Photo from olganza.comIf all goes as planned, Austinites may soon be able to get out of the country for less than the cost of a cab ride to the airport. Mexico's no-frills airline, vivaAerobus, was recently granted access out of Austin Bergstrom International Airport by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The carrier, which seems to be the Mexican equivalent of UK's wildly popular Ryan Air, claims that it'll begin offering one-way tickets for as low... more ›

The Health Alliance For Austin Musicians (or HAAM) provides local artists with low-cost health care and other related services. This year’s HAAM Benefit Day is here (today), and the organization is presenting numerous shows all over town this evening, along with a Telethon on ME Television. One can offer their assistance in funds by donating online as well. The HAAM Benefit Day is presented with support from a number of entities, including Whole Foods... more ›

Many of us have been confronted with the same challenge when trying to get to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: "How can I save money by bumming a ride off a friend or relative and not have to take a cab or park at the airport?" It's really not that far of a drive, especially when compared to other cities, but still, it'd be nice if there was a cheaper (or free) way to get to the airport without have to ask anyone to do you a favor. Yeah, usually there's that really loyal friend who'll always offer you a ride to the airport, but you always feel a little guilty for asking so much of him...unless you give him gas money or something, but, let's be honest, that never happens. more ›

Total annual budget for University of Texas system: $10 billion Number of cell phones confiscated from three "Texas citizens of Pakistani descent," which police alleged could be used in setting off explosives or making meth: 1,000 Cost of renovating Carl's Corner truck stop on I-35 to include a hotel, saloon, and possible golf course, rebadged as Willie's Place in honor of investor Willie Nelson: $5 million Length of sentencing, in years, that 35-year old... more ›

• Median household yearly income in Austin: $48,267 [link]
• Equivalent purchasing power, adjusted for cost of living here: $53,275 [link]
• Money Magazine's average: $43,961 [link]
• National average yearly salary of an "Associate Store Team Leader" at Austin-based Whole Foods: $73,061 [link]
• Amount Texas collected in sales tax revenue in June of 2006: $1.49 billion [link]
• Percentage increase from last year: 15.6 [link]
• Cost of new Lakeline Station project -- including up to 3,000 homes and 150,000 square feet of retail space -- in northwest Austin, near 183 and 620: $400 million [link]
• Estimated number of years to complete: 8 [link]
• Size of Austin's labor force, as of May 2006: 826,197 [link]
• Total weight of air cargo shipped through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in May, in pounds: 93 million [link]
• Rank of ABIA among 19 small airports in J.D. Power and Associates' 2006 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, form the bottom: 3 [link]
• Maximum grant to be given to a local arts organization by the City’s Cultural Arts Funding Program: $25,000 [link]
• Number of works of art in the Blanton Museum collection: 17,000 [link]
• Number of state parks that may have to say "Adios, Mofo" if recent budget cuts ordered by Governor Perry are implemented: 18 [link]
• Total distance, in miles, to be swum by Austinites David Broyles and Rush Vann across the shark-infested Straits of Gibraltar, from the coast of Spain to Morocco, to raise money for US veterans: 13 [link]
• Total distance, in miles, covered by Pure Austin fitness trainer Shawn Bostad during last week's 12-hour treadmill marathon: 70.4 [link]
• Estimated capacity of renovated Austin Music Hall, after expansion work: 7,000 [link]
• Top capacity of The Backyard, for general admission shows: 4,500 [link]
• Minimum number of Austin "bands" on Myspace: 10,000 [link]
• Number of fans claimed by Shaven Ass-Hair Mustache, a "Psychobilly/Death Metal/Afro-beat" band: 1 [link]

Sean Penn has a voodoo doll of Anne Coulter. Where did he get it? We want one, too. A man in New Delhi unintentionally divorced his wife in his sleep because he said the word "talaq" three times in his sleep. Hmm...We wonder what would happen?... beer- beer -beer. Damn. Bush meets with Mexican President Vicente Fox tomorrow and Friday in Cancun. Fox is pleased with the guest worker bill that was before the... more ›

Yesterday morning, stepping out onto our balcony, the first thought that came into our head was: what a perfect day for a swim! And the second thought? But wait, it's only the day after Christmas! Forget about snowmen and fireside eggnog - it's predicted to be a fairly warm winter. Temperatures at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport reached a relatively scorching 81 degrees on Monday, beating a record set back in 1988. And, of course, Austinites are taking this with our typical nonchalance:

"It's Austin; you sort of expect it. There is no unseasonable weather," Lloyd Thompson said Monday afternoon at Auditorium Shores, where he and his wife, Penny, had taken their dog. Penny Thompson walked barefoot, while others threw a flying disc and ran around in shorts. Lloyd Thompson said he went to high school and college in Indiana before moving to Austin a few years ago. "Oh, it's frigid there," he said. "Twenties, 30s, icy roads. It's funny to call people there, and they hear birds in the background. "I've had people hang up on me," Thompson said.

The terror alert in the U.S was raised to code orange for the nation's mass transit systems in response to the rush hour explosions in London. more ›

Right after yesterday's South Austin bomb scare, earlier today a suspicious package was found at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Austin-American Statesman reports that thus far it's forced the closing of the west sections of the upper drive and ticket counters, and delayed at least one flight. The east section of the airport remains open. more ›