July 2003 Archives
31 July 2003
Boomer Sooner
The ESPN/USA Today coaches poll has OU ranked #1 to start the college football season.
I think they're a definite Top 5 team, and they might be #1 by the end of the year, but it strikes me that a team that lost so much at QB and RB and doesn't have a sure answer at either position going into the season (although there are options) is a precarious #1 pick. I would probably have voted for Ohio State.
How about the strength of the Big 12, though? Three teams in the Top Five. Impressive.
I cannot understand why Oklahoma State is in the Top 25 and Texas A&M is not, though. A&M has more talent and a better coach, and barring last year's injury bug, will finish ahead of OSU in the South. If not, ya'll can come back here and give me a rash of shite.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/31/03 23:33 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (5)
Bill Parcells, Hardass
A lot of coaches have at least an unstated policy that players won't lose their starting position due to an injury.
And then there's Cowboys coach Bill Parcells:
"If you get hurt and someone goes in and plays better, you've lost your position," Parcells said "That's just the way it is."The days of Switzer/Gailey/Campo are over in Big D.
Thank goodness.
And just check out the people Parcells has brought in to "help" him around camp: Chuck Fairbanks (pictured right), Tom Coughlin, Ron Wolf (not to mention Dave Meggett and some other former players).
I don't think Switzer could have gotten a list like that to come in (though maybe Fairbanks, because of the OU connection). But maybe Charles Thompson could have come in and run drugs or something with Nate Newton, Erik Williams, Michael Irvin, and the rest of the gang. Woulda been like the late-80s Soooner football dorms!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/31/03 23:11 | Dallas Cowboys | Technorati | Comments (0)
Where Was Orlando?
Callie went to a Montrose townhall meeting on the planned Spur 527 reconstruction/rerouting fiasco that is just about upon us, and has a post up about it.
Unsurprisingly, Bill White sounds like a dumbass with nothing to say but "I'm a smart businessman, smarter than all of you idiots whose votes I'd like to buy" (I'm paraphrasing). Michael Berry came across well (will wonders never cease?). Councilman Goldberg was in attendance.
So where was Orlando Sanchez?
Good question.
Dude better get his act together and start going to meetings like this and getting out and about. People want to have a sense their next mayor is talking to people about the issues of the city. *I* want to have that sense, and I'm an Orlando booster. I'm not very interested in a Mayor in absentia. We've had six years of that shite.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/31/03 23:02 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
Portal Page Update
This little project took a lot more time than I anticipated this evening, but the portal page finally got a needed update.
Okay, right now it's basically a music page. But for me, it's a highly useful music page.
I'll get around to adding some other stuff later.
Site redesigns take time, ya know?!
BTW, while working on the thing, I did discover that one Scott Miller has finally added a Houston date -- 3 September at Rudyard's. This will be his first trip back to Texas in quite a while. It's not on his site yet, but it's on Pollstar.
We like Pollstar.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/31/03 22:53 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (1)
Dallas Sucks
In Houston, we've long lamented the dynamic duo of Mayor Pothole and Police Chief Crime Lab (finally gone), the Bayou City's crimefighting tandem. *ahem*
Things sound worse up in Dallas, if Rod Dreher is to be believed:
The latest FBI crime statistics show that Dallas is the most crime-infested big city in the nation. Want to know how bad it is? Read this. We have an incompetent police chief who keeps his job in large part because he's the city's first African-American top cop, and any criticism of him is instantly attacked as racist by what passes for black leadership in this city (this, despite the fact that 42 percent of the homicides in Dallas so far this year have been blacks). We have a city manager form of municipal government, so the mayor is relatively week. The city manager, who could fire the chief in a trice, won't, and because the city manager is Hispanic, an attack on him is ... well, you get the picture (another 42 percent of the homicides this year have been Hispanic). The white establishment doesn't want to rock the boat, and besides, most of them live in enclaves that aren't really hit by crime.Ouch.To give you an idea of how truly lousy Chief Terrell Bolton is, check out this quote from his press conference yesterday: "We're not the linchpin in crime fighting, because that's a collective effort. I think you're whistling 'Dixie' if you think the police chief can have some impact on a crook or a hoodlum that goes into a convenience store and pulls a gun on a clerk." If an NYPD chief had said something like that to the press, Rudy would have had his resignation on his desk before sundown. But New York is not Dallas. If you want to follow how the Dallas Morning News editorial board is discussing the crime problem here, check out our blog.
At least the Mayor of Dallas isn't ramming people with his car while on a quest to eradicate bandit signs.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/31/03 20:42 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (3)
*sigh*
I wonder if this attack will get as much coverage as, say, the case of the LA Lakers' child-millionaire and alleged rapist?
Probably not.
Sad.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/31/03 18:47 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
30 July 2003
Trish's Double?
Okay, go check out the new photo that Julie has posted of herself.
And then go check out Texas singer/songwriter Trish Murphy.
Close, eh?
Trish, by the way, will be at the Duck on 12 August. And most likely, so will I.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/30/03 23:36 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
The Lovable Loser
Mack Brown is such a lovable loser, isn't he?
Longhorns Coach Mack Brown said former coach Darrell Royal told him preseason polls are like beauty contests.Whatever."They're good for ticket sales, and it gets the fans excited," Brown said. "It's good for the players because it sets an expectation level. We tell them to enjoy it but as soon as practice starts, to forget about it and move on to the business of getting ready for the season."
Mack talks such a good game. He just can't deliver against Top 10 teams. Like the one coached by Mr. Bob Stoops.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/30/03 22:54 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (1)
Boring Geeky Music Stuff
I just discovered that the utility I've been using to rip mp3s has NOT been ripping using the LAME alt preset fast extreme setting it was supposed to be using, but was instead producing something closer to the alt preset fast standard setting. A quick upgrade fixed the problem, and the difference isn't noticeable unless one dons (good) headphones anyway (like the Beyerdynamic DT 250), but still... I'm anal and hate to discover little things like this.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/30/03 22:46 | Music | Technorati | Comments (2)
Cannot. Get. It. Out. Of. My. Mind.
I cannot stop listening to Son Volt's "Back Into Your World."
Over and over and over goes the song tonight.
It's not like I haven't listened to Straightaways a million times.
But for some reason, I'm stuck on this song. Weird.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/30/03 20:18 | Music | Technorati | Comments (3)
29 July 2003
Redistricting
I can't really get motivated to write about the saga of Texas redistricting. Plenty of bloggers (some of whom I know) post blow-by-blow accounts, and you're surely already reading them if you care about this issue. I've sort of adopted the fiery attitude of Owen Courreges as my own on this, so I'll just second the fun stuff he says over here.
It has been kind of fun to watch the party that exists to exercise political power squirm as they slowly come to grips with their new minority status. And watching that same "populist" party recast their anti-democratic obstructionism as "principled" has been a trip also.
But not as entertaining as Rick Minter saying TCU's football team reminds him of defending National Champion Ohio State, mind you, or Bill Parcells kicking someone's ass in training camp. Because that's where my mind is at the moment.
(Update) I am glad while I'm reading training camp and college football reports that folks like Rob are immersed in the details of redistricting. Click click click on that blogroll to the right, and I'm caught up on this crap in no time (leaving more time for the sports pages).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/29/03 22:44 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
Crack Smoking In The Star-Telegram Sports Newsroom
One should not ask football coaches in second tier schools in Conference USA about anything that matters, because shite like this from Rick Minter of Cincinnati is often the result:
"Can TCU go undefeated?" Minter asked. "I don't know, but I'll tell you one thing. They look a lot like Ohio State. Probably not as deep, but they've got that kind of a team. And it's obvious from last season that they know how to win. It wouldn't shock me if they went 12-0."They look nothing like Ohio State, and it will certainly shock me if they go 12-0 despite that pansy-ass schedule. In fact, look for the undefeated talk to end with the roadtrip to South Florida. Jim Leavitt is underrated as a coach, and his program is also underrated. I don't think he will lose to TCU at home.
Anyway, I know the DFW area is woefully underrepresented when it comes to major college sports, but this sort of cheerleading is just silly. If TCU has another 10-2 season, it will be a success. I wouldn't expect much beyond that.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/29/03 22:29 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (1)
A Screen Pass? In Dallas?
