How big is big?: If you’re thinking about widescreen HDTV, think about this: your current video sources may have a lot less screen space. See, a 32-inch widescreen TV is only as big as a 26-inch conventional set when it comes to playing Super Mario Bros. 3. It’s because in order to compensate for different screen dimensions, your HDTV has to put black bars on each side of the image to make things more squarish. Fortunately, there’s an easy calculator to let you compare. Do the math and find out how big your new TV will really be at www.cavecreations.com/tv2.cgi

Here, fishy, fishy: Chinese carp have invaded the Mississippi river system, and they’ve developed the highly improbable behaviour of jumping out of the water into passing boats, possibly because the engine noise frightens or enrages them. People in those parts have taken to carrying lawn chairs and garbage can lids to serve as makeshift shields to deflect eight pounds of flying,

slimy fish. Yes, there’s a video at www.fishingpixels.com/asiancarp1.html

Comments? Michael Citrome