Swimming in the Cold in Texas on October 9

The overnight low was 53. The temperature at midnight was 66. When I went swimming this morning the air temperature was 58.

I'm guessing you can intuit from this that the water was cold. And yet I continue to be amazed that once I get past the jolting first minute it then feels good. For about 20 minutes.

I think the initial shock of cold causes an adrenalin rush that makes it work. Maybe followed by some sort of endorphin inflow like what happens after you do something aerobic for an hour. Only this cold water thing speeds it up.

All I know for sure is this is the latest in the year I've continued swimming. It makes me feel real good. And I"m gonna keep doing it. Til I freeze.

When I told my wimpy sister in Phoenix that I was still swimming she told me she'd bailed on her pool when it got too cold when the nighttime lows got into the 70s and the daytime highs got in the low 90s. I told her to give her icy water a try, that she might like it. I doubt she will give it a try though. Because she has access to my mom and dad's heated pool.

School Uniforms in Texas

During my investigative trip to Texas, back in May, 1998, checking to see if this was at all something I wanted to do, as in move to Texas, I was tasked with taking a teenager, 15, to his first day of school.

This was a kid who had been going to Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Washington.

He was about to experience his first dose of Texas culture shock. He wore what he wore to school in Washington. A t-shirt and cargo shorts and his skateboard shoes. He carried his skateboard with him, intending to ride it home.

I dropped him off. A few minutes later I got a call that I had to come pick him up. He was not properly dressed. He needed a shirt and long pants. And skateboards were not allowed at school. When I went to pick him up I saw a lot of high school girls dressed like they could have been working Harry Hines Boulevard. Of course, at that point in time I had no idea what Harry Hines Boulevard was. I was to much later learn it is an area of Dallas where you can hire ladies of ill repute to do some things best not detailed in this venue.

Several years went by. The Dropping Pants thing started happening. Gang colors became an issue. And then one year the schools in my zone of North Texas imposed a 'School Uniform' policy. A very strict policy detailing precisely what can be worn. White shirts, tucked in. Jeans properly around the waist. Girls with skirts of appropriate length. No cleavage.

I've seen the kids in their uniforms. While I do get the argument as to why this is a good idea, to me the good is outweighed by the bad. In that it seems totally un-American. In America we are encouraged to be individualistic. To me how you dress is as much a freedom as freedom of speech. It's a form of self-expression.

It seems wrong to me to suppress this form of self-expression.

I do think it is appropriate for schools to have some standards. As in girls can not come to school dressed like hookers. No hot pants. No droopy drawers on boys. No t-shirts with obscenities. But if you want to wear an 'Obama' t-shirt to school. Or an 'I Love Jesus' t-shirt to school, no one should be able to tell you no. Not in a public school.

I can understand why a lot of parents like this school uniform thing. It makes life easier for them. And cheaper. But if I were a parent I would not like being told how my kid had to dress. That would just irritate me.

Dallas Cowboy Stadium Scandal Comments

The cases of victims of Jerry Jones and Arlington's abuse of eminent domain continue to work their way through the court system. The new Dallas Cowboy stadium continues to grow on top of the site of the victim's former homes.

The sense that something very wrong was done here continues to grow.

There has yet to be any sign that Jerry Jones possesses any form of a normal human conscience. None of the victims, so far, have been invited to the new stadium's opening celebration. Or a football game.

Meanwhile, this week I got a rare pro-stadium comment regarding the comments others have made on my website regarding the Dallas Cowboy Stadium Scandal. Previously pro-comments have been borderline illiterate and hard to understand. But this one was articulate and sort of funny. I also got a semi-pro-comment to my YouTube video of the stadium under construction, from one of the victims. This victim seems happy he was forced to move.

First the comment from my website, followed by the YouTube comment and the YouTube video being commented on....

