City Council Lies to Public and to My Family.

I have been told for over 2 months now to contact Fidelis Group and Mayor Fitch assured the public that Fidelis Group would handle their complaints.  But after the reply I got today, I feel that i have been deceived and lied to.

OSU Cheerleader Tries Tripping OU Player

So with no time left on the clock OSU fumbles the ball and OU recovers and returns it for a touchdown...  But then a cheerleader attempts to trip an OU player!

Earthquakes in Oklahoma

With today's 4.5 magnitude earthquake, it once again bringing up the question as to why.

It used to be a rare occurrence to feel an earthquake in Oklahoma, not anymore. Between 1975 to 2008 we had around 1 to 3 magnitude 3.0 earthquakes annually. Between 2009 to mid 2013 we have had more than 200 magnitude 3.0 or greater in Oklahoma. This increase is not believed to be due to natural fluctuations in seismic activity.  Since 2000, there have been over 785 quakes over 2.0 in magnitude.



The United States Geological Survey (USGS) released a statement about the earthquake swarms and the believed cause, stating one part of gas and oil drilling could be at fault.

The analysis suggests that a contributing factor to the increase in earthquakes triggers may be from activities such as wastewater disposal–a phenomenon known as injection-induced seismicity.

This is consistent with several recent studies that have linked earthquakes in Oklahoma with wastewater disposal wells. One study even linked Oklahoma’s largest earthquake, back in November of 2011, to disposal wells.

The USGS and Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) are making progress in evaluating the swarms. They have also encouraged Oklahomans to be aware of the hazards of these swarms.

Important to people living in the Oklahoma City region is that earthquake hazard has increased as a result of the swarm. USGS calculates that ground motion probabilities, which relate to potential damage and are the basis for the seismic provisions of building codes, have increased in Oklahoma City as a result of this swarm. While it’s been known for decades that Oklahoma is “earthquake country,” the increased hazard has important implications for residents and businesses in the area.

Studies of these swarms will continue but it does appear that wastewater disposal wells have played a role in the swarms.

Society Wears Blinders

I am very disappointed with the showing last night at city council, but not discouraged. Two things that I took out of the City Council meeting.

1. The residents of Lawton just don't care enough to get involved. We live in a society where everyone wears blinders and does nothing to cause waves. Only UNTIL it effects them directly will they speak, Then we get no reactions or knee jerk reactions.... If people will be involved, then you would not have to worry about extreme reactions.


2. Keith Jackson made it very clear that he wanted Citizen of Lawton to have the ability to contact the Fidelis Group. So if you want to get involved, with out coming out publicly, then please contact the investigation team at fidelisg@swbell.net.

If you don't get involved, no mater what your opinion is, then you have absolutely no right to complain.

Have Proof, But Lawton Says No You Don't!

Something that has been bothering me since KSWO did a story about Electronic Insurance Verification for cars… See Story Here

Oklahoma Insurance Department released a bulletin (VIEW HERE)2 weeks ago stating that Nothing in the Insurance Code precludes a law enforcement officer from recognizing an electronic version of a security verification form that has been approved by the OID. Therefore, the Oklahoma Insurance Department does permit insurers to issue security verification forms in electronic format as well as in paper format.

Oklahoma Statute, Title 47, Chapter 7, Article 6, Section 7 (See Code): Whereas Paragraph 5 clearly states that “ "Security verification form" means a form, approved by the Insurance Commissioner, verifying the existence of security required by the Compulsory Insurance Law.”

Lawton City Code 23-1-103 Paragraph A & D (See Code): Does NOT specifically rule out electronic versions.

So then who is breaking the law? Am I breaking the law by adhering to State Statues, or is the City breaking the law by not recognizing that the Oklahoma Statue is the Law of the Land.

So the big argument it that electronic forms can be forged. To that I say, so can paper forms. Someone can get insurance and then cancel it a week later and they still have the paper copy. That is why the state has paid millions info an "Online Insurance Verification System". This system was fully functional on July 7, 2009. (See Press Release).

This is just another example of Lawton Politics.......

City Council Meeting

As most of you know I have been very critical of the Lawton Police Chief James Smith during our van theft case.  I don't expect everyone to agree with what I have said or how i have done things.  But when your family is violated and the agency in charge of helping you decides to do nothing, I felt like I have been left no choice but to go higher.

So last night I had every intention in presenting my case to the City Council and showing them how everyday citizens are treated.  I also was going to show that the Police Chief had lied to either me or to the City Council.  Lying to either one is in it's self is disrespectful and unbecoming.

So here is the packet that I put together.  Even though I was not able to speak, I was able to place a packet in front of every member of the council before the meeting started.

Letter to Council - Public

Great Weekend!

Saturday was a lazy day, but Sunday we got a lot accomplished!

• We got the Christmas light box finished, tested, and hung on the wall.


• Installed two 20amp breakers and two wall GFCI outlets for the light box.


• laid out all the Christmas lights and tested them.


• Hung the Christmas Tree topper on the outside of our chimney.


• Made a cute pumpkin out of a Tide Pods container.


• Fried my computer.... Well maybe not, but the power supply is bad.. Thank goodness it's new and under warranty,  just have to wait for a replacement.
  

Office Status Board

Here is my weekend project.

Knight Rider

Here is a little sketch I made for my Arduino of the Knight Rider lights.

Keyboard Tray V2 with Arduino

So I made a Keyboard try a few weeks ago, but was not happy with the way it turned out.  There were a few things that I found that I wanted to add.  So this is the next version, added two CAC readers and an audio switcher to be able to choose from headphones or speakers. There is a USB hub inside the tray that powers the three items and an Arduino.  The Arduino is used to power and control the lights on the top..

Steelers in Trouble!

There's a black cloud hovering over Heinz Field, and it sure isn't carrying a bunch of Terrible Towels. All the black shirts in the stands on Sunday afternoon drove home worried and stayed worried. One rough loss was followed by another with the news that center Maurkice Pouncey will be gone for the season after suffering a knee injury. The organization was excited that David DeCastro, the top draft pick who missed much of his rookie season in 2012, was back on the interior of the offensive line; now, though, that unit won't be at full strength in 2013, either. This franchise always fights back; let's see how Six-burgh responds.

Apple accepts trade-ins!

Starting today, Apple will be offering an in-store trade-in program for iPhones. The program complements Apple's existing online effort, which gets you an Apple Store gift card in exchange for your old phone. Apple has reportedly confirmed the program, but there aren't details about how it'll work just yet. According to CNBC, the new program requires that you sign up for a new carrier contract and that you'll have to put whatever credit Apple offers you towards the purchase of a new device. That should help move some units when the new iPhones Apple is announcing on September 10th hit stores. [CNBC]

Suspect sought in controversial van theft case

Social media sites have been buzzing ever since Matt Eccles’ attempts to recover his stolen vehicle began earlier this month, but the teenager he has been pushing police to pursue for the theft is now fair game for handcuffs.

A Comanche County District Court judge issued a warrant Tuesday for the arrest of 18-year-old Daniel Madison St. John, and Lawton Police Capt. Craig Akard said as of Tuesday, authorities were actively trying to locate the suspect, charged larceny of an automobile.

