Sunday, February 17, 2013
THE SKY IS PINK by Josh Fox and the GASLAND Team
An emergency short film from Josh Fox, the Oscar-nominated director of GASLAND addressing the urgent crisis of drilling and fracking in New York state.
Go to www.NYAgainstfracking.org for more info and to get involved.
PINK LINKS: Selected Compiled Research
The Sky Is Pink- Annotated industry documents featured in the film:
http://www1.rollingstone.com/extras/theskyispink_annotdoc-gasl4final.pdf
Affirming GASLAND- Our responses to industry charges against GASLAND
http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking/affirming-gasland
http://1trickpony.cachefly.net/gas/pdf/Affirming_Gasland_Sept_2010.pdf
Flaming Faucets
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509857,00.html
http://www.hcn.org/blogs/goat/flaming-water/
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-4879509.html
http://planetsave.com/2009/03/20/flammable-water-pours-from-faucets-in-colorado-home/
http://www.propublica.org/series/fracking
http://ecopolitology.org/2009/03/19/leaking-gas-well-causes-flammable-water-to-pour-from-faucets-in-colorado-home-video/
Well Failures/Gas Leaks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjaRwh4xRiM&feature=player_embedded
http://gasdrillinginbalcombe.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/44-of-wells-leaking-at-australian-gas-field/
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/03/us/abandoned-oil-and-gas-wells-become-pollution-portals.html?src=pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-17656307
http://frack-off.org.uk/gas-wells-leaking/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9168645/Total-admits-it-could-take-six-months-to-stop-gas-leak.html
Well Construction/Integrity
http://www.slb.com/~/media/Files/resources/oilfield_review/ors03/aut03/p62_76.ashx
http://www.boemre.gov/tarprojects/008/008DE.pdf
http://www.naturalgaswatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/well_integrity_failure_presentation.pdf
http://www.ptil.no/news/new-report-well-integrity-challenges-on-the-norwegian-shelf-article2762-79.html
http://www.spe.org/ejournals/jsp/journalapp.jsp?pageType=Preview&jid=EDC&mid=SPE-106817-PA
Climate Change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXyTpY0NCp0
Breast Cancer
http://www.texassharon.com/2011/09/02/big-gas-mafia-irony-burnsta-tas/
http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/special-projects/gas-well-drilling-headlines/20110831-breast-cancer-rate-climbs-up.ece
http://www.damascuscitizensforsustainability.org/2011/09/breast-cancer-rates-jump-in-the-barnett-shale/
http://dallasdrilling.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/breast-cancer-rates-jump-in-the-barnett-shale/
http://abcalliance.org/?p=1725 http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/85259117.html
Pittsburgh Fracking Ban
http://www.groundswell.gs/2011/10/28/city-councilman-doug-shields-on-the-success-of-pittsburghs-rights-based-fracking-ban/
Water Contamination
http://www.propublica.org/article/colorado-study-links-methane-in-water-drilling-422
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-08/gas-fracking-chemicals-detected-in-wyoming-aquifer-epa-says.html
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/04/19/gas-drilling-industry-makes-stunning-admission/
http://static.ewg.org/reports/2011/fracking/cracks_in_the_facade.pdf
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/05/02/1100682108.full.pdf+html?sid=bde16321-e169-437d-a59c-798e7f65c479
http://grist.org/article/2011-02-28-pittsburgh-drinking-water-radioactive-fracking-natural-gas-times/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html?_r=1&ref=drillingdown
http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/story/2011-12-01/salts-drilling-drinking-water-danger-still-showing-rivers-9616
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100813/VALLEYNEWS/100819931
Profiles/Contacts
http://www.cee.cornell.edu/people/profile.cfm?netid=ari1
http://history.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/oreskes-naomi.html
‘Drilling Down’
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/us/DRILLING_DOWN_SERIES.html
PR/Hill and Knowlton
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/2009/11/8680/hill-knowltons-carbon-two-step
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hill_%26_Knowlton
http://www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy10.html
http://www.prwatch.org/search/node/knowlton
http://www.naturalgaswatch.org/?p=939
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0906/p25s02-cogn.html
State Government Documents
http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/petroleum-pdf/tara_leaking_well_investigation_report.pdf
http://cogcc.state.co.us/Library/WQCC_WQCD_AnnualReports/WQCC09_10RPT.pdf
‘Reality Tour’ Marcellus Shale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPM64kseP30
Merchants of Doubt
http://www.bloomsburypress.com/books/catalog/merchants_of_doubt_hc_104
Colbert Report
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/politics/blogs/stephen-colbert-and-tom-ridge-get-awkward-over-fracking
http://www.desmogblog.com/tom-ridge-claimed-i-m-not-lobbyist-colbert-report-facts-prove-otherwise
http://www.keystonepolitics.com/2011/06/tom-ridge-shills-for-fracking-on-colbert-report/
Gas Industry Conference:
http://www.naturalgaswatch.org/?p=970
Saturday, February 16, 2013
A Saturday Monitor Malfunction With A Water Free Fort Worth Picnic & No Samosas
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| Dead Calm Fosdick Lake |
This 3rd Saturday of the 2nd month of 2013 has been a dead calm, clear blue sky, perfect middle of winter type day in Texas.
This 3rd Saturday of the 2nd month of 2013 began not too auspiciously.
I woke up my computer before the sun arrived this morning. All was fine for a minute or two. And then my second monitor went into malfunction mode, with a pop and a hiss. The monitor was toasted.
But, I had a replacement monitor ready to replace the dead one. So, by the time the sun arrived all was back functioning again in my computer world.
Way back in the early 1990s I bought a computer from Gateway. A now very antique 386 era computer. I was real happy when the new computer arrived, excited was I to set it up. And then, when powered up for the first time, the Gateway monitor did not turn on. Instead it started spewing smoke.
Switching the subject from bad monitors back to Oakland Lake Park.
Today there was a large group having a picnic in the Fosdick Pavilion. Meat products I was unable to identify were being barbecued.
When I see this type thing happening at this park it bothers me.
Because there is no running water available at the Fosdick Pavilion, or anywhere else in Oakland Lake Park. The park's restroom facility is one outhouse. An outhouse with no place to wash ones hands.
Well, there is the lake water, if one was feeling brave and willing to ignore the bad water warnings.
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| Big Bird Out Of Water |
Is that why I don't remember seeing such an uncivilized thing til I moved to Texas?
In addition to the picnic without water, I saw a big bird out of the water. I don't think this big bird was a duck. He or she did not seem to mind me getting sort of close.
