Some TX Events This Week. Mussels, Plants, Birds, Fish, Stars, Dutch Oven Cooking, Butter Churning, Bats, Dragonflies, Geocaching and More. Yosemite. Model T.

 

For "Travel Tuesday":  Now that it is cooling off, the fun starts:

October 2013

"October 1

Public Meeting on New Rules to Fight Zebra Mussels

Cabela’s,12901 Cabelas Drive, Forth Worth, TX 76177

In the state’s ongoing effort to combat the spread of invasive zebra mussels, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved for public comment new proposed rules requiring that all boats operating on public water in 17 Northeast Texas counties be drained after use.

----

October 2

Beginner Bird Walk - Shore Walk

Goose Island State Park

Meet a Park Ranger at the Goose Island State Park fishing pier for a morning bird walk.

----

October 3

Home School Days in October 2013

Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site

----

October 3

Edible Plants

Goose Island State Park

This easy one mile hike focuses on learning to identify some of the edible plants growing on Turk's Cap Trail. This is also a wonderful time to watch for wildlife.

----

October 3

Sunset Cruise

Inks Lake State Park

Experience the beauty of a sunset over Inks Lake from our unique electric boat.

----

October 4

Beginner Bird Walk- Woods Walk

Goose Island State Park

Meet a Park Ranger for a beginner bird walk in the wooded camping area of Goose Island State Park.

----

October 4

"Texas BROADSIDE! 2013"

Battleship Texas State Historic Site

TEXAS Broadside Wargaming weekend.

----

October 4

“Ecosystems Approach to Wildlife Management, putting it all together” First Friday Tours, Part 3 of 3

Kerr Wildlife Management Area

3rd and final seminar discussing white-tailed deer management, grazing management, prescribed burning, brush control and endangered species.

----

October 4

Civilian Conservation Corps- Natural Design and Architecture

Goose Island State Park

Learn about some of the design concepts employed by the National Parks Service that over saw the design and construction of Civilian Conservation Corps parks.

----

October 4

Big Tree

Goose Island State Park

What makes the Big Tree special? Meet a Park Ranger at the Big Tree to learn a little of the Big Trees history.

----

October 4

Fall Foliage Tour

Caprock Canyons Trailway

Breathtaking views of the fall foliage along the Caprock Canyons Trailway.

----

October 4

Big Bend Ranch State Park Photo Tour

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Come take a Photo Tour with us to enjoy the true photographic magnificence and backcountry camping of Big Bend Ranch State Park. You will be able to photograph and camp in areas of the park that are only accessible via primitive roads, impassable to all but 4-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicles. Each tour goes to a different location within the park.

----

October 4

Sunset Cruise

Inks Lake State Park

Experience the beauty of a sunset over Inks Lake from our unique electric boat.

----

October 4

Quit bugging out!

Ray Roberts Lake - Johnson Branch Unit

Come learn about insects and how they communicate!

----

October 4

Texas Outdoor Family | Garner State Park (Central Texas) | Special Two Night Event | (OPEN)

Garner State Park

Visit this legendary camping destination in the Fall and enjoy the turning of the bald cypress trees, the crisp air, and the calm flowing waters of the Frio River.

----

October 4

Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Concert

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

----

October 4

Twilight Hike

Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Isle Du Bois Unit

Take a hike under the stars!

----

October 4

Owl Prowl

Caddo Lake State Park

Spend an evening with the owls!

----

October 4

Friday Evening Campfires

Stephen F. Austin State Park

Campfire presentation and activities

----

October 5

Junior Ranger Explorer- 50 Species Hike

Goose Island State Park

Can you find 50 species of insects, mammals, bird, reptiles, plants, and fungi at Goose Island State Park? Join a park ranger on a 1 mile hike and look for 50 species.

----

October 5

Beginning Fly Fishing Class

Colleyville, TX

Learn the basics of fly fishing.

----

October 5

Go Fish! Learn-to-Fish Event

McKinney Falls State Park

Please note DATE CHANGE to Oct 5th. Families can learn the basics of fishing through fun, hands-on activities.

----

October 5

Trees and Plants of Caddo Lake State Park

Caddo Lake State Park

Enjoy a ranger-led hike on the three-quarter mile Caddo Forest Trail, and learn how to identify common trees and plants of Caddo Lake State Park.

----

October 5

Texas Outdoor Family | Franklin Mountains State Park (West Texas) | (OPEN)

Franklin Mountains State Park

This unique West Texas State Park highlights the features of this very beautiful region! This will surely be an adventure your family never forgets.

----

October 5

MIGRATORY BIRDS

Cooper Lake State Park/South Sulphur Unit

----

 

October 5

Dutch Oven Cooking: History in a Black Pot

Tyler State Park

----

 

 

October 5

Guided Biking Tour

Greenbelt Corridor Trail

Explore the Greenbelt from your bicycle!

----

October 5

Nature Hike

Lockhart State Park

----

October 5

Memorial Dedication

Riverside Cemetery, 1810 5th St., Wichita Falls, Tx.

Historic Marker dedication and celebration for Buffalo Soldier Felix Lindsey

----

October 5

A Lasting Legacy: The Civilian Conservation Corps

Mission Tejas State Park

Learn about the men that built the foundation of Texas State Parks

----

October 5

Geocaching 101

Ray Roberts Lake - Johnson Branch Unit

Come learn all about geocaching, with a fall-themed twist!

----

October 5

Geocaching 101

Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center

Come join the high-tech treasure hunt.

----

October 5

Nature Journaling

Goose Island State Park

Nature journaling is a way to keep track of the interesting things you encounter in the world around you. It also provides a place to record your thoughts and an opportunity to learn about plants, animals, and the world around you.

----

October 5

Penn Farm Tour

Cedar Hill State Park

----

October 5

 Art Is For The Birds!

Caddo Lake State Park

Bring the children to this fun program about birds! Activities are geared toward children ages 6-12, but it's fun for the whole family!

----

October 5

Geocaching 101 Workshop

Inks Lake State Park

Get some tips, tricks, and the skills you need to discover the awesome outdoor game called geocaching!

----

October 5

Butter Churning with Lucinda

Cedar Hill State Park

----

October 5

Trees and Plants of Caddo Lake State Park

Caddo Lake State Park

Enjoy a ranger-led hike on the three-quarter mile Caddo Forest Trail, and learn how to identify common trees and plants of Caddo Lake State Park.

----

October 5

Goin' Batty

Caprock Canyons State Park

Go "batty" playing bat games all while learning about bats!

----

October 5

Kiowa Traditional Dance

Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site / Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway

Kiowa Traditional Dance: Saturday October 5th; 5:00pm-8:00pm – This will be our first annual traditional Kiowa dance. The public is welcome to participate. Program is free, although park entry fees apply.

----

October 5

October is Archeology Month!

Lockhart State Park

----

October 5

Dragonflies: Hunters of the Skies

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Come find out about, then search for, these fierce predators.

----

October 5

History of the Park

Stephen F. Austin State Park

Park history presentation and discussion.

----

October 5

Geocache Treasure Hunt

Cooper Lake State Park/South Sulphur Unit

----

October 5

Arts and Nature

Martin Creek Lake State Park

Have fun learning about nature through arts and crafts

----

October 5

Geocaching 101- Cache and Craft

Goose Island State Park

Learn the basics of geocaching! Then use your new skills to find hidden geocaches and complete a craft.

----

October 5

Survival Series: Fire Starting

Inks Lake State Park

Learn basic survival skills and earn the confidence to enjoy the outdoors.

----

October 5

North Texas Skywatch Star Party

Lake Mineral Wells State Park

“The stars at night are big and bright . . .” in our Texas State Park!

----

October 5

Photography Hike

Martin Creek Lake State Park

Basic Nature Photography

----

October 5

Dark Sky Kid’s Corner

Lake Mineral Wells State Park

Night sky activities for kids!

----

October 5

Flintknapping

Copper Breaks State Park

Demonstration of the ancient art of making stone tools.

----

October 5

Paleos of the Panhandle slide-show

Caprock Canyons State Park

A look into Paleo Indian culture in the Caprock Canyonlands.

----

October 5

Skytellers – Native American Stories of the Night Sky

Lake Mineral Wells State Park

Storytelling, at a Star Party? . . .yes, hear old stories and how they relate to newer discoveries.

----

October 5

Sky Exploration

Lake Livingston State Park

Learn about the stars and constellations visible above Texas.

----

October 6

Camping for Kids

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Kids, master your camping skills and earn a certificate.

______

As you can see there is a lot going on in TX this week!

______

On This Day:

Yosemite National Park established, Oct 1, 1890:

"On this day in 1890, an act of Congress creates Yosemite National Park, home of such natural wonders as Half Dome and the giant sequoia trees. Environmental trailblazer John Muir (1838-1914) and his colleagues campaigned for the congressional action, which was signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison and paved the way for generations of hikers, campers and nature lovers, along with countless "Don't Feed the Bears" signs.

Yosemite's natural beauty is immortalized in the black-and-white landscape photographs of Ansel Adams (1902-1984), who at one point lived in the park and spent years photographing it. Today, over 3 million people get back to nature annually at Yosemite and check out such stunning landmarks as the 2,425-foot-high Yosemite Falls, one of the world's tallest waterfalls; rock formations Half Dome and El Capitan, the largest granite monolith in the U.S.; and the three groves of giant sequoias, the world's biggest trees."

______

Ford Motor Company unveils the Model T, Oct 1, 1908:

"On October 1, 1908, the first production Model T Ford is completed at the company's Piquette Avenue plant in Detroit. Between 1908 and 1927, Ford would build some 15 million Model T cars. It was the longest production run of any automobile model in history until the Volkswagen Beetle surpassed it in 1972.

Before the Model T, cars were a luxury item: At the beginning of 1908, there were fewer than 200,000 on the road. Though the Model T was fairly expensive at first (the cheapest one initially cost $825, or about $18,000 in today's dollars), it was built for ordinary people to drive every day. It had a 22-horsepower, four-cylinder engine and was made of a new kind of heat-treated steel, pioneered by French race car makers, that made it lighter (it weighed just 1,200 pounds) and stronger than its predecessors had been. It could go as fast as 40 miles per hour and could run on gasoline or hemp-based fuel.

