Monthly Archives: August 2008

(Community Matters) Michael Rollins, 22, received a life sentence for drug possession in Guadalajara, Mexico after being caught with a pound of marijuana. His family, prominent members of Marble Falls, Texas are outraged and our government continues to protest the denial of internationally mandated rights – prior to the trial, Michael was denied access to consulate and embassy officials. Michael, a graduate of St. Mark’s Academy in Dallas, was on spring break with friends from SMU when he was charged. Michael’s dad, a retired oil and gas executive, tells heart breaking stories of the conditions Michael is having to withstand in the Guadalajara prison. Despite Mexican federal attempts at intervention, Jalisco governor Emilio Gonzalez Marquez refuses to commute or otherwise intervene despite acknowledging the denial of internationally guaranteed rights to Michael prior to and during his trial.

(Community Matters) Russia sexual harassment – a judge actually threw out a lawsuit citing that harassment was necessary for propagation.

According to a recent survey, 100 percent of female professionals said they had been subjected to sexual harassment by their bosses, 32 percent said they had had intercourse with them at least once and another seven percent claimed to have been raped.

(Community Matters) Attended Thom Singer’s & Marny Lifshen book launch party on 6th Street this evening. Event sponsored by Andrews Kurth & VCFO. Some Assembly Required, a Networking Guide for Women. This follows Thoms first two books on networking. Marny, a long time friend of all of ours, collaborated with Thom and they jointly wrote this version specifically for women.

Tons of tech types and other friends at the event including Boundless’ Jason Black, Carol Thompson, Sentient’s David Lee, VC/Serial Entrepreneur Steve Vandergrift, Region’s banker Robin Ingari, Leadership Austin’s Heather McKissick, EF’s Amanda Chiampi, Nyata Spellman, AAS Reporter Lori Hawkins and way lots of others.

How very cool – Thom’s third book (rest & blog here) & Marny’s first. Congrats!

(Community Matters) Opening October 17

(Community Matters)
We’re racing back in order to avoid Edouard. Michael’s tests without incidence. We’ll be back Thursday for results. HEB executive Susan Ghertner was at MD Anderson as well (with her friend Phyllis), she for a consultation after diagnostics last week. We’re all celebrating her clean bill of health (continued remission); she, her San Antonio oncologist, family & friends had been worried. Posted from my blackberry.

(Community Matters)
In Houston today with Michael and Robert for Michael’s diagnostics visit. Felt a little strange driving to Houston while others driving away, avoiding the hurricane. Hoping to get out tonight or first thing in the morning. Posted from by blackberry.

(Community Matters) Saw Zach Scott’s The Clean House this afternoon with Steven, Michael, Tana & Joe. Loved it. Barbara Chisholm especially knocked it out of the park as Virginia. The entire cast did a super job. Well written, directed and staged. I see it’s been extended until August 31. More information here.

Steven and I had a St. James Connection dinner after, at the home of Elizabeth and Jerele Neeld. Exquisite hosts and super connecting with the rest of this group too – old friends Rev Ed & Karen Hartwell as well as new friends: Sam Hudson & Ed, Susan Fullilove and Pam Hurt & Vickie Samuelson. We missed our two members who couldn’t be there: Marylou Adams and James Williams. (fyi for mutual friends of Marylou, she’s doing well and was at church yesterday).

I made a peach cobbler for the dinner. Hmm, loved the stock but not enthralled with the crust Southern Cuisine recipe. I have not been able to find a favorite peach cobbler recipe. Anyone?

The roasted fresh chicken I prepared earlier for lunch was outstanding. I know I’m a broken record on this but nothing like Countryside Farms fresh chickens – well maybe Boggie Creek & Alexander Family Farms. This time I brined* the chicken for 2 hours prior to roasting. Starting out at 500F for 5 minutes (then 425F for 35 mins) ensured a perfectly browned & crispy skin with meat so juicy, sweet & wonderfully salted I was speechless.

(Community Matters) Why aren’t corporations and shareholders suing former managers who cashed out on billions in compensation based on distorted performance measures, now proven to have lost many more billions in shareholder value?

(Community Matters) Wait just a cotton-pickin’ minute. Let’s discuss whether or not we want to be a repository for carbon dioxide here before our privatize-at-all-costs, fuck-it-up and get-the-hell-out-of-dodge before-the-chickens-come-home-to-roost, all while making a shit-load-of-money GOP leadership team makes this decision for the rest of us. Wow, just realizing George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Rick Perry et al are uniquely qualified to run Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or any number of national financial institutions.

(Community Matters) Today at Downtown Farmer’s Market

Sebastien Bonneu of Countryside Farms

Good gosh it was hot & bright out there. Nevertheless, enjoyed touring both South Austin & Downtown Farmer’s Markets with Steven and Barbara. Purchased a gorgeous fresh chicken from Sebastien as well as a frozen duck breast. Introduced Barbara to Katie of Tecolote Farms too. We each bought what might be the last of Fredericksburg peaches – they’ve been perfection this season. I’m making a pie out of as many as I can rescue from the peach monster known as Steven Tomlinson.

(Community Matters) Just received this jpeg of my great grandparents (Leonides & Teodosa Valdez Sepulveda, aka Mama Tita, 1893) from Dad. Love that he’s getting more and more comfortable on the computer.

Mama Tita (1877 – 1954) & Leonides (1872 – 1944)

(Community Matters) I recommend Katherine’s Austin Chronicle story here

At long last, real systems planning for a Central Austin streetcar has arrived at the City Hall station. At the July 24 City Council meeting, consultants ROMA Austin and LTK Engineering unveiled the highlights of a detailed proposal for circulator rail transit.

The Phase I analysis includes essential data on: 1) projected ridership and benefits for mobility, environmental, and other regional goals and 2) a route alignment and estimated cost. The broad outlines: Recommended is a 15.3-mile system projected to serve more than 32,000 riders daily by 2030, at an estimated capital cost of $36 million to $40 million per mile, or $550 million to $614 million overall.

The estimated capital cost per mile steadily drops (from as much as $53 million down to $29 million per mile) with each successive increment. Brewster McCracken later noted: “Toll roads were coming in with per-mile costs of $70 million-plus back in 2004. The price tag needs to be viewed in a context compared to roads – this is cheaper than roads to construct.”