Podcasts about texas it

St. Paul Lutheran, Taylor, Texas It's been said that it's easier to enter the church kitchen door than the church door itself. Petie Tocquigny knew that truth well, and today, we are about to find out exactly what she meant. You see, across America, in over 200,000 church kitchens, a quiet army of more than 20 million volunteers is at work. Their mission? To serve. Their motto? “We live to serve.”And oh, the characters we have met who Serve It Up. So let's take a little trip together, down to the heart of Texas, to a town named Taylor. Home of friendly faces, world-famous barbecue, the Taylor Ducks, and a church kitchen that has warmed more than just bellies. At St. Paul Lutheran, they are keeping big hearts in a small town, even as Taylor grows into a hub for semiconductor chips, thanks to the arrival of Samsung. But technology aside, today we're interested in a different kind of power. The power of a kitchen. The power of service. The power of the people behind it all.We step through the kitchen door at St. Paul Lutheran, where generations have gathered, and where my wife, Carla Rohlack, originated. Today, she returns to her roots to see what's cooking—literally and spiritually. There is Jeanie Schneider, a veteran church kitchen lady, famous for her casseroles and cookies. You might even recognize her—her caricature graces Gracefully Yours greeting cards, celebrating the unsung, humorous heroes of the church kitchen.On the Saturday night before a potluck brunch, Jeanie shared her secrets. In her home, a handful of faithful friends gathered to talk about St. Paul, potluck traditions, and, of course, pie. There was laughter, wisdom, and a serious commitment to making sure Sunday morning would be just right. The headline that night? “We are ready to serve, whoever walks through the door.” Sunday morning arrives. The Servin' Up team is already in action, led by Rita Kelm. She has volunteered in the kitchen since the very first Sunday brunch. Since 7:45 a.m., Rita, Jeanie, Janet Brinkmeyer, Gayle Collins, Shirley Evans, Wandeen Sankewitz, Marilyn Artieschoufsky, Carmen McCleery, and Sandra Umiker have been heating up the kitchen, brewing Folgers coffee, sweetening iced tea, and making lemonade. The tables are set for autumn, even though the Texas sun insists it's still summer. In the narthex, we find Don Artieschoufsky. He has a story to tell. Servin' Up isn't just about food. It's about action. Habitat for Humanity has found a strong ally in St. Paul Lutheran, as has Shepherd's Heart. Through their efforts, they give others faith and resources to help them sustain their lives.They give them a reason to believe, to have the faith they are going to need to press on, and perhaps even help others—paying it forward. Pastor Qualley welcomes everyone, including those who might otherwise feel unwelcome. The homeless are not turned away. They are not shunned. They are, instead, seen, heard, and fed—both in body and spirit. Because, after all, the words of Christ remind us, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” Back in the fellowship hall, the feast is ready. What's on the table today? Burritos. Cheese queso, a recipe from Naomi Pasemann. Chick-fil-A nuggets, Golden Chick, casseroles from—well, almost everyone. And lasagna, because you can never go wrong with lasagna. And of course, a disproportionate amount of dessert. Apple pie from H-E-B—a church kitchen shortcut that still gets the job done. And a peach cobbler from Janell, age 92, who has been serving up sweetness since 1945. Jeanie's cookies are standouts. We see Christine Rohlack, the first woman president of the congregation along with her husband Thomas. She believes in leading by serving. Her two sons are already following in her footsteps, learning the St. Paul tradition of putting others first. Teaching the significance of service to the next generation is a priority. And in walks Pastor Qualley into the kitchen, a man with a particular weakness for a church kitchen classic—pimento cheese sandwiches. The plates are full. The hearts, even fuller. This is what a place of significance is all about. Feeding others, and in turn, feeding the soul. But the real work? That begins on Monday. Because a place of significance isn't just for Sunday events. It's a way of life. It's the home of the Ruth Circle, which serves grieving families, arranging for celebration-of-life meals following funerals. Then there is the next Habitat for Humanity project, filling the pantry at Shepherd's Heart food pantry, the church garage sale, and the opening day for the St. Paul Child Development Center. As the hymn goes, His compassion bids us bear, stirring us to ardent service, your abundant life to share. It's about bringing what you can in time, talent, and treasure, so someone else can have what they need. It's the heartbeat of a community, and ultimately, a way to serve the Creator who made us all. What's a place of significance? Anywhere volunteers stand ready to serve others.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.

4pm: Vice Presidential Debate Live Tonight on Kiro at 6PM // Dockworkers Launch Strike at Ports From Maine to Texas // It’s the first longshoreman first dock strike since 1977 // Election 2024 - 34 Days until Election Day // What to Know About Tonight’s Walz-Vance VP Debate // Alaska’s “Fat Bear Week” pushed back after a bear fight on a popular live stream ended with one dead

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas - It is not often a mayor in Texas runs a video during his or her state of the city address that includes messages from eight dignitaries from Mexico.Sometimes a mayor from the border region will have a video message from one  or two of his counterparts in Mexico. But rarely eight.  But that is what Rio Grande City Mayor Joel Villarreal had in his recent 2024 State of the City Address. This, surely, is testament to how interwoven Rio Grande City is with its neighbors to the south. Introducing the video, Villarreal said: “It is imperative that Rio Grande City continues to be on the forefront of international relations and the concept of near-shoring, which is simply bringing business operations closer to home to minimize supply chain interruptions. That includes faster customer delivery, faster market access, as well as operational flexibility, lower customs expenses, and the overall company's bottom line. So with that our City Commission… we have the vision to continue to promote and foster international relations.”Here is an audio recording of the messages of goodwill that the eight dignitaries from Mexico delivered to Mayor Villarreal:To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

ELSA, Texas - It may be hard to believe when Elsa's population is 5,680, but the city's biggest store, Walmart, pulls in two million visits a year. This is the point Elsa Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Daniel Rivera wants potential investors to know.Rivera gave a powerpoint presentation on current and future plans for Elsa at a Rio Grande Valley Partnership Commercialization and Investment Tour. One of the projects that has been resurrected, Rivera said, is development of a new industrial park.“The first question I get from someone who hasn't been to Elsa, who does not know Elsa is, what's the population? That's the wrong question. The question is not what is the population. The population of Elsa, if you Google it, is 5,680,” Rivera said.“The real question is, what is your retail impact? What is the what's going on in Elsa. So this is a heat map of Walmart. This is where people travel to come to our Walmart. We have two million visits every 12 months. That doesn't happen with a population of 5,600.”Rivera said the Walmart heat map “paints a better picture” of what's happening in Elsa right now. Elsa is based in Hidalgo County but Rivera said the city's catchment area spreads into the counties of Cameron and Willacy also.Rivera acknowledged that in comparison to McAllen, Edinburg or Mission, Elsa is a small town. “But this small town for the past few years has annexed over 100 acres of property. I think that's a testament to our growth. I think that's a testament to the amazing team here and everyone's working really hard to make the city a great city and a better place.”The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Rivera after his presentation. He was asked what was the key message he wanted to get across to the realtors, bankers and land developers that were in the audience.“First, look in this direction. I know that a lot of people don't normally travel through here unless they have family but there's a lot of stuff happening and unless you kind of turn your attention towards what's happening over here you probably won't be aware of it,” Rivera said. “And so, I am hoping that this message and the message of the growth that is happening here spreads across the Valley as these people go into their networks and their offices. This is not the Elsa people remember from 30 years ago.”Rivera was also asked about a project that would be a real game changer for not only Elsa but the entire Delta area: TxDOT's plans to build another east-west corridor in the north of the Valley. Its project title is the I-69 Connector because it will connect I-69 Central with I-69 East.“We're already seeing some expansion out that way. Without these announcements, subdivisions are kind of popping up around that area. We have a lot of room to grow towards the north and I think the industrial park or the commercial park that we're trying to highlight is right along that corridor,” Rivera said.Here is the audio interview the Guardian secured with Rivera at the RGV Partnership event.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

HARLINGEN, Texas - It is never too early to talk about the upcoming tax season. Joining me today is Rev Torres, a paralegal with the Texas Taxpayer Assistance Project. Torres is going to tell us about some changes that are in store for the upcoming tax season. Have you received payment via one of several cash payment apps? Today we're going to talk about cash payment apps, and how they may play a role in the upcoming tax season if you receive money via one of these payment apps.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

What did we think of that new Coke Y3000? ----- Are these REALLY the most iconic songs of all time??? ----- Is there REALLY a difference the way men are vs. women in the morning? ----- What's Trending: Is that the end of NSYNC...Joe Manganiello has a new girl...Whoopi is in some hot water ----- Do you know someone that is ALWAYS trying to be a matchmaker with for your friends? ----- Can't Beat Booker with Melani in Bastrop, Texas ----- It's a Friday tradition play along...it's the "Game Game"

Is it us or have items at secondhand stores gone up in price??? ----- Is "bros before hoes" still a thing? ----- Can you guess the pop classic done on piano? ----- What Trending: MORE scary news for Drew Barrymore...the best tacos in the US are where...LOTS of new music out today from HUGE artists ----- Is having an emotional affair cheating??? ----- Can't Beat Booker with Rebecca in Georgetown, Texas ----- It's the Friday "Game Game"...play along!!!

