Hurricane Ike - The Next Day

By Robbie Cooper | 09/13/08

There has been extensive damage to Galveston, Seabrook, Orange, Port Arther, Clear Lake, and numerous other cities on the Texas Gulf coast.I've been hearing from lots of friends, family, bloggers, and readers today about "the day after."And what I'm hearing the most?People have already started cleaning up. They have started to repair leaking and damaged roofs. They've started clearing roads, by hand if necessary, so that traffic can start... read more »

Austin City Council --- Giving Away Your Tax Dollars

By Robbie Cooper | 09/08/08

The Austin City Council just approved the $2.9 billion fiscal year 2009 budget.When the property tax appraisal rolls were certified, $300,000 of additional property tax revenue that -- as the Statesman article describes it -- "materialized" during the certification process.And being the good Liberal City Council that they are, what do you think the Austin City Council decided to do with that extra $300K in property tax revenue? Do you think... read more »

Texas Mom Wrestles Shotgun from Gunmen

By Robbie Cooper | 09/05/08

Two lessons to be learned from this story: 1) There is nothing more dangerous and frightening than a woman defending the lives of her children, and 2) Don't mess with Texans _______ BLUE MOUND, Texas --  When two gunmen smashed through the glass front door of her suburban Fort Worth home, Kellie Hoehn didn't think twice. The 34-year-old mother of two grabbed a shotgun that had been pointed at her face early Wednesday, starting a... read more »

State Rep. Rick Noriega --- Embarrassed to be from Texas

By Robbie Cooper | 08/28/08

During a 2003 concert in London, the Texas music group Dixie Chicks apologized to the British crowd, "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."You might remember how that apology-on-behalf-of-Texas worked out for the Dixie Chicks back home --- it didn't.Their remarks angered red, white, and blue-blooded country music... read more »