Failure Is not an Option

Remember the real estate bubble of 2008, which almost brought the world economy down? That was the one chronicled in the movie The Big Short. Would you be surprised to learn that an even “Bigger Short” is happening, right this moment? 

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Ray Brimble
A Little Dollop Will Do Ya

We live in a time of great change. Solutions always seem to be along the lines of big, bold and dramatic. I admit, crying “Off with their heads!” if only in my own little mind, seems so satisfying.  But what if we were to approach our challenges in a more dollop-y kind of way? Suggestions, attitudes, demeanors which were less invasive, more additive?

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Ray Brimble
My Santa Barbara

It's called the "American Riviera", and not for nothing.  After all, like its namesake in the south of France, it’s got the perfect blend of great weather, outstanding ocean views from every angle, palm trees and beaches for miles, great restaurants and bars, unique architecture, and more than a little bit of glamor.

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Fly Delta Jets

There’s a famous sign on top of a hangar at ATL (Atlanta Hartsfield Int’l Airport) which reads simply “Fly Delta Jets”. I’m pretty sure no one thinks about it much, but if they did they might ask, “What the hell does that mean? Does any airline NOT fly jets?” The apocryphal nature of that vintage sign got me to asking myself, what is my own equivalent sign or rule? What am I still doing that I started doing 60 years ago, back when it was a brilliant, new idea?

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String Theory in Revue-- 2024

I’m not going to lie to you.


It’s been a long, wild year. Macro, micro, and everything in between. During the sailing ship times, sailors would resort to tying themselves to the mast in heavy weather to avoid being washed overboard.  Yet another example of the utility of "strings", at least in theory.  My own "strings" with which I tied myself to the mast in 2024 were sixteen essays posted on the blog. 

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Your Story Goes (HERE): Austin Together

Your Story Goes (HERE) is an interview series aimed at spotlighting the stories of remarkable people and their impactful work, especially those whose contributions may not have received the recognition they should. 


Today we feature Austin Together, whose purpose is to strengthen the nonprofit community in Central Texas by enabling sustained collaborations. Host Ray Brimble interviews the Executive Director of Austin Together, Karen LaShelle, and the Board Chair, Rich Smalling. 

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We Are Everywhere…. All At Once

The Oscar award-winning movie introduced many of us to the very strange concept that we are all living ‘everywhere all at once.’ If you haven’t seen it, the movie explores how moments, choices, and their consequences are interconnected across multiple dimensions and timelines. The multiverse serves as a narrative device to present different versions of reality where time behaves differently. 

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My Own Camp Logan

"I read the news today, oh boy.”

-The Beatles, A Day In The Life

Oh, Boy. 

That’s how I felt when I heard the news this past November: One hundred Black servicemen, sentenced to life in prison for their alleged involvement in what was called a riot, in Houston, Texas, nearly 100 years ago, had been ceremoniously reinstated by the US Army with full honors and benefits for their descendants. In short, they had finally been forgiven.

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Escape from Nowhere

Perhaps you’ve seen it? While traveling through the east terminal section of Austin Bergstrom International Airport, just beyond the last glorious whiff of Salt Lick BBQ brisket, past the folks drinking expensive cheap wine at Vino Vino, and just before you get to the elevator of the Delta Sky Club…

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Ray Brimble