Monthly Archives: June 2008

(Community Matters) Missed an entire day of blogging. Wow, that’s not usually me. Michael Mitchell & I returned from Houston late Friday night. Up early Saturday, picked up Michael Barnes and we drove to Lexington to try the BBQ at Snow’s. We left MB’s at 8, arrived Snow’s just after 9, and while I was in line, at 9:30, they announced they had run out of BBQ. Even though they doubled last week’s (already doubled) quantity cooked, the vast majority had been preordered. I was disappointed but loved the community built with folks from Houston, Austin, Kileen, Dallas and San Francisco who were waiting in line. The three SF entrepreneurs had flown in solely to try the BBQ. I promised to overnight the guys BBQ next week if obtained.So, we decided to check out Mann’s on Research. We didn’t bother reading what time it opened, so instead of waiting the 45 mins when we arrived at 10:45, we decided on Omlettrey instead. Didn’t the two Magnolia’s start out as Omlettreys too?

Otherwise, a most quite Saturday. Lots & lots of watering, mail, email, pool and connected with MM in the late afternoon.

We haven’t even started asking friends to help underwrite MM’s Highway Home production and Margaret Keys already made the first, quite generous, pledge. MM’s parents also committed to sponsor. I plan to send notes to friends as soon as we lock in location.

ST working very hard at IMADEC. He’ll finish teaching there today, then taking Airberlin to Paris tonight. Has tomorrow off – we were planning to just hang in romantic Paris tomorrow – coaching at a corporate client’s Tuesday & Wednesday and returning home Thursday – hooray. Two weeks is too long to be separated. Looks as if we’ll make Paris in January and Vienna in March ’09.

the second bar ST has ever been to

(Community Matters) Ok, I realize tongue and cheek. If you’re an R, probably rather not watch.

(Community Matters) Wow, John Aravosis posted as a reminder of scary.

(Community Matters) A Pew Global Research Center Survey: After seven years of Bush-Cheney:

There are still just eight survey countries where majorities now have a favorable view of the United States: Britain, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, South Korea and Tanzania. In fact, in one-third of the survey countries, more respondents see the United States more as an enemy than as a partner.

The image of the United States has improved slightly in many countries over the past year, the poll results show. But the new optimism appears to be driven largely by the fact that Mr. Bush will soon be leaving office.

(Community Matters) oh my . . . .

here

(Community Matters) One of my dear friends from Arkansas sent me the link to this Eyeblast video “portrait” of Senator Obama with a note that we have our work cut out for us. The friend is an Obama supporter.

Though the producer of this trash piece identifies himself as Lorne Baxter, a little internet search and we learn he is 28-year old fundamentalist television producer, Jason Mitchell, who sports a tatoo reading “zealot.” He produces a weekly fundamentalist television show called Flamethrower which airs on Faith TV.

Mr. Mitchell also self-identifies as a member of a group called Dark Planet, Visions of America which documents the underground youth subcultures and their music, including skinheads, straight edge, black metal and the zealot movements.

(Community Matters) The Economist’s article on Obama’s inner circle.

photos: Economist

1. Austan Goolsbee
2. Jason Furman
3. Tony Lake
4. Susan Rice
5. David Axelrod
6. David Poulffe

Can we take a minute to celebrate the appointment of Jason Furman as staff director for economic policy? It signals the welcomed introduction of Rubin economics (an important sign for major business leaders). Expect Austan Goolsbee will remain a very important player, so we still expect increased attention to employment and purchasing power of wages. Mr. Furman’s appointment makes many feel better about sensitivity to tax rates and global economic policy.

I had a relatively lenghty conversation with Professor Goolsbee earlier this year. Very pleased to know he is familiar with and a fan of my friend’s, Reid Cramer’s, work on wealth and savings at the New America Foundation. I’d predict modest increases in income tax rates at the highest income brackets to help balance our budget as well as innovative economic policy to build wealth and savings in low & moderate income communities. Especially with the addition of Furman, I wouldn’t expect an Obama administration to make the mistake of too signficantly bumping up capital gains & marginal tax rates.

