Res Publica

Thursday26

BARTHOLOMEW DISTRICT PARK MASTER PLAN MEETING 6pm. Dottie Jordan Recreation Center, 2803 Loyola, 974-6745. www.cityofaustin.org/parks/bartholomewmp.htm.

FUTURE OF OPEN-SOURCE JOURNALISM UT journalism professor Robert Jensen, Texas Observ­er Managing Editor Chris Tomlinson, and members of Austin IndyMedia discuss WikiLeaks, unfiltered info, and the backlash. 7pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HEAR­ING This City Council meeting is your last chance to provide input concerning the future of our fair city; check out the plans and get involved at www.cityofaustin.org/compplan. 4pm. City Hall, 301 W. Second.

Friday27

LBJ'S BIRTHDAY Celebrate what would've been our 36th president's 102nd birthday with free museum admission and birthday cake. 9am-5pm. LBJ Library, 721-0200. Free. www.lbjlibrary.org.

Saturday28

IRRIGATION SEMINAR Learn how to operate your automatic sprinkling system more efficiently with help from Austin Water. 10am-noon. Waller Creek Center, 625 E. 10th. www.cityofaustin.org/water.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLOCK WALK U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and other Texas Democrats give rousing speeches before you head off to encourage voters to say yes to pro-education Dems in Novem­ber. 10am-2pm. Travis County Democratic Party Cam­paign HQ, 605 W. 13th. www.traviscountydemocrats.org.

STOP CHILD TRAFFICKING NOW presents a talk from trafficking survivor Theresa Flores, author of The Slave Across the Street. 10am-2pm. Barton Creek Country Club, 8212 Barton Creek Dr. $50. www.sctnow.com.

HELP STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY How to promote a humane community for both animals and people, presented by the city and Texas Humane Legis­la­­tion Network. 11:30am. North Village Branch Library, 2505 Steck, 974-9960. Free. www.facebook.com/centexthln.

Sunday29

THE IRAQ WAR: DISASTER FOR THE IRAQIS American peace activist Dr. Dahlia Wasfi discusses the U.S. occupation and the human cost of "victory." 5pm. Texas State Employees Union, 1700 S. First, 743-3704. www.liberatethis.com.

Tuesday31

ANIMAL ISSUES FORUM presents locally produced short "Shelter," followed by a talk from Emancipet folks about efforts to recruit neighborhood animal reps. 11:45am. City Hall, 301 W. Second. Free. www.animalissuesforum.org.

PUBLIC FORUM: ZERO WASTE Get updates and give feedback on the city master plan for meeting its zero waste goal by 2040. 6-8pm. City Hall Coun­cil Chambers, 301. W. Second. www.austinrecycles.com.

Wednesday01

AUSTIN: DESTINATION DIGNITY Join the Arc of the Capital Area and the Austin Anti-Defam­a­tion League in calling for respect for people with disabilities. 6-8pm. City Hall, 301. W. Second. Free; $25 suggested donation. www.arcofthecapitalarea.org.

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Learn about the connections between Austin's neighborhood plans and Imag­ine Austin. 6:30-8:30pm. Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Rd., 974-2648. www.cityofaustin.org/compplan/nhood-plans.htm.

INVEST IN COMMUNITY RALLY With an $18 billion budget deficit, Texas is facing deep cuts in health and human services departments. Come rally for the benefits that matter to you the most. 1-3pm. Texas Capitol. Free. [email protected].

HIGH NOON TALKS UT lecturer James Henson talks about the effect of the Internet on political campaigns. Noon. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress, 936-8746. Free with museum admission. www.thestoryoftexas.com.

Thursday02

INSIDE BOOKS VOLUNTEER NIGHTS Help send requested books to Texas prisons. Thursdays & Sundays, 8-11pm. Space 12, 3121 E. 12th, 647-4803. www.insidebooksproject.org.

Ongoing

DISABILITY MENTORING DAY To volunteer as a mentor at the city's eighth annual Disability Mentoring Day celebration, call 974-3256 or e-mail [email protected].

CAMPAIGN FOR FLOOD VICTIMS IN PAKISTAN Raindrop Helping Hands gets your donation into the right hands to help those affected by the flooding. www.raindropturkevi.org/helpinghands.

MEXICAN-AMERICAN TRAILBLAZERS EXHIBIT features photos and bios of 32 local individuals who paved the way for future generations. Through Jan. 16, 2011. Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe, 974-7498. Free. www.cityofaustin.org/library/ahc/trailblazers.htm.

OFF-LEASH AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Apply now to fill one of four vacancies on this committee that advises Parks and Rec staff. www.cityofaustin.org/parks/offleashareas.htm.