By Phineas Upham

Daniel Dennett has little use for “navel-gazing” philosophers or people who are unwilling to accept criticisms of their own philosophical methods. This blunt approach to philosophy is in full display in his recently published new book “Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking.” As recently profiled by The New York Times, Dennett is unafraid to cross swords with other philosophers whose work he considers to be too fluffy or prone to intellectual flights of fancy.

Readers of “Intuition Pumps” won’t find long descents into hypothetical scenarios and broad-stroke assumptions. What they will find is the work of a philosopher more prone to use science to explain the working of the mind. In fact, it’s this type of approach that has occasionally put him at odds with some of the other major philosophers of the era.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com

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Phineas Upham is an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phin on his Phineas Upham website or LinkedIn page.

Ads in your browsers spells disaster especially if you click on one of them as this will load spyware on your system in the process. This applies to downloading free games or even music which will drop malware onto your system or even change your homepage too.

In knowing how annoying this can be, here are 3 ways to secure your web browser like a pro:

#1: Disable browser toolbars

If your browser seems to be giving you problems, then it’s time to remove every toolbar that you don’t need. Google already offers a toolbar that is legitimate while Yahoo also offers one that can save people’s time.

For both Internet Explorer and FireFox, all you have to do is right-click the toolbar and you can disable all of them or just the ones you aren’t using. It must be pointed out that Google Chrome does not offer this feature.

#2: Scan your computer for viruses and malware

If you think that your PC has a malware infection, then the first that you must do is run a anti-malware program to look for viruses, additional adware and malware. But one program won’t do – use a secondary program to remove the malware that the first one did not find. Some of these options include SuperAntispyware, Malwarebytes and Ad-Aware.

#3: Reset or uninstall your browser

So, you’ve tried everything and your browser is still giving you problems. It’s time to reset your browser even if you’ll lose customized settings and saved data. The reason for this is because the changes made by the malware and adware will be eliminated as well. Again, Firefox and Internet Explorer will allow you to reset your browser but for Google Chrome, you will uninstall and reinstall the program manually.

If you’re planning to go back to college soon, then you can be sure that a laptop is more than handy in such circumstances.

However, there’s a big difference between getting just what you need or going over the top with your purchase, and which results in a complete waste of money.

So, here are 4 things to keep in mind when buying a laptop for college:

#1: Long battery life

Regardless of how well you plan your day, there will be days where you will have to stay on campus for long hours, and a low battery will hardly help in the process. Look at models with Intel’s fourth generation processors as they might cost a little more but will have long battery life.

#2: A keyboard that you can use easily

Make sure you get a keyboard that is big enough for you to type out your term paper and assignments while also being backlit so you can see it if in a dark room. No matter what you’re doing, whether browsing the web, doing homework, chatting on social media, the truth is that the keyboard is vital to your ease of use of the computer.

#3: Big screen for multitasking

Look for a 14 inch screen as it will accommodate a number of tasks such as chatting with your friends on Facebook, writing a term paper and even listening to music as well. A small screen will make it difficult to do all of them.

#4: Install security software

There are two types of security software: one that protects your computer from malware while the other protects your laptop when it is lost or stolen. Avast Free Antivirus, Microsoft Security Essential are effective antivirus software that you can download while LoJack, Hidden and GadgetTrack will help you recover your laptop.

Finding yourself stuck with troubleshooting PC problems has become part and parcel of everyday Life.

However, just in case you think you need to call tech support, it’s not a bad idea to try fixing the problem yourself, regardless of your level of expertise.

There are a number of common problems that individuals are faced with, and which can be resolved without having to spend $50 on a tech support.

Here are 3 common PC issues that can be fixed easily:

#1: My computer is slow

First of all, you have to check as to whether your PC is the reason for a computer being so slow. In some case, if websites and downloads being slow, this is because their broadband connection is below par.

If it is your PC, then clear your hard drive of unnecessary files, remove startup programs that you don’t need. For the latter, remember not to disable a program if you don’t know what it does or if Microsoft is its manufacturer.

