May 18, 2013

Texas Senate forcing out state insurance commissioner

AUSTIN — Texas Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman will apparently have to step down as the state’s top insurance regulator because she cannot garner the necessary Senate votes for confirmation.

Kitzman, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry nearly two years ago, has faced opposition from Democrats and Republicans in the upper chamber, several senators say. To remain as commissioner, she would need the support of at least two-thirds of senators in the current legislative session.

Senate Nominations Committee Chairman Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, said Thursday that he was posting the agenda for his last meeting of the session, to be held Monday, and it did not include Kitzman’s name.

In fact, Perry never reappointed Kitzman as commissioner after her original term expired in February — in large part because of opposition to her nomination in the Senate.

More at http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20130516-texas-senate-forcing-out-state-insurance-commissioner.ece .

[font color=green]She is another shill bought and paid for by the insurance industry.[/font]

May 18, 2013

Friday Night Catnip: The Seeds--Future

Okay folks, this selection might cross from psychedelic into psychotic (particularly the last tune). Anyway, it's Friday night and time to break out the catnip (or other consumables).

The Seeds were an American rock band. The group, whose repertoire spread between garage rock and acid rock, are considered one of the pioneers of punk rock. The album, Future, was released in 1967 and includes some unusual instrumentation ranging from tuba to harp. The lead singer of the group, Sky Saxon, passed away on June 25, 2009.

1. Introduction
2. March of the Flower Children
3. Travel With Your Mind
4. Out of the Question
5. Painted Doll
6. Flower Lady & Her Assistant
7. Now A Man
8. A Thousand Shadows
9. Two Fingers Pointing On You
10. Where Is The Entrance Way To Play?
11. Six Dreams
12. Fallin'



The single: Fallin'

May 18, 2013

Local farmer spells out "Socialism. Don't Cha Love It" in field of crops; collects farm subsidies

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) -

A local farmer is turning heads with a message in his field, and this isn't the first time he's done it.

You might remember, back in 2009, Sam Bates spelled out "Say No To Obama" in the weeds in his field, saying he was upset with what was happening in Washington at the time.

And now that the president has been re-elected, he's at it again.

A viewer sent us a photo of Bates' field.

It spells out "Socialism. Don't Cha Love It."

We contacted Sam Bates to ask him why he decided on this message, but he offered no comment.

Source: http://www.kcbd.com/story/20056918/local-farmer-spells-out-anti-obama-message-in-field-of-crops

[font color=green]Meanwhile, the database from the Environmental Working Group indicates that Mr. Samuel Bates received over $370,000 from the US Department of Agriculture.

Yes, indeed. Mr. Bates does love that socialism thingy.

Republican hypocrisy--always good for a laugh![/font]

http://farm.ewg.org/persondetail.php?custnumber=A05716409

May 17, 2013

Lawmakers reach deal on state budget

AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers reached a deal Friday on a two-year spending plan that would restore $3.93 billion to public schools and clear the way for taking $2 billion from the state’s rainy day fund for water projects, the leader of House Democrats said.

Republicans needed Democratic votes to set up the State Water Infrastructure Fund, but the minority party wanted to boost spending on public education by $4 billion. The Republican-controlled Legislature cut $5.4 billion from schools in 2011.

“We have a tentative commitment that we have a deal,” Davis said. “I think people are pleased. They’ve been working very hard to forge relationships and do some good for Texas.”

In the deal, the state would add $3.4 billion to public education spending and put $530 million toward schools’ contribution to the Teacher Retirement System. All of the money would be in the Foundation School Program, and therefore exempt from a line item veto by Gov. Rick Perry, Davis said. But the House and Senate must still vote on the measure.

More at http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20130517-ap-source-lawmakers-reach-deal-on-state-budget.ece .

[font color=green]Note that the reporters failed to provide the first name of the leader of House Democrats. There are three representatives in the Texas House with the surname of Davis. This might explain why there aren't enough Democrats with name recognition when it comes to the ballot box.[/font]

May 17, 2013

Child dies after being left in car at a Dallas ISD school

A child died this afternoon after being being left in a car on the parking lot of an elementary school in Pleasant Grove.

The toddler was taken to a local hospital where the infant was pronounced dead. The baby is believed to be about one years old.

Authorities say the incident began about 1:20 p.m. when a teacher’s aide noticed that a child had been left in a car at Frank Guzick Elementary School. The employee called 911 and broke a window out of the car to remove the child from the vehicle.

The employee told authorities that the child was foaming at the mouth.

More at http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2013/05/child-dies-after-being-left-in-car-after-being-left-in-car-at-a-disd-school.html/ .

