Skin Art
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10 years ago
How to start a business
Are you interested in starting a business in the US?Here is how, thanks to business.gov
10 Steps to Starting a Business
Step 1: Research and Plan Your Business
Use these tools and resources to help you prepare your business plan and become a successful business owner.
Step 2: Get Business Assistance and Training
Take advantage of free training and counseling services, from preparing a business plan to getting financing, and help expanding and relocating a business.
Step 3: Choose a Business Location
Get advice about choosing a customer-friendly location and complying with zoning laws.
Step 4: Finance Your Business
Find government backed loans, venture capital and research grants to help you get started.
Step 5: Register a Business Name ("Doing Business As")
Register your business name with your state government.
Step 6: Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business
Decide whether you are going to form a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, non-profit or cooperative.
Step 7: Get an Tax Identification Number
Learn which tax identification number you'll need to obtain from the IRS and your state revenue agency.
Step 8: Register for State and Local Taxes
Register with your state to obtain a tax identification number, workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance.
Step 9: Obtain Business Licenses and Permits
Get a list of federal, state and local licenses and permits required for your business.
Step 10: Employer Responsibilities
Learn the legal steps you need to take to hire employees.
Startup Resources
These guides provide startup information relevant to specific types of business owners.
- Environmentally-Friendly "Green" Business
- Home-Based Business
- Self Employment
- Minority Owned Business
- Veteran Owned Business
- Woman Owned Business
Save money by furnishing your business with government surplus
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Talking on a cell phone while driving...
Driver inattention is a leading cause of traffic crashes, responsible for about 80 percent of all collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Considering crashes are the number-one cause of accidental death in the U.S., it is important to pay close attention to our driving habits and those of other drivers.
The National Safety Council is on a mission to:
* Alert the American public that different kinds of distractions have different levels of crash risk. Talking on a cell phone and sending text messages are much higher risk activities that occur for longer durations and with more people than most other actions engaged in while driving.
* Lead a change in our nation’s cultural norms, so people come to view cell phone conversations and text messaging while driving as unsafe and socially unacceptable. Calling for a legislative ban on these activities is the first step in a long-term process to educate Americans to their risk and change the culture.
Cell Phone Use While Driving
Fact Sheet
* Using cell phones while driving is a very high risk behavior with significant impact on crashes and society. More than 50 peer-reviewed scientific studies have identified the risks associated with cell phone use while driving.
* Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a crash while using a cell phone. (1997 New England Journal of Medicine examination of hospital records and 2005 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study linking crashes to cell phone records).
* There is no difference in the cognitive distraction between hand-held and hands-free devices. (Simulator studies at the U. of Utah.)
* Cell phone use contributes to an estimated 6 percent of all crashes, which equates to 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths each year. (Harvard Center of Risk Analysis).
* 80 percent of crashes are related to driver inattention. There are certain activities that may be more dangerous than talking on a cell phone. However, cell phone use occurs more frequently and for longer durations than other, riskier behaviors. Thus, the #1 source of driver inattention is cell phones. (Virginia Tech 100-car study for NHTSA)
* It is estimated that more than 100 million people use cell phones while driving. (CTIA – The Wireless Association reports 270 million cell phone subscribers. A Nationwide Insurance public opinion poll showed 81 percent of the public admit to talking on a cell phone while driving).
* The annual cost of crashes caused by cell phone use is estimated to be $43 billion (Harvard Center for Risk Analysis).
* Talking to a passenger while driving is significantly safer than talking on a cell phone. (University of Utah)
* Many businesses understand the risk and are already taking action. Among NSC members that responded to a survey, 45 percent (651 of 1453 respondents) said their companies had a cell phone policy of some kind. Of those, 22 percent said they re-engineered their processes to accommodate the policy and 85 percent said the policy did not affect productivity.
nsc.org
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The National Safety Council is on a mission to:
* Alert the American public that different kinds of distractions have different levels of crash risk. Talking on a cell phone and sending text messages are much higher risk activities that occur for longer durations and with more people than most other actions engaged in while driving.
* Lead a change in our nation’s cultural norms, so people come to view cell phone conversations and text messaging while driving as unsafe and socially unacceptable. Calling for a legislative ban on these activities is the first step in a long-term process to educate Americans to their risk and change the culture.
Cell Phone Use While Driving
Fact Sheet
* Using cell phones while driving is a very high risk behavior with significant impact on crashes and society. More than 50 peer-reviewed scientific studies have identified the risks associated with cell phone use while driving.
* Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a crash while using a cell phone. (1997 New England Journal of Medicine examination of hospital records and 2005 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study linking crashes to cell phone records).
* There is no difference in the cognitive distraction between hand-held and hands-free devices. (Simulator studies at the U. of Utah.)
