Comment on "Den of Rats" from Original Texan: God...

First off, I think you are being a tad stereotypical..."One issue is that they tend to live in places like old warehouses and shacks that are rented out for next to nothing while not first acquiring basic means of sanitation like plumbing, or proper facilities for keeping up personal high gene, such as a place to take a bath, nor do I reckon that they have the decent desire to take baths." Seriously, who gives a s#%t? Atleast these "rats" are paying their bills, even if they are marginal payments(Why would that matter?). Secondly, if someone wants to be filthy then that is their prerogative. If they are paying their bills and acting in accordance with the law, then stink on my friends, stink on..It is my opinion that, if anyone needs to relocate, it is the people whom are holding up "need money" signs at every other stoplight in Austin(the homeless). They are the "useless slovenly rats" you were talking about..hahah J/K.. That sounds a bit harsh, but Austin's homeless population has grown immensely over the past 10 years..It's irritating..And as for the "hip cafes" and clothing stores you abhor, they are exactly what this city needs more of..More LOCAL businesses PLEASE! Would you prefer another Wallmart? I think that you have a false perception of artists, excuse me, "hippies."
Take Care Hombre-

Protect Austin's Greenbelts!!

Having grown up hiking and swimming in the Bull Creek greenbelt of northwest Austin, I have developed a deep love for the Texas hill country. Over the past 20 years Austin has experienced rampant growth and it has taken a serious toll on the environment. Bull Creek currently exhibits bacteria levels that exceed State of Texas water quality standards for parks."..the most likely source of the impairment is recreational use of the park; specifically, off-leash dogs within the park that are entering the water, functioning as a vector for dog excrement in the park and/or agitating potentially contaminated bottom sediments." It is very sad, what was once a beautiful swimming hole is now a cesspool of dog terds and diapers. Unfortunately, there are many other locations in the city facing a similar fate. Like Shoal Creek...Have you caught wind of Shoal Creek lately? It's repulsive.. The list goes on.. I understand that Austin is a very desireable place to live and there is money to be made, but I wish that the city and local developers would care a little more about preserving Austin's lakes, rivers, woods, etc..(Ok who am I kidding? Developers will never give a s&#%, most are from California anyways). One of the great features of Austin is it's natural beauty and as a city we need to showcase this more. I would like to see legislation enacted in Austin that ensures selected parts of Austin will never be developed on. We need more state funding for the protection and preservation of the environment. More hill country, less apartments!

Re: Can You Multitask?

I could not agree with you more Kimosabi..I was recently sitting at a stoplight on Parmer, when out of nowhere, this behemoth of a woman on a cell phone rearended me at a speed of what felt like 50 m.p.h. Even though I often use my cell phone while driving, after such an experience, I would greatly support an Austin ordinance that prohibits cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle. It would no doubt have a positive impact on Austin's traffic. A study released this pass May by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonpartisan public policy institute in California, revealed that California's new hand held cell phone ban is saving 300 lives each year."What the numbers show is that hands free laws clearly reduce fatalities in bad weather and on wet roads between 30 and 60 percent, but surprisingly in good driving conditions the ban didn't seem to have much affect. In California, where 4,000 people die in traffic accidents each year, the life savings equaled 300." For the record, it was bright and sunny when I was rearended...