Is America Making A Case To Kick Texas Out Of The Union?

I don't know if most Texans pay any attention to what the rest of America, or the world, thinks about Texas, or Texans.

If they don't, maybe they should.

This morning the Seattle Post-Intelligencer had an amusing article, well, amusing to me, article about Texas titled Should Texas secede from the U.S.? A case can be made.

Below is that article in its entirety....

A total of 125,746 people recently signed a petition on the White House web site asking the Obama administration to allow Texas to secede from the United State.  It was, of course, rejected.

The reactionaries who rule the Lone Star State have been restless ever since Obama was elected in 2008.

"When we came into the nation in 1845, we were a stand-alone nation, and one of the deals was, we can leave any time we want.  So we're kind of thinking about it again," Gov. Rick Perry told an early Tea Party rally.

Perry has since rejected secession.  He sought to become America's 45th president in 2012 only to find himself, in a Republican candidates debate,  unable to identify the three Cabinet departments he had pledged to eliminate.

It begs a question, however.  What would the rest of America gain -- and lose -- were the Texas Nationalist Movement to achieve its goal of secession?  The gains:

--Fewer awful presidents:  Lyndon Johnson orchestrated the Vietnam War, in which the United States was stymied by what LBJ called "a raggedly ass little fourth rate country."  George W. Bush took us to war in Iraq on a lie, at a cost of nearly 5,000 American lives and as much as $1 trillion.

If Rick Perry ever moves to the White House, the governor  already defined his governing philosophy:  "I think it's time for us to just hand it over to God and say, 'God, you're going to have to fix this'."

--Greater respect for the law:  Texas has resisted efforts to clean up dirty air in its petroleum-producing regions.  Then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay once likened U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials to Hitler's Gestapo.

Rick Perry has opined:  "Frankly, I pray for the President every day.  I pray for his wisdom. I wish this President would turn back the health care law that's been passed, ask that his EPA back down these regulations that are causing business to hesitate to spend money."

Just last week, Texas State Rep. Steve Toth introduced a bill in the state House that would allow police across the state to arrest any federal law enforcement officers who tried to enforce a federal ban on military-style assault weapons and/or high capacity magazines.

--Fewer awful members of Congress:  Former Sen. Phil Gramm championed letting Wall Street run free.  Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, has threatened to introduce a bill of impeachment against President Obama for using executive powers to promote firearms safety.  Tom DeLay tried to impeach President Clinton. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, reacted to assassinations at Sandy Hill Elementary School in Connecticut by saying of the slain principal:

"Chris, I wish to god she had had an M-4 in her office, locked up so when she heard gunfire, she pulls it out . . . and takes him out and takes his head off before he can kill those precious kids."

Those are the doofuses.  Others are dangerous.  Under chairmanship of Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2006 tried to strip away tanker safety requirements and oil spill protections from Puget Sound -- and every place else in the country.  Sen. Maria Cantwell and then-Rep. Jay Inslee threatened to raise hell, and stopped it.  (Barton is the guy who apologized to BP after the Gulf oil spill.)

--Less climate idiocy:  As energy industry strumpets, Texas politicians have turned a blind eye toward climate change . . . even when Texas was hit in 2011 with a massive drought, prolonged 100-degree plus temperatures and wildfires that scorched hundreds of thousands of acres.

Gov. Perry proclaimed three days of April, 2011, as "Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas."  Then, he ran for the Republican nomination as a global warming denier, claiming scientists "manipulated data" that human activity is contributing to climate change.

If Texas were to secede, in sum, the rest of the United States would have fewer wars, enjoy a higher proportion of smart politicians in Washington, D.C.,  and be better able to tackle issues ranging from climate change to gun violence.

The case against:  America would lose on the technology front, the literary front, the culinary front and the music front were Austin, Texas, to be taken from it.  Texas would depart just as changing demographics -- the rising Hispanic population, emigration from the north -- promise to loosen the good-old-boy grip.

Of course, there's also what to do with the 3.1 million Texans who voted for President Obama, and the state's non-Tea Party Republicans.  George (Sr.) and Barbara Bush could enjoy dual citizenship, and decamp for Kennebunkport, Maine.  It wouldn't be that easy for the state's enlightened folk, who need help from the outside.

God help us and spare us what Gov. Perry would let happen to air and water quality if set free to work his -- oops, God's -- will.  What improvements there are now come almost entirely courtesy of federal law and the hated EPA.

