Friday, June 1, 2012

Walking With The Village Creek Indian Ghosts To The Blue Bayou Worrying About The Milky Way Andromeda Galaxy Crash

I am almost 100% certain my location on the planet was rain-free, last night, for the first in three nights.

I know with 100% certainty that this morning my swimming was totally free of a downpour, unlike the previous morning.

I am also almost 100% certain that my favorite hill hiking zone is likely still in dry out mode from our recent deluges.

So, today I got my mid-day salubrious endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation by chasing the Native American ghosts who haunt Arlington's Village Creek Natural Historical Area.

As you can see, via the above picture, the Village Creek Blue Bayou has been re-charged by the recent deluges and was glowing, today, with a very appealing shade of reflective blue.

Changing the subject from Village Creek and its ghosts to other celestial issues.

I was shocked, moments ago, to learn, via FOX NEWS online, that, due to data acquired over the past several years, from the Hubble Telescope, those whose job it is to figure out such things have determined that the Milky Way Galaxy, of which Earth is a part, and the Andromeda Galaxy, are on a collision course, speeding towards each other at something like 250,000 mph.

That's fast.

I was seriously concerned til I got to the part of the article that said the collision won't happen for about 4 billion more years, and will take several billion years to complete. And won't result in the destruction of our solar system. After the Galactic wreck our solar system will keep on spinning. But it will be moved to a new location in the Universe, with an entirely new night sky to look at.

So, I guess I don't need to be concerned about any of my great great great great grandkids til a few million more generations generate.

That's a relief.

Was Utah's Shooting Star The Inspiration For The Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's Drive-In Movie Theater?


No. That above is not an artist's rendering of the upcoming Grand Opening of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's Drive-In Movie Theater. What you are looking at above is a screencap from the Shooting Star Drive-In website.

The Shooting Star Drive-In is in Escalante, Utah. The Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Drive-In will be in Fort Worth, Texas.

My #1 researcher, CatsPaw, discovered the Shooting Star Drive-In in her quest to discover what was the inspiration behind J.D. Granger adding a drive-in movie theater to the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle, after expanding the TRVB into wakeboarding with the world's premiere artificial urban wakeboard lake and into the restaurant business with the Woodshed Smokehouse.

I suspect J.D. Granger took his gang of hard drinking junketeers on a fact finding mission on Highway 12, in Utah. Known to be one of the most scenic highways in America. And, though this area may be dry desert country, there are some water features to inspect, like Calf Creek Falls and Lake Powell.

Lake Powell was the result of a slightly bigger lake vision than the pond that may result from the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle and was a more legitimate use of the Army Corps of Engineers. The Lake Powell Vision saw no signature bridges, though, which the TRVB saw, til it went blind in that area. The only signature bridge on Lake Powell is a natural one called Rainbow Bridge.

If J.D. Granger was inspired by the Shooting Star Drive-In to open the first drive-in movie theater in a big American city, in decades, he sort of toned down the inspiration from what he saw at the Shooting Star Drive-In.

The Shooting Star Drive-In, in addition to showing movies, is a destination resort, sort of. You can stay in one of eight vintage Airstream trailers, with movie viewing decks, for bargain prices that start at only $149 a night. Or you can watch the movies from one of seven vintage convertibles. If you have your own RV, the Shooting Star also has a spot for you.

I can not imagine why J.D. Granger chose not to add an overnight camping option to the Trinity River Vision  Boondoggle Drive-In Movie Theater.

It could be Texas themed.

Maybe tepees, since the drive-in will be by the location of an old Indian camp near where Marine Creek runs into the Trinity River.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Tanks Predicted By The Church Of The Promise Of The Barnett Shale Have Arrived At My Neighborhood Chesapeake Energy Operation

Last Friday I blogged about being bum puzzled about What Was Happening At My Neighborhood Chesapeake Energy Natural Gas Drilling Operation? 

Then The Church of the Promise of the Barnett Shale answered my bum puzzled question thusly...

Looks like the skirt around the tank battery. They will connect to the well fittings and run the gas through dehydrators to separate the gas from the nasty water, and that water will go into the tanks waiting to be hauled off. They will separate off any saleable hydrocarbons in the water and dispose of the rest, responsibly. Then Enron, I mean Chesapeake will find a way to pipeline the dry gas out for sale, being very fair about how much the lease holders share will be of the proceeds. Information brought to you by The Church of The Promise of the Barnett Shale.

Today when I stopped at my neighborhood FW Weekly purveyor I saw that The Church of the Promise of the Barnett Shale was right, at least about the tanks, because today big tanks are being lifted in to place.

If the badwater gets separated and hauled away after being separated from the gas, where does the gas go?

I'm back being bum puzzled again.

The Diane Tran Scandal & The Matter Of Dishonorable Judge Lanny Moriarty Before The Texas Ethics Commission

On Tuesday I blogged about the Dishonorable Texas Judge Lanny Moriarty's outrageous sentencing of a 17 year old honor student, Diane Tran, to 24 hours in Montgomery County Jail due to being absent and tardy at school.

Strip searching is standard operating procedure when processing a person about to be incarcerated into a county jail.

