We Never Learn

I woke up to the news this morning that 12 police officers had been shot and five were killed in the line of duty.  Apparently, a couple snipers took them out during a rally in the city of Dallas.  I watched the television with my mind racing but my heart saddened for this country and sad for all of the victims of gun violence over the last week.  It was one of those moments where I was almost speechless.  

The reactions have been predictable; some are blaming guns themselves as though they were/are self aware and that the only way to repair the damage is to increase gun control laws.  On the other hand, there are a few who are taking it in stride as though the events were merely casualties of freedom.  What is truly disturbing to me are the number of people who are trying to blame everyone; as though the guy down the street is responsible for shoplifting in Ardmore.  

No, we are not all to blame.  As a matter of fact the only people who are at fault are those who pulled the trigger and committed acts of murder.  Those people are responsible for the lives they took and should be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law.  And don't blame the gun culture.  The guns used by law enforcement to kill innocents were assigned to them appropriately and history indicates that these officers had been investigated for excessive force previously.  It isn't the "gun culture," but rather the "idiot culture" that has seemed to permeate the fabric of society.  

It's a lesson that we never seem to learn; we try to blame everyone but the individuals directly responsible.  It's as though we feel that every tragedy is a mandate for some massive legislative shift when in fact, it's simply an example of how idiots behave when left to their own devices.  There are no laws against being an idiot, but when that idiot breaks existing laws, they should be prosecuted appropriately.  It doesn't make sense to take away the freedoms of all just because of an idiot.  

After the events of this last week, the hope is that we pull our collective heads out of our butts and begin to work together to address the disease of our culture rather than treating symptoms.  Here are some suggestions from your friendly Gorilla:

1.  Contact:  We need more time in person with one another.  Socialization that transcends social media will begin the process of experiencing the world outside of our little Facebook bubble.

2.  Compassion:  We are all created in the "imago Dei," (image of God) and need to express a little compassion towards one other once in a while.  If we have more human contact, compassion will be a natural result.  

3.  Common Ground:  When interacting with those around us, it's important to find common ground.  Rather than looking for things that separate us or divide us, diligently search for aspects of our human existence that tie us together.

There are exceptions, of course, and sometimes we will be able to identify the idiots who will never learn and in the process, we'll teach ourselves how to deal with them.

Of course, these are just my opinions and I could be wrong, but it's doubtful.  

Ron "Gorilla" Black

Long Weekend Recovery

Independence Day weekend saw thousands of Oklahoma families hit the lake and campgrounds to enjoy a celebration of our nation's independence.  Some had fireworks, others had copious amounts of  alcohol to accompany said fireworks.  For yet others of us, we gathered with friends and family at the house; having a much more quiet and intimate celebration.  Either way, it was awesome to see people out and about enjoying the holiday.  

The long weekend came after what was decidedly a long week that was frustrating, shocking, disappointing, and it was capped off with a revelation that an Oklahoma City "icon" would be leaving.  The weeping and gnashing of teeth could be heard as far north as Nebraska as Oklahoma sportscasters announced with tears in their eyes that Kevin Durant was heading to San Francisco to play for Golden State.  

First, we had the weird results of the GOP primary, and then the news about Durant.  I suppose I was surprised at the sadness and mourning experienced by Oklahomans at the announcement that Durant was to take a two-year deal for around $50 million.  Two years; $50 million.  Oklahoma City is a good media market but there is no way we can compete with San Francisco; regardless of how many ferris wheels Kirk Humphries puts by the river.  We probably could have handled the salary, and there is no doubt whatsoever that the legislature would have made available even more tax breaks to the Thunder to keep him here.  But alas, his departure has caused great dismay.  

Take a breather for a moment and think about how Seattleites like myself felt when Clay Bennett and his band of boys took the Sonics from Seattle and moved them to Oklahoma City.  Perhaps now some Thunder fans will get an inkling of how we felt.  

Just remember OKC Thunder fans: The team could have been moved to Denton, Texas.

To top it all off, the FBI Director said that Hillary was careless with classified information but did not recommend that she be prosecuted.  In essence, they found plenty, but because her intent was not untoward, she should be allowed to go about her business.  To me, it's tantamount to letting a drunk driver off because he/she didn't intend to kill the innocent family, but rather it was nothing more than an accident and shouldn't be prosecuted.

We live in some seriously jacked up times.

When I was in the Navy, there was no way in hell that intent had anything to do with whether or not you were prosecuted for the mishandling of classified materials.  I suppose times have changed, but you can rest assured that if it were you and me under investigation for what Hillary did, our asses would be tried and hung long before it became public knowledge.  This once again proves that there are two sets of justice in this country:  One for the rich, one for the rest of us.  It's time to tip the scales and change things by almost any means necessary.

We will have a long time to recover from the events of the previous seven days and in November, it's time to take no prisoners.

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

Ron "Gorilla" Black

Still Shaking My Head

When you stop for a moment and critically listen to what is being said or being portrayed in the news, more often than not you will find yourself shaking your head and wondering just what in the hell it was that you just watched.  It's not limited to media, however; voters sometimes surprise us all with their decisions.