Changing the subject from Big Birds to Town Talk.
Since this is Saturday naturally I went to Town Talk after my daily dose of endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.
Prior to leaving my abode today I cooked up some rice, flavored with curry, ginger and jalapenos to go well with Indian food, because I'd planned to get a box of Chicken Samosas at Town Talk. Well, the boxes of Chicken Samosas were no where to be found at Town Talk.
The only thing I got in a box at Town Talk today was a case of Siggis Icelandic Grapefruit Yogurt. I also got a big bag of Texas Grapefruit. Among other things.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Village Creek Natural Historical Area Trail Tree Blockage
Today Village Creek was back in trickle mode.
About a quarter mile from the Village Creek Natural Historical Area's Dottie Lynn Parkway parking lot I came to the trail blockage you see in the picture.
I assumed this trail blockage was caused by wind.
Upon closer examination I saw that my initial assumption was incorrect. Me making an incorrect assumption does not happen all that often. Usually no more than once or twice a day do I find I've made an erroneous assumption.
What knocked down this tree was not the wind, but the hand of man, with that hand of man using a chain saw, sawing the tree off about 4 feet from the ground.
Was this vandalism? If it was the Arlington park people who cut down the tree I doubt they would leave it on the ground, blocking the paved trail.
But, why would someone haul a chainsaw to this location to do some random tree vandalizing? That also seems unlikely.
I suspect I will never know the answer to this perplexing mystery.
Watergate's Hidden History Led Me To Margaret Chase Smith's Republican FIBS
The subtitle of "Nixon, the Mafia and the CIA" was a bit off-putting to me. I figured this would likely not be a very historically accurate accounting of Nixon's allegedly bad behavior.
Well.
So far, this book is being very interesting. It was published in 2012, 40 years after the botched break-in at the Watergate became the start of what became the most notorious Presidential scandal in American history.
I think I have previously mentioned my favorite genres, reading-wise, are Native American History, True Crime books, the Civil War and World War II.
I don't think I have mentioned that Watergate is also a subject about which I seem to have a continuing interest. I have read all of Richard Nixon's books, post-resignation. Haldeman's Diaries was very surprising. I ended up really liking H.R. Haldeman. I've read Woodward and Bernstein's All the President's Men and Final Days and all the subsequent books Bob Woodward has written on other subjects, like all the books about the perversity of the George W. Bush presidency, except for one sitting on my desk right now, The War Within, which I've not gotten to yet.
In our modern times there are some people who think the Republicans have become the Stupid Party. Apparently there are a lot of Republicans who think and say things that a lot of people think are stupid. I have noticed some of this stupidity myself.
The Republicans have a long history of thinking stupid stuff. Watergate The Hidden History is reminding me of some of it. Like the McCarthy stupidity of the 1950s.
I also have learned from Watergate The Hidden History that back in the 1950s and 1960s, in addition to stupid Republicans, there were also Republican voices of reason.
Republican voices of reason like Margaret Chase Smith.
Margaret Chase Smith was a U.S. Representative from 1940 til 1949, then a U.S. Senator from Maine from 1949 til 1973.
In 1964 Margaret Chase Smith became the first woman to be a candidate for the presidency at a major party's national convention.
Margaret Chase Smith rose to fame as an American voice of reason way back well over a half century ago, delivering, on June 1, 1950, a 15 minute speech that became known as the "Declaration of Conscience."
The "Declaration of Conscience" was directed at the bad behavior of fellow Republican Senator, Joe McCarthy, denouncing "the reckless abandon in which unproved charges have been hurled from this side of the aisle."
Senator Smith charged that McCarthyism had debased the Senate to "the level of a forum of hate and character assassination."
In the "Declaration of Conscience" Senator Smith defended every American's "right to criticize...right to hold unpopular beliefs...right to protest; the right of independent thought."
In the "Declaration of Conscience" Senator Smith acknowledged her desire for Republican political success, tempering that desire by adding that, "I don't want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the four horseman of calumny -- fear, ignorance, bigotry, and smear."
Margaret Chase Smith's four horseman of calumny became known as "FIBS." Which became shorthand, for many, for the Republican Party, the party of FIBS.
I am sure glad that Margaret Chase Smith types are now in the majority in the Republican Party and no one would ever think that the modern day Republican Party is still the party of FIBS....
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Did The Waco Star-Telegram Claim The Waco Cabela's Will Be The #1 Tourist Attraction In Texas?
Suckers? Why, you ask?
Mr. Kennedy says the people of Fort Worth are suckers because they gave the sporting goods store called Cabela's $40 million in tax breaks on the promise to bring 2.5 million visitors a year to Fort Worth.
I really do not know where to start.
First off it was not the people of Fort Worth who gave Cabela's tax breaks. That was done by the naive, incompetent, common senseless Fort Worth City Government, cheered on by the City of Fort Worth's propaganda purveyor known as the Star-Telegram.
The Star-Telegram repeated, over and over and over again, that the Fort Worth Cabela's would be the #1 Tourist Attraction in Texas.
Depending on who was writing the propaganda the number of tourists ranged from 4 million to 8 million.
I would read this propaganda and be absolutely appalled and sort of embarrassed that people whose job it was to report news and apply some common sense to what they were reporting, did not intuitively realize that if a sporting goods store could be the #1 Tourist Attraction in Texas that this clearly indicated the Texas Tourist Industry had a very serious problem with having a lack of decent Tourist Attractions.
And how can someone (Bud Kennedy made this claim) not automatically realize that 8 million visitors to a sporting goods store in one year is not even remotely feasible?
I was so appalled that I emailed Bud Kennedy about his 8 million visitors claim, along with the #1 Tourist Attraction claim.
Bud Kennedy replied to me by saying that I must be against business. I replied something like, "no, I am not against business, what I am against is a newspaper making ridiculous claims about something like a sporting goods store becoming the #1 Tourist Attraction in Texas, drawing up to 8 million visitors."
Bud Kennedy replied again, sort of granting me my points, but I forget how he articulated that.
Reading Bud Kennedy today in Facebook had me wondering if he has forgotten his initial assertions regarding the Fort Worth Cabela's. Bud Kennedy is amazingly prolific, so it would not shock me if he does not remember something he wrote in the Star-Telegram years ago.
After Bud Kennedy trivialized my comments about the Star-Telegram Cabela's propaganda, by saying I must be against business, I sort of had myself an instant dislike for the guy. That has since greatly abated, to the point I now actually like Bud Kennedy and think he's about the best thing that comes out of the Star-Telegram. With some periodic lapses.
