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You have several options to convert VHS to DVD. Let’s look at them one by one and then you’ll be ready to choose the one that’s best for you.

Combo Units

If you own a combination DVD and VCR player/recorder, available almost any place where electronics are sold, it’s almost painless to pop in the VHS tape and a blank DVD, press a few buttons and directly record the old tape to a shiny new DVD disc. (A slight variant on this method is to connect your VCR to a separate DVD recorder unit.) If you don’t need to modify the video at all (editing, adding chapters and custom menus), this method is the easiest and most direct.

Using a Video Camera

Just about any video camera (camcorder) can serve as the tool to help you copy directly from your old VCR into a digital format. Usually it just requires hooking up a cable (may need to be purchased separately) from the VCR’s Video Out port (the red, white, yellow connectors) to the Video In port on the camera and pressing a few buttons. Each camera works a bit differently, so follow the instructions in your video camera’s manual for recording from an auxiliary input. This is a slow process because it is a re-recording of what is on the tape to the new DVD format, but it is fairly simple and requires no additional hardware if you already own a video camera.

Using a Black Box

Special devices like DVD Xpress or Instant DVD from ADSTech make it easy to transfer directly from VHS tape to a DVD disc. Basically, this is an external device that takes the place of the video camera in the previous scenario. You connect the VCR to the device with a standard red/white/yellow cable and then connect the device to your computer with a USB cable. These devices may be more cost effective than a video camera (about US$100) and a little easier to use.

More Geeky Solutions

Other options exist, for those interested in all the technical bells and whistles of video transfer, conversion and compression. Check out BitYard for a point-by-point, nearly human explanation of using an MPEG-2 capturing device that transfers and compresses the video to a smaller file size.

What Hardware and Software Do I Need?

Most computers sold in the last few years (Windows or Mac) will have the basic system requirements needed for dealing with the digital version of your VHS recording. You should have a Pentium 4 or higher, 1GB or more of RAM and at least 10GB of hard drive space available.

Oh, and a DVD burner of course, and a stack of blank DVD discs. Some computers have combination CD/DVD drives, which may or may not be able to burn a DVD. Don’t assume that because you can burn a CD, you can also burn a DVD. Consult the documentation if you’re not sure. If you need a DVD burner, the external USB-connected models are very easy to connect.

Once you capture the images on your computer, you can use movie editing programs such as Windows MovieMaker, QuickTime or iMovie to manipulate the video as desired, add subtitles, chapters, etc. Also check out VideoHelp.com for excellent video editing software and tutorials with wonderful step-by-step instructions.

The Low-Tech Solution

A final option for those who don’t care to dirty their hands with wires, bits and bytes is a service bureau. Many services offer to receive your VHS tapes by mail and return it with a DVD equivalent. One example is Home Movie Depot. For anywhere from under $20 to a lot more (for damaged tapes) they can walk you through the preparation process and help you get the tapes to them for conversion.

How Long Do DVDs Last?

All that I’ve read indicates the expected longevity of dye-based DVD discs is anywhere from 20 to 250 years. Some formulations (notably phthalocyanine) are more stable and last longer, so look for those when purchasing DVD discs. However, many manufacturers don’t list this on the packaging; so just be aware that some of the el-cheapo DVD discs may last just a few years, and buy quality name-brand discs.

There have been some confusing reports published recently, notably the claim by a guy from IBM Germany that CD and DVD discs will last only 2-5 years. This report has been WIDELY criticized and so far I haven’t seen ANYONE come out in support of it. Nonetheless, popular news media (online and offline) trumpet it as fact and then mass confusion ensues…

As far as I’m concerned, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s report on CD/DVD Care & Handling is the most authoritative and accurate source of information on the subject of CD/DVD life expectancy. In that report, they say:

The useful life span of CD and DVD discs is affected by temperature, humidity, exposure to light and day-to-day use. So keep your DVDs in a cool, dry place, avoid direct exposure to sunlight, and they should last for several decades.

Reprinted from: http://www.askbobrankin.com/convert_vhs_to_dvd.html

BOB RANKIN… is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the http://LowfatLinux.com website. Visit Bob Rankin’s website for more helpful articles and free tech support.

Alcoholism is a devastating disease that effects millions of people every year. Recognizing alcoholism in yourself or someone else can be difficult. Alcoholism is defined as a disease that allows a persons use of alcohol to interfere with their life and the basic functioning of their daily tasks, needs and responsibilities.

The clinical way of looking at alcohol is by examining the amount of alcohol a person consumes. A women who drinks more than seven drink per week or more than three drinks a day and a man who drinks more than 14 drinks per week or four drinks in a day would be considered an alcoholic. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor.

