If you haven't heard, after February 17, 2009 you will no longer be able to receive a free analog signal to your television antenna without a converter box. I'm sure this isn't a big deal for most because many are already paying for Cable, Direct TV, Dish Network, etc. which will not be affected. For those that don't pay for television I imagine the question is where do I get a converter box and how much does it cost. These are logical questions, and the answers can all be found at https://www.dtv2009.gov/, but be prepared to be perplexed. First, you can get them almost anywhere (Target, Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, etc) and second they only cost about $30 - $70. But wait, if you act now you can apply for assistance.......government assistance. All you have to do is go to https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx and you can get $40 gift cards (2 maximum) that can be used at all of the retailers that offer these boxes. So that's free for the low end models, with no brand recognition. Sounds nice and easy, right?Have you ever heard the saying, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is"? Since when has the government been so gracious and generous that out of the kindness of their hearts they are willing to give every household something free of charge? The welfare system might come to mind, but even then it's not like you go to the office and they ask, "How much money do you want"? There is a real application process and background check to make sure everything is kosher. And at the end of the day, you know it comes from taxes. Wait-a-minute, is the government using my tax dollars, so that we can have converter boxes and ensure that we are most informed and don't get left behind by "The Jones's" and their new technologies? I didn't know the government knighted new technologies and freely gave them to the people? That is so thoughtful. They really do care about me and my well being? And all this time, I thought big government was wasteful and small government was voluntary irresponsibility, but they really are looking out for me.
The American auto industry is going bankrupt, greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high(wink-wink), unemployment is skyrocketing, 1 in 10 workers are directly affected by this mess, but there is technology that creates hybrid and electric cars that reduces the affects of global warming and the government can't figure out what to do about this "crisis"? I smell a RAT. Why don't they just cut to the chase and put a converter box in our hybrid cars so they can show us what they want us to see while they drive us to where they want us to go and do it all via satellite. But look on the brighter side, they'll probably be able to beam your favorite artist into your passengers seat to make the ride a little more enjoyable.
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you should've seen something like this coming. just a few years ago, there were discussions (in the sports talk radio world) about how sporting events were being taken off of regular tv. the playoffs for most major sports used to be held sacred to regular tv but not anymore. tnt does most of the nba playoffs, and tbs shows most of the mlb playoffs. in fact, if you don't have cable or satellite, i may be wrong, but i do believe that the final series of the nba and mlb are the only parts of the each of these sports' postseason play to be shown on regular tv. soon the super bowl will be pay per view. so if they do this, why not have you buy a box so that you can see your regular tv that you bought. it's only fair :-/. the government's not telling you that you have to go, just get the hll out of here. :-)
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