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How to Speed Up Your PC

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For most people, a slow PC is typically a sign that it might be time for an upgrade. However, that isn’t always necessarily the case. There are a number of steps that you can use to speed up your PC and squeeze some extra life out of it before it’s time to buy a new one. You just need to keep a few key things in mind.

 

First, you should always go through and remove any software that is installed that you’re not actively using. Most new computers come with a host of programs installed that nobody ever touches. This is commonly referred to as "bloatware." Go through and make a list of the applications that you absolutely need. Separate those from the ones that you never plan on using. Then, go through and uninstall all of the useless ones. You should see a bit of a speed boost right away.

 

In a further effort to free up hard drive space, you could also consider uploading a lot of those old documents that you’re not really working with anymore to the cloud. Cloud services like Dropbox are inexpensive and some even have free tiers that give you a set amount of storage space for free. This is a great way to take a little bit of the pressure off your hard drive. It should also give you a performance boost along the way. 

 

In terms of actual upgrades, know that you don’t have to run out and buy a new computer. You can be selective about what you upgrade to give your machine a performance boost. Figure out how much RAM (random access memory) is currently installed in your computer. Then, go online and type in the brand and model number to see the maximu amount of RAM your machine can support. If you’re financially able to, buy as much as you can to get that speed backk to where it needs to be. You can have a professional install it, or you can likely do it yourself. You’ll be able to find RAM installation instructions for your specific computer online.

 

Along the same lines, consider upgrading your older hard drive to a new solid state alternative. Older hard disk drives with spinning platters tend to take awhile to recall information, especially as they fill up. This is a big part of what is giving your PC that slow feeling. A SSD has no moving parts and can recall data almost instantly. Not only will this make it easier to work with files, but it will also allow applications to load much faster as well.

 

Finally, you could consider reinstalling your computer’s operating system in an effort to achieve that speed increase you’re after. The instructions for how to do this will vary depending on the operating system you’re using. Just make sure that you back up any important files that you can’t afford to lose before you do so to avoid any potential problems. 

5 Best Value Phones Right Now

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Are you looking for an affordable and reliable phone? Do you have a limited budget for a new phone? By focusing on the best value phones, you can find an option that fits your needs.

Nokia 6300 4G

Do you have a very strict budget? If you have limited funds for a new phone, then the Nokia 6300 4G is a good value option to meet your needs. The phone is less than $100 and offers more than 7 hours of battery life. Since the phone is very basic, it is not ideal for any individual looking for a high-resolution smartphone. It does offer reasonable connectivity, texting, and phone services, so it is a good value phone if you are looking for a basic phone.

Google Pixel 5A

The Google Pixel 5A is a reasonable smartphone if you have a limited budget. Although the phone does have a higher price tag than some other options, it is half of the price of the Google Pixel flagship phone and offers many of the same benefits. It is particularly useful if you need a phone with an excellent camera. The phone has a long battery life and reasonable RAM to handle most tasks.

Apple iPhone SE 2022

If you are looking for a value smartphone, then the iPhone SE 2022 may be a good choice for your needs. Although it is slightly more expensive than other value options, it also features an excellent set of cameras, fast processing times, and a battery life that exceeds seven hours. A key benefit of an Apple iPhone is the long-lasting service. The phone is likely to last for several years with proper maintenance due to the availability of Apple services.

Motorola Moto G Power

The Motorola Moto G Power is a value phone with a mid-range price. The phone features a powerful battery life that lasts more than 16 hours. The camera on the phone is reasonable and it provides a similar speed to other affordable phones. Since the phone focuses on providing power for an extended period, it is a good option when you need a reliable phone that will not run out of battery throughout the day.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a nice camera, a reasonable battery life, and long-lasting support. The phone receives up to four years of security patches, which makes it a long-lasting option. The phone has a mid-range price that makes it a great option when looking for an affordable and powerful phone.

