A state of confusion

Posted on June 24, 2015 by bvanrysdam

Texas can be a conundrum. Politicians fight to keep marriage between one man and one woman, yet the citizens elect an openly gay mayor to manage its largest city. The governor will sue the federal government at the drop of hat citing the need for local control, then over-turn a local community’s voter approved ban on fracking saying they must abide by Austin rules.

So it might surprise people to know that when it comes to honoring the Civil War, Texas is unexpectedly quiet. Yes, you will find your various statues of Civil War “heroes” along with streets, lakes and parks bearing the name of confederate soldiers, but when it comes to the rebel flag, Texas would rather say no thank you.

For years, the state of Texas has refused to put the rebel flag on its license plates. This caused such a contention among confederate groups that the issue made it all the way to the Supreme Court which ruled that Texas did not violate the First Amendment when it refused to allow the specialty license plates bearing the Confederate battle flag. The court ruled the plates were the government’s speech and are thus immune from First Amendment attacks.

Nine states currently let drivers choose specialty license plates featuring the Confederate battle flag and honoring the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which says it seeks to celebrate Southern heritage (although that could change following the recent events in Charleston). But Texas refused to allow the group’s plates, saying the flag was offensive.

Texas, it seems, has always followed its own path. Before the war broke out, Sam Houston said “I will endeavor to say a few words in behalf of the Union, and the necessity of union to preserve it, which I trust will not fall unheeded.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement of breaking away from the north, but then again, not all Texans felt the same as Houston did.

More Texans care about the Alamo than any Civil War battle and Juneteenth (the day when Texas slaves learned they were free) is celebrated with more gusto than any Civil War remembrance, which again goes to the case that Texas can be a very tough state to figure out.

Reporting the news

Posted on May 29, 2015 by bvanrysdam

I had the chance to help an old friend. Kris O’Donnell who works for WIVB-TV was looking for someone to talk about the flooding that is taking place in Texas. Thanks to the great Jeff Dunn at LSC, I was able to provide some video for her. The best part was having my two brothers getting to watch it.

They used several clips and made this one available on YouTube.

Stop or I’ll shoot!

Posted on May 20, 2015 by bvanrysdam

There’s a new debate brewing with the burgeoning use of photos/videos being recorded on cell phones and people’s right to privacy. What started off as harmless (although increasingly annoying) selfies has now turned into everyone becoming guardians of truth, justice and the American way.

In Texas, the Austin-based American Phoenix Foundation has had 16 people with hidden cameras at the Capitol for six months in a bid to expose “hypocrisy” by Texas lawmakers.

There have been several House Republican lawmakers who expressed concerns with some of the group’s tactics, saying they were approached in an aggressive manner by people with hidden cameras to secretly videotape encounters that has raised alarms for Capitol security. Between gun advocates openly carrying down the hallowed halls of the capitol and covert videographers, it’s a wonder anyone feels safe there. Good thing they installed those panic buttons.

John Beria, spokesperson for the group said “they’ve collected quite a bit of content that I think will probably be very good, but a camera is nothing to be worried about if you’re not doing anything wrong” which is exactly the same argument used by proponents of red-light cameras. I guess you can have your cake and eat it too.

Now comes word that it’s not only politicians who are worried about being filmed. The airline industry is also taking notice. American Airlines updated its internal policies to allow employees at the airport, including ticket counters, gates, cargo, baggage, and onboard, to stop passengers from taking pictures.

“The policy is in place to protect employees and customers,” says Andrea Huguely, an American Airlines spokeswoman.

We’ve all seen the cell phone videos taken by passengers during those moments in the not so friendly skies. It’s hard to blame someone not being comfortable when dealing with an unruly passenger and there are 37 cells phone recording your every move.

And, it’s not only airline employees. Currently there are several proposed bills under the Texas Big Top (or State Capitol Building) are trying to tackle this modern issue. HB 2918 would make it illegal for private citizens to film police officers while conducting their duties. (This ban would not apply to members of the real-media).

So where does the right to document start and the right to privacy end? As usual, it will likely be decided by our elected officials and the courts.

Damn that traffic jam

Posted on April 17, 2015 by bvanrysdam

I had to do a double take when I spotted The Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce marketing hand-out touting why “Cy-Fair is a Great Place to Live”.

