Major League Baseball's proposed safety protocols call for no finger licking; no spitting; no mascots; no bat boys/girls; no swapping of lineup cards; no high-fives or fist bumps; no restaurants for road teams; and showers at the ballpark are discouraged.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Sunday "Maskuline" Funnies
Major League Baseball's proposed safety protocols call for no finger licking; no spitting; no mascots; no bat boys/girls; no swapping of lineup cards; no high-fives or fist bumps; no restaurants for road teams; and showers at the ballpark are discouraged.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Race for the White House Update
-- Anybody else watch "Bernie Blackout" last night?
If anyone wants to watch #BernieBlackout here is the link. You can use a free 2 hour pass to watch it. #NeverBidenNeverTrumphttps://t.co/nMan0CMnFi
— DarrylRevok (@DarrylRevok6) May 14, 2020
Tonight: watch our live town hall featuring special guests on the existential threat of climate change and what we can do to save our planet. Tune in at 8 p.m. ET at https://t.co/vreIiWfeoS. pic.twitter.com/gqQD9Jeudg
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 13, 2020
The Senate on (Wednesday) took up a key bill to reauthorize domestic surveillance programs while making changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, with several substantial amendments on the line. One of the amendments, introduced by Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden and Republican Sen. Steve Daines, would have required authorities to obtain a warrant to access internet users’ search histories and browsing information. Uh, yes, pass that??The amendment, however, met an extremely Senate grave: It “failed” with 59 yeas to 37 nays, one short of the 60-vote threshold it needed to overcome the streamlined vestigial filibuster. The splits didn’t fall neatly along partisan lines: 24 Republicans voted for it, while 10 Democrats voted against it. (Would you like to see the names of the Democrats who voted against it? Their names are: Tom Carper, Bob Casey, Dianne Feinstein, Maggie Hassan, Doug Jones, Tim Kaine, Joe Manchin, Jeanne Shaheen, Mark Warner, and Sheldon Whitehouse.)
But where was Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, ranking member of the HELP Committee and assistant Democratic leader, or Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats and also constantly comes in second place for the Democrats’ presidential nomination?
Murray, a spokeswoman told me after the vote, was “flying back to D.C. from Washington state today. She isn’t in quarantine; she’s just been working remotely.” An aide confirmed separately to Politico that Murray would have supported the Wyden–Daines amendment had she been there.
Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday named the co-chairs and members of their joint task forces meant to shore up Democratic Party unity ahead of November’s general election.
The announcement follows through on a pledge the two men made last month — when Sanders, the runner-up in the Democratic presidential primary, endorsed Biden, the party’s presumptive nominee — to establish working groups to advise the Biden campaign on six key policy areas: climate change, criminal justice reform, economy, education, health care, and immigration.
Amid a pandemic that could cost 45 million people in the US their healthcare coverage, Joe Biden can't even pretend to support Medicare4All - because his owners won't allow it. And as usual, he can't complete a sentence without looking unelectable.#DropOutJoe pic.twitter.com/dfOa66DY4Z
— Pat, just Pat. #IBelieveTara🌹🦺 (@PatTheBerner) May 11, 2020
MSNBC, CNBC founder: Biden "not ready for a prime-time election season" against Trump https://t.co/wXDJWFhhQE pic.twitter.com/BKgyLDpVUO
— The Hill (@thehill) May 12, 2020
The money Democrats waste on consultants & strategists could probably fund enough grassroots organizing that they wouldn't need to claim that beating the GOP requires corrupting corporate $$$, which ironically is what's preventing them from being meaningful opposition to the GOP. https://t.co/y5ELo7z1FW
— Eldon Katz 🌹 (@eldon_katz) May 11, 2020
Please join us this Sunday to have a discussion surrounding the rights of the disabled community. This topic effects so many of us personally, from ourselves, to friends and family. (ASL interpreters will be in attendance) #DeafAwarenessWeek #Disability @HowieHawkins pic.twitter.com/iKR61rAy6r
— Angela N Walker (@AngelaNWalker) May 13, 2020