Every post-Landry Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator from David Shula to Maurice Carthon has pledged to bring back the screen pass.
And the Cowboys haven't been able to run it -- not run it well, but run it period -- since the man in the hat ran the team.
Now, Parcells may well get it done, because he is persistent like Landry.
But I'll believe it when I see it.
In other news, this guy would be why Joe Avezzano is coaching Jerry's Arena Football League team full-time this year. But we still like Coach Joe, if for no other reason than the small part he played in getting Cross Canadian Ragweed noticed by their current record label.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/29/03 22:05 | Dallas Cowboys | Technorati | Comments (0)
What If They Blacked Out A Baseball Game And Nobody Cared?
So TBS blacked out the Astros game tonight.
Yet another brilliant move by Major League Baseball.
NFL training camps have opened, so let's find a way to decrease interest in baseball.
Nice going, guys.
I'm reading so many Cowboys and Texans stories that I didn't even realize baseball season was still going on. But I suspect that the dozen Astros fans in town are probably annoyed. Or, more likely, the thousands of Braves fans are annoyed.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/29/03 20:48 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (0)
Dallas Cowboys Football Blog
Who would have guessed that two of my favorite political bloggers (James of Outside the Beltway and Steven of Poliblog) are also fans of my favorite football team.
Not only that, but they have a cool blog devoted to the Dallas Cowboys.
Nice work guys!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/29/03 19:12 | Dallas Cowboys | Technorati | Comments (3)
28 July 2003
The Converted!
I'm telling you people, Top 40 Country Music these days is all about selling tampons.
We're even winning converts to our view. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 23:29 | Music | Technorati | Comments (4)
Sparks on Tupelo
Jack Sparks just put up a fascinating post on Uncle Tupelo.
Wonder if he'd share that boot he mentions if I asked nicely and threw in something live from Texas....
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 23:16 | Music | Technorati | Comments (0)
Camp Parcells, Day Three
Bill Parcells rocks.
Today, he had this to say to some linemen he didn't think were moving fast enough:
I bet you guys would move a little faster if we had some butterscotch sundaes over there.
ha ha ha
This is pretty interesting reporting also:
Bill Parcells showed that he has a quick trigger when he cut two players Monday. Former Miami Hurricanes defensive back Markese Fitzgerald received his walking papers after being torched for two days. Rookie Noah Swartz of Toledo was also asked to leave early. ... Parcells shouted an expletive when several Cowboys began one drill prematurely. “Did I say hold on?” is the family version of his message. ... Parcells hung his head for about 10 seconds when Clint Stoerner fumbled a snap from center.
Heh. Kind of reminds me of the days when Jimmy Johnson was running the place. But I think Parcells is even more of a hardass.
He even has the Dallas beat writers behaving themselves for a change:
Chad Hutchinson and Quincy Carter remain in a dead heat at quarterback. About the only thing Cowboys coach Bill Parcells will add to the subject is that Clint Stoerner and Tony Romo are competing for the third spot.The biggest story in training camp, and those weenies are scared to ask the coach about it?! Can't say I blame 'em, though. Even the mascot is scared:Parcells is so prickly about the subject that no one even asked him about it in a 30-minute press conference Monday morning.
Rowdy, the Cowboys mascot, made his first appearance on the field Monday morning before practice. He was gone by the time practice began. Rowdy appears to be scared of Parcells, preferring to hang out with kids in the concourse area.What a great time of year!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 22:46 | Dallas Cowboys | Technorati | Comments (1)
Anti-American and Anti-Blair Socialists
Here is one of many reasons I won't be joining Callie and her mother when they go sell a property they have in Greece in a few weeks.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 21:59 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
Ouachita Murders
Since the main entry has scrolled away now, I ought to link to this comment I received today about those Texans who were murdered in the Ouachita National Forest recently.
Sounds like they were a nice couple. Most Ouachita backpackers/campers that I've run across are good folks. Scary that it might have been any of us.
Anyway, sometimes blogs are good for more than just navel-gazing and ranting. If anyone's interested, you can email the commenter via the hyperlink.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 21:35 | Outdoors | Technorati | Comments (0)
PHD, RIP
Sad news here from our friends in the Pollihollidaise, who once claimd to be Houston's friendliest cover band.
I can say their shows were always fun. But the name WAS hard to type!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 21:24 | Music | Technorati | Comments (0)
Wow
Wow, I leave town for few days and miss this amazingly, brutally honest self-reflection*** from Kate over at Electric Venom (in response to this idiocy).
I say amazingly because most people -- and even Kate, as she admits early in the entry -- don't share themselves this way on the 'net. Oh sure, there are plenty of journals and weblogs, but most of it's very dressed up. There are the warbloggers trying to impress each other with who can invade Saudi Arabia first, and the Lefties who speculate among themselves what W's latest impeachable offense is, and the budding writers who will get that essay/short story/comic book/feature/novel published one of these days (as soon as they get off the net), and the techie bloggers who really REALLY care about how all this crap works, and the angsty LJers, and... well, you get the idea.
Most of the time, we get Blog Kate. You know, the Smart Kate with the savage wit who reads and blogs like mad. We all know and love Blog Kate.
But then there's also Kate in the Real World. This Kate:
As a wife, I am tired of feeling that my attention is pulled in so many different directions while also knowing that my husband gets the short-end of the stick. This is the man that I chose to be with, the one I pledged to spend the rest of my life with, who made a similar pledge to me. Yet day in and day out we find it hard to squeeze in thirty minutes here, fifteen minutes there, just to hold hands and talk and laugh together like we used to back when we fell in love. Those days add up into weeks, months - then suddenly the man sharing my bed feels like a stranger and, at times, a burden because he, too, needs something from me.I honestly don't know how you mothers and fathers manage it. My hat's off to you. I don't seem to get enough quality time with Callie (this after sneaking off to OK with her for a couple of days). Throw in a couple of kids (shhh, don't tell the dog she isn't a kid) and I can't imagine. Because I've seen my friends with their families. I see the work it is. And that's the public version! I can only imagine the 24/7 private version. And without a break.
That's hard.
So, no retarded "advice" or "solutions" from me, no pithy lists, no reading recommendations, none of that. Just go read and think. Those of us who are a little older and in relationships (even if we don't have kids) can sympathize, and maybe we can even take some of it and put it to use. Thanks, Kate, for sharing.
*** I just realized I sound like Andrew. Oh well, that's certainly not a bad way to sound.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 21:00 | Other | Technorati | Comments (1)
Memo To A Dumbass In OK
Thanks for getting drunk off your ass and stumbling into my recording gear while I was away taking photos of the band this weekend.
I didn't really need that final 30 seconds of the song "George and Lucille."
Hope you enjoyed your retarded self, dumbass.
(Update) At least the retard didn't ruin the following song, the DEA cover of James McMurtry's "Every Little Bit Counts." I might have had to go back to OK and HURT someone if I had lost the incredible Rick Poss guitar solo on that one. I've managed to cobble together a mono recording out of the resulting mess, and it sounds pretty good (for one channel, stupid damn mic). The Blue Door is a great sounding room.
(Update 2) "Make Your Hay" is REALLY good the way these boys have reworked it. Another one of those that makes me go, "Susan WHO?????"
(Update 3) We just noticed on "Make Your Hay" that Scott changed the lyric from "The stage still painted blue" to "The door still painted blue." Seemed cool at the time, since we were at the Blue Door, but it just now struck us that wasn't the original lyric. I just never listened to certain Groobees songs as closely as others.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 20:15 | Music | Technorati | Comments (1)
Cleaning
One of the "chores" I stayed home to work on today was some overdue summer cleaning.
I'm pleased to announce I just pitched two boxes of dissertation research materials into a heavy trash pile the neighbors have going.
I was going to save it and torch in during a campout, but this was easier.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 14:46 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
Jimy!
Okay, so I'm taking a vacation day from work today to try and catch up some of the things I didn't get done around here over 
the roadtrip weekend, and just went over to 59 Diner for breakfast. I really do love to have breakfast there, because you always get such a cross-section of Montrose. And the occasional minor Houston celebrity (I've seen former Councilman Joe Roach there, and Rice football coach Ken Hatfield).
