Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum.

As if you couldn't figure it out, the LBJ Library & Museum is in Austin (I promise, it's the last Austin post). We decided to duck out of the 90 degree sun one afternoon and head over to the only presidential library that is free to all (LBJ made a point of making his library no charge). Wait, you know that Lyndon Baines Johnson was our 36th President, right? He took over after JKF (uhhh, John Fitzgerald Kennedy) was assassinated (that means murdered).

This was my first presidential library visit and I have to say, I was impressed... I was entertained... I learned lots of things... and I was glad I went.

I'm not sure a caricature is presidential, but they're the ones that put it up. Lady Bird (also with the initials LBJ) has her own "wing" on one of the floors; pretty cool. She was also an important UT-Austin alum (aka, Texas Ex) and a 6 year regent at the university.


Above is the Roman Catholic missal that bears JFK's initials. LBJ was sworn in using it.


This '67 Lincoln maybe the first example of a pimped ride. 13,000lbs when done, bullet proof tires, armor plating, lots of gizmos, and slick too.

Having been elected on the same ticket as JFK, as VP LBJ was put in charge of education and the space program. He had a knack for both... wonder if that's why much of NASA is in Texas?
This was a "life-like" view of a NASA meeting. They're all figurines (mannequins?). I'm not sure how or why, but it was entertaining.

Pretty sure this a the "real deal" of what astronauts wore on their backs to keep them breathing (also filtering out air coming in, keeping it humid, temperate, etc).
Gotta get the kids behind the space program too... who better to help than Snoopy!?

And for what was probably my favorite thing in the place, a life-size animatronic figure of LBJ that told 5 funny stories. They were told in his voice, from recordings made in the White House. The figure did "robot" around a bit and really was fun to watch and listen.

Below is a seven-eighths scale version of LBJ's Oval Office. It was full-on 70's motif, but still very presidential and interesting to see.


Last but not least, two teeny, tiny items I found in Lady Bird's wing.
For any sports fan, these might be the coolest things in the whole collection. As I understood the little placards, all presidents receive lifetime passes to all NFL and MLB games. The MLB version looked like a fancy driver's license, but the NFL version was pimped out and looked stamped from brass. They can go and see any game they want - waaaay cool.

If you have a chance to see any presidential library, I would jump at it. Of course, if you happen to be in Austin and have even 2 hours (that's all I took), you should definitely put this place on your list of stops.

The Univeristy Co-Op @ UT-Austin.

I'm going to come right out and tell everyone from the beginning - the campus bookstore at the University of Texas-Austin is the Cabela's of campus bookstores. I've been a few times now and each time I am re-mesmerized by all the burnt orange, hook 'em horns, and wacky stuff they have to show their pride in being a current, past, or future UT student. They actually have a special name for alums, "Texas Ex" - it's literally the name of the alumni association.

Like the Cabela's camo post ("An Ode to Camo"), we'll go from normal, to not-so-normal, to wacky-ass-shit:

The normal college bookstore stuff:

Blah

Blah

Bill. If your name's "Bill" or almost any other, they have a mug for you. But not "Blah".

Now, some kinda out there items:

Starting off small, just like the camo Crocs at Cabela's, but only in UT's burnt orange.

What every smart frat boy will be wearing at the tailgate... and puking on at the hayride.

How about a stained glass, pool table lamp shade that will let everyone who comes over to play know you mean business when it comes to UT.

And if that doesn't show your Longhorn pride enough, grab the $350 Lucchese cowboy boots. You can stomp your affiliation all over town.

Then you can grill everyone a burger with your Longhorn grill mitts.

Finally, the wacky-ass-shit you won't find at your TIS, Follett's or IUB - get ready, it ain't pretty:

UT Bath Rugs - how could you splish splash onto your school's colors like that?

Complete your UT rug collection with a set for your truck.

Is Santa a Texas Ex? It's never the wrong season for ornaments, is it?

Surprise, now your baby can show their allegiance at play dates.

And your dog can too, at the bark park.

When you come back from walking the dog...

Finish your "honey do" list with this new hammer you got (notice football inspired handle grip).

Put this new gnome in our south 40.

And brush your teeth before kissing me "good night".

Brain Teaser, #1.

Suppose you have three Scrabble tiles - N, T, and O. What is the probability that when you randomly place three tiles upright in a row, they spell an English word?

Note: please post your answers as comments, I will confirm the right answer or post it soon enough.

BBQ at The County Line.

Did you ever see those shows on Food Network about barbeque? The ones where some guy like Alton Brown goes around the country in search of "the best barbeque"? Well, I've had the pleasure of having some of the best barbeque of my life in Austin. This last visit was no different and you can be sure I make a point of gettin' some.
This time, we went to a local joint known as "The County Line". Uhhh, it's on County Line Road, almost to Rt 360.


I think the best part about any barbeque joint is that it's generally a no-frills affair (think brown paper rolls on the table) and is accessible by many many kinds of folks (anyone and everyone comes to these kinds of joint, esp from what I saw on the last trip). The other thing you can expect is seriously good barbeque. The kind you can't get "up north". The kind that hits you with wafts of good hickory smoke smells as soon as you leave your car. The kind that makes you eat so much you have to lie down after. The kind that makes you plan special trips for it whenever you're in town.


Kitsch came to this restaurant late one night after a long drinking bender and puked all over it. I have to say though, it totally works. I get hungry now when I see this mutsch kitsch.


We were plopped into a spot with the best meat-eating views of my life, along a wall of windows, looking out onto the lake/river, party deck, and nature - ah, time to eat meat!






I had beef brisket and smoked turkey. Both had wonderfully pink smoke rings and came with a great, tangy, bbq sauce to drench it in. Of course, at The County Line, all entrees come with homemade coleslaw (very good), potato salad (also very good) and baked beans (good, but better when you dump on some extra bbq sauce).


The glass on the right is my 20oz pint glass of Shiner Bock (very good, hard to find up north). The glass on the left is my water, but it's also what they use to serve tea, sweet tea, and any soda. It was a bit odd to see an 8 year old, three foot tall kid sucking down 64oz of soda out of a one foot glass. Is it any wonder that Texas now has FOUR of the Top 10 Fattest Cities in the Nation?

God Bless America.

Who doesn't like a little pop culture? Part III

Here's the real video for the song from the Doublemint commercial. Watch right around second 00:12, the gum gets flashed. Still good pop music.

Armstrong Making Comeback?

This story must be breaking now to conincide with my Mellow Johnny post. It seems as though some (even ESPN) are reporting that Armstrong will be reuniting with his former Director Sportif and racing in 5 events next year for the Astana Professional Cycling Team (still sponsored by Trek, Lance's Tour winning bike supplier... and also the namesake city in Kazakhstan... "very nice!").

Nothing is confirmed and it brings up a lot more questions in my mind, namely:
> Who will sponsor Lance's shoes and clothing? Nike was his last official sponsor for both (even naming their corporate campus gym "The Lance"). But now, Trek is no longer a partner with Nike and is making their own shoes and clothing. In fact, Nike has basically pulled out of the sport of cycling altogether.
> Seeing that he's not interested in the prize money - who gets it if he wins? Maybe just split it b/w teammates.
> Knowing that Astana currently has the 1st place and 3rd place Tour riders from '07 (Contador & Leipheimer) - How does this team sort out with the addition of Lance? Lance prefers that all teammates riding in the Tour ride for him. Could be very interesting.

Who doesn't like a little pop culture? Part II

I was looking for a different LL Cool J commercial to show yet more crossover b/w pop culture and corporate America, but this will do - for now.