Daily Archives: 03/14/2009

(Community Matters) When it’s the president of the Texas Conservative Coalition, a Craddick ally and a hero to the Texas Eagle Forum, one should look further inbetween the lines. In today’s AAS

New twist to abortion debate

Paul Burka, senior executive editor at Texas Monthly, spotted this first and reported it Thursday on his Burkablog: House Bill 3152, by Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, would make it a Class A misdemeanor to use drugs or medical instruments commonly used on women to perform abortions if the woman is not pregnant.

Yes, Christian would make it illegal to perform an abortion on a woman who is not pregnant.

What, pray tell, is the need for such legislation, Burka asked?

Some years ago, he was told by Christian’s staff, some abortion providers would take advantage of a woman who thought she might be pregnant but wasn’t. However, she would be told she was pregnant, the provider would pretend to perform an abortion and then charge the government for it.

(Of course, the government hasn’t paid for abortions for years.)

We’re guessing that it would be illegal already (fraud, perhaps?) to deliberately perform an unnecessary operation after lying to the patient about it, but you just never know.

I’d suggest examining the language to make sure Mr. Christian isn’t plotting against RU486 in Texas.

(Community Matters) Last night saw a promenade theatre performance, Stovepipe, a new play by Adam Brace produced by the Bush Theatre Company (no relation!) in partnership with the Royal National Theatre.

Tom Stoppard called it one of the best promenade dramas he’s ever seen, “truly effective and illuminating.” The Daily Telegraph, “the most exciting theatrical thriller in town. A thrilling tour de force and a new cult hit in the making.”

The play is about private security companies taking on protection roles in Iraq (a la Blackwater and Erik Price), a mercenary who goes missing in Aman Jordan, and the bonds between the men who sell their lives for $600 per day and work 24/7.

The audience is ushered between scenes into different sets in the same building. Not quite the tour of 5-star bars, seedy brothels and war-torn desert landscapes promised, but it was engaging, at times riveting and definitely experiential. Steven loved it. I liked it; expected to know the characters more intimately and to be allowed to fill-in some of the story’s narrative. The five actors do a super job playing all the play’s characters. It has become my expectation of promenade performances to participate in the creative process. I’ve been spoiled by Punchdrunk I suppose. Nevertheless, I’d recommend the show, not just sure I’d fly over the Atlantic to see it – as is absolutely true for any Punchdrunk performance.

We have another show tonight, and Steven has another business trip here in May. Marfa’s Tim Crowley & Chinati’s Rob Weiner are opening a Wallace Shawn play here in June, shouldn’t miss that – we’ll have to wait and see.

(Community Matters)

“I’m an old hound dog,” he said. “If I’m barking up a tree, I want to know how many squirrels are up there.”

(Community Matters) Well, suppose no one is immune. Think this week has been national flatter me week.

from two former under grad students:

1) . . . . you put me with people I did not know, and were hard to work with. At the end of the day, it was the best thing in the world for me. You pushed me to do well on the project and that led me to take over the group and push them to do the best they could. That really gave me confidence in my leadership abilities . . . . I just wanted to make sure I let you know that you had a part in inspiring me.

2) I took your Community Development & Social Enterprise class during the Spring 2003. It was the most rewarding class I took at the University

from a current Leadership Austin class member:

We heard a great profile of you yesterday at Leadership Austin as part of the Pipeline Interview presentation.