TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalIt's Debatable: Who should elect U.S. senators?
This week, Arnold Loewy and Don May (aka Mr. Conservative) debate whether U.S. senators should be elected by popular vote or by state legislatures. Don writes an independent blog on lubbockonline.com and Arnold is the George R. Killam Jr. Professor of Law at Texas Tech University School of Law.Don: The United States Constitution was written with the intent to define and maintain a small federal government with limited powers. Our federal government derives its powers from the American people and from the individual states.
The United States Constitution was written to protect people and the states from the potential tyrannical power of a federal government controlled by career politicians and career bureaucrats.
The states and the people were intended to retain all power not expressly given to the federal government by our Constitution. The 10th Amendment clearly defines this, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
More at http://lubbockonline.com/editorials/2013-09-08/its-debatablewho-should-elect-us-senators#comment-303109 .
[font color=green]The comments to this debate are equally entertaining.[/font]
Royal mix-up: UK police order prince to ID himself
LONDON (AP) — You might forgive Britain's royal protection unit for being a little jittery.
Two days after an intruder was discovered prowling around Buckingham Palace, police confronted Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, in the royal residence's garden and demanded he identify himself.
London's Metropolitan Police said in an email Sunday that they had apologized to Andrew, also known as the Duke of York, and the royal responded with a touch of humor.
"I am grateful for their apology and look forward to a safe walk in the garden in the future," he said in a statement.
More at http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Royal-mix-up-UK-police-order-prince-to-ID-himself-4796493.php?cmpid=hpbn .
The Affordable Care Act Part V: Mental Health Services
By Dr. Brian CarrPresident, Behavioral Health Associates, Lubbock, Texas, 1991-Present
Chairman, City of Lubbock Board of Health, 2013
Submitted on September 8, 2013 - 8:33am
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the health reform law has already been hard at work improving health care access and medical care affordability for millions of people in the United States. But while the benefits of the ACA toward insurance coverage and preventative wellness are fairly well-known, there is another area of health care which stands to benefit—mental health.
According to a presentation from William J. Hudok, Senior Public Health Advisor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Affordable Care Act impacts mental health services in the same way it does all other aspects of health care: Through an increase in insurance coverage, better access to care, and controlled costs.
SAMHSA and the Department of Health and Human Services indicate the following benefits can be expected under the Affordable Care Act in the realm of mental health services:
• Starting in 2014, substance abuse or mental illness can no longer be considered “pre-existing conditions,” which used to limit health insurance coverage.
• In 2014, mental health and substance abuse services will be required by law to be covered under all insurance plans.
• National goals have been set to identify and reduce mental health care disparities in the U.S.
• More federally-qualified mental health care facilities will be made available and funded.
• There will be an increased focus on telemedicine, which will facilitate mental health services and collaborative efforts from a distance, through the use of telecommunication technologies.
• Additional funding will be allocated to mental health organizations, such as SAMHSA.
• State Health Homes will be made available for individuals recovering from substance abuse and mental health disorders.
• School-based mental health programs will be initiated for child mental health care.
• Grants will be allocated exclusively for training more mental health care professionals.
• No-cost and low-cost preventative screenings will include mental health services.
• Mental health benefits will be included in the Medicaid expansion.
In addition to the above benefits, the Affordable Care Act forces insurers and medical facilities to include mental health care as a part of general care services covered. This way, insurers and private medical practices cannot charge separate premiums or separate deductibles for the treatment of substance abuse or mental health services.
TAGS:
LubbockOnline Blog
Go Big Red
Lubbock
Luckily mental health services will be available for angry old white doctor guys
mental
No lightening is going stop us
ObamaCare
Perry is happy with Johnny Football
Texas
UT needs a therapist
http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/dr-brian-carr/2013-09-08/affordable-care-act-part-iv-mental-health-services
Cross-posted in Good Reads forum.
[font color=green]This is actually the fifth installment provided by Dr. Carr although the headline in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal shows Part IV.[/font]
The Affordable Care Act Part V: Mental Health Services
By Dr. Brian CarrPresident, Behavioral Health Associates, Lubbock, Texas, 1991-Present
Chairman, City of Lubbock Board of Health, 2013
Submitted on September 8, 2013 - 8:33am
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the health reform law has already been hard at work improving health care access and medical care affordability for millions of people in the United States. But while the benefits of the ACA toward insurance coverage and preventative wellness are fairly well-known, there is another area of health care which stands to benefit—mental health.
According to a presentation from William J. Hudok, Senior Public Health Advisor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Affordable Care Act impacts mental health services in the same way it does all other aspects of health care: Through an increase in insurance coverage, better access to care, and controlled costs.
SAMHSA and the Department of Health and Human Services indicate the following benefits can be expected under the Affordable Care Act in the realm of mental health services:
• Starting in 2014, substance abuse or mental illness can no longer be considered “pre-existing conditions,” which used to limit health insurance coverage.
