Page Two

Damn Carole Keeton Rylander. She is the worst example of the soulless politician, more interested in the glory than even the power. Her ambition seems to have more to do with running for office than actually serving, more to do with accumulation than achievement. Elected to the school board, Rylander quit to run for mayor. She quit her third term as mayor to be appointed to the Insurance Commission. She quit the Insurance Commission and switched to the Republican Party to run against U.S. Rep. Jake Pickle because she couldn't wait for him to retire. Failing that, she was elected to the Railroad Commission and quit to run for comptroller. Now with Bush eyeing the White House, who knows what Rylander is eyeing? Once a Democrat, now a Republican, she's made it very clear she doesn't care how she gets there. Saturday night she invited the media along as she invaded Antone's. She knew closing this club would get her maximum publicity and that's what it is all about in Rylander's world. Forget the publicity's impact on the club, on the music scene, on the culture -- there was TV time to be gained here! The comptroller's office is just a way station for Rylander. What will be next? Saturday night we saw the opening of the next campaign, whatever it is. The music scene's woes aren't just because of politicians and politics. On the way back from vacation with the family, quite coincidently, I ended up sitting across the aisle from the remarkable Debbie Pastor. Too much Austin music history to go into here to explain Pastor, but, currently, she is living in San Francisco, where she's involved with Survival Research Laboratories and tour manages bands like Pavement and Sebadoh. She pointed out that the same thing is happening across the country. There is so much money around that clubs are being driven from their homes. The live music business is marginal compared to a lot of others, and gentrification is killing the American live music club scene. We've seen ample proof of this in Austin. Debbie assured me it was going on everywhere.

Eighteen years ago this week we published the first issue of the Austin Chronicle. It was hell. Used to be we would make a big deal about each anniversary, just thrilled that we had survived another year. Now we're too wrapped up in the week to week to do little more than note it (though expect all hell to break loose in 2001 when we celebrate our 20th!). From the beginning, this paper was about the staff that put it out, all of the staff. It still is. The people who work here are amazing, talented, compassionate, and committed. The pleasures of this paper are the staff and the readers. Look at the many, many names in the staff box. Those are the people that make what you hold in your hands possible. Thank them if you get the chance.

This issue we debut a new redesign. The table of contents has changed, the layout of many of the regular news-oriented columns that introduce each section has also changed. They have moved from the left to the right side of the page. "Naked City" has evolved into a new format with a regular lead-off political news column by Amy Smith and two to four longer items by Chronicle political staffers. I'm in denial over this, but assistant Politics editor Lisa Tozzi has left. Which is a drag. The good news is she has been replaced by Erica Barnett, who has been writing regularly for us. Film and film listings have been moved around. Instead of offering a recommended each week we've asked Film editor Marge Baumgarten and reviewer Marc Savlov to author a featured review each week. We think what these writers have to say is interesting regardless of the quality of the film. We feel just as strongly about all the Chronicle reviewers, but Marge is an obvious choice and, of the rest, Marc writes most regularly. We will note Austin Chronicle Picks, films we think are of merit, throughout the film listings. "Scanlines" has drifted to the back of the book and Belinda Acosta's excellent "TV Eye" has taken its place. Marc Savlov will take over writing "Short Cuts." In music, Ken Lieck's "Dancing About Architecture" column now has its own page and kicks off the section. Christopher Gray will take over the Music Recommendeds and also assist music editor Raoul Hernandez. Finally, we've added (as noted last issue) Stephen MacMillan Moser's After a Fashion column to the Personals section.

It is impossible to name all the people who worked on these changes. Almost everyone in editorial and production contributed and we thank them. The project was headed up by Taylor Holland, who just shoved two Twinkies into his mouth at the same time in front of our office.

There is also a major Web redesign heroically championed by Karen Rheudasil aided by Matt Williams and Brian Barry. If you haven't checked our Web edition in a while, you really should. Not just this major redesign but the new movie database is a gem. The Web edition seems to be ever evolving and we appreciate the regular work and thought that go into it to keep improving it.

The 9th Annual Hot Sauce Contest was a spectacular success. Thanks to the Capital Area Food Bank and our good friends at KGSR-FM 107.1, Liberty Bank, Guiltless Gourmet, ZiegenBock, and Sauza.

The Daily Texan is celebrating its 100th anniversary later this month. We whined about not being invited. They invited us and sent cookies. We'll be out of town. Happy Birthday to the Texan.

Finally, in passing, it is nice to hear Paul Pryor back on the air on KVET-FM. It makes it seem like the older Austin.

Savor this issue, the kid's turned 18. Enjoy the redesign; we'll talk more about it later. Our thanks and appreciation to staff, past staff, and readers. Happy birthday to us all.