Category Archives: Misc.

June 11, 2016 – The Zombie Apocalypse or Brain Free Politicians

Posted on July 11, 2016 | 3 comments

June 11, 2016 – The Zombie Apocalypse or Brain Free Politicians

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In case you doubt the zombie apocalypse please know one of the zombies is alive and well and lives in the Texas Lt. Governor’s body. Like many of the others who work under the current dome of doom, his brain has been missing for decades.

In the midst of the tragedy in Dallas, Dan Patrick (DP) told Fox News the protesters were hypocrites for running the opposite direction when shots rang out. I was not raised in the city, so I am not certain the protocol for when people are shooting at you in large urban areas. In the country, however, when someone is shooting at me, unless I am in the military or law enforcement I am hauling my ass the opposite direction.

The Brainless Wonder went on to blame the organization Black Lives Matter for the entire incident. Once again, I am not certain of your raising, DP, but that judgement and blaming thing does not sound too Christian.

As you tried to name the amendments you support – “Second Amendment and Freedom of Speech,” you seemed to have forgotten Freedom of Speech is not an amendment. It is one of the unalienable rights listed in the First Amendment. The First Amemendent also includes the Right to Peaceful Assembly. The First amendment also addresses freedom of Religion, Press and Petition. Oh that is correct; you zombie politicians on quote the amendents you like.

Brainless Wonder would go to say on KSKY660 AM radio that he questioned Dallas Police Chief’s decision regarding uniforms for his department. DP suggested short sleeve shirts and less body armor to appear less menacing.

In a morning radio call to KSKY/660 AM host Mark Davis, Patrick even questioned Dallas Police Chief David Brown’s choice for officers to wear their more friendly summer shirtsleeves instead of menacing body armor. http://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/bud-kennedy/article88612122.html

DP? Do you not have anything better to do that to tell people where to go to the bathroom and how to dress for work?

God Bless Texas and Dallas and keep your voter registration card current.

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Road side sign – Hearne Texas – 2014. Photo by me.

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Thursday, July 7, 2016 – The Grand Jury or It Depends

Posted on July 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

Thursday, July 7, 2016 – The Grand Jury or It Depends

Yesterday: Brazos District Court Voir Dire

Court Clerk: “As your name is called, please take a seat in the jury box. Name # 1. Name # 2. Name # 3 DRD.” Oh crap, that is me. I was both excited and nervous.

Court Clerk “You three will be the Foreman, Secretary and Alternate Foreman. Do you have any objections?” I like that, Alternate Foreman.

Court Clerk: – Do you have any questions?

Me: “Yes, Does this honor come with a crown or sash of some sort? Perhaps a pretty name badge?” OK, I thought about it, but did not ask. It does come with $40 per day and free parking.

Nine other names and four alternates were called and seated in the jury box. The remaining people happily walked out the door. The judge then administered the oath and we all swore or affirmed we would do whatever he had just said.

We were then escorted to the third floor to meet with another lawyer to explain what we had just sworn or affirmed to do. Here is a paraphrase of his presentation.

The Grand Jury listens to cases to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a trial. The members of the GJ do not determine guilt or innocence or sentencing.

You may hear anywhere from five to fifty or more cases per day. Most of them will be felonies. You will be surprised what people will steal from Wal-Mart.

Hopefully, this will be fun and educational for you. You will learn much about the legal system. Law enforcement officials will give presentations and demonstrations. You will get to see what cocaine looks like and what marijuana smells like. Yes, Ms. Alternate Foreperson?

No, there will not be opportunities for sampling the products.

More blah, blah, blah, yadda yadda yadday and then came the question that I know was on every one’s mind. From the back of the room an older gentleman raised his hand and said, “I have to go to the bathroom a lot. Will there be breaks?” If looks were hugs this man just got a huge grand jury group hug.

Yes, you may take as many breaks as you need.

What a relief. Here’s what I’m thinking. I am about to spend the third Thursday of each month from July to December with these people. We will determine the course or direction one’s life will take. And it all Depends on the size of our respective bladders. See you in court!

