Two of us went to the CFC CHOCOLATIER on Brady recently during the regular monthly events in the Brady Arts District. We entered the store to find a salesperson who looked at us and walked into the back room without saying a word. We waited for 20 minutes and no one came out to help us make our purchase. We were the only two in the front of the store (we did hear a few voices coming from the back room). Finally we left. The next day we emailed the owner. We received two snide replies telling us that everyone "knows who he is and what he is like". He told us in no uncertain terms that customers must conform to his whims and fancies without exception. With such an attitude and horrible customer service we will take our business to other locally owned shops. Obviously he is too self important and self absorbed to be bothered with customers.
I have to ask. Where is my stimulus check? I work 50-60 hours a week at 3 jobs just to make ends meet. 3 jobs because most employers have no idea what a decent wage is. An those that do are going out of business or sending the jobs to Mexico. I rent, I don't own, I've never had good enough credit or enough to money to make a down payment on a house. I paid cash for the old car I drive. I don't have a zillion dollars in credit debt. I live a paycheck away from homelessness and have lived that way most of my life. I don't want a handout. I just want the opportunity to get and keep a job that will provide for my family.
I am pissed off at McDonald's for having employed so many damn hispanics. There is no way that there are that many certified hispanics in Tulsa. You need a translator just to order a an Egg McMuffin. I wonder if someone wearing one of those blue INS jackets was to walk in, how many of those McD employees would flee out the back door?
I am pissed off at the UTW for printing a picture of the Tulsa Fire Department on page 6. I am also pissed off at all the people that are telling lies about the TFD. These firefighters go to work every day doing nothing but helping the citizens of Tulsa. The Oklahoma Dept of Health (who is in charge of all of the certifications) did an audit of all EMS records and did find some errors in TFD's documentation. THAT WAS IT! The Tulsa Fire Dept made the necessary changes and FIXED the problem, but for some reason there are still people (Tulsa city council and this publication) that cant seem to let it go. The TFD is still an excellent EMS provider and will continue to do nothing but improve. I wish that before this publication jumped to conclusions they would have got there facts straight and not just gone off what other people are saying!!! Also, who are you going to call when your mom, dad, sister, brother, cousin, or anybody else for that matter has an emergency? You are going to call the TFD just like they have been for the last 100 years.
Last night the local news mentioned (to paraphrase): “We know that at least some of this stimulus bill is going to be put to good use”. They went on to explain that 65 billion will be allotted to assist those on the brink of foreclosure so they can keep their house. It is my understanding that the only requirement to qualify is that you owe more than your house is worth. Over the past few years I have watched my peers in their late 20’s and early 30’s hypnotized with the “I wants” purchase homes that fifty years ago would have taken the average person a lifetime to afford. It seems we have forgotten how to build wealth and have decided having everything right now on credit is so much more fashionable and chic. So here my husband and I sit in our modest $87,000, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, investing our time and hard work to remodel, while others decide they must have the completely renovated $225,000 home at 28 years old. Guess who is paying to bail them out now? That’s right… Mr. & Mrs. Responsible, living non-flashy, debt-free lives get to watch our tax dollars keep our peers in their luxury homes. This is absurd! My suggestion is there should be a cap on the value of the home to qualify for stimulus money. This may be different in every state but for Oklahoma, if your house is worth more than $125,000.00, there is no excuse to provide tax dollars to avoid foreclosure. People who are sitting on more house than they can afford need to move into an apartment until they learn what their income can provide. Then try home ownership again when they are back on their feet. There is no tragedy in that! It seems government has decided people should not have to live with the consequences of their choices.
I am pissed off by the lack of driving skills in this town:
Every single day my path crosses someone driving in the fast lane holding up traffic. Police need to start ticketing people for impeding traffic on the highways.
A few months back there was a lady in a gray honda or something like it doing her makeup in the fast lane while people were trying to get around her. If I come across that again, I'll call the police and give them the license number. Not only is it insane to do something like that, it's dangerous.
