Articles for October, 2010
Question Posed Regarding Giants’ Whereabouts
Logic and a great source say it’s the Rosewood Crescent. But the Crescent folks say, “No way. But if they were here, we’d put a jinx on ‘em like we did the Yankees.” So–just in case somebody wants to keep the team up all night blaring Beck’s “Loser”–where are the S.F. Giants staying around here? Tom Hicks’ digs? The Super 8 in Bedford? Anybody heard?
C.J. Wilson’s Blister Cure Not Exactly MLB-Approved
So C.J. Wilson has apparently had that blister that ultimately took him out of the game last night for a while. He’s been keeping it together with Super Glue, which has to sting.
Only, apparently, that may have not been exactly kosher.
Also, I promise there will come a day when there will be no need to write about the Rangers for a few months. Let us all pray right now that it’s sometime next Friday, and not Monday.
As We Go Gingerly To Game 3, A Few Words
Woot! blogger Jason Toon, a Cardinals fan, has a few words of advice for angsty Rangers fans.
Things to Do in Dallas This Weekend: Oct. 29-31
Oh readers. How I would like to deliver a swift kick to Buster Posey’s generously proportioned teeth. What self-respecting adult human goes by that name? May he be drawn and quartered, and may the resulting stumps burst into pillars of everlasting flame.
Anyway! It’s Halloween weekend in Dallas, and I’ve found plenty of great distractions for you. Jump and learn.
The Gloves Are Off, San Francisco (Not Necessarily a Vlad Guerrero Dig)
I mean, come on. Jerks. (Photo by Tom Allen)
John Cornyn Has the 9th Biggest Ego in the Senate
The Vanity Index from Slate (their highly scientific methodology is recounted here) disappoints me. I cannot believe that John Cornyn allowed himself to be beat by John Kerry, of all people. Cornyn only came in #9 against Kerry’s #1. True, Kerry is astonishly vain, but then again, we’re told constantly that everything is supposed to be bigger in Texas. (And, Kay Bailey, your rank as only “moderately vain” is a real letdown.)
Leading Off (10/29/10)
1. Whimper.
2. Ever since I watched this movie, which won a passel of Emmys, I’ve been a big fan of Temple Grandin. Yesterday, she was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth.
3. Fact: Every party has a pooper. Sometimes his name is Tim Lincecum and sometimes its an anonymous neighbor in Rowlett. Fact.
4. Saturday First Baptist Church will detonate some Jesus explosives (not to be confused with Justice Explosives) to blow up old buildings so they can make a bigger, more godly giant building. This story says neighbors are complaining, but it only interviews one neighbor. But she’s plenty peeved for everyone, I ’spose.
5. So we made it to Friday. There are explosions this weekend, and the Rangers are totally gonna win at home. And Halloween happens Sunday. And it’s the weekend. We like weekend.
Another Attempt to Get Fired Up With Me, Zac Crain, YouTube Enthusiast
Soak it in, gang. Claw. Antlers. Beat Camp Mohawk.
Recommendation: Rally to Restore Sanity on Saturday
Okay, it’s not the real one in D.C. (I believe our own Laura Kostelny will be attending that one and, if we’re lucky, regaling us all with a trip report. No pressure.) But the satellite event, at Lee Harvey’s, does look fun, with Rawlins Gilliland, Bill Holston, and Angela Hunt speaking, and Shibboleth performing, and me doing what I just did here — typing out something that is clearly visible in a nearby flyer/photo. More info here. I will try to be in attendance, if I can trick my son into doing something he has absolutely zero interest in, which I might, since I have fooled him into regularly talking to me. Also, I want to see if I can get this awesome shirt.
100 Days and Counting to the Super Bowl
Yes, yes. Game 2 is tonight. Most of us right now are not thinking about the way that football go, especially considering that the Cowboys’ season ended Monday night with the snap of Romo’s clavicle and the loss to that other Giants team. But the Super Bowl is nigh upon us. We’ve got just 100 days to go. And to remind everyone, they held a luncheon today out at the Death Star. A report from intern Valeria Turturro follows after the jump.
Am I Being Too Hard on Judge Pat Ferchill?
The gist of the arguments I’m getting are: (1) He’s a really good guy. (2) The cases are really complicated. (3) Melody McDonald at the Star-Telegram wrote a nice story about him on something else. (4) His Libertarian opponent, Bob Shelton, is running against him in retribution for being ruled against in his court, which Shelton appealed and lost. (5) Yes, the judge may have a penchant for depending too much on expert testimony from professionals employed by nursing homes and others who have a financial interest in retaining control of the individuals in question, and yes, he sometimes doesn’t listen to or even allow evidence on the other side, but… (6) He was rated qualifed or very qualified by 96% of the respondents to a Tarrant County Bar Association survey, as opposed to Shelton’s 51% rating.
