October 2007 Archives

31 October 2007

I haven't broken out this graphic in ages

Texas coach Brown spreads the news (Chip Brown, Dallas Morning News)

Two weeks ago, Texas coach Mack Brown said he took a poll of his players and was surprised to learn almost none of them paid attention to newspapers, talk radio or TV. Then Monday, Brown, who has repeatedly said he doesn't pay attention to the media, went off on the media for its critical coverage of his team's 28-25 victory at home over Nebraska.

"Everyone will be critical of how we played for three quarters this week and that helps our team," Brown said. "Media and fan-driven stuff that are negative really motivates our team better than on days where it's really good. It's amazing to watch that for 10 years here, but it happens.

"Everybody will be talking about how great Oklahoma State is this week and how we're going to get beat. That's a plus for us. You all really help us. You limit my motivational speeches. I have less pre-game talks because of you all, and I'm trying to get our players to watch you more."

I've kind of grown to like Mack Brown a little more in recent years, but I guess this is proof that he can still act like a dumb@ss when his team is underachieving. And if he's going to act like a dumb@ss, I can't resist breaking out "the graphic." :)

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/31/07 22:35 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (1)

28 October 2007

Sudden acceleration?

Driver accidentally slams into gas station store (KTRK-13 News)

People at a store in Houston's south side were cleaning up a big mess after a car came crashing through it.

A car slammed into the Mobile station just off Old Spanish Trail and Highway 288 Sunday morning.

Witnesses say the driver was leaving a store next door when the accelerator got stuck. The car then crashed. The manager tried to get out of the way, but he was pushed to the back wall by the car and merchandise.

Most likely, the accelerator got stuck under the foot of the person who mistook it for the brake, like most of these incidents.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/28/07 22:54 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)

Big 12 Wrap: Week 9

Another weekend has flown by, and that means it's time to take a quick look at the Big 12 football action.

Missouri 42, Iowa State 28
Mizzou's high-octane offense was a little sluggish this week, but Iowa State wasn't good enough to take advantage.

Kansas 19, Texas A&M 11
The Big 12's only undefeated team keeps its streak alive at Kyle Field, where a new A&M coach will almost surely be roaming the sidelines next year.

Texas 28, Nebraska 25
Nebraska put a scare into the underachieving Longhorns, before running out of gas late. Nebraska's next coach is going to have to do something about that porous defense.

Colorado 31, Texas Tech 26
Colorado closes in on bowl eligibility, while Mike Leach's team unravels.

Kansas State 51, Baylor 13
Guy Morriss won't be coming back next year, will he?

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/28/07 22:14 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (0)

25 October 2007

Shuttle sighting

Callie and I went to the Demeris on Shepherd for a Hoffy Burger and Onion Rings earlier.

Who else but KPRC-2 weatherman Frank Billingsley (and an associate) popped in while we were dining.

About 7:30, Billingsley went outside to watch the shuttle fly overhead. So did we.

Nothing like a Hoffy Burger, Onion Rings, and a shuttle flyover in the company of Houston's best weatherman.

Weird.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/25/07 22:23 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (2)

21 October 2007

Big 12 Wrap: Week 8

It's Big 12 roundup time... so here we go.

Missouri 41, Texas Tech 10
Leave out that fourth quarter last week against Oklahoma, and hasn't Mizzou looked better than anyone else so far in conference play? They just spanked Mike Leach (who has trouble beating ranked opponents).

Oklahoma 17, Iowa State 7
The Sooners have three excellent running backs. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson remembered that just in time to salvage what was shaping up as a disaster in Ames. Norman writers are keeping an eye on the BCS rankings, but this team will have trouble winning out in conference with more performances like this.

Kansas 19, Colorado 14
Mark Mangino and undefeated Kansas do what Bob Stoops couldn't -- hold off pesky Colorado late for the win.

Texas 31, Baylor 10
Baylor gave Texas a pretty good game for a couple of quarters, but couldn't keep up.

Oklahoma State 41, Kansas STATE 39
The best game in the Big 12 this week was one that nobody outside of Stillwater saw, because inexplicably no network picked this one up.

Texas A&M 36, Nebraska 14
Callahan announces he's not resigning, and then produces this. Poor Nebraska.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/21/07 22:46 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (0)

18 October 2007

Danger!

Teen Stabbed With Screwdriver On Train (KPRC-2 News)

A man with a screwdriver stabbed a teenager on a light-rail train Wednesday afternoon in downtown Houston, officials told KPRC Local 2.

METRO police said a 30-year-old man stabbed the teen just before 4 p.m. as the teen went to exit the train at the Ensemble METRO light-rail station on Main Street at Holman.

Why a screwdriver?

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/18/07 21:02 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (8)

16 October 2007

Osborne returns

Tom Osborne returns as Nebraska interim AD (AP)

LINCOLN, Neb. - Tom Osborne is returning to Nebraska to temporarily run the Cornhuskers' athletic department and possibly determine the fate of Bill Callahan.

Umm, is his fate really in question?

NU fans should just be thankful that the Pederman/Clueless debacle didn't set back their program quite as much as the Howard Schnellenberger/John Blake years at Oklahoma. And as Bob Stoops and Joe Castiglione have proven, two men can right a ship pretty quickly. Here's hoping Nebraska finds their two guys. The Big 12 needs Nebraska to be a national power again.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/16/07 21:03 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (1)

15 October 2007

Pederson out at Nebraska; Clueless surely not far behind

Nebraska fires AD in wake of blowout losses (AP)

OMAHA, Neb. - Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson was fired Monday, two days after the school's once-mighty football team was rocked with its worst home loss in nearly a half-century.

Pederson, along with coach Bill Callahan, has been heavily criticized after a series of one-sided losses this season. The most recent was a 45-14 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday with former Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne and his 1997 national title team in attendance.

Over the past two weeks, the Huskers (4-3) have lost by a combined margin of 86-20, dropping a 41-6 decision at Missouri two weeks ago.

"We are, of course, disappointed about the progress in our football program,'' Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman said in a news release. "Steve has done many positive things for Husker athletics during his tenure, but I think only new leadership can objectively assess the state of our program and make the decisions necessary to move us forward.''

At the end of the July, Pederson's contract was renewed for five years, but this season has been a nightmare for the most part.

The leadership that extended both Pederson and Callahan look pretty clueless themselves.

Callahan is surely history, although it may not come until the end of the season. My best guess it that Nebraska wanted to have a competent AD in place to hire the next coach, so getting rid of Pederson had to happen ASAP.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/15/07 17:14 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (2)

14 October 2007

Big 12 Wrap: Week 7

The Big 12 mostly went according to form this weekend. Here are the games:

Oklahoma 41, Missouri 31
Missouri took the lead late in the third quarter, courtesy of some poor Oklahoma decisions, but then squandered it with mistakes of their own. Oklahoma looks like a good team that could be a real force if it played smarter. Mizzou could well face the Sooners again this season.

Texas 56, Iowa State 3
This could have been much worse. Iowa State just looks inept.

Kansas 58, Baylor 10
Kansas remains undefeated. Baylor remains hapless.

Texas Tech 35, Texas A&M 7
Texas Tech owns Coach Fran, which is one of many reasons that Coach Fran will not be coaching the Aggies next season.

Oklahoma State 45, Nebraska 14
The great Nebraska fans should not have to endure a shellacking like this at home, let alone by a team coached by Mike Gundy. We shall resume our earlier references to "Clueless Callahan" until further notice.

Kansas State 47, Colorado 20
A balanced attack gets it done for the Wildcats.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/14/07 21:07 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (1)

13 October 2007

UH-Rice

Here's hoping Art Briles' team doesn't lay an egg today (a la the East Carolina game).

Tailgating begins in about 15-20 minutes, give or take.

UPDATE: Tailgating was good. Football game was crazy.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/13/07 10:44 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (2)

12 October 2007

Living my best (astrological) life now

Callie forwards me my horoscope for today:

Exploration is the key to discovery ... do some digging on your latest prospect today, and you will find excellent information that will give you the inspiration you need to turn someone's head. Progress on a personal goal is slowing down, but it's just a test ... so don't lose your concentration or do something silly like giving up. Things aren't always perfect, but attitude is everything. So keep your chin up and keep on smiling and thinking about life getting better.

The astrologer sounds like a disciple of self-help motivational speaker Joel O$teen.

Or, for all I know, maybe O$teen borrows his self-help lectures from the astrologers.

Regardless, I will try to keep my attitude POSITIVE today.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/12/07 08:18 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)

10 October 2007

Nuttier than usual

11 sent to hospital after SUV hits Metro bus (Mike Glenn, Houston Chronicle)

A sport utility vehicle struck a Metro bus in downtown Houston today, sending 11 people to the hospital with minor injuries, officials said.

The accident happened about 12:45 p.m. when the driver of a Chevrolet Suburban pulled in front of the bus while making a right turn onto Louisiana from Lamar, Metro officials said.

Eleven passengers sustained minor bumps and bruises when the Suburban scraped against the side of the bus, officials said.

The driver of the Suburban was not injured. He was issued a ticket at the scene, officials said.

"He made a right turn from the wrong lane," said Metro police officer Marjorie Hart.

Good one.

Elderly woman accused of trying to run over neighbor (AP)

WACO — An 84-year-old woman accused of trying to run over a neighbor amid a land dispute has been arrested.

