"Political Pundit" Toby Keith: Black society thinks Obama "talks, acts, and carries himself as a Caucasian." The jobless keep getting joblesser! Unemployment tracking at 6-year high. Favre: When you're a jet you're a jet all the way. China to Bush: Mind your own biz. Typhus in Texas! Madonna, Kirk Watson and Prince Albert walk into a bar... Austin based Whole Foods Market stock loses 17 percent....

Banks falling like dominoes. OMG sign of the judgment bleargh! Oh, crap. Bush to Israel: I'd hit that shit. But maybe you better. Mediterranean Union created. Luxurious! Democratic leadership also wants to cut someone's nuts out. Brangelina buns no longer in oven. Is it still a scandal if no one is surprised? Also scary: ‘I’m Learning To Get Online Myself, And I’ll Have That Down Fairly Soon’...

When CRAWFORD screened at SXSW, we were incredibly impressed with the level of intimacy Modigliani had with the townspeople, relationships with whom he had built and nurtured well in advance of the flood of media scrutiny. By doing so, he gave Editor and Austinite Matt Naylor, of super awesome 501 Post, a rich palette of original and archival footage that he could pare down, crystallizing each individual's experience over the course of the last two presidential terms, which would altogether tell the story of the boom and bust of W era Crawford. Luckily, we had the chance recently to talk with Naylor over the wonderful world of email about political stagecraft, tolerance of beliefs and the benefits of being a film editor. ...

McCallum High School student arrested after bringing gun and knives on campus. 18-wheeler drove into San Marcos River from IH35 this morning. Another reason not to live in Dallas: Dubya and Laura are moving back there. Schleicher County Sheriff tells why he didn't raid the FLDS compound earlier than last week. Storms (including some tornadoes) tear through West Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma....

"I was initially drawn to Crawford, because I'd been effectively duped. I didn't know that Bush wasn't from Crawford."...

I wonder: why wouldn’t the APD drug cop and the data miner want the world to know what they’re up to? They’re heroes, after all! Cleansing our streets of the dreaded indoor weed farmer. They should be proud. They're like The Punisher and Microchip....

No survivors in Venezuela plane crash. Protesters set fire to U.S. embassy in Belgrade. "Whatever happens, we're going to be fine." Republican Rep. Rick Renzi has been indicted for extortion, wire fraud and money laundering. McCain manages to dodge "improper relationship" political bullet. ...

Photo by Steve Hopson for Austinist.com “And among the people whom I got to know, who became not only friends, but heroes, were Barbara Jordan, who taught me a lot about courage, and today would actually be her birthday. I remember all the time about how she got up every single morning, facing almost insurmountable odds, to do what she did. And another was my great friend Ann Richards, who taught me so much about......

Photo by Steve Hopson for Austinist.com For those who are watching from home but don't have access to CNN, local PBS affiliate KLRU will be airing the debate on tape-delay, starting at 9pm DailyKos has an informative rundown of each democratic candidate's proposed legislation and their record in the Senate (thanks, MikeB) Chelsea Clinton will speak at ACC’s South Austin Campus tomorrow morning at 9:45am. The event is free and open to the public Senator......

Photo by gina pina on flickr Sgt. Michael Olsen's appeal hearing started today. AISD Superintendent Forgione will retire in June of next year. Bastrop teacher accused of sending obscene text messages to a student. Odds of winning a place on the guestlist for Thursday's debate = less than 1%. While Wisconsin and Hawaii voted today, Obama spent the afternoon in San Antonio. Border fence skips over the land of Bush supporter in South Texas. Jason......

Mistah Castro, he dead. Well, not really, but he did resign. Big shocker: Pappy Bush endorses McCain. Those without health insurance receive their cancer diagnoses much later in the disease's progress. Doctors are trying to fix the fertility drug triplet syndrome. Oh man, HD DVDs are really kaputski. Boy, did we bet on the wrong horse....

CNN today announced that Campbell Brown, NBC News' White House correspondent during President George W. Bush's first term and host of a new prime-time news program that's set to debut this month, will anchor next Thursday's debate. CNN chief national correspondent John King and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos will serve as panelists asking questions of the candidates during the debate....

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Barack Obama win South Carolina. Like most Americans, I like Barack Obama. And, like most Americans, I'm not sure why....

The good thing about Bush's State of the Union speech tonight: it will be his last! St. Austin's Church turns 100. Judge decides against landowners in Brownsville border fence dispute. This has us baffled: Harris County assistant district attorney sends out e-mail using "Canadian" as a racial slur....

Directors Guild and studio reach deal. We're one step closer to less reality television! Suddenly everyone remembers it's about the economy. Everyone can relax, Paul McCartney is fine. Bush to reveal economic stimulus package today. CIA boss names Bhutto's killer. World Bank closes Washington office after bomb threat. Watch out for patches of ice on our bridges and overpasses!......

