He said,"It might be a good time to....."

New Reader in a non Toll Lane on LBJ 635

My mother 's life's lessons still come back to haunt me at times. Not once, was she wrong.
She was the master of asking the question that forced you to tell her the truth! Over the years, she taught me as my grandfather had taught her. That's the way knowledge is best passed on from generation to generation. It's not so much that the information needs to be updated but more that the generations need to know the processes where our ancestors learned. The points and facts that make the difference.

One example of that very process came into play just a few days ago. One day on my way home for a doctor's appointment, I noticed one of the new license plate cameras mounted on a light pole in one of the intersections that I pass through routinely. That got me to thinking using the formula that mother had passed down. The next time I went to the grocery store, or drugstore, the post office or the gas station, I started to watch for the cameras. They began to appear frequently in my travels.

After a couple of months, parts of the puzzle began to fit together. One of the facts from mother's teachings was observation. From that, it taught one to look for the things that appear to be normal and fit in, but really are quiet the opposite. They are designed to trick and mislead and draw away suspicions from the real purpose. Hunters use those same tricks in a deer blind.

One day on a trip to the plastic surgeon to have some small stitches removed, it occurred to me that I could make a game out of this and I tried to get home without being in the  reader of one of those cameras. That is when the link begin to fall into place.  There were other cameras, as we all know, but they were not part of this equation. The test was only involving the new black and white cameras on the poles.

Sure enough. Now, with the information that if I stayed on the one street, I would pass by three cameras. So, I decided to cut down another street that came around to the street where I would turn ahead several miles down the road.  Ahead at the next major intersection was yet, another camera. and ahead of that was yet another and after a turn, to complete the box pattern, was yet another.

The findings were alarming.  It showed me that a report was generated that if after going past the first camera I turned, it could pin-point that I stopped at a drugstore for a period of x number of minutes although it would not show which store in particular I had visited. In other words, it could physically track movement between points A,B,C and D even if I went down another street.

That every evening, on the news, the police were seeking more cameras. If should be noted that the word "camera" takes on the meaning also of the license plate readers. There are two distinct, but similar devices. But who pays attention to detail anyway. We are busy with living life and little things like that are insignificant. Of course, that is the point here.

That point was driven home even more as I have begun to notice the "toll tag" readers going up on 635LBJ. Well sure! LBJ is going to have toll lanes in the HOV lanes. Ah! asleep at the wheel again.
These readers are not in the toll lanes. That's right. NOT in the toll lanes. Things begin to appear in places where they should not be, or if they were there in a "shouldn't be" place, what is their real purpose then?  That was another one of mom's lessons. Ask questions. Ask lots of questions.

So on Wednesday, I got a chance to ask a lots of questions to a TX DOT official on the Q-T. At first, he didn't want to answer some of the questions. Then, as time went on, he began to be more down-to-earth and honest about some of the things happening without being tagged as the one who spilled the beans.

He began by saying that people in Dallas are asleep behind the wheel. Then, he would point out an example of what he meant as traffic whisked by. Then, he made reference to the fact that it was now to late to do anything and again cite an example of what he meant. Mostly, about a project being about the almighty buck. Example was that the tolls were being collected for 50 odd years by a foreign company or a sub-contract hired to collect the money. The HOV lanes as toll lanes were just an excuse to get the other things done.

And finally, when talking about noticing things that are out of place or don't really fit in with the overall scheme of things as intended, he made the most crucial statement of all. He made the reference that now was the time to put in the things that don't belong there (those not really intended for the purpose of traffic engineering functions) because people see the construction going on and just assume that everything is part of the project. "People, I tell you, are asleep at the wheel and when they wake up they are going to be asking the question, 'how did that get there?' or when was that ordinance passed?' 

By then, it's way to late to do anything. I agree with him. I've seen the "out of place" things going in. I thanked him for his candor and thought about this awhile. It is to late already, I thought.

So, the next time I go to the polls if you are an incumbent,  you won't be getting my vote. Now, we just need millions more to have the guts to do that.

The bottom line is people are asleep at the wheel. Technology isn't always used to "keep you safe" as lawmakers do their work of telling you that it is for your safety.


Updated 05 July 2017. Additions, corrections,

John Carpenter's Little Ranch Packed!

