Final Project: Radiohead Music Video

I do not claim to own the music or lyrics in this video. All rights to said music and lyrics belongs to Radiohead. But I am fan.

Song: Videotape
Artist: Radiohead
Album: In Rainbows

Adam's Bad Day

Disclaimer: Adam IS in fact 21 years of age. Despite what this video may imply, he did not become intoxicated.

Cleveland County Veterans Memorial

The Cleveland County Veterans Memorial lies across from the Kidspace
Playground at Reaves Park. It was dedicated November 11, 2008.
Photo by Kalem Wedemyer

The memorial is dedicated to the men and women of Cleveland County
who have served in the United States military. The centerpiece stands upon
a granite pentagram which epitomizes the memorial.
Photo by Kalem Wedemyer

Atop the centerpiece stands a bronze eagle carrying the American flag.

The centerpiece is adorned with the name of the service men and women
who have lost their lived serving out country.
Photo by Kalem Wedemyer

The American flag flies high above the pathway leading
to the granite, marble and bronze memorial.
Photo by Kalem Wedemyer

Planning for this beautiful memorial began in 2001.
Today it stands as a majestic ode to the brave citizens of
Cleveland County who have served.
Photo by Kalem Wedemyer

These granite slabs surround the centerpiece. Carved into them
are the numerous names of Cleveland County's veterans.
Blank slabs can be seen for future veterans to be added.
Photo by Kalem Wedemyer

Anyone who has a tie to Cleveland County and has served
or is currently serving the U.S. military is eligible to be
added to the memorial. Applications can befound at
the City of Norman web page.
Photo by Kalem Wedemyer

The Cleveland County Veterans Memorial was dedicated to service men and women who have served in our nation's military with ties to said county on November 11, 2008. It represents some seven years of effort to recognize those from Cleveland County brave enough to fight for this country. Located on the Southwest corner of Reaves park at 2501 Jenkins Ave., the granite memorial is recognizable by it's stone pillar adorned with a bronze eagle carrying the United States flag. This centerpiece bears the names of those veterans who have lost their lives in service, while all other veterans' names are engraved into the numerous granite plaques which describe the walls of the memorial. Some of these plaques remain smooth, awaiting the engraving of future veterans' names. Development began in fall 2001 with veterans meeting with city officials to select a site for the memorial. It's location on the grounds of a former World War II installation was finalized by the approval of the Norman City Council on September 10, 2002. The installation, a Naval Air Technical Training Center, was active from 1942 to 1947 and later reactivated from 1952 to 1959. It has been estimated that some 115,000 personnel were trained during these two periods. Three years after it's commencement, the Cleveland County Veterans Memorial remains a beautiful show of thanks to our local veterans.

Pisa By The Slice

Pisa by the Slice

Better Than You Have Ever Had

by Tyler Thomas and Kalem Wedemyer

Are you tired of the bland, restaurant chain pizza? Then take a drive down Main Street in Norman, Okla. and you will find a small, family owned pizzeria that offers the best pizza you will ever have.

Pisa By The Slice is a family owned business in Norman. The restaurant was established three years ago at its original location on 12th and Robinson, however, three months ago the family moved its business to the present location on Main Street next to Norman High School.

Pisa By The Slice is owned and operated by the Yango family. The family was trained by an Italian man. The man showed the family how to make the dough and prepare the pizzas in a traditional Italian manner. Everyone plays a role in the operation of the restaurant but, two of the most important employees are Regie and Ralph Yango. The two brothers work in the pizzeria almost everyday of the week. You can see the pride they take in their work and their ability to offer a product that is far superior to any product offered by any pizza chain.

Pisa By The Slice uses only the finest ingredients for their pizzas and calzones. Their dough is made fresh daily, along with the special sauce. The pizza sauce is a special recipe that only a few people know and it makes all the difference. The pizzeria offers a variety of toppings for your pizza or calzone including, but not limited to pepperoni, sausage, beef, chicken, peppers, olives, mushrooms, and much more. For the finishing touch, Pisa By The Slice cooks their pizzas in a brick oven. The pizzas bake to a golden brown and come out with crisp crust that you just can't find a pizza chain.

The menu is what makes Pizza By The Slice so phenomenal. The restaurant not only offers the classic pizzas like supreme, meat lover's, and pepperoni, but also specialty gourmet pizzas. The gourmet pizzas range from a Mediterranean pizza to a chicken calabrese pizza. Ralph and Regie are always thinking creatively and trying to create new specialty pizzas for the restaraunt. In fact, Regie has just created a new pizza that could possibly hit the menu soon. The pizza was a chicken teriyaki pizza. The pizza consist of a special teriyaki sauce, chicken, and cheese. It may sound simple enough but, the way the flavors came together was amazing.

