FW CanDo!

There is one trespasser you can't shoot.

It travels silently underground poisoning your water.
It floats invisibly above, polluting the air your children, animals and you breathe.
It contaminates the Earth beneath your feet.
It stalks the halls of the Texas State Capitol, greasing the palms of weak and greedy men and women.
They in turn have created a Free Pass for this trespasser.

It took me less than a minute to Take Action. (Texas residents, ONLY.) It's too easy.

Please take 1 minute, right now, to protect your family and Say No! to SB 875. See link below.

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/676/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY...

Frank Finan has filmed what may be the first infra-red video of natural gas well emissions, in living color. The images you are about to see may be mesmerizingly pretty but they are also toxic and deadly. As you read this, they are spewing into the air and lungs of all living beings in Dirty 'Ol Towns across the USA.

NOTE: The emissions seen in this video are NOT visible to the naked eye. Well done, Frank!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEoN-3A-zQ4&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

To better appreciate the previous infra-red video by Frank Finan, watch this video from the same location filmed with a standard camcorder. Same toxic emissions without the pretty colors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDa_eMU-sU8&feature=BF&list=ULI0fXT8nxR_k... read more of this posting »

I used to be a huge Cowboy's fan before I got a life. Or, maybe it was after the Cowboys started losing. Whatever, one useless passion died but several useful ones sprang to life.

But I'm a changed man ever since the City of Pittsburgh, PA banned gas drilling in 2010. For that reason, alone, Pittsburgh deserves to be the NEW America's Team. Now, I'm talking like a Yinzer and dreaming of Lombardi trophies.

Thanks to my good Pitt friend and comrade Bob Donnan, I'm now a Citizen of Steelers Nation. Bob presented me the attached certificate which I have posted on my Wall of Honor above my computer along with my FW Weekly Best Rabblerouser Award of 2006 and Sagamore Hill Elementary Spelling Bee Champion of 1963. read more of this posting »

You are looking at the first official flag of the City of Fort Worth created in 1912. This flag and other rarely seen, historic objects from the archives are now on display at the Fort Worth Public Central Library in an exhibit titled, Hidden Views.

http://www.fortworthgov.org/library/info/default.aspx?id=4172#

The exhibit was created by FW artist, Christopher Blay, who also participated in the Buzzworms in the Backyard exhibition in 2009. See his Buzzworm entry here:

http://fwcando.org/node/294

When trying to comprehend anything, context is everything, as they say. But take a look at the other photo below taken in 2010 and ask yourself if the City of Fort Worth has really changed that much in the past 99 years. read more of this posting »

You are looking at the first official flag of the City of Fort Worth created in 1912. This flag and other rarely seen, historic objects from the archives are now on display at the Fort Worth Public Central Library in an exhibit titled, Hidden Views.

http://www.fortworthgov.org/library/info/default.aspx?id=4172#

The exhibit was created by FW artist, Christopher Blay, who also participated in the Buzzworms in the Backyard exhibition in 2009. See his Buzzworm entry here:

http://fwcando.org/node/294

When trying to comprehend anything, context is everything, as they say. But take a look at the other photos below taken in 2009 and 2010 and ask yourself if the City of Fort Worth has really changed that much in the past 99 years. read more of this posting »

Yea Frogs! Great job! You brought home the Rose Bowl trophy! You had your big celebration! But another big game is still on the line. And TCU is losing Big Time. Let's talk about the Dignity game.

Let's talk about TCU's incestuous relationship with many of the big players and enablers of the natural gas industry.
Let's talk about how TCU has spent thousands of dirty dollars trying to dress up a dirty industry with lies and deceptions.
Let's talk about the dirty deal TCU made to keep drilling off-campus.
Lets' talk about how TCU puts money ahead of public health and the environment.
Let's talk about how the director of the TCU Energy Institute feeds propaganda to students and school kids about natural gas. read more of this posting »

In the summer of 2010 the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) held a special Math/Science program for gifted and talented middle school students, something called the Emerging Scholars Academy. One of the topics available for study was titled:

- To Drill or Not to Drill -

Project Requirements:

1) Answer the question: To Drill or Not to Drill.
2) Scientific evidence to support your answer from at least five sources.
3) Pros and cons of drilling that include economic and environmental impacts.
4) How will your stand help the U.S.
5) If you say "No" to drilling, what is the solution to our energy needs?
6) If you say "Yes" to drilling should there be areas that are off-limits? If so, where? Should there be restrictions and guidelines? If so, what are they? read more of this posting »

2010 was another banner year for Liars, Idiots, Nut-cases and Sinners in Dirty Ol' Town and Dirty Ol' State. Lawlessness ruled the shale as if the "Old West" never went away. What this town needs is a new sheriff.

But there were also a few significant local and national victories to keep hope alive. That hope comes courtesy of a handful of heroes working to save your life. Be sure and give one a hug or at least a check next time you see them.

Herewith, are my personal picks of the top stories and people of 2010, the Cliff Notes version. Hold your nose and dive in:

JANUARY- read more of this posting »

My favorite Christmas movie of all time has to be, It's a Wonderful Life, by the great film director, Frank Capra, (1897-1991). Capra was the grand old master of social commentary. His little cautionary tale of troubled George Bailey, played convincingly by Jimmy Stewart, touches the heart if not a nerve in most everyone.

After watching the film again in 2007 I couldn't help but see parallels in George Bailey's nightmare and what was going on in Fort Worth and the Barnett Shale. George's nightmare, of course, was that rich and greedy, Mr. Potter, would take over Bedford Falls and turn it into an immoral and dangerous place called Pottersville. read more of this posting »

The natural gas explosion that occurred near Palo Pinto, Texas, at 1:45 am on December 16, 2005, Texas, is kind of like my "Pearl Harbor" or maybe the "Alamo" would be a better metaphor. Palo Pinto was the touchstone that went unheeded.

The explosion "left a crater 250 yards wide and about 30 feet deep", according the local fire chief. Car-size rocks were blasted into the air. The ensuing fire burned over a square mile.

Alas, Texas Railroad Commission officials immediately downplayed the event caused by an industry that got them elected. In turn, the drillers mounted an unprecedented ad campaign that convinced most north Texas mineral owners that Palo Pinto was an aberration, nothing to worry about. read more of this posting »