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Mole's Progressive Democrat

The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Originally intended for New York City progressives, its readership is now national. For anyone who wants to be alerted by email whenever this newsletter is updated (usually weekly), please send your email address and let me know what state you live in (so I can keep track of my readership).

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Location: Brooklyn, New York, United States

I am a research biologist in NYC. Married with two kids living in Brooklyn.

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  • Thursday, March 25, 2010

    Austin/Travis County, TX Focus

    NEWS FROM AUSTIN:

    Outstanding Texas High School Migrant Students To Be Recognized

    Statesman Editorial Says Hank Skinner Entitled to Delay for DNA Tests...I am pro-death penalty, but I also believe that we need to be absolutely sure we have the right person. DNA testing is a critical part of this. Without DNA evidence, I feel far less confident in imposing the death penalty

    Austin ISD Board of Trustees and the Austin Community College Board of Trustees Election Season Begins

    Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell "Doing urban rail right..."

    Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Launches PSA


    EVENTS:

    This comes from the Travis County Democratic Party:

    Northeast Travis County Democrats Meeting
    TIME/DATE: March 30th. 6:30pm Meet and Greet, 7:00pm Meeting starts
    PLACE: Travis County Community Center, 15822 Foothill Farms Loop, Pflugerville
    CONTACT: Dave Taylor at 844-1300 or mrdave9735@aol.com

    You are invited to join Northeast Travis County Democrats for their monthly meeting the last Tuesday of the month. The Community Center is located across FM 1825 from the Springhill Restaurant and behind the Lamb's Auto.

    Central Texas Democratic Forum: Program: Kathy Miller, Texas Freedom Network: The Texas Board of Education Did What?!!???
    Date: Tuesday, April 6, 2010
    Time: 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
    Location: Austin Bar Association
    816 Congress Avenue, Suite 700

    Which Thomas is Right for Texas: Jefferson or Aquinas? Look, for years we Texas Democrats have been drenched with buckets of humiliation tossed our way by friends in other states where schools still value such quaint concepts as facts and science. But really now–the Texas Board of Education is going to replace Thomas Jefferson with Thomas Aquinas??? The Austin American Statesman said that the currently dominant Republican majority “embraces ignorance with a religious fervor.” And, incredibly, that’s an understatement!

    Among the other breathtaking lowlights of the Republican BOE vote on curriculum-standards changes at its March meeting:

    • Dropping references to the “Age of Enlightenment.” (Which apparently bypassed the Rs on this Board entirely.)

    • Limiting discussion of sex and gender issues in social studies. (BOE Member Cargill commented that those notions “allow students to go into the world of transvestites, transsexuals and God-knows-what-else.”)

    • Adding emphasis on gun rights in social studies. (“Class, write a 250-word essay comparing the relative social merits of the Glock .380 and the Smith & Wesson M&P .40.”)

    • Eliminating the requirement that schools teach about Hispanics who were at the Alamo.

    • Removing references to “capitalism,” so that now students will speak only of the “free-enterprise system.”

    • Deleting references to the “historically inaccurate” and apparently apocryphal “separation of church and state” doctrine. (Hence, the banishment of that despised leftist, Jefferson.)

    • Requiring study of the “unintended consequences” of the Great Society, affirmative action, and Title IX.

    • Requiring that students learn about Phyllis Schlafly, the Contract with America, the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority, and the National Rifle Association. And on and on and on.

    So what’s a Democrat–or any Texan who has read a book, believes in truth, or has heard of an idea called “science”–supposed to do about the nightmarish absurdities proposed by the BOE? How can Texas public education be saved from the dire threat posed by these political-fringe, religious-right crackpots?

    Kathy Miller is the Executive Director of the Texas Freedom Network. Unfortunately for her, but fortunately for us, she is remarkably knowledgeable about the BOE. She’ll tell us exactly what has happened, what is scheduled to happen, and what we can do to rescue Texas school children from the BOE.

