Records

Open CRS (Congressional Research Service) offers searchable database for all the CRS reports that are already in the public domain. Those that are not in the public domain can be obtained through Penny Hill Press. Many are also available through the Federation of American Scientists website.

A great piece by my friend Matthew Marchant, a real-estate attorney with STRASBURGER & PRICE, LLP.

We recorded for the one hour radio broadcast tomorrow, discussing about the World Trade Organization and the progress of Vietnam's accessions. I find it surprised that the Russian Federation and the Holy See have not yet acceded/become a member and Cambodia has already been a member, though recently, since 13th of October, 2004.

I love this article. Mr. Logan Darrow Clements of Freestar Media, LLC help justice David Souter have a taste of his own medicine, a marvelous idea don't you think?

"The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security." -- James Madison, Federalist No. 45.

Did you know that the NAACP was started by white Republicans and that most of the black colleges were also named after white Republicans? These are some of the interesting pieces of information shared by the Rev. Wayne Perryman, who is a black and considered himself an independent as far as political party affiliation is concerned, at the dinner last Friday as well as in his book "Unfounded Loyalty."

I checked in to DFW International Airport for the Saturday morning flight to New Orleans after the 30 minutes before flight time mark so stuck in a middle seat instead of the aisle seat I had reserved when I booked. On the way back, I learned my lesson and American Airline had no reason not to honor my reserved seat.

We went around the flea market in the French quarter section before heading to Michael and Isabelle wedding ceremony and reception and then came back to Cafe Dumont for late night coffee and snack. It was raining cats and dogs on my way back to my hotel next to the airport. I didn't get to bed until 3:30 and woke at 5:00 to get to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport for my flight back to Dallas at 7:29.

Dallas County Republican Party along with various Republican clubs hosted Wayne Perryman, the nationally known author of the book "Unfounded Loyalty" and David Barton, president of WallBuilders who is also vice-chairman of the Republican Party of Texas tonight at the Galleria Doubletree Hotel. They were just two amazing speakers.

This is a sad day for private property owner, free market and capitalism in general because of the 5-4 ruling by the US Supreme Court in the case of Kelo vs. New London involving the issue of eminent domain. The fact that justice David Souter was appointed by the first president Bush reminds us once again that only God knows what He's doing and not any of us.

So now, if the city cannot find way to creatively enhance their tax base and increase their tax revenue, just declare eminent domain any area that don't generate enough property and sales tax revenue, hand the area over to some developers to upgrade it to get more tax revenue. What a brilliantly disgusting idea. Since when taking properties from one private entity and give them to another private entity become "public use?" It just gets my blood boiled. Next time you are out shopping for a house, make sure you look at that city's charter to see if they have the power to declare eminent domain on private properties.

My brokerage firm, Ameritrade today announced that they acquire TD Waterhouse and formed what is known as TD Ameritrade.

My doctor gave me Cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxing medication for my muscle strain and ordered me to stay away from physical activities for a week. I guess too much weight lifting and also whacking too hard at the golf ball.

John Mahalik was formally sworn in tonight for council place 2 and tonight was also graduation for the 2005 Carrollton Government Academy.

I was able to get out and play a few holes at Indian Creek today.

We had a pretty good Father's Day outdoor worship service followed by a picnic at Lake Arlington Richard Simpsons Pavilion.

Went to the VPS Dallas General meeting and then went out to dinner with Paul and Sharon. They invited our family out for dinner to celebrate mine and my brother's birthdays, we share the same birthday which was this past Monday and Sharon's birthday, which is tomorrow.

Woke up late this morning but I did make it to the Nodding Dog Coffee for the kick-off coffee with 330th Family District Court judge Marilea Lewis.

Then headed over to Caravelle in Richardson for Quoc's wedding reception at noon.

Ran over to Jan and Bruce's place for Jan's victory party. She was elected to a 6-year term to the Dallas County Schools Board of Trustees on May 7th election a little over a month ago.

A good source of information by the US DOJ Civil Rights Division on Religious Discrimination.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison will not run for Texas governor but will run for re-election to the US Senate, praise God. We won't have to deal with a bloody primary next March.

A life that is such a mighty example of God's powerful hands: Rev. Billy Graham has traveled the world over the last six decades preaching the Gospel to more than 210 million people in 185 countries.

The visit by Socialist Republic of Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai starting this Sunday, June 19th in Seattle, WA then onto Washington, DC; New York, NY; Boston, MA and wrap up again in Seattle, WA will surely bring out a lot of Americans of Vietnamese descent and also many US veterans from the Vietnam war in protest. This is one of the last very few communist nations: Cuba, China, and North Korea whose people still haven't seen the light of democracy. Human rights record is worse than Iran. You do not see protests to even take place like in Iran. However, you see the big difference here is that Vietnam is fearful of its bully neighbor China and wants US protection. US needs to counter the Chinese Navy and Vietnam would provide the perfect ports and eventually bases. Being an American of Vietnamese descent, I have no problem with the US being on friendly term with Vietnam, except that I would like to see the US being a little more firm and more genuine in its push for human rights and religious freedom in Vietnam.