Lawton Family Captures Van Theft on Camera

LAWTON Okla: A Lawton family is asking for the public's help in finding the people who stole their van right out of their driveway early Thursday morning.

Man reports theft of his van

A Lawton family is hoping that an early Independence Day liberation of its van will conclude with the return of the ride and the revocation of the thief’s freedom.

Big Changes coming to Rogers Lane

The City Planning Commission agreed Thursday that a movie theater is a permissible use on a tract in northwest Lawton, a decision that will allow the sale of the city-owned land and construction to begin.
Commissioners were acting on a Use Permitted on Review (UPOR) request from Anthony Properties, a Texas-based firm that has offered $2.5 million for a 29.5-acre tract of land at Northwest 67th Street and Rogers Lane. While the City Council approved that sale of city-owned land in late April, the contract’s terms required rezoning before the sale was final, planning commission members said Thursday.

Media tells people to flee tornadoes okwx

Today I find myself confounded from what I witnessed of the Oklahoma City media coverage of the May 31^st storms. And I am not alone - Washington Post & The Lost Ogle.

Throughout the day the media and National Weather Service (NWS) were informing people to stay weather aware and to not plan activities for the evening.  At no time was there any talk of people needing to leave OKC or leave their homes.

TORNADO SAFETY TIPS!

• If you choose to flee in your car, make certain you are not driving into another storm or putting yourself in more danger!


• If you choose to flee in your car, plan for and anticipate traffic jams and blocked roads, hail, heavy rain and flooding.


• If you choose to drive away, let someone know where you are going and that you are not at home.


• If you choose to drive away, know where you're going before you start your car. Most cities DO NOT have public shelters!


• Overpasses are death traps in tornadoes, and if you stop under them in a hail storm, you may cause an accident! This is not safe!


• If you wait til you see the tornado or hear the sirens, it is TOO LATE to drive away!! Plan ahead!


• If you don't feel safe where you are, and feel the need to drive away, you CANNOT wait until the warning is issued!!!


• Charge your cell phone now and take it to shelter with you. Remember your drivers license, keys, important papers and meds.


• Think about your pets now! Find leashes and carriers before the warning. They need food and water, too.


• Wear long pants, long sleeve shirt and sturdy shoes when you go to shelter. No sandals or flip flops!!


• Use lots of pillows, couch cushions, sleeping bags, mattress, blankets to cover up. Wear a helmet if you have one.


• Put as many walls between you and the tornado as you can. Get under a sturdy table or desk if you can.


• You can survive almost every tornado on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from doors, windows and outside walls.


•  Best option is underground or in a safe room designed to withstand a tornado.

GRLevel3 Tools

So I have come up with a few tools that I find very useful.

Useful Sites:

• http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/~slincoln/GRS/shapefiles/


• http://www.redteamwx.com/grlevelx.html


• http://www.tornadocentral.com/grlevelx-placefiles.html


• http://cswxcenterandthc.weebly.com/grlevel-x-placefiles.html

Storm smashes through town

[caption id="attachment_626" align="alignleft" width="300"] A power pole lies where it crashed through the fence of a home along Southwest Lee Boulevard near 67th Street Wednesday afternoon following a strong storm front that came crashing through the area. Comanche County Emergency Manager Clint Wagstaff said 12 power poles went down and 12 homes sustained damage due to the poles snapping and falling down under high winds. (Michael Pope)[/caption]

Hot on the heels of last week’s stormy weather, spring continues to roar through Southwest Oklahoma as heavy rains and high winds powered through late Wednesday afternoon leaving a wake of damage and electrical outages.

A windy and humid afternoon in Lawton developed into strong gusts of high winds and a short burst of rain which dumped 0.60 inch of rain in the downtown area and three quarters of an inch at the airport. Following the late-afternoon storm barrage, Southwest Oklahomans braced for another round from a front projected to hit the area late Wednesday night. However, with skies clearing and winds shuttered down to a mild breeze by 7:30 p.m., residents were granted a reprieve to clean up and assess the damage. Most of the area remained under a tornado watch into the night, according to the National Weather Service.

Waste of money for Furlough Notices

So you may think that this sequestration and government furloughs are saving the government money. Well think again, as many workers are receiving their furlough notices this week, they are reporting copious amounts of waste.  The average furlough letter is three pages or two pieces of paper, so each employee is required to sign a letter that they acknowledge the furloughs may take place and then the employee is given a copy.  So now this is one document is four pieces of paper. This is happening all over the Department of Defense, all 718,000 employees.  While this does not add up to much compared to the multi-million dollar programs that are being cut back, it does show a lack of desire to save money.  Every single one of the letters could have been electronically signed with the employee's Smart Card, saving over $51,000 in paper alone.

While I know that Congress may not care about me personally, I do however care about the waste that I see every day in the government.  Now threatening my way of life because their waste is totally unacceptable.

Furlough notices to Department of Defense civilian workers

Furlough notices are set to go out this week to civilian Department of Defense workers, setting the stage for 11 days of unpaid leave to start July 8.

Furlough proposal notices are set to be delivered through June 5 triggering the 30-day notice required by law before leave can begin. The furloughs are part of the Pentagon's efforts to make up $37 billion in cuts from sequestration that kicked in March 1 and led to a $20 billion shortfall in the operations and maintenance accounts that fund civilian employees.

The furloughs are expected to save the Pentagon $1.8 billion this year but, in an interview with American Forces Press Service, two senior defense officials conceded they expect reduced efficiencies across the department.

"These people aren't doing PowerPoint slides in the Pentagon," one official told American Forces Press Service. "They are mostly outside of the Pentagon. They fix our ships, our tanks, our planes. They staff our hospitals. They're teachers in our schools. I think we are going to seriously adversely affect the productivity in almost all support areas of the Department of Defense."

The Pentagon official also said the department recognized the financial impact the furloughs will have, as well as the effect on morale.

"I believe that they (civilian workers) will continue to perform in an admirable manner," the official added, "but I am sure that there will be some morale impact."

Some 650,000 Pentagon workers will be furloughed through the end of the fiscal year. About 150,000 civilian employees, including Navy shipyard and nuclear maintenance workers and those stationed in combat zones, are exempt from furloughs. Department of Defense officials said the percentage of workers not taking furlough could increase based on the number of intelligence personnel that are exempted.

Plans call for workers to be furloughed one day per week through September, but commanders are given some flexibility on determining individual leave schedules.

Lawton, area communities send prayers, aid to Moore

While people from far and wide are anxious to try and help the victims affected by Monday’s disastrous tornado in Moore, some of Lawton’s finest have already been there and are waiting for their call to go back again.

According to various wire reports, the tornado resulted in over 200 injuries or fatalities and left a path of destruction about a mile wide and nearly 20 miles long as it made its trip across the Moore area Monday afternoon. By 5 p.m., 43 firefighters with the Lawton Fire Department were already at the disaster area or enroute with trailers of tools to assist crews with the debris and rubble, which LFD Maj. Daryl Nobis said is unlike anything he has ever seen before.

“You just couldn’t tell where one (house) started and another ended,” Nobis said of the disaster debris.

