A Big Week In Pottstown, P-A .....

..... began with this post from Jim at serotoninrain, and continued through several posts and Utterz before we were treated to a photo of a signed-on-the-dotted-line document.

Virtual Jim has been a longtime friend to many of us here, in the West Texas blogosphere. The real thing turned out to be even better when Jim was the guest-of-honor at an actual gathering of virtual acquaintances during the Serotoninrain Road Tour.

So I know there are many of you out there who wish Jim well in this week in which everything changes all at once ..... and in the exciting weeks that lie ahead.

Memorial Day Memo .....

TO: All - I Repeat, ALL - Politicians, Incumbents and Candidates
FROM: Jeff
RE: Opportunities to Make Political Speeches on Memorial Day

Just shut up!

'Citizen of the Shale' Has Her Say .....

A few days back, I wondered in this post what Cowtown Pattie at Texas Trifles might say about becoming a 'Citizen of the Shale' ..... now I know.

"Citizens of the Shale," is a 30-minute newsmagazine produced by Chesapeake Energy and set for multiple airings on six major stations in the DFW market. I don't know if there are plans to air the program here, in the Permian Basin - that would be like 'preaching to the choir,' abyway. But you can watch the program yourself, online, by clicking on that CotS link. The program is airing in conjunction with a major online effort by Chesapeake to engage in the debate over 'urban drilling,' and to promote its stand on the issues.

So what does one 'citizen' have to say?

"The Simple Life Ain't So Simple in the Land of Shale," Miss Pattie concludes ..... and she's right. Hers is a first-hand story of a neighborhood confronted with the prospect of urban drilling. She is mindful of the benefits that residents might gain from that drilling ..... but she is equally mindful of the risks. A decision to sign a lease, she explains, is part resignation, part acceptance of the lure of greenbacks, and part hope that they might mitigate as much of the damage to their community as possible by acting collectively and employing a lawyer to negotiate the lease.

I see where she's coming from ..... but I don't know whether many in the Tall City will understand the concerns, the suspicions she and others outside the Basin have when dealing with oil-and-gas companies. Perhaps the push for urban drilling in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (and here, in Midland?) will provide an opportunity for these companies to reach out and actively address those concerns and suspicions - not just through preaching on the airwaves, but through practice in the neighborhoods ..... finding that balance between good business and good citizenship.

Something for News Producers - and Consumers - to Consider .....

From the other side of the pond comes the following comments about the images presented - and watched - on television news programs, on any given day.

The comments come from Brian at Thought Experiments: The Blog, which I discovered a couple of years ago through my Philadelphia e-friend Frank at Books, Inq.: The Epilogue.

"Watching the news last night, the inevitable harrowing scenes from the Irrawaddy Delta and Sechuan were abundantly on display," Brian wrote earlier this week, under the heading Ethical Voyeurism and Selective Squeamishness. "In China, we watched a dying man making a last phone call to his wife as he lay crushed under a huge block of concrete. In Burma, we saw a grief-stricken family watching as their patriarch died."

"What purpose does such footage serve? There is nothing we might be spurred to do about either situation which would be of any use - the earthquake response has been, apparently, efficient and concerted and there is little chance of anyone more being found alive, while in Burma the military junta (despite 'Lord' Malloch Brown's optimistic snap judgment) continues to prevent serious aid getting to where it's needed."

"Is this intrusive footage anything more than a kind of 'humane', ethical voyeurism? The news crews' intrusiveness into private grief is apparently deemed quite permissible with people in faraway places who are 'not like us' - such footage of a homegrown disaster would not be shown."

Good questions ..... unfortunately, Brian does not go on to provide good answers. Also, I disagree on some points - I have over the years produced and consumed plenty of images from what he calls "homegrown disasters" ..... and fielded the complaints from those who objected. It is at THIS point that I have observed "selective squeamishness" - most of the complaints stem from a close attachment to the subject. Far less complaints come from a general, on-principal, regardless-of-who's-shown source.

I also disagree with Brian about whether presenting such images serves a purpose ..... they do. We have heard - and said - many, many times that 'one picture is worth a thousand words.' That old saying has been proven true to me on countless occasions, where a single image conveyed the depth and the scope of a tragedy far better than any text I could write.

Still, Brian's comments DO offer some good discussion points for news producers ..... and news consumers, too.

A Kickin' Soccer Weekend .....

When one has done just about everything one can do, soccer-wise, in West Texas, there's really nothing else to do but head to North Texas.

That’s exactly what Elder Son and his teammates – boys from Odessa and Midland who comprise the Dallas Texans 93-West Texas – were doing in Frisco this weekend. And they were doing it very well.

John Cordsen, who was my publisher at the Fort Stockton Pioneer back in the 90s, used to say that there’s a reason they go ahead and play the game anyway, in spite of the all the pre-game hype, and all the certainty over the game’s outcome.

I think our boys proved that point. You see, 3/4 of the team is comprised of 94 (born in 1994) boys. But West Texas is a region of small communities, and small pools of kids from which teams can draw players. The only way the Texans could make roster this year was to add some 93 boys. So now the team must play in the 93 bracket.

So, that’s what they did, knocking off generally-older, generally-larger and more experienced teams from Midland-Odessa, San Angelo and Lubbock to win the league title.

The contrast was even stronger this weekend in Frisco. In addition to tackling the bigger teams, the boys also found themselves playing ‘Classic’ league teams - a more competitive and talented league than ours. But, as John said, you go ahead and play the game anyway. So they did, knocking off one Classic Division 3 team, then two Division 2 teams on the first day to win their bracket. And that is NOT something a team from West Texas is supposed to do.

The next morning, it was the semifinals, and a Classic League Division 1 Team. Our boys lost that one in the closing seconds, when the other team scored a goal to break a 3-3 tie, bringing an end to one of the most exciting youth games I've ever seen, one of the team’s best tournament showings ever, and a totally awesome season.

