by J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Marko Djurdjevic (pencils & inks), Danny Miki & Allen Martinez (inks), Christina Strain (colors), and Joe  Sabino (letters)

The Story: Bill’s final fate is determined while Sif and the Warriors Three battle the doombots.

What’s Good: If you approach this book as just another 22-page issue of JMS’ run on Thor, it really is pretty solid and is consistent with the series’ quality as of late, at least as far as the writing is concerned.  It’s also got a couple of moments that’ll have you saying “hell yeah.”

Chief among these scenes is one involving a very angry and very naked Volstagg that is a perfect combination of comedy and pure awesome.  It is, of course, that same combination that defines the character himself.  The sequence is outrageously badass, but maintains Volstagg’s characteristic charm.  Oh, and Hogun and Fandral are absolutely on fire this month with the fat jokes.

Most readers are probably coming to this issue most concerned about the fate of Bill.  At first, it’s hard not to be a little disappointed.  That said, if you expected him to scream “I HAVE THE POWER,” turn into a god, and battle Doom, you’ll be sorely disappointed, but really, such an ending would be just a little stupid.

Instead, Bill’s ending is the best he can manage by just being Bill, and so Straczynski maintains the integrity of the character and his sub-plot.  Make no mistake, he is a hero and, ultimately, he is accepted as an Asgardian, but he does so without abandoning his humble roots or acquiring superhuman powers.  Bill’s tale has always been about being a mortal, a little guy in a world suddenly populated by the very large.  Bill’s fate is only so poignant because JMS retains this theme; Bill remains that little guy, but even so, he manages become a hero among the biggest of the bigs.

Meanwhile, JMS leaves us hanging regarding Kelda.  I think we all suspected she was more powerful than she let on, and now we’re going to see that in action.

What’s Not So Good: It’s hard not to be a little underwhelmed by this issue.  JMS’ run has had such an epic quality, that it’s hard not to expect his final issue to be grander.  What we get isn’t really any sort of massive flourish or cataclysmic ending.  Rather, we just get another solid JMS issue that simply lives up to the quality of his previous issues, no more and no less.   This final issue really has no feeling of closure and though the cover may say “finale,” that’s not what we’ve gotten.  That said, the issue also didn’t contain the sort of “hot potato” landmark shift in status quo that writers often leave off their runs with.  Ultimately, this feels like the last issue of a story arc, but certainly not the last issue of a run.

Finally, this may be the worst looking issue of Thor that Djurdjevic has drawn.  While the art is by no means unbearable, it’s weak by the standards Djurdjevic and Coipel have set for the series.  It reeks of an artist desperately trying to make a deadline.  The level of detail continually falters, with many of the more zoomed out shots and smaller panels suffering a great deal.  There are also a few panels where Donald Blake looks like a substantially younger version of himself.  Having three different inkers on the book also certainly didn’t help, making the book feel even messier with its details even more in question.  It makes the book feel sloppy, chaotic even.

Conclusion: It’s a strong issue of Thor, but it’s not the “finale” it claims itself to be.

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

Since every time we meet someone we form a ‘relationship’, significant or insignificant, the word obviously carries different meanings in different situations to different folks. To some, it is horrifying – and they insist on having as few “relationships” as possible (not a bad idea, I’m saying) to others, well… the more the merrier. Yet the quality and definition of a relationship also makes the approach more insightful, if you think of it. But I quickly got off my thought… Which is…

here’s the random thought as it relates to courage of the heart: What is love if not a risk? There are no guarantees, except to isolate and relive the loves that are, for whatever reason, no longer actively healthy, which in turn simply keeps us in our pain or misery or loneliness. The act of reaching out and opening up one’s thoughts and expressions (yes, love, the verb) is in itself a life-affirming and positive act, no matter the result. It opens new places, removes old attachments and creates possibilities. I don’t make new friends or explore old ones in new ways because I want to re-visit a past relationship. No one holds a hand and wants to think of another person when they do so. That is not good, but we all have done it. Once. But if that relationship didn’t last because of tragedy or didn’t work for whatever reason, why in the bleep do I pine for it? If we are worried about a past hurt, then leave it in the past, don’t bring it as a measuring stick for the future ones for in every measurement we are reminded of the “failure” and we instantly taint the new moment with the colorization (black? red? murky? blue?)   of our past. It is perfectly fine to put something in a positive place in our memory, as long as we realize that it belongs in memory and that no form of magic can make it present again.

Life’s a bitch, the day sucks…. then we have go to sleep to wake and…. do it all again? Are you kidding? That’s the point. I’m not supposed to live today as I did yesterday. It would be a wasted opportunity.

To see something wholly is not something we want to do when it comes to our selves, or certainly our intimate or friendly “relationships”. It is too serious, too realistic and too often, too painfully self-aware to look at our place in something.

And “wholly” is something we all struggle with I think (I certainly do). How do we live our lives wholly? That would include our family, friends, children (which go beyond family since they extend our DNA, our sense of achievement and our youthful demeanor into at least another generation), romance and passion, personal achievement and sense of worth, artistic and charitable offerings and of course, spirituality.

So I guess my point is, for my mantra “Love, The Verb” today, is to approach each friendship as fresh and unbridled, each day as fresh and unbridled. I will try my best to stop pulling the pain from yesterday into the dawn of a new morning. The more we can do this, the more we can move on and uncover the gems of action in the only time we can, the time of now. And this will help us alter the manner in which we expect others to live up to some fictional character in our past and the less we will beat our seleves up for letting that “reationship” end or, in some cases, begin at all. We did not, actually, control it’s overall dynamics, only the moments in which we participated individually. Two people, swirling together, universal forces surrounding them, who can calm the oceans for even a moment is a wonderous thing. But it often, most often, temporary. The light changes, the wind blows, the breath sharpens, the day ends. Beauty may remain, and we take that with us.

We may very well repeat the moment again, we may not. We are not in charge of all of that – because there are others in the universe – even just one other – who must also step their love forward. We can only create singularly dimensional things on our own, tied to memories that are dragged like sacks of stones into the present.

I’m reminded of the U2 song, “All that We Can’t Leave Behind”… And am attaching hope to this new day, maybe the strength to let go of one worry form yesterday, last week, last month…. last year and make room for something that is swirling past meinthis moment, unnnoticed by the murkiness of a confused tear.

Love, the verb.

I’m taking the next few days away from the blog to spend time with family & friends! I am so excited and really enjoying our vacation!

Friday – My brother, his wife & my precious niece Taelyn are coming to my parents to spend the day.  We haven’t seen Taelyn in 6 months and I can’t wait to love on her!! So bummed that the other niece, Tallie can’t be here

Saturday – FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL!!! Gooooooooooo POKES! Spending some quality time with Brook’s brother, sister, & bro in-law.  Going to dinner with Lee & Wes Jackson…so thankful for great friends!

Sunday Part 1 – We’ll be making our grand appearance at an OKC area Lifechurch.tv Campus.  Haven’t decided which one yet.  It’ll be like Where’s Waldo. Be on the lookout!

Sunday Part 2 – Baby Shower!!!! I’ve never had one of these before for me! Kinda excited! So thankful that we were able to make it to OK and our amazing friends/family put this together for us.  Can’t wait to see everyone!!!!

