Gluteus Maximus Only Child Syndrome Ukrainians

Well. I have had me a day. In addition to our first one over the 100 mark, I've been extra HOT for other reasons.

One reason is the past couple days I finally wised up and realized I'd done a dumb dumb thing by blogging repeatedly about the search for the World's Biggest Gluteus Maximus. (I am not using the more common term I used before, the one that starts with a 'b' and ends with a 't'.)

When I wrote about that subject, repeatedly, after seeing the biggest one I'd ever seen, making it's way through Wal-Mart, little did I know that all over the world there are people searching for the world's biggest GM.

I thought it was all in good fun, me and my search, til that search, by all those people, all over the world, overwhelmed my blog. As in, at times 75% of the blog visitors are looking for that one thing. This would be fine with me. Except, understandably, the ads that that subject generates are pathetic. So, no more mention of the search for that particular ultra big thing, by me.

And then there is Only Child Syndrome. I'd blogged a lot about that subject after being traumatized by one of the worst of the breed last summer in Tacoma. I got a lot of my info from the Wikipedia article about the subject, then put my own spin on it. I was appalled to soon see my Only Child Syndrome stuff Googling #1, ahead of Wikipedia, making me, in the eyes of those OCS sufferers looking for relief, the World's #1 Only Child Syndrome expert.

I was pleased today, when I Googled "Only Child Syndrome" to see that Wikipedia is back in the #1 spot. That might not last for long, with me blogging about the subject again. I'll keep it to a minimum. At least the OCS ads are good, so I don't mind this one, like I did the biggest gluteals one.

And then there is today's Ukrainian encounter. I had not looked at my webstats in awhile. I was led to do so today when I saw the new version of Google's Webmaster Tools, in which there was a long list of search strings that bring up my webstuff at a high position. I randomly knew of some that were #1, but I had no idea how many there were. This was new information. I was sort of pleased.

So then I went to look at my website stats. I had not done this in months. They generate a lot of info. Mostly useless to me. There is a section where I get a list of websites with external links to mine. This is always interesting. Sometimes I'll find someone hotlinking to one of my pictures. I then replace it with something embarrassing and see how long it takes them to discover it.

Today on the list of links from an external page there were about 30 like the following:

http://woxifedaqiiqadefixow.durangotexas.com/

Okay, that is my domain, with a lot of gibberish in front of it. This gibberish followed by a period is known as a sub-domain. When I clicked on that link it brought up my website, only via that sub-domain, that does not exist.

This freaked me out. I thought someone had hacked my website. The potential for disaster was huge. Or so I thought.

I went to my webhost and logged in to do a live chat. I hate live chats. With my webhost their live chat center is in the Ukraine. If I'm lucky I get someone who's English is not too fractured.

Today I got Evenka. Her English was not badly fractured. After a few confusions she understood the problem. She told me that any line of gibberish, pointing to a non-existent sub-domain will bring up the referenced URL. I made up one and she was right.

I asked who was doing this and why? Evenka told me it was not human, it was search bots doing their thing. She said I had nothing to worry about. I chose to believe her.

So, that's been my HOT day in Texas.

I gotta go now. I've got some Only Child Syndrome victims seeking advice who I must attend to.

Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Hits 101 Level Red Polluton Watch

Well. As you can see, we have gone over the Century Mark for the first time this year, sometime before 3 pm getting to 101 with a Heat Index of 103.

As you can also see via the wind gauge, it is not being very breezy.

I went swimming early this morning. I felt no strong desire to go out walking at noon. I had to go to the Post Office and grocery store. That was enough hot walking.

A little after half past one this afternoon the National Weather Service lifted the Air Pollution Watch to Level Red. I don't remember it being Level Red before. In the warning below the NWS warns that those with breathing problems, asthma, children and the elderly, should stay indoors where there is air-conditioning.

Since I hit bingo on at least 2 of the vulnerable categories, I guess it was a good thing I didn't risk going hiking in this.

Air Quality Alert Message National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 137 PM CDT Tue Jun 23 2009

Air Pollution Watch - Level Red - For Dallas-Fort Worth.

The Texas Commission On Environmental Quality (tceq) Has Issued A Level Red Air Pollution Watch For The Dallas-Fort Worth Area For Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

Atmospheric Conditions Are Expected To Be Favorable For Producing High Levels Of Ozone Air Pollution In The Dallas-Fort Worth Area On Wednesday. Ozone Levels Could Reach The Level Red "unhealthy" Category.

