06/18/21

The Texas Cryptocurrency Love Affair Blossoms

The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, a truly great governor, has signed into law something called the Virtual Currency Bill which began life as House Bill 4474 as sponsored by Representative Tan Parker a huge supporter and proponent of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.

The bill was considered by the Texas House of Representatives’ Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services Committee which revised the bill after extensive hearings and public input into a Committee Substitute Bill which they passed with bipartisan support in the middle of April.

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12/26/20

The Rose Bowl Leaves California

Some time ago, we noted that many Californians were leaving the state to move to Texas.

Now, even that most-California of sporting events, The Rose Bowl, is moving to Dallas (Arlington).

When asked why they were moving, the Rose Bowl responded, “Don’t be that guy, the last guy to get the memo. We are going to Texas because we want to be free!”

Rose Bowl Game

Alabama v Notre Dame

4:00 PM, Friday, 1 January 2021

AT & T Stadium

Arlington, Texas

See you there.

But, hey, what the Hell do I really know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!

car

11/9/19

Texas Income Tax Constitutional Amendment Passes Again

Texas has no personal income tax (one of only seven States to have this provision) and it is likely to stay that way based upon the results of Proposition Four on the recent Texas ballot.

Proposition Four, which erects an almost impossible hurdle to the enactment of a state income tax, was adopted by a  74% to 26% margin. [We have had a lot of Californians move to Texas, but 26% in favor of an income tax?] It is worth noting that a total of $3,000 was spent to support the passage of Prop 4.

What is really interesting is to see the opposition to Prop 4: The Austin American Statesman (the local mast of the Texas Communist Party), the Austin Chronicle (the mouthpiece of the Austin Socialist Party, founded in 1981, a year after I moved to ATX, by Louis Black one of the founders of SXSW), the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, the Dallas Morning News,  the Eagle, the Houston Chronicle, the Longview News-Journal,  the San Antonio Express-News, and the Waco Tribute-Herald.

The actual vote was 1,467,994 in favor of Prop 4 and 504,848 against — this in a state with 16MM registered voters shows how tenuous the electorate’s grasp is on things. 

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03/11/19

March — God I Love March — Bluebonnets

March is the greatest month for bluebonnets in the Texas Hill Country. March is the greatest month of the year.

65F today in the ATX for SXSW. 81% humidity, huh?

So, March is my favorite month for the following reasons:

First, we have the end-of-season college basketball matchups — the Carolina Tarheels completing a sweep of the hated Dukies. Hook ’em, Heels!

[OK, I’m a Heels fan, but if they are out, I am a Duke fan. Still, I love when the Heels obliterate Darth Vader Duke.]

“Zion Williamson, I am your father.” If you don’t know who Zion Williamson is, then you are forgiven.

Related image

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09/20/18

The Great Debate – Texas Senate Race

Big Red Car here on a gloomy Thursday morning in the ATX. Texas politics is fun in a roller derby kind of way. The race for the Texas Senate will be a barn burner though recent polling suggests Cruz is looking at a ten point victory.

For the Senate we have a faux Hispanic running against a real Hispanic who doesn’t seem Hispanic.

[At this point, please allow me to make a preemptive apology for all the offenses I have committed against good order and decency thus far and for the rest of the blog post. I am sorry.]

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso (left), and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Robert Francis O’Rourke, the Dem challenger, faces off with Teddy Cruz, the incumbent in three debates.

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