• Shock and anger in Japan, nearly one week later
• Stocks sink for third day on Japan fears
• IAEA Head: Japan's nuclear situation is "very serious"

• This Week in Obama: Letterman, U.N., Afghanistan
• The healthcare media blitz: Resistance is Futile...
• ... or is it?

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... more ›

United Abominations – MegadethMegadeth (AKA Dave Mustaine) follows up 2004’s politically charged The System Has Failed with, well, the politically charged United Abominations. Due to contractual obligations, TSHF had to be released as Megadeth, although it was primarily a Mustaine project. No report indicating why the new album also falls under the Megadeth moniker, but it does contain all the staples of a typical Megadeth record: Mustaine’s trademark vocals, soaring six-string solos, and insistent drums,... more ›

GOP members believe Rummy's resignation was a move to protect the White House. We always knew Bush loved Democrats. A key Republican has joined the Democrats in their opposition to John Bolton's nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. There are still 8 seats in the House of Representatives awaiting a final outcome from this week's election bonanza. Bush is scheduled to meet with members of a blue-ribbon commission in an attempt to... more ›

The Mexican government last week sent a diplomatic note to Washington criticizing the plan for 700 miles of new fencing along the border and threatened to bring the dispute in front of the United Nations. Garbage, Recycling, and Yard Trimmings to slide one day so that Solid Waste Services (SWS) staff can attend the funeral services of a SWS employee who died in a traffic accident. Democratic gubernatorial Chris Bell has announced his support... more ›

Due to some odd twist of fate—or some serious demographic research—several major/minor art-rock figures are releasing albums today. These artists run the gamut from graceful (Thom Yorke) to chaotic (TV On The Radio) to I’ll-have-whatever-they’re-having (Muse). Let’s take a look: THOM YORKE-THE ERASER Thom Yorke once quipped that, in the United Nations that is Radiohead, he plays America—the joke being that, while he doesn’t have all the ideas (or talent), he sets the aesthetic... more ›

It has recently come to our attention that, like your old crusty uncle who's too mean to die, the John Birch Society, which spent those good old Red Scare years faithfully outing pinkos and defending our borders, is still crouched in the corner in a rocking chair, issuing periodic proclamations about them damn immigrants and the necessity of keeping our precious national bodily fluids pure. more ›

We’re surprised to report that we’ve recently been inspired by something related to the Olympics. Bode: Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun, by Olympic ski racer Bode Miller in conjunction with reporter Jack McEnany, reads like Tao of Jeet Kune Do as told by Bertie Wooster and is our favorite sports-related book since Jose Canseco’s. more ›

-The Washington Post's Terry M. Neal speculates on Miers' failed bid for the Supreme Court -The latest move in Google's quest to take over the internet: crushing eBay? -Janet Jackson has a secret kid! (Maybe) -2,000 international firms have been accused by the United Nations of paying off Saddam Hussein's regime -MSNBC explains the whole hubbub over the CIA leak story -Charles and Camilla, desperately trying to stay relevant -Another luxury condo's going up... more ›

M O N D A Y [ 2 4 ] Happy United Nations Day! music · Coheed & Cambria, Dredg, mewithoutYou and Blood Brothers at Stubb's music · Elizabeth McQueen and Jason Roberts - of Asleep at the Wheel - hold court at Threadgill's (8pm) film · The Austin Film Festival at various venues around town (Through Thursday) books · Tram Nguyen discusses We Are All Suspects Now, her investigation into the "human cost of... more ›

Since becoming independent of United Nations trusteeship (administered by Belgium) in 1962, the east African nation of Burundi has been wracked by ethnic conflict between the Tutsi (who dominate the country's government and international trade, such as it is) and the Hutu (who constitute more than 80 percent of the country's population). In the past 10 years, more than 200,000 people have been killed in Burundi, and hundreds of thousands more have been displaced. more ›