Inside of every older person is a younger person asking,
“Where Did It Go?”
Vol 2 Nr 7 July 2010
A Fun and Informative Rag for Those Who Have Been Around the Block and Attended at Least One Rodeo
Mount Rushmore by Chris Whitten www.gadsden.info
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota in the United States. Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum and later by his son Lincoln Borglum, Mount Rushmore features 60foot sculptures of the heads of former United States presidents (in order from left to right) George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The entire memorial covers 1,278.45 acres and is slightly over a mile above sea level. South Dakota historian Doane Robinson is credited with conceiving the idea of carving the likenesses of famous people into the Black Hills region of South Dakota in order to promote tourism in the region. Robinson’s initial idea was to sculpt the Needles;
however, Gutzon Borglum rejected the Needles site and chose the larger Mount Rushmore. Borglum also decided the sculpture should have a more national focus, and chose the four presidents whose likenesses would be carved into the mountain. After securing federal funding, construction on the memorial began in 1927, and the presidents’ faces were completed between 1934 and 1939. Upon Gutzon Borglum’s death in March 1941, his son Lincoln Borglum took over construction. Though the initial concept called for each president to be depicted from head to waist, lack of funding forced construction to end in October, 1941. The U.S. National Park Service took control of the memorial in 1933, while it was still under construction, and manages the memorial to the present day. It
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague. Marcus Tullius Cicero [ancient Roman scholar, lawyer, statesman and orator 106BC - 43BC]
attracts approximately two million people annually. The carving of Mount Rushmore involved the use of dynamite, followed by the process of “honeycombing”. About two million tons of rock were blasted off the mountainside. Originally known to the Lakota Sioux as Six Grandfathers, the mountain was renamed after Charles E. Rushmore, a prominent New York lawyer, during an expedition in 1885. As Six Grandfathers, the mountain was part of the route that Lakota leader Black Elk took in a spiritual journey that culminated at Harney Peak. Following a series of military campaigns from 1876 to 1877, the United States asserted control over the area, a claim that is still disputed on the basis of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie (see section “Controversy” below). Between October 4, 1927, and October 31, 1941, Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal 60-foot carvings. These presidents were selected by Borglum because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory. The image of Thomas Jefferson was originally intended to appear in the area at CONTINUED, PG. 6
By 1775, the snake symbol wasn’t just being printed in newspapers. It was appearing all over the colonies: on uniform buttons, on paper money, and of course, on banners and flags. The snake symbol morphed quite a bit during its rapid, widespread adoption. It wasn’t cut up into pieces anymore. And it was usually shown as an American timber rattlesnake, not a generic serpent. We don’t know for certain where, when, or by whom the familiar coiled rattlesnake was first used with the warning “Don’t Tread on Me.” We do know when it first entered the history books. In the fall of 1775, the British were occupying Boston and the young Continental Army was holed up in Cambridge, woefully short on arms and ammunition. At the Battle of Bunker Hill, Washington’s troops had been so low on gunpowder that they were ordered “not to fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” In October, a merchant ship called The Black Prince returned to Philadelphia from a voyage to England. On board were private letters to the Second Continental Congress that informed them that the British government was sending two ships to America loaded with arms and gunpowder for the British troops. Congress decided that General Washington needed those arms more than the British. A plan was hatched to capture the cargo ships. They authorized the creation of a Continental Navy, starting with four ships. The frigate that carried the information from England, the Black Prince, was one of the four. It was purchased, converted to a man-of-war, and renamed the Alfred. To accompany the Navy on their first mission, Congress also authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines. The Alfred and its sailors and marines went on to achieve some of the most notable victories of the American Revolution. But that’s not the story we’re interested in here. What’s particularly interesting for us is that some of the Marines that enlisted that month in Philadelphia were carrying drums painted yellow, emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and sporting the motto “Don’t Tread on Me.”
2 WHERE DID IT GO July 2010
Tanya Ketchum, Realtor (409) 457-6756
tanyaketchum1958@aol.com TanyaKetchum.com
1705 - 14th Ave Texas City
2801 Deats Rd Dickinson - 2006
slate tile flooring, plush carpet, granite counter tops in kitchen, half bath down, inside utility, ceiling fans in all rooms, appliances stay, game room with half bath.
Well maintained 3/1 with pre-wired storage shed in huge cyclone fence back yard with alley access, original hard wood floors, inside utility area. Call to view today! $96,000
RE D
UC
ED
$144,555
2721 Fairfield, Texas City 3/2/.5
2813 - 8th St, Texas City 5/3.5/2
Well maintained by owners. Newer roof, outside storm blinds including french patio doors leading to covered patio, enormous back yard with hot tub, white vinyl privacy fence, covered wood patio in front yard, $113,000
Prestigious 2-story with huge master down, enormous game room upstairs, large walk-in closets, master bath has Jacuzzi tub with separate shower, island kitchen with breakfast area, large family area with fireplace. $225,000
114 Highland in Hitchcock. Adorable doll house, 3/1/1 Totally refurbished inside & out! Close to schools & shopping as well! Call today for more details. $79,000
Gulf Coast Realtors
312 FM 517 W 281-534-GULF (4853)
Dickinson, Texas 77539 www.gulfcoastrealtors.net
YOU MAY NOW VIEW “WHERE DID IT GO?” ONLINE ALL ISSUES OLD AND NEW AVAILABLE AT
http://issuu.com/wdig/docs about the 1st of each month
Kemah.net is celebrating its 12th Anniversary
Did you know that from the comfort of your favorite armchair you can tour Kemah, TX? Stay current on events; see breathtaking photography, shops, restaurants, hotels, romantic bed & breakfasts’ Nightlife, Farmers Market and the Boardwalk, become our friend on FACEBOOK et cetera? If you have a computer with a web browser and connectivity to the World Wide Web simply enter http:// www.kemah.net/ into your web browser and you will quickly be transported through cyberspace to Kemah, TX. I have been the webmaster/photographer and owner of Kemah.Net for 12 years the 4th of July. I have been inspired by the beauty of this city and love sharing it with all of you. Claire Worthington
I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. The Haircut One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you , I’m doing community service this week.’ The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.’ The cop was happy and left the shop.
The Best Price, Best Quality, Best Roofing
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
BEST ROOFING CO.
Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I can not accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The Congressman was very happy and left the shop.
C
19
Years
2010
A
LE
ROOFING
RE
T
CO.
1991
BES
When only the Best will do! 281-334-5515
A R L A KE A
$100 Off Complete Roof Job
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut. And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it. BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON!
July 2010 WHERE DID IT GO 3
“Get Out Of The Car!” (This is supposedly a true account recorded in the Police Log of Sarasota, Florida.) An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, “I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!” The four men didn’t wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad. The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver’s seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried, and then she realized why. It was for the same reason that she had wondered why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12-packs of beer in the front seat. A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces further down. She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake. The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn’t stop laughing. He pointed to the end of the counter, where four pale man were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun. No charges were filed.
Ask about our Tropical Bedding
Kind words and a gun are more effective than just kind words. - Al Capone
Moral of the story? If you’re going to have a senior moment...make it memorable.
Proud To Be An American by Lee Greenwood
If tomorrow all the things were gone, I’d worked for all my life. And I had to start again, with just my children and my wife. I’d thank my lucky stars, to be livin here today. ‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away. And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. ‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,God bless the USA. From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee. Across the plains of Texas,From sea to shining sea. From Detroit down to Houston, and New York to L.A. Well there’s pride in every American heart, and its time we stand and say. That I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. ‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.
Janet Anders Seabrook, TX
(281)326-0572 www.cruiseone.com/janders
4 WHERE DID IT GO July 2010
How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?
Computer Tips Marlene Jones Owner - Friendly Computers
SOME MISCELLANEOUS TIPS GOOD TO KNOW * You can double-click a word to highlight it in any document, email or Web page. * You can hide all windows, revealing only what’s on the computer desktop, with one keystroke: hit the Windows key and “D” simultaneously in Windows, or press F11 on Macs (on recent Mac laptops, Command+F3; Command is the key with the cloverleaf logo). That’s great when you want examine or delete something you’ve just downloaded to the desktop, for example. Press the keystroke again to return to what you were doing. * You can enlarge the text on any Web page. In Windows, press Ctrl and the plus or minus keys (for bigger or smaller fonts); on the Mac, it’s the Command key and plus or minus. * You can also enlarge the entire Web page or document by pressing the Control key as you turn the wheel on top of your mouse. On the Mac, this enlarges the entire screen image. * You can tap the Space bar to scroll down on a Web page one screenful. Add the Shift key to scroll back up. * When you’re filling in the boxes on a Web page (like City, State, Zip), you can press the Tab key to jump from box to box, rather than clicking. Add the Shift key to jump through the boxes backwards. * When someone sends you some shocking e-mail and suggests that you pass it on, don’t until you’ve first confirmed its truth at snopes.com, the Internet’s authority on e-mailed myths. This includes get-rich schemes, Microsoft/AOL cash giveaways, missing children and–especially lately–nutty scare-tactic messages about political candidates.
