Video Of Elsie Hotpepper & The Fort Worth Herd In The Love Shack At The Fort Worth Stockyards

A week ago today I went to the Fort Worth Stockyards to meet up with Elsie Hotpepper, the White Knight, Robin and Fort Worth's Lone Ranger, at the Love Shack.

I shot some video that day and yesterday I finally remembered to turn it into a YouTube video.

In the video you'll get a very brief glimpse of Elsie Hotpepper and the White Knight, with the Fort Worth Stock Yards sign overhead as we leave the Love Shack.

Speaking of the Love Shack. Have I made mention of how disappointed I was in the Love Shack? I'd read all sorts of positive stuff regarding the Love Shack hamburgers, both the Dirty Love Burger and the less dirty Love Burger.

Elsie and I had the less dirty Love Burger. It came with fries and a drink. I had the lemonade option. Elsie had the bottle of Coke option. I had been previously non-plussed over a supposedly really good local hamburger, that being the burger you get at Kincaid's. I found the Kincaid's burger to be nothing special at all. The Love Burger was, maybe, marginally better than the Kincaid's burger.

Elsie was of the same opinion as me regarding the Love Burger.

I remarked that I was expecting the Love Burger to be something really good, like an In & Out Burger. The White Knight is an In & Out fan and knew what I was talking about. The White Knight said that In & Out was planning to enter the D/FW market before the economy tanked. If that happens the locals will be getting their first taste of a really good burger. But, I have been told that Fred's Cafe makes an In & Out worthy burger, which I have not tried.

In addition to the Love Burger being a disappointment, the fries arrived cold. The Love Shack fries are ultra-skinny slivers of spud, hence not a lot of mass to retain heat, I guess. And they were very greasy, as in shining with grease.

Maybe it was an off day at the Love Shack. It was being really busy, as in there was a line waiting to get in. Maybe Tim Love is out of town and his Love Shack cooks were being a bit slack. I don't think I'm willing to try it again to see if last Saturday was an off day.

Neither is Elsie Hotpepper. Yesterday she told me she was taking me out for a burger, but not to any place with "Shack" in the name.

Watch the below video to see Elsie and a lot of cows....

Snow In Texas On The Last Day Of Winter

That is the radar look at the storm that is currently hovering above me.

In the article about today's bad weather, in this Saturday morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram, it said that today was the start of Spring. I may be wrong, but I'm not wrong as often as that newspaper is wrong, but I believe today is the last day of Winter, with tomorrow, Sunday, March 21, being the first day of Spring.

Rain started hitting my bedroom window during the middle of the night. It continues. The forecast is for the temperature to drop throughout the day, getting into the freezing zone, with the wet stuff possibly turning into wet frozen stuff.

As in snow in Texas on the last day of Winter, or, according to the Star-Telegram calendar, the first day of Spring.

Below is the National Weather Service Winter Weather Advisory (please make note of the fact that the National Weather Service also believes this to be a Winter day).

Tarrant-Dallas-Including The Cities Of, Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas 4:19 AM CDT Sat Mar 20 2010

Winter Weather Advisory In Effect From 6 PM This Evening To 7 AM CDT Sunday.

The National Weather Service In Fort Worth Has Issued A Winter Weather Advisory For Snow, Which Is In Effect From 6 PM This Evening To 7 AM CDT Sunday.

A Powerful Upper Level Storm System Will Move Across The Region And Result In Widespread Precipitation Across The Area. Rain Is Expected To Become Mixed With Or Change To All Snow This Evening. Snowfall Accumulations In The Advisory Area Are Expected To Average 1/2 Inch On Elevated And Grassy Surfaces, But Northern Dallas County Could See Amounts Up To I Inch. In Addition To The Snow, Strong Winds Of 20 To 25 Mph Tonight May Result In Periods Of Blowing Snow And Reduced Visibilities.

A Winter Weather Advisory Means That Periods Of Winter Precipitation May Cause Travel Difficulties. Be Prepared For Slippery Roads And Plan On Some Travel Delays.

