The Austin Chronicle 2009-01-23

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by  The Austin Chronicle

V O L U M E 2 8 ★ N U M B E R 2 1 J A N U A R Y 2 3 , 2 0 0 9
The Informant
Revolutionary to Rat:
nd The Uneasy Journey
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BY DIANA WELCH • P.24
THE ARTS Born Again: Bass Concert Hall FOOD Not That CIA SCREENS Austin Jewish Film Festival Preview MUSIC David Garza’s Euphoria
MUSIC POLL BALLOT P.93
SEE austinchronicle.com FOR BREAKING NEWS, DAILY LISTINGS, TAPE-HEAD STREET CRED, UNRAVELING WITH LOS STRAITJACKETS, LAST-CHANCE MUSIC POLL BALLOT, AND HOPE REPORTS FROM EVERYONE
contents
PUBLISHER
VOL. 28, NO. 21 (cid:40) JANUARY 23, 2009 Nick Barbaro
EDITOR
Louis Black
SENIOR EDITORS
MANAGING EDITOR Cindy Widner FILM Marjorie Baumgarten
ARTS Robert Faires MUSIC Raoul Hernandez
NEWS Michael King NEWS MANAGING EDITOR Amy Smith
FOOD Virginia B. Wood SCREENS, BOOKS Kimberley Jones
SPECIAL ISSUES, GUIDES, INTERNS Kate Messer
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
NEWS Nora Ankrum MUSIC Audra Schroeder
CALENDAR
vote! 2008-2009 Music Poll Ballot, ARTS LISTINGS Wayne Alan Brenner COMMUNITY LISTINGS James Renovitch
p.93 ASST. LISTINGS Anne Harris
STAFF WRITERS
Wells Dunbar, Katherine Gregor, Margaret Moser, Lee Nichols, Marc Savlov,
Jordan Smith
food CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
4 PAGE TWO Up, Up, and Away 23 THE HIGHTOWER REPORT Why the TV EYE Belinda Acosta OFF THE RECORD Austin Powell
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bite, and more Grocery; Event Menu: Jan. COVER PHOTO BY JANA BIRCHUM PLAYING THROUGH Thomas Hackett
24 THE INFORMANT Revolutionary 24-26; and Food-o-File PRODUCTION
news tBor arnatd:o Tnh De aurnbeyasy journey of 40 SUEÑOS LATINOS Promoting CWREEBA DTIIRVEE CDTIORERC BTrOiaRn J aBsaornry Stout PRODUCTION MANAGER Mark Gates
Latin American cuisines GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Tim Grisham, Shelley Hiam, Carrie Lewis,
13 A Lesson in False Confessions; BY DIANA WELCH at the new San Antonio music STCAhFrFi sP HLOinTnOeGnR, ALPizH OERsSti nJogh, nD oAungd eSrts. oAnm, Jeannta Birchum
Reed Loses Another Appeal; Read Darby’s letter admitting to Culinary Institute of PROOFREADERS Sarah Jean Billeiter, Mark Fagan, Darcie Stevens, Kristine
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14 CITY HALL HUSTLE And They’re Off 31 Austin Punk Shakes Up Arthouse; Restaurant Guide 54 TGEoXuArdS sP’ LHAaTyTmERaSk eTrh! ea nd ACPLCohOriUli liWNpTsh ,Ei tXLleEoyCis,U LRTiIziVc WEhSwi tiJhneeefrfs Carlyon, Ali Garnel, Elizabeth Nitz, Angela Specht,
16 BOYN WTHEEL LLSE GDEU NSBeAnRate Fight: AathnLeOd ’FsCa lOta spLseairdcaya lS FCrwooemme tpSeaninnsgi eiUnspg K PeBeSp ; s47c Breneicioe Denl Tosro on Che; aSfr hoComht ,r Uispmtloueps, h nWeerow Co rpzoylashtset elLmrivsee t , RAAMDDEATVVRAEEKIRRLETT TOIIISSPNIIEGNNR GGDA ICATRSOIEOSOCNIRSTSDOT MIARNN AAETNTr AiBOnGRr aEC CRno dhlTlreoiieasbrut ii xnG aTa otJeuuPsrpvRsilOoleMnOTIONS MANAGER Logan Youree
WZehroa?t’;s STuwnos-Tehttiirndgs ToYf CL:e Wssi lTl hIta n 32 HALL OVERHAUL A renovated aSnisdn eRtetmembering Ana tBhree aAkrsc,h Pibuabldlics, OTf fBeinrdd e&r st,h e CHCPRiaeOtpN HeTerO,r UrDiRnaAgnG,i EeM lSlaea rPrisarshaa dB oKu,i slEgemor,r ielNy, i cEPolrleleevn oC Msatas, tsLatiesnano bnSr, aoNwoakad,y iLaai, n EAhlli iaNssog,nu C yShehaner, lpeMhsae Hlroder,ii deA rsichkle, y
