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67th Fighter Squadron Wins 2012 Raytheon Award

Bill Wilson — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:25:53 +0000

A big shout-out to the 67th Fighter Squadron ‘Fighting Cocks’ for winning this years’ Raytheon Award for best air superiority squadron in the Air Force!

Makes me proud to be an alum of the 67th from the F-4 days of ’72-’73. By the way, the patch for the 67th was designed by Walt Disney during WWII.

The HD video below takes me back as it was shot over the old ‘home drome’ at Kadena AB Okinawa.

Enjoy!

2012 Raytheon Award Video from Jersey on Vimeo.

The Most Beautiful Fighter – P-51 Mustang

Bill Wilson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:23:49 +0000

Without a doubt, the P-51 Mustang is the most beautiful fighter aircraft ever built. Can’t wait to see “Redtails” later this month. The photography looks great.

Merry Christmas

Bill Wilson — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:00:08 +0000

From our home to yours…

A Cool Year in Review

Bill Wilson — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:38:51 +0000

It’s Veteran’s Day… and I’m pissed! Happy Veteran’s Day

Bill Wilson — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

There are no atheists in foxholes…

On the evening of June 5th 1944 President Franklin D Roosevelt gave a speech to the nation announcing that Allied troops had entered Rome. At that time he knew that a gigantic invasion force was heading across the English Channel toward the beaches of Normandy. The fact that Rome had fallen was soon to be overshadowed.

The following evening, June 6th 1944 FDR again addressed the nation. As 57,000 Americans along with 75,000 British and Canadian forces fought to establish beachheads, Franklin Roosevelt asked the nation to join him in prayer.

I’m not a big FDR fan, but how appropriate.

Last week as I began thinking how I might acknowledge Veterans Day here on this blog, I see an article appear in my Reader…

“Obama Administration Opposes FDR Prayer at WWII Memorial”

That pisses me off! They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. Was this not the point of World War II? With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. (Read the entire prayer or listen to FDR below.) When did prayer become politically incorrect? I’m pissed. I’m a veteran.

This president can call himself a number or things, but Veteran can’t be one of them. If anyone’s going to determine what can be added or taken off a World War II memorial it should be the WWII vets. They’ve earned the right.

Obama Administration Opposes FDR Prayer at WWII Memorial – Fox News

Republican lawmakers and conservative activists are expressing outrage after the Obama administration announced its objection to adding President Franklin Roosevelt’s D-Day prayer to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The objection was noted during a congressional hearing on Rep. Bill Johnson’s, R-Ohio, bill — the “World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2011.”

“It is unconscionable that the Obama administration would stand in the way of honoring our nation’s distinguished World War II veterans,” Johnson said. “President Roosevelt’s prayer gave solace, comfort and strength to our nation and our brave warriors as we fought against tyranny and oppression.”

Roosevelt asked the nation to join him in prayer as U.S. and allied troops launched the invasion that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. He asked God to give the allied troops courage and faith, saying, “With thy blessing we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy.”

But Robert Abbey, the director of the Bureau of Land Management, said any plaque or inscription of the prayer would “dilute” the memorial’s central message and therefore “should not be altered.”

“It is not a judgment as to the merit of this new commemoration, simply that altering the Memorial in this way, as proposed in HR 2070, will necessarily dilute this elegant memorial’s central message and its ability to clearly convey that message to move, educate, and inspire its many visitors,” Abbey said in written testimony.

Abbey explained to lawmakers that altering the memorial would be contrary to the Commemorative Works Act — a law that prohibits “encroachment by a new commemoration on a existing one.” It also respects the design of the “completed work of civic art without alteration or addition of new elements.”

Johnson told Fox News that the administration’s objection should “give all Americans a great deal of concern.”

“For there to be objections to demonstrating a faith in God at critical points in our nation’s history — particularly D-Day — boggles my mind,” Johnson said. “I was very surprised they were going to object.”

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council said it’s not all that surprising.

“This is further evidence that the administration has created an environment that is hostile towards American history — but in particular towards Christianity,” Perkins told Fox News. “I hope America wakes up and realizes what this administration is doing to this country and how they want to radically and fundamentally change America.”

“They want to erase every aspect of America’s heritage,” Perkins said of Obama’s administration. “Any president, any official in history that has embraced Christianity, is no longer welcome in this administration. That’s the environment they are creating.”

Johnson’s bill, which had bipartisan support, is expected to pass a committee vote and he anticipates the full House will support the legislation.

The Objectionable Prayer to the Obama Administration

My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment — let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace — a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt – June 6, 1944

Take 10 minutes and watch the opening scene to Saving Private Ryan — see if you think a prayer might have been in order.

It’s Veterans Day. Thank a veteran. Say a prayer for those in harms way today!

Happy Veterans Day.

Oklahoma 5.6 Earthquake

Bill Wilson — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:01:44 +0000

Sorry…. I had to swipe this off Facebook – it is too funny!

Happy Halloween!

Bill Wilson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:27:52 +0000

Oklahoma City Halloween Events, 2011

Bill Wilson — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The official date for Trick-or-Treat night in the Oklahoma City area this year is Monday, October 31st. There are a number of events around the metro to celebrate this holiday.

Haunt the Harn

The Harn Homestead (1721 N Lincoln) is offering a night of Trick-or-Treating, hay rides, apple bobbing, marshmallow roasting and more. This will be Thursday, October 27th from 5:30 to 8:30. Children are $3 or $5 at the door and up to 2 parents accompanying are free.

