AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[jngreenlee]

In this video, Council Member Delia Garza argues that downtown density is better for congestion than suburban sprawl, and Council Member Don Zimmerman argues the opposite.

[...]

But even if downtown residents stay downtown and people on the fringes stay on the fringes, the dense development pattern downtown results in less distance spent on the roads. I spent the last weekend up on the edge of Austin, in CM Zimmerman’s district. When I stay at home downtown, there are dozens, maybe hundreds of restaurants within two miles of where I live. When I stay in District 6, traveling 10 miles for a simple night out seems normal and 2.5 miles is super close. This isn’t only about coming into downtown; even staying within the suburbs, trips are longer. [...]

https://austinonyourfeet.wordpress.com/2015/08/10/delia-garza-and-don-zimmerman-debate-density-vs-sprawl/

• Video Link

[nixcity]

Further evidence that this guy is a blabbering idiot.....

[SkyPie]

Originally Posted by nixcity

Further evidence that this guy is a blabbering idiot.....

Not that further evidence was needed, but totally agree.

[lzppjb]

Circuit of the Americas comes in 2nd in poll of NASCAR owners, drivers, crew members and media of whether or not they should add a road course to the Chase.

Please please please please please let this happen. I would go every year.

http://nascartalk.nbcsports.com/2015...chase/related/

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Circuit of the Americas comes in 2nd in poll of NASCAR owners, drivers, crew members and media of whether or not they should add a road course to the Chase.

Please please please please please let this happen. I would go every year.

http://nascartalk.nbcsports.com/2015...chase/related/

I would buy tickets tomorrow.

[Tech House]

Don Zimmerman is the Laura Pressley of actually-elected Council members.

[KevinFromTexas]

This is pretty neat. This is video showing the tuned mass damper of Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan swaying as the city is being hit by Typhoon Soudelor.

• Video Link

This is a diagram that SomeFormOfHuman drew of Taipei 101 showing where the mass damper is located.


Someformofhuman - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuned_...ass_Damper.png

[the Genral]

As we wind down the current wave of construction and begin the next wave, I think these 6 buildings will have more impact on the skyline then the last wave, of course, open to debate;
Independent, 70 Rainey, 5th and West, Aloft/Element, Fairmont, Proper.
That's collectively 231 floors / 2923 feet, or avg. 38.5 floors, 487.17 feet between the big six. By this time next year, we should be getting a jaw dropping idea of how these six are going to be one of the best, if not THE best wave of construction we have seen. At some point, we will have at least 5 cranes at over 400ft at the same time downtown and one at about 350, Element, and the highest over 700'. ( I included the shorter Element because of its location on Congress.) I don't think this has ever happened before and maybe never again. I'm hoping the following wave will finally give us the signature commercial tower we've been waiting for...say around 2019 - 2020, 800 - 900 ft.

[KevinFromTexas]

^Agreed. It's going to be incredible watching that stuff happen. Both sides of downtown have so much planned it's mind blowing.

This was a cool read with lots of interesting links.

http://austin.blog.statesman.com/201...ebook_2014_sfp

What’s wrong with the City of Austin’s flag?
August 25, 2015 | Filed in: around the web.

In 1915, a man named Ray F. Coyle won the $50 grand prize when he came up with the city of Austin’s first flag (see right).

100 years later, some consider his design a little outdated.

One of these critics, Austin-based graphic designer Michael Kriegshauser, recently pointed out that the flag violates more than a few modern flag design principles.

“If we are on the way to being a true international city, it’s time that we graduate from provincial flag to international flag status,” Kriegshauser wrote in an essay on Medium.com, while also noting that Austin’s flag violates nearly all of the principles of designs laid out by the North American Vexillogical Association (an organization dedicated to the study of flags).

[lzppjb]

I commented on the article. I do not like the two proposals at all. I'm all for keeping it the way it is. There's something to be said for tradition. 100 years is a long time. I can see removing the cross, but other than that, and maybe adding a border to break up the white expanse, I wouldn't change anything.

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, I sort of have a "if it ain't broke" view of it. I understand the points they were making, and I totally dove into those other links that were attached to the article, but yeah, it's fine as is.

By the way, what exactly is the significance of the lamp (reminds me of Aladdin) and its connection to education? It's just always been one of those things where while I noticed the symbols on the flag, I never gave it much thought of the meaning.

[lzppjb]

Honestly, I never even noticed the lamp before. haha

Light signifies knowledge, while darkness signifies ignorance. I'm guessing the lamp = light.

Also, the Bible tells Christians to let their light/lamp shine:

Matthew 5:15 "nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house."

Basically, you have the knowledge of what's right, don't keep it to yourself, but share it with everyone.

So, I can see it meaning knowledge for the flag, but the cross also tells us the designer had a bit of a religious tilt, so he may have been saying Austin needs to be a shining light on a hill. Jesus said (Matthew 5:14) - "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."