Door decorations

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Posted in Education, humor, Misc., Native Texan, Politics

Tuesday, July 5, 2016 – Yes Your Honor.

Posted on July 5, 2016 | 2 comments

Tuesday, July 5, 2016 – Yes Your Honor.

I received a jury summons to appear at the 85th District Court of Brazos Valley. I have to appear on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at 1:30. I really would not mind sitting as part of the jury of one’s peers. However, I doubt I shall be called. High ranking military, educators, and those with advanced degrees are seldom called to actually sit on a jury. This is not due to being smarty pants, but just the opposite. We are the type who think too much and slow down the judicial process. The objective is to get these incarcerated people onward through the fog and locked firmly in the system.

I am concerned that if I am chosen I would not have enough appropriate clothing to wear. According to the website, there is a Dress Code. http://www.brazoscountytx.gov/index.aspx?NID=320

Here are the minimum standards and my comments.

All persons, whether lawyers, parties, witnesses, jurors, or spectators, conducting business, participating in trials, or otherwise attending proceedings in the courtroom shall be dressed appropriately so as to maintain the dignity, integrity, decorum, seriousness and professional atmosphere of the Court and the administration of justice. As minimum standards, the following rules apply:

  • All attorneys shall wear professional appropriate attire. If my lawyer has to be told to wear appropriate attire, then I am getting a new lawyer.
  • No clothing that depicts alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. Are we still talking about lawyers?
  • No clothing that promotes violence or is lewd, offensive, vulgar, or contains obscene language. So I guess wearing that Alabama shirt is out.
  • Not hats or caps. Oh come on! Not even my pink Titleist cap that I only wear for special occasions?
  • No pants that are excessively long or sag below the top of the hip line. Are we talking about hip huggers?
  • No shorts, short dresses or short shirts. NO SHORTS! Do dresses and skirts apply only to females? That’s discrimination.
  • No sunglasses. But I wear Ray-Bans!
  • No tube-tops, halters, half shirts, muscle shirts, crop tops or any shirt that allows the naval or a bra to show. Obviously these people have never been to a parent teacher conference in East Montgomery County where this is considered acceptable. If one’s naval and bra shows at this same, this is also discriminatory against older women.
  • No underclothing shall be visible at any time. Are tank tops considered underclothing?

I noticed a few rules that might be missing.

The Dress Code does not say one must wear undergarments. That does not bring a pretty image to my imagination.

The Dress Code has no language about bling or other jewelry.  That should include jeans with rhinestones on the buttocks area.

The Dress Code has no rules against spandex. There should be penalties for sales people who sell spandex clothing to certain body types. That material was not originally designed to stretch that far.

There is no mention of wearing crowns. Therefore I am within the guidelines of the dress code. I could wear this sans sunglasses.

Me on throne (600x800)

I notice there is no mention of flip flops or other footwear or that one even has to wear footwear. I am debating between wearing my brown closed toed shoes to indicate a conservative point of view or my nice Birkenstocks to indicate the opposite. I could wear the Birks with mismatched socks to indicate just overall weirdness.

I do not find out if I am needed until after 6:00 PM today. There is a number I must call. If I must show up I must bring my online summons and a pen. Really? I have to bring my own writing implement!

I suppose I will dress like the State Farm guy in the TV commercial. What are you wearing? Khakis.

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Tuesday, June 28, 2016 – Random Thoughts from the Left Field of my Mind.

Posted on June 28, 2016 | 1 comment

Tuesday, June 28, 2016 – Random Thoughts from the Left Field of my Mind.

Life has been too sad lately so today I shall share some of my left field thoughts regarding TV commercials. Let’s laugh.

How long have those two Sonic guys been doing commercials? One would think as many years and as many items as they eat at Sonic they would weigh 300 pounds and have cholesterol and blood pressure readings off the charts.

Have you seen the commercial for bleach where the fake scientists put a bull wearing a T-shirt in a trailer lines with jars filled with stains? My question is this. How do they get the bull to wear the T-shirt?

