ityMAGAZINEAGAMMMMMMAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMAMMMMCC

Eric MuehlhausenSenior Advertising Executive

Editor Camey Maldonado

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Letter from EditorCITY MAGAZINE

November 2011

Contents

Camey

06 Love Packets

09 Local Flavor

10 Thanksgiving Shortcuts

12 Hoopla Nov 2011

14 Rural Health

16 Seasonal Jobs

20 3D TV Myths

What mother doesn't look around the Thanksgiving table and count her blessings or at least marvel at their clean faces and actual use of utensils?

I’m grateful for every minute with my kids, yes, even the kicking-under-the-table moments, the cranberry-sauce-spilled moments, the furtive-fingers-in-the-Cool-Whip moment. If I’ve learned anything as a mom, it’s that I reap as much from these amazing people as I hope they do from me. And that’s true even when it doesn’t at first seem like I’m too happy about it.

Here’s why this Thanksgiving, I’m giving…

Thanks for the eternal mess. Kids are the quickest cure for perfectionism I know. Have a baby, and nothing will ever remain where you left it, your floors will be perpetually re-encrusted in crumbs, and stray socks will go forth and multiply like rabbits.

Thanks for the hard questions, even the embarrassing ones. Children keep a mind agile. I can come up with stall-for-time sentences or graceful cover ups faster than you can say, “Why is that lady so fat?”

Thanks for the misdeeds behind my back. The stuck-out tongues? The sneaking one more cookie after being told “hands off”? These are the moves that keep the eyes in the back of my head so sharp.

Thanks for running me in circles. There’s nothing like the daily gallop through meals, dishes, lunch packing, laundry, carpool, homework, tucking-in, etc., which leads only to the next day and more of the same, to remind one that life isn’t a destination, it’s a journey.

Thanks for taking 10 minutes to put on shoes when we should’ve been out the door 10 minutes ago. I’m so set on perma-rush that I automatically get impatient, even when the 10 minutes don’t really matter. It’s good to be reminded to stop and smell the “stinky” shoes.

Thanks for the 3 a.m. wakeups. It’s miserable to lose precious sleep but awfully nice to be needed. When you comfort a sick or nightmare-chased child, the warmth from the resulting snuggle radiates both ways.

Thanks for the annoying Barney, Sponge Bob Square Pants or Hannah Montana. These inane shows also inspire a smidge of guilt and worry about their overall effect on the kids’ brains. Yet these same maddening characters have a silver lining: They’re built-in babysitters, eternally on call to give me 30 minutes’ peace. Free!

At this point I’ll have to stop the blessings count, before the turkey gets cold. I’m eager to enjoy it, and that pie, too finger-swiped whipped cream and all.

Providing Kids with Comfort One Packet at a Time

Sometimes we forget the joy that giving to others can bring. Whether it is a brand new car for one’s child that just started college, or simply a warm meal for the underprivileged person we see on the way to work each morning, the old adage of, “It is better to give than to receive” always rings true. For Mary Beth Waters, a cold day at a bus station in March four years ago spurned an idea that follows that saying completely. While waiting at the bus station, she observed a police officer handing out baggies with cookies and candy to waiting passengers. Upon being offered a bag, a light of inspiration struck Mary that she would like to do something similar for children. She went home and spoke with her husband, Garner, as well as her close friend Laura Cook about the idea and they were on board.

Initially, they began Love Packet Ministry from their homes, putting together packets. A friend of theirs saw an article about Love Packet Ministry and approached the church officials at 1st Christian Church, on Wolflin. 1st Christian offered to allow the use of a room for creating the packets, as well as a storage room, and others rooms on an as needed basis. Four years later, Mary, Garner, Laura, and Evelyn Moody continue their work with Love Packet Ministry to help bring some comfort to children in unpleasant situations. They distribute packets to foster care agencies, children’s birthday pack-ets to City Church, victims of fires through the Red Cross, The Bare Foundation, Hope for Tomorrow, World for Children, Carenet Crisis Pregnancy Center, Ronald McDonald House, Washington Street Family Center, and Cornerstone Outreach. In addition, Family Support Services helps direct packets to children involved in domestic violence and sexual assault tragedies. Furthermore, Lubbock Dream Center has had the chance to join with Love Packet Ministry with their “Adopt a Block” program, where volunteers drop off Love Packets to a section that they visit periodically. Love Packet Ministry also had the opportunity to ship 200 packets to under privileged children in the Philippines with the help of the Salvation Army.

