• Iraqis turn out in solid numbers to vote
• Obama takes health care message on the road (again)
• US eases sanctions to promote Web use in Cuba, Iran, Sudan

• Regime change in Japan...
• U.S. to see post-bailout profit?
• US business economists: No need for a second stimulus package?

Please Vote for Me documents a Model UN-styled event held by a Chinese elementary school to elect a class monitor, a position that (surprise, surprise) is usually appointed by the teacher. The ensuing melee is a Nixon/Stalin-like wheeling and dealing from which, evidently, only one can emerge as "Supreme Leader." more ›

A day after President Bush vetoed a bill that would have allocated $124 billion for the Iraq/Afghanistan war funds but required the total withdrawal of U.S. troops by March, hundreds of local grassroots organizations and individuals have mobilized to stage simultaneous protests across the country. At least a dozen different rallies will take place within a 300-mile radius of here. Austin Operation Democracy Council, the local MoveOn group, is staging its protest in front of... more ›

Octopus Project + Black Moth Super Rainbow (Graveface) more ›

NOTE: Tonight’s pieces are now listed in the order in which they will be performed. There will be an intermission between the third and fourth pieces. That's right: it's time to heat up your winter nights again, with the 14th season of FronteraFest. The Short Fringe, the Long Fringe, or Mi Casa es su Teatro -- FronteraFest is five weeks of alternative, offbeat, new, and just plain off-the-wall fringe theatre presented by Hyde Park... more ›

Jagshemash! Borat is a hit. It's getting rave reviews, grossing millions, and definitely the most quotable thing we've seen in ages. But Borat seems to have missed most of the -ist cities, and we were all wondering how the film would have been different if he'd made his way around the world on the -ist tour. In Shanghai, Borat would be observing Inane Learnings of Penis Photos for Make Benefit Glorious Flat World of... more ›

A billowing American flag against a pitch background opens this compelling story of a Seattle grandmother, Bev Harris, who started asking questions after presidential candidate Al Gore managed to get negative votes (-16,022, to be exact) in Volusia County, Florida in 2000. more ›

A new group in Austin called W.O.R.D. (Women Organizing to Revive Democracy) is throwing a bash tomorrow evening in support of Chris Bell. The event will feature appearances by State Rep. Donna Howard, slam poet Genevieve Van Cleve, and Liz Carpenter’s Yellow Dog Democrat mask. The goal is to provide a place for local Democratic women to gather, learn more about Chris Bell, and hopefully rally behind him. So break out of your Perry-induced... more ›

Random Favorite Blog of the Week: Carol's Little World. Carol posts her photography and reflections. more ›

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In her more than 60 years as Washington reporter---covering every president since JFK---Helen Thomas has earned respect, admiration, and a front-row seat in the press room. She’s also earned a reputation for her no-holds-barred questions---a reputation that got her booted to the back of the room and virtually ignored by the current administration. Now Thomas is directing her questions---and her barbs---at her fellow journalists. In her latest book, Watchdogs of Democracy?: The Waning Washington Press... more ›

THURSDAY [6] [film] Hanging Tough: The Boy Band Sing Along at Alamo Downtown (7pm, Sold Out) (link) [film] Patton at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) (link) [music] We Will Rock You: The Queen Sing Along at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $10) (link) [film] Terror Thursdays: Parents at Alamo Downtown (11:50pm, FREE) (link) [books] Helen Thomas presents Watchdogs of Democracy at Austin Marriott at the Capitol (6pm, $5 in advance or at the door) (link) [books] Sheila Kohler and... more ›

MONDAY [3] [film] Sergeant York at Paramount Theatre (7pm) (link) [film] Hands on a Hard Body at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, FREE) (link) [film] Swingers at Austin Java (8pm, FREE) (link) [film] Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill at Café Mundi (8pm, FREE) (link) [film] Pride of the Yankees at Paramount Theatre (9:20pm) (link) [music] Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Pong, Harry Merry at Emo's (link) [music] Mendoza Line at Hole in the Wall (link) [music] Black Crowes... more ›

MONDAY [17][music] The High Flyers at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [lecture] Josh Rushing, future host of a show on Al Jazeera International and "accidental media star" in "Control Room," speaks at UT LBJ Auditorium (7pm) (link) [art] Opening Reception for Michael Schliefke's newest works, "What If We Could Get It All Back?" at bolm Studios (6pm-11pm) (link) [film] Oscar-Nominated Documentary shorts at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Anime Movie Monday at Ventana del Sol (7:30pm)... more ›

M O N D A Y [20] [art] Sex Workers' Art Show comes to UT-Austin at Texas Union Showroom (RM. 2.208) at UT-Austin (Free, 7pm) (link) [music] Tammany Hall Machine, Impossible Shapes, and Red Hunter at Stubb's (link) [film] "The Outdoorsmen: Blood, Sweat and Beers" at Alamo South (Monday-Thursday, 10:05pm) (link) [film] "Penitentiary" at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] "930 F" (a documentary about DC's 9:30 Club) at Alamo Downtown ($1, 9:45pm) (link) [film] "The... more ›

Please let us know if we are missing your favorite blogs. We try to find new blogs each week, but we are going to have to go with our tried-and-true favorites also. more ›

Image from The Bioengineering Institute Have you ever wondered what the rest of the world thinks about us? While some media conglomerates try and lead you to believe our "news" is “fair and balanced” and maybe even informative, media and citizens in other countries often times have a little different perspective. To find out what the global community thinks of the US, check out watchingamerica.com. Here is their mission statement: WatchingAmerica reflects global opinion... more ›

We just read the third part of “In the Footsteps of Tocqueville," Bernard-Henri Levy's account of his recent road trip through America, and our overriding feeling is one of relief: Good luck for us that we missed the first two installments of this self-satisfied snooze. While Lévy’s New World adventure is modeled after that of Alexis de Tocqueville—a fellow French writer, whose observations were recorded in his 1844 work, "Democracy in America"—Lévy’s interests diverge... more ›