Remember The Truth Of THAT DAY In Waco, And Don't Fall For the "Conspiracy Theory" Of The Desperate Few

What a strange world we live in, and how fickle so many people are.  I was just reading how there is growing concern, suspicion, and discontent with the way Waco PD and McLennan County law enforcement et al handled the Twin Peaks shootings.   Funny, the morning it happened, people were going out of their way to say how impressed they were and how glad they were that the police were on the spot and intervened within seconds of the trouble starting, thus saving lives of the innocent.  Now you can read how the McLennan County as well as state law enforcement officials are keeping it all a secret and limiting the information flow at least until the grand jury looks into the case.  Of course, many of the motorcycle riders there are claiming to be innocent bystanders, never mind the hundreds of weapons found lying around the grounds and inside Twin Peaks. 

Don't be led into the "conspiracy" crowd.  There were several people there bent on murder, and several hundred who either supported the activities are at least wanted to have "front seat" view of the situation.  As far as the "unfairness" of arresting so many of those "innocent bystanders," they will each get their day in court and the police will have to prove each case.  But regardless of the outcome of all these cases, the city, county, and state police agencies exercised their duty and protected the truly innocent by acting quickly and meeting an outlaw force with superior force.  It was the quick action of the police that kept the casualty list as short as it was.  It was a tragedy that nine people died, but how many more would it have been if the police had not taken the action they did as quickly as they did? 

People of McLennan County, when you are asked to serve on these juries, yes, you must listen to the facts and judge accordingly...but please, do not get caught up in the supposed conspiracy being passed off by defense attorneys and of course the "innocent" bikers who were arrested shortly after dumping their weapons where they stood.  The bikers responsible for the killings thought they would murder and get away, but what they truly got was a police force and citizens united against an outrageous criminal action that trapped many civilians in the line of fire.  These criminals got the message that Waco will not be terrorized by motorcycle gangs, or any other organized criminals.  I urge you to stick together against these criminals as the trials commence, and again, do not be taken in by those desperate people and lawyers who are calling it a conspiracy.  Remember, no one there WAS FORCED to break the law, and no one was FORCED to watch.  They all chose to be there, now they are trying to say it was not their fault, the police were out to get them. 

Below is one of the "news" articles that is drumming up the conspiracy call:

http://www.scnow.com/news/headlines/article_3a60482b-5c02-5370-832e-7e83778a705b.html

Let justice take its rightful course.  Maybe some of those arrested will be acquitted.  Maybe some will not.  But do not fall for conspiracy theories or for lawyers trying to plant their defense in the media before they come to trial.  Remember too, those with no viable defense have no recourse but to attack the police and prosecution.  The above article is case in point.

God bless America.






 

Just A Pause To Remember Our Lost Neighbors

I found myself, at different times today, thinking about that terrible day fourteen years ago.  Outside my office the flags flew at half-mast.  In the beautiful partly cloudy sky I saw a lone airliner flying away toward the west, and I remembered the one day in US history since the Wright Brothers' flight, that no airplanes were visible in our skies.  I remember watching the horrible scene as reporters covered the ongoing rescue of people in the World Trade Center.  Then we watched in shock and awe as these buildings came down, killing almost every person still inside - rescuers and victims alike.  America as a nation closed rank and joined hands in doing anything we could to help; some actually went to the scene, while others donated materials and money to the rescue attempt.

Now. a decade and a half later, there are many questions about the 9-11-01 attack that remain unanswered.  I will not venture there, but simply honor those killed in this murderous attack, and say a prayer for those who have survived the loss of their loved ones for so long.  Others will write much more eloquently about this terrible tragedy than I can, and I hope they do.  I will just say thank you for the lives of those who lived until they were taken in the attacks.  I will pray for the continuing comfort of those who live on.  I am so proud of those Americans who put their differences aside and joined together in throes of tragedy, and who stood together when when the darkness so completely veiled the light of day.

