Texas
updated
6:29 a.m.
from Ed Lowe Howdy Friends of the Brazos , It’s time for our 7th Annual Brazos River Clean-up , we will again cover 3 river segments-Highway 67 to Tres Rios; Tres Rios to Sandlin Camp and Sandlin Camp to Brazos Point. Please come out and help. If you don’t want to canoe, there are areas to clean from shore. Please let me know if you’re comin...
Somervell County Salon - 6:29 a.m.
Thanks to Sid Miller (TX House District 59) for sending this link Here's an FAQ about the new approach which is now longer called NAIS. I notice that there is going to be some kind of push on states, rather than at the national level to implement animal traceability. I also see that my specific concern is addressed. Q. Is the new framework mandatory for all owners of animals? A. ...
Somervell County Salon - 6:29 a.m.
The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the city of New Orleans for the Saints’ stirring Super Bowl victory, and reminds them that the “hair of the dog” trick doesn’t really help with the hangover. The Texas Cloverleaf sentencing of GOP Denton County Constable Ken Jannereth. Probation, anger management, laying off the bottle, and maybe more to come [...]...
Three Wise Men - 6:29 a.m.
About $1.4 billion in taxpayers' money has been sent to the border for water and sewage projects in the last eight years, but little has been achieved in making low-income neighborhoods more livable, a new federal study says. Where did the money go? Besides the Army Corps of Engineers and HUD, the study says the other federal agencies that were ineffective were: the Environmental Protection Agenc...
South Texas Chisme - 6:29 a.m.
I've got a couple of Marc Levin's recent reports on my to-blog list from the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Center for Effective Justice, but in the meantime via email here's a compendium of much of his recent work on Texas crime and punishment policy: Texas Criminal Justice Reform: Lower Crime, Lower Cost - January 2010 By: Marc Levin By continuing to build upon the recent ...
Grits for Breakfast - 6:04 a.m.
Several recent death-penalty related items merit Grits readers' attention: First, NPR's program Fresh Air yesterday aired a lengthy interview with Houston attorney David Dow, who has written a new, much-praised book titled Autobiography of an Execution , which has received wide critical praise. Then last night, the death penalty came up as a source of disagreement in the Democratic Governor's...
Grits for Breakfast - 6:04 a.m.
It is truly a remarkable day for the New Media when my friend Neil at Texas Liberal trumps the Dallas Morning News in the logic associated with their respective endorsements for Texas commissioner of agriculture. But don't take my word for it... In the contested Democratic primary for Agriculture Commissioner, the Dallas Morning News has endorsed Kinky Friedman over Hank Gilbert. Well, mayb...
Brains and Eggs - 5:07 a.m. - 2 clicks 
Monday morning District 1 Councilwoman Linda DeLeon announced that she will not seek reelection (A-J story, KCBD story). Linda is a fantastic organizer and leader, and I’m sad to see her leave the council. But, she’s right: 24 years of public service is a long time, and the next generation of leadership needs to emerge. [...]...
Lubbock Left - 1:42 a.m.
The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the city of New Orleans for the Saints’ stirring Super Bowl victory, and reminds them that the “hair of the dog” trick doesn’t really help with the hangover. The Texas Cloverleaf highlights the sentencing of GOP Denton County Constable Ken Jannereth. Probation, anger management, laying off the [...] ...
TruthHugger - 12:04 a.m.
Adam Lowther is the latest of a number of analysts to make just that claim. Read why . There is no god and I am his prophet. ...
SocraticGadfly - Mon 11:47 p.m.
WHEN THEY MADE THEIR TEXAS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER ENDORSEMENT By Faith Chatham - DFWRCC - Feb. 8, 2010 I've read some stupid candidate endorsements in my day. The reasons cited in this one tops the list. Kinky Friedman over agriculture teacher and rancher/businessman Hank Gilbert for Texas Agriculture Commissioner and their reasoning is WHAT??? SOURCE: Dallas Morning News Monday, Februar...
DailyKos (Texas) - Mon 10:08 p.m. - 6 clicks
The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the city of New Orleans for the Saints' stirring Super Bowl victory, and reminds them that the "hair of the dog" trick doesn't really help with the hangover. The Texas Cloverleaf highlights the sentencing of GOP Denton County Constable Ken Jannereth . Probation, anger management, laying off the bottle, and maybe more to come for the disgraced la...
Left of College Station - Mon 8:10 p.m. - 2 clicks
The battle for Democratic votes won't take place in big cities across Texas. Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio are likely to vote blue. The battle will be fought in small towns across this Red State. In New Braunfels, Texas, a few progressives are taking back the local news. They get press coverage for their local rallies , and they are slowly taking back the reddest part of the ...
DailyKos (Texas) - Mon 7:41 p.m. - 2 clicks
And for this Democratic primary voter (and soon-to-be precinct chair), that means 'no' on Bill White. Asked whether there should be a moratorium imposed, Shami said, "Yes ma'am. We need to be 110 percent" certain that a person is guilty. "We can't be just executing people without being sure," Shami said. "We cannot be bragging how many people we execute." "No," said White to the same question ...
Brains and Eggs - Mon 7:41 p.m. - 6 clicks
The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the city of New Orleans for the Saints' stirring Super Bowl victory, and reminds them that the "hair of the dog" trick doesn't really help with the hangover. The Texas Cloverleaf highlights the sentencing of GOP Denton County Constable Ken Jannereth. Probation, anger management, laying off the bottle, and maybe more to come for the disgraced lawman. C...
Texas Kaos - Mon 7:24 p.m. - 2 clicks
As part of my ongoing efforts to kill my blog traffic, here is a quick post on the Democratic debate for Governor of Texas that took place this evening. This is the kind of post you write about a fleeting event, and it stops drawing traffic not long after it is posted. Still—We must take part [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Mon 7:24 p.m. - 3 clicks
The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board must be smoking crack for endorsing Kinky Friedman in the Democratic Primary for Agriculture Commissioner. One thing the DMN didn't remember is that Friedman is not a Democrat. Never has been. Never will be. You would think if you were going to endorse a Democrat, endorse one that is actually a Democrat and one that knows something about what he is ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Mon 7:24 p.m. - 3 clicks
"The country took a well-deserved time-out last night from bleak news about jobs, deficits, health care, Iran and the like. Even if you were pulling for Peyton Manning and the Colts, you had to agree that the epic upset victory by the New Orleans Saints was the best feel-good moment for the country in more than a year. ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/08/new-orleans-an-inspiration-fo ...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 6:48 p.m.
Well color me surprised! Meghan McCain, the daughter of Senator John McCain called the Teabagger movement "innate racism" something that goes without saying. Also going without saying, but she said it anyway, is that the teabaggers are scaring away the youth. "It's innate racism, and I think it's why young people are turned off by this movement," McCain retorted on The View . "I'msorry, b...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Mon 6:28 p.m.
