July 24, 2013

10 Things I Plan to Tell My Daughter About Sex That Aren't That Purity Movement Crap

Against my better judgment I've been doing a lot of reading on the purity movement. If you've never been exposed to it, then I'll explain. The idea is basically that you, as a father, are supposed to serve as the sole male influence in your daughter's life until she gets married. You "guard her heart (and vagina)" because only you can be trusted with it. Certainly she can't. If God wanted women to be in charge of their genitals or feelings he wouldn't have let them be born in Texas.

You go to these weird balls where you dance with your daughter like it's a prom and you give her a ring very like a wedding ring. The term "emotional incest" gets thrown around a lot by detractors, and is the second most horrifying phrase I've learned this year after "glue fic." Then you hand off your little girl to your approved suitor who then acts exactly like you did except plus sex.

Better writers than I, like Libby Anne, have tackled the subject in depth, and you should spend an afternoon reading her work. She went through it as a daughter of movement, though. I'm a dad, and I am perfectly aware that the sexual health of this child is going to be part of my job. I'm not looking forward to it, to tell the truth, but if the alternative is fetishizing chastity while giving Oedipus a handie then by God I'm going in full guns blazing.

Here are the ten things I know I need to tell a modern girl about sex once she matures enough to roll her eyes throughout the conversation.

The list is at http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2013/07/daughter_purity_movement.php?ref=trending .

July 24, 2013

Austin woman's seemingly racist sign getting attention

Renee Vaughan of Austin told breitbart.com that this sign was a sarcastic response to protestors in Houston.
Photo: James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle

An Austin woman’s seemingly racist sign at protests in Houston for and against George Zimmerman’s not-guilty verdict in Florida has gotten some international attention.

A photo of Renee Vaughan holding a sign saying “We’re racist & proud!” has been featured in the Houston Chronicle, the New York Daily News and England’s Daily Mail.

Although the Houston Chronicle says that Vaughan was mocking a group of Zimmerman supporters, the Daily News and Daily Mail claimed she was part of the group.

“'We're racist and proud': Fury as group stages counter-demonstration against 'Justice for Trayvon' marches,” was the headline on the Daily Mail story.

More at http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/all-ablog-austin/2013/jul/23/austin-womans-seemingly-racist-sign-getting-attent/ .

July 24, 2013

Abbott announces settlement with Planned Parenthood

Because of improper billing practices, a Planned Parenthood affiliate must pay back more than $1 million to the Medicaid program, the Texas attorney general’s office said Wednesday.

An investigation revealed that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Inc. — which serves parts of southeastern Texas and a couple of parishes in eastern Louisiana — overbilled the state-federal Medicaid program and has agreed to pay back $1.4 million to the state and federal government, Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office said.

Officials with the non-profit organization didn’t return calls.

Abbott’s office said in a press release that investigators from his office and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission followed a whistleblower lawsuit with an investigation into the provider of abortions, other reproductive health care and sexuality education.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/planned-parenthood-affiliate-must-pay-back-money-f/nY25J/ .

July 24, 2013

Humorist Kinky Friedman considering another bid for office in Texas

FORT WORTH — Kinky Friedman doesn’t know whether he’s ready to jump back into Texas politics.

But the cigar-chewing humorist and musician — known for the black attire and cowboy hats he normally dons — said he may soon create an exploratory committee to help him decide whether to run for office again.

And if so, for which one.

“Maybe I should do what Rick Perry does and pray for an answer on what to do,” Friedman, 68, said with a chuckle Tuesday during a telephone interview with the Star-Telegram.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/07/23/5022661/humorist-kinky-friedman-considering.html#storylink=cpy

July 24, 2013

Security costs for Perry’s out-of-state trips top $2.6 million

Texas taxpayers have picked up another $126,982 for Gov. Rick Perry’s security detail on out-of-state trips, bringing the total to more than $2.6 million since his re-election.

The Texas Department of Public Safety compiles the cost of Perry’s security detail on a quarterly basis, based on the state fiscal year that starts Sept. 1. The latest report includes expenses through May. Besides costs for the preceding three months, it includes expenses from earlier trips whose bills have since come in.

Trips covered by the latest report include the security detail accompanying Perry to California, where he sought to attract business to Texas; Palm Beach, where he appeared with Florida Gov. Rick Scott at a forum; and Washington, D.C. He spoke at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, near Washington in March.
Perry’s direct travel costs generally are covered by his campaign or other means.

It also includes February security expenses for a trip to Tennessee. Perry in February tweeted a much-noted photo of himself with Clay Walker, saying they were watching the A&M v Vanderbilt game together.

More at http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/07/security-costs-for-perrys-out-of-state-trips-top-2-6-million/ .