Where Did It Go? P.O. Box 1460 Dickinson, TX 77539 PHONE: 832-265-5691 FAX: 281-385-9085
WDIG2009@gmail.com Editor/Publisher Gene Rutt Contributors Gene Rutt Marlene Jones Captain B.G. Willie Chris Whitten Account Rep Elizabeth Scott 832-454-1940 A Fun and Informative Rag for Those Who Have Been Around the Block and Attended at least One Rodeo. We are essentially targeting 15,000 40+ readers each month from San Leon to Pearland and all points in between but have enough fun for everybody no matter their age.
AD RATES - Effective April 1, 2010 Full Page $399 per insertion for 3 months 1/2 Page $263 per insertion for 3 months 1/4 Page $149 per insertion for 3 months 1/8 Page $ 99 per insertion for 3 months 1/16 Page $ 59 per insertion for 3 months ADD 10% FOR SINGLE INSERTION ADD $20 FOR COLOR WHY 3 INSERTIONS? Most buying decisions are emotional, rather than logical. Emotions are often influenced by the sub-conscious mind which best responds to repetition. Repetition is an important part of advertising. Why? Because, it is through repetition that you establish your credibility, establish brand familiarity, become the first thought when a need for your type of product or service arises, etc. You have to give the advertising a chance to work. WHY ADVERTISE? Shoppers don’t have the store loyalty they once did. You must advertise to keep pace with your competition. TO REACH NEW CUSTOMERS. Your market changes constantly. New families in the area mean new customers to reach. People earn more money, which means changes in lifestyles and buying habits. YOUR AUDIENCE IS A MOVING TARGET
I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
WHEN SHOULD YOU ADVERTISE? Always! Good times and bad you’re trying to sell your products and services no matter what is happening to the economy. Hard times are not the times to quit advertising. Advertising should be the last item cut from your budget.
July 2010 WHERE DID IT GO 5
Stuck in a Rutt
Letter from the Editor
Proposed New Energy Policy Will Not Help With The Gulf Spill but It Could Cripple the Economy by Gene Rutt
This month being the birthday of the country, we’re emphasizing the patriotic aspects of our lives and the freedoms we have enjoyed to this point which is what has made America exceptional. Kemah is hosting the Wounded Warriors Project in November and for those of you who would like to do something for our troops, this is a good opportunity to volunteer or donate. (See page 15.) Ever wondered about Kobe beef, what it is and why it is so expensive? We’ve touched on that also. How about Doc Watson? Have you ever heard him flat pick a guitar” It’s almost magical. We also have an article about Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, over 59,000 acres of bogs, grasslands and sloughs with many species of wild animals and birds, including the endangered Whooping Crane. Always check out the computer tips on the opposite page. I’ve been playing with these rascals since I worked at NASA over 40 years ago and still pick up new stuff from these articles. We also have a list of 25 things that used to be commonplace and are about to become extinct in America like answering machines and drive-in theaters. Life goes on! Gene Rutt - Publisher/Editor
Four Great Religious Truths
During these serious and trying times, people of all faiths should remember these four great religious truths: 1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God’s chosen people. 2. Jews do not recognize Christ as the Messiah. 3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world. 4. Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters or the Liquor Store. (No offense Baptists)
With its now standard practice of never letting a crisis go to waste, the administration is attempting to use the Gulf Oil Spill as an excuse to force through an energy policy called “Cap and Trade.” The WaxmanMarkey Bill has already passed the House and the KerryLieberman American Power Act is about to be introduced. Both of these bills are based on the “cap and trade” principal of carbon credits. President Obama is drawing bipartisan criticism for using the BP oil spill to revive an energy regulation bill that’s been on the back burner since last year, with lawmakers saying the socalled “cap-and-trade” package does nothing to stop the leak or mitigate the damage. First, Global Warming does not appear to really be a crisis and should not be addressed as one, in spite of the best efforts of the alarmists. There has been no aggregate warming since 1998 and we have experienced record snowfall, blizzards and cold weather just this past winter. The Gulf Oil Spill, on the other hand, is a crisis but one that could have possibly been prevented had the Secretary of Energy paid attention and acted on information provided to him by BP as early as February. It could also have probably been mitigated had the Administration accepted foreign help in the form of oil skimmers within the few days after the explosion when help was offered but declined. At this time, there is no direct linkage between the oil spill and Global Warming, though it’s sure to be eventually connected, however indirectly. But for Cap and Trade, “Global Warming” now referred to as “Climate Change” is the issue and most all of the scientific evidence that was supposed to prove Global Warming has instead proved to
be fraudulent including many key elements of Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” which seems to consist of many inconvenient lies according to an English court of inquiry. A number of emails hacked or leaked from a computer in a prominent East Anglia climate research university exposed the fact that scientists have been hiding or altering the truth about man-made “Anthropogenic” Global Warming (AGW) to support their hypotheses as opposed to investigating them through valid scientific method. The proposed solution to this AGW is to issue carbon credits to industries for a fee (tax) which can be sold or traded, if not needed, to companies who cannot reduce their carbon output readily, creating a carbon exchange industry in itself. This solution is called “Cap and Trade.” A number of individuals and politicians, including Al Gore, stand to make huge profits off this industry which is why they are promoting the Global Warming alarm, in spite of the evidence that contradicts it. The only serious analysis of the impact on temperatures of the Waxman–Markey cap-and-trade bill was conducted by climate scientist Chip Knappenberger. He estimated that even if one assumes that man-made global warming is real and will continue, this bill would reduce the earth’s future temperature by no more than 0.2 degree Celsius by 2100— an amount far too small to matter or even measure. Major developing nations like China and India have no interest in jeopardizing their economic growth by agreeing to emissions reductions. China alone emits more than the U.S., and its emissions are projected to increase nine times faster than ours. And China will continue to do so whether or not federal legislation or regulations are imposed. So the impact of U.S.-only measures would be negligible. “Under my plan of a cap-andtrade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket,” (according
to presidential candidate Obama in 2008) which will increase the cost of doing business for virtually every aspect of our
economy which uses energy in any way and increase the price of most goods and services for the consumer. It would increase costs approximately $3,000 per year for an average family-offour; almost 2.5 million net job losses by 2035; and a cumulative gross domestic product loss of $9.4 trillion by 2035. The European Union’s Emission Trading System has not fared well and has contributed to the failing European economies. It’s wise to learn from others’ mistakes and not repeat them. So let’s review. Global Warming is not really a crisis and may very well not even exist, certainly not man-made Global Warming. Just about any temperature fluctuations have been scientifically explained by normal weather cycles, sun-spot activity, El Niño and La Niña. A lot of the previous evidence being used to promote it was fraudulent to the extent that there should have been criminal investigations as now proposed for BP. The proposed solution to AGW will make a lot of politicians wealthy while burdening the country with increased taxes and prices, lost jobs and a decline in gross domestic product. It would have only a negligible effect on the temperature and China would be ignoring it anyway. These programs would be giving government more control over our lives, which is what they are really after, not clean air. Somehow this doesn’t sound like a good solution to any problem and I find it difficult to understand how those persons who declare their compassionate concern for the poor and downtrodden in this country and throughout the world can support this legislation that will hurt these very people proportionately more than any other segment of the population. Does this sound like hypocrisy to anyone else but me? Sure, let’s practice conservation and clean up the environment. Let’s strive to find alternative energy sources but let’s be realistic and not burden the public while destroying the country in the process.
6 WHERE DID IT GO July 2010
REDUCED TO $76,000 Cash or Conventional
Oleander St. in Bacliff All brick; 3-2-2, hardwood floors, fenced, central air & heat, attic draw fan, shaded lot, well established neighborhood, no water from IKE, large kitchen with lots of cabinets.
