[opendtv] Re: Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
- From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 14:52:48 -0800
I'd recommend "Serving Two Masters" on Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.
What gets me about most "peak oil" arguments is that they tend to ignore the
plain realities that when oil prices get higher (which I am not advocating,
but which is something that happens when there is more demand than supply)
previously capped oil wells that the drillers found to be uneconomic to run
with low prices, suddenly become profitable again. And, there is more
incentive to use shale oil, synthetic fuels, even turning foodstocks
(economically) into oil.
Then, there is also the question as to how and on what time scale the Earth
makes more oil. That oil comes from crushed plants and dinosaurs is at this
point, only a loose hypothesis, at best. I can't say that the Earth
continually generates oil on a rapid time scale, in a fashion that will
solve all our problems, but I can't say that isn't the case.
I can also say that the end of petroleum for transportation (as a former
reporter covering transportation) had been predicted for 1919, 1923, 1926
(Spindletop took care of that for a few years), 1929, 1939, 1947, 1954, and
on and on .
And, I'm not a big user of oil. I own no car, use public transit, walk, and
ride a bicycle. I have no heating or a/c at home, and my electric bill is
about $7 for two months. And, the country I reside in is a net exporter of
oil. Oil fueled all but the earliest stage of the industrial revolution,
and is even more important in the Information Age. It also made what we
know as suburbia possible.
John Willkie
_____
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Barry Wilkins
Enviado el: Friday, January 09, 2009 2:35 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
That book, John, is "The Long Emergency" by James Howard Kunstler.
Specifically pages 232 and 233 with reference to Fanny Mae etc. Riveting
reading in my view. But should you think he is but a lone voice, I suggest
you also refer to another excellent book, "The last oil shock" by David
Strahan . Or "Twilight in the Desert" by Matthew R. Simmons or "The End of
Oil" by Paul Roberts.
All the above authors come from quite different professional backgrounds and
yet all have done intensive studies of this subject.
I would be interested to know your and others opinions of their writings if
you have a chance to peruse them.
Barry
On Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 7:39 AM, John Willkie <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Barry;
Is that book "Serving Two Masters" by Peter Wallison?
John
_____
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Barry Wilkins
Enviado el: Friday, January 09, 2009 3:58 AM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
John, it must be of considerable concern to you that you believe your new
government is likely to dither and behave indecisively. As I understand it,
the US economy (and my own) is somewhat in the "poo" and likely getting more
crappy as the year progresses. I would have thought this is not the time to
be giving away free stuff unless it is food, clothing or shelter.
I am currently reading a fascinating book that predicted the demise of
Freddy Mac and Fanny Mae. Ironically, a particular paragraph started " By
the time you read this book Freddy Mac and Fanny Mae" etc. Yes they have,
and this book was published in 2005! It also predicted that if such an event
should happen, as is likely, through a cascading effect, the world economy
is likely to suffer and the US economy very seriously. I am affaid this book
has many other dire warnings related to the phenomenon of "Peak Oil" and
before anybody labels me an alarmist I should point out that much of what
has been written is substantiated by the latest intensive study by the IEA
(Dec 2008).
So, when your and my country's economies do eventually recover we will
likely be lumbered with the restrictions of energy starvation.
To get back to your original point about decisiveness, yes, I hope that
there is an immediate wake up by the powers that be to the looming dangers
ahead and act decisively accordingly.
Regards
Barry Wilkins
On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 8:12 PM, John Willkie <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Good points all, Barry. Basically, it's a forewarning of how the coming
administration will deal with the smallest forms of adversity; they will
surrender or delay making even moderately firm decisions.
I was thinking after our earlier exchange on this list that the entities
"most hurt" by this will be the television stations whose viewers "skew"
either old or poor. Nobody is guaranteed television, or even free
television. We are very much unlike, say, the UK on that point. Come to
think of it, Freeview did give away receivers .
John Willkie
_____
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Barry Wilkins
Enviado el: Thursday, January 08, 2009 10:01 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
Why, exactly, should at the very last minute, a delay be made to account for
all those who must surely have been adequately forewarned of this momentous
change?
Those coupons your government generously distributes to the needy are
something rather unique to the USA. I do not believe any other countries had
such a handout to the populace. I paid my NZ $399 for my STB and I consider
it well worth it. Your STBs are so cheap in comparison even without the
subsidy, I fail to see what the fuss is about. As I mentioned on one other
occasion, the cost surely must be no more than a good night out at a
restaurant for 2.