We report. You decide.
Dear Rangers, Quit Making Me Suck My Thumb
Dear Rangers:
Last night? Last night I found myself rocking back and forth, sucking my thumb. At the end of the fifth inning, I was in such terrible shape that I had to go to my happy place.
That’s right. I watched Grease. Twice. And sucked my thumb some more. I mean, y’all let Mitch Kramer beat the bejeezus out of you. And I had to listen to Joe Buck tell me about it. Do you have any idea what that’s like? It’s like listening to the dumbest mouth-breather in the elevator explain supply-side economics while Michael McDonald’s greatest hits are played as background music – and not being allowed to drink.
And then you lost, which just makes listening to that jack hole that much more painful. I thought those Yankee-lovin’ yahoos on TBS were bad, but all three of them can’t compare to the I-will-read-everything-on-the-screen-to-you-as-if-you-were-my-lackwit-infant-gorilla-ness of Joe Buck and his rusty sidekick, Tim McCarver. At least the crew at TBS could pronounce the players’ names correctly.
Tonight, I’m going to watch again. I’m hoping this was a Game 1 yips situation, and you all are just gonna simmah down, and play some Rangers baseball. Remember, you win on the road. You win on the road. And then you come home and win some more. And we never speak of this game again. Like Voldemort, but way scarier.
Claw. Antlers. Finish them. Or at least start finishing them.
Love,
Me
Tarrant Co. Probate Judges Protect Their Own
If the circus in Collin County isn’t a big enough argument against one-party government, the scandal brewing in the Tarrant County probate courts should be. I’ve linked to stories here and here about Judge Pat Ferchill. The judge, perhaps as a result of the growing press attention to his penchant for secret ex-parte hearings and favored advocates, recused himself from the Covington case, where a Down Syndrome girl’s parents were removed as guardians because they objected to a group home’s use of psychotropic drugs to sedate her. The motion to re-hear the case then went to his colleague, Judge Steven M. King.
Yesterday, Judge King postponed the hearing scheduled for today. He said it was “because of the election” and that “D Magazine had endorsed Ferchill’s opponent.” Here are the relevant two paragraphs from my editorial in the current issue:
In Tarrant County, it is the GOP that dominates with straight-ticket voting. For County Probate Court No. 2, they elected Pat Ferchill. This judge appears to have turned his probate court into a racket, holding ex parte hearings with favored attorneys, terminating guardianship rights of parents over their disabled children, and taking advantage of the elderly. Fort Worth Weekly and the Texas Tribune have done an excellent job of tracking the judge’s suspect rulings.
When no Democrat ran against Ferchill, long-time Fort Worth attorney Bob Shelton took up the cause and put his name on the ballot as a Libertarian. Republicans, do Fort Worth a favor. Vote for the Libertarian.
Apparently Judge King did not want an open hearing attended by the media where the pecularities of Judge Ferchill’s rulings and the worthiness of the evidence he relied on would be examined. Judge King is running unopposed for re-election. But, as noted above, Judge Ferchill is not.
Can a judge just willy-nilly postpone a hearing? Rule 251 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure:
No application for a continuance shall be heard before the defendant files his defense, nor shall any continuance be granted except for sufficient cause supported by affidavit, or by consent of the parties, or by operation of law.
Things to Do in Dallas Tonight: Oct. 28
Man, last night’s game made me queasy. Good thing I could switch over to back-to-back episodes of I Shouldn’t Be Alive for a little perspective during commercial breaks. Losing the World Series opener vs. losing a leg in the Pacific Ocean? I realize I’m probably alone here, but I’ll take the former. Anyhow, tonight’s outcome will be much different. Go Rangers!
I know at least 30 of you don’t plan to watch Game Two live tonight. Instead, you’ll be at Arcodoro & Pomodoro, which is hosting the IDEA Foundation’s 2,000 Farms dinner. This event celebrates the creation of the 2,000th family farm in Sierra Leone through the group’s partner, Heifer International. Among the items on the menu: smoked salmon, gorgonzola mousse and mushroom puffs, and chocolate sponge cake topped with layers of mascarpone, lady fingers, and thin, cracked chocolate. I’m told IDEA Foundation reps will discreetly circulate through the crowd to provide updates on the game. Only 30 seats remain, so get on the horn now.
OK, we’ve figured out your evening meal. If you want more, just jump.
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Drop the Claw On ‘Em, Drop the Kid in An Awesome Ron Washington Costume On ‘Em
It’s been everywhere on the internet this morning, and now, because why not, it’s here, too.
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