In an era where technology is constantly evolving, you might find yourself in a position where you have to look for a new device, such as a phone or laptop. In a college setting, it’s almost always the latter that causes students to look at every review and “Top 10 Best Laptops for XYZ Majors” article written in the history of mankind. Speaking from experience, overthinking purchases can lead to a waste of energy, so here’s a guide on how to pick the best laptop for you.

Here’s a quick overview of what certain terms mean. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Essentially, it’s the short term data a device will be using to process work. CPU stands for Computer Processing Unit and has often been referred to as the brain of the computer. Ports refer to where cables or storage devices are plugged in. For example, HDMI cables go into HDMI ports and so on.

If you’ve asked for advice on picking a laptop and some dweeb tells you “16 gigabytes of RAM” off the top of their heads, please don’t listen to them. Look at the coursework you are doing now and the coursework you will be doing in the future. If you’re going to need a trustworthy laptop that can handle binge writing essays or watching videos then you can comfortably opt for 4 gigabytes of RAM. 

Yes, I am saying that you don’t need to splurge on an 8 gigabyte RAM drive if you don’t really use your laptop for anything else besides schoolwork. This can save you money if that’s a concern. Please be aware that getting base models can come with trade-offs. You might have to opt for Microsoft Edge rather than Chrome or Firefox since Edge uses the least amount of RAM. This might be a turn off for many potential buyers but Edge has its own features that will make the switch more comfortable than expected.

How about 8 gigabytes of RAM? Well, it wouldn’t hurt to spend a bit extra if you’re going for longevity and better reliance. 8 gigabytes has become the standard for most computers nowadays. If you’re the type of person to keep several programs open while Chrome has at least six tabs running, then 8 gigabytes would be suitable for you. It’s much more reliable when using programs like LockDown Browser, which is important for online courses. Additionally, you’ll be able to use the programs you already know and love…like Google Chrome.

Anything beyond 8 gigabytes of RAM should be obvious. If your major requires you to code or use programs that run calculations, you’ll need the extra short term space so your laptop doesn’t undergo cardiac arrest. Seriously. Overloading a laptop can feel like trudging through a lake made of molasses. An added benefit is that you can opt for a gaming laptop since those are made to handle a lot of different assets and graphics. 

CPU is also important to consider. CPU and RAM go hand in hand: stronger CPUs need higher RAM. You’ll rarely see a very strong CPU be paired with a low storage RAM unit. That’s the equivalent of putting a race car in a school cafeteria. It won’t be able to reach its full potential in such a small space. The same arguments apply to CPUs as those that apply to RAM. Just make sure you research the type of CPU that the devices you’re interested in are carrying.

It’s worth noting that while lower end CPUs and 4 gigabyte RAM seem weak, their build quality tends to be much better compared to several years ago. Have some faith in base model devices; they can go the distance if you take care of them properly.

Now on to storage. This is one of the more flexible options for college students. Thankfully, external hard drives are more accessible and affordable than they were years ago. If you’re not expecting to use a lot of storage then it shouldn’t bother you to have 125 gigabytes of storage. Just remember that regular laptop maintenance involves uninstalling programs and deleting files you don’t need anymore.

Ports are a big issue for some people and not at all for some. Some people need to hook their laptops up to different devices that have different cables. STEM majors might want to opt for devices that have more ports. If you really like a device but it simply doesn’t have enough ports, you can always buy external multiports that come in a variety of types and layouts. 

While checking for reviews is always a good thing, it’s important to remember that almost every device you buy will have a list of pros and cons. Make it a point to buy a device that suits your current and future needs. Avoid the endless cycle of consumerism. Despite what advertisements tell you, that shiny new model is not always better than last year’s model. If anything, a lot of the so-called improvements are merely lateral upgrades instead of changes that lead to a notable shift in quality and performance.

The Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine held a symposium Wednesday night to honor Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.

A University of Minnesota professor said the Earth’s inner core hasn’t stopped but has slowed down in response to a CNN article published Jan. 26 titled “Earth’s Core May Have Stopped Turning and Could Go Into Reverse, study suggests.”

Maxwell Brown, a research associate professor and faculty manager for the Institute for Rock Magnetism, studies the evolution of Earth’s magnetic field through time. He said he uses natural materials such as volcanic rock, which is full of magnetic minerals, and records the magnetic field in the past.

