Wind Chimes Need To Be Banned

Way back in December of last year I blogged about how much I dislike the noise pollution caused by windchimes. And the fact that there seems to be no awareness, here in Texas, that the things unfairly impede upon the peace and quiet and privacy in ones own home.

More enlightened parts of the world, like cities and towns in west coast states, ban the noisemakers from being used within a certain distance, like 300 feet, of a neighbor's ears.

I really don't know how anyone can be so cluelessly rude as to impose this type irritant on their neighbors.

Anyway, the reason windchimes are fresh on my mind is not because I've got my windows open and am hearing one, all I'm hearing is a lot of melodic birds chirping. The reason the windchime pet peeve is fresh on my mind is because the ubiquitious Mr. or Ms. Anonymous commented on what I wrote previously about windchime noise pollution. I thought the comment was amusing, so I'll repeat it below...

I bought an inexpensive sounds of windchimes CD and sent it to my neighbor asking if they could take down the chimes and instead listen to this in the privacy of their own home. Still waiting to see what happens as these windchimes are HUGE.......they hang from a post on their back deck that looks like a hangman's noose device. If my diplomacy doesn't work....I'm going Navy Seal on the thing.

Something Not Natural About The Tandy Hills Natural Area

The picture does not do justice to how colorful this part of the Tandy Hills Prairie was looking today. The Tandy Hills has only 6 days to get fully bloomed in time for Saturday's 2009 Prairie Fest.

I hope I remember to go to Prairie Fest, unlike what happened last Saturday when I totally forgot I was going to go the Main Street Arts Festival.

I saw a couple unnatural things today whilst hiking around the Tandy Hills Natural Area. The most disturbing unnatural thing was up by the tallest tower, right by the Tandy Hills Litter Shrine. Flags had been stuck in the ground and orange stripes sprayed marking an electric power line route. It would appear this means there will be some digging soon. I doubt the Shrine will survive.

The other unnatural thing I saw today was also flag related. All over the park I saw red flags stuck in the ground, with all but one saying "Long Route." I've no idea what this means. The red flag that did not say "Long Route" said something Latin and "Buttermilk Primrose." The Latin term for the yellow flower made me think that Don Young was behind that flag. He seems to know the Latin name for everything.

The weather today is about as perfect as it gets in Texas. 80 with low humidity. The pool was perfect this morning. I suspect it will be even more perfect tomorrow morning.

People are coming to this blog from all over the world, again, looking for help with Only Child Syndrome. Why does this and the search for the World's Biggest Butt go in streaks? Maybe I'll muster the energy to blog about Only Child Syndrome again. If I can help just one victim deal with the syndrome, I'll have done a good thing today.

Fort Worth Stockyards Saunders Park

Yesterday I made mention of a seldom seen part of the Fort Worth Stockyards, that being the Marine Creek Linear Park and the part of the Linear Park known as Saunders Park. I said this spot reminded me of Venice, but the photo I used didn't really do a good job of showing what this park looks like. Hence this followup blogging.

I'll use the verbiage from my Eyes on Texas website webpage about this part of the Stockyards.

Most Fort Worth Stockyard's visitors do not realize a river runs through it, well, actually a creek, Marine Creek, which a short distance from this point will join the Trinity River. In the above photo we are standing under the bridge which most people walking on Exchange Avenue don't realize they are on when they are in the White Elephant Saloon or standing near the Fort Worth Stockyards sign. There is a paved trail called the Marine Creek Linear Park of which this location is a part.

Now we are in the aforementioned Saunders Park, overlooking Marine Creek. This is a very attractive, scenic part of the Stockyards that few see. There is a sign on the south side of Exchange Avenue pointing visitors to an alley that leads to the park, but that one sign seems to be the only effort made to direct people to this location. Tim Love's Lonesome Dove Bistro is the only Stockyards venue to take advantage of this asset. The Lonesome Dove has a deck overlooking the park where diners can enjoy the view.

