Palin and Perry sitting in a tree....

Q-U-I-T-T-I-N-G. Perry, the longest serving Governor of Texas will be roaming the state with the shortest serving Governor of Alaska.

CONROE, Texas (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry says Sarah Palin is committed to campaigning for his re-election bid and that he welcomes the support of the soon-to-be-former Alaska governor.

Why does the idea of Perry and Palin campaigning around Texas together bring thoughts of another family values scandal in the making?

Oh. Now I need a shower. With Comet. And a bristle brush.

Congressman Olson townhall meeting 7/11/09

Title:		Congressman Pete Olson Town Hall Meeting
When:		Saturday July 11, 2009 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Where:		San Jacinto College - Central Campus, Monte Blue Music Bldg, Rm 105
Street:		8060 Spencer Highway Pasadena TX 77505

Come on out and ask questions of the Congressman about the health care provided to our elected officials and why this care cannot be extended to all citizens of the United States. Ask about pre-existing conditions which the Congressman has personal experience with. Inquire about how much more money NASA will need to complete Bush's vision to go to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The floor is open. Come on out!

Communion on the moon.

This is pretty interesting about Buzz Aldrin taking communion on the Moon:

The astronaut later described in Guideposts magazine what took place during the radio blackout as Armstrong watched but did not participate.

"I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the side of the cup. It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements."

Aldrin proceeded to read from John 15:5.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me."

Take that you non-Catholics!

Don't eat the fish

If you visit Challenger park off of NASA Rd 1 you will see a warning sign on the boat ramp about eating the fish. This sign has been there for many years, in fact, maybe as long as the park as been open. The Chronicle has another warning about fish in Clear Creek:

Texas health officials on Wednesday issued a warning against eating any fish caught within the banks of Clear Creek after high levels of dangerous industrial chemicals were detected in several varieties of marine life.

The Environmental Protection Agency in 1979 banned PCBS, but said items containing them did not have to be replaced. PCBs levels in fish above .047 parts per million can pose a health risk for humans. The levels from the recent samples averaged .100 to .676 ppm, officials said.

So, don't eat the fish.

The verdict is in: WiFi on jury duty.

Harris County Clerk Loren Jackson in his continuing crusade to move the Clerk's office into the 21st century has just announced the availability of WiFi in the Jury Assembly room.

“Jury Service is crucial to the judicial system of Harris County,” Jackson said. “We are doing our part to make it more convenient for our citizens to show up when they’re summoned. Providing them with free WIFI enables them to stay connected to their family and their work. Jury service should be thought of as ‘a great form of service,’ not just an obligation or duty. Jury service is a way to serve your community and your peers.”

Very cool.

Leo Vasquez The inside man.

Doesn't look good when you put it all together.

GOP reaches out to the Jewish community

The teabaggers in Jacksonville Florida sponsored by the republican party of Duval County decided to reach out to the Jewish community by comparing the President of the United States to Hitler, the guy who systematically tortured and killed 6 million Jews. Keith Olberman has the story (along with video):

Obama with a Hitler moustache, hair cut and Swastika, and, of course, some mush head equating the rather slow-moving voter registration outfit Acorn to SS, the Hitler SS. “Same Thang” it says there. The SS, the people chosen to pull Jews and members of other groups, ranging from the communists to the socialists to the clergy to the rotary club, out of German society, then intern them, then torture them, then murder them; they‘re like Acorn.

The actions by the teabaggers are clearly racist in nature and endorsed by the republican party. This is who they are. They are the fringe of the fringe standing side by side with the minute men, the KKK, and government employees complaining about government spending.

And the GOP wonders why they are the minority party.

Commissioner Eversole fined $75,000, sort of.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Harris County Commission Jerry Eversole has been fined $75,000 and has agreed to repay his campaign $41,000. According to Jerry Eversole:

“I have accepted responsibility for the past errors and used it as an opportunity to completely revamp our campaign finance disclosure practices,”

Jerry's past errors include buying fancy cowboy chaps, collectors books, vintage cowboy outfits, and rare firearms, all using his donors money. His statement saying he accepts responsibility is the biggest horseshit statement ever. If Eversole really wanted to take responsibility for what he did, he would pay the $75,000 fine out of his own damn pocket. Instead he will use his donors money to pay the fine. It is like a bank robber stealing from a bank, getting caught, are paying the fine from the money he stole.

