Put Down the Phone and Pay Attention to the Road

Texting while driving is possibly one of the most dangerous things to do. In this day and age it is true that you can’t go about your day without seeing anyone texting or making a call while driving. Quite frankly it scares me. Vanessa Tamayo posted “Distracted driving is blind driving” on her blog LoneStar Livin’, where she addressed the issue of people texting while driving distracts them. She starts out by introducing a link to a video of a victim of this action. Apparently the victim Chase Bothe had a car accident while trying to text his recipient with a text saying “he needed to quit texting and driving or he would end up in a car crash.” He foretold his own future.

I agree with the author when she states that, “Texas needs harsher laws for distracted driving.” Yes, there are a lot of people guilty of using their cell phones while driving - and it should really stop - but people should know for themselves that being distracted while driving is really dangerous. If lawmakers make a law for this it would be great, but I think people would still get away with it. In my opinion, people are smart enough to know that driving while distracted is dangerous not only for them but for the people around them. I especially like how the author ended her post with a sentence that states, “With all the crazy things that already happen on the road a cell phone should be the last thing on peoples mind.” In other words, pay attention to the road people! Overall, reading this post gave me great information with good links and articles of current statistic reports of car accidents due to distracted driving. In conclusion - even if is not your phone necessarily doing the distracting - I agree that distrated driving is blind driving. Say it with me people, "Put down the phones and pay attention to the roads."

The Sky is The Limit!

In April of 2012, SpaceX declared its intent to open a rocket launch site in Texas. Now, in August 10, 2012 plans are being finalized to open this launch site near the city of Brownsville. When I first read about this in the Texas Tribute website the first thing that came to mind was of course the movie Armageddon. Which frankly has nothing to do with it, but with my limited knowledge on the private space industry and my love for science fiction films, can you really blame me? But after really getting informed on this subject and reading the pros and cons of opening a launch site in Texas. I have to say the pros have won me over!

Texas has been central to the field of space exploration, after all, NASA Johnson Space Center is located in Houston. Texas' location itself and business friendly policies make it appealing for private space companies, like SpaceX, to take root. Another private space company named XCOR Aerospace was evaluating wide-open places in Texas to test rocket engines, and have found an ideal site in Midland. It seems like everyone wants a piece of our great State. Alex Ignatiev, a University of Houston professor who has advised space companies, is in agreement with the expansion both of these companies to Texas; he stated that “the nation’s need for access to space is acute now that the space shuttle program has ended.” Also, private companies are appealing to Texas, after all NASA faces even more budget cuts. In Obama’s presidential budget request for 2013 his administration proposes big cuts to NASA’s Mars Programs. Don’t we need to know what is happening in outer space? Although the shuttles were launched from Florida, the program’s mission control was at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

I am all for these private space companies investing here in Texas. These companies could inject millions of dollars into the state economy. A new SpaceX launch pad in Brownsville could help the city’s economy immensely. Other than creating new jobs, these launch pads would attract even more investors of different businesses to Texas, and even tourism would increase as well. In an article by the  StateImpact website, a member of the Brownsville Economic Development Council, Gilberto Salinas, stated that “it would bring about 600 [direct] jobs paying extremely well.  It could drop our unemployment by one full percentage point.” Sounds like a pretty good deal. Even Governor Rick Perry has expressed interest in promoting the private space industry in Texas. In July, Perry met with several representatives from different companies.  

Environmentalists are opposed to the SpaceX space port in Brownsville. This is only logical. The place where SpaceX is planning to build this launch pad and control facilities is almost surrounded by the Boca Rica State Park and the Lower Rio Grande Natural Wildlife Reserve. They argue that the launching of rockets would scare the animals in the area and noxious chemicals would be all over the place. Are all these environmentalist forgetting that the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is located close to the Merritt Island Natural Wildlife Refuge. These two have coexisted for decades and no animals have been screaming in fright or poisoned with deadly chemicals. I think the private space industry should expand more in Texas. It would be beneficial for not only the investors themselves, but for the state of Texas. With companies like SpaceX and XCOR Aerospace already finalizing plans is a step in the right direction. The sky is the limit baby!

ID please?

In response to Lauren Campbell’s post, "What Doesn't Make Sense About That?" She argues that the new Texas voter ID legislation is a good idea to have because it would protect elections and claims that it is not a discriminatory law.

I completely agree with this post. Texas should require a photo ID when people are about to vote. Our State legislature should make sure that there is no fraud being committed and should protect peoples identity while practicing their right to vote. By fraud I mean people lying about their identity to be able to vote twice. This would make an election untrue and unfair. Also, this law is not discriminatory at all. It would not lessen minority rights because having a Texas ID means that you have met all the requirements to obtain one. There would be no decrease or increase in minority votes in my opinion. Even though illegal immigrants do make up a large percentage of the minority population in Texas they are not given the right to vote due to their status of citizenship. I understand that there is a small percentage included in the minority groups that do meet the requirements to be able to vote and obtain a Texas ID card. Their rights would not be affected at all by this law and will be able to practice their right to vote.

Let's Take a Joyride!

Austin MetroRail has been opened since March of 2010. It has about nine stations in total and a route that start roughly around 4^th street and takes a northern route through downtown Austin until it arrives at Howard Station, and then veers away to Leander. That’s a long way but not long enough. Compared to the Metro Buses this is a huge update. Not only is the speed better because there is no dealing with traffic, but the accommodations that come with it are excellent. I mean, comfortable seats, cool and clean air conditioning, and free WiFi…who doesn’t want a ride like that? This transportation is used a lot in the downtown areas of Austin, but not enough in the urban areas. This is only logical. When you get off the MetroRail train in a downtown station everything is within walking distance, but if you get off in its outer stations then everything is a mile away. For example, the Howard Station is deserted there are no stores close by, not a lot of offices, not a lot of restaurants, and most important no people. The nearest places are a McDonald’s, a Subway, and a couple of gas stations. Let me point out that these places are on the opposite side of the MetroRail station, meaning you have to cross under MoPac to get to them. This could become a problem for people who have no car and no other type of transportation from there on.

