| Settings, speakers could improve DVDs' sound
Q: The sound on rented VCR tapes and DVDs is usually so poor, I can barely hear the dialogue, even with my TV sound turned up to the maximum. Sometimes it is impossible to hear across the room, even when the air conditioner is off. Sometimes the background music overpowers the dialogue. This happens with rented DVDs and videos, but never with programs I tape from broadcasts via basic cable (no converter box). Broadcast sound is always adequate. What might cause this? Is this because of the size of my TV (13 inches)? Would a larger TV solve the problem? How can I improve the movie sound without spending big bucks?--Alice Bratter A: Hi-fi videotapes and DVDs are recorded at sound levels meant for the home theater experience. This means they have wide dynamic range, meaning soft sounds are soft and loud sounds can get very loud.
Copper thefts continue in Valley
On the rooftop of a strip mall near Hollenbeck Street and the 10 Freeway, burglars stripped six air conditioners of their copper coils in recent weeks. Then they returned to pull apart three more air conditioning units. Although the thieves may have made about $900 for two nights' work, businesses like World Gym, Dental Fun Zone and several others were left sweltering - and facing an estimated $100,000 in damage, said one expert called in by the West Covina police. "We have a rash of copper thefts - and not just in our city," said Cpl. Rudy Lopez. Thefts of copper, aluminum and other metals have increased in recent years as the materials' value has soared, but their worth to the burglars is still far less than the damage done to the victims, authorities said. The nighttime game lights are dead at Little League fields in Montclair and Hacienda Heights because of copper stolen in the past two weeks.
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Copper drawing sinners to local churches
ANDERSON COUNTY Copper thieves have left no doubt that security is needed at institutions that open their doors open to sinners. In about two months, thieves have targeted three Anderson County churches, causing about $20,000 in damage from the theft of copper. Between 8 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Thursday, thieves stripped copper from two central air conditioning and heating units behind the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Osborne Avenue in Anderson. The loss is estimated at $12,000, according to the Anderson City Police incident report. About Jan. 19, thieves coordinated their arrival with that of a wintry mix to steal copper from a heating and cooling system at Thompson United Methodist Church on West Market Street, according to the Anderson police. The Lennox system is valued at $3,600, according to the incident report.
Evidence of industry 'greening' at AIME 2008
A strong showcase of environmentally friendly products at the tradeshow for the business events industry next month is further evidence of the rapid 'greening' of the industry. Leading the charge is the event itself, AIME 2008, held in Melbourne on 19 - 20 February, which has announced it will be Australia's first Climate Neutral(tm) exhibition. The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, an exhibitor and the event's venue, will showcase its new Melbourne Convention Centre, which is the first convention centre in the world to have achieved a '6 Star Green Star' environmental rating. Some of the environmental features include a black water recycling plant, solar panels, energy saving controls on lighting, and having smart air conditioning. Another leading international venue to feature at AIME, the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, also has an extensive environmental program.
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