I dragged the new digital camera along today hoping for something interesting, and I was rewarded with the gentleman pictured -- Jimy "Buy Me A Consonant" Williams, manager of the Astros. I shot the thing without a flash (unobtrusive), and still don't really know the intricacies of the camera, but there it is. He's wearing a Playstation/MLB t-shirt. So THAT's how he figures out the ever-changing lineup card!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/03 11:03 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (5)
27 July 2003
Back From OKC
I'm finally back from a whirlwind weekend of family and music in Oklahoma City. My parents joined us, and my cousin and her fiance came over. It was a hoot.
Anyway, we roadtripped up to the Blue Door (pictured to the right), which is just about the coolest "venue" I've ever been in. I wrote "venue" like that because it's really the ultimate house concert house -- the place seems to be an old warehouse with room to seat anywhere from 50-100 in the main studio area. The rest of the place is a house. And the sound system kicks butt. So how about having your living room be a great sounding room, and everybody who's anybody in Americana playing your place over the years? Pretty damn cool. If I lived near Oklahoma City, I would hit this place for every show I could get to. And it's even BYOB. Can't beat that! We enjoyed a couple of nice bottles of wine.
And of course we enjoyed the Dead End Angels (to the left -- for the record, it was pitch black and low stage light). For one thing, that's the best sounding room they've played. PERFECT acoustics, perfect sound mix. The first show they played at the Mucky Duck was good in terms of the mix, but this easily topped that. Unfortunately, you'll have to take my word for it, because the damn problematic live recording apparatus has acted up again. One of the mics in the dual set died, meaning we have a great recording -- of the left channel only. I can map that as the right channel, but it will be a mono recording. That sucks, because it was just a brilliant show. Highlights included a reworking of "Wrecked and Beautiful" that they hadn't even practiced. They just talked about it on the way up and played a really stripped down, emotional version. One of those reasons we go to see live music all over the place -- you never know when you'll get a song like that. Or Rick sitting down with the lap steel they used to record "Girl In Oklahoma" in the studio, and belting out an especially good rendition (his slide guitar is always amazing, but this song really sounds pretty with the lap steel). Or a kick-butt reworking of "Make Your Hay" that I've only heard 'em do once.
We're just exhausted, and a little annoyed that the recording isn't going to be quite right. On the other hand, I got some great photos (will post sometime), and it was good to share it with family. And we also stopped in on the way out of town to visit the National Memorial of the bombing downtown. It's very classy, and very moving. In all, a great weekend.
(Update) I almost forgot to mention this. As we were leaving the place we stayed (which had high speed internet -- woo hoo!) this morning, a family was loading up beside the Jeep. And a little kid -- he couldn't have been more than three -- pointed at the Jeep, and when he finally caught my eye, said "I like the Jeep Liberty." I congratulated him on his good taste, but his mother scolded him to get in their car and seemed unfriendly. Probably didn't like her kid talking to strange men who seem to enjoy kids who like Jeeps WAY too much.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/27/03 22:14 | Music | Technorati | Comments (9)
Blue Door
The Blue Door is one cool venue.
More soon.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/27/03 01:19 | Music | Technorati | Comments (0)
26 July 2003
Oklahoma City?
Okay, you Okies, help me out.
We just rolled into OKC and the high speed internet in the hotel is working GREAT.
But the family hasn't figured out where to go grab some grub before heading to the Blue Door for music later.
So what about it? Any of you have any recommendations for good eats in the NW Expressway/May Avenue general area? If so, please leave me a comment in the next couple of hours. Thanks!
(Update) Dinner was good. No need for suggestions now. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/26/03 17:12 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
Camp Bill Parcells
The Dark Period (between NBA Playoffs and Football Season) is over.
Camp Bill Parcells (or Camp Crystal Lake for some?) opens today.
I have a feeling Mr. Parcells (pictured to the right) won't look nearly so happy after observing the shite that has produced a 5-11 record for however many season in a row.
Meanwhile, I am off to OK to hang with the family, and catch a show at the Blue Door.
Hope ya'll enjoy your weekend!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/26/03 08:22 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
25 July 2003
Frank
Just look at this cute furry thing that wandered up to Scott's place last weekend.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/25/03 13:58 | Other | Technorati | Comments (4)
Boredom
Kate effing rocks.
Not much to add, other than that my solution to the boredom involves roadtripping this weekend.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/25/03 08:30 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
My Favorite Season
The 
bad period has ended.
The Texans open training camp today.
The Cowboys open their first training camp with Mr. Bill Parcells tomorrow.
Now, there will finally be some news worth reading on the sports pages.
My favorite pre-season has just arrived.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/25/03 07:38 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (3)
24 July 2003
Houston Press Music Showcase
I'm probably not going to be back in time unfortunately, but the Houston Press Music Awards Showcase is this Sunday. Seven bucks lets you roam across multiple downtown venues and see tons of bands. It's pretty cool.
For those who will be around, let me put in a plug for our friends in Silverleaf, who will be playing at M Bar at 5 pm. Blue October closes it all down at 10:15 at Verizon. And there's all sorts of good stuff in between.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/24/03 22:54 | Music | Technorati | Comments (0)
Barkley
Mr. Charles Barkley on the Kobe Bryant affair:
Barkley, the NBA's 13th leading all-time scorer and 1993 Most Valuable Player who now works as a television analyst for TNT, said there's no way to know what sort of lasting impact the incident will have on Bryant's career.Something like this."He can run for president now. That's what it means," Barkley joked.
"I don't worry too much about image. People are going to like you or not. If somebody is going to turn on you because of something like this, they didn't like him to begin with."
"Something like this" would be, alleged felony sexual assault.
And if he's convicted (which is unlikely, because Kobe, Inc, NBA, Inc., Fans, Inc., and TV, Inc. all have a vested interest in that NOT happening), then yeah, I won't like Kobe very much. And it won't be because I "didn't like him to begin with." What a retarded thing to say.
It's scary that Barkley calls himself a conservative and occasionally talks about running for political office. *shudder*
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/24/03 22:12 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (1)
Pernicious Web Of Assault
Leave it to Orrin Judd to keep us informed what's going on in our state with regard to reproductive rights, or family planning, or whatever it's called these days.
The phrase "pernicious web of assault" is good coming from the pro-abortionists. Of course, the pro-life camp might use that term to describe what happens to an aborted fetus.
And no, this issue arises too much passion in people to leave the comments open, because this isn't really a political blog/journal. At least not for this issue. Sorry.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/24/03 21:47 | Texas | Technorati |
Must. Be. Getting. Old.
I say that because I'm planning a roadtrip up to OK this weekend, to hang with the family and catch a little music.
And Callie and I had tossed around the idea of catching a Mike McClure/DEA twinbill at Saengerhalle tomorrow, then roadtripping to OK from Oklahoma (in some ways, it's easier that way, as I-35 from NB would head right where I need to go).
But inertia looks like it's going to win out on Friday. Too much too pull together, and I would have to blow outta here straight from work tomorrow to get to New Braunfels.
Ah well. It seemed like a good idea a week ago! But the OK roadtrip will be enough, I think.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/24/03 21:34 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
The American Shooter
I have a feeling Jim Scoutten, host of The American Shooter, wouldn't have much trouble dealing with creeps hiding in the woods in Gilly suits.
Seriously, though, I don't normally watch hunting/fishing shows, but I've run across Scoutten's show while flipping channels a few times. I love how the dude so matter-of-factly announces things like, "Today on the show, we're going out hunting deer with some M1A1 tanks. Now, we've modified the turrets to give them a little extra firepower. You can never have too much firepower when hunting deer."
Okay, he doesn't quite say that, but it comes close sometimes. And he has such a calm, reassuring manner when he's talking about his firepower. I know it's not supposed to be comedic, but it kind of is.
And it horrifies liberals. That's always good.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/24/03 19:40 | Outdoors | Technorati | Comments (1)
Dueling Banjos?
My mom sends me more details on that nutcase who murdered those two campers from Texas up in a part of the Ouachitas with which I'm very familiar from backpacking. I swear, I've never heard dueling banjos** up there, but this whole deal is really creepy. Especially dude's "Gilly suit." What the hell?