John Carpenter had a little ranch that he called Las Colinas. Saturday that former ranch was covered with people from one end to another. The Irving Convention Center was hosting a walk for poverty. I got caught up in  the traffic for that and waited 27-minutes for the marchers to pass.  Then when the last of the marchers had passed and the street was opened up for traffic, it was soon to be discovered that Irving police had blocked off my usual entry into the Lake Carolyn venue for the National Red Bull Flugtag.

 I had spent 40-minutes already in bumper-to-bumper traffic on LBJ 635 as a result of a Monte Carlo facing east bound in the west bound lanes with its front and rear wheels and axels ripped off the car's frame. A young girl in Daisy Duke attire was leaning up against a barrier wall inside a circle of Dallas Police Cars that had encircled at least three lanes of traffic blocking off the accident and its passenger on the barrier wall.

 So, after a couple of trips in circles on the service roads and Las Colinas Blvd., I drove the car into the entry to the Grand Trevino, paid my 5-bucks for the day, grabbed my camera bag and water jug and headed out for about a 10-block walk. There were several photographers at the media tent and a young girl who was clueless was trying to tell us that our cameras would not be allowed inside. After about 30-minutes of discussion, she had worn down everyone but myself and one other photographer. It's funny that this whole image thing has just gone wild with everyone with a camera phone in their pocket or purse, even some of those now have packs that can accommodate changeable lens like a DSLR camera. What's even more amazing is that there is now a phone camera that has 43 pixs. That's more than some DSLR's. It's amazing.After that, I didn't even bother picking up my wrist band until about an hour before I was ready to leave.

People were curb-to-curb, wall-to-wall,elbow-to-elbow. The lines at the food trucks stretched across the roadways that normally are used to walk to and fro. I've never been able to understand why people don't bend the lines at an angle so as not to block the roadways but that would take my friend, Patrick, the anthropologist at U Mass , some research time to figure out. And Patrick, while you are at it, can you tell me why the people in lines then get mad at the people trying to get up and down the street when they have to cut through the lines just to get from point A to B?

At first, I was going to ride the Orange Line out, but then I remembered that the People Movers didn't work on the weekends and I figured what's the use. Walking was a major distance thing at this event. If you were an observer in the "beach" area and had to make a trip to the port-a-potties, good luck.The walk was more than a little jaunt. It's more like the 'red trail" for the experienced hiker. As I am walking back to the Grand T where my car had stayed in cool shade, I discovered that the People Movers were, indeed, working and from the Orange Line station, I could have used the PM to cover that entire distance. I sat in my car in the parking garage in line for 18-minutes just to exit. The Orange Line gets my vote from here on out. Dart was running three full cars on the Orange Line,too! Dressed in Flugtag blue vinal wrap!

All-in-all, it turned out pretty well. Now, I just have to rest up for the re-birth of Big Tex and the opening of the State Fair on Friday! At least I can have a corny dog and a coke while I'm resting inline.

This was one of the small lines

Anyone gives you any trouble tell 'em Sue said it was okay!.Sue with the yellow glasses? No, I'm not Sue.

It Ain't Gonna Fly! No Way!

A Needle In A Haystack Shines

Sometimes, you can search for that needle in the haystack until  you are blue in the face. Other times, it jumps out at you like a ghost in a fun house. Today, those odd things all came together thanks to a very creative graphic arts shop owner and  a lodge that has been keeping a eye on things since 1897. And, folk art turns the corner with the amazing hand-painted and decorated guitar.

The International Order of Odd Fellows lodge building with it's eye underneath the three chain links.

Thanks to the shop keeper that had this displayed in his shops window. I needed that outbusrst of laughter and I thank him for it.

Folk Art at its best on display in a shop window.The message on the frets gives hope.

As Time Goes Bye

Just off Mockingbird, for years, sat a small Baptist church. The last couple of years, the congregation  slowly disappeared. That is not to say that the congregation is no more, it simply means that the church began to appear empty. Then in the fall of last year the real estate "for sale" sign when up. One day in passing, I decided that it was time to get a picture of the belfry with the  foundry-cast bell visibly hanging in place. After a while, the image got deleted (as I do every six months).

In an urban setting, the location, setting and size of the building lended itself to my memory of a small country church  where I grew up and anchored our paternal family burial plots. Although, four other cemeteries hold my maternal immediate family and my son,that of and within itself could be another story.

During the past couple of weeks, there was visible activity that a new owner or the past congregation  of the property were beginning to make changes to the property, then last week, the bell in the belfry was gone. That was not a good sign. Yesterday, there was a city code violation sticker attached to the property. It is now obvious that the property is set for destruction, be it a new owner or the previous church congregation, although since it was listed by a real estate agent, the probability of the congregation rebuilding  would be a somewhat mute point at this site.

At any rate, a piece of history is changing architectu

History past and present

The belfry contained  a foundry-cast bell until a couple of weeks ago.

rally. Therefore, the property does fall within the mission statement of this site to photograph within guidelines "to enhance the mind,stir the emotions and quench a thirsty soul."  This is why I enjoy urban photography so much. Bitter sweet memories do enhance the mind, they do stir the emotions and they will quench a thirsty soul strolling down memory lane.

Down Under Arrives Top Side

It's been a while since visiting Founder's Plaza at DFW International Airport. The delay between visits would be more about the massive construction project called the DFW Connector than anything else. About half my visits are on the LBJ expressway and half are on the surface roads. Oddly enough, while the construction has been going on with the LBJ Expressway Project and the DFW Connector Construction, the expressways have been the road of choice. Actually, it kills two birds with one stone. Not only can one see two massive multi-billion dollar roadway projects going on at the same time, they occur end to  end with about a five mile section in the middle where the  President George Bush Turnpike crosses LBJ 635 coming up from I-30  before it bifurcates into state highway 121 that is know known as the Sam Rayburn Turnpike.

The Founder's Plaza is at the end of Texan Trail at Air Field West. Texas Trail crosses 121 and 114 (Carpenter Freeway) in Grapevine. But, from International Parkway, that runs right down the middle of the massive DFW property, Air Field  east and west is like a beltway. From 183 on the south to 121 on the north,the Southern Entrance or the Northern Entrance to the airport is so named.

There are several more facts about DFW to deal with. DFW has a total of seven (7) runways. As far a big airports go, that's a lot! Five (5) of those runways ( 17L,17C,17R,18L,18R)  run more-or less north and south. The next two are diagonal to the five parallel runways ( one on each side) and are cross-wind runways 13L and 13R. A few miles to the southeast on the same degree headings lies 13L and 13 R at Love Field. Thank goodness that the Regional Air Traffic Control Center handles all the incoming and outgoing flights from all the airports in Air Traffic Control (ATC). TRACON or terminal radar control all fits together in the control and safety issues before handing off to Ft. Worth Center, the high altitude control center that gets air traffic safely across this country. There are also, three (3) active control towers at DFW. No other airport has three active towers operating at the same time.

Eighteen (18) left and right runways and 13 right cross-wind runway lands in Tarrant County, Texas while Seventeen (17) left, center, right and crosswind 13 left  land in Dallas Country, Texas. And  the drawing board eighth runway will also land in Tarrant Country.Some passenger planes land on 18L and R and a lot of terminal traffic takes off on 18 L. The Heavies mostly land on the 18s but the smaller craft take off on the left 18s because it is close to the terminals and the International terminal.

It's much more than just watching planes land and take off. Learnng what's going on when you hear a plane overhead can tell you a lot about what's going on in the regions traffic routes and airports. Yes, even weather can be fortold by watching the high altitude flights as well as the low altitude flights.

[updated on 09/12/13 to correct bifocal blunders!]

Quantas Airlines International Flight Arriving Runway 18L



Founder's Plaza with city flags from Ft. Worth and Dallas, plus the Texas State Flag and the US Flag.

Boots On The Ground

Some cliche catch phrases are alright. Others, find me a bit uncomfortable because to me, they go against the grain of how I learned respect. Surprisingly, while I got a lot of learning from mom and dad, it was my maternal grandmother that kept me in check when mom and dad were working or being social at church functions etc. My maternal grandfather early on had worked in the oil fields. Later, he became a U.S. Marshall, but his greatest love was being a businessman. He had operated boarding houses and restaurants that served hourly workers to big industrial operations like the cabinet plant that made cabinets for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He provided them with a room where the workers could sleep and also be feed three home - cooked meals for a weekly sum. His rooms were always filled. My grandmother was a good cook. He also carried basic grocery items that workers could buy for their days off or holidays. The passenger trains stopped just across from the boarding house and restaurant. My two older aunts worked there in their high school days.My mom being the youngest was only 4 and she was without doubt my grandfather's baby and favorite.

During the depression, they didn't have much, but they did have food. At 17, when the war broke out, my mom moved to Detroit to live with her older sister and to baby sit while my aunt worked. It wasn't long until my mom because one of the original Rosie the Riveters at the Willow Run Airport where a Ford factory began producing B-17 bombers. She riveted a set of bolts into the wing of the B-24 Liberator aircraft.

I remember going to Detroit in the early 1950s to visit my aunt and she took mom and dad and I and one of her younger sisters out to Willow Run to see the old hanger. For a 5-year old, it made a very big impression on me. To this day being an aviation geek is just something I still get goose-bumps from.

In 1998 my mom was visiting a very dear friend who lived just outside Columbus,Ohio. My son was living in Columbus, working and going to school at Ohio State University. There was  a B-24 Liberator on display at the Madison Country Airport near Rickenbacker Field. Mom was just like a child. She couldn't wait until she could go see that plane. After 50-years, she spotted the two bolts she riveted at Willow Run all those years ago. She bought a T-shirt and put it on right on the spot. She was happy or had fulfilled an item on her Bucket List if she had one. I think she did have one. She wanted to visit Vermont but would not fly and would not take long-over-the-road trips. I once ask here how did she think that she would get there. Her replay, through the eyes of Life and Look  Magazine photographers.

So when I hear the phrase: Boots on the Ground, it has a much more crystallized meaning to me that sending troops in to fight a country's civil war.

C-1928. Mom sits on the counter.The two older girls are mom's sisters. Her brother is not photographed. The man behind the counter is my grandfather W.S.

Traditional Boots of Military Issue in past Wars.
These may have been in the Pacific Theater


12/16/18 edited to clarify some meanings.

A Labor Day Image of Joy From The Heart

Yesterday afternoon, I sat along the western shores of White Rock Lake in triple digit heat drinking lots of water and would wipe sweat from my forehead on a frequent basis. The group at the "Free Advise Forum" that has been there for 16-years was interesting as it usually is for goers. It was sunset as I helped Roddie load up the folding chairs, the teddy bears from the tree, the all-familiar sign "Free Advise" and , of course, the American Flags. When home, even though I was in the shade and under my fedora, there was a deeper red glow to my face than the bronze tan that was there earlier. It came from the reflection of the water most likely.

In the course of the discussion, it came up about music from the heart. My best example was to relate an earlier statement that has been made in the past. That statement was in answer to a question proposed to me about what makes me happiest. My original statement was that what makes me the most happy is sitting at the bench of a 100-rank pipe organ playing Widor.People don't expect to hear that coming from me. So, when it comes up from time-to-time, it requires some explaining.

Yesterdays discussion created some interest as to how or what can you relate that to visually. Just so happens, several months ago, I discovered on You Tube  a video that completely adheres to the cliche: A picture is worth a thousand words. Plus, in this case, you get to hear some pretty good music performed on the instrument that it was written for. But most importantly, it also show a visual of how a human being feels from within the 'joy that comes from the heart'.

The video is of a young man, Laplacae, performing The Widor Toccata on the Cavaille-Coll Grand Organ  at Saint Sulpice Church, Paris. The instrument was where Charles-Marie Widor served as organist and composed his Toccata from Symphony Number 5. The organ is a tracker-action and in short, playing a tracker is total work because of the mechanical actions. Organs today operated by pneumatics and it is like power steering on a car. Tracker action is like no power steering. So, from the discussion yesterday and again by popular request, watch and listen but pay close attention to Msgr.Laplacae as he releases the keys after the final chord in his performance of  Charles-Marie Widor's Toccata from Symphony Number 5 on the Saint Sulpice Cavaille-Coll Grand Organ, in Paris.You will see Joy from the Heart. The link is below left.


http://youtu.be/TQaXh28tzyo