Final Magazine 5one2

one 5 2 Austin’s Where It’s At

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Dear Reader, Welcome to the first issue of 5one2 magazine! We hope you enjoy it, as we try very hard to make the magazine an accurate and interesting representation of Austin’s culture. Since we want our magazine to reflect the interests of our readers, we are very open to any ideas and suggestions you have in order for us to improve our magazine. You can contact us at mecc.ezine@gmail.com to submit comments or opinions on our magazine content.

- 5one2 team

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

DA BOYZ

Cosmo N.

Cosmo Nixon is a freshman at LASA high school. His hobbies include football, snowboarding, and listening to music. If he could have any superpower, it would be the ability to fly. His favorite food is the mango.

His favorite bands are Arctic Monkeys, Spoon, and the Authors. His favorite thing about himself is his beautiful blue eyes, which match many things including the sky, jeans, and the glistening ocean. He is very happy to be at LASA, and loves everyone and everything.

Mutahir A.

Mutahir is a student at LASA who enjoys playing sports with friends and competitively.

He is always working hard to make sure he gets good grades, although that sometimes does not work out too well for him. He is always determined and if he is given something to do, he will finish it as soon as possible with good effort. He loves to play soccer and football, he loves to watch Spongebob, and he loves to sleep. If could have any superpower, he would have the ability to freeze time.

DA GURLZ

Campbell P.

Campbell Anne Pontin is a freshman at LASA high school. Her hobbies include volleyball, obsessing over Degrassi, and taking pictures of attractive people when they’re not looking. She also has the best dog in the world, and a really violent little sister. Her favorite bands are The Strokes, The Airborne Toxic Event, and Ludo. Her favorite thing about herself is her semi-webbed toes, which she actually thinks are kind of cute. She is really really creeped out by Emma Hyams, and hates her intensely.

Emma H.

Emma Hyams is a freshman at LASA high school. She has one sister, Mazie, who is one of the awesomest people alive. Her parents are pretty cool, except for right now she is grounded so that makes her parents, especially her dad, uncool. She is a swimmer and a volleyball player. She took piano for six years but stopped taking lessons this year, and has been dancing for twelve years.

She has a major crush on Campbell and is using this bio to ask her out‌ Campbell, I am infatuated with you, will you go out with me?

Table of Contents Keep Autin Weird

Trail of Lights, Why it is Awesome!

Friday Night, Lights Out

Page 5 Page 7 Page 9

Bat Crazy!

Page 11

Facebook: Addicting or Just a Fad?

Page 13

The Need for Weed

Page 15

Page 17

The Seeker of Truth

Page 19

The Author

Page 21

5 Must See Austin Attraction

Page 24

Mr. Awk’s Top 5 Graffitti Pieces

Page 29

Torchy’s Tacos

Page 31

BALD

Keep Austin Weird By: Campbell P.

W

hen I first moved to Austin as a toddler, I can remember how amazed my parents were with the number of local stores in the area. They were impressed with how different and unique this made Austin feel. Sadly, Austin and many places like it may be falling into the trap and anonymity of chain stores such as Wal Mart, Target, Costco, etc. Although buying from these chain stores may appear to be cheaper at a glance, in the long run, buying locally can help sustain your local economy, provide diversity in products, and keep your town’s sense of individuality.

For starters, buying locally helps better sustain your local economy. For every $100 spent at a locally owned store, $45 stays in the local economy. Spending $100 at a chain store only results in $14 remaining in the local economy. Since buying locally helps put more money towards the local economy, products will be cheaper in the long run and more jobs will be available for local workers.

In addition, Austin’s local businesses help “Keep Austin Weird” and give it its own sense of individuality. “Keep Austin Weird” is a slogan invented to influence people to support local Austin businesses, which tend to be a little off kilter, or “weird”. Supporting these local businesses helps Austin stay different and give it a sense of place, rather than just being “Anywhere, USA”.

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Finally, more local businesses equal more choices, and more products created to fit the needs of people in the area. While chain stores have the same products in every store at every location all across the country, local businesses tailor their products to fit the need of people in their specific area. If people support local businesses, then there are more stores selling a wide range of specifically made products. As well as this, products from locally owned businesses tend to be of higher quality than those produced by chain stores.

In conclusion, the benefits of buying locally far outweigh the drawbacks. While some people may argue that buying from small businesses is inconvenient and expensive, this is untrue. Buying locally helps local economy, keeps a town’s sense of individuality, and provides products made to fit the needs of people in the area. In the long run, buying locally can lower prices and create more jobs, and it is a wise decision that everyone should make.

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Trail of Lights why it is awesome

By Emma H. 7 5one2.blogspot.com Fall Semester

N

early every family in Austin has years’ worth of memories of spending one night a year walking through Zilker Park’s Trail of Lights. The fun cartoons and huge arrangements of Christmas lights on trees and forming archways make the mile-long trail feel like the length or a mere walk around the block. With hot chocolate, corn dogs, funnel cake, and the 155-foot tree made entirely of lights at the end of the Trail, most children are fast asleep by the time their parents have pulled the car out of the parking lot. What family wouldn’t give a little extra to keep the tradition alive another year? It is unnecessary and unreasonable to not produce the traditional Trail of Lights everyone in Austin loves, the City of Austin PARD should simply charge a $5 fee upon entry for everyone who visits the Trail, and keep the parking fees at $10.

