These California lawmakers distanced for work. Then they shared dinner at a restaurant

Two are from San Diego County SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For their swearing-in session on Monday, Assembly leaders moved their house from the state Capitol to the Golden 1 Center to make sure lawmakers were appropriately spaced. COVID-19 safety concerns meant that families and guests were excluded from the event. Just hours later, however, five California

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USA

White House proposes new $916 bn stimulus plan to break deadlock

Washington (AFP) – The White House unveiled a $916 billion stimulus proposal on Tuesday in a final dash to break a months-long logjam over new aid for the coronavirus-stricken US economy before President Donald Trump leaves office in January. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the plan, which he said includes “money for state and local

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Travel and Food

A Holocaust Haggadah To Help Preserve Memory

The idea of a Holocaust Haggadah is fabulous; we have a Tu’B’ Shevat Seder Haggadah, why not one on the Holocaust—especially since Yom HaShoah occurs within a week after Passover ends?  Historically, the Passover Haggadah provided a practical template how to convey the meaning of Passover; Rabbi Rosenberg’s Holocaust Haggadah aims to create a practical syllabus on how to make the Holocaust relevant to the themes of Passover and redemption. For the children of Holocaust survivors (like myself), we must find new and creative ways to preserve the sacredness of Jewish memory. This is similar to the way the retelling of Passover serves to challenge new generations with the seminal thoughts since the time when the traditional observance of Passover ceased with the destruction of the Temple. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Margaret Keenan, 90, First In The World To Receive Approved COVID-19 Vaccine

History in the making occurred today in the United Kingdom as they are the first country that began administering their citizens with the vaccine to COVID-19. The first to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was 90 year old Margaret Keenan. She received the first of two doses this morning at 6:31 a.m. local time by nurse May

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International

Independent Scholars Offer 31 Essays on the Covid Pandemic

In September Dorothy L. Parker, President of San Diego Independent Scholars and project editor, reached out and invited likeminded independent scholar organizations to participate in a writing and art project about Covid-19 experiences. The result is a collection of 31 essays about  pandemic experiences, thoughts, impressions and history. The writers represented a range of backgrounds, academic disciplines, and perspectives. They were seasoned and experienced, most over 65. [Oliver B. Pollak, Ph.D]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Oliver Pollak

Modern ‘Prometheus Bound’ a Delight to Read

Howard Rubenstein’s play Prometheus Bound” is based on the play of the same name attributed to the famed Greek playwright Aeschylus (c. 525 BCE – c. 456 BCE), called the father of tragedy, from which it was freely adapted, and based on the epic poem “Origin of the Gods” by the Greek didactic poet Hesiod (c. 750 BCE – c. 650 BCE). The late Dr. Rubenstein of San Diego, California, wrote his version in ordinary English which made the play accessible, meaningful, comprehensible, thoughtful, and entertaining. It is very good. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Thank you, Mossad’: Israeli flag spotted in Iranian capital following scientist assassination

Iranians were left shocked this week after videos surfaced online showing an Israeli flag and a thank you message to the country’s spy agency on the streets of Tehran, following the killing of a top nuclear scientist, allegedly by Israel. The Israeli flag was raised on a pedestrian bridge in the Tehranpars neighbourhood of the

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Middle East

First Lady Melania Trump Reveals New Tennis Pavilion At The White House

A month before the White House sees a new first family living there, First Lady Melania Trump unveiled a new tennis pavilion the the south grounds on Monday. The pavilion replaced a smaller structure and cleaned up the existing tennis court and children’s garden. The new design is meant to reflect the look and feel of

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Sports & Competitions, USA

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey calls Trump’s campaign to overturn Pennsylvania election ‘completely unacceptable’

PHILADELPHIA — Sen. Pat Toomey said Tuesday that it’s “completely unacceptable” for President Donald Trump to pressure state lawmakers to overturn Pennsylvania’s election result, a rare rebuke from a Republican elected official as Trump continues his effort to subvert the will of the voters. “It’s completely unacceptable and it’s not going to work and the

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USA

‘Everybody Did It’ Is Poor Excuse for FDR’s Inaction on Holocaust

The actions by the president [Franklin D. Roosevelt] and his administration included welcoming Nazi warships to U.S. ports; allowing deceptive labeling on German imports to elude anti-Nazi boycotters; censoring anti-Nazi remarks by cabinet members; and refraining from publicly condemning the Hitler regime’s persecution of German Jews (from 1933 until late 1938). Our essay noted that none of this is mentioned in the exhibit on “Americans and the Holocaust” at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, in Washington, D.C. None of the museum’s staff historians have disputed the accuracy of our essay. Instead, the museum issued this statement by its communications director: “The exhibition reveals how many segments of American society, not just the president, but also Congress, the State Department, the media, and the public knew about the persecution and murder of the Jews while it was happening but for the most part failed to respond.” In other words, don’t focus the blame on FDR, because everybody was doing it.

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International, Jewish History, USA

Barbara Bry’s Councilmanic Farewell

My tenure on the San Diego City Council concludes on December 10 but my love for our city will never end.  Four years ago, I was a first-time elected official.  I had never run for anything—except maybe the bus. I came to City Hall with the goal of serving District One’s constituents in an open and transparent way and to keep San Diego safe, clean, and prosperous.  [Barbara Bry]

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San Diego County

Joy and skepticism among immigrants after judge restores DACA. Many rush to apply

MIAMI — A smorgasbord of emotions flooded Grisell Mendoza when her mom’s barrage of texts popped up on her phone Friday night. “There was hope. Joy. Skepticism,” the 19-year-old said between tears. “I hope this time it’s for real.” The text broke the news that a federal judge had just ordered the Department of Homeland

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International, USA

Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner reportedly buy $30 million plot of land in Florida

MIAMI — Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump appear to be moving to Miami-Dade County. The daughter and son-in-law of President Donald Trump have purchased a plot of land in tony Indian Creek Village. The news was first reported by the New York Post’s Page Six, which said the acquisition is “believed to be” of a

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USA