[font color=green]The mother of the child is a teacher at the school.[/fomt]

May 17, 2013

Mars rover sets NASA record, but Soviet Union still overall champ

NASA's Exploration Rover Opportunity has beaten the record for the farthest total distance driven by a NASA vehicle not on Earth, the space agency announced Thursday. The record was previously held by Apollo 17's lunar roving vehicle, which traversed the Moon in December 1972.

Since it landed nine years ago, the red rover has driven 22.22 miles on Martian soil. The lunar vehicle tallied 22.21 miles almost 41 years ago, with astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt behind the wheel.

The rover landed on Mars in January 2004 to explore the Martian terrain, and only covers a handful of feet a day. When it beat the record, it was driving a distance of 263 feet near the western rim of the Endeavour Crater.

Another rover, the Mars Curiousity, landed on August 5, 2012 to study the environment of Mars. It has driven only .434 miles so far.

More at http://www.chron.com/communityblogs/atmosphere/article/Mars-rover-sets-NASA-record-but-Soviet-Union-4525755.php?cmpid=hpfsln .

May 17, 2013

Former Texas mayor admits stealing $100K

MIDLAND, Texas (AP) - The former mayor of a tiny West Texas town has pleaded guilty to stealing about $100,000 from the town treasury.

Former Toyah Mayor Bartolo Sanchez entered his guilty plea in federal court in Midland on Thursday. He admits to filing fraudulent mileage reimbursement claims and personal expenditures to defraud the treasury of the town of about 100 residents.

He could be sentenced to three years in federal prison. He also has been ordered to pay restitution. No sentencing date has been set.

Toyah is 175 miles southeast of El Paso.

Source: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_23262119/former-west-texas-mayor-admits-stealing-100k?source=most_viewed

May 17, 2013

Psychologist: Downtown El Paso murder suspect says Chucky told him to hurt victim

A 29-year-old man on trial on a murder charge suffered severe mental illness that caused him to hear voices -- including the voice of a homicidal doll featured in the "Chucky" horror movies -- that led him to beat his lover to death, a psychologist who interviewed him testified Thursday.

Michael Manuel Herrera is charged with murder in the July 6, 2009, death of Cesar Raul Torres, 39, at Torres' Downtown El Paso apartment. Herrera was arrested at a homeless shelter a few days later and has been jailed since in lieu of posting $100,000 bond.

After a full day of testimony by psychologist Carmen Petzold on Thursday, jurors were told Herrera suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Since 2001, Herrera was treated at several mental health treatment facilities and tried to commit suicide many times, including at least once after Torres' death.

Petzold, who was called to the stand by the defense, testified she interviewed Herrera at least three times. Petzold said that after the interviews and examining his medical records, she discovered that Herrera had taken several psychiatric medications and had a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

More at http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23262940/psychologist-defendant-says-chucky-told-him-hurt-victim .

May 17, 2013

Randy Travis sues state agencies over arrest video

Country music star Randy Travis has sued the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas attorney general’s office after some evidence from his drunken driving arrest last summer was ordered released to the public.

Travis pleaded guilty in January to driving while intoxicated in the August incident in which authorities say they found him naked after crashing his Pontiac Trans Am near Tioga, a town where he lives about 60 miles north of Dallas.

He received two years probation, a $2,000 fine and a 180-day suspended jail sentence, and the judge presiding over the case ordered Travis to spend at least 30 days at an alcohol treatment facility, complete 100 hours of community service and have an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he operates while on probation.

The judge also agreed with a defense motion asking that the arrest video and transcript not be released to the public.

More at http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/crime-law/randy-travis-sues-state-agencies-over-arrest-video/nXtHc/?icmp=statesman_internallink_invitationbox_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesman_launch .

[font color=green]Asking for $100,000 in damages when making a fool of oneself while in public is reprehensible and proof that Travis is an arrogant SOB. However, before paying the damages the state should put a run copies of the video on every television station in Texas for a couple of weeks to provide a good example of being a bad example.[/font]

May 17, 2013

Warrant issued for Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson in South Florida.

The state attorney's office confirmed Thursday that a Broward circuit judge issued a warrant May 7 against Johnson for failing to report to his probation officer.

Johnson received a year of probation last September after pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge involving his former wife, reality TV star Evelyn Lozada.

The six-time Pro Bowl player was arrested in August after Lozada said he head-butted her during an argument. She quickly filed for divorce, which was finalized days before his conviction. They had only been married since July 4.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/05/16/4864044/warrant-issued-for-johnson.html#storylink=cpy