A Tale Of Two Town's Vision For The Trinity River

Margaret Hill Bridge in Dallas

Both Dallas and Fort Worth have big projects underway focused on the Trinity River.

The Dallas project is called the Trinity River Corridor Project. The Fort Worth project is called the Trinity River Vision. Often referred to as the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

The Dallas project began before the Fort Worth project. The Dallas project has been voted on by the Dallas voters. The Fort Worth project has not been voted on by the Fort Worth voters.

The Dallas project has 3 "signature" bridges, including the Margaret Hill Bridge you see under construction in the picture. The Fort Worth project originally also had 3 "signature" bridges. But those "signature" bridges were deemed too expensive and so were cut from the Fort Worth project as its projected cost swelled to nearly a billion dollars.

Dallas is also having some funding problems with its "signature" bridges.

Whilst looking for info about the Trinity River I came upon Wikipedia's description of the two town's projects.

I somehow found the Wikipedia description of the two town's river projects amusing.....

The Trinity River Corridor Project is intended to transform the Trinity River flood zone in downtown Dallas into the nation's largest urban park, featuring three signature bridges designed by acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava. This project is on hold with the promised funds never showing up. There has also been repeated engineering rejection of the location of the included toll road in the flood plain that would cut off the park from downtown, combined with the realization that the levees are in poor condition and need major work. The first bridge is still being built.

A similar project is planned by the Tarrant Regional Water District, City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Streams & Valleys Inc., and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop an area north of "downtown" as "uptown" along the Trinity River. This plan promotes a large mixed use development adjacent to the central city area of Fort Worth, with a goal to prevent urban sprawl by promoting the growth of a healthy, vibrant urban core. The Trinity River Vision lays the groundwork to enable Fort Worth's central business district to double in size over the next forty years.

Looking Through A Frosty Window On The 3rd Day Of November Thinking About Rick Perry, Top Chef Texas, Rocknrolla Oklahoma & Rheumatism

Looking through my primary viewing portal on the outer world on the 3rd morning of November, you see a bit of frosty looking material on the window. But it is not frost because, despite at least one prediction that it would do so, it did not freeze overnight at my location in this parched part of the planet.

I believe the low in my zone was closer to 39 than 32.

This morning I saw I have yet one more follower on Twitter. I mention it because I liked the name. Rocknrolla Oklahoma.

It has been a couple years now and I still really don't get the point of Twitter.

Top Chef Texas started up last night on Bravo. I DVRed it, but have yet to watch. I'm guessing there will be a lot of Texas hilarity. The tagline for this season of Top Chef is "For the Good, the Bad & the Hungry."

Rick Perry was out in California yesterday where he was asked if he was drunk or on medication whilst giving a speech in New Hampshire which ended up on YouTube and has gone viral. Rick Perry denied being drunk, saying "No. I was just giving a speech."

I am not going swimming this morning. I had a hellacious night of hellacious nightmares and woke up with my joints aching. I've become Granny Clampett with the cold weather activating my rheumatism. Becoming elderly is not for the faint of heart is my mom's new favorite saying. Although she expresses this more succinctly, simply saying "Getting old is not easy."

Coming Home To A Stormy Sky After Hiking The Tandy Hills With My Sister

I went hiking on the Tandy Hills today in my regular noon time frame. But I took no pictures because my hands were full, well, more precisely, I did not have a hand free to take a picture.

So, I took a picture of the late afternoon view through  the bars of my patio prison cell at what looks like a stormy sky.

My weather predictors are not being in sync. One has the low tonight being 35. Another has the low being one degree below freezing.

The reason I did not take a picture of the Tandy Hills today was because my Arizona-based sister rode with me from my abode to the top of Mount Tandy and then hiked the hills with me and finally quit visiting with me when I got to Town Talk.

Holding a phone to ones ear does not leave one with enough hands to take pictures.

Below you can see our current dire forecast for this part of the planet. I'm guessing I"m not going to feel like going swimming in the morning. This morning's swim, however, was quite pleasant.