This past election cycle provided us with evidence that people have a tendency to be lazy and rarely look closely at the candidates.  The County Clerk race in Oklahoma County is a great example.  The aggregate result was a runoff with a beleaguered incumbent who should have been gone years ago and a trumpet player who is apparently a friend of the Keatings and of the Fallins.  We get to choose on the Republican side between a candidate with lots of really bad experience and another who really has no clue what goes on in the Clerk's office.  

We are so screwed and yes, I'm still shaking my head.

Then there is the terrorist attack madness in Turkey.  I watched video of terrorists shooting people and then blowing themselves up.  More than 20 people were killed and others injured by these animals and CBS showed it in all its horror but then they criticized Donald Trump for his hard line on terrorism and contrasted Hillary Clinton's more soft approach to interrogation techniques.  

I really shook my head after that one.

We live in increasingly bizarre times and I am still wondering how in the hell we ended up with the two candidates we have for POTUS in this day and age.  Look, I get the anger and frustration, but damn.  If this is the best we've got, we're in a whole lot of trouble.  The POTUS race is just one of many examples of how the decline of western civilization continues at an alarming pace.  We're afraid to handle terrorists as they should be handled, we elect career politicians with impunity, the news is filled to overflowing with death and destruction, and yes, we still have men and women in uniform fighting overseas with their hands tied behind their back.

If that doesn't make you shake your head, you're part of the problem.

What are some of the solutions?  Here are my recommendations:

1.  Limit the amount of news we watch and when we watch the news, stick to local news and leave the national news to the mind-numbed dill weeds.

2.  Limit negativity.  There are some people in our lives who live to be negative, to find a problem in every little thing.  Eliminate these people from our lives and at least limit our exposure.  There are people who wake up every single morning with a million excuses and rants about why you can't do something and they are full-tilt energy sucking leeches.  Scrape 'em off.

3.  Be positive.  Challenge ourselves to spend a few moments each day to do the whole positive affirmation thing.  It may seem corny at first, but there is a lack of positivity and when you encourage yourself and encourage those around you, the possibilities become endless.

4.  Be happy.  We are alive, we are breathing, and we still live in the greatest country in the world and that should make us happy.  Share some happiness with your friends and loved ones and watch how the environment begins to shift.  

Yeah, there are times that make us shake our heads as we look around and see the soup sandwich that is our screwed up culture, but there are also opportunities to be an agent of change.  I challenge you to be the change; to be the person that inspires others.  We can do this.  

Of course, these are my opinions and I could be wrong.  Or not.

Ron "Gorilla" Black

What A Week!

It's been a fun, exciting, and challenging week and I thought I would take a few moments to share some of the excitement with you!

First, Signal 8 Band (my band) is starting to really come together with the new members.  We are pumped up and looking forward to our maiden voyage at the Blowout Club in Guthrie, July 15.  We have an intense set list, great entertainment, and a group of guys who are chomping at the bit to perform for you.  If you can clear your schedule, you're invited to come out and watch us jam the night away with classic rock, contemporary country, and even some pop tunes by folks like the Gin Blossoms.  

Second, you have no doubt seen the Fox 25 report about the County Clerk's race wherein the incumbent Carolynn Caudill had former Governor Frank Keating on a mailer endorsing her.  The truth of the matter is that she did not, in fact, have Governor Keating's endorsement or anything like it.  She also listed endorsements from a couple folks who are actually deceased.  Of course, this isn't the first time that she's run into trouble; she was arrested for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident and had most recently tried to get the record expunged.  In my not-so-humble opinion, she has become the poster child for everything that is wrong with politics.  This is not an ad hominem attack, but rather stating the facts.  One can only hope that the taxpayers and voters of Oklahoma County realize that it's time for a change and will vote for someone with private sector and public sector experience who won't be an embarrassment to Oklahoma County.  Which is why I support Charlie Phillips whole heartedly.  She is the real deal and I don't toss that kind of a statement around.  There is more to the story about some of Caudill's shenanigans and will be reported on Monday on Fox 25.  Phil Cross is the only television reporter with the stones to report this stuff.

Third, floods on the east coast have cost people their lives and then, the news of the Duncan boy with autism came out that his body was recovered and that he is deceased.  It's tragic and horrifying and to hear of a young child losing his life is nothing short of heartbreaking.  Seeing his picture on the news brought forth images of grieving parents, friends, and supporters and it makes one wonder just what in the heck is happening to us as a nation and as human beings.  We can only hope that the boy is now with the Father and that his parents will somehow find a way scratch and claw their way back.

Fourth, I don't know if you know about this cool little place by downtown where there is music on the weekends, food trucks and a light atmosphere.  We saw a friend perform some folk music there and it was absolutely amazing.  It's located just north/behind the OKC Farmer's Market and it is most assuredly a family-friendly environment; some people even brought their dogs.  Highly recommend it to you and the family.   These types of places are popping up all over Central Oklahoma and in my estimation, it is a good thing for the City.  There is an added element of culture that one comes to expect from much larger metropolitan areas.

