BRIAN'S HOME PAGE

---

This page best viewed on a Macintosh.

people have visited here since Dec. 18, 1995. The 5,000th person gets a special prize that I will choose especially for that person. Keep trying! :)

The time in Houston, Texas, is...

THE BASICS

Welcome to my home page. What you'll find is not some grand philosophical statement or a shrine devoted to some comic book or something. Instead, you'll find a collection of random links.

In creating a web page, I wasn't trying to do anything, except to organize all my bookmarks. At the time, I was a student at UT, going from computer to computer in the University's labs. I didn't really have a place to store my bookmarks. Creating a page for them seemed like a logical thing to do, since I could access them from any Internet connection.

 Since then, the collection has grown to dozens, including separate pages for my music and TV links. You'll find everything from recipes to weather radar. There's also a special collection of links for journalists.

Please let me know if you find anything useful or just plain fun. :-)

PICTURES

Here are some pictures of me:
 

• This is the most recent, taken in December 1998.
• This is me meeting the country group Lonestar in Dallas in September 1998. The tall guy on the left is my friend Steve from Dallas. Lead singer Richie McDonald is next to him; I am next to Richie, third from the left.
• Here I am in October 1997.
• This is me getting off a bus on a trip to Austin in March 1997.
• I gave a speech at a dinner at the Ex-Students' Association at UT in 1995. This is me speaking there, during my senior year.
• Here's me relaxing at home on my couch in December 1994. I was a junior in college at the time.
• This is me accepting an award in September 1994, my sophomore year.
• Here once-in-a-lifetime shot of me and John Michael Montgomery sharing a laugh behind the scenes at a 1995 Austin concert.

TEXAS

I am a proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. Go 'Horns -- We're Texas!

You can visit The University of Texas right now! Check out this live shot of the Tower as seen from the Co-Op on The Drag, across Guadalupe Street from campus.

 If you're not from Texas (and hell, even if you are), be sure to visit these links:
 

• The "No Place But Texas" home page for all sorts of Lone Star links.
• The official Texas Travel and Tourism home page for what to see and do all around the great State of Texas.

MACINTOSH

And because I believe in the Macintosh so much...
 

Here's Apple's official Macintosh site. Macintosh. The power to open doors, not just windows.

Here's a handy site that can help you learn new Mac tips and tricks -- The Practical Mac.

Between MacInTouch and The Ultimate Macintosh Page, there's nothing Mac related you can't find.

What??? You don't have a Mac? You're kidding... Well, you can test-drive one here (really!) at the Virtual Macintosh. Even if you're not a Mac fan (I can't imagine that), it's still a really, REALLY neat site, and you should visit just to see how creative it is.

Finally, on the software front, you can find tons of great programs at the wonderful Download.com site. This is a great place to visit. You may also want to keep tabs on  VersionTracker

Looking for some fun fonts? Try visiting The Free Font Fairy and see what you can find. Absolutely free.

If you have a 56k modem, you'll find US Robotics' Line Test page to see if your phone line is allowing you to really achieve 56k speeds.

BOOKS

I have found Amazon.com to be a great source of books. Not only do they have an incredible selection, but the prices just can't be beat. If you need a book, they have it. I promise.

"Associated Press Stylebook"

 This book is absolutely indispensable if you are a journalist, or work with words, or even know anyone who does. One step short of a dictionary, the AP stylebook is used in newsrooms and classrooms throughout the country to figure out correct word usage. Things like simple capitalization ("Popsicle" and "Dumpster" are, but "tollhouse cookies" aren't) and when to say "U.S." instead of "United States," make this a book you will actually use. It is written as a quick-reference guide, and is known as "the bible of journalism." I bought my first one in 1993, and I have owned a copy (or three) ever since.

"PowerSleep" by James Maas

 Always sleepy? Drowsy? Millions of Americans are sleep-deprived, and Dr. Maas shows you how to end it! Maas, a professor at Cornell University, takes years and years worth of sleep research, and condenses it into an easily digestible form. Included in the book are "Twenty Great Sleep Strategies" designed to help you get the most from your workday. Sample hint from Maas: Ten-minute naps are better for energy than longer naps. Longer naps put you into deeper sleep and make you groggy upon wakening, he says. Did you know that nearly 60 percent of Americans are chronically sleep-deprived? Are you?

"Illusions" by Richard Bach

 A powerful book that will change the way you look at life. I have re-read this book about 10 to 15 times now, and it never ceases to amaze me. This is a book that really defies description. It's fiction, of course, but when you're reading it, you sometimes forget that. It's a book that speaks to you more than a typical book. I was introduced to it by my 10th grade geometry teacher, Mr. Haskell. I was going through a rather bad patch in my life at the time, and it made a world of difference. I frequently give this book as a gift, and I have never had anyone say anything less that wonderful things about it. give it a try.

"Friday Night Lights" by H.G. Bissinger

 If you live in Texas and have ever been to a high school football game, you owe it to yourself to read this book. If you even KNOW someone who plays football, read this book. It's a gripping non-fiction account of how high school football has become so much more than a game in Odessa. Written by a journalist, the book takes a hard-hitting and eye-opening look at the football machine at Permian High School, and how it affected the town and the players. This book was marked by lots of controversy at its release, mostly by Permian faithful who claimed that the book was an exaggerated account. Read it and judge for yourself.

MY OTHER PAGES

Here are some music links. From George Michael to John Michael, you'll find information and links about the music I love.

I also have a page devoted to TV links. Here are links to news servies, sitcomes and fan sites.

JOURNALISM

For the high school journalist, there are several valuable resources here at your disposal. For general resources, you can visit the home of JEA, the Journalism Education Association.

Also, take a look at the Interscholastic League Press Conference web site. ILPC is Texas' leading high school press association.

 Be sure to visit Jostens, America's leading yearbook publisher and a great, great company. The site isn't finished yet and is a little sketchy as of this date, but when finished, it will provide a wealth of information.

 Also, be sure to check out The Leaguer, the official newsletter of the UIL.

 In the interest of freedom, a page has been set up to publish those stories that principals and school administrators have censored. Visit the Bolt Reporter and see what they don't want you to see. A terrific idea and a great tribute to the First Amendment.

 You'll find some great facts at the Freedom Forum's Journalism Education website.

 A long time ago, Linda Ellerbee and her team at NBC News figured out that when you're national news organization covering a story in Topeka, Kansas, usually the best and most thorough reporting comes from Topeka itself. In that spirit. Yahoo! has set up Full Coverage, a site devoted to the day's top news stories, as covered by the media closest to the event. Read the Rocky Mountain News' coverage of Jon-Benet Ramsey, for example.

 Ever looked at a long-distance phone number and wondered what city it was in? 555-1212.com's site can tell you. All you need is the area code and the 3-digit prefix.

 In a similar vein, maybe you need to do a reverse look up. Maybe you have phone number, and need to know whom it belongs to. If that's the case, look here.

Need information fast? Visit KnowX where you can run online searches on just about anyone on just about anything. It's not free, but it's dirt cheap.

If you're a photographer, check out the very cool Exposure site where you can learn how f/stops and shutter speeds work. Also, you'll find great tips on making your photos that much better. Be sure to check out the addictive camera simulator.

MISCELLANEOUS LINKS
 

And of course, here are some miscellaneous links that are dear to my heart:
 

• The Wal-Mart home page. Always the low price. Always. (Yes, I'm serious. I love this company.)

 
• The American Civil Liberties Union. I'm a big supporter of the ACLU and all the work they've done for civil liberties in this country. Support the fight to save our Constitution!

 

 

In that same vein, here's the Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
 

• Here's my new bank, WellsFargo. Cheesy "Old West" graphics aside, WellsFargo has proven to offer great services at a great price. I get free checking with direct deposit, unlimited ATM and check writing, and free online banking. I also can pay my bills online for only $5 a month. Sure beats what my old bank ("NationsFee") offered me. I'm glad I switched.

 
• While we're on the subject of banks, the best credit card in the world has to be the PlatinumPlus, offered by MBNA America. Combine a great interest rate with unparalleled service, and you've got a winner. They also have special UT platinum cards.

 
• Visit one of the greatest places on earth: Big Bend National Park

 
• I love Louisiana. And I really love New Orleans. Click to find out what there is to see and do in what is possible the greatest place in America. Another site is NOLA Live, where you can keep up to date on goings on in the Big Easy. Most fascinating, though, is the BourboCam, a real-time camera poised at the corner of St. Phillip and Bourbon Streets.

 
• We have our own little gem in Texas -- Austin. Explore it here in a fun site sponsored by the Austin American-Statesman. Also, I found some great pics of my "other hometown" over at this website.

 
• Also, here's a link to Roughstock, the definitive cowboy reference page.

 
• As you'll discover when you visit my music page, I love country music. Here's a place that can fill all your country needs: Country.com. Clever name, eh? :-)

 
• Wanna find out about yourself? Take IQ and Personality Tests here.

 
• Here's a great service. Author/food expert Todd Wilbur has duplicated favorite restauarant Top Secret Recipes. Find out how to make your own Big Macs, KFC original recipe chicken and Arby's sauce. A really neat idea!

 
• You can buy software that does a pretty good job of translating documents from one language to another. But now, AltaVista offers a free site to do translations online. Remember, you get what you pay for. Not all translations are accurate, and translating a document into another language and then BACK can have some really funny results.

 
• Thinking of buying or leasing a new car or truck? Don't think about it without first visiting Intellichoice, a fact-filled site that gives you the upper hand.

 

 

Once you've done that, visit my two favorite maufacturers:

• Dodge for a look at the supersharp Dodge Ram, my next vehicle. Built Ram Tough.
• Pontiac to take a virtual reality look at a new Grand Am GT like the one I drive. Remember: we build excitement.

 
• Here's a fun place I like to visit often. At April Fool's.com, you can play a joke on your friends.

 
• The U.S. Postal Service ZIP code lookup form -- incredibly handy.

 
• Here's live Texas weather radar, and a real-time glimpse of Houston's traffic (not for the faint of heart).

 

 

On that same note, you can now check out all the speed traps in the country.
 

• Need to make travel reservations? Visit Continental Airlines' C.O.O.L. travel reservations assistant for all your airline, hotel and rental car needs.

 
• You might also try The Trip or maybe even Travelocity for your reservation needs.

 
• Another option, especially for Houstonians, is to visit Continental Airlines' own CoolTravelAssistant site for your travel needs. Continental: Work Hard. Fly Right.

 
• And, of course, I feature The Webtender, a bartender's list for those late-night deadlines.

 

 

And would a web page be without a link to Webcrawler for Internet searching ease?
 

Also, visit Texas.Net, my Internet service provider -- proud to serve the Lone Star State.

Send me mail!

[email protected]