April 2008 Cover

April 2008

Table of Contents

Features

Summer vacation is right around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you should panic. We’ve rounded up 68 of our favorite things to do with your toddlers, teens, and every kid in between. Dance the hokey pokey. Rope a horse. Eat way too many hot dogs. Zip down a waterslide. And yes, feed the animals.

On April 19, 1993, the world watched as the Branch Davidian compound, outside Waco, burned to the ground after a 51-day standoff. Fifteen years later, witnesses and participants—from federal agents to loyal followers of David Koresh—remember what they saw during the deadliest law enforcement operation in U.S. history.

Plus:

From the survivors, to the families, to the ATF and FBI, the images of the 51-day standoff at Mount Carmel are still vivid in their minds.

“If you even suspect that an individual is delusional, you don’t enter into their delusion. Because you’ll never win.”

Karl Gebhardt and Gary Hill, two astronomers from the University of Texas at Austin, are racing to solve one of the greatest mysteries in science: What is dark energy? How does it work? Can it explain the origins of the universe? There’s only one problem. Dark energy may not actually exist.

Plus:

University of Texas astonomers search for the origins of the universe.

Ten years ago I was shot in Mexico City by a street thug who wanted to kill me. Since then, I’ve endured unbelievable pain and learned how to walk again, and I’m thankful for what I have: a new outlook on life, time with my family, and a chance to step back into the ring.

Plus:

Evan Smith talks with Jan Reid about that fateful night in Mexico City—the night that changed everything.

Columns

Behind the Lines

An FBI investigation is only the latest of El Paso’s problems.

Plus:

Paul Burka reads “Fed Up.”

Gary Cartwright

Roger Clemens may be worthy of the Congressional testimony Hall of Shame, but should we really be so freaked out about his supposed steroid use?

Sarah Bird

My Petco encounter with a shampoo celebrity.

Plus:

Sarah Bird reads “In a Lather.”

Letter From Eagle Pass

Thirty years later, we still don’t know who murdered Border Patrol agent Jose Gamez. Or maybe we do.

Letter from Stephenville

When a UFO streaks across our skies— c’mon, the truth is out there!—Ken Cherry gets to work.

Reporter

Texas Monthly Talks

Avery Johnson on how to be an NBA coach.

The Horse’s Mouth

Milo Hamilton on calling a baseball game.

Hollywood, TX

Hollywood loses the Iraq war.

Street Smarts

The cradle of Blue Bell and bluebonnets.

The Cheap Seats

The case against the case against ticket scalping.

The Texanist

Help! My campsite neighbors are making love. Loudly.

The Working Life

Oilfield worker.

In the Chute

J. M. W. Turner in Dallas; Discovery Green in Houston; Fiesta in S.A.

Texquisite Corpse

Chapter Four: Katherine’s Neck.

Plus:

Katherine’s Neck read by Amanda Eyre Ward.

Green Guinea Pig

Jim Atkinson changes out his insulation.

Previews+Reviews

The best new books from Texas.

Previews+Reviews

The best new music from Texas.

The Filter

Pat’s Pick

Houston

The Filter: Dining

Café Pita, Houston and Rise no1, Dallas

Miscellany

Roar of the Crowd

Hope Rodriguez, Michael O’Brien, and Gary Cartwright

Editor’s Letter

Web Exclusives

Multimedia

What could be more fun than hopscotch and burgers with Dad?

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