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Blogs
May 24, 2012
The Texas Legislature Now Has a Farm-to-Table Caucus to Advocate for Local Food
State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) recently founded a new state caucus aimed at enhancing, protecting and serving the needs of the Texas local food movement. Called the Farm-to-Table Caucus, it's reportedly the nation's first caucus designed specifically to support the local food moveme ... More >>
Blogs
May 24, 2012
Texas' Virtual Schools Are Failing, and Critics Say It's All Florence Shapiro's Fault
Progress Texas doesn't much like the virtual school movement that has drawn increasing numbers of the state's grade-school students away from real classrooms, many of them full-time. For one thing, it's proven ineffective, the group argues in a report released yesterday. Case in point: Texas Virtu ... More >>
Blogs
May 22, 2012
Five Things I Ate in Austin That You Should Eat Too. Soon.
After nearly a year without venturing outside the loop, I finally got out of town for a brief weekend. I toyed with going to Marfa, but I'm not yet Texan enough to drive eight hours for a weekend getaway, so I chose Austin, as much for its culinary diversity as its proximity. I'm still trying to d ... More >>
Blogs
May 21, 2012
Taste Addison 2012: The Food Porn
One of the many events the weekend was Taste Addison. The fest, which celebrated its 20th birthday, served up bites from sixty-plus restaurants in the metroplex. Rhett Miller and his Hair was on hand, but photographer Jay Barker just grabbed a whole beef-truck full of food porn. Enjoy.
Blogs
May 18, 2012
A Clean-Air Program, Texas-Style (Side Effects May Include A Natural Gas Subsidy)
Beleaguered is how you might describe efforts to clean Texas air. Emissions reduction plans -- leaning primarily on cutting vehicle exhaust -- have been gutted by the state Legislature. But one provision, passed in the last legislative session and sponsored by Woodlands Republican Senator Tommy Will ... More >>
Blogs
May 17, 2012
At This Weekend's Urban Coop Tour, Everything You Need to Know About Raising Chickens
The Third Annual Peep at the Coops: The East Dallas Urban Coop Tour is this Sunday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are few rules for the tour. First, you can't bring your dog. (Really? Do we have to make that a rule? If you thought you could bring your dog on a chicken tour, then you're auto ... More >>
Blogs
May 15, 2012
The ACLU of Texas Wants You to Know: You Still Don't Need a Photo ID to Vote
With early voting for the May 29 primary election already underway, and with the federal government's tet-a-tet with Texas over its 2011 voter ID law far from settled, the ACLU of Texas wants to remind you that no, you don't need to show an ID to vote and if a poll worker asks you for one, you can t ... More >>
Blogs
May 11, 2012
Texas Cattle Country Braces For Another Hot Summer. But Will Drought Return?
Last summer -- the state's hottest and driest on record -- brought Texas ranchers to their knees. Rains have revived parts of the state, especially the east. But 50 miles west of Fort Worth and further, the drought varies from severe to exceptional. So, what's in store for us this summer? Unfair Pa ... More >>
Blogs
May 11, 2012
Texas Insurance Companies Waste More Money Than Any State's -- But You May Get Some Back
If you are one of the 18 million or so Texans who have health insurance, you may find something unusual in your mailbox this summer: an envelope from your insurance company stuffed with cash or, more likely, a check. That's when the provision of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) will requ ... More >>
News
May 10, 2012
Mexicans: Well, at least their mothers love them.
