DVD video comes through but the Audio is from TV channels.... Even when on DVD input. Help please?

Adam R

I am trying to help my elderly nieghbors with their TV's. I am pretty good at this stuff but this has me stumped. When they go to watch a DVD, on the input 2, the DVD video shows up, but the audio is from the regular Verizon TV channels.The 3 red,white,yellow cables are all in right holes. Any suggestions? Thanks again.

Answer
The yellow might be correct but verify the red and white from video 2 go into the DVD player not something else!

What's a dead simple universal remote for an elderly technophobe?

Tiffany

My mother needs to control her T.V. and DVD player (both Samsung). Once we tried to tell her how to turn on the DVD player, navigate how to get to the right input, and use 2 remotes, she's so confused. She doesn't know the universal button symbols either so an easy remote would be best.

I have a Harmony Remote but it doesn't always switch correctly between TV - DVD movie - DVR - and Roku player.

She is elderly and needs large buttons and not too many choices, anyone know a good product for someone like this? All she has is a DVD player and a T.V. That's it! But she is a technophobe...thanks for the help.

Answer
I think something like this should help:

http://www.activeandable.com/productdetails.aspx?productid=1212&link=&group=&img=AA1007.jpg&category=4126

A universal remote with fewer and larger print buttons compared to a standard remote.

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Q: What is the difference between DVD+R and DVD-R? Is DVD+R better than DVD-R?

kantash200

Answer
'Better' is such a difficult word, don't you think? There is, for sure, a difference, and it's important under some circumstances. But, to tease out an answer to this, I'll supply a little background first.

DVD is essentially a tighter form of the CD. The little bitty pits are smaller, closer together, and the spiral track they're on is tighter, and so on. But, how the data is arranged on the disk (within the file system) differs between CDs and DVDs. There were lots of different arrangements for CD (CD-ROM, CD-Audio, CD-SA, CD-Interactive, Blue Book, White Book, etc, etc...). It was a confusing mess. CD drives with the Multi-Read logo are supposed to be able to cope with most of this.

The DVD folk went for a single file system, at first, but have since become 'more flexible'. And, beneath the file systems themselves, there can be differences in how sectors are tracked, how error correction is done, and other even more esoteric differences. Even though the pits and lands are essentially the same between -R and +R.

DVD-R (and -RW) was released to market first. It is optimized (at the sector management and error correction levels) for streaming data. This is the sort of thing you get in video and audio information (in which data is largely read one sector after another after another) and jumping to a different sector for the 'next' batch of data is rare.

DVD+R (and +RW) was introduced a little later, and for a more general purpose. It was designed to accomodate data which was less streaming oriented, and which required jumping around from sector to sector to find the 'next' chunk. So +R disks can manage streaming data, AND non-streaming data. As well, because this is often computer data (whether programs or data) in which a single bit error might be disastrous, +R error correction is far better than -R. If you're creating a DVD with computer data on it (not just streaming data) you're better off with +R or +RW. The usual sort of streaming data is typically far less sensitive to the odd lost or damaged bit here or there, since we will see it only as a momentaty glitch in the image or a brief 'tick' in the audio (at most).

These arrangements are sufficiently different between -R and +R that some drives (and drive software) were unable to read both. This has largely disappeared as a problem (especially for drives intended for computers) since more recent drives (the last few years, anyway) will read all (or most) formats. There are still some DVD players (ie, for movies) which can't read +R however, even if there's a movie recorded on it.

So my advice is to use only +R (or +RW) unless you know for sure that the only data you'll be writing to the DVD is of the streaming sort (ie, video or audio). Since this is hard to manage (some video/audio recording software might park some computer data on the DVD while doing the streaming stuff; easy to provide more 'features' that way), you'll often be somewhat out of touch with what is really going on. Or, perhaps, the DVD drive you have will only read -R, in which case that's all you can use. If so, it will probably be somewhat elderly by now, however, and with drive prices well below US$50-60 (if you buy right), there's little reason to stick with so elderly a disk drive.

===========
Use as computer backup

One of the major uses for large capacity DVDs is backing up computer data. Of course, some of us blithely hope we'll never need a backup... This is simply foolish and feckless and silly. Ostriches are just as silly when they (legendarily) stick their heads in the sand. Those of us with a little more good sense hope that we'll never need them, but hard drives do fail, and computers do get damaged by a lightning strike or floods or kids or pets or ... If you need a backup, it had best be the highest quality copy you can manage, and in DVDs that implies +R (or +RW) rather than -R (or -RW) since there is better error correction in those disks.

