Texas begins preparing for Tropical Storm Alex

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Crews cleared roadside ditches, placed water pumps at flood-prone intersections and began boarding up windows as officials in south Texas learned Tuesday they would have less time than expected to prepare for Alex before the storm hit the state’s Gulf Coast.

National Weather Service official Mark Fox told state and local officials that Alex was expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane as early as 7 p.m. Wednesday, about 12 hours earlier than previously forecast. The news came while workers fit windowns of Cameron County‘s historic building with sheets of plywood.

Compared to July 2008′s Hurricane Dolly at the same point in its trajectory, Alex is a little bigger, with tropical storm force winds extending 150 miles out from the center, Fox said. The tropical storm was about 350 miles southeast of Brownsville and was expected to strengthen to a hurricane in the next eight to 12 hours. Landfall was projected for just south of Brownsville in northeast Mexico, but the Rio Grande Valley of Texas was expected to get a thorough soaking at least.

Just general thinking..oh yeah, it’s called scattershooting

If you Google the word “scattershooting” you will find lots of Texas results or results that are Texas related. I wonder why that is?

It’s Sunday evening and I have tons of things in my head, but nothing specific. Just thinking about a lot of things at once. Attention Deficit Disorder? I dunno. Here’s what I do know though, in order for a blog post to be interesting, it has to be interesting. Well duh, what does that mean? It means I shouldn’t write about myself but write about what’s interesting for the readers. Hello? No one really cares what I think, and I really don’t blame them for that.

The Rangers are in first place and the last game of the series with the Astros is tonight. Looks like the Rangers win the Silver Boot …again. Will Roy Oswalt become a Ranger? Will the Rangers ever get sold to Nolan Ryan et al? It’s somewhere in the future at this point.

Well boys and girls, it’s almost the national party that is the 4th of July! Hard to imagine time goes so fast that it’s almost the middle of summer already. I’m always amazed at how fast time goes from July 4th, until school starts. Seems like only minutes.

This week begins my last week at school. Yay. I had some good classes this semester.

I’ve also been watching lots of baseball this summer. The Grand Prairie AirHogs rock!

So I’ve been working, going to school, and blogging the AirHogs and I’ve been having a blast. I’ve been going to church, and trying to also do some volunteer work at work. I’ve been very blessed. I’m thankful for many things.

Oh, and here is a great picture of my team from work. We had an outing at the bowling alley. I had fun in spite of my 97.

Don’t look now, but it’s almost time for Cowboys training camp…the cycle continues.

Well I guess that’s about it. In honor of the Eagles who were in town this weekend, I’ll leave you with this…

Thanks for reading my blog!

Sports Illustrated through the years

Who here has not enjoyed the media giant that is Sports Illustrated? That magazine that has captured the hearts of the sports nation, and is such a media giant that it has its own cult following? Everyone knows how huge Sports Illustrated is in the world of sports, and it got me to thinking how old and how long has this great publication been around? Feast your eyes on the above picture which clearly states it’s the “First Issue”.  It’s Eddie Mathews, Baseball, Milwaukee Braves photographed by: Mark Kauffman, and the year was 1954. Which means I’m even older than the Super Bowl and Sports Illustrated? Sheesh!

But it got me to thinking back to some of the more memorable covers that comes to mind.

How about this for irony? One of the most shocking news stories of the century was in November of 1963 when the tragedy of the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas Texas. The very next month, the December issue of SI had this magazine cover of Roger Staubach, the future Hall of Fame Quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.

 Some of the SI covers were comical and unforgettable, like this cover from 1970. This photo reminded me of Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Newman.

 And who could forget the very first Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl win and the cover of SI on that day?

And then there was/is the whole SI Jinx Theory:

Millions of superstitious readers — and many athletes — believe that an appearance on Sports Illustrated’s cover is the kiss of death. But is there really such a thing as the SI Jinx? In this week’s issue, senior writer Alexander Wolff attempts to answer that very question. Read about Wolff’s experience working on the story.

6•5•2000		A day after this cover appearance Anna Kournikova is bounced from the French Open in the second round, the earliest she has exited a Grand Slam in three years.		9•4•2000		After Week 1, Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf has gone 17 for 39 with three interceptions. He throws seven more interceptions than touchdowns for the season.
10•9•2000		Two games after his cover appearance the Rams’ Kurt Warner breaks his pinkie and, for the first time since he won the job, is sidelined, missing his next five games.		12•4•2000		Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper wants to be “The Greatest Ever!” but he’s not yet great enough to prevent the Vikings from losing its next (and final) three regular season games.
1•22•2001		Amani Toomer and the Giants, featured after a rout of the Vikings in the NFC title game, lose 31-7 to the Ravens in the Super Bowl.		3•5•2001		Days after Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox appeared on SI’s cover, it was announced that he had split a tendon in his right wrist.
5•21•2001		The Hornets, appearing with a 3-2 lead on the Bucks in the second round of the playoffs, lose the next two games and the series.		8•13•2001		Oregon State, SI’s preseason college football No. 1, lost 44-24 to Fresno State in its opener

So all-in-all, Sports Illustrated has been a large part of Americana. Some things you just expect to be great. Sports Illustrated has been doing it for a long time.