Cablela's came up today, with Bud Kennedy, due to the announcement that Cabela's is now opening a store in Waco. It was not long after the Cabela's opened in Fort Worth that a Cabela's was opened in Buda, by Austin. Then another Cabela's opened in the D/FW Metroplex, in Allen.
Bud Kennedy's reference to Fort Worth getting suckered is the closest I have seen to reading anyone associated with the Star-Telegram admitting that the Star-Telegram got suckered into being propaganda tools for Cabela's #1 Tourist Attraction in Texas scam.
I have blogged about the City of Fort Worth and the Star-Telegram getting suckered by these out of state Cabela's slicksters a few times from 2008 to 2011...
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2008
Fort Worth and Cabela's
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010
The Top 15 Texas Tourist Attractions With #1 Not Being Cabela's Sporting Goods Store
SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2011
A Second Cabela's Opens In Allen In The Dallas Metroplex
Another Look At Fort Worth's Sad Sidewalk Situation
In the photo we are looking at some Fort Worth pedestrians walking along the west frontage road on I-820.
The couple on the right are both pushing strollers, with one kid in each stroller. The male of the pair is pushing the lead stroller, which in addition to kids is also packed with what looked like bags of groceries.
The guy on the left is opting to use the well worn dirt "sidewalk" rather than the street "sidewalk", likely because he is not pushing anything.
I don't know why it took me so long to realize I could go walking in my neighborhood, as on option, rather than driving to a park. Maybe I subconsciously thought that walking the mean sidewalk challenged streets of Fort Worth seemed a bit dangerous.
The last time I mentioned the Fort Worth sidewalk shortage I also mentioned the seemingly odd location of utility poles at the side of John T. White Road.
This particular stretch of Fort Worth sidewalk only extends a short distance on Bridgewood Drive, terminating when it gets to Boca Raton Boulevard.
When I lived in Washington, in the relatively small town of Mount Vernon, the roads in my neighborhood all had sidewalks on both sides of the streets.
Whilst living in Mount Vernon, just like I do in Fort Worth, I would often drive to go hiking. The only close by hiking was about 2 miles east, to Big Rock, this Gibraltar like monolith that was quite a steep hike, with a very scenic payoff at the top.
All my other Washington hikes were a much further distance than I drive in Fort Worth to go hiking, whether it was just 25 miles to Anacortes to hike around Washington Park, or 30 miles to Deception Pass State Park to hike up Goose Rock. Or a much longer drive east, to hike up one of the Cascade mountains.
Unlike my current location, my old home zone was very hilly, as in very steep hills. I could get a good workout just walking down to my mailbox and back up to my abode. Eaglemont Golf Course was at the end of a steep road. It was on the Eaglemont Golf Course paved golf cart trail that I got myself in shape for my first mountain biking trip to Moab.
I think it is the buried memories of walking sidewalks in Mount Vernon, that causes me to feel irked when I make note of Fort Worth's really sad sidewalk situation.
Having Myself A Happy Valentine's Day In Texas
Each year, as soon as January ends, I start counting down the days til February 14.
Last night I got a pre-Valentine's Day surprise from Honey Bunny #1 in the form of hot out of the oven dark chocolate fudge brownies.
Normally I am not much of a chocolate fan, particularly when the chocolate is hot, but, if the hot chocolate product is paired with peppermint ice cream, like it was last night, well, you can pretty much get me to do anything, at least til the happy glow wears off.
It was way back late in the last century that I learned that pairing a chocolate product with peppermint ice cream is a good thing. The chocolate product at that taste bud pleasing point in time was chocolate cheesecake.
The origin of Valentine's Day is a curious tale.
Apparently a long ago Christian saint named Valentius was thrown in jail by the Romans for performing wedding ceremonies for soldiers who were not allowed to get married. While in prison Saint Valentius somehow cured the illness of the daughter of one of his jailers. Even so the nasty Romans proceeded with their planned execution of Saint Valentius. According to the enduring legend, prior to getting put to death, Valentius sent a farewell note to the girl he'd cured, signing the note, "from your Valentine."
Thus spawning a modern day world wide multi-billion dollar Valentine's Day greeting card and gift industry.
At some point in time Saint Valentius became Saint Valentine, with Saint Valentine's Day being an official feast day of the Anglicans.
By the 15th century, of the Middle Ages, Valentine's Day had morphed into a holiday where love bunnies declared their affection with things like flowers, candies, brownies and greeting cards, which came to be known as "Valentines."
I am not sure, yet, if any Honey Bunny is going to be cooking me a heart shaped Texas steak today. I can only hope....
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Fort Worth & Other Texas Town's Low Literacy Ranking
This morning I learned, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, in an article titled Texas cities fare poorly in measure of literacy, that Fort Worth's level of literacy will not be making this town the Envy of the Nation, coming in at #52, five ranks less literate than Dallas at #47.
The most literate city in Texas is Austin, at #23.
The most literate city in America is Washington, D.C., with #2 being Seattle, in the other Washington.
No mention of this literacy ranking was seen this morning in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. I highly doubt the mayor of Seattle will be opining that Seattle's high literacy ranking has made Seattle the Envy of the Nation.
Because making such a claim would be seen as really really goofy when made in an extremely literate town.
While such a claim can be easily made in Fort Worth.
Does making a goofy Envy of the Nation claim, about something in Fort Worth, not cause much local eye rolling because of the town's relative illiteracy? One can only wonder.
This America's Most Literate Cities study is a product of Central Connecticut State University. The study ranks cities with populations in excess of a quarter million, focusing on six key literacy indicators, those being the number of bookstores, Internet resources, library resources, the population's educational attainment, newspaper circulation and periodical publishing resources.
With most of my existence spent in the highly literate Seattle zone, then being exiled to the much less literate Fort Worth and Texas zone, it sort of explains one of my problems I encountered upon arrival in Texas.
I found I could not speak at the speed level I was used to using in the Pacific Northwest. I'd get in communication situations where I found myself not being understood. I soon learned to drawl my speaking speed down, at times.
There have been many times where a Texan has asked me if I am from England. Or Canada. Just last week, whilst depositing a check, the bank teller asked if I was from Boston. Boston? Why Boston I asked? Because of your accent, said he. I don't think this guy knew what a Boston accent actually sounds like. A Pacific Northwest accent is definitely not a Boston sounding accent.