I hope you guys are watching this -- you're not going to get to see another one. The two presumptive frontrunners for the Democratic spot in this year's governor race, Farouk Shami and former Houston mayor Bill White, are debating in Fort Worth tonight. The debate is hosted by KERA, the local public access station, and can be caught on TV, radio, and on the Texas Debates website . My opinio...
The Texas Blue - Mon 6:13 p.m. - 5 clicks
Did you ever wonder where people got the idea that toll roads are inherently good things? Did you ever wonder how toll roads have become so numerous around these parts? I have, and so have the Fort Bend County voters in Precinct 1 who came out and voted against a toll road authority candidate and for a Democratic candidate, Richard Morrison, whose call to battle was “No Toll Roads.” At the time...
Half Empty - Mon 5:44 p.m. - 2 clicks
I support Hank Gilbert in the Democratic primary for Commissioner of Agriculture. (Above—A Texas Longhorn. The leading agricultural exports of Texas are live animals and red meat. Here are facts about Texas Longhorns.) Here is the web home for Mr. Gilbert’s campaign. The primary is March 2. Early voting begins February 16. Here are facts about early [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Mon 4:47 p.m. - 3 clicks
First, McClatchy explains why Germany has to worry more about the debt of Greece, Portugal and Spain than it is letting on, or wants to — it's called credit default swaps on one country's lending to another. Germany will have to backstop Greece et al in some way, shape or form. Second, little Timmy G. says the U.S. will never lose its AAA bond rating because, in essence, it's too big to fail ...
SocraticGadfly - Mon 4:47 p.m.
Hey, kids, it's less than an hour until the big show. Shami vs. White. We have the flamboyant, red bootie clad Shami in one corner and the white guy in the other. Watch the Democratic gubernatorial debate on a channel near you (media outlets broadcasting it at this link ) or live on your computer . Shami has inserted his red clad foot in his mouth and has committed (in my opinion...
Musings - Mon 4:47 p.m. - 2 clicks
When trying to climb out of a hole, that you dug for yourself, sometimes the best thing to do is grab a ladder and shut up. This is what Farouk Shami should be doing right about now instead of insulting the very party he is trying to win the nomination from. Clearly I don't say the Democratic Party, because they've beensupporting one candidate because he's been a Democrat longer than me.That is...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Mon 4:07 p.m. - 4 clicks
Regular readers know that one of the main reasons I started getting meeting notices and posting them some years back was that I wanted to know about and attend meetings and it simply wasn't convenient (nor did I always remember) to go down and look at the bulletin board on the courthouse square. Kind of amazingly to me, I have been video and audio recording meetings for at least 5 years now. (Her...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 1:27 p.m. - 3 clicks
Tonight San Antonio citizens will have a chance to weigh in on CPS Energy’s proposed rate hike. I have the following request from an activist in San Antonio: Monday night CPS will be taking comments from the public on the proposed rate increase. This is short notice but we need a strong showing. We [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Mon 1:10 p.m. - 9 clicks
From the Ft Worth Star-Telegram Local connections The Saints have a large contingent with ties to this area: kicker Garrett Hartley (Southlake Carroll), backup center Nick Leckey (Grapevine High), third quarterback Chase Daniel (Southlake Carroll), punter Thomas Morstead (SMU), tight end David Thomas (Texas) and tight end Dan Campbell (Glen Rose/Texas A&M), who was on injured ...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 12:13 p.m. - 2 clicks
The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the city of New Orleans for the Saints' stirring Super Bowl victory, and reminds them that the "hair of the dog" trick doesn't really help with the hangover. The Texas Cloverleaf highlights the sentencing of GOP Denton County Constable Ken Jannereth . Probation, anger management, laying off the bottle, and maybe more to come for the disgraced lawman...
South Texas Chisme - Mon 12:12 p.m. - 3 clicks
I said from the get-go that the search warrant used to get on the YFZ Ranch property in Eldorado back in 2008 was overbroad, based on lies , and that evidence derived from the Great Eldorado Polygamist Roundup should be suppressed in criminal court. Now an Arizona judge has concluded the same thing after prosecutors there tried agreed not to introduce evidence against polygamist "pro...
Grits for Breakfast - Mon 12:12 p.m.
Nothing has changed much. The lowest rate is 10.7 cents per kWh by Brilliant Energy for 12 months down from 10.8 from last month. The highest rate is 14.6 by Liberty for 24 months up from 12.8 last month. TXU and Reliant continue to charge more than the smaller companies. TXU is at 13.5 for a 12 month contract and Reliant is at 12.4. The lowest month to month plan is at 8.8 with Dynowatt a...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Mon 12:12 p.m.
The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the city of New Orleans for the Saints’ stirring Super Bowl victory, and reminds them that the “hair of the dog” trick doesn’t really help with the hangover. The Texas Cloverleaf highlights the sentencing of GOP Denton County Constable Ken Jannereth. Probation, anger management, laying off the bottle, and maybe more [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Mon 9:30 a.m. - 6 clicks
Por qué usted debería votar por Paul Harper - Servicio comunitario ¡Soy dedicado al servicio comunitario en nuestra comunidad local! Banco de Comida de Condado de Somervell - Director de Gerente/Ejecutivo Fondo Unido de Condado Somervell - Secretario Partido demócrata de Condado de Somervell - Presidente casi 4 años ...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 9:30 a.m. - 3 clicks
Why you should vote for Paul Harper - Community Service I am dedicated to community service in our local community! Somervell County Food Bank - Manager/Executive Director United Fund of Somervell County - Secretary Somervell County Democratic Party - Chairman almost 4 years (finished in December) Glen Rose Lions Club with the motto of 'We Serve' - Member Somervell...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 9:30 a.m. - 3 clicks
The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the city of New Orleans for the Saints' stirring Super Bowl victory, and reminds them that the "hair of the dog" trick doesn't really help with the hangover. The Texas Cloverleaf highlights the sentencing of GOP Denton County Constable Ken Jannereth . Probation, anger management, laying off the bottle, and maybe more to come for the disgraced lawman...
Brains and Eggs - Mon 9:29 a.m. - 3 clicks
Tonight, live and in person, on your teevee . And lately also in the news and in the blogs. Here's Red White and Blue's video interview with Shami (it goes 26 minutes plus). And the TexTrib has compiled several links and video in " The More You Know ... About Bill White ". Charles Kuffner has audio interviews with both men . The Texas Observer's The Mayor and The Mogul has some good Q&am...
Brains and Eggs - Mon 7:02 a.m. - 4 clicks
Study Details Decline in Local Economy By Maggie Kiely From the Bryan-College Station Eagle It's no secret that last year was rough for the local economy, but some experts say improvement likely will hit as early as mid-summer. The Bryan-College Station economic index decreased during each month of 2009 and dropped from 116.9 in November to 115.2 percent in December, according to Karr Ing...
