Article for Glen

[N7AAO]

Hey, Glen... I think it was you that mentioned that Texas could legally split into 5 states... the idea has made the big time!

The Wall Street Journal's "Opinion Journal" has an article (http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005511) today specifically about that, adapted from an article that was printed in the Texas Law review.

My question is, where are we gonna put 4 more stars on the flag? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[KB1GYQ]

It they decide to secede from the union it might be interesting too! Who all wants to immigrate to Texas? Might leave the rest of the U.S. wanting!

[N7AAO]

Hmmm... a 49-star flag might look just as weird as a 54-star flag.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[K3UD]

Molly Ivins would have a fit over this.

73
George
K3UD

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Aug. 22 2004,12:06)]Molly Ivins would have a fit over this.

73
George
K3UD
Ya know, I am not sure if that is a pro or a con to the idea. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[w5lda]

Why don't we just get a big saw and cut Texas from Oklahoma.We're being sucked dry here http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

kd5vsg

[K9STH]

Actually, I believe that Texas can split into 5 additional states making a total of 6. At least that is what they were teaching in school when my daughters were in the Texas public school system.

However, I haven't looked into the exact wording of the annexation documents from back in the 1840s.

There was a 49 star flag that was the "official" flag of the United States for exactly one year, 4 July 1959 until 4 July 1960. Alaska was admitted to the union several months before Hawaii. Since the new flag becomes "official" on the next 4 July the 49 star flag was adopted. Then Hawaii was admitted to the union and the 50 star flag became the "official" flag on 4 July 1960. But, since the flag makers knew that they were going to have to make 50 star flags very soon after the 49 star flag was adopted, very few of the 49 star flags were ever produced. It had 7 rows of 7 stars.

Now, if you want to see some really "strange" national flags, take a look at those that were used during the Civil War. First of all, the official standard flag at that time was 6 feet high by 6.5 feet wide! The stars were not arranged in any pre-set pattern. Some flags had the stars in rows, some had them arranged in concentric circles, some in diamond patterns, some in circles with an additional 4 stars in the corners of the blue field, some had the stars in semi-circles, and so on.

Also, many flags actually had gold stars instead of white stars. The majority of stars during that period were actually painted on the material and not sewen on.

The national (Union) flags had from 33 to 35 stars on them depending on the point in the war that they were displayed. Nevada did not become the 36th state until just a very few weeks before Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, and therefore the 36th star wasn't really used during the war.

Now, what some people call the "Stars and Bars" Confederate flag is NOT the "Stars and Bars". The flag that is displayed by various groups, usually in the 3 foot by 5 foot size is actually the Confederate Naval Jack. It is a variation of the Confederate battle flag which had a similar pattern but were usually either 3.5 feet by 3.5 feet or 4 feet by 4 feet and always square.

The "Stars and Bars" is also called the Confederate First National Flag. It consists of a total of 3 stripes, a red on each side with a white one in the middle. The blue field originally had 7 stars arranged in a circle and then was later expanded to 13 stars (one for each of the 11 states that seceeded plus one for Kentucky and one for Missouri which did not seceed). Most people don't even recognize that particular flag!

During a battle, this flag was often confused with "Old Glory". As such, the Confederacy adopted what was known as the "Second National" which had the Confederate Battle Flag as the "field" and the rest of the flag was white. Now, this flag was confused with a true "white" flag which is the internationally recognized as a "truce" flag. Finally, during the approximately last 6 months of the war the "Third National" was adopted. This was like the "Second National" but had a red vertical bar that took up 1/3 of the width of the flag at the end opposite of the field!

Anyway, the confusion in the national flags is why most Confederate forces used the Battle Flag or a variation on it!

But, getting back to the original premysis:

Just think of the power that Texas would have with either 10 or 12 Senators! The number in the House of Representatives probably wouldn't change much, if any. But an additional number of Senators from this part of the country would make a real difference!

