KFOR Ch4: Oklahoma YouTube Super Stars!

5/7/07 -- OKC, OK - (*Note: This article will be updated over the next few weeks) The other day my step son was commenting that he had been studying inventions in the past and that nothing exciting had been invented during his lifetime. "You've got to be kidding!" was the only thing I could think of to say.

According to CNN, there has been a long list of innovative inventions and advancements over the last 25 years. I have to concur that the Internet is probably No. 1.

When Devin was born (1991) the Internet was still in its consumer infancy.

Today, every 10-year old has their own website, you can read the news headlines from around the globe, and everyone with a video camera can enjoy their 15-minutes of fame on the Internet.

Here in Oklahoma, we have our own YouTubers gone wild and they are being featured by Oklahoma's own News Babe, Ali Meyer with KFOR News Channel 4.

Ali is doing a four part series called "YouTube Super Stars!"

Ali scoured YouTube and found four Oklahoman's who invite millions into their lives via videos posted the the internets most popular video sharing Web site.

And the winners (or is that wieners?) are...

1. The Famous Stacie: (aired 4/30/07) "The realest housewife on the planet." Residing in Tulsa, this mother, wife and aspiring actress is always on the go and she brings you along for the ride.
2. Billy Julio: (airs 5/7/07) A criminal justice student living in Elk City. Billy Julio describes himself as "a full time student, because it sounds better than unemployed." Billy Julio invites viewers to ride, walk or just pull up a chair an sit a spell as you get a front row seat to his fight with obesity and upcoming gastric bypass surgery.
3. To be announced before the segment airs 5/14/07.
4. To be announced before the segment airs 5/21/07.

The first episode , FamousStacie, was excellent. The second episode, starring Billy Julio, is set to air tonight and the third and fourth episodes will air the following two Mondays ~ You don't want to miss a single one.

As many of you know, I too utilize YouTube in both my family life and activism.

I post family videos to my account at BatesFamily and my anti-street prostitution activism at VideoVigilanteOKC (support site to JohnTV.com).

I currently have 43 videos on YouTube that have been watched over 1-million times in the last 6-months.

My favorite 5 videos that I have shot and posted are...

1. Prostitution in Oklahoma City - Robinson Minute 03/2007 (9,000+ views).
2. Segment from Video Vigilantes Special (470+ views).
3. Hypocrisy of Oklahoma City Vice - Caught in a Lie! (31,000+ views).
4. Interview with Yvonne; Oklahoma Street Prostitute (30,000+ views).
5. Interview with "Fire," a Street Prostitute (16,000+ views).

There are literally hundreds of Okies who post to you tube, and they include...

1. Rob Hedrick, aka TVWeatherGuy: KOCO News Channel 5 videographer.
2. West Moore High School Band, aka WHStubachick: Like the name says, these are clips of the West Moore HS band.
3. Parker Best, aka ckyguy420: From Edmond, this 18-year old films local rock band performances.
4. UCO Chemistry Club, aka UCOCHEM: Like the name says.

If you have a favorite Okie YouTuber, post a like in the comments section of this article.

Restaurant Review: Falcone's Pizzeria & Deli

5/6/07 -- OKC, OK - What to do on a Sunday afternoon? Why not some authentic Italian pizza at a locally owned pizzeria! And there is no better place for pizza by the slice than Falcone's Pizzeria & Deli in NW OKC (and coming this week to Bricktown).

Owner Danny Falcone (see photo) is a 2nd generation Italian American, born and raised in the Little Italy district of New York City.

Danny brought his secret family recipes and techniques to NW 67th and N. May Ave. in August of 2006.

Within a couple of months Falcone's (pronounced Fal-coneys) was a hit. The lines were to the door and tables were being turned several times a day for pizza pies, pasta and fat deli sandwiches.

Personally, our family favorites are cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, any of the fresh salads and the chicken cutlet parmigiana sandwich. For dessert you can't miss with any of the flavored Italian ice (cherry, lemon and chocolate) or tiramisu!

To top it off, how many restaurants do you go to in OKC where the owner serves you and even walks around the tables and genuinely seems interested in the dinning experience of his patrons.

Today I did two slices of pizza (cheese and pepperoni), a house salad and lemon ice. The wife, mom and dad each had cheese pizza, house salad and Italian ice.

As always the pizza was hot and fresh.

Danny sat down for a second and shared the progress on the new Bricktown location.

The new location will open this Friday and promises the same high quality foods with just a slight increase in prices over the original Falcone's.

Danny seemed particularly delighted in the outdoor dining and canal view the Bricktown location will offer.

Best of luck to Danny and we can't wait to try the new restaurant on one of our weekend trips to the movies.

Falcone's Pizzeria & Deli
6705 N. May Ave.
OKC, OK
405-242-2222

2nd Location set for Bricktown
In front of the Harkins Movie Theatre (next to Sonic).

Falcone's Pizzeria & Deli Review:
Service: 5/5 (You can't beat a restaurant where the owner serves and greets each and every guest.)
Atmosphere: 5/5 (Laid back, very clean, family atmosphere.)
Food Quality: 5/5 (The best authentic Italian pizza by the slice in the city. Very fresh ingredients and secret recipes.)
Price: 4/5 (Huge pizza by the slice for $2-$3 and sandwiches $6.25-$7. A whole pie can run $24.)
Recommendation: Excellent authentic Italian pizzeria. Great casual restaurant for a great lunch or relaxed dinner date.

Heads Up - Mother's Day is Around the Corner

5/6/07 -- OKC, OK - May means lots of things to different people; time to plant summer flowers, school is almost out, the weather is warmer and the year is almost half over already.

But there is something else very special about the month of May that cannot be ignored ~ it's Mother's Day on Sunday May 13th! (yep that's my mom and me in the picture)

That's right all you sons and daughters, only 8 days to find that perfect gift or gesture that tells mom how much you love and appreciate her. Also, husbands and fathers out there, lets not forget the wife for being such a good mom to the kiddos.

I've already done my shopping for the wife (can't reveal what I'm doing as she sneaks peeks at this blog). I'm still trying to figure out what to do for a mother that already has everything, but I'm getting close.

I thought I'd share some ideas I've done in the past that might spur some creative juices out there;

1. Probably one of my favorite gifts I've given my mom in the past was a poem I wrote. I know, I know, how sappy is that ~ but hey, it works.
   
   
2. If you have lots of old photos laying around from when you were a kid, and you are even a little bit handy with a computer and printer, then you must make that favorite mom in your life a Epson StoryTeller photo album (see some pages from my album here). Trust me guys and gals, this one brings a tear to their eyes! If you don't have the time and patience for the full Fledged photo album, gather up your photos and take them to a local retailer that has one of those walk up photo processing units. Often these have scanners and you can scan all your photos and create a CD or DVD that has a slide show of all the family photos.
   
   
3. If you've got a camera (digital or film) then there are several mom friendly gifts you can create. Personally, I love family photos, and with the great May weather what better time to take an up-to-date family photo than on Mother's Day. Gather mom and the rest of the family in a living room, neighborhood park, backyard or wherever. Plus, if you are using a digital camera, you can print 8x10's at most pharmacies, Sam's Club, Target or Wal-Mart for a just a couple of bucks in only 5 minutes (film cameras in about an hour). Buy a picture frame and walla, instantly you're mom's favorite kid!
   
   
4. If all else fails, just make a day out of spending time with mom. Bring the whole family, cookout on the grill and just enjoy being together. I find moms enjoy those times most of all.