I guess you can think what you want, but the country is accepting the FACT that Oklahoma is midwest.

What fact do you rest this assertion upon?

FWIW, the U.S. Census Bureau defines Oklahoma as West South Central. Further, the current more-less official Midwestern states are the northern part of the Louisiana Purchase, the southernmost two states being Kansas and Missouri.

What is "Southwestern" is a little more tricky to definite because depending on who you ask, you're only talking about New Mexico and Arizona, or you're talking about NM, AZ, Nevada and California... or you could shift easterly and say NM, AZ, Texas and Oklahoma. It's pretty much universal if you look through these arbitrary regional definitions that Oklahoma is almost always (I'd say always, but there may be some outliers, but those'd definitely be outliers) grouped with Texas.

I like the Census Bureau's wording for accuracy, "West South Central" is accurate. It doesn't roll of the tongue like Southwest though.

But again, I renew my question: Who the hell cares?

I guess you can think what you want, but the country is accepting the FACT that Oklahoma is midwest.


haha nope, not going to accept it. Its not a fact and its certainly not true.

But again, I renew my question: Who the hell cares?

Over the past few years, while entertaining med students from various states who are applying to OUHSC, often times they ask this exact question. They almost without exception say that OK is a midwest state. They think it has more in common with Kansas than Texas.

It is an interesting question, even if it doesn't matter.

This is coming from someone who has lived all over the place. I grew up in CA and most recently moved from FL. Moving to OK has been the best decision I could have made. I had been trying to get a government job in FL for the longest time and had no success. The only place that would hire me was a VERY well-known retail and grocery store. I had been without work for about a year before I gave in and took a minimum wage job. I moved to OK on July 31st and by the 15th of September was starting my first day at a state agency where I currently work. I have made a lot of progress that realistically would not have been possible in any other state or city. So believe it or not, compared to the rest of the country, OK is booming.

One BIG problem with this "promise land of the Southwest." We are not in the Southwest. We are in the lower MIDwest. Many people are starting to accept that. Oklahoman's need to follow suit if they have not yet done so.

I just read this... funny because yesterday I resisted posting something along the lines of "at the least the thread starter idn't sya 'OKC, New Promis Land of the Midwest."

We are unfortunately in 'fly-over country'... and ignorant left and right coasters are the ones that call it Midwest... EVERYTHING between NYC and LA to them is the Midwest... doesn't make it so.

... The Midwest can have Tulsa though... lol

I'm originally from Altus.... noone could deny that it is the Southwest.

I guess you can think what you want, but the country is accepting the FACT that Oklahoma is midwest. We can argue all day long about if Oklahoma is a midwest state our if it is a Southern or Southwestern city. The "fact" lies that if you look up on google or any dictionary it clearly states in most publications that Oklahoma is a South Central or Southern plains state. So to accept the "fact" that Oklahoma is a midwest state is somewhat delusional and false. I personally prefer the South over the Midwest. The Midwest does not have the historical significance like the South. In Oklahoma, the Southern part of the state it is referred to as "Little Dixie". The culture of Oklahoma leans more to the South than the midwest.

You're all idiots. Oklahoma City is the new Mormon Temple of the northern Texas red dirt plains region.

You're all idiots. Oklahoma City is the new Mormon Temple of the northern Texas red dirt plains region.

Keep that Texas crap off of Oklahoma's land.

You're all idiots. Oklahoma City is the new Mormon Temple of the northern Texas red dirt plains region.

+1.

This is clearly supported by the facts.

shhh, be quiet, I think OKC is just the right population size right now, we don't need a come hither slogan, "New Promise Land of the SouthWest".

OKC may be seeing "growth like never before," but it's still not even close to Austin let alone Dallas or Houston. OKC does NOT have a "dominant 'medical field' industry" and OU HSC is far from being a major medical research center on a national level. Have you been to Austin lately? The amount of development and activity in downtown OKC pales in comparison. Texas's cities left OKC in the dust a long time ago and the gap continues to get wider--MAPS 3 isn't likely to reverse that trend, either.

Perhaps in the construction of wind farms around town, but as far as the R&D of these technologies is concerned--no way. Again, OKC has been left in the dust because there's very little high technology R&D, particularly compared to Austin.

I have to take issue with this very broad and generalized statement. Austin is a sister city and I do not refute the growth and the desirablilty of place that Austin has going for it, and they do have vastly out paced us as far as the Tech Sector jobs however OKC is seeing substantial growth through the recession. There have been plenty of major projects put on hold or scrapped alltogether there in Austin due to the economy.

I guess my point is I spend an awful lot of time there in Austin and I just think that Austin is just further down the path that OKC is running. OKC was left in the dust at one time but brother, I am here to tell ya that the afterburners have kicked in and we are on the move! I think that it really does not have to be an us or them but as sister cities what can we each learn from each other?

