Michael Bluejay


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"Even my mom said you were a sweet boy, and as you probably surmised, she dislikes most people." -- Kelly Fine

 "You have the personality of a Wall Street broker with the value system of a hippie." -- Corinne Carson

Beware of imposters. People sometimes make fake websites or Facebook accounts pretending to be me.  If you can't believe "I" said something on another site...you're probably right, I didn't say it.  Just because someone attached my name to it doesn't mean it's really me.

Last update: July 2024
I'm a writer, publishing lots of websites which have become semi-popular, such as my sites on saving electricity,  how to buy a house, bicycle safety, and Vegas/gambling.  My work has been referenced in the New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, BusinessWeek, NPR, WIRED magazine, and scores of other magazines and newspapers.  I rarely write for other publications but I did have cover stories in Casino Player, Australian Cyclist, and Car Busters magazines.

According to Business Insider, I'm "famous" (though I'll consider myself truly successful when and if I become notable enough to merit a Wikipedia article), and the Austin Startups List called me a "raconteur".

I am no relation to the Michael Bluejáy who appeared in Nature Cat.

I was born in 1967.  The pictures at right are old.  I think I last updated them in 2006, and most are older than that.

My happiest accomplishments include:

  • My websites—many of which have been #1 in Google for things like "saving electricity" and "how to buy a house". My article on bicycle safety has been translated into several languages and reprinted all over the world.  My site Bicycle Austin garnered a Best of Austin award from the Austin Chronicle.
  • Playing piano with Ben Folds Five. (Hear the mp3.)
  • The #3 ranking for my former band, King Cheese, in an Austin Chronicle music poll—as well as the time King Coffey from the Butthole Surfers sat in with us.
  • The activist work I've done (for the environment, housing co-ops, community radio, and especially my anti-cult work).
  • Finishing my two running marathons (26.2 miles each) in under four hours for each one (and on track for a 3:37 until an injury ended my running career), then doing the Austin Marathon with a handcycle in 3:04.
  • Bicycling across Texas and Louisiana.
  • Learning Japanese and climbing Mt. Fuji.
  • Crossing the Atlantic & Pacific oceans by cargo ship, since I decided not to fly any more because flying causes climate change.
  • Creating what may be the three most difficult tongue-twisters in the English language:  "Rare real rear wheel." • "Fruit fly problem" • "Patty's porta-potty party"

 

Cult experiences. I was born into a mind-control cult called Aesthetic Realism, since my mother was born into it.  She was born into it as well, since her own parents were some of the original members. I had at least one "lesson" with the founder/leader Eli Siegel at age two years.  I ceased to have any involvement around the time I became a teenager. I feel that telling the world the truth about this group is some of my most important work, which I do through my website about Aesthetic Realism.

 

My name. Michael Bluejay is my real, legal name. I changed it legally shortly after college because I wanted a name that was easier to say, understand, remember, and spell.  There is nothing Native American about my name, although there is much that I admire about Native American cultures and I'm glad to incorporate nature (and my favorite color) into my name.  Very few people know my middle name, but I'll tell you if you write me.

 

Geography.  I was born in New York City, and when I was 5 my family moved to Krum, Texas (a small farming community).  I then moved to Austin, TX to go to college, where I've been ever since.


My activities

  • Websites.  See above.

  • Music. I play piano and guitar, and used to be in some local bands, including the popular King Cheese.  (I was thrilled when King Coffey from the Butthole Surfers sat in with us.)  I've never gotten around to recording much of my music, but here's one song.  Here's a video of my backing Miss Xanna Don't at Hole in the Wall.  My luckiest musical moment was playing onstage at a sold-out show with Ben Folds Five.  I was a founding member of Club Whatever and my band Godzilla on Ice performed comedy songs I wrote such as "Grandma was a Lesbian" and "Masturbate My Tears Away".  I attended a few Rock & Roll Fantasy Camps, which allowed me to record at Abbey Road Studies (where the Beatles made their records), and to play with such amazing musicians as Alan White (Yes, John Lennon), Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Roger Daltrey (The Who), Jack Bruce (Cream), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Ace Frehley (KISS), and others.