God bless America

 

Amazingly Accurate NCAA Football Predictions - Part II

As promised, my sports fan friends, here is Part II of my predictions for conference winners and game scores for the 2015 NCAA Football Season.  But before I present my predictions, here is how the predictions from Part I went:

First, my prediction for the opening game of the NCAA 2015 season went something like this:

Aug. 29th - North Dakota State Bison VS Montana Grizzlies
                   North Dakota State Bison take this game rather easily, 37-7. 
Umm..., imagine my shock and chagrin when I saw this story:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/8/29/9225079/north-dakota-state-montana-game-final-score-result

Well, my prediction for this game was not all that close.  In fact, I was, as some would say, WAY OFF!  What should have been an easy win for the North Dakota State Bison, the defending champs of their conference, instead turned into a shoot-out that was lost in the 4th quarter when the underdog Montana Grizzlies scored ten unanswered points, including a touchdown in the last thirty seconds of the game.  The final score: Montana 38 - North Dakota State 35.   So the first game of the 2015 football season turns out to be one of the best upsets of the season as well.

So on this prediction I was just a tad off, but the outcome of this game was unexpected, to say the least, and just goes to prove the old adage...any given team can win on any given Saturday (or something like that!).

I predict, however, that in spite of this setback North Dakota will win their respective conference, as they have the past four years.  As far as Montana, one of their strokes of fortune is that they have a relatively under-recognized quarterback whose first name starts with Carson...and in the tradition of Carson Palmer, Carson Wentz is a gem for this Montana team.  In this particular game Carson Wentz racked up 198 yards and two passes for TD's.  I will insert another prediction here, free of charge.  Expect to hear the name Carson Wentz again...maybe not in Heisman discussions, but definitely in the pro draft in a couple of years.

Next prediction of Part I was this:

TCU VS Minnesota Gold Gophers
The Horned Frogs take this one, also easily, 49-3, but only if Minnesota has an accurate kicker. 

At least I can say here that I indeed picked the winner.  But beyond that this game befuddled my football spirits.  I should have factored in that any team, including TCU, can be afflicted with the "first game of the season blahs."  TCU came to play what should have been just another football game, and Minnesota came to try to get the upset!  The Horned Frog won the game on the scoreboard, but the Golden Gophers held their own and certainly have nothing to be ashamed of in this opening loss to TCU.  As for me, I should stop underestimating the underdogs.  But TCU gets credit for a very shaky win, and I get credit for a 1/2 correct prediction.

Final Score: TCU 23 - Minnesota 17

Next prediction:

Arizona Wildcats vs. UT of San Antonio Roadrunners
Arizona 42 - UTSA 7

The good news is that I hit Arizona's score right on the head!  The bad news is that I missed UTSA's score by THIRTY POINTS!  UTSA very nearly pulled off what would have been another BIG UPSET of 2015.  Once again I failed to factor in the Big School first game "blahs."

Final Score: Arizona 42 - UTSA 37

Next Prediction:

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Alcorn State Braves
Georgia Tech (At least) 40 - Alcorn State 0

This was the third and final game of the week that I predicted, and I my "vibes" told me the Jackets would score a minimum of forty points and that the Braves would not cross the goal line.

As it happened, I picked the winner (no big surprise) but I slightly underestimated their offense and gave too much credit to the Braves' defense.  The Jackets scored 34 points in the first quarter, fourteen points in both the second and third quarters, and only seven in the fourth quarter, at which time I am sure the fourth string had been pulled out of the game and the Jacket training staff finished the game.  At this point the Braves were able to score, killing my prediction of a skunk out.

Final Score: Georgia Tech 69- Alcorn State 7

I suppose I was having opening season blahs, too, because my predictions were off, even when I picked the winners.  Lets hope the sports writer voice in my head is a little more accurate for game week three.

And here are my predictions (feel secure in betting on them - or not):
(These are teams I love to watch, not necessarily the "big games.")

September 12th:

Kansas State Wildcats vs. UTSA Roadrunners
Kansas State 35 - UTSA 28

Given that both teams played last week and should now be over the "blahs" I believe that it is safe to say the Wildcats will eventually prevail in this game, but UTSA, having gained much confidence, will certainly make this an exciting game.  Wildcats coach Bill Snyder will not let his team downplay UTSA's ability to achieve an upset, and he will prepare his team accordingly.  On the other hand, the Roadrunners, having tasted near victory over a ranked opponent, will certainly be playing at their best. I think this game will be one of the more exciting games of the day, especially for San Antonio fans who see a team this year that they can get behind, a team that can win. 