Now to be fair, and Lord knows I am all about being fair, I have met many totally literate Texans. Gar the Texan comes to mind. Yes, I did find myself having to slow down my speaking speed to be understood, but not all that much. Elsie Hotpepper is another extremely literate Texan, albeit with a much more pronounced drawl than Gar the Texan.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy is a highly articulate, very literate Texan. But, in my experience in Texas, for every literate Texan Bud Kennedy there have been 3 or 4 Texan Dud Kennedy's who could have benefited from spending more quality time in school. And maybe reading something, somewhere, every once in awhile....
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Mayor Betsy Price Thinks Fort Worth Will Once Again Be The Envy Of The Nation
So, I logged in to Facebook to see I'd been tagged with an alert about Fort Worth's Mayor, Betsy Price, who has resurrected some Fort Worth verbiage that I thought had been rendered extinct, due to its tendency to cause giggling.
Then I got another email telling me that someone named Anonymous had made the following comment about the same subject...
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Damp Driving Texas Roads With No Sidewalks & Dangerous Telephone Poles":
Fort Lurch is once again the envy of the nation.
From the article: Fort Worth breaks ground on $97.5 million police, fire complex
"We will be the envy of the nation," Mayor Betsy Price said.
I am really curious as to what it is that is so special about this new police and fire training center that Betsy Price thinks the rest of America is going to be envious of it.
The painful reality is most of the rest of America knows pretty much nothing about Fort Worth, let alone knowing about something in Fort Worth that might make someone envious.
Now, do I want to go to the bother of adding this latest Green with Envy, Envy of the Nation type nonsense to my Green With Envy webpage?
Maybe I will let blogging about Fort Worth again being the Envy of the Nation suffice.
Damp Driving Texas Roads With No Sidewalks & Dangerous Telephone Poles
With me in no mood to put on my galoshes and walk under a bumbershoot, I opted to get in my daily salubrious endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation, today, by walking in Walmart.
My usual route to my neighborhood Walmart is via John T. White Road. Which might have you guessing correctly that that is John T. White Road in the photo, looking a bit damp.
As you can see, John T. White Road is a four lane boulevard, with a grass covered median.
And no sidewalks.
I think I've mentioned my opinion regarding Fort Worth's sidewalk shortage previously.
What I had not noticed, previously, til I looked at the photos I took today whilst driving, in all the years I've driven on John T. White Road, is how absurdly close utility poles are to this road, stuck in the ground where one might expect a sidewalk to be. Is this normal operating procedure to stick poles this close to a road? Seems sort of dangerous to me.
I remember during my month, that seemed like a year, in Tacoma, summer of 2008, I walked a lot of miles. I don't recollect walking any street in Tacoma that did not have a sidewalk, on both sides of the street, with most of the sidewalks being of the sort I've not seen in Fort Worth, as in about twice as wide as a Fort Worth sidewalk, with a landscaped strip between the sidewalk and the road.
I've not gone sidewalk inspecting in other Texas towns to see if this is a chronic Texas shortage, or just isolated to Fort Worth. I suspect this particular type shortage may be widespread in Texas.
Other than Fort Worth, the Texas towns I am most frequently in are North Richland Hills, Hurst, Pantego, Arlington and Bedford. I'll check those town's sidewalk situation the next time I am in those locations.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Walking With Frita Fremont Talking About Bikinis & Late Arriving Stale Christmas Cookies
I stuck a ham in the oven around 10 this morning, then a little before noon I pulled the ham to pour a glaze over it and then left my abode to go on a walk with Frita Fremont around my neighborhood.
I think I have mentioned Fort Worth's sad sidewalk deficiencies previously.
The example of a town without sidewalks, that you see in the above photo, is looking north, with the I-820 frontage road next to the pedestrian worn dirt path where a paved sidewalk would be in a modern American city with modern American amenities.
Enough about Fort Worth's sad sidewalk situation for now. Back to Frita Fremont.
Among the many interesting things Frita talked to me about today was her bikini issues. I really have no bikini issues of my own, so it is interesting to hear about the bikini issues of someone who does have bikini issues. I hope Frita is able to resolve her bikini issues before it is time for her to take a Spring Break down south on South Padre Island.
Changing the subject from Frita's bikini to the U.S. Postal Service.
I requested re-delivery, twice, left notes for the mailman, wrote a letter to the Postmaster. Got zero feedback and no package.
And then today I returned from my walk with Frita Fremont and what do I find? The long missing package mysteriously showed up at my door!
Sort of.
There was a note telling me where I could find the package. I went to that location and there it was. That is the tardy parcel post in the photo above, the box with the words "PRIORITY MAIL" printed a couple times on it.
I wonder how slow non-priority mail is?
What was in the box, I know you are sitting there wondering? Well. Christmas cookies. A tin filled with homemade stale Christmas cookies. I'd say more, but I really do try to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. Most of the time....
My Defective Walmart Air Bed Somehow Turned Into An OSHA Bed Bug Issue With Me Getting Some Beauty Rest
Yesterday I stuck the defective air bed back in its box and attempted to return it to "Satisfaction Guaranteed Or Your Money Back" Walmart.
There was no line when I got to the customer service center, which quickly removed one potential annoyance.
I sat the air bed box on the counter and handed the customer service guy the receipt whilst I explained how the air bad had massively failed upon first inflation.
And then the experience turned into a Seinfeld episode.
The customer service guy, in a very friendly manner, told me that it was good that I returned the product in its original box. And that it was good that I had the receipt.
But, if I was wanting my purchase price refunded, that was not possible, because I'd opened the box.
Huh? said I. How would I know the product was defective without opening the box? Walmart sold me a defective product, how can you not give me a refund?
It is an OSHA regulation about bed bugs and air beds, said the customer service guy.
Are you making some sort of joke, said I?
Another customer service person chimed in that it was not a joke, pointing me toward a list stuck to a wall, one of which was an OSHA regulation not allowing the return of air beds, due to bed bugs.
I asked the customer service guy why would the Occupational Safety & Health Administration have a rule about bed bugs and air beds that causes Walmart to not make good on its satisfaction guaranteed guarantee?
The customer service guy then totally empathized with me thinking this was totally nuts.
The customer service guy then told me that while Walmart could not refund the purchase price I could have in-store credit for the amount of the purchase price, or get another air bed of equal or higher price.
Why would I want to go through the bother of trying out another of these INTEK air beds, I asked?
The customer service guy then told me I could get an air bed from another manufacturer as a replacement.
I said something like are you telling me I can go get another air bed, that costs more than the the defective one, from a different brand?
Yes, was the answer.
So, I walked to where the air beds were located and picked up a Queen sized Beautyrest air bed.
The defective INTEK air bed cost something like $59.95, plus tax. The Beautyrest air bed cost $89.95.
