dressing sense tips

1) Sweaters

If you think of yourself as "too thin", wear your sweater tucked inside your pants. It adds inches around your waist. But if you think of yourself as "too heavy", don't tuck. Also, another don't for women who self-identify as heavy, don't wear chunky cable knits. Stick with cashmere, fine cotton knits and silk/nylon pieces. It gives you the warmth but not the bulk.
Tight sweaters can make you look thinner or bustier than you might like. Don't believe Victoria's Secret. Really tight sweaters on women with extreme bust lines do not belong in the real world.
One Hollywood tip we can pass along regarding turtlenecks is that a lot of "mature" stars (both male and female) use them to hide a neck that they'd rather not call attention to.
The sweater that is a "must have" for every wardrobe is the sweater coat that's thigh-length or longer. They're very trim and very classy. For the rest of our love letter to this classic cut, see "Blazers" below.

2) Shoes/Boots

Fall is the perfect time to match your great leather or "faux" skin shoes with a great bag or belt for a really hot look. If the only thing smaller than your closet is your budget, keep your color choices to the neutrals and your styles basic. Neutrals work with more pieces and basic styles are safer. Trendy or exotic footwear can really trip you up. For instance, trendy "chunky" shoes can wreak havoc with rounder, heavier body profiles and exotic thigh-high boots will devour a woman who is petite.
Shoes are very retro now. The '40's and 50's are back with pointy toes and high heels. The pinched look Betty Davis had in movies wasn't all acting, it was the shoes. If "pain" is not your thing, go for toned-down versions with lower heels and more room for your toes.
If you prefer style over substance, please relegate any boot that can best be described as "galoshes" to the "I don't care how I look" category. This tip goes double for those rain boots that you slip on over your shoes.

3) Colors

The colors for fall are lush and rich - golds, browns, burgundies and rusts. Do buy your basics in any of these timeless shades. Wild and crazy colors are supporting players this year. For a happening look, give the world just a splash of color by wearing busy blouses under blazers, jackets and big shirts.
If you really want to make your mark, try monotone dressing. Pick a color that works for you and offset it with an eye-catching accessory like a scarf or some jewelry (no more than two matching pieces of jewelry at a time please). Just wear the accessory from the breastbone up so it brings attention to your face.
Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day. That rule was made when white was only used in summer-weight fabrics. Now they're called "Winter Whites" and from cashmere to wool and corduroy to leather, they are all to die for
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4) Blazers/Shirt Jackets/Sweater Coats.

Okay, so we mention this fall dressing "do" with all the regularity of Chinese water torture. Do buy a good blazer. It's the Swiss knife of dressing. You can mix and match it with tops and bottoms, dress it up or down and you can cover a torso you'd rather not call attention to. Also do try to own at least one "Duster" length blazer, jacket or sweater. It's instantly classy and elongates the profile.
If you can only afford one blazer, shirt jacket or sweater coat, make it a more conservative cut and a neutral color. It goes with more things and if you choose a darker color, you won't have to take it to the dry cleaners as often. Whatever color you choose just make sure it's one of the three colors you wear most and you can't go wrong.
We can't talk about fall jackets without mentioning coats. We see overstuffed ski parkas and boxy men's coats everywhere. But these styles are verboten if you think you're already "boxy" to begin with. Belted jackets and coats are also "in". However, if your waist isn't as small as you would like, forget the belt or opt for a more flowing beltless style.

5) Skirts/Pants

The second you slip on a skirt or a pair of pants, you are adding bulk If you're big on the bottom, stick with pants or skirts that are slimming but not tight. This year the very slim, almost legging pant should probably not be in your closet. If you're hippy, they make your rearend look like an overstuffed sofa. If you're thin and your thighs are the same size as your upper arms, they will make you look like a walking wishbone. If you think the wishbone-look is attractive, think again.
In the seventies, tucking your pants into your boots was all the rage. Just check Partridge Family re-runs. That look is back. If long legs are not your biggest asset, tucking your pants can literally cut you off at the knees. If your body profile is thick in any area, "tucking" will only make you look lumpier.
"Boot cut" is the word in pants this season. This cut is slightly flared at the bottom so it helps offset your butt if it's not as small as you would like. But no matter what your body type is, keep the angle of the flares slight or you will look like the missing member of Sly and the Family Stone.
Lots of pants are "low cut" now so you can put your belly button on display. Exposing your navel when it's cold outside is totally up to you but this look works best on young girls or women who spend a lot more time at the gym than they do eating.
Skirts are coming in more styles and lengths than ever before. Consider body type and height here. If you're short of stature, skirts can make you appear more so, especially one that stops mid-calf.
Sometimes age is a factor. If you can remember when miniskirts first made their appearance, you are probably too old to wear one. Stick to skirts that are knee length, just above the knee or just below. They work well for almost everyone's shape or age.
Be careful with the shapes of skirts this fall. The pencil skirt is great for hips you don't want to emphasize. The A-line works for slimmer hips, as well as hide heavier thighs. If you have a waist you do not want to emphasize, avoid all around elastic waists. They do no favors for your midsection.

