Monthly Archives: January 2011

(Community Matters) It’s been 21 years since Lew Aldridge launched the Octopus Club, all proceeds which fund ASA’s emergency fund for people living with AIDS and HIV. Of course, front and center yesterday was Lew at the La Sombra event. Lew & the Octopus Club have raised over $1mm for this emergency fund.

Many thanks to godson Cameron Lockley for sponsoring last night’s Octopus event – the place was really hoping. Jim Lommori was of course also there – he’s been contributing to and helping led this initiative every bit of the 21 years.

Hailey Rudy (center) & her beau, Cory Vargas (right) joined me for the party and dinner. Joe Pierce joined us for a drink.

(Community Matters) Graham Reynolds invited me to the rough edit screening of Richard Linklater’s newest film (for which Graham is creating the score). Kinda fascinating. After the screening, we had a fairly candid talk back with Richard – folks offering numerous opinions and answering Richard’s questions. And, even after that, a few friends (all musicians sans moi) out for drinks to talk about every cue and the music.

I’m not able to comment on the movie but found the process fascinating. Lots of this talk way above my head, though everyone was sweet and kept explaining to me.

(Community Matters) when I learned Texas Republican legislators didn’t want to tap the rainy day fund to help close the budget gap, I thought . . . that’s ridiculous. Talking with my dear friend Steve Adler, I gained perspective.

When the objective is to shrink government, you don’t find ways to fund existing programs, you find excuses to cut them.

Grover Norquist (president of Americans for Tax Reform) said, “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.”

Norquist was an early George W. Bush for president supporter – in fact, according to Wikipedia, he’s widely credited with securing his support from conservatives. He was also instrumental in crafting the Bush tax cuts.

(Community Matters) Attended a fundraiser for Senator Sherrod Brown last night, then a few of us had dinner after. Second time we’ve spent time together – the first among a group of progressives just to talk issues. He’s impressive, formidable & has one of the best memories I’ve ever witnessed. He’s up for reelection in 2012 – for a second term in the Senate, after 7 terms in the House and serving in Ohio’s state house plus as its Secretary of State. He’s a progressive lion in the Senate, a liberal focused on root cause & pragmatic solutions.

More broadly: encouraging polling

(Community Matters) speechless

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) Milinda Mitchell first posted this link, picked up by Michael Mitchell on Squirrels in the Attic, now I’m including the link. Check out Vivian’s photos and stories, an estate agent found a box of her negatives. No one knew her as a photographer.

(Community Matters) My friend Andrea Ball writes an insightful & courageous column in today’s Austin American Statesman

(Community Matters) Austin in the Washington Post – a quirky, independent spirit

(Community Matters) This story resonates. Reminds me when during college a candidate’s staff & national party leaders tried convincing me to infiltrate another campaign.

JASON ZENGERLE: “Smith was … a crusading reformer whose combination of charisma, idealism, and intelligence prompted comparisons to Howard Dean, Paul Wellstone, and even Barack Obama. … The Smith campaign, like all underdog efforts, had been approached by second- and third-tier political consultants-the kind of operators that no well-funded candidate would dream of hiring. One particularly persistent suitor … presented himself as ‘a plumber’ and ‘this guy [who] does the dark arts.’ Smith’s campaign had repeatedly turned down his solicitations, but now it seemed his services might prove useful. … [In rationalizing the mailing to his campaign brain trust, Smith] ‘put on his professorial cap, and he was talking about FEC rules and regulations and how they were basically created by politicians who were already in office,’ [recalls Nick Adams, a recent college graduate who as in the campaign’s inner circle]. ‘We didn’t know what was inbounds or out-of-bounds. We knew politics was a little seamy; there were gray areas. … So, when Jeff said this is how the game is played and if you can’t play it, you’re not going to go anywhere, it felt weird. It didn’t feel right, but it seemed like it was probably correct.’ …

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(Community Matters) Though we missed Steven, dinner last night with Michael Mitchell, Tana & Joe Christie, Stephen Walls and Melissa Henderson & Drew Valcourt was just what the doctor ordered after a day reading, blogging and napping in front of the fireplace. We laughed, told stories on each other and I picked on MM so much he stopped to ask, “what is it with you tonight, do I look like Charles Santos?” In fact, Charles arrives this afternoon . . . must have just been sharpening my verbal wit.

(Community Matters) I’m floored. Our fire chief decides not to promote someone to battalion chief because he’s knowingly lied to investigators and has admitted shop lifting (the Chief cited “unprofessional, unscrupulous conduct” and his failure to “live up to his promise to be better”) – AND, yet an arbitrator rules she must promote him?

This is ludicrous. Austin’s city council must stand up against this silliness and support Chief Kerr. Hard for them to do because of the muscle of the firefighters union –  let’s see who puts right ahead of politics. AAS article

(Community Matters) hmm, I thought Thursday’s dinner was gorgeous, and it was.  Yet homemade fish tacos w/ Lynn & Tommie Meredith while overlooking the city from the best views in town – priceless – casual, warm, comfortable evening. Special treat: Abby joining us by dessert – can she and Hilary really be the same age?