A limited budget for a new phone does not mean giving up on quality. The best value phones offer a reasonable battery life, an affordable price, and functionality that is similar to other phones. By clarifying your specific needs, you can find the right phone.

Does Your Cat Hate You? Here Are The Signs To Watch Out For

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No one who shares their heart and home with a fuzzy feline friend expects their cat to hate them — but it happens. Cats are notoriously picky, and it’s not difficult to earn their displeasure. Keep in mind, however, that your cat probably doesn’t literally hate you. He or she just hates something that you’re doing. It could be as simple as wearing a fragrance that the cat finds unpleasant or feeding it food that isn’t tasty. It is also possible that you’re misreading your cat’s signals. Cats, especially during their kitten months, often scratch and bite as a form of play. Following are several signs that your cat may hate you. 

Your Cat Avoids You

Avoidance is probably the most telltale sign that your cat hates you. If your cat scrambles to hide when you enter a room, you should ask yourself what you may be doing to cause this behavior. It could be as simple as the cat being taken by surprise when the door opens. On the other hand, the cat may actually prefer not to be around you. If your cat accepts being petted and otherwise shows no other signs that it hates you, it’s likely that it’s just temporarily startled. Try opening and closing the door more softly and see if that helps. 

Your Cat Stares at You and Doesn’t Blink

One of the ways cats show trust and affection is to slowly blink as they stare into your eyes. Simply staring at you without blinking may not mean that your cat hates you, but it definitely means it doesn’t trust you. The next time you catch your cat staring at you, slowly blink while holding the animal’s gaze. This will convey to the cat that it has your trust. After several days of doing this without your cat blinking back, it probably hates you. 

Your Cat’s Tail is Twitching

A twitching tail is a sign that your cat is annoyed. It may not hate you, but something in the environment is causing it consternation. Check to see if something is unusual or out of place. Perhaps a strange cat is lurking outside. Always be careful around a cat with a twitching tail. This is a sign that the animal is on high alert and prepared to defend itself with teeth and claws. If your cat’s tail is twitching, do not pick it up and try to pet it. 

Your Cat Has Its Ears Laid Back

When a cat’s ears are flattened on the back of its head, that means the cat is very angry. Do not attempt to physically engage with a cat while its ears are laid back. This is a sign that the cat is about to attack. Try to find out what is bothering the cat while keeping your distance. 

Keep in mind that your cat may be temporarily annoyed with you, but not really hate you. 

How Ordinary People Are Helping Fight Climate Change: Inspiring Stories

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Climate change is rapidly worsening, and government policies aren’t changing at the same pace as the world. Many individuals are taking direct and immediate action, though. Here are inspirational stories of how ordinary people are helping fight climate change right now.

Xiye Bastida: Led School Strike

Xiye Bastida was a 17-year-old student when she organized her high school’s first student climate change strike. The initial strike made a statement and gathered news attention, but this effort wasn’t just one day. 

Bastida and fellow students continue to strike on Fridays, and she travels to speak about the imminent need for action. She’s personally suffered because of her strikes. Gym is on Fridays, and she doesn’t have a high grade. Some things are more important than passing physical education, however.

Bastida showed that climate change is something many people are concerned about. When everyone is shown a practical way to make a statement, many will join the collective voice.

Kelsey Juliana: Suing the Government

Kelsey Juliana led a coalition of students who sought to effect national change. They sued the federal government, claiming that its policies violate their right to a liveable environment.

The lawsuit has taken years, and the federal government has tried to get the kids’ lawsuit dismissed multiple times. The group stood fast all the way up to the Supreme Court, which stood by them and said they could sue.

The outcome of this lawsuit is still being decided, but they pioneered legal strategies in two ways. First, they established that people can sue the government over long-term climate change problems. Second, they removed the stigma of lawsuits filed by kids.

Phil Powell: Learning What He Could Do

Phil Powell was well into his professional career when he decided to learn about climate change. He went to a protest, but found that people in that setting weren’t interested in having collaborative conversations. As a result, Phil decided to focus his energy somewhere that the conversation was more productive. But, he wasn’t well informed and didn’t have much to contribute.

Phil chose to educate himself about climate change by going back to school. He completed a bachelor’s degree in environmental science as an older adult. After graduating, he combined his newfound knowledge of climate issues with a long-held knowledge of his local area. 

In 2009, Phil co-founded Gwent Energy Community Interest Company. The company has engineered and now manufactures low-cost solar panels. These are then offered to struggling community organizations throughout South Wales, which is where Phil and the organization are based.

Because of Phil and his co-founder’s work, communities that reach 400,000 Wales residents now have solar power. They estimate that 4,000 tons of carbon emissions have been saved by bringing solar to organizations that otherwise couldn’t afford it.

Apple vs Android – Which Is Better?

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A comparison between Apple and Android phones is often a highly polarizing process, as this purchase decision is often based on brand loyalty. Setting marketing and tribal allegiance aside, choosing the best phone can be challenging. While operating system is the most obvious difference between the two brands, you should also consider factors like ease of use, security and updates.

Overview

The hardware and operating system of iPhones are closely connected since they’re both proprietary technologies belonging to Apple, so the difference between models is relatively small. This isn’t the case with Android, whose smartphone models vary greatly in features and performance. As a result, you must ensure that you compare the right models between the brands. Assume, for example, that you’re trying to choose between an iPhone 13 and an Android model. You should look at the high-end Google Pixel 6 series or Samsung Galaxy S22 rather than the basic 2020 Moto G Power.

Source Code

Apple’s proprietary technology means that you’ll be locked in to its ecosystem as long as you want to use an iPhone. You may not mind restricting yourself to Apple products, but this vendor lock-in can show itself in other ways. For example, Fortnite, Epic’s popular online video game, isn’t available on the iOS App Store because the two companies are currently in a legal dispute over how users should pay for the game. Android is open-source software, so it’s more accepting of applications from different developers.

Ease of Use

iPhones have a reputation for being easier to use than Android models. This was certainly true when the first smartphones came out in the late 2000s, but it’s no longer the case today. All phone interfaces are now generally easy to use, but the control they provide is another matter. Android offers much greater control over its phones and their applications than iPhones do. Users who want to set up their phones in a particular way will definitely prefer Android.

Security

iPhones are inherently more secure than Android devices, provided you trust Apple to maintain your privacy. For example, Apple admitted in February 2022 that a bug in iOS 15 inadvertently recorded some iPhone users’ conversations with Siri, the iPhone voice assistant. Android’s phones aren’t fundamentally less secure than iPhones, but Google is more lax about the applications it allows in its app store than Apple.

Updates

iPhones win decisively over Android phones when it comes to software updates. When Apple releases an iOS update, all iPhones supported by the update receive it. Updates are less predictable with Android, since Google doesn’t control every aspect of its phones. While Google supplies the base operating system and some bundled apps, the phone manufacturers are responsible for delivering updates. This isn’t typically a problem with high-end models from Google and Samsung, but inexpensive Android phones from other manufacturers may never receive any updates.

Ways to Beat Sunburn No Matter How Much Sun You Get

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You need to get outside and spend time in the sun to be healthy. All the doctors say it. But, if you get too much sun, that’s also bad.

 

After all, no one wants a sunburn. Even worse, skin cancer is a real threat, and it turns out that getting sunburns dramatically increases cancer risks. What is a person to do?

 

With a little knowledge, you can spend a lot of time in the sun while mitigating burns and cancer risks. Here are four bits of knowledge that will help.

 

Radiation Safety

 

Sunburns come from the UV light in sunlight, and UV is ionizing radiation. It’s dangerous for the exact same reasons as x-rays, so radiation safety rules apply. Here are the three rules of radiation safety:

 

  1. Maximize distance
  2. Use shielding
  3. Minimize exposure time

 

We’re assuming you’re on earth, so you can’t really change your distance from the sun. That means you need to focus on shielding and exposure time. Shielding comes down to the stuff you already know: sunscreen, hats, clothing, and sunglasses. 