Stick?; and More Bchaasnsg reedopens to a world much 48 SECULAR CINEMA IN THE Randy Weeks, and a tribute PRSOhMeOrwTIoOoNdS; DpIhRoEtCoTgOraRp/hPeErRsS: OENriAcL SL/aCcIhReCyU, LMAaTItOthNe Dwa Wn eHdagrwdoicokd
20 MWEaDveIA: WCoAvTeCrHs KthXeA NN eBwuscks the BY ROBERT FAIRES HNOoLaYh LSAtNoDll mSacnre teanlkwsr itaebro ut to the Crack Pipes CSLELEGANSAIOSL IRNF ICOELTDAISCS DESISIRF JEIeCEsDTsO AiRcC aCC aONsUesNsidTby iE tFXtrEaCzUieTr I V EC BLAriSaSnIF CIEaDrSr COORDINATOR Michael Bartnett
22 REEFER MADNESS Ill Will 35 BOOK REVIEWS Things I’ve Been how to make a movie about 57 NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLCAaSpSeIF, IJEaDn AeC GCOibUsNoTn ,E XBEoCbUbTyI VLEeSa Ythasmine Anderson, Stephanie Boeke, Jessica
Silent About by Azar Nafisi; and Le Jerusalem without taking on Fluorescent yogurt, the UK’s NATIONAL ADVERTISING The Ruxton Group NATIONAL SALES DIR. Susan Belair
Read the DEA’s 118-page Corbusier by Nicholas Fox Weber 2,000 years of tumult Lap Dancing Association, MIDWEST SALES DIR. Stephen M. Lee SOUTHWEST SALES DIR. Terri Smith
rMaeuajsestcisntaicochnhr oulenstiecttelters . ctpoor moUf/newisveseboresr xiLttyry aloef Craker 36 AFTER A FASHION Stephen pon- 49 BTVY EJOYSE HM RaOnSicE NMBeLnATT Iakned’s mtroaruematized inmates, OCSUFOBF SMFCiRIcIhCPaTEeIOl NSSScT hCwAaasFrsza F ndra Pearce CCROENDTIRTO MLLAENRA GLiEzR F crainndkyl insoo
ders self-immolation ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Samantha Jenkins
BY BELINDA ACOSTA INFO CENTER Fernando Martinez, Cassandra Pearce
BY STEPHEN MACMILLAN MOSER SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR Rebecca Farr
ASST. SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR Frederick Stanton
SPECIAL EVENTS Elizabeth Derczo
calendar back CIRCULATION
Erik Conn, Perry Drake, Joy Fairchild, Tom Fairchild, Ruben Flores, Brent
Malkus, Michael McKenzie, Grant Melcher, Paul Minor, Dane Richardson,
58 COMMUNITY 70 FILM 102 COMIX How to Be Happy, Trouble- Motorcycle Michael, Rex Fourtwenty, Jeff Watts, Nicholas Wibbelsman, John
Williamson, David Williford
Is the sun really this bright, or is it all Inkheart, Che: Part One, Hotel for Dogs, town, Eyebeam, and more CONTRIBUTORS
the smiles from knowing that Obama’s in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, My Bloody Valentine MR. SMARTY PANTS International Greg Beets, Kevin Brass, Rob Brezsny, Jim Caligiuri, Francesca Camillo, Sandy
office? Hey: Bring your new-prez bliss to 3D, Chandni Chowk to China Year of Astronomy, Gen. Patton’s Carson, Laurel Chesky, Lloyd Dangle, Thomas Fawcett, Doug Freeman, Chase
Hoffberger, Sam Hurt, C.S. Jennings, Seabrook Jones, Rachel Koper, Tom
the Freelove benefit on Sunday! 72 SHOWTIMES nine lives, and more and Ray Magliozzi, Daniel Mee, Gary Miller, Tony Millionaire, Daniel Mottola,
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Unforeseen, West Side Story, The Dark
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PLAYING THROUGH If hot-rodders can still 114 CAR TALK Making Sense of Oil The Austin Chronicle offers nonpaying internships.
