I like to read the Bulletin because it is informative and always up-to-date, and also as I was scrolling down the website of Schlitterbahn I came aross the chance to win some tickets.

Zulema Kurth
Laredo, TX

Ban the Circus 

With all the proof of the torturing of wild animals we've seen on TV and read about in newspapers and magazines, I think Conroe should become one of the countries growing numbers of cities that ban circuses that use animals. There are 19 cities in 10 states that have banned them. Let's let Conroe be the first in Texas to ban circuses that use animals, and instead be a host to circuses that have human performing acts only. Please visit www.circuses.com to view a list of 25 animal-free circuses that could come right here to Conroe. 

A. Fontenot 
Conroe, Texas

In defense

The closing of the mobile clinics in Montgomery County was very distressing to say the least. The healthcare in the community has taken a giant step backwards due to this action. Four members of the Montgomery County Hospital District board arbitrarily decided to close the mobile clinic the very next morning after the last meeting. Nothing on the agenda would have indicated to the people that the board was considering closing down the clinics. It's amazing to me that Mr. Witt thinks the East County Clinic will take care of all the patients the mobile medical clinic serves. What about the people in Magnolia, Montgomery, South County, Willis and what about the women and children from the Women's Center who depend on this valuable service? The mobile clinic has been a valuable resource to healthcare in our community. In addition to going to the different communities, It is used to provide vaccinations to school children, it was used to provide immunizations to East County during the dreaded meningitis outbreak, and it served as an emergency command post in a major train derailment since the clinics have been put into service.
The Montgomery County Hospital District implemented the mobile clinics because the members of the board conducted town meetings in all of these communities. The citizens were adamant that they needed these services in their community. To save taxpayer's funds, the idea of a mobile clinic was implemented to serve many communities at the least amount of cost. MCHD was listening to the communities and citizens they served. Last night four board members (Bill Leigh, David Witt, Eric Yollick and Francis Bourgeois), turned a deaf ear.

Nicol Huff,
MCHD Board Member
The Woodlands, TX

Borski’s Jams

Im an old has been geetar player who hasnt been out much in the past few years. After getting laid off again i decided to pick up the axe and look around for someplace to make some new friends and blow off some steam. This buddy of mine (John Stewart-fine musician) mentioned this lil place on 45N called Borskis. We went there a few sundays ago and i have to say this is one of the friendliest places ive been to in a long time. 
Barry and Ina and the gang are as nice as good old regular folk and the band with Gary, Ron and Joseph are first rate. Since i started going there on sundays and sitting in with them ive met some real talent that blew me away. One guy who ws there last week named Robert Lighthouse was outstanding. Makes my limp weak minded chops look soooo lame. But after he got down he was as nice to me as everyone else. No competition, no egos, no BS onstage. Just friendly music at all levels. 
Now many moons ago i was a full time musician. But those days are long gone and all i was looking for today was to get back on a stage, make some friends, and make some noise. 
...And get my hands back into playing shape if possible. 
This place is just right for guys like me as well as the pros too. Thanks for mentioning Borski's and the jams. This place is simple, but wonderful to an old stage addict like me. 
Sincerely, 

Rob Sigman 
www.stratkat.com 

ps- know anyone round the woodlands up to huntsville who are hiring computer people? :)

Cuckoo? 

It's not often that a show in which I appear is reviewed. So, when a friend told me of Jacquie Makley's review of "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" at Playhouse 1960 in The Bulletin, I could not wait to read it. With some trepidation I accessed the article. I came away a few minutes later somewhat crushed. Apparently she liked my performance but credited it not only to another actor, but another character as well. 
In the article she credits Trip Milliet with playing Charles Cheswick. Trip did indeed play Cheswick, and rather well I must say. But Cheswick was NOT the character nor was Trip the actor who did "a remarkable transformation". It was Dale Harding played by John Stevens. 
It's hard enough to endure a harsh review, but to receive some praise and have it attributed to another actor, is a bit hard to swallow. I'm not certain whether I should welcome or run from Ms. Makley's next turn in the Playhouse audience. It truly felt like I had "the bullet-in" my gut.

John Stevens 

Poor Service 

When Tortuga first came to the Woodlands, my husband I were frequent visitors to the restaurant. As far as we were concerned, they were the best in this area, including Guadalajara.
Normally we like to go around 4:00 p.m. to avoid the crowds and not be rushed. My favorite has always been the special, which normally consists of fish with the shrimp and crab meat. When my dinner arrived it was sitting in grease. The service was just OK. Because everyone can have a bad day, we went back. Again, the special arrived in heavy grease, my husband had seafood fajitas, his shrimp had not even been properly cleaned (I suppose you know what that means). Was not real appetizing. The waitress must have been in the kitchen most of the time because she was never around when we needed her. The restaurant was not busy, possibly 3 or 4 other tables with customers. Every time someone would come by we had to ask for iced tea, more chips, salsa, we were only approached one time and that was to see if everything was OK. 
I was not going to write at all until we decided to go to Guadalajara this past week and not only experience the food but the outstanding service we received. From what we observed, the employees at Guadalajara are in the kitchen for only a matter of seconds. They stand outside the kitchen watching their section and before you could even look up, they were there with either, beverage, chips or the salsa. There was absolutely no comparison to the service we received in Guadalajara as to the shabby service in Tortuga. 
It is a shame to see such a great restaurant as Tortuga go down hill like it has. In the beginning the employees were energetic, they were always visible and ensure they gave good service, and the food was wonderful. I am sorry to say, I will go where the food is good as well as the service. It just seems they have poor management now and have a long way to go to restore my faith in them again.

