How to Pick my Next Computer

If you're shopping for a new computer this fall, you won't find big surprises. But you'll still have to juggle a lot of technobabble terminology and watch your budget. Perhaps the biggest question for some buyers will be whether to get a tablet or a laptop, now that Apple's iPad is a proven hit and a flood of competitors is on the way.So, here is my annual fall computer buyers' guide, a simplified road map to the key decisions shoppers must make. I've focused on laptops—the most common purchase—but much of this advice also applies to desktops. As always, these tips are for average users doing the most common tasks. This advice doesn't apply to businesses, to hard-core gamers, or to serious media producers.

• Tablets vs. Laptops: If you're looking for a light-duty, highly portable computer, it's worth considering the iPad, which starts at $499, instead of a small laptop. This is especially true if you're in the market for a secondary computer, or one mainly for use on the go. Many owners of iPads, including me, are finding it handily replaces a laptop for numerous tasks, such as Web browsing, email, social-networking, photos, video and music. It has superior battery life, lighter weight, and it starts instantly. I don't recommend it for people who are creating long documents, especially spreadsheets and presentations, even though it is capable of those tasks. And I don't recommend it for users who require, or prefer, a physical keyboard.

If you don't like the iPad, there will soon be alternatives. For instance, Samsung's Galaxy Tab, which has a 7-inch screen versus the iPad's 10-inch display, and runs Google's Android operating system, will be available this month from major wireless carriers. Sprint, for example, will offer it at $400 with a two-year contract. But some tablet buyers may want to wait till the first half of next year, when many more models will be available, and Apple will likely roll out the second-generation iPad.

(source:online.wsj.com)

Kristy Lee Cook

Kristy Lee Cook,

(born January 18, 1984) is an American country singer who was born in Seattle, Washington and was the seventh place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2005 Cook released her debut album called Devoted. In June 2008, Cook signed to 19 Recordings and Arista Nashville. She released her post-Idol album Why Wait in September 16, 2008. This album has produced her first chart single "15 Minutes of Shame", a Top 30 hit on the Billboard country charts.

Personal life

Kristy Lee Cook was born in Seattle, Washington, to Larry and Carlene Cook. Her brother-in-law is quarterback John Dutton of the Arena Football League. She currently resides in a log cabin in Selma, Oregon. On March 15, 2008, Kristy Lee Cook's boyfriend of 1½ years, Andy Dobner, a landscape company owner, proposed marriage to her. Hoping to maintain her focus on American Idol, she decided to keep the proposal a secret. When Cook was eliminated from American Idol on April 16, 2008, Dobner asked for her hand in marriage once more. Brooke White, a fellow American Idol finalist, will be one of her bridesmaids for the wedding.

Early career

Kristy Lee played piano and sang for the band "Sixshooter". In 2001, at the age of seventeen, Kristy Lee signed her first contract with BMI. According to her RMG page, Kristy Lee signed with RCA Records/Arista Nashville in 1999, and was the first artist signed to Britney Spears' production company. Spears agreed to make a cameo appearance in her first music video.However, RCA placed Kristy Lee and other younger artists on hold and then dropped her.

It was then that Kristy Lee moved to Dallas, Texas, in an attempt to pursue her career and gain more experience. She began modeling and was featured in commercials. In 2005, Ren-Hen Records released her debut album Devoted. During this time, Kristy Lee performed for two years at Cowboy's nightclub in Arlington, TX, singing 8 songs per night.

In 2007, Kristy Lee returned to Selma, Oregon to prepare for the "American Idol" audition. To raise funds for her audition and travel expenses, she sold her "really good" barrel horse. She had hoped to earn enough money to repurchase her horse upon her return. However, the night she was eliminated, she commented that the person to whom she sold her horse was unwilling to sell it back.

American Idol

Overview

Cook performing during the American Idols Live! Tour 2008.

Kristy Lee auditioned for American Idol in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by singing "Amazing Grace". All three judges liked her voice and sent her straight through to Hollywood. While in Hollywood, her first song did not impress the judges. For her second and final chance, she sang "Amazing Grace" again; she was then selected as one of the top 24 contestants in the semi-finals. She was the first female performer of the season and sang "Rescue Me". The judges did not care for her performance but gave her props since she was the first of the night and she had bronchitis. On March 12, Cook was placed in the bottom 3 alongside Syesha Mercado and David Hernandez. She was declared safe. On March 19, she was placed in the bottom three again with Carly Smithson and Amanda Overmyer, but she survived again, ensuring herself a spot in the American Idol Top 10 Concert Tour for the upcoming summer. Once again, on April 2, she was placed in the bottom 3 alongside her 2 roommates, Ramiele Malubay and Brooke White. Malubay was eliminated.