Lastly, do yourself a favor and shake the hand of a veteran and tell him or her thank you.  We have so much hero worship in this country and have a disgusting propensity to forget the ones who lay down their lives for our freedoms.  There are a lot of idiots in politics, but it's because of our veterans that we can even have idiots in politics.

These are just my opinions and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

Ron "Gorilla" Black

Cretins in the Mist

Nobody likes vandals.  Nobody likes to see the damage that vandals do on a regular basis.  But when it comes to political vandalism, it is an indicator that there truly is trouble in River City.  

I've written about Charlie Phillips previously in her bid to rehabilitate the staggering Oklahoma County Clerk's office and a few things have changed since our last correspondence.  Charlie has been doing all of the right things that politicians should do; parades, presenting her position, knocking doors, putting up signage, and meeting with future constituents.  Apparently, she has done a great job because politically-blind cretins have attacked her numerous signs and your lowly Gorilla has a few ideas as to why this is happening.

First, I am convinced that whomever recently sawed Charlie Phillips' billboard in quarters is a person who probably needs to have face time with a mental health professional.  For the reasons below, the type of individual or individuals who have defaced and destroyed her signs are a danger to our city and our county and should be dealt with according.

Charlie Phillips

Second, we often try to destroy what we fear.  Whomever defaced and destroyed her signs are afraid that now Charlie is the front runner and they need to reduce her name recognition by any means necessary; even if it means destroying private property.

Third, Charlie's opponents or opponents' supporters have committed a crime, but because it is a political set of signs, law enforcement might be reticent to get involved.  If they did and found out who was responsible, the news would probably rock the county at its core.

Fourth, political insiders often find it funny to destroy their opponents' signage.  That's right, there are those who are greatly amused by taking or destroying political signs.  It's sad, but during the election cycle, the cretins are easily awakened and they always find something with which to amuse themselves.

It's true that I've done work for Charlie and that I unashamedly support her for County Clerk.  If you recall my days on WKY, I was always critical of the incumbent and while there was another host who supported her because of his "regular employment," I never budged for even a second.  I haven't changed my mind and for those of you who know how greatly I despise the little oligarchy of elected officials in county government, it shouldn't be a surprise to you that I support Charlie Phillips for County Clerk.

Oh, and some of the signs that were vandalized yesterday were vandalized again today.  Bless their little pea-picking hearts.

Some of you reading this may consider defacing or destroying political signage to be no big deal or merely something to be expected in politics.  That's how bad things have gotten in politics when we expect bad stuff to happen.   However, I also say that you're part of the problem with the political process.  If you think it's funny, cute, sly, or even "the right thing to do" to vandalize the property of others, do us all a favor and don't breed.  

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be wrong, but I'm not.

Gorilla

What Did You Expect?

To lighten the mood a bit, I've decided to take tidbits from the news and from social media and ask one of the most profound questions in all of history:  What did you expect?  These are morsels of truth that no one really likes to swallow but are as necessary for survival as oxygen; and we need to laugh at and with ourselves once in a while.  

Journalist Who Profiled Melania Trump Files Police Report After Getting Threats:  What did this journalist expect?  She pulls no punches in a story about the wife of a bombastic and incendiary POTUS candidate and she gets threats.  This should be under the "profound grasp of the obvious" file because there is no doubt she knew (Julia Ioffe) that it was inviting trouble.  You can't jump into a pit of vipers and then bitch about the fact that your dumb little butt got bit.  I'm not saying that threats are a good thing and neither am I justifying them.  I'm just saying that when you're in the media and you stir up some poop, you have to expect to get some poop on you yourself.  

Raising Taxes to Solve Revenue Problem:  Our legislature in Oklahoma as well as the Governor herself have considered that one way to solve the "problem" of an income crisis is to raise taxes on citizens, but to leave in place countless incentives for the richest among us.  For example, the Thunder organization is not required to pay payroll taxes on their massive payroll.  This benefits the multi-million dollar players and the millionaire owners, but doesn't do a damned thing for the average working Joe in Oklahoma.  Yes, I know that the Thunder has become a sacred cow in Oklahoma City, but the truth is what it is.  They receive a ridiculous incentive that they just don't need.  Yet, it is not just limited to the Thunder, but rather extends to the rich and famous in Oklahoma.  Instead, they are planning to raise taxes on cigarettes (again) because Medicaid needs the money and they want to toss some by way of the education infrastructure.  But what did we expect when we elected this particularly raw group of narcissists?  We knew that it was fame and fortune for them and for most of them in office, it's the best job they will ever have.  What did we expect, really?

American Ninja Warrior at the Capitol:  ANW is filming in Oklahoma and they are filming in the parking lot of the methane gas filled dome.  Seriously?  What did we expect?  It's the perfect location for horseplay such as that.

Axl Rose Singing for AC/DC:  The response has been tepid at best where the Guns-N-Roses front man heading up AC/DC is concerned and really, we shouldn't be surprised.  Live performances when Rose was in his prime were always a crap-shoot, and now that he is forced to sit on a throne because of a broken leg and screech out what we thought were AC/DC tunes, he sounds like a cat that needs to be put down with impunity.   