The assistance teams stayed for about 12-14 hours, returning to Lawton around 5 a.m. Tuesday. Nobis said the firefighters divided up into four smaller groups of about 10 men, when they arrived. When they first arrived , crews were asked to respond to the area of of Southwest 4th Street and Telephone Road in order to clear various buildings near a heavily-damaged area, which included the Warren Theatre, the Moore Medical Center, a bowling alley, post office and bank among the structures.

An image of cars stacked into a small mountain of twisted metal at the medical center was broadcast during evening newscasts across the country. Nobis said Lawton crews helped dig through that pile to ensure nobody was inside.

Nobis said the bowling alley had luckily closed at 3 p.m., but he still was part of a team that crawled through tunnels in the debris to ensure nobody was there. While there always remains a distant possibility some nook or tiny cranny remains unchecked, he said he was fairly confident nobody was inside.

“We worked the ’99 tornado in Moore, the Oklahoma City Bombing, a lot of areas, and just the scale of this disaster is disturbing,” Nobis said. “It just goes on and on and on and on. It was worse than Joplin.”

After their initial responses in the business areas, Nobis said the men divided their resources and sent half the teams to residential areas east of I-40 and west of I-40 to begin searching for survivors. With the help of an industrial digger and lifter, they literally moved from pile to pile, digging down until they found a foundation or dirt and continued to search for those trapped in debris or shelters.
“It was so hard at nighttime, when you’re looking through all that debris,” Nobis recounted. “Everything is the same color, covered in dirt or mud. You don’t always know what you’re coming across right away.”

In their time at Moore, Nobis said the Lawton Fire Department was able to help clear about two square miles of the destruction path, digging to the bottom of probably 100 homes. Nobis said he predicts many disheartening sights for rescue crews continuing excavation efforts in the coming days.

“I was really glad to hear the death toll had dropped throughout the night. At one point we were hearing it was up around 91.”

The firefighter said the neighborhood west of the theatre was completely gone, and many of the people found in coming days might be from that area.

“Cars and trucks in the hospital parking lot were found a half a mile away,” Nobis explained. “All that was there were just slabs where homes and the school were. We know there were supposed to be people there. But there were literally, two to three hundred homes just gone. Those people have to be somewhere.”

The overnight rescue efforts, while accompanied by some disappointing discoveries, primarily ended happily, though.

Nobis said a neat thing that he was able to be a part of was finding one woman’s iPhone. In trying to figure out the owner, he said he began going through the contact list and ended up speaking with the woman’s daughter.

“She said the phone had her grandfather’s last voice mail for her,” Nobis said. “So they had even more reason to want it.”

Nobis said he has been in contact with the woman and will get it back to her as soon as possible.

Lawton fire crews came across many faces of people very happy to see them after they had freed them from barricaded shelters, and they may be called to return in coming weeks.

“Everybody always goes at first to help, but now we have other departments on a list for rotating schedules,” Nobis said. Now, crews from all over the state can continue the rescue through concentrated efforts and assignments as needed.

Following 9/11, the state of Oklahoma was divided into seven FEMA disaster areas, and crews expanded their training in all areas of search and rescue while simultaneously obtaining updated tools and equipment. Firefighters had previously trained in building rescue techniques, and Nobis said LFD firefighters have previously offered help after the Oklahoma City bombing as well as the 1999 tornado in Moore.

The department now has over 60 firefighters who are trained in technical rescue techniques, including trench collapses, swift water rescues and building collapses.

When Monday’s disaster struck, however, the Lawton Fire Department—which is part of FEMA’s task force covering 54 counties south of I-40—was glad to send more firefighters than any other mutual aid response team to help the victims out of shelters and search for people in damaged buildings.

“Kudos really go to our city fathers to be able to send that kind of support,” Nobis said.

Other agencies respond
Volunteer firefighters from Elgin, ‍Cove ‍Acres, Kirk’s Ambulance and Memorial Hospital also accompanied Comanche County Emergency Management to Moore overnight as part of a local search and rescue team. They also worked the business and residential area that Lawton firefighters were in.



Written by: Malinda Rust

Yahoo redesigns Flickr, adds 1 terabyte of free storage and more!!

Hot on the heels of Yahoo spending a whopping $1.1 billion on Tumblr, the company has just released a huge update to Flickr. And to go along with the completely redesigned look and feel of the photo service, it is also greatly expanding the storage offered to users, up to a whopping one terabyte.

Yahoo was quick to point out that no other service offers this much free storage. That's enough to store over 500,000 pictures, so even the biggest photography junkies will be hard pressed to actually fill all that space.

Flickr's user interface is much more visual after yesterday's tweak, with a redesigned grid layout and fewer text to keep the focus on images. Overall it makes for a more pleasant experience. Each photo has handy share buttons where users can post them to their favorite social networks, newly purchased Tumblr included.

There's also a new slideshow feature that displays the most spectacular Flickr photos from any user in full-screen, which will help people kill time and do some exploring.

Aside from a visual refresh on desktops, Yahoo has also launched a big update to its Flickr app on Android. The new version essentially brings it up to par with the recent iOS release which has reportedly already prompted a huge jump in uploads.

It remains to be seen just how Flick and Tumblr will work together going forward. Both services are not making Yahoo much in terms of revenue, which is an obvious hurdle for the company to deal with.

10 deadliest tornadoes

Here are the 10 deadliest tornadoes to touch down in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

1. The "Tri-State Tornado" killed 695 people and injured 2,027, traveling more than 300 miles through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana on March 18, 1925. It was rated an F5 at the top of the old Fujita scale (with winds of 260-plus mph).

2. The "Natchez Tornado" killed 317 people and injured 109 on May 6, 1840, along the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Mississippi. The official death toll may not have included slaves, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

3. The "St. Louis Tornado" killed 255 people and injured 1,000 on May 27, 1896, in Missouri and Illinois. It had winds of between 207 mph and 260 mph.

4. The "Tupelo Tornado" killed 216 people and injured 700 on April 5, 1936, in the northeastern Mississippi city.

5. The "Gainesville Tornado" was a pair of storms that converged April 6, 1936, in Gainesville, Georgia, killing 203 people and injuring 1,600. The tornado destroyed four blocks and 750 houses in the northern Georgia town.

6. The "Woodward Tornado" wreaked havoc across parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas on April 9, 1947. The storm, which killed 181 people and injured 970, reportedly was more than a mile wide in places.

7. The tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011, killed 158 people and injured more than a thousand. The storm packed winds in excess of 200 mph and was on the ground for more than 22 miles.

8. The "Amite/Pine/Purvis Tornado" killed 143 people and injured 770 on April 24, 1908. The storm left only seven houses intact in Purvis, Mississippi, and also caused damage in Amite, Louisiana.

9. The "New Richmond Tornado" killed 117 people and injured 200 on June 12, 1899, in New Richmond, Wisconsin.

10. The "Flint Tornado" killed 115 people and injured 844 on June 8, 1953, in Flint, Michigan. The tornado was the deadliest twister ever recorded in the state.

Busy Times!

Been busy at work lately with building a Image and Task Sequence for our KIOSK computers.  After four days of building and testing, I finally got everything up and running.  Now all the other techs just have to image them and that's about it.  They don't have to manually configure and set them up, no guess work at all!! Now a co-worker and I are looking to rebuild the other 2 images and bring them into the KIOSK image and make one image for all computers.  I have had a blast being able to grow and branch out here at RACH with freedom to focus my skills into areas that I can actually help!

