A Chance to Win a Free Laptop?

Tech - No Comments » - Posted on August, 29 at 12:00 am

Ah, if it wasn’t for the fact that my laptop is barely going to be a year old in November, I would be all over this deal. As it is, I know there are quite a few of my readers who would like a laptop, so I thought I should pass this information on to you.

So what exactly is it that I’m blabbering on about here? Why, the Charter Laptop-a-Day Giveaway, that’s what! Right now Charter Communications is running a special promotion and all you got to do to enter is order any Charter Communications service online. Once you order you’re automatically entered to win one of thirty HP Compaq Presario C770US laptops. That’s over a six hundred dollar value! Not to mention, all online orders also receive a Shell gas card for up to $100 dollars.

The first laptop will be given away on September 1st, 2008. For the rest of September there will be another laptop given away daily. So if you’re going to be ordering a communications service why not pick Charter? Good prices and good service. Not to mention, you’ll get some money to help out with the gas expenses and you have the chance to win a free laptop. You can’t beat that with a stick. Here are the laptop specs:

• HP Compaq Presario C770US Notebook
• Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor
• 15.4″ WXGA Screen
• 2GB RAM -160GB hard drive
• DVD Burner
• Built in Wi-Fi and Ethernet

Also included is a NEOtec Laptop backpack. If you have kids in school, no matter the age, this is the perfect opportunity to get them a laptop for school. Take it from someone who actually used one for her college classes during her last semester, it really does help. If you’re a college student yourself, then this is a good opportunity to really get some bang for your buck. Great back to school deal here folks, or hey, Christmas is only a couple of months away too.

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Chapter 414 of Naruto

Anime/Manga - No Comments » - Posted on August, 28 at 11:14 pm

So, Hachi Kira, one of the coolest Jinchuuriki of all time, is about to be defeated by Sasuke just because he’s finally “grown up” and realized that he always had friends from the get go (Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi). Someone is about to die and be handed over to Akatsuki for Sasuke’s selfish foolishness once again? Don’t believe me? Read chapter 414 of the manga.

I still don’t understand why Sasuke’s sharingan looks so different from Itachi, Kakashi, and Madara’s either. I guess I’m just going to have to chalk this up to another instance where plot and development is sacrificed to make Sasuke “cooler”. I swear Kishimoto has totally screwed up his own series.

At least Naruto has finally learned to sense and use Sage chakra though! Although, the whole Sage chakra thing definitely has a DBZ feel to it. I like how Naruto’s eyes change though, when he’s channeling the sage chakra. Unlike Jiraiya who gets all warty, only Naruto’s eyes change. Sweet.

But of course, there is one important question that needs to be answered still. What about Konoha? Pein was on his way with all seven of his bodies. Is Konoha even going to be left standing after this? Of course, I still don’t understand what purpose Sasuke even has by joining the Akatsuki in the first place.

I think I just want this series to come to an end now. It’s not making any sense anymore.

Posted in Anime/Manga | No Comments »

Never Appreciate it Until You Don’t Have it

ORLY? - No Comments » - Posted on August, 28 at 10:57 pm

I’ve had the pleasure of trying to drive a car that didn’t have any power steering - that was a total pain. I still remember the day I was riding in the car with my mom when the power steering went kaput. Scary does not even begin to describe the terror I felt that day.

Today, when I was checking over my car’s fluids and cleaning the battery I couldn’t help but wish that I knew a little more about car maintenance, at least enough to work on my own car. I know my struts and the rear camber on my car need to be replaced, and that they’re going to cost me a pretty penny. But what would happen if my power steering rack needed replacing? There is a very handy website called PowerSteeringPros.com that would allow me to buy the parts that I might need, such as a steering rack or a steering box, but alas I can’t fix the car myself.

At least I could rest easy knowing that I saved money on the parts by ordering them from the site rather than through the repair shop.

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BTT: Stories

Bookworm, Memes - 3 Comments » - Posted on August, 28 at 4:21 pm

huh, I thought this week’s Booking Through Thursday question was a bit odd, but definately a good topic starter.

If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No … it’s because you want to know what happens next?

Or, um, is it just me?

Yes, a good storyline is essential. If the story is completely lacking then it really doesn’t matter what else the book has going for it because no one is going to turn a single page. However, the story itself can be so-so, but the characters, the settings, the writing, itself can be stellar enough to make up for it all and keep you turning pages.

In my opinion, the story itself is the first thing that draws you in. It’s what grasps your attention and gets you to pick that book out of the millions out there. But the story itself is not the end all to the book. It’s the main course, the foundation, but other elements keep you anchored down. I don’t care how intriguing a story is, if the characters are flat and the interactions between them are fake I’m going to be writing off the book as “had potential, too bad the author doesn’t know how to tell a tale”.

Story, characters, development, setting, style - all of these are necessary components and to say that only the story matters is akin to saying only the frame of a car is necessary. It might be what holds everything together, what gives it its appearance and draws you to pop the hood and check it out, but it’s not the car. The engine, the wheels, the radiator, and so forth, are what make it move.

Posted in Bookworm, Memes | 3 Comments »

Writing it off as a “Business Expense”

Shopping, Tech - No Comments » - Posted on August, 28 at 5:46 am

Perhaps I just spent too many years toting a backpack around, but despite the fact that I love my laptop to pieces and take it everywhere I go, I don’t really care for my laptop bag. I have a fairly decent shoulder bag for my laptop that I use, but it irks me as I’ve always preferred backpacks.

I do have a small leather backpack that has a soft velvet-like interior that I sometimes use to carry my laptop, but it was clearly never meant for such a thing. It doesn’t have much room and once I put my laptop in the main section and a few things, such as my earphones and thumb drives, in the front zipper, it feels like it’s going to burst. That and the backpack really isn’t that sturdy feeling either. Oh sure, I have my old backpack that I could use, except it would definately scratch my laptop up to hell and back.

At first I didn’t spy anything at Buy.com’s weekly sale that really caught my eye, but then I happened to take notice of this awesome looking Samsonite Laptop Backpack. It comes in a beautiful color (black!) and fits up to 17 inch screens with ease. Buy.com has it on sale for $31.99 (a savings of $18) which is a pretty fair price. I mean come on, this is a Samsonite backpack. Samsonite is one of the few brands that I trust whole heartedly, no matter what, and will always pick their products if the option is available. They’re durable, long-lasting, and well worth the price. All of my luggage is Samsonite, so I would definately trust my laptop to them.

And hey, I could always write it off as a business expense too. I mean, I would be using it to transport my laptop and I do primarily use my laptop for business purposes when it’s being lugged about.

Posted in Shopping, Tech | No Comments »