PFT Commenter and Pat "The Beave" Cassidy on Austin, Early Jobs, and Nazi Drugs

Early Careers and Austin Migration

• 💡 PFT Commenter and Pat "The Beave" Cassidy discuss their post-graduation careers and move to Austin, Texas in late 2008.
• 🚗 PFT shares his experience working odd jobs, including selling used dogs for a non-profit called Paw Match and selling software.
• 🏘️ They recount how Austin's slogan "Keep Austin Weird" was already being challenged by newcomers when they arrived, a perpetual cycle of change.
• ✈️ The conversation touches on the growth of Austin, influenced by South by Southwest (SXSW) attracting people from tech and other industries, and the lack of state income tax.

Austin's Culture and Lifestyle

• 🍻 Football Sundays were spent at The Warehouse, a bar with no windows, adjacent to the strip club Palazio, which was featured on Friday Night Lights.
• 🌮 Austin's culinary scene is highlighted, with food trucks like Mighty Cone and Franklin Barbecue paving the way for brick-and-mortar success.
• 🍳 Breakfast tacos are debated, with some considering them overrated while others praise them as a quintessential Austin food.
• 🏞️ The Colorado River, referred to as Lady Bird Lake, is discussed, along with the dangers of swimming in it due to currents and construction debris.
• 🌳 Barton Springs, a natural spring-fed pool, is mentioned as a popular spot to cool off, though its cold temperature is noted.

Historical Drug Use in Warfare

• 💊 Pervitin, a methamphetamine, was widely used in Germany during World War II to keep soldiers awake for extended periods, notably during the Blitzkrieg.
• 💉 Hitler's personal physician, Dr. Morell, administered him a cocktail of drugs, including meth and heroin, which he called "vitamins."
• 🚢 German coffin submarines used a combination of meth and heroin to keep pilots awake on dangerous missions, though it often led to fatal heart attacks.
• 🇫🇮 A Finnish soldier named Aimo Koivunen survived for three days on methamphetamine during combat in World War I, later becoming Prime Minister of Lithuania.
• ⚔️ The Vikings are discussed as potentially using a type of mushroom (possibly psilocybin) to enter a warlike trance, and their historical impact on Europe, including the naming of Normandy.

Early Career Aspirations and Creative Pursuits

• 🎬 PFT and Pat discuss their early attempts at making movies and sketch comedy in Austin, inspired by the idea for Breaking Bad.
• 🎥 They highlight Austin's film scene, with directors like Robert Rodriguez, Richard Linkletter, and Mike Judge based there.
• 🎤 The rise of Joe Rogan and The Mothership comedy club in Austin has significantly impacted the local comedy scene, leading to both opportunities and bitterness among long-time comedians.
• 🏀 The conversation touches on Quinn Snyder, former coach of the Austin Toros, and the idea for a TV show based on his career struggles, predating shows like Ted Lasso.
• 💰 The low cost of living in Austin when they first moved there was crucial for pursuing creative endeavors with uncertain financial returns.