Sunburn in Texas

Yesterday while hiking at Tandy Hills Nature Preserve, sans shirt, it suddenly occurred to me that there is proof that we humans did not originate on this planet.

But, before I get to my epiphany, a short history of my sunburn issues. When I was 14 I fell asleep on the beach at San Luis Obispo State Park in California. I woke up to the worst sunburn of my life. The sunburn caused a blister on my back. When that popped and healed over, the new skin no longer had pigment, as in there is about a 1/4 inch in diameter round white spot on my back.

I have to put ultra-high sunscreen on my white spot or it gets incredibly sunburned, incredibly easy. So, for decades now, I've mastered a contortionist's act to manage to get sunscreen onto my albino spot. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to have someone to do this for me.

So, I'm hiking along and I suddenly I wondered why humans get sunburned. Shouldn't all of these eons of humans evolving under the sun managed to evolve us to a version of human with skin that does not burn? We humans haven't always worn clothes to keep the sun off us. Back before Eve took a bite of that apple, humans ran around naked all the time.

I think the fact that after all these eons of being under the sun we still have skin that burns is obvious proof the we humans came to earth from another planet, a planet where the sun did not burn our skin. And we have not been on this planet long enough to evolve into having sunburn-proof skin. Instead we have a huge suntan/sunburn protection industry.

Now, a registered known idiot aquaintance of mine told me that Black people do not get sunburns. If that were true, which it's not, this would mean that Black people are the only humans actually native to the planet. But it's not true, so we're all aliens from another planet. Black people are fortunate in that the darker pigment of their skin lets them be out in the sun longer before getting burned.

Well, it's time to put some SPF 60 on my spot and head outside to do some evolving in the sun.

Dallas Cowboy Construction Scandal

A few months ago I made a video of the then current state of construction of the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium, interspersed with photos of the houses and apartment buildings that were stolen from their owners and then destroyed, in what is believed to be the worst case of eminent domain abuse in American history.

This morning one of the victims of Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys and the City of Arlington commented on the video.

Below is that comment. And the video being commented on.

"wow thats wierd to watch. we were relocated due to the new cowboy stadium. we were some of the last to leave. it's very surreal to watch your nieghbor hood where you live be torn down around you. I'm not whining about it, we are now much better off for having moved. However it is still sad that all those memories took place in a small run down nieghborhood that no longer exist."

FAA Radar Records Confirms Stephenville UFO

The January 8, 2008 Stephenville UFO is back in the news. The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) filed 10 Freedom of Information requests with the Federal Aviation Agency.

The FAA had no choice but to release the radar records from January 8.

Those records confirm the presence of unidentified aircraft, with at least one appearing to head towards President Bush's Crawford Ranch. The radar records show several unidentified aircraft in the same area that residents reported seeing strange things in the sky.

Radar tracked the Crawford bound UFO for more than an hour. People who saw the UFO said it appeared to move at less than 60 mph and then accelerate greatly. The radar record shows the same thing. At one point the UFO put the pedal to the metal and went from 60 mph to 532 mph in 30 seconds.

Radar lost contact with the UFO about 10 miles from the Bush Crawford Ranch.

Could there have been a presidential alien abduction? I can't help but wonder. If you think about it, when was the last time you heard President Bush make one of his patented verbal miscues? Could the aliens have taken the original President Bush and replaced him with an improved version? Bush has managed at least 2 overseas trips since January 8 without a faux pas. And he has not started a single war since January 8.

Maybe the Universe is looking out for the good ol' USA in our troubling time of need.

Below is video about the Stephenville UFO.

Tracy Rowlett Taking Flak For Being Chesapeake Chump

Yeterday many people in the D/FW zone of Texas were surprised to learn that local CBS Channel 11 News Guy, Tracy Rowlett, was quitting TV to be a part of Chesapeake Energy's ongoing propaganda campaign, by anchoring an online "news" channel called Shale TV.

Apparently Rowlett has been taking a lot of flak and accusations of being a sell out, ala Tommy Lee Jones.

The Dallas alternative paper of record had an interesting article about the Rowlett chump.

Click here to read the article.

The article includes at least one link to a very informative blog.

Read a blurb from the article below.

Dallas Observer: So, from the tone in your voice, I can already tell you're stunned by the reaction you've received from folks here and elsewhere concerning your decision to work for Chesapeake.

