Steven

I have an HP laptop that I bought in 2009. What happens is that every time I turn it on is that the screen shuts off. It might work for a few minutes but eventually to screen goes black, but the computer itself is still on though. I believe the cause was on my return flight from Europe. I put my lap top in my back pack without additional protection, intending for it to be my carry on. Then the lady at check in advised that I should check in my back pack to go through security faster, because the security are Charles de Gaulle airport were on strike, and they would check it in for free. I went with it because I haven't been home for over four months and I was coming home for Christmas, I was tired and not thinking clearly, and I heard that the strike has made many people miss their flights without a refund, all because it took forever to get through security. So I went along with it. Since I got back that is when I have had this problem with my computer. I suspect this is the reason because I noticed a crack on the bottom side of the computer's shell, so perhaps my bag was knocked around too harshly when it was loaded on and off my flights.

What do you think the problem is? Is it worth getting it fixed? Would having it repaired be costly? If I do get it repaired where should I go to do so, that is is there a recommended business I should try, or should I mail it to HP?

Thanks everyone.

This fall I will be on exchange to study abroad in Lyon France. The only thing is that my host family lives in Charbonnie-les-Bains. So it takes about half an hour using the bus system to get to Lyon then the metro to get to the university. I have tried getting some info online, but it is difficult to look for it. Especially when considering that my french is tres mal. Being so far away how difficult will it be traveling on the weekend or coming back home on a weekend night? In other words, how late does the bus and metro stay open till? I would hate to be out on the city on a friday night, then on my way back home realize that everything is closed and then have to tred across the city for two hours.

I would be open to riding a bike, but walking takes more than two hours. That being I would assume riding a bike to the city will at the very least take one hour.

I am going to study for a semester in Lyon France, and along with traveling within France I am going to ireland, italy, and germany. It is also quite probable that I will visit the Uk, Austria, and Switzerland. Can you give me the top five places to go and top five things to do for as many of the countries previously listed as you can? Please and thank you everyone!

Any information on how much Ancestry.com cost, and how far back in history it is able to locate your genealogy would be appreciated. If it is not a good means of learning more of your family tree then what other recources would you recommend?

Any suggestions for some of the neighboring counties would be fine too, since I will be there for a few months I'll have plenty of time.

number of sets would be good too.

In american we all think that english, scottish, australian, irish, and other english speaking accents sound really cool. However I, including most other Americans I know, have always found our accents to be dull. What do you think? Just curious.

I have a fair amount of lean muscle mass and normally train for strength. If I was to switch over to muscle endurance and agility training would I get smaller? I only ask this cause I know larger muscles have to take up more energy in order to move, so therefore I am under the assumption that in order to gain endurance you muscles would have to reduce their size in order to become more efficient. Any insight would be most appreciated.

More specifically, what are some worth while sources in french, from any idiom, that could help improve my French i.e. children's book/easy to read novels, tv shows, movies, text books, and etc. Also, any recommendations for sources regarding French culture, customs, and history would be most appreciated as well. If you know study tips that are useful in preparing for a college level french exam would be good.

Finally- I know I just keep enlarging the list as I go- any french learning websites too. Thanks!

I'm an american studying History as an undergrad. Afterwords I plan on going to law school or becoming a history teacher. If I was to choose teaching what process would I have to undertake to become a certified Highschool History Teacher in the U.K.?