Articles by fin2000 on ArticleSnatch.com

Boost your Metabolism with Supercharged Snacks and Drinks

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:33:12 -0400

Whole-Grain Cereal and Oats Complex carbohydrates and fibre. High insulin levels signal the body to store fat, so fibre and complex carbs help the metabolism in a roundabout way by keeping insulin levels low. Chillies and Cayenne Pepper The chemical capsaicin, which gives chilli peppers their sting. The capsaicin in spicy foods (such as jalapeno chillies and cayenne pepper) stimulates the production of adrenaline, which speeds up the metabolism. Green Tea A chemical called EGCG. Drinking green tea on a daily basis boosts the metabolism, as the brew promotes the oxidation process of breaking down fats into energy. EGCG also triggers the brain and nervous system to work faster, helping the body burn more kilojoules. Lean Beef, Pork, Chicken and Turkey Protein. Proteins take longer to digest than fat and carbohydrates, so the body uses more energy to process them. People who ate a high-protein diet burnt more than twice as many kilojoules in the hours following their meal as those eating more carbs. Salmon, Tuna and Sardines Omega-3 fatty acids adjust the levels of the hormone leptin, and recent studies suggest that leptin directly influences whether the body burns kilojoules or stores them as fat. **End Summary** Topics: carbohydrates]]> carbs]]> store]]> fat]]> burn]]> energy]]> metabolism]]> insulin]]> levels]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Fatty Bits

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:08:19 -0400

Most of us have a tendency to put on weight in one particular place. Whether we have fat thighs, flabby arms or a potbelly, it's important to tackle these problem areas - not just to look better but, more importantly, to avoid the health risks associated with them. Ankles Chunky ankles are often the result of water retention before your period. Check by pressing your thumb against your ankle - if the skin springs back when you remove your thumb, it's fat; if you can see a dent, it's fluid. Persistently swollen ankles can be a sign of heart disease, liver problems, kidney failure or thrombosis. Get rid of it by drinking dandelion tea twice a day to ease water retention. If it's fat, try heel-raising exercises. Put your feet flat on the floor, lift up your heels so you're on tiptoe, then return your heels to the floor. Repeat for 10 to 15 minutes a day. Insides Even if you're a size six with no rolls anywhere (lucky thing), you may still be fat on the inside. **End Summary** Topics: weight]]> fat]]> thighs]]> flabby]]> arms]]> potbelly]]> areas]]> health]]> risks]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

The Eating Disorder Most of Us Have

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:06:51 -0400

For many 20-something women today it's an all-too-familiar feeling. 'I hated myself,' says Shirley, a 27-year-old salon manager, cringing as she recalls the previous weekend. 'I'd had friends around for drinks, and stuck to spritzers and crudites and the sushi, no problem. But clearing up, I couldn't help myself.' She polished off a large spring roll and tipped the last of the broken cheese curls from the bowl straight into her mouth. Then she caught her reflection in a mirror. 'I had these puffed-out cheeks and an orange-ringed mouth. I felt so guilty.' Silly, maybe, or funny. But guilty? What is it about many modern women that they feel they can't indulge in a little fried or artificially flavored fare occasionally without flagellating themselves? Or, in Shirley's case, going on a five-kilometre jog the next morning. 'It was that or a liquid day,' she says. Guilt comes from the belief that you have violated a moral standard. It produces a lingering and disturbing feeling driven by our conscience, which Freud saw as the result of a struggle between the ego and the superego imprinted by our parents' admonitions. **End Summary** Topics: guilty]]> guilt]]> food]]> indulge]]> physical]]> health]]> balanced]]> eating]]> women]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Partner in Crime

