The boy governor appears to have a spine after all. He actually signed the bill that would crack down on illegal immigration in our state. Gov. Henry, you deserve a hearty pat on the back. You stood up for the working class in Oklahoma.
And to you, Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, you stood up for something that stirs up lots of feelings both positive and negative and you persevered. Congrats!
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Braum's: 100 years & 100 ice cream flavors
Received this creamy press release from the State Legislature. While I love Braum's ice cream, they tend to be somewhat dirty places. I used to live near one in Wichita when I was a teen and it was a treat to go get a cone or a burger. And I love the crinkle fries.
One Hundred Years and One Hundred Ice Cream Flavors
One Hundred Years and One Hundred Ice Cream Flavors
OKLAHOMA CITY- With less than three weeks left to make final state budget decisions, the Tuttle Chamber of Commerce today offered lawmakers a little stress relief - bowls of ice cream produced by a company that has played an important role in Oklahoma's history.
Today is "Braum's Day" at the State Capitol, giving Capitol employees the chance to partake in some of the state's best ice cream and recognize the Braum family for their significant contribution to Oklahoma's economy and history.
Bill and Mary Braum opened their first Braum's store in Oklahoma City in 1968. The heart of the Braum operation is their family farm in Tuttle, which is home to a private dairy herd of 10,000 cows and a processing plant.
In Tuttle, the Braum family works the land to grow corn, wheat, barley,alfalfa hay and other natural ingredients to feed their dairy herd. Their cows provide the milk that's used to make ice cream, milk andother dairy products.
Bill and Mary Braum, along with their sons and daughters, own and operate 276 Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores in five states: Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas. The company employs around 7,500 people, with 3,900 employees in Oklahoma alone.
Braum's, a State Centennial Sponsor, will introduce two new flavors thisyear celebrating the Centennial. The two new flavors were "tested" by the cone in stores and were so popular that they decided to offer them by the half gallon.
The two new flavors are Premium Fried Ice Cream,made with cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, a caramel ribbon and lots offried cinnamon tostada pieces, and Premium Cake Batter, a cake batter ice cream with pieces of yellow cake with fudge frosting mixed throughout.
"There's no better time to recognize such an important business than when Oklahoma is celebrating 100 years of statehood and Braum's is celebrating over 100 flavors of ice cream," said Winchester,(R-Chickasha). "The Braum family contributes to Oklahoma's economy,health and enjoyment by providing us with delicious yet healthy dairy products that will hopefully be a part of Oklahoma history through ournext 100 years."
"The Braums have proven that Oklahomans can excel in a competitive national marketplace," said state Rep. Phil Richardson, R-Minco.
"Theirsuccess is a tribute to Oklahoma's pioneering spirit.The Braum family continues to play an active role in charitable andcivic affairs in Oklahoma, and it's fitting that we recognize theirachievements," said state Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha. "And if we can eat a little ice cream in the process, I'm certainly not going to complain."
Red Dirt music story rejected by Texas Music Times
By A.W. Griffin
Red Dirt Reporter
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – If you’re a serious fan of the Texas and Red Dirt music scene, the idea of having some popular singer/musicians populating the genre coming to play at your birthday party.
That was the case for Texas/Red Dirt concert promoter Woody Hodges, a 36-year-old Texan who has been promoting the scene via his company, Sold Out Productions, based in Denton.
For his December 5th birthday, Hodges arranged for three artists – Toby Wayne, Johnny Cooper and Mike McClure – to perform an acoustic show at Stage West in Wichita Falls.
For a Wednesday night, there was a good crowd for the gig.
And Hodges, whose seen or worked with just about everyone in the Texas/Red Dirt scene said “it’s kind of a been a tradition to have McClure play on my birthday.”
And Hodges said he is becoming a big fan of Red Dirt outlaw Jackson Taylor. Taylor, a rockabilly fan who performed an acoustic version of Social Distortion’s “Ball and Chain,” took the time to make Woody’s birthday party and play a few songs between Cooper and McClure.
“Jackson wasn’t hired and just showed up to celebrate the occasion,” Hodges said. “We have really developed a good relationship over the last few months and I was very pleased to see him walk in.”
He added that Jackson Taylor is one of his top five favorites on the scene.
And the thing about Woody Hodges, a former disc jockey and drummer, is that he has a real ear for good Texas/Red Dirt music and is always bringing good artists to perform at Stage West for “Woody’s Acoustic Chaos” each Wednesday night.
For instance, Johnny Cooper has been one of Woody’s favorite artist to hire. Cooper is young, enthusiastic and talented. Plus, he has a growing audience and that’s good for business.
Cooper looks up to fellow performer Mike McClure and said as much, noting that tonight’s gig was a “serious thing” and that it had been a while since the two had performed together.
