Community Matters

(Community Matters) Straight men aren’t suppose to know what it means when I ask if they are friends of Dorothy!

(Community Matters) PeopleFund was notified yesterday we won a $1,000,000 grant from the US Treasury to expand our loan portfolio. Since 1995, we’ve been making loans to entrepreneurs creating jobs and wealth in low & moderate income communities. And, we match intellectual capital (mentorship & consulting) with this financial capital. We have enviable success and repayment rates. Many thanks to our CEO, Margo Weisz and COB, Jack McDonald.

(Community Matters) Excited that our oldest nephew arrives today for three days with us – well, mostly at ACL. Though, I’m sure ACL is incidental and remain convinced he mostly wants to see his uncles.

Shaun & friend

Same day one of my favorite undergrads returns for a visit after months away at Marine officer training school and intelligence officer training at Quantico. Eager to catch up with Brett Lester too

Brett on the right

(Community Matters) I’m embarrassed to admit I wasn’t familiar with Austin Post. Well, as I think about it, maybe a vague memory of once checking it out after a mention somewhere. Tonight at dinner with Joe & Andra Liemandt, they were telling me about this site (and seekingalpha.com) and about engaging high school students to live blog high school football and create their own community. It’s a well-designed site, still an alpha and likely to grow. Keep an eye on it. Publish your own articles. It’s a nonprofit initiative of the Trilogy Employee Foundation.

(Community Matters) Is it true Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt won’t run for reelection? I’m receiving notes from Commissioner Margaret Gomez supporters suggesting such.

(Community Matters) Sad, looks as if it’s official. I’ve lost my largest koi, Barack. I noticed him and three of the comets missing when I returned from Port A. Was hoping they were just hiding. Alas no sign during the last 4 days, and I’ve even dug around under rocks and in the plants. probably a racoon . . . . rats, but that’s the cycle of life isn’t it.

(Community Matters) Buju Banton is a Jamaican raggae singer who advocates violence against gay men – his 1992 song Boom Bye Bye advocates killing gay men with submachine guns and pouring acid on them.

Jamaica is well-known as a violent place for gays. Every year, gay Jamaicans are granted asylum to the United States because of well documented prosecution in their country. Efforts underway to cancel Buju Banton’s upcoming concerts in the USA.

Even though the singer has “reformed” and now produces songs with ant-violence lyrics, even donating the proceeds of a 1993 song to charities providing services for children with AIDS, he was arrested in 2004 for violence against gays.

(Community Matters) Steven and I had a delightful dinner with Carolyn and Marc Seriff at La Condessa last night. Don’t think I should have two drinks as sweet as their watermelon martinis, however.

(Community Matters) WSJ article

We asked six experts which 10 cities will emerge as the hottest, hippest destinations for highly mobile, educated workers in their 20s when the U.S. economy gets moving again. Our panelists—demographers, economists, geographers and authors on urban issues—picked their cities based on the criteria they deem most important, from economic diversity to lifestyle.

Right now Washington is a magnet. It has become the new New York

(Community Matters) Former city councilmember Raul Alvarez is running for County Commissioner, Pct 4. No word yet if Commissioner Margaret Gomez intends to run for reelection.

(Community Matters) Reading Maureen Dowd’s column on William Safire, it’s hard not to like the fellow. And, it is certainly inspiring toward maintaining civility and class, no matter the political volume.

Only hit people when they’re up

(Community Matters) James Huffines is pretty amazing. Just reading that he’s agreed to chair the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce in 2011. He currently serves as chairman of the University of Texas board of regents. And, he has a day job. James and his wife, Patty, are extraordinary in the time and effort they dedicate to community.