Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) I’m glad Steven’s having fun too. Master Beekeeper Mason Dutton gives him & Micah King lessons.

update: David Chappel gave me the idea of renaming our hive, Gay Bees

(Community Matters) Robert joined me for this trip to Marfa. Unfortunately, Steven’s work wouldn’t let him get away.

Dinner last night with Tom Jacobs at Cochineal; courtyard visit with the dearest Caitlyn Murray and Tim Johnson.  Didn’t realize we’d be having dinner there again tonight with David & Ann Chappel, but that’s okay – we love the place

Prayers and good vibes to Cochineal owners Toshi Sakihara and Tom Rapp. Have been in contact with them today – chins up and Toshi’s feeling better.

Marfa Public Radio meetings this morning and afternoon – a board meeting tomorrow. Lunch with Jessie Browning and her three fabulous daughters, Charlotte, Bixby and Farah. Tomorrow night w/ Julie & Fran; Sunday with a few other friends. Wish Michael Mitchell could have joined us.

(Community Matters) “Austin is the most desirable city in the fastest growing state in the nation” In yesterday’s NYT: In Texas’s Capital, Construction on Many Corners

“Austin is the most desirable city in the fastest growing state in the nation,” Mr. Paul said. “Demand is outpacing supply for nearly every asset type downtown.” . . . said Mr. Paul, whose company recently bought several Austin properties including the former Katz’s Deli building at 618 West Sixth Street.

Hat Tip: ABJ

(Community Matters) #1 Melbourne not really a surprise. Australia way up on our list of places to hang since we returned last year – Adelaide #6, Sydney #7, Perth #9

The annual study ranks 140 cities according to political and social stability, crime rates, health care, education, infrastructure, and standard of cultural events and natural environment. All three of the Australian cities scored a perfect 100 for their healthcare, infrastructure and education. Wall Street Journal

#2 – Vienna, Austria, #3 – Vancouver, Canada, #4 – Toronto, Canada, #5 – Calgary, Canada, #6 – Adelaide, Australia, #7 – Sydney, Australia, #8 – Helsinki, Finland, #9 – Perth, Australia, #10 – Auckland, New Zealand

(Community Matters) –Second presidential debate (town meeting): Candy Crowley, Chief Political Correspondent, CNN and Anchor, CNN’s State of the Union, Tuesday, October 16, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

. . . looking especially forward to this one. I sat between Candy and David Plouffe at the White House State Dinner for S. Korean President Lee. Ms Crowley is tough charging and doesn’t brook ambiguity. Despite what some say, she’s also decidedly nonpartisan.  Fun too – we shared several laughs over 70s and 80s growing up stories.

(Community Matters) NYT Op-ed: For every soldier killed in war this year, about 25 veterans now take their own lives.

Maybe I do support existing DOD funding levels but for veteran services, not weapons. Eisenhower: “we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”

(Community Matters) admittedly a conversation w/ a progressive bias – it’s an honorable, enlightened & fair conversation nonetheless.

Chris Hayes, Luke Hayes’ brother, has really come into his own w/ his show – even more authoritative, direct & powerfully articulate.

Saturday’s UP w/ Chris Hayes: 48623493#48623493

Hoping to see Chris in Austin in the fall – we’ve promised to host a book signing

(Community Matters) Just noticed the celebrity dancers for this years – Dancing with the Stars benefiting the Center for Child Protection

  Continue reading →

(Community Matters) A bold move. I’m impressed that Romney finally jettisoned safe for bold. Even more now, the election is a very clear choice between two very different Americas

Some will say Mitt didn’t really have much choice but to go for a Hail Mary. Mitts numbers were trending negative and the gaps widening in almost all battleground states. I think most Americans will welcome the campaigns focusing on the substance of each candidates’ vision for America and the implications of their policy choices.

not to mention, there appears to be real chemistry between the men

(Community Matters) Becky Beaver: “So where exactly would our US Olympic team be without Title IX?  I believe that that would be with approximately as many gold medals as South Korea. I have found the dominance of the women, the intensity of their performances and their sheer joy at competing to be compelling to watch and truly inspiring.”

“Women outnumber men on the U.S. Olympic team for the first time, and they’re coming up big on the international stage. There are three full days of Olympic competition left, and female Olympians from the United States already have 51 medals [of 90 won by USA]

“It’s a celebration for women all over the world, not in just the United States,” Wambach said after her team topped Japan 2-1 in the gold-medal match on Thursday night. “Title IX is obviously a huge thing.”

Sure does seem fitting that this year, the 40th anniversary of Title IX, the 1972 law that increased opportunities for women in sports across America, U.S. women have storylines all over the Olympics.

So far in London, U.S. women have won 26 golds, nearly one in four of every one awarded to women at this point. The total of 26 equals the amount won by the U.S. and British men combined.

Tim Reynolds, Washington Post

photos: 1) gymnast Aly Raisman, 2) gymnast Gabby Douglas, 3) volleyball: Misty-May Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, 4) women’s soccer team

(Community Matters) AAS on the influence of money on research, in context of UT Assoc Professor Mark Regnerus flawed gay parenting study. 

Previous postings:

Gay Families Study – Academic Review Conclusion: “It’s Bullshit”

Gay Families Studies Under Investigation

Gay Families & Affected Kids

(Community Matters) My friend Marc Stanley to Sheldon Adelson: drop your silly lawsuit — you are going to lose and you are not going to bully us or silence us because of your wealth. Marc is the president of the National Jewish Democratic Council

“Adelson told me personally that he is a Jewish Republican for only two issues: He believes Republicans are better for Israel and he believes Republicans will eliminate the estate tax. I do not believe the vast majority of American Jews will agree with his views, especially when they hear the true facts instead of a one-sided campaign.

So here is my suggestion for Adelson. Let’s put money aside and settle this on the strength of ideas.

Why don’t you and I agree to two debates? You decide the forum and structure of the first and I’ll decide the forum and structure of the second. We can debate Obama’s record on Israel and we can debate the estate tax. And we can debate the differences between Democrats and Republicans on choice, healthcare, education, separation of church and state, marriage equality, poverty, social security, social justice and any other tikkun olam issue you wish.”  full story here