TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalCheese Recall Over Possible Listeria Contamination
Whole Foods Market is recalling a brand of cheese due to a possible risk of listeria contamination.
The Austin-based company is recalling Trois Comtois Morbier cheese in locations throughout the United States due to a recall by Trois Comtois in Poligny, France.
The cheese has the potential to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, "an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,"the Food and Drug Administration said. "Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women."
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In Texas, the cheese was labeled as Morbier Raw Milk.
In other Whole Foods locations, the cheese was packaged under the following names:
Ohio, Virginia and Washington D.C.: Morbier AOC Le Trois
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin: Morbier Raw Milk French Cheese
Oklahoma, Louisiana, Hawaii, Arizona and southern California: Morbier Raw Milk
Northern California and the Reno Nevada store: Morbier Les Trois Comtois
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Whole Foods is not the only U.S. purchaser of the cheese and it may also be found in other grocery stores or restaurants.
Source: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Whole-Foods-Market-Recalls-Cheese-Over-Possible-Listeria-Contamination-217933971.html
Oklahoma couples sue for marriage equality
Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal group, is defending the Tulsa County Clerk’s Office against a lawsuit involving marriage equality because a federal appeals court ruled the governor and attorney general have no standing.
Two lesbian couples from Oklahoma, including one married in California, challenged the state’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.
They believe the Defense of Marriage Act ruling bolsters their case. The case was filed in federal court in Tulsa in 2004 where it has been stalled. However, they are challenging the section of DOMA that still stands, allowing one state to refuse to recognize a marriage performed in another state.
Now that the DOMA ruling has been issued, attorneys for the couples are urging U.S. District Judge Terence Kern to rule in the case.
More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/couples-marriage-equality-state-10153990.html .
Thomas Ratliff Takes on Tea Party Over CSCOPE Panic
As the Great CSCOPE Controversy of 2013 continues on its baffling way, State Board of Education member Thomas Ratliff has emerged as the embattled program’s most outspoken defender at the state level—one of the very few elected officials willing to wade into tea party waters and pick a fight.
Democrats have mostly stayed out of the controversy over the state-produced curriculum tool and its supposedly un-American, anti-Christian classroom lessons. As Rep. Dawnna Dukes put it on the House floor in May, ”CSCOPE is not a concept that Democrats even know about.” So rural superintendents looking for a little cover from Austin have found support from Ratliff, a Republican from Mount Pleasant.
“I think Democrats are probably enjoying this,” he says, “because this is yet another example of the Republican Party eating its own young—and people like Dan Patrick are only accelerating the state’s conversion from red to purple.”
(New Democratic SBOE member Marisa Perez has been one entertaining exception, complaining about Patrick’s grandstanding back in May and, more recently, suggesting he’s trying to claim the title of “Academic Tool Czar online.”)
More at http://www.texasobserver.org/cscope-drama-stokes-tea-party-anger-at-sboes-thomas-ratliff/ .
CPS Fires a Special Investigator Who Used Term ‘Nigartard’
Rita DeShannon, a special investigator with Texas Child Protective Services, was fired today after the agency was alerted to racially inflammatory remarks on her personal Twitter account. Under the account @TexasPeanut, DeShannon tweeted frequently during the past few weeks on George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin, using the term “nigartards” and calling for white people to “arm themselves.”
Every white American needs to own a gun and teach your family gun safety and how to shoot…your family is a target now…it will get worse — Texas Peanut (@TexasPeanut) July 15, 2013
Trayvon Martin, thug in training, came up against an American gun owner, jumped the wrong person that night, he would have died young anyway — Texas Peanut (@TexasPeanut) July 15, 2013
DeShannon has worked for CPS since 2003, first as a foster care worker, then as an investigative caseworker and finally as an Ellis County-based special investigator since 2010, according to the agency. According to her LinkedIn profile, DeShannon is also a law-enforcement officer, who worked as a detective in the Monroe, Louisiana, Police Department. She also owns a company, AAA Texas Process Service, that serves court papers for the Texas Supreme Court, according to public records.
Until she changed it yesterday, her Twitter profile identified her as a member of the “Oathkeepers,” a far-right organization largely comprised of cops and military personnel who promise to disobey orders they consider unconstitutional. DeShannon didn’t respond to an email from the Observer seeking comment.
The Observer contacted CPS on Tuesday about DeShannon’s Twitter account. Patrick Crimmins, a spokesperson for the Department of Family and Protective Services, said the agency wasn’t aware of DeShannon’s inflammatory racial views or her Twitter account. On Wednesday morning, the agency dismissed her. In a letter recommending her dismissal, CPS administrators wrote that her “comments were inappropriate and inflammatory” and “violated her ethical responsibilities to the children and families we serve.” In one tweet on July 15th, DeShannon complains, “I’m really f#cking tired of being politically correct for nothing after all these years!” Her most recent tweet, from two days ago: “I’m not racist..I’ll kill any color of person who tries to kill me first!”
Source: http://www.texasobserver.org/cps-fires-a-special-investigator-who-used-term-nigartard/
Lechers in the Texas Legislature
By Carol MorganOn Wednesday, I noticed an interesting piece by Olivia Messer in the Texas Observer. I sincerely hope all will read the entire article and more importantly, watch the video here: http://www.texasobserver.org/the-texas-legislatures-sexist-little-secret/
I couldn’t believe what I was reading, my jaw dropped to the floor. By the time I finished the article, there were no words to describe my anger. I’m still seething twenty-four hours later.
