Sky Watch Friday

Sky Watch Friday
Throwback Thursday

WHEREVER WEDNESDAY - 2 YEAR ANNIVERARY!!

Welcome to This is Wherever Wednesday!   At Wherever Wednesday we share those little moments that show the character of the places we live:  those "This is California, this is Cambridge, Costa Rica moments."  Wherever you are, or wherever you've been...you can share your posts about those places here.

This month is the TWO YEAR anniversary of Wherever Wednesday being at Texifornia!  So, if you have been "traveling" with us for a while, I invite you to share  one of your favorite OLD Wherever Wednesday posts so we can take a look back (and maybe a new post too!).  (And so sorry folks that this post was a little late...if you've been traveling for a while with us you know that happens sometimes)

As always, I want to share a few posts from last week, in case you missed them...and there were so many good ones.  

• A fascinating snapshot of Johanasburg from Living in Africa
• A slice of life from San Ignacio, Belize, from Los Gringos Locos
• A hike through the wood to explore the ruins of a 19th century sugar mill on Vieques Island, from Vagrants of the World

I promised to share some of my favorite posts from old Wherever Wednesday's too..  So hard to choose,    If you haven't seen them before, I hope you'll check out at least one of these wonderful posts.  

This is Grenada - Budget Blond

One of the first "Wherever Wednesday" posts I read, back on Budget Blond, who started this whole things.  It was short and sweet and nearly all text, but the cultural snippets were so fascinating I was hooked immediately.

Bum Jeep (This is Grenada) - Whitticisms

Another "This is Grenada" story that had me laughing so hard I was crying.

This is Up North Minnesota - Nanas Notes

One of the first posts after TIWW moved

to Texifornia, and exactly what TIWW is about.

This is North Carolina - Make it Count

Real lighthouses and Lawn Lighthouses...just the sort of 

regional quirk that I love hearing about.

This is Guatamala/This is the USA/This is Normal?  - Simply Complicated

This was the most moving, most worldview changing post that ever graced This is Wherever Wednesday.  

This is Crawfordville - Bohemian Babushka

I just had to share one of Babushka's wonderful, humor filled posts.  Hard to pick which one,

but I settled on this one about her home town, which gets better and better the further down you get.

This is the Colorado River - Grace, Grits and Gardening

The combination of her beautiful photos and exquisite wording made me feel like I was there,

feet sinking in the muddy water, hand on the paddle.  

If you're new to Wherever Wednesday and are wondering what's this all about...every month we share those little moments that really show the character of the places we live:  your "this is North Dakota, Denmark, Delaware, Dubai"  WHEREVER" moments.     If you're still a little uncertain what that means, this post over at Budget Blond will help you out.  And, though it's not required, I'd love if you would grab the This is Wherever button on the sidebar and share it in your post or somewhere else on your blog!  

An InLinkz Link-up

Where is Wherever Wednesday?

Yep, on the 2 year anniversary of This is Wherever Wednesday...I forgot to post it.  So sorry.  I have decided to postpone this this month to the 2nd Wednesday.  (November 12)

Texas Elections: Last Minute Research

There's still time to research your vote Texans!  I'd like to share some resources with you.  Sorry that this is a no frills list.  Still doing research myself and will add to this list as I get more resources.  On debates and articles, if I know of a fact check on any of the issues, I will include it underneath that link.

If you're in that spot where you haven't done any research, you still have time, even on the last day, to research one race.  Don't feel bad if you don't vote in all the races.  If you make an informed vote in ONE race you've done something good.

List of All Candidates
Get a Sample Ballot at Vote 411
(There's a form on the side where you can enter your info
 and get a listing of all the elected offices that will be on your local ballot) 

DEBATES

Govenor Debate
-FACT CHECK on accusation that Abbot ruled that "Payday Lenders" (who supported his campaign) could charge unlimited fees (Rated True by Politifact)
-Note:  I have not finished watching this debate, so have not completed listing fact checks for it either.

Lt. Govenor Debate
-FACT CHECK on accusation of Patrick voting against testing Rape kits (Rated "Pants on Fire" or Completely False by Politifact)
-FACT CHECK on accusation that Van de Putte voted to give illegal immigrants "totally free healthcare"  (Rated False by Politifact)
-FACT CHECK on accusation that Patrick said women not getting equal pay is "not a problem" (Rated Half True by Politifact)
-FACT Check on Van de Putte's statement that the company that evaluates student exams ""goes on Craigslist to get examiners to read our students’ essays." (RATED Mostly False)
-FACT CHECK on whether Patrick "put back" education spending he had taken away during downturn  (This is a check on something he said outside the debates, but he said something similar here as well, so I'm including it).

Comptroller Debates 

Railroad Commissioner Forum 
(Railroad Commissioner has nothing to do with railroads anymore, but regulates oil, gas and other natural resources in TX)  Sadly the Republican candidate did not show for this.

Texas Agricultural Commissioner Forum  
Sadly only the Libertarian candidate showed for this.

Attorney General (Sort of...see note below)
I could not find a debate between the Attorney General's candidate...but I was interested enough that I went back and looked at the Primary debate including the Republican Paxton, and have outlined in the link above where you can find his responses in the video.  You can also find the Libertarian Primary debate here.  I could not locate any Democratic primary debates.

Fact Check Sites
These fact check sites below, especially the first one, have checks on these and more candidates,
including things they have said in speeches and political ads.  

Politifact Texas

Fact Check.org

Voters Guides

Texas League of Women's Voters Guide

Has candidate answers to various questions, and also good explanations of

the duties/requirements of each of the offices.  Also has information on the Texas Constitutional
Amendments up for a vote this year.

Christian Voter Guides

This has links to several voter guides, many of which could be used by 

non-Christian voters as well to see how candidates stand on various issues.

Some of the linked guides portray objective information like voting records, 

while others use more subjective measurements.