Monday – Probably a little shopping with mom & then off to the airport! Home to the OC and pick up our first born.  I sure miss that little guy!

Going to be a great weekend and I’m looking forward to all the amazing time with friends and family. Be on the lookout in a few days for plenty of pictures!!

(Skipping a week on the Friday Belly Shot…I’ll still post one on Twitter & Facebook )

Hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving!

I was born and raised in Oklahoma.  I actually spent the first few years of my life in smaller towns.  Then the family moved to a bigger city.  That pretty much fit me.  I have never really been a small town person, although they are great fun.  This year as we have made it back to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving, we are once again somewhat splitting time between the families but more so splitting time between the city and town.  The first couple days are here in the small town of Purcell.

Yesterday we spent Thanksgiving in the town of Lexington (another small town) with my wife’s family.  They are great!  I don’t have a clue what most of their names are (not because I haven’t learned them but because there are so many of them that I have now seen twice) but they are great people.  It’s always a little awkward being the new guy in a large group of family that all knows each other and knows all about you (or at least some), but once the ice was broken plenty of conversation erupts.  The kids are running around playing and everyone is enjoying themselves.  Then it is time for Thanksgiving lunch.  Once everyone has filed through the dining room where all the main foods are the room is silent.  All you hear is the occasional squeaking of the chair as people get up for seconds and then make their way to the other room where all the desserts are!

We had a great lunch topped off with some awesome desserts with the family.  And what rural Oklahoma holiday would be complete without westerns staring John “The Duke” Wayne and shooting some rifles and an AK?  Not this one!  And not one that I wanna be at!  After a nice afternoon drive to a closed Old Navy (don’t I love them?) and then an open Old Navy, we headed home for naptime and football.  Gotta love Thanksgiving.  I hope you all got to spend the day with some people you love.  Happy Thanksgiving from rural America!

I wanted to post a clip of this song, but YouTube only has a dreadful-quality clip from the film or a choice of lots of high school productions, which are sweet but kind of awful. So I’m sacrificing video for the sake of a proper recording, because it’s a good song and you need to be able to hear the words. Turn up the volume and enjoy.

This post is in progess at present; so if your city is not listed yet with video and you want to help comment below and provide the links please!

Special thanks to all who have helped so far and to all who made these rallies such a success.  Please keep educating friends and neighbors and sharing our message with facts and figures and a lot of love!

Houston, Texas

November 22, 2009

Paula Stang at the Houston End The Fed Rally gives a brief but poignant history of the federal reserve system.  She is doing her thesis on topic and I am sure she will educate many in the process!

OKC, Oklahoma

November 22, 2009

RJ Harris at the OKC End the Fed Rally takes a look at the creation of the federal reserve system and the proper Constitutional restraints  – no massive federal bureaucracy ever intended!

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Nathan Dahm at the OKC End the Fed Rally

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Ryan Underwood at the OKC End the Fed Rally

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Porter Davis at the OKC End the Fed Rally (part 1 of 2)

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Tulsa – Sign Wave (photos soon)

“In any society, moments define time for a people and the bombing of the Murrah Building is forever etched in those who lived in Oklahoma City – and America. Upon moving here a decade after the bombing, I visited the Memorial frequently, and through the seasons, the cold, hopelessness of a stark winter gives way to the exhilaration of spring, the enthusiasm of summer and the reflection of fall, where I find this tree – a symbol of the inner strength of the Oklahoman, the American – constantly in my viewfinder. This collection of images morphed into one somehow inspires hopefulness, knowing the loving power of community.”

The above description is of the 16 x 20 “Survivor” Giclee, available now on weber-creative.com for the 2009 holiday. Order today and get FREE SHIPPING.

Here you will see my first public plea for an Orange and Black win on Saturday…

There were high hopes for this Oklahoma State squad going into the 2009 football season. Talk of the ‘Big 3′, two appearances on the cover of Sports Illustrated, a senior-laden team that had it’s best chance to compete with the big boys in the Big 12 South.

The season started just as it should to keep all the hype coming – with a win over SEC-foe Georgia. Everyone was riding high, thinking that the Cowboys had the potential to be undefeated going into their Halloween showdown with Texas. But alas, just one week removed from that big, non-conference home victory, Houston and Case Keenum came to town. And as O State fans vividly remember, put a hitch in their ‘best laid plans’. Houston took down the Cowboys and the first chink in the armor was seen. Then, Kendall Hunter was injured and stayed out for too too many weeks. And then – the piece de resistance – dear ol’ Dez got mixed up with Deion Sanders and got himself tossed for the year.

You’d think this Cowboy team might decide that this wasn’t their year, but no – not the case. The boys in orange kept winning (well, until Texas came to town on Halloween) and kept thriving. They’ve tried their hardest to make this season as heart-stopping as possible and almost crushed the hearts of all in Boone Pickens Stadium just one week ago against Colorado. Rather, they kept going, kept playing and have played themselves into a 9-2 record with just one regular season game to go.

Bedlam.

With a Bedlam win, all those crazy bowl game pickers say the Cowboys will have an almost-lock to the Fiesta Bowl. That’s right, BCS. It’s almost hard to fathom that this team that has at times struggled and at times sparkled could be headed to their first 10-win regular season and a BCS bowl. Usually, when folks start talking about the future, what is lovingly referred to by Sooner fans as the “Poke Choke” occurs and the wheels come flying off the wagon. But this year seems different. This team seems different.

All that’s standing in the Cowboys path is their in-state rivals to the south.

This marks just the third time in the history of the Bedlam series that Oklahoma State has been ranked above Oklahoma. Those two games, in 1945 and 1997, ended with State reigning victorious. And both also just happened to be played in Norman, the site of the 2009 Bedlam game.

So, for that reason alone - are you laughing yet? - I will pick my alma mater to complete the ‘we are ranked higher and are playing in Norman’ trifecta. If this happens and Texas manages to pull out two more wins over Texas A&M and Nebraska, you better believe I will be on my way to Arizona in the beginning days of 2010.

After I lived in Europe, I learned to associate wine with good food. These days I just cannot comprehend enjoying a delicious meal without the accompaniment of wine.

So, since my family doesn’t normally drink wine at Thanksgiving, I brought it upon myself to make sure that I bring along a dry, red (my favorite!).

Last weekend, my mom and I were doing a little shopping at the mall, as per usual.. and I spotted a wine tasting booth. After talking with the lady behind the booth, I found out that Oklahoma has it’s own wineries and a few vineyards! Crazy, eh? Who would have thought. Of course, they have to import most of their grapes from Sonoma or the East Coast but all the wines from Tidal School Vineyards is produced on site.

From their website.. “Built in the 1920’s during Oklahoma’s original oil boom, by John D. Rockefeller’s oil company and later acquired by J. Paul Getty, this 8,000 sq. ft. historic school building has been restored and transformed into Oklahoma’s premier winery and vineyard. Open daily for free tours, free tastings, and a free opportunity to have California-style wine country experience, right here in Oklahoma.”

I may have to go check it out. I have been dying to go to wine country but I guess this will have to do for now.

The question is which wine did I pick up from Tidal School Vineyards?

I chose the Cabernet simply because these grapes were the only ones produced in Oklahoma and not imported from other states.

