Ignorance

Off the Cuff Comment:

To the smart ones who don’t like Off the Cuff, you expose your ignorance by reading it.

My Comment:

What do you expose by writing in?

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Invade Mexico

Off the Cuff Comment:

Everyone is saying that immigrants are entering our country illegally because of better jobs. It is interesting that Mexico, even though it is older than the United States, has not developed an equivalent economy. So rather than using the National Guard to help the border patrol, they should be used to invade Mexico. After the U.S. gains control, we can build Mexico’s economy to the point that they will have good jobs at home and they will want to stay home to work

My Comment:

Then we can just work our way through South America and bring great economies to all of the Americas. China's got enough money to loan a whole continent, right?

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Cut and Run

Off the Cuff Comment:

The Democrats don’t like President Bush’s plan of “stay the course.” They have a plan and it is called “cut and run.”

My Comment:

I didn't realize we had a member of the administration working in Bartlesville. They must feel abandoned now that their President changed his attitude.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Needy People

Off the Cuff Comment:

I think Bartlesville needs a tag office in the south side of town. The other location is very inconvenient. We also need an IHOP restaurant and a Furr’s cafeteria

My Comment:

Wow, IHOP would just make my day complete too.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Social Studies Lesson

Off the Cuff Comment:

At 94-years of age I just thought of a new slogan for the upcoming election. If you want your remaining son or your remaining daughter to be called out for an unnecessary war please mark your ballot for a Mr. Bush. Who? I repeat, a Mr. Bush.

My Comment:

At 94-years of age you must have forgotten that Mr. Bush isn't up for reelection because of term limitations. Also, since it has been several decades since you've had a social studies class, I feel obligated to remind you that this is a midterm election and not a presidential election.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Attack Dog

Off the Cuff Comment:

I would like to set the story straight about the pit bull in Dewey. I am the owner of the dog that got killed. Yes, my dog did get out of the yard. He jumped into a neighbor’s yard next door to the pit bull. The pit bull then jumped that neighbor’s fence and killed my dog. In regards to the dog never been aggressive before, he also jumped on to the dog that lives behind them about a year ago. Not only that, he threatened an elderly man that lived on the corner of Choctaw and Grove. Yes, this dog is aggressive and needs to be taken care of.

My Comment:

Pit Bull attack, yada yada yad... WHAT? The dog threatened an old man? I can see it now, "Walk on the right side of the sidewalk old man! I'll steal your cane!"

The old man responds, "Get off my lawn!"

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

The Way Cats Were

Off the Cuff Comment:

This is Sunday, Oct. 8. I just counted five classified ads for free kittens in the paper today. Washington County SPCA and ARF of Bartlesville are overrun with cats and kittens. Please, please spay these female cats. There are not enough homes for all the kittens that have already been born, let alone any more.

My Comment:

I bet when you had a young male kitten, a female cat beat him for 1st place in a cat show and you have been bitter ever since. Very, very bitter.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

The Way We Were

Off the Cuff Comment:

Just to show you how the world has changed, when I was a young man growing up, all women were mothers and they stayed at home. I just saw an ad in the newspaper that had 31 doctors in it and would you believe that 13 of them are women? Now that sure shows you how the world has changed and how a lot of women think they should be in the business place competing against men.

My Comment:

I bet when you were a young man, a girl beat you for 1st place in the school spelling bee and you have been bitter ever since. Very very bitter.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Scandalous

Off the Cuff Comment:

President Clinton did not resign as president when he was involved in a sex scandal. Why should any senator or representative in Congress have to resign their seat because of a sex scandal?

My Comment:

Attempting to seduce an underage boy is a little more sick than cheating on your wife with a consenting adult in the Oval Office. Not to mention, a little more illegal.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Rinky Dink

Off the Cuff Comment:

Please, please put in a skating rink for the children and the adults that love to skate. They can make a good living at that.

