Telluride House The Cornell Branch of Telluride Association

Robert Hockett, Associate Professor at Cornell’s Law School, recently came to us to talk about “Bailouts, Buy-Ins, and Ballyhoo”: the causes, historical antecedents, and possible solutions to our current financial crisis. The title really did not to justice to this talk, which was exemplary in its clarity and lucidity. Talking entirely without notes, Professor Hockett — who has training in philosophy, economics, and law — addressed analytical, historical, and normative dimensions of the crisis while steering clear of the jargon that has come to plague us in the halls of the academy. I wish that Treasury Secretary Paulson had been here, as I’m confident he would have profited Hockett’s talk and from the ensuing discussion. Academic events like this one are only one of the many privileges of living here.

Posted under Events, Musings

When I’m not in a meeting discussing our bright and funny future house members or planning the formal Halloween party, I make up useless strategies for convincing house members to buy a new pool table. Step one is to get them addicted to playing pool. Step two is to beg faculty guest members to express their wishes for a new pool table in our guest book. Step three quickly takes me back to square one: playing pool and getting fond of the old mini-golf/pool table, with it’s winding cushions and brick legs.. The picture above shows one of our professors during his PubSpeak at the house. His major and distinguished contribution to establishing the new rules for playing pool shall be remembered as the Austro-Hungarian Rules. The picture below shows the corruptible youth willing to play by the rules.

Posted under Musings