Red Dirt Ruckus

News of the day – it is NOT monkey business – it’s ape business August 31, 2010 | Leave a comment Shenanigans. A chimpanzee at the Oklahoma City Zoo slips out of his enclosure and hides out in a dry, cement moat surrounding his habitat. A great escape from the Great EscApe exhibit? Hardly. Politics. The Oklahoma City Council is expected to vote on whether to allow a Grand Prix race in the city. Supporters... Read More

You’re a single lady, buddy! August 28, 2010 This is such a fantastic video: The original video is pretty fantastic, too: Read More

News of the day – LOL at global domination August 27, 2010 Read More

Happy birthday, James Harden! August 26, 2010 Turns out, today is my FAVORITE Thunder player’s birthday. James Harden turns 21! Here are some photos of him doing what he does best: being awesome. Read More

News of the day – criminals behind bars? No way. August 26, 2010 Crime. Delaware County voters turn down a jail expansion proposal for the fourth time. Apparently Delaware County residents enjoy criminals in front of bars, not behind them. Crime. Edmond police make arrests at an Edmond apartment complex the day after arrested folks at a different apartment complex. Edmond drug... Read More

The eye of the beholder August 26, 2010 Yesterday I wrote about artwork at the state Capitol in light of the controversy about a new mural. I checked out art all over the building. My favorite painting is probably “A Storm Passing Northwest of Anadarko” by Wilson Hurley. It shows a mountain of twisting clouds that illustrates how big the sky can... Read More

No ballot counter? No problem. August 24, 2010 This morning I walked into my polling place to discover the ballot counter in pieces. A repairman with protective eye-wear and a sweaty brow worked like he was on fire. He flipped switched, adjusted levers and fixed the counter in a flash. The machine had been set to read the wrong size ballot, he said. An easy... Read More

News of the day – vanishing acts and appearing apples August 24, 2010 Drama. Larri Sue Jones is suing Feed The Children and five of its directors for what she said was wrongful termination. She should be suing her father, Feed The Children founder Larry Jones, for naming her Larri.  Crime. Bobbi Parker asks a judge to dismiss the charges against her of helping a... Read More

Impatience is a working dryer August 21, 2010 A friend of mine sent me this video, and I wanted to share it. I think men and women view what happens mid-way through this video differently. To men: this guy has an excellent idea. To women: of course this guy can’t be patient enough just to let events unfold. Read More

News of the day – La Roux approves August 20, 2010   La Roux approves. Health. Oklahoma is now included in the egg recall. Way to go, Iowa. Crime. A Pottawatomie County sheriff’s deputy survives beign show in the chest because of his bulletproof vest. La Roux approves. Crime. Police arrest a Braum’s employe suspected of robbing the store where he... Read More

Honey bee observation hive opens tomorrow August 20, 2010 Here’s some info from the city parks department about a really cool event coming up tomorrow:  WHO: Martin Park Nature Center WHAT: Grand Opening of Honey Bee Observation Hive  Things are buzzing at the City’s Martin Park Nature Center thanks to volunteers from the Central Oklahoma Bee Keepers... Read More

Bus driver = getaway driver August 19, 2010 Read More

Our Nenad? Is it possible? August 19, 2010 A friend of mine in the newsroom just forwarded me this story. Here’s the first two paragraphs: ATHENS, Greece (AP) ― The friendly Acropolis basketball tournament finished in a brawl as the last game between Serbia and Greece was abandoned with 2:40 to go when a fight broke out and the benches cleared on... Read More

News of the day – doomsday for fleas August 17, 2010 Education. An Oklahoma judge requires the state to fund an online charter school, despite protests from state officials. The judge issued her decision on Twitter, Facebook and her blog. Pets. About 75 dogs attend the annual Pooches in the Pool event in Yukon. Millions of fleas drown. Government. The Oklahoma... Read More

Trick, treat, twice August 17, 2010 I expect all these munchkins will come knocking on my door twice this year. Oklahoma City officials announced today that trick-or-treating this year will be Saturday, Oct. 30, instead of Sunday, Oct. 31. I’m just predicting now, people, that kids will come around twice. “Oh, I’m sorry,” they’ll say,... Read More