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2 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E JANUARY 23, 2009 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m JANUARY 23, 2009 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E 3
Up, Up, and Away
Do Obama’s sky-high approval ratings and unprecedented support indicate unrealistic expectations?
BY LOUIS BLACK
PROLOGUE There are, of course, those with a vested interest in understanding of Democrats – at least according to
this administration falling on its face. Many pundits Fox logic), something is being sucked. Whenever
“This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco,
This ain’t no fooling around and politicians still seem undisturbed by the Bush page Bill O’Reilly laughs at Dennis Miller’s alliteration-
administration’s staggering spending spree of focused, anti-Democrat “jokes,” what’s being
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey”
– Talking Heads, “Life During Wartime” trillions of dollars, even though the country in two verbally shared is neither ideas nor humor.
general has precious little to show for what was Pure, American white boy Sean Hannity says
spent. Arguing that it is “class war” to suggest he truly believes that racism has disappeared
Once again, the electoral system as described in the U.S.
that only a very few benefited (greatly and beyond in this country, that there is no longer any dis-
Constitution has worked. There has been yet another peaceful
all comprehension) from the Bush excesses is given crimination based on skin color, citing in his rea-
change of administrations. The new president’s widespread
lie by the current state of the economy. If nothing else, soning the end of slavery but ignoring the existence
and enthusiastic support among the American people is heart-
this state disproves the trickle-down theory, although the of segregation (more than 100 years of institutionalized
ening, even exciting, but still disturbing. Disturbing because
“stash away” and/or “gush out of the country into foreign racism). Disingenuously, he laments minorities’ lack of love
too many may be expecting way too much from this adminis-
investment” theories are more than healthy. for the Republican Party, noting that it is the party of Lincoln
tration, and way too quickly.
Yet many of the very same experts are now aghast at the and the one responsible for passing civil rights legislation – as
There is the concern that this country is as in deep a hole
plans of Obama to spend not nearly as much on programs though, still loyal to Lincoln, it weren’t represented by almost
as it has ever been, as well as in more ways – diplomatic, eco-
to benefit a much vaster and far more widespread swath of all white faces at the 2008 convention. He ignores his inherent
nomic, budgetary, and on and on – than ever. Usually, national
the population. privilege so wantonly and gleefully, one realizes that, even if
tsunamis don’t come so vast, wide, and deep, challenging even
Evidently it is okay to spend wantonly even if the means of servicing nobody else, he is orally pleasuring himself.
the very structural foundation of the country in those many
meeting the budget is basically by printing the necessary money, In general, we are told by many that the Democrats are
areas. In some ways, it is appropriate to mention the Great
but only under certain circumstances. The highest prioritized of racist because they talk of race, while the Republicans are not
Depression and World War II period as a model: There is a
these are tax cuts for the richest Americans – which, even when because they so rarely mention it. They must be forgetting that
similarity in scope and concern, if not intensity. If nothing
they work as intended and are unaccompanied by unconscio- there is not only the love that dare not speak its name but the
else, the former perfect storm still dwarfs our current one, so
nable spending increases, immediately and inevitably unbalance caste system that must never be articulated.
just the comparison might provide illusionary comfort.
the budget. There are also the spending of unprecedented sums
What is surprising is the extent of the coming together of
on no-bid reconstruction contracts that excite no scrutiny, even III
Americans in support and faith in this administration – but
when unfulfilled, and the sending of packages of enormous
therein might well lie the problem. Given current conditions, “Same as it ever was … same as it ever was …
amounts of cash, running into the billions of dollars. The list
even the best-planned and most diligent attempts at recovery same as it ever was …”
above is by no means complete. Evidently these circumstances
may take much longer than anticipated, if they work at all. – Talking Heads, “Once in a Lifetime”
also involve not spending in certain areas as well including
Some of those attempts are more likely than not to fail, at least
reforming entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social
in the beginning. The concern is that the sky-high approval Now, you may ask: What of our beloved dissident friends, who
Security, repairing the country’s transportation infrastructure,
ratings and unprecedented, across-the-board national support ride under the flags of many different ideologies, ranging across
health care, and the social safety net (actually cut by the previ-
for President Obama indicate unrealistic expectations. What the political and ideological spectrums, sharing little in common
ous administration, even though its overall costs were relatively
will happen if and when these expectations are not met, which except their sense of the impending apocalypse? These include
so small there was no noticeable budgetary impact).
could happen even if there are vast improvements but the those on the far left who advocate violent revolution to those on
resulting upturns are not sharp or happening quickly enough? the hard right who are concerned that the country is being over-
II
Given the current highs, will we see matching, and thus inher- taken by secular-humanist liberals (read “socialists,” which means
ently destructive, lows? “When I die and they lay me to rest “communists”) in order that they might morally and spiritually gut
Gonna go to the place that’s the best the country. These are just those groups that embrace familiar, if
I When I lay me down to die extreme, ideologies. There are also others, such as those commit-
Goin’ up to the spirit in the sky” ted, conspiracy-theorist “truth tellers,” who guarantee that they
“America I’ve given you all and now I’m nothing.
– Norman Greenbaum, “Spirit in the Sky” are the only real patriots, the sole claimants to representing good
America two dollars and twenty-seven cents
because of their ongoing fight against the New World Order. They
January 17, 1956.
Tuning in to Fox News might shock one, as there are more know that those who are not so engaged are either purposefully
I can’t stand my own mind.
blow jobs being given on the screen there than in most gay porn evil traitors or just massively and blindly stupid sheep.
America when will we end the human war?
films. When Glen Beck “seriously” talks to Karl Rove or anyone These groups are similar only in their predictions of doom,
Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb
talks to the embittered, vengeful Dick Morris (who, because he disaster, and the end of life in this country as we know it. All
I don’t feel good don’t bother me.”
“engineered Clinton’s victory,” must have at least a sympathetic
– Allen Ginsberg, “America” continued on p.6
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EXPIRES 1/31/09
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4 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E JANUARY 23, 2009 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
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PAGE TW0 CONTINUED FROM P.4
happily assure us that this nation is closer to fascism than
post-Weimar Republic Germany. What of their many asser-
tions that extreme name-calling was appropriate, because
George W. Bush would never leave office and that the admin-
istration was going to stage even more “false flag” operations
(such as the 9/11 attacks) to further the imposition of martial
law, which was already happening?
