Community Matters

(Community Matters) Thomas Friedman’s column in today’s NYT one of the most insightful I’ve enjoyed in a long time.

I regularly engage in an “email conversation” with two well-informed friends on the issue of Obama Administration Middle East Peace leadership, as well as less regularly with more partisan friends representing both sides. Friedman correctly notes that Pres Obama’s pressing for settlements freeze reflects broader US sentiments. I have long detected and voiced a concern that Israeli lobby successes were not forever sustainable nor was blind acquiesence in anyone’s interest.

Wish Friedman had mentioned that Pres Obama is simultaneously pressing Arab states (Saudi Arabia, Egypt & Syria) for concessions and Israeli security guarantees while insisting that the Palestinians curb violence and rhetoric which begats violence. Thankful for Friedman’s reminder that Israel often gets rockets in exchange for pullbacks (Lebanon in addition to Gaza).

I think Pres Obama’s leadership in Middle East peace negotiations merits the most optimism in a very long time. posted from my blackberry

(Community Matters) Celebrated Carol & Phillip Tomlinson’s 50th wedding anniversary yesterday in Shawnee, Oklahoma at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art. It was a super evening, well attended by family & friends.

Craig, Phil, Carol & Steven Tomlinson

Craig, Christy & Chris Doering

Carol’s people: the Huggins
from 6:00 clockwise: Uncle Bud, Uncle Jack, Addy Lou, Aunt Vivian, Ethyl, Uncle Clarence, Aunt Ann (Carol’s twin), Uncle Warren Dean (Aunt Sara strolling & not pictured)

David & Bob Tomlinson

Steven & Beth

Hanah & Hilary singing for the event

Karen Stalcup & Sid Tomlinson

can’t believe didn’t get a picture of my sister-in-law Delise Tomlinson – she did 99.9% of the work for this event – and a fabulous job!

(Community Matters) a few pics from Dallas

Charles Santos

One of my best friends in the world & definitely the meanest! We trade barbs ruthlessly, though the real fear is when we gang up on another with practical jokes. oh my. karma worries me here

Charles runs TITAS in Dallas and is taking over programming at the new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, the new multi-property, $354 million performing arts complex.

Ricky Bond

OMG, Ricky is the funniest, chattiest person in the entire world, also one of my best friends and Charles’ husband. Ricky really is the original Chelsea boy, which is where Charles first met him. Rick still had his antique shop in Rockefeller Center, flitted between Fire Island, Chelsea, the Jersey Shore and his parents home in Main Line Philadelphia. Ricky has uncountable degrees (seriously, several masters) and is today completing a doctorate in art history. He’s also a fabulous art teacher at an innercity school.

Kidrobot

There was a line three blocks long awaiting the opening of the Mockingbird station Kidrobot , the “planet Earth’s premier creator & retailer of limited edition toys, clothing, artwork & books.”

(Community Matters)
Deep in the heart of another red state. The invites for my in-law’s 50th anniversary include my name along their son’s just as our sister-in-law’s is included as a host along side her husband’s. And even though probably more than half the attendees at today’s celebration held at the museum are fundamentalist, conservative Christians who probably question our president’s nationality & religuous affiliation, I couldn’t be an iota more graciously accepted as a legitimate member of this family, as the spouse of the prodigal nephew, cousin, son of the governor’s cabinet member. If we insisted on a legal term, the discussion wouldn’t go well. But, it otherwise goes extraordinarily well. And, though there might have been a few years of growing pains, I couldn’t be any more proud & honored to be a family member. Happy 50th Anniversary Carol & Phillip Tomlinson. Posted from my blackberry. .

(Community Matters)

You can yell at a cop in America. This is not Iran. And if some people don’t like what you’re saying, too bad. You can even be wrong in what you are saying. There is no law against that. It is not an offense for which you are supposed to be arrested.

(Community Matters)

marvelous

(Community Matters) State Education Commissioner Robert Scott makes some good points.

(Community Matters)
Insightful perspective http://mobile.nytimes.com/art/408324/28?sub=Columnist

I do not think this pertains to the sale of Goldman warrants. The price was arrived at just weeks ago. (A friend commented that amidst the crisis, we may have gladly accepted a 23% return – heck even just a gurantee of return of principal.) The 23% return wasn’t negotiated during the meltdown; it was negotiated a few weeks ago. Plans had called for an auction. Instead we settled for less than one fifth of Buffett’s rate. Posted from my blackberry

(Community Matters) DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) I had no idea part of the rail line was underground. I rode from downtown to Mockingbird station – felt very much like a subway.

Dinner last night with Charles Santos & Rick Bond. They are doing great – Charles consolidating Titas into Dallas Performing Arts complex, and Rick finishing up dissertation proposal. Steven is wrapping up client engagement this morning; we’ll have lunch with his aspiring-writer cousin, then off to Shawnee, Oklahoma.

This am, great planning meeting/conference call re: the 2010 Anti-Defamation League Torch of Liberty Awards where we’re honoring Amy & Kirk Rudy. Marcia Levy heading up fundraising – she’s awesome, much fun to work with.

Oh yeah, guess our big news yesterday was Steven fainting in Wheatsville. He’s fine. Was a strange windpipe thing.

(Community Matters) It’s in today’s print edition of AAS but couldn’t find it there online. Why Obama could relate to Gates

One white guy I know recounts his own experience — cop barged into his home at 3 a.m., rousting him from bed, demanding I.D. — and says: “this [expletive] happens all over the place and it has nothing to do with race.”

And I say:

I’ll see your 3 a.m. roust and raise you Tony, jacked up on a street in Harlem, Bill, with a cop’s gun to his head, Bryan, pulled over for an air freshener on his rear view mirror, James, ordered to pull down his pants and lie on the curb, Robert, threatened with injury for drinking beer in the parking lot with friends after work. And that’s just among guys I know, including three preachers.

Now, broaden it to include the bridegroom shot to death on his wedding day, the African immigrant killed while reaching for his wallet, the Maryland man beaten senseless as he lay in bed, the Miami man beaten to death for speeding, the dozens of men jailed on manufactured evidence in Los Angeles and manufactured police testimony in Tulia, Texas, the man sodomized with a broomstick in New York. Are we supposed to believe it coincidence that the men this happens to always happen to be black?

(Community Matters) Off to Dallas this morning – Steven’s working there this afternoon/evening and tomorrow morning, then we’re off to Oklahoma to celebrate Carol & Phil’s 50th anniversary. Dinner tonight with Charles Santos & Rick Bond; I think we’re driving to Ft. Worth to catch up with the Christie women – Tana, Leigh, Lily & Ivy are doing the Texas cowgirl rodeo and museum tour.

(Community Matters) I’m hoping musings on prices at Austin Famers’ Markets align with interests of entrepeneurs in corporate social responsibility. I can’t articulate the connection but feel it there. A New Office Space

Amanda Chiampi and Shobie Partos have posted on how to and examples of employee volunteer programs.