Make Life SIMPLE

I'm in, DAMMIT!

2009-07-08T16:58:00.001-07:00

Reid: Ain't NO Nigger Man Comin' To Mah House

2009-01-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON – Roland Burris tried to take President-elect Barack Obama's Illinois Senate seat Tuesday but failed in a scripted piece of political theater staged just before the opening of the 111th Congress.

"Mr. Burris is not in possession of the necessary credentials from the state of Illinois," declared Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Burris, 71, earlier confirmed that Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson had informed him in a private meeting that his credentials lacked a required signature and his state's seal.

He said he had been advised that "I would not be accepted, and I will not be seated, and I will not be permitted on the floor." He spoke to a crowd of reporters who had followed him across the street for a news conference in a cold and steady rain outside the Capitol.

The former Illinois attorney general said he was "not seeking to have any type of confrontation" over taking the seat that he was appointed to by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But Burris also said he was considering a federal lawsuit to force Senate Democrats to seat him.

It was a distraction for majority Democrats eager to project an image of progress with Obama on an economic stimulus package estimated to cost as much as $800 billion.

Democrats and Obama have said that the corruption charges against Blagojevich would strip credibility from anyone he appointed to the seat.

Blagojevich denies federal accusations that he tried to sell Obama's seat.

In a written statement following Tuesday's action, the governor said allegations against him shouldn't be held against Burris, whom he called a "good and decent man."

"The people of Illinois are entitled to be represented by two senators in the United States Senate," Blagojevich said.

That Erickson turned away Burris was no surprise; Senate Democrats had warned that if Burris showed up to be sworn in on Tuesday without the signature of the Illinois secretary of state, he would be turned away. That's just what happened.

A mob of reporters awaited him outside the Senate's North Door, where Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer and a throng of officers escorted him through security and up to Erickson's office on the third floor.

There, more reporters waited. Burris went through another metal detector and into Erickson's office, nestled between the elevators and the press gallery.

Twenty-one minutes later, he left. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid confirmed that Burris had been rejected.

Burris left the building, escorted by Gainer and his officers.

An attorney for Burris, Timothy W. Wright III, said that "our credentials were rejected by the secretary of the Senate. We were not allowed to be placed in the record book. We were not allowed to proceed to the floor for purposes of taking oath. All of which we think was improperly done and is against the law of this land. We will consider our options and we will certainly let you know what our decisions will be soon thereafter."

Asked what his options were, Wright said there could be a court challenge and Burris also would continue to talk to Senate leaders.

Some of Burris' supporters have bemoaned the fact that Democrats would stand in the way of the Senate gaining its only black member. Burris himself downplayed the issue of race, telling reporters: "I cannot control my supporters. I have never in my life, in all my years of being elected to office, thought anything about race."

"I'm presenting myself as the legally appointed senator from the state of Illinois. It is my hope and prayer that they recognize that the appointment is legal," he said earlier on CBS' "The Early Show."

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus said Tuesday that Burris should be seated.

"A lot of people want to talk about race or the governor and his problems, but the bottom line is you have a sitting governor who has certain legal rights and authorities and he's made an appointment," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "This is an issue that goes beyond race."

It's OVER!

2008-09-03T14:54:00.001-07:00

My Offbeat DNC

2008-08-27T15:42:00.001-07:00

Who Owns Tulsa?

2008-08-13T16:11:00.001-07:00

Mmm Eye See Kaaay Eeee Why?....Mmm Oooh You Sssss Eeeee!

2008-08-13T14:20:00.001-07:00

From all your friends on the City Council: Have a good time in Orlando, Jack!

Thanks for the inspiration to Councilors Martinson, Wescott, Christianson, and Eagleton! It was their idea. NOT mine, I SWEAR!

Recall Daddy in da HOUSE!

2008-08-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

10 S. Yale fallout: Recall Daddy in da HOUSE!

Non-sequiturs EXPOSED:
1) Take the initiative to keep your people informed, NO matter how harsh;
2) Review #1.
3) See #2.