    The BOE meets for its next public hearing and for the final vote on these bizarre curriculum standards on May 19-21. Don’t miss this Forum program!

    Spectacular Door Prizes:

    1. Copies of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. These make great gifts for graduating high school seniors this year. Next year, of course, graduates won’t have any idea what they are, if the BOE has its way. But some day these could be really valuable—again.

    2. Introduction to St. Thomas Aquinas. Soon to be on the BOE best-seller list. As you now know, Aquinas is more important for Americans than Thomas Jefferson. You’ve probably read a lot about the wrong Thomas, now read about the Right Thomas.

    3. Red Wassenich’s Keep Austin Weird. Still a best-seller, even though Thomas Aquinas didn’t write a single word of it.

    Cost: lunch is $15.00 for members, $20.00 for non-members.

    Parking: 816 Congress Avenue/IBC Bank parking garage. Enter the parking garage on 9th Street, between Colorado and Congress. Bring your ticket to the receptionist on the 7th floor and you will receive a coupon to use to exit the garage at no charge.

    Reservation required: To reserve your seat, email jerben@herring-irwin.com or cherring@herring-irwin.com or call Chuck Herring or Judy Erben at 320-0665. Please tell us if you intend to bring a non-member guest and if you have any special dietary concerns. PLEASE MAKE RESERVATIONS BY 10:00 A.M. ON MONDAY, APRIL 5. Seating to this event is limited.

    About the Forum: The Forum meets monthly for lunch to hear Democratic speakers. Membership is $120/yr. Non-members may attend, but members have priority and receive discount prices for lunches.

    Capital Area Asian American Democrats Meet
    DATE: Tuesday,April 6, 2010
    TIME: 6:30pm Social 7:00pm Program begins
    LOCATION: First Chinese BBQ Restaurant, 10901 N Lamar
    The Capital Area Asian American Democrats

    Capital City Young Democrats Meeting
    Capital City Young Democrats welcomes the young and the young at heart to join us for volunteering and social events. Each month, we have a regular meeting, a happy hour, and at least one social or volunteer event. We meet the first Wednesday of every month.
    George Washington Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library
    1161 Angelina Street, Austin, TX 78722, (512) 974-1010
    For more information, contact kimberlyhokanson@gmail.com

    Northeast Travis County Democrats Meeting
    TIME/DATE: April 27, 2010. 6:30pm Meet and Greet, 7:00pm Meeting starts
    PLACE: Travis County Community Center, 15822 Foothill Farms Loop, Pflugerville
    CONTACT: Dave Taylor at 844-1300 or mrdave9735@aol.com

    You are invited to join Northeast Travis County Democrats for their monthly meeting the last Tuesday of the month. The Community Center is located across FM 1825 from the Springhill Restaurant and behind the Lamb's Auto.


    BIODIESEL IN AUSTIN AREA

    Here are some biodiesel stations near Austin, TX. Biodiesel is less polluting and has a smaller carbon footprint than regular diesel, and is produced right here in the USA. Biodiesel can be used in almost any diesel engine. Up to B20 (a 20 percent blend) any diesel engine, whether car or 18 wheeler or whatever, can use it. Above B20 some older engines may have problems, but newer engines should be ok.

    DieselGreen Fuels: 5217 Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702, 512-247-3835. Offers B20 (good for any diesel engine) and B100 (OK for newer diesel engines). Open 9-5.

    El Sol Logistics: 1114 Regal Row, Austin, TX 78748, 512-563-8142. Offers B100 (OK for newer diesel engines). Open 9-5 M-F

    Oaxacan Tamaleo: 1634 Hwy 71, Cedar Creek, TX 78612, 512-289-9262. Offers B100 (OK for newer diesel engines). CLOSED MONDAYS

    Ecowise: 110 W. Elizabeth St. Austin, TX 78704, 512-326-4474. Offers B100 (OK for newer diesel engines). Open M-SU 10-7PM.

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