Got My New HP Laptop

This arrived at around 3pm at my apartment building. It took only 32 hours to reach me from the time of ordering it which I think is an awesome turn around time. I handed over my almost 5 year old Dell and entered the OTP that Amazon India had sent to my account to ensure that the delivery guy was handing it over to the right person and then signed for it and accepted the box. I unboxed it and started the setup.

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So this is the HP 15 Core i3 7th gen 15.6-inch Laptop (4GB/1TB HDD/Windows 10 Home/Natural Silver/2.04 kg), 15-DA0326TU. And it is now purring like a kitten and is as smooth as silk or melted chocolate. I will be copy back some of the files that I had backed up to a new external hard drive soon.

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And I must say that although I was tempted to stick with the black theme and get the same device in black, which was around Rs.500 more, I opted for the natural silver finish. Which is a really good one I must say. I’m glad I opted for a change in colour as well cause it looks good.

Here are the specifications:

  • Processor: 7th Gen Intel Core i3-7100U processor, 2.4GHz base processor speed, 2 cores, 3MB cache
  • Operating System: Pre-loaded Windows 10 Home with lifetime validity
  • Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080) WLED display, Display Features: Diagonal FHD SVA Anti-Glare WLED-backlit Display
  • Memory & Storage: 4GB DDR4 RAM Intel HD Graphics 620 | Storage: 1TB HDD, HDD Speed(RPM): 5400 RPM
  • Design & battery: Multi-touch gesture support | Thin and light design | Laptop weight: 2.2 kg | Average battery life = 7 hours, HP Fast Charge battery, Battery: 3 Cell, Li-Ion, Power Supply: 41 W AC Adapter W
  • Warranty: This genuine HP laptop comes with a 1-year domestic warranty from HP covering manufacturing defects and not covering physical damage. For more details, see Warranty section below
  • Preinstalled Software: Windows 10 Home | In the Box: Laptop with included battery and charger Ports & CD drive: 1 HDMI, 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 Audio-output | With CD drive Other features: Anti Glare Display

Getting A New Laptop

I have been thinking about either upgrading my existing Dell laptop (more RAM, new hard drive) or using my credit card and getting a new one. I was a bit weary as I had recently bought a new smartphone and then I had spent money on an Amazon Echo. Was it too much for now?

Well not really. I new that I might find an exchange offer online but before that I had to select the brand and model. How much could I spend on it? So I looked for a couple of weeks. I wanted an HP, but I was also thinking about going back to Lenovo.

You see my first laptop back in 2009 or 2010 was a Lenovo and it was a basic, not really pretty at all to look and kinda heavy and bulky for a laptop. When I used to lug the laptop on a bag that I would sling onto my left shoulder after a few minutes my shoulder would start to pain. But I was in love with the laptop, having only had desktop pcs before this. It was a workhorse for what it was worth.

And then in 2015 I got my Dell. I did not exchange my Lenovo but instead I kept it around for a while before giving it to my cousin in early 2017. He had just moved back to town after a messy separation, and later a divorce, and needed to get back onto his feet as he would be working from home quite a bit. So I said sure and asked him to collect it from my apartment as I would not be in that day. The Dell was really good and another workhorse. It was a really good device.

My only issue with the Dell was that it had grooves all over the chassis and with it being so dusty in the city and me not being able to keep the windows closed and have an ac, the laptop (like other things in here) got really dusty and I found it hard to clean the thing. No matter how much I tried getting rid of some dust residue was hard. I had some issue with the laptop after 4 years and my hard drive was partially problematic but it was bound to have issues after all that time. It was almost 5 years old and so I though it would be good to get a new one.

So I checked out both Amazon India and Flipkart and found that Amazon had some exchange offers for most of their laptops. Plus for a bunch of them I got 1 or 2 day delivery guaranteed. That was a big plus. On Flipkart the devices that I was looking at were either more expensive and/or they did not have exchange offers. Plus the delivery date seemed longer. All in all, Amazon India won my money. So I waited till Friday (yesterday) morning and placed the order as it would be delivered today and I would be home all day.

