The Dam Good Times October 2013 Vol.110

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Community Events Community Events Sponsored by:

ship 11:00 Hwy 190 & FM 3152, On Alaska, TX 936.646.5681 Coldspring United Methodist Church Sunday Service is 8:30 am & 11 am Sunday School is at 9:45 am Youth Group Wednesday at 5:30 pm

Lake Station Baptist Church Sunday School 9:45 am, Worship 11:00 am, Wednesday Bible Study 6:00 pm Goodrich, TX 936.365.2755

Family Faith Church Pastors Jeff & Eileen Hackleman Sundays in Coldspring @ 11:00 am www.familyfaith.ws

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Sunday School 9:45 am, Worship 11:00 am

Christian Faith Church Sunday Worship 10:30 am & Bible Study 7 pm Wednesday 1040 Hwy 190 Oakhurst 77359 936.377.4795 First Apostolic Church Sunday Worship 10:00 am and 6:30 pm Bible Study 7:30 Tuesday Goodrich, TX 936.365.3838 First United Pentecostal Sunday Worship 10:00 am & 6:00 pm Bible Study Wednesday 7 pm Youth Gathering Fridays @ 7 pm OnAlaska, TX 936.646.4514 Methodist Church of Goodrich Sunday School 9:00 am, Worship 10:25am Goodrich, TX 936.365.2435 Lake Livingston Lutheran Church Sunday School & Bible Study 9:30 am, Wor-

The Universal Ethician Church Beyond the end of FM 135 in San Jacinto County Services are held on the Sabbath (Saturday) 1 hour before Sunset http://www.sunsetservices.org St. Stephens Catholic Church Point Blank, TX Mass-4:30 pm every Saturday!

Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Paul Dawkins, Evergreen, TX 105 FM 945 N; 936.767.8497 Sunday School @ 9:45, Church Service 10:50 am, Wednesday Night Bible Study 6:00 pm New Life Church Pastor Dusty Kemp 10800 Hammerly Blvd.

Houston, TX 77043 713.932.1479 Worship Sunday 10:30 am Prayer Tues 7p Bible Study Wed 7p

Noland Laramore Baby Laramore Chris Cartlidge Ron Ybarra Sydney Brown Murphy Zachary Davies Kenny Sheffield Artie Mejia Linda Jones Emily Lewis Fred Hernandez Brandi Kulig Booth Scott Selman Scott Welch Wendy Austin Denson Dwayne Wright Paul Bourgeois Teresa Coats Israel Richner Eva Salazar Casey DeRouen Kaye Hendrix Ricky Mah Lance Stifflemire Angie Beard Bonnie Barker Tim Smith Thomas Carby Kenny Garza Buffy Moore Charity Moore

Connie Dipuccio Trinity's Bows Dianne Simpson Patsy Anderson Martin Shirley Wilkinson Joe Raitano Lisper Stevens Lindsey Stutts Sue Coward Gayla Rizzo Rentha Wilson Stephanie Darling Beverly Davis Dena Benner Kay Clements Andrea Olsen Kim Berry

Scott Patrick Marty Drake Trey Treadaway III Denny Dale Cletus Blakely Rachel Drake Allen Laramore Tom Estep Sheila Swanson Jonathan Blount Sharon Redd Mike Marin Kevin Dowdy Kristi Sides Tabitha Marsden Brad LaPoint Paul Keys

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your birthday! Treat yourself to some HOMEMADE ice cream at Shuky-Deez! 202 N. Washington Ste 300, Livingston, TX 936.327.4144 (Pic:Crystal & Ceasar)

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Boy Scout Family Campout PLEASE BE ADVISED: Friday, October 4th at 8:00 pm Destruction of the Community Drive Bridge Begins There are no anticipated delays for NCISD bus routes, as they have been rerouted since the beginning of the school year. The bridge is being torn down indefinitely to make way for the Grand Parkway scheduled to open in 2015.

Affected NCISD employees, parents and students will need to take alternate routes on FM 1485, FM 1314, and Loop 494 and plan for longer travel times.

Total closure of US 59 Oct 4th - Oct 7th There will be a total closure of US 59 (North and South bound lanes) starting from FM 1485 continuing to 1.5 miles South of FM 1314 starting at 8 pm on Friday, October 4th through 6 am on Monday, October 7th.

You can sign up to receive updates on the construction of the Grand Parkway (Segment G) and scheduled closures and detours.

For further information please go to: http://www.grandpky.com/r egister/default.asp October 2013

Insperity’s Community Events...

Page 4-7 Happy Birthdays...4 Military Minutes...8 The Great Outdoors..10 Texas Takes...12 PennyForYourThoughts13

Staff Writer Polk County’s Jack and Penny Uselton hosted their 4th Annual Family Campout for Boy Scout Troop 354 (Sept.

20-22) from St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. The boys participated in sailing, tubing, kayaking, swimming, touch football and potato cannonading. The weather that had exacted six inches of rain from Thursday through Friday night cooperated by the morning; and Saturday and Sunday were glorious days with perfect weather!

An Honor Court was held Saturday evening and 251 badges were presented to the boys in attendance and 14 rankup grades were given while family members watched. The scout’s badges represented everything that they had achieved from astronomy to 50 mile hikes. Several parents received recogni-

tion for their 50 mile hike with the boys including one mother and the Scout Master, who does this on a regular basis. The Honor Court was held with Lake Livingston in the background and presented a particularly beautiful scene that evening.

Ben Royce has been the Scout Master for the troop since 2003 and has been an exceptional mentor to the troop’s members and with the help of dedicated parents over the years. With Mr. Royce’s encouragement 70 young men have

achieved the ultimate in scouting, Eagle Scout.

He is bowing out as Scout Master at the end of this year to let someone else take the helm of the troop. His enthusiasm over the years will always be remembered for the rest of the scout’s lives. (Troop 354 was formed in 1957 and its’ scouts have earned 138 Eagle Scout ranks.

Under Mr. Royce, more than 50% of the Eagle Ranks have been under his watch.)

Sex in the Woods...14 Good News Gazee..15 Home Country...15 World & Local...16 TDGT INFO & SUB...17 Don’t Tread on Me...18 Crossword...20 NEW! Random Rants.23 Social Media...27 Snicker...28 Rumor Has It...29 Who’s Reading TDGT..31

The Dam Good Times

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Kevin Black’s Third Annual “Reeling It In For Rett” Tournament To Be Held October 25

Mark your calendars!

Friday, October 25, 2013 is the date to save for fun, fishing, prizes, burgers and live entertainment by Kevin and Coleton Black.

Hertz Equipment Rental and Kevin Black Music are proud to bring the Third Annual "Reeling It In For Rett" fishing tournament to Galveston Bay and San Leon’s Topwater Grill.

Katy singer/songwriter Kevin Black has been instrumental in helping bring Rett syndrome to the forefront of national attention for the past ten years. His brother, Clint Black, currently serves as Honorary Chair for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation’s (IRSF) “Research to Reality: Funding Progress” campaign.

As the father of Cortney, who lost her battle against Rett at the age of 16, Kevin knows exactly what it's like to walk in the shoes of those who deal with this disorder on a October 2013

daily basis: "Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurological disorder, found primarily in females. The girls progress normally up until about 12 to 18 months of age when the characteristics of Rett start to reveal themselves. All the social skills and motor skills they have obtained slowly cease to progress; starting a process of regression to what is the equivalent of living the rest of their life as an infant. They lose use of their hands, the ability to speak and most are bound to a wheelchair.

Parents and siblings become 24-hour caregivers, changing their lives forever as well."

Prizes for winning categories in the tournament include gift cards, rods and reels, Yeti cooler and a Weekend Ranch Trip wild pig hunt on the 2500acre Kingsville Ranch in Kingsville, TX. In lieu of having numerous, separate events

We think your mother would understand...

as in previous years, the local benefit is being limited to "Reeling It In For Rett," allowing for a shift in focus towards a new book project.

Raising A Hand is the vision of tenyear Rett event coordinator Dave Clements, along with Kevin Black.

The upcoming book is a collection of the country’s best musicians, each one photographed while “raising a hand or two.”

Raising A Hand is being dedicated to Cortney Black.

Proceeds from the book will go toward Rett syndrome research.

Third-year tournament coordinator Brent Jones says, “Anyone who has ever had a friend or family member touched by this disorder knows the struggles firsthand. Please join us in our fight against Rett syndrome.”

... If you played with

THIS food.

BABYCAKES CAKEPOPS

For more information, registration, donation and sponsorship opportunities: hp://www.reelingitinforre.org.

The Dam Good Times

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 (832) 928-6311

Forest Service Waives Fees for National Public Lands Day Access to several recreation areas in the National Forest will be free to the public on Saturday, Sept. 28.

In celebration of National Public Lands Day, fees will be waived at Boykin Springs, Caney Creek and Townsend in the Angelina National Forest; Boles Field, Haley’s Ferry, Ragtown, East Hamilton, Indian Mounds, Lakeview and Willow Oak in the Sabine National Forest and Ratcliff Lake day-use area in Davy Crockett National Forest.

“National Public Lands Day is a great opportunity for families to visit our national forests, experience the beauty of fall foliage, and perhaps be moti-

vated to join in with other volunteers and help us restore America’s precious natural resources,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.

The focus of National Public Lands Day is to instill a sense of shared stewardship and educate the public about the importance of natural resources. More than 170,000 volunteers are expected to provide assistance in the nation’s largest, hands-on volunteer effort to improve America’s public lands.

For more information, visit us on the web at www.fs.usda.gov/texas

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The Dam Good Times 855.500.TDGT (8348) news@thedamgoodtimes.com www.thedamgoodtimes.com facebook, twitter Publisher: Crystal Laramore Assistant-to-the-Editor: Summer Keys Editors: Cheryl Laramore, Connie Strong Sr. VP Social Media/Marketing: Sylvia Saba Photography: Crystal Laramore, Suzanne Murphy York, Mark York, Penny Uselton Contributors: Connie Strong, Penny Uselton, Paula Garcia, Laurie McMurrey, Suzanne Murphy York, Deborah Martin, Tim Corwin, Matt Bruner, Slim Randles, General Cisco, Wounded Warriors, Patriots, American Legion Posts and Friends of The Dam Good Times© Copyrights, The Dam Good Times, League City, Texas 2013 ____________________________________________________ The Dam Good Times is a monthly, locally owned and operated newspaper and is published by The Dam Good Times in League City, TX. You can reach us by mail at POB 2911, League City, TX 77574.

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October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 8

Military Minutes Bye-Bye Blackbird Sent in by Bill Laramore Colorado Bureau of TDGT Rumored to have been written by a SR-71 Blackbird pilot.