Austinites weren’t anywhere near as attracted to the Zilker Holiday Tree Festival as they were to the original Trail of Lights. According to Sarah Coppola of the Statesman, 70,000 people went to last year’s Tree Festival, while previous years had drawn crowds of 300,000. If the City of Austin PARD spent the usual amount of money producing the Trail of Lights, a figure of Austinites much closer to that of previous years will show up. To cover the higher cost of the Trail, the PARD could

simply charge an entry fee. Though not everyone that used to attend the Trail will be willing to pay a price, a high enough percentage of those 300,000 people will be willing to pay to exceed any profits the Tree Festival could make from a mere 70,000 people.

Producing the original Trail of Lights also has the opportunity to profit much more than the Zilker Holiday Tree Fesitval. In another artical Coppola wrote for the Statesman, she included the information that the total costs for the Tree Festival were $382,921 and included expenses for things such as rentals, equipment, staffing, barricades and security.

The city made $33,584 from sponsorships and donations, $33,085 from concessions and $58,619 in parking fees.

With $10 parking fees, that means that 5,862 people parked in the designated Trail of Lights parking lot. If the PARD were to raise the parking fee back up to $15, they would make an extra $29,310.

Accounting for only one person per car, a $5 entry fee to the Trail would add another $29,310. With a $7 fee, $41,034 extra.

Combined, a raise of $5 in the parking fee and a $7 entry fee, the Trail would raise an extra $70,344. In addition, local companies are likely to be more willing to make donations to support the original Trail everyone loves. To put on the traditional Trail, each

300,000 people normally attend the Trail of Lights.

Last year’s Zilker Holiday Tree Festival barely attracted 70,000 people.

person of the 300,000 that used to attend would have to pay $3.33, not even including the other costs they pay for including parking and concessions. To produce last year’s Tree Festival, each of the 70,000 people that attended would have to pay $5.50.

Having to pay a slightly higher price than usual for the original Trail won’t stop most Austin families. “At a time when so many families are having to scale back their holiday plans, I am delighted that the Parks and Recreation Department has put together a program that will allow families to create lasting holiday memories without affecting their personal budgets,” said City Manager Marc Ott. The Trail of Lights evolved from the Yule Festival and has been an Austin tradition for 45 years.

Many families can make the sacrifice of at least $28 for a four-person family to continue the great holiday tradition that is the Trail of Lights, even if it means making cutbacks on the size of their Christmas ham.

The City of Austin has great opportunities to profit from producing the original Trail of Lights. Regardless, the goal of the Trail of Lights has never been to make a profit, only to keep up a tradition adored

by Austinites of all ages. Austinites will be willing to pay a significantly higher price than ever before to keep alive a tradition that has been so generous to them for many years past. The City Council thinks that they can’t afford to produce the original Trail of Lights, while in truth, can they afford not to?

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Friday Night lights out By: Cosmo N.

Under the light of the stadium on Friday night a player lays on the cold football turf yelling in pain to the coach. The refs and trainers rushed towards the hurt player as he lay there in shock with a broken collar bone. The pads had not worked the way they were supposed due to faulty shoulder-pad straps that came loose when he got tackled. How would you like to be a high school student in this situation. If the school had more funding, such as a higher percentage of tax money, devoted to better safety equipment this may have been an avoidable issue. Schools with less government funding, such as LBJ High School, need to find ways of getting more money for football equipment so as to ensure the safety to their players that should be expected.

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The people within the education department that deal with athletics and school funding need to stop ignoring the importance of high quality safety equipment. Some people, such as parents that do not have students involved in high school athletics, may feel that their tax money is more important for educational purposes instead of athletic ones. If we were to devote more tax money to athletic equipment it could possibly have somewhat of a negative effect on educational purposes but it would be a necessary loss. Extra curricular activities have been proven to improve grades and disciplinary skills as well as help to make well rounded students, and having better equipment would lead to more participation which will in the end be the most beneficial thing to do for a schools students. Parents also have the potential opportunity to help support school athletics by raising and donating money, but since it isn’t the responsibility of the parents to due so i do not feel that we should rely on their support.

More often than not, schools are negligent to replace equipment when it is needed because they feel it is unnecessary and the money could go to better purposes. Kids show up to practice ready to play but to the dismay of both coaches and students they are given old equipment that is not up to the newer safety standards.

Even in my own personal experience I have been assigned broken dilapidated equipment such as shoulder-pads with missing straps and helmets with buttons that do not work. This is unacceptable, schools make plenty of rules regarding safety inside the building, and these same standards for safety should remain for extracurricular activities housed by the school.

From what I’ve noticed, the football helmets that are used for high school players cannot really improve very much, as there isn’t really an acceptable cheap alternative and there is one standard that most teams follow. But it does become an issue when a school does not house enough helmets or there isn’t enough variety of sizes insuring that every player gets a helmet that fits safely and correctly. If a helmet is too large for the player using it then it can raise the likelihood of getting

concussions, neck injuries and back injuries during a game, or even just during practice.

In 2008 alone there were upwards on 351,992 sports related head injuries that were treated in emergency rooms, and it is not uncommon for brain injuries to go unnoticed and have the players continue to play because they don’t know anything is wrong, and that will just further the problem.

The biggest issue that I have noticed with school athletics, primarily football, is that they look for cheap alternatives and do not replace the equipment on a regular basis. When shoulder pads have broken shoulder plates, are rusted and have missing straps then you can either try to fix them or throw them away. It is unacceptable when a school issues such pads out to its student in an attempt to not have to spend money on new pads. And if a student requests a different set of shoulder pads then the athletic department will generally do so, but they will not dispose the old ones, I guess in an attempt to try and use them again later.

If we spend less tax money on athletics and more on education it could help in providing all the necessary supplies that teachers may require and or want to provide the best teaching that they can. It could also help in providing better salaries to teachers, as it is a common known fact that teachers are underpaid.

So, the point I’m trying to make is that we need to do whatever it takes to make an extremely dangerous full contact sport as safe as possible, even if it means potentially raising taxes if need be, or even possibly taking some of the money that would usually go to coaches (who are generally overpaid) and put it towards good equipment. Just one example of an overpaid coach would be Darren Allmen the head football coach an West-lake high school in Austin Texas, who gets paid upwards on 115 thousand dollars a year. It may even get down to the point where we have to restrict money from other school related programs in an attempt to help improve the safety of young students to help prevent possibly life effecting injuries that can occur. But, regardless of how we improve the football equipments supplies, it must be done.

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BAT

CRAZY!

Find Out Why Austin’s Furry Little Neighbors are so

Important to Our City!

By: Mutahir A.

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© Karen Marks, Bat Conservation International, www.batcon.org, © Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International, www.batcon.org

A colony of 1.5 million Mexican Free

According to the Bat Conservation International, situated in Austin, the Tailed Bats populate Austin, remainbats consume 10,000-30,000 pounds ing one of the biggest bat colonies in of insects every night. You hear many the world. Everybody that has lived people complaining about all the mosin Austin has heard about the bats of quitoes and bugs that are flying around Congress Bridge. But after that, they Austin. Well, next time you hear just take them for granted. In reality, someone say that, you can tell him though, the bats do more for us than we or her that thanks to the Bats of can imagine. The bats aren’t just a fun Austin, we deal with thing about our 600,000-1.8 million city, they help less insects every Austin function. day. And because Among Austin’s the insects aren’t as many icons, the big of an impact Mexican Freethanks to the bats, Tailed Bats are the farmers’ crops well known not aren’t eaten by the just in Texas, but insects. According all around North to The Daily Green, America, because an online magazine of their many enabout going green vironmental and A Mexican Free-tail soaring in the dark night. and nature, bats save $1 economical impacts, billion dollars of crops evand how they make ery year around the US. Austin unique.

Other than insect The 1.5 million bats flying through population control and in turn savthe sky every night attracts many touring the crops, the bats are also directly ists and scientists. And of course, as related to the help of plants and trees. the tourists come through Austin, the In many ways, this versatile mammal is money comes with them. According to considered as the equivalent of bees. Acthe Ecology Global Network, a colleccording to Mildred E. Mathias Botanition of information from NGOs, excal Garden, the bats actually count for perts, and students, the bats bring in $8 1/3 of the animals that pollinate plants.

Million a year in revenue by themselves.

The bats are responsible for pollinatWhat a great source of income for the ing many plants. The reason these bats City of Austin! We do little to have this are so good at pollination is because of great animal live under our bridge, which their pointed muzzle, which allows them we originally built for ourselves. We had to pollinate the plants easily. Since bats no intention of letting bats use this as make up 1/3 of the pollinators around a home, so the fact that they live under the world, it is very important that the Congress Bridge does not affect our bats continue to do so, and they aren’t usage of that highway or our commute. pushed away from cities and residences.

Also, we don’t even see them until after They help the bees, which are the most the sunsets, when most people aren’t even out and about, when the citizens can’t be disturbed. And in return for letting the bats live under our bridge and out of our way, they give us $8 million.

That’s a lot of money, and we do almost nothing. That’s pretty good, because, lets face it, who doesn’t like making millions of dollars without doing anything?

Given that bats bring in lots of money and people to Austin, and make our city well known, they also help our environment.

well known pollinators, but some trees that are too tall for bees, and those trees depend on the pollination skills of the bats. The African Baobab Tree and the Australian Ironwood are both common trees that are pollinated by the bats.

The bats consume 10,000-30,000 pounds of insects every night.

The MexicanFree Tailed Bats Leving Congress Bridge

The bats do so much for Austin, and the USA in general, yet they ask nothing from us in return. The Mexican-Free Tailed Bats that live under the Congress Avenue Bridge are an icon that makes Austin known throughout the world.

As I am going down IH-35 or Congress Bridge and see a colony of the beautiful Mexican-Free Tailed Bats blanket the sky; I realize how lucky a city we are to have such awesome creatures living among us. Without them, the Austin citizens wouldn’t have the beautiful sight in the sunset to enjoy. The people and the bats live together so peacefully, using each other’s resources. The Austin public gets so many benefits just for giving up the underside of a bridge. Most Austinites would love to make that trade!

facebook: addicting,

W

hat would you do if you became so addicted to a social networking site that it kept you lying awake at night, stressed, and unable to focus on your life outside the computer? This is the world of a Facebook addict, and it’s a scary reality. Facebook can be a useful and fun website for keeping in touch with friends.

