Eric Scalf is a late twenties blogger and internet entrepeneur from Houston, Texas. Having been in the blogosphere since the late nineties, Eric has made a voice for himself throughout several intersecting circles, worldwide. As a known editorialist and opinioniser, Eric is often at the center of the latest happenings. Using his favorite artistic medium, words, Eric brings a critical, satirical commentary, to the political spectrum, that often hits home when least expected.

Political leanings:

• Overall: Progressive (Progressive, adj., “Promoting or favoring progress toward better conditions or new policies, ideas, or methods.” Also, Progressive, noun, “A person who actively favors or strives for progress toward better conditions, as in society or government.”)
• Social: Predominately Liberal
• Economic: Conservative
• Party Affiliation: None
• Often Mistook for: Democrat
• More Often Mistook for: Libertarian
• Never Mistook for: A bodybuilder
• Current Personal “Hot-Button” Issues: Individual rights, Personal privacy, Internet issues, Certain environmental issues (air quality, oil), Health care
• Favourite Political Party (based on name): National Barking Spider Resurgance
• Contributes To (financially): None
• Contribute To (other): The rise in the national average of depression amongst bloggers
• Other: Standard phase variance resulting in a normalized midline
• Political Buzzwording Ability: Check.

Non-Political Information:

• Age: 28 (although this changes, at least once yearly)
• Sex: Male
• Status: All systems nominal
• Relationship: Yes
• Location: Houston, TX
• Does Houston Have a Problem?: Several
• Sense of Humour: Often misunderstood
• Sense of Self-Amusement: Absolutely
• Willing to Answer Futher Questions, if Asked: Yes.

Hello, I’m Eric Scalf. I hope you enjoyed my little attempt at bringing myself humour. As you can plainly see, I am an often unusual and eccentric individual. Although I use humor (particularly in the form of satire, and self amusement) in a lot of my writing, I also attempt to make (what I feel are) valid points… Particularly in this blog.

If you’re used to reading my other blogs, you will quickly come to realize that, while I write prolifically (and – usually – oddly) every where I can find space, I can also come back down to earth and make valid points.

Politics is a new thing for me. In 2004, I found myself becoming involved in a committee made up of various Houston taxi drivers. As a taxi driver, myself, this was only natural. The committee was attempting to fight pending legislation within the Houston City Council that could/would have a greatly negative impact on the Houston taxi industry. As 95% of the taxi companies within Houston are independantly owned (one owner, drives his own taxi) – and as 100% of the taxi drivers within Houston are independant contractors/owner operators – the passing of the legislation could cause irrevocable damage to the lives of many Houstonians.

During that time in 2004, I was in and out of driver meetings, and City Council meetings. I found myself speaking before the Council on more than one occasion, and before varying groups of people (drivers, dispatchers, company owners), many times. Eventually, I came to fall in the groove of the political spectrum within Houston.

As time went on, I became more and more interested in varying issues. Shortly after I resigned from the taxi groups (due to my leaving the field), Texas Proposition 2 (2005) became big news. Over the next several months, I spent my spare time finding information, and writing opinion and editorial articles on Prop 2. Although I did not have the ability to participate in specific groups, I took the time to get the word out, and – in doing so – learned a bit more about politics.

Now, I find myself become more and more interested in what goes on in the world around me, and particularly how that world is run. Over time, I hope to come to understand this country, state, and city with more depth and compassion than I used to. I hope you’ll bear with me, as I work through learning about this great driving force behind the world.

Thank you for stopping by MindFyre Politics. I hope you’ll come back, soon.

-Eric “Fyre” Scalf
(Feb, 2006)