Catharsis

So today we attended the ceremonial signing of the Oklahoma Pulse Ox Bill at the Capitol with Gov. Mary Fallin. It was a long, good day that I will remember until I am so very old that the only memories I care to keep are of my grandkids. But as I wind down for the night, I would like to share a few thoughts and reflections. 

First, yes, this was just ceremonial. The real bill was signed quietly one night some time back. This was the show for the legislators and advocates. So, much pomp and circumstance. Not the first time I've been to one of these or seen the process. I was a page and I've been in State Government for 15 years. Been there, always felt it was a lot of work and waiting for little reward. 

But I've never been on this side of things. It was... cathartic. I really get why we do these now and more greatly appreciate the hard work that is put in by those who work so hard to make it happen. Including my friend Ashton Mese who was there today, facilitating. It may not have seemed like a big deal to her and the other staffers. Though they would never say it, I am sure they all had a long list of projects waiting their attention that they would rather have been tackling, and I don't blame them. But I can now say, absolutely, this process matters. 

To this group of parents, some grieving for the obstacles that sit before their children, others grieving because our children are now beyond the reach of Earthly obstacles, it mattered. It mattered so very much. 

Second, I don't want to get into politics with this. Though in a spirit of full disclosure, I did vote for Mary Fallin and susbect I will again if I get the chance. Now regardless of that,...

I was deeply impressed by our Oklahoma Governor. This part of her job would have driven me crazy. 

So she sits at a desk with the bill while a group of people associated with that bill gather behind her. You all pose for a picture. She signs the bill and passes out a few pens. Then, inevitably, people try to talk to her about this and that and pose for individual pictures. There is a general rumble and chaos about it, managed chaos thought it may be, that would have me losing my mind. So many people with so many overlapping conversations. Names to remember, topics to stay focused on. We were the 11th bill of the day, really of the hour, and this was the second day, with so many more to come. 

And yet, while we posed, as my son stood by her right side she talked to him like any mom or grandmother would, trying to make him comfortable. When we took our opportunity to pose with her (me my wife my eldest son and a photo of our youngest son), she spoke to me and expressed her sorrow for our loss. We hadn't explained, though the topic of the bill and the photo of the grinning boy with a scar on his chest are pretty big clues. Still, she volunteered her feelings and her voice... it didn't exactly break, but it hurt. She wasn't in that moment a politician. She was a mother. And she got it. 

Take that for what you will. I was impressed by her in that moment. 

This is also the first time I've spoke to a Gov. or Lt Gov. and NOT insulted them somehow, intentional or accidental. It is sort of a streak I had going all the way back to '93. Kinda my thing. It is a good time to let that end. 

The third and final thought is how much the Capitol is like Walmart in that I always seem to run into all these people that I know. I already mentioned Ashton who traveled with me to Uganda, now a staffer for the Gov. Fallin. 

I also saw our prodigal intern Samantha Smith who is taking a break from the show to work for Farm Bureau this summer.

And, of course, we looked up our dear friend Dawn Marks who is a fancy-pants big shot doing research for the OK House now, but I've known her since she was a fellow nerd-dorm resident at OSU. Dawn is one of the most intelligent and unassuming people I've ever known and it is always a joy to see her. 

Then I ran into Rep. Don Armes, OK-63 (R). I'd interviewed him before for the show. He is well known and respected around campus as a man with an ag background. Took me a minute to place him as we waited for the same elevator. Introduced myself. he watches the show. That felt good. 

Anyhow, we had a nice, short conversation in the 1 floor elevator ride (I had a pregnant lady in tow, afterall). Anyhow, he strikes me as a genuine and nice man and should get his props as well. 

Plus, I thought about how completely my former boss would have freaked out at me being in the capitol talking to an elected leader, influencial in ag circles, without his supervision... He panicked about so much that didn't need to be panicked over... That made me smile too. 

App Test

Just a test of posting from the iPhone.

Turns out I have three sisters...

Okay, two flesh and blood sisters and an ongoing obsession with the band Sister Hazel. Guess which one this post is about.

Oh, my sisters are more than worthy of their own blog posts. Scores of them. But at the end of the day, those relationships have complexity. Nuance.

Today, I'd rather talk about one of the simplest, least nuanced relationships I have. Simply put, Sister Hazel makes music. I get happy. Done.

Mind you, I've rediscovered this great band from my college days only in the past 6 months. Taking advantage of the many, many, many free downloads available in Amazon's mp3 download section I stumbled onto a Sister Hazel tune. And not one from our collective glory days of the mid-90s.

As it turns out this band continues to pump out album after album of amazing music. And they give away songs that most acts would happily lock away into a vault searching for a ridiculous record deal. Songs like "Hello, It's Me," "Walls and Cannonballs," "Everything Else Disappears," "Ghost in the Crowd..." I could go on, but you get the point.

Honestly, my goal here is not to convert you and recruit new "Hazelnuts."

Yes, there is a term for this sickness.

Rather, my aim is to discuss bliss and embracing yours. I know Sister Hazel doesn't do it for everyone. My own lovely wife thinks I'm... Well, I'm not exactly sure what she things about my love of the band, but I doubt it is pretty. For her, it is Dave Matthews. Or sometimes Tool. Or sometimes Willie Nelson. (Damn, she is COOL!)

We all have something different. Music for some of us. Sports. Food. Alcohol. Cigarettes... Some stress relievers are better than others. But we all have one.

This music, these gravelly harmonies, they charge me. I stick in my headphones and crank the iPhone and suddenly I'm not grudgingly slopping through the dishes. My feet start tapping. My neck begins moving independently of my body. This fat old white man's body starts bouncing around almost to the beat. Before you know it, I'm getting household chores done AND giving the poor neighbors a show through our big, curtain-less kitchen window.

So I tell you that to tell you this...

Stress kills. And more so than we thought. On the elliptical this morning I was reading a National Geographic Special on PBS (it's called Closed Captioning, people) called "Killer Stress."

Turns out, stress really does horrific things to us. And when we say it ages you, we aren't talking about a few gray hairs. At the tips of every strand of DNA are these little caps called Telomers.

If you are familiar with cloning science, you are already familiar with telomers. They've been frustrating scientists in that field for years and years. If not, well, think of them as the little plastic tips on your shoelaces, the aglets. Over time, that tip will wear away and then your shoestring starts to fray.

Well, telomers do the same thing for our DNA. They protect it and keep it from unraveling. As we grow older, they grow shorter.

Stress hormones speed up that process.

Yep. Stress LITERALLY can cause you to unravel.

Who says sciences isn't creepy... cool... creepy... creepy and cool.

If you get a chance to go and watch that program, I do recommend it. Very interesting piece of television, with or without the Closed Captioning turned on. Loads more interesting things about stress and its effects on our health and relationships, not to mention the specific, frightening things it does to your brain. Seriously, last minute cram sessions for college kids: horrible idea!

The point, dear patient reader of my rambly, ramblingness, ... Find something. Music. Sports. Blowing bubbles in your milk. I don't care what. Just something that makes you feel light and happy.

I'm convinced that most stress is a choice. As is most joy. The world happens around us as it does. But we decide what to empower. And too often we empower the upsetting and unsettling.

Joy isn't hard to find in this world. But it is awfully easy to dismiss and diminish. So don't. No matter how simple or trivial, embrace your happiness and put down the stress no matter how massive it would seem.

I say this All For You. Change Your Mind and you'll be Happy. So Concede and believe me, and go find your Champagne High.

Speaking of happy. Sister Hazel's acoustic version of "Happy" from the Before the Amplifiers album... Wow.

Texas 4-H Centennial Clover

What the...

