The truth about Digital Television

Mar 10 2009 Published by under American Consumer, Changing scene, Future things, Geek stuff

analog_tv3Will my Old fashion TV stop working and go black after June 12, 2009?
No and Yes.
No, If you are using a satellite service or Cable. You will see no change in your picture. Yes, If you are using rabbit ears or an outside antenna, your in trouble. Your TV will not display a picture.

I can only receive Digital Television content  on a NEW expensive HDTV device?
Not true.

You can receive the new Digital transmissions on your old fashion analog TV by using a “Converter Box”. The converter box receives a digital signal and converts the signal to analog so your old TV can display it.

So I Need a  “Converter Box”  and I will get  High Definition Television ?
Again No and Yes.

NO, you will not get a High definition 1080 picture on your old fashion TV. YES you will get a picture but, and it is a big but, your picture will be reformation and down graded to fit and display on your old fashion analog TV.

Digital television (DTV) and High Definition Television (HDTV) are the same thing?
False, No way!
Digital Television(DTV) is how the signal is broadcast vs. the old analog. Digital is just a bunch of ones and zeros being broadcasted and analog is a modulated wave signal. High Definition Television (HDTV) is based on a Digital signal, but is a higher resolution picture. Digital television is a picture defined as 480 lines of resolution. High Definition television it 720 or 1080 lines of resolution. So with HDTV you get a picture that is much cleared and finer detail.

So if you are using an old analog television, with an antenna, you must buy a converter box or a new digital television to watch over the air programs after June 12, 2009.

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California Tax Squeeze

Feb 20 2009 Published by under Changing scene, Dumb Americans, Goverment policy, Taxes

I guess the California State Legislature is out of touch with the real world! In their infinite wisdom our California state law makers are going to kick us when we are down. We get the double squeeze by getting taxed more when wages are being cut, the value of our house is falling, like a rock, and our investments are disappearing,as the stock market keeps falling. The California State Legislators are sticking their hands in our pocket and taking more of our money. Caligornia did nothing to help Obamas stimulus package.

squeeze

Seems strange, that whenever the state government needs more money they just figure out another way to tax Joe citizen more. Oh sure they cut some programs, but most of the time the cuts are just reduction to their increased spending.

On the other hand when Joe citizen needs to make a budget adjustment, where do we get more money. We have no one to add or increase a tax too. No we end up cutting. Real cutting like doing without stuff. That is the only way, the majority of us, can make ends meet. Some of us, Joe citizen, can increase our income or work more hours, but not many of us. So we all do with less.

The State government is encouraging us to spend less by raising the California stats sales tax. So if we buy less the economy suffers, by less goods being sold. That’s great for jobs. If the state lowered state sales tax, people would have more money to buy stuff. If they bought more we get more state sales taxes revenue and more jobs. More jobs produce more tax revenue.

Same problem with higher personal property on car taxes. When Detroit is having a very difficult time selling new cars lets discourage people by doubling the personal property tax on cars. That just makes us all ready to run out and pay MORE sales tax and personal property tax on autos. Great plan to stimulate car sales. A better plan would be to get Joe average guy an incentive to purchase a new car, maybe a tax credit or something.

So who are the dumb Americans? Joe citizen who keep paying more in taxes? Or the State Legislature who think there is not limit to taxing Joe citizen? Californa passed a reverse stimulus package. Obamas stimulus package may have a lot of pork in it but it did not tax us like Califorrnia did.

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Delay DTV NOT!

Jan 28 2009 Published by under American Consumer, Dumb Americans, Goverment policy


Question from J Q Public:
Why the DTV delay?

Answer from Washington:
You are not ready!

First I would think that the Obama administration would have more important things to deal with, like the failing United States economy!

But instead they are pushing a bill through the House and Congress to delay the Digital Television transition. The Digital Transitions has been going on for eight years. So is four months going to make any difference?

