Liberty's Blog

RIP: Charlton Heston

2008-04-07T06:51:00.003-05:00

Charlton Heston died yesterday. We live in a richer and freer world because of him. Mr. Heston was much more than a movie actor, but an activist in making us a better nation. He was an active Kennedy Democrat and a Reagan Republican, He marched with Martin Luther King and headed up the NRA for five years. Charles Cotton has a tribute.

Was Charlton Heston merely a celebrity figurehead? Hardly! He was the consummate patriot who was always been willing to put the rights of others before his own interests; one who worked through his own physical pain and exhaustion to carry the fight for freedom to anyone who would listen.

He is in a special place now.

Don't Call me a Liberal

2008-03-23T19:58:00.002-05:00

Apparently Obama sees himself as a uniting force and that old labels such as leftist and liberal are obsolete.

Obama, in an interview, said that "a lot of these old labels don't apply anymore."

He said he was a progressive and a pragmatist, eager to tackle the big issues like health care and convinced that the Democrats could rally independents and disaffected Republicans to their agenda.

Only then, he said, could the party achieve what it has so rarely won in modern presidential elections - a mandate to do big things.

Well if it smells like it looks like and taste like it it must be a liberal.

Even so, Obama does not come to the campaign with a reputation as one of the accommodating bridge-builders in the Senate. His voting record, albeit short, is to the left; the National Journal declared it the most liberal of 2007. Congressional Quarterly said he voted with his party 97 percent of the time on party-line votes that year.

Obama has been endorsed by advocacy groups like MoveOn.org that are anathema to Republicans on Capitol Hill. And some of his strongest supporters are activists at the "net-roots" who have clamored for less accommodation across party lines.

Obama says he understands the criticism of his voting record, but argues that the Senate is so ideologically polarized it is hard not to end up on one side or the other.

"The only votes that come up are votes that are purposely designed to divide people," he said. "It's true that if I'm presented with a series of votes like that, I'm more likely to fall left of center than right of center. But as president, I would be setting the terms of debate."

Sure sounds like leftist liberal speak to me.

Progress Continues with OpenOffice.Org

2008-03-20T05:52:00.004-05:00

It looks like Version 2.4 will be released next week around March 28th. 2.4 will have some of the enhancements we are looking at for 3.0 Which should be out around September. The OpenOffice.org Ninja has a preview of 3.0 I have been using OpenOffice.org almost exclusively these days. One of the main reasons is because oft he ability to create PDF files. The ability of 3.0 to edit and perhaps import them is a real reason to look forward to it. another new feature that I find pretty exciting is notes. Attaching notes to a document furthers the potential of collaboration.

Although it was mentioned last year that OpenOffice 3.0 will contain a an Outlook Substitute. Rumor has it that this will be Thunderbird and Lightning, I although I use Thunderbird, I cant see any real benifit to merging the 3 programs they are available seperatly, and unless there is some real tight intigration adding them to the package is simply bloat.

OpenOffice isn't just good Free Software. It is a good Office suite. A good suite that has cababilities beyond what Microsoft has to offer.

Galveston Watch?

2008-03-16T09:22:00.001-05:00

Will Galveston’s lifeguards star in a lifeguard reality show?

Lhasa citizens Rebels

2008-03-15T12:23:00.005-05:00

The Tibetan capital of Lhasa demonstrates how they feel about being subjected to the Communist Red Chinese Rule.

Violence erupted Friday in a busy market area of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, as Buddhist monks and other ethnic Tibetans clashed with Chinese security forces. Witnesses say angry Tibetan crowds burned shops, cars, military vehicles and at least one tourist bus.
...
The chaotic scene was the latest, and most violent, confrontation in a series of protests that began Monday and now represent a major challenge to the ruling Communist Party as it prepares to play host to the Olympics in August.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing warned American citizens on Friday not to travel to Lhasa. The embassy said it had "received firsthand reports from American citizens in the city who report gunfire and other indications of violence."

Xinhua, China's official news agency, issued a short statement in English confirming that shops in Lhasa had been set on fire and that other stores had closed because of the violence. But the protests otherwise received no coverage in the Chinese press.

The Dalai Lama released a statement on Friday calling on both sides to avoid violence and appealing to the Chinese leadership to "address the long simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Tibetan people."

The situation in Lhasa represents a complicated predicament for the Communist Party, which is now holding its annual meeting of the National People's Congress in Beijing. Party leaders are grappling with growing criticism of China's domestic rights record and its ties to Sudan, which the United States has accused of waging a genocidal campaign in its Darfur region.