The plan was to have Johnny Cooper play with Mike McClure, along with Cooper’s lead guitar player, Jason Brown, backing them up. However, Brown had an emergency and had to leave.
Cooper seemed a little bummed about not playing with McClure this night. Still, Cooper said he was content to “sit back and watch” the unpredictable, prolific and eccentric Mike McClure.
And McClure was, well, McClure. Looking like a grad student from Cornell, McClure breezed drunkenly through a scattershot set of originals (“Lay Your Head Down,” “North Platte Blues”) and the occasional cover (“Into the Mystic”).
And as a fan myself, it is fun to see the artists at Stage West (or Duvallz in Lawton, Oklahoma) performing acoustic shows and in a more intimate environment.
A week later, Woody, still pumped after last week’s show, hosted another solid gig, featuring Brandon Rhyder and singer-guitarists Lance Burnett and Jeremy Jowers from Seymour, Texas-based Under the Influence Band. This was somewhat of an extension of his post-birthday acoustic chaos gigs. And those in attendance for this latest show were excited to share it with their friend Woody.
Rhyder, who arrived with his guitar and little else, took time to talk to a serious fan who is stationed at a local Air Force base.
“All of his music is awesome,” said Steven Sheeley, a native of Midlothian, Texas.
Jowers and Burnett, who play a Texas music style that has a rock and blues influence, admiring everyone from Michael Nesmith to Chris Knight, put on a good show for the nice, Wednesday night crowd.
In the crowd this night was P.J. Berry, a super-fan from nearby Iowa Park, Texas. Sporting a red Shooter Jennings T-shirt and wielding a digital camera, this 55-year-old was having the time of her life snapping pictures of the artists over the course of the evening.
She talked about suffering from an illness a few years back and being confined to a wheelchair – until she was introduced to Texas and Red Dirt music – music she says saved her life.
“It got me out of that wheelchair,” she said with a winning smile.
Berry, who goes to Texas and Red Dirt shows all over with her husband Ron Berry, said after spending time with her bartending son down in Austin back in the late 1990’s, she took a liking to the music.And for Woody, what did he think of the turnout and the party with McClure and Cooper?
Said Hodges, “I was very pleased with the turnout. It is hard to have a bad show with Mike & Johnny. Then throw in some Jackson Taylor and Toby Wayne, that equals a great party and some of the best talent around. It was one of the best Birthday parties I have had and know I will have a hard time beating it next year. I better start working on that right now!”
--END--
Red Dirt Reporter
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – If you’re a serious fan of the Texas and Red Dirt music scene, the idea of having some popular singer/musicians populating the genre coming to play at your birthday party.
That was the case for Texas/Red Dirt concert promoter Woody Hodges, a 36-year-old Texan who has been promoting the scene via his company, Sold Out Productions, based in Denton.
For his December 5th birthday, Hodges arranged for three artists – Toby Wayne, Johnny Cooper and Mike McClure – to perform an acoustic show at Stage West in Wichita Falls.
For a Wednesday night, there was a good crowd for the gig.
And Hodges, whose seen or worked with just about everyone in the Texas/Red Dirt scene said “it’s kind of a been a tradition to have McClure play on my birthday.”
And Hodges said he is becoming a big fan of Red Dirt outlaw Jackson Taylor. Taylor, a rockabilly fan who performed an acoustic version of Social Distortion’s “Ball and Chain,” took the time to make Woody’s birthday party and play a few songs between Cooper and McClure.
“Jackson wasn’t hired and just showed up to celebrate the occasion,” Hodges said. “We have really developed a good relationship over the last few months and I was very pleased to see him walk in.”
He added that Jackson Taylor is one of his top five favorites on the scene.
And the thing about Woody Hodges, a former disc jockey and drummer, is that he has a real ear for good Texas/Red Dirt music and is always bringing good artists to perform at Stage West for “Woody’s Acoustic Chaos” each Wednesday night.
For instance, Johnny Cooper has been one of Woody’s favorite artist to hire. Cooper is young, enthusiastic and talented. Plus, he has a growing audience and that’s good for business.
Cooper looks up to fellow performer Mike McClure and said as much, noting that tonight’s gig was a “serious thing” and that it had been a while since the two had performed together.
The plan was to have Johnny Cooper play with Mike McClure, along with Cooper’s lead guitar player, Jason Brown, backing them up. However, Brown had an emergency and had to leave.
Cooper seemed a little bummed about not playing with McClure this night. Still, Cooper said he was content to “sit back and watch” the unpredictable, prolific and eccentric Mike McClure.