Did you survive the hottest day in Austin? ----- Have you ever dated a dummy? ----- What's Trending: More sad Brit Brit news...THIS is a weird sorta celeb relationship...Drake LOVES big bras ----- Pop classics done on the piano ----- Can't Beat Booker with Carrie in Burnet, Texas ----- It's the Friday "Game Game" - Celebrity Breakups

We have accepted the heat in Austin so it can only get better, RIGHT??? ----- What "generation" is the clumsiest when it comes to phones? ----- She makes A LOT more money than he does and THIS is starting to happen in their relationship ----- What's Trending: If you love the Jonas Brothers you'll love THIS news...Is there a new boss at SNL...Kylie Jenner has THIS done at the age of 19 ----- Is THIS cheating? ----- Can't Beat Booker with Steve in Georgetown, Texas ----- It's our Friday tradition..."The Game Game"

There's just SOMETHING about Round Rock Donuts on this National Junk Food Day ----- Do THIS next time in bed with your significant other ----- Lemonade Stand Wars: Kyle, Texas Edition ----- What's Trending: Ariana Grande's has a new man...S/O to the US Women's National Soccer Team...Britney has a NEW song ----- Tinder is NOT just a hook up app anymore ----- Can't Beat Booker with Jennifer in Liberty Hill, Texas ----- It's a Friday tradition, we play The Game Game

MISSION, Texas - It was Tesla Time Saturday at the Center for Education and Economic Development in Mission, Texas.Eighteen Tesla cars were on show at a tech expo hosted by Mission Economic Development Corporation. Some of the owners of the Tesla vehicles took some of the car show attendees out for a spin.Teclo Garcia, CEO of Mission EDC explained: “We decided a few months ago that we wanted to put on something in the summer, an event that was kind of new to the market and something that no one had done before. There are plenty of car shows out there but we decided to do a Tesla-focused show. And one of the primary reasons we did it is, we want to be associated with that brand.”Garcia said having Tesla at the CEED building was good fit. He said that ever since the facility was launched by Alex Meade and Daniel Silva it has been technology-based.“We've had a lot of CompTIA and IT classes here. We've done all kinds of technology programs. And so as we got back, after COVID, and now we've got our (EDC) team in place, we wanted to start that back up. And so it was a natural for us to reach out to Tesla and say, hey, you haven't done a car show in South Texas that we know of. Would you be interested in they were absolutely interested.”Garcia pointed out that Tesla does not consider themselves an auto manufacturer but rather a technology company. He said the three Rio Grande Valley zip codes with the most Tesla owners are 78504 in north McAllen, 78539, in south Edinburg, and 78572 in Mission.“And so we thought, well, we've got plenty of (Tesla) owners, let's try to get something together. So it's our first try at it and we're very happy. We're also made it sort of a Tesla slash Tech Expo. We've got STC (South Texas College) here and other other tech programs. We've got some folks doing VR (virtual reality) as well and we've got the Trek Bicycle store here in Mission that has all their e-bike models.”Garcia added: “This is just kind of a fun thing to do.”In the attached audio interview, Garcia discusses the Tesla event, the presence of UT-Rio Grande Valley at the CEED building, and building broadband in Mission. To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

Not the ending anyone wanted for the crew in that lost sub ----- She's asked her man to unfollow ALL females on social media and HERE'S why ----- If you're looking for love here's why you need a single Dad ----- What's Trending: Mark & Elon are NOT going to fight OR ARE THEY...the Furby is a thing again....more lost sub details ----- Was Audrey almost abducted??? ----- Can't Beat Booker with Jennifer in Lockhart, Texas ----- It's the Friday "Game Game"

MISSION, Texas - It was Mission activist Irma Flores Lopez who first noticed a demolition crew preparing to tear down the historic Roosevelt Auditorium, a building placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.She called friends and then the media and the protests began. Flores Lopez and others are hoping Mission CISD's board of trustees will reverse course and understand that preserving part of Mission's education history is worth more than building a parking lot. Flores Lopez provided the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service both with historic images of the auditorium and an audio interview. Here is the interview.Editor's Note: To read a series of stories about those protesting the demolition of Roosevelt Auditorium go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

(5/12/23) Janet Yellen & Jerome Powell to not always agree; the Physical Longevity Test; Jimmy John's underwear reprise, and getting used to inflation; As go Regional Banks so goes the market; the danger of investing to headline news; there are not crises of confidence; Wall Street is a marketing machine: The noise of Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence, and Regional Banks. Money Malaise preview; the best states for Retirement do not include Texas: It's all about cash-flow in retirement; making proper priorities in spending. The connection between Money & Mental Health; organizing finances and priorities. SEG-1: Yellen & Powell, Jimmy Johns Underwear, & Getting Used to Inflation SEG-2: As Go Regional Banks, So Go the Markets SEG-3: Best States for Retirement SEG-4: The Connection Between Money & Mental Health Hosted by RIA Advisors Director of Financial Planning, Richard Rosso, CFP, w Senior Advisor Danny Ratliff, CFP Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer -------- Watch today's show on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJw3Yp3boiQ&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 -------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell | "Are Banks Already Broken?" is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfglvEsulg&list=PLwNgo56zE4RAbkqxgdj-8GOvjZTp9_Zlz&index=1 -------- Our previous show is here: "Inflation Eases...Will the Fed?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQJRS5CwQk&list=PLVT8LcWPeAuhi47sn298HrsWYwmg8MV7d&index=1&t=4s -------- Register for our next Candid Coffee: "Breaking Your Money Malaise this Summer https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1116747842950/WN_ht5MHKFTSX2kRo0__-DtLw ------- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestmentadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #InvestingAdvice #Inflation #Retirement #CashFlow #RegionalBanks #ArtificialIntelligence #JanetYellen #JeromePowell #JimmyJohns #TommyJohns #Markets #Money #Investing

(5/12/23) Janet Yellen & Jerome Powell to not always agree; the Physical Longevity Test; Jimmy John's underwear reprise, and getting used to inflation; As go Regional Banks so goes the market; the danger of investing to headline news; there are not crises of confidence; Wall Street is a marketing machine: The noise of Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence, and Regional Banks. Money Malaise preview; the best states for Retirement do not include Texas: It's all about cash-flow in retirement; making proper priorities in spending. The connection between Money & Mental Health; organizing finances and priorities. SEG-1: Yellen & Powell, Jimmy Johns Underwear, & Getting Used to Inflation SEG-2: As Go Regional Banks, So Go the Markets SEG-3: Best States for Retirement SEG-4: The Connection Between Money & Mental Health Hosted by RIA Advisors Director of Financial Planning, Richard Rosso, CFP, w Senior Advisor Danny Ratliff, CFP Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer -------- Watch today's show on our YouTube channel:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJw3Yp3boiQ&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 -------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell | "Are Banks Already Broken?" is here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfglvEsulg&list=PLwNgo56zE4RAbkqxgdj-8GOvjZTp9_Zlz&index=1  --------  Our previous show is here: "Inflation Eases...Will the Fed?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQJRS5CwQk&list=PLVT8LcWPeAuhi47sn298HrsWYwmg8MV7d&index=1&t=4s -------- Register for our next Candid Coffee: "Breaking Your Money Malaise this Summer https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1116747842950/WN_ht5MHKFTSX2kRo0__-DtLw ------- Get more info & commentary:  https://realinvestmentadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #InvestingAdvice #Inflation #Retirement #CashFlow #RegionalBanks #ArtificialIntelligence #JanetYellen #JeromePowell #JimmyJohns #TommyJohns #Markets #Money #Investing

She's applying for the co-host position...meet Natalie ----- What's Trending: Poor Texas State, UT always has to one up them AND if you waste water SHAME ON YOU but don't feel alone because these Hollywood stars do to!!! ----- Be honest, do you silently judge people? ----- After a bad breakup who gets what? ----- Can't Beat Booker with Tina in Leander, Texas ----- It's Austin's favorite game...Think Fast: Alex versus Natalie

