TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalPaula Deen Thanks Dallas Supporters
An emotional day in Downtown Dallas on Saturday for celebrity chef Paula Deen. She faced fans at the Metro Cooking Show at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
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More than a thousand fellow cooking enthusiasts gave Deen a standing ovation as she took to the stage in Dallas. “I miss y’all too,” Deen said.
It's her second show this week after she stepped out of hiding in Houston last Saturday. This summer, the disgraced chef admitted to using a racial slur nearly three decades ago, after it surfaced in court documents. In August, lawyers signed a deal to drop a discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit against Deen.
In Dallas, she thanked her supporters who paid as much as $400 to see her.
“I'm really looking forward to the future," Deen said. "It's good to be back at work... just thinking about the future, I’m going to get back out there and continue to do what I love to do… and that's making fun of my colored folk cooking.”
More at http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Paula-Deen-Thanks-Dallas-Supporters-224726092.html .
Five at Irving Nimitz High School Test Positive for Tuberculosis Exposure
A handful of students at a high school in Irving have tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis.
The Irving school district said five people out of 137 at Nimitz High School tested positive for exposure to TB in preliminary skin tests. Students and teachers who had might have had contact with a student diagnosed with the bacterial infection between March and May had skin tests.
Positive skin tests indicate the person has been exposed to tuberculosis but do not mean that he or she has the infection or will contract it.
The student was diagnosed with tuberculosis at the end of the summer and is getting treatment. The student is not currently attending Nimitz.
More at http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Five-at-Nimitz-High-School-Test-Positive-for-Tuberculosis-Exposure-224648081.html .
Previous thread:
Irving Nimitz students to be offered tuberculosis testing after one gets the disease
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107811988
ESPN announcer Dick Vitale calls Texans RB Foster a prostitute then later says sorry
Arian Foster’s confession that he accepted money while playing college football at Tennessee led to more debate about the NCAA and if it should pay athletes.
It also led to extreme outrage.
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale was among those who thought Foster was in the wrong for his actions.
On Twitter he likened the Texans running back to a prostitute, saying that he was selling his body. He expressed regret for his word choice less than 24 hours later.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) September 20, 2013
I apologize if it offended u that I used prostitute 4 athletes taking cash @marcisenberg made a gr8 point about NCAA rules @ term illegal
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) September 21, 2013
My wife agrees with u that prostitute was a bad term to use -I was upset when reading tweet from @GreggDoyelCBS about Foster getting cash
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) September 21, 2013
http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2013/09/dick-vitale-calls-foster-a-prostitute-then-later-says-sorry/?cmpid=hpts
Faith-based alternative to Boy Scouts emerging
The Boy Scouts of America’s new policy that allows gay boys to be vocal about their sexual orientation was a victory for some. Others, however, were fond of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” rule and feel the change is worth leaving over.
Scott Scarborough, a former Boy Scouts volunteer and committee member under the South Plains Council, resigned his position with the organization on Sept. 1 and is bringing an emerging faith-based alternative to West Texas.
Trail Life USA was started in July by former Boy Scouts officials and adult volunteers who left Scouting over the homosexuality dispute. More than 1,200 people representing 44 states met in Nashville, Tenn., for the national organization’s first convention earlier this month.
Trail Life will use the outdoors to teach young men and boys the importance of character, leadership and adventure — much like Boy Scouts.
But unlike Boy Scouts, Trail Life will require its leaders to sign a statement of faith in one God and will operate under churches, Christian schools and non-profit religious organizations only, Scarborough said.
More at http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2013-09-21/faith-based-alternative-boy-scouts-emerging .
Is Your Congressman One Of The 13 Who Get Federal Farm Subsidies But Voted To Cut Food Stamps?
Can you think of a better example of inhumane hypocrisy from our members of Congress than one that literally takes food out of the mouths of children but lines their own wallets with millions of your tax dollars? Back in July, you’ll remember, for the first time since 1973, House Republicans successfully voted to remove the Food Stamp bill from the Farm bill, while retaining and passing the Farm Subsidies bill. For decades, the two were historically combined because the interest of the poor need to be piggybacked to the interests of the rich, or the rich might gut the Food Stamps bill — as they did this week.
