Kassim Ouma was abducted and forced to fight as a child soldier in Uganda's grisly civil war. Now, he's a boxing star fighting for a world title. I'll be rooting for him this weekend. Such horrors should never be visited upon anyone. … [Read more...] about Child Soldier to World Champion

Slowly but surely the Conservative Jewish Teshuvot on gay and lesbian issues are emerging. The opinion of Rabbis Nevins, Dorff, and Reisner (the liberal one that was approved) is now available, along with some commentary (but not the full text) of the other 4 Teshuvot considered. … [Read more...] about Slow Revelation

And is there an issue that could lead to an end to the standoff? Some thoughts here. … [Read more...] about Should The U.S. Press Be Giving More Coverage to Demonstrations In Lebanon?

Are we allowed to use the word "insidious?"(NOTE: There is a denial of this report see below) Or must we watch what we eat and breathe from now on if we do? We'll say it: it is insidious:Russian businessman Dmitry Kovtun, a key figure in the poisoning investigation of ex-security agent Alexander Litvinenko, is in a coma, a Russian news agency reported Thursday. The Interfax … [Read more...] about Russian Businessman Is Poisoned And In Coma (UPDATE: DENIED)

This article at the NY Times focuses on using biometrics to identify people traveling through Heathrow Airport. Some folks are anxious about the misuse of this data. Some folks are concerned about the reliability of the technology. I am begining to warm up to its possibilities because I would like for it to be easier to intercept predators, and to exonerate the harmless. I … [Read more...] about A National ID

The Carpetbagger Report relayed an item about Senator Arlen Specter working to undo the damage of allowing the reduction in Habeas Corpus protection."When the Military Commissions Act, which among other things suspended habeas corpus for suspected terrorists, went to the Senate floor in September, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) voiced some relatively passive concerns. He offered an … [Read more...] about Hope for Habeas Corpus

I sat down this morning to write about the reactions to Mary Cheney's pregnancy, but as I mentally organized my thoughts, I was distracted by activity outside. It was my neighbor leaving for work, and I paused to watch as she wheeled out the trash cans, carried the recycle tubs, and then helped her young daughter into the backseat before closing the garage door and driving … [Read more...] about A mother and a father can’t replace love

Robert Gates is the new defense secretary. After an easy ride through the Senate Armed Services Committee -- easy because Gates was honest and realistic about Iraq, a notable shift away from Rumsfeld's bombast -- the full Senate approved him by a vote of 95-2 yesterday. And who were those two? Republicans -- yes, Republicans -- Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Jim Bunning of … [Read more...] about Senate confirms Gates

As anyone who has spent any time in a hospital knows, it's the nurses who make things work. That said, the nursing profession is in crisis, which tends to get overlooked in discussions about the U.S. health-care system, which also is in crisis. Many nurses are asked to work unreasonably long hours and mandatory overtime. The number of patients for whom nurses are responsible … [Read more...] about The Crisis in American Nursing. Stat!

The people who lived through it, who were there, and who were motivated to serve in World War II because of it are fewer and fewer. So let's not forget: … [Read more...] about Remember

Robert Novak, in his weekly email newsletter, has this item about Arizona Senator John McCain:Much of Republican Washington turned out at the huge Christmas party Monday night hosted by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the Corcoran Art Gallery. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), the newly elected Senate minority whip, has emerged as a major McCain backer. McCain is not only the … [Read more...] about Is John McCain Now The Republican “Establishment” 2008 Candidate?

Raw Story has this interesting post about the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post's reaction to the Iraq Study Group report. A headline showing the report's chairmen is worth a thousand words: Read the link for more details. … [Read more...] about Monkeying Around With Iraq?

One of the most bitter pills for the Bush administration in the Iraq Study Group's report is the admonition (noted not once but twice) that the U.S. cannot begin to build broad international support for Iraq unless it:"[R]ejects the notion that the United States seeks to control Iraq's oil, or seeks permanent military bases within Iraq."And later in the report:"The President … [Read more...] about Baseless Speculation in Iraq

There has been one tangible benefit to the release of the Iraq Study Group's findings so far: a top Republican loyalist (Baker) is on record calling for radical changes in US policy in Iraq. As important, this "eminent" body has declared Iraq to be an utter failure, as if the sentient among us hadn't already figured that out. Either way, having such a high-profile panel rebuke … [Read more...] about What’s Really Wrong with the Iraq Study Group

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Putin Denies Being ‘Anywhere Near’ Taco Bell Calls Linking Him to E-Coli Outbreak ‘Pure Fantasy’ Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out today at accusers who have pointed the finger at him in recent days for the outbreak of e-coli infections at several Taco Bell restaurants in New Jersey, New York and … [Read more...] about This Just In!

And so can violating a court order related to it. … [Read more...] about Derogatory Posting On The Internet May Have Consequences

From the Wall Street Journal: ">Some Republicans Take a Scorched-Hill Tack Leaving Budget Decisions To Democrats Could Disrupt New Leadership's AgendaLike a retreating army, Republicans are tearing up railroad track and planting legislative land mines to make it harder for Democrats to govern when they take power in Congress next month. ...The unstated goal is to disrupt … [Read more...] about For Some in the GOP, Party Trumps Country

Is it a masterstroke -- or "lunacy?" … [Read more...] about The United States And Plans To Put Permanent Bases On The Moon

The Conservative Jewish panel on gay issues has decided that upholding the traditional anti-gay norms, and allowing gay ordination and same-sex ceremonies, are both legitimate. Now, "these and these are the words of the Living God." … [Read more...] about Split the Baby

Votes were taken and an announcement has been made by the Law Committee of Conservative Judaism. GOOD NEWS: Should I so desire, I can now apply to the rabbinical program at Los Angeles' University of Judaism. I expected the approval of this Dorff paper. BAD NEWS: There are or were 6 rabbis on this committee who are so ill-informed that they actually found it appropriate to … [Read more...] about CJLS Accepts 3 of 5 Teshuvot