The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) weren’t supposed to present any sort of problem for the Houston Texans (9-1) on Sunday. With polar opposite seasons taking place for the two AFC South representatives, the consensus was that the Texans would glide past the Jags with utmost ease.

Instead, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak and his men let out a huge sigh of relief as Andre Johnson turned a screen pass into a 48 yard trip to the end zone to win the game in overtime, 43-37.

“All the good teams find a way to win, no matter if it’s ugly, pretty or whatever,” said Johnson, who finished the day with the lone touchdown and career highs of 14 receptions and 273 yards. “In the win column, it either says ‘W’ or ‘L.’ They don’t ask how you got it done.”

But he was not the only one with video-game like numbers. Matt Schaub threw for 527 yards – second most all-time – and tossed five touchdown passes, two of which came in the fourth quarter during a string of 16 consecutive completions that got the Texans even after trailing 34-20 with 12:33 left to go in regulation.

It was not the first time that a Houston quarterback put up 527 yards through the air. Hall of Famer Warren Moon also did it back in 1990 with the Houston Oilers, who eventually went on to become the current-day Tennessee Titans.

After witnessing a tie just last week between the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers – the NFL’s first since 2008 – this matchup was not far from producing yet another. A 33 yard Jaguars field goal deadlocked the two sides at 37 in overtime with 4:21 remaining following a 25 yarder made by Houston around the eight minute mark.

“I told them afterwards, we didn’t come here for a tie,” said Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey. “We had some chances. We just did not make some of the plays that we haven’t made throughout the year.”

Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert was unable to return to the game after taking a sack from Houston safey Danieal Manning and injuring his elbow on the play. Backup Chad Henne played the rest of the way and had an excellent performance with 354 yards and four touchdowns.

“You’ve just got to always be prepared and ready to go in,” Henne said. “I’ve been preparing these last couple weeks like I’ve got to be the starter, and any time he (Gabbert) goes down, just jump in and hopefully not lose a step.”

Jaguars rookie receiver Justin Blackmon played a significant role in Henne’s success, hauling in a touchdown and 236 yards on seven receptions.

But as far as wide receivers were concerned, it was Johnson’s day from start to finish.

“I don’t know if that one will ever be touched,” said Kubiak. “That was special from the Texans standpoint.”

Image Courtesy : Jacksonville Jaguars

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Dallas, U.S.A. — The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) will hold the latest C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinic for uninsured people in Dallas in September. The free clinic, held in conjunction with the Lone Star Association of Charitable Clinics (LSACC) and the North Texas Association of Charitable Clinics (NTACC), is scheduled for September 29 at the Dallas Convention Center, Hall A, 650 South Griffin St., and will be open for patients from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“While the political pundits discuss at length the pros and cons of the Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, free and charitable clinics remain committed to providing health care to the medically underserved throughout the country,” NAFC Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux said. “With future implementation of the Affordable Care Act and expansion of Medicaid in question in Texas and other states, we recognize that it is critical for the medically underserved to receive access to health care today and in the immediate future.”

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured people in the country with about 26 percent of residents in general and 22 percent of children lacking health insurance. The overall uninsured rate is about the same in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but the situation for children is even worse with 26.4 percent lacking health insurance. Further, among people living in poverty, the rate of being uninsured soars to 46 percent.

“In 2009 the first C.A.R.E. Clinic was held in Houston and now three years later the needs in Texas and in the Dallas area remain incredibly high,” LSACC Executive Director Jody Hopkins said. “Charitable clinics provide health care to many of our state’s residents with little to no state or federal support. Charitable clinics are an important, critical and often overlooked member of the safety net and we look forward to not only providing health care to those who need it, but also shining a light on those clinics who provide care daily in Texas.”

Both medical and nonmedical volunteers are needed from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on the day of the clinic, Sept. 29, as well as for setup on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 27, and all day Friday, Sept. 28.

Medical volunteers needed for the Dallas clinic include doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, emergency medical technicians, medical administrators, licensed clinical social workers and more. Non-medical volunteers are needed to help with documentation, logistical support, patient intake and translation, as well as to be patient greeters and escorts.

Information on the event and how to register is available online at: www.nafcclinics.org/. Information on how to donate to support this and future clinics is also available at that address by clicking on the “Donate Now” button.