The latest:
By ROD WALTON World Staff WriterHearing voices? Gilly suit? Done something real bad?
7/24/2003MUSKOGEE -- The suspect in the slayings of a Texas couple who were camping this month in LeFlore County appeared in federal court Wednesday, only hours after attempting suicide.
U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling asked a federal judge to determine whether Edward L. Fields, 36, is mentally competent to face first-degree murder counts.
Fields' attorney, however, argued that his client understands the allegation and is able to assist in his defense.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Steve Shredder will hear the competency motion Monday at the U.S. Eastern District Courthouse in Muskogee.
Fields is accused of shooting to death a Hurst, Texas, couple in the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area campgrounds south of Poteau.
Charles Glenn Chick, 47, and his wife, Shirley Elliott Chick, 50, were shot repeatedly in the head with a .22-caliber weapon around July 10, reports show.
Their bodies were discovered July 11 by a man riding his motorcycle through the area.
Fields was in the Muskogee County jail Wednesday morning when he cut into his vein with what Sperling called "a sharp object."
He received numerous stitches and staples at the Muskogee hospital and was released, Sperling said.
Fields appeared at the hearing later Wednesday in shackles and using a wheelchair.
He was returned to jail after the hearing. A dispatcher said he was under a suicide watch Wednesday night.
Fields had told a Muskogee County undersheriff earlier that he had been "hearing voices a long time," Sperling said.
Reports indicate that Fields might have tracked the Chicks' campground stay for several days. Fields told a friend, Carole Sakura Lamb, that he had "done something real bad," an FBI affidavit said.
"Fields told Lamb that he had snuck up on some people in their car," the affidavit read. "Fields further said that he went back and got his 'gilly suit,' snuck back up on them and watched them."
Lamb also told authorities that Fields showed her his .22-caliber rifle and the camouflage suit, according to the FBI document.
He also threatened to kill himself at that time, the affidavit said.
Should the judge grant the U.S. attorney's motions Monday, Fields would be sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation.
If an evaluation is denied, the case will move immediately to a preliminary hearing, during which prosecutors will present evidence against Fields.
Err, yeah.
As you might imagine, the whole bizarre story has made the Backpacker forums. I have to say that I've never felt particularly unsafe up there. I've also never really felt the need to pack heat while backpacking. But that policy may get tested this fall.
** Reference to the disturbing cult classic, Deliverance.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/24/03 18:58 | Outdoors | Technorati | Comments (8)
23 July 2003
Toyota Center
Channel 11 is reporting that the new basketball arena will be sponsored by Toyota and named Toyota Center:
Next season it appears the Houston Rockets will be starting fresh -- a new coach, a new logo and a new name for the new downtown arena.I don't much care about this, but why not a local company (Continental) or local industry (ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips)?
KHOU-TV
The arena will also be home to the Rockets, Aeros, Comets and numerous concerts.11 News has learned that the Rockets have reached a naming rights deal for their new downtown home. Get ready for Toyota Center.
Sources are told 11 Sports Wednesday afternoon that it's a done deal and Toyota has secured the naming rights to the new arena.
Or even better, Jeep Center. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/23/03 22:51 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (3)
Your NiMH Battery Expert
More proof that you don't have to look far to find experts in most anything on the web:
Check out this dude, who tests all sorts of digital imaging products, but in his spare time, has come up with one of the most comprehensive pages on NiMH rechargeable batteries I've ever seen.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/23/03 22:20 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
*cough*
The stench is back today.
My gawd. There have been trace elements all week, but it's more like a bioweapon attack today.
*cough*
*cough*
*gag*
(Update) On a trip to the Galleria today for Houston's best BBQ (where the same nice ladies were working once again), I smelled a component of the stench emanating from Bath and Body Works. The stinky coworker must take that name seriously and actually take a bath in the stuff. Ewwwwww.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/23/03 10:06 | Other | Technorati | Comments (7)
Bye Bye Bell
Owen says one thing has been consistent in the redrawing of Congressional districts so far: Chris Bell's district has gotten sliced up.
Good. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/23/03 08:27 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
Last Night's Debate
Alex has a hilarious recap of the Houston mayoral debate last night (sorry, kids, but I didn't even turn on the television last night, so for once you get no opinions from me on what the local political class had to say).
And Greg has a recap here that is heavy on "Bill White is the smartest man alive, let alone on this stage."
Funny, but it seems to me that Michael Berry and Orlando Sanchez both graduated with honors from UH. And I know that Sanchez survived the grueling tutelage of Ross Lence (instead of working the "Orlando is stupid" angle, maybe the Local Lefties could work the Straussian angle. Not that Lence is truly a Straussian, but hey, why let that stop you). So sorry, I'm not just going to hand Bill White the "smartest" label simply because he is not a Republican.
Mainly, I just wish Mr. White could cut a television ad where he doesn't have that pained expression on his face. I mean, my gawd, do we really want a mayor who grimaces every time he deigns to talk to us voters about how brilliant he is?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/23/03 08:20 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (2)
The Perfect Video Game Team
Will this be the season that Mack "Roscoe P. Coltrane" Brown finally gets it done at UT?
Highly doubtful.
But at least his teams get it done in video games:
Though not a video-game player in general, I own a PS2 solely because of the existence of this game, which, if you’re one of the unfortunate few yet to see it, is simply the most realistic replication of college football imaginable. It just so happens I’ve been playing the new version for a couple of weeks now, thanks to an advance copy from the fine folks at EA Sports.Too funny. Thanks to my friend Dave for calling this one to my attention!In terms of actual game-play, this year’s edition isn’t much different from its predecessors. The coolest new feature -- and I swear this is not meant as a plug -- is the addition of mock Sports Illustrated covers that change each week based on your season.
Which gets me to my point. When I played out the coming season, the two teams that reached the Sugar Bowl were Ohio State and … Texas. In the three years I’ve played this game, Texas has reached the national championship every time. Why? Because let’s face it, the Longhorns are the perfect video-game team. Coaching and intangibles aren’t taken into account, just raw talent. You can only imagine what Roy Williams and Cedric Benson do in this thing.
It’s not that I think Mack Brown is a bad coach. He’s one of the best in the country. How many guys out there would give their right arm to be 49-15 at their school? It’s just that he has the misfortune of being in the same division and on the Cotton Bowl sideline opposite arguably the best coach in the country. Mack’s staff does tend to err on the side of conservatism, and you can’t beat a staff like Bob Stoops’ by being conservative.
Once again, Texas is loaded across the board, and, once again, the difference between a great season and a storybook season will come down to the Oklahoma game. And while I think the circumstances -- slightly lower expectations, a diversified offense with Chance Mock -- finally could be right for a Longhorns victory, I still can’t bring myself to pick Texas over OU in the South standings.
While video games do a great job of mimicking real life, I’ve yet to see real life mimic a video game.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/23/03 07:50 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (1)
22 July 2003
Rail And Houston
Owen Courreges notes that James Lileks has penned a pretty interesting case against urban rail in Minneapolis.
Owen has devoted much blogspace to making a cost-benefit case against rail in Houston, arguing that the cost won't be justified by ridership or other benefits.
I have to admit that I like rail. Zipping around London on the tube is a hoot. But Houston isn't London. And so far, about the most convincing case I've heard for rail in Houston is Mayor Pothole's oft-repeated line, "Every world-class city has rail."
That may be so. But if you scroll through Owen's blog, you'll find some fairly convincing arguments that public mass transportation dollars would be better spent (in terms of improving mobility) in other ways in Houston.
So is Houston's downtown/Med Center rail boondoggle really about improving mobility? Or is it about providing a means of mass transit to upper-middle class folks who, for whatever reason, don't want to ride the current bus system?
Food for thought.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/22/03 21:52 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (7)
All Progressives, All The (APSA) Time
If I hadn't long ago ditched any aspirations of being an academic political scientist, this Claremont Institute APSA Panel would just be a must-attend.
At this point, though, I'll be pleased never to revisit any materials related to the Progressives and the dissertation.In fact, I still have a box or two of said materials that need to go to the neighborhood recycling program.