So, who are the rich gutting the food stamps bill? Member of Congress, of course.
This week, the Republican-led House voted to strip $40 billion in food stamps funding over a ten year period. If that bill becomes law it will kick four million Americans — many if not most of them families with children — off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program.
They also voted to make, as a condition of receiving food stamps, most recipients work 20 hours a week — in an economy that has 7.3 percent unemployment.
More at http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/is-your-congressman-one-of-the-13-who-get-federal-farm-subsidies-but-voted-to-cut-food-stamps/politics/2013/09/21/75493 .
[font color=green]The summarized list:
Robert Aderholt - AL
Blake Farenthold - TX
Stephen Fincher - TN
Vicky Hartzler - MO
John Kline - MN
Doug LaMalfa - CA
Tom Latham - IA
Frank Lucas - OK
Cynthia Lummis - WY
Randy Neugebauer - TX
Kristi Noem - SD
Marlin Stutzman - IN
Mac Thornberry - TX
A few of those representatives would have negative net worth if they had not received farm subsidies (Fincher and Noem in particular).
Ron Paul: More women should sacrifice career to homeschool kids
America needs more home-schoolers, ladies. Yeah, you probably have a day job and can’t afford to take the time off to properly educate your offspring at home. But that’s just an excuse, you wimp. Even a woman working two jobs and living at a homeless shelter could find time to teach her child. Well, according to a twist of reality espoused by former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) anyway.
“I want people to be able to home-school their children,” he said during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to promote his book about the education titled “The School Revolution.” “Not everybody – this is designed to pick out the leaders who want to. And maybe 20 percent might be interested in doing this. But these would be leaders who would be talking about running for Congress and understand why the Federal Reserve is a problem.”
BBC anchor Katy Kay this morning asked Paul if his libertarian aim to have so many more children home-taught would hurt women, since they’re the ones typically expected to take on domestic roles. Plus, wouldn’t that exact a terrible blow on the workforce – to take out a fifth of its working women?
No, he replies, claiming he’s heard of someone who invalidates all other excuses.
More at http://blog.chron.com/hottopics/2013/09/ron-paul-more-women-should-sacrifice-career-to-homeschool-kids/?cmpid=lifestylehcat .
[font color=green]A couple of sentences further in the article there is sentence (although it is not in quotation marks) stating, "Women only work because they have to – to survive, Paul adds. Not because they want to or have ambition or anything."
[/font]
Friday Night Catnip: The Art of Lovin' -- The Art of Lovin'
It’s been a while since I posted the Friday Night Catnip, primarily because of a catnip shortage. However, lo and behold while I was packing my possessions this week to prepare for the upcoming move there was a pleasant surprise! 
It might be awhile before I post anymore Friday Night Catnip so please take the opportunity for catnip combustion to the psychedelic 60s sounds of The Art of Lovin’. The Art Of Lovin’ have a mixed male/female vocal style at their head -- a sound that's somewhere in the Mamas & Papas mode, but a bit more stripped down -- and crafted here with leaner, darker sounds that are really great -- and almost a bit spooky at times! As with other Mainstream rock sessions, there's something magical about the way the bass is recorded -- a completely flat tone that pushes the music up from the bottom, and really makes a magical platform for rougher guitar, organ, and drums.
With their psych-tinged folk-rock (or was it folk-tinged psych-rock?) and male/female vocals, this Massachusetts-based fivesome garnered more than their share of comparisons to Jefferson Airplane and the Mamas and the Papas on their eponymous 1968 album, but they were more than just the East Coast versions of those fabled San Francisco bands. The group -- Paul Applebaum (vocals, guitar, chief songwriter), Johnny Lank (bass), Barry Tatelman (saxophone), Gail Winnick (vocals), Sandy Winslow (drums, percussion) -- sidestepped MGM's "Bosstown Sound" circus when they signed with Detroit-based Mainstream Records, and their lone album is full of rich harmonies courtesy Applebaum and Winnick, inventive guitar work and a cover of Tim Hardin's "
How Can We) Hang On To A Dream" (for comparison purposes check out the version by Gandalf also in the Music Appreciation Group). The band played a few Boston-area gigs in support of the album, but soon broke up, its members choosing college over the life of rock stars.
