Hear the Sound of a Meteor Striking

The above video is pretty cool, and according to Dr. Chris Herd of The University of Alberta (a meteorite expert) this is only known recording of video and audio of a meteor striking the ground (thus becoming a meteorite before our eyes).   It struck a porch on Prince Edward Island, approximately ten minutes after the residents of the home had been standing there prior to walking their dogs.  Most meteors fall into the ocean or onto unoccupied swaths of land.   Only a lucky few become giant tourist attractions or video sensations, and an actual ground strike captured on video is extremely rare.  

In case you are worried about your chances of being struck by a falling space rock: there is only one recorded incident of this having occurred (though probably in the history of humanity, not the only occurrence).  It happened in Alabama in 1954 to Anne Hodges, who survived.   

City of Austin STR Information Sessions

 The city will be holding four informations from January 21-27 to discuss proposed changes to Austin's short term rental regulations.  Here are the dates:

• Tuesday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Zoom 
• Wednesday, Jan. 22, 6-8 p.m., Montopolis Recreation and Community Center 
• Thursday, Jan. 23, 6-8 p.m., Permitting and Development Center
• Monday, Jan. 27, 6-8 p.m., Austin Central Library 

The city would prefer that potential attendees register in advance.   There will also be public hearings at City Hall which you can attend on February 4th, 6th, and 27th (follow link for more details).

The impetus for these upcoming rule changes is a 2023 ruling from the Western District of Texas which said that it was unconstitutional for Austin to have stopped issuing STR Type 2 licenses.  The city has been issuing STR Type 2 licenses since then.  Proposed rule changes could include collection of hotel tax, where in the ordinances the regulations are placed, density rules, and so forth.  

TribCast: Look at the Speaker's Vote

Keep up with the Texas Legislature's session by following the Texas Tribune's Trib Casts:

Cold Weather Advice

The temperatures in Austin are projected to drop below freezing on Saturday night, so now seems like a good time to think about cold weather preparations for your house.  You can go back to watch this video about how to properly drip your faucets: How and When to Drip Your Faucet During Winter Weather

It rarely get extremely cold in Austin, but if you were here in 2021 for the "snowpocalyse" or in 2023 for the horrible ice storm you know winter weather can go off the rails here.  Tuesday (currently) has a projected high of 32º and a 40% chance of snow.  Fortunately it's supposed to get to a sunny 46º on Wednesday, but here's are a couple of infographics anyway (who knows, you might really need these in Austin in February or be tuning in from a place with more intense snow):  

You can learn more by visiting Ready.gov's or the CDC's winter advisory pages.  

[Update 1p: ERCOT has just issued a Weather Watch for the 20th-23rd] 

[Update 5:30p: Was listening to NPR a few minutes ago.  ERCOT expressed concerns that rolling blackouts could occur in certain areas around the state.  Have some potable water stored just in case, along with food and other supplies if the forecast looks foreboding in your area.  Also, in Austin bring in plants and pets as a hard freeze is expected.  And, of course, protect your water pipes.]

Note: Also, if you need winter gear REI is a good place to get it.  Purchases by members can be eligible for an up to 10% dividend, and all REI purchases on the REI credit card earn 5% back in store credit.  Neither REI nor Capital One pay me to tell you this; I'm sharing because I've saved a lot of money on quality gear and earned quite a bit of store credit over the years by shopping strategically there.  

Podcasts: Austin Eras

Check out Austin Eras, a new podcast series by my friend Adam Flagg.  Here's the official description:

Welcome to Austin Eras, the podcast that unravels Austin's transformation into a 21st-century boomtown and explores its potential future. Brought to you by Collective Advisors, Austin Eras takes you on a journey through the city's evolving landscape and rich history, offering insights into its dynamic past, present, and future.

Adam is an excellent interviewer.  If you are interested in the past, present, and future of Austin then I recommend you tune in.  

You can listen on YouTube, or through the Apple Podcast app.

Happy Birthday Elvis

Yes, I'm pretty sure Elvis died in 1977.  I don't think he lives on a UFO with Bigfoot or anything like America's most reputable tabloids might have one believe.  Who knows?  What I can say is (1) if you like classic Americana attractions, (2) you like even just a few Elvis songs, and (3) you find yourself in the Memphis area, then swing by Graceland.  

We visited the compound in 2010 while on a road trip back to Austin (we were driving back from Illinois, on the trip wherein I discovered just how cold winter gets up there).  I was not expecting much from Graceland, thus it was pleasantly surprising to find out how much fun the tour is.  Highlights for me included the Trophy Building and (of course) the airplanes.  If memory serves, there is a minor upcharge for the airplane tour.  Pay it, as this is the best part (I am an aircraft enthusiast, so take this rec with a grain of salt).   Back to the Trophy Building: it's pretty cool and definitely drives home the impression of Elvis' success as a musician.   

There are other things to do in Memphis.  There is, of course, Beale Street, along with the ducks at The Peabody Hotel and the scale model of the Mississippi River at Mud Island.  But, this is Elvis' birthday and I think he'd have been most amused by the Bass Pro Shops in the enormous Memphis Pyramid (a steel and glass edifice which rivals the majesty of the Luxor in Las Vegas).  The Memphis Pyramid was once the home of the Memphis Grizzlies as well as being a concert venue.  To my knowledge, this and the Luxor are the best pyramids the United States has to offer and I like to think that if Elvis had lived into the 1990's he would have suited up and rocked both venues in some kind of crazy retirement tour.   

Sports Bar Options and Hook 'Em

In DKR, Not a Sports Bar

 This is an exciting week for Texas Longhorn fans, as well as for a couple of other institutions of higher learning with successful football programs attached.  If you aren't able to make it up to the Cotton Bowl on Friday, then you can follow Eater Austin's latest guide to top Austin sports bars should you choose to leave your house for game viewing.  Of the bars on the list, I usually pick Star Bar or The Tavern.   Scholz's, Crown & Anchor, and Posse East are good choices if you want to watch the game in proximity to DKR (and fun bars in general).  

A couple of notes on the Eater post: 

• the information about the chicken sandwich adorned Bloody Mary at Star Bar is years out of date.  Tumble 22's trailer left and has been replaced by a brick and mortar Via 313 location.  
• Lavaca Street Bar downtown (the one actually on Lavaca) is a pretty good sports bar as well.  

Most importantly: Hook 'Em!  We're all hoping for a Horns victory on Friday night.

UK Begins ETA Requirement on January 8th

 

Starting this week, Americans traveling to (and through) the United Kingdom will need to fill out an application for the new electronic travel authorization (ETA).  The "through" part is important to note, as even fliers stopping in the UK for a layover will need an ETA.   Applications can be done online or through an app (it appears they would greatly prefer you apply through the phone app).  The cost is £10.   For more information and details on the application and what an ETA permits, you can visit the ETA specific webpage of the UK Home Office.  

F1: 2025 Schedule

A Bad Day for Verstappen Back in 2016

 

The 2025 Formula racing schedule is out.  US races are:

• Miami, May 2-4
• Austin, October 17-19
• Las Vegas, November 20-22

I've been to most of the F1 races at COTA since they started in 2012.  They are fun to attend, and there is a good chance we'll be back at COTA in 2025.   

While I was tempted to go to the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, we found that watching it on TV was a blast and probably a much better experience than what I was willing to pay for in Vegas (spoiler alert: it's a little steeper than COTA plus I wouldn't have the free lodging of my own home).   If you at all like auto racing or Las Vegas, make plans to watch the race this November.  

This post was made by a human, not AI.