Social Security

DART Offers Hope to Plan to Employ Job-Hungry Ex-Cons to Recycle Old Tracks

Why Do Mexican Men Like Classic Cars?

And why do Mexicans still bother with the United States?

Business Lobbyists Offer Help with Fixing Deficit. Kiss Your Asses Goodbye, Old and Sick People

This country is being hoodooed by the oldest magic show trick in the book -- misdirection. The fictional crisis of entitlement spending is just a new version of the stain on Monica Lewinsky's dress, the latest cheap trick by the super-rich to turn our attention away from the truth. For a glimpse of ... More >>

Pay Now, Eat Later: A Brit's Revolutionary Path to BBQ Riches

Editor's note: To spare you the suspense -- and possible expense -- we're just going let you know upfront: Gavin here is talking about North Main BBQ, 406 North Main St., Euless. So, please, no matter how often he asks -- and that will be often -- do not send him cash, checks, bank account informati ... More >>

Fort Worth BBQ-palooza, Day 3 : Diving over the Meat Cliff at Cooper's Bar-B-Que

The final part in what some are calling the Fort Worth Barbecue Trilogy, this is where I introduce characters that make no sense to the plot and kill off the leads. Either that, or it's the conclusion of my Fort Worth road trip. Please drive outside of Dallas and get some other barbecue. You'll have ... More >>

The Bizarre Tale of Sam Lone Wolf, the "Spiritual Elder" in the Case of the White Buffalo

Earlier this month, I wrote a cover story so bizarre, I had to periodically check official documents just to be sure I had not wandered into the realm of magical realism. Yes, in fact, a sacred white buffalo was born to a Greenville rancher named Arby Little Soldier during a lightning storm in 2011. ... More >>

Faking Car Accidents Not A Great Business Model, Will Get You Sent To Prison, Fort Worth Family Learns

There must be easier ways to make a living than faking car accidents and submitting false insurance claims for those fake car accidents. It also sounds like a ton of work to set up fake chiropractic clinics to generate fraudulent medical records and bills to submit with those fake insurance claims. ... More >>

Why do Mexicans Love Ska?

And why are Mexican Indians so poor?

Gmail Got Petraeus; You're Next, Mr. All-Caps Commenter Guy

Hey, All-Caps Guy. We need to have a talk. Really. I sometimes poke you with a sharp stick. You poke back. That's what I want. But sometimes when you poke, I wince. Not for me. For you. You know, I hope, that every single thing you say online lives forever on servers. You know, I hope, that you ne ... More >>

A Few Questions Before Texas Secedes

Texas is totally on the verge of seceding, after 25,000 people signed a petition calling for the state's removal from the ones that are United. We're pretty much set on sticking it out as Texans, because the only thing worse than living out our existence in a destined-to-fail non-American country go ... More >>

The 10 Most Corrupt Tax Loopholes

If Mitt Romney won't tell you which need to be closed, we will

Imaginary Monsters Chased Jonny Holden All His Life, Then a Real One Caught Him

Two Conventions: One for Old White People, One for Everyone Else

Look, I'm not even the world's biggest fan of political conventions, because they make me feel like I'm trapped in a cubicle with a car salesman. What's to believe about an event where they hire a consultant to do the balloon drop? But with these two conventions freshly behind us, I don't think it ... More >>

How to Speak Republican: Decoding the GOP

Pennsylvania: A Glimpse of Texas' Future if Voter ID Law is Implemented

While Texas awaits a panel of judges' decision as to whether a voter I.D. requirement would disenfranchise minorities, Pennsylvania provides a peek into the issues that arise after such a law is put in place. In the lawsuit filed against the Department of Justice by Texas Attorney General Greg Abb ... More >>

Parkland Hospital's Land Grab

Dallas County's public hospital is using eminent domain to buy up real estate in hopes of flipping it for a profit. But one homeowner is holding out.

A $12 Minimum Hourly Wage: Trading Cheap Happy Meals for a Happier Future

All right, I've got my lanyard whistle around my neck, and I'm set for a session here. Let's hustle up out there, Lawners. Time for today's knee-jerk calisthenics. Remember our interim motto: A knee-jerk reaction is better than not being able to feel your feet. (I'm working on shortening that.) I ... More >>

Meet the Race Car-Driving Conservative After Rep. Ralph Hall's Seat

America is in a pissy, irascible, throw-the-bums-out, anti-incumbent kinda mood. Even, apparently, if it means unseating a longtime congressman with some serious seniority and a choice committee chair. According to Charlie Cook over at the National Journal, there are some 22 House Republican primar ... More >>

As Dallas Boarding Homes Struggle, City Hall Sits on its Hands

Texas lawmakers gave cities the power to regulate homes for the mentally ill -- but so far, Dallas hasn't used it.

