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Waiting for the Shock and Awe

My co-worker who sits across from my cubicle condo here in The Oklahoman newsroom claims that I drank the Kool-Aid that Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs has been pouring for the last decade.  He calls me an Apple “fanboy” and worse.

Well, I admit that I’ve viewed the products that Apple has introduced in recent years with a certain childlike sense of wonder.

So, it’s with great anticipation that I await Jobs’ keynote address this week at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco.  I will search out the live bloggers tomorrow and follow the speech as closely as I can without actually sitting in the Moscone Center.  

Later, I’ll watch the two-hour Webcast of the event at my leisure, and even invite the infidel sitting across from me to watch it with me. 

Anyway, the world awaits the latest high-tech gadget that Apple will introduce this week. 

Rumor-mongers are speculating that Jobs will introduce a flash-based MacBook.  Or a product line that uses WiMax for long-range wireless reception.  The iPhone is expected to be upgraded to 3G technology and at least 16 gigabytes of memory. And Apple TV should become even more DVR like.  

But what will the “one more thing” announcement be that takes everyone’s breath away? 

I’m betting that it will be word that The Beatles are finally on iTunes. We’ve been waiting for what’s left of the Fab Four to finally give in and let Apple sell digital versions of their music. And Jobs will bring down the house when he brings Paul McCartney onto the stage to seal the deal.

Wish I could be there.

Jim Stafford

Business News Reporter

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The weekly news quiz

It’s time to see how much attention you’ve been paying to the news in the past week or so. From The Oklahoman’s news copy editors and designers, here’s a quiz.

1. Oklahoma State basketball players say they are working hard to win their fans back after a season-low attendance against Texas-San Antonio. How many attended that game?
a) 2,227.
b) 4,263.
c) 5,124.

2. Medicine Park resident Muriel Fahrion created what popular character in 1977?
a) Luke Skywalker.
b) Count Chocula.
c) Strawberry Shortcake,

3. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has signed an agreement to open what restaurant in at least 200 stores nationwide over the next five to 10 years?
a) Burger King.
b) Wienerschnitzel.
c) Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe.

4. The BCS must determine in the next year if it will switch to plus-one format for the 2010 college football season. How could the change affect championship games?
a) It would create a four-team major college football playoff.
b) It would eliminate the Rose Bowl.
c) It would add a game to the Bowl Championship Series.

5. A task force said Oklahoma universities lack enough what to prevent violence on campus?
a) Campus police.
b) Mental health counselors.
c) Alarm systems.

6. Oklahoma City resident Beatrice Williamson’s 13-year-old sister was found after being missing for a week during civil unrest in what African nation?
a) Senegal.
b) Zaire.
c) Kenya.

7. The NBA Hornets have reached a deal with Louisiana to remain in New Orleans until when?
a) 2012.
b) 2014.
c) 2016.

8. Education Week magazine’s Quality Counts report gave what overall grade to Oklahoma, which was the same as the national score?
a) A
b) C
c) F

9. Two teachers from Tulsa’s Carver Middle School became naturalized American citizens. How was one of the teachers able to incorporate her citizenship journey into the lesson plan?
a) She is a social studies teacher, and the class was studying the Constitution.
b) She is a physical education teacher, and the class used her books on naturalization to lift weights.
c) She is an English teacher, and the class was studying political novels.

10. 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry endorsed which 2008 candidate?
a) Barack Obama.
b) Hillary Clinton.
c) John McCain.

11. An Indian company has unveiled its Tata Nano. What is that product?
a) It is a low-priced computer for Third-World consumers.
b) It is a combination cell phone, DVD player, flashlight and GPS device.
c) It is a $2,500 four-door subcompact car.

12. In response to an independent performance audit that called Oklahoma’s prison system one of the most dilapidated, violent and underfunded correctional systems in the country, what did the Corrections Department’s governing board do?
a) The board asked the auditors to find a nicer way to state the conclusion.
b) The board gave Corrections Department employees a standing ovation for being able to do so much with less money.
c) The board went to Walt Disney World.