Next are the people who wait until last minute, then pull right out in front of you. 90 % of the people in this town do not know who to use the turning lane with yellow lines in between the lanes as a tool to merge into traffic.
Then there are the people who merge from the BA on 169 who slow to speeds of 20 miles per hour, ride the shoulder then merge onto 169 by pulling out in front of someone.
Out all the places I lived and visited, Tulsa has the worst drivers.
Why are you printing that drivel in Rant & Rall? The guy's a flaming Communist idiot. You're selling the lie that we've been living in something that resembles a free-market economy.
I expect that nonsense from sources like MSNBC and FOX news. That lie is why their advertisers pay them. But, come on, you're a small business. I really expect at least *some* business acumen from you.
Maybe I give you too much credit.
Here's the truth of the matter: Communism [while nice in theory] does not work in any sizable group. We've been practicing it since about 1933, and it's driven our country to its knees.
The people who proclaim "We need more government control!" are perfect exhibits of that famous [and dubious] definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.
This country was founded on the idea that personal property, and the right to the fruits of your labor, are important. I know it's quaint, but some really smart people thought it had merit, once upon a time.
Rall's `Rants` would make sense in Seattle's "The Stranger." They really don't belong in the UT. Tulsans still (mostly) have a vague degree of common sense, self-reliance, and independence.
I'm really not one of those nut-cases who think I could pull off being an island...especially in the middle of a city. I know I'm totally reliant on the good-will of my neighbors and the trucking companies who bring in my TV dinners.
I have a lot more faith that they'll keep supplying me if I give them what they want (i.e. being a good neighbor and paying them) than if I have to rely on some Central Planning Committee to take care of details like that for me.
I'd have addressed this as a response to Rall's column, but you seem to have [wisely?] kept his gibberish off-line.
I have to agree with Jawiin: I'm pissed off my lovliner did not make it to the print edition. It made it to the online edition BFD! Last week page after page of that drivel was published, and this week one page? WTF???
Yeah, I'm mad as hell. Why did my loveline make it online, but not in the paper? That was the point of doing it. That she would read it and be surprised. How can I surprise her by saying, "Hey Honey, Check out this website." Why weren't all of them published?!? I want an answer.
Go to ribcrib.com and look for the nutritional information. It is not to be found. Call the cor prate office and ask for it. The response they are to give is "we are working on it." this has been three years. I decided to investigate. The oil they use to fry the food has THREE grams of TRANS FAT per serving. furthermore, the seasoning they use to season ALL of their meats contains MSG! Obviously they care more about saving money than our health.
Yes, I am angry. Let me tell you why.... I absolutely hate going to Wal-Mart. Every time I go, I hate the human race a little more. I guess hate might be a strong word, but my growing distaste for those around me is somewhat alarming. What has happened to people in general over the last twenty years?? I was standing in line, waiting to cash my PAYCHECK behind a woman who was holding a $3000 welfare check in her hand and making crack deals on her cell phone. She was not at all bashful about letting everyone around her hear the ridiculous conversation. Her children didn't seem to mind, either. It was completely disgusting. There are those of us who go to work everyday to make a living and barely getting by, while people like her are manipulating the system and getting a free ride. She did not look disabled to me. She was wearing name brand clothing, her hair was done, her nails were done, her shoes were new. Her kids were dirty. I was furious. I think we might be looking the wrong way to see the distinction between the haves and the have nots. We need to be looking down to see the haves. When honest, hard working people have to make arrangements on utility bills because they can't make ends meet, and a crack head gets a check for making babies, there is something wrong. Inequality does not come in skin color, it comes in motivation. Why can't we do something about people who abuse our already crumbling welfare system? What will they do when the money runs out? There is no guarantee that Social Security will be there when our parents need it, let alone we "Generation X"ers. Those of us who graduated high school in the nineties really have alot to worry about for our futures. Will we have retirement? Will we be taken care of in our golden years? Will we be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle, or will we be forced to accept things like state Medic Aid and meals on wheels? It looks bleak to me. And it's the parasites of society who will bankrupt us. It's those people who have no motivation and no self worth that will bring the rest of us down with them. But the problem is much bigger than we can imagine. It seems we can't even trust those who are placed in office to protect our taxpayer dollars. What about the misappropriation of all that tax money we have paid to fix our city? How will we recover from that? Probably by raising taxes to cover the losses incurred by the criminals we pay. What happened to community? What happened to giving it your best to benefit the greater good? What happened to being a part of a whole, rather than being out for number one? Am I the only one who feels this way? People are very disappointing....