Texas Judge William Adams Caught On Tape Beating 16 Year Old Daughter Hillary

Judge William Adams Beating His Daughter Hillary

I was peacefully minding my peaceful business, scrolling down through the slough of pithy sayings that seems to have contaminated Facebook like an Epidemic of Banal, when I came to a YouTube video Facebooked by Alma, the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Alma wrote, "Wow...cannot believe what I'm seeing. You may want to see it before it gets taken down."

Alma's taste in what is interesting has few equals. And so I clicked to view the video.

I have seldom watched something so sickening. As I was watching I did not know that this particular horror took place in Texas.

7 years ago.

The victim, the 16 year old daughter, Hillary, of an Aransas County Court judge named William Adams, had a camera in position to record the crimes against her.

The beatings of the disabled girl, I forgot to mention she has ataxic cerebral palsy, continued. Finally Hillary had enough and put the video, you can watch below, on YouTube, where it has gone viral, with people all over the world now commenting, once more, about a bad thing that has happened in Texas.

Hillary told reporters that, "It had been happening before and had been escalating. I set up a camera, and I caught it. My father's harassment was getting really bad, so I decided to finally publish the video that I had been sitting for 7 years."

The beating Judge spoke to reporters and claimed the beating was "not as bad as it looks on tape."

Police in Rockport, Texas have begun an investigation after viewing the video that has caused them to be flooded with complaints.

I forgot to mention what prompted the beating of.16 year old disabled Hillary. She was caught downloading games from the Internet. If that gets a little girl a whipping from hell, what does the demented idiot who did the whipping deserve? Methinks the electric chair would be too lenient.

Below are some comments and then the video. WARNING: The video is very disturbing.

"We were made aware of the video last night and it has been assigned to our criminal investigation division. An investigation is ongoing at this time," Rockport Police Chief Tim Jayroe told The Huffington Post.

The beating judge's wife, who also takes part in the beating in the video, has separated from the judge, claiming she was also abused.

Let me guess, he's a "good christian" too?? Why is this monster still on the bench? I hope he rots in jail and then rots in Hell.

Man, I hope they put this creep in prison.

Just to be clear to all the idiots here who think this is okay: Just because you had  hillbilly backwards parents who also beat you and you "turned out okay" doesn't make it okay. I get that the abused tend to think there is nothing wrong with the people who abused them, but don't trash this brave girl for doing what she did. This man is in no position to raise children or administer justice.

These discipline tools created by wonderful psychologist, psychotherapist, behaviorist, the rapist you know, "The Experts" then enforced by law enforcement using the same behavioral methods on parents, simply to keep order and to make sure everyone follows behaviorist psychologist strict guidelines. This method will stand the test of time. Yes it does mirror our adult judicial system but it is simply a new cultural code preparing children for a brave new world beyond freedom & dignity.

Dear Hillary, I am so sorry this happened to you. You are certainly correct.. this so called man is not fit to be on the bench and should never hold public office again. God bless you and I hope you are doing ok now.

How many belt whips does it take to satisfy a person she's been punished? Holy cat. I think this punishment was far too harsh for the crime, and the words he used were even more hurtful. He seemed to enjoy causing her pain. He doesn't seem to have any inkling about how to solve problems, and obviously is ignorant about what's causing them. Computers don't cause problems. People do.

The Morning Of The 2nd Day Of November Is Heated To 28 Degrees Above Freezing In My Zone Of Texas

I am up well before the scheduled arrival of the sun, again, on this 2nd day of November. Even though the sun has not arrived to do its daily heating duties the outer world in my location is already a relatively balmy 60 degrees.

As you can see, in the picture, the pool appears to be particularly inviting this morning. No wind is blowing, No ripples on the water. I don't like my water rippling.

I heard from Elsie Hotpepper this morning. She had sort of gone missing again. This morning Ms. Hotpepper told me "You are always helpful."

Well, that is true. I am always helpful. Except when I'm not.

I don't know if I was being helpful when I called my mom yesterday to tell her I got gas on Sunday when mom and dad were at church. Did my mom really need to know how much the gas cost that I got on Sunday? I really don't see how that information was helpful.

I think I'll go swimming now and hope it helps my aching arm.

