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Ah, the holidays. So after Veteran's Day last month, I took a month off from blogging, and wow, has a lot happened since then! Rather than take a look back, let's look ahead to the last few weeks of December 2009!
Holiday Par-tays
How many holiday parties have you been to so far? Well, here's a few more for you to add to your calendar!
It's par for the course for me to do my Christmas shopping two weekends before Christmas. So, I'm right on schedule, because I checked most of the items off my fam & friend gift list today. I picked up toys from Terra Toys and a few gift certificates from local joints. All I need is to figure out what I'm going to wrap or put these gifts in.Many of you, like me, have family or friends who are veterans or current servicemen/women. Tomorrow across the state and country, we will remember those who have given their lives in service of their country and honor those who continue to serve.
This mid-week blog comes to you with a brief history about Veterans Day and ideas on how to celebrate.
History
World War I - On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, a temporary cessation of fighting between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. Officially, the war ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, but "November 11, 1918 is generally regarded as the end of 'the war to end all wars.'" According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, "the original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m."
Parade
Travis County and the City of Austin's Veterans Day Parade will begin at 9 AM tomorrow (11/11/09), culminating with a memorial service at the State Capitol. Visit the City of Austin website for more info.
Flicks
My dad served in the Korean War, and he has told me countless stories of his time in the military. Growing up, I remember watching riveting war movies with him --not just on Veterans Day but just whenever. I have no idea what his favorite war movie is, but IMDB put together a list of the Top Rated! I'm kind of surprised how many movies on that list I've 1) actually watched and 2) really like!
Freebie food
Veterans and active duty military eat free tomorrow...at Applebee's. I tried to find local freebies, but the net wasn't as helpful. If you know of any freebies or special discounts, post 'em here!
From local tragedies to national legislative action so much has happened this week. A brief recap follows.
11/3: Election Results
Just under 4% of registered voters in our precinct cast their ballot in the November election. That's just under the county-wide voter turn out of 5%, but Precinct 307 (just west of Zilker) had a 17% voter turn-out! Wow, way to go PC 307!
Proposition 1 received 48% votes for, and 51% against. All other props passed by a large margin. Click election results for more info.
11/5: Tragedy at Fort Hood
Everyone by now has heard of Thursday's shooting that took 13 lives and wounded 30 at Fort Hood. Many have shown their support of the survivors and their families --donating blood and money. News8 reports on local memorial events scheduled for today and information on where to send donations.
Local memorial events
-- Sunday at 5 PM, at Killeen Civic and Conference Center
-- Monday, A local grassroots organization is asking everyone to drive with their headlights on to honor those directly or indirectly affected.• The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter of Association of the United States Army has set up a Community Response to 11/5 Fund for anyone wishing to make monetary donations to help support the families of the victims involved in Thursday's shooting at Fort Hood.
Donation Information
--Monetary donations can be sent to the Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter of Association of the United States Army. Send checks to the attention of "Community Response to 11/5, P.O. Box 10700, Killeen, Texas 76547.
-- Barton Creek Square mall goers can pick up $1 wooden rose at Kay's Hallmark. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the families of the victims of Ft. Hood.
-- Donations can also be sent to the Killeen Red Cross at 208 West Ave. A., Killeen, TX 76541.
-- Donations are tax deductible, click on News8 reports for more details.
I was derelict in my blog duties last week, because I had my sights set on Halloween fun! If you happened to stop by yesterday, you'll know I had a smorgasbord of treats: everything from the popular juice box (the choice selection of the night) to stickers, eyeball bubble and parachute toys and the 2nd popular choice of the night Goldfish! I also had Laffy Taffy candies on hand, because it's just not Halloween unless there's some candy!
It was so much fun seeing neighbor kids, teens, and parents dressed in terrifically scary or adorably cuddly (the babies, not the parents) costumes. My honey and I saw a baby lion, lots of princesses and pirates, a marine, classic Marvel Comic Book heroes, and other spooky characters! One of the highlights of the night was a lil' girl, maybe 2'5", who ran across the street lightening fast and enthusiastically shouting, "TRICK OR TREAT! TRICK OR TREAT! TRICK OR TREAT!" She was on a mission!
And though we didn't snap any photos w/the neighbor kids, we did get this photo of me holding down the treat stand.
11 Reasons to Vote on November 3rd
As for Tuesday's election, the 11 reasons to vote are...you guessed it, the 11 amendments to our Constitution. Voting on Tuesday is one way we can shape our State's fundamental principles.
