Howdy, Son. I’m the Law in This County

These fourteen Texas sheriffs are everything you thought a sheriff ought to be. But look quick; the old-time county lawman is riding off into the sunset.

by Dick J. Reavis

How to Buy a Dress Without Going to the Store

Shopping from catalogs can keep you in fashion and out of the malls.

by Helen Thompson

Tiptoeing On the Ocean of Storms

What astronaut Alan Bean saw on the moon changed his life. Now, with paint and canvas, he’s trying to let the rest of us see it too.

by Al Reinert

Little Baby Blue

For the first few hours of life, our baby seemed fine. Then she started turning blue, and her two-year struggle to survive began.

by Scott Nelson

Trashy Business

When Houston’s rich and powerful join forces with environmentalists to battle big corporations, they can be fighting over only one thing. Garbarge.

by Alison Cook

Texas Primer: The Marfa Lights

What is it that makes them dance across the desert night? A trick of physics—or something stranger?

by Gary Cartwright

The Adventures of the Red Couch in Texas

Once upon a time a velveteen couch traveled the land in search of heroes and myths. It found them from the Panhandle to the Gulf.

by Kevin Clarke

Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, File Gumbo

Son a gun, they’ve got great food on the bayou.

by Gary Cartwright

Western Art: Bluebonnet Picture

Western Art: Bluebonnet Picture

by Melissa Grimes

Movies

Downer on the Farm

Country and Places in the Heart both heap on down-home moral uplift; Stop Making Sense is a joyous rockumentary; Amadeus spouts dingdong conceits.

by James Wolcott

Behind the Lines

The proud and promising Froggies.

by Gregory Curtis

Art

Trevino’s Mother

Whistler had nothing on the 22 artists represented in a survey of Hispanic art.

by Michael Ennis

Lifestyle

4 BR, 2 BA, Needs Work

Why did I trade in my trouble-free condo for an aging country home with decrepit plumbing? I’m trying to figure that out myself.

by Dick J. Reavis

Popular Music

Lawrence Welk Meets The Doors

Brave Combo’s World Dance Music brings wit and verve to an unlikely mix of sounds; the Sir Douglas Quartet is still recording after all these years.

by Jody Denberg

Books

Back in the Huddle Again

Dan Jenkins’ new football novel, Life Its Ownself, picks up where Semi-Tough left off; Heat from Another Sun, a dark detective novel, turns on the gore.

by James Whitaker

Jazz

Teagarden of Delights

Tribute to Teagarden captures the fullness and humanity of the late Texas trombonist’s art; plus a roundup of recent jazz releases.

by Doug Ramsey

Software

‘Twas the Night After Christmas

And all through the house, every modem was stirring, and so was the mouse.

by Scott Lubeck

Reporter

The Sheets of Laredo

Life after the oil bust is fair-to-Midland; bad News, hard Times in Laredo; I hear a timpani; a coach who believes winning is everything.

by Paul Burka

Roar of the Crowd

Touts

Puzzle

State Secrets

No joy in Cubville; deregulation is a gas; two airline wars—one cold, one hot; are the politicians back in control at UT?

Edited by Paul Burka