• In 2014, mental health and substance abuse services will be required by law to be covered under all insurance plans.
• National goals have been set to identify and reduce mental health care disparities in the U.S.
• More federally-qualified mental health care facilities will be made available and funded.
• There will be an increased focus on telemedicine, which will facilitate mental health services and collaborative efforts from a distance, through the use of telecommunication technologies.
• Additional funding will be allocated to mental health organizations, such as SAMHSA.
• State Health Homes will be made available for individuals recovering from substance abuse and mental health disorders.
• School-based mental health programs will be initiated for child mental health care.
• Grants will be allocated exclusively for training more mental health care professionals.
• No-cost and low-cost preventative screenings will include mental health services.
• Mental health benefits will be included in the Medicaid expansion.
In addition to the above benefits, the Affordable Care Act forces insurers and medical facilities to include mental health care as a part of general care services covered. This way, insurers and private medical practices cannot charge separate premiums or separate deductibles for the treatment of substance abuse or mental health services.
TAGS:
LubbockOnline Blog
Go Big Red
Lubbock
Luckily mental health services will be available for angry old white doctor guys
mental
No lightening is going stop us
ObamaCare
Perry is happy with Johnny Football
Texas
UT needs a therapist
http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/dr-brian-carr/2013-09-08/affordable-care-act-part-iv-mental-health-services
Cross-posted in Texas Group.
[font color=green]This is actually the fifth installment provided by Dr. Carr although the headline in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal shows Part IV.[/font]
The Undefeated Since 1950 streak has ended
After 63 years my alma mater, Southwestern University, returned to the football field in Division III action. Texas Lutheran University won the game 44-14, but the Pirates did a good job moving the ball with over 400 yards of offense and the lead receiver (Colten Shea, freshman) had 258 yards on 9 receptions. Although the score might appear lop-sided, the game was closer than what the final score indicates and the team earned a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of the game.
The attendance at the game in Georgetown, Texas was over 7,000 and there were also over 7,000 online viewers--a great turnout for a university with slightly over 1,500 students enrolled. People watched the game from as far away as Massachusetts, Alaska and South Korea. I thought that the game would be a bigger blow out considering that Texas Lutheran has an established football team that includes some scholarship athletes as they transition down to Division III (non-scholarship athletics). The Southwestern roster is dominated by true freshmen, so they should be proud of what they accomplished even though the game did not result in a victory.
Hopefully the good things will lead to at least one victory this season. Go Pirates! 
Box Score
Period Time
1 10:43 Texas Lutheran - T. Brandenburg 23 yd field goal.
Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards in 4:17. 3 - 0
2 07:46 Texas Lutheran - Deion Barnes 4 yd pass from Brent Peavy. (T. Brandenburg kick is good).
Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards in 4:09. 10 - 0
2 00:43 Texas Lutheran - Tyler Figol 24 yd pass from Brent Peavy. (T. Brandenburg kick is good).
Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards in 5:42. 17 - 0
3 11:26 Texas Lutheran - Deion Barnes 19 yd pass from Brent Peavy. (T. Brandenburg kick is good).
Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards in 1:42. 24 - 0
3 11:08 Southwestern (Tex.) - C.Shea 68 yd pass from D.Smith. (L.Tucker kick is good).
Drive: 1 plays, 68 yards in 0:18. 24 - 7
3 01:28 Texas Lutheran - Dom. Hardaway 1 yd run. (2pt conversion rush by Chadd Brown fumbled - no score).
Drive: 9 plays, 39 yards in 3:27. 30 - 7
4 04:41 Southwestern (Tex.) - C.Shea 40 yd pass from D.Smith. (L.Tucker kick is good).
Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards in 0:51. 30 - 14
4 03:40 Texas Lutheran - Deion Barnes 7 yd pass from Brent Peavy. (Chadd Brown kick is good).
Drive: 3 plays, 24 yards in 1:01. 37 - 14
4 03:06 Texas Lutheran - J. Olonade 0 yd fumble return. (Chadd Brown kick is good). 44 - 14
Texas' Cornyn avoids tea party primary challenger
AUSTIN, Texas —
One national conservative group produced an online video calling Texas Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn a chicken. Another held a "town hall" inside a Dallas hotel ballroom with a cardboard cutout of him, claiming he refused to show up in person.
Tea party and other grassroots activists are attacking the Senate minority whip as too moderate despite what most observers say are strong conservative credentials. But, so far, the groups that last year helped unleash firebrand Ted Cruz on the Senate can't seem to manage a second act to challenge Cornyn in the state's Republican primary set for March.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Cornyn said he's prepared all the same to fight off any threat from the right. The two-term incumbent raised $4-plus million during the first half of the year — more than any other GOP senator up for re-election — and appears poised to coast to another term unless a legitimate contender emerges soon.
