The Texana Review - Podcasts

Texas History Tidbit: Battle of Velasco, 1832

The Battle of Velasco took place on June 26, 1832. 

It's considered by historians to be a harbinger of the Texas Revolution.

Although Texas independence wasn't actually declared until March of 1836, tensions had been running high for years between Mexico and it's Tejas state bordering the United States.

More and more lethal spats broke out between Texas settlers and Mexican soldiers after the Battle of Velasco, in which were involved many future leaders of Texas.

For example, William B. Travis, who perished at the Alamo, was involved, although indirectly.

Anyway, here's another Texas History Tidbit.

Listen...

5:56 minutes

Music by Deyo under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

IceRocket Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,history

 

Trans-Texas Corridor: A Democratic Process?

In our modern milieu, when a governmental authority asserts its power, the impact on certain individuals' lives is often lost on those not directly affected.

However, those that aren't directly affected should not pass off the issue as "not their problem," especially when it involves today's form of government.

Government ALWAYS needs watching, very carefully.

Whether the issue is right or wrong depends, in the final analysis, on the people and how loud a voice they can put to that issue.

In Texas, we live in a democratic society and the opportunity for the individual to express his or her opinion remains a fundamental right and an occasion for them to plea their case.

Given the Texas power structure, that may or may not be enough to sway the direction of things.

That's kind of where the pros and cons of the Trans-Texas Corridor debate is today.

Here's a video where a goodly number of Texans stand up and express their opinion.

9:51 minutes

Your Comments are welcome - look for the Comments link below

 

 

Heads up by TexanaTV

 

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Trans-Texas Corridor: Boondoggle or Visionary?

The Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) has been in the works for years now and has been quietly promoted by Texas Governor Rick Perry, the staffs of the Texas Department of Transportation and other Texas governmental agencies and numerous persons in the private sector.

Although there has been opposition to the project since the idea softly made its way into the public's attention earlier this decade, the last two years have seen many heated town and county meetings where incensed landowners wanted answers from governmental officials about this "superhighway."

There have also been changes in state law that complicate things a bit.

What follows over the next several months will be a series of podcasts and videocasts on the subject of the Trans-Texas Corridor.  You'll hear and see both pro and con on the subject.  Your conclusions will be reflected in the Comments section of each posting, that's if you care to leave a Comment.

First, let's take a look at the story as presented by this well-done video piece from the Texas Department of Transportation's website promoting the TTC.

12:00 minutes

Your Comments are welcome - look for the Comments link below.

 

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

 

Video copyright: Texas Department of Transportation. Heads-up by TexanaTV

 

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Bill Leftwich - cowboy, writer, artist, Texan

HAPPY 85TH BIRTHDAY, Bill Leftwich!

Bill Leftwich lives and works quietly in Fort Davis, Texas. 

He's known as an artist, writer, sculptor, leather worker, educator and storyteller. 

He used to cowboy a bit and worked with the USDA down in Mexico while the United States and Mexico fought the hoof-and-mouth disease. 

But his love lies in his art and even at 85 years old, he's up-and-at-em every day - sculpting, drawing, painting and writing.

I visited with him about a year ago

Listen...

23:00 minutes

Music by Luke McNeil under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,cowboy,artist,sculptor,writer

Texas History Tidbit: La Reunion, Texas b. 1855 - d. 1857

Back in the 19^th century there was a socio-political movement very much in vogue. It was called Utopianism and was making its way from Europe to America.

One of these Utopians came to Texas to found a colony on the Trinity River in a location that is now inside the city limits of Dallas. That colony was dubbed La Reunion.

The Utopian I’m speaking of was named Victor Prosper Considerant. According to historical records, he was one of the leading democratic socialist figures in France in mid-19^th century.

He wandered into northeast Texas around 1852 looking for a place to colonize under the Utopian philosophy; in other words, his Texas Utopia.  He found his spot on the Trinity River and invited about 2,000 people from Europe to come a settle at La Reunion.

Listen to this Texana Review Texas History Tidbit.

Listen...

3:30 minutes

Music by  Dave Howard under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

More on La Reunion Here and Here

 

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An interview with David Wilkinson, co-author of "One Ranger"

In my opinion, David Marion Wilkinson is one of the finest, intuitive writers Texas has to offer these days.

I was introduced to David’s writing when I met Joaquin Jackson at a doowa in Houston, Texas about two years ago. He and David had written a book together … a book that has become a runaway bestseller – titled "One Ranger."

As a former Texas Ranger, Jackson told his story, and David converted it into exquisite prose.

David had written several other books before "One Ranger," and is currently working on a couple of others.

He visited me in San Angelo earlier this year and this is what he had to say…

 

Listen...

30:00 minutes

Music by liveloop under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

Buy David Wilkinson's books HERE

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,books,David Wilkinson,stories

Chapter One from Charles Chupp's "Frankly Speaking"

Charles Chupp came to my attention in a used book store in Houston about two years ago when I pulled his “Nth Reader” from the bookshelf …and where I immediately fell in love with his storytellin’.

When Charles called and asked if I would read a couple of chapters of his new book “Frankly Speaking,” I felt honored, and immediately accepted.

What comes next is my interpretation of the first chapter of Charles Chupp’s – “Frankly Speaking.”

Chapter Two to follow under separate posting.

Listen...

16:29 minutes

Song "Ja Da" by Cliff Edwards

buy "Frankly Speaking" HERE

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Chapter Two from Charles Chupp's "Frankly Speaking"

 

What follows is my interpretation of the second chapter of Charles Chupp’s – “Frankly Speaking.”

Charles Chupp came to my attention in a used book store in Houston about two years ago when I pulled his “Nth Reader” from the bookshelf …and where I immediately fell in love with his storytellin’.

When Charles called and asked if I would read a couple of chapters of his new book “Frankly Speaking,” I felt honored, and immediately accepted.

Listen...

16:51 minutes

Song "Ja Da" by Cliff Edwards

buy "Frankly Speaking" HERE

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Great Depression,Charles Chupp,Texas,Texas stories

Wind Energy's Impact on Land Value: an interview with Allen Price

(Originally produced for Texas Rural Land News & Review which merged with The Texana Review in March 2008)

Allen Price is an attorney-at-law and senior partner with the Smith, Rose, Finley, Harp & Price law firm in San Angelo. 

Mr. Price grew up in Sterling County and, after graduating from Abilene Christian University, took a law degree from Texas Tech.

He started out specializing in Estate Planning and Probate law but has recently become heavily involved in wind energy issues.

He's a rural landowner himself and has been a steady counsel for other landowners in negotiating leases with wind energy developers.

 

Listen...

18:10 minutes

Music by Torchmatic under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

Sponsored by

and

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Texas,Wind Energy,Ed Blackburn,Rural Texas,Rural Living,Alternative Energy

Elmer and Anni Kelton - a Love Story: Part Three

A continuation of my interview with renowned western author, Elmer Kelton, and his wife, Anni, about how they met in Austria at the end of World War II and eventually married.

Listen...

18:23 minutes

Music by Barry McCabe under Creative Commons License

Find Elmer Kelton's books at your local bookstore or Amazon.com HERE

 

Technorati Tags: Literature,western literature,Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Elmer Kelton,Spur Award Winner,Western Heritage Award,Texas