 

So, the real lesson here is exposure time. The longer you are in the sun, the more you burn, but there’s a trick. If you can break up sun exposure with periods of rest, your skin can recover from minor sun damage and reduce the risk of sunburn. If you’re working in the yard, take cover in the shade every 10 minutes or so until your skin no longer feels like you’re glowing.

 

If you’re hiking, bring an umbrella or other good source of shade. Every time you stop for rest, get in the shade. 

 

Polarization

 

You’ve probably heard of polarized sunglasses, but do you know what they do?

 

They actually employ a principle of quantum optics. Light travels in waves, but those waves can be oriented in any different direction. Polarized filters basically block any light that isn’t oriented correctly.

 

In effect, polarized filters block about half of all light (including UV). When they are combined with additional protection (like the tint in your sunglasses), then they’re adding a powerful layer of sun protection.

 

This is why polarized sunglasses are much better for your eyes, but there’s another trick. Did you know that polarized clothing exists? You can get polarized clothes that offer enhanced sun protection if you’re sensitive. Or, you can get clothes that let a little more UV through, allowing you to gently take in sunlight for natural vitamin D and melanin production.

 

Food and Drugs

 

Things you imbibe or put on your skin can change your UV sensitivity. Obviously, a higher sensitivity will lead to faster and more severe sunburns, so let’s look at what you might need to avoid.

 

There are more than a few foods and supplements that can increase UV risks:

 

  • St. John’s wort
  • Ginkgo biloba
  • Topical vitamin C
  • Scented soaps and perfumes
  • Glycolic acid
  • Retinols, benzoyl peroxide
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Cumin
  • Coriander
  • Dill

 

This is not an exhaustive list, but those are some of the most common troublemakers. 

 

There are also medications that can increase solar sensitivity:

 

  • Antibiotics
  • Antihistamines
  • Antifungal medications
  • Oral contraceptives
  • Hormonal treatments

 

Again, this doesn’t cover absolutely everything. The simple lesson is if you’re having trouble with sunburns, talk to your doctor to see if a change to diet, supplements, or medications can help.

 

Optics

 

Lastly, you need to know a little bit about how sunlight works if you really want to beat it. First, not all sunlight is equal. You can make great use of the UV index to figure out what days and times put you at the highest risk.

 

Beyond that, it helps to know that UV is more intense near the equator and at higher elevations. That’s because in either case, there’s less atmosphere absorbing UV photons before they can get to you.

 

Also remember that sunlight reflects off of surfaces. Even in the winter, skiers often get bad sunburns because so much UV bounces off of the snow (and they’re on top of mountains). Lakes, metal surfaces, and even light-colored sand are all highly reflective.

 

Top 5 High Battery Life Phones For Different Budgets

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Are you looking for an affordable phone with a long battery life? The truth is that none of us want to run out of battery in the middle of the day. Thankfully, we’ve found five phones that will last between one and three days without needing to be charged.

1. 2021 Moto G Power

The Moto G Power boasts a battery life of up to 14 hours, which Motorola says lasts for up to three days. The retail price ranges from 149.99 to 199.99. It’s available in silver, gray or blue and can be purchased with either 32 or 64 gigabytes of internal storage, which is plenty of space to store all your photos and download all your favorite games and apps from the Google Play Store.

2. Kyocera DuraForce Ultra 5G for Verizon

The Kyocera DuraForce Ultra 5G is available for the Verizon network. It boasts a battery life of up to 26 hours and can be purchased for between $16.99 and $24.99 per month. It’s available with either 64 or 128 gigabytes of hard drive space, which is perfect for being able to download all your favorite games and daily life management tasks. What makes this phone great is that it’s specifically designed to be rugged, meaning you can take it with you anywhere and not have to worry about dropping it or spilling water on it.