Elsie Hotpepper On The Hunt For Missing Steve Doeung While My Therapist Orders Me Tandy Hills Hiking Due To Incoming Possible Snow

My Physical Therapist, Dr. L.C., had gone missing, just like Carter Avenue's Lone Ranger, Steve Doeung, but Dr. L.C., unlike Steve, showed up this morning, concerned that I had been up since a bit past 4 this morning.

I chose not to go swimming this morning. I don't remember why now. Dr. L.C. told me that there is a chance we might get some snow tomorrow, with the predicted low being 31.

Snow 2/3rds through March? In Texas? Will this Winter nightmare ever end? Well, there is the official end in a couple days with the arrival, cold arrival, of Spring.

With the incoming cold with precipitation in frozen or melted form, Dr. L.C. told me I needed to overly aerobicize myself today. And so I did.

The Tandy Hills was dried out enough to be hiked without getting stuck in the mud. The Tandy River was running higher than I've previously seen it. Fording the rapids of the Tandy River, at the location you see in the picture, was slightly treacherous, but doable, thanks to strategically placed boulders.

Elsie Hotpepper is investigating the disappearance of Steve Doeung. So far, no report from Elsie. The Queen of Wink is also incommunicado, she took an entourage to San Antonio to see Orcas, aka, Killer Whales. The Queen of Wink returns from whale hunting tomorrow. Maybe she will be able to locate the missing Lone Ranger.

Kay Granger's Weather Radio Solution To Texas Flash Flood Deaths

You can become a Facebook Fan of Fort Worth's Loopy Congresswoman, Kay Granger. If you become a Fan you can read Congresswoman Granger's Loopy Notes.

Yesterday I blogged about Kay Granger and how she is very concerned with fixing a flooding problem that does not exist, while not concerning herself with a flooding problem that does exist.

Well, my #1 researcher, Elsie Hotpepper, discovered in Kay Granger's Facebook Notes a note where Ms. Granger verbalized her deep concern regarding the Haltom City flooding problem that I said she does not concern herself with. Granger even mentioned the devastating death of Alexandria Collins caused by a Haltom City Fossil Creek flash flood.

That Haltom City flash flood happened without warning. There had been little rain in Haltom City. But, north of Haltom City, in the town of Keller area, 5 inches of the wet stuff had fallen in a very short time, overwhelming the inadequate drainage system and sending a wall of water death towards Haltom City.

So, what does Fort Worth's loopy Congresswoman propose as a fix? Mandating that weather radios be installed in new trailers. I'm not making this up, you can read all about this loopy woman's loopy nonsensical nonsense, including saying, "About 100 mobile homes were impacted by the storms because there was not enough time for residents to know what was happening and to prepare for the coming disaster."

Oh, yes, of course, those weather radios would have told those people in their Haltom City trailers that it was raining hard in Keller and this is sending a disaster your way, so, get yourself to higher ground.

You can read all of Congresswoman Kay Granger's loopy Facebook Note below...

In 2007 flooding led to the deaths of 11 people in Haltom City. Yesterday, the House passed my legislation that will ensure tragedies like this will be prevented in the future. Please read my statement I submitted for the record:

Madam Speaker, as the House considers H.R. 320, “CJ’s Home Protection Act,” I encourage my colleagues to support its passage. As a cosponsor of this bill, I believe it is important to reflect back on why this legislation is crucial to saving lives in our communities.

In June 2007, devastating storms, tornadoes and flooding hit my district over a few days’ time and left large amounts of property damaged and displaced thousands of families. Tragically, the flooding also took the lives 11 individuals and injured others.

At Skyline Mobile Home Estates in Haltom City, I met with Haltom City Mayor Bill Lanford after the floods to see the damage and to also meet with local residents. About 100 mobile homes were impacted by the storms because there was not enough time for residents to know what was happening and to prepare for the coming disaster.

One of the most devastating impacts to this community was the death of 4-year-old Alexandria Collins. She was torn from her mother’s grasp by the water’s current as they fled to a neighbor’s boat.

CJ’s Home Protection bill requires that NOAA weather radios be installed in new mobile homes as they are being manufactured in order for residents to receive emergency broadcasting information and alerts. This bill will help save lives during emergency situations by providing people with the time and the information they need to take care of themselves and their families.

Thank you, and I urge the House to pass this legislation.

