2007 Events

Past events are listed below in reverse-chronological order. For the most recent events, see the home page.

Index

Syncopated Events

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Industry Events

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Community Events

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Deaths, Obituaries and Remembrances

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Other Events

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Austin Zilker Park Trail of Lights Celebration

2007/12/09-23: The annual Trail of Lights celebration in Austin's Zilker Park (City of Austin...Trail of Lights Celebration)

The typical operational life of these fuel cells should be significantly longer than the three to five years of currently-available rechargeable batteries. (See also An Introduction to Electrical Systems.)

For more information, see the abstract Texas Education Shuns Evolution, Violates Constitution.

Activision was the first independent developer and distributor of video game software. Founded October 1, 1979, its first products were cartridges for the Atari 2600 video game console. In 1988, Activision attempted to broaden the scope of its products to include business software, changing its name to Mediagenic though continuing to publish games using its Activision and Infocom brands. (wiki:Activision)

Activision last changed ownership as the target of a hostile takeover on January 25, 1991, while employing Syncopated founder John Carlsen.

Austin Zilker Park Tree Lighting Ceremony

2007/12/02: The tree of lights on Austin's Zilker Park "moonlight tower" is illuminated. (City of Austin...Zilker Tree) The Zilker Park tower is a two-lamp replica of Austin's original lighting towers.

Following the discovery of a first victim on New Year's Eve of 1884, the nation's first recorded serial killer emerged in Austin (wiki:History_of_Austin,_Texas), and the city responded by erecting lighting towers to improve public safety at night, when the killer struck. Described to a friend by then-Austinite William Sydney Porter – better-known for writing short stories as O. Henry – in a letter dated May 10, 1885 as the "Servant Girl Annihilators", the killer is now believed to have acted alone, typically dragging women from their beds and raping them before slashing or axing them to death. (wiki:Servant_Girl_Annihilator) Through Christmas Eve of 1885, the killer may have claimed as many as nine victims, seven of them women. By comparison, Jack the Ripper, who began his rampage in London three years later, killed only five. (Austin Chronicle: Features: Killer...)

In 1894, Austin purchased 31 used 150-foot six-lamp carbon-arc lighting towers from the City of Detroit, Michigan. By 1976, only 17 towers remained and were then listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and these towers were completely restored in 1993. Austin is the only city in the world known to still operate a system of lighting towers. (wiki:Moonlight_tower)

Evel Knievel, 1938-2007

2007/11/30: American motorcycle daredevil Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel, Jr., died of natural causes at age 69 en route to a hospital from his home in Clearwater, Florida. (wiki:Evel_Knievel)

Evel Knievel inspired a generation and video games including Atari's Stunt Cycle 1975 coin-operated and 1977 single-game home versions and Axlon's 1990 MotoRodeo for the Atari 2600, developed by Steve DeFrisco, a colleague of Syncopated founder John Carlsen.

Syncopated Surveys Quality of Web Sites

2007/11/23-26: After recently publishing guidelines for evaluating Web page quality, Syncopated Systems now ranks many local Web sites and ranks many local Web site developers. Of the roughly 20 sites referenced on Syncopated's home page, only one – Wikipedia – passed even a basic markup test; sites failing the test include those of roughly seven of every eight local commercial Web site developers and the City of Austin's site, even through its recent major revision.

"It's tragic and scandalous", says Syncopated Systems founder John Carlsen, "that so many Web pages fail the test. This really demonstrates that most Web site developers just don't know the first thing about what they're doing."

According to Mr. Carlsen, every Web page should pass the free automated quality-assurance test offered by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the authoritative body for Web publishing standards; the test works like a spelling checker and is available for anyone to use. Depending on the number and severity of errors, sites failing the test cause technical malfunctions that differ with each browser used and often limit users' ability to access information, ranging from obscuring displays to hanging or crashing Web browser programs.

In addition to technical problems, some organizations can expose themselves to huge legal liability by violating laws governing Web publication, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Wireless Internet Turns 30 Years Old

2007/11/22: Thirty years ago today, SRI International and the University of Southern California demonstrated wireless inter-network data telecommunication using packet radio, a telecommunication satellite, and the ARPANET.

Atari Considers Desperate Measures

2007/11/20: Atari, operating at a loss and unlikely to receive additional funding from its current parent Infogrames Entertainment, announced it may suspend current development projects, lay off more staff and sell its remaining intellectual property. (gamesindustry.biz)

More than two decades ago, Atari employed Syncopated founder John Carlsen, who – years later – also worked for Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell.

San Marcos Veteran's Day Dinner Dance

2007/11/10: Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force hosts its annual Veteran's Day Dinner Dance in its second World War aircraft hangar in San Marcos, with dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by dancing to period music played by Kerrville's Sentimental Journey Orchestra from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m.

Comer was placed on paid administrative leave after forwarding an electronic mail message in late October announcing a presentation by Barbara Forrest, author of a book claiming creationist politics are behind efforts to get intelligent design theory taught in public schools. Forrest was a key witness in the 2005 law suit Kitzmiller v. Dover [Pennsylvania] Area School District (wiki:Kitzmiller...) concerning the introduction of intelligent design theory into public school science curricula. (Austin American-Statesman) The case is the subject of a Nova documentary titled Judgement Day: Intelligent Design on Trial (wiki:Judgement_Day:...), aired on PBS in the same month (wiki:Kitzmiller...).

In a memorandum recommending Comer's termination, agency officials cited that forwarding the message "implies endorsement of the speaker and implies that [the Texas Education Agency] endorses the speaker's position on a subject on which the agency must remain neutral." (Austin American-Statesman: State science curriculum director resigns) Federal District Court Judge John E. Jones III concluded in the 2005 case that the Texas agency must not remain neutral on the subject, writting "that it is unconstitutional to teach [intelligent design] as an alternative to evolution in a public school science classroom." (wiki:Kitzmiller...)

In 1984, Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox issued Opinion No. JM-134 on a similar matter, summarizing as follows:

The rules of the State Board of Education, concerning the subject of evolution, fail to demonstrate a secular purpose and are therefore in contravention of the first and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution.

See also The Seven Warning Signs of Bogus Science by Robert L. Park from The Chronicle of Higher Education issue dated 2003/31/01.

Syncopated founder John Carlsen supports science education and has judged school science fairs in Austin.

Space Shuttle Discovery Lands Safely

2007/11/07: The United States' space shuttle Discovery lands safely in Florida

Election Day

2007/11/06: For information about the local election, see the Travis County sample ballot. See also an opinion On Elections and Voting.

Screen Writers Strike

2007/11/04: Today the Writers Guild of America called for its first stike in nearly 20 years. Meanwhile, within the computer game industry, continued abuse of labor – particularly in Washington state and at the once-noble Electronic Arts – continues to increase interest in collective bargaining through unionization. (Game Developer Magazine)

Sputnik II 50th Anniversary

2007/11/03: Fifty years ago today, the Soviet Union launched Earth's second artificial satellite, Sputnik II carrying the dog Laika, the first animal in space; humorists quickly dubbed it "Muttnik" (wiki:Sputnik_program)

First Austin Commuter Rail Cars Arrive

2007/10/22: The first of the Austin-area commuter railroad cars arrive (News 8 Austin story); also see the article On Rail Transit

Travis County Early Voting

2007/10/22-11/02: Early voting period in Travis County, Texas: for details, see the sample ballot. See also an opinion On Elections and Voting.

Electronic Design Interviews Nolan Bushnell

2007/10/19: Electronic Design magazine interviews Nolan Bushnell, father of electronic games, inventor of Pong, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater restaurants, and former mentor of Syncopated founder John Carlsen

Syncopated's Third Anniversary

2007/10/12: Syncopated celebrates its third anniversary as a Texas corporation

Sputnik I 50th Anniversary

2007/10/04: Fifty years ago today, the Soviet Union launched Earth's first artificial satellite, Sputnik I; the following year, this inspired San Francisco Chronicle writer Herb Caen to coin the term beatnik in an article about the beat generation (wiki:Sputnik_program)

Syncopated Creates, Adopts Logo

2007/09/18-20: Syncopated is pleased to announce the long-awaited adoption of its branding device, or logo, now displayed on its Web site.

Syncopated had boycotted the Austin Game Conference after its first two years, in part due to evidence identifying it as a source of poorly-targeted unsolicited commercial email (often referred to as Spam), and did not participate in the new conference this year.