This will be the 12th in a series of large C.A.R.E. Clinics held around the country to bring together physicians and other health care professionals, as well as non-medical volunteers, to serve the needs of thousands of people who might otherwise go without medical care and to connect them to local safety-net resources.

Since September 2009, more than 15,000 uninsured patients have received medical care at C.A.R.E. Clinics. The clinics have been held in: Houston; New Orleans (three times); Little Rock; Kansas City; Hartford; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte; and Tacoma, Wash.

“Our C.A.R.E. Clinics have continued to show that volunteerism is alive and well in our nation,” Lamoureux said. “We look forward to working with the Dallas community to provide health care to those who may not have access and to connect the uninsured with safety-net providers such as charitable clinics, sliding-scale clinics and federally qualified health centers near where they live so that patients can receive regular treatment on an ongoing basis.”

Image Courtesy of  spirit of america / Shutterstock.com

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Las Vegas, U.S.A – For the 3rd annual World Swastika Rehabilitation Day, Raelians, together with representatives from the Buddhist and Hindu religions, are planning to carry out major events in cities throughout the Americas, Australia, and Africa on Saturday, June 23.

In Europe, Raelians from Germany and its surrounding countries have decided to use this opportunity to inform the German public about the swastika’s history, since most Germans completely ignore the swastika’s good standing as a very ancient symbol of peace for Buddhists and a symbol of good luck for numerous other cultures.

The city of Karlsruhe, where the event is to be held, has nevertheless banned Raelians from displaying any type of swastika except for the Raelian symbol, in which a swastika intertwines with a six-pointed star.

“According to an order issued by the Karlsruhe government on June 15, the display of swastikas would lead to ‘an immediate danger for the public safety and order” explained Thomas Kaenzig, coordinator of World Swastika Rehabilitation Day. “But how can a peaceful assembly explaining the religious and multicultural origin of this symbol be a threat to public safety? The attempt by the German government to bury the swastika under the pretext that it’s a symbol of violence and hatred only gives credit to the horrible Nazi ideology. On the contrary, the government should encourage our action, since by giving this symbol its true value, we finally allow the German people to turn the page.”

Kaenzig said that is exactly what 18 members of the European Parliament did in a letter to the European Commission dated February 21, 2005. “For Raelians, the swastika is one of the most prominent traces left by the extraterrestrial scientists who created us, who were mistaken for gods by our ancestors,” Kaenzig said.

“We can find this symbol in all ancient cultures: in Buddhist manuscripts, on Shinto temples in Japan, in traditional African and Native American artwork, absolutely everywhere. Even in Israel one can find numerous synagogues and other ancient sites displaying the swastika.And last but not least, the Bellevue castle of the German president in Berlin proudly displays swastikas without compromising public safety. The ban by the city of Karlsruhe is an insult not only for all Raelians, but also for all Buddhists, Hindus and Shintos who represent a majority of the world’s population. As a reminder, in 1988 the Munich appeals court has established that ‘use of the Raelian symbol obviously doesn’t contravene against the protection purposes of article 86a of the penal code and is hence not punishable under this statute.’”

Kaenzig said that despite the ban imposed by the city order, the group in favor of rehabilitating the swastika has decided to proceed with the event, which will start at 3 p.m. at the Kronenplatz in Karlsruhe.

He added that in the United States, demonstrations will take place in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Miami starting at 3 p.m. local time, and that large swastika banners will be flown in the skies of the Los Angeles area and along the New Jersey coastline from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time, and in the New York City area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.

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Houston mayor Annise Parker has endorsed Southwest Airline’s bid to fully fund a $100 million dollar expansion to Hobby Airport. She made her announcement in a press conference on May 23 while standing next to Southwest Airlines CEO and chairman Gary C. Kelly, surrounded by cheering Southwest employees.

While the airport currently has no international commercial flights, Southwest plans to add five international gates and a customs facility, with routes to Latin America and the Carribbean. Southwest is also expanding into the international market with its recent acquisition of AirTran.

The move to expand Hobby is aggressively fought by United-Continental, who recently announced its plan to expand its international presence in Houston’s main international airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Houston is the airline’s gateway to Latin America. It is a central hub, previously the headquarters of Continental Airlines before it merged with United Airlines and moved the headquarters to Chicago, Illinois.