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. University of Texas - El Paso Miners
Texas Tech 42 - UTEP 28

The Red Raiders have been "my" team for a couple of decades now, since the days of Sonny Cumbie, the great collegiate quarterback who is now, incidentally, the quarterback coach at TCU.  The Red Raiders were famous for pulling victories out of the jaws of near-hopelessness in those days, and were also famous for being bowl dream "spoilers" for some of the more powerful teams of the old Southwest Conference.  But the Raiders are still having their difficulties after last season, as we saw in their near loss last week.  This week, though, I think the Raiders will be up for a game, and well they should be, because the Miners will definitely make this one a game.  I believe Tech will put the game away in the third quarter, due to being in better overall physical condition than are the Miners.

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma 28 - Tennessee 24

I do not like the Sooners team (have not since I was a teen) and I am basically "for" any team playing against Oklahoma.  I wish that I could place the Volunteers in the winning column for this game, but I definitely get the feeling that the Sooners will take this game, but only by a touchdown.  The Volunteers are a good team this year, as are the Sooners, but I believe the Sooners will hold out for the win.  This is one prediction in which I hope the football "voices" talking to me are wrong.

Baylor Bears vs. Lamar Cardinals
Baylor 70 - Lamar 6

The Bears have an easy game this week, but they still need to focus on this game.  We've already learned the adage...you know, anything can happen on any given Saturday.  So the Bears need to be on their toes, but, barring some miracle ala Appalachian College's spectacular upset of the Michigan Wolverines in 2007, the Bears walk away with an easy win.  The referenced Appalachian upset of the Wolverines was certainly unpredicted, and is still considered by many coaches and sports writers to be the biggest upset in college football of all time.  But in the upcoming Bears vs. Cardinals game, I believe the Bears will play their usual game, and I expect that even the far end of the Baylor lineup will see action in this game.

Other games of interest

Texas A&M Aggies vs. Ball State Cardinals
A&M 56 - Ball State 28

The Aggies are a ranked team in the SEC, thus by definition a tough and dangerous team to play.  On the other hand, Ball State will have one of their better seasons in 2015.  Nonetheless, the Aggies will pound the Cardinals and will mount a pretty good defense as well.  I may be crediting Ball too highly, because the Aggies' better conditioning will add another obstacle to the Cardinals in the fourth quarter.  But this is my story and I am sticking too it.

Clemson Tigers vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers
Clemson 49 - Appalachian State 21

Clemson is a ranked team and Appalachian is a good team, but this time around the Tigers will be too much for the Mountaineers to handle.  This is not the Appalachian team that stunned Michigan in 2007.  It will be an interesting game and, if you are a Clemson fan, it will be a good game.  The Mountaineers will be steady opponents but the Tigers take the game this year.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. University of Syracuse Orangemen
Demon Deacons 28 - Syracuse 21

Here is a prediction I am throwing in at no extra cost to my reader(s?).  Why mention THIS game, you may ask?  Fine, I'll tell you.  The Demon Deacons and the Orangemen are two of my favorite mascots, and their football teams are the icing on the cake.  I mean Demon Deacon?  Orangemen?  How cool is this?  Here is another reason for this prediction.  I believe this game will decide the cellar team in the ACC.  Saturday's game may well be the last game of this season in which each team really has a fighting chance to beat another team.  From here on, the schedule just goes south for either team.  Both teams won their non-conference games last week, and both in big ways!  But this week both Wake Forest and Syracuse will be playing nearly evenly matched teams. 

Like I said, these teams have two of my favorite mascots, but in this upcoming came I predict that the Demon Deacons eventually take the lead, maybe after a brief shootout.  Once the Demon Deacons pull ahead in the third quarter, however, the Orangemen will fold and give up on this game.  A one touchdown lead may not seem like much, but I believe the Orangemen will just be too tired and demoralized at this point in the game to regain the lead.