Eintracht Frankfurt 0 Arsenal 3

Goals from academy gradates Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka helped Arsenal overcome a difficult test against Eintracht Frankfurt and begin their Europa League campaign with a victory. Willock put the Gunners in front with a deflected shot in the first half before Saka smashed in his first senior goal for the club in the 85th minute. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a third two minutes later as Arsenal ended their three-game winless run. The Gunners had created further chances but also relied on goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to come to the aid of their fragile defence. The Argentine produced excellent low saves to deny Filip Kostic and Andre Silva in the first half.

The second period was frantic in front of a vociferous home crowd with Arsenal’s late goals only coming after Dominik Kohr was shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul. The Gunners, beaten finalists in last year’s Europa League, are top of the early Group F table on goal difference after Standard Liege beat Vitoria in the night’s other game. Manager Unai Emery opted for a mix of youth and experience for the game in Germany, despite it arguably being Arsenal’s toughest test in Group F, and it was their young players who stood out.

Eighteen-year-old Saka, playing for the first team for the first time this season and fifth time in total, was excellent on the left flank, scoring once and setting up the other two goals. He created Willock’s goal by beating his marker with fine skill in midfield and was the main threat for the Gunners in the first half. The only criticism was he spurned a number of chances to increase Arsenal’s lead but he silenced those doubts with an emphatic finish from the edge of the area late on. Willock played as the Gunners most advanced central midfielder and offered a goal threat but also linked play well, notably with a fine driving run in the second half which ended with Martin Hinteregger excellently blocking an Aubameyang shot. The scoreline flattered Arsenal in the end but the game will be most memorable for the performance of their youngsters.

Portable Audio Recorder – A Reviews of Some of the Best Options

Audio recorders are devices that can be put to a whole lot of different uses. They can be used for field recording which is why you will find many journalists using one. They can also be used to record live events, from concerts, parties to campaigns, protests and pretty much anything. You can also find them used on some movie sets. You can practically use it anywhere you need a level of professional audio recording.

While many different devices (some of which are no longer in production) will qualify to be called portable audio recorders, this name now purely refers to what can be called digital audio recorders. You can learn more about digital audio recording here.

To help you understand the products we are about to quickly review, we will first look at some important consideration factors that can help ensure you make the right choice.

Factors to Consider When Choosing

The following are some of the factors you need to consider when making your choice.

Build

The build of the device you choose will to a large extent determine its durability. Metal casings will certainly be stronger than plastic ones. Look for any signs that will indicate the device’s structural strength or weakness.

Quality of Microphone

This is the heart of the recorder. The quality of the microphones included will determine the quality of the recordings you will get. Some things to consider when checking the microphone include: frequency response range, sampling rate, max SPL handling, single or mono microphone structure, and presence of phantom power.

Audio File Format

This is another very important factor to consider. The file format in which the recordings are saved will tell you the quality you have to work with. The file can either be compressed or uncompressed. You want uncompressed files like wave and uncompressed WMA. Other workable compressed alternatives include AIFF. Formats such as mp3 and AAC are largely files that lose quality during compression.

To learn more about audio file formats, read this article: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/audio-file-format-right-needs/.

Storage Capacity

How much storage space it has will determine how long you can record for. The larger the storage capacity, the longer you can record for.

Input Options

Though these devices come with their own microphones, you may want to add a higher quality or specialized microphone for a specific task. For this, you will need the appropriate input. You should therefore check to know the kinds of inputs available. It is always better to have more options than you need rather than having fewer options than you need.

Power

These portable audio recorders are usually battery powered. Check how long a battery charge lasts. You should also check to see if the battery is removable. A removable battery is easier to service or replace should it get faulty.

Cost

After checking everything, you should of course look at how much it will cost you. This is an important factor to consider so be sure that what the device costs is worth the value it is offering. Compare this with others to be doubly sure.

Some Recommendations

While what you will be seeing will not be a full listing of the best portable audio recorder reviews, we shall do our best to present a few of these for your consideration.

Zoom H4N PRO Digital Multitrack Recorder

This portable recorder offers some interesting features. These include: multi-track recording (4 channels), 24bit/96kHz resolution, low noise preamp, 32 GB of storage and about four hours of battery life. Aside from the included stereo microphones, it also includes two XLR and TRS combo mic inputs.

This is more than most users require of their device.

Tascam DR-05 Stereo Portable Digital Audio Recorder

This Tascam model comes with stereo microphones that record at 24 bits/96kHz. These microphones have omnidirectional polar patterns and can therefore pick sound from all around it.

It however has a storage capacity of about 4GB which is quite limited.

Sony ICD-PX370 Mono Digital Voice Recorder

This Sony model is ideal for those who need something very small. This does not offer the best of recording as it records in a compressed mp3 format. It however offers other features like voice activated recording and clear voice technology that deliver some value to the user. It also has a storage capacity that can be expanded to 32Gb. For the battery, it can last for as much as 57 hours.

Conclusion

After reading through the guide and reviews above, you now hopefully know exactly how to go about choosing the portable audio recorder that is right for you.

Ways To Enhance Your Home Entertainment System

A home entertainment system will do you good for when the colder months draw in, and you find yourself spending more time at home. So when it comes to it, what makes a good system, even better? Here are some ways to enhance your home entertainment system so you can enjoy your nights in front of the television to the fullest.

Get A Sound Bar

When it comes to the sound, the volume and the quality of it is the most important aspect of your home cinema and entertainment system. Without a good sound, it can be distracting, but it can also make the viewing experience more frustrating. No one wants to watch their favorite program with subtitles, especially if that show is one that relies on canned audience laughter. It can reduce the impact of action scenes in movies, and it can cause you to miss out on valuable information. So invest in a soundbar to create a much more aurally, satisfying experience. Soundbars sometimes come as part of the television package, although most are purchased. Do some shopping and consider which one has been the most reputable from previous customers.

Improve Picture Quality With New Tech

When it comes to the picture quality, the better the television quality and picture resolution, the more of an impact it will have. There are so many television sizes and models out there that it can be hard to pick one as your next purchase. Go for a bigger television where you can to give you more of that cinematic effect. 4K is one of the most recent additions to television and the high-definition that this provides to your viewing experience can be out of this world. With film and television companies investing in better equipment, it’s definitely important to continue matching their advancements when it comes to the screen you watch them on. There are so many methods and developments within technology like the Movavi Video Converter crack that you don’t want to miss out on the good stuff that’s being produced.

Rearrange Your Speaker Locations

Speaker locations are important to get an aural effect that will make you feel as though you have just stepped into a cinema. Bring the cinema to your home and place these speakers behind you, to the sides and in front of you. Make use of the space that you have and create an environment where your ears will go on their own journey when watching these shows on your television screen.

Improve Your Connections

And finally, improve the connections. Get a better internet connection that’s faster and more effective in producing that all-important picture. The better advanced your technology is, in this regard, the fewer problems you’ll have when it comes to all areas of your home entertainment system.

Having a high-quality home entertainment system will certainly help with providing all the entertainment you need for your household and not to mention any guests you have around. So use these tips to get a system that will be the envy of all your friends.

Top Breakfast Choice

Share your favorite breakfast recipe.

I am a simple guy and I prefer a simple breakfast in the morning that isn’t too complicated. I want coffee, ofcourse and if they don’t have milk but there is sugar then I am fine.

Now, I would want a 2 or 3 egg omelet. Some chopped up onions, maybe some finely chopped up tomatoes and a bit of green pepper, also finely chopped. Other than the onions the rest is optional. Some people add cheese and/or mushrooms to the omelet.

What I do is I add a little bit of milk to the omelet while it is being cooked. It adds a lot to the omelet. Again, it is not needed but it helps.

Now, toast four slices of bread, cut and put the omelet in between the two sandwiches as such. Wanna add some mayo? Sure. Or now add a slice or two of cheese? Great! Or just some plain ole ketchup? Mighty fine! Any which way you cut it, I will enjoy it.

Sit back with the plate full of goodness and enjoy the meal with the coffee and relax!

The Advantages of Hiring Roofing Companies

Nowadays, in the world, there’s hardly a problem that cannot be fixed by some professionals. Everything that gets broken or stops from functioning and even leaks everywhere can be resolved. All you need is an expert who knows what they’re doing and just a little time.

Not many people ever think that they’re going to face problems with their roofs. This is quite normal because the roof is something that is durable for a long time, and it keeps the house and everyone in it safe. No one thinks that they need to check the roof for slight damage because everyone is busy all the time. Fixing the roof is hardly anyone’s first priority. Check out the link for more details https://medium.com/@caseyroofcare.com/importance-and-benefits-of-roofing-services-in-melbourne-5a17e5ebd0cf.