You might want to read these to know what I'm about to rant about:

http://newsok.com/article/3112638/1188314407
http://www.ocolly.com/2007/08/28/osu-stillwater-moves-up-deadline-for-campus-going-tobacco-free/


I need a few minutes on the soapbox. Hope you don't mind. Feel free to argue. Or agree. Or just laugh at the angry white whale screaming in the street. I just need to vent and you made the list of folks that get suffer through it. Sorry for that. That said, here we go...

---

What the HELL is up with my alma mater?!?!?!?!?!?

Okay, it was bad enough that they threatened (I haven't heard if they actually went through with it, cause I'm stuck in Texas) to use eminent domain to seize private property for that danged athletic village (which the AV idea is cool, but to use ED for THAT, calling that Village a PUBLIC USE???) and now this nanny state smoking ban in the great outdoors of our beloved campus (except of course for outside the Foreign Student dorms, which opens a whole different can of worms, seriously, OSU will work to save the Okie's and even the Jersey kids, but screw the foreigners???) that I'm just now reading about... (I'm in Texas so news travels SLOOOOOOOWLY)...

Berkley I can see doing that. NYU. Sure. Even the danged ole U of Texas in Austin. BUT Oklahoma Friggin' State!?!?!?!

I love my Cowboy's. Always will. I have Cowboy pride in winning years and ramp it up twice as much in losing years. But today I am struggling not to be ashamed.

I understand the logic on the smoking ban. And as a smoker that wishes he'd never started, I can see the glory in a smoke-free campus. I even understand the temptation to use ED for that property for the Village. But both should be SO quickly trumped by the basic guiding principles of freedom, personal responsibility and personal property...These options should NEVER have been seriously considered by our hallowed institution. This is NOT the behavior that they taught me.

And its NOT 'cause I'm a smoker. This could just as easily been banning caffeine or Oreo's or cats from campus cause some people are allergic to cat dander. Its friggin' ridiculous regardless of WHAT is being banned.

What REALLY blew my mind was reading that they would offer free patches and gum to students. It annoys me that its not for faculty too, but that could just be bad reporting. Regardless, its a BAD idea. Nicotine replacement can be dangerous. Throw on three patches at once and you are darn likely to have yourself a heart attack. Hopefully, won't happen. But if it does. Instant, MASSIVE lawsuit. And a lawsuit OSU should lose. And students aren't always smart. I sure wasn't. I knew great brilliant folks at OSU. None of them is even bordering on being a dumbass, but every damned one of them had their dumbass moments. We ALL know I did. The likelihood of a kid facing medical complications from OSU-supplied nicotine replacement products is HIGH.

And worse still, kid comes in and says, "Okay, I'm a smoker. Pack a day. Gimmie patches." They can't verify that the kid does smoke. So who would want them otherwise? ANY kid facing finals or mid-terms. Any Greek during Homecoming week that's class all day and pomp all night. Any of the dateless freshmen that want to stay up for three straight days playing on-line roll playing games. I knew folks that did all that and would have jumped at the chance for a free, effective stimulant.

Lets be clear, nicotine is a stimulant. And it is a dangerous drug if used improperly. And the first idiot that gets the idea that it'll help him through finals, granted maybe should be expelled from the gene pool anyhow, BUT ... Just a BAD idea. Bad. Bad. Bad. Actionably bad idea.

I love my Cowboys. But damn they are making it hard.

Okay, done venting now. I feel a little better. Thank you for this opportunity. I'm gonna go outside and have a smoke to cool off. After all, at least Texas A&M is still, occasionally, somewhat, kinda-sorta free...except for the parking, but that's another rant.

I hope everyone is having a great week. Don't forget the OSU-Georgia game is on ESPN2 Saturday.

Go Pokes, I guess...

Austin

Gotta love Karma...