* Cell phone use contributes to an estimated 6 percent of all crashes, which equates to 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths each year. (Harvard Center of Risk Analysis).
* 80 percent of crashes are related to driver inattention. There are certain activities that may be more dangerous than talking on a cell phone. However, cell phone use occurs more frequently and for longer durations than other, riskier behaviors. Thus, the #1 source of driver inattention is cell phones. (Virginia Tech 100-car study for NHTSA)
* It is estimated that more than 100 million people use cell phones while driving. (CTIA – The Wireless Association reports 270 million cell phone subscribers. A Nationwide Insurance public opinion poll showed 81 percent of the public admit to talking on a cell phone while driving).
* The annual cost of crashes caused by cell phone use is estimated to be $43 billion (Harvard Center for Risk Analysis).
* Talking to a passenger while driving is significantly safer than talking on a cell phone. (University of Utah)
* Many businesses understand the risk and are already taking action. Among NSC members that responded to a survey, 45 percent (651 of 1453 respondents) said their companies had a cell phone policy of some kind. Of those, 22 percent said they re-engineered their processes to accommodate the policy and 85 percent said the policy did not affect productivity.
nsc.org
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Super Bowl XLIII Facts etc
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII will be played Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. To commemorate this occasion, the Census Bureau has compiled a collection of facts examining the demographics of the host area, as well as the cities represented by the contenders, in this year’s edition of our nation’s most celebrated sporting event.
Phoenix (Arizona Cardinals)
Unless otherwise indicated, the data come from the 2007 American Community Survey.
5th
Where Phoenix ranked on the list of the nation’s most populous cities. The estimated population of Phoenix on July 1, 2007, was 1.6 million. Phoenix gained 34,941 people from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007, the second-largest numerical increase in the nation. (The Cardinals actually play in Glendale, Ariz., which had an estimated population on July 1, 2007, of 253,152, making it the 70th most populous city in the nation.)
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>
24%
Percentage of Phoenix residents 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007; 77 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 28 percent and 85 percent.
26 minutes
Average amount of time it took Phoenix residents to get to work. Seventy-three percent of the city’s workers drove to work alone, 15 percent carpooled and 4 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took workers an average of 25 minutes to get to work. (There is no statistically significant difference between Phoenix and the nation in the average travel-to-work time.)
40%
Percentage of Phoenix residents 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home. The national average was 20 percent.
$48,061
Median household income for Phoenix. The national median was $50,740.
$246,600
Median home value of owner-occupied homes in Phoenix. The national median was $194,300.
Pittsburgh (Steelers)
Unless otherwise indicated, the data come from the 2007 American Community Survey.
60th
Where Pittsburgh ranked on the list of the nation’s most populous cities. The estimated population of Pittsburgh on July 1, 2007, was 311,218. Pittsburgh’s population declined by 2,450 from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>
32%
Percentage of Pittsburgh residents 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007; 87 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 28 percent and 85 percent.
22 minutes
Average amount of time it took Pittsburgh residents to get to work. Fifty-six percent of the city’s workers drove to work alone, 9 percent carpooled and 18 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took workers an average of 25 minutes to get to work.
11%
Percentage of Pittsburgh residents 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home. The national average was 20 percent.
$32,363
Median household income for Pittsburgh. The national median was $50,740.
$84,500
Median home value of owner-occupied homes in Pittsburgh. The national median was $194,300.
Tampa, Fla. (host city) and vicinity
Unless otherwise indicated, the data come from the 2007 American Community Survey.
54th
Where Tampa, Fla., ranked on the list of the nation’s most populous cities. Tampa’s estimated population on July 1, 2007, was 336,823.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>
19th
Rank of Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., among metro areas with respect to population size. The metro area had an estimated population of 2.7 million on July 1, 2007.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011671.html>
31%
Percentage of Tampa’s residents 25 or older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007; this compares with 26 percent in the metro area. The respective national figure was 28 percent.
24 minutes
Average amount of time it took Tampa’s residents to get to work. Seventy-eight percent of the city’s workers drove to work alone. In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., metro area, it took an average of 26 minutes and 81 percent drove to work solo. Nationally, the respective figures were 25 minutes and 76 percent. (There is no statistically significant difference between Tampa and the nation in the percentage of workers who drove to work alone. Nor is there a statistically significant difference between the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., metro area, and the nation in the average travel-to-work time.)
25%
Percentage of Tampa’s residents 5 or older who spoke a language other than English at home. In the metro area, the respective percentage was 18 percent. The national average was 20 percent.
$44,079
Median household income for Tampa; this compares with $46,607 in the metro area. The national median was $50,740.
$223,200
Median value of owner-occupied homes in Tampa. The respective median in the metro area was $203,300. The national median was $194,300.
