Most musicians fall into one of a few standard career arcs (the slow build, the flameout, the sophomore slump, etc.), but rare is the artist who starts off strong, and then somehow, against all odds, successfully manages to raise the game which each successive album. One of these rare artists is the indomitable St. Vincent, the nom de plume of Texas' own Annie Clark. This year she released her third LP, Strange Mercy, and it's by all measures her most ambitious, dynamic, and rewarding work yet, and there's no hint that she'll slow down anytime soon. In advance of her highly anticipated performance at ACL Live at Moody Theater this coming Monday, we rang up Annie for a delightful chat on everything from old school video games to her Texas upbringing. more ›

• GM = Government Motors? U.S. could own as much as 70% of carmaker
• Republicans face delicate task in opposing Supreme Court pick Sotomajor
• Amid Prop. 8 protests, advocates begin planning next phase of same-sex marriage fight

And it's...Sotomayor. Prop 8 opponents wait with bated breath. North Korea doesn't respond well to condemnations. Young principals in NYC schools raise eyebrows. Mike Tyson's little daughter's sad and bizarre accident. A wedding worry we hadn't even thought to consider. This is a labor of love we can get behind. more ›

Oh, the humanity! Welcome to the one weekend a year where you can see a biker mama on every block sporting a midriff baring halter top and leather chaps; however, this woman will bear a striking resemblance to the woman who birthed you . Pair that with inhaling noxious greenhouse-effect-inducing fumes and having your eardrums wailed on like a red-headed step-child and suddenly paying $8.25 to sit in a cold, dark box doesn't seem... more ›

There’s some of that voting going on today. It’s pretty popular nowadays. All on the myspace and whatnot. Colbert. Ruining most of my cnn reading. Even dead people are doing it. Sometimes they’re rumored to be so excited, these dead people do it more than once! Craziness! more ›

We got a little tied-up this weekend, but here it is, your re-cap of what's what in the Ist-a-verse. more ›