Donna England
The Woodlands, Tx 

Soldier in Kuwait 

My name is Marsha and I am E-mailing you from Kuwait.
I am a soldier in the Army stationed on the border of Iraq since Thanksgiving day of 2002.
I had never really cared for Computers and E-mail until I came here and found that without the Internet and the E-mail provided to the soldiers by the Airforce here..our mail would have been delayed up to a month or so at times.
How that applies to this E-mail to you is this...
Being on line I have met a lot of support from people that have taken it upon themselves to correspond with us from across the Sea..via E-mail and Internet sites. Our choices on line are limited, but I met a very nice single Father there in Conroe and that is why I am writing you this letter.
We have visited and formed a friendship on line over a period of time and he has offered to send me care packages and E-mails me words of encouragement all the time. 
Being here has been hard and very stressful, but the communication from the outside world has kept a lot of us focused and I wanted to recognize one of the People that had really encouraged me.
I can not tell you Gary's last name because I didn't ask him permission, but I know he lives there in Conroe and he works at Ball Metal Factory. He is a single father of three girls who he speaks very highly of and he has become a blessing to this Soldier in the Desert.

Marsha J. Boudreau
Operation Enduring Freedom

Bands Needed!!! 

Bands are needed for the Tamina Music Festival Fundraiser. Available dates are: Saturday May 17th, June 28th, July 19th and August 2nd between 12:00pm - 2pm.
Please contact Rita Wiltz at 281-364-0621.

Rita Wiltz

MCHD needs variety on Board

I was pleased to be considered for the vacant MCHD Board position. The interview process helped me better understand how the organization is changing, which leaves me a little concerned. 
The board is becoming overloaded with individuals with backgrounds in business and law; but, the board is missing individuals with direct healthcare experience. Otherwise, they probably would not have closed the mobile clinic without informing the patients scheduled for care.
As a paramedic with 25 years of health care experience, it is hard for me to image agreeing to take care of someone and then not showing up. 
Diversity is a healthy thing and future board members should come from different backgrounds. Hospital boards should include individuals familiar with patient care.  

Jim Becka
Splendora, TX

Suicidal Teen

Hi I just happen to pick up the paper yesterday and didn't open it until today. I saw the information about a suicidal 14 year old. I'm Inviting her to a Church that is in Conroe on Loop 336 East. It's called Living Word. I lost my younger brother in a car wreck and have had some major problems with depression myself. And when I went there...one night changed my life forever. Please e-mail her and tell her that Leslie invites her to see what the Lord can do for her at Living Word Church. I may not be their, but God will be ;) Hey if she wantes to e-mail me just to talk....give her my e-mail too please. Thank you for posting this girls request. Thank you for being a paper who cares. 

Leslie

Why do I read The Bulletin??? 

I read The Bulletin so that I can stay on top of what's going on.

Laura Leissner
Austin, TX

Affirmative Action 


The Affirmative Action problems at Texas' state funded universities are far from over.
This past week, the Supreme Court heard arguments from both sides of the Affirmative Action issue in response to a challenge to the University of Michigan's admissions policies. Although the 1996 Hopwood decision that abolished Affirmative Action in Texas' public Universities and resulted in the 10% Rule has many believing the current hearings have little to do with Texas schools, this is not so. If the Supreme Court's decision, expected in June and hinging on Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's unpredictable swing vote, opts to turn the clock back on Affirmative Action, the outcome could be devastating both to Texas schools, and to their students. This is not merely an issue of race-based admission laws, but a battle to preserve the race-neutral policies that Texas has helped pioneer.
Since former Governor Bush's administration imposed the 10% Rule by which the top graduating high school seniors essentially receive admission to the state university of their choice, the rule has come under much criticism. This criticism stems from statistics showing the number of minority students at Texas universities has dwindled because of the rule. This is true, but it is race-neutrality that we are after, and judging an affirmed race-neutral policy by counting minority heads is contradictory. As long as statistics and diversity are at the core of arguments, unfair, race-driven policies will reign. But Texas current policy is as close to "fair" as possible.
First, it is neutral on its surface, taking only performance into consideration, not race. Second, its application is neutral-blind to one's background-as it promotes only the best students from each high school regardless of ethnicity. Lastly, and most importantly, it utterly disregards its effects on specific populations, and is therefore neutral in intent: if universally accepting the best high schoolers bolsters minority numbers great... if not, so be it.
You don't get any more neutral than this.
So what happens if the Supreme Court rules in support of Affirmative Action? Things fall apart for Texas students.
In the last six years under the 10% Rule, the University of Texas, for example, has seen an increase in ethnic equality. Not in the demographic sense (which we have already proved a contradictory gauging method), but in a cerebral and psychological sense. Countless studies indicate that one of the few indubitable results of Affirmative Action is an overall weakening of its target group's self-esteems. It causes a certain faltering in the belief of those admitted under its auspices that they are "worthy" of their acceptance. These side effects only unsteady equality.
As it is now, Texas' student bodies are representative of many ethnicities. All representatives are confident that they earned their spots-all are subsequently able to engage in that activity that is the crux of higher education: the exchange of ideas. In short, under the 10% rule, those in the ethnic minority are equally free to exchange ideas as those in the majority, and vice versa. If we revert to Affirmative Action, this real parity-not merely found in the comparison of demographic figures, but in socio-scholastic function-is lost, and the students of Texas will suffer.
Equality is not a question of numbers. It exists when all ideas, whether they originate inside the heads of the majority or the minority, are heard and heeded with identical deference. This is what Texas intended. This is what makes Texas a race-neutral policies pioneer. This is what Texas has... and what Texas has to lose. 