This is where mistakes happen all the time. First of all, sometimes the damage to the roof is not noticeable and you can’t tell whether something is wrong. Second, if you notice a leak, then this means that there’s a hole somewhere on the roof. This leak leads to moisture in the home and the creation of mold further on. Mold and mildew are very tricky to get rid of and can cause breathing problems. It is not safe to inhale the spores of mold.

If you can’t seem to fix the problem on your own, then it’s best to hire someone that can. A roofing contractor or roofer can fix the problem without issues whatsoever. They will be able to inspect what’s going on above the ceiling and tell you whether you can repair the damage or re-roof the entire house. Either way, they are very good at what they do and will finish the job efficiently. If you’re interested in finding out more about the benefits of a roofing company, then continue to read this article. Here are some of the most practical ones that you’ll encounter:

Cost-Effective

Once you hire a team of experts to take care of the problem, you’ll need to start thinking about the materials required. Sure, you can walk into a store and buy everything you need to at a much higher price. Or, you leave it to the Fairfield Roofing Company to get the materials at a much lower cost than usual. This is so because they have tons of contacts with sellers that sell all the necessary equipment and tools. The roofers will basically bring everything with them and start doing the job. All you have to do is sit back and relax. Read more here.

Quality Materials

If you want to fix the damage on your roof permanently, then you’ll need quality materials for it. Don’t worry because your roofing contractors have you covered as well. They will provide the best materials for the repairs to make sure that this kind of problem won’t arise again. This is so because they know everything about the quality of each piece and which one is more durable than the other. They will definitely get a good deal on them as well. You, on the other hand, can buy something very expensive but hardly durable.

Efficiency

You could say that efficiency is their middle name. They will deliver quality work for a very short timeframe. Of course, the process can’t be completed within a day. Not unless you need them to fix a couple of holes on the roof and that’s that. Whatever repairs they have to do, they will do them professionally and efficiently. They’ll do a better job than you because they have the skills to do so.

They aim to please their customers, and in return, you can recommend the company to other people that live in Connecticut as well. The Fairfield Roofing Company has got you covered. Every question you might have, they will answer it for you. They are hard-working people that possess the skills and knowledge to do what needs to be done.

Safety

Doing this kind of work can be sometimes dangerous. Accidents can happen all the time, even when you least expect it. But, not to worry. Your roofing contractors come with all the necessary safety gear for them, and even your household members. It’s always better to hire these types of experts than to buy your own safety gear and do the repairs yourself.

How would you do that if, for example, you’re afraid of heights? You can quickly get hurt, or worse, you can hurt someone from your family. The roofers you’ve hired do this kind of work every day. That’s why they have to wear safety gears to prevent someone from hurting themselves. And for your own safety, it’s best to evacuate the house for the time being because you’ll basically have no roof above your head. The roofing experts would advise you the same thing.

Warranties

Your roofing contractors will provide a warranty on labor, and on the materials they’ve used. This is always a good thing because you’ll know that the repairs are protected. This way if a problem arises once more, the roofers will fix it for free. They will once again inspect the situation and fix it without charging you a single cent. How awesome is that?

Just make sure to contact Fairfield Roofing Company to make all of this happen. But will all the quality material and hard work, you won’t have to use the warranty after the repairs at all. But it’s good to know that you have the option to do so. If you want to find out more, then check out this link https://www.wikihow.com/Hire-a-Roofer.

Fast Repairs

If they figure out the problem right away, then they can act on it immediately. If the holes need fixing to stop the leakage of water, then they will do it in a faster way. If your entire house needs re-roofing, then the process takes a couple of days, but not that long. Once you hire someone that knows what they’re doing, then, logically, they will finish the job much faster.

Bad Cold & The Flu

This pic was me last night and this morning minus the thermometer. Yesterday at work, one of the new hire employee who was in my training batch came in to the office with a nasty cold. By afternoon he was shaking with fever and I sent him to rest in the dormitory. But I seemingly had caught his cold or maybe I got it from elsewhere.

