Busting Windows |
Austin Dispatches No. 189 (July 4, 2016) |
I thought
Uber and Lyft were pushy, until
Microsoft tried to install Windows 10 on
my computer without permission
one night. I unplugged the power cord to stop the automated process, then ran a
freeware program to eliminate the Windows 10 pop-ups and taskbar button.[1]
Take that, Microsoft.
In its way, under the new
Hindu management, the precariously dominant software firm is as pushy yet
incompetent as some of the curry recruiters who
presume to contact me.[2]
One disrupted my replenishing savoir-faire at 8 p.m. and had the nerve to
complain I didn’t reply to the mumbling message he left on my answering machine
during the day. “That’s because I was at work,” I said.
Transiting from the humid
outdoors to the frigid office induced a cold a few weeks ago. The cold pushed my
voice into a baritone register, so to speed recovery I entertained myself by
imitating the insinuating style of Mr. Lou Rawls.[3]
After all, a mime is a terrible thing to waste.[4]
Business Roundup
The May 29 Telegraph reports
the youngest generation with disposable income – vaguely, the kids these days –
is buying print books as a status symbol.[5]
However, I suspect the flux of technical platforms and limitations of reading
books on handheld computers has made printed books, a proven method for
centuries, more appealing. Not that I don’t appreciate being able to read
obscure or dissenting, or obscure dissenting, books at various Web sites I
access with PCs.[6]
Cultural Canapés
“PIMP,” the new paperback
original co-authored by Ken Bruen and Jason Starr, may be the snarkiest crime
novel ever.[7]
Recently, I created my
best-tasting home-prepared hamburger ever, by sprinkling a pinch of sea salt on
the meat before cooking to enhance the flavor. Texas Journey magazine reports
the state’s vintners have begun focusing on
wines that Texas’ terroir
naturally favors.[8]
On the Town
July 2:
I attended the hot rod show at Top Notch Burgers, and then a salsa social. The
local salsa scene is slowly reemerging from its near coma. Various events held
during earlier hours have been well-attended by former regulars who’d
disappeared. Turns out they weren’t disenchanted with the scene, or pursuing
jobs in other cities, just sleepy.[9]
Austin Death Watch
The May 27 Chronicle
includes lachrymose features on blacks and musicians being priced out of Austin.[10]
The same issue also uncritically quotes Mayor Steve Adler that city spending,
and by implication, city policies, aren’t responsible for exacerbating the local
cost of living.[11]
In other words, the Chronicle will shed crocodile tears for two of its favorite
groups, but continue to support policies that help make their dispossession
possible.[12]
The June 23 Noka reports
that Houston has spent millions less for better police body cameras than what
the Austin City Council just bought.[13]
Construction on MoPac Expressway continues to lag behind schedule.[14]
The June 10 Austin Chronicle
displays ugly racism and cultural insensitivity by denouncing Uber yet again,
this time for accepting Saudi Arabian investment money. The greaseball Nick
Barbaro waxes indignant about the Saudis prohibiting women from driving and
locking homos in prison, but if he were really consistent, he’d call for drone
strikes against Uber.[15]
Neighborhood News
The May 13 Chronicle runs a
hand-wringing feature on two chain breweries opening in town – one of them in a
part of the neighborhood that boasts a notable number of them.[16] The
Chronicle followed in its June 24 issue with a review of The Domain’s new
taverns and eateries in its usual fashion.[17]
Jimmie Vaughan performed at
The Domain’s Lone Star Court on May 13.[18]
I attempted to patronize a May 28 free flea market at Industrial Terrace, but
other drivers blindly careening from nearby parking lots in my direction put me
in such a snit that I promptly returned home without ever looking at the
merchandise. Let that be a lesson to you, local artisanal merchants.[19]
On May 21, I witnessed the
aftermath of a traffic collision near MoPac Expressway and Braker Lane caused by
toll road construction.[20]
On June 26, I witnessed the aftermath of a traffic collision at the Burnet
Road-Duval Road-Gracy Farms Lane intersection. On July 2, I witnessed the
aftermath of a smash-up at Burnet and Esperanza Cross
On June 16, KLBJ-FM reported
another collision at MoPac and Braker. On June 20, KTAE-FM reported yet another
collision at MoPac and Braker. On June 24, KGSR-FM reported a collision on the
183 frontage road at Burnet. The Statesman’s Traffic Web page reported incidents
on May 17 at Metric Boulevard and Kramer Lane, on May 19 at Braker and Domain
Drive, on May 20 and May 26 at MoPac and Braker, on May 23 at Cedar Bend Drive
between Running Bird Lane and Metric, on May 26 on MoPac near Duval, on May 27
and June 6 and June 24 at Parmer Lane and MoPac, on May 29 and June 15 at Braker
and Burnet, on June 1 on a Highway 183 exit ramp near MoPac, on June 6 at MoPac
and Loop 360, on June 7 along MoPac’s northbound frontage road, on June 9 at
Metric and Rundberg Lane, on June 16 at Burnet and Rutland Drive, at MoPac and
Duval on June 20, on Parmer between Rampart Street and Lamplight Village Avenue
on June 22, on June 24 at Metropolitan and Rutland drives and at Braker between
Burnet and Kramer, and on July 1 at Metric and Cedar Bend Drive.
