Musings

Eulogy for Ethel Slonim (Belated Posting)

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:59:00 +0000

Eulogy for Ethel Slonim
Born 6/17/22, Died 7/19/11

Thank you all for coming to say goodbye to Ethel Slonim. It means a lot to Helaine and Robin and me.

As I reflect back over my mother's life, one early memory stands out. We were not a religious family. Nevertheless, my mother kept a kosher home. The butcher was a trusted friend of the family. But when my mother ordered meat, she never had him kosher or grind it. She ordered the cuts of meat that she wanted, and then she koshered it in her own kitchen. As you may know, koshering is a laborious process. It involves carefully washing the meat; then soaking it in water; then salting it; and then rinsing it thoroughly three times. After the meat was koshered, mom would clamp an old grinder to the kitchen counter, and she would proceed to grind the meat by hand. My mother went to this enormous effort because she wanted to know that any meat she prepared had been koshered properly, and because she wanted to be confident that any chopped meat she served her family was pure and unadulterated.

Anyone who knew Ethel knew that she was incredibly honest, hard-working, and frugal. These are traits that she tried to pass on to her children. I like to think that she mostly succeeded.

Mom was dedicated to her family, and was especially close to her brothers, Zel and Henry, who pre-deceased her. Her best times were spent with family at gatherings of the cousins club. There were vacations at Catskill resorts, outings to state parks, and a trip to Canada. My mother loved spending time with Sylvia and Herman; Lil and Charlie; Belle and Milton; Selma and Zel; and Rita and Henry.

Finances were difficult when my sisters and I were growing up. As soon as the children were old enough, mom went back to work as a bookkeeper to help provide additional income for the family. When my grandmother Minnie was unable to live alone, she came to live with us. Invariably, my mother sacrificed for the family, and she always put her own needs last.

When my mother learned of bad news, she often hid it from my sisters and me. I found this maddening, and I complained to my cousin, Ann Gorman. Ann was the family historian, genealogist, and psychiatrist. Ann explained that mom apparently felt that if she didn't talk about a distressing event, then it didn't exist. It wasn't that she wanted to hide bad news; it was a coping mechanism to help her through a difficult time.

Like others of her generation, my mother had her share of trials and tribulations, and plenty of difficult times. But ultimately she had a long and full life. We are fortunate that in her last years she resided in a lovely apartment, and that she was well-treated by the kind staff at Greenwood House. When the end came a few days ago, it was peaceful.

Rest in peace, Ethel.

Blanket Chest - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:49:00 +0000

The chest has been completed, including a piano hinge. Finish will consist of several coats of Waterlox (tung oil and varnish) followed by a few coats of wax.

Blanket Chest - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:13:00 +0000

The chest is mostly done. The box has been completely assembled; the top has been cut to size and routed with a stepped roundover profile; the base (plywood with a solid oak border) has been routed with a bullnose that matches the top; and the legs have been cut and glued up (the masking tape holds the mitered corners together while the glue dries). A dry fit of the entire chest is shown below:

Blanket Chest - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:31:00 +0000

Last week I started work on a frame-and-panel blanket chest. The wood is red oak. The chest is 34.5" long x 18.5" deep x 15.5" high. The rails and styles are 2.25" wide.

Shown below is a dry fit of the front frame (without the panels):

This is a dry fit of all of the frame panels that make up the chest:

Now it is time to put the panels into the frames and start the glue up. The front and rear panels are shown. The panels have been cut so that the grain will run continuously around the chest:

The top (not shown) has been glued up and is ready to be cut to size. Next week I will work on the top, the bottom, and the base.

President Obama With His New Best Friend (Not His Dog)

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:40:00 +0000

President Obama shares a moment with his new best friend, Hugo Chavez. Makes sense when you think about it. They have similar views about imperialism, capitalism and the role of the state.

All smiles here. You can feel the love.

Lucy at 8 Months

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:53:00 +0000

This photo was taken at Thanksgiving time. Lucy is a good-natured critter with a sweet disposition. I just can't believe how little she is.

Thanksgiving Turduckhen

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:28:00 +0000

This year we decided to cook a turduckhen, a gluttonous dish invented in New Orleans, consisting of a partially de-boned turkey, stuffed with a deboned duck, which in turn is stuffed with a deboned chicken. Each layer of poultry is separated with a cornbread and sausage dressing. We ordered the turducken from Herbert's Specialty Meats in New Orleans and had it shipped frozen.

