Chaos in Bangkok as groups protest a speech by the new Prime Minister. It's the credit markets, stupid. At least a quarter of world's wild mammal species are facing extinction thanks to over-harvesting and habitat destruction. Some rally attendees at McCain and Palin's speeches are keeping it classy. Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley does a radio ad for Obama in Virginia - is that why his poll numbers are up there? Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley does a radio ad for Obama in Virginia - is that why his poll numbers are up there? NPR visits Topolobampo, favorite restaurant of the Obamas. It will make you hungry for interior Mexican food! McCain to reconcile with Letterman, reports say....

We've followed Crawford, the Austin-made documentary about a tiny Texas town thrust in the international spotlight after would-be President George W. Bush relocated there to perfect his wholesome good-old-boy image, since it was but a work in progress. After a tremendous world premiere at SXSW, Crawford went on to screen at festivals worldwide and earned plenty of praise — it inspired multiple standing ovations at SXSW, had Texas Monthly calling director David Modigliani "one......

Registering to vote is simple and important. If you're a student and have moved since the first time you registered, you must update your address. If it's been a while since the last time you checked, you need to make sure your information is correct. Visit the Travis County Tax Office to register, verify your registration, change your address, find polling places, search for volunteer opportunities and much more. ...

Ifill: Palin "blew me off." Obama raises shocking possibility of Republican smear tactics. One more month. Tina Fey. Total hoot. Hollaback, Hasselbeck. Regarding chicken: cook it....

Palin gets back on track, but Biden wins debate. Pro-war group offered cash for Frats to demonstrate at VP debate. Another swing state yielded to Obama. House readies for its second bailout vote. Stocks rebounded slightly with the purchase of Wachovia by Wells Fargo. Seven-year-old found hanging from hook at Austin school may have died playing game. Schwarzenegger to U.S.: State may need $7-billion loan.......

It's looking more and more likely that KXAN will go off Time Warner Cable at midnight. APD Chief Acevedo says that ARCH should be moved because it's too close to "temptation" for the homeless. Voter registration at ARCH is up this year. Hillary Clinton will be fundraising for Democratic candidate for Senate Rick Noriega in McAllen tonight. AG Abbott suing two hotels for price-gouging during Ike....

Gov Palin preps for tonight’s debate/AP Photo/Palin CampaignIf there's a take-away from the current election season, it's that Texans love rooting for the underdog. In this case, make it the lipsticked underdog. While the rest of the country has started scratching its collective head over the selection of Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Texas conservatives seem to have embraced the Little Small Town Mom Who Could as one of their......

Senate passes bailout plan "leading us into the pit of socialism" per Senator Jim DeMint. McCain says he is "running an honorable campaign." Obama has significant lead in polls. Voter registration deadline reminder: be sure to register (or reconfirm your registration) by Monday! Steve Fossett's belongings found by California hikers. In unsurprising news, research shows children's cereal has a lot of sugar. Duh. Tiggywinkles save little Rupert.......

PatCastaldo/flickrThree debates remain before November's big election, and while the polls currently skew in favor of the Dems, nothing is for certain in this modern age of perception-shifting SNL skits and maverick Hail Mary political maneuvers. And because there's nothing quite like reveling in the democratic process with your fellow boozed-up Austinites—whether their affiliations lean blue or red—we're maintaining this list of places where you'll be able to catch the debates in a public setting.......

Who's responsible for the financial crisis? Republicans? Dems? Or a culture of unfettered capitalism? Obviously not that last one. Sarah Palin is huddled on McCain's ranch in Arizona right now, getting brainwashed (oops, we meant "prepared", of course) for that debate at the end of the week. Maybe Sarah Palin hasn't seen this video? China arrested several people it thinks are responsible for that tainted-milk scandal. Brazil is about to face criminal charges for......

"A nasty recession is possible, but the bailout will not cure that." - economist James K. Galbraith Bailout plan stalled by Republican leaders in Congress. WaMu FAIL. "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go?" - erudite statement made by GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin during her interview by Katie Couric "It makes you realize how addicted you are to convenience." - Liz Clasen-Kelly from North Carolina on the gas shortage in the Southeast More Chinese food products found to have used tainted milk in production. Swiss man becomes the first one to cross the English Channel with a jet-propelled wing....

McCain's campaign still asserts that if the mortgage bailout doesn't happen on Friday, he won't show up. But both Obama and the Commission on Presidential Debates say the debate is on. Whoever ends up debating on Friday (and you know McCain will end up there eventually, despite these shenanigans), the Alamo has got your back. Both Village and South Lamar locations will be showing the debate. We attended the Clinton/Obama debate at the South Lamar location and assume the set-up will be about the same. McCain and Obama factions will be split down the middle, although this being Austin, the Obama voters will most likely outnumber McCain voters. Laughing at bogus answers is encouraged, but yelling "You're an idiot!" to the screen might get you in trouble....

Schoolkids from Allison Elementary found a used needle in an outside restroom during their recess yesterday and played with it. 2 young soldiers from Ft. Hood arrested after joy flying(?) a stolen plane and then crashing it into some mailboxes in Killeen. Texas Supreme Court rejects Libertarian Presidential candidate. Bob Barr's lawsuit. Galveston ends state of emergency declaration, but now may go under a "state of disaster". Homeowners in Bridge City finding jellyfish displaced by Ike in their pools....

Apparently our economy is being "fundamentally reordered" and the executive branch is getting even more power than it got from the Patriot Act. Happy Tuesday! Harry Reid promises that bailout won't go through without Dems putting their thumbs on it. Unexpected side-effects of financial crunch, part 56. At least Obama and McCain agree on climate (guess Palin never got the memo). NYC property tax to go up. Et tu, George Will? McCain's proposed transition......

