Category Archives: Texana

Big hats

Posted on March 19, 2014 | 2 comments

Andy at MyOldRv works in the South Texas sun, so he needs a big hat to keep his nose, ears and neck from getting blistered. Doesn’t look pretentious on him. Not like the guys you see hereabouts playing Cowboys without the Indians.

“I prefer a Resistol 8 or 10X shantung panama hat from the George Strait collection in 7 3/8 long oval size.  Sounds muy complicated but it really ain’t. Once you settle up on the right size, you just gotta get up off that pocket book and decide how many X’s of quality suit you.  That is why I tell ya to buy a feed store hat for starters.  Most of ‘em are going to be less than $30 bucks and you get to test drive it right on your head.”

He prefers to buy used straws now, off Ebay, if you can imagine it. His wife says they probably sell them mostly to Yankees who use them for decor.

Last straw I bought was back in the ’80s when I traveled around Texas a lot. I went out to the garage, where it now hangs, decor-like, to see what it was. A 7 5/8 long-oval Bangora, made in Conroe, sold at Allen’s Boots on South Congress.

Allen’s is way too expensive now, catering as it does to the tourists. I moved to ball caps long ago anyhow. But if I did spend a lot of time in the Texas sun I’d be buying feed-store straws for sure. Maybe even used ones off Ebay!

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Posted in Blogosphere, Texana

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Vlad Putin gives SXSW a hand

Posted on March 8, 2014 | 3 comments

It might seem a bit pompous of Kansas Republican Mike Pompeo to ask SXSW to cancel its much-advertised, long-distance interview Monday with Vlad Putin’s favorite foreign guest.

But Pompeo, the junior member of the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a former Army captain and a West Point graduate, has some arguable reasons:

“The panel, ‘A Virtual Conversation with Edward Snowden,’ will focus on the impact of the NSA spying revelations and how technology can be used to protect privacy.

“Snowden’s ‘only apparent qualification,’ Pompeo wrote, ‘is his willingness to steal from his own government and then flee to that beacon of First Amendment freedoms, the Russia of Vladimir Putin.'”

Indeed, it is the only reason for the “conversation,” in which Snowden—having helped put SXSW back on a media stage that might be tiring of it—allegedly will answer questions from the Austin audience, even the unadoring kind. Instead of just making speeches.

Whether there will be any unadoring “questions” from the primarily leftist audience remains to be seen. Pompeo offers two the leftists might not think of: “including why [Snowden] chose to leak ‘purely military secrets’ with no bearing on domestic surveillance, and…the extent of his relationship with the Russian government, ‘financial or otherwise.’”

Via Instapundit,

UPDATE:  Apparently neither of Pompeo’s questions were asked. No surprise there. No one even asked why Snowden fled to Russia, no champion of privacy or freedom whatsoever.

3 Comments

Posted in Texana, The Culture, The War, Troops

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You need a Vietnamese pedicure

Posted on March 8, 2014 | 3 comments

I never thought I’d get a pedicure, until old age and overweight made it difficult to cut my own toenails without risking injury. Not to mention my really rough heels that were destroying scores of pairs of socks.

So, at the urging of Mrs. Charm, I visited the Passion Nail Spa on Far West Boulevard, near the Rancho. I was one of the few males, but no matter. It was very relaxing, warm water, hot towels, foot and ankle massage and all.

I was surprised to discover the management and pedicurists were all recent Vietnamese immigrants. Apparently recent as none of them spoke much English. Turns out they are part of a trend these days in Vietnamese-owned nail salons. For instance, in South Florida:

“The nail industry will help stabilize the lives of so many Vietnamese from Vietnam to America,” Truong said. “But with the second generation — for example, my children and my staff’s children — they are not going to choose a career in a nail salon, because they will have a diploma and will be good in English, so they can find another good job.”

The Austin pedicurists smiled politely at my use of what Vietnamese language I could remember after 45 years—mostly hello and thank you—but they would, wouldn’t they, even if I was unintelligible. I got the $26 classic but next time (oh, yes, there will be a next time) I might get the $40 deluxe.