Love Packet Ministry

The Love Packets generally consist of a coloring book, crayons, a stuffed animal, a non-perishable snack & drink, and a prayer card with an inspirational bible scripture. Of everything in the Love Packets, Mary said, “The most important thing is that EVERY packet has a prayer card. None of this would have been possible without his (God) guidance. The encouraging versus on the cards truly provides kids with inspiration.” Mary and her group would, at first, handwrite every prayer card on a pack of index cards using glue sticks and decorations, but have since also began incorporating printed cards designed by Garner on his computer, which allows them to make more Love Packets for more children in need.

During their early formation, Love Packet Ministry provided all the materials for the packets out of pocket. Over time however, the generosity of a multitude of individuals as well as companies have helped allow Love Packet Ministry to continue their work with the Love Packets. Valero has begun donat-ing Love Packets with blankets and pillows, BSA makes choking hazard labels for the smaller items, two 2nd grade classes from San Jacinto Christian

Academy along with the youth organization at St. Luke’s Presbyterian have recently contributed both time and materials for packets, and Sonic has contrib-uted coupons for free ice cream. There are also numerous individuals throughout the area that have contributed time and donations to help provide the necessities for making Love Packet Ministry possible. With all of the new help, Mary and her team hope to provide in upwards of 7000 Love Packets this year!

For more infor-mation on Love Packet Ministry visit them on Facebook under “The Love Packet Ministry.” You may also make donations through 1st Christian Church

or contact Mary Beth Waters @ 806-356-8720 or Laura Cook @ 806-622-9476. Help bring a child a packet of love, comfort, and inspiration today!

Don’t bore your dinner guests with yet another pumpkin pie. But just because you want to try something different, doesn’t mean you have to ignore tradition. This year, try this Thanksgiving dessert with a spiked twist on classic holiday flavors. When you bake or simmer alcohol, you concentrate the flavors, and adding too much of an alcohol or flavored liqueur can overpower the other flavors in your dish if you’re not careful. Don’t skimp on the quality of your liqueurs and alcohols.

Cranberry Tiramisu

Ingredients

•3 cup granulated sugar, divided•2 cups water•3 cups fresh cranberries•1 cup cranberry sauce•1/3 cup cranberry liqueur, plus 2 Tbsp divided•16 oz. mascarpone cheese•1 cup whipping cream•1 tsp vanilla extract•2 12-oz. pound cakes, cut into 3 x 1 x 1 inch pieces

A Little Goes A Long Way

Directions

Combine 2 cups sugar and water in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Pour mixture over cranberries. Refrig-erate overnight.

Grind ¾ cup sugar in a food processor until fine and place in a shallow pan. Drain cranberries with a slotted spoon and add to sugar to coat. Place cranberries on a baking sheet for 1 hour.

Combine cranberry sauce and cranberry liqueur in a small bowl. Combine mascarpone cheese with remaining cranberry liqueur in a large mixing bowl. Set both aside until needed.

In a separate bowl, beat cream, remaining cup

sugar and vanilla extract to form soft peaks. Gradually fold the cream mixture into the mascar-pone cheese.

Spread half of the pound cake evenly along the bottom of a 13x9 inch glass baking dish. Cover with half of the cranberry sauce followed by half of the mascarpone mixture. Add half of the sugared cranberries.

Repeat layering again with the remaining pound cake, cranberry sauce, and mascarpone.

Let set in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

Top with remaining cranberries before serv-ing.

Makes 8 servings

The city of Amarillo has so many wonderful places to eat. We have everything from tasty BBQ to spicy Mexican food to fresh sushi. With so many choices how can one decide?

Are you one of Amarillo's best restaurants or Amarillo’s best-kept secret? Let us help advertise your restaurant here.