#2: My printer is not working

In this case, check whether the print job is in the print queue, check whether your drivers are up to date and it has enough toner or ink and paper to print. Turn it off and back on while unplugging the printer and plugging it back in. Most of all, check if ‘Use Printer Offline’ isn’t checked.

#3: Cannot open email attachments

If you cannot open certain email attachments, then it’s probably because you don’t have the right software for it. For example, if you can’t read a PDF file, you probably need to download a PDF reader namely Acrobat Reader or Foxit to do so. If you’re not sure what software you need to download, then look for the software which can open the file with the particular extension over the internet.

Boat engines are just like your normal engines that you have on your cars – it needs some paying attention to. Just because we don’t use it as often doesn’t mean that regular maintenance should be out of the question. In fact, since they’re not being used regularly, they’re more prone to greater wear and tear.

As some sort of added insult to injury, some others really don’t know how to take care of their boat engines. For example, did you know that boat engines need to be broken in properly? It might be common knowledge that you shouldn’t start it and go to full throttle right away, but it’s a lesser-known fact that you shouldn’t at spend 75% of the first five hours of use at full throttle, but should instend go to full throttle intermittently. This simple oversight may just cause your motor to substantially decrease its useful life, making it a more immediate concern to replace your engine parts.

Also, when it comes to changing parts, you have to make sure that you purchase genuine parts that are full compatible with the make and year model of your particular engine – like for Suzuki Marine Parts. There are designated parts supplied that will perfectly replace your system – they are safer, and more efficient to use, without having to compromise the integrity of your boat engine.

Don’t even risk asking some technicians place some band-aid solution to your machine if it’s evident that the problem is severe; don’t also think that cheaper generic parts give all the same benefits as original ones. Always go original.

If one has tried to cancel their Pandora account, they’d be aware of how difficult it is to cancel certain online accounts.

As with most online services, you’ll have to first find a cancellation page and once you do, it will be time to fill out a email form. Of course, there are some services that make it easier than others do but the truth is that most of them would like to make it as difficult as possible to see you go.

Without a doubt, it can be a time-consuming process to cancel your subscription of a particular service.

Which begs the question: Is there any easier way of canceling accounts?

For this, one can access JustDelete.me which will take you to the cancellation page of the account you want to get rid of, be it Adobe or even Zoho, while also informing whether it is easy, medium, difficult or even impossible to get rid of.

But that’s not all – you can actually do a little research about the service by clicking the ‘Show Info’ option and which will inform you about the policy or other requirements of the service in question.

For example, this section for Pinterest reveals, “Accounts can be deactivated, which means that your pins and profile are hidden but not deleted.”

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one can use JustDelete.me to not only deactivate or cancel their service but also to research information before you actually sign up for any service itself.

Including great games for your internet cafe business is incredibly important for its success. Choose between a variety of internet cafe sweepstakes software including slot games, keno games and card games for something tailored to your market base. Sweepstakes give that casino feeling to players who want easier access to these games. Using sweepstakes software gives you more power and freedom as the business owner. Here are some of the exciting games offered to use in your sweepstakes terminals.

Slot and Reel Games

Most video sweepstakes machines have slot and reel games installed. Reel games tend to be the most popular in internet cafes, bringing in up to 85% of the income. Just like in a casino, the screen displays three or more reels with some kind of symbol or image. Common symbols used on reel games are cherries, sevens, bells and diamonds. The player pushes a physical button on a terminal or clicks a virtual button with a mouse. The reels spin, and when symbols lines up on each reel, it is considered a win. Prizes are dependent upon what combinations were achieved with the spin. Different combinations result in different prizes. Scoring the same symbol in a row is ideal and often leads to winning the biggest prizes. Many of these games now include themes depending on the crowd you plan to market to. For example, some symbols come from the story of Alice and Wonderland, and others can display oil rigs.

Keno Games

Keno games originate from China and can best be described as a bingo experience for your customers. The famed reputation of the game stretches back to the construction of the Great Wall. The story behind the game is that it was used to fund the building of the Great Wall. The original game uses circular glass and a ball containing 80 different numbered tokens with a unique number. These tokens are selected at random and announced to the players. Whether the player wins or not depends on the combination and sequence of numbers selected. This game has been adapted for internet software and sweepstakes terminals.

