To avoid unwanted Civil War associations, Midland, Texas's Robert E. Lee High School had to change their name to Legacy High School recently. They changed their football helmets accordingly, and I am not making this up!
Before.
After.
Friday, August 27, 2021
Sunday, August 22, 2021
The Yellow Jacket Gets an Update!
See "The Yellow Jacket Through the Years!" This is a more contemporary Marvel-like mascot, done by a student at the time named Ben Davis!
2015: The One Ring Gets Kermit National Attention
From Newswest 9:
Posted: Feb 02, 2015 by Justin Kree
(Additional information from Rawstory)
(Here's a post I worked on in October of 2015 and just never finished. To be fair, the telling of this story will always be unfair because Kermit ISD could and can never tell their side of this story because of privacy concerns. - DK)
KERMIT- The Kermit School District tells NewsWest 9 that they have received phone calls from all over the nation about a fourth grader who was suspended from Kermit Elementary School (my wife's former employer - DK) because of a movie reference.
However, the question remains, is there more to this disciplinary action then what the press has been reporting?
News out of Kermit last week claims 9-year-old Aiden Steward was suspended for making "terroristic threats" after he told a classmate he could make him disappear with a magic ring -. a reference to the movie The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
According to the New York Daily News, the family recently watched the movie and Steward was just playing make-believe. Aiden’s father, Jason, told The Daily News that his son “didn’t mean anything” when he told his classmate he was in possession of the “one ring to rule them all.” “Kids act out movies that they see. When I watched Superman as a kid, I went outside and tried to fly,” he said. “I assure you my son lacks the magical powers necessary to threaten his friend’s existence,” he added. “If he did, I’m sure he’d bring him right back.”
Posted: Feb 02, 2015 by Justin Kree
(Additional information from Rawstory)
 |
| Photo from New York Daily News. |
KERMIT- The Kermit School District tells NewsWest 9 that they have received phone calls from all over the nation about a fourth grader who was suspended from Kermit Elementary School (my wife's former employer - DK) because of a movie reference.
However, the question remains, is there more to this disciplinary action then what the press has been reporting?
News out of Kermit last week claims 9-year-old Aiden Steward was suspended for making "terroristic threats" after he told a classmate he could make him disappear with a magic ring -. a reference to the movie The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
According to the New York Daily News, the family recently watched the movie and Steward was just playing make-believe. Aiden’s father, Jason, told The Daily News that his son “didn’t mean anything” when he told his classmate he was in possession of the “one ring to rule them all.” “Kids act out movies that they see. When I watched Superman as a kid, I went outside and tried to fly,” he said. “I assure you my son lacks the magical powers necessary to threaten his friend’s existence,” he added. “If he did, I’m sure he’d bring him right back.”
Kermit Elementary Principal Roxanne Greer told the Odessa American that she could not comment on the suspension, because “all student stuff is confidential,” but Steward said that she told him that any and all threats to a child’s safety — including magical ones — would be taken seriously by the school. He also said that he requested, in writing, a detailed explanation as to how his son’s statements constituted a “terroristic threat,” and that he was told by a representative of the Kermit Independent School District that the school would mail him a letter.
The story spread nationwide getting parents in Kermit talking. "It's kind of crazy that he got suspended from school because I don't think it was worth getting suspended," Kermit parent, Tammy Broaddus, said.
"It's Kermit, it's a great community. I've been here 43 years and it's a small town, everybody knows everybody. It's sad what's happening in our schools that it's being splashed over national news, it's even made the New York Post," Kermit parent, Mary Hellen Pando, said.
Kermit Superintendent Bill Boyd could not talk on camera because of the school district's policy. However, in a statement to NewsWest 9 he says: "We like to emphasize that our teachers and administrators are well-trained and have properly implemented the District's policy and student code of conduct and certainly do not base disciplinary placement decisions on literary or cinematic references as reported by the Odessa American."
The school district won't talk about the suspension. The statement went on to read, "The discipline of any KISD student is confidential under the Family Educational Rights of Privacy Act (FERPA). There are many good things going on in Kermit ISD that deserve far more attention than this matter, and for that reason, the district will provide no further comment," Boyd said.
With school violence on the rise around the nation, the district felt it was justifiable to take the action they did.
"It's good the district is proactive but they need to be proactive in the areas of bullying. This to me is imagination, they're just playing," Kermit parent, Sandra Bonilla, said.
The story spread nationwide getting parents in Kermit talking. "It's kind of crazy that he got suspended from school because I don't think it was worth getting suspended," Kermit parent, Tammy Broaddus, said.
"It's Kermit, it's a great community. I've been here 43 years and it's a small town, everybody knows everybody. It's sad what's happening in our schools that it's being splashed over national news, it's even made the New York Post," Kermit parent, Mary Hellen Pando, said.
Kermit Superintendent Bill Boyd could not talk on camera because of the school district's policy. However, in a statement to NewsWest 9 he says: "We like to emphasize that our teachers and administrators are well-trained and have properly implemented the District's policy and student code of conduct and certainly do not base disciplinary placement decisions on literary or cinematic references as reported by the Odessa American."
