• South Korea, "cancel your military drill or we shall taunt you a second time!"
• Income inequality continues with $858 billion tax-cut extension plan.
• WikiLeaks facing "aggressive" investigation by US, Assange thinks he may be extradited to face espionage charges.

• As South Korean death toll rises, U.S. scrambles to limit hostilities
• Airports bracing for TSA go-ahead-touch-my-junk protests
• Drug war in Juarez Valley leaves town with only one police officer

Over the weekend, Fantastic Fest hosted the regional premiere of Im Sang-soo's The Housekeeper. Already a box office hit in South Korea, this is a remake of Kim Ki-young’s 1960 classic of the same name, which has been hailed as one of the all-time greatest Korean films and has recently been fully restored with the assistance of Martin Scorsese. more ›

• BP to decide later today on whether to proceed with "top kill" procedure to plug well
• US pledges to stand beside South Korea as tensions rise with North Korea
• Space shuttle Atlantis makes its final landing after 120 million miles

• On the record, South Korea blames North Korea for deadly sinking.
• Cheerio to the House of Lords.
• Scientist calls B.S. on BP's oil spill estimates.

For about the price of a modestly-configured Aston Martin, South Korea's RNL Bio Co. is happy to bring back your beloved pooch from the afterlife. The biotech firm recently announced that it would start services in April. more ›

Austin native Rebecca Rosenberg has been living in South Korea teaching English, and she wants to share her experiences abroad with all of Austin. Austinist believes that we could all use some Korean culture. The other morning I woke up with one of those hangovers belonging in a special class. I call it a please, someone, shoot me in the face morning. Sure, it was a Sunday after the Boryeong Mud Festival [dear lord,... more ›

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Austin native Rebecca Rosenberg has been living in South Korea teaching English, and she wants to share her experiences abroad with all of Austin. Austinist believes that we could all use some Korean culture. Well people, I don’t know just where to begin, but I can say that life in and around Seoul just keeps getting better. A few weeks ago I headed to Hongdae for the usual Saturday night debauchery, and got quite... more ›

Austin native Rebecca Rosenberg has been living in South Korea teaching English, and she wants to share her experiences abroad with all of Austin. Austinist believes that we could all use some Korean culture. Before coming, and even when you first arrive here, it’s easy to worry that South Korea is nothing more than an abyss of karaoke (here called norae bong), and watered down imitations of Western culture…and many times it is exactly... more ›

Austin native Rebecca Rosenberg has been living in South Korea teaching English, and she wants to share her experiences abroad with all of Austin. Austinist believes that we could all use some Korean culture. After nine months away from Austin, working as an English teacher in South Korea, I most miss lying on the grass with a margarita, relaxing at the meat market that is Barton Springs, with a Shady Thing pilfered from the... more ›

Fantastic Fest kicks off tonight at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. The big events lined up for opening night include: an advance screening of Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning attended by the director and cast-members, including R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket) The Full Moon Travelling Roadshow hosted by Puppetmaster creator Charles Band, who promises a “live” decapitation a 3-D screening of Parasite 3-D, one of the worst movies ever made about an... more ›

*This post comes from Austinist Special World Cup Correspondent Ben Gardner, Co-Host of KOOP’s SoccerMad, who is in Germany for this year’s Cup.* more ›

• We are beginning to think that perhaps the mining industry isn't the best field to get into right now. Several workers in China are trapped due to flooding in a coal mine.
• The leader of the World Health Organization passed away during surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain.
• New Orleans is deemed as a "Chocolate City" with African Americans significantly outnumbering whites. Mayor Nagin was also re-elected to lead New Orleans again even after his controversial dealings with the Katrina distaster.
• The US Senate voted last week to make English the official language in the United States.
• The domain extension that would allow us all to search for online porn a little bit easier, was rejected for use by the government. Now ICM Registry is to going to sue the government.
• South Korea has freed itself from one kind of evil; Wal-Mart is the second global retailer to vacate the country
• Austin ISD is trying to figure out ways to improve teacher-quality at low-income and minority schools which all happen to be East of 35.
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(Ed. Note: If you’ve paid even the slightest bit of attention while out and about around Austin’s many parks, you’ve noticed that we’re a fairly big soccer town. Men’s leagues, women’s leagues, co-ed leagues, indoor leagues, etc. thrive all around town. With that in mind, we thought we’d bring you a preview of the biggest sporting event in the world, the World Cup. One of the hosts of KOOP radio’s Soccer Mad, and friend of... more ›

The Austin Asian Film Festival kicks off tomorrow at the Drafthouse Downtown. The annual showcase runs through Sunday, and features over thirty full-length films, documentaries, and shorts. Countries represented in their schedule include Bhutan, China, North and South Korea, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and more. A full-access pass to the festival costs $25 for AFS members, and $35 for the general public - those of you on a budget can still enjoy many of their programs, as well over a dozen screenings on the UT campus are free. more ›

M O N D AY [ 31 ] music/party · The White Ghost Shivers' Halloween Ball at American Legion Hall! Burlesque, Independence Brew, apple bobbing with the TX Roller Girls, Tarot card readings, a kissing booth and more. The White Ghost Shivers will also be performing a live soundtrack to accompany Buster Keaton's "Cops." ($25, 9pm) music · Galactic, Mofro and New Monsoon at Stubb's music · Halloween Show at Emo's with Flametrick Subs, Satans... more ›