At Bob Rowland Real Estate we serve the bay and beyond, specializing in waterfront as well as all residential, commercial, unimproved and rentals. We’ll even help you find someone to help you with your financing We can also help you in selling your home, land or business with the knowledge that we have of the area and current market values.
Maureen Landry, Realtor 832-347-7508
Fishing Paradise on Caney Creek in Sargent 1712 Carancahua
Very nice home, fully furnished. Sleeps 10+, large screened porch, 2 refrigerators and freezer. Built up yard, security lights, lighted pier partially covered with electricity; “grandfathered” fish cleaning area and plenty of storage. 150 Yards from the ICW. Type: Home Bedrooms : 3 Bathrooms : 3 Sq Ft : 1100 Contact: Jeanne Halik Taggart 979-429-1844
Washington’s right, but after the work there was begun, the rock was found to be unsuitable, so the work on the Jefferson figure was dynamited, and a new figure was sculpted to Washington’s left. In 1939, the face of Theodore Roosevelt was dedicated. The entire project cost $989,992.32. Notably for a project of such size, no workers died during the carving. On October 15, 1966, Mount Rushmore was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An essay from Nebraska student William Andrew Burkett, selected as the winner for the college-age group in 1934, was placed on the Entablature on a bronze plate in 1973. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush officially dedicated Mount Rushmore. In a canyon behind the carved faces is a chamber, cut only 70 feet into the rock, containing a vault with sixteen porcelain enamel panels. The panels include the text of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, biographies of the four presidents and Borglum, and the history of the U.S. The chamber was created as the entranceway to a planned “Hall of Records”; the vault was installed in 1998. Ten years of redevelopment work culminated with the completion of extensive visitor facilities and sidewalks in 1998, such as a Visitor Center, the Lincoln Borglum Museum, and the Presidential Trail. Maintenance of the memorial annually requires mountain climbers to monitor and seal cracks. The memorial is not cleaned to remove lichens. It has been cleaned only once. The Monument also provokes controversy because some allege that underlying it is the theme of racial superiority legitimized by the idea of Manifest Destiny. The mountains were carved with Borglum’s choice of four presidents active during the time of the acquisition of Indian land. Gutzon Borglum himself excites controversy because he was an active member of the Ku Klux Klan. The flora and fauna of Mount Rushmore are similar to those of the rest of the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Birds including the turkey vulture, bald eagle, hawk, and meadowlark fly around Mount Rushmore, occasionally making nesting spots in the ledges of the mountain. Smaller birds, including songbirds, nuthatches, and woodpeckers, inhabit the surrounding pine forests. Terrestrial mammals include the mouse, chipmunk, squirrel, skunk, porcupine, raccoon, beaver, badger, coyote,
bighorn sheep, and bobcat. In addition, several species of frogs and snakes inhabit the region. The two streams in the memorial, the Grizzly Bear and Starling Basin brooks, support fish such as the longnose dace and the brook trout. Mountain goats are not indigenous to the area but can also be found here. They are descended from goats which were a gift from Canada to Custer State Park in 1924 but later escaped. At lower elevations, coniferous trees, mainly the Ponderosa pine, surround most of the monument, providing shade from the sun. Other trees include the bur oak, the Black Hills spruce, and the cottonwood. Nine species of shrubs live near Mount Rushmore. There is also a wide variety of wildflowers, including especially the snapdragon, sunflower, and violet. Towards higher elevations, plant life becomes sparser. However, only approximately five percent of the plant species found in the Black Hills are indigenous to the region. Borglum selected Mount Rushmore as the site for several reasons. The rock of the mountain is composed of smooth, finegrained granite. The durable granite erodes only 1 inch every 10,000 years, indicating that it was sturdy enough to support sculpting. In addition, it was the tallest mountain in the region, looming to a height of 5,725 feet above sea level. Because the mountain faces the southeast, the workers also had the advantage of sunlight for most of the day. Tourism is South Dakota’s second-largest industry, and Mount Rushmore is its top tourist attraction. In 2004, over two million visitors traveled to the memorial. The site is also home to the final concerts of Rushmore Music Camp and attracts many visitors over the week of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The memorial was iconically used as the location of the climactic chase scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 movie North by Northwest. Scriptwriter Ernest Lehman recalled that in the course of screenwriting, Hitchcock “murmured wistfully, ‘I always wanted to do a chase across the faces of Mount Rushmore.’” The scene was not actually filmed at the monument, since permission to shoot an attempted killing on the face of a national monument was refused by the National Park Service. The film incorrectly depicts a forested plateau and the house of the villain atop the monument. The North by Northwest appearance has itself been parodied in several venues
July 2010 WHERE DID IT GO 7
Libations for July Please Drink Responsibility
American Flag Ingredients:
Sargent, TX
“Explore the Undiscovered Charm”
TM
HOMES AND LOTS ON Sargent Beach * Intracoastal Waterway Caney Creek * Canals AFFORDABLE WATERFRONT PROPERTY Only 70 miles from Houston
1/3 Grenadine
Gulf Coast Star Realty
1/3 Creme de Cacao 1/3 Blue Curacao
22114 FM 457 Sargent, TX 77414 www.gulfcoaststarrealty.com 979-244-5353
Mixing instructions: When properly prepared this shot will look red, white and blue. First poor in 1/3 grenadine. Then the White Cream de cacao should be poured in over a bar spoon. Finally the Blue curacao can be poured in the same way.
Sunburn Ingredients: 2 bottles Rum (Bacardi) 1 gal Strawberry juice Juice of 1 gal Orange Juice of 1 gal Banana 1 fifth Grenadine (Rose’s) Mixing instructions: Pour everything in a big punch bowl or cooler with a big block of ice. Throw in some cherries and a half bottle of 151 for good measure. Have a good time!
Alligator
Pamela Corkill, ACSR Owner/Agent
Call for Quotes or Visit our Website
Corkill I ndependent nsurance Agency
1500 Marina Bay Dr. Suite 3481 Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565 866-637-4255 Main Phone 866-710-9816 Main Fax 281-557-6577 Direct Phone/Fax www. corkillagency.com
• • • • • • • • •
Homeowner’s Wind Flood Auto Boats Commercial Life Annuities Long Term Care
People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it’s safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs. - Unknown
HAPPY HOUR
Mon-Fri 11-7 $2.75 Well $2.00 Domestic Longnecks $1.50 Domestic Draft Tues & Wed $2 Ritas Sun $2 Well Vodka (from 12 noon - 7pm)
Live Music 6 Nights a Week - NO COVER See our musical line up at:
Ingredients: 2 oz Midori melon liqueur 4 oz Orange juice Ice
www.katiesbar.com
KATIE’S 4TH OF JULY JAM (after the fireworks)
The Groove Kings, Benny & The Hackers, JJ Dynomite, Donnie Simmons & The House Rockers, Brad Absher Band, Slide Effect, Mark May, Tommy Dardar, Snit’s Dog & Pony Show, Tony Vega, James Reese, Scott McGill & Old Dog Mac
Mixing instructions: Fill glass half way with ice. Add orange juice and Midori and give a little stir.
’Exceptional music in an intimate setting’
315 Grand Ave * Bacliff, TX * Phone: (281) 559-3773
Spillolja (Oil Spill) Ingredients: 3/4 shot Goldschlager 1/4 shot Jägermeister Mixing instructions: Layer Jägermeister on top of the Goldschlager.
Casper’s Billiards
HOURS Mon Closed Tues-Thurs 12 -10PM Fri-Sat 12-12PM Sun 12 -8PM
21st Street & E. Bayshore San Leon, TX 281-559-1400 FULL BAR Billiards Digest has named Casper’s one of the top ten new billiard halls in America! It is a clean, comfortable place for pool players and spectators alike to gather and enjoy the sport of billiards. Two story establishment with 14 tournament tables and regular tournaments.
Thank you for the terrific turnout at the San Leon Cemetary Benefit. It was a tremendous success.