The school district won't talk about the suspension. The statement went on to read, "The discipline of any KISD student is confidential under the Family Educational Rights of Privacy Act (FERPA). There are many good things going on in Kermit ISD that deserve far more attention than this matter, and for that reason, the district will provide no further comment," Boyd said.
With school violence on the rise around the nation, the district felt it was justifiable to take the action they did.
"It's good the district is proactive but they need to be proactive in the areas of bullying. This to me is imagination, they're just playing," Kermit parent, Sandra Bonilla, said.
(No children were reported to have disappeared because of the magic ring. -DK)
 |
| This, believe it or not, is the profile picture for Kermit Elementary's Facebook page to this very day. At least they have a sense of humor about it. -DK |
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Hello Again!
Why, you ask?
Going back to find a simpler place and time, with apologies to Gladys Knight?
Things seem to be relatively intact around this place, thankfully. There are a few cobwebs, which can be cleaned out, and dead links, which I can work on.
In my town of Kermit, the water tower has long been painted over, the sand that surrounds us is worth some money now, we have a Holiday Inn and a McDonald's....
It feels awfully good to be back!
Photo by Bianca Polanco, caption by me
Let's see where we can go...
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Frog Gone
"And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people." (Exodus 8:11)
Second only to the courthouse, it is the most photographed structure in Kermit, Texas. It is mentioned in at least two travel books, this one and this one. And it's about to be painted over. And only a few of us, it seems, are sad about it.
From CBS7:
Posted: Friday, July 18, 2014 7:13 pm | Updated: 1:27 pm, Mon Jul 21, 2014.
by DeAnn Lopez
(Watch the video here.)
KERMIT - It seems that Kermit the Frog has over stayed his visit in one West Texas city.
The Muppets star's face was painted on the city's water tower nine years ago when Kermit came down to celebrate his 50th anniversary of being in the entertainment industry.
City officials have been planning Kermit’s departure for a little over a year now.
Even though it won't be cheap to paint over the Muppets star, it's a price they’re willing to pay to show their community pride.
Back in 2005, Kermit Texas was the first stop that Kermit the Frog made while on his 50th Anniversary World Tour.
As part of his visit, Disney was given permission to paint Kermit’s face on the city's main water tower.
But, in just a few weeks the high school’s mascot will be buzzing its way back on to the tower.
"It's been the desire of many citizens that we make this change," Mayor Jerry Phillips said.
The water tower isn't the only thing that Kermit the Frog left his mark on.
Kermit the Frog Boulevard, which runs directly in front of City Hall, will once again be named South Tornillo Street.
During Thursday night’s city council meeting, council voted to re-paint not only the Kermit the Frog tower, but their other water tower, which is going to cost them $123,500.
But not all residents agree with council’s decision.
"I kind of don't see the point of them wanting to recover the Kermit the Frog, we got a lot of attention even with the Kermit the Frog festivities that still go on, I mean the Kermit Celebration Days, which they call now,” Kermit resident Letecia Garcia said. “It brings in a lot of publicity for Kermit."
Long-time resident Jaime Morales says he can't wait until those paint brushes hit Kermit the Frogs face.
"I know Yellow Jackets has been up for the longest time, I came to school here (Kermit High), I was proud to be from this school, it doesn’t make sense why we would still have a Frog,” Morales said. “It’s time to let go and let our bee come back."
If all goes according to plan, both towers will be painted sometime in mid-August.
(I just found this: About a month after Kermit's visit in 2005, a UFO was reported near Kermit. Muppets from Space? - DK)
 |
| Photo ftom Pinterest. |
From CBS7:
Posted: Friday, July 18, 2014 7:13 pm | Updated: 1:27 pm, Mon Jul 21, 2014.
by DeAnn Lopez
(Watch the video here.)
KERMIT - It seems that Kermit the Frog has over stayed his visit in one West Texas city.
The Muppets star's face was painted on the city's water tower nine years ago when Kermit came down to celebrate his 50th anniversary of being in the entertainment industry.
City officials have been planning Kermit’s departure for a little over a year now.
Even though it won't be cheap to paint over the Muppets star, it's a price they’re willing to pay to show their community pride.
Back in 2005, Kermit Texas was the first stop that Kermit the Frog made while on his 50th Anniversary World Tour.
As part of his visit, Disney was given permission to paint Kermit’s face on the city's main water tower.
But, in just a few weeks the high school’s mascot will be buzzing its way back on to the tower.
"It's been the desire of many citizens that we make this change," Mayor Jerry Phillips said.
The water tower isn't the only thing that Kermit the Frog left his mark on.
Kermit the Frog Boulevard, which runs directly in front of City Hall, will once again be named South Tornillo Street.
 |
| CBS7 photo. |
During Thursday night’s city council meeting, council voted to re-paint not only the Kermit the Frog tower, but their other water tower, which is going to cost them $123,500.
But not all residents agree with council’s decision.