6) Maintenance

Clothes are like kids. If you don't take care of them, they'll fall apart on you at the worst possible time. Clothing manufactured for the fall/winter season should last at least from September to May. If you buy wisely and well, it can last a lifetime. So the challenge is to keep the wear and tear to a minimum.
Do hang or fold your clothing neatly when not in use. Repeated dry cleaning or ironing to get the wrinkles out will shorten the life of your garment.
Do follow the garment's "care" label to avoid the heartbreak of shrinking, shredding or fading. If perspiration is a problem, invest in underarm dress shields or pads. They can be either washable or disposable and can protect against both odor and stains. If you have leather pieces, there are tons of products to protect, clean and waterproof them.
Do mothproof your closet. We don't believe in cruelty to animals. But if moths treat your velvets like an all-you-can-eat buffet, you must declare war. A tailor can render some moth holes invisible but a pre-emptive strike is recommended.

7) Hats

Hats are very personal. There are no strict rules on what shape works for you. However, if you are a larger lady, try to find larger brimmed hats to keep your proportions in perspective. If you are petite, a close-fitting cloche will look great. Berets work for almost everyone. But like jeans, you have to keep trying them on until you find the one that makes you say, "Hot stuff comin' through!".
No matter what you buy this fall remember our golden rule. "Don't just buy what's 'in'. Always buy what's right for you." The wrong choice can leave you standing out in the cold.

tips for bike wheelie

1. 1
   First step is a basic "roll on power wheelie". Basically, you need a bike with enough power to raise the front wheel off the ground with simple acceleration. You need to get comfortable with the front end getting "light". Most stock bikes won't be able to do this without some modification. You can also try getting the bike up to a good speed in first gear(around 10-20 kph), once you reach the powerband (where the engine starts to go faster with little throttle) let off just a little, then give it a lot of gas. Not so much gas that you flip over, but a good amount. You'll notice the front end pick up, and if you let off the gas, it goes back down. More gas after the powerband will get it up higher. If you don't have a stabilizer, this would be the ideal time to get one. Trying to lift the bike off the ground and then coming back down suddenly will cause the front tire to shake. If you don't land almost perfectly straight, you will do a highside (flip off the bike over the front). You will be hurting and so will your bike. Once you get comfortable with the front end getting light, try to carry the wheelie further each time. After you are comfortable with this move on to the next step, which is slipping the clutch.
   
   

   
   

   
   

   

   
   
2. 2
   Roll at about 10-20 kph in first gear on
3. 3
   Pull in the clutch and rev the motor a little, then slip the clutch. Do this a few times with a little more gas each time until you start to feel comfortable with how high the front end is coming up. The front end will come up quicker than a power wheelie, so be prepared.
4. 4
   Once you are comfortable getting the front up a little, it's time to worry about throttle and brake control. Use the throttle to maintain the height of the wheelie and the back brake to keep from looping the bike. Chopping the throttle while in first will almost always bring you back over, but you will most likely slam the front pretty hard.
5. 5
   If you get good enough at the brake control, you can ride a wheelie in first until the motor blows, in theory. But at first you will probably just run through your rpm range and drop the front down. This is when you need to shift to second. It's a clutchless shift, at the peak of the wheelie when you have about 3k rpm's left before redline. Let the front come down just a bit and simultaneously shift to second.
6. 6
   Once you get in the second gear, pull the accelerator so as not to let the bike go down due to inertia, and find a balance point upon which your bike is steady in the air on the front wheel. Balance point can be found by leaning on the rear side of the bike, so that centre of gravity of the whole system (you and bike) is in the centre, and you can roll on long. But take care as not to shift the body position on the back side, as you will be likely to fall in that case, and keep your rear brake ready for any such situation.