Support Local! I say.

Does your home state ever surprise you?

Every Wednesday, from today until the end of time, my close friend and bitter foe Mad Adam is going to stop by and attempt to clarify his delusions of grandeur, dominance, and defeatism. He’s very complex. And, as you’ll soon find out, most of what he has to say comes out of his ass, but man, is he angry! And I’m not talking the kind of angry that can be aptly expressed with all caps and exclamation marks, or even simple declarations of anger… you’ll have to use your imagination a little. Picture the bright red face. Picture the popping veins. Picture the holes in the wall, the shattered remotes, the hospitalized “friends”. Now, multiply it by 386. That gets you halfway there. But here, we’ll let him explain it…

Hello everyone.  Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Mad Adam.  That’s right, not Mad Hatter (Les Miles), Mad Max (Mel Gibson) or Mad Men (those booze swilling cats at Sterling Cooper).  No, just Mad Adam.

Why Mad Adam?  First, I have an anger control problem. This is particularly true when it comes to my sports teams.  I get mad when they let me down.  I get mad when they get screwed over.  I sometimes get mad even when things are going well. What can I say….I’m Mad Adam.  As a bonus, my name is a palindrome.  Don’t know that is? Look it up loser.  And while you are at it, send some hate mail to your language teachers who obviously let you down.

Now that I have revealed that much of my anger is centered on my favorite teams, I better let you in on who those teams are.  Warning, I grew up as a military brat, so I never stayed in a place long enough to pick a team based on geography.  So, I have a pretty disparate set of favorite teams (with the exception of my college team which is clearly a result of the totally awesome education I received at the undergraduate and law schools of the institution listed below).  So, in no particular order, here are the teams that matter most to me: New York Jets (last Super Bowl….1969, the roots of my anger begin to surface); Los Angeles Dodgers; Los Angeles Lakers; Manchester City Citizens (EPL soccer you morons); and of course, my beloved OU Sooners.  Looking for a hockey team?  Go (ice) fish.  Not a fun game to watch on TV.

My proclivity for temper tantrums does not end with my favorite teams.  I also get mad about betting on sports (i.e. placing bad bets, not the act of betting on sports which I am very much in favor of), bad calls, terrible commentators, incomprehensible TV twists, bad uniforms, those who don’t appreciate good music, politics, stupid fans, silly traditions, inane rules….you get the idea.  I am Mad Adam.

The gracious, yet logic deficient Ed Honcho, has asked that I occasionally drop by this site and let all of you know what I am currently mad about.  I appreciate the forum and the opportunity to vent.  I would be remiss if I did not kick things off with a mailbag devoted to my legions of fans and their questions.  So, without further ado, away we go…..

Q: Did you see the Patriots throw a deep pass with only 30 seconds to go this past weekend when they were up 31 – 14 on the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets? How did that make you feel? Cuz, I will tell you how it made me feel.  It made me feel like punching Tom Brady in his pretty face and defecating on Bill Belichik’s car.

- Francis Anastasio, Elizabeth, New Jersey

A: Francis, or can I call you Frank? No? OK. Francis, you could not be more right (except the part about shitting on his car, which is a tad bit weird). Not since Michael Bay decided to have “ghetto” robots in the newest Transformers movie have I seen such a brash and uncalled for decision.

What is he hoping to accomplish?  By kicking the Jets when they are down, does he hope to draw attention away from the most colossal coaching mistake in his career from the week prior against the Colts? By allowing a long pass to Randy Moss did he hope to show that Moss does in fact own Darrelle Revis? (if so, too bad, because Moss turned in a pedestrian 5 catches for 34 yards against my boy Revis).

Or is this just one more bully move by a guy that thinks he is God, but is in fact still the same a-hole that could not turn around the Browns and WHO WALKED OUT ON THE JETS IN 1999 A DAY AFTER TAKING THE HEAD COACHING JOB? What a loser. I HATE that guy. And, I really hate those spy-gate cheating, pretty boy Pats(ies).

Q: How are you feeling about the Lakers so far?

- Bonita Benson, Culver City, California

A: In a word….AWESOME.  So far, Khlomar has not been a distraction.  The return of Gasol has transformed the team.  Ron Artest is playing within the system and has not punched Nicholson in the face on his way down the court yet. And Kobe? Well, he is busy doing work.

Since the Lakers’ Western Conference coronation is all but assured, let’s turn to the more important issue.  Will those turd burgers from Boston make an appearance and get the whupping they deserved two years ago? As of this writing they are 10-4, and look pretty good (for a team in puke green adorned with a picture of a leprechaun sporting a vest, hat and bow-tie covered in freaking shamrocks).  I don’t want another beat-down on Orlando.  I want Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and “look at me I am yelling a lot, I must be really intense” Kevin Garnett to face the music like they did in 1985 and 1987 when Magic and crew beat Bird and his brigade of losers (like Kevin “the Armpits” McHale and Robert “Reefer” Parrish). SCREW THE CELTICS!

Q: When are you going to talk about the Sooners? Texas Tech destroyed Stoops and company and the crowd turned the House of Pain “Jump Around” into an anti-Sooner anthem.  And, don’t forget Capel’s b-ball team that got rocked by the VCU Rams, his former team.  Seriously, did you jump off a cliff this weekend?

- Rusty Jackson, Texhoma, Texas

A: I am typing out this response from the rather large ravine that I did indeed toss myself into after the collective DUMP THAT OU TOOK ON ME THIS WEEKEND.  This is the kind of showing that makes you want to give up sports.

That raises the issue.  Is it possible to really give up on your favorite team?  I say no.  The first time I ever tried to do it was when I was 8 years old and the Dodgers were on a serious losing streak. I declared that I was no longer a fan of Dodger blue and tried to become a Cincinnati Reds fan.  However, each morning when I would look through the box scores in the local paper I found my gaze straying from the Reds to find out what the Dodgers had done the night before. The reason?  If you are a true fan, you can NEVER give up on your team.  Even when they TEAR OUT YOUR HEART, LIKE OU DID TO ME THIS WEEKEND.

Did I kinda avoid answering your questions Rusty? You bet. Stay tuned, though, because if those goat loving, tobacco chewing troglodytes from Stillwater win Bedlam this weekend, then I may have to dedicate an entire column to how FREAKING BAD THIS OU FOOTBALL SEASON HAS REALLY BEEN.

Q: So, how about Les Miles and his clock management skills?

- Earl Papadeaux, Natchez, Louisiana

A: Oh, how I detest Les Miles.  What an overrated, egotistical, arrogant insipid little man crowned with an ill-fitting hat. How many times must he do something like this before Tiger Nation rises up and says enough is enough.  The LSU school newspaper, “The Daily Reveille” is calling for the firing of offensive coordinator Gary Crowton over this debacle.

First, “The Daily Reveille,” really? I had to look up “reveille” to even know what the students there are referencing.  It is a bugle call associated with the military.  So, the newspaper is a daily bugle call.   Whatever.

Second, firing the offensive coordinator is completely missing the point.  Did anyone see Les Miles’ patented “deer in headlights” look as the precious seconds ticked away in the game against Ole Miss? He was befuddled, bamboozled and flummoxed all at the same time. This man could not coach his way out of a paper bag when decisions that are tougher than what to eat after the game are on the line.  Speaking of food…

Q: Don’t you think that Mark Mangino is just mean, mean, mean!

