Jews in the San Diego News: June 20, 2014

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Editor’s Note: The full articles alluded to in this report may be accessed via the U-T website

In a front page story about the U.S. sending advisors to Iraq, the AP quotes Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California) as warning against “mission creep” that might end up in another land war in the Middle East. “We have spent enough in both lives and money,” he said.

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San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald was quoted in a Page A-1 story by the U-T’s City Hall reporter David Garrick that showed a higher likelihood of pedestrian- automobile accidents in lower income neighborhoods. Emerald said more infrastructure like traffic signals, lighting, and crosswalks are needed in these neighborhoods, but also pedestrian education. “Some believe if they walk into the street they’ve got the right of way, and drivers who are distracted might not think that way.”

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Rep. Eric Cantor (D-Virginia) attended the proceedings, but did not say anything, as Kevin McCarthy (R-California) was selected to succeed him as House Majority Leader, in the wake of Cantor’s primary election defeat by David Brat. The AP story was carried on Page A-2. .. A U-T editorial on Page B-6 suggests McCarthy as majority leader may be a net plus for California in that he’s from this state, understands Silicon Valley’s high tech industries, and represents Central Valley farmers.

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In the U-T’s “People” section on page A-2, the death of Gerry Goffin, former husband and songwriting partner of Carole King, is noted. He was 75, and among their hits were “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” made famous by the Shirelles.

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Donald Levine, the Korean War veteran who created the GI Joe toy, had helped the CIA launch an Osama bin Laden toy with a face that would transform into that of the devil, in what had been proposed but never implemented as psychological warfare to melt support away from the terrorist. The report by the Washington Post’s Adam Goldman appears on page A-4.

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In an AP story carried by the U-T on page A-4 about a Supreme Court ruling that whistleblowers are protected by the First Amendment from job retaliation if they testify in court, Stephen Kohn, executive director of the National Whistleblower Center said: “This ruling gives a green light to all public employees who have information concerning official corruption and want to expose these crimes.”

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State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson says she is appalled that prison officials have ordered sterilization procedures performed at state prisons for the purpose of birth control without obtaining proper consent, according to an AP story published by the U-T on page A-5.

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The U-T has a pro-con debate on Page B-7 over the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office declining to give Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder patent protection for the team name on the grounds that “Redskins” is racially insensitive. The Washington Post in a pro-editorialfor the ruling says Snyder is wrong to say the name honors Native Americans, suggesting no one in his right mind would ever go up to a Native American and use “Redskin” as a term of address On the con side, A Chicago Tribune editorial called Snyder “stubborn, tone deaf and insensitive” but said the action by the Trademark Office smacks of censorship in a country that values free speech.
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District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has written on OpEd on Page B-7 supporting the bill by State Sen. Mark Leno to require cellphone manufacturers to have kill switches on cell phones to enable providers to simply turn them off, rendering them useless, when they are reported stolen.

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Bloomberg News reports on Page C-3 of the U-T that Dov Charney has been removed by the board of American Apparel as the Chief Executive Officer in what some are speculating is a move to declare bankruptcy for the company which operates 249 stores and employs 10,000 people in 20 countries.

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In the U-T’s “Off The Wall” section by Boyce Garrison on page D-2, Detroit Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus responded “I beat my wife” when asked how he feels after the Tigers lose, then thinking better of the quote, he said he was “just kidding around.” Within a minute he apologized, saying “I didn’t want to make light of battered women… so I apologize for that if that offended anyone.”

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Also on Page D-2, the U-T reported in its Digest column that the Cleveland Cavaliers had offered a contract to successful European coach David Blatt.   Well, Israel, where Blatt’s team is from, plays in the European League, but if you look on the map, it’s actually in Asia.   … Another item reported that a Los Angeles judge turned down a bid by Shelly Sterling to get a restraining order against her estranged husband, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who she said was harassing her lawyers and the doctors who say he is incompetent.

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A story by Nina Garin on E-2 reviews the comedy, Obvious Child, named after a song by Paul Simon. The remarkable thing about the movie is that it treats abortion matter-of-factly, says the reviewer.

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Anders Wright reviews SuperMensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon on page E-2. This is a documentary by Mke Myers of Saturday Night Live fame about one of Hollywood’s best known agents, Shep Gordon, who mixed well with talent ranging from Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, may they rest in peace, to Myers himself, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Arnold, and Michael Douglas. And although Myers isn’t Jewish himself, he has known what a “mensch” is ever since he was about 8 years old and appearing in a television bitwith Gilda Ratner, she should also rest in peace.

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Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff