Britain's Prince Charles is slapped on the face with a flower by an anti-war protester who identified herself only as Alina, in Riga, Latvia Thursday Nov. 8, 2001. The incident happened at the Freedom Monument after the prince had laid a wreath to commemorate the Baltic state's independence. Alina, was led away by police saying that she was protesting against Latvia joining NATO and Britain's role in the bombing in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/AFI)

This girl is my hero. Sixteen years old and willing to take a stand like this.
posted by J.M. Branum at 3:38 PM | link

From The NY Times:

• Oklahoma's White to undergo season-ending surgery
  
• Court to rule on drug tests for school groups - This case is about the policy of the Tecumseh, OK school board to force all students to take drug tests if they wish to participate in extra-curricular activities.
  
• Ashcroft plan would recast Justice Dept. in a war mode

From Yahoo News

• Girl charged with slapping Prince Charles with flower:
  
  Alina Lebedeva struck the prince with the long-stemmed flower Thursday as he stopped during a walk in downtown Riga to speak with a group of children. ``I'm against the Afghan war,'' she said in Russian to reporters as police took her away. . .
  

  Prince Charles had stopped to talk with children waving British flags when the thin, red-haired teen-ager, appearing calm, leaned over and struck him. The girl turned and walked slowly away, saying, ``Britain's the enemy of the world,'' as armed guards grabbed her and escorted her to a police van. . .

  
  
• Amtrak told to plan liquidation - This is really bad timing to talk about cutting rail service. I think instead Congress should be giving them some major subsidies. (I'd rather give a public-owned railroad more money than the blank check we gave corporate-owned airlines.

posted by J.M. Branum at 3:27 PM | link

Atty General John Ashcroft is a fascist!

According to Dictionary.com, fascism is defined as "1. a system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism; 2. a political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government; 3. Oppressive, dictatorial control. "

Now bearing the definition in mind, keep reading...

MSNBC is reprinting a story that originally ran in the Washington Post titled, U.S. will monitor calls to lawyers. Here are some especially revealing quotes from the story:

Nov. 9 — The Justice Department has decided to listen in on the conversations of lawyers with clients in federal custody, including people who have been detained but not charged with any crime, whenever that is deemed necessary to prevent violence or terrorism. . .


President Bush last week signed the USA Patriot Act, a bill that gives the government a freer hand to conduct searches, detain or deport suspects, eavesdrop on Internet communications, monitor financial transactions and obtain electronic records on individuals. The administration also has promised to crack down on immigration violations, Congress is considering legislation to tighten airport security, and Ashcroft announced yesterday that he is reorganizing the Justice Department and FBI to concentrate on terrorism. . .


According to a summary published in the Federal Register Oct. 31, the monitoring will be conducted without a court order whenever the attorney general certifies “that reasonable suspicion exists to believe that an inmate may use communications with attorneys or their agents to facilitate acts of terrorism.”


The definition of “inmate” previously covered only people in custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons, but it was changed to cover anyone “held as witnesses, detainees or otherwise” by INS agents, U.S. marshals or other federal authorities. Since Sept. 11, the government has detained nearly 1,200 people, many on immigration violations. The Bush administration has declined to say how many have been released.

This move by Ashcroft's Justice Department is one of the most serious retreats from liberty that our country has engaged. I just hope that the ACLU can sue the pants off the justice department to get this measure thrown out by the US Supreme Court.

posted by J.M. Branum at 3:19 PM | link

From MSNBC:

• White House ups Hollywood call: Entertainment’s senior statesmen asked to aid in fight on terrorism - Thankfully the internet will be here to tell the public the truth, once Hollywood and D.C. crank up their propaganda machine.
  
• Support for war falls worldwide - According to this story recent surveys 49% of French citizens, 65% of German citizens, 69% of Spanish citizens want the bombing to stop. Also, here are some more quotes from the story:
  
  Criticism of the United States has even shown up on the radio in Mexican folk songs known as corridos. One song, “The Mistake of the CIA,” goes, in part: “They are looking for you, bin Laden, the terrorist that the CIA trained, that was the biggest mistake of the American government.”
  