My Comment:

Yes, we all know how many children (and adults) dream of making it one day as a professional in a roller derby league.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Progress

Off the Cuff Comment:

Hey, what is the deal? My husband and I have just moved back to the Bartlesville area after being gone for 30 years. Back then the road to Nowata was a two lane highway and it still is. This is progress? What is the deal?

My Comment:

I find this to be great progress. State officials have not spent our money foolishly to widen a road very few people use. What a deal.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Lonesome Whistles

Off the Cuff Comment:

It is right about midnight and the freight train has just left Dewey going north and the engineer is blowing the most beautiful western type movie sound you have ever heard. So what do I do? I grab my flashlight out the back door on top of my cellar and wave at him and bless his heart he tooted back. But from now on, at 94-years of age, I will just stand outside my back door and wave at him. It sure made my night.

My Comment:

Dear 8 lb 6 oz baby Jesus, please don't let me grow old and senile to the point where I wait up for a nightly train.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Ed Gordon

Off the Cuff Comment:

I wonder if the people who call into off the cuff concerning Ed Gordon being hired as the city manager, I wonder if they have thought about the fact that the city commission might know what they are doing. I personally think they do and I they are making an outstanding decision on hiring Ed Gordon as the city manager. It doesn’t make any difference where he lives or what his education is, he just happens to be a good man and he would be a darn good city manager. I have known Ed personally for quite a while and I have worked with him professionally. I have no ties obviously through Ed Gordon but I think he would make a great city manager. And I wish the people would get off the backs of the city commissioners. They know what they are doing.

My Comment:

I know him personally, I've worked with him, but I have no ties to him! Ed, we know it's you writing in. Next time work harder to hide your identity.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Access Hours

Off the Cuff Comment:

Has anybody except me noticed that Bartlesville (Department of Public Safety office) at the armory totally plays by their own rules. When I first moved here I tried to go in and get an ID card and I had to have my original birth certificate, then about three days later I watched somebody from here go in with just a copy of their birth certificate and Social Security card and they got an ID. That place really makes up their own rules as they go along.

My Comment:

At least the armory was open the first time and second time you tried to go in. My experience is that they are only open during quarter moon and only if it is raining.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Hot Summer Days

Off the Cuff Comment:

This is to all you folks who are suffering from this miserable hot weather. Get up at 4 o’clock in the morning, open your front and back doors, then make yourself a cup of hot cowboy coffee and sip it while sitting on your front porch watching the birds take their early morning refreshing bath. It might not help but it will sure make your day a lot shorter.

My Comment:

So, getting up at 4am, letting in 80 degree, humid air, and drinking hot coffee will make your day shorter? I would think sleeping in would make your day shorter...

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Hurts So Good

Off the Cuff Comment:

The city is hurting a lot of us that don’t have much, much money. Our water bill last month, there was $4 and something for the water consumed, but our total bill was $40 some odd dollars. Now there has to be something wrong with that.

My Comment:

How dare the city charge us to collect trash and spray for mosquitos! Just wait until this person finds out their bill increased to pay for a more modern trash collection system...

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Hitchhiking, Part II

Off the Cuff Comment:

Early this Friday morning as I was returning from the little grocery store north of Dewey, both arms loaded down with groceries, as I walked along the sidewalk hundreds of cars passed me by until finally a gentleman stopped, opened the door and said “may I help you,” I replied “no, just because my eyes don’t work anymore is not a reason that I am not going to depend on my legs, thank you very much.” It just goes to show me that there are still a lot of good people in this world. Thank you very much.

My Comment:

I'm sure the guy drove away thanking God that the crazy person didn't accept his ride offer.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Eminent Domain

Off the Cuff Comment:

Since other countries refuse to sell us gasoline and since we are at war and gasoline is most important to win a war, our government should pass laws that all oil and gasoline and natural gas belongs to the USA should be kept for our use.

My Comment:

Why didn't I think of that, of course, eminent domain!

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Feathers and Fire Water

Off the Cuff Comment:

I never have agreed with the fact that the Indian tribes are trying to make most of their money through gambling. It is not a very savory business. But now they are going to make it even worse by allowing alcohol sales in their casinos. I always figured that tribal leaders would think of things that are beneficial to people rather than something detrimental.

