Yankee Reporter Visits Cowtown

The Washington Post has a story today about development of the Barnett Shale gas field here in Cowtown.

Here's the Reader's Digest version:

In Fort Worth Neighborhoods, Residents Know the Drill
Gas Sites Are Seen as Found Money -- or Unwelcome Intrusion

By Sylvia Moreno
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 30, 2006; A03

FORT WORTH --...Welcome to the newest, largest, most productive and most urban natural gas drilling site in the nation. As a huge billboard ad for drilling services just south of downtown Fort Worth says: "If you want a gas well . . . get one!"

Thousands of residents in this metropolitan area of 1.3 million have done just that. They have signed over the mineral rights in the land under their homes for lease bonus payments and the promise of monthly royalty checks for decades from companies erecting well pad sites and derricks all around town.

And it's not just homeowners who can reap benefits. Any entity that owns mineral rights -- whether or not it owns the land above the minerals -- can.

In less than a year, the City of Fort Worth has earned $9 million from signing bonuses and gas royalties after leasing 2,400 mineral acres to companies drilling near three city parks and the municipal airport. The money will fund park and airport improvements...

This gateway to the West, as Texas lore describes Fort Worth, sits atop one of the largest, deepest and richest gas-infused formations of black rock in the United States. Discovered in 1981, the formation, known as the Barnett Shale, was little more than a geological footnote until this past decade, when technological advances made drilling possible through the hard, dense rock...

In the past two years, drilling companies have flocked to the city and the surrounding 14 counties that sit over the Barnett Shale, and there's little to stop them. In Texas, state law gives owners of mineral rights the prerogative over owners of surface land. The companies have to negotiate only with the mineral rights owners to get to the natural gas.

"We cannot prohibit gas drilling within our city, and if we did, we would have to pay compensation to every mineral estate owner within the city limits who would no longer be allowed to access his mineral rights," said Sarah Fullenwider, Fort Worth's assistant city attorney...

"It's one of the best and most exciting plays in North America," said John Richels, president of Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy. The company, which has leased 720,000 acres in the Barnett Shale, has drilled more than 2,500 wells and produced more than 800 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

Though it pains my native-Texan soul to admit it, the yankee reporter from The Washington Post did a pretty good job. Even though the story starts out with the obligatory whining neighbor, overall it's a fairly balanced look at the issue here in Cowtown. 'Sides that, not once did she call Fort Worth a suburb of dallas.

House Votes to Increase Unemployment

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 230-180 in favor of increased unemployment, especially among teenagers and the unskilled. While you won't see that in the headlines, that will be the net effect if the Senate goes along with the house's stupid plan to raise the $5.15-per-hour minimum wage in three 70-cent steps until it reaches $7.25 in mid-2009.

Some basic facts:

1. If you raise the price of something, including labor, people will use less of it. Even liberal economists admit that an increase in the minimum wage increases unemployment.
2. A minimum wage increase hits unskilled workers and teenagers especially hard. A 2004 study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the vast majority of minimum wage earners lack high school diplomas. 1/2 of all minimum wage earners are younger than 25, with 25% of them aged 16-19. These young people can benefit greatly from on-the-job training. Yet an increase in the minimum wage makes such training cost prohibitive.
3. Few, if any, people are trying to raise a family on the minimum wage. The same study found that never married workers were much more likely than married workers to earn the minimum.
   
4. A minimum wage increase will make it harder on people that only want to work part-time. Part-time workers are much more likely to earn the minimum wage than full-time workers. Yet every mandatory increase in the cost of such part-time labor lessens the demand.
5. Such a move is unnecessary. Since 1979, the percentage of hourly workers earning the minimum wage has decreased from 13.4% to 2.7%. The odds are that the kid handing you your Big Mac is making a lot more than the minimum wage, without Congress's meddling.

With all the sound arguments against raising the minimum wage, who's for it?

1. Unions. At first glance, one wonders why union members, who earn way more than the minimum wage, would care. Simple. They know that their own bloated contracts make their employers inefficient. Raising the minimum wage is their way of trying to make the rest of American business equally inefficient. Combine that with the fact that some union contracts are pegged to the minimum wage and you can see why raising the minimum wage is Job #1 for union bosses.
2. Democrats. They do the bidding of the union bosses that funnel their member's dues into their campaigns. Their protests not withstanding, they care nothing about the average worker. If they did care, they would reduce the huge tax burden workers face.
3. Cowardly Republicans. The issue came to a vote because some Republicans are nervous about their chances in the upcoming election. While its hard for me to say, I think I'd almost prefer a Democratic majority in Congress over this budget-busting, cowardly bunch of Republicans we've got in Washington now.

The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where only 1/3 of its members face reelection each year. We can only hope that the Republicans in the upper house will let this bill die the death it deserves.

