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THE SWITCH TO DIGITAL
TELEVISION
Beware of ‘HDTV Converter’ scams
What does it take to get HD?
To start with, you’ll need…an HDTV.
By Steven Sande, Digital TV Facts
If anybody tries to sell you a device that will turn
your analog TV into an HDTV, don’t take the bait.
No such device exists—because no standard TV can ever give you high-definition
television. HD images offer significantly higher resolution, capable of
revealing fine details, accompanied by CD-like surround sound. That poor old
analog TV can never give you that, alas. It lacks the necessary technology. If
you want to watch shows in HD, the first step is to buy an HDTV. (We’ll get to
the second step later on.)
HDTV is (aside from the early analog HD systems in Japan and Europe) a digital
television system. Digital TV, or DTV, is a technology that efficiently encodes
a television signal as a bunch of zeroes and ones.
Watch digital channels on an analog TV
You don’t have to haul your analog TV out to the trash, however, when analog
over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts end on February 17, 2009. The addition of a
set-top box will allow an analog TV to display digital programming. But the
programs will be viewed in standard-definition (SDTV), not HD. Even SDTV will
generally look and sound better than typical analog television, though.
If you watch TV with an indoor or outdoor antenna, your analog TV will need a
DTV converter box to continue doing its job after the switchover to digital
broadcasts is completed in 2009. The federal government will make $40-off
coupons available to help consumers pay for the boxes.
• Read more: DTV Converter Box Coupons
Cable or satellite TV subscribers require a digital cable box or receiver to
watch digitally delivered programming on an analog TV.
• Read more: Digital TV facts for cable TV customers
• Read more: Digital TV facts for satellite TV customers
That, then, is what it takes to get digital TV programming—in SDTV form—on your
analog TV. Again, if you want HDTV programming, you will need an HDTV.
But in addition to having an HD set, you must have a source of HD programming.
HD programming options
You can watch local HD broadcasts over the air for free on an HDTV that includes
a built-in ATSC digital tuner.
Besides an HDTV, cable or direct-broadcast satellite customers will need to
subscribe to a package that includes HD programming. (Depending on your HDTV and
your pay-TV provider, you may also need an HD-capable cable box or satellite
receiver.) Otherwise you’ll just be watching in standard definition.
While broadcast stations and cable networks have increased their HD offerings,
many programs have yet to make the jump to HD. Capacity limits on cable and
satellite systems have limited HD programming to certain channels, although the
number of HD channels is expected to grow over time.
Scams vs. labeling errors
To recap: Stay away from anyone who claims that an “HDTV Television Converter”
will convert your analog TV to HD. Nod your head, feign interest. Then turn to
the huckster and earnestly ask: “Does this one run on magic beans?”
Note, however, that some models of set-top HD receiver boxes will also work with
analog TVs, providing local digital TV channels in standard-definition quality.
An HD receiver (also known as an HD tuner) is primarily intended for use with a
tuner-free, “HD-ready” TV.
Careless merchants might label a set-top HDTV receiver as an “HDTV converter
box.” The name can be misleading. But don’t assume they are out to cheat
you—unless they make worthless claims about an HD experience on an analog TV.
| Four Time World Champion Kurt Browning A ONE ON ONE CHAT by Ray Sabb, Editor February 28, 2003
Our interview time was for a specific window of time, which we missed terribly and Mr. Browning was gracious enough to call me on my cell phone and let me know that he was still on the ice, which really caught me by surprise. I had already assumed that since I missed this window of opportunity that our interview with Kurt was not going to happen, but it worked out in the last minute. We talked about his future. Let's face it; Kurt has been skating for over a decade professionally and in competition even longer on the blades. Most individuals hit their peaks at about the mid 30's mark. Well, there are exceptions. Like Kurt Browning and that funny guy....Scott. On his future plans he said that he would like to be involved in a show and something that is behind the scenes in the industry but for right now his main focus is on Stars On Ice and doing what he refers to as his job. But I got the impression that it isn't just a job to him but a passion. In this thread of the conversation, Kurt mentions that since all of the skaters have been together for awhile and have the performance track down that there really isn't any rehearsal but practice time to work out those physical kinks one might have. At this point Katarina Witt skates to the edge of the ice as Kurt was watching her out of the corner of his eye and suggests to Katarina not to respect it. The "it" was I assume the challenge of a jump that she was working on. It worked. At that point Kurt tells me that we all sort of coach each other when we are doing shows back to back, this is a production and we all work together to make it happen. Kurt has been with the show for 9 years and is a valued member of the show. I had to ask this next question because of all the competitions Kurt has won over the years.