Give us a call at 806-231-0562.

Cowboy Gelato is Amarillo's premier dining experience for gourmet Italian ice cream coupled with Cowboy comfort food like cheese stuffed hamburgers, steak and cheese Phillys, & pulled pork BBQ. Cowboy Gelato has over 130 flavors of gelato including Numerous Cheesecakes, Pear, Coconut,

Strawberry, Blue Angel, Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Spice and many more. You may also create your own flavors with Cody Anderson, Gelato's in house Certified Gelato Chef, trained by master Italian and Sicilian Gelato Chefs!!! For an amazing

burger or sandwich followed with some tasty Italian ice cream, stop in at Cowboy Gelato!!!

Hours are Mon.-Thur. 11am-8pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-10pm, and Sun. 12pm-6pm.

2806 W. 6th 376-5286

5106 S Coulter353-2992

&

3810 I-40 W359-5000

Locally owned and operated for over 25 years in Canyon, Pepito's now comes to Amarillo with their amazing Mexican

dishes!! Some of their most popular culinary creations include Mexican Stir Fry, Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas, Stuffed

Avocados, and a very unique entree, the Tacos al Pastor (a sort of Mexican Gyro). Their tortillas are made fresh daily and they even boast a taco stand inside the restaurant. After a

delectable meal, round your visit off with their mouthwatering Fried Ice Cream. Pepito's has not just one, but two Happy

Hours, 4pm-7pm & 9pm-11pm, featuring all drafts only $1.50 and the Luna Ritas for only $5. For special events and parties,

book Pepito's mobile kitchen for catering your next event.

3333 S. Coulter 806-353-7373

If you're planning on hosting Thanksgiving at your home this year, chances are your plate is already full. Your list may be jam packed with planning, shopping, cleaning and cooking. Take a deep breath and let these five Thanksgiving time-saving tips help you save some time in the kitchen and help reduce your holiday stress. Thanksgiving time-saver tip #1: Make the pies in advance By baking and freezing your pies in advance, you are guaranteed to cut your time and clean up in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. While many of the traditional holiday fare can be frozen in advance, a good place to start is with pies and other desserts. They freeze beauti-fully and can go straight from your freezer to your table with little effort. Good choices for freezable pies are pumpkin, apple, cherry and pecan.

Other good dessert choices to stock your freezer include cheesecakes, bread pudding and most pre-baked cook-ies. Cool your pies and wrap with tin foil, place in a gallon-sized freezer bag, label and freeze. When you are ready to serve, thaw for about two hours then place in the oven on warm or 200 degrees F to warm up to that "fresh baked" taste. You should avoid freezing any pies made with meringue top. These do not hold the same texture once thawed.

Thanksgiving time-saver tip # 2: Host a potluck holiday meal Make Thanksgiving a community affair by simply calling upon friends and family to bring traditional side dishes or desserts while you provide the main course, stuffing and gravy. Just be sure that each guest knows specifically which dish to bring. Items like green bean casseroles, mashed potatoes, yams, rolls and green salads are excellent choices.

If you leave the request for holiday potluck dishes too general, like: "just bring a side dish big enough to feed 12 people," you may end up with four green bean casse-roles and not much else. You may even want to make out a list of possible side dishes and write down the name of the guest who will be providing it.

Thanksgiving time-saver tip #3: Serve Thanksgiving buffet style A buffet style Thanksgiving meal is a great choice if you would like a relaxed atmosphere. Your guests are free to roam around and choose their own seating, instead of you spending hours fretting over table seating arrange-ments. Another bonus to the buffet is you can easily use disposable tableware in place of your best china and silverware.

Thanksgiving Time-Savers

After all the cooking and house work you will have done to prepare for the event, spending two or more hours in the kitchen on clean up duty is just a cruel punishment. You have been a gracious and accommodating host, give yourself a break, your guest won't mind using a plastic fork, really.

Thanksgiving time-saver tip #4: Ask for help Invite a guest who is a close friend or family member to arrive an hour before your other guests to help you prepare and set up. Make it fun by serving wine (or apple cider) and cheese while you set up the table and other finishing touches. You'll be glad you did!

Thanksgiving time-saver tip #5: Carve out a prep day As your guests arrive, the last thing you want is to be stressing out in the kitchen over chopped onions and missing cranberry sauce. Pick the Tuesday or Wednesday before Turkey Day to prepare in advance. Lots more can be done ahead of time than just getting the turkey out of the freezer to thaw -- everything from mixing the stuffing to making rolls from scratch to organizing the canned goods you will be using. Pick a few things off your cooking list that you think can be easily accomplished before hand and give it a try.

Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving for your family of four or you have your entire family tree on your guest list, these five Thanksgiving time-saver tips are sure bets to cut your time in the kitchen and reduce your holiday stress.

November 2011SATURDAY NOVEMBER 510:00AM-6:00PMCHRISTMAS ROUNDUPAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERS. EXHIBIT HALL

10:00AM-6:00PMGEM & MINERAL SHOWAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERREGENCY ROOM

11:00AM-1:00PM“WELCOME HOME”VETERANS DAY CEL-EBRATIONAMARILLO VA FRONT LAWNFREE TO ATTEND

6:30PM-10:30PMCANYON NIGHTS GALAFIRST UNITED CENTER/CANYON$45.00 PER PERSON OR $80.00 PER COUPLE

7:00PM-10:00PMFREEDOM FUND BAN-QUETAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERGRAND PLAZA

7:00PMMINI SPRINT CAR NATIONALSAMARILLO NATIONAL CENTER$17.00-$23.00 PER PERSON

7:00PM-10:00PMAMARILLO BULLS VS ODESSAAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$8.00-$14.00 PER PERSON

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 610:00AM-5:00PMGEM & MINERAL SHOWAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERREGENCY ROOM

12:00AM-5:00PMCHRISTMAS ROUNDUPAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERS. EXHIBIT HALL

3:00PM-5:00PMAMARILLO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRAFALL CONCERTGLOBE NEWS CENTER$5.00 PER PERSON

6:00PM-9:30PM“SOLID GOLD HITS”LIPS GALAAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERHERITAGE ROOM$50.00 PER PERSON

MONDAY NOVEMBER 711:30PM-2:00PMBEANS & CORNBREAD BENEFIT LUNCHEONAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERHERITAGE ROOM

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 107:00PMWCRA RANCH RODEOAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$16.00-$24.00 PER PERSON

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 117:00PM-9:30PMLOVE & MONEY CON-FERENCETRINITY FELLOWSHIP

CHURCH$20.00 PER COUPLE

7:00PMWCRA RANCH RODEOAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$16.00-$24.00 PER PERSON

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 129:00AM-12:00PMLOVE & MONEY CON-FERENCETRINITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH$20.00 PER COUPLE

9:00AM-12:00PMCAMP WILDFIREPANHANDLE PLAINS MUSEUMAGES 8-14$25.00 PER CHILD

9:00AM-6:00PMFRIENDS OF THE LIBRARYBOOK SALEDOWNTOWN LIBRARY

6:30PM-10:30PMAMARILLO BOTANICAL GARDENS“ANNUAL HUNT” DINNERHOME OF BETSY & BRIAN KELLY$50.00 PER PERSON

7:00PMWCRA RANCH RODEOAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$16.00-$24.00 PER PERSON

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 132:00PMWCRA RANCH RODEOAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$16.00-$24.00 PER PERSON

2:00PM-6:00PMFRIENDS OF THE LIBRARYBOOK SALEDOWNTOWN LIBRARY

7:00PMFASO MUSICAL EVENTST ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH$20.00 PER PERSON

WEDNESDAYNOVEMBER 167:30PM-10:30PMYOUNG FRANKENSTEINAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERAUDITORIUM$25.00-$50.00 PER PERSON

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1711:30AM-1:30PMUNITED WAY VICTORY LUNCHEONAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERHERITAGE ROOM

7:30PM-10:30PMYOUNG FRANKENSTEINAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERAUDITORIUM$25.00-$50.00 PER PERSON

ityMAGAZINEMAAMMMAAAAMMMMAAAAGMCC

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 188:00PM-10:00PMAMARILLO SYMPHONY“GET BACK”GLOBE NEWS CENTER$23.00-$56.00 PER PERSON

