Quote Originally Posted by edtyct
If you're willing to go outside the country, you might explore Chinese electronics manufacturers, which have already developed their own HD DVD system and may well have their own HD-capable DVRs. Some people have speculated that the Chinese may well benefit from any format war or other delay involving fair use of HD in this country.
Then off to China I go. Heck, Candide went all over the place to find happiness, right? So does anyone else know of any far eastern manufactured recorders that will allow me to record HDTV? Is there anyone over there that's part of this forum?

Ed, to answer your question, I vote with my pocket book, as the saying goes. I'm also a thorn in the side of my local congressman (yes, it's a man, not a woman and likely won't be for many more years) when he gets the wild idea that I'm not paying attention, and perhaps the most important thing that I do is teach my children to think beyond the obvious.

Specifically, I go to the supermarket with a list and stick to it like religion, I search the net for as much info as I can before I buy anything, I drive a low-fuel consuming stick shift, and I've been known to spend whole days at car dealers to get the deal that I want. I don't read the Times or Wall Street Journal, I skip through commercials, skip through magazines using the index, buy most of my movies second-hand, avoid movie theaters, award shows, and reality shows, but attend my duaghter's recitals, graduations, and games. I avoid fast food, buy organic or at least check the labels, and use cash whenever possible. I read books (remember those?), enjoy good music, and a fine wine whenever I can. I don't have high-speed internet, don't pay for cable or satellite, don't have a cell phone plan (I use my work phone, so I guess that doesn't really count). I give to charity, recycle or compost most everything, carpool, walk or take the bus whenever possible, borrow from friends and relatives (hence my access to lots of good electronics) & lend out as much, and I write letters and postcards more often than most people. Basically, I do everything I can to steer clear of the nonsense that is crammed down our throats at every turn.

And yes, there is still a lot more I could do so I still feel guilty about all the awfull things in the world that my laziness contributes to. I am also a bit of a nut about speakers and since recently, also amps and other components. This is expensive and I'm sure it contributes to slave labor overseas.

I guess like Pangloss, I tend my garden, but I buy really nice bulbs.