horn4life

I didn't know that South Austin was a sponsor?

Let me see if I can reincarnate my 9th grade self and let's rumble! 😉

First, you are talking about spending money for the raffle. You go sell sponsorships to area businesses, whose name can appear on the ticket or on your promotional website!!!! You can get a shit ton of nearby businesses to give you $100 bucks or at least $100 in product. You just need to explain how their business will be recognized. If the drawing is at an event? If there is an event for the drawing then the ways to get sponsorship dollars go up dramatically. You are honestly thinking too small! You have a great product and I would start with every place where the kids and parents might go post game for sponsorship money. You will be shocked at how many folks will be willing to help you out in money or product because they see your kids in their places, or just want to support kids. Dentists and orthodontists, can be easy $3-500 a pop if you can get them on. I would sell sponsorships based on being part of a coupon flyer. They give you sponsorship money CASH, and you print their name on a coupon and they get some advertising and hopefully some foot traffic for their goodwill. Gotta find something to put their name on, coupons, banner, T-shirts or whatever. Good luck, but you can raise an easy $2K by knocking on a few doors. I used to sell $500, $200, and $100 sponsorships for the back of Soccer tournament T-shirts. We were selling the shirts for $10, that were more than paid for by the sponsorships. A raffle is different, but figure out a way to get some advertising for sponsors (on the website?) and knock on a few doors. HOW are you going to sell the tickets?

The new guy transplant that DJ's on Sun Radio played this tune and I fell in love with it. It's sort of my personal party anthem now, (without the IV drug use!). And yeah the video was not at all what I expected, something DIFFERENT!

I think I would like to see Die Spitz and The Viagra Boys on the same bill. I heard this Viagra Boys song, and they also have opened for Amyl and the Sniffers.

HA! Die Spits is one of the bands I have had on my radar but haven's seen yet. Girl Punk band that fits into my old Club Foot days music profile. Heck at first I just liked the name. It's not my wife's cup of tea, so I may shoot you a PM and see if you are at the gig I try to go to. Starting to get into my Spring music push. Finally saw Carolyn Wonderland and Shelly King at an early Tuesday continental club show. They seem to have had a monthly on and then off residency there. Anyhow they were great together, not only killer music but a good show. Highly recommended, and at a 6:30 slot it's what I call "geezer hour!" Also hooked up with my "captain Kurt" from my old club foot and soccer days and saw Love and Chaos for an early 6:00 show at Saxon. AJ Vallejo and his wife? in a band that leans a bit more into the country side but still ripped. Then we walked down to High Ball as saw "The Saddle Sores" and some folks enjoying dancing to them. I just liked the name but the band was good even though country is not my preferred genre. The big show for me was Alejandro Escovedo and the Rant Band at Continental last night. It was fucking great. They played the Paramount with a tribute to Mott the Hoople, playing the Album Mott from start to finish. Since I loved Mott the Hoople and love Alejandro it was a nice mix of songs and I always enjoy the Continental. Jeff Beck's recent passing reminded me of how old Alejandro is getting and how much I missed his SXSW closeout shows every year on Sundays. I'm gonna cry when that fucker goes. Go out and see a band in a small venue! Support the young bands! Nothing better than seeing a young up and comer in a club, when in a few years later they are playing arenas...