I'm not actually pissed off...I just thought I would point something out. I was browsing through your restaurant section and noticed that there were no restaurants listed under the Korean section. There is a Korean restaurant in Tulsa. It is called Korean Garden and located in the shopping center at the corner of 41st and 129th E. Ave. They are right next to a Korean market, and they have a buffet on Saturdays for dinner for those who want to try out Korean food. There is also a small food counter in Kim's International Market which is on 31st St. just east of Highway 169.
It is sad how our Tulsa County Court system has failed to help the victims of Domestic Violence. No one should have the right whether male or female to physically hurt a loved one/spouse. Whether angry or not violence should not be the answer. My marriage was meant to be forever, I thought he had changed. He promised me he would never hurt me again. I never turned him in, I never went to the hospital. But he had not changed, and tore our family apart. I made my bed and I chose to lie in it. I took him back over and over listening to his lies of change. I admit I took him back, but I did not take him back to get beat up and the verbal abuse, mood swings, violent rages. After I left him and filed for divorce on March 15, 2007, we were just about to finalize our divorce when on June 13, 2007, he attacked me. Horrible and terrifying in front of our 4 year old son. Well, long end of the story it is now Jan 2009 and his case has just finished up. It is his first offense in the court system. So the courts let him go on a deferred guilty plea. Which means it won't stay on his record if he stays out of trouble for however many months they said. He does have to go to the DVIS 52 week program(which is good). But for me, I finally stood up to a man that controlled me, my mind, my body, my soul and this was not the first time he has physically hurt me. Just the first time I stood up for myself. Granted I have my life and my son is safe, I have to live knowing that this man will go on hurting someone else if not me again. I feel the court system has let down my child and I. My husband was a horrible man, but I am the only who really knows. I don't want punishment forever, but I think our court system should look at Domestic Violence a little differently. Please Stop letting the Abuser's continue abusing. Please take a closer look at the men you let walk out of your court room. from, close to my 38, KVC
UTW has a good sports editor. He has the stones to call things like he sees them, without deference to one particular team. So, if that unsettles the OU contingent, I suppose they should stick to Sooner cheerleader/apologist Barry Trammel columns in the Whirlld.
I took the time to read all of the Hot 100 last week. Great job. Yes. BUT... I noticed the little comment at the end of the Flytrap one that read "for more on Flytrap, read next week's issue."
I was very excited. In fact, as a supporter of Tulsa's growing music scene, I even informed my friends and the Flytrap itself that they need to look for next week's (or this week as it stands now) issue.
I was sad to discover that NO such article existed. Was this a mistake on your part or was there never an article? If it was a strange ploy to get people to pick up your paper then WOW! What low ethics. It'd be cool if you took the time to make sure all of your technicalities matched up. And, we were really looking forward to that article since the Flytrap is a place that could really use the good vibe from a prominent paper like yourself.
