 about Chronic The New Order
Chronic is now your one-stop blog shop for buzz on politics, sports, music, film, television, gaming, technology, design, gay stuff, and – do we even need to say it? – opinion. Our blogs as you knew them (Earache!, The Score, etc.) still exist – though the news/politics blog is now called "Newsdesk" – and you can still spin off into your own zone of interest if that's your preference. But now all blog posts will also feed into Chronic, the better to keep you up-to-date on all subjects in the universe – newest on top, just like you like it. Love it, loathe it, but tell us what you think about it. – Cindy Widner
 Austin Energy has good news and bad news: there's been no major damage to any pivotal infrastructure, but the smaller-scale damage is so extensive that it still may take to Saturday to get everything up and running. Full press release after the jump. Richard Whittaker, Thu May 15, 6:17pm
Latest news from the city and Austin Energy after the storm: as of 4pm, over 10,000 residents are still without power, and that could continue throughout the weekend. Emergency facilities are being organized, and maintenance crews will be working 24 hours a day until repairs are complete (hopefully by Saturday). As for the city, citizens should note the Conley-Guerrero Senior Center and the CCSD Rosewood Zaragoza clinic are "non-operational" due to the power outage. Zilker Botanical Gardens will be closed right through the weekend, and the only City golf course open is Roy Kizer. But considering further storms are likely, golfing doesn't seem like the smartest plan. AE's full press release after the jump. Richard Whittaker, Thu May 15, 4:31pm
Henri Mazza was working late at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar when all meteorological hell broke last night. Naturally curious, Henri and his production assistant, Caitlin Stevens, along with about 20 moviegoers straggling out of the late show of Iron Man, decided to check out the storm from the, er, safety of the glass-lined lobby. We'll let Henri tell the rest: "We don’t know if it was hail hitting the windows, wind, air pressure, or what, but three big panels exploded at the same time. Fortunately we had smarter staff than I in there telling people to get away from the windows, and the small crowd of Iron Man audience members was spread around, moving away from the glass and back towards the main hallway. I was still in the lobby by Mondo Tees when it shattered, though, and apparently it’s just dumb luck that no one was hurt – this morning there was glass embedded in the mural on the wall opposite, and a shard of the window took out one of our ordering computers at the lobby bar." Dumb luck, 1; Hailstorm, 0 Well, maybe more of a draw.
Kimberley Jones, Thu May 15, 4:18pm
MORE:
Saturday night, Tim Mahoney and Harrison Keller qualified for a runoff election in the race for Austin Community College Board of Trustees, with the former getting 48.5% of the vote and the latter taking 33%. Today, Keller decided to withdraw, and issued this statement: "Over the past few days I have reviewed the election results, and I have learned that the cost of the upcoming runoff for Place 1 on the Austin Community College Board of Trustees could cost the college up to $400,000. Given that I joined this race to expand educational opportunities for our community and to make sure that taxpayers' money is spent as efficiently and effectively as possible, I think this money would be better spent on ACC's educational programs.
Lee Nichols, Thu May 15, 2:53pm
Last year, Low Line Caller added vocalist Marc Farina (of Black Before Red) to its lineup, accenting the group’s previous sweeping, Explosions in the Sky styled-instrumentals with a lyrical depth that pitched comfortably into its sound. The group still swells in epic and anthemic proportions, but tightly wound and subdued with a mellow drive. LLC recently wrapped work on its first EP with the new vocals, Hi Def Soft Core, which is available for download here. They're hoping to find a label to release it officially by the end of summer.
Low Line Caller has often added a visual element to live shows, with video projections accompanying the group’s performance. Along with the new EP, they've released three videos, all clips from black and white films that cast the songs in uncanny contexts. Watch the videos for "Heartstrings Playing Notes," "Built Over Gasoline,” and “Killing the Cool” after the break. Doug Freeman, Thu May 15, 2:14pm
MORE:
News from the runway: RuPaul will host a new reality show that explores the illusion of reality (or reality of illusion?), called RuPaul's Drag Race. Helloooooo? Where our faboo Austin ladies at? Come on, darlings, there is still time for you to go online and submit your sashay on the runway.
Kate X Messer, Wed May 14, 11:11pm
MORE:
Queerty has a most excellent two-part blog epic detailing all the potential hazards around the DNC's "gay delegate goals." Check out Part 1 here. Check out Part 2 here.