Dinner Bell - Big Tom's Barbeque

Big Tom's Barbeque
6500 Denton Highway
Watauga, TX 76148
(817) 503-8214

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. When you show up at a barbeque joint at ten minutes till noon and find that you are the only customer in the whole place, that should tell you something.

Nevertheless, on a recent weekday I decided to give the place a chance. Who knows? Perhaps it was an as yet undiscovered jewel?

The fella' behind the counter greeted me promptly, after all, it's not like he had a lot to do. I don't know if he was Tom or not, he wasn't really that big. Another thing that wasn't big was the helping of sliced brisket he delivered to my table shortly thereafter. Heck, I normally nibble on more meat than that while passing it around the table.

I wish I could say that the meat made up for the puny portion with a hearty flavor. Alas, such was not the case. I've chewed on wallboard that was more flavorful and tender. The bottled barbeque sauce didn't help much either. Yes, I said bottled barbeque sauce. What self-respecting barbeque place serves bottled sauce?

The potato salad held out promise. Rather that the mush most places serve, Big Tom puts small chunks of potatoes in his salad. Unfortunately, what Big Tom doesn't put in there is flavoring as the salad was just as bland as the half warm, half cold, corn-on-the-cob.

I'm pretty sure Big Tom's has been in business in Watauga for quite some time, though I can't for the life of me figure out how. Perhaps in the sea of fast-food chains along Denton Highway Wataugans just don't know any better?

Feds After Fort Worth Tax Man

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit to stop a Cowtown resident from preparing federal tax returns for others. The Houston Chronicle says that the Feds are accusing Phillip M. Ballard of preparing tax returns showing zeros on all lines. Ballard claims that his customers aren't subject to federal income taxes because they are citizens of their states, not the United States. 'Course, with zero income, his clients wind up owing zero tax.

The government also alleges that Ballard falsely claims to be an attorney, and asks that he be stopped from selling "insurance" promising to protect customers from taxes, penalties and interest.

If you've engaged the services of Ballard's firm, Asset & IRS Shield Inc., you have reason to worry. In addition to asking the court to order him to stop representing his customers before the IRS, the government also wants a list of the names, contact information, and Social Security numbers of his customers.

Another Round? Have Another Puff

Having a cigarette while drinking may reduce the effects of the alcohol, scientists suggested. The BBC reported this week that researchers in Texas tested the alcohol blood level in rats after feeding them varying doses of nicotine and alcohol. They found lower alcohol levels in "smoking" rats than in the "non-smoking" rats.

Writing in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, the scientists theorized that nicotine delays the movement of alcohol into the intestines - a major site for the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

The researchers cautioned that the tests have only been carried out on rats so far. 'Course tests on rats doesn't stop the government from banning stuff so this must be serious stuff.

It's Official: Yates is Insane

A Houston jury found Andrea Yates not guilty by reason of insanity today in the death of her children. Yates drowned her five young children in the bathtub of her home.

Her attorneys said the 42-year-old woman suffered from severe postpartum psychosis and, in a delusional state, believed that Satan was inside her and that killing the youngsters would save them from hell. She will be committed to a state mental hospital and held until she is no longer deemed a threat. A conviction would have sent her to prison for life.

Four years ago, another jury convicted Yates of murder, rejecting her claim of insanity. However, an appeals court overturned the convictions because of erroneous testimony from a prosecution witness. In the prevous trail, Dr. Park Dietz, a forensic psychiatrist, told the jury that before the drownings, NBC ran a "Law & Order" episode about a woman who was acquitted by reason of insanity after drowning her children. It was later learned that no such episode existed.

Yates' chief attorney, George Parnham, called Wednesday's verdict a "watershed for mental illness and the criminal justice system."Yates will be sent to North Texas State Hospital in Vernon, a prison-like maximum-security facility encircled by a 17-foot fence and guard towers. Experts say it can take decades before psychiatrists decide that a patient is healthy enough to be released, and even then a judge can reject those findings.

Prosecutors had maintained that Yates failed to meet the state's definition of insanity: that she was so severely mentally ill that she did not know her actions were wrong. "I'm very disappointed," prosecutor Kaylynn Williford said. "For five years, we've tried to seek justice for these children."

Keith Olberwho?

So the blogosphere is lit up with the story of the "feud" between Keith Olbermann and Bill O'Reilly. At the Television Critics Association's summer meeting, Olbermann reportedly opened his session by whipping out a mask of O'Reilly and offering a Nazi salute, a stunt the head of Fox News called, "over the line."

So, I just have one question - who's Keith Olbermann?

Soldier from Fort Worth Killed in Baghdad

Captain Blake H. Russell, a Fort Worth native who was serving in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division was killed by enemy fire in Iraq on Saturday. Captain Russell was killed while investigating a possible mortar cache during operations in Baghdad. The career army man was a graduate of Boswell High School and Texas A&M University. He is survived by his wife, a 7-year-old son, and a 3-year-old daughter.