Just as Beijing sees the Olympics as a chance to strut confidently on the world stage, so its opponents see the international publicity ahead of the Games as a chance to press deep grievances against the one-party state.

In the past, China has not hesitated to crush major protests in Tibet or jail disobedient monks. President Hu Jintao, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party, served as party boss in Tibet during a violent crackdown against protests in 1989. His support for the bloody suppression of unrest that year earned him the good will of Deng Xiaoping, then the paramount leader, and led directly to his elevation to the Politburo Standing Committee and eventually to China's top leadership posts.

Meanwhile the US is expected to continue to support the Communist Nation by providing capital as a "most favored nation" trading partner.

There is more bad news for those who try so hard to keep a positive spin on the Red Chinese. The air quality in Bejing will keep world record holder, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia from running the marathon this summer.

One of the world's top long distance runners has said he will not compete in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics because China's air pollution would pose an unacceptable risk to his health and future career.

In a major blow for the Chinese authorities, who have spent vast sums of money trying to tackle Beijing's pollution problem, the world record holder, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, said he still intended to participate in the 10,000 metres but could not run in the 26-mile, 385-yard (42.2km) marathon.
Gebrselassie, 34, who holds the world marathon record and two Olympic titles for the 10,000 metres, suffers from asthma. "The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42km," he told Reuters. "But I am not pulling out of the Olympic event in Beijing altogether. I plan to participate in the 10,000-metre event."

Usually the Olympics tend to highlight the the best that a nation has to offer, This summers Olympics might be a real eye opener on just what the conditions are in Communist Red China.

Update at 18:00: At least 30 dead maybe a hundred,

The Dalai Lama's exiled Tibetan government in India said it had confirmed Chinese authorities killed at least 30 Tibetan protesters but added the toll could be as high as 100. There was no confirmation of the death toll from Chinese officials and the numbers could not be independently verified.

China maintains rigid control over Tibet, foreigners need special travel permits to get there and journalists rarely get access except under highly controlled circumstances.

There is no information coming directly out of Tibet because China won't let any western journalist in. The Internation Olympics Committee is begging folks not to boycott the Bejing Olympics. The Chinese are killing folks by the score, is not reason enough to deny the spoiled athletes their moment of glory. The entertainmaint media has taken enough of a beating with the writers strike.

Selling Garbage

2008-03-11T20:16:00.002-05:00

Even Microsoft's executives understand that Vista is garbage that doesn't belong on their own machines:

Here’s one story of a Vista upgrade early last year that did not go well. Jon, let’s call him, (bear with me — I’ll reveal his full identity later) upgrades two XP machines to Vista. Then he discovers that his printer, regular scanner and film scanner lack Vista drivers. He has to stick with XP on one machine just so he can continue to use the peripherals.
Did Jon simply have bad luck? Apparently not. When another person, Steven, hears about Jon’s woes, he says drivers are missing in every category — “this is the same across the whole ecosystem.”
Then there’s Mike, who buys a laptop that has a reassuring “Windows Vista Capable” logo affixed. He thinks that he will be able to run Vista in all of its glory, as well as favorite Microsoft programs like Movie Maker. His report: “I personally got burned.” His new laptop — logo or no logo — lacks the necessary graphics chip and can run neither his favorite video-editing software nor anything but a hobbled version of Vista. “I now have a $2,100 e-mail machine,” he says.
It turns out that Mike is clearly not a naïf. He’s Mike Nash, a Microsoft vice president who oversees Windows product management. And Jon, who is dismayed to learn that the drivers he needs don’t exist? That’s Jon A. Shirley, a Microsoft board member and former president and chief operating officer. And Steven, who reports that missing drivers are anything but exceptional, is in a good position to know: he’s Steven Sinofsky, the company’s senior vice president responsible for Windows.
Their remarks come from a stream of internal communications at Microsoft in February 2007, after Vista had been released as a supposedly finished product and customers were paying full retail price. Between the nonexistent drivers and PCs mislabeled as being ready for Vista when they really were not, Vista instantly acquired a reputation at birth: Does Not Play Well With Others.

Those who upgrade do so at their own risk. But I will take Microsofts word on it that their OS is garbage

Does Martha Find this Funny?

2008-03-11T05:49:00.004-05:00

Anyone want to make a bet that Eliot Spitzer doesn't get any jail time? Yet he insisted that there should be no deals for Martha Stuart.

A Boycot that Works.

2008-03-09T18:43:00.003-05:00

Citgo gas around here is running a little cheaper. Yet, no one seems to be buying it any more. Whats interesting is that there is no large organizing force to this boycott. Everyday people are staying away.

