Satellite and cable TV companies have massive networks, carrying
100s of channels to millions of customers. To effectively
service these customers, they use digital compression
technologies to shrink the size of the signal, allowing more
channels to fit on the cable. When compressing the signal, some
of the original data is lost. The result is the picture on your
TV loses sharpness and detail.
We have been accustomed
to cable and with no comparison, the picture we see is presumed
to be the best that can be put out by our TV screen. Many
channels are not even delivered in 1080p as we presume. They are
still delivered as 720p. The only reason pictures look better is
that the new flat screen TVs are adept at up-scaling the signal
to make it look better (even though it is not as good as it
could be).
OTA means Over
The Air. It is difficult to compare the new TV
antennas with the old rabbit ears, because the rabbit ears were
analog and the new antennas are digital. Using an antenna to
pick up a signal over the air provides an uncompressed signal
directly to your TV. The results are significantly noticeable
and better than cable. A few friends and I have recently added
antennas and comparing the picture is as easy as clicking on the
input to go from cable to OTA. In every case on each TV the
resulting picture is remarkably better with an antenna.
Incidentally, if
your cable package blacks out some sports, pick up an antenna,
just for game day. They are cheap and can be easily
hung on a wall or in a window with a pin or sticky tape. Also
great if you want to watch TV out by the patio or pool, no
extra wiring, just drag out your TV and attach an antenna.
Aug 25, 2017
Alphabet Facts
The word alphabet is derived from the first two letters of the
Greek alphabet, alpha and beta. We owe our own alphabet to the
Phoenicians. Their 22 letter alphabet had no vowels, but it was
used as the basis of the ancient Greek alphabet, which in turn
was adapted by the Romans, and is essentially the same as the
one we use today.
A sentence that contains all 26 letters of the alphabet is called a pangram.
Ernest Vincent Wright's novel Gadsby: Champion of Youth (1939) - a story of more than 50,000 words in which the letter ‘e’ never appears. George Perec’s novel La Disparition (1969) which doesn’t contain the letter ‘e’. Its English translation, A Void by Gilbert Adair, also avoids using the letter ‘e’ which is the most common letter in both languages.
A sentence that contains all 26 letters of the alphabet is called a pangram.
Ernest Vincent Wright's novel Gadsby: Champion of Youth (1939) - a story of more than 50,000 words in which the letter ‘e’ never appears. George Perec’s novel La Disparition (1969) which doesn’t contain the letter ‘e’. Its English translation, A Void by Gilbert Adair, also avoids using the letter ‘e’ which is the most common letter in both languages.
Wordology, Fulsome
By far, its most common use is in the expression “fulsome
praise,” which would seem like a good thing. The word sounds
positive, drawing mental associations to “full” and “wholesome.”
At one point, this was exactly what the word meant.
Then Samuel Johnson, considered the father of the English dictionary came along. He and Noah Webster thought that the word “fulsome,” which mostly held a positive connotation for hundreds of years (meaning “copious” or “abundant”), drew its roots from the word “foul” and “fulsome” gained its negative connotation. Many have fought and continue to fight for its original use, even as far back as 1868.
The word simultaneously retains both definitions, and even former president Barack Obama used the word in its much older, positive sense. He came under some scrutiny for that and for the fact that he misused “enormity.” It is another word that may create an entirely new definition, because people incorrectly associate it with size.
“Fulsome praise” usually means “disgustingly over-the-top and insincere praise, but some have assumed its meaning to be more positive.
Then Samuel Johnson, considered the father of the English dictionary came along. He and Noah Webster thought that the word “fulsome,” which mostly held a positive connotation for hundreds of years (meaning “copious” or “abundant”), drew its roots from the word “foul” and “fulsome” gained its negative connotation. Many have fought and continue to fight for its original use, even as far back as 1868.
The word simultaneously retains both definitions, and even former president Barack Obama used the word in its much older, positive sense. He came under some scrutiny for that and for the fact that he misused “enormity.” It is another word that may create an entirely new definition, because people incorrectly associate it with size.
“Fulsome praise” usually means “disgustingly over-the-top and insincere praise, but some have assumed its meaning to be more positive.
Hispanic vs. Latino
Many people use the terms "Hispanic" and "Latino"
interchangeably, they actually have different meanings. There is
significant overlap between the terms, but their differences may
make only one term correct in certain circumstances.
