Community Matters

(Community Matters) An on-fire art form is pecha kucha.  Here’s a demo describing the US Senate by social graphs

this isn’t strictly speaking pecha kucha since only 15 seconds per slide; pecha kucha actually allows 20 secs each

(Community Matters) musings from a VC in NYC on Obama and governance

(Community Matters) Article in today’s NYT –

That race remains a serious obstacle in the job market for African-Americans, even those with degrees from respected colleges, may seem to some people a jarring contrast to decades of progress by blacks, culminating in President Obama’s election.

But there is ample evidence that racial inequities remain when it comes to employment. Black joblessness has long far outstripped that of whites. And strikingly, the disparity for the first 10 months of this year, as the recession has dragged on, has been even more pronounced for those with college degrees, compared with those without. Education, it seems, does not level the playing field — in fact, it appears to have made it more uneven.

I’m stifled by this, don’t know what to think.  It’s hard to believe there is still this level of institutionalized discrimination.  And, I know there is, has been and will probably always be a bias toward familiarity.  I’m wondering how much familiarity crosses over into discrimination.  I’ve always seen it more as inviting people you know and friends of existing employees to apply, thus the value of posting and advertising positions to achieve greater diversity.  But, would many really turn off a candidate because of their race?  not in my perspective yet the story begs the question

(Community Matters) Remembering too many friends no longer with us

(Community Matters) Well, I’m having to fall back on trusting the President.  Many times I’ve said I can’t imagine trusting any other person in the oval office quite as much.  President Obama doesn’t believe he has all the answers, he listens to all sides and encourages vigorous debate.  I’ll assume his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan is the right decision for now.

(Community Matters) more preliminary recommendations from scientists warning that the low dose radiation could increase occurrence – inconclusive study.

(Community Matters) Arrived today.  Steven’s belated birthday gift.  NYTimes review

(Community Matters) While reviewing a board package this morning and in the board meeting this afternoon, I was bummed to see the economic statistics and to hear the forecasts which include a high degree of caution for a double dip recession – and for sustained unemployment.

(Community Matters) lamb chops on the grill, asparagus chilling, sweet potatoes baking, salad fixed . . . . tapping into the wine early, a little cheese, a little pate, 23 minutes to guests – Sundays are godchildren dinner nights, and friends who know to stop by 🙂

(Community Matters) Leslie’s obituary in the Austin American Statesman

(Community Matters) Well, rats . . . sorta.  I didn’t hit my 50,000 but I did learn quite a bit about novel writing.

After about 6,000 words, I decided I didn’t like the novel I’d always wanted to write.  It was historical fiction (my favorite) but its time had passed.  Launching into the new idea, I started late and ran out of time.  There’s more momentum for it, though it’s more autobiographical than I’d ever publish – too much information on my vulnerabilities, my pride, my fears.   Wrote nearly 6,000 words on it, must have reflected on 1,000,000 in my head.  For Nanowrimo purposes, I accomplished 11,981 of the 50,000.

Now, if I include my Austin American Stateman guest editorial (568) and my Nov blog postings (10,685 words prior to this posting) . . . . 

(Community Matters) I’m thrilled to read our city council is considering adopting a systematized downtown density bonus program.

Tom Stacey & Taylor Andrews are friends and civic-minded developers.  Their concerns should matter to us, and we should take a lesson from those communities that have proceeded successfully.

Of course developers are going to oppose mandatory fees or amenities for density bonuses.  One of the largest contributors to developers profits is their negotiating of extra density allowances – they buy property with certain limits for development (priced accordingly), obtain extra allowances and are therefore able to generate higher than originally forecasted profits.  If we don’t allow enough room for profitability, we’ll kill the golden goose.

Nevertheless, developers and investors want predictability – this will lower costs.  Establishing a fair, predictable system which articulates costs upfront will lower the cost of capital and encourage dense development. And, of course, it’s perfectly okay to require developers to share a portion of extra value created by density bonuses.