The Dallas Cowboys Did Not Break A Noise Record While Losing Again While The Seattle Seahawks Broke A Noise Record While Winning Again

No, above you are not looking at an artist's rendering of what the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle may look like if it ever becomes anything anyone might be able to see.

In the picture you are looking east on a much bigger pond than that little Pond Granger that the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle envisions and hyperbolically calls a lake and a waterfront attraction. Above you are looking at an actual waterfront in an actual city with actual vision.

That thing being struck by lightning is where the Seattle Seahawks play football. The lightning strike occurred yesterday, part of what delayed the start of last night's game between Seattle and San Francisco for an hour.

I don't know if thunder contributed to the noise, but yesterday the Seattle football fanatics broke the Guinness Record for Loudest Crowd Roar at a Sports Stadium when the noise reached 131.9 decibels when San Francisco's quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, was sacked in the first quarter.

All those decibels broke the old record of 131.76 decibels, set in 2011 in Turkey at the Ali Sami Yen Sport Complex Turk Telekom Arena during a soccer match between Galatasaray SC and Fenerbahce.

The noisy Seattle fans then broke their own record after a 3rd quarter interception, roaring to 136.6 decibels.

The Seahawk stadium has no roof over the field. How are these people being so LOUD? The old Kingdome was known for being noisy, to the point that the noise disrupted games. I think new rules were put in place due to the noisy Kingdome fans, if I remember right. I can see why the Kingdome was noisy.

But, the new open air Seahawk Stadium?

How come the Dallas Cowboy fans are not record breaking loud in their new stadium? It would seem like that metal sardine can would be a real noise generator. Does the quiet have something to do with not winning very many football games?

Vertical Early Before Swimming With A Fosdick Lake Walk With Vines & Relleno Casserole

This morning, before 5am, I found myself vertical and drinking coffee, whilst staring at my computer screen, being a webpage altering maniac until the sun arrived.

With the arrival of the sun I decided to walk away from the computer screen to go swimming for an hour, give or take a minute or two.

After swimming I was back altering webpages.

So far I've altered a couple hundred, with several hundred to go.

By the time the noon hour approached I felt the need to walk away from my computer screen again.

So, I walked to my motorized vehicular transport and drove to Oakland Lake Park to walk around Fosdick Lake, where I saw the orange flower spouting vines you see in the picture.

I am not 100% certain, but I think these orange flower spouting vines are called trumpeter vines. I don't know why I think this. Perhaps renowned Fort Worth horticulturist, CatsPaw, can enlighten me.

The last time I walked around Fosdick Lake my mom walked with me. I should have walked with my mom again today, but I had other things on my mind and did not think to call mom.

Speaking of swimming. With the days getting noticeably shorter and the temperature getting noticeably colder the water in the pool has gotten significantly more refreshing in the past week or so, a definite harbinger of days to come when getting in the pool becomes more of a bracing experience.

This coming cold time of the year I am not being blessed with as well developed an insulative layer of adipose tissue as I was during last year's cold time of the year, so the cool pool is going to feel cooler to me, this coming cool time, unless I get into polar bear mode and layer on some fat.

I could begin that layering on the fat plan today with lunch by consuming too much of the relleno casserole I made earlier today. Eggs, chorizo, Hatch chiles, cilantro, onion, topped with a lot of extra sharp white cheddar  cheese.

It really is a wonderment why I am not more of a roly poly boy than I am.....

Is The JD Granger Trinity River Vision Authority Clide Award For Best Propaganda?

That is the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's J.D. Granger you are looking at above,  ready to speak and share with you what is known as propaganda.

As you listen to J.D. keep in mind he is talking about a project which is not funded, the fiscal hope of which is based on getting almost a half a billion federal dollars, which are not available for the getting.

Also keep in mind when watching this video that this "project" has been underway for well over a decade. And is, supposedly, 20% completed. With the completion of this extremely important award winning flood control and economic development project currently not scheduled until 2023.

With that completion date dependent on acquiring those half a billion federal dollars.

This particular propaganda video came to my attention via the following blog comment from someone named Anonymous....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "We Finally Have A Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Project Timeline": 

I found a Trinity River Vision video with some inspiring words from the Cowtown Casanova, John Dean Granger IV.

We Finally Have A Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Project Timeline

There has been a time or two or three when I have blogged about being perplexed by the fact that I have never seen any sort of Project Timeline in any of the vast amounts of printed  material churned out by the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle, or its propaganda cohort, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

So, imagine my surprise to see an article in the Sunday, September 15, 2013 Star-Telegram titled Trinity Uptown bridges in Fort Worth will initially span dirt, not water in which there is a link to the extremely detailed "Trinity Uptown" Project Timeline you see above.

From that Project Timeline we learn that in 2014 a contractor will be hired to build a bridge. In 2017 three bridges are scheduled to be completed and in 2021-23 the much needed flood control project will be completed, pending federal funding.