You're all idiots. Oklahoma City is the new Mormon Temple of the northern Texas red dirt plains region.

What in the heck do you mean by that? Your random refernce to religous facility seems to have no relevancy to the topic at hand and so am curious why it was thrown in?

Mercy Health Center is a Magnet hospital. It is in the same league as John Hopkins and M.D. Anderson. And lest you forget that Oklahoma City has one of only three proton cancer treatment centers in the U.S. with another opening at OUHSC.



Where do you come up with this stuff? Mercy Health Center in the same league as John [sic] Hopkins and M.D. Anderson???? According to whom?
And it would be best to "forget" that OKC has one of only three proton cancer treatment centers in the U.S., since it is not now and has never been true. There were at least 5 proton centers in the U.S. prior to the opening of OKC's. OKC's was one of a group of 8 additional that were all under development as of May 2008 (and that does not include OUHSC's).

... The Midwest can have Tulsa though... lol

I'm originally from Altus.... noone could deny that it is the Southwest.
So are my parents, I was born there but they moved to OKC when I was 6 months old...and at one time it used to be part of Texas.

...and if you are talking about "new" med students then most have very rudimentary geography skills, but then it seems so many people (including my wife) are "geographically challenged" so it doesn't just affect med students.

Where do you come up with this stuff? Mercy Health Center in the same league as John [sic] Hopkins and M.D. Anderson???? According to whom?
And it would be best to "forget" that OKC has one of only three proton cancer treatment centers in the U.S., since it is not now and has never been true. There were at least 5 proton centers in the U.S. prior to the opening of OKC's. OKC's was one of a group of 8 additional that were all under development as of May 2008 (and that does not include OUHSC's).

You know, I had the same reaction. Mercy is not especially highly regarded in OKC, let alone the US.

Mercy Health Center was awarded Magnet status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) last month. The PR was on December 14.

For Immediate Release (http://www.mercyok.net/news/mhc_121409.asp)

But once again, good news overshadowed by disbelief. Very disheartening.

Where do you come up with this stuff? Mercy Health Center in the same league as John [sic] Hopkins and M.D. Anderson???? According to whom?
And it would be best to "forget" that OKC has one of only three proton cancer treatment centers in the U.S., since it is not now and has never been true. There were at least 5 proton centers in the U.S. prior to the opening of OKC's. OKC's was one of a group of 8 additional that were all under development as of May 2008 (and that does not include OUHSC's).

I stand corrected. 5, not 3. Point being, we got a treatment center before they became a dime a dozen. Isn't that the whole point of bragging rights.

I don't pull this stuff out of my ass. I don't come on this board without doing my homework.

It's funny how you guys don't waste time casting doubt on anything good about OKC that gets any kind of recognition. And we all wonder why OKC has difficulty keeping or attracting young professionals.

I guess you can think what you want, but the country is accepting the FACT that Oklahoma is midwest.

You'll come closer to Tulsa accepting that idea.

This is coming from someone who has lived all over the place. I grew up in CA and most recently moved from FL. Moving to OK has been the best decision I could have made. I had been trying to get a government job in FL for the longest time and had no success. The only place that would hire me was a VERY well-known retail and grocery store. I had been without work for about a year before I gave in and took a minimum wage job. I moved to OK on July 31st and by the 15th of September was starting my first day at a state agency where I currently work. I have made a lot of progress that realistically would not have been possible in any other state or city. So believe it or not, compared to the rest of the country, OK is booming.

Congratulations to you that you have found Oklahoma treating you so well in these tough economic times. And welcome aboard OKC Talk.

I stand corrected. 5, not 3. Point being, we got a treatment center before they became a dime a dozen. Isn't that the whole point of bragging rights.

I don't pull this stuff out of my ass. I don't come on this board without doing my homework.

It's funny how you guys don't waste time casting doubt on anything good about OKC that gets any kind of recognition. And we all wonder why OKC has difficulty keeping or attracting young professionals.

Ya it's sad isn't it?!? GOD FORBID OKIE DOKIE LAND DO ANYTHING PROGRESSIVE!!!!!

You'll come closer to Tulsa accepting that idea.

I doubt Tulsa will accept it either considering they are closer to Arkansas. And theres no reason to accept it.

Congratulations to you that you have found Oklahoma treating you so well in these tough economic times. And welcome aboard OKC Talk.

Thanks! Even with the crazy weather I love it here. Now only to find a good place to meet new people.... I might go check out Vintage Coffee....

shhh, be quiet, I think OKC is just the right population size right now, we don't need a come hither slogan, "New Promise Land of the SouthWest".