- Dolores Bitterbottom, Mulberry, Kansas

A: Look, I have had my share of crude talking insensitive coaches.  Heck, it is really part of the job description as far as I can tell.  Reminds me of a funny story.  Ed Honcho and I used to have a baseball coach that referred to him as “Colonel Sanders” because he was too “chicken” to get down on the ball when fielding grounders in practice.  That was funny. What Mangino (allegedly) has been doing?  Not cool.

When a college student confides in a coach about his alcoholic father, that should remain between him and the coach. Same thing with a player that tells coach about his brother getting shot in the neighborhood he grew up in .  To use that information against the players is the sign of a man that has lost touch with reality.  He is not breaking players down and then building them up.  He is just breaking them.

While we are on the subject, I am wondering if any Jayhawk ever gave it back to the coach? In case they have not, and current Jayhawks are looking for some ideas, here is my humble proposal for a dialogue with Mangino:

Mangino – “Hey, stop loafing WR!  You keep that up and you will wind up on welfare and turning tricks in an alley for crack cocaine like that story about your mom you shared with me in a closed door meeting the other day.”

WR – “Hey Coach.  Here’s a thought.  Maybe you should drop your daily caloric intake by, I don’t know, maybe 40,000 calories.  Seriously, do you really need that entire rack of ribs to go with your 22 ounce steak, double cheese-burger and fried okra covered in brown gravy?  I’m just looking out for you.  Well, I am also looking out for the players that keep getting hit by one of your 17 chins when you move suddenly on the sideline.”

Q: How about Jimmy Clausen getting cold-cocked by an angry Irish fan at local bar?

- Gaye Barr, Elkhart, Indiana

A: This had to be the first time anything associated with the Irish was on target this whole season.  My only question is why not track down and punch Charlie Weis?  The guy is pushing 3 bills and his knees are shot.  There is no way he could get away quickly enough to avoid a total pummeling. (please note that Mad Adam, while prone to fits of anger, does not condone nor promote violence against athletes and/or coaches….you know, unless they really deserve it).

Q: As an unabashed fan of front-running, big money teams like the Lakers and Sooners, is it any surprise that you’ve recently declared yourself a Manchester City fan? And even though you’ll do your best to spin the answer, it’s mostly rhetorical, as the indisputable answer is “no.”

- Ed Honcho, Sunbathing on the French Riviera

A: Nice try Ed.  You are clearly trying to bait me into a fit of rage.  However, unlike Tila Tequila, I am not that easy.  You see, what you are failing to tell our readers is that it is “undisputable” that I became a fan of the Blues prior to September 2008 when Man City was purchased by the Abu Dhabi United Group, making it the wealthiest club in the world.

Which means that I became a fan of Man City, a team that has not won silverware since 1976, before this fortuitous twist transformed them into the Champions League chasing team they are today.  So, SUCK IT ED.  Seriously.

Q: Is it true that you’ve been in the same fantasy football league for almost 20 years and never won?

- Bjorn Bjornssen, Hammerfest, Norway

A: Bjorn, now I am starting to get pissed.  Your “source” is mistaken.  Allow me to provide you a history lesson. Yes, I have been in the same fantasy football league since 1988.  In fact, Ed Honcho, myself and friends may have indeed invented fantasy football.

No, it is NOT true that I have failed to ever be crowned champion.  My team has a long and storied history.  I consistently make the playoffs, and I have been in not one, not two, but THREE championship games.  Several years ago Ed Honcho and I squared off in the championship game.  The game ended in a tie according to an on-line fantasy sports site that will not be named.  Incredibly, after nearly two decades of fantasy sports our collective group had never devised a tie-breaker scenario.  So, we declared a tie and the championship was split between Mad Adam and Ed Honcho.

Now things get interesting.  Approximately 6 months later, one of our friends and fellow fantasy owner, we will call him “ass-wipe,” decided to peruse the web-site because he had nothing better to do.  He was surprised to see that the CRAPPY, STUPID AND PROFESSIONALLY NEGLIGENT web-site that shall not be named had changed the score for Jeff Garcia (my starting QB at the time) by one measly STUPID point.  Ass-wipe decides to share this information with the league.  The result? Years of bickering and a COMPLETELY FALSE AND WHOLLY UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIM of an undisputed and sole championship by Ed.

Many of you may ask, and rightly so, how in the world can you change the score of a fantasy sports championship MONTHS after the fact?  Isn’t that like tuning in for the Super Bowl and watching the Pats lose to the Giants, only to find out the following summer that the NFL had changed its mind and declared that the David Tyree “helmet catch” was an incompletion and the Pats actually won?  Good point.  And Bjorn, you no fantasy knowledge having dude from Hammerfest, did you stop to ask what would have happened if we applied the tie-breaking rules we have today?  No? Well, let me tell you what would have happened. I WOULD HAVE WON.  And, what would have happened if we played the next week (since we tabulated the points just to see)?….wait for it….that’s right….. I WOULD HAVE WON.

Dammit.  Now my blood pressure is though the roof.  Bjorn, I am sure you can see from the foregoing synopsis that in fact I DID WIN A FREAKING CHAMPIONSHIP.  And, if you don’t agree with me then you CAN JUST ENJOY YOUR CITY WHICH REEKS OF REINDEER MANURE.  That’s right, I said it.

Q: Why so angry? Childhood trauma? Life stacked against you? What?

- Adolfo Ocampo, Ushuaia, Argentina

A: As I am sure you can see from the questions posed by some ingrates above, as well as the other stupid topics that got me riled up, there are plenty of reasons I am angry.  SO, STICK YOUR POP PSYCHOLOGY UP YOUR ASS ADOLFO.  I will be sure to call if I ever need your attention.  Don’t hold your breath in the meantime.

Thank you loyal readers.  Until next time, keep watching sports and DON’T PISS ME OFF!!!

Oklahoma Sooners Stadium Seat Review

Feature

• Made of double layer nylon material
• Logos featured on front and back
• Back angle is adjustable using side straps
• Strap on bottom fastens stadium seat to the bleachers

Overview
Whether sitting in the front row or in the nosebleed section, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort! This adjustable stadium seat is sure to make your seat the best one in the house! Team logo silk screened on both the front and back of the seat Strap under the seat to fasten to bleachers

Nov 25, 2009 11:03:08

It has been around five months since we have graced the great state of Oklahoma with our presence.  Today we will allow Oklahoma to be cool again as we will once again step foot into America’s Heartland.  We are pretty excited to be there for Turkey Day because we will finally get to see all our friends and family again.  They are pretty cool.

So we are flying out today and visiting the in-laws first.  We will be in rural Oklahoma (no not all of Oklahoma is the middle of nowhere) for Thanksgiving which means some good ol’ home cookin’.  That will be good stuff.  Then we will be heading to Edmond and staying with my family, watching another great OU OSU game, having our first baby shower for our baby girl, and hitting up some LifeChurch.tv and saying hi to all our friends there!  Unfortunately, this year I do not believe that either of our families are continuing on the tradition of Thanksgiving BBQ instead of turkey and such.  That is a bummer, but I do expect to gain plenty of weight this week.  If you haven’t seen the list of all the different places my preggo wants food from, read it and then you will understand why I am going to come back as something the oompa loompas have to roll out of Oklahoma.

