No More Trips to the Strip?

Lubbock County Voters Approve Alcohol Sales
By Adam D. Young | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Story last updated at 5/10/2009 - 2:06 am

Lubbock County voters overwhelmingly approved two ballot propositions expanding alcohol sales in the county during a countywide election that ended Saturday.

Proposition 1, which expands packaged alcohol sales in the county, passed by a nearly 2-1 margin with 64.5 percent in favor.

Proposition 2 to allow mixed-drink sales in restaurants passed with about 69.5 percent in favor.

About 41,000 ballots were cast early. When polls closed at 7 p.m. Saturday, 9,552 votes were cast on Election Day - substantially fewer than County Elections Administrator Dorothy Kennedy had expected - according to the Lubbock County Office of Elections.

The tally does not include provisional or mail-in ballots, which are expected to take about five days to count. The county sent out about 1,000 mail-in ballots, Kennedy said.

The early voting numbers sparked excitement at pro-alcohol expansion Political Action Committee Lubbock County Wins' watch party at the Hawthorn Inn and Suites.

"There were lots of cheers in the room and relief that the results were in our favor," the PAC's chairwoman, Melissa Pierce, said when early voting results came up on the television screen in the hotel's conference room.

"I expected it to be very, very close" she said, but explained she would have preferred to see a larger voter turnout.

Only 35 percent of the county's 144,910 registered voters cast ballots.

But Pierce said she wasn't surprised by what looks like Lubbock County voters' approval of the propositions.

"I think Lubbock is a progressive city and we're ready for this," the stay-at-home mom said.

At anti-alcohol-expansion PAC Truth About Alcohol Sales's backyard voting watch party, spokeswoman Connie Curry said low-key anticipation of the results turned to disappointment.

"We certainly were expecting a higher percentage in the early voting," she said.

Though Pierce said turnout was lower than she would have liked, she believes the will of the voters was expressed by the results.

"The hard work has paid off and now we can sit back and be happy that we had the opportunity to vote on this," she said.

Pierce praised the actions of the Let Lubbock Vote PAC, which was formed, in part, by the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce in September as part of its efforts in leading a petition drive to put the propositions on the ballot.

"They put in a lot of work and we put in a lot of work," she said.

Truth About Alcohol Sales formed as a political action committee of residents concerned that alcohol sales would be a detriment to the county shortly after Let Lubbock Vote organized.

Despite the results of Saturday's election, the future of alcohol sales in Lubbock County remains in flux.

Owners of the liquor stores at The Strip, Pinkie's and Majestic Liquor, filed a lawsuit against the city of Lubbock and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage commission claiming city zoning ordinances violate state law. The Lubbock City Council approved alcohol zoning ordinances in December 2008 in anticipation of Saturday's vote.

The liquor stores asked 237th District Judge Sam Medina to bar the city from issuing the necessary paperwork to obtain alcoholic beverage permits until an agreement can be reached on the wording of the ordinance.

In 1960, Lubbock County voters legalized the sale of beer and wine in the southeast part of the county - then justice of the peace Precinct 6 - creating what today is referred to as "The Strip," a row of liquor stores south of town on U.S. 87.

The Precinct 6 boundaries have changed over the years, but liquor sales are still limited to those original locations.

In 1972, voters allowed restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages inside the city. Liquor-by-the-drink sales are limited to the 1972 city boundaries, when the city limits stopped at 82nd Street. Restaurants outside the 1972 city limits have been unable to sell alcohol unless they operated as a private club and offered memberships to diners.

full aj story

"Behind" Mt Rushmore

Witchcrafting Goat in Custody

(Reuters) – Police in Nigeria are holding a goat on suspicion of attempted armed robbery.

Vigilantes took the black and white beast to the police saying it was an armed robber who had used black magic to transform himself into a goat to escape arrest after trying to steal a Mazda 323.

"The group of vigilante men came to report that while they were on patrol they saw some hoodlums attempting to rob a car. They pursued them. However one of them escaped while the other turned into a goat," Kwara state police spokesman Tunde Mohammed told Reuters by telephone.

"We cannot confirm the story, but the goat is in our custody. We cannot base our information on something mystical. It is something that has to be proved scientifically, that a human being turned into a goat," he said.

Belief in witchcraft is widespread in parts of Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation. Residents came to the police station to see the goat, photographed in one national newspaper on its knees next to a pile of straw.

The Last GEICO Ad

Why College Takes 5 Years

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Loaded at Starbucks

A Starbucks coffee shop in central London. A police officer guarding former prime minister Tony Blair left her loaded gun in a Starbucks where it was found by a member of the public, police and media reports said.(AFP/File/Adrian Dennis

Punked?