Eric Gomez up close and personal:

Real UGLY. Real QUICK.

2008-08-12T13:29:00.000-07:00

By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 53 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Scrambling to find ways to punish Russia for its invasion of pro-Western Georgia, the United States and its allies are considering expelling Moscow from an exclusive club of wealthy nations and canceling an upcoming joint NATO-Russia military exercise, Bush administration officials said Tuesday.

But with little leverage in the face of an emboldened Moscow, Washington and its friends have been forced to face the uncomfortable reality that their options are limited to mainly symbolic measures, such as boycotting Russian-hosted meetings and events, that may have little or no long-term impact on Russia's behavior, the officials said.

Good grief, who blasted whom, FIRST? Go nail that IDIOT!

Small Guy Getting SCREWED: Part Two

2008-08-12T13:07:00.001-07:00

Last Tuesday, Council hauled a Mr. Wil Wilkins in front of UED committee. Fast forward to this Tuesday morning's UED meeting, I'm pretty much done with the sad sob story of Small Guy Getting SCREWED. But, I'm glad I stay a bit after the Fregonese PlaniTulsa presentation to catch this tidbit from Wescott: People, if you've heard what Tulsa Development Authority has said today, all of their resolutions are MEANINGLESS.

I'm DONE. You guys should catch the rest of the story on TGOV.

Hop to it!

2008-08-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

For something completely different for your grocery shopping or loitering, check out the Jackalope. It's a great place to hang out on a lazy afternoon, power schmoozing with owner Scott Smith. I am blogging at a nice, cool, and cozy corner nook in the store. If you have an urban vegetable garden, with extra crop, consider making arrangements with Scott to consign it next season.

Stop by and check out their speedy wi-fi, hang out, and buy some coffee.

It's 1300 and Do You Know Where Your Councilor is?

2008-08-08T13:23:00.001-07:00

If it's Thursday, they are usually at endless round of meetings. Most are opened to the public. I sat in on one round of meetings last Thursday.

At 1300, 7 August, I listened in on the Sinking Fund Task Force meeting. These are guys who want to protect YOUR money from excessive settlements of lawsuits against the City.

In short, there are two periods, pre-Magee and post-Magee. Several years ago, Arvin Magee made out with over $14 MILLION, sucking the life blood out of City Hall. Nobody paid attention to minimizing the damage, before the case went to jury. Even when it got to the jury, every genius at City Hall kept passing the buck, until the jury stuck it to 'em.

Fast forward to post-Magee, EVERY genius in City Hall pays attention to just every lawsuit exceeding the price of a well-equipped Lexus, including City Council.

Here's the rub, according to Louis Bullock, the hammer for the Black Officers' Coalition: Does City Council really want the political fallout of making a bad call on a settlement? I think NOT.

Surprised! Surprised!

2008-08-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

Last night's Council meeting got real UGLY, real QUICK. More than 100 angry North Tulsans showed up to totally diss the high-rise for the homeless at 10 S Yale. Even Roscoe got in on the action. He totally muffed it at the mike.

After about the 10th Angry White Guy, I left, thinking, Council will cave, like the 41st Tulsa Transit station a few years back. Well, SURPRISE! Surprise!

John Eagleton: The mentally ill and working poor people “need all the help they can get. I will not turn a blind eye to them.”

This is just another typical case of the "well-intentioned," out-of-touch oligarchy set in this crap-ass town doing good, WITHOUT getting the rest of us in on the debate, UP front. Good grief, just tell us what's going on and let the chips fall where they may. Somewhere in this debacle is a middle ground.

But, then again, the City needs to get the riff-raff away from Downtown to make room for the hoity-poity, or the tooty-FRUITY, to roam, drunk, late at night, without getting hassled for a buck. Whatever. I give up.

Way to go, guys!

Mayor to Novus: Take it BACK.

2008-08-06T14:08:00.002-07:00

Mayor is TOTALLY pissed at Will Wilkins, small guy getting SCREWED.

Well, duh. No wonder she didn't want to dance with me at last night's Neighborfest. Or maybe it was the music, rap hip-hop. Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Taylor said the stadium trust is structured under Oklahoma law to allow for no personal benefit or profit to the donors.

Well, good grief, if that's true, WHY BOTHER? Even the "well-intentioned" oligarchy set needs some kind of payback.

No matter how rich, NO man is an island, including George Kaiser. Ok, maybe he really has good intentions. But, he needs other warm bodies to carry out his good intentions. And, they are NOT as rich as he is and NEED their own payback.

Go Greyhound, and Leave the Stabbing to US!

2008-08-06T14:08:00.001-07:00

By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press Writer 36 minutes ago

TORONTO - Greyhound has scrapped an ad campaign that extolled the relaxing upside of bus travel after one of its passengers was accused of beheading and cannibalizing another traveler.

The ad's tag line was "There's a reason you've never heard of 'bus rage.'"

Greyhound spokeswoman Abby Wambaugh said Wednesday a billboard and some tunnel posters near a bus terminal in Toronto are still up and would be removed later in the day.

"Greyhound knows how important it is to get these removed and we are doing everything possible," Wambaugh said. "This is something that we immediately asked to be done last week, realizing that these could be offensive."

Vince Weiguang Li, who immigrated to Canada from China in 2004, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old carnival worker Tim McLean. He has yet to enter a plea.

Thirty-seven passengers were aboard the Greyhound from Edmonton, Alberta, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, as it traveled at night along a desolate stretch of the TransCanada Highway about 12 miles from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Witnesses said Li attacked McLean unprovoked, stabbing him dozens of times.

As horrified passengers fled the bus, Li severed McLean's head, displaying it to some of the passengers outside the bus, witnesses said.

A police officer at the scene reported seeing the attacker hacking off pieces of the victim's body and eating them, according to a police report.

Sucker for the UNDERDOG

2008-08-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Buffy the Sully Slayer 4 Congress!

Post Primary HANGOVER

2008-08-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I BLEW a HUGE, totally useless, wad for Randi Miller. Ok, so she got pegged as the EVIL one who took down a MAJOR Tulsa icon, Bell's Amusement Park. Ok, so she got pegged as the EVIL one dipping her toes into the Arkansas River for the losing end of the River Tax. Ok, so she's on the hook for the Bjorkland scapegoating. And, who knows what else from the ORU debacle.

SO WHAT? No matter. A week before the primary, my inner genius said, actually SCREAMED, "It's MILLER Time!"

But, omewhere along way, I got a really BAD feeling the primary was more like "It's Miller Time To GO." First, I showed up at her Page Belcher enclave, unannounced, to wish her luck, and to slip her some ideas on How to Beat Bell, WITHOUT Really Trying, while on the way to do other errands in the area. NOBODY home.

6924 S 32nd West Ave. is listed by Joan Hastings.

Wander around the neighborhood. No Miller campaign signs. Uh, oh. Don't look very pretty.

Every since she announced another jab at Commish 2 back in May, in ding-ASS Sand Springs, I had a sinking feeling it wasn't going her way. Back in late December 2007, when I ran into her briefly at Dillard's, she seemed almost resigned to the inevitable. One does not announce in ding-ASS Sand Springs, if it was a SERIOUS campaign. Someone of her political stature would have announced at Utica Square's Tei Ke's or maybe the swanky and venerable Petroleum Club.

Fast forward to Primary Day, 29 July 2008, late afternoon, I called her listed number in the phone book. As expected, number changed. With kids screaming in the background, her daughter answers the new number. Mom's gonna be at Joan Hasting's house. And, NO idea where the watch party is. Uh oh #2. NOT pretty, at all.

Hello, is this Joan?

Yes, this is Joan. Who's this?

This is Paul Tay.

Oh, hi, Paul. I heard what you said on KFAQ about Randi.

Yeah, I don't really agree with her all the time. But, she don't need to be treated that way.

Yeah, it's been mean all over the blogs.

Ok, where da watch party AT?

No, she's not doing a watch party. She says she's got a really bad feeling about this one.

Okaaaaaaaay. Where is she now? EVERYBODY, practically the WHOLE Tulsa, is looking for her, KFAQ, KOTV, EVERYBODY.

Oh, she's at the airport picking up another daughter.

So, she's not doing a watch party because she's taking care of family, right?

Right. She's just gonna spend the rest of the evening at my house. No public watch party.

Ok, thanks. Bye.

People, I NEED a beer. It's MILLER Time! Guys, sometimes it really really BITES to be me.

Small Guy Getting SCREWED!

2008-08-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Until some genius from TDA, Tulsa Development Authority, shows to give us the scoop from their POV, all indications point to yet another small guy getting SCREWED.

A Mr. Will Wilkins was hauled in front of City Council's weekly 1000 UED meeting this morning. Mr. Wilkins, and his mother, Cecilia Wilkins, are the principals of Novus Homes, LLC.

They are the little mom and son boutique shop that has been successfully doing in-fill development for a number of years. From that track record, TDA calls on them with a 90 day EXCLUSIVE agreement to check into the possibility of developing a scrappy little piece of parcel nobody really wanted to touch with a ten-foot pole.

After mom and son's due diligence, they decided it was worth going forward. So, what's the BEEF?

1) It's right next to the proposed Driller's downtown stadium:
2) Mom and son Wilkins don't have $20 million CASH lying around, to play with. Bank to Novus: No contract. No cash.
3) Mom and son Wilkins are NOT exactly Maple Ridge GOB material.

Three strikes, yer OUT!

From the evidence presented this morning, here's how things are shaking out, as summarized by Wescott:
1) The Mayor and the GOB wiseguys running the Stadium Trust want the Novus mixed-used project OUT;
2) The same above said geniuses are coming down hard on TDA staff and board to act CONTRARY to the TDA stated mission of rehabing blighted properties.
3) Small guy getting SCREWED!

It's MILLER Time!

2008-07-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

On KFAQ this morning, Randi Miller says, "I've made some tough decisions. When you make tough decisions, some people are going to be MAD. Would you rather vote for a tiger or a kittycat?

Merry Christmas, it's MILLER Time!

Tricky Kathy

2008-07-21T05:31:00.000-07:00

There's a private jet goosing all over the Tulsa skylines lately. The tail number is N227KT. Nothing extraordinary about it, except it is owned and operated by the MAYOR.

And, when it comes down to push and shove, this little number can make things happen. Imagine, you are a Tulsa City Councilor on vacation in, say, Seibert, CO. The Mayor needs YOUR vote on a crucial issue, like a new baseball stadium for Downtown. YOU are there, and, the City Council is HERE. What to do? What to do? What to do?

Well, you would get on the little number pictured above, N227KT, OF COURSE. And, show up in Council meeting at 1755. By the time the naysaying village idiots figure out which pesky legal/ethics to ask, you are throwing the FIRST pitch. Problem SOLVED!

Good grief, Pimp doesn't pay much. But, boy howdy, I'm LOVIN' it, and I'm Baaaaaaack!

How to Engage the Community for Planning, WITHOUT Really Trying

2008-07-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

In Bogota, Columbia, they call it the ciclovia.

In Portland, Oregon, they call it Sunday Parkways.

Grassroots urban planning in Tulsa is CHALLENGING because community engagement is mostly limited to the "well-intentioned" oligarchy. Or, at least, that is the impression.

It is the "well-intentioned" oligarchy who attend the meetings, speak out, and set the agenda for the rest of the silent majority in Tulsa.

We should expose the community to the ultimate end result of all urban planning: How to use the public space to serve the needs of the public. Take the planning sessions out into the community. Citizens want to feel they are part of the process. We need a new paradigm for engaging the community, beyond the four walls.

I propose the ciclovia charrette approach in updating the Comprehensive Plan.