I'm looking at you @nytimes @CNN @abcnews @NBCNews @CBSNews @washingtonpost @latimes @FoxNews @TheDailyShow @FallonTonight @AP @NPR @politico @NewsHour @jimmykimmel @StephenAtHome
— Mark Charles (@wirelesshogan) May 14, 2020
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
TexProgBlog Wrangle II
Just look at what the 99.9% can accomplish when they join together to fight the 0.1%pic.twitter.com/0ujCdMKNFU— Dr. Victoria Dooley (@DrDooleyMD) May 7, 2020
The #DemDebate between @RoyceWestTX and @mjhegar will be broadcast on these #NexstarNation stations in Texas:#txlege pic.twitter.com/0DDVBRKnXf— Wes Rapaport (@wesrap) May 11, 2020
"Gov. Abbott and our other state leaders have proven again that the rule of law doesn't matter, and court orders can be ignored as long as you are well-to-do and white," says Dale Hansen.https://t.co/ApeIIhnKTt— WFAA (@wfaa) May 8, 2020
“He talks a good game, but his behavior does not demonstrate that he was serious about reform. As a result, we’ve been living with a broken system for his entire tenure in the Senate.” https://t.co/QZBGqZ56Fn— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) May 10, 2020
#Houston #coronavirus strain reported to be more contagious https://t.co/P0w310gOaW #HouNews #pandemic #VirusCorona #lockdownhouston— Felicia L. Mason (@FeliciaLMason) May 11, 2020
Texas Sees Highest Single Day Jump in Coronavirus Cases Since Outbreak Began Within Two Days of Reopening https://t.co/z4r1h8WI6K— Dylan Russell (@TxTrialAttorney) May 9, 2020
Houston City Council member @CMPlummer4 has tested positive for COVID-19. https://t.co/9qoqZL5Vq2— Houston Public Media (@HoustonPubMedia) May 11, 2020
Stage Stores files for Ch. 11 bankruptcy, latest retailer felled by coronavirus. Like most human victims, it had underlying conditions. https://t.co/iZuuohXzEe #hounews— Matt Schwartz (@SchwartzChron) May 11, 2020
“These are folks that will fight to make what they want and fight to make their businesses successful and do whatever it takes." -@paulflahive of @TPRNews with @Maria_Hinojosa @LatinoUSA on TX Latino-owned businesses struggling to access #COVID19 relief.https://t.co/ObG0sIKSvB— Futuro Media (@futuromedia) May 8, 2020
Texas has billions in its rainy day fund. But legislators say they won’t use it until January. https://t.co/n4idrtkHGx via @Progrexas— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) May 11, 2020
“AG Paxton’s letter intentionally misled TX elections officials about eligibility to vote by mail,” said @KendallScudder. “Mail-in ballots aren’t where the election fraud is happening, it’s happening in the office of our indicted attorney general.” #txlegehttps://t.co/D29v3vkJDe— Progress Texas (@ProgressTX) May 11, 2020
Due to our southern location and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, #Houston and the surrounding bay area are hot spots for seasonal bird migration. We are home to a lot of avid, eager birdwatchers anxiously awaiting to check off their “life list.”— HMNS (@hmns) May 8, 2020
READ: https://t.co/7Y7iFUQUF4 pic.twitter.com/DF6lV3Lrd6
The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is one of the year’s most exciting film events. We always look forward to it. Living here in the city, we can learn about, explore, and vicariously adventure all over our wild world.
Locally presented by the Bayou Land Conservancy -- and sponsored by Save Buffalo Bayou (among others) -- this year’s film event has gone online, like so many other events. [...] All you have to do is sign up for the Bayou Land Conservancy’s newsletter, which you would want to do anyway, and they’ll send you a link to watch the films.
Among this year’s winners is the Texas-produced The River and the Wall, in the category of Most Inspiring Adventure Film.
Two old adages are perfect for analyzing the controversial new environmental documentary film, Planet of the Humans.
One saying is, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
The other is, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
Beautiful but dangerous blue dragons on Texas beach are 'rare find' https://t.co/4V8ap5m5x4— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) May 9, 2020
TOT reader Justin Holland kindly sent in this nifty historical photo of former Governor Preston Smith campaigning in Gruver, Texas, back in 1968. Note that Preston and at least one other man on the stage is wearing a Stetson Open Road. GREAT hats and boots! And that old PA .... pic.twitter.com/kXszn8fPYR— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) May 10, 2020
Monday, May 11, 2020
The Weekly Wrangle *updates
BREAKING: Texas files for moral bankruptcy.