I took the Beautyrest air bed to the customer service guy. He quickly made the transaction and had me sign something and gave me a new receipt.
I left Walmart with the new Beautyrest air bed, leaving the INTEK air bed with the customer service guy.
Now, why, if OSHA thinks returned air beds present a bed bug danger, did Walmart keep the possibly bed bug infested air bed?
Why could Walmart not simply refund my money and then stick the possibly bed bug infested air bed in to some HAZMAT container, prior to incineration?
I went to the OSHA website to see if I could find the specific regulation regarding bed bugs and air beds.
I found nothing about air beds. I did find some OSHA bed bug issues.
Googling 'air beds bed bugs' I found that there are people recommending that if you have a bed bug woe that you might want to switch to sleeping on an air bed, because air beds are not happy homes for bed bugs!
Like I said, like a Seinfeld episode....
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Don Young's SUPER Bash Report
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Below is Don Young's amusing account of this year's successful Brush Bash....
There was no power blackout and no delay of game at the, one-day-a-year Brush Bash at Tandy Hills Natural Area on February 2, 2013. But like that other big game last weekend ours game was one for the record book.
About 25 dedicated FOTHNA volunteers backed up by 50 workers from the Sheriff's Dept. took to the field sending more than 236 cubic yards of invasive, prairie-choking, woody plant material to the compost pile. We basically stiff-armed a bunch of privet into oblivion making a touchdown in the process.
City of Fort Worth PACS staff led by playmakers, Bobby Muriel and Billy Roden, went on the offensive, spending several days cutting the brush and treating the stumps at selected locations within the park. Michelle Villafranca and Suzanne Tuttle of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge double-teamed to help oversee the project that follows a key provision of the Master Plan playbook for Tandy Hills.
The new panoramic view from the Outdoor Classroom benches is like having seats to the Super Bowl on the 50 yard line minus the crowd.
Debora Young and Anne Aldefer were the key FOTHNA staffers huddled on the sideline making sure everything went according to plan and players enjoyed good field position until the play clock ran down. Longtime FOTHNA staffers, Phil Hennen and Myra Waldrop kept the brush moving downfield.
Game Balls went to every single worker who showed up. They were in the red zone most of the day insuring that 2013 was another championship season. Special Teams award goes to Scoutmaster Martin Grunow and the Scouts who helped remove an ancient pile of roofing shingles.
For those who failed to show or were on injured reserve, you will not be penalized BUT you missed a good one. There is no off-season for privet which is perpetually guilty of encroachment. We expect your participation next season. The Hall of Fame awaits you.
Check out post-game photos from FOTHNA super-volunteer, Scott Ausburn, here....
Flood Forces An Alternative Route To Walk With The Village Creek Indian Ghosts Pondering The J.D. Granger Memorial Plaque
A storm dropping a lot of water cuts back on my hiking, biking, walking options.
Walking around Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park is always doable, no matter how much flash flooding has flashed.
But, my usual Sunday constitutional takes place at the Village Creek Natural Historical Area where I walk with the Indian Ghosts who haunt the area.
So I drove to my usual entry place for my usual walk with the Indian Ghosts, sort of expecting the parking lot, and park, to be closed, due to flooding.
My park closed by flood expectation turned out to be correct. So, I drove to the east side of the Village Creek Natural Historical Area, to the Interlochen neighborhood. I knew the flooding would either have abated enough to allow a dry creek crossing, or I could just walk the trail in the Bob Findlay Linear Park and avoid Village Creek.
As you can see, via the picture above, at some point during last night's flash flooding water washed over the dam bridge, leaving some driftwood, but, by noon, the bridge was dry, and so I was able to do my regular Sunday walk with the Indian Ghosts, albeit from a different direction.
I was not the only person opting to enter the Village Creek zone via Interlochen. A lot of other people were walking around the "Park Closed Due To Flooding" gate.
Below you see one of those gate crashers walking across the dam bridge that usually is the first one I come to when I enter the park from the regular parking lot.
The water rushing under the dam bridge at high velocity made a very familiar noise which caused me to wonder how long it has been since I've last experienced a real waterfall. Turner Falls up in Oklahoma? Snoqualmie Falls up in Washington? Tandy Falls in Fort Worth?
Speaking of water in Fort Worth.
Today I read it again. I found one particular paragraph interesting.
"Bob developed Interlochen Estates, a select residential area featuring a sophisticated lake system. He received national attention on this development for his conversion of abandoned gravel pits located on a flood plain."
Reading the above paragraph had me wondering if some day in the future, 20 or 30 years from now, when, maybe, the Trinity River Vision is actually something someone can see, if a similar plaque might be installed on the shores of Pond Granger honoring the brains behind the TRV Boondoggle, J.D. Granger.
"J.D. developed the Trinity River Vision, a private economic development area with a sophisticated pond, built using public money, with no input from the public in the form of voting for the project. J.D. received national attention for his part in removing existing flood control levees, replaced with a massive flood diversion channel, which failed when first flooded, causing billions of dollars in damage, while losing an untold number of lives."
I somehow really doubt there will one day be a J.D Granger Linear Park in Fort Worth. Then again, I have seen some mighty strange things happen in this town.....
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Cold Tandy Hills Hiking With Giant Brush Piles & Asian Pears
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| View Street Trail View Of Downtown Fort Worth |
Yesterday the view, from the top of Mount Tandy, of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, was lit by a bright clear blue sky.
Today's view, from atop View Ridge, on the trail that leads to the Tandy Hills from View Street, was not lit by a bright clear blue sky.
The lack of a bright clear blue sky, mixed with a bit of fogginess, made for a less than stunning view of the skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth.
Yesterday I did my hill hiking attired on top with a t-shirt. Today I did my hill hiking attired on top under more than one layer, and still got cold, prior to amping up my heartbeat by running up a steep hill.
During the course of my hill hiking I came upon three other groups of hill hikers, with each hill hiker more appropriately attired than was I.
I think my temperature perception have been thrown off a bit due to the fact that I have gotten wet in the pool the past 3 mornings. I was not going to try swimming this morning, til l woke up my computer and saw the over night low had been 51 degrees, thus making the 24 hour average well above 50, thus meeting my swim temperature criteria.
I forgot to mention, as I walked the View Street Trail to the Tandy Hills I came upon the giant pile of brush you see in the picture.
I assume this giant pile of brush is left over from last Saturday's Tandy Hills Brush Bash.
Is this brush pile awaiting removal? Or is it to be used to make a giant bonfire during the upcoming Prairie Fest 2013, bringing people to the prairie, Saturday, April 27?
