Monthly Archives: June 2010

(Community Matters) for passing LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance protecting city employees

(Community Matters) If we had a bigger dining room table I can easily think of another 5 or 6 couples I wish had been with us.  And, 15 of us had such an exceptional time, sampling the food & drink menu of Cameron Lockley’s & Eddie Bernal’s new restaurant, La Sombra Bar & Grill.

Grilled Texas quail & beef heart skewers, one of the best mixed greens salads ever (w/ avocado, queso fresco & a lime-cilantro dressing), shrimp ceviche, striped bass seafood stew in coconut broth, Shiner Bock marinated steak, chili rubbed pork ribs, garlic sausage & El Ray chocolate mousse.  Great wines and their signature cocktails – Peruvian & Chilean pisco sours, fig & basil martinis & Sombra Ahumados (mescal, cointreau, chicha morada and lime). All had by Cindi & Bill Bock, Kip Keller & Michael Barnes, Diane Land & Steve Adler, Julie Thornton, Carla & Jack McDonald, Amy & Kirk Rudy, Amy Grace Tharp & Doug Ulman.

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(Community Matters) Steven and I were to join Dana Friis-Hansen (AMOA ED) and Mark Holzbach for dinner last night, starting off with a private tour at the Austin Museum of Art.  Have to admit, I was exhausted after a day interviewing candidates for the PeopleFund pres/ceo job and with still lingering jet lag tricking my body into thinking it’s 8 hours later.  Plus Mark wasn’t feeling so well.

So, instead of dinner, Dana gave me & Steven a tour of the Chris Jordan exhibit.  “His work explores the phenomenon of American consumerism.” Steven loved it; I liked it.  We recommend it.

The more I think about it, the more I liked it.  I was just too tired last night to really get into the exhibit.  Think I’ll return.

Chris Jordan website

(Community Matters) Of course, it’s all in the details but I believe easing the blockade is in Israeli’s and Gazan’s best interest – story here

Absolutely there must be strict international monitoring against the import of weapons and fortifying of structures  to defend those who would launch missile strikes from Gaza to northern Israel.

12/08 crater from a Hamas fired missile into Israel (about 23 miles outside Gaza)

(Community Matters) reading this article about Ultra-Orthodox Israeli protests reminds me I intended to write more about my observations and any conclusions from my travel through Israel.

I don’t have a perspective on this particular issue.  What I’ve heard and experienced more broadly which might share insight: 1) there is a social hierarchy subscribed to by some Israelis which places the Ashkenazi ahead of the Sephardic.  And, 2) tensions between the deeply religious and secular Israelis continue to rise.

Because the deeply religious (ultra-orthodox) men do not work – they spend all day studying the Torah, – they don’t have much income (only that of their wives, mostly in low paying jobs) and don’t pay taxes. As (I’m told) most deeply-religious families have heaps of kids (I kept hearing 6, 9, 10, even 15 children each family), the State of Israel subsidizes these families. And, while this segment of Israeli society is the most politically conservative, often advocating military action, their children are exempt from compulsory military service. This isn’t a sustainable situation from perspective of domestic politics.

(Community Matters) such an evolution, such an incredibly gifted man

(Community Matters) Rugby is an honorable sport.  We should give it more attention

(Community Matters) I realize I risk crossing the boundary between posting on interesting topics, sights and travel into what may come across as bragging. I never consciously mean the latter, though when I go back and read previous postings, it seems at least subconsciously intentional from time to time; it’s really too much enthusiasm and always the need to share.  But, I don’t beat myself up about things – life’s too short.

Reporting on the kind of day I’m able to have isn’t meant as bragging, it’s meant as just “I’m blown away lucky on a regular basis.”

Yesterday:

meeting with entrepreneur Jason Black over breakfast to talk about kids & entrepreneurship.  Our staff meeting – Shobie just adopted a baby and is on maternity leave for 12 weeks but prioritizes coming in for our meeting and joins Amanda, Donna & me.  These women completely rock and make great things happen regularly (Leigh’s another and we met on Tuesday). Phone calls, texts and emails, several throughout the day, with several of my closest friends Kirk Rudy,  Jack McDonald, Margo Weisz & Doug Ulman – working on great stuff with each independently. With Georgia Thomsen, brainstorming on RISE 2011 stuff. Jeff Browning, who’s a close enough friend I can call at the last minute (dude, please meet me at a restaurant instead of your office, it’s 3pm and I am starving for lunch), then we can discuss EF business very granularly, very candidly.  Jeff is sage, gives good advice.  Cameron at the house with his new chef and new GM. Wow, I thought it was just gonna be a dinner, it’s a bloody production – how fabulous, Friday’s dinner.  Dinner with seven key community/business influencers who make great things happen, discussing important topics, always forcing the conversation toward measurable outcomes. And, home to the greatest guy I’ve ever known, who does really good work every single day.

not to be morbid, but if anything ever happens to me, no sadness.  My friends better have a party b/c there’s no regrets in my life, just a realization that I’m awesomely lucky

(Community Matters) Seismic – also from Mike Allen’s POLITICO Playbook

COMING THIS MORNING FROM FORTUNE.com: ‘FORTUNE’s Carol Loomis reports in a new FORTUNE cover story that ‘Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett are asking the nation’s billionaires to pledge at least half their net worth to charity, in their lifetime or at death.’ Their plan began with a confidential May 2009 dinner party … that Loomis writes, ‘has the potential to dramatically change the philanthropic behavior of Americans, inducing them to step up the amounts they give.’ … Bill Gates tells FORTUNE that he regards the 50% as a ‘low bar’ … In Buffett’s own pledge … he writes: ‘My pledge: More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death.’ … FORTUNE reveals that other billionaires already committed to at least a 50% pledge include Eli & Edy Broad, John & Ann Doerr, H.F. ‘Gerry’ & Marguerite Lenfest and John & Tashia Morgridge. Loomis writes that upon publication of FORTUNE’s article, ‘the three principals will send e-mails and make calls to other billionaires judged likely prospects.’

(Community Matters) From Mike Allen’s POLITCO Playbook Daily Update, what focus groups had to say about the speech

–David Binder Research, a former Obama for America pollster, with white, independent men in Columbus, Ohio: ‘Ohio focus group participants reacted very positively to the President’s address. Voters expressed an especially favorable reaction to: Obama’s conviction and sincerity in communicating the urgency of the issue … Obama’s determination to do more than just talk about alternative energy like previous administrations, but to put in place a plan to achieve it … For many participants, the President’s speech crystallized a decision that they were already coming to on their own that now is a time to act on energy reform legislation.’

–Frank Luntz, for Fox News, 13 Obama voters and 15 McCain voters, in a ballroom of the Beverly Hilton hotel: ‘He’s become George Bush. We’re so polarized that the only people who want to listen to him already support him. … [The McCain voters] don’t trust him. It started with health care. This is the last straw. I think it’s tragic.’

(Community Matters)  Interview Magazine

Carlos Bocanegra, US captain

If he didn’t play soccer: It’d be pretty cool to teach high school history. My favorite period is the Roman times. Just real rugged and manly men. You know, ripping meat apart with their teeth.

I’ve decided I’m a complete World Cup Fan

(Community Matters)  ACC refusing to release purchase prices for possible future campuses

To My Dear Friends on the ACC Board:

I know your intentions are honorable but don’t do this. These aren’t your monies, they are ours. You will wind up releasing the information anyhow. Do not listen to bad legal advice, once a deal is done, release all the details.  Respectfully Yours,

(I’d agree with your approach if adjacent properties or otherwise legally connected purchases)