BelleFair Calendar

As an enhancement to the BelleFair website, I created a calendar of events (which needs to be populated with more events and activities) that I intend to embed in a webpage. The calendar is shown below:

Mashup Map of BelleFair

Google just released some tools that make it easy for users to create mashups of maps and share them on the Internet. Click on the link below to see an annotated map of the BelleFair Homeowners Association, a community located in Rye Brook, New York.

Annotated map of BelleFair

Shaker End Table Completed

This project is now completed. It was finished with two coats of wipe-on gel varnish (General Finishes Georgian Cherry), followed by three coats of clear satin topcoat.

For more information about the table as it progressed, see postings dated Dec. 25, 2006, Jan. 8, 2007, and Jan. 19, 2007. The most challenging part involved turning the legs.

Now I just need to find a place for it.

Port Chester Village Election Enjoined

On March 2nd, United States District Judge Stephen Robinson issued an opinion finding that the at-large system of electing trustees used by the Village of Port Chester violates the Voting Rights Act. The Court enjoined the upcoming election (scheduled for March 20th). The opinion holds that the at-large system discriminates against Hispanic residents by diluting their votes. The decision amounts to a political earthquake that will revolutionize the government of Port Chester.

Shaker End Table - Work in Progress

The table is almost done. Over President's Day Weekend, I glued up the top, made the drawer, and assembled all of the pieces. The edge profile on the top is a "thumbnail" which can just barely be seen in the photo.

The table needs a few minor adjustments, a final sanding, and then a finish. I will probably use a clear satin wipe-on gel varnish which will let the cherry darken naturally over time.

For more information about this project, see postings dated Dec. 25, 2006 and Jan. 8, 2007. The most challenging part involved turning the legs.

Port Chester - Eminent Domain Lawsuit Update

Regrettably, on Jan 16, 2006, the Supreme Court denied certorari. This means that the Court will not review Didden v. Village of Port Chester (described in a posting dated Jan 13, 2006).

Port Chester - Voting Rights Lawsuit

As noted in a prior posting, the Village of Port Chester (which is immediately adjacent to Rye Brook), is a continuing source of political and legal intrigue.

Besides the eminent domain case that may be reviewed by the Supreme Court, Port Chester is also embroiled in a Voting Rights case that may become a landmark.

On Dec 15, 2006, the United States Department of Justice sued the Village of Port Chester alleging that the Village's at-large system of elections for Trustees violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by depriving Hispanic voters equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

Along with its complaint, the DOJ filed papers seeking to enjoin Port Chester's next election, which is scheduled to be held on Mar 20, 2007. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled to be held in federal court in White Plains on Feb 12th, and a decision is expected within a few weeks of the hearing.

The essence of the complaint is that while Hispanics constitute 46% of Port Chester's population and 22% of its citizen voting-age population -- and while Hispanics are geographically concentrated and vote cohesively -- they are unable to elect candidates they prefer, because under the at-large system the white majority votes as a racial bloc to defeat Hispanic candidates.

In addition, the DOJ alleges:

"This denial of equal electoral opportunity occurs in the context of a history of official discrimination against Hispanics, racially polarized voting, the use of voting mechanisms that enhance vote dilution, political party structures that are not equally open to Hispanics, inequality in education, employment, and health that hinders the ability of Hispanic communities to participate in the political process, racial appeals in certain political campaigns, and a broad inability of minorities to win elections in Port Chester."

(DOJ Memorandum of Law at 2.)

What are the specifics that the DOJ cites in support of these allegations? They include the following:

• An affidavit submitted by Nelson Rodriguez stating that when he ran for the Port Chester School board, an anonymous letter was circulated to more affluent parts of the community asking if residents "wanted their children to have to learn Spanish," and alleging that Hispanic voters were turned away at the polls having been told, incorrectly, that they were not registered to vote.
  
  
• An affidavit submitted by Cesar Ruiz stating that when he ran for Trustee in 2001, a friend told him that "the Democrats are telling me not to vote for you because you are Hispanic."
  
  
• Several affidavits allege that Hispanics have been systematically excluded from local political party executive positions, thereby excluding them from participating in the selection of candidates. (In Port Chester, candidates for office are selected by political party bosses rather than by primaries.)
  
  
• Evidence that Hispanics have been excluded from service on Port Chester's boards and commissions.

Port Chester has vowed to fight the Justice Department suit. The Village claims that voter "apathy and not discrimination" is responsible for the election outcomes.

With the Feb 12th hearing and Mar 20th elections fast approaching, it will be interesting to watch this important case unfold.

Port Chester - Eminent Domain

I am often astonished by political events in the Village of Port Chester (which is adjacent to Rye Brook) in Westchester County.

Consider the case of Didden v. Village of Port Chester. As described by Prof. Richard Epstein of the University of Chicago Law School:

In 1999, the village of Port Chester, N.Y., established a "redevelopment area" and gave its designated developer, Gregg Wasser, a virtual blank check to condemn property within it. In 2003, property owners Bart Didden and Dominick Bologna approached Wasser for permission to build a CVS pharmacy on land they own inside the zone. His response: Either pay me $800,000 or give me a 50% partnership interest in the CVS project. Wasser threatened to have the local government condemn the land if his demands weren't met. When they refused to oblige, their property was condemned the next day.

Didden and Bologna challenged the condemnation in federal court, on the grounds that it was not for a "public use," as the Fifth Amendment requires. Their view, quite simply, was that out-and-out extortion does not qualify as a public use. Nonetheless, the 2d Circuit, in a brief and unsatisfactory decision, upheld this flexing of political muscle. At present, Didden and Bologna are working against the odds to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

* * *

Didden is a particularly egregious example of pretextual condemnation and "favoritism." The owners' property was condemned only because they refused to pay Wasser the $800,000 he demanded. Yet what public benefit would follow if they had succumbed to Wasser's threats by putting the big bucks in his pocket, not the village treasury? Wasser planned to build a Walgreens pharmacy on the property-exactly the same type of use as the original owners' planned CVS. The community gained nothing from the change in ownership, while having to bear all the costs of condemnation. Didden and Bologna in effect were forced to turn over all the value gained from their site evaluation to Wasser without so much as a dime in compensation.

Epstein RA, et al, A Pretextual Taking, National Law Journal (Jan 8, 2007).

Didden has asked the United States Supreme Court to review this case. Statistically, the chances of obtaining review are low. But this is an outrageous case, and the Court may wish to use it as an opportunity to re-visit its controversial and closely-decided Kelo decision. We should know later this month.

And there is another interesting twist. Didden just announced that he is running for office (Trustee) in Port Chester in an election scheduled to be held on Mar 20, 2007. Thus, if the Supreme Court decides to review the case, and if Didden is elected to office, we will have the interesting situation of a sitting Trustee litigating the constitutional limits of eminent domain against his own Village in the Supreme Court.

And if that wasn't enough, the scheduled election might not be held because the Justice Department is suing Port Chester for alleged violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The DOJ is seeking a preliminary injunction that would enjoin the election. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled to be held on Feb 12, 2007.

Shaker End Table - Work in Progress

I made a little mistake.

I thought that the tenons were a little too snug, and that the joints might be glue starved unless the fit was a little looser. So I took a shoulder plane and started removing material. I got carried away and made the tenons too thin. I'll have to buy some more cherry and re-cut the rails.

Shaker End Table - Work in Progress

Shown to the left is a Shaker end table that I am in the process of making out of cherry. Plans for the table can be downloaded from Wood online.

The legs are turned, tapered spindles. Prior to starting this project in early November, I had little experience using a lathe. So I started with some scrap poplar and turned six practice legs before using expensive cherry. Once I was satisfied that I could get reproducible spindles on the scrap, I ventured on to the real wood.

So far, the results have been reasonably good. The legs are satisfactory. The only real problem I had was with some chipping at the point of transition from square to round, but I can fix some of that with sanding and can hide the damage by turning the worst of the chips to the inside of the table.




After making the legs, I machined the necessary mortises, and then cut the the rails with matching tenons. Again, the results were pretty good. The mortise-and-tenon joints fit snugly, and when I dry fit the pieces, the base of the table fits together nicely, as shown in the photograph below:


Over the next couple of days, I will sand and then glue up the base, and then begin work on the drawer and top.

