The most widely reported unemployment rate is the U 3. It excludes those who have quit looking for work. U6 rate does include:
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/080415/true-unemployment-rate-u6-vs-u3.asp

The most widely reported unemployment rate is the U 3. It excludes those who have quit looking for work. U6 rate does include:
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/080415/true-unemployment-rate-u6-vs-u3.asp

You CANNOT receive unemployment benefits unless you demonstrate an active job search. In Oklahoma you have to do this weekly and I believe that is the case in most/all other states.

So this silly and widely-held idea that people are receiving benefits and not a part of the group looking for work is 100% false.

You CANNOT receive unemployment benefits unless you demonstrate an active job search. In Oklahoma you have to do this weekly and I believe that is the case in most/all other states.

So this silly and widely-held idea that people are receiving benefits and not a part of the group looking for work is 100% false.

Having been on unemployment twice in two different states (WA and IL), you absolutely have to make contacts weekly, *and* list them on a sheet that can be asked for at any time. I never got asked to "show my work", yet if they did and I didn't have a valid list of contacts that I've made, I'm pretty sure my benefits would've stopped (at the very least) and they probably would've taken back benefits they'd already given me.

Benefits are provided weekly and you have to submit your work search info (a min of two contacts) every week before you get paid.


It scares me that not only that so few people understand this program, but how they are also repeating the "people on unemployment don't get counted as unemployed" myth.

It's been posted on this site alone over 10 times by at least 4 different people, all stating something as absolute fact which is 100% false. It also says a lot about someone that keeps insisting this is true because somehow it makes them feel better about themselves, just like the 'Welfare Queen' myth of the Reagan era.

You CANNOT receive unemployment benefits unless you demonstrate an active job search...

Really not interested in publicly involving myself in the rest of this discussion, but I can tell you for a fact that without question this requirement is gamed ruthlessly, and was even pre-pandemic. Run an ad on a job board and see how many applicants you get vs how many are willing to show up for an interview, or simply pick up a phone or return a call or e-mail when you contact them on their application. See how many simply no-show interviews. As I said, this part has been going on since well before the pandemic, though previously it was probably people just checking boxes to stay on unemployment until a job they REALLY wanted came along. It's definitely a thing.

And before someone says that they'd easily be caught, understand that technology now enables people to submit applications to many, MANY employers instantly, and then to only list on their weekly report to OESC the ones who DIDN'T call them for an interview. Before job boards existed you used to have to call an employer, mail a resume or apply in person for them to be listed as part of your job search. Today's world is very different.

^

Yes, they are not just lazy but dishonest. :rolleyes:


The central point is that people keep claiming that those receiving benefits are somehow not counted in the unemployment numbers, which is completely untrue.

Had an email saying 23rd street location is opening May 1st.

Time has come to finally put Big Truck out of business!

Why would you be so eager to put a beloved local business out of business? I feel singlehandedly determined to keep BTT alive but I'm not rooting for the failure of either of them...

Why would you be so eager to put a beloved local business out of business? I feel singlehandedly determined to keep BTT alive but I'm not rooting for the failure of either of them...
Agree! I like Ted's and I like BTT. I hope the offerings are different enough to make both work. Example, we might stop at Taco Bueno for lunch and go to Abuelo's for dinner. Never considering them the same thing (Mexican food) at all.

Why would you be so eager to put a beloved local business out of business? I feel singlehandedly determined to keep BTT alive but I'm not rooting for the failure of either of them...

^x1000 (personally don't like Teds, so I'll be at BTT!!)

^x1000 (personally don't like Teds, so I'll be at BTT!!)

So, you've tried the new concept and don't like it?

So, you've tried the new concept and don't like it?

. . . concept has nothing to do with it. . .just never impressed with their food. Plus thought the statement about putting BTT out of business was rather small-minded. Bottom line. . to each his own!!

. . . concept has nothing to do with it. . .just never impressed with their food. Plus thought the statement about putting BTT out of business was rather small-minded. Bottom line. . to each his own!!

But, you haven’t actually had the food here, right?

I haven't had the food either. I also don't care to try it. Given Ted's status of being a local chain, and that a lot of--if not all--of the ingredients are the same I'm assuming it wouldn't be a stretch to assume the food wouldn't be that different.