If you are one of the 18 million or so Texans who have health insurance, you may find something unusual in your mailbox this summer: an envelope from your insurance company stuffed with cash or, more likely, a check. That's when the provision of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) will requ ... More >>
Blogs
May 8, 2012
Southwest Airlines' Herb Kelleher: Energy Independence, As You Understand It, Is A Myth
Southwest Airlines co-founder Herb Kelleher and a gaggle of other titans, from former U.S. Spec Ops commanders to Sam Gilliland, chief executive officer of Dallas-based Sabre Holdings, reject outright the idea that we can drill our way to energy independence. In an Energy Security Leadership Council ... More >>
Blogs
May 3, 2012
UK McDonald's Texas BBQ Ad Achieves Perfect Score in Annoying Texas Stereotyping
Another tiresome food trend to add to the Valhalla-like halls of the Museum of Annoying Food Trends: the Taste of Whatever City/Country. Japan McDonald's Big America campaign, which attempted to surmise the taste of entire American locale between the crusty buns of a meatburger, did roughly the sa ... More >>
Calendar
May 3, 2012
Get Greasy
Another tiresome food trend to add to the Valhalla-like halls of the Museum of Annoying Food Trends: the Taste of Whatever City/Country. Japan McDonald's Big America campaign, which attempted to surmise the taste of entire American locale between the crusty buns of a meatburger, did roughly the sa ... More >>
Calendar
April 26, 2012
Get Trashed
Another tiresome food trend to add to the Valhalla-like halls of the Museum of Annoying Food Trends: the Taste of Whatever City/Country. Japan McDonald's Big America campaign, which attempted to surmise the taste of entire American locale between the crusty buns of a meatburger, did roughly the sa ... More >>
Calendar
April 26, 2012
High-Octane Self-Esteem
Another tiresome food trend to add to the Valhalla-like halls of the Museum of Annoying Food Trends: the Taste of Whatever City/Country. Japan McDonald's Big America campaign, which attempted to surmise the taste of entire American locale between the crusty buns of a meatburger, did roughly the sa ... More >>
Blogs
April 24, 2012
State of Texas Announces Live Music Grant Program for Free Concerts
by Craig Hlavaty The Texas Music Office, a division of the Office of the Governor, announced Friday the creation of the Live Music Grant Program, funding free concerts across the state. But don't get all excited yet. This is the Texas guv'ment we are dealing with, after all, so there are a few catc ... More >>
News
April 19, 2012
Why Do Mexicans Paint Murals on Lowriders?
by Craig Hlavaty The Texas Music Office, a division of the Office of the Governor, announced Friday the creation of the Live Music Grant Program, funding free concerts across the state. But don't get all excited yet. This is the Texas guv'ment we are dealing with, after all, so there are a few catc ... More >>
Music
April 19, 2012
Preview: Ben Kweller at the Granada Theater
Friday, April 20, at the Granada Theater
Blogs
April 13, 2012
Five Beers to Try at the Big Texas Beer Fest
Don't forget: Big Texas Beer Fest is 1 to 6 p.m. tomorrow, and noon for the VIPs who paid $25 more for the opportunity to be first at the taps and close down the event at the Deep Ellum Brewing Co. after-party. But if you haven't gotten around to obtaining a pass, you've still got a few hours t ... More >>
Calendar
April 12, 2012
Leading Lady Takes on the Boys of Broadway
Don't forget: Big Texas Beer Fest is 1 to 6 p.m. tomorrow, and noon for the VIPs who paid $25 more for the opportunity to be first at the taps and close down the event at the Deep Ellum Brewing Co. after-party. But if you haven't gotten around to obtaining a pass, you've still got a few hours t ... More >>
Blogs
April 11, 2012
Nathan Nicholson of The Boxer Rebellion: "If I Made Music In The U.S., I Probably Would Have Met People Who Were More Like Me."
Moving from Tennessee to London proved fairly easy for Nathan Nicholson of The Boxer Rebellion. After losing his mother in 2000, he hightailed it across the pond and quickly formed a band. Speaking from a tour stop in Austin and in anticipation of tonight's show at Dada, Nicholson talked about his ... More >>
Blogs
April 10, 2012
Texas' New Food Cottage Law Might Actually Mean Something for Home Bakers After All
The Texas Baker's Bill is getting closer to being useful to bakers. Late last week, news circulated about new language for the Texas Food Cottage Law, which passed last year and allows home bakers to legally sell their goods with a few certain conditions. After the law was passed, the Texas Departm ... More >>
Blogs
April 9, 2012
More Money for Schools? Take a Hike, Kid.
Texas public schools are barely squeaking by, The New York Times reported this morning in a heart-rending story about state budget cuts. Things have gotten so dire that the Times led its story with the horrifying tale of a youth in Hutto, northeast of Austin, who must now walk a mile to classes beca ... More >>
News
April 5, 2012
Are There Different Kinds of Mexican Food?
