Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
LA Times Festival of Books panel MYSTERY: THE KINGPINS (Part Three)
Three of my favorite authors together at the L. A. Times Festival of Books. If you watch all the way through you'll be rewarded by Crais' humorous dig at James Patterson.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Jones AT&T Stadium Named Nation's Top Home-Field Advantage
Jones AT&T Stadium Named Nation's Top Home-Field Advantage
""Neither the biggest nor the loudest, Jones Stadium and its crowd helped the Raiders pull off recent upsets of Texas and Oklahoma," Curtis said."
""Neither the biggest nor the loudest, Jones Stadium and its crowd helped the Raiders pull off recent upsets of Texas and Oklahoma," Curtis said."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Carlton: Third-place Red Raiders may be unarmed, but with NCAA tourney bid in sight, they remain undaunted | College Sports News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Doctor's Survey: Shortage of Doctor's under Socialized Medicine
Doctor's Survey: Shortage of Doctor's under Socialized Medicine
From a recent survey discussed in the New England Journal of Medicine:
• 72% of physicians feel that a public option would have a negative impact on physician supply, with 45% feeling it will “decline or worsen dramatically” and 27% predicting it will “decline or worsen somewhat.
click on the link for the rest of the survey
Friday, April 9, 2010
Texas Tech in Chess Final Four
Texas Tech in Chess Final Four
An excerpt from the article:
"To get to the Final Four, the Texas Tech Knight Raiders trounced Princeton 4-0, UT Austin 4-0, Florida Atlantic University 4-0, and Stanford 3 ½- ½."
An excerpt from the article:
"To get to the Final Four, the Texas Tech Knight Raiders trounced Princeton 4-0, UT Austin 4-0, Florida Atlantic University 4-0, and Stanford 3 ½- ½."
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Quayle Makes Important Point in NY Times Piece on the Tea Party Movement
As a libertarian I almost always vote Republican. Though I do not consider myself "conservative," I acknowledge that the stance of conservatives on fiscal issues is much closer to that of libertarians, whereas that of Democrats is the polar opposite. On social issues, though I disagree with Conservatives on many issues, I agree on many as well. On those I am opposed, I have no trouble with understanding the reasons for the conservative position. And while I do not believe the government, for example, has any right to outlaw certain substances, I don't believe that marijuana being illegal is a threat to the American Way of Life, I do believe that the welfare state is such a threat.
The link and a few excerpts...
Dan Quayle: Don't let the tea party go Perot
"Speaking on behalf of the Bush-Quayle campaign, to this day we firmly believe that Perot cost the Republican Party the White House."
The link and a few excerpts...
Dan Quayle: Don't let the tea party go Perot
By Dan Quayle
Sunday, April 4, 2010 "Like many influential causes before it, the "tea party" movement appeared on the scene uninvited by the political establishment. Democrats in the White House and in Congress recognize it for what it is -- a spontaneous and pointed response to the Obama agenda"
"Speaking on behalf of the Bush-Quayle campaign, to this day we firmly believe that Perot cost the Republican Party the White House."
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Political Affiliation and TV Preferences
Political Affiliation and TV Preferences
It's interesting to sometimes seriously consider those views opposed to your own and attempt to understand the thinking of those who hold those views. My first reaction to this article was that "of course those people sitting home watching Jerry Springer and similar shows, drawing unemployment, slurping cokes and stuffing their mouths with chips bought with food stamps...of course they're democrats." And when reading the comments section, I noted a response from someone that said that of course Republicans like sports, because sports is a meritocracy... My mental response to this was, 'of course, but that's too obvious to even merit a comment." What kind of mind would reply to that comment with derision, as one poster did?
It's interesting to sometimes seriously consider those views opposed to your own and attempt to understand the thinking of those who hold those views. My first reaction to this article was that "of course those people sitting home watching Jerry Springer and similar shows, drawing unemployment, slurping cokes and stuffing their mouths with chips bought with food stamps...of course they're democrats." And when reading the comments section, I noted a response from someone that said that of course Republicans like sports, because sports is a meritocracy... My mental response to this was, 'of course, but that's too obvious to even merit a comment." What kind of mind would reply to that comment with derision, as one poster did?
