Texas

more graph humor and song chart memes

A Quote to Remember

“Every time you forgive someone who hurt you, encourage someone who feels defeated, extend compassion to someone who stands alone, confront someone in love, open your heart to a friend, reconcile with an enemy, devote time to a child, you align yourself with God’s central purpose in this world.” – John Ortberg

Quotes to Remember

“Can’t sing but I’ve got soul.” – Bono, in Elevation from All That You Can’t Leave Behind

I don’t think it describes him – at least the can’t sing part (because he’s definitely got soul), but it definitely describes me.

Quotes to remember

“Life moves pretty fast.  If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” ~ Ferris Bueller

Quote to remember

This will be an irregular recurring item – I hear or read a quote and want to remember it, but I’m old. Therefore I will note it here.

The first entry:
“Talking about music is like dancing about architecture.” – Thelonious Monk

Hear, Hear!

Hear, hear!

“We all have a tendency to take for granted what we are used to, and to regard it as somehow natural or automatic — and to be unduly impressed by what is unusual.Too many Americans take the United States for granted and are too easily impressed by what people in other countries say and do.

That is especially true of the intelligentsia, and dangerously true of those Supreme Court justices who cite foreign laws when making decisions about American law.

There is nothing automatic about the way of life achieved in this country. It is very unusual among the nations of the world today and rarer than four-leaf clovers in the long view of history.

It didn’t just happen. People made it happen — and they and those who came after them paid a price in blood and treasure to create and preserve this nation that we now take for granted.

More important, this country’s survival is not automatic. What we do will determine that.

Too many Americans today are not only unconcerned about what it will take to preserve this country but are busy dismantling the things that make it America.”

Excerpted from Taking America for Granted by Thomas Sowell.

Great response from the management of Ozona

Recently over at Frontburner, they described a recent bad experience they had at Ozona when they went there to have lunch. That post spawned a deluge of e-mail messages from readers describing similar experiences. Apparently Ozona is not the place to go if you want good service.

Well, apparently a higher-up at the company that runs Ozona saw the post. He says he wants to hear all the complaints. He says he will rectify the problem. That is a quick and great response. Even though the Frontburner guys asked for the e-mail messages to stop, the Ozona Management guy wants all of them. He says he will read and reply to every single one.

Did you recently go to Ozona and have a bad experience with the service there? If so, send an e-mail to Skylar Bell, sbell@fordrestgrp.com.

Goal for 2008

Go to SXSW next year!  Both the web dev (interactive) part, and the music part.

THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL!

Texas Independence Day!

Commandancy of the Alamo
Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836

To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World– Fellow Citizens and Compatriots–

I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna–I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man–The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken–I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls–I shall never surrender or retreat.

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all despatch–The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country–Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis, Lt. Col. comdt.
The flag that flew over the Alamo:

Another flag from the war of Texas Revolution:

From Flags of Texas Independence Movements at Texas A&M University.

Go out and celebrate today!

Red light cameras in Dallas

Frontburner (the D magazine blog) has leaked released a list of the intersections where red light cameras may be placed.  Only 15 cameras will be placed initially, but the list is longer than 15.  There could be dummy cameras at the other locations.

Now, I don’t care for red light runners.  In fact, I dislike the behavior.  But I’m less in favor of computer monitored law enforcement.  This probably comes from my general distrust of the government.

And the argument that these are placed for safety?  Via this fine post at Frontburner I learn of a study by the Texas Traffic Institute at Texas A&M University that says “red-light cameras reduce collisions by just 7 percent overall, while lengthening yellow lights decreases violations and collisions by more than 40 percent.”