Sunday, June 13, 2010
Curve update 2010
Return to Prosperity, Arthur Laffer - Entertaining take on cap-and-trade, cash-for-clunkers by Regan-era economics guru
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Summer help in the TX heat
Reliant Energy assistance for seniors and others in need http://tinyurl.com/2awjung
Simple, cheap energy savings
Reliant Energy customer home energy audit covered by Jeff Ehling Houston ABC 13 http://tinyurl.com/23zjm4x
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Billionaire's Vinegar
GQ writer on wine, Jefferson, 1990's style conspicuous consumption, self-reinvention and the perils of obsession - great read
Benjamin Wallace brings together history, fraud, people with more money than sense and some really colorful characters and looks into the briefly fascinating world of really old wine enthusiasts. Detailing what looks - in hindsight - almost farcical - heated bidding for bottles of uncertain provenance as trophies, Wallace blends Jefferson's bring French wine to the young America
Benjamin Wallace brings together history, fraud, people with more money than sense and some really colorful characters and looks into the briefly fascinating world of really old wine enthusiasts. Detailing what looks - in hindsight - almost farcical - heated bidding for bottles of uncertain provenance as trophies, Wallace blends Jefferson's bring French wine to the young America
Molly Ivins - A Rebel Life
very readable bio of TX journalist - great overview of political/culturtal changes in Texas and Houston
There is no doubt that authors Minutaglio and Smith - who make their personal ties to Ivins clear - venerate their subject - the warts and all treatment is credible, but the warts are really interesting. The narrative - near-debutante becomes back-room political reporter becomes national reporter becomes commentator - is compelling for the hard work that Ivins put in before she reached prominence and influence. Political commentary backed by solid reporting and experience. I'm not sure if today's media market could produce another like her.
There is no doubt that authors Minutaglio and Smith - who make their personal ties to Ivins clear - venerate their subject - the warts and all treatment is credible, but the warts are really interesting. The narrative - near-debutante becomes back-room political reporter becomes national reporter becomes commentator - is compelling for the hard work that Ivins put in before she reached prominence and influence. Political commentary backed by solid reporting and experience. I'm not sure if today's media market could produce another like her.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
American on Purpose - Craig Ferguson
Being an unlikely (American) patriot doesn't excuse decades of bad behavior, or this book.
Ferguson is funny, self-deprecating and genuinely in recovery. However, wrapping the tale of his transformation from lout to late-night through good-hearted women who do not suffer him long; family forbearance; and good fortune in a star-spangled kilt is a disservice to both the personal progress and his devotion to his adopted country. WE know he loves the U.S., I just cannot for the life of me figure out why.
Ferguson is funny, self-deprecating and genuinely in recovery. However, wrapping the tale of his transformation from lout to late-night through good-hearted women who do not suffer him long; family forbearance; and good fortune in a star-spangled kilt is a disservice to both the personal progress and his devotion to his adopted country. WE know he loves the U.S., I just cannot for the life of me figure out why.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Book Thief - Book Detective - Book Writer Book
Enigmatic thief, passionate dealer/detective, questing journalist; good book.
Much of 'The Man Who Loved Book Too Much’ by Allison Hoover Bartlett (to be published September 2009) reads like a police procedural – we all know the thief gets caught – the attraction is in seeing how, and how the thief and pursuer – equally obsessed – are alike and different. Some reads like a revelatory memoir where the author chronicles her shallow journey into the depths of rare-book obsession. Despite the clunky title that the too-much-information overtone of the author’s interspersed first-person narratives, overall enjoyable for anyone who likes (or is obsessed by) books – rare or not, or by well-depicted quirky protagonists, or by off-beat detecting.
I don't always buy books, but when I do I buy them at the Blue Willow Bookshop
Much of 'The Man Who Loved Book Too Much’ by Allison Hoover Bartlett (to be published September 2009) reads like a police procedural – we all know the thief gets caught – the attraction is in seeing how, and how the thief and pursuer – equally obsessed – are alike and different. Some reads like a revelatory memoir where the author chronicles her shallow journey into the depths of rare-book obsession. Despite the clunky title that the too-much-information overtone of the author’s interspersed first-person narratives, overall enjoyable for anyone who likes (or is obsessed by) books – rare or not, or by well-depicted quirky protagonists, or by off-beat detecting.
I don't always buy books, but when I do I buy them at the Blue Willow Bookshop
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