Rowlett: I am catching hell, but the unfortunate truth is most of what the bloggers are saying isn't true. Just give us an opportunity to do what we're going to do and just judge us based on what we'll do. You gotta remember, every program I've done had a sponsor. And I wouldn't kill a negative story about a sponsor. We've got what I'd like to think are three premier journalists -- including Olive Talley and Jon Sparks -- and they don't come any better than that. John broke the SMU scandal, and Olive was a Pulitzer finalist. We're not chumps jumping into the PR side.

The Return Of My Bad Chesapeake Energy Neighbor

Chesapeake Energy finished the noisy, messy part of its operation, across the street from my abode, a long time ago. Leaving behind, I thought, a hole in the ground that was spewing natural gas.

And then yesterday, a new drilling rig appeared. You can see it in the photo, between the two blooming crape myrtles. Or is it crepe myrtles? I guess either crape or crepe works.

I don't know why Chesapeake Energy has put up a drilling tower again. They don't let the neighbors know anything. Like when the convoy of water trucks arrived, spewing clouds of dust. We weren't warned. Chesapeake Energy never came around offering to pay for a car wash. Or a new air filter. We just got to read how lucky we were. On billboards, on TV, in the paper and on park benches.

I can hear my new neighbor right now, making a rhythmic pounding. Did something get clogged up? Did the gas quit flowing? Should we be careful about making any sparks? Like they say, I mean Chesapeake Energy says, this is "Living with the Barnett Shale!"

Kathy Griffin: Life On The D-List

Last night my TV viewing was again on Bravo TV. The always amusing, Kathy Griffin in her My Life on the D-List show.

I made it through 2 episodes, bailing by the time I got to the new episode.

In the first hour Kathy and her entourage went to Sidney, Australia on something called the Pink Flight, which consisted of a plane full of drag queens on their way to the Aussie Mardis Gras.

On the plane Kathy passed out her D-List Condoms and encouraged the fliers to join the mile high club. I'd never seen so much boisterous activity on an airplane. At one point there was a "Who has the Best Chest" contest, where bare-chested drag queens paraded down the aisle. Kathy then took her top off and did the same. I suspect she won the contest, but we did not see the result.

When they got to Sidney, Kathy and entourage met up with Lance Bass. Much double-entendre humor ensued. They all went to a zoo where they got to pet a kaola bear, which was very cute, and play with kangaroos and a giant snake. Kathy made a number of giant snake jokes, mostly directed at Lance Bass.

Then Kathy met up with Margaret Cho and Cindy Lauper to pick out a Mardis Gras costume. Kathy was offput to learn that Margaret was the Grand Marshall of the parade. Margaret invited Kathy to ride on her float. Kathy said she would. But when Kathy and entourage got to the parade they could not find Margaret's float. So Kathy and group just hopped on other floats or just walked along hoping someone would recognize her. Eventually, due to her own camera crew following her, Aussie news crews started interviewing Kathy as she marched along.

And so her goal of getting some more Aussie publicity had been reached. She was in Australia to promote her D-List show which was about to premiere on Australia's biggest network.

In the second hour it was all about being banned, again, from ABC's The View. And going to New York City to perform at Madison Square Garden. Before going to New York City, Kathy and entourage dropped in on Rosie O'Donnel, who is oddly obsessed with arts and craftsing.

Kathy told Rosie about her sad banning from The View. Rosie, having experienced similar bannings, asked what happened. Apparently, off camera Kathy had mentioned, to Barbara, something about KY Jelly, to which Barbara Walters replied that she preferred Astroglide. Kathy then worked that into her Bravo Special Straight to Hell, which aired right before she was to re-appear on The View. When Barbara learned Kathy had shared Barbara's Astroglide secret with the world, she ordered Kathy banned. Kathy is quite proud of being banned twice from the same show. She believes it is a show business first.

Of course, Kathy has now worked the banning, not only into her comedy routine, like at Madison Square Garden, it's also mentioned over and over again on the show. If they'd just gone ahead and had Kathy back on The View, I would never have had the unfortunate mental image of Barbara Walters and Astroglide etched into my memory.

To get publicity in New York City, Kathy was ordained as a minister and officiated at the wedding of an amusing pair, who told her she could say anything, nothing was off limits, but the word titties. So, of course, Kathy told the wedding crowd that she'd been told she could "say anything but titties, so I won't be mentioning titties during the wedding service, because for some reason the bride and groom do not like titties."

When the ring bearer brought the ring, Kathy stopped the proceeedings and asked why this was a grown man, instead of the usual little kid ring bearer. The groom told Kathy that because she was the minister no kids were allowed at the wedding.

Two hours of Kathy Griffin and her Life on the D-List show goes by real fast. I find her very amusing. Though I do grow a bit tired of so many word bleepings on Bravo TV. It ain't like you don't know exactly what they are saying.

