The Emporia Gazette

Bowyer wins at Daytona

Chase Austin is another "local" --- He's a kid out of Lawrence/Eudora. Although a bit inexperienced, at least he's in a car racing.

July 4, 2009 at 5:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Shopping too late

Shopping locally and shopping locally-owned is important. While Jock's Nitch wasn't locally owned, they were at least local.

Check out this website: It's the 3 50 Project -- spend $50 at 3 stores per month to help boost the local / locally owned retail front.

http://www.the350project.net/home.html

Although I'm not much of a shopper, I do put forth the effort to shop locally AND locally-owned, even if I know my dolllars will go further at the cheap discount stores.

Just a thought... Where does your money go when you spend it?

June 18, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

No more 49 after midnight for Dish customers

I find this article amusing.

49 KTKA is owned by The World Company in Lawrence, the same company that also owns the local TV station (Channel 6), the local (and other city) newspaper (Lawrence Journal World among many others), the local cable/phone/broadband company (Sunflower Cable). The Simon family has created quite a communications monopoly in Lawrence.

The Lawrence Journal World ran almost an identical "news" story in the paper. The difference was that the Kansas City ABC affliiate station was "refusing" to allow Sunflower Cable to rebroadcast their station.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/dec...

Supposedly, the KC ABC station was asking for too much money or something which was unfair to Sunflower Cable. And although Sunflower did its "best" to negotiate they could not reach a deal. Now Lawrence cable subscribers have lost their HD ABC feed. Notification was last minute. The Lawrence subscribers are now forced to watch ---- guess which---- KTKA 49 ABC station. (Shocker!!)

Now it looks like The World Company is in retaliation mode and is doing to DISH the same thing. KTKA is asking for too much money and forcing DISH to shut off the station. WOW -- what a coincidence!!!!

The World Company is clearly greedy and manipulative. Nevermind that they offer poor customer service and that people do not like doing business with them.

Good luck DISH subscribers.

January 2, 2009 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Because you asked

Neighbor, I was actually surprised to hear that you were denied converter box coupons. I put in a call to the program and was told that they'll get back to me about why people are being denied, but the representative said that AFTER the initial 22 million coupons have been sent out that the government will be more selective about who qualifies for the coupon. He indicated that not all the 22 million coupons have been sent out and will be researching the denial of coupons.

My advice is to call back, and try to kindly reason with the representative or speak to a supervisor to see if you can indeed qualify for the coupon. It does not make sense to deny someone because they have satellite for one TV, because there is no reason why your other TVs should be left to rot in their dust.

Another thought about your satellite service, buying a used satellite receiver may be a worthwhile solution. Although there may be the issue of a satellite receiver being too old and outdated for their system-- so that is something to be aware of. Perhaps a call to your satellite company about which receiver models work with their system would be worth your time.

This conversion is bound to become more frustrating as people try to evaluate their current situation and try to make the best choices for the changes they need to make.

May 2, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Because you asked

For a cable subscriber, when the digital-to-analog conversion arrives, analog TVs will need a digital cable box to convert the digital signal to an analog signal for the picture to display on their TV.

UNLESS the cable provider chooses to send an analog signal, which may be quite limited to just a handful of channels. This is what will be happening in Lawrence after February 2009. The cable companies do not want to look like the bad guy, there may be people out there who want the most basic TV subscription, and for $20 the cable company will let them have their 20+ analog channels.

This rental box concept is also true of a cable subscriber that wants to receive the HD tier, they must rent an HD cable box (or HD Cable Card) and connect that HD box (card) to their HD TV to receive those HD channels. The cable company will then send them the special HD signal which their HD cable box will process and organize then send onto their HD TV.

You have to remember that these cable boxes are essentially computers which process the data the cable company sends to the house. The data is processed and organized by the cable box and is then sent to the TV.

This may only be happening in Lawrence, although I highly doubt it, but...The cable companies are for-profit companies and moving channels from their analog line-up to their digital line-up is a strategic move which translates to additional services and rental equipment the subscriber pays for. If a subscriber must have the Sci-Fi channel, and the only way to receive it is to rent a box, and pay for the digital tier than that subscriber will add those services to their account. It may only add $10 to their monthly bill, but that is $10 more than they were paying before the cable company changed their line-up. And that increases the revenues for that cable company.

This is the truth. Good luck with Cable One, I hope you receive the information you are looking for. They may have a different plan than Sunflower Cable in Lawrence.

May 2, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Because you asked

This analog-to-digital conversion topic is quite confusing and unfortunately the truth does not always prevail.

What the FCC rules state is that the broadcaster (channel 13 in this case) has to switch to digital (not HD -- HD is extra icing on the cake) by February 2009. It sounds like they are choosing to operate both their original analog signal, as well as their digital signal until February. In order to watch the good programming the viewer must tune to the digital signal.

The viewer does NOT need to have an HD TV to watch the digital channel 13. HD does offer a superior picture and sports are amazing in HD.

I wonder if this viewer has an antenna or a cable subscription?
A cable subscriber would simply need to rent a digital cable box, then all their problems would be solved.
Any satellite subscribers already have a digital satellite receiver, and they are receiving digital channels, even the local channels are coming through as digital.
Antenna users will need that converter box, and there are two coupons available per household. www.dtv2009.gov is the link for that program. They may also need to upgrade their antenna, but professional audio video advice should be sought -- this professional AV advice does NOT come from a super store sales person.

What I'm finding is that cable companies are taking advantage of this issue and are finding ways to raise revenues. In Lawrence, on June 1, the cable company is switching most of it's analog line-up to digital, and is only leaving 26 analog channels (the most popular ones). This is due to the conversion (which is still 8.5 months away). Subscribers will be forced to rent a digital box to watch most programming. And the cable company gets more money.

And the Lawrence cable company will still be offering the analog signal AFTER February 2009, as a convenience.

So this conversion date is NOT a dooms day event. Many people have plenty of time to deal with it. A new TV is not the answer, but may be nice, however, additional cable subscription and their rental equipment (digital box) will solve the issue.

May 1, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

John Harclerode selected for Kansas teachers' Hall of Fame

One of my favorite teachers! Mr. Harclerode is receiving well deserved praise and recognition! He inspired so many students, and expected great results from them. He got to know the kids in and out of class, and the kids knew that he was genuine and had their learning in his best interests. Congratulations!!!!

Now, time for the National Teacher's Hall of Fame to induct him...

April 2, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Wildcat takes talents to Hawks

Congrats Joe Bob! Welcome to Lawrence! I'm sure the players and fellow coaches will enjoy having you on the team! You've always been a first class guy!

March 19, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Former Emporian opens her own boutique in Kansas City

What an incredible store! Laura has done a wonderful job! She has such a great sense of fashion and has selected a fabulous selection of clothing. The jewelry is also so unique, the pieces are elegant, fun, and sophisticated.

Best wishes Laura -- you're on your way to the top!

February 16, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

World Architect

Wow! What fabulous recognition and at such a young age! He is on his way to the top and will have a long career ahead of him! Great story!!

January 2, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )