What. A. Life. #BettyWhite pic.twitter.com/QxeS6WY98E
— Marshall Ramsey (@MarshallRamsey) January 1, 2022
Sunday, January 02, 2022
Sunday 'Old Acquaintances' Funnies
Friday, December 31, 2021
Wrangling 2021
I suppose the best we can say about the year ending today is that we lived through it, if only because so many who should have did not.
— kristaps minerov (@samuel_sneed1) December 27, 2021
If the Texas Progressive Alliance had selected a Texan of the Year for 2021, my vote would have gone to Dr. Peter Hotez.
Not getting discussed enough: Dr. Hotez and his colleagues at Texas Children's have done what Pfizer and Moderna won't— developed a safe and effective #COVID19 vaccine, then transferred the patent to manufacturers in the developing world. For free. https://t.co/ovlgEUYriX
— Jorge A. Caballero, MD (@DataDrivenMD) December 29, 2021
This was an effort of a team of 20+ scientists @TexasChildrens @BCM_TropMed co-led by me and my brilliant science partner for the last 20 years @mebottazzi pic.twitter.com/BQzVaEupLV
— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) December 28, 2021
InnovationMap had Houston's top three COVID research stories. I hope the 'rona and its latest mutation is not the most important story next year. The climate crisis should be. Maybe it will.
Floods, hurricanes, wildfires and droughts. Protests, lawsuits, summits and executive orders. See climate change in the year 2021. https://t.co/E09BTDiayc
— Inside Climate News (@insideclimate) December 27, 2021
A look at what’s to come for Texas in the 2022 energy markethttps://t.co/W2FofWlfx3 pic.twitter.com/kPiWaAFOaE
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) December 27, 2021
Texas is now # 1 wind generator in USA & almost 20% of all electricity generated in Texas in 2021 was WIND. Picture is of Wildorado Wind Ranch west of Amarillo, today. https://t.co/4IiFhTwIHn pic.twitter.com/TmYZct1I1I
— Scott Uhl (@ScottUhlTX) December 27, 2021
SocraticGadfly noted that Ronny Jackson and other Texas wingnut Congresscritters want to fight the effects of climate change, but only when it affects cops, and without admitting that the likes of Winter Storm Uri are connected. The Concho Valley Homepage reported that the USGS recorded one of the largest earthquakes ever in the Permian Basin last Monday. And Earth911 offers ten green living New Year's resolutions.
Melting glaciers, deadly floods, record high temperatures and more pleas for help. AP journalists look back at a year when the effects of climate change were felt around the world. #2021Notebook https://t.co/ZX7OCyP6MR
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 27, 2021
Texas will be changing enormously in the years to come. All of us -- wherever we fall on the political spectrum -- are hoping the changes favor our points of view.
Population changes, April 2020-July 2021:
— Sewell Chan (@sewellchan) December 29, 2021
NY: -365,366
CA: -300,387
IL: -141,039
AZ: +124,814
FL: +242,941
TX: +382,436
https://t.co/MWTauNBxXI
1,000 new people arrive in Texas every day; half are newborns — Every three minutes, a child is born somewhere in Texashttps://t.co/I1yPyQlVMg
— Alfons López Tena (@alfonslopeztena) December 27, 2021
Texas was No. 2 most moved to and most moved away from state in 2021, report says https://t.co/ACBNSAjuwH via @KVUE
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) December 28, 2021
"Send in the Californians," says associate editor @ben_c_rowen. "Then send in more. Don’t stop until everyone here is cuffing their boot-cut jeans and Beto O’Rourke is treating national politicians to a local meal of a Double-Double Animal style."https://t.co/4UCHMri9RM
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) December 30, 2021
But the San Antonio Current quotes a recent report that advises liberty lovers to move somewhere else, ranking Texas 49th in personal freedoms.
Whatever the evolving demographics portend for the Lone Star State, we'll still have to deal with those who are stuck on stupid. COVID isn't going to kill 'em all.