Here is the basic problem. The only power you EVER have negotiating ANYTHING is simply the ability to say NO! No, I won't accept that salary, those hours, that severance package, or as in Congress the terms of any deal. This power is honestly exactly why the framers of our constitution were so brilliant with checks and balances. Little levers to in essence "say no" to legislation, the legality of legislation, the limits of executive power, etc. The GOP is the party of NO and they are going to exercise their power. It is honestly about the only thing the GOP does well. The other thing the GOP does exceptionally well is have absolutely and completely no shame. If you are parent, and your kids are worth a shit, one of the best tools in your toolbox to guide them in life quite frankly is shame. I for example can remember nearly 50 years ago, faking being sick so that my Dad would bring me home a G.I Joe. That lie ate at me, and I was compelled to tell my parents the truth. While perhaps at some point in the lives of the elected members of the Republican Congress, this may have been a possibility, but you simply cannot say that today. There is no shame at all in standing up and telling a lie that you KNOW to be a lie. There is no shame in taking completely hypocritical stances again and again and again. There is no shame, when a newly elected congressman with a completely fraudulent resume gets elected, because you need his vote. You have no shame it proclaiming from the top of your lungs that something is about a "principle" when in reality you are devoid of any principles at all. When you combine this lack of shame, with the ability (and dare I say glee )to say no in controlling our government, it is a very, very dangerous spot to be in. Then you combine that with a Speaker who will say yes to literally anything to remain speaker, and the power of no becomes even more powerful. This is going to be the biggest cluster fuck of a congress we have ever seen. About the only thing that I can think of that would reign in the extremists of the GOP is economic collapse. And that is unbelievably scary, as I see not a single reason to think that the GOP bomb throwers empowered my McCarty's unwillingness to simply say no and use his only negotiating power has proven he can't lead. I pray in the end that cooler heads prevail and some sort of compromise is reached. But I see nothing that tells me than anything but the pressure of actual default and the aftermath that could make this GOP controlled Congress act patriotically. Again, this should scare the shit out of all of us! Because it's designed to, that's the tool of terrorists.

I am basically going to cheap out with the 1/4 and use the acrylic as a decorative accent. Use it to cover the bottom for a cleanable lit work surface, and use 1/2 thick shelving with the glowing acrylic on top for sure and potentially on the bottom of the shelves as well for additional lighting. I am thinking that if I just light the tops of the shelves against the mirror I will get enough light for ambiance. Then white light from the top to illuminate the bottles and glassware. I am toying with maybe doing routed edge on the shelves, but that may be more work than it's worth.

Well I guess I maybe should have posted this in one of the other forums... but I think I have made some decisions. At least on the lit acrylic shelves. I bought a sheet of the 1/4 acrylic that still have the protective coating on it, and taped LED lights to the edge of it to see how well it might illuminate after a good sanding. Looks pretty good honestly, and my idea of perhaps trying to light the entire base of the display area with frosted acrylic. Part of my concern is the durability of the base area. If I frame it out and use edge lit acrylic here I can have a cool illuminated base. The 1/4 acrylic is so much cheaper and I can get it at lowe's or home depot. If you look at the pic, one of the problems (more of just an annoyance) is the two clips in the middle of the base that hold the doors in place when closed. They are only about a half inch tall but I really would prefer a smooth surface. So maybe swap the clips out with cabinet door magnets to have a smoother look and integrate them into the edge of a lit base. The great thing about the acrylic base is that it provides the durability and ability to cleanly wipe down that I was looking for, and I hope will look cool. Plus with the cheaper acrylic if I screw up it's not $100 a mistake. Here is a daylight pic of the edge lit glass in the daytime. I taped the lights to the edge and covered the edges to get an idea of how it might look. it would be cool if I could light one big panel up for the base. Need to make sure the LED's would be waterproof there for the eventual drink dump. But a little silicone sealant around the frame and I should be golden. But could be a really cool base and nice complement to a similar design on the shelves. !

Awesome build and great forum link rage-a-holic!!! I clicked your link and went down a guys from scratch build rabbit hole Ford Transit 2020 350 AWD "sportsmobile" build The detail that poster used on his build is simply fantastic. He's got skills, for sure, but his documentation of the build out is inspiring, along with your 4x4 build.

oops thought I did an edit: I would make sure that if you buy a sprinter spring for the extra to make it 4x4. Simply to reach more remote fishing, and for safety in snowy/icy conditions. The size might be an issue, but the flexibility to use it some nearby while doing the build might make me pull the trigger. I would insure the shit out of it, especially in a remote location, with construction folks around. Build a gravel pad with electrical for the rig to stay warm and build an outhouse. Or maybe your wife is different from mine, and this may be an option for you instead of the outhouse.

And your shit bucket looks to have sturdier handles!