The turducken needs to be roasted for 8-9 hours at a low heat to make sure that it is cooked through without over-cooking the outside. Here it is just out of the oven. The shape is a bit different than a turkey because most of the bones have been removed:

To carve the turduckhen, it is first sliced lengthwise. You can see each of the layers of stuffing:

Then each half is sliced across so that each slice contains each of the layers of stuffing. The slices make a beautiful presentation:

We will soon see if it tastes as good as it looks. Wines that we serve for Thanksgiving are American. The turducken is highly seasoned and requires a big wine. We will try pairing it with a 2005 Girard Syrah.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sarah Palin's Acceptance Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:21:00 +0000

Sarah Palin's speech was loaded with so many memorable, pointed, zingers that it is hard to keep them all in mind. I could not find a copy of the text of the speech, but did find several articles that quoted bits and pieces. The following are among the most insightful and biting lines:

“I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer’ except that you have actual responsibilities.”

“I might add that in small towns, we don’t quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren’t listening.”

"There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state Senate."

“This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word ‘victory’ except when he’s talking about his own campaign."

"Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems -- as if we all didn't know that already. But the fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all."

"But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed, when the roar of the crowd fades away, when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot, what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger, take more of your money, give you more orders from Washington and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy, our opponent is against producing it."

I recorded the speech and listened to it twice last night. What a stunning delivery. Apart from the brilliant content, her intonation, facial expression, body language, and timing were flawless.

NYTimes Biased Coverage of the Edwards Affair

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:28:00 +0000

The Public Editor of the Times gently criticized the paper's suppression of the Edwards affair today:

I do not think liberal bias had anything to do with it. But I think The Times — like The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, major networks and wire services — was far too squeamish about tackling the story. The Times did not want to regurgitate the Enquirer’s reporting without verifying it, which is responsible. But The Times did not try to verify it, beyond a few perfunctory efforts, which I think was wrong. Until the ABC report, only one mainstream news organization, McClatchy newspapers, seemed to be making headway with the story.

Click here to see the colum n.

But the Public Editor failed to acknowledge the two most serious problems. First, the unfortunate fact is that the Times' editorial views have infected the paper's news coverage. Purported "news" is biased and slanted. Second, there is an incredible double standard. The paper did not hestitate to put a completely unsourced article about John McCain's alleged improper personal relationship on the front page, but it ignored and suppressed an indisputably improper relationship by former Senator and Presidential candidate John Edwards.

The Times has about the same journalistic integrity as Pravda.

New York Times Bias - Failure to Publish the John Edwards Story

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:35:00 +0000

Set forth below is a copy of an email that I sent to the Public Editor of the New York Times. I doubt that there will be a response, but if there is, I will post it.

From: "Bert Slonim" [bert.slonim@gmail.com]
Sent: 08/08/2008 11:14 PM AST
To: public@nytimes.com
Subject: NYTimes and the Edwards Affair

Dear Public Editor:

Why did the New York Times suppress the Edwards story? A few months ago, the paper smeared John McCain with unsourced allegations of an improper personal relationship but published nothing about the well-documented Edwards story until today. It appears that "all the news that is fit to print" now comes from alternative media such as the National Enquirer, while blatantly biased editorial opinion now dominates the front page of your paper.

Last month the Times reported that " its second-quarter earnings fell 82 percent from the year-ago quarter boosted by a one-time gain. Meanwhile, print advertising revenue continued to shrink." It is good to know that the market works.

Very truly yours,

Bert L. Slonim

Cherry Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:46:00 +0000

Golf does not come naturally to me. It is rare that I break 100. But I was pleased with this shot onto the green at the 12th hole at Cherry Creek in Riverhead on a beautiful day in early August 2008. Many thanks to Ron Ramirez for taking this short video clip.

He's Not The One

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Check out John McCain's new commercial which strings together clips of Obama talking about himself. He is seriously delusional. Click here to see the video.

The High Road from Santa Fe to Taos

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:15:00 +0000

My good friends, Gail Dobish and Maris Veidemanis, recently relocated to Santa Fe. In late July 2008 we took the scenic High Road drive from Santa Fe to Taos, stopping at the sanctuary at Chimayo on the way there, and at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge on the return.

The historic sanctuary at Chimayo, completed in 1816, is on the way the way to Taos. As explained in Wikipedia: "For its reputation as a healing site (believers claim that dirt from a back room of the church can heal physical and spiritual ills), it has become known as the "Lourdes of America," and attracts close to 300,000 visitors a year, including up to 30,000 during Holy Week (the week prior to Easter). It has been called "no doubt the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States." The sanctuary was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970."

The Rio Grande river has cut a dramatic gorge through the volcanic plateau outside of Taos. The Gorge Bridge, located about 10 miles outside of Taos, spans the chasm, at a height of about 800' above the river.

A view of the Rio Grande Gorge looking towards Taos.

Inspirational Rhetoric or Insane Rantings of a Narcissist?

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:32:00 +0000

Set forth below is Barak Obama's Nomination Victory Speech In St. Paul June 3, 2008. You decide whether this is soaring rhetoric or insane narcissism:

"The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth. This was the moment - this was the time - when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals. Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America."

Lucy and Samantha, July 13, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:50:00 +0000

Lucy (mixed bichon and poodle), age 13 weeks:

Samantha (standard poodle), her older sister age 12 years:

Dysfunctional Family

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:46:00 +0000

Every family has a few strange members. I am rather fond of these relatives (observed in their native environment at the Pepisco sculpture garden in Purchase, NY).

Google Gadgets Test

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:04:00 +0000

Google just released gadgets that work with their spreadsheet program. The gadget can be embedded in any program that accepts iframe; the gadget displays data that is dynamically updated when the spreadsheet is updated. Here is an example:

2005 Grand Cru Burgundies

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:08:00 +0000

The following is a guest posting from my friend and wine mentor, Kris Prasad. Kris prepared these notes for a tasting of 2005 grand cru Burgundies.

WHAT IS A GRAND CRU?

Last night we (Ken and I) opened Baricci 2001 Brunello for dinner. The wine was medium dark and the nose almost absent. On the palate the wine had little in the way of density. The finish was clean and had yet to develop length. But the structure and balance , we felt was perfect and we agreed this was one of the finest brunellos of the vintage.( As we once did we when we tasted this wine blind). You say “what”?

The Baricci was clearly a wine from high up in the mountains (Montosoli region) and everything about it bespoke cool and composed. Haughty and reserved. Absent was the lush glossy fruit that , while it may appease the palate that seeks immediacy and fire some critics’ passionate response, there was instead fruit that was sleek, suave and understated . The more we drank the more we loved its hidden nuances. Precision was its hallmark, not port-like chocolatey fruit. While not yet complex we think we know where the wine is headed– to aromatic heaven! This was Grand Vin.

The phrase “Grand Vin” is not necessarily restricted to Grand Cru Burgundy. But Grand Crus should be synonymous with “Grand Vin”. It is sometimes not immediately apparent when a wine should deserve this exaltation because it is not possible to quantify the inherent quality. The more its renown the more nuanced and subtle it usually is. An intensity of fruit, while desirable, is not one of the prime assets of a Grand Cru but traits of precision, persistence and purity are what eventually exalt these wines. Floridity and immediacy are more attributable to wines of less class. But, like the Baricci Brunello that sparked this essay , a wine which was young , rough and tight , other wines of Grand Vin quality likewise only give sneak peeks of what is to come. They might not set the taste receptors on fire but they ought to send brain cells tingling with excitement.

The designation “Grand Cru” for certain vineyards is not because they yield fruit that have high alcohol potential. In fact it is almost the reverse. The vineyards are often on poor soil and poorly exposed and where fruit barely ripens. For instance, upper sections of Chambertin and Latricieres are cool and sheltered by woods just above them. Even in good years (at least in the past) they oftentimes give a measly 11.5% alcohol even though they have structure and intensity. So chaptalization is necessary just to balance the wine out with body (alcohol). Once that is achieved the qualities of a Grand Vin can only then be fully expressed and appreciated. But the 2005 vintage needed no such assist. Fruit came in at around 13.5 % alcohol in nearly all the Grand Cru vineyards. But so did 2003. Yet in the 03's the qualities of nuance, precision and finesse were completely swamped by the agressive intensity of the fruit hogging the limelight , whereas, as posited, that is not what Grand Vin is about. Balance is the key and that is why the Grand Cru 2005's, even with their rough & tough youthfulness at this young age, will mature and advance the definition of what it takes to be a Grand Vin. They may show less well, at least on the surface than 1er Crus or even Village wines at this point in time, but their greatness (hopefully) can be sensed even now.