I can not remember the last time I experienced a giant bonfire. Homecoming, my senior year of high school?
Changing the subject from lighting up a Texas prairie to Town Talk.
There were an awful lot of Town Talkers today. The parking lot was overflowing, cars were parked on the lawn. Inside the store the congestion was not too stifling and checking out I had no wait.
I got a dozen Town Talk avocados today. I see a lot of guacamole in my future. Along with a lot of Asian Pears. And some White Cheddar Pirate Booty. Plus other stuff.
I did not see the Tamale Kid today working the Town Talk parking lot. I worry about the Tamale Kid.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Hiking The Tandy Hills With Herds Of Dogs Thinking About Dungeness Crab For Lunch
Today, the sky is clear, with downtown Fort Worth back being visible in all its splendor, which you can clearly see looking west across the old wagon trail that leads to where local legend claims the West began.
I came upon a hiking couple today who were hiking with a large herd of dogs of various sizes. All but one of the dogs was not on a leash. The unleashed dogs were very friendly. I did not feel in danger.
I looked for a Trout Lily today. I read in this month's Prairie Notes that the annual appearance of the illusive Trout Lily had arrived. I have yet to find a Trout Lily.
Changing the subject from the Trout Lily to the Best Hamburger in the Pacific Northwest, or, at least, Anacortes.
I heard from Spencer Jack this morning that his dad's restaurant in Anacortes had been determined by scientific data acquisition to have the Best Hamburger in Anacortes.
So, I blogged about this on my Washington Blog in a blogging titled The Fidalgo Drive-In Has The Best Hamburger In Anacortes.
Looking at my nephew's menu has me craving crab, of the Dungeness type. Crab and cod. And halibut and prawns.
And clam chowder.
I wonder if Spencer Jack's dad uses his grandma's (my mom's) clam chowder recipe? Because mom's is the best ever.
My nephew has absolutely no catfish on his menu. I can't imagine why...
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Taking A Fort Worth Risk Walking In A Town With A Sidewalk Shortage
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| Sidewalk Free Bridgewood Drive |
I can, maybe, understand not worrying about sidewalks on side streets. But no sidewalks on main roads? Like 4 lane roads which lead to commercial enterprises that people feel the need to walk to?
The thing that freshly annoyed me a couple days ago, regarding Fort Worth's apparent collective disregard for a modern amenity, like sidewalks, was seeing 6 kids on skateboards rolling along sidewalk-free John T. White Road.
John T. White Road is a 4 lane boulevard with a wide grass covered median separating the lanes. I drive John T. White Road to get to my neighborhood Walmart. John T. White Elementary School opened on John T. White Road last year.
It seems only common sense, to me, that you have sidewalks on a road that leads to a school and to a shopping district. And it seems borderline criminally negligent for a city to lack sidewalks on such roads.
Now, the City of Fort Worth can not claim lack of funds as the reason why Fort Worth can not have sidewalks to the level of most modern cities. Fort Worth has so many excess funds that it is spending around $1 billion to build an un-needed flood control economic development project called the Trinity River Vision.
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| A Little Bit Of Sidewalk Does Not Go A Long Ways |
I was freshly aggravated by Fort Worth's 3rd World-like sidewalk situation when I took a walk through my neighborhood this morning.
The two photos are looking south on Bridgewood Drive. As you can see in the photo at the top, locals have worn a dirt path along the sidewalk-less road.
In the second photo you are looking at a short section of sidewalk, which was installed when one of those ubiquitous dollar stores showed up a few years ago. Across the driveway there is no sidewalk in front of the Firestone store, or the Chevron station next to the Firestone stone.
Sidewalk-less Bridgewood Drive leads to dozens of businesses and restaurants, such as a Home Depot, several fast food joints, and a Luby's.
Would not one think that any city with pretensions of wanting to grow up and wear big city pants, let alone a town which regularly is the Envy of the Nation for various insipid things, would somehow manage to install sidewalks in its densely populated zones?
This subject is very perplexing to me, both the lack of sidewalks subject, and the fact that this lack does not seem to be an issue with anyone but me.
Very perplexing.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Mountain Biking Gateway Park With 5 Pounds Of Blue Cheese
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| Handlebars Over The Trinity River in Gateway Park |
This morning, when I made another swimming attempt, by the time I retreated to the hot tub, large drops of precipitation was precipitating. The drops dripping did not last long.
Currently, at the halfway point of this 1st Wednesday afternoon of the 2nd month of 2013, my computer based weather monitoring device is indicating the outer world at my location is being heated to a relatively balmy, for this time of the year, 74 degrees.
So, I have now opened my computer room window. This seems to have quickly raised the temperature in my computer room. Must I resort to having the ceiling fan spin to get some relief from this relentless warmth?
I refuse to turn on the air conditioning.
Unless we go over 80 in the outer world.
Because I was at Gateway Park I went to Town Talk, due to those two locations being neighbors. At Town Talk I got a giant 5 pound bag of blue cheese crumbles. What I am going to do with this much blue cheese I am sitting here, typing and wondering?
I guess I could make several gallons of blue cheese dressing. But then what would I do with several gallons of blue cheese dressing?
Spencer Jack's Possible Girl Friend's Birthday Dreams Come True With First Train Ride
In addition to the message in the email being "Spencer Jack's girlfriend", there was also a link to a Yahoo webpage article titled 3-Year-Old's Birthday Dreams Come True With First Train Ride.
From that Yahoo article we learn that all Madeline Dubois wanted for her 3rd birthday was to go on a train ride.
Madeline's dad filmed her ultra-cuteness as she saw the train approaching the station.
The video of Madeline's reaction to the incoming train was first posted on YouTube way back in March of 2011. In the past few days this video has gone viral, with hundreds of thousands of views.
I do not know if Spencer Jack has met fellow train aficionado, Madeline Dubois, yet.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Foggy Tandy Hills Hiking With Disappearing Trees
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| Fog Shrouded Downtown Fort Worth |
As I drove west I decided to change my hill hike plan to a walk plan and go to Oakland Lake Park instead.
And then the further west I drove the drier the outer world became. So, I reverted back to the Tandy Hills hike plan.
I parked on top of Mount Tandy and began my foggy hike. As you can see in the above picture, the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth is barely visible through the fog shroud.
I was soon pleased to discover that the trails of the Tandy Hills were totally dry, no mud anywhere.
The picture below shows some of today's dry Tandy trails. And the fogginess.
That hill you see in the background, with a trail leading up it, well, when I hiked up that trail I was a bit startled to see that the big shade tree I've always seen there had disappeared. And then when I got to the top of the trail I was even more surprised to find the area pretty much stripped of all un-natural vegetation.
