Monthly Archives: June 2009

(Community Matters) Reports of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conditions for Palestinian statehood

• Any Palestinian state must be demilitarized, without an air force, full-fledged army or heavy weapons.

• Palestinians may not sign treaties with powers hostile to Israel.

• A Palestinian state must allow Israeli civilian and military aircraft unfettered access to Palestinian airspace, allow Israel to retain control of the airwaves and to station Israeli troops on a future state’s eastern and southern borders.

• Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state, a nod to the hawkish side of Mr. Netanyahu’s governing coalition that has raised concerns that the Palestinian Authority, which nominally governs the West Bank, does not recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

I don’t have ample perspective of how much progress this represents. Certainly understand the conditions from security & negotiating perspectives, imagining the other side would be looking for a phase out of the conditions that limit autonomy and self defense.

(Community Matters) As a follow up to my earlier, quick posting, gay lawyers and DOJ respond in the Washington Blade.

Earlier Huffington Post perspective and Chris Geidner’s explanation.

(Community Matters) I met Michael Naymik of Oceans of Austin a couple of weeks ago. He mostly sets up and maintains fresh & salt water aquariums and he knows alot about ponds.

We’ve worked it out so he’ll maintain our ponds, the fish and the water plants regularly – already great ideas to add some new fish, leopard bullfrogs and a couple of baby turtles

(Community Matters) I’m baffled by the language in the DOJ brief (read John Aravosis starting here) defending DOMA. Reading Andrew Sullivan, there seems to be an explanation that a Bush holdover in DOJ wrote and filed the brief. There is still, however, a huge question about how the hell such incindiary language was filed. Explanations are in order.

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) Two recent Newsweek articles discuss Twitter – How it will change the way we live and The Top 10 ways it will change American Business.

. . . . hearing about what your friends had for breakfast is actually more interesting than it sounds. The technology writer Clive Thompson calls this “ambient awareness”: by following these quick, abbreviated status reports from members of your extended social network, you get a strangely satisfying glimpse of their daily routines. We don’t think it at all moronic to start a phone call with a friend by asking how her day is going. Twitter gives you the same information without your even having to ask.

. . . . the most fascinating thing about Twitter is not what it’s doing to us. It’s what we’re doing to it. [should read about #hackedu & how it broadened & changed the conversations inside & outside the room]

As Twitter grows, it will increasingly become a place where companies build brands, do research, send information to customers, conduct e-commerce and create communities for their users. Some industries, like local retail, could be transformed by Twitter — both at one-store operations that cater to customers within a few blocks of their locations and at the individual stores of giant retail operations like Wal-Mart (WMT). In either case, having the opportunity to tell customers about attractive sales and new products can be done at remarkably low cost while providing for greater geographic accuracy.

(Community Matters) Several months ago when anarchists threw molotov cocktails at the Republican convention, some insisted on calling the troublemakers Democrats. I’m wondering if these same folks now consider Scott Roeder (killer of Dr. George Tiller) and James Weeneker von Brunn’s (assailant at the Holocaust Museum) as members any other political party? Of course, this shouldn’t be the point. And, yet, I do fear irresponsible commentators stoke the disturbed fires in some heads.

CNN reports that the number of known hate groups has surged from 602 to 926 since 2000. Earlier this month, the killing of a physician. This week, attempts to kill visitors at the Jewish Holocaust Museum. Weekly, assaults on gays, lesbians, transgendered and bisexuals. And, even more regular assaults because of race.

According to 2007 FBI statistics, race was by far the largest target for hate crimes – anti-black assaults accounting for nearly 70% of that category. Religion was the next highest target – Jews the target in 70% of hate crimes motivated against religion. Jews were nearly 8 times as likely to be targeted as any other religious group. I fear these statistics under count assaults against Muslims, Arabs, Persians & others of Middle Eastern descent. I know the Jewish community is aggressive and effective at addressing hate crimes in its and other communities – especially through the Anti-Defamation League. Sexual orientation accounted for the third highest target, and again, there is significant under reporting. In some communities, the police dissuade LGBT victims from reporting or refuse to classify assaults as such.

Some conservatives screamed about the domestic terrorist threat identified in the recent, draft Homeland Security Report. I’m hoping we can now move forward and seriously discuss the warnings. I’m not sure how this could work and not impose on first amendment rights, but should we consider requiring truthfulness & imposing accountability on commentators who use the public airwaves? Problematic I know and so is the irresponsible commentary which leads to violence.

update: I’ve been reminded of Jim Adkisson who last summer killed 2 at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church “because ‘he hated the liberal movement’ and was upset with ‘liberals as well as gays.'”

(Community Matters) I’m sure last week others received the invitation to see someone’s pictures on Tagged too. Newsweek story

(Community Matters) Miracle Foundation COO, Elizabeth Davis is visiting Sooch Village in Ranchi, India

(Community Matters) Steven and Carol are having a terrific time in Edinburg – celebrating Carol’s birthday

(Community Matters) Are we at some tipping point there too? story

(Community Matters) Yesterday Ken Gladish (pres & ceo Austin Community Foundation) hosted a gathering of philanthrophists, money managers and investors including Janet Harman, Dick Rathgeber, Andy White, Chris Earthman, Jolynn Free, Eric Harslem, Hal Peterson, Paul Lagree, Rebecca Powers, Carl Stuart & Linda Brucker where PeopleFund’s Margo Weisz presented on PeopleInvest.

PeopleFund is offering 3 & 5 year notes paying up to 3% & quantifiable community impact (jobs, wealth & affordable housing creation in low & moderate income communities). The notes are backed by the PF’s very strong balance sheeet and cash flow. For those investors willing to exchange 1% of rate, PF will provide a JP Morgan guarantee (in the form of a letter of credit). The notes are available in minimum denominations of $10,000.

Proceeds of these notes become part of PeopleFund’s lending base. They make loans of up to $250,000 to entrepreneurs creating jobs & wealth in low & moderate income communities. PF underwrites the credits rigorously for financial soundness & community impact, add intellectual capital (mentorships & consulting) as well as the financial capital. Even though the organization only loans to those businesses which won’t fully qualify for traditional bank financing, their historical loan loss is about 4%, while reserves are in excess of 7%. Over 15 years history & financial performance confirms the organization solid performance & financial base. financial statements here.