by Phil Houseal | Aug 1, 2019 | All Articles, Philosophy, PR Tips
July 31, 2019–The “other” part of writing a weekly column is getting interviews. The interview is the raw material of writing, so snagging a good one is essential. And getting the most out of an interview requires both a broad base of knowledge and a...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 25, 2019 | All Articles, Food, People of the Hill Country
July 24, 2019–Never thought I’d write about vinegar. Over the years I’ve covered the rise of various beverages in the Hill Country. It started with the wineries and breweries. Next, distilleries began turning out whiskey, vodka, and rum. The most recent...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 19, 2019 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
July 17, 2019–Like discovering penicillin and gravity, I accidentally stumbled onto the Secret to All Success while doing something else. It happened while I was driving to town listening to the radio. A story came on about women being allowed to golf at Augusta...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 11, 2019 | All Articles, Events, Philosophy, Venue
July 10, 2019–There is an artist I want to see. She is coming to “a major theater” in “a nearby city,” so I went online to look at seating and pricing. All seats were $29.50. Giddyup. But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. Like sprinkles at a 4-year-old’s...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 3, 2019 | All Articles, Philosophy
July 3, 2019–Time for my sesquiannual purge of ideas that don’t rise to column-worthiness. Finally figured out why I so viscerally hate puns. Because they impede communications. Puns are annoying distractions from whatever you are trying to say. Plus they never end....
by Phil Houseal | Jun 27, 2019 | All Articles, Education, People of the Hill Country
June 26, 2019–I’ve long held the theory that everyone should learn to act. After all, we take lessons to drive a car, cook a soufflé, or play piano. If you think of your body as an instrument, doesn’t it make sense to learn how to use it? Yet many of us are...