Elevated Concentrations Of Ozone Can Act As A Lung Irritant. Individuals With Chronic Lung Disease, Such As Asthma And Emphysema, As Well As The Elderly And Young Children, Are Particularly Sensitive To Ozone And Should Attempt To Avoid Exposure. To Avoid Exposure, Minimize Exertion Outdoors During The Mid-Day To Early Evening Hours Or Stay Indoors In An Air- Conditioned Room During This Time.

Friday's Arlington American Idol Audition

I barely hit the publish button on a blogging where I mentioned the upcoming American Idol auditions at the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. In Arlington. With American Idol's website info having the stadium in Dallas.

I hit the publish button and checked email to find incoming from Kay in Houston asking "How much will parking be this week for the American Idol auditions?"

Good question. Concert goers were charged $40 for the stadium opening George Strait concert. I suspect this will not be the case for the auditions. But what do I know?

Arlington's Convention & Visitors Bureau is mounting an email campaign to let American Idol auditioners know what a "bustling" city Arlington is.

A bustling city, which also happens to be the largest city in America with absolutely no public transit, no trains, no buses. Many are concerned that the Fox American Idol website info is leading contestants to erroneously believe they can stay in Dallas and commute to Arlington via public transit. Dallas has many miles of light rail, called DART, as in Dallas Area Rapid Transit, that go no where near Arlington.

Audition registrations start tomorrow at the stadium, continuing on Thursday, with the actual singing, in front of Simon Cowell, starting on Friday, continuing on, I assume through Saturday.

But, Saturday night the Jonas Brothers are filling up the new stadium. I assume Paula Abdul & Friends will be out of town by then. We can only hope.

Kay, if you're reading this, you can park at my place for free. I can drop you off at the stadium and come pick you up, after you get your ticket to Hollywood. Of course, a small transit fee will be involved. But it won't be $40.

Grapevine, Bonnie & Clyde & American Idol Auditions in Arlington

I have been all over Texas the past several days. It is starting to sort of exhaust me. This morning I did not go far, just up to Grapevine. Grapevine is a very nice little town. Grapevine is where Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located.

A lot of things in this zone are not located in the place their name would indicate. Like this morning there are people in Arlington all in a huff because American Idol has been advertising auditions soon to take place in the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. In Dallas. Where there are many attractions to visit.

Somehow the people in Arlington thought that since they helped pay for the stadium, that it was theirs to be associated with. The people of Arlington should have consulted with the people of Irving to learn how it actually works out when you build Dallas a new stadium for their football team.

Today, while visiting Grapevine, I learned that Bonnie & Clyde did a couple of their murders there, killing 2 young motorcycle cops, E.B. Wheeler and H.D. Murphy. I think the actual murders may have taken place in what is now Southlake. I believe there is a historical marker.

I don't know if I'm going to go anywhere else in Texas today. I need a break. Yesterday I went to Fredericksburg, in two places, here and here. That is too much Fredericksburg for one day.

Eminent Domain, YouTube, Dallas Cowboy Stadium & Texas

When someone comments on this blog I get sent an email with that comment, with the option to publish or reject. When someone makes a comment to one of my YouTube videos I also get an email, but it is to an email address I seldom check.

So, I was surprised, yesterday, to see how many comments there have been to the video I made that showed some of what was destroyed to build the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. The building of which I characterize as a scandal, due to the flagrant abuse of eminent domain to acquire the land for the stadium. An abuse so flagrant that a bill was introduced in the recent session of the Texas legislature to put an end to this type eminent domain abuse in Texas. I don't know if the bill made it into law. I doubt it.

One thing I've long made note of, regarding comments to the blog or YouTube, the more ignorant the person is, the more likely they will verbalize their ignorance in a hostile fashion. I've never understood how it is that someone who is ignorant is so oblivious about their ignorance that they are confident to advertise their ignorance in comment form. One would think if one was ignorant one would be a bit shy of verbalizing an opinion. Or, maybe part of being ignorant is being ignorant of being ignorant.

Of the YouTube comments the most ignorant was one where the commenter opined that what was done in Arlington is not a scandal because "nothing illegal happened. Jerry Jones bought the land, and built on it. All the people and business that were there would have had to agree and sell their property for him to build it. Who ever made this is kinda dumb?"

Whoever made this is kinda dumb? While this ignorant moron has no awareness that dozens of people did not willingly sell their land and homes, hence the scandal, with many of the cases still being argued in court.