The Bush administration may be trying to ignore Hugo Chavez, but some local gas station owners are moving to protect themselves from the backlash against the Venezuelan president's anti-American rhetoric.

Calls by some across the country to boycott gasoline sold by Venezuelan-owned Citgo are cutting into sales, prompting some station owners to move to other suppliers.

In this case I think its a good thing that that citizens make the point. While Kennedy can kiss Chavez' buttocks it has got to be plainly clear to Chavez what Americans really think of of him.

Moving on

2008-03-09T09:46:00.001-05:00

Ed Morrissey of "The Captains Quarters" is moving.

Ten in a Row

2008-02-20T05:28:00.003-06:00

Barak Obama wins Hawaii and Wisconsin. That makes it 10 in a Row. Sounds like a sweep to us. Larry Kudlow puts it this way.

Please allow me a dose of hardened market realism concerning Obama's landslide victory in Wisconsin. The race is over. Hillary is finished. The Clinton Restoration is over. President Bill Clinton's political invincibility is over. Hillary's electability is over.

Obama got to the far Left faster than she did. He out organized her in the precincts. He out fundraised her. He out speechified her. He out-hustled her. He out-dressed her. He out-presidentialed her. He outdid her and he outbid her for votes, one promised government check at a time.

Hillary is counting on Texas and Ohio in a couple of weeks, While she might do well here in Texas. She is probably in trouble in Ohio. Yesterday the phones were ringing here in Galveston, the Democrats were inviting folks to come down to the new Justice Center and hear Bill speak. They should have a good crowd and a good time in Galveston. Like Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burned. Hillary will continue to lose around the country.

A petition to Save XP

2008-02-19T19:48:00.003-06:00

I just set up a new computer this weekend, It was the dinosaur XP Pro. I have no use for Microsoft Vista. My favorite applications womn't work on it and I don't care for the idea of getting Microsoft's permission to run my favorite hardware and drivers that have worked faithfully for years. Its not only me, most IT professionals that aren't actually in Microsofts pocket will admit that its crap. While pretty and with some nice features its basically crap.

Infoworld is begging Microsoft to spare taking it away from us, with a petition drive.

"Over the past year, CIOs and CTOs have consistently told me they see no significant benefits to Vista, and really don't want to spend the time and money to update all their computers, retrain their users, and deal with application incompatibilities for a cosmetic upgrade," said Galen Gruman, executive editor at InfoWorld.

Already, due to customer resistance to Vista, Microsoft has granted XP a stay of execution, delaying its scheduled demise from December 31, 2007, to June 30, 2008. But that's not enough. InfoWorld's editors believe Microsoft should make XP available indefinitely. Therefore, InfoWorld has launched a petition drive aimed at convincing Microsoft to not only stay XP's execution but to take it off Death Row.

Please try to extend the life of XP by signing the petition here.

Sex Toys Now OK in Texas

2008-02-18T15:42:00.003-06:00

In the spirit of Valentines day the 5th district court sex toys get the OK in Texas.

An appeals court has overturned a Texas statute outlawing sex toy sales.

The ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans leaves Alabama as the state with the strictest ban on such devices.

Tuesday's ruling says the Texas law making it illegal to sell or promote obscene devices -- violates the 14th Amendment on the right to privacy.

Companies that own Dreamer's and Le Rouge Boutique, which sell the devices in Austin, and retailer Adam & Eve, sued in in 2004 in Austin.

They appealed after a judge dismissed the suit.

The Texas Attorney General's Office, which represented the Travis County district attorney, has not decided whether to appeal.

In 2004, a woman in Burleson was arrested for selling two sex toys to undercover officers.

Passion Parties consultant Joanne Webb was charged with violating the state's obscenity law. A judge later dismissed her case.

One has to wonder why the state of Texas has these laws and what kind of idiot decides to enforce and fight for these things. These laws are stupid and states shouldn't have any business making or enforcing these types of laws. Alabama had their similar laws supported by the 5th district court last year. What is confusing to me is that the Texan law was overturned because it conflicts with the 14th amendment on the right to privacy.

Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Now, I'm no constitutional lawyer but I don't see any right to privacy enumerated above. I suppose this is the same right to privacy that was declared in Roe vs Wade. Does the 11th and the 5th District court follow the same constitution that I do?

Obama Flying the Chavez Banner in Houston

2008-02-18T14:50:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking that nothing could be worse than the Billerys as President. I've spoke to a few people who were thinking the same. They were of the belief that we know how horrible the Clintons are and that Obama can't possibly be worse. Maybe they are wrong.

