This Instagram account roasts bad versions of Texas
The big picture: Miller is the voice behind the viral Instagram account @uglytexases, which spotlights hilariously bad versions of the Lone Star State.
Zoom in: Miller, 47, launched the account in 2018, and it's taken off in recent years.
He's an instructional designer and longtime improv comedian who spent more than 20 years in Austin before moving to Amsterdam for love.
How it works: Even abroad, he keeps the account active — sourcing images from what he calls "vigilant citizens" and adding his signature dry commentary.
He checks the account every morning for submissions, usually getting between one and five.
His favorites? The images that are everywhere but often go unnoticed, like the David McDavid dealership stickers that have been slapped on thousands of cars across Texas. That sticker now serves as the account's thumbnail image.
What they're saying: "I don't actually have a mission here," Miller tells Axios. "I'm just glad it makes people a little more aware of what Texas actually looks like."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
Jim VandeHei to Mel Robbins: Sorry!
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei writes: I owe a huge apology to Mel Robbins, author of the bestselling book in the world. Maybe it was author envy, or bad "blink" instincts, or both. But I must confess to hearing the premise of " The Let Them Theory" and thinking: No shit! "Let Them" argues that we need to stop letting others' actions or words bother and control us. The inner Jim's response: "Duh? If I could just let people be moronic, selfish and make-me-want-to stab-myself annoying, I would — but I can't!" Why it matters: I was wrong, at least about Robbins' book. I went down the Mel Robbins rabbit hole this past week and discovered how valuable her insights are. I get why she has sold 6 million copies in just under eight months — more books in a shorter time than any author in history. I also listened to her on several podcasts, including a visit to Kara Swisher's "Pivot." A few quick takeaways: Robbins' theories are persuasive and impressive. She provides specific tips and tools to flip the script and control things on your terms. Her examples resonate. She's normal and likable. People trust authenticity. She nails this with a mix of cursing, humility and self-deprecation. So much of self-help feels preachy or unrelatable. She listens. This is something most people, often including me, suck at. But she listens to her guests and seems to cling to what they say, without an urge to inject her own smarts or wisdom. It was as if Kara and Mel were talking to me, personally, when they made fun of dopes who dismissed her book as obvious. "The reason this is so successful is because I'm reminding you of what you already know to be true," she told Kara. Robbins gives credit to the Stoics and therapists and scientists who have said the same things in a different context. But there's magic in creating a modern template to put the oldest of thinking into a contemporary plan. "It's very easy to make something complicated," Robbins said. "It is extraordinarily difficult, and takes a lot of rigor, to distill complicated things and do a simple thing that anybody can use and you can remember." The big picture: Some people dismissed our first book, " Smart Brevity," as obvious. But the truth is: Writing shorter, without losing any value, is harder than people think. The book helps. With 350,000 copies sold, it's been a big success. It was self-evidently hypocritical of me to have a "no shit" reaction to Robbins' big idea. As an author who would relish her success, the smart response would be to learn from her. The bottom line: Mel Robbins' advice is useful. At Axios, we're obsessed with usefulness. It's an underrated gift: People listen, act and share something if it's truly useful and actionable. Her book and podcast often frame topics around specific, useful applications. I'll leave you with what she describes as one of the most meaningful conversations she has ever had, with Dr. Jim Doty, a Stanford neuroscientist and bestselling author who died last month. The topic: manifesting the outcomes you want. Three useful steps: Write it. Visualize it. Say it, silently and aloud. The repetition, pulling on — and in — three senses literally creates a neural network to force action. Shift out of fear mode. Fear triggers biological stress and makes it a lot harder to do what you're trying to do. Doty argues you need to downshift to "heart mode," where you are calm and open. If you can, your body has a literal physiological response that vastly enhances your chance of getting what you want. Lose the negativity. Your mind and body react positively if you spend more time thinking good things about yourself and others. No one can do this always. But everyone can do it more. 🎧 The first 30 minutes of the podcast are time very well spent. The full podcast is here.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Reba McEntire pens sweet remembrance of 'oldest son' Brandon Blackstock
Reba McEntire is remembering her stepson, Brandon Blackstock, who died at 48 following a cancer battle. "Last week, my stepson/oldest son Brandon Blackstock went home to be with God. His struggle is over and he is in eternal peace in God's presence," McEntire shared in an Aug. 12 Instagram post. "There is no one else like him, and I'm thankful for the time we had together," she continued. "His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again." Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson's onetime manager and husband from 2013 to 2020, died Aug. 7 after a three-year cancer battle. His cause of death was determined to be melanoma. A post shared by Reba McEntire (@reba) "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away," a statement from Blackstock's family, shared with USA TODAY Aug. 7, read. "Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family," the statement continued. "We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time." Brandon Blackstock's cause of death: What to know about Kelly Clarkson's ex, melanoma How are Reba McEntire and Brandon Blackstock related? McEntire married Blackstock's father, music manager Narvel Blackstock, in 1989; they had one son, racecar driver Shelby Blackstock. The two divorced in 2015. After Clarkson and Blackstock announced their split in 2020, McEntire told Entertainment Tonight that though she considered Blackstock to be a son, she wasn't taking sides during the divorce. "Brandon's been my son forever it seems. Although he's my stepson, I still love him like he's my total (son) – my blood, so I'm praying for 'em both 'cause I love 'em both," McEntire said. Blackstock and Clarkson have two children: River Rose Blackstock, 11, and Remington "Remy" Alexander Blackstock, 9. He also has two children from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth: Savannah and Seth Blackstock. Speaking with People magazine in 2018, McEntire counted Blackstock and Clarkson's son and daughter among her seven grandchildren at the time. Contributing: Jay Stahl, USA TODAY
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Reba McEntire addresses ex-stepson Brandon Blackstock's death for first time ahead of funeral
Reba McEntire has broken her silence. The country music legend paid tribute to her late former stepson, Brandon Blackstock, on Monday, Aug. 11, for the first time following his shocking death last week at 48. 'Very well said Shelby,' McEntire, 70, wrote in the comments of an Instagram carousel shared by her son and Brandon's half-brother, Shelby Blackstock. 'Yes we will miss him so much.' Advertisement 7 Reba McEntire at Radio City Music Hall in Midtown, Manhattan on May 12, 2025. GC Images 7 Reba McEntire shared this comment on Instagram after Brandon Blackstock's passing. Instagram/@reba McEntire became the late talent manager's stepmom when she married his father, Narvel Blackstock, in 1989. Advertisement Although the 'Fancy' singer and Brandon's dad later divorced in 2015, she and Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband remained close, and McEntire was still identified as a 'stepparent' in his obituary. Brandon passed away from melanoma, a rare form of skin cancer, on Aug. 7. His family announced the heartbreaking news in a statement obtained by The Post. 7 Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 28, 2015. Michael Buckner 'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,' they said. Advertisement 'He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,' his loved ones added. 'We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time.' Insiders later shared how McEntire was there for her former stepson before his passing. 7 Although Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock divorced in 2015, she and Brandon remained close. Instagram/shelbyblackstock 'Reba has spent more time with the Blackstock crew in the past year than in years prior,' an insider told Us Weekly in an interview published one day after Brandon's death. Advertisement The Queen of Country also opened up about how much she 'loved' Brandon back in 2021 when he and Clarkson, 43, were in the middle of their infamous and nasty divorce battle. 'Brandon's been my son forever, it seems,' she told Entertainment Tonight at the time. 'Although he's my stepson, I still love him like he's my total — my blood, so I'm praying for them both because I love them both.' 7 Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson attend the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 28, 2018. Getty Images for NARAS Brandon and the 'Since U Been Gone' singer married in 2013, and they had two children together: daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. Clarkson ultimately filed for divorce in 2020, and the pair settled in 2022. Following Brandon's passing, his half-brother and McEntire's son, Shelby Blackstock, took to Instagram to remember the late talent manager. 7 Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire at the American Country Countdown Awards at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15, 2014. Jason Merritt McEntire and Brandon's father welcomed Shelby, now 35, in 1990. Advertisement 'Words cannot begin to capture the tremendous loss our family has endured,' the race car driver wrote alongside several touching pictures of Brandon. 'Yesterday, we lost a brother, a father, a grandfather, and a son.' 'Brandon Blackstock was an irreplaceable part of our family—funny, bright, and full of life—and he will be deeply missed,' McEntire's son continued. 'We will always miss you, Brandon, and we will never stop loving, remembering and celebrating you.' 7 Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson attend Billboard's Women in Music event in Hollywood, California, on November 30, 2017. Getty Images for FIJI Water Besides the two children he had with Clarkson, Brandon shared daughter Savannah, 23, and son Seth, 18, with his first wife, Melissa Ashworth. Advertisement Seth remembered his late father in an emotional Instagram post of his own over the weekend. 'I lost my hero yesterday,' Seth began Saturday. 'Words can't describe how proud of you I am on raising me and your 3 other kids.' 'You were a father, a son, a brother, and most importantly my best friend,' he added. 'You'll have to watch me grow up from a Birds Eye view now but that's ok with me.'