The boys didn't have much time to dwell upon their loss, because their Sunday afternoon was spent at Pizza Hut Park as guests of Major League Soccer’s F.C. Dallas. They soon found themselves down on the field, one of the best pitches they’d ever set foot on, watching players from F.C. Dallas and the visiting L.A. Galaxy warm-up. Then it was over to the tunnel, where our Texans and other teams from the tournament lined up to ‘high-five’ the pros as they emerged from the locker rooms for the game. Elder Son scored something of a hat trick, managing to shake hands with three of his L.A. Galaxy heroes – Landon Donavan, Carlos Ruiz and David Beckham ….. he’s still talking about it!

Anyay, what a wild and wonderful ride it’s been, for players and parents alike, Congratulations, boys!

Taking to the Airwaves .....

Midland is not the only Texas community where people are debating the subject of drilling rigs inside city limits. That debate is also under way in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This weekend, one side of that debate took to the airwaves in north Texas.

This in the form of "Citizens of the Shale," a 30-minute newsmagazine produced by Chesapeake Energy and set for multiple airings on six major stations in the DFW market. (You can watch the program yourself, online, by clicking on that CotS link)

The program is airing in conjunction with a major online effort by Chesapeake to engage in the debate over 'urban drilling,' and to promote its stand on the issues.

Opponents of urban drilling are also having their say. Some are reaching out through the media, such as this article that appeared last month in the Texas Observer. They are also going online through organizations such as Fort Worth Citizens Against the Drilling Ordinance, or FWCanDo.

Me? I'm wondering how long before our Fort Worth e-friend, Cowtown Patty at Texas Trifles weighs-in on the topic. THAT could be interesting.

A Day in the Life .....

Perhaps the most unique, the most intriguing use of the blogosphere in West Texas continues to be Bob's ongoing, online journal, "Ran with the devil, Walked with angels" .....

"I am a survivor. That's what those of us with Traumatic Brain Injuries call ourselves," Bob explains. "Because I often can't remember yesterday, this journal serves as my memory. I have decided to share my life to help others understand this disability. Your comments are always welcome. Tell your friends about my blog if you find it interesting."

And it IS interesting. Bob is actually one of the most prolific bloggers in West Texas ..... it's just him, and the material is entirely his original composition. His latest post covers a frequent topic, a day in the life of a Martin County farming couple ..... their long days filled with many tasks, the expected rigors, the unexpected problems, and the awesome sunsets ..... all of it with the added uncertainty that he'll remember any of this on the following day.

It is definitely worth your visit.

Sunrise Midland .....

Not a bad start this morning ..... I can think of worse places to greet the sunrise than Midland, Texas. It was one of those good-news, not-so-good-news kind of things that had me greeting the dawn today.

The good news? With graduation behind us, Midland College goes to summer hours, and we're only open four days-a-week. The not-so-good news? Those four days are longer, and I'm in the office, now, at seven o'clock in the morning, instead of eight o'clock. It's no problem getting up early ..... I was already up and busy that early ..... those of you with school-age children will understand.

A good-thing-about-the-not-so-good-news? An early morning drive through the (not-so) Tall (as-it-used-to-be) City. A treat for the eyes was the sun coming up and, in and out of the clouds on the eastern horizon. Overhead, the sky was a beautiful blue - progressing through every shade of blue as the sun rose. There was that wonderful coolness we enjoy, even on the mornings where the day's high temperatures will reach into the 90s, or more.

All of this complemented by music on the radio - an XM Moment! - "Song of the High Hills" by Frederick Delius.

All in all, not a bad way to start the morning.

Next Time, Shut the Heck Up .....

Opened my big fat mouth a few weeks back, and that turned out to be a big fat mistake. Next time, I just need to shut the heck up.

A friend was asking me about my new job at Midland College ... "What's it like?" and "How does it compare to your old job?"

I pointed out that the hours are A LOT better than in television news and production ..... less of them and more consistent. It REALLY IS a Monday-to-Friday, eight-to-five job. No overnight stabbings, shootings or fatal wrecks, no weekend tornadoes or wildfires, no long nights following the latest football scores from Girvin, or election returns from Eureka.

I also commented that the stress level was a lot lower, and I smugly observed that what counts for a crisis on a college campus would barely raise a ripple in a television newsroom - big fat mistake.

"It is statements like these," John Maddox Roberts wrote in his short story, The Statuette of Rhodes, "that provide the gods with no end of amusement."

We are now less than 12 hours away from commencement, and less than 72 hours away from moving our office to temporary quarters to make way for renovations on our building. To say it's been 'hectic' would be a ridiculous understatement. I'll re-cap next week ..... if I live, or haven't been taken into custody!

Is It Such a Bad Thing? .....

More than one observer of national political news has commented on whether or not the Democrats have already lost the 2008 presidential race through an extended and possibly-divisive primary campaign.

Me? I can't say whether they have or they haven't ..... I'll be able to say better on November 5 ..... or later, if the State of Florida disagrees with the results this time around.

But I do find myself wondering if an extended campaign - one that might go all the way to the convention before it's resolved - is necessarily a bad thing. In my own humble and uninformed opinion, I would say it's a good thing, at least from a news journalist's perspective. And in the long run, it might be good for news consumers, as well.

In recent years, political parties have bemoaned the fact that news networks don't devote the time to convention coverage that they once did. It's true, they don't ..... though not necessarily for the same reason suggested by the party leadership. There's nothing like an early, quiet end to the primary campaign to take away just about any news value to the convention ..... 'So-And-So' has officially received the party's nomination for president? ..... well, duh ..... wasn't that settled, for all intents and purposes, in April?

