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If you are in the market for a flat panel HDTV, one of your big decisions is whether to go with plasma or lcd (Liquid Crystal Display) technology. As recently as a few years ago, it was an easy decision: there were few lcd televisions larger than 40 inches and there were no plasmas smaller than 40 inches, so size dictated your choice. but now, lcd technology has been creeping into plasma's domain, with good quality sets as large as 70 inches. The popular 40 to 60 inch size range is now a battlefield of technology, and it's starting to look like lcd will win that battle.

With the recent improvements in lcd picture quality, many of plasma's advantages are losing significance. The technology shift is hitting plasma manufacturers in the bottom line: profit margins on plasma HDTVs are dropping and many manufacturers, such as LG electronics, are even eliminating some of their plasma TV production lines.

Plasma has been considered superior to lcd for a long time. It produces more vivid colors and sharper contrast, so movies with dark scenes look better. It can change images more quickly, so fast-moving sports look more fluid and continuous on a plasma screen. And lcd sets have typically been hard to produce in large sizes, so plasma was the only way to go for a really big set that you could hang on your wall.

but in the last few years, lcd sets have improved their contrast levels dramatically, so dark movies look nearly as good. Screen response times have improved, especially with the advent of 120Hz high frame rate technology, so sports are now very enjoyable on lcd sets. Larger lcd sizes, like 52 and 56 inches, are now quite common and affordable. And the highest possible screen resolution, 1920 x 1080, is much more common in lcd sets than plasma. This is called 1080p resolution, and helps giant screens look sharper.

So what does this mean to you, the consumer? not much, really, unless you are employed in the plasma TV industry. It's good news if you are trying to find a bargain on an HDTV, since plasma prices are dropping steadily, especially on older models. Many online HDTV buyers guides are listing new plasmas, with two-year-old technology, for half retail price. These plasma HDTVs are still excellent, and the future of the industry should have no bearing on that. Plasma TV still has a nearly fanatical following of people who consider it the best picture money can buy.

The take-away lesson is that, if you are looking for a set with top quality in the 40 to 60 inch range, you should now seriously consider an lcd HDTV. And if youre looking to save a thousand dollars or so, look for a current (but not the latest) plasma model.

about the Author

Tom Webster writes for FlatHDTV.net, an online guide to the HDTV revolution.

Lawn and garden beauty is the crowning glory of all dedicated American homeowners. Without a tidy garden and well cut lawn a home can look sadly neglected. It doesn't matter how fine the house is, to complete the picture there must be a well tended lawn and garden. Today's garden enthusiast never had it so good, as there is such an enormous amount of lawn and garden products available. The lawn and garden novice will have no trouble in finding all the information he or she needs from any of the nursery centers.

Information is easily found on lawn planting, what type of seeds to sew in what areas, and what type of lawn fertilizer to use and how often. The same goes for establishing the garden, what types of plants grow best in your area, and where they should be planted are easily answered by staff at your local garden center.

Once you have some idea of these basics you are able to move on to the exciting part of designing your own lawn and garden areas. With water shortage problems becoming more common, its very prudent to buy water-wise. There are many plants that not only need minimal watering; they also look stunning in any place around your home. Of course, having a water tank incorporated in your house plumbing, can save you gray water for plants watering.

It is important when planning your lawn and garden to give yourself plenty of time for it to evolve. Looking through magazines featuring lawns and gardens will provide a wealth of information and will help you decide what style you like. Your lawn and gardens can be set out in formal, natural, English cottage, oriental or really whatever you would like to adopt. It even helps to sketch a layout of your proposed lawn and garden, and then you can make changes often as new ideas come to you.

As you plan and design your garden always consider the line. Curved lines shape informal garden beds and lawns, whereas straight lines tend to evoke a sense of order that is more formal for your lawn and garden area. Curving lines throughout the lawn and garden area will take the eye on an intriguing journey that pleases. If successful, even your new patio landscaping will look great.

Once your lawn and garden area is established depending on the type of lawn and garden you have planted, then you hopefully should have relatively easy maintenance. Of course with lawns and gardens there is always the lawns to be cut and the garden to be pruned, fertilized, and watered. These lawn and garden tasks can all be made easy today with irrigation systems installed, and if you are not into cutting the lawn on a Saturday morning, then there are plenty of businesses that offer lawn mowing and garden trimming services.

It is after all such a small price to pay to be able to spend time relaxing on your lawn, admiring your garden, and enjoying the rewards that mother nature has bestowed on you. And dont forget, the benefits of eating your own vegetables that you can grow organically, and harvest when absolutely fresh. Relax, have fun, and smell roses on your own patch!

Lawn and garden grow in Sam Ness' mind insanely. His website Lawn-and-Garden.org is there to help you fall in love with gardening.

Employee incentives are an important tool not only for the Human Resources department but also as a strategy for companies to maintain the support and loyalty of their employees. Depending on how they are implemented, employee incentives can be quite effective in motivating and driving employee productivity. Here are some examples of employee incentives you might want to consider:

Money
Money is the most common employee incentive used by companies for the simple reason that it is simpler to reward and its effect is felt immediately. This is often the case with sales-related performances where companies opt to reward employees for going beyond their sales target or for bringing in profitable businesses.

Company gifts
These are some of the simplest rewards that can be a part of your employee incentives list. These can include company-issued plaques, jackets, shirts, pins and hats, to be issued only to employees that have reached a certain level of performance. These rewards may either be used to reward employees that reach the first tier of your scaled incentive program or they may be given to supplement other rewards.

Gift certificates
As a non-monetary employee incentive, gift certificates make wonderful rewards for excellent work performance. They also dont have to have a very high value as long as they offer access to special items such as a fancy restaurant dinner, a shopping spree at a favorite store, a big discount at a specialty shop or a tutorial lesson.

Travel incentives
Travel incentives work well especially since they offer time away from work, allowing the employee to relax and have a good time as reward for a job well done. This employee incentive can range from a short weekend trip to an all-expense paid tropical vacation.

As an employee incentive, travel can be very effective if it is also scaled in value. Depending on the desired result, travel may progress from local destinations to more exotic locales, commensurate with the employee's performance.

Time off from work
This is a simple non-monetary incentive for employees who have perfect attendance or have no tardiness record for a year. Day off certificates may be issued and the duration can vary, depending on the company. Employees may choose which day they prefer to use the day off, provided they inform the office ahead of time.

Family-oriented incentives
A great way to say, 'Job well done!' to someone is to let his family know how much his performance is appreciated. Include the employee's family in the reward, regardless of the monetary value. It can be as simple as inviting the employee's family members to the awards ceremony, treating them to dinner or sending them off to a family trip.

A points-based employee incentive program
One of the challenges of designing an employee incentive program is creating one that will not only measure performance effectively and fairly but also give employees something that they find meaningful. A points-based system that rewards employee incentives is an effective way of monitoring progress and allowing employees to choose which rewards they prefer, simply by earning rewards points and redeeming them at a later time, when they choose.

Employee incentives dont really have to be very expensive. Although a simple praise often will suffice for an employee, nothing beats the feeling of being appreciated and rewarded for an excellence performance. Plan your employee incentives to reward exceptional accomplishments to motivate your employees and raise productivity in your company.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written many articles on various subjects. For more information on sales incentives or employee incentives checkout his websites.

Many people who want to start getting fit think walking is the way to go. Their reasoning? It's cheap -- nothing to buy or join. It's easy - they already know how to do it. And it's available - most everyone can find some place to walk. Guess what?

Those people are right.

Of course everyone should ask their medical professional before beginning any new health routine --even walking. For one thing, she/he may suggest taking some beginning measurements so you can record your progress. Plus they may be able to point out any limitations you should follow. Be sure to ask any questions you have or report anything that seems out of place to your doctor just to be on the safe side.

At some point you should work in some sort of stretch routine into your walking. Some say it's not a good idea to stretch before hand but everyone seems to agree stretching after you walk is beneficial. If you do decide to stretch before you walk - keep it light. Then do some stretches after your walk. You have less chance of injury and you'll feel better too.

What should you wear? Lean towards function in favor of fashion. Comfortable shoes are a must. Some prefer the more flexible running shoes to those designed for walking. Also wear lose-fitting clothing appropriate for the weather. As the weather gets colder add more layers that can be removed as you warm up.

Walking doesn't have to be boring either. If you're not one to revel in tranquility you can use the time to record ideas, take some audio lessons, or catch up on your "reading" with an audio book. Or you could even listen to music, talk radio or sports. With today's technology, boredom shouldn't be an issue.

Don't worry about how fast you walk. It's true if you walk for 20 minutes - increasing your speed will burn more calories. But not that much more. Some suggest you can burn almost as many calories when you "stop and smell the roses". The reasoning? It takes more energy to get a body in motion than it does to stay in motion. Either way, it's better to keep on walking at a pace comfortable for you than to not walk at all.

It's hard to beat walking as a "beginner's" exercise. Don't be fooled - it's a powerful way for anyone to improve their fitness. Some become fit doing nothing else. Others move on to exercise programs that demand much more. Many folks do both. They get into the "walking habit" and then add other modules to their fitness routine. Any way you want it, walking is one of the best ways to get going.

Andy Havens frequently writes on health and fitness topics. Download his latest free report "12 Keys to a Healthier Lifestyle... Guaranteed". Inside you'll discover 12 easy and painless ways to start living happier and healthier life. You'll find more articles on similar topics at http://www.netrazine.com/f4l/Healthy_Foods_Herbs_&_Supplements.html

Cruises are becoming more and more popular with families. However, some parents are opting out of cruises for more traditional family vacations because of fears that there may not be enough appropriate entertainment or other children on board. Of course, not all cruises are family-friendly, but many cruise lines are now offering cruises especially for families.

What To Do?

Family-friendly cruises should have many different activities planned for children as well. Generally, they will be based on the ages and interests of the children booked. These activities may include pastimes like painting and crafts, learning projects designed to teach the children about the locations that they will be visiting, and time to talk and share with other kids. Most of these activities are designed to be done without parents so the adults will have ample time to do the things they would like to do.

