What the fuck is wrong with you, Austin?

[gsoda3 3,263]

2 hours ago, Samson's Wig said:

The Domain has been trending that direction since the Rock Rose development got rolling.

i'm there at night probably once a month and i haven't seen that at all.  

[Samson's Wig 3,192]

2 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

i'm there at night probably once a month and i haven't seen that at all.  

Read the police reports.  It's not anything like downtown, but trending that way.  If they clean up downtown (I don't believe for a second this will ever actually happen) then I could see things moving up to the Domain.  It's the natural life cycle of any bar/club district.  Violent crime is on the uptick at the Domain, especially late at night.

[crash_davis 23,113]

They've already thieved the max out of Rundberg. They need to diversify their portfolio.

[gsoda3 3,263]

2 minutes ago, Samson's Wig said:

Read the police reports.  It's not anything like downtown, but trending that way.  If they clean up downtown (I don't believe for a second this will ever actually happen) then I could see things moving up to the Domain.  It's the natural life cycle of any bar/club district.  Violent crime is on the uptick at the Domain, especially late at night.

is there a better way to read police reports for a zip code than the city of austin's website? you can only go back to 7/4/2022 and you can only search for 6 days' worth of reports at a time.  

[crash_davis 23,113]

Zombie infestation and invasion will start in Austin.

https://www.kvue.com/article/tech/science/environment/austin-hissing-mushrooms-have-begun-sprouting/269-52540f49-57b0-47ad-badd-2152c0a1d192

Known by its Latin name as Chorioactis geaster, the mushrooms are usually called Texas Stars. They're especially strange because they make an odd hissing sound when they release their spores.

“It sounds like someone is opening a bottle of soda or the like the hissing of a snake” said Angel Schatz, a volunteer with the Austin-based Central Texas Mycological Society. “The spores are large, and scientists believe their size has something to do with the sound they make.”

For the past few weeks, the Texas Stars have been showing up in Austin’s Zilker Botanical Garden. On a recent visit, Schatz pointed out a number of the leathery, dark, orange colored, star-shaped mushrooms that had sprouted from old tree stumps near the back of the gardens.

[Samson's Wig 3,192]

42 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

is there a better way to read police reports for a zip code than the city of austin's website? you can only go back to 7/4/2022 and you can only search for 6 days' worth of reports at a time.  

I'm sure there is, but I don't know it. 

[smokebomb 357]

This means a 14% increase during the non-busy periods for just the Mopac expressway:

https://www.kvue.com/amp/article/traffic/toll-road-rate-increase-austin-texas/269-0bba20f2-ef69-4e7d-81b7-ef61c952c16e
 

Quote

Rates increasing for several toll roads around Central Texas

Officials say the rates change annually to stay consistent with inflation.

Author: John Diaz, Matt Coutu

Published: 11:18 PM CST January 5, 2024

Updated: 11:18 PM CST January 5, 2024

AUSTIN, Texas — Driving around Central Texas is about to get more expensive.

Rates are increasing for several toll lanes in the Austin area, including those on U.S. 183, U.S. 183A, Highway 290, State Highway 71 and State Highway 45.

The rates are rising by nearly 4%, which means drivers can expect to pay between 2 and 5 cents more per trip. Officials say the rates increase to stay consistent with inflation.

Drivers who use electronic tags on their cars will continue to save money, which is usually about 50% less than those who choose to pay by mail.

Drivers who use the MoPac express lanes will also see an increase of 7 cents to the base cost of a trip on a single segment, or 14 cents on a full-length trip.

 

Edited January 6 by smokebomb

[Guest]

Two people killed at a game room off Rundberg around 4:30 this morning:
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/apd-investigating-homicide-on-parkfield-drive-in-north-austin/

That'll be homicide #2-3, putting us at a faster starting pace than at any point in the past five years. The hits just keep on coming.

[DalTxHornFan 3,107]

On 1/6/2024 at 11:11 AM, smokebomb said:

This means a 14% increase during the non-busy periods for just the Mopac expressway:

https://www.kvue.com/amp/article/traffic/toll-road-rate-increase-austin-texas/269-0bba20f2-ef69-4e7d-81b7-ef61c952c16e
 

 

Such bullshit to use CPI as a cover for increasing toll rates.  The interest rates on the bonds they sold to build the toll roads have not increased.  Maybe they are gonna use the extra money to pay off the bonds early and stop charging tolls?  /sarc

[PvilleStang 2,913]

I mean, is ANYTHING around here done with common sense?!  

[Deej 76,834]

16 hours ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

Two people killed at a game room off Rundberg around 4:30 this morning:
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/apd-investigating-homicide-on-parkfield-drive-in-north-austin/

That'll be homicide #2-3, putting us at a faster starting pace than at any point in the past five years. The hits just keep on coming.

Game room? Off Rundberg? At 4:30 in the morning?

Shocked. 

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Deej said:

Game room? Off Rundberg? At 4:30 in the morning?

Shocked. 

Open 24 hours too!

[PvilleStang 2,913]

17 hours ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

Two people killed at a game room off Rundberg around 4:30 this morning:
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/apd-investigating-homicide-on-parkfield-drive-in-north-austin/

That'll be homicide #2-3, putting us at a faster starting pace than at any point in the past five years. The hits just keep on coming.

I do love they called this the first murder of 2023 on the news last night, like they want to forget Garza's pal that attempted the Murder / Suicide on Oltorf.

[Bevo 13,579]

8 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

Open 24 hours too!

Game rooms are a scourge to society. I use to have one near my business and it caused an incredible amount of harm - I would have to escort people back to their car if we were working late, graffiti, homelessness, poop around the building, shopping carts, drugs, drug paraphernalia, prostitution, violent crime and trash were all issues.

[YGIFS 19,452]

21 minutes ago, Deej said:

Game room? Off Rundberg? At 4:30 in the morning?

Shocked. 

Hey, a lot of people play games at 4:00am!  Sometimes you gotta stay up late to finish a game of Monopoly.  And you need time for the 8-ball to wear off.

[Brisketexan 105,158]

27 minutes ago, Bevo said:

Game rooms are a scourge to society. I use to have one near my business and it caused an incredible amount of harm - I would have to escort people back to their car if we were working late, graffiti, homelessness, poop around the building, shopping carts, drugs, drug paraphernalia, prostitution, violent crime and trash were all issues.

I stopped into a Mi Pueblito off of 183 to grab some stuff while I was getting work done at the Discount Tire next door.  They had a coupla 8-liners in the back, and a coupla dudes just sitting there playing, obsessively and without break, in the middle of the damned day.  These aren't exactly high-end gambling devices.  The other place you see them frequently is in rural communities -- the big convenience store at the crossroads in Llano or somesuch will often have 4-6 machines.  Teh scene around them is always one of sadness and despair.  Yeesh.

[gsoda3 3,263]

17 hours ago, DalTxHornFan said:

Such bullshit to use CPI as a cover for increasing toll rates.  The interest rates on the bonds they sold to build the toll roads have not increased.  Maybe they are gonna use the extra money to pay off the bonds early and stop charging tolls?  /sarc

they'll say it's to keep up with the increased cost of maintenance and operations.

[Guest]

Just wanted to say thanks for the awesome weather last night and spectacular views of downtown from Bishop’s Cidercade.

Never felt threatened at this gameroom.😁

Terry Black’s had some very nice brisket and sausage, as well.  Thanks Surly for the recommendation.

Edited January 8 by slorch

[Bevo 13,579]

29 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

I stopped into a Mi Pueblito off of 183 to grab some stuff while I was getting work done at the Discount Tire next door.  They had a coupla 8-liners in the back, and a coupla dudes just sitting there playing, obsessively and without break, in the middle of the damned day.  These aren't exactly high-end gambling devices.  The other place you see them frequently is in rural communities -- the big convenience store at the crossroads in Llano or somesuch will often have 4-6 machines.  Teh scene around them is always one of sadness and despair.  Yeesh.

