A nice article about Christopher Hitchens

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/16/my-take-an-evangelical-remembers-his-friend-hitchens/?hpt=hp_c2

Recommended Reading

Two recently read books:

1. Meditation in Action, by Chögyam Trungpa.  The edition I read was published by Shambhala Books in 1996. The following link is for an edition brought out by Shambhala in 2010:

http://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Action-Chogyam-Trungpa/dp/159030876X/

2.  I've been trying to do something about the clutter surrounding me: a zillion saved magazines, newspaper clippings, files, etc.  The book Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear The Clutter, Find Your Life, by Gail Blanke, was interesting (and enjoyable) to read, in this regard. The book was published in 2009 by Springboard Press.

http://www.amazon.com/Throw-Out-Fifty-Things-Clutter/dp/B004Y6MV76/

Recommended Reading

Rosh Hashanah Readings: Inspiration, Information and Contemplation, Edited by Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins. 

http://www.amazon.com/Rosh-Hashanah-Readings-Inspiration-Contemplation/dp/1580234372/

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The Tenth Anniversary

(Photo, circa 1978, courtesy of artist Jenny Lynn)

Recommended Reading

1. Philadelphia Noir, edited by Carlin Romano, Akashic Books (2010).

http://www.amazon.com/Philadelphia-Noir-Akashic-Carlin-Romano/dp/1936070634/

2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death, by Jean-Dominique Bauby, Vintage Books (paperback edition), 1998.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Diving-Bell-Butterfly-Memoir-Death/dp/0375701214/
 
3.  Dharma Art, By Chögyam Trungpa, Shambhala Books, 1996.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Dharma-Art-Ocean-Chogyam-Trungpa/dp/1570621365/

Please note: a revised/expanded edition of the above title (I have not read the expanded edition) can be found at this link:

http://www.amazon.com/True-Perception-Path-Dharma-Art/dp/1590305884/

4.  Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters, By Elie Wiesel, Simon & Schuster (paperback edition), 1982.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Souls-Fire-Portraits-Legends-Hasidic/dp/067144171X/

From The Huffington Post: "Jon Bruning, Nebraska Senate Candidate, Compares Welfare Recipients To Raccoons"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/09/jon-bruning-nebraska-welfare-raccoons_n_922312.html

Betty Ford (1918-2011)

I always thought she was a remarkable, courageous, genuine (and wonderfully forthright) individual.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/08/betty.ford.dies/index.html

A belated posting of a Bin Laden-related piece, from The New Republic

The essay, which was published on May 2nd, is by Leon Wieseltier, the magazine's literary editor.

http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/87771/osama-bin-laden-white-house-obama-celebration

Maureen Dowd, on the death of Bin Laden: "Morally and operationally, this was counterterrorism at its finest."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/opinion/08dowd.html

Osama Bin Laden

Osama Bin Laden was a profoundly evil individual. He was driven by ruthlessness, hate, and cruelty; he clearly took great pleasure in committing (and promoting) mass murder.

As President Obama said, on Monday: “Our country has kept its commitment to see that justice is done. The world is safer, it is a better place, because of the death of Osama bin Laden.”

Columnist Gail Collins on Donald Trump

Gail Collins, of The New York Times, regularly writes enjoyable columns.  Her April 1st piece was titled: "Donald Trump Gets Weirder."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/opinion/02collins.html?src=twrhp

An essay about Newt Gingrich, and the issue of seriousness, from the conservative Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby

Jacoby writes, of Gingrich:  "For someone who holds himself out as a public intellectual, Gingrich comes across all too often as more glib than thoughtful — more interested in joining the fray than in expressing carefully worked-out ideas."

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/03/27/gingrich_vs_gingrich/

Ralph Nader shows, as he has shown for quite a while, that he is a frenetic thinker, as opposed to being a serious one

Ralph Nader attacks the Obama administration 's policies, including those concerning the war in Afghanistan: 

"Ralph Nader: Obama ‘Should Be Impeached’ For ‘Committing War Crimes’ " 

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ralph-nader-obama-should-be-impeached-for-committing-war-crimes/

A nice story by Steve Hartman, on the "CBS Evening News"

The story, one of Hartman's "Assignment America" reports, takes place in Los Angeles.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7358041n&tag=related;photovideo

Essay by Israel's Tzipi Livni, Washington Post

A good essay, about the continuing dramatic developments in the Middle East, from the 2/23/11 Washington Post.  Tzipi Livni is the leader of Israel's Kadima party.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/23/AR2011022305364.html

A follow-up, concerning Lara Logan

On February 16th, The New York Post reported the following, concerning the February 11th attack on CBS reporter Lara Logan in Egypt's Tahrir Square, as she covered the resignation of Hosni Mubarak:

"60 Minutes" correspondent Lara Logan was repeatedly sexually assaulted by thugs yelling, "Jew! Jew!" as she covered the chaotic fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo's main square Friday, CBS and sources said yesterday.

Logan, for the record, is not Jewish.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/cbs_reporter_cairo_nightmare_pXiUVvhwIDdCrbD95ybD5N

Wishing the best, to Lara Logan

Lara Logan, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for CBS News, and a correspondent for 60 Minutes, is a fine—and courageous—reporter. She has for years reported regularly from war zones (such as, in Iraq and Afghanistan).

Today’s news story, concerning the Friday attack on her in Egypt’s Tahrir Square, while she covered the story of Hosni Mubarak’s resignation for 60 Minutes, is indeed very distressing.

From the CBS News statement: “In the crush of the mob, she was separated from her crew. She was surrounded and suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before being saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers.”

Logan is recuperating in a U.S. hospital. As the Huffington Post story below notes, Katie Couric, the anchor of The CBS Evening News, says that Logan is "recovering well.”

In an on-line column on Tuesday, Alexandra Petri of The Washington Post wrote the following:

“It took great courage for [Logan] to make this story public, and I wish her a speedy recovery.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/15/lara-logan-suffered-bruta_n_823677.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/compost/2011/02/what_happened_to_lara_logan_wa.html

On February 3rd, eight days before she was assaulted, Logan and her crew had been detained by the Egyptian army, and she had described the severe treatment to which she and the crew had been subjected. Her description of the detention appears as part of the following report:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/15/egypt.logan.assault/index.html?hpt=T2

Piece about Egypt, in The Washington Post

The essay is by the columnist Richard Cohen, and appeared on 2/1/11.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/31/AR2011013104014.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions

Recommended Reading

1.  Dear American Airlines, A novel by Jonathan Miles (Mariner Books, 2009).

http://www.amazon.com/Dear-American-Airlines-Jonathan-Miles/dp/0547237901/

2.  Have also, recently, been reading some of Richard Bausch's short fiction (The Stories of Richard Bausch, Perennial, 2004).  Had not read his work previously (and have admired the stories I've read thus far).

http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Richard-Bausch/dp/0060956224/

3.  100 Years of Lynchings, By Ralph Ginzburg.  (Black Classic Press, 1996; originally published in 1962).  An important (and graphic, and terrifying) book, consisting solely of 19th and 20th century newspaper reports of the lynchings of African-Americans.

http://www.amazon.com/100-Years-Lynchings-Ralph-Ginzburg/dp/0933121180/