I just got a promotional email from the Houston Chronicle, urging me to read and subscribe to Houston’s Leading Information Source.

Here’s the subject line of the email:

Who buys the most lottery scratch-off tickets? Find out in Sunday’s Chronicle!

As tempting as that is, I’ll pass.

With that kind of hard-hitting news coverage, I can’t imagine why readers are leaving in droves…

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Now, I’ll admit to being somewhat shortsighted at times when spending taxpayer dollars. but this story about giving money away to Hollywood seems to me to be a prime example of what not to do.

Texas, a rejected suitor that has watched 32 film projects consider the state’s charms only to waltz away, taking big economic benefits with them, is putting millions into a film incentive program meant to lure the next blockbuster … and the one after that, and the one after that.

Perry signed the $22 million bill into law Thursday with fanfare, joined by the rakish Dennis Quaid, a Houston native who is moving to Texas in a couple of years and wants it to become “the new Hollywood.”

That’s right, during the last legislative session, our statesmen voted to give away millions of our dollars to private business, hoping to lure them into spending money in our great state. And what kind of thanks do we get? A great big ‘ol lawsuit threat, that’s what.

The Motion Picture Association of America, a leading organization in the very business that Gov. Rick Perry is courting, last week urged him to veto the bill, saying the state was leaving itself open to a lawsuit.

Why the heck would they want to sue us?

A letter from Stevenson said the provision would permit state government to review and approve motion picture scripts to be eligible for a production incentive, which it said “contravenes the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which guarantees freedom of expression, and it will discourage filmmakers from coming to Texas.”

That’s a backhoe full of bovine excrement, to borrow a phrase. Exactly why we shouldn’t be giving money to private business, be it the arts or professional sports teams. $22 million would repair an awful lot of potholes.

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This picture is apropos of nothing, but it was sent by aptly named LST reader “Recon,” and it’s funny.

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Well, well. Who’d a thunk it? Republicans siding with Teddy are damaged in the polls.

An immigration alliance with Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts is damaging Arizona Sen. John McCain and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham among conservative Republicans.

What a shocker that is. As Mike Huckabee said, “What part of Kennedy do you not understand?”.

“I’m very wary of a Republican who is talking to Ted Kennedy,” Rick Beltram, Republican Party chairman for Spartanburg County, S.C., told The Washington Times yesterday, after it was reported that Mr. Graham and Mr. McCain had first checked with Mr. Kennedy before deciding to vote with the Massachusetts Democrat on an amendment to the Senate bill.

You and me both, Mr. Beltram. One of McCain’s county chairmen in South Carolina resigned from his campaign because of his support of Teddy’s amnesty bill.

A South Carolina Republican who resigned Wednesday from the McCain campaign said he had reached a “parting of ways with McCain and Lindsey Graham” over the immigration issue.

“I hear from a lot of people, and I have yet to get one positive opinion on this immigration bill,” David Nix, who served as chairman for Mr. McCain’s campaign in Aiken County, S.C., told The Times yesterday.

“I feel McCain and Graham are out of touch with the people of South Carolina,” Mr. Nix said. “They are listening to the illegal aliens and not the citizens. We have lot of illegal aliens in this state.”

Not everything is peachy though. At this point, it looks like no one is willing to challenge Teddy’s buddy Lindsay Graham in the primary next year.

In South Carolina, Mr. Graham faces re-election next year, but Republican officials there said he is unlikely to face a primary challenger.

That is very disappointing. This is the exact time that conservative should be able to make an impact in the primaries. Here’s to hoping that someone will step up to the plate and challenge Sen. Graham.

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Readers comments that caught my eye this past Friday - Thursday. There were some excellent back and forth discussions, in-depth policy explanations, historical background and even, surprise, a few verbal slapdowns of the bigjolly.

In the category of “Defense of Traditional Marriage” goes:

texpat Says:
June 7th, 2007 at 9:02 pm e

I would have said this: This is the United States of America and we are governed by a constitution which applies equally to all law-abiding citizens regardless of how they choose to live their intimate lives .

Your liberty and access to our judicial system are in no way infringed by the institution of heterosexual marriage. The marital union of a man and a woman has always been the cornerstone of our culture for many reasons, religious, historical and cultural.

The question should be: Why should the vast majority of our civilization surrender the sanctity of that institution when it has gone virtually unchallenged since the days of Moses ?

While you do enjoy all the wonderful rights and privileges of an American citizen, it is not incumbent on the American people to officially condone all lifestyle choices. They ARE compelled to protect that most precious of your rights: the right to be left alone.