13. The Wyandotte tribe has opened a casino beyond the borders of its home state of Oklahoma. In what state did the tribe build a casino?
a) Arkansas.
b) Kansas.
c) New Mexico.

14. What Big 12 basketball coach is one win away from 900 games in a career?
a) Bob Knight of Texas Tech.
b) Sherri Coale of Oklahoma.
c) Bill Self of Kansas.

15. What did Oklahoma City School Board Chairman Cliff Hudson offer to do if embattled Superintendent John Porter resigned?
a) Take a pay cut from $25 a meeting to $15 a meeting.
b) Resign along with Porter.
c) Be the interim superintendent until Porter’s situation is resolved.

How did you do on the quiz? Here are the correct answers:
1-B; 2-C; 3-C; 4-A; 5-B; 6-C; 7-B; 8-B; 9-A; 10-A; 11-C; 12-B; 13-B; 14-A; 15-B.

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Week in review

Sometimes it’s easy to miss an event, so here’s a look back at the past week or so to help bring you up to date.

Oklahomans will be given an opportunity to vote for designs on the state’s first new general-issue license plate in 15 years. Preliminary designs include the Capitol dome’s “The Guardian” statue, Will Rogers and Buffalo Bill.

Howling winds, pelting rain and heavy snow pummeled California, toppling trees, flipping big rigs, cutting power to more than a million people and forcing evacuations in mudslide-prone areas.

Although Oklahoma City is waiving the fee charged for burn permits — as much as $85 — until March 2, those seeking to get rid of ice storm debris by fire will still have to obtain a burn permit from the fire department and follow all of the other safety rules involved.

Advancements in technology have made it possible for police to issue traffic tickets with a handheld computer, import data from a driver’s license, take photos of the driver and car, file the ticket with the local court system and get officers back on the street in record time. Tulsa will launch its system in June, with Oklahoma City following in the fall.

A New Jersey company, Community Education Centers Inc., is considering locating a 500-bed private prison in Lindsay, if a large enough parcel of land can be located and purchased.

The second annual Staples National Small-Business Survey indicates 51 percent of small-business professionals say their work life has become a part of their dreams, and nearly 70 percent of them have put their “work dreams” into action after awakening.

The state kicked off a $1.5 million anti-tobacco advertising campaign, “Tobacco stops with me,” as the beginning of a three-year effort to reduce the use of tobacco in Oklahoma.

A reward of $10,000 has been offered by Rice University in Houston for information leading to the discovery of Matthew Wilson of Haworth, who was reported missing Dec. 14.

New trends popping up to keep the excitement in maintaining fitness include such things as sword-fighting, a blend of yoga and cycling, and training in how to walk around in four-inch stiletto heels.

The Oklahoma City School District suspended Superintendent John Porter. An investigative report by former U.S. Attorney Robert McCampbell contained 21 allegations, including 16 pertaining to misuse of taxpayer funds and five for personal misconduct. Oklahoma City School Board Chairman Cliff Hudson offered to resign if suspended district Superintendent John Porter would do the same. Hudson said his offer was for the good of the city school system. Porter said, “I’m not resigning.” Porter asked his backers to call their elected officials to show their support for him.

A Shawnee woman undergoing treatment for second- and third-degree burns over 30 percent of her body died at Integris Baptist Medical Center. Max Knowlton, 35, also of Shawnee, is accused of setting his mother, Kathryn Knowlton, 56, on fire. He was being held in the Pottawatomie County jail.

Members of a bipartisan panel met on the University of Oklahoma campus and told presidential candidates that America is on the brink of decline and they must end political bickering and unify to solve the nation’s problems. More than 1,000 people attended the event, which lasted about an hour and was organized by OU President David Boren and former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn.

Gov. Brad Henry led an Oklahoma delegation at the U.S. Mint in Denver, where the first Oklahoma-theme quarters were struck. Between 300 million and 500 million coins will be made, with circulation beginning Jan. 28.

About 3.1 million people ages 12 to 25 have used cough and cold medicine to get high — a number comparable, the government reported, to use of LSD and greater than that of methamphetamines among the same age group.

