Author Archives: RJS El Tejano

I Still Believe in Santa Claus

Three years ago I started to write a blog once in a while. I had sworn I never would, but after getting thrown into Facebook jail for alluding to Trump as a fascist (“hate speech”), I figured I needed another venue. Guess what? The world had caught up. Now if you’ve ever read a bookContinue reading “I Still Believe in Santa Claus”

It’s college football, not just A&M

Yup. A 76.8 million dollar buyout is a lot of money for a college football coach. Especially one who slinks off with a winning, albeit mediocre record. We’re talking Jimbo Fisher at A&M, that seat of the intellect in College Station, TX. Let you in on a secret. I’ve lived in Texas for thirty years.Continue reading “It’s college football, not just A&M”

A Gringo Looks at Mexican History

Ok. Right off the bat I lose 80 percent of my readers. That’s ok. I expect it. You aren’t missing much. All ten of you. And if you were sort of hoping for personal yarns about experiences, good and bad, I’ve had in Mexico over 40 years, sorry. Not this time. Walking the streets inContinue reading “A Gringo Looks at Mexican History”

Yeah. It still hurts. Losing your illusions always does

Here’s the thing. Jack Kennedy got it the way he wanted it. All at once. That’s the way to go. My grandfather, Joe Villari was really never sick a day in his life, and then dropped dead. It damn near killed the family, but it was a blessing for him. He deserved no less. Well,Continue reading “Yeah. It still hurts. Losing your illusions always does”

Do You Remember Pete Liske? Do You Remember Jack Kennedy? They’re Gone, But I’m Still Here

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the early 1960s. Not in any morbid way, you know. But just as the realization hits that I witnessed a lot of people and events that are now consigned to history. If I make a casual reference to some thing–and believe me, we are not talking obscure skirmishesContinue reading “Do You Remember Pete Liske? Do You Remember Jack Kennedy? They’re Gone, But I’m Still Here”

Mañana, Ahorita, and Fuhgeddaboudit

As I gaze out over the wreck of our once-great (small “g,” this is not political) society, it occurs to me that some modification of American English may be necessary to accommodate our changing notions of time horizons and rates of discount. This is Econ-talk for whether we think doing something now (like right now)Continue reading “Mañana, Ahorita, and Fuhgeddaboudit”

Frank Sinatra, Yock, and the Corner

At first I didn’t think I’d have to spend much time in explaining Frank Sinatra. I have, however, thought the better of it. I write for a jazz site with some frequency, and a copy editor told me I had to identify “Bird” (i.e., Charlie Parker, the alto saxophonist, sort of synonymous with the inventionContinue reading “Frank Sinatra, Yock, and the Corner”