My son is very clever with electronic doodads. He schlepped to Fry’s Electronics and bought me a box thingie, absent whatever offer was to be had from the gummint. And it did take him a while to attach the thing.

Most infuriating is that channels that used to come in just fine now break up or deliver a “no signal” error message. Damn it! We paid WHAT to be told the box and the TV set won’t pick up ordinary broadcast stations????? I can’t watch freaking ABC on your wonderful HD television?

If they think this is going to force this old bat to pony up cash to subscribe to cable TV, they are sooooo wrong. I spent 13 years of my life growing up without television, and I can spend the remaining 13 year sor so of my life in the same deprived status. The public airwaves belong to the taxpayers. We should not have to pay to access them.

But we old bats and codgers DO appreciate young people who can and will set up these systems for us. {love}

On the other hand, this whole DTV transition is pissing me off so much. I am 100% for digital TV but everyone involved with the transition has showed ZERO understanding regarding the real number of people this will impact. I’ve set up 3 (5 if you include the pieces of junk my grandparents initially were given for their coupons) and none of them were easy set ups. And none were even remotely within the abilities of my aged (84 & 88) grandparents who just want to watch the local news and sports. I’ve even seen reasonably competent boomers totally flummoxed. The whole plan needed another 5 years until there was better market penetration of flat panels with built-in tuners. There also needed to be a design competition for the remotes because with bad eyesight and severe arthritis the junk packaged with the boxes are a joke for older users; and I can’t get slightly better universal remotes to talk to the boxes yet.

Ok. Deep breath. That’s my rant. I am currently delivering it almost daily. Youngins like me who are reading: go see if any older person you know needs help. Shoo. This is what we’re good for.

I’m not familiar with the AirPort concept, but it sounds like something I need to investigate. It would be nice to be free of the headphones when I’m cleaning the house. Which I’d better get moving on!

By the way, I discovered your blog about four weeks ago and have truly enjoyed following your life. It’s quite a bonus to read a blog where the writing doesn’t get in the way of the insights. Be well.

My son set up an AirPort for me, so that I can listen to iTunes in the front part of the house, unless my own or a neighbor’s microwave is going. It’s susceptible to interference, but it really IS a neat thing! Right now, the truth is I get more of my news through the Internet than over the broadcast waves. Clearly, that’s going to become more and more the case for all of us as time passes.

Surely as other news outlets die, these programs will not remain free for the taking off the Net. Reporters and editors and producers and webmasters have to eat. No doubt over time we’ll find ourselves paying for these services. But for the nonce, it is good to be able to get them at no charge.

Little did I know that my iPod would introduce me to outstanding NPR, American Public Media (great documentaries and investigative reports), and other programming that is not aired by my local stations. For example, “Think” is a really intelligent daily program produced by the Dallas, Texas NPR affiliate that I’d never heard of until I met the iTunes Store. And none of this downloaded programming costs a penny, although I do support the fund-raising campaigns of the stations associated with the best content.

You can download iTunes without purchasing an iPod and listen to the available programming via your PC, but that doesn’t help make use of drivetime. And speaking of drivetime again, it’s wonderfully liberating to be able to schedule your own listening, instead of having the stations do that for you.

Who loves my iPod more than me? My greyhound. In the 18 months I’ve owned it, our daily walks have gotten longer and longer. I happily walk for miles now that I can be intellectually challenged and/or entertained while going the distance. Also worth mentioning, I made the 14-hour drive to Texas and back last summer by myself and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my time in the car.

And yes, “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer” is available for free by podcast subscription.