W. Duke Greenhill
Fort Worth, TX 

As It Is in Heaven  

Dear Terry, 
I have only just today been made aware of the existence of this review. Thank you! You did such a wonderful job of describing the time in which the play is set. Your very generous comments about our performances were very gratifying. Being a member of this cast was a wonderful experience for me and my fellow "sisters". I am pleased that our hard work to bring these characters to life was so readily apparent. I would do the show again in a heartbeat. I wish that more people would have been able to see it. We had the room. Thank you for coming. 

Pam Lindsay
"crusty" Sister Peggy 

Blues Music 

I noticed someone posting a request for some of the locations to hear live blues music on the Northside which Mark addressed in his article of the same issue. To hear some of the best blues music offered in the area please direct the readers to the 19th Hole every Thursday night. I've been hosting an open mike jam there for the past 6 1/2 years exclusively using Houstons finest blues guitarists/singers as my guest hosts. I rotate the hosts each week so it never becomes mundane. Check us out sometime. I have about 15 of the finest and most well known local players in this rotation. 

Dan Workman

Suicidal Teen 

I am hoping the young lady that wrote you gets help soon. You may suggest the school counselor or the family physician as a starting point...to get help ... they SHOULD be able to refer her to a therapist...and be confidential with her problems.
( currently I am a church secretary...but previously worked at a psychiatric clinic for 7 years)
Sure wish I could be of more help....I am hoping you got some other resources to publish in the paper. 
One Christian Counselor for the Woodlands is John Schoonmaker, 281-364-0155.
The other place I look for resources is 
christiantherapist.com

Leta 

Will Boss Tom Delay's Tainted Tactics Pay Off in Redistricting?

With the filing of a lawsuit against his Texans for a Republican Majority PAC, it's become even more clear that US House Majority Leader Tom Delay played an illegal fundraising shell game in 2002 to gain a Republican majority in the Texas House and now he's back for his pay off: a partisan power grab to redraw the state's congressional districts, said Molly Beth Malcolm, Texas Democratic Party Chairwoman.
"By playing a shell game with illegal corporate contributions, Tom Delay orchestrated a ruthless plan to win the Texas House for the Republicans, and now he's back in Austin demanding Tom Craddick deliver his pay off -- an outrageous redistricting plan that divides Texas communities and diminishes minority voting strength," said Chairwoman Malcolm.
Yesterday, Paul Clayton and Mike Head, two Democrats who ran for the Texas House in 2000, filed suit against Delay's Texans for a Republican Majority for using illegal contributions to fund their opponents' winning campaigns.
Texans for a Republican Majority is already under investigation by the Travis County District Attorney for spending as much as $500,000 in contributions from corporations. Texas law forbids the use of corporate money to benefit candidates.
Now, Delay is pulling the strings of House Speaker Tom Craddick and is trying to force a redistricting plan that needlessly splits communities and weakens minority voting strength to deliver the GOP seven new congressional seats.
"It appears that no law will deter Tom Delay in his lust for power," Malcolm said. "Delay's redistricting tactics have already drawn a complaint to the US Justice Department, and his bizarre partisan map will no doubt face costly court challenges."
"First, the House Republicans rammed through an outrageous state budget that will hurt hundreds of thousands of Texans, and now they are once again ignoring the people of Texas with their equally outrageous power grab," Malcolm said. "Fortunately for Texas, Delay's tactics rub a lot of people in both parties the wrong way, and I am optimistic his redistricting power grab will fail in the end.”

