Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cool Apple Products for a Writer to Have

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The wave of new computer technology swept away the generation of PCs and enchanted our contemporaries with its user-friendliness. The series of commercials, "I'm Mac, and I'm a PC," fails to leave no smile on your face no matter how hard you try. The only people who are not happy are those who produce the old generation computers that still catch viruses and make you feel like a computer genius when you find the Control Panel. If you still own an antique computer, it's time to go "Apple picking" - the happiest purchase you can ever make, especially if you use your computer a lot. 

Read: if you're a writer and you need to spend hours typing your brilliant ideas into a laptop.


But yes, I hear your concerns. Apple computers are usually two times more 

expensive than an average PC, but they are super fast, easy to use and save your information, and last but not least, they look great, with new Macbook Pro's all-aluminium unibody. If you're looking for a lighter and cheaper option, you can try Macbook Air, as small as 11-inch screen, great for those who carry their laptops around a lot. Macbook Air does not come with a CD reader, however, so if you feel like you need one eventually, you can buy it separately any time later. 

As we are becoming more mobile and need the technology to make our everyday load lighter, Apple comes up with iPads, elegant tablets, simple substitutes for a laptop. You can't burn or read CDs or use Flash players on those, but iPads, which come in 3G and Wi-Fi, are great for surfing the web on the go, storing your photos and music, reading books and newspapers and many other great things. There are lots of free and inexpensive applications like Maps, Facebook, various games and now iTunes U (which you can use to take online classes on World Literature or Creative Writing absolutely free from anywhere you are). You can even get an application that allows you to create and edit documents on your iPad, and you also able to keep up with your e-mail and see whether the publisher is ready to send you on your way to the bookshelves.


If an iPad is too big and expensive for you, then you should opt for an iPod touch, a smaller version of an iPad, which is just as functional. Of course, you don't get the big display and the 3G option of an iPad, but you can still use the Internet at a place where Wi-Fi is available and use the applications that don't require a wireless connection. You can even text and call free to different countries provided that the person you're calling has the same application through Pinger, Whats App, Viber and other applications, so you can stay in touch with many writers abroad.


And finally, there is the fastest and most convenient smartphone ever, iPhone 4S, with Siri as its hottest feature. If someone told you five years ago that you would be able to talk to a phone and get a response, you would think they were crazy. Now you can ask Siri for directions or information, as well as order it to send a text message or set up a reminder. This way you can spend more time writing you next bestseller and not worrying about everyday chores.


And don't forget the wonderful Time Capsule, which functions as a wireless router and at the same time saves all of your drafts through the Time Machine. Instead of keeping a pile of papers under your desk, enter your Time Machine from you Macbook Pro and restore any draft you composed before. You can even keep both drafts and compare them, and you can be absolutely sure than nothing you write will get lost if you hit the delete button by mistake.


Not only it is amazing how much you can do on one of those Apple devices, it is also great that if your phone or iPod touch has technical problems, Apple will always be there to help you out. Unlike RIM, who don't take responsibility for defects of their Blackberries, Apple geniuses are polite and willing to help you over the phone or in an Apple store in your area. They always take care of your problem in a timely manner and will give you a new device if they can't fix the problem with the old one. 


Therefore, if you're still convinced that Apple products would break your budget, think about how much easier and more pleasant they would make your everyday writing life. It's almost like unnatural in size Red Delicious versus organic Macintosh apples: when you taste the real thing, you will know the difference right away and will never go back to the old ways. Technology is advancing forward, so why should you stump in place?












Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Living Social in New York: The Benefits of Salsa Dancing

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salsa-dancing-addict.com
If you were to walk around New York City asking random people, "Do you salsa dance?" you would be surprised how many people would say yes to the question. Here are a few reasons why you should try it, too:

1. Great exercise. Learning cuban motion, you will end up loosening up your body and work out most, if not all, your lower body muscles.

2. It's fun. Two hours of working out your abs, gluts and inner and outer hips have never been so pleasant. The music is great, the movements are simple, and the better you become at spinning around and performing various steps, the more exciting it becomes.

3. New hobby. If you have trouble occupying your free time, this might be a wonderful option. There is no limit to salsa perfection: you can always learn new moves, and you will never stop developing. At the same time, you might only master basic steps and never go beyond your classroom, or shine at a local nightclub. It's all up to you, wherever you would like to take it.

4. Meeting people. Bouncing between work and home, it is always hard to make new connections, so it is awesome to attend classes and social dance parties at your school or any other school. You will practice your steps and get a chance to meet lots of people at the same time, whether you're looking for love or just new friends.

5. Access to classes. Living in any of the New York City boroughs, you will always be able to find a conveniently located school. There are lots of dance schools in Park Slope-Bay Ridge area and also in Midtown Manhattan, but there are also schools in Astoria, Corona and other neighborhoods. Find one you will have no problem getting to by car, train, or bus, and go there to check out the ambiance and teachers. You have lots of choices, so make sure you're making the best you can.