What team like TCU would you say Georgia has played this year? TCU is an oddball and as has been said they just keep after you. IF Georgia does not get up and pile on early I think they will get really fucking nervous. TCU has won more than one game by the hair of its chin. But so did Ohio State and Michigan who I thought were both overrated all season based on the competition. So TCU does have a chance. I am actually mainly rooting for TCU to keep it close. I would have a hard time betting on Georgia with the spread at 13-1/2. I just hope it's a good game and I can be happy no matter who loses!

I've got no problem balancing the budget. First thing you do is repeal the Republican tax cuts that started the debt trail rolling astronomically IN A FUCKING TIME OF PENTY INHERITED FROM OBAMA. The tax cuts did not add any more jobs than the economy that Trump in the GOP inherited. It did explode deficit spending unnecessarily. Once you do that you have a wonderful starting point. Then you get rid of any policies that allow rich folks to not pay their fair share, starting with carried interest. Then you pass a bill that makes it IMPOSSIBLE to fund political or issue campaigns without full transparency. Because that's where a lot of the division comes from, Anonymous billionaires that would lose some of their precious money if the public knew of their scumbaggery. Then we could save billions by paying the same amount as other countries pay for drugs at US taxpayer expense, not more expensive so the GOP can get campaign checks. We build a National Refining capacity, so that consumers do not get gouged by oil companies every single spring and summer. More importantly what good is a strategic petroleum reserve without strategic refining capacity. Oil and gas refiners would welcome the government helping smooth out supply chains that force the increases in gas prices and bottom line profits... Then make it illegal for for anyone in congress or their spouses to trade in stock other than in truly blind trusts. Hell I am just getting started and I have more ideas on this napkin sized page that would actually fucking work, more than anything you will see out of the GOP in the next two years. And that should scare the shit out of all of us.

Not sure if this is the best spot for this, as I thought about food and travel but WTF. I just bought a big huge black Restoration Hardware armoire with the idea of converting it into a bar. The back got cut up and drilled into so I need to replace that. It was designed to be either for a big TV (circe 2007) or actual wardrobe if you removed the TV stand portion. Main thing for me is the door recess back into the sides rather than swing out and back. It's honestly almost too big, and it is heavy as shit. But since it's so heavy I can probably do what I want with shelves or whatever. I've thinking about doing this for a while and making a nicer place to display my sippin' whiskeys. So here are my contemplations thus far and I am looking for thoughts and suggestions. So here is my debate. Do I go with more of a classic look, or do I go more modern using more led lighting. Originally I was going to take an old 1800's map of Austin, and us it as the backdrop behind the bar. Make it more of a throwback to an earlier time look. I also contemplated antiquing a mirror that I have laying around and then glueing the Austin map image onto that so the mirror became a picture frame for the map. Then I started playing around with some extra LED strip lights and lighting up the enclosure.I farted around with those taped them up around the interior and thought they might look good with the mirror backdrop. Doing some research on backlighting with the strips I discovered that if you sand clear Acrylic sheeting with 320 grit sandpaper you can frost it. Once frosted the acrylic glows rather than just transmits the light thought the pane. So now I am contemplating buying some thicker acrylic, sand it to glow and make my shelving out of acrylic sitting in a wooden frame with the forward glowing acrylic sheet. I have decided I am for sure going to use some LED lighting. For certain going to recess LED light the top of the Armoire to cast a glow onto the ceiling. But I am really torn as to whether I should go with an older more antique look, more modern look, or combo. I probably need to just go walk into a shit ton of bars downtown to get ideas. I saw some good ideas but not much blending of concepts which is sort of what I am considering. Here are a few of my inspirations, and my starting point. Here is a picture of the armoire I think I need to lighten up the back of the piece with a mirror or some lighter colored material. I am envisioning two glowing shelves with the first shelf a bit taller than the wooden shelf pictured so that short bottles and glassware could be stacked underneath. I as thinking of having two glowing shelves with the bottom shelf glowing on the top and bottom to provide colored lighting. Hoping the bottom shelf will light the base adequately. I would still have some white puck lights over the work area to light up the work surface. Probably need to lighten up the back of the bottom shelves as well, or add some lighting, but thought about having at least one lower side be wine. I also considered having a few wine bottles along the top and hanging the glassware beneath the bottles, but think probably more whiskey space than adding wine display? The drawers are awesome and pretty large, and I was going to use one side to store whiskey tasting glasses, and build some sort of tasting racks where I could pour flights at the bar and carry it to my guests Anyhow these are my basic ideas so far. Give me yours! I put in my taller and shorter bottle in to see how I could space stuff out. Torn on whether to make the shelves shallow for one bottle deep with a 4 inch deep shelf or maybe a 6-7 inch shelves to stagger bottles on. So give me your thoughts! This was going to be the Austin map I was going to originally use as the background, with antiqued mirror as picture frame as back of the bar. Thought about burning edges a hair to age. Thought it would look cool, as a lot of the stuff in this room is antique. You can see the big copper water heater I am going to mount in the corner. Then looking on Amazon I saw this which is sort of my initial inspiration for perhaps lighting up the shelves Then when I was looking at using LED trim I got inspired by this, but too harsh looking This conversion is pretty good, but I have a lot more booze to store and would not have top storage, but shows a good example of a full mirror back. i didn't see any conversions with the sort of glowing shelving I am considering. The white backlight illuminates it, I am thinking some overhead spots and the color changes shelves.