Walking The Tandy Hills Where I Learned Spencer Jack Was a Railroad Crossing For Halloween

Spencer Jack, 4, showed his love of all things trains Monday
dressing up as a railroad crossing sign, complete with red
lights and the words "stop on red signal" on his shirt.

Whilst walking in a serene section of the Tandy Hills Natural Sanatorium Area today I got a text message from my Nephew Joey, from up in Washington, telling me that there was a cute picture of Joey's Nephew, my Grand Nephew, Spencer Jack, in yesterday's Halloween edition of the Skagit Valley Herald.

I found the picture of Spencer Jack fairly easy. Years ago Spencer Jack's Grandma, my favorite ex-sister-in-law, sent me the login info needed so that I could view the e-edition of the Skagit Valley Herald, which is an exact replica of the print version.

But I long ago lost that login info.

The Skagit Valley Herald started something called goskagit.com which sort of collects all the various Skagit Valley Herald Publishing's publications under one virtual roof. It was via goskagit.com I found Spencer Jack.

Spencer Jack is now 4. When he was younger his hobby was to collect vacuum cleaners. I don't know if Spencer Jack got totally over his vacuum cleaner fixation, but I do know he has added trains to what he likes.

So, for Halloween, Spencer Jack went costumed as a Railroad Crossing.

From His Blog Spencer Jack's
Latest School Picture

I am almost 100% certain the town Spencer Jack is in in the picture is downtown Mount Vernon.

When Spencer Jack's dad, my Nephew Jason, was a kid, his transportation fixations of choice were two things.

The Seattle Monorail and the Washington State Ferries.

By the time Jason was a teenager he'd built a scale model version of the entire Washington ferry fleet. That's a lot of boats. I believe the Washington State Ferry System is the 3rd biggest in the world.

I have seen other train related pictures of Spencer Jack on his blog. I'd give you the link to Spencer Jack's blog, but he only lets you go there by invitation only.

Is Rick Perry Toast After Giving A Speech In New Hampshire While Appearing To Be Toasted?

That is the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, giving a speech on Friday, October 28, 2011, somewhere in New Hampshire.

I do not recollect ever witnessing such a bizarre meltdown by a politician before. A lot of people viewing the video believe that Rick Perry is drunk whilst giving the speech. Methinks that is just going for an easy explanation, when it is more likely that this speech just shows how deeply in over his head this guy is.

You can watch the YouTube video of Perry's allegedly drunken speech below. As you scroll down to the video you'll pass some comments people have been making after watching the video....

Rick Perry counters Herman Cains smoking ad by saying "Oh yea you smoke on camera, well I'm drunk on camera! beat that!"

What a two-faced message. He's all weepy about "jobs" but only after first saying (in code) no unions, low wages, lower taxes for the rich, reduced social services. This drunk wants a MadMax society, then gets teary over the dog-eat-dog competition for the crumbs. He speaks of "small business" as a promise, but his policies ACTUALLY describe a regime where Big Bidness will roll right over the small guys like armadillos stuck in hot Texas road tar. I'd drink too, if I I had to spout his BS.

Rick Perry, what an unelectable kook!

Well I was going to say Rick Perry only has one problem, opening his mouth. Looking at this video it is plan to see he also has a problem standing while drunk! Rick Perry got toasted now he is toast!

See what happens when you allow Fracking, you get Rick Perry, and this idoit wants to remove the regulations that the EPA has on corporations like Chevron and Enron. I swear he's related to Sarah Palin.

Rick Perry needs to quit the race, right now.

If this man isn't drunk then he must have a medical condition that we need to know about. What an idiot. I feel bad for the people of Texas. How embarrasing. How pathetic. What is he thinking, Where is Mrs. Perry . . . passed out in the limo. Oh well, I guess Saturday Night Live is going to eat his lunch this next week.

Come on, wake up. He's been drinking. Why is that so unbearable to believe? "Oh, no, this is just the way we talk in Texas." With your arms swinging everywhere and slurring your words and making one-syllable exclamations into two syllables? No, he's been drinking. So what. He shouldn't be President for a few reasons besides that. And probably not Governor either.