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1910:00AM-6:00PMARTISTRY IN WOODAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERREGENCY ROOM

7:00PM-11:30PMNUTCRACKER BALLAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERHERITAGE ROOM

8:00PM-10:00PMAMARILLO SYMPHONY“GET BACK”GLOBE NEWS CENTER$23.00-$56.00 PER PERSON

8:00PMPANHANDLE BLUEGRASS PRESENTS“STEVE KAUFMAN”AMARILLO COLLEGE CONCERT HALL$15.00 PER PERSON

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2010:00AM-5:00PMARTISTRY IN WOODAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERREGENCY ROOM

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 226:00AM-8:00AMCOMMUNITY PRAYERAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERN. EXHIBIT HALL

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 237:00PM-10:00PMAMARILLO BULLS VS WITCHITA FALLSAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$8.00-$14.00 PER PERSON

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 267:00PM“TURKEY BASH”DEMOLITION DERBYAMARILLO NATIONAL CENTER$20.00 PER PERSON

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 299:00AM-5:00PMAMARILLO FARM & RANCH SHOWAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERMULTIPLE ROOMS

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 309:00AM-5:00PMAMARILLO FARM & RANCH SHOWAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERMULTIPLE ROOMS

THURSDAY DECEMBER 19:30AM, 10:45AM & 1:00PMKINDERKONZERTSGLOBE NEWS CENTER

9:00AM-4:00PMAMARILLO FARM & RANCH SHOWAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERMULTIPLE ROOMS

FRIDAY DECEMBER 29:30AM, 10:45AM & 1:00PMKINDERKONZERTSGLOBE NEWS CENTER

5:00PM-9:00PMFIRST FRIDAY ART WALKSUNSET ART GALLERY OF AMARILLOFREE TO ATTEND

8:00PM-10:00PMEMPTY STOCKING FUND CONCERTGLOBE NEWS CENTER

HOOPLA

www.mycitymag.com

Looking to earn a few extra dollars in the pre-holiday months? If so, you may want to consider applying for a seasonal job. Not just a great opportunity to supple-ment your regular income, period-specific positions like these are also a smart way to explore an industry, expand your skill set and network. From summer gardening centers to tax preparation services, here are seasonal industries that hire temporary employees throughout the year.

Fall

Tutor So long as you’re an expert in something, you can tutor throughout the year, although things tend to pick up when school starts. If you have a teaching certification and/or have scored well on a standardized test, then you’re already ahead of the game. But because there’s no required certification to tutor privately, gaining experience is crucial to getting hired. Start by seeking out volunteer tutoring opportunities at local libraries, most of which have literacy programs. Make business cards and send them to school counseling offices to let them know you are available, and advertise in local classified ads or on supermarket job boards.

Winter

Security Guards/Loss Prevention OfficersDuring the holidays, malls and department stores need tons of extra eyes to patrol and monitor for theft. Some states require that security guards be licensed, while others allow private facilities to train hired employees, who are often required to have a GED. Keep in mind that applicants will most likely be screened for drugs and asked to complete a basic training exam.

Gift WrappersWith so many potential customers to attract during the holidays, most stores want to bump up the customer service and offering expert gift wrapping is one common way they do it.

Package DeliverersBetween Thanksgiving and New Year's, mail delivery services like UPS and FedEx Ground and Home Delivery hire an influx of employees to assist full-time drivers with doling out packages via hand-cart. At UPS, they’re often called Driver Helpers, while at FedEx, which hired 14,000 temporary and part-time employees during the 2010 holiday season, the job is called a Package Handler. You’ll rarely see a UPS driver without a helper during the holidays. If you live in or close to a city, have strong interpersonal skills and are reasonably fit (the job requires a great deal of lifting and maneuvering heavy objects), visit the UPS careers or FedEx careers sites, or simply search job boards like Monster.com using the above-mentioned job titles as keywords. At both companies, there is usually some sort of written exam to help employers assess the candidates' communication skills, since there is so much on-the-job interaction.

