Daily Archives: 07/01/2008

(Community Matters) According to TechCrunch, NVCA is calling the lack of liquidity events a crisis.

“No vc-backed IPOs last quarter and M&A down.” 43 IPOs in first half ’07, only 5 first half ’08.

They also cite an NVCA survey noting that 81% of VC’s don’t expect IPO window to open in 2008.

(Community Matters) A friend asked how come I’m not on LinkedIn and why I don’t use Twitter. Hmm, sounded like quite personal questions coming from a straight man, alas . . .

No seriously, LinkedIn would make it even easier for others to contact me and, from what I’ve heard from others, to ask for introductions. I love doing both, though as I’ve admitted in this blog recently, I find myself unable to keep up with the 300 to 800 emails per day, I’m already receiving. Don’t think it makes sense to encourage more.

Twitter – this is easy micro-blogging. Allows others to know what you’re doing even more real time and throughout the day. Right, why the hell would anyone want to know more than they already endure. Precisely!

(Community Matters) Hmm, I just had one of Charles’ chocolates sent to me FedEx on ice by friends in San Francisco. They are good, and they remind me of three favorite chocolates. Hmm, another very good chocolate, Maribel Lieberman’s artisan chocolates. And, two very best in the world chocolates – the first also in San Francisco, XOX Truffles. The other, Confetteria Moriondo and Gariglio in Rome. Regrettably, Confertteria Moriondo doesn’t have a website nor deliver. So, folks sending me birthday gifts or needing favors or just feeling especially sweet will just have to settle on XOX Truffles – unfortunately, the proprietor won’t ship during summer months. Grrrr, if anyone traveling to SF or Rome . . . . !

(Community Matters) Companies often define themselves in how they respond to mistakes. It doesn’t surprise me that JP Morgan Chase has stepped up, is working to correct their subsidiary’s mistake and prioritizes relief for the Dickson family, whose assets were erroneously seized and sold on order of EMC Mortgage by First Asset Services, stories here and here.

I don’t know First Asset Services nor its Canadian parent, First Service Corporation but their failure to respond to AAS inquiries, the callousness of their employee’s response to reporters’ questions about their errors and their lack of relief for the family don’t speak well of their company nor their bold corporate responsibility pronouncements.

(Community Matters) I love Thomas Friedman’s view that the best vice presidential running mate would be a financial wizard rather than a national security expert. Unfortunately, I believe he is right on about the financial perils we face. I absolutely don’t think it’s irreversible, and I do think Bush, Inc. has launched the decline of America and the loss of our super economic power status. Though, this decline can be reversed through leadership, policy and unfortunately, economic sacrifice until we retire our debt and reinvest in American infrastructure.

(Community Matters) Never really been an Onion fan but the Gay Pride issue does make me chuckle. Still smiling from Joe’s friend’s quote, if you’re born that way, what do you have to be proud of?

(Community Matters) I don’t always agree with Ed Wendler’s column but he has some good points about $50 here and $75 there. I disagree with the perspective that we should concentrate all our affordable housing dollars in affordable developments. This would ghetto-ize affordablity and runs counter to the ambition of encouraging economically diverse communities, whether in 130 subdivisions or downtown. Also, it isn’t only about the type of housing and materials used that can give affordability, it’s also about footprint. Sometimes that awkward corner unit in a highrise, or upstairs/downstairs units on that SFR footprint. Finally, downtown affordability might be 140% of MFI, vs 60% in the suburbs or 80% near central.

(Community Matters) My dear friend Kevin Tuerff sent this very apropos picture he captured on Bainbridge Island last week. How does he know me so well (hmm, long story for another posting)?

Just back from drinks with former MBA student, arts entrepreneur and now C3 Presents director, Michael Feferman. His fiance, Rachel Hull, also loves the quoted. We’re looking forward to dinner with them on Saturday night at Barbara Engel’s.

Lunch today with biz/social/sports entrepreneur, attorney and super friend, Bryan Jones, CEO of Moximity. We could chat for hours.