Replacing Cable TV
Plus a look at a southern county and the Battle of Turkey Springs.
The promise of "cutting the cord," was being able to watch what you want when you want and not paying for stuff you don't watch. Many of us have left traditional cable TV providers to pursue this dream, only to replace them with something that looks almost like traditional TV. This is not a bad thing.
Unless you're someone who switched to strictly over-the-air TV, you're likely someone who has subscribed to multiple over-the-internet streaming services. All your favorite cable channels have their own service: Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, Hulu, ESPN+, or MAX.
As an aside, it's somewhat funny that for some of us, cord-cutting isn't precisely accurate since those same cable TV companies also provide the internet that comes into your home.
Here's the advantage over cable TV. Not a fan of Yellowstone or WWE? You don't have to subscribe to Peacock. Not interested in Big Brother or Sponge Bob? You can skip Paramount+. Don't care about The Mandalorian or Bluey? What's wrong with you? Everyone loves Bluey. But you don't have to subscribe to Disney+. Unless you're me and subscribe to all of them. Ha!
I used the phrase, "The more things change, the more they stay the same," in my last newsletter. This is equally true here. Many of these media companies, besides offering the video-on-demand service we're paying for, have started to offer more traditional linear TV online. And here's the twist, for free.
Here's a term that might be new to some of you: FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV). Instead of needing a subscription for a service like MAX or Peacock, you can now watch TV for free with ads, just like you can with an over-the-air TV. Here are just a few services that offer FAST channels: Pluto TV, Tubi, Local Now, Freevee, and the Roku Channel.
These are not going to be one-to-one replacements for your cable channels or network TV, but they do offer a lot of the content you'll find on those. You'll find many news, weather, and sports channels; a variety of movie and music channels; and of course, classic and current TV shows.
So, from antenna to cable to the internet, we've advanced technologically, we've grown the amount of content available, but are still watching TV in the same way we did when we started. Tuned into a channel, watching what's on at the time, and we'll be right back after this word from our sponsor.
More later. Time to watch classic TMNT on Pluto TV.
Obsidian
The Daily Notes feature of Obsidian is something I use just about daily. Ha! I even set it to open a new daily note when I first launch Obsidian in the morning. The only real issue with it is the Daily Notes file list in the sidebar starts to get a bit long with all those daily notes.
Since Obsidian is file-based, meaning each note is its own markdown file, we can move those files around. So, I built a batch file that I can run at the beginning of the month to help organize those Daily Notes. What it does is scan the Daily Notes folder and move last month's files into their own archive folder.
If you're interested, I've shared my Windows batch file over at Github Gist. Oh, if you're using Linux or MacOS you'll need to convert it into the appropriate shell script.
There are some Obsidian community plugins to help with archiving notes, but I like using my batch file. I can run it when I'm ready, and it keeps everything organized in a way that works for me.
In The News
A look at some of the latest headlines from around Oklahoma and beyond.
Former Norman teacher targeted by Ryan Walters over QR code sues him for defamation, libel | KOSU
OK State Supt. hit with two more lawsuits for wrongful termination, defamation | KFOR
OSSAA Board discusses safety after gun incidents at football games | The Oklahoman
Merritt Public Schools: Pioneering technological advancement in rural education | KOKH
Oklahoma schools adapt recreational activities to sweltering summer heat | KGOU
Oklahoma's newest Superfund site has radiation in its soil, ponds, and groundwater | KOSU
McDonald's ice cream machine teardown shows error codes, DMCA keep it broken | Ars Technica
In Oklahoma History
In September 1878, a group of Northern Cheyenne led by Chief Dull Knife unhappy with the poor conditions at their reservation in Indian Territory, left to return to their native lands in Dakota Territory. On September 10, 1878, United States Army troops commanded by Captain Joseph Rendlebrock departed Fort Reno in pursuit of the Cheyenne. Following their trail, the Army caught up with them on September 13, 1878, at a watering hole called Turkey Springs near the Indian Territory-Kansas border. The Cheyenne and Army engaged in battle. On the second day of fighting, the Cheyenne surrounded them, forcing Captain Rendlebrock to order a retreat, defeated. At the end of this battle, three U.S. Army soldiers were killed, three wounded, and five Cheyenne were wounded. The Battle of Turkey Springs is believed to be the last battle between the United States Army and Native Americans in Indian Territory, now the state of Oklahoma.
More Information:
About Oklahoma: Atoka County
Atoka County is located in southeastern Oklahoma. The county was originally Shappaway County in the Pushmataha District of the Choctaw Nation. In 1854 the county was renamed Atoka County in honor of Choctaw leader Captain William Atoka. The county would keep this name at Oklahoma statehood. Atoka, Oklahoma is the county seat, the county's largest city, and located in the center-west part of the county at the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Highway 75. Other notable towns include Stringtown, Caney, and Tushka. The county is also home to the Boggy Depot Park (formerly Boggy Depot State Park), a notable Civil War location, and Atoka Lake.
Established: 1907
County Seat: Atoka, Oklahoma 74528
Nation: Choctaw
Map: Google Maps
Area: 978 mi2 (2,533 km2)
Population: 14,143 (2020 Census)
Time Zone: UTC−6 (Central), DST observed
Area Code: 580
Congressional District: 2
State House Districts: 19, 22
State Senate District: 6
Weather: NWS Tulsa
Tourism Region: Choctaw Country
History: Oklahoma Historical Society
Historic Places: Exploring Oklahoma History
More Information: Wikipedia
Extras
9/11 As It Happened | Bob Jonas
A compilation of live news coverage during the events of September 11, 2001. Viewer discretion is advised.
Watch the "Ring of Fire" Solar Eclipse (NASA Broadcast Trailer) | NASA
The Secret History of Theme Parks with Defunctland - Factually! - 225 | Adam Conover
Rocky Horror Show Live From London's West End 2015
Badger Badger Badger 20 Year anniversary edition | Weebl's Stuff
A Sprinter Van and 77 Counties with Madison Horn | The Lincoln Project
Feedback Welcome
If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave a comment on Substrack, email me at blogoklahoma@blogoklahoma.net, or connect with me at Mastodon at @blogoklahoma@social.tulsa.ok.us or Threads at @blogoklahoma@threads.net.
Have a great week.
– K.