New Tool Fingers Wikipedia's Spin Doctors

2007/08/18&19: A London Telegraph article and a New York Times article have identified a new tool created by Virgil Griffith, a 24-year-old researcher at the California Institute of Technology, in response to last year's abuses by Congressional members (and/or staff) to their own and to their opponent's descriptions on the user-created information repository Wikipedia.

Because of the relative anonymity of authors and editors of articles published on sources such as Wikipedia, Syncopated recommends that Wikipedia be used for initial cursory research only, and that references to it be prohibited from use in any scholarly or professional work.

On its Web site, Syncopated provides links to many Wikipedia articles for the convenience of its users, but disclaims responsibility for the suitability or accuracy of those articles.

In 2006, the Syncopated Software Development Corporation adopted the name Syncopated Systems to better reflect the range of expert computer product development services it provides beyond software development, including business systems analysis, electrical and mechanical analysis and engineering, technical communication and entertainment production.

Syncopated filed its application for this trademark registration on September 1, 2006, as it combined and continued the operations of its founder's prior ventures Carlsen Electronic Research and Carlsen Communications, established 1988 and 1999 in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, California, respectively.

Town Lake Renamed Lady Bird Lake

2007/08/06: As authorized by a resolution of the Austin city council passed on 2007/07/26 (wiki:Lady_Bird_Lake), the Town Lake reservoir is today renamed Lady Bird Lake (story on News 8 Austin) in honor of the recently-deceased Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady of the United States and a long-time resident of the Austin area, who died at her Austin home on 2007/07/11 of natural causes at age 94.

Mississippi River Bridge Collapses

2007/08/01: A bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River along Interstate Highway 35 west (I-35W) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, killing 13 and injuring approximately 100 more.

In 2005, the I-35W bridge had been rated "structurally deficient", scoring a "sufficiency rating" better than only 4% of bridges nationwide. An inspection carried out 2006/06/15 found "problems of cracking and fatigue". The bridge's structural problems were well-known, though – on the day of the collapse – Governor Tim Pawlenty said that he had interpreted the reports to indicate that the bridge would last until 2020 or beyond. (wiki:I-35W...)

The Interstate Highway System funds about 56% of construction and maintenance costs through user fees, primarily gasoline taxes, collected by states and the federal government, and tolls collected on toll roads and bridges. (wiki:Interstate...) However, about six weeks before the bridge collapse, Texas state senator Kirk Watson identified that "the federal government is rescinding transportation money it had offered to states, in part to pay for federal budget shortfalls caused by things like the Iraq War. As of February, Texas had lost $594 million in federal money in the previous year and a half." (KirkWatson.com)

Lady Bird Johnson, 1912-2007

2007/07/11: Former first lady Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, wife of former President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson, died at her home in Austin, Texas of natural causes at age 94. (wiki:Lady_Bird_Johnson)

China Tightens Food Safety Rules, Executes Former Regulator

2007/07/10: China executed a former director of the country's food and drug safety agency. On May 29, Zheng Xiaoyu, 63, was sentenced to death on charges of dereliction of duty and taking 6.49 million yuan in bribes from pharmaceutical firms in return for approving new drugs, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. (Manufacturing.Net)

In the wake of the execution, China is struggling to salvage its reputation as a safe exporter. Importers of Chinese goods, especially the United States, have grown extremely wary as the list of products tainted with deadly toxins and dangerously high levels of chemicals grows each day. (Manufacturing.Net)

Syncopated Resolves Problem Receiving Electronic Mail

2007/07/02: Syncopated detected and resolved a problem receiving its incoming electronic mail. In doing so, Syncopated discovered a flaw with Apple Mail 1.3.11 (v622/624) through which messages are not removed automatically from the incoming mail (pop) server, as configured, requiring this periodically to be done manually.

Prior to this discovery, Syncopated had permanently disqualified Apple as a potential vendor, largely due to serious problems with Apple's product quality and trade practices.

Apple and A.T.&T. Ring in Ernestine's Revenge with iPhone

2007/06/29: Apple released its iPhone, which requires purchasers to enter into a new two-year service contract with A.T.&T..

Syncopated has separately disqualified both Apple and A.T.&T. as potential vendors, largely due to their serious quality problems and unlawful trade practices. Syncopated wishes to discourage prospective iPhone purchasers by sharing its experiences and reminding them of comedienne Lily Tomlin's character Ernestine, the telephone operator, who famously said, "We're the phone company. We don't care, we don't have to."