But by the 1920s, many Americans wanted more than just a sturdy, affordable car. They wanted style (for many years, the Model T famously came in just one color: black), speed and luxury too. As tastes changed, the era of the Model T came to an end and the last one rolled off the assembly line on May 26, 1927."

______

Yesterday:

For some reason, Blogger and Live Writer wouldn't talk to each other on my Dell machine. They were fine the day before, but now there is a 'root problem', whatever that is.  I know all about those when you are on a septic tank!  I didn't have time drag out a router-rooter or to fool with their little gardening tiffs, so I copied and pasted the blog into an email and sent it to myself, and got ready to leave.  I knew that when I got my e-machine back, the blog would be waiting for me there.

Ray had to go to The Woodlands, and I had an 11.00am doctor appointment.  I was worried about driving my van, as I don't really know what was wrong with it.  But I did stick a can of Berryman's injector cleaner in it before I set out. It seemed to be better on the way to Conroe, but that is all down hill.

I left early, and took it to Pete, an old friend of my late husband, who has a mechanic shop in Conroe. He drove it, and said that he would have to check the plugs, wires, injectors and all that stuff before he could tell me exactly what is wrong with it.  He asked me to bring it in today.

Hoping that I would be seen early, I went to the doctor's office an hour early, but the patients with appointments ahead of me showed up, so I had to wait my turn. Which meant I was seen an hour after my appointment. The chiropractor maneuvered me into different pretzel-like shapes, said I was very limber, and hoped that my back and left knee would soon feel better.

The uphill drive back to Willis was slow but sure, and I could tell how badly the van is missing.  Not knowing when it would be running properly again, I picked up my e-machine, and a few groceries, before I went home.

Oh, Boy!  Is it ever nice to have a fast machine again, and not have to sit and watch TV while a page loads. I copied the blog from my email onto Live Writer on this e-machine, fixed the font here and there, and posted yesterday's blog after 5.00pm.  Then I wrote this one for today. 

State Fair of Texas. Texas Reds Festival. Bison Festival. Dairy Daze. Bluegill Tournament. Geocaching 101. Palo Duro Canyon History. GreenFest. Geocache Bash! Another Geocaching 101. First Supreme Court.

 

For “Travel Tuesday”: No matter where you are in TX there is something to do this weekend.  The weather is finally cooling down, and now is the time to get outside and have some fun!  There will be a lot going on in TX for the next couple of months.

--------

State Fair of Texas

“One of Texas’ most popular annual events, the State Fair of Texas is set to get underway September 27, 2013. Held yearly at Dallas’ Fair Park since 1886, the State Fair has been the site for many historical and memorable moments – as well as lots of fun!

Corny Dogs were invented at the 1942 State Fair of Texas. In 1952, the Fair’s mascot, Big Tex, made his debut. And, countless big moments have occurred over the years at the Texas-Oklahoma football game, which is played during the Fair each year.

Per usual, the 2013 edition will feature a variety of impressive musical acts. Set to take the main stage during this year’s State Fair are Asleep at the Wheel, Blondie, David Lee Garza, Cory Morrow, Kacey Musgrove and more. All concerts are free with State Fair admission, so no additional tickets need to be purchased.

The carnival will also be in full bloom over the three-week span of the Fair. There will also be a Kids Corner, auto show, art exhibit, and, of course, a livestock show. And, Big Tex will return, fully refurbished following last year's fire.

Big Tex Memorial –1949-2012.

Of course, two of the more popular events will be the Starlight parade, set for 7:15 p.m. daily throughout the fair, and the Texas-OU football game, slated for October 12. There will be another college football game - Grambling vs. Prairie View A&M on Oct. 5, soccer matches, dog shows, craft shows, a 5k run, the aforementioned events and entertainment and more.”

______

Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival,  Bryan TX

“The Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival is Bryan’s signature event that annually draws more than 20,000 people to experience “the good life, Texas style.”
The 7th Annual Texas Reds Festival will offer visitors the opportunity to sample wines from a variety of Texas wineries, dine on steak-inspired specials, and experience first hand how Historic Downtown Bryan merges art, design and music with a charming culture and lifestyle.  Come experience Texas Reds.

This year, the Texas Reds Festival will be dedicated to our firefighters. A charitable donation will be given in honor of Ricky Mantey, Jr. and Mitch Moran, and in memory of Greg Pickard and Eric Wallace, on behalf of each volunteer and sponsor. A percentage of the festival’s proceeds will be donated to the Firefighters Association to directly benefit these families.

So, take time to stroll through the large selection of unique arts and crafts vendors, and bring the entire family to the popular Kid Zone, complete with grape stomping and activities for all ages. Also, don’t forget to taste the succulent creations from our championship cook-off teams who compete for grilling glory in the annual Steak Cook Off.

Enjoy live music from local artists throughout the day, and stay late into the evening to be a part of an impressive live music experience featuring country music legends Steve Wariner and John Conlee.

Admission to this year’s festival is completely free; however, festival-goers will need to purchase wristbands to enjoy two of Texas Reds’ premier pastimes – drinks and music.
$5 wristband for those 21 and over wishing to drink (beer and/or wine) $5 wristband for Saturday night main stage entertainment only.”

