• Were you downtown last night and wondering why we were having a Christmas parade in the middle of January? Turns out that Top Chef is not the only show in town as Extreme Makeover Home Edition was filming their season finale for 2012. Already filming for 2012?!? Man, and folks think department stores begin setting up Christmas early in October…

• Food Network’s Restaurant Impossible was another TV show that stopped by the Alamo City to spend $10,000 to help renovate Mama Lee’s, the soul food restaurant on the Windcrest side of town. As I said before, I love their meatloaf and I don’t even like meatloaf; I’m excited to see what the new atmosphere feels like inside the restaurant.

• I made the quick trip up I-10 to Leon Springs for some BBQ at the original Rudy’s location. While the sausage and smoked turkey hit the mark, the baby back ribs were a little on the dry side (but that did not stop me from taking them down!). I love the atmosphere of the restaurant with the smokehouse attached to the general store; the original location is quite different from many of the franchises throughout Texas. Note: a trip to Rudy’s is not complete without a side of their famous cream corn.

The smokehouse at the original Rudy's in Leon Springs, TX.

• Thai Chalurn offers a full plate of Pad Thai along with a side soup and egg roll at lunch for $6.50. They pile on the food so take a healthy appetite. I enjoyed the plate, but if you like spicy, be sure to go on the top end of their 1-5 spice scale. I got a 4 and it was lacking the heat that I wanted.

The Pad Thai at Thai Chalurn; if you like it spicy, don't mess around and go for the top of their scale.

I made the trip to Uvalde, TX the other night to see Congressman Francisco “Quico” Canseco (who represents my district, the 23rd District of Texas) speak at a Town Hall. The 23rd District of Texas is one of the larger congressional districts that stretches all the way from San Antonio to El Paso and includes that stretch along the US-Mexico border.

This is one of the largest congressional districts (by land mass) in the entire United States.

I didn’t quite know what to expect and was curious as to how many people would actually be in attendance at this event. This was one of my first times to see “democracy in action” and I wasn’t disappointed. There were about 30 people in the room and I was impressed at how informed they were on different political topics and how they affected their district. While some folks were a little rambunctious towards those with an opposing viewpoint, I found it an overall fairly welcoming environment.

I went to the Town Hall in particular to ask Congressman Canseco to strongly consider how the SOPA bill could affect the US Information Technology sector and the future of the Internet. According to Congressman Canseco’s website, he is “a staunch advocate of limited government and free markets.” This ethos was echoed loud and clearly as he pointed to many governmental regulations in both the banking and healthcare industries as being a weight on the economy.

As his presentation ended, I saw this as a moment to ask my question as I feel that SOPA could impose many regulations on the tech industry that could inhibit growth. Additionally, I wanted to voice my concern of having the government effectively add a layer to our internet that was similar to the “Great Firewall of China.”

Congressman Francisco Canseco talking SOPA at the Uvalde, TX Town Hall.

Congressman Canseco responded by saying that he did not necessarily like the regulations that were part of the SOPA bill as he thought they were similar to the government regulations on the Banking and Healthcare industries that he had complained about tonight. He also echoed a similar sentiment of mine of not wanting to live in a country like China, however, he did note that the bill was still in the steering committee. In summary, he had not quite made a definitive decision on his position on SOPA (you can read the transcript of his response and hear audio from the Town Hall below).

After I had spoke my piece, an older gentleman stopped by and showed me a card that he had typed up asking Congressman Canseco to say “No” to SOPA. There was a link to the Stanford Law Review post entitled Don’t Break the Internet and he gave it to the congressman at the conclusion of the Town Hall. I thought that this was a poignant moment because Congressman Canseco got to see that I was not just a young internet zealot, that there is a wide concern about SOPA in his district from all people – young, old, urban and rural.

There was also a couple that came to ask me further questions about SOPA and I explained it to them using the “phone” analogy on my previous post. They were unsettled to find that the government could potentially have a power similar to China to block citizens’ access to different websites.

I was extremely glad that I got to go to this Town Hall to meet and visit with my congressman face to face. Reflecting on the ride back, I was amazing that our forefathers could have developed a style of government so revolutionary and that has changed the world for the better. Hopefully we can continue to carry on their vision.

The following is a transcript of my question and Congressman Canseco’s answer. From the transcript, you will see that he has not made his mind up quite yet on SOPA, so I would encourage you to call his office at 202.225.4511, ask him to vote “No” to SOPA and mention you heard his Uvalde Town Hall response here on SanAntonioJoe.com.

*NOTE: I have also attached the video, but please understand that my voice is loud because the recorder is by me while his voice is softer because he is further away. Please take precaution if you listen with a headset!

SA Joe: Congressman I am on the far East part of your district in San Antonio and made the trek out here. I know that you have quite the amount of land that you have to cover. But one of the things that was coming up to vote very soon, and in my mind, is a job killing regulation is SOPA bill that is on the House floor.

SA Joe: I’m part of a company in San Antonio that is very high tech and this bill, and those similar regulations that you are talking about on banks [this evening] I think this [bill] does to technology. The technology field, I think, is a very economic growth driven field, and I think that this [SOPA] could have some very damaging effects on it. On top of the fact that it fundamentally changes the way the internet works.

SA Joe: It ‘s going to add a layer to the internet, much like what China has, where it censors, the government could potentially, or in China’s case the government does censor its citizens by what is called “The Great Firewall of China.” I just would like to ask you, I know that this is coming up, it has been very much in the press, and just for your consideration on this bill, to really look at it, because it, it has some far reaching implications into how the internet works. I don’t want to live in a place similar to like China where…

Congressman Canseco: Nor do I.

SA Joe: … where the government…

Congressman Canseco: Nor do I.

SA Joe: …would be censoring its citizens.

Congressman Canseco: I will tell you this, I have read what is coming and it hasn’t cleared committee yet, and it hasn’t cleared committee it still needs to go through markup by committee.] There are provisions in SOPA, which would, stop internet piracy act, well good, you know we need to stop internet piracy…

SA Joe: And I completely agree with that.

Congressman Canseco: And I agree with that, with that aspect of it. But the way that it is going about doing it, what it does is the same thing that I have been complaining about, what the EPA does, what the Department of Energy does, what Dodd-Frank law does and what the Healthcare law does. I’m with you on that.

Congressman Canseco: I’ve read the SOPA bill as it is moving through committee, I’m not on that committee. I’m very concerned about it and fortunately I’m very close friends with Lamar Smith [the sponsor of the bill] and we can sit down and talk. But it is for his committee to resolve it and there many good people on that committee that agree with you on that both sides of the aisle.

SA Joe: Yeah, and I know it is very much a bipartisan support, when anytime Ron Paul and Nancy Pelosi can agree [to oppose] something, I think that, *laughter in the crow* I think that in general that’s a pretty good bill to make sure it doesn’t get through.

The purpose of this bill is to stop people for ripping off proprietary material, and while admirable with intent, the bill proposes many things that could fundamentally change how the Internet works.  In particular, the bill proposes a layer to the Internet that is eerily similar to “The Great Firewall of China.”

There are many bad things that SOPA does, but consider this analogy to better understand one thing in particular that could affect you.  When you type in a URL into your address bar, such as http://sanantoniojoe.com, your browser will look up what is called an IP, a series of numbers that correspond to a server where the data of the website is located.  This is similar to you going to a phone book and looking up “Steve Smith” and getting Steve’s phone number.  The “phone book” for the Internet is what is called the Domain Name System (DNS).

One of the things that SOPA plans to do is put a government “middleman” between the website’s URL and IP address.  Using our analogy above, if you wanted to call Steve Smith you would first have to call Government Agent Jones and request to get Steve’s phone number.  Government Agent Smith would then check his records, determine if Steve is a good guy or not and then transfer you to Steve if he was deemed OK.  But what happens if Government Agent Jone’s phone is busy? Or if he gets sick for the day?  Or if he thinks Steve is a bad guy, but in reality Steve is a good guy?  You wouldn’t be able to connect with Steve.

These same checks would hold true for going to websites; all of them would have to be approved by the government.  I don’t know the last time you have spent in line at the DMV, but that sort of “efficiency” is not very encouraging for me to trust the government with executing my requests in a timely manner.

Furthermore, the government then has the possibility of controlling what its citizens can access on the web.  I am not saying that the current incarnation of our government would do this, but they would have the same power that China has over its citizens.  If all the sudden Government Agent Jones dislikes the name “Steve,” he could block calls to Steve Smith, Steve Salsbury, Steve Swanson, etc.  That is unsettling to me because I thought we lived in a country quite different than China.

I know that Friday’s are reserved for Quick Bites, but I wanted to forgo writing small snippets about food and restaurants to call your attention to this serious matter.  The IT sector of the United States is one of the fastest growing segments in our economy, employing many Americans in a time when jobs are truly necessary.  SOPA is bad for business and I would encourage you to call your Congressman (or Congresswoman) to let your voice be heard.  Here are some of the numbers of the San Antonio metro area US Representatives:

• Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, 202-225-3236, represents the 20th District of Texas
• Congressman Lamar Smith, 202-225-4236, represents the 21st District of Texas
• Congressman Francisco “Quico” Canseco, 202-225-4511, represents the 23rd District of Texas
• Congressman Henry Cuellar, 202-225-1640, represents the 28th District of Texas

The district lines are kind of crazy in San Antonio, so this interactive US Congressional Map might help you find who you are looking for.  Thank you for your time and for hearing me out.  I promise to return to the regularly scheduled program this next week!

• I was able to eat at The Lodge right before Chef Dady closed the doors.  Being the first time I dined there (it was a Christmas present from my fiancé), I enjoyed both the atmosphere and food.  I was a fan of the amuse bouche (a toasted baguette with nutella, olive oil, sea salt and charred red onion marmal) and loved the mixed green salad (with green apples, goat cheese and candied pecans).  My main course was the grilled quail which was all right, but her seared beef tenderloin was outrageously good.  The best part – the chocolate and peanut butter dessert.  Check out the menu.

• Of course you have to have champagne to ring in the New Year, so I opted for Moët & Chandon.  I have no concept of what good champagne should taste like, but I enjoyed this bottle of bubbly (it was a step up from the André Cold Duck).  What are some of your favorite champagnes and why do you like them?  (Yes, I also ate my black eyed peas on the first!)

• Since it is the New Year, it is time to watch what I eat again. . . So that obviously means that I had to get chilaquiles at Thousand Oaks Cafe.  This time I decided to try the chorizo chilaquiles which were exceptional; if you ever are looking for a greasy plate after your night out, this one will do the trick.

If you need a plate of greasy, delicious food the chorizo chilaquiles at Thousand Oaks will not disappoint.

• I know I already posted about it, but I can’t tell you enough how much of a fan I am of Whataburger’s spicy ketchup.  Keep in mind this ketchup is not a replacement, but rather a compliment to the fancy ketchup.  We all know nothing could ever replace their fancy ketchup.

• San Antonio blogger Eva wrote about the 2012 San Antonio Food Trends on her blog Mesa a Mesa this past week.  I am most excited about her fourth trend, South WW White Road, and hope to get over in that neck of the woods in the near future!

I’ve been to the double-decker store near the beach in Corpus.  I pine for the return of the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich.  I have a fancy ketchup shirt, and bought my fiancé the pure honey shirt for Christmas.  You can imagine how excited I was when I found out that Whataburger was releasing their spicy ketchup yesterday.  Could it live up to the bar that the fancy ketchup set?

To heck with the New Year’s diet.  With only a limited batch, I knew I had to try the spicy ketchup before they were gone, so I made my way over to the local Whataburger.  (Speaking of – have you noticed how Whataburger is the master of “limited time only” items on their menu?  My mouth will literally start watering when I hear that the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich has returned; they also once had a great promotion where you could call a help line to cope with the absence of the A1 Thick and Hearty Burger.  I expect Whataburger will toy with our tastebuds with the spicy ketchup as well.)

The packaging is clever; the black label evokes something dangerous, mysterious as compared to the affable red packaging of the fancy ketchup.  I was surprised to see that the ketchup indeed had a kick that came from red jalapeños which lingers in your mouth.  While not a replacement for the fancy ketchup, the spicy sister sauce is a terrific compliment for their crispy French fries.  The spicy ketchup can also be a sauce of choice in the morning for the hash browns that accompany their ranchero styled Breakfast on a Bun.

I can only hope that they make this limited item a regularly appearing item on the menu; if not for the sauce, simply for the fact that I want a new black spicy ketchup t-shirt.

With limited supplies, be sure to try some of their spicy ketchup today and let me know what you think in the comments below!

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• Looking for some waffles and chops? Consider stopping by Waffles and Chops (yes, that is the actual name) off of Walzem and I-35.  The food is really good, but allow yourself plenty of time to get the food because they are slower than molasses at Christmastime.

Need I say more?

• The Puttanesca pizza (tomato sauce, house-made Fior di Latte, rapini, garlic, olives, hot pepper flakes, anchovy, extra virgin olive oil) was a winner at Dough.  I particularly liked the roasted peppers and the saltiness of the anchovy.

Puttanesca pizza at Dough.

• On my day off this week I looked to get barbacoa at Rios Barbacoa on Huebner and Babcock.  It turns out they are only open on Friday and Saturday so I stumbled upon Los Mariachis (formerly Caralis) on Floyd Curl and Huebner.  They serve a mean chilaquiles plate that is incredibly cheap ($5 with a cup of coffee); my favorite parts were the potatoes that were freshly cut and fried up with a crispy skin along with the green sauce that was more smokey than spicy.

I really liked Los Mariachis! Check out the crispiness of the potato skins. Great Mexican breakfast!

• I finally got to eat at MK Davis for a friend’s birthday party this past night.  Just north of downtown, the restaurant and bar is a dive that is sure to be packed.  This is my friend’s, a native San Antonian, favorite chicken fried steak in town.  I thought it was pretty tasty, but then again my judgement could have been a little skewed by the ginormous schooner of Dos XX.

The chicken fried steak at MK Davis.

• The Lodge will cease operations at the conclusion of 2011.  I am looking forward to dining there before they close shop to not only experience Chef Dady’s food, but also the atmosphere of the elegant Castle Hills house.  I’m looking forward to see what 2012 holds for this chef.

• If you are like me, you wonder where the time has gone; my mom once suggested that at the end of the year you write down everything that you accomplished to get a perspective of how much you have done and how you’ve grown the past year.  I really think that gives you a nice perspective of where you’ve been and where you’re going.

• I had this ridiculous head cold that wouldn’t let go this past week.  One thing that helped me get on the road to recovery was Carrabbas Chicken Noodle Soup.  The freshly prepared soup was delicious and with pick up service you can call in your order and they’ll bring it out to your car.  A special bonus is that they give you an entire loaf of their homemade bread accompanied with herbs and olive oil.

• This past week I was presented with an exciting opportunity, so my fiancé and I went to Rock San to celebrate.  The dish of choice was the house Rock San curry which is made with peanut butter and has avocados in it as well.  The curry is extremely spicy but is tempered by the creamy peanut butter sauce.  My words are not doing it justice, so you’ll have to try it for yourself.

The Rock San curry is made with peanut butter and a must try.

• There was also another celebration for a friend who graduated school last night, so of course we had to go out to Chachos to get King Kong Nachos!  I was pleasantly surprised to also find that they now have a Jose Cuervo 1800 margarita which is quite strong.  Dollar for dollar, you will get the most mileage out of a Chachos margarita.

• The Grand Cru is back at BJ’s Brewhouse and you need to go grab one before it isgone.  Weighing in at 10% alcohol, you’ll only need a couple of these brews to get you all warm inside and feeling the Christmas spirit!

At 10% alcohol, the Grand Cru will put you in the Holiday spirit.

• Speaking of seasonal beers, my man Wes made a post on his blog about Some Holiday Beers That Bring a Little Cheer.  If you are looking for some winter brews to compliment your Christmas and New Year’s parties, be sure to check his list, stock up, and send me an invite!

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• If you are looking for an upscale atmosphere with a laidback vide, I would suggest visiting Wildfish.  The service is outstanding and the bar is always packed.  The calamari was delicious and was mixed in with some veggies and a glaze that was sweet with a bit of a kick.  The oysters on the half shell were large and really tasty; while not Blue Point oysters, they are sourced from the North East.  If you are looking to keep the party going, drop by the Bubble Room, which is just around the corner, and enjoy their house wines and beer selection with a lounge feel.

This calamari had a sweet glaze with a little kick at Wildfish.

• One of my favorite parts about December is the return of Starbucks’ Christmas Blend.  If that isn’t your cup of tea (or coffee), check out their daily specials for the 12 Days of Sharing.  Finally, you can make the characters on their festive red holiday cups come to life with an augmented reality app for both Android and iPhones.

• Central Market has become a strong lunch destination for me, and I recently dropped in and ordered their meatloaf and roasted veggies.  As you might recall, I am not the biggest meatloaf fan in the world, but theirs was really good.  Maybe I’m coming around to this comfort food staple after all.

• Finally, I am excited to say that I got engaged to my girlfriend this past week while walking along the River Walk.  It was a whirlwind day, and we decided to end it with drinks and dinner at Lüke restaurant.  Our server, Javi, was great and gave us a glass of champagne on the house.  As always, the shrimp in a cup was amazing and I enjoyed the Croque Madame for my main course.  Needless to say, it was a great ending to a fantastic day.

Very happy!

American Express started Small Business Saturday last year as a way to provide a voice to small businesses and to encourage people to shop local.  This year American Express has upped the stakes, if you register your AMEX card and spend more than $25 at a small business who accepts the card, you will receive a $25 credit on your statement!

I wanted to profile several of the small businesses here in San Antonio and some of their sales this Saturday.  While not all of them accept American Express, they are having some great deals on some unique items.

Melissa Guerra: Tienda de Cocina

This Pearl Brewery shop has high end culinary equipment along with an interesting and eclectic mix of jewelry and trinkets that are inspired from South of the border.  There will be many high ticket kitchenware items on sale including Henkels knives and Staub pots at discounts up to 50% off MSRP.  Melissa Guerra does accept AMEX and you will be eligible for the $25 credit.

Website: http://www.melissaguerra.com/
Location: at the Pearl Brewery, 200 East Grayson, San Antonio, TX 78215

Bicycle Heaven

Operating for over 10 years, Bicycle Heaven has been offering service and support to Alamo City cyclists. If you are looking for a bike for your little ones, be sure to stop by Bicycle Heaven on Saturday where you will be able to get 35% off kids bikes.

Website: http://www.bicycle-heaven.com/
Location: 1931 NW Military Hwy, San Antonio, TX 78213

Toy Zone

If you are you looking for a specialty or retro toy, you should stop by Toy Zone.  They carry product from smaller mom and pop vendors and if you shop on Saturday you can save 15% on all toys (excluding Lego).

