This is interesting, shows OKC is actually quite diverse and LEADS the nation in the "Other" category. :)

http://priceonomics.com/how-diverse-is-your-city/

Very interesting to see how white Seattle is, and especially Portland.

Does indeed explain the visibility of these trends as you get about the Oklahoma City area. You see what appears to be people of all demographics throughout our ever changing metro.

How Oklahoma Declared War on Obesity?and What's Happened Since (http://gizmodo.com/how-oklahoma-declared-war-on-obesity-and-whats-happened-1736210344)


Nice to have shredded enough pounds to get out from underneath that dreaded moniker: Fat Folks Capital of the World.

This is interesting, shows OKC is actually quite diverse and LEADS the nation in the "Other" category. :)

http://priceonomics.com/how-diverse-is-your-city/

Very interesting to see how white Seattle is, and especially Portland.

That was discussed quite a bit during the Sonics-to-OKC lawsuit when (among other bigoted barbs lobbed at OKC) Seattleites alleged that the move would make the NBA less diverse. They (notably Sherman Alexie) were embarrassed a bit when it was revealed that OKC was considerably more diverse than Seattle.

Interesting how the numbers don't lie, now isn't it. ...but nevermind, OKC is the hick backwater and Seattle is the diversity queen.

Speaking of queens, isn't Oklahoma #1 or very close to it for the number of beauty pageant winners. Shh, keep the secret.

19th worst traffic

http://www.weather.com/travel/commuter-conditions/news/worst-traffic-cities-2015?cm_ven=Facebook_TheWeatherChannel_Travel_JKo_ Article_No_7_20151020

The thing I found most interesting is how they grouped OKC with the Large urban areas and not Medium.

edit: turns out it's just by population so nm

Report: OKC home to ?the least attractive women? in the US | The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2015/10/23/report-okc-home-to-the-least-attractive-women-in-the-us/)

Gonna have to disagree with this list; first thing I noticed when moving here from the east coast was how beautiful and natural the women were here. Was able to land one myself!

#9 on cities Americans are flocking to over the past 4 years

The Cities Americans Are Thronging To And Fleeing | Newgeography.com (http://www.newgeography.com/content/005066-the-cities-americans-are-thronging-to-and-fleeing)

OKC made it to a Huffington Post article about Dia de los Muertos, thought that was pretty cool.

35 Hauntingly Beautiful Photos To Capture Day Of The Dead Worldwide (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/day-of-the-dead-photos-around-the-world-2015_5637abf5e4b0c66bae5d34ed?utm_hp_ref=latino-voices)

#9 on cities Americans are flocking to over the past 4 years

The Cities Americans Are Thronging To And Fleeing | Newgeography.com (http://www.newgeography.com/content/005066-the-cities-americans-are-thronging-to-and-fleeing)

According to these figures, OKC Metro is now tied with Memphis at 1.34 million as of 2014. This year we pass them forever.

Richard Mize: Oklahoma City is given rare low spot on ?best? survey | News OK (http://newsok.com/richard-mize-oklahoma-city-is-given-rare-low-spot-on-best-survey/article/5458407)

I-240 is ranked as the third deadliest interstate in the country.

1. Interstate 285, Georgia

2. Interstate 710, California

3. Interstate 240, Oklahoma

4. Interstate 495, Delaware

5. Interstate 240, Tennessee

Atlanta's I-285 Named Deadliest Interstate in America - Story | WAGA (http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/45464976-story)

Why is this? Traffic counts? Poor on and off ramps?

Why is this? Traffic counts? Poor on and off ramps?

This gives the information about how it was figured. Obviously the total number of fatalities in I240 in OKC was not the main consideration, because it is low compare to many others.

http://www.vox.com/a/deadliest-interstates-united-states

#9 on cities Americans are flocking to over the past 4 years

The Cities Americans Are Thronging To And Fleeing | Newgeography.com (http://www.newgeography.com/content/005066-the-cities-americans-are-thronging-to-and-fleeing)

Careful when quoting Joel Kotkin... he would argue that the high ranking is in spite of efforts to attract younger creative class workers with lifestyle and quality of life improvements, and instead due to the strong preponderance of cheap, low-density tract housing...

