Acetio | Blogma

One fascinating thing about Dallas is the history of La Reunion, a utopian community of European artists and writers trying to make an ideal society on the American frontier.

The voting record of Dallas is also far more progressive than I had assumed. The city went for Kerry in 2004.

"Dollars, Taxes" is an apt nickname with sales tax at 8.25%
So far, the food has been expensive, and it feels like I'm paying the same prices or higher than what I pay for the same things in New York City.

http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Dallas&state=TX
Dallas violent crime rate is 2.29 times the national average
New York City violent crime rate is 0.49 the national average, meaning you're tice as likely to be murdered OUTSIDE New York City than inside it.
Of course in New York you're ten thousand times more likely to accidentally step in a puddle of urine.

Here, you can buy beer and wine at the 7-eleven, but not liquor. Unfortunately, the beer was all variations on yelow pilsner: Bud, Modelo, etc.
The only ale available was Bud American Ale, which made me conclude that Conservatives Drink Lager and Liberals Drink Ale.
Shiner Bock is weak, unexceptional beer (although I imagine it redeems itself in the north Texas summer).
But the Shiner Brewery, begun by Kosmos Spoetzl, is 100 years old in 2009 so I got a sixer of Shiner Bohemian Black Lager, and I must say it's quite good.

Being in the state of Texas makes me want to evoke the spirit of Ross Perot: "T'aint worth more'n a wink from a dime-store hooker"