Home > Talk of Austin > Archives > 2006 > October
October 2006
Share your toll road tales
Did you try out the Austin area’s new toll roads? What was your drive like? What is your normal route, and how much faster or slower was the toll road? Tell us about your experience.
Permalink | Comments (110) | Categories: News
Would you pay more than double for public transportation?
Capital Metro bus and special transit fares would double in 2008, double again in 2010 and then have yet another bump in 2014 under an agency staff proposal unveiled Monday.
Under state law, Capital Metro must go through a three-step process to increase fares, including getting final approval from a board of elected officials. A decision is probably months away.
Would you pay more than double for public transportation?
Permalink | Comments (40) | Categories: News
What do you think of ‘Friday Night Lights’?
Critics love ‘Friday Night Lights,’ but fans aren’t exactly packing the stands to catch the show, which is filmed in Central Texas. Ratings have decreased each week since the show debuted earlier this month. Have you watched ‘Friday Night Light’? What do you think? And if you’re tuning out, we’d like to hear why — and what it is you’re watching instead.
Permalink | Comments (39) | Categories: Entertainment
Property tax bill
Have you received your property tax bill yet? If you have, will your tax bill affect your vote in the Nov. 7 elections? And how?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Opinion
Death row appeals
What is your reaction to the problems with the Texas death row appeals system?
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: News
Worst streets in Austin
What are the worst streets in Austin?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: News
Undecided voters
Are you still undecided about the governor’s race? What influenced your decision?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: News
Wild cats
What do you think should be done with the feral cats?
Permalink | Comments (43) | Categories: News
Would you ever swear off beauty procedures?
Jean Scheidnes writes in her recent column about the New York Times’ Alex Kuczynski, who was sworn off cosmetic surgery. Have you or would you do the same?
How much rain did you get?
What’s the weather like in your neighborhood? If you have a rain gauge, how much rain have you received?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Weather
What do you think of chaining or leashing pets in the backyard?
A city ordinance proposed by a group called Chain Free Austin would make it illegal to leave tethered dogs outside unless their owners are with them. Chaining dogs is inhumane and makes the dog aggressive, according to the group’s spokesman, Lyndon Poole.
Do you think chaining dogs is inhumane?
Permalink | Comments (212) | Categories: News
Do students fare better in a single sex environment?
The Department of Education released a new interpretation of the Title IX law banning sexual discrimination in federally funded programs, in order to broaden oportunities for single-sex public education. The Bush administration, spurred by concern over boys lagging behind girls in school, has supported single-sex schools.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: News
Do you back Barack?
Ever since Barack Obama delivered “The Speech” at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, the question has been not if, but when, he will run for president. Do you think Obama, who will give the keynote address at the Texas Book Festival, should run in 2008? How would he fare against other Democratic hopefuls?
Permalink | Comments (26) | Categories: Election
What is your favorite news channel and/or news anchor?
Bill Seitzler, who joined KXAN in January, has told the newsroom staff that he is stepping down to take a job with SmithGeiger LLC, a Los Angeles-based media company. He will stay on until Thanksgiving, if necessary, while his replacement is found.
What is your favorite news channel or who is your favorite news anchor?
Permalink | Comments (68) | Categories: News
Has the 2003 Driver Responsibility Program affected you?
An increasing number of Texans are being caught driving with invalid or suspended driver’s licenses. So many, in fact, that the trend is clogging the state’s misdemeanor court system, officials say. Some say it’s the result of a three-year-old state law.
Has this law affected you?
Permalink | Comments (58) | Categories: News
How was the Stones show?
Did you go to the Stones show at Zilker Park? How was it? How did this show compare to other Stones shows you’ve seen? Was Zilker Park a good venue for this show?
Californians are coming
Did you come to Austin from out of state ? Was the cost of real estate a factor in your move?
Permalink | Comments (91) | Categories: News
The Beatles vs. The Stones
Do you think Austin is a Stones town (guitars and grit) or a Beatles town (melodies and love)? Tell us why and what local bands support your view.
‘Flags of Our Fathers’
With Clint Eastwood’s World War II drama “Flags of Our Fathers” opening Friday, we want to hear about the military heroes in your life. Send us stories of your loved ones who have served our country.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Entertainment
Where did you buy your Stones ticket?
We’ve been noticing tickets for Sunday’s Rolling Stones show at Zilker Park surfacing on Craigslist, Ebay and in our own classifieds even though they are still available from Ticketmaster. We’re curious about where our readers have been buying tickets. Did you stand in line on the first day the tickets went on sale, or did you find a hot deal on the internet this week? And how much did you pay?
Do you have your own manspace?
Melanie Spence writes, “There was a time when men of a certain status worked, studied, congregated, smoked or simply relaxed in a special room dubbed the library, smoking room or men’s parlor.”
We would like to hear about your very own space.
Who should win ‘Project Runway’ tonight?
The blogs are abuzz with insight and speculation. But we’d like to hear from you. Who should take top honors in tonight’s season finale? Will it be Laura Bennett, Uli Herzner, Michael Knight or Jeffrey Sebelia?