The number of people executed in Texas, not all of them guilty, would soar without the Supreme Court-imposed inhibitions on executing youthful offenders and mentally ill defendants.

Still, the let- 'em-go temptation is there, particularly when America is forced to listen to the theology of Rick Perry or the science denial of a Rep. Barton or Rep. Ralph Hall, absurdly the chairman of the House Science, Space Technology Committee.

Then, too, the attitude of Texas' rulers is, "Never say never."  The Texas Nationalist Movement  met last week with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.  And House Speaker Joe Strauss III declared:

"Our economy is so vast and diverse that if Texas were its own country -- and no, don't worry, that isn't something we're going to do this session -- but if we were, we'd be the 14th largest economy in the world."

Hey, don't tempt us.

Martin Luther King Inauguration Day Walk With The Indian Ghosts Of Village Creek

For my Martin Luther King Inauguration Day walk I thought it appropriate to walk on this day with the Indian Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area in Arlington.

I listened to the President's Inauguration speech before leaving my abode. I thought it was a good speech.

Walking with the Indian Ghosts on MLK Day had me wondering why we have no national holiday that in some way honors Native Americans.

Maybe Crazy Horse Day, or Sitting Bull Day, or Wounded Knee Day, or some other day that recognizes the Native American Indian role in the history of the United States. This could be a very enjoyable holiday, with powwows wowing people all over the country.

Changing the subject from Crazy Horse Day back to Village Creek.

I am really liking seeing all the big trees without their leaves. I think I've already mentioned this. The above big trees without their leaves is a good example.

In just a couple months the leaves will return, turning the leafless trees back into a jungle.

Today I saw the first sign of the upcoming return of color, my first wildflower of the new year, that being the bright yellow beauty you see on the right.

This yellow beauty was obediently sprouting naturally in the Village Creek Natural Historical Area's designated "Wildflower Area."

If I remember right, last Spring's wildflower season in North Texas was not as colorful as others have been since my exile in Texas. I suspect this year we are in for a bumper crop of wildflowers. I have no clue why I suspect this other than being surprised by the January appearance of the yellow beauty I saw today.

Today, Hoppy the Armadillo was in the same location he has been on my previous 3 visits to his home.

As soon as Hoppy hears my camera turn on, with its telltale beep, he turns his back on me.

Then when I move to get a better side view, Hoppy turns again.

And then when I keep persisting, Hoppy starts hopping, his trademark 3 or 4 hops, and then dead still, in playing possum mode, hoping I will go away, which eventually I do.

Is there an armadillo exhibit at the Fort Worth Zoo? I've only been to that zoo once and I do not remember an armadillo exhibit.

I don't remember seeing armadillos at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, either. Or the San Diego Zoo. I think that covers all the zoos I have ever been to.

I hope everyone is having themselves a really fine Martin Luther King Day.

The Flu Has Spencer Jack Jumping Like A Grasshopper

Spencer Jack Under A Grandma White Blanket

Last night Spencer Jack's Grandma Cindy emailed me with further documentation that Spencer is being well covered by Grandma blankets whilst he is sick with the flu.

This is what Grandma Cindy had to tell me...

Here is Spencer keeping warm under a blanket made by his Great Great Grandma Dorothy White.  (My mom’s mom)  So Great Great Grandma Vera and Grandma White are keeping him warm.  Cindy

And now this morning I heard from Spencer Jack's dad that Spencer is now in recovery mode.....

Spencer is feeling much better.  It has been 2 days of hell. But now he's recovering.  His girl friend Brittney, myself and Spencer Jack had previously planned a trip to Stevens Pass today to play in the snow. We did such last year on MLK day. But trying to be good parental units, we may alter our plans tomorrow.

Spencer Jack's dad sent a video, along with the email telling me that Spencer is feeling a lot better. The video seems to provide evidence that Spencer has recovered enough to head to higher elevations for some fun in the snow....

On The Tandy Hills Thinking About Frita Fremont & Cattle-Ranching Fashionistas

Since I'd not been on the Tandy Hills for 24 hours, I thought I'd go there, for the 3rd day in a row, to get myself some salubrious endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation, to work up an appetite before returning to my abode for a Thanksgiving-like turkey lunch, minus anything to do with pumpkin or stuffing or sweet potatoes.

Typing 'potatoes' had me remembering when we had a vice president who thought that word should have no 'e'.

I thought my personal Pacific Northwest trainer, Frita Fremont was going to call me whilst I was on the Tandy Hills today so she could do some virtual hill hiking with me and urge me to go faster up the hills.