"I kind of don't see the point of them wanting to recover the Kermit the Frog, we got a lot of attention even with the Kermit the Frog festivities that still go on, I mean the Kermit Celebration Days, which they call now,” Kermit resident Letecia Garcia said. “It brings in a lot of publicity for Kermit."
Long-time resident Jaime Morales says he can't wait until those paint brushes hit Kermit the Frogs face.
"I know Yellow Jackets has been up for the longest time, I came to school here (Kermit High), I was proud to be from this school, it doesn’t make sense why we would still have a Frog,” Morales said. “It’s time to let go and let our bee come back."
If all goes according to plan, both towers will be painted sometime in mid-August.
(I just found this: About a month after Kermit's visit in 2005, a UFO was reported near Kermit. Muppets from Space? - DK)
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Prada Marfa
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| Photo from A.Addison's blog. |
From the Huffington Post:
Prada Marfa, a destination for fashion, art and road trip-loving folks alike, might be closing up "shop." We use the term lightly, of course, since the West Texas storefront isn't a retail shop at all, but rather an art installation set up by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset back in 2005. The beloved Prada building is now being called out by the Texas Department of Transportation, which has deemed the structure as an "illegal outdoor advertising sign," the New York Times reports.
The main issue is that the Prada logo, prominently displayed on the 15-foot-by-25-foot "store," is considered a sign under state and federal law, thereby violating the 1965 Highway Beautification Act (even though technically Prada Marfa sits on private property). Between the countless numbers of Instagram and Facebook photos taken at the locale -- not to mention Beyonce's viral personal snap -- since its erection eight years ago, we're not really sure why lawmakers are deciding to act on this now (though the Times names a Playboy installation in Marfa as catalyst).
We are sure, however, that we'll miss Prada Marfa if the state decides on a forced removal. After all, Miuccia Prada approved (not commissioned) the project and picked out the 20 shoes sitting in the front window. The message Elmgreen and Dragset set out to convey with their installation, a commentary on the mushrooming influence of luxury brands and consumerist culture, is one that Miuccia herself subscribes to. "I'm completely against the idea that we do fashion for an elite," the designer, who has eschewed money-making, mass-market designer collaborations, has said. "That would be too easy, in a way."
Plus, Miuccia has a soft spot for the art world, integrating Surrealism components into her groundbreaking fashion collections and even commissioning a three-story slide from German artist Carsten Höller that runs from her window to the outside of Prada's Milan headquarters. We're sure Miuccia, along with the rest of the camera-happy travelers in West Texas, will be sad to see the art-meets-fashion monument go if Prada Marfa is torn down.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Lubbock's Tattooed Jesus
From examiner.com:
According to Fox News on Oct. 10, there are 59 billboards around Lubbock, Texas showing Jesus covered in tattoos.
The billboards show Jesus wearing a crown of thorns with his arms outstretched. Across his bare chest and arms words such as 'outcast', 'addicted', 'jealous' and 'hatred' have been tattooed on his skin.
Needless to say, these billboards are shocking and offensive to some. However, there is an explanation behind the image.
Instead of insinuating that Jesus was tattooed, the group behind the billboards says it's part of a campaign to bring the message of Jesus’ love to everyone.
The aim of the billboards is to show how Jesus took on our sins on his body on the cross. Then after His death those sins were removed. However, it doesn't seem that way by merely seeing the billboards.
The billboards direct people to the website Jesustattoo.org, where a video shows people coming to Jesus to have their sins cleansed.
During the six-minute video, a woman is seen having her tattoo of 'self righteous' changed to 'humbled' and a boy on crutches having 'outcast' changed to 'accepted' are among those who visit the tattoo parlor.
The video then shows the negative tattoos appearing on the body of Jesus, whose skin had been unblemished at the start of the film.
Jesus Tattoo Volunteer Jay Corner says:
“There is controversy when our Lord and Savior was on this Earth, and one of the things He said and the things He did, and I know some people see this as a little bit of a controversy. What’s really cool about it is that it’s really a love story. As you get involved in it and you look at the video, I believe it draws you into that story.”
The billboards are upsetting to many Christians living in the areas where the billboards are located because they see only the billboards without knowing the explanation behind them.
Some residents call the billboards blasphemous. However, David Wilson, pastor of Southcrest Baptist Church has praised its message:
"I thought that it was cleverly done because, basically, it's a visual of Jesus taking the sins of people and covering them and taking them from an outcast or something and giving them a new start, which is what the gospel is about."
The group behind the campaign that put up the 59 billboards across Lubbock in the past nine days, say they are not trying to sell anything.
According to the Daily Mail, Ashleigh Sawyer, the group's spokesman, said: "The message is a simple one, Jesus's love is transformative. He loves us unconditionally and no matter what you've been marked with, faith in Him and love for others will transform us."
The group plans to extend its billboard campaign to other regions.
Unfortunately, people are reacting to the billboard alone without knowing it is an object lesson to a much deeper meaning. Perhaps the billboard was not the right method for this message.
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