Just a bit of history to the author. The hoovers are not an imitation gang. That gang tree came from L.A. in the drug trade of Ricky Ross and the federal government. And what does the name have to do with anything? If they did not have a name they can still be a gang if they are from that hood. Would they be copycats then? America is full of gangs; the klan, freemasons, fraternities, sororities, hoovers, hillside, NHC, marine corps, vice lords, teams, the fraternal order of police, neo-nazis, army, navy. All talk of brotherhood and watching out for each other; fighting the enemy and protecting the homeland. America has an issue with gang violence. These kids out here want protection, love. Yes they are deviant, but no more devaint than police brutality, war crimes, or hate crimes. Write about that. Blaming hip hop is ignorant. Rapping is an art form, it's time you all figured that out. In any public forum some people take negative lyrics or screenplays for what they are, art. Sociopaths take it as life, and sociopaths do not just listen to hip hop so give rap a break. Or place more responsibility on Rock, Punk, Movies, T.V., warfare. George Clooney played in a movie as a thief, most people love Ocean's 11, 12, and 13. Al Pacino was Michael Corleone in the Godfather, people love that GANGSTER movie. Scream is a very sociopathic movie, for no reason. The t.v. loves to show blood and gore. Rapers, for the most part, paint pictures of life as they know it or watch it(clean up the streets and they won't see so much). My parents and my loved ones taught me right from wrong, not T.I.'s raps. They had just enough money to keep me in extra-curricular activities and away from the streets. If you're mom works two jobs, dad works 10 hours a day on the night shift and the family can't make ends meet, how can they pay for extra activities or babysitting? Maybe if the parks wouldn't be shutting down and after school programs wouldn't be getting cut left and right this thuggery wouldn't once again be on the rise and poor kids would have something to do, positive figures to look out for them. Write about that next time. And about stop snitching, can anyone say Scooter Libbey? How about the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover? The Bush cabinet? None of them plan on snitching. Americans don't tattle, snitch, or give up the goods, not if you belong to a gang. Have you ever seen a Few Good Men? The armed forces are sometimes the poster boys for stop snitching. Now I am not downing the military because they do risk their lives for us, but that does not make them perfect. Write about that next time. I like what you are trying to do but you have no idea what you are talking about past objective names and lyrics. I wish our town the best, I wish you the best, and I leave you with this. If you write and a ignorant, and they fight and are ignorant, who is to say the real detriment to the community.
P.s. I would love a response to get a better understanding of where you are coming from
Memorials belong in parks, cemeteries are for graves.
I have to comment on the silliness of the "consultant from out-of-town" observing that our parks look like cemeteries because of all the memorials. News Flash - memorials are NOT in cemeteries, graves are. Memorials are typically spread around a city or town, or located on or near a spot being memorialized. The great memorials in our nation's capital, Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, Vietnam Veterans, etc. are not in Arlington Cemetery, but rather in the city itself. Likewise, in our fair city we have memorials to a variety of war veterans, as well as individual people and events located throughout the city - not in cemeteries.
Tulsa has been blessed with an abundance of people that we wish to remember. I am also proud that we have a strong spirit of remembering people and events as it encourages us to draw strength from those that have given of themselves in so many ways.
The "Up With Trees" program is a great way to maintain and expand Tulsa's urban forest. It is not surprising that people would choose to honor friends or family members by donating to this effort and having a small, simple wooden sign added. If you will actually read more than a couple of the signs, you will see that many of them honor living people and their efforts to make life in Tulsa better for us all. Tulsa's people are remarkably generous with their time and their money and a living group of trees is a great way to acknowledge those special people who go the extra mile.
As far as the River Parks in particular, I feel that some of the NatureWorks pieces could be better integrated into the park with landscaping and such, but they are wonderful pieces and I enjoy them whether cycling or driving in the area. There are other pieces of art in River Parks that I do not understand or relate to, but this is a park for all of Tulsa and I would not want to see it dumbed down to the Thomas Kinkade or Terry Redlin level of greeting card works.
In short, Tulsans from all walks of life have given of themselves and I think it is great that we choose to honor them all over town, not just on the courthouse lawn. I also think it is great that we have a variety of art pieces in our public spaces for all to enjoy. Just because you do not love a particular piece on first viewing doesn't mean you can't get something from it if you will open up and give it a try.
REALLY MAD!! In a domestic quarrel in Tulsa I was first strangled briefly, then fell and hit my head on tile floor, then was grabbed by my ankles and dragged out and down the cement steps. He (the perpetrator) wrote in his own hand written statement that he had done all this to me, adding his comment "let's see what happens when your head bounces off the concrete." I began losing sight in my left eye several days later, then all was black: my retina was off, torn & folded. 3 surgeries later my eye was "scooped" out, a prosthetic left in its place. Even tho Tulsa DA/ADA has evidence, they refuse to prosecute the aggravated felony. PLEASE: SOMEONE HAS TO ADVOCATE FOR ME. My three years of trying have done nothing and I only see 20/150 in my right eye. Find me at watts68@cox.net. Please.
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COMMENTS
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
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Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Where is my stimulus check?
I work 50-60 hours a week at 3 jobs just to make ends meet. 3 jobs because most employers have no idea what a decent wage is. An those that do are going out of business or sending the jobs to Mexico.
I rent, I don't own, I've never had good enough credit or enough to money to make a down payment on a house.
I paid cash for the old car I drive.
I don't have a zillion dollars in credit debt.
I live a paycheck away from homelessness and have lived that way most of my life.
I don't want a handout. I just want the opportunity to get and keep a job that will provide for my family.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Over the past few years I have watched my peers in their late 20’s and early 30’s hypnotized with the “I wants” purchase homes that fifty years ago would have taken the average person a lifetime to afford. It seems we have forgotten how to build wealth and have decided having everything right now on credit is so much more fashionable and chic.
So here my husband and I sit in our modest $87,000, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, investing our time and hard work to remodel, while others decide they must have the completely renovated $225,000 home at 28 years old. Guess who is paying to bail them out now? That’s right… Mr. & Mrs. Responsible, living non-flashy, debt-free lives get to watch our tax dollars keep our peers in their luxury homes. This is absurd!
My suggestion is there should be a cap on the value of the home to qualify for stimulus money. This may be different in every state but for Oklahoma, if your house is worth more than $125,000.00, there is no excuse to provide tax dollars to avoid foreclosure.
People who are sitting on more house than they can afford need to move into an apartment until they learn what their income can provide. Then try home ownership again when they are back on their feet. There is no tragedy in that!
It seems government has decided people should not have to live with the consequences of their choices.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Every single day my path crosses someone driving in the fast lane holding up traffic. Police need to start ticketing people for impeding traffic on the highways.
A few months back there was a lady in a gray honda or something like it doing her makeup in the fast lane while people were trying to get around her. If I come across that again, I'll call the police and give them the license number. Not only is it insane to do something like that, it's dangerous.
Next are the people who wait until last minute, then pull right out in front of you. 90 % of the people in this town do not know who to use the turning lane with yellow lines in between the lanes as a tool to merge into traffic.
Then there are the people who merge from the BA on 169 who slow to speeds of 20 miles per hour, ride the shoulder then merge onto 169 by pulling out in front of someone.
Out all the places I lived and visited, Tulsa has the worst drivers.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
whiney buttholes that bitch about their problems on the internet. If you don't like america, you can geeeet out !
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
I expect that nonsense from sources like MSNBC and FOX news. That lie is why their advertisers pay them. But, come on, you're a small business. I really expect at least *some* business acumen from you.
Maybe I give you too much credit.
Here's the truth of the matter: Communism [while nice in theory] does not work in any sizable group. We've been practicing it since about 1933, and it's driven our country to its knees.
The people who proclaim "We need more government control!" are perfect exhibits of that famous [and dubious] definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.
This country was founded on the idea that personal property, and the right to the fruits of your labor, are important. I know it's quaint, but some really smart people thought it had merit, once upon a time.
Rall's `Rants` would make sense in Seattle's "The Stranger." They really don't belong in the UT. Tulsans still (mostly) have a vague degree of common sense, self-reliance, and independence.
I'm really not one of those nut-cases who think I could pull off being an island...especially in the middle of a city. I know I'm totally reliant on the good-will of my neighbors and the trucking companies who bring in my TV dinners.
I have a lot more faith that they'll keep supplying me if I give them what they want (i.e. being a good neighbor and paying them) than if I have to rely on some Central Planning Committee to take care of details like that for me.