WESLACO, Texas - It is no longer acceptable for students to have to sit outside a McDonald's and link to the free WiFi in order to do their homework.That is the view of Meagan Froh, outreach coordinator for the Texas Broadband Development Office. More importantly, it is also the view of State Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Froh said Hegar cares “passionately” about Texans being able to access to broadband. The Texas Broadband Development Office is administered by the Comptroller's Office. On June 15 it issued the Texas Broadband Plan. The report said almost 2.8 million Texas households and seven million people lack broadband access. Via Zoom, Froh recently spoke about the report and what funding is available to communities to address the Digital Divide during an economic resiliency workshop hosted by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council.“What exactly is broadband? It is high speed internet,” Froh said. She explained that the Federal Communication Commission defines broadband its download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (or Mbps) and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps.However, Froh said, that definition was set in 2015. She said the FCC is about to radically change that definition. “That is a very outdated definition. We are expecting them to update that very soon,” Froh.Sure enough, soon after the webinar, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed raising minimum broadband speeds in the United States to 100 Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads.“Any funding that is going to go out through the Broadband Development Office, those projects need to be future proofing our speed. We we are looking at targets of 100 over 20,” Froh said. Froh said her office is looking to close the digital divide in Texas. “We know that nearly eight million Texans in three million households do not have broadband. When I say that we need to look back at that definition. That means they do not even have 25 over 3 service,” Froh said.“Think back to that old AOL tone, we are talking about internet that creeps, that they cannot click through pages. They could not be streaming a meeting like we are doing today. Netflix is certainly off the table. So, when you think about that, there are a lot of people that don't even have the bare minimum broadband speed. And they are paying through the roof for not even broadband.”

Shhh. . .listen . . .can you hear it? The singing? It's faint, but if you really concentrate you can hear it. It's getting louder now. I think . . .Yes, I think I can make out the tune. dada da dada. . . Texas our Texas…It's the state song!

As speculation ensues about whether Donald Trump will issue pardons during his final days in office, many are weighing in on whether Wikileaks founder Julian Assange may be on the list. This week, as health officials in Wisconsin are warning residents to avoid eating raw meant "cannibal sandwiches" this holiday season, the first wave of vaccines are being deployed as part of "Operation Warp Speed" begins. We also look at the recent story involving the apparent hack of a Texas IT company and services it provided to a number of government agencies, which allowed them to become compromised. However, trending on Twitter today had been the idea that in his last days in office, Donald Trump might attempt to pardon Julian Assange, an idea that has received widespread support, even from the likes of Edward Snowden. While the story had been based on bad information posted on Twitter, we look at why many are saying it could still happen, and much more on this week's edition of Middle Theory.  Coronavirus Charities: If you are able, please consider supporting the following charities that are offering relief for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Visit our Coronavirus Charities Page to learn more. DOLLARS FOR DONUTS A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week: Betty June RUNE Vicky Pinderski Connie Fletcher If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:   We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button.  SHOW NOTES CANNIBAL SANDWICH: Wisconsin officials urge families to pass on holiday tradition of eating raw meat LETHALITY: In single day COVID kills 3,309, more than D-Day or 9/11 The death spiral of public life HIGH HOPES: FDA chief says it's his 'greatest hope' that vaccinations start in US on Monday HACKS: Hackers spied on U.S. Treasury emails for a foreign government Russian government spies are behind a broad hacking campaign that has breached U.S. agencies and a top cyber firm  FLASHBACK: 6 Russian military officers charged in vast hacking campaign  Hacking the hackers: Russian group hijacked Iranian spying operation, officials say  PARDON ME: Rumors Flying That President Donald Trump Will Pardon Julian Assange, Snowden Weighs In  Edward Snowden asks Trump to pardon Julian Assange  Julian Assange's Partner Begs Donald Trump to Pardon Him on Thanksgiving  FLASHBACK: Assange offered presidential pardon to help resolve Russia role in DNC hack JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

SAN BENITO, Texas - It is hard to celebrate the anniversary of a key facility for a community in the age of COVID.However, the City of San Benito and its economic development corporation did so digitally. The first anniversary of the opening of the San Benito Business & Economic Development Center was featured on Facebook with EDC Executive Director Rebeca Castillo explaining how the project came about.“We reactivated a vacant funeral home into the San Benito Business & Economic Development Center. It now houses the San Benito EDC offices and is also a resource center for the business community,” Castillo said. “We are very proud to have created an entrepreneurial and starter-up ecosystem that leads our businesses to success.” The San Benito Business and Economic Resource Center is located at 701 N. Bowie Street, San Benito. Castillo said the 3,000 square feet facility will serve as an ecosystem that will provide incubation space for up four business start-ups. The start-ups could be housed there for a period of 18 to 24 months and be provided with low cost rent. The idea, Castillo said, is to provide resources for the start-ups in the hope that they can successfully graduate into their own storefront. Julian Rios, president of San Benito EDC said he believed the working space will prove integral to boosting economic growth in San Benito.“We are building around the concept of customer service and being hands on. We assist business prospects by finding the ideal property/location, by helping them prepare a business plan, by programming trainings and workshops that are of most demand and so much more,” Rios said.For the celebration, state Sen. Eddie Lucio sent a video message of support. VIPs that attended a live event included San Benito Mayor Benjamin ‘Ben’ Gomez, Julian Alvarez, the labor representative on the Texas Workforce Commission, Pat Hobbs, executive director of Workforce Solutions Cameron, and Alex Meade, a senior vice president for Texas Regional Bank.Castillo said she and her economic development team can be contacted via phone at (956) 626-1350 or via email at info@sanbenitoedc.usEditor’s Note: Here is a link to the celebration on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanBenitoEDC/ Editor’s Note: The attached podcast features the remarks of Julian Alvarez, labor representative on the Texas Workforce Commission.

Gemini and Arthur meet up at Daddy Juice Studio in the Beaded Curtain District with Foxtrot and Burrito via Jitsi for their recap of the short week, play everyone’s favorite Slam City classic guessing game What I Had For Lunch, comment on odd news, and reflect on what they learned this week. Gemini did a live stream where he attempted to make a tornado omelette. Burrito went outside to check the mail to get some cars. Spill the Beans, Burrito – Burrito’s red faux leather desk chair finally arrived. This is the Newz Marijuana vending machines now available in Colorado with more to follow America Has Two Feet. It’s About to Lose One of Them. If You Aren’t Milking Your Corn, Is It Really Summer? Russell Kirsch, Inventor of the Pixel, Passed Away Microsoft Internet Explorer is finally dead Bald eagle attacks $950 drone, sends it to bottom of Lake Michigan A stash of beer and gum that dates back to the 1980s was discovered hidden behind the shelves of a Washington library Ryan Reynolds Opens Streaming Service That Only Streams 2003’s Foolproof Marijuana company will destroy $2.6 million inventory of year-old vapes Playhouse put on Airbnb as joke booked by family Girl, 12, caught on camera gambling at Australian casino Europe’s largest 3D-printer just made its first two-story house Swiss scientists create glow-in-the-dark mice to study cellular function Man steals bucket truck, takes it for a drive through the Beaded Curtain Outdoor Mall Martial artist uses nunchucks to light 21 candles in one minute German circus sells jars of lion poop for gardening Woman celebrates 103rd birthday by getting first tattoo Michael Jordan shoes auctioned for $615,000, setting new record Aquarium drains wishing waterfall for 100 gallons of extra cash A man lived in a Tampa Bay-area stadium’s luxury suite for over 2 weeks before he was arrested YouTuber designs gun that shoots masks onto faces of those who refuse to wear them Why Tokyo’s New Transparent Public Restrooms Are A Stroke Of Genius Kellogg’s Mermaid, Frozen Waffles, Blue Raspberry The next Girl Scouts cookie flavor to grace your mouth: French toast An Arkansas farmer disguised himself as a woman to sneak into a cemetery and deface the grave of his longtime nemesis with animal carcasses Poop transplant cures man’s ‘drunkenness disease’ 56-year-old Pokémon GO trainer arrested for assaulting 55-year-old trainer Japanese man rides 1,000 kilometres on stolen mamachari bicycle to see Tokyo for first time Want to look good while staying safe? Put CCP Ultra Mask on your face! Want to own one of the biggest ranches in Texas? It will cost you almost $320 million The F-100 could sling nuclear bombs and launch itself into the air like a missile. Now it can be yours. ‘National Anthem’ NASCAR car stolen from Cracker Barrel parking lot in Georgia 3 Things That Four Dudes Learned This Week Durian on a pizza Slam City Durian Sour 86 US Agencies can arrest you WAP Deepfake sponsors: Foxbox VPN, Julio Tejas, Daddy Juice Energy, Zero Gravity

