Selecting a Plasma television, or any new television for that matter, is getting more and more difficult as the features continue to increase. In this article we will cover the four main areas that make a difference in a television, mention the top brands and how to find competitive prices then finish with details on where to get additional information.

What to look for in a new television

Whether buying a Plasma TV or one of the other types on the market such as LCD or DLP there are four main areas you will want to consider no matter what type of television you buy.

Resolution – Although your cable and satellite companies will most likely broadcast HDTV in 720P or 1080i because of bandwidth limitation, 1080P (1920 X 1080 lines) is the future. The new Blu Ray and HD DVD players along with the Playstation 3 all support 1080P. Therefore if your television watching is mostly cable or satellite feeds, look for 720P or 1080i, which should do the trick for now. But if you are looking toward the future and want to get the most from your new movie players or video games look for a 1080P television.

Size-Although the size of Plasma Televisions range from 42” to over a 100”, the popular sizes are 42” and 50”. If you are looking for something smaller then 42”, consider a LCD TV. They have picture qualities similar to Plasma along with a thin flat design that can hang on your wall.

Aspect Ratio- The aspect ratio is the ratio of width to the height of your screen. Although there are several other sizes available by far the most popular are 4:3 (standard television) and 16:9 (widescreen television). Movie and television content is moving to HDTV, which is in the 16:9 format, so we suggest purchasing a 16:9 based television. When you watch video content that is not in the same format as your screen you will see black lines either on the sides or on the top and bottom. Some televisions provide the ability to compensate this by stretching the image to fit the screen, but this results in things looking wider (fatter) or taller (skinner) then they really are. Better televisions lesson the stretching but soon most broadcasts will be the 16:9 format so if you buy a widescreen (16:9) TV you will not need to worry about it.

Connections-HDMI is the video connection of the immediate future, however DVI and Component are also reasonable choices. Keep in mind your big screen television may not have speakers therefore you may want to purchase a surround sound system. Also keep in mind the connections your existing components have and make sure the television has the ability to connect with your existing components.

Brands, Prices and Additional Information

Popular Plasma Television brands are currently Panasonic, Pioneer and Samsung. The best values can be found in the more popular sizes, currently 42” to 50”, due to the competition between manufactures. Like all technologies, Plasma televisions do have limitations. For information on the limitations, price comparisons, connection details, understanding the technology articles and comparisons between plasma technology and DLP TV or LCD TV technologies, see our home-theater-automation-and-electronics.com/PlasmaTelevisionGuide.html Plasma Television Guide.

James Unterreiner is the editor and publisher of

Many of the decorating styles that are popular right now are fraught with dark, rich colors. Not to say that there’s anything wrong with that, yet it’s not for everyone. Some people would rather have bright cheery colors all around them when they are at home. In this case there are options that will help to bring the sunshine in and leave out the dank mysterious look of the darker colors.

If you love to be outside and something like gardening is a passion, why not bring it inside? Bright colorful walls would be great for this type of decorating. Bright greens, soft yellows, sky blues, and floral purples come to mind immediately when desiring paint for the walls. Contrasting wall colors can be a fun way to bring the wonderful colors of spring and summer to your home. You may also choose to do a ragging or sponging technique to add some whimsy to the walls and overall feel of the room.

To enhance this gardening atmosphere, you may choose knickknacks that bring out the colors you have chosen for each room. Rather than choosing knickknacks based on holidays, choose terra cotta planters to put candles in. Create a centerpiece for the dining room table out of artificial grasses and artificial spring flowers. Use an antique wheelbarrow as a decorative piece and fill it with artificial flowers or grasses in a hue that will match or contrast with the paint on the walls. Use a pitcher to hold real cut flowers rather than a vase. All of these accessories will add to the outdoor garden atmosphere that you have created.

The furniture that you’ll want to choose will have lighter fabrics and at least one piece will be made from wicker or rattan. Save the darker furniture for the den or bedrooms, use lighter woods and light, soft materials for pillows and other accessory pieces in the living room. Fabrics should be light and airy, bold green leaf patterns or bright paisley patterns come to mind with the fabrics you’ll use. If you choose wicker, you may want to choose the kind that’s been painted white. This will add to the light feeling of the room.

A colorful decorating idea is one that is bright and cheery. It is inviting to those that encounter it. As well, those that live amongst it cannot help but enjoy the contrasts and excitement a colorful room can bring.

Lee Dobbins writes for homediy101.com/ homediy101.com where you can learn more about different decorating styles and get homediy101.com interior design tips for every room in the house.

Formica offers a plastic laminate surface that can be applied to countertops. The laminated plastic sheets come in a wide variety of colors and designs and can be applied to other surfaces in addition to countertops. Fortunately, you can install it yourself to save money but the process does involve a few steps which should be followed closely to ensure quality results.

