Second Life for Those Who are Not Busy Enough with Their First

When the issue of who has gone to the Texas State Island in Second Life came up not many people seem to know what was up. Maybe I'm just a bit more geekier than most but I personally have been there. I then started think "Maybe no one really knows what Second Life is?" To start, Second Life is somewhat named aptly, but I think that "Second World" is more accurate. This is not as much a video game as it is a visual-online community/networking/discourse/advertising/ etc. Pretty much most anything you can do in the real world (and something you can't), you can do here.

To give a little background, Second Life is based off of an idea by Neil Stefenson that he included in his cyber-punk sci-fi novel Snow Crash.

Snow Crash features a virtual world called the "Metaverse", which is also the name of the world in Second Life (Note: the program is called Second Life, the world in which Second Life takes you too is called the Metaverse.) I could let you know the entire storyline of Snow Crash, but I would be spoiling one of the best books ever. Trust me, go buy it at Half-Priced books for like $5, you will not be disappoint. But I digress.

The first thing that most people do in second life is create or buy an avatar. For those that don't know, avatars are visual representations of your virtual self. You can create and modify your own avatars, or you can purchase your own from someone else in the Metaverse that is more well acquainted on how to code and design avatars and clothing. Realize that your avatar does not have to look anything like you, or it can look exactly like you, the choice is yours. The one above is probably a self designed avatar. This person sat down and created all the different shapes and textures to their avatar so that they can have a sense of individuality. The more individual and unique the avatar, the cooler you are.

You maybe wondering, "Wait, wait, wait... How do I create an avatar? Aren't I usually just given a choice of substandard generics that the site choses?" Simple answer is Primatives, or Prims. These are basic shapes... circle, triangle, and squares (FunFact: Take a look at the nearest USB cable, these are the same shapes on the cable connector and port. Theoretically, any shape can be created with only circles, squares, and triangles. Thus the name Universal Serial Bus, and the universal shapes associated with USB) Each one of the strands of hair on the avatar above are a primative, so you can see how you combine many shapes to create one object. This same system is used to create any object in the Metaverse. The buildings of the picture at the top are all made from prims and textures.

Okay, so you know you can make avatars, but what about buying them? Well there is actually a micro economy in Second Life. They use the currency of Linden Dollars, Linden Research Inc. being the company that created second life. These Linden Dollars are actually exchangeable for real currency and vice versa. You could actually make a living in Second Life, the richest resident has a net worth of $1 million, yes real dollars not L$ (Liden Dollars) and all of this worth is held in a virtual world.
I could go on and on telling you about Second Life and how complex it is, but I'm sure that others would want to see other posts on this same page. If you would like to know more or to join go to secondlife.com

For anyone that joins my SN is P17ch8l4ck Kira, yes you get first and last names when you sign up. Hit me up anytime you catch me on ( which I'm sorry to say is not very often, but I will be friendly non the less).


P17ch8l4ck
A.K.A
A.J.

 

Goodwill Hunting

San Marcos Goodwill is a bountiful place where bargain shoppers can find a great buy on everyday items.  This local store features everything from shoes of all colors and styles, pots and various plates to children's toys and even CliffsNotes.

Stickers of bright, neon-colored circles and squares 

flooded the mini isles of drastically marked down items at the Goodwill store.  Shoppers from their late 20's and up were present scanning the different sizes of clothing in the color coded isles.  Even shoes were designated where they would sit by specific color regardless of size.  Here it seemed you had to be lucky to find your size in the item you were looking for because there was only one of its kind.

Walking towards the back end of the store, books and movies of all sorts that were not alphabetically placed consumed the entire back

wall.  Childhood memories clouded my thoughts upon observing the very same books and nursery rhymes that were read to me as a child.  CliffsNotes were even present among the bunch of memorable readings, and at only .99 cents a pop proved to be a bargain. 

Kitchenware were the only seen duplicated items neatly stacked side by side and arranged on shelves among the entire stock.  Tape was placed over matching arrangements to avoid lessening the value of the complete set.

One would imagine a Goodwill couldn't possibly have matching table sets, shoes of all sorts or even fluffy bears for children at just $2.99, but truth be told they have a lot to offer at ridiculously low prices and more.

-C. Mickle

AUSTIN BLACK EXPO

The first ever Austin Black Expo was held this Saturday at the Monarch Event Center in Austin, Texas. The convention showcased African American arts, culture, and business from all over. More than 1500 people from all different backgrounds attended.

Vendors from all over Texas were at the convention. A businesswoman from Dallas brought all of her merchandise to showcase. She had Egyptian paintings, Obama-wear, and exotic jewelry. She was born and raised in Jamaica however her husband is Nigerian and inspired the opening of their store. 

The most interesting vendor was from a group called "African Bound Corporation". Founder and President, Dr. D. D. Faye welcomed me with a huge smile and a ton of enthusiasm. His booth was smothered with lotions, moisturizers, and lib balm, all made from Shea butter. To the right of the booth was a huge poster with pictures all over it. Dr. Faye took me over the picture and told me "Were building an African Village in Cedar Park. " Ummmm What? I am very familiar with the Cedar Park area...just about 15 minutes down Mopac...and couldn't imagine an AFRICAN VILLAGE! He informed me that all of the money from his Shea butter products are going to the development of this village. I was immediately intrigued. Wanting to know how I could get involved was my next question. 

He gave me his card and told me about their website...Africa Bound. The Village will but used as an education tool for school field trips, retreats, vacations, etc...

Other and less interesting vendors there were from hotels, catering companies, insurance companies and so on.

Unfortunately I missed out on the cook-off that included some celebrity chefs. But there was hot dogs, chips, and more authentic crawfish jambalaya to purchase.

I am happy that the African American Chamber of Commerce organized this event for the black community. This was the first "expo" and I hope not the last. From my experience it was very successful and I hope it grows into something bigger throughout the years. Maybe we can add another annual festival to Austin's line-up and put it on 6th street. :)

Leza Abramov

Austin's Underground Poker Scene -Ryan Ramos

For the safety of the staff and that of the players, pictures, name and exact location have to remain anonymous.
The setting is a huge ranch house, with about 40 cars parked on a dirt lot. The game is run by Vietnamese-American citizens, at least the main guy is. He runs the game like a serious business, employing dealers, cooks, a wait staff, and security. He is the face of the game basically running the promotional and greeting part of the game.
From talking to staff and players I found the house was in another mans name to avoid controversy. Though this game is technically illegal, it is home to doctors, lawyers, public officials, local celebrities, and your average Texan poker player.
The games stakes vary from weekly $100 tournaments, 5/5 and 5/10 NL cash games six days a week.
Security is tight with multiple men in different locations set up, multiple cameras, and a secret location. These men in control feel that local players have the right to play in a safe, fun environment, enjoying the same treatment already offered in many states through legit casinos.
Legislature is constantly being brought in front of congress to legalize casino gambling in Texas, hopefully this can become a reality in the near future.

Tantra Coffeehouse

Looking for a quick cup of joe, then you're at the wrong coffeehouse. The Tantra Coffeehouse is more than that, it's a hang out. The tantra coffeehouse is a community center, and a place where anyone can come in and relax. People of all types are welcome. According to Cassie, a Tantra employee, "It has a melting pot of people ranging in all shapes and sizes." Even if you're not a coffee nut, the Tantra Coffeehouse offers a good selection of adult beverages.







The people that come here represent environmentally friendly people. It's safe to say the Tantra is vegan friendly. They offer a full menu of organic foods, and they refuse to sell any meat products. The parking lot is rarely filled up because most of their customers ride bikes.
From this place we can learn that our community’s roots are old. The actual house is over 100 years old. Not only that but we are friendly. People coming into Tantra are not in a hurry; they hang around and socialize for a while before leaving.

I would definitely do a story over the unicycle football league the shop seems to support.

The coffeehouse is very trendy and artsy, so it was no surprise to find out they were going to be hosting an art exhibit. I would also do a story over the art show. It's set to kick off April 10th, and is going to be a groupshow with all the pieces based on dreams. So far 30 artist have signed up.

The people I encountered fit into media coverage because their taking the smalls steps we all need to be taking to make a difference in preserving our ecosystem.

Nick Loftis TTH 11:00

A Home Away from Home...for Truckers

Authentic Mexican food, a hot shower, a full-service tire station, and an extra pillow to get a good nights rest. All of these are things you can find just down the street on the corner of 123 and I-35 at the Shell truck stop.
While I do believe that the truck stop definitely caters to the Hispanic and trucker populations the most, people from every socio-economic and cultural background walked in and out of the over-loaded convenience store during our observation. We saw everybody from a lady carrying a Louis Vuitton purse to a couple young mechanics who seemed to be on their lunch break.
There was a little hole-in-the-wall chicken restaurant attached to the gift shop and convenience store called El Regio which boasted the best chicken in Texas. There were a few people sitting scattered at the small tables in front of the restaurant enjoying their food.
As we were walking around, I couldn't help but notice that this place had everything a truck driver needs to survive out on the road. There were extra pillows, toothbrushes, shampoo, and of course, food and beverages. They even had a sign that advertised their showers.
I think somebody could learn alot about the community just by sitting and observing the people who walk in and out of this truck stop. Also, walking around I noticed many school spirit items that filled the shelves. Anybody who walked in would know they were in Bobcat country.

Goodwill is Full of Treasures

Rediscover your local Goodwill.


The San Marcos Goodwill was especially clean, shopper friendly and had an old charm about it that can't be found in a regular department store.


The eclectic bargain hunter was present, with his faded green v-neck t-shirt and four ties style hat worn sideways on his twenty something head. He scouted the furniture and scanned the extensive books along the entire back wall. The thrifty mom with baby in basket, nice clothes and jewelry , hair done and cell phone attached to her ear--was also shopping as if she were at a larger pricey store. She understood what many haven't discovered about Goodwill- there is something for everyone.


Racks upon racks of clothes sorted by color giving the effect of a rainbow of women's shirts here and men's pants there. Children's clothes galore with toys right on top of the metal rack so a mother can look at both necessities and wants in one walk down the aisle. One could practically see the entire store in a glance because all the shelves and racks were at a low level allowing the eye to scan in every direction.


The center of the floor is full of clothing. On the left wall you'll find art, framed and matted, contemporary and classic. Further back are shelves of kitchen appliances, glassware, matching sets of dishes with mugs, vases and lots of breakable collectable trinkets for Grandma. (In fact she was there looking at them). As mentioned the back wall was full of books sorted by genera, movies, music cds, and old collectable record albums. There was also a Spanish section accompanied by many native Spanish speakers who know Goodwill is the place for a deal.


When I checked out with my books in hand the older cashier, who could only use one arm, sweetly asked "Did you find any treasures?" He summed up my experience with his smile. Good will is a place anyone can find a treasure--for a great price too.