The Houston campaign Headquarters is flying high and proud a Cuban Flag with an image of Marxist Revolutionary Che Guevara emboldened upon it.

This isn't the first time Obama has had flag issues. He refused to wear the flag lapel pin, and he refused to salute the flag in another incident. Apparently he has now found a flag that he can respect.

Could this be the type of change he has been talking about?

Update: 2/18/08
The Lone Star Times has more. Pictures and everything.

The Demise of the Photoprinter

2008-02-18T13:34:00.002-06:00

Mark Twain was announced that the reports of his death were premature. Perhaps The Grouse is getting a little ahead of himself with his prediction, but I was at Fryes this weekend and they were selling off Cannon Photo printers for $25.00

Let us take a moment to mourn the impending death of the Polaroid instant photo. You shall be sorely missed, my shake-and-bake friend. Sniff. And with the death of yet one more beloved but anachronistic technology, let us anticipate the imminent decline of another—the photo printer. Only this time I’ll do so with a smile.
Home inkjet printers and their ilk have for a while now embodied the best and worst of the technological state of the union, as it were. Simply put, they are mainstream products with incredibly high-end engineering, but also represent a ludicrously false economy in the worst way. And for a decade, printer companies having been laughing all the way to the bank at our expense.

I must admuit I disagree, though it is awfully hard to beat the convenience of print at home even at $5,000 a gallon ink prices. If the price of ink starts hurting Hewlett Packard's sales they will be glad to oblige with more reasonable prices, but as long as we are willing to pay they will gladly charge the exorbitant price. I for one will continue to pay.

Charles Cotton is Running

2008-01-13T18:43:00.000-06:00

Not every election is about getting a nice government office. One important election every year involves the Board of Directors for the NRA. every year 25 of the 75 Director slots come up for election. Now I'm not a huge fan of the NRA, but Charles is a leader in getting aggressive towards advancing our rights and anyone who has ever met him understands he is not one to settle for half of a right. Although he is supportive of the NRA and TSRA of their candidate rating system, I believe he will make his voice heard in ensuring Libertarians are treated more fairly in the future.

Charles is involved in the TSRA the NRA's Texas legislative branch. Because of Charles the TSRA is one of the most influential state lobbyist organizations in the country. Every year since 1995 Texas has improved the rights of gun owners in Texas. In 1995 The Texas Legislature passed the Texas Concealed carry law. John Cotton had a lot to do with this, he tells a story of how he celebrated when he got his piece of plastic known as the CHL.

When my first CHL came in the mail (early 1996), I was working late at the office after having been in court all day for several days. When I got home, I opened the envelope, stared at the CHL for several seconds, changed into my jeans, and put my gun on. I put a coat over it (it wasn't cold at all), then headed out the front door.

My wife asked where I was going and I told her I was going to stand in the middle of the street. She looked at me like I was crazy and asked why. I said, "because I can, for the first time in over 120 years!" At that time, it had been a 16 year fight for me and I felt I had earned those 60 seconds in the street. Sometimes a little self-indulgence is understandable.

I know of several CHLers who have repeated whats now known as the "Cotton Stand" Maybe it sounds silly on the 4th of July ever since I heard him tell the story I too will stand in the middle of my cul d'sac, and consider the progress we've made.

Charles didn't stop after his victory in 1995, he has continued to push for better and fairer treatment for gun owners, he has authored and pushed through many of laws and and protected us from losing ground.

Charles isn't just a lobbiest, he is a instructor of the highest caliber, his devotion to safety and the right to defend ones self drives Charles, his energy seems unending. Anyone who is fortunate enough to been through one of Charles class has learned from the very best. Charles has spent a lot of effort in getting women involved in arming themselves and learning to protect themselves.
Charles is a tireless worker and is pushing the cause. Some of the national things he is personally involved with is to allow state laws to determine carry status in Federal Parks, Charles is also active in the Supreme Court Heller vs D.C case, Charles is a winner and I predict good things in the next few Months. But Charles is concerned.

Gun owners have enjoyed tremendous success at the polls for several years, but the 2008 Presidential Election has correctly been described as the "most wide-open in over 50 years." The very real prospect of returning an anti-gun Clinton to the White House has implications even more ominous than the 1994 passage of the Clinton gun-ban, also known as the "assault weapons" ban. Added to this threat is the Democratic Party's control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Clearly, the battle to defend our Second Amendments rights is far from over. Since suffering stunning defeats at the polls in 2000 and 2004, anti-freedom groups like the Violence Policy Center, Sara Brady and their ilk have focused on state legislatures. They are hardly content to accept the demise of the so-called "assault weapons" ban and are introducing even more menacing legislation in several states. These same forces are also working hard to elect Senator Hillary Clinton, confident that she will remember them as her "friends." Under President Bush's direction, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton lead a successful fight against anti-gun forces within the United Nations and against George Soros' puppet Rebecca Peters, all of whom were trying to do with a UN treaty what the anti-gun forces have been unable to do in the Legislature. Unfortunately, the U.N. small arms treaty is like a summer cold, it always seems to come back. If Hillary is in the White House and Democrats like Senators Schumer and Feinstein continue to enjoy a majority in the Senate, a devastating U.N. smalls arms treaty is a very real possibility.

Charles makes a painful point, and a strong tough NRA is needed more than ever. Charles is the man they need, he knows how to win. Those who have the opportunity to vote this February should remember Charles Cotton. Charles isn't about settling for anything less the the full right of Americans to keep and bare arms. Those who vote should remember that 1 or 2 selections is a more powerful vote than to select the 25 that you are entitled to.

Losing a Friend

2008-01-12T16:08:00.000-06:00

The Simon family lost a good friend this week. We know the fuzzy one will be missed.

Building a Vacuum Tube at Home

2008-01-11T09:00:00.001-06:00

Fabrication d'une lampe triode

French amatuer Radio Operator, Builds a Triode Vacuum tube. In this fascinating video, Claude Paillard takes us step by step in the process of hand fabricating a vacuum tube.

DVD Wars are Over

2008-01-06T10:47:00.000-06:00

The choice has been Blu-Ray or HD DVD. The winner is not to be determined by what the consumer wants, but rather what providers wish to offer. Decisions by the studios are more to do with ego and pride more than economics and technology. The consumer has not been persuaded to buy into one or the the other until there is a a clear market leader. Conventional wisdom says there can be only one surviver.

Time Warner announced this week that they instead of producing in both formats as they have been doing, in the future they will only produce in Blu-Ray format. This is huge, and should be enough to convince other studios and consumers that the choice is clear.

This Christmas, consumers were lobbied hard by both sides as dirt-cheap Toshiba HD-DVD players were advertised heavily by Wal-Mart for $98.87 (and $15 HD movies...) while the higher priced Blu-ray players were also discounted by electronics retailers though not nearly as much. "The addition of WB brings exclusively Blu-ray marketshare to 70%. For Universal and Paramount/DreamWorks, any continued (non-contractual) support for HD-DVD exclusively is about corporate and executive ego and NOT the consumer or the marketplace." For a long time, Hollywood was lopsided in favor of Blu-ray: 7 of the 8 major movie studios (Disney, Fox, Warner, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate and MGM) supported Blu-ray, and 5 of them (Disney, Fox, Sony, Lionsgate and MGM) release their movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format. Only Universal was exclusively HD-DVD. Now that is rapidly changing what with HD DVD exclusive converts Paramout and DreamWorks Animation, and Warner Bros now for Blu-ray.

I'm not sure, but I think the consumer is the ultimate winner of all of this. I hate seeing Sony coming out on top, but maybe I hold a grudge a little bit to long.

District 22 Republican Candidates

2008-01-05T13:12:00.001-06:00

The Republican Slate for District 22 looks pretty full with 1o candidate wannabees as
compiled by the Galveston Daily News:

Kevyn Bazzy, Houston, Army/military intelligence;
Cynthia Dunbar, Richmond, attorney
Dean Hrbacek, Sugar Land, attorney
Brian Klock, Nassau Bay, Navy/finance
John Manlove, Pasadena, advertising
Pete Olson, Sugar Land, attorney
Ryan Rowley, Houston, information technology
Shelley Sekula Gibbs, Houston, medical doctor
Jim Squier, Houston, attorney
Robert Talton, Pasadena, attorney/state representative

This is the District that Tom Delay had left in ruins as he ran off to Virginia in shame. Lampson will be running unopposed in the Democratic Primary. If I were to bet on the winner on this one it would be on Shelly Although we will be pulling for Talton we will be wishing thing them all good luck.

A Poor Decision

2008-01-05T13:00:00.000-06:00

Banjo Jones predicts a "bit of a shitstorm". Ron Paul probably won't come out of it smelling so good.

There is a Lot of Poking around Going On

2008-01-05T12:28:00.000-06:00

Aparently the FBI is interested in some of the goings on in Harris County, The Harris County Sports Authority, and the City Houston itself. Wayne Dolcefino has a report in which he tells of a discussion with Harris County Judge Ed Emmett

Tonight we learn the city hall subpoenas involve Hermes Firm and design work it may have done on a fire training academy. The subpoena also asks about expense records for a trip McGilbra took to Los Angeles. Add to this the ongoing controversy swirling around the District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal and you get why the county judge was waiting for the next shoe to drop. Now it's dropped.
"It's like a spider with eight legs, shoes keep dropping here," Emmett said.
Michael Surface has refused to talk with us for weeks as we've begun to spread our investigation to the sports corporation and the Reliant Stadium. And once again emails are in the mix. The sports corporation lawyer told us Surface deleted emails involving sports corporation business written on his Keystone company computer.
"I think that's probably troublesome," Emmett told us.
We know the feds are examining the deals for the city's emergency dispatch center and at least two Houston fire facilities. But it's the names of the contractors under scrutiny and their millions of dollars in government contracts that may lead to lots of questions in the coming weeks for lots of elected officials.

Now we don't pretend to know where this all is heading, but it certainly has the potential to to be very big.

Tip of the Hat to BlogHouston

Strange, I thought the English Are a Free People

2008-01-04T12:35:00.000-06:00

I thought that free speech was an English tradition. I suppose there must be some sacrifices in the name of political correctness.

And now the first British blogger is about to face the Multicultural perp-walk.

Lionheart is a well-known patriotic blogger in England, and is on our blogroll. He is currently outside the UK, and has been informed that he will be arrested for stirring up racial hatred as soon as he returns home.

At issue is Lionheart's blog, he writes about he perceives as a Moslem threat to his civilized world.

The cultural weapon in the hands of the modern Jihad within Great Britain, silencing the opposition using our own laws against us - The Dumb Filthy Kaffir's as the Moslem would say to his children behind closed doors.

What has become of my homeland, the land my forefathers fought and died for on the battlefields of the world when one of their children is forced into the position of facing years in prison for standing up for what is right and just within British society.

At least my words of truth have obviously now reached people's eyes and ears, with the powers that be now intent on silencing me - Third World Tyranny in a supposed 21st Century democracy!

I wonder if the Moslem peer Lord Ahmed was one of the people behind trying to silence me, I did wonder about why he crashed his car and nearly killed himself over Christmas, let that be a lesson to you - 1 Chronicles 16:22 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.”

How dare any Moslem try and silence the truth from being told by an Englishman about the Islamic enemy in our midst within the British homeland.

Although I do understand tha his rhetoric is a bit on the extreme side. He has a valid point about the Moslems helping destroy freedom of speech, at least in this instance.

Lessons on Losing Support

2008-01-01T19:32:00.000-06:00

One of the basic tenants of politics is that one needs to understand who your core supporters are and to understand why they are supporters.

Chuck Rosenthal got elected as the the Harris District Attorney, he took over as Republican to replace Johnny Holmes. The guy has been a loser by almost anyones account and has alienated anyone who might have supported him in the past.

His most famous case involved 2 gay who were whooping it up yelling and screaming. The cops thought someone was getting killed. So the cops drag them into jail to try to sort it all out. Drop it into Chuck Rosenthals lap. Now Chuck could have just dropped it and hoped that the men involved would have learned a little something about discretion. He could have charged them with disturbing the peace. Maybe a little much but it wou;d drive home a point. But no neither of these choices were good enough for Chucky, he was going to go all the way by pressing a sodomy charge.No one seemed to remember when the last time anyone dragged a sodemy charge in Texas. They hadn't for good reason, it would never stand up to a constitutional test. Chuck so in In 2002, he argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in Lawrence v. Texas that laws against sodomy are constitutional. The Court disagreed with him, holding 6-3 that prosecutions for private sexual conduct violate the United States Constitution. He lost at great expense to the taxpayer. Because he got it tossed out he lost a tool for law enforcement officers. Even though any inteligent Police officer or prosecuter knew the law was bogus and wouldn't hold up, it was often used as a bargaining chip when dealing with rape charges and prosecution. The ACLU discovered Chuck is the enemy, law enforcement agencies got to identify Chuck as some kind of nut.

Chuck seems to have an affinity about going after the black politically connected. He has been accused of contributing to feeding the racially charged flames in Harris. As recorded in Wiki.