In April 1986, following an attack on American soldiers in a Berlin disco, President Reagan ordered the bombing of Muammar Qaddafi's terrorist camps in Libya ...

My duty was to fly over Libya , and take photographs recording the damage our F-111's had inflicted.

Qaddafi had established a 'line of death,' a territorial marking across the Gulf of Sidra , swearing to shoot down any intruder who crossed the boundary.

On the morning of April 15, I rocketed past the line at 2,125 mph.

I was piloting the SR71 spy plane, the world's fastest jet, accompanied by a Marine Major (Walt) and the aircraft's reconnaissance systems officer (RSO).

We had crossed into Libya and were approaching our final turn over the bleak desert landscape when Walt informed me that he was receiving missile launch signals.

I quickly increased our speed, calculating the time it would take for the weapons (most likely SA2 and SA-4 surface-to-air missiles, capable of Mach 5) to reach our altitude.

I estimated that we could beat the rocketpowered missiles to the turn, and stayed our course, betting our lives on the plane's performance.

After several agonizingly long seconds, we made the turn and blasted toward the Mediterranean, 'You might want to pull it back,' Walt suggested. It was then that I noticed I still had the throttles full forward.

The plane was flying a mile every 1.6 seconds, well above our Mach 3.2 limit.

It was the fastest we would ever fly.

I pulled the throttles to idle just south of Sicily , but we still overran the refueling tanker, awaiting us over Gibraltar ...

Scores of significant aircraft have been produced, in the 100 years of flight, following the achievements of the Wright brothers, which we celebrate in December.

Aircraft such as the Boeing 707, the F-86 Sabre Jet, and the P-51 Mustang, are among the important machines, that have flown our skies.

However, the SR-71, also known as the Blackbird, stands alone as a significant contributor to Cold War victory and as the fastest plane ever.

Additionally, only 93 Air Force pilots, ever steered the 'sled,' as we called our aircraft.

The SR-71 was the

brainchild of Kelly Johnson, the famed Lockheed designer who created the P-38, the F-104 Starfighter and the U-2.

After the Soviets shot down Gary Powers U-2 in 1960, Johnson began to develop an aircraft, that would fly three miles higher, and five times faster than the spy plane and still be capable of photographing your license plate.

However, flying at 2,000 mph would create intense heat on the aircraft's skin. Lockheed engineers used a titanium alloy to construct more than 90 percent of the SR-71thus creating special tools and manufacturing procedures to hand-build each of the 40 planes! Special heat-resistant fuel, oil and hydraulic fluids, that would function at 85,000 feet and higher, also had to be developed.

In 1962 the first Blackbird successfully flew and in 1966, the same year I graduated from high school, the Air Force began flying operational SR-71 missions.

I came to the program in 1983 with a sterling record and a recommendation from my commander, completing the week long interview, and meeting Walt, my partner for the next four years.

Walt would ride four feet behind me, working all the cameras, radios and electronic jamming

equipment.

I joked that if we were ever captured, he was the spy and I was just the driver.

He told me to keep the pointy end forward.

We trained for a year, flying out of Beale AFB in California , Kadena Air-

base in Okinawa and RAF Mildenhall in England ...

On a typical training mission we would take off near Sacramento, refuel over Nevada, accelerate into Montana, obtain a high Mach speed over See Blackbird pg. 24

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This is a posting of Rob Harris, TDGT person in Colorado Springs.

Rob is the one who started the successful grassroots drive to Recall the senior state Senator and President of the Senate in Colorado, John Morse, who was supposedly representing the good people of his district. He got ousted because they did not think he was representing their interests and would not talk to his constituents.

The gun issue spilled into three other districts in the state for much of the same reasons; but only one other was a success and that was the one in Pueblo where Victor and Andy Head, plumbers by vocation, were able to successfully oust Angela Giron their UN-representative who ignored them: “I posted this as a response to yet another person who wrote an article lamenting the demise of Morse and Giron and their gun control, er, "safety" legislation.

No one can point to any empirical evidence that any of the laws which were passed will do ANYTHING to increase SAFETY whatsoOctober 2013

ever. Even Morse agreed that the magazine limit was based upon an arbitrary number. If you have some facts, bring them.

So if you want to get serious about this "life or death" issue, let's discuss facts, not emotions.

And the facts are that with only one exception, every single mass murder committed with a gun in the US in recent history has occurred in a Gun Free Zone. Another fact is that more murders occur in cities with strict gun control laws than more lenient gun control laws.

cide, and they are tragic, 60% of all gun fatalities were via suicide in 2009.

Even so, gun-related deaths have steadily decreased over the last 30 years. (CDC study, June 2013) This is a societal issue that goes far beyond guns and reaches into the depths of culture, religion, and values. If we as a society want to reduce gun VIOLENCE in society, we must look to the causes of violence not the tools.

Until we are honest enough with ourselves to have these conversations

when discussing this issue.

“The Obama-ordered CDC report, “Priorities for Research to Reduce the Threat of Firearm-Related Violence,” released in June 2013 had some key findings about which most people don't like to talk.

1. Armed citizens are less likely to be injured by an attacker.

2. Defensive use of guns are common, at least as common as offensive uses by criminals thus

Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everyone stands around reloading.

Thomas Jefferson And while Al Sharpton may go to Florida to cry out about Trayvon, what he really needs to do is talk about the black on black crime that results in 54% of all murders involving black victims with the majority killed by other blacks while blacks comprise only 13% of the population. The other issue not discussed is social and one of the primary reasons for such occurrences. Blacks now have an out of wedlock birth rate of 72% which leads to more than 70% of black mothers being on welfare and then raising more than 70% of the their black children without fathers. (Wall St. Journal, Mar 27, 2013) Yet even with all of those deaths via homi-

about society as a whole - our culture, our values, our families, mental health, and more - we will continue to have gun-related deaths. These things should not be government mandated, but they should be discussed as policy issues by our political representatives.

But wait...there’s more: “ These are the facts folks” as laid out by Rob Harris in a timely response to a Colorado Springs, CO Gazette article: “Yet another response to an article about gun control laws in Colorado.

These people just don't get it. They deal in emotion, not facts. I hope to help all citizens bring facts to their legislators The Dam Good Times

saving thousands of lives a year.

3.Mass shootings and accidental firearm deaths account for a small fraction of fun-related deaths and both are declining. At the time of the study, since 1983 there had been 78 events with 4 or more individuals killed for 547 victims in a 30 year time span.

Not in the study, but in comparison, in Chicago which has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, 435 people were killed in 2012 alone. That is quite a contrast.

4. The vast majority of gun-related deaths are not homicides, but suicides.

This is a life or death issue. But trying to impose gun control upon citizens based upon emotions rather than facts and rights is a flawed approach. People can be upset by the Sandy Hook, Aurora, Ft. Hood, Virginia Tech, Columbine, and Washington Navy Yard incidents and they should.

But as the CDC study shows, those are minor in comparison to what happens every day in a city like Chicago where gun control is very heavy on the control.

What those mass murder incidents all have in common is that they are Gun Free Zones. And as the CDC study shows, armed citizens are less likely to be injured by an attacker. That is shown statistically as well as by examples such as New Life Church and the shooting at the theater in San Antonio which occurred mere days after Sandy Hook. Mass murder victims are reduced in number when victims are armed.

As the author of the article states, you can stand by wringing your hands or hide your head in the sand and hope for the best, but that is not a strategy. Or you can look at the facts and make a decision based upon facts, not emotions and allow citizens the opportunity fight back and make us less likely to be victims.”

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The Great Outdoors Fall is Great Gardening Time!

By Robert Patrick It is time to get those gardens planted if you have not already done so. I won’t go into all the veggies and greens we can grow here in east Texas, but rest assured the list is a long one. For those who only plant a spring garden, you’re really missing out.

I suggest a trip to the library or the Internet and get busy learning. I remember my dads garden and the few greens he grew, mustard greens, turnip greens and collards, that was about the extent of greens and root crops, I guess it was how he was raised and without outside influences many of us would be doing the same today.

Back in my youth, 30s and 40s, my gardens were not much different, I did start growing carrots back then, it was about 1991 when a buddy and I broke ground on about a ½ acre, the rows were long, about 125 ft and there were a lot of them, we grew about everything we could think of for a spring garden, corn, carrots, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, squashes, I was taking a much needed sabbatical from my chosen business career and thought what better way to spend 4 or October 2013

5 months down time than growing a garden, we started early and broke ground early, winning that elusive race with mother nature as to when the shot would be fired and the last frost would be laid down.

It was a bountiful year, seems like everything we planted grew well and we harvested for many months. The carrots grew especially well in the sandy loamy soil, once a heavy forested area and right on the edge of some big black land fields, it was the best of both. I can’t remember the type of carrot we grew, but then back then it was just a carrot, I had no idea of the types and varieties, short and fat, long and skinny, blue, red, orange, really no idea as I had not been exposed to anything other than the garden variety orange supermarket carrot.

With the advent of the Internet and radio shows dedicated to gardening, many more folks are being exposed to the many varieties of vegetables we can grow here in east Texas. Seeds are now available from around the world and I am suggesting anyone into gardening gets busy educating themselves.

Most counties in Texas and many other states

are offering Master Gardener programs, sometimes several times a year; I hear another class will be offered here in San Jacinto County in the near future. I suggest anyone wanting more exposure to like-minded folks and some knowledge get in touch with the county extension. The office is located in Shepherd at 11 Carrier Ave and the phone number is 936-628-6407.

Variety and diversity are one of the keys to gardening, lasagna gardening, hugel beds (hugelkultur/hugelculture), terracing, water features, wood chips, sawdust, compost, seeds from across the globe, as much as possible I am trying to move away from traditional row gardening,

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if your growing for yourself, I suggest you do the same, mono cropping is not the answer.

I miss the crew of folks who took the class with me and I hope to reach out to them for a small get together here at the farm this fall. I’ll touch base soon my fellow master gardeners.

I want to say thanks to the San Jacinto Fair association for putting on our annual fair and thanks for all the adulation rubbed into the big table (literally) it was a good show, it wore me out and many a business card was passed out. I think a few years of dirt and dust, little fingers and oily palms passed across the pieces I was showing and you cannot discern any damage, so I am

sure the pieces will stand up to daily life in almost any home. For those who showed interest in having me hand craft a piece, feel free to pick up the phone, remember its going to be a first come first serve basis.

Ok, time to get busy, remember: the gardener with the most compost wins! Get those piles started and before you know it your gardening gold will be ready. http://www.indiancreekfarm.co https://www.facebook.co m/robert.patrick.505 Master Gardener - Master Naturalist - Wild crafter (Medicinals & Edibles) Amateur Mycologist Custom Furnishings

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Tim Corwin is an avid outdoorsman who strives to find balance between parenting, hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits. Shamefully, at least so far this fall, familial and parental responsibility is winning.