The last Growing Democracy blog briefed you on the ballot, but for more information, visit the Southwest Austin Community Impact article: Constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot.
November 3rd Polling Location
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I hope everyone had a sweet-filled and safe Halloween weekend.
When I woke up this morning (at 2, 3, 4, 5, and finally 6 AM) I was feeling achy, tired, and queasy. In the delirium of the early AM hours, I thought "do I have the flying pig disease?" But as the sun began to shine through the blinds, I was determined to recover fast so I could check out the "How Will You Vote" event facilitated by David Kobierowski, TCDP Precinct 262 Chair and all-around dedicated Dem.
Thankfully, some fresh air, time with my dogs, a couple of over-the-counter meds, and lots of liquids had me feelin' back to 85%.
Constitutional Amendments Decoded
Today's Public Affairs Forum of Austin and League of Women Voters Forum was held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church (off of 47th and Burnet). It started at 11:30 and promptly ended at 12:30 --including 20 minutes of Q&A.
Senator Watson did a fantastic job of translating the propositions and fielding voters' questions. Rather than reinvent the wheel (and, because I'm still feeling under the weather), the following is an edited version of the descriptions from the last week's Watson Wire.
If you're left scratching your head as to which way to vote on these propositions, there's an easy to digest Voter's Guide (PDF) prepared by the League of Women Voters. As for me, after today's event I'm confident that voting yes on these props is the right way to go.Proposition 1 would permit the Texas Legislature to let cities/counties acquire buffer areas next to military installations. *There're legal nuances to the way cities/counties can acquire such areas.
Proposition 2 makes it clear that Texans' homes can be appraised ONLY as a home. Right now a home could be valued as what it *could* be, say, if it could be turned into an office space -think gentrification.
Proposition 3 strengthens state oversight of a property appraisal board’s practices and procedures. Would reduce wide swinging variation.
Proposition 4 would use money we already have to help existing universities (e.g. University of Houston, Texas Tech, UT-Arlington, UT-El Paso, and others) become "tier-one" public research universities. UT and A&M are tier-one.
Want more info about this prop? The Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) explains why the passage of Prop 4 is important for Texas -click brief.
And Proposition 5 allows adjoining appraisal districts or similar entities to consolidate their review board functions so they can be more efficient.
Proposition 6 would let the Veterans’ Land Board issue additional $ to help Texas veterans acquire land or get a mortgage loan.
Proposition 7 would clarify that members of the Texas State Guard (or similar groups) could hold civil offices such as justice of the peace or county commissioner.
Proposition 8 would clarify that the state can contribute money, property or other resources for a veteran’s hospital.
Most immediately, this would allow the state to help build a veterans hospital in the Rio Grande Valley, as required by a law that took effect earlier this year.
Proposition 9 would strengthen the state’s open beaches law by putting it in the constitution and clarifying that the public has the unrestricted right to use, and get to and from, public beaches.
Proposition 10 would lengthen the term of emergency services district board members from two to four years.
Finally, Proposition 11 builds on a current law limiting the ability of the state, or any other jurisdiction, to condemn and acquire property for economic development purposes through the use of eminent domain.
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| From Blogger Pictures |
Some of you may know that I graduated in August from UT's Master of Science in Social Work program. I can't tell you what a relief it is to not have to squeeze life in between work, school, and internship responsibilities. My time is mine again, and it has been wonderful!! The thing is, though, that I enjoy procrastinating with my time...sometimes. :0)
Why do I bring this up? Well, Halloween and the November 3rd election are around the corner and I still haven't bought any candy, have no clue how I'm going to dec-out the garage for neighbors, and haven't posted anything about the Constitutional amendments that'll be on the ballot. (Okay, so, the last one may not be as fun as getting the garage "halloween-y" but it's probably more important.)
November 3rd Ballot?
Now if you're asking yourself, "November 3rd ballot, huh?" Then we're both lucky! Because the Secretary of State website has a sample ballot and a downloadable PDF of the amendments. Plus, I recently learned that our very own Senator Kirk Watson will be leading a "How Will You Vote" meeting on Sunday, October 18th from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. I'll be tweeting from there and snapping a few pix for the blog. Hope to see ya' out there!
I still have it on my list to devote a blog to the what's on the ballot. But tonight, as I get ready to fly out to Harlingen at 6:50 AM tomorrow for work, I am pooped and ready to hit the hay.