In response to the news, which was covered by several media outlets, Brown said, “Nothing cataclysmic is going to happen, the Earth isn’t going to implode.”

The Earth is made up of the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core. The inner core is solid and separated from the semi-solid mantle by the liquid outer core, which allows the inner core to rotate at a different speed than the Earth as a whole.

At times, the inner core is rotating quickly, while at other times it is not, Brown said. Currently, the rotation between the inner and outer cores is becoming less distinct.

When researchers say “reverse,” they mean the inner core is rotating slightly slower than the outer core, Brown said. It does not mean the Earth’s core has changed the direction it rotates or is rotating backward.

“When you’re in the field, it’s obvious, it’s a different rotation,” Brown said.

The Earth’s inner core and outer core are electromagnetically coupled. The magnetic field generated by the outer core influences the spin of the inner core, which in turn impacts Earth’s magnetic field, Brown said.

For example, when the inner core grows, Earth’s magnetic field strengthens, Brown said.

The change in the inner core’s rotation speed is related to smaller changes, Brown said. Changes in the magnetic field alter the length of a day, but only by milliseconds each day.

The change in the rotation will not impact people’s everyday lives, Brown said.

Research on how the different parts of the Earth interact is important to help scientists understand Earth’s inner core composition and geomagnetic field, Brown said.

The study quoted by CNN, published by Yi Yang and Xiaodong Song on Jan. 23, initially impacted research by highlighting how complicated Earth’s inner core is, Brown said.

“It showed the inner core is much more complex than previously thought,” Brown said.

Researchers are interested in discovering the foundation of Earth’s inner core, Brown said. Understanding the inner core’s rotation helps researchers learn the core’s structure and influence on the magnetic field.

“Sometimes, as scientists, we are so encapsulated in our thoughts and world, it’s hard to know how other people might interpret our research,” Brown said.

Mumtaz Saidin, a second-year student, said she felt scared, nervous and concerned when she heard the Earth’s inner core had stopped.

“I would definitely want to know what’s happening and how I can help to preserve the Earth for the next generation,” Saidin said.

Researchers use words familiar to the geoscience field that aren’t typically clear to people who are not familiar with it, Brown said. Reporters tend to use “easy language” to discuss dense scientific studies that are often misinterpreted.

“I think there is a fine line between getting the message across accurately and altering people’s understanding of a topic or issue,” Saidin said.

Natasha DeLion, a second-year student, said she was shocked.

DeLion said she thinks many reporters lack the scientific background to understand the terms scientific papers use.

“Part of it’s a breaking news thing,” DeLion said. “Certain words capture an audience’s attention.”

Brown said he thinks it’s important for scientists to recognize how certain scientific terms are interpreted by non-scientists, such as stop or reverse.

“We need to step back sometimes, especially to create accessibility to those entering the field,” he said.

Think about the last time you went to the DMV. You know you’re eligible for an ID or driver’s license, but you may have put it off because let’s be honest — it’s a hassle. Even though you’re eligible, you still have to prove you’re eligible by bringing relevant documents, standing in line, filling out forms and so on. This is similar to what public policy scholars refer to as “administrative burden.”

Administrative burden is “the costs that people encounter when they experience policy implementation,” said Don Moynihan, a Georgetown public policy professor who co-wrote a seminal book on the topic with Pamela Herd.

There are three main types of costs associated with administrative burden. First, people have to learn that programs exist and figure out if they’re eligible — these are learning costs. Second, people may encounter psychological costs such as the stress of navigating bureaucracy and the stigma associated with some programs. Third, compliance costs are the burdens associated with filling out forms, collecting documentation, waiting to speak with someone and so on.

Moynihan said many of our most contentious political debates, like those over voting and abortion, have to do with administrative burden. “A lot of the debates we have on voting center on how easy or hard it should be, so how burdensome it should be,” he said.

An important policy area where people encounter a lot of administrative burden is programs that seek to alleviate poverty and provide health care, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid.

“Once you start to get into the reasons why people aren’t able to access these benefits, oftentimes, it’s not because they’re ineligible. It’s because they can’t find the information they need; they’re not sure if they’re eligible and they’re afraid of some sort of negative consequence if they apply and are rejected,” said Juliana Zhou, a policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, a liberal research and advocacy group. “That’s often the case with immigrant communities, so they just won’t chance it.”

