Harvard scores papers related to Norman Mailer's sex life three years after the author sold his official archives to UT. Yo-Yo Ma will play with the Austin Symphony later this year; maybe some of the parking issues evident this Sunday will have been dealt with by then. Burnet Road Farmer's Market land for sale (again). Hope you didn't try to bribe a fake cop downtown earlier this month. Infant asphyxiation deaths at an increase this year in Travis County, Austin's Center for Child Protection reports. more ›

When Norman Mailer and Hunter Thompson wrote about political showdowns, they were incapable of resisting the fight metaphor. They knew that there is no such thing as a contest of ideas, a balanced measure of experience and aptitude. That a political debate is most akin to boxing, that it’s both a brawl and a dance. But if a political debate is tantamount to a heavyweight title, then it is one cast in negative: Even if he wins, Americans don’t want to see their man take too many shots on the chin. more ›

Photo by smellyknee on flickr
• Kucinich left off Texas primary ballot for not signing Dem loyalty oath, sues.
• No Republican is running for Travis County DA.
• How's the City Manager search going?

The Waller Creek Tunnel project here in Austin is gaining ground. Major scientific breakthrough shows that cloning embryos is much easier than anticipated... U.S. clean energy stocks are doing better than the U.S. economy as a whole. Is classical music on the comeback? Norman Mailer dies in Manhattan at the age of 84. Writers Guild of America strike in Hollywood goes into week two... We will all have less privacy in the future, says... more ›

In case you were in need of some cultural enrichment this weekend, here are some cerebral events for your consideration: SATURDAY (11/11) Do you only attend panel discussions featuring historic icons? Well, you're in luck this weekend as The Ransom Center presents A Conversation with Norman Mailer, literally. Norman Mailer, Gay Talese, and Lawrence Schiller will participate in a discussion moderated by professor Steven Isenberg. Admission is free and seats will go fast. Doors... more ›

WEDNESDAY [1]

WEDNESDAY [25] music • Joseph Arthur with Annie Stela at The Parish Room music • Joseph Arthur at Waterloo Records (Free, 5pm) music • Gorch Fock, Green Milk From Another Planet Orange, The Mall, Skullening at Emo's Lounge music • Dean Station at End of an Ear (Free, 6pm) music • Capoeira Benefit at Flamingo Cantina music • Savion Glover at Hogg Auditorium dj • Cut Club with guest DJ Terry Diabolik (NYC) at... more ›

WEDNESDAY [18] party • Cut Club with The Young Professionals (Prince Klassen, KidIndie) at The Mohawk dance • Requiem at Intel Shell (8pm, $20-$30) film • Bad Education at Arbor (1:10pm & 6:50pm) ® film • Live Flesh at Arbor (4:10pm & 9:30pm) ® film • Norman Mailer: Beyond the Law at Alamo Downtown (7pm) ® film • The Films of Joseph Cornell at The Space (8pm, Free) film • Back to the Future... more ›

*This post comes from Guest Contributor Kerry Skemp* Beyond a vague yet fascinating physical resemblance (no, really), George W. Bush and Norman Mailer have little in common. The former represents all that is evil in the world (or all that is good, depending on who you talk to), and the latter represents the fact that our country used to offer journalistic investigations of a type that didn’t begin and end at Gawker.com. If you want... more ›

The University of Texas at Austin's Harry Ransom Center just announced that they've acquired Norman Mailer's papers. Based on the New York Times article, it seems that Mailer is a bizarre mix of profligacy (25,000 letters, nine kids) and discipline (all carbon-copied, saved on disk, or sent to college). Mailer's 20,000 pounds of paper will have illustrious company at the Ransom Center, which is home to the world's first photograph, a Gutenberg bible, and all... more ›