Monthly Archives: July 2009

(Community Matters) Thank you. May you rest in peace and reconnect with Betsy.

Our condolences to your family, especially Kate and Will.

(Community Matters) My friend Don Boyd responding to my posting on Zen:

The Sufi quotation reminded me of a Rotary Club slogan my father used to display in his office:

The Rotary Four-Way Test : Of the things we think, say or do, ask: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Who knew that some Rotarian was acquainted with Sufism?

(Community Matters) Evan Smith, president & editor-in-chief of Texas Monthly, today announced his resignation to launch the Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, non-partisan public media organization being founded with Austin Ventures’ general partner John Thornton.

“The media landscape has changed before our eyes, and the challenges facing serious journalism will still be with us when the economy comes back,” Smith says. “While the for-profit business model isn’t going away, we must compliment the good work that newspapers and other media outlets are producing by coming up with innovative methods of funding journalism in the public interest. We hope to forge strong partnerships to ensure that all Texans are talking and thinking about the issues of the day. Civic engagement is too important to leave to the vagaries of market forces.”

The Tribune has raised more than $2 million to date and expects to raise double that amount by year’s end – meaning the organization will have the resources to cover, at a minimum: the 2010 election cycle, the 2011 legislative session, the next round of redistricting and the 2012 election cycle – including the presidential election. At that point, the Tribune will consider expanding its focus into other areas of life in Texas demanding deep-dive coverage.

Austin Ventures’ John Thornton is the Tribune’s founding Chairman. “We want to build a trusted and self-sustaining media brand over the next ten years,” says Thornton. “While we hope to make an important contribution to the future of journalism, what’s important is that the people of Texas feel a sense of ownership in the Tribune.”

(Community Matters)

photo J.R.Laughlin

Plenty written about and already said. I nearly let it pass me by but feeling compelled to note how proud of our president I continue to be/even am just a little bit more after his speech last night.

(Community Matters) Signs of hope and a resurgence of the West Bank economy, hopefully a sign of optimism for what’s possible in Middle East peace. nytimes article

(Community Matters) I’m historically such a fan of the Wall Street behemoth and especially many of its employees – inarguably among the best and the brightest. And, I’m a huge follower of Nobel-winning economist Paul Krugman, thus I’ve got to really consider my position when he makes his case.

Goldman, famously, made a lot of money selling securities backed by subprime mortgages — then made a lot more money by selling mortgage-backed securities short, just before their value crashed. All of this was perfectly legal, but the net effect was that Goldman made profits by playing the rest of us for suckers.

The bottom line is that Goldman’s blowout quarter is good news for Goldman and the people who work there. It’s good news for financial superstars in general, whose paychecks are rapidly climbing back to precrisis levels. But it’s bad news for almost everyone else.

# # # #

David Brooks on community colleges

Community college enrollment has been increasing at more than three times the rate of four-year colleges.

. . . . And the investment seems to pay off. According to one study, students who earn a certificate experience a 15 percent increase in earnings. Students earning an associate degree registered an 11 percent gain.

. . . . It’s a blind spot in their [our] consciousness. As a result, four-year colleges receive three times as much federal money per student as community colleges.

(Community Matters) MD Anderson ranked best cancer hospital in the country.

(Community Matters) What is it about models and crime sprees?

Keyontyli and Taleon Goffney arrested for burglary

Joshua Walter arrested for robbery

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) I’m withholding judgement on this. While I too find the term “wetbacks” offensive, two weeks suspension and public apologies – at least initially – seemed like a fair response and there’s a whole lot more on the air that I’d like to see addressed. Nevertheless, I’m appreciative that so many have rallied to address the problem proactively.

(Community Matters) Effective tax rate of top earners – point being, there is room for slightly increased taxes at the top to contribute to solutions for healthcare, deficit and other safety net issues.

chart from Daily Dish

While what Steven and I earn seems relatively modest, it is among top earners and we’re thrilled to contribute to viable solutions. It isn’t just the right thing to do, it contributes to sustainability and health of the middle class – which drives & grows our economy, effectively a sound investment in our & others’ future earnings.

(Community Matters) hmm, I don’t think I’d get away with it. No risk of being perfect – rats.