What happened in the Olympics? Lillehammer (1994) and Albertville (1992); one was a slipped disk and the other was just concentration. Both missed opportunities. But there is a great ending to the Olympics saga. In February 2002, Kurt had the honor of skating in the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. This performance was more than a dazzle, it was a memorable skate that millions of people will hold in their hearts for years to come. Somewhere in his bio I recall a mention about his hockey skates. So I asked him about that. He just sort of laughed a little and indicated that he loves hockey and being from Canada sometimes he and his friends play what can be considered a sandlot skate against each other. Hockey really wasn't in his future, he said," I didn't think of myself in the NHL." It would have been nice to play some sandlot hockey with Kurt but, I am a football guy and he would have probably checked me into oblivion in the first 5 seconds of play. I touched on the impending war with Iraq. Kurt is Canadian and we know our northern neighbors have a great concern about what is going on in Iraq. He summed it up well by saying," It is like your sitting in your neighbors front room while an argument is going on", " Your helpless and don't know what to say or do." As I thanked Kurt for his time he indicated that his wife Sonia is expecting a child in a few months and again I offered the traditional congratulations and best wishes as I prepared to watch the Smucker's Stars on Ice performance at the Hartford Civic Center. A great guy, a great performer and a great show. What more can anyone ask for an evening out with the Stars that are Hot...
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Hartford, CT - Kurt Browning is a World Class athlete, performer and gentleman. We had the rare opportunity to sit down with Mr. Browning and just have an old-fashioned chat "guy" style. No cameras in the background, no distractions; unless you want to call Katarina Witt a distraction, no fans beckoning for an autograph. Just two guys sitting down and talking about each other and what is going on.
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The Travelers Championship will be held June 16 - 22, 2008, at TPC RiverHighlands in Cromwell, Conn. As the only PGA TOUR event in the northeast in early summer, the Travelers Championship is one of the region's premier sporting events. Primary beneficiaries of the Travelers Championship are The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, serving children facing serious illness, and the Greater Hartford Jaycees, a leadership development and community service organization. The event is sponsored by Travelers, a leading provider of property and casualty insurance. Travelers has been doing business in the community for nearly a century and a half, and today has more than 6,000 employees in the Greater Hartford area. Travelers has been a sponsor of this event each year since its inception in 1952, becoming title sponsor in 2007. Complete details are available on www.TravelersChampionship.com |
Verified with SNOPES--this is
unnerving!
IN ORLANDO LAST WEEK, AT A CITGO STATION REGULAR WAS PRICED AT $2.82 PER GALLON,
NO CUSTOMERS! HOWEVER ACROSS THE STREET, FUEL WAS SELLING FOR $2.85 PER GALLON,
AND ALL PUMPS THERE HAD CARS WAITING TO FUEL!
Have you noticed how the CITGO signs have disappeared in the past 7-8 months?
Very clever move by Chavez..But guess what.... CITGO IS CHANGING ITS
NAME!...This is serious Americans...make sure you read.
Chavez is NOW getting a Russian Weapons Factory built by Putin. The RUSSIANS are
building an AK-47 Kalashnikov Assault Rifle factory in Venezuela, to give
armament support to Communist Rebel groups throughout the Americas.
Chavez NOW has IRANIANS operating his oil refineries in Venezuela for him. It is
likely only a matter of time,(if not already) before Chavez has Iranian built
LONG RANGE missiles, with a variety of warhead types aimed at: Guess Who?
CITGO is NOW in the process of Changing Its Name to PETRO EXPRESS due to the
loss of gasoline sales in the USA because of recent publicity of ownership by
Chavez of Venezuela.
Every dollar you spend with CITGO or PETRO EXPRESS gasoline will be used against
you, your basic human rights, and your freedoms.He will start wars here in the
Americas that will probably be the death of millions.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT because Chavez is starting to feel the loss of revenue
from his holdings.HE OWNS CITGO. This is a very important move that everyone
should be aware of.
ANNOUNCED JUST RECENTLY, CITGO, BEING AWARE THAT SALES ARE DOWN DUE TO U.S.
CUSTOMERS NOT WANTING TO BUY FROM 'CITGO-CHAVEZ', HAVE STARTED TO CHANGE THE
NAME OF SOME OF THEIR STORES TO: 'PETRO EXPRESS' DO NOT BUY FROM 'PETRO
EXPRESS'! 'PETRO EXPRESS' IS 100% OWNED BY CHAVEZ. KEEP THIS MEMO GOING, SO THAT
EVERYONE is AWARE.BOYCOTT
'CITGO' AND 'PETRO EXPRESS'
MAKE SURE THIS IS PASSED ON TO EVERYONE ON YOUR E- MAIL LIST..... IN THE UNITED
STATES AND ELSEWHERE!