Recently by Neil Aquino

Houston Mayor Annise Parker has been pushing an anti-food sharing ordinance in Houston that would criminalize  many acts of kindness towards those most in need in our city. (Above--The type of sharing with others that may soon be illegal in Houston.)  Beyond that, Mayor Parker, in explaining her support for the anti-giving ordinance, has some strange views about the public's right to use public space.From the Houston Press---"Mayor Parker argued that City property is, indeed, private --...

Houston Mayor Annise Parker has been pushing an anti-food sharing ordinance in Houston that would criminalize  many acts of kindness towards those most in need in our city. (Above--The type of sharing with others that may soon be illegal in Houston.)  Beyond that, Mayor Parker, in explaining her support for the anti-giving ordinance, has some strange views about the public's right to use public space.From the Houston Press---"Mayor Parker argued that City property is, indeed, private --...

There will be a protest on Sunday, 3/25 at Houston City Hall to call for justice in the Trayvon Martin case.While Trayvon was shot and killed in Florida, his death is a matter of national concern.I will be attending this event at City Hall.We've got to stick together and show up for each other when times are difficult.We don't always do that in Houston and in the nation. The rights and freedoms of all people are...

Former Vice President Dick Cheney has received a heart transplant.(Above--Former Vice President Cheney)Good.I hope that Mr. Cheney's new heart lasts long enough for him to be prosecuted for war crimes.Human Rights Watch says that both former President Bush and Mr. Cheney should be investigated for war crimes because they ordered people to be tortured.I suppose it is not likely that this will ever take place.But with Mr. Cheney having a new lease on life, we can keep...

Tomorrow, March 15, is the Ides of March.Here is an explanation of what the term Ides of March means.(Above--The Death of Caesar. This work was painted in 1798 by Vincenzo Camuccini.)Here are two accessible book to learn about the events surrounding the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of Julius Caesar.Rubicon--The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland.A quality biography is Caesar--Life Of A Colossus by Adam Goldsworthy.Though these events took place a long time...

There will be a rally against wage theft in Houston held on Tuesday March 20.Below you see the details of this event.Here is a Houston Chronicle story about wage theft. Here are details about wage theft on a national level.Here is the website of the anti-wage theft effort in the Houston area. Here is a video with a number of facts about this concern.  Cheap goods and services are often provided on the backs of people who...

On my recent visit home to Cincinnati, I met up with a number of friends.In some cases I took their pictures. These are the pictures you see above.I met some of these folks in the 1980's. Two I have met since I left Cincinnati in 1998.Strong and long-lasting relationships make us better able to deal with the hardships of life without becoming bitterAlso--if we pay attention-- these relationships provide us with context to understand the...

There will be a March 12 rally at Planned Parenthood in Houston to protest the drastic and unwarranted cuts for the health care needs of so many Texans.And don't forget the Texas forced sonogram law which many see---correctly in my view---as a form of state-mandated rape.Below are details of the March 12 event. What I have posted is a Planned Parenthood press release that I received.The only regretful aspect of this press release is the failure of...

For the third time in recent months, Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Houston City Council are considering regulations directed at homeless people.From the Houston Chronicle---"Mayor Annise Parker is asking the council to adopt rules that would require organizations and people who feed the homeless to register with the city, take a food safety class, prepare the food in certified kitchens, serve only at three public parks, and leave those parks as clean as when they entered them...Councilwoman Helena Brown agreed...

Recently I came upon a collection of fliers promoting shows at the great Jockey Club in Newport, Kentucky.The Jockey Club, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, was the best punk rock club in all the midwest. It closed in 1988. There is a Jockey Club Facebook page you can join.You can read a series of Jockey Club recollections in Stories for Shorty. I have an entry in this book that was published by Cincinnati's Aurore Press.One of...