Daily Archives: 07/26/2009

(Community Matters) I am still listening, learning, trying to figure this out.

I’m informed by certain realities.

One: a very dear African American friend in the last year told me she still reminds her son, who lives out of town, to watch himself when he comes to Austin. She tells him to only say yes Sir and no Sir to the police and warns him they shoot black men in Austin, Tx. This woman is serious; it’s how she feels. She is a well-educated, respected community leader.

Two: Maureen Dowd makes a good point this morning: “the strong guy with the gun has more control than the weak guy with the cane”. . . . “he should not have been arrested once Sergeant Crowley ascertained that the Harvard professor was in his own home.”

Three: I’m beginning to not understand the procedure resulting in Gates’ arrest as much as I don’t understand the procedures that result in elderly women being tasered by 20- & 30-something police officers.

Four: Being a police officer is a dangerous & not-well-enough compensated job. It isn’t incomprehensible that default reactions veer to self-defense and overly physical. Though, these over reactions seem more understandable when an officer feels physically in danger. I am trying to understand how Sergeant Crowley might have felt in physical danger.

Question: Would a white man know to be more polite and agreeable or would a white man not have to be more polite and agreeable?

(Community Matters) I’m post-posting this to capture in my “on-line” journal. NYTimes article on minorities encouraged into elite schools during the 60s and 70s now joining the majority in positions of power.

(Community Matters) Julie & Julia – in Austin August 7

Can’t believe I overlooked the special screen ticket giveaways at yesterday’s Farmers’ Market – rats

(Community Matters) hmm, the financial industry diligent in its efforts to maintain loopholes as wide as Madea’s backside story here

(Community Matters) I haven’t yet decided whether or not it’s always a bad thing – never decided even during the Bush administration – but it does seem obvious to me that the Obama Administration isn’t living up to expectations for transparency.

My inclination is for a default toward transparency in public and nonprofit affairs. However, I have been influenced by several mentors who feel strongly otherwise, thus the ambiguousness of my position. The Nation reporting here

(Community Matters) Erik Prince’s Blackwater – the super secret defense outsource contractor – back in the news.

(Community Matters) In yesterday’s NYTimes

Powerful computers, some housed right next to the machines that drive marketplaces like the New York Stock Exchange, enable high-frequency traders to transmit millions of orders at lightning speed and, their detractors contend, reap billions at everyone else’s expense.

(Community Matters) That’s about 6# of pork and beef, German potatoes, sauerkraut, beans, an avocado, some jalapenos & a few Shiners

(Community Matters) from Rapt, by Winifred Gallagher

(Community Matters) Austin Habitat for Humanity celebrated the 250th house built in Austin by dedicating the McGarrety family home today with supporters, volunteers, neighbors and electeds.

Congr. Lloyd Doggett, City CM Chris Riley, Rep. Eddie Rodriguez & Mayor Lee Leffingwell

City CM Sheryl Cole

Mayor Leffingwell & AHFH ED Michael Willard

Lots of folks in attendance. AHFH board chair Luke Ellis opened the event.

(Community Matters) Cameron and I shopped the Farmers’ Market today. I took copious notes on prices and plan to comparison shop at Wheatsville, Central Market and Whole Foods. I’ll follow up this posting with the results


In response to last week’s posting concerned about prices, my friend Katie from Tecolote Farm replied.

As a local organic grower who sells at both Saturday markets, I can answer Brooke’s question that our prices are the same at both markets, first of all. Secondly, we sell our tomatoes to Wheatsville, and their retail price to customers is almost half a dollar more than our market price for customers. Wheatsville has the lowest markup of any local retail store because they abide by cooperative philosophy. We love that about them, that customers can pay only a little more than market prices. I can’t speak to the melons and onions pricing since we don’t sell those to Wheatsville. There must have been some confusion in the comparison of our market prices to W’ville’s prices because they have never sold our tomatoes for less than we do. Not sure where the confusion came in. As far as our price on tomatoes goes, I would be happy to discuss with anyone the work that goes into growing organic tomatoes in central Texas and discuss the fairness of our pricing. Much of that cost reflects the fair wages we pay to our laborers. Low prices on produce in general equate to someone earning a less than fair wage. Respectfully, Katie Kraemer, Tecolote Farm

Another reader wrote:

It seems that the best comparison would be with other farmers markets… has anyone had the same experience at Sunset Valley or other area markets?

While shopping today, realized I need to be mindful of the difference between organics, sustainables and natural, no chemicals.

I’ll try to post my comparison shopping results this week. Katie’s comment is informative.

(Community Matters) . . . call the pound. See them as the obstructionists claiming to be protectors of something they’re not. 47,000,000 Americans without health insurance. Our costs are twice the average, infant mortality is highest, life expectancy is decreasing, American manufacturing competitiveness is hamstrung, white collar competitiveness next, medicare/medicaid will break the bank, and insurance companies continue making obscene profits while kicking back claims.

Lots of questionable motivations among this bunch. Rep Ross from Arkansas who leads the health care task force for Blue Dogs still owns a pharmacy, is simultaneously “employed” by a pharmaceutical operation and received most of his campaign contributions from the health care industry.

In the Senate, MT Senator Max Baucus? According to the Nation, former Baucus staffers are currently being paid $1.4mm per day by the health care industry. coincidence? go figure . . .