Hispanic and Latino are often mistakenly used to refer to race or color. Instead, these terms actually describe ethnicity.
Hispanic is a term that focuses on language and describes the culture and people of areas formerly ruled by the Spanish Empire. The common thread among Hispanics is the shared common language of Spanish. This would include areas such as Mexico, Central America, and most of South America.
Latino (or Latina for females), on the other hand, focuses on geography and describes people of Latin American descent. This would include countries in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and North America whose people speak Romance languages, such as Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese.
Based upon those definitions, it's easy to see how much overlap there is between the terms Hispanic and Latino. To make things more confusing, the term "Hispanic" comes from the Latin word for "Spain," while Latino comes from the Spanish word for "Latin."
To see where the two terms differ, consider the people of Brazilian descent. Since the people of Brazil speak Portuguese rather than Spanish, they would be considered Latino but not Hispanic.
So, the terms have much overlap, but they are not completely interchangeable. Hispanics and Latinos generally choose not to use either term. Instead, most prefer to be referred to simply as Americans or by their family's national origin, such as Mexican-American, Cuban-American, etc.
Today, there are more than 56 million Hispanic and Latino people in the United States, over 17% of the US population.
Hispanic and Latino are often mistakenly used to refer to race or color. Instead, these terms actually describe ethnicity.
Hispanic is a term that focuses on language and describes the culture and people of areas formerly ruled by the Spanish Empire. The common thread among Hispanics is the shared common language of Spanish. This would include areas such as Mexico, Central America, and most of South America.
Latino (or Latina for females), on the other hand, focuses on geography and describes people of Latin American descent. This would include countries in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and North America whose people speak Romance languages, such as Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese.
Based upon those definitions, it's easy to see how much overlap there is between the terms Hispanic and Latino. To make things more confusing, the term "Hispanic" comes from the Latin word for "Spain," while Latino comes from the Spanish word for "Latin."
To see where the two terms differ, consider the people of Brazilian descent. Since the people of Brazil speak Portuguese rather than Spanish, they would be considered Latino but not Hispanic.
So, the terms have much overlap, but they are not completely interchangeable. Hispanics and Latinos generally choose not to use either term. Instead, most prefer to be referred to simply as Americans or by their family's national origin, such as Mexican-American, Cuban-American, etc.
Today, there are more than 56 million Hispanic and Latino people in the United States, over 17% of the US population.
Corpsing
On
stage 'dead' actors involuntarily laughing is such a big
problem, that in British theater it is known as 'corpsing'. This
has become generalized to any situation where an actor laughs
inappropriately; any time you see a reference to an actor
"corpsing", it means they ruined the shot by laughing.
Wordology, Terminal Velocity
You close your eyes and jump. You feel yourself in free fall, hurtling toward Earth, open your eyes and see the ground slowly getting closer. You seem to be picking up speed as you fall and soon you hit terminal velocity. It is the velocity at which you stop accelerating. It describes a physical reality based upon Newton's First Law of Motion.
When an object falls freely through a medium, such as water or air, the force of gravity pulls it toward Earth. As the object falls, its velocity increases as it accelerates toward Earth.
Gravity is not the only force working on the object. Air molecules collide with the falling object, pushing it upward against gravity. Scientists call this force air resistance. As the velocity of the falling object increases, so does air resistance.
Eventually, air resistance will equal the weight of the object in free fall. When this occurs, the object reaches terminal velocity. This means the falling object has reached its maximum velocity. The object will continue to fall at the same speed (terminal velocity) for the remainder of its free fall, until it hits Earth or a parachute opens.
Terminal velocity can be affected by a few different factors. For example, a heavier object will generally have a higher terminal velocity and a smaller surface area will have a higher terminal velocity than a larger surface area.
Most skydivers reach a terminal velocity of about 125 miles per hour. Experienced skydivers who streamline their bodies during free fall have reached speeds of over 200 miles per hour.
During October, 2012, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner jumped from a helium balloon in the stratosphere, twenty four miles above Earth. Because the atmosphere at that height is so thin, there is next to no air resistance at the beginning of the free fall. This allows the skydiver to reach a much higher terminal velocity before encountering Earth's normal atmosphere far below.
On Baumgartner's skydive, he reached an estimated top speed of approximately 843.6 miles per hour.
When an object falls freely through a medium, such as water or air, the force of gravity pulls it toward Earth. As the object falls, its velocity increases as it accelerates toward Earth.
