Community Matters

(Community Matters) A friend’s organization is looking for a development associate. They don’t want a slew of unqualified resumes, but if you might be qualified and are interested, let me know.

their criteria:

• 5-10 years of direct sales or business development experience in a service industry or with a non- profit; emphasis on corporate sponsorships or corporate sales is a plus
• Proven track record of achieving revenue targets and/or a quota of over $1M annually
• Proven management and leadership capabilities
• Experience working with Senior Level executives in a corporate environment (C-level/VP)
• High energy, positive, “can-do” attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative
• Strong verbal communications skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and thorough understanding of strategic development
• Demonstrated ability to prospect, cultivate, and manage new relationships
• Strong partnership-building and event planning skills
• Thorough understanding of all components of a diversified funding base
• Self-motivated, work well under pressure and be able to handle several projects at one time
• Good computer skills and knowledge of data base programs

(Community Matters) My best friend Michael Mitchell (and you too Charlie!) comparing the existing healthcare system to slavery.

Michael is a 48yo playwright living with lymphoma and quite possibly needing a stem cell transplant which would only partially be covered by his $500+/month private health insurance (which he’s thrilled to have since no one would underwrite him but the state’s fund of last resort). He writes about a single dad with health insurance who still can’t afford his 9yo daughter’s recommended operation & the extraordinary penalty to all his fellow employees because his little girl’s medical condition drives up insurance costs for everyone.

Obviously, the comparison is metaphorical, not intended to dilute the reality of our countries’ worst stain. Anyhow, think about it – people who can’t leave their jobs, who have to rid themselves of all assets, who divorce, marry or otherwise reconfigure their lives simply to access needed medical services.

(Community Matters) The Planck Observatory is a European telescope launched to study the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) in our universe, remnants of the Big Bang (est 14 billion years ago). The image below is one of the first received since its launch in May.

Of course, I don’t get all this but the CMB is detected by looking for variations in temperature “a million times smaller than one degree – this is comparable to measuring from Earth the body heat of a rabbit sitting on the Moon.”

The image above represents the Planck’s first light survey, conducted over a 2-week period (the Planck continuously surveying the sky).

The image on the right (the Planck) was taken from the Herschel, another telescope launched simultaneously & on the same rocket. I haven’t yet seen images from Herschel, but it, like Planck, observes outside the visible part of the spectrum – gathering information on how stars and galaxies evolve.

(Community Matters) I just had to poach this from Joe.My.God

Twink 1: What should I go as for Halloween?
Twink 2: A top?
Twink 1: Funny. And you can go as “sobriety.”

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) just as trees budding signify the coming of spring, honey from Lani & Manny Azenberg a sure sign of Rosh Hashanah

(Community Matters) Census Bureau reporting poverty rose to 13.2% from 2007 to 2008, 40 million people living below the poverty line (ie., below $22k annual income for a family of four). Middle class didn’t fare well either – median income dropped 4% the same year. Of course, the tail of the GOP’s Great Recession will yield even harsher statistics during 2009.

(Community Matters) Joe Wilson’s son says his daddy isn’t racist & I believe him. And, if you’ve ever heard from city council members or editors at AAS, you know racism is alive & well, even in Central Tx. People leave messages and send letters that would make sailors blush. I have no doubt this plays a large role for some of our first Black president’s opponents.

Those attending protests have a responsibility to either 1) convince someone to stand down a racist sign or 2) move away from those promoting such ideas. There’s a responsibility to disassociate oneself from that trash. You can’t support protesters carrying racists signs and be shocked over the confusion

(Community Matters) ok, I’ve officially stayed in a night. MM on his way over and we’re off to Spider House. Hoping ST will join us

(Community Matters) Interesting. Someone between Wichita & Newton, KS (Lat/Long: 38, -97) is asking interesting questions about me through google and is being referred to this blog – hmm, they could be driving north on I-35

(Community Matters) This guy starts out sounding reasonable, then Anderson Cooper quotes from Mark Williams’ blog – the President is a “Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug.”

(Community Matters) Quiet dinner in with our friend Kevin Keim, director of the Charles Moore Foundation, discussing Place Notes and his on-line plans.