July 24, 2013

Woman in Texas ricin case gives birth in custody

DALLAS (AP) — The Texas woman accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has given birth prematurely to a baby boy while in custody.

Attorneys for Shannon Guess Richardson and husband Nathan say she gave birth July 4 to a boy named Brody. Shannon Richardson's attorney, Tonda Curry, says the baby faces serious medical issues due to the premature birth and remains hospitalized.

John Delk, Nathan Richardson's attorney, says the boy weighed less than 2 pounds at birth and was four months premature.

A federal affidavit alleges Shannon Richardson contacted authorities to try to implicate her husband in the ricin letters, before being arrested herself on June 7.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Woman-in-Texas-ricin-case-gives-birth-in-custody-4682438.php?cmpid=hpbn .

Cross-posted in LBN and Texas Group.

July 24, 2013

Woman in Texas ricin case gives birth in custody

DALLAS (AP) — The Texas woman accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has given birth prematurely to a baby boy while in custody.

Attorneys for Shannon Guess Richardson and husband Nathan say she gave birth July 4 to a boy named Brody. Shannon Richardson's attorney, Tonda Curry, says the baby faces serious medical issues due to the premature birth and remains hospitalized.

John Delk, Nathan Richardson's attorney, says the boy weighed less than 2 pounds at birth and was four months premature.

A federal affidavit alleges Shannon Richardson contacted authorities to try to implicate her husband in the ricin letters, before being arrested herself on June 7.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Woman-in-Texas-ricin-case-gives-birth-in-custody-4682438.php?cmpid=hpbn .

Cross-posted in LBN and Barack Obama Group.

July 24, 2013

Woman in Texas ricin case gives birth in custody

Source: AP

DALLAS (AP) — The Texas woman accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has given birth prematurely to a baby boy while in custody.

Attorneys for Shannon Guess Richardson and husband Nathan say she gave birth July 4 to a boy named Brody. Shannon Richardson's attorney, Tonda Curry, says the baby faces serious medical issues due to the premature birth and remains hospitalized.

John Delk, Nathan Richardson's attorney, says the boy weighed less than 2 pounds at birth and was four months premature.

A federal affidavit alleges Shannon Richardson contacted authorities to try to implicate her husband in the ricin letters, before being arrested herself on June 7.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Woman-in-Texas-ricin-case-gives-birth-in-custody-4682438.php?cmpid=hpbn

---

Cross-posted in Texas and Barack Obama Groups.

July 24, 2013

Former state Rep. Ray Keller announces for Railroad Commissioner

Ray Keller, a Republican who represented southern Dallas County in the Texas House from 1979-1987, is re-entering politics after 25 years. Keller announced that he will run in the Republican primary for the Railroad Commission, which oversees oil and gas.

“Texas is the leading producer of energy in the United States. We need a strong voice on the commission for energy policies that create jobs, protect our national security and protect our environment,” Keller said in his announcement.

Keller, of North Richland Hills, said he recently retired from a career in public safety sales.

In the course of his four terms in the Legislature, Keller was chairman of the of the Law Enforcement Committee. He was named as one of the 10 best legislators by Texas Monthly magazine.

More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/07/former-state-rep-ray-keller-announced-for-rr-commissioner.html/ .

[font color=green]Rep. Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, a Harvard-trained lawyer, also has announced that she is running for the post.

Also in the race is Dallas businessman Malachi Boyuls and a possible entrant is geologist Becky Berger of Schulenburg.

Maybe somebody who lived in Dallas County for decades can answer this question: How did a Republican get elected in southern Dallas County? That should be a Democratic stronghold.[/font]

July 24, 2013

Cornyn, Cruz accepting applications to fill judicial vacancies

WASHINGTON – Texas Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are seeking applicants for federal district court judges, one of the first steps to end several judicial vacancies causing delays and high volumes of case work in some Texas courts.

The process for nominating and approving federal judges has become a polarized battle between Republicans and the Obama administration. Both sides have blamed the other for delays in filling the spots. Last June, Republicans blocked all nominations until after the November elections.

There are seven judicial vacancies in Texas for federal district courts – three in the Southern District of Texas, two in the Eastern District of Texas, and one in each the Northern District of Texas and the Western District of Texas. Applications are being accepted for all but the Dallas-based Northern District. The senators plan to start accepting application to fill its vacancy at a later date.

Four of those vacancies – two in the Eastern District and one in both the Western and the Southern districts – have been declared judicial emergencies. Most have been unfilled for more than a year. The Western District has had an opening since 2008.

More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/07/cornyn-cruz-accepting-applications-to-fill-judicial-vacancies.html/ .

[font color=green]Stop the filibuster on President Obama's court nominees and the vacancies will be filled.[/font]