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How to Become a Bounty Hunter
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Bounty hunters, professionally known as fugitive recovery or bond enforcement agents, track down fugitives who didn't show up in court in exchange for a percentage (usually 10%) of the bail amount. While this can be a lucrative pursuit (an experienced bounty hunter can earn anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000 annually[1]) it's also a dangerous one. If you're considering becoming a bounty hunter, here's an overview of what you need to do. Since the laws vary and experience is key, consider this a starting point rather than a comprehensive guide.
Steps
- Check the laws in your state and country. In the U.S., bounty hunting is backed up by the 1872 Supreme Court case Taylor v. Taintor, but regulations vary from state to state. You might need to undergo a background check or wear clothing identifying you as a bounty hunter. You might also need a permit in order to carry firearms.
- It's a good idea to research the legal requirements for neighboring states or countries, as you may not be able to follow a suspect there unless you meet those requirements.
- In most countries other than the U.S., the activities of a bondsman (pledging money or property as bail to secure the appearance of a criminal defendant in court, in exchange for a fee from that defendant) are illegal[2] which eliminates the role a bounty hunter. If you cross international borders in pursuit of a fugitive, your acts as a bounty hunter could get you arrested.
- Check the state regulations section below for state-specific information.
- It's a good idea to research the legal requirements for neighboring states or countries, as you may not be able to follow a suspect there unless you meet those requirements.
- Understand the risks involved. Every fugitive is considered armed and dangerous, and in some states, you might not be able to carry firearms. There's also the chance that the fugitive may seek revenge after you turn them in, whether they are convicted or not. At the same time, consider that most violent criminals don't get out on bail, and most fugitives who are caught by bounty hunters don't put up much of a fight.[1]
- Sharpen your investigative skills. To find someone who's running from the law, you need to know how to:
- detect lies
- skip trace
- negotiate
- access and analyze phone records
- dig into a person's past
- interview friends and family
- ...and do whatever it takes to find the fugitive
- detect lies
- Train for safe apprehension and surrender of the fugitive. Military, law enforcement, and/or self defense training will be critical in your ability to do your job as safely as possible.
- Obtain clients. Contact a bail bond agency (bondsman) and offer your services. As a bounty hunter, you are self-employed and like any self-employed professional, you must advertise and market your services. If you get an assignment, get a copy of the "bail piece" (which indicates that the person is a fugitive) and, if it's required in your state, a certified copy of the bond so that if you find the fugitive, you can arrest him or her. You will also need a power of attorney, which gives you the authority to arrest the fugitive on behalf of the bail bondsman.[1]
- Research your subject thoroughly. Search through databases of addresses, phone number, license plate numbers, and Social Security numbers to figure out where the fugitive might be, then go there. Stake out the area--sometimes this can take hours or days.
- Look for the "Judas", a person who's been betrayed by the fugitive and might be willing to rat him or her out (perhaps a drug dealer, ex-girlfriend, etc.).[1]
- Tip motel clerks to call you if the fugitive shows up.
- Trace the fugitive's phone calls.
- Look for the "Judas", a person who's been betrayed by the fugitive and might be willing to rat him or her out (perhaps a drug dealer, ex-girlfriend, etc.).[1]
- When you find the fugitive, use the element of surprise. Many bounty hunters show up in the middle of the night, or pose as a delivery person. Avoid physical confrontation - not only is it safer for you that way, but you have to bring back the fugitive in good shape because jails won't accept them with broken bones or large bruises. Put handcuffs on the suspect and drive him or her to a jail in the county where he or she was originally arrested.[1]
- If you find the fugitive, you can enter his or her home unannounced, but only after establishing without a doubt that the person lives there.[1]
- You don't have a to read the fugitive his or her Miranda rights before arresting them.[1]
- If you find the fugitive, you can enter his or her home unannounced, but only after establishing without a doubt that the person lives there.[1]
State Regulations
This list contains links to official government sites about bounty hunting.
- Delaware - Bounty Hunter/Bail Enforcement Agents
- Louisiana - Bail Bond Licensing Requirements/Bounty Hunter (PDF)
- New Jersey - Bounty Hunter Information and Updates
- Texas - Department of Public Safety, Bounty Hunter Information
- Washington - Bail bond recovery agent
Tips
- If you are inexperienced, you might have a hard time convincing an agency to let you pursue a fugitive on their behalf. Ideally, you should find a successful bounty hunter to be your mentor before you go it alone.