Left of College Station - Mon 5:30 a.m. - 4 clicks
The Texas Observer did a head to head comparison of White and Shami, along with the super cool mugshots you see to your right. They interviewed both candidates, and I would bet money these are basically the talking points we will hear from them at tonight's Democratic gubernatorial debate. Some highlights from the Shami interview: On stimulating the economy (jobs, jobs, jobs as a...
Musings - Mon 4:43 a.m. - 6 clicks
A few weeks ago, I noticed that the commissioners court agenda included notification of quite a few new hires in the County Auditor's office. Then last month I received an anonymous note from a former(?) county employee telling me that the Auditor, Jeff May, had fired 7 employees after giving an "all day test to all members of the department." I contacted the Auditor who confirmed that 8 people...
The Collin County Observer - Mon 1:01 a.m. - 3 clicks
Hank Skinner February 24 (Strong Innocence Case) Website for Hank Skinner TDCJ Info on Hank Skinner Michael Sigala March 2 TDCJ Info on Michael Sigala Joshua Maxwell March 11 TDCJ Info on Joshua Maxwell Alix Franklin March 30 TDCJ Info on Alix Franklin ...
Texas Moratorium Network - Mon 12:48 a.m. - 5 clicks
Representatives for hundreds of El Paso police officers, firefighters, and sheriff's deputies say "the community's safety is at risk" if attorney Theresa Caballero is elected county attorney. The Combined El Paso Public Safety Coalition came out strongly against Democratic County Attorney candidate Caballero, and instead endorsed her opponent, interim County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal. The coaliti...
South Texas Chisme - Mon 12:05 a.m. - 2 clicks
Paul Burka may well be right about Rick Perry and 2012 , but the idea of the Texas Twit running for president in two years if he gets re-elected as governor is enough to make me throw up in my mouth. That said, despite Perry previously denying any ambitions beyond Texas, Burka lays out a compelling scenario. the " talk to her own hand " new low in idiocy from Palin will eventually sour more ppl ...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 9:40 p.m. - 3 clicks
The County Observer and The Frisco DWI Lawyer blogs have teamed up to prepare a 10 question Q & A with the 4 candidates for Collin County District Attorney. The questions have been sent to each of the candidates. We have promised to post their unedited responses (or lack of) and we hope their answers will give voters a better understanding of the approach each one of these gentlemen plan to brin...
The Collin County Observer - Sun 9:05 p.m. - 4 clicks
[Note: This completes the series of articles introducing each of the primary candidates, posting their campaign finance information as well as a video of each when possible] Complete copies of these and other January, 2010 Semi-annual form C/OH campaign finance reports are available on-line here. JERRY HOAGLAND www.jerryhoagland.com Contributions July - Dec. $20,354 Expenditures July - Dec. $...
The Collin County Observer - Sun 8:45 p.m. - 2 clicks
The last two times I’ve tried to use the WordPress application on my iPhone, it has not worked. I’ve got a trip coming up to Cincinnati—because everybody goes to Ohio in Feburary—and I am writing this post on my phone to see if this is working for my trip. The photo I’ve added is of the statue [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Sun 8:45 p.m. - 3 clicks
The commercial for the Dodge Charger during the Super Bowl said that a man should buy a Dodge Charger to make up for all the nagging he gets from women at home. This is because government bailouts funds are for subsidizing sexist ads to appeal to the kind of loser who needs to buy this car. Above [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Sun 8:45 p.m.
Today's sick news leads to my observation, as a sort of rift on Lord Acton's thoughts on absolute power's corruptions, that barbarism, even in the alleged defense of noble ideas, can corrupt pretty absolutely, too. There is no god and I am his prophet. ...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 8:45 p.m. - 4 clicks
Letter to the GOP re: Palin as a Presidential Candidate To the GOP Leadership: I recall I "became" a Republican when I was in elementary school during the 1950's and I worked with the GOP handing out leaflets and "I Like Ike" buttons to voters. Dwight D. Eisenhower, a brilliant General, became our President and I was thrilled to be a very s...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 8:24 p.m. - 2 clicks
After the results in the Super Bowl, especially how the Saints scored the clinching touchdown, it makes Jason Whitlock's argument that that's the case even more worth reading. There is no god and I am his prophet. ...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 7:27 p.m. - 3 clicks
You’ve heard me rail on about why, in Fort Bend County, Democrats who want to file in a primary election are made to wait until the last day of filing. Why something as simple as a name like “Steve” is difficult to spell on a ballot. You may have read elsewhere how mis-spellings are rife in the county party this year. All of this underlines the bold incompetence that defines the cabal that cur...
Half Empty - Sun 7:26 p.m. - 7 clicks
Sarah Palin made an appearance in Texas today at a campaign rally for Rick Perry and the Austin American-Statesman interviewed one person in the crowd who said he supported Palin, but according to the Statesman reporter "would not back Perry because he believes Perry allowed the state to execute an innocent man". The controversy over Todd Willingham's execution and Rick Perry's cover-up of the...
Texas Moratorium Network - Sun 5:29 p.m. - 9 clicks
Just how stupid can this lady be ? Sarah Palin was back in 10th grade biology class yesterday -- using cheat notes on her hand during the Q&A following her speech at the Tea Party Convention in Tennessee. Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2010/02/07/sarah-palin-hand-cheat-notes-p Wow. And to think the teabaggers are saying "She is just like me!". Like DUH! Literally....
Bay Area Houston Blog - Sun 5:29 p.m.
Complete copies of these and other January, 2010 Semi-annual form C/OH campaign finance reports are available on-line here. KATHY WARD www.kathyward.org Contributions July - Dec. $10,250 Expenditures July - Dec. $3,903 Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $10,296 Loans - $0 Major contributors (+- $1,000): HNTB Holdings LTD. PAC - $1,000 James D. Dannenbaum - $1,000 LAN-PAC - $1,000 CH2M Hill Tex...
The Collin County Observer - Sun 4:29 p.m. - 6 clicks
After watching the Collin County District Attorney use his Drug Forfeiture Fund for new furniture and then for automatic weapons and ammo, it is refreshing to see a notice that he intends to use $11,115 of the fund to fight crime. The DA has notified the Commissioners Court of his intent to use the funds to pay an invoice for lab work for "additional evidence analysis needed in a Cold Case". Thi...
The Collin County Observer - Sun 4:06 p.m. - 2 clicks
The Collin County Observer has posted the "30 Day" campaign finance report required of all local candidates who face an opposed primary race. This report details contributions and expenditures from January 1, 2010 to January 27. It is the second of three reports due during the primary season. The reports, along with the "January Semi-Annual" report (details from July 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009...
The Collin County Observer - Sun 4:06 p.m. - 3 clicks
In 1993, Texas set the current threshold for felony theft at $1,500 for a state jail felony - below that, theft receives misdemeanor charges that don't involve state prison time. The jump to the next offense category is quite significant - someone must steal more than $20,000 to be charged with a third degree felony. However, adjusting for inflation , $1,500 in 1993 amounts to $2,208 in 2008 d...
Grits for Breakfast - Sun 3:47 p.m.
To all the folks who made Creating Change such a success, I do not have enough words to thank you. I saw so many excited and energized LGBTQ activists this weekend I feel a whole lot better about the state of our movement. I also wanted to thank the NLGTF for their unexpected award for Leather Leadership . I will cherish this for the rest of my life and I will try to live into the expectations ...
Dungeon Diary - Sun 2:53 p.m.
Interesting blog article from Fossils and other Living Things about the dinosaur footprint in the Glen Rose bandstand as well as discussion about the petrified wood we have here. That article talked about the degeneration of the footprint as embedded in the bandstand and included another link to Portable 3d Laser technology preserving the rare footprint. The scans were post-processed to ge...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 1:47 p.m.
Now that the Teabagger convention in Nashville is history, along with a truly uninspired speech delivered by a moronic half term former governor of the least populous state in America, now that all of that is over it is time for them to sit and reflect on the state of things now compared to how it was, say, twenty years ago. Teabaggers must look back to those days fondly. Days when we knew who t...
Half Empty - Sun 1:28 p.m. - 2 clicks
The Dallas Morning News is a bastion of conservative opinion in Dallas and has been all of my life, that's why it is so surprising that they have come down on the side of repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell. Long out of touch with the changing political demographic of Dallas the News often rails against anything that even resembles progressive, so this move is huge. I can only imagine that even the...
Dungeon Diary - Sun 12:48 p.m. - 4 clicks
We have 3 very strange candidates running in the Democratic primary to challenge Pete Olson in CD22. One is a Libertarian. One has absolutely no clue. The other is a member of the LaRouche Hitler Youth Group, a far out (not left or right, just out) candidate. She, Keisha Rogers, is not a Democrat but that doesn't stop her from running as one. Here is Congressman Barney Frank having his way with a ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Sun 12:02 p.m. - 3 clicks
I'm not on Facebook anymore but hub is and sent me the link to see that my favorite newspaper , not to mention the official newspaper of Glen Rose, is getting a new editor, Kathryn Jones. I notice by googling her that she has a fabulous resume (this via elance and this via linkedin ) Regular readers here know that I also loved the Bosque County News, with Evan Smith as editor and note t...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 11:22 a.m. - 2 clicks
I went down to the Bob Bullock Imax theatre in Austin this weekend to see Avatar. I'd been waffling back and forth about seeing it, but decided if I was going to, I didn't want to watch it in any theatre that wasn't fully prepared for the total 3d experience. For me, and anyone else that lives around here, that means travelling to a major city to watch it. I could have chosen to drive to north Da...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 10:20 a.m. - 3 clicks
The Economy Growing at Two Different Speeds Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research While voters in our groups gave the president higher marks on the economy after the speech than before, that was clearly driven by his new priority, jobs, and perhaps a clearer understanding of the difference between Bush era policies and the new one. Still, the president and the Democrats in Congress do not yet...
Texas Kaos - Sun 10:20 a.m. - 3 clicks
Here are a few recent tidbits that deserve Grits readers' attention: Dallas constables' ongoing fiasco At the Dallas News , Ed Timms and Kevin Krause have the story of a deputy constable with a checkered past accused of committing several felony crimes, including " unauthorized use of two motor vehicles, tampering with government records and coercing two women into performing sexual acts in...
Grits for Breakfast - Sun 9:24 a.m. - 6 clicks
I've been hammering at Bank of America and other big banks for their predatory lending and awful customer service. Seems I'm not the only one: Italy Seizes Bank of America Assets - Fraud Is Finally Catching Up With Wall St./Bankers From what I can tell, the bank near me that has done the best is TD Bank. I am switching to TD and so far I am happy. They avoided predatory lending (probably bec...
DailyKos (Texas) - Sun 9:24 a.m. - 18 clicks
Lots and lots of news about the Democratic primary contest for commissioner of agriculture. What follows is a selection of excerpts and links to the source, which I recommended following and reading entirely. Democratic agriculture commissioner candidates Kinky Friedman and Hank Gilbert met for their first, and likely only, editorial board meeting together late Friday afternoon at The Dallas Mo...
Brains and Eggs - Sun 9:00 a.m. - 4 clicks
It's not a record for Homebuilder, Bob Perry, but it is a very large chunk of money. Perry donated $2,076,405 in 2009 including $205,000 to Democrats and $1,871,405 to Republicans and Republican causes. Attorney General Greg Abbott received $200,000, Lt Governor Dewhurst $100,000, $300,000 went to Governor Rick Perry, and $30,000 to new comer, Addie Wisemen. Addie is a former City Council Memb...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Sun 7:07 a.m. - 2 clicks
Ron Paul is an incumbent. Even anti-government icon Ron Paul can't escape the conservative "Tea Party" fervor stretching across the county. Paul, the Gulf Coast congressman whose 2008 presidential run excited libertarians nationwide, even though he didn't get much traction overall, is considered by many to be the "father of the Tea Parties." But he has three opponents in the March Republican prim...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 6:23 a.m. - 12 clicks
The chief appraiser argues that, in most cases, homesteads that were rebuilt or repaired after the storm could have property values returned to pre-Ike levels — even though their values this year dropped significantly. But County Tax Assessor-Collector Cheryl Johnson argues state law prohibits the appraisal district from valuing any homestead at more than 10 percent of its 2009 appraised value. ...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 6:04 a.m. - 2 clicks
And, the beefy aides are well dressed! That's one fun tidbit from this KTRK story on Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Farouk Shami . Here's that part: What Shami apparently hasn't bought with his deep-pockets campaign budget is an organization and planning. He traveled around San Antonio on a recent campaign swing in a black Cadillac Escalade with dark-tinted windows, accompanied by a couple ...
Musings - Sun 6:04 a.m. - 9 clicks
A Brownsville municipal judge was committed to a mental health center in Harlingen Thursday morning, less than two weeks after he was ordered released from a mandatory stay at another psychiatric facility. Municipal Judge Phil Bellamy will remain confined for the next two weeks at Rio Grande State Center, where he has been held since Friday after friends and family say he displayed erratic behav...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 5:44 a.m. - 6 clicks
County In Need Of Advocates For Abused Children February 4, 2010 Stephanie Lucero -- CBS 11 / TXA 21 COLLIN COUNTY (CBS 11 / TXA 21) - Virginia Barrett says the intimate details of child abuse appalled her when she served on the Collin County Grand Jury. It was the gruesome details behind a number of cases that led Barrett to become a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. "People ...
The Collin County Observer - Sun 12:13 a.m. - 6 clicks
Henry Watkins Skinner Set to be Executed February 24, 2010 Huntsville, Texas Pending Legal Actions Henry W. Skinner vs. Rick Thaler, Director TDCJ-CID This is an appeal from Mr. Skinner's inital federal habeas claims U.S. Supreme Court, Case No. 09-7784 Docket information is available online at http://origin.www. supremecourtus.gov/docket/09- 7784.htm A decision by the Supreme Court is Pe...
