DFW DART Dude discovers a celebrity on NWHY

"Mad Men": Stillbirth of the American dream

This review from Salon does a great job pulling in advertising's impact on our culture and what we value.

The "ah-ha" moment comes near the end regarding how the American consumer citizen shapes their vision of happiness based on advertising. The magic of "Mad Men" is how it's showing the "Cold War Era" is really -- in fact -- shaddowed by the "Advertising Age."

The corporate culture, consumerism, materialism, the nuclear family ...all results from advertising.

A seriously great read!

May the Force Be with You!

I love flash mobs...love them!!!

Here's one caught on film (HD no less!) that uses a really unique approach that makes for a great for a performance on public transportation. I just find it hard to believe people here in DFW would get a kick out of it as much...we do like our cocoons when we ride on DART.

Now that I think of it, even during rush hour, it's pretty pretty quiet on the DART --- even when it's packed with passengers...

anyway...enjoy!

When you become a super star, evil, bitter enemies are bound to pop up!

Unfair Park's posting of an interview with Patrick "Car-Free" Kennedy generated some robust comments back and forth that sounded pretty defensive as they attacked Patrick's answers.

I threw in my two cents with a more philosophical approach and tried to be as empathetic-sounding as possible.

I really strive toward being positive and non-judgmental toward people who refuse to embrace living life without a car. Lots of people tell me they’re impressed and admire me for “standing up to the challenge.” They’ll admit that it’s a good thing to do, but just not them. Their lives are way too complicated to live life without a car. Mothers especially!

I bite my tongue and won’t get all preachy on them. I’ve learned that whenever someone says they “can’t do something,” what they’re really saying is the “don’t know how” to do something. So then the point becomes, whether or not someone is willing to learn…

Here’s what I wrote:

It's not whether or not someone doesn’t want to live a carless life; it's just that they don't know how. Anyone who says they can’t, they just don’t know how. Now, whether or not they want to learn…that’s another story.

There’s got to be less preaching and a lot more teaching! No matter how much infrastructure is put in place, the car culture cannot change overnight. If it gets crammed down anyone’s throats, they’ll react defensively and resist the concepts because they are holding on to cultural memories. Although…when gas prices do go up…you do see a lot more people starting to let loose of their cultural memories.

Seeing is believing: they cannot envision life without a car because that’s all they’ve ever known. It took more than 40 years for people – as well as the government – to embrace the fact that smoking is dangerous and take aggressive steps to erase its impact from our culture.

Living a carless life is a lifestyle that requires a designer to design that “style.” As the younger generation starts designing their lives around alternative dwellings and communities outside the suburban way of life...it will become more mainstream.

The whole “less is more” approach to life is going to take a long time to take hold in our car culture. We’re talking status, comfort, convenience and safety…all of which are ‘perceived.’

It wouldn’t hurt to show how sexy a walkable city can be too!

Totally unscripted and caught by surprise reaction to my new fame!

DFW DART Dude gets discovered by D Magazine

The reviews are in folks!!! I can officially say now that I have been reviewed.

"...enjoy a selection of the DART Dude’s work. If you become addicted (like so many of us in the office are) check out his blog and YouTube channel."
Peter Simik
D Magazine

"...the DART Dude gets around this car loving town without a car, and his adventures are both inspiring and curiously humorous."
Peter Simik
D Magazine

DFW DART Dude Celebrates July 4th in the West Village