Public Notice

Don't Just Stand There

By Kate X Messer, Fri., Aug. 6, 1999

Stand tall? Stand up for what you believe in? Stand off? Stand offish? Stand in? Stand by me? Stand up for a cause? Stand by? Stand out? Standing army? Stand trial? Stand still? Grandstand? Stand in the place where you live (now face north ...)? Stand down? Can't stand it? Stand up? Standing invitation? Standing Waves? Take a stand? Try as you might to straddle the fence, to see the issues from all sides, to waffle and ponder and consider and lay low with your opinion until the jury's in, at some point it comes down to it, right down to that moment between you and your feet -- the two you are standing on. At some point, you must decide where ... well ... where you stand. Try as we might, we've tried to hold our tongue with regard to this insane situation at Austin's community radio station, KOOP. And, you know, for the purpose of this column, at least, we probably will continue to hold it, as slippery as that ol' beast can be. Meantime, we'll let you know this: This Fri, Aug 6, 5:30pm, there will be a Rescue KOOP Rally in front of the station, 304 E. Fifth. The guy who originally stood up for local community radio, before standing up for local community radio was cool, KOOP founder and recently dismissed programmer Jim Ellinger, will more than likely be there, and perhaps we should be, too. 792-5395.

More Standing Than You Can Stand

This Friday is the ninth anniversary of sanctions imposed against Iraq. This coincides with another anniversary. This Fri, Aug 6, 5:15-6:30pm, there will be a Commemoration/Vigil Remembering Hiroshima & Calling for the End of Sanctions at the Texas State Capitol. Then, at sunset, folks will gather at Lou Neff Point in Zilker Park (make-out point) to float Japanese lanterns and candles on the water. 471-1990.

Back to $chool

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS), the folks behind the Debt Management Program (the one where you cut up your credit cards and CCCS negotiates lower interest and monthly payments on your existing maxed-out accounts, thereby making your monthly obligations workable until you are finally debt free) have some great ideas for avoiding the debt monster during the cash-demanding back-to-school season. Before you require the help of their debt management program, look into some of their helpful clues to help keep you from getting into insurmountable debt in the first place. 447-0711.

Take a Hike, Tax

Hey! Don't forget that this weekend, beginning Friday, is the one deemed by the Texas Lege as a No Sales Tax weekend on many Back to School items. It begins tomorrow and goes through the rest of the weekend, Fri-Sun, Aug 6-8. According to the Texas Comptroller's Office, "The tax holiday will be held every year on the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of August. ... Most individual clothing and footwear items priced at less than $100 will be exempt from sales taxes." This year both state and local sales taxes will be waived. The list is very specific and can be accessed from the Comptroller's Web site (see address below). One confusing factor is that despite this being instituted for the purpose of alleviating budget stress for those families with members going back to school, actual school supplies, like pencils, notebooks, backpacks, binders, etc., are not on the list of tax-free items. The main items free from tax are clothing and shoes. Some items on the list are: belts, cowboy and hiking boots, bras, coats and wraps, adult and baby diapers, dresses, gym suits and uniforms, jackets, jeans, pants and trousers, raincoats and ponchos, shirts, shoes, sandals, shorts, slippers, sneakers, sweaters, swimsuits and trunks, work clothes and uniforms, and underclothes. Some items not on the list include: hair accessories (like barrettes and elastic pony tail holders), wallets, watches, backpacks, climbing, fishing, or rubber work boots, most sports accessories, cloth and lace, yarns and fabrics, handbags and purses, bicycle or motorcycle helmets, personal flotation devices, brass knuckles, Chinese throwing stars, sockfuls of pennies, piano wire, and much more. http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/holiday/#list or 800/252-5555.

Your K-9 on Austin

K-EYE 42 will be the place to catch the Humane Society/SPCA Pet Telethon Sat, Aug 6, noon-6pm. The Humane Society site proper (124 W. Anderson) will be the place for a Mini Carnival throughout the day. 837-7985.

E-mail: [email protected]Mail to: "Public Notice," The Austin Chronicle, P0 Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765. Deadline: Wednesday, 6pm, eight days prior to publication. Phone calls have a .001% chance of being returned.

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