Top 10 Signs Your Country May Be Going Facist

What Song Is This?

Should become evident about halfway through..

Stocking Stuffer

Chewie was a good boy this year and Santa left him the biggest rawhide bone this side of the Red River. It might take him two days to recycle this leather...

Just Enough Snow for a Neighborhood Dirty Snowman!

The girls from up the street joined 2.0 and 3.0 in a snowball fight culminated by an attempt to roll up a snowman in the fast-melting snow (it was already 45 degrees and climbing).

Carrot Nose and Sunglass Eyes

Everyone Did Their Part!

2.0 Adds a Mohawk and the Finishing Touches

The Finished Product!

Create Your Own Flash Bell Song

Creepy Christmas story with a fun ending.
Dingle Bells - Not very entertaining without speakers. [via Metafilter]

OU Basketball Saturday Afternoon!!

Because of the power outages and such in and around central OK they offered $5 seats to the game. The boys and I had a great time and the 2007 Big 12 Champion Football team was in attendance. OU won easily.

2.0 Enjoys the Game

Just a Little Bit of Snow and Alot of Wishing

Ended up with no sledding, but 2 days out of school due to power outages/downed limbs/frozen rain. Thankfully we weren't affected by the power issues this time around (2 for 3 winters), but many we know/love got to learn how to light the fireplace and test the CO detectors.

The Day it Snowed in San Diego

40 Years ago today a once-in-a-century snow storm dusted San Diego, CA.

Ghost of Christmas Past

Worst_Flash_Christmas Card_Evah (2005)

Sweet Mixes

Funny Mash-up .mp3s Via AudioStreet.net

For those interested in trying this on their own, look at the George W. Bush Public Domain Audio Archive.

W Covers Lennon's War is Over

2.0 Turns 8!

The eldest son had a great birthday party with his old pals, new friends, and family. Laserquest was the destination and best bud Ryan was there for the shooting.

All the Kiddos Ready for Cake!

The Drake Plays Air Hockey

The Gang Gets Ready to Rumble!

Holiday Pageant Practice

3.0 is a perfect little rainbow.

What Were the Lyrics Again?

3.0 sings hymns just like Mr. Bean!

Choir Practice

Dress rehearsal for 3.0's 1st public singing engagement: 1st UU's Holiday Extravaganza!

Immersive Video from epynomus.com

360° Pannable Video (via metafilter.com)

Wait a minute for it to load, then CLICK the play button. Then CLICK and SCROLL on the video screen to pan across the 360° view.
Take the opportunity to pause to look at the high resolution image in any direction.

Hangin at the Omniplex

Oklahoma Science Museum AKA The Omniplex is a favorite of the boys. We go there at least once a year for the afternoon. Favorites are the waterplay area and the two-story corkscrew slide. We met some out-of-town friends here for a grand time!

2.0 Learns How to Stay Dry

One of the areas that the kids always run to has some recirculating water levels with dams that allow the kids to simulate a flood. 2.0 loves this sim.

3.0 Always Fascinated by the Kinetic Arts

This particular sculpture/kinetic art display with giant ball-bearings traversing a myriad of loops and spins has captured the attention of three generations of my family. The great thing about the Omniplex is that it still has many of the original displays from the 70's. They just keep the best things and add more every year. We love the Omniplex!

Ticket Line at the Omniplex

Boys play around the "waiting area" as I buy tickets.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS Tame Wildcats WIN Big 12 Championship