Currently serving as the Special Events Coordinator at Bass Pro Shops – Pearland, Texas, Tim can be reached at bassprotim@yahoo.com.

Feel free to pass along column ideas, outdoor reports or just invite him hunting or fishing!

As I sit here today, placing the finishing touches on October’s column, the Federal Government has officially gone into the ‘shutdown’ mode.

Without getting political, my only observation is that while I have no problem shuttering the government, we are unfortunately, shuttering the wrong part of it. It is easy to forget that politics aside, the people most dramatically and quickly affected are employees, wage-earners supporting families, with monthly bills just like the rest of us. Having family who dedicated their careers to the U.S. Park Service, it is perhaps much easier for me to put names and faces upon those who will be the most affected financially. If Congress decides to shut down the government – fine, but if we are going to be fair, to suspend all Congressional pay, benefits, medical care and other perks first, not those who directly serve the public on a government wage scale. I am willing to bet

the situation is resolved in hours, not days!

Hopefully, everyone has had a safe and happy hunting season to date. For dove hunting fans, remember that the North and Central Zone seasons end on October 23, while for the South Zone, the end date is October 27. We do have the benefit of a split season again this year with the second opening being on December 20 and ending for the North and Central Zones on January 5, 2014, and for the South Zone on January 20, 2014.

How have people done with teal this year?

Reports have been varied with some experiencing better luck than others.

Ducks Unlimited indicated that Blue Winged Teal did not make it this far south until after the season opened, but the added benefit is that there should be plenty of teal at least through the duck season, which for our area, begins November 2. Remember also that there are special Youth Only seasons, should you have a child who is interested in the outdoors. Take advantage of them while you can.

My daughter and I are visiting colleges this month and next year, I’m going to wish we had a used those opportunities!

Remember not to wait until the last moment if

you need a Hunter’s Education Course. Classes are filling quickly and you don’t want to find yourself unable to become certified. Texas has changed the rules regarding classroom time, lowering it to 6 hours, rather than 10 hours over 2 days, and you still have the option to enroll in a home study course. Cost is minimal, $15.00, very little of which goes to the instructor, so be certain to that the essentially volunteer instructors who teach the classes. For more information, or to become an instructor, visit Texas Parks & Wildlife’s website, http://www.tpwd.state.tx.u s.

During the past few months, I had a wonderful opportunity to spend time with and talk to one of my favorite outdoors people. Keith Miller is an avid fisherman who also participates in the Texas Volunteer Angler Program. By day, Keith works for the Baylor University Athletic Department (go Bears!) By early morning, lunch break, after work, evenings and some nights until midnight, he is on a quest to catch a fish a day for 1000 days. What began as a personal challenge a few years ago has become a journey that is testing endurance, patience and even physical limits. Think about it for a

moment. Many of you, and I’ll venture to say almost anyone taking the time to read this article, enjoys fishing. How many of you could go fishing every day for a year, and at the conclusion of that year, continue to fish every day for almost 2 additional years? I do not manage to eat lunch every day, much less have the dedication to go fishing regardless of weather, illness, children’s activities, work, the honey-do list, etc.

During that time, Keith has traveled for work, traveled to see family, and has had to plan well in advance to be able to ensure access to water and fishing time.

He has battled through shoulder injuries, colds and flu, lightning storms, mosquitoes, you get the point, right? A quick look at his Facebook Page (Catching a Fish a Day With Keith Miller) shows that there have been some close calls, a few nights where even Cinderella would have been scared by the tolling of the midnight bells, but he has managed to pull it off and posted a picture of almost every fish caught.

With no end in sight, Keith decided earlier this year, that he would set a limit of catching a fish a day for 1000 days, which will fall on December 26, 2013. During this voyage of self discovery, Keith

has dedicated many hours to taking children fishing, spoken publicly about his quest, organized a youth fishing day in Waco with the assistance of Baylor University athletes, and made the effort to teach children to fish. In the past few months, Keith has been forced to learn to cast left-handed, and expanded his fishing horizons, coming to the ‘dark side’ by venturing into fly fishing, catching a number of species in that manner. One of my personal favorite pictures is his first catfish by fly rod with a rather gracious caption referencing some fantastic advice he received from an unnamed novice outdoor writer and Bass Pro Shops Special Events Coordinator who as Keith said “made the catch possible.” ;-) Here’s hoping that he makes it to day 1000!

Speaking of the Texas Volunteer Fishing Instructors, next month’s article will discuss the program in detail, as well as many other ways you can bring your love of the outdoors to children and adults in the State of Texas. In addition, we will also discuss some shooting advice from world-class markswoman and author, Gabby Franco, shooting instructor and participant in the History Channel’s shooting reality television show, Top Shot.

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October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 12

Texas Takes On Dope

By Ma Bruner We recently had a pot store move in a few miles down the road from us.

You might picture a building painted in tie-dye colors, smoke bellowing out every orifice and a rastathemed, fan-powered wacky arm-waving carlot-type eye catcher in the parking lot. Nothing like that. It is a trim and conservative building which, despite the sign, gives no hint as to what the business actually is. They call them dispensaries here.

The business name references nature and medicine and the sign has a leaf on it. The leaf is non-descript, nothing like the tattoo on that kid down the street. There were four of us driving by in the car when we first noticed the new business. Only one correctly identified it as a dispensary. It looked more like an agricultural business, possibly serving the cotton farms several miles north. (Despite the reputation, our desert is fertile soil, only water is lacking.

The farms are fed by irrigation canals.)

Medicinal marijuana in California seems to be October 2013

treated as something of a joke. On a recent visit, we heard the radio ads. I am stretching the truth, though not by much: “DO YOU SUFFER FROM ABSCESS, ACNE, ADEMA, AFLAC COMMERCIAL FATIGUE, AGUE, ALOPECIA, AMENORRHEA, ANIMAL ALLERGY, APOSTASIS, ARRYTHMIA, ASYMPTOMATIC FLU… WELL WE CAN HELP. TEN PERCENT OFF YOUR FIRST PURCHASE WITH YOUR COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL TICKET STUB. LOOK FOR OUR SHUTTLE BUS AT THE GATE!!! I know there are a lot of claims of the efficacy of cannabis for medical conditions, but I have doubts that it will cure a ridged toenail or gunshot.

Noted neurosurgeon and professor Sanjay Gupta recently changed his mind about the benefits of medicinal marijuana, after reviewing the research done outside of America. His documentary is worth viewing.

With all of the talk of the benefits, it is easy to forget that growing, possession, sale and use are still illegal under federal law, and in fact the current administration has INCREASED raids on businesses that are legal on the state level.

The current situation creates strange bedfel-

lows, so to speak. Some kids just want to get high with less hassle. Some grandparents just want simple relief from pain.

Some children of the grandparents just want a pain relief alternative for grandma to the very dangerous and addictive legal prescription pharmaceuticals. Parents want their child’s seizures to abate. Preachers are sick of the legal abuse of people whose worst crime is getting no higher than others do on legal alcohol. Some just think we have bigger problems to contend with. Some believe the border issues are silently ignored by those in power in order to make the illegal drug flow continue.

I can see reasons for cannabis to remain illegal. One claimed reason I don’t understand is that its illegality somehow makes it hard to get or creates a social stigma.

Just look around.

Celebrities talk about their use, the image is on clothes and jewelry, it is portrayed in cinema.

Here are a couple good questions for you to ponder: If marijuana were made legal, would the Mexican cartels just shrug their shoulders at losing a huge business to legal domestic growers?

What would be their response? Push harder with heroin and meth?

Turn to other crimes?

Use their financial reThe Dam Good Times

sources to buy domestic farms, import workers and export the profits?

What would legalization do to food prices?

The ethanol subsidies diverted a lot of US farmland to growing corn for ethanol production.

Food prices jumped.

Remember the riots in Mexico over tortilla prices?

We are still paying more for our food.

What would happen to food prices if large tracts of farmland were diverted from food to cannabis? I really doubt indoor growing could keep up with demand.

If cannabis is legalized for medical use only, who decides what is just use?

Your doctor? Your local bureaucrat? Some anonymous Federal bureaucrat? If it is medi-

cine, can a person smoke or use a vaporizer in a theater, restaurant, on a plane?

If it is fully legalized, do we take the knee-jerk “tax the hell out of it” route? Is it really healthy to give government a huge financial incentive to tacitly promote use like we have done with fuel and tobacco?

See Dope pg. 24 Page 12

October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 13

A Penny for Your Thoughts Vindication for Tom Delay

By Penny Uselton Well, hip, hip HOORAY; and it’s about time!! Tom Delay an extremely successful past Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives finally got his day in court after being railroaded by a politically aspiring democrat

October 2013

partisan fueled by democrat leadership in both Texas and Washington.

This prosecutor first charged Delay for conspiring to violate Texas campaign laws in the 2002 election which at the time DID NOT EVEN EXIST when Delay was alleged to have broken it!

Undaunted, the prosecutor called a second grand jury to present a new charge. This jury refused to cooperate and “no billed” the charges presented. The second grand jury’s “no bill” was kept secret by his office.

The prosecutor then found a new grand jury that had just been seated. He was desperate to get

charges as the statute of limitations was nearing.

(I remember it to be the next day.) He browbeat this grand jury in a threatening manner to get an indictment.

As a result of this Mr. Delay, and his loving family, have had more than a decade of prosecution hanging over their heads; being the brunt of ugly jokes; and seeing his reputation dragged through the mud. For the last three years he has had a jail sentence pending.

The Third District Texas Court of Appeals spokesman, Justice Melissa Goodwin, gave a scathing assessment of the prosecutor’s case saying “that it resembled

The Dam Good Times

a persecution rather than a prosecution!”

She also stated…”the fact that there was even a conviction, was a product of judicial incompetence at the Third Court level!”

According to the jest of the report, this was an attempt to by-pass the law; and an act of shameful political corruption in Travis County fostered by a corrupt prosecutor. (My take along with many others, is that the prosecutor was trying to get a name for himself for further political advancement. He had also gone after Kay Bailey Hutchinson earlier on to no avail when she was the Secretary of State for Texas.)

The prosecutor* is living in well deserved obscurity now and Tom Delay is free to pursue his life without a jail sentence hanging over his head. What a miscar-

riage of justice for Mr. Delay that can never be adequately rectified! *He was never held to account for his abuse of the “public trust” in the DEMOCRAT controlled Travis County and probably never will be. Hope he stays in oblivion and we never hear from him again.

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October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 14

Sex in the Woods Women and Children vs. Innocent Victims

By Crystal Laramore Change can be a good thing. We invent new technologies to make our lives easier.

New medicines prolong our lives. Artists are always coming up with new ways to express themselves. But sometimes it seems the change we see violates the natural order of things. I guess some people don’t believe there IS a natural order.

