Bounded Rationality

• TMAPC - Member Spotlight - John Shivel

  The other day, I spotlighted Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission ("TMAPC") member Michelle Cantrell. I was so impressed by her qualifications, I've listed them again at the bottom.
  
  These group of volunteer individuals collectively get a bad rap, branded as being part of a build anything, anywhere rubber stamp' [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 10:38pm EST
  

• Breaking News: Smaligo to Wright: "Methods Ineffective"

  In a procedural sine qua non, Elizabeth Wright remains on the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission. I will add to the blog as time permits throughout the day. But the indispensable quote of the hearing this morning was that from Commissioner John Smaligo, speaking directly to Ms. Wright's perception of' [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 10:27am EST
  

• TMAPC - What and Who, and Spotlight on Michelle Cantrell

  The assertion that the TMAPC is made up of a "Development Bloc" is bogus, unsubstantiated and unprovable - as in not able to be proved. This post tells what the TMAPC does, and will spotlight its members. While it is true that there are some very experienced real estate people [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 10:00pm EST
  

• New Downtown Tulsa Eatery

  I'm always happy when I see some new things going in downtown. Zorba's Greek Grill is at the Southeast corner of 6th street and Boston Ave.
  
  My son and I were adventuring downtown yesterday, walking around noting all there is to see down [...]
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  Posted: November 28, 2009, 12:25pm EST
  

• Blackeye Fridays - A Wal-Mart War Story

  We're not Friday after Thanksgiving shoppers, so my wife and son have never witnessed the complete and total madness. I, being ex-Wal-Mart, have experienced the complete and total madness. I'm thankful we have chosen to forego what I call Blackeye Fridays.
  
  To me, the retailers have misappropriated a perfectly [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 7:36am EST
  

• Give Thanks, With a Grateful Heart

  Today is a day when we can reflect on our history. Not only of our nation's history but also of our own personal histories, those days of sacrifice and want even in our own lives, that in some cases, may not be too far removed from the 1600's.
  
  I'm' [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 7:16am EST
  

• A Heartfelt Thank You to Teach For America Teachers In Tulsa

  As a lifelong Tulsan, I want to thank the Teach for America Teachers, for their dedication and determination in the cause that they have endeavored to do: Teach in Tulsa's problem schools.
  
  I believe that all of Tulsa thanks you, and whether they agree with the program or' [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 9:38pm EST
  

• Book of Virtues and A Lesson from George Washington on Civility

  When I was a brand new parent, I went right out and got William Bennett's Book of Virtues.
  As the subtitle aptly states, its a Treasury of Great Moral Stories.
  
  I read parts of that book to my young boy several times a week even before he' [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 6:49am EST
  

• Breaking News: TMAPC / County Commissioner Update on Liz Wright

  I attended the public hearing concerning the petition seeking Ms. Wright's removal as a TMAPC Commissioner today which began at 9:45 this morning and concluded just a few minutes before noon. The hearing has been continued until next Monday, 9:30 a.m. Room 119, at the Tulsa County Court House. At' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:59am EST
  

• What Can Homeowners Do? A Proactive Approach to Neighborhood Planning

  Homeowners do not have the luxury of belonging to dormant or inactive homeowners associations. The dormant homeowners association will always lose to the people who know the rules. It's almost impossible to have any traction at all - at anything in life, let alone government intervention, without knowing the rules.[...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 6:01pm EST
  

• Traffic Levels 71st & Harvard - 2001 - 2007

  I did this graph of traffic count levels in the 71st Street and Harvard area for the years 2001 to 2007.
  
  The data source is Oklahoma Department of Transportation and City of Tulsa. These are daily traffic counts, before and after the controversial F&M Bank installation at the Southwest [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 7:56pm EST
  

• Ex Post Facto? Sorry, not actually. The Elizabeth Wright Saga That is Not.

  Background: Elizabeth Wright is currently a Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commissioner who has a hearing this Monday regarding her continued appointment to the position. County Commissioner Karen Keith has asked her to step down, and she has refused to do so. Some have claimed that she has been unfairly targeted [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 9:44am EST
  

• Tulsa Smokes!

  U.S. News and World Report Ranks Tulsa No. 10 in smoking. Nearly 1 in 4 Tulsans smoke.
  
  We're among elite company of mostly West Virginians and North Carolinians.
  
  
  
  
  
  Smokiest Metro Areas
  
  % Who Are Current Smokers
  Wichita Falls, Texas -' [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 2:43pm EST
  

• Protocol for the Modern Diplomat

  As a diplomat, its probably a good idea to know the difference between bowing down to someone in a "biblical" sense, and recognizing the world-wide differences in greetings, in cultural differences in holding hands, personal space, kissing, touching, etc.
  
  There are no cultural greetings intended to project superiority to [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 7:18am EST
  

• How About an Oklahoma Education Savings Bond?

  
  I don't even know if this is possible, but here's the idea:
  
  What if we abolished the lottery, that evil vice that preys on human weakness and the poor, and in place of that offer OKLAHOMA EDUCATION SAVINGS BONDS?
  
  Way back when, the' [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 9:51am EST
  

• Preston Doerflinger' s Public Record

  One thing I've learned being a blogger and working in litigation for going on 16 years is that its important to create a complete record. That's what I'm trying to do in these successive blogs about the Tulsa City Auditor Elect - Preston Doerflinger. Unless I find out something else,' [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:01am EST
  

• Observations on City Auditor Election Turnout

  I'm waiting on the official results of precinct-by-precinct voting before I start any analysis. The lady at the election board told me it would be this week.
  
  Particularly interesting to me is the interplay between Proposition 1 - the measure that requires the city auditor to have professional' [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 12:01am EST
  

• Speed Kills - Statistics from National Highway Transportation Safety Administration - and Some Leading Questions.

