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- Joel Osteen was on the Piers Morgan Show on CNN last night, and I can't tell you how much I love that Morgan guy's interviewing skills. He politely whacked Osteen around on the issue of being a multi-million dollar pastor.
- Osteen could be a politician because of his ability to handle tough questions (but I think he cringes every time his super hot wife begins to talk.)
- Had a DWI jury trial get cancelled at the last minute yesterday when the cop decided he would finally reveal that he actually did have a DVD of the initial traffic stop.
- I'm not in the loop, but it seems like twenty years ago Decatur was run by a group of power brokers. I don't think that's true any more.
- I'm in favor of the "State's Rights" argument in general, but then I cringe when I think of how our life would be if the power of the ultra-conservative Texas legislature increased to frightening levels.
- I think the Republicans fear the Tea Party more than Democrats because of the Tea Party's ability to divide.
- It seems like we went twenty years without seeing former Cowboy Walt Garrison and now it seems like he's on TV promoting something all the time.
- Almost forgot: A loyal reader wanted to know if there were any swimming pool companies that don't mind coming to Wise County. (And, no, not above-the-ground pools. We're talking the cement pond type.)
- All 5,000 of the $200 outdoor tickets for the Super Bowl have been sold. And that's before they even were offered to the general public. Incredible.
- Mrs. LL got a $100 "charge" for allegedly running a red light monitored by a traffic cam in Fort Worth. Due to a snafu in mail forwarding, the video of her committing this crime is no longer online. She can go to a police department and watch it (after going through miles of red tape), but paying $100 seems more convenient.
- But she swears she didn't do it. "They accuse me of speeding? Heck, guilty. Running a red light? No way." Then again, she constantly sighs whenever I hit the brakes when the light changes to yellow.
- The snow in the Northeast is insane. And remember that an outdoor Super Bowl will be played in New York in 2014.
- The lady in charge of the Dallas County Crimestoppers Program was arrested for fraud on the fund. I've been wondering for years about the status of the Wise County Crimestoppers Program. Every person placed on probation in Wise County is required to pay $50 into that fund -- and we are talking about a ton of people over the years. But I bet there's hardly ever a payment from that fund to tipsters. Shouldn't there be a public accounting every year?
- Around 40 dead in a blast in Baghdad this morning. [This is where I normally rag on the Iraqi war.]
- Sarah Palin on the State of the Union Speech: "His theme last night in the State of the Union was the WTF -- winning the future," continued Palin. "I thought, 'OK.' That acronym? Spot on. There were a lot of WTF moments throughout that speech." Good grief.
80 comments:
This. Girl. Is. Incredible!!!!!
Hey, Barry. I recently got one of those red-light tickets in Amarillo. Thing is, they didn't cite me personally, but only as the owner of the vehicle that had run a red light. Now, isn't that an in rem fine? IOW, it is against my property, not me. How can my property be guilty of a crime?
I flat out decided not to pay the fine. They claim they will turn the matter over to a lawyer for collection. If they do that--threaten to dun me for the fine or report it to the credit bureaus--then they might be violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Any thoughts?
For the person interested in getting a new swimming pool. We had Pulliam, out of Weatherford complete ours and have loved it. They did an awesome job and gave continued customer service. They also put in our neighbors. I highly recommend them.
tommy williams pool service decatur texas add is always in the messenger
As a long-time observer, Decatur was never "run by a group of power brokers." Decatur's city council was always more stable, consistent, and less controversial than some of the other cities in the county simply because it was made up primarily of business owners who didn't go twisting off in crazy directions and who were willing to continue serving over periods of twenty years or so. The fact that races were almost always uncontested isn't a sign of "power," but of the fact that the public was generally satisfied with the job they did. After serving 15 to 25 years, most of them finally either died or finally got tired; and the new Charter now has a term limits provision.... which may or may not be a good thing.
Surprised Palin knows what WTF means.
She sure doesn't know WWJD...