By evening I sent him home knowing that he wouldn’t be coming back the next day as he was really ill. As was I. I started sneezing really badly and knew that this could be the start of a bad flu. I came back home and couldn’t even sit at my computer desk for more than 90 minutes. I went to bed by 9:45 pm and started shivering myself. I took some Paracetomol for the cold & fever. I fell asleep by 11:15 pm, after getting up to switch off the lights and the tv.

This morning I was still feeling the cold and terrible temperature so I took the day off and went back to bed after breakfast and napped for 2 hours. I sat up and watched Youtube for a couple more before going to bed again post lunch. Those naps made me feel so much better that by 6, after more coffee, I feel good enough and I can go back to work tomorrow. Sheesh!

Top Five Benefits of Online Casinos

The world of online gambling is continuing to grow. Now worth over $50 billion, it’s clear that more and more people are starting to enjoy an online game from the comfort of their own living room. Not only do online casinos offer the traditional roulette, poker, craps and blackjack, but they are also now offering a lottery game. This branching out is just one of the reasons as to why so many play online casino games every single day.

If you want to get into the world of online gambling, here are the top five benefits that you can reap! Just remember, however, that you should only bet what you can afford and you should try to find out the terms and conditions that come with each game before taking the leap!

  • It’s Convienenant 

One of the main reasons as to why people live online casinos is that it makes gambling more convenient. There’s no denying that visiting an online casino can be fun. But why would you venture out to a physical establishment when you can play the same game from your home? Giving you more time to play the games, you won’t need to worry about getting in your car, on a bus or a train to visit a casino.

  • The Payout

With the popularity of online casinos increasing, the competition within the industry is ever-growing. Trying to offer you better bonuses and rewards, a handful is now offering tempting payouts. It’s a little known fact that the payout from online casinos is better than that of land-based casinos. This might be because they don’t need a physical premise – therefore they don’t need to pay for electricity bills, rent, etc.

  • They Offer A Great Selection of Games

As online gambling has become more prevalent, new and exciting games have been introduced. Yes, land-based casinos have a large selection of games. But online casinos offer a range of slots, poker, lottery and more options for you to choose from. No matter what your taste or budget, there is an online game for you.

  • The Bonuses

Online casinos have a great range of bonuses available online (an example of which is the eurocasino bonus). Giving you a reward for the first deposit that you put in (which can sometimes be a match bonus or welcome bonus), you will be able to have access to a wider range of games and be able to play for longer. Of course, these bonuses do have their own conditions, so it’s important that you research this before taking part.

  • You Can Choose Your Level of Stake

A key benefit of online casinos is that they give you the option of how much you want to gamble. Physical casinos, on the other hand, tend to set minimum limits as they have overheads to pay – leading you to spend far more than what you initially planned to. By giving you the option, you will be able to start the game low and raise your bets when you want.

RIP Ric Ocasek

Ric Ocasek, the idiosyncratic singer and guitarist for the Cars and hit-making album producer, died on Sunday in his New York City apartment. He was 75. At approximately 3 p.m. ET, police officers responded to a 911 call at Ocasek’s home at 140 E. 19th Street, the rep said. Officers discovered Ocasek unconscious and unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead at the scene, though no cause of death has been revealed. A rep for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Beginning with the Cars self-titled debut in 1978, Ocasek established himself as a stoic frontman with a sense of humor and melodrama on songs like “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight,” and “Good Times Roll.” As a member of the Cars, Ocasek helped kickstart the new-wave movement by pinning his disaffected vocals against herky-jerky rhythm guitar, dense keyboards and dancefloor-ready beats, and as one of the group’s lead vocalists, alongside bassist Benjamin Orr, he sang the hits “Shake It Up” and “You Might Think.” With the exception of only a couple of songs, Ocasek wrote every tune the Cars recorded. After the band broke up in 1988, Ocasek recorded as a solo artist and worked as a producer, helping sculpt blockbuster hits like Weezer’s Blue Album and Green Album and cult favorites like Bad Brains’ Rock for Light.

