Monthly Archives: July 2008

(Community Matters) I often find the AAS letters to the editor amusing, this morning no exception

If children want a lifelong stable marriage, with no cheating, why not teach them how to make this happen — save yourself for marriage. If you expect a spouse who will not cheat on you, start by not cheating on him or her now, before you marry.

(Community Matters) We’d planned an evening in Ft. Worth, then the morning at the Kimble and the Modern – all on our way to Oklahoma for Steven’s family reunion. Alas, the museums close early on Thursdays and open late on Fridays, so it wasn’t meant to be.

Instead, we’re in Dallas at the Palomar, which is a really groovy hotel – especially since a booking fluke let me grab their nicest room for a very average rate. Charles Santos & Rick Bond joined us for dinner at the hotel’s Central 214.

Hmm, how to get them to move to Austin?

(Community Matters) Lunch yesterday with Chris Valentine & Volney Campbell of the Busby Foundation. Many thanks to Austin Venture’s Clark Jernigan for connecting us. The foundation created in memory of Hill Partners’ Bo Busby who died in late 2006 of Lou Gehrig’s disease. They provides financial and other assistance to Central Texas families suffering from the disease.

(Community Matters) I’m not unconcerned by the midwest and battle state polls.

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) Ok, I thought their Super Bowl ads were smart and didn’t find them homophobic, but this one is stupid and offensive.

(Community Matters) Let’s hope not

(Community Matters) Appears new City Manager Marc Ott is playing it safe, rolling with the staff to maintain all services at near or existing levels. This is admirable, even if disappointing, since it’s no small feat itself.

There should be no sacred cows. You can’t tell me there isn’t waste and areas where technology couldn’t yield substantial recurring savings. Though, admittedly, this city manager has pledged to follow the lead of city council, and we shouldn’t expect an all at-large elected city council to be bold in remaking city hall. Each council member and our mayor have areas where they excel. My criteria for supporting the next candidate for mayor is going to include who can lead in remaking the effectiveness and efficiency of city hall & city services as well as provide the visionary leadership to build Austin’s infrastructure for the next century.

(Community Matters) Doesn’t take the Brandenburg Gate.

(Community Matters) An idiot skating on the razor’s edge here.

(Community Matters) Texas Monthly’s Paul Burka details the political opportunities in Texas this election cycle here.

(Community Matters) A couple of breakfasts today. First with friends wealth manager Eric Price of Price Wealth Management and Austin Community Foundation CEO/Pres Ken Gladish. Good gosh, these two are wicked smart. I mostly listened.

And, second breakfast was with Dr. Bill Rice. I originally met Bill through Tommie Meredith. Bill’s a retired emergency physician and an entrepreneur. He’s teamed up with Bob Fabbio and they’ve launched WhiteGlove House Call Health.

For $35 – $100/month/person, they’ll provide at home (or at work), primary health care everyday from 8am to 8pm and schedule at home or at work appointments within 2 hours of a call. The fee entitles members to access WhiteGlove services at their home or business. Members pay additional treatment fees, labs and meds. Most treatment fees are $35/visit. They use a nurse practitioner model and have physicians also on staff. Humana healthcare insurance covers the membership costs and treatment fees. Other health insurance providers may cover these as out-of-network charges. Way cool. Steven and I are going to have to discuss this. Love the model.

Bill and I also discussed healthcare in general – the systems of delivery, centers of excellence, cancers (especially breast cancer & lymphoma) and who knows what else. He’s already sent me a couple of pieces to read, including a paper he wrote on why breast cancer mortality is higher among African American women.