October 2004 Issue

texas survival kit
On the Cover

A Texas Survival Kit

What to do if you're bitten by fire ants, lost in the wilderness, sprayed by a skunk, attacked by a shark, stuck in a lightning storm, swept away by a riptide, or caught in any of eleven other worst-case scenarios.

Features


Continental Rift

As U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza was supposed to be the right man in the right job at the right time—someone who would promote a new era of cooperation between the two countries. If only external events hadn't intervened.

Feature

I Hate School!

Of course I want to help my son get a decent education. But the demands placed on parents these days are almost too much to bear—which is why I'm in danger of flunking my life.

Columns


The Cowboy Myth

The idea that U.S. policy bears an indelible made-in- Texas stamp is a rare point of bipartisan consensus. But there's nothing inherently Texan about the president's leadership style.

Karen Olsson

Party Crashers

If we had more than two big-time candidates, maybe we could have a genuine presidential race in every state. Even Texas.

Reporter


Reporter

State of Emergency

As more and more children fall off the health-insurance rolls, chaos reigns at Children's Medical Center Dallas, which used to have the best pediatric ER in Texas, and the quality of care for everyone suffers.

Web


Happy Trails

Happy Trails

On a recent trip to Waco, I discovered that this Central Texas town isn't anything like I thought it would be. It was better.

Eating Around

Slow Boat With ChinaHow does this sound? A three-day float down the Rio Grande through a majestic Big Bend river canyon with periodic stops for gourmet camp cuisine: eggs Benedict in the morning; meats, cheeses, and pâtés on the riverbank at lunch; and in the evening, a hearty feast, courtesy

George

I sat down at George and immediately started thinking of words to describe the pristine surroundings—words like “ice,” “light,” and “silver,” not to mention “minimalist,” “pure,” and “serene.” At this new Dallas restaurant from husband-and-wife chefs George and Katie Brown, all the color is in the artwork, the flowers,

Texas History 101

Texas History 101

Nominating presidential candidates in Texas seems like conventional wisdom for Republicans, but so far it's happened only twice.

Web Exclusive

I Will Survive

Senior editor Anne Dingus, who wrote this month's cover story, "A Texas Survival Kit," talks about Skunk Shampoo and the best way to deal with almost any worst-case scenario.

The Natural

Artist Brad Holland, who illustrated this month's cover story, "A Texas Survival Kit," talks about inspiration and tornados.

Books That Cook

Books That Cook

Barbara Beery scored a homerun this year with Batter Up Kids: Delicious Desserts, a cookbook that features bright colors, numerous photographs, clear explanations, and straightforward recipes to help children prepare tasty treats. Getting little ones interested in cooking is something Beery is all too familiar with. In 1991 the Austinite

Recipe

Baked Lemon Custard

Chef George W. Brown Jr, George, Dallas6 yolks 2 eggs 1 cup sugar 3/4 cup and 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 1/2 cups heavy cream zest of 1 lemonWhisk the eggs with a whip until they are broken. Add sugar, lemon juice, and heavy cream. Strain through a fine strainer

Web Exclusive

Flour Power

Bill Crawford, who wrote a book about former Texas governor W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, talks about flour, campaigning, and the mass media.

High and Mighty

Every once in a while, when I come across something so outrageous, so over-the-top—like Grapevine's new Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center—I can't help myself. I just have to be snotty.

Web Exclusive

Party Time

Platon, who took the images for this month's photo feature, "Conventional Wisdom," talks about being at the Republican and Democratic national conventions, capturing the chaos, and getting arrested.

Miscellany


Atsbox

10.30.2004

So what if Smarty Jones opted to spend the rest of his days at Three Chimneys Farm, near Midway, Kentucky, thereby forgoing an appearance at this month’s BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD THOROUGHBRED CHAMPIONSHIPS. Pleasantly Perfect, Birdstone, and Perfect Drift, along with dozens of other horses, will be competing at the event,

Atsbox

Gather ‘Round

OKIE DOKIE STOMP-A-THONThe blues took hold of the Beaumont­Port Arthur area back in the day when gambling and prostitution houses were abundant and bars were open round the clock. Not that the outside world noticed much. In time, the scene died down and Houston, with its well-documented blues history, overshadowed

Atsbox

48 Hours

A MEMORABLE SEASONLong known for its innovation, the Houston Grand Opera goes back to its roots for its fiftieth season-opener, Madame Butterfly. Puccini’s perennial launched the company in 1955 and has been its top draw ever since. What sets this production apart from the fourteen previous ones, however, is the

Mike Judge

“You can’t make all of TV and movies kid-safe. If you do, we’re all going to be watching the Care Bears. I think there should be things that are just for adults.”

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