I forgot to mention an amusing thing. While they were at Rosie's, Rosie asked Kathy for a favor. Knowing that Kathy was dating Apple Billionaire Steve Wozniak, Rosie wondered if Kathy could ask The Woz if he could get her into some online hi-tech seminar, that is very exclusive and to which she'd had no luck getting in. Rosie said she give Kathy anything she wants.

Anything? Yes, Anything. Well, Kathy said. Wait, Rosie said, I know what it is you will want. You want to meet Cher. Is that it? Yes, Kathy said. So, Rosie promised front row seats at Cher's show in Vegas, an overnight state in a penthouse suite and a backstage visit with Cher. Deal. Kathy then called Wozniak and he instantly said no problem. Rosie was elated. As was Kathy.

How can you not like a girl who can call Steve Wozniak on a whim and get what she wants?

Here's a video from a show from a couple weeks ago.......

Chesapeake Energy's Shale TV with Tracy Rowlett

I love admitting it when I'm wrong. So, I'll admit it. I was wrong about Chesapeake Energy. Last week I wrote that it appeared Chesapeake Energy was backing off on their multi-media propaganda onslaught. It seemed the TV ads and billboards with Tommy Lee Jones had gone away. The full page ads in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram had not appeared for over a week. I'd not seen a Fort Worth bus plastered with Chesapeake slogans. I'd not seen a Chesapeake/Barnett Shale billboard in weeks.

And then yesterday I saw 2 buses plastered with Chesapeake Energy propaganda. I thought, I guess they've not totally scaled back.

And then, this morning, I learned not only has Chesapeake not scaled back on their propaganda onslaught, they're amping it up by launching an online Shale TV Video channel to help their ongoing attempts to counter all the objections from urban citizens to having their yards dug up, trees knocked down, parks compromised and peace, quiet and clean air messed around with.

For Slate TV, Chesapeake Energy somehow lured the D/FW Metroplex's longest running news guy, Tracy Rowlett, away from CBS Channel 11. I imagine quite a sum of money was involved to get this guy to agree to be a shill for Chesapeake.

Of course, Chesapeake is claiming they will have those who object to their drilling practices on their show. It will be interesting to see if Don Young gets an invite.

Regarding Chesapeake's attempts to counter the online battering they are taking from various blogs and websites. I have a suggestion. Since you are willing to pay so much money to counter your bad public image, have you considered simply making an offer to people like me to get us to shut up?

I certainly would consider such an offer. I am no less willing than Tommy Lee Jones or Tracy Rowlett to sell out if the money is right. I eagerly await Chesapeake's Energy's offer.

In the meantime, yesterday, for some likely un-Godly reason, my next door Chesapeake drilling tower reappeared. I had no idea they came back after the drilling was done? Why? I'll take a photo of this this morning and share it with you later in the morning.

An amusing sidenote, everytime I blog about Chesapeake Energy and the Barnett Shale, I see a huge number of readers pop up from Oklahoma City, headquarters of Chesapeake Energy. I think I can extrapolate from that that Chesapeake Energy, for some reason, really really closely monitors what is being said about them. Such a sensitive company. Except when it comes to disturbing people's sleep, messing up their property, polluting their water and just being an all around nuisance.

Parker County Peach Festival

Tomorrow, Saturday, July 12, 2008, the Parker County Peach Festival takes place in Weatherford, Texas. Weatherford is the county seat of Parker County, about 30 miles west of Fort Worth. I've been to the Peach Festival a couple times. Texas does this type festival really well, small Texas town festivals and parades are a good thing.

It's hot in July in Texas, so the Peach Festival uses multiple walk through misters to cool people down.

Click here to view photos, directions and my description of my last visit to the Parker County Peach Festival.

The Peach Festival is a one day affair. I learned this a few years back when I tried to go on a Sunday. It is odd that this is only a one day thing, as the Peach Festival is huge, covering several blocks surrounding Weatherford's cool county courthouse square. A lot of bother for a one day event.

The Peach Festival has multiple music venues and 100s of vendors. And peaches. You can get them fresh, in cobblers, in ice cream, in juleps and in forms I've likely forgotten.

Now, Parker County does not produce many peaches, but they are intensely proud of their peaches.

Me, being a Washington boy, having lived most of my life in a state that produces peaches for export, in addition to apricots, nectarines, cherries, berries, grapes and apples, has a high flavor standard expectation regarding the quality of my fruits. Washington's eastern Washington soil, climate and irrigation are perfect for producing big, sweet, flavorful peaches.

