AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[lzppjb]

Never ask a man if he's from Texas. If he is, he'll tell you. If he isn't, you'll embarrass him.

[Austinshrink]

Never ask a navy man if he'll have another drink because it's nobody's goddamned business how much he's had already.
The Bishop
Caddyshack


Sorry-couldn't resist

[the Genral]

Tech House, thank you for following up on my second point. Your insights are quite thought full. (Sic)
As to #2, your points explain very well why Austin seems smallish. For the record, I don't mind the small town feel, I embrace it. Thanks to your insight, I can wrap my head around the thought that holy shit we're
the 11th largest city in the US, but you couldn't guage that by our downtown. San Antonio's downtown also says nothing of its population even more so, but driving around, you do get a sense that its somewhat of a big city. For most of the first two decades I've been here, the bulk of the taller density has been a thin line, north to south along Congress Ave, then forming a 'T' where it reached the river. Its slowly changing this last decade and will continue to evolve, but because of the boundaries to the east and west,
we'll always have that 'T' shaped downtown instead of other downtowns that stretch out in all directions that I associate with being larger despite their smaller population. Again, I don't mind, I think Austin looks unique and that's good, but please, if there is a God in heaven who understands my needs, please build me the signature tower I've been waiting for before I die.

[Jdawgboy]

I also like the T or upside down T for us south of the river shape of DT. I will point out however that there are some places here on the southside that when you look at the skyline it looks massive. Not only that but from certain southwestern angles You can see not just the Waterfront skyline stretching east to west but you can also see along and north up to UT. Its really the only area besides a few spots to the southeast that you can get a sense of both angles. I agree that anyone coming in from the north cannot get an accurate sense of the city's true size due to elevation factors. Essentially DT is in a bowl, the reason why we have such a better view of DT south of the river is because the bowl rises steeply up to a rim which runs roughly along Ben White/290/71. Once you get further south though the elevation rise becomes less steep and by the time you get to Stasseny only the Austonian and the very tops of Frost and a couple of other towers are visible.

[lzppjb]

Could have some more crazy flood pictures in the next few days. Lots of ingredients coming together for a real problematic situation statewide.

If the Low stalls, we're in for some trouble. NWS also says there's a chance of the Low splitting with the new one tracking down the Rio Grande, and both could stall out over Texas. Yikes.

Currently, 4-7" widespread with pockets of up to 15" is forecast. As with all forecasts, this could be wildly off in either direction.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Could have some more crazy flood pictures in the next few days. Lots of ingredients coming together for a real problematic situation statewide.

If the Low stalls, we're in for some trouble. NWS also says there's a chance of the Low splitting with the new one tracking down the Rio Grande, and both could stall out over Texas. Yikes.

Currently, 4-7" widespread with pockets of up to 15" is forecast. As with all forecasts, this could be wildly off in either direction.

Soooo you're saying there's a slight chance the last Austin X Games might not be washed out?

[Tech House]

Hey, would one of you Austin old-timers kindly turn down the humidity? It's getting ridiculous.

[the Genral]

I just listened to Dolly Parton's rendition of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven and I threw up in my mouth. Thought I'd share...

[corvairkeith]

Originally Posted by the Genral

I just listened to Dolly Parton's rendition of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven and I threw up in my mouth. Thought I'd share...

• Video Link

[H2O]

I know this is the wrong thread, but the Genral started it. Don't forget Dread Zeppelin, the Elvis impersonator fronted all white reggae band.

https://youtu.be/8Fd_Aisl8xI

[KevinFromTexas]

Not Austin, but this is too cool not to share.

• Video Link

[the Genral]

That is cool! Now that flood lights are inefficient and becoming somewhat obsolete, along with incandescent bulbs, LEDs are popping up everywhere, including bridges and the flexibility for putting on a focused light show is both beautiful and amazing, and far more cost effective. The LEDs on the Corpus Cristi bridge downtown put on quite the show also.