I turned 29 on Monday.

Last Thursday, Tiffany and Larry had a cake for me and my brother, who shares the same birthday with me, at our regular weekly small group get together.

Monday, Henry and Taylor took me out for lunch at the Todai location at Willow Bend.

Monday night was party for Dallas County Criminal Court judge Lisa Fox at Sammy's BBQ downtown. They've got delicious ribs. I went to the VPS Staff meeting after all that good barbeque.

Tuesday, I and Hieu recorded the VPAC-DFW radio show because Wednesday night, when we would have done it live, we will have to be at Garland Open Dialog Dinner. We covered the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, the move by Southwest Airline to repeal the Wright and Shelby amendment. Check out the website SetLoveFree.org.

I headed over to Teresa's place after the recording because she threw me a birthday party at her house. She and Cynthia spent a lot of time cooking, thanks guys!

Nancy and a few friends at work will take me out to Red Hot and Blue on Thursday. My boss and the group will take me out to Tony's Roma on Friday. By now, you should have guessed that I am your true cowboy, a red meat guy.

We went to BJ Brewery for a farewell lunch with Janice, Ted and Peyton. They are moving back to Ottawa the 28th of this month. In our conversation over lunch, one of the guys at work complained that his wife has to buy supplies using money out of her own pocket and that No Child Left Behind does not provide enough funding. I asked him whether the federal government should provide funding for all the EPA stardards that they require people to comply to, specifically his vehicle's emission. Told him that this nation needs a standard for kids, otherwise highschool graduates from other nations around the world will eventually have the advantage. The funding is the responsibility of each individual ISD, therefore the word independent, not the federal government. They have the taxing power, limited only by cap placed there by individual state legislature. Jason Moore, the current president of the Texas Young Republican Federation has been documenting wasteful spending by several ISDs. See for yourself here.

It appears that John Mahalik has won the run off election for Carrollton city council place 2 against Jack Dicoskey and Nancy S. Cline has won the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees place 2 against Rachel Lewis. What do I learn? Yardsigns, doesn't matter how overwhelming the number of yardsigns you can have against your opponent, don't win elections. Second, playing professional sports doesn't hurt your candidacy. Thirdly, never underestimate the benefits of having a website and doing everything you can early on as soon as you have decided to throw your hat into the ring.

Luis Saenz, governor Rick Perry's campaign director was speaking last night at the monthly meeting of the Legacy Republican Club. Met Lathan Watts, the North Texas Field Staff for the re-election of governor Perry's campaign, in person for the first time or so I thought. He sure looked familiar and we found out that I've seen him so many times before as he ran the mail campaign for the 2004 cycle out of the Dallas County Victory Center. That operation mailed out over 1.8 million mail pieces when it's all said and done. As a volunteer for the Perry's grassroots campaign, basically I am reporting to him. Also met John Dillard, the mayor of The Colony and Katie Williams, campaign staff for state senator Jane Nelson.

Have you seen this yet? The UK Conservatives Party are going to imitate the US Republican Party in order to pull itself out of the losing streak with 3 consecutive losses. Will the Tories be able to do it given that UK is a lot more liberal than the US?

This is a first, top two candidates from the June 7th election heading into a run-off for the San Jose city council are both of Vietnamese descent.

In the murder capitol of these United States, where law abiding citizens are denied the most basic right guaranteed by the 2nd amendment to the US Constitution, and look at what happened:

Shortly before 4:30 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2005 ... investigate the report of a shooting

On Saturday, June 4, 2005, at approximately 12 pm ... suffering from an apparent multiple gunshot wounds to the body ...

At approximately 2:48 am on Monday, June 6, 2005, ... to investigate the report of a shooting ...

At approximately 11:18 pm, on Thursday, June 3, 2005 ... an apparent gunshot wound to the body ...

At approximately 4:30 am on Saturday, March 5, 2005 ... suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the body ...

At approximately 8 last night, Sunday, May 1, 2005 ... for the report of a shooting ...

At approximately 11:35 pm, on Monday, May 2, 2005 ... an apparent gunshot wound to the head ...

shortly before midnight on Sunday, May 1, 2005 ... fired through the rear window of the stolen vehicle ...

The movie Privileged Planet was originally sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute. Under pressure, they have now decided to pull their money, saying that the film is unscientific! Check out this article for more details.

