February 17, 2009 – No DTV Transition – It Has Been Delayed until June 12, 2009

Today was to be the day that digital television was to make it’s mandatory debut all across the nation. However, President Barack Obama scored another victory by requesting the transition be delayed until June 12, 2009. Millions of people would have been affected by this transition. Many homes are unprepared as they don’t have the money to buy the digital converters to interpret the digital signal into a usable signal for analog television sets. The delay allows people time to get the converters and be ready when the transition takes place on June 12, 2009.

For more resources on the digital TV transition, please visit the links below.

DTV Answers

DTV2009.gov

Digital TV Transition - en Espanol

Digital TV Transition

DTV Fact Sheet – English

DTV Fact Sheet – Spanish

DTV.gov

cnet News

DTV Transition.org

Iowa Public TV

Consumer Reports – Digital Television Information

zdNet – Digital+Televison (tags)

HubPages – Digital TV Transition Guide

Yours in the DTV transition,

Joseph R. Mays

White House and Congress Agree on Stimulus Plan

After President Barack Obama went on television emphasizing his point about how serious the financial crisis is, a response was brokered by Congress to get the stimulus plan rolling and signed into law. President Barack Obama said that NOW is the time for ACTION.  Now is NOT to time tobe sitting around bickering and taking bipartisan stances. Not when the American people need us to help get the country moving in the right direction again. Thouands of jobs are being lost all across the country and businesses are shutting down and/or going bankrupt in record numbers. The desired objective/outcome of stimulus plan is to create new jobs, put money in taxpayers hands and jumpstart the economy.

For more on this story, please visit Yahoo! News.

Yours in news that matters to YOU,

Joseph R. Mays

New Fair Pay Act Signed into Law

President Barack and Michelle Obama shed the spotlight on a new bill called the Fair Pay Act that is intended to ensure that fair pair is given to workers for performing a job. All too often women are paid less than their male counterparts to their detriment. If a woman (sometimes the situation is reversed and it is a man) is working as an engineer, she might receive less pay for the SAME work. This bill was crafted to ensure that if she (or he) does the same work as a man (or woman) then they should be paid the same/equal pay. For more details on this story, please visit the Christian Science Monitor.

Yours in equal rights for all,

Joseph R. Mays

US Postal Service Proposes a Five-Day Delivery Week Due to Budget Shortfall

The United States Postal Service is running a proposal for approval past Congress for eliminating one delivery day to help stave off the costs of operating under the current economic conditions. The post office says it losing money by operating on these slow delivery days.
For more on this story visit the LA Times.

Yours in economic news that affects you,

Joseph R. Mays

House Defeats Bill to Delay Digital Television Transition until June

In a stinging slap to the face of American citizens and President Barack Obama, the House selfishly defeated a bill that would have delayed the transition to digital television from February to June. All praises to the Senate for trying to put the needs of the country FIRST and being compassionate. Members of the House need to sit out for a while without jobs, with a foreclosed home and without a working TV set to see how they would feel. Money is being dealt out to all these financial institutions and consumers are getting shafted even more. More CHANGE is needed to ensure that citizens have a government that is truly FOR the people and BY the people. Many people cannot afford the cost of the digital TV transition and need some more time to get ready. Additionally, the Digital TV Converter Coupon Program had run out of money and many people are on the waiting list for coupons.

For more on this story visit the Washington Post.

If this affects you or someone you know, please take action and write our elected officials and express your opinion on matters that are near and dear to you or someone else you care about.

Yours in fairness in government policy and decision making,

Joseph R. Mays

Decorate the White House Your Way with Ikea’s Oval Office – ‘Embrace Change”

I found something fun for you today. I came across a web page that IKEA has built to allow people to build their version of the Oval Office. It features a contest where you submit your idea to actually get a chance to win YOUR OWN Oval Office. Contest ends on February 16, 2009. Try it and have fun and may the winner be one of you.

Embrace Change 09

Yours in fun and Oval Office decorating,

Joseph R. Mays

A Little Late, but Kudos to John McCain

I voted for Barack Obama and my dream came true. I was there on the National Mall when he took his oath of office on January 20, 2009. It was a moment in time I will NEVER forget. I also want to make sure that people don’t forget about John McCain. A lot of people may talk about “more of the same” and rightfully so, but I am not here to talk about that. I am here to talk about his character and how gracious he was on Election Day. I really appreciate his style and the way he handled himself after Senator, now President, Barack Obama won the election. As far as I am concerned, both men won. He could have been bitter and slung mud and called for a recount or something else negative, but he didn’t. He was human, he was gracious and collected and gave credit to Barack Obama for a well-fought contest. I already had respect for him on account of his war record. He asked his own camp to cease and desist with the boos. Basically he said “we’re better than that and the better man won”. “We need to act accordingly and with dignity and respect not only for Barack Obama, but for ourselves as well”. That too, was a great moment in history that won’t go down as high as Barack Obama’s Inauguration, but it still should be remembered as a great day in partisan politics when the other party concedes in such a manner. It moved me. I salute you John McCain and I ask that you help Barack Obama be all he can be. I will do my part as well and contribute here online and offline as well. I urge everyone reading this to do the same. When we ALL help each other we are ALL WINNERS!

Yours in political solidarity,

Joseph R Mays

President Obama Supports Postponing Digital Television Switch until June

President Barack Obama urges passage of legislation in Congress that would revive the Digital TV Converter Coupon Program and give more time for citizens to get their digital converters in preparation for the switch from analog TV to digital TV signals.

For more on this story go to wsj.com

Yours in the digital age,

Joseph R. Mays

Previous Post: http://josephrmays.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/barack-obama-asking-congress-to-delay-digital-tv-switch/

More Inauguration Day Traffic and Road Closure Information

From January 19, 2009 to January 21, 2009 it will be understatement to say it will be hard to get around (drive) DC near the Inauguration ceremonies. Just say “No”! If you absolutely must (i.e. part of the Inauguration Day ceremonies), then here is more helpful information to help you get around during Inauguration Day.

NBC – Information on Inauguration Day Road Closures with detailed maps

Appomattox News – Inauguration Day Traffic to Affect Entire State

The Gazette.net – Telecoms Brace for Wireless Traffic

WUSA9.com – Updated Maryland Inauguration Day Road Plan

MSNBC/Associated Press – Inaugurations Tests Troubled Transportation Grid

Potomac Riverboat Company – Avoid the Roads – Take a Boat

BellaOnline – Obama Inauguration 2009 – Avoiding Metro Crowds

Our Inauguration Information Page 1 – Avoid Driving into Washington DC on Inauguration Day if You Can

Thank you to all the visitors to my blog. I am privileged to present this information to you. Please use it to your enjoyment and have a wonderful day on Inauguration Day. Congratulations again to President Barack Obama.

Yours in Inauguration Day information,

Joseph R. Mays

Congress Seeking a Pay Raise while Thousands of Workers are Losing their Jobs

At a time when they were grilling automotive executives about their bonuses and raises our own congressmen and women are voting for their own pay raise. I am not saying that they don’t deserve to get paid for what they do, but I would think it would be wise to forego a pay increase when a lot of America doesn’t know where their next paycheck is coming from or when. It doesn’t show a sense of compassion for these people of whom many lost their jobs due to the economic downturn and they were let go as a result. My heart goes out to the men and women who were victims of this. I wish you much success in finding new employment soon.

For more on this story go here and here.

Yours in support of the American Worker,

Joseph R. Mays