The phrase “women and children” has long been used in crisis situations as in “Save the women and children first”.

Well the other day, Good Morning America (you have to watch the idiots to know what the idiots are up to) had a segment on called “Dan’s Takes” or something like that and Dan was debating that maybe we shouldn’t use that sexist term anymore.

Instead, we should say innocent victims.

What??!!

Apparently Dan thinks that saving women and children first just isn’t fair.

October 2013

And allowing women and children to go first in any situation whether it’s a rescue effort or walking into a restaurant, just isn’t fair either. WHAT? Poor Dan. No. Poor Dan’s wife.

He apparently doesn’t believe there is a natural order to the man/woman thing.

What in the hell has happened to the masculine, chivalrous male role models we used to have on television? Remember ‘Father Knows Best’ or ‘Leave It To Beaver’? The man was well respected at home as well as at work.

Never mind that June Cleaver wore pearls and a petticoat to vacuum the living room. That’s another topic. No, men still had manners and smarts and women were shown great respect. What do we have now? The King of Queens? Modern Family? Well, there IS Longmire. Thank you God. And most of the strong male role models we do have on television are cheating on their wives, corrupt and bailing out on their families.

Well, there IS Longmire.

Thank you God. But mostly the real men are not on television.

They’re working, raising their families, minding their business and not on television whining about reverse sexism. They are

serving their countries in peacetime and in wartime and they are rushing into burning buildings to save lives. They are working on pipelines and oil rigs or wearing uniforms and serving their communities. They are teaching our children. They are building houses and working with their hands.

They are working the land and the cattle.

They are popping a top on Friday afternoon, firing up the BBQ pit and celebrating life, love and the pursuit of happiness with their families. They are attending NRA conventions and going to the shooting range. They are eradicating the feral hog problem themselves (they’re not calling animal control to bring out traps is what I’m saying).

They are playing 18 rounds with the guys, enjoying a nice bottle of wine and taking their wives out to dinner.

The best men of America are honoring their wedding vows, cherishing their wives, praying and being the role models their children need to see - just in case they see some dumba$$ on television whining about women being treated differently than men.

One woman who saw Dan’s piece on TV wrote in and said The Dam Good Times

“When women start getting equal pay for equal work we can discuss replacing ‘women and children’ with “innocent victims’”. She’s wrong.

When I walk down the street with a man he better be on the side of traffic or it will be the last time he walks down the street with me. When we go out on a date if he doesn’t open my door he won’t have to worry about opening it next time. I did NOT burn my bra. I do NOT want a man who is equal to me. I do not want to be equal to my partner.

I want to be protected by my man and respected by him. I want him to go to war for his country (of course at my age I’d have to be a

cougar to find one that can still enlist, but you get my point) and defend my honor. And just so we are all clear...my single (and married) girlfriends want the same thing. A lot of divorces could be avoided if the man of the house acted like one.

Now, I can hear some of you single women out there saying, “this guy doesn’t exist”, but he does. You just have to show up being the secure, independent and confident woman you are. Don’t let respect slide. Let your date know what you expect and he will either respect you enough to be chivalrous and respectful or you will realize “He’s just not that into you”. Take a chance.

Show him up front what See Women & Children pg 26

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October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 15

Good New Gazee Make a Choice

By Deborah K. Martin Man, what a summer! Now that it is officially over I can look back and say, “Thank God!” I think I lost my mind there for a while.

Most of you, dear readers, know that this is not my day job and that I moved to Conroe to be close to my son and his family but still commute to Houston. Remember?

I’m sure I’ve whined about the commute and

said all kinds of awful things about traffic. It’s all true. Rush Hour sucks. There’s no getting around it.

I actually started this commuting business in January of 2012 while staying with my brother and his family in Deer Park. I commuted to the other side of town; about 40 miles. Not too bad.

Little did I know it was just a rehearsal for the gridlock to come.

In April I moved to Conroe and started the real deal commute; 58 miles from my garage to the office garage. Mornings are fine because I leave at 5:30. Afternoons are a whole other world.

I leave my office around 4:40 and from there it

takes me at least an hour and 45 minutes; often more. It seems everyone on the road is anxious to get home and behavior is atrocious.

To say the stop and go of getting home got to me is a huge understatement. It’s pretty nerve wracking to have people driving the speed limit (or over) right on your butt. In fact, on August 1st a shiny new Mustang ran right into my rear hard enough to damage my car to the tune of $3000 and knock me into the car wayyyy in front of me.

That shook me up mainly because I didn’t see it coming. I wound up with a nice bruise from collarbone to hip but the good news is that six weeks later including

driving a rental for three, my car looks brand new and it didn’t cost me a dime.

So about that choice I mentioned. My little commute plus some personal circumstances started chipping away at my attitude. Funny how you don’t notice – when it’s gradual. I became an angry driver. Very angry.

On top of that daily ritual, in July I experienced a period of sleep deprivation which could fill an entire article. You want to drive someone insane quickly? Don’t let them sleep. It turned me into a maniac and even when I got rested up the maniac stayed. I was angry all the time and I do mean ALL. Everything ticked me off. I found myself yelling or fuming about

was at work.

Bud was standing there watching Jim work his digging magic in the backyard, along with half a dozen others, including us. Now and then Jim would just do something to show off his skill. At one point, when Jim's backhoe cut through a buried tree root, there was about a foot-long section of root lying alone at the bottom of the hole.

"Hey," Bud yelled at Jim, good-naturedly, "firewood!"

Jim grinned and reached his long steel

arm down into the hole, gently picking up just the one piece of wood, lifting it out of the hole, and delivering it to Bud's outstretched hand as though it were the crown jewels.

As we watched, Jim lifted the massive concrete vault of the septic tank and placed it gently in the hole. Then his helper hooked a chain to the septic tank lid and Jim lifted this into the air and swung it over the hole. But instead of lowering it, Jim stopped the machine in mid stride and hollered at the new septic tank owner.

HOME COUNTRY

By Slim Randles When Jim Kennedy uses his big backhoe, a crowd usually gathers.

He's an artist, you see.

He runs his massivetoothed monster gouging October 2013

holes in the backyards of his neighbors, putting in their pipes and even the occasional swimming pool, and does it with the grace of a surgeon.

At Bud McFarland's place the other day, he was there to install Bud's new septic tank. This was to be a massive septic tank, Bud said, "big enough so if I want to put in a hotel, I don't have to worry."

It was a balmy day in May, past coffee time, and the backhoe master

The Dam Good Times

everything. There was a huge chip on my shoulder about who knows what but it was there and causing lots of damage.

Looking back, it’s kind of comical. I’m sure everyone around me wondered what could have turned a quirky but mostly tranquil person into such a witch. It was so bad that if I put a paper clip in the basket on my desk and it fell off I’d get this rushhhhh of anger. Totally irrational.

Crazy bad.

I was THIS close to calling my doctor and ordering hormone tests when the answer came to me in a flash; a second.

Isn’t it amazing how God works these things out for us? I truly wanted to See Choice on pg 26 "Hey Bud!" he yelled, "Got any bodies you want to hide?"

The perfect place for a murder victim. Agatha Christie didn't even come up with that one.

You have to admire professionalism wherever you may find it.

------Preview the Home Country Minute television spot at http://youtu.be/yWSo9Pp G3Cc. Then have your local station email shaunriley1961@hotmail.com for details.

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October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 16

World & Local Representative White Supports Continued Funding of Local Schools through Extension of Federal Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act TEXAS: State Representative James White has joined his East Texas colleagues in the State Legislature in urging Congress to support the extension of a federal law enacted in 2000 that provides additional funding to schools that have historically relied on a federal revenue sharing program for counties that comprise several national forests.

"This law represents a federal obligation to these communities that gave up land over 100 years ago to create the National Forest System," explained Representative White. "Because of strict environmental regulations

imposed in the 1980s and 1990s, revenue from public lands fell drastically during that period, which led to the passage of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act to restore this funding.

Along with my colleagues from East Texas, I am asking Congress to fulfill its obligation to these communities and extend this law so that our schools can continue to receive the funding they deserve."

When land in several East Texas counties was designated as national forests and transferred to the federal government at the beginning of the last century, the capacity to fund local schools was

severely reduced, and the federal government created a program in which revenue generated by public lands was shared with the counties to fund their schools.

"The Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act is not a handout but represents the federal government's ongoing obligation to these communities for the sacrifices they made to preserve a part of natural East Texas for the rest of the country to enjoy. I am hopeful Congress will recognize its responsibility to our rural counties and schools in East Texas and extend this law," said Representative White.

Representative White Vows to Continue Fight for Kountze Cheerleaders as ACLU Joins Suit Seeking to Deny Constitutional Rights TEXAS: Late last week, news reports indicated that the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas has joined the legal attack against the Kountze High School cheerleaders.

"Apparently, there is a full-scale assault by the political left against Texas and the constitutionally protected free speech rights of its citizens.

Regardless of how often Texans who hold traditional values prevail in our courts, win on Election Day, and codify constitutional protections in our legal code, there is a segment of our population that persists in imposing San Francisco liberalism in every community in Texas," said State Representative James White.

While this next round of legal battles proceeds, the Kountze ISD cheerleaders will continue to display Bible verses on

their banners at football games this year.

"With the indisputable legal protections of the United States and Texas constitutions and the laws enacted under their authority, a ruling from State District Judge Steve Thomas of Hardin County, and the determined support of Governor Rick Perry and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, these young ladies do not have to forfeit their constitutional rights at the stadium entrance gates," stated Rep. White. "I will continue monitoring these legal developments, and the Kountze cheerleaders can be confident that their state leadership in the Legislature, the Governor's office, and the Attorney General's office will continue to defend and protect their constitutional rights."

October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 17

Boundsautoplex.net Who Has the Right of Way? California Moves to Regulate Ride-Sharing

By Michelle Fabio, Esq. Ride-sharing companies and their associated smartphone apps have been operating in cities across the country, especially on the West Coast, for years—and taxi drivers and unions have been unhappy about it for just about as long. Recently, however, California became the first state to take steps to address the ongoing concerns of taxi unions, which claim that such businesses are cutting into their own profits because there is no regulation of ride-sharing activities.

Taxi drivers such as William Rouse, general manager of Los Angeles Yellow Cab, assert that the ridesharing companies provide “essentially the same that we are without complying with all of the regulations that we have to comply with.” Taxis that are regulated by unions must comply with standards regarding emissions, licenses, and fares, among others. Because ride-sharing companies are not subject to the same limitations, goes the argument, they are able to provide similar services cheaper, making them attractive alternatives for those who need rides—and unfair competition to taxi drivers who do have to follow rules.