[verybadgnome]

I have never used these services/apps but they do look interesting:

http://www.capcog.org/divisions/plan...places-program

[clubtokyo]

Thoughts? I am not a Texas native, so i dont have much to say about it.

http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2...t-it-wont-last

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Thoughts? I am not a Texas native, so i dont have much to say about it.

http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2...t-it-wont-last

Meh. So he's saying Texas will get to a point where we can't support the influx of people and growth? And he's saying we'll likely just let places naturally dry up and let people leave? Ok.

[clubtokyo]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Meh. So he's saying Texas will get to a point where we can't support the influx of people and growth? And he's saying we'll likely just let places naturally dry up and let people leave? Ok.

Yeah and I was just looking at the site overall, and I dont really see the credibility. The article is pretty vague.

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Thoughts? I am not a Texas native, so i dont have much to say about it.

http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2...t-it-wont-last

"So Texas is now the golden child – for the moment. But it won’t last. Texas isn’t different. Texas is just a generation behind the curve. It’s on the same trajectory as California whether it knows it or not."

He writes as though California has collapsed in ruins, when in fact it's still leading the nation, economically and on every other level. He writes as though Texas has the same set of circumstances as California, which it absolutely does not. He's spot on about the problems with horizontal sprawl and the limits of infrastructure, but he seems to miss the fact that California has always been a vastly different place from Texas, both in terms of its natural assets and its inhabitants. Texas is land as far as the eye can see, without a whole lot for anyone to get all uppity about preserving. California is spectacular and varied, and most of its land is priceless in terms of natural beauty and/or resources. It's much easier to develop Texas, not only because of natural conditions, but also because there's not much of a constituency for preventing growth and/or preserving natural beauty here.

I grew up in Santa Barbara and was an environmental activist by the time I was 14. I founded an environmental group for teens in that year (1970) and we had weekly meetings with guest speakers, our most famous being Paul Ehrlich. California is the kind of place that inspires a 14 year old to found an environmental group. Had I grown up in Texas, I'd have probably been more focused on turning down the damned humidity. Anyone figure out where that knob is yet?

[clubtokyo]

Originally Posted by Tech House

"So Texas is now the golden child – for the moment. But it won’t last. Texas isn’t different. Texas is just a generation behind the curve. It’s on the same trajectory as California whether it knows it or not."

He writes as though California has collapsed in ruins, when in fact it's still leading the nation, economically and on every other level. He writes as though Texas has the same set of circumstances as California, which it absolutely does not. He's spot on about the problems with horizontal sprawl and the limits of infrastructure, but he seems to miss the fact that California has always been a vastly different place from Texas, both in terms of its natural assets and its inhabitants. Texas is land as far as the eye can see, without a whole lot for anyone to get all uppity about preserving. California is spectacular and varied, and most of its land is priceless in terms of natural beauty and/or resources. It's much easier to develop Texas, not only because of natural conditions, but also because there's not much of a constituency for preventing growth and/or preserving natural beauty here.

I grew up in Santa Barbara and was an environmental activist by the time I was 14. I founded an environmental group for teens in that year (1970) and we had weekly meetings with guest speakers, our most famous being Paul Ehrlich. California is the kind of place that inspires a 14 year old to found an environmental group. Had I grown up in Texas, I'd have probably been more focused on turning down the damned humidity. Anyone figure out where that knob is yet?

Nice read! Thank you for sharing. Cali is beautiful and I appreciate the beauty of Texas also. If I had to choose between Texas and Cali, I would choose Cali, but then the cost of living hits me. I would love to live in San Fran, but its so darn expensive. :/ Austin is the next best thing for me, since my career is technology.

[nixcity]

Great points, and yes the Santa Barbara area is beautiful. Driving along the coast on Highway 1 was the best drive of my life.

[urbancore]

I am curious how you all feel about this.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/07/19...?_r=0&referer=

Let's discuss the great Le Stinkpot, errrr I mean Le Corbusier.