Community Matters

(Community Matters) HP says White House shift away from Gheitner & Sumners toward Volcker and Goolsbee – this is long overdue.

Even if only a perception of conflict of interest between Secr of Treas Gheitner and Goldman Sach, plus his navigating of AIG bailout and his inability to see beyond the Street suggest we should celebrate his contributions and restaff.  Out with Gheitner; in with Glass – Steagall.

(Community Matters) No doubt about it, independent voters are angry and disappointed, certainly most crossover Rs – even some Ds.  We all need some sleep and reflection.  Competition makes us stronger, and presidents have done quite well with even fewer Senate votes.  Sometimes early wake up votes save us from ourselves.

(Community Matters)  The Beast: 75 worst commutes: I-35 Austin (northbound) is #4 (behind #1 Hollywood Freeway, #2 H1 in Honolulu and #3 the Beltway in DC)

Weekly hours of bottleneck congestion: 460
Worst bottleneck: Northbound, Riverside Dr
Length of worst bottleneck: .92 mi
Weekly hours of congestion on worst bottleneck: 47
Speed of worst bottleneck when congested: 16.2 mph

The expert opinion: “It’s the most traveled stretch of roadway of Austin and in the state,” says Joe Taylor, traffic reporter for News 8 Austin. “It’s quirky. It was designed for a small town, and we’ve grown into a very large city.”

Hat Tip: Rob Oppegard

(Community Matters) ReadWriteWeb: Never Mind the Valley: Here’s Austin

This blending of unique industries in Austin is just a small part of what makes the city unique from other entrepreneurial communities like Silicon Valley.

(Community Matters) quick aggregated update from HelpHaiti partners:

@PiH_org: Outside of Port-au-Prince, PIH’s hospitals continue to see overwhelming volume of patients, especially for surgery.  PIH emergency surgical and medical teams are currently located in  St Marc, Cange, Hinche, and Belladere.  These sites are being supported by medical teams and supplies coming in via the Dominican Republic.  PIH Medical Director happy to report additional field hospital site open in PAP – a total of 13 operating rooms up and running, and they now have electricity so can operate over night.  Three more plane loads of surgical teams and supplies arrived on Monday.

@Concern (changed from @ConcernWorld): Water distributions (for 50,000 people), clean-up campaign (a cash-for-work program), soap distribution (15,000 people), temporary latrines (15,000 people), and shelter (tents and plastic sheeting for around 25,000 people)

We are continuing to look at aid in three stages: 1) save the living, bury the dead, 2) short term and intermediate humanitarian aid & relief,  and 3) reconstruction, rebuilding and growth.

double your Haiti donation here- HelpHaiti

(Community Matters) Just now, driving the four blocks to pick up a Starbucks, I remembered one of last night’s dreams. Kevin Tuerff and I were in a car.  We had a relatively minor accident, though because I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt, it was quite major.  I remember thinking, okay, this is bad for me (I was the one badly hurt), and it’s really bad for others because of me.  Just now, driving the four blocks to pick up a Starbucks, I buckled up.  I’d been developing a bad habit of not doing so for such a short ride – usually at 5:30 in the morning.

(Community Matters) Just reviewing traffic stats – grr, drop off, though climbing back, since moved to WordPress platform (must have something to do with search).  I’m floored one of my most popular postings of all times is the First Kiss story.  Warmed my belly to go back and read.  And, btw, folks sure search for Amanda on here 🙂

(Community Matters)

Happy Birthday, Ben

Ben’s our, now, 17-yo godson

(Community Matters)

1/18/10

@ConcernWorld: aidwkr twittering from Haiti that they’ve raised their water distribution plan to assist 50,000; he’s looking for more tanks.  Following up on the rapid needs assessment they conducted immediately after the earthquake.  They had 10 health centers in Haiti prior.  Distributing critical medical supplies, plumpy nut, food, water, pick axes, surgical masks, tents and they are purifying water.  Still setting up camps for those left homeless.

@PIH_org– Yesterday, PIH got 5 flights into Port au Prince, including a PIH team of 25 medical professionals (surgical teams, anesthesiologists, emergency room physicians and nurses).  They arrived and were operating and caring for patients within hours after they touched down. Many of the patients they are seeing are very serious cases (mostly amputations). There remains a great need for additional medicines (anesthesia and narcotics), medical equipment (anesthesia machines and x-rays), medical supplies (IV’s, tubing, irrigating saline), and water.  PIH will be sending additional planes with medical teams and supplies into Haiti in the course of the next 48 hours

# # # # # # # # # #

1/17/10

According to their tweets:

@PIH_org: designated by WHO to serve as the coordinators of the public hospital alongside Haitian Ministry of Health.  14 hours ago a plane from Montreal arrived with orthopedic surgeons and medical supplies. Thousands in need of surgery.  Paul Farmer on his way into Haiti, was expected to arrive late yesterday.

@ConcernWorld: their worldwide head of emergency services, Dominic Crowley arrived in Port au Prince yesterday with SecState Clinton.  Working with Haitian government to set up camps for those who have lost their homes.  Distributing supplies, setting up water purification

Austin Startup

HelpHaiti- give here

(Community Matters) An intimate group of friends gathered at Mark Salmanson’s to welcome his 6th decade.

Mark w/ the extraordinary glutten-free cake baked by the Freedman’s daughter, Jessica Binder

Mark’s been a very close friend for nearly 20 years.   He’s chaired everything in the Jewish community – from the Jewish Community Center to his current congregation, Temple Beth Shalom.  I love him like  a brother, even if he has recruited me into a lot of work over the years!

Cathy Scholl, Helen Salmanson (mom) & Sandi Aitken (dream gf)

Three main women in Mark’s life.

Irwin Salmanson (dad), Rabbi Freedman, Jay Kirtley & John Pflueger

and certainly three main men

Lori Freedman, Jay, Mark & Lisa Kirtley

I hadn’t met Lori Freedman before, she’s the wife of Rabbi Freedman.  What a dynamite woman.  Loved sitting next to her during the Eddie Bernal catered dinner – yum.  Jay & Lisa long time, closest friends of Mark’s.  They are saving a late 1800s victorian in Flatonia – amazing how much sweat they’ve poured into the project.

foreground:  John Pflueger, Christina Bulman & Shari Pflueger; background: Kara & Irwin Salmanson

First time I’d met John & Shari – also enjoyable dinner companions and great mixed-faith marriage.  Christina a longtime friend/work colleague who I’ve also known and adored.  Mark’s baby sister Kara – out without the 8 and 10-yo boys for a night.  Irwin (b/k/a Wink) an old friend and mentor.

me & Steven (me learning to tweet)    photo: Sandi

(Community Matters) Tons of fun hosting Nico Selby’s 11th birthday party

(Community Matters) HelpHaiti –

We wired $250k to Partners in Health (PIH_org) and Concern Worldwide (@Concern & @ ConcernWorld) – they were already making a huge difference in Haiti search & rescue.  They’ve been in Haiti for years.  LAF and Radio Shack together $250k to PIH too.

@PIH_org: designated by WHO to serve as the coordinators of the public hospital alongside Haitian Ministry of Health.  14 hours ago a plane from Montreal arrived with orthopedic surgeons and medical supplies.  Thousands in need of surgery.  Founder, Paul Farmer on his way into Haiti, was expected to arrive yesterday.

@ConcernWorld:  their worldwide head of emergency services, Dominic Crowley arrived in PaP yesterday with SecState Clinton.  Working with Haitian gov’t to set up camps for those who have lost homes. Distributing supplies, setting up water purification

HelpHaiti matches donations 1:1 at http://GiveToAustin.org/HelpHaiti