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A cautionary tale about walking across interstate highways, as if such caution was necessary.

A traffic jam greeted me after work this afternoon just as I was exiting Interstate 10 for 11th Street. Our city is 80 miles from Houston but we have no amenities such as traffic updates on the radio telling us what’s ahead or where we should detour.

It was rather automatic, though, that I knew any kind of major accident in the general vicinity of where I was at the time would have major traffic repercussions. That is because right past my exit is a “Y” in which traffic may either continue west toward Houston on I-10 or north toward the Beaumont shopping district and the ‘burbs of Hardin County as well as the Pineywoods of East Texas on U.S. Hwys. 69/96/287. The first and last road will also take you to Minnesota and Montana, respectively. The middle one ends in Tenaha, Texas, for whatever reason.

That is a very troubling interchange normally, mainly between say 4-6 p.m. This is mainly because the “rush hour” traffic not going toward Houston is caught up in a mess due to several reasons, not the least being that the three highways and those feeders in its vicinity are obsolete when near Parkdale Mall and the large shopping area built around it. All the surrounding roads there have much more traffic than they can handle. Should a major accident occur within the city limit on either I-10 or the “Eastex Freeway,” as the confluence of highways is called, a bottleneck is likely to take place.

Setting the stage for what can happen with traffic when an accident happens on either freeway, there is also the possibility that someone could be seriously or even fatally injured. That is apparently what was causing the big bottleneck this afternoon as I drove to the crib from work.

Preliminary police and media reports indicate a woman was struck by an 18-wheeler while attempting to cross Interstate 10. This was a fairly short distance from where I stay. The reports say the woman received serious or perhaps even critical injuries.

I have no idea how often people are struck by motor vehicles while they are trying to cross interstate highways but even one is too many. It should be needless to say that it is a very dangerous feat to attempt. I’ve done it more than I ever wanted to do or should have done when I would access a wreck scene while working as a reporter. This was on Interstate 35 in Central Texas. I would not have even attempted such crossings had not traffic been considerably slowed by the wrecks. The cops always expected us, whether they liked it or not. I would always wait to cross in front of an 18-wheeler because they were crawling along at the slowest speeds of all oncoming traffic. I also would wait for a TV reporter and their camera person to cross and would then walk across to their left, leaving them closest to the truck-tractor. Obviously, if a truck was to hit them, then perhaps they’d provide a little buffering for me. I mean, they were always stealing our newspaper stories anyway. So …

Yes, I realize I am being a bit flippant here and I don’t mean to be so at the expense of the person who was struck. Still, these type of auto-pedestrian accidents like many such mishaps are avoidable. So let us just leave this where it is as a cautionary tale. Interstate highways can be dangerous enough without trying to cross them on foot.

 

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Giants-Patriots SB XLVI game better than most commericals with a few sweaty exceptions

What a great Super Bowl weekend. He said facetiously.

My weekend was spent with my jaw feeling as if it had been clobbered by Justin Tuck. It seems as if I somehow developed a TMD, which stands for temporomandibular joint disorder — and not some social disease get your head out of the gutter. That is the initial diagnosis I get having visited my VA “medical team” today. I didn’t even get to see my physician assistant, who is not a doctor, but who plays one in the VA clinic. Take an ibuprofen and see a dentist if it doesn’t get better. Then tell me, if it’s a medical problem, why should I spend money that I don’t have to see a dentist — I am not eligible to see one at the VA because of my patient status — who would likely say something is wrong with my molar(s) one way or another? Okay, rant out of the way. The ibuprofen is really doing the trick. He said facetiously.

The Super Bowl turned out to be a really good game, which was fortunate because the commercials that I really watch the game for when teams I have no interest in play — which has been pretty much the case in all but one game in the last 25 years — fell quite short.

My favorite commercials of all during this Super Bowl and pre-Super Bowl (hype) games were those of GEICO’s. The spot that made me roar in laughter despite a torturous jaw was the GEICO Gecko-meets-Richard Simmons.

Now pretty much anytime you have Richard Simmons “sweatin'” to something or other you can get a pretty good laugh. The poor gecko, in this outing, seemed as freaked as one might expect to see their Las Vegas hotel suite trashed in the morning. Sure you were out saving people money, little dude. Now it is understandable the gecko would become downright alarmed to see a deer wearing a lei come wandering out of the hallway. What a mess, what the deer and … why is Richard Simmons on the big-screen TV? But, wait, Richard Simmons in all his “glory” is in the room, exercising to himself on the TV. He shrieks upon sighting the gecko: “Hi!!! Come sweat with me me.”

Capping the hilarity is how the gecko backs slowly out of the room, away from Richard Simmons and quickly turns tail, fleeing from the little sweaty gay man. That is pure gold.

Maxwell, the GEICO pig, is also back from the zip-line commercial which didn’t do a lot for me. I suppose it is hard to top a supreme performance such as “Weee weee weee all the way home” of the original spot. This SB episode features Maxwell with his traditional “Weee … ” while zipping downhill on a street luge. Pulling up beside a guy also in the downhill race, Max gives the dude a cool upward nod of the head and suddenly yet calmly tells the racer “ah … head’s up” as a sign appears warning: “Reduce Speed.” Ah … ends badly for the other guy.

I give second place to the oldie but goodie CareerBuilder.com chimp trip commercial. And third to the E-trade Baby.

The Chevy “2012 Apocalypse” ads get an honorable mention. Ditto for the Elton John Pepsi commercial. The Bud Light “Platinum” commercials were the most disappointing. You can look all of these up here.

It seems every year since 9/11 the Super Bowl afternoon ads have overall provided less and less entertainment. Maybe it has something to do with a change in the nation’s sense of humor. I give as my example “Saturday Night Live” for the past decade which presents a comedy that appears alien. Plus, all the commercials can’t be “laugh out loud” amusing. I just wish more were clever.

Oh well. Thank goodness there are commercials that can both deliver laughs and effectively but expensively market its products. Kudos to the firms like The Martin Agency! That is with the exception of the Cave Man. He just creeps me out for some reason.

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A tale of two windbags

Newt got cold-cocked in last night’s debate. I was happy to see that even though I halfway hope he wins the nomination because I feel the whole universe would see just how despicable and ridiculous this whiter-than-white man really is. And of course, if you are expecting Newt to beat the incumbent president, you are three off-ramps past delusional.

Timothy Egan, political columnist for The New York Times, does a masterful job of “deconstructing a demagogue” which is Newt Gingrich. That Newt, what a piece of work.

Arizona guv: Tongue-wagging, finger-wagging windbag

How is that for a description of Jan Brewer and her encounter with POTUS after Air Force One landed outside Phoenix? The photo showing Brewer pointing her finger at Obama got a lot of words today and is apparently boosting her book sales. Obviously, a lot of drama queen exists inside the right-wing Arizona governor. First she told the media she was intimidated by Obama and later she chalked up the finger-pointing episode to her natural gesticulating.

Maybe the governor is just an animated person. But we’re talking the President of the United States here. Show some respect for office if not the man, for God’s sake!

There were a few times when, working as a reporter, I was within hearing distance — using the word “earshot” might get me a visit from the Men in Black — of President George W. Bush. Now if you read this blog with even slight regularity when Bush was in office, you will surely know I was not his biggest fan. That is really an understatement. Nevertheless, I once sat three rows behind him in a small chapel during an Easter service then I joined a hungry pack of reporters who gathered as he answered a few questions after the service. I never had the chance to ask him a question at the two or three times I covered press gatherings involving the president. (I did speak to him one-on-one before he was Texas governor.) If I had the opportunity I certainly would have asked him my question with respect. That is even though my basic instinct was wanting to shout the word “a**hole” at him.

Of course, there was my job — and future ones — that would have precluded me from shouting a dirty word at him. I guess you don’t have to worry about getting fired, for awhile at least, when you hold elective office. Even so, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, thus spake Aretha. It’s just common decency, manners. People don’t seem to care about that anymore, especially a lot of those who are so self-absorbed in their own business and private lives. Someone needs to send those people for a time out — like that baby in the E-trade commercials — without their computers or iPhones or Blackberry.

Governor Brewer, go to your room!

 

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What passes for reality in “Election 2012” a.k.a. “The Twilight Zone”

What is reality?

That is a question asked by those whose station in life run from philosopher to stoner as well as folks who meet at the intersection and on the edges. As we enter into a presidential election year the inquiry seems particularly appropriate. That is due, in part, to the wildly unreal race during 2011 for the person who will become the Republican nominee this year to run against President Barack Obama.

A week or so ago, I spoke to my friend Paul in a Skype conversation in which this very topic emerged. Paul, who is an educator in Tokyo and a former journalism classmate of mine at Stephen F. Austin in Texas, said the whole shebang might just as well be one big TV “reality” show. That begs the question then, what form would that show take? “Dancing With Republicans?” Well, maybe not. At least Newt Gingrich has made his feelings known about reality shows, in his particularly cynical and hypocritical way.

In fact, Gingrich — whose star hopefully has fallen in the GOP race once and for all — illustrates just how unreal is our daily reality show that has become the Republican race and has been egged on by the national media.

The former Speaker of the U.S. House and veteran pol has in the past couple of weeks whined about the attack ads unleashed upon him by the likes of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The Newt claims Romney is attempting to “buy the vote.” The charge of Gingrich’s “Romney-boating” is made, of course, because Gingrich has not yet accomplished the funds he needs to buy the vote.

In what most people see as reality there is little difference between the negativity of campaign ads and the viciousness Newt has let loose among his colleagues while House speaker. Gingrich has shown himself adept at both. Then there is the speaker’s problems with marital fidelity in between the periods he decries the national lack of family values caused by liberals.

As the Iowa Caucuses come to a head Tuesday one could find in that state more two-faced politicians than in a circus freak show.

Rick Perry is as guilty as they come in the “do as I say, not as I do” brethren. Here we have our good-haired governor of Texas who can both assassinate a coyote while jogging and shoot off his mouth about his state seceding from the U.S. Perry decried the federal handouts to help the economy but had a hissy fit when he could not get more government largess for Texas. All through the campaign, Perry talked tough until suddenly during an autumn New Hampshire speech he acts like a cow who stumbled upon loco weed. Ol’ Good Hair wildly gesticulated, cradled a bottle of maple syrup and just generally acted a fool leaving many wondering if the governor himself might have been into to the loco weed.

Speaking of acting a fool, the Godfather of Pizza Herman Cain had some wondering if his presidential campaign was not itself an act. Liberal msnbc host Rachel Maddow seemed convinced that the Cain campaign was a piece of performing art. Just think, not in terms of a presidential campaign itself but rather a compendium of bizarre acts — quoting from “Pokeman,” Uzebeki, beki-stan-stan, his 999 economic plan being written by a guy who works in a Wells Fargo bank. Art? Perhaps.

Then there is the reality of Ron Paul who many in his own party find him too real. He wants to bring all the troops home — from everywhere. When’s the last time that happened? In 1812, maybe?

The list goes on. Santorum. Bachmann. Two evangelical right-wingers who would really like to rule a Christian theocracy.

Finally, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. How real is he? Romney has pulled off the “being for it before he was against it” act to a degree that exceeds his fellow Bay Stater, former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry. Romney is opaque to the extent that if George W. Bush was to look into his eyes, he’d likely see Vladimir Putin’s soul provided Putin was standing behind of Romney.

The reality show will roll into high gear later this summer once the television networks attempt to pull some entertainment value out of the national political conventions. Then, here come the zingers!

The story starts out real-ish, then along the way one wonders if reality is what one is actually witnessing, until finally one questions their own sanity. Like that wise old sage Rod Serling said: ” You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into the Twilight Zone!”

Except one probably shouldn’t expect substance.

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Bits and pieces

My friend, Paul, called via Skype from Tokyo last night. I had just finished dinner and he was eating breakfast. Sometimes I think Paul keeps up more with what is happening here in the U.S. than I do. That said, he raised an interesting concept that I will try to write about, perhaps, when I am off work Friday or Saturday.

Paul said it is difficult to tell what is real and what is not in our stateside political world these days. He was mostly speaking, of course, of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. I agree and only have to point at Herman Cain’s ill-fated candidacy. Cain said his farewell address was from the “Pokeman” movie but it actually was from a song from the hot stuff disco lady Donna Summer who wrote the song for “Pokeman.” Too weird. Paul has called for some comments on his concept on his Facebook page. I will wait and see what kind of comments he gets to add these into the mix.

20 questions

A former co-worker with whom I keep up through Facebook has asked some strange “20 Questions” of her friends. Most are really interesting, thought-provoking questions such as what religion do you find interesting besides your own or if you have none and another, which tech innovation that has become mainstream do you most like. I put Catholicism for the first. I find it fascinating for many reasons. As for the latter, I wrote the PC with the cell phone camera No. 2. I added that I remember my family’s first TV.

A Who-Done-It Needs Solving

I live in a city of about 115,000 people and metro area of nearly 380,000. Although we are only 80 miles from Houston, I still live in a relatively small city. When a murder takes place in a city of Houston’s size, it being the nation’s fourth-largest city, it usually doesn’t make the front page of the Houston Chronicle unless it is a very out-of-the-ordinary type killing. It’s a little different here in Beaumont, for the most part and especially so when the case when it is something more than a domestic or a fight that got out of hand (cops sometime refer to these derogatorily as “misdemeanor murders.) I think I can also say a murder that stands out here as well is a who-done-it in which the victim is a white person, especially an elderly white woman. Is that racist? I don’t know, but such a murder generates a lot of interest if only because blacks make up a majority in this city.

One story that has received “front-page,” a.k.a. prominent media play, is the homicide of 72-year-old Robbie Rae Allen, who was found dead Dec. 16 in her West Beaumont apartment in the 6700 block of Prutzman Road. Relatives and neighbors described her as outgoing and even sort of the spunky type. She did have meals brought to her and received home health care. It has only been revealed recently that she was smothered to death.

Police have just released a video from a Fast Lane convenience store at Major Drive and Phelan Boulevard in West Beaumont — slightly more than a mile from Allen’s apartment. The video was taken about 48 hours before Allen was discovered dead and shows a woman wearing a red coat and blue jeans and a white hat who used the victim’s credit card. I initially thought this might be the victim herself but it is an unknown black woman.

All murders, for the most part, need solving but especially so this type of homicide. This type of killing is a source of dysfunction for a community. Sure, this thing happens all the time but thankfully not here. I have mentioned before that I don’t think a majority of our area’s news media is particularly adept at “investigating.”  There are various reasons for this that I won’t get into. I only say that because, often, we don’t know a lot and some of what we do not know, just maybe, we should. Some police, in my experience and I do have some experience as a police reporter, sometimes feel as if information they glean is theirs and the public has no business knowing anything whatsoever. This is especially true when a murder is involved. That isn’t to say police shouldn’t keep some investigative information close to the (bulletproof) vest. I’m just saying, more details may often be told and it can even be in the interest of the cops to release it.

I do give props to Beaumont police since new Chief Jimmy Singletary has taken charge in the area of public information. They seem to be making a good effort to help both the public and their agency with respect to crime information.

Now I hope cops and citizens can do their thing to help solve this crime. It sure as hell needs solving.