When you explore around the Saunders Park zone you can see signs that at some point in time it was bigger, with trails eroded and rockwork fallen apart. The Stockyards area and North Main Street seem to have a history of projects that don't quite get finished. I think one of them is called something like La Gran Plaza. Basically an alley was fixed up, sort of Mexican themed, but it didn't get finished. I think the Rose Marine Theater was part of that renewal attempt.

Another thing about Saunders Park. It was in the tunnel part of this trail that I saw the biggest snake I've seen since I was in Texas. That was very unsettling. I think it was a water moccasin. But when I get in snake panic mode my snake identification skills tend to suffer.

Sunday Bike Ride to the Fort Worth Stockyards with Beer

I mentioned earlier that I thought I might pedal the Trinity Trail from Gateway Park to the Fort Worth Stockyards today. Mister Twister quickly requested that I thoroughly photo document this bike ride.

I always do what people ask me to do. So, I ended up taking over 60 photos. 20 of them I've used.

As you can see on the distance odometer part of my bike speedometer I pedaled 18.961 miles today. It was very windy. Pedaling into the wind I was lucky to go 10 mph. With the wind pushing me I easily sailed over 20 mph. That was fun.

I do have some very good news to report. I have never seen so many people biking and walking on this trail before. I tell you, Texans are getting in shape.

Just a little bit east of I-35 I saw something that made me realize I made a big mistake this weekend, actually two mistakes. I'll get to that when I get to that picture.


What you see above is one of the Trinity Falls. You see this soon after leaving Gateway Park via a long bridge. I'm at the west end of the bridge in the picture.

A closer look at this particular Trinity Falls. It can be a bit exciting crossing this when it's running a lot of water. It's very noisy and you get going quite fast heading down towards the dam, and then it's a sharp turn. If a brake broke, right then, you'd go flying into the falls. That would be unpleasant. I had this happen before, the brake breaking part, not the falls falling part, at Cedar Hills State Park. When the brake cable breaks, on a steep downhill, it is like you've had a booster shot which quickly causes a wreck.


There is what amounts to being a very small lake above Trinity Falls. There is a Kayak Club that has a storage garage here. I don't know if this Trinity River lake is bigger or smaller than the new Trinity River lake that may be built further upriver.

In Texas, when you get arrested for littering, you may be sent to a Correctional Facility, where on weekends you may be sent, via bus, to pick up litter on the banks of the Trinity River, like the inmates you see here.


Here you see a message, painted in orange, visible from Interstate 35 to southbound drivers, directing them to Mayfest.org. When I saw the Mayfest sign I instantly remembered that this weekend was the Main Streets Arts Festival and I'd totally forgotten about it. My Saturday plan had been to take the bus to the Rahr Brewery Tour and then go to downtown to the Arts Festival. It was real foggy on Saturday, as was my brain, apparently.

Also, just east of the I-35 bridge over the Trinity, is this little rest stop. Since I've last biked here a new trail to a park I did not realize existed, and signage, has been added. And even more important than that, the water faucet finally works. This oasis had been a cruel torture for at least 2 summers when I'd stop, empty of water, over 100 degrees, and the faucet not running water.

On both sides of the river there are these rocks embedded into the ground with big plaques like you see above. This one, among other things, tells you that once alligators swam here. The info on the plaques is very good. Like one near Marine Creek tells you that that is where a big Indian encampment was located, back in the days when Fort Worth was actually a fort, well, a camp. I believe these plaques must have been added way back over a half century ago when the levees were built. I think that because they are rather randomly located. Such as the one you see here, when I first saw it, there was no paved trail going by it, just a dirt horse path. Some of the plaques are not where there is a paved trail.

Here you see a couple of big birds trying to stop me from crossing one of the many dam/river barriers that the paved trails use to get from one side of the river to the other. Just prior to this I was harassed, harassed I tell you by several giant eagle looking birds. I'd just watched Hitchcock's The Birds, so those Big Eagles made me nervous. I quickly pedaled on instead of getting my camera out.