 

[gallery ids="585,584"]

Fort Worth Trip

This last weekend we decided to go on a spur of the moment trip to Fort Worth.  It was by far one of the best trips that we have been able to go on because Michael and Angela were able to come with us.  We left Friday evening and drove to Fort Worth and stayed at the Homewood Suites in Bedford, TX.  Esther drove down while I watched CNN's live coverage of the Boston Bombing suspect, and the kids watched The Master of Disguise.

Normally we are in such a hurry on vacations that we rush from place to place to ensure that we see everything, but this was not the case this weekend.  We woke up on Saturday morning and casually went downstairs and enjoyed the  hot breakfast before heading off to the zoo.  The construction all over Fort Worth was less than desirable, but tolerable as it looks like most of the interstate was being completely remodeled.    We got to the Fort Worth Zoo and started off by taking the train to all the way to the back of the zoo to work ourselves back to the front, but had to see the Pink Flamingos, with their long legs as we were walking to the train.  They had a whole bunch of animals and was by far the best zoo that we have been to.  Michael got to see his tigers, Angela her penguins, Ian his sharks, and Mia her turtles and monkeys.   We spent just about 4 hours there and we couldn't ask for better weather, as it was sunny, about 65-70 with a mild breeze.

After the zoo we had to go to Best Buy and purchase a lens cap for my camera that I dropped in between some wooden planks while looking at penguins. When we arrived at Best Buy, we got the lens cap and then noticed that we missed lunch and that the Best Buy is located in a HUGE shopping center.  So we at lunch at Logan's Steak House and then asked the kids what they wanted to do, Swim at the Hotel or watch the Croods.  Esther was surprised by their choice of swimming.  So we went across the parking lot to Old Navy to look for swimming suits for every one as all the kids needed new ones from out growing their old ones from last year.  We went window shopping in the Nort East Mall across the parking lot afterwards and then headed back toward the hotel.  We made a pit stop to Sonic after a wild goose chase to find a Dairy Queen left us dry.  The kids got ready at the hotel for the pool and Esther took them down to enjoy the COLD water.  They didn't stay down very long, maybe 15 minutes, cause when I went to check on them, they were all getting out and heading back up.

Sunday morning we woke up and got packed up and went down stairs to enjoy another hot breakfast.  The waffles were great, shaped as the state of Texas.  We cleaned out the room and checked out of the hotel and headed home.  I drove back home while the rest of the family watched Ratatouille and listened to music, most notably; Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble; Carry Underwood - Blown Away; Luminaries - Ho Hey...



 

[gallery ids="534,535,537,538,540,541,562,563,564,542,543,544,545,546,539,547,548,549,550,551,552,553,554,555,556,557,558,559,560,561"]

North Korea is okay, but not Cuba

So we all have heard that Dennis Rodman went to North Korea and visited with the North Korean Leader last month. Well, it seemed like a joke and everyone was all light hearted about it. Rodman, said he plans to vacation with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. I don't condone what he does, but he's my friend," Rodman told KXJB while in Fargo, North Dakota, for a promotional appearance.

 

So last week, JayZ and Beyonce visit Cuba and meet with nobody of political power and they are chastised by members of Congress for violating a tourism embargo.

 

My first thought is, so what!  Why is congress causing a fit over JayZ and his wife visiting a country that poses no threat to the United States, while no one even flinched when   Rodman visits a country that actively threatening us, sits down with the leader and eats dinner with him, plays ball with him, and hugs him.

So to recap, it's okay to visit North Korea, just not Cuba.  Something smells fishy here and I can't quite figure it out yet, but I am sure that it will surface soon!

Ian's Science Project

Here is Ian's Mighty Magnifier.

Little Man Syndrome

So with all the talk between the US and North Korea lately, this comic sums it all up!

The Internet: It's like never leaving junior high!

Remember when you were 12 years old and you'd pass notes in class, making snide remarks about members of the opposite sex?

Remember the electricity that shot through school when word went around that there was going to be a schoolyard rumble?

Remember the rollercoasters of emotions, the whispers of gossip, the crying because your best friend betrayed you, the molehills made into mountains?

If life is just like high school, then the Internet might be an age group lower. Much of our digital world means never having to leave junior high school behind.

Sure, the Web has plenty of mature, resourceful people who create clever online projects or crowdsource solutions to global problems. But some experts also believe it perpetuates childhood.

Janet Sternberg, a communications professor at Fordham University in New York who's written a great deal about online civility, sees a reverse of a pattern created by television. If, as cultural critic Neil Postman asserted, TV ended childhood -- the medium provided an impetus for young people to act older, which created hand-wringing about generations growing up too quickly -- the Internet has done the opposite, she says.

"The Internet and digital media have produced this 'Peter Pan effect' where we never grow up, we're perpetual children, we never have to be responsible for anything -- we keep this juvenile mentality," she says.

Indeed, the Web has a clique for every would-be adolescent -- class clowns, bullies, drama queens and fanboys. (There's plenty of room for geeks and nerds, too.) They all get to indulge in their petty squabbles, and few of them show signs of growing up.

Looking for a fight on the playground blacktop? Check out Facebook and Twitter, where complete strangers assault each other with name calling. Want to be part of the popular crowd? Try YouTube, full of instant celebrities who have done little except mix Diet Coke and Mentos in their mouths.

Meanwhile, mainstream news and culture sites indulge in instant-gratification come-ons, from car-crash videos to galleries of kittens and puppies.

Of course, if you don't like any of it, you're free to post in the comments, where the level of discourse is somewhere between "This sucks" and "You suck."

It's all instantaneous, thanks to the always-on aspect of digital media -- available at the swipe of a smartphone. Who needs to think?

"We say whatever's on our mind," says Sternberg. "Restraint is one of the signs of adulthood, and our whole culture is celebrating a lack of restraint."

A squirt of dopamine, a shot of attention

Of course, why wouldn't it?

It's really two distinct if not unrelated issues. On the one hand, there's the concept of immediate satisfaction. It's in the very core of our lizard brains, the cries of "Act now!" and "Just do it," the things that give us a squirt of dopamine and keep us coming back again and again. Marketers and media people have always known its value, and the Internet -- in the form of catchy headlines and eye-grabbing, multi-frame galleries -- does this very well.

And then there's the stuff that appeals to us on a gut level, whether it's graphic images, blunt language or a longing for attention. Perversely, it sometimes creates an antagonistic response: A recent Pew survey noted that a distinguishing aspect of Twitter chatter is its "overall negativity."

"Twitter users are not representative of the public," the survey hastened to add. But Twitter users' voices are often picked up by the wider media, which makes the wisecracks and incivility conveyed on the service even more attractive to attention-getters. And around and around we go.

Besides, attention is a good thing, right? We all want to be popular, enjoy a taste of celebrity. Digital life celebrates viral videos and Facebook memes. Does it matter what you said? No -- what matters is how many people hear you say it.

It all contributes to a potent mix, says Susan Douglas, a communications professor at the University of Michigan.

"It's this weird moment," she says, reeling off such facets as the rise of youth culture, the spread of celebrities oriented to youth, politically oriented dismissals of fact and the 140-character Twitter culture. With "a rise of incivility that is completely accepted and enabled by social media, you have some kind of a brew here."

