Monthly Archives: January 2010

(Community Matters) Interesting reader response below on my posting about Sacrifice

If you were a Republican Party operative, you would want a period of sacrifice while the Democrats are in power so that when the Republicans come back they can be Santa Claus again.

I used to worry about deficits.  By the late 90s the government finally got its act together and balanced the budget.  I thought we were back on track for long-term prosperity.  Then what happened?  We got horrible tax policies in Bush’s first term that essentially functioned as a raid on the treasury by the wealthy.  Gone was that fiscal discipline we had strived for.  What’s the point of sacrifice if it’s just a prelude to tax cuts for the rich?  I felt betrayed.  I’m not falling for that line again.

The domestic policies in Bush’s first term were what turned me against the Republicans.  Now I say: run up the deficits.  Live for today.  Let’s put off the sacrifices until the Republicans return to power in a few years.

(Community Matters) I’m just remembering a conversation I had with a Republican at a party in Marfa.  This mega law firm partner told me they wished we’d sacrifice now in order to fix the economy.  I’m all for this.  Reminds me of earlier postings on War Bonds and Prof Brandl on How Do We Finance the Deficit .  I still believe the American people are ready to be called to sacrifice.  Though, I admit, this may not be politically practical until those on the other side of the aisle are convinced their financial sacrificing would be well spent, or invested in reducing the deficit.  I think it should be framed as paying the costs of the wars.

(Community Matters) It isn’t as simple & philosophical as it sounds.  How do we effectively combat terrorism in the air?  Where are the lines at civil liberties vs security we are willing to draw in exchange for heightened security?

These “essays” in today’s New York Times helped me better understand the cost:benefit analysis of racial profiling.  Frankly (and I suppose perhaps I should be embarrassed about it), I wasn’t automatically opposed to the new policy of profiling individuals from 14 countries.  However, the comments therein, especially those of Ben Gurion Int’l Airport (Israel) consultant Rafi Sela and computer science Professor Sheldon Jacobson remind me that racial profiling isn’t just wrong, it isn’t effective and would distract from better practices.  Prof Jacobson notes that 60-70% of passengers are known commodities.  We have enough information on them to not spend billions in security resources inspecting them as they travel.  For the other 30-40%, that’s where we should focus our state-of-the-art technologies, even not allowing some of them to travel if we cannot satisfy ourselves with safety.

(Community Matters) Gary Cooper sent this pic of a few of our Marfa guests hiking in Big Bend.

Graydon Parish, Christina Guiterrez, Hazel Barbour, Susan Ghertner & Richard Hartgrove

(Community Matters) Following Michael Barnes’ tradition of naming a new year’s word:

Less

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters)

yum, one of our mutual Xmas gifts – Julie Speed

(Community Matters) gotta love him

Hat Tip: David Gail

(Community Matters) The Saveur 100 – they asked readers for their favorite ingredients, chefs, tools and tips.  Some that stand out: dried lemon zest, Boss butcher blocks, ssam jang, chocolate gravy, The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen (which I’ve just ordered by 1-click but only found paperback so if anyone looking for my 2/4 birthday gift . . . ), Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, the Fernandez & Wells Winebar in London, The Olive & the Caper (I did 1-click hardcover), clarified butter, sichuan dipping salt, & pan con tomate (which Sue Sheridan taught me years ago).

btw, the chocolate donut holes at Bread & Breakfast in Alpine (probably the donuts too but I didn’t try one) are the most delectable object I’ve tasted in 2010 and will be my standard for the year

(Community Matters) says the AAS

I don’t disagree but obvious misses: Brett Hurt, Jeff Dachis, Amy Bryant, Cotter Cunningham, Kevin Lalande, Dave Sikora, Bryan Jones & Mickey Milsap.

(Community Matters) Gosh, thinking back on the “weekend” just now remembering the extraordinary tour arranged for us at the McDonald Observatory.  What a perfect way to celebrate Benjamin Brooks’ 5th birthday, not to mention the visit from DC of Gabel & Dio and from Austin of Isaac, Charlie, Solvye, Emma & Max.

Foreground right: 0.8-meter Telescope. Background L-R: Struve Telescope, Hobby-Eberly Telescope, Smith Telescope, 0.9-meter Telescope  (McDonald Observatory pic)

Jill & Feferman inside the Hobby-Eberly telescope’s dome

inside the Harlan-Smith, 107-inch, telescope’s dome, touring with Dr. Sneden

we also had dinner in the astronomer’s quarters with Dr. Chris Sneden, his wife and Joel Barna, enjoyed the Twilight Party, the Star Party and walking the catwalk of the Harlan-Smith even later.  from the top of the Harlan-Smith to the sub-basement where the light is refracted, reflected and otherwise bent to remove imperfections – extraordinary.

(Community Matters) Much celebrating and lots, lots, lots quality time with dear friends.  Not only did we take over most of the Paisano Hotel but keeping the Rock Hudson suite as a hospitality suite as well as the site for the New Years Eve bash created a place for community and the making of even more friendships. (pic: Eugene & Boyd Elder)

Of course, those here all dear friends of mine & Steven’s.  And, we so wanted those who didn’t already to get to know each other even better.  Worked out terrifically that Margo & Gregory’s 5yo loved playing with Mitch & Ingrid’s 4yo, and that their 6 and 8 year olds, played so well with Sonya & Reid’s 8 year old, who obviously adored Nancy & Keith’s 13-yo twin son, ditto on Sonya & Reid’s 11yo daughter and Keith & Nancy’s 13 yo daughter.

Michael & Rachel new to this tribe and widely adored by the kids as well as the adults.  Helped that Michael brought all the sports equipment for Thursday’s three bursts of soccer & football.  The kids were no worse the wear, though the adults feeling a wee bit sore the next two days.   (pic:  Michael & Rachel Feferman, Dio Cramer, Max &  Emma Graves & Peter Johannsen)

And, mixing our tribe of 50 with another dozen Marfans and part-time Marfans made for a spectacular new years eve. Regrettably, I didn’t make it over to Tobin Levy’s bash, nor to the Teepee Party at Cosmico.  We did make Terry & Suzanne’s earlier in the day.

The Hilltop hotties hosted a New Years Day brunch at their place overlooking the city.   Rest of the day spent eating, reading, walking, touring and last night a big night for leftovers, dictionary, Banana gram, cards and more wine.

A couple of folks pulled out of town yesterday, nearly all the rest today.  Last night I blew out my back, so I haven’t been too helpful with the packing up and loading, and I’m now mostly stationary.  ughh

Some (not many) pics from New Years eve. 

Sonya Cohen Cramer & Jill McRae

Dick DeGuerin, Joe Christie & Mitch Berman

Michael Feferman, Christina Gutierrez & Hazel Barbour

Graydon Parish & Kim Hughes

Dio & Gabel Cramer, their daddy Reid Cramer, Max & Emma Graves

Robert & Valerie Arber

Susan Ghertner & Margaret Keys

Vivian Castano (off to left), Kim Hughes & Michael Mitchell

Terry Mowers, Barbara Hill & Suzanne Tick