Hillary Targets Female Voters, Attacking Trump's Standing With Women:  Hillary has most meat-eating conservatives on the right chomping at the bit to see her in jail and most of the Hillary-haters are men so, it should not be a surprise at all when we see Hillary trying to cuddle up to the female voters in the attempt to make Trump look like a big meanie who hates girls.  Trump doesn't have the greatest family values record, to be sure, and admittedly, neither do I.  But there are a ton of Americans who have grown tired of the chest-thumping of the dominionists who want to run the country (and state) like a theocracy.  They want efficacy and a no-holds barred approach to problem solving; not a bunch of hand-wringing bed-wetters who are strong only on religious issues, but are sissies where issues of Constitutional import are concerned.  It was predicted that this would be the way she would steer her strategy.

These were just a few issues and problems that were just too funny not to mention and do so with a sense of humor.  We live in wickedly weird times, my friends and it's only going to get more strange.

Of course, these are just my not-so-humble opinions and I could be wrong.  But, no.  I'm not.

Gorilla

HLK Bombshell Review

Hard Luck Kings is a small manufacturer of custom guitars in California and have been known for their ability to make what they call "tour ready" guitars that are sturdy, inexpensive, and sound great.  When they put their "Bombshell" guitar on special, I had to have one and the price was absolutely right.  I thought that this would be the deal of a lifetime.

I was wrong.

Pictured right is their website and there is a lovely picture of the guitar I purchased.  The matte green and black just made for a badass looking guitar and after listening to some reviews and samplings on YouTube for that model, I was sold.  The "Tour Ready Gear" advertisement was a bonus because most guitars require a ridiculous amount of adjustment before they are ready to gig.

I couldn't tell you how excited I was when it arrived.  I opened the shipping box and made sure that everything was there and after the satisfactory inventory, I pulled it out of the box, plugged it in and tuned it.  The first thing I noticed was that it was a sonofabitch to keep in tune.  I attributed it at first to new strings but after a few hours of tuning, playing, tuning, playing, and tuning again, I could tell that something was wrong.  

The finish was as nice as they said it would be but there were blemishes on the head stock and on the body.  The plastic cover on the pick guard was trashed and it was obvious that this guitar had to be a return because it had clearly been played hard.  For the price, I thought that it was still going to work out okay regardless.

The next thing was the buzzing of the strings all over the fingerboard.  This meant that a truss rod adjustment was in order and after the adjustments, the buzzing was reduced a bit.  The next problem was the intonation itself and that became a serious issue.

At the 12th fret, the strings were almost a half step sharp with all of the strings so, again, my trusty tools were busted out and adjustments were made on the bridge itself and then, more of the truss rod adjustment.  After contacting customer service and then watching countless videos about the problem, I came as close as I possibly could to fixing the problem, but it will always be an issue to some degree because of how the guitar is made/put together.

The last problem I had was when I noticed that the nut was uneven in string position.  The low E and A strings were higher than the others.  I replaced the strings with lighter gauge strings (which I did not want to do), it was still a problem but when I was tuning, the notch for the low E just busted clean off of the nut.  

Of course, weeks had passed and therefore I had gone beyond the "return policy" so it looks like I am going to have to have another nut set on the neck and ignore the rest of the problems or just never ever play live with it ever.  

The neck feels and felt great, but the pickups aren't "hot" as advertised and in addition, I was not prepared for the amount of noise they generate.  Some noise is to be expected with a single coil setup, but this sounded like a cheap tape recorder microphone was used for the pickups rather than something with even marginal quality.  In all fairness, the bridge pickup isn't bad; it just isn't great.

So, what is the Gorilla's recommendation with regard Hard Luck Kings?

Always remember that you get what you pay for and rarely will you find discounted music gear being a good value.  This was the case with my Hard Luck Kings Bombshell.  If you want to try your luck with Hard Luck Kings, I recommend you do so with a note on your calendar for the return policy and stay within those parameters.  I've seen people who are amazingly satisfied with their HLK gear, but I wasn't one of them.  "Tour Ready" doesn't necessarily mean "gig ready" in my opinion.  Perhaps what they mean is that you can use these guitars on tour as a distraction for would-be thieves to steal them rather than your real live gear.  

Many have had great experiences with HLK and I applaud them for that.  I'm sure that they purchased gear that was not on sale or were simply fortunate wherein I was not so fortunate. 

Conversely, I went out to Shawnee to Music Unlimited and picked up a Jackson on sale for the same price and guess what?  It is spot on.  They adjusted it before I left and it has been one hell of a work horse from day one.  The staff and ownership at Music Unlimited were all really helpful and they were happy to see folks from outside of Shawnee come down to visit.  They have a great selection of Fender, Jackson, PRS, and other brands that you expect to see at another, larger store.  It's a great place to make purchases.  Highly recommended.

Of course, these were all my personal experiences and opinions and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.


