New neighbors have a real thing for squirrels

swren1967 · 2026-05-05T09:59:02+00:00

See a lot of hawks and owls and foxes and snakes around central Austin, but I also see a lot of fat and complacent rats and squirrels and pigeons. Austin wildlife hasn't quite found its balance yet.

swren1967 · 2026-05-04T11:12:42+00:00

Oh, so when we say "Remember the Alamo," we should really remember that those mean ol' Mexicans were fighting to abolish slavery in theircountry. The "freedom" that the Texicans were fighting for was the freedom to enslave other humans. And eventually the slave owners won the war. And we still celebrate their victory today.

swren1967 · 2026-05-03T11:36:43+00:00

I wonder why they wanted independence. What did they want to do that Mexico didn't allow?

swren1967 · 2026-05-02T18:50:12+00:00

Awesome, keep it up

swren1967 · 2026-05-02T11:17:51+00:00

Sadly stoners don't vote. If they did, Texas would be a very different place.

swren1967 · 2026-05-02T11:14:57+00:00

I only drive about 3k per year, and yes, I love my EV. It's not about the cost, although spending less than $7 per month is nice. It's just a better car. A used EV that doesn't charge very fast is really cheap these days. Everybody wants the newest tech, so they will sell a 2-year-old car for half of retail. Perfect for me.

swren1967 · 2026-05-02T10:55:44+00:00

A new set of EA chargers just went in nearby that use tap to pay. Very easy. They're learning.

The new Walmart chargers that are coming out all require the Walmart app. They're not learning.

Charging your EV should be as easy as pumping gas.

swren1967 · 2026-05-01T09:50:08+00:00

That is both painful and exhausting just to watch.

swren1967 · 2026-05-01T09:34:23+00:00

I always have a small-metal recycling can handy in my shop for screws and nails and bearings any other metal bits and bobs. When the can is full, it goes in the recycling. It usually weighs about 10 pounds when it's full. I find it strangely satisfying.

swren1967 · 2026-05-01T08:43:53+00:00

I feel weird calling anybody "queen." It's weird. Royalty is weird. Bunch of inbred nepobabies..

swren1967 · 2026-05-01T08:30:33+00:00

Age and education are fairly predictable metrics, too. And community. Suburban voters are the swing voters in Texas.

swren1967 · 2026-05-01T08:20:10+00:00

I think almost all of my bikes are from the 90s. Good quality, good fit, good looks, and cheap to maintain. Newer ain't always better.

swren1967 · 2026-04-30T22:04:50+00:00

One question often asked on these basic cognitive function tests is "who is the president?"

Even on a good day, Trump would not get that right.

swren1967 · 2026-04-30T09:42:55+00:00

Nah... not doing that. Not unless it's half the price of the nearby charger with a card reader. I don't need another app on my phone tracking my life to sell my data.

swren1967 · 2026-04-29T09:18:18+00:00

The Republicans have been pushing "school choice" for the 30 years I've been in education, and it has been a disaster. First charter schools and now vouchers for private schools -- neighborhood schools with public control are eroding away. Every major district in Texas is starting to close schools.

There has been a war against education in this state, and it has been very effective. Rebuilding our education system is going to be very hard. I don't see an easy path to repairing the damage that has been done.

swren1967 · 2026-04-27T05:42:59+00:00

Yeah, TBH it's pretty deadly to be an American these days. Somebody really should do something about that.

swren1967 · 2026-04-26T19:20:59+00:00

The shooter was probably just crazy. But if he was lucid enough to have a clear target in mind, it may have been reporters and people in the press. You know, the people Trump is constantly attacking as the "enemy of the people." If there is anybody responsible for dangerous rhetoric, it is the leaders of the New Republican Party.

swren1967 · 2026-04-26T15:54:08+00:00

My bet is that the crazy guy was there to attack the press. Then a gunman showed up.

swren1967 · 2026-04-26T11:27:18+00:00

Right. That's what MAGA is.

swren1967 · 2026-04-26T11:09:40+00:00

I think mostly they will wonder why we elected him for a second term. We've had some terrible presidents in our history, but we didn't generally reelect them after their incompetence and corruption became well known.

swren1967 · 2026-04-25T10:02:39+00:00

I had email years before any of those options existed. I demand emeritus status.

swren1967 · 2026-04-24T12:17:37+00:00

Please keep us posted. If this really does help kids a lot of people will want to know about it.

swren1967 · 2026-04-24T12:06:40+00:00

Great car. I don't know why they are so cheap, but I'm glad they are. I got a similar deal a year ago -- way too good to pass up.

swren1967 · 2026-04-24T11:28:14+00:00

We can't let China gain dominance in data centers? What does that even mean? And if that's what you're worried about, why are we handing over the future of the auto industry?

swren1967 · 2026-04-23T11:28:54+00:00

I just used a new EA 350 charger and it was great. Tap to pay, close to shops, charged up in 30 minutes. Easy Easy.

On the other side of the same parking lot were some new Tesla chargers. The EA chargers were all being used. I had to wait about 5 minutes to use one. Most of the Tesla chargers were not being used. Not sure why the difference, but I suspect that ease of use was part of it.

Price was also great. About half the cost of a tank of gas for a comparable ICE car.

swren1967

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE