Happy Birthday Mayor

Kathryn Louise Taylor is 53 today.
Happy birthday Mayor!



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Captain Murph Says...

A friend of mine went to the Tulsa State Fair and saw these Captain Murph signs all over the place. He had the great idea to photoshop the message.

If you will recall the Murphy Brothers have a exclusive midway contract at the fair, and it is alleged that they were at the center of the controversy that saw the eviction of the Bell's Amusement Park from the fair grounds.

Anyway, this first one was his idea, and the other three are mine. If you want to make your own you can find a blank slate here.






Technorati Tags: Tulsa
Tulsa State Fair
Murphy Brothers
Bell's Amusement Park
Captain Murph
Sally Bell

All Your Deadly Poison Needs

Just incase your in the market for deadly poison it's good to know that Amazon and Yahoo shopping can fulfill all your needs. And just to make sure that you are getting a good deal you can check BizRate. Personally I like to buy my deadly poison at Amazon...mainly because of the free shipping.



Technorati Tags: Deadly Poison

Medlock to Coffee to La Forge to Kevin Bacon and back to Coffee

If you listen to Chris Medlock on KFAQ from 2-4 you might know that he is 100% Caffeine free (for now anyway). I briefly considered doing a blog post that personified Caffeine. Caffeine was going to implore Medlock to take it back "I'm an antioxidant Chris, I improve cognitive functions by blocking that brain-slowing adenosine"

To that end, I was reading about Caffeine on Wikipedia. Ultimately, I decided that my idea was really lame, and went on to read about Coffee. While reading about coffee I started to think about how using Wikipedia you could get from almost any topic to any other topic. I wondered if I could get from Coffee to Geordi La Forge (a fictional character in Star Trek TNG)…I did it!

Coffee -> Ethiopia -> Declaration by United_Nations -> World War II -> United Kingdom -> Winston Churchill -> Myocardial infarction -> Oxygen therapy -> Nitrogen -> Electrons -> Speed of light -> Tachyon -> Star_Trek: The Next Generation -> Geordi La Forge

Once I got there I figured I’d might as well stick with the theme of “degrees of separation” and go to from La Forge to Kevin Bacon…

LeVar Burton -> Batman: The Animated Series -> Batman -> Tim Burton -> Johnny Depp -> Platoon (film) -> Charlie Sheen -> Denise Richards -> Wild Things -> Kevin Bacon

Then I figured I’d try to get back to where I started.

Manhattan -> Wall Street -> New York Stock Exchange -> George W. Bush -> Mexico -> Brazil -> Coffee

Technorati Tags: Chris Medlock
Wikipedia
degrees of separation
Coffee
Geordi La Forge
Kevin Bacon

My new Favorite Movie

<sarcasm> So the other night the wife and I saw this really great movie on Lifetime, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. Based on the critically acclaimed book by Kim Edwards, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter starts on a winter night in 1964,

…when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down syndrome. For motives he tells himself are good, he makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby away to an institution. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own...The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a brilliantly crafted story of parallel lives, familial secrets, and the redemptive power of love.

"The redemptive power of love," I mean, come on…what’s not to love? It was truly heartwarming, and it knocks the Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and Star Trek Wrath of Khan off their pedestal as my favorite movies of all time…its just that good. I'm truly grateful to my wife for making me watch this movie...Thanks honey.</sarcasm>


Technorati Tags: sarcasm
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
Lifetime

Pomegranate Season 2008

While some are excited about the start of football season, I find myself more exited about the start of pomegranate season; I love fresh Pomegranates. The season typically starts in September and extends to January.

I spoke to a representative from POM Wonderful, a large US grower and I think the producer of the best pomegranates in the county, and was told that the start of the season will be slightly late this year. I was told that they won’t even think about starting their harvest for at least another week, and that we should expect to see Pomegranates hit the shelves by the end of this month, or perhaps even at the beginning of October. I can’t wait.

Technorati Tags: Pomegranate
POM Wonderful

ASCII Art Dream

So I had a dream last night that may have been the strangest I've ever had. Not so much because of the content, but because of the delivery. It was entirely in ASCII art. ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, it is the code your computer uses to make the characters that you are reading right now. So ASCII art is art that is made up entirely of characters. Below are two different examples of me in ASCII art...

TP@WRIyda//.'0S%)!4unLgzsbV8Yz&Bf14[[!(%(Wq)kI6634
.s*e6CuhW/rB\r#z4PJ)^S19Ql5b8JfA(jc0cMhOKO#3avWkB2
Dx]aHtDDxv&,ctCipzlpJ*!H*;OFU@wn2;N7p1%4dNk#FzA/En
3k'P'e*Re8Juw.Yzi74l&4&1Oj,)c@J(y9ywFsX$wlz3AKEevp
Jf%@13JoEDKzqHkHKn7%d@DxpFx.V)1CE0.jVHChcdY](4T7F]
Tdcv.$'fALITDI3w*,)t%ZvOh]c,2ga%o)nD(OdH;^b8DV4MJ5
'3abTO4fTR6K^,4Qa;tDkX(%MJPRL$L^.46w2xJbCDJrw^.V5j
xu;.GXlKx!o^.VaDcbj,iRcNt@yF,EE)S$g4o0]5U$KIp*TB,W
Ix1ut,9SQ]@kX,^W.crGrr[8nd.O@rv&Xr,7g@CUqpDf/9ES@a
N)oEfT&MlLzM%Y$u3Ip,Cy(Nrr(dEJ&%qu[AznHQeh)2wapF$h
6E'J6nLlD(uCEMN/bc2;w#@wLDj.GJf2DJz*$%blrzXNoc[u%j
;NZJ8BBNV[SH#AhH9!HM5wnAr5.u8&z^Zu[zBn1*hb7\6g9I92
g@Egq)A'C&7ONo^!OAw#KURkaG9.K[Iw7@JR4qQBEMt^/4NxK[
kzSE.xufN(C5C]Y]1eT;p51/Wa8NvWi2st2U.(AqR'&D#0X9Tr
(;puTM6%i;BpL]LzutrVp$q6IZiNNE2q[/Dre4DQE4S$P(M.jw
stpGedOuX'*5$@zGZto,v2Lgh40&0w1ZdpJ77.Tl.X^BwnhDfB
i]c.)pCbx*fL5W28XOLzsqB%%tOuwA/*6Gyev4.X$Kj56HCa.H
E%obSs)Yj54)P.Eb$Cq(&#V5\EdZy/*kzr0drHHBHo.*MjU9PQ
'O0o/ljK)dg!%!HjUPL/.v4l5JJXZr15wyW01U[5oU.\!S]tu9
6D.WefStWv*L$F;rZeY,[UGca.KOKOiSWdqAsHnllUau0,#,c4
!j6^bYbKwCl0r.lvDCTjuc5*jVq72o#'#ij7p8wNDeTUU6L;4O
4e71^FQ;[;4C3W;F'dFQFd5FB/GVQKI7G4;CKnpt],[1A4BMts
Z[S*s'SiBJ4e.SP\]jzTv$duwf..bQ;vDGhaBUh87isJzCy2,@
FQCF$ru9nMYUFdsQ6GY84x3cO@M&l'/3\3e4yc[OlLo!zp9^Rg
0\A/eu\,QEM$JjJ(\O]k6iRNE46dYPEl,INY,DIveE6Xj.(,ri
'%1/P#UwKX*;A@])Y2ZF\w&4eRk1XMD;buuAv2Mq/CDpf\TkdT
DM[l!rw)roz\OeISS\KUB&d&oOC23yao$P&b(RxA7$l^ftfbTR
NOiRpg#fDgHh@&!.rwV4CJK7w)(to0gY8.b),FS534ez%ngNw6
W[KUWjv\OXfaKFloLpSVw7j0L(;ubk\M/Az])ICla%z^cx3#Et
B^PEufKbqeE7TJOri2QB\MP!kPs4lfBzXRyduvoi^'OTE8#fBs
;nv$@$t!QFMBVNFON@/s*d^,NDxMhjD\(asj@ltvW!Z!)p*Zr4
D.0.Qd9!)O[Xvy4@q$eyFKLtq[LCHOeQQp/RI7%eF&wYq$KIx'
3;2S4[A2w'q.%.PakHpZ5Ca'qolSycK2sXep7GwH6Ae(wFUoN^
M$)B7F7,WQX\Ww0h'A.8P[\IcbP.Y.op88b%%br0k[C&yXI8Zd
PLE17[O]/JucMCqUP!(H;tF/8D^o7sabgKLR^O)HyY.bv9qfA!
jB$hI;NDeVp^^DMt)S6wtE!J@RB5A(.CqJUtJi(kD8GUsU#.M4
ljT;^\t&fNvjIH6K$xj,*]Q,g#L)tByzszAEbD]6.Xk]HR5'Z&

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGDDEEKKEEEEKK
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGLLffttttjjLLGGGGGGGGGGKKKKEEEEKK
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGffttii;;,,,,,,iittGGGGGGGGEEKKEEEEEE
GGGGGGGGGGGGff;;;;iiiiiiiiiiii;;;;LLGGDDKKKKEEEEEE
GGGGGGGGGGLL;;,,jjLLffttjjffjjjj;;;;LLDDDDEEEEEEEE
GGGGGGGGGGtt,,ttDDDDLLLLDDLLLLLLLL;;ttDDDDEEEEEEEE
GGGGGGGGGGii;;LLDDDDEEEEEEEEEEDDGGttiiDDDDEEEEEEEE
GGGGGGGGGGiiiiLLDDDDEEKKEEEEDDLLLLffiiGGDDKKEEEEEE
GGGGGGGGGGiittLLGGDDEEEEEEEEDDLLffffiiGGEEKKEEKKKK
GGGGGGGGGGiiiiLLGGDDDDEEEEEEDDffffffiiGGEEKKKKKKKK
GGGGGGGGGG;;iiLLGGDDDDEEEEEEDDGGffff;;LLDDKKEEKKKK
GGGGGGGGGGiijjLLLLffffGGDDDDLLffjjffiijjEEEEEEKKKK
GGGGGGGGGGjjffDDfftt;;jjDDLL;;,,iijjjjffDDEEKKKKEE
GGGGGGGGGGffffDDGGLLffffDDffjjjjjjffjjffEEEEKKKKEE
GGGGGGGGGGffjjGGGGDDDDGGDDffffLLGGffjjLLEEEEWWKKEE
GGGGGGGGGGffiiLLGGDDGGLLGGLLffDDLLffiiGGDDEEEEKKKK
GGGGGGGGGGLL;;ffGGLLffjjjjttttLLffjjiiGGDDKKEEKKKK
GGGGGGGGGGLLffffLLffttttjjjjttjjffjjffDDEEWWKKKKKK
GGGGGGGGGG;;ffffLLLLttttjjtt;;ffffii,,ttLLEEWWWWKK
GGGGGGGGGG,,jjjjLLLLLLffffjjjjffjj;;      ::;;iijj
GGGGGGGGtt  ;;jjjjffffffjjjjffii;;,,             
GGGGGGii..    iittjjjjffffffjj;;;;,,             
GGtt..        ..ttii;;iiiiii;;,,;;;;             
::              ..ttii;;,,,,,,;;ii,,             
                 ..jjjjii;;iijjff::             
                   ..iiffLLLLGGjj               
                       ..iiffGG,,               
                             ,,                 
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                               ..;;             
                                 ::             
                                                
                                                
                                                

Wow...strange huh?
If you can't dream in ASCII like I can, and want to generate your own ASCII art, you can do so here.

Technorati Tags: ASCII Art
strange dream

Dave and Busters, Doubleshot Lion, and Hiding in a Glass House

On Friday I did a lot of running around. Starting at the end of my trip and working my way toward the beginning, I discovered that Tulsa will be the proud recipient of a Dave and Busters! It's next to the Best Buy on 71st. The best I can tell it will be the first one in Oklahoma Isn't it nice to get something before OKC? (I'm still bitter that they got their Krispy Kreme first) Dave and Busters is basically an arcade for adults. Eat, Drink, Play is their motto, It should be a nice sales tax revenue source for Tulsa.



