Brewing Bone War

In a growing dispute over a collection of "archaic" human remains exhumed from the Del Rio area, archeologists are all over the map. The Witte Museum, which began its collection in 1928, is adamant: The bones will stay put.

However, an equally impassioned assortment of Native American tribal members, activists, and local students are taking their case public tomorrow in the first of what they promise will be a sustained drive to have the collection returned and reburied with a properly respectful ceremony.

Federal law requires those remains that can be definitively linked to modern-day – federally-recognized, modern-day, the hitch – tribes must be returned to the tribal representatives. Problem is, very few recognized tribes exist in Texas. That's not to say, there weren't (and aren't) lots of indigenous descendents here. In fact, only about five percent of the 215,000 Texans that identify themselves as Native American are federally-recognized tribal members, according to Milo Colton, St. Mary's University pre-law advisor active in Indian issues.

Activists and anthropologists alike agree the recognition process is difficult.

"It doesn't matter whether you're Cherokee, Carizzo, you're Lipan, Mescalero, Seminole," said David Ortiz, board president for the American Indian Movement, Texas Chapter. "If you are a descendent of the indigenous people of this land, when you see those bones, you might not be a direct descendent, but it just does something to you. It hurts."

Tomorrow, the bone battle that's been brewing behind the scenes spills into the streets with a morning protest outside the Witte.

---

Here's the press release:

INDIAN ALERT!!!

ON SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2008-SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, BEGINNING AT 9:30AM - AMERICAN INDIANS WILL HOLD A RALLY IN FRONT OF THE WITTE MUSEUM DEMANDING THAT THE MUSEUM, WHICH CURRENTLY HOLDS INDIAN REMAINS IN ITS COLLECTIONS, RETURN THE REMAINS TO THE INDIAN PEOPLE FOR REBURIAL. ALL INDIANS AND NON-INDIANS OFFENDED BY THE WITTE SACRILEGE ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

THE WITTE MUSEUM IS LOCATED AT: 3801 BROADWAY, SAN ANTONIO , TEXAS .

AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS ASK WITTE MUSEUM TO RETURN BONES OF THEIR PEOPLE FOR REBURIAL

On April 22, 2008, three American Indian students at St. Mary's University sent a letter asking the Witte Museum to return American Indian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony to the American Indian community of Texas for reburial. Indian students Dallas Colton, Marie Crabb and Angelica Villarreal want the bones and artifacts reburied at the original grave sites.

The Indian remains were taken by non-Indians from sacred burial grounds at Fate Bell Rock Shelter in Seminole Canyon State Park about 45 miles west of Del Rio and White Shaman Site Rock Art Foundation Preserve, located about one mile west of Seminole Canyon State Park on Highway 90.

In their letter to the museum, the students stated that "we have made several trips in recent years to the Fate Bell Rock Shelter in Seminole Canyon and the White Shaman Site to study the ancient rock art of Texas Indians.

"We were saddened and hurt to discover that the bodies of eight American Indians at the Fate Bell Rock Shelter and two American Indians at the White Shaman Site Rock Art Foundation Preserve were dug up, along with funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony and removed to the Witte Museum ."

They also said that they "believe a great sacrilege and injustice has been committed against our" Indian people when they "were removed from their burial grounds and the embrace of Mother Earth."

On May 1st, Marise McDermott, CEO and President of the of the Witte Museum, stated that the law (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) does not apply to the museum when it comes to digging up American Indian graves.

McDermott also indicated that the bones in the museum's collection belong to "an archaic hunter/gatherer" people not related to today's Indians.

Attorneys for the Civil Rights Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (CRLDEF) have also sent a letter on behalf of the students, demanding that the bones of the Indians currently in possession of the Witte Museum be returned for reburial.

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/30/2008 Permalink | Comments

On the Street

"Telling the truth is not the same as not getting caught in a lie."

Letters (to the On the Street Penthouse Suite)

#1 Miracle Fruit and Flavor Tripping

(sin permiso)

Evidently, people in NYC are breaking all rules of flavor...

The video is insane. People are gurgling vinegar and drinking tabasco and stuff

Weirdness

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/dining/28flavor.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

#2 Salt in the Wound

As the Spurs were on the ropes after Game 4, the haters wrote in.

http://www.withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=5899

How's things homey? What's the good word?

Doing alright?

(sin permiso)

#3 What Have You Done?

Congressman Al wrote this before Game 5 from Los Angeles. It was a group letter in a bottle, a call to action, and a test of fate.

Okay...

So, I've done what I can do. I've dropped $131.31 on a $74 face ticket in section 322. And I moved into a loaner apartment on Finley Ave, explicitly to jump-start a former 20+/game player.

And my question is: What have YOU done to help the Spurs win today?

Which prompted these replies...

After that Brazilian dillweed Tiago Splitter screwed us yesterday and signed with Tau Ceramica in the Spanish League I vowed never to buy Spanish tile.

Also, I turned down an invitation for karaoke tonight.

Al, your apartment move is admirable but I'd be concerned that the place is old and creaky and won't be able to deliver in the clutch.

I'm just saying.

(sin permiso)

And then this...

This morning I stopped by the local surgi-center and received a vasectomy reversal, despite the fact that I have never had a vasectomy.

I will feel so stupid if we lose.

#4 Drinking to Forget

Then came this email with an oblique reference to the new Scott McClellan tell-all book about Bush and the White House. The quote is found from the link below.

The media won't let go of these ridiculous cocaine rumors,' I heard Bush say. 'You know, the truth is I honestly don't remember whether I tried it or not. We had some pretty wild parties back in the day, and I just don't remember.'

http://www.metafilter.com/72049/Scott-McClellan-was-badly-misguided

Reminds me of a scene in a movie I recently saw.

That last line can only be a reference to the latest Harold and Kumar film.

Sydney Pollack RIP/Paranoid Trilogy/3 Days of the Condor

This week legendary (actor's) director Sydney Pollack passed away. I'm not sure if it was a coincidence but AMC happened to be playing his forgotten 3 Days of the Condor a few nights ago and I happened to watch. 3 Days of the Condor conincided with director Alan J. Pakula's "Paranoid Trilogy" (of Parallax View, All the President''s Men, and Klute) and established a cinematic record of the wonderfully bleak still idealistic enough to care to be cynical 1970s, a period no less bleak then now one could argue yet for unknown/various reasons has yet to be evidenced on-screen and more importantly, at the cineplex.

(sin permiso)

My memories of 3 Days of the Condor were loose, yet a few years back I do remember hearing of some unforseen 9-11/Twin Towers connection. The film is quite prescient, at least it was around the time of the beginning of the Iraq War. Though the film works as a political thriller, in the end, it's about elements of the government trying to start an illegal war in the Mideast to procure oil. Where have we heard that one before? The irony is that in the film this potential war is thwarted by the CIA itself as an act of cleaning house. Yet, the CIA still comes across as the nefarious arm of the shadow government. Jump ahead to 2005 (and now) and we find the Bush Government with its own battle with the CIA over new secret wars, and the CIA acting in the same manner as in this film, yet, they are now seen as relatively heroic.

I probably should discuss what happens in the film but then I would just be ruining it. However, as a nice touch one can see Robert Redford begin the film by riding through Manhattan on a moped, which is interesting in its own right and also foreshadows the energy crisis moral dilemma that later develops, and gives some sense of proof for what this was reaching for.

The Visitor (Or How Walter Got His Groove Back)

(sin permiso)

Yesterday, I snuck over to Crossroads Bijou and saw The Visitor, a film that had been getting great reviews. From the reviews I expected a sad tale of immigration in a post-9/11 world, which is definitely true. However, the film is titled The Visitor not The Visitors and subtly suggests that the main character is the real "visitor" in the film, not the immigrants he befriends.

Often times films try to do too much and end up being a complication of loose and dead ends. The Visitor is two or three films at the same time, yet somehow feels whole. On one level, yes, it is a statement about the recent detached immigration policy. But at its core, the film is about Walter and the distance he travels in reaching out to other people. He isn't a bad person at all, however he is completely alone and has nothing left in life that moves him. It may seem corny that a stiff, quiet professor ends up learning to play African drums from his new friend, and even joins in with others at Washington Square Park (which is merely seconds away from Mamoun's Falafel, the best "sandwich" shop in the country, coincidentally seen here on a t-shirt in a foto for the recent cover story...)

(Justin Parr)

...and yet the film never feels like its slipping away from reality. With such a slow point for film right now, what else is there to see? Other than Ironman...

Game 4 (Lost By Not Flopping?)

Let's just dive right into it.

Here's a clip of the play with Brent going out of his way to take the high road.

Luckily, On the Street knows no high roads. Only a fan well educated in the history and politics of last second shots (or an outright Laker fan) could make a case against a foul. The next day the NBA itself admitted that a foul should have been called, but only after being pressured to show some sense of transparency and help extinguish the Lakers-Celtics conspiracy theory.

It was bad enough to throw away Game 1, but after this instance of bad luck (again at the hands of Fisher), the Spurs hopes for survival were getting lower moment by moment.

Game 5

And then the hammer dropped.

The game was a microcosm of the season as a whole. We played brilliantly for the first quarter of the game in the same way we played brilliantly for the first quarter of the season. A 17-3 run to begin the season made everyone think this was our year and a repeat was finally in the cards. Teams made huge trades to try and counter the Spurs, which seems odd now as every perception of the team has since changed over the course of the last few weeks. In that sense the Spurs destroyed Dallas and Phoenix just through the threat they posed. Those teams now must fully rebuild and start over.

And yet, after the Lakers series the Spurs are somewhat in a similar place. Yes, the Big 3 are still around but a third to half the team needs to be replaced. With the dollar to euro exchange not going in our favor, the Spurs strategy of drafting foreign players seems less and less beneficial. The team needs to draft Americans, yet the idea of a 22 year old American on the Spurs seems exotic at this point.

The next few months will be interesting. Any help is needed.

(Menudo Terremoto Williams)

And the DVD That Will Never Be

And with no title that means no Championship DVD to watch for amusement. It's odd to think how over time the DVDs of past championships will serve a record and possibly replace some of the actual, in the moment memories of the Finals themselves. (And on a sidenote, can any of the Championship DVDs compare with the 2003 edition? The fourth quarters, the Stephen Jackson and Speedy Claxon youth movement that slipped away...)

I'm not sure why I'm ruminating on DVDs but for some reason I'd like to see a DVD on this season. Of course that will never happen. And for what purpose? Even with last year's DVD, very little new was discovered. It's like the DVD documentary crew had grown too old and past their prime as well.

For reasons I admit are basically retarded I would like to see a DVD of this year. The team's mortality has never been more on the line, hence the outpouring of eulogies we see on almost every basketball site.

To me this season had the most drama of all of them. It also had the most frustration. Perhaps I watched too many slow-paced, bleak movies of the 70s growing up (see above, 3 Days of the Condor.) Perhaps that's why I'm drawn to the team. Who knows? But a DVD of this season that truly got behind the scenes and captured all the subtle humor, pathos, and private drunken rants would be a Sundance winner in my mind.

Perhaps I don't want the season to end just yet. As much as I privately hated a third to half of the team this year, I also appreciate what they did over the years. The fact they even made it past New Orleans was an accomplishment in my mind.

For me it's been about a 23 year journey of watching the team - from the low point of the Ed Nealy/Walter Berry years to the end of the high point last night.

So much time. Last night felt like the last stage of grief. It's a sad acceptance.

And so goes another week on the streets of San Antonio. As always, to be continued...

Posted by Mark Jones on 5/30/2008 Permalink | Comments

Free the children

A demonstration in Taylor, TX drew a crowd of 100 or so immigrant
rights organizations, residents of Williamson County, and grass roots
citizens who came out to protest the incarceration of asylum-seeking
families by the Department of Homeland Security at the T. Don Hutto
Residential Center in Taylor, TX on a sweltering Saturday afternoon:

Meanwhile, Democratic delegates from Harris and Williamson County and activist groups asked for support for a future protest to be held in Austin, TX to highten ongoing attention to the facility:

To stay up to date on what's happening go to
http://www.myspace.com/free_the_children or
http://www.tdonhutto.blogspot.com

Posted by Sonya Harvey on 5/30/2008 Permalink | Comments

So what about the illustrated Henry Miller?

Most of the media reports on the San Antonio Public Library's expanded obscenity-monitoring capabilities are wrong, says SAPL's Jennifer Velasquez.

"The software isn't monitoring what people are looking at," she told the Current by phone this morning. Nor does it reflect a change in the library's policy. "What we do is we ask users to be responsible users, and by [that] we mean we're asking them not to violate that Texas penal-code thing ... it says it's not legal to display obscene material."

We'll talk about that penal-code thing [S. 43.24 in the Criminal Code] later, but the library's been enforcing it through visual oversight and verbal intervention. If a staff members sees a computer user displaying screen images that would seem to violate the code, they approach the user and ask them to close the page. PC Cop, says Velasquez, gives them additional tools to manage those awkward confrontations, including the ability to send an onscreen message to a specific computer terminal, the ability to terminate the session if the user doesn't comply, and for repeat offenders or obstreperous surfers, the ability to block a library-card number so that it can't be used to log onto library computers at any branch (those card numbers can still be used to check out books, however).

Neither the software nor the library's digital-records department tie user sessions to individual information, says Velasquez. For instance, during a recent review of all the websites visited from public-library terminals during specific use periods, the library was able to tell that fewer than .25 percent of sites visited were classified as "adult," but not the patrons or branches that accessed those sites. (The City keeps those website-traffic records for 30 days, added Velasquez).

Visual oversight, by staff and other library patrons, is the only way potential offenders are identified, says Velasquez, an arguably superior alternative to filtering software, which immediately raises a host of First Amendment problems, and she says, has a 60-percent failure rate for images.

Perhaps most importantly, Velasquez says the library is willing to make exceptions for patrons who are conducting serious research or other non-prurient uses of material that may nonetheless offend some other library users.

So is this the best solution? The criminal code puts the library between a rock and a hard place -- and I do have to wonder once again whether we're not talking about a problem that's best addressed by parents and caregivers rather than the Nanny State.

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/30/2008 Permalink | Comments

Get to it!

As we work on our deadline all the other creative-types in San Anto are (hopefully) doing the same.

The Office of Cultural Affairs FY 09 funding cycle for arts & cultural programs deadline for neighborhood arts applications is tomorrow, Friday May 30 @ 5pm. For more info, visit SAHearts.com.

Posted by Jennifer Herrera on 5/29/2008 Permalink | Comments

The cotton-eyed joe

Climb aboard The Tejas, a civil-rights rollercoaster constructed on a daily basis from the remnants of the American Revolution.

First, the long haul up the hill: the Texas Supreme Court ruled today that the state's Child Protective Services overspent its authority allowance when it grabbed 400+ kids from the Yearning for Zion FLDS colony in Eldorado, Texas, agreeing with the appeals court that removing kids from their home is the most extreme solution, and the state had failed to exhaust its many other options under the law. The likely virtual enslavement of young women in the Warren Jeffs' sect still needs to be addressed, but today's rulings confirm that it'll have to happen under the color of the constitution. Iconoclastic, cliquish parents everywhere should rejoice. The story isn't over mind you, CPS will just have to actually build individual cases.