However, too much of a good thing can be just the opposite. FAD (Facebook Addiction Disorder) may seem silly, but it is an actual disease affecting many teenagers across America and the world.

Facebook Addiction Disorder is basically when someone becomes “addicted” to Facebook, to the point where it starts to take over their life. People with FAD will check their Facebook new feed multiple times a day, and post statuses multiple times a day. They get feelings of anxiety and have symptoms of withdrawal when they can’t access Facebook for an “extended” period of time. Many Facebook addicts have let Facebook take over their lives outside the website; Facebook is all they think about, and their real-life relationships are suffering because of it. As well as this, their performance level in school or work can drop. Some other signs of Facebook addiction include attempting to beat your peers in the amount of Facebook friends you have, checking Facebook on your phone, and using Facebook as a procrastination tool. Ironically, there’s even a Facebook group called “I Suffer from

FAD (Facebook Addiction Disorder)”.

The impact that Facebook Addiction Disorder can have on teenagers is tremendous. Teens suffering from FAD tend to have lower grades than those who don’t. This is because they are so obsessed with checking their Facebook that schoolwork and studying fall to the wayside.

In addition, FAD can cause teens to suffer in their social skills outside of the internet. Since Facebook requires no actual face-to-face communication, these skills can be lost over time, to the point where their social life only

somewhat uncomfortable about the subject in general. Ivy Truong, a freshman at LASA High School, confessed to feelings of distress over one of her relationships that ended over Facebook, “I use facebook to fill the void after being Facebook divorced by a ginger. I hope that one day, she’ll come back.” Sadly, this is the existence of many teenage relationships: solely over Facebook. Often times, Facebook-centered relationships leave one or both people involved feeling stressed and self-conscious because of the lack of face-to-face social interaction. Some students, however, do not appear to have problems with Facebook addiction. Cosmo Nixon, a LASA freshman, denies being addicted, as he only goes on Facebook 3-4 times a week in order to plan social outings with his friends. There are, in fact, many teens like Cosmo who aren’t suffering from FAD, but it is still a disorder spreading rapidly to many teens in America.

Facebook Addiction Disorder is not an easy disease to overcome.

As with all addictions, extended periods without Facebook can lead to symptoms of withdrawal. If Facebook use is slowly decreased, however, Facebook Addiction Disorder can be cured, and the teens of America can resume in normal, non online, social relationships and lifestyles.

“I use the website to fill the empty, friendless void in my soul.”

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exists over the internet. Teens suffering from FAD also have higher rates of depression and bipolar disorder than those who don’t.

When asked how many times a day they get on Facebook, most high students answered one to two times a day. This average isn’t too surprising, but the rates are rising throughout America; the average American spends an hour a day on Facebook. Jane Butler, a freshman at Austin High School even said “I use the website to fill the empty, friendless void in my soul.” In addition, she admitted that facebook is somewhat addicting, but she appeared

or just a FAD?

By: Campbell P.

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The Need for

WEED

The scary truth about minors and marijuana.

By Emma H.

A

high school student wakes up in the morning. Once his parents have left the house, he goes into his room and opens his underwear drawer. He grabs a sock in the back, and reaches in to it. He pulls out a small, plastic bag with a green wad of plant inside. His secret marijuana stash. He gets his pipe and lighter out of another sock, and packs a bowl. He smokes alone, inside his own house. He walks to the bus stop, and goes to school. High. This is a normal happening for some high school students all over Austin.

The average age that people first try marijuana is 14 years old, as reported by Addiction Search. By 12th grade, 24% of students are “users” of marijuana, also reported by Addiction Search. Even though marijuana is illegal for anyone to use as of now, people as young as seventh and eighth grade are smoking marijuana.

In Austin, a many high school students are smoking marijuana multiple times a day. They are well aware of the ways that marijuana negatively effects their health, but choose to ignore this so it doesn’t ruin their fun.

Steven*, a freshman at a high school in the Austin Independent School District, first smoked marijuana when he was 12 years old. He was at a high school football game a month after he started the seventh grade. When the game ended, Steven left the stadium with Nathan*, a family friend who planned to drive him home. Nathan was Steven’s childhood

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hero, a father figure he could go to for advice and always count on to be cool.

Nathan was the laid back, smart kid that Steven thrived to be like. Steven was taken aback when Nathan invited him to go smoke in somebody’s car.

“I just instinctively went along,”

said Steven. “I think at that moment I just didn’t want to be left behind. I wasn’t scared, just cause like I couldn’t be scared.”

This is not an abnormal story by any means. According to the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse at the Missouri Department of Mental Health young people are usually introduced to marijuana by their peers, and often first try marijuana as a result of peer pressure. This peer

“ I just instinctively went along.” pressure can be direct, in which case the victim’s peers are trying to convince them to try marijuana. Peer pressure can also be indirect, like in Steven’s case. Nobody is telling the victim they should try smoking, and it is likely nobody feels that way or is thinking that way, however the victim still feels uncomfortable and feels pressure to try marijuana. A parent’s influence on a child can determine whether or not they have the courage to turn down an invitation to smoke marijuana, according to Staying Alive, a program that works with students from kindergarten to eighth grade educates them on public safety.