Iris Arbogast is a researcher who co-wrote a recent study that looked at why children’s enrollment in public health insurance declined from 2016–19. She and her co-authors found administrative burden played a role in this decline.

“If you can imagine it being difficult to fill out taxes if you’re a college-educated student, imagine doing something more difficult than this to get health care if you barely speak English, or you didn’t go to high school. It’s very confusing and stressful,” Arbogast said.

One example of a policy change that increased administrative burden is when Mississippi started requiring Medicaid recipients to report every change in income of $100 or more.

Previously, they only had to report if their income went above 130% of the poverty line.

And Missouri implemented an auto-checking process that sent some people a letter in the mail stating they had 10 days to respond or they would lose coverage. A survey of 37 Missouri health care providers found 87% of the people who lost coverage still met income requirements, but they had trouble with the renewal process.

Administrative burden hits immigrants and people of color particularly hard, according to experts.

“A lot of Hispanic families or Asian families are mixed-status families, and the vast majority of children in immigrant families are U.S. citizens, but they do not have access or they are not even eligible for benefits,” said Yiyu Chen, a research scientist at Child Trends.

Chen brought up the example of the Earned Income Tax Credit, a powerful poverty-fighting program.

“In order to qualify for the EITC, everyone on the tax return must have a work-authorizing Social Security number,” Chen said. This means even if their children are U.S. citizens and they pay taxes on their income, undocumented parents cannot apply for the EITC.

But these eligibility requirements aren’t the same for all programs. According to Chen, undocumented parents of citizen children are allowed to apply for SNAP on their children’s behalf.

“If you look across programs, if you look at TANF, SNAP and EITC, you will see that the eligibility restrictions are very different,” she said.

This creates a lot of confusion for immigrant families. Since different programs have different immigration status requirements, it might be too confusing, or parents will mistakenly think they can’t apply for any benefits for their children.

There are some ways to reduce administrative burden.

“You can simplify processes, or you can invest more in capacity and probably do a little bit of both,” Moynihan said.

He gave the example of Social Security as a program that has complicated requirements but has shifted the burden onto the government.

“We built an infrastructure to make it feel simple for people,” he said. For instance, many people don’t have to track their income across their careers because the government and their employers do that for them.

Soon, we may see an increase in administrative burden due to the end of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency. Multiple experts said this period has seen some temporary changes that reduced administrative burden. “There’s a lot of innovation,” Chen said. “In SNAP, there was extended certification periods.”

Arbogast said during the emergency period, states weren’t allowed to kick people off of certain programs. But now, they’re going to be sending lots of people letters asking to verify their eligibility, which may pose a problem as it’s been a long time and people may have moved. Administrative burden “hasn’t been a problem for the last couple of years, and it’s likely to come back in full force,” she said.

“Administrative burdens aren’t just a set of policies,” Zhou said. “I would define them more as examples of this overarching mindset of suspicion with which our public benefits programs treat enrollees or applicants.”

Some ways of reducing this suspicion, she said, would be to give people more time to appeal rejection decisions or automatically enroll them in other programs they’re eligible for once they’re in one program.

“That basically makes it possible for people to have access to all of the benefits for which they are entitled, and not asking them to go through nine different processes with, like, three different agencies in order to access the support that they need to live,” Zhou said.

Marcus Sasser outscored Tulsa in the first half with 19 of his 25 points coming in the opening period of No. 2 UH’s win on Wednesday at Fertitta Center. | Anh Le/The Cougar

As the saying goes, when it rains it pours. 

That was the case for Marcus Sasser in No. 2 Houston’s 80-42 victory over Tulsa on Wednesday night at Fertitta Center.

Entering the night, the preseason All-American guard hadn’t made more than four field goals in a single game in nearly a month. Sasser had four made field goals less than eight minutes into the game on his way to 19 first-half points. As a team, Tulsa had just 18 first-half points.

Sasser finished with a game-high 25 points, shooting 10-of-17 from the field, including five 3-pointers.

“Marcus plays the right way,” said UH head coach Kelvin Sampson.

