June 14, 2010

EAGE coming together

Last minute painting

 

Boxes in the hall:

 

Just a general mess, hours before the show opens:

 
 
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Barcelona

I arrived in Barcelona yesterday. I flew through Frankfurt, and both flights were delayed a little biit.

Here is the view from my hotel room on the 20th floor:

 

If you zoom in, you can see the Sagrada Familia church:

 

It is not yet finished after all these years.

Here is the reason I am in Barcelona:

 

It is the European Association of Geophysical Engineer's convention. We have a booth, and a good looking one at that.

The Company was 10 years old last month.

Isn't that something?
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June 12, 2010

At IAH

None of those are my plane.

On my way to Barcelona via Frankfurt.

June 11, 2010

A Shropsire Lad

We bought this book:

 

at the Milwaukee airport. They have a used bookstore in the Milwaukee airport. That is the single thing that makes MKE one of my favorite airports. If only it was beyond security!

I have always been a fan of Housman.

Terrance, this is stupid stuff...
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June 2, 2010

Pastis Blog

Steve Pastis is the guy who writes Pearls before Swine, a very funny, though somewhat mean spirited comic strip.

I think that it is the best (non-soap opera) comic I read.

His blogs can also be very funny, as you can see below:

The Best Lecture Ever « Pearls Before Swine

May 31, 2010

Grilled Asian Chicken

Last night we cooked Grilled Asian Chicken from the latest edition of BonAppétit magazine. It was quite good.

We started with some excellent vegetables from Central Market:

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables
then we marinaded them in a chutney and vinegar sauce:

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


We then marinaded the chicken in the same sauce:

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


and got everything ready for the grill:

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


While cooking, we had a couple of glasses of a nice pink Provencal wine:

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


The grilling was quite exciting, with all the marinade dripping onto the flames:

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


The grilled vegetables looked great:

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


so we had to have a white Bordeaux to go with them:

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables


It was great!

From Grilled Chicken and Vegetables

May 30, 2010

Homegrown tomatoes

One of Doreen's Board members was kind enough to give her some homegrown tomatoes.

We made a simple summery tomato sauce, based on one we used either from Bittman or Cook's. I can't remember which.

Take a garlic clove, crush it and rub the inside of a bowl. Throw away the garlic.

Cut the tomatoes into bite-size chunks. Rip up some basil leaves (just the right amount) and stir them together with the tomatoes and some good quality olive oil. Add salt and pepper, and some Parmesan cheese. Let it sit while you start to boil the water.

When the pasta is done al dente, drain and add to the bowl .Grate some more fresh cheese on top.

We served ours with a nice White Burgundy.






It was delicious!
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Intelligence Slave

Last night Doreen and I went to see Intelligence Slave, a world premier play that is currently being performed at the Alley Theatre.

It was performed in the small theater, sort of a "Theater in the Round" (though it is square. There is seating on four sides, about 16 seats across, about 6 rows of seats per side. So it is very intimate) and there was just one set.

The play is about a Jew in a work camp, being forced by the Nazis to make a hand held, four function calculator (mechanical. This thing really existed. While they didn't really say why the Nazis would be willing to keep a Jew alive for this purpose, it is because it would be extremely useful for artillery - they would use it to calculate what elevation to set the barrels, and how much powder to put behind the charge). There were only five characters - three Nazis and two Jews - and as you can imagine, the play was very intense.

The Jew who was making the calculator had the hardest part already figured out (subtraction, oddly enough) but was purposefully misleading the Nazis so that they would keep him alive. And because this devise would give the Nazis an advantage in the war effort, and he did not want to do that. But he did want to survive.

The Nazis make a 14 year old math prodigy, recently removed from the Russian Front, work on the project. As you can imagine, the play explores this interaction, and the relationship that develops.

I would guess that this play will start touring, so I won't say anything more about the plot. But it was well worth seeing.

May 23, 2010

Eating at Ocean

There is a new restaurant just down the street from us called Ocean's. It just opened this past week. We generally try to avoid restaurants in the first couple of weeks of operation, but it was close (walking distance) promised some interesting food (Mexican Ceviche) and had margaritas.

So we wandered over about 5:30 on Saturday afternoon. Sure, that is very early for dinner, but we had our lunch/brunch of Trouta's waffles early (about 11:00) so we were both getting a little peckish.

As we walked in, they were just setting up the patio. We were greeted by Randy, the Maitre'd, and said we could sit anywhere. He told us that they just had their ceviches and some tacos and tostadas, and the the whole menu would be coming out in a couple of weeks.

We settle back, got some cold water, ordered a couple of house margaritas, and looked at the menu.

There were about six different ceviches on the menu, a couple of salads, maybe four tostadas and about six tacos. (I did not have my camera, so I have no photos. I am sure that their website will soon have the menu and food pics online soon.)

The margaritas came, and I was surprised by the neon yellow color. We tasted them, and I thought they were very good. Doreen thought them a bit tart, but that is not bad. They are colored by the real lime juice, real orange just, and agave nectar used. The house pour was Jose Cuervo silver, which was fine by us. We must have liked them, as we had five between us.