After the birds finally let me get on my way I was on the side of the river where Fort Worth's very minor league baseball field is located. So, I pedaled up to take a look. It has been greatly improved since it first appeared. Back then I made a webpage making fun of it. I did that because I was annoyed at yet on more iteration of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's green with envy verbiage. As in, I think it was in an editorial, it said something like Fort Worth is the envy of its league due to its stupendous ballpark. They play in a league with some towns as small as 12,000 population! And you brag about your little ballpark? That was just embarrassing.

The trail continues on over a bridge that crosses where the aforementioned Marine Creek runs into the Trinity River. I think this may be part of what will be destroyed if Fort Worth's Trinity River Vision ever gets clear. I went over the bridge on the way back from the Stockyards. On the way to the Stockyards I went off the paved trail to go in a back way.

And now you are looking at the aforementioned back way into the Stockyards. That is a railroad bridge. I believe the Tarantula Train goes over it on its way to Grapevine. I may be wrong.

That's a warning sign letting you know that these are real tracks and a real train uses them, that being the Tarantula Train. What you're looking at here is the Iron Horse Trail, this very well done walk through the history of Fort Worth and the surrounding area. It is kept up well, but I have never ever seen anyone but myself here. Nothing in the Stockyards directs you to it. That's a shame.

That is Saunders Park in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Just like the Iron Horse Trail, few people take a look at this. Marine Creek runs through here and it reminds me a bit of Venice. The creek runs right under where the iconic Fort Worth Stockyards sign is located. The Lonesome Dove Bistro is directly to the left in this picture. The Ruling Junta really should try and come up with a way to make better use of this park.

And now I'm on the Stockyard's main drag, looking at the aforementioned iconic sign. I don't think Fort Worth has any other iconic image type things. Not that I can think of.

I always think the longhorn crossing sign is amusing. There were a lot of people at the Stockyards today, just like there always are. Awhile back a friend from Washington was visiting, we were at the Stockyards and she commented that it's just like Reno. Huh? I asked. It was all the people wandering about drinking beer. A lot of places have no open container laws. Apparently Fort Worth, or at least parts of Fort Worth are Extra Wet. I saw a lot of people at the Stockyards today walking around with beer bottles. To me it totally fits the western theme.

That reminds me, The Amazing Race is on tonight. I've never done one of these maze type things. I guess I don't see the attraction of the attraction.

This reminds me, Prison Break starts up again tomorrow. I probably won't watch. I was surprised to see that the guard towers were still standing at the part of the Stockyard Ruins that were used by Prison Break to simulate a Panama prison.

And now I'm at the end of my bike ride, back in Gateway Park, looking at the #1 (according to Dog Fancy magazine) dog park in the U.S. We are so proud. But no city-wide celebration was held. There were a lot of people with a lot of yapping mutts there today. I had a herd of yappers yapping at me and chasing me the entire length of the fence.

So, fun bike ride, most people ever on the trail. Even a record breaking number of homeless bums, 4, under the bridge favored by that minority. Near the homeless shelter on the south side of I-30.

Another Sunny Sunday in Texas

That's the Sunday morning view from my computer room window. Unlike yesterday's foggy dark gray, blue sky has returned, just in time to prevent another outbreak of SAD (Seasonally Affected Disorder).

Which means I was wearing my sunglasses during this morning's swim.

Yesterday about 5 pm WeatherBug started chirping with a National Weather Service storm warning, saying a line of Thunderstorms was advancing on the D/FW Metroplex from the west, with big hail and winds up to 7o mph. But, nothing happened here. Not a drop of rain, gust of wind or streak of lightning.

I think I'll pedal my bike on the Trinity Trails today. Maybe going all the way from Gateway Park to the Stockyards. Yeah, that sounds fun.

Fighting Mad Over Texas Gas Drillers

Don Young wants to have a lynching. Here's why....

To heck with Tea Parties. We need a "hanging party" (metaphorically speaking) for a few environmental criminals and the bought off politicos who do their bidding.

This is serious folks and it's spreading all over the USA.