Rosenthal started off his term as District Attorney trying to make a name for himself going after various elected officials including Former Police Chief C.O. Bradford and Former Justice of the Peace Mark T. Fury. Most the elected officials Rosenthal investigated where African-American and in response Rosenthal went after Mark T. Fury, a caucasian Justice of the Peace. It has been suggested that Rosenthal went after Fury to ease concerns in the black community that he was a racist.

This didn't help him broaden support. Yet it gets worse.

Harris County is divided are moderate Democrats and and conservative Republicans, most Texans from either party in Harris county will quickly inform outsiders that the the right to bear arms is not only a constitutional right but a god given one. So far might be able to gather support from law and order types, the social conservatives But Chucks still not done with screwin' the Pooch.

In 2005 the Texas State legislature passed HB823, Governor Perry signed it. The law had universal support from the ACLU and gun owners. Rosenthal didn't like it. Grits for Breakfast explains:

With the passage of HB 823 (Keel/Hinojosa) into law September 1, legislators and the National Rifle Association believed they'd finally resolved a longstanding dispute that for years turned thousands of legal gun owners into law enforcement targets. Texas law lets drivers carry a weapon in their car when they're "traveling," but the definition of traveling has never been legally settled.

So the Legislature passed HB 823 creating a "presumption" that the driver is "traveling" unless one of five things is true: (a) the weapon is in plain view, (b) the defendant is a convicted felon, (c) it's a public, not a personal vehicle, (d) the defendant committed a Class B misdemeanor or worse, or (e) the defendant is a gang-banger. (Conflict alert: I testified at the hearings in both chambers in favor of the bill on behalf of ACLU of Texas.)

The new law seemed pretty straight forward. If the gun is legal, you're not a crook, you're driving your own car, and if the gun is stowed (i.e., you're not driving around with it laying on the passenger seat like an idiot), then you can carry a gun in your car when you're driving. At least, that's what legislators thought they'd passed.

Nearly immediately, though, prosecutors and police began to say they wouldn't enforce the new law, or, rather, would continue to enforce the old one. Harris County DA Chuck Rosenthal led the charge, announcing instructions to officers to continue to make arrests for UCW (unlawfully carrying a weapon just like they always had.

This of course created a lot of confusion in Houston and Harris county. The state passes a law and the man that is elected to enforce these laws is telling his officers to go ahead and ignore the these laws. So he has taken on the ACLU again, Texas Gun owners, and anyone who believes that DAs are to enforce the law, not create them. In 2007 HB1815 was championed by the TSRA and the ACLU was passed by the lege, signed by the Governor. The new law is considered pretty bulletproof but would have been unnecessary if it were not for Chucky's belief that he is above the law.

So Chuck gets himself sued over some allegations that he ordered some one to get beat up. His email gets get made public, and lo and behold he is caught messing around with one of his staff. Whoa is his wife gonna be pissed. The Republican party wasn't to happy either and suggest to Chuck that maybe he should step down. Ole Chucky responds with something like "Hell, you guys ain't never done nothing for me anyway." He upset at least one Precinct chair.

So your argument is that we didn't do much for you in 2000 or 2004. That's funny, I did literature drops for you. I put up signs. I called voters on your behalf. Glad to know that you don't consider that to be significant, s I won't make the mistake of doing it again.

But this also clarifies something quite important. You don't belong don't he GOP primary ballot, and you don't merit the GOP nomination. After all, the leadership of the Harris County GOP has made it clear that the Party does not want you. You have made it clear that you don't need us. That sounds like the grounds for an amicable divorce, which would take the form of you withdrawing from the primary and running as an independent.

So lots take an inventory of who is going to help to help Old Chuck Rosenthal.

Democrats: Well they sort of don't like voting for Democrats.
Republicans. Whoops He alienated them pretty good by not acknowledging they ever gave a hand. Ungratefulness is not a flattering trait
Libertarians, Well there his tendancy to want to write laws his own way.
Gun Owners. Now theres a fat chance
Law and Order Types. There is that making his laws thing.
Gay and Lesbian Community. Whoops not his fanclub.
Conservatives. Well there is that family values thing.
His Wife. Has she foiund a good lawyer yet?

Truth is exept maybe for a few gullible friends Chucky doesn't have any supporters. Today Chuckie decided to give up the ghost and not run in 2008. The Republicans will ~~anoint~~ another candidate or two for nomination into the primary process. Its going to prove interesting over the next several months.
Update: 1/3/2008
Maybe there is more to Chucky's sudden retreat than we realized.

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T12:01:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a Good Christmas, and we looking forward to a Great New Year. Intesting to note that Kevin Whited finds that despite Houston's lack of a World class celebration everyone had a pretty good time anyway.