However, it's a brew that gets eyeballs -- and that's what matters to many websites, says Fairfield University communications professor Michael Serazio.

"What do audiences reward?" he asks, observing that an 8,000-word investigative piece will usually lose out to a zingy tweet. As the media environment gets faster and faster -- now we also have 6-second Vines -- nobody wants to be the guy who passes around articles that get dismissed by commenters with "tl;dr" (too long; didn't read).

So we end up back in the schoolyard. Says Serazio, "We reward the emotional over the rational."

Figuring things out

Sure, you've probably heard some of these complaints before, the grousing of elders and eggheads about those darn kids and their clothes and their hair and their newfangled technology.

Critics deplored newspaper tabloids, which catered to first-generation immigrants learning the language and time-pressed laborers grabbing a few minutes to read lurid headlines on the train. In the early '60s, FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously called television "a vast wasteland," echoing the thoughts of many who had hoped that the medium would bring about a golden age of entertainment and enlightenment -- not "The Real McCoys" and "Clutch Cargo."

It's always something, the elitists charge.

Still, like television in the 500-channel era, the Internet is many things, many of them worthwhile. Along with the spitball-blowers and OMG hyperventilators, there are smart sites that use smart prose and smart graphics (and are quite capable of satirizing everybody else). They're the kids who are actually trying to learn something -- respect for others, at the very least.

OK, so they can sometimes be goody-two-shoes. And their voices often get drowned out by the unruly din of the digital masses. Does that mean they should end up at wrong end of wedgies?

Class? Class? Will class ever come to order?

Rachel Weingarten, a marketing strategist, sees some signs that the Internet is wising up a little.

Some of her clients, she says, are trying to use thoughtful whispers rather than sledgehammer amplification, talking up to customers rather than talking at them.

The reverse didn't work, she says. One well-known candy gave its front page over to a Twitter feed, inviting "every 14-year-old idiot on Earth" to talk smack about the brand. Now, "the boutique brands are saying, help us find our niche, and help us keep connected," she says. "People no longer want the big campaign. People now want you to help figure out who they are again."

In other words, they're growing up.

Michigan's Douglas also credits some of the Internet's noise to uncertainty. Web users are still figuring out whom to trust, how to communicate, what this new (and it IS still new) technology can do. They're like a bunch of kids getting their first surge of hormones. They won't always be bouncing off the walls.

But, in the meantime, it's going to take some work to leave the schoolyard. Sternberg, for one, isn't optimistic. She mentions Freud and his "Civilization and Its Discontents," which argues that civilization relies on restraint of childish behavior. The Internet, of course, is just a reflection of our larger civilization -- and she doesn't like what she sees.

"The idea that being an adult is prized in our culture -- that idea is evaporating," she says. "It's really uncool."

 

 

CNN

Hate the President?

I can not believe there is so much negativity and hatred toward the President. The sad thing is that most if not all the stuff you see is misinformation radical, the misinformed and our so call representatives in Congress. So before to pass along a hate Obama picture or half baked lies, Check the facts!

I challenge everyone to do some research and fact checking of your own.

 

• Is the Obama administration attempting to eliminate private 401(k)s and IRAs and create a “national retirement system”? NO!


• Has President Barack Obama signed 900 executive orders, some of which create martial law? NO!


• Does the Obama administration intend to “force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for U.S. citizens” through a United Nations treaty? NO!!


• Did President Obama secretly sign a law that makes it a crime to protest against him or ask him a question he doesn’t like? NO!

So go out and research before you pass along misinformation, and if you see it, check it!

DID YOU KNOW???

1. Budweiser beer conditions the hair
2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish
3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes
4. Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair
5. Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads if any.
6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea
7. Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water
8. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste
9. Burn your tongue? Put sugar on it!
10. Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too
11 Bee stings - meat tenderizer
12. Chigger bite - Preparation H
13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H
14. Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick (glue is used instead of sutures at most hospitals)
15. Stinky feet - Jello !
16. Athletes feet - cornstarch
17. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub
18. Kool aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink this stuff)
19. Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also Kool Aid in Dannon plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't hurt them if they eat it!
20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper
21. Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray
22. Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby
23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls
24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on
25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar !
26. Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the microwave, pour in to an empty film container and mix with the food color of your choice!
27 Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak
28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and cup of milk of magnesia , soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for many years!
29. A Slinky will hold toast and CD's!
30. To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate toothpaste
31. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt and watch it absorb into the salt.
32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.
33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter!
34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a Bounce paper softener and the static from the Bounce towel will cause the baked on food to adhere to it. Soak overnight. Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets , soak overnight!
35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate toothpaste and brush it!
36.. Dirty grout - Listerine
37. Stains on clothes - Colgate toothpaste
38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup
39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola , it will also remove grease stains from the driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car batteries!
40. Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Borax- sprinkle and let stand for 24 hours. Maybe this will work if you get them back again.
41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a little Clorox , or 2 Bayer aspirin , or just use 7-up instead of water.
42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you 'squeeze' for freshness or softness? Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color twist tie.
They are:

Monday = Blue,
Tuesday = Green,
Thursday = Red
Friday = White
Saturday = Yellow.

So if today was Thursday, you would want red twist tie; not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue- Green - Red - White - Yellow, Monday through Saturday. Very easy to remember. I thought this was interesting. I looked in the grocery store and the bread wrappers DO have different twist ties, and even the ones with the plastic clips have different colors. You learn something new everyday! Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping.

Don't forget Gatorade for Migraine Headaches. PowerAde won't work. Pass this information on to friends so they can be informed

F Bomb!

New F Bomb!

Cove Acres Logo

Sharing some logo designs.

[gallery type="square" ids="396,398,385,386,387,388,389,390,397,391,392,393,394,395"]

Mailbox App

This new Mailbox app is the best thing ever! Even though there is a waiting line to use it, it was well worth it. The best part is it's free!

Read more about it: http://www.mailboxapp.com/

Avoid Sounding Like an Idiot When Discussing Politics

We all know someone who loves to talk politics but sounds like a jerk every time they do. Talking about politics may be taboo for many of us but it doesn't have to be Discussing—not arguing—politics is important to broadening our horizons, cementing our opinions, or just understanding others. Here's how to do it without frothing at the mouth, in an actual intelligent way.

Of course, one way to make sure you never sound like an idiot when discussing politics (or have to suffer someone else who does) is to just avoid discussing politics in polite company. That said, sometimes a spirited discussion on current events is fun and informative, and sometimes you have the opportunity to talk to someone with an opinion or background you'd like to benefit from. In this post, we'll show you how to approach those political conversations from an informed, civil angle, without a conversation with someone you may disagree with devolving into a mouth-frothing mess like you'd see on Sunday Morning talk shows.

Alfred F. ‘Al’ Dreves #okfire

   Funeral for Alfred F. “Al” Dreves, 71, Lawton, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Letitia Baptist Church with Pastor Wes Kinder, Cache Creek Cowboy Church, and Timm Petersen officiating.

Al passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2013, in Lawton.

Burial will be at Fort Sill National Cemetery under direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.

Our Flower Garden!