Nine American soldiers were killed in the first two days of Operation Phantom Phoenix, a new offensive to root out insurgents holed up in districts north of Baghdad, the U.S. military reported. The toll marked some of the deadliest days for U.S. forces in Iraq since last fall.

American planes also carried out one of the most intense air strikes of the Iraq war when they dropped 40,000 pounds of explosives on suspected al-Qaida havens south of Baghdad.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton powered to victory in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary, defeating Sen. Barack Obama and resurrecting her bid for the White House. Sen. John McCain defeated his Republican rivals to move back into contention for the GOP nomination.

Officials canceled the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards presentation, a casualty of the ongoing entertainment writers’ strike.

Love County voters approved a measure allowing the sale of liquor by the drink, leaving only Garvin County the only county on Interstate 35 that doesn’t sell alcohol at licensed restaurants’ bars.

The state Transportation Department reported that December’s icy weather did not delay work on the $34 million interchange reconstruction project at N 36 and Interstate 235. The work is ahead of schedule and is still expected to be finished between this coming fall and winter.

University of Oklahoma College of Public Health dean Gary Raskob said dieters can benefit greatly by losing just 5 percent of their weight, and recommends setting realistic goals for the new year.

Kanye West’s mother, a former resident of Oklahoma City, most likely died of heart disease coupled with complications after surgery, but the exact cause of death can’t be known, officials said.

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Slow drivers, please keep right

Oklahoma’s state troopers are human. They are just as annoyed with people driving slow in the left lane as the rest of us. Difference is, they can write tickets to drivers who are meandering and taking in the scenery in the left lane.

Earlier this week, a television newscrew did a ride-along with a state trooper in the Tulsa area. As they were driving down the highway, lamenting about drivers who roll along in the left lane, the trooper decided to flex some muscle. Instead of passing them on the right, the trooper started pulling people over, reminding them — that yes there is a law on the books that says you can get a ticket for driving too slow, said OHP spokeswoman Betsy Randolph. 

And guess what, the cameras were rolling. Now the video is hitting larger audiences. CNN picked it up and the OHP office has been receiving calls from people inquiring about the law.

“It’s not like we’re having a national campaign or something,” Randolph said. “It’s been on the books for years. The left lane in the passing lane, that’s the law.”

Motorists can get tickets if they don’t move out of the left lane if an emergency vehicle is driving behind them with lights flashing, Randolph said.  People who don’t get over can either be ticketed for improper lane usage or failure to yield.

The safe bet, Randolph says, is to stay out of the way.

“People just need to check their mirrors from time to time,” she said. “If there is an emergency vehicle, in either lane with lights flashing, let them pass.”

And if driving the speed limit is out of the question, stick to the right lane.

“We all know how high gas is,” she said. “If you want to drive slower to conserve gas, then use the right lane.”

To see the video go to: http://cfc.ktul.com/videoondemand.cfm?id=6879&ref=home 

Julie Bisbee

state reporter and an occasional tailgater 

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The Word is Spoken Here

Roy Georgia clicked  on the RSS feed of a blog post from Newsok.com earlier this week and said, “let’s pimp this thing.”

A few mouse clicks and minutes later, a link popped up on the screen.

When Georgia clicked it the computer started talking. In a sort of stilted, but understandable computer-guy voice, the machine spoke the entire blog post.

Welcome to PimpMyNews.com, a new Internet-based business started by Georgia, and a Cincinnati-based partner.

Georgia also is chief executive officer and founder of Oklahoma City-based Medibis.

“PimpMyNews is a social news ‘mashup’ that integrates RSS feeds for blogs and news sites,” Georgia said.

PimpMyNews takes any news feed or blog feed and turns it into an mp3 file that can be played on the computer or loaded into an iPod and heard at the leisure of the listener.  It automatically compiles feeds that users designate and updates them on the subscriber’s page.

PimpMyNews was the “Cool Site of the Day” featured site on Monday of this week and has seen traffic more than triple in three short weeks that it has been in existence,
Georgia said.

