Monthly Archives: August 2010

(Community Matters) Excellent opinion piece on CNN Opinion site.

Simply put, Islamophobia has become ridiculously out of hand. For those who argue that mosques are somehow inherently breeding grounds for extremism, a two-year joint study by Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and the University of North Carolina concluded that American “mosques are actually a deterrent to the spread of militant Islam and terrorism.”

(Community Matters) So unlike me to miss so many days blogging in the same week – speaks to how much catching up I’ve had to do after Monday and since Steven’s returned home.

Leigh Christie and I have had great Lemonade Day 2011 meetings with Brenda Thompson and with Charles Schwab executives – the latter are in as important sponsors for 2011 (again).  Amanda, Shobe, Donna & I working on fall projects – fall service day (at Zilker Park again this year), the poker tournament, new marketing materials and new equity grants.  Super meetings with Nick Ducoff about InfoChimps, Josh Williams @ Gowalla, Brett Hurt at BazaarVoice and Dharmesh Jawarani & Leo Mathew at AstroWatt.

A telephone conversation with Gov Kaine (DNC chair), talks with Jaime Citron, (head of the DNC’s LGBT Council and Caucus), and lots of online exchanges about politics.  Also lots of email exchanges with ADL colleagues (here, Houston & Ny) plus a telephone call with Abe Foxman on Monday – the ADL Muslim Center statement was a mistake, and ADL stands by its 97 years as the beacon for religious freedom & against bigotry in all forms (including against Muslims).

Dinner three times this week at La Sombra (with Uncle Bob & Sandi Aitken Sunday, the Booths and James & Ben Barron Tuesday, and our buddy (Marine Lt) Brett Lester & Cameron last night).  Plus tonight at Pearla’s, again with James & Ben.  It’s great having Brett as a house guest for a couple of days; he’s visiting from Okinawa.

And, today, finally, I turned in my guest opinion piece & accompanying photos for Saturday, August 22’s Austin American Statesman.  The piece is about the Haiti trip and how agencies are doing good work and spending appropriately – at least those I visited and that HelpHaiti has granted.

Starting with Steven’s return to Austin on Saturday night, then the President’s visit on Monday . . . . it’s been a great week, sans seeing a few of our dearest friends.

(Community Matters) So nice to have the President back in Austin. I don’t mean to provoke partisan debate. My personal perspective is that the Pres & our D Congress have passed healthcare reform, financial regulatory reform, enacted the most signficant education reforms in several decades, passed legislation requiring equal pay for women… (who knew that didn’t even already exist?), passed LGBT inclusive hate crimes leg, expanded LGBT equality among federal employees and are moving forward with other impt equality measures . . . all while inheriting two unpaid for wars and managing a swine flu epidemic and the worst environmental disaster in our history.

President Obama remains a hero to me.  It was great having him back in Austin so that so many friends who have been so supportive were also able to be reminded of his commitment, empathy, charisma and intellect.  It’s been a crazy couple of weeks preparing and raising.  And, quite successful, we raised over $1mm including $250k going to the Texas Democratic Party.  The DSCC raised an additional amount at last night’s reception in Dallas.  Way fun working so hard with Kirk Rudy, Adrienne Donato, Alexa Wesner, Bev Reeves and others.

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(CommunityMatters) hmm, changes to template.  Looks as if I have some grooming to do.  pardon in the interim

(Community Matters) Following Steven’s flight from Beijing to Newark

updated:  this better:

flight progress

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though I’m a bit confused since I thought the flight comes west over the north pole.

There was a bit of drama last night (yesterday morning their time) as his Xiamen to Beijing flight was grounded for a couple of hours, a group of passengers were loudly complaining about the lack of a non-pork breakfast option and the cabin temperature rose and young Chinese men started taking off their shirts (Steven and I would have a different interpretation of the latter).

(Community Matters) Some of Steven’s pics from China.  Finally, he’ll be on his way home in about 9 hours

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the two guys are John Erik Metcalf and Will Roman from Austin who just happened to be touring Beijing while Steven was there.  The little girl they don’t know; evidently many parents asked the “tall white guys” to take pictures with their children.

Steven’s been away for 3 weeks. We normally have a rule, no more than 5 days apart.  This trip has reinforced that rule.

(Community Matters) from So You Think You Can Dance

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) Turns out they even gave money to support Prop 8 in California, ie., outlawing gay marriage.  For the sake of their shareholders, hope they made the right calculations

Their stock closed at $52.86 yesterday, let’s see what direction it takes

Update: down nearly 3x the S&P 500

(Community Matters) from Huffington Post, copy of a memo from Tiger Oil Company’s Edward Mike Davis

MEMORANDUM

DATE: January 13, 1978
TO: Landmen, Geologists, Geophysicists, Engineers, or To Whom It May Concern
FROM: Edward Mike Davis

This memorandum is an addendum and in addition to the “Memorandum To All Monthly Salaried Personnel” dated January 12, 1978.

This is for Steve Chamberlain, Bill Durr, Wayne Rogers, on down.

When you are on the road or out doing my business, that is exactly what I expect you to do 100%. I do not want any fabricated expense accounts, drinking or carousing around on my money. Telephone calls for business purposes only will be accepted — not personal.

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(Community Matters) Saw on Huffington Post

(Community Matters) Vote for my friend Anthony’s video for the Food Network by clicking on the thumbs up at the YouTube site http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp4EU3B47z4 He’s family

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) Will the appeal of Justice Walker’s Prop 8 decision hold up?  I don’t know a thing about the governing appeals court.  I am slightly optimistic at the Supreme Court level since S. Ct. Justice Kennedy wrote the majority opinion in Romer v Evans where the S. Ct struck down Colorado’s referendum prohibiting cities, towns and counties from adopting any laws recognizing gays & lesbians.  His famous line – no state may “deem a class of persons a stranger to its laws.”

I’m not a lawyer but I do note that in Romer,there were citations about the test for constitutionality of the referendum requiring rational relationship vs tougher interpretation of strict scrutiny for public purposes.  I read the same in Justice Walker’s opinion.

Optimistic

update: a legal analysis