So, if adequate warning has been given and the STBs are dirt cheap anyway,
why not get on with it. A certain proportion will accept it is their own
fault for leaving it too long and go get cable or sky. The others will no
doubt zoom off to the nearest store to get an STB at any cost.
Reception with dubious antennas may be another story...
Good luck with your transition!
Barry Wilkins
On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 12:37 PM, John Willkie <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Tom;
It is VERY DANGEROUS to personalize attorneys working for private clients as
if they were something more than wage slaves advocating for a well-paying
client.
Eric Holder as AG is a different matter, at least as pertains to the pardon
of Marc Rich. Holder was working on a discretionary matter and was supposed
to be representing the United States, not the Democratic Party. Never befor
has someone who was a fugitive from justice been pardoned. I suspect his
nomination hearings will largely be a rubber-stamping session in the current
climate.
Also, it's a non-sequitur to be in favor of an empty vessel (Obama) because
you were disgusted with the Bush Administration. George Bush hasn't been on
a ballor since 1984.
When you're an empty vessel that people pour their dreams into, it doesn't
take much to disaffect people. Making no decisions is easier than making
decisions.
John Willkie
-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Tom Barry
Enviado el: Thursday, January 08, 2009 3:13 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
I strongly supported Obama due to my disgust with many actions of the
Bush administration.
But Obama certainly is not getting off to a very good start on some
issues that I care about. Delaying the transition is a very bad idea
right now.
And two of the people he is appointing to the justice department are a
couple of my least favorite IP monopoly lawyers that prosecuted the
carpet bombing of mp3 download lawsuits and defended the Mickey Mouse
interminable copyright extension before the Supreme Court. It looks
like Obama is going to go with Biden's position on these types of issues.
So I guess the honeymoon is already over for me. <sigh>
- Tom
John Willkie wrote:
> Elections have consequences, but I thought that we only had one president
at
> a time. Delaying the inevitable will do about nothing to get people to
buy
> converter boxes. I always thought the idea of doing the transition in the
> middle of a Nielsen sweep would be interesting.
>
>
>
> John Willkie, who notes that anything that Ed Markey supports is by
> experience, very foolish.
>
>
>
> _____
>
> De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
> nombre de James Albro
> Enviado el: Thursday, January 08, 2009 12:13 PM
> Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Asunto: [opendtv] Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
>
>
>
> Here we go...
>
> Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
>
>
> By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/8/2009 2:30:00 PM
>
>
> Related:
> The <http://www.broadcastingcable.com/Community/DTV+Countdown/48696.html>
> DTV Countdown: Complete Coverage of the DTV Transition
> Markey: Feb. <http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6627445.html> 17
> DTV Date May Have To Move
>
> President-elect Barack Obama has asked Congress to extend the Feb. 17 DTV
> transition date.
>
> Citing problems with the DTV-to-analog converter box program and
"inadequate
> funding" of government DTV education programs, John Podesta, co-chair of
the
> Obama-Biden transition team, requested that "the cut-off date for analog
> signals should be reconsidered and extended."
>
> That is according to a letter (click
> <http://www.broadcastingcable.com/contents/pdf/Podesta%20DTV%20Letter.pdf>
> here to view) being sent Thursday to the chairs and ranking Republicans on
> the House and Senate Committees overseeing communications (The House
Energy
> & Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce Committee).
>
> Saying that only 28 days after the inauguration Americans would wake up to
> find their analog TV's no longer able to receive an over-the-air
signal-and
> pointing to the decision on the date made in 2005 and implemented by the
> outgoing administration-Podesta urged them to "consider a change to the
> legislatively mandated cut-off date."
>
> He said that funds to support the conversion are "woefully inadequate,"
> particularly to address the problems of seniors and low income viewers.
>
> He also suggested that there would be money from the president-elect's
> economic recovery package that would help address the funding shortfalls.
>
> Consumers
>
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/contents/pdf/CU_DTV%20Letter%20to%20House%
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/contents/pdf/CU_DTV%20Letter%20to%20House%
25>
> 20Commerce_FINAL.PDF> Union, which called for a similar move Wednesday
> after consultation with the transition, has suggested moving the date to
> midsummer.
>
> C 2009, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All
> Rights Reserved.
>
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts: