Daily Archives: 08/18/2009

(Community Matters) I’m still in Marfa. Will be hard to tear me away.
Michael’s in Houston for tests and appointments with a couple of specialists. I’m feeling slightly guilty for not being there, though he promised to record the conversations and we discussed questions.

One of the great things about my job is the ability to do most of it from anywhere. Spent a few hours on line and on phone yesterday in fundraising and planning. Conference call staff meeting this morning.

Hadn’t seen Jessie & Daniel Browning, they’d been on a trip. Made plans for a Pizza Foundation dinner, then realized PF closed. Monday night in Marfa, not too much open. Wow, an epiphany, realized I could make dinner. Tom & Vilis joined us. Nice evening.

The weather is so much nicer here. Marfa’s elevation makes all the difference.

This tiny building on the Judd compound may well be the inspiration for my next construction project.

Celia Thompson mentioned the history club during my May visit with Suzanne & Kevin. Evidently, the early German immigrants to Marfa were particularly well educated and established the history club as an intellectual oasis – inviting speakers, establishing a library and promoting more learning.

I hadn’t noticed these two homes before.

(Community Matters)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of Media Affairs

________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release

August 17, 2009

Statement by the President on the Smelt v. United States Brief

Today, the Department of Justice has filed a response to a legal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, as it traditionally does when acts of Congress are challenged. This brief makes clear, however, that my Administration believes that the Act is discriminatory and should be repealed by Congress. I have long held that DOMA prevents LGBT couples from being granted equal rights and benefits. While we work with Congress to repeal DOMA, my Administration will continue to examine and implement measures that will help extend rights and benefits to LGBT couples under existing law.