Gemini and Arthur meet up at Daddy Juice Studio in the Beaded Curtain District with Foxtrot and Burrito via Jitsi for their recap of the short week, play everyone’s favorite Slam City classic guessing game What I Had For Lunch, comment on odd news, and reflect on what they learned this week. Gemini did a live stream where he attempted to make a tornado omelette. Burrito went outside to check the mail to get some cars. Spill the Beans, Burrito - Burrito’s red faux leather desk chair finally arrived. This is the Newz Marijuana vending machines now available in Colorado with more to follow America Has Two Feet. It’s About to Lose One of Them. If You Aren’t Milking Your Corn, Is It Really Summer? Russell Kirsch, Inventor of the Pixel, Passed Away Microsoft Internet Explorer is finally dead Bald eagle attacks $950 drone, sends it to bottom of Lake Michigan A stash of beer and gum that dates back to the 1980s was discovered hidden behind the shelves of a Washington library Ryan Reynolds Opens Streaming Service That Only Streams 2003's Foolproof Marijuana company will destroy $2.6 million inventory of year-old vapes Playhouse put on Airbnb as joke booked by family Girl, 12, caught on camera gambling at Australian casino Europe's largest 3D-printer just made its first two-story house Swiss scientists create glow-in-the-dark mice to study cellular function Man steals bucket truck, takes it for a drive through the Beaded Curtain Outdoor Mall Martial artist uses nunchucks to light 21 candles in one minute German circus sells jars of lion poop for gardening Woman celebrates 103rd birthday by getting first tattoo Michael Jordan shoes auctioned for $615,000, setting new record Aquarium drains wishing waterfall for 100 gallons of extra cash A man lived in a Tampa Bay-area stadium's luxury suite for over 2 weeks before he was arrested YouTuber designs gun that shoots masks onto faces of those who refuse to wear them Why Tokyo’s New Transparent Public Restrooms Are A Stroke Of Genius Kellogg's Mermaid, Frozen Waffles, Blue Raspberry The next Girl Scouts cookie flavor to grace your mouth: French toast An Arkansas farmer disguised himself as a woman to sneak into a cemetery and deface the grave of his longtime nemesis with animal carcasses Poop transplant cures man's 'drunkenness disease' 56-year-old Pokémon GO trainer arrested for assaulting 55-year-old trainer Japanese man rides 1,000 kilometres on stolen mamachari bicycle to see Tokyo for first time Want to look good while staying safe? Put CCP Ultra Mask on your face! Want to own one of the biggest ranches in Texas? It will cost you almost $320 million The F-100 could sling nuclear bombs and launch itself into the air like a missile. Now it can be yours. 'National Anthem' NASCAR car stolen from Cracker Barrel parking lot in Georgia 3 Things That Four Dudes Learned This Week Durian on a pizza Slam City Durian Sour 86 US Agencies can arrest you WAP Deepfake sponsors: Foxbox VPN, Julio Tejas, Daddy Juice Energy, Zero Gravity

Today we celebrate the Brigadier General, who described the Compass Plant. We'll also learn about the Norwegian poet who gardened and tended 70 apple trees. We remember the gift given to American by the Mayor of Tokyo. We also honor an extraordinary tree that was discovered on the estate of the first Earl of Camperdown.   We'll celebrate World Daffodil Day with a Daffodil Poem. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book called Dream Plants for the Natural Garden - it's a classic. And then we'll wrap things up with the story of the Georgia State Flower. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news.   Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart   Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to Jennifer@theDailyGardener.org And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy.   Curated News Do houseplants really improve air quality? | The Guardian | James Wong Here's an excerpt: "Five years ago I wrote a column in this very magazine about how houseplants can purify the air, based on research carried out by Nasa. Since then, there has been a slew of online articles, not to mention industry campaigns and even new gadgets, centred on this claim. The only problem with it is that more recent and better quality research has found this to be extremely unlikely... However, other research shows that having plants indoors has a range of other benefits. They can boost productivity. They can improve mood. They can regulate humidity – all on top of looking beautiful. If you want fresh air, open a window. If you want to witness the joy of nature and feel a daily sense of wonder, get some houseplants." Follow James on Twitter @Botanygeek   Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.   Important Events 1813    Today is the birthday of Brigadier General, mathematician, and botanist Benjamin Alvord. Born in Rutland Vermont, Benjamin was always drawn to nature. He graduated from West Point and even spent some time teaching there as a Math Professor.  Benjamin fought in the Seminole Wars, the Mexican–American War, and the Civil War. When he wasn't serving in the military, Benjamin returned to his passions of scholarly activity. His obituary at Arlington says, “General Alvord lived most of his life in the field, where he was separated from society and books, yet he became a learned scholar; skilled in dialectics, ready in conversation, and polished in his writing.  He had a special fondness for mathematics, botany, history, and biography.” Benjamin published mathematical papers as well as literary articles for magazines like Harpers, and he even wrote a botanical paper on the Compass Plant Silphium laciniatum, which was featured in The American Naturalist. In 1848, Benjamin described the Compass Plant this way: “The Silphium laciniatum is a perennial plant of the order Compositae; the first year it bears only radical leaves, the second year and after, it is a flowering herb with four or five leaves on the stem; very rough bristly throughout; Flowers yellow. Found on rich prairies of the Mississippi valley from Minnesota to Texas… It was first seen by me in the autumn of 1839, on the rich prairies near Fort Wayne in the north-eastern portion of the Cherokee nation, near the Arkansas line.” The leaves of the Compass Plant align north-south, which helps the plant minimize the effect of the midday sun. The north-south orientation guided settlers crossing the prairies who used the plant as a compass during their journey. Compass Plant is edible. Livestock eats it. Native Americans used it to make tea, a dewormer for their horses, and as a teeth cleaner and breath sweetener. Although before you use the Compass Plant for your teeth or breath, take note of this passage from the Illinois author John Madison, “Pioneers found that compass plant produced a pretty good brand of native chewing gum. It has an odd pine-resin taste that’s pleasant enough, but must be firmed up before its chewed. A couple summers ago I tried some of this sap while it was still liquid. It’s surely the stickiest stuff in all creation and I literally had to clean it from my teeth with lighter fluid.” Now, Benjamin was very curious about the polarity of the Compass Plant. In fact, another common name for the plant is the Polar Plant. Benjamin initially theorized that the plant took up a lot of iron, thereby creating a magnet polarity in the leaves, but he later discounted that theory. The poet Longfellow referred to the Compass Plant in his 1947 poem "Evangeline" about a young woman who is lovesick over missing her boyfriend.  FYI Nepenthe is a drug of forgetfulness, and Asphodel is a grey and ghostly plant in the Underworld. Patience! the priest would say; have faith, and thy prayer will be answered; Look at this delicate plant that lifts its head from the meadow; See how its leaves are turned to the north, as true as the magnet - This is the compass-flower, that the finger of God has planted Here in the houseless wild, to direct the traveler's journey Over the sea-like, pathless, limitless waste of the desert. Such in the soul of man is faith. The blossoms of passion, Gay and luxuriant flowers, are brighter and fuller of fragrance; But they beguile us and lead us astray, and their odor is deadly. Only this humble plant can guide us here, and hereafter Crown us with asphodel flowers, that are wet with the dews of nepenthe.   1908    Today is the birthday of the Norwegian poet and gardener Olav Hauge. Olav was a trained horticulturist and fruit grower. Olav earned a living as a professional gardener. When he wasn't writing poetry, he could be found working in his apple orchard - he had 70 apple trees. Here's my translation of one of his more famous poems in his home country of Norway; it's about a garden cat. The cat sits in the yard. When you come, Talk to the cat a little. He is the one who is in charge of the garden.   And here's another famous poem for Olav fans: Don't come to me with the entire truth. Don't bring me the ocean if I feel thirsty, nor heaven if I ask for light; but bring a hint, some dew, a particle, as birds carry only drops away from water, and the wind a grain of salt.   1909   On this day, Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki pledged to give 2,000 Cherry trees to U.S. President William Howard Taft. Taft decided to plant them near the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., in West Potomac Park surrounding the Tidal Basin. The trees arrived in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 1910.   1918  On this day, a daughter of Redmond Washington, Nellie Perrigo, married Chase G. Morris, and her father, William Pulcifer Perrigo, gifted the couple a Camperdown Elm. In fact, William gave each one of his five daughters a Camperdown Elm on their wedding day. He brought the unique trees with him from Scotland. Nellie and Charles posed for their wedding photo in front of her sister June's Camperdown Elm since they were married on her property. Then they planted their own Camperdown Elm in front of their little farmhouse in Carnation, Washington. Five generations of the Morris family lived and played under the family Camperdown Elm. Camperdown Elms have a fascinating history that dates back to 1840. That year, on the estate of the First Earl of Camperdown, the estate forester and Landscaper named David Taylor noticed a contorted young elm tree growing parallel to the ground. Now, what Taylor was looking at was essentially a weeping mutation of the Scotch Elm. Like other weepers, the tree lacked the gene for negative geotropism, so the tree couldn't distinguish which way was up. Taylor dug up the young elm and brought it to the gardens of Camperdown House. And eventually, Taylor grafted cuttings of the weeping elm to Wych Elms, and the result was a tree that became known as a Camperdown Elm - a weeping cultivar of the Scotch Elm. In 1872, the New York florist Adolphus Goby Burgess gifted a Camperdown Elm to the Brooklyn Parks Commission. After receiving the tree from Burgess, it was Frederick Law Olmsted, who decided on the location for it. Seeing that graft was relatively low on the rootstock, Olmsted wisely planted the tree on a small hill near the boathouse at Prospect Parkallowing plenty of room for the weeping branches. By the time the Pulitzer-Winning Poet Marianne Moore fell in love with the Camperdown Elm at Prospect Park, it was in sad shape. Some of the limbs were hollow thanks to rats and carpenter ants. The weak areas of the tree made it vulnerable, and it began to succumb to a bacterial infection as well as general rot. Marianne used her fame and her wit to save the Camperdown Elm. She wrote a poem about the tree which was published in The New Yorker in September 1967. The public read her poem, and the Bartlett Tree Company saved the tree. It still stands today. Now before I read the poem, I'll offer a few definitions. Thanatopsis is the name of a poem written by William Cullen Bryant. It's also a Greek word that means meditation on or thinking about death. Byrant's poem is a consolation; eventually, we all will die. Then, Thomas Cole and Asher Durand were both landscape painters. One of Asher Durand's most famous paintings is called Kindred Spirits. The picture shows two men standing on a rock ledge and shaded by the branches of an enormous elm tree in the Catskill Mountains. The men depicted were the painter, Thomas Cole, and his dear friend, the poet William Cullen Bryant. A curio is something novel, rare, or bizarre.   Here's The Camperdown Elm by Marianne Moore: I think, in connection with this weeping elm, of "Kindred Spirits" at the edge of a rock ledge overlooking a stream: Thanatopsis-invoking tree-loving Bryant conversing with Thomas Cole in Asher Durand's painting of them under the filigree of an elm overhead. No doubt they had seen other trees — lindens, maples and sycamores, oaks and the Paris street-tree, the horse-chestnut; but imagine their rapture, had they come on the Camperdown Elm's massiveness and "the intricate pattern of its branches," arching high, curving low, in its mist of fine twigs. The Bartlett tree-cavity specialist saw it and thrust his arm the whole length of the hollowness of its torso, and there were six small cavities also. Props are needed and tree-food. It is still leafing; Still there. Mortal though. We must save it. It is our crowning curio.   Unearthed Words Today is World Daffodil Day, and there's really one poem that is regarded as the Mother of All Daffodil Poems, and it's this one. I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced, but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. — William Wordsworth, English Romantic poet, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud   Grow That Garden Library Dream Plants for the Natural Garden by Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen This book came out in 2013, and it's still one of the best books on modern garden design. Join two of the world's most influential garden designers, Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen, as they describe their ideal perennials, bulbs, grasses, ferns and small shrubs for your natural garden. This comprehensive compendium classifies these 1200 plants according to their behavior, strengths, and uses. With these plants and expert advice, you can create the garden of your dreams. This book is 144 pages of natural garden goodness. You can get a copy of Dream Plants for the Natural Garden by Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $35   Today's Botanic Spark 1853   On this day, George Governor Gov. Nathaniel Harris approved the joint resolution to make the  Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) Georgia's State Flower. Here's an excerpt from The Atlanta Constitution in 1970 with a little story about the Cherokee Rose: “Four years ago Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin decided that it was high time for a Cherokee rose to be on the grounds of the State Capitol. Secretary of State Ben Fortson, then in charge of the grounds, agreed. Now, it isn't easy to find a Cherokee rose for sale, so a notice was put in The Market Bulletin, inviting someone to donate a Cherokee rose for the Capitol. Within a few days, the commissioner's office was swamped with almost 250 rose bushes. The superabundance spoke well for the generosity of Georgians and their eagerness to cooperate but not so well for their knowledge of the state flower, for less than .1 percent was actually the Cherokee Rose. The others were Macartneys, pasture and prairie roses, Silver Moons, Bengals, multifloras, and "grandma's favorite. There were enough plants for public grounds all over the state, with one or two real Cherokees for the Capitol grounds. Since then several others have been added. There should be plenty of blooms this spring for everyone making the effort to see them. Only a horticulturist can identify a Cherokee rose for sure, but Mrs. Wills once suggested a simple way for the average person to distinguish between the Cherokee and the Macartney which is often confused with it because the blossoms are similar. "The Cherokee," she said, "has only three leaves on a leaf stem; the Macartney has five."