Ride Sharing Goes Unregulated

October 2013

Ridesharing apps, such as Lyft, Uber, and Sidecar, allow users to find rides from strangers via Facebook; by paying a small donation and going through the app, users can secure a ride to his or her destination without calling, waiting, and paying for a taxi.

Up until recently, the activities of ride-sharing companies have gone unregulated because they didn’t fit into any existing category, such as taxis (though some taxi drivers and unions would dispute this lack of categorization). Indeed, San Francisco taxi drivers have even made citizen arrests of ride-sharing drivers, sent cease-and-desist letters to app companies, and held a rally at city hall to protest such activities.

One Los Angeles taxi company has taken a different route in combatting ridesharing’s effect on business by creating its own app. Bell Cab Co., Inc. has partnered with Flywheel Software Inc., based in San Francisco, to develop an app that puts the traditional cab company on similar footing to ride-sharing drivers.

Classifying Ride-Sharing Services In response, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has created an entirely new classification for ridesharing services: Transportation Network Services (TNCs), which would make

such companies be required to comply with rules regarding insurance ($1 million minimum in liability), background checks for drivers, drug tests, and more. The PUC has reportedly explicitly given permission for ride-sharing companies to operate statewide despite the fact that the city of Los Angeles has sent cease-and-desist letters to ride-sharing companies.

John Zimmer of Lyft believes the regulations would only make ride-sharing safer, more affordable, and more efficient, all benefiting consumers.

Some taxi drivers, though, including Rouse, are still not convinced, and believe the ride-sharers should simply be considered taxi drivers and be subject to the same rules without the creation of a separate legal category for them.

On September 19th, however, the PUC voted 5-0 to approve the nation’s and state’s first-ever rules for ridesharing companies, effectively preempting California cities like Los Angeles from attempting to ban ride-sharing.

For now, at least, it seems ride-sharing will remain a valid option for those looking to get from Point A to Point B so long as an ride-sharing app is available for that area.

Whether this changes in the future thanks to pressure from taxi unions in California and elsewhere remains to be seen.

The Dam Good Times

Brady Calls on Senate Democrats to Re-open the Government ‘Let’s end this special treatment

for Congress that no one can justify and get the government working again.’

Washington, DC – Texas Congressman Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding the Senate Democrats’ refusal to go to conference to work out a continuing resolution: “Closing the government is a serious matter. I call on Senate Democrats to back away from protecting their exemption from ObamaCare and put the people

first. After all, they wrote ObamaCare – why do they refuse to live under it?

“And why keep the government closed to protect a special ObamaCare waiver for business, but deny workers and families the same treatment? Shouldn’t we treat all Americans the same? Sit down with House Republicans. Together, let’s end this special treatment that no one can justify and get the government working again.”

October is Breast Cancer Awarness Month...Our shout out goes to Judy Copenhaaver, Laura Campbell, Sonya Yanas-Zeiner, Eileen Barlow, Vigirnia Andrus

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October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 18

Don’t Tread on Me Second Amendment Foundation brings Gun Rights Policy Conference to Houston

Weld County Sheriff, John B. Cooke

By John Husisian HOUSTON, TX: This year’s GPRC was held at The IAH Marriott in Houston. Local TV and radio personality Shara Fryer was on hand with SAF founder Alan Gottlieb to address the reception Friday evening. Shara related her love of the shooting sports and mentioned she frequents the Southwest Houston range “Top Gun” for practice and fun. Quite a spread was laid out along with a cash bar for the folks to meet and network.

Saturday morning kicked off bright and early at 8am with the posting of the colors by American Legion Post 472 and the pledge led by past Houston Gun Collector’s Association president Frank Sawberger. The invocation was given by Rev. October 2013

Anthony Winfield, chaplain of the Elmhurst hospital, New York City.

It was announced that this December 14th (the first anniversary of the Newtown murders) has been designated as “Guns Save Lives” day.

Attorney Mark Barnes gave a visitor’s guide to an anti-gun alien planet: Washington, D.C. He said that everything is different than the rest of the country. Their real estate market never went down and “they hate the rest of the country”. He also said it reminded him of the old TV series “The Invaders” where everyone looked human, but they had a sinister agenda.

The Hon. Phillip B. Journey of Kansas, the only legislator to override a governor’s veto reminded us that we need to get kids involved in the shooting sports in order

to bring new blood to the fight for the Second Amendment. We believe the right to defend yourself and your family derives from God, not our government.

The representative from Canada, Sheldon Clare assured us that “Canada will not sign the UN Small Arms Treaty.

Oh, and unlike the US, they are able to purchase M1 Garands from South Korea.

Fox News contributor John Fund reminded us that “humor and satire work better than anger” in getting our message across. This isn’t a progun vs. anti-gun debate, but rather one of prorights vs. anti-rights.

When your government doesn’t trust you with your guns, you can’t trust your government.

Sheriff John Cook of Colorado spoke about The Dam Good Times

their election recall. How all 55 sheriffs involved stood together in solidarity to address the legislature when Colorado enacted draconian laws in response to the Sandy Hook murders.

A number of awards were given during the Saturday luncheon. In-

cluded was the Journalist of the Year (for the second time) given to Washington Times reporter Emily Miller author of the “Emily gets her Gun” series.

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October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 19

The Community Organizer & Friends Get Out Organized!!

By Penny Uselton Good for you folks in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado by standing up for your FREEDOM and the SECOND AMENDMENT to The Constitution of the United States! You did it with the MAGNIFICENT leadership of neophyte, Rob Harris! He spent the better part of the last six months with his grassroots campaign and VOLUNTEERS to oust Colorado State Senate President, democrat John Morse, and helped Pueblo, Colorado constituents rid themselves of democrat representative, Angela Giron! They are out, out, out! This was a David versus Goliath battle over new gun laws that were adopted by the Colorado state legislature led

by Morse. 56 sheriffs in Colorado have a lawsuit against the state legislature over these laws which they say “they will not enforce as they are unconstitutional!” The president of our country sent in ACORN folks to muck up things (They now operate under new names.) Further opposition came from Moveon.org (Michael Moore); Mayor Michael Bloomberg with some $700,000+ of his own money; and even a bus October 2013

full of Douglas County TEACHERS yesterday showed up to try to influence voters to vote against the recall; but it was to no avail! If I was the superintendent of Douglas County schools, we would fire the teachers for not being in school teaching! We hope that the conservatives in Colorado Springs, population, 750,000, do a better job in the next election showing up at the polls.

This country needs a turn around and Rob may be one of the ones who has started that move. Good for you again Rob and your volunteers!!!

How to Make Family Names Plural Editor’s Note: The only reason this particular documentation is in this edition of TDGT is because incorrect use of the apostrophe S bothers me...especially when used in conjuction with names. And I need you all to stop bothering me:) XXOO

How to make family names plural Family names are like brand names, you don’t change the base spelling.

For example you make “blackberry,” the fruit, plural by changing the “y” to “ies”; but you make “BlackBerry,” the phone, plural by simply adding an “s” to the end: “BlackBerrys.”

It’s the same with names. “Kennedy” becomes “the Kennedys.” A subscriber asked if she *I am hearing through should make the last the grapevine that a num- name “Bellman” plural by ber of city council memmaking it “Bellmen,” and bers in San Antonio AND the answer is no. Something like “Bellman” bethe mayor, himself, are comes “the Bellmans.” being targeted for a reSome names need an call. Why? They have "es" to become plural: written a law that no names that end in "s," “x,” Christians can be on the "z," “ch,” and “sh,” for excouncil or be elected as ample: mayor. They also have a • The Joneses inhomosexual agenda that vited you to hold ladders while they hang lights. has started with unisex • The Davises got bathrooms. Will fill you married at Niagra Falls readers in as I learn and didn’t invite me. more.

• The Alvarezes went to visit their grandmother.

• The Churches sang in the top-hat choir.

• The Ashes got stuck at the train station.

The same rules apply to first names. If you have The Dam Good Times

two cousins named Alex, they are the Alexes.

Never use an apostrophe to make a name plural. Apostrophes are for possessives.

• The Joneses’ dinner was a success.

• The Foxes’ house was beautiful.

• The Alvarezes’ grandmother was delighted.

• The Churches’ singing was heavenly.

• The Ashes’ train derailed in the mountains.

• The Jacksons’ lake house was peaceful.

How to Refer to More Than One In-Law (besides using vodka): Now that we have the basics of making names plural, we can move on to trickier plurals: the inlaws. One thing that makes it tricky is that we call a group of them collectively “the in-laws,” but that’s not how you make them plural when you’re talking about a smaller group.

For example, if sisterin-law #1 and sister-inlaw #2 are in the kitchen, you can safely gossip about those two sistersin-law while you’re in the living room. They’ll never hear you over the music...and vodka & ice.

You make "in-law compounds" plural by making the noun part plural since the women are primarily your sisters and the "-inlaw" part just further describes what kind of sisters they are (hopefully kind as well). The same holds true for other inlaws. They are your

• • •

Brothers-in-law Fathers-in-law Mothers-in-law The fact that we refer to them all as “in-laws” is just shorthand. Dictionaries call it a back formation The Strange Plural of “Mister” Now on to the plural of “Mister.” Another subscriber asked me to comment on the use of “Messrs.”--which is the odd plural of “Mr.” It’s an abbreviation for the French word “Messieurs,” and for some reason I’ve never been able to find, we use that instead of “Misters.” I suspect it’s because the abbreviation would be “Mrs.,” which looks like the title for a married woman.

The plural of “Mrs.” is “Mmes.” (short for “Mesdames”), and the plural of “Miss” is “Misses.”The plural of “Ms.” is less clear. It originated in the 1950s, and various sources report that the plural can be “Mses.,” “Mss.,” or “Mmes.” If the need to make “Ms.” plural arises, pick the form you like and be consistent.

In American English, a period is required after the abbreviations; in British English, no punctuation is required after the abbreviations.