Careful when quoting Joel Kotkin... he would argue that the high ranking is in spite of efforts to attract younger creative class workers with lifestyle and quality of life improvements, and instead due to the strong preponderance of cheap, low-density tract housing...

If we look objectively, then it is probably both. In the end, you have to find a way to pay for wherever you want to be.

In Oklahoma City, Entrepreneurs Aim to Create the Next Cool Startup Scene | Inc.com (http://www.inc.com/anna-hensel/how-oklahoma-city-s-high-tech-startup-scene-is-growing.html)

The Rape Trial Everyone in America Should Be Watching : Cosmopolitan (http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a49050/daniel-holtzclaw-trial-oklahoma/)

The Rape Trial Everyone in America Should Be Watching : Cosmopolitan (http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a49050/daniel-holtzclaw-trial-oklahoma/)

I don't know Daniel, but I have been reading some of the stuff on newsok. One thing that stood out to me yesterday was one account where the victim indicated he sexually abused her, in a hospital, while hooked up to all sorts of monitors. There was never an indication of increased heart rate, or other signals one might think would alert nurses to the room during his time in there. From reading that, it sounds like she could have fabricated the story.

I'm curious about the Fb messages.

"Prosecutors allege Holtzclaw touched the woman illicitly and forced her to perform oral sex while she wore a hospital gown.

The woman told the jury she remembers her gown “drooping.”

“He came to the right side of me and he grabbed my breast as he was pulling up my gown,” she testified. “I really didn't want to believe that's what he was trying to do.”

The woman also testified that Holtzclaw made attempts to see her genitals while she rested in the hospital bed with her knees bent.

“He stuck his hand in my privates,” she testified. “I didn't expect that because he did it out of nowhere.”

She testified that she didn't tell law enforcement because “it was still in my head that he was going to help me.” She also testified that she didn't think the police would believe her.

Holtzclaw's defense attorney, Scott Adams, questioned the woman's credibility.

Adams noted how the woman told jurors she was not a liar. He contended the woman lied to police multiple times on Dec. 20, 2013, when she was arrested. The woman testified that she told police she was her twin sister.

The defense attorney also noted how the woman is a convicted felon and has given police multiple fake names and false Social Security numbers in the past.

The woman said she lied in the past but those lies are not related to these allegations of sexual abuse.

“Those are different situations,” she testified. “I'm not saying I'm perfect ... I'm trying to change."

The defense attorney also noted that at the time of the alleged sexual abuse the woman was hooked up to hospital monitors because she was high on PCP. The woman testified Holtzclaw coached her into keeping her heart rate down so the monitors wouldn't go off. The defense attorney questioned her ability to keep her heart rate down if she was being sexually abused.

Facebook and text messages sent between Holtzclaw and the accuser were also mentioned during the woman's testimony. The defense attorney contended that there is no evidence in the messages that indicates any kind of deal was made by Holtzclaw to eliminate the woman's drug charge.

The defense attorney contended that Holtzclaw was genuinely concerned about the woman.

One Facebook message sent by Holtzclaw to the woman stated, "Making sure you're doing OK and staying out of trouble.”

The trial began Nov. 2 and is expect to go through the month. Holtzclaw is charged in Oklahoma County District Court with 36 counts, including six counts of first-degree rape. The sex crimes allegedly occurred between December 2013 and June 2014."

Are you somehow trying to defend this ass clown?

Are you somehow trying to defend this ass clown?

I think he's trying to say that there is a reason we use trial by jury and not trial by media and public outrage. There are two sides to every story, though if I'm not mistaken, there were multiple incidents in addition to this one that were more damning. That victim's account of the incident is pretty shaky, but I'm pretty sure there were others that were not.