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:15:04 -0400

Discovering that someone you love is embroiled in crime is devastating. When actress Anne Hathaway found out in 2008 that her former boyfriend, Raffaello Follieri, had been arrested in connection with a multimillion-dollar property scam two weeks after they'd broken up, she admitted it felt as though 'a rug had been pulled out from under me'. She spent months avoiding the media's incessant questions about the man she'd been romantically involved with for four years - a man who'd bought her extravagant jewellery, which the police confiscated to be used as evidence in Follieri's trial. She wasn't there to support him in court when he was sentenced to five years in jail and is only now starting to talk about her traumatic ordeal. What do you do if someone you love is involved in crime? Should you support them through the inevitable fallout? Drug Mania Jane, 29, a journalist, lost her friend Anya to heroin five years ago. 'Anya and I clicked immediately when we met at a club in my second year at varsity, and became inseparable. We experimented with drugs but I decided I didn't like what they did to me so I stopped. **End Summary** Topics: love]]> crime]]> drug]]> drugs]]> heroin]]> cocaine]]> crystal meth]]> dealing]]> dealer]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

More than a Feeling?

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:18:03 -0400

You already have the answers to everything, if you can learn to access your intuition. Intuition is a survival mechanism we possess at birth, but it often fades as we grow up and start basing our decisions on logic. Those of us who are using it effectively include anyone successful as well as most sportsmen and women, emergency medics and police, who need to process information quickly and spot patterns. The rest of us would do well to use it more - particularly in today's trying times, when negativity and fear can cut us off from it. Intuition is about receiving information and interpreting it. Developing it simply requires awareness and focus. Seven Steps to Developing Intuition Opening Yourself - to the possibility of knowing more than you think you do. Noticing - paying attention to the signals and patterns around you, and to your emotions and those of others. Pretending - allowing yourself to imagine and play â€˜what ifâ€™, and seeing what pops into your head. Trusting - putting faith in what your intuition tells you. Reporting - recording and examining your intuition. Interpreting - working to recognize information that comes in bits and pieces or in symbolic form. **End Summary** Topics: intuition]]> answers]]> logic]]> decisions]]> successful]]> developing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Make Massage a Part of your Training Program

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:04:34 -0400

Youâ€™ve seen that guy. Heck, you might even have been him. That haggard-looking, sunken-eyed athlete lying on his back cringing in cramp, begging the kind volunteers in the massage tents to make his pain disappear - fast. He looks as though the massage is the only thing that's going to get him to the finish. And it might just be. At the very least it'll go a long way to limiting stiffness the following day. It's strange that there's a misconception among recreational athletes that they need to be completely exhausted to deserve a massage. They can learn a lot from the pro racers who use massage as a training tool. Sports massage was introduced to the world by the Soviet Union back in the Sixties when Communist Bloc teams had therapists travelling with them. The practice of providing ongoing and regular treatment for athletes (and the idea that this improves performance) spread to Europe and America only in the Seventies. By the late Nineties it had become commonplace for pro teams to have in-house therapists. Since then just about every big event (amateur or individual) offers it as a service. **End Summary** Topics: athlete]]> massage]]> cramp]]> pain]]> stiffness]]> treatment]]> muscle]]> therapists]]> sports]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Upper and Lower Body Total Workouts

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:45:38 -0400

Barbell Hang Clean Grab a bar with a shoulder-width grip and dip your knees, as if you're about to jump. Quickly pull the bar up and rise onto your toes. As the bar approaches chest height, bend your knees, swing your elbows forwards and catch it at your shoulders. Catch the bar in the crooks of your fingers. Barbell Squat Stand holding a barbell across the back of your shoulders with an overhand grip, your hands and feet shoulder-width apart. Keeping your back naturally arched, bend at the hips and knees to lower your body. Push back to a standing position. Lower your body until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor. Dumbbell Alternating Bench Press Lie flat on a bench holding dumbbells over your chest. Keeping one arm straight, lower the opposing weight to your shoulder, then push it back up. Repeat with the other arm and continue alternating until you've completed all your reps. Keep your shoulder blades pulled back into the bench. Neutral-Grip Pull-Up Grab the parallel bars of a pull-up-bar handle so your hands face each other. Hang with your arms straight. **End Summary** Topics: barbell]]> bar]]> dumbbell]]> dumbbells]]> body]]> bench]]> press]]> arms]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Awesome on the Water