Frita Fremont has diagnosed the reason for my malady, of the past couple months, as being caused by a decrease in the amount of exercise I usually get, in part caused by the water in my pool being too cool to pleasantly swim in.

So, Frita Fremont has prescribed amped up hill hiking and mountain biking for me. I am hoping this increase in activity will alleviate me of my bulging beer gut before April, when Frita Fremont is tentatively scheduled to fly to D/FW for a roadtrip to South Padre Island.

Changing the subject from Frita Fremont back to the Tandy Hills.

As you can see, in the photo above, via the view from atop Mount Tandy, looking west across the wagon trail that heads towards the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, it is a blue sky Sunday in North Texas, with a bit of a smoggy, pinkish haze in the mix.

It is another semi-warm day, almost 70, at this point in the mid-afternoon. It is so warm that I have opened my computer room window. I don't recollect doing that in January before. I'm still not feeling cool. I really don't feel like turning on the ceiling fan. Or the air-conditioner.

Changing the subject again, this time to Cowtown Fashionistas.

For awhile now, on my way to Oakland Lake Park or the Tandy Hills, driving west on Bridge Street, by Nolan High School, I've noticed a billboard advertisement has replaced the former one about not speaking out of ones tailpipe.

The message now on this billboard is CATTLE-RANCHING FASHIONISTAS LISTEN TO npr.

I believe npr is National Public Radio.

Fort Worth is known, locally, as Cowtown. I don't know if that has anything to do with cattle-ranching fashionistas.

Is the point of this message that I should be listening to NPR because well dressed local cattle ranchers listen to public radio? And that I should want to emulate the local well dressed cattle ranchers? Who listen to NPR?

Would this billboard ad work in other towns in America? I'm thinking it'd make even less sense in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle or Miami. It might work in Dallas. Or Oklahoma City. Or Amarillo.

Okay, I am really starting to seriously over heat. Could this be that dreaded male menopause thing I've heard about? Maybe I should go for a quick dip in the cool pool.

Einstein's Generation Of Idiots Propagandizing False Hitler Quotes

Yesterday, Betty Jo Bouvier sent me an amusing email that had a series of photos of people using their smart phones, rather than doing some human, in person, social interacting, in places like restaurants, museums, theaters, trains, sporting events, at the beach, and other places.

These photos of people smart phoning was followed by the Albert Einstein quote about our current generation of idiots, apparently made so by technology.

Albert Einstein is widely believed to have been a genius. But, I really don't think an idiot can figure out how to use a smart phone. I can't even figure out how to send a text message.

I thought this Einstein quote might be bogus, and so I Googled to see if it had been Snope-isized. Nope, Einstein did say words to this effect, but the exact words quoted somewhat vary, though the meaning remains the same.

And then on Facebook I have been seeing Hitler references regarding the recent gun ban brouhaha. I sort of knew without Googling that these quotes were bogus, due to the sort of obvious historical inaccuracy. But, I Googled anyway.

From the Propaganda Professor, in an article titled The Myth of Hitler's Gun Ban we learn.....

Whenever a politician, or anyone else, starts talking about regulating guns, it’s a safe bet that someone will bring up how Hitler supposedly outlawed guns in Germany, which supposedly enabled him to do all the mischief he did.  As we’ve noted before, Adolf is a staple reference among propagandists. It’s become an automatic response to compare anyone you don’t like to Der Fuhrer, on the grounds that since he was evil incarnate, everything he ever said or did must also be evil. People have even been known to suggest that since he was a vegetarian, vegetarians are evil. It’s not surprising, then, that you often see this quote pop up:

“This year will go down in history! For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!”  –Adolf Hitler, 1935

Trouble is, Hitler never made such a speech in 1935. Nor is there any record that he ever spoke these particular words at all.  This little “speech” was obviously written for him, many years after his death, by someone who wanted you to believe that gun registration is Hitler-evil.

And the truth is that no gun law was passed in Germany in 1935. There was no need for one, since a gun registration program was already in effect in Germany; it was enacted in 1928, five years before Hitler’s ascendancy.  But that law did not “outlaw” guns, it just restricted their possession to individuals who were considered law-abiding citizens, and who had a reason to own one. And there’s no reason to consider that law particularly significant, either; the NAZIs didn’t seize control of their own country with gunpowder. They used a much more potent weapon: propaganda.

Using propaganda to try and take control of a country. Why, that sure could not possibly happen in America...

