Some of these items are late. Have been mega-busy. We’ll make these short and sweet.

Movies

· Jette at Cinematical has been rocking on the film beat with “News From Slackerwood.” If you’re not reading it, you should be.

· In preparation for the Austin Film Festival, Christopher at Blue Note has been interviewing some of the filmmakers involved. Particularly interesting is his interview with Jay Edwards, the director of Stomp! Shout! Scream! (and editor/producer of Aquateen Hunger Force).

Music

· Shannon and Michaela of Depraved Fangirls are celebrating Rocktober with a barrage of interviews and show reviews.

· If you like your Sleater-Kinney or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with a pinch of exuberant cuteness, Australia’s The Grates, who played Emo’s Sunday night, should be your new favorite band. Download: Trampoline.

· Sound Team is vying with Voxtrot to be Austin’s most-buzzed band.

· Great article by Joe Gross about how Austin’s traditional concert venues like the Paramount have started booking more rock acts.

· Ryan Adams tapes Austin City Limits today?

Local

· Does the Statesman like Ronnie Earle? Not so much.

· In Case You Missed It: Esquire asks “Who the Hell Is Ronnie Earle?”

· Statesman editor Rich Oppel explains why the Longhorns get front page billing over the deaths of thousands in Pakistan: “Any medium plays to its strengths, and so do we. No newspaper in the world can exceed the Statesman in its coverage of Longhorns football. Any cable network, however, can do a better job on coverage of an Asian earthquake. We don’t ignore the story. We give perspective to the events of world, nation, state and city. But we play to our strengths. Hook ’em, Horns.” Also interesting was the Statesman placing the “22 Austin leaders denouncing the gay marriage ban” article on the last page of the Metro section.

· Suggestions for Austin’s school naming process have gotten a tad ridiculous (Ted Nugent and “Cool School” were suggestions).

· The Comptroller has published a list of abandoned property from financial institutions and businesses, but is auctioning off some of it on eBay.

· Parking meters in some residential neighborhoods are planned to “limit spillover parking from nearby businesses and stores, pay for neighborhood improvement projects and encourage drivers to use alternative transportation such as bikes or buses.” More Texans taking the bus to First Thursday? Yeah, right. Kelso points out the flaws in the plan.