Author: Randy Slovacek

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Texas loses all Medicaid funding for Women’s Health Program

The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Thursday that it will cut off all Medicaid funding for family planning to the state of Texas, following Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) decision to implement a new law that excludes Planned Parenthood from the state’s Medicaid Women’s Health Program.

The federal government pays for nearly 90 percent of Texas’ $40 million Women’s Health Program, and nearly half of the program’s providers in Texas are Planned Parenthood clinics.

But the new law that went into effect earlier this month disqualified Planned Parenthood from participating in the program because some of its clinics provide abortions, even though no state or federal money can be used to pay for those abortions.

According to Medicaid law, Mann said, a state cannot restrict women’s ability to choose a provider simply because that provider offers separate services — in this case, abortion — that aren’t even paid for by the Medicaid program.

More info here.

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Racist anti-Obama sticker goes viral then disappears

From ABC News: A photograph of a bumper sticker that features a racist play on words lit up Facebook, Twitter and the blogosphere Thursday, adding to what is already shaping up to be one of the most vicious and negative presidential races in history.

The sticker reads “Don’t Re-Nig In 2012″ and sits above a smaller text that reads: “Stop repeat offenders. Don’t re-elect Obama!”

The design seems to have originated from a site called Stumpy’s Stickers, which has since been dismantled. The site featured similar stickers for sale, including a picture of an ape that reads, “Obama 2012″; a drawing of the Confederate flag with the message “If this flag has offended you, then it made my day!”; and another that features members of the Ku Klux Klan and reads, “The Original Boys In The Hood.”

ABC tried to access the website Friday morning, but the email address has been suspended, and the person(s) responsible for the website has not been identified.

The photograph went viral when it was posted to Facebook on Thursday afternoon.

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The Road We’ve Traveled – inside look at Obama’s first 3 years as President

From Academy Award®-winning director Davis Guggenheim: “The Road We’ve Traveled”

This film takes a look at many of the decisions President Obama has had to make to get our country back on track.

I realize we aren’t where we want to be yet. But with unemployment coming down, getting out of Iraq and soon to be out of Afghanistan, the stock market rebounding (which affects millions of retirement accounts), the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – the country is slowly getting better.

Certainly better than it was when President Obama took office – when we were LOSING 700,000 jobs a month. We are now gaining jobs every month.

It’s a slow slog, and I know some folks just want to hate on the President. I believe he wants the best for the country. AND everything isn’t within his power to change. But he’s doing what a President can.

Take at look at the video. See what you think.

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Dallas men beaten with bats after being perceived to be gay

Two Dallas men became the victims of an apparent anti-gay hate crime for their perceived sexual orientation when five men yelled homophobic slurs and attacked them with baseball bats, the Dallas Voice reported.

The police report says that while the victims were walking near an intersection around 2 a.m. a group of men called them “fags and sissy” from their car. After they verbally assaulted them, the five men got out of the car and attacked the two men with bats.

One of the victims was hit at least four times in the head and was knocked unconscious for a short time. The other man tried to defend himself but the suspects dragged him on the ground before he escaped.

Read more here.

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A burst of Keith Haring for your home

Blik, the innovative maker of self-adhesive surface graphics is excited to announce the launch of Keith Haring ~ Pattern Wall Tiles, a new eco-friendly take on Haring’s repeating patterns.

Although he is best known for his iconic line-drawings of radiant babies and barking dogs, Haring was fascinated by complex surface pattern and startling color combinations.

The launch of the wall tiles is timed with the opening of Keith Haring: 1978-1982 at the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibit is the first large-scale exhibition of Haring’s early career tracing the development of Haring’s visual vocabulary. The exhibition includes 155 works on paper, numerous experimental videos and over 150 archival objects.

The striking pattern, reminiscent of the black and white mural from Keith Haring’s original Pop Shop, moves across two 28″ x 48″ tiles. Keith Haring ~ Pattern Wall Tiles are self-adhesive (no messy glue required), movable, reusable and eco-friendly (free of both PVC’s and phthalates.) The environmentalist in you will love them and the art critic in you will happily approve.

For more information, visit www.whatisblik.com

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KONY2012 video co-founder allegedly masturbating in public, vandalizing cars

A co-founder for Invisible Children was detained in Pacific Beach Thursday for being drunk in public and masturbating, according to San Diego Police Department.

Jason Russell, 33, was allegedly found masturbating in public, vandalizing cars and possibly under the influence of something, according to Lt. Andra Brown.

Police said they received several calls yesterday at 11:30 a.m. of a man in various stages of undress, running through traffic and screaming. Police described him as “in his underwear.”

Several people attempted to calm him down and when officers arrived they said he was cooperative.

Invisible Children’s CEO Ben Keesey released a statement after 1:40 p.m. saying:

“Jason Russell was unfortunately hospitalized yesterday suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition. He is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better. The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday. Jason’s passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue. We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time.”

Russell is one of the the founders responsible for the “Kony 2012” video that went viral last week. He is described on the organization’s website as a co-founder and “our grand storyteller and dreamer.”

Russell is also described as a Christian and father to two children who wants to have nine more children with his wife he calls his “best friend for over 23 years.”

The video “Kony 2012” calls for the capture of the Ugandan LRA leader whose fighting tactic involves kidnapping and torturing the country’s innocent children.

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Rick Santorum shirtless

Click to enlarge pic

After campaigning in Puerto Rico, telling citizen there that they don’t deserve statehood unless they make English their official language, Rick Santorum took some time for a little poolside R&R at a local resort.

Who knew things could look this bad? President Obama could give Rick Santorum some workout tips.

Also staying at that resort were passengers from an Atlantis all-gay cruise, who snapped the above photo. Surely the fact that several gay folk were staying at the same hotel and swimming in the same water would have horrified Rick.
(via JMG)