Performances

Week # Theme Song choice Original artist Order # Result

Top 24 (12 Women) 1960s "Rescue Me" Fontella Bass 1 Safe

Top 20 (10 Women) 1970s "You're No Good" Linda Ronstadt 5 Safe

Top 16 (8 Women) 1980s "Faithfully" Journey 5 Safe

Top 12 Lennon/McCartney "Eight Days a Week" The Beatles 11 Bottom 21

Top 11 The Beatles "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" The Beatles 2 Bottom 21

Top 10 Year They Were Born "God Bless the USA" Lee Greenwood 9 Safe

Top 9 Dolly Parton "Coat of Many Colors" Dolly Parton 7 Bottom 21

Top 8 Inspirational "Anyway" Martina McBride 4 Safe

Top 7 Mariah Carey "Forever" Mariah Carey 5 Eliminated

^1 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Cook was among the Bottom 3 but declared safe second, as the remaining contestant was eliminated.

Post Idol

After American Idol, Cook has been interviewed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, and on WNYW Fox 5. On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Cook performed "Anyway" by Martina McBride again, as she did for the Top 8. They also talked about Kristy's love for animals and how her horse saved her life. On Live with Regis and Kelly, they talked about how she sold her barrel horse to get transportation to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. to try out for American Idol and how the new owner got so attached that he would not sell it back. They also mentioned how Kristy was a cage wrestler for defense purposes and how she is now engaged to Andy Dobner. It ended with Cook saying she wanted to have an album and record deal and have a career in modeling and acting.

Cook performed with the other top 10 finalists on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008 which ran from July 1, 2008 to September 13, 2008. She sang "Squeezin' the Love Outta You" (Redmon and Vale), "God Bless the USA" (Lee Greenwood), which she performed on Top 10 night during the season and "Cowgirls" (Kerry Harvick). In Toronto, she replaced "God Bless the USA" with "Anyway" (Martina McBride), which she performed on Top 8 night during the season.

It was announced on June 29, 2008 that Cook has once again signed with Arista Nashville along with 19 Recordings. On August 12 of that year, "15 Minutes of Shame" was released as the lead-off single for Cook's upcoming studio album. It debuted at #58 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts a week before its release, and has since peaked at #28. Her album, Why Wait, was released on September 16, 2008 and produced by Nashville singer-songwriter Brett James

In October 2008, Cook performed the Star-Spangled Banner at an NCAA football game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Duke Blue Devils. On October 25 of that same year, Cook made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry.

It was announced by Arista Nashville on December 10, 2008 that Kristy Lee Cook and the label had parted ways. In January 2009, Cook stated in a AOL.com Interview that she is in talks with Universal Music Group stating "I have a song that they didn't want me to put on the album that's going to be a hit… I'm going to take it to another label… We're talking with Universal right now." As of late, Cook has still not yet signed with another record label, although she has signed with the Morey Management company. She is currently hosting her own television program on The Outdoor Channel titled "Outdoors 10 Best", which airs on Thursdays. She has begun a new show called Goin' Country which aired on May 22, 2010. She also married her boyfriend Andy Dobner 

Charity work

Kristy Lee Cook founded the Kristy Lee Horse Heaven Foundation, which specializes in caring for, saving and training horses. "I love horses with all my heart, and they have always been there for me through the good and the difficult times. The least I can do is to give back to them in appreciation of all they have done and meant to me." She mentions on the official homepage of the foundation.

Cook also enters the horses in gymkhanas and other horse events. Donations are also welcomed to contribute to land, tack, hay, equipment and other items that will help out this foundation.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Chart Positions

US Country US

2005 Devoted

Released: 2005

Label: Ren-Hen

— —

2008 Why Wait

Released: September 16, 2008

Label: Arista Nashville

8 49

"—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released

Singles

Year Single US Country Album

2008 "15 Minutes of Shame" 28 Why Wait

Source:Kristy Lee Cook

Germany's Next Topmo

Germany's Next Topmodel is a German reality television show, based on a concept that was introduced by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model. The competition is hosted by Heidi Klum, who also serves as the lead judge and executive producer of the show, and revolves around IMG Models searching for a new supermodel.
IMG is developing it into a Nintendo DS and PC game.

Show format

Each yearly search of Germany's Next Topmodel has 10 to 17 episodes and starts with 12-19 contestants. Each episode, one contestant is eliminated, though a double/triple elimination or no elimination was given by consensus of the judging panel.
Makeovers are administered to contestants early in the competition (usually after the first or second elimination in the finals).