State Board of Education
Another topic for a future blog is Texas' education system. Specifically, the knuckle-headed approach that has been taken by the Rs on the State Board of Education. I'll be posting soon about what the board has been doing and which board candidates to keep an eye on.
Health Care Reform Made Simply? Kinda' Sorta' Maybe Not Entirely
And, what would a post from yours truly be without something about health care?
The Kaiser Family foundation has new Side-by-Side Comparison tools, including a breakdown of the health care reform proposals before Congress.
The Commonwealth Fund has created an interactive US map you can use to view state-specific rankings and results of their 2009 health system State-by-State Scorecard. Texas moved up from 48th place in 2008 to 46th. Check out their website for details on what goes into the scoring matrix.
'K, nighty-night.
September's County Executive Committee meeting for Travis County Democrats was anything but dispassionate! We had a handful of candidates attend, most stated their name and the seat they are running for, but two candidates stood out for me.
He's experienced, sharp, and deeply committed to bringing back nonpartisan justice, real equity based on law rather than bias, to the 3rd Court of Appeals. Click on the photo to the left to learn more about Mr. Kuhn and it'll become clear why he is the best person for the job!
Returning from hiatus
You may wonder, "Hmm, I haven't seen any Precinct 463 blogs in a while. Where has my favorite precinct blogger gone to?" (...or not.) Well, I spent 2 weeks in beautiful Italy visiting Rome, Florence, and Venice/Murano with stops at Pisa, Vernazza and Lido. I could spend the rest of this blog going on about how amazing the experience was, but... I'll refrain.
Instead, here's a lil slide show of food my honey and I enjoyed on our travels.
It was great to be away for that long! But then I spent all last week recovering from jet lag -oi! Now, I'm back and ready to get democracy growing in precinct 463!
Shot in the Dark
Me, red state with dreams of turning blue.
You, curious and willing...
to turn Texas blue by volunteering a minimal amount of time to the democratic party.
We need folks interested in filling vacant precinct chair positions or signing-up as co-chairs.
As a first step, contact me or click on the Travis County Democratic Party link to the left. Second, come out to next week's (9/30) Travis County Democratic Party's meeting. It's relaxed and takes only an hour out of your evening.
I'll be offline through mid-September.
But there are many groups involved in pushing health insurance reform forward. So....
If you haven't already, sign-up for updates from CPPP's Texas Voice for Health Reform, connect with the Austin chapter of Organizing for America, or check out what the Grey Panthers or Health Care for America, Now! are up to.
This week's entry are re-posts from blogs I found interesting. Follow the links to view the original posts.
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After clicking on the link below and reading the New Scientist's blog, scroll down to check out the comments.
Socialised medicine and death panels: business as usual - Short Sharp Science - New Scientist
Shared via AddThis
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August 18, 2009, 11:45 pm
From State to State, Many Choices to Few
By Anne Underwood
The debate over whether the government should offer a public insurance plan is all about competition. How competitive is the private insurance market right now? It depends on where you live.
As a general rule, the larger, more densely populated states have the most choice — and even the biggest insurer controls only a minority share of the market. According to statistics from the American Medical Association, the leading insurance provider in California covers 24 percent of the population, while in New York the figure is 26 percent and in Florida, 30 percent.
But there are nine states where a single insurer covers 70 percent or more of the people. In Hawaii, one insurer covers 78 percent. In Alabama, it is 83 percent. And in at least 17 other states one insurer covers at least half the population.
Some members of the Senate Finance Committee, which is taking a lead on health care legislation, come from states where the insurance market is highly concentrated. The chairman, Max Baucus, is from Montana, where 75 percent of people are covered by one major insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana. For Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, the figure is 71 percent, by Wellmark. For Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, it is 78 percent, by WellPoint.
“For many Americans, the idea that they have a choice of health plans is about as mythical as unicorns,” said Jacob S. Hacker, a professor of political science at Yale.
But Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the industry trade group, America’s Health Insurance Plans, argues that competition abounds. “In the top 40 metropolitan areas, there are eight or more health plans in every one of them,” he said.
ORIGINALLY POSTED: August 12, 2009
There are two great events happening Thursday evening, and if I could be in two places at once, then tomorrow (8/13) would be the day I'd use my time travelin' skills!
