Two guys from a magazine called Reason write in yesterday’s Washington Post — their tongues only partially in their cheeks — how the 1980s prime-time soap opera Dallas won the Cold War. Sound reasonable to you? The article arrives as the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin prepares for the opening of an exhibit on the series.

The other white meat: The Dallas Wine and Food Festival concluded Sunday with “Taste of the World,” a walk-around eat-and-drink extravaganza on the outdoor patio of the Crescent Court. From Cuban to Asian cuisine, pork was prevalent. But my buds responded most favorably to Newport’s parmesan-crusted red grouper with sundried-tomato dill butter and the Thai waffle topped with Japanese green tea white chocolate mousse from Flavor Asian Fusion and Dessert Bar. Being a wine snob, I have tended to ignore Texas juice but found the Llano Cabernet a tasty bargain at less than $15.

Maybe she can end terrorism: Lisa Garza, chef, designer and co-owner of Suze has been cast as one of the 10 finalists on Season Four of The Next Food Network Star. She’s a looker and she can cook. Let’s just crown her now.