Was being strip searched an additional indignity this young girl was subjected to?

After I blogged about this judicial outrage which has embarrassed Texas across America and the world, there have been many blog comments, all of which, in various ways, all want to virtually lynch this guy who should not be judging anyone.

One of the comments came from one of my favorite comment makers, Stenotrophomonas....

Stenotrophomonas has left a new comment on your post "Dishonorable Texas Judge Lanny Moriarty Sentences Honor Student To Jail For No Crime":

Methinks hizzoner should be made an example of: www.ethics.state.tx.us/sworncomp/2008/2811371.pdf 

So, from Stenotrophomonas we learn that the Dishonorable Judge Lanny Moriarty has been investigated for a large number of various ethics violations in relation to his campaign to get elected to the job he is clearly not qualified for.

Apparently the Dishonorable Judge Lanny Moriarty failed to report a large number of campaign contributions in the proper, ethical, legal manner.

I have no clue if the Dishonorable Judge Lanny Moriarty's ethics violations are such that criminal prosecution is the result. If so, I hope he does some hard time at the Montgomery County Jail.

You know, paraphrasing the Dishonorable Judge's rationalization for throwing a good kid into the slammer, we can't turn a blind eye to these type crimes or else all the judges will soon be running roughshod over the law. An example should be made of this judge, just like this judge thought, erroneously, that an example should be made of Diane Tran.

The Third Night In A Row Thunder Booms Over North Texas

You can not tell looking from my secondary viewing portal on the outer world that a downpour is hitting my swimming pool causing a lot of bouncing water action.

Because I don't have audio enabled you are also unable to hear the almost constant rumbling of thunder.

Last night was the third night in a row that thunder has rumbled. But it was the first of the three nights of rumbling that I heard the rumbling.

It was loud.

And once the booming started it did not let up and continues even after the sun has arrived to provide some illumination through the thick cloud cover.

At one point last night the thunder was the oddest I've ever heard. Instead of the regular type rumbling, the boom followed by the slow lessening of the booming, this particular thunder was a series of concussive booms, like bombs exploding.

I went swimming in the rain this morning. When I got in the pool the difference between the lightning strikes and the thunder booms was about 5 seconds. When the difference got down to 2 seconds I decided it was time to get out of the pool.

It is a rather pleasant sensation to already be soaking wet, due to the downpour, to get in the warmer water of the pool. It is equally pleasant to exit the warm water of the pool to the cooler shots of downpouring rain.

I do not remember a previous time during my long exile in Texas when there have been 3 successive nights of thunder booming. I rather enjoyed last night, particularly after the rain started downpouring.

I do not know how I am going to get my salubrious regular endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation today. I may have to resort to walking around Sam's Club.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Playing Soccer Baseball With Fort Worth Kids At Oakland Park With Baby Ducks

Fosduck Only Child Duck
Since rain fell once again, last night, I figured the Tandy Hills would be too muddy for enjoyable hill hiking.

So, it was back to Oakland (Lake) Park to walk around Fosdick Lake.

All the rain has greatly reduced the layer of green, slimy, algae vegetation that had been choking Fosdick Lake of late.

The Fosducks seem happier with a less green lake. I heard a lot of exuberant quacking today, from the ducks and from a big flock of kids.

The kids were playing some sort of hybrid baseball/soccer game that looked fun. The bases were orange traffic cones. The ball looked like a volley ball.


Instead of hitting the ball with a stick, the person at home base kicked the ball. After the ball was kicked much mayhem and screaming ensued. I've not seen kids having so much fun since I played Ladder Golf with Spencer Jack in my sister's backyard in Arizona, back in March.

Stormy weather, with possible thunderstorms, seems to be the weather theme for today.

The sky looked a bit menacing above the Fosdick Water Tank UFO that hovers over Oakland (Lake) Park.


I am now back in air-conditioned comfort.

The sky seems to be going from bright to dark on some sort of regular cycle. I am expecting some weather drama at some point this afternoon.

Anonymous Wants To Know If I Dislike Texas Weather So Much Why Don't I Go Back To Washington?

Last night another storm blew through this part of the planet that I once again slept through.

As you can see, in the picture, this morning is looking a bit stormy, as well.

The weather predictors are predicting more rain and electrical action today.

This morning when the sun came up the wind was blustering so hard it had knocked my swimming suit to ground level. I don't recollect that happening before.

Yesterday, somewhere among the many locations I was reading about the latest Texas Judge Scandal I read one comment that said something like, "God must really love stupid people, because he made so many of them. Like that judge in Texas."

Speaking of stupid people.

Yesterday when I saw that the temperature in Fort Worth and Phoenix were both 95, but with the Real Feel Temperature in Phoenix being higher than Fort Worth, despite Fort Worth's humidity being 9 times higher, I blogged about it, including the temperature at that point in time at my old home zone in Mount Vernon, Washington and the fact that humidity was even higher in Mount Vernon.

I then got the following comment from someone calling him or herself Anonymous...