I haven't had the food either. I also don't care to try it. Given Ted's status of being a local chain, and that a lot of--if not all--of the ingredients are the same I'm assuming it wouldn't be a stretch to assume the food wouldn't be that different.

Ted's is no longer local.

The Hal Smith group sold their interest some time ago.

I haven't had the food either. I also don't care to try it. Given Ted's status of being a local chain, and that a lot of--if not all--of the ingredients are the same I'm assuming it wouldn't be a stretch to assume the food wouldn't be that different.

Curious.... do you have something against local based restaurants with multiple locations? Sounds like you are saying local is inferior.

I also don't understand people bashing something they admittedly haven't even tried.

I think what Thomas was getting was since they are a chain you don't need to try out a new location or concept to have a general idea of whether you like it or not.

Ultimately Ted's is a brand. If one doesn't have a good perception of that brand they probably aren't going to be interested in trying out out a new location or concept. I think it is also fair on a discussion board for someone to provide their opinion on an established brand without having to try each new concept. I wouldn't call this "bashing".

Ted's is no longer local.

The Hal Smith group sold their interest some time ago.

Hal smith is on the board of the company that runs all the teds ..

when teds started their big expansion a VC firm partnered with Hal smith to grow the brand but in a different company (not HSRG)

Ultimately Ted's is a brand. If one doesn't have a good perception of that brand they probably aren't going to be interested in trying out out a new location or concept. I think it is also fair on a discussion board for someone to provide their opinion on an established brand without having to try each new concept. I wouldn't call this "bashing".

I'm not a fan of Ted's. I probably haven't eaten at one in 20 years, but I tried the cantina concept on 23rd anyway. I wasn't blown away by the food, but it is passable and I love hanging out on the patio.

Well I mean that's fair as well. It's not an either or situation.

I think what Thomas was getting was since they are a chain you don't need to try out a new location or concept to have a general idea of whether you like it or not.

Ultimately Ted's is a brand. If one doesn't have a good perception of that brand they probably aren't going to be interested in trying out out a new location or concept. I think it is also fair on a discussion board for someone to provide their opinion on an established brand without having to try each new concept. I wouldn't call this "bashing".

I get it, but a new concept doesn't just mean a subset of the old concept. I would suggest trying new businesses instead of summarily dismissing them.

I've actually eaten at Ted's pretty recently because I was dragged there for a family get together and I have to say, the food was really good! I used to be on the bandwagon that Ted's was just "meh" until that visit. Also, their flour tortillas are still some of the best in the city.

I get it, but a new concept doesn't just mean a subset of the old concept. I would suggest trying new businesses instead of summarily dismissing them.

I went ahead and looked at the menus, and see that my assumption of overlapping ingredients was incorrect.

Having said that, I just found a taco place I really like. La pinata taco truck if anybody was curious

I was hoping to elaborate on where foodiefan was coming from with my comment.

Benefits are provided weekly and you have to submit your work search info (a min of two contacts) every week before you get paid.


It scares me that not only that so few people understand this program, but how they are also repeating the "people on unemployment don't get counted as unemployed" myth.

It's been posted on this site alone over 10 times by at least 4 different people, all stating something as absolute fact which is 100% false. It also says a lot about someone that keeps insisting this is true because somehow it makes them feel better about themselves, just like the 'Welfare Queen' myth of the Reagan era.

I want to preface this post by saying that I respect you a lot Pete and we've known each other for a lot of years and I most definitely respect your opinions, more than most on this site, for sure. However, on this topic I will have to disagree with you based on my own experiences.

I filed for unemployment on October 11, 2020, and every week thereafter until I started my new job April 12th of this year. Ironically and sadly, I didn't get a penny of my unemployment befefit money until the actual first day of my new job, April 12th, 6 months and one day after applying for benefits. A few weeks after I first applied, the federal waiver on job searches lapsed and they were required again. When I went to file for that week I was hit with the requirement and at the time I thought it meant I had to do the 2 searches on OKJobMatch (absolutely worthless site) so they could track it. But, after answering no on the question like a niave, honest person I read that Indeed searches count and I had actually applied for about 8 jobs that week so I had to call the unemployment office to have them fix my erroneous claim. After being on hold for the requisite 3 hours I finally got to speak to a very nice and overworked lady that damn near fell out of her chair laughing because I told her I had said no to the question. She all but told me to just say yes to that question no matter what. Now, over the 6 months I applied for 200+ jobs so I always fulfilled the requirement, but I can promise you most people are pretty much advised to say yes to that question no matter what. And, that office is so ridiculously overworked, understaffed, and overwhelmed with merely accomplishing it's main task to be tracking down people that aren't being honest about their weekly work searches. And, there is no tracking of the searches at all. Merely a threat of being charged with fraud if you are not truthful. Just the way it is.

