Have you changed your Asian name yet?

State Rep. Betty Brown, made a bold statement on April 7Th , Tuesday.
“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” Brown said. Really? Did she really just say that??!
“Can’t you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that’s easier for Americans to deal with?” Brown continued.
The Texas Democratic Party soon asked Brown to apologize for her remark, who was brought forth by Ramey Ko, a representative of the Organization of Chinese Americans. During a hearing about voter identification legislation.
Ko explained in the hearing that Asian Americans have issues with their ID cards because of
they may have legal transliterated names as well as common English names on their ID.

To top it off , Brown made a comment yesterday in regards to accusing democrats making the issue all about race. A little per turd are we?
Well, what comes to my mind is does having the issue of transliterated names along with English names on a ID card don't have anything to do with on how well a person or a "American" can pronounce it. It is the defect in a faulty system.
"As I stated in my testimony, Asian Americans often encounter problems voting in states with ID laws because of mismatches between the name on the required ID and the voter rolls." said Ko in his blog Texas Weekly.
It beings a unpleasant feeling that it's simpletons like Brown , who represent Texas. Ugh, god.

Links:

AP: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/04/12/0412asian.html

Think Progrees: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/09/brown-asian-names/

Ramesy Ko: http://texasweekly.com/node/3804

Pacific Citzen: http://www.pacificcitizen.org/site/details/tabid/55/selectmoduleid/373/ArticleID/242/reftab/36/Default.aspx?title=Texas_Rep._Betty_Brown_Apologies_for_Remarks_on_Asian_Names

A Greener , healthier Texas.

A entry made in the blog Tex Report, argued that it's a good idea that lawmakers pass a bill introducing the idea of would ban restaurants from serving foods that have more than 1/2 gram of trans fats per serving.
The writer provided their own personal lifestyle and related facts about the obesity rate and it's ongoing increasing numbers. I think the writer has some really good points, because of my bad diet I figured out why my skin condition flares up. who knew I was lactose intolerant and my skin can't handle highly processed foods and meat. (God..)
Another example is my mom, because of her bad diet she ended up in diabetic coma , not even knowing she contracted type 2 (two) diabetes.
Though, I think the public is going to get a little angry about this bill because the way most people see is it, is that it's their bodies and they can eat whatever and however they wish to.
It's the same state of mind smokers have on smoking ordinances.
But, honestly I think the citizens should get over themselves and I really think about what their saying , are they truly happy with their health and body issues? Well, I know I'm not and for people like me who have to constantly watch what I eat and the time consuming task of figuring out what the hell I'm going to order from this menu. A bill like this would really benefit people with diabetes and other health problems. Some restaurants list their gluten free items for people whom are highly allergic or live a certain lifestyle.
In conclusion, I think at a nation level this country is fat and we have to start somewhere on changing our eating habits even if it starts at the state level.



http://courtstexreport.blogspot.com/

Keller's Poverty Plea

"financially ruinous." sworn by Judge Sharon Keller describing her legal bills to defend against judicial misconduct charges. And it seems as though Keller has also failed to disclose millions of dollars worth of real estate holdings in sworn personal financial disclosure statements. (what is wrong with this lady??!!) Keller's problems seem to just be growing bigger and bigger everyday.

"It leaves one speechless to see so much left out of her personal financial statements on the one hand and then on the other hand to see her making her claims that hiring a private attorney would be financially ruinous."--Andrew Wheat from Texans for Public Justice

As decently written in the democratic blog Grits for breakfast , the writer makes some interesting points such as how the media really doesn't pay any kind of attention to CCA. Along with that the CCA plays along and stays under the radar. The writer describes how the CCA is not use to having others question their actions or check up on what exactly their all up too. (Kind of creeps me out).

I liked this blog entry because not only does it talk about the injustice of Keller's decision but brings forth other important issues, as if Keller's case opened many doors and by doing so bringing the CCA into the spotlight. What other shenanigans has the court been conducting??





Blog:::
http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2009/03/kellers-poverty-pleas-draw-new-scrutiny.html

Killer Keller

Texas judge Keller should stand trial for rejecting an appeal filed after hours
A trial would expose Keller's heartless

missteps to a fascinated world.
Sunday, February 22, 2009

In an editorial , that I found in the Austin American Statesman in which argues that Texas judge Keller should be indicted for rejecting Micheal Richard's case appeal due to unforeseen technical issues that lead to Richard's attorneys being late on filing his petition.
By reading this article editorial I learned some other disturbing details that were not enclosed in other various articles on Keller's case. For example , strike one: how Judge Cheryl Johnson was assigned to the Richard case and was more than ready to receive the appeal, so when the attorneys encountered computer problems and asked the court's general counsel , Edward Marty , if they could file their petition a little late.
Therefore, Marty called Keller while she was at home and asked her if the court clerk's office could remain open after 5pm to receive the petition. (and she still said no? Even though she had nothing to do with the case nor did she have to deal with it. why?)
Strike two: Keller did not even tell the other judges that she refused to accept the appeal.
Strike three: Nor did she refer Richard's plea to Judge Johnson.

I liked this editorial because the writer had substantial evidence and that backed up their argument. Even contained details that I had not yet learned. Basically, the editorial is not only saying Keller should be removed from office but is also in a way bashing the : "The all-Republican Court of Criminal Appeals is this state's court of last resort in criminal cases, and its reputation for rubber-stamping convictions was well-established before Richard's appeal was rejected."
Then, just last week the State Commission on Judicial Conduct charged Keller with five counts of violating her duty and discrediting the court in the Richard case. Keller has until March 5, 2009 to either 1) resign , 2) retire , or 3) to stand trial and to have it displayed on national television for Texas and the world to see.
I think that I and probably a good chunk of other people have had enough of the all-Republican court of criminal appeals shenanigans.

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/02/22/0222keller_edit.html

"neglect of duty"

A Texas lawmaker, Rep. Lon Burnam is pushing to impeach a judge on the state's highest criminal appeals court; Judge Sharon Keller. Burnam filed on Monday seeking to start the process against the Court of Criminal Appeals judge for what he interprets as a "neglect of duty" in a death penalty case.
On Sept. 25, 2007 Keller refused to keep the court offices opened after 5p.m. when attorneys for Michael Richard were having computer problems, conflicting the attempt to file his appeals. Keller went ahead and close d the court office despite his attorneys’ request that the court stay open an extra 20 minutes.
Richard was executed that night by lethal injection for the 1986 rape and murder of a Houston-area nurse.
In a statement, Burnam said: "It’s one thing for a banker to close shop at 5 o’clock sharp. But a public official who stands between a human being and the death chamber must be held to a higher standard.
Keller, who is a Republican, has said she was just following the court's long lasting practice to close on time. (seriously?!)
Burnam's resolution calls to the House to investigate Keller and in doing so, if the house finds a cause for the impeachment, the senate would conduct an impeachment trial.
So, the Texas appeals court now allows emergency e-mail appeals in death penalty cases.
(what great timing!)


Related links:

Statesmen:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/02/17/0217legebriefs.html

Blog about Burnam's Resolution:

http://stopexecutions.blogspot.com/2009/02/impeachment-resolution-filed-against.html

Star-Telegram.com's article:

http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1207336.html

Texas Executions Information Site (more details about Micheal Richard's Case):

http://www.txexecutions.org/reports/405.asp