Figured we should just get it out of the way
Power out from Sandy? Need help? Obama tells people to go to the Internet for assistance. Seriously: politi.co/W33wuo
— Todd Kincannon (@ToddKincannon) October 30, 2012
(Politico) When President Barack Obama urged Americans under siege from Hurricane Sandy to stay inside and keep watch on ready.gov for the latest, he left out something pretty important — where to turn if the electricity goes out.
Despite the heightened expectation of widespread power and cable television failures, everyone from the president to local newscasters seem to expect the public to rely entirely on the Internet and their TVs for vital news and instructions.
Kinda difficult when the power is, you know, out. And, hey, thanks to that wonderful Central Government idea of switching to all digital broadcasts (can’t blame this one on Obama), you can’t get TV over the air anymore (I learned this first hand when the power was out for a day after the tornado came through Raleigh in 2011. Have a 2 1/2 battery operated TV). It might have made a bit more sense to tell people to purchase battery operated radios (I have a couple myself).
Internet? Good luck with that. No power. Using mobile phone? Once the battery backups go on the towers, forget it.
#Fail.
We still have cell phone and its internet on NYC and yes that is how I get my info not from the tv
Must be nice to be a member of 10%. Many people don’t have the funds to spend freely for capitalistic toys. Or have so much free money that they can even buy a data plan for their new media-enabled device.
And, I agree Teach. I have actually worse picture now with the digital signal than I had with rabbit ears. And who cares if I get 30 channels now, when 10 are spanish, 4 are shopping channels, 5 are kid shows, and 5 others are the old signal showing old shows.
And, I have more trouble angling my new HD antenna to pick up a minor HD signal now for each channel. And I live 10 miles from the stations.
Before, one might only get a bit more static. Now, the picture will freeze, or get so pixelated that watching is impossible.
And, I can’t say that today’s digital cable is much better.
No more movies of people huddling around a common tv for either a presidential or emergency broadcast. Now, they ask you to go to a web page.
That’s good to hear, John. Sounds like you’re safe, all politics aside.
Apparently, you can now buy a digital compliant portable TV. Of course, that doesn’t help those of us with older ones.