Anyway, below are most of the YouTube comments, with the video that got them commenting below the comments.....

yikeroo3
Thank you for this. My family were among the Dallas Cowboy's and Jerry Jones victims. We were forced out of our home of over 25 years. I will never forgive or forget this. A stadium could have been built without doing this to people. There is plenty of open land in Arlington. The shame of this will forever stain the town of Arlington and the Dallas Cowboys with Jerry Jones answering to God, in the unlikely chance that that it is to heaven he is going when he dies.

Blu53
I assume by "Don't ever do this again," you mean don't ever abuse owners of private property again like what was done in Arlington. Well, Arlington is already shell-shocked enough by their growing national bad rep for their part in emiment domain abuse that Arlington is telling Jerry Jones they will not be party to more eminent domain use for his project. The power of the internet to enlighten and inform is amazing.

M2200
I'm as disgusted as you are about what was done in Arlington to get the Cowboys a new stadium. Don't these morons realize this isn't how this type thing is done in the rest of the country? Eminent domain exists so that the public can take private land for the public good. Like roads, hospitals and schools. Not for football stadiums. A person should be secure in their home and should be removed from their home for only the best of reasons.

robabyluv
And NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!

blue99blue
Stadium name: Hickville
Welcome to Hickville.

Mikey78418
It's "inbred", you quasi-literate buffoon.

alanpetsche
I've lived in Arlington since 1966 and the apartments that were the vast majority of the buildings that were torn down were havens for criminals and crack dealers. That area of town was responsible for the highest total cost of police calls in all of Tarrant County. The last holdout homeowner received $1.5 million for her house. Everyone who lived or owned a business there got paid well. Scandal my ass.

IronMaidenBeast1982
Then try and get a loan to try and buy a ticket for a game, loser...

Mikey78418
Woah, lookit the internet tough guy! Bruce Dickinson's a fag.

IronMaidenBeast1982
..and you are still a tool!

Mikey78418
That may be true, but at least I'm not a pathetic internet tough guy.

IronMaidenBeast1982
How am I being an "internet tough guy", you douchebag?  Because I called you a loser, a tool, and a douchebag? That`s not being tough--that`s being honest!

turduckens4u
You meen built of the ruins of slums i think. Old run down, even though they were your homes. You have the right to protest and i feel for you but the new stadium will also bring millions worth of buisness and jobs to the state year round. I say make another.

PowrSurge
I lived in Arlington when it all went down. Jerry did get this built legally. But I have to side with the fellow who made this video. If he is such an idiot, why did 13 states immediately pass laws restricting the use of eminent domain? It should be used for public use, i.e., airport, freeway, etc., but not for a private entity.

trendsetter74
destroyed property my ass, they bought the land from ever person there so quit your bitching, this will bring a lot of extra revenue into arlington and in these times, more revenue and more jobs are a great thing.

theonetitty
this guy must have lived in one of the homes destroyed to build it. its not really a scandal cause nothing illegal happened? Jerry Jones bought the land, and built on it. all the people and businesses that were there would have had to agree and sell their property for him to build it. who ever made this is kinda dumb. sorry

69SoccerMVP69
Why the Hell did this guy make this video. Who cares what was destroyed to make this stadium. When this opens its going to be Bad Ass. I live in Dallas and this staduim is BEAST!!

allpeeps4me
ATTENTION all DALLAS fans!!!**!!! WITH THIS NEW STADIUM NEEDS TO COME NEW FANS!!!!! WE HAVE TO BE LOUDER, ALL WEAR THE SAME COLOR AND START CHANTS LIKE NO NFL STADIUMS HAVE EVER DONE... WE NEED A CRAZY FIGHT SONG THAT WE ALL SING AT THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS, WE NEED TO HAVE TOWELS AND FLAGS AND BANNERS..... WE NEED TO BE MORE LIKE COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS AND HARDCORE EURO SOCCER FANS......if you are truly a fan of the ALMIGHTY COWBOYS OF DALLAS copypaste this on every COWBOYS video spread the word

blue99blue
Stadium name: Hickville
Welcome to Hickville.

blue99blue
Dallas is full of inbread hillbillies.

tscon55
aww boo hoo

TYX91101
The stadium is a major upgrade to the Arlington neighborhood. Combined with the Ballpark, Six Flags, and the hotels and restaurants on Lamar Blvd it forms a family friendly destination for year round recreation and sporting events. There's no shortage of real estate in Texas.

K80blogfan
L
O
L

copznrobbas
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

thomasuras
you said 'However it is still sad that all those memories took place in a small run down neighborhood that no longer exist " yea its real said to see those run down neighborhoods in detroit that are still run down with out a new stadium , look up some of those videos

furrflys
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 exists

phatmattcowboys
pussies stop compaining

SFFOOL76
tell u what, im gonna get enough money to build a poop factory where your house is.

Getting HOT in Fort Worth On Top Of Tandy Mountain

That is the view of the skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth from atop Mount Tandy at the high point in the Tandy Hills Natural Area some time after noon, this second day of summer.

Currently it is 96 degrees out there, with a Heat Index of 99. A slight breeze brought slight relief.

Earlier today I went to Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock Natural Area. That makes for 2 Texas natural areas in one day.

I called my dad yesterday for Father's Day. Mom and dad weren't home. So, I called my sister. My mom answered. My mom and dad were taking care of my sister's cats, because she'd left the Phoenix zone, a week prior, to go to Washington until August 11.

If I understood correctly this means my sister has been up there since June 14. And is staying for almost 2 months. After my horrible month up there last summer I talked about it to the Phoenix sister and she and I were, at that time, in agreement, a month was too long. I can't imagine 2 months. Then again, she spends most of her time with some real nice people in Marysville, while I was stuck with varying degrees of psychopaths in Tacoma.

I was fairly certain I was going to be up in the northwest for a short period in June, but those plans got changed. I missed experiencing any 100 degree days last summer. They occurred while I was suffering with the frigid temperatures in Tacoma. I suspect I will be experiencing a lot of 100 degree plus days this summer. I am well acclimated to it. The HOT hiking will continue.

100 Degrees In Fort Worth

That's our Fort Worth, Texas 7-Day Forecast above. It would appear things will be heating up in these parts. But right now, a half hour before 9 in the morning, the windows are open, the temperature is a chilly 75 and it is peacefully quiet due to no air conditioning running. And no ceiling fan spinning.

Yesterday my only aerobic activity was swimming. No hiking, biking or blading. This had me running a bit of an endorphin deficit that had me cranky by late afternoon. I won't let that happen today. I am still in endorphin bliss mode from this morning's alligator-free swim.

I'm heading to the Tandy Hills, today, before an endorphin deficit kicks in again. Before that I'm visiting Fredericksburg, Texas, virtually. I like that town.

10 Foot Long Alligator Killed In Fort Worth

I did not know, Sunday morning, when I blogged about an alligator skinnydipping in my pool that Saturday night a short distance from my abode a 10 foot long, 400 pound alligator had been roaming around.

A comment from Mister Twister, to the blogging about the gator in the pool, was the first I heard of this other alligator incident.

The alligator had been hit by a vehicle, breaking the gator's back legs and tail. A person in another passing vehicle spotted the injured alligator on Trinity Boulevard, south of the Bell Helicopter/Hurst Trinity Railway Express Station.

A call to 911 had Fort Worth police and a Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife responding. It was decided to put the alligator out of its misery, rather than try and tangle with a live, injured alligator in an attempt to get it to a vet who was willing to work on a giant reptile.

The area were the alligator was found is sort of a lowland, Trinity River flood zone where there are a lot of ponds and lakes. The paved trail at River Legacy Park goes by several of those type lakes. I had no idea I should be on the lookout for alligators, in addition to snakes, bobcats, panthers, tarantulas and armadillos, while pedaling my bike at River Legacy. The mountain bike trail there goes through what would seem to be prime alligator territory.

At the Fort Worth Nature Preserve there is a sign letting you know that there are alligators in the marshy waters between Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth. The sign warns you not to feed, kill, molest or attempt to move an alligator. What sort of pervert would molest an alligator?

Close Look At The New Dallas Cowboy Stadium

When I left here to drive to the Hong Kong Market in Arlington's Chinatown it did not cross my mind that I might be seeing the new Dallas Cowboy stadium up close for the first time.

After I got my goods at the Hong Kong Market I headed north towards the Wal-Mart Supercenter that sits across from the new stadium.

There has been extensive roadwork in the area around the stadium. I have been through this area since the stadium had its ribbon cutting, but at that point access to the new roads was still blocked.

So, I was a bit surprised to see I could take a left on to the new bridge that crosses Johnson Creek. That's what you see in the first picture, with the Stadium dead ahead.

My next surprise was I came to a new intersection with a wide boulevard. These new roads serve to funnel the traffic to the multiple parking lots that surround the stadium. I took a right at the intersection. I was surprised that I was driving so close to the east entrance. I could see cars were parked, people were wandering about.


So, I joined them. Over the past 4 years I've watched the stadium grow, starting with piles of rubble from destroyed homes and apartment buildings. My usual vantage point to look at the construction was the parking lot of the Wal-Mart. That's the Wal-Mart parking lot, today view, of the new stadium, in the above picture. Make note of that big arch coming out of the stadium. We'll get right up to it from the other side in the next picture.

