Community Matters

(Community Matters) There really is a blue moon 12/31 – even a partial lunar eclipse from some continents – report here

(Community Matters) Steven spent the day with the Jarmons at Leslie’s ranch where they celebrated her life and spread her ashes.

(Community Matters) Tomlinson Christmas dinner in Shawnee, OK – delayed due to weather

(Community Matters) A $5mm salary for the head coach of a public university –  hasn’t seemed right since it happened.   Looking at it from the frame of a non-profit executive (AAS story this morning) further calls to question Mack Brown’s level of compensation.  Would we stand for a $5mm salary for the CEO of the American Red Cross, the American Council of YMCAs or the Salvation Army – all which generate at least 10x UT football revenues and might seem more worthy of charitable tax status than a football program?

I respect fans’ right to compensate UT’s coach as they deem fit.  Perhaps the solution is to simply withdraw from nonprofit status and for fans to support the program without a charitable deduction.

The charitable status of Longhorn Foundation contributions might be questioned by the IRS anyhow.  Arguments are being made that the contributions represent the market price of goods & services received (ie., well-placed seats).

(photo:  AAS)

(Community Matters) I remember hearing that question a few weeks ago.  Well, Mexico sure hasn’t invited our help at any non-discrete level.  Yet this article brings home the threat next door – Revenge in Drug War Chills Mexico

Also recentlly heard a story of how even in San Miguel national drug gangs have moved in, pushing out small time, casual use marijuana dealers selling to locals/ex-pats.  Of course, there’s also Charles Duggan’s story of violence driving him and the boys away (bandits breaking into his home and attacking his guests)

(Community Matters) I love this AAS piece on Big Bend photographer James Evans

(Community Matters) NYTImes article on Kiva, Donors Choose, MicroPlace, Modest Needs and DonorsChoose.

Have to first say I’m disappointed about the recent clarifications at Kiva.  I’ve had dinner with Kiva’s founder, Matt Flannery, and he clearly misled me and the others at the table about the model.  Nevertheless, the model as clarified remains worthy of investment.

ModestNeeds is especially interesting and new – their top aps this morning (sure to be funded as people read the article):  1) a nonprofit serving youths for over 25 years needs one-time funding, 2) a 23-yo single mom needs help financing a car, 3) a musician needs help repairing his car.

(Community Matters) from our dear friend, the Rev Faith Bledsoe

Dear people of St. Francis,

The age of these old bones prevents me from traveling to be with you, but let me see if I can’t tell the story you’ve asked about. I remember that night. It was cold. Folks had been coming into the city for days. The Romans had decided to count people. I’m not sure why, but then they did a lot of things without telling the rest of us why.

I lived in Bethlehem then – a small town next to Jerusalem. I lived there with my husband and 5 children – 4 boys and 1 girl. My husband owned one of the local inns in town, where folks could come and rent a place to sleep for the night. That night, we doubled and tripled sleeping space, even opening the courtyard. There wasn’t a roof over the courtyard, but the wall and the gate kept out any dangers. Continue reading →

Merry Christmas from Steven & Eugene . . . and the godkids

Shaun Holifield, Luke Hayes, Melissa Henderson, Steven, Nico Selby, Eugene, Cameron Lockley, Ben Knaplund and Austin Knaplund    (not in picture: Lauren Mayes)

photo: Matt Rainwaters

(Community Matters) My brother-in-law, Craig Tomlinson, sent this pic from out their front door (Tulsa, OK this am)

(Community Matters) The first of David’s five stones that may eventually take the Goliath down

David only needed the first

(Community Matters) Just finished Michael Crichton’s Pirate Latitudes

I quite enjoyed.  I hadn’t read a silly little novel in too long

“Hunter, you son of an English mongrel bitch.  Lavasseur, you son of a French farmer and his favorite sheep . . . ”

“Sanson, you French pig!  Hunter, you English pox of a sheep!”

While Steven reads French deconstructivist philosophy (says it all)