Does the election of President Obama dissuade them even
in the slightest? Come on, get serious: Just because we are
willfully ignorant that the constitutional republic is dead and
those in power are evil beyond comprehension doesn’t mean
that they, too, are fools! They know that the puppet masters
who run the world have simply replaced the Bush puppet
with the Obama puppet; nothing else has changed. Instead,
the masses, afraid of the truth and unwilling to see what is
really going on, have again been conned by the illusion of elec-
toral government. Nothing has changed; there is no difference
between the two parties, and Obama is the same if not worse er. The city is dirty, its people ugly, the government malevolent Nor any more youth or age than there is now;
than Bush. These kinds of assertions form a common thread in its intention, corrupt and oppressive in its ways – which are And will never be any more perfection
through a range of groups whose other beliefs vary widely. the same ways of all governments. than there is now,
Since almost all these groups claim to be true constitutional Even those who don’t restrict their perceptions with prede- Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now.
loyalists, isn’t the feasibility and appropriateness of that docu- termined pessimism can maintain an impressive average. The Urge and urge and urge,
ment called into question when they are certain that most of the few patches of exposed white snow, where things turned out Always the procreant urge of the world.”
population has willingly let itself be intellectually neutered? more to their liking and less as they predicted, still rest not in – Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”
a field of light but are set against the near-pervasive dark.
IV The heads of idealists, utopian dreamers, and the faithful In the beginning, they said he is all and only talk. He is not
are always in the clouds; what they think is going on now and one of us. He is not a veteran nor proven in any way. They asked
In the beginning, as they so often do, the naysayers asked
is going to happen in the future is determined not by sight but who he was, where he came from, and what he accomplished.
questions for which they desired no answers: Isn’t he just all
by belief. They are laughable and not to be trusted. They claimed he talked in meaningless generalities, making
talk and no action? What has he accomplished? Are not those
The pessimist will neither be conned, taken advantage of, pipe-dream promises while obviously allergic to specifics.
who take him seriously naive, if not dangerous, fools? Are
or misled. The most militant are former optimists that have Those who supported him, despite their pedigrees, were
those who support him not high on utopian fumes, unaware
abandoned that outlook for pessimism. Far more important dismissed as fools and dreamers. Since they had drunk deeply
of the hard and dark reality surrounding them? Don’t they
than dreaming or taking chances is that they will never again of the Kool-Aid, despite the lack of substance in the whole
know – don’t we all know – that to believe too much is to
allow themselves under any circumstances to be perceived as questionable if not corrupt venture, they were now trying to
be misled, to expect too much is to end up feeling deceived?
a mark. Rather than suffering the terrible disappointments of get all others to drink from the same pitchers.
Isn’t it ridiculous to believe that in politics, anything is as it
being wrong, they embrace even casual cynicism, determined As in the beginning, to many it is now.
is presented? Isn’t it even more outlandish to expect that any
only that they won’t be fooled again.
politician will ever really bring change or offer any idea that is
To be continued: To look at where we were and where we are
different? Isn’t it obvious that it is all the same as it ever was
V now. To consider the meaning of the skepticism about Obama’s
and that it will always be this way?
free-floating rhetoric and perceived lack of accomplishment and
Being overly and doggedly optimistic means one is guaran- “I have heard what the talkers were talking,
the idea that his campaign treasured illusion while ignoring reality-
teed considerable if not comprehensive disappointment. The the talk of the
treasuring, resulting in a victory that evidenced shared delusion
overly and doggedly pessimistic, however, are almost always beginning and the end,
rather than any acumen. To examine the concerns that Obama’s
rewarded in their correctness. But I do not talk of the beginning or the end.