Ester McCullough of Downsville, near Waco, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Later Monday, she was released from the McLennan County Jail on a personal recognizance bond, a jail spokeswoman said. McCullough could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

In May, she drove into her neighbor's yard, knocking over part of a brick wall, then drove into the garage and knocked a 3-foot hole in a wall, said McLennan County Chief Deputy Randy Plemons.

As McCullough reversed the car and headed for a vehicle in the yard, the neighbor ran toward her car trying to stop her, the arrest warrant affidavit stated. She then drove toward him, and he jumped on his car to keep from being hit.

The neighbor told police that McCullough believes part of the land under his home belongs to her, Plemons said.

Another good one.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/10/07 20:53 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)

The perfect Nashville tour

My friends R and Mr. Hutchison have come up with the PERFECT name for a music tour featuring Kenny Chesney and the Dixie Chicks.

Well done!

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/10/07 09:30 | Music | Technorati | Comments (3)

09 October 2007

Keeping Houston weird

Houston Man Stabs Roommate Over Smelly Feet (AP)

A 22-year-old Houston man is charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of his roommate.

Investigators say William Antonio Serrano, 22, apparently stabbed his roommate to death after the roommate complained that Serrano had smelly feet.

Police Sgt. Macario Sosa says the argument came Saturday night as the two men were drinking.

It would be weird enough if the guy had stabbed a roommate who HAD smelly feet. But to stab the roommate who complained of smelly feet is even weirder.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/09/07 20:58 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)

Danger Train preps for Halloween

Several injured in Houston light rail train collision (Houston Chronicle)

A light rail train struck a sport utility vehicle in downtown Houston today when the driver went through a stop light at the intersection, Metro police said. The train hit the Chrysler Aspen broadside about 3:15 p.m. on Main at Pease.

The driver and the passenger in the SUV were taken to hospitals, along with about seven people in the train who said the accident injured them, authorities said. Their conditions were not immediately known. The accident remains under investigation.

Hey, I have a GREAT idea -- let's build MORE light rail down the middle of busy, congested surface streets and see what happens!

UPDATE: KTRK-13 posts photos.

UPDATE 2: KHOU-11 reports. And KPRC-2.

UPDATE 3: KTRK-13 reports (on air, no link yet) tonight that a METRO bus hit a pedestrian tonight. METRO admitted its driver was at fault. However, that must be mistaken, as defenders of METRO insist the organization is never at fault for anything, ever. :)

UPDATE 4: Here is the Chron story about UPDATE 3:

A Metro bus struck and injured a woman in downtown Houston this afternoon.

The bus was turning from Walker onto Bagby shortly before 5 p.m. when it hit the woman, who was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital with arm, neck and back injuries, said Metro spokeswoman Raequel Roberts.

No one on the bus was injured in the accident.

The bus driver was at fault because the woman had the right of way as a pedestrian, Roberts said.

She said the driver will undergo drug testing and an investigation by First Transit, the company that runs garages for Metro.

Runs garages? Umm, a garage didn't hit a pedestrian. A bus did.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/09/07 17:13 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (16)

07 October 2007

Big 12 Wrap: Week 6

After two weeks of no (American) football in Greece, I watched WAY too much football this weekend. Here are this week's thoughts on the Big 12 action:

Oklahoma 28, Texas 21
Forget all the talk about this game being secondary and other teams leading the South. These are the two elite programs in the Big 12, and everyone knows it. This game wasn't a thing of beauty, but it was a great rivalry match, with two excellent young QBs battling to the very end. Oklahoma was a little better this time, although its defense will have to improve next week against Mizzou, which has more offensive diversity than "McCoy to big guys inexplicably left running free down the middle of field."

Missouri 41, Nebraska 6
Nebraska is obviously not the real deal, despite lots of preseason talk about the program being ready to rejoin college football's elite. Since Gary Pinkel teams tend to underachieve over the course of a season, we don't yet know if Mizzou is the real deal. But their team speed is impressive, as they demonstrated in humbling the Huskers.

Kansas 30, Kansas State 24
The Jayhawks finally score a meaningful victory, with a big road win in Manhattan.

Texas A&M 24, Oklahoma State 23
Fran beats Gundy in the battle of the Big 12's two dumbest coaches. I think that while watching this game, I had moments where I actually mimicked that vacant, emotionless stare of Coach Fran, as I tried to stay awake watching A&M's plodding offense. It's still hard to believe they ditched R.C. Slocum for... that. *snore*

Texas Tech 42, Iowa State 17
Iowa State is terrible. Texas Tech always beats hell out of terrible teams. Next!

Colorado 43, Baylor 23
Same old Baylor...

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/07/07 20:39 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (0)

They didn't have Haunted Houses like this in Springfield, MO!

