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.”