The police use to crack down on them but as soon as they got one shut down, three more would show up. So, not much is done. They are legal as long as the betting amount is under $5 dollars in value (no cash). They all break the rules. But, it is only a Class C Misdemeanor so the owners don't care much and they hide most of the money.

Edited January 8 by Bevo

[Biff Tannen 45,691]

On 1/5/2024 at 11:09 AM, Samson's Wig said:

The Domain has been trending that direction since the Rock Rose development got rolling.

What?  I work there.  If by trending "that direction" you mean manufactured gentrified yuppies, then yes.

[Armybrat 40,851]

59 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

I stopped into a Mi Pueblito off of 183 to grab some stuff while I was getting work done at the Discount Tire next door.  They had a coupla 8-liners in the back, and a coupla dudes just sitting there playing, obsessively and without break, in the middle of the damned day.  These aren't exactly high-end gambling devices.  The other place you see them frequently is in rural communities -- the big convenience store at the crossroads in Llano or somesuch will often have 4-6 machines.  Teh scene around them is always one of sadness and despair.  Yeesh.

Like a little slice of Las Vegas but without the titties?

Edited January 8 by Armybrat

[texasdago 7,575]

On the rehabilitation/clean up of 6th street... while some of us remember the good times of 6th in the mid 80s to mid 90s, from what I understand 6th has always gone through cycles of being an absolute dump.  

https://austin.towers.net/this-photo-has-everything-you-need-to-know-about-sixth-street-in-the-1970s/

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2012/09/01/looking-back-at-the-melting-pot-that-was-once-sixth-street-40-years-ago/9861843007/

"During the day, the street was populated by people who had been coming there for decades and hadn't realized that time and demographics had left the old neighborhood on a vanishing island. There were the poor and the hippies going to St. Vincent de Paul. There were the winos getting their first drinks of the day. There were the transvestites and whores finishing their night. There were the police.

 

Late morning, the lunch crowd showed up — business people, legislators, office workers. Mr. Peepers did well at lunch. A lot of men walked from the Capitol and spent their lunch hour shoving quarters in porno viewing machines.

Miss Ricki, a big guy and a flamboyant queen, ran the place. What a character. He ate at my deli and we would laugh at the hypocrisy of the legislators.

Our lunchtime was busy, but the afternoons were slow. The dinner crowd varied: office workers who were getting off late, people working the night shift and lost souls looking for coffee with refills and warmth.

After 8 p.m. is when it got interesting. Austin pretty much turned in early during the week, and Sixth Street was never really crowded, even on weekends. The whores, transvestites, winos, bunco artists and cops mixed with college kids and the early harbingers of what would someday become known as the upscale people."

[Bevo 13,579]

19 minutes ago, texasdago said:

On the rehabilitation/clean up of 6th street... while some of us remember the good times of 6th in the mid 80s to mid 90s, from what I understand 6th has always gone through cycles of being an absolute dump.  

https://austin.towers.net/this-photo-has-everything-you-need-to-know-about-sixth-street-in-the-1970s/

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2012/09/01/looking-back-at-the-melting-pot-that-was-once-sixth-street-40-years-ago/9861843007/

"During the day, the street was populated by people who had been coming there for decades and hadn't realized that time and demographics had left the old neighborhood on a vanishing island. There were the poor and the hippies going to St. Vincent de Paul. There were the winos getting their first drinks of the day. There were the transvestites and whores finishing their night. There were the police.

 

Late morning, the lunch crowd showed up — business people, legislators, office workers. Mr. Peepers did well at lunch. A lot of men walked from the Capitol and spent their lunch hour shoving quarters in porno viewing machines.

Miss Ricki, a big guy and a flamboyant queen, ran the place. What a character. He ate at my deli and we would laugh at the hypocrisy of the legislators.

