Archives for December 2015

Texas Standard: December 8, 2015

The President says people should not be able to purchase a gun if they’re on a no-fly list. In real life, would this this fly? We’ll explore today on the Texas Standard. Also: coming soon to a school near you? Students at a north Texas high school stage a walkout. We’ll hear how conditions at the school sparked a protest and why it may not be the last. Plus a seizure of a shipment of wood at the port of Houston. What so special about that timber. And a long lost album by the late great Roy Orbison-rediscovered. All of that and so much more on todays Texas Standard:

Gary Clark Jr // Tameca Jones

In this episode of  “This Song” Gary Clark Jr. explains how Tupac’s “Krazy” inspired him musically and lyrically. Along the way he gives insight into his  own writing process. Taylor Wallace talks to Tameca Jones about how seeing Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” in the context of “Pretty in Pink” helped her set the tone for the way she wanted to approach music.

Start your exploration of the Work of Bob Ross!

Hear Tameca Jones Studio 1A Performance!

Watch Ducky perform ‘Try a Little Tenderness” from Pretty in Pink!

Check out Black Fret!

Texas Standard: December 7, 2015

The oval office: when used as a bully pulpit, often signaling a turning point. Was last nights message such a moment? We’ll explore. Plus why has Texas become a hotbed for anti-Islamic rhetoric? NPR’s John Burnett joins us to talk about his new investigation. And border Crossings by unaccompanied minors on the rise once more- we’ll visit the source: El Salvador. Also a puzzling trend: lock yourselves in a room and try to escape. And Texas is front and center this week before the nation’s highest court…we’ll have a preview…plus much more making news today on the Texas Standard:

Higher Ed: Learning and Regret

“Regrets, I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption.” Frank Sinatra sings about regret in “My Way.”  In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger talk about the decisions we make along the way in our formal education, and the role regret can play in lifelong learning. Hear more about how regret can motivate – rather than discourage – our pursuit of knowledge. Ever make a decision about your hair color that you have come to regret? Listen on to find out the solution to last week’s puzzler about truth, lies, and hair color!

Jazz and Apocalypse

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe discusses how jazz can help us to prevail against notions of an appending apocalypse in our time.

KUT Weekend – December 4, 2015

The fight continues over Syrian refugees in Texas, APD moves ahead with putting body cameras on cops, and what it’s like to run a “beer mile.” Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org

Texas Standard: December 4, 2015

Now it’s beginning to look a bit like a grudge match over Syrian Refugees- Despite a legal challenge to Syrian refugees, no let up from the Feds. You’ve no doubt heard that there’s been as many mass shootings as days in the year…are you so sure? We’ll do the numbers. And Californian’s used to brag about See’s Candies…is there a Texas corollary? There is and it just turned a hundred and thirty. We’ll get a taste if we’re lucky. And what some say is a way to improve education statewide. Here’s a hint: monkey bars might be involved. Those stories and lots more on todays Texas Standard:

Texans & Their Trucks

If there’s one thing most Texans can agree on, it’s a love of trucks. Whether you favor the vintage variety or something new with all the bells and whistles, trucks have a special place in this state. That was the inspiration for Typewriter Rodeo’s Kari Anne Roy as she wrote this week’s poem.

Guns

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of guns.

Texas Standard: December 3, 2015

The shooting in San Bernardino: what’s it really about and what does it say about society? Are you so sure? Coming to conclusions, today on the Texas Standard. As the world follows the So Cal massacre, Texas goes to court against the Obama administration—the issue: Syrian refugees. And states across the nation are watching. Plus inventors: got an idea? Patent it? Then come to Texas to protect it. But where does this leave those who actually bring new ideas to life? The patent troll reconsidered. Also as oil prices drop, crime goes up…in some parts of Texas way up. Those stories and lots more on todays Texas Standard:

What You Might Not Know About the Texas Constitution

If you want to hold public office in Texas, you have to believe in God. You cannot serve even as dog catcher – if it’s an elected office, you must believe in God.

