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Prime Day is finally here and you know what that means... shop 'til you drop!
Prime Day, Amazon's annual sale for Prime members, lasts through tomorrow with coveted deals on well-known products and flash deals that you have to be quick to catch. There are thousands of items on sale this time around, from fashion to outdoor accessories to the latest technology. Of all the products Amazon has in store this year, here are a few things that every Austinite needs.
Bug repellent
(Amazon.com)
Since hot weather is finally here (and here to stay for the next several months), you might want to start investing in your mosquito protection, lest you spend the entire summer covered in bites. If you plan on spending time on the porch, citronella candles are your best friend. You can stock up on 12 of them for just $15 or a heavy-duty 20-ounce candle for $7, saving you 10% and 18%, respectively. However, if you're really trying to amp up your repellent game, consider investing in a freestanding electric bug zapper to protect yourself from all types of creepy crawlies; $27 (you'll save about $7) could keep you safe across 6,000 feet so you'll never have to worry about bites again!
Waterproof speaker
(Amazon.com)
Fret no more about bringing your expensive speakers poolside—now is prime time to invest in a waterproof sound system so you can enjoy it all summer long, whether you're at the pool, beach or the lake. The massive AOMAIS GO Bluetooth Speaker is so water-resistant that you could bring it into the water with you and enjoy over 40 hours of music on one charge. When it is dry, the speaker system also functions as a power bank, all for $56 right now. But if you're looking for something just a bit more portable, the INSMY Portable Bluetooth Speaker is just as waterproof and boasts an affinity for bass at just $27.
Cooling linens
(Amazon.com)
Texas summers are hot, which can make it hard to sleep, especially if you've got your thermostat set high to conserve energy. If the heat makes it hard for you to sleep comfortably, you might want to upgrade your bed setup with some cooling linens. The Comfort Spaces Coolmax sheets are more than 30% off at $25 for a king-size set, with five different neutral colors to choose from. If you're really trying to keep cool, the Elegear cooling blanket is woven with yarn designed to keep you comfortable and dry all night long. The blanket is more than 30% ranging from $29-48 depending on the size.
Air purifier
(Amazon.com)
Though it will run you close to $100, you'll be glad you got an air purifier when cedar fever hits. The AZEUS H13 True HEPA Air Purifier claims to remove 99.99% pollen, pet dander, smoke and dust for more than 1,000 square feet, giving your allergies or asthma a break from the outside world. You can grab the Azeus H13 for $141, more than $100 off the original price, or the $80 Dreamegg Air Purifier that works for up to 269 square feet.
Sandals
(Amazon.com)
You can't enjoy summer properly without a reliable pair of sandals, especially not if you're planning on soaking in the sun. Go the classic, comfy route with a pair of Adidas slides for only $20, or a pair of Birkenstock-esque sandals for the same price. There's also the rugged Rockport fisherman sandals for $30.
Outdoor projector
(Amazon.com)
Imagine the outdoor summer movie nights you could host if only you had your own projector. DR. J Professional is offering everything you need to open your own home movie theater for Prime Day: a 1080p mini projector with USB and video game capabilities and a 100-inch screen. Just $80 (you save $20) could turn the tide on your weekend gatherings, pool parties or summertime at home with the family.
New tech
If working from home has made you realize that your setup is just not up to snuff, now is the time to get all your upgrades in. Chromebooks, Lenovo and HP devices are up to 25% off through the end of Prime Day, meaning you could land yourself a brand new touchscreen HP Chromebook for as little as $290 or a full 27-inch Acer Aspire desktop computer complete with a wireless keyboard and mouse for just $680 so you will never have to deal with your outdated setup again.
Smart planter
(Amazon.com)
Prime Day is targeting your not-so-green thumb with smart planters, which keep your greenery alive and well, even when you don't have time to take care of them. Start small with a Chirisen self-watering planter for only $17.50 or go fancy with the ALISS Pro Hydroponic Growing System that monitors your plants' nutrient levels, featuring a grow light and oxygen circulation system that can support up to 12 pods for $55, saving you more than $70.
Airpods
(Amazon.com)
Whether your old headphones are starting to sound off or you just want to experience the new, sleek Apple Airpods Pro, you're in luck. You can snag any of the Airpod generations for a fraction of the new price. You can save $60 on the Airpods Pro, which will run you $190 after the discount, wireless Airpods for $150 or Airpods with a wired charging case for $120. No matter what you choose, you're getting a good deal!