Glen, K9STH

[N7AAO]

Glen, the article I posted to start this says that Texas can create 4 additional states for a total of 5, and they can do it more or less without the approval of Congress, because the approval has been given already.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[WA5KRP]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 12 2004,20:14)]Actually, people have to remember that when Texas was a republic that the area included Oklahoma, Colorado, and even Idaho. #When Texas was admitted to the Union, those lands except what is now the State of Texas were sold off to pay the debts that the republic had garnered. #Also remember that Texas reserves the right to subdivide into a total of six states! #That would give us 12 Senators instead of the 2 that we now have! #Those members of the House of Representatives would not probably change in number, but think what having over 20 percent of the Senate in our control would mean!

Glen, K9STH


As QQL brilliantly pointed out, we can certainly split Texas into six states, but hey - only one out of six remains Texas.

Disagree? #Let's see if Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Midland-Odessa, and El Paso agree on a water plan. #


Uh-huh.................it damn sure won't get any better in Washington, DC.



WA5KRP
Texas

[N7AAO]

I repeat... Texas can be split into five states. not six:

Quote[/b] ]"New States, of convenient size, not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas, and having sufficient population, may hereafter, by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the federal constitution."(emphasis mine)

So, we'd have Texas, and North Texas, and South Texas, and East Texas, and West Texas. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

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[w5lda]

Way too many Texas's

Haw!

kd5vsg

[wd5kca]

Texas will never split up. It is embarrassing enough to be the SECOND largest state. No way they will want to be 5 dinky states.

[KA9VQF]

I've been told that I actually live in north Texas by one of the fellows who moved in down the street.

He retired down there and moved into his wife’s ancestral home up here in Illinois

[WA5KRP]

Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Aug. 22 2004,20:18)]So, we'd have Texas, and North Texas, and South Texas, and East Texas, and West Texas.




WE?


What part of Spokane is in Texas?



WA5KRP
Texas

[k5rna]

With inflation,loss of jobs etc,it might be a good idea for Texas to secede from the union,declare war on the united states and get the hell beat out of us.Then we could apply for forign aid. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[w5klb]

I think dividing Texas into five states is a baaad idea.

First there would be arguing over just where the boarders would be, and that would take some time. Then there would have to be a decision on where the new state capitals would be located, and the MONEY to build the state houses. Then State Constitutions would have to be drawn up. I think it's more trouble than what it's worth.

Our US Constitution allows for only 2 (two) Senators per state. If we used population apportionment in the US Senate as in the US House of Representives, small states like Rhode Island would not have fair representation in the US Legislature. This is the reason why we have only two Senators per state and why we have a US Senate.

Now, I might have my history wrong, but I thought that after the Civil War, and as a condition of readmittance to the Union, fomer Confederate States including Texas, had to omit the right to suceed from the Union from their State Constitutions.

Glen, since you are quite knowledgable about most subjects, you, or anyone else living in Texas, can correct me if I am wrong.

Beside this, I would miss the phrase: "Everything's bigger in Texas." Well... maybe not everthing. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[K8ERV]

Where is Texas?

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[w5klb]

Quote[/b] (K8ERV @ Aug. 23 2004,06:05)]Where is Texas?

TOM K8ERV #Montrose Colo
Where is "Colo"? Is that located on Planet Earth? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I think will go back to practicing my "times'es and goesinta's" now. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[K9STH]

I don't know for sure, but I have been told that when Texas was "readmitted" to the union that it did not have to agree to what the other states had to because in the original annexation Texas had reserved the right to seceed. As such, Texas was the only member of the Confederate States of America that was actually "legal"!

As a matter of history, the county in which I live, and several other counties around here, voted to stay in the Union when the vote was taken to seceed. There were many unionists who were either driven out of the area or, even worse, actually executed, by the Confederate civil officials.

Glen, K9STH

[K9STH]

RNA:

Considering the oil, natural gas, refineries, space program, defense contractors, aviation manufacturers, telecommunications, semi-conductor manufactuers, computer manufacturers, etc., that are located in the State of Texas, it would be more like the remaining 49 declaring war on Texas, losing, and applying for foreign aid from us! If we didn't have to support the rest of the country and put up with all of the EPA restrictions we could have the 30 cents a gallon gasoline just like they do down in W5ALT's "neck of the woods"!

