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I would love to do a steampunk version of this video.

knit n bitch, east austin Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez Rio Rita, the East 6th Street coffee shop with the retro 70's Seven-Up sign, is a cool coffeehouse meets hipster lounge. There's space for a rousing Knit n Bitch meeting (pictured) as well as more urbane lounging in the swirling, billowing South Beach style booths. Coffee by day, cocktails by night.

Coin Operated Boy Kudos for this clever video for an eminently hummable tune.

perfect Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez Pizza and organic root beer

Odd Picture from LPHI. The Year was 2004 Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez Out take from a photo shoot for the Louisiana Public Health Institute annual report and web site. That's Tiffany, Bridget, me and a piece of rubber fruit.

No Credibility Quite Like Front Page of the Paper Credibility... Fledgling MBA program to break ground on campus

Finally, Some Good News Out of New Orleans It looks like one of the most shady of New Orleans' pols is finally out of business. I am delighted to announce that New Orleans City Council member Oliver Thomas has pled guilty to federal corruption charges and should be resigning from his post effective immediately. Oliver Thomas and I share a special history, as he was the enforcer for Wal-Mart during the famous battle in New Orleans (for a quick overview, see " Wal-Mart: The Hits Just Keep on Coming "), the issue that gave birth to both the Urban Conservancy and the latent revolutionary inside of me. The sad thing is that his crookedness was well known, although it was never said out loud. Part of the problem is that elected officials in New Orleans take on demigod status with the populace. City Council members get a vehicle, typically a luxury SUV or large Town Car and a driver who is an armed deputy. They have multiple staff people, all charged with keeping the unwa...

posters by town lake Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez Little stirrings of the soul of Austin bubbling up by Town Lake.

Life of Meaning

A Stop at Spider House on a Search for the soul of Austin   Every day we are looking. Trying to find out what makes this place different from all the other Sun Belt boom towns of America. I often tell people that I feel like I am living in Los Angeles in the 1950's: a place of incredible opportunity, hyper growth and money. Lots and lots of money.   In the midst of all this, we are looking for the funky soul, the underbelly that isn't part of the approved ad campaigns.   We are still looking.   But we haunt some of those places that don't have a concept, like the Spider House.

For New Orleans Folks (note: I didn't write this) From the "Louisiana Events" E-mail List: "FROM TOURO BOULIGNY MEETING: Capt. of 2nd Dist. demonstrated tonight this new on-line source of crime incidents occurring within 1 mile radius of a given address. There is a lag time of about 5 days for the info presented. 1st - access the NOPD at WWW.NOPD.COM 2nd - click on NOPD Crime Map (left column) 3rd - click on sentence that begins "click this link to view interactive crime, etc. 4th - enter address and click submit (this will resolve to a map with yellow location of address.) 5th - Click on City Services at top on page and that will present a drop down menu; select NOPD. This will resolve to a page that will show all crime incidents within 1 mile radius of the address in last 30 days. Put the cursor on any symbol to see brief details. Detail results are shown at bottom of this page with Police report number, Street, Description, and incident date. Check it o...

Business Leaders Explore Affordable Health Insurance Options for Small Businesses in Central Texas Region http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/7/prweb539989.htm

Cassie says "see, we don't look old."

Near UT campus.

Hipster Haircut 2 Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez A haircut at Bird's, followed by...

hipster coffee shop Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez

Guitar Serenade of the Zilker Zephyr Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez Self made South Austin celebrity Wood Woode (or is it Woode Wood?) entertains the folks on the Zilker Zephyr, the World's Slowest Train.

Santiago at Dad's Office Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez Santiago made his first visit to the ICC today, so Cassie and I could brainstorm ways to make the office space a little happier.

More Heartbreak From New Orleans (It just keeps on coming) It's pretty incredible to write this on the heels of a happy little post about my last visit to NO. Two people. Two stories. One story has a few years distance. One is now. This picture of horseplay at the hair salon is of two good friends of mine. On the left is Bobby Merrill, who died in 2003 of a heart attack at age 34. The guy on the right is Robin Malta. Robin was murdered in his Marigny home earlier this week. I had just visited Robin at his shop when I was in New Orleans a few weeks ago. Bobby was our "family" hairsylist, confidante and conspirator. Cassie and I would schedule both our haircuts on the same night with Bobby and make an evening of it. Bobby, Cassie and I would have drinks during the haircutting process (Bobby always had an amazingly steady hand, even after a few cocktails) followed by dinner out, often at Adolfo's in the Marigny. Robin worked at the same salon as Bobby and ...