That Old Black Magic (SI)

SI Vault (SI)

Questions You Might Have About Saturday’s USA-Ghana Match

From NY Sports

by Will Leitch

Saturday afternoon promises to be one of those special New York summer moments in which everyone is in a bar drinking and singing patriotic songs: Who’s up for a Collective Summer Experience? The United States plays Ghana in the World Cup Round of 16 at 2:30 p.m. on ABC, in probably the biggest soccer game in U.S. history. (This is also probably the third time we’ve been able to say that in two weeks.) So, what do you need to know going in? You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Is Ghana good?

Yes. They’re 33rd in the FIFA rankings, which is probably a little lower than where they should be. They’re missing their best player, Michael Essien, but they played Germany strong in a 1-0 loss. They’re better on defense than they are on offense, and they have an excellent midfield, led by Kwadwo Asamoah, who is sort of their Michael Bradley.

Sunday night music…..time to relax

OK, it’s the culmination of a great week, and it’s time to wind down and get some rest.

Here are a few tunes that I listen to, to do just that.

Oh, I’ll add more as I locate them, but you can go ahead and start listening…have a great evening, and make it a great week. We are so blessed.

A Persuasive Idea to Volunteer For

I’ll be honest here when I say there is an organization that I want to devote some time and resources to because I feel like it’s the thing to do. I feel compelled to help this organization, and it’s also one of the places that my employment sends volunteers to help with. I’m kind of babbling here, let me let this video explain it:

Wow. If that doesn’t move you, I don’t know what can.  I’m very proud of my company for taking a large role in helping the North Texas Food Bank. I would like to think we are doing some good, and that progress is being made, and then I read something like this.

Maybe what gets me about this organization is, I remember as a kid needing help just like this. I remember how difficult it was to ask for food, and keep my pride. I still remember exactly how that feels.

If you are looking for a way to do some good, and helping people, contact the North Texas Food Bank. I’m sure they would appreciate your call.

Michael Nye’s About Hunger & Resilience Photo/Audio Exhibit
June 5 – 29

For the past four years, artist Michael Nye has been researching and capturing stories of hunger around the country. Visit the Janette Kennedy Gallery in South Side on Lamar (1409 South Lamar Street, Dallas) this June to view Nye’s collection of what hunger is and how it seeps into the lives of those around us. With captivating photos accompanied by heart wrenching audio interviews, Nye’s work is an educational and emotional experience not to be missed. Click here to listen to a clip of Nye’s exhibit featured on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered on March 30th.

Gallery Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. or the lobby staff can open the gallery for guests during off-hours.
Top 6 Reasons to Check Out Michael Nye’s About Hunger & Resilience Exhibit:

1. Need somewhere to take the kids this summer? Make Nye’s exhibit a family event!
2. View the work of an internationally renowned artist… for FREE!
3. Get out of the office! Experience hunger through a company workshop or social event at the gallery.
4. Walk in hunger’s shoes; view the exhibit and discuss over a simple home-cooked meal instead of dining out.
5. Put a twist on your weekly Happy Hour! Discuss hunger with fellow exhibit-goers at a nearby hot spot.Learn more about hunger and be an advocate for North Texans in need!

Do any of these things without spending a dime; the exhibit is FREE to the public!

Add a twist to your corporate meeting or social gathering during the month of June and host it at the gallery! Set aside some time for a learning moment and let us share the story of hunger in North Texas. For more information to schedule your event or meeting, contact Kristen Sweat at kristen@ntfb.org or 214.270.2021.

Goofy Thursday

I was planning to go to the AirHogs game tonight and then I realized I have some homework that needs to get done that equals about 1/3 of my class grade. Bummer. So before I hit the books for the evening, I wanted to share a few sites and videos I’ve seen this week.

Look at this kid…Correction: Look at this baby, dance! How do babies learn this at such an early age?

Fascinating and fun interactive map at Forbes showing the inter-county migration patterns in 2008 from across the country.

I’m gonna go take a nap now…

My AirHogs Production

Just a video I put together for my class at Northwood University. Many thanks goes to my friend David Garza for the photos.

more about “My AirHogs Production“, posted with vodpod

 

For my colleagues at Northwood

Photo courtesy of David Garza

My Monday night class at Northwood University, I’m taking a speech making class with Mrs. Elaine Brazzell at the professor. It’s a fun class and I enjoy it a lot seeing as how I need to know how to get up in front of people and talk without getting the shakes. So, tomorrow night I am giving a demonstration speech on how I write my blog and some of the things to know when shooting video for my blog.

I will be talking about my experiences with the Grand Prairie AirHogs and what all goes on out there at Quick Trip Park.

Yes, at this moment, things are well