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Bermuda Electric Light Company installs 10-MW/5.5-MWh energy storage system

Yesterday, energy storage company Saft said it delivered and installed a turnkey Energy Storage System to Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO). The system provides up to 10 MW power for spinning reserves and frequency response to maintain grid stability and has a storage capacity of 5.5MWh, said the company. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on May 16.




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Rhode Island utility commissioners approve Revolution offshore wind PPA

The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the PPA with utility National Grid for 400 MW in wind power capacity from the Revolution Wind project. Project developer DWW Rev 1 LLC is a joint venture of New England utility Eversource and Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind.




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India's largest coal-fired power producer appoints renewables head to speed transition

State-run NTPC Ltd., India’s largest coal-fired power producer, is appointing a new head of its renewables team to speed up its expansion into clean energy, according to a company official with knowledge of the plan.




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LevelTen receives series B funding; arranges 146-MW PPA for Starbucks

Seattle, WA-based LevelTen Energy helps corporate buyers of renewable energy find and purchase energy from solar and wind projects within North America through its procurement platform. The company says its solution reduces the cost, complexity, and risk of renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs), by incorporating analytics, aggregation, and process best practices.




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It’s clean, powerful and available: Are you ready for hydrogen energy?

As the world responds to the challenges of climate change, energy systems are evolving, and evolving fast. The past 10 years have seen the rise (and dramatic cost reduction) of renewable energy such as wind and solar, to the extent that they are no longer considered alternative energy. They have become mainstream energy sources. Now, what will be the “next big thing” as the world shifts to a low carbon future?




an

Remote Chinese region looks to set new clean-power record

A sparsely populated Chinese province that’s home to the headwaters of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers is attempting to set a new record for clean energy use, serving as a test bed for the entire country.




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Target commits to 100 percent renewables; signs PPAs to purchase wind and solar energy

On June 12, Target corporation said it was increasing its renewable energy goals by committing to source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The goal applies to all of Target’s domestic operations.






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Women are missing out on the clean energy job boom in America

While the industry is welcoming more women leaders, its rank-and-file workforce is still a lot like those at fossil-fuel companies: white and dominated by men. The lack of gender diversity is being driven by manufacturing jobs, and that means women are now missing out on the biggest jobs boom America has to offer.




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The failure of privatization in the energy sector and why today’s consumers are reclaiming power

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, the twin forces of privatization and deregulation of public infrastructure services ascended to a global paradigm of progress and development. Government management of services such as telecommunications, transportation, water, and energy was deemed inefficient, underperforming, and monopolistic. Private industry – accountable to the profits and losses of an open market and, thus, believed more efficient than government – was proclaimed the better way for consumer choice and a more efficient use of taxpayers’ expenses.




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BlackRock unit aims to boost Asian renewables to $5 billion

BlackRock Real Assets is aiming to boost its renewables power portfolio in Asia by as much as 10-fold as it seeks to keep pace with the world’s fastest-growing region for green energy.




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Builder of Saudi Aramco oil rigs plans to expand into wind power

An Abu Dhabi-based company that builds drilling platforms for oil giant Saudi Aramco plans to diversify into renewable energy by supplying gear for offshore wind farms.




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PNM plans early retirement of coal plant with massive addition of solar + storage

On July 1, Public Service of New Mexico filed a plan with regulators in the state for how it plans to get to a 100 percent emission-free power by 2040. The utility reviewed four scenarios, all of which involved the early retirement of the San Juan Coal Plant, to arrive at its recommended path forward.




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Natural Gas beat coal in the US. Will renewables and storage beat gas?

In April 2019, in the heart of coal country, Indiana regulators rejected a proposal by its electric and gas utility, Vectren, to replace baseload coal plants with a new $900 million, 850 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power plant. Regulators were concerned that with the dramatic decline in the cost of renewable energy, maturation of energy storage and rapidly changing customer demand, such a major gas plant investment could become a stranded, uneconomic asset in the future. Regulators are now pushing Vectren to consider more decentralized, lower-carbon resources such as wind, solar and storage that would offer greater resource diversity, flexibility and cost effectiveness.




