–A deal was announced yesterday that “would be the biggest takeover of an American company by a Chinese concern.” That deal was for the Shuanghui Group to purchase Virginia based Smithfield Foods which is the largest pork processor in the world.

-Tune in to Austin’s KLRU next Thursday from 8:00-9:30pm for a special showing of the BBQ with Franklin series as well as The Kings of BBQ Barbecue Kuwait, a documentary that tells the story of several Texas pitmasters that cooked for US soldiers during the war in Iraq.

-If you hurry to 3 Stacks BBQ in Frisco you can catch the shaving of recent Dallas Cowboy draft pick Travis Frederick:

-In a charcoal discussion, NPR asks “lump or briquette?” There’s even a mention of Lockhart’s own Black’s Barbecue. While the New York Times highlights the chefs who get even more elemental with wood-only cooking.

-Foursquare announced the ten most popular BBQ joints in America based solely on Foursquare check-ins. Two Texas joints are included, but maybe not the ones you’d expect.

-A week-in-the-life timeline from Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue in Austin was published on the Huffington Post. It’s both entertaining and exhausting. One note to Aaron: I talked to a Dallas police officer who said there isn’t a ticket he could give out for an active smoker barreling down the highway. As long as your load is secure (no coals or meat on the road), you’re legal.

-Ronnie Killen has been operating a two-day-a-week barbecue pop-up at his steakhouse in Pearland, and they’ve announced that they are about three months away from a stand alone barbecue joint.

-The much anticipated Schmidt Family BBQ now has a target date for opening. This joint venture between the owners of Smitty’s Market and Kreuz Market seemed stalled for a while, but it’s good to see their plans to open in the Austin area are still on track.

-And speaking of expansions, Two Bros. BBQ Market in San Antonio had a birth announcement today:

-Ouch! A Waco man gets a fifty year sentence for stealing a rack of ribs.

-And finally, a somber note. Calvin “Boots” Payne, patriarch of Cousin’s Bar-B-Q in Fort Worth has passed on. Its a sad day in the world of barbecue.