Scenes from Austin, Texas

Texas State Capital BuildingIf you guys recall, I was in Austin a week or so ago, and I took some photos that I personally enjoy, so figured I’d share them with you guys. Feel free to let me know what you think. Especially if there are any you really like.

Personally, I think a couple of these are good enough to serve as desktop wallpapers if you are so inclined to want a Texas wallpaper.
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Free Dr. Pepper for Everyone on Sunday

So, it looks like thanks to the new Guns and Roses album being released soon, Dr. Pepper is going to give us ALL a free one. But you have to print out your coupon on Sunday! Enjoy.

Dr Pepper to deliver on its free-soda promise
TX State Wire
Published: November 20, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy” is a reality.

The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. “Chinese Democracy,” infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

“We never thought this day would come,” Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper’s vice president of marketing, said in a statement. “But now that it’s here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper’s on us.”

Beginning Sunday at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper’s Web site. They’ll be honored until Feb. 28.

Dr Pepper is owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.
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On the Net:
www.drpepper.com
www.gunsnroses.com

Chuy’s Mexican Food Rocks!

My last stop before leaving Austin was lunch at Chuy’s. I’ve never seen so many happy employees in one place before. They were all smiling and very gracious. And you know what? Happy people make great food!

If there is ever a Chuy’s nearby, go get you some.

Cisco’s Restaurant in Austin Delivers the Goods

While exploring Austin I fired up the iPhone and checked Yelp to find a nearby breakfast joint. The top suggestion was Cisco’s Restaurant, a little Mexican joint that all the reviewers were raving about their “awesome migas”. Well I didn’t know what a miga was, but I enjoy a good breakfast tacos! So we headed on over.

From the outside, the place was unremarkable – except for the fact that the tiny parking lot was packed! The inside was worse. Seriously cramped tables in a maze of rooms were packed with people, and it was hard to even find a seat. But finally we sat down, and learned what a miga actually is…

I guess it’s a local specialty, but basically it’s eggs scrambled with onions, tomatoes, sausage, and tortilla chips. I wasn’t brave enough to try it, but it did look good. Anyway, we ordered up a table full of tacos in a variety of flavors including bacon and egg, sausage and egg, and potato and egg. Then we waited…

Now, the folks working at Cisco’s were very nice, but the service was still poor. But right about the time you are getting a little negative – they bring the food.

The tacos were honestly great, and they were seriously loaded with eggs and meat! I couldn’t even finish two of the three I ordered.

All in all, Cisco’s gets a thumbs up! I shall return…

Yee-haw! For the State Fair of Texas

Cali Lewis enjoying a corn dog at the State Fair of TexasLast Sunday Elie, Jad, my wife and I joined Cali Lewis, Neal Campbell, Dave and Kat Curlee, and a bunch of other folks at the State Fair of Texas for a GeekBrief.TV filled day of goofing off.

The weather was very nice, with a nice breeze and a perfectly blue sky (even though it rained the very next day). In addition to munching down on every sort of State Fair food you can imagine, we also watched concerts, checked out the auto show, saw a home technology exhibit at the Women’s pavilion and much, much more.

It was fun making some new friends, and hanging out with the gang for a nice day of absolutely no responsibility (I don’t get those very often right now). So here are about a hundred photos I took during the day. Enjoy!
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BBQ and Bone Daddy’s – A Tasty Treat!

Bone Daddy'sWe had a nice dinner tonight at Bone Daddy’s so I wanted to share the experience with you guys! Bone Daddy’s is a Bar-BQ joint that is stocked full of smoking hot (no pun intended) waitresses and bartenders. I’m not kidding, every one of those fine ladies are among the hottest in town. (Hey, I may be married, but I’m not dead!)

Welcome to Bone Daddy's!Anyway, even though it was a Friday night, we were seated within about 10 minutes, during which we got to watch the hotties prance around in their short-shorts and revealing T-shirts. I promise you, the men in the restaurant are mouth-watering for more than the food…

But I digress. So, after we waited a few minutes a very pleasant young lady, who happened to be a petite little asian hottie (or so I’m told, because I really didn’t notice of course), seated us, and then we were greeted by Samantha, our server.
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Focus on the Positive – Opportunities for Charitable Giving

Chinese Girl with Donated DuckOk, there has been a lot of bad financial news lately, and it can be a real downer and a non-productive waste of time to worry about it. Instead, I would like to focus on some organizations who are using their power for AWESOME and who demonstrate that the power to do good is stronger than the power to do bad. (Keeping in mind that not all charities are good.)

When we focus on what is most important we can make a real difference, so to get us started, here is a little video to put things in perspective. For any of you who have not yet seen it, it starts sad and then makes you truly grateful for what you have by demonstrating the power we really do have over the world around us.


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Testing the iPhone’s Blogging Capabilities

Since I got an iPhone I’ve been dying to test it’s abilities as a remote blogging tool. Well, here is the first test!

At this very moment I’m at On the Border in Plano, TX pigging out on fajitas. Here’s a snapshot to make you hungry!

Gambling and Gluttony in Las Vegas

john-p-wins-againFolks, I went to Las Vegas last week for business meetings, but during the evening I did take a little break from working on Layered Technologies and Woopra stuff for a few hours to go have dinner at the Bellagio Buffet, and then do a little gambling after dinner.

Had such a great time that I thought I’d share it with you guys.
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