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POWERGEN India 2020 to support energy transition in India

Clarion Energy & iTEN Media announce the launch of POWERGEN India 2020 co-located with Indian Utility Week & DISTRIBUTECH India





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Fantasy Energy League Draft follow-up: breaking down the first round

In late 2018, I put out the call to see how many fellow energy nerds I could gather to indulge me in combining my passion for energy analysis and clean power policy with my love of fantasy sports. By the end of January 2019, I had my cast of characters who somehow thought this idea was as fun as I did (isn’t the Internet the greatest tool for finding people who share your interests?) and I released my Draft Preview. Coordinating this draft among 14 different teams with different time zones and schedules chock-full of actually helping to save the planet proved no easy task, but by the end of March we had conducted 5 rounds of picks for a total of 70 selections in this Inaugural Fantasy Energy League!




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Study: Fossil fuels are far less efficient than previously thought

Fossil fuels, long regarded for their high-energy return on investment, are not as efficient as once thought. In fact, their final yields are not much better than those of renewable options, according to a new study.




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Namibia announces $338M, 5-year renewable energy strategy

Namibia’s state-run utility will build four plants powered by renewable energy over the next five years as the southern African nation seeks to guarantee local supplies and cut its use of fossil fuels.




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Lincoln Clean Energy: Texas' Lockett Wind project commercially operational

The Lockett Wind farm in Wilbarger has the potential to generate more than 700,000 MWh of renewable energy per year, enough to power the equivalent of 70,000 homes. 




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Small Missouri utility proposes big pivot to clean energy in latest resource plan

Missouri’s smallest investor-owned utility is charting a dramatically different course two years after being acquired by new owners.





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U.S. announces changes to implementing regulations of the Endangered Species Act

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has unveiled changes to the implementing regulations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that Interior says is “designed to increase transparency and effectiveness and bring the administration of the Act into the 21st century.”




an

On the brink of blackouts, Texas makes case for power plant boom

It may be time to start building power plants in Texas again.




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Net zero carbon emissions ‘impossible’ without hydrogen says UK energy alliance

The UK’s North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) is calling for government investment in hydrogen projects to meet ambitious carbon reductions targets in Britain.




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The energy transition is underway: 10 charts tell the story

The renewable energy transition promises to reduce carbon emissions, but it’s happening at different speeds around the world. Read on for some key insights from BloombergNEF’s New Energy Outlook 2019, which provides a detailed road map to the future.




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Virginia looks to New York green bank for possible clean energy financing

Virginia’s energy office is exploring whether to align the state with a billion-dollar New York clean energy financing program.





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Bernie Sanders’ ‘Green New Deal’ aims to have renewables power homes by 2030

Bernie Sanders wants renewable energy to power U.S. homes and vehicles by 2030 -- and he wants to do it by enlisting the federal government in building and running new solar, wind and geothermal electricity projects.




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Can Italy strike twice?

Italy’s National Energy Strategy aims to increase wind and solar power’s share of gross final energy consumption by 2030. The country boasts a track record of meeting past renewables targets, but can it be successful once more? Stefania Belisario, associate director, Infrastructure, S&P Global Ratings, assesses the factors either driving or impeding progress.




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Covering Climate Now signs on more than 170 news outlets

MORE THAN 170 NEWS OUTLETS from around the world have now signed up for Covering Climate Now, a project co-founded by CJR and The Nation aimed at strengthening the media’s focus on the climate crisis.




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Renewable energy takes center stage at POWERGEN ASIA and Asian Utility Week

In a region of the world where coal is still king, there is room for renewables. This was a takeaway from the Ministerial Address and Joint Opening Keynote at POWERGEN Asia and Asian Utility Week. The two annual events kicked off Tuesday, Sept. 3, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.




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Democratic presidential hopefuls take on climate change, tout goals

Even as they touted ambitious proposals to reduce carbon emissions to a national audience, Democratic candidates for president tried to balance the boldness of their plans with the need for simplifying a complex scientific problem to make it palatable to voters.




