My sentiment exactly. I visited Austin about 5 years ago for the first time since I graduated UT (1983). I flipped out. The traffic in Austin is worse than in Houston, and it rivals Los Angeles, for chrissakes. I wondered whatever happened to the "controlled growth" tenet that the civic leaders in Austin used regularly during the early 1980s. Austin's infrastructure has not kept pace with the boom in population. I couldn't believe how the city was so built out. It made me sad, because I kept remembering the way it used to be. So when I decided to move back to Texas in 1998, I got job offers in both Austin and Houston. When I thought about it, I decided that living in Houston had more to offer me than Austin, especially in the areas of income, housing, and lifestyle. This is a thought that would have never crossed my mind during the early 1980s. So, I moved back to Houston. And I'm glad I did. ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker
That's an awfully harsh assessment from a guy who hasn't lived in the city since 1983, no? I'll agree about Austin's infrastructure. The 4- and 6-lane freeways haven't kept pace with the growth rate. But that's a problem that is at least correctable. Overall, I wouldn't say the traffic is worse. My commute time in Austin was less than my commute in Houston (and I lived inside the 610 loop). The difference was that traffic generally moves faster in Houston - its just that things are so much more spread out. I preferred Austin's nightlife and social activities, though. Plus, its nice to walk outside in the late afternoon without being able to see the air/smog that you are breathing. ------------------ In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.
Sam...it may sound harsh, but I was pretty shocked at what I saw. Then again, maybe I'm just getting old. Wait a minute...I am getting old! ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker
The nice thing about Austin is that during non-rushhour, you can get from anywhere to anywhere else in about 20 minutes tops, and that's corner-to-corner of Austin (if you drive fast enough ). The challenge is just avoiding Rush Hour. While Rush Hour may be as-bad or worse than Houston, it doesn't last as long either (5-6:30 or so). At least not in West Austin. Whereever you live, make sure you never have to get on or near I-35. Focus your life around Mopac if possible! ------------------ Is it any coincidence that the Cato is the only Rocket with a temperature scale named after him? I didnt think so!!!!
With all the ho's on 6th street? Hell yeah. ------------------ "Ive seen more class at a Pig Humpin Contest ." -- moestavern19 makes headlines again, and in the process leaves little doubt as to what Saturday nights in his hometown of Lompoc, California are like.
I don't know Shanna, I think the bumper to bumper stuff is like 3:30 - 6:30. It's also a little worse then I would expect on the weekends, but that's cuz of construction. I'm originally from CC, so this Austin traffic is excruciating to me. I love Austin, but I wouldn't mind if 300,000 people moved away, lol. But, I think there are hundreds of people moving here per week. ------------------ "Roses are red. Violets are blue. I'm a schizophrenic and so am I."
Rush hour is variable from day to day. On Mondays, morning Rush hour starts a little late, and on Friday's the afternoon Rush hour starts early. There is also a short lull halfway through the morning rush hour, time it right and you can zip along down either 35 or Mopac pretty quick. Anytime of the day though, your gonna have to deal with pretentious, chicken-necked, fish-belly white, jackasses who drive cars bigger than my first apartment, or cars that are worth more than several small nations. I-35 in Austin is always bad, no matter the time of day. And if you can avoid it, never, ever drive on the lower deck. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the unique educational experience afforded by IH-35 during rush hour - I used to learn new words every day. MoPac isn't so bad most of the time, but stay off it, I don't need anymore refugees from the Interstate clogging up my drive to UT-Austin. ------------------ The Rockets will be the NBA champions. Believe.
Bah! Rocketman, don't EVEN try to compare Austin traffic to LA. I spent the last 10 years in LA and we still have an apartment in Huntington Beach. There is no comparison. The long stoplights in Austin irritate me at times, but my wife and I got 'caught' in MOPAC rush hour and laughed. It was nada. ------------------ Cohen
Kagy- Im glad you think you are better than everyone since you have a cush job at Dell (Its obvious in the tone of your posts). I would have loved to have worked in Government, Education, Enterprise, Global. Unfortunately, I did not know that when I got hired I was working in the 2nd worst division at Dell (next to customer service). If you know so much, then you would know that DHS has the second highest turnover rate in the entire company. That should tell you that not everyone is fit for monotonus home selling.....taking 30 to 40 calls a day. I worked my ass off up there, made a few bucks, but they still treat you like you are a number. I know it is completely different in other divisions (treatment, compensation, work hours), but in DHS you arent judged on QUALITY work, but QUANTITY. Thats why I had to leave the company.
