A Blooming Bluebonnet Wrangle from Far Left Texas

Yesterday's Slap-Rock was more than the usual disturbing, and everybody naturally had a take, so I'm sprinkling in some wildflowers today to take the edge off.

The bluebonnets have arrived. The astonishing beauty of Texas in places big and small is a comfort against the rising political ugliness. pic.twitter.com/qWRJzpT1l5

— John Schwartz (@jswatz) March 28, 2022

That doesn't mean I'm going soft on the morons, bigots, criminals, and assholes.

“If you do not issue this retraction, our clients will have no choice but to explore all legal options,” the letter sent on behalf of several abortion funds in Texas concludes. https://t.co/w5Ce1PfqTx

— Texas Signal (@TexasSignal) March 28, 2022

Rather than focusing on abortion itself, the lawsuits filed by Texas abortion advocacy groups argue that the law is unconstitutional because it violated the right to due process, free speech and equal protection under the law. https://t.co/2fygMMXJA0

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) March 24, 2022

This story also underscores why Trump is ride or die for @KenPaxtonTX and would never even consider supporting @georgepbush: Cruz and Trump were running out of other options to overturn the election when Paxton filed his lawsuit, which also didn't work https://t.co/rDoU0qcnMU

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) March 28, 2022

Court-appointed watchdogs of Texas’ troubled foster care system found "ample evidence" that former sex trafficking victims were abused at a foster care facility, contradicting the Texas Rangers’ findings earlier this month. (Via @TexasTribune )https://t.co/TxOuppZ9qG

— CBS Austin (@cbsaustin) March 29, 2022

Supreme Court rules unanimously against Houston Community College board member who claimed a First Amendment violation; Read the full SCOTUS opinion - https://t.co/CIHtX0srnQ #KPRC2 #hounews #HTX @WeAreHCCS

— KPRC 2 Houston (@KPRC2) March 24, 2022

"You don’t tell us what to do and you can go take a flying shit." https://t.co/n67lVHjPDK

— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) March 28, 2022

The good news is that no rural hospitals in Texas have closed in the last two years. The bad news? They’re still in crisis mode, and the state government is still struggling to find a solution. https://t.co/gF9R7rKz1N

— Ross Ramsey (@rossramsey) March 28, 2022

A man at an upscale Galleria-area hotel was hospitalized early Saturday after he accidentally shot himself in the testicles, police said. https://t.co/6nuftWwXsg

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) March 27, 2022

See?  Right here's where we need some aromatherapy.

Sunday reset 🔁
Who else is loving the bluebonnet sightings around the city? 😄💙

📸@project46_photography pic.twitter.com/tdXk1Lpp6G

— Houston (@VisitHouston) March 27, 2022

Wildflowers or wildfires?  You decide.

TX Wildfire | Das Goats Fire | 2 https://t.co/QZ6AZxjS6U

— NW Fire Blog (@nwfireblog) March 29, 2022

Go ahead and start planning your weekend, whether it's political action or something else (or both).

Join @TFN, @HRC, @TransTexas , @ACLUTx, @LambdaLegal , and @EqualityTexas as we rally to show support for Texas' Transgender community!

Make plans to rally on Saturday, April 2nd at 12 pm on the Texas State Capitol South Steps 🌟 pic.twitter.com/0v8Mkoa0PI

— 🤠 Texas Rising ↗️ (@texrising) March 15, 2022

It's already time to start making those Fiesta plans. #SanAntonio #SATX #SanAntonioTX #Fiesta #FiestaSanAntonio #ThingsToDoInSanAntonio https://t.co/LsAppzznzX

— San Antonio Current (@SAcurrent) March 28, 2022

The Deep Ellum Arts Festival is coming up on April 1 - 3 in Downtown Dallas.

Don’t miss out on this free event featuring local Dallas art, taste and music.

Visit https://t.co/ulxuTIDv6U for more information

@deepellumartsfestival pic.twitter.com/h3DzRyEmYH

— Downtown Dallas, Inc. (@DowntownDallas) March 28, 2022

Nearly 7,000 food lovers will gather over four days and three nights to celebrate Cowtown’s thriving culinary scene during the seventh edition of the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival. https://t.co/HyiDzmKbHE

— Texas Highways Magazine (@TexasHighways) March 28, 2022

Among our next batch of spring road trips, you have an option to avoid the traffic of Interstate 35 from DFW to the Hill Country, discover a different route out to Big Bend, and embark on a trip along Texas’ version of the Pacific Coast Highway. https://t.co/qNDjTCTxgA

— Texas Highways Magazine (@TexasHighways) March 28, 2022

Not enough mellow for you?  Here's some more.