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:20:17 -0400

Physiologically, it's brutal. We're talking about near maximal sustained ventilation - heart-rate and oxygen uptake to support the high power outputs over the six-odd minutes it takes to row 2 000m, while attempting to maintain the most effective and efficient technical form at stroke rates of 30 to 40 per minute. The Brit Sir Steve Redgrave, who many consider the greatest Olympian ever, was 38 when he won his fifth consecutive gold (in Sydney 2000). Rowing is primarily a strength-endurance type of sport. Use the one-legged squat to develop strength for optimal leg drive through the rowing stroke. Exercise: One-Legged Squats Find a high bench and stand on it so that one leg dangles over the outside edge. The bench needs to be high enough that your foot doesn't touch the ground when your other leg is in a parallel or low-squat position. Now, lower yourself slowly into the squat position (aim to eventually get your thighs parallel with the bench) and stand up. Try to aim for two to three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions on each leg. **End Summary** Topics: rowing]]> row]]> rowers]]> exercise]]> stroke]]> endurance]]> strength]]> sport]]> leg]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Save Par Every Time

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:45:11 -0400

The game's all about recognizing what makes a tough shot and adjusting your swing. Diagnose difficult lies and salvage strokes by following this advice. Long Iron from Deep Rough You want loft to escape the grass without sacrificing distance. Set the ball back in your stance, take the club back steeply and strike down on the ball, not deep underneath. You'll create spin, which helps take your ball out of the rough. Sidehill Downhill Putt Put more weight on your leading foot and resist the urge to direct the ball with your clubface. Just pick a line and commit to it: Every putt is a straight putt. Place your feet in the direction of your line, not towards the hole, and follow through. Short Chip from a Tight Lie Bump-and-runs can sputter. High lobs can overshoot. So don't choke the club and scoop the ball. Use soft hands and hit the ball with a square face. This keeps the ball low - the safest bet. The faster you land it, the less work you'll need on the green. Drive into the Wind Don't hit the ball hard; that'll create spin, allowing the wind to catch it. **End Summary** Topics: swing]]> strokes]]> ball]]> club]]> spin]]> rough]]> putt]]> hole]]> green]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

The Perfect Day of Weight Loss

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:25:47 -0400

7.00am Wake up and do two minutes of jumping jacks, high knee skips, push-ups or crunches. 7.15am Have two scrambled eggs and a slice of bacon. A 2009 Purdue University study found that a high-protein breakfast makes people feel fuller. 7.45am Hit the gym and lower weights slowly. Taking three seconds to lower weights during resistance training can rev your metabolism for up to three days. 9.00am Chug some milk. A diet with plenty of calcium-rich dairy products can enhance weight loss, that's according to a 2007 study of overweight people. 10.00am Grab a protein-rich snack, such as half a turkey or chicken-breast sandwich on wholegrain bread with Swiss cheese. In a Georgia State University study, athletes who ate three 1045kJ snacks a day were far more likely to lose body fat and have more energy than those who didn't. 11.00am Walk briskly around the office for a while. A recent study found that lean people walk an average of 5.6km further per day than obese people do. 1.00pm For lunch, eat a spinach salad with grilled fish and almonds. All of these contain magnesium, a metabolism-friendly mineral. 2. **End Summary** Topics: jumping jacks]]> high knee skips]]> push-ups]]> crunches]]> high-protein]]> gym]]> weights]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Wii Fit gets Serious about Exercise

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:04:17 -0400

When the Wii Fit, the Nintendo video game, told me my 'fit age' was 41 - a decade older than I actually am - I took it personally. After all, I run 32km a week and weight train twice a week. As I stood on its wireless balance board, Wii Fit gauged my BMI and had me perform stability tests. Though I was slightly underweight, my balance scores were apparently pathetic enough to age me. So I tackled Wii's fitness games for a week. Here's what I learned. Balance The Routine Four initial exercises; five advanced available. Best For Improving posture and overall body alignment. Pros Heading soccer balls, walking on a side and lean forward slightly. My balance scores shot up after a half hour of practice. Cons While the games kept me entertained for a week, I imagine I'd soon be sick of them and the post-workout evaluations by the virtual trainer who has a revolving script of tiresome one-liners. Yoga The Routine Four poses initially. Master these, and 11 more are â€˜unlocked.â€™ Best For Stretching slackers. Pros My tight hamstrings could certainly benefit from yoga, if I had the time and courage. **End Summary** Topics: Wii]]> fit]]> nintendo]]> game]]> games]]> weight]]> train]]> balance]]> fitness]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Canon EOS 1000D