The Texas Ethics Commission, once again, gave a pass to someone who violated the trust of his donors. Maybe the Harris County Commissioners will not be so lenient.

And maybe Eversole would make it all a moot point and resign.

7 minutes of babbling Palin

The republican party in 7 minutes.

Surrendering our rights to the Bill of Rights.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. Besides freedom of religion, right to bear arms, protection from illegal search and seizures, it includes the 7th amendment concerning our access to a civil court:

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Since the mid nineties the used of mandatory binding arbitration clauses have become widespread, and wildly abused in everything from new home purchases to your AT&T phone bill. The clauses are also in new/used car contracts, except for one small exception:

Mandatory arbitration clauses are so insidious that car dealers actually furiously lobbied Congress to get them banned in their contracts with auto manufacturers. The National Automobile Dealers Association wrote members of Congress in 2000 that if they weren't outlawed for the dealerships, mandatory binding arbitration clauses would allow "multinational motor vehicle manufacturers…to be able to unilaterally deny small business automobile and truck dealers rights under state laws that are designed to bring equity to the relationship between manufacturers and dealers." Congress agreed and passed legislation protecting the dealers. Apparently, though, the car dealers didn't see a problem in using the same sort of underhanded contracts with their own customers.

Is that a hoot or what? Car dealers lobbied to protect them from the abuses of arbitration, and yet they use the same process on their customers. Consumers on the other hand won't stand up like the car dealers because they are ignorant of the abuse, or they have become the surrender monkeys of the 21st century. (Most who defend arbitration are in this category)

So over the 4th of July, while you are draping yourself in the flag, attending a tea bagging party, claiming to protect the Constitution, or honoring our military for fighting for your right to surrender your rights without a fight, think about the other amendments to the Constitution:

#	Amendments	Proposal date	Enactment date	Full text
1st	Freedom of religion, of speech, of the press, to assemble, and to petition	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791[1]	Full text
2nd	The right to keep and bear arms	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
3rd	No quartering of soldiers in private houses during times of peace. In a time of war, Congress can pass a law stating that soldiers should be quartered.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
4th	Interdiction of unreasonable Searches and seizures; warrants	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
5th	Indictments; Due process; Self-incrimination; Double jeopardy, and rules for Eminent Domain.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
6th	Right to a fair and speedy public trial, Notice of accusations, Confronting one's accuser, Subpoenas, Right to counsel	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
7th	Right to trial by jury in civil cases	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
8th	No excessive bail & fines or cruel & unusual punishment	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
9th	Unenumerated rights	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
10th	Limits the power of the Federal government	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
11th	Immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders. Lays the foundation for sovereign immunity.	March 4, 1794	February 7, 1795	Full text
12th	Revision of presidential election procedures	December 9, 1803	June 15, 1804[2]	Full text
13th	Abolition of slavery, except as punishment for a crime.	January 31, 1865	December 6, 1865	Full text
14th	Citizenship, state due process, applies Bill of Rights to the states, revision to apportionment of Representatives, Denies public office to anyone who has rebelled against the United States	June 13, 1866	July 9, 1868[3]	Full text
15th	Suffrage no longer restricted by race	February 26, 1869	February 3, 1870[4]	Full text
16th	Allows federal income tax	July 12, 1909	February 3, 1913	Full text
17th	Direct election to the United States Senate	May 13, 1912	April 8, 1913	Full text
18th	Prohibition of alcohol (Repealed by 21st amendment)	December 18, 1917	January 16, 1919	Full text
19th	Women's suffrage	June 4, 1919	August 18, 1920	Full text
20th	Term Commencement for congress (January 3) and president (January 20.) (This amendment is also known as the "lame duck amendment".)	March 2, 1932	January 23, 1933	Full text
21st	Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment; state and local prohibition no longer required by law.	February 20, 1933	December 5, 1933	Full text
22nd	Limits the president to two terms	March 24, 1947	February 27, 1951	Full text
23rd	Representation of Washington, D.C. in the Electoral College	June 16, 1960	March 29, 1961	Full text
24th	Prohibition of the restriction of voting rights due to the non-payment of poll taxes	September 14, 1962	January 23, 1964	Full text
25th	Presidential Succession	July 6, 1965	February 10, 1967	Full text
26th	Voting age nationally established as age 18 (see suffrage)	March 23, 1971	July 1, 1971	Full text
27th	Variance of congressional compensation	September 25, 1789	May 7, 1992	Full text

Republican Senator booed while teabagging.