A decision early in the primary campaign means that, by the time the national convention comes along, all we are left with is essentially a week-long un-paid political announcement, carefully crafted and scripted for news consumers ..... a PR sheep in news wolf's clothing.

It hasn't always been that way ..... you don't have to be as old as me to remember when the national convention could easily become a rough-and-tumble, raucous affair where the candidate, and planks of the party's platform were yet to be settled. "Ohio passes," anyone?

So, as far as I'm concerned, go ahead and let Obama and Clinton continue to duke-it-out right up to the convention. It may be a bad thing for the Democratic Party leadership ..... then again, maybe it won't.

Blogger Has Us Seeing Stars .....

Missioner may be a Christian gentleman, and would decline using the Lord's name in vain. But Blogger, on the other hand, may have earned an epithet or two.

Apparently, his blog, West Texas Missioner was bedeviled by the sudden and inexplicable appearance of a 'review' feature, where each of his posts was tagged with a panel, asking readers to rate the post on a scale of 1-5 stars.

He had no idea how it got there, and he couldn't figure out how to get rid of it ..... and can any of you find a way to contact Blogger help directly or immediately?

It turns out "Blogger Goofed" ..... at least that's the line that eventually showed up in one of Blogger's 'Help Groups.'

Hey folks,

So we goofed up a bit and accidentally enabled an experimental feature
that was supposed to remain only on Blogger in Draft :P

Some of you may have noticed these star ratings, and we are currently
working to disable the feature for everyone at the moment. If you like
what you see though, you can still log into Blogger in Draft and
enable star ratings via draft.blogger.com.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and will keep you updated with any
new developments. Thanks for hanging in there!

Gatsby (Blogger Employee)

So now Missioner can get back to other matters, like Burmese cyclones. In the meantime, you might head over there and give a few 5-star ratings ..... everyone needs a little encouragement now and then.

The Politics of Compassion .....

On the heels of our hearing how desperate it was for the people of Burma/Myanmar, it just got A LOT more desperate.

On Sunday, Midlanders had a chance to hear Steve Gumaer, co-founder of Partners Relief & Development speak about the peoples of Burma who are beaten, displaced and victimized by their own government. We watched late last year as this government bloodily suppressed pro-freedom demonstrations in the streets of their major cities - the atrocities committed by the government and its army are even greater, and have been going on even longer outside the cities, in the lands occupied by ethnic minority groups.

These acts have earned our condemnation at both the official, government level and the private, individual level. But circumstances have a way of changing, and now we are rushing to help .... if we can. In the wake of this weekend's terrible, deadly storm, the greatest obstacle to helping the people of Burma may be the government of Burma. Relief efforts - those of both governments and NGO's worldwide - have been frustrated by the demands of Burma's ruling military junta that all aid be give to them, personally, and by their refusal to grant relief workers access to their country. Now there is news that the U.N. is considering plan to force Burma (Myanmar) to accept the aid.

Agencies are moving forward, though, preparing for that moment when access may at last be granted - no matter how grudgingly - by Burma's government. One of those agencies is Steve's Partners organization, which is mobilizing to assist people directly impacted by this natural disaster.

"Four days ago a devastating cyclone hit the southern delta region of Burma," said an e-mail I received Tuesday from Partners. "These winds flattened homes and resulted in thousands of deaths. Partners is currently mobilizing a relief team comprised of medical personnel and logisticians to respond to this tragedy."

"The people who remain in Burma are in a desperate situation and in need of emergency relief supplies - food, shelter, medicine and clean water."

"God's heart bleeds for the people of Burma. They are an oppressed people mired in poverty under the hand of a regime that refuses to serve their own people. And now, they are confronted by this terrible natural disaster."

"As you may have seen in the media, the Burma regime had foreknowledge of the weather conditions and yet neglected to inform the people in the path of the cyclone. Consequently, the human cost and needs are enormous."

"The current death toll is 15,000 [it has since reached 22,000 or more] and the numbers are growing by the hour. "

"In order to respond to this tragedy, we are needing your help. Partners has launched an immediate Burma Cyclone Emergency Relief Appeal fund. Please donate online to help finance this action of love."

"Please continue to pray for this evolving situation. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available."

I've already contributed, and so have others here in Midland. I strongly urge you to contribute, too. Or, you can go here for a list of other agencies accepting Burma/Myanmar cyclone donations.

Don't Mess with Me, Man ... er, Boy .....

With thanks to fellow dang-Yankee-from-back-east Jim, at serononinrain.

You Really Ought to Come Hear This Guy .....

His name is Steve Gumaer, co-founder of Partners Relief & Development, and he is on the road in the United States, on a journey that includes a stop in West Texas this weekend.

Steve will be speaking at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Sunday, May 4, at both the 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. services. Steve promises to paint a picture of the people he works with who are vulnerable and abused, yet a powerful symbol of faith, real freedom, and a willingness to live out the words of Christ, not just talk about them. Those people are refugees from the atrocities committed by the Army of Burma (Myanmar) against various ethnic groups in that troubled country, including the Karen, the Chin, the Shan, and others.

It's not only the story of a persecuted people, but a persecuted church ..... and I hope you can attend.

It's Not Just Those People, Over There .....

That's the point Missioner seems to be making with this post at West Texas Missioner. Apparently, a group of West Texans gained tremendous insight into the problems of human trafficking and child exploitation while on Christian mission to Thailand. They also learned about possible solutions to those problems - solutions that need to be applied in southeast Asia, and right here, in the Lone Star State.

Some might say Thailand is a long way to go - and I guess I can see their point. But if it helps keep more 13-year-old girls off the stages of Dallas strip clubs, I think it's well worth the trip.

Virtual Wisdom vs. Actual Reality .....

The hunt has been on in recent months for what some virtual punditz claim is a mythical creature. I'm not so sure about that.

