Review: The Cherry Orchard at The Blue Theater
EAST Interview: Nick Henning at Pump Project
Radio IST List: Dan Green of 4ms Pedals
Snapshots: Friendly Fires & XX @ Mohawk
Longhorns Around the Web
We're sure it's already marked on your calendars, so it probably isn't necessary to remind you that today heralds International Respect For Chickens Day. In keeping with the other causes being celebrated this month at Austinist, we would like to shed some light on this little-known holiday and illuminate some of the more charismatic chickens that have graced our time.
Numbering somewhere near 24 million and counting, chickens are by far the most populous bird on the planet, which is no surprise to those familiar with the story of Mike the Headless Chicken. Mike, never one to succumb to the will of others, refused to give in after being decapitated in 1945. He instead opted for a life of showbusiness and publicity tours previously known only to the likes of flying cows and two headed calfs. For a full 18 months, Mike toured the United States to the amazement of both his blade-wielding owner and the general public, who paid up to 25 cents just to see the walking chicken nugget. Sadly, Mike met his bitter end when he choked on a bit of grain in a dark Phoenix motel room on the way home from his tour. His life and death are commemorated in a feature film, both Time and Life magazines, and a popular yearly festival held in Fruita, Colorado on the third weekend of May.
We think alarming traits like Mike's unwaivering will to live and Foghorn Leghorn's violent bullying tactics ("I Say! I Say! Beating dogs is never cool!") better position chickens in their plans of world domination than they're given credit for. We already know what you're thinking, but nobody thought dolphins or mice were capable of it, either.
If you do happen to find yourself in an unavoidable confrontation with one of these brooding hoodlums, please keep this in mind: you can hypnotize a chicken very easily by holding its head to the ground and drawing a straight line out from its beak. It will stare at that line and remain completely immobile for up to 30 minutes - long enough to afford you a clean getaway or a tasty snack.
If plucking feathers isn't your bag then you might enjoy some of the recipes over at the sublimely-named "Cookin' With Mike," or the ever-popular Buddy's ground chicken burger at P. Terry's on Barton Springs and Lamar (both Texas grown businesses). If the thought of eating poultry makes you weak in the knees you can also show your respect for the fine fowl by making one dance.
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