Hello From Nova Scotia - Part 11 - The Mackinnon-cann Inn: Where Home And Garden Television Meets The Travel Channel

I had spent a wonderfully rejuvenating night wrapped up in the soft high-thread-count sheets and comforters of my temporary home at the MacKinnon-Cann Inn in Yarmouth. After an exciting drive down the Evangeline Trail yesterday that included a very informative tour of the Bear River First Nation Heritage and Cultural Centre, followed up by an early-evening walking tour to admire Yarmouth’s Victorian heritage areas, I had definitely needed a good rest. But a new day had broken and I was ready for more adventures.

First on the plan was of course breakfast, so I got myself ready and walked downstairs into the tastefully decorated dining area of the MacKinnon-Cann Inn. Neil Hisgen, one of the co-owners, was working in the kitchen to prepare breakfast and occasionally dropped by to see how the guests were doing. I caught him for about ten minutes to find out more about this property and his own personal background.


Neil is originally from Racine, Wisconsin, and hails from a family with six children. He spent six years in the navy following which he briefly returned home, only to move to Fort Lauderdale in Florida where he started his hospitality career. He started working at the front desk at the Marriott Hotel and for the next 18 years worked in various hotels and restaurants, gaining experience at the front desk and in the kitchen. He capped his employed career after 15 years with a general manager’s position of a major hotel.

Neil met his business and life partner Michael Tavares at the end of 1997. Neil had made a good return on the sale of his first house and decided to invest it in a bed and breakfast. At the time Michael owned a 200-acre property on a peninsula near Yarmouth which they used as a vacation home. Michael had invited him to spend about a month at his farm near Yarmouth and Neil loved it. Being from the mid-west, he had always enjoyed the change of the seasons.

Neil and Michael were thinking about what they wanted to do and decided they were ready for a change, so they went ahead and opened a bed and breakfast in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia where there was a beautiful Victorian residential district waiting for them with many restoration opportunities. At this point Neil unfortunately had to go back in the kitchen to continue working, but Michael, his co-owner, joined me at my table to give me a more in-depth overview of their projects and his own life story


Michael is originally from Boston and grew up in the southern part of the city. During college he majored in education, but after school he went into real estate and started his own brokerage firm. He was always fascinated by old buildings and illustrates this with a story from his childhood: at 12 or 13 years of age there was an old farm house nearby, and Michael always wondered who had owned it and lived there. So he talked to his mother about it and she took him to the land registry office to do a title search, obtaining a record of all previous owners of the property.

With these documents in hand he approached the current owners and gave them the historic ownership records of the property. They absolutely loved it, and from that point forward Michael was hooked on the mystique of historic properties. In his words, he loves to “peel back the layers of time” and started to buy and restore his own historic buildings. Over several years he completed eight restoration projects in the south end of Boston.

After Boston he moved to Key West and became a tropical landscape architect. He spent five or six years living and working in Key West, completing many garden design projects for the local gay community. In the 1980s he finally bought a 200 acre farm as a vacation property in Nova Scotia together with several friends. This was when his love affair with Yarmouth began. Michael moved his permanent residence from Key West to Fort Lauderdale where he met Neil in 1997 at a fundraising event. They lived together for a year and Neil helped Michael in his landscaping business. In the summer of 1998 Michael invited Neil to his property in Nova Scotia because he wanted Neil to share this part of his life. So for the last eight years Neil and Michael have been residing in Nova Scotia. Their first Yarmouth property was a run-down Victorian brick mansion which they lovingly restored in 1999 and turned into the present Charles C. Richards House, a historic bed and breakfast with three guest bedrooms decorated in the 1930’s Art Deco Period. Each room at the Charles C. Richards House features a private bath, cable TV with DVD players and period furnishings.

The MacKinnon-Cann Inn where I was staying was built in 1887 and is an example of the Italianate Victorian style. The house was built as a duplex for two female cousins, and to this day the inn features two staircases side by side. Michael and Neil rescued the property in 2000 and took it from a condemned state to the stunning mansion that it is today. All seven guest rooms are uniquely decorated in a style reflecting a different 20th century decade, from the 1900s to the 1960s. The main floor features five lavish parlours and Michael pointed out the beautiful patterned wood floor that was installed at great expense throughout the dining area. Neil is a talented glass artist, and many stained glass windows throughout the MacKinnon-Cann Inn and the Charles C. Richards House feature Neil’s artwork.

