[Xutrsavf]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Public TV in the US sucks.

I don't see the problem with public television supported by advertising and the general tax pool. It obviates the need for an odious fundraising method like TV registration fees, yet it allows far higher production values than those provided by the public television system in the US. Okayyyy. Public Television in the U.S. is supported by contributions, advertising (those little sponsorship bits at the beginning and end of programs), and federal taxes. The production values vary quite a bit, largely because the programming sources vary quite a bit. If you want local news type production values then I suggest watching BBC news or other BBC programs which are shown widely on American Public Television.

This isn't a state television network, it was designed to fill some of the gaps in programming that the commercial networks largely miss, like educational and high cultural programming. They produce far fewer of their own shows than most networks, but provide a great opportunity for producers of documentaries etc. to reach a wide audience. They also provide their viewers with some international programming (almost entirely BBC reruns or news from Britain, Ireland, Germany).

[Yarmark]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
I know what public TV in the US shows. I grew up receiving Vermont ETV

But there's no reason that PTV couldn't sell real advertising, making it possible for them to do more in-house production.

They would still be distinguished by having federal support, and could thus maintain their distance from the standard broadcast networks. I wouldn't be against that, it's not much of a change. I'd actually prefer that federal support be eliminated or at least kept to a minimum, as congress is more tempted to interfere with programming the more money they provide. In fact I stopped supporting the two local PBS stations after they both used air time to lobby for money from the federal government last year, which I viewed as a violation of their mission. I want them to work for their viewers, not for the government.

[encumeterz]

Just buy any new TV in an EU country which doesn't charge the TV tax and then watch TV knowing you dodged an unnecissary tax.

[@Aerodyno@]

Think of all the er.. artistic naturalist.. stuff I'll miss out on when I revert to one sixth the speed..

[AllAdobeOEMSoftDownload]

Then either elect different people into office or accept that it is the will of the majority.

[nuveem7070]

You redhead. What is chat nazi up to?

[megasprut]

Well I'm a saint, what can I say?

[skiboyx]

How do you define speed of the internet connection? We are 300 people sharing a 30Mb connection, so for now I calculate that as having a 100Kb connection .

That failing, there is also another issue - what if you have a connection which have different max speeds to different parts of the internet? For example connections with lower international than nation speeds are quite normal.

The only sane way to determine if you should pay media license in that case is to measure the speed to the web sites of our license money receivers, DR and TV2.

Now it so happens that I am part of committee who control our gateway server in my kollegium. That is, I am capable of limiting the size of my own internet connection selectively to DR and TV2 to 255Kb .

Winston: try asking you internet provider for a 255Kb (ie not 256Kb) internet connection .

[neictscek]

Originally posted by Thue
How do you define speed of the internet connection? We are 300 people sharing a 30Mb connection, so for now I calculate that as having a 100Kb connection . Just sign up for one of the satalite internet services and refuse to pay this unfair tax. Denmark doesn't own the satalites and the foreign companies which do probably don't care about Danish tax policies.

[pipojambo]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
No.

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/servic...employment.htm THe link didn't work, but I found this amusing:

Though we are a nation of diverse cultures and backgrounds, we are bound by our shared history, the common civic values set forth in our founding documents, and the English language.

Welcome to the United States is available online in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Portuguese, French, and Haitian Creole. Each translation is available electronically in Adobe PDF format.

[NudiJuicervich]

Originally posted by Winston
Heh. It's the weather alright. When I met with Ozzy in Washington last summer, I was in an almost liquid state.

Both the times I've visited the U.S., I've mostly had to deal with a climate that is either much hotter, much more humid, or a combination of the two, than what I'm used to from home. And those visits have been to a variety of places, ~15 states total.
Yep, anywhere in the 48 contiguous states can be way too hot in summer. You have to retreat to the mountains or something.

Alaska is great.

[Imihooniump]

Originally posted by Winston
Ok, so I'm finally online again after a 23 days, 19 hours, 3 minutes and 21 seconds hiatus.

But as was to be expected, it'll take some getting used to this 160 K connection compared to my old 1 M one.

#%&@?*! damn commies You are taking the hard way out. My strategy is simple to not allow the inspector to come in of he comes by - he has no right to come in. If he asks if I have a computer then I don't answer.

I am technically breaking the law, but as long as I do not actually watch any TV, then my conscience doesn't have any problems. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience .

[styhorporry]

Originally posted by Thue
But actually I would think they would not get access to the records of who has an internet connection. I have the impression that we have pretty strict laws against datamining and crosschecking personal information from databases.

Finally, Are you quite sure that you don't have to pay if you have a connection of less than 256Kb? I think I heard someone say that the 256Kb was unofficial. Isn't this is a bit of a pseudo-issue, since you do have a computer and a connection?

Our personal information laws are very strict, yes, but in matters of public authorities obtaining information to enforce laws and regulations, unfortunately (?) they're strict in another sense of the word than the casual observer would think.. Believe me, I've worked within "the system" for far too long to hold any illusions. If Danmarks Radio wants to check whether you've got a license-due connection, they will have the means to do so. But I guess we'll have to wait and see for a while. An unusually low level of information has been made public on how this new law is to be enforced, presumably due to the low number of people directly affected by it.

The 256 K threshold is a "preliminary" cut-off point, as according to Danmarks Radio, in all their unfailing wisdom, this speed is required for viewing television streams of "adequate" quality. -- Pah!