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More from Gov. McDreamy:

I respond to them two ways, first, that’s there response. Next, I ask my board members to take another look at it and see if there’s any place administratively or in some other way form or fashion that they can make some reductions.
It’s not lost on me that state agencies play the political game too.
‘Oh they want a 10 percent cut? We’ll how do you like this governor?’
Let’s cut the one thing that people are passionate about.
I’ve been doing this for 22 years and didn’t fall off the pumpkin truck last night – at least not on my head anyways.

An email circulating e-mail and the Internet has accused Perry of forcing a reduction in the Teacher’s pension fund.
The letter states that Perry is forcing the reduction to pay for the latest property tax reductions and teacher salary increases.
In reality, Gov. McDreamy has asked all state agencies to examine their budgets and look for a 10 percent reduction by 2008.
The actual budget reductions are up to the individual agencies.
Perry calls the e-mail and statements absolutly false and a political attack, 60 days from the election. I had a sitdown with the governor yesterday afternoon and this is what he said on the issue.

“We asked every agency to come up with ideas (on how to cut their budget). That’s good public policy.
It’s a good process to go through. I hope you do it in your life.
From time to time you go, ‘I’m going to re-evaluate everything I do here. Do I really need NetFlix? Do I really need 186 channels? Do I really need to be driving this car? Do I really need to be making these expenditures in my life?’
You’ve to pay my rent or mortgage or you’ve got to pay the car payment. Some of those are must.
There are things out there whether you’re in the state government or private sector that we’ve got to take a look at — and people do to.
I’m sorry if I’m passionate about this, but it greatly disturbs me that a group who’s supposed to be looking after the best interest of the teachers would blatantly use a political statement 60 days before the election in an absolutely false way.
As a matter of fact I would challenge them to send a letter to all their teachers and show them how I supported the Teacher Retirement System in 1999 and again in 2001 with funding increases – my bet is they probably don’t.”

Look for the full story in the WDL.

The philadelphia inquirer says researchers who claimed they spared embryos after extracting stem cells did not spare them after all.

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Mobile Email from a Cingular Wireless Customer http://www.cingular.com

I just spent 15 minutes or so with David Barton. I enjoyed it. I don’t think the Texas Monthly did him justice or presented him in a fair light.
While he believes the founding fathers were strong supporters of Christianity (which I don’t doubt) I got the impression he doesn’t believe in a creating an American theocracy and I assumed he did from the article.
I played devil’s advocate a bit and he said that the founding fathers believed religion and Christianity were interchangeable and when they spoke of other religions they mentioned them by name. He also said he supported prayer in schools – but student led. I can support that. If a student is Islamic, they should be able to say an Islamic prayer. If they’re Jewish they should be allowed to say a Jewish prayer and if they’re Christian they should be able to say a Christian prayer.
He also said that if you shouldn’t have to change the rules to win – i.e. censorship.
The truth should always win out if we’re doing our job.
“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” – Muhammad (j/k) Jesus
I want to talk with David more and pick his brain some more. He also owns over 70,000 documents from our founding fathers – I’d love to see those as well.
Anyone interested in a freelance article about him?

It’s funny how you can hear something or read something a million times and never comprehend the meaning behind it.
I was listening to a mix Thomas sent me for a show idea for Lighthouse 21. BTW Thomas, love the whole mix.
Anyways, near the end of the show Thomas throws a Moby track into the mix.
I’ve heard the song a million times and never considered the words much, but suddenly it sprang to life this morning and I actually got chills thinking about it.
It’s a simple track with a soulful woman singing in the foreground, “One of these mornings – and it won’t be long – you will look for me and I’ll be gone.”
It just hit me this morning that she’s referring to the great getting up morning when Christ comes back for her bride.

And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.
And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words. – I Thes 4:13-18

Whether Christ comes for me and you individually (death) or as a collective result of the rapture – He’s coming. And one of these mornings you will look for me — and I’ll be gone.
Thanks for the reminder and eye opener Thomas.

From our local chamber of commerce:

Beer Industry Provides 128,614 Jobs in Texas
$3.9 Billion Earned in Wages; $11.8 Billion to Texas’ Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This Labor Day, as you fire up the grill and enjoy a cold beer in the hot summer sun, it’s a good time to remember that the same people who produce, distribute and sell your brew also provide jobs for 128,614 citizens of Texas, directly or indirectly.
According to an economic impact study conducted by John Dunham & Associates and sponsored by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and Beer Institute, the beer industry generates $3,982,817,300 annually in wages and benefits and contributes $11,883,705,266 to the state economy.
“The independent family businesses that distribute beer to retailers large and small are doing their part to keep America’s economy strong. These families have been ingrained in their communities for generations and support the local economy, including creating jobs for their neighbors,” said Craig Purser, president of NBWA. “This is an industry that prides itself on providing good paying jobs and quality benefits for its employees.”
“This study demonstrates that the beer industry is more than just those who make and distribute our products,” said Jeff Becker, president of the Beer Institute. “We are an industry of farmers, can manufacturers, truck drivers, retailers, and many others located in virtually every state and local community across the country. These hard-working men and women place tremendous pride in delivering the quality products and services enjoyed by millions of responsible adults every day.”
In addition to strengthening the Texas economy with job creation, the industry plays a significant role in promoting responsible consumption of its products. The Texas beer industry – which includes brewers, 82 independent 105 beer distributors and 36,495 retailers – has invested in communities across the state to develop and implement numerous programs to promote responsibility and help fight alcohol abuse. These efforts, along with those of parents, law enforcement, educators, and other community groups have led to significant declines in illegal underage drinking and drunk driving for the past two decades.
America’s beer distributors also work within a framework of individual state laws to ensure their products are sold only to licensed retailers who in turn are responsible for selling only to adults of legal drinking age.
The complete Beer Industry Economic Impact study, including a state-by-state and congressional district breakdown of economic contributions, is available at the Beer Serves America Web site, www.beerservesamerica.org.