And McClure was, well, McClure. Looking like a grad student from Cornell, McClure breezed drunkenly through a scattershot set of originals (“Lay Your Head Down,” “North Platte Blues”) and the occasional cover (“Into the Mystic”).
And as a fan myself, it is fun to see the artists at Stage West (or Duvallz in Lawton, Oklahoma) performing acoustic shows and in a more intimate environment.
A week later, Woody, still pumped after last week’s show, hosted another solid gig, featuring Brandon Rhyder and singer-guitarists Lance Burnett and Jeremy Jowers from Seymour, Texas-based Under the Influence Band. This was somewhat of an extension of his post-birthday acoustic chaos gigs. And those in attendance for this latest show were excited to share it with their friend Woody.
Rhyder, who arrived with his guitar and little else, took time to talk to a serious fan who is stationed at a local Air Force base.
“All of his music is awesome,” said Steven Sheeley, a native of Midlothian, Texas.
Jowers and Burnett, who play a Texas music style that has a rock and blues influence, admiring everyone from Michael Nesmith to Chris Knight, put on a good show for the nice, Wednesday night crowd.
In the crowd this night was P.J. Berry, a super-fan from nearby Iowa Park, Texas. Sporting a red Shooter Jennings T-shirt and wielding a digital camera, this 55-year-old was having the time of her life snapping pictures of the artists over the course of the evening.
She talked about suffering from an illness a few years back and being confined to a wheelchair – until she was introduced to Texas and Red Dirt music – music she says saved her life.
“It got me out of that wheelchair,” she said with a winning smile.
Berry, who goes to Texas and Red Dirt shows all over with her husband Ron Berry, said after spending time with her bartending son down in Austin back in the late 1990’s, she took a liking to the music.And for Woody, what did he think of the turnout and the party with McClure and Cooper?
Said Hodges, “I was very pleased with the turnout. It is hard to have a bad show with Mike & Johnny. Then throw in some Jackson Taylor and Toby Wayne, that equals a great party and some of the best talent around. It was one of the best Birthday parties I have had and know I will have a hard time beating it next year. I better start working on that right now!”
--END--
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Boren & Tenet & unanswered questions
Interesting blog post from The Oklahoman's Washington bureau correspondent Chris Casteel, who discusses George Tenet's new book, "At the Center of the Storm," and Tenet's connection to current OU President and former US Sen. David Boren, a man with close ties to intelligence agencies and the so-called "black world" of covert ops.
Writes Casteel:
Seven years ago this week, University of Oklahoma President David Boren came to Washington to make an important point about George Tenet: that he was independent and would tell the President of the United States what he needed _ not what he wanted _ to hear.
There is no doubt Boren, a former U.S. senator who served as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the first Gulf War and is close to many people in the military and intelligence communities, thought this was a critical characteristic for a CIA director.
There is some doubt now that Tenet lived up to Boren's depiction of him, made at the Senate confirmation hearings for Tenet.
Continuing ...
Tenet essentially claims in the book that he was made the scapegoat by some in the Bush administration for the fact that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. Tenet devotes a whole chapter in his book to his use of the phrase "slam dunk'' during an Oval Office meeting about making the public case that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
In an interview this week, Boren said he repeatedly urged Tenet to resign, or at least threaten to resign, because of the administration's determination to invade Iraq, without conclusive intelligence about weapons of mass destruction.
Finally ...
Boren, who is still a good friend and strong supporter of Tenet, said he accomplished much at the CIA. But, after listing his achievements, Boren asked, "Did he vigorously enough try to convince the president that there was insufficient evidence of WMD before going into Iraq?"
Tenet's book clearly shows that he's been asking that question of himself for years.
--END--
Read the full piece here.
And I have to say that it still leaves some big questions open. Boren and Tenet were having a "leisurely breakfast"together in Washington on 9/11. Click here to read Michael P. Wright's comments and links to articles that point to Tenet (and Boren indirectly) as missing some serious clues that would point to a terrorist attack taking place in 2001. Of course we know Zacarias Moussaoui was in Norman, Boren's backyard, for a while in 2001 and we also know Nick Berg, the young Pennsylvania businessman beheaded in Iraq in 2004, was lurking around OU campus around the time Moussaoui had been in Norman. What does Boren, or Tenet for that matter, know about this?
Writes Casteel:
Seven years ago this week, University of Oklahoma President David Boren came to Washington to make an important point about George Tenet: that he was independent and would tell the President of the United States what he needed _ not what he wanted _ to hear.
There is no doubt Boren, a former U.S. senator who served as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the first Gulf War and is close to many people in the military and intelligence communities, thought this was a critical characteristic for a CIA director.
There is some doubt now that Tenet lived up to Boren's depiction of him, made at the Senate confirmation hearings for Tenet.
Continuing ...