Gravity is not the only force working on the object. Air molecules collide with the falling object, pushing it upward against gravity. Scientists call this force air resistance. As the velocity of the falling object increases, so does air resistance.
Eventually, air resistance will equal the weight of the object in free fall. When this occurs, the object reaches terminal velocity. This means the falling object has reached its maximum velocity. The object will continue to fall at the same speed (terminal velocity) for the remainder of its free fall, until it hits Earth or a parachute opens.
Terminal velocity can be affected by a few different factors. For example, a heavier object will generally have a higher terminal velocity and a smaller surface area will have a higher terminal velocity than a larger surface area.
Most skydivers reach a terminal velocity of about 125 miles per hour. Experienced skydivers who streamline their bodies during free fall have reached speeds of over 200 miles per hour.
During October, 2012, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner jumped from a helium balloon in the stratosphere, twenty four miles above Earth. Because the atmosphere at that height is so thin, there is next to no air resistance at the beginning of the free fall. This allows the skydiver to reach a much higher terminal velocity before encountering Earth's normal atmosphere far below.
On Baumgartner's skydive, he reached an estimated top speed of approximately 843.6 miles per hour.
Aug 18, 2017
Happy Friday
If you worry about What Was or What Will Be, you miss What Is.
Get up and decide What Is is time to celebrate a Happy Friday!
Get up and decide What Is is time to celebrate a Happy Friday!
Total Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse is happening on August 21, 2017, and
for the first time in nearly a hundred years, it will be visible
from much of the continental US. In the US, the eclipse will
appear to move across the country from West to East, with the
best view starting around 9:05 a.m. PDT in Lincoln Beach,
Oregon, according to NASA, and moving southeast throughout the
day to end around Charleston, South Carolina at 2:48 pm EDT.
It is true that you should not look directly at it with your naked eyes, because the sun delivers more power than our eyes are designed to handle, and it will damage your retinas. Not likely to make you blind, but could cause serious ongoing problems.
In Dallas, the Partial Eclipse begins Aug 21 at 11:40 am. The moon touches the Sun's edge Maximum Eclipse at 1:09 pm. The moon is closest to the center of the Sun. The Partial Eclipse ends at 2:39 pm.
When the moon passes between Earth and the sun, and scores a bull’s eye by completely blotting out the sunlight, that is a total solar eclipse. The moon casts a shadow on our planet. The total eclipse will last up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds in places. A partial eclipse will be visible along the periphery.
Below are site links to see the eclipse online. In addition to the links below, you can check YouTube, which also promises live viewing.
It is true that you should not look directly at it with your naked eyes, because the sun delivers more power than our eyes are designed to handle, and it will damage your retinas. Not likely to make you blind, but could cause serious ongoing problems.
In Dallas, the Partial Eclipse begins Aug 21 at 11:40 am. The moon touches the Sun's edge Maximum Eclipse at 1:09 pm. The moon is closest to the center of the Sun. The Partial Eclipse ends at 2:39 pm.
When the moon passes between Earth and the sun, and scores a bull’s eye by completely blotting out the sunlight, that is a total solar eclipse. The moon casts a shadow on our planet. The total eclipse will last up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds in places. A partial eclipse will be visible along the periphery.
Below are site links to see the eclipse online. In addition to the links below, you can check YouTube, which also promises live viewing.
- Desktop: NASA TV Livestream Megacast
(includes video from space, high-altitude balloons, and
aircraft)
- Desktop: NASA EDGE
telescope views (toggle between 5 views)
- Desktop: Eclipse.Stream.Live (a.k.a. The
Eclipse Ballooning Project, featuring footage captured by
100 high-altitude balloons from 55 teams of students
around the country)
- Desktop: Astronomy.com
- Desktop: San Francisco Exploratorium website
- iOS: Total Solar Eclipse app (from the San Francisco Exploratorium)
- Android: Total Solar Eclipse app (from the San Francisco Exploratorium)
- https://www.timeanddate.com/live/
National Spumoni Day
August 21 is National Spumoni Day in the United
States. Go out and eat some great Spumoni ice cream while
watching the eclipse. It will make you happy.
Ostrich Facts
Ostriches are the largest flightless bird
living today, and also happen to lay the largest eggs of any
living bird in existence today. In fact, the Guinness World
Record for the largest egg laid by a bird was achieved during
2008 on a farm in Sweden – the egg weighed 5 pounds and 11.36
ounces. A typical ostrich egg is equivalent to about two dozen
chicken eggs.
