Extreme Home Makeover--Keller

A house in my hometown, Keller Tx, is currently undergoing an Extreme Home Makeover. A visit to the home yesterday didn't yield any sightings of the designers, but the house seems to be making great progress.

I have a collection of photos from yesterdays events, but will be returning today for the big "move that bus" moment. So, I will post all of the photos tomorrow.

The one piece of juicy gossip from yesterday was concerning host Ty Pennington. Apparently, Pennington just arrived at the house yesterday (the day before the big reveal, mind you). So, part of his shtick is to change shirts from room to room to give the appearance that he has been present all week.

The magic of television.

Flight of the Conchords Premiere on Funny or Die

Our favorite duo, er--band, returns to HBO for their season 2 premiere on January 18. But if you feel like you've been waiting long enough, head on over to Funny or Die, and catch the premiere episode online beginning December 17.

Knocking a month off the wait time for the first episode is a nice gift to fans, one that I can assure you, I'll be taking advantage of.

Caroline Attack--Kiwified

With our Entertainment Journalism class coming to a close last night, I think its appropriate for a post on the future of this blog. While I hope to keep up with the entertainment buzz, and still post on a regular basis in the coming weeks, the blog will be taking a special turn in 2009.

In February, I will depart for a semester abroad in Wellington, New Zealand. At that time, I plan to take Caroline Attack into a more travel-focused direction. I intend to continue posting movie reviews, restaurant reviews etc., just often with a kiwi twist.

I'd love for my blog to become an unconventional and valuable resource for other students planning to study in New Zealand. I know I've done extensive research on what to expect, but nothing compares to hearing from someone who's actually been there and done that, and I hope to be that resource for others in the future.

Equally important, this outlet will provide my friends, family and followers with a way to stay in touch during my time abroad.

Its important to note that posting on this blog daily has been an extremely rewarding learning tool, really forcing me to keep an eye and an ear on the Austin arts scene, and I hope to continue experiencing its benefits.

My top 15 films of 2008

With award season around the corner, many lists of the year's top films have been popping up online and in print. So, I thought I would supply my own favorites List for 2008.

Note: This list only includes films I have seen, while I'm sure in weeks to come I'll be wanting to add Doubt, Frost/Nixon, the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the Wrestler etc. to the list, for now, this is it.

In no particular order,

The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Encounters at the End of the World
Milk
Wendy and Lucy
In Bruges
Son of Rambow
In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Iron Man
Synecdoche, New York
Let the Right One In
Humboldt County
Burn After Reading
Transsiberian
Visioneers

Austin Girl's Gift Guide

I'd be lying if I said this wasn't my personal Christmas list, but hopefully it can give someone a little insight on the perfect gift for the Austin girly in their life.



A Sigg graphic water bottle from REI

























Feather tights from Free People.

















The Kimchi Blue Buffalo Pintuck tunic from Urban Outfitters

























Of Montreal Gemini Tactics vinyl wall decal from Blik. A digital download of their new album, Skeletal Lamping, is included in the price of the decals.
























Toms wrap bootie in red. Each purchase of Toms shoes provides a pair for you and a pair for a child in Africa.










The Mae West Gloves from ModCloth





















A backpack tote in an owl motif from ModCloth.

Milk [Movie Review]

For many, the new Harvey Milk biopic has been a long time coming. As the first openly gay politician ever elected to major office in the United States, and the victim of an untimely assassination, Milk's life story is both inspiring and tragic.

Sean Penn doesn't just bare an eerie physical resemblance to the civil rights figure, but becomes him in every sense of the word. The transformation is incredible. But Penn offers up only one of the stellar performances in the film.

Josh Brolin plays Dan White, Milk's killer, with surprising empathy, and James Franco and Diego Luna do their real life counterparts immeasurable justice. But it is Emile Hirsch who really stands out as the best performance in the supporting cast. His portrayal of Cleve Jones is so entertaining, he comes close to outshining nearly anyone sharing a scene with him, except Penn himself.

Visionary Director Gus Van Sant was the right man for this job. The cinematography is breathtaking. The music is a perfect fit. And Van Sant's technique of blending archival footage with his own shots is so seamless it is often hard to tell if you are looking at the actors or historical figures.

