Monthly Archives: April 2010

(Community Matters) Thought provoking National Affairs article flagged by Ross Garber.

I disagree that Pres O has shunned intellectual liberals but I do fear not more deliberately courting is resulting in less voter enthusiasm among our base.

over the last several days have been in dialogue with an articulate Libertarian, Brian Prasifka, who recommended David Mamet’s: Why I Am No Longer a ‘Brain-Dead Liberal.” There is much to agree with in Mamet’s piece, though I find an important underpinning metaphorically & literally flawed – that a play is better without a director. You don’t have a staged play without a director, without someone interpreting and staging the writers words and vision. I say this literally as both a producer and the husband of an award-wining playwright, metaphorically as a former business entrepreneur, banker, consultant and now a philanthropist.

No doubt about the varying motives and behaviors of people, though Libertarians and I have different opinions about the need for outside interventions. I don’t trust the outcomes of the strong over the weak – be it physical or economic. That is not the type of society I try to help build.

I concur with Brian’s and most Libertarian’s about the need for more accountability, and I agree in many places the government is too big and inefficient.

(Community Matters) Talk about client appreciation, Jason Heffron and his Juice Homes partner, Sam Archer, sure know how to say thanks.  They rented out Fiesta Gardens and threw a bash for clients’ families – food, drink, a band, kids activities.

(Community Matters) This morning the Entrepreneurs Foundation hosted the Lemonade Day Best Tasting Contest at the Austin Childrens Museum.

Mikalah of Bee Sweet Lemonade

all today’s competitors

Several prizes including Sweet Leaf Teas’ 1 year supply of tea, help running and publicizing their May 2 lemonade stand.  LIVESTRONG prize includes publicity and set up at LAF site on May 2.  Austin American Statesman/7-11 prize includes free papers to sell and lemonade stand placement at a high traffic 7-11 on May 2.

We’re shooting for over 10,000 kids at Lemonade stands throughout Austin on May 2.  It’s fun and free way to inspire kids with  entrepreneurship. more here

Many thanks to whomever sent us collectors’ credentials for this weekend’s Art City Austin. Regret we weren’t able to spend more time there but I was floored by the depth, breath and range of offerings when I toured this morning.  Wow, and I love the set up on several blocks of Cesar Chavez, incorporating Austin City Hall.  Wish I was going to be in town this week to take advantage of the public displays.  Steven’s here and will do so for both of us.

(Community Matters) Thoroughly enjoyed Wura-Natasha Ogunji’s piece, One Hundred Black, Women, One Hundred Movements.  I’m not sure I can describe the feeling of power I see rising from gatherings of black women.  I apologize if this sounds patronizing; it’s certainly not meant that way.  I’ve always had that feeling.

After a 9+ dinner at Eastside Showroom with our weekend house guest, Prof Keith Walters and Cari Anderson & Tish Smith and Luke Hayes, we set up a picnic space across the street and were joined by Amy & Kirk Rudy and Steve Adler.  Even for a little while by Langston Mighell Byrd – his mom Lisa let him come play for a bit  Sorry we missed Ixchel but understand she was having a mom’s night in.

After, I met Michael & Milinda Mitchell for the US Art Authority bash (who knew there was a groovy gift shop up the stairs on the far end of Spider House) then queso and a nightcap at Trudy’s.

(Community Matters) Read about this place in article about derivative traders. Amsterdam, London, Singapore, Istanbul, San Francisco & LA. Gonna check out a couple of these this summer.

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(Community Matters) They are snow white, I thought they might be Estonians, but no, English (just off an English winter I suppose).  Action Hero artists James Stenhouse & Gemma Paitin (the “cowboy” and the “whore”) nearly didn’t make it to Austin, caught up in the Iceland volcano flight interruptions.  And, though it cost one day’s delay in their performance, we’re sure glad they persevered – engaging, smart vignettes of scenes in the glorious, historical Victory Bar & Grill setting

Intimate crowd of friends including FuseBox founder/artistic director Ron Berry, Marcy Hoen, Sobie & Dean Partos, Steve Moore and Hank Cathey

Quick jaunt to Kirk Lynn’s Blender Love – very interesting. The payoff is as a voyeur of participants’ eagerness to reveal themselves.

