Jamie Oliver – A Hero in the American Public School Cafeteria System

Jamie Olive is my hero.  Last year, when he came to the United States and make a debut in the small, sleepy town in West Virginia, he clearly made an impact and difference in their lives. This year, he might have taken on more than he could chew by tackling the enormous Los Angeles Community. [...]

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(Not) spreading the wealth – The Washington Post

$31,244 is the average income of 90% of the income earners, which has only seen a change of 1% during 1970-2008.  As you climb the chart to see other ranges of earnings, the population gets smaller and smaller, but the change of income earned during this same time frame is increasing higher and higher.  Something [...]

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An Embarrassing Comment Upon Politicians

Oh, my! I just can’t believe that it has come down to discussing politician’s many love lives and infidelities, and let that drama get in way of what is truly underlying on the the important aspects of getting us out of this economic “bliss” and recession. Don’t get me wrong — when we vote a [...]

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A Different Kind of Christmas Poem

I, honestly, cannot remember if this was also circulated around last year or not in our emails as well; whatever the case though, it certainly would bear repeating….enjoy!! A Different Christmas Poem The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, [...]

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In the times of religious acknowledgment…

especially in the world of the media and politics which can often grey out some black and white viewpoints, leaving folks not knowing whether they stand for what they believe in or believe in what they stand for, an author comes forward and writes a book entitled, God’s Politics:  Why the Right gets it Wrong [...]

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Mike Huckabee on the “floating cross” image…

and the overreaction of the criticism of his message to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in one of his recent messages on tv.  This video is from the Today Show appearance… [YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKMDJ46G4M4] It is such a shame that folks have to be intimidated by expressing a simple greeting based on their religious belief.  Gone are [...]

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Ouch! Could a reviewer of a biography be any harsher on an author??

In an article in the Austin American Statesman on Tuesday, December 18th, the author of the article, Charles Taylor, starts off saying in his analysis of the book by Elizabeth Bumiller on Condoleeza Rice: An American Life: “The subtitle of Elizabeth Bumiller’s biography “Condoleezza Rice: An American Life” tells you everything you need to know. The [...]

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You Tube Shows

Steven’s TV Video video talks about how the world is changing to utilize free technology to put forth their campaigns…not just for amateurs anymore.  See Oprah, politians, comedians, etc. take advantage of the video tubes to tell you story…. What do you think?

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“It’s Called Christmas with a Capital C” by Go Fish!

It’s about time… bring back the jingle and the jangle back into Christmas!! Make us proud of our beliefs…not having to hide them like many countries have to do in their countries.  After all, being proud of our beliefs and not having to hide our thoughts, dreams, and ambitions is part of what make Americans [...]

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Parent Alienation Syndrome – “Junk Science” says…

those at the Justice for Children program.  “It is the position of Justice for Children that PAS is junk science. “P.A.S. per se (not “parents lying about abuse allegations”) is not a syndrome.   People lie on the witness stand every day but that does not make it a syndrome.   Various credible studies have documented that [...]

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Obama Returning to Austin — Sat Nov 17th

See the inspiring speaker, Barack Obama, as he spoke in Austin on February 23, 2007: [YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45jM2DKwCKI] What could be better than watching the next President of the United States at a classic Texas hillside ampitheater? It’s going to be beautiful weather, and we look forward to seeing you this Saturday afternoon at The Backyard. Who: [...]

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Verteran’s Day Thanks!

While I am presently at work this morning, I was up in the wee hours of the morning (besides increasing my inventories on eBay and Half) watching the news blurps about the Memorial Wall of the Vietnam soldiers who didn’t make it back to the States.  It made me teary eyed to think that so [...]

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“Grace Will Lead Me Home” – Robin Givins

“Grace will lead me home” – the title of the book she is promoting and speaking out about domestic violence, bringing home to a lot of victims of domestic exactly the fears, trials and tribulations that they have faced and feared.  Check out her story in these YouTube videos:     [YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcZg2_BDZKo] – Robin Givins Story, Pt 1 [...]