But, while on the subject of CD and DVD backups, there is something to note that seems not very widely known. CD and DVD data is stored in the differences between very very tiny 'pits' and the adjacent 'lands'. A dust particle (almost no matter how small) is more than enough to interfere with many of these. As is corrosion or tarnish or indeed anything which changes the reflective properties of the surface in which the pits and lands are (for a factory pressed CD or DVD) or in the material which is changed by the writing laser to make the 'pits' (in the Write Once, Read Many times or the Rewriteable types). The surfaces are protected on one side (the side that faces the read or write laser) by a thickness of laser transparent plastic. On the other side of the recording surface, it's protected by a layer of paint -- well, lacquer really -- which is only a few thousandths of an inch thick. It's that side the label is printed on. And, for two layer disks, the printed label will be confined to a donut around the center hole since the printing will interfere with the laser if it's on either disk surface. In the case of dual layer disks, there are two readable surface layers accessible from one side. The lower layer is just read through the higher layer by changing the focus ofhte read laser beam. Sneaky, but it works...

Anyway, the way that CDs and DVDs are built has implications for their use as backup media. If only a thin layer of lacquer protects the reading/writing surface, your data depends on that layer staying intact. No scratches, no 'vacations' in the application of the lacquer in the factory, no especially vulnerable thin layers, ... When outside air, moisture, pollutants, ... come in contact with the recording surface (usually backed by a very thin layer of a reflective metal -- gold, aluminum, ...) for any reason, the damage to that surface may (and usually does) make the data there unreadable, regardless of any sort of error correction. That's why you're not supposed to use a ball point pen to write on the disk label, nor to use some kinds of markers since their ink might damage (soften or dissolve) the lacquer surface. If some of your valuable backup data was there, it's gone now. And this corrosion problem is true even for the disk edge since air, moisture, ... can enter there too. Don't let the edges of your CDs and DVDs get scuffed or nicked or ...

CDs and DVDs are attractive as backup media (small, lightweight, cheap, ...), but they're much more fragile than is usually ever appreciated. If you use them, protect them very very well. They are not at all sturdy or tough, really.

========
Dual something

The dual sided DVDs and the dual layer DVDs and the dual-both DVDs aren't much of an issue here. The differences between -R and +R are in how sectors are managed, not in bulk issues like how a DVD disk is put together and how many layers or sides are included.

Why does my elderly mom hate throwing things away?

Jessica Ag

sometimes she will take things out of the trash and clean them to keep them. Its best not to ask her if she wants something when you are throwing it out because she will keep it. She has two DVD players in her room that no one uses including her.

Today she kept my cats mat that i would put in front of her litter box to catch her litter. so she could put it in front of the dish washer. it really grossed me out and annoyed me that she dug it out of the trash like that.

I feel bad thinking bad things. but to me its just so disgusting. i was thinking perhaps its because she was born in cuba and would constantly have police coming in and taking her things. We are doing okay financially, but perhaps she still feels that fear that someone will take away her belongings.
killer polo: have some respect, she is my mother. I know there is a reason for the things she does. I want to help her not hurt her.
wow, such great answers! I feel awful now for the bad thoughts that i had. I will try to be more understanding and respectful. but at the same time, i'll try to throw out whats really not necessary in a way that she wont find out.

Answer
A really good clue is that she came from Cuba. You didn't say how long ago she left Cuba but there has been an embargo against Cuba and it's hard to bring anything into the country so people are and were very frugal and creative in keeping old things and finding a way to repair them. If she has two working DVD players they are still good to use for something and may come in handy some day. Yes, the litter box mat would be gross and unsanitary to use in the kitchen but she is probably still in the mindset of not throwing something away if it can be used for anything, including a repair of something else. Best not to argue with her, just get her another mat and be discreet in tossing stuff out like that so that she doesn't retrieve them. Elderly people who went through the Great Depression in the U.S. were also great savers of anything that might remotely be used for anything...my uncle would pick up things he found during his work day on the farm and stuff them in his overalls pockets, it was always interesting to see what he would pull out of his pockets at the end of the day....pieces of baling wire, string, old nails & screw, washers, etc. He had shelves in his old smoke house full of old jars filled with such items and most never got used before we left the farm.

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Can iDVD be used to convert .m4v (video) files into DVD player format?

Thank You

We have some videos in .m4v format on iTunes for Macs (not PC) that we would like to convert into a DVD player readable format so that our elderly parents can watch these on a DVD player. Would Apple's iDVD have this capability to do the conversion and if so, is there a website that offers step-by-step instructions?

If iDVD does not have this capability, which software (freeware preferably) can make the conversion?

These videos (large format - 1080p size) were offered as a FREE download for users to watch.

Thanks for your time and help.
Hi Rick,

iTunes is converting the extensions into .m4v (video) and .m4a (audio). I believe this has something to do with DRM issues. Nothing that I've searched online so far for the Mac end provides this conversion. I have found mp4 converters to DVD, but it's different than what I'd like to achieve. Hope you check back to add your thoughts on this.

Searched on various forums without any success. Thanks.

Answer
Hello Thank You Very Much,

Can you even import .m4v movies to iDVD or iMovie? Do you really mean mp4 files? I have iDVD2 and iMovie 3, and it doesn't seem to import mp4 files. You will have to do a search file on some of the download sites, like VersionTracker:

http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/

and Mac update:

http://macupdate.com/

They have whole sections on music and video in these places. Best of luck.