Or Capital of the New Century... *gag*

Mercy Health Center was awarded Magnet status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) last month. The PR was on December 14.

For Immediate Release (http://www.mercyok.net/news/mhc_121409.asp)

But once again, good news overshadowed by disbelief. Very disheartening.

It would have been enormously helpful had you provided the source to begin with so that we could have seen that what you were saying was that Mercy was in the same "league" for the purposes of this one very limited report, not on any larger scale of research, innovation, or worldwide recognition, as your post implied. Good news for Mercy, to be sure. But to make the general statement, as you did, that Mercy is "in the same league" as Johns Hopkins and M.D. Anderson is just silly.

I stand corrected. 5, not 3. Point being, we got a treatment center before they became a dime a dozen. Isn't that the whole point of bragging rights.

I don't pull this stuff out of my ass. I don't come on this board without doing my homework.

It's funny how you guys don't waste time casting doubt on anything good about OKC that gets any kind of recognition. And we all wonder why OKC has difficulty keeping or attracting young professionals.

But as I pointed out, it seems as if you do indeed pull this stuff out of your ass. And you have proved beyond dispute that you come on this board without doing your homework. One of only three in the country is flat-out incorrect. Had you done your homework you would have known that.

(and it seems as if you STILL do not get it... There were at least 5 in existence prior to OKC's. There were 8 under development at the time OKC's was under development. So by now, OKC's is probably one of at least 13. Still a point of honor, but far different from one of 3.)

Mercy Health Center is a Magnet hospital. It is in the same league as John Hopkins and M.D. Anderson.

Wow. If ever there was a pathetic example of how boundless civic pride can cause one to discard all common sense...

But as I pointed out, it seems as if you do indeed pull this stuff out of your ass. And you have proved beyond dispute that you come on this board without doing your homework. One of only three in the country is flat-out incorrect. Had you done your homework you would have known that.

(and it seems as if you STILL do not get it... There were at least 5 in existence prior to OKC's. There were 8 under development at the time OKC's was under development. So by now, OKC's is probably one of at least 13. Still a point of honor, but far different from one of 3.)

At press time, one out of three was the information I gathered. I do not have time to constantly keep up with changing stats so do not dare accuse me of being a liar.

I am as passionate of OKC as I am of my family and I have sacrificed many hours of my personal time to put together a very good book to help get OKC's foot in the door, so I do not appreciate the tone you took with your last post after I told you I stand corrected.

It would have been enormously helpful had you provided the source to begin with so that we could have seen that what you were saying was that Mercy was in the same "league" for the purposes of this one very limited report, not on any larger scale of research, innovation, or worldwide recognition, as your post implied. Good news for Mercy, to be sure. But to make the general statement, as you did, that Mercy is "in the same league" as Johns Hopkins and M.D. Anderson is just silly.

I did not because I assumed you guys had already known. I emphasized Magnet status, so I don't see how my post left such as impression. But okay.

I am still longing to return to OKC. I don't need OKC to turn into Dallas or Houston to convince me to move back.

Wow. If ever there was a pathetic example of how boundless civic pride can cause one to discard all common sense...

As a Magnet hospital. Damn, forget I ever even posted the damn link. This whole thing is a f**king joke.

Mercy Health Center is a Magnet hospital. It is in the same league as John Hopkins and M.D. Anderson.

It's actually "Johns Hopkins" and not "John Hopkins" by the way.

I did not because I assumed you guys had already known. I emphasized Magnet status, so I don't see how my post left such as impression. But okay.

I am still longing to return to OKC. I don't need OKC to turn into Dallas or Houston to convince me to move back.

Come on back to OKC, I promise you not everyone's an a-hole like the few that have been criticizing your post's.

At press time, one out of three was the information I gathered. I do not have time to constantly keep up with changing stats so do not dare accuse me of being a liar.

I am as passionate of OKC as I am of my family and I have sacrificed many hours of my personal time to put together a very good book to help get OKC's foot in the door, so I do not appreciate the tone you took with your last post after I told you I stand corrected.

Cool your jets, little man. No one accused you of being a liar. Only of not doing your homework, a charge that is beyond dispute. At "press time" it would have not taken any significant time to find that there are more than three such facilities in the U.S.

If you can't stand correction, then I'd suggest doing your homework.

(And by the way, you've engaged in a little misdirection by now complaining about my "tone" in response to your telling me that you "stand corrected", conveniently leaving out your excuse-making and incoherent statements that "I don't pull this stuff out of my ass. I don't come on this board without doing my homework." Here's another suggestion for you: if someone corrects your misstatements, don't immediately claim to "not come on the board without doing your homework"... it makes you look silly.)