In other words, both times I tasted a Parker County peach I said, "are you kidding me?" It barely even tasted like a peach. Maybe they were bad years, not enough sun or water.

At the last Peach Festival I attended there was a peach bobbing tub full of peaches floating in water. You bobbed for prizes. A big sign assured Texans that none of their precious Parker County peaches were being desecrated in this tub of water, that these are all California peaches, purchased at the local Albertsons.

See what I mean? This is a fun festival. I don't know if I'll go tomorrow. 6o miles roundtrip is a huge investment in gas. I suppose if I start walking now I could make it in time.

Michelangelo's David's Two Year American Tour

I learned from my little sister in Tacom this morning that Michelangelo's David is returning to Italy after two years of touring America. I don't know if David made it to Tacoma. It appears David may have spent a lot of time in the South part of America.

DAVID'S TRIP WAS SPONSORED BY:
McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Krispy Kreme & Starbucks

Voices From The Third Reich and Iraq

Last night I finished reading Voices From The Third Reich: An Oral History. I have read more books, than I can remember, about the Nazi era. Years ago, after reading Albert Speer's Inside the Third Reich, no more, I was done with WWII books.

But then, a couple month's ago, I read a book about the Japanese atrocities during WWII, and before WWII, that shocked me. After that I happened upon the definitive Hitler bio.

Ever since I was a little kid, 10 or 11, and learned of the Holocaust, I have despised Germans. I've always thought they got off too easy after the war, due to the Cold War starting up between the U.S. and the Soviets. I've always bought into the idea of the German's collective guilt. How could they not know the Jews were being killed? How could they not know of the mass slaughters in the occupied zones of the Soviet Union?

After reading this Oral History I've changed my mind. The majority of the German people were just as much victims of Hitler as was the rest of the world. By the time these oral histories were taken, the older generation had died off, so most of the stories are those of men and women who ranged from 11 to in their 20s during the war.

Survivors of the Holacaust tell their stories, survivors of the Russian Front tell their stories, survivors of the Allied bombing tell their stories, survivors of the mass executions that followed the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt of Hitler tell their stories, survivors who worked with or met Hitler tell their stories, surviving German POWs, of both Soviets and Americans tell their stories (which do America proud, and make an American, me, a bit more ashamed of how the Bush wars have treated prisoners), survivors of the brutality of the Russians as the Soviets overran Germany tell their stories, survivors of the Western Front tell their stories. All in all, all types of German surivors in all sorts of situations tell their stories.

The German stories of their first encounters with American forces after the Normandy invasion was new information to me. The Germans were used to fighting the Russians. The Russians would just advance into a line of fire. In their first encounter with Americans, the Germans would find that the Americans would quickly retreat. In their first encounters, the Germans thought the Americans are easy. And then, about 5 minutes later, the Germans would be hit from the air and by artillery and tank fire. The Germans quickly learned that the Americans used heavy fire power to protect their soldiers.

Also interesting was how desperately both German soldiers and civilians tried to get under American control rather than the Russians. In the book there are several accounts of how amazed the Germans were at how well the Americans treated them. One told of being brought to America on a troop ship, well-fed on the way, landing in New York City, being put on a glass tourist boat to be brought to a camp in New Jersey. The German could not believe how prosperous America was, how much food, how many cars and how well they were treated. One German was shocked to see Black American soldiers. He was hungry when captured. The Nazis had convinced him that Blacks were sub-human. This American drove the German to a food supply bunker and loaded the German up. This was the point in time when this German realized he'd been lied to by the Nazis. This German ended up thinking the Black Americans were nicer than the Anglo Americans.

Anyway, after reading this book I realized that I was ridiculous in my attitude towards Germany. All Germans were no more guilty of all the Nazi crimes than are all Americans responsible or guilty of the various dubious acts of the Bush adminstration, you know, things like invading another country, on trumped up charges, and using a Blitzkrieg method to do so, and then putting prisoners into concentration camps, like Guantanamo Bay, where the prisoners are held, without trial, many of whom have been shown to be totally innocent, just like those the Nazis stuck in camps.

So, I know there were Good Germans, and others who were afraid to speak up. Just as I know the majority of Americans are Good Americans who are horrified that America, in even the most slight of ways, has acted in the same manner as Nazi Germany. And just like in Nazi Germany, it will be those who resisted the evil-doing, who will soon restore America to its rightful place as the Number One most decent, respected and admired member of the family of nations.

So, I am almost certain that in about 5 months or so, either Barack Obama or John McCain will begin that process for America and America again will be seen as America was seen during World War II, a beacon of rightness and goodness and power that made the world feel safe. Not scared.