Tom Leppert and the Young Republicans Solve the World's Problems

If you happened to stumble upstairs at the Londoner last night, you might have wondered just what the hell was going on. Why were so many of these men wearing suits to the bar? Is that a sweater vest in the corner? Everyone's throwing the word "santorum" around with such enthusiasm -- have we stumbl ... More >>

Nancy Brinker, Komen Foundation Fell Victim to the Great Texas Echo Chamber

​Wait, wait. We haven't finished the conversation yet about whether Rick Perry has embarrassed Texas so badly we can never again show our faces outside the state. Are you telling me now we've got to have the same conversation already about Nancy Brinker? What if people start connecting the do ... More >>

Is Bankrupt AMR About To Throw its Employees Under the Plane?

​Stories in today's Dallas Morning News and New York Times report that American Airlines could try to ditch some or all of its pension plans during its trip through bankruptcy court. We should all hate that. Every time we allow another business to slash the throats of its own retirees, we ex ... More >>

Reason No. 1,397 You Don't Give Your Social Security Number to a Customer Service Rep

​For eight years Youlanda Rochelle Wright worked for Radio Shack as a customer service rep in its Fort Worth call center. Day after day she fielded complaint after complaint about a defective this and a busted that and how do I return an oversized item and what do you mean my 30-day money-back gua ... More >>

Strippers Have Rights. But Do They Want Them?

In courthouses across the country, lawyers are fighting for strippers' rights -- and winning. But dancers are worried the lawsuits will cut into their cash flow.

City's Senior Affairs Commission Warned That Many Dallas Boarding Houses Are "Snake Pits"

If you happen to own or rent a house and you enjoy exploiting the elderly and the mentally ill, the city of Dallas has a legal loophole made just for you. A representative from Mental Health America of Greater Dallas warned the city's Senior Affairs Commission yesterday that despite years of public ... More >>

Dallas Gets Occupied

​Doubtless you've heard about Occupy Wall Street, the protests against corporate greed and Wall Street bailouts (among other things) that have been going on for the last three weeks in New York. The protesters call themselves "the other 99 percent" or just "The 99," and this morning in Pike Park o ... More >>

Old White People Who Think They Can Just Check Out Should Think Again

So what is all this anger among the old white people really all about? Why are old white people wearing odd costumes and hating the president all the time? We old white people all know exactly what it is. But nobody will say it out loud. It never comes out in the stories, even though it's right the ... More >>

M.I.A.: Angela Hunt Goes With the Flow, and Jim Schutze Vows a Rescue

Angela, I was there. I saw everything. I know what they're doing. I am on my way. One way or another, I will get there, and I will exert myself and do whatever it takes to rescue your husband, even if it means waking up the next morning with extreme muscle soreness. I will not let them get away with ... More >>

Pull the Covers Over Your Head If You Like, But Rick Perry's Not Going Away

​I've been on Rick Perry Watch for several weeks, working on a feature story about him. I think I'm going to be able to break the news that he's serious about running for president. Just kidding. I'll try to do better than that. But, man, everybody in American journalism is on this case. Just ... More >>

Perry Sticks By His Guns on Social Security

Are you listening, old people?

Why Don't Mexicans Just Come to this Country Legally?

And how can we keep them out otherwise?

Investors Trust Judge Joe Ashmore, But His Trust Doesn't Pay Back

Investors say a former Dallas judge is the face of a multimillion-dollar investment scheme. But investors and investigators are catching on.

Comptroller's Office Foul Up Makes Public Private Info Belonging to 3.5 Million Texans

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs​On the other side is the full release sent by the Texas Comptroller's office in which Susan Combs reveals that personal info belonging to millions of Texans was "inadvertently disclosed" on a server easily accessed by ... well, anyone, really. Among ... More >>

The public school finance crisis is waking up moderates from their Tea Party-induced slumber.

Back in Dallas After Serving a Year for Jumping Parole, "Mordan Stefanov" Blames "Texas Justice" for Keeping Him Locked Up

Michael Manos in his latest booking photo from Dallas County.Just less than a year ago, The Paper Version of Unfair Park recounted the story of Michael Manos, an ex-con from Poughkeepsie who jumped parole and started a series of more glamorous new lives, under a series of unlikely assumed names, fro ... More >>

Good clean feed

Spotless Rigatoni offers ample helpings of fresh Italian food