I'd have addressed this as a response to Rall's column, but you seem to have [wisely?] kept his gibberish off-line.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Why did my loveline make it online, but not in the paper?
That was the point of doing it. That she would read it and be surprised. How can I surprise her by saying, "Hey Honey, Check out this website."
Why weren't all of them published?!?
I want an answer.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
The oil they use to fry the food has THREE grams of TRANS FAT per serving. furthermore, the seasoning they use to season ALL of their meats contains MSG! Obviously they care more about saving money than our health.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
I absolutely hate going to Wal-Mart. Every time I go, I hate the human race a little more. I guess hate might be a strong word, but my growing distaste for those around me is somewhat alarming. What has happened to people in general over the last twenty years?? I was standing in line, waiting to cash my PAYCHECK behind a woman who was holding a $3000 welfare check in her hand and making crack deals on her cell phone. She was not at all bashful about letting everyone around her hear the ridiculous conversation. Her children didn't seem to mind, either. It was completely disgusting. There are those of us who go to work everyday to make a living and barely getting by, while people like her are manipulating the system and getting a free ride. She did not look disabled to me. She was wearing name brand clothing, her hair was done, her nails were done, her shoes were new. Her kids were dirty. I was furious. I think we might be looking the wrong way to see the distinction between the haves and the have nots. We need to be looking down to see the haves. When honest, hard working people have to make arrangements on utility bills because they can't make ends meet, and a crack head gets a check for making babies, there is something wrong. Inequality does not come in skin color, it comes in motivation. Why can't we do something about people who abuse our already crumbling welfare system? What will they do when the money runs out? There is no guarantee that Social Security will be there when our parents need it, let alone we "Generation X"ers. Those of us who graduated high school in the nineties really have alot to worry about for our futures. Will we have retirement? Will we be taken care of in our golden years? Will we be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle, or will we be forced to accept things like state Medic Aid and meals on wheels? It looks bleak to me. And it's the parasites of society who will bankrupt us. It's those people who have no motivation and no self worth that will bring the rest of us down with them. But the problem is much bigger than we can imagine. It seems we can't even trust those who are placed in office to protect our taxpayer dollars. What about the misappropriation of all that tax money we have paid to fix our city? How will we recover from that? Probably by raising taxes to cover the losses incurred by the criminals we pay. What happened to community? What happened to giving it your best to benefit the greater good? What happened to being a part of a whole, rather than being out for number one? Am I the only one who feels this way? People are very disappointing....
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
But for me, I finally stood up to a man that controlled me, my mind, my body, my soul and this was not the first time he has physically hurt me. Just the first time I stood up for myself. Granted I have my life and my son is safe, I have to live knowing that this man will go on hurting someone else if not me again. I feel the court system has let down my child and I. My husband was a horrible man, but I am the only who really knows. I don't want punishment forever, but I think our court system should look at Domestic Violence a little differently. Please Stop letting the Abuser's continue abusing. Please take a closer look at the men you let walk out of your court room.
from,
close to my 38, KVC
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
I was very excited. In fact, as a supporter of Tulsa's growing music scene, I even informed my friends and the Flytrap itself that they need to look for next week's (or this week as it stands now) issue.
