Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) I didn’t know about the Rick Culleton ads supporting Jason Meeker and Randi Shade while attacking Lee Leffingwell and Jennifer Kim. Obviously, I was behind when I emailed Randi yesterday. Evidently, some dirty politics coming out of the Meeker campaign. His campaign manager and campaign treasurer evidently have teamed up – they resigned their Meeker positions – and are running an independent campaign. Randi has condemned the ads and I confirmed knew nothing about them. She hasn’t even ever met Culleton who also took out an ad in the Austin Chronicle. More on the story at AusChron.

(Community Matters) On North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley use of the term pansy while announcing his endorsement of Hillary, so what. It’s an innocuous term as he used it. “This lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy. There’s nothing I love more than a strong powerful woman.” Obviously I’m an Obama supporter and I couldn’t care less about the term . . . . about the endorsement yes, about the term, not an iotta.

(Community Matters) Etiquette, one of the Fuse Box art pieces is an interactive installation created by Rotozaza and located at Cafe Mundi on E. 5th street. Steven and I performed the piece yesterday. Loved it. Recommend it.

Fuse Box creator and producer, Ron Berry, stopped by knowing we were trying this piece at 4. Great audiences for all the performances so far. He and his team very pleased and very overworked.

(Community Matters) From the perspective of Obama’s campaign, I fear the risk of Rev. Wright on the speakers circuit. Of course, he doesn’t represent Senator Obama nor his campaign.

I believe Rev. Wright is speaking out to defend African American religious tradition – much as Rev Joe Parker and his colleagues did in Austin – and to clarify the manipulative sound bites publicized by Hillary Clinton’s campaign on uTube. How many who watched understood the Reverend to be quoting the former US Ambassador to Iraq when he spoke of “chickens were coming home to roost”?

As Rev. Wright is reminding America, there still exists anger and disillusionment among segments of the African American community (I’m walking on ice here since I don’t know if it is some, most or all). Will this impact swing voters? I hope not. Obviously we still have far to go. Let’s discuss it, deal with it and strengthen our country.

Hope for conversation, for a new style of leadership, for reconciliation . . . . this is the magic of Obama’s campaign. I don’t suggest there isn’t conversation needed and disappointments to be addressed from many American constituencies today. We’ve spent the last 15 years divided. Time to come together.

(Community Matters) Our extraordinary former intern during her break before medical school.

(Community Matters) Heath Riddle and J.J. Lara announcing the launch of OutCast, a public radio program for & about Austin’s LGBT Community. Premieres Sunday, May 4 on KOOP 91.7 FM from 6 – 6:30pm. Streaming at http://www.koop.org/. Should be good; Heath’s a hoot.

(Community Matters) Randi Shade & Lee Leffingwell have been endorsed in their Austin City Council races by the Austin American Statesman. Laura Morrison was not endorsed by the AAS for Place 4, though she’s the better of the candidates in that race. AAS endorsements here I’ve endorsed Randi, Lee & Laura.

(Community Matters) Way fun last night at our place for dinner with Rosa & Juan Miro, Elisa & Miguel Rivera, Amy & Kirk Rudy, Ivan Buendar and Armando Miguelez. Plus our roost of younger ones, Nico, Diego, Daniella, Ellie & Ellie’s friend.

Ivan is producing Thursday night’s evening of poetry, fashion, discussion and performance art at the Mexican American Cultural Center. Armando’s installation is up at Salvage Vanguard and he’s collaborated with Lauren Tietz to create a performance piece which will show on Saturday at Big Medium Gallery. Ivan and Armando are from Mexico City.

(Community Matters) Since 2000, Lynne Skinner has produced the Austin Cup, an event which brings together many of Austin high-tech companies to raise money for the Center for Child Protection.

Austin Ventures partner Jeff Browning has served as event chair for all but one year. They’ve raised nearly $300,000 (perhaps over that after yesterday) for the Center for Child Protection.

Companies contribute to CCP to play plus most raise other monies through auctions, bake sales, executive sales & personal solicitations. It’s always a fun day, sorta a reunion/homecoming as so many folks have worked together at a previous start up.

Bazaarvoice

Cisco Systems

Daisy (Lynne & Brian’s daughter) advertising the E&Y sponsored kids’ lanes

hmm, my brain is losing this one

Home Away

Net Q

Max & David Yelaskel representing Pluck

Powered

QuickArrow

Reachforce

Justin Kirkland w/ Reachforce

Sailpoint

Jeff, Chris & Kathy

fearless leader, Lynne Skinner

Other companies that participated yesterday include Pervassive Softward, NetStreams, Augmentix, LifeSize, Troux Technologies, ClearCube, Lombardi Software, Boxx Technologies, Zarlink, Grande Communications, Tipping Point, Dresser Wayne, Entorian Technologies, Alterpoint, Affiniscape, 360training.com, MPower Labs and PulseWaveRF. Prizes for top scores, best costumes, spiriti awards and culture cup. And, all for a very good cause.

Please email P&G’s Chairman (A.G. Lafley) or call their direct line, 513-983-1100 to let them know the AFA doesn’t represent everyone.

(Community Matters) Pics released from the Hubble telescope.

Hubble Interacting Galaxy Arp 148

Hubble Interacting Galaxy NGC 6240