  This from a February, 2009 report from NHTSA (opens pdf):

  Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance [...]

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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 1:10pm EST
  

• Kid Radio Grows Up - Remebering AM Radio

  When I was growing up in Tulsa in the early 1970's, I remember the competition between the perennial AM radio enemies (at least to me) KAKC and KELI. I always liked KAKC, until the sixth grade, when I had a crush on a girl at church named Kelly, and then' [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 4:24pm EST
  

• A Favorite Recent Photo

  [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 8:17am EST
  

• Coco Before Chanel - Circle Cinema

  My wonderful wife and I had a lovely night last Saturday, when we got to travel down near my old stomping grounds to have a bit of dinner, and a movie.
  
  Our first stop was Las Americas Super Mercado and Restaurant on 3rd Street right next to Second [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 12:01am EST
  

• The Doerflinger Dilemma

  UPDATE: I've added to this post as of 11/13/2009, A.M. - Additions at the bottom.
  
  Originally posted 11/11/2009:
  
  Tulsa voters yesterday elected a new city auditor, Preston Doerflinger. Mr. Doerflinger is a business owner and has a B.S. degree in Organizational Leadership from here.
  
  He' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 9:00pm EST
  

• Dewey Bartlett Jr. New Tulsa Mayor - Offer Mark Perkins a High Level Job, Would Ya?

  With a backdrop of plummeting city revenue, continuing public safety issues, including funding for public safety, crumbling infrastructure and a city with serious long term planning issues, Dewey Bartlett Jr. takes the helm of Mayor of the City of Tulsa.
  
  Early in the evening Tom Adelson, the Democratic candidate [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:44pm EST
  

• 2009 City of Tulsa Election - Results of Propositions & The Odd Dilemma of our New City Auditor and Prop. 1

  Here are the projected results of the propositions to amend the city charter in the 2009 General Election. All propositions pass overwhelmingly.
  
  Proposition 1
  “SHALL THE EXISTING CHARTER OF THE CITY OF TULSA, AS HERETOFORE AMENDED, BE FURTHER AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT ANY PERSON FILING FOR AND HOLDING [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 8:31pm EST
  

• VOTE! Some Pre-Voting Thoughts and Advice

  Instead of telling you who to vote for (or even implying it), or worse, do something like "If I lived in your district I'd vote for..." I believe you should make up your own mind. Do I have an opinion? Yes, of course I do. But' [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 6:05am EST
  

• The Story of Guenter Schabowski and the Fall of the Berlin Wall

  The three years I spent studying German in high School at Booker T. Washington gave me a life long interest in Germany (not to mention my love of classical music and its ties to Germany). So, while I can’t really speak German like I used to, (I’d like to do [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 9:15am EST
  

• Tulsa Mayoral Poll out Today. Pollster: "Perkins Not a Factor"

  The Tulsa World Poll is out today which puts Republican Dewey Bartlett Jr. ahead going into Tuesday's Election. Bartlett should make a fine mayor.
  
  Randy Krehbiel filed the Tulsa World report, which can be found here.
  
  Bartlett leads Democratic contender Tom Adelson in the poll 40% to' [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 7:47pm EST
  

• So, I'm Driving Down the Road Last Night...

  So, I'm driving down the road last night, Lewis to be exact. My wife and I were heading home about a quarter till ten from the Circle Cinema. We watched Coco Before Chanel. Great Movie. French with subtitles. Kind of a girl flick, but witty, well written and photogenic' [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 12:01am EST
  

• Should I Stay or Should I Go? Some Thoughts on Party Line Voting.

  With this I agree: Party line voting flies in the face of Democracy.Some of our founding fathers discouraged political parties.
  
  But we have political parties - two major parties - at the national level and the local level, and that is the way we pick our leaders. The system [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 11:29am EST
  

• From Chili Slinger to Campaign Finance Miracle Worker: The Dynamic Story of Chris Trail

  
  ometime in March, or maybe it was April, 2009, - at any rate only a few short months ago - a gentleman by the name of Chris Trail moves from Berryhill, West of Tulsa, in the City of Sand Springs Ward 4, to East Tulsa Council [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 1:55pm EST
  

• Pride of the Great Southwest - Booker T. Washington

  The School Song, as I remember, goes something like this
  
  Dear Booker T Washington High School
  the Pride of the Great Southwest.
  You're a symbol of light for many a youth,
  by pointing the way to life's best.
  You stand as a beacon in Tulsa
  by teaching the ideals [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 6:11am EST
  

• Fix our What Program? $452 MM Street Plan More Like Regular Maintenance.

  My tongue-in-cheek VOTE NO campaign graphic
  
  Here is Bounded Rationality's archive on the $452 million "Fix our Streets" program. Bounded Rationality advocated the more expensive plan, along with Rick Westcott and Bill Martinson. I was at a presentation during the campaign wherein GT Bynum' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:01am EST
  

• Proposition 1 Amendment to Tulsa City Charter - City Auditor

  Proposition 1 on the balllot November 10, 2009, would amend the city charter to change the qualifications required of the City Auditor:

  “SHALL THE EXISTING CHARTER OF THE CITY OF TULSA, AS HERETOFORE AMENDED, BE FURTHER AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT ANY PERSON FILING FOR AND HOLDING THE OFFICE OF CITY [...]

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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 12:01am EST
  

• Proposition 3 to City Charter on November 10, 2009

  The language on the November 10, 2009 ballot to amend the city charter reads: Shall the charter of the City of Tulsa be amended to require that before any claim or lawsuit where the demand is greater than $1 million ($1,000,000) may be settled, both the mayor and the city [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 12:48pm EST