We settle on two ceviches (Ocean's Cechive, and the second one on the menu. I can't remember its name. Must be the margaritas). They were using flounder as the fish, and both ceviches were great. The eponymous ceviche was nice, crisp and simple. Good quality fish, lime, peppers, and onions. The second one used a chipotle reduction as well as the citrus juice. I liked that one better.

We ordered the Maximiliano Taco (Lobster) and the Ocean's Special (grilled shrimp) tostada. Both were served "open face" with the difference being that the taco was on a crispy tortilla, and the tostada on a soft one.

Both the lobster and the shrimp were excellent. Neither were overcooked, and the remoulade like sauce. These came with french fries (somewhat incongruously.) (The fries were OK.)

Finally, we had a Tres Leches cake for dessert. Too much icing for me, but it was a nice finish.

I hope they make it, as it is nice to have another place around the corner for an interesting meal.

They are also planning on hitting the Montrose Sunday Brunch market. With La Strata gone, and such a nice, big patio, I think they have a chance.

May 21, 2010

Houston: Model City - Forbes.com

More Kotkin love for Houston:

Houston: Model City - Forbes.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Money quote:

"Houston, perhaps more than any city in the advanced industrial world, epitomizes the René Descartes ideal--applied to the 17th-century entrepreneurial hotbed of Amsterdam--of a great city offering "an inventory of the possible" to longtime residents and newcomers alike. This, more than anything, promises to give Houstonites (sic) (should be Houstonians) the future."

Mockingbrid

I stayed home this afternoon because we had to have some air conditioning work done. While I was sitting in the Sun Room, this mockingbird:



was at the window, fussing and fussing. (you can see a video of the fussing bird here)


I thought the reason for all the fussing was Djimmah, who was sleeping peacefully in her spot on the window seat:



But I went outside and found this little guy:



Underneath the window seat.

Blaze left him alone. I hope he makes it. I like mockingbirds, and you can't have too many of them in the neighborhood.
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Palin in Pants

He sounds as idiotic as Governor (Act of God) Perry:

Rand Paul: Obama's criticism of BP ‘un-American' | National | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "

Not one person I have spoken to in the Oil and Gas industry would agree with Paul on this.

This disaster was preventable.

Cacio e Pepi, one last time

So Doreen had the idea to try and combine the two recipes to come up with the BEST Cacio e Pepo recipe.

We did, and it is.

Here is the recipe.

May 14, 2010

Sauerkraut

Click here to see the progress of my latest batch of sauerkraut, complete with pH.

My MicroBiologist (really molecular biologist) PhD sister supplied me with the litmus paper.

And the end result is delicious!

But it is interesting to see how fast the pH drops at this temperature. (We are starting to hit the 80s with regularity now)

Doreen's Gala

Evening in the Park a moment of high style for conservancy - 2010-May-14 - CultureMap Houston

May 13, 2010

May 11, 2010

One reason I like to cook at home

Why I Got Kicked Out of a Restaurant on Saturday Night - Diner's Journal Blog - NYTimes.com

The Week of Cacio e Pepe

Last week we cooked Cacio e Pepe pasta (Pasta with Cheese and Black Pepper) three times.

While that may seem a bit obsessive, you need to understand that we have been on a search for the perfect Cacio e Pepe since we had it in Rome at a small Cafe called The Trattoria Lilli on our Grand Tour in 2000.

While we have not been to Rome many times, each time we go we make sure to eat Cacio e Pepe at the Lilli.

A couple of years ago we found Amanda Hesser's recipe for Cacio e Pepe in her book, Cooking for Mr. Latte. You can see that recipe here.

It was good, but seemed to have missed a little snap that The Lilli offered us. We made it a couple of times, and then sort of passed it by.

Then a week or so ago, Christopher Kimball had this recipe on his blog.

Now, I find Kimball a little bit fussy, but I really liked the recipe. That is the one we made twice - once where we didn't use the amount of water he specified to boil the pasta (just 2 quarts for a pound of pasta!) and we found the sauce a little thin. We then made it again to his specs and found it much better.

It was no Lilli, but it was good. We will add that to our normal cycle of pastas.

April 29, 2010

Heading Home

I am at the Oslo Airport waiting for the first leg of my flight home. OSL->FRA then at about 11:00 AM local time FRA->IAH

Bad news for us in Houston. It looks like United Airlines and Continental will be merging. Bad for Houston, bad for CO passengers.

I wonder if any good will come from this.

April 25, 2010

The Pleasures and Pains of Coffee

The Pleasures and Pains of Coffee - Balzac

Risk

We all face risk everyday. Some of these risks are taken on willingly (walking across the street, driving to the office). Some of these risks are imputed into our daily lives (eating meat that has been treated with antibiotics, eating vegetables that may be contaminated with e-coli). Some of these risks are reflected in the price of goods we pay for (gasoline, electricity, the metals that make up our cars). Some risks are forced on us by others (air pollution, designs that are faulty but the faults are purposefully hidden). And some risks are natural (Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, lightning strikes.