Ocasek developed a reputation as a successful producer, and took this role for many up-and-coming bands of differing genres including Bad Brains’ Rock for Light and Guided by Voices’ Do the Collapse. His other production credits include Weezer’s Blue Album and Green Album (both multi-platinum), Suicide,[15] Romeo Void, Hole,[15] Bebe Buell,[16] No Doubt,[15] Nada Surf, Irish folk-punk band Black 47, Bad Religion, Johnny Bravo, D Generation, The Wannadies, Possum Dixon, Martin Rev, Jonathan Richman, and the 2006 album by The Pink Spiders titled Teenage Graffiti. He also produced a portion of the third Motion City Soundtrack album, Even If It Kills Me. In 2014, Ocasek produced Everything Will Be Alright in the End, the ninth studio album by Weezer and his third collaboration with the band, and For All My Sisters, the sixth album by The Cribs.

Ocasek was married three times. He married early in life, but divorced and was married to his second wife, Suzanne Ocasek, in 1971. Ocasek was still married to Suzanne when he met 18-year-old model Paulina Porizkova during filming of the music video for the Cars’ song “Drive” in 1984. Ocasek and Porizkova were married on August 23, 1989. The couple had two sons, Jonathan Raven Otcasek (b. November 4, 1993), and Oliver Otcasek (b. 1999). In May 2018, Porizkova announced she and Ocasek had separated a year earlier.

Watford 2 Arsenal 2

A Watford side brimming with attacking intent fought back from two goals down at half-time to draw at home to Arsenal in Quique Sanchez Flores’ first match since being reappointed Hornets manager. The hosts fired in 31 shots – a club-record for a Premier League game – as Arsenal’s shaky defence finally cracked after the break. Watford levelled the scores when Roberto Pereyra rolled in a late penalty to secure only their second point of the season. Tom Cleverley had earlier reduced the deficit when Gunners defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos gave away possession inside his own area. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the visitors in front when he collected Sead Kolasinac’s pass on the turn before firing past Ben Foster.

Arsenal doubled their lead as Aubemeyang finished a sweeping team move but the hosts improved after the break as the Gunners unravelled in front of the vociferous home support. The Hornets had their chances to complete a stunning comeback with a decisive third, but the otherwise impressive Gerard Deulofeu dragged his effort narrowly wide. The result sees Arsenal move into seventh, while the Hornets remain rooted to the bottom. The Arsenal striker is one of the most clinical forwards in the English top flight, having scored with seven of his last nine shots on target, and the Gunners are quite capable of blowing teams away going forward thanks to the potency of Aubameyang and the technical ability of Mesut Ozil and Dani Ceballos. They demonstrated their attacking flair as they went through 20 passes for their second goal – but glaring issues remain at the back.

This was evident as early as the 10th minute as the red and white shirts backed off and space opened up for Cleverley, whose fierce effort was well saved by Bernd Leno. Five minutes later, and Etienne Capoue was given the same time and space but could only shoot over the bar. The Gunners want to play out from the back, and even though Matteo Guendouzi lost possession deep inside his own half on two occasions they persisted with their approach. It was Sokratis who eventually made the mistake that always looked likely to happen, before Deulofeu diverted the ball into Cleverley’s path for Watford’s first goal. David Luiz was brought in from London rivals Chelsea to shore up the defence over the summer, but the Brazilian has endured a difficult few weeks at the start of his Arsenal career, and has now conceded two penalties in three matches. Luiz brought down Pereyra with a lunge in the final 10 minutes and the substitute stepped up himself to take the penalty and salvage a point for the hosts.

What Animal Are You Most Like?

I am a loyal and good friend.

I can wait for hours and hours just to be with you and will welcome you with lots of love. I will also tell you how much I missed you.

I get upset when you are not around and will usually spend my time apart from you lying in wait for the moment that I see you again. I might nap during that time but I will have dreams of you.

I would love to play with you. I also love to cuddle with you and that is probably my favourite thing to do. I love to lay on the comfy bed and spoon with you as we watch movies and later drift off to sleep.

I just realized that I am a dog! A sweet, loving and loyal Golden Retriever!

