News & Views
Friend or Faux? How to Be a Real Friend During Your Friend's Divorce
Submitted by Southern Shift on Mon, 2010-09-20 15:40 Authored by Christina PesoliMany people have struggled with the awkwardness of not quite knowing how to be a friend to someone who is battling cancer, and much has been written about that topic. But what about the issue of how to be a friend to a person who is going through a divorce? This can be an equally tricky road to navigate. Well-meaning friends struggle with what to say or do, and this uncertainty often leads them to avoid their friend at a time when being there can mean the most.
The days of doubt and uncertainty are over. Follow the eight easy steps below and you will go from AWOL to A-1 friend to your friend in need.
Blood Complicated
Submitted by Southern Shift on Thu, 2010-08-19 14:52 Authored by Christina Pesoli“What do you do for a living?”
Not exactly a trick question. Still, I stood there speechless. The clerk at the Verizon store looked up from his computer screen and stared at me with a puzzled expression. When he asked me the question, he probably didn’t even really care about the answer. He was just trying to be friendly while I waited for him to activate my new phone. But since there was a delay in my response, now he was curious.
“I…uh…have a couple of properties I look after.”
He kept staring at me, his brow furrowed. I stammered around some more.
“I mean, I have some rental properties that I take care of.”
“Okay,” he said, looking back at his computer screen and giving a little shrug, as if to say, “Was it really that hard of a question?”
Are bicycles more important to the city council than Black people? Watch the most important Austin city council meeting of our lifetime
Submitted by Southern Shift on Fri, 2010-08-06 15:03On Thursday, July 29, 2010, the Austin city council took a vote that was a pivot point for race relations in Austin, Texas. Statistics show what folks know by talking to each other - Black people are leaving Austin quickly and moving to other cities. Many point out that it is because of the feeling that people of color don't belong and are not accepted by the majority. Housing in Austin continues to be almost 100% racially segregated. Social life is segregated by skin color with a few notable exceptions.
Some say the most disturbing difference is the way that police treat people of color compared to the way they treat folks West of the racial dividing line of IH-35.
Austin Police Accountability Coalition (APAC) Needs Your Help
Submitted by Ann del Llano on Thu, 2010-07-22 23:46
APAC invites all concerned citizens to join the movement whether online or in person. This message is from APAC to all residents of Austin:
We are a group of organizations and individuals who are dedicated to common principles of meaningful police transparency and accountability for the Austin Police Department. We want to see APD provide safety for all residents of Austin.
Problem
What will Austin council members do about police accountability on July 29?
Submitted by Southern Shift on Thu, 2010-07-22 21:48"We want to know when our city leaders are going to settle with the people of Austin and fix our broken system of police accountability so this does not happen again."
- The Austin Police Accountability Coalition (APAC)
Austin city council members have a choice to make on Thursday, July 29.
At 11:45am APAC is hosting a Rally for Reform at City Hall. At noon, John Bush will address council about police accountability as part of citizens communications. Later in the afternoon or evening, the city council will vote on whether to accept the $750,000.00 Sanders family settlement for the death of their son at the hands of Officer Quintana. Citizens of Austin can sign up to address city council regarding the settlement and public comment is expected.
Do Marriage and Monogamy Still Make Sense in 2010?
Submitted by Southern Shift on Thu, 2010-07-22 17:26 Authored by Christina Pesoli & Dan SavageHere are links to two different authors thoughts on the subjects. Enjoy and let us know what you think!
The Relationship Model for Modern Couples
(Lifetime Commitment Not Included)
VOTE FOR RAS today and win a FREE DOWNLOAD of their album SPEAK THE TRUTH
Submitted by Southern Shift on Fri, 2010-07-16 13:22 Authored by Southern Shift
Today is the last day to vote in the Austin Chronicle's SOUND WARS Competition, and one of our favorite hip hop duo's Riders Against the Storm (RAS) is pretty close to winning but they need YOUR VOTES TODAY before midnight!
If you vote by midnight Texas time tonight you will win a FREE DOWNLOAD of the RAS album Speak the Truth by following these steps:
1. Create an account(s) and register to VOTE in the SOUNDWARS contest HERE, then vote for RAS.
2. Click this link to send an email to RAS with your new username and password so they can make sure you're registered.
3. Wait for a confirmation email from RAS with the album download link/code.
Please CLICK THIS LINK to register and submit one vote per as many email accounts as you want to enter. And you don't have to live in Austin to vote so spread the word!
SOUND WARS is a digital song competition between local Austin bands competing for notoriety, exposure, and a chance to play the 20th annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival on Sunday, August 29 at Waterloo Park.
So please register and PLACE YOUR VOTES for Riders Against the Storm, one of the freshest new hip-hop groups in Austin!!!
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro chops it up with Steven Colbert
Submitted by Ann del Llano on Thu, 2010-07-01 16:44Thirty-five year old San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro was quick on his feet and even got in a lick or two of his own as a guest on the Steven Colbert show last night, something not many guests are able to do. Watch the video here - Castro rocks!
USSF 2010: March to Cobo Hall- pt1 "These Are Our Streets'
Submitted by Southern Shift on Tue, 2010-06-29 18:28Senator Robert Byrd Dies-How Should We Remember him-Friend or Foe?
Submitted by Southern Shift on Mon, 2010-06-28 07:13 Authored by Davey DJust got word about Senator Robert Byrd dying and not too sure what to make of it. The first thoughts that came to mind are, he's been serving my entire life and damn near my parents entire lives. Dude has sat in the Senate for almost 60 years. That's a long time. I keep asking myself, why do we have so many Senators who get to sit up in office till they are that old? The late Strom Thurman, Jesse Helms and Ted Kennedy are a few long time fixtures that come to mind...If you serve in office for that long can you be effective? Did they do what was needed for their states? If you're a Democrat or left leaning was he and others strong advocates or obstacle?