I had discovered the location, well, at least one of the locations, of last Saturday's Brush Bashing, that being the systematic removal of non-native plants from part of the Tandy Hills prairie.
The Brush Bashing left this area rather bare, as you can see in the above picture. In the heat of summer this used to be a location where I would stand for a bit under the shade of the aforementioned tree.
In the picture, in the center background, you might be able to make out the 8 benches that were recently installed on the Tandy Hills, creating the Tandy Hills Amphitheater, now with a lot more open space.
Today was my first time back on the Tandy Hills in quite some time. I rather enjoyed it. I was not alone in enjoying the Tandy Hills today. I saw several other people doing some salubrious hill hiking.
A Foggy February Texas Swim With Drizzle
As you can, see via the view from my pool patio, in a picture taken around 9, the fog is shrouding visibility so much I can not see Albertsons, which is usually visible in this view.
A couple hours before the foggy picture was taken I left my abode to go swimming.
Yesterday the temperature reached into the 70s. This morning, when I woke up my computer, it was 58. I figured the pool would be more doable than it was yesterday morning.
More doable it indeed was. I lasted about 3 minutes, rather than 1, before I retreated to the hot tub.
The fog was so thick, in the early morn, that a drizzle drizzled heavily, coating the outer world in extreme dampness. It was like being near the ocean with no ocean nearby.
As you can see, via the screencap of the information provided by my computer based weather monitoring device, the sun is predicted to appear, eventually, today, with the temperature scheduled to almost get to 70. I suspect I will make another swim attempt tomorrow morning. It actually is quite enjoyable. Particularly the escape to the hot tub part...
Monday, February 4, 2013
Not Swimming With The Village Creek Turtles & Giant Insects
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| Giant Village Creek Insect |
I lasted a couple minutes in the pool and then sought the heat of the hot tub.
I did not know how damp my regular outdoor exercise locations were, so, for my daily mid-day constitutional, I went to a place where dampness is not usually an issue, unless we are in flash flood mode, a mode which usually closes the Village Creek Natural Historical Area.
I'd walked with the Indian Ghosts who haunt VCNHA yesterday. I don't recollect ever doing this two days in a row before, which makes today some sort of groundbreaking occasion. A groundbreaking occasion with giant insects on the ground, which were somehow rendered mostly non-mobile, which allowed me to get up real close for the picture you see above.
It was me who was feeling a bit skittish today. Last night's Super Bowl Party went on way too long. It was exhausting.
By the time the Super Bowl Party was over some of the people partying had consumed too much cranberry juice, to the point where I, responsible host that I be, could not allow them do drive home.
Having foreseen the possibility that my Super Bowl Party might end up with all the beds in my abode being occupied, yesterday I bought an air bed at Walmart to add a back up to the air bed I already had.
Well, it did not go well when I blew up the new air bed. It has/had a built in pump. That worked fine. But, when the air bed began to approach being full it made a very unseemly popping noise, then a swelling down the length of the middle of the bed, sort of making a divider, with a narrow sleeping zone on either side.
Changing the subject from my air bed issues back to Village Creek.
Now, with the next three photos, taken today at Village Creek, we'll be looking at a wider view than I usually show you.
Above you are looking at the overlook that looks over the Village Creek Blue Bayou. A couple years ago the overlook suffered bad damage from a bad flood. Arlington then totally replaced the overlook with a much more flood resistant structure. Arlington does a very good job of maintaining its parks in peak condition, unlike some towns.
Fort Worth comes to mind as a town a bit weak in the park maintenance department. Fort Worth's Gateway Park's boarded up, flood damaged, boardwalks, come to mind. These have been boarded up eyesores for years.
Above is another view of the Village Creek Blue Bayou zone. That structure you see in the foreground is a picnic table, in the mid ground is the aforementioned Blue Bayou Overlook, looking over the Blue Bayou.
Let's leave the Blue Bayou now and walk the paved trail across Village Creek.
I really don't see the need to have a railing at this location. Is a person going to somehow meander off the trail and fall in the creek without this impediment? The trail here leads to a dam/bridge across Village Creek, one of two in the Natural Historical Area.
This bit of trail is particularly fun whilst on a bike. One can pick up quite a bit of speed and then one must carefully negotiate the sharp turn lest one find oneself swimming with the turtles.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
I Did Not Ride A Recumbent Bike With The Village Creek Indian Ghosts Today Before The Super Bowl
All sorts of things slowed me up this 1st Sunday of the 2nd month of 2013.
So, I exited my abode intending to skip my regular salubrious endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation acquired via walking, running, hiking or biking and instead just go to Walmart to get some Super Bowl Party supplies.
Including an air bed.
But, when I exited my abode, and was hit with a very good feeling outer world, I decided to go for a walk with the Indian Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area in Arlington, before going to Walmart.
I saw six recumbent bikers biking with the Indian Ghosts today. I have never understood the attraction of recumbent biking.
Among the things that slowed me up today was getting caught up in an instant message texting frenzy with Frita Fremont. Frita was doing her frenzied instant messaging from Seattle, but I do not know if Frita Fremont was at the Fremont Sunday Market at the time.
Frita claimed I was acting all outraged in text message mode. Something to do with using a lot of exclamation points. All I was exclaiming was my bewilderment as to why Frita was inquiring about very very personal information, such as asking me what my shoe size is.
I do not believe I have ever asked anyone what their shoe size is. Or had anyone ask me mine. I shuddered at the impertinence, alarmed as to what followup questions would be asked if I allowed this particular line of questioning to continue.
Changing the subject from my mysterious shoe size to Walmart.
The store was a zoo. I suspect I was not the only one getting last minute Super Bowl Party supplies.
My Super Bowl Party menu is sweet potato chips, oven-fried chicken breast strips, coated with my proprietary whole wheat coating with 7 secret spices, oven-roasted garlic, olive oil red spuds, guacamole with cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate juice Sangria being the healthy libation.
I must figure out how to blow up an air bed now....
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Going With Frita Fremont To Gateway Park To Mountain Bike Ride
For weeks, it seems, either ailing with respiratory woes, or the air being way too cold, has left me with no desire to do any pedaling.
But, today, with me feeling fine and the temperature in the 60s, I took off to Gateway Park to ride the Fort Worth Mountain Bike Association (FWMBA) trail.
It is beginning to become just a bit spooky how many times, of late, I leave my abode to find my mobile telecommunication device making its incoming call noise, to discover it is Frita Fremont calling.
I am starting to wonder if Frita has me under some sort of surveillance. Perhaps a satellite view letting her know when my motorized vehicular transport is in motion. Frita is quite the Smart Phone guru. Is there some sort of spy app tech geeks can avail themselves of?
Whatever the explanation is for Frita's uncanny calling, Frita talked me all the way to Gateway Park, with one short intermission to get gas.
I usually call my mom when I get gas, but due to the fact that I had to cut Frita off, in mid soliloquy, I said I'd call right back after I was done pumping.
I called back a couple minutes later which had Frita exclaiming that I was a fast pumper. I really did not know what to say, so I simply agreed that I am a very fast pumper.
I was very pleased at how well the bike riding went. I must have been pedaling at a high rate of speed, due to it seeming as if I reached various landmarks very quickly.
Now that I am back in bike mode, I must make a habit of it again.
When I was done spinning my non-motorized wheels, I spun my motorized wheels to Town Talk. I thought it would be exceptionally busy today with Town Talkers stocking up for the Super Bowl. However, I suffered no being crushed in a crowd sensations.
I think I am totally ready for my Super Bowl Party.
Now I just need to go to the bother of finding out who is playing. I know Beyonce is doing the halftime show. I am not a fan. I do not think I could name a Beyonce tune. I would prefer it be Nicki Minaj. Now, that would be some reliable entertainment. She could start by taking off with her catchy Starship song.
I currently have my computer room window open.
It gets old, this weather pattern in Texas in winter, a few days cold, a few days not cold, a few days running the furnace, a few days with the windows open.
Up In Seattle Mount Rainier Comes Out For Fort Worth's Galtex's In Search Of Uwajimaya
Fort Worth residents, the Galtex's, are currently up in Seattle.
This morning I purloined the Mount Rainier picture from Gail Galtex when I saw it on Facebook.
When the Galtex's first visited Seattle a March or two ago, I opined that they would be very very lucky if the Mountain, as in Rainier, made an appearance. Well, they were lucky, an appearance was made.
And now, with the Galtex's in Seattle in the middle of Winter, I opined that they would be very very very lucky if the Mountain, as in Rainier, made an appearance.
Well, yesterday, the Mountain came out.
I suspect this has something to do with the upbeat natures of Mr. and Mrs. Galtex spreading sunshine wherever they go.
The Galtex's have been getting 'what to do' suggestions from natives, or former natives, familiar with what to do in the Seattle zone. One suggestion was to drive over Stevens Pass to Leavenworth.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to Seattle in time to provide taxi service.
I have two new suggestions.
One is ride the Super Ferry to Bremerton. It does not cost too much to walk on. Unless the fare schedule has changed since I was a Washingtonian, you pay only one way. A Washington Super Ferry is way bigger than the ferry you might be able to use to cross Fort Worth's Pond Granger if that lake ever floats anything.
Suggestion number two is to go to Uwajimaya. I saw on Facebook that the Galtex's have already been all over Pioneer Square, which is an actual square, unlike Fort Worth's Sundance Square.
Uwajimaya is in what is now known as Seattle's International District. When I was a kid this was known as Chinatown. Seattle's Chinatown was not nearly up to the par of the Chinatowns in San Francisco, Vancouver or Los Angeles. I don't know if that is why the name was changed to the International District. Or maybe it was some politically correct thing to be more inclusive with the other Asian cultures.
If the Galtex's have been watching Top Chef: Seattle they have seen Uwajimaya a couple times when a couple chefs went food shopping there.
Mr. and Mrs. Galtex, if you are reading this, it is very easy to find Uwajimaya . You can take the transit tunnel to the last station, that being the International District Station. Or walk from Pioneer Square to the Seahawk Stadium. There you will see the Union Station train building. Near there you will see a pedestrian bridge across the train tracks. Cross the bridge, on the other side you will come to a plaza and should see Uwajimaya.
In Uwajimaya you will find the best food court I have ever been to. Nothing like this exists in the D/FW Metroplex. Nor does anything like Uwajimaya exist in the D/FW Metroplex. Not that I've seen, anyway.
Hope the Mountain comes out for you again today!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Due To Danger You Must Not Smoke At My Neighborhood Chesapeake Energy Gas Pad Site
Soon upon leaving my abode my mobile telecommunication device made its incoming call noise. It was Frita Fremont. I'd not talked to Frita for a couple days.
So, Frita walked and talked with me til I got to my neighborhood Chesapeake Energy Barnett Shale Natural Gas Pad Site and saw a picture I wanted to take.
I told Frita I'd talk to her later, stuck the mobile telecommunication device in one pocket and took my digital photo taking device out of another pocket to take the picture you see above.
I am sure this sign has been stuck to this fence for quite some time. But I had not made note of it til I saw it whilst talking to Frita.
DANGER? NO SMOKING? PELIGRO? NO FUMAR?
What causes the DANGER? Is there some possibility that non-odorized natural gas may be leaking, un-detected, and thus pose an explosion risk?
Does the DANGER cease at the fence? Is there no DANGER across the street, at Albertsons? How about due west, at the apartment complex adjacent to this DANGER zone?
Non-odorized natural gas runs from the DANGER zone under the parking lot of the apartment complex due west.
If there is a chance of a leak causing a DANGER at the gas pad site, requiring a warning sign, why are there no NO SMOKING warning signs above the pipeline that runs under the apartment's parking lot?
I tell you, living in the Barnett Shale is very perplexing...
The First Freezing Day Of February Has Me Wishing I Was Lost & Found In Warm Washington
A clear blue sky with the ground level chilled to below freezing this morning, currently heated, about an hour before noon, to a couple degrees above freezing.
Mr. and Mrs. Galtex have escaped freezing in Texas to see what it is like to be in Seattle in the middle of winter. Currently they are reporting seeing the sun through the clouds.
Checking the Seattle temperature I see the Galtex's are about 10 degrees warmer than if they were still in Fort Worth.
This morning is the Grand Opening of Washington's newest store, that being the Lost & Found Thriftique in Tacoma's Stadium District. I do not know if the Galtex's are attending the Grand Opening. I was hoping to, but complications prevented that from happening.
One of the proprietresses having a proprietary interest in the Lost & Found Thriftique is Tacoma businesswoman, Connie DB, aka The Original Tacoma Lulu.
The Original Tacoma Lulu is a smart, amusing Lulu with exquisite good taste. With a funny, cute kid named George.
I don't know where I am going today for my daily dose of endorpin inducing aerobic stimulation. Are the Tandy Hills dry? Maybe I will check and see.
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