Category: Texas

Del Castillo

During our recent visit to Fredericksburg, Texas, we caught a performance by Del Castillo, a band that was hitherto unfamiliar to us. The group was appearing at the Crossroads Steakhouse & Saloon, which is a relatively new (opened in early 2010) restaurant on Fredericksburg’s main drag (across the street from Hondo’s, if you’re familiar with… Continue reading Del Castillo

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Categorized as Music, Texas

Another Wind Farm Aerial

In response to the previous post, my aunt wondered how the wind farm adjacent to her [real] farm looked from outer space. I grabbed the following from Google Earth, which depicts the turbine sites and terrain just outside Muenster, Texas, from ~45,000′ above the planet. The photo was taken in 2008; nothing more current is… Continue reading Another Wind Farm Aerial

Hydraulic Fracturing Chemical Disclosure: Too much information?

As you’ve probably already heard, the Texas Railroad Commission (the oversight agency for the Texas oil and gas industry, for the non-Texians in the audience) today approved a regulation that will require the public disclosure of chemical ingredients used in hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells permitted on or after February 1, 2012 [read… Continue reading Hydraulic Fracturing Chemical Disclosure: Too much information?

Car Wash Rules

I took the pickup in for a wash job yesterday. It was the first time it had been washed since May, due to our drought-related water usage restrictions. As you might imagine, the truck was badly in need of a good scrubbing. A lot of other people had decided to do the same thing, so… Continue reading Car Wash Rules

Ditch or Pipeline? Neither is likely to help our water situation.

As parts of the country endure flooding while other regions continue to suffer from a history-making drought and water shortage, it’s logical to wonder why we can’t figure out a way to move some of that water from one area to the other. Associated Press Science writer  Seth Borenstein writes that the idea is simply not feasible, either… Continue reading Ditch or Pipeline? Neither is likely to help our water situation.

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Categorized as Nature, Texas

Drought and the San Saba River

The effects of the ongoing drought are depressingly evident throughout the Hill Country of Texas. We traveled from Midland to Fredericksburg last weekend, and brown was the dominant theme for the countryside. Except for a brief oasis-like hint of green around San Angelo (thanks to some very isolated recent downpours), the countryside was distressed beyond… Continue reading Drought and the San Saba River

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Categorized as Nature, Texas

Rick Perry’s Tax Return: Reading too much into it?

Texas governor Rick Perry’s plans to host a day of prayer and fasting in Houston’s Reliant Stadium on August 6th have – not surprisingly – evoked a wide range of reactions. Some are accusing the governor of crossing the line between church and state, some are suing to stop the gathering, and some are applauding… Continue reading Rick Perry’s Tax Return: Reading too much into it?