Thank you for question and God bless you and your children.

In the category of “Thank you, I needed that reminder” goes:

sunny Says:
June 1st, 2007 at 10:17 am e

Do we ever stop and take the time to realise just how great we do have it…or how great we..the individual or individuals is or are?

Pause…take a breath…look around and understand life is good. That all the b/s is just that…b/s..

Life is good…and far too short.

“Man” is capable of wondrous things…why doesn’t “he” let those capabilities come to the forefront?

Instead, “man” loves to wallow in the mud. It’s much nice and much more fruitful on solid ground.

We allow ourselves to be hoodwinked and clouded by the leeches on society. Those leeches suck our blood…and I don’t have any spare to give…and if I did, I refuse to give it to the leeches!

In the category of “Wishing I Were You” goes:

Dave D Says:
June 4th, 2007 at 10:11 pm e

Dateline; Panama City Beach Florida, this is your roving reporter coming to you live from PC Beach. I had real rough day today,…spent most of it sitting on the beach, under the umbrella in my folding chair, drinking beer, reading my book, and watching the young lovely’s strolling by and seeing the guys suck it up when they came by. Made me think that the mating game hasn’t changed much since man first started coming to this beach, maybe 10,000 years ago.

My Baby Girl and her Boyfriend Jeff showed up Sunday night and we grilled steaks tonight. DAMN, T-Bones are outta this world! My Bride is coming tomorrow and my Lil’ Sister is coming on Wednesday and bringing her Grandkids. We’re grilling burgers when they get here. Life is good!

Speaking of which, we have wireless at the Resort now! Jeff brought his computer and I’ve already bought/sold, stocks today,…is this a good or bad thing, I’m not sure.
BTW: It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it! ;=)

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The wicked witch, that once was “Immigration Reform”, is dead. Or at least we think it is; we are being led to think it is.

One problem with legislation has always been that we can’t “see” it, so we can’t dispatch Squawk to go poke it with a stick and see if it actually moves around or not…

That being said, we ducked that bullet. But unfortunately, many bullets remain in the air.

We are now back to square one, business as usual.

Illegal immigrants still flood over our borders every night… We still allow illegal immigrants a “free pass” around, so they don’t get busted and deported or arrested and sent to jail for a very long time for 3 DUIs or being a violent gang member…

All of these things are “moral” failures of our government and are wrong.

We also face a real danger of a Democratic Congress and President in the future that could pass “reform” that would make this bill look a cold ice cream treat on a hot day.

In other words, we have a lot of work left ahead of us.

When Primary Season starts and all of these candidates come forward for Local, State and National office, trying to “tickle” our ears by saying what we want to hear, listen carefully.

When you complain about politicians spending like drunk sailors (no offense to drunk sailors of course) and you want to throw the bum out, you need to think about it first.

Because the question to them should be: “What are your votes concerning illegal immigration” and “What are you going to do about it”.  If the answer doesn’t start with, “First I will close the border…” your response should be “Next Candidate!”

Personally, I don’t care if a Candidate is perfect in all other ways: they are fiscal conservatives, want prayer in the schools, believe in executing the war on terror, etc., if they don’t want to “First close the border”, they are dead to me.

Frankly, I don’t care if they spend our country into bankruptcy as long as they build a fence and put adequate, if not overwhelming, border police presence on our borders.

I don’t care if a Candidate is so conservative, it makes Ronald Reagan blush with pride, but if that candidate does not believe in border control, I will not vote for them.

As far as I am concerned, all Candidates must meet this criteria for my vote:

1. Close the border and enforce present day illegal immigration laws;
2. Execute or support the War on Terror or Islamafacist.

Everything else is debatable…

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It is an enormous privilege to be able to post on LST. The “LST Family” has been very good to me in ways I can’t even describe! You came through when I needed it most! I can’t even begin to tell you how important that is to me and to my husband and children!! 

Please consider giving to LST so that we can continue to post here. HAL needs to be fed and he is quite the hungry one these days! 

Have a great weekend and don’t let these ferrets (a/k/a politicians) get you down!

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A quick word on two topics as LST’s Spring 2007 Begathon enters it’s final day.

First, I must repeat in the strongest terms possible that I am NOT encouraging you to make a donation in the hopes of being selected as the one lucky winner of a succulent (and free!) lunch for yourself and a companion of your choosing with myself and Edd Hendee at the Taste of Texas.