Haven't voiced your concerns yet or want to hear your neighbors' thoughts on health care reform? Go to the Texas Medical Association's (TMA's) town hall meet-up at 6:30 PM.
It was rumored that Senators Cornyn and/or Hutchinson would be in attendance, but neither US Senator for Texas will be at the meeting. Nevertheless, arrive early, grab some free refreshments, and get ready to participate in the health care reform talks! Click on the photo to visit TMA's website for more information about their regional town halls.
Want to learn money management lessons from the experts? Want to pass those skills on to teens, adults or seniors?
Get info on how to become a certified FLCCT educator at tomorrow night's Financial Literacy Coalition Central Texas Volunteer Orientation! Arrive by 5:30 PM at the Travis County Office of Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Click on the photo to read FLCCT's blog.
Hmm....be in the thick of another health care reform meeting or pick up the basics on FLCCT volunteer ops. ...I'll let ya' know which one I go with. : )
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POSTED: August 14, 2009
As you might have seen, if you follow me on Twitter, I was at last night's TMA town hall. By the time the town hall began, the meeting room was PACKED! We (my dude and I) arrived early though and found seats quickly.
The facilitator emphasized that the town hall was not going to be a debate (read: brawl) and the focus was on hearing everyone out (read: no hissing/booing). It appeared to work too, because no one was booed. Although, some people were cheered-on louder than others! --It was the folks in favor of reforming health insurance who were most loudly supported with energetic claps and whoops from the audience.
Those opposed to making changes to the health care system emphasized the right to not be "forced" to have health care coverage, the problem with third-party interference, the fear that people will not want to be doctor's if there are too many barriers (i.e., low Medicare reimbursement rates, malpractice litigation, red tape), and personal experiences with the "world-class health care" that they have right now. That last one, ignores that so many of us do not have access to that "world-class health care." Oh, and there was this one lady who said, "I want to keep my insurance...if someone doesn't have insurance, they need to decide what to do about that." -Wow, how self-centered can a person be?!
Those in favor of reforming the current health care system pointed out: the need for lower, reasonably priced health insurance premiums and prescription drugs; the importance of including people with pre-existing conditions rather than excluding them like so many insurance plans do; and their strong agreement that every American should have access to affordable health care. One women said it is immoral to deny affordable health care.
Based on claps and whoops, it is my guess the overwhelming majority of those in attendance support health insurance reform and agree that affordable access to health care is needed.
The video is a little sticky at some points (freezes up) but feel free to watch it here or at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1979332
All the health insurance reform talk and sweltering days shifted my plans last month. But August and the coming months hold lots of promise!
For starters, I'm going to begin reaching out to neighbors offline -door knocking, phone calling, and the like. One of my hopes is to hold periodic precinct gatherings. I'm wondering what the first event should be. Hmmm.
Ideas that are percolating....
Travis County Sheriff's Office, Crime Prevention Seminar Series
Communities gain practical tools to combat crime through education and prevention. Seminars are free and interactive.
Topics covered include:-personal safety awareness -burglary prevention -crimes against children -identity theft -gang awareness -domestic violence awareness
National Night Out
National Night Out is Oct. 6, 2009. Neighborhoods must register by August 28! Questions regarding National Night Out can be directed to the City of Austin at (512) 974-4900 or www.cityofaustin.org/police (click Crime Prevention.)
Animal shelter presentations
The City of Austin is building a new animal services center. The facility will feature some exciting design and architectural elements to promote the health and happiness of the animals in our care. Neighborhood associations interested in learning more about the new animal services center, can schedule a free presentation from the Health Department. 
If you've got ideas, send them to me via email! : )
~many thanks~
Ever wanted to work on a political campaign but didn't know where to start? Interested in honing your messaging or campaign fundraising strategies? Then consider signing up for one of the day and a half long campaign camps hosted by the Texas Democratic Party!
Attendees will learn the fundamentals of campaigns from experienced political professionals. Participants will apply newly acquired knowledge through live practice and receive individualized feedback on the techniques demonstrated during interactive segments. The camp also provides an opportunity for attendees to connect with other political novices, enthusiasts, and professionals.
RSVP by visiting TDP-Mini_Camp and selecting the camp that fits your schedule!
Additional dates in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas/Fort Worth will be scheduled for September and October and posted on the Texas Democratic Party Grassroots Training website once those dates are confirmed.
Space is limited for this FREE training camp. Reserve your spot today by registering at http://www.txdemocrats.org/
If you can't make it to one of the camps, but you want to donate or volunteer with the Texas Democratic Party click on the appropriate button below.