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The championship dream finally died for No. 1 Missouri. The Oklahoma Sooners showed the Tigers just what it takes to win a title: defense and a bruising running game near the goal line.
The No. 9 Sooners rushed for three touchdowns, quarterback Sam Bradford threw for two more and Oklahoma coolly captured its fifth Big 12 title since 2000 by upending the upstart Tigers 38-17 Saturday night in the conference championship game in the Alamodome.
Now that the Tigers are out of the Bowl Championship Series title game, the question is "Who's in?"
With No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia both losing Saturday, No. 3 Ohio State gets a boost into the Jan. 7 title game in New Orleans. Sunday's BCS rankings will decide what opponent gets an unexpected chance to play for the national championship.
Maybe it should have been Missouri, but it isn't.
The Sooners contained the Tigers' Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Chase Daniel and three times forced one of the nation's best offenses to settle for short field goals instead of touchdowns. It was the first time this season Missouri was held under 30 points.
When given the chance, the Sooners pounded the Tigers with short-yardage rushing TDs. Chris Brown scored twice and Allen Patrick added another. Bradford's TD passes in the second half pulled the Sooners away from a 14-14 halftime tie and wrapped up a berth in the Fiesta Bowl for the second straight year.
Daniel, who needed a big game and most importantly a win to boost his Heisman chances, was 23-of-39 for 219 yards and no touchdowns. He ran for the Tigers' only TD in the second quarter.
One of his incompletions was a tipped pass that was intercepted by OU linebacker Curtis Lofton that set up Bradford's first touchdown pass and a 28-14 Sooners lead in the third quarter.
Bradford was 18 of 26 for 209 yards. Patrick and Brown combined to rush for 159 yards for the Sooners.
It was a bitter defeat for a Missouri program ready to shed its unglamorous past with a chance to play for the national championship.
Daniel's fiery and efficient play had led the Tigers to arguably the greatest season in Mizzou history. Their North Division title was their first football championship of any kind since 1969.
Until this season, Mizzou football was best known for being on the wrong side of bizarre plays in other team's championship seasons: Colorado's famous "fifth" down in 1990 and Nebraska's miracle kicked pass TD that saved the Cornhuskers' in '97.
A win over an Oklahoma team that had beaten them back in October would have been a major step toward erasing that dubious distinction.
But the Sooners are known for winning championships and dominating the Big 12.
Coach Bob Stoops is 5-1 in Big 12 title games and his Sooners approached this one with "been-there-done-that" swagger.
Tied at 14 at halftime, the Sooners defense took control in the third. Daniel was popped hard on screen pass and several plays later was jawing with Sooners linebacker Curtis Lofton after he was tackled for a loss to kill what had been a promising Tigers drive.
The Sooners then drove to the go-ahead touchdown when Patrick ran 40 yards to set up his own 4-yard TD run that made it 21-14.
Then the Tigers made the key mistake that would soon crush their title hopes.
Daniel zipped a pass to tight end Martin Rucker who tipped the ball high in the air. Lofton intercepted and returned it inside the Mizzou 10. Two plays later, a simple play-action pass from Bradford to Jermaine Gresham made it 28-14.
After the interception, Daniel went to the sideline holding his arms out to ask "what happened?" a question the Tigers will be asking themselves for a long time.

Kids Love a McDonald's Birthday

Still wondering at what age this hunk of plastic will lose. The boys are always up for a trip to this, the home base McDonald's Playground. They've been to (and had) so many birthdays here that the birthday lady knows them by name.

Logitech mm28 Portable Speaker

I got two of these Logitech mm28's from buy.com for less than $25USD (that's right, $12.50 each!) delivered a couple of months ago. Current pricing/availability varies I've had some time to put them to the test so here's my mini-review:

The design is excellent and the sound is adequate. Compact, covered, and with audio cord storage this unit is sleek and easy to pack. The cover rotates to become a speaker stand. Placement is critical to maximize soundstage and bass response YMMV.

Works great when 2 or more people are watching DVDs on laptop or handheld in car or tent. Works great as an MP3 player, or video camera playback amp/speaker too. AA battery consumption is minimal and can go at least 50 hrs/set of 4.

Some may find the 12" audio cord a bit short. My one and only gripe is that the unit's auto-power off function (while great to save battery life when on battery power) is also active when the speakers are plugged in to AC power. This is inconvenient on the set I use on my work laptop (when docked) because the speakers deactivate after about 5 mins of mute.

