Daily Archives: 07/22/2009

(Community Matters) Amy Rudy emailed me this pic last night from her cell phone. She and Kirk were at the White House (along with our friends Bev Reeves and David Gail) for the concert. Allison Krauss, Charlie Pride and Brad Paisley played

(Community Matters) Barbara Chisholm’s Red Them Productions’ Henry V is in its last week at the Rude Mech’s Off Center Stage. Steven and I are taking friends on Thursday. Have heard rave reviews from friends. Just last night over dinner, friends were gushing about Robert Fairies depiction of multiple characters during the 80 minute show. Our dear friend Robert has been working on this in some way, some how his entire professional career.

Suggest no one miss it. Tickets here Last show Saturday!

Quotes from reviews:

“….. an exquisitely simple and thoughtful evening of theatre, one that will send audiences away feeling smarter than when they came in.”

“…..so uniformly excellent, so seamlessly integrated we hardly know where to begin describing its many virtues—-……..Faires’ Henry… is a stunning turn.”

“…..an interpretation of depth, grace and a profound understanding of Shakespeare’s language and text. It is not to be missed. Highly recommended.”

(Community Matters) She’s even more impressive in person. Fantastic NYTimes Mag story here

Valerie was in Austin in October, where she spoke to a group in the afternoon and another over dinner that evening. I was lucky enough to spend time with her at both and inbetween, including some one-on-one time. I remember thinking how if this lady chose BHO and Michelle as her best friends, it was just one more super credible endorsement of them; she’s super impressive. She told me a great story about the President, Buffett, Bernacke and Summers I’ve shared with many friends. picture at the White House during Cinco de Mayo Celebration

(Community Matters) Oh my gosh. Steven sent me this snapshot and I’ve gone online to check out Dumpling Man

You gotta understand my fascination with and love for dumplings – I can probably tell you best place for dumplings in most cities and countries (embarrassingly so). And now, a restaurant completely dedicated to dumplings – 12 different kinds with a choice of 4 different sauces. In St. Mark’s Place in NYC. Guess what I’m having for lunch today.

(Community Matters) This weekend’s Out & About column stirred up some displeasure among a few friends. Among those who’ve talked with me about the column, they expressed an interpretation I wouldn’t have read into it, and frankly, one I wish they hadn’t jumped to embrace since most know Michael Barnes and all know me. Of course there was NO intention to suggest some elitist, exalted status of anyone who makes the Fortunate 500 list nor certainly to say anything about the Central Texans who don’t. No one I know on the list takes themselves or it so seriously. If they did, they probably wouldn’t make the list since – as I understand it – a big part of the qualifying criteria is how much time folks spend contributing in their communities. And, of course it’s part caricature since though the AAS invites nominations, it happens to mostly be those who bump into Michael the most and are out & about.

Michael Barnes has done as much if not more than anyone else in this city helping promote Austin arts and, especially during the last couple of years, promoting tons of good causes. Yeah, and now he writes a social column, but if you remember social columns in the past or even those in other markets, it’s gotta be the most broad, the most inclusive of any out there.

The idea of a forum (which was just brainstorming by the way) for conversations about how to get engaged stems, at least in part, from my conversation noting that I meet with at least 3 people a week, sometimes way more, who simply want to know how to better plug into Austin, how to contribute in the nonprofit & political worlds. Of course, tons and tons of others on & off the Fort 500 list have similar conversations regularly. The proposal didn’t presume they didn’t or that they don’t even better. It was simply brainstorming about how the brand MB and the AAS have built might be otherwise useful.

I’m sorry that the conversation stirred up any negative feelings among friends or strangers. I’m hoping my friends will let it pass and chalk it up to bad communication. thx

(Community Matters) I don’t spend much time thinking about the drug cartels but recent stories of violence in Mexico, threats to friends near Guadalajara and ex pats fleeing even San Miguel have prompted more thinking. As did the recent story of the candidate for mayor admitting that drug lords ran a major Mexican city and that he could not speak ill of the gangs without being killed. Today’s AP story in AAS.

(Community Matters) Continuation – build up – of the war in Afghanistan is one area which continues to trouble me.

The bad news? This is State-Building 101, and our partners, the current Afghan police and government, are so corrupt that more than a few Afghans prefer the Taliban. With infinite time, money, soldiers and aid workers, we can probably reverse that. But we have none of these. I feel a gap building between our ends and our means and our time constraints. My heart says: Mission critical — help those Afghans who want decent government. My head says: Mission impossible. Friedman in NYT

(Community Matters) Wow, I find this really ironic.

(Community Matters) Led by President Obama, the Senate courageously approved stripping $1.75 billion from the defense budget for not-needed F-22 fighter jets. This fight has been on-going for years, but administrations unable to defeat the military industrial complex. An outstanding win for Pres. Obama. Fiscal responsibility is cited even when the question is health insurance for children, women and men.

(Community Matters) I’d just like to mention that only one hit from Australia in the last couple of weeks – not that I’m counting AW or AM. 🙂