He said it all right in the beginning "brother in Christ". That type of "Christian" doesn't allow for any other type of religion or belief. He's already got some preacher endorsing him which is against the rules. Wait until a bit later in the video...Is he passing out or just looking like one of those TV preachers that have to close their eyes when they're preaching. Keep these religious nuts out of politics.

November Prairie Notes #59: Metamorphosis

Since today is the first day of a new month as regular as clockwork a new Prairie Notes showed up in my emailbox this morning.

To the left is one of the many beautiful photos of the Tandy Hills that you will find in Prairie Notes #59: Metamorphosis on the Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area website.

On the FOTHNA website you will learn that "Prairie Notes are monthly photo/journal observations from Tandy Hills Natural Area by Founder/Director, Don Young. They include field reports, flora and fauna sightings, and more, mixed with a scoop of dry humor and a bit of philosophy."

Below is a sample of this month's photo/journal observations....

October brought a welcome change to Tandy Hills Natural Area. It seems like Mother Nature's odometer passed a milestone. Day after day of Indian Summer weather provided perfect temps for hiking and discovering hidden treasures. Add a couple of nicely spaced rain showers and prairie metamorphosis is under way.

There are signs of life where none were present just a few weeks ago. Flying insects have reappeared in swarms, perennial wildflowers have new growth, even the grasses have produced a touch of green. Overall, there's a very limited palette of color to be found after the blistering drought but, there are notable exceptions. 

The day after an October 'norther blew in, a steady succession of Monarch butterflies fluttered unwaveringly over the Autumn hills and a date with metamorphic destiny. Their orange-black wings contrasted sharply against the jet-blue prairie sky.  Days later, crusty pods of Milkweed, their larval host plant, began spewing ballerina-like seeds skyward, as if welcoming the Monarch's return. 

All of nature is submitting to transformation of one kind or another. Even us bipeds, far removed from the natural world, feel the tug of change coming on as Summer inevitably fades and we look ahead to Winter. Some of us grow more hairy or fat while some prepare for hibernation. According to doctors, the very composition of our blood changes in Fall and Spring, whether we know it or not.

After the Great Drought of '11, a metamorphosis is just the ticket. Shed your chrysalis and migrate over to Tandy Hills. Your host plants are waiting.

DY
Prairie Notes #59: Metamorphosis

The Shadow Of The Skinny Dipping Thin Man Up Way Too Early On The First Day Of November

You can sort of tell by looking at the picture of the Shadow of the Skinny Dipping Thin Man that I am up well before the sun on this 1st day of the next to last month of 2011.

What you can not tell from the picture is that a bout of insomnia is what has me up way too early.

You can also not tell from the picture that it is currently heated to 59 degrees in the outer world in my location.

My aching right arm pain came back with a vengeance last night.

While I lay awake lamenting my pain I pondered how odd it is that the right arm that aches is attached to my right hand. And that I use my right hand to do my computer mousing.

But.

I am left handed. Using my left hand to do my computer mousing would seem very awkward.

If the sun ever rises and lights up the outer world I'm going swimming. The average temperature the past 24 hours has been well over 50, which means the pool water should be warmer than the last time I went swimming.

The Long Halloween Shadow Of The Tandy Hills Thin Man On The Last Monday Of October

You wouldn't think the overhead noonday sun would cast as long a Shadow of the Tandy Hills Thin Man as it does, as evidenced by today's picture of the Shadow of the Tandy Hills Thin Man.

It is currently 72 degrees at 2 in the afternoon. This hills were heated to the high 60s when I hiked them today. Very pleasant.

I found no new tires on the Tandy Hills today. I did encounter one other human, but no other wildlife.

And no human caused flash floods blocking my way.

Changing the subject from the Shadow of the Tandy Hills Thin man  to the Shadow of the Thin Lady known as Elsie Hotpepper.

Last night Elsie Hotpepper asked me for help with some of her new attachments. Helping people with their attachments is really not a forte of mine. I did not feel like there was anything I could do to help. I like being helpful and don't like it when I am not helpful.

Tonight I will likely be suffering an ordeal due to being helpful. I'm going over to Miss Puerto Rico's to help her book a flight to her home island. This never goes well.