TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalPsychologist goes on rampage at Freer High School; damages multiple vehicles
Freer ISD officials said the man admitted to damaging several student vehicles parked at the FISD athletic field house parking lot.
http://www.caller.com/news/2013/dec/29/counselor-arrested-after-student-vehicles-damaged/?partner=popular (subscription required).
In a separate video account, Timothy Blanchard was arrested on felony charges for damage to five vehicles belonging to members of the women's basketball team. Blanchard is a psychologist that works with the school and has a girlfriend employed with the school district .
http://www.kiiitv.com/category/194871/video?clipId=9678378&autostart=true
Guess who Ted Cruz blames for the shutdown
Texas tea party favorite Sen. Ted Cruz tells ABC's Jonathan Karl on "This Week" that he has no regrets about the 16-week federal government shutdown.
In fact, he blames President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders, ABC News reports in a story on its website.
"I think it was absolutely a mistake for President Obama and Harry Reid to force a government shutdown," Cruz says. And he brushes off House Speaker John Boehner's opposition to the Obamacare/shutdown strategy.
"I can't help what other people say," Cruz tells Karl.
More at http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Guess-who-Ted-Cruz-blames-for-the-shutdown-5099974.php?cmpid=hpbn .
Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons died Saturday night at 82
Billionaire Harold Simmons died Saturday night at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, says wife Annette. He was 82.
Annette Simmons tells our Alan Peppard that the East Texas native, who currently sits at No. 40 on Forbes’ list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, has been “very sick for the last two weeks,” and in Baylor’s intensive care unit for the last eight days. She did not reveal the specific cause of death.
-snip-
Simmons also funneled tens of millions to Republican campaigns in 2012 with the hopes of unseating President Obama, who he famously called “the most dangerous man in America.” Indeed, he was the GOP’s top contributor in the last election cycle.
But, as reported earlier this year, Simmons also contributed to the likes of Planned Parenthood, and his “recent philanthropic giving has been anything but right-leaning.”
More at http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/dallas-billionaire-harold-simmons-died-saturday-night-at-82.html/ .
A gay black man’s response to A&E’s reversal of Phil Robertson’s suspension from ‘Duck Dynasty’
By Buster Spiller-snip-
First, I want to know what network I can pitch a TV show to about my regular American black family (blended from Michigan, Chicago, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas) that will allow me to call white people “racist blue-eyed devils,” “demonic descendants of evil slave owners” and “privileged cracka muthafuckas,” to name a few. Maybe A&E will allow it on their network (Oprah is too squeamish for that sort of thing). It can’t be on an all-black network, though. It has to be seen and HEARD.
Second, who are the advertisers for this show and the other shows on A&E? I know Walmart, Sears and Cracker Barrel carry their merchandise and people need to stop shopping at ALL of those, but who buys air time? They need to be added to this list.
Here’s the deal: I fully expected A&E to reinstate the billy goat but not until next season. This quick turnaround means they succumbed to the 250,000 people who signed that petition. Well, since potential market share losses from those people scared them, how would they feel getting hit by a loss in profit margin from all their advertisers? Ads ARE the business in television and if anything will get A&E’s attention, their advertisers will.
The only thing crackas understand is MONEY and POWER. Always BEEN that way. That three-fifths human clause in the Constitution? MONEY and POWER. It had nothing to do with your equalness as a human being. MONEY and POWER. And since white people know that all they have to do is keep people entertained (especially niggas), they will continue to hold the keys to MONEY and POWER.
More at http://www.lonestarq.com/busters-take-gay-black-response-aes-reversal-phil-robertsons-suspension/#more-1716 .
Greg Abbott Doesn't Want To Talk About His Koch Problem
Greg Abbott attended a schmaltzy resort gathering of the biggest Republican donors, hosted by none other than the Koch brothers. That would be Charles and David Koch, whose seemingly endless millions in funding launched the Tea Party's infrastructure. Aside from their sparking that astro-turf network, the oil-rich Koch brothers routinely fund efforts to undermine climate science and to beat down renewable energy.
"Amid tight security, traffic was blocked on the road into the secluded luxury site near Albuquerque at the base of the Sandia Mountains," a reporter explains. But Abbott doesn't want to talk about his time with the Kochs in New Mexico. He has declined to answer questions about it, and his spokespeople won't answer reporters who inquire about the trip. Even Koch Industries is mum.
Abbott was not in New Mexico making dastardly plans with the Koch clan to fill America's rivers with laser-equipped sharks. But he was clearly asking for his agenda from monied interests who have no interest in what's best for Texas.
"It's clear that Abbott's litigation is directly in line with what the Kochs would want done," said Andrew Wheat of Texans for Public Justice.
More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14576/greg-abbott-doesnt-want-to-talk-about-his-koch-problem .
Civil War ship found at bottom of Houston Ship Channel yields trove of artifacts
A 150-year-old Civil War ship and its contents is on it's way to Texas City after being excavated from the bottom of the Houston Ship Channel and restored in a five-year project.
The USS Westfield, which sank in the Battle of Galveston in 1863, was brought to the surface in 2009 in what was the largest maritime archaeological rescue project ever undertaken in Texas.
Once up, archeological conservators discovered hundreds of artifacts including belt buckles from the crew, boiler and engine parts as well as live ammunition.