Texas Death Penalty - Sat 11:54 p.m. - 4 clicks
I’ve been to the town of Lake Placid, New York, but it was during the summer and not during winter. We associate Lake Placid with winter. The fact is though that the town is there 365 days a year. I was in Lake Placid for a few hours almost 20 years ago. I’ve been thinking of my brief [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Sat 9:35 p.m. - 11 clicks
In Switzerland, a neuroscientist is hoping to use an IBM supercomputer much more powerful than Deep Blue to do just that. That's interesting enough. The real thing is that Henry Markram says we (mainly, his professional colleagues being referenced) need to ditch many of their scientific preconceptions about how individual neurons, neuron groups and areas of the brain work. The story describes ...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 6:49 p.m. - 2 clicks
Those balky Prius brakes? They're now the focus of a Canadian class-action lawsuit . Apparently, it's not the first lawsuit, but, it's the first to get this much attention. That said, I'm sure it won't be the last, either to be filed, or to get the publicity. Given what Toyota appeared to know, and when, it should probably already start budgeting lots of legal fees against future earnings. Ther...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 6:49 p.m. - 2 clicks
As we all prepare -- well, most of us; well ... a lot of us -- to spend another late-winter Sunday afternoon sharing in a little social networking experiment called the Super Bowl, let's be reminded that the National Football League is not only the most wildly successful but also the most socialistic of all professional sports organizations. Let's count the ways ... Revenue sharing (all money fro...
Brains and Eggs - Sat 4:12 p.m. - 2 clicks
Kesha Rogers is a follower of Lyndon LaRouche, but she's running in the Democratic Primary for TX-22, for the seat currently held by Republican Pete Olson. She's got a video up on her website, filmed in front of the Johnson Space Center, where she calls for the "impeachment or resignation" of President Obama. Warning: lots of car noise. Plus, it's two minutes of your life you will never get back...
Musings - Sat 2:22 p.m. - 4 clicks
One of the Teabagger Nation keynote speakers was former Republican Congressman and candidate for Klucker of the year, Tom Tancredo. Tancredo's hatred for immigrants have overflowed to African Americans in his speech to the Teabagger Convention. In his speech Thursday to attendees, former Republican congressman Tom Tancredo invoked theloaded pre-civil rights era buzzword, saying that Pres...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Sat 2:22 p.m. - 2 clicks
Not sure why there's not embed code, but Bill White's second ad is up on YouTube and you can watch it at this link . In sort of a stalkerish way, I watched it twice, totally fixated on the Bill White As A Boy photos. Clue: He looked exactly the same as he does now. I had seen some of these photos at an outgoing Houston City Council Member lunch, and if you had asked me to bet on if these photos w...
Musings - Sat 2:07 p.m. - 6 clicks
I am not at all concerned with this fracas that has emerged in the Farouk Shami campaign because as you can see from the thumbnail on the left, I support Bill White for Democratic nominee for Texas Governor. But just as I was rapt with attention as news came out of infighting in the campaign of Hillary Clinton a couple of years ago, I am now amazed at some inconsistencies within the Shami campaig...
Half Empty - Sat 1:21 p.m. - 6 clicks
Over the last few years we have posted a series titled "Spending Campaign Cash" and a few "Raising Campaign Cash" highlighting what our elected officials in Austin are doing with their donors money. Many are following the laws of the Texas Ethics Commission while some have been spending their donors money on personal items such as custom made cowboy boots, condos, cars, and football tickets. Many ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Sat 12:49 p.m. - 3 clicks
The Texas Senator, who heads the National Republican Senatorial Chamber, says the GOP in the upper house absolutely will not debate on-camera with President Barack Obama, unlike their House colleagues. "I can see why he and his handlers would want to replicate that,” Cornyn said. "I think we’re more interested in serious public policy issues rather than providing another photo-opportunity for t...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 10:05 a.m. - 16 clicks
Balous Miller, owner and C.E.O of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Restaurants, and the city of Bulverde agreed to an out-of-court settlement in which Miller will pay the city $25,000 for the removal of trees on 19 acres of land located on the northeast corner of U.S. Hwy. 281 and Texas Hwy. 46. ...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 9:02 a.m. - 5 clicks
In an order filed Friday, a federal judge in Austin questioned U.S. prosecutors for seeking criminal convictions in court against some illegal immigrants, writing that the practice "presents a cost to the American taxpayer ... that is neither meritorious nor reasonable." The order by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks comes as his docket, like others in Texas, is swollen with defendants charged with...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 9:02 a.m. - 9 clicks
The dispute between Dallas County commissioners and District Attorney Craig Watkins over who should represent them in lawsuits could be decided by the Texas attorney general. When several current and former deputy constables sued the county in December, alleging they were intimidated and harassed by their bosses, the commissioners decided they wanted a private law firm, not Watkins, to defend th...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 9:02 a.m. - 8 clicks
After an investigation by the state attorney general, Patricia Barrera must pay back proceeds from her office lottery. You can't force employees to fund your campaign through raffles. ...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 8:23 a.m. - 2 clicks
' Baptists concerned Haiti arrests may hurt image ' And, the Southern Baptists haven't done that for themselves ? Telling women to submit to their husbands and telling gays they're depraved? Oh, the superiority of Southern, white, Christian men. ...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 8:09 a.m.
Why not? Basically, because the mask has been removed, as this column notes well . There is no god and I am his prophet. ...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 12:57 a.m. - 4 clicks
Here's a list of eight (for now) progressive items of important President Obama and Congressional Democratic leaders should be doing. (But aren't, really.) 1. Reinstate the broad parameters of Glass-Steagall, updating the new legislation for hedge funds, various derivatives, etc. 2. Revise the minimum wage again, above all by making a COLA, a cost of living adjustment, part of it. (I begged Congr...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 12:02 a.m. - 3 clicks
Well, after a short tri to the X-ray guys, I made it to Creating Change. The keynote by Rea Carey was great. She took a few well needed jabs at President Obama and then acknowledged the passage of the Hate Crimes Bill. More to the point she encouraged everyone to become ambassadors for the movement. Talking to people each week about who we are and why we need to have the same rights as everyon...
Dungeon Diary - Fri 9:08 p.m.
Oh dear, who would have thought? It seems that the teabaggers, racists and right wing extremists have taken over the Republican Party. Of those polled as self-identified Republicans, 39% believe President Obama should be impeached. 63% think he is a socialist. 42% do not believe the President was born in the United States. 31% believe President Obama hates white ...
Texas Kaos - Fri 7:26 p.m. - 6 clicks
Mysteriously, this morning's post disappeared from my blog. So let's try this again. NASA has a not so stealth project called Project M (reported on back in November of 2009 on AmericaSpace ). Here's a video rendition of the project by NASA JSC engineers, "the best engineers in the world to get the job done on time." It's a project to get a lander and a robot on the moon in 10...