Prompt from Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing at The New York Times

It Chapter Two

It Chapter Two is a 2019 American supernatural horror film and the sequel to the 2017 film It, both based on the 1986 novel by Stephen King. The film is directed by Andy Muschietti and written by Gary Dauberman. Set in 2016, 27 years after the first film, it stars Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, and Andy Bean as the adult versions of the Losers’ Club. Jaeden Martell, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Wyatt Oleff reprise their roles as the younger Losers, while Bill Skarsgård also returns as Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

27 years after the events of the first movie, we come back to Derry, Main and see Adrian Mellon and his boyfriend Don Hagarty are attacked by a group of homophobic youths. Adrian is then thrown from a bridge and killed by Pennywise the Dancing Clown while Don watches helplessly. Mike Hanlon overhears the incident on a police scanner and rushes to the scene. Upon realizing that “It” has resurfaced, he calls the other members of the Losers Club — Bill Denbrough, Ben Hanscom, Beverly Marsh, Richie Tozier, Eddie Kaspbrak, and Stanley Uris — back to Derry. Most are amnesiac about their childhoods and disturbed by the calls, but agree to return. Stanley, however, commits suicide after his call.

The Losers reunite at a local restaurant and slowly begin to recover their memories, but are terrified by disturbing visions and taunts caused by It. The group is then informed of Stanley’s suicide. Richie and Eddie decide to leave while Mike reveals to Bill that he met with a Native American tribe who showed him a vision of It arriving to Earth from the stars, and informed him of the Ritual of Chüd, a way of destroying It once and for all. Bill and Mike convince Richie and Eddie to stay and finish what was started. Henry Bowers, having survived his apparent death, has been confined to a mental hospital, but with the help of It, he escapes. For the ritual to work, each Loser must have an artifact from their past. Beverly goes to her old home and finds the love letter Ben wrote for her, though she still believes Bill wrote it. Bill goes to the storm drain where Georgie was killed and recovers Georgie’s paper boat. Ben goes to the town’s high school and finds his old yearbook page, which Beverly was the only person to sign.

Eddie goes to a pharmacy and recovers an inhaler. Richie goes to an abandoned arcade where he finds a game token. After escaping individual encounters with It, the Losers use a shower cap from their childhood clubhouse for Stanley and Mike finds the rock that started their fight against the Bowers gang years prior. Bill goes to find Dean, a young boy who he met on the road and who lives in Bill’s old house, and rushes to a carnival to save him, but he helplessly watches Dean be devoured by It right in front of him. Traumatized by his failure to save both Georgie and Dean, he returns to the Neibolt house to murder It. Bowers attacks and wounds Eddie and Mike, but is killed by Richie. The rest of the Losers depart for the Neibolt house to help Bill. The group descends into a massive cavern beneath the sewers and complete the Ritual, but It is able to withstand the Ritual, unaffected. It takes on a giant, spider-like form with Pennywise’s head, and pressures Mike into revealing to the Losers that the Natives who attempted the Ritual in the past all perished.

The Losers are then thrown into nightmarish scenarios that they all eventually escape from before arriving back in the cavern. Richie is paralyzed by It’s hypnotic “deadlights” and is about to be killed, but Eddie saves him, being impaled by It in the process. The Losers regroup and realize It can be killed if they stand up to him and make him feel smaller than he actually is. They surround and insult It over and over, making him physically shrink and weaken until they are able to tear out his heart and crush it, killing It. Eddie dies from his injuries despite Richie’s attempts to save him. The remaining Losers are forced to escape, as the Neibolt House crashes in on itself.

They then wash themselves from the blood, dirt & muck by swimming in the quarry that they used to go to as kids. Beverly, who has realized it was Ben who wrote the letter, shares a kiss with him, and the two start a romantic relationship. Richie returns to the bridge where he had once carved his initials and those of another person, now revealed to be Eddie. Mike decides to move out of Derry to start a new life. The Losers all receive posthumous letters from Stanley, explaining that he believed he would have held them back, but knew they could defeat It if they were brave without him.

I found the movie to be a bit too long at 170 minutes. I loved the acting and the cast was almost perfectly chosen. I couldn’t ask for a better performance. Pennywise was fucking bonkers and scary as ever but the movie as a whole isn’t as scary as I thought it would be. Overall I think it is a lesser movie than the first. I give it a 7.5 outta 10!

RIP Eddie Money

Eddie Money, the singer-saxophonist whose string of hits include “Baby Hold On,” “Two Tickets to Paradise” and “Take Me Home Tonight,” died Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 70. “The Money Family regrets to announce that Eddie passed away peacefully early this morning,” the family said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and father. We cannot imagine our world without him. We are grateful that he will live on forever through his music.”