Have you noticed that just as you sit down for dinner there is a commercial about something to do with one’s nether yeha? Just as you take a bite of that taco there is a commercial for laxatives, irritable bowels, bladder overflow, yeast infections, prostate testings and all other “living better through chemicals” that are made to stop or start the above mentioned topics.

And speaking of nether yehas. What is with the erectile dysfunction boner drug and the bathtubs? Don’t stop to take a pill or find a bathroom. Are they going to do it in the bathtubs? Are they going to do it in a bathroom? Does the drug only work around plumbing fixtures?

Why hasn’t Bob Dylan or Joan Baez been appointed United States Poet Laureate? Aside from the fact that neither would accept such a bourgeois appointment. I am not sure how my brain synapted from ED drugs to Dylan and Baez. I warned you about random thoughts from left field of my mind.

Stay cool on thisTuesday. It is still pretty cool in Texas. The temperature has not reached triple digits yet. Should happen on The Fourth of July.

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July 4, 2014 – George H. W. Bush Library. College Station, Texas. Photo by me.

Go to a Sonic to cool off with a slushy drink. Perhaps you will see the two guys.

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Thursday, July 23, 2016 – Here’s What I’m Thinking Will Delayed Today

Posted on June 23, 2016 | 2 comments

Thursday, July 23, 2016 – Here’s What I’m Thinking Will Delayed Today

I have to go to the doctor for little procedure to check out something in the nether land area. Check back later when I return home. Given the location of the procedure video will not be available. Turn to your cable channel if you want to see anything gross.

Nov 2013 2013-08-24 156 (800x530)

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Tuesday, June 21, 2016 – Another Hero of The Greatest Generation – Thank You for Your Service, Sir.

Posted on June 21, 2016 | Leave a comment

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 – Another Hero of The Greatest Generation – Thank You for Your Service, Sir.

Four years ago this month I had the honor and privilege of being on an Honor Flight from Austin, Texas with 25 WWII Veterans. It was the maiden Honor Flight taking these heroes to see the memorial in their honor. Mr. Ray Halliburton was one of them.

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Dr. Tom Matthews, Ray Halliburton and J.V. McClananhan. The Boys from Luling, Texas .Photo by me.

Mr. Ray had never been to Washington D. C. I snapped this photo of him just as we arrived at the WWII Memorial.

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Mr. Ray died on June 11 2016 at age 91 years. His obituary follows. It is interesting. However, I encourage you to click on the link at the end. It is a link to a Smithsonian Article published in January 2016 about him. You can read his words about the sacrifice he and all veterans make for us daily.

From the Gonzales Paper – Ray Halliburton, of Luling, died June 11, in Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio. He was born November 14, 1924. In 1944 he was drafted into the US Army and went to basic training at Camp Walters, in Mineral Wells.  He was a Corporal when he went ashore in France in July 1944, one month after D-day.  He was a member of K Company, Third Battalion, Tenth Infantry Regiment, Fifth Infantry “Red Diamond” Division, in Patton’s Third Army.

He fought three months of fierce combat across 500 miles and had risen to staff sergeant and squad leader.  He was 20 years old. He was captured on December 5, 1944, just outside Saarbrucken, Germany, when his unit advanced ahead of the others. He was liberated by the Russian Army in 1945 from Lukenwalde. He was a farmer and rancher for most of his working life.

Thanks Ray. Glad I got to know. You made a difference to me and to the world we live in.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/portrait-american-hero-greatest-generation-180957678/?no-ist

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Thursday, June 16, 2016 – Golf, Heat and Snakes (or other reptilian or amphibious water creatures.)

Posted on June 16, 2016 | Leave a comment

Thursday, June 16, 2016 – Golf, Heat and Snakes (or other reptilian or amphibious water creatures.)

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If you can’t stand the heat, then get off of the golf course. If you are going to play golf in Texas one must learn to play in the heat. First of all, it is not that hot in Texas. It is still only June with temperatures in the low 90’s and the heat index around 100. We still have July and August when the temperature is around 100 degrees at 8:00 in the morning and the index is around 120 degrees around 10 PM at night.