I'm talking about the 'conservative Democrat.' The phrase came up earlier this year when a local politician announced his candidacy for office. The phrase drew more than a few responses, a substantial number of them to the effect of, "there ain't no such thing as a conservative Democrat."

Me? I'm not so sure. I guess it's because - on this topic, at least - I find virtual wisdom at odds with actual reality. I'm a big fan of actual reality, and I truly believe it's something we should all try to embrace more often and with more enthusiasm. Doing so has led me to a startling and contrary conclusion ..... "yes, Texas, there IS a conservative Democrat." There always has been and there always will be.

True, there aren't nearly as many of them as there used to be. Once upon a time, they ranged across the American landscape by the millions. And they occupied positions of great power. I still remember Philadelphia during the term of 'the Super Cop,' Mayor Frank Rizzo, a no-nonsense, law-and-order, conservative Democrat. Some claim he even considered supporting Republican President Richard Nixon's bid for re-election in 1972, rather than Democratic challenger George McGovern. Though I've never lived in Chicago, I've spoken to one-time residents of the Windy City who share similar stories of their one-time mayor, Richard J. Daley (the Elder Mayor Daley).

Okay, that was then ..... what about now? Oh, yes, they're still out there, still living and working, directing government and making a difference in this world. It's hard to believe, really, that our local band of neo-con Republicans can so quickly and so easily dismiss the existence of the Yellow Dog Democrat.

In the late 90s, I spent five years covering Pecos County YDD's as managing editor and chief reporter for the Fort Stockton Pioneer. A majority of the people in Pecos County and the City of Fort Stockton were conservatives ..... but they were also Democrats. At election time, most local, municipal and county races were won by Democrats, while most state and federal races were won by Republicans. Time and again, the decisions by local governing bodies - dominated by Democrats - reflected conservative values.

And let's not forget another conservative Democrat in West Texas, former Congressman Charlie Stenholm.

Sure, there are plenty of those conservatives who jumped the Democratic ship over the past thirty years, and swam for Republican shores. But there are still those who remain faithful to their conservative values and outlook ..... and remain Democrats.

And sure, it flouts virtual wisdom ..... but actual reality has a way of doing that from time to time.

Really Not Into Reality, But .....

If the ratings are any indicator, I'm one of about seven people nationwide that is not a fan of "American Idol," arguably one of the most successful of the 'reality TV' programs to hit the airwaves.

Actually, the same holds true for most of the more successful reality shows ..... I remember, from the very beginning, I was never able to embrace "Survivor." I remember writing in my weekly column for the Fort Stockton Pioneer, that having known too many real survivors - whether they were U.S. Marines or West Texas pioneer ranchers - I just didn't have much patience with all the posturing and pontificating from the TV show's contestants.

There have been exceptions, though. I used to love watching "Junkyard Wars" ..... but that series eventually ran its course, and was retired. I was a big fan of Monster House and Monster Garage, until the shows' producers started spending more and more time on personality and confrontation, and less and less time on product and construction.

Production, production, production ..... needless to say, when "Making News: Texas Style" hit the airwaves, I was interested. After all, it was about my business, and about people I knew and had worked with ..... but the show's producers, for the most part, made sure I didn't watch more than two-and-a-half episodes - I thought they did a terrible job.

But, the thing about television programming ..... there is a lot of it out there, and there's bound to be something for everyone. For me, it's "Top Chef" which airs Wednesday nights at nine (central) on BravoTV. Why? Part of it is the content - I have always enjoyed shows about cooking - and part of it is the genuine competition and the creative challenges that are presented to the contestants. A big part of it is the production ..... there is A LOT of the attitude and the posturing that I dislike on other programs, but somehow the producers have added just the right portion of that ingredient to the mix, and maintain the show's focus on the product.

I'll be watching tonight ..... and someday, maybe - just maybe - I'll try one of their recipes in my kitchen.

Go Ahead, Hug That Tree - It's Okay .....

Quick ..... picture an 'environmentalist' in your mind, and what do you see? ..... Who are these people, anyway? ..... And where do they get their crazy ideas?

All too often, people deal with stereotypes formed from incomplete and inaccurate observations. For example, because one totes a firearm (and, maybe, hunts), does that make one some kind of NRA-cold-dead-fingers-off-the-trigger fanatic? ..... maybe not.

Because one is an environmentalist, does that make one some kind of wild-eyed-tie-dyed-bare-footed-tree-hugging-leftist-leaning-granola-eating hippie? ..... again, maybe not.

That's not to say there aren't some individuals out there who might fit those stereotypes ..... but you have to ask yourself if they are the 'rule' or the 'exception' ..... are YOU an environmentalist, even just a little bit? ..... you may be, even if you haven't spent much time at an outdoor concert in Woodstock; a commune in Taos, or a revolutionary neighborhood in San Francisco.

Me? My environmental roots took hold in very different soil, in lessons learned from my family, my parents and my grandparents. They were people who experienced first-hand the Great Wars of the 1910s and the 1940s, and the Great Depression of the 1930s. My father's family were farmers, and that provided an added lesson for me to respect the blessings that are the earth and its resources, and to do whatever I can - within reason - to nurture those resources, to use them well and wisely .....

..... to be a good steward. My family had never heard of Gaia (that was something I learned later, in college), but there was still something spiritual - a matter of fundamental faith - in their relationship to the Earth and its resources. They had read in the Bible (KJV), the Book of Genesis, that their dominion over the Earth and its resources, and their command to replenish and subdue, came from God ..... pretty heady stuff, and a topic that is still the subject of heated debate today.

Spirituality ..... and frugality ..... wasting nothing ..... helping to make limited ends meet by finding a way to use (or re-use) anything and everything before you decide to dispose of it ...... to repair/rebuild/restore the old before having to buy the new - a decision that is taken more and more out of our hands in the modern electronic age, where car maintenance (for example) is not as easy it was in my father's day. And frugality extends to the kitchen, as well ..... recipes my grandma shared with me, and strategies for re-using products, and stretching limited amounts of meat, and serving leftovers in a creative manner, reflected the days when household budgets were especially tight.