The Skagit Belle And The Texas And Washington Linda Borrisons

Big Ed in Texas knows a Big Girl named Linda Borrison. Linda Borrison is on Big Ed's Facebook Friend list.

Meanwhile, up in Washington, I used to know another Big Girl, also named Linda Borrison. There has been a time or two when Big Ed has mentioned something about Linda Borrison and it confusing me, due to me thinking it was the Washington Linda Borrison being referenced.

Also up in Washington is one of my all time favorite people. For anonymity's sake I will refer to her as The Skagit Belle.

Well, the Skagit Belle was at Big Ed's Facebook page, at least I am assuming this is how this happened, anyway, the Skagit Belle saw a picture of the Texas Linda Borrison, and with the Skagit Belle knowing that the Washington Linda Borrison had quadrupled in size, or more, since the last time the Skagit Belle has seen Linda Borrison in person, the Skagit Belle assumed the Texas Linda Borrison was the Washington one.

What is sort of scary is they actually do look sort of alike.

So, the Skagit Belle emailed me yesterday, saying, "Oh...my...gawd!!! I just saw Linda Borrison's profile pic..."

The Skagit Belle went on to say more, but I'll leave that to your imagination. I wonder how many others have seen the Texas Linda Borrison on Big Ed's Facebook Friend list and assumed it was the Washington one they were looking at?

Chesapeakegate Scandal: Carter Avenue's Steve Doeung Has Gone Missing

No one has heard from Steve Doeung since Wednesday.

On that day Steve asked me to go to the Belly of the Beast, with him, to file an appeal to the order of condemnation taking his property rights, signed by the dishonorable Judge Vincent G. Sprinkle on March 9.

I was unable to go to the courthouse with Steve on Wednesday.

Phone calls to Steve's number ring without answer.

With so much being so wrong in this Malice in Blunderland Eminent Domain Abuse Capital of the World, I don't think one can err when considering the most outrageous of possibilities.

In other words, did the Fort Worth Gestapo take Steve Doeung into custody? The Fort Worth Gestapo has staged 3 or 4 bogus raids on Steve's home, which were basically terrorist acts designed to intimidate Steve into kowtowing to the Chesapeake thugs and their Fort Worth lackeys.

The Gestapo Raids did not have their intended effect and instead resulted in more bad publicity for Fort Worth, in much the same manner as the Rainbow Lounge Fort Worth Gestapo Raid, which the city's Propaganda Minister initially totally mischaracterized, not realizing that journalists and responsible adults were among the victims of the Stormtroopers.

Within days of the Rainbow Lounge Gestapo Raid, after National and World-wide outrage was expressed, the City of Fort Worth's officials had to do some backpedaling and start, somewhat, speaking the truth.

So, what has happened to Steve Doeung? Why has he gone silent? Where is he?

When you live under what is basically a lawless, fascist regime, you really can not assume anything but the worst.

Finding Treasure At Arlington's Veterans Park & Food At Pantego's New ALDI

It is past 4 in the afternoon. I have been up for about 12 hours. Exhaustion continues to be my constant companion. Along with woeful sorrow and misery.

It took way too long, this morning, for the sun to show up so I could try and re-vitalize myself with ice water aversion therapy.

While I was waiting for the sun to show up I had fun complaining about Kay Granger. That's an interesting name. Sounds like she should be the head moll for a gang, The Granger Gang. I guess she sort of is, the Head Moll of the Granger Gang, I mean.

My therapist, Dr. L.C., has not been insisting I aerobicize myself lately. I don't know why. I am not good at self-direction and need to be told what to do. But, without direction I directed myself to Arlington, to Veterans Park and had myself a real good walk. Way too many rugrats are out of school on Spring Break and making way too much noise.

I understand the Fort Worth Zoo had a record breaking number of rugrats show up on Wednesday. Rugrats heading to Six Flags Over Texas, in Arlington, is also causing traffic jams.

I had a bit of extreme fortuitousness happen while walking around Veterans Park. I came upon a treasure of pennies laying on the ground. 17 of them, just laying there, ripe for the picking.
This is by far my biggest one day haul of finding loose change while out walking. That's the pennies on the ground in the picture at the top.

