Sorry for lack of poker content. I’m just not playing lately and don’t have anything more to say about the absurd fallout from the Port Security Act (involving online poker sites and now even casinos like the Rio).

What I do want to know is who out there can help me with the following issues:

1. I want to be a digital and web designer. I need training and practice with Adobe CS2 and web applications. If you have any projects that need doing (no charge of course) or if you can suggest any steps I should take for becoming a designer, please let me know.
2. Monopoly fans, let’s talk. I mean, I’m so, so close.
3. Looper has a ring and David Wright doesn’t. Please help me rationalize this tragedy.

Those of us in the New York metro area are honored to welcome visiting friend Matt Maroon this weekend. We’re going to try to show him a good time, but I’m not sure New York can measure up to his exacting standards.

• Mediterranean Avenue
• Vermont Avenue
• Virginia Avenue
• Tenessee Avenue
• Kentucky Avenue
• Ventnor Avenue
• Pennsylvania Avenue
• Boardwalk

If you know what I’m talking about and you are interested in discussing, please email me.

Okay, all my tech-savvy readers. I need to buy a new laptop. My two-year-old Gateway laptop (model 4520GZ, purchased at Best Buy) is out of commission due to a melted DC jack. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the rest of the machine, but the genius squad at Gateway soldered the jack to the motherboard. Thus, if I want to replace the jack (a five dollar part) I have to get the whole motherboard replaced. And that, for those of you who watched Family Guy last night, “really grinds my gears.”

So I am looking at some new machines and would like to buy one this weekend. I would ideally like to spend under 1K on this thing. Here are my list of ideal specs:

• sufficient RAM to run multiple programs at once that use lots of graphics (web developing apps, Photoshop, poker games)
• reasonable hard drive space
• “TrueLife”/”HD BrightView” whatever it is they call that nice, crisp display, 15 inches
• CD burner
• wireless capability
• outstanding customer service for more than a year
• realistic warranty options
• must be a PC (for both poker and NYU reasons)

I don’t travel with my laptop often, but I do work in various rooms of the house and often for long hours.

Here are some machines I’ve been looking at:

• HP machine on sale at Staples
• Inspiron machine at Dell
• Compaq at P.C. Richard

Thoughts? Anyone know of other machines that might fit my needs? Any help would be much appreciated.