Whitttington can usually at least catch the ball. But if you want him to make the yards after carry he is clearly so capable of, you need to get him the ball while on his feet. Once he leaps to catch a high throw, two things happen because he is usually coming across the middle. You give the DB or LB a clean shot to spear the poor guy, while at the same time greatly limiting the potential for y.a.c. Hell if we can ever get a QB that can hit this kid in stride, he might be amazing and be able to stay healthy! Happy he's coming back!

Should have cooked a pig in that hole before you ran the PVC.

The bottom line is that this shit show will be recast as great American democracy at work! That is how Fox will spoon feed "Thoughts" to it's watchers. The good news for Fox News watchers yesterday was that nothing of note worth mentioning happed on January 6th. So sleep tight GOP sheep, there never was an insurrection... So Now there is a very real chance that the GOP will crash the markets on the "principles" of a few radicals in the GOP. Traitors is what these folks are. They fully supported the overthrowing of democracy in pledging allegiance to a false God. What gives these extremists power? The stupidity of the GOP in that ONLY if bills can pass with ONLY GOP votes will they be considered. Thus this same shit show will play out over and over, but more behind closed doors. The funny thing is. The one thing that could cure this ill, is the same thing that would lose McCarthy his speakership. Reaching across the aisle to bring wider consensus on legislation would eliminate the power of the few. Thus an immediate challenge to the speaker's gavel will provide more turmoil. In fact I will make a prediction right now. That when McCarthy attempts to forge a last second deal to dot default on the US debt and destroy the markets... he gets a challenge to his speakership at the very same time! So two years of Republican whining, without any legislation of note. But don't worry Republicans you have seated the most corrupt and political Supreme Court this country has ever seen. So there's that!

Kevin McCarthy could go down as an American hero, and one of the greatest speakers of the house ever. If he had principles. He could turn this revolt of bomb throwers into an amazing speakership. He could simply bring the house back to regular order. And allow DEMOCRATIC debate and amendments, as well as those from those that would destroy our country for their own vanity. He could actually lead, not the Republican party, but the US c House of Representatives! And he could both provide compromise legislation that had some chance of passing both houses. Simply by doing what the GOP bomb throwers want, allow debate and amendments to all legislation! Mainly it would produce better legislation because of input. If he truly adopted a bring all debate and amendments (like the framers intended) house he would gain respect and power. Not only from his own caucus, but from moderate democrats who are always willing to compromise. Instead what will happen is McCarthy will be a feckless and inconsequential leader, of short duration. He will likely be the steward of a 1500 point market collapse as the reality that the GOP will indeed default on our debt becomes a reality. Before, as usual, the democrats save the nation with reasonableness. But it is sad to me. Reminds me of how different the would could be if President Bush was not beholding to the Saudis (who bought his oil company for a reason other than political gain 😉 and oil and gas industry that funded his ascension. What an amazing squandered opportunity that was... McCarthy could actually use the rules against the far right insurrectionist wing of the GOP. And change the way the Congress does business and gain the support of some democrats because good legislation that could be passed by the Senate as well could become possible. Instead another opportunity for our country lost...