WESLACO, Texas - It is rare for the four county judges of the Rio Grande Valley to get together in public. But they did so at a news conference last Wednesday to discuss the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.The four county judges are Richard Cortez of Hidalgo, Eddie Treviño, Jr., of Cameron, Eloy Vera of Starr, and Aurelio Guerra of Willacy. They met at the offices of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council in Weslaco.Rio Grande Guardian reporter Steve Taylor asked the judges what plans they have to reduce the increase in the coronavirus, other than tell local residents to social distance, wear a mask and wash their hands frequently.This podcast features the response of the county judges to that question.

Jimmy Barrett and Shara Fryer take you through the stories that matter on the morning of 03/12/2020, including: Social Distancing is the new Coronavirus buzz phrase. Does It Work? How will collapsing oil prices affect Texas? It depends on these two factors, experts say. Big media is all about ratings, view, and clicks, hence their axiom, “If it bleeds, it leads.” A viral outbreak is the perfect story, on par with a missing Malaysian airliner or a celebrity football player named OJ on trial for murder.

*Judd on the Twins sweep of Texas: "It doesn't make me feel better, because I knew they could do this" *Is there an issue with Jorge Polanco's throwing from shortstop? *Judd and Derek "fight" over Miguel Sano

Bonus cybersecurity session, with City Manager Brenton Lewis, Heart of Texas IT owners Dave Lynch and Casey Massey, and citizen Chrys Grummert. A policy project of the Communications Council Responsibility of the City of Woodcreek, hosted by Ray Don Tilley. (Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to the speakers, and not necessarily to the City of Woodcreek, nor Ray Don Tilley.)