Our new flower garden, we can't wait to see it grow!

[caption id="attachment_311" align="alignleft" width="640"] Flower Garden[/caption]

De-clump Brown Sugar!

[caption id="attachment_306" align="alignleft" width="150"] Brown Sugar[/caption]

You can keep brown sugar soft in advance with the help of bread or marshmallows, but if you forget or just have some hard brown sugar lying around that you need to soften right now, redditor whitehandsinkstains notes you can solve the problem with a little water and a microwave.

Online Storm Spotter Training #okwx

[caption id="attachment_300" align="alignleft" width="300"] Online Storm Spotter Training[/caption]

Free online Storm Spotter Training tonight at 6:30PM, make sure that you sign up before hand!

Signup Here!

The New SimCity is Here!!

[caption id="attachment_295" align="alignleft" width="300"] SimCity[/caption]

(CNN) -- Despite the fact that basic math and science cause me to bleed from my ears, I once confidently oversaw the design and construction of a fully functional nuclear power plant that provided safe energy to thousands of people. Hell, I even placed it next to a playground. And for decades it never once experienced so much as the slightest hint of disaster.

Sequestration Day 3

[caption id="attachment_291" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sequestration Day 3[/caption]

Trees Autumn

[caption id="attachment_278" align="alignleft" width="168"] Trees Autumn Best iPhone 5 Wallpapers 576x1024[/caption]

Sequestration Day 2

[caption id="attachment_285" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sequestration Day 2[/caption]

Our Flower Bed

[caption id="attachment_253" align="alignleft" width="300"] Circle Flowerbed[/caption]

So, Esther was working on getting the flowerbed ready for planting later this month.  We are excited as we have the greenhouse in our garage and it sprouting like crazy!!! Marigolds, Daisies, Back Eyed Susan are just a few of the flowers that we will be growing in the flowerbed.

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="attachment_256" align="alignleft" width="150"] Marigolds[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_255" align="alignleft" width="150"] Daisies[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_254" align="alignleft" width="150"] Black Eyed Susan[/caption]

 

Sequestration Day 1

[caption id="attachment_284" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sequestration Day 1
Congress slips town and goes home.
Still No Budget!![/caption]

$60 Million to Syria?

So the United States is sending $60 Million to Syria in aid to help the resistance.  This troubles me significantly on two aspects.

1. We are sending money to an "Axis of Evil".
--- How do we guarantee that the money will be spent on what is needed, "AID", and not guns and bullets.
--- What is our Return On Investment?  What do we have to gain?

2.  We have a Federal Budget CRISIS!!
--- We have employees that are about to be laid off for 22 day with no pay, and no compensation.
--- Teachers will be laid off and doors to schools will be shut due to loss in financial aid to schools for Head Start and Early Start.
--- Veterans will lose medical care or have severe delay in care due to loss in contracted doctors and Civil Service Doctors.

 

None of this makes sence.  They are acting like kindergartener and are spoiled rotten!  We need to RECALL all Congressmen and the President if they can't work this out.

Winter Storm Watch 02-23-13 #okwx #okfire

Here we go again!!

[caption id="attachment_243" align="alignleft" width="300"] Heavy snow will be possible Sunday evening through early Tuesday morning across parts of Oklahoma. Areas of 8 to 10 inches of snow with some locally heavier amounts are currently forecast for parts of northern Oklahoma. Central Oklahoma is likely to see between 4 and 8 inches of snow. However, it's important not to focus only on the snow amounts. Strong winds will also cause blowing and drifting snow with reduced visibility.[/caption]

Winter Storm Watch
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
312 PM CST SAT FEB 23 2013

OKZ023>031-033>036-038-TXZ083-240515-
/O.EXA.KOUN.WS.A.0002.130225T0000Z-130226T1200Z/
CADDO-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-GRADY-MCCLAIN-CLEVELAND-
POTTAWATOMIE-SEMINOLE-HARMON-GREER-KIOWA-JACKSON-COMANCHE-
HARDEMAN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANADARKO...YUKON...EL RENO...MUSTANG...
OKLAHOMA CITY...CHANDLER...CHICKASHA...PURCELL...NORMAN...MOORE...
SHAWNEE...SEMINOLE...HOLLIS...MANGUM...HOBART...ALTUS...LAWTON...
QUANAH...CHILLICOTHE
312 PM CST SAT FEB 23 2013

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT.

* MAIN IMPACT: WIDESPREAD SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES AND
ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN
NORTH TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA...UP THROUGH CENTRAL PORTIONS
OF OKLAHOMA.

* TIMING: HEAVIEST SNOW FROM WESTERN NORTH TEXAS UP THE I-44
CORRIDOR IS EXPECTED MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT.

* OTHER IMPACTS: STRONG NORTHWEST WIND WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW...WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY RESTRICT VISIBILITIES
AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION...ESPECIALLY IF YOU
PLAN TO TRAVEL.

The buget cuts are bad policy!

[caption id="attachment_237" align="alignleft" width="300"] Budget cuts are bad policy.[/caption]

Because they're indiscriminate: They give spending cuts a bad name. The law governing them requires that they be applied in a uniform way across the board.

In other words, the meat of the federal government will be cut along with the fat, and by the same percentages in many instances. So needed projects and investments will be cut in equal measure with bloated projects that are duplicative. And people doing good work will lose jobs or pay right alongside people who do shoddy work.

Cost of everyday items

See the attached document for a list of every day items that people pay for like gas, milk, and bread.  Also see the average pay for all Americans and cost of rent and home ownership.

Cost of Items

 

 

 

Furlough FAQ

Pentagon officials said that if sequestration is not averted, they would notify civilians in late March of impending furloughs. Based on guidance from the Pentagon and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, here’s what sequestration could mean to hundreds of thousands of DOD employees worldwide:

Q: Who’s subject to furloughs?

A: All DOD civilians except for those deemed exempt for the protection of life or property, certain high-ranking political appointees and those whose pay come from sources other than Congressional appropriations. Thousands of DOD intelligence workers may be deemed exempt as well, a decision being mulled over by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Pentagon officials say.

Q: What about the troops?

A: By presidential order, military personnel are exempt from furloughs brought on by sequestration.

Q: I’m a civilian working downrange. Will I be furloughed?

A: No one working in war zones will be furloughed.

Q: When will furloughs start?

A: If sequestration is not averted, employees will begin losing one workday a week in late April, continuing through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, totaling 22 days.

Q: How do I know what days I’ll be furloughed?

A: Your bosses will make the call. Agencies and offices will schedule furlough days to create minimum impact on operations.

Q: How do I know if I’m an “essential employee”?

A: Unlike past planning for government shutdowns, no one is automatically deemed “essential.” Military branches and agencies must submit lists of proposed exempt workers who must stay on the job to preserve life or property by March 1. Pentagon leaders will make decisions soon after that. Individual employees will be notified of furloughs in April and have one week to appeal.

Q: What if I’m an emergency worker or first responder?

A: You might be furloughed. To save money, agencies will exempt the minimum number of staffers needed to protect life and property.

Q: What about my children’s teachers and school staff?

A: They are not exempt from furloughs. The Department of Defense Education Activity is scrambling to develop plans to prevent learning disruptions in potentially understaffed schools and to protect schools’ accreditation.