I'd be hard-pressed to imagine an Oscar nomination lineup that didn't include nods for Milk in atelast the Best Ensemble Cast, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories.

A

Somnio's [Restaurant Review]

Somnio's Cafe is an inconspicuous little eatery on S. First. Blink and you'll miss the single room cafe, quietly tucked away next to Flashback Vintage, but take one bite of their inventive and earth-friendly fusion cuisine, and you will not soon forget.

The locally owned restaurant serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. The menu is very limited, but the handful of tempting appetizers and entrees all seem to pack a punch.

First, we tried the mushroom stuffed avocado appetizer, which was breaded and fried and covered in queso fresco and pecans. It was hearty and delicious. I would have been satisfied with the delicious dish as the main course.

Next, it was entree time. I opted for Nynavae's tacos, which were stuffed with fried mushroom fritters and an Asian slaw. The tacos were incredibly delicious, but I kind of wish I had opted for another item, because the tacos bared such a strong resemblance to our appetizer.

My friend and dining companion opted for the Mediterranean quesadillas. Stuffed with eggplant caponata and mozzarella, they were a yummy choice indeed.

We both were served a cup of the pumpkin soup. It was a strong orange color, topped with pumpkin seed garnish, rich and earthy with a hint of sweetness.

The menu at Somnio's is largely local and organic, and extremely vegetarian friendly.

The ambiance is cozy and low-key, but the food is vibrant and sensuous.

I'll definitely be back to try the brunch.

The other cupcake joint in town

Sugar Mama's Bakeshop: try it, you'll like it.

The new bakeshop on S. First st. is family owned and operated, and specializes in a diverse range of flavorful cupcake concoctions. The neon cupcake sign is less attention-grabbing than the giant cupcake-topped airstream on S Congress, but it packs just as much of a punch.

The cupcakes are not huge. But what they lack in size they certainly make up for in flavor and affordability.

I chose the German chocolate, which proved to be a delicious and decadent choice, though my friend's Hula (coconut with coconut cream cheese icing) was equally tasty.

Sugar Mama's also cooks up dessert bars, cookies, vegan specialties and other treats daily.

Andrew Bird announces tour dates

In support of his upcoming album, Noble Beast, Andrew Bird has announced the first leg of tour dates for 2009. And lucky for Austinites, this announcement includes a show at the Paramount.
Here's a list of the US dates.

28-Jan	CARNEGIE HALL	NEW YORK
30-Jan	THE ORPHEUM THEATRE	BOSTON
3-Feb	CLUB 9:30	WASHINGTON DC
4-Feb	THE VARIETY PLAYHOUSE	ATLANTA
6-Feb	THE PLAZA THEATRE	ORLANDO
7-Feb	HOUSE OF BLUES	NEW ORLEANS
12-Feb	THE PARAMOUNT THEATER	AUSTIN
13-Feb	THE EL REY THEATRE	ALBUQUERQUE
14-Feb	THE RIALTO THEATER	TUCSON
18-Feb	THE ORPHEUM THEATRE	LOS ANGELES
19-Feb	THE FILLMORE	SAN FRANCISCO
20-Feb	THE FILLMORE	SAN FRANCISCO
21-Feb	THE ROSELAND THEATER	PORTLAND
23-Feb	THE MOORE THEATER	SEATTLE
24-Feb	THE KNITTING FACTORY	BOISE
25-Feb	THE MURRAY THEATER	MURRAY
26-Feb	THE OGDEN THEATER	DENVER
27-Feb	SLOWDOWN	OMAHA

Noble Beast will be available in the US on Fat Possum records January 20th.

2 Minutes of the LOST Season Premiere

ABC has released a two minute clip from the season five premiere of LOST. The episode, titled "Because you left" features Kate getting an unwelcome visit from some blood thirsty lawyers. Check it out, below:



Let's hope that this season will finally carry some answers, after all the series is winding down.

"Because you left" airs January 21st.

