Rick's Daily Tips

USMLE Step 1 vs. Step 2: How your study strategy must evolve?

Posted on May 25, 2026

We should think of the medical licensing journey as a two-part blockbuster movie. Step 1 was the origin story—a gritty, scientific drama where you sat in a dark room memorizing the molecular structure of fungi and why certain enzymes turn a patient’s pee blue.

It was a test of raw storage, seeing how much data you could cram into your skull before your brain hit “Disk Space Full.” But now, the sequel has arrived, and the genre has shifted. You’ve moved from the lab to the emergency room, and the stakes have never been higher. [Read more…]

Q&A: Can you damage a new laptop’s battery by using it too soon?

Posted on May 24, 2026

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Question from Freida: Hi, Rick. I hope you can answer a question for me.

I recently ordered a new laptop from Amazon. When it arrived I took it out of the box and immediately started using it like I normally do.

This morning I read an article that said you’re supposed to charge the battery in a new laptop for at least 8 hours before you start using the laptop. [Read more…]

How to prevent your laptop’s keys from fading

Posted on May 24, 2026

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The typical computer keyboard uses dozens of black keys labeled with white letters, numbers and symbols.

Over time these labels fade out and eventually disappear as they are touched and pressed numerous times.

For touch typists, fading keys are no big deal, but for the countless “hunt-and-peck” typists in the world it’s a big deal indeed.

In fact, it’s a bit like turning off the lights and typing in the dark. [Read more…]

Seasonic PRIME vs. VERTEX vs. FOCUS vs. CORE: How to choose one for a gaming, creator, or workstation build

Posted on May 23, 2026

PRIME, VERTEX, FOCUS, and CORE Seasonic power supplies deliver different productivity and efficiency to your PC build, depending on the tasks you run on it. Here are more details on them:

PRIME PSUs are a flagship line with the maximum stability, the highest efficiency level (80 PLUS® Titanium/Platinum), and excellent performance under extreme workloads. They are a perfect fit for AI workstations, professional PC builds, streaming, or gaming systems. [Read more…]

Q&A: Can you attach an external screen to an all-in-one PC?

Posted on May 22, 2026

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Question from Marie: I have a two year old all-in-one Windows PC and its screen has just gone out.

This computer runs well and it has all my files on it so I’d like to keep using it if I can.

I’d really prefer a larger screen if that’s a viable option.

Is it possible to connect an external monitor to an all-in-one computer or will I need to just have the bad screen replaced? [Read more…]