After I was done hunting for money I went to the Grand Opening of the ALDI Food Market in Pantego. ALDI is a German owned grocery type store that is opening 11 stores in the D/FW zone. ALDI was very busy, its parking lot full, the store packed. ALDI's store model seems to be Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market with few brand names, fewer products, good quality at a lower price. With those prices being noticeably lower from what I saw.

ALDI appeared to be being run by grownups, like being in COSTCO, or Sprouts Farmers Market or any West Coast grocery store.

And ALDI runs with German efficiency. You supply your own bags, or buy an ALDI bag for a dime. You get your first bag free. The ALDI bags are huge with handles. The checkout person sits in a swivel chair. I'd not seen that in a grocery store before. As the items are scanned they go back in your grocery cart. You then roll your grocery cart to the bagging station. It all seemed to work quite well and real fast.

It was a bit of human gridlock today at ALDI's. That's to be expected on the first day a new store is open.

It was not quite as bad as the day Central Market opened in Fort Worth. My mom and dad were here at the time, October of 2001. They saw the grand opening mentioned on the TV news and asked if we could go. My mom loves grand openings. So, we went. There was a line to get in. My mom said she didn't want to wait in a line, that we'd go in the back way. And so we did.

It is from my mom I get my scofflaw, don't follow the rules, way of being.

Kay Granger Earmarking Nepotism & Other Fort Worth Myopic Vision Problems

The area of Texas that I live in is ill-served by several politicians. Kay Granger is one of them. She is the Congresswoman representing the 12th District of Texas. The 12th District includes Fort Worth and Tarrant County.

Several years ago voters in Dallas approved a project called the Trinity River Corridor Project. This plan turns a huge flood plain into a recreational lake, among other things. Anyone who has driven into Dallas, on I-30, has driven across the huge flood plain and can readily see why this is a good idea to turn this into a lake.

A few years after Dallas voters approved the Trinity River Corridor Project, the Good Ol' Boy Network that runs Fort Worth, not to be outdone by Dallas, foisted a plan on the public that has gone by various names, I think the most recent is the Trinity River Vision. Unlike Dallas, Fort Worth did not get to vote on its vision.

And what a vision it is. A little lake where the confluence of the Clear and West forks of the Trinity River now merge into one. The vision has changed over time. At one point the vision included fancy signature bridges and canals. The bridges are no longer fancy, and I believe the canals have dried up.

Since the Trinity River Vision was not approved by Fort Worth voters, there is no normal type funding mechanism that occurs when voters approve of a bond. To get federal money an un-needed flood diversion channel was added.

To motivate Kay Granger to help get federal money, her son, J.D., who has no experience in running a construction project, was hired to run the Trinity River Vision Project. This is called nepotism. Usually nepotism is frowned upon as being symptomatic of corruption.

Due to the existing levees being altered, plus an un-needed flood diversion channel, plus wetlands abatement, the Army Corps of Engineers was brought in. Involving the Army Corps of Engineers is useful when trying to get federal money.

Now, why do I say this flood diversion channel is un-needed? Well, the last time the Trinity River flooded, in the area of concern, was around 60 years ago. After that flood, giant levees where installed to prevent such a flood from happening again. I don't know for sure, but I suspect federal money likely paid for those levees. So, you in the rest of America have already paid to protect this part of Fort Worth from dangerous floods.

Meanwhile, Kay Granger pays no attention to another part of Tarrant County that does need some flood diversion help, that being Haltom City, where flash flooding creeks have done a lot of damage and have killed people, unlike the currently safe Trinity River where the un-needed flood diversion channel may be built.

What Haltom City needs to do is come up with the Fossil Creek Vision, some grandiose plan that includes a town lake and some canals. Maybe even throw in a bridge or two. And then hire one of Kay Granger's kids to run the project.

On March 16 the Fort Worth Star-Telegram ran an editorial "Project's future is clouded" regarding the news that Kay Granger's Trinity River Vision earmarks had been halted, thus rendering the Vaunted Vision cloudy.

Kay Granger got into High Umbrage Mode over that editorial and wrote a rather incoherent response. This is not the first time I've had the pleasure of reading Ms. Granger's incoherency. I've had more than one person share with me obtuse replies they have received after asking the Congresswoman a question.

