Recently by Neil Aquino

With the Fourth of July just over a month away, it's time we take back our history from the right-wing Tea Party extremists who have been allowed to commandeer some portion of our past. The so-called Tea Party wants to use our shared American history in the service of the very un-American ideals of exclusion, and of benefiting the rich over the working man and woman.One such Tea Party cell in my part of the country is...

The circumstances behind the on-duty death of Houston police officer Kevin Will leaves individuals with a choice.Officer Will was killed by a man who, according to reports, is in the United States illegally and who was driving drunk.People can go on with the reflexive hatred and anger such we see from this reader comment on the Houston Chronicle online in reference to the driver who allegedly killed Officer Will--"They should auction on Ebay the opportunity to beat...

With Memorial Day weekend almost here, please allow me to suggest some possible ways to observe the holiday---1. Drive safely--- Make sure you have a designated driver if you will be out drinking. Be safe on the roads. As a general matter--Please slow down and be careful on all the highways of life.Often it seems we take a day that is meant to honor service and sacrifice, and we turn it into a time for...

In 2011, Memorial Day is Monday, May 30Here is some history on the origins of Memorial Day and, also, links appropriate for Memorial DayTake the time it requires to learn about the world.( We've been fighting wars for a long time. Above is an engraving by Amos Doolittle of  the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775.)Here is a brief explanation of the origins of Memorial Day---Memorial Day originated in 1868, when Union General John A. Logan designated a day...

Republican U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia says that any federal assistance for the Joplin, Missouri tornadoes will have to be offset by others cuts in the federal budget.(Above---Picture of Joplin damage as taken by macahanC6R.)  From the Washington Times---"House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Monday that if Congress passes an emergency spending bill to help Missouri's tornado victims, the extra money will have to be cut from somewhere else. If there is support...

The galaxy may be filled with planets that are not orbiting any sun.(Above--Interstellar planet as depicted by NASA.)  From NASA---"Astronomers... have discovered a new class of Jupiter-sized planets floating alone in the dark of space, away from the light of a star. The team believes these lone worlds were probably ejected from developing planetary systems. The discovery indicates there are many more free-floating Jupiter-mass planets that can't be seen. The team estimates there are about twice...

May I please ask people to stop littering Tony Marron Park in Houston.It is a nice park. Why would anybody litter in a nice park that is for all the people?What is wrong with people?How we conduct ourselves in a park that belongs to all the people is a measure of self-respect.We've got to respect ourselves as everyday people using the common resources....

This past Monday, a local Tea Party cell known as the King Street Patriots opened a new headquarters in Houston. Governor Rick Perry and many other Republican elected officials attended this event.Top Texas political blogger Stace Medellin attended a protest outside this opening ceremony. Below is a picture that Stace took of freedom-loving Americans participating in the protest---Thanks to Stace for allowing me to use the picture.Looks like the insiders and the powerbrokers were all inside with...

The excellent New Scientist Magazine reports that organic chemistry takes places on asteroids that are flying around in space.(Above--The asteroid known as 951 Gaspra. Here are some facts about asteroids.) From New Scientist---"For the first time, rocks from an asteroid have been shown to power the synthesis of life's essential chemicals. The asteroid in question fell to Earth on 28 September 1969, landing on the outskirts of the village of Murchison in Victoria, Australia. Tests showed it was laced with amino acids and some of...

The non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation has reported that up to 44 million Americans could lose health coverage under the radical budget proposed by Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.From Kaiser---"This analysis projects the state-by-state impact of converting Medicaid into a block grant and eliminating the planned expansion of the program by repealing the health reform law, as called for under the House Budget Plan. It finds that the plan would trigger major reductions in Medicaid program...