AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by Hill Country

I have no idea what you are talking about. Got any pictures?

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/W..._Austin_TX_USA

On the link above tells about the history of Austin's Effiel Tower, I thought it was very interesting that a French artist named Monsieur Valtat created this 21ft. replica for the 100 year anniversary to the original Effiel Tower in Paris.

[The ATX]

That's interesting. I can't believe I never heard of or saw it before.

[Slappy]

Funny story, Dreyfus Antiques actually had the Eiffel tower removed during the whole Iraq/Bush/Freedom Fries shitstorm of 2003 because they were getting bomb threats. It went back up several months later but what a chaotic, dark time that was.

[TXLove]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

I saw the Effiel Tower that used to sit in front of the antique store off Lamar the other day. It was in a back of flatbed trailer separated into 3 sections, and was parked right out front of Hampton Inn off 2nd St. Looks like they refurbished it as well as painted it a darker brown color. But Iwas thrilled to see the tower again.

Hey I was just wondering about where the replica Effiel Tower went. I think we are talking about the same one that was located where MLK begins at Lamar Blvd right? Wonder if it is going back to that location

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by TXLove

Hey I was just wondering about where the replica Effiel Tower went. I think we are talking about the same one that was located where MLK begins at Lamar Blvd right? Wonder if it is going back to that location

Correct, it was called Dreyfus Antiques.

[KevinFromTexas]

^Yeah, I've seen it there a few times, too. I haven't been through there in a long time, though. I didn't know it was gone. I just checked, and there's a bank there now.

[KevinFromTexas]

^He's asking about concrete framed buildings, though. Those you mentioned have steel frames.

I would guess they'll be fine. The type thing that damages concrete are the elements - rain and freezing temperatures mostly, but since the bulk of the skeleton of the building is internal, they should be fine. I do wonder about ones with large exposed sections of concrete such as The Monarch (the wings) and Four Seasons Residences (the balconies) - and any concrete balconies that hang out there for that matter. The balconies on 360 look insane from the street.

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

^He's asking about concrete framed buildings, though. Those you mentioned have steel frames.

I would guess they'll be fine. The type thing that damages concrete are the elements - rain and freezing temperatures mostly, but since the bulk of the skeleton of the building is internal, they should be fine. I do wonder about ones with large exposed sections of concrete such as The Monarch (the wings) and Four Seasons Residences (the balconies) - and any concrete balconies that hang out there for that matter. The balconies on 360 look insane from the street.

Good point. It got me thinking. Google tells me, via Auburn University, that the first concrete skyscraper was the Ingalls Building, built in 1904, which is still in use. So 111 years is as far as we've gotten in modern times. The Pantheon in Rome is made of concrete and was built in 200 AD, but that's not relevant to how we build today. If you want to get all science-y, there is a paper called "Concrete Structures For 1,000 Years Of Lifespan - Part 1", link below, but that's just me getting sucked into the Google rabbit hole. I need to step away from the Google and get back to work. Haha.

Timeline of Concrete (Auburn University): http://www.auburn.edu/academic/archi...e/timeline.htm

Concrete Structures For 1,000 Years Of Lifespan: https://www4.uwm.edu/cbu/Papers/2003...ts/REP-506.pdf

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.chatterblock.com/articles...ing-to-austin/

Slide The City Coming To Austin
By Joelle Blaikie, Published Jan 22, 2015 - Tagged in Summertime Fun, Things To Do

The massive 1,000 foot slip-and-slide is said to be coming to the streets of Austin! While dates and location are still TBD, Austin has been added to the expected locations of Slide the City- a summer event you definitely won't want to miss.

Slide The City has added a number of new cities to their planned locations, and they've officially added Austin to the list. While no date is set, the site says that it will be "Coming Soon".

[midtownstarbucky]

How will what is happening in Switzerland (DAVOS), this week, change the Austin/Texas environment?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGLJXO08IYo

[The ATX]

I watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel today, and the entire episode was about the food scene in Dallas-Fort Worth. But they had an extensive segment on Lockhart and even showed the Austin skyline. But they represented it as Dallas-Fort Worth.

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by Hill Country

I watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel today, and the entire episode was about the food scene in Dallas-Fort Worth. But they had an extensive segment on Lockhart and even showed the Austin skyline. But they represented it as Dallas-Fort Worth.

That's messed up. Did you see the episode he did in Austin during SXSW? It was excellent. It used to be available on YouTube, and I commented beneath it that if I didn't already live here, that show would make me want to move here ASAP. Very flattering, and it was done during a particularly warm wet March so everything was verdant.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Tech House

That's messed up. Did you see the episode he did in Austin during SXSW? It was excellent. It used to be available on YouTube, and I commented beneath it that if I didn't already live here, that show would make me want to move here ASAP. Very flattering, and it was done during a particularly warm wet March so everything was verdant.

Doh! I meant Andrew Zimmerman - I get those two mixed up. Yeah, I saw that SxSW episode with Bourdain, and it was awesome.

[The ATX]

A few of you may remember TexasRE who was more or less run off the Austin subforum a while back. She/it has created a firestorm storm on the SSC Minneapolis subform. Apparently TexasRE is a fake account with a fake LinkedIn account with a ~100 fake connections on LinkedIn and is announcing fake development proposals. If any one cares you will have to read through 100s of posts made over the past few days in the Minneapolis subforum. (I used to live up that way which is why I keep up with Minneapolis.)


http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...03462&page=288

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by midtownstarbucky

How will what is happening in Switzerland (DAVOS), this week, change the Austin/Texas environment?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGLJXO08IYo

One of things mentioned in that video was that artificial intelligence could be used to improve traffic conditions. We could sure use that here.

I noticed this on KVUE this morning:

Artificial intelligence on display in Austin

[smith_atx]

Speaking of that, I'm hoping as more people buy smarter "dumb" cars, we'll see more sensors that will slightly aid in traffic. Newer cars with blind spot warnings, auto headlights and wipers, and even automatic braking for lower speed unexpected stops. Also as iOS and Android start making their way into car navigation systems there will be more use of Waze like apps that can re-route in real time to avoid jams.

Of course none of these will solve the current traffic issues we have but hopefully they'll make the roads incrementally safer. I noticed last week that people still don't realize or care when it rains they need to turn their lights on.

[Tech House]

Random thought for the day: as Second Street continues to develop as a destination, it's possible that people will eventually be using a phrase such as "doing Second Street." I propose that this activity henceforth be referred to as "SecSting."

"Honey, what are you and your friends doing today?"
"Not much, Mom, just SecSting with our boyfriends."

[KevinFromTexas]

[lzppjb]

Sounds hot.

[ahealy]

lol. I can't see anyone saying that until they get better retail (outside of DWR, Mercury, Blu Dot & VCC).