Also reported by Staying Alive, children

where he smokes 2-3 times a day.

Steven has only smoked at school one time, during lunch close to the beginning of freshman year. However, he has come to school high countless times. On the mornings when he is high, people will come over and “mess with” him or watch the funny things he may do. People will tell him he has a test that day first period, or he’s late for class for the third time and has lunch detention. He says that he is

who eat dinner with their family 6 to 7 times a week are half as likely to abuse drugs and alcohol as children who eat dinner with their families two times a week.

Some studies in New Zealand have shown smoking a joint is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes in terms of increasing your risk for cancer, as reported in the European Respiratory Journal. The same study showed that risk for lung cancer rose 5.7 times in people who smoke one joint a day.

“I’ve seen the effects smoking has made on my lungs. I can’t run as far, as fast, as long.” said Steven.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that long-time marijuana smokers who smoke on a regular basis can have many of the same respiratory problems as tobacco smokers, such as having a daily cough and higher risk of lung infections. When Steven first started smoking, he would smoke once every other weekend. That soon progressed into once every weekend. He said that there was one point during eighth grade when he was smoking 3-5 times every day. Now he is at a point

“My attitude changed...

Nothing seemed to matter as much as getting weed, or getting money to smoke weed.”

much stuff. Sometimes someone will tell me something and I will forget literally 5 second later,” said Steven.

In addition to altering the abilities of a person’s memory, marijuana effects the brain in other ways. After smoking marijuana regularly for a long period of time, it is possible for someone to become psychologically dependent. They might have no self-control when it comes to the amount of their use, and marijuana can easily become the most important aspect of their lives, all reported by the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Marijuana has the scary potential to take over a person’s life, and can be even more powerful over young people who don’t know any better. When a person starts smoking marijuana often, they can become an entirely different person.

“My attitude changed [after I started smoking marijuana]. I just didn’t really care about much anymore. Nothing seemed to matter as much as getting weed, or getting money to smoke weed.” says Steven. “I have actually tried to stop [smoking marijuana] on many occasions. [Like when] I got arrested, sometimes for women, sometimes I just feel like my life is all messed up and I need to change it. But nothing has worked. I still smoke, I enjoy every second of it.” *Name has been changed

not able to learn any new information or pay attention in class when he is high, but school will not stop him from smoking.

“I’m gonna smoke when I want.

School doesn’t effect anything.”

According to the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, research shows that students do not remember what they have learned when they are high. Steven says that he has been able to manage his grades fine in high school, just he will occasionally mess up on big tests and quizzes. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people who smoke every day may function at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time, even at times when they are not high.

“My memory has definitely paid a price for my drug use. I can’t remember so

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I

THE SEEKER OF

t was like going through Death,” said Joseph Seager, as he sat in a chair, sipping his black tea, stroking his long blonde beard. Joseph w confronted with. But instead of like most teenagers who would either just not care, or fall under the stress, Joseph decided to take a diff his journey of converting from a non-practicing Christian to a fully devoted and passionate Ahmadi Muslim.

His journey initially began in Wichita, Kansas when he was born into a strong Christian family. He described his family as , “The Christian private school. “Christianity was all I knew,” he said, discussing his feeling towards Christianity. When he explained how his family influenc would follow [Christianity], right?”

But he said he didn’t know what he wanted to do anymore. He was told all of these things, what to do, what to worship, but there was no b Clause is illogical. Yet, I was encouraged to believe that it was true. When I found out it was false; I felt betrayed. Likewise, Christianity is ill didn’t just happen, there was someone or something behind all of this.

He began to notice and ponder and think about all of these things. He asked himself many question, like, ”why do we follow this religion?” straints. As he thought about, more question came to his head. “I realized I had finger, parents, emotions, opinions, and I was spinning on a what I was doing here. I wanted to know the truth so bad; I would startgetting angry. Then I had to make myself stop thinking about it beca “This lead to the quest of Religion.” He knew that there was a God and there was a Faith that he should follow, and he wanted to know wh This frustration and thirst for knowledge led him to research and find the truth. He tried to get some answers, so he started reading books Islam was the book Philosophy and Teachings of Islam by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, also an Ahmadi. “[Ahmad] is absolutely right. It made sen couldn’t explain it. But [Ahmad] could”.

After lots of research, he found that the main two religions that attracted him were Islam and other similar religions. But in the end, Islam that he decided to plunge into.

“I noticed this [unexplainable] change in myself. If I saw a chance to do [something good] I went out and did it...I felt my heart had been s

Joseph Seager was an average caucasian male in Austin, Texas God, Allah, and he got immediate results.

He explained how he “started to get responses” and he living knew that “[God] was omnipresent.

He wa He was hearinghe my prayers.” this was a that flipped his world upside down...or maybe when madeHe a said decision “blessing”. right side up.

But with such drastic changes in everything about him, there had to be some repercussions. “I had to give up a lot of my friends. I pretty m all of these different roles with people, and after converting, I didn’t want to play those roles anymore.” I had the Facebook and My Space, a “[After converting] I had but asaid Quran. Ijourney would of lock myself into room and read for weeks. would ponder and know I read and I t was like goingnothing throughleft Death,” converting frommy a non-practianity], right?”I But he said he didn’t Joseph Seager, as he satsingle in a chair, sip-of it. He ticing Christian to athe fully devotedthat and was perfect whatfor he wanted to that do anymore.

He was But he said he doesn’t regret any thing said he found religion him and would help him turn his ping his his black tea,but stroking longhim blonde passionate Ahmadia Muslim. told all of these things, what to do, people what to from al Faith that changed life, it alsohisgave other prizes.

“I made lot of great friends, some quality friends.

I got to meet beard. He explais his experience of conJoseph was born into a strong worship, but there was no basis. “I didn’t Joseph hasverting, been aflipping very helpful and progressive andfamily. he is He definitely part the Ahmadi spans the his world over.

Joseph wasMuslim, Christian described hisof famwantfamily to hearthat it anymore.” hewhole said. world. But in tacked in Pakistan, killing nearly his after, brothers.

And beenthat other instances being killed “This is was the har born in Wichita, Kansas,100 andof soon he ily as there , “The have Christians went every of Ahmadis He compared howalso. he felt about moved to“Texas, wheretohe confrontedI wanted Wednesday and Sunday”.

He devastated was taught when Christianiry to learning Santa Claus. in me,” Joseph said, I wanted dowas something, to retaliate.”

He was people were killed about in Pakistan. with many negative infuences such as Christianity throughout his childhood, “The belief in Santa Clause is illogical. Yet, Joseph hasdrugs, been alcohol a strong Ahmadi Muslim almosta 2 years and he has been accepted by everyone as aittrue andand sex,devoted some things that all evenfor spending few yearsnow, in a Christian I was encouraged to believe that was Ahmadi an nicest peopleteenagers you willare meet, always sharing wisdom and stories, always encouraging people to live and love, always wishing that everyone ar confronted with. But unlike private school.“Christianity was all I knew,” true. When I found out it was false; I felt most teenagers who would either just not he said. betrayed.

Likewise, Christianity is illogical, Joseph’s transition has been a drastic life-changing experience, and he has loved every second of it. care about what is happening around them, and I felt the same pressure to believe in or fall When he something that my logical side could not under exaccept.” the plained He began to notice and ponder about stress how his all of these things. He asked himself many of what famquestions, like, ”why do we follow this is being ily influreligion?”, and “There has to be a God”. preenced He explained how he saw the beauty in the sented him and flowers and how everything was perfect, to them, told him and they had constraints. He realized Joseph about conChrisverted tianity to the said, he Religion said of Islam that his in order Grandto turn mother his life once around. asked “I him, “If was the you were that God was making these things, and seeker born someone had to have a really high stature of into a and power to be able to make things so truth,” different beautiful. As he thought about, more said religion, question came to his head. “I realized I had Joesph Seager is rectiting the call to Prayer in the local Joseph, you would fingers, parents, emotions, opinions, and Mosque explainfollow I was spinning on a rock in a giant place ing his [Chriscalled the universe and I had no idea what

Truth By: Mutahir A.

“I

“All I had left was a Quran”

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was born in Wichita, Kansas, and soon after, he moved to Texas, where he was confronted with many different things that all teenagers are ferent approach to life. His biggest step was to accept the Religion of Islam.

“I was the seeker of truth,” said Joseph, explaining

DzWiki from Wikipedia

ns that went every Wednesday and Sunday”. He was taught Christianity throughout his childhood, even spending a few years in a Christian I wastold doing here.

I wanted to know the plained how “started to get once responses” but “If a Quran.

I would lock myself into myreligion, you ced him and him about Christianity said, he said that hisheGrandmother asked him, you were born into a different truth so bad; I would startgetting angry. and he knew that “[God] was omnipresroom and read for weeks. I would ponder Then I had to make myself stop thinking ent. He was always there. He was hearing and I read and I read and I read and I basis. “I about didn’titwant to hear it anymore.” he said.my Heprayers.” compared he felt this to learning Santa Claus. “The belief in Santa because I would just get hopeHe how said this was about a “blessing”. read, andabout then I’d ponder.” lesslyI felt frustrated.”

But with such drastic changes in But regardless to of these logical, and the same pressure to believe in something that my logical side could not accept.”

He beganoftowhat see happend that some This led to his quest of Religion. He everything about him, there had to be him he said he doesn’t regret any single realized that all of these things showed some repercussions. “I had to give up a lot part of it. He said he found the religion ”, and “There has was to be a God”.

He explained howofhemy saw the beauty the gave flowers and how everything perfect, andwould they had conthat there a God and there was a friends.

I prettyin much up all that was perfectwas for him and that thatplace he should help him turn his a rock in Faith a giant called the universe and I had no idea follow, and hehopewanted life around.

And this ause I would just get lessly frustrated.” to know what that conversion didn’t just hat that religion was. religion was. give him the Faith that s, studying religions.

He said thathiswhat drew This frustrachanged life, it gavehim into tionelse and could thirst for him a group ofsaid people nse, no one make sense...they things, but they knowledge led him to that he could trust research and find the his life with. He said m won him over, madiyyat was truth.

Heand triedAhto get he made lots of the goodspecific sect some answers, so he friends, but the most started reading books, important was to the Muslim softened.”

He explained how he startedthing to pray studying religions. He that “every aspect of as alwayssaid there, that what drew me has changed.” him into Islam was the Joseph has been a book Philosophy and very helpful and proTeachings of Islam gressive Muslim becamuch gave all of my Ahfriends, be honest. You have byup Mirza Ghulam sue of histocommunity and I got mad, rid ofalso allan of Ahmadi. them... to detach myself.” message and spreading is absolutely the Islam. read and“[Ahmad] I read and I read, andmessage then I’dofponder.” right. It made sense, He is definitely part s life around.

And conversion didn’tfamily just give him the no one elsethis could of the Ahmadi ll over the world...and every aspect of me has make sense...they that spans the wholechanged.” said things, but they world.

But‘family’ in the Sumthe Summer of 2010, Joseph’s was atcouldn’t explain it.

But mer of 2010, Joseph’s rdest time for me to be a Muslim,because of the American [Ahmad] could”. ‘family’ was attacked in After lots of Pakistan, killing nearly Here, Joseph is reciting some verses from the Islamic Holy Book, the Holy research, he has found that 100 of his fellowAnd Islamic nd everyone always fun with Joseph. he is one of the Quran theismain two and religions brothers. before And there round him happy com-that fortable he have helps himself. attracted him were Islam been other instances of and Judaism. But in the end, Islam won of my friends, to be honest.” he explained Ahmadis being killed also in Pakistan him over, and Ahmadiyyat was the spethat after he converted, he couldn’t be the that have also affected Joseph. He said cific sect that he decided to plunge into. same person that his friends expected him that this was the first time it was hard He said he picked Islam over the other to be. He got rid of his social networks for him to be a Muslim. “ I wanted to do religions because it addressed some of the and completely disconnected himself something, I wanted to retaliate.” He was things that with all of devastated when people were killed in Judaism and the other Pakistan. But, because the Islamic teachother relipeople. He ings preach that Muslims should leave gions missed. said that at everything in the hands of God, Joseph After he first condid nothing but pray. had decided verting was Joseph has been a strong and to convert, hard, but he devoted Ahmadi Muslim for almost 2 he realized kept to it. years now, and he has been accepted by that his life

everyone as a true Ahmadi. And he is was very But one of the nicest people you will meet, different. “I his famalways sharing wisdom and stories, always noticed this ily saw his encouraging people to live and love, [unexplainchange always wishing that everyone around him able] change differently. is happy and comfortable before he helps in myself.

Instead himself. Joseph’s transition has been a If I saw a of discondrastic life-changing experience, and he chance to do necting believes that this was the best decision of [something themselves, his life. good] I went they began out and did to listen to it...I felt my heart had been softened.” He him. Joseph was able to conexplained how he started to pray to the vert his mother and he is in the process of Muslim God, Allah, and he got immediconverting his brother to his new religion. ate results, because he felt that his prayers were being accepted by God .He ex“[After converting] I had nothing left

“If I saw a chance to do [something good] I went out and did it...I felt my heart had been softened.”

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The Life of a Band By: Cosmo N.

Do you want to start a band? Well if the answers yes then you need to know that the process is much harder then you may think.

Making a successful band is a difficult process and as Justin Prater, lead singer for the local band “The Authors”, knows “It’ll take a lot of hard work and a bit of luck to make it happen, but it’s all worth it if you want to make your dreams come true.”

You have to spend plenty of time trying to come up with catchy verses and tunes that will catch the ears of the occasional bystanders that may hear their sound and keep them coming back for more. It’s even harder to start a band in Austin, as Justin Prater says, the Austin music community really does sort out the “cream of the crop” when it comes to local bands.

Starting a band was a dream that Justin had since adolescence but had never sought after. Since a kid he has always been creating some type of music or another, and his way of putting it was that it was just something that he always felt he needed to do. Even before he started the band he would often play his own musical creations with a guitar and his vocals to his young child, and everyone who heard him was impressed and knew that he had the potential to do great things with his musical talent but very few people really knew about the artistic dreams he had.

Time is probable the most difficult thing to try and manage when trying to start a band. With a caring and supporting wife,

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two young and kids that he has to be a father to and an awesome fox-like Shiba Inu there is a lot that Justin has to deal with. Also the fact that he is working a job as a waiter at the high end Austin sushi restaurant “Uchi” while trying to become a musician make his life very stressful and time sensitive. He is constantly trying to work in time to do everything he has planned.

“Usually when people decide to relax and watch TV I’m up doing my other job which is trying to make my band something more than just a small time band” he says.

He lost many luxuries such as much of the free time that he used to have when he decided to start a band, but in the end it was all worth it for him. He has made new friends has laid the foundation for his dream career.

Justin first started a band because he knew that the songs he had always been creating would never sound complete unless he had a band to collaborate with. “The Authors” is a four person consisting of a drummer, Angela, who Justin has known since high school. She had wanted to improve her drumming capabilities so she and Justin “jammed” a few times, and that lead to her eventually being drummer for the band. Ben, their guitarist and keyboardist joined after seeing an ad, and they all “clicked after the first few rehearsals”. Their original bassist Josh joined soon after, only to eventually have his twin brother Jon take his place.

Being a musician in Austin can be a very good thing as well as a very difficult

thing to deal with. Austin is known as the music capital of the country and it can bring a lot of competition between the multitudes of bands that are all trying to get started. But on the same hand Austin is a good place to try and start a band as you can often have many opportunities to perform. Justin also describes that since many of the Austin music venues are close to each other it is more likely that someone is to overhear them, or see them play after the band they went to see perform and may decide to check it out.

On the flipside, Justin describes that “Austin is a little bit isolated because of how big Texas is so its kind of hard to play regionally than if you were on the east coast or the west coast”

“The Authors” have grown significantly since trying to create music solely from Justin’s garage to now being able to rent out a practice space.

“We can be as loud as we need and kind of shut out the day and focus. Also, the gear has gotten better for sure and we can now buy studio time we previously couldn’t afford. A lot of that came out of feeling more comfortable playing and the realization that there was a need to raise the quality of our sound” he says.

They have recorded an LP as well as their first album “Get Haunted” which sounds unique as well as widely acceptable to a large selection of viewers at the same time. There are many songs on the album that sound that they could be hits as it is, and when listening to the album it is hard to believe that it is their first.

“I know personally I’m influenced by a lot of early new wave and punk (The Clash, Elvis Costello), but all in all I really am just drawn to really good songs. I feel like I create music that I don’t really hear being played out there right now. As a band I feel like we have pretty diverse musical tastes and that lends to the sound and feel of the band.” Justin explains.

The authors follow the same new wave punk sound that Justin had always appreciated with an upbeat sound and easy to hear lyrics and vocals .The Authors are a rapidly growing band with a ton of potential. They are slowly starting to get more and more noticed weather it is from blog reviews or short personal interviews.

With great musical endeavors and loads of talent I would be surprised if they do not become better recognized within the general public.

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1 The IMAX theatre in downtown Austin, ia s humongous 400-seat theatre that gives viewers the ultimate 3D experience.

3

Austin City Limits and the South by Southwest Music Festivals in Austin are two of the most populat annual events in Austin. Musicians from all of the world come to perform at these two popular festivals.

4

6th Street is one of the most lively place in Austin, especially at night. If a tourist or even a person that lives in Austin wants to go out and enjoy their night, they should go to 6th street. There are lots of restaurants and bars that people can go to and spend their night at.

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Zilker Park is considered “Austin’s Favorite Park”. This 351-acre park has its very own train, biking and hiking trails, picninc areas, canoeing, and swimming for those that would like to a take a dip on a hot Austin summer day.

The 40 acres that make up UT is one of the favorite part of Austin for many Austinites. Having the 5th highest enrollment rate in the nation, many Texas students go to UT. Established in 1883, UT is a major research center. Also, it has some great athletic programs. The Texas men and women give their fans a show year after year, and leave all of their fans screaming, “Hook ‘Em Horns!!”.

Art Credits: Larry D. Moore, KLRU-TV, Lan Bui, BlazerMan, Will Cristin

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MUST SEE

Austin ATTRACTIONS By: Mutahir A.

. r M Awk‘s

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Top

Austin graffitti pieces

Mr.Awk it the secret street name for a local Austin graffiti artist. Growing up in Houston, he has moved to Austin and he brought his artistic abilities with him. Here, you will see three of his top pieces that can be found around the streets of Austin.

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The original foodTrailer Torchy’s Tacos was one of Austin’s first food traler that helped set the trend

By Emma H.

One of Austin’s six Torchy’s Tacos loactions. in the Critics Poll. Their Green Chile Pork taco, their most famous and best-selling taco, won “Carnivore’s Delight” at the 2010 Gypsy Picnic, a trailer food festival in Austin. In the past six years, Torchy’s Green Sauce has won first place in the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce festival three times, and has also received third and second. Their Red Sauce has received third place once.

Torchy’s has many unique tacos such as the Fried Avocado, Beef Fajita, Trailer Park, which has fried chicken, and the Green Chili taco, what they are known for. The option to “Make it trashy” applies to all of their tacos, and they will drench your taco in queso. No matter what you order, you will be over-satisfied and Torchy’s Fried Avocado taco. want to go back soon!

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Art Credit: Maggie’s Austin, Kristen Taylor

Torchy’s Tacos

is an Austin-based taco joint with over ten very unique specialty tacos. With six locations in Austin and one in Dallas, Torchy’s is booming. The first Torchy’s location was a trailer on South 1st Street. It one of the first trailer food stands in Austin. Now Austin is filled with trailer food stands, and it’s hard to drive for more than fifteen minutes without seeing one.

Torchy’s has won many awards such as the Austin Chronicle’s Best of Food & Drink Readers Poll in the “Best Cheap Date” and was nominated for “Best 24-Hour Buzz”

BALD Photo Essay by Campbell P.

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Are You Bald?

Many people have hair. Others do not. These people are known as bald. Ever wondered if you are considered bald? With help from these clues, you can discover for yourself.

1. Your scalp gets sunburned a lot.

2. People have used the back of your head as a mirror.

3. Your head is smooth 4. People often compare your head to an egg/golf ball.

5. You have no hair.

These are all classic signs of being bald. Although it can be scary, there’s no need to worry. There are many cures and cover-ups for being bald.

1. Wearing a hat does a good job of covering up bald spots. (Warning: Visors will not work for this) 2. Buy a wig.

3. Spray paint your scalp to match the color of your hair.

4. Convince people that you’re not *bald*, you just *shaved your head*.

5. Never ever leave your house. People won’t see your baldness if they never see you.

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