Introducing the 8oz Kobe Steak Only $22
Smoking & Non-Smoking Areas
FANTASTIC KITCHEN & NEW DINING AREA Steaks - BBQ - Seafood - Burgers - Fries - Onion Rings
8 WHERE DID IT GO July 2010
Linda’s Wholesale Jewelry Area’s Largest Selection - If you can’t find it, we’ll order it!!! 219 Grand Avenue Classic Rings Bacliff, TX 77518 Contemporary Necklace 281-549-4029 Fashion Chains Designer Gold & Silver Estate Earrings Gifts Bracelets Free Cleaning Pins Lay Away Pendants Special Order Charms Price for Every Budget Curio Boxes Classical Beauty - Great Prices! Cash or Check Hand Bags Congratulations to Mercedes Requesto & Sharon Hood They are the March winners of a Gemstone Necklace & Bracelet
Scarves
Come Browse Our Selection - No Mall Hassle Open Daily or by Appointment
MARITIME SANITATION Dockside Pump-outs Parts & Answers Installation & Repair Odor Treatment
281-334-5978
Fax: 281-334-4631 Email: trace@maritimesanitation.com Serving the entire Gulf Coast !
We Now Accept Medicaid Background noise.
Solution?
Problem.
Hearing Is Our Concern
Wind noise.
Car noise.
A solution for hearing in noise is here. Introducing
Affordable Hearing Care 1-800-966-1989
• Reduce listening effort and mental fatigue in noisy environments*
Hearing comfortably in noise. It has been one of the biggest problems for people who wear hearing aids. The iQ is the only hearing aid with Voice iQ and InVision Directionality. Together,
• Virtually eliminate whistling or buzzing
these cutting-edge technologies are designed
• Let you talk easily on the phone
to preserve speech understanding in noise. So you may hear conversations, not commotion.
High performance features are intended to:
• Provide a comfortable fit, designed for your ear • Suit your lifestyle and budget with a variety of styles and technology levels Sleek, discreet design
Don’t take our word for it. Visit Hearing Center Name or starkey.com today and hear the iQ difference for yourself.
Hearing Center Name has Affordable Hearing Care has been in business for 25 years. We have helped been in business for XX years. We strive to offer you the best thousands of people in our community get their hering and their lives back. hearing instruments available plus We’re committed to helping you learn about your level of hearing loss, and an exceptional patient experience. can introduce you to the latest advancements in hearing aid technologies. We know how important your For more information call hearing is. Please call us today to XXX.XXX.XXXX HearingJ.Professional Michael LeCompte,Name H.I.S. begin your life of better hearing.
Take the iQ test.
Compare the new iQ to your current hearing aid.
Affordable Hearing Care 1-800-966-1989 Not available with any other discounts, offers or prior purchases.
Any Town, ST XXXXX
™ Pkwy Suite LaPorte * 401PrescriptFit West Fairmont FREE Hearing E-2 and Lifestyle Assessment LaPorte,Center TX 77571 Hearing Name Any Street Name 281-470-4722 Any Town, ST XXXXX
EXP. XX/XX/XX
For more information call LaMarque * Bay Park Shopping Center XXX.XXX.XXXX 2600 FM 1764, Suite 140-B LaMarque, TX, 77568 Hearing Center Name Any Street Name 409-986-8094
EXP. XX/XX/XX
Credentials 30 years experience
We Now Accept Medicaid
* Sarampalis, A., Kalluri, S., Edwards, B., Hafter, E. (2009, October) Objective measures of listening effort: Effects of background noise and noise reduction. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 52, 1230-1240.
Not available with any other discounts, offers or prior purchases. NPAD1187-00-EE-ST-SL 5/10 © 2010 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2010 Starkey Clinical Trial
The One and Only Doc Watson
I’ve been fortunate to see Doc Watson perform a couple of times, once at a venue in the Montrose area that was a converted church and once at Rockefeller’s on Washington. This was about 35 years ago and he was already a flat-pickin’ guitar legend. “Discovered” in the heat of the sixties folk revival, Doc Watson is a legendary performer who blends his traditional Appalachian folk music roots with blues, country, gospel, and bluegrass to create his unique style and expansive repertoire. Blind from infancy, Doc has spent his lifetime making music and is considered by fans everywhere one of the world’s most accomplished flat-pickers. Doc was born Arthel L. Watson in Deep Gap , NC (Watauga County) on March 23 , 1923 into a family with a rich musical tradition. His mother, Annie Watson, sung many traditional secular as well as religious songs, and his father, General Watson, played the banjo. Doc’s early instrumental experience was with harmonica and a homemade banjo, but at age thirteen he taught himself the chords to “When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland” on a borrowed guitar. As the story goes, Doc’s father was so pleased that Doc had been able to teach himself these chords in one day, that he helped Doc buy his own guitar the very next Saturday. Armed with his new $12 Stella guitar, Doc began playing both traditional family tunes as well as new material he learned from records and the radio. For a time, Doc played mostly with musical neighbors and family, among them fiddler Gaither Carlton , who became his father-inlaw when Doc married Rosa Lee Carlton in 1947. Gaither Carlton was a fine old time fiddler who shared with Doc many traditional tunes of the mountain region where he was raised. Although Doc continued playing and singing with greater and greater skill, it wasn’t until 1953 at age thirty that he met Jack Williams, a local swing band piano player, and began to play gigs for money. Doc played rocking western swing/rockabilly with Williams’ band for seven years, during which time he switched to electric guitar. Because the band didn’t have a fiddle player, Doc, at Williams’ request, picked out tunes for square dance numbers on his electric guitar, thus developing what would become his trademark acoustic picking style. During the years that he toured Tennessee and North Carolina with Williams’ band, however, Doc continued to play traditional music with his family and with his banjo playing neighbor, Clarence “Tom” Ashley. In 1960, spurred by the growing folk revival, Ralph Rinzler and Eugene Earle came south to record Tom Ashley and heard Doc Watson’s banjo picking in the process. Rinzler and Earle quickly decided to record the two together, and these sessions resulted in Old-Time Music at Clarence Ashley’s. By 1961, Rinzler was able to convince Doc to leave his electric guitar behind and join Ashley, Clint Howard and Fred Price in New York City for a Friends of Old-Time Music concert, and one year later Doc performed alone for the first time at Gerde’s Folk City in Greenwich Village. For the next several years, Doc made the folk music circuit, playing concerts and hootenannies all over the country and appearing at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival and with Bill Monroe that same year at New York’s Town Hall. Although the folk revival had begun to die down by the mid-sixties, and with it some of the enthusiasm for “traditional” performers, Doc’s son Merle (named for country great Merle Travis) provided him with the musical and emotional companionship that he needed to continue touring. With Merle playing backup guitar and serving as manager and driver, the father-son team performed frequently, often spending up to three hundred nights a year on the road, and consequently expanding their audience nationwide. Doc has recorded dozens of albums in his long career and, although he stopped performing briefly after Merle died in a tractor accident in 1985, he does continue to tour in the winter and play festivals in the summertime. For the last six years, Doc has hosted the yearly Merle Watson Memorial Festival in Wilkesboro, NC on the last weekend of April. You can sample many of his tunes on YouTube. You’ve especially got to hear “Black Mountain Rag.”
July 2010 WHERE DID IT GO 9
AFT-TER THOUGHTS
ADULT ART CLASSES Can’t draw a straight line? Good, straight lines are boring.
by Capt. B.G. Willie
Expand your horizons & see the world through the eyes of an artist. It’s fun too!
ALLIGATOR SHOES I used to run a fishing guide business in Louisiana and as a sideline occasionally ran an airboat with tourists out into the swamps. A very attractive young blonde chartered my boat one day. She said she’d been all over New Orleans and Baton Rouge looking for some alligator shoes. She wanted a pair of genuine alligator shoes in the worst way, but was very reluctant to pay the high prices the local vendors were asking. After becoming very frustrated with the “no haggle” attitude of one of the shopkeepers, the blonde shouted, “Maybe I’ll just go out and catch my own alligator so I can get a pair of shoes at a reasonable price!” The shopkeeper who was tired of listening to her complaints said, “By all means, be my guest. Maybe you’ll luck out and catch yourself a big one!” He happened to have my card since he fished with me sometime and gave it to her. He said, “This guy knows the
swamps. If anybody can find you an alligator, he can.” Determined, the blonde turned and headed for my place, set on getting herself an alligator. I told her I could find her all the gators she wanted but there were still some hunting regulations to be aware of. She argued that she just wanted the one, so we negotiated a price, cranked up the airboat and headed out. Later in the day, the shopkeeper was driving home, when he spotted the young woman standing waist deep in the water, shotgun in hand. Just then, he saw a huge 9-foot alligator swimming quickly toward her. She took aim, killed the creature, and with a great deal of effort hauled it on to the swamp bank. Lying nearby were several more dead gators. The shopkeeper watched in amazement. Just then the blonde flipped the alligator on its back, and frustrated, shouts out, “Dang it, this one isn’t wearing any shoes either!”