There may still be time, but the Dec. 9 candidate filing deadline is now barely three months off.
More at http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/social-issues/cornyn-avoids-tea-party-primary-challenger-so-far/nZqBp/ .
Alaska Cat Injury News: Mayor Stubbs survives dog's assassination attempt ; Wasabi's 11-story plunge
Two mews stories for the feline aficionados on DU.
Mayor Stubbs recoopurrating.
Stubbs, Cat Mayor Of Alaska Town, Wins Community Support After Dog's Assassination Attempt
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The honorary mayor of a tiny Alaska town is noticeably absent this week, when he should be hanging out at the general store or sipping his water-catnip concoctions from a wine glass at the pub next door.
Instead, Stubbs the cat is sedated and under veterinary care after he was badly injured in a vicious dog attack in Talkeetna, a quirky community of 900 that elected him in a write-in campaign 15 years ago. Talkeetna has no human mayor, so you could say 16-year-old Stubbs is the reigning leader – of the feline sort, anyway.
"He's everybody's guy," said Stubbs' owner, Lauri Stec, who manages Nagley's General Store, where the orangey-beige cat lives and mingles with locals and tourists alike. Saturday's attack by the loose dog left Stubbs with a punctured lung, bruised hips, a long deep gash on his side and a sternum fractured to the point it might need to be repaired with a plate.
Stec, who said she knows the dog that was involved, has reported the attack with borough animal control officials.
More at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/stubbs-cat-mayor_n_3872485.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News
Stephanie Gustafson holds her two-year-old female cat, Wasabi.
Kitty falls 11 stories from Mendenhall Tower window
JUNEAU, Alaksa — Stephanie Gustafson was relaxing at home Monday evening when curiosity got the best her two-year-old cat Wasabi.
“It was about 11 p.m. She was chasing a mosquito around the house,” Gustafson said. “Normally I keep the windows closed because she’s so curious, but this time it was open just enough.”
The mosquito escaped through the window of Gustafson’s 11th floor apartment at the Mendenhall Tower in downtown Juneau; Wasabi, a mere slip of a cat, went after it.
Gustafson said she “freaked out”. Her mother watched as the cat fell to the ground.
More at http://juneauempire.com/local/2013-09-05/kitty-falls-11-stories-mendenhall-tower-window#.Uin0atJJPTo .
Deion Sanders Is 86 Percent Impaired, Workers Comp Claim Says
Deion Sanders, who has accused other NFL athletes of faking their head injuries for money, is cognitively impaired, four doctors have determined.
Sanders has had no problem using his pedestal as a Hall of Famer and television analyst to talk shit about other former NFL players suffering brain damage. "The game is a safe game," he said during the Super Bowl telecast last year. "I don't buy all these guys coming back with these concussions. I'm not buying all that. Half these guys are trying to make money off the deal."
But perhaps that was just the behavioral/emotional disorder talking. He apparently has that too.
In total, the four different doctors who examined Sanders found him to be suffering from 13 medical conditions. Sanders reported the grim diagnosis in a workers compensation claim he filed in California.
More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/09/deion_sanders_who_says_footbal.php .
Texas Air Base Commander has Zombie Defense Plan
Sometimes, it's nice to know there's a plan of action.
ABILENE (AP)--Preparing for all eventualities, a wing commander at a West Texas Air Force base says he has a plan for defending the base from attacks by zombies.
Brig. Gen. Glen VanHerck commands the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base near Abilene. His answer to an online Q&A session that he had a zombie defense plan drew attention from the magazine Air Force Times.
VanHerck told the Abilene Reporter-News he didn't intend to attract that much attention, only to show the Dyess community he was "approachable" and a human with a sense of humor.
And the plan? First, secure the base. Second, alert base personnel via Internet, public access television and social media. Next, fortify all gates, airdrop supplies to Abilene neighborhoods, then launch B-1Bs against the zombies.
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/weird/Texas-Air-Base-Commander-has-Zombie-Defense-Plan-222683271.html
[font color=green]Is there something in the water there?[/font] 
Austin-San Antonio Rail Project May Get Federal Funds
Officials in Austin and San Antonio are in talks with the U.S. Department of Transportation about receiving federal funding to facilitate connecting the two cities via high-speed rail, according to local and federal officials.
“I think that that concept has a lot of promise, and we just have to continue working with the local community to see how to get it in shape and see what we can do on the federal level,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.
San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro and Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell confirmed ongoing conversations on the possibility of federal funding for the project.
“I think it’s in the very initial stages,” Leffingwell said. “There is interest here, and there is interest in the federal level.”
More at http://www.texastribune.org/2013/09/06/feds-may-fund-austin-san-antonio-high-speed-rail/ .
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: 112,585
