Article Link: "Sherrif under fire for rejecting request"

clipped from www.onenewsnow.com

Sheriff under fire for rejecting request

A Texas sheriff is standing firm against the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which says he violated an inmate's constitutional "right" to an abortion.

"Well, [we were told] the county will have to take this inmate to the abortion clinic, transport her, and then you get into a situation of a guard hire and all the costs associated with that," the sheriff points out. "So I said, 'No. I don't think that's a proper use of county taxpayers' money.'"

Fowler did ask to have the inmate's case moved forward quickly, which did happen. She received five years probation and was released. But now the ACLU is demanding to know what the sheriff will do if a similar situation occurs in the future.

"My take on it is unless the legislature creates a law that requires a sheriff to take inmates to an abortion clinic, then I'm not gonna do it," he explains.

Article Link: "Rare 4.0 earthquake hits South Texas on Saturday night"

clipped from www.rap-con.com

Rare 4.0 earthquake hits South Texas on Saturday night

A light to moderate quake jolted the South Texas area last night. The quake was some concern to the fact the area rarely sees this activity.

The quake was 28 miles West of Corpus Christi, TX and was a magnitude 4.0 on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 02:10:41 UTC, which in local Texas time was around 11:10pm Saturday night.

Scientists are unsure at the moment what caused the quake in South Texas, however the earthquake density maps are very telling to the situation. The area does not experience these types of quakes.

The depth of this quake was around 5.0km, which suggests it was either geological or induced by oil production, which does happen. Never-the-less this is an interesting area to have a quake due to the fact the area has a large crack running north to south in Texas, discovered several years ago, origin being unknown.

The quake comes after a 4.3 Magnitude shaker in Mexico earlier in the day.

Article Link: "Social Studies Update: Professor Neil Armstrong & Alexander Graham Bell Out, Pro-Abortion Group (NOW) In" (TEXAS)

clipped from texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com

Social Studies Update: Professor Wants Neil Armstrong & Alexander Graham Bell Out, Pro-Abortion Group (NOW) In

Click here for a link to Professor Jesus F. de la Teja’s review and recommendations for the SBOE, on the social studies standards. He recommends removing Neil Armstrong, Alexander Graham Bell, and the Texas Rangers by name, completely. He also recommends removing Columbus from one section. De la Teja Review Current Social Studies TEKS[1]

Liberty Institute has compiled a condensed list of approved social studies standards for study. Among those:

Historical Figures: Neil Armstrong, Mother Teresa, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Columbus

Alamo Heroes: All 189 heroes who died at Alamo. including contributions of Texians and Tejanos

Important Concepts: “American Exceptionalism”

Contributions of Founding Fathers: John Hancock, John Jay, John Witherspoon, others

Thomas Jefferson:

BC/AD: SBOE members approved correct dating system, some teachers tried to change it to BCE/CE.

States Exploration: Assignment 1: Bordering States

How many states border your state?: 4

Which ones are they?: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, & Louisiana

Have you ever been to any of them?: I've been to all of them multiple times.

Was there a reason you visited or are they close enough you visit often?: Usually trips to Louisiana & New Mexico were driving through on vacations. Same with Oklahoma except we use to have our family reunions up there. With Arkansas, I went to college in Fayetteville & I have family who live there too. I go with my family quite often to Little Rock to a fantastic dinner theater there (Murry's Dinner Playhouse). We have a mini-family reunion (almost every summer) in northern Arkansas & stay in a cabin & trout fish on the White River. I grew up near Texarkana which is a city that is half in Arkansas & half in Texas so I use to go there all the time just to go out to eat or shopping or to visit someone in the hospital or to go to college when I was in x-ray school. I will be going back to AR in a few weeks for our Thanksgiving family reunion & I can't wait!

Of the ones you have visited which is your favorite?: Arkansas

Bonus Question (do not look this question up on the web and don’t look at a map. Just guess!) – Which two states have the most bordering states?: I have no idea...I'll have to look it up...anyone want to take a guess?....I'm not going to tell you...you'll have to look it up too....hehe. :D

States Exploration: Assignment 3: My Part of the State

Do you live in a county or a parish or does it go by another name?: I live in a county.

Name of the county you’re in and surrounding counties: I live in Denton County. The surrounding counties are: Cooke, Grayson, Collin, Dallas, Tarrent, & Wise Counties.

How many counties total are there in your state?: There are 254 counties in TX.

The state capital is in which county? The capital, Austin, is not in Austin County like one would think but, instead, it is located in Travis County.

Post a picture of your country courthouse: I'm not going to do this because my county court house is quite a drive away & I only go up there if I have to. Since I have no other reason to drive to that town right now I don't want to waste gas going up there...sorry...trying to be more frugal.

Post a picture map showing your state’s counties:

How close is the next town/city from yours?: Most of the towns in my area are pretty much on top of each other.

What is the population of your city/town? There are approximately 101,624 people in my town...however I am planning on moving to a nearby town in about a month that has about 20,773. Ah, that is so much better. Personally, I would live to live in a place of less than 1000 but this will be much better regardless. I'll feel like I can breath at least.

States Exploration: Assignment 2: My State's Name

State Name: Texas

Research where the name of your state came from. Is there a story to tell?: There are several stories but the most common is that the Native Americans in East Texas referred to themselves as thecas or “friend” when they met some Spanish explorers. Later it was found that this word was probably actually Texias which more correctly translated into any ally against the Apaches. It was spelt differently many times including tejas, but eventually we ended up with Texas. You can read a more in-depth story here.

What does the state name (the word) itself mean?: According to another site & supporting what I said above, “Texas comes from the Hasinai Indian word tejas meaning friends or allies.”

