Here in Australia, and I suspect all over Europe too, they don't understand the US system of presidential elections. They don't understand how someone who doesn't win the popular vote can win the presidency. They think that it is some sort of evil mechanism designed to disenfranchise minorities and and to thwart the will of the people.
Since the overseas media tends to hate George Bush, they are told that they too must hate Bush. Thus, they can't imagine anyone in the US voting for Bush. Thus, the fact that he won the 2000 and 2004 elections, must mean that the election was rigged. The fault, therefore, must be this mysterious "Electoral College.
Today I read a column in Newsweek by George F. Will that does an excellent job of explaining exactly what the benefit of our system is. He explains how the system is designed to prevent the tyranny of the majority. It is designed to bust up power blocks in order to represent all Americans.
It has been my observation that many people in the world think a democracy is a system of government where everyone gets to vote for their leaders. Once the votes are counted and winners installed in office, then democracy will be achieved and everything will be great.
But they are wrong. That is only the start. This power must be counterbalanced by a respect for the rights and the opinions of the minority. There must be limits on the power granted. Otherwise, such a democracy is simply a tyranny of the majority.
The founding fathers of the US recognized this. That is why they added the Bill of Rights to the constitution. They drew "Do not cross!!!" lines around the the government precisely to prevent this trampling of minority beliefs. The electoral college is another system they implement to prevent the excessive accumulation of power.
Years ago, that late 80's I think, I watched a TV series on PBS that analyzed democratic countries around the world. One episode looked at Ireland. It demonstrated that a flaw in their implementation of democracy was a large contributer to the problems in Northern Ireland. The Protestant citizens of Northern Ireland simple do not want to become a powerless minority within greater Ireland. They felt that the Irish government could not protect them, and would instead subject them to the rules of the majority.
Their fears were well founded. The Catholic church held great influence over Irish law, such making abortions and birth control illegal in Ireland. The Irish government, rather than restricting itself to matters that all Irish could agree on, allowed a majority opinion to intrude on beliefs of a minority.
Any nation that systematically tramples the deeply held beliefs of the minority simply because it conflicts with the majority will find themselves in a civil war. The solution is to respect rights, and to not allow one part of the nation to tell another part how to live their lives.
This exact problem is wrecking Iraq now. The Iraqis expect that a democratically elected Iraqi government will simply implement the will of the majority at the expense of the minority. Those in power will use their votes to encode their religious beliefs as law. For example, right after their elections, some of their elected leaders where trying to implement into the constitution a rules that gives daughters only half the inheritance of their brothers, which is the practice within their faith.
That example demonstrates how the elected majority is overstepping their bounds and intruding into matters they should not. They do not consider that others may not wish to have this as a law, or that they have no business even putting such matters into the constitution. Hence, their current bloody civil war is the result.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Feb 2009 - TV is going dark
For those back in the US who don't know by now, on 17-Feb-2009, less than two years from now, over-the-air analog TV in the US is going dark. That means that your old TV's and VCR's will no longer have a TV signal to pickup.
What is Digital TV?
All over-the-air TV broadcasts after that date will be exclusively digital. The larger broadcasters have already invested in the digital transmission equipment and are already broadcasting in digital. Not only are they broadcasting the same programming that is being sent over the classic analog transmission, they are broadcasting extra channels on the digital side. Often they broadcast a high-def (HDTV) version of the same content, and in some cities, entire new channels with different content.
The smaller broadcasters, especially the UHF stations, are still broadcasting analog. They don't have the money to switch. So they are either going to close. Or they will require a grant from the government to switch. As of today, the future of these stations is still not resolved.
Does This Mean I'm Hosed?
Now this doesn't mean that your old TV's and VCR's are not going to work any more. It simply means that the receiver built inside will not find any content from an aerial antenna. You can still feed your TV and VCR content from other sources. Most people in the US no longer get their content from an Over-The-Air antenna anyhow. They get it from cable or satellite TV. So for those people, they won't even notice.
Digital Converter Boxes:
For those left, you can either replace your TV with a newer model that have a digital receiver built in. Or you can get an external digital-to-analog receiver. That is a little box that will take a digital signal and convert to a analog signal that is feed into the TV's antenna input port.
The problem with converter is that they usually only convert one channel at a time. And you have to tell the converter what digital channel you want to watch. That means you have to change channels on the converted box instead of the TV. Most converter boxes also have volume control. So at least you can control both the channel and volume from the same remote control.
