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About Human Trafficking

Posted by Deanna Peugeot on Sunday, February 25, 2007 12:29:42 PM
I think by now that we all know that slavery still exists - tragedies like Darfur regularly make the news.  Some of us are aware that some human trafficking occurs in America - usually illegal aliens who are forced into prostitution or sweat shops.

But are you aware of what you can do to help prevent these tragedies?  And I'm not talking about the remote stories that occur around the world from us.  I mean right here, in the US.

The Polaris Project is a good place to begin.  The Polaris Project actively rescues people in America who are being used as slaves.  They also provide education for law enforcement and help build grass roots support for ending human trafficking.

All decent people should be repulsed at the concept of slavery.  Now you can do something good - look into the Polaris Project, or other organizations that fight human trafficking.
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Why Don't People Hate Ikea?

Posted by Deanna Peugeot on Sunday, December 10, 2006 12:50:52 PM
I went Christmas shopping yesterday, and after being frustrated at local shops I ended up at Ikea.  And it was wonderful - overwhelmingly big, but I was able to find some gifts for friends and family, as well as a few things I'd been looking for for myself (I'd been wanting new lamps for the bedroom for over a year). 

It was as I was walking to my car that is hit me - The closest english translation of Ikea is....  Wal-Mart.

Think about it - although the two stores don't sell identical merchandise, they overlap about 75% of the time.  And Ikea is a huge "big-box" store.  Larger than Wal-Mart!  And it's cheap - those lamps I bought would have cost more at Wal-Mart!  So why is it that people denigrate Wal-Mart but rejoice when Ikea comes to town?
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What is an Initial Conceptual Design Anyway?

Posted by Deanna Peugeot on Thursday, November 02, 2006 9:05:50 PM
People living in Austin, TX may know that Round Rock ISD is asking for $267,660,000 in school bonds this election year.  This is a lot of money, so I thought I'd check out what they've done with bond monies in the past.  There have been two bonds in the past decade - in 1997 and 2000, so it's been a while since they asked for money.

When looking at the spending details of the 2000 bond, I came across this little gem:
New High School Design - $4,320,000.  Wow!  That $4 million sure is a lot of money for a high school design.  Then I looked at the status which said:
Initial conceptual design work done. Work pending bond election.

Work Pending bond election?  So this was done in the hopes that we'd pass another bond measure?  And if we didn't, what happens to the design?  Isn't this a bit like extorsion - "you want the pretty picture we're showing you to come real?  The give us more money."  Nice.

But my main question is: what is an initial conceptual design?  Is this actually an architectural drawing?  Or is this an artist's conception of what the high school should look like?  How much more will this high school cost?  Why create an initial conceptual design and go no farther?  What am I missing here?
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Why I'm Holding My Nose and Voting for Kinky

Posted by Deanna Peugeot on Saturday, October 28, 2006 10:57:55 PM
Election day is coming soon, and in Texas that means the govenor's race is picking up.  I admit, I don't particulary like Rick Perry due to the following:
Democrat Chris Bell isn't an option.  He wants to raise our taxes, supports unlimited lawsuits, and has refused to give out more information to non partisan voter information organizations.

Carole Keaton-Strayhorn is nuts.  I wish you could have heard her on the Jeff Ward show in September, but after that appearance I wrote her completely off.  Not mention, she wasted all of our money with her silly lawsuit to get "Grandma" on the ballot.

So that leaves the Libertarian candiade, James Werner and Kinky Friedman.  Kinky had my unstinting support after he promised to return all of our over paid taxes, and actually admitted to not knowing how to solve some problems.  That lack of arogance was very appealing to me.  Sure, some of his ideas are kooky, like having a public phone line, but all in all they're harmless.

Then came his health insurance plan.  And Kinky lost me.  I don't see how this will be pratical - I just see our taxes increasing out of control to provide a new "right" to everyone.  So I was going to vote Libertarian.

But when it comes down to it, I'm going to hold my nose and vote for Kinky after all.  A strong showing for him will drive home a bigger message to those in power than votes scattered between the three alternative candidates.  And the two major parties need to hear that message.  So I'm voting for Kinky.
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