But we do not live in a risk-free world. And if we think we can, we are fooling ourselves. If we think that our government can protect us from those risks, we are wrong there, too. As I see it, everyday we are trading of risk vs reward. Drive to work or take the bus? Eat the butter or eat the toast dry? Go to work in a coal mine or in a software company? While not many choices are as stark as that last one, it is still the type of choice that we all make as we grow up.

I work for a software company. But in the past I have worked manufacturing printed circuit boards for seismic equipment, surveying land positions, in a surface coal mine in Wyoming, a surface iron mine in Peru, an underground coal mine in Illinois, as well as in a cemetery. I fly frequently overseas as well as in across the US. I drive 15 miles one way to work, in a city not known for her considerate or conservative drivers.

When we buy gasoline, we pay for the risks associated with finding and producing that oil. Sometimes, those risks take people's lives. Like the 11 people who have apparently died in the Transocean rig explosion in the Gulf on Mexico this week.

When we buy electricity, we pay for the risks associated with the mining of the coal and the entire chain of electricity production from mine mouth to the last mile to your house. Sometimes, those risks take people's lives. Like the 29 miners who recently died in the Massey coal mine.

There is no way to have risk free energy, manufacturing, transportation, or even software development.

What I can say is that we all look at risks in a very personal way. I have worked on rigs, and know how dangerous is is to be around rotating equipment and explosive hydrocarbons. I have worked underground, and know that everyday when you head down in the man skip you know that there is a chance you won't come up. But you don't dwell on it. You accept it.

We all make choices. Those choices include taking risks that may take our lives, or perhaps more disturbingly, other people's lives.

Life is precious. Enjoy every sandwich.

April 24, 2010

Ray Wylie Hubbard

Doreen was kind enough to get us tickets to Miller Theatre to hear Ray Wylie Hubbard and Kelly Willis. I really enjoyed both shows. Of course, we all know Ray (He wrote Redneck Mothers). Kelly Willis is well known here in Texas, probably less so outside of the state.

Kelly Willis has a great voice, and doesn't have that breathy voice that so many young women singers seem to trade on. She had a four piece band with her (lead and base guitars, drums, keyboards) I think her latest big hit (if you would have her of her at all) was Teddy Boys.

Ray Wulie Hubbard is one strange dude. It was just Ray and a percussion guy (Rick Richards.) Ray is a much better guitar player than I thought he would be. Her wore what looked like a phrygian cap. I am not sure why - I guess he is going bald.

He did play Redneck Mothers. While not the highlight of the evening, it was entertaining.

Well worth the chore of leaving the house.

April 16, 2010

Taking a Look at the Top 400 Taxpayers

From Matthew Yglesias:

Taking a Look at the Top 400 Taxpayers: "

A couple of charts from the IRS on the state of America’s 400 richest households. Here’s the average income and average tax of the luckiest of duckies:


inctax


And here’s how the average tax rate has evolved:


taxrates


As is well-known, the Top 400 are considerably more talented than the rest of us. And this decline in their tax rates has created exciting new incentives for them to apply their talents. And that, in turn, is why the 2000s were a so much more economically successful decade than the 1990s, not just for the Top 400 but for the rest of us as well. Thanks to their skyrocketing incomes and falling tax rates, we’re currently all enjoying the fruits of prosperity, rapid growth, and low unemployment. Thanks rich guys!




"

Matthew Yglesias » Taking a Look at the Top 400 Taxpayers

More on taxes:

Matthew Yglesias » Taking a Look at the Top 400 Taxpayers

April 15, 2010

PDF file about tax burden

Nobody likes to pay taxes, and everyone believes that they pay too much.

This document:

taxday2009.pdf (application/pdf Object)

shows that in the US the tax burden in fairly well distributed by income.

Don't have time to click through?

Here is the money chart:



Happy Tax Day!

April 14, 2010

Edward Albee

Doreen was invited to a University of Houston even last night to celebrate the fact that Edward Albee is back at the U of H teaching again. He taught here for about 20 years, but had to take some time off for a “personal matter” and is back again after five years.


He is a little fellow, probably about 5’4” tall, and 83 years old. He had a hard time remembering names (who doesn’t?) but seemed otherwise to be as sharp as he probably ever was.


He talked about a wide range of topics. Why he came to Houston (he likes our arts community) how he negotiated the deal with the U of H (basically he asked for twice the money they offer and working half the time they requested) and a lot about intellectual property (“there are forces of evil out there trying to take advantage of artists!”)


I was a little surprised at how much he talked about money. He seemed to be obsessed with it. But then again, he was an orphan, adopted by rich people he didn’t really seem to like. He ran away from home as a teenager and became a playwright.


I engaged him a little bit before the start of the formal session, mentioning that my older brother was going to be in a production of The Zoo Story in his High School, until the play got shut down. That was sort of funny.


We go to a lot of these types of art events. I never want to go, but I am always glad I went. It is a good thing that Doreen doesn’t let me off the hook as often as I would hope.

April 5, 2010

A Bald Eagle!

This may be hard to believe, but I just saw a Bald Eagle fly by my office window, being chased by two Grackles!

This is the first time I have ever seen a bald eagle in the wild.