Our lunchtime was busy, but the afternoons were slow. The dinner crowd varied: office workers who were getting off late, people working the night shift and lost souls looking for coffee with refills and warmth.

After 8 p.m. is when it got interesting. Austin pretty much turned in early during the week, and Sixth Street was never really crowded, even on weekends. The whores, transvestites, winos, bunco artists and cops mixed with college kids and the early harbingers of what would someday become known as the upscale people."

They say the same thing about New Orleans.

[texasdago 7,575]

21 minutes ago, Bevo said:

They say the same thing about New Orleans.

Memories are selective... 

[texasdago 7,575]

...and TBH as you look at the 2023 homicide map, the more things change, the more they stay the same.  The areas that have always been a challenge have continued to be a challenge.  

[Samson's Wig 3,192]

1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

What?  I work there.  If by trending "that direction" you mean manufactured gentrified yuppies, then yes.

Yes, of course during the day, but there has been an increase of crime at night in that area.   "Trending that direction," not "already a shit show."

[Guest]

Holy shit:

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/apd-homicides-vehicle-thefts-surged-in-late-2023/

Other crimes that have seen substantial upticks include motor vehicle thefts, with 1,785 incidents reported between October and December 2023. That marked a 38% increase from the same timespan in 2022 when there were 1,292 thefts reported.

Arson cases also climbed from 29 incidents between October and December 2022 to 44 cases from the same time period in 2023, signifying a 52% increase.

1,800 car thefts? What's the plan APD?

[Guest]

Shut down TxTow

[ChickenSandwich 9,843]

[Samson's Wig 3,192]

50 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

Holy shit:

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/apd-homicides-vehicle-thefts-surged-in-late-2023/

Other crimes that have seen substantial upticks include motor vehicle thefts, with 1,785 incidents reported between October and December 2023. That marked a 38% increase from the same timespan in 2022 when there were 1,292 thefts reported.

Arson cases also climbed from 29 incidents between October and December 2022 to 44 cases from the same time period in 2023, signifying a 52% increase.

1,800 car thefts? What's the plan APD?

They will start by banning Kias.  The numbers will drop immediately.  From there, they've got nothing.

[Nicole44 22,063]

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/austin-machete-auditorium-shores/269-0a889f3d-06d5-4732-a6ce-6d070fa53c26
 

Machete attack…hopefully the victim survives. 

[YGIFS 19,452]

I mean, it doesn't help our national profile that Denny Trejo still keeps a home in Austin.

[Nicole44 22,063]

18 minutes ago, YGIFS said:

I mean, it doesn't help our national profile that Denny Trejo still keeps a home in Austin.

He's too stealthy to get caught though. Just kidding. It’s likely a marauding band of traveling dentists 🦷. they are the real threat to downtown. It’s got to be dentists. Or hygienists. It’s a stressful profession. It’s probably what’s happening. Or anything other than the obvious culprit. Like bicycling jousters. 

Edited January 9 by Nicole44

[Ten Bears 2,481]

Nice try.  I think we all know who the "obvious culprit" is.  

[kibbles 70]

how did @Nicole44 know about this attack so quickly?

[YGIFS 19,452]

Yeah, she always has the inside scoop.  Is never posting after heaving rains when Town Lake's current is moving swiftly.  And just magically invents the best fucking band name ever, "Marauding Dentists"?  

I'm not saying I'm gonna cover for her, but I will hesitate to cooperate with the authorities.  

[Nicole44 22,063]

1 minute ago, kibbles said:

how did @Nicole44 know about this attack so quickly?

I check the news. I can’t claim responsibility as I had to take my mom to the ER. She has pneumonia. Sitting in the ER is super fun. I was on a whole other side of town man. 

[Nicole44 22,063]

10 minutes ago, Ten Bears said:

Nice try.  I think we all know who the "obvious culprit" is.  