United-Continental claims that making Hobby international will draw a great number of passengers away from Intercontinental Airport, causing the airline to cut back on approximately 3,700 jobs. Southwest counters that the Hobby expansion could add 10,000 jobs. Southwest also claims that the addition of international routes from Hobby will increase competition and decrease fares, breaking up the monopoly that United-Continental holds.

The Houston City Council still needs to vote on the matter. The vote is set for May 30. Both airlines have added numerous lobbyists to their payroll in order to wage their public battle. The new international gates and customs facility would be fully funded by Southwest Airlines; Houston would front no money for the infrastructure.

All of the new facilities would be fully owned by the city of Houston. In return, Southwest would use four of the five gates free of charge. The fifth gate could be used by any airline that pays rent. As an incentive, airlines will receive a rebate for every passenger they bring to Houston who would have otherwise flown through a different city, at a maximum of $3.9 million annually. Houston would benefit an estimated $1.6 billion a year, without having to put up any money.

Southwest plans to start construction in 2013 and end construction in 2015. Southwest has also recently decided to defer an order of 30 new Boeing aircraft in order to save about $1 billion. Both Southwest’s and United-Continental Holding Inc.’s shares rose shortly after the announcement but then fell about two percent after hours.

Image Courtesy of    Annise Parker

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reveals the results of an unprecedented investigation exposing more questionable test results in schools across America. Questioning whether the 2011 cheating scandal was unique to Atlanta Public Schools, the AJC found drastic swings in test scores that were considered virtually impossible in Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles and St. Louis.

Suspect test score changes were also identified in many other cities, which will appear in the report. This story is set to spark a national debate over the policy and integrity of standardized testing.

Evidence that suggests possible cheating – the same kind that led AJC reporters and state investigators to uncover widespread and systematic test score manipulation in Georgia – exists across America. In an unprecedented effort, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution spent months gathering and analyzing data and conducting dozens of interviews.

“The implications of our findings are profound, and it’s hard to find a more important story to tell,” AJC Editor Kevin Riley said. “This is about America’s future, and the integrity of standardized testing is central to the policy direction of American schools. Policies require states to test all students in grades 3 through 8 to measure performance in reading and math. Success in America’s schools is now defined by showing improvement in test scores. These results raise troubling questions about the reliability of these tests.”

To reach this conclusion, the AJC’s investigative team gathered data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The AJC analyzed test scores in more than 14,000 school districts — and verified the information through four separate independent academic experts.

In addition to Atlanta, the AJC found drastic swings in test scores that were considered virtually impossible in Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles and St. Louis. More than 100 school districts with highly improbable swings in test scores, a finding that strongly points to tampering.

Changes in test scores that were statistically improbable in nearly 20 cities, with swings in scores that were virtually impossible in about a half dozen. According to experts consulted by the AJC, human intervention is the most likely explanation.

In some cities, the AJC found so many dramatic shifts in scores that the odds of that happening by chance are virtually zero. In cities such as Houston, the results for entire grades of students jumped two, three or more times the amount expected in one year. The next year, when children moved to a new grade, their scores plummeted. Suspect scores were found in a few districts that have been hailed as cutting edge reformers.

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Herman Cain, the Republican presidential candidate, said he would no longer answer any questions regarding the sexual harassment accusations towards him that deal with events from about ten years ago and he placed blame on the media for the claims that have followed his campaign.

When the reporters asked Cain questions about the harassment allegations during a debate with Newt Gingrich, he became angry and told them the questions they were asking were unethical. The reporters then asked him if he would never answer questions about the accusations, to which he vehemently replied, “You got it.”

The alleged incidents have created much doubt in regards to his candidacy. On Friday, a lawyer for one of his alleged victims said that his client filed a complaint “in good faith” during the 1990s. In the complaint, she accused him of “several instances of sexual harassment” for which she received a financial settlement.

Attorney Joel Bennett believes that Cain is not telling the truth about the incidents, though he has denied them repeatedly. Cain insists he respects women and has never sexually harassed anybody. His campaign said that it wants to “put this issue behind us”.

