Instagram Stories

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If you are a fan of Snapchat Stories, then you will probably like Instagram Stories just as much (or maybe more).  The concept has been recently launched, and it pretty much mimics how things work on Snapchat.  You can post 10 second videos or post photos, the content is gone after 24 hours, you can add text, you can add filters, you can draw with a colored marker, and you can see who viewed your stories – but not who took a screenshot of them.  Unlike Snapchat, there are no geofilters or facial-mapping.  I don’t know how many Instagram Stories I will be posting, but you can follow me (@earthrobert on Instagram).  I totally enjoy the stories that are being posted daily by the accounts that I follow.  I am addicted to Instagram, and I may need to seek professional help at some point.  ðŸ™‚

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Kasita

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Would you like to down size your living space to about 319 square feet?  Would you like to own a prefabricated, movable home that could easily slide into a rack-like structure that could be placed in desirable areas in cities across the planet?  Would you like to spend less on housing costs and have more disposable income for things like travel?  If so, then maybe the Austin startup called Kasita is for you.  My first thought is what happens if you have super noisy neighbors?  They have a prototype unit located on East Fourth Street in downtown Austin.  It is a very interesting concept, and I hope they succeed in their mission.  Check it out if you are in the area, or go to the website to learn more about this intriguing venture.

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Cuvée Coffee

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Cuvée Coffee is a different sort of coffee shop located on East Sixth Street in Austin.  There is no WiFi, to my surprise.  The place is super clean and inviting.  They have a menu which includes breakfast tacos, but don’t get here too late, or they will stop serving them (at noon).  They have nitrogenated cold brew coffee, which I believe is their claim to fame.  They have indifferent baristas who will ignore or barely recognize your presence.  Why do people become baristas when they know they will grow to hate their job, and then treat customers like poop?  If you are not a natural people person, you should probably not seek out a job working behind a counter and serving people.  They have a limited menu of espresso drinks, unlike most coffee shops that will make you almost any drink you desire.  I settled for a yummy turkey and pesto sandwich from the refrigerator, a smallish green iced tea with mint, and a Topo Chico mineral water.  If there is some drink from the menu that you are craving, then check it out.  If you are expecting a full service coffee bar, then try some other place in the area.

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The Girl on the Train

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This is the story of a girl who takes the train to London almost every day.  She has some interesting life circumstances.  At one particular train stop along the way, she begins to watch a couple at their house.  She sees something odd, and then the story gets more interesting.  I enjoyed the novel, and it will soon be a movie – I can’t wait for the film version.

Zootopia

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One of the best animated films I have seen in a while, and seeing it at the local water park made it even better.  Everyone gathers around the wave pool, and watches on the big inflatable screen.  This is a detective story that starts when Judy Hopps becomes the first bunny to join the Zootopia Police Department.  The story is good, and there are lots of laughs along the way.  Overall, a fun night!

“Oh, sweet cheese and crackers”

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Jason Bourne

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If you are in the theater for this rendition of the Bourne films, you are probably here for the action.  That is the one thing that this movie delivers well.  There are fist fights, motorcycle escapes, car chases, gun play, and more fights.  Bourne and the CIA team trying to catch him do some impossible things, probably to the detriment of the storyline.  The camera work is what we have come to expect from the series – crazy fast moving.  I would prefer a script where Jason Bourne is trying to do some good in the world instead of a retread of him versus the CIA goons out to get him.