Richard Garriott Hosts I.G.D.A. Membership Drive

2007/06/23: Austin game mogul and Origin Systems cofounder Richard Garriott, also known as Lord British, hosted a membership drive party for the International Game Developers Association at his home's Lake Austin frontage, Castleton. Attendees included contestants from the Sci Fi Channel's Who Wants to be a Superhero? starring Stan Lee.

Sotheby's Auctions 20-Year-Old Atari Artwork

2007/06/21: Sotheby's New York auction house sold a 2,200-piece collection of 8-bit video game artwork retrieved from Atari's Sunnyvale, California offices two decades ago. The lot included "drafts for game manuals, box art, and even 20-year old drawings of Donkey Kong and Mario that are markedly different than how the notorious caricatures appear today." Sotheby's estimated that the collection would fetch anywhere from $150K to $250K. (MaximumPC)

Sotheby's reports, via its Web site, that the lot sold for $4,366,460.

Syncopated Helps Sponsor Texas Swing

2007/06/01: Syncopated proudly helped sponsor a fund-raising event for Project Transitions, a local charitable provider of support for people living with H.I.V. and AIDS. The 12th annual Texas Swing event was held at Saengerrunde Hall and Scholz Beir Garten, featuring Texas two-step dance lessons (from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.) followed by barbeque (from 8:00 p.m. to midnight), a charity auction, and dancing to live music by Alvin Crow. Tickets were available for $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

Syncopated Domain Name Disputes Resolved

2007/05/28: Syncopated is pleased to announce the resolutions of multiple disputes involving Internet domain names infringing Syncopated's registered trademark "Syncopated Software".

In 2006, after discovering obvious infringement and failing to resolve the matter with a domain name registrant, Syncopated submitted an ICANN U.D.R.P. complaint. Clearly demonstrating prejudice and disregard for Syncopated's registered trademark, the National Arbitration Forum denied Syncopated relief and – surprisingly – accused Syncopated of attempted "Reverse Domain Name Hijacking", creating an ongoing dispute with the arbitration provider. Once informed of the registered trademark, the three subsequent re-registrants released their interests in the infringing domain names. (For details, see the "Syncopated Software" Domain Name Dispute.)

Star Wars Turns 30 Years Old

2007/05/25: The first Star Wars motion picture was released 30 years ago today. (wiki:Star_Wars) (Fans, be sure to see the Star Wars wiki project, similar to Wikipedia, called Wookieepedia.) In celebration, the United States Postal Service today issues its Star Wars commemorative souvenir sheet of 15 $0.41 first-class postage stamps. (USPS Star Wars stamps)

Dell Releases Linux Desktops, Notebook

2007/05/24: Austin-area computer maker Dell releases desktop and notebook personal computers with Ubuntu Linux as their factory-installed operating system. As Linux is offered essentially free of charge, Dell customers are expected to save up to $200 on the purchase of each new Linux-based computer versus similar units shipped with Microsoft Windows. (Information Week)

More closely based on the archetypal operating system Unix than Microsoft Windows, Linux is a much more stable and secure operating system for computers using the Intel i80x86 processor architecture. Based on industry research and prior experience, Syncopated expects annual support costs for Linux- and Unix-based computers to be up to 90% less than for those running Microsoft Windows.

Syncopated has disqualified Dell and Gateway as potential vendors, for reasons including their requirements that any disputes be resolved through binding arbitration through the National Arbitration Forum, with which Syncopated has a pending dispute. (Dell policy)

O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships

2007/05/19: Austin's 30th annual pun competition, the O. Henry Pun-Off

U.S.P.S. Postal Rate Increase

2007/05/14: The United States Postal Service today increases rates for all classes of mail except periodicals, for which the increase is delayed until 2007/07/15. (United States Postal Service)

As summarized in the table below, the rate for two-ounce letters decreases and the increase for a one-ounce first-class letter appears commensurate with current price inflation rates, but less than half our estimated long-term rate of price inflation.

Austin Ballroom Dance Festival

2007/05/12-13: This year's annual Austin Ballroom Festival was held in the Texas Union ballroom at the University of Texas at Austin, starting Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with beginner and (at 2:00 p.m.) intermediate/advanced Waltz workshops. The evening's event began at 7:00 p.m. with a short introductory Foxtrot workshop followed by general dancing to the music of the Nash Hernandez Orchestra, with a break for performances at 8:30-9:00 p.m.