--Rick

DVD video comes through but the Audio is from TV channels.... Even when on DVD input. Help please?

Adam R

I am trying to help my elderly nieghbors with their TV's. I am pretty good at this stuff but this has me stumped. When they go to watch a DVD, on the input 2, the DVD video shows up, but the audio is from the regular Verizon TV channels.The 3 red,white,yellow cables are all in right holes. Any suggestions? Thanks again.

Answer
The yellow might be correct but verify the red and white from video 2 go into the DVD player not something else!

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How much does it cost to leave a radio on?

best dvd player for elderly image

QueenOfGoo

I have an elderly relative who says, "I have a policy, if it isn't worth the cost of the electricity, I don't leave it on." She will turn off the radio (an older Bose 'Wave' or an even smaller radio) if she doesn't like a classical selection, or a conversation on the news.

Yet she leaves on several components of her video system, which is older and has a cable box, VCR player, and DVD player, and she forgets to turn off her hi-fi equipment - audio tuner and classy dual- cassette deck.

We live in Taxachusetts. Which of her foibles costs more? TIA

also: There is no answer that can change her belief and habits. Nevertheless, I just want to know for me, since I also was raised with myths about electrical waste, but then appliances became more efficient.

Concrete, factual answers from people who know about electricity draw could get Best Answer / high rating. Nonsense or empty answers will be reported.
She also wonders about her grandson's claims that the computer tower, monitor, and Airport router, which she hardly ever uses, is all best left on.

If many "vampires" are plugged into one surge-protecting power strip, does that consolidate power wastage compared to leaving some chargers plugged into standard outlets (while power strips are left active with empty places to dock a plug?)?

@Polar Bear - TY for the 1st Answer. I'd heard that ('vampires') a decade or more ago, but don't know what the current wastage is, in either dollars or sense... as in, does it really make sense to waste one's time unplugging such things?

Dunno whose thumbs down that was (not mine) and if they disagreed, then I wonder what's a more correct Answer?
@Andy - Interesting! Thanks for that tip.

Answer
Leaving appliances 'on' will use electricity in proportion to the wattage of the appliance. In the UK, many electricity companies will supply you with a portable display that you can plug anywhere in the home (radio link to the meter) that will tell you how much power you are consuming - I'm looking at mine now and it says 495W. If I update it with the power prices, it will tell me how much per hour I am using in actual currency
I worked out that I can save about £100 ($150) a year by turning off my two PC's overnight, so you can bet I do that now..)
I don't see why a surge protected multi-plug makes ANY difference to your consumption, basically the Wattage of the machine is what will cost you at the end of the day. I now tend to put timers on any appliances like the TV/cable and router firstly to 'encourage' young ones not to start watching TV before 7am or after 1am, but also to save a little money although I agree that 'standby' usage is very little - leaving something 'on' is different and can use significant amounts of power over time.

And yes that's right, we pay a LOT for our power on this side of the pond! I dread to think what the average electricity bill is for a UK household, but I bet you would be 'shocked'..

Have a 40" westinghouse tv with built-in DVD player but remote has HDMI button- what's it for?

MOEJ

This TV is viewed by a bed-ridden elderly woman who uses the remote, but doesn't know what the HDMI button is for. Shortly she'll be using a laptop computer from her bed and is a 25' cable ok to connect it?

Answer
The HDMI button is to select the HDMI input on your TV. HDMI is High Definition (HD). So, if she is using any HD device, she can select that to watch whatever is plugged into the HDMI input on the TV. It will only show it in HD if the device has HD, like a HD DVD player, HD Video Game System, or if your cable has HD, stuff like that. It can also play stuff that doesn't use HD too.

As for the laptop cable, I'm not sure what you're asking there. Do you mean an ethernet cord (cord to connects the computer to the internet)? If so, then sure, it doesn't matter how long the cord is, only that it reaches the laptop.

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What do you look for when buying a banjo?

best dvd player for elderly image

Rory P

I'd like to start playing banjo, but I have no idea what makes a good banjo. I'd like it to be inexpensive, but to have good overall value. What should I look for when buying a banjo, and what should I expect to pay for a basic one?

Answer
Guitarpicker's answer is pretty good, except that nowadays, a "standard" banjo, for bluegrass, old-time, or folk music, is a 5-string. 4-string tenor or plectrum banjos aren't used as much, except for Irish traditional music (tenor banjo tuned an octave below the fiddle G D A E, and played with a flatpick to pick out melodies), or Dixieland jazz (chords strummed with a pick and used as a rhythm instrument). Unless you know you want to play Irish fiddle tunes or Dixieland, chances are you want a 5-string.

5-string banjos come in 2 basic styles -- openback and resonator. Most folk and old-time clawhammer or frailing-style players tend to prefer openback banjos, while most bluegrass pickers want a banjo with a resonator. You can play either style on either type of banjo -- but most old-time players prefer the mellower, plunky sound of an openback banjo for clawhammer/frailing-style fiddle and song accompaniment, while OTOH, the quintessential sound of bluegrass music is that of the bright, crisp, LOUD sound of a resonator-back banjo played with metal finger- and thumbpicks.

