New president, and then a new television
So this post really has little to do with getting a new president, other than the fact that it happens in January 2009. (Which reminds me. I need to get one of those countdown clocks for when Bush leaves office!)
Anyway! The TeeVee. Yes, the television. Consider this a public service message: apparently, the federal government (FCC) has mandated that on February 17, 2009, they are turning off the analog TV broadcasting spectrum. Which means, of course, that all the lovely little analog-only televisions will cease to work without aid of a set-top converter box or a digital cable box of some sort.
I've known about this for a little while; it's been on my radar but I've not really thought much about it until today when we were talking about HDTV in my class. And, OH MY GOD, I'm going to have to buy a new, High Definition, digital television!!! I'm sure HDTV is lovely. I am. But I've avoided upgrading to HD because, well... I just don't care that much.
According to this site, HD will "transform" my television experience. Frankly, I watch more TV now than I should and my TV experience is just fine the way it is. I'll spend that $200 on something else, thanks very much. According to OPB's website, the FCC mandated this switch to "free up valuable broadcast spectrum for other uses." Like, um... propaganda? Or listening in on innocent citizens?
OK, I'm totally making that up. It's not paranoia if someone really is after you, right?
OK, end digression.
Anyway! Apparently the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will begin giving out coupons in January 2008 for people who want to buy a set-top box. Click here for more info.
And speaking of TV: WHOT THE HELL happened to 24? I watched the 2-hour season finale last night and, well, I'm underwhelmed. I'm not even excited to watch it beginning in January! Did they get new writers or something? Because the last 13 or 14 episodes have been weak. I don't know how others feel, but in my opinion, 24 totally jumped the shark this season. It was close last season, but this season really pushed it over the edge. (I don't know which moment exactly, because there were so many, but it's done.) For a plot-driven show, this season really lost it.
Another show that should be shot at point-blank range and put out of its misery? ER. I'm sorry, I used to love that show, but it has bored me to tears this season...
On the upside, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip finally returns tomorrow night (yay! because I heart Bradley Whitford) and Men in Trees comes back soon too! And, of course, Boston Legal continues.
So with that, I'm going to go to bed. I have to head into the office tomorrow morning for laptop surgery and days in the office always wipe me out completely. Nevermind the fact that I'm already exhausted.
Comments
i haven't seen the season finale yet, but i agree that 24 jumped the shark this season. ER jumped the shark years ago, right about the time the helicopter crashed on top of whatshisname. i stopped watching after noah wylie left.
oh, and the expression is "just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you." so yeah, you are still paranoid if someone is really after you. which they are. (i'm paranoid too.)
Posted by: jen | May 24, 2007 06:24 AM
oops i forgot to tell you the exact moment 24 jumped the shark. it was when they wrapped up the plot about 19 hours into the season and then immediately started a new, boring, couldn'tcareless plot about audrey actually being alive.
Posted by: jen | May 24, 2007 06:26 AM
doesn't seem fair that i have to buy a new tv. i still have an old b&w set i got as a wedding gift a million years ago. gonna be a lot of business for the recyclers in a few years...
Posted by: stephen | May 24, 2007 09:27 AM
I had no idea about this analog/HDTV thing. I hate to be paranoid to but WTF? I know I can hate change sometimes but I dunno this thing seems *weird* for sure.
~F
Posted by: FrancesM | May 24, 2007 04:32 PM
In the infamous words of Roseanne Roseannadanna (a Gilda Radner character on SNL...I'm dating myself, aren't I?!?), "It's all a ways somethin'...she was so right! LOL
Hey, and thanks for the AC tip. I'm going to look seriously this year at one like yours...rather than spend my summer in a coma.
Linda D. in Seattle
Posted by: Linda D. | May 24, 2007 10:31 PM
I had no clue about this HD/analog thing either, craziness in my mind.
Jim's had an HD tv for a few months now & just 2 days ago got the HD cable & WOW it does make a difference, but to be honest I'm not sure it's worth the extra money - I would have been fine with the regular tv, butyou know boys, they just have to have the latest & greatest!!
Posted by: Ra | May 25, 2007 01:03 AM