  • Volunteerism & Activism

Current projects:

Previous projects:

    • Guardian for my neighbor.  My 96-year-old next-door neighbor never married and never had any kids, so he outlived all his family and most of his friends.  I became his guardian so I could arrange in-home care so he wouldn't have to go to a nursing home (since he strongly didn't want to go there).
    • Student housing co-op.  On the board of directors, and lots of volunteer work for ICC.
    • Co-op grocery store.  Various projects, including analyzing survey data, for Wheatsville.  I still handle the web hosting of Wheatsville.com for them.
    • Nursing home.  I played piano on Christmas at the local nursing home, often with my friends like April Porter or Laura Freeman.
    • Bicycling.  I worked on campaigns to get cars out of bike lanes and to oppose mandatory helmet laws.  I hosted a 15-minute radio show about bicycling.
    • Precinct Delegate.  In 2002 I was elected a precinct delegate to the Travis County Democratic Convention (though I don't identify as "Democrat").
    • Earth First!  I was proud to be an activist in this pioneering environmental group back in the day.
    • Polemicist.  In college I did the typesetting for this alternative newspaper.  Though short-lived, the paper was very popular and of very high quality, and I am very proud to have been a part of it.  After that, I typeset its successor, The Other Texan.
  • Bicycling. I rode a bicycle for transportation for my primary transportation for 27 years (not owning a car, or even having a driver's license).  We finally got a car after the wife nearly got killed a few times riding her own bicycle.  I rode in Critical Mass for many years but stopped when the riders became too confrontational with motorists for my tastes. I biked from El Paso to Austin with Bessie Green, and biked from Austin to Baton Rouge with Lara Millsom. Four times when I moved, I moved all my belongings entirely with a large, custom-built bicycle trailer (including all the furniture and appliances). (see pictures)

  • Running.  On a lark I ran the Las Vegas Marathon in Dec. 2005, and finished in the top 17% with a time of 3:59:56, even though I didn't have any experience as a runner and trained for just 3.5 months, running fewer than three times a week.  A few years later I ran a mountainous marathon in Japan and finished in 3:57:30, and ran a half-marathon distance in January 2010 in 1:43:26, which predicts a 3:37 marathon finish, and would put me in the top 1/3 for my age and gender group in most races, but an injury ended my running career before I could do another marathon.  In 2012 I did the Austin Marathon in a handcycle, finishing in 3:04.

  • Travel.   I've traveled to the U.K., Netherlands, Czech Republic, India, Africa, China, and Japan.  Because of the energy required for air travel, I now generally make international trips by cargo ship instead of by plane, and within a country I often travel by train or bus.

  • Chess.  My rating on Chess.com for Rapid games puts me in the 98th percentile on a good day.  I like to play without looking at the board, though I usually get lost before 40 half-moves.  I took lessons from a U.S. Women's Champion (Jennifer Shahade), and was quickly trounced by a Women's World Champion (Susan Polgar) in a simultaneous exhibition.

  • Brushes with fame.  I've got a semi-hobby of meeting famous and semi-famous people, including Paul McCartney and Ring Starr.  I also know or have met lots of local movers and shakers.  I have a separate page with the list.
  • I've gone to Burning Man five times, the first time being 1998, before it got huge.  Volume 5 of their newsletter linked to an article I wrote about it.

    •  

    Work history

    • 2004-present:  Self-publish websites, landlord
    • 2002-2017:  Website development for others
    • 2002:  Counting cards at blackjack in Las Vegas
    • 1996-99:  Musician
    • 1992-97:  Trainer, Supervisor, Tech Support Agent at Apple
    • 1990-92:  Ran a small business doing desktop publishing, computer training, and resume writing
    • 1987-89:  Taught continuing education computer classes at UT-Austin


    Lifestyle. I'm largely a minimalist, eschewing most aspects of consumer culture, and was lucky enough to find a partner who prefers to live the same way.  I didn't own a car for 27 consecutive years of my adult life and I've often moved house entirely by bicycle.  We got a car only when my wife nearly got killed on her bicycle by reckless drivers multiple times in the same week. (We drive the car less than half of the U.S. average, and it uses half as much gas as the average car, so I kind of feel that we only bought 1/4th of a car).  I became a vegan in the 80s, long before it was fashionable, though one of my best friends is notable for being an ex-vegan and running a site critical of veganism.  (I actually think he's right about many of his complaints, especially the cultish nature of veganism.)