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:30:03 -0400

The 1000D is the latest Canon DSLR targeted at the enthusiast market and it replaces the 400D. There might be some confusion caused by this because the 450D will continue to be manufactured and sits above the 1000D on the scale. The 450D has a higher pixel count, more AF points and a few more customizable options. The 1000D is a 450D with the fat trimmed off. While Canon has done a bit of cost cutting to make the 1000D fit into this price gap, the affects are not apparent except in the price region. The build quality is excellent and the body feels solid. Canon has not only cut costs but has in fact cut weight and made the 1000D the lightest DSLR camera in the Canon range. More experienced photographers will find the body a bit small which is an unfortunate feature of Canon's amateur DSLR range. A battery grip will easily solve this problem as well as giving you extended battery capabilities. The kit lens is an l8-55mm IS (Image Stabiliser) lens and is an upgrade over the l8-55mm lens that came with the 400D. **End Summary** Topics: DSLR]]> canon]]> 1000D]]> photographers]]> camera]]> price]]> range]]> lens]]> image]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Blackberry Curve 8900

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:13:34 -0400

The BlackBerry Curve would be the best BlackBerry ever if it had 3G. Fact. If you can accept that then stop reading now because it's the bottom line. The Curve is smaller, sexier and far more fun to use than the Almighty flagship Bold. Its screen is just as crisp, its menu ever so slightly tweaked, and it weighs in just under very light and just over cheap. It's a dark horse and BlackBerry knew it, so they crippled it and marked it as an outcast by making its Trackball black. If you still need proof, look no further than the upcoming Gemini 9300. It looks virtually identical to the Curve 8900 but sits in the 9000 series, which means that the RIM gods have permitted it the power of 3G. This is a bitter pill for the poor Curve 8310 owners who forked out close to Bold prices up until recently and who will no doubt think twice before considering the crippled 8900. Still things could be worse, they could be Storm owners. Idiot ranting aside, the Curve 8900 is a magnificent phone. **End Summary** Topics: blackberry]]> curve]]> black]]> 8900 3G]]> phone]]> data]]> features]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Make a USB Telescope

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:56:15 -0400

Much like McGuyver we're always looking to do interesting and what the kids might describe as 'cool things' with other people's - and frankly our own - discarded rubbish. While Management considers our all-day Ebay surfing as frivolous waste of company money and most recently, a dismissing offence. We deem it an essential core to our job description, but that's just between us and an industrial tribunal. On a more recent eBay trawl we came across the lucrative SLR film market. As the entire world has moved to digital there's a huge glutt of old and cheap film SLR cameras to be had. Even better is that many manual focus lenses - useless in this electronic metering day-and-age - are still in top-notch working condition and can be snapped up for effectively peanuts. Combine the lens with a webcam, and you have an instant digital telescope. The only problem being how to effectively mesh the lens and webcam? One solution would be to use a suitable 70mm drainpipe to create a mount. However, it struck us that it'd be easier to buy either a mount-converter and epoxy this to the pipe or better yet just buy a suitable SLR film. **End Summary** Topics: SLR]]> film]]> cameras]]> lenses]]> webcam]]> electronic]]> digital]]> telescope]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Pamper your Sole

