NEWS - SMALL EARTHQUAKE REPORTED IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA ON CHRISTMAS MORNING

Small earthquake reported in Central Oklahoma on Christmas morning

The quake occurred at 8:10 a.m. and was centered in Okfuskee County, about 8 miles southeast of Paden and 7 miles southwest of Boley.

 

From Staff Reports   

Published: December 25, 2011

A 3.3 magnitude earthquake rumbled Central Oklahoma on Christmas Day, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The quake occurred at 8:10 a.m. and was centered in Okfuskee County, about 8 miles southeast of Paden and 7 miles southwest of Boley.
There were no immediate reports of damage.
For more information about earthquakes, go to http://neic.usgs.gov/.

Read more: http://newsok.com/small-earthquake-reported-in-central-oklahoma-on-christmas-morning/article/3635047#ixzz1j7D3xe31

75 CENTS -A MountainWIngs Moment

75 cents
=========

Seventy-five cents was the most significant amount of money in my life.

I worked as a youth for my father. He operated a successful business and he believed in giving his children an allowance. We were "allowed" to work for whatever money we got.

I earned 25 cents an hour. The minimum wage at the time was $1.65 but I was my father's son and he didn't have to pay me minimum wage. I was underage and was not supposed to be legally working said the government. My father had other ideas.

If I could spend money, I could work. I was perhaps 12 or 13. The company had an accountant who handled payroll. His name was Mr. Bill David.

I was smart enough to know that my wages were below everyone else's but I often worked harder. One day I went to the accounting office and asked Mr. Bill David about a raise.

"How much do you want?" Mr. Bill David asked.

I was hoping to move from 25 cents an hour to perhaps 35 or maybe even 40 cents. I was smart enough to know to ask for more than I thought I would actually get so I threw out this ridiculous figure.

"I would like one dollar an hour," I boldly stated to Mr. Bill David. I was expecting riotous laughter at such a ridiculous increase.

Mr. Bill David's answer shocked me. He said, "OK."

Thus, in the span of a few seconds, I had the largest percentage monetary increase of my life. A whopping 300% increase.

I was elated beyond measure and no amount of money since has excited me as much as that 75 cents.

It taught me seven lessons.

1. Don't let another person spend your money without accountability. It wasn't Mr. Bill David's money so what was it to him if he gave me a 300% instant raise.

2. Aim for the moon. You just might hit it.

3. Increases in material stuff has a decreasing effect in its ability to bring joy. Never again was I so elated over money.
I have literally not been nearly as excited over 75 thousand as I was that 75 cents.

4. Somehow, even with big increases, we still shortly thereafter seem to feel underpaid.

5. Expenses rise to meet income.

6. Income does not necessarily rise to meet new expenses.

7. Mr. Bill Davids are rare.

ARTICLE - 30 FASTEST GROWING JOBS

30 Fastest-Growing Jobs

Military.com

If you're in school or in the service waiting for the abysmal job market to rebound, there's good news on the employment front. A burgeoning job market awaits you when you're ready to enter the workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released their employment projections for the next 10 years, and several of the occupations and industries expected to flourish are ideal for veterans and transitioning servicemembers.
A large majority of the job growth -- 96 percent, in fact -- will occur in service-producing industries: professional and business services, health care and social assistance, and state and local government, which will all add a total of more than 9 millions jobs. Additionally, the goods-producing sector will see a small boost in the construction industry, as this field is projected to add 1.3 million jobs.
 The bulk of the fastest growing jobs will be in the professional and related occupations, as well as service occupations, reports the BLS. Many of these positions, such as athletic trainers or physician's assistants, are a good for transitioning servicemembers or veterans who want to apply their military experience to a civilian job. Most of these vocations will require an associate or bachelor's degree.
Here are 30 of the fastest-growing jobs that you should keep your eye on in the next 10 years:

1. Bio-medical engineers -- bachelor's degree
2. Network Systems and data communications analysts -- bachelor's degree
3. Home health aides -- on-the-job training (OJT)
4. Personal and home care aides -- OJT
5. Financial examiners -- bachelor's
6. Medical scientists (except epidemiologists) -- doctoral degree
7. Physician Assistants -- master's degree
8. Skin Care Specialists -- postsecondary vocational award
9. Biochemists and biophysicists -- doctoral degree
10. Athletic Trainers -- bachelor's
11. Physical therapist aides -- OJT
12. Dental hygienists -- associate degree
13. Veterinary technologists and technicians -- associate degree
14. Dental assistants -- OJT
15. Computer software engineers, applications -- bachelor's
16. Medical Assistants -- OJT
17. Physical therapist assistants -- associate degree
18. Veterinarians -- first professional degree
19. Self-enrichment education teachers -- work experience in a related field
20. Compliance officers -- OJT
21. Occupational therapist aides -- OJT
22. Environmental engineers -- bachelor's
23. Pharmacy technicians -- OJT
24. Computer software engineers, systems software --bachelor's
25. Survey researchers -- bachelor's
26. Physical therapists -- master's
27. Personal Financial Advisors -- bachelor's
28. Environmental engineering technicians -- associate degree
29. Occupational therapist assistants -- associate degree
30. Fitness trainer and aerobics instructors -- post-secondary vocational award

NEWS - ELEPHANT ARRIVES AT OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO, BRINGING HERD TO A TOTAL OF 4

Elephant arrives at Oklahoma City Zoo, bringing herd total to four

The Oklahoma City Zoo received a male elephant Tuesday afternoon. An Asian elephant named Rex was transported from African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ontario. He will breed with both adult female elephants in Oklahoma City in the coming years.

BY CARRIE COPPERNOLL

Published: December 14, 2011

The Oklahoma City Zoo received a fourth elephant for its herd Tuesday afternoon.
A male Asian elephant named Rex arrived about noon Tuesday after a 20-hour, 1,300-mile trip from Cambridge, Ontario.
It was a proud moment for the zoo and the community, Oklahoma City Zoo Executive Director Dwight Scott said.
“We've made a real commitment to elephant conservation and breeding,” he said. “These are magnificent, beautiful and intelligent animals. They need to be preserved.”
Rex will spend 30 days in quarantine and out of the public eye, Scott said.
He won't interact with the other elephants, and any time he spends outside will likely be during the early morning hours before zoo guests arrive.
The addition of Rex to the Asian elephant herd is the second new elephant this year. A calf, Malee, was born April 15.
Rex was brought to the Oklahoma City Zoo to breed with the two female elephants, Asha and Chandra. Chandra could mate with Rex as soon as this spring.
Asha, however, will not breed until Malee is weaned, which will be about another year.
The process of adding a male elephant has been a long time coming, Scott said.
“This is a critical step in our breeding program,” Scott said. “We've been working for years to pull all of this together.”
Oklahoma City Zoo officials visited the Canadian zoo last fall and then requested Rex come to Oklahoma. The move was approved by a consortium of elephant experts, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted a permit for the elephant's move in August. The final permits for the border crossing were approved this month.
Calm, comfortable
Only essential zoo staff members were on hand to help unload Rex, Mammal Curator Laura Bottaro said. The animal was calm and comfortable when he got off the trailer and walked into the elephant barn, she said.
“It all happened in about 10 minutes,” Bottaro said.
Asha and Chandra spent most of the day in the far side of their habitat, away from the barn and moving trailer, Bottaro said.
Malee was curious and spent her time trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening.
After the quarantine is over, the elephants will be allowed to touch trunks and meet one another.
Eventually, they could spend time in the same yard.
“We're looking forward to letting him mix with the girls,” Bottaro said.

NEWS -SMALL EARTHQUAKE RECORDED NEAR LUTHER

Small earthquake recorded near Luther

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a 2.2 magnitude quake hit near Luther about 1 a.m. Sunday.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Published: December 4, 2011

A small earthquake was recorded near Luther Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was a 2.2 magnitude earthquake and hit about 1 a.m. Sunday. Its epicenter was 5 miles southeast of Luther and 7 miles southwest of Wellston.
The earthquake was 23 miles from Oklahoma City.