Now, some more conference winner predictions:

Atlantic Coastal Conference
The sports writers and coaches have decided that the Florida State Seminoles and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will win their respective divisions of the ACC, while Virginia Tech and Clemson will occupy the number two slots.

My own prediction is that Clemson will overcome Georgia Tech for the title, and that the Seminoles will knock the Yellow Jackets back to number two, while North Carolina and North Carolina State battle for the number three slot.  The Miami Hurricanes will be the spoilers this year and maybe take the number four slot, forcing one of the two North Carolina schools to settle for number five.

Here is another tidbit that will cost you nothing, my friends.  This tidbit is that the Miami head coach, Al Golden, is in the HOT SEAT, maybe the hottest seat in all of NCAA football at the moment. Hurricane fans are clamoring for the glory days of yore when the Canes were a powerhouse team.  Golden, starting his fifth season this year, has accumulated a 28-22 record.  Fans, and regents, are not happy at all.

Southeastern Conference (SEC)
The picker/predictors have decided that the Georgia Bulldogs will take the eastern division championship, with the Tennessee Vols taking second place.  In the western division, Alabama is picked to win, while Auburn is expected to be number two. 

My predictions:
East - 1 Georgia, 2 Tennessee.  I pretty much go along with them on this one.

West - 1 Auburn, 2 Alabama.  I expect that Auburn will surprise everyone and will be the Western division championship.

I hope my predictions have been entertaining for you, and I hope you follow my post as this weekend plays out.  Who knows, maybe with my intrepid impressions of the future you may feel confident to bet on your favorite based on my projections.  However, remember that I am in no way responsible for any losses you may incur.  If you win loads of money, I will certainly expect a quarter of the earning as my fee.












 

The Waste Texas - I Mean The Waste Control Specialists "Saga" Continues

Attention: All Texans.  If you think you have a "representative government," or even a government that cares about your safety, THINK AGAIN.  Waste Control Specialists, a "company" that is owned by Valhi, Inc., has been busy while you and I were distracted by all the things going on around the nation.  Back in February, Waste Control Specialists, through various bribe-makers, I mean, lobbyists and liaisons has bought and paid for a large portion of the government of Texas for years to come.  On top of that, the UNELECTED members of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are also very close allies of Waste Control Specialists.  And guess what?  The TCEQ voted unanimously last week to approve amendments to the WCS license for its Andrews County facility.   Not only that, the TCEQ last week denied a Texas state representative's request for a hearing to contest these amendments.

Here is one article covering this situation: http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/20/texas-nuclear-waste-dump-poised-get-wiggle-room/

So what do the amendments to the WCS license offer this company?  Well, for one thing, the amendments allow WCS to begin bringing HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE nuclear waste from all over the nation into Texas.  You may recall that WCS wooed the people of Andrews (city AND county) with the promise of LOTS of MONEY but very little danger, because the proposed nuclear waste "dump" would only accept LOW LEVEL radioactive waste such as contaminated medical gloves and garments, and spent isotopes from X-ray machines.  In return for allowing WCS to open a waste disposal sight AND bring in this low-level radioactive waste, both the City of Andrews and the County of Andrews were promised five percent of WCS revenue.  The State of Texas ("represented" by Threepeat Rick) was also promised its share of the bounty as well.  NOW WCS is poised to bring in HIGHLY DANGEROUS nuclear waste...and the good people of Andrews and surrounding area are awaiting this toxic muck with open arms, for the most part.  Once a few million bucks got spread around Waste...er, West Texas, it seems that many people forgot about the threat posed to themselves and their families, AND to ALL the people in West Texas.  "Bringin' in the SLUDGE" is now the hymn of choice, it would appear.

But the amendments to the original WCS license does something else.  Wait for it....Yes, the new amendments LOWER the size of the WCS Emergency Cleanup Fund from $136 million to only $50 million, leaving the state responsible for any costs beyond that.  So let me get this straight.  WCS brings in more waste and MORE DANGEROUS waste, which we might reasonably assume would both increase company profits AND increase the danger to area should an accident occur, AND WCS is allowed to REDUCE the cleanup funds it must guarantee the State of Texas?  This is a win-win situation, for WCS!  But you and I, as Texans, will be responsible for much of the cleanup cost associated with an accident at the WCS facility.  But that's not all....