"Wow what a bunch of whiners... I bet in the long run the people who object about the stadium are probably trying to get something out of Jerry Jones. Why don't you guys just give up and go on about your business. The stadium will be built and nothing you can do or say will stop it now. It's beautiful~ and I'm proud it's in my city. If you live in Arlington you should be proud as well. We live in a society of the majority rules (unless it's the Presidential Election) and the majority of people in Arlington want the stadium exactly where it is being built. You whiners probably live in Dallas anyway and can't figure out how Arlington Texas outmaneuvered in the stadium deal. I'm only hoping Jerry Jones has the balls to change the name to "The Arlington Cowboys" ~ Maybe I'll bring that up at the next town hall meeting."

The following is the comment on the video. It's more the norm of the pro-stadium comments...

"yay no more ranger's field fireworks blasting off right outside my window. city kickin us out had to be the greatest day off my life. mansfield is such a better city"

Gas Price War Breaks Out In Fort Worth

Lucky me. My zone of Fort Worth, that being the eastside, has had a gas war break out down on Lancaster Avenue. As you can see from the photo it's under $3.

There are pumps on both sides of the Race Track gas store. Goofballs coming from the west were backed up onto the street, waiting their turn for relatively cheap gas.

Meanwhile on the east side of the store I drove right up to a pump and started pumping.

Awhile back Gar the Texan blogged about the absurdity of waiting in a long line to save a dime on a gallon of gas, as if your time had no value, nor did the gas you wasted waiting in line.

I suck at math and keep in mind I didn't wait in line. The cheapest I saw gas today, other than the gas war zone, was $3.19. So, I got it for a quarter cheaper than that. My tank holds 25 gallons. Okay, like I said, I suck at math. I need to get the calculator. I saved $6.25 over the $3.19 station. Plus I found a dime on the ground while I was pumping, which brings my total net gain to $6.35.

I was feeling so fortunate, as soon as I was done pumping, I called my mom in Phoenix with my regular gas report. She was also very happy to hear about the dime.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Stutters and Stammers Too Much

Okay, I'll admit I have a personal problem with not liking it when someone stutters and stammers and says 'um' a lot. I always think, why don't you get your thoughts in order before you put your mouth in motion. It really is probably one of my pet peeves.

So, I turned on the TV while I ate lunch. All the cable news stations were covering Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's news conference live.

I have seldom, if ever, witnessed a public figure, in a position of such responsibility, stutter and stammer as much as this guy. It did not inspire confidence. Quite the opposite. Where did George W. find this one? Same place he got that Brownie guy that George thought did such a good job during the Katrina debacle?

I am aware it shows extreme shallowness on my part, but I'm just not comfortable with the idea of letting someone who stutters and stammers oversee the spending of $700 billion with a who knows if it's a good idea plan to save the world from total economic meltdown.

We live in scary times. Meanwhile I got gas today for under 3 bucks a gallon.

John McCain's Rage is a National Security Concern

Fort Worth Dumbness About ZLB Plasma

I recently learned yet one more thing that makes me cranky about how the Ruling Junta of Fort Worth runs things in this backwater town that doesn't know that that's what it is.

In one neighborhood of Fort Worth the residents can not get the city to shut down something that is making them miserable due to the smells coming from the Big Cheese Rodent Factory. Yes, the city is allowing a mice breeding operation where people live.

Meanwhile in my area of Fort Worth a company named ZLB Plasma has a branch office doing a good deed. They are so successful they bought a nearby bigger building to move their operation to so they could do even more good deeds.

But, the city of Fort Worth's Ruling Junta thinks this business attracts an unsavory crowd that lingers in McDonald's and the bus stop and make residents nervous. At least that's part of the excuse given to denying a permit to open a bigger clinic in a bigger building which would attract even more unsavory characters.

ZLB Plasma extracts blood plasma from willing donors. Plasma is used to make products that treat patients suffering from bleeding disorders, immune deficiencies, shock, trauma and burns.

There is an urgent, critical need for products that can only be made from plasma.

Every day, but Sunday, 100s of people show up at my neighborhood ZLB Plasma clinic to do a good thing. They are paid $25-$40 per donation. If you donate plasma a second time in one week they give you $40, one time you get $25.