— Climate Clock—Biden's cognition is fading fast (@Tav_assoli) May 6, 2020
Story: https://t.co/8hOFTKxhEr pic.twitter.com/59oJ9kGXGH
.@GovAbbott was fooled by #ShelleyLuther's publicity stunt https://t.co/rVnji0K7d0 So was @DanPatrick, @TedCruz, and @KenPaxtonTX. #TXLege
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) May 9, 2020
New: The GoFundMe for #ShelleyLuther is from a website that promotes QAnon. And it was all a show. How activists staged Shelley Luther’s stunt against Greg Abbott, to the tune of $500,000 #txlege https://t.co/Ju3YfM06Qz
— Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) May 9, 2020
New: Harris County Clerk @dtrautman will resign this month due to a health issue, three county officials with knowledge of the situation said Saturday afternoon.
— Zach Despart🖊️ (@zachdespart) May 9, 2020
https://t.co/iVoyeh7ovC
Austin attorney Adam Loewy announced he would not seek the seat vacated by former Sen. Kirk Watson. Austin physician Jeffrey Ridgeway established a campaign committee for the race. Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin); former Lago Vista council member Pat Dixon, as a Libertarian; and Austin attorney Waller Burns II, as an independent, have filed for the July 14 special election. Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt has announced for the seat, triggering the constitutional resign-to-run provision. Former Austin council member Don Zimmerman is considering the race, and Austin council member Greg Casar recently announced he would not ...
As time ticks away toward Texas Democrats’ Senate runoff and Election Day, what’s the state of play?
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) May 8, 2020
We’ll get a rundown from @dallasnews’ @roberttgarrett. https://t.co/gbjWdKmz0Y
A recent poll from The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler shows Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn has a solid lead over two Democratic challengers in the Texas race for Senate. MJ Hegar of Cedar Park and Royce West of Dallas will meet in a July runoff election. But Cornyn’s lead isn’t insurmountable.Bob Garrett, Austin bureau chief for The News, told Texas Standard Friday that both Democrats trail Cornyn in the poll by “low double-digits.”
“In November matchups, Cornyn [beats] Hegar by 13 points and West by 11,” Garrett said.
Between the two Democrats, Hegar leads West among several demographics: white voters, independent voters who lean Democratic and seniors. Hegar has also raised more money than West, and has been endorsed by Texas Cong. Veronica Escobar and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.
But West leads among black and young voters. Prominent Democrats have also endorsed him, including former DNC chair Howard Dean, and West's challenger in the March primary, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez. The race also seems to be much closer in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, where West is from.
“West seems to have a few pockets of strength,” Garrett said.
The pandemic has made it hard for both candidates to campaign since they aren’t holding public events. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have an opportunity to beat Cornyn, since a large portion of the Texas electorate – 34% – are undecided, Garrett said.
🗣 WE HAVE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS!
— Texas Democrats (@texasdemocrats) May 11, 2020
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
On Tuesday, June 2 watch our next senator take the stage in the U.S. Senate Debate with @mjhegar and @RoyceWestTX.
Get your virtual tickets today: https://t.co/BXf0onuSD4 pic.twitter.com/VuDXUi0Tf9
Now, as Texas begins to reopen, @mcuban is testing businesses’ efforts to protect workers and their customers. The result? “Not Good.”https://t.co/OxepCHI4rb
— D Magazine (@DMagazine) May 7, 2020
Elon Musk: Tesla will move from California to Texas and Nevada due to local coronavirus response https://t.co/NMCclfmkD9
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) May 9, 2020
#Texas #lawyer Jason Van Dyke, the former leader of the #ProudBoys, has been hit with another suspension from the legal profession pic.twitter.com/7B5XBR0ZhU
— That Writer Guy (@BBarrouquere) May 7, 2020
Sinclair Broadcast to pay record $48 million FCC fine to resolve multiple investigations https://t.co/Dt0pl0M04H
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) May 7, 2020
Houston's famous Starbucks at 'the end of the universe' flames out https://t.co/gN56x9LFrK
— CultureMap Houston (@culturemap) May 8, 2020
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Sunday 'Treated Worse than Lincoln, Mom' Funnies
Kroger will discontinue "hero" pay for front-line employees on May 17