Democrats Torch State Government

Fifty-three Democrat Texas House members are on the run from law enforcement today as they fled Austin -- bringing Texas government to a grinding halt as they failed to show for work Monday morning. The Democrats reportedly left under cover of darkness Sunday night, going to New Mexico and Oklahoma to avoid being located by Texas State Troopers.
“This is worse than fiddling while Rome burns. These Democrats have taken a torch to Texas government,” said State Representative Ruben Hope (R Conroe). “And they did it to advance the narrow, partisan agenda of Nancy Pelosi and her liberal cohorts in Washington, D.C.. I never thought I'd see the day that Texas state government was held hostage by a liberal congresswoman from San Francisco. And now they're on the run from the law. House Republicans believe in the bipartisan legislature that President Bush envisioned for Texas, and we continue to stand for his beliefs today.” he continued.
The move by the fifty-three Democrats puts at risk all programs currently before the Texas House. Funding for education, children's health insurance and homeowner's insurance reform are all endangered by the Democrats' partisan action.
“When I was elected, I took an oath of office and assumed a constitutional duty to take care of the people's business. Now these Democrats are thumbing their nose at the Texas Constitution and the people they are supposed to represent - all to advance a narrow, partisan agenda,” said Hope. “I don't think the voters will take kindly to this at all.”
Earlier Speaker Craddick noted how ironic it is that just South of here, as we speak, there is a film being made about one of the greatest events in Texas History, the fight at the Alamo. Those great Texans stuck together and fought a hard fight, and fought for what was right. When Travis drew a line in the sand and asked for his men's commitment to Texas, only one man left. It is a shame that today when the people of Texas have sent us to Austin to fight a hard fight for our state we have many members fleeing. It takes heart and courage for us to come up here and stand for what our constituents need. The actions by House Democrats are preventing us from representing our constituents, and these actions are cowardly and a disgrace.
The move by the Democrats is unprecedented in the history of the Texas House of Representatives. Despite being the minority party since Reconstruction, Republicans never abandoned the Texas Constitution, choosing instead to stay and do the work they were elected to do.

State Representative Ruben Hope's Office

DPS seeks help from public in locating missing legislators

The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking the public for assistance
in locating 53 Texas legislators who have disappeared. Anyone who has information regarding the current whereabouts of the legislators listed below is asked to call 1-800-525-5555.
Under the Texas Constitution, the majority of members present in session in the House can vote to compel the presence of enough members to make a quorum. Members of the House did so this morning and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House and the DPS to locate the absent members and bring them back to Austin. 

DPS troopers and investigators are searching for the absent legislators. Here are the names of the Texas legislators reported to be absent:
Roberto Alonzo, Dallas
Kevin Bailey, Houston
Lon Burnam, Fort Worth
Gabi Canales, Alice
Jaime Capelo Jr., Corpus Christi
Joaquin Castro, San Antonio
Garnet Coleman, Houston
Robert L. "Robby" Cook III, Eagle Lake
Yvonne Davis, Duncanville
Joseph "Joe" Deshotel, Houston
Dawnna M. Dukes, Austin
Jim Dunnam, Waco
Harold V. Dutton Jr., Houston
Craig Eiland, Galveston
Dan Ellis, Livingston
Juan Escobar, Kingsville
Jessica Farrar, Houston
David Farabee, Wichita Falls
Pete P. Gallego, Alpine
Timoteo "Timo" Garza, Eagle Pass
Ryan A. Guillen, Rio Grande City
Scott Hochberg, Houston
Terri Hodge, Dallas
Mark S. Homer, Paris
Charles L. "Chuck" Hopson, Jacksonville
Jesse W. Jones, Dallas
James E. "Pete" Laney, Hale Center
Ruth Jones McClendon, San Antonio
Jim McReynolds, Lufkin
John Mabry, Waco
Trey Martinez Fischer, San Antonio
Jose Menendez, San Antonio
Joe E. Moreno, Houston
Paul C. Moreno, El Paso
Elliot Naishtat, Austin
Richard J. "Rick" Noriega, Houston
Rene O. Oliveira, Brownsville
Dora F. Olivo, Rosenberg
Aaron Pena, Edinburg
Joseph C. "Joe" Pickett, El Paso
Robert R. Puente, San Antonio
Inocente "Chente" Quintanilla, Tornillo
Richard E. Raymond, Laredo
Allan B. Ritter, Nederland
Eddie Rodriguez, Austin
Patrick M. Rose, Dripping Springs
Jim Solis, Harlingen
Barry B. Telford, Dekalb
Senfronia Thompson, Houston
Carlos I. Uresti, San Antonio
Michael U. "Mike" Villarreal, San Antonio
Miguel D. "Mike" Wise, Weslaco
Steven D. "Steve" Wolens, Dallas

WOW! Now that is DRAMA!!!! 

I want to say that I attended a presentation of THE PRINCESS PLAYS at C.C. Hardy Intermediate School in Willis on Tuesday night. That was absolutely the BEST school play I have ever seen. It was a well chosen piece, well- casted, and WELL PERFORMED!!! These students (and the faculty) are blessed to have Becky Teague as their Drama sponsor. She is extraordinary. As we watched the presentation, we felt as though we were watching something at the Crighton Theater (except of course for our seating). It was very professionally done and everyone put everything that they had into it- especially Mrs. Teague. This play was performed twice at school, at the Arts Festival in Conroe as well as one evening on campus. I will say though that one thing did disappoint me- the lack of faculty support at the evening performance. I hope that next year more of them will show up to show their support to this hard working group of children and their sponsor!!!!! If anyone is looking for great entertainment on movie night, I would try o find someone who taped it- you won't be disappointed!!! WAY TO GO MRS. TEAGUE AND THE CC HARDY DRAMA TEAM!!! 