But I guess the Claremonsters deserve a hat tip for getting me interested in the topic during my summer stay with 'em.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/22/03 20:41 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
Creepy
Here's some creepy news from the Poteau (OK) Daily News. I've been backpacking and hiking all over the part of the Ouachitas mentioned in the article, and spent time at both campgrounds. And I'm sure I'll be back up that way this fall. I never actually camp in the improved campgrounds, and don't generally worry about crazed killers around the places I do camp, because most crazed killers are too lazy to do what backpackers do.
Anyway, here's the text in its entirety because it looks like it will scroll away shortly:
Arrest made in campsite killingsBy Vicki Selman - News Reporter
A man's vehicle was searched and he was placed under arrest at his workplace in Poteau Friday evening after he was established as a suspect in the shooting deaths of two campers from Texas.
The bodies of Charles Glenn Chick, 47, and his wife, Shirley Chick, 50, of Hurst, Texas, were discovered July 11 by a Fort Worth man passing through the area of the Winding Stair National Recreation Area campsite located along Talimena Drive near U.S. 259 on his way home.
Following several days of investigation, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Public Information Director Jessica Brown said the bodies had been identified by the State Medical Examiner's Office and the cause of death for each of the Chicks had been determined as multiple gunshot wounds from a small-caliber weapon.
Friday afternoon, according to an affidavit prepared by Special Agent Norman G. Kuylen, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma City Division, Muskogee Resident Agency, a search warrant was executed on a blue, 1989 Chevrolet pickup parked in the Kenco Plastics parking lot in Poteau.
Kuylen's affidavit was prepared for the purposes of obtaining the search warrant and a warrant for the arrest of the truck's registered owner, 36-year-old Edward Leon Fields, in connection with the Chick murders.
According to F.B.I. Public Information Officer Gary Johnson, Fields was placed into custody after he left the plastics plant.
Prior to the Wister man's arrest a criminal complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee alleging that Fields committed first-degree murder in connection with the Chick deaths.
Kuylen's affidavit, which, according to the Special Agent, includes only the facts necessary to obtain the warrants and not all facts known about the case by investigators, stated Fields became a suspect in the Chick homicides after an acquaintance contacted authorities with information about his actions and statements.
The woman who contacted authorities told them that, since June, Fields had been living in campgrounds around Wister Lake and the Talimena Drive area, according to the affidavit. She also reportedly told investigators that she had seen Fields with a .22 caliber rifle and a camouflage "gilly suit," which is described as an outfit decorated with strips of burlap, often used by snipers in an attempt to blend into the surrounding environment.
In his affidavit, Kuylen stated that burlap-like fibers were found at six separate locations in the Chick campsite after investigators responded to the report that the couple had been robbed and killed.
The week of the murders, Fields reportedly contacted the female acquaintance and threatened suicide. When the woman met him at a Wister Lake location, Fields informed her that he had, "done something real bad," and that he had "snuck up on some people in their car," according to the Special Agent's affidavit. Fields then reportedly told the woman that he "went back and got his gilly suit, snuck back up on them and watched them."
O.S.B.I. Agent Donnie Long also traveled to Louisiana on July 13 and obtained statements from another witness who reportedly said he had been in the Winding Stair campground on July 8 and 9, and, when he entered the campground on July 8, he saw a pickup matching the description of Fields' truck parked at a campsite in the area where the Chicks were camped. The couple had registered at the campsite on July 7.
Prior to the execution of the search warrant on Fields' pickup Friday, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Special Agent James Alford visited Kenco Plastics, found the vehicle in the parking lot and, in plain view in the back of the truck, spotted a garment consistent with what he recognized as a gilly suit, according to Kuylen's statement.
According to O.S.B.I. Public Information Director Jessica Brown, the search warrant for the truck produced a firearm believed to have been the murder weapon.
Fields was placed into the LeFlore County Jail temporarily, but by Monday afternoon, he had been transferred into the custody of the U.S. Marshals in Muskogee, according to sheriff's department personnel.
"The shootings appear to be purely random, although pre-planned by the suspect," Brown stated in a press release issued by O.S.B.I. Monday morning. "His timely arrest is testament to local, state, and federal authorities working together."
Participating agencies in the investigation were listed as the LeFlore County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, LeFlore County District Attorney's Office, F.B.I. and O.S.B.I.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/22/03 19:11 | Outdoors | Technorati | Comments (5)
One To Make Callie Groan
This guy has put together a handy guide for those of us who buy gadgets and love bargains.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/22/03 16:52 | Other | Technorati | Comments (1)
21 July 2003
DMN Blog
The editorial board at Dallas Morning News has started a nice MT blog (hope they have their licensing in order).
Rod Dreher, a regular contributor to NRO, seems to be driving things over at his new home.
This is good. It would be better if it were a real blog, say, with archives. But it's a start for old media. Baby steps.
I started to write that I wish the Comical had a blog, but really I don't. That paper is dreadful, and regular blog updates would be worse. But the Houston Press -- that's a different story. Especially since they've taken Richard Connelly's column away from him. Put him to work on a blog, guys. You've got a great writer you're underutilizing. He's easily a local Romenesko.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/21/03 21:53 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
Anna's Linens
My gawd, I'm pointing out home furnishings in the Anna's Linens sales ad.
Callie: "You sound like an old person."
I do.
Scary.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/21/03 21:30 | Other | Technorati | Comments (5)
Fortune
My fortune cookie from lunch today:
Many people are seeking you for your sound advice.Allrighty then.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/21/03 12:33 | Other | Technorati | Comments (1)
20 July 2003
Bye Bye West End
Here's a reprinted LA Times article on Hurricane Claudette and beach erosion issues on Galveston Island.
Many of the property owners on the West End now have homes in violation of the Texas Open Beaches Act, courtesy of ongoing erosion (and mean storms). Some of them have opted for geotubes, but they've been a little misleading (like this guy):
"The beach is the principal asset of the Texas coast. That is particularly true in Galveston," said Sidney S. McClendon III, owner of a home on Galveston's bay side. "The island is eroding away. One way or another, we've got to save that beach."Nice try, Sid, but the geo tubes do little to protect the actual BEACH. They do protect your home, and that's fine. But at least be up front about it. And since we do have an Open Beaches Act that deems all Texas beaches public property, I'm not sure why I have a vested interest in protecting your home and letting the beach go to hell.
Like I said, nice try.
(07-21-03 Update) More links to articles on this issue over at Rob's place.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 22:20 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
Zip
Sorry if you saw an odd warning message a few seconds ago.
I've been messing around with enabling gzip compression for php pages. On the old host, it was enabled by default on the server. I hadn't thought to look after moving over here, but I just discovered it wasn't on (after thinking my bandwidth usage was a bit higher than usual).
Anyway, the site should load noticeably faster now for those using a dialup connection and a fairly new browser. Sorry I didn't catch that sooner.
Here are some useful sites for checking out whether your php pages are gzip compressed:
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 21:37 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (0)
Deadly Strip
Courtesy of John Nova Lomax, here's one of many reasons I don't spend much time on the Richmond Strip:
Beginning this January and through May (the last month for which crime stats were available), there were 107 robberies, 73 aggravated assaults and five rapes on the strip, in addition to the ten shootings and the successful and attempted vehicular homicides listed above. That's more than one violent crime a day, not to mention scores and scores of burglaries of cars and businesses.You'd think with the Super Bowl and other sporting events coming to Houston, the city's promoters would be boosting a downtown that's actually interesting these days. You'd be wrong, though:
And yet city planners are touting the Richmond Strip as a place to funnel tourists during the Super Bowl. Under the headline "Super Bowl XXXVIII / Downtown shaking off the dirt / Club owners say Super Bowl can mend city's image," the Chronicle reported that, and I quote, the "Houston Super Bowl XXXVIII Host Committee will steer the expected influx of 130,000 tourists to downtown and the Richmond strip/Uptown areas during game week."Err, Yeah.Then there's the Greater Houston Convention Center and Visitors Bureau Web site, which touts the Richmond Strip's "exciting nightlife," where the clubs "will keep you moving and shaking into the wee hours." Exciting indeed. And maybe they mean "dodging bullets and convulsing on a stretcher."