As for the "welfare queens" topic, I unfortunately had a front row seat for many years to that very thing happening A LOT. My wife taught Career Tech at inner city schools for over a decade. And, while she loved her job and the impact she had on a lot of student's lives, the absolute constant churning of successful high school graduates into the system was soul crushing for her. Every year there were many students that she helped become the very celebrated first in their family to graduate from high school. And, in nearly all of those cases my wife had helped them secure a FREE college path after graduating only to see the majority of them get pregnant, move in with a family member, and jump right into the system. We watched it happen year after year after year. Add in the equally soul crushing teaching salary and it has finally driven my wife out of the job she absolutely loved and she finally took the money to work out of teaching. Unfortunately the concept is far from a myth.

To the topic.... I absoutely loved Ted's when it was the original and still run by the founder and original owner. Once they started to expand they encountered the inevitable changes that come from a chain seeking consistency and volume. If I find myself at Ted's I don't mind the experience as typically it's very consistent and the service is good. However, I never actively choose to eat at Ted's anymore when I feel like there are many more tex-mex options that are more unique and locally owned to choose from. But, this particular taco shop venture that they very deliberately opened across the street from a very good and very local establishment of the same genre will never get a penny of my money. I would never go to the Sonic in Norman that was a blatant attempt to run Classic 50's out of business and I won't do it in this case either. That's just a personal thing for me and I won't support that sort of business activity. If they open one up somewhere else I might try it, but no way I'm ever stepping foot in this one. But, that's my own personal choice and I also respect anyone else's choice to patronize them, for the record.

Just received a press release saying Ted's Cantina is opening their 2nd location in Ardmore.

I'm sure we'll see more in OKC as well.

Do you have a link to that somewhere, Pete? I may need to send that to some family down that direction.

Do you have a link to that somewhere, Pete? I may need to send that to some family down that direction.

https://tedstacocantina.com/teds-tacos-and-cantina-to-open-second-location-in-ardmore/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ardmore-announce

They are taking over the old Cotton Patch Cafe next to the AMC theater.

Awesome, thanks.

location 3 and 4 will be announced soon

Wet taco

Any reviews of that?

Looks kind of gross to me...

I've had that a few times, it's a bit messy to eat but I found it fairly tasty.

I've had that a few times, it's a bit messy to eat but I found it fairly tasty.

Yeah maybe the messiness of it is what is making me feel turned off from trying it.

Next time I do a big truck pickup order I'll try the wet taco to convince myself that even though I am getting older I'm still open to trying new things!

Wet taco

Any reviews of that?

Looks kind of gross to me...

Tried it my first trip. Nothing special IMO. Definitely wasn't gross though. Give it a try, you might like it.

birria tacos in general are great. Can't speak on teds though.

Wet taco

Any reviews of that?

Looks kind of gross to me...

I definitely wasn't a huge fan. The "wet" part just tasted bland to me. Wet and bland - not a great combo imho.

https://tedstacocantina.com/teds-tacos-and-cantina-to-open-second-location-in-ardmore/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ardmore-announce

They are taking over the old Cotton Patch Cafe next to the AMC theater.

Not surprised the Cotton Patch Cafe went out of business. Ate there twice pre-COVID and the service was terrible both times.

https://tedstacocantina.com/teds-tacos-and-cantina-to-open-second-location-in-ardmore/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ardmore-announce

They are taking over the old Cotton Patch Cafe next to the AMC theater.

It would be nice if Ted's would take over the closed El Vaquero on the west side of Stillwater. It's been for sale for around 2 years. There's been nothing Mexican on the west side since it closed, due to the manager getting in trouble over smuggling workers from Mexico.

I'll bet we'll see a pretty good battle between Ted's Cantina and Fuzzy's.

Both similar concepts with strong backing.

Has anyone else noticed the quality of food from Ted's has really started to drop off? The last two times I've gone has been below average tex-mex.

Has anyone else noticed the quality of food from Ted's has really started to drop off? The last two times I've gone has been below average tex-mex.