David Barlow, Phil Soltanoff and the cast demonstrate lots of theater, voice and A/V technology in LA Party’s performance.  David’s monologue was especially engaging.  Enjoyed the entire piece performed at Ballet Austin’s Austin Ventures Stage and caught up with Margo Weisz, Gregory Brooks (celebrating a birthday) and Michael Mitchell.

Steven didn’t make it with me to the after party at US Art Authority but Michael did.  I just missed Church of the Friendly Ghost & Rampant Arts.

Gosh, I never even blogged about Julie Thornton’s opening party Thursday night did I?  Just as well, too incriminating . . .(well, not really until after most of us left . . tons in attendance including Amy & Kirk Rudy, Suzanne Deal Booth, John Thornton, Kate Hersh, Erin Driscoll, Stephen Mills & Brent Hasty, Michael Barnes, Michael Mitchell, Robert Torian, Milinda Mitchell, Amanda Chiampi, Marcy & Bijoy, on and on . . )

Tonight sure to be a wild night at US Art Authority: Monofonus Press Night,Venison Whirled @ 10pm, MVSCLZ @ midnight, and DJ set @ 12:45 Soft Dealer @ 11pm. (We were planning to catch Gravel Works prior, now One Hundred Black Women, One Hundred Actions)

(Community Matters) I’m not sure why this song has always made me so happy. First, Pres Obama acknowledging Ms. Warwick, then the her . . . .

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(Community Matters) Wow, this is the young man who refused to recite the pledge of allegiance until all people have equal rights

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(Community Matters) thanks for the link Don Boyd

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(Community Matters) My response to two readers who felt unfairly classified as racists for supporting the Tea Party

Apologies if you felt painted by that broad brush swipe. I don’t think it’s all tea partiers (btw, I have spent time with some members, including a major Tx organizer) though I do think it is a majority – if not 2/3.

And, I realize there are millions who are libertarians too. I’m glad the libertarian & socially conservative philosophies lost the last election. I’m hopeful that those of us working for Pres. Obama will be able to prove up the value of his administration to enough independents so we’ll win again in 2012. Libertarians and many conservatives didn’t support social security, medicare or medicaid (some still don’t).  Some don’t even support public education.

I feel fantastic about the progress being made so far. re: HCR – healthcare was already a train wreck on a course to bankrupt this nation. HCR is an, initially, imperfect first step at reform . . . and we’re vastly increasing coverage, outlawing discriminatory practices, and starting to reign in runaway costs.

Financial regulatory reform – same, we’re making real progress- as grossly imperfect as the first piece of legislation will be. There is no attempt to preserve too big to fail; there’s very specific language to wipe out shareholders and fire management of failed institutions.

As to progressive values of clothing, educating, feeding, providing healthcare and housing our poor – sorry, for now you guys lose. Those of us who want our nation to provide those services (chevy level, not cadillac style) won the election. We know the political pendulum swings both ways.

Nevertheless, I remain respectful of your right to disagree, also mindful of the importance of righting the deficit, and I regret that you (& others who aren’t) feel included in the broad generalization that most tea party activists are racists.  My Abuela warned me, “you are who you are seen hanging out with, Mijo.”

(Community Matters) Running in today’s Austin Business Journal

Mikaila Ullmer, 5, who calls her business BeeSweet Lemonade, was among those who participated in last year’s Lemonade Day. The Austin youth will be doing so again May 2.

It is not coincidental that so many legendary entrepreneurs — from John Rockefeller to Bill Gates — had paper routes or lemonade stands growing up. With that in mind, the Entrepreneurs Foundation is organizing Lemonade Day to promote entrepreneurship and because Lemonade Day is about helping kids understand that if they want money, they can earn it.

On Sunday, May 2, thousands of young entrepreneurs will begin their first businesses at locations all around Austin. Lemonade Day Austin helps kids of all ages learn to set goals, plan businesses, set budgets, seek investors (mom and dad, in most cases), count expenses and calculate profits. Some even decide to donate to their favorite nonprofit. Continue reading →

(Community Matters) “At the F8 conference in San Francisco, Mr Zuckerberg unveiled a number of products aimed at putting users and their friends at the ‘centre of the web'” on BBC