AltWeeklies Wire
'Catching Fire' Can Be Boldly Essentialist ... Perhaps Too Boldly Essentialistnew
Since the 1950s, scientists have hypothesized that the key factor bringing our ancestors down from the trees was the decision to eat meat. In this persuasively argued book, Richard Wrangham disagrees. Instead, he writes, it was the decision to cook with fire that literally made us human.
The Texas Observer |
James E. McWilliams |
07-15-2009 |
Nonfiction
Dodging the Ditches at GMnew
General Motors' Arlington plant is in the middle of an eight-week furlough. But even with a set return-to-work date, union members are worried about their jobs.
The Texas Observer |
Michael Hoinski |
07-02-2009 |
Business & Labor
Snuffed: How Big Tobacco Killed the Texas Smoking Bannew
With the tide of public sentiment so strong against them, Big Tobacco's well-paid minions adopted ninja tactics, lobbying members behind closed doors and over the telephone to snuff out a high-profile bill with such widespread public support.
The Texas Observer |
Melissa del Bosque |
07-01-2009 |
Politics
Is West Texas' Water Supply at Risk of Radioactive Contamination?new
For years, Waste Control has touted its 1,300-acre dump site as nearly geologically perfect for containing radioactive waste for tens of thousands of years. The company’s primary selling point has been what it calls the "almost impenetrable red bed clay" in which the waste will be buried. But the red bed is leaking.
The Texas Observer |
Forrest Wilder |
06-17-2009 |
Environment
Can Social Media Transform Politics ... and Reboot Texas Republicans?new
Twitter and other social-media tools certainly illuminate the humanity of politicians who make enthusiastic use of the newest technology. But is this kind of social networking politically effective? Does it give Twitter and Facebook followers anything more important than a sometimes-revealing glimpse into their favorite politicians' consciousnesses?
The Texas Observer |
Josh Berthume |
06-17-2009 |
Politics
Two New Books Try to Explain How We Lost a Truly Productive Economynew
The Great Financial Crisis: Causes and Consequences by John Bellamy Foster and Fred Magdoff, and Alan Beattie's False Economy: A Surprising Economic History of the World try to explain how we got here.
The Texas Observer |
Anis Shivani |
06-17-2009 |
Books
Dying to Build: Why Texas is the Deadliest State for Construction Workersnew
A construction worker dies in Texas every 2 1/2 days. The causes are far from mysterious: lax enforcement of labor and safety regulations, too many overtime hours without rest breaks and a lack of safety training and equipment.
The Texas Observer |
Melissa del Bosque |
06-17-2009 |
Business & Labor
New Barthelme Biography Casts Light on a 'Hiding Man'new
Tracy Daugherty has dug deeply into the work and life of Donald Barthelme, and returned from his excavations with bright nuggets of insight into just how precisely Barthelme's life does illuminate his art.
The Texas Observer |
David Theis |
06-03-2009 |
Nonfiction
Ed Graf May Be a Victim of Flawed Arson Sciencenew
Ed Graf was sentenced to life for burning his two young stepsons alive. Two decades later, science may exonerate him.
The Texas Observer |
Dave Mann |
06-03-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Dallas' Long and Winding Trinity River Corridor Projectnew
More than a decade after getting underway, the Trinity River Corridor Project's price tag has ballooned to more than $2 billion, its shape has shifted with the political winds, and only patches of progress have been made.
The Texas Observer |
Ian Dille |
06-03-2009 |
Housing & Development
High-Interest Lending Is a Poorly Regulated, Billion-Dollar Business in Texasnew
In low-income neighborhoods across Texas, payday lenders are popping up on street corners and major thoroughfares at a rapid pace. During the economic downturn, these companies are racking up record profits.
The Texas Observer |
Melissa Del Bosque |
05-13-2009 |
Economy
Texas Whooping Cranes Are a Symbol of Hope and Possibility and an Economic Boonnew
The Aransas whooping cranes, the only wild, migrating flock in the world, numbered 266 this spring. That's not a lot, but considering how close the birds came to extinction—there were only 21 left in 1941—the number amounts to a small miracle.
The Texas Observer |
Jesse Sublett |
05-13-2009 |
Animal Issues
Tags: Aransas whooping cranes, Texas
For John Gibler, the Conquest of Mexico Never Ended and Neither Did the Revoltsnew
Part journalistic travelogue, part political manifesto, Mexico Unconquered recounts some of the more bewildering revolts and upheavals that have roiled Southern Mexico from the turn of the 20th century through contemporary times.
The Texas Observer |
Liliana Valenzuela |
05-13-2009 |
Nonfiction
Looking for Work in South Texasnew
Economists now say the Rio Grande Valley may ride out the economic crisis more comfortably than the rest of the U.S. Despite such optimism, the region is still plagued by the same structural problems that have long depressed its economy.
The Texas Observer |
Kevin Sieff |
05-13-2009 |
Economy
The U.S. Border Patrol Is Getting Lost in the Weedsnew
Border Patrol officials contend that an invasive plant called carrizo cane is blocking their view of the river and of Mexico. The patrol is proposing to spray herbicide along the river from a helicopter to wipe out the cane, angering residents and dividing Laredo's City Council.
The Texas Observer |
Melissa del Bosque |
04-08-2009 |
Immigration
