By now, perhaps, you already have your converter box for the transition to digital TV. And if you have used it at all, you have discovered that the signal is either good enough or not -- there is nothing in between -- and you may not get in all your favorite channels as well as you hoped. That was my problem. And I also wanted to pick up some new PBS stations I had heard about

Antennaweb.org is a helpful Web site with a tool to help you figure out what antenna will help you get the best over the air reception possible. After you put in your zip code, it tells you what stations are possible for you to pick up, and what type of antenna you need, depending upon which channels you are interested in.

Based upon information I found there, I researched more about indoor antennas, and came upon the Terk HDTVa. (Note: The link is to the Best Buy Web site. The price in the store was more, and I had to point out the ad price to them. It is even cheaper at Radio Shack's Web site, and you can pick it up in their store. And cheaper still at several online stores including Amazon.)

With this new antenna, Channel 50 now comes in much more stably. All other local channels have more strength. And now I can pick up 2 more PBS channels from Flint -- 28.1 and 28.2. I am pleased about that, but I don't understand why I can get that channel from about 60 miles away, but others that are closer (but still distant) I don't pick up. Or at least, I haven't figured out how yet. It is a directional antenna, and it took me a while to figure out exactly how to position it to pick up the Flint channels, and it wasn't even what I expected. I lose the signal if I put the antenna too high -- I thought higher was better, but evidently sumothing gets in the way higher up.

It stands less than a foot tall, and the fishbone arm is about a foot long, so with a little creativity, it can be made to blend in to the decor much better than old style rebbit ears. (It has rabbit ears, but I have them completely collapsed and put away; don't need them.)

I also tried this RCA. It looks nice and would be even easier to hide. Reception with it was slightly better than my old rabbit ears -- Channel 50 was a little stronger and more stable -- but not good enough to pick up 28.1 and 28.2. I see there is an amplified version of that one, which I did not try. However, customer reviews at online sites seem more numerous and more positive for the Terk than any RCA antenna.

Lies and more lies

You thought that it would stop after the elections. But no. You thought that the crisis we are in is big enough that they would put aside all pettiness, and work for the common good. But no. Have these people no scruples? Do they not care what the truth is? Are they so hell-bent on having their way like spoiled children that they will tell bald-faced lies and keep their fingers crossed you won't find out? Evidently.Have they no shame? Apparently not.

I am speaking, of course, about certain so-called "conservatives".

How else to explain the false statements by a long list of "conservatives" speaking out against the stimulus package because it supposedly contained $30 million for mice? What other explanation can there be for stating that the stimulus bill contains very scary provisions that would dictate to your doctors what treatment they can give you, and lead to rationing of health care?

Here are the facts:

• There are no mice in the bill. Even Republican staffers admit such claims about mice in the bill are falsehoods. Knowing this does not stop the Republicans from repeating the falsehoods over and over and over. Someone once said if you are going to tell a lie, make it a big one, and tell it over and over again and the public will believe it.
• The stimulus package would fund a system of electronic medical records -- just as candidate Obama promised during his campaign -- to help make sure that whatever doctor you go to would have complete and accurate information about your medical conditions to treat you effectively, avoid errors, and lower the administrative costs of health care. The bill also mentions a National Coordinator for Health Information, but this is not new a new position; it has been in existence for years already. There is nothing in the bill about dictating anything to anyone or rationing health care. That was all made up to scare you. The false claims are funded by big pharmaceutical lobbyists. See the video coverage below.

Now, I know it is too late in the game for you to be too concerned about the details of what is or is not in the bill. In the bigger scheme of things, though, we must ask ourselves whether we will tolerate and support such bad behavior from certain elected officials and certain media when so much is at stake, when they make clear they are looking out not for your best interests, but for those of others with lots of money to spend.

Fun with GPS

This guy is British, so he calls it "sat-nav".

To those who delay stimulus in Congress: Get Real! (Rachel Maddow)