Greetings to

Come August, the summer has flown by. The winter holidays are closer than you think. It is so close that Amazon had a July Prime Day sale that lasted three days.

I'm working on a documentary about a family from Galveston who convened a big family reunion about Juneteenth. I sorted out the clips, and now I'm seeking images from the time General Stuart Granger rode into Texas in 1865 and finally got around to notifying the people there about Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

I have another historical novel, Vengeance at Stone Creek, about a murder in a Japanese internment camp that's going through another edit. I'm outlining a memoir based on my life and baseball cards. Gems with Gemini will be a companion conversation to My Chat with GPT.

I'm trying to sell some of the nine books I have out there. Writing is easy compared to selling. When you choose a gift made by someone who doesn’t have a household name, you’re helping level the playing field in a system tilted toward fame and profit.

Meanwhile, I've been having fun writing short-form stuff, like this newsletter.

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Hard News is Predictable. Basketball? Not so much. Lately, the news feels like déjà vu in all caps.
Same arguments, different names. Another contentious Supreme Court ruling, another storm, another pundit panel shouting past each other.

Whatever happened to the childless cat ladies?

I used to keep up and feel responsible for knowing it all, but shortly after election day 2024. I started reaching for something else, not to escape, but to breathe.

I didn’t stop paying attention to the world. I just started watching it differently.

The news had become reruns with new names, new antics, and new weirdness. What became of those immigrants eating our cats, eating our dogs, eating our pets?

Read the rest of the story ...

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Flashed on Glenwood: The Cost of Doing the Right Thing in Boulder

After a few days away in Colorado Springs for a documentary shoot, I returned home to Boulder and did what any responsible adult would do: restock the fridge.

My first stop? Safeway, or so I thought.

I'd forgotten the workers were on strike. A wall of determined picketers waved me off like I was a getaway driver in a heist movie. Not wanting to cross the line (morally or literally), I nodded respectfully and bailed.

Plan B? King Soopers. I rolled over to Glenwood Avenue, plotting my snack haul, when FLASH! I was blinded by the white light of shame.

Not a UFOnaut from a galaxy far, far, away.

Not enlightenment.

Not paparazzi.

Boulder's photo radar caught me doing 31 in a 20 mph zone.

That’s Boulder for you ... so scenic, so sneaky.

Click to read the rest of the story ...

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Support entrepreneurial, independent artists and buy their work!

I mentioned that I'm trying to sell books. The winter holidays are right around the corner. Works by indie artists make great gifts! It’s easy to click “buy” on a celebrity-endorsed product or bestseller backed by a major publisher.

Those names flood your social media feeds and dominate store shelves. Independent artists, writers, and makers don’t have PR teams or multimillion-dollar marketing budgets. We rely on word of mouth, local events, and supporters like you.

Supporting independent creators isn’t just generous, it’s a quiet act of rebellion against the low-hanging fruit of mass celebrity culture.

Check out my retail and wholesale catalog ...

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Black & Tan podcast wraps Season 1

Black & Tan is a podcast that explores a new story about beer and the intricacies of cultural understanding in today’s rapidly changing world. Season 1 has just wrapped.

Hosted by Pedro Silva, an African American advocate for social equity, and Alan O’Hashi, a Japanese American from Wyoming with a passion for cross-cultural engagement.

The show offers insightful discussions designed to inspire personal change. Each episode tackles ways to bridge cultural divides by making intentional, individual adjustments to foster acceptance and empathy

With engaging conversations, Black & Tan provides listeners with both practical advice and eye-opening perspectives about our evolving world. Why Listen? Black & Tan is for anyone who wants to:

Learn ways to bridge gaps and create connections across different backgrounds.
Gain practical tools to make positive, impactful changes within your communities.
Enjoy lively and thoughtful discussions.
Learn simple, actionable steps to encourage understanding and respect.

Click to check out all episodes on your favorite platform, including Spotify ...

Drop me a line if you run out of things to do. Thanks for sticking around, and until next time ...

Alan O'Hashi, Breaking Bad

Boulder Community Media

If you have questions or comments, message Alan-BCM Bot. We learn more and more every day! You can also click the icon to chat ...

My escape from the cable news 'Doom Loop:' The Golden State Valykries and the Indiana Fever