You may remember that the original license gives WCS the option to "give" the nuclear waste facility BACK to Texas and walk away.  More likely, RUN AS FAST AS THEIR CORPORATE FEET CAN CARRY THEM out of Texas...all the way back to Delaware, where the parent corporation is based.  I am afraid that Texas ( that is YOU AND I) have been handed a dead, contaminated skunk in a bag, and we will be left holding that bag when WCS eventually bails.  Notice I said "when," not if. 

The battle to stop WCS from building their facility near Andrews was lost before it even started.  WCS had spent millions of dollars, if not billions, to build their facility BEFORE they applied for a nuclear waste disposal permit.  Once the facility was built, the "late' Harold Simmons and his minions set out to make sure they would get their license.  To that end, they bribed...I mean, DONATED, millions, if not billions, of dollars to every local, state, and even national politician they thought they would need to ram this facility down the throat of Texas.  AND the late Mr. Simmons also made sure "friends" were placed on the TCEQ, that UNELECTED commission that has so far shamelessly rubber-stamped EVERY proposal the WCS has proposed come up with since the original license was granted nearly a decade ago. 

So, while the people of Texas were distracted by many things, including Jade Helm, the coming oil bust, and now the murder of police officers around the nation but in particular in Texas, WCS bought and paid for amendments to their original license that will bring them BILLIONS more dollars in profits while making the State of Texas (you and me) responsible for a bigger share of cleanup costs should there ever be an accidental spill or release of radiation at the WCS Andrews Facility.  Once again, I would like to say a BIG "thank you" to all those involved in the WCS saga, including the people of Andrews and the right honorable local, state, and national politicians, and especially Threepeat Rick and his good ol' boys in Texas and in Washington D. C.

It may be years, even decades, but sooner or later - long after Waste Control Specialists have made their BILLIONS and absconded - the people of Texas will be left a mess to clean, and the cost of cleaning this mess may well bankrupt the state government.  Maybe I sound alarmist, but I challenge you to print this post and squirrel it away somewhere.  When the headlines finally hit the press, I am convinced my words will seem chillingly prophetic, in retrospect. 

May God bless America and God help West Texas.
 

End of Watch: Officer David Allen, Abilene PD, TX, Aug. 31, 2015

So many police officers murdered in the last few days.  I have literally not been able to blog because of this terrible feeling in my gut.  There is a war on police officers, especially White officers.  Officer Don Allen was a victim of that war, one way or another.

First, it is so hard to see a young man like that struck down in his prime, especially when we learn that the officer was tortured before finally being killed by at least two cold-hearted individuals.  Second, it is hard to believe that the murder of this police officer may have been committed by persons who attempted to use the current Black citizen against White police officer climate to cover up a crime that may or may not be connected to the current Hate Cops theme that is raging around the country.  The investigation into Officer Allen's murder continues, and I will not speculate any more than I already have.  But I eagerly await more information regarding the motive behind this officer's murder.

But in the meantime I honor Officer David Allen and thank him for his service to his neighbors and his country.  Officer Allen was engaged to be married next year, and leaves behind his grieving fiancée.  May God comfort her.  May God be with the Allen family as well, and the officers of the Abilene Police Department.  These people have lost a loved one and a valued member of the police family.

I also pray that this inexplicable and savage hatred of police officers, hatred to the point of murder, should be halted.  There are some people that have legitimate grievances with police officers, and they have all the means they need to obtain justice without resorting to murder.  Most honest people do not condone police misconduct and are not afraid to pass this message on through juries and grand juries.  And...most honest people do not condone murder and assault of innocent police officers by radical terrorists.  It is time for citizens to stand with police officers and to be ready and willing to assist or even to protect police officers if the circumstances require it.