When: Friday, Sept. 27: 5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Where: Bryan TX, Parking & Directions | Texas Reds Festival

Contact: Gwynne Shillings, Phone 979-209-5518, Fax 979.209.5003     See our Web Site

_______

Bison Festival

Saturday, September 28, 2013

“Come celebrate and support the Official Bison Herd of the State of Texas and their 1000-acre habitat! The Festival starts at 10 a.m. with arts, crafts, food vendors, and activities. The live music starts at 2 p.m. with Caleb Allemand & the 9 Volt Band, No Dry County, Brandon Adams & the Sad Bastards, Zac Wilkerson, Casey Berry & the Live Texas Mosquitoes, and closing out the show will be Texas’ own 9-time Grammy Award-winning, Asleep at the Wheel!

The event is being held to raise funds to help continue restoration of the Texas State Bison Herd historic range within Caprock Canyon State Park.

During the celebration, visitors will be able to donate directly to the Texas State Bison Herd Restoration project or purchase merchandise to support prairie restoration efforts. Donations can also be made online by visiting www.caprockpartnersfoundation.com or by calling (806) 455-1441.

$20 advance tickets are available through TicketRiver, or you can get them at the gate, on the day of the show, for $25. There is no seating, so bring chairs and blankets, if you like. Folding chairs will also be available for purchase at the event

The event is being held at the Quitaque Cotton Gin on FM 1065 Quitaque, Texas 79255 (1/4 mile south of Quitaque)” Download the flyer for the 2013 Bison Fest Event

_______

Dairy Daze

“Fun and learning about dairy products at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm.

Find out just how important the family milk cow was on a 1915 era German Family farm.  Watch as the cow is milked at 9:30a.m., observe the milk separating procedure and learn what products could be produced from the milk from the family cow.  Try your hand at “milking” our non-kicking, non-moving cow which we have jokingly named “Half and Half”!!”

When:  Sep 28, 2013 from 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site

Contact Name: Iris Neffendorf   Contact Email: iris.neffendorf@tpwd.texas.gov  Contact Phone: (830) 644-2252

______

Bluegill Family Fishing Tournament

“Join the fun in trying to catch the largest Bluegill or the heaviest stringers of sunfish.

A fun-filled day of trying to catch the biggest Bluegill here at our center and on Lake Athens.  The tournament awards prizes for the heaviest stringers of sunfish, but the event is really about adults and children having fun fishing together.  Call for details or to pre-register.”

When: Sep 28, 2013 from 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM

Where: Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center

Contact Name: James Booker, Contact Phone: (903) 670-2266

_______

Geocaching 101 Workshop

“Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt using a GPS unit to help you find hidden "caches" placed by people all over the world. We invite you and your family to join us in discovering hidden items while revealing exciting facts and stories about Texas State Parks.  Units will be provided – however, if you have your own device, please bring it.

Bring:  Water, snacks, GPS unit if you have one, sturdy hiking shoes/boots, hiking stick, camera, binoculars, a map and dogs are welcome on leashes!

Meet @ Tom Mays Unit at the Nature Walk Trail.  Start Time:  9:00 a.m. Length: 2+ hours, Location: Nature Walk Trail.

At the Tom Mays Unit of the park - Driving Directions: From Westside on I-10, take exit 6 & travel east towards Mountains for 3.8 miles, Park entrance will be on the left, but you’ll actually pass it, make a u-turn then enter on the right.  From Eastside on Hwy 54, exit Transmountain Rd, travel west 7 miles over/thru the mountains, Park entrance will be on the right.”

When: Sep 28, 2013 from 09:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Where: Franklin Mountains State Park

Contact Name: Adrianna Weickhardt, Contact Email: adrianna.weickhardt@tpwd.texas.gov  Contact Phone: (915) 566-6441   Must have reservation to participate.

($8.00 – this is the entrance fee + activity fee) 

______

Palo Duro Canyon History Day

“Juniper Day Use Area is the place to be to learn about the history of Palo Duro Canyon.  Indians, buffalo hunters, cowboys and cavalry all played a part in this  beautiful canyon.  Come learn about each of these groups.  Great family learning experience.”

When: Sep 28, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM

Where: Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Contact Name: Bernice Blasingame, Contact Email: bernice.blasingame@tpwd.texas.gov Contact Phone: (806) 488-2227 x226

_______

2nd Annual GreenFest on the Greenbelt

“This family-friendly benefit event that will celebrate the Lake Ray Roberts Greenbelt through outdoor activities, live music and food.  Activities will include kayaking, biking, rock climbing, geocaching, live animal displays, campfire cooking and more!

Headlining the event on the main stage is Grammy Award winning band Brave Combo performing from 2-4 pm. Gates open at 12 pm, arrive early to get your seat!

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Greenbelt Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Lake Ray Roberts Greenbelt. Specifically, the 2013 GreenFest seeks to raise funds for reopening the equestrian damaged by flooding by building a bridge.”

When: Sep 28, 2013 from 02:00 PM to 08:00 PM

Where: Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Isle Du Bois Unit

Contact Name: Kelly Lauderdale,  Contact Email:
kelly.lauderdale@tpwd.texas.gov  Contact Phone: 940-686-2148 ex. 258

Advance ticket sales $5.00 $7.00 at the gate. Children 5 and under are free.  More information about this event…

_______

Geocache Bash!

“Discover the September Outdoor Activity of the Month: Geocaching!