Figure on spending $300 - $500 for a good beginner level banjo. I personally really like the Deering Goodtime banjos -- Deering is a well-respected brand name, their professional quality instruments are excellent, and their Goodtime line of beginner banjos are very good value for the money. I've played them and found them to be solidly constructed of quality materials, with a good sound. They come in openback and resonator-back models -- Elderly Instruments has the openback for $379, and the resonator model for about $529. Rover also makes a couple of inexpensive beginner instruments -- their openback model goes for about $200 and their resonator-back model for about $350, but I've never played them so I can't say anything about them. I also note that in the Elderly Instruments catalog, they offer a banjo package featuring a Gold Tone openback banjo, gigbag, strap, and instructional DVD for $340. Gold Tones are decent banjos, too.

http://elderly.com/departments/banjo

Ideally, what I would look for would be a wooden rim (the round body part of the banjo), as opposed to a cast aluminum rim; a brass hoop tone ring is nice to have, too, and so is a geared 5th string tuning peg. The banjo -- whether openback or resonator -- should feel solid and well constructed, not flimsy, and most importantly, you should like what it sounds like. If you don't like the way it sounds, you're not going to want to play it. Take a banjo-playing friend with you when you go to the music store to look at banjos, and have him/her play each one so you can listen to it.

What are the effects of the internet on the quantity and quality of real-life interpersonal relationships?

eroticohio

Please answer first in terms of your own life, then give your impression of the overall social trends.

Quantity: Do you think you meet more people (in person) because of the internet, or do you think you would meet more people if you just avoided the internet? You might want to consider the balance between opposing effects. On one hand, the time you spend on-line might reduce the time you spend in real-life social settings, but on the other hand, the internet might prompt you to get out and meet people that you might otherwise have never met (cuz they seem so cool in cyberspace).

Quality: Does the internet increase your chances of meeting those really special people who can became your best friends, lovers, soulmatesâ¦? Or do you think that, overall, the internet sends you on more wild-goose chases â making you think that maybe you would be socially better off to just forget about meeting people from on-line communities?

Answer
In terms of my own life: I only meet 'real' people, not 'virtual' ones. If I were not having transportation problems--caring for an elderly gent following heart surgery...I would not be on line often at all.

Overall: People are not getting enough exercise, social interaction, etc.--because they work all day, and then spend the remainder of their time on line.

The internet would NEVER prompt me to chance meeting a person from cyberspace in the 'real world'

The internet can be fun, but I cannot comprehend becoming involved with someone met on the net. No lovers, no soulmates, no best friends--they need to come from the 'real' world.

My computer is like my TV, stereo, DVD player, etc.--just a form of entertainment.

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How much does it cost to leave a radio on?

best dvd player for elderly image

QueenOfGoo

I have an elderly relative who says, "I have a policy, if it isn't worth the cost of the electricity, I don't leave it on." She will turn off the radio (an older Bose 'Wave' or an even smaller radio) if she doesn't like a classical selection, or a conversation on the news.

Yet she leaves on several components of her video system, which is older and has a cable box, VCR player, and DVD player, and she forgets to turn off her hi-fi equipment - audio tuner and classy dual- cassette deck.

We live in Taxachusetts. Which of her foibles costs more? TIA

also: There is no answer that can change her belief and habits. Nevertheless, I just want to know for me, since I also was raised with myths about electrical waste, but then appliances became more efficient.

Concrete, factual answers from people who know about electricity draw could get Best Answer / high rating. Nonsense or empty answers will be reported.
She also wonders about her grandson's claims that the computer tower, monitor, and Airport router, which she hardly ever uses, is all best left on.

If many "vampires" are plugged into one surge-protecting power strip, does that consolidate power wastage compared to leaving some chargers plugged into standard outlets (while power strips are left active with empty places to dock a plug?)?

@Polar Bear - TY for the 1st Answer. I'd heard that ('vampires') a decade or more ago, but don't know what the current wastage is, in either dollars or sense... as in, does it really make sense to waste one's time unplugging such things?

Dunno whose thumbs down that was (not mine) and if they disagreed, then I wonder what's a more correct Answer?
@Andy - Interesting! Thanks for that tip.

Answer
Leaving appliances 'on' will use electricity in proportion to the wattage of the appliance. In the UK, many electricity companies will supply you with a portable display that you can plug anywhere in the home (radio link to the meter) that will tell you how much power you are consuming - I'm looking at mine now and it says 495W. If I update it with the power prices, it will tell me how much per hour I am using in actual currency
I worked out that I can save about £100 ($150) a year by turning off my two PC's overnight, so you can bet I do that now..)
I don't see why a surge protected multi-plug makes ANY difference to your consumption, basically the Wattage of the machine is what will cost you at the end of the day. I now tend to put timers on any appliances like the TV/cable and router firstly to 'encourage' young ones not to start watching TV before 7am or after 1am, but also to save a little money although I agree that 'standby' usage is very little - leaving something 'on' is different and can use significant amounts of power over time.

