Opinion

Austin Drivers: Put the Phone Down

By Stephanie Myers / May 13, 2013

As I recently walked on the sidewalk down Burnet Road, about a mile from my house, several cars passed me; I noticed one driven by a man who was clearly looking down at his cell phone.

Shoot First, Aim Later, in West

By patjdixon / May 2, 2013
I attended the Texas Tribune morning conversation on Earth Day, when (naturally) the subject was supposed to be the environment. But on the heels of the tragedy in West, it turned into something else.

Will the Austin Bubble Burst?

By Stephanie Myers / May 1, 2013

Austin has been experiencing unprecedented growth more or less since the 1970s, but especially since the 1990s. The population has more than doubled since then, while housing prices and the cost of living continue to rise.

Let’s Become a City of Walkers

By Stephanie Myers / April 23, 2013
In a city as fit as Austin is, it’s always strange to me that people don’t walk more here. I think part of the reason is that Austin isn’t a very walkable city yet, but part of it is the car culture that perpetuates in Austin and its surroundings.

DA Lehmberg Should Step Down, Except for the Fact That....

By Rob Patterson / April 22, 2013

Amidst all the big news last week, one local incident also managed to make headlines here: Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg's DWI arrest.

Opinion: Counter Service Takes the Fun Out of Dining Out

By Stephanie Myers / March 27, 2013

There’s a trend among Austin restaurants right now that I really wish would end. It confuses customers, it makes for a hurried experience, and it takes away the “luxurious” aspect of dining out. It’s the counter service model.

"Weird" Jumped the Shark; Let's Keep Austin Unique

By Rob Patterson / March 22, 2013

It was a good and useful idea at the time: "Keep Austin Weird." Now, some dozen years later, does it still make any sense as a civic slogan?

What’s a Background Check?

By patjdixon / March 14, 2013
We are told that the public overwhelmingly supports a universal background check on any gun purchase. Such a law would force everyone selling a gun to run a background check on an individual buying a gun in the United States before exchanging the gun for pay.

A Modest Proposal: Funds Follow the Student

By patjdixon / March 2, 2013

 

Nearly every two years, there is a giant sucking sound coming from the round dome in Austin.  Yes, sometimes the legislature does suck.  

The cause of the sucking tends to be focused on a single issue: school finance.  

HBO's "Girls" does nothing for me. A Mid-Season 2 Review

By Jenn Studebaker / February 15, 2013
Maybe it’s being in my early thirties. Maybe it’s that I was not born into money or privilege. Maybe it's that I'm an Austinite and not a New Yorker.

Opinion: Population Growth Isn't All Bad

By Stephanie Myers / February 11, 2013

Throughout the history of the United States, new arrivals to this country have told everyone arriving one minute after they did to stop coming.

Is Christianity Good for Mankind?

By patjdixon / February 9, 2013
This was the question addressed by conservative Christian Dinesh D’Souza and objectivist atheist Andrew Bernstein in a lively debate Friday at UT.

Protecting Schools with More Heat May Be Harder Than You Think

By oldschool / January 31, 2013
In the wake of the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary, a vigorous debate is in progress about all things guns. It is a shame that it took at event like this for America to focus on how bad the problem has become.

Ending Austin's 'Meetingopoly'

By Julio Gonzalez Altamirano / January 28, 2013

This past November Austinites replenished our municipal democratic practices by shifting towards geographic districts and moving elections from May to November.  However, much work remains to be done to ensure that city government is truly open to the community's diverse perspectives.

Earth to Lance: Damage Control Ain't Contrition

By Rob Patterson / January 15, 2013

Sources say Lance Armstrong came clean to Oprah Winfrey about his doping during an interview with her here in Austin on Monday. No surprise, really. The Oprah or Barbara Walters confessional is by now a modern American public relations ritual.

SXSW Music

After 26 Years SXSW Still Rocks the Ides of March (Despite the Hassles)

The volunteer at the sign-in desk looked young enough to be my kid, 25 years old, tops. He smiled brightly as he looked at my name on the badge and handed it over.

“So...

SXSW 2013 Best Performances - Stephanie's Picks
SXSW Showcase Quest - Two Nights on the Musical Town
Bands and booze: Sums up SXSW, right?

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SXSW Film

Filmmaker Interview: The Cast and Crew of "Zero Charisma"
Filmmaker Interview: Caleb Johnson and Kara Durrett of "Root"
Filmmaker Interview: Kyle Matthews of "Charlie Hughes"
Filmmaker Interview: Halil Deniz Tortum of the SXSW Global film "Zaiyat"

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Filmmaker Interview: Lola Bessis and Ruben Amar of "Swim Little Fish Swim"
Filmmaker Interview: Jason B. Kohl of "The Slaughter"
Filmmaker Interview: Adam Rifkin and Scott Anderson of "Reality Show"
Filmmaker Interview: Dayna Hanson and Dave Proscia of "Improvement Club"
Simon Klose of "The Pirate Bay: Away From Keyboard" Thinks You're Actually a Pretty Nice, Generous Person
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SXSW Interactive

"Minority Report" Controller for Sale at SXSW Interactive
I don’t often get excited by hardware, but getting to try the Leap Motion Interactive Controller felt like walking right into "Minority Report." Actually, it was even better.
South by Swag
Tip: Visit the Future at SXSW Create - Free and Open to the Public
Badgeless? Fake Your Way Into a SXSW Unconference
Who's Coming to SXSW? Tim Berners-Lee! Tim Berners-Lee!
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You don't have to be a circuit judge or work for the Washington Post to have an Austin story or view. We're hear to let you rant and rave - whether it's an opinion on the Austin community, an editorial on local politics or a warning about invading hipster zombies.

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