Going, going, gone digital — with a few exceptions

Phones at help centers across the country rang Saturday, a day after broadcasters halted the transmission of analog signals long depended on by many people without cable or satellite television. The Federal Communication Commission, on its Web site, said Friday’s switch to digital television by 971 full-power stations had prompted hundreds of thousands of calls for help “but caused no widespread disruption of free, over-the-air television broadcasts.” It said 317,450 calls had been handled on Friday alone by the commission’s help line, 1-888-CALL-FCC. “Of the calls handled by live FCC help-line agents, nearly 30 percent concerned the operation of digital converter boxes,” the FCC said

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Texas family quarantined after son contracts swine flu

As Hayden Henshaw was being rushed to the doctor’s office after becoming ill, his father heard that his son’s classmates had been struck with the deadly swine flu virus like the one sweeping through Mexico. Patrick Henshaw called his wife immediately to have Hayden checked for it. Later, they received the bad news

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For new World Barista title winner, a latte hard work

A Briton bested competitors from 51 other countries to win the recent World Barista Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. Winner Gwilym Davies said the caffeinated competition was more difficult than other events he has participated in. “In sports, I was able to run harder, or tackle harder ..

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