(Community Matters) Michael and I had a conference call with his director, Katie Pearl this afternoon. We’re close to finalizing dates and location for the production of his play, Highway Home. We’ll need to raise $20,000 $25,000 for the three week production. We’ll set up a charitable fund with box office proceeds benefiting a nonprofit(s) to be named. We’ll be looking for donors: 1-$5k (underwriter), sponsors: $2.5k & $1k and friends, $500. Contributions will be tax deductible.

6/30/08 update: Contributions to underwrite/sponsor the play will be paid to the Austin Community Foundation (ABPorter.org fund). The contributions less benefits & services received by the donor (tickets, parties, etc) will be deductible as a charitable expense. The tax letter will come directly from the Austin Community Foundation.

Opening night will be Saturday, Nov. 29. The play will run every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (matinee) through Dec. 14 at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre in Austin. We may extend through Dec 21. Tickets for opening show & party reserved for sponsors and press (due to space restrictions), though there will be a Sunday matinee during the Thanksgiving weekend too.

Sponsors & benefits listed below:

Underwriter ($5,000) Invermundo Financial Services – 8 VIP tickets to opening night & party. Logo & company name in all promotional materials. Full page ad in program. 10 tickets to any other night(s)

Sponsor ($2,500) – 6 VIP tickets to opening night & party. Recognition in program. 8 tickets to any other night(s) 1) Senior & Betty Mitchell, 2) Tana & Joe Christie, 3) AB Porter, 4) Lew Aldridge & Jim Lommori, 5)

Sponsor ($1,000) – 4VIP tickets to opening night & party. Recognition in program. 6 tickets to any other night(s) 1) Margaret Keys, 2) Chris Long, Tim McCabe & their son, Jack, 3) Robert Torian, 4) Steve Davis & Kent Portman, 5)

Friends ($500) – 2 VIP tickets to opening night & party. Recognition in program. 4 tickets to any other night(s) 1) Milinda Mitchell, 2) Kirk Rice, 3) Richard Hartgrove, 4) Charles Santos & Rickie Bond 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10)

More information here

(Community Matters) Obama staffers were sweet enough to invite us to today’s Houston luncheon featuring David Axelrod. Michael didn’t feel like attending so I went alone. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay long (we had a 1:30 at MDA), not even long enough for Senator Obama’s chief strategist to arrive.

I did run into Teddy Adams who told me his mom (MaryLou Adams) was recovering at Seton Northwest and on her way to full recovery.

Houston socialities, super lawyer Trey Peacock & his wife, Chris Bryan, were to host the luncheon at their home but demand so exceeded capacity that the event was moved to the Wortham Center late last week.

Unfortunately, all assembled guests (this one outside) were not equally happy to support Senator Obama. Lanell Anderson feels “disenfranchised and cheated” by the media, the Demoratic Party and Obama supporters. She’s an angry Hillary Clinton supporter and says Senator Clinton was “forced” to make her concession speech.

(Community Matters) Steven and I are both loving FiveThirtyEight.com. Readers speculated that it was some political pundit publishing the surprisingly accurate primary predictions on Daily Kos – identified only by the moniker, Poblano. Eventually launching his own site, FiveThirtyEight (the number of electoral votes), baseball statistician Nate Silver has nailed many (certainly not all) of the primaries. While holding down a day job, Poblano creates forecasting models combining past voting data, demographics and polls – a very econometric approach to predicting, imagine who might especially love this 🙂 – with surprisingly accurate results.

June 11 update

Hat Tip: Cousin Juan

(Community Matters) It’s always a treat to be hear others think Steven’s pretty special too. Received an email this morning touting Steven’s presentation at Seton Cove on Aug 5 & 12. There aren’t many days I don’t think about how lucky I am to be with Steven. Or are there? hmm, fear we sometimes get so busy. Nevertheless, especially while he’s away, I’m mindful of it most of the day. And, a real treat to have someone remind me. Thx Sandi.

(Community Matters) Another enlightened country, Norway’s parliament approved same-sex marriage by 84 to 41 votes. Texas within 10 years (maybe less).