Community Matters

(Community Matters) “Whose side are you on? The banks or the American People?” Will Texas’ senators continue to stand for obstructing the president’s success at all costs to taxpayers? We thought Rush Limbaugh was crazy when early on he said he wanted Obama to fail. Turns out he really was articulating the Republican party’s strategy … Kay, John, whose side are you on? big banks or taxpayers?

(Community Matters) They’re performing Steven’s American Fiesta at Milwaukee’s Renaissance Theaterworks April 23 – May 23 – we’re seeing it May 8.  This will be interesting.  Steven’s never watched anyone else perform one of his shows.

An obsessive collector deals with his Oklahoma parents’ opposition to his same-sex marriage, as he travels across America to find the “perfect piece” of vintage Fiestaware. His comical journey reveals a fresh, hopeful look at our country’s cultural/political divide and the many ways we can find common ground. Milwaukee’s own John McGivern will tickle your funny-bone and touch your heart as he plays over 20 different characters in this tour de-force role.

Toxic Assets has been going great – two shows performed, one to go.  Tonight’s an especially super evening since includes FuseBox Festival’s top supporters – financial & artistic – as well as many family & friends. Good gosh, who’s been to see the show already includes – Andrea Ariel, Amanda Chiampi, Joyce Christian & Rudy Green, Scott Collier & Kala Philo, Linda Fields, Jo & Jon Ivester, Janet, Mark, Ben, Lena & Nico, Jen Spencer, Georgia Thomsen & Erich, Lee Walker & Jen Vickers, Elyse Yates, Amy, Kirk, Ellie & Alex Rudy, Cari Anderson & Tish Smith, Allan Baker, Suzanne & David Booth, Emily Bryant, Palo Chalupka & Amy Bryant, Dan Gillotte, Joene Grissom, Richard Hargrave & Gary Cooper, Ed & Karen Hartwell, Mark Halozbach & Dana Friisen-Hansen, Jo Krause, Lora Livingston, Mary Lou Adams, Everett McKinley, Margaret Shaw, Steve Moore, Amy Grace Tharp & Doug Ulman, Barbara Wohlgemuth, Carrie Stapelton, Margo Marshall & Lauren, Martin Zimmerman & Kelly Howe . . . good gosh & I know lots more, just not remembering everybody.

(Community Matters) Reminds me when Steven and I were driving my nephew to the family farm. He was maybe 4 years old.  He said something like “two boys together, that’s weird.” When I told him it wasn’t weird, that sometimes it’s a boy & a girl, sometimes two girls,and sometimes two boys, he thought about it, then just said “ok.”  It became a nonevent.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) This guy my new hero: Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) blasted the “incrementalism” approach to fixing the nation’s broken financial system. Rather than nibbling around the edges, Kaufman wants to impose strict limits on financial firms’ activities; significantly cut them down in size; and wants Congress to act more forcefully because federal banking and securities regulators failed to protect the public from an increasingly dangerous financial industry.  huffpost story

(Community Matters) ending earmarks, filibuster reform. Congress is finally on a roll. Now, let’s address the deficit, reform healthcare & the financial industry and spur economic activity.

(Community Matters) I serve on the board of the KDK-Harman Foundation which is well-known for its emphasis on funding best-of-class, rigorous academic programs. I’ve also participated in lots of forums looking at successful programs. In Central Texas, we’re making significant, measurable progress with early childhood education, elementary and high school outcomes. And, it appears we’ll now prioritize middle school initiatives. So, the trend is favorable, if way overdue. Administrators need more autonomy – including the right to hire & fire teachers – and they should be held to objective standards.  I’m unpersuaded about dictating curriculum, though there is no doubt that certain researched and tested curriculum consistently deliver outstanding results.

in this article:

More successful nations maintain central control over  standards and curriculum, but give local schools more freedom from regulation.  The question for the U.S. is not just how many charter schools it establishes, but how to build the capacity for all schools to assume charter-like autonomy

(Community Matters) Alberta Phillips in today’s Austin American Statesman commentary has a good point about a Hispanic surname in a GOP primary, and how about the reverse unfairness when a Latina runs for the bench in Travis County?  both are problematic

(Community Matters) The closet causes strange behavior.  I’m not proud these guys are evidently members of our tribe, but it appears they are.  Hoping as they and their demons escape the closet they’ll be productive contributors.

(Community Matters) Kirk Rice’s mom, Betty, passed away peacefully yesterday.  Kirk & Ronnie were at her side.  Service Thursday in Baytown.

If you didn’t know Betty, think of a fiesty, Aggie mom who never missed a football game and always made you laugh.

Condolences to Ronnie & Kirk. Also thinking of Mike just now

(Community Matters) A lot of my meetings in DC dealt with the status of overturning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  Senator Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, spoke at our luncheon, expressing his overwhelming support to overturn the discriminatory legislation – and he needs help obtaining a majority in his committee so the overturn can be included in the Defense Authoriziation Bill’s markup.  Before anyone gets their panties in a wad about why we are attaching it to defense authorization, that’s how the ban was passed in the first place.

HRC is deploying field to help build the grassroot support needed.  I’m happy to talk with my friends directly about this, not so inclined to blog about the specifics.

In the House, the Armed Services Committee is not so helpful; Chairman Skelton is not supportive.  It doesn’t help that he comes from one of the most R-leaning congressional districts held by a D in the country.  Congressman Patrick Murphy has taken on passage of the overturn and has done an extraordinary job.  As of Saturday, he had 190 co-sponsors.  We need 218 votes; we feel optimistic and will continue to press for public promises. Chairman Murphy’s key congressional aid for defense joined us for breakfast on Saturday.

It is quite possible that Congress will pass overturn of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell with this defense authorization in the late spring or summer.  It is in no way a done deal but its chances are now better than not.

The study underway by the Pentagon is not IF DA/DT should be implemented, it’s about how.

(Community Matters) Very distressing to read of a possible second recent hate crime here in Austin

(Community Matters) Algebra in Wonderland and Building a Better Teacher