Yes, about 7 years ago.

It’s more than adequate for what it is. The cheese water is still the best in the state, and the flour tortillas ain’t half bad either.

Yes, about 7 years ago.

This is the correct answer.

Honestly I’ve never been a big fan. It’s always seemed like dumbed-down Tex-Mex to me. The best things about it being:

1. The flour tortillas (because even though they’re as Americanized as anything there, they are still some delicious warm, starchy clouds)

2. The speedy service (which may or may not still be the case)

3. An aggressive hand washing and sanitizing policy for employees (which may have gone by the wayside after ownership change; I’m not really certain).

If the three things you do best as a Mexican restaurant all have very little to do with making tasty Mexican food, I’ll pass.

It’s more than adequate for what it is. The cheese water is still the best in the state, and the flour tortillas ain’t half bad either.

Ted's so called queso is absolutely disgusting.

Ted's so called queso is absolutely disgusting.

Its the same kind of "queso" served at every generic tex-mex place. If you're into it you're into it and Ted's is pretty good for what it is, but if you're not into it than yeah it is yellow cheeseish goo.

Their habanero salsa (not Atomic, it's a different one) used to be pretty good, don't know if it still is (or if they even still have it), but we haven't been in years, found way better Tex-Mex at many other places.

Ted's so called queso is absolutely disgusting.

Like I said, it’s not your dad’s or older brother’s queso. It is Cheese Water. And as cheese water goes, it’s actually not half bad, especially since it is “free.”

Like I said, it’s not your dad’s or older brother’s queso. It is Cheese Water. And as cheese water goes, it’s actually not half bad, especially since it is “free.”

It's not worth free. I would much rather pay.

Along the lines of how I believe one should look at light beer (Miller Lite, etc.). It's not "bad beer;" it's "good water."

Ted's Cantina starts brunch this weekend.

Meun:

https://tedstacocantina.com/food/brunch/

At the risk of sounding like a cheapskate, it's super annoying when restaurants don't disclose their pricing on online menus. You just know those are going to be $14 breakfast burritos. Pass.

If you click the Order Online that menu has the prices.

A friend invited me to Chili’s for lunch (not my first choice but his treat), and there were no menu prices anywhere on their menu. I found it very strange, and it made ordering awkward because it is rude to order something more expensive than the person who is buying. Very odd.

The breakfast burrito is $6.99.

Prices look reasonable.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I loved how many times they worked “AF” into that menu.

These Ted’s dudes have gotten their edge back. They are going to make a serious run at BTT.

^
yeah, that struck me also... for me, it just came across as trying way too hard to be edgy. i won't say that i'm an expert on current slang, but i'm pretty sure that labeling a section of your menu "basic af" is an unintentionally negative thing.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I loved how many times they worked “AF” into that menu.

These Ted’s dudes have gotten their edge back. They are going to make a serious run at BTT.

they offer more food for less money compared to BTT ... and a far better environment .. to hang out in ..

So the wife and I finally broke down and tried the Cantina. It's their run at directly competing with Fuzzy's and Torchy's. Food was okay, other than a few format changes and a couple of new options, it's pretty much Ted's food as we all know it. I got the wet tacos, which are their version of Birria tacos which are all the rage now for street tacos. Wife got the fajita tacos and it was exactly like fajitas from Ted's. Very consistent we always. Each meal came with 2 large tacos and chips, queso, and salsa. Full bar and lots of good drinks.

After our meal, the wife and I decided from now on we'll go to Big Truck for dinner and then over to Ted's for drinks. BTT definitely has the superior food and Ted's has a good bar and patio. After eating there I have completely reversed my opinion about them moving into this spot. They compliment each other far more than compete. If you are going out for the food, go to BTT. If you want drinks, hit up Ted's. Ted's bigger problem is that they have nothing on the menu as good as Torchy's Pork Verde taco, and they both have the same bar/atmosphere.

The Tacos & Cantina concept is preparing to open in Ada.

They are expanding very aggressively, as I know they have more OKC locations in the works.

Interesting that it's this new Tacos & Cantina concept that is being spread out past the OKC/Lawton/Tulsa locations that the main chain has. Makes me wonder when they opened the newest Ted's Cafe Escondido location.

Teds is always crowded. I do wonder when the law changes if we can get some margaritas to go? Most places should capitalize off that.