Indianapolis

Jason Friedman’s NFL Picks, Week Six: Forget Dog Fighting. Parity Is the League’s Biggest Problem.

The Hits Just Keep on Coming…

Jamaal Tinsley's Car Gets Shot Up in Indy

Pickin’ Aint Easy: Forecasting the NFL Playoffs

This Just In: Radioheaded This Way

Here Comes the Black

No Word Yet on Ravens-Texans Game

Tonight: Margo & the Nuclear So and So's at the Mink

Pumped Up

Threatened station dealers score big in wins against oil giants

With a Paddle

Local table-tennis players whack away

The Wild Side, Circa 1954

Going All the Way freshens an overworked decade

Meltdown at Fox

Several staffers move over to Channel 39's start-up effort

Readers Respond to Our Magazine Sales Crew Story

The Mag Racket

Laptop Battles

Blogging: Hip-hop's new element?

Pat McGee Band, Michael Tolcher and Pilot Radio

Friday, May 14

Unlucky Winners

Is there a Houston Press Music Award jinx?

Letters

Ministry Magic, Rice Wars, Cross to Bear

Coming Out

Gay domestic violence is a dirty little secret that traps victims with nowhere to turn

Tonight: Snoop Dogg at House of Blues

Roger Caldwell/ Dallas ObserverIf you're headed to see the Doggfather Wednesday evning at House of Blues, you might want to be careful. Though Snoop denies any wrongdoing, MTV reported last week that a fan who rushed the stage at a 2005 Seattle show is alleging the rapper clocked him with a brass-kn ... More >>

Big, Loud & Live! 6

Web exclusive!

It's Only Going To Get Hotter In Houston, Group Says

​Think it's hot in Houston now? Just want for....(switch to stentorian voice)...The Future!!!!That's the word from Climate Central, a non-profit scientific group that apparently believes all this climate-change mumbo-jumbo the socialist-fascists are trying to throw at us when they're not trying to ... More >>

The 100 Best Bars in America: None For You!

Hey, Esquire, stick to covering topics like this and we'll all be happy.​The venerated Esquire has released its list of the Best Bars in America, compiled after what we imagine was some serious and excessive binge-drinking that had either mind-erasing or mind-altering effects on the editors ... More >>

Houston One Of Safest Cities In The Country, If You Look At It A Certain (Wrong, Houston Proud) Way

Photo courtesy GHCVB​Houston may be fat, polluted, sprawling and ugly, but it's got one thing going for it, according to Forbes magazine -- it's one of the safest cities in the country.Say what? Don't they read our Bayou Body Count? What, you go ten days without a murder and all of a sudden you're ... More >>

For World Toilet Day, the Most Creative Lyrical Uses of the S-Word

According to an email Rocks Off received from none other than the World Toilet Organization, today is World Toilet Day. We're told it's an "internationally recognized" occasion for drawing attention to the plight of the 2.5 billion people on the planet who lack proper facilities. To this end (heh), ... More >>

Game Time: "Oh My God....He's Gonna Throw It.....NOOOOOOO!!!!"

​"That's the thing about defining moments -- when they define you as really, really good or really, really bad, you pretty much know them the minute they occur; when the jury is still out on whether you're good or bad, ultimately you have to go back and find the defining moment."  -- Sean Pen ... More >>

Game Time: What If Gordon Hayward's Shot Goes In?

As sports fans, I think we probably let single events define players and coaches more than we should. In this era where we want to evaluate things quickly and neatly, it's always easier (and oftentimes, lazier) to just let one play on a big stage define somebody. It's clear, it's concise, it's also ... More >>

Game Time: LeBron-athon -- Five Backstabbings That Will Get You Ready For Tonight

Anakin Skywalker: Thanks for nothing, kid​In anticipation of LeBron James' decision as to where he will ply his trade for the next few years, shares of MSG stock rose 6 percent yesterday for a period of time before settling back to where they were earlier in the day. The reason for the brief bump ... More >>

Texans' First Pre-Season Game: Some Things Never Change

Still baffled by the red zone​Preseason football games, I think we can all agree, are essentially worthless games for the fans. The final score means nothing. And a winning record in preseason doesn't translate to a winning record in the regular season. The games are important to the coaches an ... More >>

Game Time: NFL 2010 -- A Journey In Wagering

Betting is fun! If you don't mind losing​The first week of the NFL season is always one of the busiest for me. I've never been an accountant, nor will I ever be an accountant, but I would imagine that the first week of college and NFL football together is how the week of April 15 feels for someon ... More >>

Sexiest Cities: Don't Get Too Excited, Houston

Houston;'s hot, but not as hot as....Bakersfield?​Men's Health has found, once again, a surefire way to get mentioned in a bunch of cities who otherwise wouldn't pay it much mind: It's come up with a list of the nation's sexiest cities.How? By, it claims, examining condom sales, birth rates and ST ... More >>

Cowboys 27, Texans 13: Defensive Help Wanted, Preferably With A Pulse

Docking at Reliant Stadium​Attention, Houston owner Bob McNair. Your defense needs help, and the key may be opening your pocketbook. Ideally, do it in a hurry.Tony Romo and the Cowboys (1-2) exposed the previously unbeaten Texans' dirty little secret on Sunday, throwing for 284 yards, two touchdow ... More >>

Chargers 29, Texans 23: If The Offense Can't Be Trusted, Then Why Is Kubiak Here?

Oy.​See photos from the game and the tailgating competition in our slideshow. The Andre Johnson drop-turned-interception was the epitome of fluke. The Arian Foster touchdown-that-wasn't was an awful call that resulted from a terrible rule. But when the 4-4 Texans reflected on their heartbrea ... More >>

Jaguars 31, Texans 24: Were You Even Surprised?

Hail Mary, full of grace....​Until eight days ago, it still felt different. Sure, the Texans were 4-3 and coming off a rough loss to the Colts. But until then, when the Texans had been beaten, they were clearly the lesser team -- losing by at least 13 points to physically superior opponents o ... More >>

War and Remembrance

Menil presents Vija Celmins's early work.

The Cutters Slice Off Mink Show Before Japanese Tour

​The Cutters have a lot on their plates this month. Rocks Off had the pleasure of spending last Thursday night with four-fifths of the group while they practiced for their tonight's show at the Mink, an upcoming weeklong tour in Japan, and CD release, all to be completed by the end of the mont ... More >>

Final Four Watch Parties, Team by Team

Brittanie SheyHotel Derek, all gaudied up.​Judging by traffic, alumni from the schools playing in this weekend's Final Four are already swarming town, and if you want to get some of the sweet team-pride action, we've compiled a list of the official and unofficial watch parties happening this w ... More >>

Blessed

Anderson Fair alumna Lucinda Williams returns to Houston.

Frank Ulysses "Frenchfry" Tiller: Texas Man Arrested for 1999 Murder of 83-Year-Old Man in Six-Dollar Robbery

"Frenchfry": Charged with killing an elderly man taking out the garbage​Two months ago, Illinois police used a fingerprint to arrest a man for the 1988 rape of a 12-year-old girl in Orange County, Texas. In another OC-related cold case, police in Orange County last week arrested Frank Ulysses ... More >>

Top 10 On-Air Gaffes: A List Inspired by Pattie Shieh

This current Houstonian locks down the top spot.​As an ode to the "spit" blast uttered last night by Pattie Shieh of Fox 26, Hair Balls looks back at the top 10 on-air fuc_, uh, mess-ups of all-time.

Yay? Houston One Of Few Cities To Get The Sarah Palin Movie

Comin' atcha, Houston!!!!​You've been holding your breath for weeks now, wondering if Houston would be blessed enough to be one of the cities picked for the limited initial release of The Undefeated, the documentary that proves beyond all doubt that Sarah Palin is the heart and soul of America ... More >>

Houston Led Nation in Population Growth in Last Decade, Rice Finds

Rice U video No city in America grew more in population in the last decade than Houston, a Rice study said today. And if you don't believe it, they put out the slick video above to erase any doubt. Houston added 1,231,393 residents between 2000 and 2012, the study of census figures said; the next ... More >>

Five Reasons To Watch The Texans Tonight

It's another big night for you, Matt Leinart​I don't know that there was ever any point during the NFL lockout where I was fearful that we wouldn't have football this season. Still, the specter of the work stoppage that loomed over us throughout thus summer made us at least ponder life without ... More >>

How To Survive An Outdoor Concert Disaster: Ten Semi-Helpful Tips

​The summer festival season is winding down, but even as that stops, the fall festival season begins. The weather will be getting nicer, and it will actually be pleasant to be outside, so we're looking forward to it, especially with Austin City Limits, our own BestFest and Fun Fun Fun Fest all ... More >>

Houston Rappers Freak Out Indiana KFC Diners

Photo by OrbitDidIt/Smoker's Club Tour​Hopefully you've been keeping up with the exploits of Patron-loving Houston MC Marcus Manchild as he winds his way toward Warehouse Live with Method Man, Big K.R.I.T. and a bunch of others on the Smoker's Club 2011 tour. Marcus will be filing his usual re ... More >>

Marcus Manchild Puts on a Show at KFC

Houston rapper Marcus Manchild and his label partners at AMG (Authentik Music Group), George, Chad and Wodie, are currently traveling the country as part of the Smoker's Club Tour, headlined by Method Man, Curren$y and Big K.R.I.T. The Smoker's Club tour comes to Warehouse Live November 11, and Marc ... More >>

Football! This Weekend's Best Bets: Stanford, Wisconsin & Other Bullies

Not seen at Camp Randall.​Nobody likes a bully. Unless, of course, that bully can win you some money! Through the first ten weeks of the college football season, in my mind, four BCS conference college football teams have set themselves apart as "bullies" of the college football world, meanin ... More >>

Five Things Madonna Should Avoid For A Successful Super Bowl

Lose the cigarette, for crying out loud. Super Bowl halftime shows are supposed to be tasteful.​Long rumored, now confirmed, Madonna will be the featured halftime performer at Super Bowl XLVI: She's also only the second major female artist (besides Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas) to grace th ... More >>

How to Appear Knowledgeable at a Texans Gamewatch Sunday (From the Bad Advice Dept.)

Photo by Marco TorresOh, and wear a mask.​You don't have to be a football fan to find yourself at a Houston Texans gamewatch party Sunday when they take on Baltimore. Which can be a problem, because you'll be surrounded by fanatics and you don't want to look foolish. Luckily, you can look li ... More >>

4 Warnings -- Your Guide To Listening To Super Bowl Week Talk Radio

Jock talk radio: Few surprises​Super Bowl hype week is underway, and I know that many of you will be consuming sports talk radio this week in an effort to get ready for the big game. (I know many of you won't be, and I understand that as well. I hate me some me sometimes, too. It's okay.) The ... More >>

The Hair Balls Super Bowl Live Blog: Remember To Piss

Oh here go hell come. ​In some alternate universe, the streets of Houston are currently bathed in Miller Lite, Reliant Stadium and every bar in town is a watch party, with even the homeless folks are wearing soiled Texans jerseys. But alas, our Houston Texans only made it into the second round ... More >>