Recently, a neo-Nazi Web site denounced Austin’s leadership for enabling degeneracy and perversion. In turn, Austin’s power elite had an excuse to self-righteously denounce the neo-Nazis for being neo-Nazis.[1] “Excuse,” because both groups in this spat share overlapping views – pro-State and anti-bourgeoisie – that neither are prepared to admit, even if more people understood fascism as something more than an epithet toward someone or something you’re supposed to dislike.[2]

Those neo-Nazis can’t complain too much about degeneracy and perversion, as the original Nazi leaders were largely disaffected bohemian drug-addled homos.[3] They’d feel at home in Austin – and not just for social reasons. The Austin power elite wouldn’t be so smug if it understood its policy views, favoring heavily regulated collusion between government, business and labor, with government as the senior partner, are closer to fascist concepts, particularly the Italian variety, than anything in the authentic American spirit.[4] An un- or anti-American spirit, advocating such policies, stems from the “Progressive” Era. Italian fascism resulted partly from Italians Jews such as Enrico Rocca, Gino Arrias and Roberto Michels theorizing intently to create a new ideology.[5] In turn, the Nazis looked to the Italian Fascists for ideas.[6] Obviously, basic history classes and establishment media outlets don’t cover any of this. 

Austin Death Watch

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce says Austin’s too complacent.[7] For example, the July 14 Business Journal reports the city manager’s position has been vacant since October.[8] The Public Works Department acknowledges that mass transit destroyed Guadalupe Street along the UT campus, necessitating massive repairs.[9] The Aug. 4 Business Journal reports fewer people are using Cap Metro buses and trains.[10]

The Northwest Austin edition of Community Impact Newspaper confirms civic red tape exacerbates building costs, thereby driving developers to Williamson and Hays counties for more affordable houses, although the price tags are still six figures.[11] Republican and nonwhite councilors united in opposition to a complicated proposal to raise City property taxes in exchange for lower Austin Independent School District property taxes.[12]

Chronicle Co-Editor/-Publisher Nick Barbaro waxes indignant that the rich and connected are exploiting an Austin Energy program to benefit poor utility customers.[13] This sort of thing happens all the time, and is likely intrinsic to well-meaning attempts to help the less fortunate through civil government, but the Barbaros of the world also wax indignant any time one of us points this out, either before the attempt is implemented or afterward, when we cite the results against the next attempt.[14] They never learn.

Speaking of complacent, Louis Black plans to retire from the rag he co-founded, after 36 years of missing the point while doing his part to ruin Austin for the rest of us.[15] I suspect his departure is the beginning act in the Chronicle changing ownership from the last of the independent alternative weeklies into a media conglomerate’s property.[16]

Speaking of homos, the weekend of Aug. 18-20 two downtown events, Gay Pride and the Austin Hot Sauce Festival, combined under the theme “Flaming Assholes.”[17]

On the Town

Aug. 12: My seat in the Scottish Rite Theater was uncomfortable, and I was parched after walking several blocks from my car in triple-degree heat, yet I dared not leave the auditorium and miss even a minute of Henry Threadgill’s performance. Now that’s compelling music.[18]

Aug. 17: The Rose Room at The Domain offered free salsa dancing, which was really enjoyable for the short time before dudebros in cargo shorts and flip-flops thronged the ground floor and turned the place into a beer-guzzling sausage fest.[19]

Business Roundup

A new Jewish delicatessen has opened at Far West Boulevard, after a long dearth with the closing of Katz’s and Manny Hatten’s.[20] If the food and service are any indication, it’ll soon join its predecessors.

My best client of the last five years has filed for bankruptcy.[21]

Media Indigest

The July Tribeza includes a trend piece on coffee with butter’s health benefits.[22] The July/August Society Diaries proclaims Cuba chic for its preserved ‘50s esthetic,[23] and converts the cogitations of independent-minded stock trader-turned-philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb into a trite personal advice column.[24] A columnist in the July 17 Daily Texan denounces Tex-Mex as “white trash snack food wearing an inauthentic Mexican mask.”[25]

Neighborhood News

A construction crew is making a racket renovating the stairs, landings and breezeways of my building through mid-October at the earliest.[26]

The Statesman’s Traffic Web page reported collisions at Parmer Lane and the MoPac Expressway southbound frontage road on July 27 and Aug. 17, and at Braker Lane and Ptarmigan Drive on Aug. 10. A state inspector found credit card skimmers at fuel pumps at a convenience store at Burnet Road and Research Boulevard.[27]

University of Texas officials dedicated a new supercomputer at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus.[28] The Statesman notes the 50^th anniversary of IBM’s North Austin campus, which has even employed me from time to time.[29]

Discount store Tuesday Morning left the Parmer Crossing Shopping Plaza for Cedar Park. A bankrupt bridal store at The Shops at Arbor Walk closed.[30]

Tech Notes

The Statesman’s technology columnist, a longtime Apple evangelist, has switched to using a Windows desktop.[31] No word on whether the problems with Windows have been satisfactorily resolved, though.

NOTES