The beauty of Pisa By The Slice is that they are not limited to pizza on their menu. The restraunt offers a variety of fantastic dining options. In addition to pizzas, the Pisa By The Slice menu consists of calzones, Stromboli, gyros, pasta, sub sandwiches, and various appetizers. The customer always has options and can never get burned out because of the ability to try something different every visit.

The pizzeria's business has really came to life since the change in location three months ago. The location next to the high school on Main Street provides great exposure and opportunity. The restaurant receives consistent business from the high school students during their lunch break and also receives a good amount of business from the local business owners on Main Street. Some of the family have dreams of expanding the business and possibly branching out to other surrounding communities. There is no questioning the product, it will be just a matter for opportunity for their expansion to be a success.

If you find yourself craving pizza, save yourself the disappointment that is bland, chain pizza and make a trip to Pisa By The Slice. You will be met by a warm friendly face, that is eager to serve you. The pizza will revolutionize the way you think about pizza.

Revised Muslim Story on Sarah Sullivan

Finding Home

To say that it only took an unexpected encounter with a college student to shake Sarah Sullivan's faith would be a misconception. However, it would be the start of a life changing process for Sullivan as she embarked on finding her true inner peace.

Sullivan is a senior at the University of Oklahoma, working hard toward a major in pre-dental hygiene and religious studies. Sullivan was raised as a Southern Baptist, having lived in both Texas and Oklahoma. Sullivan is an extrovert who isn't afraid to speak her mind, but is happy to help others. Her positive attitude is contagious, and she has a bright smile.

In most respects, Sullivan seems to be a typical All-American. Yet, she wears a scarf around her head and neck called a hijab, and she prays a minimum of five times a day. Sullivan is a Muslim, and some people have been quick to let this fact blind them from the individual that she is.

Sullivan has always had religion in her life. In Wichita Falls, Texas, she was a practicing Christian for most of her life.

"When I say conservative, I mean very conservative" Sullivan says of her background. "In high school I was titled a saint, angel, prude, because I was the girl that didn't agree with drugs, sex, drinking, all that stuff."

So in Sullivan's freshman year of college, when she was asked by a fellow student why she was staying behind one weekend at the dorms while her sorority sisters left to go party, Sullivan replied that it was against her faith to drink. The inquisitive student revealed that his faith also did not condone drinking. When Sullivan asked about his faith, he revealed that he was a Muslim. That fall of 2007 was the first time she was introduced to Islam.

They continued to meet to discuss their respective religions and soon, two other Muslims joined the group.

“The four of us would meet and discuss religion. I would bring the Bible and they would bring the Quran, and we would just talk and share, communicate, dialogue, and discuss,” says Sullivan.

As the discussion group meetings continued, Sullivan began to question her faith as the others asked increasingly difficult questions about Christianity, questions that they could answer about their own faith of Islam without hesitation.

“I couldn’t find the answers. I would try to look in the Bible and look for answers because I was like ‘[the Bible] is what we base everything on, why can’t I find the answers?’” says Sullivan. “It was a rigorous, growing, terrifying time of my life.”

After fighting with herself for some time, Sullivan finally took the first step to accept Islam into her life, by partaking in the first pillar of Islam, the Shalhada, or declaration of faith. By reciting the Shalhada, she accepted Islam. Sullivan says that a feeling of peace came over her afterwards.

“It was a feeling of home.”

Sullivan says that while her conversion has been difficult for her family members, they are accepting and understanding. Sullivan also feels that in her three years of being a Muslim, she has become a better person. On Saturdays, she and her friends (some who have also converted to Islam) volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Her charity work makes her feel good about herself, and also adheres to the fourth pillar of Islam, Zakat, or charity.

Sullivan loves Oklahoma, but she recognizes that living in the Bible belt has not been easy for her or her friends. Despite this, she stands by her faith more than ever.

“My religion comes first. God comes first in my life, not anyone else. I don’t fear what other people say… I think the challenge makes me love my religion even more, and I fight for it even more.”

Being the outspoken type, Sullivan is eager to teach others the ways of Islam - not preaching, but informing, so they can get a better understanding of Islam and what it really represents. Sullivan finds the media to be particularly at fault for the misconceptions and negativity toward Islam.

