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Date Posted: 19:29:59 06/15/09 Mon
Author: jazz
Subject: Sorry - venting here; maybe slightly political

Sorry for the rant but I am so disgusted with our government. Do you remember when 'they' first came out & began talking about the big switch from analog to digital for our TVs? I do. All we needed was this converter box, 'they' said & the gov't would even issue coupons to help out. Then 'they' came out & said we would need rabbit-ear antennas. Lastly 'they' said some of us would need outside antennas. And that is where I drew the line.

- We cannot afford digital or satellite & live too far out in the country for cable
- we cannot afford a new TV with the digital stuff already built in
- we cannot afford an outside antenna

So now we are left out here in tornado alley with no way to get weather warnings. The radio doesn't pick up much out here, especially during a storm, when it is needed most. In order to ease their minds, a local TV station was offering $70 weather radios for half price & they would even tune them for the public. The TV stations had to change over by 12 June 09 because it was a LAW. When did switching from analog to digital become a law?

So let's sum our options up:
- cable, digital or satellite service = $$$
- converter box = $$$
- rabbit ears antennas = $$$
- outside antennas = $$$
- new TV = $$$
- weather radios = $$$
Just follow the money to see who is really profiting. Perhaps an easy way to boost the economy.

Sorry for the rant; I hope it was ok to let my hair down, so to speak. Jewels, if you need to delete this, feel free to do so. (((hugs)))

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Replies:

[> Re: Sorry - venting here; maybe slightly political -- julie, 20:00:28 06/15/09 Mon [1]

Awww jazbo ! I`m sorry ...You do have a point tho ! We have a free store in Cincinnati they were given 200-300 boxes. You had to bring proof of who you were , where you lived and income.
Did you try and scan your box ? They said here that that needed to be done once it was hooked up.
Where we live we can`t get cable because we are is too far off the main road.We do have satellite, my husband cannot function without t.v.
Basic satellite is`nt very expensive at least you would have your regular channels.
You are welcome to vent here any time !!! We are here for you !

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[> Re: Sorry - venting here; maybe slightly political -- jazz, 20:14:27 06/15/09 Mon [1]

Thanks, jewels. Yes, both my sons have scanned the TV/converter several times. Nothing. *sigh* Oh well. That just means I can spend more time on the puter. ahahahaha (((hugs)))

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[> Re: Sorry - venting here; maybe slightly political -- Patty, 21:38:50 06/15/09 Mon [1]

Jazz,
Can you check your TV stations online for the weather? Do you get the Tulsa channels or are there some closer to you in MO? Maybe Joplin? I can give you the Tulsa channels websites and all of them have the weather forecast and radars online. Most Tulsa channels include a part of MO, but I'm not sure how close it comes to you, though. A lot of our storms head your way after leaving here. I know checking online is not the same as just being able to turn on the TV to check on the weather, but maybe it will help a little. If you're like us, though, you may not want to be on the computer during a thunderstorm.

There's also The Weather Channel website (weather.com) to check.

I have a programmable weather radio (tuned just for Tulsa County watches or warnings, in our case) and it seems like it goes off at the drop of a hat, but we do have a lot of tornadoes and threats around here. It will surely wake you up in the night! We got it at Radio Shack, I believe.

If you look into getting a weather radio, be sure to get a programmable one. The 1st one we had wasn't programmable and that thing went off for EVERY watch or warning in the ENTIRE state of OK in 1 night!!! Good grief!!! My husband was working midnights, so he missed it, but I got very little sleep that night because of all the watches and warnings!!! I told him "that thing has to go" and it did! I think they even make little portable ones, about the size of a cordless phone, but I'm not sure. That might be good for us to take to the lake, since our TVs won't work now while we're there. The corps of engineers are really good to come through the campgrounds letting everyone know of bad weather coming our way, though.

Hope you find a good solution. I know I'd not like to live here in tornado alley without some way to know what was going on weather-wise.
Patty

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[> Re: Sorry - venting here; maybe slightly political -- jazz, 06:50:31 06/16/09 Tue [1]

The computer is a great idea except for one thing: when it is storming, I don't get on the puter. I have lost one monitor to a lightning strike. However I do have a friend who will give me a quick call with the weather report, if it's not too late at night. hahahahahaha How did the old timers survive? I guess I am in that boat now, & am sure I am not the only one. Besides, I am having withdrawal. *wink*

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[> Re: Sorry - venting here; maybe slightly political -- Norma, 10:10:53 06/16/09 Tue [1]

Jazz, it sounds like you are on to two things..... first more computer time...... second how the old timers knew to go to the cellar was because they were outside most of the time, much more then this generation ever has or will be. They could see the sky, feel the air, etc. If all of that failed there was always Uncle Bob's bad knee to "predict" the weather, etc. We are talking pre- television and the radio reception was what it was..... You also are right..... I didn't ask for this, it was just thrust upon us with no options as it was presented as a given fact. We all need to ask who passed this law(?) and why(?) Norma

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[> Re: Sorry - venting here; maybe slightly political -- Huskerfan, 11:40:25 06/16/09 Tue [1]

Yes cable is expensive thats for sure. We pay $109 just so my DH can have the movie channels. I do have weatherbug on the puter and if it is on a little thing sounds like a frog when we are in an alert. I got one of the weather radios but it will only go off for other counties. I can not get it to work just for my county. I also have a police radio that doesn't work for police but when we are in a tornado warning I can hear the spotters talking.
Linda

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[> Re: Sorry - venting here; maybe slightly political -- ginnyp, 17:17:53 06/16/09 Tue [1]

What makes me so mad I could spit is the fact that cable, satalite etc is free in Europe after installation fees because it is supported with comercials!!! I can't afford it either but there are comercials on ours and SOMEONE probably the govmint is making big bucks at our expense. Vent on, I am with you on this one .

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