Card Games

Card games included in sweepstakes machine software are poker and black jack. These games can be played alone or with other people online. All of these games are used as promotional material. This allows for these games to be used in places all across the country for players to enjoy.

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Guest post is provided by SweepsCoach, providing software for an internet cafe business. Visit the website for more information.

Scuba diving offers a peak into a world that is so close to us and our lives and yet, at the same time, so far. Over two thirds of the world we live in is submerged under water; and yet, we know oh so very little about the world beneath us. When Scuba diving was invented, it gave ordinary people the opportunity to be adventurers exploring a whole new world.

Scuba diving is an excellent leisure to enjoy with friends and family. It not only gives you an extraordinary peek into an alien world but it also serves as a good bonding activity. When you have made Scuba diving a serious hobby for yourself and your friends, then perhaps it is time for you and your friends to buy a boat for your marine adventures. Owning a boat means that you are no longer constrained by the availability of rentals. If you have your own boat you will no longer need to worry about the safety of your friends and yourself because boat maintenance depends on you.

If you are getting yourself a Scuba boat, make sure that you get only the highest quality boat parts and accessories to ensure maximum pleasure and safety. A good range of marine powertrains is offered by Seastar Solutions via their Sierra Marine Parts brand. Sierra Marine parts are some of the highest quality engines, electrical systems and drives available in the market. With a quality boat, you can ensure that every Scuba trip you go to is smooth sailing!

If you’ve recently purchased an external hard drive, it’s possible that it comes with a USB 3.0 interface.

 

While it will still work with your old desktop, thanks to USB 3.0 being backward-compatible, what you will lose out on is the primary benefit that this form of new technology offers.

 

So, how do you solve this problem, in order to access your data faster?

 

And no, you don’t have to get a new machine but instead upgrade the one that you have. For this, your computer needs to have PCI or a PCI Express expansion slot. Also, you will need to spend about $20-$30 in order to upgrade your computer as well.

 

Simply out, you will be upgrading your PC with a USB 3.0 PCI card which will give you access to four ports that will as fast as you can imagine, even if they are at the back of your PC.

 

Better still, this upgrade is easy to perform on your  own even if you haven’t poked around in a computer. All you have to do is place a card in a slot, connect a power cord and install a few drivers.

 

It’s as simple as that! However, there are few things that you need to take into consideration too. Firstly, you have to pick a PCI card that matches the kind of slot your PC has while checking its power requirements. Remember that older computers require you to connect Molex plugs while others require SATA plugs too.

 

As for buying a card that suits your computer, you can start by looking at Newegg for the cards that they offer but not buying before you read the ratings posted by other users. Once you purchase the card and install it, make sure you backup your data too.

Release previews are not everyone’s piece of cake, thanks to the imminent system wipe that you might have to perform just in case something goes wrong.

Of course, this warning does not mean that trying Windows 8.1 will result in the complete loss of data on your system. However, why take that chance, right?

 

But that’s not all – following the installation of Windows 8.1, something might just go wrong considering the fact that you are meddling with the operating system. In order to restore your system back to Windows 8, all you need to do is create a recovery drive that this version of Windows allows you to do.

 

In order to get the process of creating a recovery drive, all you will need a USB with a bit of space on it. As for the space required for the recovery drive, the Windows manual mentions that the standard space required to do so is between 3 to 6 GB.

 

In the situation where you don’t have a recovery partition, and only want a recovery image, you will only need 256 MB of space. Make sure you save all the data on your pendrive as creating a recovery disk will delete all files.

 

Plug your pen drive into your computer and access the Charms bar and type ‘Recovery’. When you click the Settings filter in the right-hand charms menu, you’ll find the ‘Create a Recovery Disk which you will have to select to begin the process. Follow the directions provided by the wizard but make sure you select the right storage device in the process.

 

What you also need to keep in mind is that if you need to reinstall the OS using the recovery drive, you need to keep your Windows 8 installation disk handy as well.