Glen, K9STH

[WA6CAW]

Call signs, Call signs, it's all about call signs..............

4 or 5 new call areas to work...all the WAS diplomas would be invalid.

How would you denote new call signs? # Maybe a dash like KD5-N-XXX or more digitally speaking

KD5_S_XXX.

Oh, this will be fun !!!

Why Are 6 Children Always Wild # #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (WA6CAW @ Aug. 23 2004,09:20)]4 or 5 new call areas to work...all the WAS diplomas would be invalid.
Why would the WAS certificates become invalid? Did the DXCC certificates become invalid when Czechoslovakia was going through it's split-again, rejoin-again, split-again stuff? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

On another topic, if Texas secedes, can I move there? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[K9STH]

CAW:

The call signs wouldn't have to change unless Texas seceeded from the Union again! All of the call areas have more than one state in them including California. Remember that Hawaii was KH6.

However, everyone would have to "start over" on their WAS.

If Texas did seceed again maybe a new prefix like 10G (for "ten gallon hat") or something like that!

Glen, K9STH

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 23 2004,09:30)]If Texas did seceed again maybe a new prefix like 10G (for "ten gallon hat") or something like that!
According to the list I just looked up online, the "TX" prefix isn't being used... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[WA5KRP]

Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Aug. 23 2004,11:27)]On another topic, if Texas secedes, can I move there?
Come on down. There's plenty of room.


Avoid Pasadena.




WA5KRP
Texas

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (wa5krp @ Aug. 23 2004,09:46)]Avoid Pasadena.

WA5KRP
Texas
I thought Pasadena was in California. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[N5RLR]

Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Aug. 23 2004)]<span style='color:green'>On another topic, if Texas secedes, can I move there?</span>Quote[/b] (wa5krp @ Aug. 23 2004)]<span style='color:red'>Come on down. #There's plenty of room.


Avoid Pasadena.</span>
Just be careful going through Richardson, Garland, Mesquite, Balch Springs, Dallas... #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (N5RLR @ Aug. 23 2004,10:37)]Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Aug. 23 2004)]<span style='color:green'>On another topic, if Texas secedes, can I move there?</span>Quote[/b] (wa5krp @ Aug. 23 2004)]<span style='color:red'>Come on down. #There's plenty of room.


Avoid Pasadena.</span>
Just be careful going through Richardson, Garland, Mesquite, Balch Springs, Dallas... #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Watch it, Mike, I might move in right next door to you, and we can interfere with each other. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[K9STH]

Yep, you might become so impressed with cities like Richardson that you wouldn't want to go any farther south!

Glen, K9STH

[N7AAO]

I hear Corpus Christi is nice... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[WA5KRP]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 23 2004,14:23)]Yep, you might become so impressed with cities like Richardson that you wouldn't want to go any farther south!

Glen, K9STH
He's right, ya' know. Folks in Richardson get to participate in the thrills of Tornado Alley.



WA5KRP
Texas

[K9STH]

Hey, Richardson isn't any where near Wichita Falls!

Glen, K9STH

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 23 2004,13:34)]Hey, Richardson isn't any where near Wichita Falls!

Glen, K9STH
Is that before or after Wichita Falls gets moved by the latest tornado? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[WA5KRP]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 23 2004,15:34)]Hey, Richardson isn't any where near Wichita Falls!

Glen, K9STH
You're walkin' on thin ice, pally.........



http://images.usatoday.com/weather/photos/alleymap.jpg

At least according to NOAA.



WA5KRP
Texas

[KM5FL]

Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Aug. 23 2004,12:02)]Quote[/b] (wa5krp @ Aug. 23 2004,09:46)]Avoid Pasadena.

WA5KRP
Texas
I thought Pasadena was in California. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
That did it!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif


Stay right where you are... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif


KM5FL

[K9STH]

Wichita Falls, over the years, seems to have the worst weather of anywhere in the State of Texas. If it is raining anywhere in Texas it usually is raining in Wichita Falls; if it is snowing anywhere in Texas it is usually snowing in Wichita Falls; if it is above 100 degrees anywhere in Texas it is usually above 100 degrees in Wichita Falls; if it is below zero anywhere in Texas it is usually below zero in Wichita Falls; if there is a drought anywhere in Texas there usually is a drought in Wichita Falls!

