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How did the Unassigned Lands become unassigned?

This past April 22, 2020, was the 131st anniversary of the land run that opened the central part of today's State of Oklahoma to homesteading by non-Indian settlers. These were lands owned by the U. S. Government and not assigned to any organized territory nor to any Indian nation or...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 15, 2020 12:09 AM

Oklahoma Growth and Opportunity Summit in Tulsa Saturday

This coming Saturday, February 15, 2014, Americans for Prosperity Oklahoma, the Tulsa 9.12 Project, and OCPA Impact will present the first Oklahoma Growth & Opportunity Summit, a series of talks and panels on how to "make Oklahoma the place to prosper." Speakers include Attorney General Scott Pruitt, Congressman Jim Bridenstine,...

Posted by Michael Bates on February 10, 2014 9:34 PM

<em>In tenebris</em>

(There are a fair number of stream-of-consciousness reminiscences in this piece, so to simplify matters, the main thread of last Friday's story is in normal text, and the flashbacks are in italics.) My feet hit the floor at 4:15 a.m. Eastern time Good Friday morning; pitch black outside. After a...

Posted by Michael Bates on April 23, 2011 1:36 PM

"Long tail" strikes again: $400 waffle mystery solved

It seems that if you wait long enough, you can get an answer to any question on the internet. Each week, James Lileks posts photos of a vintage matchbook advertising a business. He usually is able to provide some information on the subsequent history of the business or what is...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 1, 2009 11:55 PM

Paul Harvey signs off

I was sad to learn tonight of the passing of legendary radio broadcaster and Tulsa native Paul Harvey at the age of 90. Harvey grew up at 1014 E. 5th Pl. -- the house is still there -- went to Longfellow School at 6th and Peoria, and then Central High...

Posted by Michael Bates on February 28, 2009 11:26 PM

Preacher style fried chicken?

About a year ago, James Lileks posted a picture of a matchbook from a chain of cafes called Harris Lunch, with locations in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Wellington and Kingman in Kansas. (UPDATE 2018/03/07: Lileks has since reorganized his matchbooks; here is the location of the Harris Lunch matchbook as...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 30, 2007 6:58 PM