City Keeping Watch on Adult-Only Haunted House (Bill O'Neal, KTRH-740 News)

You may see it on a billboard as you drive around—an invitation to an adult-only haunted house along the Southwest Freeway, between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway. Inside, promoters say you’ll find a “sexy, yet horrifying experience.”

The attraction’s web site shows a number of pictures of scantily-clad women covered in body paint-- but does it violate Houston’s sexually-oriented business ordinance? Promoter John Finlay told our sister station on The 950’s “Baker and the Hunt” show it’s all legal.
“Bikini bottoms, coverage on the top, no touching of the customers, 18 and up,” Finlay said.

“The ordinance doesn’t talk about body paint or latex paint, or anything else,” Senior Assistant City Attorney Don Cheatham told KTRH News, adding, “It has certain requirements that certain specified body parts be completely and opaquely covered.”

The only way officials will know for sure if the ordinance is being violated will be to take a look around inside for themselves.

Ah yes. Because the city needs to be protected from scantily clad spooks (and renegade Texas Hold-Em players, and even renegade downtown jaywalkers)!

Here's more....

Haunted house of ill repute? (Leigh Frillici, KHOU-11 News)

A local haunted house that serves up its scary with a side of sexy opened its doors Saturday night. And while some were offended by the XXX scares, the owner insists it’s nothing more than a marketing ploy.

Haunt XXX is no ordinary haunted house, but just how adult is it? That depends on who you ask.

Women who work in the house, while scantily clad, remain covered.

“All of my actors and actresses are clothed,” owner John Finley said.

But billboard near the house left the impression that the scares would be suitable only for adult eyes, and when it came to costumes it would be less rather than more.

“Haunt XXX was a marketing ploy,” Finley said.

Finley insists the house is not a thinly-disguised sexually-oriented business.

“Basically what we’ve done is comply with the law. We have full bottom bikini bottoms, latex – liquid latex on the top and then we spray painted it,” Finley said.

Still, not everyone approves. Lakewood Church is located just about a mile down the road.

When congregation members heard there was a XXX haunted house nearby, they were not happy.

“That is something that I don’t appreciate being so visible,” one churchgoer said.

Now now, Joel O$teen doesn't take stands on moral issues. Too controversial. Besides, it's not like the nekkid spooks have invaded Lakewood!

Anyway, I like this guy:

“I decided to go investigate because I’d never seen a naked haunted house before,” a Haunt XXX patron said.

Investigate. Heh.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/07/07 18:11 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (4)

Houston drivers are not the best

Driver Eating Oatmeal Slams Into Bus (KPRC-2 News)

HOUSTON -- Four people were injured when a driver eating oatmeal collided with a METRO bus in downtown Houston on Monday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

METRO police said oatmeal was found all over the inside of driver's sport utility vehicle, the bus and the road at the intersection of St. Charles and Pierce streets at about 7 a.m.

Witnesses said the driver of the SUV ran a red light and slammed into the front of the bus, spun around and hit the back of the bus.

The driver had to be cut out of the vehicle and was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital for treatment.

Nicely done.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/07/07 17:50 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)

Danger Train strikes motorized wheelchair

Woman in wheelchair struck by Metro train (KHOU-11 News)

A woman in an electric wheelchair was recovering Friday evening after being struck by a Metro train.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Main at McKinney.

The woman had apparently just exited the train when her chair was clipped by another train.

No word yet on her condition, but her chair was split in two.

1 hurt when Metro train collides with scooter (Lindsay Wise, Houston Chronicle)

A light-rail train collided with a motorized scooter in downtown Houston Friday afternoon, sending the woman rider to the hospital, Metro officials said.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Main and McKinney about 5:30 p.m. when a 47-year-old woman driving a motorized scooter tried to cross Main Street, said Metro spokeswoman Sandra Aponte Salazar.

"Evidently she didn't see the train going southbound and it clipped the rear wheel of her scooter," Salazar said.

The woman was thrown from her scooter, which broke into two pieces, Salazar said.

She was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, Salazar said.

Though undamaged, the train was taken out of service and all passengers of were off-loaded, she said. The southbound line experienced a 15 minute delay, Salazar said.

The accident is under investigation, she said.

Our Danger Train is an equal-opportunity predator! :)

I nearly missed this story, as the incident took place the day I left for Athens.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/07/07 17:47 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (1)

03 October 2007

Back (physically, at least)

After about 23 hours of travel yesterday (from hotel to home), we are back.

Physically, at least.

Part of my brain is still on the island of Samos.

I can't wait to go back.

Hundreds of photos will get posted to flickr at some point.

But first, I need to catch up on about two weeks worth of work stuff.... urgh!

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/03/07 09:50 | Other | Technorati | Comments (9)

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