Complete article from Dallas Morning News.

Lost in New York

Missile falls off truck onto New York highway

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A missile fell off a truck and onto a New York highway on Friday, but the weapon did not have a warhead and posed no danger, police said. WCBS radio reported it was a Tomahawk cruise missile. Police and fire department officials could not confirm that. The cargo came loose when the truck carrying it collided with another truck on a motorway in the Bronx. "It was a military-type missile but it was inert. There was no danger and no one was harmed," a police spokesman said.

In the words of one of the city's most famous residents, "Somebody's got some 'splaining to do!"

'Nuff Said - Hezbollah

Via Cox & Forkum.

Strayhorn Strays From Republican Party Values

Carole Keeton Strayhorn likes to portray herself as a tough-minded, fiscally conservative Republican Grandma. She's quoted on her website as saying, "Texas belongs to no special interest group, no special political credo, no special individual." Sounds great, huh? Then why is the current comptroller who wants badly to get the nomination of the Republican Party for Governor getting into bed the trial lawyers?

According to Texas Shark Watch, Strayhorn' s most recent campaign finance report filed in June reveals that personal injury trial lawyer Lance Lubel has kicked in another $10,000 to her campaign. This is on top of the over $1 million she had already received from Lubel and other plaintiffs' personal injury lawyers.

Lubel, who is with the Houston firm Heard, Robins, Cloud & Lubel, has given tens of thousands to liberal Democrats John Edwards, John Kerry, and Nick Lampson, as well as to the state Democratic parties in Texas and New Mexico.

The Dallas Morning News reports that among the lawyers who have contributed to Strayhorn are Tobacco Five tycoons Walter Umphrey of Beaumont and John Eddie Williams of Houston, who each gave $100,000, and Michael Gallagher and Mark Lanier, both of Houston, who each gave $50,000.

Is Strayhorn so desperate to reside in the Governor's Mansion that she is willing to sell her sole to the devils to do so? Or perhaps she is really a Donkey in Elephant clothing? Most importantly, what do these ambulance-chasers know about Strayhorn that has prompted them to give so generously to her campaign? Something Republicans might want to find out before the primary.

Green Beret from Fort Worth Killed in Afghanistan

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A Green Beret based at Fort Bragg died this week when he was shot during a combat reconnaissance patrol in Afghanistan, the Army Special Operations Command said today.

Staff Sgt. Eric Caban, 28, of Fort Worth, died Tuesday after being hit by small arms fire, the military said...

He left active duty in 2002 to attend college. His brother, Efren Caban Jr., said he completed one year at the University of Texas at Arlington, but his heart wasn't into school.

Caban returned to the Army in 2003 and served as a sniper instructor before being selected to join Special Forces...

He was awarded a posthumous Bronze Star for valor...

Complete article from Houston Chronicle.

Suing Mommy Dearest

MADISON, Wis. -- An Illinois woman is suing her Wisconsin parents for maintaining an icy driveway that she blamed for a fall that broke her ankle two winters ago. This week, a federal judge refused to toss out the lawsuit, setting up a trial for November. Carriel Louah, 25, visited Darlington, Wis., to surprise her mother on her birthday in January 2005. But the next morning, she was injured when she slipped and fell on her parents' driveway. She filed suit against her parents earlier this year.

The daughter said that a letter from her mom apologizing months after the fall proves that her parents knew they had a defective gutter for years and did nothing about it. She's seeking more than $75,000 in damages for medical bills and lost wages.Her parents said that she can't prove the driveway was icy at the time or that their drainage system was faulty. U.S. District Judge John Shabaz said that a jury should decide the matter.

From Local6.com via Lone Star Times.

Cowtown Neighbors Rat on Each Other to the Water Police

Well June was our first month for water rationing here in Cowtown and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says that the city water department received 529 complaints from folks that said their neighbors were not adhering to the new rules that restrict outdoor watering. Now days, watering your lawn between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. is forbidden.

The folks whose neighbors ratted on them got a warning letter this time, telling them that they had better obey the new rules. If they don't, they could face a fine of up to $2,000.00.

The city water department mouthpiece proudly told the S-T that Cowtown joins cities such as Arlington and Dallas in restricting when its citizens can water their lawns and that such a move shows that the city is preparing for the future.

Okay, but if the City of Fort Worth truly is running low on water, why does the city continue to sell water to 28 other cities and other governmental entities at wholesale rates? Shouldn't the city take care of its own citizens first?

Hurray for Global Warming

While Cowtown sweats out a triple digit heat-wave, some folks are hoping the current heat-wave really is the beginning of a world-wide warming spell. The Wall Street Journal reports today that folks over in Greenland are thoroughly enjoying warmer temperatures. The reason? It makes for a longer growing season and opens up more land for agricultural use.

