Althouse: The sign says "wildlife habitat."

December 26, 2016

The sign says "wildlife habitat."

Chris sends a photograph from Austin.

36 comments:

Unknown said...: Austin Texas reminds me of a Texas writer important in shaping me. Larry McMurty was an author that I could not stop reading when young. In some ways he taught me how to write.; 12/26/16, 11:19 AM
Wince said...: The sign says "wildlife habitat."

"Because of the unsuitability of the scene, the BBC will be replacing it with a scene from a repeat of 'Gardening Club' for 1958."

And the sign says you got to have a membership card to get inside - UH !; 12/26/16, 11:25 AM
Unknown said...: I did not mean to insult you Althouse. I know you are much more high brow than Larry McMurtry.; 12/26/16, 11:25 AM
n.n said...: Ants... and uncles.; 12/26/16, 11:36 AM
mikee said...: The sign is a variation of this one: https://blogs.extension.org/mastergardener/files/2013/04/Habitat-sign-2.jpg These signs are provided by the National Wildlife Federation to anyone who has property with the four elements of wildlife habitat: food, water, cover, and places to raise young. One can obtain them for one's very own back yard garden, to let others know how virtuously nature-philic one is.

It is typical Austinite virtue signalling, putting up a legally meaningless sign by an environmental group to tell those reading it how wonderful it is that their empty lot by the ravine has available all four elements necessary for wildlife (like large rats) to live happily within the city limits.

We in the Austin suburbs, like here in Round Rock, don't need signs. We know if we leave the cat outside at night a coyote just might have her for dinner. I've lost two cats that way, and saw a coyote prancing through the new buildings down the street as recently as Christmas Eve.; 12/26/16, 11:48 AM
Ron said...: Looks like a mayoral campaign in Austin...nothing new.; 12/26/16, 11:54 AM
SteveR said...: I am also a fan of Larry McMurty.

I was born too early, the whole "wildlife habitat" gig could have been in play for me many places I've lived.; 12/26/16, 11:58 AM
Clyde said...: I believe that their tourist slogan is "Keep Austin Weird."; 12/26/16, 11:59 AM
David said...: Free range rat habitat.; 12/26/16, 12:41 PM
Bob Ellison said...: Don't laugh. A wild life habit is hard to break.; 12/26/16, 1:01 PM
David Baker said...: Is that "Humpty Dumpty," the one bright spot in an otherwise dreary picture. And if it is Humpty Dumpty, what's he doing there? Then just try to imagine how long he would last like that in Chicago.; 12/26/16, 1:03 PM
Unknown said...: 'The Last Picture Show' seems appropriate.; 12/26/16, 1:05 PM
Ann Althouse said...: The scene was framed by Chris, not me. I thought it was funny.

The "dumpty" is a lady, by the way.; 12/26/16, 1:54 PM
Curious George said...: "Ann Althouse said...
The scene was framed by Chris, not me. I thought it was funny.

The "dumpty" is a lady, by the way."

Well, a woman anyway.; 12/26/16, 2:00 PM
David Baker said...: The "dumpty" is a lady, by the way.

Yes, but who am "I" to assign gender. I can only go by Dumpty's birth certificate. So, if he wants to wear a skirt, that's his business. (although I think that was someone else's bright idea)

Meanwhile, point your trusty camera out on the porch, out toward Zeus's world. Out where men are men and women are women.; 12/26/16, 2:14 PM
Bob Ellison said...: ...and the sheep run scared.; 12/26/16, 3:03 PM
Unknown said...: Why would the sheep run scared from a demented mythologized Humdity Dumpty figure gets his cross dressing fix on?; 12/26/16, 3:07 PM
Bob Ellison said...: The sheep were terrorized by a crazed emu, laying eggs that looked just like avocados. We're herbivores, they thought. These should be great with a little lime and salt!

The truth hit them just as the emu parents clawed their bellies out with their huge, horrific emu talons.

Soon to be a film starring Nicholas Cage as the head ewe.; 12/26/16, 3:11 PM
Bob Ellison said...: Key dialog:

You think you're an herbivore. I'll show you an herbivore. Or a herbivore. Whatever. If you're from England, read this line that way. But anyway, I'll show you. EWE!; 12/26/16, 3:16 PM
Meade said...: If anything the wildlife around this place has way too much self-esteem. Self-important raccoons, narcissistic rabbits, entitled chipmunks, and pompous squirrels. I'm losing patience with their cheeky, cocky, impudent attitudes.
.; 12/26/16, 3:17 PM
Rusty said...: In the picture. The chicken, hen, stands out.She is dressed for the holiday, but she seems hesitant, indecisive. Did Chris have the presence of mind to inquire why she wanted to cross the road?; 12/26/16, 3:25 PM
lemondog said...: What is that castle in the background? Is that where Lady Dumpty dwells? Any relation to Humpty?; 12/26/16, 3:53 PM
Grant said...: There appears to be a grackle at Humpty's feet. Wonder if he's eyeing an egg supper.; 12/26/16, 4:04 PM
Michael K said...: There is a town in California named Weed Patch.

Perhaps it should be renamed "Wildlife Habitat."; 12/26/16, 4:13 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: "I'm losing patience with their cheeky, cocky, impudent attitudes."

You and me both.

Them and their damned attitudes.

And to think, us, our kind, we are some of the most damn patient people out there, YET THEY STILL MAKE US LOSE!; 12/26/16, 4:49 PM
Robert said...: I thought of Althouse when I saw that pic of Obama playing golf in shorts on Drudge tonight.; 12/26/16, 6:14 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: The Larry Sanders Show is Darwin to successful entertainment titans.

And only because it allowed me to produce my idiocy solo so long as I wish, which is mostly forever.

Cumulus.hillsdale.edu/Buckley; 12/26/16, 6:20 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: http://screenrant.com/justified-season-6-episode-13-series-finale-reviews/; 12/26/16, 6:27 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: How about I name a character "Bill Fitz."; 12/26/16, 6:52 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: I am a man, and it is okay if I do it.

Lots of science you see, and don't.; 12/26/16, 7:01 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Holmes

Wow, what a fascinating young young young intellect.; 12/26/16, 7:09 PM
Rockeye said...: "If anything the wildlife around this place has way too much self-esteem. Self-important raccoons, narcissistic rabbits, entitled chipmunks, and pompous squirrels. I'm losing patience with their cheeky, cocky, impudent attitudes"
For that I have Havahart live traps and subsonic .22LR ammo. Used in an either/or configuration.
.; 12/26/16, 7:44 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "If anything the wildlife around this place has way too much self-esteem. Self-important raccoons, narcissistic rabbits, entitled chipmunks, and pompous squirrels. I'm losing patience with their cheeky, cocky, impudent attitudes."

It sounded as though you were talking about this.; 12/27/16, 6:32 AM
James said...: It might be the Elizabeth Ney museum. If so it's in a part of Austin with quite a bit of strange wildlife.; 12/27/16, 6:39 AM
ken in tx said...: It's the grounds of the Elisabet Ney museum. She spelled her first name that way, also slept naked on the roof when she lived there.; 12/27/16, 8:43 AM
James said...: ken in tx,
You're right, I had forgot about the spelling. A side note my father did the stone restoration back in the early eighties. I'm fairly familiar with the joint. In the second story room in the tower is a bookcase that swings out and gives access to the roof.; 12/27/16, 3:24 PM