Daily Archives: 10/18/2008

Rolling Stone

Posted on 10/18/2008 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) One of my favorite regular readers who I affectionately acknowledge in hat tips as stud muffin sent me a note suggesting I read the Rolling Stone article on McCain before continuing with my acknowledgement of him as a former hero. Earlier this morning, I stopped by a neighborhood store and the clerk had saved a Rolling Stone for me and wanted me to read the article. So, I’m headed out to the pool house with the hard copy and a cigar to get caught up. Nieces still doing homework, then I think we’ll check out the HBO movie (Gabby
Villarreal’s Temple Grandin starring Claire Danes) being filmed (at least partially) in our neighborhood.


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Nieces

Posted on 10/18/2008 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) Our nieces arrived this afternoon from Tulsa. First time they’ve flown by themselves. They did great, not a bit rattled. Hilary is 16; Hanah is 14. We toured just a bit on way from airport. They’re catching up on homework now so we can play rest of the weekend. Headed to the Long Center tonight to hear Anton Nel play and the Austin Symphony – at the girls’ request. They’re both gifted musically. Uncle Steven not home from Toronto until tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll get some shopping in prior.

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Campaign

Posted on 10/18/2008 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) Conference call with the campaign this morning. We’ve registered over 1,700,000 new voters since the primary. Consider 252 electoral states solidly ours (former Kerry states) and another 12 quite confident (New Mexico & Iowa). We feel very good about Florida, Georgia, Colorado and Nevada, though statistically tied in the latter two. Also tied in Indiana and North Carolina. Early voting started yesterday in Georgia and voters lined up, wrapping around the block in Atlanta.

Unfortunately, McCain’s campaign, RNCs and 527s have launched the ugliest attack we’ll ever see. Print, telephone, field and media distorting all known truth and lying about Barack’s relationship with Ayers and his faith, and intended to scare voters. Canvasers acosting people in early voting lines. Mailers in West Virginia like voters haven’t seen in a decade, the worst of Jesse Helms style.
Barack held an all hands conference call with staff today. Message (paraphrasing): I know it feels good right now but remember New Hampshire.

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East Austin Economic Summit

Posted on 10/18/2008 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) Steven and I were out of town so unable to attend the East Austin Economic Summit this weekend. Fortunately, Capital One Bank sponsored a mini-presentation yesterday over lunch in the Long Center’s Kodosky Lounge.

The presentation was focused on East Austin and made note of the rapid demographic changes underway in that community.  Housing prices in parts of East Austin increased 60% in 2007. The area is hardly affordable for longtime, traditionally low income residents.  Given the concentration of low skill workers, many of these folks are most vulnerable during today’s economic challenges. Of Austin’s 3,960 small businesses, about 35% are located in East Austin.  
Our conversation expanded to discuss the current economic challenges faced by and to be faced by all Austin businesses.  Some thought as to whether PeopleFund should consider expanding its target base to include all businesses with less than $1mm in revenues.  Agreement that we must be counseling our clients to prepare for an even more serious and sustained downturn in business and recognition that many businesses will not survive the downtown.
I’m noticing that Matt Kouri and Greenlights are planning a townhall meeting for nonprofits to discuss the economy and what it means for nonprofits.  ABJ article here; Greenlight’s website here. 

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