Spencer Jack Has The Flu Which Has Me Thinking About Spencer's Great Great Grandma Vera

Bad news from Spencer Jack's dad, he being my Favorite Nephew Jason, telling me that Spencer has come down with a bad bout of the flu. The flu is hardest on little kids and elderly people, such as myself.

This is what FN Jason had to say....

Your favorite Great Nephew Spencer Jack has fallen victim to this year's flu bug. The little guy was quite cold, despite sporting a high fever all night. I had to dig out one of Grandma Vera's hand made blankets. I kept two of these one of a kind knittings. I believe FN Joe still has some of her stocking caps that he uses for wintertime fishing.  

Grandma Vera was my mom's mom.

Grandma had really bad arthritis as long as I can remember, resulting in gnarled hands that were very painful. Keeping busy with her hands kept the arthritis partially at bay. So, Grandma Vera was a crocheting machine, churning out big afghans and knitted caps, among other things.

Grandma would see a hatless kid walking by on a snowy, cold Lynden, Washington winter day and go give the kid one of her knitted caps. This eventually had Grandma's signature knitted caps on a lot of Lynden kid's heads.

A couple weeks ago, during our first Texas cold snap of the year, I went exploring in my walk-in closet to find my stash of Grandma Vera knitted caps. I found 4 of them.

I did not have to go hunting to find my Grandma Vera afghans. I have 4 of them, stored in another closet, until I need one, like the one you see via the picture, currently on the bed in my slumber chamber.

Grandma Vera would be so pleased to know her legacy of yarn products lives on, covering Spencer Jack, born 4 or 5 years after his Great Great Grandma Vera died at age, if I remember right, 94.

I last saw Grandma Vera in 2002, if I remember right. I don't remember why the aforementioned FN Joey and I were up in Bellingham, but we were, so we stopped in for a visit with Grandma Vera in her 3rd floor apartment in her assisted living place.

When we left, on the way back to the parking lot, Joey told me Grandma would be at her window waving at us. And so she was. This was the last time I ever saw my Grandma Vera.

I just got hit with a very rare wave of feeling very sad.

Enduring Big Ed Malfunctions On The Tandy Hills With Lost Shopping Carts At Town Talk

Big Ed recovered from his most recent bout of Extreme Gooberitis, to a wellness level that allowed him to go hill hiking with me on the Tandy Hills today, for the first time in a long time.

Big Ed got a digital camera for Christmas. Apparently this is a complicated digital camera.

The camera has Big Ed totally bum puzzled.

Big Ed tried to take a picture of me taking a picture of him, but he somehow got his camera into some sort of delayed timer mode that results in a lot of beeping and red light flashes before the picture gets taken. And then the resulting photo is in some strange landscape format tinted blue.

I remember when Big Ed had to give up mountain biking because of repeated incidents where he'd get his shorts somehow caught on the pedals, resulting in all sorts of embarrassing mayhem. This camera malfunctionizing sort of reminds me of that.

Other than making the mistake of taking Big Ed to the hills today, today was another absolutely perfect day to be outdoors in North Texas.

Because Big Ed went to the hills with me today that meant he also went to Town Talk. I asked Big Ed to watch my cart while I ventured into the super packed, human gridlock, warehouse area, where I'd find stuff and then send it back to the cart via Big Ed. That was working out okay, til Big Ed lost the shopping cart.

With the shopping cart lost I had to start over again, re-bagging a lot of hot peppers, of bright red and a yellow varieties. These peppers are shaped like jalapenos, but I have no idea if these are of a similar capsaicin level, or way hotter. Or cooler, than jalapenos.

I also got a lot of avocados, making this a sort of Mexican themed day at Town Talk.

Speaking of jalapenos, I have discovered a burn free method to deal with the little firecrackers. I  slice off the top and then remove the innards with a potato peeler. This works real slick, with no burning eye or other burning delicate areas, ever since discovering this method.

Camping On The Tandy Hills With Giant Mushrooms

Looking West at Downtown Fort Worth

I was back on the Tandy Hills today for the first time in about 2 weeks. I can not remember when I had myself a finer time doing hill hiking than I did today.

The temperature was nearing 60. The only outer wear needed was cargo shorts and a t-shirt.

It is a clear, blue sky Friday, as you can see in the picture, looking west, towards the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, with the phalanx of Fort Worth skyscrapers barely peaking up above a Tandy Hill.

Why do I have such a liking for run-on sentences? Writing them is like careening out of control in a car with broken brakes. Not that I have ever had that happen.