I think he's trying to say that there is a reason we use trial by jury and not trial by media and public outrage. There are two sides to every story, though if I'm not mistaken, there were multiple incidents in addition to this one that were more damning. That victim's account of the incident is pretty shaky, but I'm pretty sure there were others that were not.
This is 2015 and trial by outrage is wayyyyyy more fun!!!!

In Oklahoma City, Entrepreneurs Aim to Create the Next Cool Startup Scene | Inc.com (http://www.inc.com/anna-hensel/how-oklahoma-city-s-high-tech-startup-scene-is-growing.html)

I'm not sitting in the courtroom listening to all the details. I can't make an informed decision. And unless you are in there or are following it very closely, I don't think you are able to make an informed decision either.

I'm waiting for all the information and have faith in the current system. Watever the court (jury) finds, I will most likely believe that.

My use of the pronoun 'you' isn't directed at anyone in particular. Just in general.

I think he's trying to say that there is a reason we use trial by jury and not trial by media and public outrage. There are two sides to every story, though if I'm not mistaken, there were multiple incidents in addition to this one that were more damning. That victim's account of the incident is pretty shaky, but I'm pretty sure there were others that were not.

Was Holtzclaw in SAE?

Was Holtzclaw in SAE?

Wow..Seriously?

I'm not sitting in the courtroom listening to all the details. I can't make an informed decision. And unless you are in there or are following it very closely, I don't think you are able to make an informed decision either.

I'm waiting for all the information and have faith in the current system. Watever the court (jury) finds, I will most likely believe that.

My use of the pronoun 'you' isn't directed at anyone in particular. Just in general.

Faith in the current system that lets cops off the hook for damn near anything they do, and the current system that is massively racially discriminatory in almost every aspect of arrests, ticketing, and convictions (even death penalty convictions) and has wrongly convicted many, many, many people (some on death row)?

Yeah, yeah, most of the time it works right, but it *is* rigged to favor cops...

Faith in the current system that lets cops off the hook for damn near anything they do, and the current system that is massively racially discriminatory in almost every aspect of arrests, ticketing, and convictions (even death penalty convictions) and has wrongly convicted many, many, many people (some on death row)?

Yeah, yeah, most of the time it works right, but it *is* rigged to favor cops...

I agree that there are a lot of dirty cops. But I also agree with Charles Barkley(!) that if it weren't for the large police presence in the black community it would mean more black deaths. If Black Lives Matter (and they do) they need to matter to the black community and stop the cultural sickness in a huge part of black neighborhoods in nearly every big city. Because THAT is why there has to be a huge police presence and why you have disproportionate police killings against blacks. That's where the majority of crime is in most big cities (sorry, it's just the truth). Chicken or the Egg?

These streets are made for walking: how Oklahoma City overturned car culture | Public Leaders Network | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2015/nov/19/oklahoma-walking-car-culture-pedestrians-cities?CMP=share_btn_tw)

nm

These streets are made for walking: how Oklahoma City overturned car culture | Public Leaders Network | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2015/nov/19/oklahoma-walking-car-culture-pedestrians-cities?CMP=share_btn_tw)

Good to see this positive publicity. OKC has definitely come a long ways over the past 20 years. I am not sure I would go as far as to say car culture has been overturned because this city still has quite a ways to go even in its urban core. Its good to see the positive strides recognized by another publication. I am hoping the 2017 Go-Bond package addresses some of the remaining annoyances for pedestrians so by 2020, you can legitimately say "these streets are made for walking."

I agree that there are a lot of dirty cops. But I also agree with Charles Barkley(!) that if it weren't for the large police presence in the black community it would mean more black deaths. If Black Lives Matter (and they do) they need to matter to the black community and stop the cultural sickness in a huge part of black neighborhoods in nearly every big city. Because THAT is why there has to be a huge police presence and why you have disproportionate police killings against blacks. That's where the majority of crime is in most big cities (sorry, it's just the truth). Chicken or the Egg?

. . . .