You will first need to prepare the surface for the plastic. Laminated plastic sheets with a thickness of 1/32” can be used on vertical surfaces, while sheets of 1/16” thickness are recommended for flat surfaces. Before applying the laminate, you must remove any paint or varnish and sand and clean the surface thoroughly. Most countertops are manufactured with a high-density particle board. However, regular particular board is ideal for plastic laminates.

Once the surface is appropriately prepared, you should cut the laminated plastic. Please note that it is important to always cut the sheets slightly oversized to allow for trimming. You can cut the sheets with a circular saw, saber saw, backsaw or even a utility knife. If you use a saw, keep in mind that the saw should have a fine-tooth blade. Circular saws or saw saws cut on the upstroke. Cutting from the back side of the plastic laminate will help prevent chipping. Additionally, placing a strip of masking tape on the cut line will also prevent chipping. This technique also makes the line more visible. When using a hand saw, always cut from the front side at a low angle.

Take your time when applying the laminate sheets. Though epoxy adhesives can be used to apply the plastics, contact cement can usually be used and is actually more recommended. However, before applying the sheets, be sure to roughen the surface to be covered suing a course sandpaper and, of course, clean away any sanding residue. Again, do not rush in this of the process. In fact, fifty to seventy-five percent of the bonding strength when using contact cement is made in the plastic’s first contact with the surface. With this in mind, confirm that the pieces are accurately positioned before allowing the plastic and the glued areas to meet.

Once the laminate sheets are positioned correctly, you can slowly remove the dowel rods as you bond the pieces together. A roller can be used to apply pressure to the sheets once laid properly. Roll the entire area to smooth the surface and eliminate air pockets. You will need to make a seam in the laminate if the sheet is not large enough to cover the entire surface. Simply bond the larger piece into place and apply the second. To finish laminating the edges, clean the base of your router to prevent anything from scratching the new laminate counter top. Applying tape to the base of the router is a good way to avoid this scratching. Finally, remove any extra contact cement. You may want to try nail polish remover. It is good for this purpose.

Concentrating on the topic of woodworking machinery, the author works mostly for insidewoodworking.com insidewoodworking.com. You might find out more about his articles on insidewoodworking.com/tasa/index.html power tools and table saw reviews over at insidewoodworking.com insidewoodworking.com.

Landscaping with rocks can be a unique and visually appealing way of turning your home and yard into a beautiful and enduring setting. Not only will the rocks be there forever, never needing to be cared for, but if the rocks used are taken from one’s own yard or surrounding area, they will provide the perfect compliment to whatever types of plants, shrubs, and trees are already in place.

When landscaping with rocks, make sure to draw a plan of how you want everything to look when finished, taking into account anything that may already by in the yard and around the house. Rocks should not be simply placed on top of the earth, but rather should be buried about halfway into the ground so as to provide a natural aesthetic. When they are partially concealed in the earth, the rocks will appear to go with whatever environment they are in, instead of being awkwardly strewn all over the place. Rocks should not be placed individually and should be assembled in groups of three to five, depending on size and shape. This will also aid in giving the final look of the overall landscaping an organic feel.

A few cautions before one begins landscaping with rocks, however. For starters, rocks are extremely coarse and should be handled while wearing heavy-duty gloves. They are also dense and therefore heavier than they look, and should only be carried short distances. If the rocks are farther away from their intended destinations, use a wheelbarrow or garden way cart to prevent strain. Always plan to gather more rocks than you think you need, as rocks tend to seem larger when laying about individually than when piled in a group.

There are many interesting ways that you can landscape with rocks. You can make your own rock walls, and paths, and embedding stones into the ground is an extremely useful way of keeping grass and weeds from growing in unwanted places, such as around decks, grills, or outdoor hot tubs. Rock walls make an excellent alternative to white picket fences that may seem out of place depending on your surrounding environment and neighborhood. In addition, a rock wall never needs to be painted, washed, or replaced, and will only get better with time as the rocks age and weather. Rock walkways provide an attractive substitute for expensive and unsightly pavement, and will go with the rest of the landscaping. In addition, lining a slate walkway or marble patio with an assortment of rocks is the perfect way to keep the surrounding vegetation from encroaching.

The key to landscaping with rocks is making sure that one balances the size, shape, and color of the rocks with the surrounding vegetation. Just keep in mind that in the winter, the trees and rocks will be the only visible part of the landscape until the flower and plants come out again in the spring. It is important, therefore, to make sure that one does not overpopulate one area with rocks and leave the landscape looking uneven. Landscaping with rocks could be just the thing your home and garden need to create the relaxing and natural atmosphere you are looking for.

Dee Cohen is a website author and publisher . Stop by for other outdoor and indoor home decorating ideas at