Oklahoma Gazette’s Halloween Parade – aka Ghouls Gone Wild

The parade starts at 7:00pm Satuday, October 29th and will begin at NE 3rd Street and E.K. Gaylord traveling north and ending at NW 12th Street and North Walker. There will be local bands, dance groups, and individual performers.

Frightfest at Frontier City

This has been running Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights since October 1st and will continue through Sunday, October 30th. This includes a trick-0r-treat trail for kids and a great haunted house for the older ones. Admission is included with park admission except for the haunted house.

Haunt the Zoo

This is an annual event at the zoo and runs this year from October 26th through October 31st. Times are 6:30 – 8:30 each evening. It’s trick-or-treating for the kids through the zoo and this is probably the most popular event. Admission is $7 for kids ($6 in advance) and accompanying adults are free.

Creepy Conservatory at the Myriad Botanical Gardens

Ready to get up close with things that slither, slime and slink? There’s no better place to get your spook on than at the Myriad Botanical Gardens’ annual “Creepy Conservatory.” Participants can get up close with some of nature’s most dastardly beasts, all in a safe, fun, family-friendly environment. Arts & crafts, safe trick-or-treating and a spooky story or two are all part of the creepy fun. Saturday, October 29 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Haunt the River Cruise

This runs Friday’s and Saturdays from October 14th through the 29th. Get dressed up and have a costumed river cruise on the Oklahoma River. The adult Haunt the River Cruises include constests, entertainment and cash bar.

Haunted Houses

Dungeon Haunted Ride in 3D This ride is available all year in Bricktown but goes for the extreme scare during Halloween. It’s along the canal and admission starts at $5
Bricktown’s Haunted Warehouse The location is the Bricktown Coca-Cola Event Center. This year it’s “Pitch Black” ~ 20,000 square feet of pure terror. It runs from the 19th through the 31st. Admission is $13 or $18 (VIP). Info at 405.236.4143.
Terror on 10th Street (2005 NW 10th Street) This is a guided tour of an actual house and giving the home’s haunted history. Admission is $5 per person. For info call 405.232.1816
Trail of Terror (2701 W 10th Street, El Reno) Pruportadly one of the more intense haunted house experiences in the Metro. It’s open from 6:30 to 11:00 on Saturday October 29th and Sunday October 30th. Admission is $7. Website
Guthrie Haunts (4524 Riverside Circle, Guthrie) This is new in 2011. The haunted house is open at 8:00pm on October 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st. Admission is $7.
Ultimate Terrors (Crossroads Mall) This is 3 haunted houses in one – Skull Manor, Code Blue and 3-D Chaos. Admission is $12 for Skull Manor and $10 each for Code Blue and 3-D Chaos. For all 3 it’s $20 or $28 for a VIP pass. It’s open daily and gates open at 7:00pm. Website

Have a great Halloween!!!

911 – Lest We Forget

Bill Wilson — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

If you want to participate in 9/11 moments of silence, these are the specific times of major events that day:

8:46 a.m. EDT (7:46 a.m. Oklahoma time) – the first plane strikes the World Trade Center.
9:03 a.m. EDT (8:03 a.m. Oklahoma time) – the second plane strikes the World Trade Center.
9:43 a.m. EDT (8:43 a.m. Oklahoma time) – plane crashes into the Pentagon.
9:59 a.m. EDT (8:59 a.m. Oklahoma time) – South Tower collapses.
10:10 a.m. EDT ( 9:10 a.m. Oklahoma time) – Flight 93 crashes in Shanksville, PA.
10:28 a.m. EDT (9:28 a.m. Oklahoma time) – North Tower collapses.

Come On Banks – Join the 21st Century

Bill Wilson — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:03:06 +0000

For me, one of Bill Clinton’s finest hours was when he signed the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, popularly known as the E-Sign Act. This was on June 30th, 2000. Under E-Sign, digital signatures used in interstate and foreign commerce assumed the same legally binding status as old-fashioned, handwritten signatures.

I was thrilled! Real estate is a paper business. Electronic signatures make my business and my client’s life much simpler. Not to mention Green. Think about it. No faxing/emailing, printing out, signing, then scanning/faxing. Or driving around all over town to gather signatures. Arriving at the final document which was unreadable by anyone. We had to include an unsigned copy so everyone could read it.

Oklahoma was slower to act. Our former attorney general, Drew Edmondson seemed to like ink and unreadable copies also as he deemed electronic signatures illegal in this state. I don’t think anyone was happier than me to see him leave office. Finally in April of this year the legislature passed and governor signed into law, e-signatures for Oklahomans. We’re in the 21st Century now!

Edmond Mortgage Broker Takes Us Back To the 1800′s

Imagine my disappointment this morning when I heard from Jeff Straka of our office who received an email from an Edmond mortgage broker that his ‘investor’ would not accept an electronic signature on the real estate contract. He has the gall to send an un-wet-signed email. That’s progressive but contradictory. I’m rather surprised they didn’t send a telegram!

Now mind you, we’re talking about the real estate contract that really doesn’t concern the lender, they’re not even named in the contract. This is not the mortgage documents. There’s no telling what kind of archaic rituals they’ll have to go through at closing with those.

My thought…. They’ll have you sign with a quill pen, in front a justice-of-the-peace, seal it with a wax seal, notify everyone via telegraph, and deliver your papers via pony express.

Wish I could name names here, but I can’t. If you need a referral for a progressive, 21st century, mortgage banker who doesn’t make you jump through 19th century hoops, give me a shout — DocuSign used here!