Musings - Fri 6:23 p.m. - 4 clicks
The Texas Observer reports that Bill White does not support a moratorium on executions , but Farouk Shami does support a moratorium. The Texas Democratic Party platform endorsed a moratorium in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Farouk Shami understands that a moratorium is the best way to ensure that Texas does not execute an innocent person and can enact reforms to protect innocent people from being ex...
Texas Moratorium Network - Fri 4:51 p.m. - 13 clicks
Former Texas Governor Mark White has said he supports a moratorium on executions, but the Texas Observer asked Democratic gubernatorial nominee candidate Bill White (no relation to Mark) and Bill said he does not support a moratorium. We will try to meet with him to explain why Texas needs a moratorium. The Texas Democratic Party endorsed a moratorium in the party platform in 2004, 2006 and 2...
Texas Moratorium Network - Fri 4:47 p.m. - 4 clicks
Reminders of the severe snow storm that battered us last week remain six days later. It is understandable neighborhoods are still unplowed. But some of the arterials and other main streets are rutted and divided by a barrier of snow. The storm dropped 10-12 inches over the two-day period, by our standards a major snowfall. Local blogs and Facebook comment on how poorly the city has responded to th...
Panhandle Truth Squad - Fri 4:47 p.m. - 2 clicks
Medical doctors, since the beginning of their science, have been admonished by their philosophical progenitor, Hippocrates, about the ethics of their medical practice. The Hippocratic Oath, as it is called, was boiled down by French clinician Auguste Chomel to this choice phrase: Primum non nocere. First, do no harm. Ronald Reagan, much later, applied this medical dictum to his political coll...
Half Empty - Fri 4:24 p.m. - 4 clicks
Memorial Remembering Howard Zinn Texas Federal Aid Unlikely to Fill Texas' Expected Budget Gap Politics The New Deal Was a Good Idea, We Should Try It This Time War and Peace Obama's Budget Calls for Billions in New Spending for Drones Economy Economic Stimulus Saved or Created 600,000 Jobs in Fourth Quarter Environment China Green Projects Will Surpass the United S...
Left of College Station - Fri 3:15 p.m. - 11 clicks
Earlier this week the Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing on a newly proposed rule to strengthen federal ozone standards. A coalition of environmental and public health advocates called Clean Air Texas rallied in support of the new rule, which would improve air quality across the state and make our communities healthier. Over a [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Fri 2:30 p.m. - 8 clicks
First of all, thank you to all who are forwarding and promoting the support note for Hank's Clemency Petition; please continue to do so! Both petitions (commutation and reprieve) as well as three statements attached to the petitions can be downloaded in the "legal documents" section of the website . Hank sent a 5-page letter to the Gray County D.A. Lynn Switzer with a number of exhibits, which w...
Texas Death Penalty - Fri 1:06 p.m. - 2 clicks
On Tuesday, February 26, 2008, UT students presented a strong evidence against the continued use of the death penalty. The verdict: Capital Punishment was found Guilty on All Counts! ...
Texas Death Penalty - Fri 1:06 p.m. - 4 clicks
It won't be retarded , but it will be crazy ... because you couldn't pile the nuts any higher if you used a steamshovel: Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is coming to Texas on Sunday, February 7, 2010 to headline a rally for Governor Perry's re-election campaign. We invite you to join Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, and your fellow conservatives in Houston for this exciting event. ... Due t...
Brains and Eggs - Fri 1:05 p.m. - 7 clicks
After insisting for a year that failure was not an option, President Barack Obama is now acknowledging his health care overhaul may die in Congress . His remarks at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser Thursday night sounded contradictory at times, complicating congressional leaders' effort to revive health care legislation as Democrats hunger for guidance from the White House. Even while...
Brains and Eggs - Fri 12:48 p.m. - 2 clicks
Above is a picture of a bright yellow mineral or cargo of some sort that I took on a very grey day in Galveston, Texas. Even on a dark day, there is some bight thing you can find to lighten matters up. Please leave a comment if you have any notion what the yellow stuff is. [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Fri 12:26 p.m. - 3 clicks
Here is a 2000 year old poem, by an unknown author from India, called “You Love Her.“ It is a Valentine’s Day poem for those of you in a love triangle of some sort. You love her, while I love you, and she hates you, and says so. Love ties us in knots, keeps us in hell. [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Fri 12:26 p.m.
May do a few more selected video clips over the next few days. I found it really interesting that there are so many unleased buildings downtown. I also was very impressed with Pat of the Somervell Historical Association whose presentation was very thorough in their request for 4b money and had a detailed business plan. Land of the Dinosaurs money was approved, the Palace Theatre acquisition was n...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 11:48 a.m. - 5 clicks
Real Need or Imagined? Accurate or Riddled With Bigotry and Privacy Issues? by Peter Stern Every 10 years we are told by our leadership that the census survey is on the way and that we must fill it out and return it post haste because it will improve government spending on various programs. The 2010 Census Survey will b...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 11:26 a.m. - 2 clicks
I went to the 4B /GRDEC meeting last night to hear about these agenda items . The 4b board was going to talk about possibly purchasing the Palace Theater, funding the Land of the Dinosaurs Dooley venture, Barnard's Mill and building more RV spaces near the Expo. I'm going to post the entire audio and a few other selected video clips in the next few days, but calling this out because it was...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 10:24 a.m. - 5 clicks
First, the posted agenda which has nothing about paying for invoices on it. I have no idea if what Connally Miller was saying has any merit or not, but I was wondering why a vote was being taken about an invoice that wasn't listed on the agenda. At least, I am pretty used to the county commissoners court that dutifully and exhaustively lists all money issues. I don't know how th...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 10:24 a.m. - 7 clicks
The Rick Perry ads, claiming how much he's cut taxes? Conveniently overlooked the expansion of the business franchise to fund lessening local school district property taxes. Overlooked how much state "fees" have grown in the last decade. Slamming Hutchison on earmarks? Overlooks any credit Perry may claim for them. Hutchison's Nolan Ryan ad? Great feel-good ad. But, if she's trailing by very much...
