The Texana Review - Podcasts

Remembrance Day 2009

Here's a small tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I can enjoy a Memorial Day holiday.

 

 
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A tea party in San Angelo, Texas...

I've been curious about the divisiveness that this nation has been experiencing since the election last year.

A divisiveness, I have observed, that began during the previous Administration.

On April 15th last week, people organized "tea parties" across the nation to express their concern over the direction the new Administration is taking on spending, taxation and a slew of other issues. 

I live in San Angelo, Texas.

We had a "tea party" here.

Attendees seemed to be divided along the two traditional party lines - Republican and Democrat (although there was at least one avowed Libertarian in the group).

I took some pictures of the gathering.

Here they are.

 

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Wildcatting for Wind - Part One of Four

In the latter part of January 2009, folks from as far away as Spain and Germany gathered in Austin, Texas to talk about wind energy ... that's wind energy in Texas.

This annual gathering actually began about five years ago, in Sweetwater, Texas; a location of one of the largest wind farms in the world.

About three years ago, Texas surpassed California as the No. 1 producer of wind energy in the United States.

I could go on with all the one-upsmanship typical of Texas vernacular but there's no reason to.

In this day and time it's important to know about wind energy, especially if you're a Texas landowner.

Although I don't like lawyers all that much, the University of Texas School of Law produced a video titled "Wildcatting for Wind," which they showcased at the gathering.  It's pretty good.

They gave me permission to show it off here at The Texana Review.

It's interesting, and informative.

I'm presenting it here for you in four parts. 

Here's Part One - sponsored by The Texana Review and Higginbotham Brothers.

Watch...

Six minutes, ten seconds

in QuickTime...

In Windows Media Player...

 

Excerpt taken from:

“Wildcatting for Wind: The Texas Experience from Turbine to Market”
Produced by The University of Texas School of Law
Full DVD can be purchased at www.utcle.org

 

next years’ conference: 

2010 Wind Energy Institute
February 2-4, 2010
Austin Convention Center

 

Sam Houston Among the Indians - from the Sam Houston Project

Cherokee Elder Robert "Winter Owl" Vann discusses Native Americans and their relationship with Sam Houston.

Learn about the Indian population in North America in general, and specifically in Texas.

Mr. Vann discusses their population, clothing, diet, kinds of shelters they lived in, and many other interesting facts.

Click HERE to watch.

Learn more about the Sam Houston Project -> click HERE

T. Boone Pickens is back ...and he has a Plan

T. Boone Pickens is a smart entrepreneur.

Beyond that, he's one smart cookie, and he doesn't shy away from controversy

He says he has an energy plan for America; a plan with heavy emphasis on wind energy.

And he's started a very aggressive media campaign.  What he has to say makes a lot of sense.

Watch what he has to say in this segment...

4:49 minutes

Watch...

(depending on your computer equipment and Internet connection, this video may load more or less rapidly, but it will load)

 

For more video podcast entries (they're three prior ones), visit PickensPlan, Boone's Video Blog

 

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Colorado Valley Sunset - Redux

I'm always trying to find new stuff that makes my offering to you more compelling.

Here's a re-do of an earlier show using what has apparently become the darling of the photojournalists at the newspapers as they desperately try to catch up to the New Media.  It's called SoundSlides, and it's not bad.  As a matter of fact, I'm impressed, as is apparently, the print media.

They're doing a good job, the photojournalists I mean (the editors still haven't a clue) but then again, they're still trying to get their mind around what New Media is all about.

So, if you're inclined, have a look-see at Colorado Valley Sunset in Soundslides.  I like it.  Hope you do.

Oh, if you want watch this full screen, click in the lower right-hand corner of the video screen - where all the little arrows are.

Best wishes from a city boy with a cowboy hat...

2:52 minutes

 

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Colorado Valley Sunset

The meaning of the words "quiet" and "solitary" are what many of us in Texas embrace with open arms.

If you haven't spent much time in West Texas, you're welcome to visit and sample the fresh air.

Or you can watch the short piece linked below.

Best wishes from a city boy with a cowboy hat...

It may take a few moments for the video to begin streaming

2 minutes 51 seconds

Watch...

 

 

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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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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...

 

 

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