Wrap up the month with our Geocache Bash! On this program, you'll discover the fun of Geocaching, a high-tech treasure hunt in which participants use a hand-held GPS unit or a smartphone to find hidden caches. Refreshments will be provided!

Meet in front of the Boat Ramp Restrooms. Wear good walking shoes and sun protection. Bring drinking water, and a hand-held GPS unit or smartphone, if you have one (don't worry if not!).  All ages welcome!”

When: Sep 28, 2013 from 03:00 PM to 04:30 PM

Where: Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Contact Name: Holly Reinhard,  Contact Email: holly.reinhard@tpwd.texas.gov Contact Phone: (956) 725-3826

______

Geocaching 101

“What is Geocaching? Geocaching is a unique and fun high-tech treasure hunt that gets you and your family outdoors.

Are you interested in learning how to Geocache? Or maybe just how to use your GPS unit?  Abilene State Park will be hosting a geocaching clinic and will have GPS Units for loan.

The program is Free with paid entrance into the park or park pass.  Limited Units-Please RSVP your family to reserve a unit.”

When: Sep 29, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: Abilene State Park 

Contact Name: Dawn Capps,  Contact Email:
Dawn.Capps@tpwd.texas.gov Contact Phone: (325) 572-3204

______

And few more:

Sept 26 -Sept 29, 2013     Autumn Fest, Little Elm, TX - 704 West Eldorado Parkway

Carnival, Pretty Baby Contest, 5k run, 1 mile walk, live music, BBQ Cook-Off, Anything that Floats Race, Vendors, Fireworks Festival is 25 years old
Est # of food vendors- 20   Est # of non-food vendors- 64   Est. attendees-25000   214-901-6444

--------- 

Sept 27 -Sept 28, 2013   McKinney Oktoberfest, McKinney, TX - 111 N. Tennessee St.

Local Fraconia Beer, kids activity, Live German Entertainment and Much More! Festival is 5 years old
Est # of food vendors- 7   Est # of non-food vendors- 15  Est. attendees-27000   972-547-2660

-------- 

Sept 28, 2013   Chisholm Trail Steak Challenge, Decatur, TX - Joe Wheeler Park

Steak Cook-off, great food, wine tasting, 5K fun run and so much more! Free admission and free parking! Festival is 3 years old
Est # of food vendors- 20   Est # of non-food vendors- 20   Est. attendees-1000   214-683-1766

--------  

Sept 28, 2013   Iola Fun Day, Iola, TX - 7264 Main Street

Live Music, Car Show, 5K Run, Kid Zone, Live and Silent Auctions, Raffle, Free Gift Drawings, and Parade Festival is 3 years old
Est # of food vendors- 10   Est # of non-food vendors- 25   Est. attendees-2000   979-820-3115 

--------

Fantastic Fest

“Held each year at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on South Lamar in Austin, Fantastic Fest has become the largest genre film festival in the United States. Those in attendance are treated to a full slate of horror, sci-fi, and action movies throughout Fantastic Fest.  Fantastic Fest has quickly become of the country's most popular film festivals. Founded by Tim Leagues, Harry Knowles, Paul Alvarado-Dykstra and Tim McCanlies in 2005, Fantastic Fest now encompasses eight days, generally covering the last week of September and first week of October, although dates vary from year to year. This year: Sept 19 - 26, 2013.

Where:  Although portions of Fantastic Fest are held throughout Austin, the primary location is the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 1120 South Lamar Blvd, Austin.  http://fantasticfest.com/

______

On This Day:

The First Supreme Court, Sep 24, 1789:

“The Judiciary Act of 1789 is passed by Congress and signed by President George Washington, establishing the Supreme Court of the United States as a tribunal made up of six justices who were to serve on the court until death or retirement. That day, President Washington nominated John Jay to preside as chief justice, and John Rutledge, William Cushing, John Blair, Robert Harrison, and James Wilson to be associate justices. On September 26, all six appointments were confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Supreme Court was established by Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution granted the Supreme Court ultimate jurisdiction over all laws, especially those in which their constitutionality was at issue. The high court was also designated to oversee cases concerning treaties of the United States, foreign diplomats, admiralty practice, and maritime jurisdiction. On February 1, 1790, the first session of the U.S. Supreme Court was held in New York City's Royal Exchange Building.

The U.S. Supreme Court grew into the most important judicial body in the world in terms of its central place in the American political order. According to the Constitution, the size of the court is set by Congress, and the number of justices varied during the 19th century before stabilizing in 1869 at nine. In times of constitutional crisis, the nation's highest court has always played a definitive role in resolving, for better or worse, the great issues of the time.”

______

Yesterday:

Because of sniffling and coughing, I didn’t sleep well.  I knew that Jay wouldn’t be here, but then Ray came over from next door. He said that there was an extra amount of pollen in the air, and it was affecting him, too.  It wasn’t two minutes after he got here that Shay called with some emergency, so he had to go home to make some phone calls.  We were going to do some more painting inside the screen porch, so I swept up the pine needles that had blown in there while I was waiting, as the screen wire isn’t installed yet.

Then Ray came back, and said he needed to use this computer, something to do with a Social Security claim.  Ray had never asked to use it before, so I knew it had to be important.  Shay had his car, or he would have used the one at the local library.  He had to fill out a long form online, and so I busied myself putting away laundry, cleaning mirrors, TV screens, and jobs like that.