Now with toenails all nice and short and rough heels smooth, I’m more than satisfied. You will be, too, if you try it. And you should. Really.

UPDATE:  Or, perhaps, predate would be more accurate. Miriam was way ahead of me, way up there in Delaware back in 2011.

3 Comments

Posted in Mrs. Charm, Rancho Roly Poly, Texana, The Culture, Viet Nam

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Go get ’em, Ted

Posted on March 7, 2014 | 3 comments

While the so-called Conservative Political Action Convention chatted up amnesty for the illegal (mainly) Mexicans who will never vote for the GOP, across the street at the Uninvited Convention, Texas Republican Sen. Ted “Abolish the IRS” Cruz was calling the president a fool on the international stage.

“After calling Iran the greatest national security threat, Cruz said that ‘under no circumstances will the nation of Iran ever be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.’ He warned of the catastrophic damage that could be done if Iran exploded a nuclear weapon over America’s atmosphere…

“After saying that ‘no rational person is interested in a shooting war between the United States and Russia,’ Cruz offered a variety of solutions to the brewing overseas conflict, saying America should ‘immediately sign a free trade agreement with Ukraine’ and export liquefied natural gas there, which would create jobs at home and lessen Russia’s ability to use its natural resources as ‘economic blackmail’…

He said Russia should have been expelled from the G8 for its actions in Crimea and Ukraine and the Magnitsky Act should be enforced. He also said that re-installing the anti-missile defense in Eastern Europe that Obama canceled in order to appease Putin and Russia should be another priority.”

Makes more sense than the piddle Barry has done: sending a few aging F-15s to NATO and a lone warship into the Black Sea while needlessly whacking individual Russians with visa restrictions.

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Posted in Obamalot, Texana, War Without End

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More Looney-Tunes science

Posted on March 3, 2014 | 3 comments

The American Physical Society (physicists) will talk this month about building 1,000-foot high walls in Texas, North Dakota and Oklahoma to reduce tornadoes.

“Why is it a bad idea if it could save lives and property? Simply, the law of unintended consequences. If walls almost 1000 feet in height are placed in the Central U.S., not only would tornadic activity be disrupted, but precipitation patterns would be, too. Vast areas on the lee side of the walls would see significant decreases in rainfall and areas on the windward side of the walls would see increases…”

Not to mention how dreadful it would be living in the shadow of one of these mothas. So maybe we won’t be seeing them. Or…

Shoot, if the feds can’t build a fence between Mexico and the U.S., how could they build something like this?

3 Comments

Posted in Blogosphere, Science/Engineering, Texana, Weather/Climate

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“I am besieged by a thousand or more…”

Posted on March 2, 2014 | 4 comments

It’s traditional in these parts to read this aloud today, the 2nd of March, which is Texas Independence Day. Even big-Lefty Gov. Ann Richards did it when she was in office.

Commandancy of the Alamo

Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836

To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World– Fellow
Citizens and Compatriots–

I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna–I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man–The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken–I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls–I shall never surrender or retreat.

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all despatch–The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country–Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis, Lt. Col. comdt.

Much more detail at this classic site. And a contemporary view via the Alamo cam. And the best history, in my opinion. After 178 years you can still “hear” some of the old Alamo in this Deguello bugle call of No Quarter. The dictator’s troops played it before their final, successful dawn assault on March 6, 1836.

4 Comments

Posted in South of the Border, Texana, The Culture

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Go get ’em, Ted

Posted on February 27, 2014 | 1 comment

“…it’s misleading to accuse Cruz of ignoring Obama and only going after Republicans.  He’s going after Republicans who have failed to fight Obama.

“When I read some of the attacks on Cruz, I wonder if at least some of the anger is the result of his tenacity.  I remember being told, when he was in the midst of his filibuster against Obamacare, that it was going to be damaging to the country and deadly to himself.  He would lose, and that would pretty much end his role as a potential party or national leader.

“He’s still standing, and he was proven right to go all out to try to stop Obamacare.”   —-Michael Ledeen at PJMedia.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Obamalot, Texana

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