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Clean energy investment set to hit $2.6 trillion this decade

The global energy supply is turning greener.




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Australia in planning for multiple massive battery projects

France’s Neoen SA has outlined plans to build a giant renewables complex in South Australia, including battery storage with up to nine times more capacity than the Tesla Inc. design at its nearby Hornsdale plant, which is billed as the world’s largest lithium-ion battery.




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27. Februar 2020 - IPC veröffentlicht PCB Branchen-Entwicklung für Januar 2020




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2. März 2020 - Die Elektronik-Branche steigert ihre Leistungsfähigkeit auf der IPC APEX EXPO 2020




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3. März 2020 - Der IPC ruft zur Teilnahme an der IPC APEX EXPO 2021 auf




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5. März 2020 - Taiwan Union Technology Corporation erhält als erstes Unternehmen die Rezertifizierung nach IPC-4101 Qualified Products Listing (QPL)




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26. Februar 2020 - IPC veröffentlicht PCB Branchen-Entwicklung für Februar 2020




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30. April 2020 - IPC veröffentlicht PCB Branchen-Entwicklung für März 2020




an

The best blenders for smoothies, soups, and everything in between

BEST DEALS ON BLENDERS:


Today's lesson in Cooking as a Grown-Ass adult: Blenders are used for more than frozen margs in summer and collecting dust in winter.

Hot soup without a stove, coffee without a coffee maker, and whipped cream without a hand mixer are just a few of the tasks these multitasking appliances can tackle. Similar to the way the mystical Instant Pot replaces a sauté pan or slow cooker, blenders can expand your meal possibilities tenfold without the clutter of multiple machines. Read more...

More about Tech, Food, Kitchen, Mashable Shopping, and Blenders
IMAGE: Amazon

BEST OVERALL

Vitamix Professional Series 750

This classic Vitamix annihilates fruits and nuts and has presets to make just about anything.

  • Power: 1,560 watts
  • Container size: 64-ounce
  • Automated settings: smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, purées, self-cleaning
  • App-connected: No
$598.95 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR MIXING DOUGH

Ninja Mega Kitchen System (BL770)

Expand to pizza or cookie dough with this food processing bowl — just ignore the noise.

  • Power: 1,500 watts
  • Pitcher size: 72-ounce
  • Automated settings: dough, blend, crush, single serve
  • App-connected: No
$149.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Calphalon Auto-Speed Blender

Novices and experts alike will appreciate the auto-adjusting speeds, screen, and long warranty.

  • Power: 1,100 watts
  • Container size: 67.6-ounce
  • Automated settings: smoothie, dip, milkshake, frozen drink
  • App-connected: No
$159.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: NutriBullet

BEST PERSONAL BLENDER

NutriBullet Balance

Track fitness goals and nutrition facts with the Bluetooth smart scale and Balance app.

  • Power: 1,200 Watts
  • Container size: 32-ounce
  • Automated settings: None
  • App-connected: Yes
$149.94 from NutriBullet

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST SMART BLENDER

Vitamix A3500

Walk-away convenience and the touchscreen are life-changing, but iPads can be bought for cheaper.

  • Power: 1,500 watts
  • Container size: 64-ounce
  • Automated settings: smoothies, hot soups, dips and spreads, frozen desserts, self-cleaning
  • App-connected: Yes
$565 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST HAND BLENDER

Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender

Dressing, soup, merengue, and whipped cream can achieve the perfect texture with 15 trigger speeds and an ergonomic handle.

  • Power: 280 watts
  • Pitcher size: 42-ounce
  • Automated settings: None
  • App-connected: No
$83.95 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR WORKOUTS

Oster Blend-N-Go

A pre-gym smoothie always feels rushed, but this blending pitcher doubles as a sport bottle.

  • Power: 400 watts
  • Pitcher size: 20-ounce
  • Automated settings: None
  • App-connected: No
$19.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BUDGET PICK

Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher (58163)

This classic blender is great for newbies and triples as a personal blender and food processor — but you get what you pay for.