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” ~ George Orwell
WHERE: The Art Forum Gallery 770 Marina Bay Drive * Kemah, TX 77565 WHEN: Tuesdays 10am - 1pm and 6pm - 9pm Only $10 per class
Call me: 713-473-3543
HOG PROBLEM? The feral hog population is exploding and doing serious property damage.
Humane traps for sale or rent Custom on request J & D Hog Traps 936-327-0436 CLEAR LAKE TEA PARTY Presents
READ T ’ T O N D S ON TEXA TING! L MEE L A H TOWN Topics & Speakers
MARK HENRY on COMMON SENSE IN GOVERNMENT? CHERYL E. JOHNSON on • GALV. CO. POST NASA AND OFFSHORE DRILLING? • NATIONAL HEALTH CARE? NOT! • ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION • CAP & TRADE TAX $5.00 Mic Importance of the Tea Parties who for those t! n SPECIAL GUEST APOSTLE CLAVER want to ra OF THE RAGING ELEPHANTS
Location: Showboat Theatre, 416 6th Street N, Texas City, TX Date: Thursday, July 22, 2010 Time: 7:00 PM E-Mail: info@clearlaketeaparty.com
NOW OPEN
10 WHERE DID IT GO July 2010
Marketing in a Tough Economy
Kala Garcia, Realtor 832-721-7121 kalarealtor@gmail.com
Dickinson 4/2/3 Inviting home in Prestigious Colonial Estates with updated flooring (all wood, tile & laminate). Recently remodeled kitchen with Double ovens. Built-ins for storage, high ceiling w/ skylight, wood burning fireplace in family room. (Colonial) $159,900 Clear Lake Shores: 2/2 Lovely 3rd floor waterfront condo, convenient elevator, beautiful waterviews of the marina & Clear Lake. Balcony. Wet bar, breakfast bar, all appliances included. Greatroom with F/P. Parking Garage ; 2 pools.(Legend Point) $129,900 Lease: $1,200/Mo.
Waterfront
League City Waterfront Condo with elevator - 2/1 , Open, high ceilings, Gorgeous bamboo floors, all appliances included, pool, workout room. Boat slip. 50 ft Boat Slip included (Davis Rd) $98,000.
WaterView Condo Clear Lake Shores 2/2+Loft and 30 ft. Boat Slip 2 covered pkng spaces. Low Maintenance, Lots of recent upgrades. (Moon Caye)$119,900.
For Lease
For Lease
San Leon Rental Large 1/1 $550
Clear Lake Area Piper’s Meadow 4/2/2 $1350
Gulf Coast Realtors
312 FM 517 W 281-534-GULF (4853)
Dickinson, Texas 77539 www.gulfcoastrealtors.net
POOL TOURNAMENT 9 Ball Monday $10 Entry 8:00PM 8 Ball Wednesday $6 Entry 8:00PM HOUSE MATCHES 50% OF POT
Power Hour is back! Fri & Sat Nights 9-10 $2 well drinks $2 domestics $2 calls $3 premium $4 super premium
THURSDAY KARAOKE 8PM MAMA CASS
CONTACT KELLY 713-292-4002
3136 C, NASA Rd 1 Seabrook, Texas 281-532-0750
Check out our Menu and Live Music Schedule at www.maribelles2.com
HAPPY HOUR * DAILY 11AM - 7PM FRIDAY LIVE BANDS 9 - 1:30
SATURDAY DJ TERRY 9 - 1:30
Hours of Operation: 11am - 2am Monday - Friday * 12pm-2am Saturday & Sunday
“What is going to happen to my business if the economy keeps spiraling downwards?” There’s a lot of shocking financial news recently. The two major mortgage lenders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, were just taken over by the federal government as was GM and Chrysler, the brokerage Lehman Brothers is in bankruptcy, foreclosures are at an all-time high, the stock market is plummeting and consumer prices are up all around and unemployment has gone through the roof. We are better off in our little part of Texas but business is definitely slower and there is fear, uncertainty and hesitation. Some industries are hurt more than others such as yachting, vacation homes, and big-boy toys, because these are the optional goods in life and people are having to give them up or think longer about purchasing them since they don’t know what is going to happen. Are there specific things you can do to market yourself in a down economy? There are and here are a few ideas: Have an actual marketing plan. That is, a plan to carry out specific marketing activities. Most businesses have no plan at all. Nothing! They wait and hope for people to walk in the door or call. A plan is a definite strategy developed for the purpose of connecting with new prospects and converting them into clients. What’s your plan? Accelerate and multiply your marketing. Most businesses cut back on marketing when the economy slows. If you accelerate your marketing, you will be more visible than ever. You don’t have to do expensive activities, you just need to be out there more. Networking, speaking, events and teleclasses are all relatively inexpensive. Get out there, don’t hide! Advertise in different venues and try to determine the effectiveness of your advertising and marketing. Always advertise, good times and bad even if you have to go smaller, keep your name out there. Ask your customers where they heard about you. Discuss your advertising with someone who knows about it. What is important in your advertising message? What are you trying to do? Always stress benefits and results, not features. Customers want to know “what’s in it for them.”How do you attract customers? What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition.) What aspect of your business differentiates it from similar businesses? Why should people do business with you? Be willing to negotiate. It’s always better to sell “something for less than nothing for more.” Sell your goods or services as an investment, not an expense. But that needs to be more than a cliché. How exactly will your services pay for themselves? If you can document increases in revenue or decreases in costs, you’ll get the attention of prospects. But you need to prove it. Do some case studies of past clients showing the bottom-line value of your work. Work on your mindset. This might be the most important of all. Negative external circumstances tend to trigger “Constrictive Marketing Mindsets.” That is, you start buying into the bad news and you start to panic, avoid taking action, and retreat to a place of worry and paralysis. Question those negative mindsets and find your place of power and innovation. These are just a beginning. Above all else, don’t stick your head in the sand and hope the economy will change. Things may get worse before they get better, and those who are proactive about their marketing (and their thinking) will do better in both good times and bad. The key to marketing in tough times is to work at adding more value. Prove that your products or services are a wise investment. Communicate about your services in more depth and with more clarity. These are things you should be doing anyway, but when the economy is suffering, these marketing approaches are more important than ever. Tough times create opportunities. Try to see if your business can take advantage of these opportunities.
July 2010 WHERE DID IT GO 11
Tropicalattitude
“Celebrating the Waterfront Lifestyle” Whooping Crane
As in much of Texas they have become a nuisance and hunters are occasionally allowed to thin them out. The name Aransas is centuries old, and can be found in the Spanish chronicles of the 1700’s. The Refuge shares its name with the historic locations of Aransas Harbor and Aransas Pass. The area was within the heartland of the Karankawa Indians, a widely scattered population of nomadic people who fished, hunted, and gathered every available food resource that the region had to offer. Their middens of discarded shell fish and their campsites dot the landscape, but ther were no permanenent settlements here. Historically, Aransas is best know for its prominent place in the American conservation movement. In 1941, when only 15 Whooping Cranes survived in the wild, the Whooping Crane became an emblem of alarm and concern for all endangered and threatened species. Aransas became a pioneering forcal point of the national and worldwide effort to cranes can usually be seen from rescue species from extinction. the observation tower from late October to mid-April. There are also several charter boats which will enable you to see them from the water. American Moving inland, the water Alligator changes from salty flats to freshwater ponds. These ponds teem with life. Created by rain and ranging in size from puddles to lakes, they are a haven for alligators, turtles, frogs, snakes, and birds. There are also a number of wild, feral hogs and you can readily find where they have been tearing up the country side.
ARANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Just a few short hours down the coast from Galveston Bay is one of the most awesome wildlife viewing areas in the United States, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The bugle of an endangered whooping crane echoes across the far reaches of the marsh. Only here do North America’s tallest birds find an enduring winter stronghold. Here, too, pelicans, herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, ducks, and geese dine in brackish waters and salt marshes teeming with fishes, blue crabs, and clams. On shore, javelinas, bobcats and deer wander oak woodlands. Alligators peer from still waters of ponds and sloughs. Ringed by tidal marshes and broken by long, narrow sloughs, this 59,000-acres refuge sprawls mostly across the Blackjack peninsula, where grasslands, live oaks, and redbay thickets cover deep sandy soils. Storms and waters of the Gulf of Mexico constantly reshape this vital refuge, home to over 390 different bird species. Strong winds push the bay waters over low-lying brackish tidal marshes among the short, salt-tolerant vegetation. It is this habitat that attracts thousands of migratory birds. On their journey between North and Central America, warblers concentrate on the refuge
from mid-April to early May. Mild winters, bay waters, and abundant food supplies attract over 392 species of birds to Aransas including pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills, shorebirds, ducks, and geese. The endangered whooping crane makes these same saltwater marshes their winter feeding grounds. Productive tidal flats provide clams and crabs for the whoopers to eat. One of the rarest creatures in North America, the whooping crane is making a comeback from a low of 15 birds in 1941. The seventh aerial census of the 2009-10 whooping crane season was conducted March 9th, 2010. Sighted on the flight were 193 adults and 18 juveniles = 211 total whooping cranes Whooping cranes nest in Canada during the summer and winter at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. These
Enjoy a Palapa in your back yard. Cool, Relaxing, Tropical Ambiance. Residential & Commercial Outdoor Kitchens Bamboo & Concrete Work Decks Tiki Accessories FREE Quotes 12 Years Experience Many References
Javelina
Gulf Coast Palapas 832-282-2740 www.gulfcoastpalapas.com
12 WHERE DID IT GO July 2010
TWENTY-FIVE THINGS ABOUT TO BECOME EXTINCT IN AMERICA Will this happen in our life time?
dropped by 50,000, even though Morse Code is no longer a requirement. 15. The Swimming Hole Thanks to our litigious society, swimming holes are becoming a thing of the past. Swimming hole owners are shutting them down out of worry that if someone gets hurt they’ll sue and that’s exactly what happened in Seattle. As injuries occur and 25. U.S. Post Office lawsuits follow, expect more swimming holes to They are pricing themselves out of existence. post ‘Keep out!’ signs. With e-mail, and online services they are a relic of the past. Packages are also sent faster and cheaper 14. Answering Machines with UPS. The increasing disappearance of answering machines is directly tied the decline of landlines. 24. Yellow Pages It’s logical that as cell phones rise, many of them Much like newspapers, print Yellow Pages will replacing traditional landlines, that there will be continue to bleed dollars to their various digital fewer answering machines. counterparts. One research firm predicts the falloff in usage of newspapers and print Yellow 13. Cameras That Use Film Pages could even reach 10% this year. It doesn’t require a statistician to prove the rapid disappearance of the film camera in America . Just 23. Classified Ads look to companies like Nikon, the professional’ s The Internet has made so many things obsolete choice for quality camera equipment. that newspaper classified ads might sound like just another trivial item on a long list. But this is 12. Incandescent Bulbs one of those harbingers of the future that could signal the end of civilization as we know it. The With the green movement and all-thingscrowd, the Compact argument is that if newspaper classifieds are sustainable-energy Fluorescent Lightbulb (CFL) is largely replacing replaced by free online listings then newspapers the older, Edison-era incandescent bulb. are not far behind them. According to USA Today, a new energy bill plans to phase out incandescent bulbs in the next four 22. Movie Rental Stores to 12 years. Netflix is looking up at the moment, but Blockbuster keeps closing store locations by 11. Stand-Alone Bowling Alleys the hundreds. Movie Gallery, which owned the Hollywood Video brand, closed up shop earlier There are still 60 million Americans who bowl this year. Countless small video chains and mom- at least once a year, but many are not bowling in stand-alone bowling alleys. Today most are part and-pop stores have given up the ghost already.. of facilities for all types or recreation including laser tag, go-karts, bumper cars, video game 21. Dial-up Internet Access arcades, climbing walls and glow miniature golf. Dial-up connections have fallen from 40% in Bowling lanes also have been added to many non2001 to 10% in 2008 because of affordable high traditional venues such as adult communities, speed Internet connections and the disappearing hotels and resorts, and gambling casinos. home phone. 20. Phone Land Lines Nearly one in seven homes is cell-only and, of those homes that had land lines, one in eight only received calls on their cells. 19. Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs Maryland’s icon, the blue crab, has been fading away in Chesapeake Bay . The population is down 70% since 1990, when they first did a formal count. There are only about 120 million crabs in the bay and they think they need 200 million for a sustainable population. Over-fishing, pollution, and invasive species blamed. 18. VCRs For the better part of three decades, the VCR was a staple in every American household until being completely decimated by the DVD, and now the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). In fact, the only remnants of the VHS age are blank VHS tapes these days. 17. Ash Trees In the late 1990’s, a pretty, iridescent green species of beetle, now known as the emerald ash borer, hitched a ride to North America with ash wood products imported from eastern Asia . In less than a decade, its larvae have killed millions of trees in the Midwest, and continue to spread. 16. Ham Radio Proliferation of the Internet and its popularity among youth has caused the decline of amateur radio. In the past five years alone, the number of people holding active ham radio licenses has
10. The Milkman According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 1950, over half of the milk delivered was to the home. Nowadays most milk is sold through supermarkets in gallon jugs. This decline is blamed on the rise of the supermarket, better home refrigeration and longer-lasting milk. Although some milkmen still make the rounds in pockets of the U.S., they are certainly a dying breed..
7. Personal Checks A net 23% of consumers plan to decrease their use of checks over the next two years, while a net 14% plan to increase their use of PIN debit. Bill payment remains the last stronghold of paperbased payments -- for the time being. Checks continue to be the most commonly used bill payment method, with 71% of consumers paying at least one recurring bill per month by writing a check. However, a bill-by-bill basis, checks account for only 49% of consumers’ recurring bill payments (down from 72% in 2001 and 60% in 2003).
6. Drive-in Theaters During the peak in 1958, there were more than 4,000 drive-in theaters in this country, but in 2007 only 405 drive-ins were still operating. Exactly zero new drive-ins have been built since 2005. Only one reopened in 2005 and five reopened in 2006, so there isn’t much of a movement toward reviving the closed ones. 5. Mumps & Measles Measles and mumps are disappearing from the United States . In 1964, 212,000 cases of mumps were reported in the U.S. By 1983, this figure had dropped to 3,000, thanks to a vigorous vaccination program. Prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine, approximately half a million cases of measles were reported in the U.S. annually, resulting in 450 deaths. In 2005, only 66 cases were recorded. 4. Honey Bees Perhaps nothing on our list of disappearing America is so dire; plummeting so enormously; and so necessary to the survival of our food supply as the honey bee. Very scary. ‘Colony Collapse Disorder,’ or CCD, has spread throughout the U.S. and Europe over the past few years, wiping out 50% to 90% of the colonies of many beekeepers -- and along with it, their livelihood. 3. News Magazines and TV News While the TV evening newscasts haven’t gone anywhere over the last several decades, their audiences have. In 1984, in a story about the diminishing returns of the evening news, the New York Times reported that all three network evening-news programs combined had only 40.9 million viewers. Fast forward to 2008, and what they have today is half that.
2. Analog TV According to the Consumer Electronics 9. Hand-Written Letters Association, 85% of homes in the U.S. get their In 2006 worldwide, 183 billion e-mails were sent television programming through cable or satellite each day. Two million each second. By November providers. For the remaining 15% -- or 13 million of 2007, an estimated 3.3 billion Earthlings owned individuals -- who are using rabbit ears or a large cell phones, and 80% of the world’s population outdoor antenna to get their local stations, change had access to cell phone coverage. In 2004, half- is in the air. a-trillion text messages were sent, and the number has no doubt increased exponentially since then. So where is there room for the elegant, polite 1. The Family Farm Since the 1930’s, the number of family farms has hand-written letter? been declining rapidly. According to the USDA, 5.3 million farms dotted the nation in 1950, but 8. Wild Horses this number had declined to 2.1 million by the It is estimated that 100 years ago, as many as 2003 farm census. Ninety-one percent of the U.S. two million horses were roaming free within the FARMS are small Family Farms. United States. Currently, the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory board states that there are Both interesting and saddening, isn’t 32,000 free roaming horses in ten Western states it? and there are plans to reduce the total number of free range horses to 27,000, possibly by selective euthanasia.
