MetaFilter posts tagged with texas

“Tiger free to a good home. Good with children.”

Neofelis — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:37:29 -0800

Tiger at Oyster Creek? It's possible there's a tiger skulking around Brazoria County. Of course, it might be a cougar...although they're pretty scarce around here. You'd probably have a better chance of seeing a tiger in Texas than a cougar. Heck, these days there are more tigers in the state of Texas than there are in India.

Texas Gulf Coast Disasters: Digital Media Collections

greekphilosophy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:58:48 -0800

The Texas Gulf Coast is no stranger to disaster - both natural and man-made. The 1900 Storm (previously). The Texas City Disaster (previously). Hurricane Ike (previously). Tropical Storm Allison (previously). New digital media collections, made available through the the University of Houston, shed light on previously overlooked events such as the Hurricane of 1915, and allow a fresh look at well-known disasters such as the Texas City Disaster. A digital slideshow of images and information about The 1900 Storm is also available through the Rosenberg Library in Galveston, Texas. [Please note that some links include images of the deceased which may be NSFW or unsuitable for some audiences.]

100 miles from the middle of nowhere...then take a left another 40 miles or so....

shockingbluamp — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:21:17 -0800

A 47 year old NYC photographer says to hell with it. He takes his 10 thousand dollars or so and buys a spot of land. You are miles and miles from anywhere. John Wells wants to build something for himself and inspire others. John has built the Field Lab and invites all who are interested to explore the idea of living off the grid... that is to use only the power you produce and eat what you grow. He has gotten a little attention...but for the most part has stayed out of the spotlight. You can follow his day to day blog and live a little vicariously. Note: If you want a tour...show up with a six pack or something. Its a long drive to town and he will forever be your friend.

Real Texas Justice

anticlock — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:08:38 -0800

Judge William Wayne Justice. 1920 -2009. Appointed to the federal bench in 1968, Judge Justice spent his career as a progressive jurist working to insure the rights of minorities, the poor and the disenfranchised. His rulings forced the State of Texas to desegregate public schools, reform its prison system and provide education to undocumented immigrants.

They even pay postage.

fontophilic — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:20:00 -0800

Notary fee: $3; County Clerk Recording Fee: $16; Protecting your land from abortionists forever? That'll cost ya $77. Pro Life Properties of Texas, LLC uses deed restrictions to "stop abortion forever, one property at a time." Its founder, Ron Bryce M.D., is a failed small town politician whom has been using a story of a failed abortion 20 years ago to wrench hearts and sway minds to the pro-life agenda.

The Power of One

MegoSteve — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:18:22 -0800

At age 17, Bonnie Richardson won the Texas state track team championship all by herself. Then she did it again.

I gotta go, road dog. I love you Gabby.

desjardins — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:30:37 -0800

Expert tells Texas state-sanctioned review that they killed an innocent man. If the commission reaches the same conclusion, it could lead to the first-ever declaration by an official state body that an inmate was wrongly executed. Cameron Todd Willingham was accused of killing his three children in a house fire. There have been doubts about the case for years, thoroughly outlined in this 2004 Chicago Tribune article and this 2005 NPR interview (summarized in this Daily Kos diary). Title taken from his last statement.

There Will Be Blood

nushustu — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:57:28 -0800

"I was just sick and tired of Texas law that allowed the defendant to destroy the very evidence that we need to protect society." Starting September 1st, police in Texas will be able to draw blood for alcohol testing from anyone involved in an auto accident without a warrant. Lauded by law enforcement officials such as Williamson County DA John Bradley (quoted above), and Dallas Police Chief David "we believe in the no-refusal process," Kunkle, it has others worried about what happens if someone refuses the test.

DJ Jester sez: Gumby can kill your ass

filthy light thief — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:15:32 -0800

For your entertainment, the music of DJ Jester the Filipino Fist joined with visuals by Samaro (aka Kid Kotex): River Walk Riots, the video (includes NFSW moments of blue cartoon nudity and some vocal profanity). Originally made in 2001, the rediscovered video is part of DJ Jester's River Walk Riot mixcd, because of which he met renowned turntablist Kid Koala. The Filipino Fist joined Kid Koala, P-Love, and Lederhosen Lucil in the 2003 "Short Attention Span Theater" Tour. The three turntablists took the stage in separate sets, and joined forces (as seen here in 5 parts: Stompin' At Le Savoi, Nufonia Must Fall: Page 275, Drunk Trumpet, Skanky Panky, and N.M.F. Page 298). There are more DJ Jester clips on his YouTube account, including DJ Jester the Filipino Fist appearing on Great Day SA a San Antonio (TX) morning show, where he talks about his mixsets showing off "the greatest hits of Texas" mixed with hip-hop and 1980s pop, and he tries to teach the newscaster the baby scratch.

where it's 1973 forever

shockingbluamp — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:45:49 -0800

That's it. I am moving my all my money to Oakwood! The tiny town north of Houston has just three employees and not a single computer. It has no voice mail and no ATMs. This is the smallest bank in the USA. Still going strong.