Q: How will the furlough affect my pay?

A: You will not be paid for furloughed days, and lost pay cannot be recouped, as it was after government shutdowns in the past.

Q: Will furloughs at DFAS hold up paychecks?

A: While employees at Defense Financing and Accounting Services can be furloughed, the Pentagon says the agency will continue processing pay as usual.

Q: What about leave accrual?

A: While working four days a week during the furlough period, you will accrue annual and sick leave more slowly than usual.

Q: Can I use accrued leave time on furlough days to prevent income loss?

A: No.

Q: Can I apply for unemployment compensation on furlough days?

A: Probably not. DOD worked out the one-day-a-week plan in part to prevent employees in any state from filing for unemployment, which comes out of DOD’s budget.

Q: How will this affect retirement contributions?

A: If you contribute a percentage of your pay, the same percentage will continue to be withheld, resulting in a smaller contribution. If you are in a Thrift Savings Plan and contribute a set dollar amount, the same amount will continue to be withheld. In either case, the employer match would continue as before.

Q: Do I lose health coverage on furlough days?

A: No. However, furloughs of some medical employees could cause delays and cancellations at military health facilities, particularly for civilians, because military members’ health care must remain unaffected by sequestration.

Q: As a DOD civilian working overseas, will housing or post allowances be cut?

A: No, there would be no effect until after 14 consecutive days of furlough, which won’t happen under the current plan.

Q: Will the furlough affect my Social Security work credits or eventual monthly payment at retirement?

A: It would probably not affect Social Security credits, because maximum yearly credits require less than $5,000 income to earn. But because Social Security retirement benefits are calculated based on yearly earnings, the furlough could have a marginal impact.

Q: Are there any tax deductions or credits to help furloughed government employees?

A: None at this time.

Q: What if I need to borrow from my retirement savings account to help make up for lost income?

A: DOD says it does not manage retirement accounts. Presumably, however, early withdrawals could result in penalties, unless, for example, they’re taken in the form of a 401k loan and paid back on time.

Q: I’ve got a project due. Can I telecommute on furlough days?

A: No, furloughed employees are forbidden from any work at all — even reading emails. During government shutdowns in the past, DOD collected gear like computers that could be used for work purposes, although it is not clear that would be done this year if furloughs are imposed. You and your boss will have to work it out.

Budget Uncertainty Impact On Oklahoma

This slide is just the ARMY, these figures do not include the Air Force.  Plus we can't forget the rest of the federal Gov't that will be cut.

DoD Bases that will be impacted:

Air Force Cuts: $127 Million in pay for almost 14,000 Employees

• Air Force - Altus, AFB (Altus, OK)


• Air Force - Tinker AFB (OKC, OK)


• Air Force - Vance AFB (Enid, OK)

ARMY Cuts:  $34 Million in pay for almost 6,800 Employees.

• AMRY - Fort Sill (Lawton, OK)


• ARMY - McAlester Ammo Plant (McAlester, OK)

Coast Guard Cuts:  Figured not availible yet.

• Coast Guard - Coast Guard Institute (OKC, OK)


• Coast Guard - Container Inspection Training (OKC, OK)

Preparations for Potential Sequestration on March 1 and Furlough Notifications

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 097-13

February 20, 2013

Army Cuts By State Briefing
________________________________

Message from the Department from Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta on the Preparations for Potential Sequestration on March 1 and Furlough Notifications

"To All Department of Defense Personnel:

"For more than a year and a half, the president, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and I have repeatedly voiced our deep concerns over the half a trillion dollars in automatic across-the-board cuts that would be imposed under sequestration and the severe damage that would do both to this department and to our national defense.

"The administration continues to work with Congress to reach agreement on a balanced deficit reduction plan to avoid these cuts. Meanwhile, because another trigger for sequestration is approaching on March 1, the department's leadership has begun extensive planning on how to implement the required spending reductions. Those cuts will be magnified because the department has been forced to operate under a six-month continuing resolution that has already compelled us to take steps to reduce spending.

"In the event of sequestration we will do everything we can to be able to continue to perform our core mission of providing for the security of the United States, but there is no mistaking that the rigid nature of the cuts forced upon this department, and their scale, will result in a serious erosion of readiness across the force.

"I have also been deeply concerned about the potential direct impact of sequestration on you and your families. We are doing everything possible to limit the worst effects on DoD personnel -- but I regret that our flexibility within the law is extremely limited. The president has used his legal authority to exempt military personnel funding from sequestration, but we have no legal authority to exempt civilian personnel funding from reductions. As a result, should sequestration occur and continue for a substantial period, DoD will be forced to place the vast majority of its civilian workforce on administrative furlough.

"Today, I notified Congress that furloughs could occur under sequestration. I can assure you that, if we have to implement furloughs, all affected employees will be provided at least 30 days' notice prior to executing a furlough and your benefits will be protected to the maximum extent possible. We also will work to ensure that furloughs are executed in a consistent and appropriate manner, and we will also continue to engage in discussions with employee unions as appropriate.

"Working with your component heads and supervisors, the department's leaders will continue to keep you informed. As we deal with these difficult issues, I want to thank you for your patience, your hard work, and your continued dedication to our mission of protecting the country.

"Our most important asset at the department is our world-class personnel. You are fighting every day to keep our country strong and secure, and rest assured that the leaders of this department will continue to fight with you and for you."

What do you want your military to do?

“We built a strategy last year that we said we could execute and absorb $487 billion. I can't sit here today and guarantee you that if you take another $175 billion that that strategy remains solvent.” “The question I would ask this committee: What do you want your military to do? If you want it to be doing what it's doing today, then we can't give you another dollar. If you want us to do something less than that, we're all there with you and we'll figure it out.”

Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Deal or No Deal?

Most political analysts on the Hill are predicting that a short-term sequester appears likely. With the “meat ax” about to fall, Congress is still at odds over the budget. Senate Democrats are now pushing a $110B package that would raise new reve-nues and reduce planned defense spending by $27.5B. But House Republicans are flatly refusing to consider any new revenues — setting the stage for a showdown almost certain to drag on past March 1, when sequestration is scheduled to begin taking effect.

Sequestration Not In The Best Interest Of National Security

This week both SASC and HASC full committees held congressional hearings on the im-pacts of sequestration on the DoD. Witnesses included DepSecDef , USD (Comptroller), CJCS & Service Chiefs. The intent of the hearings was to afford the Department and op-portunity to explain in greater detail the devastating impacts that a yearlong Continuing Resolution, coupled with Sequestration on a every aspect of National Defense as well as the economy in general. All Members were eager for detailed information on the exact impacts on readiness, support programs such as mental health initiatives, equipping and modernization and especially on the industrial base. There were specific concerns about the impacts on contracts; the cost of rebounding from measures already taken if sequestration is delayed or repealed and a budget is passed; and, the cost of the fur-lough versus any cost savings, especially if the WARN Act is found to apply.

BAD BAD JAVA!!!

So, most of us know that JAVA is bad for you..  No, not the Java that you drink, but the JAVA that is on your computer.  Back in January JAVA was found to be vulnerable and in a very bad way, so bad that the Department of Homelad Security called it a "National Security Risk" as the current java, JAVA 6.37, had over 86 vulnerabilities.  DHS went even further to instruct users to either disable or uninstall JAVA.

