Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Send a message to the mayor and city council: Halt the push for more nuclear power

Dear Mayor Julian Castro and City Council Members,

Please halt the push for nuclear power. San Antonio citizens can’t afford the huge rate hikes that would result. CPS Energy finally announced a cost estimate but provided no back up data on how they arrived at the figure. The $13 billion they announced is way too expensive, even though it’s clearly underestimated when compared with detailed independent analyses. Overruns last time ran six times over budget. Former NRC Commissioner Peter Bradford has said that our electric rates could increase 60% or more over the next ten years with more nuclear power.

The $5.2 billion that San Antonio would sink into the nuclear nightmare is mo ney that should instead be spent here in San Antonio, creating local jobs in energy efficiency, and developing clean renewable energy technologies including solar, wind and geothermal power.

Nuclear power creates security risks and radioactive waste can cause cancer and genetic damage, remaining dangerous for thousands to millions of years. Nukes consume vast quantities of precious water. 40,000 gallons of water would be consumed every minute at the South Texas Project if additional reactors are built. We can and must do better. Vote NO on nuclear. Thank you and I look forward to your reply.

Wording courtesy of Local Power / Energia Mia a local coalition opposing the CPS nuclear expansion.

Bihl Haus Arts announces August events


From Bihl Haus Arts:
We’re doing a bit of summer ‘traveling’ at Bihl Haus via some very cool programming in August. First, please join us this Saturday, Aug. 1, at 2 pm for a show-and-tell artist talk by Carolina Flores. Carolina will discuss her stunning installation Rio de Seda/River of Silk, currently on exhibit in the gallery, inspired by her fascination with the Alhambra, Spain’s classic example of Islamic architecture. Then on the following Saturday, Aug. 8, at 2 pm, UTSA History Professor Dr. Brian Davies brings Carolina’s work into historical perspective in his discussion of The Culture of Islamic Spain.

Still in the mood for a little more summer adventure, beauty, stimulation? Well then, we have the perfect program for you! Please join us at The Carver Theater on Saturday, August 22nd, at 6:30 pm, for Bihl Haus Arts’ first big stage production. We’ve partnered with Katveri Natya Yoga (Dr. Sreedhara’s troupe) to present a lyrical Indian dance interpretation of Ramayana. Ramayana is the story of the triumph of good over evil. This ennobling epic, originally written in Sanskrit by Sage Valmiki, has been re-visualized in several languages by numerous poets. This production of Ramayana, under the direction of Dr. Sreedhara, is based upon one of the most popular versions. The performance includes special guest appearances by dancers from New York and San Diego, as well as artists from Katveri Natya and the Arathi School of Indian Dance. Tickets ($10 adults/$5 seniors, students and military with ID) are available in advance beginning Aug. 1st at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 800-745-3000 or at the Carver Box Office (Ph: 207-2234). (A black-and-white poster for Ramayana is attached to this email. Please feel free to print and post it in conspicuous places!) More on Ramayana later in the month.


And finally, please mark Friday, August 28, 5:30-8:30 pm on your calendar for the opening reception of Objective Space. Artists David Almaguer, Rex Hausmann and Russell Stephenson, three members of the artists collective “Texas Cannons of Proportion,” commandeer the entire Bihl Haus space--real and imagined, positive and negative. They find inspiration in its physical and intellectual proportions. Their individual works will take over the windows, the fireplace, the trap door, and even the exterior to surround a collaborative installation in the center of the gallery. This is going to be a dynamic show! More, too, on this later in the month.
So, come help us celebrate the end (we hope!) of a long hot summer at one or more of these spectacular events! See you soon at Bihl Haus!

Kellen

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

How the colorful concrete tile of the Jefferson neighborhood is made.

A number of houses in the Jefferson area have concrete tile on the porch or inside. It was all made here in town. But below is a video of concrete tile made in Morocco. If the same process is followed here, it is clear why it is costly at around $100 a square foot.

Concrete tile is also known as redondo or mission tile. It is still made in San Antonio. Redondo Tile is also the name of the company that sells handmade Mexican concrete tile in San Antonio. Their website redondotile.com has some beautiful examples of their installations. Art Tile, also located in San Antonio and selling Mexican made redondo tile among other styles has an interesting website as well.


The other day I spoke to a man who offered to sell me the equipment to make concrete tile for something around $25,000.

popham design from popham design on Vimeo.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Michelle Bachman Katie Couric Brian Oxman Sarah Palin the musical



Here's an interview with Michael Gregory, one of the people behind Auto-Tune the News, from The New Anti-Social Interview.

"If it's Monday, It must be Murder" July 17 at St Paul Community Center

On Friday, July 17 at 7:30 pm, St Paul's Catholic Church presents a comedic mystery, "If it's Monday, it must be Murder" by Pat Cook.

In this throwback to the 1940s a left-foot-in-the-gumshoe private eye, Harry Monday, is on the job. And he's posing as a golf-playing psychiatrist at the Shady
Meadows Country Club. "A place where old polyester goes to die," says Harry,
after club members start dropping like divots on the duffer's course. And the
club members aren't much saner than he is. A prima donna club president, an astrological moonchild, a Wall Street ad man and, yes, even someone passing themself off as the twin of a missing club member, are all dropping red herrings in
their wake. Throw in a naive supervisor, a sultry hard-hearted dame and a surly
police sergeant and you have to figure If It's Monday, This Must Be Murder!
Tickets are $10 and available by calling the church at 210-736-0055.
Proceeds to benefit St. Paul Community Center.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Cool Crest in 2009. Still beautiful.

This shot was taken through the fence. It looks like someone is still taking care of the course, though it has been closed for quite a while. It is so close to Martinez Creek which some day will be a park. Wouldn't Cool Crest make a great addition to it?

There are lots more pictures on Flickr of Cool Crest and of the Jefferson neighborhood area in my CC San Antonio set. All are published under creative commons so feel free to use them as you wish. Just click on the photo and it should take you to Flickr.

There's also a Facebook Cool Crest group with over 300 members to reach out to too.