By: Rhe-Anne Cannaday

photo curtosy of austingoodwill.org

Children's Section of Barnes and Noble Bookstore - Michael Mancha

As I walk into Barnes and Noble Bookstore I head towards a place that I often pass by but rarely enter. It’s a place that has limited interest to me yet on this day I venture straight in.
The children’s section of the famed bookstore is actually quite larger than I realized and as I walk through the entrance I immediately take notice of all the children, some very young and some approaching teen years, searching, reading or being read to.
I take a walk around the area gazing from shelf to shelf and take note of the enormous variety of books. Storybooks, picture books, activity books, and so on. I move over a few sections and see older kids and a rack full of short stories and small novels about everything from school and friends, drama and adventure, mystics and fantasy, and young love.
I notice a pair of young girls, 11 years old or so, sitting on the floor, both with the same book in their hands. I think about the friendship they will grow through the simple, vicarious actions of a fictional character.
I sit in a small chair and begin to watch the parents whose heads are poking above the bookshelves. Young mothers, mothers of multiple children, and a whole families here together on a weekend afternoon. I wonder who talks about them – the parents actually raising their children right. The media loves to talk about parents who abuse, abandon, neglect or even kill their children but rarely you see anything about these parents.
I would tell their story. I would talk about the parents who take the time and effort to instill the priceless ethic of knowledge and growth into their children. I would tell their story because, ironically, there are so many parents who share this story and so little who relate with those who kill their children.
Before I leave I am compelled to walk to the poetry section and seek out my favorite poet as a child and then there it is, Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. I pick it up and immediately think to myself one thing – I am going to read this to my new baby.

ARCH-Selina O. Affram

On Friday, January 30 I went to Front Steps to get receive a different experience in an unknown environment. Front Steps was a havoc of commotion from ringing phones, shuffling papers and the chatter of busy footsteps. People were scattered on the street awaiting entry. Some were deep in conversation, and others sated with blank stares. Front Step is a day resource center and shelter under the direction of Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH). People were scattered on the sidewalks and street around a building awaiting entry.
Here individuals who have become down on their luck in life and are facing the hardships of homelessness and poverty are able to seek assistance to aid them in their situations. Some people were married with families, had good jobs, owned homes and led normal lives, but became affected by extenuating circumstances that had occurred. The homeless are not always featured within the media, yet it is a continuous and growing problem within our communities; and this plays a part in the reason why this portion of the community receives little media attention.
The community in Austin tries to help the homeless different with programs like ARCH that provide shelter, daily meals and safe environments.
I could develop stories that are based on personal issues of the homeless, like mental illnesses, drug abuse, physical disabilities and being unable to cope from prison life. Stories could also be developed about the increasing number of homeless women and children; percentage of homeless students from the Austin Independent School District; foster children that have aged –out and become displaced; difficulties faced by war veterans and how the economy has a role in homelessness.
As a reporter, the coverage of the homeless can be apart of new reports through outreach, volunteer opportunities and community awareness.

Selina O. Affram

San Marcos Bus Station

People of every age use the bus station. Some people use the bus as a means to get to work, retired people may use the bus to take that long awaited trip they've been waiting a life time to take, young college students use the bus to go home for the holidays. People who do not want to waste money on rising gas prices are frequent users of the bus station. Whether it's a one-time trip, or an everyday thing, a diverse population of people uses the bus station.

As I was eavesdropping, I noticed that every one seemed disconnected from one another. They were sitting on opposite sides of the station and barely talking. The only talking that was really going on was a woman who was talking on her phone even though she was there with someone. The woman was talking about Social security and how living expenses cost too much. The man and woman proceeded to have a disagreement and the woman tells the man to “shut up.”

There was a lady who I talked to briefly that had never taken a bus from a station. She was going to work to fill out papers. My guess is that she was just recently hired and plans on riding the bus to work on a daily basis.

We also talked to the man at the counter and he mentioned the Gary Job Corps as a frequent user of their bus station.

The time I spent at the bus station helped me realize that you can learn a lot from people by where they’re going and where they’re coming from.

A Soulful Showcase

The Monarch Event Center here in Austin was host to a hip-hop pounding, barbeque cooking, and African paraphernalia exposition this past Sunday, January 31st 2009. The first annual Austin Black Expo, presented by the Capital City African-American Chamber of Commerce, kicked off Black History Month with the assistance of local businesses as well as out-of-town vendors.

Tenants of the center were greeted with the delicious aromas of barbeque on the grill and booty-shaking music (courtesy of KAZI 88.7 FM) upon entering the facility. Inside, various booths were set up embracing the walls of the center's main entrance with nothing but smiles on the faces of the volunteers behind them. Everyone from AllState Insurance to the Austin Toros basketball team were on hand to partake in the festivities. The breadth of the event, however, lent itself to the handful of exhibitions that served to educate visitors of African cultures and traditions. My partners and I came across an exhibitor who is currently in the process of building an actual African village in the Cedar Park area. I meant to recover his purpose for doing so, but he was occupied with other passersby. Sorry guys! The pictures below show an ensemble of uniquely African statues and jewelry.

I also came across a vendor who was selling an array of African tribal instruments. Most of the instruments in his inventory were quite the norm (drums, shakers, etc.) but the one he was toying around with really caught my eye (or rather ear I should say). It was a petite, wooden frog with a series of ridges on it's back that made a ribbit-like sound when rubbed with a mallet.

Unfortunately, I had to cut my visit to the expo short due to prior engagements but I learned a good deal during my short stay. I was introduced to new dishes (Crawfish Jumbalaya) and hand lotions that are native to Africa. One could easily sense the pride and patriotism in the eyes of those involved and the jubilant spirit of this community. It was definitely a worthwhile experience.

Magnolia Cafe

Austin is well known for the diversity among its citizens. According to the 2000 census there are over 20 nationalities represented by its citizens. These nationalities bring with them unique cultures, ideas and personalities that very few people are given the chance to encounter and enjoy.
Among these few are the wait-staff at all-night diners. One particular diner that seems to pull together much of Austin’s mosaic character, Magnolia Café, staffs a crew that is given the opportunity night after night to engage with all walks of life. My waiter shared a story about how he witnessed two late night staff chase each other around with whips while all the customers cheered for the. For some this may seem a bit too extreme of a dining situation. However, there is no denying the high caliber of eccentricity they deal with night after night. In just one night, or early morning I should say, I witnessed cross-dressers, high school and college students, young adults who just finished partying on 6th and hippies all dining in the same room. Many of the people dining together seemed to be from completely different backgrounds.
In a restaurant where local art is displayed along the walls for sale to customers, fluorescent lights line the windows and a wooden model pterodactyl is hung from the ceiling; a compelling vibe is nurtured. In the words of my waiter, “you get to see all kinds of stuff.”

The Beloved Truck Stop

Fact: not all gas stations are the same. The Shell truck stop on the I-35 access road near the 123 exit in San Marcos showed me this.

What comes to mind when I think of a truck stop? I’d say dirty men who never shower and smoke cigarettes, a hamburger restaurant attached and people coming and going quickly, but what I encountered was very different.

The first object I spotted when pulling in to the parking lot was a green van with the word “Legalizacion” sprawled across the side in bold, bright yellow colors. Upon entering the truck stop I noticed signs that advertised for showers, a full-service truck station, a legalization office and several odd items like movies, clothes and hats, including Ed Hardy hat, a more expensive item.

The truck stop isn’t for one race or creed but rather a place for anyone needing to make a pit stop for gas or simply to stop in for a bite to eat. I noticed that those coming to the truck stop are always passing through and are always on-the-go, like travelers or families taking that dreaded road trip.

When the media covers stories concerning increasing gas prices, it seems as though reporters ask experts their opinion each time. It would be interesting to know what gas trends truck stop attendants are seeing and how the fluctuating prices are affecting those who are constantly behind the wheel of a big rig.

The most influential information comes from those who are most affected by the problem in question.

Austin Resource Center for the Homeless; ARCH

I'm not going to lie, going into this I was terrified, and honestly I'm not completely over my fears. I've grown up very cautious of homeless people. I have had countless strange encounters with the homeless late at night downtown with friends. I've even been chased in broad daylight by a homeless man in downtown Houston. So as you might assume this assignment took me way out of my comfort zone.
As my partner and I arrived at ARCH we were greeted by about 30 plus homeless men and women outside waiting to get into the shelter. There was a man ranting about people taking paper out of his pockets. There was a woman at the door banging for someone to let her in. Everywhere I looked there was something going on. It was obvious we weren't going to be able to just waltz in, because by the looks of the angry Hispanic women at the door not even the homeless people were getting in. I called the shelter to let them know we were outside and they sent someone to the door to let us in. This caused quite a scene because as you can imagine the homeless people who had been waiting at the door were quite upset.
When we got in I noticed tons on homeless people everywhere, no wonder there weren't letting them in. There were people in the medical clinic, in line at the information desk, and resting anywhere they could find a free spot at various places around the shelter. The shelter is pretty large. It’s two stories with a waiting area, medical clinic, kitchen and more on the bottom floor. On the second floor I noticed an art studio, classrooms, showers and bathrooms, as well as offices for the staff. Within a minute we were greeted by Dawn Perkins, who is the volunteer coordinator for the shelter. She gave us great insight to what exactly ARCH is and what they do. She was very helpful and willing to take the time to talk to us.
I learned that ARCH is part of Front Steps which is an umbrella organization that works with many shelters, food banks, and organizations around Austin. Anyone can come to ARCH and they will asses your needs and either help you or send you to someplace better suited for your needs. ARCH tends to service more men because at night out of necessity they turn into an all men’s overnight shelter. Dawn said in the last five years they have noticed an increase in women and children needing assistance. Most of the homeless that come through ARCH are mentally handicapped or involved in some sort of substance abuse. ARCH offers assistance to get their clients back on a track to success and getting off the streets. They offer medical assistance, counseling, amongst many other programs to help people finds jobs and homes.
I talked to a man who works with Art from the Streets, which is a group of homeless people who create art to be auctioned off to raise money for the arts at ACC. I also talked to another homeless man who is a victim of Katrina. He's been displaced in Austin for 4 years and just now has an apartment. He said he Louisiana he had a home, job, and a family. Now he has nothing and can't get a foot in the door. He said he was a two time decorated Vietnam Vet. It's amazing what he gave for his country and this is all he has to show for it.
As I was leaving the shelter, I didn't feel any safer, but I did have a better understanding and felt compelled to learn more. I think that the media could learn so much from this community. I think a majority of society had no clue how much of an epidemic Chronic Homelessness is. I also think society would be astonished at the number of Homeless people who are mentally handicapped. If I were doing a story I would write about the number of Katrina victims who were still displaced and still having trouble getting back on their feet. I think it would also be interesting to look into how many ex-prisoners are left homeless because we don’t offer sufficient rehabilitation. There are so many people that come through ARCH. The number of stories that could come out of this shelter alone is amazing. I hope by reading this it might light a fire under someone else.

