Louis Black

Ralph Nader and the Green Party are willfully naive about the consequences of their recent electoral actions, but events such as their upcoming People Have the Power Tour are the birthplaces of broader, more effective coalitions, the setting for new alliances.

Judging resigning City Manager Jesus Garza's performance in a difficult job will take some time; XLent's recent cover controversy brings back memories and reminds us how cool talk radio is; screwball comedies were the funniest movies ever, and the Austin Film Society is showing eight of them in the next two months.

It's been a year of great, inspiring films from American filmmakers -- and from Austin filmmakers in particular.

The curse and the blessing of living in interesting times

The past decade, when the distance between innovation and inspiration shrank, can inspire us in what could be a rocky year, and interesting decade, ahead.

Last week's Pearl Harbor / Gift Guide cover draws fire.

Our cover means what you want it to mean; term limits should be junked; decisions about light rail require the long view.

Light rail is coming, sooner or later, because it's a necessary part of our long-term traffic solution.

The current movement to restore public school prayer is an act of pure political nostalgia, a step backward toward our own theocracy.

Austin music clubs are usually one of the first casualties in an economic downturn.

The war on drugs works in opposition to the battle against terrorism.

Gus Garcia is not simply the best choice for mayor on this slate but the best choice for mayor, regardless; Austin needs roads, but the road propositions that go before the electorate Tuesday are bad politics; the war in Afghanistan is a terrible misstep that played into the terrorists' hands and will have devastating consequences for our community; the Chronicle co-sponsored "Eat Drink Watch Movies" series starts Thursday.

An ineffective war and the passing of Dan Del Santo

The war on Afghanistan isn't just wrong, it's stupid, and it's not going to work, either.

Our "Best of Austin" 2001 recognizes some heroes of daily life; the Chronicle celebrates its 20th anniversary with a number of upcoming special events.

The most effective weapon against long-term terrorism is this country's involvement in the world community; the most effective refutation of terrorists is the preservation of our civil liberties.

Defending Georgetown, and other political considerations.

Acting decently and continuing to live as we've always lived are the best acts of revenge in response to recent terrorism; our redesign debuts but will take some time to refine.

Why we have a golf cart in a swimming pool on our cover and other insights into our 20th anniversary issue.

The Chron's about to turn 20! Louis Black illuminates the recent changes in our Politics staff.

QT5-inspired obsessive cinema dementia; our community suffers another blow with the loss of Mambo John Treanor

Looking forward and backward on the eve of the Chronicle's 20th anniversary; a farewell to influential local filmmaker and friend David Boone, who died unexpectedly last week

Contemplating life, death, and the bell curve at the annual meeting of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies in New Orleans.

We say goodbye to visionary writer and Chronicle co-founder Jeff Whittington, who passed away last week at the age of 46.

Summer's hot again.

The fact that City of Austin staff is often inspiring and committed makes snafus like downtown traffic and the Fourth of July fiasco all the more perplexing.

Even being in Slacker didn't prepare Chronicle Editor Louis Black for the film's eventual impact.

Editor Louis Black praises the Texas Film Commission's marriage of art and commerce, finds the Austin American-Statesman's coverage of George W. Bush's European trip untrustworthy, and urges readers to vote in our annual "Best of Austin" poll.

Editor Louis Black comments on our brief reunion with cover subject (and onetime Chronicle illustrator) Keith Graves, reconsiders Joan Micklin Silver's Chilly Scenes of Winter, and says "get well" to KVET talk-show mainstay Sammy Allred and "farewell" to former staffer Sarah Hepola.

Local promoter and legend Tim O'Connor is retiring (well, he says he's retiring), and I want only to praise him. Hell, look at his accomplishments -- Castle Creek, Austin Opera House, Backyard, Austin Music Hall, La Zona Rosa, Willie, Farm Aid, and that's just the beginning.