Initial discussions on the insanity of the GOP 2012 race so far. We have another update on this bizarre race to be posted soon. This one focuses on the stupidity of Rick Perry and why is wrong for America. We look at his capital punishment record, a little Dick Cheney appearance, why Ron Paul will lose out once again, and more. It is important to listen to this run down before hearing our updated takes on Gingrich, Cain and more.

New Braunfels is officially voting on the container ban and the community is divided. Apprently, so is NBL! Matt and Mike talk New Braunfels river etiquette and what is best for the community and local business, along with some solution ideas.

Early voting on the ban, which is going to the public after passing the city council, starts October 24th. Can the Ban , a PAC that is fighting the ordinance #2011-65, is claiming that local business would be devastated. Where can you get the real facts? Looking around the community, there are supporters on both sides, and it is a deeper issue than just whether you can carry a can of beer to the river.

NBL is here to help and we officially have the best ideas out there that everyone can support. That said, it will probably never happen since we all can never get anything constructive done when it combines community and government. Hopefully all the local entrepreneurs and business people don’t steal our ideas. Then again, we are too lazy to get it done so why don’t you!?

RESOURCES

• Against the ban

• Can the Ban
• Facebook Group
• NB Scene
• For the ban

• Support the ban
• Youtube

It is time to have a serious discussion about the debt ceiling. It seems like our leadership is not ready to act like adults and take care of our fragile economy. NBL sat down with economist Joe Daleiden once again to discuss some of the truths and myths surrounding the insanely partisan discussions we have heard in the past six months.

This podcast is extra special because not only did we get Joe’s trained opinion, but we also got a lot of participation in our questions for discussion straight from our listeners. Thank you to everyone that participated through email, Facebook, and Twitter. Technology is something else. We were able to combine our community efforts and put together a great interview.

The fact remains that our income does not match our expenditures. Period. Whether we cut spending, raise revenue, or both, we all have to agree that something has to be done long term to change the fact that we even have to use a debt ceiling. In Joe’s opinion there is not enough that can be cut to make the numbers work in the short term without raising taxes. The most sensible move is to eliminate subsidies, which is NOT a tax hike, but is instead a sensible and mature move for the government to make to raise revenue. The chart below shows the American income versus expense, and how the gap grows. The lack of leadership in this issue is appalling, but what is most frightening is the lack of understanding, in technical terms, how this process functions and what the impact of political posturing is to our economy.

Thank you again to Joe Daleiden for his time and efforts in this meeting. For those that are not familiar with Joe, here is a quick biography:

Joe Daleiden is an economist, demographer, public policy analyst and long term planner.  He has published books and papers in the fields of economics, sociology, philosophy and finance.  He is frequently invited to deliver lectures on economics and demographics at universities and colleges.

As Manager of Economic and Demographic Studies for Illinois Bell, Mr. Daleiden developed long term projections of population, labor force and economic growth.  He developed the first large scale econometric simulation model of a firm, as well as demographic models for forecasting future labor availability for specific jobs and geographic areas.

In 1978 Mr. Daleiden served as a consultant to the White House to provide recommendations for reorganizing the economic functions of the Executive Office of the President.  He was also responsible for implementing a Presidential Executive Order, “The Metropolitan and Community Impact Analysis” designed to assess the long term impact of major budgetary and legislative initiatives on America’s urban areas.

In 1984 Joe was appointed Director of Corporate Planning and Capital Budgeting for Ameritech where he developed a planning system to integrate and assess the long term plans of all Ameritech companies.

In 1993 he retired from Ameritech to write and lecture on philosophy and economics.   His third book, The American Dream:  Can It Survive the 21st Century?, released in 1999, was rated “Highly Recommended” by Future Survey, the book review digest of the World Future Society.

Joe co-founded the Midwest Coalition to Reform Immigration (MCRI), a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization to educate Americans as to the long term consequences of mass immigration, and develop immigration policies in the best interest of present and future Americans.

Most recently Joe served on the McHenry County Planning commission.

This interview is a tad over one hour in length and is chock full of great insight, debunking, and solid economics. To entice you to listen to the whole podcast, here are some references on what you will find in this episode:

• Link to Joe Daleiden’s biography and books
• Jon Stewart’s commentary on the British knock down drag out parliamentary system. English CSPAN rocks
• The Budget of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Fiscal Year 2012
• The concept of an infrastructure Bank
• The history of the debt limit and its increases
• The Federal Reserve’s role in devaluing the dollar
• The living wage calculator. Do you earn a livable wage? The assault on the working class

New Braunfels has some great local food options. If you are not eating at the locally owned restaurants you are really missing out. NBL sat down this past week to check out a few of them to throw out our opinion. The first was at Gourmage. We mentioned their recent Groupon and we took that bad boy downtown and used it on a scrumptious lunch! They make possibly the best grilled cheese sandwich I have ever had. I am not kidding. I had to close my eyes when I bit into that sandwich.

Our next stop was at the Buttermilk Cafe, the most anticipated opening for a local restaurant in quite a long time. The lines for this place when it first opened were ridiculous. So we had the oven roasted chicken and some great mashed potatoes. Check out the show to hear the whole review.

We will also be discussing the upcoming debt ceiling interview and a show on conspiracy theories and ghost tours.

In episode 24, NBL sat down to have a deep conversation on how constituents interact with government. It all starts with yet another email exchange that Mike has with friend of the podcast, Noam Chomsky. It seems that post election issues that arise have a voice in governance, but that voice is channeled through the views of the elected official only. They trumpet and claim to speak on our behalf, but how do we get a more refined understanding of that true view? Matt and Mike discuss some ideas and throw around some 21st century concepts on how we can bridge that gap, and in the process, maybe update our voting process as well!

How can we test these theories? How about a presidential campaign run entirely online, and decision making made entirely online? Maybe it isn’t completely practical, or maybe it is the answer to all our problems!

Recently an odd sign has appeared on loop 337 at Ridge Hill. It belongs to the  Christian Financial Association of America (CFAA). This five minute podcast is about the monstrous sign that is larger than anything of its kind in the area.

Did the city fail to review this permit prior to approving it or did they just ignore city code? There is no way this was an approved construction. It is just huge! It also seems to contain miraculous abilities because it erected in a single night. The post it sits on is easily a foot or two in diameter. Don’t believe us? Go see for yourself or view the shot of it to the right.

If you think it is too big, hit us up on Facebook and vote in our poll.

In a rare disagreement, Mike and Matt are not sure how to handle gun control. If we leave this open ended and often over reviewed Constitutional right to run amok, where do we draw the line? If the government is not allowed any oversight in the matter, shouldn’t society cap its so called allowance based on Darwinian principle?

If we leave the right up to the people there is actually something to the argument that any weapon should be allowed, or that any weapon should fall within a person’s reasonable right of ownership. There has to be some level of regulation or society will destroy itself, or at least that is one view. If so, how can that level of regulation be determined? There is no inherent governing of that stewardship explicit in the Constitution. On the other hand, if we allow it to remain unchecked, Mike believes that society can self manage this process and ensure that it does not go too far. What is your take?

Resources in this episode:

• Surge in Arizona gun sales after shooting

Another 15 minute breakaway session for the Lefties. This time we tackle corporate media coverage, planned parenthood, and the attitude of Americans when it comes to oil and true policy related to foreign relations. This leads into a discussion on global warming and the sad fact that leaders use topics like this to introduce religion into policy. It is our contention that this is an outrage that we all should be offended by.

The great uprise of Egypt’s people is inspiring to us all. If nothing else, the idea of that many people being of one mind is awe inspiring. Still, the relation of the event to the US is so complicated and convoluted, it must be discussed openly. On one hand you want to support the ideals of the people and their desires, but on the other you have a situation where you have propped up yet another dictator because it was a benefit to us. Even in cases when “democracy” is supported, it is conditions in the eyes of the US.

NBL got behind due to the holidays and other events, so we are releasing smaller segments on specific topics to get caught up! Keep an eye out this week for discussions on the Arizona shootings, Texas legislators and the budget and even a discussion on why your religion does not make you an expert on anything.

Matt and I sat down and did our first music podcast.  We are huge music fans and wanted to do something to capitalize on it. I am a guitar player and singer and have played in multiple local bands and Matt has been a hard core Jazz fan for years as well as other genres as well.

So here is what we did. We decided to introduce each other to three new songs and artists that the other has never heard before to expand their horizons. It turned out to be a great idea and crossed all sorts of genres. Check out the different songs we did in this episode below.

On top of that, we did two guilty pleasures. These are songs that would definitely would not be considered “cool” by our friends but we love them.

Matt’s picks:

• Strand of Oaks – Lawns Breed Songs (2:47)

Mike’s Picks:

Guilty Pleasures!!!

Matt’s Picks:

Mike’s Picks:

NBL sat down recently to catch up on local and national news and go through all the feedback we have received. This opened up some great discussion on DADT, Tom DeLay, George W Bush’s new book, tax cuts, and other topics.

Some highlights include:

• What is up with ATMs allowing us to enter cents in our cash requests when it knows good and well it will not give us any?
• Local favorite Gourmage is under new ownership
• Wassailfest is now past and it was mmmm mmmm good.
• The Walnut upgrade seems to be in hyper mode of late and is moving fast!
• An all out call for GW Bush to be labeled a criminal and why Matt won’t read his new book
• Pointed questions and review of feedback of the impact of gays in the military and whether the comparison to the integration of the military in the late 40s is a viable one.
• Super kudos to ANYONE who wants to work in the military and work hard for our country
• Matt also goes on a rant about the fact that the concept of “support our troops” has literally been hijacked by people and is spun in a disgraceful way, exploiting our military and wrongfully labeling everyone else.
• Mike gives some comparison to other countries who are dealing with cheap goods flooding local markets, just like the US
• Tom Delay was convicted recently, which begs the question as to why politicians never get hard time.
• Matt wants to know where all the jobs are that the tax cuts for the wealthy will provide? Is someone holding them hostage until they are extended? Why is no one asking this if it is the case?
• Some great feedback in this show surrounds our economic podcast in particular, Potconomics and more. We have feedback from as far as Canada to discuss!
• By the way, here is the link to the full Rachel Maddow interview with Clifford Alexander

Thanks to everyone that participated, and for everyone else, feel free to post a comment, email us, or tweet us and we may include it in future discussions.

Finally, be sure to check out the bumper sticker and wear it if you dare! We have some great ideas for new ones that we will be rolling out, and may add other items as well. All of this is very minimally marked up believe it or not. We are not looking to make any money around here.

NBL is excited to have sat down for a discussion on the state of the economy with economist Joe Daleiden! Joe has a long career of working in economics and has authored several books as well. Some really key details come out of this meeting to better understand issues we are facing in layman’s terms. Joe does an excellent job of explaining the impact of the housing crisis, consumer debt and shocking statistics on the standard of living for families.

Both Matt and Mike agree that if there is even one episode of NBL you plan to listen to, then this should be the one. It is enlightening, shocking, and important. Be sure to check out Joe’s book, which can be found on Amazon and other retailer sites. We picked up a copy too and plan to have Joe back to discuss it in detail. Also look for Joe on future episodes to discuss philosophy!

Resources from this episode:

• Link to the American Dream on Amazon
• Joe Daleiden web site
• The Betrayal of American Prosperity by Clyde Prestowitz

Joe’s Biography

Joe Daleiden is an economist, demographer, public policy analyst and long term planner.  He has published books and papers in the fields of economics, sociology, philosophy and finance.  He is frequently invited to deliver lectures on economics and demographics at universities and colleges.