Casey Young

Going Against Gender Norms

There is an organization on campus that goes by a Greek name. It is not governed by the IFC and one does not need a bid to get in. Its members do not all don matching Sperry Topsiders or brightly colored Croakies. There are no grueling Rush activities or ridiculous bouts of hazing. Furthermore, there is no “frat castle,” though you may find a queen or two.

Lambda of Texas State is a community service-based organization that continually makes an effort to be seen as a benefit and asset of the Texas State University campus. I chose to find out more about the gay community through Lambda, as I felt that the organization could open my, as well as the public’s, eyes to the truths about the often stereotyped population.

Upon sitting in on the first Lambda meeting of the spring semester, I was not so much surprised at how nice everyone was, but rather delighted at the variety of individuals that chose to attend. Lambda’s president, Scott Schoenmakers, welcomed everyone by first introducing the officers and then asking everyone to make a circle around the room for an icebreaker.

It seems as though the media often paints the homosexual picture of a flamboyant, outrageous, in-your-face society. Truth be told, however, I could just as easily have been among members of ASG or the Advertising Club. As the prospective members passed around a beach ball and stated their names, classifications and majors, it became obvious that Lambda is just as academically diverse as it is physically. Among the future political scientists, fashion merchandisers and psychologists, there were graphic designers, pre-med students, business management majors and even an aspiring botanist.

The next night I attended Lambda’s Spring Kick-Off event at George’s. I had the opportunity to speak with Lambda’s vice president, Jeffrey Gronke, who was happily gulping down a 32-ounce Monster Energy drink. Jeffrey told me that the most important role Lambda plays at the university is creating a safe community for those that “know for themselves (that they are gay) but are unsure that there are other people out there just like them.” He also explained that it’s okay to “be out, be loud, be yourself,” even if the common stigma says you are supposed to keep quiet. At that moment, a drag queen hit the stage in a fabulous yellow evening gown, booming out Beyonce’s “Halo.”

I think that there will always be an opportunity to write a story about the gay community. Specifically to Lambda, one could cover the many events they host, including the upcoming concert series in the LBJ amphitheater and the ever-popular biannual Bobcat Ball. Other coverage might include the origin of Lambda or similar LGBTQA organizations on different campuses. As for the community as a whole, there are many stories to be told about each gay individual’s experiences with stereotyping, discrimination or harassment, as well as what it took to overcome those obstacles.

Thea Setterbo

Farmers Market

The San Marcos Farmers Market takes place every Tuesday from 3pm-6pm and brings in more than just farmers. Many locals go to the market to get all of their produce. One lady said she goes to the market once a week and purchases all of her produce for the week. It is a great place to shop and you have all of the varieties of the grocery store but it is locally grown and you can buy directly from the grower making it a bit cheaper. It is a great place to get baked goods as well, there is a huge variety of breads and muffins.

The vendors at the market make it a very entertaining experience and after they are all very nice. They talk about a lot of things but what they mostly talk about is the weather. It was a particularly cold day and so that was the first thing we talked about. She told me about how she cant believe the weather cause that is what drives her selling of baked goods business, the better the weather, the better the sales. After talking to her she started telling me about how people just figure that the farmers market is not happening because of bad weather. Thats when i realized the media can help.

if the media covered the people at the Farmers Market and the buyers and sellers at the market would be more aware of all of the things sold there. Some of the vendors are local businesses as well, a bakery had a bunch of bred to sell with their company van parked right behind them. If there was a story done on the farmers market it would encourage more people to go. It is a great place to get food, I purchased some delicious zucchini pineapple bread. There could be so many more opportunities for these people if the media just gave them a look. It is a great place and the popularity would grow giving a higher sense of community to the people who visit and those who sell their things there.

Donut Palace

I went to The Donut Palace close to the university for our listening post. It is owned and operated by what seemed to be a Cambodian family composed of a father, mother, and daughter. The first thing I noticed when walking up to the counter to pick a donut was the Budda statue surrounded by fake floral arrangements and bananas that were nearing their expiration date. The variety of people that walked into the donut palace was enormous. Everyone from soccer moms to business men to hard laborers came to enjoy the tasty treat. Speaking of tasty treats, the signs on the walls looked as if they were bought on ebay from the 1970s. The color was faded and they lacked any kind of modernism. One of them claimed the dnouts as "a delicious decision" to start your morning. Can't disagree there...the donuts were quite tasty. Along with the wide donut and kolache selection came a diverse drink selection as well. I opted for a bottled water but sodas, milk, tea and energy drinks of every flavor were offered in their coca cola fridgerator. I also noticed the many signs encouraging smoothie sales, however no one walked out with a smoothie while I was taking notes. I think it is a tactic to try to stay "modern" since donuts do not really receive a high rating on our diet list.

Only one person not counting myself acually sat in the palace to eat their sweet pastries. Everyone else was on the go, but friendlier than most "fast-food" places. One man carried a conversation with the limited English the Cambodian mother new from the time he walked in until she gave him his change for his kolaches and he was heading out the door.

The trash can that many people use to discard their receipts right before walking out of the door proudly states " The Donut Palace - The customer is still king." If it brings a smile to my face, I think it's worth mentioning. I could incorporate the Donut Palace in a story about small local businesses and their advertising tactics, or how international business owners succeed, or something to do with a leading story in Cambodia and how these nationals feel about it. The Donut Palace is a small, quaint donut/kolache shop with more character than one would think!

