The judge leading Lebanon’s probe into the deadly Beirut port blast wants three members of the cabinet investigated over their possible responsibility in the disaster, a judicial source said on Tuesday.On August 4, the explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate killed more than 200 people, wounded thousands, and ravaged large parts of the
Lebanon judge wants ministers investigated over port blast Read More »
Middle East
One can imagine a crowded seder at the White Housed during Passover week next year, with President-elect Joe Biden and his First Lady Jill Biden observing and perhaps taking a turn reading the Haggadah as guests of honor. Biden’s son by his first marriage, Hunter, is married to South African filmmaker Melissa Cohen, while Ashley, daughter of the President-elect and the First Lady-designate, is married to plastic surgeon, Dr. Howard Krein. There might be plenty of other Jews there, starting with the Second Gentleman (as perhaps he will be called) Doug Emhoff, the attorney who is husband to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. [Donald H. Harrison]
Imagining the next White House seder! Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA
He’s super narcissistic hyper-braggadocious.
He cannot concede his loss due to paranoid psychosis.
If you say lawsuits are doomed, he’ll doubt your prognosis.
Super narcissistic hyper-braggadocious. … [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: Super Narcissistic Hyper-Braggadocious Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
I’m reminded of the little boy who was out flying his kite on a windy day. The wind was terrific that day and the kite was soaring high into the clouds. A man walked by and asked the boy what he was doing. “I’m flying my kite,” said the boy. The man looked, couldn’t see any kite and said, “I don’t see any kite. How do you know you’re flying a kite?” The boy answered, “Mr., because I can feel the tug.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Feeling the Tug of God Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Farming communities of Morocco’s countryside combine to require some billions of fruit trees and medicinal plants as they transition away from the traditional practice of growing barley and corn. In order for communities to generate the trees they need, they require the gift of land to grow seeds in local nurseries because they cannot forego their own land and not harvest food every year to survive. The Moroccan Jewish community, next to their 600 cemeteries throughout the nation, has empty lands they are willing to lend without cost to local agricultural associations and cooperatives to help them meet their tree and plant needs. [Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Fruit trees grown on Moroccan Jewish land transplanted to Muslim-owned farms Read More »
Business & Finance, International, The World We Share, Travel and Food, Yossef Ben-Meir
First things first, there was one overriding goal on November 3rd: Defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden. That was goal one, two, and three. And we did it. By that existential measure alone, the election was a vital success and we can all be proud of the role we played to make it so. I don’t know about you, but my predominant reaction when the size and certainty of Biden’s victory became clear was “thank God,” accompanied by a tremendous sense of relief. Now, we can begin to mitigate and repair the horrendous damage this president has inflicted on the nation, an injury to the body politic that he is deepening even now with his outrageous and despicable claims of fraud. President-elect Biden is already assembling an incredible team of Cabinet members. Experienced, compassionate, no drama, and ready to serve. [Adam Schiff]
Adam Schiff analyzes the 2020 election Read More »
USA
CHICAGO — Illinois senior Sen. Dick Durbin said Monday he’ll seek the position of top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee — a spot that could become the chairmanship following two Georgia contests early next year that will decide party control of the chamber.Durbin, who won a fifth term in the Senate on Nov. 3
Durbin seeks top Democratic spot on Senate Judiciary Committee Read More »
USA
LANSING, Mich. — Norm Shinkle, a Republican member of the board in charge of certifying Michigan’s election results, said Monday he received “quite a few” threats as he considered whether to validate the Nov. 3 vote.The Board of State Canvassers convened to consider certifying the state’s election tallies, which found Democratic President-elect Joe Biden won
Michigan Republican canvassers say they’ve received threats Read More »
USA
We’ve long known about the problems at the top of government. Democracy or not, it ain’t easy holding together large and–inevitably– complex societies. And now the issue is highlighted in the two countries closest to me: Israel and the United States. In both cases the Prime Minister or President have reached the extreme of illegitimacy. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
OpEd: Trump, Bibi stand at edge of illegitimacy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Monday announced she will not seek the position of chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 117th Congress. Feinstein has served as ranking member of the Judiciary Committee since 2017 and previously served as chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. She will continue to serve as a member of those committees next year, as well as remaining on the Senate Appropriations Committee. [Press Release from Senator Feinstein]
Feinstein to give up top spot on Senate Judiciary Read More »
USA
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Secret Service is planning for a stepped-up presence in Palm Beach County starting on Jan. 20 — when President Donald Trump adds “former” to his title and begins spending much more time at his Mar-a-Lago Club.Former presidents and former first ladies get Secret Service protection for life (although security details
Secret Service planning for Trump spending lots of his post-presidency in Palm Beach Read More »
USA
I don’t care about Rudy Giuliani’s amateur-hour press conference outside Four Seasons Total Landscaping or his need for a cut man at last Thursday’s presser to stanch the flow of hair dye down his cheeks. I don’t care that he tucked in his shirt while lying on a hotel bed with a woman in the
Two San Diego downtown theaters were illuminated last weekend, with live performances streamed from their audience-less venues. All the players, except the vocalists and wind players, were masked when performing, and all were seated at least six feet from one another. On Friday evening, in Copley Symphony Hall, the San Diego Symphony, under the direction of its Music Director, Raphael Payare, presented Together Apart: Strings, Winds, and Brass, featuring the orchestra in smaller groups; and Saturday evening, at the Lyceum Theatre, the San Diego Rep’s Lipinsky Jewish Arts Festival presented Jews, Jazz and Justice, curated by Yale Strom. Both programs are still available for viewing. [Eileen Wingard]
Symphony, San Diego Rep give socially distanced performances Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate former Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen to become the next treasury secretary, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing people familiar with the decision.Yellen has been among the possible picks for the role discussed by media outlets. If confirmed by the Senate, the 74-year-old economist would be the
Biden to pick ex-Fed chair Yellen for treasury secretary: WSJ Read More »
USA