Someone also asked whether we should reserve “Messrs.” for men with the same last name or whether it is acceptable to use for any two men. Either is fine. It can be used to refer to two male family members with the same last name* See Plurals on pg 30 Page 19

October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 20

Crossword Puzzle Across

Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Answers

1. Exchange 5. Curved masonary structure 9. Hold firmly 14. Present location 15. Commercial transaction 16. Artery 17. Fury 18. Leg joint 19. Promise solemnly 20. Start abruptly 22. Sodium chloride 24. Challenge 25. Staining substance 26. Heavy metallic element 28. Beam 30. Oval fruit 31. Snakelike fish 32. Consumed 35. Thoroughfare 38. Run away quickly 39. At this time 40. Support 41. Subdued 42. Shrivelled 43. Lubricant 44. At any time 46. Brief period of precipitation 48. Digit 49. Line 50. Water hen 51. Floor covering 52. Exchange goods for money 53. A quick short straight punch

56. Not in favor of 59. Malevolent 61. Musical composition 63. Tied 65. Shaft 67. Public violence 68. Boredom 69. Male red deer 70. Unit of area 71. Taunt 72. Novice 73. Rind Down 1. Small piece of cloth or paper 2. Fatigued 3. Debate 4. A secret look 5. Request 6. Payment for the release of someone 7. Remove unwanted substances from 8. Part of a shoe 9. Fuel 10. Raucous 11. Length by width 12. Principal actor 13. Trim 21. Roofing material 23. Large woody plant 27. Furrow 29. Beer 30. Liveliness and energy 31. Tree 32. Afresh 33. Ripped

34. Pitcher 35. Blemish 36. Group of three 37. Theatrical part 38. Conifer 41. Condensation 42. Chronic drinker 44. Historic period 45. Referendum 46. Ancient Roman god 47. Cavity 50. Storage space where wines are stored 51. Arithmetic operation 52. Value of Roman numerals LX 53. Liquid extracted from fruit or vegetables 54. Worship 55. Asian pepper plant 56. Assist in wrongdoing 57. Not any 58. Large marine food and game fish 60. Immense 62. Snare 64. Perish 66. Self

October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 21

Boundsautoplex.net ATTENTION Republicans!

The San Jacinto Republican Club meets the first Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held at the Community Center in Coldspring, TX

ATTENTION Republicans!

The Polk County Republican Club meets the first Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held at MY PLACE Restaurant

October 2013

The Dam Good Times

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A Nation Founded by Geniuses but Run by Idiots If you can get arrested for hunting or fishing without a license, but not for entering and remaining in the country illegally — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If you have to get your parents’ permission to go on a field trip or to take an aspirin in school, but not to get an abortion — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If you MUST show your identification to board an airplane, cash a check, buy liquor, or check out a library book and rent a video, but not to vote for who runs the government — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If the government wants to prevent stable, law-abiding citizens from owning gun magazines that hold more than ten rounds, but gives twenty F-16 fighter jets to the crazy new leaders in Egypt — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If, in the nation’s largest city, you can buy two 16-ounce sodas, but not one 24-ounce soda, because 24-ounces of a sugary drink might make you fat — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If an 80-year-old October 2013

woman or a three-yearold girl who is confined to a wheelchair can be strip-searched by the TSA at the airport, but a woman in a burka or a hijab is only subject to having her neck and head searched — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If your government believes that the best way to eradicate trillions of dollars of debt is to spend trillions more — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If a seven-year-old boy can be thrown out of school for saying his teacher is “cute,” but hosting a sexual exploration or diversity class in grade school is perfectly acceptable — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If hard work and success are met with higher taxes and more government regulation and intrusion, while not working is rewarded with Food Stamps, WIC checks, Medicaid benefits, subsidized housing, and free cell phones — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If the government’s plan for getting people back to work is to provide incentives for not working, by granting 99 weeks of unemployment checks, without any requirement

to prove that gainful employment was diligently sought, but couldn’t be found — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

If you pay your mortgage faithfully, denying yourself the newest bigscreen TV, while your neighbor buys iPhones, time shares, a wallsized do-it-all plasma screen TV and new cars, and the government forgives his debt when he defaults on his mortgage — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by id-

The Dam Good Times

iots.

If being stripped of your Constitutional right to defend yourself makes you more “safe” accord-

ing to the government — you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.

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New! Random Rants “Political Correctness” is still running amok. When the Navy Yard shooter was first described by a Caucasian women, who saw him in the hallway, she noted he was dark complected. The other eyewitness was Black and he had no problem saying that the shooter was a black male. On the other hand the president didn’t think that the death of some ten or more people at the Navy Yard was important enough to skip a political speech; made a very off handed remark about the shooting; and then managed to blast Republicans some 16 times that day in his speech. Politically correct among friends…maybe; but not correct at all for a president while this horrendous event was enfolding! As usual, and at the same time, the press in their effort to be anti-gun, got their reporting wrong! They talk about guns that were never at the shootings… and put their slant on the necessity to confiscate guns because…guns walk around and pick out people to kill, not visa versa.

Why, oh why, are we getting Al Jeezera (America?) broadcasts on our cable and dish TV programming? Have you called your network, Congressman or the FCC? I October 2013

don’t care if Al Gore sold it to them or not. Are we next going to let other such type news media from other countries come in and broadcast?

Why was this allowed?

Now Putin writes an oped in The New York Times scolding us and saying, “we have no right to think that we are an exceptional country.” Shame on us!

We are so glad to hear that the Administration’s ACCOUNTABILITY Review Board on the Benghazi fiasco has come to the conclusion (9/19) that “It was nobody’s fault except the TERRORISTS! Good grief! We know they came and killed our people and destroyed the consul…what we want to know is WHO gave the ORDER to “stand down!”

Who? Who? Who? There were people who could have reached them and we did NOTHING!!

All we have been given is obfuscation and never ending stonewalling.

People in the thick of things at the Department of State have been promoted and no one has come forward with the truth, the whole truth. We want the truth!

Obama has said he is “is always prepared to negotiate and talk; BUT it isn’t happening and hasn’t happened in any measureable way. The Re-

publican elected officials have been excluded from the get go. The old gray haired leaders in the House and Senate do not represent the full Republican membership in Congress. AND, McCain and Graham have no leadership position that they have been given to represent the rest of the Congressional Republicans, nor Republican voters!

The gang of 8 is exactly that..a gang trying to have a bigger role in Congress on their own.

Boehner said (9/19) that he does not understand ...”why the president has no problem negotiating with Putin; but will not negotiate with Republicans.”

Good question!

I hear the president, and his minions, saying that “the American people have the belief that raising the debt ceiling is raising debt” and acting as if we are wrong to believe that and maybe a little stupid! Duh! Who is stupid enough to think that we are THAT DUMB? THEY must be mathematically ignorant!

We ARE the people and they still haven’t figured out that “they” are in office to serve us. We don’t want further debt.

We sure don’t want obamacare because we don’t want government continued interference in our lives besides it is NOT The Dam Good Times

AFFORDABLE! Everybody’s health insurance is going up, up, up! There are exceptions of course e.g. no one who has ever paid for health insurance and gets it free is off the hook. Complicit labor unions; BIG business friends; Congress and those who work on the Congressional payroll will all be exempt for now and subsidized by the American taxpayer until a later date. They have been cherry picked out of the Affordable (obama) Healthcare Act by no less the president, himself.

How can he do it when this is not the law as written, passed by Congress and signed into law?

This does not follow The Constitution. Has he become our dictator?

Where does he get off constantly by-passing the Congress and The Constitution at nearly every move by using his departments and various agencies under the governance of the Executive Branch?

Do you like paying for free telephones (obamaphones) for others in OUR cell phone and telephone bills? And some people are applying for, and getting, numerous phones and selling them to others. Well at least they have some idea about capitalism even though they are going about it the wrong way.

When Republicans say they will fund everything BUT obamacare and the democrats e.g. Schumer and Durban say Republicans are extorting them to get what they want, it is just the same old same old finger pointing they have been doing for eons…Goebbel’s theory of repeating something enough times the majority of people will begin to believe you EVEN when many recognized it as a lie in the beginning. The only ones constantly calling for a government shutdown are the democrats!

They can’t sell us on Obamacare so they are trying other avenues to get to us. 4 Planned Parenthood organizations have been given $1,000,000.00 each in grants to reach uninsured people and enroll them in obamacare. Starting October 1, a little ditty about Oregonians and healthcare will be shown in Oregon on TV at the cost of $4,000,000.00; $684,000,000.00 has so far been spent on advertising obamacare nationally to get people enrolled and a PR firm has been hired to the tune of $41,000,000.00 to push obamacare. That’s our tax payer’s money going to try to persuade us to give up our freedom to See Rants pg 30 Page 23

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BLACKBIRD Colorado, turn right over New Mexico, speed across the Los Angeles Basin, run up the West Coast, turn right at Seattle then return to Beale.

Total flight time? Two Hours and Forty Minutes.

One day, high above Arizona, we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied.

A Bonanza soon made the same request.

'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply.

To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio, with a ground speed check.

I knew exactly what he was doing.

Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bugsmashers in the valley, know what real speed was, 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded.

The situation was too ripe: I heard the click of Walt's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walt startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace.

In a cool, professional voice the controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground”.

We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to October 2013

the coast.

The Blackbird always showed us something new; each aircraft possessing its own unique personality.

In time we realized we were flying a national treasure.

When we taxied out of our revetments for takeoff, people took notice.

Traffic congregated near the airfield fences, because everyone wanted to see, and hear the mighty SR-71.

You could not be a part of this program, and not come to love the airplane.

Slowly, she revealed her secrets to us, as we earned her trust..

One moonless night while flying a routine training mission over the Pacific, I wondered what the sky would look like from 84,000 feet, if the cockpit lighting were dark.

While heading home on a straight course, I slowly turned down all of the lighting, reducing the glare and revealing the night sky.

Within seconds I turned the lights back up, fearful that the jet would know and somehow punish me.

But my desire to see the sky overruled my caution and I dimmed the lighting again.

To my amazement I saw a bright light outside my window.

As my eyes adjusted to the view I realized the brilliance was the broad expanse of the Milky Way Galaxy, now a gleaming stripe across the sky.

Where dark spaces in

the sky usually existed, there were now dense clusters of sparkling stars. Shooting Stars, flashed across the canvas every few seconds. It was like a fireworks display with no sound.

I knew I had to get my eyes back on the instruments and reluctantly I brought my attention back inside.

To my surprise, with the cockpit lighting still off, I could see every gauge...lit by starlight.

In the planes mirrors I could see the eerie shine of my gold spacesuit incandescently illuminated in a celestial glow.

I stole one last glance out the window. Despite our speed, we seemed still before the heavens, humbled in the radiance of a much greater power.

For those few moments I felt a part of something far more significant than anything we were doing in the plane.

The sharp sound of Walt's voice on the radio, brought me back to the tasks at hand as I prepared for our descent.

The SR-71 was an expensive aircraft to operate. The most significant cost was tanker support and in 1990, confronted with budget cutbacks, the Air Force retired the SR71.

The SR-71 served six presidents, protecting America for a quarter of a century.

Unbeknown to most of the country, the plane flew over North Vietnam, Red China, North Korea, the Middle East, South The Dam Good Times

Africa, Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, Libya and the Falkland Islands.

On a weekly basis, the SR-71 kept watch over every Soviet Nuclear Submarine, Mobile Missile Site and all of their troop movements. It was a key factor in winning the Cold War. I am proud to say, I flew about 500 hours in this aircraft. I knew her well. She gave way to no plane, proudly dragging her Sonic Boom through enemy backyards with great impunity.