Traci Hayes 

Current Governance 

Unbalanced. This is the most appropriate word I can use to describe the current administration and its political party as it copes with events and economic issues facing Texans and Americans. With organizations like the American Enterprise Institute exerting influence within the cabinet, party and media conglomerates, the pervasive creed of American big business appears to be the accumulation of wealth; a self-maximizing organization of which Enron was a perfect example of this mindset. 
Behind closed doors, the private multi-national corporation is free to exercise it’s will with little restraint other than the ethics of its presiding officers. The current administration espouses the use of business values as models for government service: I shudder to speculate in whose interests they serve – the majority of the American workforce or their own pals? What’s ‘good for GM’ is not what is necessarily good for the majority of wage-earning Americans. 
With the growth of this party in Southern states has come the pervasive influence of corporate culture in our daily lives. While observing county government at work through economic development committee meetings, immediate self-interest appears to have more priority than long-term sustainability. This is demoralizing to wage-earning voters who are staying away from the ballot box in greater numbers through the cynical perception that government officials are corrupt and their vote won’t change the system.
The state of Texas is facing large deficits because it subscribes to a philosophy that a sales tax is the primary way to finance our state obligations. This mindset sends a tacit message to wage earning adults and to our children that consumption is a positive and natural way to sustain our living standard. No wonder people have high debt and low savings ratios. The consequences are unpredictable and unstable with this ‘boom and bust’ mentality. In addition, county governments give tax abatements to large profitable corporations like Wal-Mart [in which profits are generally spent elsewhere] while our small businesses [where profits are generally spent locally] are burdened with the consequences of this unstable economic growth. No wonder cynicism grows.
The U.S. federal government is facing enormous deficits brought about by the administration’s liberal spending on defense and Homeland security without any scrutiny to the effectiveness of those expenditures. This administration entered into an expensive pre-emptive invasion and occupation of Iraq without knowing the consequences of the costs, other than loss of American lives and the lives of innocent Iraqi men, women and children.
Whatever social philosophy or natural law one examines, a just, peaceful and sustainable society seeks balance between competing interests by interpreting both sides of issues and conflict. Conflict resolution is increasingly being used in all facets of our lives, a positive benefit from business models. This strengthens our democracy, supports and enlightens those seeking justice and keeps the cost of resolving conflict low. 
It is with both sorrow and unease that I find this administration strangely amiss in this important aspect of statesmanship in both domestic and international affairs. A narrow attitude of ‘my way or the highway’, chastisement and economic threats to those that disagree, including bullying tactics from the Tom DeLay ilk, are not the role models I want for my children. 
I don’t want a president and cabinet that works behind closed doors and presents themselves to the public in managed media events. I don’t want a president with a character that has ‘little time for diplomacy’ and ‘plenty of time for war’, death and destruction. I don’t want an administration that works behind closed doors, presents bills on security and environmental issues to congress in short order, demanding its passage while calling those who choose to take time for deliberation ‘unpatriotic’. I don’t want an administration that treats America like a self-serving corporation!! I think most wage-earners in American would agree.

Denise Reilly
The Woodlands, TX

Poor grammar

After reading your Pat Poland article Next to be Banned, I assumed that yours was a student project newsletter. Navigating to the home page I am astonished that yours is a city/county newspaper near Houston. What immediately caught my attention was a subject-verb disagreement in the third graph: "The shirt is black, purple and gold which is the colors of Montgomery High School". Now given that there are three colors (my school had one - brown) and that colors is plural, what in God's name kept the writer from using the verb "are"? 
I was raised on a farm and went to a high school with 36 students (total) in four grades. The school I attended was certainly so provincial in its values and orientation toward propriety as is Montgomery High School. But we lived with a terror of a Teacher of English Language, and the twice-weekly newspaper (in a nearby town) practiced safe grammar. 
Please participate on the side of right and justice. Give these kids a role model. Help them learn to love our language. And it wouldn't hurt to take a stand against a buffoon who is unduly influenced by the two Southern Baptists on the school board. 
Or as a friend of mine used to say "Lets you and him fight". 

Al Weigand

La Casona 

I can't believe the article about La Casino.... 
The place has great food. 
The grammar in the article is from a 6th grader. 
I could say a llot worse about the Girl that wrote the article. 
Learn how to read.... 

Brian Armstrong 

Tortguas

I read an article about bad service & food at Tortguas that I wish to comment on. I have been a customer at this restaurant going on 3 years now and my husband and I enjoy a "date" there weekly. Once I had a problem with the fajitas being greasy as described, but that was the first or second time I ever went. The service has always been more than wonderful. We have eaten there so often, we have now made it a habit to ask for Justin, a young enthusiastic assistant manager who waits on us hand and foot. Sorry for your bad times and I know what it is like to feel that you are paying for bad service/food. I just wanted others to know that not everyone has had the same experience. 