3. Asus ROG Phone 5

Asus’ ROG Phone 5 is a gaming phone that boasts an average battery life of up to 12.5 hours and costs $999 upfront. It also has great graphics, speed and storage. After all, it has to have those things. This phone was designed for extreme phone gamers, so if you like graphic-intensive phone games, this phone is for you.

4. iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro Max lasts up to 22 hours and can be charged wirelessly via a Qi-compatible charging pad. It boasts a case that is splash, water and dust resistant. Not to mention, If you enjoy taking pictures, you’ll love the camera. It can be used during the day or at night.

5. Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22 boasts an all-day battery, meaning you’ll only have to charge it at night. It costs between $279.99 to $799.99, depending on where it’s purchased. The Samsung Galaxy S22 has an all-aluminum frame and is waterproof. Its three cameras ensure that you’ll always get the perfect shot whether you’re taking pictures or your latest food adventure or on vacation.

If you’re looking for a great phone with a long battery life at a price you can afford, there’s a good chance one of these phones will meet your needs, even if you do a lot of gaming and store a lot of pictures on your phone.

 

 

How to Make Sure You’re Protected Against Online Threats

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It’s safe to say that over the last few decades, the Internet has unlocked a lot of benefits for most people. It’s how we stay in communication with our friends, family members and other loved ones. It allows us to work more productively. It lets us experience entertainment like never before. But at the same time, you also have to acknowledge that there are very real threats online that are worth paying attention to. Protecting yourself from those threats isn’t necessarily difficult, but it does require you to keep a few key things in mind.

 

For starters, you need to enable two factor authentication on any account you have that supports it. This includes not only your email but also things like bank accounts as well. Two factor authentication is a technology that requires more than just a password to gain access to an account. Once you type in your password, you’ll be sent a unique numerical code. This will come either to your email or, more likely, to your cell phone.

 

The idea is that even if someone were to gain access to your password, they would be very unlikely to have access to your physical device at the same time. Therefore, that password would essentially be worthless without the code. At the same time, if you get a code that you didn’t request, you’ll know something is wrong. You can quickly step in and change the password on the compromised account to prevent further issues from happening.

 

Another step that you can take to protect yourself against online threats involves always making sure that your operating system and other programs are updated. Many people don’t realize that the latest version of software does more than just add new features. It also patches security holes that hackers can leverage to do you harm. Therefore, making an effort to keep your system updated is one of the best ways to stop that from happening. Most updates are free these days anyway. 

 

Finally, you’ll want to make sure that you’re never using an unsupported version of an operating system. This is true even i it is one that you still like and that still technically functions. Microsoft stopped supporting the Windows 7 operating system a few years ago, for example. This means that when new security issues are discovered, and they absolutely will be, Microsoft will no longer offer support. This makes your computer a potential vulnerability just waiting to be taken advantage of by someone with bad intentions. You always need to upgrade to newer versions of Windows or the MacOS operating system as they become available to avoid issues like these moving forward.

 

In the end, the Internet is certainly not without its potential dark side. Countless new strains of malware appear online every single day. But by making an effort to understand this threat, you can enjoy all of the benefits of being online with as few of the potential downsides as possible.  

How To Know if You Have a Computer Virus

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Our increasing reliance on computers for work and daily activities can be a great convenience, but it also increases the negative impact of a computer virus. Installing anti-virus (AV) software is an essential step in protecting your computer, but even the best AV software won’t detect all viruses. You must also use your observation skills to identify the following behaviors that could indicate your computer is infected.

Abnormal Disk Activity

Unexpected disk activity should always prompt you to investigate the cause. While it may have an innocent explanation like insufficient space on your hard drive, it can also indicate the presence of a virus. For example, if you don’t think your computer should be doing anything and you see the hard drive light constantly flashing, you should determine the cause.

