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