I think the Rebellions were somewhat closer to a civil war, even though the rebels had little chance of succeeding. They are certainly remembered today.
Boston is the most pompous city in the USA. I’m Boston born and bred and I still think of myself as a Bostonian, though I haven’t lived there in over 30 years.
There’s actually quite a bit out that way, but since it’s all in a hilly, forested part of the area, it’s not immediately apparent from the ground.
And Austin’s notorious for more or less thinking that if they don’t invest in roads and similar infrastructure, then the population growth will lessen, or something. Which hasn’t been the case at all- they just go on doing moronic stuff like putting a line of high-rises right along S. Lamar, where the traffic was already bad to begin with, and not actually doing anything to relieve the increased traffic.
My guess (I’m an out-of-towner married to a woman whose family has lived in Austin for 100+ years), is that it’s about the only real party/dining venue on Lake Travis accessible to most people. That would explain the popularity, which otherwise is as perplexing as you note.
I’m not an Austin fan. For one thing, it’s not representative of the majority of Texas- most of the other cities have a very pragmatic streak that doesn’t seem to have taken hold in Austin. For another, the vibe, culture and socio-economic status of the citizens isn’t terribly representative either- it’s very liberal, pretty wealthy, and much more taken with stuff like environmentalism and quirkiness than most other Texas cities, and especially non-college towns.
And meanwhile, all we hear about in the rest of the state is people from elsewhere crowing about how “cool” Austin is, when our own cities have a lot to recommend them as well. Houston is as multicultural and diverse as cities get. Dallas has a lot of sophisticated and high-end entertainment and shopping. San Antonio has a huge amount of history and Mexican-Texan culture (it’s the birthplace of chili AND Tex-Mex as we know it).
In my perception in terms of braggadocio, Texas is to the U.S. what the U.S. is to the rest of the world.
I’m sure that almost all places have at least some businesses named after their location. And “Lone Star” is a nice phrase, so it makes as much sense to have a “Lone Star” sandwich shop as to have something in New York named “Big Apple” deli.
But does any other state have as many private residences that fly the state flag as Texas does? There are probably countries that don’t have as many country flags flying per capita that Texas does.
(And yes, I don’t know when it started, but school kids have to pledge allegiance to the Texas Flag right after doing so to the U.S. flag)
Sparta, Kosovo, Culloden.
San Francisco and Los Angeles are in the running.
1933
Not everywhere then, because I grew up in Fort Worth in the 60s and 70s and never even heard of such a thing. Until I was a substitute teacher for a few months 3 or so years ago.
Ha ha ha ha, “Texas Pledge of Allegiance”.
<googles> Oh god. Just another reason I’m glad I left that state.
It’s not even a good one. It reads like a word salad.
Strangely, I was in Thailand recently, and sometimes someone would ask where I was from. Answering “California” (where I live) was occasionally more easily understood than “America” or “USA”.
Yes we also have family there and your right about it limiting interaction with family. We have seen them maybe once every ten years here on the mainland.
Also when your there living on say Maui then your pretty much stuck on Maui and a trip to say the big island is very rare.
Thanks for the very indepth response. Bump said a lot of the things I would’ve. Re: renewable energy, I am not certain, I cannot see the Texas government choosing to subsidize one form of energy over another. Well, more than they already do for nuclear. (And just stop with comments about tax treatment of depreciation for the oil and gas industry.) Accordingly, I can’t see a great influx of solar at the present time. There are plenty of wind generators throughout the state though. When solar decreases in cost, I imagine it’ll be ubiquitous throughout the state.
I haven’t been to the Oasis since the decks burnt down, and were rebuilt. Decent margarita, helped considerably by the view, don’t eat the food. The houses nearby are awfully gaudy, aren’t they? I’d think a modern Twain could easily redo his Gilded Age critiques in and around Lakes Travis and Austin.
They really don’t like to build roads in Austin. Yet advertise for people and businesses to move there. Traffic is the result. It was hideous when I lived there 15 years ago, and in my recent visits, it’s gotten worse.
I found the best vantage point for bats watching was the water. Kayak/canoe near the bridge—far enough away to not be gagged by the smell—and watch them fly off as if they were a waft of smoke. Yeah, “Colorado River?” This isn’t the Grand Canyon… Minor adjustment in thinking.
It is remarkably green, once you get into the Hill Country a ways. And points East, of course. It was one of the things that really hit us when we drove out to Texas from California. Tan-tan-tan-brown, until you hit Fredericksburg ish and boom! Green thickets everywhere. Coastal California doesn’t do green until you get to the Sierras or the Redwoods. Even there, it isn’t the overgrown lushness that we saw coming into Austin.
Glad you had an alright time, but yeah, I wouldn’t have a destination wedding in Austin in July.
In the early 80’s Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe was flooded with “Buffalo Talking Proud” commercials. A typical TV newscast would be: “Fire in Cheektowaga.” “Fire in Tonawanda.” Buffalo Talking Proud commercial. “Fire in Lackawanna.”
For those that think they might know someplace as proud of their place of birth as Texans are, I offer this counter-argument:
Man Spends $200 To Ship Dirt Internationally To Make Sure His Baby Is Born Over Texas Soil :smack:
From “Stupid Texas Song” by the Austin Lounge Lizards:
By God we’re so darn proud to be from Texas - yahoo!
Even of our pride we’re proud and we’re proud of that pride, too
Our pride about our home state is the proudest pride indeed
And we’re proud to be Americans, until we can secede
I was surprised how many Swiss flags I saw around Switzerland. They seemed pretty proud and I don’t blame them. Immaculate city (Zurich), mastery of trains, prosperity all around.
Decades ago, one of my aunts married a Texan and moved there. Years later, when they came to visit with their two teenaged kids, they were all dressed in stereotypical western garb. They looked ridiculous, and everyone laughed at them. How many people wear a 10-gallon hat and spurs in Cleveland?
Don’t know. How many Texans are there in Cleveland?
The answer for the UK is Yorkshire, though they don’t tend to brag about it in such a gauche way as some of the Texan behaviour mentioned in this thread.
Spurs?!?! They wore spurs?!?! I’m not from Texas, but I have been there many times. Granted, I have only been to the “big cities”, but I have seen no one there wearing spurs.
[sub]Outside of the bedroom, that is.[/sub]
I live in Fort Worth, which is one of the more “horsey/cowboy” cities of Texas, and I work in a small town just outside of FW. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone wearing spurs outside of the rodeo grounds or cattle drive
Go to Uncle Julio‘s during the Stock Show and I guarantee you’ll see spurs at some point. Though you’ll also have to wait 90 minutes for a table.