by Phil Houseal | Mar 13, 2024 | All Articles, Philosophy
March 13, 2024–I sometimes think about Vicki. Vicki was a high school classmate I grew up with back in our small hometown. We both came from large Catholic families, started Kindergarten together, attended catechism and received first communion together, shared...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 6, 2024 | All Articles, Education
March 6, 2024–Judging by comments on community news sites–or by riding with anyone–everyone believes they are the only ones that know how to drive. I was reminded last week that I don’t follow all traffic laws, for the simple reason that I don’t understand all the...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 29, 2024 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
Feb 28, 2024–As a kid I remember first seeing the Jeopardy category “Potpourri.” I was not familiar with the word, but after watching I soon learned it meant “place to use up leftover material that all together wasn’t enough to make up an entire category with one...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 21, 2024 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
Feb 21, 2024–When someone asks you out for coffee, the first question that should come to mind is, “What’s in it for me?” Sound cynical? Why? Whether you are aware of it or not, every interaction between two people is a transaction. To be productive, it has to be....
by Phil Houseal | Feb 14, 2024 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
Feb 14, 2024–Are we hug deprived? Did you know that when two people hug, their hearts are only two inches apart? Some say this induces a sympathetic response, when the electrical fields around both beating organs intersect, creating a bond. This lowers stress, boosts...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 7, 2024 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
Feb 7, 2024–Everyone loves a frosty chocolate milkshake. But would you instead consume–separately–a raw egg, half cup of cane sugar, a cup of warm milk, a cup of heavy cream, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, a spoonful of salt, and 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup?...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 31, 2024 | All Articles, Education, Events, History, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
Jan 31, 2024–Audiences for the Dublin Harpers are so enamored with the lilting sound of the Celtic harp, they go away wanting to play it themselves. Unfortunately, the care and feeding of a full-size authentic harp is beyond the grasp of most casual players. It’s a...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 24, 2024 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy, PR Tips
7/24/2024–Who are you competing against? Wrong. Most of the time, whether in business, entertainment, or romance, we misidentify who the opponent is. Let’s start with romance. Take the hypothetical of a high school guy trying to win over a high school girl. He...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 17, 2024 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
Jan 17, 2024–“Are you busy Saturday night?” This question is the poster child of vagueness. An informed response requires additional context. If you want me to help you move and to bring my pickup, then yes, I am busy. In fact, I am so busy, beavers and bees will...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 10, 2024 | All Articles, Food, History, Philosophy
Jan 10, 2024–I have come to the conclusion there is no more perfect universal human food than the egg. For some of you this might seem obvious. But it’s a case of forest and trees, as most of us grew up with eggs everywhere, so much so that we don’t see them. It...