Well a month later we are starting to see big named companies being hacked due to these JAVA vulnerabilities.  Last week Facebook announced that they were hacked.  The string of hacks have primarily exploited vulnerabilities in the programming language Java, which is installed on most computers by default. Facebook said the site responsible for its attack took advantage of a previously unknown Java vulnerability, which Oracle patched on February 1.

Apple now says that it was targeted by the same crew that recently hit Facebook, and managed to infect a "small number" of the company's computers.  At the moment, Apple says "there was no evidence that any data left" its facilities, but that could change as the firm works with law enforcement. There are few details to share right now, but if Apple knows the attack—very narrow in scale, most likely a focused malware infection—is related to Facebook's, then this is a Chinese job.

So with all this info coming in, it is still best to REMOVE JAVA from your comptuer.  SUN has proven that their JAVA can not be trusted and is too vulnerabe.

Remove "Windows.old" folder

So if you have upgraded to Windows 8, then you may notice that you have a "Windows.old" folder in the root of your C Drive.  If you try and delete it, you get an error of Access Denied.  So here it how to delte it and recover the 30-50GB of space.

WARNING!!! Before using Disk Cleanup, make sure that all of your files and settings are in Windows 8 and are correct.

1.  Open Disk Cleanup by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering Disk Cleanup in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking Free up disk space by deleting unnecessary files.

If you're prompted to choose a drive, select the drive that you just installed Windows on, and then click OK.

2.  In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, on the Disk Cleanup tab, click Clean up system files.

If you're again prompted to choose a drive, select the drive you just installed Windows on, and then click OK.

3.  Select the Previous Windows installation(s) check box, and any other check boxes for the files you want to delete, and then click OK.

4.  In the message that appears, click Delete files.

Clean Windows 8 Install

With the new Windows 8 Update disk, it is almost impossible to preform a clean install to a formatted Hard Drive.  So try this the next time.

 

1. From a Formatted Hard Drive, install Windows 8


2. Once WIN8 is loaded and ready to go, ckick the Windows Key and type in "REGEDIT" and press Enter.


3. Goto "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/" and open the "MediabootInstall" key.


4. Change the value from 1 to 0.


5. Exit Registry


6. Click on the Windows Key again and Type "CMD", and then right click on the Comand Prompt Program and select "Run as Administrator"


7. When the Command Box opens, tpye "slmgr /rearm" and press Enter.


8. After it completes, Restart the Comptuer.


9. When Windows comes back up, activate Windows.

 

Build the Best PC For Your Buck

So funny that I came upon this article today about the best built computer for your dollar...  Seems that I was just about spot on.....

CPU: 

• Recommend:  Intel Core i5 3570K


• Purchased:  Intel Core i5 3570

VIDEO CARD:

• Recommend:  Gigabyte GTX 660


• Purchased:  Gigabyte GTX 660

Motherboard:

• Recommend:  Gigabyte Z77X-UP4 TH


• Purchased:  ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 LGA 1155

SSD:

• Recommend:  Crucial M4 256GB


• Purchased:  Samsung 120GB

Hard Drive:

• Recommend:  Seagate Barracuda 3TB


• Purchased:  Western Digital WD VelociRaptor WD6000BLHX 600GB

CASE:

• Recommend:  NZXT Phantom 410
  


• Purchased:  NZXT Phantom 410

RAM:

• Recommend:  8GB DDR3/1600 or DDR3/1866


• Purchased:  G.SKILL Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

COOLER:

• Recommend:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo


• Purchased:  Stock Intel Cooler

Power Supply:

• Recommend:  Corsair CX600


• Purchased:  Rosewill Lightning 1300W

EXE to MSI Installer

Great tool to repackage an EXE file to MSI fire for Group Policy install or SCCM.

EXE to MSI Setup

Snowfall forcast #okwx

So here is the next storm..  Hoping for more rain then snow, but will take anything at this point as we are 12" below normal between 2012 and 2013.

[caption id="attachment_138" align="alignnone" width="516"] Amounts may vary![/caption]

Winter Storm Watch #OKWX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
942 PM CST MON FEB 11 2013

Video of My Build

So here is my new build all lit up.. It's name is "Big Red".

My Weekend...

Working on 5 computers this weekend...  Friend's laptop, My new Desktop, Client's 2 computers, and getting my MacBook Pro ready for a new owner.

Friend's Laptop - Waiting on Parts

My new desktop - Waiting on Power Supply..

2 Client Computers - Done...

MacBook Pro - Backing up my data and getting ready to wipe and reimage it with Mountain lion.

Training Hollidays

Was just told no more Training Holidays at work....   Looks like this Ferlough stuff is getting ready to happen, may have to go get a part time job now.

Obscure Engineering Conversion Factors

1. Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi

2. 2000 pounds of Chinese Soup = Won ton

3. 1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope

4. Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond

5. Weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billigram

6. Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour = Knotfurlong

7. 365.25 days of drinking low-calorie beer = 1 Lite year

8. 16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Serling

9. Half a large intestine = 1 semicolon

10. 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz

11. Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower

12. Shortest distance between two jokes = A straight line

13. 453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake

14. 1 trillion microphones = 1 megaphone

15. 1 million bicycles = 1 megacycle

16. 365 bicycles = 1 unicycle

17. 2000 mockingbirds = two kilomockingbirds

18. 10 cards = 1 decacard

19. 52 cards = 1 deckacards

20. 1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 Fig Newton

21. 1000 ccs of wet socks = 1 literhosen

22. 1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche

23. 1 trillion pins = 1 terrapin

24. 10 rations = 1 decaration

25. 100 rations = 1 C-Ration

26. 2 monograms = 1 diagram

27. 8 nickels = 2 paradigms

28. 5 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital = One I.V. League

Wrong?

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong

Trust Me!

For all my XBOX friends!

Blue/Green - The Thinking Relator

I am the most inward acting of all the behavioral styles. I like to work independently on familiar tasks that I can direct and control.

I am restrained, diplomatic and accommodating. I think of myself as a true perfectionist when dealing with tasks and people. If I fully understand the situation, I can give it my best effort.

I generally see a better way and a worse way to do things, and I know which one I would like to avoid. I do not like conflict and often find myself as not only an administrator who goes by the book, but also as someone people will come to for a balanced and thoughtful response.

My tendencies include:

• I follow established expectations and rules


• I attend precisely to details and ensure follow-through


• I dislike opposition, hostility, confrontation and adversity


• I must have stability and clarity in what people expect from me


• I am generally restrained, face saving and reluctant to get involved


• I tend to become more reserved, indirect, even secretive under pressure


• I do not like public recognition or making presentations

My Potential Limiters:

With tasks: Because I am continually on the lookout for ideal solutions, I may miss the less than perfect opportunities. I could benefit from developing more realistic expectations, adjusting to less than perfect alternatives, in my pursuit of success.

With people: I am uncomfortable with in depth involvement with people, so I could benefit by improving my social skills, getting to know and appreciate different types of people.

• I should be more open and forthright in expressing my thoughts


• I need to be more genuinely open to people different from myself


• I hope to identify at least two new growth goals each year that involve improving my adaptability