Ray wasn’t through until lunchtime, and when he had tried to click on ‘submit’ a couple of times and it wouldn’t work, he asked for my help.  I found out that he hadn’t answered all the questions.  You know how tricky these government computers are, they have already asked the same questions before, but want to see if the answers are the same.  Trying to trip you up, I suppose.

The medicine for this allergy, or whatever it is, has been making me sleepy, so I have been going to bed early the last couple of nights.  So then as Misty hadn’t gone for her ‘late night outs’, she wants to go out at 3.00 in the morning, just as I am finally getting to sleep.

As the weather has cooled down, the windows and doors have been open most of the time.  Except at night, when the house is closed up, I haven’t have to run the AC for two days.

Iraq War. $4 Trillion IOU. Fall of the Alamo. Grape Seed Extract for Cancer. "Alligacin". Superbug CRE. Z-Pak and Zmax. Ranger Rick’s® Geocache Trails. Wrong Watermark. GMO Poll. Pipeline Explosion. It’s ‘OK’.

 

For “Summary Saturday”, News, Some New, Some Old:

Iraq War Cost $800 Billion, And What Do We Have To Show For It?

“For the past few months, a strange thing has been happening in the central Iraq town of Fallujah. Thousands of citizens, virtually all of them Sunni Muslims, have been gathering in public squares to protest the oppressive Shiite-led government in Baghdad. Sleeping in tents and wielding Twitter feeds and YouTube accounts, the young Sunnis have attempted to take democracy, and a certain sectarian disaffection, into their own hands.

It's not quite the Iraqi Arab Spring -- although that's what it's been tentatively called by some -- but it is a reminder of the stark failure of nearly a decade of American-led warfare in that country.

When President George W. Bush announced the invasion into Iraq in March 2003, the goal was to remove a dangerous dictator and his supposed stocks of weapons of mass destruction. It was also to create a functioning democracy and thereby inspire what Bush called a "global democracy revolution."

The effort was supposed to be cheap -- to require few troops and even less time. Instead, it cost the United States $800 billion at least, thousands of lives and nearly nine grueling years (see the graphic below for a further breakdown of various costs).”

More at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/18/iraq-war-costs_n_2885071.html

and http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/iraq-war-on-terror/the-iraq-war-how-we-spent-800-billion-and-counting/

--------

Iraq war ends with a $4 trillion IOU

Veterans’ health care costs to rise sharply over the next 40 years

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — “The nine-year-old Iraq war came to an official end on Thursday, but paying for it will continue for decades until U.S. taxpayers have shelled out an estimated $4 trillion.

Over a 50-year period, that comes to $80 billion annually.

Although that only represents about 1% of nation’s gross domestic product, it’s more than half of the national budget deficit. It’s also roughly equal to what the U.S. spends on the Department of Justice, Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency combined each year.

Near the start of the war, the U.S. Defense Department estimated it would cost $50 billion to $80 billion. White House economic adviser Lawrence Lindsey was dismissed in 2002 after suggesting the price of invading and occupying Iraq could reach $200 billion.”  More at: http://articles.marketwatch.com/2011-12-15/general/30778140_1_iraq-war-iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-budgetary-assessments

_______

Grape Seed Extract May Beat Chemo in Late-Stage Cancer

“The benefits of grape seed extract in cancer are well documented, but modern medicine won't do anything with it until the mechanism of action has been found, so that it can be isolated, purified, made poisonous and owned by a single company for enormous profits.

The more advanced cancer is, the less effective chemotherapy is. However, a new study has shown that grape seed extract has exactly the opposite quality: The more advanced the cancer, the less extract that's needed to kill it. On top of that, the study also shows that grape seed extract targets the cancer cells that become most resistant to chemotherapy.

In the face of this remarkable new development, it's likely that grape seed extract is more effective in treating late-stage cancer than modern medicine's chemotherapy. Not only does it take less and less of the substance to kill cancer cells, it's able to target the cells that have become drug resistant, thus making chemo useless!

Yet again, the common misperception that modern medicine's treatments are stronger or more potent or better in any way is shown to be mistaken. Sadly, it's a mistake that can kill.”  More at: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/grape-seed-extract-may-beat-chemo-late-stage-cancer

_______

177th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo.

“March 6th marked the 177th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo. Solemn events recall Alamo fallen.

A member of the San Antonio Living History Association fires a musket (center) as others stand at attention Wednesday March 6, 2013 in front of the Alamo during the "Dawn at the Alamo" ceremony on the 177th anniversary of the battle for Texas independence. About 300 to 500 Mexican troops are said to have been killed or wounded in the battle and at least 189 Alamo defenders died in the battle or were executed.

“You have all joined us this morning to remember, and perhaps experience a feeling for the dreadful moments of Texas history.”

The ceremony, augmented this year with recorded music and sound effects, included the reading of eyewitness accounts; laying of wreaths; a Mexican bugle call of oración; a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace”; and recitation of the prayer of St. Francis in English and Spanish.  Volleys fired by a musket and rifles also highlighted the event.