This event was organized by Dance International and Texas Union Informal Classes.

Star Wars Day

2007/05/04: May the fourth be with you!

Cine las Americas International Film Festival

2007/04/19-26: Austin's 10th Cine las Americas International Film Festival; pass/ticket sales started March 21

Boris Yeltsin, 1931-2007

2007/04/23: Former President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin died of congestive heart failure at age 76. (wiki:Boris_Yeltsin) As Yeltsin himself said (then of the removal of Russian military presence from Germany), "Today is the last day of an era past."

Massacre at Virginia Tech

2007/04/16: At Virginia Tech, 23-year-old student Cho Seung-hui shot dead 32 and wounded many others before killing himself.

The incident is the deadliest school shooting incident in the United States, surpassing the 15 deaths of the Columbine High School massacre of 1999 and the 16 deaths of the University of Texas [at Austin] shooting of 1966. It is the second-deadliest school-related killing in U.S. history, behind the 1927 Bath School disaster which claimed 45 lives, including 38 school children.

With a death toll of 33, this is one of the deadliest civilian shootings in United States history, behind the Mountain Meadows massacre of 1857 in Utah Territory in which between 100 and 140 civilians were killed by gunfire, axes, and clubs, and ahead of the [Waco, TX] Luby's massacre of 1991 in which 24 people were shot and killed.

The incident also occurred within the same week as the anniversaries of three other mass murders in recent U.S. history: the end of the Waco Siege on April 19, 1993, the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, and the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999. (wiki:Virginia_Tech_massacre)

"When will we learn that being defenseless is a bad defense?" responded Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, the second-largest gun rights lobbying group in the United States. Seeking to abolish "gun-free zone" mandates that prohibit the possession of weapons on most campuses, Pratt adds, "All the school shootings that have ended abruptly in the last ten years were stopped because a law-abiding citizen – a potential victim – had a gun." (G.O.A. press release)

Apple II Turns 30 Years Old

2007/04/16: Apple (formerly Apple Computer, to MacWorld 2007) released its Apple II computer, Apple's first fully-assembled product. (wiki:Apple_Computer)

The Apple II and its predecessor were designed by Steve Wozniak, now a fellow of the Computer History Museum. (See also Steve_Wozniak on Wikipedia and Steve Wozniak's Web site.)

For its poor trade practices and product quality since 2001, Syncopated has disqualified Apple as a potential vendor.

2007: M.A.A.'s Year of Euler

2007/04/15: The Mathematical Association of America celebrates the 300th anniversary of the birth of Leonhard Euler (pronounced like "oiler"), one of history's greatest mathematicians. (wiki:Leonhard_Euler)

Annual M.A.A. Texas Section Meeting

2007/04/12-14: The Mathematical Association of America's Texas Section annual meeting was held at the University of Texas – Pan-American and Echo Hotel and Conference Center in Edinburg, in southern Texas.

For more information, see our MAA TX 2007 meeting schedule, complete with schedules and abstracts.

Austin Spamarama

2007/04/07: Austin's 29th annual pandemonious potted pork festival, Spamarama, from noon to 6:00 pm in Waterloo Park (403 E. 15th St.), Austin, TX

Vernal Equinox

2007/03/21: Today is one of two days each year in which the amount of daytime equals the amount of nighttime. Today also marks the beginning of spring in Earth's northern hemisphere and autumn (or fall) in its southern hemisphere. (wiki:Equinox)

Dancing with the Stars Viewing at Alamo Drafthouse

2007/03/19: Austin's Lake Creek Alamo Drafthouse Cinema hosted a free evening of dance demonstrations by Dance International at 5:30-6:30 p.m. followed by screening the Disney's A.B.C. television broadcast of this season's Dancing with the Stars premiere episode at 7:00-9:00 p.m.

All-Con 2007 in Dallas

2007/03/16-18: Dallas' All-Con: "The largest multi-format convention in the great state of Texas"

Pi Day

2007/03/14: 3.14...; it figures...

Daylight Saving Time Begins Early

2007/03/10: United States Daylight Saving Time begins today, three weeks earlier than usual.