We do suspect that, even without a world-class "annual" event like a New Year's Eve Rising Star, most Houstonians will have a fine time tonight. Somehow, Houstonians always seem manage to muddle along just fine, even if our leaders occasionally have "world-class" envy.

Greg is making predictions for the following year and Banjo Jones will be looking for Ron Paul to goi independent. Looks like Laurence has already screwed up his New Years Resolution. I haven't made any this year, but I've managed somewhat to keep last years and gave up cigars. It's not a complete break, I still enjoy a quality cigar on a very rare occasion. I will still keep the number down to less than a handful a year.

Meanwhile Martha Griffin is looking forward to the Democrats taking back Texas State House this year. I wish her a great year, but not in this dream of hers. You have to love an optimist though no mater how crazy they sound.

Jack Kluth promises kinder and gentler blogging.

The depths of my convictions haven’t changed, but I’m feeling the need to be more magnanimous and more tolerant of those unenlightened souls not fortunate enough to think as I do. I know that I don’t have all the answers. Like anyone else, I have my blind spots. While the targets of my rants will likely remain unchanged, I’m going to make every effort to be more tolerant and kinder in my writing.

We wish the best for him.

I'm sure Markus will find some good fishing out in West Bay in 2008. To all I wish a wonderful 2008.

Beretta 92FS Review

2008-01-01T09:47:00.001-06:00

Ever since I first saw one, I wanted the Beretta 92FS. This is the same sidearm as the M9, the handgun that our armed forces carry today. Several weeks ago I got a message from a friend on Texas CHL Forum with an ad for them at $399.00

They are back!! One day only. This Saturday September 1st, 9am untl 1pm. Brand new, in the box Beretta Model 92FS 9mm, with 3 Hi-Cap mags, box, papers and gun lock $ 399 !!! First come, first served, Ty's Gun Shop, inside Cowboy Polaris on Hwy 69 in Nederland (formerly Southeast Texas Powersports) They will not last long. No early birds please. Sale starts Saturday at 9am. These are brand new guns, not used and not reconditioned. New New guns. If you missed out last time, don't miss this time.

I made the 100 mile drive down to Nederland and plunked down my 400 bucks and got the police special, 3 mags manual the obligatory Berettta bicycle lock, and a 92fs 9mm handgun in a cardboard box. Yup, it was a cheap corrugated cardboard box. 3 magazines though, I could load up almost a whole box of ammo into those 15 rounders. Magazines for the Berretta though are easily available, I can pick up 15 rounders at the surplus store for $10.00 and Academy has them for $18.00

The first thing I did was after studying the manual was to disassemble the gun, wiped out the grease, ran a patch down the barrel, and lightly oiled. the workings and slide. The Beretta comes apart easily and intuitively. There is no critical lining up or trigger pull involved. Push the takedown button and flip the lever slide forward and the slide is separated from the frame. There are some plastic parts. The trigger, and the hammer are plastic, although one can't really notice with casual observation . The guide rod is plastic and looks particularly flimsy although I haven't noticed anyone having issues with it on the net, supposedly it is just as reliable as the older style metal rod. The wide open chamber makes it easy to inspect even in poor light conditions. There really isn't much opportunity for spent brass to jam up, and is a help in keeping this gun ambidextrous.

Shooting her is very pleasant. The Beretta is a natural pointer. To point is to have the 3 dots line right up on the target. The recoil is gentle even with stout personal defense loads. Recovery seems automatic and almost instantaneous. The trigger in double action is long but smooth, in single action the pull is very short and light. I've put about 1,000 rounds through her so far, and there hasn't been a single problem. Its 5” barrel provides a nice sight radius. Line the sights up squeeze the trigger. An X ring hole is an almost guaranteed result. Darn gun almost aims itself.

This thing is pretty big though and it's not the ideal conceal carry piece. I normally carry my Ruger 95. in a Don Hume JIT Outside the waistband holster. I haven't made much of an effort to find a suitable holster because as far as I'm concerned its not suitable for every day carry. I do carry it on occasion though. I have a cheap Uncle mikes and will carry it if I am wearing a large cover garment, or in the waist hipside or at at the small of the back. Its comfortable enough for walking around, but its a literal pain in the butt to carry in a car. I know of some people that do carry a 92FS on a regular basis. Most seem to prefer 'small of the back' carry also.

If one wants a nice handgun right out of the box, thats not going to cost an arm and a leg. This might be the gun for you. This is one of the more trustworthy handguns made, afterall, it is built for military performance. It is pretty, it works, its effective, very nice to shoot but its not small.