While the East and West Coast get the lion's share of attention, it's time to focus Texas. It's an exciting time to be making, and drinking, wines from the state. Explore the landscape, get to know the grapes, and find out which local bottles pair best with barbecue.  Wine Discussed:  @4:50 Llano Estacado 2017 Signature Rosé (Texas) @18:18 Haak 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Texas High Plains) @17:18 Messina Hof 2014 Paulo Limited Edition Red (Texas) Transcript:   Jameson Fink: Welcome to Wine Enthusiast's What We're Tasting Podcast. I'm your host, Jameson Fink. Join me as we discuss three fantastic wines and why each one belongs in your glass. This episode, we're looking at wines from Texas, with Assistant Tasting Director Fiona Adams, who covers and reviews wines from the region. What We're Tasting is sponsored by Vivino. With the largest online inventory, Vivino finds the right wine every time. Even wines from Texas, which you do want to mess with. Download Vivino to discover and find your favorites, and stock up at Vivino.com/wineenthusiast. When I think about wine in the United States, of course the West Coast comes to mind probably first. Definitely first. California, Washington, Oregon. Then, of course, being in New York, and spending a lot more time living here on the East Coast, I'm getting more into New York wines, and trying things from Vermont and Virginia, of course. But a area I really know very little about wine-wise is Texas. I'm really excited to have you here on the show, Fiona, and give me a education in Texas wine. Welcome to the show. Fiona Adams: Thank you for having me. Jameson Fink: The first thing I want to know is where are they making wine in Texas? How many wine regions are there? What's going on? Fiona Adams: There are a handful of wine regions, but the two main ones, where they're doing most of the grape growing, a lot of the wineries are based there, are in Texas Hill Country, which Fredericksburg is the main town there. It's just outside of Austin and San Antonio. A little bit more to do. Then in West Texas, we've got the High Plains. So Lubbock, Odessa area. That's where they're doing most of the grape growing. It's really flat. Just a lot more space to work with. Most of the cotton grown in the United States is also grown there, so maybe grapes will edge them out. Jameson Fink: Or stock up on your white t-shirts and get some wine. Fiona Adams: Yeah, exactly. You can just ... disposable white t-shirts, with all the red wine they're making. Jameson Fink: What are the main grapes they're growing, red and white? Fiona Adams: They do a lot of pretty much everything there. I'd say the main standout red grape that's really emerging as Texas's signature is Tempranillo. A lot of different people are making it. It's pretty interesting. Then, in the whites, it's a lot of mix of just warmer weather white grapes. A lot of Rhône grapes, Roussannes, Marsannes. They've got Albariños, Chenin blancs, and your classic Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, so they're really still in the experimentation phase in finding their true signature grapes, but it leads to a lot of different, interesting wines in a whole bunch of different styles. Jameson Fink: Usually, I don't like to say like, "Oh, is this region like this?" I like to judge things on their own merits, but just, if you're not familiar with Texas, if you like these kinds of wines, it might remind you of this, or the land might remind you of that? Is it unique, as far as geographic weather, or ... Fiona Adams: The weather? I mean, it's Texas, so it's hot. You should expect some fuller-body wines. Wines with a little bit more alcohol. Wines that are just a little bit fuller in character. A little heartier. But they have a lot of talented winemakers who are making things that are really elegant and lighter-bodied, as well. It might be really hot there in the summer, but they also get really cold there, which not a lot of people know. It's pretty decent elevation. Winters get pretty cool. They've got a really great temperature change, day to night, out in the High Plains. Hill Country is a little bit more what you would expect. Pretty humid, pretty hot, but not as much grape production is going on there. Jameson Fink: What's the elevation, in ... As far as it goes? Fiona Adams: It's high. Jameson Fink: Yeah, it's high. Fiona Adams: Not as high as New Mexico, but higher than most places. Higher than you would expect. Jameson Fink: High enough to get a diurnal shift, dare we say? Fiona Adams: Oh, yeah. I mean, Texas ... The big joke about Texas is, depending on what part of the state, the season can change. You could have winter in the northern part, and it be a snowstorm, and then go further south, and it's 100-degrees, and 1,000% humidity, and chilling at a beach. You get a little bit of everything. Jameson Fink: Yeah. One of the scariest snowstorms I ever drove through was in Texas. Fiona Adams: People don't think about snow when it comes to Texas, but they've got plenty of weather. Jameson Fink: Yeah. Well, speaking of weather, it's right now, here in New York and all over the country, it's a prime rosé drinking season, so actually the first wine I want to talk about from Texas is a rosé. It's the Llano Estacado 2017 Signature Rosé. 89 points, best buy. Can you tell me a little bit about this wine as far as what's in it, and what it tastes like? Fiona Adams: It's a really tasty rosé. It's definitely got that lighter, Provençal color going on. Really pretty, like those classic strawberry and fruit flavors. Then the blend has got some more of those Rhône grapes that are doing really well there. I believe it's Cinsault, and ... Jameson Fink: Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Grenache. I have it in front of me. Fiona Adams: There you go. So more like a classic Rhône blend, but they've been able to keep it really refreshing, and pretty, and all of those things that people are really looking for in their rosés right now. It's just ... I mean, it's a great price. It's great wine. Jameson Fink: Are you seeing a lot of dry rosés like this from Texas? Fiona Adams: Oh, yeah. They do a ton of dry rosé there. There's been a handful of producers that are canning their rosé. I mean, it is hot in the summer there. You want to sit outside, and drink rosé, and hang out. There's, I mean, a huge variety. I mean, they are definitely doing a lot more of those Rhône grape blends for their rosés, but you can find a few of those Cabernet Sauvignon ones. It's going to be a little bit fuller than a Provençal-style, but I wouldn't go into saying it's dark rosé, that you need food. It's that really light, approachable style. Jameson Fink: It reminds me of, I mean, I was just talking with Sean Sullivan about Washington State and Eastern Washington. I mean, it's really hot out there, and it's very deserty, but you get these ... You can still ... I mean, it's just like Provence. It's hot, but you produce these wines from grapes that make these thirst-slaking wines that you want to drink in the heat of the summer. Fiona Adams: And they've got canned rosé. Who doesn't want canned rosé? Jameson Fink: I want canned rosé! Fiona Adams: There's a couple of cool producers who are making these canned rosés. Messina Hof, who we'll talk about later. They do a canned rosé that's really tasty. There's a few other guys who are doing it, as well. Then Lewis Cellars makes a ton of rosé that's all Rhône-varieties. They're just so pretty, and so delicious. He's really starting to master making those very light, refreshing, expressive wines with these grapes that can get insanely ripe in that heat. Jameson Fink: Yeah, and I think you mentioned canned wines, and I think ... People talk, "Oh, is it a fad, or a trend?" I mean, I think it's here to stay. We've gone past that. I think we're going to see more and more of canned wine. Fiona Adams: If you can can beer, why can't you can wine? Jameson Fink: I agree. I tend to like ... I mean, you can get a 12-ounce can. To me, it's like, "Okay, great. There's two glasses in there." Or I actually like better the ... I like the little Red Bull-sized, or what are those ... 250-milliliters. More like single-serving wines. Fiona Adams: Exactly. If you're having a barbecue or something, that small can ... Or going to the beach. Sitting by the pool. You don't want to deal with glasses and bottles. I mean, there's all those products that you can buy, but it's way easier to ... you throw in your six-pack of beer, and you throw in your six-pack of wine, and you're ready to go. Jameson Fink: That's right. They can live in the same cooler. Fiona Adams: Exactly. Jameson Fink: That's great. The second wine ... We're going to move into red wine territory. It's from the Texas High Plains. It's the Haak 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. 88 points. What is a Texas Cabernet like? Fiona Adams: Texas Cabernet ... I mean, they're hitting all of those checkboxes that die-hard Cabernet Sauvignon-lovers really want. It's going to be fuller-bodied. They've got all that great tannin and structure. Some of those classic tobacco and leathery flavors. Then, because the fruit gets so ripe down there, they get really punchy red berries in there. All of their reds, really. It's just like ... You get all of those nice flavors, and structure, and support from the oak aging, but you're not overwhelming the fruit flavors, because they are just naturally so intense. Jameson Fink: Is it too corny for me to say, like, these are great wines to have with brisket or Texas barbecue? Fiona Adams: Texas barbecue! Absolutely. Brisket's big down there, and delicious. I mean, depending on who you talk to, they'll tell you 10 or 12 different barbecue places that you have to go to. I agree. You have to go to get them. It pairs well with ... Yeah. Those really classic Texas portions. Your big meat. You've got your cornbread, your potato salad. All the classic sides, and the wines just seamlessly pair with that traditional flavor. Jameson Fink: So if you're visiting Hill Country, you can just do a pretty epic day or week of barbecue and wine tasting? Fiona Adams: Absolutely. Especially with Hill Country being so close to Austin, which has some seriously famous barbecue places. I'm a Salt Lick person. That's my favorite. Come at me. Jameson Fink: I can't. I haven't been there, so ... Shamefully. Fiona Adams: You're also close to San Antonio, which has an insane amount of restaurants. You can, easy enough, fly in there. Rent a car, and in a couple of hours, you're in wine country with just as many great restaurants. A ton of different wineries you can visit. They've got their own wine trail happening in Hill Country, so you can really have that experience that Napa or New York has really developed, where, oh, you come here, and this is a wine trail, and everything is geared around that. Jameson Fink: I think people are like, "Look, I'll get on a plane right now and go to Napa," or Sonoma, or really anywhere. But I think people are looking for those kinds of destinations, too, that are a little off-beat. People, like I said, love to go to Austin, or San Antonio, and like to be able to visit a unique wine country that's maybe unexpected. I think that's kind of the next step, is like, "Oh! I'm going to think about Texas, and I'll think of wine." Or "I'll think of tasting wine." Or buying wine, buying local wine. I think that's pretty exciting, too. Fiona Adams: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, Napa is, sure, the American wine destination for a lot of people. It's the first one that pops into their head. But it's really crowded. It's really expensive. And you can get a similar vibe and experience in Texas that you can in Napa, because you've got great restaurants. You've got a great place to stay. Great shopping. They've also got horses and Texas stuff that's way cooler. Jameson Fink: Hey, we'll be back to the show very shortly. But since you're here, I know you're already a fan of wine podcasts. Why don't you check out our other show, called The Wine Enthusiast Podcast. Download it wherever you get podcasts. Okay. I want to get a little controversial. Bring up a controversial issue. One is that ... Well, not one. The issue, to me, is that there are a lot of wines made in Texas that are made from grapes imported from California. I'm wondering, when you look at a label, how do you know ... It can say "Texas" on the label, but the grapes can be imported from California. How prevalent is this, and what is your take on that? Fiona Adams: There is a big divide there about buying grapes from a different state, and slapping on your label, "Made in Texas." There's been a huge push. There's a lot of young winemakers who are really making some excellent wines who are saying, "Hey, if I wanted to make California wine, I would make it in California. But I'm in Texas. I'm from Texas. I grew up here. I've been farming these grapes for my whole life." It's really a big push for that sense of pride of place. That "This is Texas wine. This isn't California wine. We grow our grapes. We have our own industry. We can beat them. Our wines are just as good. Some of our wines are better." It's just a different experience. I mean, buying grapes from other wine regions is a common occurrence in some lesser-known states that, maybe they don't have the infrastructure. Maybe there are certain grapes that winemakers want to experiment with, but they just can't grow in their climates. I mean, that's one way to go, and if you're making beautiful wine, I'm not going to be that mad at you. But especially when you consider sustainability and the environmental impact of trucking grapes from a different state, to ferment it, and then to say that your wine is from Texas? It's like, yeah, you might have made it there, but it's not the same. Jameson Fink: I mean, I think the whole idea is like local food, and local wine, and when you visit a place, you want to have a literal taste of the place. I mean, I'm certainly ... Look, I'm saying this as some dude sitting on a couch in a Manhattan studio, but if I owned a business, and ... there just aren't enough grapes, for one thing, was [inaudible 00:14:16] be the problem. I'm sure they're planning a lot more. There's just not enough grapes to meet demand. But I just think there has to be some kind of transparency in labeling. That's something that I don't know that much about as far as how labeling doesn't say, like, "22% of these grapes came from California." Or how that's- Fiona Adams: They're really working on changing the labeling laws, and making sure that people know exactly where their grapes are coming from. That's a big push in a lot of states, as well, where there's ... When the local wine industry grows, you want to have that stamp on your wines that this is a local wine, and not a wine where the grapes are coming from someplace else. But as you mentioned, there are issues where you run into with bad harvests, or the demand for Texas wine is going up. They drink so much wine in Texas. You want to keep up with production, so if you are not able to get in all of the grapes that you need to produce the amount of wine that you want to make or sell, and they buy other grapes ... It's just like, "All right, that can be a short-term Bandaid." But there has been a lot more planting. There's a lot of investment in growing more wine. Like I said, in the High Plains, they can push out the cotton industry, as far as I'm concerned. They've got excellent soil. It takes less water to grow grapes than it does cotton, and they're harvesting really quality fruit. Jameson Fink: Yeah, and I think that maybe the thing to do is when you visit, or anyone visits, is to ask questions. Just be like, "Here's our Cabernet." "Where do you get the grapes from?" That's not accusatory. And say, "Are you trying to move away from importing grapes, and having more Texas grapes? Are you planting? Are you buying? Are you working with vineyards that are growing?" I just think, as a wine drinker, when you're visiting, ask these questions, and get to know ... Just like you would ask about any other wines when you're visiting a wine region, and listen to what these winemakers are saying. Or these business owners, too. Because like I said, it's easy for me to complain. Like, "Well, why would you make any ... Why don't you stop making wine when you run out of grapes?" And like, "If your livelihood and business ... Maybe five years down the road, or 10 years down the road, plantings will increase and then you won't need to be reliant on that." I think also, as people are more into local wine everywhere ... I mean, just demand that. Demand that they move towards sourcing grapes from local vineyards, or vineyards in the state. Fiona Adams: Texas is a great place to visit for that. Most of the wineries have tasting rooms. They have great staff who are willing to tell you about the wines that you're trying, and tell you where they were planted. It's like, "Oh, yeah. These grapes? If you drive five miles down that road, you can go look at these vines." They've got a fair amount of ability to handle tourists and really educate wine drinkers. It's definitely worth the visit. Jameson Fink: Absolutely. The third wine we want to talk about is Messina Hof 2014 Paulo Limited Edition Red. 89 points. It's a Merlot blend. 