Russ Smith (aka Mugger) on the anniversary:
It's possible for two reasonable adults, probably older than 45, to argue for hours about the most significant pop music event of the 1960s. My own vote would be cast in favor of the Beatles' first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in February 1964, but a very close second is the release of their "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," the majestic album that will be 40 years old in early June. It's not that "Sgt. Pepper" is my favorite record from that era -- Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde" is -- but there's no denying the extraordinary influence that the Beatles' most famous achievement had not only in the music industry but this country's popular culture as well.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
KSKY in Dallas
KSKY has a pretty impressive daytime range out of Dallas. I drove from Athens to Palestine to Hearne and all the way to Round Rock today before I lost 'em.
The Townhall.com network grows its web.
The Townhall.com network grows its web.
Emergency Room as Admitance
I hate what seems to becoming a new way of admitting patients. Get a bad test result? Go get admitted at the emergency room and the doctor will come see you as soon as he can.
What is already the nightmarish process of getting admitted into a hospital becomes a six hour ordeal in a gown on a bed in a hall...with sick, injured people all around. To top it off, by getting admitted this way, the admittee becomes part of the problem for the ER.
It sucks.
What is already the nightmarish process of getting admitted into a hospital becomes a six hour ordeal in a gown on a bed in a hall...with sick, injured people all around. To top it off, by getting admitted this way, the admittee becomes part of the problem for the ER.
It sucks.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Quick Hits
1) I watched a little of the last Republican debate. I might have to look into Romney a bit more - I liked what I heard from him. As for Ron Paul, dude is a wacko. Michael, is he your Congressman?
2) My new most hated person is Paul Wolfowitz. What a piece of work he is. I was reading about his ongoing "problem" at the World Bank and saw a quote from him that alluded to the fact that he didn't the ethics rules at the WB applied to him. Wonder where he got that idea?
3) Are the Texas Rangers the worst baseball franchise? They suck this year, like they do most every year, and have never come close to winning anything - EVER! Yet, year after year, the media here in Dallas pumps them up and tries to convince the public that THIS year is THE year. They are on pace to lose 100 games this season. The owner seems more interested in buying an English soccer team (Liverpool) than having a decent baseball team. Not that I really care that much, since I've been anti-baseball since the first strike many years ago. But it gives me great pleasure to hear all the moaning on the sports talk shows and in the paper. Not that the Astros are anything to write home about this year....
4) I will be out of pocket until after Memorial Day (as I talked about here). I'm sure Michael and Scooter will carry on without me...and probably enjoy my absence.
2) My new most hated person is Paul Wolfowitz. What a piece of work he is. I was reading about his ongoing "problem" at the World Bank and saw a quote from him that alluded to the fact that he didn't the ethics rules at the WB applied to him. Wonder where he got that idea?
3) Are the Texas Rangers the worst baseball franchise? They suck this year, like they do most every year, and have never come close to winning anything - EVER! Yet, year after year, the media here in Dallas pumps them up and tries to convince the public that THIS year is THE year. They are on pace to lose 100 games this season. The owner seems more interested in buying an English soccer team (Liverpool) than having a decent baseball team. Not that I really care that much, since I've been anti-baseball since the first strike many years ago. But it gives me great pleasure to hear all the moaning on the sports talk shows and in the paper. Not that the Astros are anything to write home about this year....
4) I will be out of pocket until after Memorial Day (as I talked about here). I'm sure Michael and Scooter will carry on without me...and probably enjoy my absence.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Newt and Krauthammer on Dennis Miller
Newt and Krauthammer on Dennis Miller. This guy is on his way.
Romney
This is going to be interesting. HH and MM seem to heading toward an endorsement. I attended a 46th birthday celebration for my old college roommate, a die-hard leftie, who referred to Romney as Flitt Flopney, or something like that. The Left seems to really fear him.
Marriage Class Bill goes to Gov. Perry
From KEYE:
State lawmakers decided to tie a few strings to tying the knot in Texas, by offering incentives to couples who attend premarital counseling. Those who don't would be slapped with what opponents call a marriage tax.
Lawmakers agreed Tuesday to double the marriage license fee to $60, but that fee would only have to be paid by people who don't attend marriage classes before they walk down the aisle.
Proponents say they're just trying to save an institution, but critics say that's not the business of lawmakers.
