Note: Edited on September 21, 2010, to reflect the name change from OklaTravelNet.com to OklaVision.tv, and to re-embed the video shown below. Many thanks to Pauline in her comment below for calling this problem to my attention.
OKLAHOMA! I generally restrict my articles to the Oklahoma City metro area but do make occasional exceptions. The Wichita Mountains article was one exception and this is another. Many thanks to AFCM, a poster at OkcTalk.com for calling this to our (at least, my) attention in this thread there. Although I've added a link to OklaVision.tv in the "Links" sidebar in the left panel, I feel the need to be move overt than that, hence this post.
A stunningly gorgeous Oklahoma video from that website is shown below. For reasons I don't know, it ends a little prematurely and I'm trying to figure that out. It seems to run full length in the host's website: Click here to play the video there.
The text associated with this video at OklaVision.tv reads,
Everyone knows Oklahoma is flat, right? Wrong! Visit the 1,000 square miles in the Arbuckle mountain range, or see the rocky granite at the Wichita Mountains or Quartz Mountains. Don't forget Oklahoma's highest point, Black Mesa, standing at 4,973 feet above sea level. Along with the Glass Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains, it's true, Oklahoma rocks!
I really need to explore that fine website much more and will be doing so in the weeks and months ahead. I thought that maybe people interested in this blog might want to do that, as well.
Below, a collage of screen captures in the above video is presented ... you may like to have it as your wallpaper from time to time ... the "largest" and "smallest" files are proportionally correct but the 1024 px wide version has been modified to fit a 1024 x 768 px display. I've reduced JPEG compression to the lowest level for these beautiful images of Oklahoma, so the files are larger than usual.
I've talked about using the Oklahoman archives in various posts but I've never made a single article describing in detail how to use the Oklahoman's archives which are freely accessible on-line IF YOU HAVE an Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library Card. That time has come. For this, you should thank a local history buff, Jerry Lee Tyner, who provided the stimulus for this post during a tour of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum on Sunday, July 20, 2008. This article does not describe how to use the MLS on-line access to the excellent Sanborn Maps, but that is covered here.
ABOUT MY HOST. This post is not just about using the Oklahoman's archives. It's also about the man who prompted this post, Jerry Lee Tyner. If you want to skip the "Using the Oklahoman Archives" part and just jump on down to learn (and hear) more about my Sunday tour's host, just click here! But, whether you take that "jump" or not, please do read, see, and hear the section about Jerry Lee, my most excellent host and new friend!
Mr. Tyner was kind enough to invite me to join him on a tour of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum located at 1700 NE 63rd Street this Sunday morning, and, as you would expect, I was quick to accept! During his kindly tour, my wife, Mary Jo, and I were treated by Jerry Lee to lots of ogles and ga-gas ... the Cowboy Hall is indeed a world-class place to behold -- it really does knock your socks off and, quite frankly, I'd forgotten (or perhaps didn't fully appreciate) how much that fact is so! You will not leave the Cowboy Hall with "socks on," I promise! This facility is very likely the crown jewel of all things that are "art" in Oklahoma City.
But, this post is not really about that ... that topic will come on another day!
Instead, this brief article is the 1st part of a pay-back ... Jerry Lee was gracious to host our Sunday tour, but he was not familiar with the fact that, if one has an Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library Card, the Oklahoman's archives, dating back to 1901, are available freely on-line. This post describes to him, and to you, how to do that, as a research or other tool for an on-line reading of Oklahoman newspapers since 1901 through the current date.
First Step -- Get a Library Card For Free.If you don't have one already, go to your nearest branch of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System and get yourself a library card. If you live, or own property, in the metro, it is free.
Second Step -- Use MS Inernet Explorer.Even if you prefer Firefox (as I do) or other web browser software, the Oklahoman's archive software is not set up to handle Firefox -- make your complaints to the Oklahoman about that if you must, but use IE Explorer as your browser when accessing the Oklahoman's archives.
Third Step -- Log On (from anywhere in the world) to the MLS internet "Log-on" website -- the link just shown gets you there but the literal link is http://cybermars.mls.lib.ok.us/marsiis/cybermars.asp. That page will look something like the image below -- there, type in your library card number and the last 4 characters of your last name and click the "Logon With Card" button ...
You will then be "logged in" and you will be "welcomed." In the upper right corner, click the "Databases" tab.
4th Step - Only Possibly Necessary -- Temporarily Disable Your Virus Protection Program.I use Norton Internet Security software and I learned early on that, to be able to access the Oklahoman's archives via the MLS website, you must first disable Norton Internet Security. Whether that is true with other anti-virus programs, I don't know. But, if you run into problems accessing the Oklahoman's archives without disabling your virus software, this section will be equally applicable to you, whether you use Norton or not.