Pink Floyd, the Kansas zoo fugitive flamingo, seen on the Texas coast https://t.co/nS3ZeJCcDY

— MySA (@mySA) March 28, 2022

Who remembers bookmobiles? This bookmobile, in Jefferson County, was the first in Texas. It was purchased in 1935 and retired in 1948. pic.twitter.com/BS5yr24SkB

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) March 28, 2022

Eugenia Pickard's philanthropy greatly improved Black neighborhoods in Abilene in the early 1900s. She made several of her properties available to poor families, rent free; a library was dedicated in her name. #WomensHistoryMonth

📷: 1940s Abilene, @HSULibraries pic.twitter.com/j0hQ2nQiYj

— Texas Historical Commission (@TxHistComm) March 28, 2022

When Molly Ivins showed up to her @TexasObserver job interview, she brought a case of beer. She was "this 6 foot tall, red haired Texan who spoke truth to power ... She went after stupidity and she was fearless, and man, she was funny." | @mollyivinsfilm https://t.co/s0MPWZ0pol

— KERA (@keratx) March 28, 2022

Everyone is enjoying this beautiful spring weather. #TxStateParks #txwx #WildlifeWednesday pic.twitter.com/dWLc96qyhe

— Texas State Parks (@TPWDparks) March 23, 2022

Rock-Slapped Wrangle from Far Left Texas

(A)ny references to geopolitical causes or pleas for humanity were overshadowed by the blow that Will Smith landed on Chris Rock. It used to be that partisan statements triggered a bit of discord and division in the room; this time it was one of Rock’s crass jokes about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

None of this is okay. The #assault is not okay. “Jokes” about a medical condition is not okay. The inaction from security is not okay. #ToxicMasculinity is not okay.
What just happened?!? #Oscars2022 pic.twitter.com/PtpeZihK45

— Capitalism & Colonialism Kill (@ResistInReality) March 28, 2022

The segue to Texas relevance:

(Oscars co-host Wanda) Sykes later took aim at the wave of new voting restrictions when she presented a shredded piece of paper. “You like democracy? Here is a voter registration form for the state of Texas,” she said.

And with that ...

Also coming up: the Biden administration is suing Galveston County over its newly redrawn political maps, alleging the county has diluted Black and Hispanic voting strength. @HoustonChron's @jaspscherer has the latest: https://t.co/BJiWbJDs4T

— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) March 25, 2022

Republican candidate for Texas AG @georgepbush launches website https://t.co/kGbJfA1ngr about the incumbent to “inform Texans of the rampant corruption of scandal-plagued Ken Paxton,” according to a press release. pic.twitter.com/Gz7efsxn7h

— Taylor Goldenstein (@taygoldenstein) March 25, 2022

And the Texas Observer would like the next land commissioner to forget the Alamo and focus on more important things.

The race for Governor of Texas is drawing a lot of national media attention but the media is completely ignorning the campaign of Green Party candidate @DelilahforTexas. We talk to Delilah about this & more on this week’s Unruly—which is out now on Callin. https://t.co/hzy6nxKOFo

— Ryan Knight ☭ (@ProudSocialist) March 25, 2022

Only the usual fail by our corporate state media.  Here are the social injustice Tweets.

NEW: Texas is investigating two drug companies for alleged false advertising and "off-label" use of puberty blockers to treat transgender youth.

One company said it doesn't market its drug for treating gender dysphoria but will cooperate. https://t.co/OFupCnzVt9 #txlege #LGBT

— 🌟 Lauren McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) March 24, 2022

The Denton City Council has adopted a long-debated nondiscrimination ordinance that includes protections for LBGTQ+ people. Via @dallasnews https://t.co/zz5ye8OLef

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) March 25, 2022

A guy on FB who opposes Austin ISD's efforts to ensure all families feel welcome, threatening "lynchings"
This is what state leaders are unleashing on TX communities, or staying silent about.
Example upon example of turning Texan against Texan, just to win elections#txlege pic.twitter.com/34cXNlT7rx

— Jessica Shortall🧂🥴 (@jessicashortall) March 24, 2022

“They’ve created a nefarious state enforcement system to punish brown and black immigrants. There’s real human suffering … as well as consequences to the border communities that are required to enforce it.” - @laurapena82, Beyond Borders Program Directorhttps://t.co/7Rz9fUf2Fs

— Texas Civil Rights Project (@TXCivilRights) March 24, 2022

And the legal and criminal injustice ones.

Chair @leachfortexas says 81 Texas House members - Republicans and Democrats - have signed onto a letter asking the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to spare the life of deathrow inmate #MelissaLucio
"I have never seen a more troubling case," Leach said #txlege pic.twitter.com/nqbo9w72Ej

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) March 24, 2022

A San Marcos teen has been indicted on a federal hate crime charge for setting an Austin synagogue on fire last fall.