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Texas Tech Law Student's Outrageous Protest of Obamacare
Brad Phillips and the 30 Day Taco Villa Challenge
- Name:
- Brad Phillips and the 30 Day Taco Villa Challenge
- Category:
- Sports & Recreation - Extreme Sports
- Description:
- In honor of universal health care, Brad Phillips has decided that he doesn't care about his body and that he is going to eat whatever he wants. It's not like he'll have to pay for it anyway.
So to demonstrate his new found disregard for his health, he has decided to embark on the 30 Day Taco Villa Challenge!
Here's the story:
Brad Phillips has always held that Taco Villa is the greatest restaurant to ever exist (give him a break... he's lived in Lubbock his whole life). He claims that he could eat Taco Villa AT LEAST once a day and that he would not get tired of it.
Ben Robertson has decided to call Brad on his Bullshit. So, starting April 1st, Brad will have to eat at Taco Villa for at least once a day for the rest of the month. That's a trip to TV at a minimum of 30 times. If Brad can complete the challenge, Ben has promised that he will reimburse Brad for all his food expenses incurred at Taco Villa.
Brad has also promised to truthfully answer the question "How much do I like Taco Villa?" through various stages of the competition.
Not only is Brad confident that he can complete the challenge, he has further said that he will be in the absolute best shape of his life after this challenge is over. To prove this, Brad will run a 2 mile race on April 30th. John Conner has agreed to pay Brad an additional 30 dollars if the time of the 2 mile race is 14:30 or less.
Rules for the Challenge:
1.) Brad Phillips must document each trip to TV by taking a picture of himself at the restaurant.
2.) Brad Phillips must save each and every receipt from his trips to TV. If even one receipt is missing, Ben will not be required to pay any money.
3.) Brad must post updates each day on the group's page with the picture of him, and must answer the question, "How much do I like Taco Villa?"
4.) Brad Phillips must use his debit or credit card to pay for the food. This will eliminate the possibility that Brad can dumpster dive for receipts from that day.
5.) Brad Phillips must actually be the person to eat the food. This goes without saying, but we wanted to be sure.
6.) Brad Phillips must eat EVERYTHING that he orders for the day. He cannot leave anything on his plate.
All group members are encouraged to join Brad on his trips to Taco Villa. This will help insure that Brad doesn't wuss out on the challenge. We will set a time for the 2 mile TV run on April 30th later on down the road.
Let it Begin! (read less) - Privacy Type:
- Open: All content is public.
Contact Info
- Website:
- http://www.tacovillaonline.com
Recent News
For what it's worth, if money were no object, I too would probably eat at Taco Villa every day.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Lake Travis QB Brewer pledges to Texas Tech
His grandfather was a Lubbock High Westerner before becoming a quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. His father was a Longhorn Quarterback as well. But there are Texas Tech ties in his family....
Lake Travis QB Brewer pledges to Texas Tech
Lake Travis QB Brewer pledges to Texas Tech
Cactus Cuties
Just over 2 years ago, on February 2, 2008, a grandfather posted a video on YouTube of his granddaughter and 4 friends singing the National Anthem at a Texas Tech game. Ty Cooke's granddaughter was 8 years old, her friends 11 and 13, and they'd been taking singing lessons together for 3 years or so. Barely a month later, more than 2 million people had watched this amazing video, and today that number stands at 6,731,912 views. Since then, the group, known as the Cactus Cuties is only 4 girls, but they have sung at games in major league baseball, NBA basketball, and NFL football stadiums, 2 MDA telethons, and at the National Capitol and the White House. To find out more, here's their website. Here's a video of their first single.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Remembering Buddy the Day the Music Died
As the classically cool character, hot-rodder John Milner from George Lucas' American Graffiti proclaimed, "Turn it off! I don't like that surfin' shit! Rock and roll's been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died."
It's been 51 years today since Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash. This video and this quote of and link to Chris Oglesby's Virtual Lubbock piece on Buddy is my tribute today...and I'll add a video of Don McLean's American Pie. WARNING: Visiting Oglesby's site may deter any further productive activity for hours.
