Posted by
dgilman on
9 September 2010, 6:51 am
Henry “Sonny” Presnal spoke about the College of Veterinary Medicine. He is also the Director of the Stephenson Center.
The Center is a facility’s mission is to provide care for pets when owners can no longer care for the animals. This also provides educational opportunities for students. They have 22 dogs and 17 cats and a llama in residence. Several students live on site to provide on site, home style care for the animals. They get room, training, amd a small stipend for their effort.
The facility is setup like a house, to help the animals feel comfortable.
Capacity for 60 animals in their 8300 sq ft. They are adding another expansion to accomdate more dogs, cats and expanded avian facilities.
The program allows owners to enroll in the program before there is a need. Funding is $1000+ enrollment and an endowment based on the youngest owners age. This can be a bequest or prepaid. Current endowment is $10 million, but it only generates about 4%.
See www.vm.tamu.edu/petcare
Posted by
dgilman on
2 September 2010, 7:04 am
Dr Tom Saving talked about medicare and the federal budget in general. Debt, taxes, interest rates, default…scary and contentious!
Another point is the changing demographics of our country. In this decade the cost of the entitlements will grow and the nuber of those paying in will decrease.
Medicare’s bottom line, if people don’t pay, they consume more. The recently released report, written by administration trustees, has a disclaimer that the report is based on assumptions that can not happen!
The bottom line is that the elderly are going to pay more, regardless of what either party says.
Posted by
dgilman on
19 August 2010, 7:10 am
Judge John Delaney spoke on The War on Drugs. John was just named Rotarian of the Year in his Rotary Club, Bryan Noon.
His bottom line was ” The War On Drugs” is a tragic failure that can not be fixed quickly.
He compared the development of our social system regarding alchohol to what is needed with drugs.
Drug abuse is not being condoned, nor is alchohol abuse. John has personal knowledge of the side effects of abuse. He hates drugs. But he is a realist.
Do not confuse theory and facts. …flat earth…sun revolves around the earth…only men should vote…slavery…. all considered facts. So was abolition….. See what is happening today on our streets and the tens of thousands killed on our borders, and now we deal with it in Afghanistan.
American citizens are starting to get it. 76% thought so in 2008 and almost 90% in 2009.
Addiction rates in 1914 were under 2%..when cocaine and heroine were available as patent medicine. Now, after spending trillions and making hundreds of thousands wards of the State…it is the same. Regardless of those serving time for drugs.
There is a time correlation with the regulation of alchohol, drugs and … tobacco. John shared some additional history of the players in this history.
He shared an economic model by which law enforcement and the courts would have more money and time to prosecute other crimes. The amount is close to a trillion dollars.
Posted by
dgilman on
12 August 2010, 6:44 am
15 yrs of local musical theater. Season starts in the fall. About 800 season ticket holders. Http:www.theatrecompany.com.
We were treated to an ensemble performance and sampling of the season.
Posted by
dgilman on
5 August 2010, 6:53 am
Mr Billy Parker spoke on TTF1. Born of the Oklahoma Murray Building Bombing and with the support of Dr. Kem Bennett the team stood up in less than two years.
Billy is one of the key managers and has deployed to many of the major disasters of the last dozen years. TTF1 specializes in water and urban rescue. There are only 28 Federal teams in the US with two in Texas.
An 80 person team has 17 specialties. They are brought to bear after all local and state resources are applied.
Their “campaigns” include: Aggie Bonfire, The 911 attack on the twin towers, Columbia recovery, Hurricane Katrina (12,000 Rescued), and most recently Hurricane Ike which was a well coordinated effort across state and federal resources.
Billy is a former College Station Fire Fighter.