Happy shopping!
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Popular
(Paxton Smith/Instagram)
Paxton Smith’s 2021 valedictory speech at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas wasn’t the same speech she had previously shared with school administrators. She dropped the approved speech and made a case for women’s reproductive rights after lawmakers passed the Texas "Heartbeat Bill.”
Her advocacy made news on NPR, YouTubeTV and in The Guardian. Just over a year later, the “war on (women’s) rights” she forewarned has come to a head as the U.S. Supreme Court voted Friday morning to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending constitutional protection for abortion access.
“It is up to the people to show up and show the courts and the politicians that we won’t sit back and let this happen,” Smith told Austonia Friday morning. “We will show up, we will fight back. Before, we were scared of them, now they should be scared of us.”
Now a University of Texas sophomore and abortion rights activist, 19-year-old Smith said she wanted to give the same speech in the “the most public way possible” to reach “as many people as possible who don't agree that I deserve this right.”
However, she says the response was “actually overwhelmingly positive” and supportive of her cause. According to a recent UT poll, 78% of Texas voters support abortion access in most cases.
The speech opened up further opportunities for activism: she advocated for reproductive rights at the International Forum on Human Rights in Geneva, interviewed with Variety magazine and spoke to tens of thousands at Austin’s Bans Off Our Bodies protest at the Texas Capitol in May.
Smith also serves on the board of directors for the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, a national nonprofit organization that helps fund abortions or medication abortion—like Plan C pills—in all 50 states. Most recently, Smith has been attending protests in Washington, D.C. leading up to the ruling.
“This is land of the free. This is where you get to choose how you live your life,” Smith said. “Overturning Roe v. Wade violates everything that we have come to believe about what it means to live in this country. I think a lot of people aren't willing to accept that this is a human right that is most likely just going to be gone for over half of the country within the next couple of weeks.”
Bracing for the next steps, Smith gave some tips for supporters:
- Find a protest to attend.
- “I would say invite somebody to go to those protests with you, invite a couple of friends, invite people into the movement,” Smith said.
- Talk about the issue on social media—use the platform you have.
- “Have these kinds of conversations where people can just talk about their fears and then find ways to go and advocate for yourself,” Smith said.
- Volunteer at a nonprofit near you.
“I feel like a lot of the reason things have gotten as bad as they have within the abortion rights world is that people are not making a scene, not protesting, not putting the effort into ensuring that the government doesn't take away this right,” Smith said. “I want to emphasize that if you're not doing anything, don't expect the best scenario, expect the worst because that's the direction that we're going in.”
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(Council Member Chito Vela/Twitter)
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion, Friday morning. Moments later, Austin City Council set a special meeting for next month to pass a resolution aimed at decriminalizing abortion.
The GRACE Act, which stands for guarding the right to abortion care for everyone, is a twofold plan submitted by council member Jose “Chito” Vela. It recommends that city funds shouldn’t be used to surveil, catalog, report or investigate abortions. It also recommends that police make investigating abortion their lowest priority.
Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, who co-sponsored the resolution along with council members Paige Ellis, Kathie Tovo and Mayor Steve Adler, said the importance of the GRACE Act cannot be overstated.
“By introducing this resolution during a special session, City Council is doubling down on fighting back for reproductive health,” Fuentes said. “Items like the GRACE Act will promote essential healthcare while enabling individuals to exercise their bodily freedom.”
The act takes an approach similar to when former council member Greg Casar moved to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Ultimately, state law doesn't allow city officials to order police chiefs to adopt specific enforcement policies so the resolution would be a request to Police Chief Joe Chacon. In May, Politico reported that Vela is having "ongoing conversations" with Chacon about the proposal.
Austonia contacted Attorney General Ken Paxton for comment on the GRACE Act but did not hear back by time of publication. On Friday, Paxton celebrated the overturning of Roe and announced an annual office holiday on June 24 in recognition of the high court's decision.
In a press release, Vela said the Texas state government has a history of overturning municipal protections of human rights. Thirty days after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Texas will ban all abortions, with exceptions only to save the life of a pregnant patient or prevent “substantial impairment of major bodily function.”
Still, Vela expressed hope for the GRACE Act’s longevity. Council’s special meeting on it is set for the week of July 18.
“We know this resolution is legally sound, and Austin is not alone in this fight,” Vela said. “We are working with several other cities who are equally horrified by the prospect of an abortion ban and want to do everything they can to protect their residents.”
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