To temporarily disable Norton (and perhaps similar programs by analogy), do the following, as shown in the graphic below:
In Window's system tray (lower right corner of your computer screen), click on the Norton Internet Security icon. A small menu will pop-up.
In that menu, select "Disable Norton Internet Security"
Last, a small dialog will open asking how long to disable. "5 minutes" is more than sufficient. Click the OK button and this part is done.
Step 5 -- now, with Norton disabled, complete the Oklahoman log-on process. First, click the "Newspapers" tab. That will open the "Newspapers" tab's menu ...
Then, in the short Newspapers menu, select "Oklahoman Electronic Archives," as shown below.
Step 6 -- Search to Your Heart's Content. You will have automatically logged-on to the Oklahoman archives "front page." Have a look ... but the rest is totally up to you, though I'll give you a couple of examples.
Searching is reasonably intuitive, but one thing is NOT -- DO NOT USE YOUR WEB BROWSER SOFTWARE NAVIGATION ARROWS. DON'T DO IT ... unless you want to repeat steps 4-6. Using your web browser's "back" and "forward" icons will take you away from the Oklahoman's archives.
Instead, ALWAYS use the 4 "Tabs" present in the Oklahoman's dialog ... Home, Search, Issue or Last Search Results. Burn this rule into your memory!
In the "Home" tab, you can open a particular Oklahoman issue. Use the calendar items to select what you want and it will open on page 1 of that issue. We'll do this later.
Tips On Using Search. I'm not covering all there is to say but just enough to get your started. Having clicked the "Search" tab, the dialog below will have opened.
Below the search text box, a row of "Return only" radio buttons is present ... All, Articles, Pictures, and Ads. Usually, I use "All," but do as you prefer.
Below that, another row of radio buttons is present ... time periods within which to search: Archive Period (usually decades), Date Range, or Entire Archive.
Finally, below that, set up how you want "returned" items to be sorted ... see the graphic below for the choices.
OK. Let's do a search. I'm wanting to search for a person's name, Charles Lummis (Jerry Lee introduced me to that name). Quotation marks around the words will limit the search ... otherwise, search "returns" would not need for those words to be contiguous. It's probably better to use lower case, but I'm not sure about that. After making selections, press the "Go" button.
The search results are then presented ... in this case, I struck out!
So, click the "Search" tab (NOT your web brower's "back" button) and make changes if you want. Below, I've changed the search to include the entire archive and to sort the results by ascending dates ...
This time, I got lucky! Search results are presented like those shown below ... the small "thumbnail" images do not necessarily show what you're searching for but instead indicate that something in the "found" item does.
To see what the thumbnail actually shows, click on it and wait for the item to open ...
All or a part of the searched for text will be highlighted in the window which opens ...
Notice that the small window has its own menu ... HOVER (don't click) your mouse over "Article" to see a drop-down menu ... it includes "Show Full Page" ... click on that item ...
Having selected "Show Full Page," the full page then appears in the "Issue" Tab ...
To return to the search results, click the "Last Search Results" Tab. I've done that, below, and have reopened the same article. Notice the "Printer" icon ... if you want to print the article, click that icon ...
The Print dialog opens ... you can click "Cancel" to see the article a little better in this window ... you can click "Print" to print the article ...
Below, I've returned to the small window containing the article. If you right-click on the article, a pop-up window will appear ... the next 2 images highlight a couple of the choices available ...
Save Picture As ... you can save the item to a file name just as you'd do with other graphic images -- Until much more recent Oklahoman issues, the items are graphic images and not actual text and the quality is not very good ...
Copy -- this will copy the item to your windows clipboard You can the open another software application and "paste" (Ctrl-V) the item into it.
Opening A Particular Issue. Earlier, I said that I'd show you how to look at a particular Oklahoman issue. The time has come. I just happen to know that I want to open the June 22, 2008, issue.
Click the Home Tab and select the month, year, and day ...
The "front page" opens ... notice that the quality is much better in more recent issues. Use the red triangles on the side of the page to move forward or back one page at a time. If you know the newspaper "section" you want, sometimes they are available in the "Sections" item in menu bar at the top of the window.
Below, I've moved to the page I want ... Hey, who is that guy down there by the horns?
Clicking on the item opens it for better viewing ...
That "guy" just happens to be Jerry Lee Tyner, my host at the Cowboy Hall this past Sunday morning!
