Daily Archives: 10/23/2010

(Community Matters) Blew me away – the building’s redesign.  From the moment you walk in and glance up the expanse of stairs, even more so the roof top space where a couple hundred patrons paid $1,000 each to drink, dine & celebrate the museum’s reopening, later joined by another couple hundred (at I think $150/person) for the after party.

Big surprise (NOT) that Julie Thornton chaired this super successful event. I didn’t get to connect with John Spong (as in Will Spong) but am delighted to hear they are dating and evidently both smitten.  Too many folks to mention who were at the event so will limit to those I spent time with (Steven was held up in San Francisco so wasn’t able to attend after all): Kip Keller, Michael Barnes, Amy Rudy, Suzanne Deal Booth, Kevin Lelande, Jenny Lebermann & JohnWotowicz, John & Jenn Hamlin, Brian & Stephanie Beard, Alexa & Blaine Wesner, Mary & Howard Yancy, Stephen Jones, Anne Elizabeth Wynne & Joaquin Avellan, Deborah Green, Mickey & Jeannie Klein, Chris Mattson, Eddie Safady, Diane Land & Steve Adler, Graydon Parish and Matt Hovis.  my bad for not taking any pictures – a brilliant & beautiful evening.

and prior to Art House, I stopped by Carolyn & Marc Seriff’s 30th floor Austonian abode (beautiful west & south views) for drinks with them & about 30 friends. Regret wasn’t able to move with the friends to the 50th floor for dinner.  Friends included: Trisa Thompson, Ken & Kendra Gladish, Russell Bridges & Ralph Salinas, Marc & Suzanne Winkelman, Carolyn Gallagher

(Community Matters) I haven’t been to a UT football game tailgate party in a very long time.  Many thanks to Jim French (managing partner) and all our friends at PwC (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers) for hosting the event today – much fun and good food (El Arroyo)

Jim (center) and two new friends from ACU (graduating seniors).  I enjoyed connecting with these two former ACU football players who are serious students and serious about entrepreneurship.

(Community Matters) Good god, one of the most offensive speeches I’ve read in a very long time – Rupert Murdoch accepting an ADL award in New York.

This is a sermon from one of today’s robber barons who’d deny personal freedoms and economic opportunity in order to further enrich his own coffers.  Fox’s distortion of truth and fanning of the flames of hate and intolerance threatens support for the first amendment.

To equate disagreement with Israel with anti-Semitism is horrific and counter-productive.  Frankly, it’s one of the contributors to why Israel has lost so much US public opinion support. As to Israel’s support among the right –  more political posturing and vote gathering than a reliable alliance.  See how well nationalism is serving support for Israel  around the world – NOT.

And, yes, of course, there are important nuggets & reminders herein: such as worries about growing anti-Semitism.

Some naively equate Zionism with Anti-Semitism – fostered in part by the far right, radical West Bank settlement builders and demonstrators.  [yes, the left has its own versions of this to deal with]

As to Murdoch’s opinion whether the Obama strategy is productive or counterproductive – that’s a legitimate debate.  I’m in the camp of productive.

The offensive comments cited by the Swedish mayor remind me of the US rhetoric around the Muslim mosque.  Though, let’s not forget Fox fanned the “muslim mosque” flames of hate, especially against the Sheik who might fund this- when he is Fox’s second largest shareholder – reprehensible.

I’m embarrassed that ADL stooped to such a low as presenting an award to the owner of Fox.

(Community Matters) bummed to see this am that the House predictions have slipped by 2 and 1 seats in the 538 and RCP forecasts.  And, yet, I remain optimistic that the modeling relying on likely voters is undercounting the showing of Obama first time voters.