Here is something all people should remember:  Anyone that is willing to murder a police officer, whatever the motivation may be, is certainly willing to murder innocent citizens as well.  This is one reason that such intense investigation follows an officer's murder.  Cop killers have crossed a line that tells us they are not bound by any law, and are willing to kill ANYONE, for ANY REASON.  In the current atmosphere, this means that Black terrorists who are now willing to kill White police officers are certainly willing and able to kill White citizens in general. 

I am not advocating division and civil strife.  I am calling on all people, both White and Black, and any other race as well, to join together and recognize that we all "matter."  All our lives matter!  Police officers, in the vast majority, are themselves law-abiding citizens who are trying to do a very difficult job.  We the people, at least those who want law and order, should not condone police misconduct, and certainly we should not condone nor stand idly by while our police officers are murdered by the fringe.  Neither should White people blame Black people for the acts of a very small group of terrorists who have declared war on the police.  In fact, we must resist the efforts of a few to polarize millions of good Americans into separate factions bent on each others' destruction.

If there is anything good at all that might come from the murder of these good men and women in blue, let it be that all people, White, Black, or whatever else, join together in support of the police and also join together to reclaim our country from the thugs who are trying to bring us into anarchy.

May God bless the family of David Allen, of Deputy Goforth, and of all those who have lost their men and women in blue. 

And God Bless America

End of Watch: Deputy Darren Goforth, August 28, 2015

Jesus said it this way in John 15:13:
             
                    Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

Deputy Goforth fulfilled this scripture at the last hour of his tour of duty on August 28th, as he was struck down by a very cowardly assassin whose name I will not stain this page with.  Deputy Goforth laid down his life for his friends, that is for all people in Harris County, and for all of us everywhere in this nation who are protected by brave police officers even when we sleep.

Yes, we have heard many times, especially in the last couple of years, about terrible police brutality, yet we know that these dishonest, cowardly, and rogue police officers represent less than one percent of all police officers.  Most officers love the work they do and most police want to do well at what they do.  I have respect for police officers and I very proudly served as one years ago.  I also witnessed some not so noble actions by a couple of officers over the years, and I participated helping remove a couple officers who were unfit for service.  As a civilian I have been treated mostly very well by officers who did not know me and had no idea of my background, and I have also been treated very harshly and disrespectfully by a couple of officers.  Officers are human, and they have "bad days" at work just like everyone.  But the atmosphere of hate and murderous intent towards officers that we are seeing now has me both baffled and angered.  Very angered.

I normally post a page of respect towards a fallen officer within twenty-four hours of learning of an officer's death.  The cold blooded, unprovoked, cowardly, spiteful, and senseless murder of Deputy Goforth has given me a feeling of anger I have not experienced in quite some time; therefore, I felt it was better to wait a day or so.  Now, while I am still very angry, at least I can write without putting words on this page that I might regret later.  I believe that Deputy Goforth was one of the early casualties in what could turn out a long and dangerous era for law enforcement.  I believe also that what we, you and I, as citizens do is very important, and must speak loudly and clearly to those who think they can bring murder and anarchy to our streets, who think they can kill police officers and then walk away with impunity. 

Police officers are mostly dedicated to their job, yet their job would be impossible without the support of the majority of people.  It is time for you and I as law-abiding citizens to not only abide by the law as we have, but to publicly and proudly proclaim and display our support for police officers.  As for me, I am also prepared to intervene to assist police officers who may be ambushed by these cowards as the officers perform their duties.  Just hours after Deputy Goforth was murdered, officers in another state were fired upon from a passing vehicle while they were taking a vandalism report from a citizen.  Obviously these cowards are willing to place you and I at risk as they attempt to murder officers. 

To Deputy Darren Goforth, Harris County Sheriff's Office, I express my thanks and my appreciation for his service.  To his widow and children, and to his fellow officers, I express my deepest sympathy and prayers.  This family and these officers have been robbed of a husband, father, and a brother officer.  This loss is irreplaceable, although I have confidence that this family will make it through this sad time, as will the officers of the Harris County Sheriff's Office.  For these officers, and for all officers in this state and in this nation, I pray for their safety. 

May God be with the Goforth family and the sheriff deputies and officers of Harris County.