Warning signs of alcoholism may vary form person to person. Usually though these warning signs will be obvious. The following list outlines some of these signs.

- misses a lot of work or school
- losses interest in family, friends or activities
- depression
- drinking to cope with any problem
- insomnia
- being intoxicated often
- moody
- drinking related health problems

These are some of the noticeable warning signs. More serious behaviors can also serve as a wake-up call. Risky behavior like drinking and driving should be taken seriously.

Alcohol when taken in moderation is a nice way to relax or enjoy a social engagement, where when alcohol becomes a problem it can effect everyone who is close to the alcoholic. Some things that can tell a person they may be having a problem with alcohol are:

- worry over not having alcohol or money to buy it
- hiding alcohol so others do not know you have it
- often wishing to be drunk or get drunk faster
- unable to stop drinking once started
- hearing others comment on your drinking

Alcoholism should always be taken seriously. If you or someone you know has a drinking problem professional help is available in every community. Recognizing the problem is the first step to finding a solution.

Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides information on alcoholism at Alcoholism Help Center.

Assuming that you have not caught on to casino odds, read on…

For the sake of clarity, a betting saloon is an edifice that offers card-playing. At such a place, guests may take a chance by having a bash at the one armed bandits or trying out some other games. Betting saloon games for the most part include precisely determined chances informing them that safeguard the gaming organization preserves an upper hand versus the gambling buffs.

Quite a lot of betting room games encourage you to get hooked very quickly. There is the infamous 1-armed-bandit, a mechanical contraption with 3 or more drums which whirl when a knob on its flank is started. This gadget frequently recompenses based on a combination of pictures perceptible on the dials on the contraption. Disastrously, casino games strive to create an illusion of control, thereby deluding the betting aficionado – the addressee is awarded options, but actually these cannot really match the gamer’s long-term handicap. That is induced by the gaming room not paying up the full wager as hoped for. This systematic arrangement is typically seen at work in popular casino games like five-card stud, craps, roulette or blackjack. Blind Poker is undoubtedly a highly trendy casino pastime. The betting aficionados, closely guarding their fully concealed hands, must place bets in the pot which is awarded to the prevailing gamester blessed with the winning hand. (Of course, the coolest bluffing hand may well prevail as well.)

flash casino sign up bonus

Analogous to seven-card stud poker, blackjack is likewise a highly trendy casino game. A considerable part of its is a result of the mix of luck and know-how & decision making, and a praxis called card counting. This is an approach in which players may significantly force the probabilities of the card game in their favor both by wagering & fundamental opetations in correspondence with the cards dealt.

Craps is the name of another well-known wagering game based on the throw of 2 dice. Guests are betting on the result of 1 spin, or on a succession of cycles on two dice. Contrary to blackjack, there’s absolutely no viable bona fide winning system players can capitalize on to improve the odds.

Roulette is an immensely popular casino based game of luck — a croupier spins a roulette wheel encompassing 37 (French roulette) or, respectively precisely 38 (as in American or Vegas roulette) uniquely tagged receptacles in which a rolling ball must settle, which signifies the winner Assuming that the punter happens to bet on any given number and is successful meaning it’s their lucky day, the set reward will be thirty five to one, the initial stake proper being repaid. Hence in totality it is multiplied by a factor of thirty-six.

Do make a point of being wary because many of those betting room betting games should be considered very much obsessive. Copious lives have probably been wasted due to inordinate gambling + even if it may be enjoyable, do aim to balance your gambling.

For those businesses that need to monitor and document humidity there are several choices. Hygrometers, specifically hair hygrometers were invented almost three hundred years ago. These humidity indicating instruments, once in place and allowed to adopt, give an indication of the humidity but can’t really monitor or document the humidity. They do show what the current humidity is but have no mechanism to show what it has been over a period of time.

Monitoring humidity

To actually monitory humidity in the sense that a record is kept of the changes in humidity a humidity data logger or a ThermaViewer is needed. A humidity data logger samples and records humidity on an ongoing basis. It can be programmed with a computer to collect and store humidity readings every minute, or every 10 minutes or once an hour, etc… The resultant readings are stored in RAM memory and eventually downloaded to a computer where a graph can be viewed or printed out. The printed chart is the documentation of humidity over a period of time. Some humidity data loggers can store as much as five years of readings which makes them ideal for collecting humidity changes in remote locations.