Ranking the Stones
You’ve seen how rock critic Joe Gross ranked the Stones albums, now it’s your turn. Is Joe’s list accurate or would you have ranked the albums differently? Is there any album that you would argue deserves a higher or lower place on the list?
What local businesses do you consider icons?
The Las Manitas debate has led to a flurry of activity by council members, planning commissioners and even one state legislator, all trying to figure out ways to ‘save’ iconic businesses in the face of growing development pressures. No one is sure they have a workable approach, let alone how to define and iconic business.
What local businesses do you consider icons and why?
Permalink | Comments (146) | Categories: News
What are some of the most notable changes that have occurred in Austin and Travis County in the last 30 years? Any that were expected? Any that have been a surprise?
With the nation’s population officially projected to reach 300 million today, according to the Census Bureau, Austin and Austinites have felt the growth.
What are some of the most notable changes that have occurred in Austin and Travis County in the last 30 years? Any that were expected? Any that have been a surprise?
Permalink | Comments (24) | Categories: News
Rolling Stones: No chairs in Zilker Park?
The final guidelines for the Rolling Stones show at Zilker Park have been announced and, in case you didn’t read the fine print, it turns out that a lawn seat is actually no seat at all. There will be no chairs allowed at Zilker Park during the show (although you can take a blanket to sit on). Is this unreasonable, or do you understand why the show’s promoters made this decision? If you had realized that you wouldn’t be able to take a lawn chair would it have affected your decision to pay $95 for a ticket?
Since so many of you asked, we did a little research. Concert-goers may take two factory-sealed bottles of water to the show, but no coolers or other outside food and drink will be permitted. Here’s the full list of allowed and prohibited items.
Taking the toll road
Will you be taking the toll roads? Tell us your thoughts.
Permalink | Comments (226) | Categories: News
Did you attend the Texas Conference for Women?
What were the highlights of this year’s Texas Conference for Women? What did you take away from the event?
How is weather affecting you?
Let us know what is happening with the weather in your neighborhood. The normal stuff: What happened, when and where?
If there is photogenic evidence of the weather, send us a photo!
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Weather
Census data missing
Fifteen of the 2,400 handheld computers used by census takers are missing, according to an audit by the Department of Commerce. The computers include names, addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth, but officials say the information is password-protected and encrypted. Will this announcement make you leery of cooperating with the U.S. Census Bureau in the future? We’d especially like to hear from people who have received a letter indicating their personal information may have been stolen. How will you respond?
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: News
Should the state support biodiesel production and sales?
Biodiesel manufacturers by the end of the year must convince the state’s environmental agency that their product has tailpipe emissions in line with low emissions standards or possibly be forced to stop selling the renewable fuel in Texas.
Do you think the state should continue to support biodiesel?
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: News
Stormy weather?
Strong storms moved through Central Texas this morning, dumping rain, knocking out lights and leading to numerous wrecks. Did your neighborhood get hit hard? Or did it hardly rain at all? Tell us what you saw and which part of town or neighborhood you live in.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Categories: Weather
What are your favorite videos to watch on YouTube?
Google said Monday that it will acquire Internet video phenomenon YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock.
What are your favorite videos to watch?
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: Business
Keep cats inside
Circle C Ranch resident Susan Schaffel says she has spent five years urging the Austin City Council to pass an ordinance making it illegal for cats to roam freely because of what they do to birds. What do you think?
Permalink | Comments (79) | Categories: News
What do you think of the judge’s strike on the smoking ban?
A federal judge on Wednesday struck down part of Austin’s smoking ban and found that some of its enforcement provisions were “unconstitutionally vague.”
The decision by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks did not overturn the smoking ban, enacted by voters in May 2005. But Sparks did clarify what steps a bar owner must take to be in compliance with the ordinance.
What do you think of this decision?
Permalink | Comments (208) | Categories: News
Should city council positions be a full-time job?
Recognizing that Austin is no longer a small town, the City Council is asking the city’s Ethics Review Commission to look at whether it is time for council members to be full-time. The change could make the council members eligible for retirement benefits and lead to a bigger salary.
Do you think this change should happen?
Permalink | Comments (67) | Categories: News
What charities/causes do you support?
More than 100 businesses, including grocery stores, retail outlets, clubs and restaurants, will donate at least 5 percent of their proceeds today to HAAM, a partnership between Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David’s Community Health Foundation and the SIMS Foundation established in April 2005.
Will you be participating, or do you have another charity/cause you support?
Permalink | Comments (17) | Categories: Entertainment
What is the biggest danger or disadvantage children face today?
More Texas children are living in poverty. Texas leads the nation with one in five children without health insurance. The rate of infant deaths is increasing. And Congress largely has abandoned its role in helping pay to collect delinquent child support.
During the final weeks of campaign season, however, the greatest threat to Texas children seems to be the stranger lurking around the corner or on the Internet. What do you think the candidates should focus on in regards to Texas’ children?
Permalink | Comments (19) | Categories: Election
Too much homework
Is your child getting too much homework? Then tell us how you would help Ariston’s characters get out of a house without doors.
Permalink | Comments (80) | Categories: News