Hilltop Views Newsroom Tour

For my video blog this week, I thought I'd give you all an inside look at the Hilltop Views newsroom. See where our University's newspaper is produced, and meet some of the dedicated and serious staff. I look forward to hearing your comments after you take this exhilarating tour.

Ginger Spice makes an ass of herself

The classy folks over at TMZ have released this photo of Ginger Spice aka Geri Halliwell sporting a buttocks-bearing dress at an English children's award show.

Looks like someone could use a mirror, or at least a perceptive friend, to look out for this kind of thing before skirting off down the red carpet.

I would love to be a fly on the wall to witness when Halliwell was made aware of the blunder. Next time, wear underpants and it wont be such a big deal.

Roadtrip Playlist

Tomorrow I will embark on the trip back to Austin after a great Thanksgiving.
I thought I'd share some of the albums I'll be cruising to on the return trip.

Jenny Lewis: Acid Tongue

Bishop Allen: The Broken String

Ra Ra Riot: The Rhumb Line

Belle & Sebastian: Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping

Chris Lilley IS Summer Heights High

Australian phenom Summer Heights High has hit the US.

The series, which swept Australia back in '07, is now airing on HBO.

Summer Heights High is an eight-part series which chronicles one term at an Australian high school. The series is shot in a satirical, mockumentary format, with Australian funny-man Chris Lilley playing the three main roles.

Lilly transforms from the effeminate and self-absorbed drama teacher Mr. G, to the vulgar, Pacific Inlander, Jonah Takalua, to the privileged and bratty teenage girl, Ja'mie King.

Three episodes in, the show is so humorous that it is depressing to know only five more exist.

Lilley also played multiple roles in another popular Australian series, We Can Be Heroes. Hopefully, Summer Heights High's international success will lead to an international distribution for this series as well.

New York gets Rickrolled

English musician, and eighties icon Rick Astley made a grand return to the stage today, with a surprise rickroll of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route. Astley appeared on the Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends float.

Kudos to Astley for breaking the parade's monotony of marching bands and Broadway musical renditions.

Watch the video below:

Who wore it better?

Kate Bosworth(left) wore this Etro ethnic-print dress with a scarf, tights, boots and a studded belt. While Kimberly Stewart went more minimal, pairing it with a wide belt, tights and studded pumps.

Who wore it better? Vote in the comments section.

Michael Cera to Play 14-Year-Old

Production is underway on the cinematic remake of the C.D. Payne's novel, Youth in Revolt. And 20-year-old Michael Cera has been tapped to play the lead role.

Cera's character, Nick Twisp is the 14-year-old son of two trailer trash parents in a see-saw marriage, and is on a crusade to lose his virginity to a girl he meets on a family vacation.

I have to admit I'm a little conflicted by Cera's casting. On one hand, I'm a fan of the novel and of Cera so it seems like a natural marriage. Of course, the six year age leap is a little odd. We'll just have to see if he pulls it off.

Film School Rejects has released the first images of the film.

The cast also includes Justin Long, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta and Zach Galifianakis.

5 American Trends to Keep an Eye on

Vampires: Hollywood films, an HBO series, Hot Topic racks and even an episode of Southpark are making vampires a cultural phenomenon usually reserved for Halloween.



Leading Lesbians: Bones and House, two of the most popular shows on Fox's fall line-up, have recently outed prominent characters, featuring them in steamy make out scenes that audiences weren't likely to see coming.




Slouchy Sweaters: Check the racks at your favorite trendy women's clothing destination, and you are likely to discover that long, slouchy sweaters are keeping girls warm this winter.



Christmas in October: People like to joke the Christmas comes earlier every year, but in 2008 the economic downturn meant major retailers rolled out the tinsel and stockings before Halloween costumes were even off the shelves. Christmas in October?



(fill in the blank) on a dime: Advertisements, promos and various media outlets are all aiming to keep nervous consumers spending, by not spending too much. Lure 'em into the stores with promises of cheap buys and maybe their lack of impulse control will be your corporate pay-off.

New favorite show: Whale wars

After a couple weeks of action-packed and emotionally charged episodes, its safe to say Whale Wars is my new favorite show.

