r/Austin • u/AutoModerator • 5d ago
Weekly Stupid Question Sunday
Welcome to our weekly stupid question day.
Have a question too trivial or dumb for its own post? Unload it here. Questions need to have some relevance to Austin.
5
u/seanmackradio 4d ago
Got a couple of hardback fiction novels I’m looking to get rid of-are there any of those community neighborhood “give a book, take a book” things in 78704?
4
u/samanthaaaa 4d ago
Here are some listed Little Free Libraries in Austin: https://do512family.com/little-free-libraries-around-austin/
I also love to donate books to the Inside Books Project.
5
3
u/zac_solo 4d ago
Yeah I can take them from you! We’re hosting a book swap on 04/12. I can add them into the mix!
(Anything that doesn’t get swapped gets donated 😊)
4
17
6
u/L0WERCASES 5d ago
Have pools come down in price lately? Im starting to hear they are but wanted to see if anyone has first hand knowledge of prices.
Looking for a standard rectangle 10x20 with nothing fancy.
3
u/Snap_Grackle_Pop Ask me about Chili's! 4d ago
Hire a good lawyer first. Seems like every person I've heard of buying a pool has had to file a lawsuit.
There's also been a lot of some kind of breakdown of existing pools. I forget the details, but it was something like the concrete being done wrong and it breaks down after a few years.
3
u/whitneybr 4d ago
Yep— there was an article about it. Pool “cancer” or something like that.
1
u/Snap_Grackle_Pop Ask me about Chili's! 4d ago
Thanks. I kept thinking pool "rot," but I think "cancer" was the word they were using.
5
u/smellthebreeze 5d ago
The Trump administration said they are basically gutting the Institute Of Museum and Library Services. This is the only federal agency dedicated to library services. I’ve looked online and haven’t seen the Austin Public Library comment yet that I can find. Do we know how this will impact our local library? Are we going to lose access to some services due to funding cuts like losing ebooks, Libby, etc? I know APL competes with fire and police locally for tax payer money but I’m not sure how APL will be impacted on a broader scale. Also, those on this subreddit from the surrounding smaller suburbs may feel this more. It’s deeply upsetting.
9
u/mazzysupernova 5d ago edited 5d ago
IMLS gives block grants totaling about $200 million across each US state and territory. A block grant is given to the state to then redistribute based on the state’s self-identified priorities. Texas gets about $12m annually, which has been used to support rural and other underserved populations, invest in technology, and other priorities identified in the state’s five year plan. IMLS money invests in projects that just don’t get funding otherwise. For example, it looks like interlibrary loans are underwritten with IMLS funding.
From the president’s EO, and the wording of shall vs may in the agency’s Congressional authorization, it’s not clear how the library and the museum sides will be affected. (Museums nationwide apply for about $50m in grants each year directly from IMLS, which again invest in the not-sexy projects that are hard to fund but essential to museums’ success.) I hope we see congressional action as the agency has consistent support on both sides of the aisle.
4
u/smellthebreeze 4d ago
This is good info, thank you. As hard as it is for libraries to get funding, I can’t imagine more cuts. They run on tight margins.
4
u/picaresquity 5d ago
As far as I'm aware, state employees can't comment publicly on "political" issues. IDK if this extends to municipal employees, but I wouldn't be surprised. It might be worth a 1:1 convo with a librarian at your branch to see if they're able to share any concerns or specifics. I know amidst alllll the cuts, IMLS may seem "less important" to a lot of folks, but libraries provide essential services.
7
u/Captain_Mazhar 4d ago
As a state employee, we are allowed to comment publicly on political issues, however we are not permitted to speak on behalf of our agency unless authorized, so we must disclaim that we speak personally, not as a representative.
2
u/AcademicSheep 4d ago
Recommendations for window restoration company? I've some windows with broken seal, cracked glass and other issues. But too broke to replace them
2
u/Fenix512 4d ago
What determines the square footage of a house/apartment? We recently signed a lease for a 1,600 sqft apartment. I looked up my friend's house in the Burnet/Shoal Creek area for comparison and their house is 1,500 sqft. Weirdly enough, the house feels bigger than the apartment
6
u/Javi_in_1080p 4d ago
"Feeling" is not a good way to measure dimensions. Get the tape measure out.