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:53:47 -0400

Feet take a daily pounding from walking, standing and running. So what better way to make up for it than with a massage? There are many benefits such as improved blood and lymphatic flow, better range of motion, enhanced recovery, an increase in endorphin levels and stress relief. Okay, this is how it's done: Gently apply foot cream and slowly push the top of the foot away and then pull the top toward you using a moderate amount of pressure. Stroke the top of the foot with the thumbs moving from the toes to the ankle. Then stroke the bottom of the foot with the thumbs moving from the toe joints to the heel. Knead the ball of the foot with your fist, applying slow, firm pressure. Beginning at the base of the big toe, make gentle, pinching motions downward along the tendon all the way to the heel. Do the same to the other side starting at the little toe. Gently grasp and tug on each toe individually, moving the toe in tiny circles. Insert your finger between each toe and rub back and forth. Do this individually until all the areas between the toes have been massaged. **End Summary** Topics: feet]]> foot]]> stroke]]> massage]]> improved]]> blood]]> flow]]> relief]]> toe]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Sports Psychologists take their Advice to the Streets

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:09:47 -0400

Kate Hays, PH.D., A sports psychologist has heard every kind of pre-race anxiety. She once counseled a man who was having last-minute doubts about running a marathon in a chef's hat while carrying a cake to advertise his restaurant, even though he'd practiced in the get-up. Knowing that a mantra often helps, Hays quickly thought up one tailor-made to his circumstances: â€˜You know you can do 30km,â€™ she said. â€˜After that, it's a piece of cake.â€™ It may sound silly, but reassuring voices such as Hays's have become common at marathons as race directors realize the value of having someone on hand who understands the mental challenges runners face. At the pre-race expos and the starting lines of marathons, sports psychologists, usually runners themselves, talk runners through visualization strategies, help them develop mantras and calm prerace jitters. During the race, some bike along the course, offering encouragement to struggling runners. Afterward, they work in medical tents, tending to wounded psyches. What they've learned from working in the trenches can help any runner, whether you're training for a marathon or simply looking to increase your weekly mileage. Know the Route Psychologist Suzanne McAllister Avery, Ph.D. **End Summary** Topics: sports]]> psychologist]]> race]]> anxiety]]> counseled]]> running]]> runners]]> marathon]]> training]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

Windows 7: Tips and Tricks

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:27:23 -0400

First of all, the launch of Windows 7 is the perfect time to make the jump to 64-bit. Most of the compatibility issues are sorted, and you'll finally be able to get the most out your PC's RAM, instead of being stuck with a piffling 3GB. Consider this an order. As for day-to-day use, Windows 7 is the usual iceberg when it comes to change. It might look like the differences are skin deep, but there's no shortage of new features and applications under the surface. One of the best on offer is the Problem Steps Recorder, guaranteed to help out when family and friends come calling with their little gripes. If something doesn't work, get them to type 'PSR' into the command line, and Windows records every screen and mouse click they do, letting you see exactly where they've gone wrong. Another handy feature is support for CD images. Finally, you can burn ISOs without the need for extra software, and create/mount virtual drives. All you need to do is run diskmgmt.msc and attach away. For simpler tweaks, you can't beat toying with the Desktop. **End Summary** Topics: Windows 7]]> features]]> applications]]> PSR]]> desktop]]> RAM]]> tweaks]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Refusing to Overclock

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:31:29 -0400

As for the Q6600, our latest encounter with this old favorite was peculiar to say the least. Its long-lasting appeal has largely been thanks to its giant-killing overclocking prowess. With the latest GO stepping routinely hitting clockspeeds of 3.5GHz and up, why would you bother with its more expensive Core 2 Quad stablemates? Well, there is one reason. You might just get a chip like ours that stubbornly refuses to overclock at all. Now, it's very possible that a little longer with our latest Q6600 sample will unlock a little headroom eventually. A change of motherboard, BIOS tweaks and updates usually do the job...eventually. But remember: huge overclocks - while common - are not an absolute given. More to the point, they're not a part of the official feature-set, so you're unlikely to find much sympathy with your retailer if you attempt to RMA a processor because of any failure to clock the twangers off it. Last and frankly least, we have the bargain basement dual-core processors. Granted, we're big fans of quad-core CPUs. Games aside, the vast majority of PC applications that really benefit from a high-performance processor now scale nicely with quad-core chips. **End Summary** Topics: Q6600]]> CPU]]> processor]]> overclocking]]> clockspeeds]]> overclock]]> chip]]> quad]]> core 2]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Chips with Everything