Oklahoma City recently ranked by Forbes as No. 10 on the list of America's Next Boom Towns.

Forbes Welcome (http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2016/01/14/americas-next-boom-towns/?utm_campaign=Forbes&utm_source=FBPAGE&utm_medium=social&utm_channel=Business&linkId=20359069)

Oklahoma City recently ranked by Forbes as No. 10 on the list of America's Next Boom Towns.

Forbes Welcome (http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2016/01/14/americas-next-boom-towns/?utm_campaign=Forbes&utm_source=FBPAGE&utm_medium=social&utm_channel=Business&linkId=20359069)

I clicked on your link and never found that article.

I clicked on your link and never found that article.

Methodology - In Photos: America's Cities Of The Future - Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/pictures/edgl45hdji/methodology/)

This is nice: Oklahoma City Is The Best City In America (http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/oklahoma/best-city-in-ok/)

This is nice: Oklahoma City Is The Best City In America (http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/oklahoma/best-city-in-ok/)
It's interesting that they show a picture of "Toby Keith's" when talking about our emerging food scene. :)

It's interesting that they show a picture of "Toby Keith's" when talking about our emerging food scene. :)

That whole website is geared to click-bait for people in every state and every big city. It's an easy "link-to" for civic boosters. There are sections for all 50 states. All positive. All glowing. All linkable, all clickable and - profitable. It will pass as a fun to click through patchwork travel guide, but I saw a lot of questionable content that seems to have been swiped. They'll keep it up until they get a DMCA. No coincidence they have a DMCA link at the bottom of each page.

Comments section for that link; it seems as though we rung someone's bell in Philadelphia... :rolleyes:

An article of interest from Ben Stein.

Glorious Oklahoma | The American Spectator (http://spectator.org/articles/65455/glorious-oklahoma)

Bueller....Bueller....

An article of interest from Ben Stein.

Glorious Oklahoma | The American Spectator (http://spectator.org/articles/65455/glorious-oklahoma)

Bueller....Bueller....

One of the stranger articles I've ever read. His basic argument is that OKC people are amazing because they're not angry at the things he is angry at (which they actually are maybe more than any city in the United States). He clearly just uses OKC as some kind of weird cover to passive aggressively bash Obama and suggest that student loans and racism aren't real problems. Lol.

That whole website is geared to click-bait for people in every state and every big city. It's an easy "link-to" for civic boosters. There are sections for all 50 states. All positive. All glowing. All linkable, all clickable and - profitable. It will pass as a fun to click through patchwork travel guide, but I saw a lot of questionable content that seems to have been swiped. They'll keep it up until they get a DMCA. No coincidence they have a DMCA link at the bottom of each page.

Yeah the article is pretty much word for word what was said in the 2013 chamber of commerce video. OKC's inferiority complex really comes across in it in my opinion. This isn't a negative attack on the city but on that specific video.

Personally I think the message in that video was a little too "hey hipsters, we are cool too!!!" The video last summer by The Coolist is much better in my opinion.

It appears all of the Oklahoma articles on that site are written by one woman.

Cool article!

Oklahoma City Is Becoming a Hotspot for Vietnamese Food | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/oklahoma-city-becoming-hotspot-vietnamese-food-180958096/?no-ist)

Cool article!

Oklahoma City Is Becoming a Hotspot for Vietnamese Food | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/oklahoma-city-becoming-hotspot-vietnamese-food-180958096/?no-ist)

Wow. A McKibben/Halpern article in the Smithsonian about Oklahoma City. That really is a nice piece. Do you know if that's in the print magazine as well? I'm guessing, since it's those two, it probably is. Great stuff!

Cool article!

Oklahoma City Is Becoming a Hotspot for Vietnamese Food | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/oklahoma-city-becoming-hotspot-vietnamese-food-180958096/?no-ist)

I came here to post the same link (I saw it on Reddit). Pretty cool story, although the final paragraph was a bit of a depressing indictment of the general sentiment of a lot of young people in OKC. Namely, do what you can to help until you're in a position to GTFO, then GTFO with the intention of never looking back.

