Big Government, TV, and Nonsense

The legislature has enacted a billion-dollar bill to provide coupons to help people purchase converter boxes so that they will successfully transition from analog to digital television signals.  (Analog = "over the air" or "bunny ears", digital = "cable, dish, etc.")  Only the people on analog ("over the air") signals will be affected.

There are only a few channels that broadcast over the air.  Just the locals, for the most part.

Why is it, then, that this advertisement about the government-sponsored coupons for a converter box are showing up on digital-only channels?  We've seen the commercial on A&E, Lifetime, and ESPN -- none of which broadcast "over the air" signals anywhere in the U.S.

It's those people who get those channels who are precisely the ones who don't need the coupons.  That's weird.  I mean, why is this commercial running on digital-only channels?

I have some thoughts, but I'm curious as to what you'll say.

China, the Olympics, and Human Rights

This year, for the first time, I am boycotting the Olympic games.

It's not because I don't like the Olympics -- I do. Very much. But starting on August 8, the 2008 Summer Olympics will be held in Beijing, China.

So why am I boycotting?

1. Because for every one story published like this one, there are a hundred "incidents" that go unpublished. The Chinese response to protest? Beat the protesters and imprison them. So how does China get ready for the games? They expel approximately 1.5 million residents from the city -- including vagrants and the mentally ill.
   
   
2. Quite simply, freedom does not exist in China. At least in the way that Americans think of freedom. I personally know people who have been beaten and/or imprisoned in China because of their religious beliefs. Is that the type of country and the type of government that we want to support?

American support of something as big as the Olympic games means one of two things: either you are ignorant of what really goes on in China, or you know what goes on in China and you don't care. If you've made it this far in my post, you now know that every day the Chinese government commits innumerable human rights violations. (China Aid Association keeps up with these pretty well. Thanks, Bob Fu.)

And so you'll have a choice this coming summer. You can buy the merchandise, watch the programming, support the Olympics, and turn a blind eye to the ongoing silent atrocities in China. That, or you can boycott the Olympics with me.

No one in their right mind would support an Olympics in the Darfur region of Sudan, Liberia, Rwanda, or any one of a dozen other places because of the unashamed ongoing human rights violations. Why then, knowing what we know about China, do so many support these Olympic games?

I'm not willing to sacrifice this one on the altar of entertainment...

Crayon Physics, The Kid in You, and Fun

Check this out...simply amazing:


And an article to boot:
http://www.slate.com/id/2186848/?GT1=38001

Planned Parenthood, Race-Particular Abortion, and Statutory Rape

Planned Parenthood is apparently doing two things:

1. They are accepting money specifically for abortions of black babies.

This is from a transcript of a phone interview with an employee of Planned Parenthood:

• Caller: Great, because I really faced trouble with affirmative action, and I don't want my kids to be disadvantaged against black kids. I just had a baby; I want to put it in his name.
• Planned Parenthood: Yes, absolutely.
• Caller: And we don't, you know we just think, the less black kids out there the better.
• Planned Parenthood: (Laughs) Understandable, understandable.

Here are some articles that might help:

• Abortions Earmarked By Race: An investigation of Planned Parenthood's money (from UCLA's The Advocate)
• Undercover Investigation Reveals Planned Parenthood's Racism: Planned Parenthood agreed to take donations earmarked to reduce numbers of blacks (from LifeSite News)
  

2. They are turning a blind eye -- and in some cases deliberately covering up -- cases where underage girls come in to have an abortion when they have been impregnated by older men (i.e. statutory rape).

Here is a report from Dallas' own WB33 on Planned Parenthood's cover-up of statutory rape:

A Robber, an Old Lady, and Jesus...

...were all in the car together.



Thanks to the wife for this great story.

Hulu, TV Shows, and User-Driven Content

A really neat website launched today: Hulu.

It allows you to watch full-length TV episodes from a variety of shows. It’s definitely worth a look. Plus, it’s legal and free.

It won't replace TV, but Hulu is a good alternative to watching that one episode of your favorite show that you missed.

Coolness, Despair.com, and Fun

Tomfoolery, Despair.com, and Fun

Gilligan's Isle, Mary Ann, and Mary Jane

This inspires me:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080311/ap_en_tv/people_dawn_wells

Apparently when you're on an island for a long time, you learn to cultivate the earth in such a way that helps pass the time.

Bad News, Home Schooling, and California

Bad news for home schoolers from the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/07/MNJDVF0F1.DTL

Focus on the Family's article provides an opportunity for you to sign a petition (the link is at the bottom of the page): http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000006717.cfm