Christy Anderson

Democracy is dependent on Free Press

There is an interesting news story going on in Washington, DC that will affect every one of us. I am referring to an upcoming meeting of the Federal Communications Commission where it will be decided if huge media moguls will be allowed to become even bigger. 
Most of us didn't even realize that a free press is very dependant on autonomy and that a democracy is dependent on a free press. If a large concentration of Newspapers, TV stations, Radio stations and Internet Providers are allowed to be controlled by just a few corporations then all we'll ever hear or see will be based on the dictates of those corporations. What an undesirable circumstance that will be for all of us!
There is a bright spot though, this behind the scenes vote of the FCC over who'll control what America sees and hears won't happen until June 2nd. The FCC is still allowing public input until May 30, 2003 so now is the time to act. Contact the FCC at: http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html on the Internet or call them toll-free at: 1-888-225-5322 (1-888-CALL FCC) for more information or write them at: 
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554 
Make your voice heard today.

Scott Zorc
Buford, Ga

Let Texans Keep Their Money

Growing up in the small, rural town of Glen Rose, Texas, my mom and I used to make deals. If I did my part -- keeping my room clean, helping with the dishes, taking out the trash -- once a week she would load my sisters and me in the car for a trip to Dairy Queen and a dipped cone, fulfilling her end of the deal. It taught me a lot; not the least of which was the importance of striking agreements and sticking to them. 
And no matter how busy she was running a small business and taking care of three small children on her own, she always did as she promised and produced those chocolate dipped ice cream cones.
Too bad our government doesn't always work that way. We all know the stories about our federal taxes: the Spanish-American War ended a century ago, but the tax to fund it survived all the combatants - and many of their descendents.
Texas is now headed in the same direction. The Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund was created in 1995 primarily to hard-wire public schools, universities, libraries, and public hospitals to the Internet. A tax was assessed on telecommunications companies doing business in Texas to fund TIF. Some companies passed the tax directly on to consumers, others absorbed it as a cost of doing business - which of course always ends up being paid by consumers, shareholders or employees anyway. 
The 1995 law required this tax to be levied until the fund received $1.5 billion. Well, the till is almost full, and the terms of the agreement will soon be fulfilled by the telecommunications industry. And so the time has come for the tax to go away. The purpose has been achieved. The need no longer exists. A deal is a deal.
Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature is considering an extension of the tax. And they want to use it for other purposes. 
One can argue about whether state government should have even done such a thing, or if the purpose was noble or problematic. The fact remains it was done. By most accounts, it was also done well. Internet connections are now abundant, and where still lacking the fund has monies to make good on the original intent.
In the real world, the tax would go away. But in the world of politics, it is a truism that taxes never die, government just finds new ways to spend the money.
But this goes beyond extending the reach of a tax; it is a violation of both legislative trust and existing law. A commitment was made, in law, that the tax would be assessed until the certain amount had been collected. The commitment was further made, in law, that funds would be used for a particular purpose. The telecommunications industry agreed to the tax and upheld its end of the bargain.
And it will be paid, in full. The rules of the game were clearly understood. Too bad legislators now want to change those rules. When kids change the rules of their games, we call them poor sports. When businesses change the rules on customers, we call it criminal. Not always so with government. 
Let the TIF tax be seen to its legal conclusion. If legislators want a new source of revenue for a new program or initiative, then let them go back to the drawing board and begin again. However, that may not be done here, probably because it is easier to extend an old tax than to get approval for a new one.
If the TIF tax is extended, the legislature will only prove again that politicians cannot be trusted to keep their word - even when set in law. 
This TIF tax debate should be a reminder to us all: if old Texas taxes won't die, we must be exceedingly careful about implementing them in the first place. Another reminder: unfortunately, when dealing with government, a deal isn't always a deal.

Brooke Leslie Rollins
President, Texas Public Policy Foundation

Immunizations

My beautiful granddaughter is dead.

Serena's death was totally preventable, but someone made a bad decision not to get immunized for whooping cough. 
Her mother, my daughter, went to all her prenatal doctor appointments, watched her diet, took care of herself so she could take care of her baby.
Serena was too young to even begin getting vaccinations, but you can be assured she would have received all her shots on time. All the love and caring our family gave Serena ultimately made no difference because someone else chose not to be immunized.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a totally preventable disease. But only if everyone lives by the Golden Rule and does the right thing. No one has the right to make a decision for himself that can hurt others. And that's what happens when all children are not immunized. Their parents make the wrong decision, and someone else's child gets hurt!
Serena lived 27 days in the loving arms of her family. She died because someone in the community did not get immunized.
You can do something to make sure other families don't suffer the pain we are suffering. You can get immunized. And you can ask your state senator to support two bills pending in the Texas Senate: HB 1920 and HB 1921. One bill calls for the Texas Department of Health to keep a database that doctors can use to see if a child needs to be immunized. The other provides vaccines for children who don't have the insurance coverage to pay for the immunizations.
Please, don't let another Serena die needlessly.