One of the worst, if not the worst, tornado in Texas hit Wichita Falls a few years back. Now, I do have to admit that hurricanes don't usually cause much damage in Wichita Falls!

A tornado has never hit Richardson (at least in recorded history). They have hit in Dallas just south of Richardson and in the northern part of Plano. But, so far, none in Richardson.

The closest that I have ever been to a tornado was when a very small one actually went through the corner of my parents' yard in Indiana. It took out the top of one of the trees. It &quot;hopped and skipped&quot; all the way to South Bend where it really caused some damage. That was in the summer of 1962.

Now, there have been some bad tornadoes in the Dallas area the past few years. Also, some bad rains that caused flooding to the south. However, my old home town, LaPorte, Indiana, just a few years ago got something like over 13 inches of rain. Now, that is bad enough, but the rain fell in something like 11 minutes! That did make the news all over the country.

Anyway, Wichita Falls is even further from San Antonio than it is from Richardson.

Glen, K9STH

[w5klb]

Glen:

You are probably well aware that it's only a matter of time before you see one where you live. I wouldn't want to wish a tornado on ANYONE, but you, like me, live in a tornado prone area. I just hope that you got a safe place to go if one approaches your area and I hope that NO ONE get's hurt or killed by one of these monsters. The good thing is that weather forcasting is getting better and will hopefully give you and your family some time to get to a safe place.

BTW, Oklahoma City has been hit by more tornados than any place else in the country.

Now back to the thread.

[w5klb]

Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Aug. 23 2004,09:27)]On another topic, if Texas secedes, can I move there? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif
Can you say &quot;tornado shelter&quot; or &quot;safe room&quot;?

I just *KNEW* you could.

&quot;Texas: It's like a whole 'nother country&quot;...

Especially if you move to El Paso, Lareado, Mc Allen, or Brownsville. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[k5rna]

STH.Great idea then you could run for president of the united states of Texas.
And about where Co.is.Look on a map.It is in the extreme N.W.part of Texas. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[K8ERV]

WPW: Colorado is wrapped all around me. I am in the exact center ?? of Colorado. Not saying that is good or bad. But it works for me.

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[K9STH]

One thing about a tornado is that they &quot;usually&quot; (definitely not always, but usually) seem to &quot;jump&quot; over the top of a hill or ridge. Why, I doubt that anyone knows! I live on top of a ridge!

Now, a tornado that hit in north Dallas and went on again to hit up in Plano went right over my house almost 30 years ago. I was outside at the time and the trees were going in circles! The force of the vortex actually lifted my antenna &quot;Christmas tree&quot; and pulled all four 1/4 inch bolts that held the rotor in place in two the long ways. That is, the portions of the bolts that remained in the rotor actually had the metal pulled down to a point. The antennas were lifted about 18 inches upwards then they fell back down.

When the insurance adjuster came out I was at work. My wife called me and said the he couldn't see any damage. I told her to go out in the garage and get my climbing belt and hand it to him. She did this. The adjuster &quot;decided&quot; that whatever I said was wrong was wrong! I got a cheque a few days later!

Glen, K9STH

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 24 2004,08:28)]When the insurance adjuster came out I was at work. #My wife called me and said the he couldn't see any damage. #I told her to go out in the garage and get my climbing belt and hand it to him. #She did this. #The adjuster &quot;decided&quot; that whatever I said was wrong was wrong! #I got a cheque a few days later!

Glen, K9STH
Hehehehe... he didn't feel like going up and taking a look himself?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[w5klb]

Quote[/b] (K8ERV @ Aug. 24 2004,06:00)]WPW: #Colorado is wrapped all around me. I am in the exact center ?? #of Colorado. Not saying that is good or bad. But it works for me.

TOM K8ERV #Montrose Colo
Tom ERV:

Colorado... Colorado... oh yeah-I remember now!

