Digital TV Delayed Again (formerly Off Again, formerly On Again)
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, FEBRUARY 6, 2009
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS Doug Deal, Feb 6, 50 yrs. Byron Rocher, Feb 8, 42 yrs. Cathy Wynkoop, Feb 8, 38 yrs. Andy Lalino, Feb 17, 42 yrs. William Moriaty, Feb 24, 54 yrs. Bobby Tyler, Feb 27, 18 yrs.
Last week it was reported that although the Senate approved a delay in the digital turnover of the country's TV signals until June 12th, the House blocked it, insisting on the original February 17th date. Earlier this week, however, the House capitulated, and the delay is back on again, meaning the digital turnover won't happen until June 12th after all.
This is to help ensure that everyone who needs converter boxes has an opportunity to get one, since the government-sponsored coupon program to obtain them ran into difficulty with funding, resulting in a massive waiting list.
To read my original comments on this situation, please review PCR #462.
Tangled Web
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, FEBRUARY 4, 2009
My, my, my, what an embarassing week for so many folks in these here United States.
Eight-time Gold Medal Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps was photographed smoking pot from a bong, President Barack Obama has had to issue a major "oopsie!" for two of his cabinet members having income tax problems, and Nadya Suleman, the woman who successfully bore octuplets is being portrayed as, well, trailer trash.
Phelps, clearly, should have known better than to smoke weed in a public place. Of course, I respect those of you who feel he should've known better than to smoke weed at all, being as he's the idol of millions and a role-model for children. Point taken. The cynic in me, however, pretty much assumes that all celebrities smoke something illegal once the money and power trip start their corrupting influence. But, hey, that's just me. The bigger question I have is how long this has been going on. Has he always smoked pot? I mean even through all the rigorous training required for the Olympics? Since I believe they still test for drugs before competition, he must've abstained from toking for some time beforehand -- or else had a hell of a remedy to cloak piss-test results.
So, a few days ago he gets photographed sucking on a bong for all he's worth, but it's not a great photo. When confronted, it's conceivable he could've just denied the whole thing as a case of mistaken identity. But he 'fessed up, which on the face of it is darn noble if not particularly media-savvy. Despite a heart-felt apology to his fans, I'm sure parents all over the U.S. are wrangling with disillusioned kids who're asking, "Hey, why can't I smoke pot? Michael Phelps does and he's an Olympic champion! It can't be all that bad!"
President Obama has repeatedly dealt with the thorny issue of the company he keeps -- or kept. Nancy Killefer, Obama's pick to be Chief Performance Officer, dropped out of contention Tuesday due to income tax issues. Hours later, former Senator Tom Daschle withdrew his candidacy for Health and Human Services secretary after news of his tax problems surfaced.
Oops! Sorry about that. Killefer and Daschle join the illustrious ranks of Wright, Ayers, Balgojevich and ACORN in the ones-I-thought-I-knew-but-now-I'd-like-to-distance-myself-from club.
Nadya Suleman, 33, the woman who gave birth to octuplets this week, already had six children before that, and as it turns out, conceived all 14 of the children through in vitro fertilization. She is also not married, but has been obsessed with having children since she was a teenager, her mother said.
Reportedly, the sperm donor for all of them was the same man, but his identity is being disputed.
Suleman wants something like $2 million for medical bills by being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer and other media giants. But Gerber and other baby-product manufacturers are running in the other direction. The idea of tacitly approving her actions through public support or product endorsement would send an unseemly message, it seems.
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