Wines at this tasting include wines from CLOS DE LA ROCHE (Dom. Marchand), CLOS SAINT DENIS (J.P.Magnien) , ECHEZAUX(Girardin) , CHARMES (Huguenot) , LATRICIERES (Castagnier), MAZIS (Dupont Tisserandot) & CHAPELLE (Camille Giroud) CHAMBERTINS, CLOS DES LAMBRAYS & CLOS VOUGEOT (Prieur).

DINNER MENU:

Breast of Guinea Hen, Cabbage and Prunes stuffed with Foie Gras
Grilled Magret (Duck breast), Sweet-Potato “Gnocchi” and Chard
Filet of Beef, Potato Gratin Dauphinois and Green Beans
Selection of Cheeses: Comte, Petit Basque and Selles-s-Cher

The Greatest Snow on Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:59:00 +0000

I just returned from Alta. The powder was incredible.

Breakup of the Republican Party

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:37:00 +0000

In today's Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan wrote:

On the pundit civil wars, Rush Limbaugh declared on the radio this week, "I'm here to tell you, if either of these two guys [Mr. McCain or Mike Huckabee] get the nomination, it's going to destroy the Republican Party. It's going to change it forever, be the end of it!"

This is absurd. George W. Bush destroyed the Republican Party, by which I mean he sundered it, broke its constituent pieces apart and set them against each other. He did this on spending, the size of government, war, the ability to prosecute war, immigration and other issues.

Regrettably, Ms. Noonan is right. President Bush also seriously damaged the Republican Party on foreign policy, having reversed course on North Korea, embraced Syria, and accepted a nuclear Iran.

Susan's Dance Showcase

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:05:00 +0000

Susan and her partner cha-cha to "She's a Lady"

The "Drunken Diva" caught between her two wicked boys

Who carry her off into the night.

Lynne Stewart to Speak at Hofstra Legal Ethics Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:42:00 +0000

The press release for Hofstra's University's upcoming Legal Ethics Conference describes the participants as "prominent experts in the field of ethics, as well as preeminent criminal defense and civil rights practitioners, including . . . Lynne Stewart, who has defended many unpopular clients over the years."

That description surely understates Ms. Stewart's expertise in legal ethics. Ms. Stewart is a felon. She was convicted of providing material support to terrorists by assisting one of her clients, the "blind Sheik" Omar Abdel-Rahman, in communicating from prison with his fellow terrorists around the world, a crime for which she was disbarred.

Ms. Stewart does not belong on a podium at a university. She belongs in a federal penitentiary. If Hofstra cares to explore her crimes at the conference, they can do so without her presence as they have Michael Tigar, the attorney who unsuccessfully represented Ms. Stewart, as a panelist. As her counsel, Mr. Tigar is more than capable of articulating her position; there is no need for Ms. Stewart's participation.

In my view, Hofstra has devalued its program and tarnished the reputation of the institution by associating with this notorious felon. There is still time for Hofstra to remove Ms. Stewart as a participant. Let's hope they do the right thing and dis-invite her.

Rye Town Finances Questioned Again

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:33:00 +0000

Every time the Town of Rye has been audited by the New York State Controller's office, serious irregularities have been found. The most recent audit found that the Town improperly awarded no-bid contracts resulting in over-spending for goods and services. Prior audits found similar improprieties. The audit results, which have been reported in the New York Times and the Journal News, have led to charges of cronyism and corruption. As reported in the Journal News on Sept. 6, 2007:

Morabito's two opponents in the race for supervisor quickly jumped on the new report. Republican candidate Joseph Carvin asked why the town "continues to violate state and town law by issuing no-bid contract after no-bid contract after no-bid contract."
"The obvious answer is that the contracts ... are awarded not in terms of who will provide the best quality service at the lowest cost," Carvin said in an e-mail, "but rather based on the vendor's willingness to provide financial and other support to Morabito's 'jobs for the boys' political machine."
Saverio Terenzi, the town accountant during the 2003 audit who is now running for supervisor on the Conservative line, said the audit confirms that the Democratic-controlled Town Board is "a cesspool of corrupt practices."
"No one does business with the town without contributing to the Rye Town Democratic Committee," Terenzi said in a statement. "These contributions are just considered a cost of doing business with Morabito's corrupt organization, and ultimately these costs are passed on to unsuspecting taxpayers."

Susan's Birthday Dinner, September 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:45:00 +0000

On the occasion of her birthday, our friend Kris Prasad prepared a very special dinner for Susan:

Amuse Gueulles

Cauliflower Gelee with Caviar, Monkfish Medallion,
Corn Ravioli, Chicken Tikka on a Coconut-Rice Cake (Palappam)

1988 Charbaut Blanc de Blancs Reserve

1998 Dom Perignon

Breakfast for Dinner (Ham, Eggs, Potatoes and Hold the Toast)

Culatello Ham, Potato Puree, Seven Day Cooked Egg Yolk, and Bacon Broth

1947 Chateau Bouscaut (Graves)

Shellfish That is Not Farmed

Langoustine a la Plancha, Coon-Stripe Shrimp as Tempura and en Chemise (Tortilla)

1990 Zind Humbrecht Brand Vendage Tardive

1990 Foreau Vouvray Demi Sec

Susan’s Bete Noir Course

Baby Squid, Langoustine Broth, Bamboo Rice Risotto Cake
and a Pipet of Fagioli e Pasta Liquid

2000 Girardin Mersault Charmes

Sandwich: Meat, Bread, Mustard, Mayonnaise, Pickle and Tomato

Buffalo Cutlet, Maple Mustard, Wasabi Aioli, Cornichon and Pickled Yellow Pear Tomato

1999 Dujac Gevrey Chambertin Combottes

1999 Courcel Pommard Epenots

Susan’s Italian Favorites

Veal Tenderloin wrapped in Proscuitto, Baby Arugula, and Pasta (Setaro) w/ Truffle Sauce

2003 Aldo Conterno "IL Favot"

2001 Argiano Solengo

A Selection of Cheeses

Selles-s-Cher (Goat), Bitto (Goat and Sheep) and Petit Basque (Sheep)

1986 Gruard Larose

1999 Valdicava "Madonna del Piano" Brunnello de Montalcino

Dessert

Chocolate Cake by Don Fujihira and Lemon Verbena Ice Cream

1993 d'Yquem

Michael Vick Indictment

noreply@blogger.com (Bert L. Slonim) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:16:00 +0000

I am horrified and disgusted by the charges of animal cruelty and torture alleged in the Michael Vick indictment. While Vick has not yet been tried, certainly there is substantial evidence of depraved and inhumane acts. It is shameful that he has not been suspended pending trial.

Here are excerpts from an Associated Press article reporting on the indictment:

John Goodwin of the Humane Society said the manner in which losing or unwilling dogs were killed was especially troubling.
"Some of the grisly details in these filings shocked even me, and I'm a person who faces this stuff every day," he said. "I was surprised to see that they were killing dogs by hanging them and one dog was killed by slamming it to the ground. Those are extremely violent methods of execution — they're unnecessary and just sick."
Vick and the others are accused of "knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal fighting venture" and conducting a business enterprise involving gambling, as well as buying, transporting and receiving dogs for the purposes of an animal fighting venture.
About eight young dogs were put to death at the Surry County home after they were found not ready to fight in April 2007, the indictment said. They were killed "by hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."
The indictment also outlined a rough chronology:
In March 2003, after a pit bull from Bad Newz Kennels lost in a fight, it said Peace consulted with Vick about the losing dog's condition, then executed it by wetting it with water and electrocuting it;
In March 2003, after two Bad Newz Kennels dog lost fights to dogs owned by a cooperating witness, it alleged that Vick retrieved a bag containing $23,000 and gave it to the owner of the winning dogs. One of the fights had a $20,000 purse;
In the fall of 2003, a person witnessing a dog fight involving one of the dogs trained by Bad Newz Kennels incurred the ire of another cooperating witness by yelling out Vick's name in front of the crowd during the fight.