Monthly Archives: July 2012

(Community Matters) an important Economist article about Fracking – Sorting frack from fiction

There are three main concerns: that it could set off earthquakes or play havoc with water supplies; and that methane could escape into the atmosphere and exacerbate global warming. . . . A report from America’s National Research Council on energy and seismic activity, due to be published later this year, records only two incidents of minor tremors associated with fracking—the one in Britain and just one in America, despite the scale of activity there.. . . With over 20,000 wells drilled in the past decade there have been only a few instances of groundwater contamination, all of them due to breaches of existing regulations.. . . The EPA is now conducting the biggest study ever into all aspects of shale exploration [including methane emissions], likely to be published next year, which might help allay public fears.

(Community Matters) encouraging editorials from the New York Times and The Economist (cover: Comeback kid: Rebuilding America’s Economy) – quotes from Politico’s Playbook:

MOOD MUSIC – N.Y. Times col. 1, “In Latest Data, Economists See Signs of Pickup: Growth Is Not Robust, but It’s Firming Up,” by Annie Lowrey : “Economists at many of the most-watched forecasting organizations, both public and private, expect growth to pick up through the summer and into the fall, although only to a pace broadly considered sluggish, if not dismal. … [H]eadwinds have started to slack, leading some economists to believe that jobs and growth numbers will track up modestly. Perhaps most significant is the falling price of oil. … Economists pointed to surging new car sales as … a sign that households are confident enough to make a major purchase … [T]here are accumulating signs that housing has turned around, perhaps auguring … an upturn in construction jobs and growing sales.” http://nyti.ms/MoSszf

–COVER OF THE ECONOMIST, all global editions, is a gym-rat Uncle Sam: “Comeback kid: Rebuilding America’s economy “: “America’s economy is certainly in a tender state. But the pessimism of the presidential slanging-match misses something vital. Led by its inventive private sector, the economy is remaking itself. Old weaknesses are being remedied and new strengths discovered, with an agility that has much to teach stagnant Europe and dirigiste Asia. … [T]here is a boom … in high-value services (architecture, engineering and finance) and a growing ‘app economy,’ nurtured by Facebook, Apple and Google, which employs more than 300,000 people; its games, virtual merchandise and so on sell effortlessly across borders.” See the cover. http://econ.st/LM6qyZ Read the editorial. http://econ.st/NoGE0X

(Community Matters) Travel & Leisure

(Community Matters) inflation is being reported as less than 2%, but by the 1980s formula, it’s almost 10%. Is high inflation squeezing US consumers?  

in Marfa for a McDonald Observatory board of visitors weekend as well as for Marfa Public Radio. My house guest is John Del Vecchio, a portfolio manager of a short fund and an author. So, not hard to imagine us discussing the difference between core & headline inflation and why any government reported inflation numbers are or aren’t accurate (at least within historical context). John’s introduced me to a site: Shadow Government Statistics which I find fascinating and to which I’ve just subscribed.

for instance, while the official inflation rate is under 2%, if we use the 1990 government definition, it’s 5%. It is almost 10% as measured by the 1980 definition. There are strong arguments that the latter most accurately reflects inflation as experienced by consumers

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(Community Matters) UT is now conducting a formal investigation of research improprieties by Professor Mark Regnerus, who published the study funded by the hate group, Family Research Council – finding disturbing study results of children to gay parents.  The academic journal which published the study is also reviewing its publication.  Original posting which cited research bias here

(Community Matters) so enjoy my roles – thrilled to notify Lifeworks that they’ve been awarded a grant from the ACF Chestnut Fund established by the Tom & Lynn Meredith Family. $500,000 to support Lifeworks’  The Works at Pleasant Valley, an affordable housing project targeting youth exiting foster care, youth families, and the homeless.

along with Rudy Green & Mike Cook, I serve as an advisor to this ACF fund established from the Meredith’s donation of the land and the sale of condos on the Featherlite tract – Terry Mitchell was the condo partner

(Community Matters) I don’t know what this means for the millions of Texans who were looking forward to purchasing health care insurance affordably in 2014

FIRST LOOK: Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in a letter today to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, will announce his opposition to implementing a health-insurance exchange AND expanding Medicaid. Perry will write : “[W]e in Texas have no intention to implement so-called state exchanges or to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, I will not be party to socializing healthcare and bankrupting my state in direct contradiction to our Constitution and our founding principles of limited government. I stand proudly with the growing chorus of governors who reject the Obamacare power grab. Neither a ‘state’ exchange nor the expansion of Medicaid under this program would result in better ‘patient protection’ or in more ‘affordable care.’ They would only make Texas a mere appendage of the federal government when it comes to health care.”

(Community Matters) Rosie & Charlie asked. I thought I remembered 700 ft above sea level

Austin (/ˈɒstɨn/ or /ˈɔːstɨn/) is the capital of the state of Texas and the seat ….. Its elevation varies from 425 feet (130 m) to approximately 1000 feet

(Community Matters) Leonard Pitts: . . . a nation whose depth of division and lack of unifying principle now poison the very air, a nation where, to speak of greatness is, increasingly, to speak of history.

I don’t believe in contemporary American exceptionalism as historically defined. I’m optimistic of our ability to still model greatness. We need a compelling vision that will unify us, that transcends politics, and which is bigger than ourselves and our country.

(Community Matters) Proud of my church 

(Community Matters) I met Rosie Hansen in 1989, wow already 23 years ago, and her husband Charlie Kessler, just in Dec while we were back in Sydney. They arrived Friday night – such a treat spending a few days together. I’m more than bummed I won’t be with Steven in Sydney in two weeks – two west texas board meetings, ughh

Last night mucho fun dinner at our place including Kim & Kyle Hughes, Sandi & Bob Tomlinson, Mitch Berman, Michael Mitchell, Kip Keller & Michael Barnes.  omg, Sandi made two delicious fresh peach pies and Chase Pilat made homemade vanilla ice cream which went from the machine to the top of 12 slices.

(pic: Kyle, Michael M & Charlie)

(Community Matters)

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Hat Tip: Towelroad