Monthly Archives: October 2012

(Community Matters) in the New Yorker

there’s a special place in hell reserved for this guy, Hans von Spakovsky

Hat Tip: Huff Post

(Community Matters) AIG’s Bob Benmosche outs himself as swine who thinks he’s a prince.

Hat Tip: Huffington Post

(Community Matters) I certainly hadn’t planned on serving as Board President & CEO for another year but at yesterday’s MPR board meeting and at the request of my colleagues I agreed to do so again for 2013. When this idea was proposed last week, my first response was to lean on Steven; frankly, I thought he’d say no way. It’s been a lot of extra work, a lot of extra travel, and a lot of extra expense. Surprisingly, he was immediately supportive. He especially likes that we’re giving back to Marfa, a place we both adore and that helps replenish us whenever we visit. And, that I’m also working in Midland-Odessa, building relationships/friendships with people who vote and sometimes think differently than we do. It’s been nice looking past ideologies and to what we have in common, rather than what divides us. Plus, it’s a privilege working with my colleagues on the board and MPR staff members. It’s a privilege to represent MPR.

I do regret I’ve had to separate from my friends working in this election, from partisan politics during 2012 and now for 2013, but it would be inappropriate given this position

(Community Matters) Looking at the faces, I’m not sure it’s any easier being an objectified Abercrombie model than it was being a Southwest Airlines stewardess

Who wears short shorts?

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(Community Matters) Charles Blow on Thursday’s released Gallup poll of LGBT self-identification indicating more Americans of color & lower socio-economic status of those identifying as LGBT

This is counter-intuitive from experience and data we learned in the middle of the AIDS crisis, in the early 90s. Has it really changed this significantly and if so, why/how?  Without any scientific backing, I’m imagining the variances in LGBT status among whites and more well educated males reflects some perceived threat from self reporting.

The Williams Institute Summary of report:

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(Community Matters) Mark Ames writes about Russia’s oligarchies, state (aka Putin) pressure on those companies to pressure their employees to vote for Putin, and about these tactics being deployed in our current presidential election. We’re reading about Koch company election packets being sent to employees home threatening layoffs if Obama is reelected, about Murray Energy keeping list of employees who do and don’t attend and contribute to Romney, even of Peter Seigel’s, Westgate Resorts, threats to fire 7,000 employees if Obama wins as well as Romney’s call with business supporters encouraging them to pressure their employees

Since the link to the posting will expire, I’m pasting the NSFW entry:

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(Community Matters) here’s a group that feeds the poor and is now caught up in our political bullshit. Please consider making a contribution on line to help offset the backlash they now have to withstand – Huff Post story

Donate here

(Community Matters) from Towelroad: Think Progress’ Ian Millhiser discusses how conservative judge Dennis Jacob’s decision today to strike down DOMA could impact potential Supreme Court cases: “If Jacobs’ reasoning is adopted by the Supreme Court, it will be a sweeping victory for gay rights, likely causing state discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation to be virtually eliminated. And the fact that this decision came from such a conservative judge makes it all the more likely that DOMA will ultimately be struck down by the Supreme Court.”

(Community Matters) Excited about the selection of Michael Van Valkenburg Assoc & Thomas Phifer & Partners as the design team for Waller Creek – their concept so in keeping with the beauty of our region

(Community Matters) ABJ: Fremont, Calif. took the No. 1 spot with 21.3; followed by San Jose, Calif. with 10.1; Irving, Tx with 6.5; and Chandler, Ariz. with 5.1. Austin 5th w/ 4.5 tech startups per 100,000 population, according to the analysis, which ranked 10 cities.

Austin and Irving are the only two Texas cities to make the list.

(Community Matters) Very interesting. Gotta consider this within my contexts:

Comedy Central’s “5 Rules to Win the Millennial Vote through Humor “: “Avoid political hack. Save the joke writers for AARP night. You can’t force funny with young voters. Millennials want a candidate with a genuine sense of humor. … Don’t make light of serious issues, as fun as that is. As much as Millennials love a good laugh, they are fiercely compassionate. They want candidates with solutions, not wisecracks. … Continue reading →

(Community Matters) Loved today’s Terry Gross NPR interview of Michael Feinstein and his relationship with the Gershwins. Not sure why but had me thinking about Will Spong’s discussing the theology of Rodgers and Hammerstein while playing their songs on the piano (we have a CD of this! 🙂 )

I’ve just purchased Feinstein’s The Gershwin’s and Me: A Personal History in 12 Songs

Long before singer and pianist Michael Feinstein became famous in his own right, he had the privilege of working closely with legendary songwriter Ira Gershwin, as his archivist and cataloger.