And yes that's right, we pay a LOT for our power on this side of the pond! I dread to think what the average electricity bill is for a UK household, but I bet you would be 'shocked'..

Have a 40" westinghouse tv with built-in DVD player but remote has HDMI button- what's it for?

MOEJ

This TV is viewed by a bed-ridden elderly woman who uses the remote, but doesn't know what the HDMI button is for. Shortly she'll be using a laptop computer from her bed and is a 25' cable ok to connect it?

Answer
The HDMI button is to select the HDMI input on your TV. HDMI is High Definition (HD). So, if she is using any HD device, she can select that to watch whatever is plugged into the HDMI input on the TV. It will only show it in HD if the device has HD, like a HD DVD player, HD Video Game System, or if your cable has HD, stuff like that. It can also play stuff that doesn't use HD too.

As for the laptop cable, I'm not sure what you're asking there. Do you mean an ethernet cord (cord to connects the computer to the internet)? If so, then sure, it doesn't matter how long the cord is, only that it reaches the laptop.

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How do I get discovered for acting on the internet?

best dvd player for elderly image

I am a youtuber: http://www.youtube.com/user/tehmark427

Besides talentpostings.com, where can i get discovered to act?

Answer
Two little "Big Boys" trying to give advice,
One is utter nonsense the other not very nice,
Fly away "Big Boys" or stay and face the facts,
The internet can *make you*, check out these stats!

(All of the people listed below have made something of themselves from their exposure on Youtube, for further information Google or Wikipedia "youtube celebrities")

User(s) â Notes â References
Amanda Baggs One of her YouTube videos caught the attention of CNN [2]
Amber Lee Ettinger a.k.a. Obama Girl from I Got a Crush... on Obama [3]
Ana Gomes Ferreira a.k.a. Ana Free - singer/songwriter from Portugal. [4]
Andy McKee A fingerstyle guitarist that signed to the US-American record label Candyrat Records. [5]
Baba Ali a.k.a. ummahfilms - Known for his Reminder Series and Ask Baba Ali Series. [7][8]
Baimurat Allaberiye a.k.a. Jimmy - known for his percussive rendition of Indian songs and Indian-like vocal. [9][10]
Charlie McDonnell a.k.a. charlieissocoollike [16]
Chris Crocker Most notable for Leave Britney Alone! [17]
Cory Williams a.k.a. Mr. Safety from SMP Films, organizer of the "As One" YouTube gathering [19][20][21]
Dan Brown Won Second Annual YouTube Video Awards (instructional category) for How to solve a Rubik's Cube (Part One). [22][23][24]
Joe Bereta and Luke Barats Creators of Barats and Bereta [39]
John and Hank Green of Brotherhood 2.0 [40]
Juan Mann of the Free Hugs Campaign [41]
Judith Bustos La Tigresa del Oriente, Peruvian singer and make-up artist whose YouTube exposure led to a contract with Warner Bros. Mexico [42]
Julia Nunes Singer, songwriter, guitar and ukulele player. Performances with Ben Folds, scheduled to appear at 2009 Bonnaroo music Festival [43]
Justine Ezarik a.k.a. iJustine, Creator of Ask iJ and a Life Caster, also known for her 300 page iPhone Bill.
Kutiman Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, bandleader, creator of ThruYou [45][46]
Lauren Luke a.k.a Panacea81, make-up artist [50][51]
Lisa Lavie Singer, Songwriter [53][54][55]
Lucas Cruikshank a.k.a. Fred and Lucas from JKL Productions. Currently #2 Most Subscribed on Youtube. [56]
Michael Agrusso a.k.a. ItsJustSomeRandomGuy, creator of "Hi, I'm a Marvel...and I'm a DC" video series, YouTube celebrity among comic book movie fans with panels at New York Comic Con 2008 and 2009 [62][63]
Neil Cicierega created "Potter Puppet Pals", a Harry Potter spoof series winning YouTube awards and receiving over 50 million views.
Pat Condell Comedian, antitheist, 35 of his videos were published to DVD. [67][68][69]
Peter Coffin (comedian) Known for song and movie parodies, as well as AutoTuning elderly people [72]
Rick Astley singer of the now YouTube phenomenon song "Never Gonna Give You Up", which started Rickrolling all over YouTube, the internet, and the world watching the Macy's Parade as of 2008.
Sam Norman a.k.a Samwell, and brownmarkfilms on YouTube, known for his video "What What (In the Butt)" [82][83]
"Spencer and Dylan" a.k.a. "Traveler and Frosty Brain" (real names unknown); YouTube Channel, Household Hacker, is the 27th most subscribed as of August 2009. [85]
Straight No Chaser Straight No Chaser was an undergraduate a Capella group whose 10 year old version of "12 days of Christmas went viral in 2007. Atlantic Records signed them to a 5 album deal due to their YouTube success. [87]
Taryn Southern a.k.a 'Hott4Hill', Hillary Clinton campaign video. [88]
Tay Zonday Most notable for Chocolate Rain [89]
Terroja "TJ" Kincaid a.k.a The Amazing Atheist: Predicted Finland school shooting [91]
VenetianPrincess She became popular for her episodic series âThe Princess Chroniclesâ and being paid to produce more videos. William Sledd Vlogger that produces videos which center around fashion. [96]
Ysabella Brave A vocalist that was signed by Cordless Recordings.

