Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) In the Wall Street Journal: The Late, Great American WASP

“Under WASP hegemony, corruption, scandal and incompetence in high places weren’t, as now, regular features of public life.” – obviously a nostalgic reflection of selective memories

(Community Matters) AAS: It might be weird, but seeing Austin in the rear view is a relief

(Community Matters) So, as one of my favorite politicos said, I had no idea who Phil Robertson was until the last few days and could have lived without ever knowing. But, now I know what Duck Dynasty is too, and I know Mr. Robertson told GQ magazine that homosexuality is a perversion condemned by the Bible and that African Americans were happy under Jim Crow laws.

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(Community Matters) Reading results of the 2013 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) – shows Austin performing at better than average urban results but without measurable differences since 2011. The gap between higher and lower performing students is way too high & unsustainable, an admitted problem in Austin and all urban areas.

Notable progress in closing gaps in achievement in urban districts includes:

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(Community Matters) Worth watching; he’s right.

(Community Matters) The safe (simple agreement for future equity) is intended to replace convertible notes in most cases, while remaining fair to both investors and founders.

(Community Matters) The NYTimes says we’re way behind and falling further so. It cites inequality in funding and less rigorous teacher training and professionalism as two main contributors to less than average performance in USA student assessment.

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(Community Matters) “Austin is getting much wealthier: In 2000, 14% of households in Austin (city) had incomes of at least $100,000. In 2012, it was up to 24%. In 2000, households with incomes of less than $15,000 outnumbered households with incomes of $100,000 or more. In 2012, $100,000+ households outnumbered < $15,000 households by almost two to one. This is a remarkable shift in the city’s demographics in a very short amount of time and can go a long way toward explaining why housing is so expensive, especially in centrally located neighborhoods.”

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(Community Matters) Just realizing I only posted on FB, not in blog.

Ballet Preljocaj’s Les Nuits completely blew me away. Saw it with Charles Santos & LA Music Center’s Renae Williams Niles in the Royal Theatre at Versailles. Angelin Preljocaj now on list of my favorite dance choreographers. While it could be too edgy for some audiences, I sure hope Les Nuits makes it to Texas as well as LA and NYC.

bummed I wasn’t able to meet Angelin but thoroughly enjoyed dinner after with his production manager, Emmanuelle Mandel.

(Community Matters) In the New Yorker (such eloquent & inspiring words):

“Who Am I to Judge? A radical Pope’s first year,” by James Carroll : “‘Who am I to judge?’ With those five words, spoken in late July in reply to a reporter’s question about the status of gay priests in the Church, Pope Francis stepped away from the disapproving tone, the explicit moralizing typical of Popes and bishops. This gesture of openness, which startled the Catholic world, would prove not to be an isolated event. In a series of interviews and speeches in the first few months after his election, in March, the Pope unilaterally declared a kind of truce in the culture wars that have divided the Vatican and much of the world. Repeatedly, he argued that the Church’s purpose was more to proclaim God’s merciful love for all people than to condemn sinners for having fallen short of strictures, especially those having to do with gender and sexual orientation.

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(Community Matters) I couldn’t be more pleased that two dear friends, Jack McDonald & Gene Austin have agreed to chair the 2014 & 2015 Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce boards of directors. I’m honored to serve as one of their vice chairs (state & federal relations). Not only are these guys friends, they’re important mentors and colleagues. Jack’s committed to expanding conversations in our community as the Chamber makes important decisions and plans for the Austin’s economic future, recognizing Austin’s cultural and environmental uniqueness is a competitive advantage in economic development.

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(Community Matters) I’m pleased to see an honest, impartial evaluation of the Superintendent. I’m her fan and have been – and, of course, she can improve some relationships in the community and with staff – can’t we all.

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