Michael explained that he is very active in Nova Scotia’s heritage community and mentioned that he is a member of two historic organizations: he serves on the Board of Directors of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia whose mission it is to preserve and protect the heritage properties in the province. Both the MacKinnon-Cann Inn and the Charles C. Richards House are provincially registered heritage properties. Michael is also a member of the Provincial Heritage Owners Association of Nova Scotia which encompasses 265 provincial heritage properties. Both inns have won several awards, including the 2005 Restoration Award from the Yarmouth County Historical Society and the L.B. Jenson Award as a contribution to the development and economic health of the Yarmouth Heritage Community.

In addition to the two inns, Michael is also currently renovating the property right next door to the MacKinnon-Cann Inn, another Victorian heritage property which he is thinking of turning into a restaurant that will serve the tourists and local community of Yarmouth. The fourth recently renovated property owned by Michael and Neil is a blue-coloured Victorian heritage property located right between the MacKinnon-Cann Inn and the Charles C. Richards House. In essence, Michael and Neil have single-handedly transformed an entire street block, rescued four historic properties and turned them into stunning examples of architectural revival.

As an astute tourism marketer, Michael Tavares is also the President of the Nova Scotia Association of Unique Country Inns, a collective marketing and branding group that promotes upscale heritage tourism in unique historic properties. Michael is generally responsible for the inn’s marketing while Neil’s responsibilities focus more on hospitality and innkeeping.


Michael’s restoration mindset is based on a commitment to the preservation of buildings and a respect for the historical integrity of the property. He approaches his projects with a certain humility which he says many renovators today are missing since they are only looking for the highest return on investment. He is a strong believer that the cultural renaissance and economic revival of a town begins with heritage restoration and then trickles down to Main Street.

At the same time he also recognizes the need for protecting his investments, and as a member of the local Yarmouth Town Planning Council he has a chance to participate in shaping the future of this town. Michael and Neil have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless thousands of hours in their heritage properties and business ventures. Their efforts make a significant contribution to the economic well-being of the town.


The beginning was not easy since Michael was an outsider with new ideas in a town with long-standing traditions and established power structures. He was the new kid on the block. In addition, it took some time to gain acceptance, particularly as a gay couple in a rather conservative community. Conflict arose originally since Michael was also very outspoken and questioned the old ways of doing things.


However, his commitment to the community became evident in his renovation projects. Michael would call together all the contractors for each project, such as electricians, plumbers, carpet layers, etc. and told them that he would deal exclusively with them as local merchants instead of choosing a big box home renovation store as his main supplier. This commitment to local merchants has earned him a lot of respect and goodwill in the surrounding community, and today many people call him for his opinion before a debate of important issues that will affect the town.

After I completed my delicious fruit salad and omelet breakfast, Michael took me on a tour of all four properties. We started off with the smaller Victorian house currently under renovation where the entire first floor has currently been stripped down to the bare walls. As with his other projects, Michael is going to do the vast majority of the project himself and will call in specialized contractors only where needed. He is one of those people who have that special gift of spotting a diamond in the rough and taking it from a derelict hovel in danger of collapsing to a stunningly updated and stylish historic jewel with all modern conveniences.

We then went over to the recently restored blue Victorian mansion that was renovated by the previous owners according to Michael’s recommendations since Michael and Neil were going to purchase the property. We capped the visit off with the Charles C. Richards House, a stunning Victorian brick mansion with gorgeous architectural details, built for a wealthy local businessman. It was started in 1893 and took two years to finish and was the first brick house of this class to be built in Yarmouth. Most of the special building materials, i.e. the brownstone, granite and brick, were imported from the United States and make this house unique. Michael told me that it took him a whole season to strip the many layers of paint on the ornately carved porch and 32 weeks to repaint it, using eleven different colours.

I admired the wonderful details and stylish décor of the various rooms, including the flower-filled conservatory. Michael and Neil posed for me in front of the intricately carved wooden staircase that leads to the upstairs bedroom and this was the fitting ending for my introduction to architectural preservation and heritage tourism in Yarmouth. I thanked them both for their welcoming hospitality and got ready for my next item on the itinerary: an exploration of Yarmouth history at the Yarmouth County Historical Museum, located right across the street from the Charles C. Richards House.