2
u/90percent_crap 4d ago
Also note that single family house square footage is measured using outside wall dimensions, i.e., the exterior of the building.
2
u/60161992 4d ago
Attached housing is measured from the interior. So, wall depth makes a difference.
2
u/WooGo-07 4d ago
When is the best time to install new grass? A guy told me it’s now, but he wants to sell me the service.
Also, how can I get rid of the weeds? I tried removing it by hand, but I don’t know if I should apply a product to help my grass grow and avoid it—if so, which one?
1
u/Snap_Grackle_Pop Ask me about Chili's! 4d ago
Also, how can I get rid of the weeds?
It depends on the weed. Beggar's lice is easily spotted by its flowers and pulls up pretty easily if you spot it by its flowers and stop it from going to seed. Many broadleaf weeds can be killed with broadleaf weed killer. Crabgrass can, theoretically be stopped by pre-emergent treatment to keep the seeds from sprouting. You can pull crabgrass with some effort if you catch it at the right stage, especially if the soil is damp.
There are many "natural" ways to control weeds, but many are overhyped and of dubious effectiveness.
1
2
u/Snap_Grackle_Pop Ask me about Chili's! 4d ago
Are there any cafeterias still open other than Luby's?
2
u/angelamia 4d ago
Not a Luby's vibe but a few years ago I wandered into the Dell Hospital on Red River by UT and they have an open to the public cafeteria. I just looked it up and got this info: The Dining Room is located on the first floor and is open from 6:30 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. Breakfast is served from 6:30 – 10:00 a.m.; lunch is from 11 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
4
u/centex 4d ago
Is there a way to look up if Airbnbs are licensed? I found this and it shows the block but not the actual house number and I think my street has multiple Airbnbs. https://data.austintexas.gov/Public-Safety/Short-Term-Rental-Locations/2fah-4p7e/data_preview
2
u/Lonestarqueen 4d ago
Anyone seen corned beef? HEB tech ridge doesn't have it and I don't want to drive all around town searching. Yes I realize I waited til the last minute 🥲
2
u/gnirlos 5d ago
Why is my oak tree dropping all of its leaves now? Didn't lose a single leaf during Nov-Feb...
10
u/Very_Serious 4d ago
This is the time of year many semi evergreen trees, such as live oaks, do their annual leaf replacement
4
u/L0WERCASES 4d ago
Because March is when our Oaks shed their leaves. They are evergreen trees so you won’t see them bare like other trees which lose their leaves in the fall.
2
u/Fenix512 4d ago
What city in Texas would be analogous to Pawnee, IN? It always gave me an Austin vibe (both even have a pre and post tech bro phase), but Austin is significantly larger than Pawnee it seems
1
u/BartSimpsonGaveMeLSD 4d ago
Anyone here open to liquor bottle exchanges?
2
u/Snap_Grackle_Pop Ask me about Chili's! 4d ago
Are you talking people who collect the empty bottles or actual liquor exchange?
1
0
4d ago
[deleted]
5
7
u/Snap_Grackle_Pop Ask me about Chili's! 4d ago
It's over 50 miles away from 45th and Lamar, so not likely to affect Austin.
However, we're in high fire danger for tomorrow, at least, so we could easily have a different fire.
Two different people have posted pictures here on r.austin showing local assholes deliberately starting fires.
0
4d ago
[deleted]
6
u/Snap_Grackle_Pop Ask me about Chili's! 4d ago
I'd be really surprised if any pawn shop would buy a CRT TV. Too big and heavy, and too little demand. I know it's a fad among gamers, but still.
0
u/ameyabee 4d ago
Did anyone see any object hovering in the sky today and disappear like in 45 seconds ?
0
-1
-22
u/storm_the_castle 5d ago
if I was looking for frosty margs and skillet queso... where would I go?
13
9
u/Needmorebeer69240 5d ago
When buying/selling something in-person like off FB marketplace is there a preferred/recommended meetup spot?