Russian Premier, er, we mean President Putin using Soviet-style measures to suppress political opposition? The evidence just keeps on rolling in... Yesterday, British forces formally handed the province of Basra to the Iraqi government. This is the ninth province transferred to Iraqi control by American-led forces since July 2006. The week-long U.N. climate-change conference, held in Bali, ended last Friday. A ranking has been released showing which countries have the most proactive greenhouse gas......

Ladies: If you're wondering where the nice guys have gone, you might want this perspective from an ex-nice guy. One of our nation's most beloved spousal abusers has passed away at 76. Oh, he was also a R&B hit maker ... no, it's not Robert Blake. Armando Walle is in Austin today to show the people of Texas that change is needed in Houston. We're not sure we want to see that PowerPoint. The......

According to Microsoft, Santa likes to talk about oral sex. The space shuttle heads to the International Space Station this Saturday. The CIA destroyed vidoetaped evidence of their interrogations of two top terror suspects in 2002. Rest assured, this is probably an isolated incident. A positive sign for our economy. GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is a mormon and nobody cares. The U.S. House sends kickass energy bill to Senate. City ordered to put......

Photo courtesy My Guerrilla on Flickr[another wristband for the collection] Austin’s C3 Presents now has three major festivals to go along with their trio of Charlies. The producers of Lollapalooza and the Austin City Limits Festival will put on the Vineland Music Festival in rural New Jersey Aug. 8 to 10, 2008. Vineland is a joint venture with Melvin Benn’s Festival Republic. The U.K. event producer’s portfolio includes the Reading, Leeds and Glastonbury festivals. Set......

UN issues their Global Environmental Outlook report, GEO-4, while population blogs about Britney Spears' new tattoo. The U.S. dollar continues its downward spiral. Wildfires continue in California, but firefighters say they are gaining ground. Iran remains defiant in the face of new U.S. imposed sanctions to prevent their nuclear dream. Supreme Court of Georgia frees teen in controversial sex case. Texas gas prices are up for the second week in a row. Astronauts begin......

Last Friday in Houston, a young girl brought a loaded 9mm pistol to school and started pointing it at people. She is 12 years old. The U.S. Supreme Court's new term starts this week. Why exactly is socialized medicine such a bad idea? Interesting article... The guy who tried to extort $1 million from Tom Cruise commits suicide. Article about the bloggers who helped bring the story of recent government oppression in Burma to......

Weird: Finding a human leg in a smoker you bought at auction. Weirder: It wasn't from a murder, the owner of leg was too attached to let it go. Woman gives birth to 17-pound baby. And no, she's not American. SHOCK! Parts of the Patriot Act are unconstitutional. Not only was he making dogs kill each other, but he was smoking weed too. The U.S. Citizenship test just got a little bit harder. Not......

Good-bye to Texas University. So long to the Orange and White. Good luck to the dear old Texas Aggies, They are the boys who show the real old fight. The eyes of Texas are upon you. That is the song they sing so well, So, good-bye to Texas University, We're goin' to beat you all to -- Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem! Chig-gar-roo gar-rem! Rough! Tough! Real stuff! Texas A&M! Saw Varsity's Horns Off! Saw Varsity's Horns Off!......

The U.S. Census Bureau has released some new 2005 numbers analyzing the national population. This batch includes more localized information for cities and states. According to this most recent census, Texas ranks 6th among states with the most people living in poverty, and 36th among states with the highest median household income. Median household income: • U.S. – $46,242 • Texas – $42,139 • Travis County – $48,026 Percentage with incomes below the poverty......

*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.* One week gone and all the teams have taken the pitch. The Americans are awful and Ecuador is one of the few surprises thus far. I just returned from the streets of Munich, where the party is on. Oliver Neuville´s last minute goal to beat Poland has, in all likelihood, sent the......

Local: The U.S. Commerce Secretary recently met with local Austin business leaders in an effort to push Bush's platform to control illegal immigration. One concern facing business owners will be their ability to find skilled workers who can claim legal status. In other local news that we mentioned a while back: Your house may now be located in a flood plain. State: Democratic candidate for governor Chris Bell believes that the four-way race for......