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Classic Television on DVD bring late night's Carson back to fans

Who could forget the smooth sound of Ed McMahon’s voice announcing with practiced timbre, “Heeeeeeeeere’s Johnny!” each night to millions of Americans as they sat up in their living rooms ready to watch another round of Johnny Carson giving his low-key monologue with the hard-to-resist deadpan delivery that we all came to know and love. Even today in the new millennium, thanks to classic TV DVDs, we are still able to see the comedic genius at work, albeit it doesn’t have to be in the wee hours of the morning.
Johnny Carson’s primary claim to fame was as America's late night king of comedy. For thirty years he hosted NBC television's Tonight Show, and because of his up-to-the-minute monologues, flippant characters and lighthearted sketches he entered more homes via the television than any other performer had ever done before. His late night set provided the launching pad for many budding stars and starlets, gave widespread publicity for hundreds of books, movies and gadgets and never failed to offer a laugh (or two or three) to the millions of viewers tuned in.

Carson was well known as getting his start in the world of magic at a very young age in his hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska. Performing feats of prestidigitation was his first love, but that was interrupted by World War II and a couple of years in the US Navy. After the war, Carson decided to attend college and chose the field of radio as his major. This proved to be a good choice for a young guy who had no idea of the impact that entertainment, particularly television, was about to have on the world at large as well has his home soil. After graduation he started a job as a radio deejay, but shortly thereafter the advent of TV began to take the country by storm.

Starting out with television at its inception must have been an exciting time. Johnny Carson got in on the true ground floor and never left until his retirement some 40 years later. What a mark he left on the industry. His first stint on the visual air was hosting an afternoon program broadcast out of Omaha, Nebraska, called The Squirrel’s Nest. He pretty much had the run of that show doing local interviews, practicing his vast array of characters by performing skits and sketches and learning how to perfect his inimitable timing in the delivery of jokes and stories. Today some of his earliest works can be seen on classic TV DVD selections where a young Carson displays the same endearing grin he charmed audiences with decades later.

Johnny Carson decided to try television in a big way when he made the decision to move to Hollywood in the 1950s. During his fledgling years in Hollywood, Carson hosted a gamut of television shows ranging from such titles as Carson’s Cellar, two different versions of the Johnny Carson Show, and two quiz shows called Earn Your Vacation and Who Do You Trust? During this time he also worked as a writer for the Red Skelton Show. All of this was merely practice for what many say is his greatest achievement - replacing the retiring Jack Paar and hosting the Tonight Show.

It was in the Fall of 1962 that Carson took the seat behind the famous desk that was to be his for the next 30 years. Even though he had a completely opposite style from Paar, Carson did not need long to win over his audience. Before a half year had passed, the Tonight Show ratings were exceeding Paar’s by almost 500,000 viewers. It was an unprecedented event when within a decade and a half on the air, the Tonight Show doubled its audience numbers. Johnny Carson had left his mark on the world and became an icon of classic television. Film critic, David Edelstein, put it so well when he wrote Carson was the “naughty genius of late night”.

Johnny Carson was an entertainer who drew viewers in night after night with his droll expressions, edgy comedic sketches and compelling, humorous interviews. His comedy was as timeless as his slim, dapper, boyish good looks. Through the emergence of classic television on DVD, Johnny Carson’s comedy is being relived by his fans and seen for the first time by a new generation.

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Ipod Movie Downloads - Download And Save Movies

IPOD movie downloads is a very good way for getting the latest movies quickly and without the hassles of traveling to the video rental location. You can download movies fast and easy. There are many locations right on the web that can provide you with the best of the best for much less. There are several locations that do offer a wide range of choice when it comes to free IPOD movie downloads. Some offer more than others or they offer a better quality product. It will take a little looking to find the most affordable choice that is also the one that has what you would like to download.

Once you find the right location for your ipod movie downloads, you can easily and quickly (it seems almost instantly) download them to your PC, your notebook, or you can check out iPod movie downloads as well. There are specific services that are available to provide you with the ability to get great quality movies on your iPod. If you choose iPod movies, you can find the right location to download from on the web to your iPod, take the movies with you wherever you decide to go and, if you like them; you can even burn them to CD.

