It’s spring and feet want to be loose. And who can blame them – especially seeing these fabulous designs created for Van’s blank canvas shoe contest? You’ll feel like dancing – or creating – or getting out there. Enough yackin’. Start the walk through:
Color in the lines. Art Category entry by McNary HS, Keizer, OR (vanscustomculture.votenow.tv/)
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A shoe’s in for art. (Orange HS. Orange, CA. vanscustomculture.votenow.tv)
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Trippy to wear, but function is brushed off here. Contest rules say shoes do not have to be actually wearable. (Art category entry by Friendswood HS, Friendswood, TX. vanscustomculture.votenow.tv/)
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Shoes to take note of. One shoe plays the electric tune while the other is the speaker spreading the sound. Really. It works. Heard the tuneful pair.If kids can turn shoes into instruments, don’t tell me we can’t rocket to other stars, cure diseases, feed the hungry, live in tandem with the earth and solve so many problems. Maybe adults are not reading the score? (Music category. Friendswood HS. Friendswood, TX. vanscustomcultrue.votenow.tv/)
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Take as step and get in tune. Get a group together. Think local. (Music category entry by James Pace Early College HS.Brownsville, TX. vanscustomculture.votenow.tv/)
Are you noticing anything yet?
- These shoes were all created by students
- There are categories: Music, Art, Local Flavor, and Action Sports
- It’s a contest! Schools can win big money and students can win individual prizes. Sometimes students find jobs and careers.
- Vans has been running this creative design contest for a number of year. (The video interview explains it better than I.) Article: “Vans kicks off the sixth Annual Custom Culture Art Competition”
- vanscustomculture.votenow. It’s down to the final 50 schools. YOU can help a school make the final cut. VOTE HERE. Contest entries might be from schools in your area. They need the money. Besides if you VOTE for the designs you love, maybe they will go into production by VANS.
Sail away with a smile on your feet. (Local Flavor entry by Catoctin HS.Thurmont, MD. vanscustomcultrue.votenow.tv)
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Island time!(Entries by Moanalua High. Honolulu, HI. vanscustomcultrue.votenow.tv/)
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Not too corny for Nebraska fans.(Local Flavor entry by Fort Calhoun HS, Fort Calhoun. vanscustomculture.votenow.)
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Ready to step up into the final round! (Group by Northwood HS. Irvine, CA. vanscustomculture.votenow.tv)
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Make a splash in these. (Action Sports entry by Station Camp HS. Gallatin, TN. vanscustomculture.votenow.tv)
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If these don’t make you want to get out there. Do it. Get out there. Oh, and get out there and vote. (Local Flavor entry by University HS. Irvine, CA. vanscustomculture.votenow.tv)
No better way to get happy feet: delightful designs, kids and schools getting support.
Tie one and tippy toe over to vote for your favorites until May 11.
You can vote multiple times and in multiple regional areas.
Stomping it.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
(The art car crowd is bound to be taking note!)
Short ones work harder?(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Briefly, that’s it. The rapid fire world prefers just a few lines. Quick eyes have it.
You knew short would dominate sooner or later – and it’s not just since they are small you can feed them less. The little one can be pretty heavy, too.
If poetry is the best thoughts of the best minds in the best order, then Haiku is one of the highest forms: simple, yet complex requiring effort by author and audience.
Short and sweet, intense or bitter. Without a second glance, you’ll never know.
The fine lines of cartoons are much the same.
Cartoons are the haiku of the fine arts world: deceptively simple, interpretation optional.
- Mike’s recent cartoon in his blog doodled out giggles last week.
- After laughing at the whimsy of the rhino on such vehicle, a thought: “Nothing is difficult or a problem if you don’t recognize it as one.” (Click over to see his doodle. It’ll make sense then)
Like the elephant in the room, cartoons are both the circus and the yogi.