My Comment:

Who ever heard of paying for alcohol at a casino...it should be provided to those gambling free of charge

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Walking Manuals

Off the Cuff Comment:

This is for those of you who decide that you would like to use the street for doing your walking. Your Oklahoma driver's manual explains that when you are walking in the street you should walk facing the traffic, not with the traffic. This is for your own safety in order that you may see the oncoming traffic.

My Comment:

When did we start giving driving manuals to pedestrians?

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Feet

Off the Cuff Comment:

Folks, it is summer time. Lots of people are wearing flip flops. That is your right. But please do not wear flip flops into a restaurant. Nobody eating wants to see your bare feet.

My Comment:

At the very least, can we agree to take them out of my soup?

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Rules of the Road

Off the Cuff Comment:

Did the rules of the road change? It seems that all the passing is being done in the right lane now instead of the left lane. Is the right lane the pass lane now?

My Comment:

Did the rules of the road change? It seems that all the slower drivers are in the left lane now instead of the right lane. Are slower drivers now supposed to merge left?

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Free Fast Food Nation

Off the Cuff Comment:

Sunday, after hearing about how God has blessed this country, I headed for the take-out line at the fast food place. For 12 minutes I inched my SUV along with the A/C on high, gas gauge dropping. Then, I thought, this is absolutely ridiculous, having to pay $2.79 for gasoline. The government should fine, tax, or whatever it takes to get the oil companies back to $2 gasoline. Then this clown from Bush's office comes on. If Americans would reduce their driving by only 4 percent, we would have an excess supply of gasoline. Bush doesn't understand this is a free country.

My Comment:

Heaven forbid you get out of the car and walk the 25 feet to go INSIDE the fast food joint.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Kennedy

Off the Cuff Comment:

Patrick Kennedy said that the name Kennedy is sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse. Wrong! It is some people with the name Kennedy who are a curse.

My Comment:

Anyone remember the MTV VJ Kennedy? Truly a walking curse.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Roll it back, and freeze

Off the Cuff Comment:

If President Bush really wanted to do something for the price of gas for the American public, he would roll it back, freeze it, and then he would hit a windfall profit tax on all the oil companies and it would stop the problem. But he really doesn't want to do anything about it. He is padding his own pockets along with all the other Republicans who love all these big oil companies.

My Comment:

Roll back prices and freeze them, then add another tax to oil companies? Prices will be even higher when every US refinery is closed because their owners went belly-up.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Oil Prices

Off the Cuff Comment:

This is in response to the person who called in to let us know that George Bush is responsible for the high gasoline prices. Gee, I thought all this time that it was the greedy oil companies who were raising the prices, silly me.

My Comment:

Gee, I thought it was increased Asian demand, new regulations on gasoline additives, limited refining capactiy, and the oblivious idiots who refuse to buy a more efficent vehicle to replace their Hummer. Silly me.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Greatest President

Off the Cuff Comment:

To all you Bush haters, I think President Bush will go down in history as one of our greatest presidents. He has caused Libya to give up all their nuclear weapons, he has freed Lebanon from Syria, he has liberated Afghanistan and he is in the process of liberating millions in Iraq from Saddam.

My Comment:

As a rule I try and not comment about politics, but let's look at straight facts...

Libya: Yes, the U.S. played a role, but Libya was pressured by the global community for past transgressions. That's like a new hire taking credit for their company's stock price going up thirty cents.

Lebanon: Pretty sure this whole situation started with an assassination. I'm also pretty sure Lebanon is still not "free" from Syria.

Afghanistan: Just because the media has moved on, doesn't mean Afghanistan is over. Just ask the Canadians.

Iraq: I'm not even going to start with this...

