Monthly Archives: February 2009

(Community Matters) A touching recollection and a telling observation.  here

(Community Matters) A day of mixed messages on the economy – overall, especially discouraging.

Nationally:

1. the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee said it may be necessary to nationalize some banks. The White House sought to ease concerns on bank privatization.
   
   
2. “I don’t remember any time, maybe even in the Great Depression, when things went down quite so fast, quite so uniformly around the world,” said Paul Volcker, a top aide to Obama.
   
   
3. U.S. gold futures shot to a seven-month high above $1,000 an ounce, putting the benchmark gold contract within reach of the record high at $1,033.90 hit last April.
   here

4. “We witnessed the collapse of the financial system,” Soros said at a Columbia University dinner. “It was placed on life support, and it’s still on life support. There’s no sign that we are anywhere near a bottom.”
   here

(Community Matters) Among 700 local bar members, federal Judge Robert Pitman recognized as the most excellent local jurist.  here

(Community Matters) AT&T wanted $160 (after rebate) + 2 more years to replace my Blackberry b/c of the failed trackball. 

(Community Matters) Good gosh, we can’t have high school students talking about HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, drug use or sex.  Of course they won’t if we say don’t.  

here

even Bristol Palin is acknowledging abstinence programs don’t work, not to mention all the recent studies.  This musical certainly doesn’t encourage drug use, theft or immorality.  It does include respectful, thought provoking discussion and conversation. Can’t think of a beter forum for this and our kids.  Yes, I realize the idea of a “respectful” conversation about homosexuality is enough to raise objections in some quarters. These people lost the election and can . . .

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters)  Krugman in today’s NYT column points out his concern about the duration of this recession, or more specifically, pointing out that there is no obvious catalyst to spur us out of the recession, a concern that resonates.

(Community Matters) Whatever it takes.  This is a huge problem and these are not cute, cuddly creatures.  They are vicious.  My parents have property on the Brazos River.  The hogs are so bad you don’t want to walk out in the tall grass alone. Children certainly cannot. here

(Community Matters) Good gosh, feels as if some normalcy may find our state’s judiciary. here  Still, I’ll believe it when the skinny guy sings.

(Community Matters) There’s this irritating tradition in Facebook to list 25 things about yourself others may not know. Admittedly, I’ve enjoyed reading some of these. Though, I’ve resisted writing my own. That is, until now, since I’ve not been able to sleep since 1:20am. Feel free to skip

1. I like to eat potato chips with pizza.
2. Steven and I disliked each other immediately. He thought I was a player. I thought he was aloof. I set him up with another friend.
3. I’d written in a journal that if I was to settle down, he’d be tall, a scholar, an artist and religious. (Good thing I eventually remembered writing this!)
4. Margaret Keys knew we were infatuated with each other before either of us realized it. Margo Weisz set us up.
5. My maternal grandfather rode with Pancho Villa & was exiled from Mexico.
6. When I was 4yo, my aunts returned home from the beach and showed me shells they had purchased. Later, my grandmother and aunts received a telephone call from a neighbor that I was selling shells door to door – the shells from their caliche drive.
7. I was president of thespians in high school, class president, honor society president and graduated #1 in my class
8. I believe all gay boys & parents should read Andrew Tobias’ “Best Little Boy in the World”
9. I opted out of Yale because I was offered space in a “minority dorm”
10. My parents didn’t graduate high school yet are among the smartest people I know – my father my role model in business; my mother my role model for hospitality.
11. I never believed I would live to be 32 years old.
12. I secretly adore my mother-in-law. This hasn’t always been the case.
13. My maternal grandmother was the only member of her family allowed to attend public elementary because her skin was light enough. She ate her lunch privately because the kids laughed at tacos.
14. Once I privately acknowledged my homosexuality, I assumed I might be blackmailed as a banker and made plans to commit suicide if I was.
15. A young man attempted to blackmail me for being gay, demanding a $500 loan from the bank. I laughed, having always imagined someone would want at least six figures, and I was quickly over the thought of suicide.
16. When I was outed (in 1992), I received a call from another gay business man informing me I was now too dangerous to be around. I was informed by the bank I would never be president. I was a 31yo SVP at the time.
17. My first visit to a gay bar was in Sydney, Australia. I was intent on picking up a good looking Australian. When I approached my target, he laughed at me. After much persistence, he allowed me to buy him a beer. We were together for three years (he was tall & smart and shares Steven’s birthday).
18. I sometimes develop innocent man crushes on tall, smart, successful guys.
19. The only close college friend who publicly condemned me when I came out eventually tried to have sex with me (unsuccessfully)
20. I have a younger sister and younger brother. My sister once beat up a neighborhood kid who threw a punch at me. My brother beat up everyone who threatened any of us.
21. Lost hundreds of friends and acquaintances to AIDS while we were in our thirties.
22. In college, I thought about marrying Robbie. Without me knowing, my grandmother had asked her not to interrupt my education.
23. I multi-task quite well and respect those who can’t. Admittedly, it drives me mad when they rationalize that no one does so well – not true.
24. I test off-the-chart as an extrovert and love to be an introvert
25. I was always skinny as a kid so no matter how much weight I gain I still “see” myself as thin

(Community Matters) So, I’m wondering. The readers who receive my postings by FeedBlitz, do they receive the first post or the edited one I eventually settle on? Good gosh, if you’re receiving the first, I’ve usually not edited for spelling, grammar or, in some cases, even the eventual content. I’ll acknowledge being loose with spell check and not adhering to grammar rules in blog postings (especially re: full sentences which I don’t require in internet writing). Nevertheless, 90% of my postings are edited post-first posting. even this one – yikes

(Community Matters)