Andy

If so, is there a way to make the change to component without signal loss?

They carry digital and analog, as the source determines, but who knows what type of signal is transmitted? They convert/adapter, but who knows about the analog losses, or the digital quality? They transmit PAL, NTSC, 720p, and 1080i, but when are the signals upgraded or downgraded, and which standard is best for a given display (TV/monitor)? How are the analog and digital conversion losses best minimized?

I have learned a lot about coaxial, composite (RCA), VGA (d-sub 15-pin analog), s-video (analog), DVI (digital, computer), component (RGB analog), and HDMI (digital and sometimes with HDCP encryption), but I'm missing how the big picture relates to my practical considerations of the various equipment choices and interfaces.

But when does each standard become helpful? Display size, resolution, response time? In other words, how do the acronymns: PAL, 720p (progressive), 1080i (interlaced), etc. translate to the video sources, and TVs or monitors that I am considering to purchase?

And how do they support both analog and digital in the same standard, while DVI requires variations (dvi-d, dvi-i, dvi-a)?

Do adapters care whether the signal is digital or analog, and if not, then are any losses with adapters?

And what is this talk about "upconverting" a signal? Is this specific to digital, or can it work for analog?

Lastly, can a capture card receive a digital signal without losses?

I know that this is "Monday night quarterbacking," and is therefore a bit unfair to Pres. Bush because he did not know the future, the advantage that we have now with 20/20 hindsight. But so many people seem to strongly believe that the president has blundered every step of the way, and seems to think that they could have done a much better job.

Take the top issues which appeared in these last eight years, including a failing economy, 9/11/01, Al Qaida taking refuge in Afghanistan, Iraq/Iran/N. Korea challenges, New Orlean's hurricane disaster, social security failure in progress, and domestic security issues, to name a few. You don't have to justify yourself, but just briefly describe how you would have resolved these very challenging issues and how much better off the USA would have been with your solutions.

Take Pres. Bush for example. He comes into office on the heels of Clinton's broken economy, and faces a Chinese military confrontation of our intelligence gathering operations (the stolen surveillance plane incident). He is blamed for both and he meets each problem efficiently and responsibly. Government security fails seriously on 9/11 in part due to flawed security, intelligence, and terrorist policies from the two-term Clinton administration, and Bush is blamed harshly. He retaliates against Al Qaida immediately in Afghanistan, with more than just a couple cruise missiles while establishing the Taliban loyalty to supporting Al Qaida. He tries to respect Pakistanian sovereignty by working with them to capture bin Laden, but they fail, and Bush is blamed. He tries to save Social Security and Americans from unfair and hard taxation in a failing economy, but faces bitter opposition. He assumes long neglected responsibilities and is strongly condemned for cutting our losses. Why?

They do want to be commander-in-chief, so they should be better able to make and understand military decisions if they can win in the Boot Camp reality show. They would remain civilians the entire time, so we would not compromise the intent for establishing a civilian commander-in-chief as President. This is where words turn into action, boring debates turn into entertaining and revealing action, and reality proves the winner.

Please compare and contrast the "runner's high" (seratonin) and fear/exitement (adrenaline). Does the adrenaline of exitement present the potential for addiction to the seratonin produced by it, so that a person can be addicted to anxiety?

What are the interrelations between adrenaline, seratonin, seratonin re-uptake inhibitors (prescription anti-anxiety drugs), anxiety/depression?

The lowest priced device to provide the best video quality (for the money) from S-video and/or component input for a vga monitor? PIP is valuable, and room for upgrade from my 17" monitor to a 23" monitor/flat panel display?

I'm considering Svideo, DVI, HDMI, and Component video sources. I want PIP (picture in picture) and/or source switch capabilities. I'm considering a new monitor with dual inputs or video capture (I don't need DVR capability because my receiver already does that).

I have a graphics card, but I'm not sure if the Geforce 6600 DVI port accepts incoming signal. I was also thinking about splitters/switches, but I don't know the best way to implement these ideas in a cost-effective manner. What do you suggest/recommend, and what is the best outlet for acquiring the hardware?

