Zygote Graffix Media

The Oklahoma Education Act

Lisa — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:35:48 +0000

In the Oklahoma City Public Schools, our children are eating garbage.

They are eating off un-recyclable Styrofoam trays, not the hard compiled plastic ones we ate off, and 75% of the food is being thrown in the trash.

(They have four choices when it comes to milk: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and plain) Which ones do you think the kids pick?

There are other options, such as Kerr Farm-to-School program

One of our last great Legislators Bernest Cain fought hard to keep vending machines out of Elementary Schools, but you’ll find them in all the higher education institutions.

Oklahoma is ranked 8th in the nation in childhood obesity, falling behind other Southern states of the same ilk.

Our Mayor wanted a major league team, but he also wanted everyone to shed a million pounds last Spring (he certainly shed it in currency)

In November of 2004, Oklahoman’s voted in The Oklahoma Lottery. To which all net proceeds were to be allocated for Educational purposes…

(From The Oklahoma Lottery Beneficiary)

“On November 2, 2004, Oklahomans overwhelmingly voted to pass the “Oklahoma Education Act”. Net proceeds of all lottery games will be used to support improvements and enhancements for education purposes and programs; furthermore, net proceeds will be used to SUPPLEMENT rather than replace existing funds for education. Proceeds will benefit all levels of education from Pre-K to higher education.

How will Oklahoma Education receive the promised funds?

All proceeds from ticket sales will be deposited in a separate bank account, on or before the 15th day of each quarter, the Oklahoma Lottery Commission will transfer 30% of the proceeds to the Oklahoma Education Lottery Trust Fund. This Trust Fund will be administered by the Office of State Treasury.”

We’ve yet to see a dime of this money at our school, I’m interested if anyone else has? You see, if we don’t stand up and say something, we continue to be the cattle lowing in the field.

Oklahoma has some of the top ranked, and lowest paid educators in the nation. They are attempting to teach children who’s little brains are being nourished on crap. Who are being medicated for an overwhelming amount of incorrect ADHD diagnosis’s, when all they need in more exercise, and better nutrition.

If you can afford to send your child to school with lunch, bullocks to you.

However for many Oklahoma children, the lunch, and sometimes breakfast (Donuts?) they receive in school, will be the only decent meal they get during the day.

In Elementary school, the older children will sometimes eat lunch as early as 10:30 a.m., this meal has to last them until 3:00p.m.?

How are educators supposed to teach hungry, angry, frustrated, undernourished children?

Our children and educators deserve better than this.

So far the average involved parent has already spent $50.00 attempting to supplement our Teacher’s classroom needs in a mere two weeks time.

That’s incorrigible.

I want to know where all the money from the lottery is going, because I can’t walk into a gas station without having to stand there and wait, while the clerk either sells or cashes out those stupid lotto cards.

I had no idea until recently what Oklahoma City Public School kids were being offered as far as nourishment during the day at school. None.

No variety of fresh and or frozen fruits/veggies, everything is cheap, fast and processed.

Everything but the marketing that went into The Oklahoma Education Act.

Foreman Scotty and Clara Luper Shooting Craps

Lisa — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:10:56 +0000

My father believed all children should be seen and heard, hence me.

On August 19, 1958 with “The Foreman Scotty Show” in full swing, Clara Luper took thirteen young people to Katz drug store in downtown Oklahoma City. Ms. Luper accompanied these young people with the idea of being seen. An idea, and or opinion, my father shared to the core of his soul.

Thus began the Civil Rights Movement in Oklahoma…

My father, being my father, went to the owner of WKY-TV to inform him “Effective immediately all children would be seen, or no children would be seen.” then turning on his black-on-black cockroach killers, walked away.

The power my father held was the power to change. I can say with assurance he felt no fear, for a white man in 1958 who had grown up without a father, been to Korea and back, learned to see with his heart, not his mind, had no fear…except the unknown, which he finally faced in 1994 with grace, dignity, and a $20 bill in the brim of his cowboy hat.

Let it be known I was raised as race-less as a half breed Greek can be, as my father married my mother it was said “Oh, but your children will be so dark!” Why yes, Merci!

I was five-years-old when I stumbled down stairs late one night…the sounds of ice tinkling in thick crystal high-balls, laughter like bells dancing up to my pink-on-pink canopied room. Peeking through the stairwell railing to see the fun I’d been excluded from in lieu of sleep.

There on the avocado shag carpet, laying flat on their bellies, elbows propping up the angel riding shoulders…were my parents, and three unidentified individuals having equally a good time shooting the game of craps…for real money no less.

The one pink slipper still on my foot chose this precise moment to slip directly though the railing, spoiling my sleuth work. As if in slow mo, tumbling down to near landing in the unidentified ones laps wearing a white golf cap.

All eyes now upon my scarlet child’s face, and utterly bare feet…I hear the bell laughter lady say these words:

“Oh Mr Scotty, is that pretty young thing yours? Honey get down here and let Miss Clara get a closer look at you!”

So the bell laughter ladies name was Miss Clara. She gushed & gooed over me, wrapping me in a crocheted throw from the Divan and hum-rocked me till I awoke the next morning in my pink canopied room. Sunshine bathing away last evenings dreams.

Do not ask me the color of peoples skin as a way of identifying who they are, I won’t tell you.

I will tell you their names, what they do, and most importantly, what they’ve done in their lives to make a difference for others. I will tell you I was raised to judge others by their actions, not their words.