  • Power: 700 watts
  • Container size: 40-ounce
  • Automated settings: milkshake/easy clean, purée/smoothie, dice/salsa, crush ice/grate
  • App-connected: No
$59.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR TRAVELING

PopBabies Personal Blender

USB charging makes this great for going off the grid or for work.

  • Power: 175 watts
  • Container size: 14-ounce
  • Automated settings: None
  • App-connected: No
$36.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: NutriBullet

BEST FOR SWITCHING UP RECIPES

NutriBullet

Though it only has one speed, you'll get two different blade options included with the set.

  • Power: 600 watts
  • Cup size(s): Two 18-ounce, one 24-ounce
$59.99 from NutriBullet

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR EXTRACTING NUTRIENTS

Nutri Ninja with FreshVac Technology

Get the most nutrients and best flavors from your produce with this blender's FreshVac pump.

  • Power: 1,100 watts
  • Cup size(s): Two 24-ounce
$56.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: NutriBullet

BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Magic Bullet

A cheap, reliable blender that isn't too feature-heavy.

  • Power: 250 watts
  • Cup size(s): One 12-ounce, two 18-ounce
$39.99 from NutriBullet

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR TAKING IN THE CAR

Homgeek Personal Mini Blender

With two slim sports bottles, this compact blender is a solid choice.

  • Power: 300 watts
  • Cup size(s): Two 20-ounce
$23.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR CAMPING

Cozibot Travel Blender

Just because you're far from an outlet doesn't mean you need to skip your smoothie.

  • Power: 65 watts
  • Cup size(s): One 13-ounce
$34.96 from Amazon




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10 of the best gaming PCs: Why we love Corsair, Lenovo, Dell, and more

BEST DEALS ON GAMING PCS:


The popularity of gaming PCs has exploded in recent years. Sure, there are plenty of people who won’t abandoned their beloved consoles. But a large number of gaming enthusiasts have been shifting their attention. And with good reason. 

For starters, the games are cheaper and the breadth available is truly astounding. After all, console exclusives are (mostly) a thing of the past. You can use your PC to play the latest strategy and simulation games as well as the top offerings in eSports and first person shooters. Additionally, thanks to the PC’s open platform, you also have access to a wide array of wildly inventive independent games. No matter your penchant and preferences, you’re always guaranteed to find something that matches your mood, skill and desires. Read more...

More about Tech, Gaming, Computers, Pcs, and Mashable Shopping
IMAGE: Best Buy

BEST QUIET PERFORMANCE

Corsair One Pro

If you’re tight on space but crave the HD and 4K power of a larger machine, consider the Corsair.

  • Processor Speed: 4.2 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 960 GB
$2,300 from Best Buy

IMAGE: iBuyPower

BEST DESIGN

iBuyPower Snowblind

  • Processor: 3.7 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$1,299 from iBuyPower

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST VALUE

CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme

Runs great right out of the gate but can also be upgraded at a future date.

  • Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$779 from Amazon

IMAGE: Lenovo

BEST PORTABILITY

Lenovo Legion C530 Cube

  • Processor Speed: Up to 4.60 GHz
  • RAM : Up to 16GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$819.99 from Lenovo

IMAGE: Walmart

BEST FOR THE NEW GAMER

Acer Aspire Gaming Desktop GX-281

Great brand with even greater support.

  • Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 1000 GB
$820.33 from Walmart

IMAGE: Dell

BEST BUDGET PICK

Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop 5680

  • Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 1.25 TB
$649.99 from Dell

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST GRAPHICS

CyberPowerPC Gamer Panzer

  • Processor Speed:: 3.8 GHz
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 2048 GB
$3,177 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST UPGRADABILITY

Alienware Aurora R7

If you're in the market for a gaming PC with impressive accessibility and function, the Alienware Aurora R7 is a solid choice. Its tool-less design allows for upgrades to ensure a future-proof system.