Is there something which provides an HDMI port and simply relays the digital signal directly to a hard drive or to an existing video card?

My card is a Geforce 6, but I hear that video cables like the Svideo, DVI, or RGB are capable of routing a digital video signal to the computer via the video card. Are those standards mentioned above all strictly video? What simple, inexpensive methods are best for streaming video to the computer? Can the USB route work, and if so, how?

Excitement is high, adrenaline is pumping, intense thoughts are on your mind, and you need to get good, peaceful sleep for the next day. How do you enter a peaceful, effective sleep?

Like after watching a scary movie, experiencing a traumatic event, or exiting a wild ride (to name a few examples).

So what do you do to lower the adrenaline levels in a body with high adrenaline levels? I've heard some people promote exercise, but there must be more effective exercises/stretches than others. Other ideas and creative thinking about how to best lower these levels are greatly appreciated too. I am also interested root cause solutions (how to stop the adrenaline from being produced). What solutions do you think are best?

Assume (hypothetically) that I carry a handgun concealed WITHOUT a permit/license, that I obtain the equivalent training required for obtaining such a permit/license, AND that I abide the law in every other respect. If it is completely concealed, so that I don't imply its presence on my person by external physical evidence, by my words or by my behavior, then does the concealed handgun law have any meaning (solely in and of itself)? A policeman would have no reason to search me or arrest me, and no one would be the worse off for it, especially as opposed to having the permit/license. In fact, any punishment imposed as a result of not having this permit/license would be as a result of police discovery of the weapon on the person of a citizen sustaining the law in the presence of criminal activity of others. What kind of meaning is ther in such a law?

I love frogs and the nice bugs which help my lawn and garden grow. I sprayed around the base of the house to keep bugs out, but I do not want to kill the ecosystem or drive the birds and frogs and other nice creatures from my property. But then again, I hate mosquitos (in Houston) and I hate spiders. Ants are easy to see and kill (with their mounds), so I don't find them annoying. I have no pest problems except mosquitos (which I am killing with an octenol-based bug zapper). What should I do?

I have read an unbelievable explaination in an email, and want to know the truth of the matter. Do eagles teach flight in a similar manner as other birds, and if not then what are the similarities and differences?

Note: This question encompasses birds in general, and not just pets, but this category is the best that I could find for my question. Yahoo Answers really should have a nature category for people that have questions not directed toward environmental issues but toward nature issues.

These mosquitos are huge and they don't care about OFF (a brand of mosquito repellant). I've killed many that are an inch and a half tall with a needle-mouth that is half an inch long! I put on off in other places where the mosquitos are smaller and it works fine. But at home, I put on one coat of OFF, and three got me before I got inside to put on a second layer of OFF. It seemed to have no effect, and I was bit by a couple dozen more before I gave up for the night and went inside. I put it on everywhere there was skin exposed, but these things went right through my shirt, pants, and shoes! They also directly attack exposed skin like my throat, my face, my hands and hair. Why are these things so freakin aggressive AND BIG and what should I do to protect myself?

The common people support the inequality of priviledge and elite classes. Paris Hilton gets special priviledges with our justice system. Her family is exempt from having to wait in line like us "commoners." Congressmen are except from their own laws. The President's jury duty is waived. Intellectual are exempt from the draft. Women are exempt from the selective service. The "poor" are exempt from taxes and receive special benefits. The list goes on and on and on, and we condone and even establish this condescending inequality. Why do people like recognizing certain groups as elite, priviledged, above the law, etc?

Considering a typical workday from 7am to 6pm the following day, how do you engage your astronomical interests/hobbies on weekdays? Any secrets or helpful ideas for observing without interfering with job performance the next day?

I have very light eyepieces and a very heavy Celestron X-Cel eyepiece, but switching between them creates balance issues in both R.A. and Dec axiis. I thought of adding a removable weight to the other side of the telescope for Dec balance, but that requires more weight on the counter-balance for R.A. balance. The clutch slips when there is a sufficient imbalance. How do you maintain balance when switching between heavier eyepieces?