Ok so the 1.3 billion dollars ran out, that means 32.5 million converter boxes were bought. According to ConsumersAffairs.com 58% of the households have cable, 29% have satellite. If there about 100 million households in the United States that means the majority of us are ready for the conversion to digital television or do not need it.  Remember anyone using cable, satellite or IPTV will not be effected by the digital transition.

So there are two million plus waiting for a converter box coupion.  Let them buy a converter box and get a tax credit. There is no delay and no excuses.

The delay, if approved, will cost the broadcasters millions of dollars in cost over the additional four months. This increase in cost is because they will need to run both the analog and digital transmitters for an additional 4 months. Most broadcasters have hundreds of  station across the country. So this adds up fast.

In my opinion we should not add to the confusion over the digital transition. Instead after eight years of having feet in both the digital and analog world, just do the cut over on February 17 , 2009 as planed. Washington should get on the task at handle the US economy. Washington does not need to be worried about or TV.

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NBC Peacock goes brown for Obama!

Jan 20 2009 Published by under Changing scene, Goverment policy

NBC displayed a brown peacock logo in honor of President Barack Obama Inauguration 1/20/2009. The normally multi color peacock NBC logo was displayed prominently on the front of the desk ,that was part of the NBC Today Show inauguration set, in a blue foreground and brown tail feathers. It made for an interesting set as the brown was worked into the entire set color scheme. The color scheme was not as upbeat as one would have liked, the set looked muted.

This is not the first time NBC changed the color of their peacock logo. Back in 2007 and 2008 the peacock was colored green in honor of Earth day, and Saint Patrick’s Day.

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Help, I’am Stuck without a photo ID

Jan 14 2008 Published by under American Consumer, Goverment policy

We were getting ready for an airplane trip in two weeks. Then I realized that I had lost my driver license.ca_license[1] No problem we have two weeks left, right. I will just go the DVM and get a replacement. Well replacements take four to six weeks. So I checked the DMV web site and there was some information about, after a disaster the DMV would issue a temporary with a photo. Plus I knew that new drivers also get a temporary driver license with a photo. So on Monday I will get a temporary with a photo.

So after waiting the entire weekend, I’m off to the DMV office bright and early only to find out that people with an existing driver license cannot get a temporary driver license with a photo. Now that just does not make any sense. The DMV will issue a temporary with a photo to someone that has never had a license before or if you lost your license in a disaster. BUT not if you just lost your license. All the information is in the DMV computer, your photo, driver license number, SSN, address etcetera; so there should be no question about who you are. But the DMV will only issue a temporary without a photo.

OK So now how are you going to pass the TAS screening check point at the airport without a driver license as your photo ID. Normally the TSA will only accept a Government issued photo identification card, Driver license, military ID or a passport. But all you had was a driver license.

You have time to cancel your trip this time. But image, your on vacation and your Government issued photo ID was stolen our lost. You cannot just cancel your flight home. You’re stuck somewhere. Question start running through your mind on what to do. Should I stay and let my spouse and other family member return without me? Where will I stay? How will I get a government issued photo ID when I do not have the required document to get one? After all who travels with their birth certificate or the other necessary documents? And it is against the law to have two driver licenses. So who know how long you’re going to be stranded somewhere.

UPDATE 01/14/2008 — I talked with a former higher up from the TSA. He informed me that You can travel WITHOUT a goverment issued photo ID. If the airlines give you a boarding pass, TSA will make you a “selectee” if you have no official ID with a picture. So, you can still go, but you will get “special, extra” screening.

What we are going to do is get our passports renewed an keep them active. That way we will have a second means of “Government issued photo ID”.passport And on a trip we will never keep the two in the same place.

So why did I spend the time to write this. Just to point out how Dumb the system can be some time, like not issuing a temporary ID with a photo. And two; if you travel a lot plan ahead. Get two legal forms of government issued photo IDs so you do not get stuck somewhere unless you’re in some place like Hawaii!

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