Most family-friendly cruises will offer you the ability to take your kids into pools designed just for them. Or, there will be room for them to run and play. The locations that they stop at may also be fun filled for the kids on board.

If you want to be assured your children are well catered for, take a ride on the Disney Cruise Line.

Sailing with Mickey Mouse and his friends is always a fun for children. Disney goes beyond the call of duty to create magic for the entire family. The ship itself is designed with the Disney fan in mind, with a vibrantly colored ship and many of the favorite things associated with the Disney association.

There is a 15-foot statue of Goofy and Donald Duck on the front of the Disney Wonder, Disney's second cruise liner. The Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic each offer a different ambiance, but is completely Disney-themed.

The shows performed are much like you would see at Disney World and the food on board is delicious, with incredible diversity, but still enough for those picky eaters. Without doubt, Disney Cruise Line creates a wonderful family cruise that is worth every dime.

When you are planning a family vacation with your children, make sure to book a trip that is full of the activities that your kids love. With the Disney Cruise Lines, you are going to find a wide range of activities offered to them but enough to keep you busy as well.

If you're planning a holiday at Walt Disney World Orlando then you'll be sure to want to find out the insider information that the official sites tend to gloss over. For Disneyland Hotel and Vacation Tips go to http://www.disneylandtips.com

On a camping trip in October 1987, I woke to find a snow-laden bough hanging dangerously over my tent. New York's Hudson Valley typically does not get a foot of snow during leaf season. I had the supplies I needed to get back home safely, but that adventure motivated me to learn more about survival. What if I had been caught in a winter storm and unable to get out?

Back when I was seeking knowledge on how to make tools from what I could find on the trail, there were few people teaching what wanted to learn. I was lucky to find classes with hands-on instruction and instructors who mastered the skills they taught.

In the years since I took my first wilderness survival class, the number of survival skill programs has grown. But not all programs teach the same skills, nor do they share the same philosophy.

I have blogged on programs I know and respect and am grateful for the input from Les Stroud, Ricardo Sierra, Barry Keegan and others who have not only mastered survival skills, but have mastered the art of teaching.

1. Define your goals. Do you want to learn about how to survive by making your own tools from stone, bone and wood? Do you want to learn backwoods safety and first aid techniques? Do you want to learn how to survive solo in winter? Are you interested in a specific type of terrain for available native plant and animal sources for survival? What do you want to be able to do as a result of taking this class?

2. Honestly assess your abilities. If you have not extensively practiced basic skills under less than optimum conditions, advanced-level classes will do you no good. If you need more field time, consider taking or repeating a basic level class. You will typically get better value from a smaller school offering more contact with instructors, individual guidance and opportunities for repeated practice.

3. What does the program say it offers? How do the brochures, books, websites and marketing materials of the school you are considering describe their course offerings, staff, facilities and expectations of staff and students? What is the tone of the written material? What is the staff to student ratio? What is the ratio of classroom time to time in the field?

4. Who teaches the classes? Which classes are taught by the owner of the school? Which are taught by other instructors? Are they able to guide students in learning, as well as demonstrate skills? Is the school located in an area allowing for hands-on experience or is it a lecture and media presentation? What are the qualifications of the staff? Where did instructors learn their skills? How long have they been teaching?

5. Do the instructors "walk their talk?"Are they actually applying their skills on a daily basis or were they drafted to fill a large student enrollment? How do they involve the students in the learning process? How do they handle failure - theirs and yours? Is there sufficient time for students to achieve the stated goals of the course?

6. Is the course hands-on? You need to actually make shelter, use stone tools, make a bow drill or hand drill set - and get a fire - in order to really understand what it takes to do these things when you really have to. How does the course involve students in actually walking through the process? What is the ratio of classroom time to field time for each skill taught?

7. Do course fees include food and lodging? Are you expected to bring a tent, or does the school provide cabins or shelters? Are you expected to bring your own food, or does program include meals? If the school provides meals, can the kitchen staff accommodate dietary restrictions?

8. What is the safety record of the school? Do instructors have basic first aid and CPR training? How far is the program from medical help in the event of an emergency?

9. Can you visit? Is there an open house or opportunity to visit a school located near you? If not, does the school have a list of students who have taken the program? Is there an opportunity to ask questions before enrolling? Are you satisfied with the answers to your questions?

10. How are emergencies handled? If an emergency prevents a student from completing the course - whether it's family needs or illness - how difficult is it to get back home or to medical care?

Les Stroud, Survivorman, said it best, " good hands-on instruction and meeting up with like minded people is something you can't beat. Smaller classes are better. And remember - many things will seem quite easy when you do them out on some weekend trip - fully fed, surrounded by other students - all working together on the same signal fire....try it alone or with one buddy some time - it's a whole different story. Try it after not eating for three days - another story. "

JJ Murphy, is a nature writer, blogging hiker, curriculum creator and tree-hugger currently based in Harriman, NY. Visit http://www.writerbynature.com for more information, including JJ's favorite places for gear and supplies.