Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) Austin partied heartily this weekend, hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. It’s second year, I don’t think either of us have yet been out to the track, but we hear only good things and lots & lots of our friends seemed to be having much fun over the 3 day celebration. There’s ceertainly the high-end, jet set celebrations (I notice the Ludus F1 Champagne Luxury Suite was available last minute for $175,000 for 24). And, plenty of friends attended and had a blast spending more modest amounts. I believe tickets range in price from $300 to $50k . Fortunately, worries of traffic gridlock didn’t materialize the first or this year – and Austin even concurrently hosted a UT-OK State game this weekend. We might just have to get out there next year.

(Community Matters) Who gave away the most cash last year

1. Bill & Melinda Gates $1.9B
2. Warren Buffett $1.9B
3. George Soros $763mm
4. Mark Zuckerberg $519mm
5. Walton Family $432mm
6. Eli & Edythe Broad $376mm
7. Michael  Bloomberg $376mm
8. Paul Allen $328mm
9. Chuck Feeney $313mm
10. Gordon & Betty Moore $250mm

12. John & Laura Arnold $204mm

18. Michael & Susan Dell $100mm

43. George & Cynthia Mitchell $40mm

What a spectacular list – don’t find myself envious often but this is a list I’d love to be on. Along the same lines, reading about How America’s Richest People Are Bringing Hope To The Eighth-Poorest Nation In The World. I only have one contemporary hero, Dr. Paul Farmer of Partners in Health, and Dr. Raj Panjabi of Last Mile Health just might be the second – appropriate that he is Paul’s mentee.

(Community Matters) Last night Graham Reynolds & 13 fellow musicians performed the first of The Marfa Tryiptych: 3 Portraits of West Texas to a sold out, enthusiastic audience at the Crowley Theatre.

A rock star assembly of Austin musicians – in addition to Graham, Redd Volkaert (electric guitar), Ruby Jane (fiddle), Ricky Davis (pedal steel guitar), Adam Sultan (acoustic guitar), Alexis Buffum (violin), Elizabeth Warren (violin), Lead Nelson (viola), Hector Moreno (cello), John Mills (saxophone & clarinet), Shane Pitsch (trumpet), Wayne Myers (trombone), Utah Hamrick (bass) & Jeremy Bruch (drums). Love that Ballroom met Graham when Virginia Lebermann came to see Metropolis as a guest of Suzanne Deal Booth, who was my guest.

Graham has studied, listened to West Texas as he’s composing the tryiptych. He acoustically captures a sunset from the west edge of town, the rain in the Chihuahuan Desert, even the smells after the rain. Along with Graham, Redd, Ricky, John & Jeremy soar during the performance; we want to hear even more of Ruby. Would be interesting to hear her improvisation of the high desert town. An outstanding evening and promising beginning to Ballroom’s commission.

Marfa Public Radio interview of Graham

(Community Matters) Quick West Coast trip which started off as an NPR excursion, abruptly rescheduled so time to visit Molly & Peter Benson in Venice Beach, and Molly & I to see her parents in Santa Barbara. Tana & Joe Christie settling in just fine at Bonniemede. I loved staying at the Biltmore and dinner at the Coral Casino Beach & Cabana.

(Community Matters) New Republic: Hillary’s Nightmare? A Democratic Party That Realizes Its Soul Lies With Elizabeth Warren

I’m afraid we’ve jumped to a sexist frame female leaders all too often have to contend with – the bitchy cat fight. I don’t trust the media to report on the relationship between celebrities, even less between two females.

Warren confidants note that the Senator signed a letter urging Clinton to run in 2016. And they are stressing that they didn’t seed the New Republic story..

Regardless, to avoid any potentially debilitating primary fights & because it’s what our country needs now, Secr. Clinton should articulate how she will aggressively pursue those gaming the system regardless of size, economic clout or pedigree, and that she’ll aggressively address climate change. The middle class, the poor and this planet have nearly collapsed under the rising inequality now inherent in our political system. Criminal investigation tools should be deployed in unearthing collusion between industry, politicians and agencies/regulatory bodies.

(Community Matters) The rollout of the federal website is indictable; best practices, even standard practices were ignored. As to health insurance going forward, my personal experience is a 43% reduction in EF’s health care insurance premiums quoted just last week.

Continue reading →

(Community Matters) A friend has long talked about Rs out organizing on college campuses in Virginia. Ken Cuccinelli beat McAuliffe by 6 points among 25 – 29 year olds?  This represents an extraordinary vulnerability for progressive politics. A candidate who tries to criminalize oral sex, challenges the legitimacy of social security, medicaid, the dept of education . . . winning among college students?

(Community Matters) Bill, Morgan and Kip raise a new $75mm fund for Austin startups. 

(Community Matters) Employment Non-Discrimination Act – a bill that prohibits workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender Americans.  Seriously, this exists? You bet your ass . . . though I agree it’s very encouraging that not a single Senator would speak against the bill, not one.  Senator Harry Reid on why Republicans must capitulate if they ever hope to win elections outside tightly gerrymandered races. 

(Community Matters) TP: The Tenth Amendment Is Dead As A National Political Issue: Ken Cuccinelli, Mike Lee, Sharon Angle, Todd Akin, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz.

I never count true believers dead metaphorically.

HT: Lynn Meredith

(Community Matters)  McAuliffe won, but by a sliver – why’d the polls show a much bigger margin? Politico on “Why Terry McAuliffe barely won,”

TOP TALKER – “Why Terry McAuliffe barely won,” by James Hohmann: “Most public polls leading up to Election Day had Terry McAuliffe coasting to victory, some by double digits, in the Virginia governor’s race. Instead he squeaked by, beating Republican Ken Cuccinelli by less than 3 percentage points. The much-closer-than-expected outcome blunts the narrative that this was a clean win for Democrats going into 2014 and guarantees an intense blame game among Republicans about what might have put Cuccinelli over the top. Based on a review of returns, exit polls and conversations with operatives, here are six takeaways from the surprise election of the night:

1) Obamacare almost killed McAuliffe. … When President Obama crossed the Potomac for McAuliffe Sunday, he glaringly avoided even mentioning his signature accomplishment … Exit polls show a majority of voters – 53 percent – opposed the law. Among them, 81 percent voted for Cuccinelli and 8 percent voted for Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis. McAuliffe won overwhelmingly among the 46 percent who support the health care overhaul. Cuccinelli actually won independents by 9 points, 47 percent to 38 percent, according to exit polls conducted for a group of media organizations. They made up about one-third of the electorate. … 2) Cuccinelli might have won if he had more money. Even before Cuccinelli delivered his concession speech, the candidate’s close allies were already beginning to blame outside groups for not helping out more. McAuliffe outraised Cuccinelli by almost $15 million … The Republican National Committee spent about $3 million on Virginia this year, compared to $9 million in the 2009 governor’s race. The Chamber of Commerce spent $1 million boosting McDonnell in 2009 and none this time. …

3) It was a base election. … 4) The gender gap mirrored the presidential. Exit polls showed McAuliffe only won women by 9 points, the same margin Obama won them by in the presidential election last year. … 5) Obama himself was a mixed bag. 6) The shutdown still hurt Republicans.” http://goo.gl/V79hS8

(Community Matters) Good summary of a case study about coverage.