• A Japanese TV personality who has lived in Austin wants SXSW attendees to help with Japanese disaster relief.
• Takeway from SXSWi: social media is revolutionary…just like rock ‘n’ roll in 1968.
• An infographic of what SXSW brings to the Austin economy.

• 8.9 magnitude earthquake hits Japan.
• Earthquake triggers tsunami warnings for Pacific coastal states.
• Google sets up Person Finder tool for people involved in earthquake/tsunami.

• Developer of in vitro fertilization procedure wins Nobel Price for medicine
• Japan joins the US and the UK in issuing an al-Qaeda terror alert for Europe
• Tsunami warning issued after 6.3-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan

• Another earthquake, this time in China, kills 400 in remote area
• Toyota stops selling Lexus SUV deemed "unsafe" by Consumer Reports
• Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens want to arrest the pope

• Hope fades following no response from missing West Virginia miners
• Tsunami alert lifted after earthquake hits Indonesia
• US appeals court backs Comcast over FCC on net neutrality argument

• Small earthquake rattles people awake in Chicago suburbs
• Northeast prepares for another round of "extremely dangerous winter weather"
• Pakistan believes Taliban chief is dead

The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas has partnered with Austin Ventures, Silicon Labs, and others to provide matching funds for donations to the Haitian earthquake relief effort. The special interest fund with match donations up to $600,000 and a committee will direct the funds to the most effective organizations providing disaster relief services in Haiti. Because "emergency relief professionals and others [have] determined that this weekend remains critical" the group is wiring $250,000 as of today. To contribute to this fund and have your contribution matched dollar for dollar, visit: http://www.givetoaustin.org/helphaiti/. more ›

Surrounded by news reports of overwhelming devastation in Haiti, we've compiled a list of aide organizations that are collecting funds to assist with the Haitian earthquake relief efforts. Currently, groups like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders can do the most good with monetary donations (it's too costly and time consuming to ship in-kind donations to the disaster area). Mayor Lee Leffingwell has called on Austinites to "rally in support of the people and families devastated by [the] earthquake". Doctors Without Borders - Doctors Without Borders has already treated more than 1,000 people on the ground in Haiti; the organization has extensive experience offering medical services in response to catastrophic events. Doctors Without Borders is currently setting up an inflatable field hospital, with two operating theaters, staffed with surgeons, anesthetists, and stocked with medical supplies. Donations can be made directly to Doctors Without Borders online with a credit or debit card. Online retailer Small Dog Electronics is matching funds of up to $200 per individual of donations to Doctors Without Borders through their website. more ›

• Sumatra aftershocks begin.
• Ken Lay Lewis steps down from Bank of America. No tears were shed.
• GOP leader doesn't like math or statistics.

• Tsunami hits American Samoa and neighboring islands, claiming at least 113 lives
• Powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia
• Death toll for Typhoon Ketsana rises to more than 300 in Southeast Asia

• Government says we should expect "a big influx" of swine flu cases this fall
• 14 people were killed in Indonesia after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Wednesday
• Two American television reporters say they were "violently dragged" into North Korea

• Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor returns for second day of senators' questions
• All 168 aboard believed to be dead in Iranian plane crash
• Federal investigators say Southwest jet's design limited tear's damage

• Over 90 dead in Italy earthquake, thousands homeless
• Disaster economics: Milan shares fall after quake
• North Korea launches rocket, world becomes highly nervous

• Strayhorn looks to run for mayor (again) in 2009.
• She will just not shut up and go away.
• Group calls for cleaner Austin festivals.

• Los Angeles gets back on its feet after yesterday's earthquake
• President Bush signs massive housing relief bill
• 82-year-old Alaska senator Ted "Series of Tubes" Stevens indicted

• A big win in West Virginia boosts Clinton, but the math still favors Obama
• Death toll for China earthquake rises as troops rush to plug dam
• A new storm may hit cyclone-ravaged Myanmar

An earthquake in Indonesia brings fears of possible tsunami in Indian Ocean. One year into serving as Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe is resigning. Another government shakeup: Putin is dissolving Russia's current government in preparation for upcoming elections. Aviator Fossett still lost, but six other lost planes have been found in the search for his plane. US Senate will hold hearing on toy safety today. Doesn't Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson deserve better than playing Carrie... more ›

Londonist are starting to think their city is getting just a little bit too expensive, when even Christian Slater can't afford to go out there. And there's no escaping, as local singer Lily Allen discovered when she was barred entry to the US. The British mapping agency caused further bad karma, by blocking a 3-D representation of London in Google Earth. But the smiles returned to Londonist's faces as they interviewed Baroness von Reichardt,... more ›

Programmer Lars Nilsen and owner Tim League raise one final toast to the original Alamo. Alamo patrons don hardhats in preparation for the Earthquake screening.... more ›

As everyone knows by now, today is (sniffle) the Alamo Downtown's last day in operation--at its current location, at least. And they're going out with a bang, offering a fabulous feast to accompany Big Night, shaking things up with Earthquake, and freaking you out with Night Warning featuring Susan Tyrrell live. Everything's mad sold out, of course, but there "may" be standby tickets available for Earthquake and Night Warning ($30 for each film, $75 for... more ›

Guess who's coming to dinner. It might be you - if you're down with eating at the homes of local dignitaries while benefitting Project Transitions (a non-profit organization that provides housing, hospice and support services for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS in Central Texas). On Saturday, February 3, 2007, Project Transitions hosts the 10th Annual Guess Who's Coming to Dinner fundraiser to benefit people living with HIV/AIDS. Over 350 guests are anticipated to... more ›

Sunday. Usually, a quiet, contemplative day in the Blogosphere. But not here in the Ist-a-Verse. Nonono! Just look below and see all of the wild and crazy stuff our staffs are up to. In Austin, bands are beginning to confirm for SXSW and the rumor mill is up and running. Good thing, too, because we all know how much Austinites love live performances. Austin also found itself in the national spotlight, with Longhorn Legend... more ›

Gov. Rick Perry has stated that he has more than $10 million in campaign cash, while our friend Kinky has only about $491,000 on hand. A prisoner broke out of jail to wish his girlfriend a happy birthday. Romance is not dead. Officials in Jakarta failed to issue a tsunami warning despite receiving data about yesterday's earthquake 20 minutes before the first wave struck. The recent developments in the Middle East conflict have put... more ›

A local pharmacist is selling mostly generic drugs in his pharmacy, helping out his uninsured (and other) customers. The memorial service for Lloyd Bentsen is today in Houston; former President Bill Clinton will be delivering the eulogy. An earthquake hit Indonesia over the weekend killing more than 5,400 people. Organizations such as UNICEF and World Vision are accepting donations specifically for earthquake relief. Riots in Afghanistan this weekend were sparked by brake failure in... more ›

It's a mad, mad workd out there, folks. And here's the proof... SFist commenters pose for before and aftershocks when the mayor commemorates a 1906 earthquake...at 4:30 in the morning. A hot tip on the Chronicle vending machines comes in and the SFist war correspondent risks life and limb to post this dispatch from the frontlines. Houstonist announces their new Cops spinoff "World's Funniest Tazer Videos" and the possible cancellation of their pervs' "World's Grossest... more ›

Tomorrow at Richard Moya Park, the Unity Forum is holding an End of Ramadan (Eid) Festival. It looks to be a full day of great music, food, and community. The entry fee is free, but all other profits go to much needed earthquake and hurricane relief. Wikipedia has a page on the significance of Eid. End of Ramadan (Eid) Festival Saturday, November 12 9:30am - 5:30pm Richard Moya Park [image from mazoo.com]... more ›

-The death toll in Pakistan and surrounding countries has exceeded 20,000, with countless more bodies yet to be recovered in what was the most devastating earthquake to hit South Asia in the last century. Aid agencies estimate that over 120,000 people are in "urgent need of shelter." The magnitude-7.6 quake struck on Saturday near the northeastern border of Kashmir and Pakistan. Austinist asks that you leave links to donation sites in the comments section. -Boy... more ›