ThermaViewer

A ThermaViewer is a type of humidity data logger that displays humidity changes on a self-contained display. It draws a chart of the humidity on an LCD display screen as it is collected. Because it is a stand-alone instrument it does not need a computer to program or to download the collected data before it can be viewed. The ThermaViewer is particularly useful in situations where the user needs to not only collect the humidity information over a long period of time but also needs to periodically review it or at least look at the last few hours of data. The user can scroll through months of humidity data with the keypad. He can also zoom-out to view months of data at once or zoom-in to highlight a particular area of interest. This zoom-out feature is particularly useful for spotting repeating trends.

The ThermaViewer is not well suited for gathering data in harsh environments but it does work well in office, laboratory, computer rooms or manufacturing plant environments.

Different students will have different criteria to satisfy when choosing a

golf school – but there are some requirements that should be generic.

Some will place a high value on the teaching skills of

the professional instructors; others will be more interested in the facilities available. Some students of golf will be basing their

decision purely on cost and some will want to explore the social scene at the school.

At the end of the day, people go to

golf school to learn to play golf and all of the other facilities have to be ranked in accordance with personal preference.

When considering a school, it is important to explore its teaching principles. Ask if the school welcomes students of all ages

and abilities. It is very beneficial for absolute beginners to have the opportunity to mix with and observe more experienced

players. Check to see if the school caters for a particular age group – sometimes this is the case.

Find out the student to

instructor ratio. The cost of one-to-one tuition is usually prohibitive and attending golf school will usually be a lower cost option

but it is essential that the student instructor ratio is low to ensure that the student will still receive adequate instruction in a

group environment. Tuition in large groups is not to be recommended as too much time is lost whilst the instructor manages

the group.

Many schools now offer a wide variety of high tech gadgets and training aids to assist the student to model the

perfect swing and also to analyze their own efforts. Whilst all of these gadgets look very impressive and they undoubtedly have

a part to play in teaching the novice, nothing beats quality face to face instruction with a professional who knows and loves the

game.

When making a decision about which golf school to attend do not be afraid to ask about the instructor’s

qualifications and experience and also his or her status with the PGA. The very best way to learn is from someone who can

play, and play well. Classroom theory is fine but it is experience and the practical application of the theory from which students

learn most.

Price may be a factor when considering which golf school to attend and, as with all things in life, the cheapest

is not always the best option. Rather than looking for cheapness look for value for money, there is a distinction. Calculate your

budget and decide how to spend it. Consider taking fewer lessons at a better and probably more expensive school if funds are

restricted.

Remember, learning golf, as with the learning process of any new skill, can only be accomplished if the student

is prepared to practice. It really does not matter how good the school nor how good the instructor if the student is not willing to

translate what he has learned into practice on the green.

Author: Armando Rodriguez creator of GolfTalk.info

Sports equipment has a very big interest at the moment on account of how extensive an effect sports has on the people. Individuals buy sports goods of all varieties including sporting clothes, team clothing and sporting gear. The perfect way to slim down where to look for your sportswear kit is to select what you are specifically looking for.

The World Wide Web is the most ideal place to hunt for the sporting gear you would like. You can discover a large number of established sports stores on the Web that supply anything & everything related to sports. Even though you do have to pay for shipping and wait for your gear to be mailed to you, the choice of products you will have will be far better than those in the proper outlets.

So where do you even commence looking you may well ask. If you require sports goods, there are a range of nationwide sports shops that sell a range of sporting equipment. These shops are handy as you can find equipment for all sports in one place in addition to shoes sports clothing, outdoor apparel & netball equipment.

The downside to getting sportswear kits at a normal store like these is that you might well not procure the best quality stuff on the market. Without doubt you can buy quality items, just not always the top of the line. In order to procure the top of the line sportswear equipment you will want to go to a retail shop that exclusively sells what you are wanting. If you need football equipment, then go to a shop that specialises on football. If you require a particular baseball bat, visiting to a baseball specific outlet will present you a greater chance of getting it.

A further type of sports gear that brings in a great amount of returns is team sports merchandise The ideal way to demonstrate you obsession for your favourite football team or golf team is to obtain their outfit. Whether you want a team’s socks or a favourite athlete’s jersey, there are retail outlets on the Internet and high street stores you can try to obtain what you’re looking for. One of the respected stores for sports equipment on the World Wide Web is Sportswear-Equipment.com. Find superb deals on fishing equipment.

Orlando for the good part of the 90’s was the team in Florida, but all that changed when Shaq left the Magic. Ever since, the Magic have been trying to rejuvenate the franchise, finally bringing back coach Brian Hill from the Penny-Shaq days. Besides losing their first-round draft pick to go play European ball, Orlando was fairly uneventful in the offseason. Was it a lack of motivation or a preposition of a consistent mesh?