The Journal reports that according to the Danish Meteorological Institute average temperatures in Greenland have risen by 2.7 degrees over the past 30 years. The institute predicts that by the end of the century, temperatures could rise another 14 degrees.

While 2.7 degrees may not sound like much of a heat wave, the recent changes in the weather has had a big impact on the arctic island:

• Higher average temperature warms mean fewer number of freezing nights which produces stronger, healthier plants and provide farmers larger crop yields.
• The temperature rise in Greenland has extended the growing season by two weeks since the 1970s giving plants a better chance to survive and thrive.
• Increased hay production has resulted in fatter sheep. Sheep flocks have increased 10% in the past three years.
• Drawn by higher water temperatures, cod, one of the region's most commercially lucrative fish, are booming in the coastal waters.

If temperatures continue to rise, the longer growing seasons could mean an economic boon for consumers as well. Currently Greenland must import much of its food and pay sky-high prices; a head of lettuce costs about $5.00 and a pound of carrots goes for $7.50 for a pound of carrots.

Of course there's no pleasing the "glass is always empty and the sky is falling" enviro crowd who refuse to even discuss possible benefits to rising temperatures. Dr. Wallace Broecker, a researcher at Columbia University's Earth Institute, told The Journal, "I'm not keen to provide ammunition to those who oppose action. Of course there will be benefits. But the net will be bad."

So while you're out suffering in the blistering sun remember, somewhere way, way, way, up north, a reindeer rancher is really enjoying this heat wave.

DFW Moves Into 4th Place In Population

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex became the fourth largest metropolitan area in the U.S.A. one-year ago this week. The regions' new position won't be official until next spring, when the Bureau releases its July 2006 population estimates. However, current figures dated July 1, 2005, show the Metroplex only 4,000 residents shy of 4th place Philadelphia and gaining.

The Census Bureau estmates that on July 1, 2005 there were 5.819 million residents living in the DFW Metroplex, a majority of whom appear to take I35W home in the afternooon. By comparison, greater Philladelphia area counted 5.823 million residents, the majority of whom have a profound hate for the Dallas Cowboys. However, according to the bureau, the Metroplex gains 365 new residents each and every day, while metropolitan Philly gains just 72.

Biting The Hand That Could Free You

A 61-year-old German on trial for theft got himself into more trouble when he stole from the judge during his court hearing, police said Thursday.

Reuters reports that police in the German town of Coburg said that while facing the judge at the bench, the man pocketed a bunch of keys from the judge, who did not notice her keys were missing until he had left the courtroom.

When confronted by court officials in the toilet, the man told them he had been shocked to discover the keys in his pocket.

Pay To Pray - Jakes to Offer Sermons Via Paid Podcasts

While The Pope resists efforts to move the Catholic Church into the 20th century, over in Big D, Bishop T. D. Jakes is embracing technology in a great big bear hug. The Wall Street Journal reports today that the pastor of the Dallas mega-church, The Potter's House will is set to announce a deal with Audible Inc. to offer Jakes' sermons via podcast.

The deal will offer a digital subscription service for Jakes' sermons. Subscribers will pay $14.95 a month to join "The Potter's House Audible Listener Plan". Joining the plan will allow you to download spiritual teachings as audio files to your computer, MP3 player or iPod. According to The Journal, Rev. Jakes plans to give out iPods at his "MegaFest" to promote the new service. The annual meeting, to be held in Atlant's Georgia Dome next week is expected to attract more than 200,000 faithful to Bishop Jakes preach.

'Nuff Said

From Mike Gallagher, via Isn't It Rich.

What Would Jesus Listen To?

Pope pulls the plug on modern music.

From the London Telegraph:

The Pope has demanded an end to electric guitars and modern music in church and a return to traditional choirs.

The Catholic Church has been experimenting with new ways of holding Mass to try to attract more people. The recital of Mass set to guitars has grown in popularity in Italy; in Spain it has been set to flamenco music; and in the United States the Electric Prunes produced a "psychedelic" album called Mass in F Minor.

However, the use of guitars and tambourines has irritated the Pope, who loves classical music. "It is possible to modernise holy music," the Pope said, at a concert conducted by Domenico Bartolucci the director of music at the Sistine Chapel. "But it should not happen outside the traditional path of Gregorian chants or sacred polyphonic choral music."

So you can modernize the music, so long as you stick to Gregorian chants? Okay.

While I've always admired the Catholic Church for sticking to its beliefs in the face of calls to "modernize", I can't say I'm in agreement with them here.

While the message should remain the same, the method of delivery should relfect the tastes of the worshippers. I'm with Cardinal Carlo Furno who said it was "better to have guitars on the altar and rock and roll Masses than empty churches".