Warnings
- While the bounty hunter featured in a popular reality show, Dog Chapman, is a felon, he's more of the exception than the rule. Generally felons do not become successful bounty hunters because of licensing or certification requirements. Even if there are no such requirements in a particular state, bail bond agencies are reluctant to work with felons because it creates a greater liability.[3]
Related wikiHows
- How to Make a Citizen's Arrest
- How to Disarm a Criminal with a Handgun
- How to Help a Friend Who Gets Arrested in the Middle of the Night
- How to Arrange Bail at No Cost
Sources and Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 http://people.howstuffworks.com/bounty-hunting.htm
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/us/29bail.html?_r=1
- ↑ http://beabountyhunter.com/felon_bounty_hunter.htm
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Become a Bounty Hunter. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Stumble It!How to Set up a DTV Digital Converter Box and Antenna
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
As of February 17, 2009, all televisions in the U.S. must be able to receive DTV digital television broadcast signals. Analog televisions that do not receive DTV digital signals will not pick up most over-the-air channels without a digital converter box (DTV converter box), which receives over-the-air DTV digital signals and converts them into analog signals that can be shown on analog TVs. Converter boxes are easy to set up and relatively inexpensive, but they do require a separate antenna. They may also provide noticeably better picture quality, as well as additional channels.
Steps
- Set the converter box next to the television in an unobstructed area. The converter box must be near the television as it will be connected to your television with an included cable (or cables). The converter box will also be operated by an included remote control, so it must not be behind an object that will block the remote control signal. Additionally, the converter box must be plugged in, so must be near a power outlet or power strip.
- Read the labeled connections on the back of the converter box so you know where to connect the TV and antenna.
- Read the labeled connections on the back of the converter box so you know where to connect the TV and antenna.
- Turn off your TV and any other connected devices. If using a power strip, also turn it off.
- Connect the converter box to an antenna with an RF coaxial cable. If you have an older antenna that will not connect directly to an RF coaxial connector, see the section for older TVs at the bottom of the Steps section. Any free-standing antenna can be used, but it is recommended that an antenna that is designed to pick up DTV signals be used for optimal reception. Inexpensive rabbit ears as well as more powerful wall-mounted and outdoor antennas are readily available.
- When using a typical rabbit-ear style antenna, set the antenna near the television. Connect one end of an RF (coaxial) cable to the ANTENNA RF IN connector on the converter box. Connect the other end of the cable to the TO TV connector on the antenna. It may be more convenient to connect the RF coaxial cable to the antenna first, or the RF coaxial cable may already be connected to the antenna if it was previously connected directly to the TV. The antenna may also have a CABLE IN connector that looks the same as the TO TV connector. Be sure not to connect the TV to this connector. If the antenna is powered, plug in the included power adapter, but leave the antenna off until all other components are connected.
- If using an external or otherwise mounted antenna, assemble it and attach it to a secure object. If the antenna is external, the RF coaxial cable that connects the antenna to the TV will need to pass through your house, usually via a hole that has been drilled in the wall. Connect the RF coaxial cable to the antenna, and connect the other end of the cable to the ANTENNA RF IN connector on the converter box. If the antenna is powered, a segment of cable that was included with the antenna will probably need to be installed between the converter box and the antenna along the same RF coaxial cable that connects the converter box to the antenna. This segment of cable will be connected directly to the converter box ANTENNA RF OUT connector, and the RF coaxial cable that runs to the external antenna will be connected to the other end of the powered segment. The powered segment must be plugged into a power adapter that is plugged into a wall socket.
- When using a typical rabbit-ear style antenna, set the antenna near the television. Connect one end of an RF (coaxial) cable to the ANTENNA RF IN connector on the converter box. Connect the other end of the cable to the TO TV connector on the antenna. It may be more convenient to connect the RF coaxial cable to the antenna first, or the RF coaxial cable may already be connected to the antenna if it was previously connected directly to the TV. The antenna may also have a CABLE IN connector that looks the same as the TO TV connector. Be sure not to connect the TV to this connector. If the antenna is powered, plug in the included power adapter, but leave the antenna off until all other components are connected.
- Connect the converter box to the television. Depending on the supplied cables, the design of the converter box, and the design of the television, there may be different ways to connect the converter box to your television. Most converter boxes will have a connector for an RF coaxial cable and connections for composite cables. If you have an older TV that will not connect directly to an RF coaxial cable or composite cables, see the section for older TVs at the bottom of the Steps section. Composite cables consist of one yellow video cable and two audio cables. The audio cable for the right speaker is red and the cable to the left speaker is white.
- The most common way will be to connect the converter box and the television with an RF (coaxial) cable. This type of cable should be supplied with the converter box. Simply connect one end of the RF coaxial cable to the TV RF OUT connector on the converter box, and then connect the other end of the RF cable to the similar cable connector that is on the television. This connector on the television should be labeled as VHF/UHF.
