Fuhgeddaboudit

It works. Commentary is talking about Gov. Greg Abbott’s migrant killer barrier. I am thinking the arsehole Abbott will probably etch another notch on the side of his desk.

See this from the Daily Beast:

Mexico’s foreign ministry announced Wednesday that the “body of a lifeless person” was found stuck in the floating barrier installed by authorities in Texas on the Rio Grande river. In a statement, the ministry said the Texas Department of Security notified the Mexican Consulate in Eagle Pass about the discovery, and that the cause of death and nationality of the deceased had not yet been established. The statement also reiterated Mexico’s view that the barrier is a “violation of our sovereignty.” “We express our concern about the impact on the human rights and personal safety of migrants that these state policies will have, which run counter to the close collaboration between our country and the federal government of the United States,” it added. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has continued to champion the barrier even after being sued by the Biden administration, with the White House calling the barricade “cruel.”

What an arsehole for sure.

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H-Town Mayor Sylvester Turner and HISD Superintendent Mike Miles are not going to work together – period.

Here is the headline from yesterday’s Chron E-Board take:

Turner should accept Miles’ invite to tour Houston schools (Editorial)

Here is from the take:

The mayor should go see the schools. So should all the officials who crowded onto a raised platform Monday at City Hall to defend public education and school libraries. Many were Black and Latino leaders who have personally experienced some of the most unequal moments in the history of American education. They will bring these experiences to bear and their engagement is valuable for all of us.

Here is what the Mayor tweeted in response:

I do not need to tour a disciplinary center in a space where there was a library. No matter how attractive the space or the intended purpose, if it is not a library with a librarian you have added to the inequities within the district. I am not interested in a photo op. st

Fuhgeddaboudit. Don’t kid yourself. They are not interested in working together. You know that and I know that.

On a related note, see this from the Chron:

The Houston ISD administration is seeking to remove a requirement for the superintendent or other school leaders to consult with employee unions about changes to their working conditions, a move that union leaders are calling a slap in the face.

The school board will consider Aug. 10 whether to delete language that requires HISD administrators to meet with employee unions for monthly consultations, according to the agenda that the board will review during a work session Thursday.

Here is the entire read: HISD leaders propose making teachers union meetings optional (houstonchronicle.com).

Commentary is not going to get worked up over this. Let me explain why. In 2017 and 2021, the national teacher’s union and another national union spent close to a million dollars on HISD school board races.  The local media never covered this. Heck, nobody covered it. Commentary is the only one who talked about it. A bad investment. It is what it is.

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This is a clear disregard for rules and the law.  See this from the Chron:

A dozen candidates running for elected positions at Houston City Hall failed to file required campaign finance reports in July, continuing a sloppy reporting period for the slate of candidates hoping to lead the city.

The omissions account for nearly one in five of candidates running in the November elections, after about 25 percent failed to file the mandatory reports in January as well. Top mayoral contenders also had to refund contributions from those who exceeded the city’s cap and from prohibited city contractors. 

The campaign finance reports show who is donating to city campaigns and how candidates are spending that money. Candidates must file the documents every January and July, along with two more in the month before the election.

And this:

The city lacks the power to enforce the reporting requirements, which are enshrined in state law. It could send reminders to candidates to ensure they know about the mandate, but it does not.

And finally, this:

The result leaves enforcement up to the Texas Ethics Commission and opposing candidates or residents, who can file complaints with the state agency. That commission sends reminders to candidates running for state and county offices, but not city races.

Here is the entire read: Houston City Hall candidates: 20% didn’t file campaign finance reports (houstonchronicle.com).

If I had the time, I would file a complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission against every candidate who has not filed.  They are not deserving of a single vote.

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This is way too funny. I saw this on the Today website yesterday. Here is the headline:

Nacho average traffic jam: Cheese spills across Arkansas highway

The sub-headline:

“Certainly not the best queso scenario,” commented one person.

Here is why from the story:

A trucking accident might not have left de-brie scattered across a highway, but it did result in plenty of cheesy puns and jokes.

In a Facebook post shared by the Arkansas Department of Transportation on Aug. 2, photos of the spill show tin cans and cheese sauce scattered across a highway stretch as oncoming traffic waits for it to be cleared up.

“Taco Tuesday, anyone?” the post reads. “A truck carrying cans of nacho cheese spilled today on I-30 West near Prescott. Things are all clear now and traffic is moving.”

Funny.

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We are at Yankee Stadium for four games beginning this evening. The last time we visited Yankee Stadium, we beat the Yankees twice to sweep the ALCS.  Justin Verlander will be in an Astros uniform this evening. I am sure there will also be a contingent of haters in attendance. That is why I have today’s featured photo.

After New York, we visit the White House on Monday to get our congratulations from President Joe Biden for winning the 2022 World Series.

Then next Tuesday through Thursday we are at Camden Yards to take on the AL East first place Orioles.

We are half a game out of first place.