Then, the short drop: District 4 Councilman Philip Cortez unveiled a $50,000 expanded internet policing system at the public libraries that will shut down the one-half of one percent of you that were turning Japanese with the visual stimulation of the SAPL computers. The library folks assert, and the daily mindlessly repeats, that the methods -- a warning, followed by disconnection -- skirt First Amendment issues. So, we gather, if you have the option to surrender your First Amendment rights before the plug is pulled, no foul? I remain unconvinced, but I'll check back in with you tomorrow after I go to the library to research sexual slavery and blow-up dolls.

And the long fall: DA Susan Reed, police state envelope-pusher, was triumphal in her evaluation of Memorial Day weekend mandatory blood tests. No refusing the breathalyzer; a "warrant" obtained on the quick ensured that your blood could be drawn and tested against your will. More on the dubious legality of that later (the article notes that the TX Court of Criminal Appeals has approved the use of warrants to coerce blood samples from suspected drunken drivers, but as a defense attorny points out to the X-News, a warrant and a rubber stamp are not the same thing).

To rub salt in the wound, the daily published the name of a schoolteacher (who sounds like she's maybe having a rough personal time) who was pulled over, appeared inebriated, "refused to give a breath sample," and was forcibly tested. But, if we read the article correctly, the results weren't back before the article was published. No matter; her name appeared, along with her subsequent discipline at the hands of the school district (which alleges she showed up "seemingly intoxicated," and was issued a citation for public intoxication). Is the woman not entitled to some privacy until and if she's actually convicted?

Or maybe the E-N is practicing more of its conviction by imagination.

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/29/2008 Permalink | Comments

River Rats

Dear downstreamers,

Sorry we messed up your river. You know, nothing personal. It's just so much easier to flush our filth than to deal with it. You could even call it tradition.

We know it doesn't help that San Antonio Water System sometimes exceeds its permitted pollution levels of bacteria-feeding nitrogen. But they're pretty good, generally.

However, in this hunt for oxygen-depleting pollutants that have left the Lower San Antonio River an unhealthy habitat for fish, fowl, and regular folk, I would suggest you turn your eye to Schertz.

Call it an "informed hunch."

As you may know, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is required under the federal Clean Water Act to periodically to review stream and river segments across the state under its Total Maximum Daily Load program, which, in effect, tells us how much we can dump into a water body and maintain it for its "intended use."

There's the catch. Some rivers may be legally intended just for you to look at; a few may be clean enough to recreate in; some are so clean, you can (or should be able to) eat fish from them.

Right now, your San Antonio River segment is no good on the recreation side. We're really sorry about this.

I'm glad the state is going through this whole to-do, drawing attention to the problem with the river and calling public meetings 'n all. But if you are hoping for improvement, I would suggest you turn your eye to Shertz.

Five miles upstream from where the Cibolo feeds into the San Antonio, the TCEQ ID'd "impaired fish communities." You may want to ask someone about it.

I went to a recent report by Environment Texas and found that the Schertz wastewater plant had discharges violating its permits 49 times just in 2005, according to numbers the group culled from the EPA. These discharges included a chlorine dump of 1,122 percent over permit; a long list of nitrogen and ammonia totals (averaging around 100 percent over permit); as well as a handful for suspended solids and discharge of inadequately treated sewage (high carbonaceous biological oxygen demand, for you aquatic watchers).

I went next to the TCEQ for a compliance history on the Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority. Their report went back to 2002 and held 55 "moderate" offenses.

You may wonder when so many moderate offenses and apparently significant river damage becomes a big deal. You and I would be in the same boat. That's what I'm waiting to find out. So far, I've only found a solitary $8,000 fine.

Here are some notes on the TCEQ's planned TMDL for the Lower San Antonio River.

This document describes development of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for the Lower San Antonio River (LSAR), where concentrations of indicator bacteria exceed the criteria used to evaluate attainment of the contact recreation use. The LSAR, Segment 1901, is 153 miles long and has a watershed of 1,210 square miles. It is located primarily in Karnes and Goliad counties. The segment receives flows from two upstream segments: the Upper San Antonio River (USAR), Segment 1911, and Lower Cibolo Creek, Segment 1902. The LSAR was first identified as impaired for recreational use in the 2000 Texas Wa-ter Quality Inventory and 303(d) List.

The goal for this TMDL project is to determine the maximum bacterial loading the stream can receive and still allow support of the contact recreation use. Elevated levels of indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), although not generally pathogenic, indicate the potential for risk to public health. The criteria for support of the contact recreation use are based on indicator bacteria rather than direct measurements of pathogens.

I won't be able to make your meeting tonight, but some of you downstreamers may want to stay up for the event… maybe ask a question or two.

Here's the release on the meeting:

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is seeking public comment during a 30-day period beginning May 23, 2008 for one draft Total Maximum Daily Load. The TMDL addresses bacteria in the Lower San Antonio River watershed in DeWitt, Goliad, Karnes, Refugio, Galveston, Wilson and Victoria counties. The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations in the Lower San Antonio River to within the acceptable risk level for contact recreation.

The TCEQ will conduct a meeting to receive oral and written comments on the TMDL on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Parish Hall of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 207 N. Commercial, Goliad.

The meeting provides the public an opportunity to comment on the draft TMDL. The commission requests comment on each of the major components of the TMDL. After the public comment period, TCEQ staff may revise the plan, if appropriate. The final document will then be considered for adoption by the commission. Upon commission approval, the plan and a response to public comments will be made available on the TCEQ Web site.

More information on the project and the draft TMDL is available online: www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/water/tmdl/34-lowersanantoniobac.html#tmdls, or to receive a copy call 512/239-6682.

The goal of a TMDL is to determine the amount (concentration or load) of a pollutant that a body of water can receive and still support its beneficial uses. As required by §303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, one TMDL was developed for bacteria. A final TMDL will be adopted by the commission, and subsequently approved by the EPA, as an update to the State Water Quality Management Plan.

Written comments should be submitted to Kerry Niemann, TCEQ, Water Programs Division, MC 203, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX, 78711-3087 or faxed to (512) 239-1414. All comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 21, 2008 and should reference, One Total Maximum Daily Load for Bacteria in the Lower San Antonio River.

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/28/2008 Permalink | Comments

Reality Rescue

So the crew had the good sense to pack it up and move on before I signed on with Wildlife Rescue last year for a short stint, which means this here reality stitch may have a shot at offering good, clean, family fun...

Here's the release:

Life at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR) in Kendalia, Texas. is the subject of Animal Planet's 13-episode series, My New Wild Life, which will preview with two episodes on Sunday, May 25 and June 1, 2008, at 6:00 a.m. Central (7:00 a.m. Eastern/Pacific). This series takes a close look at wildlife, their too-often debilitating encounters with humans, and the compassionate people who nurse them back to health.

WRR rescues, rehabilitates, and releases orphaned, injured, and displaced wild animals and provides sanctuary with dignity for non-releasable and non-native wildlife. The Texas Hill Country facility consists of a rehabilitation clinic and nursery, a 200-acre sanctuary grounds with the staff, interns, and volunteers to provide round-the-clock care for the thousands of domesticated and wild animals needing help.

New Interns Kirsten and Jordan experienced the joys and sorrows of caring for wild and domesticated animals at the WRR sanctuary. During their 8-week tenure, they learned to feed orphaned infant mammals, care for primates in sanctuary, and tend to the farmed animals in the Do No Harm Farm. The new interns learned firsthand what it truly takes to be an animal caretaker.

The administration, staff, and interns at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation thoroughly enjoyed their experience working on My New Wild Life. It helped us to look at our life's work through fresh eyes and truly appreciate what this organization is able to do for thousands of animals each year. The production crew from Painless Productions was talented, professional, and fun to be around, and we were honored to have a part in Animal Planet's programming.

If you have always wondered what it would be like to spend your days and nights caring for animals in need, tune in to My New Wild Life — a behind-the-scenes look at a true wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation facility.

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/28/2008 Permalink | Comments

Fisher King Redux

In a sidebar to his piece on Game One of the Spurs-Lakers series, USA Today writer Jon Saraceno placed that game's second-half meltdown fourth in a list of the 10 worst moments in Spurs history. At the time, I thought Saraceno's inclusion of Game One was premature. After all, a low moment only becomes memorable if it affects the ultimate outcome of a season.
In 2003, the Spurs repeatedly blew big leads in the playoffs. For instance, they squandered an 18-point lead at home against the Mavericks, thanks largely to some bizarre officiating, which sent the Mavs to the free-throw line 50 times (and the fact that Dallas made an uncanny 49 of those 50 attempts). For my money, that loss (which cost the Spurs their home-court advantage in the Western Conference Finals) was more brutal than the Game One defeat to the Lakers, but it was quickly forgotten because the Spurs recovered to win the series in six games.
When you win a title, the bumps on the road fade into obscurity. If the Boston Red Sox had rebounded to win Game Seven of the 1986 World Series, Bill Buckner's Game Six fielding miscue would be a footnote rather than an eternal headline.
If the Spurs had followed last week's Game One collapse with three straight wins, how important would that game look today? Unfortunately for the Spurs, Saraceno's conclusion is hard to dispute in the wake of the Lakers' 93-91 road win in Game Four. It's more obvious than ever that the Spurs had no margin for error in this series. They're playing a confident, athletic team with the home-court advantage. They needed to grab the loose balls, hit the clutch free throws, make the accurate passes, and, yes, get the referee's calls, down the stretch. They had a remarkable chance last Wednesday to steal a game in Los Angeles and they blew it. That chance may not come again.
Of course, Saraceno's number-one pick for worst moment in Spurs history is Derek Fisher's buzzer beater in the final 0.4 seconds back in 2004. It's amazing that Fisher, an amiable journeyman at best, has now played a central role in two of the Spurs' greatest post-season heartbreaks. I agree with the consensus that the Spurs were outplayed last night and didn't deserve to win the game, but that has little to do with the logic of the refs who swallowed their whistles while Fisher landed on Brent Barry.
We all know that refs call the game differently in the final seconds (particularly in the playoffs) than they do in the first quarter, and I've never been able to get my head around that logic. In football, if a lineman jumps offside, it's a penalty whether it happened in the first minute or the last minute of a game. And if a runner is thrown out at first base, it doesn't matter whether it happened in the third inning of an April game or the ninth inning of Game Seven of the World Series. By the same token, a foul is a foul, and if the refs opt for the "let 'em play" approach, then let's stick to that philosophy for the full 48 minutes every night.
One final note about Saraceno's list: He left out at least one definite heart-on-the-floor moment for the Spurs: Dirk Nowitzki's three-point play in the final seconds of the Mavericks' Game Seven win in the 2006 Western Finals. If not for Manu Ginobili's foul on the play, it's likely that the Spurs -- not the Mavs -- would have played Miami for the NBA championship that year. Saraceno also included the Spurs' 1985 trade of George Gervin to the Bulls. While seeing the Iceman go was painful for sentimental reasons, it hardly qualifies as a low point for the franchise. Gervin only played one year for the Bulls before ending his NBA career. David Greenwood, the player the Spurs got in return, was no world-beater, but at least the team got three-and-a-half years of production out of him.

Posted by Gilbert Garcia on 5/28/2008 Permalink | Comments

Stuff tacos, not ballots!

Jay-zus! Must the Current always defend the virtue of its Best of SA winners? Last year, a disgruntled local blogger (hi, Erik!) as much as said that we sell the winners' slots, implying that our readers' favorite joints are just well-heeled heels. Now "On the Street" investigator Mark Jones reports that a review update in the June print issue of the state's premiere resource for (paid) plastic-surgeon referrals casts a shadow of doubt on local taqueria celeb Taco Taco. During a recent visit to the 2008 Best of SA Breakfast Taco winner, the reviewer reports, someone could be observed "filling out a tall stack of Best of ballots for a local rag," implying that maybe it's a talent for self-promotion and WOM marketing that accounts for the dependable weekend line out the door.

Yes, "rag" made me think X-News at first, too, but the daily's contest is called "Readers' Choice Awards."

We can't argue with the assumed cultural influence of our annual Best of SA issue, published during Fiesta every April, and accompanied by a raucous party. Winning one of the Readers' Picks categories is, in fact, an honor worth fighting for (love you right back Taco Taco!), but it's simply unfair to give us credit for Taco Taco's enduring popularity. The Current examines paper ballots for signs of stuffing and tosses any found to have remarkably similar handwriting and ballot entries. We wouldn't want to reveal our sleuthing secrets, but even organized group ballot stuffers give themselves away pretty easily. Even if Taco Taco, god bless 'em, managed to sneak a passel of ballots past our keen eyes and suspicious natures, this year a full 88 percent of voters exercised the Best of franchise online, which is much harder to end-run (so our webmaster tells me). So maybe a handful of cleverly concealed, fake paper ballots could make the difference in a close vote, but ... well, what the hell, let's have a look:
(pause while I dig up the tally sheet and doublecheck the vote count...)
Taco Taco received almost twice as many votes as the number-two winner, Las Palapas!

More to the point here, SA's breakfast-taco votes were all over the map. We don't care if you don't like our favorite taco joint -- you might know about some great little mom-and-pop joint around the corner from your house, and we sure want you to tell us if you do. So we won't be insulted if you say, like Jones, that the best taco in town belongs to Garcia's on Fredericksburg, not Taco Taco. C'mon, glossy mag, tell us who you think has the best breakfast taco, and none of this skirt-the-issue, "62 (or whatever) tacos you must eat before you die" silliness. If you could only eat one more breakfast taco before you die, whose would it be?

I'd be having the Chella's Special at Tito's. Or maybe the Torres Special at Taco Haven. Until I find that perfect machacado con huevo that is.

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/27/2008 Permalink | Comments

Locavore chronicles, episode 1: Good luck!

A fresh start's never a bad idea, even if it's small and largely symbolic (ask our prez), and especially when Tejas nature's on your side for a change. Black-eyed peas are available fresh by the pound at Central Market right now (turns out, they don't grow hard and dried, but firm and a pretty shade of white tinted with pastels). I've got a pot of Hoppin' John simmering on the stove.
For dessert, blueberries from Nacogdoches. They don't have even a hint of that alkaline toughness that travelin' berries pick up on their way from parts yon. Rinse and eat.

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/24/2008 Permalink | Comments

On the Street

"The best in ride-by journalism!"

"The second best blog in San Antonio!"

"As always, read at your own risk!"

Letters (to the Penthouse Suite)

#1 No Explanation

OTS long-time reader Michael from Austin wrote with this to say:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39453023@N00/2514784712/

Can you explain this to me?

(sin permiso)

I'll assume the question is in regard to how we blew a 20 point lead. Yeah, I don't know how that happened either.

