Monthly Archives: November 2009

(Community Matters) Arrived today.  Steven’s belated birthday gift.  NYTimes review

(Community Matters) While reviewing a board package this morning and in the board meeting this afternoon, I was bummed to see the economic statistics and to hear the forecasts which include a high degree of caution for a double dip recession – and for sustained unemployment.

(Community Matters) lamb chops on the grill, asparagus chilling, sweet potatoes baking, salad fixed . . . . tapping into the wine early, a little cheese, a little pate, 23 minutes to guests – Sundays are godchildren dinner nights, and friends who know to stop by

(Community Matters) Leslie’s obituary in the Austin American Statesman

(Community Matters) Well, rats . . . sorta.  I didn’t hit my 50,000 but I did learn quite a bit about novel writing.

After about 6,000 words, I decided I didn’t like the novel I’d always wanted to write.  It was historical fiction (my favorite) but its time had passed.  Launching into the new idea, I started late and ran out of time.  There’s more momentum for it, though it’s more autobiographical than I’d ever publish – too much information on my vulnerabilities, my pride, my fears.   Wrote nearly 6,000 words on it, must have reflected on 1,000,000 in my head.  For Nanowrimo purposes, I accomplished 11,981 of the 50,000.

Now, if I include my Austin American Stateman guest editorial (568) and my Nov blog postings (10,685 words prior to this posting) . . . . 

(Community Matters) I’m thrilled to read our city council is considering adopting a systematized downtown density bonus program.

Tom Stacey & Taylor Andrews are friends and civic-minded developers.  Their concerns should matter to us, and we should take a lesson from those communities that have proceeded successfully.

Of course developers are going to oppose mandatory fees or amenities for density bonuses.  One of the largest contributors to developers profits is their negotiating of extra density allowances – they buy property with certain limits for development (priced accordingly), obtain extra allowances and are therefore able to generate higher than originally forecasted profits.  If we don’t allow enough room for profitability, we’ll kill the golden goose.

Nevertheless, developers and investors want predictability – this will lower costs.  Establishing a fair, predictable system which articulates costs upfront will lower the cost of capital and encourage dense development. And, of course, it’s perfectly okay to require developers to share a portion of extra value created by density bonuses.

(Community Matters) Barron’s names the foundations/philanthropists doing the best at high-impact giving, according to their analysis with the Global Philanthropy Group.

. . . . when the Berber’s Glimmer of Hope digs a well and provides clean water to an Ethiopian Community, people’s lives are improved immediately and critically.

. . . . The best strategies have a real ripple effect. Says Maggie Neilson of Global Philanthropy: “A key ingredient here is what we call connectivity — does the cause the philanthropist supports have implications for other issues?”

1. Pierre & Pam Omidyar, Omidyar Network

2. Jeff Skoll, Skoll Foundation

3. Chris and Jamie Cooper-Hohn,
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation

4. Eli & Edythe Broad, The Broad Foundations

5. Thomas Siebel, The Meth Project

6. Donna & Philip Berber, A Glimmer of Hope Foundation

7. Bill & Melinda Gates, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

8. Paul Tudor Jones II,
Robin Hood Foundation

9. Helen and Swanee Hunt, Women Moving Millions

10. Richard Branson, Virgin United

11. John Wood, Room to Read

12. Arpad Busson, ARK: Absolute Return for Kids

13. Bill & Hillary Clinton, William J. Clinton Foundation

14. Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff & Robert De Niro,
Tribeca Film Festiva

15. Jimmy Carter, The Carter Center

16. Sunil Mittal, Bharti Foundation

17. Brad Pitt, Make It Right Foundation

18. John Fisher, The KIPP Foundation

19. George Soros, Open Society Institute

20. Howard G. Buffett, Howard G. Buffett Foundation

21. Earvin “Magic” Johnson,
The Magic Johnson Foundation

22. Marcos de Moraes,
Zip Educação/Instituto Rukha

23. Jennifer and Peter Buffett,
NoVo Foundation

24. William Barron Hilton,
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

25. David and Cheryl Duffield,
Maddie’s Fund

This is very timely for me.  Since lunch with a friend on Tuesday, an uber-entrepreneur who’s retooling my thinking about entrepreneurship and philanthropy, I’ve been thinking about the replicability of models for community change, about the systemization of social ambitions. Guess, I’d been thinking about all this even longer, but this friend frames systemization & metrics of success differently.  Also, this was my topic of discussion at meetings in Washington DC last week.  I remain thoroughly convinced that there is no shortage of philanthropic dollars, simply a shortage of convincing investment opportunities.

(Community Matters) Rep. Lamar Smith has a phone poll underway, I received a call on my cell phone last night.  It’s actually a  push poll notifying me that I might have to pay up to 12% of my gross income for a government healthcare plan and that I could be fined & imprisioned for not participating.  Additionally, it talks about the energy tax known as cap & trade.  Wish I would have continued to listen instead of hanging up.

oh yeah, the call came from 202-461-3442

(Community Matters) Steven burned a bunch of Radio Lab episodes onto a CD for our drive back. Do yourself a treat listen to the story about Stu, http://billy-duss.blogspot.com/2009/10/radio-lab-new-normal-stu-rasmussen.html

Posted from my blackberry (I-35 in OKC)

(Community Maters) For years, I posted my Holiday Cards the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so they’d be the first to arrive the day after. Alas, it’s not to be this year – will try to do something appropriately warm and welcoming some other time during the year

(Community Matters) exceptional thanksgiving in Shawnee yesterday with all the cousins and uncles and children.   Steven and I were asked to be in the play by the children this year.  Responsibility for writing the play has passed down to a new generation – what an extraordinary tradition.

Tonight in Edmond, OK for Julio’s green chicken enchiladas and Rudy Green’s  margaritas – seriously, we transported Julio’s for 20 plus to large bottles of Rudy’s margaritas.  Couldn’t have spent a better evening telling stories, hooting and hollaring.

Over the holidays some drama about relationships with 15/17 year old nieces and what’s the appropriate level of candidness/support.  I say gay uncles get to spoil nieces & nephews unquestionalbly – guess that’s part of the controversy.  oh well . . . .

(Community Matters) Arrived Shawnee yesterday after a quick drop off in OKC (to Steven’s uncle Bob, our Fri nite Mexican fiesta fixin’s). Terrific evening in with Carol & Phil Tomlinson. The tribe arrives noonish, 22 uncles & cousins. The kids produce a play each year – I’m usually asked to be in it (a huge thrill) but no indication this year. Not sure which niece/nephew has written this year’s show. Much fun for all. Happy Thanksgivings to all – we have much to be thankful for.

Carol Tomlinson’s pic of kids immediately after the play