Well this ain't good.

Kyrie Irving got bed bugs at allegedly haunted OKC hotel | Yardbarker.com (http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/kyrie_irving_had_bed_bugs_at_haunted_okc_hotel/s1_127_20374408)

Well this ain't good.

Kyrie Irving got bed bugs at allegedly haunted OKC hotel | Yardbarker.com (http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/kyrie_irving_had_bed_bugs_at_haunted_okc_hotel/s1_127_20374408)

Traxx,
Actually, it happens occasionally, the following is from an article in today's DOK sports section.
C. T.

Jessica Dustin, Director of Rooms for The Skirvin Hilton, said the bed bugs were reported on Sunday morning. Dustin said inspectors confirmed that the infestation was isolated to one room, which will be out of commission for “several weeks” after multiple treatments.

“Unfortunately, every hotel at some point or the other has a case of the bed bugs,” Dustin said Monday night. “We were fortunate enough that he did report it to us immediately.”

Dustin would not disclose the floor of the contamination.

“We were very fortunate we were coming off a lower occupancy,” Dustin said. “We took the necessary steps to remedy the situation.”

Traxx,
Actually, it happens occasionally, the following is from an article in today's DOK sports section.
C. T.

Jessica Dustin, Director of Rooms for The Skirvin Hilton, said the bed bugs were reported on Sunday morning. Dustin said inspectors confirmed that the infestation was isolated to one room, which will be out of commission for “several weeks” after multiple treatments.

“Unfortunately, every hotel at some point or the other has a case of the bed bugs,” Dustin said Monday night. “We were fortunate enough that he did report it to us immediately.”

Dustin would not disclose the floor of the contamination.

“We were very fortunate we were coming off a lower occupancy,” Dustin said. “We took the necessary steps to remedy the situation.”

Yea, it had sounded like it had gotten really bad nation wide (if not internationally) a few years ago, not sure if it is better or worse now.

http://bleacherreport.com/video_embed?id=7c038eb5-1554-4e9f-8c9e-04382e9a9ebe

Bron Bron in downtown OKC this past weekend - looks like he was having fun.

MSN Travel did a list (Yes, I know. Lists are clickbait and meant to start arguments.) of the best hotel in every state. Oklahoma's is not an OKC hotel. It's the Mayo hotel in Tulsa.

The best hotel in every state (http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/the-best-hotel-in-every-state/ss-BBofJh8?ocid=ansmsnsports11&fullscreen=true#image=37)

Agree? Disagree?

double post

Please delete

Mayo was nice (stayed there when we saw The Pixies/F*ck Buttons at the Brady a few years ago), but we had a few minor problems - A/C was too noisy and old, things like that, nothing huge, but just annoyances when you're paying that much (restaurant was great, though). It's about the same as the Skirvin, IMO, but those are the only 2 "fancy" hotels we've stayed in in OK (except the Price Tower in Bartlesville, but that's a whole other thang).

MSN Travel did a list (Yes, I know. Lists are clickbait and meant to start arguments.) of the best hotel in every state. Oklahoma's is not an OKC hotel. It's the Mayo hotel in Tulsa.

The best hotel in every state (http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/the-best-hotel-in-every-state/ss-BBofJh8?ocid=ansmsnsports11&fullscreen=true#image=37)

Agree? Disagree?

I guess it depends on the criteria. The Mayo is fancy... not sure if I'd rate it higher than say, the Artesian in Sulphur. Of course, if location ,entertainment options, shopping, etc, is part of the criteria, then the Mayo would win out, imo.

Follow up question; Is the Mayo better than the Miracle Whip?

Follow up question; Is the Mayo better than the Miracle Whip?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWcq8vr8AV0

They are probably right with regard to the Mayo.

I suspect OKC will win next time once 21C Museum Hotel opens, since the one in Cincy won. This assuming our 21C will be better than theirs.