    For years I slept on blankets instead of a bed, didn't use air conditioning unless it got above 86°F inside, or heat until it got below about 55°.  Marriage has necessitated some changes, though we still buy almost our clothes second-hand, generate very little trash (we probably take out the trash once every 3-4 weeks), and have never had cable television.  For years our house was about 1000sf, less than half the size of the median U.S. home.  I think I was in elementary school the last time I had an aspirin, I've never had a beer in my life, and I drink soda only twice a year.  I don't feel this simpler life is a sacrifice, it's just what's most natural and comfortable to me.  I'm not depriving myself because I don't pine for more.  Typical lifestyles just feel excessive and wasteful to me.

    I used to live at House of Commons (a 26-member vegetarian house populated mostly by college students), and then for a couple of years at its sister co-op, Royal House.

    I have tattoos of pianos.

    I like things that are random and silly.


    My writing

    I pretend that I'm a writer, but in reality I'm an information-organizer.  My prose has never been anything to write home about, but if I have one skill, it's taking data and organizing and presenting it logically. That's the thing people usually say about my sites.  For instance:
    "I am amazed. Usually I read these and find all kinds of reasons to say, yes good, but ... In this case, this is probably one of the BEST, most concise, easy to understand articles on SEO - and it tells it like it is. I made this a sticky- and think EVERYONE on this forum should read it.

    "I just stumbled across this site in the pursuit of answering the question "Why is my electric bill so high?" and really like how utterly accessible and easy to understand it is." -- Sig Hafstrom, Tools 'n' Tips

    "His quality of writing, organisation, and explanation are an inspiration. — Greg Walker, Learn Me a Bitcoin

    "His writing is also great because he's so straightforward there's no question where he stands on his topics."     -- Bohemian Revolution.

    "Michael Bluejay's comprehensive explanation of how slot machines work [is], in my opinion, the best one out there." -- Gaming the Odds

    Though some people just really do like the writing itself.

    "I also always include a link to Bluejay's site on a given topic. His information and writing are just too solid to leave out." -- Gambling Hero network

    "I was checking out some of the articles on [his] site and they are excellent. You don't see the usual garbage reiterated on multiple gambling sites but [rather] well thought out and researched articles. A couple articles that I thought were pretty awesome and a great read..." -- Casino Regular

    And it's comments like the following that make it all worthwhile.

    "Michael Bluejay is essentially a one man army of exceptionally informative single purpose websites. I cannot suggest his staggering array of eclectic information enough." -- MetaFilter reader


    I am not a blogger; MichaelBluejay.com is not a blog

    Blogs are run by blogging software which require no technical expertise on the part of the blogger.  By contrast, I code my websites from scratch.  That's certainly not the only difference. Here's a rundown.

    Blog My sites
    Powered by blog software Coded from scratch
    Content is news Content is reference
    Content presented as posts Content presented as articles
    Posts are generally not updated as information changes Articles are generally updated
    Content presented in reverse-chronological order Content organized by topic
    Difficult to see at a glance what content is available on the site Menus show the bulk of what's available
    Lots of clicking/scrolling required to find anything besides the most recent posts Access to hundreds of articles with no more than 2-3 clicks
    Topic tags, trackbacks, user commenting, RSS None of these
    No special content tools, usually Tons of unique calculators and tools.


    Relationship, Friends, & Social Networking

    I've been married since 2011, but don't say much about it because privacy.  Ditto for friends, since I don't see a need to broadcast about others on my page. But here are some of my enemies so you can see what people who don't like me think:

    On the other hand, I do have some fans... (e.g., Saving the World and BSwan Journal)

    I don't do any of the online social networks because I don't have time.