talk of change is rendered meaningless by his actions. Finally,
Some of them are always right because they see only what There was never any more inception
to discuss whether the 44th president of the United States can
they want to see, finding the present dark and the future dark- than there is now,
achieve a change in direction by embracing more of the same. ■
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6 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E JANUARY 23, 2009 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m JANUARY 23, 2009 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E 7
Postmarks
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must be signed with full name and include daytime phone number, full address, sink. Not necessary, a bit sensationalist, and I places that there is some topping here but not
or e-mail address. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. We reserve the right to edit all submis- have no idea to what he is referring, unless he over there. I want each bite to have roughly the
sions. Letters may not be edited, added to, or changed by sender once we receive them. is pointing out that some dudes are shopping same taste. I grew up on the East Coast – guilty
General e-mail address: [email protected] Postmarks forum: austinchronicle.com/forums/postmarks at Old Navy nowadays. Really, I need to be filled as charged. I also like to know what sort of
Mailing address: The Austin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765 in, because I think that I missed a vital point oven – gas, electric, or wood – is used. Pizza
somewhere along the way. Besides, a casual has improved greatly in the last 20 years here
student of history would note that the so-called in town. I discovered Niki’s Pizza in ’83 when
IT’S THE ‘TEXAS’ MUSIC HALL OF FAME ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE’ “complexities” of modernity are just shades of I moved here. Still my favorite. Take care, and
the same geopolitical games that have been happy 2009.
Dear Editor, Dear Editor, going on for centuries plus the Internet (which Charles Egger
Regarding Todd Potter’s letter about his band As a mother of four daughters, I believe in isn’t nearly as exciting or world-shattering as
Bubble Puppy not being in the Texas Music Hall “an eye for an eye,” and if Robert Springsteen some troglodytes make it out to be, not to be
of Fame [Postmarks, Jan. 16]: No argument that and Michael Scott are guilty of the yogurt shop too much of a party pooper). I haven’t been pay- HOW ABOUT A REAL RESPONSE?
Bubble Puppy should be in the Hall of Fame, but murders, they should be bound, gagged, and set ing much attention to this inauguration hoo-ha, Dear Editor,
I do take issue with his complaints that many on fire [“Yogurt Shop,” News, Jan. 16]. But on so I suppose the historicity of it all has passed My original letter [“Postmarks,” Jan. 16]
Hall of Fame members aren’t from Austin (it is the other hand, if they are not the true killers, I me by, although I did vote for the man. Also, I about Casey Porter’s claims about Iraq [“Stop
the Texas Music Hall of Fame) and that the ones would not want an innocent person convicted of live in Chicago, so it’s tough to avoid some of the Loss,” News, Dec. 19, 2008] has stirred
with charting hit records – Christopher Cross and a crime he/she did not commit just so the police this business, but I’m doing the best that I can. up some serious controversy. Unfortunately, not
Stevie Ray Vaughan – aren’t from Austin either. and prosecutors could save face. I guess the line above just didn’t connect with much has to do with Casey Porter or the article
I’d like to point out two members of The Austin Find the real killers, and get them behind bars. me at all. I’m not gay, so maybe I missed the about him. Your readers have intense opinions
Chronicle’s Texas Music Hall of Fame who are from Penny Prosser party, but I’m wondering how I can be a fan of about this war as a whole. Their opinions are so
Austin, still live here, make their livings in music, this column if the author is sort of off-base on strong that they lack the ability to focus directly
and had charting hit records: Charlie Sexton ‘COMPLEXITIES’ JUST SAME SHADES this point. on the article; instead they continually stray
(“Beat’s So Lonely” from the 1985 Pictures for Steve Talbot back into the same anti-war pitch they have
Pleasure) and Eric Johnson (“Cliffs of Dover” from Dear Editor, Chicago learned to deliver.
1990’s Ah Via Musicom). Having worked with From “Letters at 3AM” [Jan. 16]: “and Therefore I must be more direct and go
tghoelds er etcwoor dfisn eh aanrtgisintgs , pI rhoauvdely b oonth m oyf twhaelilr. certified othf e hsoomcoiasl eaxuccaeliptyt anacned, tehnrdoluegshso uvta trhieet ieWse sotf, WITH PIZZA, TOPPINGS ARE CRUCIAL sptleraaisgeh t retsop othned stoo uthrcee .c oCmamn eRnitcsh aI rmd aWdeh itatbaokuetr
If it is a consolation to Todd, the one and gender-bending.” Dear Editor, his article? I would love to hear his opinion
only time I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of I missed this; when did this happen exactly? Very much enjoyed your reviews of some of about the veracity of Casey Porter’s claims that I
Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, in the spring of 1996, I feel that this line in the story is the weakest the smaller, stand-alone pizza joints [“Indie disputed. I would be most interested in hearing
Bubble Puppy was represented in the exhibit point. It undermines the paragraph in which it Pizzas,” Food, Nov. 14, 2008]. I would have which of his fellow journalists he has exposed as
“One Hit Wonders.” resides, because just as the author is convinc- added one more index, however. Did each frauds for falsely claiming to be reporting from
Thank you, ing me of his lengthy point about the complexity mouthful, each bite, garner roughly an equal the safety of the Green Zone.
Wayne Nagel of the modern world, he throws in the kitchen amount of toppings? I have found at some However, Richard, unlike your readers, I ask
CONTINUED ON P.10
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a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m JANUARY 23, 2009 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E 9
POSTMARKS CONTINUED FROM P.8
that you address specifically the point I make. monster, the division of elitist and everyone else –
Do not make this an additional, open-ended, essentially the new world order. A condescending
nonspecific protest against the war. congratulations to everyone who voted our country
Pat Rice right out of existence. You’ve chosen a completely
[Richard Whittaker responds: Capt. Rice’s allega- unknown celebrified person who plans to bolster
tions break down into two halves. Firstly, that Casey and enslave minorities and poor people to exist for
Porter accuses the media of “misrepresenting their the government. The wise know that real “change”
reporting of the war.” Seasoned journalists of the will occur when the people demand abolishment of
Iraq war and occupation, such as Jonathan Finer the Federal Reserve. Then everything else will fall
of The Washington Post, Michael Ware of CNN, into place. Instead, people (the majority has yet to
and Rageh Omaar (formerly of the BBC, now of Al be determined) continue to award this Oprahman
Jazeera English), have made the same allegations who chose the president of the New York Federal
as Porter that the reporting is incomplete at best and Reserve as the nation’s treasury secretary. He
jingoistic at worst. Secondly, Rice argues that recon- announces his plans on TV, weekday mornings,
struction has been successful. In the 2008 report when housewives and poor people are the only
from the Office of the Special Inspector General ones watching. He eloquently talks of putting us
for Iraq Reconstruction titled “Hard Lessons: The in the deepest debt our country has known. He
Iraq Reconstruction Experience,” Inspector General will increase taxes on citizens and allow complete
Stuart Bowen wrote: “Did the [U.S. reconstruction corporate control of the United States government.
program] meet the goals it set for itself? The answer The rich survive, and everyone else gets “paid”
is generally no on the infrastructure front, but by the government. Wake up Americans! Austin
generally yes regarding the development of Iraq’s is a great example of out-of-control corporatized
security forces.” Porter’s allegations fit into a larger government. A very corrupt government that clearly
context of official and independent reports on the supports the dollar, right down to parking enforce-
progress of the Iraq occupation.] ment and music permits, with hugs and kisses for
developers and conglomerates. We need permis-
sion (by giving money) to play live music in the live
MUSIC BAN PART OF NATIONAL COLLAPSE
music capital of the world. It’s never too late to
bulldoze a condo or demand not to see one more
Dear Editor,
Home Depot, IHOP, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, or any
A “temporary” ban on outdoor music (permits)
other corporation in Austin. Austin is tapped-out
is ridiculous to be occurring in the “live music
and inundated with big-box drive-through malls,
capital of the world.” Although that slogan seems
high-rises, and McMansions. A soulless landscape
legendary as now Austin seems to be the “high-
soon to be without trees, green grass, dark skies,
rise capital of the world.” It’s all coming together,
fresh air, or any stitch of nature to enjoy. It’s not just
folks. The government-promoted digital TV revolu-
Austin – it’s everywhere. And it’s out of control.
tion, the new “elect” global leader, the collapse
Still hoping,
of the dollar, the corporatized-government media
Colette Michalec
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