An A-to-Z list of 25 Lone Star State residents who disgraced themselves last January 6. For embarrassing our state, they've been awarded a 2022 Bum Steer designation. https://t.co/kSJyEwatzv
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) December 31, 2021
After the Del Rio News-Herald shuttered last year, Frank Lopez Jr., who broadcasts as "US Border Patriot," found a national audience. https://t.co/6LBY9KEGCA+
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) December 22, 2021
Democrats’ 2022 choice: Govern or lose — Democrats have a narrow window to get a lot done, facing a unified GOP opposition and the slimmest of majorities. In 2022, they need to act for working people, the climate, and voting rights
— Alfons López Tena (@alfonslopeztena) December 27, 2021
By @EJDionne https://t.co/mMAIqFuxxd
Anecdote: Very nice counter person at an Austin CVS explains the 3 (!) types of available home #COVID tests they had, recommends the ones made by “Greg Abbott labs”. #txlege
— Jim Henson (@jamesrhenson) December 29, 2021
I'll be surprised if this remark does not cost Chairman Padron his job.
Mr. Hinojosa’s comments must stop. His misogynistic comments are out in full force against @KimOlsonTx. "This Woman" Colonel Olson, stands with every woman who gets degraded, pushed aside or belittled because she wants to make a difference. https://t.co/DATUaD1xx6
— Democrat For Rockwall Co. Commissioner Pct. 4 (@ErickaLedferd) December 30, 2021
Flipping Texas is a massive task & I don't have the answers but I know misogyny when I see it! The women quoted in this article @KimOlsonTx @JulieOliverTX should NOT be dismissed. TX is lucky they're persevering after the treatment they received from the nat'l party on down.🧵 https://t.co/HQ6Yqs4afE
— Cari Marshall (@CariMarshallTX) December 30, 2021
Still think they're both losers.
Here's a few criminal and social justice updates.
.@Forbes recognizes the accomplishments of 95-year-old Fort Worth resident Opal Lee, who achieved her lifelong goal of getting #Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday this year. #Forbes50over50 #OpalLeehttps://t.co/qoPCg0Sifd
— Fort Worth (@VisitFortWorth) December 26, 2021
Texas has banished hundreds of prisoners to more than a decade of solitary confinement. Many of these prisoners aren’t sure how—or, in some cases, if—they will ever get out. https://t.co/svbcMQcafN
— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) December 29, 2021
Many Texas traffic stops end in death, even when police don't pull the trigger. Is it worth it? — @Dexinvestigates and my last story of the year, and the last chapter in our ongoing investigation into the costs of everyday traffic enforcement in TX. https://t.co/8tdCHT7DMW
— St. John Barned-Smith ⚔️ (@stjbs) December 29, 2021
houston-area courts have *1,102 eviction cases* scheduled for the first week of january
— Jen Rice (@jen_rice_) December 30, 2021
the texas rent relief program is closed/out of money. the houston/harris county rent relief program is mostly closed/almost out of money.
A father and his 14-year-old son have been charged with capital murder in the killings of three teenagers at a convenience store on Dec. 26, according to Garland Police Department in Texas. https://t.co/j1xsEK5O11
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) December 31, 2021
BREAKING: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis reduced the sentence for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, the Houston truck driver who was convicted in the 2019 I-70 crash that killed four people, from 110 years to 10 years: https://t.co/uGzrPCl54A #khou11 @9NEWS with the report
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) December 30, 2021
Fifth Circuit sets hearing date in Texas abortion case https://t.co/znDcGO5M4e #TXLege
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) December 28, 2021
Mark Pitcavage presents some random facts about white supremacist tattoos. Mandy Giles is now blogging at Parents of Trans Youth. And as promised, some lists.
The Texas Observer submits its ten best longform reads of the year. Politico collected the worst predictions of 2021. The San Antonio Express News had all the spooky and strange things. And Texas Freedom Network rounded up the ten best and worst from the Lege.
A few political items, and the soothers to close out the year.
Kuff covered a couple more redistricting lawsuits; a new one filed by Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer over CD35, and an earlier one filed by a state prison inmate objecting to the practice of counting inmates where they are incarcerated rather than where they live. IPR opened a time capsule:
Prohibitionist Andrew Jackson Houston, son of the legendary Sam Houston, the hero of San Jacinto and first president of the Lone Star Republic, died in a Baltimore hospital on June 26, 1941.