- As an alternative, the converter may also be connected to the television with one composite video cable and two audio cables instead of with the single RF coaxial cable if these connectors exist on your television (the converter box must also be connected to an antenna with an RF coaxial cable). This option is especially useful if you will be hooking up a separate audio system or self-powered stereo speakers, as the video and the audio are passed through separate cables. The composite video cable connectors on the converter box and on the television will be yellow, while the composite audio connectors will be red and white. The red cable is for the RIGHT speaker, and the white cable is for the LEFT speaker. Hook up the audio and video cable to the converter box. Then connect the yellow-tipped video cable to the yellow VIDEO IN connector on the television. Next, connect the red-tipped audio cable to the red AUDIO IN RIGHT connector on the television, and connect the white-tipped audio cable to the AUDIO IN LEFT connector on the television.
- The most common way will be to connect the converter box and the television with an RF (coaxial) cable. This type of cable should be supplied with the converter box. Simply connect one end of the RF coaxial cable to the TV RF OUT connector on the converter box, and then connect the other end of the RF cable to the similar cable connector that is on the television. This connector on the television should be labeled as VHF/UHF.
- Plug in the converter box. The converter box may be included with a power adapter or may have a permanent, standard power cord. If it has a power adapter, merely plug the adapter into a wall socket or power strip and plug the power adapter into the converter box. If using a power strip, plug the converter box into a powered-off power strip, then turn on the power strip.
- Put batteries in the converter box remote control. Batteries for the remote control may be included with the converter box.
- Familiarize yourself with the remote control. It controls many TV and converter box functions. If the remote included is a universal programmable remote, it will be able to control all TV functions after it has been manually set to do so.
- Turn on the TV and set it to channel 3 or 4. This is not done with the converter box remote, but with the TV remote or by operating the TV manually (unless the remote can be programmed to be used specifically for the TV). The converter box will only show images on the TV when the TV is set to one of these channels. The converter box must also be set to channel 3 or 4, whichever corresponds with the channel that the TV is set to. This may be done manually by means of a switch on the converter box, or using the on-screen converter box menu (see next step).
- Power on the converter box with the converter box remote control or by pressing the power button on the converter box unit.
- If the converter box can be set to channel 3 or 4 using the on-screen menu, set it to the desired channel if necessary.
- If the converter box can be set to channel 3 or 4 using the on-screen menu, set it to the desired channel if necessary.
- Scan for channels. Enter the on-screen menu and allow the converter box to automatically scan for channels. Automatic scanning will find available channels and exclude all others. If you don’t receive many channels, you may need a better antenna or it may be necessary to place your antenna in a different area.
- If you know that certain channels should be received but aren't picked up right away during the automatic channel scan, you can add them using the on-screen menu, and adjust the antenna until they are received.
- An additional channel scan can also be performed using the on-screen menu at any time to search for and add channels that were not picked up during the initial channel scan.
- Channels that are received and were added to the channel list but are not desired can be removed using the on-screen menu using the channel edit (or similar) function.
- If you know that certain channels should be received but aren't picked up right away during the automatic channel scan, you can add them using the on-screen menu, and adjust the antenna until they are received.
- Check the reception and signal strength. Bad reception using the converter box will look "pixelated" or "blocky". The antenna may need to be adjusted or put in a different location. Bad reception may also present as a "NO SIGNAL" or "NO PROGRAMMING" message on the TV screen, but this may also indicate that there is no channel to receive whatsoever. To check signal strength for a particular channel in real time, use the "signal strength" or similar option using the remote control. Adjust the antenna while using the signal strength option to see what antenna arrangement or location provides the best picture. If using an antenna that is mounted away from the TV, such as a rooftop antenna, one person can monitor the signal strength indicator on the TV, while the other moves or adjusts the antenna.
- Set the desired picture "aspect ratio" format. The converter box may initially show the TV images in aspect ratio formats that are designed for widescreen HDTVs. There will be multiple different image sizes or aspect ratios seen on the TV depending on the channel and/or the specific show, and the aspect ratio can be adjusted via the converter box menu to better fit standard 4:3 analog TV screens.
- Shows that are shown in widescreen format can fill the screen on the left and right sides of the TV, but not on the top and bottom of the TV screen. Even though some of the top and bottom of the TV screen is not used, this is a desirable format because more of the original filmed image can be seen on the screen.
- To display shows in widescreen format (that fills the screen on the left and right sides), choose "letterbox" or the equivalent aspect ratio option. The "auto" option may also achieve the same result.
- To display shows in widescreen format (that fills the screen on the left and right sides), choose "letterbox" or the equivalent aspect ratio option. The "auto" option may also achieve the same result.
- Some shows will be shown in a 4:3 format that will completely fill the TV screen. Shows shown in this format should completely fill the TV screen regardless of the aspect ratio format that has been chosen.