Gorilla

 

Another Week of Shenanigans

Some of the dialog you're about to read may be offensive to some and it may anger many of you and for that, I'm not sorry.  You see, Oklahoma is a fun state with fun people and an underground creativity that exists behind the scenes for fear of being labeled "liberal."  Oklahoma is home to the Cowboys and the Sooners and both are exquisite institutions of higher learning or something.  But this past week, it was as though meth was poured into the water system by the Trilateral Commission under the orders of the New World Order and pushed by the 9/11 Commission.   

In other words, what you're about to read about is true, but you'll wish that it was not.

1.  Edmond Public Schools Superintendent called Edmond schools one of the "poorest funded" in the state.  In an interview with the ever-lovely Abigail Ogle, Bret Towne kissed a final farewell to his mind and to his reputation for trying to play Edmond Public Schools as a poor and down-trodden district.  Anyone with three functioning brain cells in the state of Oklahoma knows that Edmond has great schools in great shape and that the taxpayers always support initiatives on the ballot to support their schools.  As a matter of fact, when was the last time ANY sales tax increase or continuation failed in Edmond?  

2.  Candidate Filings.  This week brought a bunch of new faces to the political arena and some where decidedly more refreshing than others.  We in Oklahoma had, of course, the usual suspects of career politicians but we also saw the faces of numerous teachers who are fed up with the way the legislature has proven their collectively low IQ by screwing up school funding.  We have also seen the exciting entrance for the County Clerk post that is inhabited by the now legendary DUI recipient, Carolyn Caudill.  Charlie Phillips entered the race and while a veteran of the Clerk's office, she is a small business owner with backbone.  Personally, hers will be the race to watch during this primary season.  She's funny, smart, approachable and will serve the people of Oklahoma County well.  

3.  No Gorilla In the Race.  No, I've decided not to run this cycle for House District 82, but there is a very good chance that I will be running in the next cycle.  I probably could've beaten the incumbent Representative like an old rug and done so with ease and with impunity, but this is going to be a busy and very life-changing year for me.  I won't go into any details right now, but I will soon enough.  For all of you who have extended a hand of support for my potential run, I thank you and for those who support my candidacy and have expressed their desire to help financially were I to run against Calvey, I can't tell you enough you're appreciated.  There'll be a race to be sure, but just not this one at this time.  I know I'll catch hell from some of my close friends for not running; particularly after I had already put together a campaign platform and strategy, but surely, one of you will understand.  Calvey needs to go away from the public eye and I have a feeling that when he runs for either Attorney General or Oklahoma County District Attorney, he'll get the pounding he deserves. 

4.  Increased Taxes.  Unlike some of my readers, I happen to like the Governor.  When I saw that the Governor was thinking about raising taxes on tobacco for the purpose of filling so-called holes in the budget, I admittedly found myself a little disappointed.  Increasing taxes is not what we need and we particularly don't need to raise taxes on the poorest among us either.  It's hard for some to realize the difficulty faced by those in poverty while living in gated communities.  Remember all of those employees who have been laid off because of the down turn in the oil and gas market?  Well, they are the ones who will be taxed more and frankly, it's a bad idea.  As I have said before, there are ways to raise revenue for the state without further burdening the taxpayers.  

5.  Morrissette for Corporation Commission?  I have no beef with lawyers, really.  A lot of people hate them until they need them and some of them are admittedly sketchy.  Others, however, are solid, hard-working, and dedicated to the profession of law...until something better comes along.  Morrissette is a nice enough guy and has a good relationship with Scott Mitchell (consultant/talk show host on KOKC), but he had decided that since he has been term limited in the House, it's time to "move on up" like George and Weezie and run for statewide office.  From my knowledge, he has no oil and gas experience but the trial lawyer clan wants to defeat Dana Murphy because of the stand on the earthquake lawsuits.  They will probably throw a ton of cash his way, but it won't do any good.  Dana Murphy is one of the best Corporation Commissioners we've ever had and I was privileged to help her get that post. 

Well, there you have it, friends.  Yet another week of goofiness and as election day gets closer, it's going to only get more zany.

Until next time...those are my opinions and are for educational and humorous purposes only.  So now you can't sue me.


Gorilla

Solutions to Wad Panties

State revenue is down which means that state agencies will be feeling a pinch.  It's what happens.  The liberals are blaming Republicans for tax breaks for the state's bread-and-butter industries; oil and gas.  The Republicans are blaming "100 years of mismanagement" rather than taking responsibility for the fact that the mess we're in is an equal opportunity destroyer and that politicians of every breed are to blame.  Republicans and Democrats alike are culpable for the place we're in right now because for both parties, the only solution is to raise taxes.  

Liberals want to raise taxes on the rich.

Conservatives want to raise taxes on the poor.

The bovine fecal matter stacks up so high in the Oklahoma legislature that you need wings to rise above it and largely, it's the career politicians who are left holding the bag.  Their greed and desire for power has overruled any common sense they may have possessed at a time in the past and it will never return.

With all of that taken into consideration, I have some budgetary solutions that will work to more effectively use state tax dollars and to rein in the madness under the methane gas-filled dome.  These solutions are going to piss off some people and those are the people we should vote out of office with impunity.  They are the problem, not the solution.