Two months before his death, the 87-year-old Houston had been appointed to the U.S. Senate by Gov. “Pappy” O’Daniel to fill a vacancy created by the death of Democratic Sen. Morris Sheppard, who died of a brain hemorrhage on April 9.
Houston, who authored several books on Texas history and taught military science at St. Mary’s University on Trinity Bay, had been the Prohibition Party’s candidate for governor of Texas on two occasions. He also briefly challenged popular 1908 nominee Eugene W. Chafin for the dry party’s presidential nomination in 1912 -- the same year Roosevelt himself had snorted and thundered against the two-party establishment on his newly-formed Bull Moose ticket.
Houston was a Democrat at the time of his surprise Senate appointment on April 21, 1941.
Essential inside look into how Texas schools are choosing which books to ban, by @TaliRichman.
— Lauren McGaughy 🌟 (@lmcgaughy) December 29, 2021
The district gathered groups of parents and teachers to review challenged books. The debate is so fierce, participants are asked to sign NDOs. https://t.co/eOJnrZUbIO #txlege #tellEWA
Reform Austin introduced us to some school librarians who are fed up with and fighting back against book bans. And Susan Hays and nonsequiteuse eulogized Sarah Weddington.
The weather forecast in Texarkana this week probably didn't predict light showers with a chance of fish.https://t.co/hM3PRtliAS
— Chron (@chron) December 30, 2021
The "Old 300" was the group of colonists who settled under the terms of Stephen F. Austin's first contract with the Mexican government. They are "The Old 300" because the first contract was for the introduction of 300 families. A list of the families: https://t.co/NLIDc3Yng8 pic.twitter.com/B1sPpnZuTj
— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) December 26, 2021
Monday, December 27, 2021
The Between Holidays Wrangle from Far Left Texas
As we come to the end of another calendar I'll collect some listicles of noteworthy people and events from the past 12 months in a year-end Wrangle. Today I'm playing ketchup.
3 things to consider at the end of this horrible year:
— Zach Despart (@zachdespart) December 22, 2021
- COVID vaccines have been available to all adults since March
- Texas virus deaths are ⬆️ 35% over pre-vaccine 2020
- Our 75k deaths just shy of California, even though CA has 10 million more peoplehttps://t.co/YdHdvMXj8i
As Texas preps for omicron variant threat, Gov. Greg Abbott won’t ease stance against mask mandates https://t.co/Nul7HZTWqg
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) December 22, 2021
Thanks to @GovAbbott & @TexasGOP, “more than 18% of Texans were without health insurance, the highest rate in the country” #txlege
— Señor Peña (@SenorPena) December 23, 2021
Texas has the highest share of uninsured residents in the nation. Another COVID-19 wave puts them at risk. https://t.co/xdSFTEv5gZ via @TexasTribune
As stated before, I favor mask requirements by public and private orgs but not vax mandates.
Facts aren't going to persuade the unvaccinated. Authorities should focus on the strategies that are effective — The incentive that works especially well is the employer vaccine mandate: "Get vaccinated or get fired” has shown to be an effective messagehttps://t.co/XtwIw0DSbq
— Alfons López Tena (@alfonslopeztena) December 21, 2021
Moving on to the political happenings before and after the Yule.
Nearly 60 candidates filed declarations of intent to run as independents for statewide, legislative and congressional offices. History suggests very few will complete the process – namely, obtaining signatures – to be on the ballot in November. https://t.co/SdJF4NRHiy
— Texas Election Source (@TXElects) December 16, 2021
It's nice to be recognized as a viable option for Texans. I appreciate the co endorsement and I hope we can work together soon! https://t.co/KcDGhXXFIS
— DelilahForTexas💚☮🌻🌎 (@DelilahforTexas) December 19, 2021
Ted Cruz doesn't just want to be the '24 GOP nominee, he expects to be.
