A Day on Craigslist Austin

Craigslist Austin is 24 hours of opportunity. Inspired by Craig's call for democracy and Michael Ferris Gibson's documentation of it, I set out one morning to see what the good people of Austin were serving to their neighbors. Overwhelmed by the imagination of my fellow citizens, I culled the highlights of one day's deceivingly simple blue font, listed by time of post and in order of their impressiveness.

Midnight: Teachers' Wish Lists: Honoring Craig's genuine commitment to community, this link facilitates donations to local teachers, schools, and nonprofits. Included on Austin's Wish List: Project InterAct and Performing Arts School (Zachary Scott Theatre Center), Arts on Real Theatre, Central Texas Immigrant Worker Rights Center, Ladyfest Texas, and the Austin Film Festival.

1:24am: Housing: Craigslist is practical and cheap. Furthermore, the housing section can be good for other things besides apartment hunting around West Campus. A girl once met a man on Craigslist looking for a roommate in French Place. She checked out the house, and the acoustics wouldn't do. But, now she has a muscle-bound friend with a truck.

11:28am: Barter: Revisit history. Trade anything from welding services to armoires.

10:52pm: Lessons: Develop your embrasure. You've always wanted to learn the flute.

4:53pm: Et Cetera Jobs: Odd jobs are especially useful for writers with expensive drinking habits. Today, someone's looking for self-conscious people with cold sores.

8:35pm: Pets: Please adopt "Monday," a brown dog who was once abused, but now looks smashing in plaid. Or you could give your Chihuahua to a loving lady in Del Valle.

1:35am: Politics: Austin's educated and politically conscious populace provides for especially good reading. It's funny. This Tuesday, everything's about the governor and his, ahem, rumor.

11:51am: Kink, Fetish, BDSM: "Nice segue." Thank you. Today, I watched someone get "something" diagnosed. Watch "Kinky the dinosaur" say "oh my" quite early in the week. For the less adventurous, there are 49 other Discussion Forums, including your chance to be a poet at Haiku Hotel.

2:43am: Missed Connections: Were you the girl with the babies in your eyes at Mardi Gras? Perhaps star-crossed what-ifs appeal to your romantic side, or your desperate side, or however you wish to phrase it.

3:18pm: Rants & Raves: Now we're down to the meat. Be heard. Today's discussion involves making noble oral sacrifices for your country, pantyhose and politics, and flies in your restaurant mayonnaise. Everything is fair game in a democracy.