Though I haven’t worn it in a long time, I still take it out sometimes, and the stories come rushing back. FUCK BUSH. Printed across a threadbare t-shirt, a gift my son made for me, delivering it as I stood in line waiting, opening day 2004, to see Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 at Dobie. I used to wear the shirt pretty regularly, though I had mixed feelings about it. Not the sentiment. Oh no—of the many anthems and slogans I’ve adopted over the years, there is none that holds a greater place in my heart than FUCK BUSH. But I recognized a certain folly in wearing it—I worried I might offend people who, like me, hated Bush, but still believe certain words are “bad.” And whenever I put it on, I figured in some ways I was just asking for a fight. I mean, FUCK BUSH might be a factual representation of my feelings, but even I know it’s not some persuasive argument that might instantly win over rabid members of the Bush cult. more ›

• On election eve, the size of the coming Republican wave is hard to predict
• Thousands descend on Washington DC for Rally to Restore Sanity
• Bomb plot shows key role played by intelligence

• Interior Department releases new rules for offshore drilling.
• Iraq is a record-breaker: longest period of time with no government formed after a parliamentary election.
• Brazil's first female president? Dilma Rousseff leading in polls before Sunday's election.

• Hurricane Earl approaching the East Coast.
• A new era in Iraq as American combat operations come to an end.
• How the USS Kirk helped during the fall of Saigon.

• Seventy-two bodies found at Mexican ranch
• String of insurgent attacks leave dozens dead in Iraq
• John Boehner: fire Obama economic team, extend tax cuts

• Is pulling out the best move?
• Be careful when you buy breakfast tacos this weekend.
• WaPo: "The oil is still there, at least 22 miles of it."

• Final U.S. combat units leave Iraq, 56,000 troops remain
• Scottish Justice Sec. defends decision of Lockerbie bomber release
• Pew Research Poll: Belief that Obama is Muslim increasing

• 60 dead after suicide bomb attacks people waiting in line at Iraqi military recruiting office.
• CA gay marriage on hold after decision by 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Justice department gives up federal investigation into DeLay's shady dealings.

• Iraq's top general says their army won't be ready to assume control until 2020.
• Decorated 20-year Air Force officer sues to stop the military discharging him for his sexuality.
• More on the bank executive involved in Rep. Maxine Waters' ethics case.

• Obama to address drawdown of American troops in Iraq
• The beginning of the end? BP gears up for two-phase effort to plug Gulf oil well
• Pakistan floods: Rescue effort under way but 27,000 still stranded

• Federal Judge blocks key parts of Arizona immigration law
• An uncertain challenge for police
• Before SB1070, AZ deported thousands using controversial fed-local partnership program

• Congress: Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer faulty.
• New UK coalition government holds first cabinet meeting.
• Iraq violence set to delay US troop withdrawal.

• Oklahoma City Bombing remembered
• 15 years after OKC Bombing, anti-government sentiment on rise
• OKC bombing victims' children building new lives

• 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

• 16 Americans dead in Afghanistan helicopter crash
• NY Times: Iraqi blast toll worse than feared
• 800,000,000,000,000 pennies in those healthcare couch cushions?

• White House considering compromise on health care reform
• Senate Dems propose nonprofit health care co-ops
• American Public: Whazzat?

Two Presidents and a Prime Minister walk into a bar... 47 killed in Iraq bomb attacks Economic MadLibs: Cash-for-(insert noun here) Republicans stashing away the pennies for 2012 Back-to-school shopping? Don't forget your sexually transmitted disease vaccine! Porn industry at half-mast Dylan to release Christmas album -- no joke. more ›

Iraq launches study abroad initiative. Hamas proposes yearlong truce. MLK, Ghandi, Mandela ... and Blago? Portland Mayor to keep on keepin' on. British man kills wife over Facebook status. Cuts at Starbucks? Google to kill PCs? more ›