Brett Shipp of WFAA-TV pulls back the veils on the latest chapter of criminal activity in Texas. Where's a cop or a governor when you need one??? Somebody get me a rope.

DY

A North Texas Rancher named Robert Crowell claims Texas gas and oil regulators are turning a blind eye to toxic waste seeping into the Brazos River north of Abilene. The Brazos River is a source of drinking water for millions of Texans. In Stonewall County, where Crowell's ranch is located, the water is kept flowing by the huge Seymour Aquifer, which runs underneath Crowell's Ranch.

Crowell says petro waste is seeping into the aquifer. The waste comes from an abandoned gas processing plant, leeching lead, benzene, mercury, arsenic and PCBs into the ground and eventually the Brazos River.

Read Brett Shipp's WFAA-TV entire expose', with photo evidence and video.

Foggy Fort Worth, Texas Wildflowers & Oakland Lake Park

I already told you it is foggy today here in Fort Worth, as in real foggy. You can barely see beautiful downtown Fort Worth in the picture I took on the drive to Oakland Lake Park for a much needed nature walk.

Large areas of Oakland Lake Park are now covered by wildflowers. This means the grass does not get mowed. Which made walking in wet vegetation a bit unpleasant, so the paved path had to be used.

I got a couple good pictures of newly blooming wildflowers I'd not seen yet this year.

I called my mom and dad in the Phoenix zone while I walked because I got gas on the way, and as my one longtime reader, Tyler, may remember, when I get gas I call my mom and tell her how much it cost.

But, the parental units were not home. Or were not answering their phone. So, I called my sister who is also in the Phoenix zone. She entertained me while I did my nature walking.

I learned my oldest sister and my ex-wife were visiting, along with Ginger, she being another Washingtonian and that they'd taken a road trip south to Tombstone and Bisbee, then east to New Mexico and Silver City, then north to Sante Fe, then west back to the Phoenix zone.


Made me want to go on a road trip. It's been awhile. I'm thinking there is a good chance I'll be road tripping soon, heading west to the Phoenix zone to visit the aforementioned parental units and my sister and nephews and maybe my brother. Then head north to the Seattle zone, then back here via Montana, then south through Wyoming and Colorado.

While we are suffering in the 60s here, with that heavy fog, my sisters in Phoenix were basking in the 80s. But the wimps think it's too cold to get in the pool.

I can't believe I'm related to those people.

Foggy, Drizzling North Texas Saturday

That's a look at how foggy it is here this morning. Yesterday we had a typical Pacific Northwest winter rainy day and now this morning it's a typical Pacific Northwest foggy fall day.

And drizzling like being at the ocean.

Living in that type naturally moisturizing climate is one of the reasons people in the Pacific Northwest have such youthful healthy skin, compared to some of the weather/sun ravaged examples of epidermis I see in these parts.

Unfortunately, I have now lived in this skin ravaging climate long enough that I am starting to lose my Pacific Northwest naturally moisturized healthy youthful skin. I figure another ten years and my nickname will be Leatherface.

It being a Pacific Northwest type fall day today, I decided to have a Pacific Northwest type breakfast, that being French Toast with blackberry preserves, hash browns and sausage. I guess the only Pacific Northwest thing about that breakfast is the blackberry part.

I don't know if it'll dry out enough to be able to go on a salubrious hike today. My physical therapist, Dr. L.C., was concerned yesterday that being housebound might have a deleterious effect on my well-being. Well, I did manage to go swimming in the rain, yesterday, and in the drizzle this morning. I prefer swimming in the rain to the drizzle.

My Two Texas Cents Worth From Wal-Mart

My one reader, in Tyler, Texas, may remember me complaining about Wal-Mart's Thieving Milk Scam. Two weeks ago I bought a gallon at a Wal-Mart Supercenter in North Richland Hills. A huge sign spelled out $1.98 a Gallon. But the milk rang up at $2.00.

And then a week later it happened again, at my nearby Wal-Mart Supercenter. And now, this afternoon, at that same Wal-Mart, same thing.