Spirituality ... and frugality ... and patriotism. World Wars I and II were fought on many fronts, including the home front, where we were asked (and, in some cases, required) to conserve valuable resources such as gasoline, needed to aid the war effort. In retrospect, it seems to me that recycling efforts of the past thirty years (which I have experienced) were nothing compared to those of the 1940s (which I did not experience, but were described to me by my parents and grandparents). And Victory Gardens (some as big as a house lot, some as small as a window box) provided fresh produce that might be lacking on store shelves.

Spirituality ... frugality ... patriotism ... and good economic/business sense. Take aluminum recycling, for example. Some are surprised that the process has been used since the early 1900s - it only gained a high profile in the 1960s and 70s as environmentalism became more and more a part of the public consciousness. According to industry statistics, recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy, and a lot less money, than making new aluminum through the mining and refining of ore products. And recycling aluminum (or any other recyclable product), rather than just throwing it away, also makes good sense to taxpayers who have to pay for growing waste/landfill services in their community ..... and even those who make fun of 'tree-huggers' can appreciate anything that reduces our shared tax burden.

Spirituality ... frugality ... patriotism ... good economic sense ... and pride. Environmentalism reflects my love for, and pride in my community and its appearance. And that includes efforts to pick up the trash that others have discarded along our roadsides, in our parks, and around our town ... and recycling ... and promoting reasonable alternatives ... and including environmentalism in the issues that guide my vote.

Anyway, that's why I AM an environmentalist ..... and proud of it.

CLICK HERE for more on Earth Day 2008.
CLICK HERE for a neat, related feature, "Earth as Art"

Lessons Learned .....

It's been a long time since a West Texas town has been the focus of so much attention from across the country, and around the world. The last couple of weeks have been full ones for news makers, news reporters and news consumers as the story of a run-in between church and state in Eldorado, Texas, continues to develop.

At both the local and national level, there have been plenty of comparisons between the Mormon Fundamentalist compound in Eldorado, the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, and authorities' interventions into both. Me? As I watched this story unfold, I was making a similar - yet different - comparison ..... the Mormon Fundamentalist compound in Eldorado, the Republic of Texas compound in Fort Davis, and authorities' interventions into both.

I think there were some lessons learned in the Davis Mountains eleven years ago. It wouldn't hurt to reacquaint yourself with the ROT Standoff of 1997 ..... one of the best accounts is from our very own Captain Barry Caver, Texas Rangers, in this interview with Robert Nieman.

I think one of the lessons learned and affirmed was effective preparedness by those outside, for a variety of responses from those inside. Buses from local churches were standing by to transport the children to a shelter ..... but so was an armored personnel carrier on loan from Midland County. The buses were needed, the armored personnel carrier was not, and both points speak well for how this operation was conducted.

I was impressed with the authorities' conduct in the 1997, as I covered the story ..... I was even more impressed with their conduct now, in 2008, watching the story develop - not as a news reporter, this time, but a news consumer.

That's not to say there won't be some new lessons to learn this time around. For example, the courtroom setting now is decidedly - almost completely - different from that of 1998, when the ROT separatists were put on trial. And I don't recall any sidebars from reporters at that time, writing about fashion statements being made, then, by the separatists ..... as is apparently the case, now, for the polygamists.

And, speaking of the media, there are still some lessons for them, too ..... I think it's high time for one of the West Texas stations to raise the stakes and get their own 'sat truck.'

A New Mission for the Old Blog? .....

That's the question Missioner asks with this post at West Texas Missioner. Apparently, the blog was supposed to be a temporary thing ..... but now they're having second thoughts.

This reminds of the discussion that followed this post by e-friend Frank Wilson at Books, Inq. , announcing that he was retiring from the Philadelphia Inquirer. But what about the blog that provided a virtual complement to his actual work at the Inquirer's Book Review desk? Well, it's now called Books, Inq.: The Epilogue (subtitled "Proof There is Still Life After One Retires as a Newspaper Book-Review Editor") and is doing just fine, thank you very much.

Same, But Different, Sort Of .....

I'm a little late getting to this post by Stewart at Newsroom Stew, about results from the 'February book,' the latest of the quarterly assessments of local television viewing.

Apparently KWES (where I once worked) finished first, followed closely by KOSA (where I once worked), with KMID (where I once worked) following as a distant third. Stewart's post looked at the bare numbers ..... but those numbers did spur some thoughts.

For one thing, the gap between KWES (NewsWest 9) and KOSA (CBS7) is really quite close. In fact, depending upon how 'processed' those numbers are, there might not be any gaps in some cases, if you take into account the margin-of-error that accompanies most sampling ..... OR the gaps may be even wider.

This isn't the first time a station has made a strong move to take over as the #1 station in the market. It happened back in the 80s, when KMID knocked KOSA out of the top spot. And it happened again in the 90s, when KWES took over that top spot. KOSA must be hungry ..... for nearly a quarter-century, they've been the #2 station in this market. But over the past year or two, they've assembled a strong lineup of newspeople, and they have been making some inroads, taking - but not holding onto - the #1 spot in one time slot or another, in one book or another.

But that doesn't mean that KWES is going to step aside ..... quite the opposite, apparently ..... and there's plenty of strength in THAT newsroom, as well.

Differences since twenty years ago, or ten years ago? Yes. The internet, for one thing. Both KWES and KOSA are developing the online component of their news product, and promoting it with their on-air component ..... and using it to complement and supplement their on-air component.

Spanish-language broadcasting, for another thing. Once, it was confined to limited public affairs programming on the weekend. We now have Spanish-language networks with local affiliates, and a local news department that works in conjunction with its English-language partner ..... again, complementing and supplementing one another.

