September 7, 2015

Williamson County civil rights case requiring religious test for hiring constables moves forward

Former Burnet County deputy Robert Lloyd scored a victory Wednesday in his civil rights case against Williamson County when a federal judge denied a request to dismiss the lawsuit.

In refusing to dismiss the lawsuit, senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra cleared the way for the case to go to trial at a later date.

Mr. Lloyd claims Williamson County officials violated his civil rights while he was being interviewed for the then-vacant Precinct 3 constable position in March 2013.

-snip-

The lawsuit alleges candidates for the position were asked their views on abortion, gay marriage, religion and politics during the interview.

County commissioners have said that, due to the political nature of the constable post, the candidates’ views on such charged topics were important because whoever was eventually selected would have to run for re-election.

Read the complete article at http://www.etypeservices.com/SWF/LocalUser/Williamson1//Magazine97566/Full/index.aspx?II=97566#7/z (Williamson County Sun, page 7, middle of the page)

[font color=330099]I wonder what the legal tab is running since the last update a year ago? Another example of poor financial stewardship by Republican officials.[/font]

Earlier threads:
Religious test for constable applicants in Williamson County (updated 11:37 p.m.) May 2013
Two join hiring lawsuit against Williamson County commissioners March 2014
Legal tab nears $90,000 in Williamson County constable lawsuit September 2014

September 7, 2015

KSU halftime causes uproar.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State officials have apologized for a marching band routine during Saturday night's season opener that involved the rival Jayhawks and appeared to be adult-oriented in nature.

The theme of the halftime show against South Dakota was "space," and involved scenes from Star Trek and Star Wars. During one formation, the Kansas State band formed the Kansas mascot and what was supposed to be the starship Enterprise crashing into it.

The spaceship wound up resembling male genitalia, which in turn set social media ablaze.

Kansas State President Kirk Schultz tweeted an apology for the performance, and band director Frank Tracz issued a statement Sunday in which he said "there was absolutely no intent to display anything other than the Enterprise and the Jayhawk in battle."

Tracz went on to apologize for the "misinterpretation" and said the band meant "absolutely no disrespect or malice toward the University of Kansas."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/K-State-marching-band-apologizes-phallic-halftime-6488046.php#photo-8590297

[font color=330099]Not really sports, but it was game related.[/font]

September 7, 2015

Temple co-founder wants to start Buddhist frat and sorority

SAN DIEGO -- The Greek gods on Fraternity Row at San Diego State University may have to make room for the Buddha.

Planning is underway for a Buddhist fraternity and sorority at the school known for its partying reputation.

Jeff Zlotnik, a founder of the Dharma Bum Temple in downtown San Diego, said he envisions the houses offering classes in Buddhism and meditation to help college students cope with stress, anxiety and depression.

"We're not looking to start this heavy religious organization," he told The San Diego Union-Tribune (http://bit.ly/1NbV83R). "This is a cultural organization. We're not trying to create ordained Buddhists."

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article34259268.html

September 6, 2015

Roughing the referee--San Antonio Jay High School under investigation by the UIL

SAN ANTONIO - Northside ISD and the University Interscholastic League are looking into a play in which two San Antonio Jay football players barreled into a referee during Friday night’s game against Marble Falls.

Late in Jay’s 15-9 loss at Marble Falls, one defensive back ran from 7 yards away into the back of an official watching a run play unfold 9 yards in front of him.

After the referee’s fell to the turf after the first hit, another player standing to the right of the referee and several yards away led with his helmet and dove into the official.

Both players were ejected. Northside ISD athletic director Stan Laing said the video was “very disturbing.” Laing said the district is investigating the sequence of events leading up to the play, and the University Interscholastic League is aware of what happened.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/Northside-ISD-investigating-incident-with-6487815.php

September 6, 2015

‘Constitutionally adequate’ education isn’t good enough

The chant of "We're No. 1, we're No. 1" will soon be reverberating with the opening of football season.

For fans, the yell means our school is the greatest, our school is tops in everything, our school is first class in all things, including sports.

No one goes around shouting, "We're constitutionally adequate, we're constitutionally adequate."

"Constitutionally adequate" is the phrase that the state's lawyers clung to this week as they began their defense of the funding system for Texas' public schools.

Read more: http://www.caller.com/columnists/nick-jimenez/constitutionally-adequate-education-isnt-good-enough-0fec5f1b-bdf4-37d8-e053-0100007fdab2-324403351.html

September 6, 2015

Maybe this will help El Supremo feel better after tonight's game...

From the Donut Taco Palace!

September 6, 2015

India invites Japan for naval exercises with US

In a clearly provocative move against China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Japan to join the annual India-US naval war games. Known as the “Malabar exercises,” the war games are to be held in the Bay of Bengal, the northeastern arm of the Indian Ocean, in October.

This decision of the Indian government to make the naval exercises trilateral has been clearly encouraged by Washington as part of its aggressive “pivot” to Asia—that is, the military encirclement of China in preparation for war.

The Malabar exercises have been held annually since 1992, except for a four-year suspension by the US because of Indian nuclear bomb tests in 1998. The US resumed them in 2002, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

On the invitation of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Japan, Australia and Singapore participated in those annual exercises in 2007. That led to strong diplomatic opposition from China, and India did not repeat the invitation to Japan until this year.

Read more: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/09/05/indi-s05.html

September 5, 2015

Southwestern Pirates or Hardened Sinners?

Yes, it is the first weekend of collegiate football and the reincarnated Southwestern Pirates in its third season after a 63 year absence from the gridiron is taking on the Hardened Sinners in Abilene, Texas this afternoon. Any predictions about the outcome?

September 5, 2015

ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez Comes Out as Gay: ‘I’m So Happy Right Now’

Israel Gutierrez, a former columnist for The Miami Herald and one of the faces of ESPN’s Around the Horn, has come out as gay (and engaged!) in an emotional blog entry posted on his website Friday.

Writes Gutierrez:

I’m gay, which plenty of people, I’m sure, have either deduced or just guessed as much over the years.

But this isn’t me “coming out.” The truth is, I’ve been out to friends and family for more than six years.

The reason I’m tackling this now is, primarily, because I’m getting married on September 12. And besides the fact that it would be annoying to tell my story every time someone sees my wedding ring, it just seemed like a natural time to get this out in the open.

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2015/09/israel-gutierrez-gay/

September 5, 2015

New Mexico Gov. Martinez: Trump’s criticism of Bush’s Spanish a distraction

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s criticism of rival Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish is a distraction.

A Republican and the nation’s only Latina governor, Martinez said Friday following a news conference the spat was taking the focus away from real issues facing the country.

Bush said he had been responding to a reporter’s question in Spanish this week when he replied in Spanish to criticize Trump.

Trump told Breitbart News that Bush should “set the example” by speaking English while in the U.S.

Read more: http://www.abqjournal.com/639523/news/gov-martinez-trumps-criticism-of-bushs-spanish-a-distraction.html (Albuquerque Journal)