Go check. Right now. Leave your computer, turn on PBS and make sure we're still there. Oh good, that's a relief.

People have been trying to get us worried for years that the conversion to digital TV was going to deprive us of our television. We delayed the switchover date numerous times. We spent millions in taxpayer dollars to bail-out those who needed to buy a converter box so they could feed over-the-air digital signals into their old analog television sets. And we argued over whether or not Americans have a "right" to TV. This in a country which can't bring itself to acknowledge a right to health care.

And what did we get? Well the over-the-air broadcasters, who a decade or more ago enticed us with visions of ultra-high quality signals and interactive programming have instead given us mostly more of the same. And even though these over-the-air broadcast channels are supposed to be the property of the people, the broadcasters got their new digital channels for free. They did have to give up their old analog channels, which the government is selling. Why these channels are sold instead of rented, which would provide a continuing revenue stream, I've never been able to figure out.

I still like TV. And I like my new wide-screen digital TV even better. But I find virtually all the programs I like are on the cable channels. And it is on the cable channels that the high definition signals really shine. We didn't need to upset the over-the-air broadcasters for that. The reality based junk they keep running looks just as inane in digital as it did before the conversion.