It’s gonna be a great vacation!  No work for several days in a row.  The great state of Oklahoma.  Almost all our friends and family.  And then coming home to Orange County, CA.  We are ready to eat and see everyone.  Sorry mom and dad.  We will miss you!

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain!

Today we are off to Okie-homa to spend Thanksgiving with the family (minus the in-laws and reagan. bummer!)  This is my first trip to Oklahoma as a pregnant woman. I have been craving things that you can only get there. So here is a list of stops we must make while there.

Braums: cookies and cream shake

Chicken Express: chicken, okra & sweet tea

Raisin’ Cains: chicken, Texas toast, yummy sauce & sweet tea

Steve’s Rib: gooooood okie BBQ & sweet tea

McAlisters: sweet tea

Hideaway: Little Kahuna Pizza

Rodney’s Pizza: pepperoni pizza

Janets: Baked Potato Soup

Teds: about 20 tortillas & queso.

Now I’m hungry! Can’t wait to be there!! And interested to see if I can actually fit all of this yummy food into 5 days with Thanksgiving dinner.  Stay tuned my friends.

Rivalry Week

Throw The Stats Out The Window

This is the college football week where more money is lost by those who don’t know what they are doing and more money is made by those who do know.  Certain rivalry games are just that—real rivalries.  Others are nothing but an annual beating on a little sister.

There is another bigger factor to this week’s games.  It’s the bowl factor.  Several teams are still looking for one final win to become bowl eligible.  A 5-6 team hosting an 8-3 team must be looked at quite differently than a 2-9 team hosting a 4-7 team.  The desire to get to 6-6 far outweighs the desire to avoid a 10-loss season.

Let’s look at the bowl eligible teams by conference as well as the teams needing to win this week to gain bowl eligibility.

Clemson and Georgia Tech have already clinched their divisions and will meet for the ACC Championship.  Tech edges the Tigers in Atlanta in September, but Clemson gave the game away.

Duke needs to beat Wake Forest this week to earn their first bowl in 15 years.  David Cutcliffe is one of the most underrated coaches in the country, and he should receive some national recognition in the Coach of the Year balloting.

The ACC has nine automatic bowl bids, and only seven bowl eligible teams as of now.  The GMAC Bowl will need to find an at-large team to fill the vacant position, and if Duke loses this week, the Eagle Bank Bowl will look to the MAC to fill that vacant slot.

Regardless of what happens in the Backyard Brawl in Morgantown this weekend, the winner of next week’s Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game will be Big East Champions and automatic BCS Bowl representative.  Cincinnati could still conceivably earn an at-large BCS Bowl bid at 11-1, but that chance is slimmer than slim.

Connecticut can gain bowl eligibility with a win at home against Syracuse this weekend, and they would get another chance next week against South Florida if they faltered against the Orangemen.  If the Huskies get that win, then the Big East will have six bowl eligible teams for six guaranteed spots.  Notre Dame could still possibly steal the Sun Bowl/Gator Bowl spot that goes to a Big East team if the Irish beat Stanford, but it would be a disgrace for them to steal a post at 7-5.  We believe Stanford will take care of business and keep Notre Dame out of the bowl picture altogether this year.

The Big 10 season is basically over.  Illinois has a couple of non-conference games remaining, and the only important factor in that is they play Cincinnati this weekend.  Wisconsin goes to Hawaii in two weeks, and the Outback Bowl bid could be riding on them winning the game.

It is almost a foregone conclusion that a second Big 10 team, either Iowa or Penn State, will receive an at-large BCS Bowl bid.  So, there will be seven teams available for eight bowls.  The Pizza Bowl (formerly Motor City Bowl) will have to look elsewhere and may be forced to invite two MAC teams.

Nebraska and Texas will face off in the Big 12 Championship Game, and the Cornhuskers may have a shot at pulling off a huge upset.  We give the ‘Huskers about a 15% chance of frustrating the Longhorn offense and win ugly.  If so, then another team from the Lone Star State will benefit.

After beginning the season at 5-0, Kansas finds itself in a must-win situation against Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.  They must earn The Brass Drum to earn a bowl bid.

The most important game though will be the Oklahoma and Oklahoma State game in Norman.  If the Cowboys beat the Sooners, they will more than likely earn an at-large BCS Bowl Bid at the expense of Boise State.  The Sooners must win to guarantee themselves a winning season.  The PiRate Ratings have had a devil of a time with OU this year.  Even at 6-5, their power rating keeps them in the top 10.  It’s hit or miss with them, as they showed how strong they are when they took Texas to the final gun.

If Kansas wins over Missouri, there will be 10 bowl eligible teams for eight guaranteed bowl spots (nine if Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma).  Look for Iowa State to be the odd team out of the mix.

Welcome to the conference where everything changes weekly.  With SMU losing to Marshall, the door opened once again for Houston to ascend to the CUSA Championship Game.  A win over Rice is all that’s needed, but all of a sudden the Owls have found their way.  It could be an interesting game—at least for a half.

The East Division championship will be decided this weekend when Southern Miss visits East Carolina.

UAB can gain bowl eligibility with a win over  Central Florida, but it may be a moot point.  There are only five guaranteed bowl spots with a sixth if Army fails to earn the Eagle Bank Bowl bid.  Six CUSA teams are already bowl eligible, and the Blazers cannot compete with Marshall or SMU in fanbase.

All three independents are still in the bowl mix, but as of now, only Navy is guaranteed a spot.  Notre Dame must beat Stanford to get to 7-5 and earn priority over every other possible at-large team.  At 6-6, they more than likely will find themselves out of the picture as there will be enough seven-win teams to fill the at-large spots.

Army must beat Navy to earn the Eagle Bank Bowl bid.  Navy has won seven in a row in this series, so it should be one of the best in this series in many years.

Central Michigan has already clinched the West Division, and the Chippewas will play the winner of this week’s Ohio U-Temple game in the MAC Championship Game. 

Two teams will be playing for that important seventh win this week.  Bowling Green hosts Toledo, and Kent State hosts Buffalo.

The MAC gets three guaranteed bowl bids and will get a fourth if Duke fails to beat Wake Forest and earn an Eagle Bank Bowl bid.   That’s where the Bowling Green and Kent State games come into play.  Both could earn bowl bids with wins, and one could even play in the Pizza Bowl against another MAC team.

TCU will manhandle New Mexico this week and then hope that either Texas A&M or Nebraska can upset Texas, Florida State can upset Florida, or Auburn can upset Alabama.  The Horned Frogs need two of the big three teams ahead of them to lose.  The loser of the SEC Championship Game means that either Texas must lose this week or next or the winner of the SEC Championship Game must lose this week.  If one of these events happen, then TCU will be playing for the national championship in January.  It’s hard to believe that this program was once as weak as Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Washington State are today.

The one team still trying to gain bowl eligibility is Wyoming.  The Cowboys must beat Colorado State in Ft. Collins this week, and these two teams truly put the “war” in “Border War.”  It’s not a given that Wyoming can top the 3-8 Rams.

