Please Have A Nice And Safe Fourth Of July

Please have a nice and safe Fourth of July. 

(Above–Independence Hall in Philadelphia.)

Here is information about visiting Independence Hall.

Texas Progressive Alliance Round Up With Map Of Spanish Missions In Texas

Below is the weekly Texas Progressive Alliance round-up. The Texas Progressive Alliance is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas.

Above is a map of where Spanish Missions were located in Texas between 1659 and 1795.  Here is information and history about Spanish Missions in Texas from the very good Handbook of Texas Online.

From the Handbook—“The Spanish mission was a frontier institution that sought to incorporate indigenous people into the Spanish colonial empire, its Catholic religion, and certain aspects of its Hispanic culture through the formal establishment or recognition of sedentary Indian communities entrusted to the tutelage of missionaries under the protection and control of the Spanish state.”

The round-up–

Off the Kuff takes a look at the latest Lyceum poll on the Governor and Senate races in Texas.

Neil at Texas Liberal suggests that instead of blowing of your fingers lighting fireworks–during a drought in Harris County no less—that maybe you would be better off reading a book instead.

With 2010 spinning up, it’s funny to watch all the different players already on the field line up to take their first hits. McBlogger, of course, thinks they’re all deeply in need of a little advice which he graciously provides (with surprisingly sparse use of profanity)!

WCNews & Dembones at Eye On Williamson post on the latest controversy involving the Williamson County Commissioners Court, Budget officer not just a good idea, it’s the law.

John at Bay Area Houston says Turn out the lights, the family values party is over.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chismethinks online Texas Republican commentary on Mark Sanford is interesting.