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I Love Austin, Texas!

When I first moved to Austin Texas some 13 years ago I thought I was dreaming. With the amazing music and the cool people and the great Mexican food and the beautiful weather, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Well today was one of those days that reminds me why Austin has got to be the best place on the planet to live.

The day started out at a kids ride for Lance Armstrong Foundation's annual Ride For The Roses. Of course Lance Armstrong was there and rode in the event. Since my son and I are major fans of his it was quite exciting.

Then we wandered down to the Colorado River and hung out by the statue of Stevie Ray Vaughan. My son knows his brother Jimmie but not about Stevie, so I told him a little bit about him and just relaxed in the morning sun.

If hotrods and roots music are your thing you missed out if you weren't in Austin. The Continental Club, which is a very cool place, has an owner, Steve Werthiemer, who is a hotrod freak, he and some friends started a car club and they hold a little event. Well there were many amazing cars, including a couple by Steve W. and one of Jimmie Vaughan's. There were many other very cool rides. These are the real hotrods, not the Japanese joy rides, but cars with real steal and flames and skulls. Von Franco, who carries on the pinstriping tradition, was there. The Derailers, The Blazers and The Leroi Bros. played some great tunes (more bands played but these I caught). It was sunny and 85 degrees. The only downfall was waiting 30 minutes in the shaved ice line--the things parents do for their kids!! Oh and I saw a couple of cool bumper stickers which I'd like--Tattooed White Trash and If You Ain't From Texas You Ain't Shit.

And that ain't all, but since I'm a cheap-ass parental unit, I won't be going out tonite, but if I think about it long enough maybe I'll schlep the boy off to the late nite stripper's daycare... errr ummm...nitecare center and head to the Continental Club for a hotrod rock n roll evening.

But that's not all, tomorrow is the big annual crawfish boil and memorial for Keith Ferguson, the famed bass player (and reason I'm in Austin) of the Tailgators and the Fabulous Thunderbirds...

Here's something entertaining to view Easy Midget Intro. Ya gotta let it load before the excitement begins. Please turn up your speakers!

posted by Robbie 4/13/2002 05:38:00 PM

Fun Site for the Evening -- to help tuck you in for the night

Mayhem -- To get the full effect make sure your speakers are turned up! I almost didn't get past the links at the bottom of the page, but once you do there's a treasure trove of fun, mayhem, and visual splendor. Click on anything that might be a link because it probably is.

Oh, I snagged this off Something Awful but they didn't seem to appreciate it as much as me.
posted by Robbie 4/11/2002 08:18:00 PM

Odd Sites for April 11

Since this terrorism business will unfortunately be going on for a long time I thought I'd show you sites with information and history on the subject.

The International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism -- This is an Israeli site covering many areas of terrorism, from the Israel - Palestine conflict to 9/11.

Terrorism: Questions & Answers -- From the Council on Foreign Relations. If you think you have enough to worry about don't read this site, especially the section on "Loose Nukes."

Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets -- Planning a trip outside the U S of A? You might want to look at this site first before you book that plane flight. Unfortunately, their list is getting pretty long...

National Museum of Funeral History -- There's a nice section here on conjoined twins, plus pictures of cool old hearses.

Mardi Gras World -- Blain Kern's Mardi Gras World is a museum about New Orleans Mardi Gras. Check out their gift shop, you can buy some festive Mardi Gras stuff.

Next time I go to Mobile, Alabama (for the vibrant art scene of course and I'm always looking for an excuse to bounce along I-10 through Louisiana) I'll have to hit both of these excellent historic hotbeds.

Thanks to Zoe for the last two links.

posted by Robbie 4/11/2002 07:37:00 AM

Odd Sites for April 8

Worth 1000 -- Photo Shop contests. Change the race of famous people, make up your own products, MS Paint wars. These Photo Shop battles are probably waged by the wonderful people who make models look flawless in fashion magazines.

Jim Hightower -- Here's a person who speaks for the average person and cuts through the big business and government bullshit.

I Hate Windows XP -- This is a great catharsis if you've got Windows XP or other Windows product and hate it. The rant and rave section is a must read for some good entertainment. I can say I'm firmly in that camp of anti-Microsoft folks. One thing for sure with my new Mac I'm not rebooting my computer all the time like I was with Windows.

Don't Get Mad Get Even -- Here's some horse doodoo to send to a friend.

Find a Grave -- Look up the location of a great departed one.

Sorry for the low level of activity but I've been busy doin stuff, like my taxes! I decided to get one of those software programs, it actually works pretty well and I only paid $25 or so compared to $150 for some tax dude to do the same thing on his own software.

Make sure to check out Jim Hightower's site, unless you're a total right wing capitalist, there's some pretty good information. His info seems well researched and level-headed and he was a part of the government so he knows what he's talking about. I might highlight more of that type stuff, don't worry this won't turn into some lefty whine-athon, but there's a lot of crap going on in business and government that people should think about--not that this is anything new, but it seems to be getting worse.
posted by Robbie 4/08/2002 09:42:00 PM