LOOSE CHANGE: Getting high-def signals for free -- sort of
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NEWS TO KNOW
1 Canadian law firm Dorsey & Whitney fired partner Gil Cornblum for leaking pending corporate-acquisition information to friends.
2 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he will keep pushing for strict emissions rules despite pressure from the auto industry.
3 The head of the Canadian province of Alberta said that the province will sell oil elsewhere if the U.S. imposes restrictions on its oil-sands crude.
4 Wachovia Corp. stripped Chief Executive Ken Thompson of his chairman role to separate the top management position from the top oversight role.
5 Toyota reported lower-than-expected earnings for the quarter, as a strong yen and weak U.S. sales took their toll.
GETTING HIGH-DEF SIGNALS FOR FREE -- SORT OF
Can an old rooftop antenna pick up HDTV?
You can indeed receive and watch high-definition signals for free using a standard rooftop antenna, says Alfred Poor, the high-def expert behind HDTVprofessor.com. There are three keys to making it work. First, a local TV station must broadcast some of its programming in high definition. Second, you need to be able to input that signal into your TV. For that, you need a digital tuner. Finally, although you can watch a high-def program on a regular TV, you will need to upgrade to an HD television to enjoy the extra detail.
How to get the converter box
Starting in February, you'll need a converter box to get TV programming using just a rooftop antenna. That's when the airways will convert from analog to digital. If you already have cable or satellite, you should be fine. If you use an antenna, you'll need to buy the converter box, but you don't have to have a high-def TV to watch the programming. The government is offering consumers up to two $40 coupons per household for the purchase of up to two digital converter boxes. For more information on the program: www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html
-- The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer
TRAFFIC DATA
Ever wonder what the traffic is going to be like when you head to the airport at 5 p.m. on a Friday? Or what the best time of day is to drive somewhere? Google Maps now offers traffic predictions:
Go to maps.google.com, click "Get directions," fill in your starting address and your destination address and click "Get Directions."
Click the "Traffic" button at the top of your map. You will now see the live, color-coded traffic conditions.
To get traffic predictions, click on the word "change," which is next to the words "Live traffic."
Click on the radio button next to "Traffic at day and time" and use the drop-down menu and slider to select day and time.
You will now see color-coded traffic predictions.
-- Orlando Sentinel
MAKE JOB-POSTING ADS SING
A tight labor market is no excuse for lazy job postings. Candidates may flock to ads, but to attract the best potential employee, job listings need to generate excitement about the company and articulate benefits to the hire while being short, clear and punchy. Some tips from Michael Jalbert, president of MRINetwork, an executive search company:
Don't drone on and on about a position's requirements. Keep postings short.
Sell the job's strengths: Get in a "what's in it for me" statement at the end of a posting. Job candidates need to know why the position is valuable and interesting.
Make sure salary and benefits match what competitors are offering.
In precise, crisp language, make clear the brand of your company and why it's a valuable workplace.
For junior positions, creative or cutting-edge wordplay can be acceptable; for senior management roles, keep language drier and professional.
-- The Associated Press