The shells of ostrich eggs are so thick that most people recommend getting into them by boring in with an electric drill. They usually take about two hours to cook, due to the thickness of the shell.
Ostriches sleep standing up. Ostriches are the fastest two-legged creature in the world. An ostrich when pushed or in danger can achieve speeds of up to 43 miles per hour, and can steadily keep up a pace of about 30 miles per hour for 10 miles at a time without needing to slow down or rest.
Ostriches are found naturally in Africa, but many are also found in southern Australia and some are farmed in the US.
Ostriches do not stick their head in sand when startled or threatened. They dig shallow holes in the dirt to use as nests for their eggs. Several times a day, a bird puts her head down and turns the eggs. It just looks like she is burying her head in the sand.
The shells of ostrich eggs are so thick that most people recommend getting into them by boring in with an electric drill. They usually take about two hours to cook, due to the thickness of the shell.
Ostriches sleep standing up. Ostriches are the fastest two-legged creature in the world. An ostrich when pushed or in danger can achieve speeds of up to 43 miles per hour, and can steadily keep up a pace of about 30 miles per hour for 10 miles at a time without needing to slow down or rest.
Ostriches are found naturally in Africa, but many are also found in southern Australia and some are farmed in the US.
Ostriches do not stick their head in sand when startled or threatened. They dig shallow holes in the dirt to use as nests for their eggs. Several times a day, a bird puts her head down and turns the eggs. It just looks like she is burying her head in the sand.
Glue Anything to Anything
There is an
interesting web site called thisTothat LINK It has
two boxes and you choose a material to put in each, such wood,
glass, leather, or whatever and it offers suggestions of the
best glue for the project. Very handy.
Wordology, Peruse
Peruse has a controversial double
meaning due to common misuse. Even dictionaries do not all agree
on the meaning of the word.
The primary meaning for the word peruse is to read or look at carefully or thoroughly. Its original meaning is synonymous with words like examine or inspect. The new definition addressing the misuse cropped up rather recently, sometime late in the last century.
The new meaning for the word is to skim, to look through in a casual or selective manner. These definitions have one suggesting a thorough examination and the other a few simple glances.
A word with two potential, opposite meanings is called a contronym, an autoantonym, or a Janus word. Others include: “To bolt” can mean “to run away,” but it can also mean “to hold in place.” “Sanction” can mean “to approve” or “to boycott.”
The primary meaning for the word peruse is to read or look at carefully or thoroughly. Its original meaning is synonymous with words like examine or inspect. The new definition addressing the misuse cropped up rather recently, sometime late in the last century.
The new meaning for the word is to skim, to look through in a casual or selective manner. These definitions have one suggesting a thorough examination and the other a few simple glances.
A word with two potential, opposite meanings is called a contronym, an autoantonym, or a Janus word. Others include: “To bolt” can mean “to run away,” but it can also mean “to hold in place.” “Sanction” can mean “to approve” or “to boycott.”
Elsie the Cow
Elsie is the name of the cow used as the
symbol on Elmer's products. She is the spouse of Elmer, the bull
(male cow) who the company is named after.
Function Keys
Keyboard function keys really do have
functions and some are quite handy. Function keys are usually on
the top row and have an F followed by a number, such as F1, F2,
etc.
The most universal is F1, press it and you get help for almost every program you happen to be using.
F3 is handy for doing searches. For instance, if you are in a document or on a long web page, just press F3 and a search bar appears on the bottom of your screen. (You can also open a search box by holding down the CTRL key and hitting the letter f.)
F6 is handy if you are using a browser. It jumps the cursor to the address bar so you can type a new address in it.
Obviously there are more, but some are used by specific programs, such as F7 while in Microsoft Word checks for spelling. Try them, you may be surprised at how much time you can save.
The most universal is F1, press it and you get help for almost every program you happen to be using.
F3 is handy for doing searches. For instance, if you are in a document or on a long web page, just press F3 and a search bar appears on the bottom of your screen. (You can also open a search box by holding down the CTRL key and hitting the letter f.)
F6 is handy if you are using a browser. It jumps the cursor to the address bar so you can type a new address in it.
Obviously there are more, but some are used by specific programs, such as F7 while in Microsoft Word checks for spelling. Try them, you may be surprised at how much time you can save.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)