Devon Energy Center

[Thunder]

My reaction exactly. Now everyone will be waiting for the pine tree to be....torched. Oh, dear.

[UnFrSaKn]

By the way, they opened up the vertical area of the building where the bucket hoists are (elevators). All the way to half way up. They still work of course, but it's no enclosed like it used to be.

[ZYX2]

Personally, I don't want Oklahoma City to be a large city. Large cities have high crime rates, corruption, large numbers of self centered people that don't care about the people around them, large sections of the city that just trashed beyond imagination... the list goes on.

I like the fact I can drive from one side of the city to the other in twenty minutes or less (30 minutes in rush hour). I like the fact our politicians are still down to earth. They know we will send them packing and throw them in prison if they become corrupt. I like that our city is kept fairly clean. The state and the city ticket those who litter and have litter crews out regularly cleaning up the trash. Last of all I like the fact that people make a reasonable effort to help those in distress. If somebody is in trouble people react personally or they call 911 and report it. People don't turn a blind eye to danger/violence and keep moving like they do in most major cities.

That's pretty stereotypical. I've been to many "large" cities and have encountered many friendly people, haven't been mugged, and haven't noticed half of the city being disgusting and toxic. Of course a larger city will have more slums, but it's still about the same percentage wise. What makes you think that an increase in population in OKC will lead to a change in attitude of the citizens? That logic is very flawed.

Back to the Devon Tower, it's exciting that it's finally topped out. It's a freaking monster. I can't wait to see the glass all the way finished and the tower lit up at night.

[jn1780]

By the way, they opened up the vertical area of the building where the bucket hoists are (elevators). All the way to half way up. They still work of course, but it's no enclosed like it used to be.

I guess they will start filling in the gaps with cladding pretty soon from the bottom up.

[soonerwilliam]

I've also been to many of our "large" cities and I'm always glad to get back to OKC. Great city to live in!

[OKCisOK4me]

By the way, they opened up the vertical area of the building where the bucket hoists are (elevators). All the way to half way up. They still work of course, but it's no enclosed like it used to be.

I'd like to see a pic of that to understand what you're talking about... I can picture what I think you're talking about in my head but its not making sense.

[mcca7596]

Wrong.

Look at this FBI crime statistic chart from 2010 based on 2009 crimes: http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2010..._hightolow.pdf

Look at the two right below OKC at 51 and 52 (Miami and Dallas) and then note Phoenix, San Antonio, Charlotte, Boston, Denver, Fort Worth, Louisville, Seattle, Los Angeles, Omaha, Portland, Austin, San Diego, New York, and El Paso (lol) as cities that are very close to our population in some cases and significantly larger in others that are quite lower in violent crime stats than OKC.

[UnFrSaKn]

Topping out ceremony

September 21 2011

[Thunder]

Awesome video!

The guy at 1:53 in red hat is cute. Great capture, William!

Can someone explain the American flag?

That is one hella interesting helicopter spinning the fans so slowly. :-O

[Flat Earth Society]

Personally, I don't want Oklahoma City to be a large city. Large cities have high crime rates, corruption, large numbers of self centered people that don't care about the people around them, large sections of the city that just trashed beyond imagination... the list goes on.

I like the fact I can drive from one side of the city to the other in twenty minutes or less (30 minutes in rush hour). I like the fact our politicians are still down to earth. They know we will send them packing and throw them in prison if they become corrupt. I like that our city is kept fairly clean. The state and the city ticket those who litter and have litter crews out regularly cleaning up the trash. Last of all I like the fact that people make a reasonable effort to help those in distress. If somebody is in trouble people react personally or they call 911 and report it. People don't turn a blind eye to danger/violence and keep moving like they do in most major cities.

Politicians down to earth? Inhofe's crazier than Charles Manson eating Froot Loops on Ozzy's front porch.

[kevinpate]

Thunder,

The flag is there in honor of that Lee Greenwood song, the one that goes
I'm proud
to be an American,
where buildings
hold up trees

yeah, ok, that was a bit lame. But I'm tired enough this morning it was actually funny to me.

On your helo, the blades are spinning faster than you think they are, but the illusion is rather neat.

[UnFrSaKn]

I'd like to see a pic of that to understand what you're talking about... I can picture what I think you're talking about in my head but its not making sense.

Do you see what I mean from watching the video?

[redrunner]

Look at this FBI crime statistic chart from 2010 based on 2009 crimes: http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2010..._hightolow.pdf

Look at the two right below OKC at 51 and 52 (Miami and Dallas) and then note Phoenix, San Antonio, Charlotte, Boston, Denver, Fort Worth, Louisville, Seattle, Los Angeles, Omaha, Portland, Austin, San Diego, New York, and El Paso (lol) as cities that are very close to our population in some cases and significantly larger in others that are quite lower in violent crime stats than OKC.

Oops my bad. I thought I read that you definitely WOULD say OKC has below average crime for a city of its size. Having lived in a few of these others cities close to our size I would say there is more crime in OKC.

[OKCisOK4me]

Do you see what I mean from watching the video?

I haven't gotten to watch it yet. An 11 minute video on a 3g phone is a bit troublesome to Uploads. Will watch at work later though!

[UnFrSaKn]

Regular video update will be coming after a while. Before the ceremony yesterday.

[mcca7596]

Oops my bad. I thought I read that you definitely WOULD say OKC has below average crime for a city of its size. Having lived in a few of these others cities close to our size I would say there is more crime in OKC.

Glad to have someone else corroborate that fact first hand. I should not have used a contraction when I said would NOT. lol

[UnFrSaKn]

After having to cancel the initial upload again... yesterday morning footage before the ceremony is processing. I'll share it when it's done.

[UnFrSaKn]

September 21 2011

[ljbab728]

Does anyone know if there are plans to replant the tree used for the topping out ceremony somewhere on the tower grounds with perhaps a placard indicating it's history? That would seem to be an appropriate thing to do.

[Thundercitizen]

Thanks, again, William. Yo must be using a hypersensitive shotgun mic. About the 8:30 mark you can hear the steel worker fixin' it with a hammer fairly clearly.

That tree must be close to being the highest tree top in the state...at least for a while.

[UnFrSaKn]

My contact at Devon Energy is the Community Affairs Coordinator. She was thrilled about the ceremony video, because Devon employees didn't really get to see much of it. I'm handing over a DVD of the footage and other video to her Monday at Devon HQ. Never been inside Mid-America Tower...

[Thunder]

My contact at Devon Energy is the Community Affairs Coordinator. She was thrilled about the ceremony video, because Devon employees didn't really get to see much of it. I'm handing over a DVD of the footage and other video to her Monday at Devon HQ. Never been inside Mid-America Tower...

Be sure to get as much money possible!

[kevinpate]

... That tree must be close to being the highest tree top in the state...at least for a while.

huh? not even close.

[metro]

Be sure to get as much money possible!

They are giving him popcorn and a handshake

[OKCisOK4me]

That tree must be close to being the highest tree top in the state...at least for a while.

I think you're forgetting about Black Mesa in the panhandle which is +4,000 elevation...