She defeated every missile, outran every MiG and always brought us home.

In the first 100 years of manned flight no aircraft was more remarkable.

The Blackbird had outrun nearly 4,000 missiles, not once taking a scratch from enemy fire.

On her final flight the Blackbird, destined for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, sped from Los Angeles to Washington in 64 Minutes; averaging 2,145 mph - setting four speed records.

Dope...

I have my opinions about legalization, which I will not be explicit about here.

Yelling about my beliefs is not my purpose this time. I will be unfashionable and very clear, and state I have never tried the stuff. I do think we are nearing the point where we will require some decisions about our future. I hope I have given you reason to think, maybe to research, and to solidify what YOU believe and advocate.

Like I mentioned above, our local town of Marana allows medicinal marijuana. The town of Marana, though, has decided against allowing permits to cultivate, despite the area having established vegetable and cotton farms. One reason is that they don't want to be known as "Marana-juana."

(Please “like” me on facebook if you are a participant – Matt Bruner, musician)

The Dam Good Times is now HIRING Trained Sales Professionals, who want to lead a team, for the Lake Livingston, Clear Lake/Kemah/League City/Friendswood Areas. Send Resume to news@thedamgoodtimes.com Page 24

October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 25

Halloweens WIcked Ways America via Ireland: This secular holiday has long taken a bad rap when it comes to what we are celebrating. With its pagan traditions and focus on scare and skull, it might make one wonder and how we got to the traditions we carry on today.

According to History.com, Halloween began as a Celtic New Year tradition, beginning November 1. The night before was a celebration of Samhain, where it was believed that the living and the spirits of the dead co-mingled while the spirits caused trouble and damage to valuable crops. November 1 was named All Saints Day or “All-Hallows” by Pope Boniface in 609 A.D, making October 31 AllHallows Eve. The name later changed to Halloween.

Through many iterations of the holiday, Halloween came to America in New England first, due to the number of European immigrants.

Dressing in costume also dates back to European roots when winter was a frightening time, considering low food rations and the fear of darkness. It was thought that ghosts came back from the dead and would inhabit someone’s home if they left. To avoid being recognized when stepping out of their homes, people wore costumes to October 2013

disguise themselves and to fool the ghosts into thinking they were one of them.

As America began to adopt the new customs and traditions, Halloween became a day for parties and public events to celebrate the harvest and remember dead loved ones. Since the late 1800s, Halloween has been considered a holiday focusing on community involvement and parties about ghosts and goblins and foods of the seasons – not much different than how many still celebrate today.

Religion and superstition were largely removed by the 1930s and Halloween transformed into a commercial holiday of parades, parties and entertainment. It began being celebrated in classrooms during the ‘50s.

Trick-or-treating may have dated back to the original All Souls Day of November 2 in England, where poor would beg for food and money. These items would be given to them in return for them saying prayers for the dead relatives of their provider.

Today, trick-or-treating is largely geared towards the younger set and got its name from handing out treats to ward off any tricks.

So what about carving pumpkins? This centuries-old tradition starts in Ireland with the legend of Stingy Jack:

The story goes that Jack, a clever farmer, tricked the Devil into a tree and carved a cross on the trunk, which prevented the Devil from coming down. As a reward for freeing the Devil, Jack was allowed to live in peace for 10 years.

After Jack died, God would not allow him into Heaven and neither the Devil allowed him into Hell. Jack was forced to roam the dark with only a coal to light his way. He put the coal into a carved turnip and has roamed the Earth ever since. Irish called him “Jack of the Lantern” and it was later shortened to “Jack O’Lantern.” The jack-olantern tradition came to America through Irish immigrants, along with the native tradition of carving pumpkins.

El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico by decorating shop windows, cleaning and decorating the cemetery, creating special fantastic flower wreaths, making small and large toys and figurines featuring the famous calaveras (skulls and skeletons sometimes accompanied by verses), and by installing tianguis (special temporary markets) to sell the necessary items for the ofrendas. Zenpasuchitl, a type of marigold, is the traditional flower of the occasion and altars are often covered with the bright orange petals. The baker, confectioner, cook, florist and artist are essential to the Days of the Dead.

The most important manifestations of this holiday are the ofrendas, or

altars made of offerings, created in homes, businesses and public places.

The altars honor the dead to assure the continuity of life. In the Mexican tradition, those who are dead provide the necessary connection between the living and God and the Saints.

The preparation for this important celebration begins the last week of October when all is readied for a great feast after the October 31st visit to friends and relatives in the cemetery. Special dishes are cooked for the ofrendas, and are usually offered to both living and dead friends and relatives who visit. The celebration is often called Los Dias de los Muertos because two important days are recognized. November 1, All Saints' Day, is devoted to los angelitos (little children), and November 2, All Souls' Day, to adults.

Mexico: El Dia de los Muertos The observance of El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) dates from pre-Columbian times. It is believed by many that this is the time when those who have passed away are allowed to return to earth to visit with their families and friends. This occasion, on November 1 and 2, ceremonially and festivally honors those who have died, and brings focus to the other aspects of the life cycle: fertility and life for the future.

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Happy Halloween!

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“It is impossible to get to Joy without going through Gratitude.” All know what was wrong with ME, so God orches- innocent like, of course trated the big reveal in a having no idea what an way He knew I would un- impact that one sentence was going to have on derstand.

Do you have a DVR? me.

It hit me like a bolt of Aren’t those things marlightning! THAT was my velous? It is so easy to problem. As a person record stuff and then watch it later. It’s a great who is all about gratitude feeling NOT to be tied to and finding the good I had completely lost my the television because way. Over the several you know your favorite show is there waiting pa- months before she uttiently. When I’m ready I tered that sentence I had turned completely away watch or delete. And I don’t have to watch com- from my lifelong ‘attitude of gratitude’. mercials although there You see, I believe are some great ones out completely in practicing there right now. The Wednesday Camel? Fu- gratitude every day. I say “Thank you, God” neee.

Early last week I was probably a hundred flipping through the TiVo times a day. Looking back; however, I could erasing things I was no longer interested in when see that my gratitude bucket had been comI came across Super pletely empty and it was Soul Sunday on OWN. my own fault. Joy and The guest was Brene Brown, a researcher and gratitude were gone. In professor at The Univer- its place were arrogance, sity of Houston. A home- entitlement and anger.

Think about it. Can town girl.

This was a re-run and you be angry and grateful at the same time?

I’d seen it the first time and remembered most of Please don’t think about what was on it. Excellent this too long. You know the answer and it is NO. stuff. I was about to hit Delete when ‘that’ voice nudged me and I decided to watch it again. I like this Brene Brown.

She’s cool. The show was about vulnerability and showing up in your own life; the usual deep thinker spiritual stuff.

Right up my alley. I’m a seeker.

About halfway through someone mentioned joy. Here it comes. Brene said this: CHOICE

October 2013

No. No. No. It is impossible for those two things to occupy the same space in your head and heart at the same time.

The second the words came out of Brene’s mouth I sat bolt upright and said out loud, “THAT’s the problem.

Well, thank you God.” You may not believe it but in that instant the anger I’d been carrying around with me all those months just blew away kind of like when you blow on a dandelion’s delicate fluff and all the pieces lift off in the breeze and soon they’re nowhere to be found.

Since that moment my anger is gone, even in traffic. I know it sounds simplistic but then all solutions don’t have to be so complicated, do they? Don’t get me wrong; I’m human and I’m sure there’ll come a time when my dander gets up somewhat. But make no mistake – I will choose gratitude and joy.

WOMEN & CHILDREN you want and expect in a mate. Find out quickly where his character and integrity lie. Find out BEFORE you go coloring outside the lines.

And if you truly want a real man to date, he’s not in a nightclub.

Oh, there might be a few there but remember 1.

Everyone looks better under a disco ball and 2.

You shouldn’t be going to a bar to meet your prince charming; that frog will just pee on you and call you an innocent victim.

Your prince charming is out there. Look for the man who is secure enough in his manhood and raised so well that he makes you a better you.

Run from the man who tries to make you feel insecure and unimportant.

Look for the man who is not afraid to tell you how smart, sexy and wonderful you are; what a great wife and mom you are. (well...you might not be but that’s another article).

Look for the man who keeps his word and shows up. And Run. From. Anything. Else.

Lastly, look for the man who is upholding even the basic male traditions, one like “Women and Children First”. It’s part of the natural order as far as I’m concerned.

The following are two comments about the above article. The first comment is from a Bible thumping, flag waiving, gun toting, all American female…the second is

The Dam Good Times

from a Bible thumping, … .male…

Female Comment: I believe it is in God's created nature of "men" to instinctively act upon "women and children" first. As in all creatures, there are distinct roles and activities of males vs. females. All of these metrosexuals have emasculated "men" to the point of non-recognition as the males of our species. But then these city slickers who have truly no idea of "nature" or the natural force of things in on earth are clueless to all of that anyway. What idiots!!

Male Comment: I think that we are just starting to see the mass of “men” that are going to just opt out. They are looking at the landscape (work, marriage, school, divorce, television, home, politics, etc.) and they are choosing to remove themselves. So you get drivel like this from some human with male body parts.

But I think it’s going to happen more and more. I read some historian a while back that made the (wait for it!) historical case that the fall of every great civilization began when the men of that culture were allowed, or driven, or caused-to-become, more feminized. I’m not saying I subscribe to his thinking, but it is happening here (in America)!

And I could have a hayday laying blame for this at both gender’s feet…

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Social Media Business Block Twitter Alerts Lets Users Get Emergency Information, Fast (SocialTimes) Twitter has become a place for people to connect and get information quickly during emergencies. To facilitate the speed of information, Wednesday Twitter announced the launch of Twitter Alerts. Mashable Public institutions and NGOs can send out emergency alerts via text message and push notifications in times of crisis.

Users can sign up to receive emergency notifications from specific accounts, and will receive a text or push notification when that account sends a tweet it labels as an alert. ReadWrite Alerts viewed in the timeline will be highlighted with an orange bell so users can differentiate them from regular tweets. Last year, Twitter released a similar feature exclusively in Japan. The Verge Current agencies, as well as potential future applicants, are strictly admonished not to inundate users with unnecessary alerts, providing only vital crisis updates. "Twitter Alerts

should not be used for general updates about your organization," it writes, and tweeting fundraising requests or anything commercial is strictly forbidden. Reuters Even as the New York City Fire Department used Twitter to communicate with residents during Hurricane Sandy, there were pranksters who spread misinformation on the service, including a rumor that the New York Stock Exchange was submerged underwater.

And in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, the name of a missing Brown University student went viral on Twitter after many users, including journalists, mistakenly identified him as a suspect.

