Hiking The Cloudy Tandy Hills With Fort Worth's Lone Ranger

As you can see we are a bit cloudy this Friday in my location in Texas. In the picture you are looking west from deep inside the Tandy Hills Natural Area, sometime around noon.

My favorite Cambodian-American, Fort Worth's Lone Ranger, also known as Steve, the Savior of Carter Avenue, did the Tandy Hills hiking with me today.

If you did not know Steve was not a native born Texan you'd never guess it by talking with him. He has a more refined Texas accent than native born Gar the Texan, with none of that nasal twang that Gar the Texan starts drawling when a case of the vapors is fast approaching.

The City of Fort Worth Water Boys were back on the Tandy Hills again today. This time with several trucks and a bulldozer.

Yesterday I saw that the Water Boys had entered the park via the east entry by Tandy Tower, going north at the first intersection. Today I could see they'd gone down the south option.

The access "trail" road that the Water Boys are using to work on fixing the storm drains is now a muddy mess, with a huge pile of crushed rock blocking the way.

We backtracked from the roadblock and went over a hill to get to the other side of the crushed rock block. I was surprised to see that some sort of vehicle had crossed Tandy Falls. I can only shudder to wonder what is in store for Tandy Falls.

Usually Tandy Falls and the pools of water on either side of the falls are very clear. Today the pools of water were very murky.

Murky water. That is sort of a metaphor for Fort Worth.

March In May To Liberate Marijuana In Texas

There are way too many Americans in jail due to various violations of the various laws that prohibit Marijuana. Criminalizing Marijuana, in my opinion, may be the stupidest thing the American Government does.

Producing and selling alcoholic beverages, that the government sanctions.

I live on the border between a wet and a dry zone. For you non-Texans, here in Texas the Prohibition period never totally went away. So, you have some areas where alcohol is totally banned, as in dry, others where it is totally allowed, as in wet, others where alcohol is partially allowed, as in damp. Within those parameters there are variations, like areas where a thing called a Unicard is required to get an alcoholic beverage in a restaurant.

I have no idea how much of the Mexican Drug Cartel's, currently waging war with each other, business is trafficking in Marijuana. I suspect Marijuana is a large part of the Mexican Drug Cartel's cash flow.

In my opinion Marijuana is far less dangerous then alcohol. If it were legalized, with the quality controlled to make a less powerful cannabis, it would seem like selling the stuff in liquor stores would be a good thing. All that money that now goes to Mexican Drug Cartels would stay in America. All those people in jail, taking up space and costing money, could be released and made whole again.

Farmers could openly grow the stuff, like in the days of yore, or currently in the backwoods of Northern California. Marijuana grows like a weed, hence one of its nicknames. Maybe part of the plant, since it is hemp, could be used as a bio-fuel.

We have had many of our national leaders, including presidents, admit to having experimented with Marijuana, though one claims to have experimented without inhaling. How can a president or other elected official at the federal level admit to the crime of being a Marijuana user and not be an ardent advocate of repealing the Marijuana Prohibition?

Several of the states and cities within states have greatly liberalized their Marijuana laws, to no great harm that I've heard about.

It's all very perplexing to me.

With Texas being the most progressive, liberal, forward thinking state in the American union, I really think Texas should lead the way and end the Texas Pot Prohibition and empty Texas jails of those incarcerated for Marijuana related offenses.

Texas needs to do a better job of putting real criminals, like Fort Worth's corrupt conflicts of interest-laden Mayor Mike Moncrief, behind bars, and free those who really have done nothing seriously wrong.

Good News On The Tandy Hills Today

On Monday I blogged about being appalled about the damage I'd found on the Tandy Hills, with the worst being a creek bed filled in to create a culvert-less bridge, that acted as a dam.

To build the "bridges" dirt had been gouged from the hills. It was not a pleasant thing to see.

But.

Today I was happy to see that the creek bed, that was running water and had been dammed, had been re-done, with a culvert now allowing the water to pass through.

The other creek bed, which is running no water, was also re-done, but no culvert was added.

The damaged areas, like the connection to a Tandy Hills Trail, had been smoothed over.

All in all, I was real pleased to see the fixes.

A City of Fort Worth crew was back working in the same spot I've seen them on 3 days previous. But near as I could tell, today, they had entered the work area via the entry to the park next to the Tandy Tower. I could see truck tracks going down the very steep, very bumpy trail that heads down Mount Tandy to the north.

I would not want to drive down or up that "trail".