The World Affairs Council of Greater Dallas yesterday presented the screening of The Girl in the Cafe, starring Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald, at the Angelika Film Center. The movie produced by HBO with an agenda of creating pressure on the US to put more money into ending global extreme poverty, people who live under $1 per day, at the upcoming G8 summit in Scotland from July 6th to July 8th. They should know that more economic freedom, exactly what the US delegation is saying, is needed instead of more government's money, or taxpayers' money to be exact, will help alleviate or eliminate the problem. Hong Kong and India started the last century roughly as undeveloped. But the British governor of Hong Kong does basically nothing more than keeping the peace and drinking tea and Hong Kong became the properous territory that it is today. Socialistic rule has kept India where it was up until today. Limited government and economic freedom will be the real solution, not more of government's involvement, especially not taking its citizens' money by force and re-distribute as the rulers see fit. That was what started the American Revolution. As it has been said but not often enough, when you hear: "I am from the government and I am here to help," run away from that guy as fast as you could.

State senator Bob Deuell will be speaking at tonight's monthly meeting of the Dallas County Young Republicans, giving us a wrap up of the legislative session that has just ended.

I have just finished the book Give me a break by John Stossel, currently co-anchor of the ABC 20/20 show. Everyone who wants to know what a libertarian or classical liberal is should read this book. The northeastern or west coast liberal nuts nowaday are so far removed from reasons they will continue to lose classical liberals like John Stossel, who is being called a conservative by his colleagues in the media.

It appeared that Pauline Medrano, James L. Fantroy, Ron Natinsky, and Angela Hunt have won the run-off election against Monica Barros-Greene, Al Lipscomb, Tony Fleo, Kathy Ingle for Dallas city council district 2, 8, 12, 14 respectively.

The deacons board met today and voted to ask our senior pastor to continue with our church for another 2-year term. This is done as a matter of procedure every 2 years for all the churches in our Vietnamese District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Went to Oanh's graduation party and then headed to Plano for the technical team meeting for the academic challenge project. I was in such a rush getting home to change out of my tie and coat to jeans and t-shirt that I slammed the door on my truck and cut off the wire of my Blackberry 7290 headset. Got out of the meeting too late to go shopping for another one. Will have to do that tomorrow.

I love these two bills: H.R.1288 introduced by Rep. Mark E. Souder (R-IN) and S.1082 introduced by senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), both seek to restore 2nd amendment right in the District of Columbia. This will definitely reduce the crime rate there and maybe eventually, it won't be the murder capitol of the nation anymore. I may even be able to carry with my Texas CHL or Florida CCW when I come up there once or twice a year.

Went to the Community Dialog on Civil Liberties and Homeland Security organized by the Dallas League of Women Voters at the main Dallas Public Library location downtown this morning. The two main speakers they were Chip Pitts, president of Amnesty International and Guadalupe Gonzales, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas FBI office.

A group of the Carrollton Museum Board members got together with a few of us citizens, including many of the Carrollton Library Board members, to plan on how to go forward, maybe with a 501(c)3, to establish what may be called the Friends of the A.W. Perry Homestead Museum to be able to raise fund and help to maintain the museum, make the best possible out of it for our community.

Put in an order for a couple of golf clubs: a 9 wood and a 17° wood with Golfsmith last night and they confirmed they shipped them UPS Ground this morning. I should get them by next weekend if not earlier.

Went to the California Pizza Kitchen at the Willow Bend mall to celebrate Ruturaaj's birthday at lunch. I did go to the gym and workout today. Went for a little over half an hour at the driving range before headed to Fusion Restaurant in Dallas for the VPS Dallas happy hour. Still remember the sour taste of the last virgin pina colada I had at the Dallas County Young Republican Christmas party, I went for my faithful drink of choice: Coke. The "Lamb two ways" plate is not bad at all.

I was on my way to Karen's house for the Dallas County Young Republicans board meeting yesterday evening when I turned around at a redlight stop and saw this cool guy in an F-150 just pulled to a stop next to me and was waving at me. Do you want to guess who? It was my favorite congressman, Pete Sessions.

We met and were interviewed by Rose and Brian at Karen's house last night. Rose Aguilar is an independent journalist and they are travelling around the country interviewing people on why they vote the way they do. Check out their website at Stories in America.

Got to the gym but realized I didn't have enough time to workout today. Plus, there were not a lot of empty spaces in the parking lot. I went ahead and got home and was able to spend half an hour before class at the Indian Creek Golf Club driving range. Because of the Memorial holiday on Monday, when we usually meet from 6:45 to 8:30, our Carrollton Government Academy class met tonight. I had to miss our regular small group get together. The class did a budget exercise tonight so we didn't get out until like 9:15.

Starting today, you can get a free credit report from any or all of the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, thanks to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act passed in 2003. They have a website annualcreditreport.com available but I have had no luck trying to access it. It's best to the call toll free number 877-FACT-ACT (877-322-8228).

All my Nortel stock options is exercisable again now that the company is up to date on its filing, not that I am going to exercise anytime soon given the current stock price.

Denton County Sheriff Benny Parkey was our speaker at today's Denton County Pachyderm club monthly lunch meeting. He talked about a variety of issues connecting with his office: jail administration, narcotic enforcement, DWI on various lakes in the county .... Amanda represented Kenny there. Got to remember to mail the membership dues check to Marc.