Necessities and hidden treasures fill racks

Goodwill seems to have, throughout the years, obtained a not-so-positive reputation. It’s never been seen as “cool” to shop at there and it is often frowned upon if you do. During my trip to the local Goodwill store, many of the typical stereotypes I’ve heard seemed to ring quite true.
Though all types of people shop there, the majority of the shoppers were older couples or young families. Most of the shoppers were Mexican American. I observed mostly families, mainly with young children, shopping and scanning the racks of clothing and filling their carts with desirable picks. Many carefully examined the items to check for irregularities or significant stains and defects before buying them.
I think the location of the Goodwill store, in San Marcos especially, greatly affects who shops there. In this case, the store is located in close proximity to government assisted housing. It seemed that many of the shoppers were from low-income households. Many of the cars outside the store were of older models, while most of the cars stopping to drop off donations were newer, nicer cars.
Personal stories of lower income families are not often covered by the media. We could learn a ton from interviewing both shoppers and employees about best selling items and what donations are needed.
A few things I believe we could all learn about the community by visiting Goodwill are that
Some story ideas are the increase of donations at specific times throughout the year, the search for used clothes/furniture for refurbishing or using for the creation of something else. Also, a story about fulfilling the material needs of the lower class during a recession could be possible.
Many stories that could come to life through the Goodwill would fit directly into human interest and local news beats.

Local Farmers Market

Last tuesday was one of the coldest days of the new year for San Marcos, Texas. Still, the local Farmers Market went on like it does every week. There were only six or seven vendors, it seemed they were the few and the faithful to thier products. I could see hope in their eyes when my partner and I approached, eager to see customers. There was a beautiful assortment of vegetables and breads, cookies and fruit. I listened as my partner chatted with a woman from Wimberley. She rubbed her hands together as she described the difficulty of staying out in the cold. She was a curious sort of woman and her thick southern accent made me listen closely to what she was saying. She tried hard to sell her products, encouraging me to try samples and I decided to buy jalepeno bread from her. She was gracious and bobbed her pink head appreciation. I made my way to the other tables and stopped at one that was also selling sweet breads and cookies. He asked me what brought me to the Farmers Market on such a cold day and I described the class assignment. He talked about the weather too and told me how unprepared he was for the cold day. He looked misreable in a thin leather biker jacket and red bandana. Anxious for company, he told me the story of why he was at the Farmers Market. He said that he made all of his goodies himself, and he was very proud of being a male cook. I could tell he had bargained before when he bribed me into buying his bread by saying he would give me free cookies. It was an offer I couldn't refuse. I wanted to give all of them some money for working on such unpleasant terms. I had never been to a Farmers Market before and had no idea what to expect. But what I found was that even on such a cold and bitter day I was surrounded by hard-working, warm people.

Serving the community by the community

Most of the people who go to Goodwill are middle age and Hispanic. The store signs are written in English, but include Spanish on the bottom. Goodwill provides a lot for lower class families. Goodwill also represents the many people in need in our community, but the warehouse full of goods show how much our community gives. My visit to Goodwill last Thursday sparked many story ideas. I could talk to the people who donate. Ask them what they are bringing, how often, and what they donate. I could also do stories on the items in the store. How old they are and what items are sold the most. There are toys, hats, books, and records. VHS tapes from Toy Story to Baby Huey. Cliff notes for all the popular novels I would have killed for in High School. It was amazing to see all of the different shoes. They are rugged and dirty. All I could think of is the miles the shoes had traveled. I noticed a mother handing a little girl a cow in a red bikini. I can’t even express how happy she was. The cow cost two dollars and 99- cents. Most kids these days need expensive electronics to make them happy, it was refreshing to see the little girl’s face as she hugged the cow. I feel like the media gets too caught up in broadcasting the newest thing and the earliest fashion. I think the world forgets sometimes that what we have is enough to make us happy. The people that go here could greatly inspire other everyday beats. Such as how these people are surviving, what the fall of the economy has done to them, and more ways our community could help lower class families.

Smoothie Factory

While walking around downtown San Marcos, looking for an appropriate listening post, my partner and I came upon The Smoothie Factory. I was a little hesitant. 'Everyone likes smoothies,' I thought. 'How could this place represent a segment of the community that lacks attention?' Then I saw a transplanted segment of grass on the counter next to a machine that presses it into liquid form. I asked the clerk about it, and he explained it was wheatgrass, and 40-50% of the Smoothie Factory's customers strictly come for shots of the green liquid. He further told me, they have a good number of people who come in every day for wheat grass. Perfect! We just stumbled into a wheatgrass community.

While waiting for the grass consumers to walk in, we noticed a wall full of pictures of people who drink wheatgrass, and a quote from each of them: 'I don't smoke grass, I drink it!' they would say, or something mildly clever like that. The people seemed to range in age from 18-50's and were of mixed genders and ethnicities. The only common threads I could come up with were they all seemed to be in good physical shape and they all were very health conscious. Also, with so much nutrition in such a one or two oz. shot glass, they all felt the need to get their nutrition quickly. Probably meaning they have busy lives.

If there are any questions as to the point of drinking wheatgrass, the clerk will gladly fill you in, or you can just look at the big poster on the wall that identifies some 40 benefits. They include: Increased energy and brain function, detoxification of the body, prevention of tooth decay and curing most kinds of cancer. Okay, I made that last one up. But the point is, the stuff is supposed to be good for you.