Facebook Publishes Facebook for Educators and Community Leaders Guide (AllFacebook) Facebook Wednesday published a valuable resource to help parents and educators guide teens through the online world, the Facebook for Educators and Community Leaders Guide. Con-

tributors to the guide included the Family Online Safety Institute, WiredSafety, ConnectSafely.org, the Girl Scouts of Northern California, the PACER Center, Edutopia, the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops, Cartoon Network's Stop Bullying: Speak Up, and author and parenting expert Rosalind Wiseman.

Post-Its, Evernote Teaming Up in Sticky New Exploit (CNET) Looks like Post-It notes are still a sticky idea, even in the digital age.

The note-taking software service Evernote, and 3M, the company behind the venerable paper stickies, are joining forces to introduce software that will easily recognize pictures of Post-Its, so users can organize and store them digitally.

pany's technology will eventually help WordPress with a number of new features including collaborative editing.

GoDaddy and Twitter Partner Up for Small Businesses (AllTwitter) Internet domain registrar and Web hosting company GoDaddy has teamed up with Twitter to make it easier than ever for small business customers to set up a Twitter profile alongside their website, reports Mashable. The ability to create a Twitter profile has been integrated into GoDaddy's small-businessfocused Website Builder,

which includes 300 themes and 25,000 stock images.

Google Hangouts for Android Gets Icons to Show Who is Available, Contact Categories, and Pinch-to-Zoom Photos (The Next Web) Google Wednesday updated Google Hangouts for Android, adding multiple new features including a very useful one that lets you finally distinguish between who is online and who is merely signed in. You can download the new version now directly from Google Play.

WordPress to Get Collaborative Post-Editing After CloudUp Acquisition (VentureBeat) WordPress' parent company Automattic bought content-sharing technology startup Cloudup Wednesday. The com-

Baseball, Apple Pie &â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Chevrolet!

BOUNDSAUTOPLEX.NET October 2013

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October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 28

Snicker Florida State Trooper.

I thought you were A Florida senior citi- bringing her back." zen drove his brand new Corvette convert- "Have a good day, ible out of the dealerSir," replied the ship. Taking off down trooper. the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying Georgia the wind blowing through what little hair The owner of a golf he had left. course in Georgia was "Amazing," he confused about paying thought as he flew an invoice, so he dedown I-95, pushing cided to ask his secrethe pedal even more. tary for some Looking in his rear mathematical help. view mirror, he saw a He called her into his Florida State Trooper, office and said, "Y'all blue lights flashing graduated from the and siren blaring. He University of Georgia, floored it to 100 mph, and I need some help. then 110, then 120.

If I wuz to give yew Suddenly, he thought, $20,000, minus 14%, "What am I doing? I'm how much would you too old for this!" and take off?" pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.

The secretary thought Pulling in behind a moment, and then him, the trooper got replied, "Everthang out of his vehicle and but my earrings." walked up to the Corvette. He looked at Louisiana his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in A senior citizen in 30 minutes. Today is Louisiana was overFriday. If you can give heard saying ... "When me a new reason for the end of the world speeding -- a reason comes, I hope to be in I've never before Louisiana ." heard -- I'll let you go." When asked why, he The old gentleman replied, "I'd rather be paused then said: in Louisiana 'cause "Three years ago, my everythang happens wife ran off with a in Louisiana 20 years Florida

September 2013

later than in the rest of the world."

Mississippi The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!"

Bubba replied, "Did y'all see who it was?"

The young man answered, "I couldn't tell, but I got the license number."

flowers?"

The man responded, "When you break down, they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back.

I never did understand it, neither."

Tennessee A Tennessee State trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65. The trooper asked, "Got any ID?" The driver replied, "Bout whut?"

Texas

South Carolina A man in South Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait.

A passerby studied the scene as he drove by, and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was.

The man replied, "I got a flat tahr."

The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up into the ditch. The Sheriff asked, "Why are you dumping garbage in the ditch? Don't you see that sign right over your head."

"Yep," he replied.

"That's why I'm dumpin' it here, 'cause it says: 'Fine For Dumping Garbage.'"

Vickiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diary Entry 10/3/13 Tonight, I thought Jay was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping all day long with my friends, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment about it.

Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet where we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much.

I asked him what was wrong. He said, "Nothing." I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you, too.'

When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed.

About fifteen minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep. I cried. I don't know what to do. I wish he would open up to me!

Jayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diary Entry 10/3/13 A two-foot putt....who the hell misses a two-foot putt?

The passerby asked, "But, what's with the The Dam Good Times

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Rumor Has It... ...Texans quarterback Matt Schaub is getting a lot of heat from fans for his recent poor play. But he won’t have to read about their comments on Twitter.

Schaub’s former Twitter account — @MSchaub8 – no longer exists. He recently deactivated it. He had not tweeted since January, by the way. Schaub is under fire from fans and media after throwing his third pick-six in as many weeks as the Texans have dropped their past two games. ( Houston Chronicle) ...Briana Cuoco auditions for ‘The Voice’Caption “Big Bang Theory” fans got a special treat during “The Voice” on Monday night, as “BBT” star Kaley Cuoco’s little sister, Briana Cuoco, auditioned for the judges ...Amanda Bynes; “Currently, upon recommendation by the skilled healthcare professionals at UCLA Medical Center, Amanda is receiving specialized treatment in a private facility outside of Los Angeles. Amanda is making great strides towards recovery. The entire Bynes family would like to ask that they be given some measure of privacy so they can focus on Amanda’s health and well-being,” the statement read.

“The Bynes family

would also like to thank all of Amanda’s supporters and well-wishers for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

The actress’ mother Lynn Bynes was granted a conservatorship LPS of her daughter after she set a fire in the driveway of a nearby neighbor several months ago.

The facility that Bynes is being treated at specializes in dual diagnosis and “Amanda is responding very well to her new doctors and treatment.

It’s a much better fit for Amanda, and it doesn’t feel institutional, cold and stark.” ...There are currently four confirmed candidates for Lt. Governor of Texas and you will have a chance to get to know them at the first debate event of the 2014 campaign - a very exciting Lincoln-Douglas style debate, modified for four participants, of course.

There will be no canned party speeches because the candidates themselves will challenge each other on the issues.

The Debate Moderator is JoAnn Fleming, the current Chair of the TEA Party Caucus Advisory Committee and Executive Director of Grassroots America - We The People.

The debate is Thursday 3 October at 6:30 PM at Grace Community Church, 14505 Gulf Fwy, Houston, TX. The four (conservative)

candidates are: Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, State Senator Dan Patrick, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, Incumbent David Dewhurst

WANTED

NAME: ERIK JOSHUA KARASIENSKI DOB: 08/14/1984 (THIS IS THE INFORMATION ON WHAT HE REGISTERS FOR) OFFENSE: SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD VICTIM AGE: F/14 RISK: MODERATE TATTOOS Shoulder, right TATTOOS Arm, right TATTOOS Arm, left TATTOOS Back TATTOOS Neck TATTOOS Arm, left upper TATTOOS Elbow, nonspecific TATTOOS Forearm, right TATTOOS Chest TATTOOS Arm, right upper TATTOOS Ear, left TATTOOS Ear, right TATTOOS Shoulder, left IS REGISTERED TO LIVE AT 235 4TH ST SAN LEON (DOES NOT ACTUALLY LIVE THERE) ON COMPLIANCE CHECK IT WAS

DISCOVERED HE MOVED OUT.

TEXAS: October Scheduled Executions in Huntsville: Larry Hatten

TRACKED HIM TO ADDRESSES IN SEABROOK LAST KNOWN ADDRESS IS 3507 TOWER ROAD IN SANTA FE TX 77517, HIS WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. Nichael Yowell ******OFFENSE HE’S WANTED FOR IS: SEX OFFENDERS DUTY TO REGISTER WITH PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS BOND IS $250,000****** Photo not available for Joe Tartaro

October 2013_TDGT Tabloid 10/1/13 7:17 PM Page 30

RANTS... make our own decisions in healthcare and allow the government to make all of our healthcare decisions.

To add more salt to our wounds, we have the IRS, the NSA still listening in on us and we are building big buildings in Utah to store ALL of this pertinent information.

How did we manage to overlook the Boston Marathon killers? Who else are getting past us?

Have we gotten too wrapped up in listening to our citizen’s twitters, emails, cell calls and the like? AND the IRS is still giving conservative groups and tea party folks an exceptional hard time to becoming tax exempt non-profit organizations all in hopes of

PLURALS , as in “Messrs. Smith have arrived covered in mud,” or to refer to two unrelated men (2), as in “Messrs. Bartleby and James should liven up the party.”

My impression is that “Messrs.” is used more commonly in Britain than in the United States. It appeared only once in the New York Times in the last month and over 20 times in the British newsOctober 2013

helping out fellow liberals and so- called progressive. I don’t see them as progressive at all. They are regressive in every way and in everything they do. However, going back to our past might be a remarkable improvement over the disasters we see at EVERY turn.

We are now talking (9/19) about sending $1,000,000,000.00 to Assad to insure (?) that he will comply with the agreement to get rid of his chemical arsenal.

Are we out of our minds?

Whose brainchild was this? Why do we send any monies to anyone that is not with us? Foreign aid can be fine IF a country is really our ally; if it is appreciated; and not put into the hands of a few; and IF we have

the excess money to spend which we do not have now and may never have again. This is a time to get our own house in order.

Can you believe that $4,000,000.00 is earmarked to spend on this ditty in Oregon starting October 1 to promote obamacare? It is one of the most infantile ads I have ever read....maybe the dems are preaching to their low information choir people. I can't imagine what they could do to improve it. What a waste of taxpayer's money!

Penny Uselton

paper The Guardian.

And with that, I wish you more mud than dam gossip at your holiday gatherings. *Although it appears to be acceptable to put “the” in front of “Messrs.” (The Messrs. Smith have arrived), it is more common to see it written without the article.

The Dam Good Times

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Who’s Reading TDGT?

This Page Top Left Clockwise: Senator Todd Staples for Lt. Governor of Texas; Leslie & Christopher Myers at The Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan with friends Bill & Paulee Hummel; State Rep James White (R-Texas); Left to right: Rose Speights and Carolyn Kimbley are part of a cadre of folks who formed F.A.I.T.H. Military Support Group (Family and Individuals Thanking Heroes). They send 110+ packages monthly to service people around the world that have a tie to the community in and around Livingston. They are preparing for their 5th annual Support Our Troops Dinner to be held on Thursday, October 17 from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM at MY PLACE Restaurant in Livingston off Hwy. 59N. They have sent 10,000 packages since mid-2006! That away folks!!; Debbie Mayes Director of Polk Co. Commerce Center; Below Page: Bob Price, Fox 26 News; George & Rita Sarikhanian at Rita’s Lebanese Restaurant in Houston, TX

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