It just doesn't get any better than this:

Cornyn was booed at the start and close of his remarks, which assailed actions in Washington; there were no boos while he awarded a Purple Heart to a Copperas Cove resident injured in Iraq in 2006.

“You’re the problem,” a crowd member hollered.

On second thought. I think it does get better with what Cornyn said:

“I didn’t want to come some place that I wasn’t wanted.”

Uh too late Senator. You have a revolt in your party and unfortunately that brings out the worst. The very people calling for an end to taxes probably work for NASA. Or they took public transportation to get there, or drove a car on a road built by tax dollars. Some are the first to complain about the cost of health care, but wont look past their insurance bill to help resolve the issue. They are the simplistic of the simple minded.

And you wont be invited again.

Happy 4th of July!

Stay cool. Have fun. Is this a great country or what?

Why is Palin resigning as Alaska Governor?

Ok. lets see. What could possibly make Sarah Palin the darling of the republican party to resign as the governor? Here are some ideas:

1. A sex scandal is brewing and she doesn't want to tarnish the "family values" nametag of the republican party. (Sorry Sarah, but you are too late)
2. Levy knocked up another one of her kids. (little bastard. Last time he will be invited to stand on the stage of the republican national convention!)
   
3. She wants to donate time to planned parenthood. (might learn something)
   
4. She wants to spend more time with her family. (uh-huh)
   
5. She thinks she has a chance at winning the republican party beauty pageant or the nomination for President. (She actually has a chance at this one.)
   
6. She wants to tour the US as a runny mate with Texas Governor Rick Perry. (oh please, please, please....)
   
7. She can't keep up with the jokes about her. (including this one)
   
8. She wants to quit now instead of losing later. (Now that is the first good idea she has had since putting her hair up in a bun.)
   

Palin is a buffoon. A simple minded, folksy kinda gal, with great hygiene, and a no sense knowledge of current events. She is the perfect candidate for the republican party.

Health care for members of Congress

If you ever wondered what your tax dollars are being spent on for health care for members of Congress here is a pretty good article about the subject. Congress has access to the same health benefits as all federal employees. And you pay for it!

The government's share of FEHB contributions was fixed in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The rule of thumb for congressional staffers and Cabinet members alike is that the government picks up 72 percent of the average premium toward the total cost of a premium—roughly on par with what a generous private-sector employer would offer. The employee pays the remainder via payroll deductions.

Wow. 72% of the premiums. Federal employees and members of Congress have a choice of coverage and are allowed to switch every year with no limitations on preexisting conditions. (Try that with your own private insurance) It is a good system although it has the same problems associated with any for profit health system. The billing is complicated as well as the coverage. You can't be sure what is covered even after being advised by the doctors office. Most of the time you learn what is not covered when you get the inflated bill. Dental and vision are limited, but available.

So, while you debate about health care, remember that your elected officials have the best health care your money can buy. As Dubya used to say "It's your money!"

Clear Lakers to teabag again.

Clear Lake teabaggers are going to have a rally on the 4th of July with special guest speaker Paul Bettencourt, the same Bettencourt who quit as Harris County Tax Assessor just two weeks after winning the election. His topic will be "Sticking it out during hard times".

Bettencourts' former office has come under fire recently concerning the Assistant Voter Registrar who has been moonlighting selling voter data on the side.

Those interested in teabagging each other are encouraged to attend. If you need a teabag partner, one will be provided.

Electricty then and now.

Many of my republican buddies continue to defend the high cost of electricity deregulation by blaming the failure on the fluctuating cost of natural gas. Unfortunately the argument doesn't hold water, but they really don't seem to care. Maybe this will help. Here is a comparison between what we had pre-deregulation and what we have now.

Pre-deregulation:
Only one company sold electricity, in our area it was Houston Lighting and Power. HLP also generated the electricity. They maintain the "grid" and provided service to consumers.