With chilly winds muffling the noise, some 1,500 Mexican troops launched an assault.  Travis, the young Alamo commander, was among the first to die atop north wall before the Texians fell back into the compound.  Historians estimate at least 60 defenders fled south or west, but were quickly killed by mounted lancers. The defenders, from at least 22 different states and six foreign countries, ranged in age from 15 to 56, and included several Tejanos, of Spanish or indigenous descent. Roughly 20 noncombatant women, children and slaves survived.

About 300 to 500 Mexican troops are said to have been killed or wounded, many hit by “friendly fire” amid the chaos.  The church was the last to fall, and David Crockett and six of his men “fought on until they were literally overwhelmed.”  More at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Solemn-events-recall-Alamo-fallen-4332367.php

_______

Alligator blood tested as new antibiotic

CALCASIEU PARISH, LA (KPLC) - “In the bayous of Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas, researchers have discovered a potential medicinal breakthrough from alligators.”

“These keepers of the bayou are known for their tenacity, but behind the alligator's piercing eyes and sharp teeth is an immune system that is as ferocious as the primitive creature.”   More at: http://www.kplctv.com/story/21412671/alligator-blood-tested-as-new-antibiotic

---------

It's possible you could be treated with an alligator blood product one day.

“Alligator blood is being studied for use as an antibiotic, but any marketable drug remains years off.

Some day you may go to the pharmacy to ask for an order of "alligacin," an antibiotic made from the blood of alligators. That's the hope of researcher Mark Merchant, whose tests show that proteins in their white blood cells kill infections that can kill humans including e-coli, staph infections and a strain of HIV.”  More at: http://news.msn.com/rumors/rumor-alligator-blood-is-new-antibiotic

_______

Doctors Struggling To Contain New Bacteria 2013

“A new family of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as CRE, is raising concerns across the medical community because of its ability to cause infections that defy even the strongest antibiotics. The antibiotic resistance is spread by mobile pieces of DNA that can move between different species of bacteria, creating new, drug-defying bugs.” 

More here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/na...

______

Common Antibiotic May Raise Risk For Fatal Arrhythmia

“The popular antibiotic azithromycin may cause a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm in some people, the FDA says.  Also sold under the names Zithromax and Zmax, and often called a Z-pack, the antibiotic can cause changes in the electrical system of the heart, leading to arrhythmia. The medication can also trigger a form of rapid heartbeat called torsades de pointes.

The FDA says patients at risk for problems include those who have what's known as a prolonged QT interval, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, an abnormally slow heart rate, or who take drugs to treat arrhythmias.”   More at: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20130312/antibiotic-azithromycin-risk-heart-fda

________

Turning Screen Time Into Green Time

A high-tech treasure hunt known as geocaching is helping parents coax their children outdoors, away from indoor electronic devices

“POWELL FRANKLIN, JR., AND HIS WIFE JENNIFER were looking for a way to pry their young daughter Emma away from computers and televisions and get her outdoors more often. “My generation was probably the last one to grow up playing outside all the time,” says Powell. Indeed, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, U.S. children between the ages of 8 and 18 now spend an average of 7.5 hours a day indoors in front of an electronic screen.  “Geocaching is a great way to marry screen time with green time,”

NWF launched Ranger Rick’s^® Geocache Trails two years ago. Today nearly 80 of these wildlife-oriented routes are located across the country in parks, nature centers, campgrounds, zoos and even aquariums. All of them are family friendly and easy for newcomers to navigate, and most can be accessed year-round.”  More at: http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Outdoors/Archives/2013/Turning-Screen-Time-Into-Green-Time.aspx

_______

An ex-Santa Fe cop is facing charges for making fake money.    Wrong face in watermark.

_______

GMO Poll Finds Huge Majority Say Foods Should Be Labeled

“Americans are largely uncertain over whether genetically modified foods are safe for the environment or safe to eat, but the vast majority say that foods containing genetically modified ingredients should be labeled, according to a new HuffPost/YouGov poll.

Although respondents were near unanimous in saying genetically modified foods should be labeled, many expressed uncertainty about the environmental or health consequences of growing and consuming them.”    More at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/04/gmo-poll_n_2807595.html

________

 

Marshall County Pipeline Explosion: West Virginia Residents Ordered To Evacuate Area

March 22 (Reuters) - “A Williams Co. natural gas gathering pipeline ruptured in Marshall County, West Virginia, a spokesman confirmed on Friday.
At approximately 12:20 p.m. (1620 GMT) on Friday, company personnel "detected a possible line rupture on a 24-inch natural gas pipeline near Cameron on Fish Ridge Road," the spokesman told Reuters in an emailed statement.
Cameron is a city in Marshall County, located in the northwestern part of the state.
"Williams immediately shut down the affected pipeline and isolated the rupture to the suspected area," the spokesman said.
No injuries or property damage has been reported and the cause of the rupture is under investigation, he added.
Local press reports earlier said a 36-inch gas line exploded but no fire was reported and area residents were being evacuated as a precaution.”  More at: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/22/gas-pipeline-explosion-idUKL1N0CE9MO20130322

_______

On This Day:

OK enters national vernacular, Mar 23, 1839:

“On this day in 1839, the initials "O.K." are first published in The Boston Morning Post. Meant as an abbreviation for "oll correct," a popular slang misspelling of "all correct" at the time, OK steadily made its way into the everyday speech of Americans.