The dedicated crew of sailor and environmentalists aboard the Sea Shepard's SS Steve Irwin troll the arctic seas in search of Japanese whalers, intervening by throwing stink bombs, boarding the ship, and attempting to strangle the boat's motor in rope.

It's like pirates of the Caribbean, for a cause. The only thing better than watching the fierce battles between the Sea Shepard conservation ship and the fleet of whalers, is watching the tension between crew members and the array of unlucky mishaps that happen on board the Steve Irwin.

It seems everything that can go wrong, will go wrong for these dedicated (if not a little loopy) whale warriors.

Twilight Review

I'll preface this review by saying that I have never read any of the books in the Twilight series, and really had little desire to see this film. However, I accompanied some friends, flocking to the theater like a fangirl, and in some ways was pleasantly surprised.

Besides the whole vampire thing, Twilight is a chick flick in every sense of the word. We are greeted with a female lead who is easy to empathize with, and a handsome, mysterious male lead--a bad boy, with a sweet side.

The high school atmosphere is easy to relate to, but the science fiction elements don't always stick. The flying scenes, for instance, don't have anything on similar films, most notably, Harry Potter.

Twilight is infused with a heavy layer of cheese and teenage idealism, but the romance is sweet, and it is enjoyable to watch. Maybe I would feel different if I had read the book and had a strong sense of the characters, but the casting seemed on point for the screenplay.


Don't take it too seriously, and the little budding teen romance alone is worth the price of admission.

B-

Brenham, TX

Tomorrow's adventure takes me to Brenham TX, a blip on the radar, but a hotspot on my map because I'll be visiting my two best friends. I believe the weekend will include a trip to see Twilight, I'm apprehensive, but expect a review to come.

Opinion: California Proposition Fights for Animals

Because we are a nation comprised of conflicting political persuasions and values, Election Day is always full of both national and localized triumphs and tragedies. And while the state of California has been in the national spotlight for the disastrous outcome of proposition eight, another statewide proposition represents an enormous victory for the most disenfranchised and often overlooked residents of this nation—animals.

The California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, known as Proposition two is a modest yet monumental measure, ensuring that farm animals have the ability to turn around, stand up, lie down and extend their limbs while caged. The initiative specifically applies to egg laying hens, pregnant sows and veal calves.

Currently, many factory farms cram hens 3-6 to a battery cage, keep pregnant sows confined to claustrophobic gestation crates for nearly the entire duration of their pregnancies and keep veal calves tethered from their necks in narrow crates.

Under the measure, which passed by approximately 63% to 37%, farms are expected to phase out pens that do not comply with the new standards by 2015.
Similar, yet less comprehensive measures have been passed in Florida, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona and throughout the European Union.

With an historic election and a controversial marriage bill on the ballot, it seems like Prop. 2 didn’t get nearly as much media attention as the top of the ticket. This says a lot about the growing practicality of animal rights. Perhaps, when voters looked at the initiative in plain language, stripped of all the pretense of high dollar propaganda, it just seemed like a common sense decision.

Animals pay the ultimate sacrifice for humans, especially those raised on factory farms; they spend their entire lives in cages and march to their deaths in slaughterhouses, only to be butchered and unpacked on grocery store shelves. And throughout all of this, they obviously never have a choice about whether they would prefer to live or die.

According to a 2003 Harris poll, less than 3 percent of the people in the United States are consistent vegetarians. Clearly, while humans no longer need meat to survive, its popularity and perceived integral position in the American diet is not waning. Therefore, we all have a responsibility to make sure these animals are treated fairly for the short amount of time they are permitted to spend on this planet.

See this viewpoint in print in this week's issue of the Hilltop Views.

Today's Playlist

Andrew Bird: Armchairs

Jenny Lewis: Acid Tongue

Belle and Sebastian: Piazza New York catcher

Cat Power: Living proof

MGMT: Love always remains

Handsome Furs: Handsome Furs hates this city

She and Him: Black Hole

The Ruby Suns: Morning Sun

Depressed? Step away from the remote!

A recent study, highlighted by the folks over at Live Science, found that 'unhappy' people watch an average of 30% more television than happy people. That's a difference of approximately 19 hours to 25 hours a week.