Austin Studios Open House

2007/03/10: Austin Studios open house at 2:00-5:00 p.m. for South by Southwest (SxSW) attendees and Austin Film Society (AFS) members

South by Southwest Media Conference and Festival

2007/03/09-18: Austin's annual South by Southwest (SxSW) conference and festival for music, film and interactive media

Game Developers Conference in San Francisco

2007/03/05-09: The original annual Game Developers Conference was held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California

Academy Awards

2007/02/25: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted its 79th annual Oscar awards night.

Austin Implodes Intel Building

2007/02/25: The shell of a building in downtown Austin, abandoned by Intel years ago while still under construction, was imploded.

National Engineers Week

2007/02/18-24: February 18-24 was the annual United States National Engineers Week.

Molly Ivins, 1944-2007

2007/01/31: Molly Ivins, the popular newspaper columnist, political commentator and best-selling author died at age 62 in her Austin, Texas home under hospice care, after fighting breast cancer since 1999.

President George W. Bush, a frequent target of her barbs, said in a statement, "I respected her convictions, her passionate belief in the power of words, and her ability to turn a phrase. She fought her illness with that same passion. Her quick wit and commitment to her beliefs will be missed." (wiki:Molly_Ivins)

Snow Days in Austin

2007/01/16-17: Freezing temperatures and icy roads made these days good to stay home, avoid accidents and watch the falling snow. AccuWeather.com forecasted local weather.

Martin Luther King Day

2007/01/15: This year, the United States national holiday Martin Luther King Day (established in 1986 and observed on the third Monday in January) honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929/01/15-1968/4/4) falls on his birthday.

A famous leader of the United States civil rights movement, an outspoken peace advocate and a Baptist minister, Dr. King remains one of the most influential and controversial people in recent history. On October 14, 1964, Dr. King became the youngest man (at 35 years old) to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Beginning in the 1980s, questions of plagiarism have been raised regarding the authorship of King's dissertation, other papers, and speeches. Dr. King was assassinated at 6:01 p.m. April 4, 1968; though James Earl Ray was convicted of Dr. King's assassination, Dr. King's surviving family won a 1999 wrongful death civil trial against Loyd Jowers and "other unknown co-conspirators", in which the jury found Jowers guilty and that "governmental agencies were parties" to the assassination plot. (wiki:Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.)

W.S.J. Interviews Famed Hacker "Cap'n Crunch"

2007/01/13: The Wall Street Journal interviewed legendary computer pioneer John Draper. Now 63 years old, Mr. Draper more than 30 years ago influenced a generation of other computer pioneers including Apple cofounders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. (wiki:John_Draper)

TREx B.B.S. 20th Anniversary

2007/01/10: One of the earliest computer bulletin board systems to support multi-line chat, TREx ("The Relational Exchange") has been in operation and donation-supported since January 10, 1987. Congratulations TREx!

Users may now access TREx via Internet telnet protocol.

Central Texas Highway Toll Plazas Open

2007/01/06: The first toll plazas open on several newly-constructed Austin area highways, but the matter of tolled highways remains hotly debated. Another vote is expected to be required within the coming months.

Syncopated opposes road toll collection for its double taxation, environmental impact and grossly inefficient use of funds, land, fuel and travelers' time; even the political process surrounding tollways makes Austin less attractive to business growth (as did that of the inefficient local light rail transit plans of years past). Instead, Syncopated supports indexing existing fuel taxes annually in line with price inflation, ultimately doing this by redefining the fuel tax as a percentage of fuel's price rather than as a fixed price per gallon.

In a March 2005 special report, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Carole Keeton Strayhorn cites the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority for conduct apparently violating Texas law and for creating a number of conflicts of interest and double taxation.

For additional information on central Texas toll roads, see these Web sites:

• People for Efficient Transportation PAC (a.k.a. "Texas Toll Party" and "Austin Toll Party")
• South Texans for Good Government (a.k.a. "San Antonio Toll Party")
• Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority
• Texas Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO)
• TxTag
• Texas Department of Transportation

L.C.R.A. Draws Down Lake Austin

2007/01/02: At the request of the City of Austin to help control fast-growing hydrilla and other nuisance aquatic plants in Lake Austin, the Texas Lower Colorado River Authority begins a six-week slow drawdown, which should bring the lake's level down about 12 feet by the end of January. For more information, see the L.C.R.A. press release.