July 2010 WHERE DID IT GO 13
More on
CLEAR LAKE TEA PARTY
(not Moron)
Memory by Gene Rutt
DON’T START THE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME! Please Join the Clear Lake Tea Party for a
Memorizing long numbers such as bank account numbers, drivers license or even social security numbers is extremely difficult for some people. But before we get there we have to learn a little more about the system and how it is easily expanded to 99. We start with ten peg words representing the digits 1 to 0. These words have been used because of their sounds and associations which make them easy to remember. They are as follows: Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Word Sound
tie noah ma rye law shoe cow ivy pa zoo
t/d n m r l sh/ch/j k/g v/f p/b z/s
Association
“t” has one downstroke “n” has two downstrokes “m” has three downstrokes “four” ends in “r” thumb & finger form “L” “6” and “j” make mirror image “k” is formed by two “7’s” V-8 juice or V-8 engine “b” can be rotated to form a ‘9’ zero starts with “z”
For example, if you want to transform the number 74 into a memorable image, then all that you need to do, is to remember that the number 7 and the number 4 are represented in the above code, by the letters c and r. These letters may be used as the first and the last sounds of a word, the middle of which may be filled in with a vowel, or any other letter that is not a part of the number/ letter code. If you use the letter a, then you have the letters c, a and r ‘car. A simple image to visualize. The number 22 consists of two N’s. In order for you to form a memorable word from these letters, you just need to insert a vowel between the two letters. If you use the letter U, then you have the letters n, u and n ‘nun.’ Again a relatively simple image to recollect! The number 27 is made up of the letters n (2) and k (7). By the simple act of inserting the vowel – e, between these two letters, you are able to form the word ‘neck.’ So using the above three examples, if you wanted to remember the six digit number 742227, you would simply form a mental image that links together the words car, nun and neck. For example you might try imagining a car being driven by a nun, whose neck is so incredibly long that it protrudes from the sunroof. As was explained previously on this site, comic images are far easier to commit to memory, than are dry facts or pieces of text. Providing that you are totally familiar with the number/letter code, then you should have absolutely no difficulty at all in remembering the above image, and as a result the six-digit number that the image represents. This system may be used to memorise dates, addresses, measurements, or even calculations. And the amazing thing about it, is that you are not only able to use the system to remember vast amounts of information, you can also organise that information however you like. This is due to the fact that all of the peg images are numbered. I will now show you the 100 basic peg words, which with the aid of the number/letter code, should be relatively simple to memorise. Once you have committed these words to your long-term memory, you will have a list of 100 images, which you may link to whatever you like. This should enable you to remember long lists of numbers or objects (in the correct order), with an ease that should pleasantly surprise you. There are also a variety of other uses that pegging may be put to. However I will elaborate on that point a little later on.
Town Hall Meeting to TAKE BACK AMERICA! Invited Speakers include:
Geri Bentley - David Horowitz Art of Political War for Tea Parties Texans for Lawsuit Reform The Honorable Roy Morales - Conservative Candidate US House Dale Huls - Precinct Projects John Faulk - Conservative Candidate running against Sheila Jackson Lee
Let your voices be heard during Open Mic time Location: Webster Civic Center, 311 Pennsylvania Ave, Webster, TX Date: Thursday, July 15, 2010 Time: 7:00PM E-Mail: info@clearlaketeaparty.com Web: www.clearlaketeaparty.com
The 100 basic peg words 0 – Sow 5 – Law 10 – Doze 15 – Dual 20 – Noose 25 – Nail 1 – Dye 6 – Shoe 11 – Dad 16 – Dash 21 – Net 26 – Notch 2 – Knee 7 – Cow 12 – Dune 17 – Duck 22 – Nun 27 – Neck 3 – Ma 8 – Fee 13 – Dim 18 – Dove 23 – Gnome 28 – Knife 4 – Row 9 – Bay 14 – Deer 19 – Dab 24 – Nero 29 – Nip 30 – Mice 35 – Mail 40 – Rose 45 – Rail 50 – Lassie 55 – Lily 31 – Mud 36 – Mash 41 – Rat 46 – Rush 51 – Loot 56 – Leech 32 – Moon 37 – Make 42 – Rain 47 – Wreck 52 – Lane 57 – Leak 33 – Mum 38 – Movie 43 – Ram 48 – Roof 53 – Lame 58 – Lava 34 – Mower 39 – Map 44 – Rear 49 – Rope 54 – Lure 59 – Lip 60 – Chess 65 – Chill 70 – Case 75 – Cool 80 – Fuss 85 – Fall 61 – Chat 66 – Cha cha 71 – Cat 76 – Cash 81 – Foot 86 – Fish 62 – Chin 67 – Chalk 72 – Can 77 – Coke 82 – Fan 87 – Fog 63 – Chime 68 – Chief 73 – Comb 78 – Cave 83 – Foam 88 – Fife 64 - Chair 69 – Chip 74 – Car 79 – Cub 84 – Fur 89 – Fab 90 – Bus 95 – Ball 91 – Bat 96 – Bush 92 – Bun 97 – Book 93 – Beam 98 – Beef 94 – Beer 99 – Bib You may have to spend an hour or so going through the above list, before you reach the point where you can hear a number and immediately think of the image that goes with it. But if you do put the necessary amount of effort in, then I promise you that you will not regret it. Next time you will be ready to start memorizing long numbers.
I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than make two trips to bring my groceries in.
14 WHERE DID IT GO July 2010
Golf Truisms
• Don’t buy a putter until you’ve had a chance to throw it • Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing • When your shot has to carry over water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls. • If you’re afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead of you is still putting out, you have two options: you can immediately shank a lay-up or you can wait until the green is clear and top a ball halfway there. • The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing • No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse • • Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot • A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponents’ luck • It is surprisingly easy to hole a fifty foot putt - for a 10 • Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of his own haircut • Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant • It’s not a gimme if you’re still away • The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree. • You can hit a two acre fairway 10% of the time and a two inch branch 90% of the time • Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three • When you look up, causing an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again • Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe
Kobe Beef Kobe beef has been in the news lately, having been served at several state dinners in Washington. There has also been mention of its $100 per pound price. So just what is Kobe beef and why is it so expensive? Kobe beef in Japan is a registered trademark of the Kobe beef distribution promotion conference and must fulfill certain conditions of location, special feeding, marbling ratio and meat quality. It is the marbled fat that makes the meat so delicious and desirable. It is the means in which the meat is processed, from birth until the meat is aged that raises the price compared to standard cattle which are rushed to the table through the use of steroids and growth hormones. The massive increase in popularity of Kobe beef in the United States has led to the creation of “Kobe-style” beef, taken from domestically-raised Wagyu crossbred with Angus cattle, in order to meet the demand. Farms in America and Britain have attempted to replicate the Kobe traditions, providing their Wagyu herds with beer and daily massages with warm sake. U.S. meat producers claim that any differences between their less expensive “Kobe-style” beef and true Kobe beef are largely cosmetic. The cattle are fed American and/or British grass and grain, which is different from the more expensive Japanese feed. Cuts of American “Kobestyle” beef tend to have darker meat and a bolder flavor. It is true that cattle are occasionally fed beer in Japan. Most cattle in Japan are essentially on feed all of their lives because grazing land is not available. Sometime the cattle go off feed and when this happens, beer is fed to the cattle to stimulate appetite. Japanese cattle feeders do not ascribe any magical powers to feeding beer nor do they associate the practice with an increase in carcass quality; they merely feed beer as part of an overall management program designed to keep the cattle on feed.