The world has changed in 50 years. A great deal, and not nearly enough…

Heartland Flyer Virtual Train Tour Overview rewrite: Campbell Co. Advertising OKC

Lisa — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:03:03 +0000

The Heartland Flyer’s Virtual Train Tour (VTT) will take passengers though the actual experience of riding the train. Each historic city stop will be showcased along the way. Heartland Flyer’s Virtual tour will give viewers a first hand experience of riding the rails - through what was once unpopulated Indian Territory, as their tour guide shares some of the best-kept-secrets of each historic city!

Oklahoma City –Each great city in the Mid West seems to have their own unique place everyone wants to see when they visit. Oklahoma City’s Downtown/Bricktown area is no different. What was twenty years ago a quarter square mile of abandoned warehouses on red brick streets, is now one of the top three places to visit in the Southern Mid West. With hotels exquisite enough to house visitors from across the world, some with ambiance radiating from the turn of the century. The Uncommon Grounds Coffee Shop is a perfect place to try a mint mocha, Black Forest, or Turtle Latte. Uncommon Grounds also offers it’s guests a selection of loose-leaf teas, chai tea’s, and Italian soda’s…take your pick and kick up your feet with a good read. The Bricktown canal has a water taxi unlike any other south of the red river, winding deep below restaurants and shops of many fare, the Bricktown Canal’s water Taxi is especially brilliant at night. So let’s do some shopping, shall we? Nona Scaramucci moved her famous Western Avenue Boutique The Painted Door to Bricktown in the fall of 2005. Turning a 90-year-old warehouse into utter delight. Being in Nona’s is like being in Nona’s home! Even children are welcome to play with the many hand-picked items Nona’s has to offer. Nona love’s everyone! Bricktowns largest restaurant, and my personal favorite, is “Toby Keith’s Bar & Grill” where one can savor Toby’s very own Chicken Fried Steak & Gravy recipe. Yum! While listening to live music every day of the week (be ready to loosen that belt buckle y’all) AT&T’sBricktown Ballpark is a sight to behold. A full size stadium holding over 13,000 fans, is “home-base” to the Oklahoma Redhawks

(Others to include, Ford Center, Oklahoma City Art Museum. National Cowboy Western Heritage Museum, Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma National Memorial.)

Norman – Norman, Ok with Performing Arts in the Depot, featuring local artist’s, including music, dance and poetry. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History has an incredible array of dinosaur and prehistoric artifacts including the largest Apatosaurus. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the Lloyd Noble Center, exquisite evening dining. While in Norman, you’ll have the opportunity to visit The Little River Zoo with over 400 animals, most of which you’ll meet up close on a walking tour.

Purcell – Purcell, Ok is the birthplace of the state of Oklahoma, with the official site of the Oklahoma land run starting here. The depot with it’s delightful family park and actual Santa Fe train caboose, is only part of the many charms Purcell has to offer. Chock-full of history with artifacts, the McClain County Museum is a Genealogist’s dream. Photographs and records tracing the history of the Oklahoma territory of the 1800’s. In addition, Purcell has wonderful Ranch Tours, Thunder Valley Raceway, and Antique Avenue.

Pauls Valley - Pauls Valley, Ok is not your typical small town, it’s scenic brick main street has over 17,986 square yards of original brick surface, more than any other town in the United States!Pauls Valley also claims fame to “The Toy and Action Figure Museum”. With over 10,000 pieces, The Action Figure Museum explores the adventures of youth with memorabilia untold. From Batman to Star Wars, nary a character is missing. After hanging out with The Green Hornet, get on over and try tasty BBQ from “Bob’s Pig Shop” known for the best dang BBQ in Southern Mid West! Don’t even try and stay clean, just enjoy!

Ardmore – Ardmore, Ok is a smaller town with a cosmopolitan feel! Classic antique stores, trendy and funky retailers, fine cuisine and world class performing arts. Ardmore has a colorful history with rich heritage you can see at the Greater Southwest Historical Museum. Military buffs can visit 6000 square feet of artifacts from the Civil War to Desert Storm. Lake Murray is Oklahoma’s largest state park, with cabins, a full-service lodge and camp sites available. The lake is a year round destination for water sports, including boating, fishing and swimming with grand shorelines and beaches. One of the parks favorite haunts is Tucker Tower Nature Center, a castle-like structure with displays of fossils, indigenous insect and animal exhibits for nature lover enjoyment and breath taking view.

Summer in Sepia

Lisa — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:29:45 +0000

Somehow children always remain children.

In a world fragmented with waring political systems, as we rape our mother of her natural resources.
Place time-sensitive innocence in direct conflict with either…Anarchy perhaps, or cookie-cutter minds on a path of self destruction.

Summer in Sepia by Lisa @ Zygote 8/9/08

(click to enlarge)

Pool Parties are pool parties, as pool parties go. Turning ten-years-old is turning one year closer to direct conflict with the world.

A One-hundred-year-old pool still standing, is a monument to soul-life, care, love of passion, and nurturing.

Think of the turn-of-the-century parties in this very pool…
Have children really changed so much?

Spirit Flags Fading

Lisa — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:26:48 +0000

To write, make magic with words, hold my child…swim in clear blue water, heat bearing down…these are the incidents and accidents that have brought me to this point in my life.
At 43 I am unable to work for someone else. Too many years of making money for others with gifts meant for me to pass on, has left me wondering about this “Hope” I sell.

Hope is what my father sold, and his father before him. Hope is what keeps us alive, in an otherwise insane world…Hope is what keeps us trying day in & out.
Hope, faded or not is still hope.

faded

Faeries Amongst Us…

Lisa — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:10:23 +0000

Faeries Amongst us...

men-o-pause

Lisa — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:51:26 +0000

Coppertone

Lisa — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:44:49 +0000

coppertone

modern madonna

Lisa — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:48:46 +0000

modern madonna