#2 TV on the Internet

It seems Michael wasn't done, offering up this gem.

If you read Kottke, then you've likely seen this....

Otherwise, please enjoy these enjoyable photos of TV

http://www.mikesacks.com/wp/photos-of-tv/

(sin permiso)

#3 Portugese Cork Grips

OTS Insider Carlos wrote to inform of the availability of rare Portugese cork grips.

bottom left....

http://www.rivbike.com/#product=16-187

#4 Cinema of the Future

Potter-Belmar Labs wrote to give this update from their West Coast tour...

Dear friends,
The Fortune Tour rolls on!
Fantastic shows so far in New Mexico and California. Add to that a great, intimate show in Eugene, our current stop. For some reason, the seven-year-old in the audience couldn't stop laughing...must know something we don't! Kept us smiling all the way.

We're halfway through the tour, and thought we'd send out this one last blast to remind everyone of upcoming shows in Portland, Seattle, back in Oakland, and finishing out in Los Angeles. Forward this announcement to your friends...they don't want to be left out!

Wednesday, we get back on the train, headed for Portland, where we'll be joined by the circuit-bent pixellations of Brooklyn's noteNdo, and a symphony of sound effects conducted by Oakland's Chris Kubick. It's happenning at Rotture at 8pm on Wednesday and it ought not be missed!

#5 Bill O'Reilly Meltdown/ Hitler Loves the Cowboys

And then there was this anonymous message with a link to this hilarious video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8IP5rEVVJk

And then this video about Hitler and the Cowboys...

Redbelt vs. Greenbelt

In Austin for about a week one would think the smart choice would be to enjoy the fruits of Austin, such as the occasionally lush Greenbelt with its miles of hiking trails and other escapes from traffic, and ultimately as a respite from the constant challenge of 'keeping it weird.'

Instead I found myself seeing the movie Redbelt - the mixed martial arts movie written and directed by the legend David Mamet. I'm not sure how to delicately say it but... the film was horrible. Possibly one of the worst ever made. Mamet has no idea how to direct. Certain pivotal scenes were so confusing my friend had to stare at each other for about three to four minutes afterwards to see if the other was making sense of what the characters were doing.

Also, Mamet might be the worst at getting performances from his cast. Though the lead was solid, I wonder if that was in spite of Mamet's direction. Watch Tim Allen in this awkward serious role and try to think of Mamet the same again.

But of course the plot and dialogue were great, right? No, not that either. Mamet has fallen in love with con games that go beyond Hitchcock's pursuit. For those that think Mamet cranks out Glengary Glen Rosses every other year, then think again. Mamet's legacy should be thrown into question. This wasn't a movie he was forced to do. This was his baby. More likely, this film was some sort of parable about the artist working in the moral quagmire of Hollywood. Maybe a producer giving him script notes isn't such a bad idea.

(sin permiso)

Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

As a gasp at redemption we shot much lower the next time around and decidced to see Harold and Kumar Part Two. The screening of the film was set at 4:20. Coincidence?

Kumar might be the next Thomas Chong. An intellectual off the screen, he teaches a college class once a week about Media and Image. Those ideas were found in a much cruder form throughout the film. At every chance racial and cultural expectations were established and then quickly exploded, which is not to say the film was delicate or lofty. Fart jokes were the rule and body humor was rarely frowned upon.

The best part was probably when the two characters get kronked with Dubya where he then becomes inspired to give daddy a call on the phone tell him that he's calling the shots now. A great film? No. But it was great at a few small moments, like when Doogie Houser is dramatically shot down when walking away from a whorehouse. Good times?

(sin permiso)

Spurs-Lakers Angst

"Don't call it a comeback" said someone who is no longer relevant. Though everyone in the media is talking about Kobe this was a classic Spurs meltdown. The offense was lost in the doldrums for long stretches. Bowen should have been put back on Kobe way sooner. It was a steady disintegration over a 15 minute time span. Demoralizing to the fans, but hopefully not as much to the players.

Spurs insider Johnny Ludden wrote that Manu Ginobili is basically out of gas. And then word gets out that his fingernail was ripped off in Game 6 of the last series and so now he has to use some sort of latex covering over his finger underneath tape.

Coach Phil has never lost a series after winning the first game. However, as the last series showed, statistics are made to be broken and the Spurs came back when no one gave them a chance after getting killed the first two games.

Tonight's game is close to a must win. We could come back from 0-2 again but there will be less rest between games and the toll of the playoffs must be playing on this veteran team.

As with every round of this year's playoffs, the Spurs keep trying to cheat father time and continue. Repeating doesn't even seem to be the issue. Whether or not the team can still dominate is a better issue. These are anxious times. The team has never gotten this far and looke so inconsistent before. The love and angst continues..

Taco Truck Appropriations

(sin permiso)

As I long prophesized, at some point someone with money would run with the taco truck idea and redirect it into something that was more recognizable for whitey. In Austin, this seems to have happened with Chef Rypka's Tex Mex at Torchy's Tacos. Traditional taco truck fare doesn't go anywhere near the Tex Mex world of guacamole and queso dip, and shouldn't have to change it's approach to be popular, yet that's why I'm naive/idealistic. Put another way, it makes sense that Tex Mex would sell in a taco truck.

And to be fair, there is more than just Tex Mex on the menu, and I've heard is that the food is quite good, but the glaring question, of course, is where's the al pastor?

And so goes another week on the streets of San Antonio (and Austin.) As always, to be continued...

Posted by Mark Jones on 5/23/2008 Permalink | Comments

American Idle

Now I've never been a fan of American Idol, but apparently the show has been suffering a slump since country crooner Carrie Underwood nabbed the coveted title … and that was in 2005. Last night the show concluded its seventh season with rocker David Cook (and, in my humble opinion, winner of the softest looking hair) winning, despite dismal ratings and crazy bouts of forgetfulness from Paula Abdul.

I just so happened to catch the last 10 minutes of the show and felt a little sad. I remembered past contestants who've succeeded: Kelly Clarkson, dye-job loving Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson (she made it to the top seven — but totally had the last word when she snatched the Oscar in 2007), and Underwood. The B-list Idols are just too many to name. (I'm sorry, but this writer isn't going to give SA native Haley Scarnato any love in this blog, unlike our daily the E-N's endless devotion to the hot pants-wearing gal.) I just wonder if the rest of America has grown tired of the show since they haven't produced any worthwhile talent. I'm willing to give this Cook guy a chance. Following his win, I searched online and found he had performed one of my favorite songs of all-time; it wasn't the best … but I give him credit for trying.

I'd think American Idol has maybe two more seasons left in 'em before America turns on the show. Instead of focusing so much on the seriously insane auditions (which gain the highest ratings), maybe more attention should be paid to how amateur singers are being molded into pop-stars of tomorrow. Yeah, we're pretty jaded about the premise of the show — when they give us someone that isn't a cookie cutter "singer" then you won't hear us complain anymore.

Also, be sure to check out New York magazine's Vulture blog today. Their in mourning since the other David (Archuleta) didn't win.

Will American Idol ever have obsessive fans such as this one in the future?
Idol's crazy fan

We bet no.

Posted by Jennifer Herrera on 5/22/2008 Permalink | Comments

Slab Cinema calls off Cevallos locale

In mid-April, the Current received an email from Slab Cinema — SA’s beloved outdoor B-movie profferers — explicating a location change. Development plans at its current location prompted Slab to set sights on a space just down the road on Cevallos, where they hoped to build a permanent outdoor garden theater. Per the email, Slab had been in the rezoning process for the space, seeking permission for outdoor speakers.

According to Slab co-founder Angela Martinez, they had spoken with the only neighbor it might affect — an elderly man — and he was approving on the conditions that sound was carefully monitored and films ended by 11pm. “We wouldn’t want to be bad neighbors,” Martinez told the Current by phone yesterday. She adds that they planned for “an attractive perimeter fence” between Slab’s potential space and his property.

According to the April email, “Our case was approved unanimously by the zoning commission but was postponed earlier this month by our City Council office.”

The email urged recipients to show their support for the project by emailing District 5 Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan.

Earlier this week we received another email on the progress of Slab’s case:

“After two continuances and a 6-hour city council meeting, Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan finally approved our request for outdoor speakers. Unfortunately, she simultaneously rescinded the zoning we already had, restricting us to no alcohol sales and no alcohol by donation.

We were very disappointed, not so much in the outcome, but because this restriction had never once been discussed with us. We found out they were going to add the condition the morning of the City Council meeting; they left us no time for further dialog with the councilwoman.

…

While alcohol sales or by donation are NOT an integral part of the Outdoor Cinema, it is an option we need so that we can invest in buying the property and creating the theater. By passing the zoning the but stamping it NA, Ms. Galvan is able to say that she supported the outdoor theater while at the same time ensuring the project never reaches fruition in that particular space.”

Patrons would have been able to BYOB, said Martinez, but that would have left Slab staffers with the job of policing them and taking care of the mess — for no help with the mortgage.

An additional call made to Martinez this afternoon brought sad news: “We’re not doing it …We can’t be confident in covering the mortgage,” she said, adding that when Slab does build a permanent, outdoor, park-like theater, they want to be able to do it right. Without alcohol sales/donations, she just doesn’t see that happening.

With the contract cancelled for the Cevallos property, Martinez says the Slab summer slate is up in the air for the moment, but that they are exploring temporary options with the new property owners of their original space.

The Current’s call to Councilwoman Galvan’s office was not returned.

Posted by Ashley Lindstrom on 5/21/2008 Permalink | Comments

NBA West Shootout

For months, sportswriters have salivated at the thought of a Lakers-Celtics matchup in the NBA Finals, figuring this would mean the renewal of the league's greatest rivalry. It's true that whenever we see these teams on the court together, our minds inevitably flash back to Chamberlain-Russell, West-Havliceck, and Magic-Bird.
Dig a little deeper, however, and you can make a stronger case for Spurs-Lakers as the greater playoff rivalry. Over the last 40 years, the Celtics have met the Lakers in the finals four times (1969, 1984, 1985, and 1987), with each franchise winning twice. If we count this season, however, the Spurs and Lakers have met six times in the last 10 years (always in the second or third round), and even the blowouts have been dramatic. Between them, these two teams have won seven of nine NBA titles in the post-Jordan era, and eight of the nine Western Conference crowns. Beyond that, they've always had chemistry: The glamour and flash of Kobe Bryant and Co. vs. the fundamental brilliance of Tim Duncan and his mates. And both superstars have something major to prove: Bryant, that he can go all the way without Shaq. Duncan, that he can win back-to-back titles. Something's got to give.

Posted by Gilbert Garcia on 5/21/2008 Permalink | Comments

TCEQ Against Reason

After four years and at least 14 permit application revisions, Waste Control Specialists today was awarded a contested and highly-controversial license to begin burying radioactive waste in a series of trenches in western Andrews County.

The site is at southwest end of the Panhandle near the New Mexico state line, where it backs up to an international consortium's uranium enrichment plant now under construction in neighboring Lea County, N.M.

Owned by Dallas-based billionaire and major GOP contributor Harold Simmons, WCS entered West Texas in the late '90s after more than a dozen years of failed state efforts to open a facility to dispose of radioactive civilian wastes from Texas and its compact partners of Maine and Vermont.

Once successful in getting legislation passed that allowed a private company to pick up the state's federally-mandated compact responsibilities, the company began vigorously pursuing the more lucrative U.S. Department of Energy waste streams.

Today, that effort paid off — despite ruptures within the TCEQ staff, many of which have gone public to decry the license on the grounds that the geology and hydrology of the site is not adequate to keep the waste contained for the required 50,000 years. (Read application terms and conditions.)

Former staffer in the radioactive materials division of TCEQ, Glenn Lewis, said that he assisted in characterizing the site for four years while the permit application went through "at least" 14 revisions.

Despite his group's finding that the site was unsuitable, and the two largest Notice of Deficiencies ever issued by the agency, Lewis said "there was the expectation clearly communicated four years ago that these licenses would ultimately be granted."

"Once it became clear that the geology was deficient … that the site was so profoundly deficient, we thought somehow that would be the stake through the heart."

Geologist Pat Bobeck resigned from the agency in protest.

"The application contained inconsistencies and contradictions and a lack of detailed geologic data," Bobeck said in a Sierra Club press release issued this afternoon. "There is water there in that clay and in the siltstone and water is going to move that waste around. It's going to cause problems and there's no way around that."

Perry-appointed TCEQ Commish's voted 2-1 to deny a requested contested case hearing and approved a radioactive waste dump that at least one former inspector says will sit just 14 feet above groundwater supplies. It is unclear at this point if that water is connected to the Ogallala — the nation's largest freshwater aquifer.

A contested case hearing would have required that lack of clarity to be rectified, Cyrus Reed, the state Sierra Club's conservation director, said during a conference call yesterday.

Eunice resident Rose Gardner, denied standing by the TCEQ today, said she intends to "bring awareness not just to the people that are ignoring this, but to the whole country."

Among the wastes to be buried will include some of the hottest of so-called "low-level" waste mined in the Belgian Congo and stored for many years in Fernald, Ohio.

The Sierra Club insists the Commissioners:

* failed to adequately characterize the underground geology and hydrology of the site;
* failed to model for severe weather events, including high winds;
* did not consider the potential for radioactive traffic accidents;
* did not look at surface water run-off;
* and did not even perform the required one-year of pre-operation monitoring.

Reed said today the group is considering filing a motion for the TCEQ to reconsider its decision and possibly appealing to the State District Court.

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/21/2008 Permalink | Comments

Josiah Media Fest deadline approaching

Apologies for the quickie, folks; it’s press day …

Entry fee: $5

Grand Prize: $500 line of credit w/ B&H Photo & Video, additional
prizes for various categories

See urban15.org for more specs and entry forms!

Posted by Ashley Lindstrom on 5/20/2008 Permalink | Comments

E Literacy

The San Antonio City Council's message to city-owned CPS Energy, last week's approval of a 3.5 percent rate hike (to be delayed until AFTER this summer) rather than the requested 5 percent, approaches very closely a vote of no confidence in the utility.

What will we get for the 3.5? We don't know. CPS officials were totally unprepared to discuss such a thing. I mean, they came for 5.

In their build-up, most councilmembers took a breath between questions to stress that they don't want anybody messin' with our efficiency or renewable energy portfolios — unless it's to expand them.

CPS, you may recall was gunning for a 5 percent rate increase to help cover costs of putting scrubbers on its coal plants, finish up a new coal plant, and invest in investing in new nuclear power plants. Community members demanded Council demand CPS strip the nuke aspect (CPS say: <1%) out of the equation. So it was done.

Then there was a period of poor communication, hacking off members of the council. One told me it was like playing a "shell game" trying to get good data from CPS.
District Three Councilmember Jennifer Ramos complained the rate increase will particularly hurt the lowest-income residents of SA.

"These older homes don't have any type of insulation… My families will be looking at possibly a 10- to 12-dollar monthly increase," Ramos said. "At 3.5, I think it's a good compromise."