traffic fines in india

Fine Amount Sl. No. TRAFFIC OFFENCES SECTION OF LAW FINE AMOUNT (Rs.) 01 Dangerous Drive Two Wheeler  M.V.Act 184 300  02 Dangerous Drive Non-Transport Vehicle(White Board) M.V.Act 184 400 03 Dangerous Drive Transport Vehicle(Yellow Board) M.V.Act 184 500 04 Whoever drives a Vehicle or cause Vehicle to be driven at a speed exceeding the maximum speed fixed Section 112 read with sec.183(1) & (2) of M.V. Act 300 05 Racing & trails of speed Section.189 of M.V. Act 500 06 Carrying excess passengers in i) 3 Wheeled Vehicle ii) Transport Vehicles including buses Section 177 of the M.V. Act 100/- for every excess passenger 07 Drunken Drive M.V.Act 185 Court Fine 08 No Parking Section 177 of M.V. Act 100 09 Demanding Excess Fare & refusal to come for hire etc., by Autoricksaw Driver or Taxi Driver Rule 13 (U) of the KMV Rules read with Section 177 of the M.V. Act First time 100/-, 2nd & subsequent offences 300/- 10 Defective Fare Meter 16 Clause (K) 100 11  Defective Silencer 16 Clause 120 100 12  Emitting Black Somke 190 Clause (2) 300 13 Shrill Horn 190 Clause (2) 100 14 Without Permit 190 Clause 192 Court Fine 15 Without Driving License Two Wheeler Sec.3 read with Sec.181 of the M.V. Act.  300 16 Without Driving License Non-Transport Vehicle Sec.3 read with Sec.181 of the M.V. Act. 400 17 Without Driving License Transport Vehicle Sec.3 read with Sec.181 of the M.V. Act.  500  18 Driving a Motor Vehicle in any public place by an under aged person Sec.4 read with Sec.181 of the M.V. Act. 500 19 Owner of a Motor Vehicle permitted any person to drive his/her Vehicle in contravention of section 3 or 4 Sec.5 read with Sec.180 of the M.V. Act. 1000 20 Jumping Traffic Signal Rule 119, read with section 177, M.V. Act 100 21 Wrong Parking 190 Clause 117 100 22  Cutting Yellow Lane/Lane Discipline 190 Clause 119 100 23  Defective Number Plate 190 Clause 50 100 24  No Entry 190 Clause 115 100 25  H.T.V. Prohibited 115 R/w 177 100 26  Without Uniform 14 R/w 177 100 27  Without I.C 14 R/w 106 500 28  Without F.C 14 R/w 56 Court Fine 29  Defective Head Light 14 R/w 106 100 30  Without Tail Light 14 R/w 250 100 31 Driving any Motor Vehicle without number plate Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules read with section 177 of the M.V. Act First time 100/-, 2nd & subsequent offences 300/- 32  Footboard Traveling 94 Clause (2) 100 33  Gents Traveling Ladies Seat in BMTC Bus 94 Clause (4) 100 34  Holding / using Mobile Phone while Driving / riding a Vehicle  Section 230 (A) KMVR R/W Sec 177, I.M.V Act  100 35 Not wearing Helmet to head while riding the Vehicle 230 of the KMVR 1989 in sub rule (1) 100 36 Triple riding Section 128 (1), MV Act R/W sec 177 MV Act 100 37 Wrong Parking + Towing charges(2Wheeler)  - 300 38 Wrong Parking + Towing charges (Car)  - 400 39 Wrong Parking + Towing charges (HGV)  - 500  40 Driving without wearing Seat Belt - 100 41  Using Black Film/Other Materials SEC 100 CMVR R/W 177, MV ACT First time 100/-, 2nd & subsequent offences 300/- KARNATAKA POLICE ACT & KARNATAKA TRAFFIC ACT Sl. No. TRAFFIC OFFENCES SECTION OF LAW FINE AMOUNT (Rs.) 01 Footpath Vendor 92 (G) Court Fine 02 Stray Cattle 92 (e) Court Fine 03 No Entry for Cycle 92 (b) Court Fine 04 without Light for Cycle 92 (a) Court Fine 05 Jay Walker Rule 6, 18 K.T.C.Act Court Fine

 

5ways to stop drinking alcohol

1. Join Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous has been the quintessential source of help for alcohol addicts since the 1930s and has helped tens of thousands of people stop drinking. The group uses a 12-step program that teaches problem drinkers to release their reliance on alcohol by focusing on a higher power and being accountable to family and friends. There are thousands of Alcoholics Anonymous groups all over the country, and anyone who wants to stop drinking can join. There is no membership fee, though some groups accept voluntary donations to keep the meetings going.