I have also heard that there is a site being created called "Desessions" (Google it) currently it caters for music, though I've heard that it is going to be big on performing and generate opportunities for actors.

Keep on keeping on my friend, there is hope.

All the best :)

Why does my elderly mom hate throwing things away?

Jessica Ag

sometimes she will take things out of the trash and clean them to keep them. Its best not to ask her if she wants something when you are throwing it out because she will keep it. She has two DVD players in her room that no one uses including her.

Today she kept my cats mat that i would put in front of her litter box to catch her litter. so she could put it in front of the dish washer. it really grossed me out and annoyed me that she dug it out of the trash like that.

I feel bad thinking bad things. but to me its just so disgusting. i was thinking perhaps its because she was born in cuba and would constantly have police coming in and taking her things. We are doing okay financially, but perhaps she still feels that fear that someone will take away her belongings.
killer polo: have some respect, she is my mother. I know there is a reason for the things she does. I want to help her not hurt her.
wow, such great answers! I feel awful now for the bad thoughts that i had. I will try to be more understanding and respectful. but at the same time, i'll try to throw out whats really not necessary in a way that she wont find out.

Answer
A really good clue is that she came from Cuba. You didn't say how long ago she left Cuba but there has been an embargo against Cuba and it's hard to bring anything into the country so people are and were very frugal and creative in keeping old things and finding a way to repair them. If she has two working DVD players they are still good to use for something and may come in handy some day. Yes, the litter box mat would be gross and unsanitary to use in the kitchen but she is probably still in the mindset of not throwing something away if it can be used for anything, including a repair of something else. Best not to argue with her, just get her another mat and be discreet in tossing stuff out like that so that she doesn't retrieve them. Elderly people who went through the Great Depression in the U.S. were also great savers of anything that might remotely be used for anything...my uncle would pick up things he found during his work day on the farm and stuff them in his overalls pockets, it was always interesting to see what he would pull out of his pockets at the end of the day....pieces of baling wire, string, old nails & screw, washers, etc. He had shelves in his old smoke house full of old jars filled with such items and most never got used before we left the farm.

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Was the Playstation 3 a sound investment for Sony?

best dvd player for elderly image

bulletproo

Anyone see a turnaround in the future? Never mind the fact that Sony loses $400 every time they sell a system.

Answer
I don't think so. Here's why:

1. HD graphics. Yes, we all want them, but at a price of $600, do we really want to go spend $1500 more for an HD compatible TV? Only people who are already up- to- date should even bother.

2. Blu- Ray only. Even if it is next- gen, Blu- Ray has a low chance of survival. Not because it is expensive, but because there have been major bans on pornography in many countries for Blu- Ray: the U.S. is one of them. This is only a rumor, though. Anyway, people are already turning in favor for HD DVD.

3. Price. Let's face it. The thing was too expensive, even for all of it's features. $600 is too much for a game console, and has been the death of many consoles ( I believe the Sega Saturn was killed in the states because of the some price). No one bought the cheap $500 version, because for $100 more, you'd get WiFi and 40 extra GB of hard drive space. Plus, the thing costs Sony $1500 just to make one, and they were sued by Immersion for putting their rumble technology on the PS2 without their permision. Sony, is going to run out of money eventually.

4. Competition. The PS3 has a lot of catching up to do. Not just to the XBox 360, but the Dell XPS (yes, a computer) and the Wii as well. The XBox got a head start, but the XPS? THE WII!?! What went wrong? Timing. The PS3 came out in November, when they had no consoles ready to sell. People were waiting in line, just to find that there were none left. Also, no one had any money in November. No one ever has money in November. Why? The holiday. Prices go UP before holidays, and DOWN after them. Should they have waited a few weeks later, things may have been different. Losing out Nintendo, it's all in the price and technology. Nintendo sold the Wii, only 480 p, for $250. I think the origional XBox was more expensive than that ( I'm not sure, so don't quote me). Cheappos like me have heart attacks to those prices. Plus, lets be serious. While you looking stupid waving a wii- mote around may not be fun, looking at someone else doing it is most definitly fun. Trust me. It is. The XPS? With all of these new games coming out for the PC's nowadays (MapleStory, which I love, FreeStyle Street Basketball, which I love, and WoW, whick killed my old computer, so I wont play out of fear), people have to buy better computers to enjoy them. I went from playing MapleStory on a P4 with 256 MB RAM to an Inspiron e1505 Dual Core with 1 G of RAM. It's not just Dell computers, people are generally buying more computers to play games on. No one is realling willing to pay for a PS3 when there are so many other choices.