Despite the group's short lifespan, The Art of Lovin' LP still makes its mark in the twenty-first century: It earns high praise and fetches good prices in online auctions by knowledgeable '60s music collectors. In 2008, the album was remastered and released on CD for the first time by Japanese record label P-Vine. And in 2009, Joel and Ethan Cohen included the band's "Good Times" on the soundtrack to their 1960's-set black comedy A Serious Man.
Although the opening to the first song is obnoxious, it is a fairly decent LP so why don't you break out the catnip and chill? Enjoy the catnip!
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOtKMFpzhAKhDa6J-jNCWqHawCXbBJDHI
Paul's Circus 0:00
What the Young Mind Says 3:24
You've Got the Power 6:05
Take a Ride 9:13
Good Times 12:23
Daily Prayer 15:03
The First Time 17:52
And I Have Seen Them All 21:40
You'll Walk Away 24:57
(How Can We) Hang On to a Dream 27:26
State of Mind 30:12
Total Time: 33:49
Revamps for Olive Garden, Red Lobster fall flat
NEW YORK —
Darden can't seem to convince more people to sit down for a meal at its Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants.
The company reported a sharply lower quarterly profit on Friday that missed Wall Street expectations, with sales down at its two biggest chains despite ongoing attempts to revamp their menus with lighter, cheaper options. Darden said it would slash costs to prepare for future challenges, in part by reducing its workforce.
It also said that its president and chief operating officer, Drew Madsen, was retiring and would be succeeded by Gene Lee, effective immediately. Lee headed Darden's specialty restaurants such as The Capital Grille and Bahama Breeze, which had fared relatively better than the company's flagship chains.
The shake-up comes as Darden Restaurants Inc. struggles to keep pace with a shifting industry, with more people heading to chains such as Chipotle that offer food perceived to be higher quality at relatively cheaper prices. As traffic has declined at Olive Garden and Red Lobster over the years, Darden has been trying to win back diners with lighter dishes and promotions intended to underscore the affordability of its food.
More at http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/business/darden-restaurants-coo-madsen-to-retire/nZ3Xs/ .
[font color=green]Could DUers be having an effect on Darden's bottom line?[/font]
Former VP gets 51 months in prison for Texas Tech University Medical Center fraud
A federal judge sentenced former University Medical Center Vice President Robert Gregory “Greg” Bruce on Friday, Sept. 20, to 51 months in prison for mail fraud in the theft of more than $735,000 from the hospital.
At least 15 people, including Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson and former City Manager Lee Ann Dumbauld, were in the gallery to provide moral support for Bruce.
“I hurt people and I harmed society,” Bruce said in a statement before he was sentenced. “I am truly sorry, and I accept my punishment.”
The statement addressed his sadness and disappointment in himself for doing something that hurt his co-workers and friends, and pledged to make amends for his situation.
More at http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2013-09-20/bruce-gets-51-months-prison-umc-fraud .
[font color=green]One of the more sickening parts of this article is the effort to portray Mr. Bruce as a benevolent servant to the community through his work in various community organizations who was steered towards wrongdoing. No matter how much the reporter at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal wants to pretend, Mr. Bruce is a white-collar criminal that stole from his employer on multiple occasions.[/font]
Bidders vying for Michael Brown's surgery company
A new buyer for former hand surgeon Michael Brown's company could emerge as soon as next week, according to the man tasked with trying to save Brown Medical Center and related entities.
David L. Grange, named in March as the chief restructuring officer overseeing Brown's businesses, said Thursday that the company is viable and potential buyers have made bids on it.
This is a head-spinning time for Brown and his company, with the headline-generating doctor scheduled to appear this month in three different courts in Florida and Texas.
"We've been in tremendous negotiations with different possible buyers (for the company) for the last three months at least," said Grange, a former U.S. Army officer who also has experience in business leadership.
More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Bidders-vying-for-Michael-Brown-s-surgery-company-4829666.php .
[font color=green]What! They are trying to take the company away from Daddy's little girl?[/font] 
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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
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