Daily Archives: 06/14/2011

(Community Matters) From Andy’s blog:

GREECE

A very smart friend who saw the last credit-default-swap crisis coming tells me that the banks have been writing similar insurance on sovereign debt on the PIIGS – Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain.  If so, it could be a challenging summer.

(Community Matters) at Towleroad here

(Community Matters) Just finished Paula McLain’s novel about Hemingway’s and Hadley Richardson’s first years in Paris and loved it. Especially after just watching Woody Allen’s new movie – not to mention convalescing the last 36 hours from some ailment – it was transportive.

Now launching into Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast – this time in hard copy instead of on my kindle – a nostalgic experience.

(photo from AP; Hemingway collection)

(Community Matters)

Dear Friends:

Today is the last day for early voting in the City Council place 3 runoff. Please vote to reelect Randi Shade. Early voting locations listed here.

As you know, Randi came in second during the general election race – significantly behind her opponent Kathie Tovo. Yet, we’ve seen this same spread before – Brewster was similarly behind Margot Clarke and in the runoff he defeated her 64% to 36%. As of yesterday, 20,196 voters had cast a ballot in the run-off election. That’s higher than the total cast in all of Early Voting in May — with one day still left for Early voting. The precincts turning out look favorable to Randi, but if I had to guestimate, I’d bet we’re no better than even, possibly a few hundred to a thousand votes behind. That’s why every single vote counts. Please, Please, Please take the time to early vote.

Why Randi? She’s the best. Seriously, the former UT Student Body President, Harvard Business School grad, high-tech startup entrepreneur (creating an internet site that raised money for nonprofits), Gov. Ann Richards staffer who launched Texas’ AmeriCorp, wife, and mom of two young children weighs all perspectives & opinions and makes her decisions based on what’s best for Austin’s long term interests balanced with today’s needs. Continue reading →