Website: http://www.toyzoneonline.com/
Location: 923 N Loop 1604 E. #106, San Antonio, TX 78232

Tails Pet Market

Tails Pet Markets has been in business just under over a month and was started by an owner who is passionate about both pets and the environment.  Currently, they only have products for cats and dogs and all of their products are made right here in the USA with eco-friendly materials.  Shop on Saturday to save 20% on one item and the owner will have a limited amount of treats for both pets and owners alike.

Website: http://tailspetmarket.com
Location: at the Blue Star Arts Complex, 1420 South Alamo, San Antonio, Texas 78210

Good Sports

Good Sports is the premier outdoor outfitters in the area providing both ski apparel and technical running shoes.  On Small Business Saturday if you spend $200, you will not only get the $25 AMEX credit but also a $25 gift card from Good Sports.

Website: http://goodsports.com
Location: 12730 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78230

1.   My Family – I am blessed to have a loud, fun loving family and a great new sister-in-law who has been a nice addition to it.

2.   The Pacific Coast Highway – Getting to travel from San Diego up to Portland along the Pacific Coast Highway with my girlfriend showcased breathtaking views and fun roadside stops; this was one of the greatest trips I have ever been on.

3.   My Girlfriend – She is a great woman who always makes my day.

4.   Automatic Transmission – I have recently acquired a little pickup with a manual transmission which has been a lot of fun to learn to drive; it also taught me that automatic transmission is magic.

5.   College Basketball – With the NBA season on indefinite hold, it’s great to see the college guys play ball.

6.   Pomegranates – One of the best fruits in the world and I recently planted a pomegranate tree this year that I hope fruits real soon.

7.   Rain – After one of the most devastating droughts that Texas has ever seen, I think we are all thankful for when it rains.

8.   My Friends – I get by with a little help from my friends; they have a knack for being there when I need them.

9.   Texas Rangers – Once again, they gave us a thrilling season; while I wish Game 6 would have gone the other way, I was so happy for them to be in a exciting world series.

10.   Team at Work – Both computer engineers that I support and the project managers/analysts that are my peers, I work with some of the smartest people.

11.   Kidd Kraddick in the Morning – This morning radio show actually makes me laugh out loud on my commute into work; I love how they are a positive morning show that is genuinely funny.

12.   My Health – I only had to worry about my first cavity this past year and am very thankful to be in good health.

13.   Foodspotting App – This app has been my favorite one of the year and I have discovered many different restaurants and dishes.

14.   English Teachers – Special shout out to Mr. Reeves, Dr. Whittington and Ms. Duncan for being persistent with a math/science student; it’s because of you that I enjoy reading today.

15.   Mountain Air – This pure, cold air will refresh and rejuvenate you.

16.   Barbacoa After a Night of Partying – One sure fire way to cure a hangover.

17.   Neighbors – I really could have clumped Neighbors together with Friends and am so thankful that I have been this fortunate; vaya con dios to my next door neighbors who will be moving to Silicon Valley, you will be missed.

18.   Homemade Tortillas – While this is something that native San Antonians might take for granted, it is still a thrill for this West Texas boy to get fresh tortillas any time I go to a Mexican restaurant.

19.   Spotify – I’ve enjoyed this app to listen to both new music and old favorites.

20.   Free Airfare – Thanks to Southwest Airlines who makes it so easy to get and redeem free flights.

21.   Readers – I really am thankful that you guys stop by and read what I write in my little corner of the internet.

22.   Our Military – Special thanks to all our men and women who are serving our country and can’t be home with their families over this holiday.

23.   Geocaching – Definitely thankful to all the folks who have hidden and maintained caches around the world so that I can seek them out.

24.   Blizzards – Is there anything better than Dairy Queen’s frozen concoction chocked full of candy?

25.   Museums – I love having the ability to get into these wide open spaces and see good art; special thanks to SAMA who trusted my company to build them a mobile guided tour of their Missing Peace Exhibit earlier this year.