Don't mean the developer type. Although, to credit, I was fortunate to be very happy in a close-in Austin apartment developer building, pool skyline, greatest downstairs folks and just basic conveniences, big ole management company, sure, but everything worked. Spoiled, yes I am. And someone, who probably made a little money, did build that. Here … Continue reading Builders And Creators

My first career wish was architecture. Many years ago in elementary a school friend and I folded up paper furnishings on the sidewalk in our neighborhood, some summer day, and in high school, another friend, and I, said no to home economics class and wanted instead drafting class. We got drafting class. Still have the … Continue reading Victoria & Albert, Chic Simple, And Some Small Stuff

I'm much more a word-y person than a tune-y person. But doesn't everyone who's ever lived in Austin have a Willie Nelson story? Mine is from a folding table at some fundraiser I was staffing at the really old Book People on South Lamar. Folks were giving a dollar, maybe a little more, cash in … Continue reading Willie, And Jimmie Dale, And George, And Harry

One section of one subsection of my economic discourse book takes a look at the late night cultural influence. Depends on one's media silo, but these (mostly guys, some women) while still looking for laughs, have become more than (mere) entertainers. They have become commentators. (I'm putting John Oliver in his own category within a … Continue reading Just Lose The Old Person Jokes Already

So most important to begin. There are so far too many people in this country, in this world, who do not have what they need, not even considering what they might want. Full stop fact. So check my privilege, at least a little. I am reducing because I have too much. It's purposeful, but still … Continue reading More On Stuff

Feels almost overnight. One day sad bare trees, and now, budding all around. Just, it seems, in a few days. Trees darkest pink, pure white, and a whole lot of green, little sprouts. Sunrise around 6:00 a.m., sunset about 7:30 p.m. I just couldn't quite manage the parka season outside, but now perfect evening walks, … Continue reading Suddenly

No politics today. Except my new Bernie Sanders book arrived last week. Liking that. Now no more politics. For today. Today, after a little weather scare Friday (we got off easy, other people did not) the mostly cloudless, windless next few sunny hours, to energize. The usual healthy people and adorable dogs outside my desk … Continue reading Palm Sunday

Summer of 1974 (when I wasn't in the backyard slathered in baby oil pretty much hopelessly hoping to tan), I sprawled the family room floor just absolutely not able to pull myself from the (televised, then) Watergate hearings. (The genius Barbara Jordan.) I went to college in that fall, double majoring in English and History, … Continue reading Redux But Better

So here we are again. Nothing good ever comes from socialism for the rich and the Ayn Rand Silicon Valley and elsewhere crazies. Underscored. Nothing good. Effing huge bonuses...some families could survive a couple or more years, and do...on just a fraction of those sums doled out (yup, the proverbial dole) to bank executives just … Continue reading Why Is It That Democrats Have To Fix Every Economic Problem Made For Real People By Republicans And “Libertarian” Crazies?

I'm a way over-organizing person, currently end-in-sight to a lot of moves over the years, shedding (physical) stuff. (The digital hygiene still needs work.) So the concept of Marie Kondo, yeah, I can do that. And, plus, she seems genuinely nice. But if I read that word "tidying" much more I think my eyeballs will … Continue reading What Do Marie Kondo And Jane Addams (And Vintage Bikes) Have In Common?