Monthly Archives: March 2012

(Community Matters)

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(Community Matters) Rather unexpected and wondering how telling. My friend Tx Comptroller Susan Combs has announced she’s endorsing Rick Santorum.

(Community Matters) My friend David Corn’s new book, Showdown, is being released Tuesday, March 20. Hate that we’re unable to make the 3/19 party in DC.

(Community Matters) Don’t you hate it when this happens?

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(Community Matters) SXSW kicks off tonight. I hear one parking garage is getting $50k for a party for one night, another former restaurant space $90k for 5 nights rental, and the W Hotel is charging $40 for valet.  These may be urban legends but came from pretty knowledgeable sources. It’s the buzz and the reality – not sure how many tens of thousands of visitors to Austin the next 10 days but a lot. The Four Seasons was hoping this am at breakfast. Steven and I were there with Jack Martin & Steve Adler. Tommie Meredith at another table; John Paul Dejoria with some movie star friends at another; Doug Ulman at another . . . on and on.

Launching the celebrations this evening accompanied by Michael Barnes (ST already in SF) to the DLA/LIVESTRONG SXSW kickoff event at the W, then Deloitte’s Dinner on the Edge, then the StartupAmerica kickoff at ACL Moody, then Twitter’s #FEED Preview. Then, I’m out of here in the am, meeting ST in SF for a couple days r&r, then a couple days EF business in the Valley.

Just read Chris Hughes has purchased The New Republic, and Apple is investing $302mm and creating another 3.6k jobs in Austin – sweet x2

(Community Matters) Joined KUT supporters last night for a reception in honor of national NPR’s new president & ceo, Gary Knell. And, had private time with him today over lunch at the Headliners.

Gary notes that radio listenership continues to increase even as newspaper readership & public television viewers decline. NPRs ratings remain very high – across political lines – with over 35 million listeners and 3.5 million donors. I loved hearing that automobile manufacturers will soon be embedding internet based radio.

(Community Matters) I don’t know how people who claim to follow Jesus reconcile with supporting cuts in healthcare to women & children. It’s preposterous. NYT

(Community Matters) I can’t get the image of yesterday’s NYT Dining Section out of my head – homemade twinkies, hostess cupcakes and oreos.  Must find an excuse to have a party for which I can make & serve these  homemade versions.

for a Betty Dunkerley race, I made sliders, tatter tots, fries, miniature hot dogs – all my fussy eating friends devoured them anyway

(Community Matters) Thank you Dept of Justice for forcing the Anoka-Hennepin School District to protect LGBT youth (see my earlier posting: Rolling Stone Magazine: One Town’s War on Gay Teens)

(Community Matters) okay, I waited until tried three times before posting what I think. I love it. Have loved my last two meals and love that I can bring my own wine (have to pay a corking fee and that’s just fine). The place is always packed and the buzz feels good. Cameron Lockley (managing partner but more importantly our godson) promises me they will soon have a menu and checks with bigger font- the lighting (which works well for ambiance) just doesn’t allow for the very tiny print, even with reading glasses.

Steven and I had dinner with our Marfa friend, Tim Crowley. The guy is a always working on something very cool and isn’t just the head Marfa cheerleader, he’s positions 1 – 12 on the pep squad. We’ll be working together.

(Community Matters) Yesterday, Steven and I helped our friends Bill & Cindi Bock and Tommy & Laura Jacks host a reception and reading for Ray Bonner – where he discussed his new book Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong.

I guess we should have invited some of our friends – yikes, sorry. Time got away from me, so the guest list was all theirs. Ray’s a NYTimes investigative reporter. Extraordinarily disturbing story about prosecutorial misconduct and the incidence of wrongful conviction among death row inmates. Major shout outs to UT Law alumn, Diana Holt.

(Community Matters)

$100,000 cash prize for the annual Social Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by the Silverton Foundation – more information

$1,000 RISE fast pitch prize for social entrepreneurship – here