This is not good news for me.

Even as I type now, I have Hardball with Chris Matthews blaring in the background, I sleep with the TV on every night. In fact, my slumber suffers from the silence if this habit is compromised. I watch talk shows while I get ready in the morning, and late night shows as I doze off. I even watch the prime time shows I miss during the week online when there's a lull, and go to pseudo-illegal downloading measures to secure a couple of my favorite shows that air on premium cable channels.

Now this is embarrassing.
Depending on the season, I regularly watch Flight of the Conchords, The View, Dexter, Southpark, Hardball, Countdown, The Rachael Maddow Show, What Not to Wear, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Project Runway, Bones, Fringe, House, Lost, Entourage, Whale Wars, Monsterquest and any variety of news, entertainment and trashy reality shows if none of these titles appear in the TV guide.

Maybe silence makes me uncomfortable. I keep my TV streaming as I surf the web, do homework, put up my laundry, work out in the fitness center, clean or participate in any other distraction.

And amazingly, I'm still highly productive.


And, I feel happy.


Does the exception make the rule?

Wikipedia Random article #3

Daddy. (1989 film)

A Bollywood film about a young girl that tries to reunite with her father, but is struggling to battle alcoholism. It won a critics award for best performance.

Wikipedia Random article #2

The Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia.

The library, which is comprised of two restored 19th century townhouses, holds rare books, manuscripts and art.

Wikipedia Random article #1

I've decided to try a new blogging experiment using Wikipedia random article search. Today's post will be the first in the series, so here we go:

Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany

It was a short lived political party during the Second Reich.

"The history of the USPD began on December 21, 1915, members of the SPD fraction in the Reichstag, the German parliament, voted against the authorization of further credits to finance World War I, an incident that emphasized existing tensions between the party's leadership and the left-wing pacifists surrounding Hugo Haase and ultimately led to the expulsion of the group from the SPD fraction on March 24, 1916."


You learn something new everyday.

Let the Right One In

If you're a fan of vampire flicks but aren't in a tizzy over Twilight, check out Let the Right One in, now playing at the Alamo South Lamar.

Let the Right One in is a Swedish film, but it has been making waves a film festivals worldwide. The film focuses on the relationship between two children--Oskar a lonely boy who is often the target of school bullies, and Eli, a 12-year-old vampire.

The film evokes snippets of the famous vampire genre, but is more of an emotional tale than typical horror movie. Sure, theres blood and guts, but this film manages to communicate more about emotional pain than physical.

I won't give too much away. So, I'll just say this: believe the hype.
A-

Changeling (50 word review)

Angelina Jolie carries the heart-breaking role of a grieving mother with conviction and depth in Eastwood's Changeling. While the plot-line is moving, the fashion is booming, Jolie looks right at home in authentic and beautiful 1920's style: prominent red lips, feminine leather gloves and a characteristic wavy bob.


B+

Of Montreal @ Fiesta Gardens

Of Montreal took to the outdoor stage at Fiesta Gardens, and delighted the crowd with their musical styling and brilliantly and bizarrely choreographed sideshow.

The show, which was opened by Icy Demons, (members of Man Man) drew an enormous crowd.

Through numerous costume changes and off-the-wall scenarios, the musicians and dancers of Of Montreal were a sight to be seen. The band played for nearly two hours, covering tunes from several albums, most notably, their newest--Skeletal Lamping.

It's 11/11

I'm posting at 11:11 on 11/11.

Make a wish!

Barton Creek Square Mall> Highland Mall

Having been an Austin resident for over a year and a half, it may shock some that I had never visited Highland Mall--until today.

Barton Creek Square Mall is a comfortable 5-10 minute drive from campus depending on traffic and time of day. And while the variety of stores leaves something to be desired, the movie theater and convenient location make it a worthwhile trip.

However, my desire to visit Forever 21, an old standby for cheap and stylish mall-bred clothing, drove me out of my south Austin comfort zone.

Highland Mall, or as I have often heard it referred to as, "the ghetto mall" did a fair job of fitting the description. The stores were clean enough and stocked, but many lacked the organizational flow of newer establishments. The mall itself was small, and it was difficult to maneuver through the department stores. The parking was cramped with bus traffic.

