• No go for Seoul on talks with North Korea
• A China stealth fighter? We'll believe when we see it.
• Staff moves, and departures, at the White House.

• Price of freedom for American hiker in Iran: $500K in cash
• White House hopes GOP leaders are serious about extending tax cuts
• Hurricane season continues: Igor now a Category 4 storm; Tropical Storm Julia forms

• Pakistani Taliban leader alive, threatens US attacks
• In the Gulf Coast, an “underground volcano of oil”
• White House criticized for response to oil spill

• Obama: Afghanistan needs 34,000 more of our troops.
• Seattle police shooting suspect has been killed.
• Now the White House party-crashers are denying their crash?

• Civilian goals still unmet in Afghanistan
• Two Americans share Nobel economics prize; this is the first year a female has been awarded the prize for economics.
• Insurance industry advocacy group claims premiums will rise under healthcare reform

• Latest news on the attacks in Mumbai.
• Condi's compliment to Sen. Clinton.
• Facebook status update: I'm anorexic

At yesterday's "Texas-sized Town Hall" at the Austin Convention Center, Senator Hillary Clinton's media entourage was forced to work out of a men's bathroom in a nearby community center. "It was immediately interpreted as something of a metaphor for the Clinton campaign's attitude to the press: With Sen. Hillary Clinton at Austin's convention center for 'a Texas-sized townhall,' her media entourage was taken to its work space — in a men's room of a separate community center." A campaign representative was quick to apologize, saying, "These accommodations should in no way be taken as a commentary on the quality of our media coverage.” Still, too late for the ensuing shit storm. more ›

Admittedly, the Democratic delegate selection process in Texas is ridiculous, especially to casual voters who don't hold a particular allegiance to either candidate—or, in this case, the exact type of swing voters that each campaign is now clamoring to bring to the polls next Tuesday. more ›

CNN today announced that Campbell Brown, NBC News' White House correspondent during President George W. Bush's first term and host of a new prime-time news program that's set to debut this month, will anchor next Thursday's debate. CNN chief national correspondent John King and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos will serve as panelists asking questions of the candidates during the debate. more ›

Photo by Pat Rioux on flickr Wanna see the Cowboys game tonight and don't know anyone with the NFL network? Local sports bars are getting ready for what could be their busiest night this year. Former Chester's site to house a community-service-oriented Christian congregation. Currently only one in five 5th graders who fail the TAKS are made to repeat the grade. Father of UT student killed in 1996 accident doesn't think the driver needs to... more ›

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan blames President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for efforts to mislead the public about the role of White House aides in leaking the identity of a CIA operative. Police Chief: "Missing Student Ignored Due to Race." A drunken man broke into a central London park and attempted to have sex with a fence: Daniel French, 24, made "sexual motions" towards metal railings in Leicester Square Gardens... more ›

The Red Sox has permeated nearly every facet of Bostonist's lives. When they're not live-blogging the games, waxing poetic about the games, thanking Curt Schilling for his splendid work, or telling Dane Cook to watch his hair, they're watching certain presidential candidates hop on the Red Sox bandwagon (sorry, Gothamist). The Sox are so branded on the local brain that people are using the Series to spice up their sex lives. Speaking of spice, Bostonist... more ›

As it gets closer to Halloween for LAist, a contributer recollects her tale of staring down the serial killer, Richard Ramirez, otherwise known as the Night Stalker. Must think happy thoughts -- okay, free organic chocolate chip cookies for Los Angeles -- now that's a happy thought. Other happy Los Angeles thoughts include an interview with Jack Kehler of The Big Lebowski (he was the Dude's landlord), a beautiful and magical photographic moment in Venice... more ›

It is often said that the sign of a true master painter is how he or she chooses to deal with space and so-called "negative space." Amateurs feel compelled to fill up every inch of the canvas with detail; those more confident in their craft are able to leave empty space. Similarly, writers like Kafka and Hemingway were often acknowledged for what they had left unsaid. Hemingway so mastered the practice of omission that he... more ›

Swedish pirates turn the tables on Big Media! Arrr! Iranian Prez Ahmadinejad speaking at Columbia University today. Myanmar: Buddhist monks stage largest anti-government demonstrations in 20 years. $100 laptop to hit market in North America this fall. The White House switches its strategy on having peace talks with "evil" countries. The Governator is calling for a boycott of firms who do business with Iran. Study: Less sleep = more dreams... more ›

F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” ...(but) F. Scott never met our president. more ›

[This review courtesy of new Austinist contributor Anna Hanks! -Ed.] As much as we'd like to change a few things about our first time, we regret we’ll never be able to repeat the experience. We also can’t change history, so catching the currently playing, slick incarnation of the Rude Mechanicals' Get Your War On also wasn't our first time. (We reviewed the show last January as well.) Directed by Shawn Sides, Get Your War... more ›