60% Merlot, 27% Tempranillo, 13% Cabernet. I know you just tasted a bunch of Tempranillos from Texas. Can you talk about Tempranillo in Texas, and how ... Is that the grape to hitch your wagon to? Fiona Adams: Tempranillo is definitely something that's becoming really popular there. I mean, they've got the right climate for it. If you think about ... Tempranillo, it's Rioja's grape. It's another place where it is hot there. It is flat. It has got not an entirely similar climate, but they've really been able to take those grapes and bring them to Texas and make their own style on it. I mean, they don't taste like Riojas. They are their own stamp on it. I mean, they do have similarities to Rioja, but I think you get a nice range of styles that you couldn't find someplace else, and just great fruit flavors. A lot of the winemakers are pretty restrained in their use of oak, so you get some really pretty fruit flavors that will go with a lot of different foods. If you don't want something that's a big, heavy Gran Reserva, and you want a Tempranillo, I mean, Texas ... There's a lot of great value there. The vines really seem to have taken to the soils and the climates there, and it really looks like that's where they're headed. Jameson Fink: I thought it was also cool about Messina Hof, is that it was founded in 1977. I mean, I think it was maybe the fourth winery in Texas. I didn't realize that the history goes back that far. Fiona Adams: Oh, yeah. Texas? They've been making wine for a really long time. They used to grow grapes and sell them to California winemakers. Messina Hof's been around for a while, and they definitely have proved themselves as very capable of making excellent wines, and have really embraced the family wine tradition in Texas in creating a lasting industry. Jameson Fink: I also was, when I was looking at their lineup of wines, they have an Estate Sagrantino, which I thought was really cool and unusual. Fiona Adams: It's delicious. Jameson Fink: I think that's ... It reminds me of when I was in Australia, in the McLaren Vale ... That was kind of lame of me to just brag about that, but you know what I mean- Fiona Adams: "When I was in Australia." Jameson Fink: When I was ... Yeah. Yeah. Ugh. So insufferable. But I mean the Barossa, or the McLaren Vale, rather, and it's super ... I mean, it's crazy hot there. There's a winery, Oliver's Taranga, that makes a Sagrantino, and they do a Fiano, and I think it's really smart, when you're in a climate that's that hot, to think about grapes like Sagrantino. Fiona Adams: Absolutely. I mean, they're definitely still experimenting and figuring out, like, "All right. If this works, why can't this work?" Or "This seems to be a climate that's similar to ours. Let's throw in a few vines." I mean, they're enough under-the-radar, and they have a great local consumer base that, if they make something, and maybe it isn't their favorite thing, and they can pull out the vines in a couple of years? At least they tried it, and check that one off the list, move to the next one. Jameson Fink: Yeah. Fiona Adams: I mean, and they're not really having a problem selling their wines. It's hard to find Texas wine outside of Texas because they're drinking all of the wine in Texas. Why would you export, if you can just sell it to everyone here. Jameson Fink: Yeah. No doubt! Fiona Adams: Hopefully, they get to enough production where you can find it in a few more states, but a lot of the wineries have wine clubs. They're easy to find. They're breaking into some markets. Chicago's got a decent handful of producers that are selling there. New York, of course, but ... Yeah. They keep ... I mean, Messina Hof also does Rieslings, which you would think, "Why would you grow Riesling, this German Alpine grape, in hot Texas?" But with really capable wine techniques, and knowing your region really well, they're able to create very dry, very approachable, affordable Rieslings.  Who knows what Texas can do? It's these grapes that are just very surprising, that makes it difficult to be like, "Texas is this." It's like, "Oh, but wait. They also do this, this, and this. So maybe Texas is that." They're trying to find an identity, but maybe it's not as simple as nailing it down to, "Rioja makes Tempranillo. Barossa makes Shiraz." They've got the capability and enough people who are willing to just be constantly experimenting that maybe they don't need to be the "This is the Cab state." Jameson Fink: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Well, speaking of experimenting, one of the nice pleasures of recording with someone in the studio together ... We're live here together ... is sharing some wine. This is our bonus wine that you brought, that I've been really excited to try. It's from Southold Farm + Cellar, which ... I mean, we've both like ... used to be a winery located in Long Island, and now is in Texas. As far as how that happened, I think I can just say Long Island's loss, Texas's gain. But tell me about this white wine you brought. It's very luscious. Fiona Adams: Yeah, so this is a white blend. This is one of those wines where it's like, oh yeah, Texas is going to try ... make anything, and a lot of the times, they're going to succeed. This is Southold's blend. It's called Don't Forget to Soar. It's mostly- Jameson Fink: S-O-A-R. Fiona Adams: Yes. "Soar," like a bird. Jameson Fink: Like a bird. Yes, I gotcha. Fiona Adams: It's mostly Roussanne, right? I said? Jameson Fink: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Fiona Adams: With a splash of Albariño, and those are two white grapes that ... I've been coming across them in Texas a lot. They've been very expressive, really fruit-driven wines. They've got an insane amount of acidity, and they've had a lot of success, so I'm hoping that they do go in this direction where they do a lot more of these Rhône blends, especially in their whites. This one is a little bit funkier. Maybe a little skin-contact going on. Jameson Fink: Possibly, yeah. It's got some depth of color. It's rich. It's very good. It's very ... not indulgent, but it's very luscious, like I said. It's- Fiona Adams: It is luscious. Jameson Fink: Yeah. It's got a lot of texture to it. Fiona Adams: Exactly. Southold, this is another one of those younger winemakers who is trying new things, and really expanding the category. I would say Lewis Cellars, which I mentioned before. They're doing a lot of interesting wines. William Chris is another winery. It's a duo with a younger guy who's making really awesome wines. He is not on the Tempranillo bandwagon. Jameson Fink: Mm. Ah! Fiona Adams: But his wines are incredible, so I'm not going to fault him. Jameson Fink: Right. Fiona Adams: I think having that energy has really been helping to give space to wines like this one, that's a little bit weirder. Wouldn't be what you'd expect, but because Texas isn't nailed down to this one signature style, that everyone's like, "Oh, yeah. I'll try that one. Oh, yeah. I'll try that. Who knows? I'm not so stuck in my ways with one style that I can just try something." Jameson Fink: Yeah. It reminded me, like I said, I hinted at earlier, it reminds me a lot of Washington State, as far as like, "Oh, do we need a signature grape? Do we have one?" Or, I think they're, obviously, in Washington, is farther along, but they went through those same things, where they're like, "We're trying this here. We're trying it in these sites. We're trying these warm weather grapes. We do Riesling, too, and it works." I feel a kinship there.  But whites, rosés, reds. It sounds like Texas is a really exciting place to explore. Especially getting in on the ground floor, before the word is out. The word should be out, because they make a lot of wine. They do make a lot of wine. But I would encourage everyone to visit. I definitely want to visit. I want to go eat some barbecue and drink some Tempranillo and rosé, and maybe have- Fiona Adams: Those Rhône wines. Jameson Fink: ... the Rhône wines. Fiona Adams: You've got to go for those Rhône wines. Jameson Fink: Yeah, the Roussanne. Fiona Adams: McPherson makes a Picquepoul that is my summer wine. They're based out in the High Plains, so a little bit further, but- Jameson Fink: That was the first Texas wine I ever had, was a McPherson. Fiona Adams: He's been doing it a long time, and it shows. His wines are stellar. He's got a little bit of something for everyone. I mean, that Picquepoul, if you're sitting outside in the heat, maybe not Texas heat, but it's just as hot in New York right now. Jameson Fink: Yeah. Fiona Adams: That's the wine that I want to be drinking. Jameson Fink: Fantastic. Well, there's a lot to explore with Texas wine, so thanks for enlightening me and being on the show, Fiona. Fiona Adams: Thank you. Jameson Fink: All right. Let's drink more of this delightful Southold wine. Fiona Adams: Yeah. Jameson Fink: Thank you for listening to the What We're Tasting Podcast. Sponsored by Vivino, Wine Made Easy. The three wines we discussed today were: Llano Estacado 2017 Signature Rosé, the Haak 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Texas High Plains, and the Messina Hof 2014 Paolo Limited Edition Red. Find What We're Tasting on iTunes, Google Play, or wherever you find podcasts. If you liked today's episode, please give us a five-star rating on iTunes, leave a comment, and tell your friends. What We're Tasting is a Wine Enthusiast podcast. Check out Wine Enthusiast online at winemag.com.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/rsva/matthew/passage/?q=matthew+6:19-33 (Matthew 6:19-33) What are your priorities in life? You might answer God, family, or work. There are a variety of answers. We all have priorities – those things that are most important to us. They matter to us. They inspire our behavior and inform our decision-making in life. Some priorities are good, some are not so good. Perhaps you've heard someone tell another person, Your priorities are getting way out of whack! It happens. Imagine you have a freshman college student who is enjoying everything at school. It's his first time away from home, and he's making new friends. He is in a band and developing a very social life. He's out every night of the week, but missing classes and not studying. When he comes home for Christmas, his grades are terrible. What are you probably going to ask him? What are your priorities? A good education or just having a good time? You better get your head on straight! Listen to this news story out of Texas: It was a 99° September day in San Antonio when 10-month-old baby girl was accidentally locked inside a parked car by her aunt. Frantically the mother and aunt ran around the auto in near hysteria while a neighbor attempted to unlock the car with a clothes hanger. Soon the infant was turning purple and had foam on her mouth. It had become a life-or-death situation. Suddenly a wrecker driver named Fred Arriola arrived on the scene. He grabbed a hammer and smashed the back window of the car to set the little girl free. Was he heralded a hero? He said, “The lady was mad at me because I broke the window! I just thought, ‘What's more important, the baby or the window?'” Sometimes our priorities get out of order, and a guy like Fred Arriola reminds us of what's really important. Well, today we find Jesus addressing the whole matter of priorities. He's telling us that, as a follower of Christ, the central priority in life is God Himself. This reading leaves no doubt about the importance of putting God first. Jesus again is telling us that we, as citizens of the kingdom of God, are to be different from the world around us. We have a different set of priorities. Some things matter more to us than to others. God knows us well. He knows we have a tendency to become distracted or let different things take over in our lives, like money, possessions, achievements, and popularity. Jesus is pointing out to us today that we have some important choices to make and to keep regarding priorities. For instance, we have two kinds of investments in life. One is lasting, and the other is temporary and corruptible. We can choose to store earthly treasures or heavenly treasurers. Earthly treasures are not like a savings account or insurance. Jesus is talking about the selfish pursuit of the accumulation of goods, hoarding and seeking security for oneself, trying to get it all. He's talking about the attitude of the one with the most toys wins. Jesus says these are temporary things with no lasting value. You can't take them with you. However, heavenly treasures – investing in yourself and pursuing things that really do last – are things you can actually take with you. It is the development of Christlike character. Charity, witness, giving away resources to God's causes, and making a difference in the name of Christ – these things, Jesus says, are things that last. No one can steal them away. Then He makes this interesting statement. It's a proverb of sorts: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jesus is pointing out a fact of life: our interests follow our investments. For instance, if you invest in a certain stock, you will probably follow that stock to see how it's doing. You're interested. When you invest in God and His cause, your focus will be on God. Jesus is talking common sense here. If you are interested in keeping your eye on God and developing a growing relationship with...