For the first time ever, the winner of the “Civil War” game between Oregon and Oregon State will earn the Rose Bowl bid.  The Ducks and Beavers are one of the best rivalry games in college football, and I’d love to have a 50-yard line seat next week in Eugene.

The Pac-10 receives six automatic bowl bids, but there are seven bowl eligible teams.  It looks like UCLA will miss out this year unless they can upset USC.  Arizona must beat either Arizona State or USC to get to seven wins.  If both the Bruins and Wildcats win seven games, then expect to see the Pac-10 receiving an extra bid to a western bowl.

This is a monster conference!  With Alabama and Florida headed to Atlanta to play what will be the “Game Of The Decade” (assuming both win this week), it is a given that the loser will still play in a BCS Bowl.  It isn’t completely out of the realm that if the SEC Championship game goes to overtime or is decided in regulation by a point, and if Texas loses to either Texas A&M or Nebraska, that Alabama and Florida could meet in a rematch for all the marbles.

With 10 bowl eligible teams, the SEC will place all 10 in bowls.  There will be a lot of last minute shuffling because there isn’t much difference between team number three and team number 10.

This league is almost assured of earning a second bowl bid this year.  Troy will play in the New Orleans Bowl, but Middle Tennessee will get an at-large bid somewhere.  Both Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe can get to seven wins, but it will take big upsets for both to do so.  ULL plays Troy, while ULM plays MTSU.

Here’s where things should get interesting.  Boise State is a win over Nevada away from being 12-0 and the proverbial odd team out.  If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, the Cowboys will steal the last BCS Bowl bid at the Broncos’ expense.  Then, watch for the United States Government to put their messy fingers into the college football pigpen. 

Before we get into this mess, Boise State has to beat Nevada.  The Wolf Pack is not a pushover, and it could easily take 50 or more points to win this game.

Of course, if the Sooners win over OSU, then it looks favorable for BSU getting into the field.  Then, they would be competing against a one or two-loss Big East team and maybe a two-loss Georgia Tech team.

If Boise State moves up, then the WAC is safe with four bowls for four bowl eligible teams.

Hawaii could still sneak into the mix, but they would have to beat Navy and Wisconsin.  We don’t see that happening.

Bowl Speculations

We at Hatter & Beanz have thought of something interesting and, even though our idea may not be so unique it’s something for those who may be less fortunate or those that may have been hit hard by the economic downfall.  

So readers, as we give thanks for our families, our friends and the roofs over our heads we have built for you a list of soup kitchens and shelters and services in each of the 50 states. (Oh by the way, we personally checked each reference).

So here’s how this is going down, we’re going to sort this by state, and right now our goal is to list one or two organizations by per state for this year. At Christmas, we’ll add one or two more, per state.

Alabama

1 – Rose Of Sharon Soup Kitchen – 2412 Memorial PKWY NW – Huntsville, AL 35810 Ph: (256) 536-2970

2 – Anniston Soup Bowl – 1516 Moore Avenue – Anniston, AL  36201 – Ph: (256) 236-6794

Alaska

1 – Downtown Soup Kitchen – 434 East 4^th AVE – Anchorage, AK 99501 – Ph: (907) 277-4302

2 – Food Pantry of Palmer – 7805 East Palmer Wasilla HWY – Palmer, AK 99645 – Ph:  (907) 745-3635

Arizona

1 – Vista Colina Family Shelter – 1050 W. Mountain View Rd. – Phoenix, AZ 8501 -  Ph: (602) 944- 0960

2 – Gospel Rescue Mission – 1130 West Miracle Mile – Tucson, AZ 85705 – Ph: (520) 740-1501

Arkansas

1 – Food Bank of North Central Arkansas – 14215 Highway 5 South – Norfork, AR 72658 – Ph: (870) 499-7565

2 – Johnny’s Food Bank – 312 Church Street – Lake Village, AR 71653 – (870) 265 -2601

California

1 – TLC Soup Kitchen – 3904 High Street – Sacramento, CA 95838 – Ph: (916) 759-1806

2 – Hospitality Kitchen – 821 East 6^th Street – Los Angeles, CA 90013

Colorado

1 – Denver Rescue Mission – 1130 Park Ave West- Denver, CO 80205 – Ph: (303) 297-1815

2 – Soup Kitchen Inc. – 1675 Larimer Street – Denver, CO 80205 – Ph: (303) 629-6383

Connecticut

1 – Torrington Soup Kitchen – Trinity Church, 220 Prospect Street – Torrington, CT 06790 – Ph: (860) 482-0130

2 – Covenant Soup Kitchen – 220 Valley Street – Willimantic, CT 06226 – Ph: (860) 423-1643

Delaware

1 – Food Bank of Delaware – 1041 Mattlind Way – Milford, DE 19963 – Ph: (302) 424-3301

2 – Acorn, Inc. – 1607 Todds Lane – Wilmington, DE 190802 – Ph: (302) 762-4226

Florida

1 – Homestead Soup Kitchen – 105 Southwest 3^rd Ave – Homestead, FL 33090 – Ph: (305) 245-7448

2 – Bread of the Mighty – 325 Northeast 10^th Ave – Gainesville, FL 32601 – Ph: (352) 395-6570

Georgia

1 – Albany Rescue Mission – 604 North Monroe Street – Albany, GA 31701 – Ph: (229) 435-7615

2 – Feed America – 102 East 14^th Ave – Cordele, GA 31015 – Ph: (229) 273-0227

Hawaii

1 – Office of Social Ministry – 100 Kinoole Street – Hilo, HI 96720 Ph: (808) 935-3794

Idaho

1 – The Soup Kitchen – 301 South BLVD – Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Ph: (208) 557-5750

2 – St. Maries Food Bank – 416 Main Ave – Saint Mares, ID 83861 Ph: (208) 245-9090

Illinois

1 – Midwest Food Bank – 1703 So. Veterans PKWY – Bloomington, IL 61701 Ph: (309) 663-5350

2 – Cornucopia Food Pantry – 402 Market Street – Rockford, IL 61107 – Ph: (815) 962-1380

Indiana

1 – Backstreet Mission – 215 So Westplex Ave. – Bloomington, IN 47404 – Ph: (812) 333-6360

2 – Wells County Food Bank – 1254 So. Main Street – Bluffton, IN 46714- Ph: (260) 827-0053

Iowa

1 – Community of Concern – 203 North US Highway 71 – Carroll, IA 51401 – Ph: (712) 792-5150

2 – Mapleton Food Bank – 315 Main Street – Mapleton, IA 51034 – Ph: (712) 881-1128

Kansas

1 – Genesis – 350 So. Range Ave. – Colby, KS 67701 – Ph: (785) 460-7930

2 – Christian Food Bank – 111 West 4^th Street – Pratt, KS 67124 – Ph: (620) 672-5150

Kentucky

1 – God’s Pantry Food Bank – 1685 Jaggie Fox Way – Lexington, KY 40511 – Ph: (859)255-6592

2 – New Hope Food Bank – 880 J.T. Riggs Road – New Hope, KY 40052 – Ph: (502) 549-6015

Louisiana

1 – Food for Families – 245 Illinois Street – Delhi, LA 71232 – Ph: (318) 878-3869

