New Computer Report

Write a (min 1 page) report explaining the factors you would need to consider when buying a PC or Laptop for your course. List and briefly explain why these factors are important. Publish the report on your blog.
A computer or a laptop is essential for the modern day student. Certain features are essential but every course has its specific requirements. To study Applied Psychology in Dun Laoghaire the following features and accessories are recommended.
Programmes: A decent word processing programme is a must. Students are required to write out many essays, research material and notes are also useful to be able to read and alter for printing.
For the I.T. Element of the course, programmes such as Adobe Photoshop, illustrator and flash are useful to complete assignments. Coming up to Christmas and end of year exams, other computers and labs may be in use and unavailable.
Internet: An internet connection is a must. This course, as with many others, requires a lot of research to be carried out. The internet is a useful tool to carry out this task. Make sure that there is a wireless antenna in any laptop that is bought also.
Memory: A large RAM [a separate memory used for the functioning of the computer] is useful for this course in order to run programmes such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for Multimedia and graphic design. This course alone does not demand a large hard-drive but it is recommended in any computer.
USB Ports: Only one USB port is not ideal. At least two is practical. Writing essays and creating slideshows demand a lot of editing both in class and out of class. Memory sticks are easy to carry around and sometimes transferring information from one to another is required. Most printers today are connected via USB also.
Other forms of transferring information include Bluetooth and disc. A disc drive should always be kept working.
For portability, a laptop is recommended. However issues such as screen size, battery life, screen resolution and weight should be brought into consideration. A long lasting battery is required for students on the move who may not have access to a power supply. However a high screen resolution is needed to run adobe programmes effectively but this may infringe on the battery life. A balance must maintain between programmes needed and battery life. Even in today’s world, laptops can still weigh a lot.
Accessories: A bag for a laptop should be used often for the safety of the laptop and also to aid portability. Normal earphones for MP3s can be used for computers and laptops alike which can help when you are in a public setting and are trying to listen to something through the computer.
Other output devices: Normal earphones for MP3s can be used for computers and laptops alike which can help when you are in a public setting and are trying to listen to something through the computer. A printer is handy to have on the side, although they are not expensive, they cost a lot to maintain as you continually have to buy ink and paper [unless you choose a laser printer].
Input devices: Scanners and drawing pads can be used to input data such as pictures and drawings onto a screen of a computer.

Gossip Girl Season 3 Episode 9

Does anyone remember this sweet girl from 'Lizzie Maguire' ?? Well if anyone follows 'Gossip Girl' you will know that this sweet character-type cast girl has now entered the realm of late night television series and by 'late night' I mean past seven!

SPOILER ALERT: So Hilary Duff arrives on screen playing the character of a famous Hollywood actress just trying to live a normal life in college. Though Duff has proved herself as an actress, she is consistantly type-cast so little did we expect her character to part-take in a threesome. Here is two videos contrasting Duff's Lizzie McGuire character and her Olivia character in Gossip Girl. Please be aware, the GG link is 'slightly' explicit.

Article 2

Cuban crackdown part of worldwide attack on internet dissidents

Does anyone blog regularly? Does anyone follow any blogs, known or unknown regularly? Does anyone think that blogging can do any real harm? Governments in Cuba, China, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Iran seem to think so. Should other countries such as Vietnam and Thailand be allowed to follow in suit? Recently a well known political blogger Yoani Sanchez was kidnapped and beaten along with other online bloggers who dare to criticize the Castro-Cuban government. Others have been jailed on charges of spying against their country by use of blogging. However this upheaval has raised the support of bloggers all over the world against these oppressive governments. Rights such as Freedom of Speech have been questioned in many countries.

file:///D:/Downloads/Cuban%20crackdown%20part%20of%20worldwide%20attack%20on%20internet%20dissidents%20%20%20Technology%20%20%20guardian.co.uk.htm

Article One

file:///D:/Downloads/Bid%20to%20block%20paedophiles%20from%20Facebook%20fails%20%20%20Technology%20%20%20The%20Observer.htm

This is a post summary of an article I found on the English newspaper website 'The Guardian'.

Bid to block paedophiles from Facebook fails

Is anyone afraid of someone tracking them online or does anyone wonder if their eight-year old niece is too young to be on Bebo or Facebook? Already in America. names and addresses of registered sex offenders are available to the public. They are also banned from social networking sites. In the UK a move was made to follow in suit but it has been pushed back due to issues over privacy laws and costs involved in such an undertaking.
Reasons which have sparked off this online revolution include an increase of web cams attatched to instant messaging applications and a rise of pictures being taken from the internet of young people from social networking sites.

Interesting sites

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/blog

- The blog page on The Guardian webpage, is handy to study other blogs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology

- This is a useful site to keep up with recent technoloy breakthroughs and regular updates on today's technological world

http://www.ehow.com/how_5385888_understand-binary-system.html

- This is helpful to look over binary numbering systems. It may be a little hard to follow and it lacks in helpful diagrams but if you wanted to brush up this could help

The Vampire Diaries

The last episode [episode eight of season one] my friends, and totally and unbelievably diverged from the original book. I read the original book this summer and was very excited to see it be made into a series to be disappointed to find that they had totally re-arranged the characters to fit the 'main-stream' television show style.

   This series does however include some gruesome bloody scenes which borders on ridiculously fake. Who wouldn't love that? This link shows the common theme of blood in this show. The script may not prove much but I was actually shocked at how far they went to make the show more violent and dark than what they had started out with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P75GV5XdF6o

Do you think that television producers will ever stop butchering perfectly decent books?

NEVER is the sadly the answer. My heart will continue to be destroyed by the ridiculous adaptations that are produced each year.