Daily Archives: 02/06/2009

Equality in Immigration

Posted on 02/06/2009 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) directly from Joe.My.God



The Uniting American Families Act will be reintroduced to the House next Friday by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). The act would allow the same-sex partners of legal U.S. residents to enjoy the same immigration rights as heterosexual couples. The unfair current law has stranded thousands of gay couples overseas or forced them to separate to their native countries. Please use this contact form created by Immigration Equality to contact your member of Congress and urge them to cosponsor the act with Rep. Nadler.


I haven’t had a chance to speak with Congressman Doggett about this yet but hope to learn his position soon.

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GOP Jawboning

Posted on 02/06/2009 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) Now the GOP wants to be the defender of Wall Street bonuses? Sweet, go right ahead.  They are lining up against the last resort executive compensation limits being proposed.


I’m not an enthusiastic fan of executive pay caps, and President Obama didn’t start off advocating them.  It’s only since we’ve learned that US corporate boards and bailed out executives couldn’t be counted on to exercise good judgement that it’s become a last resort option.  Corporate executives and their boards ought to realize there’s a near mutiny in this country.  Hell, it isn’t just among middle and lower class Americans.  This week I’ve heard the gilded class expressing its impatience with ridiculous payouts in the face of the loss of trillions.
What the heck, the caps will only last until taxpayers are repaid.  Given the optimistic sentiments on the potential for gains as well as repayment, executives and boards ought to just suck it up, repay taxpayers quickly, then bonus away, to the extent shareholders will allow 

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Speaking of Electric

Posted on 02/06/2009 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) Can we agree to electrocute anyone who wastes our time discussing whether or not President Obama wears a coat & tie in the Oval Office – especially former administration officials who should have plenty else to worry about.

btw, now is not the time for 44 to be crowing and joking about AirForce One.  America isn’t really into the CEO/private jet thing at the moment

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Electric Cars

Posted on 02/06/2009 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) Very cool.  We now have three outlets in the parking lot of Thinkwell so employees can plug in their cars.  Though, I think there’s only one car at this point.  

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KIPP Schools

Posted on 02/06/2009 | Leave a comment

(Community Matters) Carla & Jack McDonald hosted an elegant and illuminating dinner & salon discussion last night for friends in honor of KIPP Schools, especially Jay Matthews, author of Work Hard, Be Nice and Kipp’s co-founder, Mike Feinberg.  I had the pleasure of sitting next to Rocio Mendoza, a middle school KIPP grad from Houston’s southside who went on to Hotchkiss, Stanford for an undergraduate and is now at UT Law – while interning at KIPP, helping students transition to college.  

I also enjoyed catching up with KIPP Austin founder, Jill Kolasinski and worldclass triathlete, author & Austin firefighter Rip Esselstyn (in Michael photo).  
I met Jill, through Joe Christie, 12 – 15 years ago when she first started talking about KIPP.  Good gosh, Rip was in the “Timberline club” of triathletes 15 years ago.

Michael Barnes blogged details and pics here and here


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