Maybe the new Police Chief will at least see fit to boost patrols in the area, while Mayor Pothole forms a committee to "study" the issue.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 21:16 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
Julie Takes On Dumbassery
Julie has been dealing with some dumbassery that I can't even begin to describe. Just go read all about it.
I will say with regard to the article that started the whole back and forth that it misses the entire point of mainstream (FM radio) country music, which is to sell tampons.
If pro-war or anti-war messages threaten tampon sales, you know what? Those artists are going to find their airplay reduced. It's as simple as that in mainstream country music these days, unfortunately.
As for Darryl Worley, what a joke! From the article:
"My co-writer and myself were talking about the whole thing," explains Worley, "and he just stood up and said, 'It makes you want to just look these people in the eye and say,' Have you forgotten?" I got chills all over my body because I knew that was the title of the song that weA co-writer! He needed a co-writer for that piece of shite! To come up with the (almost rhyming) lines, "Don't you tell me not to worry 'bout Bin Laden. Have you forgotten?" Musically, this is a BAD song, whatever the political "message."
were going to write that day."
And we really don't think Big Darryl actually follows politics, do we?
But some radio stations avoided playing the song because of its shaky veracity and pro-war nature. A gushing Sean Hannity asked him about this on his Fox News show Hannity and Colmes: "But I want to know, why are they boycotting your song, some people?" Worley's answer: "Well, it's communism."
Err, yeah Darryl, THAT is what it is!
I'm telling you people, it's about the tampons. Just look at his promotional photo (to the right) and tell me it's about songwriting and melodies and not appealing to chicks. Or just listen to the shite he calls music.
For Worley in particular, it's also about trying to stoke some publicity for a flagging career. It's hard when you're really not pretty enough to get the Nashville Musical Shite Factory completely behind you, and not good enough for your music to make an impression on its own.
THAT is the theme a really edgy, thoughtful alternative publication might have pursued. But I guess it's more fun to beat up on our blog buddy Julie. Dumbasses.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 15:32 | Music | Technorati | Comments (2)
Joe Ely and Pap Green
Michael Clark pens a good review of Joe Ely's Streets of Sin in today's Comical:
Between Streets of Sin and his past two studio albums, 1995's Letter to Laredo and 1998's Twistin' in the Wind, we may be immersed in the finest studio work of Ely's career.I don't think there's any doubt about it. Twistin' In The Wind is underrated (even by me, for a long time), and Letter To Laredo is a signature cd, one of the best that exists in the Texas/alt-country genre. But this CD is more like Love and Danger than it is those, at least in my opinion. *shrug*
Clark begins the same review with Pat Green's new CD. That half of the review is strange, because as much as Clark seems to get Joe Ely right, it's almost as if he doesn't want to say anything really bad about Pat Green. So he just writes mush like this:
The title track is more effortless and engaging. Built on closed electric guitar notes, the rippling picks mimic the lyrical rush of emotion. It all converges on the eardrum like a pebble in a still pond.
Huh? No mention of the producer? Or the post-production/re-production difficulties of the hit tune? I guess that would be way too edgy (informative?) for the Comical.
As an aside, here's a conversation I had with a musician last night (whom I'll leave unnamed) about Pat's hit single (referenced above) "Wave on Wave"
Me: "It's so much pap."
Callie: "Did you say pap or Pat?"
Musician: "Is there a difference?"
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
I'm sorry if that makes no sense to some of you, but it really is pretty funny.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 14:23 | Music | Technorati | Comments (0)
Can We Have This (Politically Incorrect) Conversation?
The Austin American-Statesman reports the following statistics:
- Of 3,007 drunken driving arrests in 2002, 43 percent involved Hispanic men, even though they make up only about 11 percent of Austin's driving population.
- Including women, Hispanics made up 47 percent of the DWI arrests but only 21 percent of Austin drivers.
Of course, there are those who cry profiling:
"In a general sense, Latinos are no more likely to be driving while intoxicated than any other race or ethnicity. And the fact that more have been arrested for DWI might suggest there's some bias in enforcement," said Joe Berra, a San Antonio-based staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a national Latino civil rights organization.
Whatever. When a guy blitzes through a red light because he's plastered, is the cop REALLY gonna let the white guy go but chase down everyone else? Are we REALLY expected to believe that? Come on.
Later, the article explains that the People's Republic of California sees similar statistics (48% of drunk driving arrest were of Hispanics, but they are only 21% of the population).
Who really knows the cause of these statistics? But the numbers are so far out of line with what one might reasonably expect that it's probably worth investigating, instead of just crying "racial profiling, wah wah wah." Still, the times being what they are, it's surprising that the American-Statesman has even tried to start the conversation.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 13:24 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (1)
Flashbacks of the Satellite Lounge
Last night, our Dead End Angels opened for Roger Creager at the Firehouse.
Creager, for those who don't know, is a big damn deal in Texas Music. He's one of the few artists for which the Firehouse pre-sells tickets online, because he will fill up the place. (Of course, as it turns out, they don't actually treat ticket holders any differently than someone who shows up late at the door, but that's a topic Alex can take up.) He is a well-marketed "Texas" music guy with a band that blasts out the music. If there's a "next" Pat Green in this state, it would probably be Creager. I've seen him a few times now, and each time I have less need ever to see him again (Callie and Alex, on the other hand, would disagree). I endured three songs last night before packing it in.
I just fill in all of that as context, in order to explain why I was curious before the show how DEA would be received. They are not really "Texas" music guys (in terms of Bock drinking feel-good, celebrate Texas music), but they are Americana/Texas-roots music guys (there's a difference -- for example, I doubt Creager would be caught dead singing a Doug Sahm or Chris Hillman song. There's your difference). Their stuff -- even the covers they choose -- is significantly different from what Creager fans might expect.
But it was very well received. And, surprisingly, there were some people actually SINGING some of the DEA songs. Since they're a fairly new band without a big following yet, that surprised me. And guitarist Rick Poss was a huge hit. Callie and I had flashbacks of Reckless Kelly shows at the Satellite, as we went up to the front of the stage in front of Rick (couldn't see past the throngs otherwise). I don't know if the Creager crowd appreciated it, but it was pretty cool when dude broke out that big 12-string Rickenbacker on a few songs -- amazing finger work. In all, a pretty damn good first night for a band making its first appearance at the Firehouse.
And an experimental country band at that.
I'm pretty sure they'll be invited back to the Firehouse. And that's good news.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 12:42 | Music | Technorati | Comments (0)
Xitel INport
This little device is going to make my live-recording life MUCH better (especially since I've put off messing with a number of live MDs waiting for it to be released).
I already own Xitel's HiFi Link, and it does a fine job exporting sound to my home stereo rig via USB. This new device solves the problem of getting sound IN efficiently (because even a high-end Soundblaster soundcard fairly well sounds like shite).
Will post more details when they ship and I actually have one to try. Edirol has made a similar device for a while, but for a time I know they had some chipset compatibility issues (so I never gave them a serious look). Xitel seems to have had better luck in non-musician markets.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 12:02 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
The Drought Is Nearly Over
I HATE HATE HATE the period between the end of basketball season and the start of football season.
It's too hot to go backpacking, and yet the only sport going is Major League Baseball. It's a sad time.
But the dreadful period is nearly over. The Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News have both published their guides to Dallas Cowboys training camp today. Football pre-season is just about here. This is good news.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 11:46 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (2)
Sooner Stuff
Good advice today from Berry Tramel on the upcoming football season:
Opening kick is not so far away. Solutions to certain ills are less likely to fall from the cloudless sky. Romance flees. The hunt is on.The 2003 Sooners should have a great defense, the offensive line should be improved, and so should the receivers. And I think they have talent at QB, even if brittle Jason White goes down. I'm more concerned about replacing Quentin Griffin (who made the offense go last year) and Trent Smith (Mr. Reliable at tight end). Three key positions, big question marks.Thus a warning: Temper the abundant optimism over the 2003 Oklahoma Sooners.
With sound reason, the Stoops Troops were picked one or two in many a preseason ranking. OU figures to have a defense meaner than those skeleton pirates Johnny Depp swordfights on the silver screen.
But 21st-century football remains a quarterback game. And these Sooners seem precarious at QB.