No matter if you choose iPod movies or find a few great movies to download to your PC, there are many services that are providing this ability to you. If you are skilled, you can even find a few free iPod movie downloads or free movie downloads to tap into as well. Of course, to get the best products available, you may want to go with a paid service. It also pays for you to take your time in checking out a few of the services for their fees and their membership details. With so much competition out there, you are sure to find a great deal being offered to new members. Movie downloads are fast becoming the best way to get the movies you want to see quickly. I have listed a site you can click on the link at the top of my site. It is one of the best I have tried.

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Secrets to Buying a CRT, LCD or Plasma Television

Each type of TV has positives and negatives. Before purchasing a possibly expensive piece of furniture for you home it would be wise to learn a little about each technology. This may prevent you from making a big mistake when you are ready to buy. Once you understand which type of television is right for you it's a lot easier to take the plunge.

If you are more than 10 years old you probably grew up watching television on a CRT type of TV. CRT stands for cathode ray tube. These televisions are still very popular due to a few advantages they still hold over the newer plasma televisions and other newer types.

If you've ever watched a plasma or LCD TV from the side you have probably noticed that the picture is darker from that angle. One of the great things about CRT televisions is that they are still bright even when viewed from the side. Sure, the LCD or plasma television has a great quality picture from the front, but if you plan on placing your TV in an area that will be viewed often from the side you should be testing out all of the different models in that regard. It would be very disappointing to see the great plasma picture quality at the dealer and then get it home and have a darker picture from your viewing point of view.

Another positive with regard to CRT displays is their price. They are more inexpensive than the more modern types of televisions while still producing a very clear and bright picture. They also show the color black truer than most newer models and have no danger of burn-in. On some of the newer models it's possible to have a bright picture burn into the screen and be faintly visible for the life of the TV.

With all of these positives why are the CRT displays diminishing in popularity? There are two main reasons. One, these television sets are usually bigger, bulkier and heavier. And two, if you want a large wide screen TV that is 42 inches, 50 inches, 60 inches or larger you just cannot find a CRT display that big. So if you have a big wide screen TV in mind you won't be able to go with the older CRT units.

The last deciding factor about CRT televisions concerns whether you should buy a flat screen or curved screen model. The flat screen versions can be viewed from the side better than the curved screens. The curved screens can distort the picture while the flat screens let you see the picture as it was intended to be seen. The difference may not be apparent when viewed alone, but put them side to side and you will certainly see the difference.

The next type of technology we will look at is the flat panel LCD displays. These come in HDTV (high definition television) or wide screen. If you want to see your DVD movies as you saw them in the movie theater you need to purchase a widescreen TV. LCD is a liquid crystal display and is not only used in televisions, but in computer monitors as well.

LCD displays have a flat screen and are relatively thin in width and lightweight. They have an exceptional picture viewing quality and as with the CRT displays will not produce burn-in. These TVs have high resolution that creates a superior picture.

The biggest problem with LCD flat screens is the fact that their viewing angles are lessened when compared with traditional CRT models. If you get too far off to the side the picture becomes extremely dark. They are also incapable of creating true blacks, another disadvantage when compared to older CRT models. Plus, the larger models can become rather expensive. However, if money is not your major concern and you plan on viewing the TV from directly in front you may decide that this is the best choice for you.

Plasma television sets, also known as plasma HDTV displays, have come way down in price over the last two years. Their prices used to exclude people from buying them, but their prices are now comparable to LCD models.

These TVs have become popular because not only can you get it in a very large screen size, perfect for your favorite movie or sporting event, but it has an excellent picture quality that is also viewable from wide angles. This is a plus over the LCD technology. This TV will give you the perfect "movie experience" at home in your own theater room.

Plasma television displays are great when it comes to picture quality and viewing angles, but their prices may still be slightly higher than other types. They also have a small potential for burn-in. But the big negative is their life span. They are basically not repairable when their bulb burns out. Depending on how much you watch TV you could end up with an expensive unit that will only last a few years. Once the bulb has burned out the TV is generally history. This is not the case with an LCD display where the bulb may cost in the neighborhood of $200, but it can be changed.

Rear projection models also have their positives and negatives. Rear projection CRT HDTV's are cheaper than the larger plasma and LCD displays, plus they have a flat screen and great picture. The negatives are their size and weight and smaller viewing angles. They are too heavy to hang on a wall and are much wider than the more narrow plasma and LCD units. Also, in a well lit room their picture can seem a little less bright than what is considered ideal.

