Author: blueINdallas

“House Bill 1925 would make camping in an unapproved public place a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.”

“If the bill becomes law, it will mark the latest instance of the Republican-led state government overruling local ordinances.“

Directing the homeless to resources sounds commendable, but are resources plentiful and will this just be a way to harass folks who already have a pretty tough row to hoe? Where is the affordable housing? This is a right-to-work state, meaning wages are low. Where is the mental health assistance? Where is healthcare? Republicans squash any attempt to increase Medicaid.

Meanwhile, another place has taken a more kindly approach to what Texas legislators refer to as “camping.”

“Go ahead and vote me out,” says Schwedhelm, recounting his mindset at the time. “You want to shout at me and get angry? Go ahead. It’s important for government to listen, but the reality is these are our neighbors, so let’s help them.”

Will the cult members ever be deprogrammed?

You-Know-Who has endorsed Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection.  Dan is the one with the real power.  Greg Abbott is just a bumbling spokesmodel.  

At any level of government, it would be commendable if candidates actually started at the bottom and worked their way up…or at least had the chops to handle the job.

Some of the names being floated for various offices don’t seem to have any actual interest in doing the job or any idea how to do the job.   It’s very different to have a stance on an issue and the understanding and ability to work within the parameters of government to make it happen. 

Being elected is not a magic lamp where you get what you want.  It’s a job interview and now you have to do the work.

It started with electing military heroes who had had a certain skill set which included the ability to strategize and lead. 

But then came a new kind of fame and we were served unwelcome helpings of Ronald Regan and He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.

What’s next on the political sideshow menu?

Kaitlyn Jenner (athlete and reality show figure) How does that qualify her to govern a state?

Dan Rodimer (pro-wrestler from NJ who lost an election in NV, so he ran (and lost) in TX this month, after holding a “Wrestle For Your Rights” event. I mention him because I doubt that this will be his last bid for election. 

Duane “The Rock” Johnson (pro-wrestler and actor, who said he would run for POTUS if the polling showed people wanted him to run) What would he do if he actually got elected? 

Matthew McConaughey (actor, possibly running for TX Governor, although nobody knows where he stands politically) Qualifications?   *Meanwhile, Beto O’Rourke is doing community action after the storm, while the guy he lost to fled the country,  and, he was knocking on doors before the state and local elections this spring, but he wasn’t even a candidate.


That doesn’t mean someone can’t be in the entertainment industry and hold elected office, it just shouldn’t be their only qualification.  No matter what you thought of their stance on issues, Al Franken and Fred Thompson were actually suited to hold office.

How can the free publicity of being a celebrity be mitigated?


ps – Thanks to Mark Cuban’s family for pumping the breaks on any ideas about a presidential run. A good man, but he can do more good as a businessman. 

“While there are thousands of cryptocurrencies — including the Elon Musk tweet-fueled Dogecoin — Bitcoin and ether account for nearly two-thirds of the entire $2.2 trillion global crypto market.”

Who decides what it’s worth and for how long?   I noticed a question about crypto currency on this year’s tax form, but how is it tracked?   How are publicly-traded companies verifying the value of crypto on their balance sheets? Trillions of bits and doges equal how much in actual dollars out of the old school economy? It seems like a high-tech Ponzi scheme, but it also seems to make as much sense as the legalized gambling operation we call the stock market.

“But Ethereum has enjoyed an even bigger surge than Bitcoin because it is the cryptocurrency of choice for the purchases of many non-fungible tokens, or NFTs — which have taken the art and broader collectibles world by storm.“

NFTs seem more tangible, but as with all collectibles, the market may not always be there.