Some Tarrant Regional Water Board Letters Make Sense Others Are Nonsense

I confess to being very socially irresponsible. Because I forgot to go Early Vote yesterday for Adrian Murray and John Basham to be members of the Tarrant Regional Water Board.

I will try to remember to vote today.

I am finding the Letters to the Editor, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, regarding the Tarrant Water Board election, to be interesting.

Interesting in a way I don't think some of the letter writers intend. On the one hand there are very real, very honest, very, I don't know, factual, maybe, type letters. Those would be the ones in support of Adrian Murray and John Basham.

And then you have the Letters to the Editor in support of the current Tarrant Water Board Regime. They all sound phony, contrived, cliche-ridden, like this line about Jim Lane..."he has worked to protect our environment, including the water that nourishes and cleans our families."

Or this line about Marty Leonard..."Her dedication to our well-being is far-ranging and monumental, but in no case more so than that of water: clean and sustainable water..."

And then you have the Letter to the Editor from Louis McBee, in support of Adrian Murray and John Basham. Mr. McBee's letter raises a real issue, unlike the other two letters, which to me, come across as the work of propaganda shills.

Three letters, first the "real" one from Louis McBee and then the 2 cliche-ridden, basically pointless, point-free letters from supposed supporters of Leonard and Lane....

Tarrant water board

I am not at all surprised to see the endorsement of the incumbents for the Tarrant Regional Water District in last Thursday's editorial. What is bewildering is that after all the pontificating about "open and responsible government" over the past few months in the Star-Telegram, you would now suggest that it is "acceptable" business as usual for Jim Lane and Marty Leonard to rubber-stamp staff recommendations with their constant "aye" votes because "the real work" is done in meetings outside of public view -- in committee discussions and (one could assume) at the golf course and over cocktails.

I endorse John Basham and Adrian Murray, citizens who care.

-- Louis McBee, Fort Worth

As a community, we have much to be thankful for: educational institutions, museums, stable business climate, parks and a river that runs through them. We also have individuals who have lived here all their lives and deeply care about our future.

Marty Leonard is the epitome of those who never lost their love of Fort Worth and its people. Her dedication to our well-being is far-ranging and monumental, but in no case more so than that of water: clean and sustainable water, coupled with a determination to ensure that we have sound conservation measures to better use what we have.

Re-elect Marty Leonard to the Tarrant Regional Water District board. Water is essential to our quality of life. Marty understands that. She will strive to make sure we don't take it for granted, abuse it or lose it.

-- Gretchen Denny and George Bristol, Fort Worth

On the Tarrant Regional Water District board, Jim Lane has worked to keep our water clean and plentiful. He has earned our vote. Lane is hard-working, practical, helpful to others and smart but not in a pointy headed way. Lane's record of public service, including service in our military and on the Fort Worth City Council, has been committed to protecting our way of life. And in public office, Jim has not been afraid to ask hard questions and change the way things are done when needed. Moreover, in public office, he has worked to protect our environment, including the water that nourishes and cleans our families.

Vote to keep our water clean and plentiful. Vote for a dedicated public servant: Jim Lane for Tarrant Water District Board.

-- Jason C.N. Smith, Fort Worth

Betty Jo Bouvier's 80th Birthday Party Will Likely Not Be In Texas

Yesterday I called my mom after Fort Worth's Lone Ranger was not available. This was a rare call to my mom, because I had not gotten gas and was not calling my mom to tell her I got gas and how much it cost.

I don't even think mom asked me about gas yesterday. She did inquire about the current Texas temperature. And if I'd been in any tornadoes lately.

I told mom that Betty Jo Bouvier had gone to the 80th birthday party for the mom of one of my friends going way back to 1st grade, Linda R.

Mom inquired about Linda R., and so I reported that I'd been told that she is doing well, looking fine and healthy.

Mom then mentioned that this coming December will be my dad's 80th birthday. Yikes. I can remember, like it was yesterday, my Grandma Vera's 80th Surprise Birthday Party. That occurred sometime in the early 1990s.

Is there going to be a surprise birthday party, in the Phoenix zone, for my dad, later this year? I have no idea. What if Mega Nag and Mister Sister were there? I would not find this a pleasant experience, most likely. Particularly Mega Nag, since I've vowed to avoid that unpleasantness, as best I can, for as long as I can. Which could easily be forever.

In case you're wondering, that is not my mom in the picture, that is an artist's rendering of Betty Jo Bouvier, speculating as to what Betty Jo may look like at her 80th Birthday Party.

