Meridian grew 400 percent last year so we had five times as much business as the year before. Much of that was due to the Austin Energy solar rebate.

We're looking at another 25 percent (cut) next year.

I'm now concerned that they've dropped it to below the level where it makes sense for consumers to utilize it.

Meridian is open for business and it's open to this automotive industry that's growing in the southeast and along this I-20 corridor.

I grew up with athletics. They were always important to me. I grew up two doors down from my high school football coach, Dick Walsh. The fact that I'm still in athletics amazes me. I'm proud of it.

What it means is another year sort of like last year, when gross domestic product grew 2.4 percent. That means another year during which the job market doesn't get a whole lot better, but also doesn't collapse. It means another year during which promises of a strong economic rebound are postponed, but so are fears of a double-dip recession. Another year, that is, that will stump the doomsayers even while it fails to inspire us to party like it's 1999.