He has autism and Tourette syndrome, and experts are assessing his mental competency, according to his attorney. (via @Katie_Statesman)https://t.co/OkjQyHJ7RH

— Taylor Goldenstein (@taygoldenstein) March 24, 2022

Austin Police Department annual report shows a disproportional number of Black Austinites arrested and injured. https://t.co/uY06a5KFpI

— Austin Chronicle (@AustinChronicle) March 23, 2022

Under the Texas Controlled Substances Act, drug testing equipment is classified as drug paraphernalia which, you guessed it, makes it illegal for people to recreationally test.https://t.co/6tP6bU0FYe

— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) March 23, 2022

Council OKs new Houston police contract, despite calls for a more public process https://t.co/LEhqnBp9u1 via @houstonchron #hounews

— Matt Schwartz (@SchwartzChron) March 23, 2022

And some environmetal headlines.

Texas GOP's Patrick, Christian and Hegar claim to be conservative, but they behave like crony-capitalist thugs when they blacklist investment firms over #cleanenergy funds. https://t.co/CpLz3i28kA @HoustonChron #txlege #energytwitter

— ChrisTomlinson (@cltomlinson) March 23, 2022

By protecting oil and gas, Texas will cede its energy leadership to other states | Opinion https://t.co/jVtzVYQiA5

— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) March 25, 2022

⚡️ "Why the global oil market hinges on five U.S. counties" by @BBGVisualData https://t.co/6RHOGpxfts #TXLege #Permian What #ClimateCrisis?🤡

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) March 24, 2022

What does climate change have to do with it?
- Sept to Feb was 8th driest & 7th warmest such six-month period on record
- Increasing temps enhance drying
- Climate change increases variability of rain, meaning more rain when it does rain (creating fuel) https://t.co/46NLtyKOJM

— Erin Douglas (@erinmdouglas23) March 25, 2022

Record high temperatures across Central Texas, along with gusty winds and dry brush, continue to fuel a fire north of Killeen. The Crittenburg Fire is an estimated 17,000 acres with 0% containment. https://t.co/Rhs1Qcbsuf

— WFAA (@wfaa) March 28, 2022

Jobs Are Scarce and Pollution Rampant as Oil And Gas Companies Along Texas Coast Automate Operations. https://t.co/6KJLJpdbLA

— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) March 26, 2022

For years, raw sewage has overwhelmed the city’s aging wastewater infrastructure. Now, following a lawsuit brought by the EPA, the city is spending $725 million to clean up its act—a change that was needed ten years ago, says one city employee. https://t.co/joG9DeeNQ4

— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) March 24, 2022

Joppa is a historical Black community in Dallas. It’s also one of the city’s most polluted neighborhoods.

Community leaders have teamed up with researchers to study how air pollution is affecting people's health in Joppa: https://t.co/czgLnAePlG

— Sierra Club (@SierraClub) March 23, 2022

Throughout the year, a small group of botanists and wildflower enthusiasts set out to collect seeds in an effort to save some of the rarest flora in the state. https://t.co/yYBVUQQYVP

— Texas Highways Magazine (@TexasHighways) March 23, 2022

It was unsettling to read about the upheaval at the Observer.

It's been several months, but some days I'm still sad about how the Texas Observer as I knew it disappeared over night. Many thanks to @naomiandu and @ObjectiveJrn for telling more of that story here: https://t.co/SftMZ6PO36

— Amal Ahmed (@amalahmed214) March 24, 2022

This review of a very disconcerting week -- not taking into account the developments in Ukraine, at the Supreme Court confirmation hearings, and essentially every direction in which you might have glanced -- requires a few extra soothers.

Galveston was once the Ellis Island of the South. But Jewish arrivals had to navigate a society marked by racial and religious politics. https://t.co/OmckNfCnb1

— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) March 25, 2022

Richard Linklater recalls a childhood in space race-era Houston in his new Austin-made animation. https://t.co/5xtzXvZ62v

— Austin Chronicle (@AustinChronicle) March 24, 2022

LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY! New KHOU drone video shows the current state of the Memorial Park Land Bridge Tunnels.

The eastbound lanes open to vehicular traffic on March 28 after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. All lanes will open in April. #khou11

READ: https://t.co/P2XZ68VU0h pic.twitter.com/71EM4VP19U

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) March 23, 2022

Stumbled down a research rabbit hole: @librarycongress' original copy of Clifton Church's 1894 book "Dallas, Texas, Through a Camera." https://t.co/O3u1HzFEHO pic.twitter.com/iB93Vvv8V3

— Robert Wilonsky (@RobertWilonsky) March 25, 2022