The site is free to users, although a subscription option will add more content options in the future.

In fact, Georgia said PimpMyNews is such a good fit for iPhone users that he and business partner John Atkinson are showcasing the concept next week at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco.

Jim Stafford
Business News Writer

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TV talk

What’s on TV?

Pretty much the same programming one would expect at this time of year. A few new fall shows are gone (“Cavemen,” “Viva Laughlin”). A few old favorites are coming back to fill the gaps (“According to Jim,” “Law & Order”).

TV viewers won’t see the full affect of the striking Writers Guild of America for a few months yet. Networks have mid-season replacements ready to roll when the current shows run out of original episodes.

Among those to look forward to are “Eli Stone,” a legal drama that begins Jan. 31 on ABC; “Lipstick Jungle,” a new dramedy starring Brooke Shields that premieres Feb. 7 on NBC; and “New Amsterdam,” a drama about an immortal New York detective that debuts on Fox Feb. 22.

But May sweeps may look a little different unless the strike is resolved soon. By then, new pickings will be slim. Except in the genres of game shows and reality television.

–Penny Soldan, TV Editor

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A clean e-mail box is a sign of …

On your list of things to accomplish this month, productivity “expert” Marsha Egan wants you to add one more: clean out your e-mail box.  

Eagan, chief executive officer of The Egan Group Inc, has declared Jan. 28-Feb. 1 as “Clean Out Your Inbox Week.  She suggest that the average e-mail interruption costs each American worker four minutes of lost time.

If a worker receives an average of 15 e-mail interruptions per day, that’s one hour of time lost to e-mail interruptions.

If that worker is part of a 20-person department, that’s 20 hours of work time lost per day. And if the employees average $20 per  hour, that’s a loss of worker productivity that amounts to $400 per day or $2,000 per week.

This e-mail is a call to action for me. I’m cleaning out my e-mail box immediately, starting with any e-mail that arrives from my editor. 

If I’m going to lose an hour a day of productivity it’s going to be lost to idly surfing the Internet and NOT answering e-mails that only pile on more work.

So, thank you Marsha Egan, productivity “expert.”  Now whenever anything flies unexpectedly into my e-mail box I’m slamming the “delete” key immediately.

Jim Stafford
Business News Writer

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Remembering Zach Taylor

If and when we think about it, some of us are prone to wonder how our obituary would look. Will there be anything besides the list of accomplishments and our survivors? Ten years from now, will anyone remember that we once walked this earth?
Zach Taylor, executive director of the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, died suddenly Friday morning. I grieve for his beloved wife and daughters and his friends, including myself. But I realized today that Zach was one of those rare individuals who “got life right.” He had a code that he lived by and if you were his friend, you knew that code by heart.
Here’s Zach’s code, as I have deciphered it after nearly three decades of friendship.
1. Family and friends come first.
2. You have an obligation to improve the quality of life in your city and state.
3. If you have a vision you believe in, you will be able to find others to make the vision a reality.
4. Never ask a friend to go it alone.
5. Everyone has the potential to be a leader.
Because of this code, Zach helped initiate the first Central Oklahoma planning process to address quality of life issues in Oklahoma City, was instrumental in bringing 911 to this area, worked tirelessly for Leadership Oklahoma City and helped launch Central Oklahoma Turning Point, a grass roots health initiative, and that’s just a few of his projects. And, yes, he dragged me and many others along with him. Like most of his friends, I couldn’t turn him down. And, whenever, we had a vision we thought could make a difference for our community, he jumped in to help. He called it “reciprocity.” But instead of the usual meaning, if you do this for me, I will do this for you, for Zach it meant let’s do this together.
I like to imagine him now, sitting down with St. Peter and talking about Heaven’s infrastructure, clean air issues and the launching of a leadership program. Of course, he will have offered to help.
So the answer as to whether in ten years anyone will remember him is unequivocally yes, because his was “a life well-lived.”