  Farther south, the media in Argentina and Brazil have focused increasingly on civilian casualties in Afghanistan, fueling already strong anti-American sentiment. Bin Laden has emerged as a symbol of anti-Americanism among Brazil’s leftist and anarchist youth. His photo now shows up at rallies alongside local favorites such as Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
  

  Members of two of the main soccer clubs in Rio de Janeiro have worn bin Laden T-shirts to games and unfurled bin Laden flags when their team scored a goal. Bin Laden has also become an underground hero among the street gangs that rule Rio’s hillside ghettos. Already resentful of the U.S. war on drugs, they see bin Laden as a symbol of power and resistance to the United States. The paper bags of cocaine selling for $1 each in Rio’s ghettos have bin Laden’s image stamped on them and sport new names such as “Taliban Cocaine.”
  

  In South Africa, sympathy for the United States has turned to scorn with reports of Afghan civilian casualties.
  

  “I do not understand the arrogance of the Americans,” said Siphiwe Moerane, a graphics designer sitting in a Johannesburg coffee shop. “How do you wage war against an entire country to get one man? We were all sorry to see the loss of so many American lives on Sept. 11. But why do Americans seem to think that their lives are more valuable than lives outside their borders? This is what makes people so angry at the U.S.”
  

  Many Africans, who empathize with Afghanistan’s impoverished population, also hear echoes of colonialism and racism in the U.S. and British attacks. Many Africans still hold a grudge against the British for their colonial role in Africa. And they recall bitterly Washington’s support for such despots as the late Mobutu Sese Seku of Zaire, warlords such as Angola’s Jonas Savimbi and South Africa’s apartheid-era white-minority government.
  

  “No one in his right mind can defend the gruesome murder of innocent children and the elderly in pursuit of one man whose guilt cannot be proved beyond doubt,” Garth le Pere, director of the Institute for Global Dialogue, told reporters in Johannesburg.
  

  “It simply means that America has no regard for innocent lives lost in other parts of the world,” said Sipho Seepe, a South African political analyst. “For them the concept of innocent lives lost applies to situations where white and people of Western origin are involved. When it is black people’s lives or those of people of Indian origin, the concept does not apply.”

  
  

posted by J.M. Branum at 5:41 PM | link

Ananova.com reports that the US Government is preparing to buy enough smallpox vaccination does to vaccinate the entire country at the cost of $8 per person.

posted by J.M. Branum at 4:48 PM | link

This is a very creapy story from the Nov. 6, 2001 edition of the San Marcos Daily Record of San Marcos, TX. (Just wait until you read the last line.)

Changing police roles may mean sharing authority
By ANITA MILLER - News Editor

Local law enforcement agencies will be enjoying expanded powers due to anti-terrorism legislation passed in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, but they may also be expected to fulfill functions they have not been trained for and to learn to share their authority with other jurisdictions.

Those were among the predictions given to San Marcos police and Hays County deputies who are members of SWAT and Hostage Negotiation teams last week by Dr. Wayman Mullins, professor of Criminal Justice at Southwest Texas State University.

"You are still the "thin blue line' but you are not out there by yourselves -- you will have to relinquish some authority" to firefighters, EMS and other emergency responders, Mullins said. "We are rethinking what we do as police."

America since Sept. 11 will be more concerned with intelligence as it pertains to possible additional attacks as well as other areas of homeland security.

"You will get more police officers and you will be asked to put them on the streets faster," he said to the two dozen or so law officers gathered at San Marcos Police headquarters Nov. 3. "You will see more crisis situations," he warned, and may even encounter more "victims fighting back." In the case of a hostage situation, "you might have to negotiate with the hostage first," instead of the person holding them.

Mullins said the sharing of authority will come with more sharing of information among agencies as law enforcement continues to ferret out suspected terrorists both foreign and domestic. That should have happened, but didn't, among various federal agencies in the days immediately after Sept. 11.

"There's probably more data on this event than on any other in the history of the world and it's still being generated," he said. However, he said federal agencies initially suffered a "breakdown" in communication. "Agencies were not sharing and disseminating information," which is a longtime complaint of state and federal law enforcement regarding their interaction with the federal government.