Wagyu on the Hoof
It is also true that cattle are sometimes massaged in Japan. Once again, this practice does not affect the deposition of marbling. It is a common-sense practice required occasionally for cattle that are tied in one place for months and have no opportunity to exercise. The massaging is done to make the animal more comfortable and relieve stress due to stiffness that can result from inactivity. Brushing cattle with beer or sake is another practice which creates great interest. It, too, is rare but founded in practicality. Japanese beef cattle experts Kobe Beef, note marbling
believe that hair coat and softness of skin are related to carcass quality in Wagyu cattle. Consequently, judges at livestock shows in Japan place considerable emphasis on haircoat in the ranking of fed cattle. Just as in the U.S., the winners of cattle shows in Japan receive substantial premiums upon the sale of the animals. Brushing the haircoat with sake. In addition to the practical aspects of feeding beer, massaging and brushing with liquors, these things are also done on occasion for the sake of the image associated with the gourmet meats that result from the production of Wagyu cattle. Ambiance and mystique are nearly as important in the eating experience as the flavor, juiciness and tenderness of the beef. Regular calves are typically sold after they are weaned at around seven months, and then given supplemental feed in addition to the grass they consume, so that by about 14 to 16 months, before they reach skeletal maturity and will have amassed a maximum amount of weight for slaughter. The rush to put weight on the cattle often leads to the use of anabolic
steroids and growth hormones, and many cattle are treated with antibiotics and fed animal byproduct-laced feed or appetitestimulating feed additives along the way. Put simply, more cow means more money. For American Kobe-style beef, half-blood Angus and Wagyu cattle are bred with Wagyu bulls to produce calves that are three-fourths Wagyu and one-fourth Angus, and at birth, a computer chip is implanted in each calf’s ear. From that point on, ranch hands enter information on the calf each time they catch it. After weaning, at around seven months, calves are put out to pasture to graze until 13 to 14 months of age. Then the cattle are housed in a uniquely-designed, low-density feed facility, where they are given a corn/cotton seed feed mixture ground each morning and all the hay they can eat.” While living in the feed lot, a cow’s weight gain is actually restricted, with an allowable two-pound maximum weight gain per day limit in order to increase the natural marbling in the meat. High-quality marbling desired in beef occurs within the muscle mass. Marbling is fat but intramuscular marbling is the good kind of fat -- the fat high in monounsaturated fatty acids. Beef back fat is what’s high in cholesterol. The meat is then dry-aged at 36 degrees for 28 to 31 days before cutting it. Wet-aging doesn’t allow for the loss of beef’s blood or water content, which means that wet-aged beef weighs in heavier and subsequently fetches higher prices. Kobe beef loses almost 50% of its weight in this process. Wet-aging doesn’t allow for the breakdown of the beef’s connective tissue, which improves its tenderness, or for the purging of impurities. If you’re curious and wish to try Kobe beef, one of our advertisers, Casper’s Billiards in San Leon serves a Kobe burger for about $9.95 and an 8oz Kobe steak for $22.
July 2010 WHERE DID IT GO 15
LOOKING FOR A WAY TO
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS HERE IT IS
www.judgesbarandgrill.com
Wounded Warrior & Veteran’s Appreciation Celebration To Be Hosted By Kemah, Texas November 11-14, 2010
Waterfront Dining Spectacular View Of Galveston Bay
Simply the Best...... Food & Drinks Expanded Award Winning “ You Be The Judge ” Pirate’s Gumbo! Beach Bar
Daily HAPPYDrink HOUR M-F 11-6PM Specials!
Dom $2.00 Drft $1.50
Plans are underway to honor and thank our veterans in a very special and unique way. With the help of Houston’s Bay Area communities and our patriotic and generous donors, the Wounded Warriors & Veteran’s Appreciation Celebration will bring some of our heroes and their families to Kemah, Texas on November 11-14. These four days promise to be filled with an array of military and land activities. Static displays, Fishing tournament, Appreciation Ceremony, BBQ feasts and live music are some of the highlights of the fun and exciting patriotic weekend. The Wounded Warrior Kemah Project is a family oriented event not just for Kemah and the Bay Area, but for the whole state of Texas designed to help our soldiers and their families participate in activities that take their minds off their grueling rehabilitations and the struggles of their daily lives. For our wounded soldiers, a relaxing and fun weekend of ‘R & R’ away from the hospital is needed and a chance for all to say thanks and show our appreciation to those who volunteer to protect our country. Sponsors are needed now for this November event and sponsors are needed for the pre-event fundraisers. Come aboard and join the group. Steering the committee are members from the 82nd, 101st & 173rd Airborne, Elks Lodge and the VFW Post 8566 along with the City of Kemah. More sponsors to be announced. Pre – Event fundraisers scheduled are a Live & Silent Auction with the ‘Kemah Kasual’ Style Show and an upcoming Golf Tournament and more. By donating to this cause, you help provide an event the service men and women look forward to all year long. With your help, we can touch the lives of those who have given so much to us and our country. We want to make it a weekend they will never forget. Donations may be mailed directly to the: Wounded Warriors c/o VFW Post 8566 P.O. Box 8268 Bacliff, Texas 77518. Also donation boxes are placed at the Kemah merchants in the Kemah Lighthouse District and the Kemah Visitor Center, 604 Bradford. Raffle tickets for several items including a donated deer rifle are also for sale for $10. at the Kemah Visitor Center. For sponsorship information please email: sponsorship@wiredin.cc. If you wish to volunteer for this heart warming and fun event please email: volunteer@wiredin.cc. For more information please call Domino Taylor at 281-3343181 and to view or print the Wounded Warrior Kemah Project brochure, log on to the city website, www.Kemah-Tx.gov. Be a hero and help our heroes!
Come by land or sea.......
281 339-1515 113 6th St. San Leon, Texas
One nice thing about egotists: they don’t talk about other people.
The Amazing Avocado
L
ove avocados? Well you’ll love them even more when you discover their amazing benefits!
Calling all guacamole addicts: Avocados keep you thin, protect your vision and may even prevent cancer. Read below to find out more about their amazing benefits: Eye opener Protect your vision with a few slices of avocado at lunch or dinner. Avocados are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants found in the retina that keep eyes healthy; they also may help prevent age-related problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. Cancer fighter Extracts from avocados kill or stop the growth of precancerous cells that lead to oral cancer and may have a similar effect on other cancers, according to a recent study. Researchers credit the fruit’s unique combo of nutrients—which include folate and vitamins C and E. Nutrient booster Add avocado to salsa for a bigger health payoff. A study from The Ohio State University found that people absorbed fourand-a-half times more of the cancer-fighter lycopene from the tomatoes when avocado was added; the healthy fats help you absorb more nutrients. Healthier fat Skip the mayo, and go for creamy avocado on your sandwich. It packs four grams of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (which lowers cholesterol), two grams of fiber, and one gram of protein per ounce, making it a lower-fat, more-filling substitute for the white stuff.
16  WHERE DID IT GO July 2010
Gulf Coast Realtors 312 FM 517 W Dickinson, TX 77539 281-534-GULF (4853)
2000 Loop 197 Suite 111 Texas City, TX 77590 409-945-7653
www.gulfcoastrealtors.net Find out what properties in your area sold for: www.propertyvaluesinyourneighborhood.com
For Lease
For Lease Santa Fe 1/1 on 1 1/2 acres. Cute little home has been totally redone inside and out. $750/month
Teichman Rd Galveston 3/2 1/2 Gulf and bay views.
Warm and inviting open floor plan with a gourmet kitchen/ dining combo. Full Master Suite w/ 2 decks. Large gameroom downstairs. Easy access to I-45 and public boat ramp. $349,900
San Leon - 2 bedroom/2 bath home on pilings with garage/ work area underneath. Nice enclosed deck on back on home with hot tub. Just 1 block from Galveston Bay and public fishing pier. Many restaurants and marinas close by. $1050
1401 33rd St, Texas City 9 acres $949,000
Office Space-Lease
Office Space-Lease
League City office Space for rent--6100 sq ft space available $1.50 sq ft-will divide.. 1500 sq ft with 10 offices already built and ready to go! $1.50 sq ft. Faces Gulf Fwy.
Dickinson 2 office spaces for lease in high traffic location across from Dickinson post office,1700 sq ft and 1000 sq.ft....ready for tenant
Texas City 15-20 Acres. Great location for development or build a nice get away. Near Golf Course, Mall of the Mainland, COM, Mainland Medical Center. Enjoy the country life with city conveniences close at hand. $650,000
13100 33rd St. Santa Fe Great investment property. 2 homes on 1 acre, homes rent very well. $109,900
For Sale or Lease
1752 Silver Bend Dickinson Beautiful 4 bedroom home with ready to go media room, 3 car garage, lots of upgrades in wonderful small community. $244,900.
Residential
3026 Sherwood Oaks Dickinson Large 2 story home on corner lot, master down,both formals,study could be 5th bedroom, wb/fp/gas logs, ceiling fans. Recently remodeled through out, granite counters, new electric light fixtures. New paint interior and exterior. $179,900
Dickinson 2812 Daisy Kitchen/dining comb, new windows thru-out, plumbing replaced, outside storm blindsinground . Lots of room for garden. Original oak floors under carpet. $89,900
Commercial
Painted Meadows 3/2 Open concept kitchen/living area.All appliances included. Energy efficient roof, decked attic, cul-de-sac. Optional surround sound and flat screen television. $179,900 or lease $1600. Santa Fe ISD Available July 1st
Investment
Over 300 years agent experience serving Galveston County