What caught my eye was that piece used a photo that shows rows and rows of cars with brake lights. There is also a nice table showing traffic counts for various intersections.

The back side of the marketing piece says “Life in Cy-Fair” and Live…Work…Play.

While that might be nice for a business considering to locate in Cy-Fair, I really don’t think it would induce someone to move there. Hard to believe that someone thought the image of cars stuck in traffic would shine a favorable light to promote its community.

Flying the friendly skies

Posted on April 15, 2015 by bvanrysdam

For the last several years, airline passengers have been asking themselves, “am I getting larger, or is my seat getting smaller.” It’s been no secret that the airlines have been shrinking the size of personal space on airplanes. After years of losing lots of money and flirting with bankruptcies, the airline companies have turned the corner and have become profitable again, thanks in large part to adding the number of seats on plane along with those little add-on fees like charging for baggage, or extra leg room.

In a wait, say that again moment, Southwest Airlines has announced they will begin to use larger seats in their 737-800s passenger jets beginning in mid-2016 and in the new 737 MAX in 2017. The seats are 0.7 inches wider than those currently used and offers more leg room. They also weigh less resulting in having to use less fuel.

While passengers may be grateful Southwest is expanding their space instead of shrinking it, their motivation may be more than just customer satisfaction. A consumer advisory group set up by the Department of Transportation is worried that shrinking space might be dangerous for passenger’s health and safety.

There is serious concern about the increased danger passengers won’t be able to evacuate fast enough in an emergency situation. One official on the committee ironically noted that the government sets standards for the condition of dogs who fly as cargo, but doesn’t have minimum space standards for us humans.

Another worry is passengers suffering from deep vein thrombosis during long flights which could lead to a blood clot forming. It was noted during a recent hearing that passengers who sit by the window have twice the risk of getting deep vein thrombosis than those sitting in the aisle seats.

So what happens if airlines are forced to add more space for their passengers? The likely scenario is passengers paying more in fares to cover the loss.

Heaven just got a little funner

Posted on April 8, 2015 by bvanrysdam

The world is a little less funny today. Stan Freberg passed away yesterday at the age of 88. It is almost impossible to put into the words the profound effect he had on the world of media.

Freberg was known as a recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, author and arguable, one of the greatest advertising minds of all time.

Freberg was hired by Warner Brothers in 1944. In his autobiography, It Only Hurts When I Laugh,” he wrote about getting on a bus and asking the driver to let him off in Hollywood. There he found a sign advertising a talent agency, walked in and promptly started working for Warner Brother cartoons after an audition.

Later, Freberg started to release comedy albums on Capitol records. In one bit, Freberg spoofed Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel”; having the echo effect go wacky leading Elvis to eventually rip his jeans during the performance.

Following the success of his albums, Freberg landed his own radio show. Known for his biting satire and parody, Freberg was also know for standing up for his principles, refusing to accept alcohol and tobacco companies as sponsors, which killed his radio career after taking over for Jack Benny on CBS Radio.

Doing movies, radio and cartoons would be enough for any person, but his role in reshaping advertising revolutionized the industry. Freberg brought satire to advertising agencies, introducing humor to previously dull and unimaginative commercials. Freberg ended up winning 21 Clio awards for his work.

One of his classic moments involved proving radio was a better than television to advertise on by masterfully using sound effects to create the illusion of draining Lake Michigan and refilling it with hot chocolate, a mountain of whipped cream and dropping a giant maraschino cherry like a bomb by the Royal Canadian Air Force to the cheers of 25,000 extras viewing from the shoreline.

Rand Paul gets schooled

Posted on April 8, 2015 by bvanrysdam

There is much talk among educators on the importance of education, but it appears they should stand to do a little homework of their own.

Senator Rand Paul, who yesterday announced his candidacy for president, posted a “Stand with Rand: Kentucky” video on YouTube. The problem is the video violated copyright law.

YouTube’s Content ID system flagged a John Rich song in the video which the Warner Music Group, which owns the copyright yanked the campaign piece.

A big deal? Probably not, but does demonstrate the adage “the devil’s in the details” and how politicians and their campaigns need to pay attention to the little details, so the big messages does not get lost.

Charming Lisbon

Posted on March 23, 2015 by bvanrysdam

You’ll find magnificent views in many areas of Lisbon.