I love the monkey's uncle and I wish I were the monkey's aunt!

Item — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:56:58 -0800

When shitty '90s movies come to life: "Hit by a string of thefts, the owners of Plants & Planters in Richardson (TX) installed surveillance cameras in the hopes of recording the suspects in action, WFAA-TV reports. The cameras recorded images of what appears to be a monkey scooping up plants, flowers and accessories and handing it to someone waiting on the other side of a fence. In all, the monkey got a few dozen plants, flowers and concrete statues." "The monkey has not been arrested and the owners of the store tell WFAA reporter Steve Stoler they don't want the cops to pursue this any further because they actually find it humorous." To keep my journalistic integrity I must disclose the following: I know about this because my mother is a regular at Plants & Planters. She does not, however, know the monkey. Bonus: The Beach Boys featuring Annette Funicello: "Monkey's Uncle".

Killing her parents, Erin told Charlie, was their best option.

desjardins — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:24:33 -0800

Why did a small-town girl have her family brutally murdered?

Bud Shrake, 1931-2009

Ranucci — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:00:33 -0800

Edwin "Bud" Shrake - journalist, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter - died early Friday in Austin. Shrake and Dan Jenkins attended Paschal High School and TCU together before going on to careers as correspondents for Sports Illustrated and as novelists. Shrake’s 1965 SI piece about LBJ and the Hill Country, "The Once Forbidding Land", has been called required reading for anyone setting foot in that part of Texas. His 1970 essay Land of the Permanent Wave", was about the destruction of the Big Thicket by timber interests. SI, whose parent company Time Inc. had a major East Texas lumber company as a stockholder, rejected the piece. Harper's Magazine ran the piece, and Harper's editor Willie Morris called it one of the two best pieces Morris ever published during his tenure at the magazine. Shrake’s novels Blessed McGill (1968) and Strange Peaches (1972) are arguably his most lasting works. In the fall of 1963, Shrake was a reporter for the Dallas Morning News and was dating the star dancer at Jack Ruby's Carousel Club. Strange Peaches, which features a lead character who is a TV Western star dating Jack Ruby’s star dancer, is renowned as an acidic look at Dallas in the Fall of 1963. Shrake may be best known for his three golfing guides he co-authored with legendary golf coach Harvy Penick, including Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, a golf guide that became the best-selling sports book in publishing history. As an "as told to" biographer, he wrote autobiographies of Willie Nelson and former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer. Shrake’s screenwriting credits include "J.W. Coop" (1971), starring Cliff Robertson; "Kid Blue" (1973), starring Dennis Hopper; and "Tom Horn" (1980), starring Steve McQueen. Shrake, whose archives are now part of the Southwestern Writers Collection at Texas State University-San Marcos, is also known for his longtime friendship with Jenkins and other Texas writers such as Larry L. King, Billy Lee Brammer, Gary Cartwright, and Peter Gent. He was also known to hang out with fellow Austinites Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Ben Crenshaw, and Tom Kite. Shrake was the former “First Guy” of Texas and will be buried next to his longtime companion, Gov. Ann Richards.

The five states of Texas

aerotive — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:00:17 -0800

Following the recent uproar over Texas and the possibility of its secession (previously), Fivethirtyeight.com puts forward a theoretical division of Texas into five states: Plainland, Trinity, Gulfland, New Texas, and El Norte.

"...who knows what might come out of that"

Avenger — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:05:21 -0800

Mere days after asserting his state's "sovereignty" from an "oppressive" Federal government, Governor Rick Perry stands before an angry crowd at Austin City Hall and announces that Texas may once again secede from the Union. "There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot." The spectre of secession has graced Texas before, of course. Except the last governor to deal with the possibility of secession and civil war was against the whole idea. Could the previously fringe idea of Texas secession once again be gaining momentum?

"Ko" is pretty difficult.

Ms. Informed — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:08:16 -0800

Chinese is a rather difficult language. That's why Rep. Betty Brown (R), of Texas, suggests that Asians change their names to something "that’s easier for Americans to deal with." Via.