Kate X Messer, Wed May 14, 10:20pm
MORE:
Yes, I'm completely late for the trend. Trouble with the video feed. But in case you didn't know: Design Within Reach has been sponsoring some damn cool, totally local events lately. Their recent Material+Design+Function 2008 competition, a showcase of eco-conscious (but stylish) furniture, was crawling with giddy design freaks. Of interest are welder-architect Ann Armstrong on her material-saving lamps and Carrie Donovan-ish Best Design winner Janice Abrams, celebrating her triumphant, multifunctional bench. But perhaps most notable was the eloquence of mod mavens free-associating on the term "Austin design":
Cindy Widner, Wed May 14, 7:15pm
MORE:
Official attendance for the Austin Aztex home opener last Saturday has been announced as 1,497. That blows away most predictions, and it sounds pretty accurate, based on how crowded the stands felt. As well as everything went, plans for further improvements are afoot, I'm assured, by both the team and a nascent supporters group, largely centered around making more fan noise. No official word from the Aztex, but I'm led to understand that if you show up with a drum, and the will to bang it, they'll treat you right. Next up: the DFW Tornadoes, Saturday, May 17, 7:30pm at Round Rock High's Dragon Stadium, just off I-35 and FM 620. $8, $5 for kids. This is the third of four U.S. Open Cup qualifiers for the Aztex, who currently lead that race. Below: Euro week in review/preview. Champs League, FA Cup, and more. Nick Barbaro, Wed May 14, 6:36pm
For those of you looking at the West Virginia Democratic Primary, the interpretation of the results has been pretty clear: that even with a landslide win, the Hillary Clinton candidacy needs to seat Florida and Michigan at the convention (even though neither seems to back a full seating), get statehood for Guam, and convince educated voters to hand back their degrees. But what about the results themselves? Clinton 67%, Obama 26%. Which equals 93%. Who got that missing 7%? Yup, John Edwards, who hasn't even been in the race in three and a half months. Oh, by the way, guess which Republican took West Virginia back in February (hint, it wasn't the GOP nominee)? Oh, yeah, Mike Huckabee.
Richard Whittaker, Wed May 14, 5:51pm
Agnes Varnum was kind enough to alert us to two wildly different, but distinctly cool-sounding screenings that the Austin Film Society's putting on in the very new future. First up to bat is the Paramount premiere of Rick Linklater's Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach, his feature documentary about beloved UT men's baseball coach Augie Garrido, the winningest coach in NCAA history. The show's on June 3, and proceeds will benefit in part the Boys and Girls Club. The second is a Rolling Roadshow sneak of the Duplass Brothers' Baghead out at Hamilton Pool – certain to up the creep-out factor to the comedy/horror hybrid. The Duplasses will be on hand for the event, where there'll be campfire snacks available for purchase. Want s'more? (Sorry, we couldn't resist.) Advance tickets for the June 12 show are available here, along with details about the limited number of 4-course dinner VIP tickets available. Incidentally, Baghead will open in Austin theatres on June 13, in advance of New York and L.A. Because that's the kind of trendsetting town we call home …
Kimberley Jones, Wed May 14, 5:25pm
Two announcements from UT's Harry Ransom Center landed in our in-box this morning detailing acquisitions both big and small – although I suppose when you're talking about authors of this stature, no acquisition counts as too small. The first is the addition of two unpublished letters to the HRC's pre-existing Tennessee Williams collection. Both letters are written by the lauded American playwright to Pancho Rodriguez Gonzalez, who inspired the character of Stanley Kowalski in Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire and was, as the HRC's press release puts it, Williams' "former intimate" (a rather coy moniker for a man who, according to Donald Spoto's 1994 biography The Kindness of Strangers , was on the losing end of a passionate and devoted affair with Williams). Kimberley Jones, Wed May 14, 4:56pm
MORE:
"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" – Mark Twain, Letter to New York Sun, 1897 Despite what's been seeded on the rumor mill, I have not been fired from the Chronicle. Or anything close. Amazing how those unconfirmed allegations do fly around during council campaign season!
Katherine Gregor, Wed May 14, 4:29pm
It is with a heavy heart that your humble Gay Place passes this message from our friend, writer Abe Louise Young on to you: Maya Katz, friend to many, true sweetheart, and soul seeker, passed away on 4/29/08 at age 31. Maya came to Austin to volunteer her time for Katrina relief in 2005, and stayed until 2007. She came out in Austin, and became a regular at lesbian events, dog parks, and Foodies gatherings. Fluent in Hebrew, Spanish, and English, Maya could coax anyone into conversation. She left her earthly body in California, but her kind spirit flames on. We love you, Mayita. A memorial gathering will be held this weekend in East Austin. Sun., May 18, 3pm. Private location; call for details., 653-6539.
Kate X Messer, Wed May 14, 3:26pm
MORE:
Press release from the Travis County clerk's office:
Lee Nichols, Wed May 14, 12:44pm
|
|
|
|
 politics, opinion, and other news staples
 film, tv, tech, and gaming
 austin music blog
 chronicle sports blog
  chronicle on design
|