With the above, this mini-tutorial of how to use the Oklahoman archives via the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library on-line services comes to an end. But, the article is not yet done ... let's go back to Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. at the Cowboy Hall to meet Mr. Tyner again.
Jerry Lee Tyner -- my tour host (click the image for a larger view)
Though it's hard to make him out, below, Mr. Tyner stands before and is dwarfed by the "End of The Trail" statue by James Earle Fraser, located within the Cowboy Hall entrance. As I said, I'll do an article on the Cowboy Hall later.
Click on the pic for a larger view
As it turns out, my new friend is not only a most excellent tour guide and historian, he also cuts a mighty fine tune! He presented me with a copy of his not-for-sale CD as a memento of the occasion!
The CD's Graphic -- Man With Suitcase on Route 66 That man would be Mr. Jerry Lee Tyner, my Cowboy Hall guide
Yep, that's Jerry Lee on the CD's cover, hitching his way along Route 66! The man doesn't need a car, he's doin' just fine! I can't begin to recount the number of historic facts that he'd researched, and gladly told, along the way of our Sunday tour of the Cowboy Hall! He is a walking encyclopedia, and he more than proves the value of knowing, and passing along, history! If you can get him to take you on a tour of the Cowboy Hall, but don't, that will be a big-time loss for you!
Thanks, Jerry Lee, for a great day ... I'll be visiting with you again, about that you can be sure!
Now that OKC's most popular NBA forum, OkcThunderFans.com, has renamed itself and migrated to its new location with better software and a 100% Thunder focus, I'm a happy guy!
But, to even lurk at that fine fan forum, you must be willing to risk the wrath of the Oklahoman's Berry Tramel if you do, since he told us all that to do so you are merely "driving the getaway car" and are participating in "peep shows" that have "no more redeeming qualities than a porn site." Hence, the name of this article. Click his video to get his opinions about internet fan forums.
In my opinion, the best web reference for the Thunder is what I regard as Oklahoma City's principal fan forum, around since October 2005. There, you'll quickly find internet links to media articles from around the country on OKC's NBA team, reported there as almost as fast as they appear on the internet -- everyone from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, the team's official website, as well as pieces contained in the national and local press, including but not limited to the Oklahoman. Go there and judge for yourself.
Below, I've listed internet resources that will come in handy in reading more about our new NBA franchise, the Oklahoma City Thunder!
Soooo ... what's happened during Doug Dawgz Blog 2nd year of existence? Lots of stuff!It's been an amazing twelve months of Oklahoma City history (aside from me anticipating our new NBA team's colors -- but black & gold works for me)!
The detail is below. But, if you want, click on a flash file link for a "video review" that you might want to see ...
THE YEAR'S TWO BIG STORIES IN PICTURES & MUSIC The videos will open in separate and larger windows (IE Explorer) or tabs (Firefox) (I may add a couple of other videos later)
About 3 minutes
About 6 minutes
The Statistical Detail. Here's some comparative data as of July 11, 2008, over the then almost-two years of this blog's life:
Click image for larger view
The Detail
Last 500 Visits (US Only) — many overlap so don't bother counting
Last 500 from Planet Earth
I continue to be very happy with the blog's reception and growth! It's no match for the deserved popularity of Charles G. Hill's excellent Dustbury, but "we" (that's the imperial "we") are quite pleased!
The Articles. Here's a synopsis of articles posted since July 15, 2007, through July 11, 2008.
THE CENTENNIAL. First and foremost, Oklahoma's Centennial occurred during the past 12 months, and was it grand! I certainly was not able to cover it all, but several articles had the Oklahoma Centennial as their focus:
NBA In OKC! After a couple of years of false hopes and expectations, the "impossible" did occur — Oklahoma City did become a "Major League City!" Even if bordering on the surreal, and even if I keep pinching myself to be sure, it did happen! Last year's blog articles focused upon our Hornet's Legacy, Sleeping in Seattle, and such. Self-proclaimed writers, such as the self proclaimed ultra-wise Greg Doyel said in 2006 that it would never happen — Oklahoma City would never, never, never become an NBA city. "It's not gonna happen," he said. His counterpart in that article, Greg Wyshynski, was proven more prophetic, because it did happen!
