The Austin Center for FEMA Disaster Relief closed yesterday The New Pantheon shortlist nominees have been announced, and they are: Animal Collective, Antony and the Johnsons, Fiona Apple, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Kings of Leon, M.I.A., and Sufjan Stevens So there's evidently a species of rare African clawed frogs that, when injected with urine from a pregnant woman, will ovulate. There's also a story about how they're dying... more ›

Joseph Ratzinger, a conservative German Cardinal, has been elected in Rome by the Conclave of Cardinals to be the 265th pontiff. Ratzinger, now 78 years old, will take the papal name of Benedict XVI. more ›

If you’ve been around the Capitol, the University, or a car dealer this week, you’ve probably noticed that Austin’s flags have been half-masted in tribute to Saul Bellow. Just kidding. The flags are at half staff in acknowledgment of someone much more papal than Bellow: His Holiness Pope John Paul II. After the Pope died on Saturday, President Bush ordered all flags to be flown at half staff until sunset tomorrow. more ›