Well Fox News has absolutely no mention of Trump's coup attempt anywhere on their Website. So the sheep won't have to think about how dangerous the Fox led GOP actually is. I think I may go sit to happy hour at Roaring Fork for an hour or two tonight. To see what the right wing Millionaire Losers club is pretending about today...

Morning Joe, Deadline Whitehouse, and Andrea Mitchell Reports are my three news shows I tape. When you look at the quality of diversity of the guests (it would be more diverse if Republicans were not terrified of questions) and the level of intelligent discourse there is simply nothing remotely like it on Fox.

The speaker's fight is simply the result of a minority party working so very, very hard to make sure that the minority rather than the majority rules. Because the GOP has fostered and developed the acceptance of lies as truth, of childishness as leadership, that a willingness to destroy democracy is actually fighting for democracy, and on and on. The speakers fight is simply what it looks like when you fully endorse the GOP political model. You exclude and remove any moderate input, and only allow the most radical thoughts, ideas, and legislation to flourish. And not a goddamn thing gets done. Point out to me the last legislation of any consequence the the Republican Party has put forward. It's been a lot of lying about plans that they say they have that you never see, while attacking and criticizing legislation as radically liberal that was the Heritage Society's model a few years earlier. How do you compromise on legislation with people who are unwilling to compromise? And you wonder why the GOP can't do big things?

You know this reminds me of a story where a rich software guy wanted to be remembered alongside the Mona Lisa...

This is quite frankly why gerrymandering is so bad for America in general. Whether Dem or Pub doing the line drawing. The problem is with security comes less and less accountability, and quite honestly a false sense of achievement. Hell if you win your district of 70% republican voters by 60% you are kicking ass! And your job is secure. Even if you want to throw bombs like Roy, you are pretty darn safe in your seat. Instead if districts were made more along obvious geographic boundaries and and not designed specifically to dilute certain pockets of support, we would be a better country. Because we would get more moderates. More people willing to look more for similarities than differences. More people to do what is reasonable, than to take an extreme position for likes on social media. In other words a greater core of individuals on BOTH sides of the aisle who want to get at least something done. No it's an all or nothing battle in legislation. The Hastert (child molester) rule where only legislation that can be passed ONLY by the the Republicans and no Democrats. Dems are not much better, but are a LOT more consistent is trying to reach across the aisle to find consensus. IF there were more moderates there would be a lot more bipartisanship. And quite frankly get big things done. The GOP is very, very good at being against things, and safe seats exacerbate this tendency. I know this is not as applicable to simply observing the Republican food fight, but I believe that gerrymandered districts allow for more extreme candidates. The kind that will default on the debt, shut the government down, and refuse to do anything if they cannot get their extreme way. Dems had the same problem in not going with Manchin's deal holding out for.... something that will never happen. I want to get shit done, that's why I am a social liberal and a fiscal conservative. I can find a moderate position in nearly every food fight...

Yep - water pumps are simply one of those parts that wear out. I think on my buddies old Audi they had to remove the A/C to get to it... because German "engineering." I've usually had luck finding used, but I have also been extremely patient in waiting for the right deal. The Carvana option might be a good one, especially if you got them to buy your existing commuter just for a clean transaction. Avoiding any car from the North, or from areas of flooding is always wise. But with a 7 day return and a great mechanic inspection gmr548 has me thinking if I go used again in the future. I will also say that if you use craigslist, use the map feature. I missed out on a couple killer low milage deals in nicer areas as they got snatched up so fast. Better homes to me mean likely better maintenance, and less need to get top dollar on the sale. ALWAYS ask the mot important question, why are you selling.