Joe White: I'm not asking, I'm driving.

Sorta.  Finally got around to migrating from the old host.  Will try to not be a stranger.

In the meantime, be excellent to one another.

I will be participating in the MS150 bike ride from Houston to Austin this weekend to help raise money for research into multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Every hour, someone is newly diagnosed with MS.

I registered for the BP MS 150 because I want to do something about MS now. I’m asking you to support my efforts with a tax-deductible donation.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to creating a world free of MS and they need our help. It’s faster and easier than ever to help: Simply click the link at the bottom of this message or, if you prefer, send your check payable to the National MS Society – P.O. Box 4125 – Houston, TX  77210-4125.  Be sure to write my name and “BP MS 150” in the memo section of your check.

Your contribution funds crucial MS research and helps families with MS lead powerful lives. I appreciate your support and promise to update you.

For more information about the National MS Society, how proceeds help and other ways you can do something about MS now, visit www.BPMS150.net

My ride page: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=6417735&pg=personal&fr_id=25298

Paula Myrick Short, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, University of Houston
pmshort@uh.edu
713-743-9830

Dear Vice President Short,

The actions of Lisa Shumate yesterday are causing a backlash against Houston Public Media, as you are no doubt aware. I and untold numbers of others have cancelled our memberships due to the unceremonious dismissals of people that just made extraordinary efforts in the fundraising campaign. Promises of continued, improved multi-modal support for the Houston arts community ring hollow on the back of canceling The Front Row and instead relaying music programmed elsewhere.

Classical music fans are extremely spoiled today: three dedicated satellite radio channels; almost limitless options online via internet radio stations and services like Spotify and Pandora; cars that can play anything from an iPod…virtually the entire classical catalog is available instantly. To differentiate itself in this consumer paradise, KUHA has a golden opportunity: offering 24/7 access to the Houston arts scene. Live and recorded music from the Moores School alone could fill several hours each day without repeating. Add in The Front Row and programming the Shepherd School, HGO, HSO, and the many professional ensembles and choral groups that call Houston home, and you have a complete schedule that will never run dry.

Houston Public Media, as demonstrated by Lisa Shumate yesterday, is neither Houston nor Public. I urge you to replace her with someone that understands the true potential of 91.7, and to restore the employees she has let go.

Sincerely yours,

Joe Carl White
former KUHA member and listener

For all those who wish to give more power to the state.

From Ken White at Popehat:

Armando Saldate, Jr. had been adjudged to be a liar on four occasions and a lawbreaker on five others.

No rational person would accept his word as an adequate basis to do anything of importance — let alone as a basis to take a life.

But we do not speak of rational people today. We speak of the criminal justice system. And the criminal justice system is choked with people it has thoroughly captured — people irrationally convinced of, or indifferent to, the credibility of people like Armando Saldate, Jr.

That’s because Armando Saldate, Jr. was a police officer.

The State of Arizona, based on almost nothing but Saldate’s word, has been trying to kill Debra Jean Milke for nearly a quarter-century. Today the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said they can’t.

[From The Presumption of Truth]

Please, read the whole thing.

In recent weeks I (and my family and clients) have been exposed to a number of scams. I thought I should highlight them to help others avoid falling for them.

• Both sets of my in-laws received a call from (302) 464-5393. The caller, a male who spoke with a heavy Indian accent, claimed to be from Microsoft and stated that their machine had been hacked, but that they could repair it remotely. You can see reports of similar scam calls from this number at 800notes.com, callercenter.com, & whocallsme.com.
• A client was having issues with their ATT/Yahoo! email, and was trying to find a number for customer support. The number that they found, 888-307-9126, is for a company that is not related to AT&T or Yahoo, and may or may not be legitimate. The correct number for AT&T support is 877-722-3755 (or 800-288-2020 for U-verse).
• There was a young woman trolling our neighborhood stating her name as Angel Germain, claiming to be a neighbor and that she’s a mechanical engineering major at UT working on restoring a P51 Mustang. She said that her dad is making her get off her duff and raise funds so that she can go work with Boeing on the restoration. But “do to laws” she couldn’t fundraise directly, so was selling books that would be donated to Texas Children’s Hospital, and a portion of the proceeds would help her group (she then shows me the her laminated certificate with Angelica Germain on it…ooh, official!). When I told her we had a household policy of not donating at the door but asked her for a website for the group working on project, she stormed off in a huff, saying if I couldn’t help her the way she asked, then not to bother.

  Glad I had finished my remote clients early in order to play detective: https://local.nixle.com/alert/4868486/
  http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/angel-germain.aspxI then drove around and found her at a neighbor’s house…too late to save them from giving her a couple of bucks, but while she was still at the door I asked the homeowner what name she had given…this time, it was Zimmerman. As she started to leave, I asked her for her actual address. “2005 Addison.” Doesn’t exist. She then started leaving in a hurry, saying I was harassing her. “On the contrary, you’re scamming my neighbors.” She was last seen walking west down Holcombe (to which I also advised the local constabulary). White female, ~5’5″, early-mid 20’s, skinny, glasses, two long braids in fabric wrappers.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there…keep your wits about you.