Daily Archives: 12/25/2014

(Community Matters) hat tip: Kirk Rudy (a dear friend I’m missing hanging out with)

the unemployment rate is down to 5.8 percent, half the struggling eurozone’s rate; gas is down to $2.38. Crime, abortion, teen pregnancy and oil imports are also way down, while renewable power is way up and the American auto industry is booming again. Declining child poverty and household debt and personal bankruptcies are also worth celebrating. It’s a good thing that U.S. wind power has tripled and solar power has increased tenfold in five years. The meteoric rise of the stock market since 2009 has produced windfalls for Wall Street and 401(k) retirement plans and labor union coffers.

There’s still plenty to worry about (inadequate public schools, crumbling infrastructure, soaring college tuition costs, stark inequality).

But for now be merry! And may the new year be as awesome as this year.

Politico: Everything is Awesome

(Community Matters) a Christmas message for all of us from Pope Francis?

Including himself among the sinners, Pope Francis, reminds us men can suffer a “spiritual Alzheimer’s,” citing lust for power, hypocritical double lives and a lack of spiritual empathy. “Brothers, let’s guard ourselves from the terrorism of gossip.” Francis warned . . . against drifting “downward toward mediocrity.”

the video is worth a watch – http://nyti.ms/1wWRL9s

New York Times: Francis Uses Christmas Speech to Criticize Vatican Bureaucracy

(Community Matters) Should Austin consider also taking the advice of the National Academy of Sciences and establish a forensics departments separate from the police department in order to better protect Austinites?

Austin American Statesman

(Community Matters) Intuitively, I tend to agree with the Texas experts about home prices.

“Texas and the specific markets named, have experienced way above average growth in employment, incomes, and overall prosperity and it’s reflected in home values increasing.” . . . “The flaw in the Fitch report is that it is taking a snapshot of the market and trying to tell the whole story, while not looking at the basics of supply and demand”

Austin American Statesman: Are Texas home prices overvalued, as report claims?