Some of you are going to snicker, but I’ve grown fond of Avenged Sevenfold for much the same reason that I’ve been listening to a lot of 101X lately: Teenagers have invaded my house. That means Linkin Park’s “Bleedin’ Out” and Rihanna’s “Shut Up and Drive” rank way up on my current Top 10 (which actually is more of a Top 6), and I can identify two members of Fallout Boy. None of these causes as much uproar around my house as the recent release of Avenged Sevenfold’s new self-titled CD.

Johnny Christ is 23 years old and on tour with Avenged Sevenfold, one of the hottest alt-metal bands around, but the bassist is quick to point out he did not drink the blood of a king cobra during their recent jaunt to Jakarta, Indonesia. Aside from that, life with the Huntington Beach, Calif.-based quintet suits him just fine, especially coming off the band's smokin’ summer, which included headlining both the Warped Tour and Ozzfest followed by their fourth release that went No. 1 immediately on MTV’s Total Request Live. Currently on tour to promote the album, Johnny Christ called from the road to chew the phat before their La Zona Rosa gig this Saturday, Dec. 1.

Because it’s only, you know, like, the biggest story ever, we continue Day 2 of our exhaustive coverage of Will Wynn’s weird road-rage incident. As Oct. 11 – the day the 18-wheels stopped – was a council Thursday, Wynn spoke to the traffic tie-up that morning from the dais. (Yet he managed to leave out anything about ripping the Monarch crew a new asshole. Funny, that.) What’s shocking was that such a horrific instance could have transpired right under our noses – and lest you think me hyperbolic, check the council meeting transcript, where Wynn calls it a “crisis” requiring its own ordinance passed in “emergency session.” Oh wait, since there are already, you know, laws regarding blocked traffic, guess that won’t be happening.

Read the relevant transcript after the jump.

Diana Maldonado, a Democrat running for Texas House District 52, has some choice words about Republican Mike Krusee, her would-be incumbent opponent until he decided yesterday that he would not run for re-election (thanks to Eye on Williamson for pointing this out to us):

On Hidden Agendas and Political Paybacks

A Statement from Diana Maldonado, Democratic Candidate for House District 52, on the resignation of Craddick Lieutenant Mike Krusee

People have grown increasingly suspicious of politics. Unfortunately, their fears are well founded, and today’s announcement from State Representative Mike Krusee that he plans to step down from office effective at the end of his term in January 2009 will only serve to reinforce their suspicions.

Despite widespread rumors of political payback for his steadfast support of toll road privatization plans, Mike Krusee failed to state why he is stepping down, how he will be rewarded, or what backroom meetings took place in the planning of this announcement, just days before official candidate filing opens.

Last night my assistant Sarah (www.sarahhaleylouise.com), and I took some great photo's  at the JDRF Event last night. I informed her of other volunteer projects I'm involved with since its been a while since we've worked together. She has is becoming good photographer and has the eye for art. More than 30 billion kilowatt-hours of energy is wasted because many of us simply forget to shut down our computers when we’re not using them. If we could just improve the efficiency of how we use our PCs, the savings in energy costs would be over $3 billion! The CO2 emissions from just 15 computers are equivalent in energy terms to the gas consumption used by one car. A barrel of oil contains 42 gallons and produces an average 556 kilowatt hours of electrical power. Now consider your computer. A good spec PC can use up to 200 watts per hour. If you have a CRT monitor, it adds a further 80 watts (TFT screens use less). So your system is consuming over 1 KWh of power for every four hours of normal use. If you leave your computer on 24/7, that’s the equivalent of a whole barrel of oil every 90 days! If you optimize your computer with LocalCooling and power down when you’re not using it you could extend this to over six months! Remember, if you leave the PC on with just a screen saver on the CRT when you’re not using it, it’s STILL using up to 280 watts per hour of completely wasted power. Power that pumps out 1.5lbs of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere for every KWh. If left on for 24 hours that’s 9lbs of CO2 every day and 3,285lbs per year. That’s more than 1.6 tons of CO2 thrown up into the atmosphere just to keep your one single PC working. Thinking on how much I support the environment, I  found this site that I am going to try ( http://www.localcooling.com ). Found that my computer uses 86Watt, So I think I'm going to start saving some energy.  I encourage you to take the challenge.  Which is how can you or do save the environment you live in?    

I don't know how many of us eventually found time last weekend for the big Thanksgiving payoff after hunting and gathering and then gathering again: gettin' down like a raccoon in your favorite socks with some groovy new books. I begged for, borrowed, and stole the time. Rain was welcome.