In the US, the NTIA will be proving two $40 coupons per household for converter boxes. Read about it here. This program will start in 2008. So you have all of 2008 to get over to digital before the old system goes dark in 2009.
I already have a converter box that I bought at Radio Shack (Tandy here in Australia) that I use for my old analog TV at home. It was their cheapest model, costing me around $80 AUD, which is around $60 USD. It works great. I get all the channels crystal clear, plus two extra digital only channels, plus some nice digital music channels. All are free.
I predict that the $40 coupons will cover 100% of the costs of the low-end model boxes that will be sold in the US in 2008. Considering that they cost almost that now, $40 will be the magic number the retailers will shoot for.
Even if you don't need a converted box because you only watch cable TV, I would recommend that you still go ahead and get the coupon and get a converter box for your old TV. Even of you don't use it, you will still need it should you sell the TV, or decide to cut off your cable. Also, if your cable gets cut off, then at least you can get some programming.
Aren't My Taxes Buying The Boxes?
Yes and no. Your taxes are buying the boxes initially. But once the old analog TV frequencies are shut off, then the FCC can auction them off to other wireless companies after March 2009. The income from the new leases on those frequencies will more than pay for all the boxes sold.
Your Old VCR:
If you have an analog VCR, then things get complicated. You can't watch one channel while recording a second. You can't program the VCR to record from different channels at different times. What you have to do is stick a converter between your antenna and the VCR. Then you have to program the converter to tune the desired station at the desired time. You have to synchronize the two devices.
Personally I don't think it would be worth investing in a converter for a VCR. It is just too much of a pain in the ass to sync the two to make sure you get your program recorded. It would be cheaper and easier to invest in a digital recorder. Or if you can even find one, a digital VCR.
Do I need an HDTV?
Not at all. DTV means "Digital Television". HDTV means "High Definition Television". All HDTV is digital. But not all digital is HDTV. Make sense?
The "D" stands for definition, not digital. It simply refers to the density of the image that is being displayed. There is Standard Definition Television, often called SDTV. HDTV has more pixels (dots) for the image. It also has a different aspect ratio.
Your old analog TV sets can only display standard definition images. Over the air digital TV will be broadcast as SDTV. It may also be simultaneously broadcast on another channel as HDTV. So you aren't going to miss any content. It only means that you won't get the visually stunning version of it.
F.U.D. Scams
I suspect that in 2008 we are going to see a lot of FUD scams as a result of this switch over. FUD stands for Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. If you don't already know this, FUD is the greatest sales tool ever created in the history of mankind. It is the opposite of greed, and often more effective.
There is already a lot of FUD out there regarding the switch over. In particular, the scammers are going to target the elderly and non-English speakers by confusing them with acronyms and half truths. So it is emparative the we keep an eye on our family and friends to make sure they they do not fall for scam. Inform them that before they buy anything, they talk to you.
Antennas
One thing scammers are already doing is selling people new antennas that they don't need. They will convince someone that their current antennae won't work with digital TV and that they will need to buy a new one and pay to have it installed.
There is a kernel of truth to this. Digital TV, unlike analog TV, is either on or off. You won't get a bad picture. You either get a perfect picture, or non at all. So if get poor analog reception, there is a chance that you won't get a strong enough digital signal to view channels.
But remember that The broadcasters have know about this switchover for a long time. The digital transmitters they have installed and are installing are new. So they have not sunk any money into maintaining their old analog broadcasting equipment. So the digital replacement may actually be better because they have upgraded the location and strength
So your analog reception experience has no bearing on your digital reception experience. You simply need to install your digital receiver and see what you get. You might need to turn your antenna a little to optimize your signal. There are websites dedicated to telling you what the best antenna and direction to use for your home's location. But don't pay for anything until you know for sure that you need it.
High Def Receivers:
The second scam will occur within the stores. The sales people would love to sell you a high-def digital receiver instead of a standard-def receiver. They cost more, often 5X as much. If your TV can't display a high-def picture (the analog one's can't), then spending money on a high-def receiver is a waste of money.
The high def receivers will support standard def. So the salesman won't be lying when they tell you that it will work. It will. But you will be paying for extra capability that you can't do anything with.
If you wait to 2008, and use you $40 coupon, then all you will be able to afford is a basic standard def receiver. That will be more more than enough for your needs. Until you decided to plunk down the money to get a high-def display, then you don't need a high-def source to feed it.