There are other types of rear projection HDTV units too. The most popular are the LCD and DLP models. Both have flat screens with wide viewing angles, are thin and lightweight which means they can be wall mounted, will not produce burn-in and have terrific picture resolution and quality. Also, when the bulb burns out they can be replaced, unlike the plasma television models. However, they can both be a bit on the expensive side.

Now that you know the differences it's time to go down to your local electronics store and try them out. A little bit of viewing can go a long way in your determination of what's best and what's not. One more piece of advice: when looking at the varied assortment of models at you local store you'll notice that some have bright pictures and some do not. Do not base your opinion solely on that one thing. The store models will not have their brightness controls all set the same and it's possible that a dim picture on one of their televisions could easily be adjusted into a magnificent picture.

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Infomercials - Television Advertising

Infomercials have been around for along time. Have you ever caught yourself glued to the TV watching and listening to information on a new TV product? We have all seen these ads and I am sure most of us have some of these products in our homes. I know I have several. Wow, will that really clean my floors and make them look new again? Use water to steam away all those germs. Only five minutes a day and you will lose weight! How can you not want to try these products? Only $19.99 or 5 easy installments of $29.99.

A number of celebrities endorse these products. One product that has been around for awhile is The Thighmaster endorsed by Suzanne Somers. She also endorses other exercise machines such as torso track, beauty products and even appliances. Suzanne has made a real impression in infomercial world.

Celebrities definitely help these products to sell. These are people we can relate to and if they are endorsing a product and putting their name to the infomercial product it must be worth buying, right?

Some infomercial products have turned the spokesperson like Ron Popeil into a celebrity. Most people know who he is. When I hear his name "Set It and Forget It" comes to mind. Get rid of that fat from your foods and walk away while your food cooks. I have one of his rotisserie and I have to admit I love it! The food comes out real moist and tasty. Ron has come out with a whole line of helpful kitchen products.

George Foreman also got into "Get Rid Of The Fat" products. I also have his George Forman grill which is awesome for making sandwiches, hamburgers, cooking bacon and I find it easy to clean. It seems every year he perfects his product with a new line.

I do like infomercials and get easily drawn in. Sure some are just ridiculous gadgets that we really do not need and just end up in the back of the closet after a few uses. What about the products that you see advertised all the time and have been around for awhile? They must be living up to their ad and do what they say if some many people are still purchasing.

Television is a very powerful way to advertise a product and have it endorse by a celebrity and the product can become an instant hit. The internet has become another tool for advertising these products. The web makes it even easier for us to purchase. If you walked into the tail end of an infomercial you can find out more about it online. Do a search for the product name and you should be able to find it on the web. You can even find sites that have short clips of the product in action.

What will be the hot As Seen On TV Product this year????

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Influence of Television on a Person

In the twenty first century technology is developing very fast. Advanced technological wonders still surprise us and make us wanting more and more comfort that they create. One of them is television that became popular all over the world now and there is no country, region or village where people don’t know what a TV is. It is also considered that Television has both advantages and disadvantages and for one it is very difficult to decide what to watch and if to watch at all. Certainly, television is the main source of information. Daily people listen and watch a short news sequence that provides us with the necessary information and keeps informed during the day. Also, no doubt, television is the way to entertain oneself, for it offers a variety of possibilities to have fun sitting on your couch and relaxing. Another way to capture people’s minds on a live TV screen is advertisement. Commercials have become inseparable part of broadcasting and live coverage. Even favorite movies are interrupted by short ad. Though commercials are what holds television together and there’s nobody who can prove this wrong. Besides there have to be some ways to show what lies on the shelves at supermarkets. When it comes to disadvantages one may prepare for a long story, but after all, despite these trifles we continue to do it, no matter what we are said.

It is harmful to stay in front of the TV for a long time. It spoils our eyes and health, doctors say. But the same thing happens when we read articles or interesting narrative essays http://www.bestessays.com/narrative_essay.php for a long time. Same story with the computer, nothing harms our sight this much. As for the information that we constantly see on TV, it is a miracle how one can watch it without getting crazy. Indeed, if to watch three or more reality shows in a row it makes you at first confused than frustrated and then constantly unsatisfied and angry. It is also same story with movies. It is almost impossible to find a movie without blood spilling around and angry man fighting for God knows what. Of course a nice narrative essay http://www.bestessays.com/narrative_essay.php can be put aside when something similar comes up. Now movies are rated, but who pays attention to that little geometric figure in the corner of your screen? As soon as movie is good, nobody cares to think about its influence on their children.

