Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) reading about another Eagle Scout being fired from a camp and several staff members resigning in solidarity prompted me to look up who governs Austin’s scout council. Several of these men & women are friends and are otherwise supportive of LGBT constitutional equality. I need to start having conversations with these friends to understand their position and ask for their support for equality.

About 12 years ago, I didn’t climb on the bandwagon of criticizing the local scouts for anti-inclusion policies. But, it’s now 2012. Discriminating against anyone solely because of their sexual orientation is indefensible. You can’t be my friend and support discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation. Look, I’m not saying I don’t work w/ all sorts of folks but friends have each others’ backs, and I just don’t consider anyone who supports LGBT discrimination a friend. I also realize not everyone on the Council’s boards supports the policy.

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(Community Matters) This is like reading about property owners pulling a contract because the neighbors don’t want “those people” living next door. Seriously? Diocese of Worcester (Boston) pulls contract to sell a home because purchasers are a gay couple? This appears to transcend religious freedom and is about out & out bigotry. CBS Boston

(Community Matters) Last week started wondering if the gooey stuff on our patio furniture and the sheen on the ground was pecan sap? A few inquires didn’t resolve it – some said sap others said excrement from bugs on pecan trees, specifically apids. Our landscape contractor agrees:

I have found that Green Lacewing are the best beneficial insect for controlling aphids. I just received a shipment of lacewing eggs today and will be distributing them to some clients tomorrow. If you want I can distribute (2) 1000 egg containers on the pecans at your drive and in back yard. Don’t have enough to treat the rest of the pecans behind the pool house, but can order more. Should do another release in two weeks to get some control. let me know by the morning (Friday)

(Community Matters) Just reading about this – reportedly 3 men broke into a woman’s home and carved dyke into her stomach

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) Amazon’s Founder Pledges $2.5 Million in Support of Same-Sex Marriage.

Several friends give us a bit of grief for being such avid Amazon shoppers. We’ve pulled back a little bit but the UPS truck still comes by at least every other day. Sorry, I’m doubling down. I don’t see many of our other vendors contributing their personal dollars to our fight.  I’m also thinking of those straight friends who contribute to equality initiatives. Warms the heart and makes it feel right that we donate to women’s reproductive rights, children’s education . . .

(Community Matters) I assume this was tweeted in jest but interesting idea:  

‏@jlr_1969  #MittRomney fears the LDS leadership more than the people of the US. No returns because he’s been shorting his 10% tithe. #romneyshambles

#romneyshambles – is a stream of tweets related to Romney’s European visit. Hasn’t gone too well so far since he insulted the Brit’s just before arriving.

yikes, now they’re digging & piling on – England [sic] is just a small island. Its roads and houses are small. With few exceptions, it doesn’t make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy.

(Community Matters) Monocle’s Top 25 Cities in the World – quality of life

(Community Matters) important article in this month’s Sojourners, ‘the New Economy Movement,’ the democratization of the ownership of wealth – 6 examples happening right now in America (eg., credit unions, coops, employee owned companies, land trusts, etc). A thought provoking piece by Prof. Gar Aplerovitz who I hear will be in Austin soon

(Community Matters) Steven’s American Fiesta will premiere in LA at the Colony Theatre on Sept 26.

(Community Matters) Cool Deloitte study infographic

(Community Matters) slower iPhone sales are in anticipation of new model.  Not mutually exclusive . . . an astute investment friend warned me of this earlier this year, also of the availability of old phones and the resale market (potentially even more impactful on sustainability of growth?)

addt’l: But even the growth of the iPad still has not come close to dislodging the iPhone’s importance to Apple. It accounted for 46 percent of the company’s revenue in the quarter, and, according to Mr. Cihra’s estimates, about 60 percent of its profits.

Mr. Cook added that Apple would release the latest version of its Mac operating system, Mountain Lion, on Wednesday.