Texas public schools are barely squeaking by, The New York Times reported this morning in a heart-rending story about state budget cuts. Things have gotten so dire that the Times led its story with the horrifying tale of a youth in Hutto, northeast of Austin, who must now walk a mile to classes beca ... More >>
Blogs
March 28, 2012
Ballast Point Comes To Dallas, Plus News on Three Upcoming Beer Celebrations
Lots of big beer news happening since I last wrote a post. Sorry for the time away. It's not you, it's me. So rather than inundate you with a bunch of short posts, here are a few quick sips of local beer news and upcoming events. First off, San Diego's Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits has fi ... More >>
Blogs
March 22, 2012
Great Texas Drought of 2011 Was the Costliest Ever
It was clear when A&M's livestock economist said the drought had an agricultural toll of $5.2 billion back in August -- which didn't even really mark the nadir of the heatwave -- that we hadn't seen the worst this drought could do. Now we know: $7.62 billion in agricultural losses ... in a single y ... More >>
Blogs
March 20, 2012
This Week's Best Food Deals, Starring Chocolate, Meat and Hippies
Our inboxes fill each day with a metric shit-ton of offers, flash sales and discounts. Here are some of this week's foodfull best. Google Offers: $10 for $20 at Lindt.com Ever since last week's candy grabber deal, I've been asking myself WWWWD? (What Would Willy Wonka Do?) This week, the answer is ... More >>
Blogs
March 17, 2012
Texas AG Greg Abbott Is Suing the Feds Over the Women's Health Program
We realize you're probably too busy side-stepping puddles of green puke to give much of a shit about what's going on in Austin. Nonetheless, we feel obliged to note that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit late yesterday against the federal government over its decision to withdraw fed ... More >>
News
March 15, 2012
Why the Obsession With Counting Mexicans?
We realize you're probably too busy side-stepping puddles of green puke to give much of a shit about what's going on in Austin. Nonetheless, we feel obliged to note that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit late yesterday against the federal government over its decision to withdraw fed ... More >>
Blogs
March 15, 2012
PBS' 'Inside E Street' Takes On the Broken Promises of Electric Deregulation in Texas
Some 10 years ago, commodities and energy company Enron led a successful lobbying effort to deregulate Texas electricity markets. A free-market, we were told, would foster competition, keep power prices low and improve customer service. Yet over the last decade, none of these promises have been kept ... More >>
Calendar
March 15, 2012
The Czars Get Loud During This Silent Film
Some 10 years ago, commodities and energy company Enron led a successful lobbying effort to deregulate Texas electricity markets. A free-market, we were told, would foster competition, keep power prices low and improve customer service. Yet over the last decade, none of these promises have been kept ... More >>
Blogs
March 14, 2012
The Big Electricity Question: How Much Are Dry Nuts Worth?
As Brantley pointed out yesterday, the Texas Public Utility Commission got down to hard numbers last week as it inched further toward what appears to be inevitable -- a huge increase in the current $3,000 per megawatt-hour cap on the price of wholesale electricity during times when demand is high. T ... More >>
Blogs
March 14, 2012
Texas' Plan for Rising Sea Levels: Wait Till God Tells Us to Build an Ark
Want to give yourself a good case of the climate-change willies? Go to climatecentral.org, click on their report on sea level rise and look for Texas. We could be in for it worse than California, depending on how you measure. When national media talk about sea-level rises, they tend to focus on New ... More >>
Blogs
March 13, 2012
To Keep the Lights On, Texas Utility Regulators May Triple the Electricity Price Cap
The Texas Public Utility Commission is finally spitballing dollar figures for just how high they're willing to let wholesale electricity prices spiral when weather extremes send us to our thermostats. For the moment, we're sitting at $3,000 per megawatt-hour. To keep the lights from going out (ERCO ... More >>
Calendar
March 8, 2012
Make Your House A Home
The Texas Public Utility Commission is finally spitballing dollar figures for just how high they're willing to let wholesale electricity prices spiral when weather extremes send us to our thermostats. For the moment, we're sitting at $3,000 per megawatt-hour. To keep the lights from going out (ERCO ... More >>
Calendar
March 8, 2012
Consider That Myth Busted
The Texas Public Utility Commission is finally spitballing dollar figures for just how high they're willing to let wholesale electricity prices spiral when weather extremes send us to our thermostats. For the moment, we're sitting at $3,000 per megawatt-hour. To keep the lights from going out (ERCO ... More >>
Blogs
March 6, 2012
Why There's Sales Tax on Some Drinks and Not Others
