Austin Post

Kickstarter of the Week: Wirelessly Connect All the Things with Sapphire

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:51:07 +0000

Once a week we shine a ray of love on Austin's most interesting Kickstarter projects. This week, Sapphire promises they've created the one wireless connector to rule them all.

Bringing the General Home: A Controversial Corpse's Long Return to Austin

Jeffrey S. Kerr — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:08:16 +0000

Albert Sidney Johnston wanted to come home. At least that’s what folks said in April 1862 after a bullet at Shiloh severed an artery in the Confederate General’s right leg, filled his boot with blood and drained his body of life. Johnston’s brother-in-law William Preston pointed out that home w

Austin Tech Job Roundup for May 22

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:53:52 +0000

We’ve searched Facebook, LinkedIn, and odd corners of the internet looking for the tech jobs you won’t find on Craigslist. Most of these come from people at the company in question hoping a friend of a friend can help them find a good person to hire. Luckily for you, The Austin Post is your friend.

Blame the IRS, the White House; AND CONGRESS

patjdixon — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:41:47 +0000

While there is plenty of blame to be directed toward the IRS and the White House (and it's now clear some in the White House knew about it), those throwing the most stones are the most to blame: Congress.

Austin Postcast: SxtyScnds Gamifies Your Life

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:14:11 +0000

On this week’s Austin Postcast, we interview Blake Garrett, founder of Austin based SxtyScnds. I wasn’t sure what to expect from someone who promises to “repurpose content into social, snackable games,” though I hoped he hadn’t somehow found a terrifying way to combine gamification and fiber. Luckily, it turns out SxtyScnds is all about turning boring information into quiz style casual games you can play for a minute or two while killing time in line.

UPDATE: Craft Beer and Brewpub Rights Pass Senate, House

Stephanie Myers — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:47:50 +0000

Update (May 20): The five beer bills were approved by the Texas House of Representatives today and could be signed into law by Gov. Perry as early as Friday.

City Uses New Software to ‘Envision Tomorrow’ for South Austin

Stephanie Myers — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:44:50 +0000

Imagine if SimCity could be used to see how land use codes would affect Austin, in real life. The City of Austin is working with just such a tool that could change the face of urban design.

Inventions and Good Deeds Edition: Tech Events Roundup May 20-26

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:56:35 +0000

I’m

Amazing Community Animations from Mini Maker Faire

Tim Ziegler — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:19:05 +0000

Check out these wonderful animations done by Austinites of all ages during the May Mini Maker Faire.

Day Trip: Buescher State Park

Stephanie Myers — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:46:42 +0000

At only about , Buescher is a small one, but the park does feature camping as well as a small but stocked fishing pond that allows (and rents) non-motorized boats. Bass, crappie and catfish fishing is said to be good at the pond, however, the 7-mile hiking trail is what attracted us.

This Week in Geek May 17 - 23 Games within Games within Games edition

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:35:29 +0000

This week, the Renegade Craft Faire takes over the Palmer Events Center, the international DASH Puzzle Hunt comes to Austin, and Dorkbot brings you a TED Talk-esque night about the craft of gaming. If you’d rather get your hands on some pieces, there are plenty of boardgame groups meeting this week, plus a chance to join fellow geeks to watch Star Trek and Game of Thrones.

City Pushes "Mixed-Use" to Make Austin More Compact

Stephanie Myers — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:35:15 +0000

One of the ways the City and developers are enacting this part of Imagine Austin is by encouraging construction of mixed-use buildings – retail on the first floor and maybe office space on the second or third and apartments and condos the rest of the way up. Although developments like these have been sprouting up around the city for a few years now, it’s still a learning process for those involved.

Austin Drivers: Put the Phone Down

Stephanie Myers — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:17:39 +0000

As I recently walked on the sidewalk down Burnet Road, about a mile from my house, several cars passed me; I noticed one driven by a man who was clearly looking down at his cell phone.

