Journalism

The Newsman

Dan Rather's story as a journalist and a Texan is compelling and is the subject of a new Netflix documentary. He was dogged and unafraid and at 92, he is still relevant. His own story might be the best one he’s ever told.

Economy

The War on Youth

The Greatest and Silent Generations understood the importance of a social contract. After having experienced World Wars and the Great Depression, they understood the need to build community. Then their kids (that's us, btw,) got greedy.

Automotive

Big, Bad Trucks and the Suburbanites Who Drive Them

We love to bitch and moan about the price of gas no matter who is President, but what do we do about it? Well, we buy Suburbans.

Travel

The River Road

"The one that calls me constantly is the River Road, Texas Ranch to Market 170, from Presidio to Study Butte. I've worn out a few sets of motorcycle tires riding that pavement through its mesas and volcanic rock formations, stealing glimpses of the Rio Grande between the canebrakes and blind rises."

Trump

Inciteful Analysis, and a Cheap Boob Joke

Read about Israel, Iran, John Kennedy, MTG, Chip Roy, and of course, Trump! Now with a free tacky joke! You're welcome!

art

The Road Goes On Forever and the Potty Never Ends

"There's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos"... and apparently a black crapper with blue LED lighting.

US History

What Kind of an American Are You?

"Trump’s anger is not likely to be constrained by a courtroom. He will send emails to supporters, many of whom struggle to pay their own bills, begging to give him money because he’s a victim. They will send their cash and credit card payments to a man who claims to be among the world’s richest."

International Politics

My Melancholy Bibi

I have lost a couple of Palestinian friends due to what they perceive as my Israeli bias. I will no doubt see the opposite effect among my Jewish friends. But politics is politics, here or there.

climate change

Haunted by Waters

Every new home is another straw sipping from the reservoirs, which, increasingly in the added heat of climate change, have turned into what a Texas drought expert refers to as “giant evaporation ponds.” Evaporation rates of surface water in the Hill Country are approximately 57 inches per year.

Science

The Sun is in Tune

If you monitored social media and certain "news" sources, you might have thought that Jesus was spontaneously planning the eclipse as a bit of divine retribution. Or if you listened to certain MAGAts, it was some kind of globalist conspiracy.

Journalism

The Tragedy of Sky Queen

28-year-old Karen Key was shining up a star for herself in the competitive business of TV news. Key was the first female helicopter news pilot in TV journalism. She could fly a Bell Jet Ranger and talk into the camera with the Rockies as a backdrop - her career was ascending as fast as her takeoffs.

national politics

Alternate Facts, Yeah, That's the Ticket.

It seems the lies don't matter if it's your guy or gal. It has ever been thus. Add a polarized press to the mix and you have a recipe for some really lousy goulash.

national politics

Cracks in the American Mosaic

I brought the contradictions up with Geiorge W. Bush during an off-camera interview in 2004 and asked him how he could reconcile the inherent meanness of the strategy with who he was as a person, and all he said was, “It’s just politics, Jimmy.”

Trump

Happy Easter and Vote for Me

Come unto me all ye who travail and are heavy laden, and I'll relieve you of the weight of all that money.

Trump

Make the Bible Great Again

Your "God Bless the USA Bible" will ship with a copy of the Declaration of Independence, AND the Pledge of Allegiance! You will never have to worry about the separation of church and state again!

media

Balance? We Don’t Need no Stinking Balance. We Need Truth

Our political system is now a kaleidoscope of normalized destructive lies because of misguided editorial decisions to seek balance vs truth.

Immigration

The Art of Hypocrisy

Not being White and living on the border, which is more than 90 percent of the population, became an even greater liability when Abbott and the Texas legislature passed a law to give state and local officers the power to arrest illegal immigrants.

national politics

Congress: Delta House Without the Fun

"Every fall the trees are filled with underwear, every spring the toilets explode."

Natural World

Racing the Sun

"An eclipse, like all of nature’s majestic endeavors, can fill a soul with edifying conclusions. Eclipses are rare and those with totality are even more scant and scattered across history’s timeline."

Travel

Can We All Take a Break and Be Irish for a Moment?

Come on, give politics a rest and be happy for one day. On Monday, it's a handful of Advils and politics as usual.

Trump

We Need a Break from Spring Break

Paxton's droopy eyelid isn't the only thing limp at home. Could the Texas Porn boycott be driving the lecherous Attorney General into the arms of another mistress?

personal stories

Independence Way

I understood that there were economic and educational forces at work that made our lives abundantly different. My mother carried burgers and open-faced sandwiches as a waitress at a short-order restaurant. My father lifted bumpers out of a metal press for delivery to the assembly line.

Economy

A Broken Land

We are convinced the only two kinds of people in this nation are millionaires and those who will very soon be millionaires. There is little accommodation for failure. You are expected to pull yourself up by your bootstraps even if you were born into a family that cannot afford boots.

Texas Politics

Ignore the Man Behind the Curtain

In terms of issues on America's plate, there is more than Ukraine and Gaza to worry about. And Yass is just one of the many who have amassed a ton of cash and aren't afraid to spend it. In Texas, Three West Texas billionaires have quietly taken over Republican politics in the state.

Texas Politics

I Find Your Lack of Imagination Disturbing

Texas keeps turning ever rightward, and this last set of primary elections continues the trend. It would be nice to keep public education, but it's not a given. Imagine turning off Friday Night Lights in Texas.