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Billion Dollar Handout To Upgrade TVs

Posted by kdawson on from the if-we-can-send-a-man-to-the-moon dept.

db32 writes "SFGate has the story of the cutoff date for those rabbit ear antennas that some of us grew up with (Feb. 19, 2009). Now while the story of analog vs. digital TV has been beaten to death, still I think there is something more here. 'The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration... said it is setting aside $990 million to pay for the boxes. Each home can request up to two $40 coupons for a digital-to-analog converter box, which consumer electronics makers such as RCA and LG plan to produce.' Beyond my disdain for most TV to begin with, I am blown away that with all of our current problems — homelessness and crime on the home front, war fighting and terrorism abroad — our government is seriously going to spend this much money on upgrading peoples' televisions."

6 of 663 comments (clear)

  1. Somewhere in a NSA memo... by HungWeiLo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sure "TVs" are code-named "Urban Pacification Devices (UPD)".

    Ancient Romans had government-subsidized gladiator matches. Americans have Fox-subsidized American Idol. Same difference.

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    There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
  2. Terrible by CODiNE · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's terrible terrible indeed, and I'll be signing up for my 2 vouchers as soon as I can.

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    Cwm, fjord-bank glyphs vext quiz
  3. It's amazing you're still happy... by raehl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are you going to try and prove to a happy person that are, in fact, just as angry and boring as you are? What's the point?

    How are you going to get any happier if you don't take happiness from others?

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    paintball
    1. Re:It's amazing you're still happy... by Have+Blue · · Score: 5, Funny

      When will people stop saying this? If I take your happiness, you still have it. That's why it's not theft, it's happiness infringement.

  4. Why all the fuss? by networkzombie · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought the new Futurama episodes were going straight to DVD?

  5. Re:Yeah, this is chump change... by glittalogik · · Score: 5, Funny

    While the previous replies hold true, I think that was just a typo. /. has already established beyond a shadow of a doubt that even reasonably educated westerners can't find the Preview button.