Recently by Neil Aquino

Protests and fighting in Syria continues despite brutal repression by the Syrian Government.The U.S. embassy in Syria has been closed as the Syrian government goes on killing its own people.  Here iswhat President Obama has said  as reported in the New York Times--"President Obama condemned what he called "the Syrian government's unspeakable assault against the people of Homs," saying in a statement that President Bashar al-Assad "has no right to lead Syria, and has lost all legitimacy with...

To mark the one year anniversary of the release of the Chad Holley police beating video tape, the Black Justice Tuesday Coalition will be holding a protest from noon until 3 PM at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse located at 1201 Franklin Street in Downtown Houston.( Above--A scene from the Chad Holley tape.)Here are details of this protest from the Black Justice Tuesday Coalition---Black Justice Tuesday Coalition. National Black United Front and New Black Panther Party One Year Police...

While much of what is on the web is junk, there are some great resources for folks who want to use their discretionary time effectively.C-SPAN has a full archive of all its programming over the years.One thing I find of value at the C-SPAN site is the Booknotes page. Booknotes was a weekly interview program that ran each week for a number of years.The most recent interview I listened to was one from 1989 with Colonel David Hackworth. Colonel Hackworth...

The United States Department of Agriculture has updated the map it issues to help gardeners across the nation determine what they can plant.Because the nation is getting warmer, people are now able to plant various flowers and trees in parts of the country that before would have not been hospitable to such a wide range of plantings.Above you see the map. Here is the link to the USDA site that has facts on how to use...

Occupy Houston and Occupy Austin protestors are facing felony charges for taking part in civil disobedience earlier this month outside the Port of Houston. The felony charges had at first been dismissed by a judge, but have now be reinstated by a Harris County grand jury empanelled by the Harris County District Attorney's office.There is little doubt in my mind that these charges are about scaring off further acts of protest in our county. This is...

A few days ago I saw a blue FEMA tarp still on a roof here in Houston.These tarps were all over right after Hurricane Ike in 2008.I believe Galveston still has a number of homes with the tarps still in place. But I have not taken any pictures of those tarps.While you can't see it very well in this picture, the word FEMA is visible at the top of the tarp.Here is the FEMA website. People...

What books should you consider as holiday gifts for the Texan in your life, or for someone who would like to learn more about Texas?I have some suggestions.As you can see from the picture above, Hamburger Wearing An Astros' Hat would very much like to learn more about Texas. Hamburger is a member of my Texas Liberal Panel of Experts.You will also please note that Hamburger is trying to use some Republic of Texas currency to buy...

Above are details of an Occupy Houston March to be held on Suday 12/18 at 2 PM.Here are more details of the event from Occupy Houston---Immigrants are part of the 99%. Locally and nationally, immigrant communities are facing increasing attacks and human rights violations. On International Migrants Day, December 18th, Occupy Houston will join with those in the local immigration community and Occupy movements nationally to take a stand against the assaults and record number of detentions...

There is an Occupy Houston training session for field organizing this weekend.Day-by-day Occupy Houston and Occupy efforts across the nation are showing that they will be around for the long haul.Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.Here is Occupy Galveston.Here are details of the Houston training event---OH Mobile Occupation Work Group will be hosting the first in a series of sessions on Field Organizing this Sunday, Dec 18 at 5pm in the downtown branch of the Houston Public Library at 500 McKinney...

Occupy Houston, Occupy Wall Street and Occupy efforts across the nation are working hard, changing the debate, and making progress.This  is why top Republican pollster Frank Luntz is afraid of the Occupy movement.Occupy Houston spoke up yesterday against arctic drilling and will tomorrow demonstrate to protect women's health.Occupy Wall Street has been addressing the foreclosure crisis.On December 10th, OWS will be part of a global human rights day. Everyone is connected.Occupy Portland, Oregon is back on the move again after being evicted from their...