A Lifetime Okie's Ramblings

Unlock Your Treo 600 Phone

2006-12-26T06:08:00.000-08:00

For more information and a free Treo 600 unlock tool, go to http://members.cox.net/jboston68/Tre0600.htm

The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer Nutcracker, A Form of Torture?

2006-12-18T06:52:00.000-08:00

As a Public Radio fanatic, I often find myself listening Sound and Spirit, hosted by Ellen Kushner. More often than not, I will change stations from Tulsa's KWGS over to KOSU when Ellen comes on the radio, as I don't care much for the type of program she presents. Yesterday, Sunday December 17th, was an exception.
Ellen was reading a story called "The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer Nutcracker". I really enjoy Klezmer music, and was interested in hearing more about this "classic" tale, as she called it. About 10 minutes into the story, though, I began to wonder if this were a practical joke. This has to be the worst short story I have ever heard.
It featured everything from a golden dreydl that turned into a golden girl after it flew through the family's big screen television, to a "demon king" with a collection of golden dreydls which were really captured people. The golden girl turns out to be the daughter of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and she is captured by the demon king and his minions, who, of course do everything backwards and like to play a game in which they suck the brains out of someone with a straw if they can't answer a question correctly.
I intended to write to Sound and Spirit, and express my disappointment with this story, so I felt I had to listen to the entire show in case the tale somehow redeemed itself in the end. No such luck. What stunned me, though, was that in reading the credits, the listener finds that Ellen Kushner herself wrote the story. I can't bring myself to write to this woman personally to let her know her story should be used as a form of torture to induce terrorists to give up their secrets, so I'm expressing my opinion here.
If any of you have the opportunity to listen to this story, please save yourself the agony, and change the channel. I promise you'll regret it if you don't.
For those of you in Tulsa who listen to KWGS, I encourage you to also check out KOSU, which is now broadcasting from a transmitter near Grand Lake on 107.5 FM, providing reception that rivals that of our local public radio station. Perhaps you'll find, like I do, that your favorite shows can be heard at more convenient times on this station. Remember to support your public radio station, no matter which one you listen to.

Wild Country Meat Market in Hominy, OK

2006-12-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

Yet another butcher has joined my list of those to avoid. Yesterday, I picked up the meat from my 102 pound doe that I shot opening weekend of gun season. It took nearly 10 minutes talking with the woman who filled out my order to convince her I didn't want the deer ground up into deer-burger. I specifically ordered 10 pounds of breakfast sausage, 10 pounds of summer sausage, one big roast, loin steaks, and the rest to be sliced thin for jerky. Of course, I know the have to grind some of the meat that can't be used otherwise.
Much to my dismay, when I picked up the meat last night, 2/3 of it had been ground, and there was no roast, and no jerky meat. Just the sausage (fantastic, by the way) a few steaks, the tenderloins, and about 30 pounds of ground deer.
Upon discovering this, I returned to Wild Country, and looked at my order ticket. The woman who filled it out talked with me for 10 minutes and was writing most of that time, but all she had done was put my name on the form, and check the standard boxes. Some steaks, some sausage, and grind the rest.
To date, the ONLY processor in the area who has ever complied with my request to grind less meat has been the Sportsman's Meat Locker (or was it called Sportsman's Meat Block?). Either way, I can't find them in the phone book any more. They were located just E of Catoosa, so if you know if they are still there, drop me an email at roadhunter(at)cox.net.
My advice would be that no matter where you take your deer for processing, read over the order before you hand over your deposit. It's pretty tough to "ungrind" deer burger, so mine will be taken to Siegi's to be turned into more sausage. At least now I have an excuse to hunt the special antlerless seasons before Christmas and New Year's (I hunt in Osage County). I'll bag another doe, and butcher her myself, and there will be deer jerky for all!!

300 Million - Thank You for not Breeding

2006-10-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

It is estimated that the population of the United States exceeded 300 million today. Despite overwhelming evedince that the increase in population is the cheif cause for many of humanity's problems (global warming, poverty, increased pollution, traffic, commute times, etc.), our government still encourages reproduction with per-child tax credits for parents.

I argue that parents (and I am one, though reluctantly and accidentally) should not get these tax credits. Rather, deductions should be given to people of reproductive age as an incentive NOT to have children.

I challenge you to come up with one reason for having children that is not selfish. I have posed this challenge to many people over the years, and have yet to get a valid answer.
S ee http://www.vhemt.org/ for more information. Consider supporting them by purchasing murchandise, and please, please don't have children. Adopt one of the many millions of orphans around the world instead, or get a dog (from the shelter, of course) if you must have something to love you unconditionally.

If the population increase continues, the quality of life for each of us will continue to worsen. More wilderness is destroyed every day to make room for more people, and the other creatures of this plannet suffer more than we do as a result.

