Author Archive

Shame on Brandeis by Marjorie Arons-Barron

The entry below is being cross posted from Marjorie Arons-Barron’s own blog. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is, indeed, a controversial figure, especially for the vehemence with which she has criticized Islamic fundamentalism. Just read her memoir Infidel, and you’ll understand why. Her childhood was spent in Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Kenya,…

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Meryl Streep @ UML

Last week’s visit by Meryl Streep to the University of Massachusetts in Lowell is yet another example of the increasing prestige of the school under the leadership of Chancellor Meehan. This video was originally posted by umasslowell.

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Letterman, the Early Years

After thirty-one years as a successful late night talk show host, last night David Letterman announced his retirement. The 67 year old entertainer began his career as a weatherman in Indianapolis before moving into comedy writing. In his early appearances on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson, I found Letterman’s…

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Teaching kids to hate by Marjorie Arons-Barron

The entry below is being cross posted from Marjorie Arons-Barron’s own blog. If you’re Jewish, think twice about moving to Bedford, MA.  That’s the message of recent anti-Semitic incidents in that west suburban town. Elementary school children play a game called “Jail the Jews.” Swastika graffiti is discovered at an…

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The Forstye Saga…Great TV

I often google …“best streaming TV series on Netflix”.  Fortunately, this phase has led me to many excellent hours of quality TV viewing.  One such series is a 2002 production titled The Forstye Saga. I’ve had this PBS production in my queue for at least a year, but despite its four…

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The “Ides”

      Today March 15, is the infamous Ides of March, the day Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of Roman Senators led by Brutus and Cassius.  The murder became the subject of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Consequently, most high school students readily remember the eerie…

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