Community Matters

(Community Matters) remembering so many . . .

(Community Matters) Steve Adler & Karen Gross (Anti-Defamation League’s local chairman & executive director) articulate well why this is not acceptable – Austin American Statesman guest editorial

before making this statement I’ve reflected on whether it’s opportunist. I’ve avoided stating it for a couple of weeks  – since this faith baiting started . . . I’ve long believed much (though certainly not all) of the political outreach from extremely conservative Christians to Jews was opportunistic. If Christian nationalism achieves unchecked political power, Jews will see themselves deemed second class citizens by those same “allies.”  Oh wait, that’s what the member of the Republican state board executive committee member just did

(Community Matters)

WHAT: The Dionysium, a monthly variety show

WHO: Dale Watson will be interviewed, tell stories, and answer questions from the audience, Graham Reynolds, will perform and debate, Lance Myers will show a cartoon, etc.

WHEN: This Wednesday December 1st, 7pm

WHERE: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, South Lamar

HOW MUCH: Eight Bucks

from Graham: this wednesday will be a fun Dionysium.  Dale Watson is one of Austin greatest and he’s full of fantastic stories, come hear him talk about his life in country music.  I will be at the Alamo’s crazy wurlitzer organ as usual plus I’ll  represent the Dionysium in the debate over whether non-musicians or musicians are better judges of music.

(Community Matters) So, giving lots of thought to inviting on a secondary blogger.  Thinking of inviting someone who’s registered R or considers him/herself an independent. The only difference of opinion I am unwilling to embrace is someone who is at all racially, sexual orientation, gender/gender identified or faith-based bigoted – life’s just too short. Sorry, I know some people’s religions say things about women, gays, Jews, etc – if you believe any of them deserve any less rights than you, then you are a bigot <full stop>

Anyhow, it would help me, & hopefully readers, further refine my positions and appropriately question assumptions.  Thoughts? Candidates?

btw, we all love some bigots – whether a grandmother, parent, uncle, brother – love the sinner, hate the sin

(Community Matters) I just watched last week’s Glee (Furt). Just watching this show is so uplifting

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters)

THE WHITE HOUSE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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(Community Matters) Wasn’t trying to be so cryptic in my earlier posts but didn’t want to preempt principals’ telling of friends.  Congratulation to:

Amy Grace Tharp & Doug Ulman and

Sandi Aitken & Bob Tomlinson

(Steven’s uncle, now Sandi’s gonna be our aunt)

(Community Matters) Tuesday spent catching up on work and coddling jet lag, but now working to organize our Saturday excursion to check out  landmarks neither of us have seen (we’ve both been here once before – separately) and Kuala Lumpur’s thriving art scene.

Lots of buzz about Malaysian artist Kow Leong Kiang (who’s painting – pic– Geyser gained plenty of attention during the recent Art Expo Malaysia).  Also want to check out two Malaysian artist coops, Matahati and Rumah Air Panas (I can’t yet determine if the latter still exists).

Not expecting a pirate’s treasure – the Wall Street Journal reports that Malaysian artists have been found and their works’ prices soared since 2006 – up to 100 fold for the best known artists such as Ahmad Zakii Anwar (his 1998 Figure 1 the pic to right)

Since 1998, Malaysian artists are expressing more political commentary – certainly between their colonial past, brief stint with communism, and now the tension of democracy negotiated with increasing fundamentalism.  (Malaysia is made up of 80% Malays and Chinese and 5% Indian.  Most Malays are Muslim.)

I’m reading that international conceptual artist Wong Hoy Cheong and Yee I-Lann (pic) are some of the best representatives of this work. Hoping to see both of their works on Saturday.

homosexuality is outlawed here – though represents a thriving KL scene. Neverthless, Steven and I have ordered up a rollaway since our trip is mostly business and we don’t wish to offend or place in a difficult position our hosts.

(Community Matters) Michael Barnes in Out & About writes bout the ‘hood

(Community Matters) Bill Gates in the WSJ on The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves, one of my kindle downloads for this trip.

the key to rising prosperity over the course of human history has been the exchange of goods.

The second key idea in the book is, of course, “rational optimism.” As Mr. Ridley shows, there have been constant predictions of a bleak future throughout human history, but they haven’t come true.

(Community Matters) Arrived Hong Kong last night – just an overnighter on way to Kuala Lumpur for nearly two weeks.  We’ll return on the 10th for a couple of nights in one of my favorite cities.

Uneventful flight over.  Lots of catching up reading the Economists – I’m still struggling to better understand globalization’s role in our likely economic recovery as well as what’s “fair” taxation.

Much enjoyed Grishom’s latest, Confession.

(Community Matters) Such an appropriately provocative essay by Paul Krugman today on the Irish banking crisis and the bailout of lenders – even bank shareholders – on the backs of the Irish public. Unbelievably, people are still worrying about whether or not shareholders will be wiped out – seriously, they haven’t been?  Important contrast with how this crisis handled in Iceland.  I hope all around the world we’ll reconsider criminal charges against those bankers and traders who didn’t only act maliciously but who have privately reaped handsome rewards.