Dish-Houston

DISHIES! This is an open letter to all of Houston from one of our favorite DISHIES Ernie Manouse.
We all know the economy has been really hard on everyone for more than a year now. Local businesses are going as lean as they can and a lot are unfortunately having to close their doors. Well a bad economy also means  cut back in our donation habits and while this is understood there are still certain places where our money really is needed because it means education and jobs...one of these places is your public television! Here is Ernie's Letter:

This year marks my 15^thyear with HoustonPBS – what a ride it has been!  Working for Channel 8 has given me the opportunity to share Houston’s stories with you…from the opening of the Hobby Center to the farewell performance of Houston Ballet’s Lauren Anderson; from NASA’s final Shuttle Mission to the brutal murder and aftermath of the James Byrd, Jr. killing. We have cried together, been moved together, learned together and at times laughed together.

Time and again, Channel 8 proves its ability to touch lives, educate children, and broaden horizons – and thanks to your generosity, I’ve been able to continue to share our community’s stories.

But today, the very real economic, political and intellectual challenges we face as a country are directly impacting our ability to serve the community. Local production – the cornerstone of Channel 8 since the station’s inception – is facing its toughest challenges to date as funding from corporations, foundations, and state and federal governments grows increasingly scarce.

Today, I ask for your help.

You are familiar with me asking for support during our pledge drives, but today at my station’s request I am writing to you personally – something I’ve never done before – to ask you to contribute $100 to HoustonPBS. My goal is to raise $20,000 and your help is truly necessary for us to reach it.

Your gift will go directly to help in the production of local programs like InnerVIEWS, allowing us to continue presenting fresh and varied points of view, to offer a platform for all voices to be heard, and to tell the stories of Houston’s communities with honor, respect and pride.

I value your trust in me and my work here at Channel 8. I also know that you might not wish to be included in the mailings and messages that the station sends to members. Unless you elect to receive them (or if you already are a member), I assure you that the only mail Channel 8 will send you is the letter acknowledging your gift.

Please give. The sooner we receive your contribution, the sooner its impact will be felt! Making your online donation is simple and secure. Just click here, or copy and paste the following URL: https://secure2.convio.net/kuht/site/Donation2?4081.donation=form1&df_id=4081

Thank you for standing with me and making the future bright for intelligent, quality local programming.

P.S.

– If you prefer to send a check, please make it payable to KUHT-TV (subject line: “Friends of Ernie”) and mail it to: 

Friends of Ernie
c/o Brad Blunt
HoustonPBS
4343 Elgin

Houston, TX  77204-0008

THERE IS A PLANET MADE OF DIAMONDS!!!!! This is better than when I wanted to be Snow White because her 7 little men worked in a diamond mine! This DELISH new discovery is even right in our very own Milky Way.

The newly discovered planet is about 4,000 light years away in the constellation of Serpens.

Largely consisting of crystallized carbon, astronomers are always betting there's oxygen on the planet too!! We could possible LIVE ON A FREAKING DIAMOND! Who has the pool for Beyonce and Jay-Z having their baby there?

The aptly namedPSR J1719-1438 IS bigger than out pretty blue marble, measuring 60,000 km across, that's five times the Earth's diameter for those who are keeping score, and weighs 300 times more She's a thick one!

Wow! That's a lot of awesome information. Hopefully scientists can unlock more secrets like this soon!

The Houston Zoo just announced the passing of Doc, a Bornean orangutan and a revered member of the Houston Zoo family.  Doc was 27 years old.

            Born at the Dallas Zoo on Christmas Day 1984, Doc came to the Houston Zoo at the age of three as a social companion for a then-adolescent female orangutan, Kelly.  Their companionship resulted in two births, 8 year old Solaris and 5 month old Aurora.  Both Solaris and Aurora live at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates orangutan exhibit. 

            “Doc was receiving treatment for cardiomyopathy, a condition in which blood does not flow normally through the heart,” said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. In consultation with Dr. Jose Banchs, Director of Echocardiography at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Zoo veterinarians modified Doc’s diet and he received the same medications a human patient would receive for the condition.  

“Over the past few months his condition worsened and began to adversely affect his quality of life,” said Barongi.  Following a consultation between Zoo administrators, the primate care team and Zoo veterinary staff, Doc was humanely euthanized this afternoon.

            Known for his blustery adult personality, Doc is lovingly remembered by Zoo staff, volunteers, and Zoo guests for his playful relationship with his son Solaris, his skill as an artist and for his two most distinguishing features – his beautiful eyes and his huge hands.  “He had a soft, gentle gaze.  His eyes were sweet and demure as an infant and his gaze stayed the same throughout his lifetime,” said Houston Zoo Assistant Curator of Primates Lynn Killam. 

            Doc’s large hands were gentle instruments of play with his son Solaris.  “Those lucky enough to see it were treated to a sight unknown in the wild – a full grown male orangutan play wrestling with his son,” said Killam.  “They would play for hours, and after a rest Solaris would gingerly pull on Doc’s hair and the game would begin again,” added Killam.

            Doc created beautiful paintings that were exhibited during “Pongos Helping Pongos” art exhibits that raised funds for orangutan conservation.  “Doc was quite contemplative when working on the canvas, using light small strokes with plant leaves that showed his intelligent and gentle nature,” said Killam.

Doc will be missed by all.

For so many reasons!F First, one of our favorite people, Liz Glanville is partial owner and designer!

Second, they have amazing private truck shows for all kinds of charities, most recently for The Berry Children. This event was typical of DeVille and it's founder Liz Glanville. Three security guards, endless champagne, top notch guests (Caroline Kenny, Sharron Melton, Beth Younger, just to name a few)  and on of Houston's best celebrity photographers, Roswitha Vogler, to capture the event! But it was DIAMONDS, DIAMONDS AND MORE GORGEOUS DIAMONDS!! HEREis one of DISH'S favorites...since our birthday is coming up and all...

Third....You have to love something you're known about since it was sold out of a private home and now is worn by celebs all over the world!

Can you say, J Lo is lucky!! She got to wear DeVille in her latest LÓriel ad and she's never looked better! Those earrings certainly do set her off, don't they?

Congratulations to Liz and the DeVille Fine Jewelry family! You're clearly coming into your own exactly as you should be!

To purchase these gorgeous diamond hoops or to set up a private shopping party for your favorite charity CLICK HERE and tell them DISH sent you!

For the past month or so Americas River Oaks location has been THE place for the Thursday night gatherings...more over, it's all been for a greater cause!

This most recent Cohesion Thursday Night benefited the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline and was kicked off by Houston's own treasure Joanne King Herring! The legend provided a sneak peak into her soon-to-be released book "Diamonds and Diplomacy: My Wars from the Boardroom to the Battlefield".

Attendees enjoyed gourmet Icing cupcakes (personally delivered by co-owner Reyne Haines for Ms. Herring), Americas famous lobster corndogs, and special Skyline Martinis that are served at each important Rotary Skyline event!

Kicking off the evening, Bellaire Councilman and founder of Rotary Skyline, Corbett Daniel Parker moderated a discussion with Ms. Herring on current affairs in the Middle East.

Just like the first three “COHESION Thursday Nights,” the place was packed with young professionals enjoying a late night drink by the time neuroscientist-turned-Houston’s hottest drummer Don Vaughn and DJ Pinch hit the stage. Americas donates a percentage of this week's bar sales back to Rotary Skyline.