  • Processor Speed: 4.6 GHz
  • RAM: 64 GB
  • Storage: 2 TB
$1 from Amazon

IMAGE: Best Buy

BEST PERSONALIZATION

OMEN Obelisk by HP

The OMEN Obelisk by HP provides a smooth gaming experience, customizable features, and an impressive amount of storage.

  • Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
  • RAM: 32 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$1 from Best Buy

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST STYLISH BUDGET-FRIENDLY PC

SkyTech Blaze II

Coming through with a light-up LED design and an impressive amount of RAM, the SkyTech Blaze II is a solid pre-built option.

  • Processor speed : 3.9 GHz
  • Processor Speed: 3.9 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$749.99 from Amazon




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6 of the best gaming laptops that cost less than $1,000

BEST DEALS ON GAMING LAPTOPS:


My first gaming laptop cost $1,500 more than 10 years ago, and that was considered affordable. It wasn't a top-of-the-line model, but it wasn't a slouch either, sporting one of the better mid-tier graphics cards and a reliable processor/RAM combination.  

But my, how things have changed.

Today, you can go on Amazon and find plenty of laptops for less than $1,000 that would have been at least $1,500 a few years ago, thus opening doors to people who want to try out PC gaming for themselves. (And if it's Prime Day or Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you can expect deal prices to dip even lower.) But sorting through all of the options and deciding which is best presents its own unique challenge. Read more...

More about Gaming, Laptop, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Gaming
IMAGE: Amazon

OUR TOP PICK

Lenovo Legion Y520

Lenovo balances price and power to deliver a well-rounded gaming laptop that can handle most of what the average gamer can throw at it.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-7300HQ
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
  • Storage: 256GB SSD
  • Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) LED-lit
$999.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR A BUDGET

Asus TUF Gaming FX504

The Asus TUF Gaming FX504 offers reliable performance without breaking the bank for gamers on a budget.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GTX 1050 2GB
  • Storage: 1TB FireCuda SSHD
  • Screen: 15.6” Full HD
$999.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST POWER FOR THE PRICE

Dell G5 Gaming Laptop

With plenty of graphical power for an affordable price, the Dell G5 gaming laptop is proof that price doesn't have to lock out performance.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H
  • RAM: 8GB(up to 32GB)
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
  • Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
  • Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display
$937 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR NEW GAMERS

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Gaming Edition 5577

If you're new to the gaming scene and looking for a good place to start, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a great pick.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-7300HQ
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5 VRAM
  • Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
  • Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare LED-backlit
$749 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST MULTI-PURPOSE LAPTOP

Acer Aspire 7

With the Acer Aspire 7, you'll be ready for anything life or gaming has to throw at you.

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
  • Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
  • Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display
$839.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST NAME BRAND LAPTOP

OMEN by HP 15.6" Gaming Laptop

HP integrates its trusted brand design with plenty of power in the Omen 15.6" gaming laptop.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with dedicated 4 GB GDDR5
  • Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
  • Screen: 15.6" diagonal FHD IPS BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit
$929 from Amazon




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Best sex toys for women: Take pleasure into your own hands

BEST DEALS ON SEX TOYS:


If Instagram is to be believed, then self care for women basically amounts to face masks and daily affirmation apps.

Hot take: Sex toys are the ultimate self-care purchase.

Orgasms release oxytocin, the anti-stress hormone that gets you warm and fuzzy when cuddling, while dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, also makes an appearance. It stands to reason, then, that "I need to get laid" is a thing that actually makes sense to say when you're having a rough week. Read more...

More about Culture, Sex, Sex Toys, Vibrators, and Masturbation
IMAGE: Unbound Babes

BEST FOR BEGINNERS

Squish by Unbound

This adorable, button-free toy has risen to stardom due to simplicity: Harder squeezes equal stronger vibrations.

  • Stimulation: Clitoral
  • Vibration modes: 5
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: Yes
$99 from Unbound Babes

IMAGE: Adam & Eve

BEST RABBIT VIBRATOR

Fifty Shades of Grey G-Spot Vibrator

Rabbit vibrators are the go-to for simultaneous internal and G-spot stimulation and this one packs 36 total vibration modes.

