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What was super about Tuesday?
Trump and Biden both got convincing wins. What amazes me is that people actually believe either of these men is fully capable of getting our country on the right path. Both have a shot at it and I'm...
Senate Review
This week was deadline week for all bills assigned to a committee to be heard in the chamber of origin. This week has kept me busy listening to legislation in Appropriations Subcommittees on Select...
Carl's Capitol Comments
At the time of this writing, over one million acres have burned in Oklahoma and Texas. I'm thankful that much of our House district has been spared so far. There has been one small wildfire in our...
The life of appliances
“Didn’t need no welfare state, everybody pulled their weight, gee our old LaSalle ran great, those were the days.” –All In The Family, 1971. The LaSalle was a great car, easy to work on and...
I yam who I yam
Remember the old TV cartoon “Popeye The Sailor Man?” He had a favorite saying: “I yam what I yam and dat’s all I yam.” And poor old Olive Oyl could never get him to see himself any other...
Spiritual challenges
While my articles often touch on moral and/or societal issues, I usually try to avoid explicitly discussing religion. However, as we have just begun a new year and are expected to have forgiveness in...
Is it spring already?
The elm trees at home are budding out, so spring has officially sprung, right? I don’t know if I believe that 100 percent, but we started some tomato and pepper seeds this weekend and man it felt good. The winter blues seem to drag on sometimes, pr...
Full Cyrkle – part 2
When members of the rock group The Cyrkle began making music in 1966, fame came quickly. The band’s first album peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard charts while producing two hit singles. Their first...
Carl's Capitol Comments
I had lots of visitors stop by my office at the Capitol last week, several I got to introduce from the House floor. On Tuesday we hosted FFA Day, and I spoke with students from across the state. On...
Senate Review
It has been another busy week here at the Capitol. There has been lots of action with legislation and visiting groups from across the state and our district. This week, I was fortunate to have two...
Seven wonders of the ancient world
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World represent remarkable feats of architecture and engineering that have captivated people in antiquity and continue to inspire wonder today. The list was begun...
Why so many 'thou shalt nots?
Does it seem to you that God is always saying “No” or “Don’t do that” or “Thou shalt not”? If you think that, you are not alone. Many people feel the same way. Seems as if all He wants...
Bills affecting fake meat, conservation receive committee approval
We’ve now made it through the second week of session and Senate committees have continued reviewing the dozens of bills they’ve been assigned. I’m pleased to share that a few of my bills have already received approval from their respective...
A way with words
I am a huge Charles Spurgeon fan. For those who don’t know who I am talking about. Charles Spurgeon was an English Baptist preacher who lived in the last of the 19th century. He was a leader of the conservative movement of the London Baptist...
Full Cyrkle – Part 1
Once upon a time – in the mid-1960s – there was a musical group made up of young men in their early 20s. Actually, there were about a million such bands in the mid-1960s. This article is about...
Vegas visit is a letdown
I was disappointed! There is an old saying "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Nothing happened there that I couldn't talk about here. Probably the most exciting thing was my trip to the house of...
February is CareerTech Month
Dear Editor: February is designated as CareerTech Month. As a member of the Board of Education for Northwest Technology Center (NWTC), I wanted to share a few thoughts about the role that Northwest Tech plays in northwest Oklahoma and has for over...
Industrial hemp bill passes out of committee
We have made it through week two of session, and we are off to a great start. I had the opportunity to pass two bills through committee this week including SB 1422, which creates the Industrial Hemp...
HB 3191 on water metering for large industrial wells passes out of committee
At the Capitol, we are still in the process of hearing bills in various committees. All bills are reviewed by the floor leadership team and then assigned to a committee. The committee must hear and...
Birthdays
“You say it’s your birthday. It’s my birthday too. Yeah, they say it’s your birthday; we’re gonna have a good time, I’m glad it’s your birthday! Happy Birthday to you!” –The...
Your heart's a liar
If you are in the habit of consulting only yourself, trusting your own instincts and believing that you will know in your heart what to do when the time comes, then you have a big problem. In Proverbs...
The change of technology
I was home most of last week with the flu, and I watched a lot of television in an attempt to get my mind off of how bad I felt. While channel-surfing, I happened to come across an old movie that...
A life-changing experience
Around this time of year, I relate this story. Sorry if you have heard it before, but you will hear it again next year as well. God is so good! Feb. 15, 2021, a day I will never forget. Now, almost three years later, that is the day that changed my...
The score was 222-0, part 4
As we have seen, Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland College in a 1916 football game that ended with the score of 222-0 with Cumberland being on the losing end of the contest. An interesting footnote to...
Attention voters and travelers
Assuming the voters remain stupid and Biden and Trump are the nominees, they will travel the country debating each other. It will be called the "Antiques Roadshow." There is an old Beach Boys song...