Jackbooted pigs in Texas raid gay bar on Stonewall 40th anniversary

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

How about judging the state based on who was Governor from 1994-2000, launching his political career?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

but it's still Texas, and I can go to a museum or ballet or symphony in SF or NYC, without as many ridiculously cruddy elements as Texas has.

I just don't get this.  There's cruddy elements that exist solely by virtue of being in Texas?  Politics really affect life that directly, or is the water quality bad?  I've always found that differences exist much, much more drastically between neighborhoods and cities than between states.  The idea of one state or region being inherently "cruddy" to the point of complete un-livability (weather issues aside) does not match my experiences at all.

Yes, it does make a huge difference. Note this thread. This sort of thing does not happen in Minneapolis. Texas is also a prudish strip club hating state.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Uh, Minnesota has a lot more than 31 strip clubs. My source gives over 50, though a few are probably closed now.

And Minnesota's are mostly unregulated. Texas has all sorts of prudish restrictions, plus I think it charges a $5 tax on entry now.