This American Life, "Mob Mentality", 2000
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/158/mob-mentality

Not to be completely self centered -- though that's probably what Blogs are for -- but this story I produced and wrote for an episode of This American Life way back in 2000 is pretty darn good. It serves as reminder of how impressionable good teachers can be and how important to forming a central core philosophy early on in life.  I can certainly trace every bit of work I have done since 1973 to this event in school. Listen on. This American Life is organized by acts and strung together by the very talented, Ira Glass. My piece is at position number two but try and stay on long enough to hear "One Tin Soldier" from Billy Jack.

Producing Light on PBS

Researched, shot and edited in 8 weeks. I've never felt more proud of an achievement. An inside look at Ballet Austin's production, Light/ Holocaust and Humanity.

They say that every filmmaker is the sum of her parts - a well-worn cliche. In this case, it is completely true. I would not have been able to do it without Cinematographer, Deb Lewis, and Editor, Nevie Owens, and the willingness of Ballet Austin to open their hearts and doors. The Naomi Warren interview was NOT shot by us, just FYI.

View here:

Dr. Cecilia Thompson

Dr. Cecilia Thompson was born in Jeff Davis County, died in Brewster County, lived and expertly wrote about Presidio County. She called her youngish friends like me new pioneers for West Texas. If that is the case, Cecilia blazed a beautiful trail for us all. Thank you, Cecilia, for sharing with me an ounce of your courage to write about the Chinati Mountains and all those who live beneath their grace.

Handmade vs Machine Made

I am in awe of Mike Daisy's piece on This American Life about Shen Jian, China: the birth of all our plastic junk (including the I Phone). The entire piece is worth the 20 minute listen but especially the very end, the demi monde. We all wish for a simpler life with hand made products. Well, everything at those insufferable sweat shops in China, is put together by thousands of HANDS. Human hands, not machines, some working 34 hour shift. Think about that the next time you proudly chose handmade over machinery production.

This is the most important bit of radio you'll hear this year:

www.thisamericanlife.org

Dead on arrival: Christmas, 2011

Peggy Orenstein writes a brilliant Op Ed piece for the New York Times on gender neutral toys. Hamley's Department store in London (the FAO Schwartz of England) has recently remodeled their children's toy department in to a red and white decor separating inside/ soft toys from outdoor ones. No pink and purple for girls, gray or camo color for boys. I am thrilled. After days of present opening, dozens of batteries and the realization that nearly ALL the presents were made in China, I revel in the small advancement towards toy sanity. Here's hoping that next Christmas/ Hannukah, no one will buy Mateo a cheap, plastic remote anything, or a Disney product that talks, just because he's a boy. By the way, toy industry, both remote cars were dead on arrival. No amount of batteries could revive either one. Happy New Year!

Mr. XXX at the IRS

On the 23rd of December, 9PM central time, I received a phone call from the IRS. Wow, I said to this stammering guy who identified himself as my examiner, this seems awfully late to be calling us citizens. I work until 1 in the morning. Where are you, I asked, thinking, India? Holtsville, NY.

In what seems like a never ending circle dance to file my taxes since adopting Mateo, Mr. XXX at the IRS, questioned everything about my expenses. Meanwhile, Mateo is in the car backseat, overtired and insistent on hearing Frog Story one more time. Mr. XXX has to listen to me implore Mateo to be quiet for 5 more minutes while I speak on the phone. It doesn't work. Mateo doesn't understand what the heck the IRS could possibly be and why I am looking panicked.

3 minutes into this insane phone conversation while driving through holiday traffic at night, I realize that there's nothing I can intelligently say without my accountant's advice. In a moment of uncharacteristic IRS sympathy, Mr. XXX tells me that's probably a good idea. If you get me a copy of the boy's VISA faxed, I will see what I can do to stall proceedings. And then, I adopted a child in 2008, too. Wow, what candor from a bureaucrat, I thought. Is this the true meaning of a religious holiday?

Etsy.com short video on Marfa, Texas

To watch a funny piece for Etsy.com, created over one of the most chilly weeks in Marfa history, double click on this link:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/read/no-place-like-here-marfa-texas-12655/