• Consumers would sign up with HLP
• Consumers would pay about 8 cents a kWh
• When they moved, consumers would cancel their service.

Post-deregulation
Many companies sell electricity, but none generate it or maintain the grid. In our area there is one that maintains the grid, Centerpoint Energy. They do not sell electricity to consumers instead many middle men buy from Centerpoint then resells the service.

• Consumer can sign up with any of the various middle men.
• If they have internet access, they can "shop around" to find the lowest rate, based upon the time of year. If a consumer requested service in the summer, then they would lock in at a higher rate than if they if requested service during the winter. There is no "negotiating" for a lower rate. There is competition between resellers during that time frame only.
  
• After their one year contract is over, the consumer must once again, "shop around" to find yet another company, resign with their current service, or they would automatically be put on a month to month plan with their current provider. (Those who never signed up with a company was automatically put on a month to month plan with wild fluctuations in prices.)
  
• Consumers on a month to month plan would pay the lowest rates (relatively) during the winter months and some of the highests rates (as high as 24 cents per kWh) during the summer.
• If a consumer moves prior to the conclusion of their contract, they would have to pay a disconnection fee ranging from $79 to over $300.
• If their middle man would go out of business (and many have), the consumer is put on the rolls of the "provider of last choice" with extremely high rates no matter what time of the year. Consumers would, once again, have to find a new provider with rates depending upon the time of year.
  
• Consumers pay anywhere from 10 cents per kWh to 24 cents depending upon the time of year the service is needed and the cost of resources determined by the industry.

In conclusion:
Before deregulation we had low rates, reliable energy, and a long term open ended contract. We usually had to call HLP twice, once to sign up, and once to cancel.

After deregulation we have much higher rates and a complicated, closed end contract that fluctuates on a month to month basis providing competition based upon what month a consumer needs service. It is a service that must be maintained on a yearly basis.

So for those with you who are sporting an uncomfortable grin defending those who are putting it to you day after day after day, enjoy the 4th of July. A day when we celebrate our freedom from those who put it to us, day after day, after day.

Forecast for the area is HOT!

No confidence in McKinney

(I, along with 3 other members of consumer organizations, had an opportunity to sit with Chancellor Mike McKinney when he was the Chief of Staff for Governor Perry to discuss mandatory binding arbitration. He was a complete arrogant jackass. Seems that the Texas A&M faculty thinks so too.) From the Valley Morning Star:

COLLEGE STATION - The Texas A&M University faculty has given the system chancellor a ``no confidence'' vote.

The Faculty Senate passed a resolution directed at A&M System Chancellor Mike McKinney just weeks after the resignation of university President Elsa Murano. Murano, the first female and first Hispanic in the university's history, resigned after McKinney gave her first 17 months on the job a dismal review.

The troubles with Murano came shortly after McKinney said the regents were considering combining his job with that of the university president to save money. That suggestion angered many faculty members.

Power Watch: Electricity rates for July 2009

Is electricity deregulation finally working? NO! But rates are significantly lower this month than it was one year ago.

The lowest rate for a 12 month contract is by Amigo Energy at 10.7. (might want to check out their reputation) The highest rate is 14.6 by First Choice (ditto). Reliant is at 14.0 and TXU is at 13.5. Last year the rates were much higher:

Consumers can lock into to a relatively "low" rate for an extended term, avoiding any fluctuation in profits. Topping the charts for the highest fixed rates is First Choice Power at 22.8 cents for 12 months, and US Energy Savings Corp has the lowest fixed rate at 16.1 cents but a 5 year commitment is required with penalties for early termination.

Does this mean electricity deregulation is finally becoming competitive? No. The lowest rates are still over 25% higher than pre-deregulation rates and there is much more that proves the failure of this Ken Lay experiment.

More on this later today.

On the look out for Squeeky

Thanks to the Houston Chronicle Clear Lake section for posting this lost cat notice.

Lost cat in Bay Knoll Subdivision in Clear Lake

Name: Squeeky.

Lost: June 20, Cardinal Creek Court in Bay Knoll subdivision, north side of Clear Lake area in Houston.

Description: Black, short hair, green eyes, female. Has her claws. Very friendly. Meows alot.

Contact: johncoby@sbcglobal.net