It was gladiator-style entertainment for the staff

CheshireCat — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:12:36 -0800

Thunderdome Filter: In two separate incidents Texas schools have gotten a jump on any sort of dystopic future scenarios by staging illegal forced fights between those in their care. Corpus Christi State School night-staff made disabled residents get out of bed and then taped them fighting each other in over 20 incidents during 2008. South Oak Cliff High School had a policy between 2003 and 2005 of settling disputes between troubled students by having them fight it out in a steel cage in the boy's locker room while students and faculty looked on. Several arrests have been made in the Corpus Christi case and the South Oak Cliff one is just coming to public attention.

Walker, Texas Rearranger

Bernt Pancreas — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:13:07 -0800

Unhappy with the way the election turned out, but unwilling to move? Don't worry, Presidential Candidate Chuck Norris has your back.

There ain't nothin' finer than an ice-cold LONE STAR

fiercecupcake — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:17:07 -0800

Lone Star Beer. Immortalized in song, it bills itself as the National Beer of Texas. Once brewed in what is now known as the historic San Antonio Pearl Brewery, it's still brewed in Texas, though Texas anti-hipsters will be chagrined to know that Lone Star's latest owner (since 1999) is Milwaukee-based Pabst. Still, it's the cheapest beer in Texas, and the bottles have an extra perk: a rebus^{not this guy} on the inside of the cap. (A good bartender or waitperson'll bring you that with yer longneck^{not this one}.) This guy has collected nearly all (he's missing TWO!) of the 400+ puzzles and their answers. Metafilter, it's beer-fifteen.

The Spanish Missions of San Antonio

Devils Rancher — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:05:41 -0800

Everyone knows about The Alamo, (previously) but perhaps you didn't know that San Antonio has the largest concentration of Spanish Missions in the United States. Known collectively as "The San Antonio Missions," they are now part of the National Park System (map). The other four south of the Alamo are respectively, Mission Concepción, (which stands as it was built in 1755 and is the oldest unrestored church in America) and the restored Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada, (warning: some of QTVR links will resize browser) as well as a length of the Acacia system that is still used for irrigation today. The four churches also house active parishes which operate independently from the NPS. About an hour east of San Antonio, if you're not sated by a day on the Mission Road, there's the Mission Espiritu Santo and Presidio La Bahia at Goliad. Further reading: wickipedia on the Spanish Missions in Texas.

Faith in the End Zone

sierray — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:33:45 -0800

Cheering for the othe side From the story: "They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas. It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through. Did you hear that? The other team's fans?" A feel good story for the holidays.

Merry Christmas Sam Jackson!

timsteil — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:56:56 -0800

In 1974, John Henry Faulk told NPR a Christmas Story.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

up in the old hotel — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:49:40 -0800

The National Security Agency is building a data center in San Antonio that’s the size of the Alamodome. Microsoft has opened an 11-acre data center a few miles away. Coincidence? Not according to author James Bamford, who probably knows more about the NSA than any outsider. Bamford's new book reports that the biggest U.S. spy agency wanted assurances that Microsoft would be in San Antonio before it moved ahead with the Texas Cryptology Center. Bamford notes that under current law, the NSA could legally tap into Microsoft’s data without a court order. Whatever you do, don't take pictures of it the spy building unless you want to be taken in for questioning.

ML73-3356, ML73-3378

WolfDaddy — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:01:27 -0800

For many people who lived in Houston in the early 1970s, trick or treat brings up memories of "The Candy Man," serial killer Dean Corll. He, along with accomplices David Brooks and Wayne Henley (YouTube), kidnapped, raped, and tortured to death 27 boys between the ages of thirteen and eighteen between 1970 and 1973. Thirty-seven years after the bodies of their victims were discovered in mass graves in southwest Houston and the Bolivar Peninsula, three still were unidentified until recently when the efforts of forensic anthropologist Sharon Derrick identified victim ML73-3349, now known to be Randall Lee Harvey.

Texas requires proof of legal status for a driver's license

marble — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:59:31 -0800

As of October 1, 2008, the state of Texas now requires that driver's license applicants show proof of legal immigration status when getting an original, renewal, or duplicate license. For those who are not citizens or permanent residents, the license will have on its face an indication of the expiration date of legal status.

Public Safety Commission Chairman Allan Polunsky, of San Antonio, said he initiated the policy change after learning of a taxi driver in Dallas who had imported undocumented workers into Texas from other states so they could obtain Texas driver's licenses. He said he didn't know the taxi driver's motives but found it disconcerting that illegal immigrants could easily obtain driver's licenses in Texas. He said the new restrictions also bring Texas into closer compliance with the federal REAL ID Act, which requires states to create specially marked licenses for some immigrants. [Governor] Perry, who appointed the commission members and announced the policy change, said terrorists who carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks had expired visas but valid driver's licenses and identification cards issued by other states.

from here because unfortunately I cannot access the news story directly at chron.com, and the Google cache is not working either.