Charles Schulz and Charlie Brown sketched out simple truths of life.(Higgins/USPD/LOC/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Haiku or cartoons, fine lines draw.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
They didn’t forget. Florida has always been popular for retirees. These ready to leave the jungle of work for a more fitting one (Pedicures and spa baths still included, but without the gawkers.) “Back to Florida: Ringling Bros. circus elephants to retire after May 1 shows”
A little grain of advice offered to these lucky elephants: be warned. Once you relocate to Florida, relatives seem to come out of the jungle and invite themselves for extended stays. (But it may take that rhino a while to get there on that trike.)
Not a short-sighted delight.(1902″Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There”Carroll/Peter Newell, ill/Harper & Bros/PD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Duncan auditioning for kitten nanny duties. (Abby Cat’s You Tube)
Dogs need a job. So what does an award-winning agility dog do once he can’t storm around the course any longer? Some turn to tutoring the next generation.
Duncan recognizes these creatures are a little odd, but he’s very accepting of differences.
And this batch of orphan kittens aren’t picky either. They need all the friends they can get.
If you look closely, you’ll notice Duncan is missing a front leg.
A friendly sort, he mistakenly thought two anti-social neighborhood dogs were smiling at him a few years ago. (Shiver). Not much slows him down now. He even charges around agility courses as a handicapped contestant. While he’s recovered, therapy and vet trips are necessary to keep an eye on joint issues.
During his last visit, he discovered a basket of kittens looking for new homes.
Looks like he’s on his way to getting certified as a nanny dog.
Thought you might get a smile from one of Molly’s BFFs.
Yes, they really do play well together which makes us ask the Molly, why are your paws so gentle and careful with unstable little dogs, yet they pound and flail at us? She just smiles.
The secret lives of dogs….
The secret’s out about International Day of the Podenco.
Don’t know about that one? Duncan, Molly, and dogs everywhere wish you did.
Even Facebook is in on it.
Hunting dogs, some of the oldest and most noble breeds, have a rough time in Spain.
Why? Molly, really wishes you would paws and read about it here.
Good dogs sit stay and try hard to make life easier. Maybe people could give them a little hand once in a while.
A little I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine?
Dogs would go for that. True friends.
One secret that needs to be barked about.
Phil the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
“With parents out of the picture, it’ll be a wild time!” (USPD/Common.wikimedia.org)
You know how it is. Plan a party – you only want the cool cats – and someone has to blab about it on social media.
One glance at the door told the Lola it was time to scale back.
Luckily police arrived to protect the invited and discourage the porch squatters.
There was a bit of a wrestling on the front walk before the uninvited was roughly removed.
Watch the whole kit and alizoodle on video here. (What? The cat got your thumb? Click it or fur ever hiss out.)
“No! No! Go to the back door. He’s a party crasher!” Lola meowed urgently to her friend. (Click2houston.com)
That could have taken a bite out of the purrfect party.
Hope your weekend is wild, but not too wild.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Oh, speaking of wild. The tiger found wandering in a neighborhood during the floods has arrived at her new home – and she’s really wild about it! (click that big cat video here!)
Have you ever seen a happier cat? Looks like she’s never played in grass before. Wild applause.
Nahla, the rescued Conroe tiger, happily rolling in the grass at her new home, the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary near Fort Worth (click2houston.com)
“What did you say?” (1943″Porky Pig’s Feat”.Looney Tunes/OswaldLR/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
A Chinese reporter and NBA Golden Warrior Draymond Green. Pretty much opposites. Each with their own frame of reference.
The two played verbal jump ball Sunday afternoon during a news conference. The reporter hobbled out the loser. He was quickly fired.
Many called foul and scored the reporter with an insensitive, combative remark, but should a whistle be blown for a time out?
Here’s a newspaper account or watch the video of the actual remarks.
Those who work frequently with individuals from other countries may be slower to jump to conclusions. Was Draymond’s response a cleanly dunked ball in this hoopla?
We have friends who are Chinese. The ones who always call me to make sure my shoes are pointed the same direction in the closet – especially at Chinese New Years – so you will keep going forward in one direction through the year. And wear red. And be sure that the first person you welcome across your threshold on New Years is one who is successful and prosperous. And don’t buy a house with a bathroom right at the front door or your luck will flush away.
Look, I need all the luck I can get, so who am I to question?
What I am trying to say, is that some cultures look for patterns that indicate signs for the future. Our Chinese friends do. They laugh about it, but do. It’s the way they were raised.
Was the Chinese reporter simply asking Draymond if he saw a pattern and had any prediction for the next game?
“Draymond, here’s an interesting question,” a reporter said. “So last year you visit [Houston], Game 3 there’s no flood, you win. Game 4, there was flood, you lose. This year you visit [Houston] … Game 3 there’s a flood, you lose. Game 4, there’s no flood, you win …”
If you think life has patterns, the question might be logical.
Or maybe he really is a jerk being annoying.
It’s very diverse here. Not everywhere.
As the country’s demographics change, it’s becoming smart to not snap to judgement. Break and think before charging down the court full speed.
There will be times when people from different cultures don’t see eye to eye.
- Abortions are simply a procedure to some and a crime against humanity to others.
- Arranged marriages and big age differences between man and wife are perfectly normal to some and totally irrational to others.
- Short skirts on women are simply trendy fashion and acceptable clothing to some, but to others it’s a character advertisement and an invitation.
To have game, we’re going to have to find center court and a way to get along with those of widely varied beliefs and concepts.
A start might be, take a breath and clarify when something seems odd or offensive before jumping to conclusions or making a basket load of assumptions.
This reporter may be a total obnoxious person and deserves to be fired. I don’t have enough information to know. Does anyone?
Wouldn’t be the first time cultural differences caused a clash and a game loss.
If in doubt, a sense of humor may be your best shot.
Jump ball.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
At first, it was only a solitary whisper – a hint, a hoping. Now there’s dread each morning of what’s waiting. How many will be there? Will each in succession become more and more disturbing? Fear accompanies the hand reaching to click the inbox. Will the delete button work fast enough?
Could even Indiana Jones decipher this? (1945 Capt. Midnight Secret Decoder / Sobebunny/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Oh, the guilt. But there’s nothing else to be done.
Why do they keep coming? At an ever-increasing pace. More and more insistent.
I don’t know them – any of them, yet….They couldn’t have been at that last wild crawfish boil with all the craft beers, could they?
No. Paths have never crossed. Never.
Why do they slide in with such familiarity?
Some distant relative by marriage much removed? Friend of a friend? No. No way.
Why don’t they give up and move on – on to their next plane of existence?
Those eyes! What attracted that gaze? (Orphan Annie’s Secret Society Membership booklet/ Olsen/radioarchives.com)
How did they get my email?
I’ve deleted. I’ve tracked back and firmly said “Take me out of your contact list.”
Just made it worse.
Heidi, hope you don’t take offense and get overly depressed, but, Honey, please stop.
It’s nuts. The emails, not you – don’t be so sensitive.
We don’t know each other.
We will never sit down to Christmas or any other dinner together. No. It won’t happen. Ever.
Whomever sold gave you my email is just a mean girl playing you for a fool.
Your emails are heart-rending: the pleading, the whining, the guilt trips, the unwarranted self-centered confidence. Maybe if you read some aloud to yourself, you would see why people are concerned.
“I hope my email finds you doing well this morning.
Ted is worried that you haven’t been getting his emails — so, I told him that I’d personally reach out to you.
We’re up against a BIG deadline tonight, and while I don’t have the exact number, I know we’re more than $100,000 dollars behind what we need to raise in order to hit our mid-month fundraising goal tonight……..
Best,
Heidi Cruz
P.S. If $35 or $50 is too much — can you afford $5? I really don’t want to have to tell Ted and the team we came up short.”
Heidi, Sugar, desperate pleading is so unattractive. And I’m worried, you’re worried Ted will be upset with you.
At the outer limits of official and confidential messages.(1941 paper Ovaltine decoder. Olsen/radioarchives.com)
He seems a bit, uh, well to be kind, he does seem to see things, uh, differently.
Hope he didn’t shove you off of the computer in a snit when he dashed off this one:
“Violent rallies, verbal assaults, social media intimidation, personal harassment…and now DEATH THREATS…That’s why I’ve asked my campaign to establish a Delegate Defense Fund — and I’m asking you to help me fund it….
…..give intimidated and harassed delegates the help and support they need — ..immediately respond to this email….
….For your help, I will rush you your very own Deputy Delegate card.
For liberty,
Ted Cruz
Gee, Ted. Very own Deputy Delegate card? Golly. Just like Ovaltine secret decoder rings?
Slidomatic Radio Decoder by Quaker Puffed Wheat and Rice Sparkies.As kids we made decoders like these out of index cards for secret codes. Is that how I got on the email list?(Olsen/ radioarchives.com)
So, Heidi, Dear, trying to be kind here, stop being delusional, run!
And please trash any hard drive with contact lists before you go.
Longing for the days free of weird harassing guilt tripping emails.
(Will this annoying presidential campaign season never end? Voting for all states having their facade of primaries all on the same day.)
Deletingly yours,
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Oh, just for fun. You can print out your own Orphan Annie’s Secret Society 1936 Radio Decoder Badge right here. Just in case your name got left off Ted’s contact list.
She’s not drinking Kool-Aid.(Ovaltine/Olsen/radioarchives.com)
Temper, temper. No, you cannot have any more MiracleGro. Now get back in your bed.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
I refuse to be bullied by vegetation.
After all I’ve done for them.
Know-it-alls. Refusing to recognize that withholding food or water is a kindness at times.
Tough love. I am strong.
They are devious.
- Quietly invading places they shouldn’t.
- Blooming when they should be tucked in and resting.
- While I brave frozen fingers to make sure they are snuggly wrapped in warm coats against winter’s frost, the ingrates wiggle out of them as soon as I turn away. Willfully waving their wraps like a dog running off with the towel after a bath.
But I will not be bullied.
They should forget about hiring mercenaries to do their dirt work.
Their secret slipped out:
Nag. Nag. Nag. I will not be nagged by planted hired guns. Careful planted ones, or you’ll end up doing all that saving yourself. (homedepot.com)
Have to hope the Plant Kingdom isn’t taking its’ name too seriously.
That they’ve only innocently fallen for a fast talking salesman.
Better to take a stand now. Get to the root of the matter.
Perhaps boycott Home Depot for enabling bullying.
Shears aren’t just for cutting bangs. And it’s clear sheep learned to respect.
Chop. chop.
Stay sharp now.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Veg out with these, but cover the windows so the landscape doesn’t see….
- The Zucchini that ate New York vs. Tomatozilla (2009 Full movie, a short 3 min classic. Trivia)
- Day of the Triffids (1962. Full movie. Stalking you…)
- Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978. Full movie. Docile fruit, my stem!)
- The Ruins. (Trailer. 2008. Thinking of letting vines cover that wall?)
- Little Shop of Horrors (Trailer, 1986. See what happens if you indulge them.)
With all the recent rains, it’s going to be touch and go to retain yard domination. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
“Whiskers, tell me, if we have on clothes, how come we don’t have on shoes?”(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Like or like not, similes can make people queasy. A good way to get poked with a pointy stick. Catty remarks are only the opening today. (Oh, it ends up there, too. You know how it is these days. Keep reading.)
1.Holding the Olympic Games in Brazil is like inviting a bunch of strangers over to a house on fire.
- Olympic flame lit for troubled Rio games
- Raucous Rousseff impeachment process begins in Brazil
- Rio warns of Fiscal Collapse as Brazil States Seek Debt Relief
- With the 2016 Rio Olympics nearing, Brazil battles host of problems
2.”Needing” a new ZL1 Camaro where the traffic is usually in total gridlock is a bit like a couple “needing” a house with 6+ bedroom suites.
Hiding no more, this ZL1 Camaro is out of camo and off for testing (What a job. Bet your dad never told you about that one….)
Dealers don’t know the price, but if you want to hand them a big chunk of money and promise to pay what they decide eventually (adding the cost of all the build-the-sale items like polishing tires, leather seat conditioning, license plate dusting..), they might order what you want on an allotted slot vehicle, and might not sell it out from under you in the fall… Seriously, is that like anything?
But make it a convertible and arrest-me-red and I might be willing to talk about it….Molly likes to feel the wind in her fur. There will be long road trips west, right? Like that’s gonna happen…
250 pounds lighter and faster than ever, condemning this car to stop and go city traffic is like hitching a billion dollar race horse to a plow. Outrunning fans still, this 2017 ZL1 Camaro floors it on the way to the test tracks. Oh, OK Detroit. We know you’ve been seeing a few of them around recently. Stop being smug.(Camaro6.com/Hockeypucks)
3. Overly enthusiastic news anchors constantly counting down the number of days before 2017 Super Bowl opens here is a bit like trying to convince a small child broccoli is yummy and edible.
I know the event is like Christmas for the hotels, restaurants, Uber, the entertainment districts, and escort services, but there’s always that after the celebration let down when you didn’t get what you wanted and there’s trash waiting.
Besides all the early hyper-excitement is far too much like an unpopular child who finally got invited to the party.
4.One lost little girl has a fairy tail ending to her story. She’s very popular right now.
A couple out for a walk saw her crouched in the grass. It’s like they were her white knights who magically arrived to save her from the storms.
Polite. Completely well-mannered, she did everything they asked. Many hugs and kisses.
Snug, dry, and well fed now. Authorities are looking for her people – to make sure what their plans are to keep her safe.
You see, it’s like this, tigers, no matter how cute and sweet, are not allowed to live in there.
“Hop in? Oh, I love car rides. You’re not strangers are you? Oh, good I can go with you.” (Conroe Police Dept/animal control)
And what’s not to like about all that?
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Misplace your tiger? Conroe Police Department would like to have a word with you. She is nicely leash trained. Knows how to sit and roll over, too, but missing her toys.(Conroe police dept/animal control)
Life is good in Houston – “God willing and the creek don’t rise” – which it did. I’m thinking about writing a brochure touting Houston – or was that a local survival guide… already started in fact. What do you think?
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Love waterfront property but can’t afford it? No problem. Sooner or later it’ll come right to you!. Just imagine fishing from your front porch. (Audrey Seykora/chron.com)
Worried you won’t get enough exercise with the land being so flat? Forget about it! Work those muscles biking with water resistance. ((Jon Shapley/Hou.chron/chron.com)
With companies floating out new ideas, you wooden have to wait for needed products to be delivered to your door. (Andrew Dansby/chron.com)
Worried about where to buy a house? Get your waders and slosh along. It’s the best time to check out whether a house will manage the weather. (This is true. It’s how we house hunt.) (chron.com)
It’s easy to meet people when you’re new here. “Meet and Greet “events occur spontaneously encouraging those of all ages to get out and mingle. We love outdoor good sports here. (Melissa Phillip/Hou.Chron/chron.com)
You might even learn something new like kayaking or that pit bulls can behave well. (Melissa Phillip/Hou.chron/chron.com)
Some have heard Houston lacks adequate transportation. Metro does utilize some unique vehicles…but it’s Texas. You know, everything is bigger. Can’t mess with people’s expectations. (Steve Gonzales/Hou.chron/chron.com)
No need to worry about what kind of car to buy to fit in. Use Metro or Uber until settled. Not a great idea to buy a new or used one for a while. Wait. Most damaged/marginal ones will be transported to used car lots out of state shortly.(James Nielsen/Hou.Chron/chron.com)
Strange residents here worry some. But even armadillos welcome a friendly face. (rescue by abc/ktrk reporter.Steve Gonzales/Hou.chron/chron.com)
Houston showers all with Texas hospitality. OK. Everyone scooch. Always room for one more on high ground during a ‘rain event’. (Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle/chron.com)
We make getting motivated for spring cleaning easy here. This year 9 counties are washing that old out of their there. (Jon Shapley/Hou.Chron/chron.com)
Don’t enjoy water sports? How about a mud slide? Spa treatment included! (collapsed freeway retaining wall. Jennifer O’Rourke)
We don’t isolate the fun. Especially this year with the entire city getting into the swim of things. It’s really a pretty town – lots of green spaces. Looks like someone left the sprinkler system on again along Buffalo Bayou. (Nick Anderson/Hou.Chron/chron.com)
Bayous are scenic with parks and bike trails….and they self water. (Chron.com)
After a bit you grow to appreciate the variety of beauty around. (chron.com)
They say this band is moving fast. Only 1-2 more inches of rain on totally saturated ground and rivers just cresting. And more developing behind this line. I’ve got about 20 minutes. “Molly, get up. Potty now!” (radar.weather.gov)
You can lead a horse to water, but obviously leading them out of it is much more difficult. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle/chron.com)
Leave none behind. That’s the rule.
Firemen rescuers are carrying large German Shepherds to boats as well as babies in plastic tubs.
Houston has had a “rain event” (Who comes up with these names?) which could be easily be categorized as a hurricane practice flood or the Annual Memorial Day Flood early.
Normally a lovely stable in a wooded area along Cypress Creek. Horses frantically treading water unable to escape their pens. (abc13.com)
One of the most disturbing videos this morning showed frantic horses trapped in their wooden fenced pastures and stable when Cypress Creek rose too fast.
- Video: Harris County Cypress Creek Horse Rescue (SCARY. Horses in real distress)
- Video by ch 13 abc news: Dozens of horses rescued from flood waters (Whew!)
Emergency contacts said “Sorry, people had to come first”, but County Judge Emmett, the county animal officers, the SPCA, and local cowboys in boats said, “We leave none behind.”
Cowboys in boats to the rescue. (You Tube Springhappen)
Of the 80 Arabian and Quarter horses (both known for endurance), 65+ have been rescued.
A couple of horses are still being brought out even now. Others (about 10) are loose, but are on higher ground – just lost and mooching off someone else’s lawn.
Owners of another stable that works with autistic children using horse therapy watched the weather closely last night. At 3 am they arrived with trailers to move their 15 horses.
Suddenly they realized the water was rising too fast, so they loaded the horses they could and coaxed the remaining horses to follow them along the road that was flooding.
Safety was found on high ground by a volunteer fire station where the people made a corral out of their cars. While the group has lost helmets, tack, stable, and all, the horses are happily munching the station’s nice lawn.
Rescues of both man and beast continue.
Thought these might make you smile.
Pinto horse being led down the road to safety of a trailer.(M.Mulligan/hou.chron/chron.com)
A break in the rain. (Dogs cheering).
Bayous are draining. More rain likely tonight and tomorrow.
That money spent on expensive boat foul weather gear was so not a waste!
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
“Oh, neigh. You and your water front property. This type of swimming can’t be therapeutic.” (Mulligan/hou.chron/.chron.com)
“Look if we’re to continue this dance, cowboy, we have to decide who’s going to lead.” (Mulligan/Hou.chron)
“Did you book a room with some nice dry hay? Nothing like dry meal after a hard day.” (Mulligan/hou.chron/chron.com)
“Whoa. I never signed up for rock climbing for hooves.”(M.Mulligan/hou.chron/chron.com)
“Hey, have we been properly introduced? My mane is such a mess.”(Mulligan/hou.chron/chron.com)
Thanks to all who checked on neighbors or brought big transports, trailers, or boats to rescue both people and horses.
Applause for all the first responders.
ABC 13. Reporter assisting stunned man who drove into flooded street. Watch video below. (abc13.com)
We are having what they now call a “major rain event” in Houston stunning newcomers.
Over a thousand homes are flooded already from the massive front that snowed in Denver and is colliding with a strong warm Gulf system loaded with moisture. It started before midnight last night and is predicted to continue until Tuesday morning. Stalled right over Houston.
Official April rainfall records shattered.
First responders are concentrating on high water rescues (They have experience), so do not call if you are freaking out with water creeping into your garage or front door. Emergency management says, they can’t do much about that, just get your pets and family up higher in your home and do not get out. Attics are good. (FYI, we don’t have basements here…for a reason….water)
Locals saw it coming days ago. Stocked up on chips, beer, and food that doesn’t need electricity. Charged up cell phones and computers.
This is one of the reasons why locals never park their cars in the street at the house overnight. (abc.13)
And made sure the flood insurance was paid up. It’s flat here. Rains enough in any location and it will flood no matter how far from the coast you are. That’s why so many people here choose to drive large pickup trucks and SUVs. DUH. Seriously people, it’s common sense. – don’t criticize if you don’t live here.
Bayous are out of their banks. Streets are now canals.
And channel 13 KTRK/ABC got the Money Shot a bit ago.
Steve the reporter got his Dan Rather moment they all dream of as he rescued a poor man (obviously new to the area) who thought it was a big puddle not a street flooded enough to already cover one car completely.
Once the bayou is out of the banks, turn around don’t drown…..not just a childish chant.
Here’s the video of Steve in the White Oak Bayou /Heights area
http://abc13.com/news/video-reporter-steve-campion-rescues-driver-from-flood/1296639/
Molly forgives me for waking her up so early and forcing her out into the back yard half asleep scream “Go potty. Go Potty now” during a break (Whew)
AS RC Cat says, “Looks like a busy day of napping.”
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Stepping up the look see.©
Simply to clarify.
A picture being worth.
Easier to see than say.
File for future reference.
Drone:
Squint. Not a bird. Not a plane. Drone. Big one. No quacks, no treats, no interest to Molly Malamute.©
Not drone:
Works it, but not a worker be.
Elizabeth Taylor: not flighty. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Both lookers.
(Pausing to absorb)
Both dangerous.
(Slight shrug of shoulder)
Not to confuse as one sees naturally
(Nod)
Drone.
Not drone.
How droll.
(Silence.)
Bye,
Bob.
More Bob here.
(Who is Bob? Simple.)
Not a sci-fi movie set. Rainbow rising over Atacama base camp for ALMA Observatory.(ESO/A.Silber/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Such a jumble of disjointed rainbow segments that afternoon. Like a child’s Chutes and Ladders game board. Mischievous arcs giggling and darting: momentarily here, then, over there. A pale one shyly stretched from horizon to 10 o’clock. Between snowy puffs, mini rainbows sorted themselves in the bright blue sky – as if finding their assigned seats in a piece-worked quilt.
Strikingly intense, one vivid ribbon jolted almost vertical like a striped trouser’s left leg.
“It’s for you, babe. This sky show is yours.”
I memorized it all as fast as possible and shooed the images west.
If they could make it to the pass, surely the Rockies would speed them onward.
Despite the bright sun, a few rain drops toyed with us.
Not surprised. Into every life…
Doesn’t look like rainbow weather. Were they waiting in the wings?©
Rainbows are show stoppers.
They are really round, you know.
The complete view limited by the horizon, so people only see half – unless you’re in a plane. Each end of a rainbow’s arc is less visible since there’s usually fewer rain drops near the ground to dance with the light.
NASA features a full circle rainbow near Perth, Australia here.
Just like human twins, double rainbows can be either identical or different in appearance.
Double rainbows are two separate concentric arches hand in hand across the sky. Like with people, one of the twins is often a paler image of the other. The secondary rainbow’s color sequence is the reverse of the brighter one.
A true twinned rainbows start out as one at the base then split into two running independently across the sky. Both of these rainbow twins have their colors streaking in the same order.
Even rare triplet rainbows are possible. (One from Japan in 2012 here.). There are many other rainbow variations, too: reflected rainbows, reflection rainbows, stacker rainbows, monochrome rainbows, even rainbows dancing with fog or moonlight.
Quite a colorful crowd. (Read more here)
A few rain drops, then wait for it, wait for it – and suddenly…see the next picture.©
That afternoon’s intriguing sky show could have been Mother Nature’s thanks.
Those with fur, fins, or feathers from coastal wetlands to mountains high may have felt a small ripple and wondered. Winds dutifully slipping through aspen branches to tell.
The message came shortly.
Our crowd is one less. We’ve lost our environmental warrior princess, our smiling yoga guide. Seen off by cat, dogs, and family at home.
A life lived well. A world left better. Wonder embraced.
Rainbows to dance you on, baby.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Although busy sending the sightings winging their way west, I did manage one to hold onto. This was the briefest flash of a rainbow you can imagine. Just as my cousin’s kid: gone too soon. ©
From sleeping under the moon to always on zoom, each generation wails about the complexity of “modern” life and glorifies simple life of the past, the “Good Old Days”.
“Hang on like bionic babe.”(1977 “Bionic Woman” NBC/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Kinda like observations on the developmental phases of a growing child.
Every stage means problems – to which everyone says “Don’t worry. It’s a phase. They’ll grow out of it”.
Neglecting to tell you that each phase brings its’ own set of problems.
(Oh, and you just thought it would be easier when they could walk instead of being carried. Then, ride a bike or skateboard. If only they could drive themselves….)
Hang on. Tighter. It’s fine since you’re riding pillion.(PD/Project Gutenberg/Close of 19th century.)
Cradle to grave, it doesn’t stop. A pattern in repetition.
If that doesn’t fracture your thinking, nothing does.
Know about fractals?
Never ending patterns. Identical on different scales. Repeating over and over like a loop in various sizes.
Not just geometry or math or art or trees with leaves or galaxies or hurricanes or coastlines or blood and lung vascular systems or circadian rhythms or computer graphics….
Fractals permeate the natural world, as well as, the human ones.
“Hang on, woman. You’re mine. They can’t criticize.” (1840-80.Central Asia/ Alexandra Kun/ USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Since nature is heavy with fractals, could human behavior also be a type of fractal?
Basic child development repeats individual after individual: generation after generation
Rural community turns into town, then city, to metroplex following a pattern
Societies and civilizations rise and fall. Predictably.
“History repeats itself. Historians repeat each other.” (1880 – Max Beerbohm)
Ah, the joys of a simple life. (Fred, Wilma, Pebbles Flintstone’s happy home at Ankara./Nevit Dilmen/Commons.wikimedia.org)
A frenzy of fractal fever!
Fractal or fractured?
Small fissure in time.
Simply a figment of the imagination.
1913.Simply a happy family.”Ah, my beautiful mansion”(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
It is what it is, to repeat a thought.
Phil the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
This post fractured from Larissa Thompson’s take on the Daily Post Photo Challenge “The Future” …so it’s a bit of a fractal or not?
North, South, East, West: happy home is simply best.(Gabriel Sheppard/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Frantic for fractals? Once you see them, the world never looks the same.
- Fresh Polished Fractal Art from MIA WP blogger Buddkat with more here, too.
- 1997 Arthur Clarke documentary. Science fiction meets science fact in this video. “Fractals: the Colors of Infinity”
- “Fractal Geometry” (Oh, it’s much more than math, you mathaphobics) Yale University
- “Fractal” Wikipedia. (Go ahead. Dip a toe in here and be awed)
The simple life forced? Back to basics: veggies in outer space.Happily home at the International Space Station: Anousheh Ansari and plant which happens to show fractals. (NASA/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 