Saturday, March 29, 2003

P.F. Chang

This new Chinese bistro at Tulsa's Utica Square has the best chicken lettuce wraps. Try it.
Who is Running Tulsa?

A source tells us that Tulsa's Mayor LaFortune had been in discussions with Kathryn Taylor to play a significant role in his administration. Another source says this role was to possibly take over economic development for the City. The deal was nixed however by US Senator Jim Inhofe who complained to LaFortune that Mrs. Taylor had supported David Walters in his bid for Inhofe's seat last year. LaFortune is said to have buckled under Inhofe's pressure and called the deal off. Within weeks, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry had appointed Kathryn Taylor to be his Secretary of Commerce and Tourism. Now LaFortune has to work with the lady he dumped because Uncle Inhofe told him to, In fact, Mrs. Taylor could have a lot of say in economic assistance to Tulsa. Those who know her say she is too professional to seek revenge. The mayor should have been so professional.
War Thoughts

The war protesters aren't standing at the mid-town intersection with signs beckoning war opponents to honk their horns anymore. People remain glued to their TVs, flipping between CNN, MSNBC, Fox and the other news channels with their "embedded" reporters and retired generals-turned-consultants. Even in Oklahoma, where Bush remains popular, co-workers are reluctant to talk about the war except superficially. There's enough people here that are opposed to the war, or the way we arrived at it, there's a chance a conversation could escalate into an argument. Oklahomans don't like arguing. So we avoid deep discussions about it.

Most Oklahomans, even those who, like myself, had serious doubts about the war, think we must now prosecute it successfully and as humanely as possible. We need to get the dictator of Baghdad and his ruthless thugs off this planet. We need to support our troops wholeheartedly. If our leaders have chosen wisely and told us the truth then there will be a time to acknowledge that. If they have lied to us, we will punish them later.


Friday, March 28, 2003

Believer's Business Directory

In the mail today I received an unsolicited copy of the Greater Dallas "Believer's Business Directory". Believe in what?, I thought to myself. On the cover was the familiar Yellow Pages walking fingers logo and below it in small letters were the words "A Guide to Christian Professionals, Businesses and Ministries". "Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." - Galations 6:10"

The publisher, Todd Tomasella, encourages Christians to buy from Christians. The phone directory includes ads for everything from accountants to travel agencies. I suppose encouraging religious groups to buy from others of the same faith is OK but I worry that we are becoming too divided along religious lines. If we start voting only for those who go to our church or mosque and buying only from those who worship the same way we do this does not bode well for the future. There's enough divisiveness in the world.

Thursday, March 27, 2003

Operation "Piss Off the Planet" Rolling On