| Hardware Report: Shipments of LCD TVs Surpass CRT TVs
DisplaySearch released a report this week that shows for the first time ever LCD TV shipments outpacing CRT TVs worldwide in Q4 2007. According to the report, global TV shipments grew 21% quarter to quarter and 5% year to year. The total number of TVs shipped was nearly 200 million units worldwide. 2007 was the first year where TV revenues exceeded $100 billion with Q4 2007 revenues alone counting for $32.9 billion of that number. DisplaySearch says that LCD unit share grew worldwide, but the strongest growth in LCD unit share was seen in Europe. Developing nations showed the greatest increase in LCD unit share with Latin America, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa rising a combined 106% year over year. CRT TV shipments fell from 77% of global TV shipments in Q1 2006 to 46% of global shipments in Q4 2007.
Cost-cutting trickles down to rental cars
Michael Klatt misses the days when rental cars were shiny and new. In June, he rented a Ford Taurus in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that had loose steering and stained seats. "I was literally touching it to see if it was wet," he says. The car, which had 20,000 miles on it, also had brakes that were a little wonky -- he had to push down hard on the pedal to make them work. "Before you didn't get a car with 20,000 to 25,000 miles," the New Hill, N.C., resident and longtime Hertz customer says. "You can tell: They ride rough; they have a shimmy going down the road; the seats have stains on them. It's like rent-a-wreck." Paula Rivera, a Hertz spokeswoman, says the company's fleet age -- typically eight to 12 months and 16,000 to 20,000 miles -- hasn't changed, and that its cars are maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
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Here we go again! See what's in store for Dusty Baker's squad as Enquirer reporter John Fay takes an in-depth look at the team before pitchers & catchers report Saturday. 5 PLAYERS TO WATCH Here are five players not on our projected 25-man roster who could have an impact in the future: RHP Johnny Cueto: The 21-year-old could make the club out of spring training. There are people in the Reds baseball department who like him better than Homer Bailey. Cueto generally pitches at 90-93, but he can dial up a 96 mph fastball when he needs to. .
Matthews Scoffs at 'Irrelevant' Limbaugh's Media Comments
Appearing on Thursday's 1pm hour of MSNBC News Live, "Hardball" host Chris Matthews couldn't resist taking a few swipes at Rush Limbaugh. After anchor Peter Alexander played a clip of the conservative talk show host discussing the New York Times story on Senator John McCain, Matthews irritably claimed, "Rush Limbaugh is irrelevant here. Irrelevant. He doesn't know anything more than what he read in the New York Times." The radio clip, which was from Thursday's edition of Limbaugh's program, featured the host urging the GOP presidential candidate to learn a lesson from the front-page New York Times story speculating about a improper relationship with a D.C. lobbyist. Matthews's apparent annoyance at Limbaugh might have something to do with being mentioned in the clip. At one point during the monologue, Limbaugh asserted, "[McCain] has thought Chris Matthews and these other people in the drive-by media are his friends.
Topa more eatery than tavern
The words "tavern and grill" conjure up a dim and smoky ambience, with a grillman flipping greasy burgers behind a counter. Nothing could be further from that image than Topa Tavern and Grill in Elk Grove Village. An open, airy space, the former location of Cucina Roma presents cleanly elegant lines, glossy, dark wood floor and tables, and creamy walls. More restaurant than tavern, the upscale spot serves an easy-to-like, mix-it-up, something-for-everyone menu of Italian- and Asian-influenced dishes, steaks and dressed-up versions of old-fashioned American comfort fare. Choices range from burgers to offbeat specials such as banana-crusted tilapia. Brothers Tony and Paul Diaz -- the To and Pa behind Topa -- launched the restaurant in October. The pair spent years working at the Rosewood Restaurant in Rosemont, where their father is a partner, and Paul ultimately became dining manager and sommelier.
Grand Theft Roto: Get ahead of curve on potential trades
The NHL is alone among professional sports in having a trade deadline that guarantees excitement and action. In the NFL, trades are rarely exciting, in the NBA they happen all the time and in baseball they are smaller in numbers and nature. Trade deadline day is something that actually gets marketed with success now. With less than a week until the deadline, I figured I would go through some of the rumored names and look at what impact their absences would have on their teams. It's far too difficult right now to forecast which players might be traded to which team for what, but it is becoming increasingly obvious which players are likely packing their bags. This way you can have your finger on the button whenever a deal goes down. In competitive leagues, you may even want to pick up some of my suggestions ahead of time.
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