Differences between ANTM and GNTM

While the American version's season premieres (except cycles 1 and 2) start with thirty-something semi-finalists and they're cut-down to a batch of ten to fourteen contestants, Germany's Next Topmodel season premieres begin with highlights from the auditions of 100 candidates (cycles 1 and 2) and 120 candidates (cycle 3) respectively.
The panel challenge in front of the judges on America's Next Top Model is almost always replaced by a runway walk in front of the judges on the German show.
In the elimination process on America's Next Top Model, host Tyra Banks hands out the photograph of each contestant that are safe in order of merit.
The bottom two of each episode are called to stand before Banks and are judged individually. The call-out order does play a major role in determining who this week's best contestant was – quite in contrast to Germany's Next Topmodel where the call-out order does not say anything about the quality of the contestants' performance. Moreover, they are called out one by one while the others are waiting in the backstage lobby. The US contestants are all present.
The final five or six contestants travel to an international destination on the American show while Germany's version is noncommittal about the number of journeys abroad; cycle 1 went abroad two times, cycle 2 did so four times and cycle 3 went to five different international countries. Cycle 4 completely takes place in the USA, except for the casting and the final episode.
On America's Next Top Model the final two remaining models compete in a runway, and the winner is chosen in the judging room. On Germany's Next Topmodel, the final three contestants compete in a runway and a photo shoot in front of live audience in Cologne, Germany before the winner is revealed. The final show is live on TV. Cycle 4 final show was the first to air live from a concert hall instead of a tv studio.


Finalists from the first cycle.
Due to the pregnancy of Heidi Klum, the start of the fifth season was postponed and will kick-off in March. Instead a spin-off called Die Model WG was shown featuring several former contestants from the show and hosted by judge Peyman Amin.

Cycles

Cycle Premiere date Winner Runner-up Other contestants in order of elimination Number of contestants International destination
1 January 25, 2006 Lena Gercke Yvonne Schröder Andrea Lichtenberg, Anne Mühlmeier, Celine Roscheck (quit), Rahel Krüger, Micaela Schäfer, Luise Mikulla, Charlotte Offeney, Lena Meier, Janina Ordmann, Jennifer Wanderer 12
New York

Paris

Rotterdam
2 March 1, 2007 Barbara Meier Anni Wendler Alina (quit), Sophie (quit), Janine Mackenroth, Antje Pötke, Enyerlina Sanchez, Janina-Katharina Küpper, Alla Kosovan, Denise Dahinten, Aneta Tober, Tonia Michaely, Milla Gräfin von Krockow, Anja Platzer, Mandy Graff, Fiona Erdmann, Hana Nitsche 15
St. Moritz

Paris

Cape Town

Bangkok

Los Angeles

Lisbon
3 February 28, 2008 Jennifer Hof Janina Schmidt Rubina Radwanski, Aisha Grone, Sandra Korte, Aline Tausch, Tainá Santos Silva, Elena Rotter, Katharina Yvonne Harms, Gina-Lisa Lohfink, Bianca Schumacher, Sophia Maus, Anna Vanessa Hegelmaier (quit), Sarah Knappik, Raquel Alvarez, Gisele Oppermann, Wanda Badwal, Carolin Ruppert, Christina Leibold 19
Barcelona

Salzburg

New York / Los Angeles

Paris

Tel Aviv

Sydney / Melbourne
4 February 12, 2009 Sara Nuru Mandy Bork Olivia Bermann, Johanna Popp, Daphne Braun, Tessa Bergmeier, Dana Franke, Aline Bauer, Tamara Busch, Stefanie Theissing, Katrina Scharinger, Larissa Marolt, Ira Meindl, Sarina Nowak, Maria Beckmann, Jessica Motzkus, Marie Nasemann 17
Los Angeles / Las Vegas / Miami / Honolulu / New York

Singapore
5 March 4, 2010 TBA TBA Eliminated: Aline Kautz (quit), Lena Kaiser, Petra Roschek, Lara Emsen, Luisa Krüger, Catherine Kropp, Nadine Höcherl, Miriam Höller, Wioleta Psiuk, Jacqueline Kohl
Still in the running: Alisar Ailabouni, Hanna Bohnekamp, Laura Weyel, Leyla Mert, Louisa Mazzurana, Neele Hehemann, Pauline Afaja, Viktoria Lantratova 18
Cape Town

New York / Los Angeles / San Francisco
Source:wikipedia