All in all these speakers are techsexy, compact, inexpensive, indestructable, and provide adequate response. Great value/price ratio here. I got two. One is attached to my laptop docking station and the other travels with me, and when home, is plugged into the XM radio feed.

CNET Reviews
Amazon Reviews

NSFW (language), Old, But Still Hilarious: The Spirit of Truth, by Rev. X.

Are ya laffin biyotch?
Hah, Uh huh.
You find it funny? heh heh
You find it funny? heh heh

I'll conversate it again.
I come in the name of Jesus --
Repeat it after me, bitch!
I come in the name of Jesus, by the powa of the Holy Spirit. God Awmighty. You know. Ruler of Heaven, and Earf, and Every_God_Daaamn_thing_in_between.

You understand me now?

Best Seat in College Football

Section 5 Row 48 Seat 25.

Last Home Game of the Season: OU Whipped OSU 49-17 and Siezed Big12 South Divisional Title!

Perfect, cold, sleeting football weather!

Black Fri @ Best Buy

OK, What in the world is worth waiting in line for 2 hours outside at 3am when it is 25 degrees F outside? I don't know, but my techgeek deal finder compass has led me to about position 250 in line to see what BBuy has for Black Friday.

BBBF Madness

Lots of cold people out here. I really wasn't fully awake when I left the house and I didn't quite dress for the weather. I can barely feel my toes, but at least I'm better off than a few girls in the line that aren't even wearing sox!

More BBBF

Here is a view of the line stretching around the back of BBuy. Ended up with plenty of goodies for Zmas.

Sooner Basketball Boys Night Out

3.0 Enjoys His View of the Game From Mid-Court

2.0 is Proud to be a SOONER!

The ‘Gap’ in Republicans’ Healthcare Plans

By: Steve Benen (via CrooksandLiars.com)

Rudy Giuliani was treated for prostate cancer. John McCain has been treated for melanoma, the most serious type of skin malignancy. Fred Thompson was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system.

And as the LA Times’ Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar explained in a good piece today, all three could be denied healthcare insurance under their own healthcare plans.

All three have offered proposals with the stated aim of helping the 47 million people in the U.S. who have no health insurance, including those with preexisting medical conditions. But under the plans all three have put forward, cancer survivors such as themselves could not be sure of getting coverage — especially if they were not already covered by a government or job-related plan and had to seek insurance as individuals.

“Unless it’s in a state that has very strong consumer protections, they would likely be denied coverage,” said economist Paul Fronstin of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, who has reviewed the candidates’ proposals. “People with preexisting conditions would not be able to get coverage or would not be able to afford it.”

It offers a helpful contrast between the downsides of the two parties’ approaches to healthcare. The problem with the Dems’ plans is that they’re expensive. The problem with the Republicans’ policies is that sick people of modest means can’t get health insurance.

The Republican presidential hopefuls seem to realize that their plans leave millions of vulnerable Americans behind, but also realize that the alternative is government regulation — specifically, telling insurers that they can’t exclude people with pre-existing conditions, and can’t price these people out of coverage. Given a choice between a large gap of uninsured and government-imposed safeguards for Americans, the GOP candidates prefer the prior.

Oklahoma's First Flag

Oklahoma's first flag was adopted in 1911, four years after statehood. Taking the colors red, white, and blue from the flag of the United States, the flag featured a large centered white star fimbriated in blue on a red field. The number 46 was written in blue inside the star, as Oklahoma was the forty-sixth state to join the Union.

Unfortunately, many thought the flag looked too much like a symbol of the Soviets. The Russian revolution that overthrew Tsar Nicholas II and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union sparked a move to replace Oklahoma's state flag. Additionally, even without its association with the Russian revolution of 1917, the state flag made many Oklahomans unhappy. Some said they didn't like to hang the flag from their porches for fear neighbors would think someone inside had scarlet fever.