I blogged about Ted Cruz's dream deferred, and the interview he gave a, uh, 15 year old, in which he referred to his failed 2016 campaign as his glory days. Keep track of Cruz with our Watch: https://t.co/8UErowQN4q
— Ben Rowen (@ben_c_rowen) December 23, 2021
We'll see what we can do about that.
Here's a few news items about Lone Star Republicans and Democrats who definitely made Santa's 'naughty' list.
Interesting. You can get a year in county jail for faking up the true origin of a text, email, ad or 'deep fake video' w/intent to injure a candidate or influence an election.
— Bob Garrett (@RobertTGarrett) December 23, 2021
Dem consultant faces such a charge for texts sent in Plano City Council race. https://t.co/k6lYAQvq56
#Dallas judge accused of asking staffer to impersonate her in online hearing draws 2 primary challengers@dallasnews #Texas
— ChickenFriedPolitics (@ChkFriPolitics) December 22, 2021
-Southern politics are on the menu at ChickenFriedPolitics.com-https://t.co/Ng3hIaclLx
Texas Republican officials have restarted a program to ask people on the voter rolls giving them 30 days to prove their citizenship. If they don't respond, they are cancelled, sparking alarm that thousands of voters could be wrongfully targetedhttps://t.co/zEZTf55OiU
— Alfons López Tena (@alfonslopeztena) December 22, 2021
Lots of unvaxxed people complained of being sick after attending a conspiracy conference in Dallas this month.
— David Gilbert (@daithaigilbert) December 22, 2021
But of course, it wasn't COVID. It was anthrax 🙄 https://t.co/ceFapKuu8Q
Dallas QAnon Cult Members Migrate From JFK Jr’s Living Corpse To Chugging Chloride Dioxide https://t.co/RJp60Ao1nD via @RANewsTX
— RA News (@RANewsTX) December 22, 2021
Alex Jones wife beats him up. Madison Cawthorn’s wife ditched him at Christmas. Jared Schmeck’s wife doxxes him on instagram. It’s a Republican Family Christmas. pic.twitter.com/T2sLRo3juI
— The Masked Blue Texan (@ProgressiveTex) December 26, 2021
And some on the 'nice' list.
Hurst Democrat @DrJamesWhit Whitfield, the principal supported by student protests before his departure from Colleyville Heritage, was a late filing for #SBOE in a Republican seat currently held by incumbent Republican Pat Hardy. #tx2022
— Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) December 21, 2021
The $100,000 donation is one of many philanthropic efforts benefiting evacuated Afghans in #Houston, many of whom aided the U.S. military during the 20-year conflict in #Afghanistan.
— Elizabeth Trovall (@elizTrovall) December 23, 2021
📸 @jonjshapley #hounews https://t.co/zArkx3VB9X
Which provides the segue to the social and criminal justice updates.
Four members of Texas’s National Guard have died by suicide in the last two months - and all by gun suicide - raising urgent questions about the way missions are organized and staffed through indefinite involuntary call-ups. #txlege https://t.co/MVvXmlbmYp
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) December 24, 2021
In the "Friendly City" of Woodsboro, a cellphone video captured two teens in Klan outfits tasing a Black classmate. As the teens face hate crime charges, the community is in anguish over the incident. https://t.co/1mISuhKgjo
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) December 22, 2021
A hearing is scheduled for Monday on whether the sentence for a Houston trucker is reduced from 110 years following a fiery crash that killed four people. https://t.co/DzGPNuEynY
— KVUE News (@KVUE) December 26, 2021
Background, ICYMI:
Ethan Couch killed 4 people while driving drunk; his BAC was 0.24. He fled the country. He was only given 10 years probation, & then 720 days in jail for violating his probation.