Even so, police officers with no specific first-hand knowledge of the job were quickly stationed at airports, football games, dams and nuclear and conventional power plants, "all kinds of things that they have had no training to do.

"We in San Marcos have so far been immune from some of the activities of these folks" he said in regard to bin Laden and his Al-Queda network. "Don't expect that to continue."

Mullins said future attacks could be conventional -- "a grenade in a store front, a car bomb on a city street" -- through cyberspace targeted "against government systems, military systems and your e-mail" -- and possibly through the use of biological and chemical elements far more dangerous than anthrax.

Hoaxes are also likely to continue, set in motion by people seeking revenge or notoriety, for example.

The sense of uneasiness that has permeated American society in the last two months has also led to some "disturbing data" about what's happening here, Mullins said. "Since Sept. 11 domestic violence has increased significantly. Child abuse, sexual assault, suicides and inpatient treatment at hospitals all have increased."

In addition to new rules governing wiretapping, search and seizure and other areas of police work, Mullins said new technology recently developed by the government will make its way to local agencies.

That will be helpful if, as he predicts, President Bush's war on terrorism proceeds and succeeds.

"When Bush said all (terrorists) he meant all of them." After bin Laden and his top associates are taken out, the U.S. government will likely turn its attention to other international terrorist groups like the Shining Path operating in South America.

"The third tier will be the militias, the Klan, and the left-wing folks in this country."
posted by J.M. Branum at 4:41 PM | link

I got an email from some folks at The Boiler-rooms (a.k.a. Millenninum 3 Monastery). Wow! This site is incredible and the concept is even better. I highly recommend it.
posted by J.M. Branum at 4:39 PM | link

Just read in the NY Times that Republican Michael Bloomberg was elected mayor of New York City.
posted by J.M. Branum at 10:11 AM | link

From the NY Times:

• Where Mexico (Not Salsa) is King
  

From MSNBC:

• Germany pledges 3900 troops
  
• Bush warns of global instability

posted by J.M. Branum at 1:14 PM | link

I'm watching Boston Public tonight on TV. I heard the hype about this show, but wow! I am very impressed.
posted by J.M. Branum at 7:57 PM | link

Here's another point of view on tomorrow's election from the Texas Green Party:

Green Party of Texas Voters Guide
19 Proposed Amendments to Texas Constitution
November 6, 2001

YES. Prop. 1. "The constitutional amendment providing for clearing of land titles by the release of a state claim of its interest to the owners of certain land in Bastrop County."

The Green value of Social Justice indicates that the State of Texas should prevent the loss of title by people who bought and paid for property that was never transferred by the state because of faulty surveys made as many as 100 years ago. The people involved in these disputes appear to be innocent parties who have dutifully paid their taxes and improved their land in good faith.

YOU DECIDE. Prop. 2. “The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of state general obligation bonds and notes to provide financial assistance to counties for roadway projects to serve border colonias."

Green values do not provide a 100% clear choice on this issue.

Ecological Wisdom and Future Focus / Sustainability dictate that we find a long-term solution to the problem of housing, transportation, and colonias in general. Having the state finish a developer’s job is not sustainable, nor do the colonias appear to be the most appropriate solution to the housing shortage along the border. Building more roads, with bonds is not particularly sustainable or economically wise in the long-run. Social Justice indicates that we hold the developers responsible, rather than having the state pick up the bill, and that we pass legislation prohibiting developments without adequate services.

On the other hand, Social Justice demands of us that we improve social services for underprivileged populations; Latin@s living on the Texas border are some of the most marginalized people in the country, as they are the most marginalized in the most marginalized state. While building roads doesn’t fully address the question of poverty there, which is a real tragedy and which doesn’t have any easy fixes, roads would arguably help to some degree.

NO. Prop. 3. "The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation raw cocoa and green coffee that is held in Harris County."

This amendment works against several Green values, including Community-Based Economics and Future Focus / Sustainability. On the one hand, the amendment decreases tax revenue at the expense of the schools and neighborhoods that would benefit from them. It is another example of unsustainable corporate welfare: robbing local governments of revenue to attract business. The Green Party firmly rejects corporate welfare like this, designed to benefit a wealthy minority at the expense of the majority.

NO. Prop. 4. "The constitutional amendment providing for a four-year term of office for the fire fighters' pension commissioner."

The Green values of Decentralization and Grassroots Democracy indicate that if this office is important enough to be in the Texas Constitution, then the citizens of Texas should elect the official rather than having her or him appointed by the governor.

NO. Prop. 5. "The constitutional amendment authorizing municipalities to donate outdated or surplus firefighting equipment or supplies to underdeveloped countries."

Social Justice definitely comes into play here, as it encourages charity in general. However, indiscriminate charity can be wasteful, provide a disincentive to work, and in the long term can hurt the people it was intended to help. It can in fact reduce Personal Responsibility, as it does not ensure responsible donations.

There is a terrible track record, even with reputable charitable organizations, in the donation of used equipment. It would be better to sell it at a cut rate to Mexican or other firefighters (which is allowed under current law), because then the recipients would show an interest and commitment before investing their money (even if it were only a symbolic payment). This proposition would enable municipalities to make the donations. However, most municipalities do not have the experience, skills, or resources to ensure that their donation of fire equipment will actually help its intended beneficiaries, be used properly, or maintained.

YES. Prop. 6. "The constitutional amendment requiring the governor to call a special session for the appointment of presidential electors under certain circumstances."

Following the debacle and disenfranchisement we all witnessed following the November 2000 election, Social Justice demands that Texas implement safeguards so that the state can take appropriate measures to ensure those injustices are not repeated in Texas. This proposition is just one of many electoral reforms that we should undertake, including Instant Runoff Voting and Campaign Finance Reform.

The Green Party supports Grassroots Democracy and Decentralization. This amendment would remove any legal doubt (as was the case in Florida) that the ultimate authority in determining electors is the Legislature, and not the Supreme Court. In thus doing, the people have more influence over the outcome of the election than if the governor were the sole arbiter. The Green Party supports efforts to give people the power to control the decisions affecting their lives, as well as efforts to decentralize decision-making to community-based institutions. Giving State Representatives, who represent relatively small districts, the power to choose presidential electors in the case of a dispute, is a favorable alternative to the broad powers now entrusted to a single state official. Although a special Legislative session may fall prey to partisan loyalty, it nevertheless is preferable to the partisanship of a single person who may be less open to grassroots influence.

YOU DECIDE. Prop. 7. "The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans' Land Board to issue up to $500 million in general obligation bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for veterans' housing assistance and to use assets in certain veterans’ land and veterans' housing assistance funds to provide for veterans cemeteries."

Although the Green Party supports Non-Violence and abhors wars, we should never forget nor fail to acknowledge the debt that we as Texans and American Citizens owe to our veterans. Even those veterans who fought in unjust wars were, for the most part, of good faith. It is also fair, in principle, to acknowledge their sacrifices with benefits such as VA housing loans, college tuition assistance (the GI Bill), and hiring preferences for federal and state civil-service jobs.

However, Social Justice requires that in a world of finite resources and multiple needs, that we weigh the benefit of $500,000,000 in bonds for housing for veterans against other programs for needy populations in Texas.

YOU DECIDE. Prop. 8. "The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of up to $850 million in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for construction and repair projects and for the purchase of needed equipment."

On the one hand, our values of Future Focus & Sustainability tell us that taking out debt just passes the costs of today’s projects on to our children and grandchildren. Paying for predictable expenses with bonds, rather than general tax revenue, is not sustainable. If the repairs and construction aren’t important for us to tax for today, why should Texans pay for them in taxes plus interest in the years to come?

On the other hand, Social Justice suggests that we consider that many of the agencies that would benefit from this proposition work on behalf of socially marginalized populations (deaf, mentally retarded, visually impaired) and the environment.

YOU DECIDE. Prop. 9. "The constitutional amendment authorizing the filling of a vacancy in the legislature without an election if a candidate is running unopposed in an election to fill the vacancy."

On the one hand, this proposition could potentially decrease Grassroots Democracy, as it would deny the opportunity for undeclared write-in candidates to receive votes. Although Texas law invalidates votes for undeclared write-in candidates, these votes still maintain an important symbolic power.

