Enchanted Florist - Your Houston Flower Shop Pasadena Outstanding Five Star Review by Chris Par… - https://youtu.be/vl75ItDJz_Y from https://enchantedfloristpasadena.tumblr.com/post/163652092187
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from http://houstonfoodblog.com/houstonfood/houston-food-blogs/burger-kings-new-chicken-parmesan-comes-with-a-side-of-reality-tv-nostalgia/ Photo: Steve Floyd
The Netflix release of the documentary Nobody Speak, Trials of the Free Press got me obsessed with re-reading about PayPal founder Peter Thiel and his involvement in backing the Hulk Hogan suit against Gawker for posting an excerpt from a sex tape he was in. You can read about Thiel’s motivations, but the main takeaway is that a billionaire single-handedly wiped out a major independent media outlet for reporting things about himself and his friends in Silicon Valley that he didn’t like.
There’s something we have to acknowledge about the darker interpretations and utilizations of the first amendment: There’s a dogmatic belief among purists that one should be sternly devoted and uncompromising to the doctrine of all or nothing, the “you either believe in it or you don’t” concept of protecting free speech. Libertarians like Peter Thiel and baby fascist Milo Yiannapoulos want free speech to be treated with the same consideration as the laissez-faire philosophy of a free capitalist system, where free speech and ideas can compete against each other and have marketable value. And through anti-multiculturalism rhetoric, they’ve managed to hijack the function of free speech and press to serve their interests. They (and the corporations that think like them) want unlimited freedom of speech extended to themselves to degrade groups of people with impunity through public discourse or systematic oppression, and they will hesitate at nothing to silence, lambast or sue anyone who obstructs or even mocks corporatocracy.
This belief that abhorrent and/or thinly veiled threatening racist and sexist language should be tolerated in the so-called “marketplace of ideas” because it “leads to the truth” is regurgitated by edge lords all over the internet. A few years ago, I was added to a Facebook meme group some Houstonians might be familiar with called “All People No Value.” Let that name sink in. In the very beginning, there was some decent dumpster material that got a solid “heh heh” out of me, but at some point it very quickly got littered by, for example, a picture of a black man using a cell phone with top text that said “Siri take me home” followed by bottom text that said “starting route to local jail.” I can’t remember if that was verbatim, but it’s true to the spirit of unfunny, degrading trash that admins would approve but never post themselves. And that was mild. You can’t see them tipping their fedoras right now, but they want you to know that this was a bold experimental marketplace of ideas where wholesome puppies and pictures of violent anal rape with edgy bottom text could co-exist. If you don’t like it you can just leave!
The decision for me to leave the group was clear, but before I split I thought it would be a good idea to post a suggestion that maybe everyone should reconsider posting n***** memes or liking them because, well, they’re repulsive and also because it’s conceivable that they can be screenshot by anybody in the group and maybe they should think twice before clicking submit? No pressure. Keep showing yourself in the name of free speech. It’s supposed to make way for the truth to prevail!
The thought of screenshotting racist normie memes or comments and doxxing anyone never occurred to me. I posted because I had a few friends that were still members, and my hope was that they and anyone else who was on the fence would abandon ship even if they were silent, inactive observers.
However, I grossly underestimated the response I would get. This was a cult. I knew there would be some backlash, but within the one hundred or so comments I learned that you do NOT criticize the group. And if you make it known that you are leaving, you are treated as a suppressive person or, in my case, a self-righteous cunt. A few members even threatened to doxx me even after I repeatedly said I wasn’t interested in doxxing anyone else. One commenter photoshopped my Facebook name and photo next to an MS paint drawing of a stick figure hanging from a noose with the words “all n****** should die” and politely asked if I would like to get doxxed with something he was able to shop in five minutes to prove a point… that anyone can get doxxed? For real or fabricated reasons? I don’t know. It shocked me enough to take a few screen shots and delete the post. The abuse was snowballing.
For a while, All People No Value had been grappling with users reporting content followed by suspensions or warnings. It was well known throughout the several hundred members that if APNV was reported one more time that would surely be the end of it. It’s what prompted the mods to change the privacy settings so that if anyone made another report it would be known that it came from within. I only wanted to say my peace and leave, but after I was told that I should be raped I was like “Fuck it.” There was no reason to protect this meme group or their stupid ideas about free speech, so I went for it. APNV was nuked within the hour. Everyone knew there was a backup group page called “The Joke” they could parachute to at any time, but I felt wonderful kicking these edge lords in the balls. Some members privately messaged me asking if I reported them, and my response was always “who, me? I would never rat!”
The irony of the situation is that these hairless trolls were so concerned with my critique of their racist, sexist safe space they couldn’t handle it and ended up being partially responsible for getting zucc’d. It was so easy to get them removed, but I’m aware that this is somewhat of an anomaly. Facebook can seemingly arbitrarily look the other way at homophobic racial slurs, or they can aggressively wipe it out along with critical journalism. Perhaps if they had vetted their members for covert snowflakes, maybe their utopia would have had a better chance of survival. APNV was a microcosm of the free marketplace, and it failed the test of egalitarianism. It proved that it’s not possible to give equal value to all ideas. In fact, maybe Peter Thiel libertarians have the right idea about the way free speech operates in this country. In the marketplace, some ideas have more value than others, and eventually those ideas are bankrupted or get sold to the highest bidder. And in the center of it all is Hulk Hogan’s penis. from http://www.freepresshouston.com/i-may-have-shut-down-a-meme-group/
from http://houstonfoodblog.com/houstonfood/houston-food-blogs/a-primer-on-roman-jewish-cuisine/ Arcade Fire, Photo: Guy Aroch
In the music world, it becomes harder and harder for some bands to grow and still stay relevant. As a guy who never really found the world of Arcade Fire as endearing as everyone else seemed to, I couldn’t escape the fact that the Canadian formed six piece was always willing to try new things while moving more ahead than many bands who get caught in a rut. Indie rock is meant, in my opinion, to stay independent and not become a mainstream major label moniker used to move units. So when Arcade Fire’s previous release, Reflektor, felt like the band trying to breach beyond the indie rock genre, I wasn’t surprised when they left Merge for Columbia Records to release their dance-heavy new album, Everything Now. Keep in mind, the Arcade Fire that you loved so dearly on albums Funeral and The Suburbs has gone the way of the buffalo in favor for a more mainstream sound — and you should be okay with that. On the album, the band takes leaps towards a dance rock band that’s more pop than rock, but they do so in the catchiest way possible.
Opening with the silhouette sounds of “Everything Now (continued)” before launching into the second song, the band sets the stage for a pop-fueled joy ride that’s hard not to lend an ear to. Full of trip hop beats and an ghostly vocal, there’s a definite disconnect between what they’re doing here and what they’ve done in the past. When that second track, “Everything Now,” comes in, it’s obvious that the band is stretching their creative legs. With an opening that almost mirrors the disco-laden sounds of Swedish pop supergroup ABBA, Win Butler boldly leaps onto the track with his signature soft-spoken voice. There’s a definite groove to the track that makes it obvious that there’s a reason this song was a lead single for the album. The catchiness of the multiple instrumentation that the band always brought in the past finds its way onto the track like a symphony of dance pop. They keep things funky on “Signs of Life” with nods to Motown with some heavy handed bassline and brass section, while still keeping those disco vibes strong with a group vocal that sticks with you. When the driving electronica sounds of “Creature Comfort” come in, you should have started to give up on what the band once was and embrace what they’ve become. The guitar hook here is strong and keeps your head bopping before the vocals drop, while the electronic synths and backing vocals let you know that the band will be headlining larger scale venues sooner than later. Sounding closer to the work of Grimes than the work of what you’re expecting, there’s a high production value that’s happening here that shouldn’t get lost on anyone who hears it.
The band goes a little more experimental on “Peter Pan,” while still keeping the pop affection strong, before heading into the Beatles-inspired sounds of “Chemistry.” Sounding like something off of Yellow Submarine, the band doesn’t deter from their newfound mainstream ideals. The song is funky and different while still remaining as fetching as those previously found on the album. The dark and in some ways punky sound of “Infinite Content” comes on like a hurricane before the band follows it up with “Infinite_Content,” that’s essentially the exact opposite sound. Like a country ballad from another era, these two songs coming back to back offer up a tongue-in-cheek sound to essentially a record that’s pure pop, which is where you find the following track, “Electric Blue.” Like that of the works of early Daft Punk mixed with The Chemical Brothers, the song sounds like something that’ll get remixed sooner than later with catchy pedal heavy dance guitar grooves and a beat that you want to hear more of. The use of falsetto vocals is almost a deterrent here, but the song ends before it drives you nuts.
The band goes a little slower on “Good God Damn,” almost channeling the disco years of Roxy Music, alongside other rock bands that made disco albums. However, they pick the pace back up on “Put Your Money On Me,” complete with an opening that sounds like it was lifted from the opening of the radio show Coast To Coast AM. That’s not to say that the track isn’t worth listening to, but that’s immediately what I thought of upon hearing it. They close the album out two songs later with another reprise track on “Everything Now (continued).” Soft and somber with dissonant and spacey sounds, it’s the fitting end to an album from a band embarking on new territories and sounds, and it brings the listener full circle in what the band is trying to do.
While I’ve read plenty of comments and reviews on how the band isn’t as solid as they were in the past, I found this album to be pretty solid overall. It’s a pop record plain and simple. Keeping that in mind, while I was never a fan, it’s better to see a band grow and expand their sound rather than make the same album over and over again. You can stream Everything Now on all of the usual platforms, or purchase it directly from the band here. So far, the closest the band will be coming to Houston will be Wednesday September 27 at Frank Erwin Center. The all-ages show has an opening set from Wolf Parade with doors at 7:30 and tickets between $26 and $75.
from http://www.freepresshouston.com/arcade-embraces-pop-on-new-album/ Politics. In today’s media-saturated culture, where information is literally available at our fingertips, no other topic brings up bigger feelings and causes greater disagreements. When these disagreements occur between friends or family, the hurt can last beyond a single debate and have lasting implications on relationships. Is it possible for us to be politically engaged, […] The post Political Differences Don’t Have to Destroy Relationships appeared first on Houston Moms Blog. from http://houston.citymomsblog.com/political-differences/ It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, for Houston foodies it is! Houston Restaurant Weeks runs from August 1st – September 4th. What started as just one week is now a full month where dozens of restaurants in our area offer special menus at set prices with proceeds going to the Houston Food Bank. […] The post 10 Kid-Friendly Stops for Houston Restaurant Weeks 2017 appeared first on Houston Moms Blog. from http://houston.citymomsblog.com/10-kid-friendly-stops-for-houston-restaurant-weeks/
Katie Walsh comments on a recent article in the Daily Texan: The chile relleno at Matt’s El Rancho in Austin—which was Lyndon B. Johnson’s favorite dish here—came covered in queso instead of ranchero sauce, by request. My sister Julia ordered the Grilled Old Fashioned tacos, which we’ve been eating here for at least 20 years. We’d just caught wind of the recent Daily Texan opinion piece, and we both took a moment to marvel over the absurdity of insulting such beautiful, delicious food before happily digging in. In case you missed it: Last week, in a twisted shout to the 65th anniversary of the family-owned establishment, a columnist named Audrey wrote that Tex-Mex was “distinguishably disgusting”; “white-trash snack food wearing an inauthentic Mexican mask.” I have so many questions, Audrey. Where ya from? How many Google clicks did you give your research? Ever *eaten* at Matt’s? And most importantly, where the heck have you been getting your Tex-Mex? Matt’s El Rancho was opened by Matt and Janie Martinez in 1952. Matt grew up selling tamales, chili and pralines out of a wooden pushcart on Congress Avenue for his father, who had a Tex-Mex joint called El Original. Today, Matt and Janie’s daughters run the restaurant. The recipes have been passed down for generations and the in-house tortilla factory grinds its own non-GMO corn. Like many of our Tex-Mex staples here in town, they’ve even got multiple vegetarian options, @veg_lomein. I’m not sure why you chose the anniversary of the Martinez family legacy as the occasion for your uninformed rant, but I apologize to them on your behalf, and tbh I’m kinda stunned at your ability to mindlessly erase the history of an entire family and an entire culture in a few poorly-formed generalizations. This isn’t the first time someone bashed Tex-Mex with the ugly bastard stick. Back in 2012, I wrote a piece for Latino Magazine about the ongoing, impassioned fight about Mexican food culture and the lines we draw between “authentic” Mexican and the ever-evolving foodways of Mexican-Americans. Purists like author Diana Kennedy agree that Tex-Mex is “inauthentic,” but the question is, to whom? As yourself and Diana and countless others like you have failed to recognize, the American regional cuisine known as Tex-Mex is and always has been Texan, even as the political and geographical lines that define the state changed. Tex-Mex cuisine actually dates back to the Spanish mission era of the 1700s, and tells the unique sociological story of Tejanos: native Texan peoples, Mexican-born Texans, and their descendants. Tejano history is deep and rich, and it has been the driving cultural force in Texas since long before any of us had opinions about the authenticity of its food. After learning Spanish agricultural practices, Tejanos created the iconic Texas ranching tradition—which, by the way, would later be adopted by the