Table of Contents

November 2006

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Features

Agent of Change

In four years as president of Texas A&M University, former CIA director Robert M. Gates—who knows a thing or two about leading a strong, hidebound, misunderstood culture—has left few areas of campus life untouched. But putting sushi in the dining halls is nothing compared with overhauling the Aggie brand.

Plus:

Aggieland

Senior executive editor Paul Burka on Texas A&M University president Robert Gates and his plans for change.

The Desert of the Dead

While politicians and bureaucrats endlessly debate the best ways to secure our borders, illegal immigrants are dying to get into America—literally.

The Chop Is in the Mail

You want to send your granny a grapefruit this Christmas? Your bro a brisket? Your pop a pie? We’ve taste-tested more than four hundred foodstuffs that Texas companies will happily ship to your door, and more than forty are first-class.

Ann

She was our governor, but she was my friend.

Acting Up

At the Giddings State School, violent teenagers come to terms with their horrific crimes—and learn how to avoid committing them again—through role-playing exercises in a jailhouse version of group therapy. This is what your tax dollars are paying for? Well, it works. For a while, at least.

Open Season

Yes, deer: It’s that time of year again.

Columns

Behind the Lines

His Thoughts Exactly

Rick Perry’s inner monologue.

Letter From Washington, DC

Soldier of Fortune

Just curious, Mr. Vice President: How did your old pals at Halliburton get that five-year, no-bid contract to clean up Iraq?

Oscar Casares

Ready For Some Futbol?

Race and racism at the state soccer championship.

Gary Cartwright

Man About Town

That old mad dog Carlton Carl takes Martindale. Literally.

Sarah Bird

Neck And Neck

Nora Ephron’s wattle, and Ann Richards’s, and mine.

Reporter

Topic A

Wait Till Next Year

One, two, three strikes they’re out.

The Horse’s Mouth

How to Win An Election

Matthew Dowd on how to win an election.

FAQ

Red All Over

A fix for political junkies.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

The bull was named Fred.

Growing Up.

Faith Bases

Church at Quail Creek

William Martin Reviews our places of worship.

Encyclopedia Texanica

Texas Myth # 113

Does the ten-gallon hat hold ten gallons?

Hollywood, TX

Err America

Bush bashing on the big screen.

Buy This Now

Foot Notes

Where elite feet meet.

Go

Cold Comfort

What’s loony about the beach in winter?

Texas Monthly Talks

Molly Ivins

Molly Ivins on the death of newspapers.

Previews+Reviews

Books

The best new books from Texas.

Previews+Reviews

Music

The best new music from Texas.

The Filter

Pat's Pick

Catalan

Miscellaneous

Editor’s Letter

The Spy Who Loved Them

Roar of the Crowd

Thin Ice

Web Extra

Mail-order Mania

Senior editor Patricia Sharpe and foodie Brooke Ferguson discuss the time, the tasting, and the tenacity involved in reviewing more than four hundred mail-order food items.

Web Extra

Playing for Keeps

Senior editor Katy Vine talks about visiting the Giddings State School, a juvenile detention facility where she observed therapists helping kids who’ve committed violent offenses wrestle their inner demons.

Web Extra

Point of No Return

Senior editor Pamela Colloff on going to Sarita to see first-hand what hardships illegal immigrants face as they try to pass a South Texas checkpoint.

Web Extra

Go Postal

Mail your friends and family holiday treats, from ham and cheese to apple cider and tamales.

Web Extra

Douglass St. Clair Smith

The SubGenius Psychlopaedia or Slack: The Bobliographon is—how to put this—the most unusual text most folk will ever encounter.