The phenomena of wheatgrass and the people who drink it seemed to be underrepresented in the media and I'm not sure why. In a society that wants to be healthy but also lacks time where we see infomercials for 30-second abs and diet pills, wheatgrass should be in the forefront of this movement. One shot of lawnmower juice and boom, you're much healthier.

With a growing number of wheatgrass drinkers, combined with a rec. center that recently doubled in size and coffee houses like Tantra serving vegan food, that tells me San Marcos is a healthy community. Some of that might be a result of being so close to Austin, which is always listed as one of the healthiest cities in the country.

If I were to write a story, I would definitely focus on the wheatgrass. I might talk to people who drink it regularly and ask them about their health before and after they started drinking it. Also, I can use these people for other stories I may write, such as a story on the growing obesity epidemic. I could use a health expert who also drinks wheatgrass and talk to him.

Barnes & Noble children's section

Stay-at-home moms are often misunderstood and rarely ever are covered by the media. For this assignment I chose to visit the children’s section in a popular book-store to try to capture some in-sight into these women and their children’s lives.
The media constantly focuses on celebrity moms and their children, but it is rarely ever at an intimate, caring, motherly moment. These everyday moms should be given more attention because the things they do for their children are nothing less than spectacular.
In the children’s section of the book-store, many people would think that they had, well…books for kids, right? Well, that’s just the beginning of what the store had for children. There were activity books, religion books, sound stories, pre-school books, pop-ups, comics, poetry, history, science and nature books. Those were just for the kids.
The list of books goes on and on, but the most important is the sections where mothers could be their child’s teacher. These sections included reading comprehension and learning books, language arts, flash skills, picture association books, number books, and once again the list goes on.
From just observing the children and their mother’s I began to understand the desire a parent has for their children to learn. It’s not everyday you see a parent take their toddler to a book-store and let them run around looking at things, giving them the opportunity to express themselves at such a young age.
One mother followed her child, who was still in a stroller and barely walking, around the entire section allowing him to wander wherever his eyes took him. He ran over to a book and said “ooooooo,” and his mother said, “Look this is Cookie Monster. He loves cookies. RAAARR RAARRR!” And her son replied, “RAAARR RAAARRR!”
In her one statement, she taught him the character’s name, what he liked, and what kind of noises he made and the child automatically responded to it. It was just amazing to me because I felt like an involved mother, or parent, has the potential to be the initial reason behind their children’s success.
By visiting this particular location, many stories could come from this. For instance there was a small stage set up inside the children’s section, and on the stage were step-by-step juggling books. More than likely, juggling acts are done. A great story could stem from that such as: Do they teach the children? Who does these acts? When do they occur? Do they do story-telling on that stage?, etc. Stories about stay-at-home mothers or home school parents could be done. Even stories about children who begin reading young vs. children who started late would be a great story.

Tantra Coffeehouse

If you’re looking for the sort of coffee shop frequented by the tree-hugging crowd, at the onset Tantra fits the bill. There’s the Odwalla juice case, the extensive and thought-provoking wall mural (even if the only thought it provokes is “what am I looking at?”), the posters for things like “The Awakening” conference series and Celtic Spirits Worldwide, designated receptacles for recycling and books with titles such as The Buddha of Suburbia. It’s everything you might expect to find.

What’s more interesting though are the things you might not expect. For instance, The Buddha of Suburbia was nestled against Michael Crichton. I saw more than one copy of The New York Times lying around, and not all with the same headline. While sitting outside, I overhead an extensive conversation about football between four male patrons, at least two of whom were drinking beer. There was also a poster for the Unicycle Football League with a schedule of games to be held onsite.

There is fuel at Tantra for various beats. I might do a story about the blending of subversive and mainstream cultures in places such as Tantra, where I found, for example, both a copy of What to Expect Toddler Years and a posted advertisement for midwife training. I could also definitely see a story, maybe a sports feature, about the Unicycle Football League. Other miscellaneous ideas are stories on the artist whose work was displayed and priced for sale, owning a local business during the current economic crisis and running a green restaurant.

Smoothie Factory

Everyone has their morning routine. For most that includes the daily cup of coffee (or the daily stop at Starbuck's. The two are pretty much synonymous at this point). Personally, I'm of the energy drink variety, but I am aware of others that prefer smoothies in the morning. We decided to go to Smoothie Factory to see what morning smoothie drinkers have to talk about in the morning.

For most of the time there, we were the only ones in the place, but luckily the Smoothie Factory had a wall with pictures and quotes from many of the regulars.It was surprising to me that there were so many people from a vast array of age ranges, ethnicity, and cultures. It seemed that all of the patrons had one thing in common...the love of grass...wheat grass shots.

It seems that there is a trend in wheat grass shots. After asking the clerk what most people who come in all the time order, he replied, "Hands down the wheat grass." For those who are not familiar with wheat grass, I have supplied a photo.

I did not feel content with just seeing the wheat grass and hearing the well rehearsed information dump that the clerk laid on me. No! I must experience this wheat grass first hand (Seeing as I have never had wheat grass before.) if I am to truly understand what brings all these different people together. Let's just say that if you like the taste of fresh cut grass in liquid form, you gotta try wheat grass. So, okay, the taste leaves something to be desired, but what about the health benefits? I did seem to be a little...okay, a lot more alert. I will have to say that if you can stomach the taste you get about two servings of vegetables in one shot. The clerk said he actually gave me a double and that it equated to about five pounds of green vegetables.

I think that this visit to the Smoothie Factory might make me think about doing a piece on the benefits of wheat grass. With the current rates of obesity and malnutrition, I think a lot of people would find that being able to get servings of vegetables in liquid form to be much more efficient than having to find nutritional food on the go.


A.J. Butt

Lambda

There is nothing remarkable about LBJ meeting room 3-3.1. It has fluorescent lights, rows of tables and chairs, and is pretty darn boring. The only thing that can really make room 3-3.1 stand out would be a picture of three nude men washing a car projected onto the wall, which there was during last Wednesday's Lambda meeting.
Lambda of Texas State is a group for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community at Texas State, as well as allies. Meetings are held every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center.
The group is more diverse than an episode of Sesame Street. Members have a wide variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and all sorts of majors are represented.
The atmosphere was rather casual for a meeting. The group formed a circle to play a hot-potato style introduction game so members could learn more about each other.
"I know some of you gays can't throw, but just underhand it so we can keep the game going," joked Lambda's president, Scott.
The group laughed off the reference to the ridiculous stereotype. The subject of stereotyping came up again the next day at Lambda's kickoff in George's.
"The (LGBT) community is sometimes misunderstood because of all the stereotypes," said Ricardo, a Lambda member.
Members of Lambda's sister organization, Bobcat Equality Alliance, were also attending the kickoff. While Lambda is a mostly social organization, BEA focuses more on political action.
"We work on destroying the myths and prejudices about the gay community," said Maria, BEA's president.
Jeffery, Lambda's vice president told us, "There's still that old-school stigma about being gay. But just knowing that you are not alone is the best part of being in Lambda."
All the serious conversation gave way to festivities, which included a hot abs contest and a drag performance. Over the two evenings I spent with Lambda, I noticed that the group was not just a gay fraternity. Lambda is a community where people can just be themselves.
Lambda of Texas State
Bobcat Equality Alliance (Facebook Group)

Tantra Coffee House

Tantra Coffee House offers a look at the diverse people who live in San Marcos. Its definitely not your ordinary coffee shop. At first glance, this place may seem like any other coffee shop, but it's what the people are doing here that sets it apart. Just like most coffee shops, Tantra is full of cyclists, students, businessmen, and "hippies." Not all were "hippies" however, as Tantra's reputation would have some people believe. People come here and just hang out. There is no coming and grabbing a latte to-go. You hang out and study, play games, listen to the jazz music playing in the background, or even take a nap. Yes, there was a man taking a nap on one of the couches while we enjoyed a game of Mrs. PacMan. A bookshelf sat in the same room as the vintage arcade game filled with English textbooks, board games like Sorry, Scrabble, and chess, and children's books. Yes, a bunch of children's books.

The decor here is Asian-themed, with statues of Buddha and Asian artwork scattered all over the walls. One of the walls is covered by a huge mural that a local artist painted. While none of the employees knew exactly who painted it, we were told a story about a piece of the mural. A tiny blue VW van was painted at the bottom of this tree. Apparently, a "hippie" poet from the 60's drove this van he called the "blue canoe." He would just hang around the shop all day and inspired the artist so much that he or she decided to include him in their work.

The trash is separated for recycling. The food is all organic, including the coffee beans. One employee, Cassie, called Tantra a "melting pot." The employees really seemed to love their job. Outside the place two well dressed younger men debated about our current government, while inside, a woman who had never been there before just walked around and took it all in. If the coffee and interesting people aren't enough to entertain you, on Sundays they hold a unicycle football league. I'm not really sure what it is all about. I guess I will just have to go there on a Sunday to find out.

Tantra is not really the type of place I would normally go, but actually going in might change some people's minds. I expected to see a bunch of pretentious hipsters talking about the newest underground music scene with a few hippies scattered around. Tantra is more of a place where everyone is excepted and you can almost do whatever you want there. They do have plenty of things to do there between classes.

Brian Steele

Donut Palace

Upon entering the Donut Palace the first thing that catches your attention is not the sweet smell of doughnuts or kolaches, it's the soft Cambodian music coming from the speakers. The decoration of this doughnut shop is a bit odd. Old doughnut signs hang on the walls and the counters are littered with bamboo plants and Buddha statues. 

The Cambodian owned and operated Donut Palace is a perfect window into the San Marcos community. Various people come and go. The elderly, businessmen, soccer moms, and young hipsters all enter the shop to buy doughnuts or kolaches. This cross section of citizens is a great example of people who receive little or no media attention. 

They are common people doing everyday activities. The length of their stay is routine and ranges from a businessman who takes less than a minute to a Hispanic mother and daughter who stay for five minutes talking to the woman behind the counter about the weekend. The lively discussion soon changes to the topics of Bavarian cream and Long Johns, doughnuts made in the shape of a bar, before coming to an end with a polite goodbye. 

There are many interesting discussions that can be had at this doughnut shop. One such discussion is that the kolach is king at the Donut Palace. Meaning that most of the customers prefer the Czech pastry to the doughnut. It's a fascinating observation that might lend itself to a story about cultural heritage of food or even the mixing of cultures through food, for example, how does Cambodian mix with Czech? 

Another interesting observation is one of socio-economics. 

Many of the Donuts Palace's customers come from the Check Box, a check-cashing store, next door. These customers are mostly Hispanic and African American, two types of people that are misrepresented by the media. A compelling story might be finding the relationship of these customers' economic activity and their social life, why do they go next door to for doughnuts? It may just be that Donut Palace has extraordinary doughnuts.