Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) It’s a huge blow to the share economy – New York AG subpoenaing AirBnB for 225k New Yorkers’ user data – bed taxes and building restrictions. Feels like bed taxes should exempt these transactions. Don’t want to be so cynical to think competitors might be advocating. 

(Community Matters) Is the state’s leadership collectively our Sheriff Joe Arpaio? Random license checks in S. Texas counties looking for illegal immigrants. If they’re gonna be stopping all brown-skinned drivers, that’s a long line.  Attorney General Abbott should declare this illegal immediately. AAS: Border area checkpoints raise questions of intent

(Community Matters) An excellent summary of 2012 philanthropy in America. Best presentation of Giving USA data I’ve seen yet plus much more. Thanks Joanna Linden for sending me the CCS report.

• $316B total giving in 2012
• 72% by individuals
• list of top individual, corp and foundation donors
• online NPO revenues grew 21%
• online monthly giving grew 43%
• # internet donations to charities increased by 20%
• share of people who made a gift in response to an email appeal dropped by 20% [sic]
• 20% of online fundraising takes place in Dec.

(Community Matters) Wendy Davis – I wouldn’t bet against her. There’s something in the air, kinda like when you smell rain even though forecasters say it ain’t gonna rain. Doesn’t mean it will but often surprises you and does. The corruption, the disregard for others, the meddling in Texan’s affairs, it gets old, it’s not Texan – just saying . . .

Unfortunately, I can’t play in politics given my role as Pres & CEO of Marfa Public Radio, but I spoke with Wendy a few weeks ago about her race and why she’s running. I like her. I appreciate all well-intentioned, smart and generous women & men who choose to serve.

(Community Matters) How Josh Baer helps people ‘quit their jobs’ to join the bustling hive at Capital Factory.

(Community Matters) NYT: Want to Be More Empathetic? Try Reading Chekhov –

a study published Thursday in the journal Science found that after reading literary fiction, as opposed to popular fiction or serious nonfiction, people performed better on tests measuring empathy, social perception and emotional intelligence — skills that come in especially handy when you are trying to read someone’s body language or gauge what they might be thinking.

Literary fiction vs popular fiction: “popular fiction readers made as many mistakes as people who read nothing.”

 “Maybe popular fiction is a way of dealing more with one’s own self, maybe, with one’s own wants, desires, needs.” In popular fiction, said Mr. Kidd, one of the researchers, “really the author is in control, and the reader has a more passive role.”

In literary fiction, like Dostoyevsky, “there is no single, overarching authorial voice,” he said. “Each character presents a different version of reality, and they aren’t necessarily reliable. You have to participate as a reader in this dialectic, which is really something you have to do in real life.”

Two take aways – the importance of exploratory, character-filled fiction and the difference from popular fiction which is more plot oriented (for good and bad depending on objective of writer and whomever selecting what to read).

btw, a fun, free emotional intelligence test. Reminded me I’d been wanting to sign up for Lumosity which I’ve done. Even had my first every morning (from now on) workout. Gonna try to enroll my mom too (good workout for Parkisons. She’s enjoying the Pilates workouts I’ve also prescribed).

(Community Matters) honored to be among such an illustrious group – partners and mentors at Capital Factory.

(Community Matters) Embarrassed our gov’t continues to overplay its hand and refuses to be forthright about sweeping privacy violations – in NYTimes.

(Community Matters) Beyond thrilled to join Ballet Austin in Israel for performances of The Light, Stephen Mill’s piece honoring remembrance of the Holocaust. Cookie Ruiz, Stephen, Steve Adler, Kirk Rudy & Tommie Meredith have long dreamed of bringing the performance and curriculum to Israel.

Traveling with Diane Land, Steve Adler, Suzanne & Marc Winkelman (Steve & Marc planned our trip), Lynn & Tommie Meredith, Nancy Scanlan, Reed Adler & Steven. There’s also a group of additional BA supporters & Austin Jewish Federation members here concurrently.

Tonight Steven, Diane, Steve & I had dinner with @ Merav’s & Dori’s w/ Oret & Amir (& their 5 spectacular children) – all friends from previous visits.

We’re spending our first three nights in Akko (highly recommend the Efendi Hotel), touring Western Galilee & the Golan Heights. Last night was the opening performance. As spectacular and moving as it was in Austin in 2005, just didn’t prepare me for seeing it with such vintage and in such a relevant setting. The dancers were exquisite. Reviews are over the top. We’ll miss the Tel Aviv performance but will see the company perform again in Jerusalem next week.

(Community Matters) I like how our friend frames it.  Marfa is the Magic Kingdom. If you live next door, you’ll “own” the castle. Well, this is gonna be fun.

Quick trip to Marfa this week – up Tuesday, back today. Real estate business, a little radio business and lots of super visits with friends there and w/ Joe in Fredericksburg on the way home.

(Community Matters) There’s just so much good reported in this Huff Post piece about what Pope Francis has to say about the church’s attitude about gays, women, nuns, humility . . .  And, it’s meaningful that Austin Bishop Vasquez appears to agree. 

On the way home from Marfa today, I was wondering if I could reclaim my Catholic heritage and retain my Episcopal enrollment. Should be able to do so – they are basically the same religions. 

Pope Francis: Gays, Abortion Too Much Of Catholic Church’s Obsession

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/19/pope-francis-gay_n_3954776.html

Pope Francis faulted the Roman Catholic church for focusing too much on gays, abortion and contraception, saying the church has become “obsessed” with those issues to the detriment of its larger mission to be “home for all,” according to an extensive new interview published Thursday.

The church can share its views on homosexuality, abortion and other issues, but should not “interfere spiritually” with the lives of gays and lesbians, the pope added in the interview, which was published in La Civilta Cattolica, a Rome-based Jesuit journal.

Continue reading →

(Community Matters) Excellent trip to Des Moines w/ Mayor Castro & Congressman Castro. Enjoyed meeting and chatting w/ Senator Harkin and met lots of his Iowa staff, organizers and supporters at his major donor dinner. Last night we hosted new friends in my hotel room for a boxing match watching party. This morning, we met with Hispanic political leadership and spent the afternoon at the Steak Fry, where Mayor Castro shared the stage with the Senator and Vice President Biden.

I’m blown away by the Castro brothers’ popularity in Iowa. Joaquin arrived at the fair grounds with the Senator & Mayor in the VP’s motorcade and since he wasn’t speaking, joined the crowd – they literally rushed him, jockeying for pictures. Everywhere we’ve gone, Joaquin and Julian have been stopped, approached, grabbed for pics – and it isn’t only Hispanics and young voters. I’m appreciative they are both traveling the country, campaigning for the best Democratic candidates.

Bummed I didn’t get someone else to take this picture so I could be in it. Seems like it’ll be prophetic – first Castro strategy meeting in Iowa.