it's 2008 - are you digital-equipped?

Our decision to build a natural home and eliminate unnecessary technology couldn't have come at a better time, what with the plan for all US television networks switching to digital broadcasting. While the rest of America is blowing cash on new digital televisions, converters, and HDMI switches to try and patch all of their non-compliant video components into their new higher fidelity systems, we'll be happily ignorant of the latest reality TV shows. I could probably go on and on about the obvious conspiracy theories behind this forced switch, but instead I'll just laugh at the fact that it doesn't affect me anyways.

We had already given up on cable and television more than two years ago, but we've kept a couple of older TV's around for watching old VHS and DVD movies. Our move to "the sticks" will probably further our retreat from television, as we are considering ditching the TV altogether and using solar-charged laptops for the occasional movie instead. (Watching movies on a laptop can be headache-inducing, so we're also hoping this this will help nix our desire to do it very often.)

Many of our friends and family think we are crazy for giving up television, but we believe that our kids are better behaved and more intelligent because of it. The truth is that television is a little like church. When you haven't seen it in a while, any chance viewing feels alien and uncomfortable and only reinforces your reasons for abstaining from it in the first place.