(Photograph from Vice Magazine photo spread) By Laura Coburn Vice Magazine is receiving widespread media criticism for its fashion photo spread “Last Words” which reenacted the suicides of successful female authors. Rather than praising the renowned writers for their accomplishments, models are styled in fashionable clothing and positioned to depict the moment the writers ended their own lives. Vice removed the photo spread from online (although it is still in print) and issued an apology after the publication prompted uproar among suicide prevention activists, media outlets, and readers who saw the spread as far more than distasteful. Brenda Fitch, Crisis Hotline ... Read More »

By Laura Coburn Articles and photos of hairy leg stockings are blowing up all over the media. The new Chinese-made anti- pervert stockings were created to deter men from raping women wearing the stockings. The stockings are said to be “super sexy, summertime anti-pervert full-leg-of-hair stockings, essential for all young girls going out.” While a seemingly lighthearted topic about a strange new fashion statement, the new product has its roots in a major societal problem. The fact that hairy stocking are the latest form of self defense brings to light rape and domestic violence concerns across the world today. With ... Read More »

By Laura Coburn Eye- Ball licking, also known as “worming” is a rapidly growing practice among adolescents in Japan.  It is exactly what it sounds like- yes, one person licking another person’s eyeball. The fad has swept across middle and high schools in Japan, with couples engaging in the practice as an expression of intimacy. Eye-ball licking is comparable to kissing or fetishes like licking another’s toes. Not only has the act received media attention for its bizarre and unconventional nature, but it also because it is the cause of widespread eye diseases among the eye-licking lovers. Sties,  Conjunctivitis, also ... Read More »

BY JACK DANIEL BETZ Given the crowded lineup of big names playing this weekend, Jandek was probably not the first one on most people’s minds — unless you’re me. I rarely see repeat performances of any one band, mostly because set-lists tend to be repetitive and, for the many artists, if you’ve seen one show, you’ve seen them all. But Jandek is different, which should come as no surprise to anyone. There is no such thing as a central corpus of “greatest hits” for the man from Corwood, first of all, because Jandek has never produced anything even close to ... Read More »

By Nick Cooper Illustration by Blake Jones At a time when most progressive causes are losing ground, gay and lesbian struggles to marry and serve openly in the military are scoring huge victories. Full marriage and military service equality were unimaginable only a few years ago and now seem within reach. Bones, a queer anarchist activist in Houston, thinks these two causes are succeeding because, “of all the calls for justice and normalization coming from the queer community, these issues are the least demanding of structural change.” The Accepted and the Left Out “The marriage equality movement appeared late to ... Read More »

  By Alex Wukman Image Courtesy of Buffalo Bayou Partnership How and where Buffalo Bayou’s muddy waters flow have become very expensive questions over the last 10 years. Millions of dollars have already been spent by public and private organizations to determine where the bayou needs to go and the best way to get it there, and the project is only halfway underway. By the time the project is completed, $50 million, almost all of it private donations, will have been spent transforming the Sabine to Shepherd stretch of the bayou into the crown jewel of the city’s park network. ... Read More »

By Amanda Hart Photo courtesy of Chris Grawl & Kelly Allen Houston now has its very own traveling library. When we saw The Billy Pilgrim Traveling Library at the most recent Lone Star Bazaar we figured it was deserving of an interview. FPH caught up with creators Chris and Kelly to learn more about their book-peddling bus. Who is Billy Pilgrim and where did he get the idea to create a traveling library? Knowing who Billy Pilgrim is has sort of implicitly become part of the initiation process at the BPTL.  Some come to our library with that knowledge intact.  ... Read More »

By: Amanda Hart Photo courtesy of Librotraficante In March, FPH covered an important fight that was brewing on the steps of the State Capitol. Our favorite Houston Senator, The Great Dan Patrick, had introduced Senate Bill 1128 which would have redefined what Texas universities could classify as history.  That same day, Texas Republican House of Representative Giovanni Capriglione introduced House Bill 1938  which outlined the same goal as SB 1128. According to the bill(s), “A college or university receiving state support or state aid from public funds may not grant a baccalaureate degree or a lesser degree or academic certificate ... Read More »

By Will Guess Illustration by Blake Jones In 1998, Mara Leveritt wrote the award-winning book The Boys on the Tracks.  In 2002, Leveritt released her findings on the West Memphis Three (Devil’s Knot), a book that would eventually become the essential guide to a widely publicized case involving three young boys who were wrongfully convicted in the murder of three children. Now, over 10 years later, Leveritt continues her fight for justice for not only the young men in this case but for others who have also been wrongfully convicted.  FPH had the pleasure of speaking with Leveritt about an ... Read More »

By Amanda Hart Photo courtesy of Barrio Dogs, Inc. Houston has a notorious homeless animal population and, over the years, this problem has only become worse. Although homeless animals seem to wander all over the city, the problem appears to be of particular concern in Houston’s East End. Barrio Dogs, a grassroots nonprofit, was started by the concerned citizens of the neighborhood. The organization is not only feeding and housing these helpless animals but also reaching out to the community through education about proper animal care and the importance of spaying and neutering our pets. FPH caught up with Gloria Medina ... Read More »