Data Privacy Tips For Tax Season

It's tax season.  Huzzah!  If you're like us, we each get tax documents from various accounts and compile them for our accountant.  Ergo, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Use a secure portal (if your accountant offers one, and they should) to submit docs.  If you must email, encrypt the attached files and call your accountant's office with the password.
• To share docs at with your spouse/partner/business partners/etc, make sure your emails are encrypted and exchanged on the same server.  E.g., your business has secure intraoffice emails, or you and your spouse both have Protonmail accounts and email to each other there.  
• Another option, if you are sharing docs with someone and you don't have a secure email solution, is to set up a shared Dropbox folder.
• If you must email a tax document across multiple email services, (as mentioned above) be sure to encrypt the file (very easy to do this w/ PDFs) and provide the password to the recipient in a secure manner.  

I'm not an IT expert; just a lawyer who is paranoid about security.  So, if you are concerned about any of the above issues ask an IT professional or consult an online guide for more information.  The point of this post is to get you thinking about tax document related data security.  

Creative Fund Trivia Night February 2026

 

Me, at a Superlative Filled Locale

Do you enjoy live team trivia and helping to raise money for Austin artists?  If you said yes either count, then you should join us for the next Creative Fund trivia night on February 4th in the new Poeta in the East Austin Hotel (register in link) .  Our last trivia night fundraisers have been a blast.  We have five rounds of live trivia (I will be co-hosting) and a picture puzzle round.  If you don't do well at trivia, there are other amusing side games in which you can participate.  

Who knows?  Maybe I'll ask a question about the Grand Canyon.  Or, maybe not.  You'll have to show up to find out.  

Texas Voter Registration Deadline for March Primary

Texas voters: make sure you are registered if you want to vote in the upcoming primary on March 3rd.  If you are not, you have until February 2nd to register.  If you need to register, mail in your registration form as soon as possible (you can't register online).  Thanks to the new USPS postmarking rules your letter with the form might not be postmarked on the day you actually drop it in the mail.

Not sure if you are registered: contact your county registrar.

A Message From Gus:

 

Austin Air Travel

 

KUT has a list of the new non-stop flights coming to Austin in 2026.  There a some good ones in there, including (but not limited to) British Airways' plan to start flying two non-stops to Heathrow daily and Southwest's plan to add season non-stop service to Seattle.  

New Commodore 64 Ultimate: The Best-Selling Home Computer Ever Is Back

Floyd Real Estate Turns 11

Floyd Real Estate, LLC, is 11 years old!  Contact us if you're thinking of buying or selling property in the Central Texas area.   We enjoy helping residential and commercial clients. 

Note:  The above photo is from Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico.  It has nothing to do with Austin real estate, but it is one of my favorites featuring our branded koozie.

Austin: Esther's Follies AMA on Reddit

 Tomorrow the founders of Esther's Follies, a comedy institution in Austin which has been around since the 70's, are having an AMA on Reddit.  In anticipation, you can visit a subreddit today and posit questions in advance.   

Charles Schwab American Express Cards: The Secret Weapon for Smart Inves...

If You Like The Goonies...

 

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A post shared by LEGO News & Trivia (@brickfunfacts)

American Airlines unveils special Flagship livery ahead of centennial year

Texas Standard on Buc-ee's

 

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Trivia Night: October 22nd

 There is a Creative Fund trivia fundraiser night in the works for October 22nd at Second Bar + Kitchen in the East Austin Hotel.  I will be co-hosting.  Stay tuned the link to the event page.

[Update] Event Link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tcf-trivia-night-102225-tickets-1766940258879?aff=oddtdtcreator

3 DAY Amtrak Sleeper Train: COACH, ROOMETTE, & BEDROOM Tested

Central Texas by Train! Fort Worth to Austin on Amtrak

Reddit Addresses the New Portable Building at Barton Springs and Lamar

 

Weird structure on Barton and Lamar?
byu/bugspraybites inAustin

Population

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2001: On The Big Screen at The Paramount 7/5

 

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Annual Heat Related Safety Post

 

I posted the above chart back in summer of 2020 and then in subsequent years.  Since we are now in July it does seem like a good time to remind people about the symptoms of and remediation for various heat-related illnesses. Said 2020 post also has a few tips for dealing with the heat.  

On a good note: June 2025 was the first in six years wherein we did not hit 100º.  

Below is a photo of me beating the heat over Memorial Day.  We're hoping to get back to Colorado and New Mexico before the summer is over.