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Taking The Temperature In Fort Worth, Phoenix & Mount Vernon": 

If you dislike TX and the weather so much, why don't you go back to Washington? So much criticism from a tourist begins to just sound whiny. 

Whiny? I would not say that I am impervious to whining, but I detected no trace of whining in the post about yesterday's relative temperatures. I certainly said nothing that indicated I wanted to go back to Washington due to the weather being better than Texas.

The fact is I prefer Texas weather to Washington weather, except for the months of July and August, when Western Washington's weather is often perfect.

If I moved back to Washington it'd be because I miss the scenery, saltwater, mountains, skiing, fresh seafood, fresh for the picking fruits and vegetables, better outdoor recreational opportunities, better parks, multiple National Parks, Canada being nearby, Oregon being nearby, the highly educated people, the liberal politics, the activism, the libraries and the coffee.

But, since I like whining so much, Texas is a Mother Lode of whining material, compared to virtually Mother Lode-free Washington, where I don't remember whining about much of anything, except maybe the rain.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Taking The Temperature In Fort Worth, Phoenix & Mount Vernon


I believe today has been our HOTTEST day of the year, so far, in North Texas. 95 degrees with the humidity making it feel like 103.

When last I talked to my mom and sister both mentioned being relieved to have the temperature back in the 90s after already hitting 110. Right at this point in time when I checked temperatures Fort Worth and Phoenix are both being heated to 95 degrees, with the Phoenix humidity making it feel like 106 in Arizona.

But, currently, Phoenix has only 5% humidity, while Fort Worth is smothering with 43% humidity. So, why does it supposedly feel 3 degrees HOTTER in the dry Phoenix desert?


Meanwhile, up in my old home zone, in the Skagit Valley of Washington, Mount Vernon is currently chilled to 55 degrees. And is more humid, at 62%, than Fort Worth.

Which, I guess, is why it supposedly feels like a relatively balmy 62 in Mount Vernon.

I see in the 3 forecasts that only Washington has rain in its forecast. How unexpected.


Dishonorable Texas Judge Lanny Moriarty Sentences Honor Student To Jail For No Crime

UPDATE: The Matter of Dishonorable Judge Lanny Moriarty before the Texas Ethics Commission.

It has happened again. An idiot who should not be a judge, is a Texas judge, and has embarrassed himself, and Texas, in front of America and the rest of the world.

A hard luck, hard working honor student has been fined and sentenced to jail by a miscreantic Texas judge named Lanny Moriarty.

You can go here to sign a petition asking the judge to cancel the fine and the sentencing.

UPDATE:
 The 24 hour jail sentence has already taken place, last Wednesday, in the notorious Montgomery County Jail, where Diane spent 24 hours surrounded by what Houston defense attorney Ned Barnett characterized as suspected murderers, drug addicts and prostitutes.

I don't know if there is another petition demanding this judge be de-judged.

If I were the governor of the state of Texas and one of these embarrassments occurred I would make some noise. Does Rick Perry not pay attention to what happens in the state he governs? I suspect not. Watching Rick Perry in the Republican debates, before he got laughed out of the race, I was not sure the man can read.

Below is what you will read at the location where you can sign a petition...

Diane Tran isn't like most seventeen-year-old girls her age. Sure, there are many honors students taking dual credit U.S. History, dual credit English Literacy, College Algebra, and Spanish Language AP. Sure, there are some who work part time and full time jobs like Diane does at a dry cleaners and a wedding venue. 

But, since Diane's parents have moved away, Diane does all of this to support herself and her two siblings.

For a student facing these challenges, a teacher or authority figure should have reached out to her and made sure she didn't slip through the cracks. Despite her situation, she's not just an extraordinary worker and student, she's an extraordinary human being with a fighting spirit.

The reason why we should care about her is this: The state of Texas is sentencing a young girl to a night of jail for being too emotionally and physically exhausted to go to school. The institutions that are to provide resources to youth and ensure justice are instead punishing her like a criminal and fining her $100.

The Judge in Diane's case said he was making an example of her with this severe punishment. Diane is already an example of how people her age should be acting.

Please tell Judge Lanny Moriarty, the State of Texas, and the U.S.A. to make sure that the future leaders of our nation are looked after and taken care of. Thank you.

The Texas Judge setting a bad example is currently the top story on FOX News online.


Last Night's Rain Turned Village Creek Into Chocolate

No, that chocolate in the picture is not a scene from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. That chocolate in the picture is a muddy Texas creek.

Village Creek to be precise.

I was in deep slumber mode last night when Mother Nature decided to drop some water at my location. I did not realize rain had fallen overnight til I found myself having to traverse puddles on my way to the pool this morning.

I did hear thunder booming last night. But the booming never got close enough to rattle my windows.

Not enough rain fell to flood Village Creek to the point that the Village Creek Natural Historical Area had to be closed. So, I was able to have a nice walk today with the Native American Ghosts who inhabit this part of North Texas.

I do not recollect ever seeing Village Creek look as muddy as it looks today.

Summer is still several weeks in the future. It feels like summer has already arrived in North Texas. Currently the temperature is 93, with the extreme humidity making the temperature feel like 103, according to my computer based temperature monitoring device.