Which is an important point to the efficiency clique crowding the chambers for much of the day. Not only do poorly insulated homes hurt their owners in high bills, but by wasting tremendous amounts of energy they also push CPS to build more power plants at incredible costs. (Current best estimates have placed twin nukes around $17 billion, about $10 billion more than CPS partner NRG Energy has previously suggested.)

"I also learned a lesson from my mom, that you don't always get what you ask for," said Councilman Justin Rodriquez.

Ramos added that requested new efficiency/sustainable energy studies are "not negotiable" in the shifting landscape. "Certainly, the CPS board, since they are appointed by council, are listening," she said.

Councilmember Diane Cibrian added that CPS had to learn a new word: "negawatts."

Negawatts is an insider term for efficiency technologies, an abbreviated form for negative watts, energy saved, tho it started as a government typo.

Here's mastermind Amory Lovins being interviewed on Living on Earth:

GELLERMAN: So, if you can't make more megawatts how about producing negawatts?
The idea of the negawatt conserving energy through greater efficiency started out as a typo – an "n" in place of an "m". Energy activist Amory Lovins came across the mistake in a Colorado Public Utilities Commission report. The goof caught his fancy, and may help us power our future.

Amory Lovins founded the Rocky Mountain Institute, a think tank that focuses on energy issues. He was in Hawaii when I caught up with him by phone and asked him about the negawatt.

LOVINS: A negawatt is electricity that's saved by using it more efficiently or at a smarter time. So, you don't need to produce it to get the same hot showers, cold beer, or other effect that you want.

GELLERMAN: And you've been living in a negawatt world for what – 25 years now?

LOVINS: Yeah. I live up in the Rockies, and the first thing we did was insulate it so well that it uses only about one percent of the normal amount of heating energy, and that comes from a couple of occasionally-run wood stoves, because you've got to burn the energy somehow. And then it also made the house eleven hundred bucks cheaper to build because super installation and super windows cost eleven hundred bucks less to put in than it would have cost just to install a heating system, let alone to run it. So, we then took the saved money plus another $6,000—$1.50 a square foot—and used it to save, among other things, 90 percent of the household's electricity. So, if we bought that instead of making it with solar, it would cost five bucks a month. And that's with 1983 technologies that pay for themselves in the first ten months. If we did it today, the house would cost less than normal to build. With even greater efficiency, the household electric would be only about two bucks a month worth.

GELLERMAN: Have you upgraded your house since you built it?

LOVINS: Yeah, in fact, we're doing that right now. We're in the middle of the fifth lighting retrofit, the first daylighting retrofit. We've just upgraded the windows so they insulate like 14 sheets of glass, or, in one case, 19. And the technology continues to improve faster than we use it. It's like the low-hanging fruit keeps mushing up around the ankles, and spilling over the tops of our waders, and the innovation tree keeps pelting our head with more fruit.

GELLERMAN: What, if any, creature comforts are you missing?

LOVINS: None. We have all modern conveniences, but we use very efficient lighting, a lot of daylighting. In fact, we're just adding some daylighting. And we have all the normal kitchen appliances. But we get our space and water heating 99 percent from solar, and we designed the house so it also keeps itself cool so we don't need air conditioning. Although, if we did, we would need very little, even in a hot climate. A friend of mine in Bangkok built a house actually modeled on ours, and it uses a tenth of normal air conditioning energy to get better comfort at the same construction costs.

GELLERMAN: Now, I have those spiral, fluorescent efficient bulbs in my house. My house is pretty well insulated, but I'm a mere mortal. How can I achieve a negawatt life?

LOVINS: Well, whenever you buy something that uses electricity, buy it very thoughtfully. If it's a major appliance, go to aceee.org—American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy—and look up their list of the most energy-efficient appliances, get one of those.

For example, my refrigerator uses eight percent and my freezer 15 percent of the normal amount of electricity, and then make sure you turn off stuff you're not using. A substantial fraction—some people think about a fifth--of the electricity drawn by a typical house is stuff that's turned off but still keep sipping juice. Those are called vampire loads so we need to kill them off.

GELLERMAN: What do you think it will take to make conservation efficiency the bedrock of our energy future?

LOVINS: There's a rapidly spreading trend that I think will make this a general practice and not just in a handful of states. That's called decoupling insured savings. What it means is you decouple the utility's profits from how much energy it sells so it's no longer rewarded for selling more and it's no longer penalized for selling less. And then, if they do something smart to cut your bill like helping you get more efficient, you let them keep a small part, maybe a tenth of the savings as extra profits so that your and their incentives are entirely aligned. This has a miraculous effect on utility behavior.

GELLERMAN: So, is the electric utility sending you a check?

LOVINS: The electric utility sends me a small check for the extra solar electricity I make that's more than I require from the part of the building – the office end – that does interact with the grid. The household, I just make it, put it in a big bunch of nickel-iron batteries, and then uses it as needed. I never run out.

GELLERMAN: Now, you're in Hawaii right now. Are you able to take your energy efficient lifestyle with you there?

LOVINS: I'm staying at a friend's house that uses almost no energy and many people around here use solar power. You know, they're up in the hills. It's very interesting what happens in the most oil dependent state when people suddenly realize that it's a lot easier and cheaper not to buy the oil in the first place.

GELLERMAN: Amory Lovins is the founder, chairman, and chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute of Snowmass and Boulder, Colorado. Mr. Lovins, thank you very much.

LOVINS: My pleasure.

"Negawatt's is going to be a very important term in the future of San Antonio," Cibrian said. "I believe the community needs a paradigm shit toward conservation and efficiency … I have asked CPS to seriously move up your goal."

She pointed out that Austin's energy-savings goal is twice that of San Antonio.

Such a strategy helps ratepayers lower their own bills.

"There's so much that can be done in the older neighborhoods of San Antonio," she said.

Promising that the mayoral wannabe has sustainability concepts in her repertoire

For any others hoping to assume the position throne, I would suggest some schooling at the Post Carbon Institute.

Seeing as we live in one of the most vulnerable regions of the country when it comes to energy and climate issues, at minimum all council members should be reading the institute's book Post-Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty.

Herrera said conversations are already underway regarding future building codes needed to create new hyper-efficiency in our homes. "I'm very disappointed to learn we have not had more of an efficiency plan in place. I'm not one to do things because the political climate is there, we want to look into the future. We want to look ahead and plan ahead. That's what business people do."

For their part, CPS officials say they have begun talking with Austin Energy about possibly partnering in a solar thermal (research) power plant in West Texas, but didn't believe solar costs have come down enough to make it feasible. And with consistent prodding throughout last Thursday's meeting, the pledged to go back to their offices and "look at it."

Even Mayor Phil Hardberger's impassioned plea to support CPS couldn't pull the votes needed to make it happen, which split 6-5 against the 5 percent. A second motion for 3.5 percent passed unanimously.

---

Entering this period of economic uncertainty coupled with a budget deficit requires city leaders to plan a way forward in incredibly tough circumstances.

Here's what other cities are doing.

For more on negawatts, check out Lovins' Rocky Mountain Institute.

Specifically, check out this resolution passed in Austin a year ago setting up a task force to study the risks posed by rising oil prices... Think we need some (clear) minds working on this (outside CPS, perhaps) and reporting back to our button-pushing Council?

It reads in part:

1. the Austin City Council supports the undertaking of a City-wide assessment study to inventory city activities and their corollary resource requirements, and to evaluate the impact of a decline in petroleum and natural gas availability in each area, with the aim of developing a comprehensive energy depletion risk assessment and action plan;

2. the City Manager is directed to create an Energy Depletion Risks Task Force to assess the City's exposure to diminishing supplies of oil and natural gas and to make recommendations to address any vulnerabilities that may result;

3. the Task Force shall be composed of representatives of those City departments affected by oil and gas depletion as well as community and business leaders, and the City Manager shall report the makeup of the Task Force to City Council within eight weeks;

4. the Task Force's charge shall be to:

      a. acquire and study current and credible data and information on the issues of oil and natural gas production and depletion and the related economic and societal implications;

      b. seek community and business input on the proposed planning and response measures;

      c. coordinate with appropriate county, state, and federal agencies;

      d. develop recommendations for the City Council to include in the City's long term strategic planning with respect to strategies the City can take to mitigate the impacts of declining energy supplies in areas including, but not limited to, transportation, business and home energy use, water, food security, health care, communications, land use planning, and wastewater treatment; and

      e. propose methods for educating the public about this issue in order to create proactive behavior change among businesses and residents and reduce dependence on fossil fuels;

      f. issue its final report to City Council on these matters within nine months of the date of this resolution;

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/19/2008 Permalink | Comments

Greening Boxes

Okay, I just came from digesting the solar world vision in a 20-minute Powerpoint as presented by one of the industry's leading actors at Bill Sinkins' Bday bash ("Only politics" stands in the way, we're told), so my expectation level is, perhaps, appropriately high.

When I'm told that San Antonio's Imagine Homes has been named the nation's top green home builder, my thoughts rush through a lot crazy, glassy images thanks to all those mind-expanded European architects on the loose.

After checking Imagine out online, I realize they aren't taking buyers off-grid. I mean, they're still sucking up the coal and gas and nuke fumes. That's fine. For now.

What Imagine offers is a really well-insulated house, with non-toxic paints and carpeting, energy efficiency appliances. Etc.

In fact, as our City Council continues discussions about a new standard for new residential construction, this Imagine model should be where we start. Then push like hell on that refilled solar rebate program CPS Energy will have in place by then. Maybe Hondo will have our rolls of thin-film solar in production and ready to go, too.

Somebody, hurry. Place a collect call to Build SA Green (I hear they have some sway) and see if you can start that ball moving. It's time to imagine not just San Antonio but South Texas as a green energy universe.

SAN ANTONIO (Imagine Homes) – The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has named San Antonio-based Imagine Homes the nation's top green home builder among companies that produce single-family homes for the mass market.

The nation's largest home builder association awarded Imagine Homes its 2008 Single Family Production Home of the Year honor during its Tenth Annual NAHB National Green Building Conference in New Orleans last weekend.

Judges graded competitors on a variety of criteria, including their statements of green building philosophy and awareness of environmental building initiatives, and examined their building processes starting with lot design and preparation.

"Imagine Homes has helped lead the way to the market's embrace of green homes, and in many ways is an industry pioneer," said Ray Tonjes, chair of the NAHB green building subcommittee. "When a green home doesn't look or feel significantly different from one built using more traditional construction methods, when builders have the tools and resources to build them without significant material or labor cost increases, and when consumers readily accept the finished product, then 'green' has arrived. I think it has."

---

expe-strong So out of all the suits and influence peddlers crammed into the Pearl Brewery Stables (it's nicer than it sounds), who was the bigshot at Sinkins' 95th? Well, I'm going to overlook the video greeting from Governor Rick and SA Councilmember Cibrian's self-congratulatory version of how our city got the DOE Solar City grant and say: Steven Strong, founder of Solar Design Associates.

Time Mag dubbed him the "Hero for the Planet" back when Al Gore was still under gag order courtesy of the secret-sauce-swearing McClinton's.

I'm working on getting Strong's PowerPoint to share witcha. Until then, check out his Q&A on Nova for more solar goodies.

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/19/2008 Permalink | Comments

On the Street

The best in ride-by journalism!

The second best blog in San Antonio!

As always, read at your own risk!

Letters (to the Penthouse Suite)

#1 Bolivia Calling

From On the Street Foreign Correspondent From Bolivia Roberto Guerra:

Thanks, Jones. So... we're sending that "postcard" out as a little email promo-type thing, but that's totally cool if you want to put it on the old blog. You know - we're also thinking of doing something like this with some semblance of regularity (mainly because it's a fun little exercise for us)... but we can send them your way from time to time if you're interested...

So - I assume you have to have a link to it, and can't just drag the QT file into the blog? That's actually how Rux's website works (since it's really a wordpress blog thing)... so I made this link for her this morning:

www.bearguerra.com/bolpstcard.mov

Give that a shot... and let me know if it works...

#2 Trinidad

From filmmaker and cinematographer PJ Raval from Austin:

hello friends,

just wanted to let you know my documentary TRINIDAD (formerly known as "Best Kept Secret") will be premiering at the Los Angeles Film Festival this June in the documentary feature competition:

http://www.lafilmfest.com/films.php#documentary

TRINIDAD uncovers Trinidad, Colorado's transformation from Wild West outpost to "sex change capital of the world," and follows three transgender women who may steer the rural ranching town toward becoming the "transsexual mecca."

i'm extremely excited about the premiere as it has been roughly four years in the making.

if you are around LA during that time, please come out to a screening and support the film as well as say hello (or tell a friend to!)
but since LA is so far away, there will be a "sneaky peeky preview" at the alamo south lamar on june 4th, 7pm (official details to follow)
so mark your calendars, the alamo screening will be a fundraiser to help raise money for the finishing costs of the doc's LA Film Festival premiere

please also stop by our new website:
trinidadthemovie.com
and sign up for email updates so i can keep you informed.

#3 Whatever

From Friend of OTS Sparks...

Old Joy

After months of wanting to see the film, and then a year of forgetting about the film, finally the stars aligned and saw a copy of Old Joy at the video store the other night. Old Joy got some press as being the indie Broke Back Mountain. I can't speak to BBM because I never saw it but there is no "ICQY" moment in this film. There's the amazing Will Oldham in a rare moment as an actor. A Yo La Tengo soundtrack (even if it's really only one song they keep playing over and over, though I suppose in soundtrack terminology that's called a "theme".

The film is about two aging hipsters who fallen out of touch. One is more an architect/community gardener type; the other is less grounded and might be transient. They go on a trip out to the woods outside of Portland to find some hot springs. Very little happens. Even less is spoken. And yet, the film has a lasting effect. I watched with my eye on my email for the first part. I initially thought I wasn't especially enjoying the film but yet somehow hours later its scenes are still resonating with me. There is no central mystery in the sense of a twist or anything close to Hitchcock. However, many of the moments contain a perfect ambiguity that is engaging. It's difficult to say if the film has an ending but that's only because the film as a whole is about an ending.

This film might be enjoyed best alone.

Also, it's only 71 minutes long. This aspect is perfect to me. A slow paced film that is hardly over an hour long. It's the best of both worlds. 70s Cinema Meanderings yet without Paul Thomas Anderson/cinema savant self-entitlement.

I had seen a previous film by the director at Cinematexas in Austin about ten years ago. It was a long short film called Ode that was shot all on Super8 Kodachrome and the soundtrack was by Will Oldham, however he didn't act in it.

Here's a trailer from that film for those that might be interested...actually scratch that. Evidently the tubes have nothing to offer. However, I did find this unofficial Kanye West video with Will Oldham acting, again. It's full of rural, farm-life bling, burning rubber in tractors, and other rural odes to city life. Bizarre. But basically hilarious.