- Some shows will only fill the middle of the screen (there will be unused areas of the TV screen on the left and right sides as well as the top and bottom). Such shows may be in a shrunken 4:3 format or in a shrunken widescreen format. These shows will need to be cropped to properly fill the screen.
- To ensure that the picture will always fill the TV screen relatively well for all channels, adjust the aspect ratio to "cropped" using the on-screen menu.
- To ensure that the picture will always fill the TV screen relatively well for all channels, adjust the aspect ratio to "cropped" using the on-screen menu.
- Shows that are shown in widescreen format can fill the screen on the left and right sides of the TV, but not on the top and bottom of the TV screen. Even though some of the top and bottom of the TV screen is not used, this is a desirable format because more of the original filmed image can be seen on the screen.
- Enjoy watching TV!
Older TVs
Older TVs and antennas that do not have RF an coaxial connectors but do have screw terminals, use transformer adapters. These simple transformers are available at stores like Radio Shack for about five dollars each.
- One type of transformer will screw onto the TV VHF screw terminals and allow the RF coaxial cable to be connected to the TV and the digital converter box TV RF OUT connector. Connect this transformer to the TV with a screwdriver, then connect the RF coaxial cable to the connected transformer and to the digital converter box.
- A different type of transformer fits onto the ANTENNA RF IN connection on the digital converter box, and allows an antenna with two screw connectors to be connected to the digital converter box. Connect the antenna to the transformer with a screwdriver, then push the transformer onto the digital converter box.
Video
Tips
- If using a DVD player as well as a converter box, the DVD player and the converter box must be attached to separate connections on the TV. S-video, composite, and component connections are commonly found on DVD players.
- DVD players often have a variety of types of connections.
- If the converter box is connected to the TV with an RF coaxial cable, you can connect the DVD player to your TV with composite video and audio cables. You can also just connect the yellow video composite cable to the TV, and connect the red and white audio cables to a separate stereo system or powered speakers.
- Many TVs have component cable connections. These provide excellent picture quality. Three cables are used solely for the video connection (unlike composite video, which only requires one video cable).
- Component video cables consist of one green (Y) cable, one blue (PB) cable, and one red (PR) cable. Be sure not to connect the red (PR) component video cable to the red audio connector.
- The component video cables are hooked up to the back of the DVD player and to the TV. Audio cables must also be hooked up for sound.
- It is typical to hook up red and white audio cables with component video cables, but other types of audio connections can be used with the component video cables.
- Component video cables consist of one green (Y) cable, one blue (PB) cable, and one red (PR) cable. Be sure not to connect the red (PR) component video cable to the red audio connector.
- DVD players often have a variety of types of connections.
- Many DVD players and speaker systems have OPTICAL audio connections that can be used in conjunction with composite or component video connections. This type of connection offers superior sound quality.
- Configuration if using an optical audio cable and component video cables.
- Configuration if using optical audio cable and composite video cable.
- Configuration if using an optical audio cable and component video cables.
- Cables can be connected to the TV in different configurations depending on how the TV is hooked up to the converter box, the DVD player, and a separate audio system (if used).
- Configuration if converter box is connected to TV with RF coaxial cable and DVD player is connected to TV with composite audio and video cables.
- Configuration if converter box is connected to TV with RF coaxial cable and DVD player is connected to TV with composite video cable. The audio from the DVD player is connected to separate audio system (not shown).
- Configuration if converter box is connected to TV with RF coaxial cable and DVD player is connected to TV with component video and red and white audio cables.
- Configuration if converter box is connected to TV with RF coaxial cable and DVD player is connected to the TV with component video cables. The audio from the DVD player is connected to separate audio system (not shown).
- Configuration if the converter box is connected to the TV with composite audio and video cables (audio cables are red and white), and the DVD player is connected to TV with component video and red and white audio cables.
- Configuration if converter box is connected to TV with RF coaxial cable and DVD player is connected to TV with composite audio and video cables.
Warnings
- Electrical equipment such as converter boxes and antennas can cause electric shocks if not handled and installed properly.
- Only full-power television stations are required to switch to digital over-the-air broadcast on February 17th, 2009. Many low-power, community television stations will continue to broadcast in analog, which several DTV converter boxes will be unable to pick up.
Related wikiHows
- How to Connect Coaxial Cable Connectors
- How to Choose the Best Cables to Get the Most from Your Television
- How to Wall Mount a Plasma
- How to Hook Up a TV Antenna
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Set up a DTV Digital Converter Box and Antenna. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Stumble It!PETA Versus Vick
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For the past 18 months, PETA has been meeting with Vick's management and legal teams behind the scenes about having Vick deliver a strong anti-dogfighting TV spot. If Vick is truly remorseful for what he's done, as he's said publically and privately, then a message from him telling people to stop these crimes could get through to dogfighters who relate to him. However, that's a big "if."
