BurntOrangeReport points out a nice article on the KVUE site, applying the truth test to a recent anti-Donna Howard campaign ad. I’d like to see a lot more of this from local and national media, especially during campaigns. And as they’re also pointing out, early voting has already begun for that state house seat.
So, I said I’d get back with a review on Saturday after checking out Rude Mech’s GYWO Friday night and now it’s Monday. I should know better than to set myself deadlines.
Austinist did a nice recap of the local reviews and one of their own. I wasn’t as put off by the flashbacks as the Austinist kids were, the overhead projector is genius and I agree with Katherine Catmull’s assessment of the show (and not just because she’s my next-door neighbor):
The audience responded with the drunken, desperate laughter of people in a spiraling plane. I left exhilarated.
If you’re already familiar with the strips, go to the show anyway. It didn’t bother me that I already knew many of the lines or scenes. In fact, having people do them live added to them and made them even funnier. And, it probably would’ve busted the budget, but they should’ve had someone dress up as Voltron.
Bottom line: you’ll really be kicking yourself next week if you don’t check it out. The last four shows are this Friday and Saturday, 8pm and 10pm. You’ll probably want to purchase tickets in advance either by phone or online as all performances have been selling out.
Rob Fergus aka Birdmeister has a few posts today about local bird life, focusing on owls, Monk Parakeets, and Hornsby Bend. He’s also got updates on the search for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, a bird thought to be extinct (more here). He’s apparently returning next month for a workshop on Purple Martins.
I haven’t ever noticed the Monk Parakeets myself. I’ll be on the lookout for them from now on. It’s an interesting story. I’m always fascinated by transplanted species stories. It seems like you only ever hear about the ones that are causing trouble.
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Patrick from SXSWBaby, a community blog for this year’s SXSW, posted a Google Maps implementation of local wireless hotspots based on the list from Austin Wireless City.
It’s fairly complete, although the Little City locations are missing. Head over there and let him know what’s missing. Is there a locally-owned coffee shop in town that doesn’t have free wireless?
Since the SOTU address earlier this week, the fur’s been flying about US House Rep. Henry Cuellar. He’s currently represents District 28 which reaches into Hays county and includes San Marcos and parts of San Antonio. It’s not techically Austin, but it’s damn close. Cuellar’s challenger next month is Ciro Rodriguez.
The GOP didn’t field a candidate this district because Cuellar, although listed as a democrat like his challenger, is essentially a republican in the way he votes. Check out both men and make up your own mind.
DailyKos has three posts on this race over the last couple of days and here’s a shot of Cuellar and Bushie at the SOTU address. How eerily Godfather, Part II. “I know it was you, Fredo.”
Update: Off The Kuff enters the fray.
One of my favorite science blogs, Pharyngula, points out that Darwin Day is coming up and, in a preceding post, gives Austin props because of a letter to the editor in today’s Statesman. Hooray for Darwin, who, coincidentally, was born and raised in the same town as my father’s family and hooray for editorals that counter the opinions of our current governor.
Anybody know of any Darwin Day celebrations here in Austin? A quick look on the Darwin Day site and on Google turned up nothing.
I counted no less than seven articles from the Statesman related to a possible flu pandemic on Saturday. What gives? I know there’s a Chicken Little/Avian Flu joke in there somewhere. Somebody help me out. And what’s with the topics they chose?
The previously mentioned Rude Mechanicals production of Get Your War On has extended it’s run. It will now go until February 11th instead of February 4th as originally planned and they’ve added a second 10pm show on some nights. These all appear to be selling out, so you’d better get moving if you want to see it. I’ve got tickets for Friday night and will report back to you, faithful Metroblogging readers, on Saturday.
I don’t make it up to Round Rock very often myself. Hell, if I didn’t work just north of 183 and Mopac, I’d probably never make it above 2222, but I digress.
It appears that Saradora’s, the downtown Round Rock coffee shop, is closing. You’ll recall that Saradora’s hosted a drag show back in September, something that caused a much larger uproar than I ever would’ve thought in this day and age. There I go overestimating my fellow man again. You’d think I’d have learned by now. Amy of Amy’s Ice Cream apparently has her eye on the location, but she says “I don’t know if Round Rock’s ready for us”.
Yeah, all that crazy hat wearin’ and ice cream throwin’ is a little to out there for Round Rock. Best just to welcome Baskin Robbins and their plan for domination of the local ice cream market. Good luck with that.
I don’t know what happened, but there’s a Chevy Cavalier-looking grey car with it’s trunk bashed flat and a smashed front-end in the left northbound lanes of 183 at Mopac. It was there when we went to lunch over an hour ago and it’s still being cleaned up now. The passenger compartment looks pretty much intact, but the people inside are almost certainly at the hospital right now. Hope they’re ok.