July 2005

Table of Contents

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Features

The Best and Worst Legislators of 2005

A few lawmakers in both parties distinguished themselves during one of the worst sessions anyone can remember. As for the rest? Well, in the words of Jon Stewart, that famous observer of Texas politics: not so much.

The Anderson Boys Grew Up in Texas

A short, illustrated history of my childhood. And Wes’s too.

Exiles on Main Street

If you were a Somali refugee arriving in San Antonio—and America—for the first time, with a family in tow and no modern life skills to speak of, what would you do? Eat chicken, shop at H-E-B, and figure out how to pay the rent.

Got Game

At Hudson’s on the Bend, in Austin, venison isn’t the only dish that’s smokin’.

The Mildcatters

The lessons of the eighties boom have been internalized by today’s energy entrepreneurs, who seem nothing like their risk-loving forebears. They’re happy playing it safe, which is why their preferred commodity is gas, not oil.

Angie Barrett Does Not Use Butt Cream

She shares that curious fact with you for posterior’s— er, posterity’s sake. What you really need to know about the shopgirl turned shoplifter is that her rehabilitation is continuing apace atop Dallas’ social heap. And thanks to a new reality show about her life, there’s no end in sight.

Columns

Michael Ennis

What’s the Matter With Dallas?

For starters, even though its self- image is big and brash, it’s the most politically wimpy city in Texas.

Behind the Lines

This Blog’s Life

The Ben Franklin of McGregor.

Gary Cartwright

Weed All About It

The case for legalizing marijuana (and no, I haven’t been smoking something).

Sarah Bird

Altar Peace

It can be achieved—if you have a surprise wedding.

Reporter

Reporter

She’s Here. She’s Queer. She’s Fired.

When the girls’ basketball coach at the only high school in Bloomburg moved in with another woman, it cost her a job and at least a few friends. But the tumult over a lesbian relationship in this tiny East Texas town wasn’t the end of the story.

Minister of Health

See Spot. See Spot Grow.

Here comes the sun.

Where Are They Now

A Sell of a Town

Catching up with characters from our pages—A new owner for Cornudas.

Previews+Reviews

Books

The best new books from Texas.

Previews+Reviews

Music

The best new music from Texas.

The Filter

Pat's Pick

Riccardi’s

Pat's Pick

Liquid Assets

Miscellaneous

Books That Cook

The Peppers Cookbook

Texas Monthly Talks

Lance Armstrong

“There are some places where it wouldn’t matter if Pope Benedict XVI was winning the Tour. They would kill him. They would say he cheats, he steals, he has sex with little boys.”

Roar of the Crowd

E-mail Bonding

Web Extra

Lance, a Lot

Editor Evan Smith, who sat down with Lance Armstrong (above) for this month’s cover story, talks about the six-time Tour de France winner and the secret to getting a great interview.

Web Extra

The Gay Place

Senior editor Pamela Colloff on the lesbian partners in Bloomburg whose relationship got them fired by the school board.

Web Extra

Under the Texan Sun

Writer-at-large Jim Atkinson on protecting yourself against skin cancer, checking suspicious-looking moles, and how he researches health topics.

Web Extra

Out of Africa

Freelance writer Jim Lewis on the Somali Bantu refugees in San Antonio and what they think of the United States.

Web Extra

The Short List

Senior executive editor Paul Burka and writer-at-large Patricia Kilday Hart on politics and the Ten Best and Ten Worst Legislators.

Web Extra

Helping Mother Nature

At the Cibolo Nature Center, preservation is always on the brain.

Recipe

Veal Gaetano

Happy Trails

We went to Schlitterbahn and had one of the hottest, coolest times in Texas.

Recipe

Basil Mojito

Texas History 101

Texas and oil—it all started when bubblin’ crude spewed out of Spindletop on January 10, 1901.

Texas Tidbits

Over the years, Texas has had a starring role in moviemaking.

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