Somebody might have been watching some Marvel. The U.S. Space Force, a 1-year-old branch of the armed forces, rolled out a new name for its members on Friday: “Guardians.” Vice President Mike Pence announced the name in a news conference celebrating the service’s anniversary. “Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Guardians will be defending our nation
Space Force members will be called ‘Guardians’ Read More »
USA
ATLANTA — A federal judge Friday rejected a request by Georgia’s two U.S. senators to segregate ballots cast by newly registered voters in the Jan. 5 runoff election. Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue and other plaintiffs said hundreds of people newly registered to vote in Georgia have previously voted in the November general
Judge rejects another election lawsuit by Georgia US senators Read More »
USA
Washington (AFP) – Russia was “pretty clearly” behind a devastating cyberattack on several US government agencies that also hit targets worldwide, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. Microsoft said late Thursday that it had notified more than 40 customers hit by the malware, which security experts say could allow attackers unfettered network access to key
Pompeo blames Russia for massive US cyberattack Read More »
International, USA
ATLANTA — Almost as many Georgians have voted in the U.S. Senate runoffs as at the same point before the presidential election, a huge turnout that reflects the high stakes of the race. Over 1.1 million people had voted through Thursday, most of them at early voting locations that opened across the state this week,
Turnout in Georgia US Senate runoff approaches presidential levels Read More »
USA
WASHINGTON — Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, vowed that the U.S. will retaliate for a massive, ongoing cyberattack that has compromised private companies and government agencies — including the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration. On Friday, Rubio tweeted “the methods used to carry out the cyberhack are consistent
Intel Chairman Rubio says ‘America must retaliate’ after massive cyberattack Read More »
International, USA
It happens every time our presidency is transitioning from one party to the other. Sooner or later, one of the Incomings proclaims something that sounds, to oversensitive incumbent ears, a bit too much like policymaking. And then, one of the Outgoings reflexively dishes out this oldest chestnut: “America only has one president at a time.”
Martin Schram: One presidential leader at a time Read More »
International, USA
The year 2020 has been terrible. Despite the pandemic, the recession, and the nationwide civil turmoil, there are still things to be grateful for during this holiday season. [Laurie Baron, PhD]
Make America Grateful Again Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Israeli actress Gal Gadot tried an assortment of new American foods for Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon**, Fallon surprising her with eggnog, Ho-Hos and Taco Bell. In return, Fallon tried an assortment of Israeli snacks, including sufganiyot and gefilte fish, both seasonal as they are typically enjoyed on Jewish holidays like
Gal Gadot Tries Taco Bell & Ho-Hos For First Time With Jimmy Fallon Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
As the sun sets tonight Chanukah merges into Shabbos. It is therefore incumbent upon us to seek a meaning in the juxtaposition of this auspicious holiday and this particular Shabbos. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: From Strength to Strength Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Rhinerson, who has a long background in public relations and governmental advocacy (lobbying), also is a board member of the national Association of Community College Trustees, a networking and lobbying group that trades ideas among members and with legislators. But Rhinerson’s reach even goes beyond that. While most San Diegans will be asleep at 1:30 a.m. PST Saturday, Dec. 19, he will be on a Zoom Conference call addressing an international conference sponsored by Amity University in Uttar Pradesh, India, on entrepreneurial opportunities and challenges in literature and communication. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rhinerson Touts SDCCD’s Entrepreneurship Program Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
I am a Jewish Inclusion Fellow at RespectAbility, but I’ve always had a complicated relationship with my Jewish identity. I have always enjoyed eating potato latkes at Hanukkah, and appreciated the ritual of reevaluating oneself during the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but I know very little about Judaism, beyond these cultural touchstones. Some of this is because a childhood seizure disorder kept me from Hebrew school, but it’s also due to my uncertainty of my belief in God. It’s hard to reconcile God with the injustice in the world, such as abuse, cancer, despair, homelessness, hunger, hate crimes, violence. Yet, my Jewish heritage enabled me to travel to another country without my parents for the first time in my life…to Israel. It changed me in many ways. [Blair Webb, RespectAbility via San Diego Jewish World]
Reflections on an Accessible Trip to Israel Read More »
Lifestyles, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA
In observance of International Migrants Day, it is important to acknowledge the need for accessible legal aid for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers and the role of local youth in creating a welcoming environment. As migrants leave their home countries, sometimes without warning or preparation, many are unaware of their rights in host countries. Student-led legal clinics provide these vital services while engaging students and other community members and creating a basis for intercultural understanding and support. [Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts]
Legal Aid in Morocco Helps Migrants Integrate Read More »
International, Middle East
Morocco and Israel have had cooperative relations for years. Israelis of Moroccan descent have traveled back to see where their families lived, and the small Jewish communities of Rabat and Casablanca were generally respected and left alone. There was trade in the amount of $37 million in 2017, and it is growing. Before the pandemic, nearly 50,000 Israelis visited Morocco annually and more than 2,000 Moroccans visited Israel in 2019. Things were going nicely, albeit quietly—so why make it public now? [Shoshana Bryen]
Why Israel and Morocco Made Public Their Friendship Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
As Israel rolls inexorably towards its third lockdown (or whatever you want to call it), one cannot help feeling more than slightly peeved (British euphemism for bloody angry) as to how and why we have got to this point.
I personally have rarely left my house for the past nine months, and if I do I always wear a mask over my mouth and nose while trying to stay as far away as possible from other people. My hands are sore from constant washing. It’s true that various relatives have occasionally entered the house, but in most cases we have managed to keep our distance from one another, and we never hug and kiss one another. I fear that I have become an anti-social monster, and may never be able to engage in natural social interaction again. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Israeli Frustration Abounds Amid Coronavirus Missteps Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East