For more details and events, see Community Listings.
Thursday 17
GEORGE LAKOFF The linguist and author of insta-classic Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values, Frame the Debate discusses his latest book, The Political Mind: Why You Can’t Understand 21st-Century American Politics With an 18th-Century Brain. 7pm. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar, 472-5050.
LIGHTBULBS TO LEADERSHIP PARTY So you’ve switched out your lightbulbs. What next? Find out how you can become a green movement leader from Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (via conference call) at this party hosted by the Lone Star Sierra Club. 5:30-7pm. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second, 974-2220. www.sierraclub.org/lightbulbs.
JOHN DEAN The Watergate star witness and author of Broken Government is in town, and tonight’s your chance to meet him. 5-7pm. Waterloo Ice House Downtown, 600 N. Lamar, 472-5400. $25 ($10, students). www.waterlooicehouse.com.
NETROOTS NATION Progressive bloggers unite! (See “Bringing the Net to Austin,” for more.) Thu.-Sun., July 17-20. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez, 404-4000. $450. www.netrootsnation.org.
Saturday 19
PETLAND PROTEST Not only do we have too many unwanted animals in Austin already (thousands of which are euthanized each year), but according to the Spay Austin Coalition, the animals Petland sells come from unsavory puppy mills. If you don’t like that, join the coalition folks today and do something about it. Saturdays, 1-3pm. Petland, 9900 S. I-35 #400, 656-6299. info@spayaustin.com.
Sunday 20
GRASSROOTS TRAINING WITH DEMOCRACY FOR TEXAS Learn how to get your candidate elected. 11am-5pm. Travis County Coordinated Campaign, 1107 N. I-35. $25. www.actblue.com/page/lone-star-training-nn2008.
Wednesday 23
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FORUM Learn about transit-oriented development and affordable housing in this forum hosted by the city of Austin. 9am. Street-Jones Building, East 11th & Waller, 974-9375. www.cityofaustin.org/housing/affordable_housing.htm.
EASY BEING GREEN? Learn about going green from those who’ve done it and lived to tell about it. 6:30pm. Ventana del Soul, 1834 E. Oltorf, 707-7447. Free. www.ventanadelsoul.org.
ONGOING
LIVE MUSIC TASK FORCE SURVEY: CHIME IN, MUSICIANS! Tell City Hall how to keep you working and living affordably in Austin. The Live Music Task Force online survey provides a direct voice for musicians and others involved with live music venues. See “Can the Bands Play On?” for more. Survey closes July 31. www.cityofaustin.org/council/livemusictaskforce.htm.
RENAME JOHNSTON HIGH Got a suggestion for what to name this beloved Eastside school? Submit your idea (along with a brief explanation) at
www.austinisd.org, or mail to Austin Independent School District, 1111 W. Sixth, 78703.
This article appears in July 18 • 2008.