Sitting on Europe’s western shore, the city of Lisbon blends panoramic views, a storied history and wonderful food with an unpretentious charm that welcomes even the most cantankerous traveler. You won’t find a Big Ben or Eiffel Tower, but you will discover a city that finds itself quite content with who they are.

It can be a little daunting to figure out where to start, but a good jumping off point would be jumping on the Number 28 Tram. The tram transports one back in time, traveling into a bygone era. You might expect to find the classic Remodelado trams in a museum, but instead it’s used to travel through many of Lisbon’s finest districts including Baixa, Graca, Alfama and Estrela.

Tram 28 adds to the charm of Lisbon while carrying passengers through its winding streets.

Tickets can be purchased on board the tram, but smart travelers purchase a 24 hour metro pass which can be used on all the tram lines, the metro, buses, funiculars and a very funky street elevator. Tram 28 can get crowded during peak travel times, so it’s best to board near the beginning of the line.

Many visitors also use Tram 28 to climb the steep hill into the Alfama district, visit the Castelo de São Jorge and then take a leisurely stroll back down into the city center which allows one to duck into the shops and cafes which litter the area. One stop worth making on the way down is Gelato Therapy where one can enjoy a tasty treat of inventive flavors that are sure to revitalize and delight.

Azulegos tiles decorate everything from the walls of churches and monasteries to ordinary homes.

Another treat of walking back into the city center is that it allows you to enjoy the numerous beautiful tiles (called azulegos) which decorate everything from the walls of churches and monasteries to ordinary homes. The tiles can feature geometrical shapes on building facades or portray scenes from the history of the country.

Once back down into the city center, make your way over to the Elevador de Santa Justa, a neo-Gothic elevator which may just be, the most unusual means of public transportation anywhere in the world. The elevator was designed by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel and was built to help connect the Baixa with the Largo do Carmo neighborhood. You can use your metro pass on the lift and once at the top, be sure to plunk down the small fee to snake your way up a narrow staircase and experience a breathtaking 360 degree view of the city.

The Elevador de Santa Justa may just be the most unusual means of public transportation anywhere in the world.

Portugal is a country steeped with a deep history and it is well worth checking out. A quick tram ride to Belém will lead you to the Tower of Belém, the Monument to the Discoveries and the spectacular Jerónimos Monastery which is a classic example of the Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of architecture. And, no trip to Belém would be complete without a quick stop at the famous pastry shop Fábrica de Pasteis de Belém, known for a special Portuguese confectionery treat called pastel de Belém, an egg tart made with flaky pastry.

The delightfully quirky Pena National Palace provides a glimpse into how the monarchs of Portugal lived during the 18th-19th century.

Any trip to Lisbon has to include a day trip to Sintra. Here you can visit many intriguing architectural wonders including the wonderfully whimsical Pena National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which served as a summer residence of the monarchs of Portugal during the 18th-19th century. There is also a Castle of the Moors nestled into the top of the mountain, the Sintra national Palace which faces the central square of São Martinho and the Quinta da Regaleira palace where you can find the Initiation Wells that resemble underground towers lined with stairs.

Like most European cities, there is no shortage of good places to eat in Lisbon. You can find a wide variety of dishes, but its fish that is the main staple of Portuguese cuisine. You’ll find cod served in a variety of styles at many restaurants including shredded and sautéed in a pan with of onions and straw fried potatoes, or oven-cooked salted cod fillet with hot olive oil and baked potatoes.

Mercado Da Ribeira offers the freshest fish and vegetables of the day and is a great place to go if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat.

Mercado Da Ribeira, Lisbon’s main food market filled with stalls offering the freshest fish and vegetables of the day is a great place to go if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat. Here you’ll find everything from seafood to steak sandwiches, burgers and of course, Vinho Verde, a light and fresh Portuguese wine that goes well with just about everything.

If you’re looking to step out of the ordinary for a different kind of culinary experience, check out Minibar, a restaurant from award winning Chief Jose Avillez, where diners are offered an incredible gastronomic experience that merge flavors in with a whimsical attitude at very reasonable prices.

The 25 de Abril Bridge with the Christo Reo statue at sunset.

Visiting Lisbon with its hilly terrains, spectacular vistas, trams that whisk people around in Old World charm and the 25 de Abril Bridge that is a dead ringer for the Golden Gate Bridge, you might think it’s a lot like San Francisco, but don’t be fooled, Lisbon’s charm puts it in a class all its own.