Warning: Get Yo' Self a New TV

As HDTV becomes a reality, the reality of being forgotten in time by DTV will become apparent to those couch potatoes who buy analog only TV’s. Always vigilant against consumer terror, US Representatives Joe Barton (R-Texas), Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois), and Fred Upton (R-Michigan) have proposed a Surgeon General style sticker. "This television is obsolete," will be featured prominently at the center of a new warning label. The goal? Prevent consumers from being duped by commission happy Circuit City employees and their ilk.

As pictured above, the label states, "This TV has only analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after Feb. 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts." I like the bomb icon, it has an "Amber Alert" quality to it.

And if this does seem a bit “over the top,” consider that federal statutes mandate the cessation of standard analog band broadcasting (though no later than 4/2009). This means, for many, getting a new TV (or converter box), or subscribing to Reader’s Digest. Although, there are some controls in place. Currently, manufacturers are banned from producing analog only 25" or larger TV’s. And beginning in March, that requirement will extend to all sets larger than 13", as well as to VCRs.

I have to say I am amused by, if not a proponent of, the proposed label by tech outlet Ars Technica.

Freedom of Wiki--1st Amendment Skirmishes over Zyprexa Documents Leaks Online

On January 16, the Eastern District of New York will host the legal battle over the controversial prescription Drug Zyprexa and wiki users’ First Amendment right of free speech. The battle revolves around the “side effect” of an ongoing lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and how some documents, meant to be sealed by court order, found their way to various web servers and a wiki (www.zyprexa.pbwiki.com). The battle will feature the EFF’s lead attorney Fred von Lohmann (also argued on behalf of Grokster) who will defend the rights of a citizen-journalist to link from a public wiki to electronic copies of damaging Lilly documents relating to Zyprexa.

For a New York Times article discussing the case – go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/15/technology/15link.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

For the full motion filed by the EFF – go to http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/zyprexa/zyprexa_motion.pdf