So, you've got all these people, healthy people, well-tested before plasma is drawn, willing to do this good deed. You've got a company willing to locate in Fort Worth to do this good deed.

And you've got an idiotic city bureaucracy that does not work with them, instead, works against them. ZLB had no idea what sort of backwater place they were dealing with. They naively went ahead and bought the new, bigger building. Likely because the company had never been located in a place where permission to make a move to a bigger building would be denied.

Someone needs to overthrow Fort Worth's Ruling Junta and install a working democracy. I think maybe the Ruling Junta is running a WMD operation at the Big Cheese Rodent Factory. Time for some pre-emptive striking for the greater good of the good citizens of Fort Worth. America, please takeover this town. You'll be welcomed as liberators. I'm almost certain of that.

Disneyland and Six Flags Over Texas

Since my first visit when I was 13, Disneyland has been one of my favorite places. There was a time when I'd go to Disneyland just about every year. In the Los Angeles zone I also had fun at Knott's Berry Farm and Magic Mountain. I was a theme park fan.

When I moved to Texas I thought I'd be getting an annual pass to Six Flags Over Texas and go there multiple times during the year. But that was before I actually went to Six Flags Over Texas. Sadly, it is no Disneyland.

That old bald man you see above is sort of Six Flags mascot. While Disneyland has Mickey and Minnie.

Disneyland creates its own world, with the outside shut out. Walls keep you from seeing the outside world at Disneyland. At Six Flags Over Texas you can view the outside world through cyclone fence topped with barbed wire. Like a prison.

The entry into Disneyland is very efficient. You pass through the gates and walk under a railway and suddenly you are looking at Main Street with a castle at the end of the street. You know you're somewhere special. At Six Flags you go through a clunky entry that opens to a little plaza with an old Carousel spinning around.

Disneyland is neat and tidy. No chipped paint. No litter. Everything bright, shiny and clean. Six Flags has water with litter floating, broken TVs hanging above you while you wait in line, areas in need of paint, dead landscaping.

Six Flags Over Texas is very odd with the theming. The area that is supposed to be France is the closest Six Flags comes to Disneyland's quality level. Mexico has some stuff that looks Mexican and other things that seem out of place. I don't know in which 'country' the log ride is, but it is one disturbing ride. Because it's supposed to be in a north woods type setting, the water is dyed an unnatural shade of blue. Disneyland's log ride is quite elaborate, Six Flags is barebone.

The first visit to Six Flags I got in for free. A few years later I got another free pass. That was the year the Titan Hypercoaster opened. There had been some improvements. More flowers, less things in need of paint, cleaner. But the landscaping for the new Titan ride appeared to be dying due to lack of water. I've never seen anything dead or dying at Disneyland.

After the first visit to Six Flags I never again entertained the notion that I'd like an annual pass. I don't know that I'd go again even if I got paid to go.

A one day pass to Disneyland costs about $70. Six Flags Over Texas is under $30 if you buy online, $49.99 if you buy your ticket at the park. You get what you pay for. Compared to Six Flags, Disneyland is a bargain. Only 20 bucks more for an excellent high quality experience, vs. a glorified carnival.

Let's Talk About Libraries Fort Worth

Last week I mentioned that the Ruling Junta of Fort Worth was holding their final "Let's Talk Fort Worth" meeting. This had been a series of town hall type deals where the citizens of Fort Worth could let the Junta know what they're thinking. This current "Let's Talk Fort Worth" was the 3rd time in about 50 years the Ruling Junta has solicited such citizen opinions.

Today is the day the Ruling Junta puts its full page ad in the Star-Telegram, called "City Page." Under the headline, "Residents Share Their Dreams at Let's Talk Fort Worth," there is an embarrassing propagandish version of what the citizens of Fort Worth had to tell the Ruling Junta. There is no mention of the large protest that preceded the meeting during which Fort Worth citizen's let the Junta know what they think of all the gas drilling going on all over town.

The article also made no mention of the many people who verbalized their gas drilling concerns to the Ruling Junta during the Let's Talk meeting.