6. Price range. Depending on your goals, you can always stay within your budget. Schools usually offer both private classes for those who want to improve quicker, and group classes, which are much cheaper and more affordable. And of course, thanks to Living Social and Groupon deals, you can now get a month of unlimited classes for as little as $30 to see if this is really your cup of tea, which is fantastic considering that most schools charge about $60/month for one class.

7. Skill that you will never lose. It's almost like riding a bicycle. You might need some time to feel comfortable if you take a long break, but in general, your body will always go with the rhythm. Therefore, if you have salsa danced before, you should definitely find some time to get back into it.

As you see, there are lots of pluses that come with signing up for that first class, so if you feel like this is the time, go ahead and google salsa classes in your area and see for yourself what everyone in the city is so crazy about.


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

6 Worst Pick Up Lines

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Wandering the streets of New York City, we can't help bumping into one another. Sometimes a guy would see a girl of his dreams, and his palms would be sweaty with nervousness, while his brain tissue would warm up producing a good pick up line, after which her heart would supposedly melt like strawberry ice-cream and would belong to him forever. However, there are certain pick up lines that often turn your love-at-first-sight's back at you. Here are some examples of what NOT to say to a girl you want to break the ice with:

"You look gorgeous! Have you had plastic surgeries?" Hello, it is NOT a compliment to tell someone that they look like someone who had a nose job or a face lift. It's always her natural beauty, even when it's really not natural, that a woman likes to be praised for.

"You must be 25 (26, 27, 30, 45 etc.)" NEVER ask a woman about her age: if she is younger than you guessed, you will be her mortal enemy. Even 25 year olds want to look 17, and they are often mistaken for 30 year olds. Save yourself the trouble and let her age be her secret. If you like her looks, isn't that all that matters?

"You're exotic!" This sounds racist and not flattering at all. You can't risk to be offensive when you're trying to earn a girl's attention.

"Hi. You wanna hang out?" Hanging out is an indefinite offer, and a girl will often not know what exactly you mean, and you will most likely get a "no" for an answer if she doesn't run away as soon as she hears what you said.

"You have a boyfriend? Do you need another one?" If she has a boyfriend, be respectful and leave her alone. If she doesn't, don't rush to be one. You saw the girl for the first time, and your goal at this point is to get her number and get to know her. Rushing into a relationship shows that you're not taking commitment seriously, and girls don't like that.

"I love you." Too strong of a promise from the first sight. She won't believe you, and she won't like that you say these important words so easily.


Click here or here for some more examples of bad pick up lines, this time from a man's perspective, which you can check out if you want to improve your ice-breaking skills.


The list will be growing every day. When we are nervous, we tend to say something stupid, and the more experience you have with girls, the easier it is for you to start a conversation. Be mindful, and always show her respect. After all, actions speak louder than words, and it doesn't always matter what you say.




Thursday, August 9, 2012

Playing a Game, Thinking of Life

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"Unblock Me" is a game for Android, iPod touch, iPhone and iPad that makes one think logically; however, as far as I'm concerned, when playing it, I'm thinking philosophically. In a strange way, the game reminds me of life itself, with its difficulties, doubts and surprises.

If you have never played this game yourself, I must tell you that the objective of "Unblock Me" is to get the red block across the field by means of removing obstacles (other blocks of different lengths). Horizontal blocks, like the red one, can be only moved horizontally, and vertical - vertically. Simple, isn't it?

Simple as life itself. We often know what the objective is, and on the way to achieving our goals, we encounter lots of obstacles. It happens a lot that in order to remove an obstacle we have to modify or get rid of other ones, which we don't always know how to do. There is a block somewhere that doesn't let us move forward, and it is only more annoying if the goal we set is about to be achieved. When we think about it, playing around with other blocks, moving them back and forth, we finally find a solution, and it seems so easy that it astonishes us that we could not figure it out earlier.

I'm only on the beginner level of the game, and still, I occasionally get stuck with the same problem. It seems like the puzzle is unsolvable. What I like to do on those occasions is to put the puzzle aside and come back to it later. When I do so, it often happens that I solve it easily, just by looking at it anew, and then it is not unsolvable anymore. Similarly, if something worries me and I can't decide what to do, I sometimes let it sit, "sleep on it," and a new day often brings relief.

There are also moments when the solution is right there; the red one is unblocked and is waiting to be sent through, but I keep playing with the obstacles, not seeing that here it is, the puzzle is solved, and I should make the last move and go on to another puzzle. Some are easier than others, and they might take less time and effort on the way to "unblocking;"however, the hardest puzzles bring more satisfaction when they are resolved, and they often turn into learning experiences we can use for other puzzles we struggle with in the future.

And the most important thing is to remember that it is nothing but a game. Giving up is not an option; that's for the weak, so keep trying, let yourself rest as needed and don't let the obstacles outwit you. It's you who's playing the game and not the other way around.


Get "Unblock Me Free" for Apple products or Android and start working on your own philosophy!