Cascabel

I had heard rumors and rumblings that Cascabel was no longer what it used to be like. Funny, that same argument is being made against the Spurs. More on them in a moment. I stopped by Cascabel and had some tacos and other snacks. The al pastor taco was still solid, though no one in Texas seems to have the energy to throw in the traditional pineapple. I also tried the puerco a la cascabel taco, which also was solid but diminuitive. There was something reassuring about having so many pork options that were all distinct but similar. An abundance of beef and chicken options would have been second guessing on their part. The flor de calabaza quesadilla seemed more like a small empanada than what quesadilla means in Tex Mex parlance. Nonetheless, everything seemed to be doing well as of Thursday May 15th at 6:56 pm.

Hours later I heard that Cascabel at one point made the infamous torta ahogada - the Yeti of tortas, the answer to the riddle of the vast Jalisco Myth.

Now it seems I need to go back again to find out.

(sin permiso de Jalisco)

Sundowners

What I said before Game 6 of the Spurs/Hornets series:

"Well, if they don't win this game they better go out swinging. Of the 13 players on the team, 4 to 6 of them might be playing in the last game of their career. If that's the case, there's no reason not to be desperate, and if needed, dirty."

What I said at half-time of Game 6 of the Spurs/Hornets series in a conversation with Menudo Terremoto Williams (with whom a lengthy interview detailing Tim Duncan's purported Dungeons and Dragons myth will be addressed):

"The first half was good, but all our first halves have been good. They might fall apart. They might blow them out. Perhaps a Robert Horry hipcheck will be the difference."

What I said after Game 6 of the Spurs/Hornets series:

"The Robert Horry pick in the back of David West will either be seen as a horribly dirty play, which it wasn't. Or, as completely an accident, which it wasn't either. What's wrong with finally giving back some of the physical play we've been getting in the first 5 games?"

This Spurs team is so old...it sounds like the beginning of a bad mama joke. But the team's age is high, and if they can win the Finals this year, then they would be the oldest team ever to do so. To see the qualities of excellence and obsolesence alternating from game to game and moment to moment can be overwhelming. Their struggle this year to be champions has taken on the opponent of Time. In that sense, the team knows they are at the end of their moment. The season isn't over yet, and though I think I'll be happy to see many of these players leave after the season, at the same time, I wish they could go out on top. It's a microcosm of life itself.

Game 7 on Monday will be the end or a beginning. No one thinks they have much of a chance. It should be interesting.

And so goes another week on the streets of San Antonio. As always, to be continued...

Posted by Mark Jones on 5/16/2008 Permalink | Comments

LOLcats: E-N theater-criticism edition

Posted by Chuck Kerr & Ashley Lindstrom on 5/15/2008 Permalink | Comments

Tower of Babel, amen

Sure, at the moment your best bet for getting our troops out of Iraq looks like a fossilized Republican (weird, weird, weird), but that allegedly Dem-controlled Congress might be good for something after all. Check their response to the FCC's plans to let big media roll itself into one big tootsie roll (again, note to owners: not that we'd turn down a hi-def telly station), bearing in mind that this is an as-it-happens view from the advocates for media-lopoly controls:

Historic Senate Vote Rejects FCC’s Rules
Posted May 15th, 2008 by jstearns

In a near-unanimous voice vote tonight, the Senate passed a “resolution of disapproval” that would nullify the Federal Communications Commission’s latest attempt to dismantle longstanding media ownership limits.

Read the full post here.

Now it goes to the House. You know who to call.

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/15/2008 Permalink | Comments

'Workers' rock Hondo vote

Green jobs and solar roofs? In Hondo?

This month's election in small-but-growing, 9,000-population Hondo west of SA has dramatically shifted the makeup of the city council there — and its agenda.

With a three-candidate sweep achieved under the banner of the "Real Change Campaign," volunteers and organizers from San Antonio's Southwest Workers Union helped usher in a platform hinged upon environmental and economic justice matters.

Born in Hondo (like new councilmember and SWU labor organizer Chavel Lopez), the Union is celebrating its 20-year anniversary — a milestone now enhanced by the victory in Medina County.

The local paper didn't quite catch on to what was happening (or chose to ignore it), sticking to a safer analysis piggybacking on natural voting trends. (Online, the deeply historic vote was listed right under the baseball glove donation article.)

Mirroring national trends in this year’s presidential primaries, interest in the Hondo city elections is at an all time high, according to City Secretary Yolanda Benitez. This is the first council election to be held since the city adopted a Home Rule Charter, providing council members with three-year terms of office.

Benitez said more early votes were cast in this year’s municipal elections than in any election in the city’s history. At the close of early voting Tuesday, 949 early votes had been cast at City Hall and 171 mail-in ballots had been received, which means 1,120 Hondo residents cast ballots during just the early voting period. Hondo has 3,304 registered voters and over one third, or 1,120, decided to vote early. Saturday, May 10, is the official election day.

The early vote total alone exceeds past election vote totals, with early voting and Election Day voting combined. A stunning 131 people voted in the four-hour span on Saturday, which was more than any eight-hour day in the early voting period, according to the City Secretary.

"The platform is economic development, centered around the community values. We want new jobs, clean jobs, green jobs," Lopez said.

The town is faced with losing is primary manufacturing facility this summer, a toilet company employing about 250 people.

The Change candidates plan to explore the city's business and industrial footprint to see how it may be transformed to create new opportunities, possibly in solar manufacturing. A municipal and residential solar program is also being explored by the trio.

More immediately achievable efforts by the new members will include a push to simplify the process for residents wanting to get on City Council agendas; ensuring the presence of a translator at public meetings so Spanish-speaking residents can "feel more comfortable" sharing their thoughts with the council; as well as a Living Wage Committee to help bring city employee salaries up to at least $12.21 per hour.

The town has been the focus of past campaigns to remove grain elevators that neighbors complain draw flies, rats, and unbearable dust into their yards.

"Infrastructurally, a lot of the areas have been neglected in terms of the streets, drainage, sidewalks," Lopez said.

The two other new faces on board are Lucio Torrez and Virginia Gonzales.

The three will be inspecting city budgets and salaries closely, said Lopez, who has been organizing in Hondo since the 1970's.

"The people want change. That's what all three of us want… we don't want to go in and burn the house down, but we do want to go in there and see all the contracts."

With so much progressive-minded new blood at the city's helm, Hondo will be one town to watch in the near future.

---

More more info, check out the SWU blog.

View Larger Map

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/14/2008 Permalink | Comments

Crescent City Meltdown

Over the years, we've all grown accustomed to the wild disparity between the way NBA teams perform at home and on the road. But the 2008 postseason has brought the absurdity to a new level. So far, home teams have built a 17-1 record in the second round of the playoffs, and the lone blemish -- Orlando's Game 4 loss to Detroit -- would have been averted if Hedo Turkoglu hadn't blown a last-second layup. The Boston Celtics built the best record in the league this year and they're 0-6 in the postseason. What does that tell us?
No matter how closely you scrutinize the Spurs' first five games against the New Orleans Hornets, you can't provide a logical, X's-and-O's explanation for why the defending champs look so dominant at home and so utterly inept when the third quarter rolls around in New Orleans. Sure, Tim Duncan battled a fever in the first two games, but what's his excuse for the poor shooting night in Game Five? Without question, the Hornets played a more dogged brand of defense last night than we saw in Game Four, with hard double-teams on Duncan and quick rotations to the Spurs' jump shooters. But does that explain a 42-point swing from Sunday to Tuesday?
Regardless of your biases, you can't help but come to the conclusion that the big difference between playing at home and on the road is not the crowd's intensity or the comfort that comes with a familiar court. It's the officiating. In San Antonio, Tony Parker has driven to the basket with impunity, aware that he's either going to slip by his defender or get a foul call. In New Orleans, he sees a clogged lane and is less willing to invade the paint, probably mindful of the fact that he's less likely to get a call if there's contact. So in San Antonio, the Spurs generate a lot of easy points, and in New Orleans they settle for outside shots. Why that always catches up with them in the third quarter is another issue, but the fundamental problem with the Spurs (and the Celtics, Jazz, Cavaliers, and Lakers) is that they lose their sense of aggression on the opponent's floor. It's hardly a new issue, but it's threatening to turn the NBA playoffs into a bad joke.

Posted by Gilbert Garcia on 5/14/2008 Permalink | Comments

Saddam under our skin

Let me begin by writing that I'm at a complete loss of words to express my utter confusion over Jump-Start's latest production, Blood Under the Bridge: The Last Redemption of Saddam H. Honestly, I'm not too sure what the plot of the entire two-hour-and- 45-minute production was about (yes, that long … with one 10- minute intermission — more on that later).

Rasheed X (left, Kitty Williams) checks S.W. Anil's (right, S.T. Shimi) identification.

Doyle Avant wrote the lengthy play and takes on the role of hotel owner Jake Santa Maria Al Rehman, a perfectly suited part for the refined actor. His aim for the production was to find a correlation of some sort between Bobby Kennedy's June 6, 1968 assassination, and today's ongoing war effort. However, somewhere in the mix I became lost in translation between a roaming journalist (played brilliantly by S.T. Shimi) and each character's dream flashback — which ultimately tells how they ended upon the main stage at the Ambassador Hotel.

And then this is where everything turns really fuzzy. The performance is part of Jump-Start's Electric Performance Lab, in which original works are developed with input from audience members (check out the post-show discussion for yourselves on May 17), so I went in knowing that this wasn't your typical play — I mean what Jump-Start production is? (That's not a put-down, by the way.)

Walking into the performance, you're greeted by Rasheed X (played by the always outrageous Kitty Williams) and a nurse (Billy Muñoz). Your wrist is scanned with a laser pointer and you then proceed into the theater. The set design is bare bones — but this provides enough moving room for the cast to bounce from one wall to the other, which they do during the duration of the performance. The stage, aisles, and any other place the spotlight shines are where they perform. This was a great use of space, especially for Monessa Esquivel, who played Saddam H. Her usual over-the-top antics were kicked into high gear with this performance. She did the best she could with the script, breaking into a handful of songs throughout the night, including the theme song of the play "The Girl from Ipanema" — performed by Monessa in a bikini-top and earlier in the play by her bad boy from Baghdad alter ego.

Highlights of the performance included Muñoz as Jesus Angel Amador; he captured the youthful demeanor of a baby-faced war casualty. Another standout was Ray Bo, a 17-year-old writer and product of Jump-Start's education program — he held his own while working alongside Jump-Start members who've been in countless performances together — his energy was palpable. I give Jump-Start credit for their ability to blend multimedia features in their productions — they successfully pulled it off early in the year with As Filthy as it Gets and follow suit this time around as well. The sequence in which Saddam and Rebbe Menachem Schnearson duke it out via a video game probably could have been left out, but it added a great moment of comic relief that broke the tension in the fidgety audience.

Blood Under the Bridge seems to be an example of a pseudo-intellectuals effort to put on a play that is so out there no one can understand it. Avant's effort is commendable — he picked a solid group of actors and made the most of his limited resources — but it seems he didn't make an effort at all to cut his play down, not just for the sake of the audience, but for the actors. A lot of dialogue recited in the second act seemed too convoluted. The production could have easily cut 30 minutes and — made a helluva lot more sense, too.

Blood Under the Bridge: The Last Redemption of Saddam H
8pm Fri-Sun
Through May 18
$9-12
Jump-Start Performance Co.
108 Blue Star
(210) 227-5867
jump-start.org

Posted by Jennifer Herrera on 5/12/2008 Permalink | Comments

Thank a tourist today!

Survey Says ...
According to Bexar County tallies, fewer than 7 percent of you could be bothered to turn up at the polls for Saturday's venue-tax election. So it really was more like a poll than an election, and the survey says you're wildly in favor of spending future hotel and car-rental tax money on a handful of major community improvements:

• $110 million for the arts, including $100 million to transform the Municipal Auditorium into the Bexar County Performing Arts Center under the leadership of the Tobin Endowment's Bruce Bugg (according to the terms of the agreement between the City, the County, and the newly formed Bexar County Performing Arts Foundation, the City will transfer ownership of the auditorium to the foundation within 30 days).

• $80 million for a bakers' dozen of amateur-sports facilities, including an aquatics center, a clutch of soccer fields, and baseball, track, and football complexes for underserved neighborhoods

• $100 million for TBD future improvements to the AT&T Center, plus upgrades to the rodeo grounds

And the most popular of the four proposals,

• $125 million for the River Improvements Project, in particular the Mission Reach, which has been hampered to some degree by tight-fistedness at the federal level

Mayor Phil Hardberger told the X-News that he now feels even more emboldened in his quest to extend our mean council term limits (you'll likely be asked to do so this November) -- four two-year terms are now being floated -- which sounds wretched to those of us who prefer a higher work-to-campaigning ratio. How about two three-year terms, or two four-year terms? Or, what the hell, we could just fix the campaign-finance system instead of punishing the electorate for our unwillingness to distinguish between "free speech" and "for-sale politicians."

Founders Day
A champagne toast to Von Ormy, Texas, the newest addition to SA's satellite municipalities, where a little more than a fifth of the eligible voters overwhelmingly approved incorporation in their May 10 special election. Up next: November elections for mayor, aldermen, and a marshal. Better start establishing residency now ...

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/11/2008 Permalink | Comments

Nothing says "you do good work" like cold, hard cash

Rumored sighting of Catholic-girl liberation. An early-morning phone call promised that if I high-tailed it up 281, I'd be rewarded with a graduation hijink: a sign at Incarnate Word High School announcing that Seniors '08 are busting out all over and covered in brassieres. But it was either a fever dream (a former Catholic high-schooler, I'll vouch that it's a dream that could easily come true) or the administration was on it like CPS on nukes (although there may be a slight shift in the winds there; check Curblog for a Harman post later today).

Reading, Writing, Dissembling
Speaking of school, I'm just barely old enough to have attended elementary before it got so touchy-feely, and before what I like to think of as the teacher-validation industry sprung up (or is it just that parents are a lot more boring than we used to be so we actually need eight beginning-orchestra concerts a year to have a social life?). This morning's irritating example: Our youngest kiddos were required to write teacher-appreciation notes for the culmination of Teacher Appreciation Week. It doesn't take a philosophy major to figure out that 20 forced notes from everyone = 0 actual notes of appreciation.

This isn't an anti-teacher tirade, by the way. I simply submit to you that if we paid teachers more in line with the actual skill and commitment required, we wouldn't need to gin up "teacher appreciation week," and in effect teach our kids to substitute disingenuousness for real compensation (or as Liz Phair put it, "It's nice to be liked, but it's better by far to get paid.")
Who else do we have special appreciation days for? That's right: secretaries/receptionists -- also generally underpaid and under-respected. I can't recall the last time we had "CEO Appreciation Day" at my office. (Who would want to be in charge of ferrying all those notes out to the private jet anyway? I guess we could just tuck them into the cases of champagne ... just kidding, of course. Our CEOs are more the yacht type.)

In any event, it put me in mind of this recent blog post from Capitol Annex.