Television makes people physically inactive. It is impossible to stand up and go for a walk when your favorite soap opera is coming up. You leave everything undone and rush to see what happens next and stay glued to the screen till it’s over. Then another are another comes and you slowly but surely turn into a couch potato with health problems as in mental, as in physical field. What makes us glue ourselves to the TV screen and go to bed with a TV on? It’s quite time to break the habit and start reading something useful, for example, the article about harm and advantages of watching TV.

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Websites are not television

Have you noticed that websites today are adapting the concept of television?

Nowadays, web sites are complete with state-of-the-art graphics, sounds and videos. To top it all up, advertisements are also rampant. On a single page alone, you get to see a lot of products or services being offered. Makes one wonder if websites are giving television a run for their money.

But what website owners are missing out is that their visitors are not there to watch television. If they were, they would not be browsing on your site in the first place.

Visitors are there for a purpose; to get information fast and leave. With all the things you have put into your site, chances are your visitors will long be gone before your main page can even load. The fact is, most are viewing your web site on a screen that is between 15 and 19 inches wide, can only see 216 colors, and can only download at 28.8 kb per second.

As a website owner, you should make sure you are on a 28.8 connection; type in the URL for your web page; hit enter, and hold your breath. Your web page should be no larger then 50K. Less than 30K is best.

Take note that the number one visited web site home page is under 21k. You heard right. Yahoo's home page is only 20k. One of the main reasons why it is quite popular in any part of the world. This might seem like very little but you really can do a lot within that size.

Why do you do that?

Use more design and fewer graphic. For a web page to be successful, it needs to download quickly and look good. The most common dilemma that owners encounter is they are torn between downloading quickly and looking good.

Instead of designing graphics and taking pictures and turning them into jpgs to make your web page look good, try using color schemes. Use cell colors to make boarders. Use the negative space on your web site. What is not there is just as important as what is there.

Remember sometimes less is more. When in doubt think of a typical visitor coming to your web page. Would that extra graphic sell them or keep them coming back again and again. If the answer is yes, by all means keep it.

If the answer is "well maybe" or "it just looks good there", yank it. Viewers will appreciate not waiting more then they have to. The web is here to make our life easier not to sit in front of a screen waiting for heavy web pages to download.

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iPod Music Videos - Watch And Learn

If you kow anything about how today’s “artists” sell albums, you’ll not be surprised when I say, “it’s not all about the music”. And indeed its not. Let me give you a little example. The itunes music store has over 2000 music videos for sale. That is some serious camara time. Whatever happened to the Replacements? But, if you’re down with the glitz and the glamour and the diamonds resting in the bottom of a Dom P drenched champagne flute, then I’m talking your style.

And what style is that exactly? Ipod music videos, of course. That thing in your pocket isn’t just a single function unit, you know. Well, that is of course, if you’ve got a 5th generation ipod. If you do there’s a multitude of ways that you can realize the potential of it. You can watch everything from TV shows to movies and ipods music videos.

There’s also a plentitude of ways that you can obtain the videos, or whatever you want to watch. Take videos that you’ve taken off of your camara and have put on to your computer. Do you have some favorite movies on there (I know that most of my friends do)? You can put them right into your itunes, and then into the library icon. Once its on your computer your good to go to fill up your ipod. And then, as stated earlier, there is an amazing list of ipod music videos that are available for purchase on the itunes website.

The point is that as good as the photos look on your ipod, the ipod music videos are going to look just as clear and nice. So, use them. You have videos already sitting around on your computer, so load them up and get them mobile.

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Which Is Better? The Plasma Television Versus The LCD

Are you still using that dated old “tube” television set? Are you drawn to the electronics section at your local Best Buy where you walk slowly down every aisle fantasizing about watching an action packed thriller on one of those crisp, gorgeous devices? Are you baffled by the price ranges, and confused over the qualities? If that’s what’s keeping you from buying the television of your dreams, it’s time to do your homework. The two biggest questions about the television market today is, “what’s the difference between the plasma television versus the LCD?”