It seemed appropriate for a holiday so steeped in family memories that my first choice was Texas Quilts and Quilters: A Lone Star Legacy by Marcia Kaylakie (Texas Tech University Press, $39.95). A gorgeous monster of a book, it is so well-organized that after wading into what appeared to be a simple coffee-table affair one realizes that it is in fact a lengthy and important resource for Texas historians. Kaylakie has been turning a shiny needle on the national quilt scene for more than fifteen years, and conducts a wide array of lectures and workshops. It was also interesting to note that she is a curator of next month's art quilt exhibit, Eye of the Needle, at the Quattro Gallery here in Austin.

This book is beautifully designed around stunning photographs taken at such close range that you can almost smell cotton flour sacks and goodness. The type is large as well (note to self for gifting), lending even more immediacy to the material, which includes painstaking documentation for thirty-four Texas quilts created from 1870 to 2003, biographies of their creators, and the family photographs whose memories are surely found deep in the batting.

As long as it doesn't block any traffic! Heaven forfend!

Will Wynn's office sent out a rather WATB-esque (that's for you, proofers) press release speaking to his assholishness involving a traffic delay Downtown, which came to light in today's Statesman. (They've been on quite a tear over there lately!)

Traffic! Downtown! Who would've thought! It's almost as ludicrous as his hang-wringing over the sound ordinance expansion – never mind that if he crams his 10,000 additional Austinites down there, it might get a little crazy and congested. But I mean really, come on. You live how many blocks away from City Hall? Four?

At least he didn't put his hands on anybody. Ugh. Here goes:

Statement Regarding the Blocking of Traffic on West Fifth Street

Regarding the story in today’s Statesman, I want to confirm that, yes, I was angry about the illegality of what I witnessed, and I was even more angry about the complete disregard for Austin motorists – shutting down all four lanes of inbound traffic on West Fifth Street literally at the height of morning rush hour, and impacting thousands of cars.

Did I use some rough language? You bet I did – and if I offended the sensitivities of those construction workers, I’m sorry about that. (Because construction workers are uncivilized brutes without any feelings! – ed.) But you can be sure that if I see thoughtless, illegal activity like that, I will not stand idly by.

There is no bigger proponent of downtown revitalization than I, but while this construction is going on people are going to play by rules. It’s what our citizens expect and deserve. To that end, I’m told the Monarch later paid their fine and assured us this would never happen again.

The text of state Rep. Mike Krusee's retirement announcement, which was faxed out minutes ago:

STATEMENT FROM REPRESENTATIVE MIKE KRUSEE

After careful consideration, I have decided not to run for another term in the Texas Legislature. I will be leaving elective office, but I intend to stay active in the issues that I care about, Transportation and New Urbanism, both here in Texas and nationwide.

If the throngs of terrifying Black Friday shoppers weren't enough of a sign, here's another cue the holidays have arrived – a chance to pitch in. The Austin Police Department's Blue Santa program is looking for volunteers to gift-wrap the food and presents they're giving to needy families. Wrappers are needed at Blue Santa headquarters, 4101 S. Industrial Blvd. #260, from noon to 9pm, Nov. 29 to Dec. 7; Dec. 1 and 8, hours are 9am to 1pm. Groups of 10 or more should call 974-4900 or e-mail [email protected] in advance; more details are at www.bluesanta.org.

And will you volunteer us by the Trail of Lights? The sparkling holiday tradition is gearing up for its grand opening Dec. 9, and the folks at the Parks & Recreation Department putting it on are looking for help. Due to the large number or volunteers needed to operate the Trail of Lights – 100 needed each night – PARD's looking to enlist groups of volunteers 25 people and stronger from local employers and organizations (churches, scout troops, and more). For more info, visit the Trail of Lights' volunteer website.

Most people settle for a Christmas card with their picture on it, but U.S. Sen. Larry "I Was Picking Up Some Paper" Craig, R-Idaho, gets to do one better. Custom action figure firm HeroBuilders has just released its Larry Craig action figure. Apparently the 12-inch toy comes with a T-shirt that says, "I am not gay," which is pretty much the only denial technique the senator has not used yet.

For those looking for replayability, when you press on his chest, a recording of his famous press conference plays, and mini-Craig says, "Thank you all very much for coming out today. I will read a statement: 'I am not gay. I never have been gay.'" It also comes with all the features one would expect from a modern boy, including flexible limbs. Tragically, no built-in superpower-activated wide stance, which would be this generation's answer to GI Joe's kung-fu grip. (To quote comedian Demitri Martin, the only difference between a toy and an adult toy? Location, location, location.)

Chronic doubts that it's an officially licensed figure, molded with the senator's loving approval. However, he may yet ask for royalties for the use of his likeness. Then deny that he'd asked for royalties. Then, under pressure from the GOP, ask for royalties again. Then say he won't ask for royalties now, but will before the next election.