Granger says, "There is the assertion that the federal government has never adopted the project as one of its own. Trinity River Vision was authorized in 2005. If it were not, the Army Corps of Engineers would not be able to proceed. It is an authorized project."

2005? Really? Authorized by whom? In 2005? The entire project was authorized by the Army Corps of Engineers? Weren't they brought in well after the project was underway, after her son had been hired? When it was realized some bogus flood control deal had to be added to the vision in order to get federal money? Correct me if I am wrong, but hasn't this "vision" to build a little town lake been around a lot longer than 2005?

And then Granger said the following bit of maddening idiocy, "Finally, the financial structure for TRV has not been 'snapped to pieces.' This is a project that is a foundation of Fort Worth's future prosperity and continued public safety. Local funding is in place. Needed infrastructure projects will continue to be a federal priority."

Okay. The TRV is a foundation of Fort Worth's continued public safety? That must be a reference to the flood diversion channel. So, why is Kay Granger so worried about the public safety in an area where no one has drowned from a Trinity River flood, due to that area having levees, so enormous, that to do damage, it would take a Noah's Ark flood of ultra-Biblical proportions, while in Haltom City, which is in Tarrant County, creeks regularly go into deadly flash flood due to bad construction practices?

Why does Kay Granger ignore the Haltom City flood danger, which is real, while paying homage to the Trinity River flood danger, which is bogus?

Corruption is one of my favorite polysyllabic words.

I got the map of the Trinity River Vision from the TRV website. Now, there are some, I may be one of them, who refer to this project as Fort Worth's latest Boondoggle.

Ironically, this TRV map points out some Fort Worth boondoggles. We have an arrow pointing to the now defunct, due to boondogglery, Tarrant County College Downtown Campus.

Then a short distance away the map points out Radio Shack Headquarters. That headquarters ruined one of the few things that made downtown Fort Worth unique, that being huge free parking lots and a free subway to take you downtown. Radio Shack soon found it could not afford its new headquarters and is now talking about leaving Fort Worth. Meanwhile, the Tarrant County College Downtown Campus moved into Radio Shack Headquarters.

Towards the south end of the TRV map it points out the new Pier 1 Headquarters, which Pier 1 could not afford. So, that building was taken over by Chesapeake Energy and turned into their Fort Worth fortress where they operate their pseudo City Hall.

At the center of the TRV map, surrounded by what looks like canals, sits La Grave Field, now out of business and up for sale.

Quite a record. But I'm sure the Trinity River Vision will work out just fine. Fort Worth is well past due for something working out just fine.

Meanwhile, can't something be done about Haltom City. If only some responsible adults would run for the Tarrant Regional Water Board....

Wednesday In The Land Of The Chesapeakegate Scandal Congratulating Alex Lambert

That's the half past 5 in the afternoon Wednesday Blues view from my abode. It's been a long day. I was up well before 5 this morning. It takes way too long for the sun to light up the place due to that annoying Daylight Savings Time thing.

I am slowly recovering from the latest twist in the ever turning Chesapeakegate Scandal.

One of the victims of the Chesapeakegate Scandal asked me to go to court with him today, but I couldn't do that due to not being in the area of the court, but instead being about 30 miles northeast of there.

I have yet to hear how the court visit went. Well, I hope.

I'm plotting my escape from Texas. I've wondered why more people did not leave Nazi Germany when it became obvious living in a lawless, fascist state was not conducive to a well-lived life.

Recent events in Texas are instructive as to how one can manage to make a pact with the devil and keep living in a state after it turns lawless, fascist, and disrespectful of its citizens.

I have yet to be tasered by the Fort Worth Gestapo, and so I stay. I've yet to be beaten and handcuffed by Fort Worth Stormtrooper thugs, while imbibing at a local pub, and so I stay. Eminent Domain has not directly been used to abuse me, and so I stay.

But, things have changed in the past couple weeks. I have seen the effects of the lawless fascist state, up close and personal. I've listened to first hand accounts of the lawless fascist state engaging in merit-less raids, designed to frighten and intimidate.

I'm thinking if one chooses to remain in a fascist, lawless state one should do what one can to restore freedom and democracy. Or leave. It's quite a conundrum for me. It would be sort of nice to live in one of the liberated, free areas of America, again. I miss it at times.