Slow starts had been an issue for UH coming into Wednesday’s game. After the Cougars fell behind early, shooting 4-for-13 from the field to begin the game, it appeared that this trend would continue. But UH turned things around doing what it does best — using its defense to create easy offensive buckets in transition. 

Off a missed Tulsa jumper, Tramon Mark raced to midcourt for a long rebound. Suddenly, the break was on as Sasser raced along Mark, who fed him a perfect pass for an easy layup.

On the next possession, freshman guard Emmanuel Sharp forced a steal and found Sasser in the corner for a 3, capping off a 12-0 run.

“We’re always working on something we need to get better at,” Sampson said.  “Then you see them come out tonight, you see the fruits of their labor. You see why we work.”

It was all UH from there as the Cougars built the lead up to 41 at one point.

Emanuel Sharp scored 13 points off the bench. Mark finished with nine points and nine rebounds.

Of UH’s 31 makes, 21 were assisted on led by Jamal Shead’s 12 assists, one shy of his career-high.

“We put such an emphasis on ball movement and being unselfish, making the right play,” Sampson said. “(We had) 31 baskets (and) 21 assists. That’s not easy to do.”

With the win, UH (23-2, 11-1) keeps its two-game cushion atop the American Athletic Conference with six regular season games remaining.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Marcus Sasser catches fire, powering No. 2 UH past Tulsa” was originally posted on The Cougar

Tras 60 días de uno de los mayores fracasos del fútbol mexicano, los presidentes de la Federación Mexicana de Fútbol y Liga MX anunciaron cambios a su funcionamiento. ¿Acaso son sólo promesas y poca acción las palabras de Yon de Luisa y Mikel Arreola? ¿Acaso es muy tarde para revertir el daño?

Bienvenidos a la oficina del inspector. Mi nombre es José Romo, editor principal de la rama deportiva de Dímelo, y estoy aquí para platicar con ustedes acerca de lo último en el fútbol mexicano. Hoy hablaremos sobre el anuncio reciente de la Federación Mexicana, presentamos un recuento de cómo un club de poco renombre logró fichar a grandes estrellas y repasamos la actualidad del fútbol mexicano.

Nuevos cambios en el fútbol mexicano

Comencemos con el anuncio que dió la presidencia del fútbol azteca el pasado 31 de enero. Yon de Luisa, Presidente de la FEMEXFUT anunció el retorno a la Copa América, torneo del cual selecciones de CONCACAF han estado ausentes desde la colaboración del 2016. También se anunció el Comité de Selecciones Nacionales, una asamblea de dueños que se encargará de presentar críticas, opiniones y sugerencias en relación a la selección. 

A nivel de la Liga MX, Mikel Arreola agregó que reducirá el número de extranjeros por club y se eliminará el repechaje. Esto último viene con la promesa de que en mayo de 2023 se anuncie la reintegración del Ascenso y Descenso. 

Viendo las propuestas en papel, realmente no podemos esperar resultados drásticos. En sí el repechaje y ascenso nunca debieron haber sido eliminados ya que fomentaban la competencia al proveer un incentivo doble, incrementando la capacidad de clubes en primera y segunda división. Con la llegada de la Liga de Expansión — el proyecto que suplanto la segunda división de México —, los clubes al fondo de la tabla perdieron el interés en competir ya que no tenían miedo de descender al mar oscuro que es la liga de Ascenso.

La idea de implementar dos torneos cortos con un campeón por puntos al culminar el año calendario me parece un buen incentivo. Esto fomentaría el producto de la liga — haciéndola más atractiva para el espectador — y sucesivamente intensificará la competencia entre los equipos. También me gusta la idea de tener a dos jóvenes como auxiliares técnicos. Los dejo con esto, sea quien sea el entrenador, la decisión correcta será tener a Jaime Lozano o Rafael Márquez en el banquillo fungiendo como auxiliares.

La llegada de estrellas a la Liga MX

En el 2014 se dio uno de los fichajes más bizarros en la época actual de la Liga MX. Un equipo como Querétaro F.C., quienes cuentan con una historia de descenso, desaparición del equipo y que en la última década han contado con más de seis dueños, lograron fichar al astro brasileño Ronaldinho Gaúcho.