Seasonal Jobs You Might Not Know About

Hotels and ResortsAccording to the BLS, resorts and hotels at least double their housekeeping, food, beverage, retail and front desk staff sizes during their respective busy seasons, which vary by region. For example, while hotels located in college towns may be busiest during football season, others, like those located in New York City, may reach peak business during the holidays. At hotels, the most in-demand positions are hospitality-based, so restaurant or service experience will help you get your foot in the door. And then there are seasonal ski resorts: If you’ve always wanted to be a ski bum and have the winter off, look into hospitality positions at seasonal ski resorts, many of which put full-time employees up for free as well as pay them a monthly salary. Those positions are usually filled in the fall, just before the lifts open in November, and end sometime in April, when the lifts shut down. Spring

Tax PreparerIf you want to work flexible hours and are good with numbers, consider applying for a seasonal tax preparation job at a large tax firm. For example, H&R Block hires 80,000 tax preparers from January until the end of April. About 90% of these employees qualify for the position by taking the company’s income tax course, which is usually offered around September and is available in both English and Spanish though taking the course doesn’t ensure you a job (You have to be hired by a store owner.)

Summer

National Park Service EmployeeIf you love the great outdoors and live near a national park, consider browsing National Park Service (NPS) job listings at USAJobs.com (search “NPS”). NPS hires 10,000 part-time and seasonal employees annually, ticket booth, tour group and field sample workers, for example, many of which they take on during the busy summer season. For the

most part, experience with public speaking, law enforce-ment or science education (think anthropology, geology or behavioral science) is helpful but not mandatory.

Amusement ParksDuring the peak months, from May to October, amusement parks need seasonal employees to help service the massive crowds, hiring up to 10,000 additional ride operators, groundskeepers, store clerks, ticket takers and security guards, according to job boards. If you have the summers off (ahem, students and teachers!), are outgoing and are people-oriented, consider earning a paycheck working the theme park scene.

Nursery WorkerAnyone who has a green thumb, whether that means conceptualizing floral arrangements or primping a garden, and doesn't mind working weekends, should consider a nursery job. Most garden centers need a lot of help during

the spring and summer to keep up with the influx of customers working in their yards. Though no technical experience is required, It helps to know the difference between an annual and a perennial and what plants do best in the shade versus the sun.

Cruise WorkerWhile they do have a much greater need for help during the summer months, spring break and winter holidays, cruise lines like Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines and Princess Cruise Lines are always hiring office workers, entertainers, hospitality, personal care attendants, and deck and engine workers. More

often than not, hundreds of thousands of positions are available at once. Though the work week is long, 12 to 14 hours, seven days a week, usually for a contracted six-month period, cruise line employees get the obvious benefit of travel. Since the most common background experience of cruise employees is hospitality, having worked at a restaurant or hotel will help get your foot in the door. However, the most important job qualification is good language skills, you must speak English fluently; if you speak more than one language, you'll be one up on the competition. Your passport must also be up to date (a C-1D visa is required for non-natives) due to border-crossings.

3D TV MythsThe myth machine revolving around 3D TVs makes the early Blu-ray rumor mill look positively bantam. What’s not open to question is the fact that 3D is the current big thing in home entertainment. But whereas a whole lot of companies are betting big on you getting the 3D bug, they’re not all going about it the same way. Some companies have gone heavy into active shutter glasses, for instance, while others have taken the cinematic route with lighter, Film Pattern Retarder (FPR) specs. Here’s a breakdown of the more persistent myths you’re likely to run into while you look for a 3D TV to love.

You need big, heavy glassesActive shutter 3D glasses can be a real pain in the… uh, nose. The active technology sets out certain requirements that can’t really be avoided: There has to be a battery stuck somewhere inside, first of all. And then there’s got to be an IR sensor for receiving the signal from the 3D emitter, plus a controller for the shutters and, well, things get clunky pretty fast. A system like this, which relies on passive technology, rather than active technology, works the way a 3D movie does. The glasses? Nothing to them. They’re plastic frames with polarizing lenses -- just like those ones they don’t care if you leave with at the cinema.

