Trans Texas Corridor

Trans Texas Corridor, originally uploaded by twelvebitphoto.

The US Supreme Court effectively eliminated private property rights with it's Kelo decision, a decision that essentially allows anyone wealthy and hooked up politically to take land from anyone who isn't --under the cover of urban renewal, or hypothetically increased tax revenues. This is little more than legalized theft by the powerful. Individual states, of course, can choose to uphold the US Constitution and past rule of law. New Jersey, it seems, may have done just that in placing limits on these legalized thefts.

In Texas, once a bastion of property rights --a relative bastion at least-- the State is seeking to do the Supreme Court one better with what is probably the biggest single eminent domain theft in US history. If there is a more flagrant abuse of eminent domain in the service of private interests and cronies, I've never heard of it. The "Republican" government seeks to condemn private property in a mile wide swath across the entire State, and then turn this property over to the control of private interests --private interests, that is, who are more moneyed and hooked up than the current private owners. This in-your-face legalized theft, and ultimate boondoggle, is called the "Trans Texas Corridor."

As this sign indicates, one of hundreds along Highway 95, east of Austin, this notion isn't particularly popular with land owners who will see family property --in one of the most beautiful areas of the State-- disappear forever into the pockets of corrupt politicians and their corporate cronies.

The Turtle Who Crossed the Road

The Turtle Who Crossed the Road, originally uploaded by twelvebitphoto.

I saw this turtle in the middle of a country highway. I turned around, stopped my car, and carried him across. You see a lot of dead armadillos, racoons, possums, skunks, and deer along Texas roadways, but not many dead turtles, so maybe he would have been OK on his own. Maybe I scared him more than the speeding traffic. He certainly kept his head tightly inside his shell.

Confederate Cemetary?

Driving through Flatonia, Texas, I noticed that the town cemetary was freshly populated with Confederate flags. I stopped to take photos wondering if the flags represented a contemporary political statement or tribute to actual Confederate soldiers. Although I can't completely discount the possibility that some number of these flags are politically motivated, most of them appeared to be decorating graves of men who were alive during the Civil War --such as the one below of W.D. Gale, who died in 1896.

Although many of the grave stones made explicit reference to military service in WWI and WWII, I didn't see such references to the Civil War. As Texas did not play a central role in the Civil War, I found it surprising to find so many potential grave sites of Confederate soldiers in a small-town Texas cemetary. And how amazing is it that W.D. Gale, who died over 100 years ago, is still remembered by someone who cares enough to mark his grave and honor his memory? The following two photos are representative of the grave sites decorated with Confederate flags.

Confederate Soldier?

Confederate Soldier?, originally uploaded by twelvebitphoto.

Cemetary, Flatonia, Texas.

Confederate Cemetary?

Confederate Cemetary?, originally uploaded by twelvebitphoto.

Cemetary, Flatonia, Texas

Gone But Not Forgotten

Gone But Not Forgotten, originally uploaded by twelvebitphoto.

A road side grave site in Flatonia, Texas, decorated for Easter. Compare this one to my previous photo of the same site posted in February, and titled "graveflowers."

Round Here

Round Here, originally uploaded by twelvebitphoto.

This is a wall that obviously needs a door. Taken in an alley in Taylor, Texas. Just before I took this photo a guy in a truck stopped and asked, rather aggressively, just why I was taking pictures. He didn't ask what I was taking pictures of, but "why" I was taking them.

This is one of those questions that can't be answered for anyone who has to ask, but, foolishly, I tried. In retrospect, it would have been smarter to make up a story, like, "I'm scouting movie locations," or, "a real estate developer hired me to find a spot for a new mall." Somebody who stops his truck to ask a question like this isn't looking for enlightenment, he's just looking for some way to feel good about himself.