Given the long history we have had of con artists, and scofflaws, carpetbaggers, and white-collar criminals holding public office around the state, this may seem hard to believe.

But it is right there in the Texas constitution. Plain as day.

Section 4 of the Texas Bill of Rights says that if you wish to hold elected office in Texas you must “acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.”

There is no requirement respecting any specific religion. Nothing says a person has to be Baptist or Catholic or Mormon, but it is clear, “No atheists need apply.”

And this would presumably rule out agnostics, too, since they are eternal doubters and could not, with confidence, say that they believe in a Supreme Being. This is just one of the unusual dimensions of the Texas Constitution that few people know about.

Texas protects individual rights more than most states.

In Texas, credit card companies cannot garnish your wages to collect on a bad debt.

Texas is exceptionally protective of debtors in bankruptcy cases, too – especially if you actually own anything worth losing.

If your house is paid for – even if it’s worth $2 million – you get to keep it. If your house sits on 200 acres in the country, you get to keep that. If you have a big, bad, fully decked out pick-up, and it’s paid for, you get to keep it.

Finally, you get to keep two firearms. I don’t know why. I suppose to help you protect your property from pesky bill collectors.

Most Texans seem to believe that Texas has a constitutional right to secede from the U.S. when it feels like it.

It does not. This is a myth.

However, Texas does have the right to divide itself into two, three, four or five states. The only advantage would be to give us 10 senators instead of two.

I don’t know what advantage that would be, since eight more senators would be about as useful as a bucket of water to a drowning man.

But Texas would not be Texas if it were divided. Such plans have actually been discussed.

According to the Handbook of Texas, one plan wanted to divide the state along the Colorado River, with the new territory south and west to be called Lincoln and the part north and east to be called Texas.

Another plan proposed dividing us into three states. These would be called Jefferson, Texas, and Matagorda.

None of these plans ever made it out of committee. I suppose the legislators knew that had the good people of Texas gotten wind of it, they would have gotten a long Texas rope, and strung them up from a live oak.

W.F. Strong is a Fulbright Scholar and professor of Culture and Communication at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. At Public Radio 88 FM in Harlingen, Texas, he’s the resident expert on Texas literature, Texas legends, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Whataburger (with cheese) and mesquite smoked brisket.

Texas Standard: December 2, 2015

Governor Abbot tries to convince a not-quite Capitalist Cuba that Texas would made a good business partner. The Sandra Bland case put suicides in Texas Jails on the radar- but with scores of suicides in recent years, where were the alarm bells before? Also- a ban on big gulps? Maybe a bridge too far. But billionaires in New York and Texas are pushing what they think is a better idea…are voters gonna buy it? A democratic politician described as not having a prayer…and why she thinks that could her win. All of those stories and more on todays Texas Standard:

A Tribute to Shirley Chisholm (Ep. 51, 2015)

IBA presents a tribute to the late Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm, former congresswoman from New York’s 12th congressional district and the first African-American woman elected to Congress.

Texas Standard: December 1, 2015

Ted Cruz wants to be President. Born in the USA? Not exactly. Natural born citizen? Who be the judge? You be. Also- a terrorist army raking in half a billion a year from oil. What’s the best strategy for capping a gusher? A potential vacancy raises the question of whether the NBA’s ready for its first female coach. Chances are very good she’ll be from Texas by the way. And a top legal scholar declares a Judicial emergency in Texas federal courthouses. Those stories and lots more on todays Texas Standard:

Twin Shadow // Michael Ramos

In this episode of “This Song”  Twin Shadow  explores the magic of  Bob Dylan’s song “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” and keyboard player, producer and bandleader Michael Ramos  explains how Green Onions connects him to the people he loves.

Listen to this episode of This Song

 

See Twin Shadow perform “I’m Ready” on VuHaus

Listen to Michael Ramos’ guest DJ Set on MyKUTX

Visit the SIMS foundation website 

Visit Ian McLagan’s Website

Listen to Ian McLagan’s Studio 1A performance

Listen to Ian McLagan’s guest DJ set on My KUTX