That's today's receipt with 2 pennies on it.

So, today after I paid 2 bucks for milk that Wal-Mart had led me to believe cost $1.98, as I walked past Customer Service I saw there was no line. Okay, it's worth it to me to go through this aggravation, I thought to myself.

Afterall, when Wal-Mart or Krogers or Albertsons make a pricing mistake they refund what you paid. Sort of their penalty for first off, having the price wrong, and second off, the customer taking his time to fix it.

It took the befuddled Minimum Wage Moron about a minute to process what I was saying. I told the MWM that this same price mistake occurred at other Wal-Marts. I asked if the prices are controlled from some central location, like the dark dungeons of Wal-Mart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. She told me that that is the case and that mistakes are constant.

The MWM then proceeded to hand me the 2 pennies you see in the picture. To which I said, "Has the policy changed? I thought you got the price refunded if Wal-Mart made a pricing mistake."

Not anymore she told me. Only if the mistake is over 3 dollars.

Huh?

Has Krogers stopped the refund policy too? I've long noticed Krogers no longer has a sign touting the refund policy. Now with Krogers and its constant mistakes, that could get expensive.

I'm guessing the fast and loose pricing mistake policy may be a Texas thing. This is not exactly a consumer protection friendly state.

I don't know if it is still the case, because I've not lived there for 10 years, but in Washington, I am pretty certain it is still true that you can call the State Attorney General's Consumer Hotline with a complaint such as, "I've bought a gallon of milk in 3 different Wal-Marts with the priced marked at $1.98 but ringing up at $2.00."

A few years back K-Mart, in Seattle, got assessed a $1.5 million fine after agents found multiple chronic pricing errors.

The reason for the refund policy, such as exists in Washington, is it gives the stores a very good incentive not to make mistakes. The reason such mistakes are seen as possibly criminal, in other, more enlightened states, is due to the way it rips off the consumer. You see something on the shelf and make the decision to buy it based on what you believe the price to be. Then at checkout, if you are buying a lot of stuff, you may not even notice it rang up wrong til you get home, or maybe never notice.

How is it that Wal-Mart has been system-wide making this milk pricing mistake for weeks? Am I the first to complain? It's very easy to think two cents don't matter. But how many gallons does Wal-Mart sell a day? Enough to make two cents add up to serious money? Two cents may not sound like much, but it's a 1% increase in what I thought I was paying.

Why is it that all the time I've been shopping at Sprouts Farmers Market, a place where I buy way more than I ever do at Wal-Mart, or used to at corrupt Krogers, has never made a mistake? One thing, I think they pay their help well, as in they are all very good. When you check out at Sprouts you see a sign touting Sprouts philosophy of doing business. It's easy to see that they are true to what Sprouts spouts.

Another grocery store where I buy a lot and where there has never been a price mistake is at Hong Kong Market in Arlington's Chinatown. Even though we don't speak the same language, the checkout people are always so polite and efficient.

So, the problem has to be a function of the corporate culture of the store. And its management.

With Wal-Mart dropping the refund if they are wrong policy, and Krogers likely having dropped it, as well, I'm guessing this is why the pricing errors have now gone epidemic. Maybe it's part of the reason why Wal-Mart was one of the few non bleak retailers in the previous quarter.

Well, there you have it. I'm done whining now. For now.

America, Britain & Texas Got Talent

If you've not yet heard a word about Susan Boyle, you have now. Millions have been hearing Susan Boyle, around the world, ever since last Saturday when she appeared on Britain's Got Talent.

America has its own version of the British talent show. Simon Cowell is a judge on the British version.

The Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast, Alma, auditioned for America's Got Talent. And then the next year she was asked to audition again. But, the foolish producers did not put Alma on the show. I think if they did the same thing would happen to Alma as what has happened to Susan Boyle.

The YouTube videos of what happened on Saturday in the UK have all had the embed option disabled. But, if you go to my TV Blog you'll find a link to the video. Trust me, it's worth it.