It’s not just new technology. It’s effectively the only technology. You had plenty of warning it was coming, so the expectation and assumption all networks are working under now is that everyone has access to the new tech, because you can no longer buy the old tech.
I would’ve thought, though, that there’s a setting in your digital box, or whatever you have, to tell it you have a 4:3 TV, so it will adjust appropriately on the fly. But I don’t know what kind of systems the US is using; perhaps that isn’t an option for everyone.
I had plenty of warning that widescreen format was going to become the standard? I don’t recall that. (Not saying it didn’t happen - I just didn’t notice it.)
I think we were supposed to assume that from the fact that we were going from analog to digital. Honestly, being a tech geek I sort of understand that position, but now that I think about it, I always remember the conversion being referenced in terms of digital conversion, not HDTV conversion. The two are synonymous in my mind, but I can certainly understand how others might not see it that way.
Of course since I never actually paid attention I don’t really know what the official line was.
I was thinking, “but why are they using the whole heigth of the screen, instead of using the whole width and having black bars at the top and bottom?” Movies have been shown with those two bars for ages, so it’s not like they would need to invent how. The only reason I can come up with is “utter stupidity”, but I guess that’s reason enough, sadly. My mother’s TV and the one in my house are both 4:3 and they get the widescreen stuff with the bars; Spain went digital last year.
My Samsung blue-ray player fills me with grrrr. I use it mostly to watch Netflix. Practically everytime I go to use it, it won’t work. If I select it from the Samsung tv remote, it will power up, begin to start up, then… nothing. I turn it off with the tv remote. Turn it back on with the blue-ray player remote. Sometimes this fixes the problem. (Uh, hello? The only reason I bought a Samsung BD is because I was told it would integrate seamlessly via one remote since I had a Samsung tv.) However, many times I have to physically turn it off and back on via the control panel on the actual player. Christ, I just want to turn it on and have it work!
Then, when I do get it to power up correctly, I go to Netflix and am told that Netflix can’t start due to network interference.
Fuck! Physically turn the player off. Turn it back on. Netflix works fine.
I’ve been making plans to remodel my bathrooms starting with the masterbath, which is actually smaller. I was going to skip retiling the shower because I was trying to save money and I thought it was beyond my skill at this point. I thought the shower actually looked pretty good in spite of the pale yellow tile. Well, I was wrong. I noticed a loose tile so I pulled it out and there is nothing left behind it, the drywall is completely rotted, and it’s drywall not cement board. So the whole shower is going to be on drywall and probably all rotten, since it was built in the 70’s.
So I am going to have to get good at both drywall/cement board hanging and tiling.
That sound really familiar, like someone here had that exact same experience (or I saw it on a home reno show). Well, no time like the present to do it up right this time!
And, what did you learn about pulling on loose tiles? That’s like cleaning a spot on your wall - did you really want to make an obvious clean spot?
The federal government may fund a national committee to oversee plans for events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Apart from the issue of spending tax dollars on this, some are also worried that not everyone will bask in the rosy glow of history:
"Michael Givens, commander in chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, hopes the Civil War commissions will look at all sides and not play a “p.c. game” blaming only the Confederacy."*
Yeah, can’t have none of that p.c. stuff. Here’s language Mr. Givens might be willing to accept:
“The [del]Civil War[/del] War of Northern Aggression was begun [del]when Confederates attacked Fort Sumter[/del] over Yankee provocations, with the central issue being [del]slavery[/del] oops [del]states’ rights[/del] nah, not p.c. enough self-determination.”
The stink that stank is bringing me down. In the couple of miles between my house and work I pass through an area of stench. There’s no other way to describe it. I didn’t smell it last week, but on Monday, blam. A strong smell of sulfur. At first, I thought it was my car, then everyone at work complained about the same thing during their trips in. Now it’s sulfur with an overlay of sewage or rot and maybe burning.
It got so bad the other day that as I was driving home I started gagging. And the interior of my car has a stuck stink. Just the faintest hint of stinkity stink.
I realize times are tight, but putting your kids in shoes that are two sizes too big is just downright cruel. I know these boots are expensive and you’d like to get your money’s worth out of them, but I simply cannot agree with you that “it’ll be okay for now” when your child is having trouble walking because their feet are slipping all over the inside of those boots. Do you want him to live with constant blisters and even crappier balance than what growing kids are used to? No, he does not want to wear two pairs of thick socks with them. That’s why he’s telling you he doesn’t like them. Too big shoes are just as uncomfortable as too small shoes. Would you wear your shoes two sizes too big, you tool?
Yes, I realize they grow fast; I have two of my own. But seriously, I can already see that you’re willing to let him continue wearing shoes well past proper fit and it looks like you’re trying to skip three sizes so you can reduce the clothing budget for your kids. I hate to say this because I really do sell quality shoes, but you if price is your chief concern over quality, may I suggest Wal-Mart? You can buy three pairs of shoes for the cost of these sale boots that you’re looking at. Your child will be much better off in cheaper shoes that actually fit.
