by Phil Houseal | Oct 1, 2025 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
Oct 1, 2025–The more I read, the more I struggle finding stuff I want to read. I’ve covered all the classics like Catcher in the Rye, assigned by earnest 11th-grade English teachers. I’ve consumed all the “flavor of the day” non-fiction, even almost making it through...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 24, 2025 | All Articles, Education, History
Sept 24, 2025–We are losing our history. Here’s a cautionary tale using a now-defunct non-profit organization. Case Study: I was part of an educational non-profit that existed from 1975-2015. I served roles from board president to cheerleader. Due to the changes in...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 17, 2025 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
Sept 17, 2025–When you make any transaction, what are you really paying for? Someone complained about paying $20 for a fast-food sandwich (future archivists–$20 is a LOT to pay for a basic sandwich in 2025–although that is changing daily). Another someone pointed...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 27, 2025 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy, PR Tips
August 27, 2025–I must take a pause here to acknowledge hitting a milestone: This month marks the 20th anniversary of writing these Full House columns. For those counting, that is 1040 original columns with never a missed week. Even during a 10-day stay in ICU,...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 13, 2025 | All Articles, Education, History, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
Aug 13, 2025 “My nose itches. I smell peaches. Someone’s coming with a hole in his britches.” That is an example of an ominous adage delivered in a pleasing rhyme. I don’t know what it means, but it’s fun to say because it could portend doom while sounding like...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 11, 2025 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
July 9, 2025–What if Texas was a country (some say it is) and each of the other 49 states represented a foreign culture (some say they do)? How would you describe new arrivals in the frame of all the other “hyphen-Americans?” Here’s how that might sound from my...