2. Let a Pill Deter You From Drinking

Disulfiram, also known as Antabuse, is widely used in Europe as a deterrent to drinking, and it is now starting to be used in the United States as well. Disulfiram prevents the body from fully metabolizing alcohol, which causes a buildup of toxins in the system that can cause some extremely unpleasant side effects. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, blurred vision, confusion and low blood pressure are just some of the normal side effects this drug can produce.

If a person has consumed a lot of alcohol while taking disulfiram, more intense reactions can occur. These effects of the drug may require medical intervention and can even be life-threatening. The horrible side effects produced by disulfiram are meant to discourage people from continuing to drink. However, due to its potentially dangerous nature, only severe alcoholics who have a strong motivation to quit drinking should take it.

3. Use Self-Management and Recovery Training

Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) is like the nonreligious version of Alcoholics Anonymous, only with a wider reach. SMART recovery can be used for any addiction, not just drinking. The SMART system teaches people to manage their urges as well as their feelings about alcohol and to enhance their personal motivation to quit drinking. This technique doesn't rely on a higher power. Instead, it teaches personal power, showing each addict how to control his addictive behavior.

The SMART organization is still quite small, with about 300 groups meeting each week around the world. However, the SMART website has virtual meetings, message boards and information that you can use if there isn't a group meeting in your area.

4. Get the Alcohol Out of Your System

Detoxing from alcohol is a necessary step if you've been an alcoholic for a long time and drink to excess on a daily basis. In cases of severe alcoholism, the body is constantly inundated with alcohol, so when you stop drinking, your body goes through extreme withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can actually be fatal in certain circumstances. However, you'll never get sober without going through detox. The best thing for you to do is to go to an in-patient alcohol rehab center. Such centers have doctors on staff who can help you go through detox safely by managing withdrawal symptoms with medical intervention as necessary.

5. Avoid Alcohol Entirely

Sometimes alcohol can be sneaky. It hides in certain foods, such as wine in a pasta sauce or rum in a chocolate cake. To kick the alcohol habit completely, it is critical that you avoid alcohol in all of its forms, even in food. If you're not sure of the ingredients in something you're about to eat, ask. Even if you don't realize alcohol is present in your dinner, it will still be exerting a subtle influence over you, and that will make it even more difficult for you to stop drinking. It may also bring back a long-forgotten craving for alcohol once you've been sober for a while.

ways to stop smoking

1. Make an honest list of all the things you like about smoking. Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper and write them on one side; on the other side make a list of all the things you dislike, such as how it can interfere with your health, work, family, etc., suggests Daniel Z. Lieberman, M.D., director of the Clinical Psychiatric Research Center at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Think about the list over time, and make changes. If you are brave enough, get feedback from family and friends about things they don't like about your use of cigarettes. When the negative side outweighs the positive side, you are ready to quit. 

2. Then make another list of why quitting won't be easy. Be thorough, even if the list gets long and discouraging. Here's the important part: Next to each entry, list one or more options for overcoming that challenge. For instance, one item might be: "Nicotine is an addictive drug." Your option might be: "Try a nicotine replacement alternative." Another reason might be: "Smoking helps me deal with stress." Your option might be: "Take five-minute walks instead." The more you anticipate the challenges to quitting, and their solutions, the better your chance of success. 

PLUS: 15 Secrets ER Staff Won't Tell You 

3. Set a quit date and write a "quit date contract" that includes your signature and that of a supportive witness. 

4. Write all your reasons for quitting on an index card and keep it near you at all times. Here are some to get you started: "My daughter, my granddaughter, my husband, my wife..." You get the idea. 

5. As you're getting ready to quit, stop buying cartons of cigarettes. Instead, only buy a pack at a time, and only carry two or three with you at a time (try putting them in an Altoids tin). Eventually you'll find that when you want a smoke, you won't have any immediately available. That will slowly wean you down to fewer cigarettes. 

