Catching Up

I've been wrapping Christmas presents and addressing Christmas cards. Here's what I missed today:

Please remember all the hostages this holiday season. See "Video Released of British Hostages (Updated with Video)," from Not Ready For My Burqua

A video dated November 18 was shown today on al-Arabiya TV and gave the world the first look at 5 British citizens kidnapped in Iraq May 29. One hostage, who identified himself as Jason, said he had been held for 173 days and feels that "no one seems to care.

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Girl, 7, Shot 6 Times While Protecting Mother, Fox News

A Detroit girl who jumped in front of a hail of bullets to protect her mother from an enraged gunman Saturday night is being hailed as an “angel from heaven.”

Alexis Goggins, 7, was hit protecting her mother Selietha Parker, 30, after Parker's ex-boyfriend Calvin Tillie, 29, forced the pair and family friend Aisha Ford to drive to Six Mile Road under threat of death, the Detroit News reported. (continue reading)

Wishing our Jewish friends a very happy holiday season. See Historic Chanukkah menorot VIDEO at Public Domain Clip Art

Fake Passports ID’s and Cash Seized from Illinois Man Now Held On $3 Million Bail, National Terror Alert

My Secret Life, by Phyllis Chesler

I have a “secret” life. I study Jewish religious texts and observe the holy days. ‘Twas not always thus. There was a time when I fled from a Judaism that had no place for women in terms of religious learning and ritual. I returned to religion as a feminist and helped create many feminist Jewish, life-cycle and inter-faith rituals.

On December 1st, 1988, in Jerusalem, I was privileged to be among the Jewish women who prayed for the first time in the women’s section at the Western Wall (or Kotel). While there are no exact parallels, this was analogous to Catholic women officiating at an all-female Mass in the Vatican. On that day, I was asked to open the Torah for the women to read from and it wedded me faithfully to the ensuing struggle for Jewish women’s religious rights which involved grassroots activism, consciousness raising, fundraising, and a lawsuit in the Israeli Supreme Court. You may read about some of this in a book I co-authored with Rivka Haut, Women of the Wall: Claiming Sacred Ground at Judaism’s Holy Site. (continue reading)

Laughter's the Best Medicine - You Infidels!!!, Political Pistachio and Political Pistachio Radio

Over at Political Pistachio Videos I just posted a video (Islamic Rage Boy) that is so funny I cried - well, maybe not cried, but you know what I mean. . . and this video came from a site called "The Nose On Your Face" which is one of the most hilarious places I've visited - and not afraid to poke a little fun of Muhammad (or is that Muhammed?). I was alerted about the site by my good friend at Third Wave Dave. Visit the sites, peruse a while, and have some fun.

A Bencher For Our Times, By: Phyllis Chesler

Many Orthodox women have graced and inspired us with profound learning and leadership. It was my privilege to interview two such women for The Jewish Press about their important new bencher, Shaarei Simcha (Ktav Publishing). Rivka Haut is a long-time agunah activist, a mother and grandmother, and the co-author of two books, Daughters of the King: Women and the Synagogue and Women of the Wall: Claiming Sacred Ground at Judaism’s Holy Site (full disclosure: I was her co-author on the latter book and we have studied Torah together for eighteen years). (continue reading)

Of “Moderates” and Radicals, By Ted Belman

“Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists”

So said Pres Bush after 9/11. He went on to identify N. Korea, Iran and Iraq, the “axis of evil” and to declare the “war on terror”. The last thing he wanted to do was to identify the enemy. N. Korea was included in the list for fear that someone might think, G-d forbid, that Moslems were the enemy or that Islam was the enemy just as Communists and Communism were during the Cold War.

It’s not that he didn’t know who the enemy was. After all, 15 of the 19 highjackers were Saudis who were inspired by Saudi supported Wahabbism. Its not that he viewed the use of terror as the enemy because the US had created al Qaeda to use terror to defeat the Russians in Afghanistan. It is not that this was the first time that the US was attacked by Arabs or Muslims starting with the Islamic revolution in Iran and the hostage taking of US diplomats. (continue reading)

Putin and Chavez: Election Fraud and Election Defeat, Confessions of a Closet Republican

We had 2 elections on opposite ends of the world this past Sunday. Similar in kind. 2 countries with leaders who engage in anti-democratic activities. Both imperialists at heart. Each, in his own inimitable and infamous fashion, trying to bully his way to the top of the global hierarchy of power. Both countries with elections which would have allowed them to remain in power indefinitely. (continue reading)

On the subject of global warming and climate change:

SCIENCE FOR SALE: THE GLOBAL WARMING SCAM, AIM Report

The global warming scam, Free Republic

Weather Channel Founder: Global Warming ‘Greatest Scam in History’, NewsBusters

The Global Warming Scam, Lew Rockwell

Eight Reasons Why ‘Global Warming’ Is a Scam, Written By: Joseph L. Bast

Global warming?, By Mark Jaffe

Nine Lies About Global Warming, (pdf) by Ray Evans

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Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary's Thoughts, Adam's Blog, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Big Dog's Weblog, Chuck Adkins, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Comments

[Jack]

Looks like some good reading.