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Hitchhiking

Off the Cuff Comment:

I am a 46-year-old woman. Right now, my vehicle is broke down so I have been forced to walk. It is one thing about it being a nice day and someone walking, but in the cold freezing rain or late in the evening when the dew has fallen and someone is forced to walk and not one person offering a ride. Shameful, very shameful. When I have my child with me even more shameful, especially when we are loaded down with groceries or carrying something heavy and we are having to walk.

My Comment:

Don't shame me for not picking up random people off the street, I was raised not to! At worst, you'd kill me. At best, I'd have to listen to you complain that you had to walk and no one was picking you up.

©2006 Bartlesville Off the Cuff

Glorify

Off the Cuff Comment:

How does taking a group of children out into a pasture to hunt for eggs that have prizes in them glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

My Comment:

How does calling in and complaining about traditions for every religious holiday glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Children Are The Future

Off the Cuff Comment:

Bartlesville is putting in all these expensive new homes and making it a cultural center. I believe we need to do something for the children. There is absolutely nothing for the children unless they are in sports or go to church. We need something for the kids here.

My Comment:

WHAT?!!!!!!!! During the summer, there is the park system (including pools), the Kiddie Park, the FREE First Friday G rated movies, the Kid's Space at the Summer HOT Street Parties, not to mention SunFest. During the rest of the year, they should be in school for eight hours and then, there are lots of things to do besides sports. They are called electives, you can learn a second language, play an instrument, take an art class, join the geology club and go camping to look at sedimentary rocks. UGH, this is what is wrong with this town.

Kids in School

Off the Cuff Comment:

No wonder kids in school don't learn a darn thing anymore. If all those Mexican children can just walk out of class, gang up and fly their Mexican flag. Don't they realize that America is red, white and blue with stars and stripes? True, they can be proud of their heritage but they are in America for some reason. And if their country is so great then why aren't they go back there.

My Comment:

Apparently, kids in school a long time ago didn't learn that "why aren't they go back there" isn't correct use of the English language.

Diving II

Off the Cuff Comment:

Frontier Pool was built on a dump. They should expect some kind of settling on the thing. It was a huge pit that was filled up with trash and then dirt and rock and everything was dumped into it. So you have got to expect that after all these years it was going to settle. It is probably going to settle more than that.

My Comment:

It's a deep diving pool that goes into the ground, so shouldn't it be in the dump and not on the dump?

Diving

Off the Cuff Comment:

I think it is really sad that this town gets the hope of the children up then crushes them down. Not only are they not getting the water park, but they have lost the diving tower at Frontier Pool that attracted so many local youth. I think it is a shame that this town does not do more for the children. If it is not sport related, they're not interested.

My Comment:

In reality, the city is lucky they removed the high dive before there was an accident! Liability insurance for swimming pools with diving boards and water parks is out of control. Bartlesville isn't the only place suffering from a loss of diving boards.

The Hospital

Off the Cuff Comment:

We need to tell people the good things about Bartlesville. We have modest housing available, medical care within 30 minutes, the hospital is almost 30 minutes anyway from where you live, children can play in your yard without fear. Why do you always put in something ugly in Off the Cuff that has to be an ugly political statement or about how bad someone does something in this town.? Hey, we have a lot of good places in this town.

My Comment:

Most people in town would really have to take the long way to the hospital for it to be almost a 30 minute drive.

Extreme Makeover

Off the Cuff Comment:

I think the criticism toward Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is largely due to jealousy. Would you really want to trade places with the families and take on their problems, or are you not entertained because there are no murders, sex scenes or half-exposed bodies on the show? I was privileged to pass out sandwiches and coffee for three days at the scene. I also got to shake Ty Pennington's hand and I didn't wash my hand for a week. I also take my phone off the hook during the show. Thank you ABC for a program filled with compassion, love, respect, humor, and an unbelievable conclusion.

My Comment:

Please tell me he shook her hand at the end of day 3 AFTER she passed out all those sandwiches.