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:21:30 -0400

Praise the Lord for the gift of 45nm silicon. For at last we have a fight on our hands in the CPU market. By that of course, we mean a real alternative to big, bad, beastly old Intel. With the launch of the new 45nm Phenom II chip at the end of last year, AMD finally has a CPU to keep Intel honest. Itâ€™s a huge relief both in terms of AMDâ€™s long term prospects and the knock-on effect on competition. Everyoneâ€™s a winner. After all, if it wasnâ€™t for AMDâ€™s existence, Intel would probably be flogging us dual-core, 2.5GHz Pentium 4s and weâ€™d all be non the wiser. Instead, weâ€™re chowing down on the quad-core, eight-thread, wide-issue goodness that is the Core i7 processor. There are even tastier chips to come from both Intel and AMD over the next two years. But that will be then. What impact, exactly, has Phenom II had on the here and now? Actually, itâ€™s more widespread than you might think. Until very recently, Intel had things sewn up from top to bottom. **End Summary** Topics: CPU]]> AMD]]> Intel]]> dual]]> quad]]> core i7]]> processor]]> 45nm]]> silicon]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Quads for Mods

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:52:52 -0400

AMD Phenom II X4 810 What's AMD's up to? You'd assume it would use a high-end chip to launch its new AM3 socket. But here we are with this 2.6GHz quad-core model. AM3 is actually physically identical to the AM2 socket, which means this CPU will also slot into many existing AMD motherboards. Significantly, however, it does add support for DDR3 memory. At least it would be significant if it made a real difference to the performance. We compared the 810 running courtesy of both DDR2 and DDR3 and found the gap was slim-to-none in reality. As for overclocking, the 3.25GHz our sample hits with a conventional air cooler may not be spectacular, but it is more than enough to lift this affordable chip into genuine high-performance territory. Not bad for about $240. Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 The Q6600 has been knocking around in some form or other for well over a year. Even the latest GO stepping has been around long enough to take on legendary status. Yet it remained arguably our favorite quad-core PC processor in this test. We expected a lot, thanks to its reputation for running at 3.5GHz or more. **End Summary** Topics: AMD]]> Phenom II X4]]> 810]]> chip]]> AM3]]> socket]]> quad]]> core]]> CPU]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Head to Head: 45nm Deathmatch

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:54:21 -0400

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition The processor that marked AMD's return to form has grown even more impressive since launch, re-establishing AMD's processors as realistic starting points for building a new system. This chip's awesome drop-in upgrade potential makes it a winner. If you currently run a budget AMD-based system with an AM2 socket and perhaps a modest dual-core Athlon CPU, an upgrade to this will rock your world. There's no need for a new motherboard or memory, just bang it in and bask in your PC's new multi-core prowess. With a stock clockspeed of 3GHz and 6MB of cache, the 940 is quick by any standard. The fact that it will run at well over 3.5GHz on air cooling just adds to the attraction. Model Intel Core i7920 When Intel announced its awesome new Core i7 quad-core processor, we were sure it would be priced out of reach of mere mortals. After all, in raw performance terms this CPU architecture has no equals. Surely Intel can name its price? It came as a pleasant surprise when we discovered the 2.66GHz 920 model would retail at under $450. **End Summary** Topics: AMD]]> Phenom II]]> X4]]> 940]]> black]]> edition]]> processor]]> upgrade]]> socket]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Head to Head Cheap CPU Chips