The following paragraph really rubbed me the wrong way. After you read it I'll tell you why it annoyed me....

"Several speakers praised Fort Worth's quality of life, it's neighborliness and cultural attractions, and its peaceful ambiance and low crime rates. Also mentioned as favorite things about Fort Worth were its thriving downtown and associated entertainment, dining and shopping and the urban villages burgeoning in various parts of the city...."

Before I get to the part about the above that really bugged me I've got to say, first off. Shopping? In downtown Fort Worth? Fort Worth is the only city in America with a population over 400,000 with absolutely no department store downtown. Not a one. Very meager shopping opportunities. Contrast Fort Worth's downtown with smaller in population Seattle. Seattle has at least 3 vertical malls downtown. More than one grocery store. Several department stores, like Nordstroms and dozens of other stores, in addition to Pike Place Market. Seattle has a thriving downtown. Fort Worth has the deadest downtown of any downtown I've ever seen. Just look at photos I took of downtown Fort Worth on the busiest shopping day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving.

Okay, now the thing that really bugs me. Beneath the article on the "City Page," singing the praises of Fort Worth's alleged livability, is another article. This one making note of the city's library's new operating hours. Due to budget shortfalls the city of Fort Worth decided to save money by laying off library employees and cutting back operating hours. Every time I have been in my nearby Fort Worth library it is real busy. Everyone of the computer terminals being used by people I assume don't have a computer. People wait outside the library's entry waiting for it to open.

What sort of city that has any sort of pretension regarding caring about its quality of life would cut back on the access of its citizens to its libraries?

Tonight's Debate Among Other Annoyances

I'm not in the mood to blog about anything. Usually I've got too much I'm in the mood to blog about. But not this morning. Maybe my blah mood is due to a bad dream last night. Maybe it's due to being nervous because the financial meltdown seems to be getting worse. I'm still cranky at Washington Mutual and their bad banking practices.

I only made it through half an hour of Dancing With The Stars last night. I got bored and then I got sleepy. I'm sure I'll try and watch tonight's debate. It's likely McCain, in desperation, is going to be all Mr. Fiesty Pants, accusing Obama of cohorting with terrorists who did bad deeds when Obama was only 7 and living in Hawaii. If the debate turns ugly at least it will likely hold my interest and keep me wake. Appalled, disgusted and awake.

My bad nightmare last night was very very unsettling. I'd blogged yesterday about my aversion to Christmas and family holiday get-togethers. So, last night my nightmare had me up in Lynden at the annual combo Christmas/Birthday party for my long gone Grandma. Well, in the nightmare there was Grandma. It was like I was living it in 3-D. I was glad to see Grandma. I actually sort of enjoyed those times at times. The gift exchange was usually amusing.

And then after I visited Grandma my nightmare turned macabre. My long gone Uncle Ivan, who I really did not know all that well, was there, not looking good. And then I turned to my left and there was Uncle Mel. Uncle Mel has been fighting a battle against prostate cancer for years now. It's a battle he's been gradually losing.

I last saw Uncle Mel at my nephew Jason's wedding in April of 2006. When I turned to look at him Uncle Mel had tears in his eyes and said "I'm so glad I got to see you again." And then he faded away. I woke up instantly, very unsettled and I've been unsettled all morning.

To take my mind off of all my annoyances I have been making webpages like a maniac this morning. Adding all sortsa content to my Eyes on Texas website. That thing is getting way too big. If only I'd designed the original layout with the eventual size in mind, things would be so much easier. But it's like a bad house that someone keeps putting add-ons on til it's like a patchwork of cobbled together messiness, that's perfectly livable, but really could have been done way better. I guess it's not so bad, only I can see the mess, the viewer, not so much.

We are under a high wind alert all day here in North Texas. It's only 66 out there with an hour or so to go til noon. Brrrr. No swimming this morning. It was time to shock the pool. That's pool maintenance talk meaning chemicals had to be mixed in to keep the water all nice and clean.