Maybe it was the bad lighting or cramped shelves, but I only made one purchase today, an $8 belt. Hardly qualifies as a shopping spree.

Which dog should the Obama's get?

It's your turn to weigh in.

Make your suggestions in the comments section.

Fun Fun Fun Fest Volunteer Diary

Todays volunteer duties were twofold.

1) approximately seven hours at the will call and wristband tent

2) the rest of the evening patrolling the park's fence to make sure kids didn't jump over and sneak into the festival

The will call table was fast paced, we had a strong and steady crowd for at least five hours straight, but there were no major blunders and we were within earshot of one of the stages.

The territory for my second duty was a long expanse of fence in the far corner of Waterloo park, an area isolated behind a lengthy expanse of porta-potties. My only companions during this time, besides the little punks jumping the fence, were the homeless men on the other side, the occasional loners seeking quiet space to chat on their cellphones and the numerous impatient and conspicuous men who thought it was a good idea to just whip it out and pee behind the porta-potties rather than inside of them.

Perhaps my presence is not as imposing as the festival coordinators would have hoped because at least three lil' juvenile delinquents jumped over and took off running like ninjas in the night less than 100 yards from me.

Bands overheard: YACHT, Dean Deacon, Z-Trip, Dead Milkmen, Octopus Project, ALL, The National, Deerhoof, Atmosphere & the Adolescents.

bands watched: zero.

Fun Fun Fun Fest [Preview]

Tomorrow and Sunday, I will be posting about my experiences volunteering at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Waterloo Park. The lineup, which includes Bishop Allen, Dead Milkmen, Minus the Bear and Leftover Crack, can be found at http://www.funfunfunfest.com


Also, remember there is a student discount on ticket prices.

For now, I want to share a tip about where to park. There is free parking on nights and weekends at the Capital Visitors' Parking Garage, pretty much directly adjacent to the park--in fact, that is a good tip for any night on the town.

An Airedale for the Obamas

Dear Obama family,

I will pretend for a second that you are loyal followers of my blog, and throw out a suggestion. As indicated in Barack's victory speech Tuesday, your family will soon be welcoming a new addition. I saw the press conference in which Barack listed the stipulations for the new pooch.


1.) Malia is allergic, so the dog should be hypoallergenic
2.) You would prefer a shelter dog

Without overstepping my boundaries, I would like to recommend the perfect canine companion for your white house years. The Airedale terrier.

Even though Airedales grow curly long coats, they are completely hypoallergenic and shed-free. They are great with kids, and often referred to as clowns for their playful, humerus dispositions. They are regal and presidential, yet fun-loving and youthful.

Three US presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding have all owned Airedales during their time in office. Even John Wayne had an Airedale as a boy, affectionately known as "little Duke."

As the next president of the United States, I'm sure you have the clout to locate an Airedale in a shelter if you put the word out, but best of all, there is an extensive network of Airedale rescue groups, including one in Illinois.


Sure, you could get a Shih-Tzu or a Maltese--but why not get a larger, shed-free dog that can play a decent game of fetch.

My Airedale, Winston, approves this message.

Agent Orange @ RED 7

Tonight's entertainment...

Another STRUT post

Just wanted to inform all the lady readers that Austin Strut stores will be giving out 20% discount cards with any purchase beginning Friday, the 7th, while supplies lasts. Each store has 150 cards, and they will be good on any purchase until January.

Considering Strut seems to have a 30-40% off sale every 2 or 3 weeks, this additional 20% is an added bonus.

Visit their website for store locations and to sign up for the mailing list; that way, you'll be keen to these special deals.

Election Eve

Tomorrow is election day, and the whole world is watching.

And regardless of your political affiliation, lets hope Americans turn out in drones to support.

It may sound cheesy, but hey, participation is what Democracy is all about.

Trend Alert: Vampires

Maybe its the Halloween exuberance still hanging in the air, but it seems it tis' the season for blood-suckers.

HBO's original series, True Blood premiered in September, and is attracting a loyal following thus far.