I think I have to agree with the critics. This seems like a bad idea. What on earth is an additional $30 for the marriage license going to net those who decide to go to the counseling? I think it's pretty safe to say at that cost, it won't be one on one with a genuinely qualified counselor. This is going to be a lot more like an eight hour defensive driving class...stuffed in DMV-like office with 20 other couples watching short films of Marriages Gone Bad. I'm all for good ante-nuptial counseling but The State won't provide it. This is just another way to pry another $30 out of our pockets.
State lawmakers decided to tie a few strings to tying the knot in Texas, by offering incentives to couples who attend premarital counseling. Those who don't would be slapped with what opponents call a marriage tax.
Lawmakers agreed Tuesday to double the marriage license fee to $60, but that fee would only have to be paid by people who don't attend marriage classes before they walk down the aisle.
Proponents say they're just trying to save an institution, but critics say that's not the business of lawmakers.
I think I have to agree with the critics. This seems like a bad idea. What on earth is an additional $30 for the marriage license going to net those who decide to go to the counseling? I think it's pretty safe to say at that cost, it won't be one on one with a genuinely qualified counselor. This is going to be a lot more like an eight hour defensive driving class...stuffed in DMV-like office with 20 other couples watching short films of Marriages Gone Bad. I'm all for good ante-nuptial counseling but The State won't provide it. This is just another way to pry another $30 out of our pockets.
No single person can make a pencil...
Dr. Sowell reminds us:
If you start from a belief that the most knowledgeable person on earth does not have even one percent of the total knowledge on earth, that shoots down social engineering, economic central planning, judicial activism and innumerable other ambitious notions favored by the political left.
If no one has even one percent of the knowledge currently available, not counting the vast amounts of knowledge yet to be discovered, the imposition from the top of the notions favored by elites convinced of their own superior knowledge and virtue is a formula for disaster.
Sometimes it is economic disaster, which central planning turned out to be in so many countries around the world that even most governments run by socialists and communists began freeing up their markets by the end of the 20th century.
If you start from a belief that the most knowledgeable person on earth does not have even one percent of the total knowledge on earth, that shoots down social engineering, economic central planning, judicial activism and innumerable other ambitious notions favored by the political left.
If no one has even one percent of the knowledge currently available, not counting the vast amounts of knowledge yet to be discovered, the imposition from the top of the notions favored by elites convinced of their own superior knowledge and virtue is a formula for disaster.
Sometimes it is economic disaster, which central planning turned out to be in so many countries around the world that even most governments run by socialists and communists began freeing up their markets by the end of the 20th century.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Re: Dallas News TV
Certainly Channel 8 has always had the edge. And, certainly Hanson is an arrogant S.O.B. He's also good.
Skip Bayless was the same in the DTH when I slung it.
Skip Bayless was the same in the DTH when I slung it.
Re: Weather
BS? C'mon, Dallas and Houston are virtually the same.
If, otoh, you mean Denver doesn't have that much sunshine, I have to disagree. Lots of sun, it's the skin cancer capital of the world.
If, otoh, you mean Denver doesn't have that much sunshine, I have to disagree. Lots of sun, it's the skin cancer capital of the world.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Re: Dallas Morning News
Scooter, regarding your question about local news here. I normally watch ABC (channel 8). They are the leader, by far, in this market. Several months ago, they started broadcasting all their newscasts in HD. They also moved their studios to "Victory Park", which is the new development around the AAC (American Airlines Center). The setup is like a mini Times Square, with video screen and access for the public to see into the studio. Dale Hansen is the #1 sports guy. An arrogant s.o.b. One of the week-night female anchors (Macie Jepson) is mentioned all the time on 1310 The Ticket (she is rather well-endowed). The NBC station (channel 5) is #2. We sometimes watch them. Newy Scruggs is their sports guy and I like him. He's pretty funny and has a running thing with one of the guys on the Ticket- they REALLY don't like each other. CBS (channel 11) sucks and we never watch them. I think that is where the old color guy for the Cowboys (Babe Laufenberg) is the #1 sports guy. The main anchor, Tracy Rowlett, has been there forever and i thin k is retiring sometime this year. Or maybe not, I"ll never know because I never watch them.
Maroon/lumberyard
"What a maroon!" is a Bugs Bunny quote, instead of "What a moron!"
The "lumberyard" Chevy Chase quote is from Caddyshack, a term to indicate the hitter will make it to manual labor rather than the tour.
Update: This link is a bit more direct.
