Oklahoma Gazette is urging metro residents to unchain themselves on November 22—to eat, shop and get services from only locally-owned independent businesses that day. 

If all Gazette readers spent an $100 at local businesses instead of chains this holiday season, we can inject an additional $48 million into our local economy!

While you're at it, thank your local business owners for their contributions to the community. Small businesses give a greater percentage of their business income back to the community than their larger competitors.

Buying local is also good for our unique culture and better for the environment.

Make your pledge to help out, now on our website: www.okgazette.com/buylocal

PS - Free "Buy Local Oklahoma" buttons, posters and stickers are available at our office.

Central Oklahoma Humane Society needs your vote to get $10,000 in funding. They are currently in fourth place in a contest on Care2.com and the humane society with the most votes wins the money!

Please take a few seconds and vote online here:  http://www.care2.com/animalsheltercontest/75211/?refer=21646.06.1222094434.7906

You'll be asked for your email address, but you can opt out of any mailings if you wish. There is no fee to vote.

This money will make a tremendous difference for animals in Oklahoma City as we fight to end the daily killing of healthy, adoptable animals.

Thanks!!!

Well, it's official: The worst-kept secret in all of human history has finally been revealed. Our new NBA team will be called the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to an Associated Press story.

To thunderous applause (hee-hee), team Chairman Clay Bennett addressed the assembled crowd that had gathered in downtown's Leadership Square to hear the obvious. (This same group may be interested in Chicken Fried News' exciting announcement later today that money doesn't grow on trees and you could poke your eye out if you run with those scissors.)

Besides the name, the team's new logo and colors were unveiled. Of course, those had been leaked as well. According to the AP, Bennett said the blue matches the color of the state flag to make sure everyone in Oklahoma feels included, while the reddish-orange represents a sunset. Notice it is neither red, nor orange — don't want the fans of certain universities to get into a tizzy.

So, where does the name "Thunder" come from? Is Bennett just a big fan of Okie native Garth Brooks?

"There's just all kinds of good thunder images and thoughts, and the in-game experience of Thunder," Bennett said, according to the story. "Just here was a good sense of how that evokes emotion. It's very powerful."

OK, OK, we're with you there. Loud noise equals scary and powerful, but still kind of alluring (hey, maybe they should see if Fabio is available to play "Mr. Thunder").

Here's where the thunder references go a bit far. According to the AP story, team officials are also hoping lightning's buddy will also become synonymous with "qualities of character, perseverance, selflessness, community and winning." Erm … yeah, sure. Thunder will get right on that after it's done rumbling and signaling storms.

Angered by a Soundcheck story published earlier this month, the drummer of Oklahoma City rock band Hinder, flanked by a two-man entourage and sporting his requisite headband, stopped by Oklahoma Gazette offices on Aug. 8 to visit with the article's author: me.

Cody Hanson, in town on a tour break, wasn't at all happy with the Aug. 6 Soundcheck, detailing the early radio and iTunes chart success of "Use Me," the first single from Hinder's sophomore "Take It to the Limit" album, due out on Election Day.

Hanson and company — two management- or tour-related gentlemen whose names escape me — were noticeably confrontational and largely mad about the story's last sentence, which noted that eager Hinder fans would have to wait until Nov. 4 to find out if Hanson actually plays drums on the new album.

Studio drummer Robin Diaz was used for "Extreme Behavior," Hinder's multiplatinum debut album — a fact confirmed by the band's bassist, Mike Rodden, in "Hating Hinder?," a Gazette story published last September.

Hanson accused me of "talking shit" and taking unnecessary "stabs" at him personally, and Hinder in general. He noted songwriting details and the band's studio activities were "none of your business" — a point on which we disagreed.

Although the Gazette has published numerous stories about Hinder's success, including recent pieces on its induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, its BMI Song of the Year Award and its heavy presence in the nomination for the state's official rock song, Hanson said he and his band felt they had been slighted by coverage, although he said he realizes not everyone is a fan.

"I know lots of people hate Hinder, and I'm fine with that," he said. "It doesn't matter. Our fans matter, and they know we work hard and put on a great show."

Things ended with handshakes, and Hanson promised to make himself personally available for comment on future Gazette stories, of which I assured him — uncomfortable questions and all — there will be plenty. 

—Joe Wertz

We screwed up.  In last week's "Best of OKC" article which higlighted all the top 5 winners, Oklahoma Gazette printed one of the companies incorrectly.  Under Best Hair Salon or Spa, it should have been J & Company located at 7716 N. May (not J Hampton & Co.)  We're sorry!

Here are the correct top 5 hair salons and spas in order of how you voted:

1. Velvet Monkey/Velvet Monkey Too

2. Cottonwood Salon Spa

3. J and Company Salon

4. Eden Salon & Spa

5. Take Five Salon

Congrats to the winners and we regret the error. - OKG