– Sue Hale

Vice President, Community Engagement

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The weekly news quiz

It’s time to see how much attention you’ve been paying to the news in the past week or so. From The Oklahoman’s news copy editors and designers, here’s a quiz.

1. What caused a scare for swimmers in Praia Grande, Brazil, a southeastern beach city?
a) Sharks.
b) Jellyfish.
c) Raw sewage.

2. Which reality TV show is hosting auditions Feb. 9 in Tulsa?
a) “America’s Next Top Model.”
b) “Survivor.”
c) “Supernanny.”

3. Three people died in a helicopter crash Dec. 30 in Tuscumbia, Ala., during their search for what?
a) A lost dog.
b) A safe place to land.
c) A missing hunter.

4. Why did University of Oklahoma basketball coach Sherri Coale decide to leave star player Courtney Paris in the Dec. 30 game despite having a 29-point lead?
a) There were only five players left who hadn’t fouled out.
b) Coale wanted Paris to extend her streak of double-doubles to 72.
c) Paris’ backup has a torn ACL.

5. A bipartisan group of nationally prominent political figures will gather today in Norman for what purpose?
a) Discussing global warming with Al Gore.
b) Discussing America’s problems and the presidential contenders.
c) Dedicating a statue of OU President David Boren.

6. Sara Jane Moore was released from prison last week at age 77 after serving her sentence for an attempted assassination in 1975. Who was her target?
a) President Ford.
b) President Carter.
c) President Nixon.

7. Instead of the decorated buttons used in previous years, Opening Night ’08 partiers wore what item for admission to the event?
a) Hats.
b) Wristbands.
c) Face paint.

8. The Oklahoma State University Cowboys defeated Indiana University, 49-33, in what bowl?
a) Cotton.
b) Orange.
c) Insight.

9. Which of the following was not on the U.S. Labor Department’s list of the 30 fastest-growing jobs for the next decade?
a) Veterinarian.
b) Attorney.
c) Dental assistant.

10. Which Democratic and Republican presidential candidate, respectively, won the Iowa caucuses?
a) Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rudy Giuliani.
b) Hillary Rodham Clinton and Mike Huckabee.
c) Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee.

11. What University of Oklahoma receiver missed much of the Fiesta Bowl with an injury and now appears headed to the NFL?
a) DeMarcus Granger.
b) Malcolm Kelly.
c) Juaquin Iglesias.

12. More than 70,000 people attended an NHL game in Buffalo, N.Y. What was special about the game?
a) Tickets were free.
b) The game was held outdoors.
c) There were no penalties for fighting.

13. How has the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto affected Pakistan’s elections?
a) Elections will be delayed at least a month.
b) No change is planned.
c) Elections will not be held until 2009.

14. What home-grown musical act rang in the new year at the Cox Convention Center?
a) Garth Brooks.
b) Toby Keith.
c) The Flaming Lips.

15. A New Jersey lawmaker has proposed a measure that would have his state apologize for what in U.S. history?
a) The Trail of Tears.
b) “The Sopranos.”
c) Slavery.

16. What unusual creature was found recently in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge?
a) Jellyfish.
b) Jackalope.
c) Sasquatch.

17. When will Oklahoma City voters go to the polls to consider a 1-cent sales tax?
a) Feb. 5.
b) March 4.
c) July 8.

18. The Ninety-Nines Inc., formed in 1929 to promote women in aviation, operates two museums. Which of the following is not one of them?
a) Museum of Women Pilots in Oklahoma City.
b) Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kan.
c) Texas Women of the Air Museum in Austin, Texas.

19. Who is The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year?
a) Kendall Hunter.
b) Adrian Peterson.
c) Allen Patrick.

20. A state official says he wants to get rid of the Santa Claus Commission. What is that?
a) A study on whether Santa is real.
b) An effort to give Christmas gifts to juveniles in state custody.
c) A panel that decides how much state workers get for holiday bonuses.

How did you do on the quiz? Here are the correct answers:
1-B; 2-C; 3-C; 4-B; 5-B; 6-A; 7-B; 8-C; 9-B; 10-C; 11-B; 12-B; 13-A; 14-C; 15-C; 16-A; 17-B; 18-C; 19-B; 20-B.

