To Scale: The Solar System

Fusebox Trivia: Cancelled

In light of what's going on with the coronavirus (COVID-19) we're cancelling the Fusebox Festival trivia night scheduled for April 1st.  It will be rescheduled.  In the interim, I'll use some of my social distancing time to research more great questions.

Entertainment Recommendations

Maybe you're always on the lookout for book, TV, movie, and/or comedy recommendations, or maybe you're in need of some extra diversions these days while engaging in "social distancing".

Here are a few books I've read lately and enjoyed (enough to suggest to others, anyway):

• The Fifth Risk, by Michael Lewis
• The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How It Transformed Civilization, by Vince Beiser
• Salt: A World History, by Mark Kurlansky
• Into Thin Air, by Jon Karkauer
• The Attention Merchants, by Tim Wu   

I'm a fan of stand-up comedy.  Here are a couple of new specials on Netflix worth watching:

• Marc Maron's End Times Fun
• Tom Papa's Everything is Great

With TV, if you haven't watched The Expanse yet, now would be a good time.  Staying home to avoid the coronavirus still seems much preferable to hanging out in a spaceship while "on the float".  Better Call Saul is back for its fifth season and it's good.  Also, if you enjoy Marc Maron (and I do) he's fun to watch on GLOW and Maron.  

Finally, I'll throw in a curve ball of a movie rec: if you've never seen it, check out the cult classic Repo Man.  This 1984 sci-fi comedy stars Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez, plus it has a great soundtrack featuring 80's punk music.  I'm warning you now that Repo Man is a strange movie;  however, if you like at all you'll probably like it a lot. 

Coronavirus

Austin residents:

The City of Austin has a web page dedicated to local coronavirus 2019 (aka COVID-19) information:  http://austintexas.gov/COVID19

Also, a couple of local headlines:

• Travis County Evictions Put On Hold, Austin Energy Will Not Shutoff Utilities Amid COVID-19 Outbreak 
• Austin ISD Offers Curbside Lunches For Students After Schools Are Cancelled Due To COVID-19

Stay informed, minimize touching, and wash those hands.

Trivia: Creative Fund (now cancelled)

Another trivia fundraiser for The Creative Fund is in the works, and it will be on April 9th at Uncle Nicky's in the Hyde Park neigbborhood.  Stay tuned for the date and then new venue.  In the mean time, join me for the Fusebox Festival trivia fundraiser on April 1st.

The Creative fund helps performing artists afford venue rental fees in Austin.  I'm on the board, and I'm one of the co-founders.

3/15/20 Update: Trivia will not be held on April 9th because of coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.   Stay tuned and I will let you know when it is rescheduled.  

Fusebox 2020 Preview

Last week, I posted about the upcoming trivia fundraiser for the Fusebox Festival.  Check out the video if you'd like to know more about what's in store for the festival this year:

Trivia: Fusebox Festival Fundraiser on April 1st (now cancelled)

No, this is not an April Fools prank.  Yes, I am hosting a trivia fundraiser for the Fusebox Festival on April 1st at the Native Hostel in Austin.  It will be the usual format: 5 live rounds and 1 puzzle/matching/etc round.  There will be prizes as well (I don't yet know what they are).  Check out the Facebook event page for more information (also, please RSVP there).

Here are some main points to consider:

• The Native Hostel is a cool venue.  You'll have a good time there.  Their old fashioneds and other cocktails are great.  They even introduced my wife to the concept of orange cider with bitters (she was impressed).   
• The Fusebox Festival* is awesome.  Here's a description of Fusebox:  "a global hub for live performance. Fusebox Festival presents a variety of work from local and international artists, helping to move this art form forward by supporting some of the most innovative artists of our time."
• Fusebox is free to attend.  Fundraisers like FuseBash and our upcoming trivia night make this possible.

I'll attempt to post more about Fusebox as the festival itself approaches.

As for trivia:  I hosted 11 trivia fundraisers last year.  This year, we're off to a good start having held trivia nights this year for Kids in a New Groove and for the Sobering Center.  Both of these events were held at Lavaca Street Bar (downtown) and were lots of fun.   

*I am on the Fusebox Festival board of directors.


UPDATE on 3/16/20:  This event is cancelled because of coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.  We will reschedule the event for a time when it is safe to hold.