Money suffered a series of health problems in recent years, and in August revealed he was battling stage 4 esophageal cancer in a promo for the upcoming season of Real Money, a TV series about the rocker’s life. In July, Money canceled his summer tour after developing pneumonia while recovering from his recent heart valve surgery. “The heart issue was a condition unrelated to his cancer,” AXS TV noted. Despite the multiple health issues, Money still planned on returning to the road later this year.

The Brooklyn-born, Long Island-raised rocker born Eddie Mahoney broke into the music scene after moving to Berkeley, California in the late-Sixties; after nearly a decade honing his craft on the Bay Area rock scene with manager Bill Graham, Money inked a deal with Columbia Records, which distributed his self-titled album in 1977. Eddie Money went double-platinum and both “Two Tickets to Paradise” and “Baby Hold On,” Money’s first single, landed in the upper quarter of the Hot 100, beginning a decade-long stretch where the singer routinely deposited hits on the charts, despite being largely disregarded and derided by rock critics at the time.

In the early Eighties – following a 1981 incident that gave Money the distinction of being the first rocker to overdose on fentanyl – Money made a comeback with his platinum-selling 1982 album No Control and its Hot 100 hits “Shakin’” and “Think I’m in Love.” While the rocker continued pumping out radio gold like “Club Michelle” and “The Big Crash,” 1983’s Where’s the Party? marked the lowest-charting album of his career at that point. However, following another battle with addiction, Money scored the biggest hit of his career in 1986 with “Take Me Home Tonight,” a duet with Ronnie Spector.

Money continued to register hits throughout the late Eighties but slowed his output over the next decade, releasing only three albums including 1999’s Ready Eddie, his last LP of original music. Beloved by his fanbase, Money spent the next two decades as a workhorse-touring artist before health issues slowed him in recent years. The always-quotable Money was also the star of the AXS TV reality series Real Money, which focused on the rocker and his family life. Money married his wife Laurie in 1989. They had five children: Zachary, Jessica, Joseph, Julian, and Desmond. He “made his home” in the Bay Area and performed often in San Francisco’s clubs.

How To Make Payment Easier For Your Customers

Making it as straightforward as possible for your customers to pay when they are shopping on your website is vital for increasing sales for your business. It is why your checkout page is so essential. It is the place where your customers hand over their payment information and finally part with their hard-earned cash, helping you to make that all-important profit.

Here, we explore different ways to make it easier on both you and your customers.

Provide a variety of payment methods

Customers expect so much more than just traditional debit or credit card payments. PayPal, Stripe and various other payment methods are now expected, which you can learn more about. Up to 40% of people think that just having one payment method to choose from looks unprofessional and even suspicious, and would abandon their purchases and look elsewhere if their preferred method of payment was not available. This shows how important it is to have a variety of payment methods available to your customers.

Let customers pay without creating an account

Almost everything we do online now involves creating an account and registering. That’s fine – but think about the number of usernames and passwords we have to remember, and of course, it is recommended that we do not use the same one for different things for security purposes. Many people will simply give up if they can’t remember their details, so alongside a signing in option, allow them to make a purchase as a guest. If you do require signing in to make a purchase, don’t make your password requirements too complicated and make it simple for them to retrieve their details if they forget.

Provide reassurances on security and privacy

Whenever personal information is involved, you always need to go out of your way to showcase the security measures you have in place. Many customers have left a purchase due to having concerns about payment security. You will want to have a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate for your website in order to provide a secure connection and encrypt credit card information, and, if you trade within the European Union, you will need to make sure you are PCI and GDPR compliant.

Keep distractions to a minimum

Your checkout page is the very end of the sales cycle – the last step. With us having shorter attention spans than ever before, you do not want anything to distract them from completing the checkout process, such as no adverts. The last thing you want to do is get them all this way and then encourage them to click off to a potential competitor. Your main objective here is to see people through to making the final payment so eliminate everything else, including the navigation bar at the top and requesting only essential information.

Follow the tips mentioned above, and you will not only increase sales and decrease shopping cart abandonment, but also create an enjoyable experience that people will come back to and recommend family and friends.