You have to sit in a specific spot to watch your 3D TVMany 3D TVs suffer from a fairly narrow viewing range, so that watching most 3D TV screens from anywhere but directly in front of them isn’t advisable. Newer screens use bleeding-edge tech to widen the scope in a big way. This can be pretty useful if you have your garage-league hockey team over to watch a little ESPN 3D on a Sunday afternoon and you don’t really want your best bud sitting on your lap.

3D TVs are going to cost you a lot more than a conventional HD TVWhen 3D TVs first landed, they came at a noticeable premium. On the active-shutter side,

you can still spend a mint on an LED TV, but now that the early adopters have adopted, some prices are

coming down. Case in point: A unit equipped with passive 3D technology with a side-lit LED panel, four pairs of glasses and a 3D-compatible Blu-ray player costs about $1,000 at Best Buy. Toss in $500 more and you can have a 55” screen. That’s a far sight better than the $2,000-plus that the first active-system TVs cost when they initially appeared. And it’s right in line with what non-3D TVs cost.

You won't need glasses at all for the new 3D TVsForget it. Autostereoscopic TVs are the pipe dream that incurable dreamers won’t even dream about. There are actually tons of glasses-free 3D displays around, but they’re mostly in tech labs, expensive computer monitors or the Nintendo 3DS. No, the problem is one of prohibitive cost. These days, many companies that tossed money at glasses-free TV have backed the hell off. Some makers were back on board at IFA 2011 in Berlin, but the only consumer-ready set garnered lackluster reviews and will have a rumored price tag of up to $10,000 for a 55” TV. So don’t bother saving up. That said, if you are looking for a TV that allows you to wear the least-noticeable glasses possible, it’s best to look at passive 3D units as they don’t require the clunky, tech-heavy frames used by active sets.

All 3D TVs come with the glasses includedThe sad truth is that many 3D TVs come without the glasses, which can mean an extra major-league outlay for a family of four if they’ve opted for an active-shutter setup. Some TVs come with two pairs of rechargeable glasses, which still restricts your 3D TV watching to you and your gal and anyone else who doesn’t mind spending big on specs before heading to your place. Passive systems are nice because the sheer affordability of polarizing glasses makes it a no-brainer to include two or four pairs with the TV, and just as easy to outfit your buds for game night.

Your new 3D TV won't do 2DThe idea that your 3D TV won’t make nice with 2D is as ridiculous as was the concept that your Blu-ray player wouldn’t play DVDs. And it’s just as pervasive, too. In the end, it’s still total prunes, as your grandpa might have said. The fact is that a 3D TV is a TV with the 3D fun added, not the 2D removed. When looking for a new 3D TV, you’re looking for all the usual suspects, like a vertical resolution of 1080p, a good refresh rate, a dynamic contrast ratio, as well as a 3D system you like.

Your 3D TV won't have the same image quality as a comparable 2D TVWe can’t say this enough: a 3D TV will be a TV. You’re looking for the same things you would have before the 3D thing came along: You want a great picture, the right feature set and a price tag that won’t land you on the street. That’s not to say that your 3D images are going to be as good as the 2D content on your TV, though. Depending on the technol-ogy your TV uses, you may not get full 1080p resolution. That being said, you’d still have to work pretty hard to find a current 3D TV that won’t blow your poor, helpless mind.

2D content can't be 3DUndoubtedly one of the most pressing concerns for men interested in buying a 3D TV is how much use they can get out of it if the majority of media is still in 2D. Well, rest easy. With the advent of 2D to 3D upconverters, programs that were once constrained to two dimensions get an impressive, fleshed-out three-dimensional upgrade.

All 3D glasses are the sameNot all 3D glasses are created equal. Beyond the active/passive dichotomy, there’s the simple fact that active goggles from one maker likely won’t work with another company’s TV. On the passive side, there’s no issue: The glasses don’t have a sensor, a battery or a mechanism of any kind. Add to that the fact that passive lenses come at a fraction of the cost of active glasses -- as they are weighed down with a bunch of internal technology -- and you start to realize just how different the owner experience between some 3D TVs can be.

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