Monthly Archives: May 2008

(Community Matters) CNN’s Indiana exit polls reporting that a third of Clinton voters would vote for McCain over Obama and 17 percent said they would not vote if Obama was the Democratic nominee. Clinton supporters who’d vote for Obama total 48%.

Hillary’s been campaigning for this result as her argument with superdelegates. Instead, she’ll be remembered by many as fondly as Bill Clinton is by the far right.

(Community Matters) I haven’t posted on the catastrophe in Myanmar (Burma). The situation is beyond my imagination – still living under a brutal regime only cautiously willing to accept international aid after 120mph winds and tidal waves swept away thousands. No drinking water, no power, no food and no shelter for hundreds of thousands – estimates of over 1,000,000 homeless. The death count now up to 22,000 though counts as high as 50,000 cited. The region’s 2004 tsunami deaths totaled near 250,000.

Burma, once Southeast Asia’s wealthiest country with the most literate population, achieved independence from Britain in the 40’s. Even though the country is rich in oil & gas reserves and precious stones (especially rubies), under the army regime since the 60s, Burma’s people are now among the SE Asia’s poorest and most illiterate, and the government imposes forced labor programs in its mines and other industries. Despite US government sanctions, Chevron is reportedly a partner in a highly criticized oil pipeline to Thailand.

(Community Matters) Average of polls saying Obama +8 in North Carolina, Clinton +5 in Indiana. Factoring in momentum, Obama likely to do better in both. Wild card, how effectively has Hillary cast herself as an ordinary American and Obama as an elitist.

(Community Matters) Major kudos to to APD officers James Cartier and Joe Hernandez who prevented a shooting spree at a local Wal-Mart. here

(Community Matters) Jennifer Kim’s campaign has admitted placing anonymous, deceptive Robo-calls from “your neighbor Lisa.” here

(Community Matters) Reviewing Cities in Crisis, a report by Dr. Christopher Swanson, Director of the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. Far fewer students are graduating high school than we’ve realized, especially racial & ethnic minorities and males. The connection between place and performance is real for students, schools and school systems.

Surprised to learn graduation rates are 15% lower in urban than suburban schools. For 2003 – 2004, 70% overall student graduation rate.

(Community Matters) Directly from The Page: Hillary Clinton enthusiastically picked a filly named Eight Belles to win the Kentucky Derby and compared herself to the horse. Eight Belles finished second. The winner was the favorite, Big Brown.

Eight Belles collapsed immediately after crossing the finish line, and was euthanized shortly thereafter.

(Community Matters) Tom Hank’s endorses Barack Obama: ” . . . . because of his character and vision and the high road he has taken during this campaign . . . . He has the integrity & inspiration to unify us as did FDR & Harry Truman & John F. Kennedy and even Ronald Reagan. . . . [Obama] embody[ies] the America I have been waiting for, one where leaders address challenges with candor, and truth is their basis for policy.”

(Community Matters) Though many friends in common, I’ve never gotten to know Stephen any better than friendly mutual recognition. Michael Barnes’ article here in today’s AAS leads me to regret this.

(Community Matters) Attended The Debate Society’s workshop performance of Cape Disappointment at the Blue Theater last night.

Brooklyn’s Debate Society at Blue Theater

Margo Weisz, Gregory Brooks & Barbara Engel joined us for the evening. And we joined a full house at the theater including playwright Steve Moore, director Katie Pearl, Thinkwellians Jaquim and Emily, Millenium Bug/Curb Appeal/American Fiesta stage manager Natalie George, performer Reggie Watts, Fuse Box producer Ron Berry and actor/playwright Katherine Catmull. Hmm, interesting talk with Katie about possible production of a dear friend’s work this fall. Also, Katie is directing Sherry Kramer’s When Something Wonderful Ends starring Barbara Chisholm May 15 – June 1, 2009 at The Off Center. More info here

Immediately after Cape Disappointment, jetted over to Bolm Studios to catch the tail end of the Collaboration Project. Unfortunately, we were too late to see anything but the remnants of what must have been a good party – four police patrol cars, beer cans, trash, platters of brie and sardines (Madrianos?) and the visual art components of the project. Evidently the police called by less enthusiastic neighbors. All had been resolved by the time we arrived; in fact, I overhead the police chatting amiably and inquiring about the art. Paired artists included our house guest/Chilango Armando Miguelez with Austinite Lauren Tietz as well as Rude Mech’s Kirk Lynn with Houstonians Mary Magsamen & Stephen Hillerbrand.

(Community Matters) Obama’s 2 min Indiana & N. Carolina ad

(Community Matters) Think I blogged about lunch with Mark Erwin a couple of weeks ago. He’s a young Lew Aldridge, always helping/leading/organizing good causes these days. Stephen Moser wrote about the fun Hill Country AIDS Bike Ride pit stop (Studio 54 theme) in this week’s AusChron here.