[hookem]

I know the article says the current flag is basically a "crest on a sheet", and violates many standards of flag design... but hey, it's a city flag. People don't memorize city flags -- if there isn't something that stands out and says "hey, this is Austin"... people would have no idea what that flag represents. The crest and words "City of Austin" make it pretty clear. A new flag design like the one presented may have better design principles, but no one will know what it represents. Unless we spent millions promoting it to get some brand awareness.

Just about the only thing that would make a flag easily identifiable as "Austin" (that isn't something "relatively" short term in our history like a guitar or bat) would be the image of the Capitol building. The San Antonio flag has the Alamo, which serves the same purpose without the actual words "San Antonio" on it. So something like that could work, but otherwise, I'd say leave it the way it is. Or just add some color and leave the crest and "City of Austin".

[The ATX]

The Salt Lick is suing a Georgia company called Salt Lick Sausage for trademark infringement:

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bl...m-at-same.html

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by hookem

I know the article says the current flag is basically a "crest on a sheet", and violates many standards of flag design... but hey, it's a city flag. People don't memorize city flags -- if there isn't something that stands out and says "hey, this is Austin"... people would have no idea what that flag represents. The crest and words "City of Austin" make it pretty clear. A new flag design like the one presented may have better design principles, but no one will know what it represents. Unless we spent millions promoting it to get some brand awareness.

Just about the only thing that would make a flag easily identifiable as "Austin" (that isn't something "relatively" short term in our history like a guitar or bat) would be the image of the Capitol building. The San Antonio flag has the Alamo, which serves the same purpose without the actual words "San Antonio" on it. So something like that could work, but otherwise, I'd say leave it the way it is. Or just add some color and leave the crest and "City of Austin".

I give you the city flag of Chicago. It is very recognizable (the most recognizable city flag that I can think of). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Chicago

Visit Chicago and you will see it everywhere. There is nothing on it that says "Chicago", but it represents the city well (read the wikipedia page). People recognize it and citizens display it with civic pride. People from Chicago take the flag with them wherever they end up. It is very much like Texans love of their state flag. Visit any gift shop in Chicago and you're sure to see shirts, hats, coffee mugs, refrigerator magnets, mini replica flags, etc.



I like the proposal for the new city flag of Austin. Much like the flag of Chicago, it's clean, simple, and straightforward. It could become recognizable and well known too. The current flag is terrible. It's time to get rid of it.

[Tech House]

This is the first time in my 59 years on this planet that I've ever heard of city flags. My educated guess is that "who the hell cares" is the viewpoint of 99% of people everywhere regarding the design of city flags.

[jbssfelix]

Originally Posted by paul78701

I give you the city flag of Chicago. It is very recognizable (the most recognizable city flag that I can think of). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Chicago

Visit Chicago and you will see it everywhere. There is nothing on it that says "Chicago", but it represents the city well (read the wikipedia page). People recognize it and citizens display it with civic pride. People from Chicago take the flag with them wherever they end up. It is very much like Texans love of their state flag. Visit any gift shop in Chicago and you're sure to see shirts, hats, coffee mugs, refrigerator magnets, mini replica flags, etc.

I like the proposal for the new city flag of Austin. Much like the flag of Chicago, it's clean, simple, and straightforward. It could become recognizable and well known too. The current flag is terrible. It's time to get rid of it.

Coming from Indy, most people from there easily recognize the city flag there as well. Obviously not nearly on the scale of Chicago, but it's something we did take pride in and wore/flew happily around town.



Examples:


And advocacy groups, such as INDYCOG, even brand themselves off the theme of the city flag as well.

[KevinFromTexas]

The weird thing is I'm not sure I've ever seen Austin's flag flying anywhere...not even City Hall.

I still feel like if a new flag was to be adopted that it should have the State Capitol on it. At least the dome. CapitolMetro has always had the capitol dome in their name/logo. There's no doubt it's still the single most important and recognizable symbol of Austin.

[drummer]

I agree with Kevin - I've only seen it a couple of times, but surely not out in force like Chicago - or I guess even Indianapolis, though I've never personally been there to see it. If a new Austin flag comes about, they'd probably have it out a bunch just to show it off, which of course would take up a following because Austin is proud of Austin (can't complain). Anything that's chosen should be ideal. I agree with having the Capital dome in some respects, but (and I'm not suggesting, merely wondering) shouldn't the city have a little bit of separation from the State - if only for identity's sake? I realize the State is the reason Austin really exists in its current form so I'm not really opposed to the dome either.

[KevinFromTexas]

The other idea would be to do something related to nature. Maybe something with the hills and the river, and something violet as a nod to our city's nickname - "City of the Violet Crown". And of course then there's bats.