Looking under the northeast supporting arch anchor at the Super Wal-Mart across the street.

In the above picture I'm standing on the plaza outside the east end zone, where Jerry Jones is planning to let people stand during a game for about 30 bucks. What we are looking at at the end of the plaza is the world's biggest sliding glass door. During a game the sliding panels can be opened, conditions permitting.

The above picture was taken through one of the glass door panels. You can see one of the world's biggest flat panel TVs and some of the seating. But you can't see the playing field. It is well below ground level.

There were people walking all around the stadium. This view is looking north from the east end. Parking lots were open, making it easy for the people of Arlington to see what they helped pay for.


Here we're looking at the south side roof support arch and the giant chunk of cement that it is anchored to. Watching these arches get built, piece by piece, eventually meeting up with its counterpart from the other side, was an interesting engineering feat to get to observe.


A close up look at the arch roof support on the north side. The two arches hold up the massive, movable roof and the hugely heavy giant TV screens. I really would like to know if earthquakes, of the type we have been shaking with here in North Texas, were factored into the design.

Like I've said before, the new stadium is not in a very nice location. Industrial, commercial and residential squalor sits on its south and west sides. However the view to the north and east is not eyesore/squalor material. In the picture above we are looking east at the Ballpark in Arlington. That is where the Texas Rangers play this game named baseball. That orange thing to the left of the Ballpark is the Titan Hypercoaster at Six Flags Over Texas.

Also, from the same location as where we were looking at the Ballpark in Arlington and Six Flags Over Texas, you can look north, across Interstate 30 and see Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Because all these attractions are in such close proximity is why this is called Arlington's Entertainment District. It will soon be an even more cohesive entertainment district when 3 very elaborate new bridges connect the north side of I-30 with the south side.

Well, in the next picture we are back on the other side of Randoll Mill Road, heading into the aforementioned Wal-Mart. Make note of the baseballs on the building. There are a lot of baseballs stuck on this Wal-Mart, that sits directly across the street from the world's biggest football stadium. Methinks Wal-Mart needs to add some footballs.

I have to say, as much as I have criticized what was done to build this stadium, there is no denying the fact that up close it is one impressive structure. During the construction phase a high fence surrounded the property. I was very surprised to see how totally open it now is. There is no fence. Anyone can easily walk on the property and check out the stadium. Several parking lots were open, allowing anyone to drive right up to the monster and walk around. The landscaping is still a work in progress. A lot of grass sod appeared to by dying and in dire need of water.

Speaking of water, I was surprised by the water features. At the parking spot at the far end of the east end zone plaza there is a water wall, that's about 100 feet long and 6 feet tall. People were using it as a photo spot. On the other side of the water wall, leading to the plaza there is a long rectangular reflecting pool.

Summing up, if you are in D/FW zone and are curious to see the new stadium, you needn't be shy, just drive right up and check the thing out.

And below is the YouTube video I made in which you can see some of what was done to build this stadium. I'd not looked at the video comments for awhile. There are 3 pages of them. I'll see if they are blog worthy. Some commenters are so totally clueless that it's very amusing...

Texas Skinnydipping With Alligators

Usually I am the only one dipping skinny in the pool in the morning. This morning was an exception to that rule.

A reptile that looked like a small alligator, with no clothes on, was in the pool skinnydipping.

This was not the first time I've shared water with a reptile. I think I've mentioned previously that I was swimming in Lake Grapevine, on a 110 degree day, in a No Swimming Zone, when a huge reptilian head popped out of the water right in front of my face.

I thought it was a water moccasin. I swam for shore at a speed I did not know I was capable of. I reached the shore and ran out on the metal floating dock, forgetting how hot that metal would be on my bare feet. By the time I got to the end of the dock I saw that it was not a water moccasin that was trying to kill me, it was a giant turtle of some sort.

It is a myth that turtles can't move fast. In water they are little speed boats. I was at Oakland Lake Park and came upon a big turtle, startling it. The turtle took off running for the water at a speed I did not think them capable of.

So, that has been my exciting day, so far, this Father's Day, Summer Solstice, Naked Hiking Day in Texas. It is half past 9, only 81 degrees, heading to a high near the century mark. I'm heading to Arlington's Chinatown some time this morning. I need supplies.

Below is an educational YouTube video about skinnydipping. I did not know, til today, that the proper term for skinnydipping, when the person swimming sans swimsuit is overweight, is "chunk dunk."