Their record might not show it, but Brian Hill has done a great job reshaping what is basically the same team as last year, minus Grant Hill. Last year Orlando allowed and scored around 100 every night and was a fast-paced team. When the Magic traded Cuttino Mobley last year (who was on the last year of his contract) they couldn’t continue the same style of game without him. Coach Hill knows that in the same pace as last year, they have no chance of outscoring the opposition. But by slowing it down to a crawl, they can better dictate the tempo. It’s a clever move that’s very existence was the cause of the shot clock. And they’ve shot the ball better being 4th in the NBA in 3P%.

However when you play that way, your offense will suffer as well. Orlando is dead last in NBA in scoring. They had offensive problems to begin with, seeing as leading scorer Steve Francis is a Point Guard. No Grant Hill means that the only player on the Magic who can create his own shot is also the person running the offense. A Point Guard who is the team’s leading scorer causes problems: case and point, Orlando is tied for last (with Portland) in the NBA in Assists Per Game and is 26th in turnovers. There is also a logjam for the backup PG with Travis Diener, Keyon Dooling, and Jameer Nelson all vying for playing time. Although they shoot the 3 well themselves, they’ve so far allowed guards like Eddie Jones to have field days against them.

Last Wednesday, Grant Hill practiced with the team for the first time this year. Hill told reporters that he could be back in action in as little as a week. And since this is an abdominal injury and not a leg ailment, we can assume this isn’t blind optimism. Orlando has done well hovering around .500 with Grant out, so fortunes should be looking up from this point on.

Shaq’s injured, the Wizards are down, and Charlotte and Atlanta are sub par. At the moment they’re 1.5 back from Miami and 1 back of 8th seed New Jersey. It’s clear they have a better chance at the #8 spot than the division, but they need Grant Hill back to do it. If not, then they’ll continuing coming close but not really competing.

Visit Articles on Football Betting for more expert articles on sports.

All 32 teams have played one match each as the World Cup has begun in explosive fashion, but are things going according to plan for the favourites or are the underdogs having a say in proceedings? This is a short round-up of Groups E to H, of the results as they stand after one match.

Group E

1. Czech Republic 3pts, 2. Italy 3pts, 3. Ghana 0pts, 4. USA 0pts

The Czech Republic showed they have real dark horse credentials after sweeping aside the USA. Available at 33/1 to win the tournament outright before kick-off and even money to win their first match, the Czechs look to be a team worth following. They took just five minutes to break the deadlock through Jan Koller, who later went off injured, while new Arsenal signing Tomas Rosicky struck on 36 and 76 to seal an emphatic victory.

Notorious slow starters Italy wasted no time themselves as they beat Ghana 2-0. After waves of Italian pressure, Andrea Pirlo finally netted five minutes before half-time for the 1/2 Azzurri. Substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta added a second seven minutes from time.

Group F

1. Australia 3pts, 2. Brazil 3pts, 3. Croatia 0pts, 4. Japan 0pts

Japan looked set to beat Australia until a spectacular collapse six minutes from time. Shunsuke Nakamura gave Japan the lead after 26 minutes but two goals from Everton’s Tim Cahill after 84 and 89 minutes and a stoppage time goal from John Aloisi gifted the 13/10 Socceroos an unlikely victory.

Pre-tournament favourites Brazil looked less than convincing as they beat Croatia 1-0. Kaka scored a spectacular goal a minute before the break but Croatia were guilty of squandering several chances as Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side ensured a 2/5 winning bet.

Group G

1. South Korea 3pts, 2. France 1pt, 3. Switzerland 1pt, 4. Togo 0pts

South Korea, semi finalists of four years ago, could have been the victims of an opening match upset as unfancied Togo took the lead through Mohamed after 31 minutes. Lee Chun Soo equalised nine minutes into the second half and Ahn Jung Hwan, who famously dumped Italy out of the 2002 World Cup and was then sacked by club employers Perugia, struck the winner on 72 for the 11/10 Koreans.

France continued where they left off four years ago by not scoring any goals as they drew 0-0 with Switzerland. Both sides drew with eachother during qualifying so another stalemate at 9/4 was not a shock result.

Group H

1. Spain 3pts, 2. Saudi Arabia 1pt, 3. Tunisa 1pt, 4. Ukraine 0pts

Spain laughed off their “underachiever” tag by crushing dark horse choice Ukraine 4-0 to send them top of the group after one match. Xabi Alonso opened the scoring after 13 minutes, David Villa netted his first on 17 and converted a penalty three minutes into the second half. Manchester United target Fernando Torres completed the rout nine minutes before the final whistle for the 4/5 Spaniards.