1) Close off 26 miles of City streets to auto traffic on the first Sunday of the month, from May to September. The automobile serves to separate Tulsans from each other in our daily lives. One day each month should be used to bring us all together, face-to-face.

2) Invite corporate charities to fund the closure. Allow farmers' markets to conduct business. Encourage garage sales. Collect taxes on the larger ones.

3) Intersperse interactive planning charrettes focusing on various community issues.

Route 66 Marathon and Tulsa Run already close City streets to auto traffic. Why can't streets be closed for a far more important City concern, such as PlaniTulsa?

Rice Likes BIKES!

2008-07-13T12:27:00.001-07:00

FART 4 FREE GAS!

2008-06-07T06:57:00.001-07:00

City Council District 9: I'm IN!

2008-01-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am IN! Over 300 registered voters signed the petition to get me on the ballot as the Independent candidate for City Council District 9. Thank you to everybody who actually opened their doors for some strange Chinese guy, and signing the petition! In this day and age of door-to-door SCAMMERS, that's a LOT to say about TRUST.

So, in return, I have to return the trust. First, you can trust me NOT to use the list for anything other than for campaign purposes. The petition will be turned over to the Election Board. They check the signatures for validity of registered voters.

I will keep a copy for reference to the addresses to visit when I do the door-to-door meet-n-greet to remind you to vote for me. After the elections, the list gets shredded. When I run again, the whole process starts all over again. So, you can be sure your won't get junk mail because you sign a petition to get me on the ballot in good faith.

Second, you can trust me to listen to what you want me to bring up when I am elected to Council. If there're any opportunities to bring up YOUR most pressing issue of concern to the GENERAL public, I will bring it up, somewhere, somehow.

Third, you can trust me to maintain CIVILITY during my service in City Council. Don't expect a whole lot of dramatic outbursts, food throwing, or anything that might detract from the course of Council business. If there's anything that will not be in the best interest of District 9, as I see it, and NOBODY is listening, I will certainly make an issue of it somewhere, like on this blog. I am really just another normal guy trying to get along, while getting in my say-so.

I will be posting mostly at Safe Streets For Kids for the duration until 1 April. So, see you there!

Power back ON!

2007-12-23T09:26:00.001-08:00

Well, I suppose I shouldn't look at the gift horse in the mouth. Thank you, Mrs. Mommy. You did a great job cracking the whip and getting your people on the MOVE-ON. I wuz takin' MAJOR notes.

I have been without power since last Tuesday, 18 December, when PSO actually came to cut, yes, as in a pair of cable cutters, to snip at the wires that brought power to my house.

Yeah, so what that the meter was on the ground and off the side of the house? Power worked fine since 15 December. NOBODY got hurt. I was MIFFED to say the least.

But, SCREW IT. After a few days, I got along fine without electricity, until I had to figure out how to fix the roof.

I needed power for the circular saw. So that got put off indefinitely. SCREW THAT too!

Oh, well, I haven't been feeling too well. Coughs, lotsa mucus, general tiredness, acheness, and just plain CRANKINESS. Not a pretty sight. So, I'll spare you the pictures. But, hey, what else is new?

This blog will not be receiving the attention as it has in the past. Mainly, because it does NOT pay! I NEED a paying gig, people. So, I've moved my attention to Bike Billboards. I don't know if I'll get back here again. But, help me out by supporting Bike Billboards. Buy ad space on bike billboard. Buy a bike billboard. BUY, BUY, BUY!!!

NJ bans death penalty

2007-12-17T10:45:00.000-08:00

By TOM HESTER Jr., Associated Press Writer 51 minutes ago

TRENTON, N.J. - Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed into law Monday a measure that abolishes the death penalty, making New Jersey the first state in more than four decades to reject capital punishment.

The bill, approved last week by the state's Assembly and Senate, replaces the death sentence with life in prison without parole.

"This is a day of progress for us and for the millions of people across our nation and around the globe who reject the death penalty as a moral or practical response to the grievous, even heinous, crime of murder," Corzine said.