On the other hand, Ecological Wisdom calls for us to reduce waste. This proposition would reduce the waste in time and resources normally invested in voting in a race with only one candidate.

NO. Prop. 10: "The constitutional amendment to promote equal tax treatment for products produced, acquired, and distributed in the State of Texas by authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property held at certain locations only temporarily for assembling, manufacturing, processing, or other commercial purposes."

This amendment would erode local tax bases and unfairly subsidize a small group of goods-in-transit owners (warehouse owners, road-building contractors) at the expense of all other Texans. Our business climate is very friendly to investment, and NAFTA is already increasing traffic and giving the state a larger share in national warehousing and distribution (the intended aim of the amendment). The Green Party values of Future Focus and Community-Based Economics suggest that the state should impose a moratorium on new tax exemptions until the efficiency and fairness of existing exemptions are determined.

YES. Prop. 11: "The constitutional amendment to allow current and retired public school teachers and retired public school administrators to receive compensation for serving on the governing bodies of school districts, cities, towns, or other local government districts."

An arcane law currently bars employees compensated with state funds from receiving a salary for elective public service. This unfairly penalizes teachers and deprives the community of their expertise. There is no reason to prohibit teachers from receiving two paychecks for doing two entirely different jobs. Besides supporting Grass-Roots Democracy and Personal Responsibility by encouraging teacher involvement in their communities, this amendment builds Feminism, since a large number of teachers are women.

NO. Prop. 12: "The constitutional amendment to eliminate obsolete, archaic, redundant, and unnecessary provisions and to clarify, update, and harmonize certain provisions of the Texas Constitution."

The Texas Constitution needs a complete overhaul to make it a leaner, more responsive blueprint for government in the new century. Piecemeal changes - such as constitutional amendments on "ad valorem tax exemptions for green coffee in Harris County" - are inadequate and risk unintended consequences. Substantive changes may be hidden among less dramatic "cleanup" changes. Ecological Wisdom, Grassroots Democracy, Personal Responsibility, and Future Focus suggest the more focused approach of a constitutional convention.

YES. Prop. 13: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize the board of trustees of an independent school district to donate certain surplus district property of historical significance in order to preserve the property."

Most of the historic schoolhouses in question were built a century ago and are now used by community organizations. Local school districts that no longer need these sites should be allowed to donate them to organizations committed to their preservation. The values of Grassroots Democracy and Decentralization suggest that such decisions be left to locally elected officials.

NO. Prop. 14: "The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to authorize taxing units other than school districts to exempt from ad valorem taxation travel trailers that are not held or used for the production of income."

Given its potential to erode local tax bases, a property-tax exemption for travel trailers would have negative implications for Community-Based Economics, local autonomy (Decentralization), and the provision of fair and adequate local services (Social Justice). We don't need a special new class of homeowner. Nor do we need more tax breaks for people with second or third homes.

NO. Prop. 15: "The constitutional amendment creating the Texas Mobility Fund and authorizing grants and loans of money and issuance of obligations for financing the construction, reconstruction, acquisition, operation, and expansion of state highways, turnpikes, toll roads, toll bridges, and other mobility projects."

The Mobility Fund, administered by the Transportation Commission, would finance the construction, acquisition, and expansion of state highways and pay some costs of toll roads and other transportation projects. It could be called the "Big Sprawl Financed With Tolls" Fund, draining precious resources from the task of providing transportation efficiently. Ecological

Wisdom, among other values, suggests that we not make it easy for the state to build new roads with borrowed money.

NO. Prop. 16: "The constitutional amendment prescribing requirements for imposing a lien for work and material used in the construction, repair, or renovation of improvements on residential homestead property and including the conversion and refinance of a personal property lien secured by a manufactured home to a lien on real property as a debt on homestead property protected from a forced sale."

This proposition would reduce the waiting period required for a valid home-improvement lien on a homestead from 12 days to five days. Voters in 1997 approved the constitutional 12-day waiting period to protect homeowners, and we should not reduce this protection. The cooling-off period protects homeowners from rushing into using their most valuable asset -- their home -- as collateral for improvement contracts. Reducing the waiting period would allow unscrupulous contractors to bully or trick unsuspecting homeowners into making poor decisions, in violation of the Green value of Social Justice.