Betty Jo regularly reminds me that I need to go visit my parental units. I've mentioned to my mom that Betty Jo regularly reminds that I should go visit them. My mom told me I should listen to Betty Jo.

I suppose I should.

A Beautiful Wild Purple Lady Coloring Up The Tandy Hills

Is that not a cool looking Wildflower? It looks like a white haired, purple-faced lady in a dress that matches her face color.

I think she is a Foxglove. A very foxy Foxglove. I saw her sometime after 5 this afternoon, standing on the Tandy Hills.

I was a blogging maniac this morning, blogging on all 5. Or is it 6? Of my blogs.

In the middle of all that blogging, around noon, I went up to Hurst. I called Fort Worth's Lone Ranger while I was in Hurst, with no answer. Then I called my mom and while I was talking to mom, the Lone Ranger called back. We've been phone tagging ever since.

This afternoon I was being a blogging maniac again, some of it prompted by one of my operatives, who is currently undercover on the Gulf Coast. By 4 a headache seemed to be visiting me. I'm thinking I've gotten myself addicted to endorphins again. And if I don't get my fix I get a headache.

Hence the trek to the Tandy Hills on a day I'd decided would be hike-free. Well, it may have ended up not being a hike-free day, but I am now headache-free.

Prior to leaving for some medicinal hiking I heard from Fort Worth's #1 Watchdog with some answers regarding the City of Fort Worth's Tandy Hills creek vandalism, where heavy equipment was used to gouge the hills, in order to get fill, to dam a couple creeks so trucks could cross.

Well, apparently the city water crews are clearing out some trees roots that are causing a blockage. The Water Department has not felt compelled to let the Parks Department know that they'll be plugging up some park creeks, til now.

Sewer drainage lines and a water line were run under the Tandy Hills before they became the Tandy Hills Natural Area.

I guess I feel a little better about all the dam damage done. I hope when the Water Department finishes with their unclogging that some effort is made to undo some of the damage.

Tarrant Regional Water Board Clown Comments

It is time to do some Early Voting. I must remember to do that today.

I live in the limited area that is allowed to vote for members of the Tarrant Regional Water Board.

Near as I can tell, most of the people, who's water is the responsibility of the Tarrant Regional Water Board, do not get to vote on its members.

Apparently the water district was formed decades ago, well before this area morphed into one humongous Metroplex.

It's as clear as clean water that I'll be voting for Adrian Murray and John Basham. I think the Tarrant Regional Water Board and the citizens it serves would be well served by having a couple of tough question asking adults on board on the Water Board.

And, on a related, yet totally different subject, I got the oddest comment this morning to a previous blogging about the current election.

In this comment a single mom verbalized a very dumb reason not to vote for "these clowns." When I read this comment it seemed hinky to me. As in, why would someone go to the bother to hunt down a blog posting about "these clowns," detailing what seems to be a very minor, supposed incident that supposedly left the single mom shaking?

When I read the comment what first crossed my mind was that the opposition, as in the current Water Board, has a Dirty Tricks Operation.

Or maybe there really is a single mom out there who is very easily overwrought over very little. I think what I found most disturbing was this single mom saying she has her doorknob in her nightgown. And it was shaking.

Anyway, below is the comment...

"I am a single mom, my son left for school today without locking the door. I was awakened with a shaking of my doorknob in my nightgown, the shaking was very loud. I was scared, but after a moment went to the door and opened it very fast to see a black man getting in a gold SUV, then I saw the rather large door advertisement for Adrian Murray and John Basham on my door knob. First of all I have a NO SOLICITATION sign on my glass door before my solid house door, however there is a handle on that door that could have been used to put the unwanted solicitation on. I am upset and angry that politicians feel they don't have to accept the no solicitation sign and can intrude and scare the crap out of people that live in their homes without care. I will not vote for these clowns period!!!"

Fort Worth's Trinity River Vision's Incredibly Iconic New Bridges

You are looking at an artist's rendering of one of the proposed new bridges that will cross the unneeded flood diversion channel that is part of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

The original plan was to have unique signature bridges that had been designed by someone or thing called Bing Thom.

The Bing Thom design was deemed too expensive, so to save $45 million, the Trinity River Vision signed off on the signature bridges. I don't know how much Boondoggle money was paid to the Bing Thom people.

The guy who designed the new version of the bridges, Miguel Rosales, says his bridge designs mimic the Modern Art Museum and other structures, like the Omni Hotel.

