Monthly Archives: April 2012

(Community Matters) If I were an unemployed Spaniard, that would be my rallying cry. Krugman sees this as an undesirable course of action – I’m not so sure.

I’m not so compelled by the good for globalization or regionalization of Europe’s economies. One only has to look around the world to see that individual protectionist barriers prevent a level playing field. All too often, a country’s blue collar workers absorb “the tax” while their financial industry enjoys the gain – if not gain, certainly the eventual bailout. Icelanders and Estonians have served themselves well by saying no fucking way.

(Community Matters) Our friends Chip & Dan Heath’s latest book, Switch, is highly  recommended by Steven. I’m just starting it. It’s about how we can effect transformative change – direct the Rider, motivate the Elephant, and shape the Path.

(Community Matters) Huge kudos to my dear friend Tom Jacobs on finishing his new book, What’s Behind The Numbers?

The authors of What’s Behind the Numbers? argue that the secret to long-term success with stock today isnt finding the next Google or eBay, but avoiding the next AIG or Enron. To that end, they offer simple, clear techniques for detecting when and how legitimate companies make their numbers look better than they are

It’s being released by McGraw-Hill on August 17.

Much fun at dinner last night with Tom, his partner Vilis Indie (who has a book coming out soon too), Garrick Stephens and a new friend, Ian Lesser. Glad Suzanne, Marc, Lynn & Tom joined us for a night cap.

(Community Matters) Marfa won the Edward R. Murrow Regional Award. Congratulations to our heroic staff, supporters and listeners

(Community Matters) Interesting article in today’s Washington Post

When you combine key psychological traits with divergent streams of information from the left and the right, you get a world where there is no truth that we all agree upon. We wield different facts, and hold them close, because we truly experience things differently.

(Community Matters) Time to reopen the bidding for the Green Water Treatment site.  It is unfair and likely unfavorable to the City of Austin and its citizens to go forward with a deal that barely represents the one won in a competitive bid process. This morning’s AAS editorial cites a lot of new facts which their article on Wed April 4 failed to note.

As noted earlier, market conditions are ripe and prices are rising. With so many changes to the deal and with performance requirements now lapsed, Austin’s City Council owes it to bidders and its citizens to re-bid the site and obtain the highest returns for this City of Austin asset (financial and housing).

btw, I note the editorial’s citation of requirement for Trammel Crow to build an underground parking garage on the site – a new condition since bidding. Hard to believe Trammel Crow would have accepted this condition without some consideration. Could this have been agreed to in exchange for extending the original rights beyond the required performance dates? If so, or for whatever consideration the responsibility was accepted, is it an inauthentic rationale for additional City of Austin concessions?

(Community Matters) I’m increasingly worried that a constant focus on what separates us, what divides us rather than what unites us – of how we’re different rather than how we’re similar is perhaps the biggest threat to our democracy.

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(Community Matters) One of our favorite parts of Marfa is introducing friends – to each other and to this exquisite place. Marc & Suzanne Winkelman and Lynn & Tommie Meredith are here for the first time. Last night at dinner at Julie Speed’s and Fran Christina’s.

(Community Matters) Spent the last two days in Midland & Odessa. Arrived Marfa for a long weekend/Mon-Tues work days. Seeing friends, catching up on some reading. Hope to get out and check out desert spring. The brilliance of spring’s green against the charred Davis Mountains leaves me speechless.

(Community Matters) Godson Austin Knaplund’s drawings on exhibit at Flatbed Press.

Can’t believe I hadn’t posted this. Had done so on Facebook.

(Community Matters) a 19yo became inspired and has raised nearly $5mm to bring safe drinking water to people around the world. Now – just turned 23, Seth Maxwell and his team have pledged to end thirst for an entire country, Swaziland. They mobilize high school and college students and will raise another $50mm, engaging corporations and philanthropists to underwrite all administrative costs. Coke just contributed the first $2mm. So far, Seth has 500,000 young people following him and the Thirst Project and they’re just about to scale.

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(Community Matters) Kudos to my friends Chris & Sean for launching this initiative.