• Can you imagine using gold and silver coins as legal tender? Wonder if we will also start using bags with dollar signs printed on them to carry this gold...
• It looks like the U.S. Government will stay open for awhile. All the pages are likely very pleased.
• NATO starting to show strains over approach to Libya. And yes, the US still pays the tab when it is "NATO" operation.

An asteroid could hit Mars next month prompting Mars' threat level to move to Orange. Riots erupt in New Orleans over the demolition of public housing buildings. Why can't New Orleans get a chance to relax? Hearings have been set regarding the destruction of the CIA torture tapes. Bush claims to be totally ignorant about everything, especially this and especially you! more ›

Production still courtesy of Troma Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead w/ Lloyd Kaufman Live! Friday, December 7thAlamo Drafthouse Lake Creek (17329 Research Blvd)(7:30pm, $10)[info] | [tickets]Over the course of the last thirty-three years, Lloyd Kaufman's Troma Entertainment has produced hundreds of films, attracted legions of devoted fans, and influenced the likes of Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino, Trey Parker, Eli Roth and Takashi Miike. In fact, by Kaufman's estimation, the studio now owns more than... more ›

Burma continues to adopt China's interpretation of "restraint" when it deals with protests. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf continues to be the bee's knees of Pakistan with the recent ruling from Pakistan's Supreme Court. Jena 6 Defendant Released on Bail. Holy crap! The FDA is understaffed and overwhelmed. Laura Hall's attorney asks to be replaced in order to appear as witness for the defense. If Gov. Rick Perry lives outside Austin city limits, are we... more ›

SXSW Film Festival recently released their lineup of feature films to be screened this year. Check out the full roster after the jump. LONE STAR STATES Forfeit Directed by Andrew Shea, written by John Rafter Lee. Featuring: Billy Burke, Sherry Stringfield, Gregory Itzin, Wayne Knight. An ex-con tries to manage his way back into society, reunite with his high school sweetheart, and commit one more crime. (World Premiere) Inside the Circle Directed by Marcy... more ›

Cosmo Kramer is very sorry for being a washed up actor with no idea about how to handle a rambunctious stand-up audience. Oh, and he's not a racist. The supernannies are coming! The supernannies are coming! Coach Mack Brown has given Colt McCoy the green light to play this Friday against the Aggies. Peter Jackson will not be directing the movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel “The Hobbit” or a planned prequel to “The... more ›

Glaswegian instrumental rockers Mogwai cemented their reputation as Lords Of The Crescendo with a monolithic hour-plus set last Friday at La Zona Rosa. The quintet drew a near-capacity crowd as notable for its diversity—stoners, math nerds, hipsters and other twentysomethings packed in like the dysfunctional age group they are—as for the fact that anyone showed up at all, given the weekend’s dreary storm-surges. Touring in support of their fifth LP, Mr. Beast, Mogwai certainly... more ›

To kick off National Women's History Month, The Vortex is presenting Shrewd Production's Where Are They Now?, a "revived and revised" Cyndi Williams piece originally performed at Frontera Fest '05. We took it in, it all its glory, on opening night last Thursday. For starters, we feel compelled to state that Where Are They Now? is a moving and beautiful work, but it is unconventional in its story-telling, and it has the potential to... more ›

As some things wind down, others are winding up in Frontera land. The Long Fringe and Bring Your Own Venue are over. Only one week of regular shows remains for the Short Fringe, with the fabulous Best of Fest thereafter. The very intriguing Mi Casa Es Su Teatro is this coming Saturday. Frontera is a little more than halfway through, with some of the best nights yet to come. We were sad to miss... more ›

Countdown to the holidays, people. With all the cold weather we’ll be having, it’s a great time to take a break from mall-madness and catch a movie. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re already aware that Peter Jackson’s monster LOTR follow-up, *King Kong, hit theatres on Wednesday, and it’s getting rave reviews. Why shouldn’t it? Giant gorillas are sooooo cute. The Family Stone We swear, this movie comes out in some form... more ›

Thursday night we took in the preview of Violet Crown Radio Players' lost and restored Lux Radio Theater adaptation of KING KONG, at the Hideout Theatre. First, a little full disclosure: we won a book during intermission called Mouth Sounds, authored by none other than Fred Newman! He's the guy who does all the cool sounds on Prairie Home Companion. Yes, we're excited. Yes, we're geeks. But do you know how to do a... more ›

Drive north out of Austin, past the Round Rock suburban enclave, past the Americana kitsch of downtown Taylor, and finally past the somber, looming corn refineries in Circleville, and you'll find Granger Lake. A large manmade lake fed by the San Gabriel River, it's fairly well known for good fishing and boating. What's not as often recognized is that it offers a spectacular hiking trail as well. Known as the Comanche Bluff Trail, the... more ›