A Metaphorical Rear View Mirror
July 17, 2008
There is a great line in the movie Cars, where Mater the tow truck is showing the rookie race car Lightning McQueen how to drive backwards. McQueen is impressed and asks, “How do you do it?” Mater responds, “I don’t have to know where I’m going I just have to know where I’ve been, I use my rear view mirrors.”
Need to know where your car has been? Footloose teenagers, errant parking valet, disappearing delivery drivers — there are lots of reasons why you might need to know where your car has been. And, now there is a way to find out that is both reasonably priced and easy to initiate and install.
Texas Loves Its Chairman of the Railroad Commission
July 15, 2008
I am impressed with everything I have seen about Michael Williams who is running for re-election to the position of Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. God, family, country. The respect that he shows for them combined with real leadership skills and a commitment to make tomorrow better than today makes him someone we are blessed to have serving us in Texas. Evidently, I am just one of many who like what he has done and his vision for the future. Check out the press release below to see what I mean.
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MICHAEL WILLIAMS CAMPAIGN
FUNDRAISING TOTALS TOP $1.3 MILLION
AUSTIN – Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams’ campaign today announced they have raised more than $1.3 million in his bid for reelection.
The latest report to the Texas Ethics Commission will show Williams raised $624,480.77 for the reporting period covering January to June of 2008. As of July 15, Williams maintains over $800,000 on-hand. Of those totals, Williams has raised $67,286 online.
“Chairman Williams is working hard bringing his pro-growth, environmentally conscious energy solutions to the people of Texas and they are responding,” said Corbin Casteel, Williams Campaign Manager, who noted that nearly 70% of Williams’ donors work outside the energy industry as evidence of Williams’ broad base of support. Read more
A Message From Tony Snow
July 13, 2008
As we all grieve the loss of Tony Snow I thought it would be good to revisit an article that Snow wrote for Christianity Today one year ago this week; Cancer’s Unexpected Blessings. Here is an excerpt:
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Blessings arrive in unexpected packages—in my case, cancer.
Those of us with potentially fatal diseases—and there are millions in America today—find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God’s will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence What It All Means, Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.
The first is that we shouldn’t spend too much time trying to answer Read more
uBid You Win
July 13, 2008
Ubid is paying me to promote something that I would have been glad to promote free of charge. Not that I’m complaining mind you. I appreciate the courtesy (and the cash).
Ubid is conducting an iPod Auction with thousands of iPod Touch and Nanos each starting off at $1. One of uBid’s business partners was stuck with excess inventory and this is the way they are clearing it out. That’s a great win-win deal — the business liquidates its stock and buyers get a great deal at the same time. Read more
Writing Rooms
July 11, 2008
Do you need a particular environment to be able to write. Personally, I have the same simple need for both reading and writing. I need a quiet space free from distractions (i.e., no people).
The Guardian has posted pictures of the Writing Rooms of some authors. The picture above is that of Eric Hobsbawm. Go on over to The Guardian to check out the rest. You will need to click on the authors’ names to reveal the picture of their writing rooms.
Protesting Nude Protestors
June 18, 2008
I have been reading about the World Naked Bike Ride that went on this week. On June 14, bicyclists paraded through the streets in many cities throughout the world to protest their indecent exposure to vehicle emissions. The website of the group sponsoring the event explains the reasoning for such tactics;
“We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity Read more
John Cornyn And The Art Of The Half Jest
June 17, 2008
I was invited to attend the Republican Party of Texas Convention held last week in Houston. I was offered full media credentials to “blog the convention.” It would have been fun, but I didn’t have the time and energy to participate right now.
Although I could not personally attend, I have enjoyed reading what others have had to say. It seems that a video clip that was shown at the convention has prompted The Left to really get their panties in a bunch. They are cringing in horror about the Big John video put together by Senator John Cornyn’s staff to introduce him at the convention. It would seem that just like public policy, the left just doesn’t get it. The video was obviously what my dad used to call “a half jest.” For him, a half jest was something that sent a serious message but that was framed in a way that is sufficiently over the top so as to bring a smile to your face. Not humorous, but almost humorous — a half jest.
As a “half jest” this Cornyn video is brilliant. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Nationalizing The Oil Industry
May 30, 2008
My grandfather was a Socialist back in 1920s and 1930s. He believed that the government could do a better job of running important industries than the private sector. In recent years there have been growing numbers of Americans who are calling for not just government intrusion into the private sector but for “taking it over.” Until recently socialized medicine was at the forefront of what appears to be a growing national zeitgeist. However, it is now most visible in the calls for the nationalizing of the oil industry. First, it was Hillary Clinton saying that she would “take the profits” of the oil companies, and now Maxine Waters wants to “take over” the oil companies.
Picher Tornado
May 10, 2008
Please pray for my friends in Picher, Oklahoma. It is my understanding that there are now nine confirmed fatalities in Picher and at least a dozen more in the surrounding areas.
My family was able to watch the tornado as it passed them by.
A state trooper working the scene says that the “the fire station is about the only thing left standing.” Read more
Texas Snowman
April 6, 2008
What kind of snowman do they make in Texas? Read more