On a totally unrelated note. Last week on the way back from Southlake, driving on Davis Boulevard I read a message on a Chicken Express sign. A week later the message is still there. A week ago congratulations made sense, because Alex Lambert was still singing his heart out on American Idol. But a week ago tomorrow he made a very tearful exit. Alex Lambert is from North Richland Hills, which is where the Chicken Express with the sign is located. Maybe Alex Lambert is a Chicken Express chicken hawker.

Another Day In The Freedom For Texas Project

This afternoon one of my sterner taskmasters assigned me the task of figuring out how to blog the scanned version of the Case Closed Court Documents that slapped Steve Doeung in the face, along with a lot of others, who felt slapped, on Monday.

I was not able to figure out how to directly insert the Court Documents into a blog. I was able to make a picture of the start of the Case Closed Document.

And if you go here, you can read the entire Closed Case.

I was Googling for information about the dishonorable Judge Sprinkle this morning and came upon a little blurb in a subterranean part of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram...

"Lawyers in the case said it was only a matter of time before Chesapeake Energy’s pipeline division acquired the right of way for the pipeline, which will run beneath the front yards of more than 30 homes. State law gives energy companies that same right to condemn land through eminent domain as cities or more traditional utility companies.

Chesapeake has been working with local politicians to find an alternate route that won’t affect as many homes.

The Texas Department of Transportation announced last week that it had given preliminary approval to a new route that would run parallel to Interstate 30."

Now, this was in a short article about Judge Sprinkle signing the condemnation order that allows Chesapeake Energy to shove a non-odorized natural pipeline under Steve Doeung's property. With once again, that corrupt newspaper acting like a shill for the Barnett Shale gas drilling industry.

As in the arrogance of the Chesapeake lawyers saying it was only a matter of time before they acquired the right of way.

In other words, there is no recourse in court. It's all pointless. Everything is stacked so heavily in the favor of entities like Chesapeake Energy that no matter how outrageous a plan is, they are totally confident that there is no governing body in Texas that will come to the defense of hapless homeowners.

"State law gives energy companies the same right to condemn land through eminent domain as cities or more traditional utility companies."

Well, that is all well and good. Texas has a law. Here is where that law goes berserko. Maybe moving natural gas is in the public interest. Maybe it's for the greater public good. But the way eminent domain is used in Texas is not the way eminent domain is supposed to be used.

Common sense sort of dictates that you do not run a non-odorized natural gas pipeline under homes. Common sense dictates such a pipeline should not even be considered. No citizen, not even a Texan with fewer rights than other Americans, should have to defend his peace and security against such a threat.

A massive natural gas explosion in Texas, killing 100s of children, is why natural gas had an odor added to it.

The small pittance Chesapeake Energy paid the people of Carter Avenue does not make them whole, as in the same financial state as before Chesapeake legally assaulted them. If that pipeline goes in, the value of their homes go down.

In my opinion, any time eminent domain is used, the victim should be made whole, as in suffer no damage. In DISH, eminent domain was used to cut big swatches from citizen's property, rendering the property unable to be used for its original use.

If Steve Doeung does not feel comfortable with the idea of having a big natural gas pipeline run under his house, that is his right. If Chesapeake Energy needs to use someone's property they should be made to acquire that right only after making the injured party whole.

To do otherwise is nothing but legalized thievery, with the corrupted, co-opted various Texas oversight commissions, like the Railroad Commission and the Texas Environmental Quality Commission, where the foxes have taken over the henhouses, along with the corrupted, co-opted Texas judicial system, which does the bidding, with no application of common sense, of the gas drilling companies.

And back to Steve Doeung and the dirty dealings done to him, how is it that Chesapeake Energy's eminent domain case was not instantly dismissed as soon as it became widely known that TxDOT had agreed to an alternative pipeline route? How could this case of eminent domain abuse be allowed to continue?

There is only one reason this has been allowed to happen, and that reason is the fact that this is taking place in a part of America where the laws have been corrupted, as in "Texas State Law gives energy companies the right...." to run roughshod over Texans, with the state acting as the agents of the energy companies, and not as stewards of the public welfare.

Am I communicating how disgusted I am?