Monthly Archives: September 2008

(Community Matters)Sunday morning around 7:30 a.m. a UT Austin student was sexually assaulted at the bus stop at 26th and Nueces west of campus. UTPD and APD are working the case. The suspect is a Hispanic male in his early 20’s, approximately 6 feet tall, stocky build, full face, dark hair, around 200 to 210 lbs. If you know anything about this case, please call 232-9640.

(Community Matters) My response to a posting by another local blogger

Jim, I’m with you against the slush funds [20% of recovery payments earmarked for special interests in current bill].

Count me among the taxpayers angry about this. In fact, the trillion plus dollars have already spent by those in charge during the last 7 years.

It’s the cost of Republican “voluntary regulation” philosophy. It’s the rosters coming home to roost.

The bailout is about avoiding this cost being borne even less manageably in jobs, wiped out investments and retirement accounts and the values of our homes. With sufficient protections – including oversight and enough equity participation to recapture the systematic recovery in stock values – it represents the only offered way to protect us while offering some eventual recovery. I’m not saying it’s the best possible plan, but it appears to be the best currently offered. I honestly fear the catastrophe to working men and women in America if we don’t avoid even worse economic consequences.

(Community Matters) What a tragedy that the highest ever ranking Hispanic is drawing a DOJ prosecutor. Alberto Gonzales never graudated from GWB’s personal attorney/flunkie to serving as the nation’s top lawyer. And, given his incredulous testimony of not remembering, one can easily conclude it wasn’t just blind loyalty but premeditated and deliberate law breaking. Seems the door of secrecy might be cracking open as reports last week that former Texas Supreme Court Justice Gonzales (remember the days when that title might have conveyed honor rather than connotations of arsonists and other ethics breaches) was doing the bidding of GWB with the president’s full knowledge and approval. Our next president should appoint a special prosecutor to pursue this case as well as other DOJ related corruptions.

(Community Matters) What the heck is up? Why did Lloyd Doggett vote against the bailout? Haven’t been able to get a straight answer all day. All I’m hearing is he didn’t think it had enough relief for homeowners and mortgagees. What? Seriously? I even wrote yesterday asking what was up with the two 20% slush funds. Lloyd’s failure to respond to the crisis is surprising.

(Community Matters) I’m going to stay optimistic, though admittedly we’re pretty liquid so easier to be calm. Two things: 1) this morning I was made aware of not so attractive provisions in the bailout bill about earmarking 20% of repayments to Treasury for housing funds and other special accounts. This sounds like bullshit to me. Repay Treasury and run appropriations through the open process. And, 2) a Republican administration asked for and recommended this bailout. No one disputes that at least 3 of the 4 principles Obama and House/Senate members put forward (equity, oversight and CEO comp) improved the final bill. I don’t mind traunches either. The Democrats delivered more than half of their votes. The Republicans had that responsibility as well. If they obstruct the bailout/rescue and their opposition proves correct, we’ll need to acknowledge their courage and foresight. If it spirals downward, then they’ll own not only 8 years of the problem but the failure to act as well.

I’d prefer to think even better changes will be made to the bill and it’ll pass on Wednesday. If McCain believes it is critical as he said on Friday and Sunday morning news shows, he should be pressing his colleagues and delivering. Bush and Paulson too.

(Community Matters) Sounds like a lot of measurements to me.

I’m going to be hooked up to machines, monitors and watched by infra red cameras overnight. Trying to figure out if I have obstructive sleep apnea or some other sleep disorder. Usually sleep just fine but sometimes not, and often not long enough according to others, though I kinda like needing less. What the heck. A friend in Houston swears by his sleep and energy since being tested and going on a CPAP. And, his wife convinced Steven that he’d like me to do so too.

(Community Matters) I’m wrapping up my Highlands Abilities Test. Steven loved it. It’s intended to help students plan their studies and careers and to help adults achieve greater satisfaction in their work. Not sure I imagine finding any greater achievement than I currently enjoy, but Steven’s enthusiasm for the instrument and process made me want to share the experience.

Good gosh, it’s teaching me I have so little patience and have to work hard to keep my attention focused. Though, that’s news to no one.

(Community Matters) I’d forgotten to post. It was a terrific concert; Jill Gronquist and I had much fun. Many thanks to Ken Stein and Paramount staff for making it happen and for offering such killer tickets!

David Byrnes

(Community Matters) I thought the graphics in the AAS story had to be miscalibrated when I read the story, so I wrote to AAS and they wrote to their source at Bloomberg. But, they heard back from Bloomberg and confirmed to me the approaching $600 trillion figure is the “total notional amount of all the derivatives markets.” Mind boggling – our government estimates 2006 US GDP at $13 trillion.

(Community Matters)

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown September 29,
Yom Kippur begins at sundown October 08

The Jewish High Holy Days are observed during the 10 day period between the first day (Rosh Hashanah) and the 10th day (Yom Kippur) of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated the first and second days of Tishri. It is a time of family gatherings, special meals and sweet tasting foods.Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year and is observed on the tenth day of Tishri. It is a day of fasting, reflection and prayers.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most important of all Jewish Holidays and the only holidays that are purely religious, as they are not related to any historical or natural event.

(Community Matters) We had an interesting morning at St. James Episcopal yesterday. Very dear friends have a very strong and heart-felt perspective on the middle east tensions between Israel and Palestine. They’d invited in a minister living in East Jerusalem to share his story of missionary work among Palestinians during our sermon. And, understandably, his perspective isn’t balanced. Many parishioners felt uncomfortable about the skewed perspective, so we offered a bit of balance during the announcements. Had no idea one of our guests was Jewish. Received an email after services acknowledging the discomfort and expressing appreciation for the supplemental information. I’m so appreciative for the practical perspectives Steven and I gained while traveling Israel last year and from our friends who connect so passionately with each side of this issue.

(Community Matters) Congrats to Bryan, Bill & Chris. Lori’s featuring their startup, Moximity, in today’s AAS.