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Can you believe???

“Asabe Ladagu, a Christian widow in this capital city of Borno state in northern Nigeria, has survived without income the past 16 months. It was that long ago, the former librarian told Compass, that Muslim administrators at Ramat Polytechnic forced her into early retirement – without pay – after she and others requested land to [...]

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Supporting Sears; Supporting Our Troops!

Received this in my email today.  It is comforting that some businesses can and do actually go beyond their call of duty these days; so many don’t.  It is indeed a rare find and we should support those who do. See below for full story: Sears Walks the Walk…   Could we each buy at [...]

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Taking debt for granted….

So many folks feel that, if they get too far into debt, they’ll just file bankruptcy. Discovered this cartoon on Slate.com today, and it couldn’t have been depicted any better….

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American Businesses Need to Rethink Manufacturing Tactics?

Quite possibly! In response to another blogger’s blog posting, I responded: “It is indeed something to think about… China, Mexico, and many other countries are mass producing things for us…. but, flags have to rise when are products are being imported tainted with things that could kill each and every one of us and the [...]

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Resolving Life’s Disdains….

In regards to the blog posting entitled, It has been a long night, I submitted the following response: “I certainly do understand all that. The spoken words of “Make Love, Not War” is certainly oblivious to the fact that there are people in other countries ready, willing and able to shake up our lives. 911 [...]

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Something to remember about changing….

  “I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself.”   – Aldous Huxley

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Found this cartoon on Slate.com today

It certainly has its point driven home. What ARE the carmakers going to do to eliminate the gas guzzler’s on the road? True. There are the hybrids that are saving many consumers hundreds, if not thousands of gas expenses, each year; but, the prices of most of the hybrid vehicles are still seemingly out of [...]

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Stopping the Dead End Shelter – Moving Across Town in Austin, TX

Thank you for signing the petition to Stop the Dead End Shelter! Can you help us spread the word? Just forward this email to your friends around Austin who may be interested. Thanks for helping to protect Austin’s community values. STOP THE DEAD-END SHELTER: http://www.austinaction.org/petition/Stop+the+Dead+End+Shelter Help Stop the Dead End Shelter The City of Austin [...]

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Words of diversity; 4 decades later, still ringing true!

  “If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.”   – John F. Kennedy

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Preventing Oil Pricing Gouging

Received this email from a friend of mine this morning…. “Hi, Can you face another summer where a day trip to the lake or the beach costs you an arm and a leg? It’s shaping up to be just that if we don’t ask Congress to stand up to Big Oil now. The House passed [...]

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Immigration…hmmm….

If you go back into my public reader blogs on the Austin American-Statesman (either the “Inquiring Minds” as txbluebonnet2006 or “Inquiring Minds” as txbluebonnet), you will see that I have written extensively about this subject matter.  They were shouting back then that it was all an “amnesty” ploy that the government was coming up with; [...]

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Baby Emilio – Futile Care Bill

 In following up on my Bits and Pieces posting, I had mentioned that Baby Emilio Gonzales’ Mother was fighting hard to keep Baby Emilio, at 17mos old, sustained on resuscitation equipment for just a little bit longer. On April 17th, the Court heard the matter and extended the hearing awaiting on other findings. On May [...]

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Escaping Responsibility???

“You can’t escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President

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Texas’ Temporary Fix to Soaring Gas Prices???

In the past month or so there has been some emails circulating fast and furiously wanting people to not pump gas on May 15, 2007, but as pointed out in my posting entitled, “May 15, 2007, Gas Out Misgivings”,  Snopes argues that it isn’t an effective approach to take because it merely shifts the day that [...]

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What is one Bee’s Pleasure is Another’s Disdain?

One of my many fond memories of my childhood is being very little (maybe 4 or 5 – the age that many older adults still enjoy picking you up and letting you sit on their knees). We were sitting outside in the “courtyard” of sorts between my Grandparent’s home and the guest house that was [...]