5. Support. Actually, it's lack of support. How many games have came out for the PS3? Not many. The Wii has more games, although it's not that much. Sony is having a hard time getting games on the market, and SCE can't do it alone. They need help. 3rd Party help. Especially since Devil May Cry 4, Soul Calibur 4, and possibly Kingdom Hearts 3 is not console exsclusive anymore (Yay! I can play them now!).

6. Market. This is the last one. Who are they selling it to? Not us kids, because we only care about games like Mario and Sonic. Not us teens, because we only care about games like God of War and Gears of War. Not adults, because we don't care about many games like Motostorm (and I'm stretching it for Motostorm)or Spiderman 3. Not us elderly, because we don't care about them at all. We don't even know how to play double- click the arrow on the screen (humor. . . at least I'M laughing. . . inside. . .). Is it a computer, a game, a Blu- Ray Player, or all of them? Do I want the $600 one because I'm rich/ can afford it? Do I want the $500 because I'm poor/ don't want to spend alot/ stupid/ didn't get it myself/ didn't care/ high/ etc... (I have a million reasons why NOT to get this one)? Frankly, why go through the trouble? Wanna save money, get a Wii. Wann good graphics? Get a 360. Want a DVD Player. Get a Blu- Ray/ HD DVD ( I recommend that new one that play all three- HD DVD, Blu Ray, and DVD) Player. Want anything else? Get a computer.

That is why this system may be done. Maybe if God of War 3 and the PS3 version DMC4, Kingdom Hearts 3, Heavenly Sword, Final Fantasy infinity, a lift on the Blu- Ray porn ban, as well as a $300 price drop and a free lottery ticket can withstand Gears of War 2 and/ or Halo 3 (and maybe Pokemon Battle Revolution). I seriously doubt anything can stop Halo 3. Good luck to you, Sony. Good luck.

How do you use your laptop or computer?

Yeah Right

Examples: surf, music...

Answer
My laptop is a somewhat elderly Toshiba satellite. It works fine, but it's heavy and runs quite warmly. I use it mostly when there are issues with my desktop - if my internet connection is slow and I want to test it, or the DT just craps out. Also, though elderly, it's good for gaming at the Quake3 level. (My DT is inadequate for FPS games because I cannot get it to work w/my Belkin Nostromo gamepad.)

I don't travel for business much, but I did have a trip earlier this year and the Toshiba pulled through w/o a hitch (though being heavy, a fair amount of pulling was necessary). It can play DVD's just fine, but I have a Panasonic portable DVD player that's much lighter, and seldom go where I don't already have a TV.

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Why does my elderly mom hate throwing things away?

best dvd player for elderly image

Jessica Ag

sometimes she will take things out of the trash and clean them to keep them. Its best not to ask her if she wants something when you are throwing it out because she will keep it. She has two DVD players in her room that no one uses including her.

Today she kept my cats mat that i would put in front of her litter box to catch her litter. so she could put it in front of the dish washer. it really grossed me out and annoyed me that she dug it out of the trash like that.

I feel bad thinking bad things. but to me its just so disgusting. i was thinking perhaps its because she was born in cuba and would constantly have police coming in and taking her things. We are doing okay financially, but perhaps she still feels that fear that someone will take away her belongings.
killer polo: have some respect, she is my mother. I know there is a reason for the things she does. I want to help her not hurt her.
wow, such great answers! I feel awful now for the bad thoughts that i had. I will try to be more understanding and respectful. but at the same time, i'll try to throw out whats really not necessary in a way that she wont find out.

Answer
A really good clue is that she came from Cuba. You didn't say how long ago she left Cuba but there has been an embargo against Cuba and it's hard to bring anything into the country so people are and were very frugal and creative in keeping old things and finding a way to repair them. If she has two working DVD players they are still good to use for something and may come in handy some day. Yes, the litter box mat would be gross and unsanitary to use in the kitchen but she is probably still in the mindset of not throwing something away if it can be used for anything, including a repair of something else. Best not to argue with her, just get her another mat and be discreet in tossing stuff out like that so that she doesn't retrieve them. Elderly people who went through the Great Depression in the U.S. were also great savers of anything that might remotely be used for anything...my uncle would pick up things he found during his work day on the farm and stuff them in his overalls pockets, it was always interesting to see what he would pull out of his pockets at the end of the day....pieces of baling wire, string, old nails & screw, washers, etc. He had shelves in his old smoke house full of old jars filled with such items and most never got used before we left the farm.

Was the Playstation 3 a sound investment for Sony?

bulletproo

Anyone see a turnaround in the future? Never mind the fact that Sony loses $400 every time they sell a system.

Answer
I don't think so. Here's why:

1. HD graphics. Yes, we all want them, but at a price of $600, do we really want to go spend $1500 more for an HD compatible TV? Only people who are already up- to- date should even bother.

2. Blu- Ray only. Even if it is next- gen, Blu- Ray has a low chance of survival. Not because it is expensive, but because there have been major bans on pornography in many countries for Blu- Ray: the U.S. is one of them. This is only a rumor, though. Anyway, people are already turning in favor for HD DVD.

