Volume 1 - Issue 7 - November 2025

Greetings !

Black Friday and holiday sales will soon be upon us. Holiday stress brings out the worst in us. Do you have angst around "who gets what?" or "Who gets left out?"

Do you start shopping early and buy a whole bunch of the same things in case the need for an emergency gift rears its ugly head?

How about buying books from local and indie authors? As long as you're spending $10 or $20, it's a great way to support small businesses.

I recently drove up to Loveland and sat at a table with three other authors - Linnea, Julie, and Scott - from the Writing Heights Writers Association. Quid Novi is a monthly program about new and creative ideas in thinking, products, and publishing. Each of us had a few minutes to say a few words about our work. The program was about the Sundance Film Festival, moving to Boulder. The topic was of interest to me because I also make documentaries and serve on the Boulder International Film Festival board, preparing for Sundance to come to town.

While I enjoyed the networking and made a few sales. Face-to-face selling isn't the most efficient way to make money. It's a slog, especially for relative nobodies like me, compared to celebs who can reach millions on a five-minute TV segment.

The publishing industry reflects the same economic divide we see everywhere else. The rich and famous receive substantial advances, national interviews, and prime shelf space.

Click to read how the publishing game is rigged ...

My disclaimer: You're receiving this newsletter because at some point over the past 25 years, we've met or corresponded by email. You can unsubscribe if your inbox is already too cluttered. I'll never tell you, "I was instantly attracted to you when I saw your social media profile. Incidentally, will you send me some money? I was kicked out of my apartment."

Float Smarter, Not Harder: Your insider guide to stress-free cruising

Are you ready to swap frequent flying for frequent cruising? Winter is coming, and it's time for a change of scenery to get out of the heat or cold. Here's the handbook for you.

Unless you love scraping windshields or fumbling with frozen car locks, you’re probably dreaming about warmer places. You might also wonder why your nose hairs are freezing. Maybe you're fed up with sitting in air conditioning every day because it's blistering hot outside.

That’s where cruising comes into your getaway plans. Cruises are the ultimate way to travel without security lines or suitcase-wrestling in overhead bins. Instead, you unpack once. Then grab a fruity drink with an umbrella. Let the ship do all the work while you sail to the sunshine. If you're a new cruiser or a seasoned salt, this is a book for you.

Here’s the catch: cruising looks easy, and it is… if you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck in the dreaded interior cabin closet. You wanted to save a few bucks. You didn't know that those savings would be offset by using your stateside cellphone service. This service doesn't work at sea and is very costly.

Read some tips about sailing the high seas ...

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Mockery, Fear, and Unity: The Rabbit Parable for Our Times

We live in a time when political, social, and economic gaps feel more like canyons than cracks. Everyone’s talking in silos, but anyone on the outside can't hear what's being said.

Somewhere along the way, we forgot that consensus begins not at the extremes, but in the space where most people meet, still wonder, and still care.

That’s where my rabbit story enters. His story says more about division and what it takes to close it than a thousand comment threads ever could.

You might recognize yourself in him, or in the others he meets on his way. Either way, once you read The Rabbit Parable, you’ll never see a “gap” the same way again.

Click to read what the rabbit learned ...

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Understanding the Tipping Point of Social Movements

Election season happens in November, mostly local races in the off years. In Boulder, the city council election has been ho-hum to the casual voter. Four incumbents were up for re-election. I voted for one whom I know and three up-and-comers.

I'm always on the lookout for new stories. When Hemingway ran out of ideas, he joined the Army and saved Paris. Hemingway was curious, but I'm not that curious. There was another No Kings rally on October 18th. I used to go to those. Rallies are about my speed these days.

I went to the one in April and stayed home in June. For the October rally, I watched Wyoming football.

The event I attended in April felt to me like a mix between a block party and a civics class. A few thousand people milled around on South Broadway outside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) building, along with a couple of my neighbors and some acquaintances.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) purged a bunch of scientists soon after the Inauguration in January. Weather research and forecasting had become too political. Climate change will do that. I made a sign that read “Melt ICE,” and caught the bus with a crowd of like-minded people. The slogan is a double entendre, referencing global warming thawing the icecaps, and ICE rounding up immigrants, some legal, some not, and sending them to points unknown.

Click to read why No Kings has a life of its own ...

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Black & Tan 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 offers listeners both practical advice and thought-provoking perspectives on our evolving world. Why Listen? Black & Tan is for anyone who wants to:

Discover strategies to bridge gaps and foster connections across diverse 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. Thank you for sticking around. Until next time...

If you have questions or comments, start a conversation by clicking Alan-Bot.

Support Indie Artists: Not just during the holidays, but everyday!