“With the media and everything else, I feel bombarded with having to defend my religion” says Sullivan. “It’s heartbreaking to me because I feel like I’m screaming at the top of my lungs ‘This is not Islam! I don’t practice this! Every Muslim I know doesn’t agree with this’, and people are, like, ‘Well, you’re just one person.’”

Sullivan doesn’t seem to be losing hope in people however. She feels that underneath, no matter what religion a person does or does not practice, people are able to find their roots as human beings and make connections.

“It’s just connecting that line underneath all of these religions, people can find common ground and relate. It’s worth it as the end of the day. I may get upset, but it just makes me love my religion more. It makes me discuss it more. It makes me challenge it and question it, and I seek knowledge. Not just about my religion but other religions because I want to relate to these people of faith. So, it’s all good basically.”

Muslims in Oklahoma

Sarah Sullivan is a friendly young woman. She's a Senior at the University of Oklahoma, working hard toward a major in pre-dental hygiene and religious studies. She was raised in southern Baptist, having lived in both Texas and Oklahoma. She's an extrovert who isn't afraid to speak her mind, but is happy to help others. Her positive attitude is contagious, and she has a bright smile. Sarah sounds typical All-American. Yet, she wears a scarf around her head and neck called a Hijab, and she prays five times a day, at least. Sarah is Muslim, and people have been quick to let this fact blind them from the individual that she is.

Sarah has always had religion in her life. In Wichita Fall, Texas, she was raised southern Baptist and was a practicing Christian for most of her life.

"When I say conservative, I mean very conservative" Sarah says of her background. "In high school I was titled a saint, angel, prude, because I was the girl that didn't agree with drugs, sex, drinking, all that stuff."

So in her freshman year of college, when she was asked by a fellow student why she was staying behind one weekend at the dorms while her sorority sisters left to go party, she replied that it was against her faith to drink. The inquisitive student revealed that his faith also condoned drinking. When Sarah asked about his faith, he revealed that he was Muslim. That fall of 2007 was the first time she was introduced to Islam.

They continued to meet to discuss their respective religions and soon, two other Muslims joined the group.

“The four of us would meet and discuss religion. I would bring the Bible and they would bring the Quran, and we would just talk and share, communicate, dialogue, and discuss” says Sarah.

As the discussion group meetings continued, Sarah began to question her faith as the others asked increasingly difficult questions about Christianity, questions that they could answer about their own faith of Islam without hesitation.

“I couldn’t find the answers. I would try to look in the Bible and look for answers because I was like ‘[the Bible] is what we base everything on, why can’t I find the answers?’” says Sarah. “It was a rigorous, growing, terrifying time of my life.”

After fighting with herself for some time, Sarah finally took the first step to accept Islam into her life, by taking the first pillar of Islam, the Shalhada, or declaration of faith. By reciting the Shalhada, she accepted Islam as her faith. Sarah says that a feeling of peace came over her afterwards.

“It was a feeling of home.”

Sarah says that while her conversion has been difficult for her family, they are accepting and understanding. Sarah also feels that in her three years of being a Muslim, she has become a better person. On Saturdays, her and friends (some who have also been converted to Islam) volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Her charity work makes her feel good about herself, and also adheres to the fourth pillar of Islam, Zakat, or charity.

Sarah loves Oklahoma, but she recognizes that living in the Bible belt has not been easy for her or her friends. Despite this, she stands by her faith more than ever.

“My religion comes first. God comes first in my life, not anyone else. I don’t fear what other people say… I think the challenge makes me love my religion even more, and I fight for it even more.”

Being the outspoken type, Sarah is always eager to teach others the ways of Islam. Not preaching, but informing, so that they can get a better understanding of the Islam and what it really represents. Sarah finds the media to be particularly at fault for the misconceptions and negativity toward Islam, and rightfully so.

“With the media and everything else, I feel bombarded with having to defend my religion” says Sarah. “It’s heartbreaking to me because I feel like I’m screaming at the top of my lungs ‘This is not Islam! I don’t practice this! Every Muslim I know doesn’t agree with this’ and people are like ‘well, you’re just one person.’”

Sarah doesn’t seem to be losing hope in people however. She feels that underneath, no matter what religion you do or do not believe in, people are able to find their roots as human beings and make connections. Again, her positive attitude shines through.

“It’s just connecting that line underneath all of these religions, people can find common ground and relate. It’s worth it as the end of the day. I may get upset, but it just makes me love my religion more. It makes me discuss it more. It makes me challenge is and question it, and I seek knowledge. Not just about my religion but other religions because I want to relate to these people of faith. So, it’s all good basically.”