• BP well will be sealed by Sunday
• ¡Feliz cumpleaños, Mexico!
• Promotor sued in Michael Jackson death

Mel's throwing in an MJ birthday tribute block to boot! That's right, The King of Pop would have turned like, a hundred years old or whatever* at midnight this Saturday, so Mel will put on nothing but MJ tracks from the moment his birthday begins until the booze stops being legally sold! Chumohn! And as usual, 80s attire is encouraged! And that's not just Teen Wolf. Go eclectic! Like... Cylons (close enough to 80s, but only the original series). Snow Job. Howard the goddamn duck. Manimal. Snarf. Or the "Motown era" MJ. Rarities indeed! more ›

• Dallas needs to start getting ready for the next Super Bowl!
• Michael Jackson's Houston-based doctor now charged with involuntary manslaughter.
• New exhibit of the work of modern Italian sculptor Maurizio Cattelan will be showing at the Menil Collection in Houston. This looks super-fun!

• With speech, president makes Afghanistan conflict truly his own
• Iran releases five British sailors detained at sea
• General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson resigns after less than a year

• Obama offering "incentives" to Sudan
• Flow of Western terrorist recruits increasing
• Administration: Stimulus saving education jobs...

China rising: US, Beijing, prepare for "G2" summit Pelosi vows passage of healthcare overhaul Bill Moyers: Obama and healthcare execs -- BFFs? More economic indicators: The "Big Mac" exchange rate No more body counts in Afghanistan as mission focus shifts Business Week: "Skilled Immigrants on Why They're Leaving the U.S." MJ's hair to be made into "diamonds", whereabouts of nose still uncertain more ›

G8 set global warming targets (while we swelter in Austin). Help the homeless survive the heat. Young punks: two teenagers responsible for the loss of 150,000 gallons of water in Johnson City and 420,000 gallons in Blanco. Sen. Cornyn could care less about what you think of his travel expenses. LA's tax dollars hard at work to remember MJ. Madoff won't appeal because he is about to hop the next jet to Ken Lay's private island. The size of the signs will definitely do the trick. more ›

• Family, friends, and fans say goodbye to Michael Jackson at memorial service
• Obama meets with G-8 leaders in Italian town still recovering from April earthquake
• Government websites hacked on July 4: Could North Korea be behind it?

• Robert McNamara, Vietnam War architect, dead at 93
• Obama, Medvedev/Putin agree on nuclear cuts
• Obama's Russia visit to bring over $1.5 billion in deals

• Never ending war.
• Inhofe on Franken: pot calling the kettle black.
• Just what America needs - less educated students.

I was just hanging up the new shower curtain when I noticed the tub stopper left behind by a former roommate. The tub stopper is purple and features one very small hand, protruding up, so that when it is in placed in the drain I suppose it might look like a very small person is on the other side, trying to get out. Before I tell you more about the symbolism of that little hand, let me tell you about the shower curtain. I went to Target recently to get a few things for the house. Not to help the economy or kick the terrorists’ asses through shopping. Just because I wanted a few little inexpensive nest brighteners. I wandered the aisles in that Target Trance, visions of a new rag rug, a shower curtain, and maybe a few pairs of big girl underpants to replace the old ripped ones dancing in my head. (Note: the visions, not the torn underwear, were doing the dancing.) I found one of those shower curtains with a map of the world printed on it, made no doubt by slave labor in China who will likely never get to see the outside of a factory, let alone the world. I silently sent both my thanks and my apologies to them. more ›

Following yesterday's shocking news, Austin prepares for a Michael Jackson tribute weekend. There's no shortage of ways to remember the Man in the Mirror -- here's a few events we'll be checking out. more ›

• Iranian Cleric: Protesters at War With God.
• Record heat prompts weather advisories, all-time energy consumption.
• New 'no refusal' DWI legislation for Texas.

Michael Jackson was rushed from a Los Angeles residence to UCLA Medical Center this afternoon, and passed away. more ›

• Your taxes are due today, and the recession isn't helping
• Nationwide anti-tax and anti-spend "tea party" protests expected
• That Senate election in Minnesota? Yeah, it's still not over

Harmony Korine's Mister Lonely follows the adventures of an American Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) who meets a charming Marilyn Monroe impersonator (Samantha Morton) on the streets of Paris. Together, they travel to a commune populated exclusively by celebrity impersonators--a Neverlandesque place where everyone is famous, and the spotlight never fades. more ›

Frontera Fest is such a playing-field-leveled egalitarian opportunity for creative types from all walks and skill levels to have a night in the spotlight. Totally worth the $12 -14 price of admission but don’t wait to figure this out later. The wait for unclaimed tickets on sold out nights starts an hour before showtime and baby it’s cold outside. more ›