Earlier in the day, I went to Doubleshot Coffee Company to purchase some green coffee beans for my roaster. Apparently the owner's father restores antique carousel animals, and is displaying a lion in the front of his store, it is pretty cool.



Doubleshot is where I headed after I toured the new Tulsa City Hall building. I arrived downtown, at 2nd and Cincinnati, primarily to obtain the ID badge that I would need for future Sales Tax Overview committee meetings. While I was there, I did receive a limited tour.

There is do doubt that this is an extremely nice building; it has scores of conference rooms, small meeting areas, internet cafes, and what a view! It may look like an ice cube on the outside, but on the inside it really is a beautiful building. I think I actually like it. However, what I do not like is all the security. It remains to be seen what the final security arrangements will be for the general public. I know that there will be a public entrance, with access to the conference rooms that will be used for public meetings, however, it looks like we will be losing the some of the access to our elected officials that we enjoyed at the old city hall. It is ironic that city hall is now basically a glass house but we will be able to see our elected officials even less than we could before.



Technorati Tags: Tulsa
Downtown Tulsa
Dave and Busters
Doubleshot Coffee Company
City Hall

Bates joins the WynnCast from the RNC

Michael Bates from batesline.com calls into Tyson Wynn's WynnCast from the Republican National Convention. Here is what they discussed.

• His response to Palin as VP candidate
• Palin’s qualifications
• Palin’s a reformer
• McCain listening to the conservative base…
• The rules committee decisions regarding primaries and military personnel
• Instant runoff voting
• The sanctity of life
• Worshipping at Bethlehem Baptist Church (where John Piper is pastor)
• The upcoming schedule for the convention
• Any celebs at RNC?
• People who live in glass mansions shouldn’t throw stones
• Stumbling onto Families United rally with Jon Voight
• and many other things.

It's all good stuff, check it out.


Technorati Tags: Tyson Wynn
Michael Bates
Republican National Convention

What the heck is Twitter?

For about a year now I've heard or read several things about Twitter. Well, really I had not heard anything about twitter, I had just heard people say the word Twitter.

"What the heck is that?" I'd think to my self. Being a recovering MySpace user I thought it was just more of the same. Since I was disgusted with MySpace, I decided I didn't want to know what it was.

Thanks to Chris Medlock, I finally understand what it is. Since I'm not sure I'd do a good job of describing it, I'll let Wikipedia do the talking.

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

I created my own Twitter account, and added the updates to my blog (look right). So, I'll give it a try, see how useful it is. If I get fed up with it, the Twitter section to the right will magically disappear.


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Medlock sends RNC updates via Twitter

Chris Medlock is a delegate at the Republican National Convention. He has figured out how to use twitter to provide live updates from the floor. Check it out.

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Republican National Convention

Dollar Store Dilemmas

The dollar store can be a place where great deals can be found, while simultaneously a place where, if your not careful, you'll get ripped off. The Happy Housewife outlines her Dollar Store Dilemmas, specifically what to buy at the D-Store and what not to buy there.

I have compiled a list of things I find are really worth the extra stop at a strip mall, and a list of things that are a waste of money even at the price of $1.

On the buy list:wrapping paper, mylar balloons, greeting cards, hand soap, body lotion, toys, stationary, and kid's learning workbooks.

On the avoid list: household cleaners, food, hair products, pens, floral arrangements, and toys.

Interestingly enough toys made both lists. Check out her post for the reasoning behind the list.

Technorati Tags: thrift
dollar store

Bates at the RNC

Michael Bates, of batesline.com, is at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. He is posting his pictures on Flickr, here. Keep an eye on that link, it is his intention to put all his convention pics there. The one above is my favorite so far.

Technorati Tags: RNC
Michael Bates
Republican National Convention