There was a double murder in Georgetown but they caught the son who killed his parents. Cant claim that one either. lol. 

[royiv 9,326]

Not even the first machete attack in recent months....

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/security-guard-attacked-with-machete-downtown-austin-texas-hotel/269-02d8d1a0-c714-42f5-a324-b4824d9a933d

[gsoda3 3,263]

40 minutes ago, Nicole44 said:

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/austin-machete-auditorium-shores/269-0a889f3d-06d5-4732-a6ce-6d070fa53c26
 

Machete attack…hopefully the victim survives. 

everyone knows you slash, not stab, with a machete.  amateur hour here.

[jimmyjazz 45,979]

I don't know if there is an Austin airport thread, so I'm putting this here.  

ABIA "weather watchers" are (a) stuck in a room without windows and (b) without internet access.

Jesus, Austin.

 

Weather?

[YGIFS 19,452]

I just saw that an hour ago and just had to laugh.  

Plus, the way the headline reads.  "The workers need to leave the building, altogether."  Which, appropriately, of course reminded me of "Airplane"..."It's an entirely different kind of, altogether!"  And the the three crew members repeat, "It's an entirely different kind of flying!"  My wife looked at me like I was insane.  Which I am, but I mean...come the fuck on Austin.  It's like they're relying completely on instruments...

[Nicole44 22,063]

8 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

everyone knows you slash, not stab, with a machete.  amateur hour here.

It’s too windy also. lol.  But the weather watchers at the airport probably aren’t aware of how windy it is. 

[Native Horn 3,504]

1 hour ago, Nicole44 said:

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/austin-machete-auditorium-shores/269-0a889f3d-06d5-4732-a6ce-6d070fa53c26
 

Machete attack…hopefully the victim survives. 

Thank the TX lege for making it legal to carry machetes (spears, sabers and swords too!) around now.  The only way to stop a bad person with a machete is a good person with a katana!

[YGIFS 19,452]

When the Sickles are Socialist, only the Socialists will have Sickles.  

Connery/ "Well, it starts with an 'S', doesn't it Trebeck?!?" 

Dammit, I had something for this.  We are truly tilting towards being the dumbest fucking city in the stupidest fucking state.  At least Mississippi has good blues music.

[PvilleStang 2,913]

1 hour ago, Nicole44 said:

I check the news. I can’t claim responsibility as I had to take my mom to the ER. She has pneumonia. Sitting in the ER is super fun. I was on a whole other side of town man. 

You really do enjoy checking in on those victims?  Like the murderer that always returns to the scene.

[crash_davis 23,113]

2 hours ago, Nicole44 said:

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/austin-machete-auditorium-shores/269-0a889f3d-06d5-4732-a6ce-6d070fa53c26
 

Machete attack…hopefully the victim survives. 

All this machete swinging dude probably needed was a warm place to sleep. 

 

[PvilleStang 2,913]

15 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

All this machete swinging dude probably needed was a warm place to sleep. 

 

If I'm an hispanic man, no way in hell am I attacking a 19 year old white male wielding a machete. That's one step away from a white boy with an AR 15.

[Guest]

So homeless guy is the attacker from what I'm gathering?

Man, there is a sharp demarcation in Austin's history -- pre homeless camping rules and post homeless camping rules. Even with it repealed, the damage was done. Was talking to an officer the other day on the homeless task force who was saying that word spread and lots of homeless came here from other places.

Between the trash, attacks, drug use, and murders, it's just madness... and I'm someone that donates to the orgs around town to help with the issue. 

[chainsaw 9,870]

I don't have a problem with homeless people. I have a problem with anyone who can't observe basic societal norms. If it's due to mental health issues beyond their control, that's a societal failing (we need to address these people's issues and manage their behavior more proactively and effectively). If it's because they refuse to control things that are within their control, that's a personal failing for which they should be arrested and kept out of civil society.

I get that being a fuck up correlates strongly with homelessness, but simply scattering their campsites is not really going to fix anything.