Pethouse Pet of the Week
Fizz is bubbly over the eclipse, Charlie Pallilo, and Denny's pancakes
This week's Pethouse Pet of the Week has a lot to say about the eclipse, Houston sports talk fixture Charlie Pallilo, Denny's pancakes, TxDOT, and more.
Pethouse Pet of the Week
Name: Fizz – as in, “feel free to change my name.”
Ethnicity: I’m a chocolate and white Chihuahua mixed up boy. Check out my ears … I get Wifi for free!
Birthdate: January 3, 2017, I’m just a pup, not even a year old. I tip the scales at a tidy 9 pounds, maybe I’ll fill out at a dozen lbs. I’m energetic and curious and, I’m told that I’m a great kisser.
Come and get me: I'm available for adoption at 11 am Friday at Citizens for Animal Protection (17555 Katy Freeway; 281-497-0591). Tell them, "Ken sent me."
Fizz’s feelings
I’m hearing rumors that Charlie Pallilo is returning to Houston radio, on SB Nation 1560 AM, on Monday.
Yeah, right. Let me tell you, the sun will vanish from the sky the day Charlie is back on the air. But just to play it safe, I’ll be listening 11 am to 1 pm weekdays.
Here’s real news that should be fake
Last week, when North Korea was threatening to bomb Guam – a short 14-minute rocket ride – Channel 39’s NewsFix did some “man on the street” interviews. NewsFix asked Houstonians, “What would you do if you had only 14 minutes to get ready for an attack?” One of the interviewees: my buddy Reg “Third Degree” Burns. His answer: “I’d sit on my porch hugging my dog.”
Total eclipse
Denny’s has a deal for Monday’s eclipse: all you can eat “Mooncakes” for $4. For one day only, Denny’s has renamed its pancakes to celebrate the celestial phenomenon.
Hit the highway
Ever notice how the Texas Department of Transportation promotes monthly gun shows in Houston and Pasadena on those electronic highway signs? “They’re called “Dynamic Message Signs” and they’re supposed to give directions and control traffic at public events drawing at least 5,000 people in large cities like Houston and 2,500 people in smaller cities like Pasadena.
I asked a TxDOT official, has anybody ever checked to see if 5,000/2,500 people really attend these monthly gun shows? His answer: “When reviewing an application, there are a number of items that TxDOT has to accept on the basis of what is provided, due to the difficulty in verifying the information. Attendance is one of them. We do not have the staff required to check attendance for all events.”
In other words, TxDOT has never been to one of these gun shows to see if 5,000 or 2,500 people are showing up. In that case … next week, I’m inviting some friends over to watch the Texans game. I’m expecting, oh, 5,000 people in my TV room. You’ll just have to take my word for it. I expect TxDOT to give directions to my house on all Houston freeways.
All in the family
Channel 2 has hired Jacob Rascon as a news reporter and anchor, starting next month. Jacob is the son of Channel 13 anchor Art Rascon. Houston TV news has seen father-son duos before (Ron Stone and Ron Stone, Jr.), but not on this level. Wouldn’t it be something if Jacob and Art actually compete, talking head-to-head, anchoring against each other? Thanksgiving dinner conversation would have to be “off the record.”
And away we go
I’m crossing off No. 5 on my bucket list in December. I’m going to New Zealand for a Paul McCartney concert in Auckland. Yes, I will travel to the ends of the world for the Beatles.