And how could I even begin to report on this trend without discussing the startling success of the Twilight book series. The first installment is making its big screen debut November 21. The film hasn't even been released and already, pre-teen girls are so wound up you would think they were in line for a Jonas Brothers concert.

But its another vampire film I have my sights on, Let the Right One In, a Swedish flick about the relationship that develops between two young kids, one who happens to be a vampire, is getting outstanding reviews at festivals across the globe. Some reviewers are claiming this atypical horror movie has a great chance of winning the Best Foreign Film Oscar. (Even though it has barely graced American shores, Cloverfield director Matt Reeves is already planning a remake, but I wouldn't count on that one to be near as good. ) Let the Right One In opens at the Alamo Drafthouse November 14.

Where else are vampires popping up?

Austin Film Festival Volunteer Appreciation Party

The Austin Film Festival put on an appreciation party for volunteers at the Great Outdoors tonight.

Amidst the flora, we dined on BBQ, and watched cinematic gems like The Monster Squad and Evil Dead II. The weather was a perfect compliment to the outdoor festivities and the turnout was great.

I was delighted to win a free AFF tote bag in a raffle, and other lucky volunteers took home additional swag, one winning a coveted Producer's Badge for next year's festival.


Bruce Campbell, BBQ and free stuff: I'd call that a success!

Rocky Horror Picture Show @ The Alamo

We spent the latter half of our Halloween at an interactive performance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Alamo Village. The event included a costume contest as well as all the seemingly sacred rituals performed before and during the show.

Performers put on this show every Saturday at Midnight, and almost nightly around Halloween. You could tell the regulars were really having fun; they chanted nonsensicals and danced around in delight.

But it wasn't really my cup of tea.

There were hilarious moments, don't get me wrong. But loud obnoxious inside jokes and fleeting partial nudity definitely aren't my scene. The best part of the experience was an old standby, Alamo Drafthouse chips and queso.

It was a fun thing to do once, but I don't plan on going back. Next time I go to a movie where they talk over the dialog, rest assured it'll be a Master Pancake.

Dear Blog,

Today was a good day for a number of reasons.

1.) I found out Time Warner and KXAN resolved their dispute, meaning after nearly a month, NBC is back!
2.) I got to bust out my Amy Winehouse Halloween costume early at our night of Mischief and Mayhem, a collaborative event between Dujarie hall, the Casa, and BMH.

and..

3.) Our class articles ran in XL. Talk about cool, I raided the Statesmans on the BMH news rack to score a couple keepsake copies.

Stay tuned this weekend for Halloween commentary--


For now, it's going to be exciting to watch Conan for the first time in weeks....

If the world could vote...

Barack Obama would undoubtedly be President.

And if anyone had any reservations about that, a new website provides some proof.

http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com is a website created by three men from Iceland who were curious about seeing what the outcome of the US presidential election would be if every country in the world were given a say.

Anyone, including US citizens can go on and vote for president, and the website detects your current geographic whereabouts.

The site features a pseudo-electoral map of the world, and all countries are shaded from red to blue in accordance with their preferences.

With over 600,000 votes counted from around the world thus far, Obama is currently holding an overwhelming 86.8% of the vote. Comically, McCain's only strongholds are Albania and the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia.

But don't worry, he also holds 50% of the vote in the coveted swing state of Lesotho.

If only the World could vote in our election, pretty sad when you can trust Bahrain to make a better decision on US politics than half of us can.

$8 Sale at Hush Hush

Head on over to Hush Hush, the clearance store for Austin area Strut stores. Today, everything--clothes, shoes and accessories are only $8. The sale continues tommorow, and everything will be marked down to $6. Additionally, everything at Strut is 40% off for the next two days.

Some of the items at Hush Hush have landed there because they have minor imperfections like broken zippers and missing buttons, while others are simply overstock and maintain their mint condition.

Strut is famous for these drastic markdowns and secret sales, sometimes only applying the discount if a password is given. So, if you like a bargain, sign up for their mailing list so you'll be in the know.

My purchase today included a $90 coat, sold for $8 because its missing a button, now that's what I call a steal!