The games are being played at the Ford Center.  Check the website for days and times of the games as well as information about the tickets.  It all starts today!

Here’s where this whole thing started.  I received an e-mail concerning 5 items that were good to know if you owned a cell phone.  Who doesn’t?!  I didn’t know about any of these items, so I was thrilled to find out about them and forward them to my friends.  

One of my friends immediately replied to me with some disturbing news; the e-mail that I forwarded had been making the rounds since  2005 and unfortunately only the last item in it was true!   She also shared with me the name of a site, called Snopes, where I can do my future “fact-checking”.   

Here’s what the e-mail covered:

1) Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find you are out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you.  None of this is true for any of us in the United States.

2) Have you locked your keys in the car?  Does your car have remote keyless entry?  If you lock your keys in your car and the spare keys are at home, simply call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about 12 inches from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button while holding it near their cell phone on their end. Your car will unlock.  Even though it sounds doable, it’s simply not true.  
 
3) Your cell phone actually has hidden battery power you may not have known about.  Imagine your cell battery is very low (probably won’t be hard for most of us). To activate this hidden power press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.  Again, not true. 

4) Do you know how to disable a stolen mobile phone?  You will first need you phone’s serial number.  To check your Mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15-digit code will appear on the screen.  Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.  If your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.  Broken record time, still not true. 

5) Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800)FREE411, or (800) 373-3411without incurring any charge at all.  It would be very smart to program this into your cell phone.  This is the one Snopes says is true.  I plan to test it very soon.  

This was certainly disappointing not to mention a big waste of time for everyone involved!

I have taken my grandkids to the circus each year since they were very young ( in fact, I have a one-year-old grandson who is making his debut at this year’s Shrine Circus).  I have to admit I go with the grandkids as much for my enjoyment as theirs.  Growing up, I loved the trapeez artists and all the dare-devil acts.  It was exciting and down right fun!  I know this year will be no different!

Ideal Homes did a spectacular job, as did all the volunteers!  I can hardly wait to see us highlighted on a program that does so much good for people who are down and out and really need a hand up!

We’ll stay on Daylight Saving Time (not Daylight Savings Time, by the way) until the first Sunday in November when we “fall back” and set our clocks back one hour before bedtime. 

Check out the history of this practice of moving time.  It’s very interesting!  Also, find out the few places in the United States that don’t move to Daylight Saving Time with the majority of us.

I received both shots myself, but to avoid other illnesses this winter, like common colds, etc, I have washed my hands often, whenever it’s possible, and purchased some hand sanitizer to carry with me when it isn’t.    Also, I never share food or drink with anyone.  These are two of the most common ways illnesses are spread.  You can’t be too careful.

This is the city’s Web site with the complete information on it, but in a nutshell the program provides your cell phone, pager, or email with three kinds of alerts: criminal, safety, and news (you can pick one or all of them to be forwarded to you).  The criminal alert is concerning info about suspects or vehicles in recent crimes.  The safety alert concerns events or situations that may have you taking steps to protect your property or even yourself.  The news alerts are concerning public safety. 

To register here you just need your name, an email address that can be confirmed (along with a password for it), and then you will choose a security question like, “father’s middle name” or “pet name”, etc. 

I looked over some of the alerts from the past 30 days on the Web site.  I would have appreciated getting alerts about these types of items.

Since I don’t live in Midwest City, I just wanted to put in my two cents about the dog park in OKC (PawPark) that Autumn (that’s my dog) and I frequent.  We visited it for the first time last summer and it’s been a regular part of our life since then.  It’s fantastic.  I’m just saying that any city that fashions their dog park after this one will have some happy canine and human visitors. 

So, dog lovers, get involved!  Attend the meeting on Thursday and be heard.

Keep it Local Ok has a site that includes a detailed profile for any local business that joins them.  The specific discount or special is listed there for all rewards cardholders to review.  Here are a few of the companies in OKC that have already signed up: Irma’s, Rococo, and Cafe Evoke.  At Irma’s, for example, presenting your rewards card will save you 10% off your food purchase.

Take a look at their site and let’s promote these businesses.  Better yet, if you are a local business owner get your profile set up and reap the rewards of the new business it will bring you.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Tom McDaniel (President of Oklahoma City University).  There will be a lot of Irish music and at least 80 entries in the parade, including dancers, clowns, animals, and antique cars.  If you have a group who would like to participate in the parade click here.

Thousands usually attend our annual parade.  Enjoy … and Happy St. Patty’s Day, Oklahoma City!