1.  Reduce Legislative Pay:  Pay for all state legislators and their assistants, envoys, project managers and the like should all be cut in half.  If you don't think they are overpaid, consider these little positions for the State Senate alone:

Randy Dowell        Chief of Staff      $128,947   Been there since 1997

Jonathon Nichols    Legal Council     $120,138  Been there since 2000

Caroline Dennis      Dir. of Ops        $120,128  Been there since 1982

Trait Thompson       Capital Proj. Mgr.  $86,957.

Those are JUST a few.  You see very familiar names when you go through the list of Senate payroll recipients like; Trait Thompson, Jonathan Nichols, Sharon Veazey, Claire Mcatee, or Nancy Pellow.  You got to see this madness.  I mean it.   The State Senate and staff should take a 50% pay cut and the position should remain at that specific salary.  Period.  It's amazing how much money is being slung around to and for our elected legislators.  

Here are more for you to review.  Bring a barf bag.

Attorney General

Corporation Commission (Note the total salary number.)

Boll Weevil Eradication Organization  (Yes, it really exists.) 

Department of Corrections (Your butt will pucker.)

Department of Tourism (The salaries are completely out of control here.)

State Treasurer

Department of  Veterans Affairs

2.  County Official Pay Reduction:  Like the legislators and their staff, County elected officials should receive pay that is commensurate to the average median income of their respective counties.  Makes sense, doesn't it?  Their pay should NOT be based on how much money is in the county, but rather the average income of the citizens therein.  This alone will save millions of dollars a year and when you take into consideration the number of staff members they have, when the same formula is applied, the savings to the taxpayers within that county will be astronomical.

3.  Statewide Elected Officials:  This is really a no-brainer.  Take the average median income of the state of Oklahoma and that will be their base pay.  They would be entitled to travel pay when on state business throughout the state, but beyond that, their pay should be capped as should their staff members'.

You can see how these three suggestions/solutions would create a huge problem from some elected officials so I implore you to ask your elected officials whether or not they would support a proposal such as what I have here.  If they say no, they are NOT citizen/legislators but rather are bottom-feeding blood-suckers.

Spread the word.  People need to know.

"Gorilla"

 

Owning It

They went to a baseball game together on that warm, damp night.  It was to be yet another in a long string of "date nights" where the lovely couple could enjoy festivities as they did before they married.  The humidity hung in the air with the same heaviness as the anticipation they felt for the evening and as they found their seats, they took in the lights, the atmosphere, and the energy of the field.  

The couple was very attractive and it wasn't unusual for either of them to receive longing or flirtatious glances from the opposite sex.  They had made it a bit of a game; a game that would determine which of the two would be the designated driver for the next outing.  Unfortunately, the humidity coupled with the fact that neither of them had eaten earlier in the day made each adult beverage they consumed more intense and before long, the concept of a designated driver went by the way side.  

He drove them home and didn't react quickly enough to the deer leaping onto the highway in front of the vehicle and his reaction sent the vehicle into a ravine.  They survived the ordeal, however, neither would ever walk again and their hopes of children and a "normal" family life disappeared before their very eyes.  The guilt and anger over his mistake drove him to commit suicide a few months later and his loving wife was left all alone.

This story illustrates how one person's bad decision can become a decision with consequences that ripple throughout time and space as we know it.  The wife will be forever transformed physically as well as emotionally; forced to face her condition alone and without the love of her life.  He didn't "own" his mistake for one reason or another and the aggregate result was tragedy heaped upon tragedy.  No one made it out unscathed and as a matter of fact, it was infinitely worse than he imagined it could be.

Every day of our lives we make decisions that, while they may not be life or death, cause ripples in the cosmos and certainly impact those around us.  Speaking for myself, I've made so many mistakes that I've actually written a book about my mistakes and how not to commit them.  I own them all; they are all mine and no one else is responsible.  I've been at the bottom of the barrel and I've been at the top of the heap and none of it equals the joy of just "being" in the here and the now.

I'm not one to hide behind anything, nor have I ever been; I don't hide behind a religious facade though I am a Christian (a lousy one at that, see Romans 3), I didn't join the military service because it was something that would help me in a run for office but it was a childhood dream fulfilled, and I don't hide behind the facade of righteousness as so many involved in politics do with impunity today.  I can't.  I'm far too flawed.  Too many of us wear masks to hide who we are and present a visage of who we are not, but who we wish we could be or whom we desire TO be.

I'm an imperfect human being and I own that 100%.  

You will fail your spouse, you will fail your partner, you will fail your children, and you will even fail your pets, but failing is only the beginning of the human experience.  Once we fail, we can start over and change how we do things so as to have a positive outcome that benefits everyone.  If you're one of the cats running for office right now and you're doing it to stroke your  ego or to cover up your mistakes, you're lying to yourself and to everyone who even considers casting a vote for you.  Hit yourself in the head with a sledgehammer because you're of no use to the rest of us. 

Life is easier when we own who we are and what we've done in our past and what we're doing right now.  I know a few people who are scampering about right now waiting until filing day to see what kind of opposition they will face and they do so at their own peril.  We have to live in the here and now and own where we are and what we may or may not face in the future.  It's all dust in the wind anyway, isn't it?

