Is President Obama the new George McGovern?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Remember George McGovern? His clone is sitting in the Oval Office.   The 2008 campaign differed in several ways from 1972 that explain Obama’s victory. His speaking ability excels that of other politicians, including McGovern. Obama was running against a ticket with an intellectually handicapped vice presidential candidate, whereas McGovern was embarrassed […]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Jordan-Israel border area shows environmental impacts of differing land use

HAIFA, Israel (Press Release)–Is a border line simply a virtual line appearing on the map? If so, why is it that Israeli rodents are more cautious than Jordanian rodents? Why is it that there are more ant lions in Israel than in Jordan? And how come there are more reptile species in Jordan than in

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

This blind taste test is not to compare foods, but to build our compassion

By Sara Appel-Lennon SAN DIEGO–Picture yourself wearing a blindfold while eating. A blind person is challenged with eating in darkness at each meal. In 1999 Jane Clifton and Dave Ward from the Hillcrest Mission Valley Lion’s Club were invited to eat lunch blindfolded while Blind Center students cooked and served them. This experience prompted the couple

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San Diego Calendar, USA

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History~December 25, 1953, Part III

Compiled by Gail Umeham * Lionel Van Deerlin Moderates Panel for Nat’l. Council of Jewish Women  Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 5 On Tuesday, January 5th, 12 o’clock noon at Temple Center, the National Council of Jewish Women will hold their regular monthly meeting.  In observance of the forthcoming Brotherhood Week a round-table

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Adventures in SD History, San Diego Calendar, USA

Viterbis give $1 million to San Diego Opera

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– San Diego Opera has announced a $1 million gift from Erna and Andrew Viterbi. The first $500,000 of the gift  will be used to underwrite the “Community Conversations on Faith  and Freedom” lecture series in conjunction with Verdi’s opera Nabucco, the second opera in the San Diego Opera 2010 season. Portions of the gift will also

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Killing Al Qaeda now U.S. primary purpose in Afghanistan

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post intoned on the front page, “Poll Finds Guarded Optimism on Obama’s Afghanistan Plan.” What plan? Plumbing the article, it turns out that support for the President on the issue has “plummeted” since the summer; more than half think “the war is not worth the cost”; and

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Shoshana Bryen, USA

White House denounces construction in Gilo section of Jerusalem

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The White House on Tuesday issued the following statement concerning construction in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem: “We are dismayed at the Jerusalem Planning Committee’s decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem. At a time when we are working to re-launch negotiations, these actions

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Middle East, USA

Iran metes out death penalty to 5 protestors

TEHRAN (WJC)–Five people were been sentenced to death and 81 received jail terms in connection with post-election unrest in Iran, prosecutors in Tehran have said. The Iranian Justice Department said those facing the death penalty were members of “terrorist and opposition groups.” No names were given. The statement released by prosecutors in Tehran on Tuesday

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Travel and Food

Brazilian oil company considering halting operations in Iran

RIO DE JANEIRO (WJC)–Three days after hosting Israeli President Shimon Peres, the Brazilian oil and gas giant Petrobras has announced that it is considering closing its operations in Iran. The company’s international director, Jorge Zelada, told the magazine ‘Veja’ that Latin America’s largest company was studying this possibility. Peres had met last Friday with Petrobras

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Middle East