2 – God’s Food Box – 711 Mahlon Street – Deridder, LA 70634 – Ph: (337) 463-4449

Maine

1 – Good Shepherd Food Bank – 3121 Hotel Road – Auburn, ME 04210 – Ph: (207) 782-3554

2 – Winthrop Food Pantry – 15 High Street – Winthrop, ME 04364

Maryland

1 – Movable Feast – 2620 Wilkins Ave – Baltimore, MD 21223 – Ph: (410) 327-3420

2 – Abundant Life Church – 110 Front Street – Pocomoke City, MD 21851 – Ph: (410) 957-4206

Massachusetts

1 – Beverly Bootstraps – 371 Cabot Street – Beverly, MA 01915 – Ph: (978) 927-1651

2 – Merrimack Valley Food Bank – 735 Broadway – Lowell, MA 01854 – Ph: (978) 454-7272

Michigan

1 – American Saucery – 10750 Capital St – Oak Park, MI 48237 – Ph: (248) 544-9485

2 – Manna Food Project – 8791McBride Park – Harbor Springs, MI – Ph: (231) 347-8852

Minnesota

1 – Fare for All – 8501 54^th Ave North – Minneapolis, MN 55428 – Ph: (763) 450-3860

2 – Pastor Paul’s Mission – 100 Oliver Ave North – Minneapolis, MN 55411 – Ph: (612) 521-4665

Mississippi

1 – Hartland Hands – 385 Stateline Road East – Southaven, MS 38671 – Ph: (662) 280-5365

2 – PBM Ministries – 639 Second South Street – Woodville, MS 39669 – Ph: (601) 888-3880

Missouri

1 – Arnold Food Pantry – 23 Village Plaza – Arnold, MO 63010 – Ph: (636) 467-5959

2 – Holy Spirit – 3128 Parkwood Lane – Maryland Heights, MO 63043 – Ph: (314) 739-9796

Montana

1 – Give Away House – 1058 2^nd Street North – Harve, MT 59501 – Ph: (406) 265-7741

2 – Sagebrush Food Pantry – 669 Park Ave – Shelby, MT 59474 – Ph: (406) 424-8287

Nebraska

1 – Arapahoe Area Food Pantry – 210 7^th Street – Arapahoe, NE 68922 – Ph: (308) 962-7296

2 – Western Nebraska Food Bank – 825 Hickory Street – Sidney, NE 69162 – Ph: (308) 254-1095

Nevada

1 – Food For Thought – 3579 US Highway 50 – East Carson City, NV 89029 – Ph: (775) 883-1011

2 – Colorado River Food Bank – 1575 South Casino Drive – Laughlin, NV 89410 – Ph: (775) 782-3711

New Hampshire

1 – Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter – 42 Chestnut Street – Nashua, NH 03061 – Ph: (603) 889-7770

2 – Sonshine Soup Kitchen – 4 Crustal Ave #4 – Derry, NH 03038 – Ph: (603) 437-2833

New Jersey

1 – Extra Helping – 31 Evans Terminal – Hillside, NJ 07205 – Ph: (908) 355-3663

2 – Interfaith Food Pantry – 540 West Hanover Ave – Morristown, NJ 07960 – Ph: (973) 538-8049

New Mexico

1 – The Food Depot – 1222 Silver Road – Santa Fe, NM 87507 – Ph: (505) 471-1633

2 – Los Alamos Community Food Bank – 77 Loma Vista St – Los Alomos, NM 87544

New York

1 – Masbia Soup Kitchen – 4114 14^th Ave – Brooklyn, NY 11219 – Ph: (718) 972-4446

2 – Project Hospitality – 100 Park Ave. – Staten Island, NY 10302 – Ph: (718) 448-1544

North Carolina

1 – Good Shepherd Ministries – 811 Martin Street – Wilmington, NC 28401 – Ph: (910) 763-4424

2 – Hallelujah Soup Kitchen – 1904 South Wilmington Street – Raleigh, NC 27603 – Ph: (919) 899-6498

North Dakota

1 – Amen Food Pantry – 1100 3^rd Ave West – Dickinson, ND 58601 – Ph: (701) 483-4344

2 – Carrington’s Daily Bread – 875 Main Street – Carrington, ND 58421 – Ph: (701) 652-2333

Ohio

1 – Zion Soup Kitchen – 2716 West 14^th Street – Cleveland, OH 44113 – Ph: (216) 861-2371

2 – From Darkness to Light – 1925 Stanford Road – Twinsburg, OH 44087 – Ph: (216) 744-7408

Oklahoma

1 – Salvation Army – 1306 SW Ave E – Lawton, OK 73501 – Ph: (580) 355-1802

2 – Ardmore Soup Kitchen – 2207 Ridgeway Street – Ardmore, OK 73401 – Ph: (580) 226-2870

Oregon

1 – Lebanon Soup Kitchen – 170 East Grant Street – Lebanon, OR 97355 – Ph: (541) 451-7667

2 – St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen – 820 Ellsworth Street SW – Albany, OR 97321 – Ph: (541) 926-8562

Pennsylvania

1 – Jubilee Kitchen – 2005 Wyandotte Street – Pittsburgh, PA 15219 – Ph: (412) 261-5417

2 – East Liberty Soup Kitchen – 1091 Pittsburgh Road – Valencia, PA 16059 – Ph: (724) 898-3503

Rhode Island

1 – Fall River Soup Kitchen – 783 Slade Street – Fall River, MA 02724 – Ph: (508) 324-1323

South Carolina

1 – Project Host Soup Kitchen – 525 So. Academy Street – Greenville, SC 29601 – Ph: (864) 235-3403

2 – The Soup Kitchen – 573 Meeting Street – Charleston, SC 29403 – Ph: (843) 723-2726

Tennessee

1 – Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen – 215 Foster Street – Clarksville, TN 37043 – Ph: (931) 645-9020

2 – Manna Day Ministry – 1186 Ft. Campbell Blvd. – Clarksville, TN 37042 – Ph: (931) 648-1324

Texas

1 – Star of Hope Homeless Shelter – 419 Dowling Street – Houston, TX 77003 – Ph: (713) 748-0700

2 – New Hope Housing, Inc. – 320 Hamilton Street – Houston, TX 77002 – Ph: (713) 223-1995

Utah

1 – Manila Food Pantry – 93 North 1 West – Manila, UT 84046 – Ph: (435) 784-3993

Virginia

1 –Central Virginia Food Bank – 1415 Rhoadmiller Street – Richmond, VA 23220 – Ph: (804) 521-2500

Washington

1 – University Street Ministries – 4740 University Way NE – Seattle, WA 98105 – Ph: (206) 522-4366

West Virginia

1 – Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling – 1610 Eoff Street – Wheeling, WV 26003 – Ph: (304) 233-2992

Wisconsin

1 – McCarthy-Hall Kitchen – 1100 Douglas Ave – Racine, WI 53402 – Ph: (262) 634-9336

Wyoming

1 – Community Soup Kitchen – 633 Bridger Ave – Rock Springs, WY 82901 – Ph: (307) 382-7383

Have A Happy & Safe Thanksgiving Holiday !!!!

-Hatter & Beanz

There have been a lot of things about inner-city life in the nation’s fourth largest city that have taken some getting used to for this small-town Oklahoma broad. My first four years as a Houstonian were spent in the Plantation apartments near the Galleria; a crumbly little spot that high-rise developers forgot to bull-doze. I used to come home to an occasional note from management under my door that read something like this, “Dear Resident: A drunken male with a knife has been observed in the parking lot. Please be advised.” These notes were delivered in the exact same way as my lease renewal notices. Time to renegotiate your lease. Try not to get knifed while you’re carrying in your groceries. Happy Wednesday.

When I met Drew, we pooled our individual incomes and decided to move up in the real estate world. We bought a house! In the Heights! Where there is no management company to alert you when a knife wielding drunkard is on the loose! You just have to keep your head on a swivel in these parts.

I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but someone has been setting fires in the Heights. I think there have been 18 by now. Maybe 19. We’re all still debating whether this really constitutes use of the word “serial.” I mean, doesn’t he have to set 20 before we can really decide there’s a pattern?

This is all a part of the trade-off of living in the city, Drew and I tell each other. So what if we have to set up a deer camera to keep our house from being broken into? Oh well if there’s an occasional fire down the street? We’re URBAN. We’re close to work. We have fun little shops and restaurants and interesting neighbors and kitschy old houses.

And, as of this morning, we have the Houston SWAT team as an alarm clock.

It all started at 3:30 AM with lights and noises and smoke that seemed out of place at that time of night to my exhausted brain. By the time I conjured up the strength to completely open my eyes, there was a giant unmarked van in front of our house with police officers pouring out of it, all aiming guns at Drew’s car and at our house. There was a German Shepherd, sniffing around. There was crime scene tape marking off our street. There was smoke billowing out of the house behind us. There were cops, calling up to Drew, asking if he’d seen or heard anything. And all the while, there was me, in my underwear, holding a baseball bat.

Baseball bats are very good protection against fire. Especially wooden bats, like the kind we keep under our bed.

As we watched from our bedroom window, I educated Drew on the near-impossible job of catching an arsonist.

“All the guy has to do is set the fire and run away, and by the time anyone even knows there’s a problem, he’s in the next county,” I mused, mostly to myself, rocking back and forth with my bat. “Unless he’s the type of arsonist who just can’t help but stay around and watch his fires burn.”

I admit it. Living in this town has turned me into just another armchair arson investigator.

So while we wait for the fires to stop, I try not to beg Drew to move me back to a small town. I’m trying to be a cool city-dweller. I’m trying to roll with the metaphorical punches here, making pals with the SWAT team, patting dogs trained to sniff out excelerants on my way to work. After all, there are many things we don’t have to deal with here in the big city that were major problems in Oklahoma.

Cow-tipping, for instance. Or Fruit-Looping! Waking up to a multi-colored lawn! What a nuisance.

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Reality Parties are part of a statewide effort in Oklahoma in the fight to stop underage drinking. The Reality Party is designed to lead parents and community leaders on a tour of what happens at the parties teens attend. A “tour guide” leads viewers from room to room as scenes are played out before them. One of the scenes shows a girl getting pressured into using a beer bong. In another a young girl, who had passed out, is carried upstairs by a boy. There were also scenes that included fighting, pill popping, and drinking games. The scene that seemed to stick vividly in the viewer’s minds was one in which a sexual predator said that he had learned of the party online and drove from Colorado to attend. After the tour of the “party” viewers are led to a room where they discuss what they saw and to also hear facts about underage drinking. One parent even said that she felt guilty for not realizing what went on at high school parties. Some even denied what they saw in these scenes could occur in their town.

N.O.T.A. (None Of The Above) from Tulsa, Oklahoma were a hardcore punk band from the early-eighties.

There were later releases by N.O.T.A. (with a different line-up) but this post compiles the Moscow EP from 1982, Toy Soldiers EP from 1983 and self-titled album from 1985 done with their classic line-up.

N.O.T.A. 1982-1986

01. This Country Was Once Free
02. The Enemy
03. Taking Away Your Rights
04. Moscow
05. Toy Soldiers
06. Justice In America
07. Fucked Up
08. Cattle Call
09. Riot Kids
10. Ultra Violent
11. Den Of Thieves
12. I Should Kill You
13. Reckless
14. Taking Away Your Rights
15. On The Pavement
16. Keeping You Out
17. Sick Society
18. Frustration
19. Self Destruct
20. Police Front
21. War On Wankers
22. Nightstick Justice
23. Propaganda Control
24. Redneck Mentality
25. Identity Crisis
26. Drugs & Sex
27. Cut The Shit
28. Summer Of 82

Now that Week 12 has been completed in the college football season, it’s time to dream of tryptophan-laced turkeys with all the fixins’, pecan and pumpkin pies and oodles and oodles of leftovers.

The other thing to think about – at least for folks in and around the state of Oklahoma – is Bedlam. Yes, this is completely an odd football year for the state, but c’mon folks, it’s still Bedlam!

From a University of Oklahoma perspective, my pals and coworkers of the Crimson persuasion are less-than-excited about hosting Saturday’s Bedlam affair. Due, in no small part, to the fact that Oklahoma currently has five losses on the year. With a potential loss in the Bedlam game bringing the regular season record to a 6-6 mark and then a bowl game on the road, most Sooners seem to be nonplussed with the impending game against the Cowboys. That is, unless they can play spoiler to Oklahoma State’s chances at a BCS game.

Talk about a role reversal.

The Oklahoma State fans are very much unaccustomed to the role of heading into the Bedlam game with something to play for, with a national implication pertaining to their own team and not just for the Sooners’ squad.  The 9-2 Cowboys actually have a legitimate chance at a 2010 bowl game with the Cotton Bowl (January 2nd) and the Fiesta Bowl (January 4th) still in the mix for the Pokes. Sure – other things besides a Bedlam win have to occur for the BCS bowl to become a realization, but these ‘things’ are definitely possible.

As Sooners and Cowboy fans would all agree, Bedlam is where anything can happen. The series records heavily favor the Sooners, who are the home team this Saturday, 79-15-8. OU is riding an almost-obscene record under head coach Bob Stoops while playing in Norman which tallies only two losses and includes a current 29-home game win streak.

With 102 meetings already in the record books plenty of interesting games have been witnessed since 1904. 75-0 routs – like the first game of the series – won by OU and which happens to be the largest margin of victory between the two on the gridiron. Ties – like the 15-15 game in 1992 between two unranked foes. Upsets – such as the 2001 game which knocked then #4 Oklahoma out of the national spotlight after a 16-13 loss and the 2002 game when #3 OU fell 38-28.

Oddsmakers don’t know what to do with this one and seem leery to stick their necks out yet. Both teams have wildcard capabilities.

The Sooners – as described above, just don’t lose in Norman. But, they are depleted throughout multiple key positions due to injuries that have been sustained starting before the season even began. Upside is the defense – or at least it was before last week’s 41 points scored by Texas Tech.

The Cowboys – this season at least – don’t go down easily either. But, they may or may not be with their main man under center, Zac Robinson. Of course, the Pokes without Robinson struggled and almost lost to Colorado at home on Thursday after a downright dismal offensive first half. Upside here could be the defense as well, words the majority of the OSU faithful would have never imagined being uttered about their team.

With that being said – no outcome would be a complete surprise unless coaches Mike Gundy and Bob Stoops decided to call the game off.