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:00:05 -0400

AMD Athlon X27750+ Black Edition. Price: $100 An AMD Black Edition processor for just $100? What devilry is this? Well, despite the arrival of the improved Phenom II, the lower end of the scale is where AMD still overwhelmingly operates. An unlocked CPU multiplier for easy overclocking is a feature that only comes with Intel CPUs costing well above $1500. The 7750's other item of interest is 2MB of shared L3 cache. That's right, this chip is actually based on the first-generation 65nm Phenom architecture and therefore benefits from a few added extras included wider floating point execution. Overall, a pretty nice dual-core CPU at the stock 2.7GHz operating frequency. The only slight let-down is its inability to clock beyond 3.lGHz. Intel Pentium Dual-core E2180. Price: $100 Intel's baffling alphanumeric naming scheme requires a sextuple first in philology to correctly identify any of its current legion of low end PC processors. But the 'Pentium' branding shows that this is a very modest beast. Headline specs aren't blinding. It chugs along at a wheezy 2GHz and sports just 1MB of cache memory, and 65nm is elderly by Intel's standards. It is at least based on the Core 2 architecture. **End Summary** Topics: AMD]]> athlon]]> x27750+]]> black]]> edition]]> cpu]]> unlocked]]> multiplier]]> overclocking]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Whip your Abs into Shape

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:42:13 -0400

If your routine of crunches isn't giving you the midsection you want it might be time to revise the routine. Performing the same workout over and over doesn't challenge your muscles. Do three sets of 15 repetitions of these intense moves twice a week. When they start getting easier, work up to four sets per session. Pilates Power Lie on your back, legs extended and together. Lift your head and shoulders, pull in your abs and raise your legs about 60cm off the ground. Your arms are raised next to your thighs. Press your hands down then back up quickly for as many counts as possible, working your way up to 100 counts. Max the Move Lower your legs 10cm when you reach 50 (or halfway). While doing this exercise, tuck in your navel - this will activate your core and protect your back. This exercise can be difficult at first, so break it up into 20 or 30 counts before trying the full 100. Lower Body Twist Lie on your back with your legs raised and feet flexed. **End Summary** Topics: routine]]> crunches]]> midsection]]> workout]]> muscles]]> intense]]> exercise]]> abs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .

We take a Look at Windows 7

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:16:57 -0400

Windows 7. In a neat little nutshell: It's Vista, but the Vista we wanted back in 2007. Polished, working, ready for whatever you throw at it, and with the endless UAC prompts forever banished to whatever hell we're meant to send well-meaning, but ultimately insufferable attempts to help us out We don't know exactly where that is, but we're pretty sure that Oprah record a chat-show there. Unlike Microsoft's previous operating systems, Windows 7 received a massive public beta. Chances are you've already downloaded it, and if not, at least at the time of writing you could still get yourself a product key from the website, should a 'friend' happened to have downloaded it in time. Even if you don't want to risk a beta OS on your computer, all this is a good sign that we won't be waiting long for the finished code, and that it'll be worth the incredibly short wait. Even now, it's incredibly stable, fully functional, and far more reliable than it has any right to be. **End Summary** Topics: Windows 7]]> operating]]> systems]]> system]]> computer]]> requirements]]> working]]> OS]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> For all your Discount Computer Parts, Notebook and Games requirements visit us at http://sacomputers.rr.nu and http://usacomputers.rr.nu .

Beat the Heat

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:24:18 -0400

â€˜When it's hot, I drink at least two more cups of water than usual,â€™ says marathon runner Robert McLane. If you're going out early, â€˜hydrate throughout the day before,â€™ says Aaron Runyon. The rule of thumb is to aim for 500ml to one litre of fluid per hour of exercise, or 100ml to 200ml every 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure you hydrate with fluids containing electrolytes since you will be sweating a lot of salt out. Look for a drink that contains 25 to 50 grams of carbs, 230 to 345 milligrams of sodium, and 40 to 100 milligrams of potassium. Run Very Early or Very Late â€˜We meet up anytime between 4 and 5am so we can be done around the time the sun rises,â€™ says Elizabeth Hensley, where the normal high in December is 36Â°C. If you can't go early, go as late in the day as possible. Although the sun is highest in the sky at noon, the earth's surface heat peaks between 3 and 5pm. â€˜I run at midnight,â€™ says Nick Davis, â€˜I wear just shorts and shoes. **End Summary** Topics: heat]]> sun]]> water]]> marathon]]> runner]]> hydrate]]> fluid]]> fluids]]> sodium]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu .