In a Fair Fight...

...between Big Tex and the Tulsa Driller, who do yall think would win?

A Night at the Fair

My family and I spent the evening at the Tulsa State Fair. Growing up in Dallas, it has taken me a couple of years to warm up to the Tulsa State Fair. I kept comparing it to the Texas State Fair. I suppose that is a lot like comparing your wife’s cooking to your mother’s…you really shouldn’t do it. (If you do, it’s best to keep those opinions to your self, lest you offend)

The truth is, that The Tulsa State Fair has a flavor and distinctiveness all its own. After seven years, I really look forward to it. I usually go at least twice, and this year will be no exception. This year we took the children. Actually two years ago, we took the three-year-old, but it’s not really the same. Going to the fair with a walking and taking child is completely different and I dare say fun. I enjoyed sharing the sights and sounds, the people and the animals, and the food and the rides with my daughter. I can’t wait until both children are old enough to really take in all that the Tulsa State Fair as to offer


On a separate note, as I write this, Casa Bonita is closing its doors for the last time. On our way to the fair this evening, we witnessed a very large line of people just waiting to get inside.

There you go again

During last night’s Tulsa City Council meeting, Councilor Neal took another opportunity to disparage Councilor Medlock’s motives. During discussion of the Approval of Commercial Business External Sign Policy for the Airports, Medlock expressed concern over the part of the policy that grandfathered in signs that were out of compliance.

For various, valid reasons, Medlock wanted to change the grandfathering to include signs from before 1990 not Jan 1, 2005. Neal suggested that Medlock wanted to be strict because of whose signs would be affected (Christenson).

Medlock, rightly upset at the allegation quoted Ronald Regan “There you go again…” He defended himself, pointing out that he had expressed these very same concerns in committee, weeks ago, before the revelation of whose signs were currently out of compliance.

Technorati Tags: Tulsa
Tulsa City Council
Susan Neal
Chris Medlock

Inhofe Makes Comment on Chief Justice Roberts

Our own Senator Inhofe made the following statement after yesterday's 78-22 vote to confirm Judge John G. Roberts.

John Roberts has proven that he is superbly qualified to be the new Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. As I have said many times before, through my travels in our state and speaking with members of our communities, I have learned that Oklahomans are not nearly as offended by the laws and regulations conceived by Congress and the various agencies of our nation as they are offended by activist judges. Oklahomans are exhausted with judges legislating from the bench, instead of interpreting the Constitution as the framers intended.

Upon closer examination of today's vote it is easy to see that those Democrats who are running for President of the United States have chosen to vote against Roberts for purely political reasons, there can be no other explanation.

For the record, here is the list of senators who voted against Chief Justice Roberts:
Akaka (D-HI)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Corzine (D-NJ)
Dayton (D-MN)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Obama (D-IL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)

4 8 15 16 23 42

For all you Lost junkies out there, this is for you.

Technorati Tags: Lost

State Of Fear:Author's Message

The media push to blame the recent hurricanes on Global Warming has been reminding me of the book I just read, State of Fear, by Michael Crichton. In the appendix there is an Author's Message which I have included below. I highly recommend this book...

A novel such as State of Fear, in which so many divergent views are expressed, may lead the reader to wonder where, exactly, the author stands on these issues. I have bee reading environmental texts for three years, in itself a hazardous undertaking. But I have had an opportunity to look at a lot of data, and to consider many points of view. I conclude:

• We know astonishingly little about every aspect of the environment, from its past history, to its present state, to how to conserve and protect it. In every debate, all sides overstate the extent of existing knowledge and its degree of certainty.
• Atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing, and human activity is the probable cause.
• We are also in the midst of a natural warming trend that began about 1850, as we emerged from a four-hundred-year old cold spell known as the "Little Ice Age."
• Nobody knows how much of the present warming trend might be a natural phenomenon.
• Nobody knows how much of the present warming trend might be man-made.
• Nobody knows how much warming will occur in the next century. The computer models vary by 400 percent, de facto proof that nobody knows. But if I had to guess --- the only thing anyone is doing, really --- I would guess the increase will be 0.812436 degrees C. There is no evidence that my guess about the state of the world one hundred years from now is any better or worse than anyone else's. (We can't "assess" the future, nor can we "predict" it. These are euphemisms. We can only guess. And informed guess is just a guess.)
• I suspect that part of the observed surface warming will ultimately be attributable to human activity. I suspect that the principal human effect will come from land use, and that the atmospheric component will be minor.
• Before making expensive policy decisions on the basis of climate models, I think it is reasonable to require that those models predict future temperatures accurately for a period of ten years. Twenty would be better.
• I think for anyone to believe in impending resource scarcity, after two hundred years of such false alarms, is kind of weird. I don't know whether such a belief today is best ascribed to ignorance of history, sclerotic dogmatism, unhealthy love of Malthus, or simple pigheadedness, but it is evidently a hardly perennial in human calculation.
• There are many reasons to shift away from fossil fuels, and we will do so in the next century without legislation, financial incentives, carbon-conservation programs, or the interminable yammering of fearmongers. So far as I know, nobody had to ban horse transportation in the early twentieth century.
• I suspect the people of 2100 will be much richer than we are, consume more energy, have a smaller global population, and enjoy more wilderness than we have today. I don't think we have to worry about them.
• The current near-hysterical preoccupation with safety is at best a waste of resources and a crimp on the human spirit, and at worst an invitation to totalitarianism. Public education is desperately needed.
• I conclude that most environmental "principles" (such as sustainable development or the precautionary principle) have the effect of preserving the economic advantages of the West and thus constitute modern imperialism toward the developing world. It is a nice way of saying, "We got ours and we don't want you to get yours, because you'll cause too much pollution."
• I believe people are will intentioned. But I have great respect for the corrosive influence of bias, systematic distortions of thought, the power of rationalization, the guises of self-interest, and the inevitability of unintended consequences.
• I have more respect for people who change their views after acquiring new information than for those who cling to views they held thirty years ago. The world changes, Ideologues and zealots don't.
• In the thirty-five-odd years since the environmental movement came into existence, science has undergone a major revolution. This revolution has brought new understanding of nonlinear dynamics, complex systems, chaos theory, catastrophe theory. It has transformed the way we think about evolution and ecology. Yet these no-longer-new ideas have hardly penetrated the thinking of environmental activists, which seems oddly fixed in the concepts and rhetoric of the 1970's.
• We haven't the foggiest notion how to preserve what we term "wilderness," and we had better study it in the field and learn how to do so. I see no evidence that we are conducting such research in a humble, rational and systematic way. I therefore hold little hope for wilderness management in the twenty-first century. I blame environmental organizations every bit as much as developers and strip miners. There is no difference in outcomes between greed and incompetence.
• We need a new environmental movement, with new goals and new organizations. We need more people working in the field, in the actual environment, and fewer people behind computer screens. We need more scientists and many fewer lawyers.
• We cannot hope to manage a complex system such as the environment through litigation. We can only change its state temporarily --- usually by preventing something --- with eventual results that we cannot predict and ultimately cannot control.
• Nothing is more inherently political than our shared physical environment, and nothing is more ill served by allegiance to a single political party. Precisely because the environment is shared it cannot be managed by one faction according to its own economic or aesthetic preferences. Sooner or later, the opposing faction will take power, and previous policies will be reversed. Stable management of the environment requires recognition that all preferences have their place: snowmobilers and fly fisherman, dirt bikers and hikers, developers and preservationists. These preferences are at odds, and their incompatibility cannot be avoided. But resolving incompatible goals is a true function of politics.
• We desperately need a nonpartisan, blinded funding mechanism to conduct research to determine appropriate policy. Scientists are only too aware whom they are working for. Those who fund research --- whether a drug company, a government agency, or an environmental organization --- always have a particular outcome in mind. Research funding is almost never open-ended or open-minded. Scientists know that continued funding depends on delivering the results the funders desire. As a result, environmental organization "studies" are every bit as biased and suspect as industry "studies." Government "studies" are similarly biased according to who is running the department or administration at the time. No faction should be given a free pass.
• I am certain there is too much certainty in the world.
• I personally experience a profound pleasure being in nature. My happiest days each year are those I spend in wilderness. I wish natural environments to be preserved for future generations. I am not satisfied they will be preserved in sufficient quantities, or with sufficient skill. I conclude that the "exploiters of the environment" include environmental organizations, government organizations, and big business. All have equally dismal track records.
• Everybody has an agenda. Except me.

Atheists

I do not believe in atheists.
[Update: Thursday Sep 29, 2005]
I do not believe in Tulsa atheists either...

Political Rhetoric

Yesterday, I was downtown taking care of some personal business. It was just after 10am. I thought, “Hey, I’ll head over to the Tulsa City Council committee meetings for a little bit.” They were “discussing” the airport investigation.

Whilst accusing Councilor Medlock of being political, some of the councilors were themselves making some incredibly outrageous political statements. I think my favorite was Councilor Neal’s suggestion that Medlock spend his own campaign funds to investigate the airport, insinuating that his motives were purely political. All the while, Tulsa World’s “P.J.” Lassek was shaking her head in agreement*. It was really quit a spectacle. I found their rhetoric to be divisive and political; perhaps some of the councilors should look at the log in their eye before pointing out the spec Councilor Medlock’s.

*Note to self, investigate the feasibility of creating a series of bobble-head dolls based on the Tulsa World reporters and editorial staff.
Technorati Tags: Tulsa
Tulsa City Council
Susan Neal
Chris Medlock
P.J. Lassek

Next Gen DVD battle

In the fight for whose format will reign supreme, HD-DVD has landed a devastating blow to Blu-Ray. Intel and Microsoft have both officially decided to back HD-DVD.

Both formats use a 405nm blue-violet laser, but Blu-Ray formats the data in such away that it’s disk will store 10GB more than HD-DVD (on a single layer). Many have touted Blu-Ray as the better of the two formats technically. However, the best solution is not always the more technically advanced. Because HD-DVD is backward compatible to regular DVD, it will require a smaller investment on the part of current DVD manufacturers to make the switch. Blu-Ray, being radically different, cannot say the same. While Blu-Ray does have an impressive list of backers, many of these are also backing HD-DVD. HD-DVD has more exclusive backers, and in the end, I feel that HD-DVD will win. HD-DVD makes more financial sense and because it uses existing, proven, technology,it is a saver bet. This is fine by me, when I buy an HD-DVD player, I will not have to throw out my existing collection of DVDs

Technorati Tags: Blu-Ray
HD-DVD

Busted

Yesterday, I was stopped by Tulsa Police; apparently I have been driving around on expired tags. I was also busted for not having my insurance verification. Luckily, I was able to reduce my number of tickets to one. I went down to the court and had the insurance ticket dismissed. For the expired tag ticket, I will have to go back to court on October 10th to find out how much negligence will cost me.

Matrimony

Congratulations, Dave and Rebecca!

test

Based on information in Technorati's help section I modified my template a little. The titles of each post are now links. I hope that this will help Technorati distinguish between individual posts.

Technorati Tags: test

Technorati troubles...again

Technorati is failing to pick up my tags again. Last time this happened the solution was to manually ping Technorati after each post. That no longer seems to work. Technorati can be frustrating.


Technorati Tags: Technorati
Technorati tags

I am never the first

One of the things I have learned in my 7 years as a computer programmer is this: I am never the first person to ask question X or try to solve problem Y. Invariably, when I try to answer some technical question or write some new piece of code, if I will spend a little time searching the internet, or searching the Usenet groups, I will find what I am looking for.

Today I needed to know how much space a proposed table would use in our database. I knew the data types for each column. My analysis had already provided the number of proposed rows in the table, so I could theoretically added up the max size for each column and multiplied by the number of rows. Unfortunately, this approach does not take into account how much space will be used by the table indexes and so forth.

Therefore, I decided to create the table, fill it with 10% dummy data, see how much space it took up, and extrapolate the answer. However, that seemed like a lot of work. Also, it probably would not be terribly accurate. Then I heard a small voice in the back of my head, “You are not the first person who has ever needed to know the estimated space of a proposed table…search the internet!” I said to my self, “HEY, Great idea!”

I typed the following phrase into Google, “Sybase calculate table size index.” Right there on the first page was the answer. I saved a lot of time and received an accurate size estimate.

Technorati Tags: Google
Sybase
sp_estsize

State Of Fear

I recently read State Of Fear by Michael Crichton. It is about a wealthy philanthropist and his lawyer who find them selves in the middle of conspiracy to create natural disasters in order to further the cause of Global Warming. State of Fear is full of footnoted facts and useful information. It is both informative and entertaining. I highly recommend State Of Fear.

Technorati Tags: State Of Fear
Michael Crichton
Global Warming

Senator Coburn Responds

A while back, I reported that our Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn was the only senator who voted against the Homeland Security Appropriations Act, FY2006. I told you I would find out why and let you know what I found out. I wrote Senator Coburn a letter and here is his response.

September 21, 2005

Mr. Steven Roemerman
**** S. ***nd East Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74129

Dear Mr. Roemerman,

Thank you for your email regarding my vote against the homeland security
bill. I apologize for the delay in responding to you.

One of the chief reasons I ran for this Senate seat was so I could bring fiscal sanity to the federal government. When senators draft a bill and offer it ostensibly to provide for homeland security for our nation, but in fact place all manner of absurd spending items within it, we are not being honest with the American people. Furthermore, when Congress engages in such irresponsible practices we are letting down our children and grandchildren.

A further reason I took the vote I did is because I was assured that the bill would include funding for an additional 2,000 border patrol guards and 8,000 detention beds for illegal aliens. When we can find $30,000 for an oxygen defibrillator for a basketball tournament in Tennessee but we cannot provide funding for something as essential to our security as protecting our borders, something is seriously wrong.

I pledge to you that I will continue to scrutinize each and every bill that comes before the Senate for wasteful spending. Once again, thank you very much for your comments.

Once again, thank you for contacting me and I hope you will do so in the future.

Sincerely,
Tom Coburn
United States Senator

I am not sure how I feel about his response. Certainly, you have to respect his position. I wish more senators would take his stance on wasteful spending. In addition, I am happy that he is taking our borders seriously. However, no bill will ever be perfect; being a senator in our representative form of government involves compromise, flexibility, and a willingness to pick the battle in which to fight. I am not entirely sure that Homeland Security is an area where I want my senator making statement about spending. On the other hand, what better place to make a statement than a bill that will most certainly pass. His no-vote sent a message with out harming homeland security. Regardless, I appreciate Senator Coburn’s response.


Technorati Tags: Tom Coburn
Homeland Security Appropriations

Back from Gretna

Our group got back from Gretna on Sunday and I took a much-needed rest on Monday. This last week has been immensely challenging, but also rewarding. Serving the people of Gretna is something that I will never forget, and always cherish.

Click here to see my pictures.

Technorati Tags: Gretna
Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans Update

Debra Snell, one of the volunteers from LA, had the opportunity to visit New Orleans yesterday and today. She was kind enough to share her experience and her photos with us.

I’ve been a TV journalist for 24 years, and if you had asked me last week what horrors have I experienced , I would have responded, “I’ve seen it all”. That was true UNTIL I drove thru New Orleans yesterday. When people use the expression “It looks like a ghost town”, you think “ok ,the area is empty, quiet”. But as I drove along the famous “Canal Street”, now littered with crushed cars, boats from miles away, I couldn’t help but think this once vibrant city, is like a graveyard. Not just quite, but frozen in time. The remnants of Evil Katrina. One of the guys riding in the car whose lived in New Orleans for two years, felt it too. He said “ I feel like I’m going to a funeral”. The Pastor in the car, who was driving thru his city for the first time since the lake levy’s collapsed, sounded like a shell shocked resident of Beirut. “ My City, My City…how will be rebuild, Oh My God”. As we reached an affluent neighborhood near the levy, the stench was so overwhelming that my eyes began to burn, my head began to throb. Twenty minutes later I had a full blown migraine and was nauseous., from whatever I had breathed in.

Then today we ventured deeper into the depth of this tragedy. We went to neighborhoods that are still flooded. Massive trees toppled into front yards, some still stood strong as their reflections in the toxic waters painted a deceiving picture of reality. Signs from rescue crews took our breaths away. A malnourished cat eats in front of a garage sign that may save his life. Maybe! Then there’s the eerie sight of an abandoned car , this is Not a lake it’s supposed to be a neighborhood street., and I wonder “ did the owner make it out alive”. Will New Orleans ever be the same? I don’t know, but I pray it will.








- Debra Snell

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans
Debra Snell

Update From Gretna part II:

Life in Gretna is slowly returning to normal. Homeowners have been allowed to return, businesses have started to open up, and the city has said that the water is now safe to drink. However there are still people with out food, water, and basic personal hygiene products, almost every yard has a fallen tree, and with storms approaching, there are still many damaged roofs with out temporary covering.

Yesterday I spent all day distributing food, ice, and water. There was a seemingly endless lines of people in cars, on bikes, and on foot, for food and basic necessities. Some of these folks had never left Gretna and had been eating Government MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for several days, while others had just returned to town. They found out what a couple of weeks with out electricity will do to food left in the refrigerator. They all needed food, water, and ice. Some were clearly poor, while others were obviously very well off; Katrina has been the equalizer, they all need food, and the only place to get it in Gretna is the distribution line.

Today, the Pennsylvania National Guard had taken complete control of food distribution, so I moved on to the Chainsaw Gang, sometimes referred to as the chain gang. We are clearing up neighborhoods, by cutting up fallen trees. This job is immense. There are so many trees that have fallen it seems like it would take an eternity to clear them all.

There is still one more core group that I have not been involved with, which is the roofing crew. These guys are going to houses with damaged roofs, and securing tarps to protect from further damage. Unfortunately this job is also immense. If it rains this weekend, there will be several homes that will be further damaged.

I have grown to love my fellow volunteers. These are an amazing group of people. They are all selfless, caring, funny, and genuine human beings. I will be sad when I’m forced to part their company. Since my last post, we have had another group from Texas and a group from Los Angeles join us. By next week they are expecting over 100 volunteers here at the School of Urban Missions.

Sorry for the long post. I’m continuing to take some great pictures, which I hope to share with you once, I get back. I’ll try to give yall an update in the next few day, if I can. Until then, thanks for your prayers.

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina
School Of Urban Missions
Gretna

Update From Gretna

Yesterday, after a thirteen hour drive, our team arrived in Gretna, Louisiana. We are staying at the School Of Urban Missions(SUM) located here in Gretna. Early on, SUM approached the City of Gretna and offered it's assistance. As a result, SUM has become the central hub for volunteers in Gretna. I was very relieved to find out that SUM had electricity, and running water, but I was delighted to find out that it had internet access. Although Gretna does have running water, it is not yet fit for human consumption...but it's good enough for showers, thank God.

Gretna is higher than New Orleans and did not flood. As a result, the people were not evacuated; however, Gretna is closed, accessible only by military checkpoint. They are only now letting people that have left back to their homes. While I would not categorize the destruction as devastating, there is a fair amount of damage. When home owners and businesses come back, they will mostly find downed trees and roof damage. I'd say that most buildings have some amount of roof damage, ranging from missing shingles to complete roof failure.

Because there are few to no open business in Gretna, and the water is not safe, there is a great need for food, ice, and water. I spent the day, along side the Pennsylvania National Guard passing out food, ice and water. The folks that were waiting in line were patient and grateful. The Volunteers (from Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Arkansas) and the National Guard were professional, patient, and gracious. I'm not sure what I'll do tomorrow I may do food and water distribution again, or I may join the chainsaw crew. There are many downed trees that need to be cut up and cleared out. I've experienced so much in one day, and there are so many stories I could tell, but I don’t think I can contain it all in one post. I took several pictures and I'm sure I'll take several more. When I get back, I'll post them for you. Until then I'll continue to post from here in Gretna. God Bless you all.


Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina
School Of Urban Missions
Gretna

Katrina relief

Early Monday morning, a group from my church and I will head down to Gretna Louisiana to help Convoy of Hope with the relief effort. I will be distributing food, water and supplies for about a week. As a result, Roemerman on Record will not be updated until I get back. Check back in a week for a report and some pictures.

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina
Convoy of Hope
Gretna

Vote Early, Vote Often

I did the first part anyway. Today, I drove to the Tulsa County Election Board and voted no on 723. I had to vote early because I will probably not be in town next Tuesday. I will tell you more about my trip as I receive more details.

Technorati Tags: early voting
Tulsa County Election Board
Fuel Tax
State Question 723
Oklahoma

Third Penny Coverage

I will attempt to keep this post up-to-date with all the third penny sales tax coverage. I will also create a new section on the side bar with the same. If I miss something, please let me know.

Our Tulsa World
We still have a choice on the 3rd Penny...
Tulsa Now board members very disappointed in Mayor’s 3rd penny
Last 3rd Penny Town Hall Meeting Monday Night Sept.19th
Mayors 3rd Penny Meeting Videos

Tulsa Topics
If at first you don't succeed.....
Results of the 3rd Penny Sales Tax Poll
Mayor's Address to the City Council Committee Meeting on the 3rd Penny Sales Tax and American Airlines
Mayor wants to add 4.3 million dollars to 3rd penny tax proposal for American Airlines


Batesline
Third-penny roundup
Third-penny proposal
Something smelly in the air
Last "Third Penny" meeting tonight
Extend the 2001 Third Penny

Urban Tulsa (Bates)
Three Penny Soap Opera

Medblogged
3rd Penny: Round 1
3rd Penny Town Hall

Living On Tulsa Time
Back to the drawing board
Thats not what we voted for!
Taxation without representation
Running away from downtown...
No More!

Dustbury
My three cents' worth
Cents and sensibilities

Meeciteewurkor
Ye Ol’ Third Penny
What Whirld are you from, Mr. Averill?
Mayor is Tulsa’s “Savior”
The Hotel NoTell

No Blog of Significance
I'll Be Voting "No" on the Third Penny

Tulsa Chiggers
Take Time for Serious Consideration


Technorati Tags: Tulsa
third penny sales tax

Third Penny Sales Tax Town Hall

The Mayor has set up a series of town hall meetings regarding Tulsa’s third penny sales tax. This tax, since 1980, has been a 5-year tax that we (Tulsa) have continued to renew for infrastructure and capital projects. The City of Tulsa adds three pennies on to the state sales tax. The first two pennies are a permanent tax used to fund operations. In order to fund the billions of dollars of improvements, Tulsa has created the GO Bonds and the third penny sales tax.

The purpose of these meetings is to take public input before this next package is put before the voters. I get the sense that the Mayor is using this forum to advance the perception that he is a strong leader who is happy to take public input. I am not so sure I believe that this public input is being given serious consideration. Perhaps it is; I probably need to quit being so sarcastic and skeptical.

Regardless, until we know the items included in the package, three major issues require our attention.

1. The Mayor wants to bond the third penny at the beginning instead of the historic pay as you go method we have used in the past. I am on the fence on this one. It seems like a good idea. By bonding the money, we will be able to fund and perform the individual projects sooner. Funding the individual projects sooner will also act as a hedge against inflation.
2. The current third penny tax is suffering a collection shortfall that is close to 70 million dollars. This is about what one can expect a years worth of penny tax to bring in. The Mayor wants to make this third penny tax a six-year package instead of the normal five. The first year will pay for projects were not paid for in the last package, and the next five years would continue as normal. I will hold comment on this one until I have studied it more.
3. The mayor wants to make this third penny permanent. I believe that this is a bad idea. The Mayor says that it is hard to do long term strategic planning when projects must be clumped in five-year segments. I believe that our elected officals need the threat of loosing their precious third penny. Tax money belongs to the taxpayers not the government; the threat of loosing the tax money will force them to spend it wisely.
   

For the record, I would like to see the third penny spent only on sewer, water, and streets. Tulsa is in desperate need of these improvements. We should pick one thing and excel at it. Wouldn’t it be nice is Tulsa were on the top ten list of best streets in the country instead of the other way around?


Technorati Tags: Tulsa
third penny sales tax

New look and feel: continued

It took a while, but I think I have my new template stabilized. I kept finding little things that I did not like about the original template. I also had a bit of trouble getting the template to look the same on Internet Explorer and Firefox. I saw no real difference between Opera and Firefox, which makes since, but I did check that as well. So I think I am done…for now

Technorati Tags: Firefox
Opera
Internet Explorer
blogger templates

Gmail contextual ads

When one signs up for a Gmail account, one agrees to let Google “read” their emails for the purposes of advertising. Google scans the text of the email and presents unobtrusive, text-based, ads to the right of the email. Most of the time I do not even look at the ads, but every once and awhile I take note of them. Today I was rather impressed with the system.

I receive a daily email containing a high-level results log from a proprietary, automated database process that I helped develop. The log contains data such as start/end times and any warnings or errors. Even though it does not reference any specific database or SQL, Google was able to determine that this automated log was database related. As such, they provided me with relevant ads for database products. I am impressed…I think it was keying off the following warning “WARNING during data load of Table *XYZ…Check detailed log for specific error message”

*the name of the table has been changed to protect the innocent.

Technorati Tags: Gmail
contextual ads

My new Photo

Ok, the old pic was old; I have lost a bit of hair since then. Had I posted this picture earlier, perhaps I would not have received the Best Blog By Someone Who Is Almost Bald nod...ohh well.


Technorati Tags: bald

Mr. Bush

I do not like to hear people addressing The President as Mr. Bush. I would prefer President Bush, Mr. President, or The President.


Technorati Tags: Mr. Bush
President Bush

Geraldo Rivera

I have never really forgiven Geraldo for Al Capone's Vault.

Technorati Tags: Geraldo Rivera

New look and feel

I hope yall like the new look and feel. I have been meaning to change it for some time now. I was motivated to make the change because City Councilor Chris Medlock has just changed his blog.

For the record, I did not code this myself; I took it from noipo.org

Technorati Tags: blogger templates

There is no such thing as a stupid question…

No, on second thought, I would have to say that there is such a thing a stupid question. David Schuttler points out some stupid questions asked by Jenks Mayor Vic Vreeland. He wants to know what gives Tulsa the right to balk at the toll bridge.

Well Vic, the real simple answer to that asinine question is; half the land is on our side. That gives us the right.

While we are at it, I have a few questions of my own. These questions are directed at IVI, the Tulsa County Commissioners, Jenks and Bixby.

• What gives you the right to say how we will use our land?
• What gives you the right to dump traffic on our two lane roads and next to our schools, creating public safety problems?
• What gives you the right to tell Tulsa how to spend its capital improvement money?
• What gives you the right to strap Tulsa down on a gurney, sick a needle into its arm, and draw out sales tax revenue?
• What gives you the right to enter into a 75-year agreement without the approval of the voters?
• What give you the right to force us to build a bridge that we are not ready to build?
  

Maybe these are stupid questions...we will see.

Technorati Tags: Tulsa
Bixby
Jenks
Toll Bridge
Arkansas River
Tulsa County
Infrastructure Ventures, Inc.
Vic Vreeland

Off to work I go

On the way to work today, I noticed the gas prices were hovering just over three bucks. I thought to my self, “Well, gas prices ARE supposed to go down after Labor Day…LABOR DAY!? I don’t have to work today!”

Oh well, It was a beautiful morning which made for a very pleasant motorcycle ride.

Technorati Tags: Labor Day

Sullivan returns

I enjoyed last night’s city council meeting. The rezoning application of PUD-718, near 35th and Peoria, and the debate that ensued allowed me to learn a lot about zoning. This application for a series of town houses was approved by the council, and I believe that these homes will make a very nice addition to the Brookside area.

Last night also saw the return of Councilor Randy Sullivan. I find it interesting Councilor Chris Medlock is routinely blamed for causing division amongst the rest of the council when the true source of the division is Randy Sullivan. The last two meetings without Councilor Sullivan were rather pleasant. When there was disagreement, it was met with professionalism and civility. The return of Sullivan has seemingly ended, not only his vacation, but also every one else’s.

Councilor Jim Mautino had requested that the donation of a utility easement in his district be delayed one week, this in order to prevent the issue of a building permit. Mautino had not had the chance to review some issues regarding public safety. He explained that he had nothing against the project in question per say, but that he wanted to make sure everything was in order before proceeding. “All I’m asking for is one week”

Sullivan proceeded to explain to Mautino, in a very condescending and divisive tone, how Mautino was wrong to ask for the delay and proceeded to try to block his request.

Why was Sullivan involving him self in a district 6 matter? These types of requests are common, and tradition states that in maters concerning his district, a councilor’s wishes should be respected. After Councilors Henderson, Turner, and Mautino pointed this out, Sullivan continued to press the matter. Ultimately, Mautino’s wishes were respected by the Council and he was allowed to delay the matter.

Clearly, Sullivan has no respect for the representative process. He has chosen to thumb his nose at the constituents of his district by living in another district, and he has chosen to thumb his nose at the constituents of district 6 by meddling in their affairs. Welcome back Councilor Sullivan, I hope you had a good rest, we sure did.

Technorati Tags: Randy Sullivan
Chris Medlock
Jim Mautino
Jack Henderson
Roscoe Turner
Tulsa
Tulsa City Council

Senator Frist responds

Senator Frist has responded to my letter. His response is as follows:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Friend:

Thank you for contacting me regarding stem cell research. It is an honor to serve you as Majority Leader of the United States Senate.

I have greatly appreciated hearing from so many Americans on this critical issue. Some have praised my position; others have been critical. But almost all have been heartfelt and many have been passionate.

Stem cell research holds great promise to alleviate suffering from diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes. Both embryonic and non-embryonic stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow, skin cells, and cord blood, have great potential to cure illness. But embryonic stem cells are uniquely promising because of their ability to become any type of tissue and to continually regenerate.

In 2001, President Bush became the first President in history to fund embryonic stem cell research. Over time, however, the limits put in place on federal funding will slow our ability to make progress and find cures. Therefore, I believe current federal policy should be expanded consistent with a comprehensive set of ten criteria I first outlined over four years ago. Because embryonic stem cell research requires that embryos be destroyed and because I believe that all human life deserves respect and dignity, stem cell research should be conducted only within a highly regulated, transparent system of ethical and moral oversight. Within this system, a limited number of stem cells should be derived only from embryos that would otherwise be discarded or destroyed.

As Congress continues to examine this issue and other difficult bioethical challenges, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and concerns with me throughout my tenure in the United States Senate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Because embryonic stem cell research requires that embryos be destroyed and because I believe that all human life deserves respect and dignity, stem cell research should be conducted only within a highly regulated, transparent system of ethical and moral oversight."

Senator Frist, that does not even make sense. How can you ethically provide moral oversight to the destruction of "human life"? Your statement is in conflict with it's self. Embryos are either human beings or they are not. If they are, I am not sure how you can condone their destruction, or how any amount of oversight will counteract the moral implications of murder.

Technorati Tags: embryonic stem cell research
Bill Frist
Presidential Primary

Teenage pregnancy

Sixty-four girls who attend Timken Senior High School in Ohio have become pregnant. How could sixty-four girls, at one school, become pregnant at the same time? Aside from the obvious sexual act, I believe the culprit is contagious ideas.

Ideas, like viruses, are contiguous; they spread from one person to the next. What is funny about the spread of an idea is that sometimes we can become infected with it, adopt it as our own, and never really know where it came from or why we believe it. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are a very susceptible people to foreign ideas. Be they uplifting and positive ideas, or negative and destructive, we cannot help but let certain ideas creep in and become a part of us.

The idea that it is ok to be sexually active before marriage, the idea that having sex with out protection, and perhaps even the idea that it is cool to become pregnant are ideas that have spread like a virus though this country.

The only way to combat these virulent ideas is with opposing ideas. We need to spread the idea that it is good to wait to have sex and that one can have a meaningful sexual relationship with one partner for a lifetime. We need to drill these ideas into our children. We need to talk with them at home and at church. We need to teach them what the Bible has to say about sex. These are the ideas that should be virulent.

It is the responsibility of the parent to instill values in their children. If parents continue to shirk that responsibility, the world will be more than happy to perform that role for them. This high school in Ohio should be a wake up call.


Technorati Tags: parenting
contagious ideas
teen pregnancy

An Amendment to be

For some reason I have been thinking about one of my all-time favorite scenes from The Simpsons. It is a parody of the Schoolhouse Rock song, I’m Just a Bill:

kid: Hey! Who left all this garbage on the steps of Congress?

Amendment: I'm not garbage. (singing)
I'm an amendment to be, yes an amendment to be,
and I'm hopin' that they'll ratify me.
There's a lot of flag burners who have got too much freedom.
I wanna make it legal for policemen to beat 'em,
cause there's limits to our liberties.
'Least I hope and pray that there are,
cause those liberal freaks go too far.

kid: Well why can't we just make a law against flag burning?

Amendment: Because that law would be unconstitutional, but if we changed the Constitution...

kid: Then we could make all sorts of crazy laws!

Amendment: Now you're catching on!

Kid: What if people say you're not good enough to be in the Constitution?

Amendment (singing):
Then I'll crush all opposition to me,
and I'll make Ted Kennedy pay.
If he fights back, I'll say that he's gay.

Technorati Tags: The Simpsons
Schoolhouse Rock

New Coffee Pot

I am somewhat of a coffee purest. I probably fall short of true coffee purest status, but I’m certainly close. I believe that percolated coffee is better than automatic drip; as a result, I was using a percolated coffeemaker. Unfortunately, it died so I had to buy a new maker. For various reasons that we will not discuss here, I ultimately decided to revert to the automatic drip maker. While I am disappointed in my self turning to the dark side, I will say that it does make a good cup of coffee (clearly that has more to do with me than the maker)

So while we are on the subject, let me share with you the secrets to a good cup of Joe.

Roemerman on Record’s guide to good coffee

• Use clean, crisp, clear, cold water I.E. not straight from the tap; chlorine is evil.
• Use only quality coffee. Like much in life, you get what you pay for and coffee is no exception. Roemerman on Record does not recommend Folgers.
• Buy whole beans. A fresh grind can make all the difference in the world. I use a hand grinder, but those are hard to come by, so I will allow an electric one.
• Measure two heaping teaspoons of coffee per six ounces of water. Contrary to popular belief, strong coffee is not bitter. Actually, using to little coffee will cause an over extraction of the coffee’s flavor, resulting in a bitter, nasty, brew. Good coffee should be like a black hole; light enters but does not escape.
• If you use a percolator, please be sure that you do not over brew the coffee. Modern electronic percolators protect you from this. If your percolator is manual be careful, over brewed coffee is bitter and nasty.
• Do not let your coffee sit on a hot plate for very long. Ideally, you will have a thermal carafe waiting for your fresh brew. Coffee is not meant to be cooked after it is brewed.
• Do not pour coffee into a cold cup. Please have a warm cup standing by.
  

These easy to follow steps will transform your coffee drinking experience. Please use the comments section below to offer praise and thanks.


Technorati Tags: coffee

Medlock Returns to the Blogosphere

Tulsa City Councilor Chris Medlock returns to the blogosphere with some interesting observations.

Technorati Tags: Chris Medlock

SBC Announces New Contract with Enid Public Schools

SBC Communications Inc. today announced a new contract to provide networking services to Enid Public Schools, a public school district consisting of 15 schools located in Enid, Okla.


Technorati Tags: SBC
Enid Public Schools

Gasoline formulas

Because several states have banned MTBE, U.S. refiners must create 18 new gasoline formulations. These, in addition to the numerous other so-called "boutique" gasoline blends, create a strain on the refining industry. It is often difficult for refiners to move gasoline from one area to another to meet the demand. This happened a few years ago in California; a fire caused the temporary shutdown a refinery. The closest refinery able to provide the correct gasoline formulation was in Arizona. The result was a temporary tightening of supplies, accompanied by higher prices.

The exact number of these so-called “boutique” formulations is in the neighborhood of 110. I believe that the refining capacity of our 120 some odd refineries would cease to be as big of an issue were there fewer formulas. The government should step in and pass legislation that would create one standard for the entire country. A smaller number of formulations would lessen the strain on refiners, as well as diminish the impact of one refinery taken off-line.

I plan to call and write my representatives and ask them to investigate the possibility of such federal legislation.

Technorati Tags: Gasoline formulas

The Cost of SQ723

Terry dusts of his calculator only to find the newest cost calculations from the pro-gas tax folks to be wanting.

Technorati Tags: Fuel Tax
State Question 723
Oklahoma