On May 26 and 28, late-night
thunderstorms briefly knocked out power to my apartment.
An eatery, an athletic
apparel store, a flooring wholesale showroom, a smoke shop, a salon, and a
thrift store have opened in the neighborhood.[21]
A urologist’s office closed.[22]
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NOTES
[1] Johnson,
Steve. Microsoft Windows 7: Illustrated Introductory. Boston:
Couse Technology/Cengage Learning, 2010: 8-9.
[2] AD No. 174n36
(April 12, 2014).
[3] AD No. 89n20
(March 29, 2006).
[4] Jacoby, Jacob, Wayne D. Hoyer, and David A. Sheluga. Miscomprehension of Televised Communications. New York City: The Educational Foundation of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, 1980: 166.
[5]
Furness, Hannah. “Books Are Now Status Symbols.” The Sunday Telegraph
29 May 2016: 1+.
[6] Eisler,
Dan. “Bicentennial Booknotes.” E-mail to Rob Eisler et al., 1 Jul. 2016.
[7]
Bruen, Ken, and Jason Starr. PIMP. London: Hard Case Crime, 2016.
[8] Siegel,
Jeff. “A New Harvest.” Texas Journey Jul./Aug. 2016: 24-28.
[9] D. Eisler.
Letter to Lynn Eisler, 21 May 2016.
[10] Freeman,
Doug. “We Can’t Make It Here Anymore.” AC 27 May 2016: 58-59+; King,
Michael. “Pushed Out.” AC 27 May 2016: 10+.
[11] King.
“Getting at Affordability.” AC 27 May 2016: 14.
[12] AD No.
126 (Aug. 10, 2009); AD No. 127 (Sep. 21, 2009)
[13] King.
“Council: Escape From City Hall!” AC 1 Jul. 2016: 12; Russell, Debbie.
“Body Camera Cost Challenge.” Nokoa 23 Jun. 2016: 2.
[14] Wear,
Ben. “MoPac Toll Project’s Newest Deadlines Look Hard to Reach.” AAS 31
May 2016: B1+.
[15] Barbaro,
Nick. “Clowns to the Left of Us, Jokers to the Right.” AC 10 Jun. 2016:
10; Scahill, Jeremy et al. The Assassination Complex: Inside the
Government's Secret Drone Warfare Program. New York City: Simon &
Schuster, 2016.
[16] AD No.
178 (Nov. 6, 2014); AD No. 185 (Nov. 17, 2015); Puga, Eric. “Cold
Front.” AC 13 May 2016: 52+.
[17] Watson,
Brandon. “Eminent Domain.” AC 24 Jun. 2016: 36-38.
[18] AD No. 48n17
(Mar. 10, 2003); AD No. 150n61 (April 16, 2012); Hernandez, Raoul. “Jimmie Vaughan &
Tilt-a-Whirl.” AC 13 May 2013: 72.
[19]
“Community.” AC 27 May 2016: 33.
[20] AD No.
188n31 (May 11, 2016).
[21] “Now
Open.” CIN May 2016, Northwest Austin ed.: 7; “Now Open.” CIN Jun. 2016,
Northwest Austin ed.: 4, 6.
[22]
“Closings.” CIN May 2016, Northwest Austin ed.: 5.