Oklahoma must forfeit 2005 football season

By Associated Press July 11, 2007 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma football program must forfeit its wins from the 2005 season and will lose two scholarships for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. The penalties, announced Wednesday by the NCAA, stem from a case involving two players, including the Sooners' starting quarterback, who were kicked off the team for being paid for work they had not performed at a Norman car dealership. The NCAA said Wednesday morning it planned to announce its decision about possible sanctions against the Oklahoma football program, more fallout from a case that came to light last year when two players – including the Sooners' starting quarterback – were kicked off the team. In an e-mail sent to media outlets, the NCAA said a 2 p.m. conference call with Miami athletics director Paul Dee, the acting chairman of the NCAA Committee on Infractions, was scheduled to discuss the case. On Aug. 3 – the day before the Sooners began preseason practice – Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops dismissed quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn from the team amid allegations that the players had been paid for work they had not performed at a Norman car dealership. The NCAA subsequently alleged that Oklahoma had failed to adequately monitor the employment of several athletes, including some football players who worked during the academic year. The NCAA said Oklahoma's "failure to monitor" led to the university not detecting NCAA rules violations.

World History as it Really Happened

I wish I could take credit for writing this. But no, just another wonderful, anonymous forwarded message. Enjoy -Auz

World History as it Really Happened

Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomad/hunter/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.

The two most important events in all history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups: Liberals and Conservatives.

Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to BBQ at night while
they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.

Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement. Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as "girliemen."

Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy and group hugs and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives provided. Over the years conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.

Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare. Another interesting revolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, home interior designers, dreamers in Hollywood and group therapists are liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter
rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat.

Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to actually work for a living.

Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America. They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a
business of trying to get MORE for nothing.

Here ends today's lesson in world history: It should be noted that a Liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it. A Conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers. And to more liberals just to tick them off.

YEAR ONE

My wife married me a year ago today. Foolish girl. Lucky boy.

Simply brilliant...

What We Call the News | Send To Friends | Funny Animations at JibJab

This Cheese Don't Stink!

Many thanks to Bud Force for taking the time today to introduce my ears to an unexpected and joyfully decadent auditory experience. I'd explain it here, but better still if you
hear this for yourself.

I invite you all to visit:

http://www.richardcheese.com/

Your best bet is to select "Music Bar" and enjoy.

Auz

Boortz Alert!!!

Just a reminder: Neal Boortz will be at the College Station Hastings today at 6 pm to sign copies of his new book, "Somebody's Gotta Say It."

FairTax Update: Prebate News

Good news on the Prebate aspect of the FairTax.

While I do not have the specific details, today on Neal Boortz's show the head of Americans for Fair Taxation spoke of a new wrinkle in the debate.

One of the most common criticisms of the HR 25 is to claim that it will be too expensive to implement, specifically the prebate system. And granted, mailing a check to every American household monthly would be expensive. These arguments ignore the overwhelming numbers of benefit checks regularly mailed by our government currently. They similarly ignore the prevalence of direct deposit and other electronic payment distribution technologies so common in today's society which could cut these costs dramatically.

However, today we learned that a number of financial institutions are actually offering to PAY the Federal government for the ability to distribute this prebate to their customers.

So let's assume that John John's Bank is one of these institutions. And that you have a John John's credit card. So John John's Bank, with your permission, would simply credit your account for the amount of the prebate at the beginning of each month and PAY the Federal government for this privilege. I am still researching this new development, but I believe the same would apply to John John's Bank's checking accounts as well.

Either way, they will pay the government to let them give you the prebate money on the assumption that you'll use their institution to spend the money, which you probably would be doing anyhow. After all, if you have a John John's credit or banking account, you'll be giving them money anyhow. That's where you'd cash the check or sned a payment too anyhow. So everybody wins.

And now, we are not talking about the cost of the government to distribute prebates, but instead about the additional funds the government will GENERATE by distributing the prebate.

I'll keep you posted.

---
As a refresher, the Fairtax is a plan (and bill HR 25) to replace ALL Federal taxes (including income, embedded business, and payroll) with a single 23% sales tax on all NEW goods and services. As a part of this plan, a "prebate" would be enacted. This prebate is intended to ensure that no American pays any taxes on the money they spend up to the poverty line.

In other words, if the poverty line (for example) is $12,000 per year, or $1000 per month for a single individual, then that individual will be given the amount of money they'd be asked to pay in Fairtax on that dollar amount, $230 per month. The payment comes at the first of the month so the money is in place to pay the taxes from the beginning. The amount is based on existing, often updated figures from the Department of Health and Human Services. And this prebate goes to every American household, regardless of income. No American would then pay taxes on the most basic necessities of life.

For more information, explained better than I have here visit fairtax.org

How Okie are you?

Check out this quiz from Oklahoma Today. I hit a 174. WAY too low for me.

"How Okie are you?" Quiz

I'm a baby on Uranus...

Turns out I'd be 16 again, if only I lived on Mars. But I'd be a centurian on Mercury.

Thanks to Bob Webster and his Junkmail for this link:

Your Age on Other Worlds

I haven't checked their math, but I don't want to.
So take it as a leap of fate, enter your digits and find out just how young you are in other parts of this solar system.

My gift to you all.
Merry Christmas.

Austin

Tequila Christmas Cake Recipe

My new, favorite holiday recipe, and easy even for an amateur baker. Enjoy. Merry Christmas all!

Austin

Tequila Christmas Cake

Ingredients:

> 1 cup of water
> 1 tsp baking soda
> 1 cup of sugar
> 1 tsp salt
> 1 cup of brown sugar
> Lemon juice
> 4 large eggs
> Nuts
> 1 bottle tequila
> 2 cups of dried fruit
>
> Sample the tequila to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the tequila again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try another cup... just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.
>
> Pick the frigging fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the tequila to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner.
>
> Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the tequila and wipe counter with the cat.
>
> CHERRY MISTMAS!

The most accurate clock on Earth.

http://mackgreen.com/signature.php/temp.gif

Waco Family of Privilege, Chet Edwards Family Ties

Interesting. While I certainly don't always trust 20/20 to get things right, and this one raises a number of questions it doesn't answer, it also raises a number of questions about our incumbent Congressman. Certainly worth watching.

My Hero...

Tom Mabe Pranks Telemarketer

Liberal Confusion

I know the Patriot Act is not exactly big in the news these days. But for some reason it was on my mind yesterday afternoon. And once again, it has left me confused by our Liberal brethren.

Basic liberal ideology insists that more government is better. That individual Americans are best served by having more and more of their lives managed by public servants such as myself. Medical Care. Personal Savings. Entitlement programs of every shape, size and color. The ideology is grounded in the belief that government should be an active force within the lives of individuals.

But when it comes to national security and the War on Terror, specifically to the Patriot Act, the liberal arguments insist that the powers granted in that document can and will be abused...by public servants. Cops. DA's. Fed's and so on. Liberals and Democrats suggest that the government should not have that power.

Yet they want the government (these same public servants) in charge of my retirement, my medical records, my charitable giving...

I know a number of you friends are such liberals. So please understand, I'm not looking to start a fight here. I just don't understand the conflict. I don't get how you resolve that within yourself. Is it that you trust all public servants, but hate cops? Is it that you simply have such hatred for Republicans that you'll immediately oppose anything Republicans stand for? What is it? What drives you to such conflicting beliefs? I'd love to hear from you on this.

Signs it will be a LONG day. #1

You get up for a nice, hard night's sleep. Let the dog out. Dog won't go. Start the coffee. Eat your Cheerios. Take the dog out again. Dog still won't go. Ask your wife to take the dog out while you shower. Dog goes for wife. Get dressed. Fill the thermos. Kiss the wife. Drive to work. Get to the office. Office is cold. Chair is cold. Fire up computer. Throw on coat you keep at the office. As you launch your e-mail, lean back and open thermos to pour a nice, hot cup of... hot water?

You forgot to put coffee in the coffee maker.

It's going to be a LONG day.