More Than Twenty Fice Percent Of Texas Teachers Work Two Jobs
by Vince Leibowitz

Everyone in Texas knows that teacher pay in Texas has been historically low. Thus, it should come as no surprise that more than 25 percent of all Texas teachers must have a second job to pay their bills and survive–not to mention that 44 percent of teachers are seriously considering another profession, according to a new survey by the Texas State Teacher’s Association, mentioned in the Statesman.

What I'm saying is: Sure, thank-you notes in an 8-year-old's best penmanship are nice, but CPS won't accept them as payment.
Read the full post here.

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/9/2008 Permalink | Comments

Toxic Translator

New nuke plants have become quite the controversial undertaking in San Anto. Not in the upper levels of CPS, where they elevate at abuelita's secret mole status, a charge to kill and die for. If not to "lie" for, then at least to withhold every shred of relevant information, a process that had become -- in the words of one council member last night as I left the hall with Toxie -- a "shell game."

Problem isn't with CPS. It's with the voters, and the proposal is getting uncomfortably close to City Council. That bunch actually has to answer to the public -- without the benefit a multi-million public relations budgets to cloud their tracks.

In what nuke-fighters are counting as a preliminary victory, CPS agreed to pull the <1% of the proposed rate hike for nuclear explorations from the equation, replacing it with an expanded efficiency program.

Efficiency is that free energy flowing out your shoddy insulation that a large slice of SA can't afford to restuff; it is the process of trapping wasted energy that doesn't serve a utility's bottom line (other than saving them those millions/billions needed for new megaplants).

When the City-owned utility's press release on this unexpected reversal reached the Current, it just so happened our pal the Toxic Avenger was milling about the fax machine waiting for an update from the janitorial union. Seeing the nuclear reference, he snatched it with his PCB-soaked toadskin and no one here dared to pull it away.

He offers us this analysis (PR is in black):

CPS Energy has amended the composition of a proposed increase in electric and natural gas rates that will amount to approximately 5 percent on customers' monthly bills.

The less than 1 percent of the rate increase earmarked for nuclear development has been shifted to CPS Energy's expanded energy-efficiency program that includes customer rebates and incentives for the installation of energy-saving lighting and equipment as well as solar systems.

"Our new energy-efficiency incentives for customers have proven to be quite popular," said Aurora Geis, CPS Energy Board of Trustees chairman, "so much so it's conceivable our budget will run out before year's end. Reconfiguring the rate request will provide approximately $10 million a year more for energy efficiency. Based on our increasing investment in this area, we will hire a nationally recognized third-party expert this summer to update projections on the effectiveness of our accelerated energy-efficiency efforts."

I know your lesionous Milton Lee is dead on for nuclear. We hear that all the way up in Hoboken. We're sensative, y'know, cuza that Oyster Creek nightmare. Thankfully, fear and intellectual increptiude has soiled the minds and britches of some of your City Bosses. Rather than see their reputations besmirched as my once ivory skin they have pushed back hard on the utility for some (soot-free) breathing room.

My toxic-fighting comrades tell me there is a mayoral swap being negotiated and a statewide Nuclear Phil campaign would be bad timing... both for for your seated Treehugger and for those clinging desperately to his knees for anointing.

The unexpected tho "conceivable" run on current renewable dollars is a sadistic statement. Of course, power eaters have long been rattling for their liberation from power titans. Could it be efficiency and renewable programs were as underfunded as my own beauty budget?

Ah, but a Third Party assessment of efficiency potential... didn't that happen a few years back already?

The change in the rate request also will give CPS Energy, its Board and the company's regulatory authority – the San Antonio City Council – more time to review a soon-to-be-completed cost estimate before having to make a decision this fall on possibly adding two new generating units at the South Texas Project (STP) nuclear power plant near Bay City.

Black eyes in CPS know they can't hide behind Jersey's NRG energy figures. $7 billion is jes laughable, punk. You know the big money houses have set the mark at nearly $20 billion. You sure the mob isn't roosting on this deal?

Still CPS didn't have to alert any of this supposed "regulatory authority," your elected Council, that they have already been spending the $216 million their board approved for supposed mischaracterized "site reviews" and design schemes. In the toxic slums, we know such ante monies are typically spent on lawyers and lobbyists jetting into Washington and Nuclear Regulatory Commission antchambers for preferential treatments.

Any of your folks bothered to ask how this money is being spent or why? Who runs which, right?

The City Council is expected to consider the rate increase Thursday, May 15. Revenue from the 5 percent increase will help pay for capital improvements to meet the long-term energy needs of a growing Greater San Antonio.

Not defining Greater San Antonio? Huh. How much power is passing into other counties to fatten the coffers? They won't tell you, you say? Sensitive competitive information they plead to the Texas Attorney General, I know. Begging he let 'em keep their secrets. Now, silly question, but how can it be competitive if city power doesn't flow into deregulated ERCOT lands?

Mayor Phil Hardberger, a member of the CPS Energy Board of Trustees, said, "The CPS Energy proposal takes the nuclear component out of the rate increase. I think this is a good move, and I am very happy about it. Of course, nuclear will remain as one of the options for the future energy needs for this community."

Slick man. I like'm. Damage control from the man who voted up nukes, saying he wasn't "100 percent" on his decision and to ask him again "in 2025." But the toxified remember, Phil. It was the same doublespeak that landed me in those mutant cocktail barrels.

We remember this stuff. We watch closely.

Nuclear-generated electricity from STP satisfies approximately one-third of Greater San Antonio's needs at a cost significantly lower than other fuel sources.

To accommodate the shift in the makeup of the rate increase, CPS Energy will rely on currently available capital improvement funds to pay its nuclear development obligations. These include the filing of a combined construction and operation license application for STP Units 3 and 4 with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, refining a construction plan/cost estimate and reserving manufacturing slots for large equipment/components that have long lead times.

(Laughing, coughing, loud gluttenous hack.) Council? We don't need no stinkin' Council.

Revenue from the electric rate increase will help pay for the following major initiatives to serve CPS Energy customers:

the construction of a large coal-fired generating unit at Calaveras Lake and the installation of natural gas-fired peaking units at Braunig Lake to produce affordable electricity;
environmental commitments to the community and region including $500 million in emissions-control upgrades to existing power plants;
a boost in customer rebates and incentives from $96 million over a four-year-period to approximately $136 million over four years as part of CPS Energy's more-aggressive energy-efficiency program; and

needed electrical infrastructure such as substations and power lines.

Then the Avenger skips down the increasingly slimy sheet. There is Master Milton Lee humanized through the deft endenturing of the starched shirts and skirts of CPS public relations...

"We haven't had to request many rate increases during the past two decades because of growth throughout our community and sound financial management," said Milton Lee, CPS Energy general manager and CEO. "We truly wish we didn't have to request an increase in rates now because of tougher economic conditions, however we have made large financial commitments as part of our Strategic Energy Plan to satisfy our growing community's energy needs for the long run. We continue to add approximately 1,000 customers every month, and we're experiencing significant price increases in steel, concrete and other commodities necessary to complete capital construction projects."

Lee noted that the recommended increases are not about operations and maintenance expenses, although CPS Energy has made a concerted effort to control costs. For example, through attrition and productivity improvements, the company has reduced its work force from 4,300 to 3,800 over the past five years.

"CPS Energy wants to do its part to stay abreast of the community's need for reliable, affordable energy," Lee said. "Small gas and electric rate increases will help make that possible. It also will enable us to continue offering the lowest energy bills of any major city in Texas or the U. S."

500 out of work? Now that's efficiency. Wait til my union buddies get a load of this guy.

Breaks your heart to raise rates? Or is it the intrusion of these elected regulators and forceful anti-nukers?

Where ya takin' us, Milty?

Y'know. I sat in the shadows last night. I heard the public fears about these new plants you desire as much as they distrust your math skills an' trustfullness.

Jes' wait till I get the crew together on this one. The Toxic Crusaders have been aching for a good free-for-all.

(Back to Current staffer.) You got a smoke, Mac? I'm really groovin' on those American Spirits.

---

Toxie's history, bio, and evil-polluter-fightin' exploits.

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/9/2008 Permalink | Comments

On the Street

"Low culture, high culture and no culture all co-existing uneasily in another installment of On the Street. As always, read at your own risk"

On the Street

*****

Letters (to the Penthouse Suite)

#1 Not Dadaist Poetry/Bring in the Clowns/Batman

In what could be one of his last contributions OTS insider Everett wrote to give me answers for a pre-Finals quiz...

Answers, courtesy of Mr. Yoshi.

14. D. density control tool
21. C. Lead mask with a pinhole.
25. D. Section Depth
30. B. False

By the way, I saw No Country For Old Men today. Freakin awesome. I like how the ending wasn't cliche and "Sugar" didn't get caught at the end. GREAT acting. Did you know Eddy #@%## is afraid of clowns? He told me this when he told me how he saw the trailer for the new Batman "The Dark Knight". He thinks the Joker is the just the ugliest. In case your curious, URL below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaIR9dAZRR0

(sin permiso)

#2 La Paz Calling

OTS Foreign Correspondent from La Paz Roberto Guerra wrote to keep us informed of the constitutional hijinks being played out in Bolivia...

(sin permiso)

Yo Jones...

Here's a couple links for articles from today:

- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/05/world/americas/05bolivia.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
-http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/05/04/8711/
-http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42227

& a little background:
-http://ain-bolivia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=116&Itemid=32

There are way more out there... but a lot are in Spanish. Also... I'll have photos from the counter demonstration in La Paz if you want to use a couple later in the week...

#3 Free Money?

Friend of OTS Nico writes with this helpful information...

Hello friends,

At my job at the American Payroll Association, I came across a state website that lists all people who have unclaimed property/wages. Some of you that I searched have money!

Anyway, search yourself, your friends, your family--you might be surprised! (I had $150 from a job three years ago. Who knew?)

http://www.window.state.tx.us/up/

#4 Absinthe (The Reverend Wright Story That Won't Go Away)

(sin permiso)

Mark,

Hope the party went well! If you came up with any recipes, we're always happy to know of new ones.

If you were so moved by the spirit as to write something, San Antonio readers would be interested to know that the Absinthe Verte is available for purchase from the following online retailers:
K & L Wine Merchants (www.klwines.com)

The Jug Shop (www.thejugshop.com)

Astor Wines and Spirits (www.astorwines.com)

Hi-Time Wine Cellars (www.hitimewine.net)

D & M Wines & Liquors (www.dandm.com)

Morrell & Company (www.morrellwine.com)

Borisal Liquor & Wine* (www.drinkupny.com) *international shipping available

Thanks,

Kate

#5 A Wedding Party Gone Wrong

Michael from Austin shares this with us...

for lovers of musical theater (and I fucking hate musical theater) and failed theater majors everywhere

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1287124/best_wedding_toast_ever_amys_song/

And this, something about "psychogeography"...

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/05/04/where_do_all_the_neurotics_live/

#6 The Only That Is Amusing Menudo Terremoto Williams These Days

(sin permiso)

For shell-shocked Spurs fans this video might be amusing and "inspirational"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cQjjvFAf6Q

#7 Not A Whizzinator

OTS Fan Lady Vick sends this video...

http://fun.mivzakon.co.il/flash/20414/%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%97%20%D7%90%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%92%D7%91%D7%A8.html

Carrot and Wine

To begin, as usual, with an old perspective. If I see that hanging from the ceiling one more time, then I'll be forced to ask questions.

Joan had some publicity in the recent issue of the paper.

These two pieces reminded me of something I would see at Webb Gallery in Waxahachie. But what do I know, according to Fabian's description these pieces draw influence from the decorations on Pakistani trucks.

This foto reminded me of much of the work from all the shows - it was more interesting visually than intellectually, which is not to say the work wasn't good. In fact, it seemed like a very strong showing all around.

Here, still in the Blue Star main gallery, are some interesting layers and implications.

Back at the ranch at the UTSA Satelite Gallery.

There was an unusual assortment of spheres and ears. The ears in a second...

One can almost not see the string and wonder if Criss Angel is behind all this.

A hint of the ears to come, but I'm mostly amused by the placement up in the corner.

The volume and arrangement were impressive.

A closer shot. I attempted some macro-lens theatrics but it all came out blurry.

Here, in the closet room around the corner, a time lapse video shows the process behind the work. This was not a lazy piece.

An incredible obsession with ears - pinna, auricle, all of it.

At the Joan Grona Gallery. Wide screen. This piece was best seen from a distance. On one hand I can't think of the drawbacks of macro-scopic intentions but my feeling is that many want work that can be closely scrutinized.

In the second room were these happy sad paintings.

Familiar but strange.

I'm not sure where I saw this description of Mark Hongensen but it's worth showing.

In the third room at Joan Grona I came across this drunken menagerie.

Anthropomorphism's demise has been greatly exaggerated.

And then back outside. By flying through the galleries it allowed me more time to notice this oddly placed sign.

The honeycomb seems like a work of art in itself. The contradiction was an apt foreshadow of the work inside.

I knocked but no one was home.

(con permiso)

Justin sent in this foto from the show. 3 Walls looks transformed.

At the gallery next door, the Year of the Garden continued.

Fascinating little worlds. Like one of those things that you shake up and snow moves around, except it's larger and there's no snow. It's also more scientific. And the tiny orange cones next to the glass jars create wonderful depth confusion.

Senses of scale were challenged and confounded. This piece complimented the physical sculptures. The combination of 2-D and 3-D created a consistent world.

With some wide angle fotography, the challenge continues.

Derby Daze

That seems to be the "dream" reporter job - jockey journalist. I imagine there's a lot of down time.

Later that night I ended up at a house/gallery across from Green Vegetarian. No, Green didn't do the catering as far as I know. I had often rolled by this house. Though its large corner lot should have made me notice it, I actually hadn't. The remodelling was done with incredible taste. I was told the building used to be some sort of dinner theater. I might not sure if Hal Holbrook ever had been here in Mark Twain drag, but he would have been honored.

To make the unspoken agreement plain - I document, try to have something to say, often don't so I talk around the issue, occasionally offend people, but in general, allow people to see things for themself. This clarity of this contract crystallized when I saw this piece and almost made comparisons to Kafka.

From outside. The mysteries of this house still intrigue me.

Later that night at Patsy's Ice House on Flores just north of San Pedro Springs Park. People often go there and wonder if it could be the next Taco Land. The size and dilipidation are both appropriate and true. Perhaps its the lack of an owner chiding the patrons. Most likely its silly to look for comparisons but I've heard it more than once. It's all part of PTSD. (Post Tacoland Stress Disorder.)

Oh, yeah, this was Game One of the Spurs/Hornets Series on the telly. Rockers and locals hovered around the set while an opening band loudly droned in the background. The mise en scene was surreal. Low frequency aggro-ambience in the background as people stared at the television like George Romero zombies. As the game progressed towards a humiliating defeat, people wandered away and waited for the band, hung outside and drank beer, and talked under their breath about actually having to pay a cover.

