Today Show : Wallerstein

I complained quite a bit to pretty much anyone who would listen about the switch to digital television that occurred this past summer. I hate to go all cranky old man on the switch, but I just couldn't understand why anyone would want to take the crappy system of free television and replace it with an even crappier one. In Chicago I couldn't get CBS. I fired off a cranky old man email to them and received this response about a month later:

Hi Drew,

Thank you for your recent inquiry. On June 12th we will begin
transmitting on VHF channel 12 from Sears Tower, and doubling the output
power, after that date if you are still experiencing problems please get
back to me for additional assistance.

We currently transmit on VHF channel 3. You require a Roof Mounted
UHF/VHF antenna with 8-10' long elements, in good working order. Small
plastic antennas or rabbit ears will not work.

Sincerely,

Paul S. Rodriguez
WBBM-TV Chicago

I never got CBS in Chicago after the switch. Oh well, I have it in Philadelphia now. Suck it Rodriguez!

Plus, the green light on my government subsidized digital converter box turns on and off periodically leading me to believe that I'm being monitored in some way.

Anyway, I get some additional channels with the converter box. I've been watching the Vuelta on NBC's Universal Sports station. Sometimes I get Aussie Rules Football, which as far as I can tell has no rules at all. On weekday mornings from 8 to 9 the Universal Sports channel airs RT, some sort of Russian news agency that broadcasts in English. Immanuel Wallerstein was on this morning. Here's the video.



I'm a big fan of Wallerstein. I like the idea that the crisis that transforms the world system is always only a couple years away. I feel like he's been saying this since the 1970's, but it's fun to imagine.