    Is the measure of success when people you don't even know claim that you're their friend?  I don't know, but I noted with amusement when the author of one website referred to "my good friend Michael BlueJay [sic]".  In reality, I met that guy once, at a convention, for a few minutes.  [The web page in question is no longer up, hence no link.]

    Philosophy

    • The three traits I admire most in people are selflessness, honesty, action, and intelligence, in that order.  Unfortunately it seems to me that people with all those traits are in the minority, so I try to surround myself with those who do.  Naturally I try to exhibit these qualities myself, and can only hope that I succeed more than I fail.
    • When I die I hope what people say about me was that they could trust me.
    • The true test of integrity is not how well we treat our family and friends, it's how well we treat strangers.  I try to keep that in mind on a daily basis (though I admit that I make exceptions for those who try to waste my time for their own benefit).
    • I believe in living the life you want regardless of outside pressure to do otherwise. Many people claim to have the same feeling but I'm not sure how much they actually act on it.
    • I've treated many people very badly, I regret it, and I think about those mistakes every day.  I sorely wish I could change the past.  I've apologized to the people I could find.  If you think I owe you an apology, let me know and you'll probably get it.  I hope I'm a better person now.

    Other Skills & Accomplishments

    • Got the highest possible score on the SAT's Test of Standard Written English (no longer part of the SAT)
    • Type 100 wpm (on the Dvorak keyboard)
    • Bicycled over 100 miles in one day, twice
    • Went to the state finals in debate in high school (lost the state championship by just one vote)
    • Electrical maintenance and installation of ceramic tile floors
    • Speak some Japanese
    • Can juggle three balls, and can solve the Rubik's Cube in 8.5 minutes (yeah, that's a long time, I know, but hey)
    • Avoiding parallel structure
     

    Other miscellaneous accomplishments & experiences

    • Meeting the two vegetarian Beatles (Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney)
    • Played the title character in the premiere of the stage musical Who is Jim Holt?.  Also played piano/bass for scenes in which I wasn't onstage, and co-wrote one of the songs.
    • Got dissed by Paul Schaffer in Vegetarian Heaven restaurant in midtown Manhattan.
    • Surreptitiously painted a billboard with friends.
    • Moved four times, entirely by bicycle.
    • Got arrested for playing the piano in the mall, and wore a dress to a strip club without getting beat up.
    • Featured on the front page of The Daily Texan and Abilene Reporter-News.
    • Received award from a Vice-President of Apple Computer when I worked there for outstanding service or some such B.S.
    • Valedictorian of high school class, state debate finalist, National Merit Letter, Most Likely to Succeed.
     

    Previous work. Chronologically, in the past I've made money from janitorial work, dishwashing, performing live music, telemarketing, secretarial work, word processing, tutoring, software testing, teaching, writing resumes, desktop publishing, technical support, supervising techs, training techs, real estate investment, day trading stocks, landlording, counting cards at blackjack, conference speaking, web design/development, writing for magazines, selling adspace, writing/publishing on the web, making subprime housing loans, and trading Bitcoin.



    I don't do Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other social networking sites.
    Don't waste your time trying to find or friend me there. :)
  • Contact me
    		•

    ARTICLES I'M QUOTED IN, OR MY WORK IS REFERENCED

    Anti-Cult

  • "Deliberations" podcast on cults, Mar 15, 2019
  • Soho group is still preaching, quietly, the principles of Eli Siegel, The Villager, July 19, 2018
  • American Night The Literary Left in the Era of the Cold War (book), by Alan M. Wald, 2012
  • Grant recipient alleged to be a cult, Albany Times Union, Apr 21 2008

    • Saving Electricity

    "Michael Bluejay runs the outstanding Saving Electricity site that I've mentioned many times before." —J.D. Roth, Get Rich Slowly