As Manager of Economic and Demographic Studies for Illinois Bell, Mr. Daleiden developed long term projections of population, labor force and economic growth.  He developed the first large scale econometric simulation model of a firm, as well as demographic models for forecasting future labor availability for specific jobs and geographic areas.

In 1978 Mr. Daleiden served as a consultant to the White House to provide recommendations for reorganizing the economic functions of the Executive Office of the President.  He was also responsible for implementing a Presidential Executive Order, “The Metropolitan and Community Impact Analysis” designed to assess the long term impact of major budgetary and legislative initiatives on America’s urban areas.

In 1984 Joe was appointed Director of Corporate Planning and Capital Budgeting for Ameritech where he developed a planning system to integrate and assess the long term plans of all Ameritech companies.

In 1993 he retired from Ameritech to write and lecture on philosophy and economics.   His third book, The American Dream:  Can It Survive the 21st Century?, released in 1999, was rated “Highly Recommended” by Future Survey, the book review digest of the World Future Society.

Joe co-founded the Midwest Coalition to Reform Immigration (MCRI), a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization to educate Americans as to the long term consequences of mass immigration, and develop immigration policies in the best interest of present and future Americans.

Most recently Joe served on the McHenry County Planning commission.

Alex Meixner with Bubba Hernandez from Polka Freak Out. They teamed up on this Grammy nominated performance, which took seven years to produce.

New Braunfels Lefties wanted to do our part to make the 50th Wurstfest special, and I think we came through in flying colors. NBL tracked down Grammy award winning artist Alex Meixner in New Jersey to get an interview with him on what it is like on the road playing polka all the time. If you have been to Wurstfest, and if you haven’t shame on you, you know Alex and his band as the crazy guys who not only play stellar music, but can entertain every age group with their great attitudes and dynamic style. We were thrilled to get to talk to him about key issues like:

• What it is like on the Grammy red carpet
• How long is Bubba Hernandez’s hair?
• How often do paramedics get involved when elderly people drink (a scientific discussion)?
• How old was Alex when he had his first Grammy win?
• What do you get when you are nominated or even win a Grammy?
• Some great stories from the road
• and the most important of all, how does Wurstfest in New Braunfels rank compared to all the great events Alex plays across the country?

You can see Alex and his band LIVE at Wurstfest in New Braunfels. This is the 50th so be ready to party. Check out all the references made in this podcast and thanks again to Alex and the band.

• This year’s schedule of events at Wurstfest
• Brave Combo (YouTube)
• Alex’s Blog From the Road
• Alex’s Main Website
• Johannes Arlt Wurstfest Photography Exhibition
• BE SURE TO LIKE ALEX MEIXNER ON FACEBOOK!

In episode #14, or should it be called pod #14? Episode just sounds so “cinematic.” At any rate, in this installment of New Braunfels Lefties… OK that sounded just as epic as episode, Matt and Mike sit down to discuss the American drug war. Looking at American policy, which is anything but equatable across different state lines, it is clear that we are obsessed with the mechanics of arresting and putting people in jail who are not using the drug that we approve of personally, whether it be caffeine, tobacco, Red Bull, alcohol or any other over the counter choice item. Looking at the numbers it appears to not make sense that we take the approach we do concerning enforcement for lower end drugs like marijuana, which have a notable history of being less invasive than even legal drugs. Why is this? and are we on the verge of a major policy shift?

Let’s take a look at some statistics on the economics of basic drug policy and arrest/prison related activity.

On a final note, check out the craziest pot farm you will EVER see! It is a must see. It digs 50 yards deep into the side of a mountain and is hidden inside a house. At the time they were busted they were growing over $1.2mil worth of weed a month. In case you did not know…that is a lot!

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

• The most elaborate pot growing operation….EVER
• Marijuana revenue and arrest figures

Part two of the NBL interview with local celeb DericG reveals some keen insight into the world of Chicago and a band named “Something Corporate.” Yeah, we had never heard of them either. The song he shared with us for this episode is called “If You C Jordan.”

Deric and Chad get a rude awakening when they wander into a district with its own name. Usually if a district has a name and you didn’t know it, you shouldn’t be there.

The Field of Dreams is closing, or at least selling, and Deric fails the test in explaining just why he knows James Earl Jones’ body is back in that corn patch.

Resources in this podcast:

• Something Corporate
• Field of Dreams

Recently there were rumblings on Twitter and Facebook about New Braunfels celebrity DericG taking an epic road trip this summer. He and a friend took a roadie to the legendary Field of Dreams in Iowa. On their way, they hit multiple baseball games and two concerts. Mike is not interested in baseball, but Matt was determined to talk to Deric in detail to learn about the trip, especially when they failed to update the road trip blog!

Now is your chance to check out all the details too. This discussion is in two parts. Part one covers their stop in St Louis and Chicago and in particular is a great discussion on the Avett Brothers. If you are mot familiar with them then you do yourself a disservice to not listen in and learn a little. Deric has some amazing side stories and adventures to share on this “bucket list” type of trip.

Need more info? Be sure to check out the Avett Brothers. In particular, DericG and Matt agree that you should start with the epic album Emotionalism. We will let you meander to where it takes you from there. Also check out the rest of Deric’s photos and journal from the trip, which he swears he will post on his site.

Resources from the show:

• The Avett Brothers album Emotionalism
• DericG’s Blog

This is the REAL corn field behind the field of dreams. Deric got to play catch on the field and hang out where only Ray Liotta and Kevin Costner have tread. Unfortunately he found James Earl Jones body back behind the husks.

The ACTUAL signed set list that Deric mentions in the show. This is a sweet bonus for the trip. It could only have been topped if he had hooked up with the Avett cousin he mentions on top of it.

So Matt and Mike had a heated discussion on the recent “ground zero” mosque debacle. Not only is this a nonissue blown completely out of proportion, but the Obama administration is failing to stand up for itself or just flat out act like a man. It is pathetic.

NBL is so frustrated with the corporate media and its goons ruining everything that they have to vent a bit in this pod.

To lighten things up Matt reviews the 138 page, yes 138 PAGE decision from Judge Walker on proposition 8 this summer. He is the only person on earth that actually read it, and shares the juicy parts with us all.

The defense in this case is almost laughable. Relying solely on hearsay and Internet rumor, they contend that homosexual marriage will deinstitutionalize marriage all together. (Yes apparently that is a word) The trouble is that they can’t prove it. Their witnesses are a joke and their “facts” turn out to be piles of donkey dung. Don’t believe us? Read it for yourself. It is a joke.

The concern is that this WILL be appealed to the Supreme Court, and even with the thin backing it has, it is conceivable that this could be a problem. What kind of society do we live in that hearsay, stereotype and Internet facts can potentially rule the day? It may be the 1960s for gays. Let’s hope society takes a step in the right direction for freedom.

Crosswalk Cafe downtown is forced to close due to a disspute on their lease negotiation

NBL sits down for a local New Braunfels update. Before we jump into recent events in the area related to HEB, Borcher Ranch, Walnut and Crosswalk Cafe, we talk a little social media safety and a crazy story of how it all can go terribly wrong!!!

If you have not heard, Crosswalk Cafe has closed their downtown shop, temporarily serving in Liberty Bar until their Westpointe Village site is open.

Mike and Matt’s conspiracy machine starts turning as they throw out their evil ideas on what exactly will go in its place, right in the heart of downtown.  That leads to a lengthy look at coffee once again and what the heck is up with New Braunfels and all these sandwiches?

If you have not heard, Borcher ranch will begin devlelopment right off loop 337. This is a big deal for everyone around there and has been a constant rumor for years. This prime location is now going to increase traffic and activity in the area possibly 10 fold.

Walnut finally has a developer as the city awards the contract to start development. Prepare thyself for THIRTY MONTHS of construction on the stretch from Business 35 to the railroad tracks.

HEB is now open at Walnut and the loop. Matt expresses his honeymoon disappointment in the results, mainly because of his own mental problems and not the store itself.

Finally, we showcase a little German polka today to highlight the upcoming 50th anniversary of Wurstfest. The Wurstfest association is in high gear putting final two month touches on major improvements to the Wurstfest property so we can celebrate hard core. We are throwing out some great music by Alex Meixner, a Grammy award winning musician and producer and one of the all time best shows at Wurstfest each year. They do great music and a high energy, exciting show. Be sure to check it out!

This week we took a long walking tour of Dry Comal Creek Winery. We got to see all the ins and outs of the process and taste a few things as well. Our tour included a long walk through the vineyard, the winery, the pump house, the oak room and more. Wondering what that title is all about? You will have to listen to the show to find out. Believe me, you do not want to be a tertiary cluster.

This tour was very informative and showed us just how little we know about the art and science of wine. It is a calming and exciting process. The vines are packed with grapes this time of year as they get very close to picking time. This winery does it old school and picks everything by hand! The tools they use have been around for centuries too.

An interesting thing we ran into was the long hand of the government, who have an insect trap on site to monitor the ebb and flow of key bugs that do really bad things, most likely because they are the result of a secret experiment of some sort.

If you have never tried the Sangria recipe that they use in the tasting room, you are missing out. It is fruity and tangy and luscious. A perfect fit for a toob trip down the river right here in New Braunfels. It is not a secret recipe, so we are going to share it right here!

Check out all the photos we took on site too. You can do that on the left hand bar or at our Flickr site There are shots of the vines, destemmer that looks like something from the movie Saw and even the huge wine tanks. I swear I can not believe I forgot to take shots of the oak barrels, And after I spent all that time talking about pirates. Oh well.

A HUGE thank you once again to Dry Comal Creek Winery. They were generous with their time and information. This is not a paid advertisement for them. We went out to see the place because we thought it would be awesome, and it was. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. That said, they do have Grape Stomp coming up in early August. Be sure to check out the web site after you listen to the show and get your tickets!

NBL sat down to go over Matt’s recent trip to Capitol Hill. This is a great story and a great look at the procedures for visiting the Hill. Matt outlines his disastrous arrival and how he ended up scheduled with Congress meetings with the wrong people! As a bonus he has compiled a list of dos and don’ts for your very own visit. For example:

• DO wear a name tag
• DON’T wear a polo shirt with a pizza sauce stain
• DO carry business cards
• DON’T show up unprepared
• DO speak clearly, concisely, and to the point
• DON’T stare at the interns.
• DO have a connection with your Senator, such as bringing up where your grandmother is buried (if he has a relative there too)
• DON’T ask to go to the bathroom in their tiny office.
• DO take pictures of the office hallway
• DON’T take pictures of the security guards at the entrance.
• DO walk briskly between appointments
• DON’T walk briskly between appointments with your hand on a bulge in your coat pocket.

These are not hard and fast rules, but they should get you on to a successful career in lobbying Capitol Hill. NBL has set up a Flickr account to share all the great photos we have from this trip, including some sweet panoramic shots of the Capitol and the ceiling of the Library of Congress. In fact, our next pod has photos AND video so keep an eye out for that. As soon as we figure out how to link it here we will get it up and posted.