Cinnamon Pass in Colorado

On Point on "The Transformation of Austin"

Downtown Austin, Circa 2010

 On Thursday I listened to a segment of WBUR's On Point about "The Transformation of Austin".  Check it out for their take on the evolution of the city.  

Last Week's Microburst in Austin

 Per KXAN, the National Weather Service has released a map showing where last week's intense storm hit.  At our house, we barely received any rain (the duration lasted exactly as long as it took me to but Old Bay on some crab cakes and sautéed them).  However, the photos on social media and stories I heard the next day from people in central and east parts of Austin were wildly different (which the map demonstrates).  In my several decades in Austin, I can recall nothing like this.  

Fingers crossed over here that said storm was the worst of the year for Austin.  In my experience, the weeks around Memorial Day have usually produced to worst storms here.

Gulf/Atlantic coast readers and/or property owners: as you know, hurricane season is here.  NOAA is predicting a 60% chance of above average activity for 2025.

Note: remember, keep your property insurance coverages up to date and at the appropriate levels.

Trijets Changed Everything - Until They Didn’t

Interesting story about the history of trijet passenger aircraft in the US.  As a kid, I used to enjoy riding on American's 727s (for no other reason than I thought they looked cool).  That was back when the American Airlines livery was polished red, white, and blue racing stripe (with the bold "AA" logo by Massimo Vignelli) on the tail which you can see on the video above.  

History of Thundercloud Subs

I was recently on Reddit and found a link to the oral history of Thundercloud Subs.  I enjoyed reading it, and now you can too.  Also, if I write a round of Austin trivia this article has the type of factoids I like to ask about.

Austin Airport: Former Chase Sapphire Lounge

In case you are wondering what will be happening to the 3,994 square foot terrance which used to be the Chase Sapphire Lounge at the Austin airport:  it will be reopening as available to the flying public from 8a-8p on a daily basis.   The linked KUT article mentions the airport is building a second terrance, and said terrance will be in part occupied by the American Airlines Admirals Club.   

The article also mentions that the airport is looking for another premium credit card club.  My vote is for an American Express Centurion Lounge.   I like the Centurion Lounges I've visited, for one.  And from the Amex perspective: they like to go with local food themes of which Austin offers many options.  A taco station, or perhaps a barbecue buffet?  I'm no chef but these seem obvious (and delicious).  

Fun Map... If You Like Roman History

 

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REAL ID Deadline Next Month

Yes, if you have followed the articles on REAL ID then you know the deadline has been postponed a few times in the past.  The TSA published a final rule on REAL ID earlier this year, setting the deadline for May 7th.   On and after said date you'll need a REAL ID driver's license or a valid passport to board a commercial flight (including services like JSX) in the US.  

If you have questions, you can visit the Department of Homeland Security's FAQ page on REAL ID.

Best of Austin Poll

 There is still time to vote in the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin poll.  You have until tomorrow night at 11:59p to vote and/or change your vote.  

CapMetro New App

 The old CapMetro payment app has been retired, and riders who want to pay via app must now use the Umo app.  Tap-to-pay (which lets riders pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit, or debit cards) is forthcoming at some point.  I haven't ridden the bus in a while, but I recall the old app being somewhat cumbersome.  I'm looking forward to the tap-to-pay system, which if anything like London's TFL payment system should be pleasant to use.  

CapMetro is now recommending using the Transit app for trip planning in Austin.  You can also try City Mapper, which I used on my last trip to London and found to be highly useful.  

Delta Status Match Offer for Southwest Fliers

Through September 30th, Delta is offering an enhanced status match to Southwest A-List and A-List Preferred members.  This will get you Gold and Platinum Medallion Level respectively in SkyMiles.  Check the site for the specific details on how to do this and for how long the status match will last.  Also, if you aren't a SWA frequent flier, Delta offers a status match with many other airlines.  

Last Fall, when I went to London, I did a status match in which my SWA A-List Preferred (I have since been demoted to A-List not special) got me United's Gold level.  This came in handy as with it I was able to get lounge access for 3 of the 4 total flights (for the flight out of London, I used an Amex affiliate's lounge).  I was able to eat and drink for free (other than tips) at airports going to and coming home from the UK, which was quite the bonus.  I mention this because you too might be able to unlock something nice if applying a status match from your frequent flier program to one of an airline you don't use often.  

Austin's New Non-Stop Flights

 Here's an update of new non-stops from Austin, including but not limited to:

• Spirit will resume non-stop service to Detroit. 
• Frontier will start flying non-stop to San Diego.

Both of these flights will begin in June.

I have never flown on Spirit.  I'm aware of their reputation; however, I have been told that their Big Front Seat can be pleasant.