Not that the Sooners don't deserve Top 10 status to start the season. But I wouldn't have 'em at the top of that list just yet.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/03 10:58 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (0)
19 July 2003
Another Addition
Confessions of a G33k has blogrolled PubliusTX.net after we exchanged some linky love earlier in the week.
We've reciprocated after reading more good stuff over there.
Now, I'm going to push away from the 'puter for a while and go do some other stuff with the weekend.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/19/03 18:33 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (0)
Bricolage Central
I've been kind of distracted with little side projects the last few days, and hadn't noticed that we've been plugged by Bricolage Central (now added to the blogroll).
So how have I missed this fellow Houstonian who is writing about good stuff like David Allan Coe??? I mean, have I watched music with you at the Firehouse some night and not even known it?
It's a small world.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/19/03 18:17 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (0)
Callie's Nucleus-Powered Blog
I've gotten Callie's blog moved from Movable Type to Nucleus, and it seems to be working okay. But I'm sure I screwed something up somewhere that I'm just not seeing, so why not go over there and try things out for us a little bit, okay?
Oh, and encourage Callie to update now that I've actually gotten this little task completed. :)
That's the last of the personal sites I own/update/support that I needed to get moved off of MT, for reasons described here and here. Since I installed, support, and host MT for Callie, I'm sure I'm in some sort of violation of a licensing agreement that, frankly, reads like pap. Nucleus poses no such problems, and it's php/mySQL powered and dynamically generated.
And there's another topic. People seem to be VERY confused (or just misleading) on the advantages and disadvantages of dynamically generated php sites. I had Anil Dash email me that a dynamically generated site would slow to a crawl under load during the whole debate of MT licensing terms a while back (no, actually, that would be MT's perl comments after relatively few comments on a shared server), and I've seen people worrying that their own proprietary techniques of hitting MT's mySQL database directly with PHP queries might put too much of a strain on the server.
Nonsense, thought I! But I'm hardly an expert on these matters. So I turned over the question to my friend Atlee, who is. And she had this to say:
I swear, everyone connected with MT has fallen prey to some kind of major reality-distortion field about this subject. So [a php query] checks the DB every page load? BIG FREAKIN' DEAL! Worrying about the impact of a database call on the load time of somebody's piddly little blog is just ridiculous (and almost all blogs are piddly and little by the standards of everyone except bloggers), because we're talking about tiny fractions of seconds here, especially with MySQL (the fastest database on the planet). E-commerce sites run dozens of queries over thousands of records under a much higher concurrent access load than 99% of blogs, but somehow they manage not to knuckle under. Seriously, I wonder if these people ever get their heads out of the blog world at all. Have they ever looked at database benchmarks? Have they even the most basic grasp of how databases work? *shakes head* That whole issue is just mind-bogglingly stupid.This would be the same friend who, when I first emailed her on this topic, simply replied, "I guess they haven't heard of Slashdot?"
Ha. Thanks for the clarification, Atlee! I owe you a Shiner.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/19/03 17:55 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (1)
Sports, Race, And Stereotypes
Here's one for you sports fans to think about, from the Daily Oklahoman of all places:
Sports Illustrated's survey of major-leaguers shows the filter through which players see things.Top five and bottom five? Interesting.To the question of who gets the most from the least talent, the top five answers were white guys. To the question of who gets the least from the most talent, the top five answers were black guys.
There's no bigger stereotype in sport than the overachieving white athlete and the underachieving black.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/19/03 09:11 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (0)
18 July 2003
Llano Estacado?
Can't seem to make up my mind on Cooder Graw at the Firehouse tonight.
The place is going to be packed, and I'm already planning on DEA/Roger Creager there tomorrow (which will be more packed). There's only so much Packed Firehouse I can take.
But then again, I've never seen those guys.
Hmm... I love it when I'm so decisive.
(Update) Well, I went to (most of) the show. It was good. I'm a little surprised they've gotten as big as they have, because I wasn't blown away. Then again, they've been at it for quite a while, and I guess having your big hit on a national Dodge commercial doesn't hurt. Interestingly, the lead singer turned over vocals to his brother-in-law, who did a cool cover of "Rain King" by the Counting Crows. First time I've heard a Crows cover at the Firehouse! That was probably the highlight of the show for me.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/18/03 21:30 | Music | Technorati | Comments (0)
Fan Mail
Since I never enabled comments on Version 4 of the site, I feel somewhat obligated to reproduce reasonable "fan" mail that I get. This one comes in response to an old post on Leon Hale, longtime columnist for the Comical:
If I give up all those things in the P.S., I might as well be dead!Dear Mr. Whited,
Recently, I came upon your arrogant and indefensible , even seemingly hateful comments about Mr. Leon Hale, newspaper columnist and author . I did not take any offense at your critique, for you are probably fairly young, and may still think in stereotypes about older people, whom you refer to in your essay as "feeble." Just keep on living and growing, and you will see the light on the idea of diminished intellect as people age; to me, the fair beauty of our youth could never compare to the serendipitous knowledge and hopefully soul-strengthening experiences that older people posess...(although we do miss our young faces in the mirrors!)
My opinion of Mr. Hale:
He's a genious, and a diplomatic, yet kick-ass philosopher who, after he's gone, will be piercingly mourned and missed by thousands, young and old. He is a friend who inspires the love of nature and love in general.
He educates and discretely scolds, but mostly uplifts and surprises his fans. No one coud ever replace his endearing point of view; he has earned, over the years, our delight, trust, and the kind of loyalty reserved for the very best of companions and mentors through his consistant hard work, relevant themes, idealism, and his damned funny wisecracks.
Read Home Spun and see if you don't change your mind about our hero, Leon Hale.
The City/State page of the Houston Chronicle will be a heartache for so many when his column space can no longer be his. May he get plenty older and even smarter, and continue sharing his insights and unique spirit with those of us who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Very truly yours,
Judith Anderson
La Porte, TexasP.S. My advice for health as one ages is to pass up caffeine, tobacco, alcohol ,unnecessary stress, pharmaceutical prescriptions ( unless one researches them first), and to eat organic food when possible. And since getting my first computer recently and having looked at the PETA site, I'd recommend, for the sake of a clear conscience, forsaking the eating of animals!
P.P.S. The first paragraphs were not meant to be in italics, and they were not, only a few seconds ago! This contraption is still a mystery ! But it's clever enough to have me eating bean tacos instead of roast chicken or steak...
God bless you, young man!
I didn't think I was being particularly harsh, and I still don't think Hale belongs on the metro section of a major daily -- put him in the Lifestyle or Weekend section. Although I realize Hale has many fans, I still don't quite understand it. I don't think Hale as a writer approaches, say, a Royko or a Grizzard, older writers I did enjoy very much.
My blog, my opinion.
But thanks for taking the time to write, and for engaging the internet with vigor.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/18/03 20:28 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (1)
Trackback
I'm not trolling for links or anything, but for those who are kind enough to link over here occasionally and are running trackback-enabled sites (MT or other), you can ping this site with trackback even though we are running Nucleus now, and not MT.
You can get the trackback ping link (doesn't that sound dirty?) on the individual item archive page under the Trackback heading (click on the handy Trackback link to get there).
We didn't bother with enabling any autodiscovery features because the extra info just eats up bandwidth, so you do have to do it manually. But it's there. And I think it's even working! (famous last words)
I was going to implement a backlink plugin, so that referrers to individual entries would be listed, but it's easier just to link to Technorati for that (the little Cosmos link that you see on entries). Since Technorati monitors these things anyway, I didn't see any need to clutter my own mySQL database with the thing.
I do think the web is a conversation, and like the interlinking. Some of the A-listers think the interconnected nature of the conversation is beneath them. Bah! It makes the web more interesting, at least for us peons.
Unless you just want to be a glorified pamphleteer (how boring).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/18/03 19:28 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (0)
The Comical - Cont'd
I couldn't decide whether to put this post here or over on Reductio because it deals with politics, but ultimately I decided it should go here because the Comical is too retarded to ridicule on a website that is serious about politics.
See, Callie sent me this Comical editorial this morning.