Saudi Arabia and Tunisia fought out a dramatic 2-2 draw although the result will do neither side any favours. Ziad Jaziri fired the Tunisians in front after 23 minutes but outsiders Saudi hit back through Al Khatani after 57 minutes and veteran Sami Al Jaber on 84. With an unlikely victory on the cards, Bolton defender Rahdi Jaidi thundered in a header two minutes into stoppage time to seal an 11/5 draw.

The FIFA World Cup (often called the Football World Cup or simply the World Cup) is the most important competition in international football (soccer), and the world’s most representative team sport event. Organised by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport’s governing body, the World Cup is contested by the men’s national football teams of FIFA member nations. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930 (except in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II), however it is more of an ongoing event as the qualifying rounds of the competition take place over the three years preceding the final rounds.The final tournament phase (often called the “Finals”) involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period in a previously nominated host nation, with these games making it the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world.[1] In the 17 tournaments held, only seven nations have ever won the World Cup Finals. Brazil are the current holders, as well as the most successful World Cup team, having won the tournament five times, while Germany and Italy follow with three titles each. The next football World Cup Finals will be held in Germany.

The first international football match was played in 1872 between England and Scotland, although at this stage the sport was rarely played outside Great Britain. As football began to increase in popularity, it was held as a demonstration sport (with no medals awarded) at the 1900, 1904 and 1906 Summer Olympics before football became an official competition at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Organised by England’s Football Association, the event was for amateur players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show rather than a competition. The England national amateur football team won the event in both 1908 and 1912.

With the Olympic event continuing to be contested only between amateur teams, Sir Thomas Lipton organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy tournament in Turin in 1909. The competition is often described as The First World Cup,and featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany and Switzerland. The first tournament was won by West Auckland, an amateur side from north-east England that was invited after the Football Association refused to be associated with the competition. West Auckland returned in 1911 to successfully defend their title, and were given the trophy to keep forever, as per the rules of the competition.

In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic tournament as a “world football championship for amateurs”, and took responsibility for organising the event. This led the way for the world’s first intercontinental football competition, at the 1924 Summer Olympics. Uruguay won the tournament,before winning the gold medal again in 1928, with another South American team, Argentina, taking silver. In 1928 FIFA made the decision to stage their own international tournament. With Uruguay now two-time official football world champions and due to celebrate their centenary of independence in 1930, FIFA named Uruguay as the host country.

The 1932 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, did not plan to include football as part of the programme due to the low popularity of football in the United States. FIFA and the IOC also disagreed over the status of amateur players, and so football was dropped from the Games.FIFA president Jules Rimet thus set about organising the inaugural World Cup tournament to be held in Uruguay in 1930. The national associations of selected nations were invited to send a team, but the choice of Uruguay as a venue for the competition meant a long and costly trip across the Atlantic Ocean for European sides. Indeed, no European country pledged to send a team until two months before the start of the competition.Rimet eventually persuaded teams from Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia to make the trip. In total 13 nations took part seven from South America, four from Europe and two from North America.

A spin-off tournament, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, was first held in 1991. It is similar to the men’s tournament in format, but so far has not generated the same level of interest.

A golfer elbow injury has got to be one of the most dreaded injuries on any golf course.

And it is not too difficult to figure out why. To begin with a golfer elbow injury will usually take a long time to heal properly and quite often recurs shortly after a golfer gets back to the course. Golfer elbow injury is very similar to tennis elbow, which tennis players equally dread.

It is the sort of injury where a doctor will prescribe total rest well away from the course. For many a keen golfer, this may be even more punishment than the nagging, and often sharp pain from the golfer elbow injury.

The reason why a golfer elbow injury takes so long to heal and in some cases may never really go away, is because it is the sort of injury that involves a joint. Usually injuries on joints are troublesome. One of the reasons is that it is difficult to rest a joint completely and one ends up using the muscles whenever they make any slight movement.

Therefore any advice or tips to help reduce the risk of golfer elbow is extremely important to any golfer.

Stretch exercises designed for golf specific muscles or muscles that are used while playing golf can help a great deal in strengthening and conditioning the muscles involved. By strengthening golf specific muscles a golfer ends up putting much less pressure on the tendons that join the muscles to the bones around the elbow area. This greatly reduces the risk of this injury in golfers.

Warm up exercises before getting into a round of golf and a warm down as well, at the end of your game, also help tremendously in reducing the risk of golfer elbow injury.

Warm ups ensure that the pressures involved in playing the game are not exerted on cold muscles, which usually dramatically increases the chances of all sorts of injury and not just the golf elbow injury.

About the Author

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Check out his new golf fitness – golf training site at Perform Better Golf.