I was sad to discover that NO such article existed. Was this a mistake on your part or was there never an article? If it was a strange ploy to get people to pick up your paper then WOW! What low ethics. It'd be cool if you took the time to make sure all of your technicalities matched up. And, we were really looking forward to that article since the Flytrap is a place that could really use the good vibe from a prominent paper like yourself.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
Just a bit of history to the author. The hoovers are not an imitation gang. That gang tree came from L.A. in the drug trade of Ricky Ross and the federal government. And what does the name have to do with anything? If they did not have a name they can still be a gang if they are from that hood. Would they be copycats then? America is full of gangs; the klan, freemasons, fraternities, sororities, hoovers, hillside, NHC, marine corps, vice lords, teams, the fraternal order of police, neo-nazis, army, navy. All talk of brotherhood and watching out for each other; fighting the enemy and protecting the homeland. America has an issue with gang violence. These kids out here want protection, love. Yes they are deviant, but no more devaint than police brutality, war crimes, or hate crimes. Write about that. Blaming hip hop is ignorant. Rapping is an art form, it's time you all figured that out. In any public forum some people take negative lyrics or screenplays for what they are, art. Sociopaths take it as life, and sociopaths do not just listen to hip hop so give rap a break. Or place more responsibility on Rock, Punk, Movies, T.V., warfare. George Clooney played in a movie as a thief, most people love Ocean's 11, 12, and 13. Al Pacino was Michael Corleone in the Godfather, people love that GANGSTER movie. Scream is a very sociopathic movie, for no reason. The t.v. loves to show blood and gore. Rapers, for the most part, paint pictures of life as they know it or watch it(clean up the streets and they won't see so much). My parents and my loved ones taught me right from wrong, not T.I.'s raps. They had just enough money to keep me in extra-curricular activities and away from the streets. If you're mom works two jobs, dad works 10 hours a day on the night shift and the family can't make ends meet, how can they pay for extra activities or babysitting? Maybe if the parks wouldn't be shutting down and after school programs wouldn't be getting cut left and right this thuggery wouldn't once again be on the rise and poor kids would have something to do, positive figures to look out for them. Write about that next time. And about stop snitching, can anyone say Scooter Libbey? How about the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover? The Bush cabinet? None of them plan on snitching. Americans don't tattle, snitch, or give up the goods, not if you belong to a gang. Have you ever seen a Few Good Men? The armed forces are sometimes the poster boys for stop snitching. Now I am not downing the military because they do risk their lives for us, but that does not make them perfect. Write about that next time. I like what you are trying to do but you have no idea what you are talking about past objective names and lyrics. I wish our town the best, I wish you the best, and I leave you with this. If you write and a ignorant, and they fight and are ignorant, who is to say the real detriment to the community.
P.s. I would love a response to get a better understanding of where you are coming from
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
I have to comment on the silliness of the "consultant from out-of-town" observing that our parks look like cemeteries because of all the memorials. News Flash - memorials are NOT in cemeteries, graves are. Memorials are typically spread around a city or town, or located on or near a spot being memorialized. The great memorials in our nation's capital, Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, Vietnam Veterans, etc. are not in Arlington Cemetery, but rather in the city itself. Likewise, in our fair city we have memorials to a variety of war veterans, as well as individual people and events located throughout the city - not in cemeteries.
Tulsa has been blessed with an abundance of people that we wish to remember. I am also proud that we have a strong spirit of remembering people and events as it encourages us to draw strength from those that have given of themselves in so many ways.
The "Up With Trees" program is a great way to maintain and expand Tulsa's urban forest. It is not surprising that people would choose to honor friends or family members by donating to this effort and having a small, simple wooden sign added. If you will actually read more than a couple of the signs, you will see that many of them honor living people and their efforts to make life in Tulsa better for us all. Tulsa's people are remarkably generous with their time and their money and a living group of trees is a great way to acknowledge those special people who go the extra mile.
As far as the River Parks in particular, I feel that some of the NatureWorks pieces could be better integrated into the park with landscaping and such, but they are wonderful pieces and I enjoy them whether cycling or driving in the area. There are other pieces of art in River Parks that I do not understand or relate to, but this is a park for all of Tulsa and I would not want to see it dumbed down to the Thomas Kinkade or Terry Redlin level of greeting card works.
In short, Tulsans from all walks of life have given of themselves and I think it is great that we choose to honor them all over town, not just on the courthouse lawn. I also think it is great that we have a variety of art pieces in our public spaces for all to enjoy. Just because you do not love a particular piece on first viewing doesn't mean you can't get something from it if you will open up and give it a try.
Re: Are You Pissed Off? Tell us about it.
My three years of trying have done nothing and I only see 20/150 in my right eye. Find me at watts68@cox.net. Please.