Summary:
I was thinking that this switchover in 2008 would be a perfect merit badge project for boy-scouts and girl-scouts. Anyone who finds themselves overwhelmed by all of this could ask their local troop for on-site assistance. Or perhaps high-school band camps could use ask for donations for helping people.
What is Digital TV?
All over-the-air TV broadcasts after that date will be exclusively digital. The larger broadcasters have already invested in the digital transmission equipment and are already broadcasting in digital. Not only are they broadcasting the same programming that is being sent over the classic analog transmission, they are broadcasting extra channels on the digital side. Often they broadcast a high-def (HDTV) version of the same content, and in some cities, entire new channels with different content.
The smaller broadcasters, especially the UHF stations, are still broadcasting analog. They don't have the money to switch. So they are either going to close. Or they will require a grant from the government to switch. As of today, the future of these stations is still not resolved.
Does This Mean I'm Hosed?
Now this doesn't mean that your old TV's and VCR's are not going to work any more. It simply means that the receiver built inside will not find any content from an aerial antenna. You can still feed your TV and VCR content from other sources. Most people in the US no longer get their content from an Over-The-Air antenna anyhow. They get it from cable or satellite TV. So for those people, they won't even notice.
Digital Converter Boxes:
For those left, you can either replace your TV with a newer model that have a digital receiver built in. Or you can get an external digital-to-analog receiver. That is a little box that will take a digital signal and convert to a analog signal that is feed into the TV's antenna input port.
The problem with converter is that they usually only convert one channel at a time. And you have to tell the converter what digital channel you want to watch. That means you have to change channels on the converted box instead of the TV. Most converter boxes also have volume control. So at least you can control both the channel and volume from the same remote control.
In the US, the NTIA will be proving two $40 coupons per household for converter boxes. Read about it here. This program will start in 2008. So you have all of 2008 to get over to digital before the old system goes dark in 2009.
I already have a converter box that I bought at Radio Shack (Tandy here in Australia) that I use for my old analog TV at home. It was their cheapest model, costing me around $80 AUD, which is around $60 USD. It works great. I get all the channels crystal clear, plus two extra digital only channels, plus some nice digital music channels. All are free.
I predict that the $40 coupons will cover 100% of the costs of the low-end model boxes that will be sold in the US in 2008. Considering that they cost almost that now, $40 will be the magic number the retailers will shoot for.
Even if you don't need a converted box because you only watch cable TV, I would recommend that you still go ahead and get the coupon and get a converter box for your old TV. Even of you don't use it, you will still need it should you sell the TV, or decide to cut off your cable. Also, if your cable gets cut off, then at least you can get some programming.
Aren't My Taxes Buying The Boxes?
Yes and no. Your taxes are buying the boxes initially. But once the old analog TV frequencies are shut off, then the FCC can auction them off to other wireless companies after March 2009. The income from the new leases on those frequencies will more than pay for all the boxes sold.
Your Old VCR:
If you have an analog VCR, then things get complicated. You can't watch one channel while recording a second. You can't program the VCR to record from different channels at different times. What you have to do is stick a converter between your antenna and the VCR. Then you have to program the converter to tune the desired station at the desired time. You have to synchronize the two devices.
Personally I don't think it would be worth investing in a converter for a VCR. It is just too much of a pain in the ass to sync the two to make sure you get your program recorded. It would be cheaper and easier to invest in a digital recorder. Or if you can even find one, a digital VCR.
Do I need an HDTV?
Not at all. DTV means "Digital Television". HDTV means "High Definition Television". All HDTV is digital. But not all digital is HDTV. Make sense?
The "D" stands for definition, not digital. It simply refers to the density of the image that is being displayed. There is Standard Definition Television, often called SDTV. HDTV has more pixels (dots) for the image. It also has a different aspect ratio.
Your old analog TV sets can only display standard definition images. Over the air digital TV will be broadcast as SDTV. It may also be simultaneously broadcast on another channel as HDTV. So you aren't going to miss any content. It only means that you won't get the visually stunning version of it.
F.U.D. Scams
I suspect that in 2008 we are going to see a lot of FUD scams as a result of this switch over. FUD stands for Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. If you don't already know this, FUD is the greatest sales tool ever created in the history of mankind. It is the opposite of greed, and often more effective.
There is already a lot of FUD out there regarding the switch over. In particular, the scammers are going to target the elderly and non-English speakers by confusing them with acronyms and half truths. So it is emparative the we keep an eye on our family and friends to make sure they they do not fall for scam. Inform them that before they buy anything, they talk to you.
Antennas
One thing scammers are already doing is selling people new antennas that they don't need. They will convince someone that their current antennae won't work with digital TV and that they will need to buy a new one and pay to have it installed.
There is a kernel of truth to this. Digital TV, unlike analog TV, is either on or off. You won't get a bad picture. You either get a perfect picture, or non at all. So if get poor analog reception, there is a chance that you won't get a strong enough digital signal to view channels.
But remember that The broadcasters have know about this switchover for a long time. The digital transmitters they have installed and are installing are new. So they have not sunk any money into maintaining their old analog broadcasting equipment. So the digital replacement may actually be better because they have upgraded the location and strength
So your analog reception experience has no bearing on your digital reception experience. You simply need to install your digital receiver and see what you get. You might need to turn your antenna a little to optimize your signal. There are websites dedicated to telling you what the best antenna and direction to use for your home's location. But don't pay for anything until you know for sure that you need it.
High Def Receivers:
The second scam will occur within the stores. The sales people would love to sell you a high-def digital receiver instead of a standard-def receiver. They cost more, often 5X as much. If your TV can't display a high-def picture (the analog one's can't), then spending money on a high-def receiver is a waste of money.
The high def receivers will support standard def. So the salesman won't be lying when they tell you that it will work. It will. But you will be paying for extra capability that you can't do anything with.
If you wait to 2008, and use you $40 coupon, then all you will be able to afford is a basic standard def receiver. That will be more more than enough for your needs. Until you decided to plunk down the money to get a high-def display, then you don't need a high-def source to feed it.
Summary:
- Wait until 2008 and get your coupons for every analog TV and VCR you own.
- Exchange the coupons for converter boxes. Do not buy anything extra.
- Hook the box to your antenna and see what digital stations it finds.
- If you can not get any stations, go to the internet and see what antenna recommendations are there for your location.
- If you can't figure this out, get your boxes and bribe your local teenage geek to hook it up for you.
I was thinking that this switchover in 2008 would be a perfect merit badge project for boy-scouts and girl-scouts. Anyone who finds themselves overwhelmed by all of this could ask their local troop for on-site assistance. Or perhaps high-school band camps could use ask for donations for helping people.
What was I drinking???
I went to a birthday party last night. Got pretty buzzed on some good vodka. When I woke up this morning, I found this video sitting in my RSS feed. I watched it thought I was still drunk and experiencing some twisted nightmare. My review in one word: Craptacular!
This is a a clip from an Indian Bollywood movie staring Supermand and Spiderwoman (there was spider woman???). Spiderwoman sounds like her singing is really nothing but stomping on squirrels. The fight scene where they rescue an old woman from nasty muggers is a riot. The choreography is a riot. What moves!
The special effects are hilarious. Notice how they always fly over the same small landscape everytime?
Well enjoy, and be mortified.
This is a a clip from an Indian Bollywood movie staring Supermand and Spiderwoman (there was spider woman???). Spiderwoman sounds like her singing is really nothing but stomping on squirrels. The fight scene where they rescue an old woman from nasty muggers is a riot. The choreography is a riot. What moves!
The special effects are hilarious. Notice how they always fly over the same small landscape everytime?
Well enjoy, and be mortified.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Bush Announces Iraq Exit Strategy
I love The Onion. It is up there with The Daily Show for intelligent humor based on current events. This article today just cracked me up. Brilliant!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Restaurant Owner
The Department of Labour contacts a restaurant owner and claims he was not paying proper wages to his help. They sent an agent out to interview him.
"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent.
"Well," replied the owner, "There's my chef who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $800 a week plus free meals.
The waitress has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $500 per week plus free meals.
Then there's the half-wit who works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own meals, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night."
That's the guy I want to talk to, the half-wit," says the agent.
"That would be me," replied the owner.
"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent.
"Well," replied the owner, "There's my chef who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $800 a week plus free meals.
The waitress has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $500 per week plus free meals.
Then there's the half-wit who works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own meals, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night."
That's the guy I want to talk to, the half-wit," says the agent.
"That would be me," replied the owner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)