Guest post by Ken Vest Democrats today remind me of the scene in the Godfather when Johnny Fontane whines about being denied a movie role he covets. The only problem is there is no Godfather to help the gutless wonders Democrats Read more…
Those of us who write, either for income or pleasure, are constantly asked about where we get our motivation and determination. Writing, of course, is a discipline that requires an output of product on a regular basis to achieve a Read more…
The accident that changed Greg Abbott’s life was so improbable as to be almost statistically immeasurable. A healthy 27 year-old, he was jogging through the Houston community of River Oaks in 1984 when a large limb broke from a tree Read more…
(Coming Monday: Greg Abbott and the Politics of Anger) There were a large number of people wondering what had gone wrong with John Mack, and I was still coming to terms with why I was in his office. Mack was Read more…
You can’t, or at least you should not, debate science. By definition, science is factual information that has stood theoretical tests with data that stands up to consistent scrutiny. The idea that evolution is a theory, and ought to be Read more…
There are indications the world is close to finding the wreckage of the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 that disappeared after losing contact. The Chinese government has just released satellite images, which were taken Sunday, and may show wreckage of the Read more…
This is the first of an occasional series of speeches on important issues and topics we’d love to see given by anyone running for governor or any other statewide office in Texas. Most of you have probably heard the term Read more…
The people promoting Texas as a location for business constantly push the idea that the state does not have an income tax. While that has some appeal, newcomers learn that there are property taxes that are almost punitive, and that Read more…
Commercial aviation is safe, ridiculously safe, which means the probability of a catastrophic mechanical failure in the Malaysian Airlines jet is miniscule. There are millions of take offs and landings each year around the world and in 2012 there were Read more…
Instead of a romp through various topics of interest, Fridays will sometimes be devoted to a single subject, which is today’s case. Our attempt will always be to provide a context and perspective we don’t see elsewhere, and that’s why Read more…
Guest post by Ken Vest In the speech to radio and television news directors that ended his career Edward R. Murrow said, “This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so Read more…
We were afraid to think much about spring during the month of March up in Michigan. Too many days gave us false hope of warmth, a Chinook wind might melt the ice and show frozen green from the previous summer, Read more…
by R. G. Ratcliffe This is a follow up to my previous post on how everyone should take the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll with a huge rock of salt. Not many people did in advance of the election. In Read more…
God apparently wants creationism taught in Texas public schools. Or at least the Texas Tea Party does. Conservative and semi-crazy State Senator Dan Patrick won a big victory over Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the state’s Republican primary, and appears Read more…
We call them blue northers; they are usually Canadian cold air or arctic weather systems that push far enough south to dramatically alter the weather in Texas. Often, a person can be standing outside in 80 degree temperatures and the Read more…