The only way to know for sure if Vick can change his ways is for him to submit himself for a brain scan and psychological test. Based on a number of factors—such as the fact that the right side of the hippocampus is larger than the left in 94 percent of captured psychopaths—these tests can help determine if Vick can ever truly understand that dog fighting is a sick, cruel business. Or, they could suggest that he's doomed to repeat mean, violent behavior in the future—whether with dogs or other human beings. And given that Vick plans to be around a lot of kids, to give talks to them, and to be a star in their eyes again, the world deserves to know who he is inside.
Vick's lawyers have run screaming, but unless and until he passes such a test, PETA will not participate in the production of a Michael Vick anti-dogfighting PSA. We hope that the NFL will require such a test as a precondition to even discussing the possibility of Vick's reinstatement. You can click here to add your name to a petition calling on the NFL to stick to its guns and maintain Vick's suspension until he's taken and passed a brain scan and psychological evaluation.
Posted by Dan Shannon
Stumble It!FCIC- Your home inventory
your home inventory
FCIC
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Insurance Information Institute
PDF Version
You never know when a disaster may strike—but you can be prepared with a home inventory.
A home inventory can help you
- Buy the amount of insurance you need
- Get your insurance claim settled faster
- Verify losses for your income tax return
- Keep track of the belongings you’ve accumulated over the years
Getting Started
There are many ways to create a home inventory. It may seem hard at first to record information about everything you have in your house, but don’t let that put you off. First, decide on a way to organize your inventory that works for you. You can do it room by room, category by category (furniture, electronics, etc.), from newest items to oldest or from most expensive purchases to least expensive ones.
Taking Inventory
There are different approaches to making your list. You can write everything down in a notebook, for example. Or you can take pictures, writing information on the back of the photos or putting information on your computer. If you have a video camera, you can walk through your house filming and describing the contents at the same time. If you have a a personal computer, you can download free software that makes creating and keeping a home inventory easy at www.KnowYourStuff.org.
Keep receipts when they are available and note the cost for the item, when you bought it and information about the make and model.
Expensive items like jewelry and art work may need to be insured separately. Ask your insurance agent whether you need a floater for your homeowners policy.
Store a copy of your inventory in a safe place outside of your home—with a friend or in a safe deposit box. (If your inventory is electronic, store it on a disk.) That way you’ll be sure to have something to give your insurance representative if your home is damaged. Also, whenever you make a significant purchase, remember to add the information to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.
Making Lists
In some cases, items on the next page are listed by the room in which they are most likely to be found. In other cases, they are grouped together by category. For many items like books, CDs, sheets or pots and pans, you can make a general estimate of how many you have and their estimated value.
Home Inventory
You can refer to the following lists to help create your inventories.
General Appliances General Household
| Dining Room Bedrooms Clothing Bathrooms | Home Office / Study / Den
Garage / Basement / Attic / Shed |
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Sited and Blogged
Tomorrow is the launch of a promising site.
Sited and Blogged.
Sited and Blogged is a great one- stop reference point for blog readers.
The contributors to the site are well-informed and very popular bloggers.
The site seems very promising considering the list of contributors.
It's nice to see a blog site that promises to give humor and education on a level whic appeals to readers. Kudos to the editors and contributors.
This is a site to get to know if you've got something to promote or want to increase your own readership.
You never know when you will see Shakespere drop by.
sitedandblogged.com
Stumble It!
Sited and Blogged.
Sited and Blogged is a great one- stop reference point for blog readers.
The contributors to the site are well-informed and very popular bloggers.
The site seems very promising considering the list of contributors.
It's nice to see a blog site that promises to give humor and education on a level whic appeals to readers. Kudos to the editors and contributors.
This is a site to get to know if you've got something to promote or want to increase your own readership.
You never know when you will see Shakespere drop by.
sitedandblogged.com
Stumble It!
III- Re Thinking your insurance needs
Major purchases and lifestyle changes such as marriage, divorce or retirement can have a profound effect on your insurance needs, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)
At least 32 million U.S. households own insurance policies that aren’t right for them, according to a survey by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, Inc.
To ensure that yours is not one of those households, the I.I.I. recommends asking the following 10 questions:
- Have you gotten married or divorced?
If you have gotten married, you may qualify for a discount on your auto insurance. Couples may well bring two cars into the relationship and two insurance companies, so take the opportunity to review your existing coverage and see which company offers the best combination of price and service.
If you are merging two households, you may need to update your homeowners insurance. And you may want to consider increasing your insurance for any new valuables received as wedding gifts, and for jewelry such as wedding and engagement rings.
