2009.01.05
Discuss Monday's commentary and letters
Do something for her in 2009
Another new year is upon us. I'll be dating all my documents 2008 for at least the next month. Besides change, the new year is also a time for taking stock. Everyone sees things they can improve upon, so as predictable as death and taxes, we make our New Year's resolutions. But too often all our good intentions remain just that. Our resolve evaporates in a few weeks, and those carefully crafted resolutions get put on the shelf to gather dust until next year. "At least we tried," we tell ourselves. But rather than tackle a self-improvement list that is ultimately doomed to failure, I'm thinking of ways to improve my relationship with my wife. No matter how good your marriage is, all relationships can get better.
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Read Monday's letters here.
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I read the letters and commentary pretty much every day to this newspaper, and I remain flabbergasted by the people writing in about the digital tv conversion. Yes this will cause some small bit of undue hardship on people who live on fixed incomes, but with the governmental coupon for a converter box, and the near *10 YEAR* warning we've had about this, there is no excuse for not being able to afford it.
If you can't afford what amounts to maybe $20 total (after coupon) after such a lengthy warning, perhaps you should sell your TV and use that money for something else to help improve your income level.
The digital TV conversion is not a scam, it's called progress. Those people scared of progress, simply need to be left behind. The benefits of opening up the finite airwaves for use by emergency personnel and other ventures far outweigh the limited recreational habits of the aging population unable to make this conversion.
It's time to move on. We can't continually live with old technology, or we'd be driving hand-cranked cars, living in asbestos buildings and applying leeches when we have the flu.
Comment by scott — January 5, 2009 @ 10:26 am
If TV was that important, they would get a converter box.
Comment by Henry — January 5, 2009 @ 10:46 am
I for one am looking forward to the change. We have Dish Network now, but our local channels still come in analog. It's insane, but my in-laws who only use an antenna have better local TV station clarity than we do now that they have their digital converter (free, btw). So I'll be glad when we also get the crisper video feeds from the network stations in the area, to go along with our HD & other digital channels we already get.
Comment by Other John — January 5, 2009 @ 11:15 am
Other John,
Dish Network is getting roanoke's Local HD channels in the next few months. We were listed on the next set of cities to get this service
Comment by scott — January 5, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
Scott, agreed. I wrote something very similar in a recent thread.
Just to further your point, I wrote about a family member who recently got one of the converter boxes. It was a model with a $49.99 price tag. Shipping was free. Total out-of-pocket after the coupon was $9.99.
Comment by Ed S. — January 5, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
Nice. Thanks Scott, I'm definitely looking forward to it. Even though I still have an old CRT SDTV, I've noticed the HD and digital feeds look a whole lot better. When we get around to adding an HDTV to our house, I'm sure the picture will be stunning compared to what we currently have.
Comment by Other John — January 5, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
Scott,
I have seen boxes for as little as $49. With the $40 coupon, you do the math.
Ten years to prepare to spend $9 is more than enough time... I would have to agree with everything you said.
This is getting ridiculous.
Comment by Jack — January 5, 2009 @ 2:39 pm