Monthly Archives: September 2010

(Community Matters) Obama Will Triumph – So Will America by Frank Schaeffer

Before he’d served even one year President Obama lost the support of the easily distracted left and engendered the white hot rage of the hate-filled right. But some of us, from all walks of life and ideological backgrounds — including this white, straight, 57-year-old, former religious right wing agitator, now progressive writer and (given my background as the son of a famous evangelical leader) this unlikely Obama supporter — are sticking with our President. Why?– because he is succeeding.

We faithful Obama supporters still trust our initial impression of him as a great, good and uniquely qualified man to lead us.

Obama’s steady supporters will be proved right. Obama’s critics will be remembered as easily panicked and prematurely discouraged at best and shriveled hate mongers at worst.

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(Community Matters) Steven and I had dinner at The Cooks’ House tonight – five stars.  First, a very modest, clean, quaint location.  Warm & friendly, met immediately upon arriving – at which time I didn’t realize Theresa Patterson, who greeted us & waited on us, was Eric Patterson’s wife. Eric is the chef/proprietor (along with his partner Jennifer Blakeslee – who wasn’t there tonight).  Food was to die for.  I started w/ a smoked white fish salad, Steven w/ heirloom tomatoes. Steven then chicken with sweetbreads in a wine sauce, me grilled quail breast and quail leg confit in a mirepoix sauce with steeped cherries and shallots. Over the top – sauces exploded in our mouths.  I’m on a diet but couldn’t resist a tiny portion of brown butter cake with a cherry & port wine sauce plus a dollop of a famous local ice cream.

Eric apprenticed under Chef Andre Rochat in Las Vegas, left & returned as a grill chef, and left & returned, the final time as a full chef.  They earned a Michelin star then. He sources his product locally – even 75- 80% in the dead of winter. He loves the farmers in & around Traverse City, describing them as one does artists.

We’ve had good food while on this trip – Traverse City has some very good restaurants.  And, the Cook’s House is beyond good; it’s an extraordinary find.  I’ve already written to friends at Amoul’s in London.  I have to obtain another copy of Amoul’s cookbook for Eric.  For some reason I left (with a copy of his cookbook in hand) thinking of Amoul’s and her reverence for ingredients, and her magical cooking.  I’m coming back to Traverse City and won’t eat anywhere else for dinner if I can get into Cook’s every night.

(Community Matters) I like Sam Decker’s blog posting on Servant Leadership, a topic Steven and I discuss and try to practice

The Paradoxes of Servant Leadership

Strong enough to be weak

Successful enough to fail

Busy enough to make time

Wise enough to say “I don’t know”

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(Community Matters) Studio 54 life in the New York Magazine

(Community Matters) Boehner Land

(Community Matters) ok, I agree . . . both sides have plenty to be embarrassed about by last night. R’s have O’Donnell, Ds have Rangel – ughhh.

(Community Matters) Talk about jumping the shark

(Community Matters) her name was Betsy

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(Community Matters)

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(Community Matters) It’s regrettable after so many years of leadership on inclusion and diversity St Ed’s appears increasingly under control of conservative, dogmatic, politicized leadership. Is it a new beachhead for radical conservatism in Central Texas?   As reported in the Austin American Statesman, they’ve refused a gay equality group access to a career fair.  They declined to host the President of the United States.  And, LGBT faculty reports an increasingly hostile work environment.  This isn’t the St Eds Austin has come to know and love – nor the one so generously financially supported by the broader community.

update: I’ve gotten a couple of notes that it’s a private institution, shouldn’t they be allowed their own beliefs?  A few thoughts on that – 1) they receive public funding in the form of grants, subsidized student loans & qualify as a charitable deduction, 2) increasingly the Catholic church is politicized – organizing and advocating against equality, 3) even churches have to be drug along – they once discriminated on the basis of race and have a horrible track record on religious discrimination

(Community Matters) I bet even the Speaker laughed at this one.  John Dennis obviously beyond desperate.

(Community Matters) This could change predictions for midterm elections

Senate GOP + Liebermann pledge to block tax decrease for the middle class unless taxes cut for the rich