This is a reason why the Austin MetroRail route should be expanded. It should expand toward our other neighboring cities like Manor, Elgin, Kyle, Taylor, Round Rock, Georgetown etc. Especially since Austin is growing, the population is as well. According to the 2010 Census, Austin’s population has increase by nearly half a million. No wonder there is more traffic! Austin needs to expand its transportation system because with this type of growth and with new developments for new schools and new residency buildings there is going to be more demand. We need modern transportation to help people get to their jobs, schools, pick up their kids from daycare, even make a run to the grocery store. Not only will it be convenient for people not having to use their cars (Let’s face it Gas isn’t cheap) and to have easy access to public transportation, but it will also get more car traffic out of the streets, and we will decrease pollution in the air.

The City of Austin has shown new maps that demonstrate the addition of 10 miles to the route in place. According to the Austin American Statesman the “newest map shows rail lines reaching Southpark Meadows shopping center in far south Austin, MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) near West Fifth Street and at West 35th Street, the Triangle on Guadalupe Street and MetroRail's Crestview Station on North Lamar Boulevard.” It is a start in the right direction. Some people are opposed to this because they feel that if an Austin MetroRail station is too close to their neighborhood it is not going to look right. I do not think that should be a problem, it is not as if the station is going to be right outside of people’s homes. I am in total agreement with the expansion of the MetroRail, and if there was a MetroRail station near my house I would take the joyride every day.

Authorized Murder

I Shot a Man in Houston Just to Watch Him Die is an editorial from the blog InThe Pink Texas. The author of this editorial and blog, Eileen Smith, addressed the problems of the rise of homicides because of the “Castle Doctrine” here in Texas. The “Castle Doctrine” was adopted in Texas in 2007; other states might know it as the ‘Stand Your Ground’. Serious homicides have been justified in Texas because of this doctrine.

Smith argues what the definition of justifiable is. Invading private property or stealing is already a bad enough crime, but killing a person because of that is no justification. Ever since expansion of this doctrine the number of homicides has increased. The author explains that before the “Castle Doctrine” Texas already allowed for deadly force against intruders, thieves but instead of requiring a person to retreat from the danger when possible they no longer have to. In this editorial the author gives us an example of what would be considered  justifiable killing with a story from the Houston Chronicle about a 24 year-old getting killed by the owner of a taco truck after stealing the tip jar that contained $20. Kind of harsh, don’t you think? The author also argues at the ending of her post that police are not even allowed to use deadly force then why should average citizens. Smith’s arguments are logical. If you think about it, if you see children playing on your yard you don’t shoot them for invading private property. Some people (like the taco truck owner) take it too far. Yeah, it may be stealing or seeing a man trespass your property but I’d rather let the police deal with those type of criminals instead of becoming a criminal myself.

Critical Thinking is Being Banned

TheDaily Texan posted an article called Re-thinking the GOP platform. This editorial is about the 2012 Texas Republican Party platform and the arguments students at The University of Texas at Austin are making against it. The Republican Platform states that they “oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking (HOT), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.” I can see why The Daily Texan Editorial Board is against this platform, after all the people behind The Daily Texan are students themselves from The University of Texas at Austin.

According to this editorial the drafters of the Republicans’ platform devoted two and a half pages to positions under the heading “Educating Our Children”. Also this party is planning to stop multicultural education, and revoke the top 10% rule so more Texans can attend the Universities of Texas and leave out, out-of-state students and foreigners.

It makes sense that students at the University of Texas at Austin (the staff of The Daily Texan) are opposed to this platform and giving it the stink eye. The Universities of Texas are not just made up of Texan culture, but many different ones. There is a lot of diversity and THAT is what makes the Universities whole. It is logical that The Daily Texas is critiquing this platform. The Republicans are against everything these U.T. students are for. Apparently, Republicans are against critical thinking and the teaching of new ideas that do not promote what your parents taught you. Um, isn’t that called growing up?

I do not understand this Republican philosophy, educated our children but do not educated them fully? I agree with this article and think programs like HOT benefit us. We, as students, are going to school to get educated and grow as a person with the new knowledge we obtain. How can we come up with new ideas? We need new ideas from different people we cannot just stay inside the same bubble. How are the future leaders of this country going to manage this country with this type of mentally? It would be like building a castle in a pile of mud.  Diversity in our people is what makes, not only this state function, but the country that we are today.

Healthcare for Texas? Perry Says No.

Perry Rejects Health Care for Texas...? Big Shocker! It seems that the approval by the U.S. Supreme Court of the Obama Healthcare plan scared the wit out of Texas governor, Rick Perry. Even after having been declared constitutional by the Supreme Court, Perry is not enforcing the law here in Texas. Why you may ask? In a letter to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Human Services Perry stated, "I will not be party to socializing healthcare and bankrupting my state in direct contradiction to our Constitution and our founding principles of limited government." The Texas Democratic Party disagrees with Perrys decision, obviously. TDP spokeswoman  Rebecca Acuña said, "Rick Perry’s Texas solution is to let Texans stay ill and uninsured." According to a study done by the U.S. Department of Human Services, Texas has the worst healthcare of any state. Is Perry doing us, his constituents, wrong? Or is he really looking after our great state of Texas? These are just some of the questions I was left with after reading this article in the Austin Chronicle.