Czech and Central European settlers you’d rather we celebrate. Tex-Mex is the food of Tejanos. In his book “Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America,” Gustavo Arellano illustrates the dismissal of Tex-Mex and other modern, American-born adaptations of Mexican food as a dismissal of Mexican-Americans themselves with this quote from writer Jesse Sanchez: “Tex-Mex is important to us because it’s our bond to Mexico, even for us born in the United States. And it’s just Mexican food to us. Are we less Mexican or Mexican-American because we are Tejanos? We consider ourselves all part of the ‘Mexican food’ family and are surprised to hear when people speak of our food—or us—with disdain. The critiques sound elitist to us, and that says a lot coming from a state where we claim everything is bigger and better.” Elitist is a good word. Audrey—girlfriend—you say that the three main ingredients of “flavorless tortillas, bland rice, and lackluster beans” “should be enough to send any well-minded consumer running in the opposite direction.” Who exactly are these “well-minded consumers”? You mean white folks with money? Tortillas, rice, and beans are central to the cuisine of many Latino cultures, including “authentic” Mexico’s. They are often important foods for the nutrition and survival of the working poor and impoverished (and even some of your fellow students), and both in restaurants and in family kitchens they are prepared with the same steps and spices that have been used by grandmas and great grandmas and great great grandmas. I actually feel bad for you. I’m so curious where you found all this tepid muck you insist is the “cornerstone” of Tex-Mex. I’ve been eating buttery flour and floral corn tortillas, veggie-studded rice, and rich, long-cooked beans since I was a baby. I’ve sampled them in numerous local Tex-Mex restaurants and in the homes of many Mexican-American friends. They are almost always bursting with flavors; soft and bold, herbal and earthy, creamy and spicy. So Audrey, I really wanna know—who fed you such a shitty meal and why did you decide it defined a whole cuisine? Look, I get it—you had some crappy, cold queso and some under-salted beans, you ended up in a cheap dive that reheats Mission premades and questionable meat on greasy plates, you picked the wrong restaurant—happens to the best of us. But Audrey, mama, you can’t just write off an entire people and their food because of your bad experience. Or maybe you just don’t like it, and hey, that’s cool too! I know plenty of folks who don’t like the heavy use of easy-melt cheeses in Tex-Mex—it “never looks too far off from Velveeta” because most of the time, it is. And there’s a reason for that. I acknowledge that it isn’t a healthy option, but nonetheless, there’s history behind it that deserves respect. As a family friend named Richard Flores explains, Velveeta and cheeses like it likely worked their way into Tex-Mex tradition due to the historically lower socioeconomic status of Tejanos. His and many other families depended on the 5-pound blocks of “government cheese” that were handed out to low income families in the ‘70s and ‘80s to fill their enchiladas. “You couldn’t buy queso fresco when I was a small child. It wasn’t available. So you used what you had, and what we had was American processed cheese,” Flores said. You could’ve made a great argument for updating traditions like these now that we’ve got higher quality options. But to flippantly brand the food that defines the experience of many Mexican-Americans in this state as “white-trash” and “inauthentic” isn’t only terribly misinformed, it is a perfect example of the tone-deaf ignorance that continues to distance white folks from our brethren of color, at a time when what we really need is solidarity. To then suggest that we should instead focus on the European influences on our state is, whether you intended it or realized it or not, both a racist and neocolonialist way to look at the world. As a matter of fact, Texas’s other most famous food, barbecue, has long suffered from this very same racist viewpoint. While Mexican vaqueros and African-American chuck wagon cooks contributed equally to Texas barbecue history, it is often only the Czech and German traditions which receive recognition and credit. Oops. Audrey, our state was shaped by First Nations peoples. Our state was shaped by black people. Our state was shaped by brown people from Mexico and brown people who were born here. Our state has been shaped and reshaped by these peoples for centuries and it is dynamic and beautiful because of it. Celebrating their influences on our food traditions, whether we like them or not, isn’t just important, it is our duty as white Texans living in a world that already does enough to erase the merits and existence of people of color. I’m really, really sorry you had such a bad bowl of queso. But don’t be a jerk, Audrey. Tejanos aren’t white trash, their food isn’t disgusting or flavorless, and Texans don’t deserve better. In case you haven’t heard—no matter what tradition we come from—we’re already the best. -Katie Walsh
from http://houstonfoodblog.com/houstonfood/houston-food-blogs/dear-audrey-texans-deserve-better/
from http://houstonfoodblog.com/houstonfood/houston-food-blogs/get-a-chance-to-try-authentic-italian-pizza-this-august-at-the-ivy-james/ |
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