Licensing

Off the Cuff Comment:

In the state of Oklahoma there is a law that requires people to have a permit to hunt, and in order to obtain that permit you must first complete a gun safety class. The thought has occurred to me that rather than banning pit bulls in this state, maybe you should be required to have a permit to own one, and a class on responsible pet ownership should be required to obtain it. There are plenty of us who own pit bulls who are responsible and love our dogs and would be willing to take the necessary steps to be able to keep our beloved pets, and to help weed out those irresponsible idiots who give us a bad name, and most importantly, who endanger our community with their ignorance of how to raise their own dogs.

My Comment:

Screw this, how about a license to be a parent?

Chihuahuas

Off the Cuff Comment:

I guess I must have missed the numerous articles about Chihuahuas eating toddlers. Let's do an experiment.

My Comment:

Are we going to experiment with live chihauahuas?????

Espanol

Off the Cuff Comment:

I am so sick and tired of this newspaper and local businesses catering to the Mexicans who don't speak fluent enough English. I suspect many are here illegally anyway, which I resent as a responsible taxpayer. You are in America, our standard is English. If I was to move to Mexico, I would learn to speak fluent Spanish first. I am part Cherokee and French. I can scream discrimination because your newspaper doesn't cater to those nationalities. Get my drift?

My Comment:

I've got it! We need a Spanish version of OTC! It would be MUY BIEN!

Junkies

Off the Cuff Comment:

I am calling about all the (people) calling in all the time wanting a stoplight somewhere - put a stoplight here, put a stop light there, help me, tell me what to do, somebody tell me where to drive, where to go. Somebody wrote in tonight about “Its a wonder you don't come up on a car stopped at the new Silver Lake extension on to Frank Phillips.” Hello! How about if you look up and see break lights. How about if you use your head for something besides a cell phone. I can't believe people are so addicted to stoplights in this town. They are stop light junkies.

My Comment:

I just thought this was funny..."stop light junkies"

Politics

Off the Cuff Comment:

Hillary Clinton is a communist.

My Comment:

Sure this gets published, but when I offer a comment about a specific politician, it doesn't.

My rejected Off the Cuff submission from Jan. 31:

It's not a surprise that any politician has their own agenda as a member of the judicial committee, that's true of all politicians. At least the democrats' agenda didn't involve doing the crossword puzzle with C-SPAN cameras right behind them.

Grammar

Off the Cuff Comment:

If you are claiming to be a professional or educated, you might want to check your spelling in grammar before you submit a letter about your killer dog to Readers Roundtable.

My Comment:

Doh!

Out of the Air

Off the Cuff Comment:

This is about the Dow(-Jones Industrial average) being over 11,000 when President Bush took office on Jan. 19. When he took office, the Dow was 10,587 and today the Dow is 11,043. The Democrats just get their information out of the air because they have no rhyme or reason where they get it.

My Comment:

Says the person who has no idea when presidents actually take office. At least the Dow closing price is correct.

Ferrets

Off the Cuff Comment:

I am calling about the new law that went into affect about registering your dogs, cats and ferrets. I can understand cats and ferrets, but dogs? I just spent 200 and some odd dollars getting them their rabies shots and their rabies tag, which has a number and the name of the vet. Now I am told you have to register your animal and pay $10 more dollars. I would like to know where my $20 is going for my two dogs. I want to know what we are supporting in Bartlesville with these funds.

Jennifer's Comment:

This is disturbing not because the caller is disagreeing with the additional licensing but because the caller thinks that it IS appropriate to license ferrets. First, how many ferrets have you ever seen running loose in Bartlesville (or anywhere else for that matter) that will need a collar and tag to return them home? Second, how many ferret attacks are there each year in the US? Bonus points if you can find me a statistic for my second question.

Alan's Comment:

I like bonus points...

Worst case statistics show approximately 12 ferret attacks ever recorded in the US.
Source

Computers

Off the Cuff Comment:

Why is it that so many consumers and businesses assume that everybody has a computer? I for one don't have one, but I can well afford at least three. To me they are the most stupid inventions that ever came on the market.

My Comment:

They have $3000? They are so rich! I wonder if they used a rotary phone to call this comment in... The best part is they'll never know they've been made fun of!