These developments received Doug Dawgz insatiable interest in this topic vis a vis the following articles during the past 12 months:
After PBC's purchase of the Sonics and the 10/31/2007 passing of its drop-dead-date for getting an up-to-date-arena in the Seattle area, and while the Hornets were still on shaky ground in New Orleans, I wondered, "Where are we?" in this article
Then, after Mayor Mick's announcement which proposed a referendum on improving the Ford Center and building a practice facility, I went ape-shit crazy about that: here (discussing the proposed ordinance), here (in this unabashed pro-vote video), here (in this exposé of a non-Oklahoma website acting as though it wasn't), here (at the Buffalo Wild Wings All-Star Watch Party), here (on why Berry Tramel finally got it right), here (Roy Williams making his pitch at Café do Brazil) was then posted, here (at the pro-vote Bricktown Bash), here (at the Chamber's "Breaking Through" luncheon featuring Rick Horrow), here (wondering out loud, "Can it fail," giving Tulsa as an example as to how that was possible), here (relishing in the Tuesday vote, "We Are The Champions"), here (detailing the vote precinct by precinct), here (looking at a 2004 study evaluating OKC's NBA viability and PBC's 3/14 Letter of Intent), here (press conference after the NBA relocation subcommittee gives OKC glowing marks), here (giving special thanks to non-Okies (e.g., Chris Van Dyk) for helping us Okies out), here (discussing closely the Howard Schultz litigation), here (discussing OKC's mayoral history about how this all happened), and here (showing off OKC's team players).
SOME GREAT MAPS. I'm a map lover, to be sure, and during the year I posted a few that I either planned, owned or came across, they being ...
ARTS STUFF. Arts and arts-related projects are part of what makes a city "a city" and gives it soul and character. A few such events were covered during the past twelve months:
TRAINS & TROLLEYS. Oklahoma City's trains and trolley history is a work-in-progress and will be substantially expanded after this post, including updates to at least a pair of posts and the final installment of OKC Trolleys. But, a lot was done during the past twelve months:
Trains Part 2 — more train maps; 1920s through present; a downtown divided; the 1923 great floods; Union Station; Santa Fe Station; No Trains; Trains Return (Amtrak); Remnants & Train Museum
Part 3 — my introduction to the Dean Schirf Collection, his articles, Greater Chamber of Commerce photos of Union Station and Rock Island images, and Amtrak
Part 3A — Photos & history by Dean Schirf, train afficionado extra ordinaire (to be updated in a few days)
BIOGRAPHIES & SUCH. Sometimes famous, sometimes not, these stories focus on people who have significantly contributed to Oklahoma City's history. This past year, these items were done:
That's about it for Year 2 in review, and my thanks go out to those of you who visit and comment and have supported this endeavor. The past twelve months have been a heck of a great year for Oklahoma City's history, past, present, and that which is yet to come! By the time Year 3's summary is posted, the OKC "somethings" will have enjoyed its first NBA season, we'll have an image of that great new Devon skyscraper, biggest in the state, and much more! Stay tuned ... Doug Dawgz prediction is that Year 3 will be even better than this fantastic year has been, and that's saying a heck of a lot!
Here they are, your Oklahoma City Thunder! I'll try to keep this page current as changes occur. On the opening day of training camp and Media Day having occurred last week, here is your team, Oklahoma City! Click on most images for slightly larger views. Click on the coach or player's name to open his NBA detail page. Photos will be updated as they become available. The "year" item is the year that particular players entered the NBA.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 2008-2009 (as of 11/28/2008)
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THE CENTENNIAL. First and foremost, Oklahoma's Centennial occurred during the past 12 months, and was it grand! I certainly was not able to cover it all, but several articles had the Oklahoma Centennial as their focus:
NBA In OKC! After a couple of years of false hopes and expectations, the "impossible" did occur — Oklahoma City did become a "Major League City!" Even if bordering on the surreal, and even if I keep pinching myself to be sure, it did happen! Last year's blog articles focused upon our Hornet's Legacy, Sleeping in Seattle, and such. Self-proclaimed writers, such as 
SOME GREAT MAPS. I'm a map lover, to be sure, and during the year I posted a few that I either planned, owned or came across, they being ...
ARTS STUFF. Arts and arts-related projects are part of what makes a city "a city" and gives it soul and character. A few such events were covered during the past twelve months:
BUILDINGS. Several historic, and planned for, buildings were covered during the year. They were:
AREAS OF THE CITY. A few articles focused on important historical areas of Oklahoma City, past and present.
TRAINS & TROLLEYS. Oklahoma City's trains and trolley history is a work-in-progress and will be substantially expanded after this post, including updates to at least a pair of posts and the final installment of OKC Trolleys. But, a lot was done during the past twelve months:
BIOGRAPHIES & SUCH. Sometimes famous, sometimes not, these stories focus on people who have significantly contributed to Oklahoma City's history. This past year, these items were done:
MISCELLANEOUS OTHER STUFF. Articles not falling into any of the above particular groups were done, also. They include:
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