Troy Rickabaugh
Austin, TX

Schlitterbahn

My favorite thing about the bulletin is it's ease of use...and of course, a chance for free schlitterbahn tickets! Thanks!

Eric A. Finch
Richwood, Tx

Buzzfest

Just so ya know...I believe the show was sold out, but ticketmaster started releasing tickets periodically about a week before the show was going to happen, because bands were letting the pavillon know that they werent going to be needing the extra seats...which the pavillon does for most bands...Only a limited number of seats were available also...I did notice some kick ass seats...but all were gone by friday afternoon, and they hadnt been there 2 weeks before that...they were just released as it got closer to the show and bands and other people associated with the bands notified the pavillon and let them know they werent needing the seats...plus not all...but some...of the tickets could have been put back on due to a bad credit card order...I was at buzzfest...and the freakin place was stacked and crowded...there were plenty of people there to honestly see...that it was sold out... 

Bulletin Online Reader

13th Floor Tops 

hey mark, really have enjoyed your articles over the last couple of years. i spent many years around the austin music scene from the 60's on, and have seen first hand how important good coverage like yours in the alt media can be to a healthy and thriving nite life. 
have you guys ever considered publishing on wed or thurs? so often i have been laying around on sat or sun morn reading about an event i would have enjoyed, that allready happened.
mark your recent refrence to zztop being like the 13th floor elavators puzzled me. great bands but aside from texas not simular.

tj stewart
conroe
ps...let heather be heather! 

Who article 

Wow, you sure are knowledgeable about The Who for someone who hates the band with such a passion. I saw them in 2000 in Dallas and they blew every band away, Stones definitely included.
Oh, and Kenney Jones' first name has two e's in it. That's all right; all critics who talk trash about The Who always misspell Jones' name.

Scott Smith

Kudos 

By the way Mark. You're doing an awesome job. Love the reviews. Keep it up. 

Buck Roswell
Conroe

Roy Head article

Mark,
A friend of mine sent me a copy of your recent article about Roy Head. I am a longtime fan, friend, and cohort of Roy; having been a member of the Traits and the co-writer of "Treat Her Right" (never mentioned in your article). There are some other inaccuracies: the Traits did not appear on any of the TV shows mentioned... only Roy. And he was never on the Ed Sullivan Show.
I realize your main purpose was to bring attention to Roy's appearance at Borski's, but I thought I would try to set the record straight. There will soon be an article in Texas Music magazine about the origins of "Treat Her Right' with quotes from Roy and myself. Did you know that song has been covered by Otis Redding , Mae West, Jerry Lee Lewis, Barbara Mandrell, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan (bootleg), George Thorogood, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and used in the movie "The Commitments?”
Details aside, I enjoyed your article. Long live Roy Head... he's one of a kind! 

Gene Kurtz
Austin, TX

Just for laughs 

Just curious if you have room for a short funny story? 
5:30 am: 
A soft repetitive sound edges me from my slumber. Unsure of the source I remain affixed to my pillow. It comes again louder harder banging. Simi awake I stumble out of bed. I maneuver in the dark towards the door missing most obstacles. As I unclick the lock my husband bursts in announcing he forgot his keys. Trying to focus on the task at hand I yawn and reach for my purse. With a groan he begins to scamper around searching. I keep digging and come up empty handed. Frustrated he grabs the diaper bag and wrestles with the zipper. A light comes on in my foggy head and I mumble "check the front pocket". EUREKA! He dashes for the door with a kiss goodbye. 
I crawl back to bed and nestle down into my soft covers. As I begin to drift back into bliss a sudden sharp bark pierces my tranquility. Irritation bubbles up and expels itself as a sigh. I turn over and peek one eye open. I silently pray that God will supernaturally remove our precious doggies bark box. No such grace. They come again and again. Anger takes hold and I fling the covers off. Darting towards the menace I devise an ingenious plan. I will cut through the bathroom and tag him in the kitchen. Perfect except I catch a slick doggie puddle and smack into the wall. Regaining my balance I dart towards the kitchen table and hop a fresh doggie pile I spied just in time. The culprit hearing my madness scurries to safety beneath my three year olds bed. I begin to revise this plan. 
My gaze was reverted to the living room. Casting a eerie gray shadow across the living room floor was demon cat #1. He sat perched in my window atop my recliner seemingly innocent. With renewed strength I sidestep the dinning chair and leap frog over the inn-table. I can imagine the feel of his fur in my hands when he eludes me with lighting quick reflexes. Doing an about face I catch a glimpse of black fur. It's demon cat #2 scurrying under the bench. #1 sits licking his paw calmly under the kitchen table. With a sudden STOMP I fake out #2 and he zips towards the haven of dirty clothes at the back door. Following suit #1 skips playfully towards his buddy in crime. With a sly grin I knew I had outsmarted pure evil. Grabbing a empty clothes basket I block the path to freedom. I snatch a hold of #2 and with a victory laugh reach for #1 who rolled over in easy surrender amongst the kitty litter. With both in one arm I open the back door and fling them out into the early morning sunrise. With a winning slam I close the back door and slump back to bed. Comfortably cocooned in my pillows my mind begins to whirr. With an accepting sigh I sit up realizing I will never be able to sleep till I tell the tale of another morning at the Lowe family farm.