I really do not understand why it is that so many people complain that the Star-Telegram is not a real newspaper, what with hard hitting investigative journalism of the sort evidenced by this particular Trinity Uptown bridges in Fort Worth will initially span dirt, not water article and its detailed Project Timeline.

The dirt the bridges span in this article's title refer to the flood diversion channel, which will be dug after the bridges are built.

Regarding that flood diversion channel in the Star-Telegram article we learn...

The timetable for digging the channel and making the other flood control improvements is less certain. Even by optimistic projections, that work likely won’t be finished until 2023 — two years later than the previous target date.

And why is the digging of this channel uncertain? Once more from the Star-Telegram...

Fort Worth is counting on Congress to eventually provide about half the $910 million needed to finish the sweeping project. But it’s not clear when — some say if — all the federal funds will come. “In this constrained funding environment, we must focus on projects that have the greatest impacts on life safety. The result is, we have insufficient federal funding to continue the project at this time,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Kula, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Southwestern Division, which includes Texas.

You reading this in other locations in America I bet you did not know that Fort Worth is thinking it is going to stick you with half the tab for this combo flood control economic development project.

I'd hazard to guess you'll be even more perplexed when I tell you that you've already paid for flood control levees which have prevented any damaging flooding in the downtown Fort Worth area for well over half a century.

You reading this in other locations in America, those being locations where the citizens vote on these things called bond issues to fund much needed public works projects, are likely wondering two things, with one of those things being wondering, if this project is so important, why don't the locals vote to pay for it themselves? And you are likely also wondering, if this project is so important, you know, for flood control, why is it being built at a snail's pace?

The Star-Telegram inadvertently sheds some light on to what is behind this boondoggle when it quotes Congresswoman Kay Granger's son, J.D., he being the executive director of the boondoggle, installed in this job, for which he has zero qualifications, in order to give his mama a motivation to help get that much needed federal funding. A plan which has not worked out all that well, so far.

J.D. gives the Star-Telegram a typically inane quote the point of which I'm not quite sure I understand...

J.D. Granger, executive director of the authority, said the project won’t need full funding from the corps for many years. Right now, supporters are simply seeking Congress’ approval to build the channel, making it eligible for actual funding. “We couldn’t spend more than $400 million in one year because we’d have to move 800 million cubic yards of dirt,” he said. “It’s impossible.”

I know, you reading this in other parts of America are wondering how it is this boy keeps this job. Well, I'd have to try and explain the Fort Worth Way of doing things, but I really don't understand the Fort Worth Way of doing things, so I can not explain it....

My Regular Saturday Gateway Park Cliff Avoidance Wondering What Chai Is

It being Saturday, today my handlebars were rolled to their regular Saturday location atop a cliff high above the green Trinity River.

Construction on the road that takes me to my usual route to Gateway Park and Town Talk forced me to turn off Randol Mill Road to Oakland Boulevard to take the I-30 Freeway to Beach Street to get to the Gateway Park mountain bike trails via the west entrance.

This had me parking by Fort Woof.

Fort Woof is Fort Worth's #1 dog park, thought by some to be the #1 dog park in America. And possibly the #1 dog park in the world. Fort Woof does appear to be a nice dog park with a lot of happy dogs running around.

I think the cooler temperature accounts for the increase in the usual number of bikers I saw today. It was only 80 degrees when I left my abode today to head to Gateway Park.

Next Saturday will be the day before the Autumnal Equinox, also known as the first day of Fall.

A lot of fallen leaves on the trails today seemed to be a harbinger of the coming Fall.

After having myself a really fine time rolling my wheels I rolled my motorized wheels to Town Talk where I had better treasure hunting than I had last Saturday.

Today at Town Talk I got a case of Dark Cherry Chai Yogurt. I have no idea what Chai is. But, I like dark cherries. I also got 2 big bags of broccoli crowns, plus extra sharp white cheddar cheese, whole wheat matzo crackers, chorizo and other stuff I'm not remembering right now.

Speaking of food. It is time for lunch now.

Wondering Who Has Viewed This Boring Blog A Million Times

A million page views? Plus 4. That sounds like a lot.

A million of anything sounds like a lot of whatever it is which is being counted.

I added the page view counter to this blog a couple years ago.

I assume the million page views accrued from that point in time, but I really did not notice what number was shown when I first added this particular Google blog gadget. For all I know it began the count back to the day I began this particular blog, back in 2007.

Anyway, I figured a million of anything was reason enough to make mention of. And so I have now made mention of it.....

Blobfish Declared Mascot Of Ugly Animal Preservation Society After Worldwide Vote

Earlier today I wondered why a blogging from a couple weeks ago titled A Blobfish Sent To Texas From The Pacific Northwest was showing up on my blog stats.

This afternoon I learned the reason why this Friday the 13th of 2013 has generated interest in the blobfish.