YES. Prop. 17: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to settle land title disputes between the state and a private party."

This would allow the state to relinquish claim to land when someone holds disputed title to that land and no clear title was ever issued. Under current law, there is no procedure allowing the state to settle title disputes without a constitutional amendment for each piece of land in dispute. The state needs a way to clear the title to land held by innocent parties, to resolve inequities, and to avoid expensive court fights.

The Green value of Social Justice indicates that the State of Texas should prevent the loss of title by people who bought and paid for property that was never transferred by the state because of faulty surveys made as many as 100 years ago. The people involved in these disputes appear to be innocent parties who have dutifully paid their taxes and improved their land in good faith.

YES. Prop. 18: "The constitutional amendment to promote uniformity in the collection, deposit, reporting, and remitting of civil and criminal fees."

This would authorize the Legislature to create a program to consolidate and standardize the handling of criminal and civil court fees, easing a wasteful burden on local governments and courts. Efficiency is a component of the Green Party value of Ecological Wisdom, which calls on us to reduce waste and practice efficiency.

YOU DECIDE. Prop. 19: "The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $2 billion."

This would allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue $2 billion in bonds for water-supply, flood-control, wastewater and related projects. The funding mechanism is sound, and the board's loans can be enormously helpful to local communities. More generally, this is part of a regional planning process that attempts to involve and empower local representatives in developing 50-year water-supply plans.

Unfortunately, the $117 billion in identified needs focus on bringing the water to the people (as opposed to adapting development to water realities), which appears expensive and unsustainable.

One way to pose the question: Do your doubts about the Ecological Wisdom of current water plans outweigh the benefits (Grassroots Democracy, Decentralization, Personal Responsibility) of a $2 billion investment in water projects and in the process of local education and involvement in water issues?

RECOMMENDED READING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The Ten Key Values of the Green Party of Texas
  
• Texas Secretary of State Website (Ballot Language and Brief Explanations)
  
• The Green Party National Platform

posted by J.M. Branum at 7:39 PM | link

OK, here are my ballot recommendations for tomorrow's Texas Constitutional Amendment election: (ballot descriptions taken from the Austin A-S)

Proposition 1: To clear land titles in Bastrop County by releasing the state's claim to land long held by individuals.


Yes - This goes back to a surveying error from hundreds of years ago, and should be settled in the landholders' favor.


Proposition 2: To let the state issue $175 million in bonds to assist border counties that carry out road projects in "colonias," or substandard neighborhoods.


Yes - The colonias have been neglected for too long.


Proposition 3: To allow a property tax exemption for cocoa and green coffee held in Harris County. No.


Yes - This would enable Houston to become one of only a few US cities who are centers for coffee trading and roasting.


Proposition 4: To increase the term of the state's firefighters' pension commissioner.


Yes - but who really cares. My understanding is that this position will be abolished soon anyway.


Proposition 5: To allow cities to donate used firefighting equipment to foreign countries.


Yes


Proposition 6: To require a special session to appoint presidential electors when a presidential election is in doubt.


Absolutely not - This sounds like a creepy way for the state legislature to come in and change the outcome of an election by calling it "in doubt."


Proposition 7: To authorize $500 million in bonds for veterans housing loans and cemeteries.


Yes


Proposition 8: To authorize $850 million in bonds for repairs and equipment at state schools, prisons, parks, military operations and research facilities.


Yes - I have mixed feelings about this one. I hate seeing more money spent on prisons, but since this bond proposal focuses on facility repairs and equipment, and not new prisons then I support it.


Proposition 9: To omit special legislative elections in which a candidate is unopposed.


No - if for no other reason to embarrass the people of the state about how lazy and pathetic they are in not insuring that every election is contested. I think every citizen of this country should run for office at least once.


Proposition 10: To allow a property tax exemption for goods in transit and stored temporarily in the state.


Yes


Proposition 11: To allow a school teacher to receive pay while serving on a local governing board.


