older artists' statements and more, visit the Bama Theatre from 6-9 p.m. Thursday. The closing reception will feature storytelling, live music by house band the Resident Evils, candy for the kids, and a silent auction of the art. Books and T-shirts will be available for sale, with all proceeds going to benefit arts education programs in the county. Costumes are encouraged.


text:
When people ask me about buying a smartphone as a gift for someone they care about, I suggest that it's not the simplest of presents.
"It's kind of like giving someone a puppy," I say. "It's cool when you first hand it over, but it quickly becomes obvious that there's a lot of responsibility involved."
Indeed, when you give someone a smartphone – particularly a recipient who's never owned one – you're giving a whole lot more than a nifty handset. You're committing her or him to a software platform and ecosystem, a method of staying connected to the world and, perhaps most importantly, a monthly bill. Because of this, it makes sense to think long and hard about giving a smartphone. Don't just give it because you've got one and love it – your recipient may not feel the same.
Ideally, a smartphone should be a collaborative gift, one the recipient knows is coming and thus has provided helpful guidance. But for givers who insist on the element of surprise, there are things you can do to go make sure the present is something that will delight rather than alarm.
Consider these factors when giving a smartphone as a gift:
• The carrier – In most cases, smartphones are tied to a specific carrier. If the recipient already has some kind of cell phone, your gift should work on the same carrier. If the recipient doesn't have any kind of cell phone, find out if other members of his or her family do, then get one that uses their carrier. The smartphone can then be added to a family plan or a shared data plan.
If you're starting from scratch and no one else is involved, talk to co-workers at the recipient's job and neighbors near home. Find out which carriers have the best signals and buy accordingly. Yeah, you may feel like something of a spy doing this, but the knowledge you gain will keep the recipient from the frustration of slow data speeds and dropped calls.
• The bill – This is the one aspect that should give you serious pause about giving a smartphone as a gift, particularly for someone who's never owned a smartphone. Unless you're willing to foot the bill, you're committing the recipient to monthly charges that are beyond what he or she may be used to. If the recipient already has a smartphone, this is less of an issue. But for a newbie, it can be serious sticker shock.
Depending on the carrier and the plan you choose, expect to saddle the recipient with at least a $60-a-month bill if you buy a smartphone with a traditional voice-and-data plan. Under this scenario, the price of the phone is subsidized with the signing of a contract that typically lasts two years. This is sometimes known as a post-paid plan.
These plans typically come with tiered data options – you get a certain amount of data each month, and pay overage charges if you exceed that. A few carriers, such as Sprint, offer unlimited data plans but you may pay more for the privilege.
You can also find smartphones that are sold as pre-paid devices. You pay up front for the phone, and there's no contract. The owner pays for a certain number of minutes and amount of data per month in advance. You may pay more for the phone because it's not subsidized by a contract, or you may find phones that are less powerful or are older models, sold at lower prices. If you don't want to saddle the recipient with a long-term contract, this is a viable option.
You can also buy many phones unlocked, so they will work on multiple carriers. But these will usually require to pay a large amount for the phone up front, though you may save long-term by not having to stick with a carrier contract.
• The hardware – Most smartphones sold today are touchscreen devices, with onscreen keyboards. Some models – such as some BlackBerry models offered by Research in Motion – have physical keyboards, but they are increasingly few and far between. Predictive text, along with visual and sometimes physical feedback, help with the accuracy of virtual keyboards.
You'll find a wide variety in smartphones sizes, with screens measured diagonally. You'll find phones with displays well under four inches – such as the older iPhones – all the up to five inches and more, such as Samsung's Galaxy Note II. A larger screen provides more room for text and images on the display, though this will vary based on the number of pixels being displayed, or the resolution. Some small displays pack a lot of pixels onto the screen, providing a higher-quality look than larger screens with fewer pixels.
But bigger screens also mean the phone will be larger. For people with smaller hands, a large screen phone can be difficult to use. Keep this in mind when selecting a phone as well.
Nearly all modern smartphones come with powerful, multi-core processors. If you're shopping for an Android or Windows Phone device, you'll want to make sure the phones have the latest operating systems on them. With Android phones that don't have the most current OS – at the moment its' version 4.1, or Jelly Bean – check with the manufacturer to see if and when the device is expected to be upgraded. While not everyone cares about smartphone software updates, those who do get annoyed when they're not forthcoming.
Finally, look hard at storage capacity. If your recipient has a lot of music or video and wants to keep all that handy, you'll either want a phone with lots or storage, or one that can be upgraded. Built-in storage will add to the cost, but many phones come with memory-card slots that allow for expansion. Memory cards often cost less than built-in memory, so this can be a cost-effective way to give your recipient lots of media headroom.
• The platform – When you buy a smartphone, you're also buying into a software platform. Different phones have different operating systems – just like personal computers – and while there are similarities in the way they work, they lock the owner in to a set of applications and conventions.
There are four main platforms out there. Android, which is controlled by Google; iOS, which powers Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Windows Phone 8, from Microsoft; and RIM's BlackBerry OS.
If your recipient already has a smartphone and you're providing an upgrade, give hardware that runs on the same platform as the current device. That way she or he will be able to reinstall all the apps that have already been purchased.
If the recipient doesn't have a smartphone, look at the devices he or she already has. For example, if your recipient already has an iPod and lots of music and video from iTunes, it may make sense to get an iPhone. If your recipient likes to tinker and customize his or her PC, or already has an Android tablet, an Android phone is a good choice.
If your recipient is a total newcomer to the world of mobile computing devices, I'd recommend going with an iPhone or a Windows Phone device. They're more intuitive than either an Android or a BlackBerry, and the ecosystem is more controlled. For the most part, owners of these devices don't have to worry about malware or rogue apps. And both types of smartphones will connect to either a Mac or Windows-based PC. (Though Windows Phone handsets work best with Windows PCs, and particularly those running Windows 8.)
If your recipient is tech-challenged and will need handholding, the iPhone is the best choice, mainly because of the availability of free setup sessions and one-on-one lessons available in Apple Stores. Microsoft also offers similar services in its retail stores, but there aren't as many of them as Apple Stores and there may not be one in your town. (There's only one in Houston, at the Galleria.)
Finally, be aware that some people consider software platforms to be on the same plane as religion. For example, if you give an iPhone as a gift, prepare your recipient to take some grief from Android fans, and vice versa. It's silly, but it happens. Give your recipient a head's up to expect some trolls.
What other advice would you give to someone shopping for a smartphone as a present? Leave your thoughts in the comments.


text: Personalized Top 10 Sexiest Ladies Coffee Mug - Personalized Valentine's Day Coffee MugLet your lady know she is always at the top of your list with our very personal Top 10 Sexiest Ladies Mug. Make it an excellent gift for Valentine's Day, Birthdays or just because. Our Personalized Romantic Mug is dishwasher safe & includes free personalization! Personalize your Mug choice with any name. Mugs are available in different sizes ranging from 11 to 20 ounces.


text:
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