3. Price. Let's face it. The thing was too expensive, even for all of it's features. $600 is too much for a game console, and has been the death of many consoles ( I believe the Sega Saturn was killed in the states because of the some price). No one bought the cheap $500 version, because for $100 more, you'd get WiFi and 40 extra GB of hard drive space. Plus, the thing costs Sony $1500 just to make one, and they were sued by Immersion for putting their rumble technology on the PS2 without their permision. Sony, is going to run out of money eventually.

4. Competition. The PS3 has a lot of catching up to do. Not just to the XBox 360, but the Dell XPS (yes, a computer) and the Wii as well. The XBox got a head start, but the XPS? THE WII!?! What went wrong? Timing. The PS3 came out in November, when they had no consoles ready to sell. People were waiting in line, just to find that there were none left. Also, no one had any money in November. No one ever has money in November. Why? The holiday. Prices go UP before holidays, and DOWN after them. Should they have waited a few weeks later, things may have been different. Losing out Nintendo, it's all in the price and technology. Nintendo sold the Wii, only 480 p, for $250. I think the origional XBox was more expensive than that ( I'm not sure, so don't quote me). Cheappos like me have heart attacks to those prices. Plus, lets be serious. While you looking stupid waving a wii- mote around may not be fun, looking at someone else doing it is most definitly fun. Trust me. It is. The XPS? With all of these new games coming out for the PC's nowadays (MapleStory, which I love, FreeStyle Street Basketball, which I love, and WoW, whick killed my old computer, so I wont play out of fear), people have to buy better computers to enjoy them. I went from playing MapleStory on a P4 with 256 MB RAM to an Inspiron e1505 Dual Core with 1 G of RAM. It's not just Dell computers, people are generally buying more computers to play games on. No one is realling willing to pay for a PS3 when there are so many other choices.

5. Support. Actually, it's lack of support. How many games have came out for the PS3? Not many. The Wii has more games, although it's not that much. Sony is having a hard time getting games on the market, and SCE can't do it alone. They need help. 3rd Party help. Especially since Devil May Cry 4, Soul Calibur 4, and possibly Kingdom Hearts 3 is not console exsclusive anymore (Yay! I can play them now!).

6. Market. This is the last one. Who are they selling it to? Not us kids, because we only care about games like Mario and Sonic. Not us teens, because we only care about games like God of War and Gears of War. Not adults, because we don't care about many games like Motostorm (and I'm stretching it for Motostorm)or Spiderman 3. Not us elderly, because we don't care about them at all. We don't even know how to play double- click the arrow on the screen (humor. . . at least I'M laughing. . . inside. . .). Is it a computer, a game, a Blu- Ray Player, or all of them? Do I want the $600 one because I'm rich/ can afford it? Do I want the $500 because I'm poor/ don't want to spend alot/ stupid/ didn't get it myself/ didn't care/ high/ etc... (I have a million reasons why NOT to get this one)? Frankly, why go through the trouble? Wanna save money, get a Wii. Wann good graphics? Get a 360. Want a DVD Player. Get a Blu- Ray/ HD DVD ( I recommend that new one that play all three- HD DVD, Blu Ray, and DVD) Player. Want anything else? Get a computer.

That is why this system may be done. Maybe if God of War 3 and the PS3 version DMC4, Kingdom Hearts 3, Heavenly Sword, Final Fantasy infinity, a lift on the Blu- Ray porn ban, as well as a $300 price drop and a free lottery ticket can withstand Gears of War 2 and/ or Halo 3 (and maybe Pokemon Battle Revolution). I seriously doubt anything can stop Halo 3. Good luck to you, Sony. Good luck.

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Is there a Freeview TV with built in PVR/ personal video recorder combi?

best dvd player for elderly image

Black

UK Only. My elderly mother would like a new flat screen TV with not only Freeview built in but also a recorder so she can record easily with just one device. Is there combi TV on the market?

Answer
I have only seen them with dvd players, not recorders.

Portable device for viewing pictures on a CD?

Onyx Ninja

I was wondering if there is a device out there (maybe even a DVD player????) that can read CDs, the type you store pictures onto from the computer.

I have several pictures on my pc that my elderly mother can't see because she can't get upstairs to the PC. So was wondering if there's some kind of device I could keep down stairs, then just insert the CD so she could see the pics.

(hope that all made sense lol) thanks!

Answer
What you are looking for is a portabale DVD player that will play picture CDs. The files must be burnt to the CD in a jpeg (.jpg) format. Here are some links to portable DVD players that will play picture CDs.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/s:DVD%20Players:2405-Portable=Yes:4168-Brand=Mintek

http://www.wards.com/wards/prod_display1.asp?Product=77135&clktru=1

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/601-7088253-3454524?asin=B000B91A7C&afid=yahoossplp&lnm=B000B91A7C|Kawasaki_9_Portable_DVD_Player__PVS10921&ref=tgt_adv_XSMG1060

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