Jewell Lowe
Conroe, TX

Nicol Huff

I find it very troubling when a good friend has problems. It is especially troubling when that friend is my sister-in-law whom I love and who has always supported me in good times and bad. Nicol Huff, I can say without question, is one of the most moral persons I know. She also has a compassion for others and the urge to make wrong things right. Unfortunately, those traits have, in my opinion, caused some to use intimidation tactics to stifle her. I ask myself why she would continue a mostly thankless job full of criticism. I was appalled when I saw the quote from David Witt who said the poor didn't need the mobile health unit. It was equally appalling when he felt those who were poor could just arrange to "make it to the mall or to the emergency room." How out of touch this "little man" must be. Just because he is lucky enough to have a car for transportation, doesn't mean ALL people are so lucky. How proud he must be to have led the charge against the poor and needy as he worked to dispose of the mobile health unit that Nicol fought to help create. It is obvious that Nicol Huff cares for and understands the problems of the poor. Why is she being attacked for working to help the poor and needy? My question is, David, who are you really working for? Whose money are you hiding behind? Nicol Huff has worked to help those in need. I pity those who would seek to intimidate and embarrass such a wonderful person. Those "little people" should be in my prayers nightly. Maybe David and Bill Leigh can plead to a God who shows more compassion and brotherly love than they show for their fellow men. The danger comes when people like Nicol Huff are silenced by those with hidden agendas and the desire to line their own pockets. Who will watch out for the poor? Who will speak for those in need? We should ALL be voicing our outrage at Nicol Huff's treatment. 

Susan Ryan Murry
Texarkana, Tx

Inflated Tax Appraisals

Dear Editor, 
I am the P.O.A. President of a subdivision here in Montgomery County. The notice of appraisal from the county left me speechless. Soon after my shock wore off, I began making calls. What I learned was astonishing. My information was verified from three independent sources. It give us basis to protest our property tax and win. 
Four years ago, Austin conducted a study projecting home equity growth and value projections. (I am not an appraiser so I may have some of the terminology wrong. Please forgive me for that.) Needless to say, things have changes in four years, but the state has not. They began spending money based on these projections. Now, many are unemployed or under employed. Property values have not climbed as projected, yet the bureaucrats have not revised their position on planned spending or tax increases. The county, in our case, has used dissimilar comparisons to justify the increase. They have used inaccurate data, such as inflated construction costs to justify the increase. They have not made accurate comparisons, and I personally find this criminal and in my definition, negligent. 
Our consultant, a veteran in the business with impressive credentials, has shown us documentation. Although construction costs are all most flat and sales for many areas are the lowest they have been in years, the state has not revised their projections to show these changes in the appraisal figures. These figures show no justification for an increase in taxes and the same is probably true for you. Because of this fact, a good tax aid can find the supporting evidence to prove these facts. I know because have seen them. 
According to the figures, I should get a complete roll back in my appraisal to below last years figures. The State Appraisals Office is using an antiquated study to substantiate out dated estimates that are not justified. These facts will cost all of us dearly if we fail to protest our taxes. I encourage all of you to file your protest immediately and seek help in fighting these unreasonable and unjustified tax increases. 
Do not be fooled by the Appraisers justification for these increases, they are not justified in most cases. Unfortunately, you cannot win if you do not protest. Unlike the law, with property tax, you are guilty until proven innocent. Get help and fight. I am glad we did. 

P. O. A. President 
Montgomery County 

Blitz

I think that Blitz is a pink bubble gum chewing Bitch band, and the name that suits them best would have to be.... CHEW.......CHEW....CHEW.....
Sincerely yours,

Tabitha
Bulletin Online Reader

Nursing Home Citizens

Texas is going out of its way to prove that nursing home residents are second-class citizens.
My mother has lived in a nursing home for 10 years. The status of nursing home residents is not news to me.
There was a time when families put a family member who wasn’t thought to be community-worthy in a back room to live out his life. Many of us who took a family member to a nursing home to live, thinking that person whom we love would receive professional care that we could not provide, have discovered that nursing homes are the back rooms of our time.
The Texas Senate passed HB4. Of this bill and HJR 3, Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos said, "This bill should put fear in the hearts of many. When we talk about these bills we're really talking about access to the courts." 
That the senate wishes to deny access to the courts is outrageous. It is also a clever maneuver. Aided and abetted by state legislators, Texas nursing home owners, who avidly support tort reform, are positioning themselves so there will be virtually no legal repercussions when frail and vulnerable old and disabled people who are entrusted to their care are abused, neglected, and far too often killed.
If Governor Perry signs HB4, a legal back room will be created to place nursing home residents, thus assuring that nursing home operators can relax in the parlor knowing that the legal system won’t be looking in the back room to see what kind of care is being provided.
Honor thy political campaign contributors seems to have replaced honor thy father and thy mother in the Texas legislature.

Jane Marshall
Clarksville, TN

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