Gymkata v2.0/Out of Bounds

The Spurs/Hornets series, oddly, like the Spurs/Suns, series has occasionally veered into discussions of flopping. The obvious reason would be that the Spurs are notorious floppers. And flopping seems to considered an artform with its origins in Europe, like Expressionism. The Spurs are the most international team so the connection has been concretized.

But the Americans have quickly taken to the game. Last night's dead ball flop by Chris Paul, as he pulled some B-Movie gymnastics reminscent of the other Kurt Thomas, was perhaps taking the artform in a new direction. However, if one followed the official narrative it wouldn't be quite as apparent. And for Chris Paul in particular, the flopping issue has not stuck to him hyet.

The backlash against flopping could be considered a reaction to the European invasion of the game. It's difficult to walk through this minefield. Like with many things in sports, it's full of odd boundaries and contradictions. Some people think the Europeans are destroying the integrity of the game with their less masculine flopping. But if the game gets too rough and African Americans are seen fighting each other than this is somehow a shocking display. Of course baseball has weekly fights and hockey has daily fights but no one seems to be disturbed. What all this says about American Exceptionalism, race relations and the original Turner Thesis I'm not sure yet. (More grand un-unified theorizing to follow.)

The Pacers-Pistons brawl received an incessant scrutinization by the media. I suppose it's foolish to then make a connection to the incessant scrutinization of Revered Wright, but that's what we do at On the Street. As a second place blog, untested theories are constantly floated out to the scientific method of public opinion. The fear of 'threatening' black men on the basketball court = the fear of 'threatening' black men in the political arena? The merits, and yes, hope of Obama's amazing speech (which seems like two years ago now) has quickly disappeared. Obama has now practically had to say that equality is here and things are going well. How an intelligent conversation will progress from any of this, including my second place blogging, all remains to be seen.

And how will this fit into the equation...

And so goes another week on the streets of San Antonio. As always, to be continued...

____________________________________________________________________________________

Posted by Mark Jones on 5/9/2008 Permalink | Comments

Wednesday backs the woolly booger

According to an interview the Addams Family star gave Black Book magazine, Christina Ricci backs the bush:

“I think people are learning to actually aspire to be objectified,” Christina said. “It’s like the highest form of flattery for teenage girls. The culture we live in right now seems to reward behavior that we used to frown upon. We used to teach our daughters not to be like this. I think in the ’80s, there would certainly have been a little bit of snobbery expressed if somebody admitted to getting a full Brazilian bikini wax. A circle of friends would be like, ‘What are you, a porn star?’”

This quote is important for several reasons:

1). This is the first time in history (and very likely the last) anyone has ever cited the 1980s as a time of innocence and chastity.

2). The reason no one would have told their friends they got a Brazilian in the '80s is because, as Stewart Gilligan Griffin reminded us in a recent Family Guy episode, the razor wasn't invented until sometime late in that decade.

3). Ms. Ricci is actually right. There is a movement in today's culture where young women strive to be objectified (see obama girl, miley cyrus, et al). And in the endgame, that's not healthy for individual women emotionally nor for the feminist movement as a whole.

God I hate when I have to admit some Hollywood starlet actually said something meaningful.

Posted by Kelton Morgan on 5/8/2008 Permalink | Comments

It ain't easy being [blue]

My guess is this isn't the Muppet concept Jason Segel and Nick Stoller pitched ...

Posted by Ashley Lindstrom on 5/7/2008 Permalink | Comments

OLLU fire: The day after ...

Nearly a year ago I was a college senior anxiously awaiting graduation, searching for a job, and avoiding my impending adulthood at all costs. My safe haven wasn't the bar or some guy's house — it was school. I happen to be a graduate of Our Lady of the Lake University and as University President Tessa Martinez Pollack said at a prayer service held earlier today, "Each one of us has been dealt an enormous loss."

ollu_mainbuilding01

mainbuilding_02

mainbuilding_03

photos by jennifer herrera

Yesterday night a four-alarm fire broke out in Main building of OLLU, burning until the wee hours of the morning (KENS coverage of OLLU fire). Today, I toured the campus along with Current production manager and fellow OLLU alum Fred Valenzuela. As we drove down Commerce Street, we witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic on 24th Street and found ourselves in a state of disbelief — professors comforted students while faculty gathered for the prayer service. Pollack was calm although visibly shaken and let her guard down a bit during the service.

As always the spirit of the university reigns. Without a doubt, every person I've come in contact with since last night that has ties to OLLU is confident that the university will rebuild. "The proud, historic beacon of hope we lost last night belongs not only to the University, it belongs to the entire community far and near," Pollack said. "We need the support and help of all who enjoy the glory of the view to share in the labors of our new challenges." As former staff members of the OLLU student newspaper, the Lake Front, we found ourselves huddled along with the staff outside of the University Wellness and Activities Center. Assistant Professor of Communication Arts Kay O'Donnell described the actions of the staff as "Herculean." Within a few hours students had managed to acquire donations from Best Buy, and nearby Lanier High School had offered up a lab for Lake Front staffers to use so they can crank out their final issue of the semester. A fund for the university has also been set up to provide assistance in restoration efforts.

Coverage of the inferno in the local media was a bit hit-and-miss. Last night I found myself glued to the tube as our local stations featured non-stop coverage of the blaze. KENS on-air personality Karen Grace is a visiting instructor at OLLU and knows it (she is also an alum and the poster child of a job well done by the communication-arts department). Her counterpart Chris Marrou was his usual jackass self, going so far as asking a Congregation of Divine Providence sister whether the event has shaken her faith.

I woke up this morning to our obnoxious daily, which ran the oh-so-clever headline "OUR LADY OF THE LAKE BURNS." Real classy, guys. The five-person team of reporters that compiled information for the piece managed to report with an agenda — focus on the past issues of the small, homely university. The story was worthy of all of its above-the-fold coverage, and its sweet anecdotes took a sour turn in the fifth paragraph with the following statement: "The loss of the Main Building is a devastating blow for a university that's been bleeding students for a decade, leading to budget cuts, layoffs, sinking morale and questions about whether the university would survive in the city's competitive higher education market." Sure, the university has had its troubles in the past, but bringing them up in a time like this is totally uncalled for, especially in a city that prides itself on its Catholic beliefs and upbringing. E-N got their facts right, but they managed to open the story with a slant that felt almost like tabloid coverage — it lacked heart, something that OLLU is really all about.

Posted by Jennifer Herrera on 5/7/2008 Permalink | Comments

Hornets Nest

The big question among NBA-playoff watchers over the last 48 hours has been: Are the Spurs finally over-the-hill?
I'm reluctant to answer in the affirmative because I was convinced that age had caught up with this team two years ago when they struggled to keep up with a younger, quicker Dallas Mavericks team in the Western Conference semifinals. And I wouldn't be surprised to see the Spurs rebound at home this week after two demoralizing, blowout losses to the New Orleans Hornets.
But there are troubling echoes in this series of the Spurs' 2004 elimination at the hands of the Fab Four Lakers (the one-year experiment featuring Shaq, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone). That year, after winning the first two games of the series, the Spurs were muzzled by an LA defense that dared them to score from the perimeter. In much the same way the Hornets have frustrated Tim Duncan with persistent double-teams, the 2004 Lakers used the wily Karl Malone to keep Duncan off-balance. The Spurs' crucial Game 4 and Game 6 losses in that series were eerily like the first two games of the Hornets' series: The Spurs played well for a half, then collapsed in an ugly second -half parade of three-point bricks and wilting transition defense. As Duncan faded in that series, no one could pick up the slack. Certainly, the Tony Parker of 2008 is a more formidable player than he was four years ago, but he's still an inconsistent jump shooter, and the Hornets' speed on the defensive end has kept him from getting to the paint. Even if the Spurs shoot better in San Antonio, the dynamics of this series are troubling for Duncan and Co.

Posted by Gilbert Garcia on 5/7/2008 Permalink | Comments

dozing in the hill country...

Last night, Commissioner Lyle Larson was complaining about lack of county controls on development at a hearing over the expansion of Scenic Loop Road.

Some suggested we should just stop building roads and choke the new growth out. A lot of applause and head nodding and "developers are out of control" agreement.

Maybe next session lawmakers will allow counties decide if they want their hills blasted and leveled for more concrete and asphalt.

The following was datamined from the San Antonio Tree Coalition's excellent blog, Tree Speech:

Here's what Toll Brothers says:

Here's what they are doing:

In the oil refinery rows outside Houston, Odessa, New Orleans, they call it the "smell of money." Does this suggest the "sight of success"?

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/7/2008 Permalink | Comments

Where the sidewalk ends ...

Mulberrysidewalk It's almost too early to dream, really, but it's true that the nascent Brackenridge Conservancy has at least heard of the idea to restrict access and/or speed on the section of Mulberry that runs between Broadway and North St. Mary's. That increasingly trafficked stretch is park road, after all, which once upon a time ended at the old historic Brackenridge polo fields rather than heading west into Monte Vista.

While I'd hate to see San Antonio recreate Austin's east-west travel problems -- shutting down Mulberry to significant thru traffic would leave narrow Hildebrand and indirect Josephine the only nearby ways to quickly travel from Broadway to St. Mary's -- it would help solve a growing problem.

When neighborhood residents and the city agreed on the 2003 Brackenridge Park Improvements project that made the city's queen green space so lovely (well-marked hiking/biking trails, art installations), that plan included a wide sidewalk that would wind through the existing trees on the south side of Mulberry. It's a sorely needed amenity; anyone who's traveled that route in something other than a car takes their life into their hands. This includes parents and kids taking the shortest path to the popular Lion's Field playground. Not helping matters is the lack of a well-marked and guarded crosswalk into the park.

Unfortunately, it seems, someone forgot to tell the Municipal Golf Association - SA before they began renovating the Brackenridge Golf Course, and now upset River Road residents say tee boxes and one of the greens may be too close to the road to allow for the adopted sidewalk plan. MGA-SA's Reid Meyers and Jim Roschek say they're willing to work with the neighborhood within reason -- irrigation equipment, etc, is already set, so no moving the golf features -- essentially conceding that a path could run along the existing fence line (but remember, Meyers says there will be a fence!). Roschek and Meyers would clearly prefer that any foot or bike traffic on Mulberry cross the street and use the park trails, but critics worry that that doesn't address accessibility issues for elderly, handicapped, or young children. At the least, it would require a mid-road crosswalk. Roschek told members of the River Road Neighborhood Association that "some adjustments" were made to the course in case the sidewalk plan came to fruition, but the RRNA is seeking guarantees that the 2003 plan can in fact be implemented.

A brief conversation Tuesday with Roschek would seem to suggest no. "The problem is, if you're really gonna [build] it, and not remove any trees, it really has to come onto the golf-course property quite a bit," he said, adding, "I've not seen the original [sidewalk] plan, so it's hard for me to comment on that."

Enter, perhaps, the conservancy, modeled on New York's Central Park Conservancy, and charged with working with the park's many stakeholders (leaseholders like the Sunken Garden Theatre, the Witte, and the MGA-SA, park users, neighborhood residents and businesses, etc.) to address issues such as parking, growth, and traffic.

June Kachtik, a member of the Conservancy's steering committee and the San Antonio Conservation Society, says it's too soon to draft agenda items: they're still writing bylaws and coming up with a mission statement -- tasks she hopes will be complete by the end of September so that an attorney can draft the articles of incorporation and apply for non-profit status.

"If we can just get this thing started, it would be the role of the Conservancy to address these issues and serve as a forum," Kachtik said, adding that they may be too late to participate in the ongoing Avenue A/B hike-and-bike discussion.

The steering committee meets the first Monday of the month. A website is in the works, and, says Kachtik, they'll be posting agendas and meeting locations soon at saconservation.org.

In the meantime, in an April 28 letter, the RRNA has asked the Parks & Recreation Board to intervene and help move the Mulberry sidewalk construction forward.

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/7/2008 Permalink | Comments

Sun Spots

pearl
(Image courtesy of Lake|Flato Architects)

San Anto has been slowly catching the solar wave. However, from jail showers to quik-marts to private homes and Fort Sam silicon, the rooftop panels are spreading among us with an increasing clip.

Pearl Brewery's revitalization effort (pic above) brought the announcement of a solar roof array to be the state's largest of its kind. Though still limited to a sort of a commercial experiment to the minds inside partial funder CPS Energy, the 200-kilowatt array will power a quarter of the reanimated warehouse.

A milestone was reached earlier this year when the U.S. Department of Energy selected San Antonio as one of 12 U.S. cities to receive $200,000 to pump up the kilowattage of pollution-free energy.

It was such advances that set the stage for the largest Solar Fest yet, Solar San Antonio's hoedown.

I flared solar plaudits at Harman on Earth over the weekend and posted this summery sliver of good vibrations:

Now we're set to rock a 95th b-day party for godfather of shine, Solar SA Founder Mr. Bill Sinkin, at a Brewery fundraiser luncheon May 19 at the rehabbed Pearl Stables.

So bring your solar-powered pony to the jamboree, or you corporate wanks we Current slaves love to needle can green up your image by becoming a sponsor.

Of course, we still have to aggressively steer COSA to pledge more money, interest, and commitment into efficiency and renewable investment BEFORE they land us in a multi-billion dollar tarpit for planned new nuclear plants.

Here's the latest from SEED Coalition:

* Stop The CPS Rate Hike and NRG Nuclear Plants *

Dear Friends,

Your help and action are needed right away. The City Council vote on the first of at least three rate hikes for nuclear power plants could come as early as May 15th. We need to tell the mayor and city council members – NO rate hikes for nuclear power.

Call or email them today! The city clerk can connect you to the mayor and your council member 210-207-7253.

Mayor and council information located at www.sanantonio.gov/council.

What else can you do? Sign up to speak at "Citizens to be Heard" which begins at 6 PM on Thursday, May 8th, at City Hall. City Council meetings are held in the Municipal Plaza Building, 103 S. Main Avenue. You must sign up before 6 PM.

(Call 207-7080 for more information regarding Citizens to be Heard.)

Get ready beforehand! Pick up yard/car window signs and flyers you can take door to door in your neighborhood at the meeting on:

Tuesday, May 6th
202 E. Park (office of Karen Seal)
6:00 PM

Stay for the Tuesday night meeting if you can, but feel free to pick up materials anyway if you're short on time. Anything people can do makes a difference at this time, so jump in any way that you can!

* Calling talk show radio programs to talk about the issue is a great idea – and the financial concerns may help connect to people who might not otherwise be concerned.

* Also, it helps to keep sending letters to the editor at the San Antonio Express-News. They haven't been printing the ones they've been sent recently, so a call to the paper to discuss this might not hurt.

About the Rate Hike and Nuclear Plants:
San Antonio is being asked to support a rate hike, but CPS Energy still refuses to say how much they believe the two proposed nuclear plants would cost. At least three rate hikes would be needed if the nuclear reactors are pursued, and utility bills would soar. Not only is nuclear power is a b ad energy choice for economic reasons, but additionally it produces dangerous radioactive wastes that last for millions of years, and posing serious health, safety and security risks.

