Required Reading for Real Estate People: The Color of Law (2017)

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard RothsteinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars I hesitated before clicking Five Stars, this is not an easy book to read. Not that it's poorly written, it is written particularly well, it is the material that is difficult. Like coming up … Continue reading Required Reading for Real Estate People: The Color of Law (2017)

The Parable of the Boxes

We all have a box to fill, metaphorically, but that's not the most important question. The question is not even related to the size of the box, although, we might have to eventually unpack that too. The most important question in this story is, do you even know you have a box? So. Picture a … Continue reading The Parable of the Boxes

North Carolina

My wife and I moved to Wilmington last summer for no reason other than we like the area, the water, and the proximity to our daughter in Durham. After 50+ years living in and around Huntsville, Alabama, we decided to trade freshwater for salt, river for the ocean. We bought a house near Wrightsville Beach … Continue reading North Carolina

Politics 101: Leadership

I have an idea why America is so polarized, or one reason anyway. When you think about hiring a Congressman or a Senator or even a President, one of the primary things we expect from them is Leadership. But Leadership implies a direction. Lead to where? Until we have an idea where we want to … Continue reading Politics 101: Leadership

Visit The Azores

My wife and I got to visit to The Azores with our daughter, her husband and his parents. The take-away from our trip was a new enthusiasm for all things Portuguese and for The Azores, Saõ Miguel in particular. It is not the easiest place to get to, flights from the US are limited, but … Continue reading Visit The Azores

On Monuments: A Moderate’s View

In 2017 when the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, I became convinced that the monument on the courthouse square in Huntsville should be moved. Not destroyed, not ripped down, not hidden away, but moved to a more appropriate location. The general consensus, back in 2017, was … Continue reading On Monuments: A Moderate’s View

17 years and counting, creating value for MLSs

I was doing some research online and found some old images of Charlottesville's consumer website, mycaar.com. We built it for them in 2003 and it's been up since then, delivering leads and value to the members of the MLS. Over seventeen years, the site has, of course, been updated many times as the technology evolved. … Continue reading 17 years and counting, creating value for MLSs

Monumental Huntsville

They finally did it, they moved the Confederate Monument to historic Maple Hill Cemetery into a more historically correct context. It now sits amid other memorials to soldiers who fought and died in the terrible conflict that so defined nineteenth-century America. It's too bad it took so long, but I am glad it finally happened … Continue reading Monumental Huntsville

Florence, Wow.

Yesterday a friend sent me a Resolution passed by the Republican Party of nearby Lauderdale County. Here are some excerpts for your Saturday morning reading: (full text below) “The Lauderdale County Monument to the men of the County who served in the Confederate Army in the War between the States 1861-1865 fought against oppressive taxation … Continue reading Florence, Wow.

Free and Clear

Bill wrote a book! It's really good too. He's got a real talent for storytelling. The story is a really good one too and partially set at my house!

Meridian Street

There is a small community in northeast Huntsville called Lincoln Village. 15 years ago a good friend and pastor started a conversation with a little girl who turned into a commitment and lead to a big project called Lincoln Village Preservation Corporation. Today LVPC owns that little girl's house and dozens around it. The place … Continue reading Meridian Street

Racisim and Alcoholism

So I am from Alabama, the Heart of Dixie as it was called when I was growing up. I grew up on a farm north of a mid-size southern city known for its tolerance and diversity and my private school was integrated with the kids of most of the non-white professionals in our little town. … Continue reading Racisim and Alcoholism

Behold the Lamb

I really love the Christmas album and show from Andrew Peterson and friends called Behold the Lamb. If you don't know it, add it to your Holiday Mix. Love this song in particular. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks. So good. They have the show at the Ryman in Nashville every year, usually Sunday and Monday nights since it's … Continue reading Behold the Lamb

What if you could scholarship a kid to Lincoln for free?

What if you could redirect half of your taxes to your kid's school? You can! We'll sort of. In Alabama there is something called the Alabama Accountability Act and it allows taxpayers with an Alabama Income Tax Liability to choose for themselves where their tax money goes! I know it sounds too good to be … Continue reading What if you could scholarship a kid to Lincoln for free?

Redirect your Alabama taxes to local schools legally

Last year I posted about this in December. This year I am a few months earlier because I am going to beat the drums on this one until everyone hears me! Here's the simple truth of the matter: Alabama has a poor track record educating our kids. We have challenges on this front to be … Continue reading Redirect your Alabama taxes to local schools legally