Plasma Television Versus The LCD

There are a few important things to compare when deciding which type of set to purchase. Plasma TVs are the current size champions, particularly when comparing TVs that consumers can easily purchase. Screen size, viewing angle, screen refresh rates, burn-in or stuck pixels, and product life-span are all areas that you want to pay close attention to when shopping.

When comparing the plasma television versus the LCD, start with size options. With a plasma, screen sizes range from 32 inches to 63 inches. Larger plasmas, like a 103 inch unit, are in production, but are still expensive for consumer use. The LCD sizes range from 13 inches to 45 inches. As with plasma, there are larger LCD TVs made, like a 100 inch display, but they are not readily available or affordable at the consumer level. Moving on to viewing angle, LCD TVs have the advantage here, but by a small margin. Your viewing experience is not going to be ideal at 160 or 175 degree angles. LCD TVs used to have a problem in this area, primarily because LCD’s were originally meant for single person computer monitors. Plasma displays refresh and handle rapid movements in video well. LCD TVs were originally designed for data display, and not video.

In essence, refresh rates had to be improved. LCD TVs with refresh rates below 16 ms or lower (5-15 ms) show very few noticeable artifacts. LCD TVs are now available with refresh rates as low as 5ms. Plasma TVs can suffer from burn-in produced by static images. After extended periods, stationary images "burn in" and produce an after-image ghost which remains permanently on the screen. With technologies such as 'pixel orbiter,' new plasma TVs have addressed burn-in and significantly reduced the issues of older models.

LCD TVs do not suffer from burn-in, but can have what they call, "retained pixel charge" which may also produce ghosting. Stuck pixels are also possible with an LCD display. Taking into consideration the latest plasma technology, this is less of an issue than ever before. If you plan to use a plasma TV for video gaming, some games with permanent 'dashboards' may still cause burn-in. Check user-manuals for available solutions by model. Another option to weigh when comparing plasma television versus the LCD, is the life span.

Plasma TVs have a reported half life of 30,000 to 60,000 hours. Half-life is the time it takes the lamp to fade to half its original brightness LCD TVs also have replaceable backlights, but the expense of replacing one when the time comes may be greater than simply replacing the entire TV Both Plasma and LCD technology should more than adequately satisfy most consumers.

The average tube has a half-life of around 25,000 hours. If the average American household watches an average of four to six hours of television a day, even a 30,000 hour lamp would give you easily over 16 years of use. Fortunately, when comparing plasma television versus the LCD, They are both great options, so find the one that suits your lifestyle.

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Purchasing A Plasma Television Console

Finding the perfect complementary plasma television console for your living room or den can be stressful. But with plasma television sets becoming so popular today, there are more options than ever before. 

Why A Plasma Television Console?

A plasma television console can be a more forgiving piece of furniture to have in your living room if you have a lot clutter that you need to hide, such as a gaming console, a ton of movies, a DVD player and maybe a stereo system.  It’s just not feasible to have one of those cute shelf-like systems that will display your clutter and make your hot streamline television look like the flag atop a pile of rubble.

A plasma television console comes is in wood or a nice metal finish would be the perfect addition to set off your new TV set.  This type of set up offers a wide area to display your new Plasma and plenty of storage space underneath for your video game console and DVD player.  This is a popular choice among owners because it has a contemporary feel to it that still follows suit with the sleek design of the plasma.

There are wider versions of the credenza style and narrower ones that are just wide enough to cover the width of your new TV.  This variety gives you ample flexibility no matter how large or small a space you have available.  Not everyone can pull of the look of a strategically wall mounted television set; we need the furniture!

A new plasma television console will open up the area you are show casing, making an otherwise cramped space seem inviting and comfortable.  Especially when you’re used to having a huge “entertainment system” taking up an entire wall of your living room, going to a wall mount can be too much of a culture shock. 

The stream line look of the plasma TV and the plasma television console are the contemporary design that everyone is going for these days.  The idea of “classic furniture” now even has a taste of contemporary mixed in.  The plasma television console is a nice transition piece even for those that still have a more classic air to their homes.  It will blend the two styles perfectly.

These devices give the illusion of streamline cleanliness, making your room give off a more professional feeling.  Over all, there are a lot of choices similar to the ever familiar “entertainment center” out there to accompany your new purchase, it’s just a matter of knowing what suits your style.

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