SocraticGadfly - Fri 10:00 a.m. - 3 clicks
Click link to see picture-she is a BEAUTY! P.S.Readers know I got my combo lab/husky male from the Glen Rose Animal Shelter and he is a delight! ...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 8:04 a.m. - 7 clicks
I'm disappointed to learn of plans to spend federal "stimulus" money on Governor Perry's pet border-security pork program instead of on tactics that actually boost the economy. Brandi Grissom at the Texas Tribune reports that the Department of Public Safety has outspent its budget - and was prepared to slash grant funds to Border Sheriffs, which are used to pay for equipment and overtime - but...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 8:00 a.m. - 6 clicks
Texas is one of 11 states that allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates and receive state grants. [Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas (IRCOT)] challenged that law in December, arguing that the state overstepped its authority and violated federal law. The case was moved from state district court in Harris County to federal court on Jan. 19. It could decide the fate of Carmen...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 7:27 a.m. - 3 clicks
Still rainin'. Incidentally the caller ID for the Somervell Convenience Station says "Somerville". Hilarious- Wanda Sykes (video) takes on NBC's cafeteria menu in honor of Black History Month. Americans increasingly become less educated compared to the rest of the world. Texas at the bottom of that barrel. Gee.Maybe we need to get rid of the nutcakes on the Texas SBOE that w...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 7:12 a.m. - 7 clicks
"Be prepared to go to prison on April 28," [Judge Frank] Montalvo told Barraza. ... The jury of six women and six men convicted Barraza of both counts of wire fraud and lying to a federal officer. They acquitted him of mail fraud. Their deliberations lasted a bit more than five hours over two days. Judges aren't supposed to ask for a ' buffet of women ' for sex nor are they supposed to take br...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 7:01 a.m. - 3 clicks
I take issue with a number of points in Obama's comments at the National Prayer Breakfast . I dont' personally care if he attends or not, but his comments don't represent me. God's grace, and the compassion and decency of the American people is expressed through the men and women like Corpsman Brossard. It's expressed through the efforts of our Armed Forces, through the efforts of our enti...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 6:52 a.m. - 2 clicks
The number of students taking Advanced Placement tests hit a record high last year, but the portion who fail the exams - particularly in the South - is rising as well, a USA TODAY analysis finds. "The standards don't teach themselves," says Stanford University's Linda Darling-Hammond, a noted teacher-quality expert who says schools shouldn't treat AP as "another silver bullet" that will raise sta...
Texas Kaos - Fri 5:48 a.m. - 8 clicks
Finally Hutchison puts out a radio ad that doesn't sound like a Whataburger commercial, although this one you have to wait for the punch line till the very end: Every 4 years you vote for Rick Perry. Then for the next 3, you wonder why you did. Want some fries with that? ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Fri 5:48 a.m. - 5 clicks
Ana Yañez Correa of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition has an op ed in the Austin Statesman today suggesting that budget cuts in corrections should come from closing inefficient prison units instead of cutting treatment and diversion programs. Here's how the column concludes: Overcrowded prisons force higher-risk offenders out to make room for incoming low-level offenders suffering from ad...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 5:08 a.m. - 8 clicks
During elections an enormous amount of money is spent on campaigns, and the dollars spent have been increasing during both Presidential and midterm elections. During the Presidential election in 2000 $3,082,340,937 was spent by presidential candidates, senate and house candidates, political parties and independent interest groups trying to influence federal elections, and that number increased to ...
Texas Kaos - Thu 9:19 p.m. - 5 clicks
Even 17 percent of Republicans and 20 percent of self-described conservatives have a positive image of the term, according to Gallup . So, Obama, don't flinch so much at the word! There is no god and I am his prophet. ...
SocraticGadfly - Thu 8:37 p.m. - 4 clicks
Can you blame not only the American Big Three, or elected politicians, but other people if they feel a little pleasure at the stumbles of Toyota, acting more and more like GM all the time recently? That's doubly so when it appears Toyota was doing secret fixes to the brakes of current-generation Priuses as they came off the assembly line even while poo-poohing owner complaints about break f...
SocraticGadfly - Thu 8:37 p.m. - 2 clicks
During elections an enormous amount of money is spent on campaigns, and the dollars spent have been increasing during both Presidential and midterm elections. During the Presidential election in 2000 $3,082,340,937 was spent by presidential candidates, senate and house candidates, political parties and independent interest groups trying to influence federal elections, and that number increased to ...
Left of College Station - Thu 8:06 p.m. - 13 clicks
Last Thursday Austin Energy General Manager Roger Duncan briefed Austin City Council on the utility’s Resource and Climate Protection Plan. This plan is the culmination of 18 months of input from the public, the creation of a generation resource task force of various stakeholders to review various energy plans and make recommendations, and support and [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Thu 4:12 p.m. - 12 clicks
Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts took the oath of office today to become a U.S. Senator. Above you see the swearing-in being conducted by Vice President Joe Biden. You win and you lose some. There are many fights ahead. President Obama and the Democratic leadership of Congress say they are going ahead with the Health Reform Bill that [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Thu 3:06 p.m. - 2 clicks
Houston’s commercial office janitors must negotiate a new contract for 2010. As part of the effort to gain public support for what will be a tough fight in a difficult economy, the janitors have set up a Facebook page. Here is the link to that page. Above is a picture from the Facebook page showing part of [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Thu 2:45 p.m. - 7 clicks
My cousin, who lives in Arizona, is an Independent voter who used to vote Republican. Some of her friends who are still of the mind she once had are not aware of the fact that she voted for President Obama in the last election. They keep sending and forwarding to her those annoying chain emails that circulate around the internet. Things that make Glenn Beck look like the pillar of reason. I aske...
Half Empty - Thu 2:45 p.m. - 5 clicks
This morning on NPR, Congressman Joe Barton (R-Arlington/Ennis) made some statements on how the massive influx of corporate money because of the Citizens United decision might not be so bad after all. The entire story is worth a listen, and can be found by going here to NPR’s website. Here’s what he said, and let’s evaluate [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Thu 2:30 p.m. - 8 clicks
From the Star-Telegram A proposed two-reactor expansion of the Comanche Peak nuclear power plant could get a big push as a result of President Barack Obama's call to nearly triple federal loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors to $54.5 billion. Because, yah know, even though EFH OWNS the dang thing, they Can't Get The Nuclear Reactors Built without government handouts through loans. ...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 2:30 p.m. - 2 clicks
I don't know why kids in high school are taking aviation classes . Mechanics lessons, yes. Flying lessons, no. Investigators found a flashlight inside a critical area of a small airplane that crashed last month, killing a Dunbar High School sophomore and his flight instructor. This'll totally creepy you out OR make you want to be a luddite. Pretty funny about the Westboro nu...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 2:15 p.m. - 2 clicks
Above you see the front page of the Houston Chronicle from July 25, 1969. The Apollo 11 astronauts had returned from the moon and had been found to have no “moon germs.” That must have come as very good news. This story says that salmonella germs launched into space came back more potent. This article suggest that sunspots may [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Thu 2:14 p.m. - 3 clicks
Kind of amusing to listen to this audio from the commissioner's court this last Monday. The idea is that a rodeo would be coming to town but in order to have the franchise have to have 100 RV spaces. But the RV spaces would not be in the county but on city property. So Mike Dooley wants 4b to pony up money to buy the RVs, as well as the county pay for dirt work, etc to level a pad area on city pr...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 2:04 p.m. - 2 clicks
The deadline for the examiner to file objections in removal proceeding against Presiding Judge Sharon Keller of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals was extended until February 17 . From the Commission on Judicial Conduct's website , here are links to all documents filed with the commission in the case: In re: Judge Sharon Keller (Judge No. 96) Notice of Formal Proceedings (file stam...
Grits for Breakfast - Thu 11:29 a.m. - 4 clicks
Well it is a start anyway. Today at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama dropped a bomb when he called the pending Ugandan legislation "odious". It is significant since that event is sponsored by the Fellowship Foundation, a far right religious group. From Think Progress come these quotes: CLINTON: And I recently called President Museveni, whom I have known through the Prayer Break...
Dungeon Diary - Thu 10:44 a.m. - 3 clicks
Texas is dead last in persons with high school diplomas. I hope the education-hating Republicans are proud. According to [Douglas] Hall, just 77 percent of Americans are graduating from high school, which is below most developed countries. In 2008, he said, only 27 percent of Americans had achieved their bachelor's or higher degree. ... Texas, in particular, fares badly, according to Hall, who...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 8:05 a.m. - 6 clicks
Sad, but true. Obama succumbed to political pressure and spoke at the fundamentalist propaganda fest, the National Prayer Breakfast . This event, which masquerades as some sort of official gathering is actually sponsored by the Fellowship, a shadowy fundamentalist group. The Fellowship has had it's fingers in the Uganda Anti-Homosexual laws, as well as numerous scandas in the infamous "C Str...
Dungeon Diary - Thu 8:05 a.m. - 3 clicks
This week we’re working with Environment Texas and several other activist groups in Austin and Houston to host free activist workshops and training days! The training is being run by The Public Interest Network and will feature sessions on: the best techniques for organizing your neighbors to take action, and the best ways to persuade [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Thu 7:47 a.m. - 9 clicks
Lawsuits and injunctions followed the passage of the Secure Fence Act of 2006. If there are winners and losers after a protracted environmental versus governmental battle, both the environmentalists who wanted no border wall at all, and the more extreme border security proponents who wanted double tiered Pacific Ocean to Gulf of Mexico walls lost. Neither got what they wanted. In the Rio Grande V...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 7:47 a.m. - 3 clicks
The six men and six women on the panel deliberated about 3åhours Wednesday without reaching a verdict. U.S. District Court Judge Frank Montalvo sent them home for the night about 5 p.m. Barraza, 54, is accused of three counts of wire fraud, deprivation of honest services and one count of lying to a federal agent. Federal prosecutors allege that he accepted money and would have taken sexual favor...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 7:31 a.m. - 3 clicks
Looking Through Time New xhibit is a pictoral view of African- American political progress. By: Ann Littmann From the Texas A&M University Battalion In conjunction with the national and campuswide celebration of Black History Month, the Memorial Student Center Visual Arts Committee is presenting a new exhibit: "Walking with Presidents." This exhibit documents the history of African-Am...
Left of College Station - Thu 7:05 a.m. - 9 clicks
Texas state Rep. Terri Hodge yesterday pled guilty " to failing to pay taxes on $74,000 in income, including more than $32,000 in bribes." She'd been accused of other serious charges to which she did not plead guilty, including accepting bribes from a developer and " peddling her influence to get inmates released on parole in exchange for money." Here are the lowlights from the Dallas News : ...
Grits for Breakfast - Thu 7:04 a.m. - 12 clicks
An ambitious, $6.7 billion government project to secure nearly the entire Mexican border with a “virtual fence” of cameras, ground sensors and radar is in jeopardy after a string of technical glitches and delays. Having spent $672 million so far with little to show for it, Washington has ordered a reassessment of the whole idea. The outlook became gloomier this week when President Barack Obama p...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 6:04 a.m. - 4 clicks
The Nueces County Appraisal District will refund at least part of a $2.8 million building fund, after board members said mounting pressure from taxing entities gave them no other option. ... For at least five years, the district moved unspent money at the end of each budget year to a fund set aside for building repairs. Over time, as the account accrued money, the board decided to build a new o...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 6:04 a.m. - 8 clicks
Sunshine is a wonderful disinfectant. Why doesn't the Brownsville Housing Authority agree? The Brownsville Housing Authority has refused to disclose the names of applicants the board selected to interview for executive director, but the selection apparently nears. The authority’s board meeting agendas show that interviews were scheduled for Jan. 28 and discussions regarding the position continue...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 5:49 a.m. - 10 clicks
In the early morning hours of May 18, 1978, Austin police officer Ralph Ablanedo pulled over a red Mustang on a minor traffic violation. The car was missing a rear license tag, and the driver, Sheila Meinert, was driving without a license. Ablanedo called to run a check on Meinert and her boyfriend David Lee Powell, the owner of the car, but the computer system was down. He let them go...
Texas Death Penalty - Thu 12:21 a.m. - 7 clicks
Plano's plan for Douglass Community Center draws concerns from neighbors Wednesday, February 3, 2010 By THEODORE KIM / The Dallas Morning News Plano's historically black neighborhood is raising concerns about a city plan to outsource a local community center. Residents' reservations unfolded at an animated public forum Tuesday at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church that drew about 60 people, incl...
The Collin County Observer - Wed 8:56 p.m. - 3 clicks
How many votes does it take to break a filibuster in the United States Senate? Who is the chairman of the Republican National Committee? In which country this year where there more deaths of United States service members, Iraq or Afghanistan? If you answered any of those questions correctly, than you are more informed than the average American. In fact, if you answered the first question correctly...
Left of College Station - Wed 8:42 p.m. - 2 clicks
Little late this week getting the newsletter to Daily Kos. Some parts might be outdated, but most is up to date. I also want to draw attention to a fellow Culture Kitchen blogger, Leo Igwe, whose attempts to further reason and oppose fundamentalism in Nigeria have gotten him beaten up by a mob and harassed by cops. Here are his two most recent articles regarding Nigeria: Humanism and the Ques...
DailyKos (Texas) - Wed 6:56 p.m. - 10 clicks
All eyes are on the Republican primary voters as they sort out who is going to be their choice for Texas Governor Nominee. Including Rasmussen. In its latest Texas polling, Rasmussen has the 3-way race for Republican nominee with Rick Perry firmly in the lead with 44% to Hutchison’s 29% and Debra Medina’s 16%. Leaving 11% undecided. All that tells me is that the Rasmussen poll was not a poll o...
Half Empty - Wed 5:27 p.m. - 4 clicks
Alcohol all the buzz at Frisco council meeting By Jan Bellamy, Staff Writer / Frisco Enterprise Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Tuesday night’s [Frisco] city council meeting offered it all: alcohol, morality play, property rights, and pleas to be heard. It wasn’t a Texas shoot-out, but a gun was mentioned. The hot topic: Did city council want to hold a public hearing on establishing a process for f...
The Collin County Observer - Wed 4:09 p.m. - 7 clicks
Rick Casey of the Houston Chronicle had a column yesterday on how Rick Perry's handpicked puppet/chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission violated the Texas Open Meetings Act (PDF) at Friday's meeting, which was held in Harlingen. The Dallas Morning News' Trailblazer blog first reported on Bradley's violation of the TOMA. Bradley should be removed as chair of the Commission. He has ...
Texas Death Penalty - Wed 4:09 p.m. - 10 clicks