The "lumberyard" Chevy Chase quote is from Caddyshack, a term to indicate the hitter will make it to manual labor rather than the tour.
Update: This link is a bit more direct.
Language questions for Scooter
"Hit it into the lumberyard" means what, and where does it come from? 'Maroon," I assume is a play on "moron.' I've seen it a couple of times recently. Where does it come from?
Dan Patrick
I've admired him as an entrepreneur having missed his sports broadcasts. He's making a lot of noise in Austin.
Dallas Morning News
While I only read it rarely now, I still love it. (Disclosure: I slung the Dallas Times Herald in my youth.)
That doesn't mean it isn't suffering the fate of the NYT or the LAT in circulation.
LJ, I'd be interested on your thoughts about local TV news. Since I lived there while so young, much of my view is colored by the local sports anchors. Verne Lundquist at the ABC affiliate and Brad Sham at the CBS affiliate (back when it was channel 4)...glory days. The NBC guy died at least 15 years ago but he was great, too. I'm embarrassed that I can't recall his name. He was play by play for the Cowboys with Verne before Sham came in to sit in with Verne as color. I think I have that right.
And the NBC affiliate had a great, crusty, genuine meteorologist Harold Taft. Bob Shieffer began his career there.
That doesn't mean it isn't suffering the fate of the NYT or the LAT in circulation.
LJ, I'd be interested on your thoughts about local TV news. Since I lived there while so young, much of my view is colored by the local sports anchors. Verne Lundquist at the ABC affiliate and Brad Sham at the CBS affiliate (back when it was channel 4)...glory days. The NBC guy died at least 15 years ago but he was great, too. I'm embarrassed that I can't recall his name. He was play by play for the Cowboys with Verne before Sham came in to sit in with Verne as color. I think I have that right.
And the NBC affiliate had a great, crusty, genuine meteorologist Harold Taft. Bob Shieffer began his career there.
Houston and Dallas
Couple of more thoughts:
LJ is right about the dry parts of Dallas and its 'burbs. I remember growing up in what used to be North Dallas in the 60s and 70s...one would be driving around, cross a major street and all of a sudden there would be trash everywhere. Why trash on one side of the street and not the other? The trashy side was wet and the other side dry.
Zoning and No Zoning: As my compadres know or probably suspect, as a free marketeer, I favor Houston's approach. The less regulations the better, notwithstanding any "nimby" feelings I might have about where I might live. I would NEVER live in a community with "deed restrictions" and an HOA. As Michael learned, busybodies have way too much time on their hands. Living in a city with zoning laws (and boy do I ever) gives the guvmint that authority that I don't even want to cede to an HOA over which I theoretically could exercise more control. If I want to put my truck up on blocks, then I'm going to do it. This misanthrope would rather live out in the boonies...but close enough to enjoy the benefits. And here I am living in the most meddlesome city in the state.
I'd say the weather is a draw...October/November and March/April being the best months in either city give or take.
Having lived in Dallas for my 18 formative years and in Houston for 10, my main conclusion is that the two cities are more similar than either would like to admit.
What about "friendliness?" I know this is Tejas, but I honestly found Houston a bit friendlier. Not sure what to make of that.
LJ is right about the dry parts of Dallas and its 'burbs. I remember growing up in what used to be North Dallas in the 60s and 70s...one would be driving around, cross a major street and all of a sudden there would be trash everywhere. Why trash on one side of the street and not the other? The trashy side was wet and the other side dry.
Zoning and No Zoning: As my compadres know or probably suspect, as a free marketeer, I favor Houston's approach. The less regulations the better, notwithstanding any "nimby" feelings I might have about where I might live. I would NEVER live in a community with "deed restrictions" and an HOA. As Michael learned, busybodies have way too much time on their hands. Living in a city with zoning laws (and boy do I ever) gives the guvmint that authority that I don't even want to cede to an HOA over which I theoretically could exercise more control. If I want to put my truck up on blocks, then I'm going to do it. This misanthrope would rather live out in the boonies...but close enough to enjoy the benefits. And here I am living in the most meddlesome city in the state.
I'd say the weather is a draw...October/November and March/April being the best months in either city give or take.
Having lived in Dallas for my 18 formative years and in Houston for 10, my main conclusion is that the two cities are more similar than either would like to admit.
What about "friendliness?" I know this is Tejas, but I honestly found Houston a bit friendlier. Not sure what to make of that.
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