A contest, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution was held in 1924 to replace the flag since all Red flags would surely appear to be associated with communism, or death. The winning entry by Louise Fluke, which was adopted as the state flag on 2 April 1925, resembled the current flag without the word Oklahoma on it. The state's name was added to the flag in 1941. The colors and shapes were standardized by Oklahoma Senate Bill 1359[1] and signed into law by Governor Brad Henry on May 23, 2006.

The original flag-contest winning entry from 1924 was donated by the family of Louise Fluke to the State of Oklahoma in May of 2005

Chewie, Our Dog

Or are we his owners?

What Were You Doing at Age 9?

Better Setup Than Dear Old Dad Had!

What a difference 30 years makes.

At their age I had PONG in B/W on a Zenith 27" Console Wood Television set that had no remote control and 4 channels., Disney Movies at the theater, Polaroid InstaMatic, Super8 movies, Stereo, Vinyl. I played in forts, treehouses, and roamed the neighborhood on my trusty Big Wheel (or my brother's Green Machine) bareheaded and barefoot.

They have: HD-DVD, Blu-Ray,PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, Digital Cable-Over 200 channels, 24 hr cartoons, internet, HDTV, Digital Cameras, Chat, 42" 1080p Plasma, 7.1 Dolby, 300W Subs, HDMI, Satellite Radio, HardDrive Storage. They play at McDonald's playland, climb upon giant slabs of plastic, drive battery powered cars and ride tiny scooters while wearing plastic helmets, gloves, and knee/elbow pads.

2.0 Shreddz GH3 on PS3 (Medium Setting)

Annual Bass Pro Shop visit

Every year around Thanksgiving we end up down at Bass Pro shop. The boys love looking at boats, ATVs and the fish tank. They also have an electronic shooting range that clears our pockets of quarters in a hurry.

2.0 Chased by Bear

2.0 loves climbing and always almost gets us kicked out of the store by climbing on all the boulders. Here he is being terrorized by a Grizzly in the tent dept.

OKC Bricktown Fountain

After church and a movie (Pixar's Bee Movie) the boys posed and played by the fountain. Had to stop them from pulling coins out and throwing landscape rocks in...

Another Pic by the Fountain in Bricktown

Lonely Man

Awesome Flikr photoset.

by DanielN (Flikr) aka Arrowsmiff~ (MySpace)

Friday Fun: Short Vid

Friday Fun: Ben Dova (yes that's his real name) Drunk Daredevil

Ben Dova the Drunk Daredevil, contortionist, Hindenburg survivor and one of the 10 most unfortunately named people on the internets. (linx via MetaFilter.com)

From thehumanmarvels.com:

Ben Dova was born in Strasbourg on March 14, 1905 as Joseph Späh. After immigrating to the United States, as a young man, he took an interest in vaudeville and became quite an adept acrobat and contortionist.

Ben Dova was perhaps best known for his signature ‘convivial inebriate’ act. His act consisted of Dova playing a quirky drunkard. He would swaggeringly stagger out onto the stage, dressed in a rumpled top hat and wrinkled tails, and would feign falling into the audience while perform wonderfully limber moves. It appeared to the audience as though Ben Dova would topple at any moment and he teased such a disaster, only to steady himself and proceed. He would search, for a comical length of time, through his pockets for a cigarette which was in his mouth during the entire time. Then, at this point, he would climb a street lamp to light his cigarette.

While perched atop the lamp the lamp would begin to sway back and forth, eventually to an alarming degree. Dova would hold on and begin an astounding acrobatic routine heighten by his seemingly intoxicated state.

To some, Dova’s act was comedic and entertaining fluff, however in 1933 that all changed. For the benefit of American newsreels Ben Dova performed his act atop New York’s 56 story Chanin Building with no net, no wires and no camera tricks. Theatre audiences were terrified by what they saw and genuinely feared for Dova’s personal safety. Fainting at the sight of the newsreel was documented.

Here, in all its unbelievable glory is the great Ben Dova performing atop the Chanin Building:

Covering W's Ass

History of an Interrogation Technique: Water Boarding: American soldiers have been court-martialed for waterboarding since the Spanish-American War.

