Quicksand warning sign
Beware of quicksand? My childhood fears come true, here in the land of the free? Absolutely.
Tag: Austin
On Xmas Traditions
As an Englishman abroad, Xmas can be a time of mixed feelings. Life in Austin is mostly wonderful, but it’s easy to feel maudlin about family and friends so far away. Although distance does mean there’s definitely less pressure on the present-buying front… Starting new traditions is basically a self-serving way of forming a holiday… Continue reading On Xmas Traditions
On Sugar
Like a playboy about to head into a monastery; like a drug addict about to spend hard months in rehab, I was a man about to (make a serious attempt to largely) give up sugar, and this was my last weekend of naturally flavored sweetened goodness. In theory. I made a list of the things… Continue reading On Sugar
Emergency toilets of Texas
I’m not an actual Texan, of course, so it’s hard to be certain. But this looks like the epitome of social-realist design. Look, they know we’re going to need to poop behind a dumpster one day, so why not set up actual facilities? Well done, Austin. Once more, you’re at the vanguard of what’s possible!
Active Musician Loading
Only in Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, do we have designated zones for loading our live musicians. Just down the block may be another zone for the…non-live…ones. Save
On Chocolate Ice-Cream
This is not a story about chocolate ice-cream, although this most perfect of foodstuffs will play a central role in what we must sadly refer to as my “learning opportunity.” The lesson learned is: my family is weird. But don’t worry; your family is weird too. Part one of our tale takes place in an… Continue reading On Chocolate Ice-Cream
On Keeping Medicine Weird
“Keep Austin Weird” is either a way of life or an effective way to market a city that desperately wants to let everyone know it is in Texas but not necessarily of Texas. But how many other cities are keeping it weird? I first saw the slogan in Portland, Oregon, and they really seemed to… Continue reading On Keeping Medicine Weird
