Bill Gates

Nerds FTW! UH Nets a Pair of Finalists in Microsoft's Video Game Design Contest

The video game industry is massive. Video game sales outpaced music sales years ago and they continue to grow. And Houston has been home to many a video game programmer over the years. Perhaps it is because of the success at the University of Houston. For the fourth straight year, UH is the only sch ... More >>

Methadone Tastes Horrible: Anthony Bourdain's 10 Best AMA Responses on Reddit

Early yesterday afternoon, celebrity chef, author and TV star Anthony Bourdain popped into social news mega-site Reddit to do an informal Q&A session -- or AMA (Ask Me Anything in Reddit Speak) -- with the site's users. AMAs have fast become a popular tool for celebrities, newsmakers and even politi ... More >>

Chronic Burglar

The Five Scariest Moments in Your Computer Life

There are plenty of good reasons to be scared this Halloween, be it Hurricane Sandy or the economy or JJ Watt (assuming you are an opposing team quarterback), but just in case none of these things hits home with you, geek, I'd like to offer some items that will. Every person who has owned a comput ... More >>

Last Night: Lil Wayne & Friends At The Woodlands

Photos by Marco Torres​Lil Wayne, Rick Ross (feat. Bun B, Trae & Ace Hood), Keri Hilson Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion September 11, 2001 "Three things I want you to know about myself," Lil Wayne told the Woodlands Pavillion at the start of Sunday night's show: 1. "I believe in God." 2. "I ... More >>

Is Blog Love Overvalued?

​It's funny watching new artists stumble over themselves trying to score coverage on popular blogs. Take the fast rising L.A. crew Odd Future, for example. Group captain Tyler, The Creator is almost as famous for his musical ingenuity as he is for his feud with revered rap blogs Nah Right and ... More >>

Killa Kyleon's Epic T-Shirt, Mixtape & Video Party: A Report

Photos by Larami Culbertson​Saturday afternoon, Authentik Music Group's most OMG figure hosted a release party for his new "Don't Mess With Killa" T-shirt that turned into a mixtape listening party that turned into a video shoot at Check Other Outfitters. Rocks Off went, hung out for some ti ... More >>

Last Night: Kickback Sunday At Club L.A.X.

SF2Killa Kyleon (left) and GT Mayne​SF2 Kickback Sunday Club L.A.X. January 30, 2011 8:10 p.m.: Since we last checked in with SF2's Kickback Sunday event, it has grown a bit. They've picked up a sponsor or two, signed up GT Mayne and Rapid Ric to be a part of it, and are putting together larg ... More >>

Steve Jobs Absence: Huge, But How Would It Rank Against Other Big-Time CEOs?

Steve Jobs takes a leave from Apple​Steve Jobs has once again rocked the tech world, albeit this time with his announcement that he is taking another medical leave of absence. It's huge because, to most people, Jobs is Apple, and Apple is the most hip, flexible, intuitive provider of gizmos t ... More >>

Eskabel: Ready To Get All Trae Tha Truth Tonight

The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place - lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good - so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ... More >>

Giving Pledge: How Three Houston Billionaires Should Help

Houston billionaires haven't joined Bill Gates' and Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge. Yet. ​One of the big stories this week is Bill Gates' and Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge, where the super-billionaires have promised to donate half their money to charity. Even better, they've convinced 38 other ri ... More >>

FAIL - Billy Corgan, Courtney Love, Justin Bieber, Celene Dion, Apple

If you're reading this, you're either on the Internet, or else you've mastered multi-dimensional thought-projection processes that would make Michio Kaku cry like a little girl. We'll assume the former, and just in case you don't already know, the Internet has decided that the word "failure" is too ... More >>

Self-Proclaimed "8 Bit Bitch" MC Router, First Lady Of Nerdcore, Talks Mad Shit About Video-Game Groupies

Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group "Artist of the Week," bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn't awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​ There are a few select insta ... More >>

Felony: It Would Be a Crime Not to Listen

Every Friday, Rocks Off will beam hip-hop artists into our demented, imaginary, incredibly witty, fantasy world of pretend scenarios. We predict it'll soon be known as a feared interrogation of hip-hop artists, revealing their innermost thoughts and desires. In reality, it's just a fucking cool Q&am ... More >>

Bill Gates Helps Out Houston's KIPP Charter School In A Big Way

​The KIPP charter schools in Houston are getting a huge boost from Bill Gates, according to the Wall Street Journal.The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it is guaranteeing $30 million worth of bonds so that KIPP can expand operations here "from 4,500 in 15 schools to 21,000 stude ... More >>

Language and Carlos Slim Helú

What This Area Needs Is A Good Nanotechnology Center

David Goswick is thinking small -- very, very small. No, even smaller than that. Goswick, the head of Historic Real Estate, wants to build the Nano World Headquarters right here in River City, ah, ... we mean Houston. The idea behind the Headquarters is that Houston (well, at least the Sam Houston T ... More >>

Fathom/National CineMedia: Beyond the Secret

Web exclusive!

Malcolm Gladwell

The author of best-selling books The Tipping Point and Blink reads from his latest, Outliers: The Story of Success

Houstonians Think They're Great, Unlike All Those Other Houstonians

Hitler's Desk, Death of a Bookstore, and Premium Problems

For sale in Houston, slightly used

What I’d Like To Do to Dina Lohan and Denise Richards

Web Extra: Seven Magnificent Moments in Guitar Hero / Rock Band

Gamers Become Stars with Rock Band or Guitar Hero

Meet the newest kind of bar band

Mail Call

Monkey Business

So We Don't Normally Forward Stuff Like This, But...

Frank McComb at the Breakfast Klub

Funky soul jazz comes to Midtown

Halo 3

A promising glimpse of the next Halo.

Bruce Springsteen

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions

Seat Belts and Eye Shadow

If the Lost Boys can't get young Hispanic males to buckle up, nobody can!

Dennis DeYoung

The Music of Styx Live with Symphony Orchestra (Grand Illusion Music)

We Want the Funk

Cecil's Tavern rises from the ashes with a new look

Pissing the Night Away

Urinetown champions life, liberty and the right to relief

Ronald Reagan's Army

In your heart, you know the Yuppie Prick$ are right

Bird Brains

Kids learn to use their heads at 1-2-3 Imagine!

The Eclectic Horseman

Dancer George Durham is the complete package

When Greek Meets Geek

Romance gets retarded in Pumpkin

Getting Lonely at the Top

A recycled city official comes home to roost

Probing Questions

TV is less goofy on air, but not on-line

Swimming in Pasta

New Italian eateries spring up

Science Friction

Architect Constance Adams designed an inflatable house that could take American astronauts to Mars. NASA wants to build it, but Congress keeps bursting the bubble.

Fatman and slobbin'

DC Comics places its superheroes in the RealWorlds

Where Will They Be?

A look at the rock scene in 2020

Rotation

Master P

Sayonara, Sidewalk

Christmas Casts

Houston productions give Yule a varied look

Dish

The Insider

Press Picks

Hoop Dreams of Glory

A basketball documentary delves deep into the dangerous lure of the game