6. Keep a list of when you smoke, what you're doing at the time, and how bad the craving is for a week before quitting to see if specific times of the day or activities increase your cravings, suggests Gaylene Mooney, chair of the American Association for Respiratory Care's Subcommittee on Smoking and Tobacco-Related Issues. Then arrange fun, unique things to do during those times, like some of the ones we recommend here. 

PLUS: 6 Mistakes Your Doctor May Be Making 

7. Prepare a list of things to do when a craving hits. Suggestions include: take a walk, drink a glass of water, kiss your partner or child, throw the ball for the dog, wash the car, clean out a cupboard or closet, have sex, chew a piece of gum, wash your face, brush your teeth, take a nap, get a cup of coffee or tea, practice your deep breathing, light a candle. Make copies of the list and keep one with you at all times so when the craving hits, you can whip out the list and quickly do something from it. 

8. When your quit date arrives, throw out anything that reminds you of smoking.That includes all smoking paraphernalia -- leftover cigarettes, matches, lighters, ashtrays, cigarette holders, even the lighter in your car. 

9. Instead of a cigarette break at work, play a game of solitaire on your computer. It takes about the same time and is much more fun (although, like cigarettes, it can get addictive). If your company prohibits games like that, find another five-minute diversion: a phone call, a stroll, or eating a piece of fruit outdoors (but not where smokers congregate). 

10. Switch to a cup of herbal tea whenever you usually have a cigarette. That might be at breakfast, midmorning, or after meals. The act of brewing the tea and slowly sipping it as it cools will provide the same stress relief as a hit of nicotine. 

PLUS: 7 Ways to Eat for Better Memory 

11. Switch your cigarette habit for a nut habit -- four nuts in their shell for every cigarette you want to smoke. This way, you're using your hands and your mouth, getting the same physical and oral sensations you get from smoking. 

12. Carry some cinnamon-flavored toothpicks with you. Suck on one whenever a cig craving hits. 

13. Make an appointment with an acupuncturist. There's some evidence that auricular acupuncture (i.e., needles in the ears) curbs cigarette cravings quite successfully, says Ather Ali, N.D., a naturopathic physician completing a National Institutes of Health-sponsored postdoctoral research fellowship at the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby, Connecticut. You can even do it yourself by taping "seeds" (small beads) onto the acupuncture points and squeezing them whenever cravings arise. 

14. Swing by the health food store for some Avena sativa (oat) extract. One study found that, taken at 1 milliliters four times daily, it helped habitual tobacco smokers significantly decrease the number of cigarettes they smoked. 

15. Think of difficult things you have done in the past. Ask people who know you well toremind you of challenges you have successfully overcome, says Dr. Lieberman. This will give you the necessary self-confidence to stick with your pledge not to smoke. 

PLUS: 7 Anti-Aging Secrets 

16. To minimize cravings, change your routine. Sit in a different chair at breakfast or take a different route to work. If you usually have a drink and cigarette after work, change that to a walk. If you're used to a smoke with your morning coffee, switch to tea, or stop at Starbucks for a cup of java -- the chain is smoke-free. 

17. Tell your friends, coworkers, boss, partner, kids, etc., how you feel about situations instead of bottling up your emotions. If something makes you angry, express it instead of smothering it with cigarette smoke. If you're bored, admit to yourself that you're bored and find something energetic to do instead of lighting up. 

18. If you relapse, just start again. You haven't failed. Some people have to quit as many as eight times before they are successful. 

PLUS: 8 Connections Between Diet and Sleep 

19. Put all the money you're saving on cigarettes in a large glass jar. You want to physically see how much you've been spending. Earmark that money for something you've always dreamed of doing, but never thought you could afford, be it a cruise to Alaska or a first-class ticket to visit an old college friend. 

20. Switch to decaf until you've been cigarette-free for two months. Too much caffeine while quitting can cause the jitters. 

21. Create a smoke-free zone. Don't allow anyone to use tobacco in your home, car, or even while sitting next to you in a restaurant. Make actual "No Smoking" signs and hang them around your house and in your car. 

22. Find a healthy snack food you can keep with you and use in place of cigarettes to quench that urge for oral gratification. For instance, try pistachio nuts, sunflower seeds, sugarless lollipops or gum, carrot or celery sticks. The last ones are best if you are concerned about weight gain. 

PLUS: 5 Snacks for 100 Calories You Can Stash At Your Desk 

23. Picture yourself playing tennis. Or go play tennis. British researchers found volunteers trying to quit smoking were better able to ignore their urges to smoke when they were told to visualize a tennis match. 