Today on CNN online there is an article titled Blobfish declared world's ugliest animal in which among what we read is....

With the grandiloquence befitting such an occasion, Simon Watt, the British biologist, television personality and "president for life" of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, made the long-anticipated announcement Thursday night.

"The votes have been counted and verified," said Watt. "The mascot for the Ugly Animal Preservation Society is ... the blobfish!"

The blobfish came to my attention, long ago, when someone suggested to me that blobfish bore an uncanny resemblance to a human of our acquaintance.

Now, to me, I think the blobfish is one of those critters that is so ugly it is almost cute. As in almost a cuddly ball of slimy gelatinous goo, with beady eyes and a BIG nose.

Even though I think the blobfish is so ugly it is cute, it pleases me that it is getting the ugly recognition and reputation, it richly deserves....

Happy 2013 Friday The 13th To My Fellow Triskaidekaphobia Sufferers

Why would anyone, knowing of my extreme case of Triskaidekaphobia, taunt me by sending me a Triskaidekaphobically targeted email on this special day?

Subject line: Have Yourself A Happy....

And then in the body of the email I see the threatening photo you see here, threatening, that is, to a sufferer of Triskaidekaphobia.

My extreme case of Triskaidekaphobia had my sub-conscious blocking the fact that today is a very bad day for Triskaidekaphobia sufferers, what with it being Friday the 13th of the 13th year of 2000.

I do not know what the significance of the picture is, what with that one beady eye peering out between the "Y" of FRIDAY and the "T" of THE. And another beady eye peering out between the "T" and "H" of THE.

Anyway, I am trying very hard, and for the most part successfully, not to let this special day trigger any dire Triskaidekaphobia over-reactions.

Not Seeing Beautiful Downtown Fort Worth From The Tandy Hills While Walking To Albertsons With Prickly Pear Cactus

It seems like weeks since I last availed myself of the scenic beauty of the Tandy Hills and its view of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth from high atop Mount Tandy.

Today, with the sun being a bit blocked by clouds and the temperature a relatively chilly 86, I thought I might have myself a really fine time doing some Tandy Hills hill hiking.

But, I was not in the mood to drive anywhere.

That and I overdid either bike riding, yesterday, or swimming, prior to yesterday's bike riding.

Whatever the cause, my legs were feeling as if they had had plenty of exercise.

So, no, that is not a Prickly Pear Cactus patch growing on the Tandy Hills that you see above. It is a Prickly Pear Cactus patch I came upon in Mallard Cove Park on Wednesday.

Today, rather than driving anywhere to get more sore hiking or biking, I walked up the hill to my local Albertsons to get myself this week's ink edition of DFW.com.

This morning, when I was in the pool a little past the arrival of the sun, the sky was mostly blue. During the course of my time in the pool clouds began to slowly turn the sky from blue to gray.

Thunderstorms and rain are in the forecast today.

By the time I was out of the pool and hanging my swimming suit on the drying clothesline a few drops were falling from the sky.

The wet drops falling from the sky did not drop long enough to damp up the outer world at my location.

I suspect before today is done I will be seeing some extreme dampness and hear some extreme thunder booming.

A Squishy Mountain Bike Ride At River Legacy Park With Noodles

Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I heard one singular loud thunder boom. No precipitation. No wind. Just a loud boom.

Today I rolled my motorized wheels to Arlington to River Legacy Park. When I reached Arlington, on Green Oaks Boulevard, I began noticing some water pooling at the side of the road.

I assumed this water pooling was just some more water wastage in this water rich part of the planet.

Then I arrived at River Legacy Park and saw more water puddling on the side of the road.

I was starting to think Arlington saw some rain dropping yesterday.

When I began to roll my bike wheels I saw more water puddling on the paved trail.  When I reached the west end of the paved trail, which is currently my entry point to the mountain bike trail, avoiding the tricky eastern entry, it was clearly obvious rain had fallen, because the dirt of the mountain bike trail had clearly recently seen water, though not muddy, the trail was still a bit tacky and squishy.

A tacky, soft mountain bike trail makes for an additional endorphin inducing bit of aerobic stimulation. In other words, I was a HOT sweaty mess by the time I took the above picture of my handlebars on a trail in the River Legacy Park jungle.

Changing the subject from the River Legacy Park jungle to noodles.

I had me a hankering for Chinese food for lunch. But, when I found myself in making lunch mode I found no rice in my food storage zone. But, I did find whole wheat noodles. I recollected remembering that it was Marco Polo who introduced pasta noodles to Italy, bringing noodles back with him, from China, during one of his infamous treks.

So, I made an onion, carrot, chicken, egg, pickled ginger stir fry, soy sauced that concoction up sweet and sour-wise, mixed the stir fry with the noodles and now, having finished with lunch, I'm thinking noodles are my new rice as far as Chinese stir-fry goes.