During the debate in Houston with Gingrich, Cain was given the opportunity to discuss the accusations brought against him and was asked what has surprised him during his run for president. Cain responded, “The nit-pickiness of the media. It is the actions and behavior of the media that have been the biggest surprise.

There are too many people in the media who are downright dishonest. They do a disservice to the American people.” His comments brought the room to their feet. Gingrich cannot gain anything by bringing up the allegations against Cain. He has been divorced three times and is now married to a woman with whom he had an affair during his previous marriage.

Cain blamed the media for letting the alleged incidents come to light. “If I were running this campaign the way the pundits thought I ought to be running this campaign, I would have dropped out in August. When people get on the Cain train, they don’t get off,’’ he said.

A Washington Post-ABC News survey showed that seven in ten Republicans do not care about the reported allegations when it comes down to choosing a presidential candidate. Republican women, however, have said they were less likely to support Cain because of the allegations. The questions about the alleged sexual harassment show no signs of ceasing.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/THEHermanCain

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Jared Followill confesses: ‘We’ve got big problems’

Kings Of Leon canceled a live performance in Houston, this, past Friday night (July 29), Where Jared Followill (bassist) admitted that the band is dealing with big problems.

The lead singer Caleb, left the stage on Friday that night, after he complained about some vocal issues. He excused himself from the stage, telling the fans that he was heading backstage to vomit and grab another beer. But that he would be back for three more songs. But he never returned, and the audience felt abandoned and very pissed.

Moments after his brother Jared, apologized for the cancellation of the show, and he explained that Caleb was “a little unfit” to continue the concert. Showing a sign of impotence and angriness he told the crowd: “Fucking…hate Caleb, not us.”

As any other date already scheduled on their U.S. tour agenda, the band was supposed to play at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, but the abandonment of Friday’s night show in Dallas, lead to the cancellation of this performance as well.

Based on a statement taken from the website Woodlandscenter.org, the cause of the abandonment by the lead singer Caleb Followill was due to “heat exhaustion and dehydration”.

The media responses were immediate, and moments after Caleb follow ill, his brother wrote on his Twitter page:

“I love our fans so much. I know you guys aren’t stupid. I can’t lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade.”
More concerts are programmed to happen this week, but there has not been any information that they will be canceled or reschedule . The only show re-schedule already known is the one for Saturday, which will happen on September 22.

The live performances will occur this week in Tampa, West Palm Beach, Charlotte and Virginia Beach.

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I heard them live playing for the first time about 3 months ago at the Café Glocksee in Hanover. This was the first time that I heard about this group, Houston’s Wild Moccasins. I was there as any other person in the bar, where suddenly I begin to hear them play. My first impression was that they look pretty young but I was quite amazed by the way the just entered the stage and begin to play.

At first what grabbed my attention was the beat and sound of the tracks, they exposed a unique blend of Indie pop. The woman vocalist of the band, Zahira Gutierrez has a unique voice. Her voice mixed with the rest of the music instruments is the perfect combination.

5 young artists, Zahira Gutierrez, Andrew Ortiz, Cody Swann, Nick Cody and Andrew Lee, integrate the band. The minute that you begin listen to them you just have a feeling of immediate connection. The feeling is strange, cause you know it’s the first time you listen to them but at the same time you feel as if you are familiar with their style and rhythm.

I was listening to them and the whole crowd was cheering and dancing along the songs, and it did not take me long to just begin to move my head and then a minute later I was almost jumping and trying to mumble the songs and pretend to know the lyrics.

I write this article for all the indie fans, I know that you will like this group, and therefore I just let you know the talent that this band has, and just put it out there for you to grasp a touch of their music.

They just finished their European tour 2011 that covered many cities and countries in Europe such as: Belgium, Germany, Paris, Austria, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Luxemburg.

Two upcoming concerts are coming on the month of June, at Houston, Texas, where the band comes from. The First concert starts on June 4 at the  Summerfest – Eleanor Tinsley Park, and the next one will be June 10th at Fitzgerald’s w/ The Thermals.

The band has already recorded two labels, the first on in the year 2009, Microscopio Metronomes, and the second one Skin Collision Past released on 2010.

Video: Wild Moccasins, \”Skin Collision Past\”

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