  • Stimulation: G-spot, clitoral
  • Vibration modes: 36
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: Yes
$99.99 from Adam & Eve

IMAGE: Love Crave

BEST CLASSIC VIBRATOR

Crave Vesper Vibrator Necklace

You can take that tingly feeling wherever you go with this quiet vibrator that's also a statement necklace.

  • Stimulation: Clitoral
  • Vibration modes: 4
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: Yes
$69 from Love Crave

IMAGE: Babeland

BEST COCK RING FOR FEMALE PLEASURE

Je Joue Mio

One of the best cock rings to help you achieve dual pleasure, the Je Joue Mio offers a comfy fit and impressive rumbles.

  • Stimulation: Clitoral
  • Vibration modes: 12
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: Yes
$109 from Babeland

IMAGE: Ella Paradis

BEST ORAL SEX SIMULATOR

Womanizer Premium Clitoral Massager

Get the sensation of oral sex with this erotic combo of air, suction, and pattern randomization.

  • Stimulation: Clitoral
  • Vibration modes: 12
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: Yes
$239 from Ella Paradis

IMAGE: Lelo

BEST FOR THE SHOWER

Lelo Sona Cruise

This ergonomic toy sucks (in a good way) and uses sonic waves to hit interior parts of the clitoris.

  • Stimulation: Clitoral
  • Vibration modes: 8
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB-rechargeable: Yes
$99 from Lelo

IMAGE: Lovehoney

BEST BUTT PLUG

Butt Tingler by Lovehoney

Though not the prettiest one out there, it exceeds expectations as a beginner-friendly option.

  • Stimulation: Anal
  • Vibration modes: 10
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: No
$26.99 from Lovehoney

IMAGE: Lelo

BEST WAND

Lelo Smart Wand Medium

A curved handle and naturally-increasing intensity prove that wands made for masturbation are better than your generic "personal massager."

  • Stimulation: Clitoral
  • Vibration modes: 8
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: Yes
$159 from Lelo

IMAGE: Ella Paradis

BEST FOR USE WITH A PARTNER

We-Vibe Sync

Couples can use the app with this remote-controlled vibrator to up the intimacy, even if you're states apart.

  • Stimulation: G-spot, clitoral
  • Vibration modes: 12
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: Yes
$229 from Ella Paradis

IMAGE: Geeky Sex Toys

BEST FOR HBO AND CHILL

Game of Moans Longclaw Dildo

The eighth season may not be moan-worthy, but this girthy dildo version of Jon Snow's sword is.

  • Stimulation: G-spot, anal
  • Vibration modes: None
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • USB rechargeable: N/A
$130 from Geeky Sex Toys





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DEF CON is actually, for real, not a joke canceled

All it took was a pandemic, but the long-running joke finally became a reality: DEF CON is canceled. 

The annual hacker conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, typically draws tens of thousands of attendees to talk shop, compare notes, and generally cause delightful mischief. One element of that mischief is the constant — and until now false — yearly claim that DEF CON is canceled. The coronavirus changed that, and the organization announced Friday that the in-person conference will not take place this year. 

"The #DEFCONiscanceled meme has crossed over into real life, courtesy of #COVID19," read the announcement. "In early March we had hopes that things would be stable by August. That is no longer realistic." Read more...

More about Def Con, Coronavirus, Tech, and Cybersecurity




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Here's another bizarrely cinematic ad for a product you really don't expect

Between the infamous Peloton commercial, the wild Boyhood wannabe that ended up being a Subway ad, and the endless #girlboss marketing reminding you that even women can be part of the capitalist machine, 2019 was a year for advertising. 

But nothing quite tops this one, which was released in September but resurfaced in a viral tweet on Friday.  

The ad starts off with a bleak statistic: women hold just 10 percent of all patented inventions. Then, it pans over to a delightful montage of ambitious young women. Each one is filmed preparing for their career goals, from mixing delicate chemicals in a laboratory to carefully testing the consistency of soil.  Read more...

More about Games, Viral Videos, Commercial, Monopoly, and Culture