How to get the best picture and sound quality

OK, you just bought a new HDTV and surround sound system, but how do you hook them up to produce the best picture and sound? To get the best picture and sound you need to chose the right cables.

Types of cables:

Coaxial cable: is the worst type of cable available to produce video and sound. Though it will work just fine for antennas or to link a connection from a cable or satellite box to the poll or satellite.


Composite video: Is a little better than a coaxial cable but cannot produce high definition picture. It is usually bundled up with analog audio cables, these are also better than a coaxial cable but are not capable of creating true surround sound, they work well for mono or stereo sound.

S-Video cable: this cable will produce a better picture than composite or coaxial but cannot produce high definition picture.


Component cables: these cables split picture into three cables to produce a high quality picture that can support high definition video.


Digital optical cables
Digital coaxial cables: these cables offer superior quality sound and are capable of producing surround sound.


Analog Multi-Channel sound cables: these cables split the sound into channels using analog audio cables to produce the highest level of surround sound.



 
VGA cables: these are mainly used with computers and are capable of producing high definition video.
DVI cables: these are also found on computers and other devices and can produce high definition video.




HDMI: this cable is the best of the best! It is capable of doing each thing of every cable mentioned above. It produces the highest quality high definition video and the highest quality surround sound including built in multi-channel sound support. The greatest thing about it is that it is only one cable. These types of cables can also support 3d high definition video.

When hooking up your new T.V. try to use HDMI cables the most to get the highest quality picture and sound available.

3 products to improve vision when driving in bad weather

The first item that will help visibility when driving is a product called Rain-X. It comes in a spray bottle that you use to apply the solution to the window, then polish it away with a microfiber towel. It will leave a wax like barrier over your windshield causing rain and snow to slide off.

The second item that will help visibility when driving is a product called Bosch Icon wiper blades. These wiper blades form to the curve of your windshield creating a tight seal to remove the maximum amount of water on every swipe. It is also designed where it applies an equivalent amount of pressure throughout the entire blade eliminating streaks left behind on the windshield.

The third and final item that will help visibility when driving is a 3000k temperature replacement fog light bulb. The standard bulbs in your car do not cut through fog, rain, or snow very well. They actually reflect off of the fog and don't allow you to see through it. The 3000k temperature bulbs are gold in color and are able to cut through fog the best with out reflecting light and increase your visibility the most out of any other colored bulb.

Combine all three of these products and you should be able to see very clearly through some of the worst types of weather.

How to properly set up speakers for a surround sound system

Once you have connected all of the audio and video cables to the surround sound receiver, you will need to run speaker wire to the spots where the speakers are going to go.

The center speaker should go either above or below the television directly in front of you. If you are using a projector I recommend putting the center speaker behind the screen, but make sure you have a screen that does not block sound.

The left and right front speakers should be placed in between 22 and 30 degrees from your listening center (where you will be sitting) on each side.

If you have a 7.1 or 9.1 surround sound system you will need to set up your front height speakers, they should be at the same angle as the front left and right speakers only higher up on your wall, to make the sound seem like it is coming from the ceiling.

The surround sound speakers in the back are placed differently depending on the system you have. If you have a 5.1 channel surround sound system the rear left and right speakers should be placed behind you in between 135 and 150 degrees.
If you have a 7.1 or 9.1 channel system there are four rear speakers to place. The surround right and left speakers should be placed at a 90 degree angle on both sides of you, and the surround back left and right speakers should be placed behind you between 135 and 150 degrees.

The sub-woofer can be place anywhere in the room, if set up properly you should not be able to tell where the sub-woofer is located. The sub-woofer should not produce too much bass to the point where it sounds like there is an earthquake in one corner of your room. For placement ideas here are some things you can try: set it next to the T.V., if it is not giving the sound you want put it up against a wall, if you still need a difference in sound place it in a corner. Each position can give you different levels of bass. Another good idea is to purchase a better sub-woofer cable than the one that came with your system, this will greatly improve the sub-woofers sound.

Danish Butter Cookies (Haakon Kager)

These are one of my favorite cookies. They are very easy to make, and are great tasting.

Ingredients:
1 cup softened unsalted butter
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 cups sifted flour
a pinch of salt
half a teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:
1. Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and butter in a bowl.
2. Add flour, and a pinch of salt and mix all together.
3. Now refrigerate mixture until it firms up.
4. Option 1, you can roll out mixture into a log and cut into slices.
4. Option 2, you can form little balls and run a fork across the top of each ball to create a lined design.
5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 min. or until golden brown.
6. Wait until cool, serve and enjoy.

Panini Sauce Recipe (with pesto sauce recipe)

This panini sauce recipe is great to put on any sandwich before cooking in a panini press.

The ingredients you will need are:
Three tablespoons of tomato paste
A cup of mayonnaise
Four tablespoons of Pesto Sauce

Steps:
Take three tablespoons of tomato paste and mix with a cup of mayonnaise in a small serving bowl.
Next, take four tablespoons of pesto sauce and mix into the bowl until well blended and use.

Apply this sauce to any sandwich before it is placed in a panini press and it will add a great tasting flavor.

To make the pesto sauce follow the directions below.

The supplies you will need are:
A food processor
A serving bowl

The ingredients you will need are:
Basil...........................................half pound
Olive Oil.....................................2/3 cup
Pine nuts (or walnuts)..................two tablespoon
Romano cheese (or Parmesan)....3/4 cup
Salt.............................................a pinch
Pepper........................................a pinch
Garlic..........................................five cloves

 Steps:
1. Cut garlic into pieces and put in food processor with nuts.
2. Pulse the processor until the garlic and nuts are somewhat mixed together.
3. Add in basil pulse processor a few seconds.
4. Next add a little olive oil and pulse processor.
5. Add in a little Romano cheese pulse processor.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until ingredients are completely used.
7. By now it should have a sauce type texture, so it is time to add the salt and pepper.
8. Finish mixing in the processor and taste, and add any extra garlic if necessary.

For other panini recipes click here