For today's episode, Popular Mechanics' political correspondent Mark Warren joins to interview Dana DeBeauvoir, County Clerk of Travis County, Texas (It's where Austin is). She discusses the preparations Travis County is undertaking for a record-breaking 2016 general election, and helps Mark address some of the concerns we've heard about polling places. Let this episode be your reminder to go out and vote. Musical thanks for today's episode goes to Podington Bear for their tracks "60s Quiz Show" and "Just Watching."

Will Congress Go Green? / Enviros Climb Back Up the Hill / Water on Mars? / Listener Letters / 365 Ways for 365 Days / Emerging Science Note / Deep In the Heart of Texas It's Coal Versus Climate

Will Congress Go Green? / Enviros Climb Back Up the Hill / Water on Mars? / Listener Letters / 365 Ways for 365 Days / Emerging Science Note / Deep In the Heart of Texas It's Coal Versus Climate

Will Congress Go Green? / Enviros Climb Back Up the Hill / Water on Mars? / Listener Letters / 365 Ways for 365 Days / Emerging Science Note / Deep In the Heart of Texas It's Coal Versus Climate

Will Congress Go Green? / Enviros Climb Back Up the Hill / Water on Mars? / Listener Letters / 365 Ways for 365 Days / Emerging Science Note / Deep In the Heart of Texas It's Coal Versus Climate