24. Quit when you're in a good mood. Studies find that you're less likely to be a successful quitter if you quit when you're depressed or under a great deal of stress. 

25. Post this list in a visible location in your house. Whenever you're tempted to light up, take a look at all the ways smoking can damage your health: 

pc assembling tips

Dedicated PC gamers will eventually want to build their own gaming system from scratch. Not only is it less expensive than buying a stock system, but you can also make it exactly as powerful as you want. A custom system has many advantages over stock PCs, but there’s one major disadvantage: the time and expertise required to assemble the computer.

That’s where this article comes in. I won’t go into details about how to actually assemble your PC, but I’ll give you a number of tips to avoid rookie mistakes and speed up the building process to get on to the good part: gaming on your brand new, custom rig!

Don’t worry, it might seem like an overwhelming job at first, but once you get at it – there really is nothing to it.

1. Hardware compatibility

Before you can actually start putting together your system, you’ll first want to pick and order the appropriate hardware to build it with.

It’s crucial that you select a motherboard which is compatible with the processor you choose. The sockets need to match, so if you get a socket 775 processor (e.g.: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400) then you’ll need a socket 775 motherboard to go with it. Varying sockets are generally not compatible.

Likewise you’ll want to use DDR3 RAM modules on DDR3 compatible motherboards only. You can’t use them on DDR2 motherboards and likewise you’d do well to steer clear of DDR2 modules when purchasing newer DDR3 compatible motherboards.

This information should all be listed on whatever computer site you’re browsing for hardware selection.

2. Team up

Get help if you do not feel confident assembling a PC by yourself.

There’s bound to be someone you know who has experience building a PC from the ground up. And if there isn’t, then you can probably let the store itself assemble it for you. This might cost a little bit extra, but you’ll still have your custom rig and you won’t have to worry about messing anything up yourself.

3. Powering the system

Those ‘recommended power supply’ values you’ll find for video cards presume that you pick a top quality brand. Don’t underestimate the importance of your power supply unit!

If you’re planning to add extra equipment to your system, like additional harddisks, controllers, extensive sound systems, etc. then you’ll want an increasingly powerful power supply to go with it. So make sure you get something with high efficiency ratings (80% or higher) and a bit more wattage than required.

When your videocard is recommended for use with 450 Watt, then you should get at least 520 Watt, more if you intend to use a lot of accessories. A useful website for picking a proper power supply is SLI Zone. They’re NVidia-focused, but if they recommend it then it definitely works well.

Antec, Corsair and Enermax are generally high quality brands for power supplies.

4. Seperating the audio

Onboard audio is pretty decent nowadays and a seperate soundcard is generally a waste of money.

So don’t purchase a soundcard unless you actually experience problems with your onboard soundcard. If you hear popping sounds or suffer poor quality audio, then you’ll want to look into some seperate hardware solutions. It’s also a good idea to get a quality soundcard when you often work with audio or have a high quality speaker set.

Keep in mind that if you’re an average gamer, then the added cost of a soundcard far outweighs its minimal advantages. You can always add one later on if you want to.

5. Memory overkill

Always keep in mind which operating system you’re going to use before you decide how much RAM (system memory) you’re going to purchase.

A 32-bit operating system will not support more than 4GB of system memory. In fact, it’ll probably only see a little over 3GB. Current games aren’t designed to make proper use of more than 4GB of RAM either and 64-bit operating systems still aren’t quite as well-supported as 32-bit OS’s, so for now you’re probably best of using a 32-bit OS with 3-4GB RAM.

You shouldn’t overestimate the effect of higher memory clocks either. Lower latencies can matter, but higher memory clocks have exactly zero effect in games. As long as you get 800mhz (PC6400) or higher RAM modules, you’ll be just as well off as the guy with overclocked – and overpriced – DDR3 memory.

6. Practicality trumps beauty

Buy the most practical case, not the prettiest.

If you’re going to go attend a lot of LAN parties, then you want to get something lightweight, preferrably aluminum.

If you’re going to require a lot of storage capacity, then get a sizable case with plenty of room for harddisks (3,5″ slots).

If your videocard is going to run hot (high-end videocards generally) then get a case with plenty of 120mm fans and good airflow.

