Did you pick up your digital TV converter box?  I sure hope you've already gotten and used your coupon, because the US government program designed to ease the transition from old analog sets to new digital sets has just run out of money.  As it turns out, everyone applied for those coupons, rather than just the people who actually need to get over the air TV signals.

That's right, over $1.3 billion dollars has been spent, just so people could continue to watch TV.  When did getting to vegetate in front of the tube become a right?  Oh right, never. 

Most American households (88% according to a JD Power report from 2006) subscribe to cable or satellite; government estimates suggested that there are fewer than 20 million US households who have TVs that depend on over the air signals, and over 46 million coupons have been shipped out.  Of course, since this is the government, 13 million of those coupons have already expired, but I guess that doesn't actually free up money quickly enough (or the money has already been spent).

If you haven't picked up your converter box by now, you might have to wait until after the February 17 changeover date to get a little government relief.  Until then, there's always Hulu!