by Phil Houseal | Nov 23, 2022 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
Nov 23, 2022–As you sit down to your Thanksgiving Day meal, I am confident you will observe the list of manners to be followed “At Table:” Promptness when meals are announced When to sit; position; fidgeting Waiting one’s turn When to begin to eat How to eat and drink...
by Phil Houseal | Nov 16, 2022 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
Nov 16, 2022–I’ve spent a lot of time in public places lately, staring at my feet. You see, social media users are using the phrase “touch grass” as shorthand for “put down the phone and go outside and be in nature.” Yet many campuses, parks, and public places...
by Phil Houseal | Nov 9, 2022 | All Articles, Philosophy
Nov 9, 2022–I seem to be missing the gene that creates the unquenchable desire to own things. This disinterest in amassing material wealth manifests in many areas of my life. Take furniture. If I had not taken a wife, I would still be eating pot pies off a wooden...
by Phil Houseal | Nov 2, 2022 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy
Nov 2, 2022–Do only mammals play? This question caused some consternation around our Table of Knowledge. We all have seen films of otters, puppies, penguins, and ponies jumping, sliding, and kicking just for the joy of it. But what about other classes in the animal...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 26, 2022 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
Oct 26, 2022–What is it about a treehouse? My 7-year-old granddaughter has been asking for her own treehouse for several weeks, so guess what we’ve been building? We are repurposing the fruitless mulberry in our front yard that served as a treehouse for my now-grown...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 23, 2022 | All Articles, Events, Music, Venue
Oct 24, 2022–Ballet during the holidays is about more than the Nutcracker, a point Enrica Tseng hopes to prove with Ballet Frontier’s presentation of Giselle at the Cailloux Theater on Sunday, November 6. Tseng is Artistic Advisor of Ballet Frontier, an...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 19, 2022 | All Articles, Philosophy
Oct 19, 2022–The Pioneer Memorial Library book sale is coming up the last Saturday of this month. If you are like me, in your annual attempt to winnow the home book shelf by donating, you perennially pass over volumes you just can’t bear to banish. One untouchable...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 12, 2022 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy
Oct 12, 2022–Looking at the recent hurricane damage that leveled portions of several cities, the question came to mind: if mankind was not around to rebuild them, how long would it be before urban areas disappeared? If we abandoned the earth, how long would it take...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 6, 2022 | All Articles, Education, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
Oct 5, 2022–A colleague recently retired as Executive Director of a community organization. After “congratulations,” my first thought was, I wonder if anyone will return his calls now? You see, in our society, People don’t hold Positions; Positions hold People. The...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 1, 2022 | All Articles, Education, Events, History, Music
Sept 28, 2022–While portraying country music legend Hank Williams on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, Jason Petty began formulating an idea for a show that became Classic Nashville Live! featuring greats such as Johnny and June, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, and Patsy...