Soon after I took the picture of the stunning skyline I looked down the ridge you see in the foreground. I saw something large and out of place. As I got closer I saw more odd things. It crossed my mind that I may have stumbled upon the mysterious VW Bus of Witchey Tree Fame.

When I was about 30 feet away it became clear I was looking at a homeless person's campsite. There were clothes hanging from branches. Stuff stored in plastic bags, also hanging from branches. Piles of camping material, like blankets and a tarp, on the ground, along with an assortment of other stuff.

Gang of Four Hiking

As I stood there looking at this campsite I reached to get my camera. At that point I heard a noise, the type leaf rustling noise armadillos make. I saw a large object move behind a tree. I was spooked by the large object behind the tree, who I also think was spooked. I quickly walked away.

A very short time later I was back on the View Street Trail, heading south, when I heard voices, then saw the group of 4 guys you see in the picture.

They were coming from the direction of the campsite, but I don't think these were the campers. I think it was just a coincidence they showed up at that point in time.

Eight Mushrooms Sprouting in the Distance

Continuing on, about 15 minutes later I looked up to see what looked like 8 very big mushrooms, un-naturally sprouting out of the ground of the Tandy Hills Natural Area.

We've had some precipitation precipitating of late. Were the damp conditions of the sort that caused giant mushrooms to sprout, I walked and wondered?

As I got closer to the 8 giant mushrooms it became clear this was not natural vegetation sprouting on the Tandy Hills.

These were manmade mushrooms.

Eight sturdy benches anchored to steel posts stuck very solidly into the ground.

Is this the amphitheater where outdoor concerts are rumored to take place this summer?

Eight Rectangular Mushroom Benches

Is there any relationship between the 8 benches and the bamboo teepee a short distance to the north?

There seems to be a lot of construction going on on the Tandy Hills Natural Area.

Recently directional signposts have been installed, after which I have not gotten lost a single time.

And now the construction of 8 benches.

What's next?

In my own selfish interest, I would not mind seeing mushroom benches installed at various locations throughout the Natural Area. It'd be a good thing to be able to sit down for a spell to enjoy the scenery in a non-vertical position. I sat on one of the mushroom benches today for at least 5 minutes. It was very pleasant.

Discovering The Hidden Grotto Of Village Creek With An Armadillo

Walking today with the Indian Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area I saw a trail I'd not noticed before, likely noticeable, now, because of the diminished amount of view blocking foliage.

The trail led to the view you see in the picture, a heretofore hidden Grotto on Village Creek.

The water in Village Creek was looking so clear today I would have felt a swim were possible, if it were a hot summer day, and there were no turtles or other reptiles of the snake sort who like to play in Village Creek.

The only critter I recollect seeing today was the same armadillo I first saw a week ago. I am fairly certain this is the same armadillo due to it being in the same location and exhibiting an odd behavior I'd not seen in other armadillos. That being this guy does not cut and run when he detects a human.

Instead, this guy does a couple hops and then freezes, like a possum playing possum, and then resumes his foraging, stopping to repeat, when once again the presence of a dangerous human is detected.

Am I Going To The 2013 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Starting January 18 til February 9?

The 2013 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo starts up tomorrow, Friday, January 18, closing Saturday, February 9.

The last time I went to the Fort Worth Stock Show was back in, I think 2003.

I have watched the Fort Worth Stock Show Parade 2 or 3 times. The Fort Worth Stock Show Parade is one of the best parades I've ever seen.

The trouble with the Fort Worth Stock Show Parade is the time of year the parading takes place.

Winter.

A couple years ago the parade had to be cancelled due to cold, icy conditions. Was that the same year as the Super Bowl snow woes? I don't remember.

On Saturday, parade day, the temperature is currently scheduled to reach a high of 62, starting off with a low of 38. 62 would be a very good parade viewing temperature.

I have only attended the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo one time, that being soon after my arrival in Texas, late in the last century. I was still in the midst of suffering extreme culture shock.  I did not care for the rodeo. It takes place in a very antique building built a really long time ago.

I am thinking I'd like to go to the Stock Show this year. Every year I tell myself I'm going to go watch the parade again. And then don't.

To make transiting to the Stock Show and the Stock Show Parade easier, the Fort Worth bus system, known as The T, is providing bus service from two locations,  Ridgmar Mall and Billy Bob's, for only $1, from 10am til 10pm, on Saturdays and Sundays during the Stock Show's run.

I do not know if the $1 is a roundtrip ticket. Or one-way.