The star of the find is a 12-foot-long cannon, which could have fired projectiles over a mile and a half.
More at http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/article/Civil-War-ship-found-at-bottom-of-Houston-Ship-5096367.php?cmpid=hpts .
Aggie uniforms redesigned by Chick-fil-A cows are, sadly, fake
A set of alternate Texas A&M football uniforms is making the rounds just in time for next week's Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.
Too bad they're fake.
The Aggies are playing the Duke Blue Devils in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve at the Georgia Dome.
The Chick-fil-A uniforms, complete with cow spots and chicken sandwich gloves aren't real, but considering all of the things that A&M and other high-profile college football teams have done to spice up their uniforms this year, it's not too far-fetched to think Johnny Manziel wouldn't step onto the field wearing these togs.
More at http://www.chron.com/sports/aggies/article/Aggie-uniforms-redesigned-by-Chick-fil-A-cows-5096210.php?cmpid=hpts#photo-5648925 .
Cross-posted in Sports Group.
Aggie uniforms redesigned by Chick-fil-A cows are, sadly, fake
A set of alternate Texas A&M football uniforms is making the rounds just in time for next week's Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.
Too bad they're fake.
The Aggies are playing the Duke Blue Devils in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve at the Georgia Dome.
The Chick-fil-A uniforms, complete with cow spots and chicken sandwich gloves aren't real, but considering all of the things that A&M and other high-profile college football teams have done to spice up their uniforms this year, it's not too far-fetched to think Johnny Manziel wouldn't step onto the field wearing these togs.
More at http://www.chron.com/sports/aggies/article/Aggie-uniforms-redesigned-by-Chick-fil-A-cows-5096210.php?cmpid=hpts#photo-5648925 .
Cross-posted in Texas Group.
Friday Night Catnip: The Pentangle - Basket of Light (1969)
It's been a while since I've posted any Friday Night Catnip, but I saw that this album was available on YouTube recently and thought it worthy of being included in the Friday Night Catnip category. This particular post strays from my earlier posts of psychedelic 60s music since this fits more closely into the category of British folk rock; however, with a sitar in the band it still provides an urge to dip into the catnip canister. 
I was introduced to the music of The Pentangle in the early 90s after my girlfriend (Sally) returned from studying in London. Obviously, she liked track #7. My personal favorites on the album are "Light Flight" and "Hunting Song".
"Light Flight" became popular through its use as theme music for a TV drama series Take Three Girls (the BBC's first drama series to be broadcast in color) for which the band also provided incidental music.
1. "Light Flight" McShee 0:00
2. "Once I Had a Sweetheart" (traditional, arranged Jansch/Renbourn/Thompson/Cox/McShee) McShee 3:14
3. "Springtime Promises" Jansch 7:51
4. "Lyke Wake Dirge" (traditional, arranged Jansch/Renbourn/Thompson/Cox/McShee) Renbourn, Cox, and McShee 11:55
5. "Train Song" Jansch and McShee 15:27
6. "Hunting Song" McShee, Jansch, Renbourn, and Cox 20:10
7. "Sally Go 'Round the Roses" (Lona Stevens, Zell Sanders) Renbourn and McShee 26:51
8. "The Cuckoo" (traditional, arranged Jansch/Renbourn/Thompson/Cox/McShee) McShee 30:25
9. "House Carpenter" (traditional, arranged Jansch/Renbourn/Thompson/Cox/McShee 34:51
Terry Cox -- drums, glockenspiel, hand drum, lead and backing vocals
Bert Jansch -- lead and backing vocals, guitar, banjo on "House Carpenter"
Jacqui McShee -- lead and backing vocals
John Renbourn -- lead and backing vocals, guitar, sitar
Danny Thompson -- double bass
In addition, what's better than breaking out the catnip on a road trip?
Well, The Pentangle was looking out for the wayward traveler ("Traveling Song"/"Let No Man Steal Your Thyme"
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Mayor Parker, city of Houston move same-sex benefits lawsuit out of Republican judge’s court
Mayor Annise Parker and the city of Houston have moved a lawsuit challenging same-sex benefits out of Republican Judge Lisa Millard’s court after she allegedly halted the benefits without giving the city proper notice.
City Attorney David Feldman filed a “Notice of Removal” on Friday saying the lawsuit belongs in U.S. district court instead of state court because it raises federal questions, including the guarantees of equal protection and due process under the U.S. Constitution. The notice of removal says Millard, who presides over the 310th State District Family Court, failed to notify Parker and the city before holding a hearing at 5 p.m. on Dec. 17 — the same day the lawsuit was filed — and issuing an order halting the benefits.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Harris County Republicans Jack Pidgeon and Larry Hicks, allege the same-sex benefits violate the city’s charter and Texas’ bans on same-sex marriage. The plaintiffs are represented by Harris GOP chair Jared Woodfill, an attorney who has said the suit belongs in Millard’s court because it relates to statutes banning same-sex marriage in the Texas Family Code.
According to a legal expert, the notice of removal filed by the city on Friday automatically moves the case into federal court for the time being. To get it back in state court, the plaintiffs would have to ask a federal judge to remand it.
More at http://www.lonestarq.com/city-houston-moves-sex-benefits-case-judge-lisa-millards-court/ .
Cross-posted in Texas Group.
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
Number of posts: 112,125
