Frankie’s Posterous

Overlapping Agendas

Perhaps nowhere is the mixing of charitable and political agendas more evident than with Mr. Baca and his family-run charity. It is not particularly large, taking in only about $200,000 in contributions this year, according to Joe Baca Jr., the lawmaker’s son. But the list of corporate donors and supporters serves almost like a road map to Mr. Baca’s major legislative actions.

It doesn't seem right that corporations can essentially buy face time and goodwill from lawmakers via donations to their charities without any questioning from the public. Some amount of transparency, perhaps a requirement that charities with ties to elected officials disclose their list of donors, would give the public the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions.

I'm not arguing that foundation's should not be able to accept charitable donations to help local communities, but this could impact major legislative issues and should be addressed accordingly. Any thoughts?

Productivity nerds rejoice. iPad OmniFocus, $40, is now available. I was a beta tester and have been using iPad OmniFocus for several weeks. So does OmniFocus’s much awaited iPad incarnation live up to the hype or fall flat on its face? I’m pleased to report the Omni Group succeeded, brilliantly. If you aren’t in the mood to read 2,000 words, just go buy it. Otherwise, read on.

The most I've paid for an app, but it keeps me organized in Grad School. It is definitely worth it for anyone that feels like they're drowning with things to do.

With the mid-term elections sure to swing heavily away from Mr Reid’s Democrats, there is now no possibility of comprehensive climate-change legislation in America for years.

From those humble beginnings, Buss would go on to amass a fortune in real-estate, purchase the Lakers, the NHL's Kings and the Forum, establish Los Angeles' greatest sports dynasty with 10 NBA championships and change the face of the league with an innovative ownership style.

"He has owned the team 31 years and they have been in the NBA Finals 16 times," said NBA commissioner David Stern. "Luck doesn't last that long."

I'll claim an assist on this one!

Here's a tremendously interesting radio program featuring Safa Ismael, an Iraqi interpreter for the United States Military. Mr. Ismael is a student at the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania, where I will be pursuing a Master of Governmental Administration in the fall. I am really looking forward to meeting other members of my class and hearing their respective stories.