Rage
kinda goes back to that comment you made years ago when you were DA...and something about a fund that you did not want to have any part of..I agree, when that much monies are just stacking up and theres loose overview, it just gets lost in the shuffle..im surprised we havent seen that crime stoppers crime more often..hate red light cameras, the ones on Davis blvd in NRH are the worst..michael young will be forced into asking for a trade and clearing daniels of all the fan backlash..josh hamilton is over rated, but i do dig his ability to get whip cream licked off his Gripples..DF Sports Panties out..Thanks for the Pool shout out, stay hard and keep jammin
Power brokers (only in their minds)is a bit strong but there was a group that tried to run Decatur. Now the next generation of the same families are trying to do it check your school board and city council. In all fairness it may well have been a case of no one else wanting to step up and serve in public positions at least in the beginning but as time passed it definetly went to their heads. The next generation is having a bit more trouble assuming the same roll because of growth some of the Decatur inbreeding has been diluted.
A fifth generation resident of Decatur
When you get a ticket in the mail for a "red lite camera", do not get on the computer to look at the photo. When you log on, you are acknowledging receipt of the ticket. You cant be fined what you dont acknowledge. Its a civil thing, not criminal
The "states' rights" issue is not necessarily about giving more power to state-level politicians. It's about removing power from federal-level politicians. We have fallen into the default mentality of "the federal government can do whatever it wants." (The federal government holds states hostage with welfare just as it does individual citizens.) One who believes in states' rights does not confer "do whatever it wants" onto the state government. Kelo was a travesty.
ONE SPECIALTY POOLS!
Website:
http://www.onespecialty.com/
FANTASTIC work and GREAT people to work with! Out of Grapevine but just did a really nice pool here in Decatur. If you have the budget, they do really cool backyard kitchens, gazebos, etc. Check out the above website.....great pictures/info!
9:02, that's like saying you didn't see the posted speed limit sign when being pulled over for speeding.
wordkyle: So why change? Texas politicians want the same things as federal politicians--to put their will on the people. You may think that a majority of Americans want to do away with Obamacare, so Texans should not have to deal with it. But, a majority of Americans want to have a right to have an abortion or at least have itavailable for others to do so--so why shouldn't that right be enforced as well?
The problem is that on a state level, whims are much more likely to be legislated. In a perfect world the 10th amendment would be much stronger that it is today. But without it, blacks still wouldn't be voting in Alabama, and back-alley abortions would be taking place in Texas.
Besides, when Massachusetts allowed gay marriage, do you know what the first thing Bush and many of you Republicans said was?
"WE NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BANNING GAY MARRIAGE!"
I laughed my ass off at he irony, and still do.
Rage
"I'm in favor of the "State's Rights" argument in general, but then I cringe when I think of how our life would be if the power of the ultra-conservative Texas legislature increased to frightening levels."
That's why our Founding Fathers set it up that way. If you don't like the way things are in Texas, then leave for some other state more amenable to you and your political philosophy.
Claiming ignorance for running a red light is fairly common. How many times have you or a driver been surprised to learn that you just ran a light? Then factor in the possibility of less-than-familiar territory
Walt Garrison had a huge amount of built-up dip residue that caused a speech impediment. It took a team of specialists using jackhammers twenty years to knock it loose so that he could resume his post-football career as a pitchman
"Skoal, brutha!"
Triple Fake Earl Campbell
very healthy looking gal in pic this morning. NICE
I got a red light camera ticket in Roanoak a few months back. There were so many problems with the intersection that my ticket was dismissed at the hearing. First of all, the speed limit stamped by the camera at the top of the picture they sent me was incorrect. The time allocated to the yellow light duration was set based on a lower speed indicated on the ticket, not the posted speed limit. Even if the speed limit indicated on the ticket was correct the yellow light duration still did not meet TXDOT specs because there is a 5% downhill grade approaching the intersection and that feature was not included in the mathematical calculation of the yellow light timing. To top it all off, the yellow light timing on the ticket did not match what my stop watch revealed.
Some of my research on the subject revealed that rear-end crashes increase between 20 and 37 percent when cameras are installed. If, instead of installing cameras, the yellow light duration is increased by .5 seconds a decrese in violations by 40% can be realised and crashes reduced between 20 and 25 percent.
A KDFW-TV investigation in Dallas found that of the ten cameras that issued the greatest number of tickets in the city, seven were located at intersections where the yellow duration was shorter than the TXDOT minimum. One intersection alone had $705,525 in tickets issued on a short yellow light.
You will probably find that the cameras are operated and the tickets are mailed from a private contractor. In the case of Roanoke, it is an Austrailian company. The city does not get involved until you show up for the hearing.
Anonymous @ 9:22 AM, thanks for the information. I thought about taking the matter to the hearing then appealing to municipal court, but I'm 5 hours away from Amarillo. It would cost almost $100 in gas round-trip, and that wouldn't include my time.
I thought about sending a bunch of open record requests to the City to rag them around a bit.
In short, you are right: it is not about safety, it is about revenue generation. If it was about safety, they could lower speed limits and increase the duration of yellow lights.
I have hopes that the legislature is going to outlaw the red-light cameras.
Rage - You assume that issues such as civil rights could not be resolved without federal government intervention. That something was resolved that way does not mean it's the only way.
FWIW, I believe neither marriage nor abortion should be addressed in the Constitution.
What constitutes freedom in America is mobility. If we don't like the conditions or policies of a particular place, we can move to another place. Unless, of course, the policy is a federal one, in which case the hated policy follows us wherever we go. Our country was set up primarily as a collection of states working together (thus the name) with only a few select powers given to a central government. To say that setup has been abused is an understatement.
Tommy Williams was the man to call until his degenerate descendants tookover.
My father was on the Decatur city council twenty something years ago. Power couldn't have been farther from his agenda. He owned a modest business in town that was mostly unaffected by the policy he helped to create. Anyone that knew him knew he was there for the right reasons. I can't say the same for a former realtor/mayor.
I say WTF every time I hear Palin speak. She is one for the ages alright. The DARK ages.
Rage - You assume that issues such as civil rights could not be resolved without federal government intervention. That something was resolved that way does not mean it's the only way.
I don't assume that at all. But our history has shown that to be the case. It's not only in the South, Hell, Jim Crow laws started in NY and NJ, so it's a national thing. Today I don't think race would be as much of an issue, but religion would be. You think Texas wouldn't pass laws making life more difficult for Muslims? Teaching only Christianity in our schools? The chairperson and at least one other Board of Education member are new-earth advocates and believe the Earth is less than 6,000 years old. They're in charge of our text books, for chrissakes. Your own legislator (assuming you're from the same area as the blogger) just filed a bill that would eliminate public education, regardless of the years we had to come up with alternative funding. Our funding system has been declared unconstitutional for decades--you think we could fix it in four or five more years with the current bunch in office? Not a chance in hell.
FWIW, I believe neither marriage nor abortion should be addressed in the Constitution.
Why does it not surprise me that when so easily rebutted you disclaim that belief...
What constitutes freedom in America is mobility. If we don't like the conditions or policies of a particular place, we can move to another place. Unless, of course, the policy is a federal one, in which case the hated policy follows us wherever we go. Our country was set up primarily as a collection of states working together (thus the name) with only a few select powers given to a central government. To say that setup has been abused is an understatement.
Because you don't like something you should get up and leave? Hell, that would guarantee anti-gay/Muslim/atheist/wicca/dildo/whatever else legislation was passed. They'd intentionally try to force out the undesirables. My family has been ranching the same piece of Texas since 1834. You can go to hell if you think I'm leaving instead of fighting for it.
Rage
I got a red light ticket in Dallas. I logged on and paid it. So you're saying if you don't log on and acknowledge receipt they can't issue a bench warrant? My fear is I blow it off and get pulled over for an unrelated violation and go to jail.
To 9:13
Tell us where we have a right to an abortion. You are "pro choice", right? Well so am I, I choose life, and I choose to not put my health care in the hands of the FED. You seem to only believe in a right to choose until someone survives a Democrat pregnancy. HYPOCRITE!!
Barry, a poll for your readers in honor of the Superbowl. News reports say there will be a spike in prostitution during Superbowl week. My question is will the large influx of hookers drive the price down? Or will the Superbowl event itself drive the price up?
Rage,
No, I don't believe that Texas would pass laws like the one you mentioned. You either intentionally or out of ignorance paint Conservatives with a broad brush. You also misstate King's bill, I assume for the same reasons.
FWIW, my comment about marriage and abortion is consistent with what I've said for the last several years. I don't form new opinions for your benefit.
As for my statement about freedom and mobility -- the point of which you so completely and eloquently missed -- it's not that you should leave if you disagree with something, but that you can.
To Rage,
I do agree with you about not leaving and fighting for it. I would much rather run the A-holes out if they try to impede my freedom and liberty.
I've seen many a car come to a complete stop at a red light, but not before the front end had crossed into the pedestrian lane. I'm sure all those drivers were surprised when they got the citations.
To 9:13
Tell us where we have a right to an abortion.
Read the 9th Amendment. Just because a right isn't enumerated doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Our rights are not given to us in the Constitution, or by government generally.
We have these rights because we're humans. The Constitution is there to limit government, not grant rights.
Rage
Secret Police: What freedoms and liberty have you lost since Obama came to office?
I'm afraid you're the one-legged man in this ass-kicking contest, son.
Rage
Brewcrew @ 10:06,
A red-light camera ticket is civil, which means (if I understand it correctly) they can't issue a bench warrant. The "fee" is essentially a debt you owe to the City--like a library fine. You can't be arrested for failure to pay a debt. What I don't know is whether they can jack with your ability to register your vehicle if you have an unpaid fee like this.
Kirk:
Yes, they can jack with your ability to register your car. But, sometimes the county won't help them. Houston tried to get Harris County to deny registrations, and Harris County told them no because registrations are a major source of county funds. Other counties may be different, and the city may try to mess with you in other ways, or may boot you for an unpaid ticket the next time you park illegally, etc....
Rage
Rage - Thanks to Roe v Wade, doctors have the right to kill babies. (Yep, even after a live birth.) Rational, well-meaning people may disagree on when life begins. Shouldn't rational, well-meaning people give the benefit of the doubt to babies? That's not a Constitutional argument.
Shouldn't rational, well-meaning people give the benefit of the doubt to babies?
Counterpoint: Once born, shouldn't they give them health care?
Rage
Rage - As a Constitutional right? No.
As a function of social conscience (not government mandate,) rational, well-meaning people DO provide care of all sorts for children.
As a Constitutional right? No.
Really? That's interesting, because...
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Decatur power brokers 20 years ago were equal to the Bridgeport power brokers.....u know the Green family.
wk,
You are no match for rage so quit making yourself look worse.
119 - Right. It says "promote," not "provide."
How does a government promote benefits for a five year old when a private company is denying them insurance or coverage and the parent is basically working poor and cannot afford it?
Health care costs have skyrocketed--and that was well before Obamacare took effect--and millions go uninsured every day. Texas has more uninsured children than any other state, and they will just cost more taxpayer money by going to county hospitals and ERs instead of getting to a single doctor for a single prescription. It will be cheaper in the long run if we provide the neediest Americans with healthcare instead of ignoring them or treating them in expensive ERs that we all have to pay for through subsidies.
Rage
Also, it doesn't say "provide" millions of dollars in government money to businesses run by campaign contributors of the governor, but you don't seem to be too concerned about that little bit of Socialism.
Rage
What would happen if someone went to a doctor and told them seriously to cut their left hand off because they didnt want it anymore?
What would happen if someone went to a doctor and told them seriously to cut their left hand off because they didnt want it anymore?
1. Ethically, they would refuse.
2. Some might have them evaluated for mental illness.
3. If they were a Plaintiff in a personal injury case in the Valley or Golden Triangle, and it benefited their case, the doctor would charge a little more but cut it off.
