Archive for the ‘Links’ Category

One For All, And All For Ourselves

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

AFSCME, the union which represents the non-sworn (non police or fire) city employees, conducted a poll yesterday to determine what the membership preferred – a 5.2 percent pay cut, or layoffs of 65 employees.  The results are in, and by a 3 to 1 margin, the membership preferred – layoffs!

I was saddened to hear this, and saddened to hear some of the excuses, such as “a paycut will reduce my pension.”  Well guess what?  Those 65 won’t get a pension.

The union likes to boast about its teamwork, that “we are all in this together.”  Apparently not.  I find it very disheartening that people would prefer to see others lose their jobs than take a pay cut.  Sad.  Very very sad.

Now, instead of knowing that I have a job, but at a reduced salary, I have to stress for the next 24 hours of whether or not I even have a job at all.  I hope you enjoy your retirement!

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=334&articleid=20100121_11_A1_Kathle56984

The True Meaning Of Sportsmanship

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

With all of the negative news lately about football coaches abusing players and obsessed fans who only want to win at all costs, here is a story from my hometown, St. Louis, about a coach and a team who showed us all what sportsmanship is about.  It’s such a heart-warming story, I thought I’d share the link.

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1036282

Only In Oklahoma!

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Here is a story from Muskogee where a demolition contractor went to the wrong address.  Oops!

http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/local/local_story_280005657.html

There Is Something Terribly Wrong Here

Friday, October 9th, 2009

An interesting scandal is erupting here in Tulsa.  Jenks is one of the Tulsa school districts (covers south Tulsa and the suburb of Jenks) that, along with its next door neighbor Union, plays for the state championship every year.  I had heard rumors about recruiting, but they were just rumors.  However, the coach was caught recruiting a player from Virginia to play for Jenks and setting him up with a “guardian” who lived in the district, as well as other things.  An assistant helped pay the utility bill of the family of one of the players. 

There are two things that are the most galling about the whole situation – 1.  the coach was making over $100,000 a year; 2. as you will read from the comments, there are those who defend him, his salary, and his actions.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=227&articleid=20091009_11_A1_JENKSm466803

The Public Option In Print

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Here is a “Letter To The Editor” from fellow Bartian and prominent Democrat Richard Waddell in support of Obamacare and “the public option”.  Make sure you read the reader comments as well, as the commenter “Groove Monster” makes some very excellent points as to why the analogy doesn’t quite fit.  Personally, I am more inclined to agree with “Groove Monster” than the author of the letter, but then I am not a big government kind of guy.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=62&articleid=20091007_7_WEB_spanc47057&allcom=1