UT game + ACL Fest + Ike evacuees = a hard time finding a hotel or motel room for this weekend. FEMA setting up a disaster center off of 12th Street to help Ike evacuees register for aid. Rep. McCaul won't participate in a debate (hosted by the Statesman) with the two other candidates running for his current position in the House. Former staffers from Ron Kirk's Senate campaign now working for Obama. Stevie Ray Vaughan not chosen for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Bobbie Lee Nelson on playing with brother Willie and releasing her first solo album at the age of 77....

Following last night's Fantastic Fest/U.S. premiere of Zack & Miri Make a Porno, the Alamo Drafthouse hosted the final round of their year-long Air Sex Championships. The result was anything but ordinary. After the jump, we've reposted some footage that Spout captured from the evening's festivities. The potentially NSFW clip features, among other interesting things, what we can only describe as a fitting homage to our esteemed GOP Presidential+VP candidates.......

Deadline approaches for evacuees to leave Austin Convention Center. APD officers head to Houston to help police streets. Some Ike victims may not be allowed to rebuild. Polls show Palin is starting to drag down McCain. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to take "tactical steps" in dealing with financial woes. Stocks soar worldwide on U.S. action. Here is the music lineup for the Pecan Street Festival this weekend. Happy Friday to all.......

wili_hybrid/Flickr Austin firefighter files discrimination suit against the City of Austin. Hope Andrade sworn in as Secretary of State, becoming the first Latina to hold that office. Registered sex offender pretended to be Ike evacuee to get into the Delco center with his girlfriend. Impact of current economic situation on Texas investments. Four Texan National Guardsmen killed in a military chopper crash in Iraq. Billy Joe Shaver indicted in shooting at a Lorena bar last......

Central banks doing their part to help world's money markets And just how did we get into this mess, again? AP isn't handing hacked Palin emails over to the Secret Service. Rachel Maddow on McCain and the women's vote (video). Are you a C.J. or a Charlie? Ike has claimed 55 lives - 6 of those in Texas. Use of female suicide bombers growing more prevalent in Iraq.......

Global markets don't look good. Joe Biden is very disappointed. (Join the club.) Palin won't talk to the Troopergate investigators. Well, that's one way to handle it. The Bridge to Nowhere is still in the works. Why they gotta be so unkind to Willy Wonka? New iPod Nano is vaguely eco. Palin Darque.......

Texas prepares for Ike. The lipstick controversy continues.... So, Bin Laden wasn't the mastermind of 9/11? White House can't decide. 7th anniversary of 9/11 Excuse me, sir - what did you say? Woohoo! Party at the Interior Department, y'all! Good things come in small packages......

Palin has brought all the voters who only care about smushmortion out of the woodwork. Yeah, we thought we felt Rove behind this. Obama needs $$, despite his known status as an "eastern elite." Developing countries are getting more E and meth. Russians find Kenny and Cartman a bit much. Bush plans to privatize the VA. Yeah, that's working for schools, right? Now wouldn't *this* be interesting.......

Dead body found in Lady Bird lake. Hays County Sheriff's Office deputy injured in accident dies. Dell looks to sell factories worldwide. Gov. Sarah Palin has Austin ties. Heart lash out at McCain campaign’s use of “Barracuda.” Obama enlists Clinton to help counter Palin. Pop star's murder sheds light on hidden world.......

Alaska being "right next to Russia" apparently qualifies as foreign policy experience according to McCain. Jesse Jackson hospitalized. Unemployment claims up once again. So much for our "strong economy." That kitten has claws. Tell us again that global warming doesn't exist. LA City Council offers up to $500,000 to catch serial killer. Detroit Mayor pleads guilty in "Textgate" and resigns.......

Historic building in Elgin catches fire this afternoon. Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that this UT football season will bring about $142 million to our town. City of Austin holding public meetings on urban rail plan. Apartment owners suing Farmers Branch (again!) over their new ban on the rental of housing to illegal immigrants. Multiple retired judges and prosecutors from around the state and country ask Gov. Perry to stop the upcoming execution of Charles Dean Hood. Texans for Public Justice want Lt. Gov. Dewhurst's wealth investigated....

In this video of a small press gaggle earlier today at the RNC in St. Paul, Hutchison defends McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as running-mate. When asked why she didn't want to be vice-president, she says, "I didn't want to spend the next four years in Washington, and I really don't. And I really have decided I'm going to go in a different direction." Her "different direction"? Veering towards the governor's mansion . . ....

Bush visited Austin yesterday, commended Texas for our state's emergency preparations. Mandatory evacuation orders lifted for Jefferson, Orange and Hardin counties in Southeast Texas. Evacuees taking shelter from Gustav in Austin eager to return home. Two Central Texas employers announced job cuts today....

New Orleans might, fingers crossed, have dodged the (latest) bullet. Little Mrs. Anti-Earmark actually got a bunch of federal $$ for tiny Wasilla (maybe to fund the Iditarod Museum?) Ridiculous as she is, Palin brought in the bucks this past weekend. Bangkok is in a state of emergency (no, this is not about the Nic Cage movie). The Leaning Tower of Pisa is really losing its mojo. Dubai: not paradise for workers, we already......

As Gustav looks like it is on its way to New Orleans, President Bush and V.P. Cheney announced today that they will not be attending the GOP convention in St. Paul this week. Instead of making an appearance in Minnesota, Bush plans to check on emergency preparations in Austin and San Antonio when the storm is set to hit Louisiana, then will make his way to the other states affected after the storm hits....

Wells Dunbar from the Austin Chronicle (speaking of which, have you voted yet for Best of Austin? *hint, hint*) stopped by the Annie's List get-together last night for a wrap-up of the Democratic convention and chatted with some politicians in attendance about Obama's possible effect on local/state elections. ...