Homeowner Association Website Integrated with phpBB Bulletin Board

I recently re-did the website for my homeowners association, www.bellefair.org

Most portions of the website are open to the public, but there are some materials for which access is limited to HOA members. I decided to use a phpBB bulletin board (a public domain product) to provide discussion group forums for residents, and also to use that product's login system to limit access to the private webpages.

In addition, I modified the phpBB standard template so that it uses the BelleFair HOA logo, and also modified the header create hyperlinks that connect the bulletin board to other pages in the website.

The result is a nicely integrated public/private website with a very functional bulletin board.

Birthday Dinner - December 18, 2006

The following post was copied from the blog of the Wine & Food Connoisseurs' Club, Kris Prasad, Director. Suffice it to say that the food was sensational and the wines outstanding.

WFCC Christmas Dinner & Bert Slonim's Birthday

Amuse Bouche (Nibbles):
Smoked Salmon on Toast, Serrano Ham with Foie Gras Mousse, Duck Proscuitto with Pheasant Terrine, Zamora Chick Peas with Piquillo & Garlic

1997 Tattinger Comtes de Champagne Rose

Nantucket Bay Scallops with Rabbit Sausage and Saffron Vinaigrette

1989 Trimbach Clos St.Hune VT

1990 Karlsmuhle Lorenhofer Mauerchen Riesling (Auslese)

Gulf Shrimp with Yukon Potato Puree

1991 Lafon Meursault Charmes
1989 Bienvenue Batard Montrachet

Olive Oil Poached Swordfish with Marinated White Anchovy & Lettuce Sauce

1989 Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne

1995 Leroy Chassagne Montrachet Moregeot

Foie Gras with Chestnut Soup (Charlie Trotter)

1989 Huet Vouvray "Le Haut Lieu" (Demi-Sec)
1990 Zind-Humbrecht Clos Jebsal Pinot Gris (Vendanges Tardive)

Endive Salad with Pomegranate Dressing

Sorbet Marc D'Hermitage (JL Chave)

Ravioli with Quail and Porcini Filling

1990 Produttori Barbaresco Montestefano
1992 Quintarelli Valpolicella

Veal Tenderloin, Haricot Verts and White Truffle Jus

1999 Denis Mugneret Clos Vougeot
1991 G.Lignier Clos St.Denis

Selection of Cheeses: : Tartufello Senese, Corsica (Brebis), Fromager des Clarines (Faux Vacherin de Cleron)

1983 Ch.Margaux

Flourless Chocolate Cake

1955 Sandemans Vintage Port

2001 Barolos

Two weeks ago, Susan and I attended a blind tasting of the 2001 Barolo vintage. In a word, it was great. We sampled 12 wines and one was better than the other. We particularly liked the Mascarello Mon Privato.

Beware Tivo and VOIP

I discovered the hard way that Tivo Series 2 DVRs are not compatible with VOIP (OptimumVoice). I tried to overcome that problem by connecting the Tivo to a network using a wireless adaptor. That's when I discovered that Tivo doesn't support most of the wireless adaptors that are readily available. Undeterred, I tried a wired adaptor. That's when I discovered that Tivo doesn't support Linksys WUSB200M version 2; it only supports version 1 (just try to find version 1)

Article Regarding Daubert and Differential Diagnosis

If you have an interest in the admissibility of expert medical evidence regarding causation in product liability cases, you should check out an article that I recently co-authored with David Klingsberg entitled, "Physicians' Differential Diagnosis as Causation Proof: Recent Case Law Holds the Line in Requiring Daubert Reliability," published in the November 7, 2005 edition of BNA's Expert Evidence Report. The article reviews the current state of the law on this issue which has been extensively litigated in the 12 years since Daubert was decided.

C# - First Program

I recently started using C# after hacking around with several other languages. The C# Express IDE, which is available for free, is excellent.


As you can see from the screenshot, my first program implements is a simple calculator, similar to the one that ships with Windows. (I may publish the code in a separate posting.)