It's been 51 years today since Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash. This video and this quote of and link to Chris Oglesby's Virtual Lubbock piece on Buddy is my tribute today...and I'll add a video of Don McLean's American Pie. WARNING: Visiting Oglesby's site may deter any further productive activity for hours.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Economic Illiteracy Elected Obama
This is not a new piece though I just stumbled upon it when surfing.... it's spot on with my beliefs and states them much better than I am capable of doing. It's from Civil Society Trust. Here's an excerpt....
"What is fundamentally not understood amongst an apparent majority of voters is that entrepreneurs and their financiers, (often being one in the same), create jobs. They perform the vital discovery mechanism of demand assessment and supply a potential solution, risking their own resources to do so."
One of the statements that the author makes that is often misunderstood is that supply must come before demand. People often say, how can you supply something that you don't know the need(not demand) exists for. This is proof of the economic illiteracy of the person who says this. Demand is not need, demand is the actual purchasing of a product or service at a given price level, not whether you want it or need it. If you are unable to pay the price at which the good or service sells, then that's not demand, that's just want or desire. Also, in order to 'demand' something, you have to supply the needed good or service that supplies you with the money to purchase it. Money is simply the medium by which we trade our own goods and services for those of others through markets. Any time the government intervenes, they create a higher price or lower demand through taxation or regulation, unless they are 'subsidizing,' which simply means they are redistributing goods or services from somewhere else, and as a result they are intervening in another transaction or set of transactions, creating a domino effect of interventions in market transactions.
This is not a new piece though I just stumbled upon it when surfing.... it's spot on with my beliefs and states them much better than I am capable of doing. It's from Civil Society Trust. Here's an excerpt....
"What is fundamentally not understood amongst an apparent majority of voters is that entrepreneurs and their financiers, (often being one in the same), create jobs. They perform the vital discovery mechanism of demand assessment and supply a potential solution, risking their own resources to do so."
One of the statements that the author makes that is often misunderstood is that supply must come before demand. People often say, how can you supply something that you don't know the need(not demand) exists for. This is proof of the economic illiteracy of the person who says this. Demand is not need, demand is the actual purchasing of a product or service at a given price level, not whether you want it or need it. If you are unable to pay the price at which the good or service sells, then that's not demand, that's just want or desire. Also, in order to 'demand' something, you have to supply the needed good or service that supplies you with the money to purchase it. Money is simply the medium by which we trade our own goods and services for those of others through markets. Any time the government intervenes, they create a higher price or lower demand through taxation or regulation, unless they are 'subsidizing,' which simply means they are redistributing goods or services from somewhere else, and as a result they are intervening in another transaction or set of transactions, creating a domino effect of interventions in market transactions.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Robert Crais Interview on The Artist's Craft
Robert Crais Interview on The Artist's Craft
Crais is one of my favorite authors. I 'discovered' him when I read a review of his book, L. A. Requiem about 10 years or so ago, and promptly found all his older books and read them. I recommend you start with The Monkey's Raincoat, which was his first novel and was originally published as a paperback original. I had the pleasure of meeting RC at a book signing and reading in New Orleans just a few months before the hurricane in 2005.
Crais is one of my favorite authors. I 'discovered' him when I read a review of his book, L. A. Requiem about 10 years or so ago, and promptly found all his older books and read them. I recommend you start with The Monkey's Raincoat, which was his first novel and was originally published as a paperback original. I had the pleasure of meeting RC at a book signing and reading in New Orleans just a few months before the hurricane in 2005.
Monday, January 25, 2010
http://townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2010/01/13/global_warming_is_a_religion
Global Warming is a Religion
Walter Williams is a very smart man and I really enjoy his columns. He is able to state his arguments in easy to understand, logical and common sense language.
Walter Williams is a very smart man and I really enjoy his columns. He is able to state his arguments in easy to understand, logical and common sense language.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Virtual Lubbock: Why does Lubbock have such an unusual amount of artistic talent?
I have been known to literally lose whole afternoons on this website, Virtual Lubbock. Chris Oglesby has written a book (Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air: Legends of West Texas Music) about art scene, particularly the music scene, that exists in the Lubbock area, including interviews with many of the legends of "The Lubbock Sound."
Check it out, but only if you have a lot of time on your hands.
Check it out, but only if you have a lot of time on your hands.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Longtime Texas Tech aide Ruffin McNeill hired as East Carolina head coach
As a general rule, I only root for Texas Tech, and sometimes joke that my second favorite team is whoever is playing Texas, but I'm going to be somewhat of a East Carolina Pirate fan now, with former Tech dc Ruff as their new head coach and with Red Raider and former Tech assistant coach Lincoln Riley as their offensive coordinator, look out for this team, they should be fun to watch and very good. They got a couple of great men and great coaches. Congratulations Ruff and Riley.
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1912924.html
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1912924.html
Former Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill became the first black head football coach at East Carolina on Thursday, and one of his former Texas Tech co-workers, Lincoln Riley, will be his offensive coordinator.
McNeill, 51, returns to his alma mater after spending the past 10 years at Tech, including the past two as defensive coordinator, under coach Mike Leach, who was fired Dec. 30.
ECU athletic director Terry Holland said McNeill was a hit during his interview Thursday morning. McNeill graduated from ECU in 1980 and played safety for the Pirates in 1976-80.
"Coach McNeill’s interview revealed his strong commitment to doing things the right way and his love of coaching young men to grow in every part of their lives," Holland said in a statement.
Tech promoted McNeill to interim coach Dec. 28 after it suspended — and later fired — Leach after allegations that he mistreated backup receiver Adam James. With six days to prepare, McNeill guided Tech to a 41-31 win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl.
McNeill was interviewed for the Tech job that eventually went to Tommy Tuberville.
"As a head coach he took one of the most adverse situations in college football and wound up winning a bowl game," Riley said. "He’s a great man and you can’t find anybody to say a bad thing about him."
McNeill replaces Skip Holtz, who left ECU last week after five seasons to become head coach at South Florida.
Dwain Price, 817-390-7760
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Eye On Books great for author interview podcasts
I've always loved this website, Bill Thompson's Eye on Books. It's actually somewhat misnamed...it should be Ear on Books, because it's a collection mostly of audio podcasts of author interviews. There are hundreds of them and hopefully you'll find one or more of your favorite authors. Here's one of mine: George Pelecanos, author of The Night Gardner.
One of the great crime fiction writers of all time passes away...
Robert B. Parker was an influential crime writer, best known for his character Spenser. Parker's Spencer books were adapted as a television series, Spencer for Hire. He passed away Monday, at the age of 77 in Cambridge Massachusetts. I read a lot of detective/crime fiction myself and though I have read quite a few of Parker's books, I never really counted him as one of my favorites, but there is no doubt that he influenced many of those who were my favorites, including Robert Crais and Dennis Lehane. Here is a link to an article in the LA Times by Sarah Weinman.
The White Paladin Opines about
pretty much anything that is on my mind or that I find interesting. I'm a writer and bookseller. I'm a big fan of crime fiction, film noir, Texas Tech athletics, and I love books. I am also interested in history and economics and as a result I have very strong opinions on politics.
I am, as the late Milton Friedman said, a libertarian with a little l and a Republican with a Big R. What this means is though I don't always agree with the Republican party, I do believe it is more closely aligned with my beliefs in the areas that matter the most. I also don' t always agree with the Libertarian party platform and though I read some libertarian blogs and newsletters on occasion I think supporting the Libertarian party is not really productive in the big picture, at least not at this point in history.
These are some of the many things I'll post about. Sometimes I may write an opinion piece, sometimes I will just link to articles I have read somewhere else, and when I do this I'll usually give my thoughts on it. And sometimes I'll just link to something that I read and enjoyed.
Hope you enjoy reading my blog.
I am, as the late Milton Friedman said, a libertarian with a little l and a Republican with a Big R. What this means is though I don't always agree with the Republican party, I do believe it is more closely aligned with my beliefs in the areas that matter the most. I also don' t always agree with the Libertarian party platform and though I read some libertarian blogs and newsletters on occasion I think supporting the Libertarian party is not really productive in the big picture, at least not at this point in history.
These are some of the many things I'll post about. Sometimes I may write an opinion piece, sometimes I will just link to articles I have read somewhere else, and when I do this I'll usually give my thoughts on it. And sometimes I'll just link to something that I read and enjoyed.
Hope you enjoy reading my blog.
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