The Texana Review - Podcasts

Yikes! More Snakes!

There's been a movement afoot for more than several years now amongst those who spend a lot of time in the Texas outdoors.

That movement is to nurture the endangered Texas Indigo snake.

"Why?" you may ask.

Because those of us who tromp around the countryside for whatever reason - work or play - understand how a rattlesnake bite can ruin our day.

As it turns out (and is absolutely fine with me!), the Texas Indigo considers rattlesnake a delicacy, as you'll see in this short slideshow.

If you're squeamish, I suggest you NOT watch this!

If not, watch...

 

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,Nature,Outdoors,ratlesnakes

Nature greets me to San Angelo

(Click once to activate, again to play. Double click on screen to enlarge)

I arrived safely at the ranch in Coke County north of San Angelo last week, exhausted from all the packing, loading the truck and drive from Houston.  But soon as I stepped out of the truck's cab, I breathed in a large breath of west Texas air that extinguished my fatigue.

Although I still have stacks of boxes all around and my studio is a disaster, the boxes and organization will have to wait so I can ramp up The Texana Review again.

Yesterday, after working through several of my files, I stepped into the kitchen for a beverage.  I glanced out the window and, lo and behold, there were a couple of whitetail bucks sizing each other up. I know the rutting season is just about to begin, so I watched as these two circled one another, then started sparring.

I leapt to the box where I thought my video camera was and sure enough found it.  Here's what I watched through my kitchen window from about 40 yards.

Technorati Tags: Texana Review, Ed Blackburn, Texas, whitetail deer

Texas Wind Power Explodes in 2006; More for 2007

More than $1 billion worth of wind powered electric generators were installed in Texas during 2006, growing the state's total installations by 38%. According to the American Wind Energy Association's 2006 market summary released yesterday, Texas installed considerably more new wind power than any other state, 774 Megawatts (MW), enough to overtake California as the #1 state for total wind power installations. This level of construction also achieved another milestone: of the power plants installed on the Texas power grid during 2006, there was more investment in wind power than in all other types of power plants – coal, natural gas, hydro, and nuclear — combined.

"Wind power is ready to play a major role in providing the new energy supplies needed for Texas' future." said Mike Sloan, Managing Consultant for The Wind Coalition, a regional wind industry group. "The unmatched combination of exceptional wind sites, dependence on expensive fuels, and innovative policies by results-oriented state leaders, make Texas the go-to market in the country for wind developers."

South Texas Plains Online Exhibit

Well, I've taken as much time off as I can afford and actually extended my holiday period another two weeks into the new year while the rest of you were just pretending to work.  It's been lovely, but it's time to "spool up" for 2007 and see if I can provide you with more about Texas and its people than I did in 2006.

In that regard ...if you haven't visited Texas Beyond History yet and seen their exqusite online exhibit called South Texas Plains, you're really missing a splendid oppotunity to quickly get your arms around the physical features, places, history and more for that area of the state.  This is good stuff ...for both young and old.

Using state-of-the-art techniques, the staff at the Texas Archelogical Laboratory have presented an interactive experience that is truly compelling.

Thunderstorm-Camden,Texas, Summer 2005

(Podcast)
I've been an outdoorsman all my life, but mostly in west Texas, where it's dry, and where cactus grows everywhere, and where scorpions and diamondback rattlesnakes are far from uncommon. However, I have close friends who have property in east Texas and where the talk about alligators and nutria is as equally far from uncommon.

I was visiting there one weekend when the sky darkened as deep gray clouds gathered above the towering (and violently swaying), hundred-foot plus pine trees, and the gusting breeze smelled of water. My nose does that, you know; loves the smell of rain. There’s not much rain in west Texas ... you know. When you’ve spent as much time in west Texas as I have, it's kind of like being thirsty all the time.

Anyway, I knew little about east Texas thunderstorms; and this one was a doozy.

Okay. Now imagine yourself taking a leisurely walk in the piney woods of east Texas. And try to imagine that you’re like me – you’re from west Texas. The humidity already has your nose stopped up and your clothes clinging to your skin.

Suddenly the sunny sky turns dark gray, almost angry. Then, the incredibly tall pine trees start to creak and groan as their tops are whipped by powerful, swirling winds that are, unbelievably, chilly.

Then it starts to rain. Big drops. The kind that sting when they hit your body. You dash for some kind of cover; find on outcrop under which you can crouch. And then the storm comes.

LISTEN...

Texas Beyond History Website Looks At Texas Archeologically

(Podcast)
Texas Beyond History is a remarkable website that combines Texas history, archeology, anthropology and more.  It's for thinkers, students and the curious.  Dr. Steve Black and his colleagues have created a virtual museum online.  It's very unique ... and very informative.  Dr. Black talked to me from his office at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory in Austin.

(click once to activate, then Play to start)

Play and/or download HERE

18:42 minutes

Links:
Texas Beyond History website

Music performed by Jim Fidler, selection - Merrigan's Reel from the album "Midnight Rover."  Visit Jim Fidler at www.jimfidler.com or at Podshow.com