The New Pad

There are some really good deals to be had in the Austin real estate market, these days. And, yes, that is Emma Long Park across the way, there, on Lake Austin. It's not bad...

Beautiful, and Utterly Terrifying

When experiencing John Gerrard’s Dust Storm (Dalhart, Texas 2007) Realtime 3D projection, we cannot even take comfort in the awe-inspiring hugeness of natural forces. We know that this cloud is a construction. We can tell from its pace and way of moving that it has been digitally manipulated.

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If Gerrard is neither presenting us with a realistic depiction of the land or an embodiment of American values, what can we make of this terrifying scene? The piece becomes an expression of our anxieties, our fears, of our destructiveness as a species. Most of all, it becomes a metaphor for the tragic fact that the forces outside our control that are seemingly closing in on us can no longer be attributed to God, or nature or anything greater than ourselves. Instead, we fear war, global warming, environmental destruction, and economic collapse.

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Some of these threats may not have completely materialized, at least in a way that affects all of our daily lives. At the same time we feel that they are slowly advancing and, like the dust cloud, will swallow us whole.

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I think we've all had days like this. How we respond to it defines our unique character...

Who Dat ?!?

After struggling for forty-three years, today is the day that my beloved Saints (aka, The Who Dats) do their best to win the Super Bowl !!

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Just for fun...here's a little Super Bowl trivia, with a home State twist:

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Name the quarterbacks from Louisiana high schools who later in their careers started at QB in the Super Bowl. Hint: There are seven of them, behind only California (nine) and Pennsylvania (nine). Another Hint: Bert Jones is not one of them.

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Interesting fact: Drew Brees will be the first quarterback out of Texas ever to start as QB in a Super Bowl. Wow...that's hard to believe.

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Another Interesting Fact: No player from a Florida has ever started a Super Bowl as quarterback. Really...doubly hard to believe, either.

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Answer to quiz: Terry Bradshaw, David Woodley, Doug Williams, Stan Humphries, Jake Delhomme, Payton Manning, Eli Manning.

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And, here's a little video to bring the whole Saints experience into focus:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNwbrRfX8FE (all of you Sam Cooke and Bono fans will love it).

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Who Dat Talkin' Bout Beatin' Dem Saints ?!? Who Dat ?!? ; )~

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Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler, Mes Amis !!

Happy New Year, 2010 !

In 2010, I believe it is essential for all of us to work to see a better vision of just who we are, individually and collectively. I certainly see myself as a Libertarian, right out of the Judeo-Christian traditional concept, meaning all good things come from choosing to do so. Force, coercion or fraud are never the answer...

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What is a libertarian, you say? A libertarian is someone who believes in "No Force, No Fraud." Watch this entertaining 10-minute animation on "The Philosophy of Liberty" from the International Society for Individual Liberty:

http://www.isil.org/resources/philosophy-of-liberty-index.html The best part is that you can pick your language of choice...a cornerstone of the whole idea.

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This, I believe. Adieu !!

Who is John Galt?

"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We *want* them broken. You'd better get it straight. That it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against– then you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it.

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You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.

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Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

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–– Ayn Rand, _Atlas Shrugged , Ch. III, "White Blackmail"

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She's the most powerful American writer of the twentieth century.

I love her !! ; )~

A Little Inside Scoop

This morning I was doing a little "research" on one of my company's competitors. One of the hits led me to I-Tunes and specifically its free podcast from the Baylor Business Review. This is great stuff from their Business School and at this price...it's a great deal as well. The subject matter is very good and quite varied. Check it out...

Reaction to Obama's Escalation

AUSTIN, TEXAS - December 2, 2009 - Libertarians reacted strongly against President Barack Obama's escalation of the war in Afghanistan. "The Libertarian Party firmly rejects the concept of foreign nation-building adventures. We should not be in the business of propping up foreign leaders or using force to spread our uniquely American style of government," said LPT Executive Director Robert Butler."There is no difference between the Bush and Obama policies in Afghanistan," agreed LPT Chair Patrick Dixon. "The Libertarian Party is the only party on the ballot in Texas that has consistently advocated real change in policy. Those that thought they would see such change from the Obama administration are now politically homeless." "For those wondering how we can get people in Congress to change our policy and end these perpetual wars, we are recruiting candidates right now to give voters that choice." Compared to the obvious division that is seen within the Republi-Crat party, this party is clear on the issue of no nation-building, except our own! Now that would be real change...