Then again, just compare the two in the slide show and Mayo wins hands down. ... Mayo seems to be the BEST remaining tribute to Tulsa's (and Oklahoma's) grandy Oly days. I think Mayo beats many other state's in the list too, including ours here in Seattle (4 Seasons, which flip flops names between Fairmont and 4-Seasons every 10 years it seems).

They are probably right with regard to the Mayo.

I suspect OKC will win next time once 21C Museum Hotel opens, since the one in Cincy won. This assuming our 21C will be better than theirs.

Then again, just compare the two in the slide show and Mayo wins hands down. ... Mayo seems to be the BEST remaining tribute to Tulsa's (and Oklahoma's) grandy Oly days. I think Mayo beats many other state's in the list too, including ours here in Seattle (4 Seasons, which flip flops names between Fairmont and 4-Seasons every 10 years it seems).

really? I mean the Mayo is nice, but I never have thought it was above the skirvin. They seem pretty similar other than the mayos rooftop bar. I would put them both on the same level.

Not sure where exactly to put this, but I thought was the best place. Admin, feel free to move it:

Worth the trip: Turkish businessmen seek opportunities in Oklahoma City

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record March 8, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City is a 19-hour flight from Turkey. But more than 40 Turkish businessmen thought it was worth the trip to see investment opportunities here.

“I wanted to see the different commercial real estate opportunities,” said Emih Temiz, who came on the trip organized by the American Turkic Business Council. “It’s definitely something further we should look at.”

Temiz has a retail center in Houston and is building two new single-family homes in Austin.

“Houston has big exposure to oil market,” Temiz said. “I wanted (an economy that’s) a little more stable.”

Temiz and the other businessmen have a combined $200 million to invest, and had to have at least $500,000 in investment money to come on the trip. The men started their journey in Houston, then spent two days in Oklahoma City, and are also stopping in Dallas and New York.

“We didn’t want to have uninterested parties,” said Ersin Demirci, vice president of aerospace and energy for the American Turkic Business Council.

While in Oklahoma City, they learned about investment opportunities in commercial real estate, All About Chai coffee and tea restaurant, and manufacturing businesses. They also attended a reception at the Governor’s Mansion, where Oklahoma City Thunder basketball player Enes Kanter visited. Kanter’s father is from Turkey, and Enes Kanter played youth basketball in the country.

Clearwater Enterprises President Tony Say is also a Turkey native. He is hosting a private reception Wednesday.

This is the Turkic Business Council’s first year to host such an event, but the plan is to make it an annual occurrence, said Kadir Akkus, executive director of the Raindrop Foundation, which operates the Raindrop Turkish House. Tuesday’s lunch was held at the Turkish House on Classen.

Texas Turkish Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Orhan Osman said the businessmen want to invest in the U.S. because of political issues in Turkey. He said any company that doesn’t support the Turkish government’s wrongdoing is considered an outcast and the government will find reasons to shut down the business.

“We want them to find a safe haven in Oklahoma, Texas or New Mexico,” he said.

He said similar trips have proven successful in Texas, with $150 million being invested in a manufacturing company in 2013. In 2014, a Turkish investor put $7 million into a manufacturing company in New Mexico.

He said the Turkish businessmen are not seeking EB-5 visas, though they are interested in E-2 options.

All EB-5 investors must fund new development, which means it’s completed after 1990. In exchange for the investment, the investor and family members are granted conditional permanent residence for two years.

The E-2 option allows a person from a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital.

Burhan Altinbilek with the Texas-based Original Group LLC has invested in 10 apartment complexes in Houston and 10 more complexes in College Station, Texas. The Turkey native has been in the U.S. for seven years.

His company renovates Class C apartments into higher-quality products to get higher lease rates. In Oklahoma City, Altinbilek said he sees prospects to continue his business model.

“Maybe in the future we’ll have 10 (complexes) in Oklahoma City,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunities here.”

The bolded parts, I think, are very important.