Fighting the Spammers
It’s really gotten out of hand, and the spammers as of the last couple days had managed to get through the filter several times.
Enough is enough.
So our blog guru, Nick Tankersley, has done some more upgrades that did not crash the site. But it does add an additional sign-in procedure that simply asks you to type in a code next to the comment box to ensure you’re not a “bot.” I’ve already done it once and it’s pretty simple, so if I can do it, you can do it too.
As an aside, Nick also sent out a message to all the NewsOK bloggers informing us that some were posting photos without compressing them – making them far too big to download. I explained that I quit being an offender in the matter early on after getting some polite instruction from Charles Hill at Dustbury.
Nick’s response:
Charles Hill at Dustbury, if ever there were an AngloSaxon name that is it.
Ed Kelley on the Flaming Lips
Deep Deuce History
After reading today’s story about Sage (with excellent photos by Bryan Terry), you might be interested in learning more about Deep Deuce. Doug Loudenback has an incredible web site, and he has what I agree is the definitive online history of the area.
The Flaming Lips, Scott Booker, Guy Liebmann, Mike Shelton and Jeff Hickman: I Know You.
The "School of Rock" is underway.
I wasn’t even thinking about the legislature’s vote today on making the Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize” the state rock song when I took this photo. I, like many people, assumed the legislature would simply follow the will of the people who voted for this honor.
Yeah, I should have known better. Back when I covered politics, the big topic of the day was the creation of home rule in county government. Bryan Dean and I had exposed numerous examples of fraud, corruption, nepotism, cronyism and waste in just Oklahoma County alone. Similar situations were poping up across the state. Home rule would have simply allowed voters to overhaul county government and make it more professional, ala city manager form of municipal government.
Legislators held hearings, county officials wore buttons saying “county government works” and before you know it, the issue was buried never to be heard from again.
Here’s the big secret, friends – you can’t trust Republicans or Democrats. Corruption, abuse of power and ignorance knows no bounds.
So, we have the deal with UCO’s Contemporary Academy of Music, aligned with London’s program, moving forward with construction underway for the classrooms on the top floor of Bricktown’s Oklahoma Hardware Building.
It’s a big deal for Bricktown and downtown in terms of potential economic development and the city’s national and international image.
And who’s in the heart of the deal? Scott Booker, manager of the Flaming Lips. It was on an icy evening at LIT a couple years Scott first told me of his dream for this project. He loves Oklahoma City. That same evening I visited with Wayne Coyne and learned first hand he too loves Oklahoma City.
Do they agree with everybody’s politics? No. Do they expect everyone to agree with their politics? No.
I’m not a music historian. But I wonder if Memphis or Tennessee was as rude to Elvis Presley after he became an international star and he was using his celebrity to benefit his hometown? I wonder if Liverpool disowned The Beatles. I wonder if New Jersey disowned Bruce Springsteen. I know, I know very, very well that Oyster Bay, Long Island never disowned Billy Joel.
What do all these musicians have in common? They’re iconic, they have international followings and they all love their hometowns, warts and all, and they’ve all tried to use their celebrity to bring economic development back to their communities.
Guy Liebmann, what say you? Would you have really fought construction of a Flaming Lips theme restaurant and museum in Ward 8 as its councilman? Jeff Hickman, would you have told David Boren not to allow the Flaming Lips to perform at OU or teach a course with their friends? Mike Shelton, did your stint with Jim Roth teach you to not show up for contested votes?(NOTE: I never saw Roth miss any votes when I covered him)
Yeah, I”m picking on you guys. Because I know you. Maybe I’ll share what I know with readers.
In the meantime, please don’t let anyone try to honor Kristen, Vince or Toby. Stick to honoring flowers and birds.
George Lang has Latest on the Lips
Go to George’s Static Blog.
Gist of the news is this (I still urge you to read George’s blog; he does a great job covering the local music scene):
Gov. Brad Henry will sign an executive order Tuesday, April 28, naming the Flaming Lips song, “Do You Realize??,” as the official rock song of Oklahoma.