— Mexican Rug Dealer (@DealinRugs) December 17, 2021
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was sentenced 110 years for an accident killing 4 because his brakes failed. pic.twitter.com/Qozv4BS19b
“The fish rots from the head,” public defender says as George Floyd pardon recommendation withdrawn, as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott grants 8 others clemency, @lmcgaughy reports. #txlege #GregAbbott #GeorgeFloyd #Texas #txcrime #txjustice https://t.co/QkI4Eu0InA
— John Gravois (@Grav1) December 23, 2021
“You become anonymous.” Criminals using ‘ghost cars’ to cover their tracks continue to plague Texas roads. KXAN investigates what’s being done to stop this ballooning black market enterprise. https://t.co/8Q2LLcrdra
— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) December 26, 2021
We should view this vote to designate a piece of the world's most valuable real estate in Austin, TX as "blight" to reward corporate real estate investors for exactly what it is:
— Julie Oliver (@JulieOliverTX) December 26, 2021
Morally bankrupt and nakedly corrupt.https://t.co/WLnJMCssBR
Return of buffalo to Texas’ Lipan Apache tribe symbolizes an era of healing. | via @TexasStandard https://t.co/sGKU6D2Wgp
— KUT Austin (@KUT) December 25, 2021
New: Nobody told Yaneli Ortiz’s family that the factory they lived near emitted ethylene oxide. Not when the EPA found it causes cancer. Not when she was diagnosed with leukemia. And not when Texas moved to allow polluters to emit more of the chemical. https://t.co/zP9c9Cvf5g
— ProPublica (@propublica) December 27, 2021
The other environmental headlines.
Decision looms on future of Spruce power plant, San Antonio’s biggest source of power — and pollution https://t.co/e0HmR66ig2
— MySA (@mySA) December 24, 2021
Third fire at this facility in three years. #txlege https://t.co/VAdWjVrkdj
— Doug Lewin (@douglewinenergy) December 23, 2021
But no @LaCongresista https://t.co/3stJZve4rI #HouNews
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) December 22, 2021
Read #Progressive Forum founder Randall Morton’s op-ed in the Sunday Houston Chronicle, where he calls out Houston's #climate plans, which could “prolong our massive emissions instead of reducing them,” and provides alternatives. https://t.co/ziWLwsgeaW#houston #hounews
— Progressive Forum (@ProgressHouston) December 22, 2021
https://t.co/Ah0v3X3PBw @KatyTXActivists @codepink @HoustonCleanAir @htxclimstrike @SunriseMvmtHTX @airallianceHOU The Necessity Series is a two-part documentary. The first was excellent,
— XR Houston (@XR_HOUSTON) December 26, 2021
Influential Texans who departed us over the weekend.
Sarah Weddington was a key figure in the abortion rights movement in our country. Her fight at the Supreme Court secured our right to abortion with Roe v. Wade.
— Planned Parenthood Texas Votes (@PPTXVotes) December 26, 2021
We are fortunate for leaders like her, and will continue to honor her legacy in our fight for reproductive rights. pic.twitter.com/Kmwerkovgi
US Rep. Colin Allred:
Texas was home to Sarah Weddington who argued Roe, which no longer exists here. A Texan, LBJ, enshrined voting rights but we're now the hardest state in the country to vote. Our history provides hope for our future. We must keep fighting for a better Texas.
Bruce Todd was a public servant in the Austin-Travis County area for much of his early career. From 1987 to 1991, Todd served on the Travis County Commissioners Court before throwing his hat in the ring for mayor of Austin and winning.https://t.co/cl7iXj2s0N
— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) December 25, 2021
Wayne's world.... pic.twitter.com/YTPDLCY1Ny
— Ken Herman (@kherman) December 21, 2021
And the calm-me-downs to close today.
On this day in 1982, Houston Post readers were treated to a sunrise, as only Leon Hale could describe it. https://t.co/Q1PGl5B6dF
— BayouCityHistory (@BayouCtyHistory) December 21, 2021
Yo chill 😂😂 https://t.co/tzArAGHtym
— Malik Turner (@leekleek217) December 27, 2021
A 1901 portrait of Adelaida Cuellar & three of her children: Isabel, Manuel and Amos. Adelaida and her husband had a little farm in Kaufman County. A mother of 12, she started selling tamales and enchiladas, founded El Chico in 1940, and built a Tex-Mex empire based in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/R4ZnQtSkrj
— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) December 26, 2021