That's the state where a former Republic of Texas ran throught it (not to mention over half of present day New Mexico, parts of SW Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle and small part of Wyoming up to the 42nd parallel in 1830). Yep, The Republic of Texas was HUGE during those days!

I had a brother that lived in Fountain/Wide Field/Security area just south of Colorado Springs. You could look out his patio and see Cheyenne Mountain. Beautiful country, but there just a little too much snow during the winter for me. I have been to a football game at the Air Force Academy and watched Air Force lose to Colorado from box seats. Everytime Air Force made a touch down, some Air Force cadets would be out on the field doing push ups. I have never quite figured out why they did this. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[w5klb]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 24 2004,08:28)]One thing about a tornado is that they &quot;usually&quot; (definitely not always, but usually) seem to &quot;jump&quot; over the top of a hill or ridge. #Why, I doubt that anyone knows! #I live on top of a ridge!
Glen:

Be real careful, OM, about &quot;assumming&quot; ANYTHING about tornados. When I was a lad and living in Davis, Ok,(that's north of Ardmore on I-35), my family and I watch a tornado go up one mountain, The Arbuckles, and down another way back in 1968! It didn't skip. A lot of old timers from that area claimed that they had never seen a tornado do this before-and they must have had a LOT or tornados because the elementary I went to there was UNDERGROUND (that's right UNDERGROUND)!

Some old timers around here used to claim that a tornado would NEVER cross a river but people in extream eastern Kay, and Western Osage counties here in Oklahoma would tell you that they seen tornados cross the Arkansas river in that area many times! There was one recently, a few months back, touched down on the Arkansas River west of Tulsa #near Sand Springs! Just goes to show that you can NEVER predict what these tornados will do!

[K9STH]

WPW:

That is why I said &quot;usually&quot;! If one were coming, my wife and I would head for the bathroom that is in the very center of my house (no basements in this part of Texas - the soil is generally too unstable).

I worked with a fellow down at TXU who's house made all of the television news shows after the Lancaster, Texas, tornado a few years back. The only thing that was left on the slab foundation of his house was the four walls of one of the bathrooms. He, his wife, and 3 children were all crammed into that bathroom! Not a scratch on them! But, they were definitely frightened. The slab was &quot;sucked&quot; completely clean, that is, not a splinter of wood was left except for the frame to the bathroom.


Now, from my middle daughter (who is definitely a &quot;native born&quot; Texan) who moved from Orange County, California, to Scottsdale, Arizona, about a year ago:

Nobody asked for them, but here are some little known Texas facts. I know ya'll just can't wait to read them, especially those of you who are not originally from Texas. Some of you who have kids or grandkids, you can pass this along.

Beaumont to El Paso: 742 miles

Beaumont to Chicago: 770 miles

El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas

World's first rodeo was in Pecos... July 4, 1883.

The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water.

The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first full time coach for Rice University, Houston.

Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America.

Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.

The worst natural disaster in U.S. history was in 1900 caused by a hurricane in which over 8000 lives were lost on Galveston Island.

The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was &quot;Houston.&quot;

King Ranch is larger than Rhode Island.

Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43&quot; in 24 hours in and around Alvin in July 1979.

Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, instead of by annexation. (This allows the Texas flag to fly at the same height as the US flag.)

A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.

Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.

Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period after Dr in Dr Pepper.

Texas has had six capital cities.
1. Washington-on-the-Brazos
2. Harrisburg
3. Galveston
4. Velasco
5. West Columbia
6. Austin

The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. (by 7 feet).

The name Texas comes from the Hasini Indian word &quot;tejas&quot; meaning friends. Tejas is not Spanish for Texas.

The State animal is the Armadillo. *

* An interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies! They have one egg which splits into four and they either have four males or four females.

The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston.


THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - TEXAS STYLE

People here in Texas have trouble with all those shalls and shall nots in the 10 Commandments. Folks here just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, some folks out in west Texas got together and translated the &quot;King James&quot; into &quot;King Ranch&quot; language.

Ten Commandments, cowboy style:

Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie, Texas.

(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma &amp;Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.

Now that's kinda plain an' simple don't ya think?

Glen, K9STH