Rage
Rage, WE have lost our right to alot of things, surely you can think of freedoms and liberties you have lost over the years. A few that come to my mind are toilet water, light bulbs, health care, seat belts, helmets, making it out of the womb, we have speech police, food police, can't pray in school(unless you are muslim), the list goes on and on. I would be thrilled to see a politician campaign on the freedoms and liberties he will restore, rather than the ones he wants to take away in the form of more regulation/tax. Repeal some of these stupid laws please. In some cities, if you catch rain water rolling off your home and store it to water your yard, you are commiting an offense because the city thinks it owns that water.
JESUS you guys get worked up...funny...nothing like a little coat hanger abortion talk to get the blood boiling..pretty simple isnt it..dont hit your back and get pregnant..
What if you wanted to cut off your hand and give it to someone who didn't have any hands at all due to injury or birth defect. I know it's far fetched, but we have organ transplants.
This blog has taught me that if I want my left hand cut off, do it myself. The doctor probably won't refuse sewing me up to stop the blood and it will be cheaper. Thanks guys!
Yellow Light timing formula:
y=t+v(2a+2Gg)
y = length of yellow interval
t = driver reaction time, recommended 1.0 second
v = velocity of vehicle in feet per second
a = deceleration rate, recommended as 10 feet/second squared
g = grade of approach, decimal format (0.05 for 5% downhill is negative)
G = acceleration due to gravity, 32 feet/second squared.
Most idiots now calling themselves civil engineers do not know how to apply this simple math. The profession has gone downhill in the past 20 years. Most cities and counties set the yellow duration at the minimum with disregard for grade and other geographical characteristics of an intersection. Death, injury and property damage is the result. Oh, and don't forget increased revenue.
Bring in the red light cameras and what they were susposed to learn at Texas A&M all goes to hell.
Don't pay it Barry. Fight.
Great pool company. Wave Custom Pools based here in Decatur. Website: www.wavecustompools.com.
They beat the price of Pulliam and other bidders in Metroplex.
I'm kinda upset there wasn't more interest in my Superbowl prostitution poll.
When you get the red light letter in the mail, DO NOT open it. Just write NMR on the outside of the letter and throw it back in the mail. It will be sent back to them, and they wasted money on postage.
Rage @ 1151 - How does the federal government "promote..." etc.? There are numerous ways. Here are a few:
- Lower income taxes so the mother can keep more of her check.
- Let her choose how she spends her money (on inexpensive incandescent light bulbs rather than more-expensive fluorescents, for example)
- Establish consistent business conditions so her company can prosper and expand, which allows them to pay her more and/or offer her a promotion
- Minimize interference with the food supply, which would lower the price of her groceries (e.g., ethanol and the corn supplies)
- Stop teaching her that she is dependent on government
There are obviously more ways that the government could promote the general welfare by doing nothing, but you get the idea.
The Decatur powerbrokers did exist. Look at nearby towns like Rhome, Newark, and Aurora. Business was diverted away from there to get the 287 dollar. Old news but true. They had the $ and education.
To Anonymous @ 12:52PM, thank you for the formulas.
One thing that the formulas leave out is the human element. When a police officer stops you for a traffic violation, the officer can assess the situation, consider the driver's point of view, and decide whether the supposed offense warrants a citation. The cameras can't do that, and neither can the traffic officer who sits at a computer screen and signs off on the tickets after the fact.
When I'm driving down a road and a green light turns yellow, I have to consider a multitude of factors: How fast and I going? How quickly can this vehicle stop? Do I have passengers or cargo that will be jeopardized if I slam on my brakes? Is there a car behind me? How fast is it going? Will it be able to stop if I do? Are there cars at the intersection that could hit me if I don't stop?
I'm the one driving and making the decision. I am trying to drive prudently. I don't need a camera to take a snapshot and second-guess my decisions. If there had been an officer, I could have explained my situation to her.
So, your formulas are important, but we also should consider the circumstances as perceived by the driver. I think Americans feel increasingly threatened by the rigid and arbitrary ways their government is drafting and applying the laws, especially when the so-called traffic enforcement smacks of revenue generation and gotcha-ism.
Nice babe today
"Shouldn't rational, well-meaning people give the benefit of the doubt to babies?"
Rage - You didn't answer the question, but instead changed the subject, an example of you using that technique when more convenient to your desired end.
Anon @11:35 - I'll take WK, even odds.
if you went to your doctor and asked him or her to cut off your hand, the request would probably be denied, but the decision would be made without the input of big brother.
however if your hand was infected and posed a serious risk to your survival and well-being, the doctor would probably cut it off - again without the government's say-so.
Will the Decatur School give the new supt a raise after only. A couple months on the job in a year where teachers will not ?
WTF
Wise county
Together
forever
I swear I've heard some of the dumbest Democrat/Liberal people call into the talk radio shows today.
What's wrong with you people?
WTF
Wordkyle
Too
Funny
3:57...What do you mean "you people"?
DF Kirk Lazarus
WTF!! please please cut you frigging hand off and shut the hell up. Obammy is a short term out the door Big ear nigger so shut the hell up already..
Tom Williams pools in Decatur does great work and will match or beat other bidders prices. Our pool is great and we've had excellent service. He's been building pools for decades.
Rage, I think I love you!! Great posts!!
Rage -
I just read this entire stream of posts and MAN! I love your posts!
Keep it up! You say things I think but seldom take the time to post. I appreciate that.
TEAM RAGE
I hope y'all are chicks.
Rage
Ponderosa Pools hands down best pool builder anywhere around.I used to build all my pools when I was building houses. They can handle from economy to incredible.
Rage is right when he says #2 - mental evaluation.
So when a women tells a Dr she wants to cut living flesh from inside her body, why dont they refuse and give her a mental eval???
Rage,
Quit giving yourself props. It is so obvious.
WK...way to kick ass. Libs cannot keep up with logic.
If you need a Dr, go to a Dr. You do not need insurance, or the freaking government. They will accept your cash. Even give you a no interest payment plan.
Not raging
Toms pool service
40 years in business
Colby Williams
940.393.3944
New Construction, Renovation, and Repair
Toms pools has been here as long as I can remember and has done an excellent job servicing our pool, I wouldn't recommend anyone other then these guys! They're now located in Decatur and Stephenville!
Rage.....Medical care has always been available. You use children as an example to give passion to your case but that really does not fly. If you don't qualify for Medicaid, you should qualify for the Childrens Health Insurance Program. If that doesn't work, try driving a lesser vehicle or better yet, maybe you should give up cigarettes. The chips program is as little as $15 per month, depending on your income.
Tommy Williams pool guy, been around along time, built us great pool and always quick on servicing when have a problem
Most men cringe when their wife starts to talk (in public)
Ponderosa built my pool. After lengthy discussion on the clay soils and how to prevent leaks, he packed all of the clay right back in the trenches. I have had 7 leaks in 6 years, at about $1200 each to repair. He fixed the first few on his dime, but now he has even refused to come out and repair them anymore. Worst pool builder in the area. Don't use them for anything. And none of his crew spoke English so we could not discuss why they were doing some of the things that they were doing. Nice guy, but terrible pool builder and businessman.
Gohlke Pools in Denton. Do amazing design and construction. Highly recommend them.
The chips program is as little as $15 per month, depending on your income.
And also assuming it isn't maxed out on participants...
Rage
I was very pleased with Toms Pool Service after the " degenerous decendates " took over, I don't know what happened with your deal, but he has made us very very happy and I can't name a person that hasn't been completely satisfied with there work, I hope you try him again,
Toms Pool Service
940.393.3944
Tomstxpoolservice.com
We used Wayne Davis and have been extremely satisfied. No problems, no issues, and it was a fair price, too.
We also got a saltwater pool (five years ago) and nothing has corroded or broken down).
I don't know if he still builds pools in Decatur since he doesn't live here anymore, but his business name was Texas Country Custom Pools.
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