by Phil Houseal | Jun 22, 2016 | All Articles, Events, History, Music
June 22, 2016–In 1963 a young gal went round to tiny Midwest radio stations trying to get them to play a record made by her little brother’s band. That girl happened to be Louise Harrison, and her brother George’s band was called The Beatles. “Oh yes,” she said in a...
by Phil Houseal | Dec 23, 2015 | All Articles, Education, Events, History, Music, Philosophy
Dec 23, 2015–On a recent trip to Iowa I took part in our family’s cherished holiday tradition–we burned a piano. That’s right. On a cold Midwestern night, with snow on the ground and stars overhead, family and friends circled the instrument and took turns playing it...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 10, 2015 | Events, People of the Hill Country
Feb 4, 2015–It’s a science nerd’s dream. Can you imagine playing in a 3-dimensional sandbox? Or standing inside a silo with LEDs that light up in response to ambient cell phone use? Or walking through an aquifer as you follow a drop of rain on its journey to become...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 10, 2015 | Events, People of the Hill Country
Jan 28, 2015–As I recently watched a family member travel the dim journey through dementia, I was intensely curious how the disease appeared from inside the mind of the victim. Fredericksburg Middle School theater teacher David Remschel had the same question, and...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 13, 2014 | All Articles, Events, History
Aug 13, 2014–When I played in a band at a bar in Riverside, Iowa, Earth, in the mid-20th century, I wish I’d known I was standing in the very room where Captain James T. Kirk would be conceived 250 years in the future. I would have drunk a toast of Talaxian champagne....
by Phil Houseal | Jul 31, 2013 | All Articles, Events, History, People of the Hill Country, Venue
July 31, 2013–So the Pastor was doing a sermon on the life of Jesus, and he asked what was the biggest festival of year. One youngster raised his hand, and said, “The Schuetzenfest.” “This actually happened at our church way back,” said Charles Feller, Secretary of...