The Iraqi defense minister just said that the country will need US military help through at least 2018. That would make...oh...fifteen years of US involvement, total. Bush begs Saudi Arabia to produce more oil, help a brother out. Obama tries to stop the hatred between his campaign and Hillary's. Good luck, buddy. ...

More talk of the coming recession: "The question is not whether we will have a recession, but how deep and prolonged it will be." Meanwhile, Austin's economy may be uniquely positioned among the nation's cities to withstand a potential recession....

It seems most of the Republican candidates are bent on showing Iran the gates of Hell. The Onion editor is moving to Moveon.org. What the deuce? Kerry endorses Obama and no one cares, except Edwards. 6th Street between Brazos and Congress still closed due to oil spill. A what? Bush is desperately trying to make some kind of positive impression before being dismissed as the worst president in our history. Too little, too late......

Body found in Lady Bird Lake this morning by the hike-and-bike trail. Fire started in Southeast Travis County, about 6 miles from the airport, by a man with a cutting torch. AISD teacher fingerprinting kicked off today. Whoop?...

Having won the Iowa Democratic Primary, U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama appears to be rocking and rolling with new momentum. The latest numbers show Obama leading the pack in the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, with Hillary Clinton lagging in second place by a 10 point gap. What's going on here?...

An asteroid could hit Mars next month prompting Mars' threat level to move to Orange. Riots erupt in New Orleans over the demolition of public housing buildings. Why can't New Orleans get a chance to relax? Hearings have been set regarding the destruction of the CIA torture tapes. Bush claims to be totally ignorant about everything, especially this and especially you!...

Photo by mirsasha on flickr In June an APD officer sped 139 miles/hour through a funeral procession on Mopac; he resigned in November. Ford recalling over a million trucks and SUVs because of a faulty engine sensor. The Austin Energy Alt-Car Expo is coming next October. Texas Legislative Conference (who?) names Lt. Gov. Dewhurst as Texan of the Year. New state law set to go into effect January 1 charges $5 per each strip club......

Intelligence reports now reveal that Iran is *not* making a nuclear bomb. Remains to be seen whether this will make a difference to Bush, who just doesn't like the cut of their jib. Damn! What is it with the Senate and thirteen-year-old boys? Brad Pitt, perhaps in a contest with Angie to see who can adopt the most people, takes the entire Lower Ninth Ward under his wing. Two popular musicians were recently murdered......

Comic from ToothPasteForDinner.com State science curriculum director Chris Comer says she was forced to resign today according to the Austin-American Statesman. She walked away from her nine-year career with the Texas Education Agency amid accusations of insubordination and misconduct, both of which appear to be connected with her apparent bias against the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to the theory of evolution. The senior adviser on statewide initiatives, Lizzette Reynolds, who previously served......

Some would rather vote for a yellow dog. Image from DemocraticStuff.com Lou Dubose presents Bill Of WrongsTuesday, November 27BookPeople (603 N. Lamar)Free, Starts at 7pm[info] Fiery Austin columnist Molly Ivins was once described to us as "equal parts sugar, spice, piss, and vinegar" by friend and fellow yellow-dog-democrat Bob Mann. To this day we still can't think of a better way to describe her. Her death last January left a deafening silence — gone was......

Photo from LiveStrong.orgIs Austin hero and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong mulling over a possible gubernatorial bid? Some folks seem to think so. After championing last month's pro-cancer research bill, Prop 15 (which passed almost unanimously, despite the fevered efforts of some vocal neocons), and hobnobbing with the likes of President George H. W. Bush, Armstrong seems well-positioned to run for political office in the next few years. Both State Sen. Kirk Watson......

Image from Scion's websiteSo you’re all set for an afternoon with the family and/or friends, tons of food on the horizon, be it Turkey or Tofurkey. Still, you need to scratch that live music itch before heading home. Well, fear not oh lovely residents of Austin, the city has a solid night of gigs on the 21st in store for the common layperson. If you’re not already planning on hitting up the Benko and The......

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan blames President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for efforts to mislead the public about the role of White House aides in leaking the identity of a CIA operative. Police Chief: "Missing Student Ignored Due to Race." A drunken man broke into a central London park and attempted to have sex with a fence: Daniel French, 24, made "sexual motions" towards metal railings in Leicester Square Gardens......

Senator Barack Obama delivered a rousing speech to thousands of die-hard supporters this past Saturday at the Backyard, touching on just about every hot issue at the core of next year's election debates. Pledging to shut down Guantanamo, restore habeas corpus, and renew the hunt for Al Qaeda, Obama stressed the need for a stronger international agenda and quoted Kennedy's famous inaugural address—"Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear......

Still from The District! The DistrictNovember 16-222110 South Lamar (2110 S. Lamar)Various Showtimes, $8.25[info]We heard a lot of good things about Áron Gauder's one-of-a-kind animated gem The District! during Fantastic Fest last year, but we hadn't had a chance to see it until recently. It's a Hungarian Hip-Hop / time travel / gangster odyssey set in Budapest's notorious 8th district, where rival crime families feud like Montagues and Capulets. That is, until their kids fall......