Yes


Proposition 12: To eliminate obsolete and redundant parts of the Constitution -- a general clean-up proposal.


A tentative Yes - (I want to find out more on what this entails.)


Proposition 13: To allow school districts to donate old school buildings for historic preservation.


Yes


Proposition 14: To allow a property tax exemption on travel trailers.


Yes - This one is important if Texas wants to continue receiving the dollars spent by Winter Texans in RVs.


Proposition 15: To create a highway bond funds and authorize spending on toll roads.


Tentative yes - but I want to think on this some more before I vote on it tomorrow.


Proposition 16: To shorten the waiting period for home improvement liens and allow homestead liens for manufactured homes.


No - This is a creepy way to let scumbag lenders take away peoples' homes.


Proposition 17: To settle land-title disputes between the state and private landowners. The proposal would avoid repeated voting, as in the Bastrop County case covered by Proposition 1, each time a title problem is discovered.


Yes


Proposition 18: To consolidate and standardize court fees.


Not sure on this one, I'll wait until I get to read the actual ballot language to decide on this one.


Proposition 19: To authorize $2 billion in bonds for state water projects under the Texas Water Development Board.


Yes

Ok, those are my thoughts. Feel free to post yours in the comment link below...
posted by J.M. Branum at 3:48 PM | link

If you live in Texas, don't forget to vote tomorrow. (I wish all of the people who are so proudly flying the flag would show up and vote for once. I don't think your patriotic gestures are worth anything, if you don't bother to participate in the electoral process.) If you're looking for info on the ballot measures, here are some links that may be helpful:

• Austin A-S guide to the election
  
• Austin-area League of Women Voters Voters' Guide

I'll post my views on the ballot measures later in the afternoon.
posted by J.M. Branum at 3:31 PM | link

From the Austin American-Statesman:

• Court to hear 4th Amendment case - This case discusses whether parolees can be forced to give up their 4th Amendment right to be secure from warrant-less searches. I'll be interested to see how this case plays out.
  
• Georgetown Salamander gaining status
  
• Finally! Streets open downtown
  
• Voices of Peace A wonderful feature story by Brad Buchholz in the Sunday Austin American-Statesman on the peace movement in Austin. Overall it is a good story (I especially liked the part where he talked to Michael Pogue, a well known photographer and member of Voices in the Wilderness). The one thing that was missing from the story though was at least some mention of the large rallies (with up to 1000 in attendance) that occurred. While peace activists might be a minority in Austin, they are still a sizeable minority. Overall though, I liked the emphasis the author placed on the individuals who are taking spontaneous actions for peace.

posted by J.M. Branum at 3:14 PM | link

From The NY Times:

• Son of executed Afghan rebel leads mourners
  
• Ill-fated path to America, jail and death - Why does it take the death of a detainee to find out the truth about what the FBI and INS are doing with the 1100 people that they have imprisoned, most without charges being filed. Attorney General John Ashcroft seems more like a fascist by the day. It's time for Bush to rein him and the FBI chief in, and make them start respecting the civil liberties of all people.
  
• Some I.B.M. software tools to be put into public domain - This is an interesting development.
  
• What's changed, and what's not, around New York - I've included links to this story and the next one for any folks out there who are planing trips to NYC in the near future. I believe that anyone who has the time and money to travel up there, should do it. The people in NYC need tourists more than almost anything else right now.
  
• One man's essential Manhattan

posted by J.M. Branum at 2:11 PM | link

I found this from the Robert Earl Keen website:

Our New President George W. Bush comments on Robert Earl Keen: “ Bush likes other Texas artists, such as the late rock ‘n’ roller Buddy Holly, or current folk singer Robert Earl Keen” (USA Today Washington) and from the younger Bush generations: President Bush’s twin daughters listed Robert Earl Keen as “one of their favorite singers” (Vogue Magazine).

posted by J.M. Branum at 12:38 PM | link

For those of you into theology, I found this site by a a guy named Kim Clement. I'm still thinking through his views. Some of it sounds right on, but some of it seems a bit off. I need to think about it some more.
posted by J.M. Branum at 9:49 PM | link