Another difference is a more personal one, for me ..... no John Foster. He was a major player - THE player, really - in KMID's dramatic move to the top, then the equally dramatic move by KWES to the top. John knew the business from the ground up ..... literally, with a career that started behind the camera, on the studio floor. And his stations were sort of like a big - and, sometimes, dysfunctional - family. But he always managed to get the best from us, and gave his best in return.

An Opportunity to Make a Joyful (?) Noise .....

He is risen ... Christ is risen, indeed ...

A pretty-full house for early service and a filled-to-capacity house for late service this morning at First Prez-Midland, and I don't think anyone went home disappointed. The church's staff and ministry did themselves proud today, and the message of Christ's resurrection - and our salvation - was loud, clear and compelling.

There was a little something for everyone ... including me. A small notice in the church bulletin said, "Those who have sung the 'Hallelujah Chorus' and would like to join with the choir in this great anthem, please come to the chancel during the singing of 'Because He Lives'"

I had ... so I did. As I have done for the past three Easters - and for the only time in more than thirty years, I sang that awesome piece with a choir. And not just the choir this morning, but accompanied by brass and organ.

I was a tenor in high school, and I don't quite have the range now, that I did then. The lump in my throat - not the result of stage fright but, rather of exhilaration - didn't help either ... it was a wonderful moment. And even as I mangled this note or that, I didn't care ... I was making a joyful noise, nonetheless. And, I enjoyed it so much that I came back and sang at late service, as well.

Perhaps what I felt was something like what Edward Hoagland * once described ...

"Though I'd seen mobs behave savagely, some of my experience was of the moments when, on the contrary, a benign expressiveness, even a kind of sweetness, is loosed. When life seems to be an unmixed good, the more the merrier, and each man rises to a sense of glee and mitigation, alleviation, or freedom that, perhaps, we wouldn't quite dare to feel if he were alone. The smiling likeness, infectious blitheness, the loose, exultant sense of unity in which sometimes, the mass of people as a whole, seems to improve upon the better nature of the parts."

"This intrigued me."

"Just as with other natural wonders of the world, to which one relinquishes one's self, instead of feeling smaller, I often felt bigger when I was packed into a multitude And taking for granted the potential for mayhem of crowds, of which so much has been written, I was fascinated instead by the clear, pealing gaiety."

"It manifests itself, for instance, in the extraordinary quality that singing by a congregation acquires. The humdrum and unlovely voices gradually merge into a sweet, uniquely pristine note, a note angelic-sounding, hardly believable. Looking about, one can't see who in particular might have such a voice. Everybody in the pew has an expression as if he were about to sneeze, and squawks just a little. It is a note created only when hundreds sing ... it needs them all. No single person is responsible, any more than any individual in a mob lends that its bestiality."

"It's like riding in surf. It's like a Dantean ascent ... one circle up. Suddenly, we like all these strangers, even the stranger in ourselves, and seem to see a shape in life, as if all the exertions of the week really were justified and were a source of joy."

Alleluia ... Amen

**********

With thanks to Florence Sherwood, Chorus Director at Dallas Senior High School, Dallas, Pennsylvania, for her wonderful talent and her incredible patience.

* And HERE is a little more on Edward Hoagland.

Won't You Join Us, Sunday? .....

Tomorrow is the big day. "We are the Easter people," Pastor Jim Miles of First Prez-Fort Stockton reminds us ..... and that is the day we mark tomorrow, the day for which we have prepared all week, the day for which we live at all times. It is a cause for celebration, a time of faith and fellowship, for prayer and passion, for thought and thanks.

Won't you join us?

First Presbyterian Church of Midland will hold a pair of Easter Sunday Services at 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. in our main sanctuary. Greg Pysh, our Minister of Music, always does a great job ..... but they pull out all the stops on Easter Sunday, and members of the congregation will be invited to join the choirs for the final, glorious musical offering. In between the two, we will have an Easter Sunday Brunch from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. in our Lynn Fellowship Hall. Guillermo Torres is our Food Services Director, and he and his staff set an excellent table ... a table that has a place for you. For the youngsters, there will also be a Butterfly Release at 10:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center Courtyard.

The church is located at 800 W. Texas Avenue ... that's the corner of Texas Avenue and A Street, on the western edge of downtown Midland. There's plenty of parking outside and plenty of room inside.

Won't you join us?

More Than One Interesting Topic .....

... for discussion might be found in the announcement from Santa Fe that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling him a "once-in-a- lifetime leader" who can unite the nation and restore America's international leadership. HERE is the complete story from msnbc.com

The discussion here, in the Permian Basin, should be especially interesting. Yes, there will be talk about the impact Richardson's endorsement may - or may not - have upon the Hispanic vote ..... and I suspect that will also be a big part of the national discussion.

But there is another point of local discussion that should be interesting ..... what impact this may - or, again, may not - have upon the energy industry. Richardson has served in a variety of government capacities at the state, federal and international levels, including U.S. Secretary of Energy. Those who have developed oil and gas properties in New Mexico during Richardson's tenure as governor there, might be willing to share their thoughts on what today's endorsement might bode for them.

Won't You Join Us, Thursday? .....

Today is Maundy Thursday, the beginning of what is called the Sacred or Easter Tridium, a three-day period that marks the Last Supper, then takes us through Christ's betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, then his crucifixion and death at Calvary, and his resurrection two days later. First Presbyterian Church of Midland will hold a Maundy Thursday Service tonight at 7:00 p.m. in our sanctuary, which can be entered from Texas Avenue, just a short distance west of the intersection with A Street.

We will also hold a Good Friday Service at 7:00 p.m., a come-and-go Prayer Vigil on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., and Easter Sunday Services at 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. (with an Easter Sunday Brunch in between, from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.)

Won't you join us?

Why, Yes, As a Matter of Fact .....

... we DO have a teenager in the household ..... why do you ask? :-)

Adding Flavor to Wednesday Nights .....

... is the return of a new season of Top Chef. This is a movable feast - Season Four takes place in Chicago, with sixteen "cheftestants" whittled-down week-by-week as they compete to out-flavor, out-cook and out-do one another. The winning chef receives $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, a gourmet dream vacation in the French Alps, and the title of "Top Chef" ... at least for this year.

I'm no great fan of the 'reality TV' genre, but this is one of the exceptions. The kiddos like it, too, and we were all glad to see Nimma get the heave-ho in Week 1 ... she was such a whiner!

For us, the high point of the first week was the Quickfire Challenge for each contestant to create a signature deep-dish pizza (this IS Chicago, after all). So some contestants talked about their Chi-Town connection, while others stressed their New York roots, or their Italian heritage ..... then, the two winners turned out to be contestants as far removed from pizza havens as you could imagine - Richard from Atlanta, Georgia (though he IS a NY native); and Mark from Invercargill, New Zealand (who has since moved to NY).

Sadly, the show also promises to have some other, unofficial contests ... like who can be the biggest character (my vote is for Erik at this early stage), and who can get more words bleeped-out in a single episode (with the early edge in this one going to Andrew).

A Piece of the Action II .....

It's still spring break, the family is still away on a trip, and I've still got the place to myself ..... what a great opportunity to enjoy a little action ... er, action movies, that is ... the kind that are a little too violent for My Favorite Landman, and not-at-all age-appropriate for the kiddo (and barely age-appropriate for me).

My second batch of DVD rentals were, like the first, long on action ..... but they were also long on story, and long on star-power, which set them apart from the first batch.

The first was American Gangster, Ridley Scott's cinematic portrayal of Frank Lucas (played by Denzel Washington), a real-life kingpin from Harlem who smuggled heroin into the US on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War, and the efforts of detective Richie Roberts (played by Russell Crowe) to bring down Lucas' drug empire. Those stars and the director all brought with them award-winning talent, and it showed. American Gangster went on to become the first crime saga to gross over $30-million its opening weekend, and the best opening weekend for both Washington and Crowe. It went on to earn a spot on dozens of critics 'Top 10 Films of the Year' lists. Of the films I've rented so far this week, I'm tempted to buy my own copy of American Gangster to watch again, sometime.

My other rental, this time around, was Beowulf, a motion capture film based on an Old English epic poem, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, using the same technique he employed with his 2004 film, The Polar Express. Like American Gangster, it was long on action, long on story and long on star power, offering the voices and MC images of Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich and Angelina Jolie (the topic of this earlier post by me), among others. The Beowulf saga is one of the most famous in the history of western literature, and it is filled with plenty of colorful and lusty characters ... especially blood-lusty characters. I thought it was a shame that the scriptwriters - who reportedly found the poem's narrative unreliable on some points - decided that their modern sensibilities could improve upon a work that has endured for centuries, concocting a storyline that left me shaking my head at times ..... for example, they introduce Christianity into the saga, then they blame that faith for erasing true heroes from the world - even as they, the writers, erased any character's heroic characteristics from the script. That being said, the film is a visual, often visceral treat ..... GREAT eye candy, but no longer a great story.

R.I.P. 'C' .....

Arthur C. Clarke, a visionary science fiction writer who won worldwide acclaim with more than 100 books on space, science and the future, died Wednesday in his adopted home of Sri Lanka, an aide said. He was 90. HERE is the rest of the story from msnbc.com .....

When I was young, science fiction enthusiasts would often tell us about the 'ABC's' of the genre - Isaac Asimnov, Ray Bradbury and Arthur Clarke - and how one needed to be well-versed in their works. My enthusiasm for 'A' and 'C' came earlier and has dwindled some over the years, while my enthusiasm for 'B' came later and has retained much of its original vigor.

What impressed me most about Clarke was the depth of intelligence and information he brought to even his most speculative pieces, which allowed him to contribute to the advancement of science fact as well as science fiction. I also appreciated his sense of humor, which encompassed even practitioners and enthusiasts of the genre such as himself ("Tales from the White Hart," for example).

What impressed me less was his - to me, at least - inability to create characters that matched the depth and breadth of the technology that filled his stories. I still think one of the most complete human characters he ever created was the HAL 9000 computer ..... and HAL's closing exchange with Dr. Chandra remains one of the most poignant scenes Clarke ever created - for me, at least.

True, Clarke's output had diminished with his advancing years and declining health. But I suspect that there will always be special, easily-reached places on our bookshelves for his works, long after we have reached the distant future that found form and meaning through his vision, and his words.

Why Spookyrach Loves Her Job .....

... and I love reading about it. HERE is Reason #238.

Did Anybody Else Catch This .....

... and was anybody else bothered by it? I don't usually get to watch The Today Show, getting the kiddos ready for school, then heading out the door myself. But the office is closed this week, and I'm back to watching daytime TV, among other things.

Apparently, Today now includes a segment from Saturday Night Live, featuring clips from recent SNL skits (you can see them under the 'Featured Video' heading on SNL's website). Okay, that's fine ..... I'm not complaining about the content, but the placement. This morning, did they have to segue straight from a report on calls to search for more bodies at Charles Manson's old ranch, to the SNL segment. Judging by his intro, Matt Lauer thought it was a bit of a stretch, too. I mean, couldn't they have run the SNL segment later in the show, next to the 'breaking news' of the McCartney/Hill divorce settlement, for example?

A Piece of the Action .....

It's spring break, the family is away on a trip, and I've got the place to myself ..... what a great opportunity to enjoy a little action ... er, action movies, that is ... the kind that are a little too violent for My Favorite Landman, and not-at-all age-appropriate for the kiddo (and barely age-appropriate for me).

Thank goodness for DVD rentals! So far, I've already had a chance to watch a couple of films I really did mean to catch while they were in the theaters ... but never got around to it ... their limited stay on local screens didn't help, either.

One was Hitman, a film adaptation of the popular video game series of the same name. Considering the source material, it should come as no surprise that the movie is a little long on violent action, and short on storyline - most of it, IMHO, borrowed from a variety of sources, everything from the Jason Bourne series to Dark Angel. What did surprise me about the actual film was that it didn't seem to portray a strong church-connection for 47's Organization, which I thought was suggested by the trailers for the film. The movie was okay, worth the cost of a rental ..... though maybe not the cost of a pair of theater tickets, a couple of sodas and a barrel of popcorn.

My other rental was Shoot 'Em Up, a "ramped-up action film on steroids" that made the jump from theaters to DVD faster than a speeding bullet. Again, long on violent action (with more than a little sexual overtone), and short on storyline. But the choreography and editing is first-rate. The website worstpreviews.com suggested, "the script started off with the shoot-outs and then had a plot thrown into it, and not the other way around," which may not be far from the truth. IMHO, I think the script - such as it is - features some great, sometimes hilarious lines. In his review in Hollywood Reporter, Frank Schreck found the film "all very silly, but also undeniably fun." Me, I agree with him. Roll the film, suspend the disbelief, then sit back and enjoy the ride ... especially if you liked Clive Owen's character in Sin City.

The Start of Holy Week .....

..... found me in the pews of First Prez-Midland, and it was a good start. I enjoyed an above-average Palm Sunday service, due in part to the contributions of fifty young men and women who form the choir of Carroll College, a 167-year-old school dedicated to 'providing a superior educational opportunity for their students, one grounded in the liberal arts tradition and focused on career preparation and lifelong learning ..... and to demonstrating Christian values by example.' They are in the midst of a spring break tour of communities in Texas and New Mexico. The music presented by these young
singers and musicians included one movement, "Agnus Dei," from the "Requiem" of John Rutter, a modern composer whose work was unknown to me before this morning. Here is a recording of 'Agnus Dei,' courtesy of LuxAeterna36 on YouTube. By the way, Maundy Thursday service is at 7:00 p.m. Won't you join us?

I Scoop Frank .....

Normally, I would be tipping my hat to the proprietor of Books, Inq. The Epilogue on just about all matters bookish, but not this piece from The Onion, "Novelists Strike Fails To Affect Nation Whatsoever" ...

Rolling A 6, Bidding A +10 Farewell .....

Gary Gygax, a pioneer of the imagination who transported a fantasy realm of wizards, goblins and elves onto millions of kitchen tables around the world through the game he helped create, Dungeons & Dragons, died Tuesday at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He was 69. HERE is a complete report from the New York Times' Seth Schiesel.

There is also this video tribute from the folks at Wizards of the Coast, which in 1997 acquired Gygax' company and its trademark game, which had become a commercial phenomenon, selling an estimated $1-billion in books and equipment, and being played by an estimated 20-million people ..... including me.

I enjoyed it. By the time I arrived at college, only a year or two after the game was introduced, it was already a staple on campuses around the country, and remained so for many years afterward. Over time, my 'mad monk' character gained a lot of powers, and I gained a lot of friends ..... and these were 'actual' friends, people across the table from from you, staying-up and winding-down after mid-terms, or sharing a long cross-country trip on the band bus. Gygax always stressed the social experience of the game, sharing the adventure - and for some of us, a pizza and beer - which I found to be superior to the virtual acquaintances one forms in today's generation of online RPG's. It also left more to your imagination than you are allowed through a computer program, and some dungeon-masters elevated their craft of fashioning a fantasy world to something approaching art.

My active participation - and even my interest - in D&D eventually faded as I gravitated more and more to the board games produced by Avalon Hill and SPI. But I never completely let go ..... and I suspect, cloistered somewhere, in some long unopened box, the mad monk awaits.

Won't You Join Us? .....

Wednesday evening, March 5, First Presbyterian Church of Midland will host Ron Hall and Denver Moore, two men whose amazing story became the book, "Same Kind of Different As Me. Their presentation is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the main sanctuary ..... but there are a number of reasons you'll want to come early!

Denver Moore was born in rural Louisiana, and after several tragic events went to live on a plantation with his aunt and uncle, who were share croppers. Sometime around 1960, he began a life as a homeless drifter until a judge sentenced him to ten years' hard labor in a Louisiana penitentiary. After that, his road brought him to Texas, where he spent years on the streets of Fort Worth. It was in Texas that he met Ron Hall, whose life had already seen a number of successes in education, business and art ..... but was about to take a very different turn. (Read more about them HERE)

IMHO, the book that arose from their story is a must-read ..... "A dangerous homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery," says promotional copy for the book, "an upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel, a gutsy woman with a stubborn dream, a story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it." And, apparently, there are others who share that view. Moore and Hall's website reports they have received more than twenty inquiries from screenwriters, film makers and producers, and have signed an option with Mark Clayman, the producer of "Pursuit of Happyness."

You are cordially invited to come hear their story in person ..... but, like I hinted earlier, don't wait until six-thirty to arrive. Before the presentation, there will be music and praise from Tru Lite Christian Fellowship, which is partnering with First Prez for this event. The churches are planning on a big turnout, and a closed-circuit feed from the sanctuary will be fed onto the big screen in the adjoining fellowship hall. Copies of Moore and Hall's book will also be available for sale before the presentation.

First Presbyterian Church is located on the northwest corner of Texas Avenue and A Street, on the western edge of downtown Midland. Additional parking is available across the street from the church (on the east side of A Street, and the south side of Texas Avenue).

Won't you join us?