After getting married, it is also important to review your life insurance needs. Becoming a couple means sharing responsibility with and for someone else; life insurance is an excellent way to ensure that the surviving spouse is taken care of in the event of the premature death of the other spouse.
If you got divorced, you will probably no longer be sharing a car and may move to a smaller home—you should inform your insurer as this will mean setting up separate auto and homeowners policies. - Have you had a baby?
If you have recently added a child to your family, whether by birth or adoption, it is important to review your life insurance protection. According to a MetLife study of survivors (i.e., spouses and children) of someone who died “prematurely,” 39 percent had no life insurance at all. Of these families, 40 percent had children under age 18. Therefore, in about 16 percent of all cases survivors of premature deceased persons were families with young children of who had no life insurance.
For more information on life insurance planning, see Learn about Life Insurance. - Has your teenager gotten a drivers license?
It is generally cheaper to add your teenagers to your insurance policy than for them to purchase their own. If they are going to be driving their own car, consider insuring it with your company so that you can get a multi-policy discount. And choose the car carefully—the type of car a young person drives can dramatically affect the price of insurance. You and your teenagers should choose a car that is easy to drive and would offer protection in the event of a crash.
For more information, see How do I insure my teenage driver? - Have you switched jobs or experienced a significant change in your salary?
If you had life insurance through your former employer, and your new employer does not provide equivalent protection, you can replace the “lost” coverage with an individual life insurance policy. - Have you done extensive renovations on your home?
If you have made major improvements to your home, such as adding a new room, enclosing a porch or expanding a kitchen or bathroom, you risk being underinsured if you don't report the changes to your insurance company.
For more information, see Remodeling your home. - Have you decided to buy a retirement or vacation home?
If you are searching for your dream vacation home or a second home you might retire to, make sure you research the availability and cost of homeowners insurance before you commit to the purchase. Often, the very factors that make a vacation home seem ideal—whether it is a waterfront property or a mountain retreat—can introduce risks that, together with the fact the home is likely to be vacant much of the time, can make it costly and difficult to insure.
For more information on things to consider before buying a new home, see the Homeowners Insurance Checklist. - Have you acquired any new valuables—jewelry, electronic equipment, fine art, antiques?
A standard homeowners policy offers only limited coverage for highly valuable items. If you have made purchases or received gifts that exceed these limits, you should consider supplementing your policy with a “floater,” a separate policy that provides additional insurance for your valuables and covers them for perils not included in your policy, such as accidental loss. Before purchasing a floater, the items covered must be professionally appraised. Keep receipts and add the new items to your home inventory.
For more information on floaters, see Do I need separate coverage for jewelry?.
To create your personal home inventory, you can use the I.I.I’s free, downloadable software, Know Your Stuff – Home Inventory. - Have you signed a lease on a house or apartment?
If you are renting a home, your landlord is responsible for insuring the structure of the building, but not for insuring your possessions—that is up to you. Nevertheless, nearly seven in 10 renters say they do not have renters insurance, despite the fact that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, rented households are burglarized at rates about 50 percent higher than owned households. If you want to be covered against losses from theft and catastrophes such as fire, lightning and windstorm damage, you should invest in renters insurance. Like homeowners insurance, renters insurance includes liability, which covers your responsibility to other people injured at your home, or elsewhere by you, and pays legal defense costs if you are taken to court.
Regardless of whether you are an owner or renter, you will have the following options when it comes to insuring your possessions:- Actual cash value pays to replace your home or possessions, minus a deduction for depreciation.
- Replacement cost pays the cost of rebuilding or repairing your home or replacing your possessions, without a deduction for depreciation.
Think carefully about what your financial position would be in the aftermath of a disaster, and make sure you have the type of policy that is right for you. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) 12 percent of people surveyed did not know the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost; it is a distinction that could represent thousands of dollars to your insurance payout in the event of a disaster. - Have you joined a carpool?
If you are a frequent carpool driver, whether it is to work, or ferrying kids to school and other activities, your liability insurance should reflect the increased risk of additional passengers in the automobile. Check with your agent or representative to make sure your coverage is adequate. - Have you retired?
If you commuted regularly to your job, then in retirement your mileage has likely plummeted. If so, you should report it to your auto insurer as it could significantly lower the cost of your premiums. Furthermore, drivers over the age of 50-55 may get a discount, depending on the insurance company.
- Actual cash value pays to replace your home or possessions, minus a deduction for depreciation.
As part of your annual review, it is always a good idea to talk with your insurance agent or company representative.
For a related audio file, go to Do You Need to Update Your Insurance Coverage?
For more information on insurance and financial planning for different stages of your life, see the Life Stages tool on the I.I.I. Web site.
The I.I.I. is a nonprofit, communications organization supported by the insurance industry.
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