If you don’t know what brand to get, Antec cases are always good. It’s always important to have a proper cooling setup (not just big fans, but good internal airflow as well) in your case, because gaming PCs tend to run a little hotter than your average computer.

7. Custom cooling

Don’t buy seperate cooling systems for your processor, videocard or computer case.

All your component will come with stock coolers that should suffice in any ordinary situation. Adding custom coolers onto your hardware is something you do if you want to start overclocking, which isn’t really what a newbie PC builder should be doing.

If you really do want overclocked components as a beginner then you can buy them factory overclocked and they’ll generally come with coolers designed to handle the extra heat.

8. SATA trumps IDE

Always go for SATA harddisks and DVD players/burners.

SATA refers to the connector used for these components. It’s predecessor is the older, flat cable, IDE connector. You don’t want these IDE versions, because they’re outdated and generally not any less expensive.

Your new motherboard is also likely to contain more SATA connectors than IDE ones, if it even has any IDE connectors, so you’ll want to use SATA components anyway.

9. Names can be tricky

Don’t let the confusing naming of hardware components fool you into buying an inferior product.

Frequently higher model numbers do not actually result in better performance. You’ll be best served by checking the performance of video cards and processors before purchasing them, by googling the model number and ‘benchmarks’ or ‘reviews’. Some sites that offer these are Tom’s Hardware, FiringSquad and AnandTech.

It’s also a good idea to look around for recently updated PC assembly articles, which detail the best components for gaming PCs in the current month/quarter. Many sites offer these kinds of articles.

You might find a Geforce 9600GT for example and think it’s faster than a Geforce 8800GTX. Whereas in actual fact the 8800GTX is a much more capable videocard.

10. SLI sound cool, but frequently isn’t

You may have heard of SLI setups and videocards which actually consist of two videocards in one.

These setups may sound intruiging and powerful, but they come with a significant downside: frequent incompatibility. Many are the stories of gamers with SLI/Crossfire cards who had worse performance than gamers with budget cards in the very latest games, until a patch weeks later fixed it (if it ever even does).

In a great number of games the performance of these setups is undeniably superior to single card systems, but is it worth the cost of not being able to play many recent (and older) games as well as less expensive PCs? It’s your call to make.

11. Standard is better than uncommon

You’d do well to go for components that are popular amongst fellow gamers. Take components from well known brands and use frequently used model motherboards, processors and videocards.

This is important for game compatibility. Having more common system specifications greatly reduces your chances of running into hardware-related bugs in games, because your hardeware combination is more likely to be tested.

You can easily see which components are popular by having a look at the Steam Hardware Survey. Right now the 8800-series videocards and Intel Core 2 Duo’s are the most popular components.

12. Be careful

Many computer components are fragile, so be careful when putting your PC together.

It’ll usually be destroyed if you let it slip out of your hands and all hardware components get ruined by static electricity. So ground yourself before touching videocards, memory modules, harddisks, etc.

Don’t be too rough when inserting your components onto your motherboard either. It may take a bit of force every now and then, but your motherboard can break and you won’t be happy if it does.

13. Don’t rush it

its important to take your time when assembling your system.

Consult the manuals that came with your components. Your motherboard’s manual should contain easy-to-understand step-by-step overviews of what to do to get your system running, so read it. You don’t want to screw this part up.

Even when selecting your components its a good idea to take things slow. Sleep a few nights over what components to purchase and weigh the benefits of having the best-of-the-best hardware, or a little more money to spend on accessories (controllers, monitor, speakers) or games.

14. Keep it clean

After your PC has been running for a while it will inevitably start to gather dust internally. This won’t have an effect initially, but over time your PC will run hotter and might suffer a little in the performance department.

So it’s generally a good idea to use your vacuum cleaner to carefully remove most of the dust that collects inside your case every 6 months or so.

The same goes for your harddisk. Run frequent defragmentations – prefferably immediately after installing a game – and use tools such as CCleaner to keep your computer tidy.

How to Have Perfect Skin

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    Make sure you have a healthy diet, enriched with the vitamins and minerals your skin needs.
   Make sure you have a healthy diet, enriched with the vitamins and minerals your skin needs.Vitamins B, C, E, A and K all help keep your skin fresh and glowing.
   