Write your representatives in congress and demand legislation to remove child tax credits, to fund VOLUNTARY sterilization for all who desire it, and support organizations such as VHEMT which provide sound, scientific proof of what I have stated here, and much, much more.

Don't Mess with Kim - He'll Kick Our Collective A$$

2006-10-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Seriously, folks, any military action against North Korea in response to their recent nuclear test has the potential to begin WWIII. Take a look at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2000/korea09122000.html. I know it's a bit old, but you can bet the North has strengthened their forces over the last 6 years. Do we really want to see Seoul wiped off the map?
I suggest a widespread media campaign claiming North Korea faked the nuclear test with conventional explosives, which is entirely possible. We can then proceed to ignore them for a bit longer while we continue our mission of liberating the people of Iraq and Afghanistan from tyranny.

Second Tulsa Doctor Killed in Plane Crash

2006-10-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TUCUMCARI, N.M. -- An Oklahoma stunt pilot was killed when his single-engine plane crashed Wednesday while performing a loop at an air show, police said.

The crash happened in Tucumcari, 108 miles west of Amarillo, Texas.

Guy "Doc" Baldwin, 60, of Tulsa, Okla., lost control of the aircraft, Police Chief Larry Ham said. The plane, a German-made Extra 300L, left a 200-foot debris trail after impact.

"There was a big dust cloud," Ham said. "Fortunately there was no fire or explosion."

According to the air show's program, Baldwin was a physician and aviation medical examiner who had logged more than 4,000 hours in 35 years of flying. He was making his first appearance at the Tucumcari show, that was attended by about 800 people, Ham said.

Baldwin was the second pilot to perform during the scheduled three-hour show, which was canceled.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash. Organizers said it was the first accident in the event's 14-year history.

"We don't have any indications there was a mechanical failure," Ham said.

What is not mentioned in this story is the fact that Dr. Baldwin was a long time friend and partner of Dr. William R. Barnes, who was killed while flying his own plane in Owasso, OK, just a few weeks ago. See http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0706/341196.html

In fact, these two doctors shared the same small office building and reception area near 21st and Garnett in Tulsa, OK. I cannot imagine the grief their families must be suffering right now, so soon after losing Dr. Barnes. Both will be forever missed by the thousands of people who's lives they touched, and, in some cases, even saved.

Tulsa - Trashtown USA

2006-10-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

After two months and at least 3 different people calling Tulsa's Mayor's Action Hotline at 596-2100 to report this pile of trash at a vacant house, it is still there. I have made numerous online complaints at http://www.cityoftulsa.org/Reporting/. If you don't like seeing this kind of mess on a major arterial street in Tulsa, please do the same. The exact address is 1141 N Yale. Just because you live in "North Tulsa" doesn't mean it's OK to let your property go to shit like this.
If you have any photos of trash in Tulsa, please upload them to Flickr and join my Tulsa - Trashtown USA pool at http://www.flickr.com/groups/99101255@N00/pool/

Tulsa Snow 01/28/05

2005-01-28T13:55:00.000-08:00

Tulsa Snow 01/28/05,
originally uploaded by Topato.

Tulsa had predictions today of 100% chance of snow. As the rain came down for hours this morning, I began to doubt the snow would ever come.
It did, though, and it came hard and fast. Lots of big wet flakes fell, and I bet we had two inches within 90 minues. It stopped shortly thereafter, and will all melt by tomorrow.
I went home for lunch and let the dogs out, putting towels down for them to wipe their feet on when they came back in. They did a good job, and didn't track in much snow, but we will have mud for a week, so the battle is just beginning.

dopehouse

2005-01-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

dopehouse,
originally uploaded by Topato.

This is a scan I made of a letter found in a vacant house in North Tulsa. Brandy, the author, is expressing how disappointed she is that her boyfriend won't take her along to steal wooden shipping pallets from Home Depot. In fact, the only time she gets to see her boyfriend any more is when they go to the "Dope House" together. When I'm feeling down, I read this to remind me how much worse things could really be. If you're out there, Brandy, give me a shout. I'll go steal pallets with you any time.

Finally

2005-01-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

Finally set up a blog. Mostly to see what all the fuss is about. I guess it's up to me now to make something interesting happen here.

East Central High School

2005-01-18T13:05:00.000-08:00

ec1sm,
originally uploaded by Topato.

This is where I went to high school. Yes, the building is without windows. Yes, it felt like being imprisoned for the three years I was there.
I took the photo yesterday when I was in that part of town to visit a new client who turned out to be a guy who grew up across the street from me. Amazing that we remembered after not seeing each other for over 25 years.
Seeing this building brought back all the horrible memories (I don't recall any good ones). I pity the students there now.