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When a Protective Order Becomes More Than “Just a Piece of Paper!”

When does a Protective Order become more than “Just a piece of paper”? When you advocate for programs like this come into place in your state!! See the following article… Worldly Inquiring Mind “iWIM”

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“Copyright Infringement” in Blogland???

Last night I was attacked by Snopes via email stating that I had infringed on their copyright by quoting them, even with crediting them through a link for my readers. I immediately complied and removed it, but not without putting in a statement of the removal because it directly affected the climate and argument support [...]

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Just a thought: What about…

having the oil/gas companies fund our health care programs, from the obvious profits that they are squirreling away, so that everyone can have access to health care equally??? Either the oil/gas companies will tire of having to foot the health care access bills or they will drop the oil/gas prices in effort to get out [...]

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March 15th, 2007 – Gas Out Day Misgivings?

A friend of mine from Canada sent this to me… Imagine the effect (if it would really work): “Our gas went up this week to about $5.00 gallon for regular. So I won’t pump gas on the 15th NO GAS…On May 15th 2007 Don’t pump gas on MAY 15th In April 1997, there was a [...]

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Al-Qaeda Linked Leader Dead

Lol….Wasn’t I just saying yesterday in my post entitled “Do you think that GW might have some Missouri roots?” about the catching the bad guys???  Apparently, now, the latest in the news is that one of the leaders of the Al-Qaeda linked movement is now dead as a result of a military roundup: “The head [...]

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The Working Uninsured

A great article posted here about the perils of the working uninsured is found here.  Be sure to check them out and see various options pitted here.  Maybe you can come up with another resolve?? “The Working Uninsured” by John Rossheim « Worldly Inquiring Mind “iWIM”

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Do You Think That GW Might Have Some Missouri Roots???? lol…

Just kidding a bit; however, everyone knows that the attitude that many Missourians have is “Show Me”, which has been the motto of their state as well. News has flied all over that President George Bush has vetoed a bill — the second only during his terms of offices — yesterday that involved in funding [...]

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Need We Say More on The Whole Pet Food Issue?

Cartoon by Tom Toles. Couldn’t help but be humored by this cartoon today because it does pose the question whether or not we would eat food produced elsewhere like we do for our pets.  The issue of the pet food problems containing an (albeit illegal in the US) ingredient called melamine, which is actually very [...]

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Dangers from Abroad

“Weakness and divisions at home, would invite dangers from abroad.” – John Jay, 1787

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Drug Company Ethics

Just like in the previous posting about UT’s unethical woes of being wooed by lenders who offer special treats and favors to have a strong presence in their offices. It was rumored that the reason that Governor Perry, of Texas, was also wooed by Merck about the ovarian cancer drug that he was trying to [...]

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Improprieties at UT’s Student Financial Services’ Office

As much as I like the University of Texas as they are my parent’s alma mater and I live in the same city as the great university, I can’t stand the invalidation of a sense of ethical behavior.  UT’s Student Financial Services’ Office, as reported in today’s The Daily Texan Online seems to be under just that [...]

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Who Can Speak Better About the Power of Words….

better than Dr. Maya Angelou herself???  See the below YouTube where CBS interviews Dr. Maya Angelou on the subject of the power of words soon after the Imus blunder.  Perhaps, others should watch this as well to learn a little bit more about the Power of their Words and take their actions to heart to [...]

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Duh?? Texas Medicaid Program Ranks 48 of 50 States

Can I imagine? Yes!!!!! It is what I have been complaining about all along. People say that, if you don’t have insurance, just apply for Medicaid. It isn’t all that simple and this article, “Public Citizen: Texas Medicaid Program One of the Country’s Worst”, on the American-Statesman reiterates my point exactly. In fact, the article [...]

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If you were to vote today for a President…

who would you vote for? Would you vote Republican or Democrat? Do you have a favorite so far??? VOTE HERE and cast who you would vote for today. The results may surprise you. Currently one leads the pack, but not enough have voted yet, I don’t think, to give a good idea of who the [...]

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