Waterboarding Used to Be a Crime: After World War II Japanese prison-camp officers and guards were prosecuted for and convicted of war crimes, including waterboarding.

Now Michael Mukasey, a nominee for attorney general, the "nation's top cop" responsible for enforcement of the law, says he doesn't know if it's illegal. I'm disgusted and ashamed.

Is Waterboarding Torture?

Yes, Waterboarding is Torture...Period.

Out of Luck: 4-6 Million Children Too Rich for Medicaid Too Poor, or Sick for Health Insurance

Senate passes kids healthcare bill, Bush to Veto

The revised measure, which the House approved last week, now goes to Bush, who vows to veto it.

From the Associated Press

November 2, 2007

Closely followed by:

Democrats propose new healthcare plan

Leaders hope governor will back the proposal to raise the tobacco tax by $2 a pack to finance insurance subsidies for low-income families. By Jordan Rau, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 6, 2007

Washington Irving Elementary Ice Skating Night!!

This was 2.0's second or third time to ice skate. He's pretty good on his feet, but can only stop by falling or slamming into the wall! For 3.0 it was first time. He clung to the wall for the first trip around (which took almost 20 mins). Then we got him a sliding-walker-thingy and he did much better. They had a great time with their schoolmates.

Bro's Make The 1st Circuit Around the Rink

2.0 Spins w/Eyes Closed

Cub Scout Pack 331 Den 5 Meeting

To work on the Wolf Badge they met in the home of one of Edmond's lifelong residents and veterans to learn Flag Appreciation. The kids listen intently as the history and glory of the American flag is explained.

Early American Flag History

The scouts were able to get an up-close view of the history of flags flown over North America. The earliest was a Spanish banner and then the Union Jack and a variation consisting of 1.4 Union Jack on a solid red background called the British Red Ensign. They also had a Betsy Ross and a First Official US Flag. All flags were treated with respect by the Leaders with and the scouts remained seated and attentive to the display. Unfortunately they didn't have my personal favorite the Unofficial Ensign and Jack.

There were two indirect but extremely respectful references which asserted to the fact that these precious, symbolic, objects would not exist if it were not for the ultimate personal sacrifices of soliders, both past and present and future. It is easy to say too much to 7 year-olds about war. These veteran/scout leaders handled it masterfully.

On January 1, 1776, the Continental Army was reorganized in accordance with a Congressional resolution which placed American forces under George Washington's control. On that New Year's Day the Continental Army was laying siege to Boston which had been taken over by the British Army. Washington ordered the Grand Union flag hoisted above his base at Prospect Hill. It had 13 alternate red and white stripes and the British Union Jack in the upper left-hand corner (the canton).

In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American flag.

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts that changed the shape, design and arrangement of the flag and allowed for additional stars and stripes to be added to reflect the admission of each new state.

• Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
  
• Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe.
  
• Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 - established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.
  
• Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.
  
• Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.
  

Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.

More Flag History

Olin Lee had a grand collection of early American flags which he displayed with honor and patience to the group of 2nd graders and their siblings (and some parents).

Under the Flag

Prior to the explanation and flag history each scout was shown how to properly hoist and lower the flag on a pole in front of Olin's home. They were also taught how to properly honor, treat and fold the flag. In addition each scout was allowed to hoist, lower, and fold the flag.

Nokia's New GPhone!

This one I will buy for that lady in the suburban that was doing her makeup and talking on her phone as she drifted into my lane.

Clicky for Pic

Oh, It is Too Easy!

OU vs Texass A&M. Late in the game which up to this point was a shut-out. Sooners looked great, but Austin English twisted his ankle late in the 1st half. Other than that Bradford's passing was spot on and he threw for 6 TDs!

Some Serious Moments against Texas A&M

Ultimately we kick'd their ass.!

We do love TOUCHDOWNS1 in Norman (especially if they are OU's)