Whether going to renew my own license or getting instruction permits for my three daughters, I've been at the North Lamar DPS Driver's License Office multiple times in the last year or so. That makes the process less of a surprise than for many of the others I've spoken with or overhead while in line or waiting. A lot of people show up on their lunch break thinking they can get in and get out within the hour. No. No. No. Maybe if you're one of the first 10 people in line at 8 am it'll happen. But after that, plan to spend at least an hour just waiting for them to call your number. And that doesn't count the time you're likely to spend waiting in line to tell the information desk why you're there and then actually get the little numbered ticket.

So, for the uninitiated, here's an informal run-down of what to expect the next time you're thinking of popping into the Driver's License Office. This is based on the North Lamar location. It could be better or worse at the North or South Congress offices.

Read more...

Chances are that you will pull "junk mail" out of your mailbox today, tomorrow and forever... unless you do something about it. Every Monday Matters Task #6 is to "Get Rid of Junk Mail". Start today and you should see a drop in junk mail and catalogs in 4 to 6 weeks.

The 3R's are Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Start by reducing the amount of junk mail you receive. Reuse whatever is still showing up by cutting up mail and using it for scrap paper and notepads. And what you can't reduce or reuse -- recycle. With Austin's new single stream recycling it's easier than ever -- just put it all in the big carts (due to show up in the next several weeks) with all your plastic bottles, glass, and cans. No more sorting required. But first, try to reduce because...

Facts:

The average person receives 500 pieces & 41 pounds of junk mail a year.

You will spend 8 months of your life opening junk mail. (I want that time back!)

Only 2% of junk mail gets a response.

100 million trees are needed to produce the annual supply of bulk mail.

Paper will take up 48% of our landfills by 2010.

Tips:

Write "Please do not rent or sell my name" next to your name whenever you enter a contest, make a purchase, make a donation, etc.

Call the customer service number of the company that is sending you unwanted mail and ask to be removed from their list.

Contact each junk mail provider by email, phone, or postal mail.

Remove your name from the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (DMAChoice.org) and Optoutprescreen.com, this will take your name off of multiple mailing lists.

It may take a couple contacts to get yourself off a mailing list and it can take from 4 weeks to 90 days to see a significant difference.

^{Source: Every Monday Matters}

Here's an About.com video on how to stop junk mail with more tips and advice.

Have you had success keeping the junk mail out of your mailbox?

^{posted by lyla}

We make frequent drives up to Hutto and often see the Hippos, but the other day we decided to take the back roads and found Zebras, Impalas and Deer.

On a more serious note, Hutto has been in the news a lot lately. Austin turned on their first red light camera on May 23 and now the City of Hutto will install their own in August and propose to expand the Williamson County Landfill.

Hutto Fire Department Struggles to Keep Up with Demands of City

Hutto Residents Asked to Conserve Water After a Water Main Break, Request Lifted Next Day

Red Light Cameras to be Installed in Hutto

Proposed Landfill Expansion Upsets Hutto Residents

A family friend moved to Hutto last year to get away from the "big city" while still being close enough to get to work downtown. But this little spot is growing up fast.

Do you live in Hutto or another small town on the outskirts of Austin? Is it experiencing any growing pains? Share your experience living just outside Austin.

^{posted by lyla}

The City Council wants to raise property taxes. Oh joy. Residents can have their say on the matter at two public hearings coming up this month.

• Thursday August 21, 2008 at 6 p.m.
• Thursday August 28, 2008 at 6 p.m.

  Both hearings are in the Austin City Council Chambers at 301 West 2nd Street

According to the Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase (PDF) the new proposed tax rate of $0.4012 per $100 of taxable value would increase the average home's tax to $988.36 from an average of $927.02 based on this year's current tax rate. Of course any individual homeowner's taxes may go up or down depending on any changes in the value of their property.

Travis County is upping their property taxes too -- a proposed a $24.53 increase per year for the average homeowner they say. According to the Statesman article:

The increase would pay mainly for a new county criminal court, increased fuel costs, a 3 percent pay raise for most county employees and 31 corrections officers to staff a new detention building at the Del Valle Correctional Complex.

How do you feel about it these increases? Do you plan on making a trip to City Hall to voice your opinion on the Austin tax proposal? Why or why not? Talk about it.