Of course, this has been just my opinion and I could be wrong but I seriously doubt it.


Gorilla

Carolyn Caudill Makes DUI Laws Look Silly

In Oklahoma, if you get a DUI, you're pretty much screwed for a while.  You're going to pay a hefty fine, you're going to probably spend the night in jail, you're going to fight to keep your license (which is unlikely), and it will be on your criminal record for a very, very long time.

This is, of course, unless you are an elected County official who works in a building just across the alley from where the judge who handles your case will be hanging out.

According to a shocking story on NewsOk.com, Carolyn Caudill's attorney W. Shawn Jefferson (wonder what the "W" stands for and from his Facebook page, you can see something about the running of the bulls) filed a motion to have Caudill's records of her DUI arrest sealed, expunged, cast into the sea of forgetfulness just in time for her to run again for Oklahoma County Clerk.  This election would giver her a sixth term.  A sixth term.  That's right, a sixth term in  office.  Take a look at this little morsel from NewsOk.com and see if it doesn't

make your blood boil:

In a petition to the Oklahoma County District Court "for expungement and sealing of records," attorney W. Shawn Jefferson states she is eligible under state law to ask that the case records be removed from public view and sealed.

Jefferson wrote that the harm to Caudill's "privacy and/or the dangers of unwarranted adverse consequences … outweigh the public interest in retaining the records."

Jefferson is asking that the Oklahoma City Municipal Court and departments including the Oklahoma City police be directed to seal records related to the incident.

In the petition, he also requests an order "mandating that the subject official actions shall be deemed never to have occurred."

You need to check out her lawyer here and here. 

No, it isn't a clipping from a Lost Ogle satire, but it is real and what the attorney is asking.  Caudill could be in danger?  Danger?  The only danger would be her getting busted again and being beaten in the primary by Charlie Phillips.

Adverse consequences?  Wait...should would have to pay like every other citizen?  Heaven forbid.  The real adverse issue I am sure that she's worried about is having her rear-end handed to her in the primary by Charlie Phillips.

The people are once again being boondoggled, bamboozled, blinded, and fooled with the ultimate in trickery bred from the loins of long-term, career politicians.  Caudill should be ashamed of herself and just retire with some sense of dignity left.  If you haven't decided whom you will vote for in this GOP primary, I suggest you vote for a real Republican who understands (and can spell) transparency; Charlie Phillips.  

My support is behind Charlie Phillips and for good reasons; she is a small business owner, she has ten years of experience in the Clerk's office, and she has been nothing but candid with me.  It's refreshing to talk to someone running for office who isn't a narcissistic, egomaniac with the personality of a Barbie or Ken doll.  Charlie is the real deal for Oklahoma County Clerk.  

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be wrong, but a intensely doubt it.

Gorilla

 

Chronically Skeptic

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the Presidential campaign this year.  Which candidates stand out in your mind and why?  Next, think about the whole "Education Savings Accounts."  There are a lot of people coming out in favor from the conservative right and the conservative right does nothing without a profit motive.  Who makes the money, who stands to win, who stands to lose, and why should we give a damn.  Now, think about the last time you watched the morning news and think about the stories.  How many "bad news" stories permeated the fabric of your being this morning?  

All of these and a whole lot more contributing factors have created a generation of skeptics who are tired of the profit motives of the right, the socialism of the left, and the lack of trustworthiness of electronic media.  Talk radio, for example, is the same as it has always been on a national, syndicated level.  It's all the same and they are all puking out the same tripe day after day.  Local talk radio in this market basically consists of consultants who are probably just using the airwaves to plug their clients. 

No one should have any question as to whether or not we deserve to be skeptic.  We have earned it and frankly, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

It's no wonder that there are so many people who have become chronically skeptical.  Promises are made by politicians who desire to garner our trust and our votes, but once elected, those promises fade away like cotton candy does in the mouth.  I used to keep track of campaign promises and how they were left unfulfilled by the Governor, members of the State House and Senate, as well as the United States Senate but I gave up after realizing that the campaign rhetoric will never match the actual performance of the same.  

Look around you, friends.  Wake up and smell the bullsh*t that has surrounded us for far too long.  It's there, it stinks, and it is staining our shoes.  

How do we rid ourselves of this mess?  First, we become skeptical of things around us that are of human origin.  Matters of politics, economics, campaigns, consultants, and property are all external and guided and ruled by man therefore, they are destined to fail at some point.  The whole natural gas and oil bust has been kind of an example of how unpredictable the world around us can be but conversely, matters of faith and conscience are found in the spiritual realm and there is where we cannot afford to be too skeptical.  

Sure, we are to "study to show ourselves approved," which means that there will always be a sense of skepticism, but feelings themselves are deceptive and we should be skeptical of emotional responses to eternal truths.

I hope that makes sense.

Of course, these are just my opinions and I could be wrong, but I am skeptical that I am.