Drew, Not to rain on your parade of hostility, but maybe it was sales that you didn't like. I've never worked for Dell, but I have worked in sales elsewhere. It sucks. Volume is the name of the game - talk to enough people, and you will find a few who want your product. I hope you are/were earning salary and not commission (which makes the job even tougher). Maybe I've gotten your complaints all wrong, but they seem to be about things that you'll find wherever you go in that field, not just Dell. ------------------ In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.
Drew...I feel your pain my maign. I started out at a sales position where I was taking 100+ calls a day. However, I left the darkside and moved over to a marketing position where I now have that "cushy" job. I'm glad it's "cushy", because 50 hrs a week is about all I can stand. Sorry, you couldn't make the change yourself. Like Kagy, I too have buddies that love Dell, and those that can't stand it. I personally hate computers! How about that! I'd rather light myself on fire than working with computers...but, I can't deny that I'm not well compensated for it. So, I'm a hore...but the toys are nice and the family is fed. ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
Kagy- Dude....Im all for hard work, and I think I worked as hard as anyone in DHS. The point I have been trying to make is that hard work gets overlooked at Dell....sorry DHS. And your quality of life sucks when you have to work EVERY weekend. Wouldnt you agree with that? It gets frustrating to work your ass off for a company that doesnt treat their (DHS) employess respectfully.
Drew, I'm glad you've moved on since it sounds like working at Dell was, for you, only slightly preferable to late-stage metastatic colorectal cancer. I don't have a cush job. I don't think I'm better than anyone else. And I don't have your antipathy towards hard work. I'm sorry your manager didn't kiss your ass, and I'm sorry your compensation was based on your measurable production instead of how well your shirt coordinated with your socks. Those assholes. I don't wanna do a damn thing, And I wanna get paid well --Bob Schneider ------------------ Things are tough all over, I know what you mean... --Damon Johnson [This message has been edited by BrianKagy (edited February 23, 2001).]
I love the way a thread about where a good place to live in Austin turned into a I Hate Dell/No Dell's Great thread. ------------------ Houston Sports Board The Anti-Bud Adams Page
No, Drew, your hard work got overlooked at Dell. That has certainly not been the case for me or for countless friends of mine. It's obvious based on the anecdotal evidence we're exchanging here that I think Dell is a terrific place to work and you disagree. That's just the way things go. I suggest that rather than bothering to bring in objective third-party evidence (i.e., Dell's consistent placement in the top 10 of business-magazine lists of good places to work), we just drop it. Best of luck in whatever you're doing now.
Maybe some of you should join here at the Refinery. I get paid enormously, and work about 10% of the time. The other 90% is sheer boredom. Thank goodness for T-1 lines and rabbit ears and a VCR and the library. I'm lazy, and I get paid to be. Life is sweet! ------------------ Behad Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS
BTW, my sister lives out in Bee Caves. I've been there twice, and it seems like a great side of Austin to live. Anyone live near there? ------------------ Behad Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS
First of all...welcome to Austin. I think Austin beats the HECK out of Houston hands down. Don't live up north, it is a long commute, and traffic is awful, they best place to live now is in Oakhill 12 minutes from Downtown and right on Mopac, which even during rush hour is not that bad...it added an extra 8 minutes to my commute...very tolerable. There are lots of nice jobs here, heck I am hiring, if you are a computer programmer, or artist...flip me a mail. Austin has a ton to do, mostly outdoors stuff, you will miss some of the more cultured items that Houston has, like the Alley theater, Science and History Mueseums, zoo..etc..etc... but the trade off is clean air, and less traffic. The housing prices are inflated, I built my modest house 5 years ago, and it is already up over $70k in value...ridiculous. Live down south or southwest, and again...welcome to the best city in the land. DaDakota ------------------ Go Jazz * http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/011403.html
I thought that for a minute this became a place to vent your frustrations concerning your job. Anyways, good luck with the move. It's pretty obvious that Austin was not prepared for the massive influx of residents. I was visiting my girlfriend there over the weekend. It's such a drag, at times, trying to get around town on the roads. It took me about 30 minutes to get out of town because of all the roadwork. It should take 10-15 minutes at the most. I can't advise on places to live however. I just like to visit! ------------------ "...just because a clever person can complicate the discussion about the truth doesn't necessarily mean he or she is making any progress in finding it."
DaDakota - Don't get me wrong now. I like Austin. I like Houston better though. That's just how I feel. IMO, Houston just has more to offer. I'd rather not debate this though. My sister, brother-in-law, and nephew will be moving to Austin next month. Lord help them. She'll be looking for employment. She recently graduated with a degree in Biomedical Enginnering. That has nothing to do with Computer Programming or Art. I know. I was just curious as to whether any of these nice jobs would apply to her field. ------------------ "...just because a clever person can complicate the discussion about the truth doesn't necessarily mean he or she is making any progress in finding it."
