Community Matters

(Community Matters) I didn’t realize grackles are protected from harm under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Idea of trained hawks to move them on interesting

Mongillo, AAS

(Community Matters) Steinway To Hell: Dueling Pianos between Graham Reynolds & Peter Stopschinski.

I swiped this pic from David Wyatt’s facebook

Loved it; I know, no big surprise since I love everything Graham does. He & Peter were playful and thoughtful about the playlist. Super setting, appeared to have been a sell out crowd.  I’m super excited about the 9/11 Alamo Drafthouse road show screening of the 1927 German expressionist film, Metropolis, at Seaholm with the  Golden Hornet Project (Graham & Peter) playing the original score.

Attended with Cameron Lockley and his new beau Jeff.  Lots of friends there, Dana Friis-Hansen, Mark Holzbach (just learned they are going to Marfa this weekend too), John Riedie, Lana Lesley, Shawn Sides, Austin Adams, David Wyatt, Tim League, Allison Orr & Blake Trabulsi, and lots of others

(Community Matters) Seriously, this shit still goes on

Flash of Genius

(Community Matters)

The piece points out that much good has been done with the aid (hospitals, medicine, schools, temp shelter, food, water . . . over 1.3mm Haitians per day now being fed by World Food Program).  And, the piece questions, why is $700mm still not deployed while Haitians are living in tents and temporary shelter.

Six months in and there appears to be lots of progress in those camps run by the NGOs with which we’ve invested.  We must remember that many agencies of the government were completely wiped out, their entire 2010 class of nurses (100) were killed when their school collapsed, etc, etc.  It appears there are substantial neglect issues in other encampments. And, too much of the money for permanent structures awaits government coordination.  Too many unknowns.  I plan to learn a lot more about all this while there next week.  Good questions.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) Today’s horoscope:

. . .  Someone will recognize your social genius

(Community Matters) La Sombra at 48th & Burnet

proprietors: Cameron Lockley & Eddie Bernal, chef Julio-Cesar Florez, gm: Raul Escobar

(Community Matters) Our first time at Highbowl, the Alamo Drafthouse’s retro bowling/karaoke/skee-ball amusement chamber. Luke calls it Chucky Cheese for adults – good food and wide open bar.

their stock photo

Last night with Amy Grace Tharp, Doug Ulman, Mona Patel, Luke Hayes & Steven.  I sucked at bowling but excelled at eating and drinking; the rest struck a healthy balance. I think Doug won both games.

Very cool place, highly recommend it.  Make reservations in advance.

(Community Matters) Milinda Mitchell takes good pictures

w/ Tana Christie (one of my favorite pictures of all time)

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(Community Matters) Breakfast today with dear friends who we see way too infrequently – Stephen Walls & Denny Biggs.  First time since she’s been a little girl (versus baby) that we’ve spent anytime with their daughter, Zella. She’s 19 months old, cute as a button, and sees *everything*

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(Community Matters) Survey sent to 400+ active military and reserve service members

(Community Matters) Note I sent today to our HelpHaiti donors:

I didn’t mean for this much time to pass since last providing you with an update.

We’re at $1,346k raised and have now granted $1,191k (including a $38k challenge grant outstanding with CharityWater).  Our last two grants were $100k to ConcernWorldwide to fund their cash for work program (Haitian’s paid $s/day to assist in clean up, rebuilding, day care and all sorts of jobs), and a $50k challenge grant to Fonkoze to fund a malnutrition program for the children of women in their savings and microloan programs (they’ve since met the match).

A lot has been written about the frustrations of deploying government and NGO monies in Haiti.  Continue reading →

(Community Matters) hmm, I won’t say who this is about but we’re close