What to look for when buying an HD TV

Sure the markets are down, the economy is in the crapper, and your 401K envelope is best left unopened to avoid nightmares, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to NOT celebrate Christmas!  One of the hot items expected this year are HDTVs.  Prices are expected to be slashed in 1/2 on Black Friday, and may stay that way (or close to it) throughout the season.  42 in. plasmas are going for as little as $500!  But be careful, an HD-TV is a big investment, and you don’t want to just jump on a sale offer without taking a deeper look into the world of HD.  So here’s a friendly checklist of what to look for when buying your first HDTV.

FIRST THINGS FIRST:  LCD or PLASMA. Both are good viable options.  Plasma is heavier, and usually has a better contrast ratio, but LCDs have come a long way, are usually thinner, and last longer.

2) RESOLUTION — The higher the better.  1080p is the best.  Don’t go below 720.

3) CONTRAST RATIO — The difference between light and dark.  Again, the higher the better.  Look for 10,000 – 1, or higher.  Could vary depending on your choice of plasma or LCD.

4) STANDARD DEFINITION — Make sure your new TV will still play standard TV signals (those not in HD), as well as VHS and old DVDs.  Otherwise, it’ll look really bad.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, go back to the good old days of TV shopping and TRUST YOUR EYES.  Look and see which TVs look the best to you, and don’t be afraid to bring one of your favorite DVDs to the store and ask the clerk to put it on for you to see how it looks on your possible new investment.

(NOTE:  I’m in the market for my first HD-TV, and these were things I thought would be helpful in my quest.  I am definitely not a Technical no-it-all.  So feel free to send me a comment or E-mail and correct me, or give me better advices.  Below are some links that I got my information from that may serve as more help.)

HD TV ratings what to look for when buying

LCD versus PLASMA

LCD and PLASMA advantage and disadvantages

Pics from Honeymoon in Costa Rica

The thing you ABSOLUTELY must do if going to Costa Rica, ZIPLINING!

 

There's me covered in mud exfoliating (big word!!) my skin! After showering off, you go into the natural hot springs!

White-Faced Monkey taken from the tree tops of the canopies on the zipline tour

(Thanks to digital zoom) a Great shot of monkey on the walkway to the beach of our resort.

The Beach of Playa Conchal (a public beach -- just through the gate of our resort)

We seriously didn’t want to leave.  It was paradise.  The BEST vacation!!

Here’s the resort we stayed at

Cub Fans Celebrate Early!!

a large Cub Hat goes on the Picasso in Downtown Chicago

Yes, I have friends who are Cub Fans. That's Scratch and Telly dressed in Cubby Blue.

So earlier today, Cub Fans had a rally for their team.  Yeah, I know it was a MLB sponsored rally (they did this in every city with a team in the playoffs), but is there really a reason to celebrate early?  Yes, this could be the best Cubs team you’ve ever seen, but they haven’t won anything yet!  They probably have the best team in the postseason, but why not wait until you get into the world series to start the party.  And to top it off, this rally is the same day the White Sox are hosting a play-in game to make the playoffs!  Kind of crappy if you ask this Sox fan.

Sarah Palin Nude Painting!!

Sarah Palin has shot through the stratosphere!  Not only is she a VP candidate, she’s a comet in the pop culture universe.  Tina Fey does a great impersonation on SNL.  John McCain thinks she’d make a better guest than himself on Late Night TV.  There’s video of her in a swimsuit for a Miss Alaska Pagent from 1984 floating around the net (check out JC’s Blog for that).  And Now THIS!!  An Artist paints a nude portrait of her standing on a Polar-Bear Skin Rug holding an assault rifle, and it’s hanging in a bar on the North Side of Chicago!! 

Read More Here    Kind of disturbing that the guy who painted this, says his daughter (who looks like Palin) was what he used as a model for the Governor’s Body (Disgusting.  Hopefully she was clothed).

Sarah Palin Action Figures

Here’s ther perfect gift for the Republican on your Christmas List. Sarah Palin Action Figures!! And so all your republican pals can feel unique, there’s multiple versions, like Sarah Palin in a Dirty School Girl Outfit (Ala Britney Spear in her “Baby One More Time Video”). As the site says, “Order before they sell out!” CLICK HERE FOR YOUR SARAH PALIN BUTT KICKING FIGURE

Don’t worry, they tackle Barrack and McCain too. Barrack’s head is on a muscle bound, shirtless action figure, and McCain….he comes in a Pez dispenser.

Cornhole-ing… It’s Not What You Think!

Yes, If you play Bags (Bean Bag Toss), impress your friends with your knowledge of the game, alson know as CORNHOLE! The picture is of an AMERICAN CORNHOLE ASSOCIATION T-SHIRT! Click the picture to the left to purchase ACA santioned products and for more tomfoolery!

Crazy Flood Video

This is REAL. This is what’s going on up in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, near Wisconsin Dells.
The lake overflowed and emptied into the Wisconsin River leaving terrible wreakage in its wake.

Shap Podcast: ATTENTION LOST FANS!!

So the exhilirating Season finale of Lost has past! It was great, but at the same time, you’re left feeling like something is missing…like you only know so much and now you have to wait 7 months to find out new information. Arrgh. Such is Lost.

To quench your Lost palette, listen to the FULL UNCUT interview I did with Lynnette Porter, co-author of 2 books on Lost including: Lost’s Buried Treasures. Lynette will join me on air Thursday to answer questions about TV’s most mind-bending, addictive show.

Lost fanatics say Buried Treasure is the best Lost book out there giving you quick reference to books, music, songs and movies mentioned during Lost, and Clues, Secrets and Theories to all the big mysteries.

LINKS TO LYNNETTE PORTER’s BOOKS ON LOST
Amazon Link to Lost’s Buried Treasures
(or click on the book above)

Link to Unlocking the Meaning of Lost Lynette’s other Lost book.

Click here for full interview with Lynette Porter

LOST: Octagon Global Recruiting

And did you happen to catch this commercial during the Season Finale Broadcast for Octagon Global Recruiting? Did you do a Double Take? Watch the video then go here.

CARRIE NO UNDERWEAR?

So David Cook shocked the world and beat out sappy David Archuletta. Woohoo.

It was Carrie Underwood who made the LASTING impression last night. To the left, her “green” carpet appearance prior to the show. Is she purposely posing with her tongue like that? To the right, the outfit she wore on stage (or maybe what she didn’t wear). Is that JUST a coat, or is there something underneath? Jeez!!! No wonder she was recently crowned your FAVORITE American Idol ever!!