Amazon.com: 1776 (DIRECTOR’S CUT) (DVD MOVIE):

Once you get over the fact that John Adams is the voice of Kit from Knight Rider it is always a fun little show.

Fireworks are banned in Bexar County so there is always the chance this will be my first 4th of July since living here not chained to my inhaler because of my allergy to sulphur. I am betting that no one cared and there will still be quite the fireworks display outside my house since they were banned on New Years Eve and a field not far from my house burned through the next day after a night of almost nonstop fireworks.

Happy 4th of July everyone. I will leave you with this because it is never a bad idea remember how we started.

Six hospital employees disciplined in ER death - CNN.com

In addition, the organization said, hospital staff falsified Green’s records to cover up the time she had lain there without assistance.

“Contrary to what was recorded from four different angles by the hospital’s video cameras, the patient’s medical records say that at 6 a.m., she got up and went to the bathroom, and at 6:20 a.m. she was ’sitting quietly in waiting room’ — more than 10 minutes since she last moved and 48 minutes after she fell to the floor.”

So the hospital employees went back and lied on the medical records. I am not sure that anyone should really be surprised. You would think they realized there was video but I know the attitude, she’s just another patient with no insurance so who will bother to watch the video. Don’t think this can’t happen anywhere else. University ER has outrageous wait times and they aren’t checking on the people in the waiting room. I would hope that if a patient hit the floor at University Hospital someone would raise an alarm and something would be done but don’t be too sure. Being uninsured definitely relegates you to second class citizen in the eyes of the medical community and when the choice is food or insurance who chooses insurance.

Technorati Tags: weird news

AT&T, the nation’s largest telecommunications company, said Friday it is moving its corporate headquarters to Dallas from San Antonio for easier access to customers and operations around the world.

Does anyone else find it ironic that a communication company that is in the business of bringing people closer together electronically is moving because of physical access to certain places? So teleconferencing is okay for the masses but not the 700 or so executives?

I think the move shows two things. First, it’s important for executives to shmooze personally with Congressmen in Washington, one of the cities that they wanted more direct flights for. Hey, amnesty for illegal spying takes some serious face to face time.

Second, I suspect San Antonio could have dozens of daily non-stops to Washington DC and it wouldn’t have mattered (don’t they have a corporate jet or something?) I imagine the 700 executives don’t find the quality of life amenities competitive with those of Dallas. I’m not just talking about pro sports, schools, and symphonies. Have you ever been to Plano’s public recreation center? After all, AT&T may have it’s building in downtown Dallas but I’m pretty sure it’s executives will be making the commute from Plano, Frisco, The Colony, and Carrollton.

Maybe this is a good thing. After all, we’re more interested in taxing outsiders than ourselves to pay for development. But can you really create a city where AT&T executives would want to live in just by taxing them when they come down for Fiesta? Technorati Tags: AT&T, economic development, San Antonio

AT&T Inc., the world’s largest telecom company, is moving its corporate headquarters from San Antonio to Dallas.

In a statement released this afternoon, AT&T says the move is meant to help it gain better access to its customers and operations throughout the world, and to the key technology partners, suppliers, innovation and human resources needed as it continues to grow, domestically and internationally.

I remember what a big deal AT&T putting their headquarters in San Antonio was and that the city bent over backwards for them. Now, if memory serves they were given tax breaks beyond belief that all had a shelf life. Aren’t those tax breaks about to expire? I remember the thinking was that it would be great for the city because they would stay beyond those deadlines and the city would rake in the taxes after that. Hmmmm, being close to two airports really does sound like an enormous bit of garbage doesn’t it? Mr. Dig was quick to ask after the news reported AT&T needed to be in Dallas to have better access to their global customers, “Haven’t they heard of the telephone?”

Technorati Tags: AT&T, San Antonio, Dallas

In the comments to be aired Tuesday, Dobson said Obama should not be referencing antiquated dietary codes and passages from the Old Testament that are no longer relevant to the teachings of the New Testament.

So does the New Testament explicitly state “ignore the abomination thing about shellfish?

The Zen Center will hold a grand opening celebration at 3 p.m. today at 1442 W. Woodlawn Ave., and teachers from the Austin and Houston Zen Centers will be present to dedicate the new site.

For more information and schedule visit San Antonio Zen Center.

Final Vote Results for Roll Call 437

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 437

For some reason, I expected more from a Representative that voted against the Iraq war.

For those of you who have never called a congressman - it’s not hard to do. I was very nervous the first time and I still get butterflies in my stomach. And I don’t know why. An intern or an aide answers the phone. You let them know why you called. You give any reasons. They ask for your zip code. And you’re finished. About a two minute phone call, at the most. Unless you have lots of reasons!

Please take the time to do this small thing - it may have big results.

Don’t get me wrong… I’ll eat locally grown produce that isn’t organically grown.  I don’t expect all farmers to become organically certified.  For many, it would be a waste of time and money. However, I think many people who buy from local farmers expect a “naturally” grown product. I wish that farmers would list the pesticides used and how many times each had been applied. Like it was something to be proud of. And when a customer asked questions, I wished the answers wouldn’t be, “I’ve eaten tomatoes that I haven’t washed, and I’m okay.” As if cancer blooms overnight from a single does of chemical.

I asked this polite young man if the farm had considered going organic.  The answers from local farmers are always the same, it’s too expensive.  But farmer’s don’t seem to understand that organic isn’t only a label from the USDA - it’s a way of farming.  If you know a farmer who’s interested in switching, have them contact the Texas Organic Farmers and Growers Association.

And for those who believe that Miracle Grow is organic - it’s not. It’s derived from petrochemicals, so expect the prices to rise. Reasonably priced organic substitutes are Terracyle, which is made from worm castings, and Alaska Fish Emulsion, made from real fish.

For more information about tomatoes, including heirlooms, and what kind of pesticides are being used on those tomato crops, check out Biodiversity 303 from Earlham College in Indiana.