In a statewide Internet vote held late last year, that song was the choice of 51 percent of more than 21,000 votes cast. Senate Joint Resolution 24 sought to codify that vote, but was narrowly defeated.
“For more than 20 years ago, Oklahoma’s own Flaming Lips have produced creative, fun and provocative rock music,” Gov. Henry said.
“The music of the Flaming Lips has earned Grammys, glowing critical acclaim and fans all over the world. A truly iconic rock ‘n’ roll band, they are proud ambassadors of their home state.
“They were clearly the people’s choice, and I intend to honor that vote.”
The signing of the executive order will held at 2 p.m. April 28 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
Avoiding the Vote?
Before he was a state representative, Mike Shelton worked as an aide to former Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth. Where was he this afternoon? Anyone who can answer this, please let us know.
Or is it getting to say “yes” and “no” at the same time to make all of your constituents happy?
“ABSENT” FROM THE LIPS VOTE:
EXCUSED: 14
Banz Fields Ritze Terrill
Billy Hoskin Sears Thompson
Blackwell Nations Shelton
Cox Proctor Sullivan
On a totally unrelated note… or is it….?
How To Shoot Foot (or lips)
Guy Liebmann and Scott Martin - "no" to the Flaming Lips
Load gun. Aim it at food. Pull trigger. Or do this.
The Flaming Lips have been a a big supporter of downtown and the innercity. They embraced this town long before it embraced them. I’m confused why even their most ardent supporters would put up a resolution in their honor them if it’s going to fail?
Interesting post here by the Tulsa World.
By the way, our capitol reporter Michael McNutt reports the following folks (including former OKC Councilman Guy Liebmann and former David Boren spokesman Jeff Hickman) from the metro voted “no” to the resolution:
Armes(R); Coody(R); Cooksey(R); Dank(R); DeWitt(R); Denney(R); Derby(R); Duncan(R); Enns(R); Faught(R); Hickman(R); Holland(R); Johnson, Dennis(R); Jordan(R); Joyner(R); Kern(R); Key(R); Liebmann(R); Martin, Scott(R); Martin, Steve(R); McCullough(R); McNiel(R); Miller(R); Moore(R); Murphey(R); Nelson(R); Ortega(R); Osborn(R); Ownbey(R); Peters(R); Peterson(R); Reynolds, Mike(R); Richardson(R); Schwartz(R); Shannon(R); Tibbs(R); Watson(R); Wesselhoft(R); Wright, John(R)
Jeff Speck and City Staff
OK, I’ve seen and heard enough now to know that there is a big, and I mean BIG, disconnect between what I’m sensing the downtown community’s reaction is to consultant Jeff Speck’s recommendations and the response by city staff. To be blunt, city staff is not very happy with what he’s saying. They correctly point out he got it wrong when he suggested Oklahoma City needs to eliminate parking requirements downtown (did that, been there long ago) and change zoning to encourage mixed-use development (ditto).
But did they mess up by spending millions rebuilding Walker Avenue and doing a nice streetscape on it last year and then keeping part of it a one-way street? Are they wrong in their approach to the new boulevard that’s to replace I-40?
So here’s a fun poll. I’m asking for some honor and honesty here – no slamming it like the twitter poll. Please only vote if you’ve read or heard enough from Jeff Speck and his presentations that you feel sufficiently educated to decide this matter for yourself. If you want to see his presentations, I have them on video in previous posts – just type Jeff Speck into the search engine and they’ll pop up. His presentation is also being replayed at various times on the city’s cable channel 20.
Oh How I Miss …
The days when my wife and I could go to the arts festival. But I just don’t think my four-year-old has mastered the idea of “look, don’t touch” when it comes to expensive fine art.
"Speck 1, City Planning 0"
I’ve picked on city staff a lot the past few weeks, and I’ve created sort of a self-imposed moratorium on this sort of thing for the next week or two unless events dictate otherwise.
(I don’t want to come off as strident when it comes to a very talented, smart group of folks who just aren’t always perfect).
So I’ll let lovable old Charles Hill be the bad guy this time.