CPS Energy would partner with New Jersey based NRG. This company filed for bankruptcy in 2003, has never built a nuclear plant before, has only operated the South Texas Project for several years, and is seriously underestimating costs for the two proposed nuclear plants. NRG's public projections have risen from $6.6 to $8 billion. An independent analysis by Dr. Arjun Makhijani found that the costs would be 2-3 times higher. Moody's Corporate finance estimated costs of $16.2 billion.

The existing two South Texas Nuclear Project reactors ran six times over budget and began operating eight years late. We can't afford to make this mistake again.

San Antonio can do better! Clean energy solutions exist today and are more affordable. Energy efficiency can be used instead of nuc lear power and will build the local economy. With the $206 million in just the first proposed rate hike, over 51,000 homes could be retrofitted to become more efficient. Customer bills would come down and local jobs would be created. More renewable wind energy can be purchased and solar power costs are coming down dramatically.

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/6/2008 Permalink | Comments

Double-blind double bind

Yogi-level gymnastics from the AG below. The Current is on deadline for this week's issue, but we have calls in to the DA's office, which has hinted in the past that it was sitting on the prosecution of local, private non-profit, needle-exchange volunteers until the AG ruled on the Bexar County pilot program. More info here soon and in this Wednesday's Queque.

From the notification email:

Opinion No. GA-0622
Go to: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinions/opinions/50abbott/op/2008/htm/ga-0622.htm
Re: Whether persons operating or participating in a pilot needle- and syringe-exchange program authorized for Bexar County by Government Code section 531.0972 may be prosecuted for possessing drug paraphernalia under Health and Safety Code section 481.125 (RQ-0630-GA)
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinions/opinions/50abbott/rq/2007/pdf/RQ0630GA.pdf

Summary: In May of 2007, the Legislature authorized a pilot program in Bexar County "to prevent the spread of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other infectious and communicable diseases." Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 531.0972 (Vernon Supp. 2007). The legislation provided that the Health and Human Services Commission "may provide guidance" to Bexar County in establishing such a program. Id. (emphasis added). The statute also allowed Bexar County to include in its pilot program a needle- and syringe-exchange program. See id.

The Texas Controlled Substances Act provides that possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia--including "a hypodermic syringe, needle, or other object used or intended for use in parenterally injecting a controlled substance into the human body"--is an offense that subjects a person to criminal prosecution. Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.002(17)(K) (Vernon Supp. 2007).

Because a needle and syringe exchange is an optional component of Bexar County's pilot disease-prevention program, the program need not include a needle- and syringe-exchange component. If Bexar County's pilot disease-prevention program does not include a needle and syringe exchange, a person would not be subject to prosecution under section 481.125 of the Health & Safety Code for participating in the program. If, however, Bexar County elects to include such a needle- and syringe-exchange program as part of this overall disease-prevention program, the participants in that program appear to be subject to prosecution under the Texas Controlled Substances Act because the Legislature did not except them from such prosecution.

In contrast to the Bexar County pilot-program statute, the Legislature has, in numerous statutes, adopted express language that excludes certain activities from criminal prosecution under the Texas Controlled Substances Act. Because the Legislature has expressly demonstrated its ability and willingness to exclude otherwise criminal acts from prosecution under the Texas Controlled Substances Act--but did not do so here--this office can neither assume nor legislate such an intent.

Additionally, even if the participants are not subject to prosecution under the Texas Controlled Substances Act, participants may face criminal charges under other Texas or federal statutes.

Finally, any decision to prosecute program participants is a matter of prosecutorial discretion.

Posted by Elaine Wolff on 5/5/2008 Permalink | Comments

Toxic Water: No End in Sight

South Texas Opposes Pollution (STOP) and the Coastal Bend Sierra Club are sponsoring a teach-in on uranium mining in Kingsville on May 17.

The course will be led by Dr. Richard Abitz (resume clip below), who has worked since the '80s on problems related to hazardous and radioactive waste contamination.

The stated course objective is to help regional residents better understand what uranium is, where it comes from, how it is mined, and what happens when it is dissolved in water.

It's a timely topic as companies scout South Texas to revive old mine fields and drill into new ones.

There is no charge for attendance.

View Larger Map

Saturday, May 17
9 am – 2:30 pm
St. Gertrude's Catholic Church Parish Hall
400 E. Caesar
Kingsville, Texas

For more information, contact Dr. Mark Walsh at 361.595.1265 or electronically at markwalsh1934@yahoo.com

On Abitz:
Dr. Abitz is a geochemist with over eighteen years of experience in the environmental services sector of private and government organizations. His broad experience encompasses project and personnel management, analysis of chemical and radiological data, modeling of soil/water systems and radioactive waste streams with experimental methods and geochemical computer codes, risk assessment, and development of work plans for CERCLA and RCRA sites. His technical expertise includes the application of geochemical principles, experimental methods, and computer models to problems involving the solubility and mobility of hazardous and radioactive elements in the environment, evaluation of environmental and human risk associated with exposure to contaminants in air, soil and water media, remediation techniques for waters and soil contaminated by hazardous and radioactive wastes, and the design and treatment of mixed and radioactive waste streams.

As an environmental consultant, Dr. Abitz has used his management skills and knowledge of geochemical processes to perform and complete project work on a number of high profile milestones. For the Navajo Nation, he serves as a technical expert and has evaluated the geochemistry of proposed in situ uranium mining in the Church Rock and Crownpoint areas of New Mexico, and he supported the Navajo EPA in their evaluation of water quality at the United Nuclear Corporation superfund site in Church Rock. At the Fernald, Ohio superfund site, Dr. Abitz was the site geochemist responsible for the integration of technical tasks associated with preparing sampling plans, collecting soil, water and air samples, data validation, data analysis and modeling, in situ measurements for 226Ra, 232Th, and 238U activity using sodium iodide and high-purity germanium detectors, developing an estimate of the Curie inventory in the on-site disposal cell (OSDF), preparation of the residual risk assessment and soil certification reports. He also served the Fernald site as a senior consultant to the DOE Technology Development Program and managed active research projects at several universities. These projects included laboratory studies on the mobilization and removal of radionuclides and metals from soil/water systems, including the passive removal of uranium from groundwater using inorganic and organic systems.

Dr Abitz also has extensive experience at other DOE sites. At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), he developed waste analysis and radioactive material management plans for transuranic and low-level mixed wastes generated, treated, and stored on site. For the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), Dr. Abitz evaluated the waste characterization program for high-level radioactive and hazardous waste processed at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP). Dr. Abitz also directed geochemical studies at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) that evaluated the composition and origin of saline groundwater and brine in the vicinity of and within this underground repository for transuranic waste.

Posted by Greg Harman on 5/2/2008 Permalink | Comments

You Give Love a Bad Name

I managed to catch The Wedding Singer at the Majestic this past Wednesday, and while my expectations for this Broadway Across America offering were low--the whole shebang looked like an excuse to make a buck--there were a few bright lights to be had, mostly in the casting. The musical itself--cobbled together from songs from the film and from an original score--is forgettable stuff, and mainly populated by gags about '80s rock groups and the film Flashdance. (The under-30 set is likely to be totally baffled by the Reagan zeitgeist in-jokes. How many Van Halen references can one body endure?) While winking at the audience is fine, a little bit goes a long way: Broadway's current production of Xanadu knows enough to call it quits after 90 minutes, unlike The Wedding Singer's 2+ hours. This present production is a controversial one: it's the first 'first national tour' to make the rounds with non-Equity (that is to say, non-union) actors, and it's not exactly to San Antonio's credit that we booked it. That said, the actors were absolutely the strongest part of the production: talented and spry and energetic, and, for the most part, all of 24 years old. Fortunately, The Wedding Singer can get away with a young cast, and I have to say, on the whole, this was actually a better production than this winter's turgid Camelot.

Posted by Thomas Jenkins on 5/2/2008 Permalink | Comments

Bordeño Protest?

Whenever we hear a protest is going down we’re usually on the scene, so when we received an email Tuesday afternoon about a possible protest at Francisco Delgado’s show Bordeño Chronicles at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México we couldn’t resist.

Delgado is a well-known fronterizo artist (border artist) who calls El Paso and Ciudad Juarez his home — his experience of living on the edge of two drastically different worlds is the theme for his current exhibition. He’s also an accomplished illustrator, his works can be found in children’s books: ¡Si, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can! and also Lover Boy / Juanito El Cariñoso.

His artist statement reads: “Delgado believes in making visible the struggles and celebrating the successes of immigrant communities in the United States.” His quirky, sardonic works obviously touched a nerve with the predominately Spanish-speaking crowd at the opening reception. His edgy pieces are appealing to the eye and to the politically driven art lover, too. Within Bordeño Chronicles Delgado’s message “transcends race and social class perimeters and unites communities in a language of universal truth.”

While we didn't stay long enough to see if a protest ensued, we will update later in the day if one did occur. According to one unnamed source, the event was great — however, they would not comment whether a protest erupted. We suspect it was a ploy to get us out to see the exhibit. If it was job well done UNAM, folks. Job well done.

Bordeño Chronicles

UNAM-San Antonio

600 Hemisfair Park

Through July 24 (UNAM will be closed the week of May 12-16)

9am-5:30pm Mon-Thursday

9am-4pm Fri

Posted by Jennifer Herrera on 5/2/2008 Permalink | Comments

San Antonio Current "Best of 2008"

Documentaries are always fun so I thought I would spend the evening running around with my video camera. You may have seen me at some point throughout the night trying to balance the video camera and my drink and I may have spilled beer on a few people. If you were one of those people, I do apologize...please forgive me.
I hear I missed fighting pole dancers, drunken buffoons and other rowdy mishaps, but there's always next year. So without further ado, here are a few highlights from the Current's "Best of 2008" party...

Posted by Sonya Harvey on 5/2/2008 Permalink | Comments

On the Street

"High culture, low culture, and no culture all co-existing uneasily in another episode of On the Street. As always read at your own risk."

On the Street

Fiesta came and went. And sadly, another week was spent trapped inside behind books. And yet the web-log goes on. As always, to the letters...

Letters (to the Penthouse Suite)

#1 Absinthe Returns

From paid informant Jennifer came this brief message...

Mark,
Came across this article and thought you'd enjoy it. :-)

Absinthe's Mind-Altering Mystery Solved - Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080429/sc_livescience/absinthesmindalteringmysterysolved

The article is quite similar to one that I originally read regarding St. George Spirits. The absinthe ingredient thujone is discussed and then dismissed. Thujone, in some ways, is like global warming and carbon dioxide - the results are there but the reasons for are still debated.

And just when I thought the absinthe talk was done for the week...

#2 Absinthe Returns Again (But Never Left)

Hi Mark,

Hope all went well with the party. Wondering if you are planning on running an item about the absinthe verte. Let me know too if there's anything you need (distiller bios, artwork, etc.)

Thanks,
Kate

A promise was made to drink the absinthe, oddly, for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. We'll see what happens...

#3 Coming Home

From 3 Walls Gallery came this notice for First Friday...

Justin Parr

Home

Three Walls
May 2-26, 2008

Opening First Friday May 2, 6-9pm

night picnic on the grass Wednesday May 7, 7-11pm
ceremonial lawn cutting May 26 @ 5pm (also show closing)

open by appointment, 210-219-1562

Three Walls is located in studio 106D Blue Star, Building B, San Antonio, TX

(sin permiso)

The ceremonial lawn cutting makes me wonder - perhaps this really is the year of The Garden? May 26 will be the answer. On the other hand, shades of anthropomorphism might still be found this week at Joan Grona Gallery on First Friday. The (false) debate continues...

#4 On the Street Foreign Correspondent from La Paz Bear Briefly Reports In

With the title Hola Amigos, came this message...

Hola amigos... I hope y'all are all doing well and gearing up for at least a little summertime relaxation up in the States. I know everyone's busy... but I wanted to share with you all that I have just finished my new website (same address as the old one www.bearguerra.com) and I'd love for you to check it out when you have a few minutes and see some of what I've/we've been working on lately. Of course any feedback/thoughts/suggestions would be most appreciated...

The new website for all to check out. Fotos On the Street only aspires towards.

Last Friday (Aka, Time to Break Out the Umbrellas)

On the way to the Downtown Highlife ride. And yes, as always, that means rain is shortly behind.

The Battle of Flowers Parade was missed. But a glimpse of T 'n T - tacos and turkey legs. (More on them later.)

A late word was sent out to meet at the VFW Hall instead of the Alamo. We rolled down to alert anyone who didn't get the message.

There was a large gathering of people at the Atlee Ayers VFW Hall. Televisions, turkey legs, and cans of Pearl Light were everywhere. Word of an impending storm was shared amongst riders. Some left early to avoid the monsoon. Others took their chance.

Saturday

Saturday began late. A trip was made to King William Festival. A detour was made on Wickes Street. By the time we arrived to King William proper there was still a few people left...

This genormous smoker/atomic bomb had its own force of gravity. It was a foreshadowing of turkey legs to come.

OTS Insider Margaret Levi Honeycutt makes a note about an architectural detail.

If any image summarized Saturday perhaps it was this one. Not for anything out of the ordinary, just a casual interaction.

Hyperbubble breaking down the equipment. Yeah, that was missed as well.

And so began the walk out. Rumors of more music at Beethoven's lured us that away.

Exploding Sex Kittens were just finishing their set as we arrived. Dr. Escamilla, on the left with the guitar, was a prominent aspect of the cover story from back in January, "The Kids Are Alright", for those that recall.

One half of the Lutz Brothers on the mic. They had just finished singing a Hickoids standard.

The Party is Over

In basketball, the Spurs finally got past the Suns, and perhaps for good. As with the Mavericks, self-implosion was heard across the Southwest.

The long lost red-headed son of Uwe Blab (a Maverick stiff drafted one spot before Joe Dumars) gives his impression of the firing of Avery Johnson (Spurs Jersey Retiree). He seems to be okay with the decision.

And then there's this journalist who thinks otherwise.

This cheeseball video celebrates the Suns historic letdowns. In that sense, it's hilarious, at least for a few moments.

Here, the Phoenix Suns address their recent demise to the media. There's lots of schadenfreude here, as well as praise from the Spurs. Raja Bell's comments are the most interesting.

Like Avery Johnson, the Suns coach is on the way out as well. It hasn't happened yet but it will soon.

And so where does that leave the Spurs? Their two biggest rivals (Dallas and Phoenix) are now complete ghosts. Though the Spurs get older, somehow they're still right at the head of the pack. After a regular season that seemed full of questions, things are looking good again.

The city regroups. The Spurs move ahead. Interest rates are lowered again as a potentially desperate and predictable move to improve the economy/give breaks to the banking industry. Plans for the Brackenridge Golf Course site are debated. And yet, some of our best weather yet for April. Spring wanes. Summer looms.

And so goes another week on the streets of San Antonio. As always, to be continued...