Tenet essentially claims in the book that he was made the scapegoat by some in the Bush administration for the fact that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. Tenet devotes a whole chapter in his book to his use of the phrase "slam dunk'' during an Oval Office meeting about making the public case that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
In an interview this week, Boren said he repeatedly urged Tenet to resign, or at least threaten to resign, because of the administration's determination to invade Iraq, without conclusive intelligence about weapons of mass destruction.
Finally ...
Boren, who is still a good friend and strong supporter of Tenet, said he accomplished much at the CIA. But, after listing his achievements, Boren asked, "Did he vigorously enough try to convince the president that there was insufficient evidence of WMD before going into Iraq?"
Tenet's book clearly shows that he's been asking that question of himself for years.
--END--
Read the full piece here.
And I have to say that it still leaves some big questions open. Boren and Tenet were having a "leisurely breakfast"together in Washington on 9/11. Click here to read Michael P. Wright's comments and links to articles that point to Tenet (and Boren indirectly) as missing some serious clues that would point to a terrorist attack taking place in 2001. Of course we know Zacarias Moussaoui was in Norman, Boren's backyard, for a while in 2001 and we also know Nick Berg, the young Pennsylvania businessman beheaded in Iraq in 2004, was lurking around OU campus around the time Moussaoui had been in Norman. What does Boren, or Tenet for that matter, know about this?
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Henry needs to sign immigration reform bill into law
Hopefully Brad Henry, boy governor, will get with the program and sign the immigration reform bill into law. Sure, the corrupt, unethical businesses in our state may be crying in pain (particularly Seaboard out in the Panhandle, I reckon) as are the pro-illegals activist groups. But our boy governor should think of the hardworking, LEGAL residents first and foremost. He fell down in regards to the abortion bill a few weeks back and lost a lot of respect from those of us in the pro-life movement. So, Gov. Henry, do something right this time and send a message that the state of Oklahoma takes illegal immigration seriously and will no longer tolerate the coddling of lawbreakers.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Terror war plate for sale
So, what to make of this Oklahoma "Global War on Terrorism" license plate? Well, you've got the eagle. Very American. You've got the Twin Towers from the demolished World Trade Center and a ribbon reading "9/11." Hmm. Curious. It's also got that new-style desert camo look. If I wasn't so cynical about the whole affair, I'd think it was kind of cool. But when your eyes are opened and you know something to be completely false, then it's just kind of a bummer. So, if you're interested in picking up one of these plates for your Hummer or whatever, go to http://www.tax.ok.gov/plates/sp145.html. But hurry, supplies are limited.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Inhofe clearly confused as to why we invaded Iraq
Saw this little nugget via ThinkProgress today. Sen. Jimmy is clearly confused once again.
Inhofe: Media invented WMD excuse for Iraq invasion.
Inhofe, speaking to the press before Cheney’s arrival (in Tulsa), lambasted Democrats for Thursday’s Senate vote to begin withdrawal from Iraq by Oct. 1 and the press for “mischaracterizing” the reasons for U.S. involvement.
“The whole idea of weapons of mass destruction was never the issue, yet they keep trying to bring this up,” Inhofe said. […]
Pressed for an explanation, Inhofe said weapons of mass destruction were “incidental” to the decision to invade Iraq.
“The media made that the issue because they knew Saddam Hussein had used weapons of mass destruction.”
(Then we find out what Jimmy said back in August 2002 ...)
Our intelligence system has said that we know that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction — I believe including nuclear. There’s not one person on this panel who would tell you unequivocally that he doesn’t have the missile means now, or is nearly getting the missile means to deliver a weapon of mass destruction. And I for one am not willing to wait for that to happen.
--END--
You've embarrassed us enough, Senator.
Inhofe: Media invented WMD excuse for Iraq invasion.
Inhofe, speaking to the press before Cheney’s arrival (in Tulsa), lambasted Democrats for Thursday’s Senate vote to begin withdrawal from Iraq by Oct. 1 and the press for “mischaracterizing” the reasons for U.S. involvement.
“The whole idea of weapons of mass destruction was never the issue, yet they keep trying to bring this up,” Inhofe said. […]
Pressed for an explanation, Inhofe said weapons of mass destruction were “incidental” to the decision to invade Iraq.
“The media made that the issue because they knew Saddam Hussein had used weapons of mass destruction.”
(Then we find out what Jimmy said back in August 2002 ...)
Our intelligence system has said that we know that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction — I believe including nuclear. There’s not one person on this panel who would tell you unequivocally that he doesn’t have the missile means now, or is nearly getting the missile means to deliver a weapon of mass destruction. And I for one am not willing to wait for that to happen.
--END--
You've embarrassed us enough, Senator.
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