Q: Why Does My TV Have Warning Label?

Q: The TV set I just bought has a warning label saying it will need a "converter box" in 2009 because of a switch to digital broadcasting. What's that about?

A: Those stickers, mandated by the Federal Communications Commission, started appearing in May. What's happening is that on February 17, 2009, TV broadcasters will be turning off their analog over-the-air broadcasts, the kind you tune into with rabbit-ear antennas.

The FCC is making the TV stations do this because digital broadcasting is much more efficient, using less of the valuable radio spectrum. The government will take that spectrum back and auction it off for other uses.

The converter boxes mentioned …

Hearing set for man arrested over US flight delay

A Belgian man who says he is blind faces an arraignment on Friday for allegedly creating a disturbance on a plane delayed in Philadelphia.

Authorities say 61-year-old Nicola Cantisani of Brussels, Belgium, became disruptive after a US Airways jet that was to fly from Philadelphia International Airport to Brussels on April 4 returned to the gate due to …

Phelan mailing seeks support for sales tax

In a sweeping lobbying effort, Cook County Board PresidentRichard J. Phelan has mailed 8,300 packets to campaign supporters andcommunity and business groups to rally support for his sales taxproposal.

Only a week after declaring that the proposal could be hispolitical "swan song," Phelan launched a mail campaign that invitesrecipients to send him an enclosed postcard if they support the tax.

He sent 3,800 packets, at a mailing cost to taxpayers of morethan $1,900, to business and community groups and municipal leaders.

Another 4,500 packets went to Phelan campaign volunteers andcontributors at a mailing cost of about $2,250 that was paid …

Afghan attacks at a glance

A look at attacks in which Afghanistan security forces turned on their NATO counterparts:

— Nov. 29: An Afghan border police officer opened fire on NATO troops during a training mission in Nangarhar province, killing six NATO service members before he was shot dead.

— July 20: Afghan army sergeant got into an argument at a shooting range in northern Afghanistan's Balkh province and shot dead two American civilian trainers before being killed. Another Afghan soldier was killed in the crossfire.

— July 13: Afghan soldier stationed in the south killed three British troopers, including the company commander, with gunfire …

Putin to join Bush, Sarkozy at Beijing Olympics opening ceremony

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, his spokesman said Monday.

Putin, formerly Russia's president, joins a host of world leaders including U.S. President George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy who have confirmed their participation in the Aug. 8 ceremony.

Leaders are expected to hold talks during the Aug. 8-24 Games, though Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Monday that plans were still being worked on.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Canadian Prime …

Tickets for my chemical romance gig

Fans of US rockers My Chemical Romance have one last chance tosnap up tickets for their Aberdeen gig.

A final 200 tickets have been released for the concert at AECC onMonday, November 12.

The group won "Best International Band" at the 2007 NME Awards.

A REPORT has named offshore helicopter safety in the UK as thesafest in the world.

Operators' association Oil & Gas UK will unveil its findings inAberdeen on Thursday.

The report, which covers 30 years of data from 1977, said theUnited Kingdom continental shelf is "the leading region for offshorehelicopter safety".

Chris Allen, a director at Oil & Gas UK, will present details ofthe report …

Letter

On the Right Track

Re: Wigle D, Mowat D. Health surveillance: Changing needs, constant function. Can J Public Health 1999;90(3):149-50.

Dear Editor:

The editorial by Wigle and Mowat on health surveillance was an exceedingly important one. Historically, the societal value of public health has related to its ability to effectively respond to the major health problems of the day. In simpler times past, when plagues were limited to only a few at a time, it was easier to understand what the most important problems were. In the current world, with everyone clamouring that their issue is the most important one, surveillance becomes crucial if we are to avoid diluting our …