Monthly Archives: April 2010

(Community Matters) Huff Post: Israel’s Netanyahu Urges ‘Crippling Sanctions’ For Iran. Interesting – Netanyahu ought to be bending over backwards allying with our government rather than humiliating our VP and obstructing the middle east peace process.

p.s. A wise man subsequently suggested caution in my words, especially with such a high-passion topic. I definitely mean to frame this within the context of our country’s uncompromised special relationship with the country and people of Israel, within the administration’s intention to become a more fair mediator to both sides, and within Netanyahu’s insidious personal remarks against our presidential administration (including calling Axelrod & Rahm self-hating Jews)

(Community Matters) Contemporary application?

(Community Matters) Celebrated Amy Rudy’s 29th birthday at Fonda’s tonight.

(Community Matters) worth a read

And this is why, despite my own deep suspicion of big government, I remain unmoved by the tea-partiers. Their partisanship and cultural hostility to Obama are far more intense, it seems to me, than their genuine proposals to reduce spending and taxation. And this is largely because they have no genuine proposals to reduce spending and taxation. They seem very protective of Medicare and Social Security – and their older age bracket underlines this. They also seem primed for maximal neo-imperial reach, backing the nation-building efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, favoring war against Iran, etc. Only Ron Paul, peace be upon him, extends his big government critique to the military-industrial-ideological complex.

When they propose cuts in Medicare, means-testing Social Security, a raising of the retirement age and a cut in defense spending, I’ll take them seriously and wish them well.

(Community Matters) Turk Pipkin and Cameron Sinclair (Architects for Humanity, executive director) leaving a prosthetics lab in Haiti

photo by AFH advisory board member Dan Shine who notes:

Leaving the prosthetics lab was especially hard. The crowd is gathered all day, waiting for an open bed

(Community Matters) The Economist

Forget about flat – the world of business is turning upside down

Huawei, a Chinese telecoms giant, applied for more international patents than any other firm did in 2008

More than 90% of Indians and Chinese tell pollsters that they are optimistic about the future

Frugal innovation

many of the most important innovations consist of incremental improvements to products and processes aimed at the middle or the bottom of the income pyramid: look at Wal-Mart’s exemplary supply system or Dell’s application of just-in-time production to personal computers

full story

(Community Matters) Beyond disappointing

(Community Matters) Richard Garriott notes that the Association of Space Explorers declined to support statements against the administration’s new space policy; nevertheless, the small group which circulated the statement issued it on their own (absolutely their right).  As a successful entrepreneur and someone seriously following space exploration all his life (his father was an astronaut and he has recently flown in orbit, conducting science experiments), Richard appears to support changes in our space plan – good enough for me (not to mention the best & brightest employed bythe President who recommended this plan)

His statement:

Interpreting Comments on Contentious Issues: When a contentious issue comes up, those with negative comments are more often moved to speak out than those with supportive comments to the nominal plan. The new plan for space, has numerous supporters and of course detractors.

Interestingly, while there have been many visible nay sayers, for example Neil Armstrong the first man to step foot on the moon, there are likewise supporters including Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon.

I am a member of the Association of Space Explorers. Members must have made one or more orbits of the earth. The open letter than many astronauts recently published against the current plan, was first circulated among the ASE members, but so many of us disagreed with the statement, that that subset of people who did have that opinion, went out on their own and made those remarks NOT as the ASE.

I am also reminded to note that NASA astronauts are hired because they are great test pilots or scientist. In my close dealings with them throughout my life, it should be noted that that does NOT necessarily make them great business people, great philosophers, great communicators, or great at any other function. While many early astronauts should be lauded for their bravery and opening the frontier for humanity, they are not experts on what is best for our country. So I believe their voices while interesting, are not as important as the tax payers, whose money they use to ride into space.

(Community Matters) Eisenhower worried about the power of the growing military-industrial complex.  Fears from those quarters notwithstanding, the biggest threat to good government and free markets is the unbridled power of the financial services industry.  Prior to the 2008 meltdown, it had grown into the largest private sector of our economy (20 – 21%), accounting for a ridiculous percentage of US corporate profits and sucking up too many of our country’s best & brightest university graduates.

Under two previous administrations, the SEC determined that Stanford CD returns were highly unlikely. Pres. Obama is trying to strengthen regulatory oversight, yet today all Senate Republicans and some Senate Democrats are caving to billions in lobbying & campaign contributions to stop &/0r weaken reform – admittedly, what’s proposed is imperfect but an important start.

Bloomberg on Stanford

Bill Moyers Essay: The Financial Lobby Owns Washington

As to Goldman Sach’s indictment – it’ll serve us all well to investigate the specific charges.  Tough-minded prosecutors (if there really are some now at the SEC) should be able to extract immunity confessions as to intents and knowledge of the firm.

(Community Matters) Faruz Benyousef, Stephen Strauss, Vince Ashwell and I met about the Sustainable Food Center and the fantastic work they are doing – including high yielding strategy on how to leverage resources & programs to improve the health of our community and the availability of local, nutritious food.  Lots of folks don’t know they run the farmer’s markets – I didn’t know they ran satellite farmer’s markets in lower income neighborhoods where produce is sold at reduced costs.  They also run programs to educate at risk populations in healthier eating lifestyles, run community gardens and bring healthier food to some school cafeterias (I continually hear we’d be appalled to know what we serve children in most school cafeterias).

I don’t understand why they and Wheatsville Co-op aren’t already much closer collaborating partners – same missions and many of the same objectives.  Ronda Rutledge, her staff, board and supporters have come a long long way in their thinking and vision.  Loved being given a preview or their future.

Wish Steven and I could attend the Farm to Plate event on May 6 but he’s traveling and I’m already committed.  hmm, wondering if I can rearrange my commitment.  This event too good to miss.

(Community Matters) Celebrated a friend’s 45th last night.  Hard time coming up with an original gift –  an erudite reader but no idea what’s already in his library.  Settled on 12 gauge ammo & tequilla – seemed apprporiately Texas for an East coaster

(Community Matters) Good Friday Morning

Vodpod videos no longer available.