Summer in Texas was part of the Hell Deal – you know when God kicked Lucifer out of Heaven? God said “Look, you can have Hell or Texas.” So the devil took Hell because it was too hot in Texas in July and August.

Seriously pay attention to the heat. Know how to prepare – hydrate, hydrate and hydrate. Pay attention to your body.

Other safety tips concern lost golf balls in hazards. Golf hazards are those places known to golfers as “where the monkeys have coitus.” It includes, but is not limited to water, weeds, tall grass, trees, wooded areas, a person’s yard or porch, and the next fairway.

Here’s what I’m thinking about lost golf balls in locations when I cannot see it upon first look. FORGET IT! See, my insurance deductible for a snake bite is $50 for an ER visit. Golf balls are only $25.00 a box. Heck, even Titleist golf balls are around $50. My insurance does not cover trauma and new underwear should I even see a snake. I know my insurance does not cover trauma and needed counseling should an alligator or some other Godzilla creature leap at me. I will take the penalty strokes.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2016 – Wednesday Golf and Yu So Yung

Posted on June 16, 2016 | Leave a comment

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 – Wednesday Golf and Yu So Yung

Start: 8:30 AM Finish: 12: 20 PM

Today my inner Korean golfer showed up to play. Her name is Yu So Yung. Her evil twin sister, Yu So Suk usually shows up. I had a gross score of 101. With my handicap and the game of the today I was leading with an 84 with one group still out when I left.

Now lest you think I am a good golfer, there are several things you should know. For example, most of the women I play with at the Briarcrest CC are charter members. Charter like in Mayflower Charter because that is how old they are. So I gained an advantaged when two of the foursome in front dropped out of play on Hole 13 due to the heat. The remaining two dropped out of play on Hole 15.

My group was able to play the entire 18, but three of them were so fatigued by Hole 14 it caused them to make poor strokes.

As I mentioned one group was behind mine. I am not certain of their status. They may have all dropped out. They may “have dropped dead on the golf course.”

Meanwhile, I am very hydrated, accustomed to playing in the heat; and in such great shape (thank you Krystal), that Yu So Yung is playing every hole. And I still have gas in the tank.

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ESSO Station outside Lexington, Texas – 2015. Photo by me.

My recommendation for being in the lead when playing golf is this.

One should play with old, out of shape women who have to drop out at various holes of play. If you are one of the few who is still playing at Hole 18, then you might get to be the leader.

Golf pairings are who you are assigned to play with during that round. I am not sure of the criteria used for golf pairings, but here’s what I’m thinking. I am pretty sure one of them for this group is “at least one person in each foursome must know CPR and/or has a medical background.”

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 – Vexillology – Flag Day

Posted on June 14, 2016 | 2 comments

Tuesday, June 14, 2016 – Vexillology – Flag Day

Good morning Boys and Girls. Our vocabulary word for today is “vexillology.” It is a noun that means – the study of flags.

Today is Flag Day. Your homework assignment is to study this one. I like it.

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Atrium at the George H. W. Bush Library – College Station, Texas. Photo by me.

The AP version of this assignment is to locate all of the episodes of The Big Bang Theory where Sheldon (and Amy) record his internet hit series Fun With Flags and post them to my timeline.

Meanwhile I am going to study the tiny little flags that sit on poles that rest in 4.25 inch diameter holes on some pretty green grass. There are eighteen of them.

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Monday, June 13, 2016 – It Was Supposed to be About Baseball Today, But Instead …While my guitar gently weeps.”

Posted on June 13, 2016 | 1 comment

Monday, June 13, 2016 – It Was Supposed to be About Baseball Today, But Instead …While my guitar gently weeps…”

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Could you have at least waited until the people were identified before you begin taking sides, assigning blame, politicizing and Bible tweeting about the Orlando tragedy? Both of them. What happened to “love one another?”

The song, While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was written by George Harrison and Paul McCartney. It is on The White Album. However, for today I chose this soul filled version by Carlos Santana. The lyrics seem so profound today.

It was supposed to be about baseball today… but baseball is just a game.

Tears, hope and peace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axkSwfX1Kms

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