Huh?

Another TRV Boondoggle member said the bridges V-pier designs have found the right balance between iconic look and cost-effectiveness.

Iconic look? The Golden Gate Bridge, that's an iconic look. The Brooklyn Bridge, iconic look.

In the 2nd artist's rendering of a bridge you are looking at one of the rejected Bing Thom bridges.

When I first saw the 3 Bing Thom bridge designs I thought they looked very interesting. With maybe a chance of finally giving Fort Worth an iconic structure, besides the Fort Worth Stockyards sign, that people in other parts of the world might recognize as being a Fort Worth thing.

The first of the "iconic" new Fort Worth bridges won't start being built until the end of 2011. This Trinity River Vision Project is one real slow motion Boondoggle.

If there was a place taking bets I'd put my money on the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle having its plug pulled before the end of 2011.

A Horizontal Tree & City Of Fort Worth TCEQ Tandy Hills Violators

For reasons purely accidental, I found myself spending a record breaking amount of time hiking around the Tandy Hills this morning. I think about 10 pounds melted away during the ordeal.

My one longtime reader may remember me mentioning, yesterday, that I came upon some eco-vandalism being done to the Tandy Hills, courtesy of the City of Fort Worth.

Today, as I neared the eco-vandal zone, the noise of diesel engines was way louder than the day previous, which seemed to indicate more than one diesel engine was running. That turned out to be a correct assessment.

Yesterday I was appalled that the city had gouged out dirt from the hills and used it to make 2 dam/bridges across creeks. Only one of the creeks is currently running water. I assumed that the creek running water would quickly be running over, and eroding, the new dam.

I was wrong. If I had consulted my hydraulic engineering manual I might have realized that when the water level reached the layer of crushed rock that it would permeate through the rocks. For the most part, that is what is happening, though, there are now puddles on top of the dam/bridge, creek water is running out the other side, stained gray, like glacial melt.

When I got past the leaking "dam" I came upon one of the noisemakers. It was very large, as in a fire engine size of large truck. On the side of the truck's driver's door it said FORT WORTH WATER TCEQ22015.

TCEQ is a Texas state agency, as in, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

This particular Texas Commission is believed, by many, to be severely co-opted and corrupted.

I assume those little creeks running through the Tandy Hills eventually empty into the Trinity River. I also assume that in most states a state agency that is responsible for protecting water quality would frown upon a city damming up creeks to make makeshift bridges. And killing trees and gouging the land in the process.

I hiked past the Big Water Truck and continued up to the top of Mount Tandy to come at the other City of Fort Worth truck from another direction. By the time I made it up and over and around Mount Tandy and came at the location of the second truck, from the north, it was gone.

But I could see that the focus of their attention had been on one of the Sanitary Sewer Manholes. Because the manhole cover was all wet. The wet manhole cover was just south of the highly unusual horizontal tree you see in the picture at the top.

That horizontal tree blocks the City of Fort Worth Water Trucks from getting to the next Sanitary Sewer Manhole, further north, by Tandy Falls. I wonder if the next thing that appalls me is going to be finding Tandy Falls filled in and dammed. That would make me damn mad. That might be the tipping point that turns me into an Eco-Terrorist.

Warm Weather & Deadly Neighbors In Fort Worth Texas

I would appear it is about to get semi-warm in these parts. And maybe a little wet. I see no lightning bolts in the forecast. Which would seem to indicate no likely tornadoes twisting.

Cautionary tale this morning, here in Fort Worth. As in if you see a new neighbor moving in, don't be too eager to help. Until a new neighbor is in the neighborhood for awhile, it is likely best to err on the side of caution and be wary.

Saturday night, Isabel Diaz's finance, Alfonso Beza and her brother, Pedro Diaz, went to help a new neighbor move in to a rental house in West Fort Worth.

The next morning Isabel could not find her boy friend or brother, so she went over to the new neighbor's, Douglas L. Kirk, to ask about the missing guys. Kirk acted like he had no clue what she was talking about.

Isabel went home, called 911 and waited for the police, who when they arrived found the bodies of Alfonso and Pedro, killed with multiple gunshots.

How does no one in the neighborhood not hear guns blazing, I wondered?

I helped a new neighbor move in near me, here in Fort Worth, one time. I felt no danger. She was a really big lady. She needed help.

The Murdering Neighbor was captured Sunday night at a 6 Motel in my neighborhood. He told a friend that "demons" made him do it.