   
   • Vitamin B forms the basis of skin, nails and hair. You can find this vitamin in foods like oatmeal, eggs, rice, bananas and even Vegemite.
   • Vitamin C protects your skin from sun exposure, keeping you away from skin cancer. Vitamin C pops up in citrus foods such as lemons, limes, oranges, bell peppers, cranberry/grape juice, cauliflower, and leafy greens.
   • Vitamin E also helps protect your skin against sun exposure, and can be found in foods such as olives, spinach, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils.
   • Vitamin A is essential for repair of the skin tissue-without it your skin will look dry and flaky. Vitamin A is found in fruits and veggies-so load up.
   • Vitamin K helps reduce dark circles under eyes, as well as bruises. Vitamin K is hidden away in leafy green vegetables, dairy products, and meats such as pork and liver.
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    Loads of fruits and veggies, nuts, rice and eggs will help your skin.
   Loads of fruits and veggies, nuts, rice and eggs will help your skin. Don't forget to drink lots of water to make your skin glow!
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    Always wear sun screen, sunglasses and a hat when you go out in the sun.
   Always wear sun screen, sunglasses and a hat when you go out in the sun. Simply gobbling up lots of fruits and veggies with sun protecting vitamins won't keep you safe. Even if you have darker colored skin, you need to wear sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that is 30 or 40 SPF and apply it evenly to your skin. Try to use a face friendly, water resistant sunscreen. Don't apply a whole chunk of sunscreen or you'll be shining all day. Apply just enough and follow the directions. Try to avoid the sun at harsher times, such as the afternoon-around 10AM to 4PM. When the sun is at its' worst, it's a real danger to your skin. It might be a good idea to wear lip balm with sunscreen in it as well. Choose a broad brimmed or bucket hat, and slide on a pair of sunglasses.
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    Find out what skin type you have.
   Find out what skin type you have. Oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin. If you are always getting rashes on your skin or neck when you use a new cream or wear a scarf, you probably have sensitive skin. If your' skin has a greasy shine to it, looks thick and dull and comes out in big pimples, it's most probably oily. If your skin suits the previous description on your nose, forehead and chin and is fine everywhere else, you probably have combination skin. And if you feel like you have to moisturize all the time and your skin feels a bit tight in winter, you may just have dry skin. Read up on your skin type on the internet, from a dermatologist or experienced book. Each skin type will require slightly different care, and you will want to avoid some chemicals. Make sure you are an expert on your skin type.
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    Buy an appropriate soap/cleanser and moisturizer for your skin.
   Buy an appropriate soap/cleanser and moisturizer for your skin. It is not an essential to use a toner. Make sure you avoid harsh chemicals, and chemicals that aren't good for your skin type. Wash your skin 2-3 times a day, with a dollop of cleanser/soap. Don't slather on moisturizer or put on a tiny amount-use an amount which you feel moisturizes your skin without making it too oily. If you are under twelve, it may be a much better idea to skip the cleanser and soap and simply wash your face with water. It might seem ineffective, but water is a great cleanser, particularly for young and oily skin. Hot water is good for oily skin; warm and lukewarm are good for other skin types. Moisturize afterwards. Wash your face in the morning and night, and if you want to, in the afternoon or after school. Make sure you wash your hands before washing your face, or you'll just spread bacteria and dirt. Find a good cleanser and moisturizer make sure it is organic, chemical and yummy smelling cleansers don't do the trick. Choose carefully, and be aware of your skin type. Proactiv has been known to actually strip paint off of walls!
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    Treat your skin.
   Treat your skin. Once a week you can give your skin a treat, such as applying a face mask or steaming your skin. But make sure what you treat your skin with suits your skin type, or you might make things worse. Instead of harshly exfoliating for acne, try using tea tree oil-it really works. Dab a small amount of tea tree oil on the spot, or steam your face with it. For oily or sensitive skin, you might want to skip the fancy products and simply apply yogurt to your face. It also helps acne. Yogurt clears the skin and is gentle. This will work for dry skin too. Tougher treatments for the skin include retinol cream, which is a derivative of vitamin A, and glycolic peels. Be careful, though, because these products take a layer off of your skin and applying them too often can cause damage. Wash and moisturize after steaming, exfoliating or applying a face mask. Follow the directions.
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    Always stick to organic food.
   Always stick to organic food. And remember to drink lots of water. Water flushes out the dirt and bad stuff that can cause bad skin. It is also very good to exfoliate dead skin off your face. Dead flakes trap the oil and bacteria growing inside that cause acne. Exfoliate with a peel or scrub. Do not do it too often or harshly; that will make it worse.