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Environmentally speaking, pipelines are better than trains to ship fuel

Tulsa Beacon

Sixteen-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg admonished global leaders at last year’s United Nations: “We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”  But it’s her parents who are daring. Why terrorize children with fairy tales of mass…

Growing up was special around Marvin and Patty Harp

Tulsa Beacon

I grew up four blocks from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harp, who lived on 8th Street, just east of Sheridan Road. They were Marvin and Patty Harp and their son Ronnie was one of my best friends ever when I was growing up. We were pals with Tim Herron, another great guy we…

‘Yada Hoodies’ provokes further study of what words mean

Tulsa Beacon

I don’t how or when or even where we were when my wife and I started labeling all three grandsons collectively as the “yada hoodies.” Many times when they come walking up to our door, they are goofing around like the Keystone Cops, so calling them “yada hoodies” seemed appropriate to us. My wife got…

A coronavirus pandemic could affect your vacation plan

Tulsa Beacon

I was on a Carnival cruise ship headed to the Caribbean when I got up early to go get a cup of coffee in the main restaurant. As I walked down the stairs, I noticed a member of the crew who seemed to be polishing the banisters on the stairway. I was impressed. I thought…

You are much more valuable to God than a Rolex Oyster

Tulsa Beacon

I have written before that I am a fan of the Antiques Roadshow. It’s not that I am that much into antiques; I just like the challenge to see if I can guess the value of an object. I like competition shows; I have always had a desire to be on Jeopardy, but there is…

Climate change is not the cause of wildfires in Australia

Tulsa Beacon

Recent climate change has not caused Australian bushfires. Besides the fact that many of the fires are set by people, either intentionally or by accident, a major cause of Australia’s fire problem has been the high “fuel loads,” underbrush that, left to accumulate over years, acts as a tinder box for bushfires. Craig Kelly, Liberal member of the…

The tribal casino’s self-exclusion lists are ‘almost worthless’

Tulsa Beacon

It’s an all-too-common headline: in June of 2018, an accountant employed by an Oklahoma City company entered a guilty plea in federal court to embezzling almost $400,000. The money had come from company credit cards and flowed into the coffers of tribal casinos. Before he headed off to serve 19 months in prison and begin…

Saudi oil attacks were a warning

Tulsa Beacon

When drones struck Saudi Arabia’s oil processing facilities in September, 6 percent of global oil production went offline overnight.   The intent was clear: create a massive disruption in the global oil market, sending prices soaring and leaving the United States and its allies reeling.   What happened next — or rather what didn’t — was no…

Really ? Another movie sequel column?

Tulsa Beacon

Is there anything better than a movie sequel? If a movie makes some money, you can bet that there will be a second movie. Maybe multiple sequels. Maybe never-ending sequels. The James Bond movies are a classic example. Sixty-six years ago author Ian Fleming created the British secret agent character and the first film was…

Senate resolution is completely justified

Tulsa Beacon

This was the headline of a story in the Tulsa daily news(?)paper on November 11, 2019 (Veterans Day): “Lawmakers seek to condemn Congress.”  It was ‘buried’ on Page A-11, but sufficient to catch my attention.  The sub-heading read: “State legislators propose a resolution condemning the impeachment inquiry.”  Credit for the story was given to Barbara…