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Week in review

Sometimes it’s easy to miss an event, so here’s a look back at the past week or so to help bring you up to date.

The Tulsa School District filed suit seeking to have the statute that permits charter schools declared unconstitutional.

The former director of the National Museum of the American Indian spent more than $250,000 in Smithsonian funds on first-class transportation and luxury hotels over four years, according to records obtained by the Washington Post. In four years, W. Richard West Jr., a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma who grew up in Muskogee, was away from Washington for 576 days on trips that included speaking engagements, fundraising and work for other nonprofit groups.

Former Marble City School Superintendent Larry Couch, who is facing an embezzlement charge, is appealing the state Board of Education’s order to revoke his teaching certificate.

Portions of the downtown Enid business district were recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.

A malfunctioning oil well closed roads and forced residents from their homes in southeast Oklahoma City.

The New England Patriots ended the regular football season with a perfect 16-0 record after a comeback win against the New York Giants.

Marvin Tyler, a 71-year-old Oklahoma City man, earned a bachelor’s degree in Christian education from Oklahoma Baptist University.

President Bush signed legislation that extends a popular children’s health insurance program after twice beating back attempts to expand it.

Hundreds of Christians in Bhubaneshwar, India, fearing more clashes with Hindu nationalists, fled to government-run relief camps where authorities were providing them with food, medicine and security.

Eric Bell, 21, died during surgery at St. John Medical Center after being shot in the chest at a Tulsa nightclub.

Oklahoma State University’s Cowboys beat the Indiana Hoosiers, 49-33, in the Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The Cowboys were led by sophomore Zac Robinson, who threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns. The Cowboys finished the season with a 7-6 record.

University of Oklahoma starting defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger was arrested after being accused of shoplifting at a mall in Glendale, Ariz. Granger, a sophomore, admitted attempting to steal a jacket and, after being bailed out of jail by a teammate, was sent home by coach Bob Stoops before the Sooners’ 48-28 trouncing by West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. OU finished 11-3.

As many as 60,000 revelers were expected to ring in the new year during Opening Night 2008 in downtown Oklahoma City.

About 50 entertainers played music at 14 venues across downtown and Bricktown, and a special concert was held for the first time in the event’s 21-year history as local Grammy Award-winning band The Flaming Lips performed before about 8,000 at the Cox Convention Center Arena.

Oklahoma’s congressional delegation secured several million dollars of “earmarks” in the federal spending bill, including money for roads, schools, agricultural research, hospitals, Tar Creek residents and more.

Gene Christian, Office of Juvenile Affairs director, wants to do away with the Santa Claus Commission that gives presents to every ward of the state, including criminals over 18 years old. He said the money would be better spent on scholarships.

Bricktown Urban Design Committee is planning a $36 million mixed-use development complex near the canal called the “Cotton Exchange,” which will include what would be the tallest structure in Bricktown.

Families said farewell to about 2,600 members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade bound for a year in Iraq. Many Oklahomans donated buses or money to bring the troops home for the holidays from Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

Haddie Payne, 109, the oldest living Oklahoman, died on New Year’s Day at a Wynnewood nursing home. She was born in 1898 in Indian Territory near Pauls Valley.

Iowans went to their party caucuses, and afterward the winners were former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee for the Republicans and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois for the Democrats. Because of a poor showing, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., ended his campaign for the Democratic nomination.

The state’s two largest cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, saw an increase in homicide rates in 2007. A five-year high was reached in Oklahoma City with 66 homicides. Tulsa experienced a four-year peak with 64 homicides. That city had 56 in 2006.

Wheat prices in Oklahoma were quoted in a range of $8.85 to $9.11 per bushel. However, an Oklahoma State University market economist said the price is misleading because “there is not any wheat to sell.”

The University of Kansas Jayhawks won the Orange Bowl by beating Virginia Tech 24-21 in Miami, Fla. The Jayhawks won its first Bowl Championship Series game to set a team record for victories.

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