Bring up your task manger and sort the display of running programs in descending order of disk activity. Examine the programs at the top of the list to see if there are any programs that you don’t recognize. If you aren’t familiar with the programs that normally run on your computer, seek the help of an expert.

New Features in Your Browse

Internet access is one of the most common uses of computers today, making web browsers a primary target for hackers. Many viruses make changes to browsers that cause observable changes. For example, if your home page or wallpaper changes unexpectedly, it’s a strong indication that a virus has infected your browser. New tool bars are also a common change when a plugin is installed into your browser. In addition, you should always take notice when your browser redirects you to a different site from the one you’re trying to reach.

Sending out Spam

One of the main functions of viruses is to propagate themselves on other computers. They often accomplish this goal by sending email messages to other people on your contact list. These messages may contain an attachment with the virus, which will infect the recipient’s computer when they open the attachment. If you suspect this is happening, you should log out of all your social networking accounts immediately and change your passwords. Select strong passwords that are easy to remember but hard to guess.

Crashing Programs

Programs that crash frequently can be a sign that your computer is infected, especially if it’s software with a large user base. This can indicate the software is of poor quality, but commercial-grade software is generally more stable than this. Viruses can cause programs to crash when they compete for the same resources or change settings on your computer.

Summary

Modern AV software is highly effective at detecting specific viruses that it already knows about. It can also detect viruses that exhibit virus-like behavior, even when it doesn’t recognize that particular virus. However, you still need to remain alert to suspicious behavior from your computer.

How To Have Better Quality Friendships

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Friendships enrich our lives with companionship, support and love. The wrong friends bring us down, though, and affect our physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. Because friends are crucial, here are a few ways you can cultivate better quality friendships. 

Choose friends wisely. 

Look for friends who share your interests, balance your personality and uplift you. And remember that it is okay and healthy to break off friendships with people who are toxic or no longer involved in your life. 

Make time to connect. 

Quality friendships require intentional relationship building, which takes time. So, be available for your friends and participate in their lives. Send and reply to texts, schedule face-to-face meetings, and plan fun outings. Also, meet their families, celebrate important events like birthdays and learn about their interests. 

Maintain your own standards.

Commit to being who you genuinely are. Real friends will like, accept and enjoy the real you. And you can expect the same authenticity in return as you commit to building quality friendships that last. 

Practice trusting behaviors.

True friendship means you have each other’s backs. So, choose friends and become a friend who practices trusting behaviors like dependability, responsibility and integrity. For example, keep your word and refuse to lie to or about your friends. Likewise, defend friends when they’re criticized. And protect secrets and resist sharing or listening to gossip.

Listen well.

It’s easy to do all the talking when you are excited about a topic or need to process a challenge. But also give your friends time to talk. Then, listen carefully. Pay attention to their words and body language, and reply after they finish sharing.

Give and receive help.

Asking for help and sharing deep feelings requires vulnerability. These features are essential in quality friendships, so become willing to give and receive support and help.

Share feedback.

Friendship can help you grow as a person if you can share feedback. For example, a true friend will point out the lettuce in your teeth before you leave the table. Likewise, quality friendships allow both parties to discuss hurtful comments or problematic behavior patterns.  

Set and respect boundaries. 

Like all healthy relationships, quality friendships require guidelines about how you will treat each other. That means you may need to set limits on the topics you discuss or the hours you’re available. Also, agree not to use your friendship as free therapy. These and other boundaries help you create a mutually satisfying, nurturing and emotionally healthy relationship. 

Resolve conflict maturely.

Every friendship will experience conflicts and disagreements. Instead of nurturing resentment and unforgiveness, talk to each other in a respectful, mature manner. Share your perspective using “I feel, want, need, see” statements. Also, be willing to apologize. Seek to resolve the conflict without guilt, shame or emotional blackmail as you build a deeper connection. 

To have better quality friendships, be a good friend. Treat people the way you want to be treated, and you’ll attract the quality friends you deserve, desire and need.