RISE Up and Network: Tech Events Roundup May 13 - 19

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:43:17 +0000

The big news this week is RISE, Austin’s amazing week long conference with dozens of useful sessions and great networking opportunities. Look through their extensive listings to find the best sessions for you. If that’s not good enough, you can also enjoy networking opportunities with Door64, Austin Web Developers, and Incubation Station, plus some special events for those of you interested in healthcare information systems and solar power and technology. With all this to choose from, have fun finding time to sleep.

Best Day Trips Within Austin City Limits

Stephanie Myers — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:20:53 +0000

The days have gotten longer and warmer, encouraging us all to spend our free time outdoors biking, swimming, running, rowing and hiking. Sometimes we don’t have time to get out of the city or just want to do something for a few hours close to home.

Inside the Laboratory of Evil Dr. Bleep

Tim Ziegler — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:43:34 +0000

In a nondescript office park in North Austin, a garage door stands part-way open. Inside, evil is afoot.

Game-o-Thrones, Board Games, Girl Stuff: This Week in Geek May 9-15

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:15:04 +0000

This week the monthly Fantasy and Sci-Fi social is back, werewolves take over a gaming shop, and Shakespeare invades Zilker park. To top it off, there are also plenty of great excuses for boardgames.

Rich Garza Spotlights Broad Diversity of Latino Music with Pachanga Fest

John Morthland — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:21:30 +0000

When Rich Garza returned to his native Austin in 2005 to do event marketing for a Latin promotional company, he noticed something missing from the Live Music Capital of the World.

City, Community Begin to Update 30-Year-Old Land Code

Stephanie Myers — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:22:56 +0000

The last time the Austin Land Development Code was rewritten was in 1984; the population was 392,000.

Austin Tech Job Roundup for May 7

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:36:09 +0000

We’ve trolled Facebook, LinkedIn, and odd corners of the internet looking for the tech jobs you won’t find on Craigslist. Most of these come from people at the company in question hoping a friend of a friend can help them find a good person to hire. Luckily for you, The Austin Post is your friend.

App City: Tech Events Roundup May 6 - 12

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:12:51 +0000

App developers, whether you work with iOS, Android, or Windows Mobile, this week Austin has a meetup for you. Though the week starts out full of informative sessions, it ends with plenty of great networking. The always awesome BASHH and it’s little sister BizBASHH are back at The Brew Exchange on Thursday, plus this week also includes Door64’s Happy Hour and TechRanch Campfire. Get ready to share some beers with your fellow digital workers.

Austin Celebrates Bike Month

Stephanie Myers — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:27:37 +0000

It’s no secret that bicycling is good for a person and good for the community. Bicycling prevents obesity, pollution and the costs that go along with one-person-one-car commuting. To encourage more Austinites to become cyclists, the city is celebrating Bike Month in May.

Shoot First, Aim Later, in West

patjdixon — Fri, 03 May 2013 01:24:12 +0000

I attended the Texas Tribune morning conversation on Earth Day, when (naturally) the subject was supposed to be the environment. But on the heels of the tragedy in West, it turned into something else.

This Week in Geek May 2 - 8: May the Fourth Be With You edition

Chris-Rachael Oseland — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:52:08 +0000

This Saturday is a crazy trifecta of geek goodness. It’s not only unofficial geek holiday May the Fourth, but also national Free Comic Book Day and the opening weekend of Iron Man 3. There are ample excuses to celebrate your love of Star Wars and comics, plus a Steampunk nightclub event and the awesomeness that is the Mini Maker Faire.

Day Trip: Seminole Canyon State Park

Stephanie Myers — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:49:30 +0000

One of the most interesting things about visiting places around Texas is simply thinking about the area’s past. Most of Texas was once covered by a shallow ocean, then populated by dinosaurs. At some point, volcanic activity took over, as plates shifted. Somewhere down the line, man came.