November 2000

Table of Contents

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Features

Airport 2000

These days, a plane trip can entail more time in the terminal than in the air. But why get stressed when you can have a massage, taste Texas wines, go for a jog, check your e-mail—even eat gumbo while watching (other people's) planes take off? A survivor's guide to DFW, Houston Intercontinental, and five other big-city airports.

They Haven't Got a Prayer

In the Gulf Coast town of Santa Fe, high school football games had always kicked off with a prayer, but in June the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the practice violated the separation of church and state. Now the issue—which has turned neighbor against neighbor and provoked some decidedly un-Christian behavior— has grown from a local controversy into a national one.

Man of Letters

Forty years after the publication of John Graves's Goodbye to a River, a keepsake volume of correspondence—between the author and J. Frank Dobie, among others— chronicles its journey from an idea for a magazine article to an instant literary classic.

The Searcher

Photographer Kurt Markus spent years tracking down modern working cowboys for his new book, Cowpuncher. He corralled the genuine article at several Texas spreads.

Whodunit? Who Cares?

Anne Dingus has a few bones to pick with the modern mystery novel, which she says has been decomposing in recent years. Stepping up to defend the genre: none other than Texas' queen of murder and mayhem, Mary Willis Walker.

Judge Not

When Senators Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutchison blocked the nomination of El Paso's Enrique Moreno to the powerful Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals they triggered a firestorm of protest fueled by wounded ethnic pride.

Columns

Books

Cooper's Town

Waco is memorialized in Madison Cooper's Sironia, Texas, the longest novel ever published in the U.S.—and one of the oddest.

Music

Almost Famous

For brothers Charlie and Bruce Robison, making country music safe for men again is an intriguing proposition—and a risky one because of their wives.

Behind the Lines

Empathy Note

George W.'s endgame.

Sports

West Texas Tornado

Cedric Benson of the Midland Lee Rebels has a cause: He may just be the greatest running back in Texas 5A history.

Health

Digital Docs

Austin's VidiMedix has a simple prescription for patients who live miles away from big-city health care: Log on and get well.

Food and Drink

Joys in the 'Hood

Think cozy neighborhood restaurants are a thing of the past? Here are four places that will serve you well.

Miscellaneous

Around the State

Three days and two nights in Fort Worth. Plus: Huddling up with Texas football teams; going under the big top with the UniverSoul Circus; keeping time with mariachi music; and sticking to the state's far-flung festivals.

Web Extra

Pray, Tell

Associate editor Pamela Colloff tells the story behind November's cover story, "They Haven't Got a Prayer."

Web Extra

Airport 2000 Extra: For the Record

Which Texas airports and airlines have the best on-time records?

Texas Classics

Strange Peaches

Strange Peaches.

Web Extra

Airport 2000 Extra: Safety

Which Texas airports have the latest state-of-the-art safety equipment?

The Ex Files

Janine Turner

Janine Turner gets into character.

Web Extra

Must-Read Mysteries

Senior editor Anne Dingus lists her ten favorite whodunits.

Face

Bruce Rodgers

On the set with Bruce Rodgers.

Book Excerpt

Strange Peaches

Read the first chapter of Edwin "Bud" Shrake's Strange Peaches, this month's Texas Classic.

State Fare

Sweet Mascarpone Polenta With Roasted Nectarines

Stephan Pyles' sweet mascarpone polenta has a corn-ucopia of flavor.

Texas Primer

Old Yeller

What was the real name of the dog that portrayed Old Yeller?

Reporter

A Star Is Sworn

The media lower the boom on Anna Nicole Smith.

Hot CDs

SRV

Hot CDs

Uma

Hot Books

Boone's Lick

State Secrets

Jurist Prudence?

Judging abortion rights.

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