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Recommended Links: House and Home
DTV: Digital TV Coming Feb. 17, 2009
On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels. If you have one or more televisions that receive free over-the-air television programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV), the type of TV you own is very important. A digital television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow you to continue to watch free over-the-air programming after February 17, 2009. However, if you have an analog television, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on that set. Find out more about whether or not you will be impacted by the digital TV (DTV) transition.
http://www.dtv.gov
Better Homes and Gardens Home Improvement Encyclopedia
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/bhg/category/data/Hie.xml
Buying a House
HUD's (U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) web site for homebuyers includes common questions from first-time homebuyers; rights of a homebuyer; calculating how much mortgage you can afford; dealing with a real estate agent; various homebuying programs, including HUD's special programs; and information on inspections, appraisals, and homeowner's insurance.
http://www.hud.gov/buying
Home and Garden Television Online
Cable's home channel has a wonderful companion site with ideas, tips, tricks, and detailed how-to articles for everything for your home and garden. Great for low-cost decorating ideas, craft projects, garden advice, and more. Hint: be sure to use the site search feature to help you find information about specific things, i.e., type in headboards and get page after page of ideas and examples of how to make your own headboard or enhance an existing one.
http://www.hgtv.com/
ImproveNet
Thinking about remodeling? ImproveNet's site contains a wealth of information including cost estimating tools, financing, help with finding a contractor, and a gallery of design ideas.
http://www.improvenet.com
Rental Decorating Digest
Site with decorating and organization ideas geared toward renters.
http://www.rentaldecorating.com/
Recommended Links: Family and Parenting
Early Childhood Literacy
This site links to other sites with excellent early literacy activities, information, book suggestions and more.
http://www.centraliowachildcare.org/earlyliteracy/index.html
Family.com
From the folks at Disney online, a fun family site with info on parenting, fun crafts and activities to try with your kids, an online game finder, message boards, and more.
http://family.go.com/
Family Fun Magazine
Family Fun Magazine's site has all the tips and information for busy parents.
http://www.familyfun.com
Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R)
CCR&R is a community-based organization that lends a helping hand to people who care for and about children. The website offers child care referrals for families needing care as well as information and training opportunities for early education professionals.
http://www.centraliowachildcare.org/
Kids Gardening
Kids Gardening has information on how to design, plant and harvest a successful family garden.
http://www.kidsgardening.com/primer.asp
Parents Place
Covers all facets of parenting with articles, FAQ's, chat rooms, links to other sites, and even a resident pediatrician.
http://www.parentsplace.com/
Parenting Monthly
A valuable local website that lists parenting classes and other resources in the Polk County area. Includes a section "Just for Dads."
http://www.parentingmonthly.org/
ParentPreviews.com
Because it is difficult to get an accurate picture of what you can expect to see from a movie’s poster, industry rating and/or back-of-the-box promotion, Parent Previews set out to offer extra information and take the guesswork out of finding appropriate family entertainment. Provides families with honest, candid reviews, so they have the tools they need to make informed media decisions.
http://www.parentpreviews.com/
Kids' Health's Parenting Page
Kids' Health's Parenting Page has great information from first aid to serious medical conditions. They also have health pages geared toward children and teens.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/
Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents and Kids
The American Library Association has put together The Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents and Kids, including information, safety tips and a list of 50+ great web sites.
http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites/guide.html
Club Mom
http://www.clubmom.com/
Mother Stuff
http://www.motherstuff.com/
New Dads
http://www.newdads.com/
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