It's hard to know where to begin. She called my attention to the conclusion:
As a first step, the president might acknowledge that one or more of his closest national security advisers is less knowledgeable and perceptive than many U.S. diplomats at the State Department and in the field. Then the president can turn to restoring the United States' stature in the world that has ebbed since the weeks following Sept. 11, 2001.It's an odd conclusion, since it doesn't really follow from anything actually laid out earlier. To which national security advisors is it referring? And why are the diplomats more knowledgeable and perceptive? What is the *ahem* evidence behind this proposition?
Maybe it's in another editorial, and the Comical's editors just got confused, starting hitting cut and paste, and everything went to hell. Or maybe they've turned the baboons loose again. Hard to say.
I like the fifth paragraph:
Whatever its fallout, the dispute over African uranium usefully demonstrates the difference between military intelligence and actual knowledge. You can't rely on military intelligence. Lacking certainty, intelligence is a slim reed upon which to hang a war of pre-emption.
But then, in paragraph eight, the editors loosen up:
Left to his own devices, the Iraqi dictator no doubt would have pursued nuclear, germ and chemical weapons. He was aggressive against his neighbors in the past and might have been again.No doubt? If there is no doubt, then the fifth paragraph should not have been included in the editorial! If there is "no doubt" about something (paragraph eight), then it is not "lacking certainty" (paragraph five). Both cannot be true! A is A (sorry, had to work it in).
Except at the Comical.
Seriously, do they even read this shite before they ship it out to the homeless people to sell on the streets?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/18/03 18:27 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
Millionaire Children
The waiting is over, and the authorities in Colorado have decided to file felony sexual assault charges against NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.
I'm not going to convict Kobe Bryant before his trial. Indeed, I suspect it's going to be very hard for prosecutors to win this case.
But if they do win the case, how much of a shocker will it truly be?
Yeah yeah, I know Bryant maintains a squeaky clean image for marketing purposes.
But should it really shock us when athletes go straight from high school to millionaire status, almost overnight, with no stop at college (in Kobe's case) to do some growing up? Or, in the case of many, after making only a brief appearance in college to hone their millionaire skills a bit (and with rules being bent every step of the way)?
Shouldn't it really be more shocking that these children-millionaires, who can buy their way out of most anything and who have throngs of adoring fans who think they can do no wrong, aren't in trouble more often?
That's not a comment on Kobe in particular. It's just a question.
(Update) Our buddy Scott Chaffin has a proposition for you gamblers out there. If you think there's any chance in hell anything will come of this, better go take him up on his offer. I'm not going to.
(Update 2) Well, I'm glad Kobe cleared it all up for us:
Bryant denied the charge, fighting back tears at a news conference in Los Angeles and saying he was guilty only of adultery.I'm furious at myself for screwing up my endorsements. At least for a little while. Nicely done."I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent," he said, sitting next to his wife, Vanessa. "I sit here in front of you guys furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making a mistake of adultery."
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/18/03 18:10 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (2)
17 July 2003
Good News!
Police Chief Crime Lab After An Earlier Scandal
Everybody is reporting that Police Chief Crime Lab is going to resign.
The reason given is that he needs to spend time with his expectant wife.
Goodness, I woulda sent massive doses of fertility drugs their way some time ago if I would have known it would be this easy!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/17/03 19:34 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
Harlon's - Galleria
For years now, I've walked right on by it.
This little Harlon's BBQ shop in the Galleria.
Or I should say, somewhere between the Galleria proper and the parking garage. Near the elevators. Mid level. If that makes any sense at all.
You can't really see the place walking by, but it's actually on a landing below the main floor of the Galleria, a landing that serves primarily as a connector to the parking garage.
MY GAWD THE BBQ IS GOOD!
Thelma's is all that. I'll give her credit.
But Harlon's blows that place away. Easily the smokiest, juiciest brisket I've had in town.
I imagine the "real" Harlon's locations, where they actually smoke the stuff, are more authentic. But since this one is right by work, I suspect it's going to turn into a weekly stop for me. And unlike the Greek-owned BBQ shops in town (Demeris, Pappas), the sides are actually very good also.
I've been to this location twice now in the past couple of weeks, and the two ladies to the right have been there both times. It's funny, because the lady who talks the most to the customers speaks really broken English. But it's okay. BBQ is simple food, and they're both really really nice. It works. Go see 'em next time you're in the Galleria. Sure beats that nasty Food Court shite!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/17/03 16:53 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
I'm Not Feeling Like A Compassionate Conservative Today
On the way home from work today, I just saw a homeless man standing in the eastbound Richmond left turn lane at the Kirby intersection 1) make contact with a car and wave his sign at the driver until the driver gave him money and 2) stand in the lane after the light turned and nearly get hit by several other cars (including the Jeep).
So I called the cops on the dumbass. I'm sorry, but 4:30 PM is not the time to stand in the middle of a busy intersection with a short light and act like an idiot.
It's very good he didn't try the shakedown maneuver described above at #1 with me, however. Because I think the Jeep could have cleared him. I keep telling Callie that I need to order a pushbar/brushguard for the thing, and she laughs at me, thinking (I'm sure) "what in the hell would he need that for in Houston?"
Now, there are plenty of good outdoorsy reasons to have one, but I nearly had an excellent URBAN reason to have one today.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/17/03 16:31 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (7)
16 July 2003
A Weird Robots Meta Tag Question
Here's a question for some smart reader out there....
Anybody know how the googlebot handles a noindex request for a php page?
Specifically, do you know how google will handle the following:
1) a meta robots noindex,follow tag located in index.php, as in:
meta name="robots" content="noindex,follow"
Will a properly formed meta tag cause the googlebot NOT to index the index.php file, but to go on and index, say, the index.php?itemid=61 file (the desired result)?
Or does the googlebot consider any index.php?blahblahblah formulation to be the equivalent of index.php (which would mean it wouldn't index the permanent files or the main index, NOT the desired result)?
Thanks for any input ya'll might have! This one makes my head hurt. And yes, I know I could enable fancy urls and be able to exercise more precise control over bots, but I don't want to do it that way.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/16/03 23:45 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (2)
Will Blog For Free
This post at Confessions of a G33k pretty well sums up why you won't find one of those little Paypal or Amazon "give me money" buttons anywhere on this site or at Reductio ad Absurdum.
Blogging and tinkering with websites are a hobby for me. It's cool that people drop by and participate. But it's for me. THAT is what I get outta the deal. Why ask for money?
I won't say it will never happen. If (gawd forbid) I were to become unable to pay for (this relatively cheap) hosting space, then I might consider asking for donations to keep it going. But I don't see any reason to ask you good folks to fund my hobby at this point.
Of course, if you kind readers want to buy me backpacking gear in exchange for, say, photos of me backpacking... I might be persuaded. Let's talk. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/16/03 22:12 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (0)
Boselli
I'm sorry, but I still don't understand why the Texans drafted Tony Boselli and tied up so much cap space on him.
I didn't understand it in April 2002.
I didn't understand it in August 2002.
I didn't understand it in October 2002.
And now that the Comical is reporting that Boselli is expected to retire after sitting on his ass injured last season (and the one before) while drawing a hefty paycheck, I don't understand it.
What a waste of cap space and a #1 expansion pick.
This is the curse of living in Houston. Even a first-class organization like the Texans isn't spared of boneheaded moves. At least it's not as bad as letting Nolan Ryan get away. The city will never live that down.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/16/03 21:57 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (1)
Kuffner
Charles Kuffner of Off the Kuff emails that he's experiencing technical difficulties. Apparently there are some dns issues he's trying to resolve.
Here's hoping he's live again shortly.
(Update) It appears that he's back up and running now.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/16/03 07:53 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (3)
15 July 2003
Finding Ol' Joe
Callie sends me a link to a really excellent article on Joe Ely (which corresponds with the release of his new cd, Streets of Sin) in the American-Statesman.
I've read my share of BAD music articles lately, where wannabe grad students find elements of Camus in alt-country singers and the like.
This is not one of those articles.
Richard Skanse really seems to dig into where Joe is musically and personally right now, and how this CD reflects that place:
"This is a small album, not a Cecil B. DeMille album," Ely acknowledges. "The whole record's kind of like, not headlines, but l