Es importante tomar en cuenta el valor del jugador, quien pasó por equipos como AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain y Barcelona previo a los Gallos del Querétaro. Pocos lograron entender cómo una estrella de calibre mundial — había ganado un balón de oro, una Champions y hasta la Copa del Mundo — fichó con un equipo mexicano a sus 34 años de edad.  

Así arrancaba su tour del retiro y fue Querétaro quien lo recibió por una temporada antes de regresar al Fluminense de Brasil. Según Joaquín Beltrán, director deportivo de Querétaro en ese entonces, lo que convenció a Ronaldinho fue que el presidente del club fue a su casa para presentarle el proyecto. En una entrevista para Medio Tiempo, Beltrán relató cómo Ronaldinho tenía cuatro ofertas de valor mayor a la del club mexicano y aun así decidió fichar por los Gallos. 

En fin, Ronaldinho fue el parteaguas para que años después llegaran jugadores como Andre Pierre-Gignac o Antonio Valencia. Si bien se suele criticar el número de extranjeros en la liga azteca, estos sin duda le cambiaron el semblante. 

Liga MX

Se jugó la quinta jornada del fútbol mexicano y lo rescatable fue el golazo de Javier Güemez en la victoria de San Luis frente a Puebla. También debutó Diego Laínez con los Tigres quien entró de cambio al minuto 54. 

Para la Jornada seis estén atentos al clásico felino — Tigres vs Pumas —, al América contra Necaxa y al Toluca recibiendo al Cruz Azul.

The post Llegan cambios importantes a la Liga MX appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Reach Mykyta Botkins and Sophie Stern at photo@collegian.com or on Twitter @CSUCollegian 

Woburn Teachers Association must pay a $225,000 fine to the city following a five-day strike for better working conditions.

Oftentimes, support in education trickles off at the collegiate level. Community and a sense of belonging can be hard to find for independent students.

At Colorado State University, the Fostering Success Program builds a sense of belonging and support among independent students to promote growth and success in college and beyond.

So what is an independent student?

Melissa Henke, the Fostering Success Program coordinator and former FSP student, broke it down.

“This can mean folks who have experienced foster care, kinship care, orphaned, unaccompanied homeless youth, emancipation and other similar backgrounds,” Henke said. “In summation, FSP students have had a lack of parental support at some time during their youth and even during college years.”

According to FSP’s website, “The Fostering Success Program at CSU is a donor-funded community of about 250 students from independent backgrounds and CSU faculty/staff volunteers that provide scholarships, fun events, academic support and many other resources to Rams.”

“These experiences that our students have shared can be varied, but we really try to be inclusive in our understanding of what independent status means and support our students in quite a few ways,” Henke said.

FSP utilizes a solution-focused approach to provide support in many areas such as academic, financial, personal and career.

“We have an incredible community. I’m very proud of the support that we offer to our students here.” –Melissa Henke, Fostering Success Program coordinator

One thing to know for sure, FSP does awesome care packages for its students.

“Our care packages are really born out of this idea that students who don’t have parental support might not (have) received a lot of the care packages that other students in the dorms might have received from their family,” Henke said.

The packages themselves contain personal care items, hygiene items, snacks, gift cards and other general supplies.

“Something that I’m really passionate about is our mentoring program,” Henke said. “We partner with Educate Tomorrow, which is an incredible organization. We’re able to provide mentoring services in which an upper-class independent student guides and supports new first-year and transfer independent students through their first year at CSU.”

Educate Tomorrow is an organization that believes in individualized coaching over a long period of time to help students focus on improving academics along with economic stability, affordable housing and overall well-being.

Not only does FSP have other services, such as their emergency aid and funding, but they also have scholarships, financial wellness education and events that are a huge cornerstone of what FSP does. Dinners are one of the notable events they put on for their community. 

“We have a dinner that we do about every month that we call a FSP family dinner where we get together at a local Fort Collins establishment and just get together as a community,” Henke said. 

Overall, CSU’s Fostering Success Program establishes opportunity and support for independent students from all backgrounds.

“We have an incredible community,” Henke said. “I’m very proud of the support that we offer to our students here. I’m one of the students that benefited from it myself, and I feel very lucky to come full circle and help the students that we have now.”

Reach Emmalee Krieg at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @CSUCollegian.

The Czech people just gave the world a victory for democracy, and to that, we should all celebrate.