From the Annals of Constitutional Democracy –  In 1835, the Consultation adopted the Declaration of November 7, 1835, a statement of causes for taking up arms against Mexico in the run up to the Texas Declaration of Independence. The Declaration stated that the Texians had taken up arms in defense of their rights and liberties and the republican principles of the Mexican Constitution of 1824, and that the Texians had the right to establish an independent government.  It further promised to reward those who took up the cause of independence with lands and citizenship.

This week’s NFL Prediction Six-Pack

“Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.”

Don Shula

In the dictionary next to “bad luck” – picture of the Houston Texans’ logo.

Last week 4-2. For the season 17-19. The Rams?  Really?

Your Lucky Strike Pick of the Week

Panthers over Eagles. I picked the Eagles to win it all this season, but that was before they left nrg Stadium on Sunday without a starting quarterback and middle linebacker.  Now their fate rests in the hands of the redoubtable Mark Sanchez.  Sanchez probably doesn’t suck as much as most of us seem to remember.  He did lead the Jets (the Jets mind you) to back to back appearances in the AFC Championship game in his first two seasons.  After that, not so much.  He doesn’t get to play the hapless Texans every week.  Make that the hapless Texans missing their top two cornerbacks. Meanwhile Panthers desperately need a win to keep from falling further behind a thoroughly mediocre Saints team. Carolina 24 Philadelphia 19.

Your Lucky Pierre Pick of the Week.

Ravens over Titans. Until last season, I would have bet money that Flacco Joe had sold his soul to the Devil.  After all, he is the only guy with a better start to his playoff career than the aforementioned Mark Sanchez.  Now, I’m not so sure.  Then you look at the Ravens schedule.  Sure they have played some tough teams.  But they got the Stealers before Rotlessburger starting going insane and a decidedly down Panthers team.  Still if they only beat the weak sisters and the lame, they have a very good shot at the playoffs.  The Titans are weak and lame.  Is there really anything more you need to know? Baltimore 35 Tennessee 17.

Your Lucky in Vegas Pick of the Week.

Stealers over Jets. Rotlessburger throws 9 touchdowns in this one capping off the most remarkable 4 week run in NFL history.  Find your bookie, take the Stealers minus 4 (really minus 4 against the Jets?) and take the over at 45.5.  Hell, the Stealers might score 46 by halftime.  Maybe the Texans can land Rex Ryan as their new Defensive coordinator. Pittsburgh 72 New Jersey 6.

Your Bad Luck Chuck Pick of the Week.

Buccaneers over Falcons.  A formidable Shit Bowl this week – possibly in the running for Shit Bowl of the Year when all is said and done.  What has happened to the Falcons?  They don’t have the same excuses that the Texans do and they look even worse than last season.  The only question now is will Mike Smith be fired before the end of the season?  The answer: Yes.  In fact this week might be it for the white-haired wonder. Tampa Bay 17 Atlanta 14.

Your Lucky Luciano Pick of the Week.

Seahawks over Giants. Seahawks –  mediocre offense, very good defense, excellent rushing attack, ineffective passing game.  Giants – mediocre offense, pathetic defense,  average rushing and passing game.  I hear over and over from the local wags that the Texans can’t win with a below average quarterback.  Somehow the Seahawks manage to do just that.  Wilson barely averages 200 yards and takes a fair number of sacks, but  he is careful with the ball. Key to the game – can Russell Wilson get it together against the awful Giants defense?  Yep.   Seattle 27 New Jersey 17.

Your Lucky Money Pick of the Week.

Jaguars over Cowboys. I always pick the Wembley games every season just because.  Extra incentive this week with Cowboys suddenly staggering around looking for a place to fall. Meanwhile, Jaguars are trying to pick themselves up out of the gutter.  I hope this one is nasty. Jacksonville 30 Arlington 13.

From the Annals of Incredible Exploration – In 1528, the eighty survivors of the Narváez expedition washed ashore on an  island off the Texas coast.  Panfilo Narvaez had participated in the conquest of Mexico with Hernan Cortes and was seeking his own fame in leading an expedition to the gulf coast.  He was no Cortes, however, and through a series of blunders in exploring the interior of Florida about 250 of his men were forced to build rafts in an attempt to return via the Gulf Coast to Mexico.  The flotilla made its way towards the Mississippi where most of the rafts were lost in storms and rough seas.  Some members of his ill-fated expedition managed to land in Texas.  Most of them died of disease, starvation or were killed by the hostile coastal tribes.  Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca nearly died but later made it to the mainland and worked as a trader and healer for several years with native groups before discovering that three other men – the slave Estevanico, Alonso Castillo Maldonado, and Andrés Dorantes de Carranza – had survived and were living as captives on the shores of Matagorda Bay.  He joined them and they all ultimately decided to escape and attempt to return to Mexico overland.  These “four ragged castaways” became the first non-native Americans to return from Texas.   Their remarkable journey took them across present-day west Texas and northern Mexico and ended when they arrived at the Spanish outpost of Culiacán near the Pacific in 1536. Cabeza de Vaca’s account of his amazing odyssey in his Relación detailed valuable ethnographic, geographic, and biotic information on Texas.

Whispering Pines by Johnny Horton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XnhL4DPebE

From the Annals of Only the Good Die Young – Country music star Johnny Horton was killed in a car wreck near Milano in 1960.  Horton had played at the Skyline Club in Austin and was travelling to Shreveport to go duck hunting with an old friend.  Around 2:00 a.m. Horton was driving his Cadillac across a narrow bridge when a truck driven by an intoxicated A&M student lost control hitting both sides of the bridge before colliding head-on with Horton’s car.  Horton was born in California but grew up in East Texas graduating from Gallatin High School and attending Kilgore Junior College.  He worked as a fisherman in the Northwest and Alaska, but embarked on a country music career in 1950.  He found his first real success on the Louisiana Hayride show in 1955 where he was initially billed at the “Singing Fisherman.”  His first No. 1 hit was “When it’s Springtime in Alaska” in 1956.  He went on to record classics such as “North to Alaska”, “The Battle of New Orleans”, “Sink the Bismarck”, “Johnny Reb” and one of my favorites “Whispering Pines.”

From the Annals of Dancing Queen — The founder of the Kilgore College Rangerettes, Gussie Nell Davis, was born in Farmersville in 1906.  Davis started the Rangerettes in 1940 and led the group until her retirement in 1979.  The Rangerettes have performed at an Inaugural Parade (Eisenhower), the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and numerous halftime shows.  Davis was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 1989.

I personally have always preferred the Tyler Jr. College Apache Belles.

The Grand Old Partisans are succeeding in suppressing voter turnout in Texas.  It’s dirty work, but someone has to do it.  And by all accounts, the Voter Suppression Act is working.  Expect lots of election contests in close races this year.  If enough voters are denied access but cast provisional ballots, then there is a real possibility that a losing candidate in a close race has a shot at challenging the results based on the Voter ID law.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/houston/article/Little-demand-for-voter-ID-cards-but-some-hit-5865476.php

The Eighth Wonder of the World sits in decrepitude while the voters of Harris County and their elected officials dither about its fate.  The only thing loyal to Houston tradition and historical practice would be to tear it down.  That is what we have always done with our historical landmarks.  Why should the Astrodome be any different.  In fact, it would be disrespectful to do anything else given this city’s history. This is a slash and burn city.  Tear it down.

Photo taken from nrg Stadium on 11.2.2014.

From the annals of engineering marvels – In 1891 construction began on the Pecos High Bridge near Langtry, Texas.  The bridge which was completed in 1892 served the Sunset Route of the Southern Pacific Railroad.  The bridge was supported by 24 towers and spanned 2180 feet crossing the Pecos over a deep gorge.  At 321 feet high it was the highest railroad bridge in North America.  Famed Judge Roy Bean served as the coroner for many of the men killed during construction.  The bridge served the railroad for over 50 years and was replaced by another even higher bridge in 1944.  It is worth a stop at the roadside park high above the river on the southeast side of Hwy 90 to view the new bridge and the magnificent gorge of the Pecos River as it nears its confluence with the Rio Grande.

When I was a single man, I frequently would neglect to buy candy for Halloween.  Despite that, I would still greet the few trick-or-treaters that would come by.  When prompted, sometimes I would respond with a harsh “Trick, because I have no treats!”  That always confused them to no end as they had no clue as to the origin of the standard Halloween catchphrase.  But I always had a large collection of change handy, and would then ask if they wanted money in lieu of the non-existent candy.  They never refused the nickels, dimes and quarters that I would dole out.  And occasionally I would hear one running to the next house yelling “Trick or Money!”

Photo from http://www.mobiledge.com