I'm not really sure why this is funny, but several people told me it was. ;)

In this video still, Mr Litorus, homeowner, is interviewed on the local news after hurricane Ike damaged his home.

Texas Tech Waterball Stadium?

Yikes! I guess the flooding issues have not been resolved in Lubbock yet. Where's the plug?

Penis Nut Removal

A Malaysian welder had to have a nut removed from around his penis after an attempt to lengthen it before he gets engaged next week went embarrassingly wrong, a news report said Sunday. The nut got stuck on his penis following an erection, the Star newspaper said, forcing him to seek help at a hospital. (AFP/File/Martin Bureau)

Tongue Action

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain reacts as a supporter grasps his hand a bit aggressively at the end of a campaign rally where he introduced his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in Dayton, Ohio.
(AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

I Prefer Syrup

Jake Deitchler of the U.S. (in red) fights Armen Vardanyan of Ukraine during their 66 kg men's Greco-Roman wrestling repechage round 2 match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 13, 2008.
REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (CHINA)

Hillary Flicking Off Camera?

Okay, I thought Hillary was better than this, in public at least...

U.S. Sen Hillary Clinton addresses the Emilys list luncheon at a hotel in Denver, Colorado during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
(Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Tomatoe Fight

A man lies in a sea of tomatoes during the Tomatina festival that takes place in Bunol. Tens of thousands of people from around the world have hurled tons of ripe tomatoes at each other in an annual food fight that leaves the eastern Spanish town covered in red juice.(AFP/File/Philippe Desmazes)

Tree Man Comes Home

JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian man dubbed the "tree man" because of gnarled growths on his body has returned from hospital after six kilograms (13 pounds) of warts were surgically removed from his body, a doctor said on Tuesday.

Dede, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, first noticed the warts on his body after cutting his knee as a teenager. Over time, he was sacked from his job, deserted by his wife and shunned by neighbours as the horn-like extensions covered most of his body.

One of Dede's doctors, Rachmad Dinata, said the hospital had allowed the 37-year-old man to enjoy the Islamic fasting month with his family now that 95 percent of the warts had been removed after nine operations. The fasting month begins on September.
"He cannot be 100 percent cured, but his life quality has improved. If once he depended on others to do his activities, now he can eat by himself, use his hand to write, use the cell phone," Dinata said.

The doctor said the warts on Dede's body, which an American doctor said were a result of severe Human Papilloma Virus infection, might re-grow. But the disease is not life-threatening anymore.

Dede was operated on at the Hasan Sadikin provincial hospital in Bandung in West Java where he was admitted nine months ago with a lung infection as a result of the warts.

Dede must still go through more surgery to trim more warts from his palms and the back of his hands after the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday in October.

"We sent him home so he can gather with his family again, especially ahead of the fasting month. It will mentally help the healing process," Dinata said.

(Reporting by Telly Nathalia; Writing by Olivia Rondonuwu; Editing by Sugita Katyal)

PSHS Roof Graffiti

Yes, it's real! I verified the the authenticity of this photo with an administrator at the Plano Independant School District. The "graffiti" was spotted a couple of weeks ago from a traffic helicopter. The drawing was well placed, in all it's glory and stature, on top of the B building at Plano Senior High School. And it appears to be anatomically correct. So, I guess you could call it a masterpenis?

The pilot of the helicopter snapped the photo on July 15th with a cell phone and sent it to someone at WBAP who forwarded it to a PSHS administrator. Somehow (of course) the photo was leaked. Here is some of the text that hopped along as the photo was forwarded through the admins at PSHS.

"WBAP Radio has sent me this photo of alleged graffiti on the roof at PSHS. Would you please advise me regarding any details related to this. The photo was taken by the traffic reporter in a helicopter."

"We received a call today from WBAP that there is a picture of a penis on top of PSHS. We have our facilities people painting over the graffiti. We are filing a police report and we are optimistic we can identify the individuals who did this."

"See what you missed this summer?"

8 Eight Ate

I just could not pass up the opportunity to post on 08/08/08 at 08:08:08.

My feet

Test post from my phone.

National Spelling Bee: Numbnut?

This is pretty funny. Sameer Mishra, winner of the 2008 National Spelling Bee, was thrown a curve ball when asked to spell "numnah."

New Blog

Greetings to all. I wanted to let you know that I am ALSO blogging on my Indie Music blog, "Indie Jack." It is still in it's infancy, but if you like music, hop on over. Otherwise, stay tuned here.
Go to >> Indie Jack Blog

Hey Coach, Wrong Ball

This is a genius trick football play executed to perfection. Enjoy! (turn up your volume)

So... What's the Answer?

Oh this is good. Miss Teen South Carolina answering a question at the Miss Teen USA Pageant 2007.

Question: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?

You will have to listen to this several times to even attempt to understand her answer. This transcript will help...
Answer: (verbatim) I personally believe that, U.S. Americans are unable to do so, because some… people out there in our nation that don’t have maps, and I believe that our education, like such, as in South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should… our education over here in the U.S., should help the U.S., er, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future.., for our…

Tallest Man

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko, left, shakes hands with Leonid Stadnik, 36, believed to be the world's tallest man at 8ft, 5.5in. Stadnik is the tallest person in the world, beating a Chinese man who previously held the title, Guinness World Records said Wednesday Aug. 8, 2007. Stadnik's growth spurt started at age 14 after a brain operation apparently stimulated his pituitary gland. He lives with his mother, Halyna, taking care of the family's house and garden.

Polydactyl Sheep

A seven legged lamb is pictured on its farm at Methven near Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. Veterinarian Steve Williams said he believed a misprint in embryo formation had resulted in the lamb being born polydactyl, with many legs, a condition that occurs once in several million sheep.

Time to Talk to Jared?

Manuel Uribe, tipping the scales at 1,234 pounds and seen here at his home in 2006, will be listed as the world's fattest man by the Guinness Book of Records, while a loss of 440 pounds may make him the man who lost the most weight.

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Bob

This is great, the lyrics are completely in palindromes (same forward and backward). Oh, and it's a spoof of Bob Dylan.

Radar Love?

Radar, a Belgian draft horse and reigning Guinness World Record holder as the 'Tallest Living Horse,' at 19 hands 3.5 inches (6ft 6in), and Thumbelina, a miniature sorrel brown mare and the world's 'Smallest Living Horse,' 17.5 inches, are united for the first time for a photo shoot that will appear in the Guinness World Records 2008 edition.

Here She Be

Miss USA 2007



Newly-crowned Rachel Smith, Miss USA 2007, poses in her new Mikimoto tiara, YMI Jeans and Ritmo Mundo watch in downtown Los Angeles the morning after winning her title. The 21-year-old from Clarksville, Tennessee, will spend her year-long reign making special appearances on behalf of the Miss Universe Organization, its sponsors and affiliated charities.

Nudist Gym

The first clothing-free workout session at a Dutch gym went ahead as planned in Heteren, eastern Netherlands, and participants and observers said it met expectations. Around a dozen middle-aged and elderly men braved the glare of nearly twice that number of journalists, including reporters, photographers and at least five television teams, to fulfill their dream of exercising naked. 'There are things that you like to do, and for a nudist, it just feels better to do them with your clothes off,' said Ron van der Putten, left, who drove for more than an hour to take part in the first session, dubbed 'Nudifit'. 'You feel more free.'

SORRY!

Okay, so I'm a slacker. I am back in gear now, good stuff to come...

Get Another Chair

How would you like to sit next to this on your next flight?



A passenger waits for a delayed flight at Heathrow airport's terminal four in London. Dieters may find some welcome assistance from a new nasal spray that could help resist the appetizing aromas of cinnamon bun stands, pizza parlors or tempting bakeries.

Mouthfull

Jackie Bibby, aka "The Texas Snakeman," holds in his mouth ten 2 ft. 6-inch-long western diamondback rattlesnakes for 12.5 seconds without any assistance to set a new Guinness World Record for Most Live Rattlesnakes Held In Mouth.

Killer Biscuits Wanted for Attempted Murder

Linda Burnett, 23, a resident of San Diego, was visiting her in-laws and while there went to a nearby supermarket to pick up some groceries.
Several people noticed her sitting in her car with the windows rolled up and with her eyes closed, with both hands behind the back of her head. One customer who had been at the store for a while became concerned and walked over to the car. He noticed that Linda's eyes were now open, and she looked very strange. He asked her if she was okay, and Linda replied that she'd been shot in the back of the head, and had been holding her brains in for over an hour.
The man called the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head. When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of her head. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the heat, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the wad of dough hit her in the back of her head. When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brains. She initially passed out, but quickly recovered and tried to hold her brains in for over an hour until someone noticed and came to her aid.
Linda is a blonde and a Democrat, but I'm certain that's irrelevant.

.: Special thanks to SJ Field correspondent Betsy for this story.

Ahh, Poor John Kerry

Ha, ha, ha...



A group of soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard stationed in Iraq, hold up a comically misspelled sign mocking recent comments by Sen. John Kerry about people who didn't study in school being 'stuck in Iraq.' According to Air Force Public Affairs Officer Capt. J. Elaine Hunnicutt, 'the soldiers' intent in taking this photo was meant as a humorous response to the current debate in the media and the command recognizes it as such.'

Are There Hippo Dentists?

A 43-year-old hippopotamus eats a pumpkin at the San Francisco Zoo.

Fried Coke?

A view of a new fast food making its debut at U.S. fairs this fall. Ping-pong-sized balls of batter made with Coca-Cola syrup are deep-fried, then served in a cup, topped with more Coca-Cola syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry on the top. Where did this start? The State Fair of Texas, of course.

Smells Like a Punch in the Face

This is live footage of Nirvana playing at Trees in Dallas, TX in October 1991. Kurt goes nuts and gets jacked in the face by a bouncer. Very interesting...

When Pigs Dive?

A pig dives while other pigs watch during a performance at a zoo in Nanjing, in eastern China's Jiangsu province.

OUCH!

Track and field line judge Lia Mara Lourenco is helped after a javelin hit her in her foot during 'Brazil Trophy,' a national track and field competition, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Spineless

Bulgarian Simona Peycheva performs with a ball at the 22nd European Rythmic Gymnastics Championship in Moscow.

Eye-Popping Excellence

In this combination picture of before and after, Claudio Paulo Pinto pops his eyeballs out of their sockets, in Belo Horizonte, 210 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Claudio Paulo Pinto is looking for work. Pinto can pop his eyeballs at least 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) out of their sockets, a national record for eye-popping according to RankBrasil, an organization modelled after the Guinness Book of World Records that lists Brazilian records. Pinto says he's been doing this since he was nine years old and 'it doesn't hurt a bit.'

Got Pepto?

A python sits on a road after swallowing a pregnant ewe in the village of Kampung Jabor, about 124 miles east of Kuala Lumpur. The six-metre reptile weighing 198.5 lbs was too laden to move, making it easy for firemen to capture it, said a local daily newspaper.


Special thanks to SJ Field Correspondent Meagan Martin.

Chillin'

Asiatic black bear takes a rest at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo.

First Movement

This photo released by the Capla Kesting Gallery(CKG) shows a sculpture purportedly cast from 19-week old Suri Cruise's first bowel movement. The work by controversial artist Daniel Edwards, is to be auctioned off for charity on eBay.

Mini Her

Khagendra Thapa Magar, 14, dances, as his mother looks on, in Baglung village, 270 kilometers (169 miles) west of Katmandu, Nepal. Magar, who is only 20 inches (50 centimeters) tall and weighs 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds), is waiting for word from the Guinness World Records, where he has applied to be named the shortest in the world.

The Aristocrats'

Paul Provenza, left, and Penn Jillette perform in 'The Aristocrats,' a documentary about retelling a filthy joke. Executive director Jillette developed the documentary's concept four years ago over coffee with comedian Provenza, who directed the film, which makes its television premiere Wednesday, July 26 on HBO.

Giant Fish

In this photo provided by the office of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Sen. Murkowski hugs a 63-pound king salmon she caught July 7, 2006, along the Kenai River in Alaska, during the annual Kenai River Classic. The event, primarily attended by senators, corporate executives and lobbyists, raised about $800,000 for river conservation. BP Vice President Peggy Hudson caught the largest fish, a 67-pound king.

Do What?

Athlete Kathy Brennan (R) of Washington, D.C., helps to apply tanner on Forrest of Ferndale, Michigan, before the Physique competition during Gay Games VII in Evanston, Illinois.

Diamond Is In The Rough

Dustin Diamond, who played Screech on the television series 'Saved by the Bell,' holds a t-shirt in this photo taken in Port Washington, Wis. Diamond is selling the shirts to try to raise $250,000 so he doesn't lose his house under a foreclosure order.

Priceless Photo

This 1978 file photo made available by Microsoft Corp. shows the 11 people who started Microsoft. The photo was taken in Albuquerque, N.M., just prior to moving the company to the Seattle area. Shown top row, from left, are: Steve Wood, Bob Wallace and Jim Lane; second row, Bob O'Rear, Bob Greenberg, March McDonald and Gordon Letwin; and front row, Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Marla Wood and Paul Allen. Gates announced Thursday, June 15, 2006, that he will transition from day-to-day responsibilities at the company to concentrate on the charitable work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates will continue as the company's chairman after transferring his duties over a two-year period.