Here are just a few of the misogynistic activities of some of the “honorable men” of the Texas Legislature mentioned in Messer’s article:
1. East Texas’ Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton is best known among female legislative staffers for his unwelcome slaps on their butts. He was accused of using campaign funds for a $100 lunch at Hooters. He interrupted Representative Marisa Marquez as she debated funding for Franklin Mountain State Park with the following comment: “Young lady, would you please tell us why your mountains are better than any of our mountains and are they man-made or are they real mountains?” (Texas Monthly gave him a dishonorable mention for this)
2. When Representatives Kolkhorst [font color=green](the representative for my district)[/font] and Dukes were having a serious debate, male legislators began making cat noises. (I’m an expert on middle school boys behavior and this is middle school boy behavior)
3. When Democratic Senator Judith Zaffirini proposed reserving a breast-feeding room for staffers at the Capitol, our own Republican Senator, Kel Seliger of Amarillo, responded with a facetious amendment that would have designated her office for that purpose. (I take back everything good I’ve ever said about Mr. Seliger in the past.)
4. Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, took the microphone after a Sefronia Thompson speech about male legislators and their misogynism. Riddle reported that some lawmakers were watching pornography on their iPads during the Legislative session.
More at http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2013-08-01/lechers-texas-legislature .
Carol Morgan is a career counselor, writer, speaker, former Democratic candidate for the Texas House and the award-winning author of Of Tapestry, Time and Tears, a historical fiction about the 1947 Partition of India.
Ask Willie D: My Girlfriend's Breasts Are Too Small. Help!
Dear Willie D:
My girlfriend is beautiful, smart and fun to be around. But if she had bigger boobs she would be perfect. I told her a few times that I think she should have her breasts augmented but she is afraid of surgery and the possible side effects.
I told her she has nothing to worry about and that I would even pay for the surgery but she won't budge. To get back at her I might not call her or answer my phone for three or four days. Then I'll finally pick up and halfheartedly kick it with her for a few days and start the cycle all over again.
I really want her to get the surgery. What can I tell her to convince her that she has nothing to be afraid of? Help a brother out, Willie!
***********************************************
Read the response by the Geto Boys MC at http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2013/08/ask_willie_d_august_1_2013.php (near the bottom of the page).
FBI investigating recent document destruction at Cameron hospital
The FBI is investigating the shredding of documents at a Cameron hospital that apparently occurred after local authorities wrested control of the facility to try to prevent such destruction.
Two weeks ago the Milam County Sheriff Department, carrying out a court order requested by the building landlord, locked the doors to the hospital. The authorities wanted to ensure that embattled owner Dr. Tariq Mahmood or his employees would not alter, hide or destroy medical records and other property, according to the court document.
The rare move was taken as Mahmood, who is under federal indictment for allegedly defrauding federal insurance programs, suddenly became the focus of a new crackdown. Gov. Rick Perry announced that same day that he was ordering an investigation of Mahmood’s hospital chain following my July 14 report documenting how his facilities endangered patients and engaged in potential fraud for at least four years.
A few days following the sheriff’s takeover, a deputy discovered a trash bag and box packed with shredded documents in an administrative office area. Mark Humble, the attorney for the building landlord, then alerted the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office.
More at http://watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/2013/08/fbi-investigating-recent-document-destruction-at-cameron-hospital-operated-by-indicted-owner-dr-tariq-mahmood.html/ .
Related thread:
In rare move, sheriff takes control of Central Texas Hospital; effort aimed at protecting community
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107810599
Woman who consumed 21 drinks suddenly switches to guilty plea in drunk driving trial
A Spring woman who authorities said consumed 21 drinks before driving in a fatal accident has pled guilty to intoxication manslaughter.
Nicole Baukus, 24, entered the guilty plea Thursday morning before the jury in Montgomery County's 435th State District Court, a court official said.
The trial is continuing with the sentencing phase.
On June 29, 2012, a pickup driven by Baukus was traveling the wrong way on Interstate 45 near Texas 242 when it smashed into a Chevrolet Aveo. The driver of the second vehicle, Nicole Adams, a 19-year-old from Conroe, was killed, as was her backseat passenger, Travis Ryan Saunders, 18, of Houston.
More at http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9192367&rss=rss-ktrk-article-9192367 .
[font color=green]Baukus' BAC was 0.30. The maximum sentence is 50 years.[/font]
Officials: Texas running out of execution drug
State officials said Thursday they are again running out of the lethal drug used to operate the nation’s busiest execution chamber.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark said the state’s remaining supply of pentobarbital expires in September, and officials “are exploring all options” for an alternative.
Prison officials acknowledged last year that if the supply of pentobarbital ran out, they had explored switching to other drugs including propofol — the powerful anesthetic that contributed to pop star Michael Jackson’s death from cardiac arrest in 2009.
Clark and prison officials offered few other details on Texas’ latest quandary on a source for its lethal drugs, which have caused it to switch twice in three years as manufacturers stopped producing the necessary drugs under pressure from death penalty opponents.
More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/officials-texas-running-out-of-execution-drug/nZBF6/ .
Oldest dad? 85-year-old ex-Louisiana governor, wife welcome baby boy
BATON ROUGE, La. — Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards' wife, Trina, has given birth to the couple's first son.
Edwin is 85 years old; his wife is 34.
On Trina Scott Edwards' Facebook page was a post: "Eli's coming!!!!"
Also on her Facebook page, it says the boy's name will probably be Eli Wallace, after her husband's father.
More at http://amarillo.com/news/national-news/2013-08-01/oldest-dad-85-year-old-ex-louisiana-governor-wife-welcome-baby-boy .
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
Number of posts: 112,168