Last August, as the Austin Film Festival was ramping up, we spoke to Austin-based filmmaker Don Swaynos about the creepy slash awesome animated commercials he'd produced (along with partner Cameron Petri) for the folks at AFF. But Don's commercials weren't the only work he had premiering at AFF '07. Along with pal Steve Metze, he presented a documentary feature called Year at Danger, a firsthand account of Metze's deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. more ›

I am writing this week’s installment somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. I just wrapped up a week in Hawaii with my young, hot boyfriend Warren. The trip was everything and then some, with hikes into deep valleys to watch astounding waterfalls, a trek across a still steaming lava crater, a trip to watch 2000 degree liquid lava pour into the ocean in enormous clouds of brilliant orange steam, a day on a black sand beach watching the locals surf big scary waves with the sort of ease most of us can only associate with walking. We even broke down and went to a beach yesterday, our last full day on the Big Island. It is the sort of beach you conjure when you imagine paradise, the kind of place I had, until yesterday, only seen in the movies. We buried ourselves in wet sand up to our knees and built castles and moats along the water’s edge and jumped big blue and green waves and even, to be silly, took the requisite long romantic walk along the white sand. more ›

Heavy Metal in Baghdad has amassed a considerable amount of buzz in the run-up to its US debut at SXSW tonight. The film follows Acrassicauda, the only heavy metal band in Baghdad, from the fall of Saddam Hussein in late 2003 through December 2006. We spoke with Suroosh Alvi, one of Heavy Metal’s directors, about his experience shooting the film in Iraq. more ›

The movie fell under the radar to some degree during its initial theatrical run, partially because it was/is so long. But it has intense performances from Washington and Crowe, bit players as diverse as the RZA and Chiwetel Ejiofor (who was the bougie producer in Talk to Me), and a seventies style and depth to it that shouldn't be missed.--Rebecca Onion more ›

Texas Huckabee supporters aren't giving up. Early voting starts tomorrow and goes through Feb. 29. Two Austin High teens die over the weekend after the car they are in is hit by a hydroplaning truck. USDA finally recalls beef already sent to Central Texas schools. more ›

• Guess what! We're pulling out of Iraq today! Not.
• Kenyan politician, voice for peace is shot to death in his driveway.
• New York State archivist sells important documents from American history on Ebay. Those archivists - you just can't trust 'em.

The story begins in New York in the year 2011. This is John McCain's recession-riddled America, where gas has edged above 8 dollars a gallon, the best-selling video game is Infidel Massacre: Los Angeles, and, with 10,000 troops still in Iraq, the war is still going strong. more ›

Woman who had worked as pharmacist for the CVS on Riverside had fake documents. 60 soldiers who had been serving in Iraq for over a year return home to Ft. Hood for the holidays. Look what our city might be gifted: a 60-foot saxophone sculpture! more ›

Image via Big Hassle PR The Straylight Run w/ The Color FredMonday, December 3The Parish Room (214 East Sixth Street)$15, Doors at 7pm[info] | [tickets]Formed from the ashes of Taking Back Sunday, the Long Island group Straylight Run plays a blend of indie rock and chamber pop. Formed in 2003 by ex-TBS members Shaun Cooper and John Nolan, the duo left behind most of their emo influences when switching groups and recruited both Will Noon... more ›

Protesters demand execution of the teddy bear teacher. Putin is in line to become the next king of Russia. Rep. John Murtha thinks the "surge" is working in Iraq. Bin Laden thinks Europe should stop supporting the U.S. in Afghanistan. The Federal Reserve may cut interest rates in December. Suspect wanted in attempted sexual assault in Southeast Austin. Giuliani calls mayoral expense story a dirty trick.... more ›

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... more ›

The first U.S. troop cutback in Iraq has officially begun. The tentative working title for this one is "Operation Mistake Acknowledgment." Human rights organization takes the Kenyan police force to task on allegations of mass murder. In order to prevent the "destruction of culture," the French government has outlawed certain forms of P2P downloading. Event is referred to as a "victory" for the recording industry. Oh reeeeally? Economist suggests that we could soon know... more ›