During the late 1830s, it was a favorite practice among younger, educated circles to misspell words intentionally, then abbreviate them and use them as slang when talking to one another. Just as teenagers today have their own slang based on distortions of common words, such as "kewl" for "cool" or "DZ" for "these," the "in crowd" of the 1830s had a whole host of slang terms they abbreviated. Popular abbreviations included "KY" for "No use" ("know yuse"), "KG" for "No go" ("Know go"), and "OW" for all right ("oll wright").

The man responsible for unraveling the mystery behind "OK" was an American linguist named Allen Walker Read. An English professor at Columbia University, Read dispelled a host of erroneous theories on the origins of "OK," ranging from the name of a popular Army biscuit (Orrin Kendall) to the name of a Haitian port famed for its rum (Aux Cayes) to the signature of a Choctaw chief named Old Keokuk. Whatever its origins, "OK" has become one of the most ubiquitous terms in the world, and certainly one of America's greatest lingual exports.”

_______

Yesterday:

Misty and I had our walk down at Jay’s, as he wanted to go into the next town with me for Mikey’s vet appointment.  Even though Mikey is about the same size as Misty, I got a larger carrier than hers down from the attic for him.

While waiting for the vet, everyone could hear poor Mikey coughing from all over the clinic.  The vet immediately said that Mikey has a collapsed trachea, and being overweight didn’t help.   He gave Mikey a shot, and said this is something he will have for the rest of his life. 

After we left the vet, we were near where my washing machine had been repaired, so we picked it up.  I was glad it was an overcast day, so that Mikey wouldn’t get hot in the carrier in the car, as we had to make a few stops.  Jay stopped at Home Depot to return something.  I hadn’t been shopping for a while, and so I parked under a tree while I quickly grabbed a few things at Krogers, and the Dollar Store.  Mikey was quite content and we came back to my place.

Some of the vet’s instructions were that Mikey can’t wear a collar anymore, so I fitted him with a harness, and Jay switched the rabies tag over to it. 

When I took Mikey home, I found out that Sam was letting him self-feed Beneful, (1st. ingredient: corn meal) so I took that away from him, and told Sam 'no more grains'.  No wonder the poor dog was unhealthily fat.   I drove into our town to Walkers Feed Store and bought Mikey some Taste Of The Wild Dog Food.   

I put some of the Beneful in a Ziploc bag with a 1/2 cup measuring cup and showed Sam 1 measure of TOTW and 1 measure of Beneful until gone, then 2 measures of TOTW, as you can’t change an animal’s food right away. The Vet Tech, Lisa, (super sweet lady) suggested that Mikey needs one of those automatic feeders in case Sam forgets that he has fed Mikey and feeds him again.  Introducing Sam to the idea of some wet food isn't an option right now, he is having trouble digesting all this anyway.

A few years back I used to board a little dog with a collapsed trachea, and the main thing was to keep her cool and quiet so she wouldn’t pant and cough.  So I asked Sam if he would keep his home a bit cooler for Mikey, I hope he remembers.

So that took up just about my whole day.

12.7 deg. this morning! Geocaching. Meds & Mac.

 Last night I turned on the halogen lights, for heat in the vinyl wrapped porch, but I expect I have lost all the plants in there. The temperature out there was 20 deg. when I looked at 6.30. AM.  Bobcat’s porch water dish was frozen solid.
All the plants outside in the 100’ long aloe vera trough, will possibly be dead, too, even though they are covered.   I am probably out of the plant business.

I have a heat/UVB lamp coming for the tortoise, as even though he is inside, he needs the UVB.  I hope it gets here soon.  He just stays buried under the Timothy hay.  It is getting more and more difficult to keep the house warm, even though I have double paned windows.   Water is still coming into the house, but I will have to watch the outside faucets when it warms up.  We are just NOT used to this!
Last time it was this cold, was 1976.

It is warming up gradually.

_______________________

70 days left until Spring 2010 !!! (Mar 20)


When the better weather comes, I would like to try this:
“If you've heard about the high-tech treasure hunt called geocaching but haven't tried it, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has launched a pilot project to show people that they need not abandon computers to have fun outdoors.


Participants in the Texas Geocache Challenge will use hand-held global positioning system computers to find boxes of "treasure" hidden in 12 state parks in the Hill Country and southeastern Central Texas.”
From: http://www.texasrver.com/2009/12/texas-state-parks-opening-to-digital.html
_________________________

Just in case you any meds to donate: http://www.healthequityproject.org/medicine_donations.html
This is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to making healthcare a universal human right by providing access to quality medications to developing countries. The Health Equity Project accepts some medicinal donations such as antibiotics, anti-malarials, pain-relievers, HIV/AIDS anti-retrovirals, Diflucan and flucanazole.
__________________________

Mac, The Fire Guy’s Safety Tips need to be reviewed again, in this cold weather.  There have been several deaths by fire, because of this cold weather.
http://www.macthefireguy.com/fire_safety_articles_by_mac_mcco.htm
 __________________________

My son in law, is a volunteer firefighter and EMT, as well the local telephone man, so he was up all night either with fires, traffic accidents, or phone cables down. 
So please don’t forget the ‘behind the scenes’ guys working to keep you comfortable in this freezing weather today.