Chicagoist is gearing up for this weekend's annual Air & Water Show along the lakefront. In what's becoming an annual tradition around there, staff member Todd McClamroch even got to fly with one of the participants. Chicagoist's decidedly opinionated readership was also appalled that one of their staffers found a popular local brewpub to be a great place to bring a kid. They also think that an unlikely activist for immigration rights should just take... more ›

THURSDAY [14] dance • Constellation, a site-specific dance work from Sally Jacques at Pickle & Thornberry Federal Courthouses (9pm) art • Guest Tour with Ellen Cunningham-Kruppa at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress (Thursdays are always free at the Blanton,12:30-1:30pm) art • Opening reception for "Just Been Fired," the mostly at Gallery Lombardi (7-10pm) art and books • Blanton Book Club at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress 6-7:30pm) books • Reginald... more ›

Fancy Footwork – ChromeoAs soon as "Intro" launches Chromeo’s Fancy Footwork, the listener can prepare to be transported to another time. Ever since "Needy Girl" captured our hearts and memories a few years ago, the duo of Dave 1 (beats) and P-Thugg (vocals) has built a decent following among fans still reminiscing about the 80’s. First single "Tenderoni" kicks off like "Wanna Be Starting Something" (Michael Jackson) before launching into a synth-powered jam in true... more ›

We keep reading that My Latest Novel are being compared with Arcade Fire. Obviously, there are major differences. First, My Latest Novel is a five-piece from Scotland, and Arcade Fire is an eight-piece (or more) from Quebec. And while you can see Arcade Fire this week on SNL, you have to wait until March 16th to see My Latest Novel. Wait you must; for now you can read drummer Ryan King's take on the... more ›

There's been plenty of buzz about a couple of today's new releases (anyone noticed the abundance of commercials for diamonds lately? It ain't just the holiday season), but you might be able to pick out a few gems from the list. Depending on what you consider a "gem," of course. Us, well, we're just happy when someone else buys our movie ticket and a drink (or several) afterwards so we can go home and... 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 ›

If you vote for Rick Perry, and you’re not a Christian, you’re going to hell. At least according to the coiffed Governor of Texas. more ›

THURSDAY [26] music • The Beauty Shop, The Shells, The Drawing Board, Just Guns at Emo's music • Broken Social Scene with Do Make Say Think at Stubb's music • Reunion Show for Clifford Antone's Birthday at Antone's music • Jamie Lidell w. Back Ted N Ted (late show) at The Parish Room music • Juana Molina w. Adem (early show) at The Parish Room music • Pete Yorn, Minibar at La Zona Rosa... more ›

THURSDAY [12] music • FactoryPeople turns 3, and they're throwing a whole weekend's worth of awesome activities, starting with DJs sets by DFA Records' Juan McLean and Tim Sweeney at FactoryPeople (7-10pm) ® music • DFA Records artists Juan McLean and Tim Sweeney at Whisky Bar (10pm-2am, $12/$10) ® music • Man Man, Thermals, Oh, Beast! at Emo's ® music • San Saba County at Waterloo Records (5pm) music • San Saba County, Sorta... more ›

THURSDAY [5] music • Ghostland Observatory, Mellowdrone, Pompeii at Emo's ® music • Bobby Bare Jr, Grand Champeen, Chalk Outlines at Emo's music • Ozomatli, Ghandaia at Stubb's music • Voodoo Organist, The Devil Drums, Ralph White at Beerland music • She, Sir, Bello Ragazzo, Cartright at The Mohawk music • Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo at The Backyard music • Proteus, Starcastic Pheromone, TBA at Trophy's benefit/music • Rock 'n Roll Garage Sale for... more ›

Gorch Fock aren’t exactly safe listening…one is meant to engage and survive them on their twisted level, facing ugly reality in blunt terms, grinding it all into a sonic maelstrom threatening to devastate and bewilder. Like hellfire itself, one should only listen if they are itching to get burned. more ›

LOCAL: The NAACP of Austin and the Texas Civil Rights project have sued the state and Travis County over electronic voting machines. They claim that E-Slate voting machines violate the state election code because they don't provide a paper record of the vote transaction. STATE: A federal judge has ruled that former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay must remain on the ballot for the 22nd Congressional District race. It seems DeLay's little scheme to temporarily... more ›

The Star of Texas Rodeo starts its two week run today at the Exposition Center. A propane truck overturned in Lockhart yesterday. The weather is to blame for the faulty SAT scores scanned here in town. Now we have a 10,000 Maniacs song stuck in our head. Did we need another reason not to visit Oklahoma? Their House has approved the Academic Freedom Act, which leaves it up to the teacher to decide which... more ›