In order to read Salon’s wonderful interview with Steven Johnson, an author admirably obsessed with emergence and urban systems, you must first click through a History Channel interstitial advertisement for its new show about plane-based killing, coyly named Dogfights.

This is the passing glance, the war seeping into the daily reading. The rendered fighter jet strafes into the audience’s crosshairs, then the hero shoots, filling the screen with a flash of red. How clinically cartoon of you. Is this distilled war-profiteering for the arm-chair general? Or is it good ole’ fashioned learn-from-mistakes Journalism? Surely there exist international policies that can bring about less of this footage for the History Channel’s stellar line-up.

Election - Nov. 7

Speaking of international policies, it seems like forever since we started staying the course with the never-so-great Decider and his Republican Party. As a willing participant in the globalized free market, isn’t it time to change the course? Early Voting is available at local schools and grocery stores but ends this Friday, Nov. 3. If you are in Travis County (most of you Keeping it Austin), then you can vote at any of these early voting locations (pdf). Of course, that is if our benevolent electronic voting machines are working properly. Bring your driver’s license, Texas ID card or voter registration. Not sure what’s up for grabs? Check the Chronicle’s coverage.

If you miss the early voting convenience, please please please make time on Election Day - Tuesday Nov. 7. So there, you got everything you need, rock the vote.

Studio 107 - Nov. 5 (3-6p)

On the smaller scale, I have four new works to show you. A series of intricate remote control button networks and a glass stack built with emerging shapes of purple, magenta and sea green 3M brand arrow flags.

You can see them starting this Sunday, when Studio 107 has its Holiday Punch opening reception featuring works by Candace Briceño, Nancy Brown (part of Open Doors Expansion), Jason Buchanan, Hunter Cross, Sarah Nix Ginn, Terra Goolsby, Baseera Khan, Leona-Scull Hons, Simeen Ishaque, Deborah Roberts, Takako Tanabe and Jessie Tong. The exhibition runs until January 1, 2007. 906 E 5th St, Austin, TX - Map and directions.

Blue Theater - Nov. 9 (10.5p-1.5a)

In addition to the recent works, I’ve been organizing an evening of music for the Complicate Everything Fall Review. The Nov. 9 music show starts at 10:30 following the night’s performance of The Assumption by Refraction Arts. Thursday is pay-what-you-can at the Blue Theater, and our show is no exception. 916 Springdale - Map and directions.

Special guests this year include San Fran’s own Marco Panella and Roger Thomasson who will perform songs from critically-hailed 2006 release Dark Side of the Cop. The Always Already start the night off, Mediums subdue with jazzy bombast and Aaron and I give you some Randy-Newman-learns-to-love-his-laptop crooners to finish. Did I mention it’s practically free? It’s also the closing night for Mass Gallery’s 20MB video show curated by Aaron Dubrow (Austin) and M.F. Tichy (NYC), so get out there and do it all in one night. Bring your extra cash to support the musicians by purchasing their CD’s.

Nov. 9 Schedule:

• 10:30 - The Always Already - mp3
• 11:30 - Dark Side of the Cop - mp3 - on tour
• 12:30 - Mediums - mp3
• 01:00 - Cross and Castillo - mp3, mp3

Moving In

My new place is cozy. Cacti for a fence and two small holes in the screen from when it swings open snagging on the mailbox. The band next door stays up nights whooping bluegrass while the red-lit house across the street throws parties. A drunk fratdaddy kicks over trashcans, while a boy dressed in drag screams on his cellphone in the middle of the intersection and a girl driving her BMW skips the stop sign. What’s not to like?

tags: election, art, austin, music, moving

Post Info

Discuss, Permalink, Discussion Feed

Wednesday, November 1st, 2006 at 9:31 pm

topic: personal