That would have been a great idea, but holding a non-governmentally authorized raffle is illegal, and LoneStarTimes.com stands for nothing if not blind obedience to government authorities that want to meddle in the voluntary affairs of consenting adults.

It would have been quite a deal for all of you too, since so far we’ve had 50 online donors; assuming we get a few more and a few folks send in checks, we might hit 100 donors overall.

A 1 in 100 chance of winning–them ain’t bad odds!

But like I said, the entire point is moot, because I am not conducting an illegal raffle, I’m not hinting that I’m conducting an illegal raffle, and I’m not going to change my mind about all this as soon as the Begathon is over.

That said, your donations would still be welcome and are much appreciated.

Secondly, one final plea–no donation is too small! While we are extremely grateful for those of you who have given as if LST is a print publication that you subscribe to, the simple fact is that 98% of the folks who regularly visit LST on a daily basis haven’t made a financial contribution.

That’s OK–we appreciate your readership and you are welcome to enjoy the site for free.

On the other hand, if every regular reader were to just chip in two bucks once or twice a year, we’d be golden.

So that is my request–if you haven’t donated yet, please consider throwing at least two dollars in the tip jar. We’ll take more, of course, but I’m asking for two dollars.

Besides, if I do change my mind about the Hendee/Benzion steak lunch thing, it’ll be the best $2 dollars you ever spent.

Not that I am going to change my mind about that.

I’m not.

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Contributions can be made via credit card or PayPal by clicking the LST badge below, or sending a check or money order via postal mail to:

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5315 B, FM 1960 W #169
Houston, TX 77069

After serving three days of hard time, Paris Hilton is free of the LA County Jail.

According to TMZ Paris Hilton went without makeup and she even took her contact lenses out and her eyes went from blue to brown. She took one shower, privately. She did a little reading and then she checked out and went home and now Al Sharpton is not happy

C’mon Al! She went without makeup for crying out loud. How would you feel if they wouldn’t let you grease your hair?

“I have served several sentences for civil rights and civil disobedience actions and I even fasted which caused health concerns to prison authorities who paid for a doctor to come see me daily rather than release me. This act smacks of the double standards that many of us raise.”

Oh, so mostly you’re just jealous that you didn’t think of the stress attack line. Fasting is sooo old school. LA Times writer Steve Lopez isn’t happy either.

I attended a parole hearing just last week for an L.A. County Jail inmate who served eight months for stealing a lightbulb despite having cancer, AIDS and dementia.

TMZ.com said the sheriff released Hilton because she “was in peril of having a nervous breakdown.”

This was after discovering they didn’t have any toenail polish.

Ouch. But again, she isn’t being set free, she has to wear an ankle bracelet and stay at her house.

No confirmation on whether the ankle bracelet will fit over her boots.

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… to the following contributors to LST’s Spring 2007 Begathon:

DAY FOUR
Matthew A.
David H.
Jim H.
Tobin E.
Kathrine B.
Michael M.
David R.

DAY THREE
Charles C., Sam J., Robert L., John V., Jacqueline K., David S., Steven M., Jefferey B., Lance J.

DAY TWO
Robert S., Joseph B., John F., David M., Edd Hendee, Noe S., Randall N., Peter B., Steve D., Scott C., Jim L., Angela P., Doris T., David D., Leslie F., Mike K., Jeffrey C., Sam O., Drew W., Kimmon J., Fred R., Clifton A., Kerri C., Gerald H., Charles G.

DAY ONE
David (not Benzion) B., Eric P. Johnson, Robert L., Ken R., Todd W.,
Randy B., David R., Matt L., and Steve W.

We are grateful for your readership and appreciate your support!

Click here for highlights of LST’s coverage
over the past six months alone!

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Quite a legacy we are building…

I’m going to have to live with what happens here for the rest of my life; please help ease the sting by making a quick donation right now!

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Job Wanted–Prepress production operator seeking day shift position with opportunity to eventually advance into supervisory role. Candidate has over seventeen years experience in the printing industry working in diverse fields from newspaper to high-end clients including Pepsi, Mary Kay Cosmetics, R. J. Reynolds, Donruss Sports Trading Cards, etc.

Applicant has a B.A. in Communication Arts and has a wide range of experiences from graphic design and ad building to preflight and prepress service. Project experience is also widely diverse including packaging, multi-page layout and trading cards.

Interested parties should contact candidate with resume request via email at “cchd AT houston DOT rr DOT com”.

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