Opinion & Commentary

The Texas House is about to pass a bill that would bar employers from forcing employees and job applicants to cough up their social media passwords. Proponents here and around the country claim social media should be protected under the Fourth Amendment. Last time I checked, the Fourth Amendment talked…

In a town that pays actual respect to the glitteriest, shiniest new thing on the block, it’s easy to take the classics for granted. I generally regard my distaste for nostalgia as a positive thing, but the test of time is not easy to pass and must therefore be honored. Like…

This is a complicated story to tell. Misogyny, misandry, rape, consent, slut shaming and victim blaming are not exactly pleasant topics of discussion, but this week they were all brought to the forefront of #raptwitter. Danny Brown’s Old & Reckless Tour is well underway. The Detroit rapper’s first headlining national…

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price is exactly right to support Zachary Thompson, the county’s embattled health director responsible for fighting West Nile disease. Zachary Thompson is exactly right to worry about the role of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal agency that aggressively promoted…

There it is. Nestled in South Dallas, rescued by caring souls of our local arts. The beacon that is The Kessler. A majestic Texas juke joint, pampered with TLC and vision that only a handful of true music fans could bring. The Kessler (or rather, “The Kessler X+” as our…

Every week Gavin will be presenting a guide to basic notions of common sense he feels are sometimes lacking from various aspects of the world of music. Also, he’s British, and they’re polite, right? After Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios banned smoking to an overwhelmingly positive reaction this week, we thought…

Dear Mexican: I was struck by something you said in a recent column about how Mexicans can make Americans like Mexicans: “We called ourselves Spanish, we considered ourselves white.” I’m Mexican, and I consider myself “white” because I’m not black or red or Asian. People from Spain are Caucasian. But…

Last week the city’s only daily newspaper published a package of three opinion pieces about the new George W. Bush presidential library in Dallas and the effect it will or will not have on the city’s image. They all wound up saying it would put us on the map one…

Welcome to Alice Column, in which Alice Laussade writes stories about things on (roughly) the same day of (roughly) every week, making it (roughly) a column. Got an idea for a column? Start your own blog and write it up, you lazy shit. You were innocently watching crappy reality television…

Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to…

Took a few days off to go canoeing on the Buffalo River in Arkansas — always a fine way to clear the mind and ease the soul — and came home to wonderful news: The Harvard Institute of Politics released its 23rd “Survey of Young Americans’ Attitude Toward Politics and…

Photo courtesy of Peter BesteWelcome to Ask Willie D, where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! BOYFRIEND WITH BAD MANNERS Dear Willie D: My boyfriend behaves like he grew up in the…

Your ungratefulness sickens me RT @joeybadass_: If I’m under Trinidad James I’m not doing the Under The Influence Tour. Straight— Rodney Mac (@RappersRActors) April 22, 2013 Joey Bada$$ is under the influence of blog hype. Monday, the New York rap wunderkind, caused quite a stir when he reacted publicly to…

We’ve looked in on Brooke Humphries before, and we’ll probably do it again, but we wanted to check in with her from an angle of local support this time. Humphries, in addition to owning stakes in both Barcadia locations, Beauty Bar, It’ll Do Dance Club and new coffee joint Mudsmith,…

Every week Gavin will be presenting a guide to basic notions of common sense he feels are sometimes lacking from various aspects of the world of music. Also, he’s British, and they’re polite, right? Besides one or more musicians making a sound, what is the most important aspect of live…

Dear Mexican: I have always liked ranchera music. As of late, I have wanted to get deeper into it as far as the history, the culture and especially the songs and lyrics. I was wondering if you know a good book or two or website that I can check out…

Jill Abramson, executive editor of my favorite daily newspaper, The New York Times, will speak in town a week from tomorrow, 10 days later than originally planned. Her announced topic will be the same thing that delayed her: “The Boston Marathon Tragedy: ‘Quality Journalism’s Role in the Hyper Speed News…

Welcome to Alice Column, in which Alice Laussade writes stories about things on (roughly) the same day of (roughly) every week, making it (roughly) a column. Got an idea for a column? Start your own blog and write it up, you lazy shit. Dearest Lady Mosquito: Apparently your mosquito pools…

Just so people won’t get caught unaware, I want to point out that the town of West has until a week from tomorrow to grieve. That will be two weeks from the time of the industrial accident that blew up their town, took the lives of loved ones and left…