Trump on F-35: 'I do hear that it’s not very good'

The Donald doesn’t like the F-35.

According to a story in the Air Force Times, Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman and Republican presidential hopeful, questioned the need for the stealth jet fighter on a conservative radio talk show Oct. 22.

“When they say that {the F-35} cannot perform as well as the planes we already have, what are {we} doing, and spending so much more money?” Trump said on the Hugh Hewitt radio show, according to the Times.

The host asked Trump his thoughts on the fifth-generation fighter and the fact that it’s $160 billion over budget. Trump responded that he didn’t like what he had been hearing in security briefings.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/baker-ahles-kaskovich/article41998899.html

Hillary Clinton bringing presidential bid to North Texas

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is heading back to North Texas.

On Nov. 17, Clinton plans to hold a public campaign event in Dallas to talk about “why she’s running (and) who and what she’ll fight for as president,” according to a campaign press release.

Few details are available about the visit, but Clinton’s campaign said “further details for members of the public interested in attending (are still) to come.”

“I’m excited Hillary is coming back to Texas,” said Jason Smith, a Fort Worth attorney and 2008 Clinton delegate who helped lead the Tarrant for Hillary effort. “She won here in 2008 and she will win the Democratic primary here in 2016, on her way to becoming our next president.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article41969499.html

Regarding the forum host waiting list.

I noticed that when there are no people are on the waiting list that some hosts will retire and then sign up again as forum hosts (I've done it once myself) which effectively extends their stays beyond the 90 day period which is essentially a manipulation of the moderating system on DU.

Can a mechanism be put in place so that if a host voluntarily retires while they are serving as a host that they cannot sign back up as a host for a seven to ten day period before they reenter the queue on the waiting list? I believe that it will provide some turnover among the hosts which is good for the community at large and it can allow perspective that comes along with taking a break and also decrease the tension among hosts. It might even be a good suggestion to have a brief lockout when a host exhausts their 90 days of service, but I can also understand the necessity of maintaining the list at nearly 30 hosts so I understand why that may not work as well.

I actually posted a thread in GD once indicating that there was a vacancy with no waiting list and it drew four members to sign up for host duty. However, I also noticed that another member pointed out that there was no waiting list and only made mention of that fact within the hosts forum which does not seem fair to the rest of the members of the community.

Thanks for considering this request.

‘Happy Days’ star 'Big Al' Molinaro dies at 96, Variety reports

Source: Dalas Morning News

The actor who played Big Al Delvecchio on the Happy Days sitcom has died, Variety reports.

He was 96.

His son reportedly confirmed Molinaro had gallstones and elected not to have a surgical procedure because of his age.

Molinaro played Big Al Delvecchio on the classic TV series.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20151030-happy-days-star-big-al-molinaro-dies-at-96-variety-reports.ece

UT System Board Rebukes Wallace Hall — Again

Frustrated with his recent public comments, the University of Texas System Board of Regents has again rebuked outspoken member Wallace Hall.

In a special meeting Friday, the board voted to "express disagreement and disapproval" of recent statements by Hall, saying Hall doesn't speak for the board and that the continued public fighting needs to stop.

"I cannot remain silent when Mr. Hall engages in constant criticisms and accusations," said board Chairman Paul Foster.

Hall has clashed with leadership at the UT System and UT-Austin for years. Critics accused him of engaging in a witch hunt against former UT-Austin President Bill Powers. Hall submitted copious requests for information and has raised public questions about admissions and spending at the school. That prompted impeachment hearings in the Texas Legislature and a criminal review by a Travis County grand jury. The grand jury chose not to indict and the impeachment effort fell short.

Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2015/10/30/ut-system-board-rebukes-wallace-hall-again/

Paxton Blasts "Never-Ending" School Finance Lawsuits

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday called for an end to “a never-ending cycle of perpetual litigation” over how the state funds its public schools, describing the latest school finance case pending before the Texas Supreme Court as another example of parties inappropriately turning to the courts when they don’t get what they want from the Legislature.

“Unfortunately, opponents of Texas policy use the courts as legislative do-overs where they can seek to accomplish what they couldn’t accomplish during the (legislative) session,” the state’s top civil lawyer said during a brief speech to an annual gathering of tax and fiscal experts.

The current lawsuit is the seventh since 1984 challenging the state’s school finance system that has reached the state’s highest civil court, which has no deadline to decide the case. It was filed by more than two-thirds of school districts in 2011 after state lawmakers slashed $5.4 billion from the public education budget to help balance a post-recession budget shortfall.

During the long-running challenge, lawyers for the more than 600 districts have argued that the Legislature is violating its constitutional duty to provide an adequate and efficient public school system, enacting large cuts even as rigorous new testing and accountability systems raised the bar on expectations.

[font color=330099]Perhaps Paxton should concede that the reason why Texas school districts have to continuously sue the state is because the Legislature refuses to adequately fund public education?[/font]

UT Signs $250 Million Apparel Deal with Nike

Its football team has struggled lately, but the University of Texas at Austin proved on Friday that its athletics department is still unparalleled in financial might.

The UT System Board of Regents approved a new 15-year licensing and apparel agreement with Nike worth $250 million. School officials said it's the biggest contract ever signed between a school and an apparel company.

The deal includes an up-front cash payment of $20 million plus annual payments of $6.5 million. Nike will also supply apparel, equipment and internships for University of Texas students. And it promises to create a signature line of apparel featuring the brands of UT-Austin and it's famous former basketball player Kevin Durant.

"We view this as a tremendous opportunity for our intercollegiate athletics," said UT-Austin President Greg Fenves.

Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2015/10/30/ut-signs-record-apparel-deal-nike-250-million-over/

Flooding in Central Texas: One Dead, At Least One Missing; 14 inches in Bastrop area today

Friday Night Catnip: Ford Theatre - Trilogy For The Masses (1968)

Ford Theatre was an American psychedelic rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that were active in between 1966 and 1971.

Ford Theatre was one of the most promising bands of the 60's that were influenced by the bands such as The Kingsmen, The Beatles and The Byrds, although they recorded only 2 albums.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Theatre_%28band%29

Who Was The Biggest Liar In The CNBC Republican Debate?