UPDATE excerpt from TVfHR newsletter:
Despite the cautions that we must address in these new draft bills, in his weekly health reform update, Michael Miller of Community Catalyst encourages advocates to keep in perspective the gains that are already being made. He reminds us that,
“The bills that are being discussed represent an enormous step forward from the status quo. There is virtually across-the-board consensus on key reforms including:
- Expanding Medicaid to at least the federal poverty level (FPL)
- Eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions and experience rating
- Improving the value of health insurance by eliminating annual or lifetime caps on benefits
- Providing sliding-scale subsides for low- and moderate-income households
- Reorienting the health care system to strengthen primary care, improve care coordination, and increase clinical effectiveness”
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Post is from www.texasvoiceforhealthreform.org
Written by Kymberlie Quong-Charles
July 7, 2009
This week several national groups, including SEIU, AARP, Consumer’s Union, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and Families USA, are urging people across the country to call Congress and tell them to pass health care reform this year.
Texas Voice for Health Reform encourages you to take the following simple actions.
1. Make three calls:
2. COPY, PASTE and SEND this message to all of your lists and contacts
3. POST this alert on your Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter accounts
4. TEXT the following to everyone in your phone’s address book:
“Call 1-866-210-3678 to tell your members of Congress “WE NEED NATIONAL
HEALTH REFORM THAT DELIVERS AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE,
QUALITY COVERAGE TO ALL TEXANS THIS YEAR!”
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION
Texas Voice for Health Reform Principles
Texas Health Fact Sheet
CPPP’s Texas Health Care Primer
How are you celebrating this fourth? If you haven't signed up for BBQ hosting or potlucking and you're still debating what to check out, there's plenty of fun and *free* activities happening around Central Texas tomorrow for you to enjoy!
You can find more on About.com or Statesman.com.
Extreme Texas Heat
We've seen record heat here in Central Texas and it's barely one week into Summer 2009! It is no surprise to read that the National Weather Service forecast for Travis County this week includes temps at or near 100. The Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services offered these important safety tips:
Staying safe in the extreme heat
The average family has seen their premiums double in the last nine years. Costs for families are going up three times faster than wages... Out-of-pocket expenses have gone up 62 percent. Businesses increasingly are having to cut back on health care or ...employers even if they don't want to are having to pass on costs to others. -President Obama
Regardless of where one may stand -behind, to the side or in opposition- with respect to President Obama, his article in Parade is definitely worth the read and has truth in it. I was particularly moved by the article. The following excerpt resonated deeply with me:
And it’s not enough to just be physically present. Too often, especially during tough economic times like these, we are emotionally absent: distracted, consumed by what’s happening in our own lives, worried about keeping our jobs and paying our bills, unsure if we’ll be able to give our kids the same opportunities we had.For the full article, click on We Need Fathers To Step Up by President Barack Obama,
Our children can tell. They know when we’re not fully there. And that disengagement sends a clear message—whether we mean it or not—about where among our priorities they fall.
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On this Father’s Day, I am recommitting myself to that work, to those duties that all parents share: to build a foundation for our children’s dreams, to give them the love and support they need to fulfill them, and to stick with them the whole way through, no matter what doubts we may feel or difficulties we may face. That is my prayer for all of us on this Father’s Day, and that is my hope for this nation in the months and years ahead.
Texans for Obama (TFO) Event on Tuesday, June 16th!
If you're on Facebook and connected with other TFO members, you may have already seen information about Tuesday's "Meet John Sharp, Candidate for U.S. Senate."
Again, I'll be there and will try to Tweet updates from the event. I'm really looking forward to hearing how we can all Live United/Vivir Unidos!Is your house older than 10 yrs? Then you'll want to read the Austinist's post "Energy Audit Requirements Start Today." Excerpt:Audits are expected to cost $200 to $300 for a typical single-family home of 1,800 square feet...Auditors set their own prices, which depend on the size of the home. ...There is no requirement to make improvements [-you] just have to give the results to the person buying the house.
DNC coming to Austin -found this on Burnt Orange Report through Twitter post.
According to Marketing Charts, Foxnews.com/politics came in second (by a long shot) to The Huffington Post! Follow the link above to view the results.
And speaking of rankings... Austin ranks as a top 10 city by Kiplinger. Click on Community Impact to read the full article.