Before jumping into the entertaining trip, we discuss corporate media and that clown Glenn Beck. We are officially dubbing him Jester Beck or something like that. It needs to be a good name that captures his essence, kind of like Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s name does for him. Goldline is a sponsor for the Glenn Beck show and is rumored to be an outright scam. Is it a scam or just misinformed buyers? If so, whose fault is that, the buyer or the marketer? Sounds like a subprime blowup in the making. Either way, I am frantically trying to cancel my order for 40 Finnish gold coins but no one is picking up the damn phone over there.

Resources for today’s Pod:

• Senator John Cornyn
• Representative Lloyd Doggett
• Representative John Culberson
• Human Rights Campaign
• Art Bell
• Glenn Beck
• Gold Line
• Library of Congress
• The Giant Bible of Mainz!!!!
• NBL Flickr Page for Capitol Hill

Palin Dress Up Set
Mix and match all sorts of classic outfits for the former governor from hockey to business suits. Fair warning though, none of them are from Neiman Marcus

Enter Palin, Sarah and her deep expertise in military strategy and support. From small town mayor to half term quitter governor, Palin is now musing on how Obama is destroying our mightyness abroad by cutting military spending (which is not even happening by the way, even though it should).

Palin’s delusional rationale is that by reducing spending we will cease to be a military superpower. NBL questions what the bug deal is and why Americans are so obsessed with being a military power anyway, when the world has changed and military is not where the real power is anyway.

What is really bizarre is the granularity that the argument is made in. Specific weapon types are brought up that need funding instead of general military funding. Why is Palin an expert on what specific portions of the military need funding? The biggest argument against her own stance is the opinion of the Secretary of Defense. He holds the opposite view. Enough said.

For the first time in NBL history Noam Chomsky has reared his head. It will not be the last. His views on American Imperialism and over militarization are a common theme in NBL discussions. The United States spends more money than any nation in the world on its military. If it were up to people like Palin, that would only increase. In a world where we are falling behind in so many areas that matter more, people just can not get over their ego maniacal obsession with the size of the nation’s virtual penis.

Bad Horse has received the application from the Texas Republican Party to join the Evil League of Evil and upon first blush it looks like they are a shoe in at this point. No further evil doing is necessary for this group of evil doers. Word has it that John Cornyn and others are thrilled.

Insane break down of the Texas republican party platform reveals that it is actually an application for villainy. Mike and Matt go over several key points in the platform that show extreme views related to state independence, goals to proselytize everyone with their religious values and a deep hatred of “the gays” (along with many other people).

Some of the views revealed in the platform are so virulent that it is disturbing that mainline Republicans are not speaking out. Never fear because the Lefties certainly will! Welcome to the first podcast after the coffee has kicked in and the gloves come off.

Key points in today’s show include:

• Why Texans have such big heads and bold ideas
• The clergy should be able to speak out politically from the pulpit and still pay no taxes? I don’t think so.
• You will soon not be allowed to get a divorce unless your reasons are found in the Bible. (well that is the goal anyway)
• You can get more time in jail for getting a same sex marriage license than carrying pot. It is true.
• Matt throws out his evil villain voice while reading portions of the platform and deep cinematic music plays.
• Republicans express deep support for enforcement of sodomy laws while thinking gays are the cause of AIDS. That’s right, it is 1973 again.
• Politicians can’t follow their own rules but insist on pushing their fake values on the masses.

If you have not checked out any of our past shows, this is the one you have been waiting for. Get amped and check it out.

WARNING: This pod is a serious one and the Lefties are not holding back on their critique of this topic.

Hey newbies! Urban living in New Braunfels? Yeah there are a few options and NBL breaks down a couple of them today along with a discussion on coffee, HEB and river rats. This local pod talks about some recent goings on that you may or may not know about including some of the details on the Walnut expansion project, the Town Creek master plan, local passenger rail stop and how freaking awesome the LCRA lofts are.

Who has the best coffee in New Braunfels? Be sure to comment and throw out your opinion. Don’t forget to factor in the ambiance along with the coffee goodness in your vote!