Every once in a while someone mistakes Scott for a food financial expert and risks ruining dinner by trusting him to answer to a burning question. Got a question about food or restaurants? Send it via Twitter @scottreitz, Facebook @ Cityofate or in the comments. This question came in by email. A di ... More >>
Blogs
March 2, 2012
Mixin' It Up on the Boulevard Bring Chefs and Farmers Together
Years ago, when Matt McCallister was still working at Stephan Pyles, he would visit farms looking for new local products to source. Often his treks would conjure up something interesting, and he'd relay the stories to his wife, Iris. "Matt would meet these farmers," Iris said, "and then tell me all ... More >>
Music
March 1, 2012
Henry Rollins Remembers Roky, Stevie and Texas
Years ago, when Matt McCallister was still working at Stephan Pyles, he would visit farms looking for new local products to source. Often his treks would conjure up something interesting, and he'd relay the stories to his wife, Iris. "Matt would meet these farmers," Iris said, "and then tell me all ... More >>
News
March 1, 2012
Arizona Whitewashes American History in Texas
Years ago, when Matt McCallister was still working at Stephan Pyles, he would visit farms looking for new local products to source. Often his treks would conjure up something interesting, and he'd relay the stories to his wife, Iris. "Matt would meet these farmers," Iris said, "and then tell me all ... More >>
Calendar
March 1, 2012
Haveron Hits a Nerve
Years ago, when Matt McCallister was still working at Stephan Pyles, he would visit farms looking for new local products to source. Often his treks would conjure up something interesting, and he'd relay the stories to his wife, Iris. "Matt would meet these farmers," Iris said, "and then tell me all ... More >>
Blogs
February 29, 2012
When It Comes to Vaginal Probin', Texas's GOP Men Got the Short Shrift
If I were a male cowboy-boot-wearing Republican in Texas, I might feel pretty chapped right now by all the attention paid over the last week to the Virginia ultrasound bill. Talk about some limp legislation. Yesterday those wimps in Virginia voted up a pared-down version that will allow women under ... More >>
Blogs
February 28, 2012
McDonald's Austria Now has a Deep-Fried McRib Sandwich
Listen up America! It's time to step up the game. Japan McDonald's has been whipping America's ass in weirdo novelty sandwiches in the past few months, and France is debuting some sort of fancy burger-on-a-baguette thing. America's Fast Food, it's time you jumped into the ring. It's not enough to ha ... More >>
Blogs
February 28, 2012
Free Screening of 1975 Exploitation Flick, Darktown Strutters, Tonight at Texas Theatre
What are my thoughts on Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff? Put a ring on it. Texas Theatre's newest weekly installment, Tuesday Night Trash, is just another example of how this privately-owned venue is awesoming up Dallas. The series is designed to show the rare, under-exposed and peculiar footnotes in ci ... More >>
Blogs
February 27, 2012
Better Burgers Opens at Lemmon and Inwood, Because What This Town Needs is More Burgers
Sam and Kathy Vergos, whose family also owns Original Market Diner on Harry Hines and the Circle Grill on Buckner, have opened a new spot, Better Burgers, at the southwest corner of Lemmon Avenue and Inwood Road. The menu has the standard sandwiches, like a single, double, chicken, mushroom, BLT a ... More >>
Blogs
February 27, 2012
The Market Speaks: Texas Coal-Fired Power Officially Unprofitable in January
Coal-fired power plants generated some 30 percent less electricity in January than they did during the same month in 2011 -- a huge drop for a a workhorse fleet that has historically fed this state's sprawling transmission system with a steady supply of baseload power since pretty much forever. Pro ... More >>
Blogs
February 27, 2012
Medicaid Women's Health Program Is One Step Closer To Death
The Medicaid Women's Health Program provides some 130,000 Texas women with vital medical care: family planning, birth control, cancer screenings and annual exams. And for that, of course, it must die. That, at least, has long been the case as far as Republican lawmakers are concerned. And after last ... More >>
Blogs
February 24, 2012
Brisket Tacos, Crazy Sandwiches and Fernet: This Week In You Are Soooo Fat
Some winter, huh? I'm wearing short sleeves and it's still February. That means we're going to be eating peaches a little sooner, so long as a hard frost doesn't come in and burn those little blossoms. Before you get out there and enjoy the beautiful weekend weather (I'm ready for some patio drinki ... More >>
Calendar
February 23, 2012
Tuna On A Roll
Some winter, huh? I'm wearing short sleeves and it's still February. That means we're going to be eating peaches a little sooner, so long as a hard frost doesn't come in and burn those little blossoms. Before you get out there and enjoy the beautiful weekend weather (I'm ready for some patio drinki ... More >>
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