Separated at birth?Two weeks ago, the Statesman's new-ish resident fashion fella, Marques G. Harper, wrote an innocent little style article in which he happened to compare the president's recent vacation attire as "more like 'Walker, Texas Ranger' than a sweaty, tough ranch hand." OMGWTF, screamed an outraged White House, which promptly contacted Harper several days later. Evidently, Dubya—who seems to care little about his sub-30% approval rating—"read" the article and was, according to the Washington... more ›

Congress votes to expand the White House's wiretapping free-for-all. Exercise, it turns out, doesn't have to completely suck. Man pleads "I was sleepwalking" to rape charges, actually succeeds. Wanna get a kid to eat something? Wrap it in a Big Mac wrapper. Giuliani's own daughter is voting for Obama. Chicago Tribune music critic sums up Lollapalooza 2007. Thinking of getting married? Oprah'll change your mind.... more ›

Town Lake will be officially renamed to "Lady Bird Lake" after the Austin City Council meets this morning. Sponsored by Mayor Will Wynn, the proposed ordinance comes in response to massive public requests that the City honor Lady Bird Johnson's legacy of environmental advocacy. "Numerous citizens have contacted my office suggesting ways that the City should honor her memory, including the most obvious of renaming Town Lake," wrote the Mayor in a statement issued after... more ›

Lady Bird (Claudia Alta Taylor) Johnson was the oldest living former First Lady before her death this afternoon in Austin. The widow of LBJ will be fondly remembered for her love and work for the environment (promoting the highway beautification bill, raising money for Town Lake Park, and co-founding a national wildflower center). She had not been in top health since her first stroke in the early '90s, but still made rare public appearances around... more ›

You can check iPhone availability at local Apple stores before heading out to buy one. Both the Domain and Barton Creek locations in Austin are stocked up--for now--so it's about time to get in line. Bring your sleeping bag--or, better yet, pay someone to wait for you. In case anyone still cares about the iPod, researchers broke down the parts and labor costs by country. Can't go more than 3 hours without checking your... more ›

In celebration of its 150th birthday,the American Institute of Architects (AIA) surveyed over 1,800 randomly selected Americans in late February to compile a list of the 150 Favorite Works of Architecture in the United States. The AIA created a panel that narrowed down the options to 248 structures, which included the Empire State Building, the White House and the Washington National Cathedral. The University of Texas' own Battle Hall rounded out the list at... more ›

You may not know it, but you've loved Fred MacMurray since childhood. Like the early careers of Kurt Russell and Jodie Foster, MacMurray was perhaps best known as a Disney contract player for his work in films like "The Absent-Minded Professor" and "The Shaggy Dog." But there's an impressive darker side to MacMurray's acting that can only be seen in his films with auteur Billy Wilder. Last year, Fred's daughter Kate MacMurray presented the noir... more ›

House Democrats have unveiled legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of next year. We are pretty sure this will be as powerful as their non-binding resolution against the war in Iraq. Republican Sen. John Carona of Dallas and Democratic Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston want to legalize casino gambling in Texas. Austin City Council is expected to give the green light to the $2.5 million project for... more ›

If you asked us what Richard Kelly’s 2001 sci-fi/thriller/mystery masterpiece Donnie Darko is about, we’d probably answer with something utterly inadequate like, “Um—it’s about a teenager, and a creepy bunny, and the end of the world”. But we’d also suggest that the only way you’ll ever understand what it's about is to watch it. This weekend, you’ll get the chance to do just that as the Alamo Drafthouse presents a special screening of the cult... 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 ›

One of Austin’s most thought-provoking events returns next year, as Spark: KLRU’s Engaging Speaker Series brings some of the best minds in contemporary sociopolitical society together for five evenings of dialogue. An Austinist favorite, the series offers a chance for citizens to engage directly with experts on issues with a global impact, social significance and community relevance. Spark returns to the wonderful setting of the Paramount Theatre for a series of evenings that feature... more ›

From the NYTimes: Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the hard-driving and super-confident Pentagon boss who came to symbolize President Bush’s controversial Iraq policy, is resigning, President Bush announced today. Mr. Bush, appearing at the White House the day after the Republican Party suffered sweeping defeats in Tuesday’s midterm elections, said he and Mr. Rumsfeld had had “a series of thoughtful conversations” and agreed that “the time is right for new leadership at the Pentagon.” Rumsfeld... more ›

It's the not-too-distant future—fewer than 1.5 White House Administrations from today—and women have lost all reproductive rights. Sexual deviance is defined in broad terms; lesbianism, promiscuity, and BDSM are right out. Committing such acts leads to incarceration and, ultimately, sterilization. This is the scene set by Ring Rip Rent, a new work penned by local playwright Martha Lynn Coon and currently in production at The Vortex. Featuring several high-spirited performances, the production is an... more ›