Thursday, October 27, 2005

title: Congress Clashes Over Digital TV Conversion Deadline
written by: Naitze Teng
date: October 27, 2005

The Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation last week requiring television stations to switch their broadcasts from analog to digital by April 7, 2009. Current law stipulates that the transition be made by December 31, 2006 or once 85 percent of households have adopted digital television, whichever comes later. While the April 2009 deadline seems to delay the move to digital, the New York Times reports that less than half of homes now actually have digital signals so it could force the transition to happen sooner.

Still others are pushing for the conversion to happen even sooner given recent national disasters like Katrina and 9-11. Senator John McCain wants the conversion to happen by 2007, thereby freeing the analog spectrum for emergency officials. Of course television manufacturers would also like to see a closer deadline in order to drive sales up. The House Energy and Commerce Committee for one just approved a measure that goes against the Senate Committee’s decision, requiring television stations to end analog broadcasts by December 31, 2008.

For any advancement to take place, House and Senate need to resolve their differences. Both agree that not enough households have adopted digital television so far, but present very different solutions. The Senate bill proposes making three billion dollars in subsidies available to consumers purchasing conversion boxes to make their analog sets useable. The House sets aside substantially less for the same purpose; only $990 million which deterrents say just isn’t enough considering even households that currently have one digital television might also have multiple analog sets.

Pushing back the transition date just delays the inevitable. If given more time odds are lagging consumers will sit on it – they need a more pressing reason like losing the ability to watch television to compel them to get a new set.



"We are witnessing the criminalization of conservative politics."


WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 - Lawyers in the C.I.A. leak case said Thursday that they expected I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, to be indicted on Friday, charged with making false statements to the grand jury.

Karl Rove, President Bush's senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, will not be charged on Friday, but will remain under investigation, people briefed officially about the case said. As a result, they said, the special counsel in the case, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, was likely to extend the term of the federal grand jury beyond its scheduled expiration on Friday.

Like a school marm indulging a teacher’s pet, Miss Miers just gave George Bush permission to retake the final exam he booted badly. She has given him a second chance to succeed where Nixon, Ford, Reagan and his father all failed: (More)

Tuesday, October 25, 2005


What's Narnia?

Monday, October 24, 2005

On Letterman, Al Franken Jokes About Execution for Treason of Rove, Libby and Bush (Updated Sunday night with video. Excerpt #1: Real or Windows Media and MP3 audio. Excerpt #2: Real or Windows Media and MP3 audio.)

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Start filling the balloons and hoisting the confetti. It's almost here, and you can just see the saliva dripping.
Iraq war foes ready for 2,000th military death

QUEEN OF THE OCCULT, ANNE RICE FINDS CHRIST: 'I PROMISED THAT FROM NOW ON I WOULD WRITE ONLY FOR THE LORD'...

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Greenland ice cap thickens slightly
So much for global warming!

Friday, October 21, 2005

Now we know why so many journalists were hot under the collar when President Bush declared: "You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror." .......

Dems Complain About DeLay's Smiling Mug Shot

Guess they were hoping for Nick Nolte?

Do they really care if he may or may not have engaged in a practice that their own politicians invented and perfected, or are they so smug that they just want to hang him because he's a Republican and to liberals the ends justify the means?

DeLay's smile says it all: Keep mug off attack ads

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Patient wants to live, but old 'living will' mandates death

fascinating. So, next time you think that the US is the evil empire, just remember this:
U.S. ARMY DESERTER DESCRIBES 40 YEARS IN NORTH KOREA HELLThu Oct 20 2005 14:43:07 ET

and

'Babies for sale' on Chinese eBay

God and morality. Freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Any whiners having never been to a third world country ought to hush their mouth until they have some personal perspective.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Target Corporation will continue to ban the Salvation Army from their 1,351 stores this Christmas season. The Army will not be allowed to place their red kettles in front of Target stores. Despite increased need caused by the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Target continues to bar the Salvation Army. Many observers feel that the ban by Target is a result of pressure put on the company by homosexual groups. Homosexual activists have targeted the Salvation Army for years because of the Army's refusal to recognize their lifestyle. Target is a supporter of various homosexual causes. While Target contributes to homosexual groups, the company publicly states that they will not contribute to any religious groups. For Target, homosexual organizations are worthy of financial support, Christian and Jewish organizations are not.

Bono, U2 in Fund-Raiser for Senator Rick Santorum

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Robertson: Disasters
point to 2nd Coming

Evangelist observes quakes, hurricanes 'starting to hit with amazing regularity'


7"Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

8He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."

10Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Luke 21

Saturday, October 01, 2005

Why Do Intellectuals Oppose Capitalism?

a very astute read