Gorilla

Sometimes, It Must Be Done

If you're a parent, how far will you go to protect your children?  Would you purchase a firearm?  Would you invest in a security system for your home?  Would you enroll your children in self-defense classes?  How far would you go to ensure they are protected as much as humanly possible?

Now, think about the kids in your neighborhood.  Would you be willing to do as much for those kids?  Heaven would hope so.

I read a story about a group calling themselves the "Punisher Squad" in the state of Washington who had set up an Internet sting of their own and lured a potential child predator right into their hands.  They masqueraded as a 13 year-old girl and had a drawn out and intensely explicit dialog with one predator jackass and when he agreed to meet what he thought was a 13 year-old, he got something else altogether.

Stop right there for a moment.  What do you think happened to the potential child predator?  What would you do were you in that situation; would you turn him over to law enforcement or would you handle it yourself.  Here's an excerpt from the story:

A local vigilante group in Kelso, WA, calling themselves the “Punisher Squad,” forced a man, who they accuse of being a child predator, to call 911 on himself. The confrontation was caught on video via a cellphone.

The suspect, 36-year-old Adam Olson, now faces charges of attempted child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes in Cowlitz County. 

Yes, they made the dude call 911 on himself and the predator is going to be facing some pretty rough prison time; as well he should.  They shot video of the whole apprehension of the criminal and the Prosecuting Attorney had this to say:

Prosecuting attorney for Cowlitz County, Ryan Jurvakainen, told KATU there’s no indication the video is false but said he’s still reviewing police reports. He is set to make a charging decision Tuesday and Olson is due to be arraigned in court on March 15.

Jurvakainen wouldn’t say anything more about the case.

Police elsewhere have encouraged people not to engage in similar vigilante activities, saying they can be dangerous and that the cases are often tough to prosecute.

The raw cellphone video, posted to YouTube by Hart, contains graphic language and has removed from YouTube because it violates “YouTube’s policy on harassment and bullying”.

The idiocy of YouTube deleting the video is about as asinine as one can get, but the point here is that the police have encouraged people NOT to engage in these "vigilante activities" because they can be "dangerous and tough to prosecute."  I don't know about you, but it is my opinion that we don't have enough convictions as it is even when "vigilante citizens" aren't involved.  One child molested or preyed upon via the Internet (or anywhere else) is one too many. 

Defense attorneys are paid to work hard to ensure that their clients receive the best legal representation possible and even when their client is guilty, they have to help them.  In my opinion, the lawyers are part of the problem with the prosecution and effectiveness for jail time as a deterrent.  While I would never, ever condone vigilante violence, I would certainly understand it in cases such as this.

Maybe Oklahoma needs a "Punisher Squad" or two.

Sometimes, it must be done.  It is highly doubtful that a jury would convict in the state of Oklahoma; and that may be a good thing.

Of course, that's just my opinion and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.  

"Gorilla"

 

Make It Stop. Please.

Most everyone loves puppies.  They are cute and cuddly, and watching them grow borders on the miraculous; heck, we tolerate with great patience their "accidents" on the floor when they are little.  But there does come a time when they reach an age when they just know better.  If they have an accident as an adult dog, it is often a sign that something is terribly wrong.

The three amigos who want to be the Republican nominees for President have been pooping all over the process and We The People should recognize that something is terribly wrong.  There should have been a few indicators early on that caught our attention, but apparently we were too busy watching Netflix (at least I was) to notice.  Let's take a look at some of the warning signs that we should have noticed, and now should notice.

If a Presidential candidate has a reputation of being despised by his own party in the Senate, there's a good chance that something is terribly wrong.

If a Presidential candidate repeats himself like broken robot, there's a good chance that something is terribly wrong.

If a Presidential candidate sends out false information about an opponent "suspending his campaign," there is a good chance that something is terribly wrong.

If a Presidential candidate makes reference to his John Thomas during a debate, there is a very good chance that something is terribly wrong.

These candidates are pooping all over the place and we should know better.  Hell, they should know better but the way the process works is that you spew back to the electorate whatever tripe came out in polling.  In other words, they tell their gang what they want to hear and they don't care if the American people have to scoop the poop. 

When did We The People kiss farewell to our minds?  How in the hell did these three comedians become the Republican front runners?  I mean, really.  Is this the best we could do?  Why are so many people ga-ga over a a guy whose campaign has been anecdotal and at best, one-liners?  Trump is so NOT a legitimate candidate but here he is stirring up shite in the GOP because perhaps he really wants Hillary to win the election?  Maybe?

Trump in the race reminds me of Gary Richardson getting in the gubernatorial race because he didn't like Steve Largent which, by default, handed Brad Henry the governor's race.  

Stop for a moment and think about which of the candidates you would prefer to sit in a meeting with Vladimir Putin.  Surely, not Trump.  Ted Cruz would just want to argue with him.  Marco Rubio would be sitting in a puddle of his own pee!  Maybe it's just me but I long for the days when we had candidates on both sides of the aisle who could debate and carry on a conversation without hair-pulling and rock-throwing.  

We are so screwed.

Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be completely off-base and totally wrong; but I seriously doubt it.

Gorilla