When was it established as it’s “official” name?: After breaking away from Mexico during the Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas became a it’s own nation in 1836. Nine years later, in 1845, Texas joined the United States of American as the 28th state.

Several states were owned by other countries. What was your state’s name before it was a part of the US?: Six flags have flown over Texas. This is where you get the name of the amusement park Six Flags which originated in Texas. Those countries that have owned Texas are: Spain (1519-1685 & 1690-1821), France (1685-1690), Mexico (1821-1836), The Republic of Texas (1836-1845), United States of America (1845-1861 & 1865-present), and the Confederate States of America (1861-1865).

What main nationality were those who first populated your state? Did their nationality have anything to do with the naming of your state?: The native people of Texas were several groups of Indians including: Comanche, Caddo (where we get the name “Texas”), Tonkawa, Apache, Lipan, Karankawas, & Coahuiltecan. Read more about them here.

Was your state name after a person? Tell us about the person & how they inspired the name.: No, the name is not after a person but many of the cities & counties are named after famous people including: Bowie county (after James Bowie who fought at the Alamo; the county I am originally from), Austin (after Stephen F. Austin who is known as “The Father of Texas”), & Houston (after Sam Houston who commanded the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution).

Were there any particular people involved in naming the state?: The Caddo Indians & the Spanish explorers (especially Alonso De Leon, Damian Massanet, & Francisco de Jesus Maria)

Living in Texas

A fellow blogger & Texan now living in Nevada recently posted on her blog the following sentiments about some of the great attributes associated with living in this state.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TEXAS IN JULY WHEN:

The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.

The trees are whistling for the dogs.

The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

Hot water now comes out of both taps.

You can make sun tea instantly.

You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron!

The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.

You discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.

You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.

Your biggest bicycle wreck greatest fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.

The cows are giving evaporated milk.

Ah, what a place to call home.

God Bless Our State of TEXAS

A poem for all Texans

Bless this house, oh Lord, we cry.

Please keep it cool in mid-July.

Bless the walls where termites dine,

While ants and roaches march in time.

Bless our yard where spiders pass

Fire ant castles in the grass.

Bless the garage, a home to please

Carpenter beetles, ticks and fleas.

Bless the love bugs, two by two,the gnats and mosquitoes that feed on you.

Millions of creatures that fly or crawl,

In TEXAS, Lord, you've put them all!

But this is home, and here we'll stay,

So thank you Lord, for insect spray.

"Moment of Silence" still allowed in Texas schools

clipped from www.dallasnews.com

Court rules against Carrollton couple, affirms Texas schools' moment of silence law

A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a Texas law that requires public school students to observe a daily minute of silence in order to pray, reflect or otherwise remain quiet.

A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans affirmed a district court ruling, saying the law is constitutional because it expressly allows for any silent use of the period, either religious or nonreligious.

David and Shannon Croft sued on behalf of their three children, who are enrolled in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. The suburban Dallas couple contended that including the word "pray" in the mandatory moment of silence law was a way for lawmakers to advance religion in schools.

The Crofts sued after they said an elementary teacher told one of their children to keep quiet because the minute is a "time for prayer."

News/Politics: "Texas Town Adopts Spanish As Official Language"

clipped from englishfirst.org

Texas Town Adopts Spanish As Official Language

The border town of El Cenizo,
whose population is heavily Hispanic, has adopted Spanish as its
official language and declared the community a safe haven for
illegal immigrants

Mayor Rafael Rodriguez told Reuters that he and most of the
town's residents speak only Spanish. Many are first-generation
immigrants, both legal and illegal. Rodriguez himself crossed
into the United States illegally from Mexico but became a U.S.
citizen in 1995.

The ``safe haven'' ordinance forbids city staff, which
consists of one employee and two volunteers, from helping the
U.S. Border Patrol find illegal immigrants or inquiring about
any person's immigration status.

The intent was to avoid meddling in peoples' lives,
Rodriguez said.

``We are not protecting them and neither are we turning them
in,'' he said.

City Secretary Elsa Degollado estimated that the town's
population currently includes 1,000 illegal immigrants.

North America is beginning to resemble the Middle East

"Texas Braces for Mexican Violence"

clipped from www.newsmax.com

Texas Officials Brace for Mexican Violence

Friday, February 13, 2009 12:35 PM

Texas officials are drafting plans for law enforcement and military responses to the growing Mexican gang violence threatening to spill across the U.S. border.

“Worst-case scenario, Mexico becomes the Western hemisphere’s equivalent of Somalia, with mass violence, mass chaos,”

With more than 5,300 people killed in Mexico last year owing to criminal activity, Mexico has been identified in a Department of Defense report as a country that could abruptly destabilize.

the federal government has already developed a contingency plan that calls for armored vehicles, aircraft and teams of personnel along border hotspots. Military forces, however, would be deployed only if agencies like the Border Patrol were unable to quell the violence.

What is not being accounted for, however, is the flood of refugees that could swarm the United States in the event of a Mexican government collapse

Politics: "Moment of Silence" back in court

Some atheist couple from Carrollton, TX (just about 15 min from me) is trying to have the "moment of silence" (see policy below) removed from Texas classrooms.

clipped from libertylegal.org

Texas Moment of Silence:
Croft v. Governor of Texas, Rick Perry

Tex. Educ. Code § 25.082 § 25.082. School Day; Pledges Of Allegiance; Minute Of Silence.

(d) The board of trustees of each school district shall provide for the observance of one minute of silence at each school in the district following the recitation of the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags under Subsection (b). During the one-minute period, each student may, as the student chooses, reflect, pray, meditate, or engage in any other silent activity that is not likely to interfere with or distract another student. Each teacher or other school employee in charge of students during that period shall ensure that each of those students remains silent and does not act in a manner that is likely to interfere with or distract another student.