  • Deep Green (book) by Jenny Nazak, 2018
  • Small Steps, Big Strides: Building Sustainability Habits at Home (book), Lucinda F. Brown, 2016
  • How much money you'll save with these common energy-saving strategies, Lifehacker, Sep. 28, 2015
  • Radio interview about saving electricity, Newstalk 1010 (Toronto), April 21, 2015
  • How much does your PC cost in electricity?, PC Mech, Nov 21, 2013
  • How Much Electricity Do Your Gadgets Really Use?, Forbes, Sep. 7, 2013
  • Can my bicycle power my toaster?, Grist, June 10, 2013
  • Six summer debt traps and how to avoid them, Main St, June 5, 2013
  • To convert to gas or electric?, Marketplace Radio (NPR), July 20, 2012
  • 8 Simple Ways to Reduce Household Waste, Living Green Magazine, June 29, 2012
  • Why is my electric bill so high?, New York Daily News, Mar. 27, 2012
  • Fight the Power, CTV (Canada's largest private broadcaster), Mar. 23, 2012
  • How to Cut Your Electric Bill, Business Insider, Mar. 20, 2012
  • Tips to save energy when using your computer, WPLG Channel 10 (Miami, FL), Feb. 23, 2012
  • How long will it take an energy-efficient washer/dryer to pay for itself?, Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 29, 2011
  • 10 Easy Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill, Forbes, August 23, 2011
  • 18 ways to save on utility bills, AARP, July 9, 2011
  • How to Save $500 Worth of Energy This Summer, TIME magazine, June 28, 2011
  • Hot over the energy bill? Turn off the A/C, just chill, Chicago Tribune, June 24, 2011
  • Cool Site of the Day, Kim Komando (syndicated radio host), May 29, 2011
  • This calculator shows how much you spend washing clothes, Lifehacker, May 6, 2011
  • What you pay when you're away, WCPO Channel 9 (Cincinatti), May 5, 2011
  • Spotting energy gluttons in your home, Chicago Tribune (CA), Apr. 7, 2011
  • Walnut Creek author has tips for livng a thrifty life, Contra Costa Times (CA), Jan. 24, 2011
  • Do space heaters save money and energy?, Mother Jones, Jan. 10, 2011
  • Energy steps to take for a less pricey winter, Reuters, Nov. 10, 2010
  • Should you shut down your computer or put it to sleep?, Mother Jones, Nov. 1, 2010
  • Energy saving tips for fall, Chicago Tribune & Seattle Times Nov. 7, 2010
  • 10 ways to save money on your utility bill, Yahoo! Finance, Oct. 2, 2010
  • Mr. Electricity Ranks Refrigerators & Electrical Wasters, Green Building Elements, Sep. 8, 2010
  • The case against long-distance relationships, Slate, Sep. 3, 2010
  • 10 household items that are bleeding you dry, Times Daily (Florence, AL), July 27, 2010
  • Cold, hard cash, Kansas City Star, June 22, 10
  • Stretch your dollar, not your budget, Globe and Mail, May 18, 2010
  • Auto abstinence, onearth magazine, Winter 2010
  • 2010 Frugal Living Guide, Bankrate.com
  • Energy-saving schemes yield €5.8m in savings, Times of Malta, Dec. 20, 09
  • Four ways to reduce your PC's carbon footprint, CNET, Dec 2, 09
  • The day I hit the brakes, onearth magazine, Fall 2009
  • How Much Do You Really Save By Air-Drying Your Clothes?, The Simple Dollar, 2010
  • Enjoy the mild weather, low electricity bills, Detroit Free Press, Jul 18, 09
  • The most energy-efficient way to heat a cup of water, Christian Science Monitor, Jun 16, 09
  • Ten ways to save energy, Times of Malta, Jan 3, 09
  • Measuring your green IT baseline, InfoWorld, Sep 4, 08
  • Bald Brothers Breakfast (MP3), ABC Adelaide, March 27, 2007
  • Net Interest, Newsweek, Feb 12, 07
  • The Power Hungry Digital Lifestyle, PC Magazine, Sep 4, 07
  • Net Interest, Newsweek, Feb 12, 07
  • Answers to all your electricity questions, Treehugger, Jul 11, 08
  • Going Green, Monsters and Critics, Jan 6, 2007
  • A hunt for energy hogs, Wall Street Journal Online, Dec 18, 06

    • Personal

  • Q&A w/Michael Bluejay, our favorite advocate for safe cycling, Bikes and Humans, Mar 3, 16

    • Environment

    Beef and the environment, radio interview with Clive Bull of LBC, UK, Jul 22 14
  • The case against long-distance relationships, Slate, Oct 22, 08
  • How virtuous is Ed Begley Jr.?, New York Times blog, Feb 25, 08

    • How to Buy a House

  • Renting v. buying your home: an affordability check, The Globe & Mail, May 30, 11
  • Financial Plan: Accumulating Wealth, Botswana Gazette, Sep 22, 10
  • How Much House Can Your Buyer Afford?, Realtor Magazine, Oct 12, 09
  • How Much House Can You Afford?, BusinessWeeek blog, Oct 8, 09

    • Gambling

    Famous Tweets

    Academic references

    • Our article on the Gambler's Fallacy is part of the reading for a class at Middle Tennessee State University. (Dec. 2021)

    Articles

    The Easy Vegas editor also wrote the cover story for Casino Player magazine in October 2005 and Wikipedia references our article on slot machines in its own article on the subject.

    Web Interviews

    Radio Interviews

    • WCAP 980, Eagle Radio 1100, Sicilian Corner, interview about slot machines. (Mar 18, 2016)
    • Gambling with an Edge, hosted by Bob Dancer & Richard Munchkin (July 28, 2015)
    • WOGL, 98.1fm, Philadelphia PA, Morning Show, about the new Sugar House Casino in Philly (Sep. 23, 2010)
    • KSRO, 1350am, Sonoma County, CA, Marci Smothers Show, about casino gambling (Aug. 5, 2005), MP3

    Bicycles & Transportation

  • Austin cyclist group rides in memory of Tony Diaz, Fox 7, Feb 13, 2019
  • Being the Change: Live Well and Start a Climate Revolution (Ch. 8), Peter Kalmus, 2017
    Bike Month Continues    , AC, May 8, 15
  • Bikes & Cars, Access Utah, (radio interview), May 28, 13
  • 10 easy ways to reduce your impact, 20 Something Finance, Apr 22, 13
  • Biking vs. Driving Calculator, Get Rich Slowly, Jun 27, 11
  • How to not get hit by a car, William Lake Tribune, Apr 22, 11
  • Death by Car Door, Take Part, Mar 10, 2011
  • Obama bicycles, The Hill, Aug 29, 09
  • Critical Mass arrests, AC, Apr 10, 09
    Man riding bike killed on West side, San Antonio Express-News, Sep 27, 08
  • Bike Lanes: Not Just for Bikes Anymore, (photo only) AC, Sep 19, 08
  • New Study Raises Specter of Helmet Law, AC, Jun 6, 08
  • [Hungarian newspaper], Oct 27, 07
  • Harvest Moon Ride, DT, Oct 1 07
  • The Bicycle Thief, Salon, Sep 14, 07
  • Riding at Risk, AC, Nov 10, 06
  • Mass of Arrests, Winnipeg Sun, May 28 '06
  • Shall we bike?, AC, May 26, '06
  • Bike to Work Week, News 8 Austin, May 18, '06
  • Bike Buffs, The Varsity (U. of Toronto), May 16, 2006
    Bike Month    , DT, Apr 28, 2006
  • Bike lanes on Shoal Creek Blvd., AAS, Feb 14, 06
  • Bike to Work Week, News 8 Austin, May 16, 05
  • Shoal Creek Frankencurbs, AC, Mar 24, 05
  • Cyclists take a back seat to drivers, DT, Jan 19, 05
  • 100 cyclists are arrested, NY Times, Aug 27, 04
  • City Council hopes to add 26th St. bike lane, DT, Aug 6, 04
  • City considers two-way Cesar Chavez, DT, July 28, 04
  • This Pedal Pusher calls the tunes, LA Times, Jul 25, 04
    World Bike Ride, AAS, Jun 11, 04, front page
    Saving the environment, one bicycle at a time, The Equinox (Keene State College), Dec 3, 03
  • Web sites available to give bike riders sound advice, Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), May 15, 03
  • Plan helps you divorce your car, AAS, Jul 8, 02
  • Road Raging: The Video, AC, Nov 9, 01
  • Road bonds, DT, Nov 8, 01
  • Road bonds, DT, Oct 25, 01
  • Biking Revolution, DT, Sep 25, 01
  • Bike Lane on 26th St., DT, Apr 5, 01
    Scooter Injuries: Are Helmet Laws the Solution?,
       FoxNews.com, Oct 3, 00
  • Media Clips: Standing Up for Cyclists, AC, Mar 24, 00
  • Stop, Thief! [bike theft], AC, Nov 26, 99
  • Yours Truly, Amy Babich, AAS, Feb 8, 99
  • Riding on the Wrong Side, [police harassment of bicyclists] AC, Oct 17, 97
  • Activism on Wheels [helmet law & bicycle politics], AC, May 23, 97
  • Critical Mass split-off tries bike advocacy the nice way, AAS, Apr 27, 96

    • Batteries

  • Get energized by better battery choices, Seattle Times, Jan 9, 15
  • The challenge of recharging just one AAA battery, Times Colonist, Mar 31, 14
  • Best Battery Chargers, Wired, June 2001

    • Other

  • Alan White, longtime drummer for prog rock’s Yes, dead at 72, Detroit News, 5/26/22.
  • Integrating Economic and Utility Concepts for a Comprehensive Bridge Valuation Model, Transportation Research Record, Jul 7, 2020 (They used a map I drew)
  • How to Rise above the Chatter, Grow Followers, and Deliver Rich, Powerful Content on the Web, Black Swan Telecom Journal, Mar '15
  • Love immigrants, hate immigration, The Ecologist, Jun 19, 14
  • Red, White, Blue, and Gold(man Sachs) [re:socially-responsible stocks], Counterpunch, Mar 28, 14
  • Austin Marathon Men's Results, AAS, Feb 19, 12
  • Sustainable Living, Good Life Magazine, Sept. 2005
  • Food Websites, AC, Nov. 5, 04
  • Page 2 (re: Nader and the election) AC, July 4, 03
  • PeTA: Where only women are treated like meat, NoStatusQuo.com, 2001 [I'm not really quoted, but I'm listed in the acknowledgements. Never thought I'd see my name in the same sentence as author Carol Adams.]

    • My old band, King Cheese

  • Article about Wheatsville, mentioning our track on the store-produced CD, AC, Sep 14, 09
  • Review of The Wheat Album (3 stars), AC, Apr 23, 99
  • New Wave Schtick of the 90's, AC, Jul 18, 97
  • Music Good and Cheesy , AAS, Jul 31, 97
  • #3 Austin cover band 98-99, AC
    #6 Austin cover band 97-98, AC
  • #6 Austin cover band 96-97, AC

    • KOOP Radio Controversy

    Radio Waves, AC, April 16, 1999
  • A Hunger for Hard News, AC, Jan. 15, 1999
  • Naked City, AC, Nov. 6, 1998

    AC=Austin Chronicle
    AAS=Austin American-Statesman
    DT=Daily Texan

    MY MOST POPULAR WEBSITES

    Saving Electricity | How to Buy a House
    Getting listed high in Google
    How to Not Get Hit By Cars
    Vegas for Visitors | Cheap Airfare Guide

    BOOKS

    Critical Mass: Bicycling's Defiant Celebration (contributor), AK Press, 2002

    Gambling 102: The Best Strategies for All Casino Games (editor), Huntington Press, 2005

    MY WORK USED IN COLLEGE CLASSES

    Rent vs. Buy Calculator. IT1020, Integrating Business and Technology at Central New Mexico Community College, 2009-10

    How to Buy a House  FIN-101, Personal Finance, College of Southern Nevada, 2009

    My work is used in middle- and high-school classes too numerous to mention.

    MOVIES & VIDEO

    Bike Like U Mean It (documentary about Austin bicycle culture), 2002. (video, info)

    Gifting It: A Burning Embrace of Gift Economy, 2002

    Man of the House, 2004. (played a newspaper photographer, uncredited)

    TELEVISION

    KVUE News, Austin, marathon results (at the end of the video). Feb. 19, 2012

    Bike Like U Mean It (documentary about Austin bicycle culture), 2002. Aired on a cable network in 2004 and KLRU in Austin in 2005.

    KEYE-42 News, Austin, about my guide to cheap airfare. Nov. 4, 2004

    KEYE-42 News, Austin, about the questionable efficacy of bike helmets. July 31, 2001

    ARTICLES I'VE WRITTEN, PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE

    Secrets of Money Management, Casino Player magazine, cover story, Oct. 2005

    Reader comment: " It was the best article on Money Management I've read."

    Changing Domains and Redirecting Pages, High Rankings Advisor, Jan. 5, 2005

    Flip-It [casino game] The Wizard of Odds website, Mar. 2002

    How to Not Get Hit by Cars. My treatise on this subject for bicyclists has been reprinted all over the world, including as a cover story in Car Busters.

    Battery Chargers, WIRED magazine, June 2001
      (They left me off the list of contributors, which is okay I guess, since after they edited the article it bore no resemblance to what I submitted. I still got my $400.)

    Nudist Camp Owner Arrested, ICONoclast, (before I changed my name)

    LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

    Lights up (lead letter), Austin Chronicle [AC], 11/24/23

  • Motorists also break the law (lead letter) AC, May 23 '08
  • Chance analysis, AC, Oct 22, '04
  • Bike lanes blocked by neighborhood, AC, Oct 1, '04
  • Why Nader voters aren't responsible for Bush's election, AC, Jul 4 03 (note the personal mention by the editor in his own column, and reader responses the following week
  • Radicals steal KOOP Radio from Austin, AC, Jun 27 03
  • Critical Mass: The Real Story, AC, Nov 9 01
  • Illuminating the Bike Laws, AC, Dec 1 00
  • Holier, Purer, Better, AC, Nov 24 00
  • Bipartisan Boondoggle, AC, Nov 17 00
  • Last Chance for Change [light rail], AC, Oct. 27 00
  • Get off bus, on light rail, AC, Jul 28 00
  • In Defense of [Amy] Babich, AC, Jun 30 00
  • Lacto for Lassie [vegetarianism], AC, Feb. 19, 99
  • No Respect [re: KOOP Radio controversy], AC, Jan 15, 99
  • Dig Deeper [KOOP Radio], AC, Aug 21, 98
  • Cheesed Off, [my band], AC, Apr 2, 98
  • On Free Speech and Choice, AC, Oct 3, 97
  • Cheesy Plug [my band], AC, Dec 6, 96

    OLDER RADIO INTERVIEWS

    KSRO, 1350am, Sonoma County, CA, Marci Smothers Show, about casino gambling, Aug. 5, 2005 MP3

    KSBN, 1230am, Spokane WA, About bicycle helmet laws, July 21, 2004

    KVRX 91.7, Austin, About cycling justice issues, April 2002

    KOOP 91.7, Austin, Dozens of times between 1996-2002 about cycling issues

    CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

    Finances 101, North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, Nov. 2004 (see handouts)

    How to Lower Room Rates, NASCO Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, Nov. 2004 (see handouts)

    Improving Your Co-op's Web Presence, NASCO Manager's Conference, San Antonio, TX, Feb. 2003

    NOMINATIONS, AWARDS, LISTINGS, THANK-YOU'S

    CarBusters Bulletin, Sept. 2002

  • Best Place to Bike the Web, AC, Sept. 15, 2000
  • Save KOOP election endorsements, AC, Feb. 12, 1999
  • 1998 Musicians Register, AC, 1998
  • 1997 Musicians Register, AC, Feb. 1997
  • 1996 Musicians Register, AC, Feb. 23, 1996

    COMMENTS PART OF THE FEDERAL RECORD

    It didn't occur to me when I wrote to the FDA in 2001 insisting that they require genetically modified food to be labeled, that those comments would become part of the permanent federal record.

     


    The Military Budget as Cookies

    This excellent animation from TrueMajority shows in graphic detail (using Oreo cookies) how ridiculously, ridiculously large the military budget is, and how we could solve many domestic problems with a modest 10% cut. The animation is slow to get started but then it gets much better. A must-see.

    (Watch the video...)