Today’s resources:

• Town Creek Development
• Landmark Lofts
• 2 Rivers Coffee
• Lstar Rail Program
• Huisache Grill

This pothole product could actually be a secret masonic society message. That or it is a desperate attempt at sales

NBL sat down to talk about what the heck is up with billboards advertising pothole repair. Really? Are there that many potholes that we need a billboard to promote home repair? Matt thinks its a Masonic secret message like in National Treasure (but only the first one). Meanwhile the duo bemoans the loss of words in common language like Rad and Hella.

The way we listen to music has changed so much in the last twenty years has been epic. It was not that long ago that we recorded all our cassettes back to back onto 90 or 120 minute tapes so we could carry them in drawer cases. Remember that? You do remember that right? Didn’t everyone do that? From cassettes to CDs to MP3s and beyond, the process is in constant flux. NBL discusses their favorite distribution models and how bands can actually make any money.

On top of that, it is amazing how many people have dived into the market not only in music but in all the art forms, and it is awesome. Everyone now has a voice. It is accessible to us all.

Resources in today’s show include:

• Doogtoons Ask a Ninja
• Doogtoons Cool Weird Al Interview

What’s up New Braunfels! We have decided that all New Braunfels peeps will forthwith be called “Newbies.” Matt even had a cool idea for how to broadcast that. Maybe it will come up in a future podcast. We have a few shows coming up in the next week and this one is one we have been waiting to throw out because it is a local thing that a lot of locals don’t know anything about, including me before it came up.

Today NBL sat down and drank some awesome strong coffee so we could cover our first local issue, downtown New Braunfels. Do you know all of the city secrets? Even if you think you do you might want to check out this discussion on some local lore and ghosts. We cover the Phoenix Saloon, Henne Hardware, the Antique Mall, Prince Solms and more.

Even though I have not been feeling too hot lately, I could not wait to talk about this. As a teaser, check out this picture on the right. Do you know what it is? I will give you a hint. It is not in my back yard and that is not Photoshopped. If can’t guess, you need to listen and find out.

Resources mentioned in today’s show:

• The Phoenix Saloon:
• The Faust Hotel
• Prince Solms Inn and the Uptown Piano Bar
• Henne Hardware

As always, post a comment if you have a fact check item or have questions. Feel free to email us on the contact page too, especially if you have any local topics we need to cover or you want to throw something specific out there. Enjoy the show Newbies!

NBL sat down for an exclusive interview with a delegate to the Texas Democratic Party this week to discuss this past weekend’s state convention. This is a great kick off to our upcoming political series that will include a wide array of topics. If you are not familiar with the process that the delegation goes through, be sure to check out this fascinating inside look at the meeting. Some of the topics will surprise you as we cover everything from Bill White to zombie baby snatchers! OK one of those is not true.

We already have one fact check item. The population of Houston, TX in 2003 was roughly two million people. Why is this important? You have to listen to the show to know why. Here is a punch list of today’s topics:

• General convention processes and how to become a delegate, if you really want to do that.
• Juicy inside track on some of the votes and caucus goings on and just how in touch some of the delegates are.
• Is Rick Perry really a Barbie doll that lives in a trailer park?
• An interesting fact about Bill White’s time in Houston that probably 90% of you did not know.
• How does the approach differ between the Republican Texas Party platform and the unofficial Democratic platform?
• Should we be afraid of Tea Partyers or is any motivated minority electorate to be feared?

If you have already listened, check out these resources mentioned in the show!

• Amazing Faiths Project
• Interreligious Council of San Antonio
• 2010 Official Texas Republican Platform
• 2010 Official Texas Democratic Platform (will add link when it is released)
• Houston mayoral election results for 2003 (PDF from Houston city government site)

As always, be sure to comment or contact us if you have a fact check item!

A quick introduction pod to explain what this project is about and to make sure our iTunes syndication is working. Nothing meaty here just yet.