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Jewish World Review Sept. 7, 2011 / 8 Elul, 5771
Obama, Abroad, Is Adrift
By Jonah Goldberg
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Since President Obama has been having a rough time lately, let me belatedly congratulate him on his apparently successful policy of regime change in
Initially, I favored a more robust and decisive intervention when Obama seemed to dither, and then I criticized how he ultimately committed
Obviously, he didn't do it alone. Our
Still, if Obama were a Republican, he would be getting considerably more praise from the right for pursuing a relatively low-cost and low-risk
Obama also deserves kudos for taking out
And yet, there's something peculiar about Obama's foreign policy: There doesn't seem to be one. Talking about
This strikes me as wildly overstated, even bizarre. A doctrine, in and of itself, doesn't compel anyone to do anything. Moreover, some doctrines -- isolationism, for instance -- can lead you to not intervene in places you should.
Rhodes' anti-doctrine stance reflects an irony about the Obama presidency. Shortly after Obama's swearing-in, and his initial executive order to end coercive interrogation techniques and his (failed) vow to shutter the
His administration committed itself to downplaying the war on terror. Remember the effort to rebrand 9/11-style terrorist attacks as "man-caused disasters"?
The surge in
In fact, to the chagrin of many on the left, Obama has strengthened these programs by making them bipartisan and uncontroversial.
At face value, I find this borderline repugnant. America shouldn't be the world's policeman, but neither should we make it a matter of principle to say we won't stop genocide when and where we can simply because no one will join our posse.
One has to marvel at the audacity of Obama's cautiousness. It buys bravery on the cheap by saying we must do something, and then exempts us from having to do anything if we're alone in our principles. Cross your fingers and
This principle means that we can do diplomatically or politically easy things (like
More broadly, it's remarkable how Obama's reactive and risk-averse foreign policy has racked up political successes, while by concentrating all of his talents on domestic affairs, he's made a colossal political mess for himself at home by concentrating his energies and talents on a bold agenda. Maybe his domestic policy shop could take some lessons.
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Eczema is tough on kids. They itch, and itch, and then itch some more. It can keep them up at night and interfere with their quality of life if not controlled properly. Parents often reach a point where they just don't feel like they've got a handle on it and sometimes feel helpless.
When that happens, I remind them that though eczema may be a condition their child will have to live with (until they, hopefully, outgrow it), they don't have to suffer. There is plenty parents and kids can do to take control and reign in the itchy rash that is eczema.
Start with the basics: Skin care
- Children with eczema need an emphasis on skin hygiene. Bathe 2-3 times per week in warm or tepid (not overly hot) water. Keep baths brief and pat dry afterwards.
- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Did I say moisturize? Applying a thick emollient several times a day will help restore skin's natural barrier and protect it from the elements.
- Apply moisturizer immediately after bath time to lock in moisture. Use a cream that is dye-free, scent-free, and alcohol-free. Good ones to try? Eucerin, Aquaphor, Cetaphil, Aveeno for eczema, Vaseline.
- If your child is prescribed a topical corticosteroid to calm down inflamed eczematous skin, use only as directed and for shortest time needed. Typically these are used twice daily for 7-14 days during an eczema flare.
- During flare-ups, be sure to continue the moisturizing regimen. Your child's skin will need both the topical steroid, with the several times daily moisturizer.
- Use only dye and fragrance-free body cleansers and laundry detergents to avoid sending your child's skin into eczema overdrive.
Calming the itch
- Use cool compresses to ease the itch associated with eczema.
- Keep your child's skin well lubricated as discussed above. Applying moisturizer before bedtime is a must.
- Keep your child's fingernails short and use a daily antihistamine to relieve excessive itching.
- Getting a handle on the itch is an extremely important aspect of eczema control. The more your child itches, the worse the eczema gets and leaves her prone to secondary infections.
Eczema is often associated with asthma, seasonal allergies, and food allergies in children. It's important to know what (if any) foods your child may be allergic or sensitive to in order to minimize eczema flare-ups as well.
Tips for avoiding eczema triggers
- Pollen, dust, and animal dander can all worsen a child's eczema.
- Add moisture back to dry winter air by using a cool mist humidifier in your home.
- Watch your child for reactions to certain foods. Namely: dairy, wheat, eggs, soy and/or nuts. If you suspect a true food allergy, discuss this with your child's pediatrician.
- Avoid exposing your child to second hand smoke, strong perfumes or colognes.
- Over-heating, excessive sweating and stress can also trigger a flare-up.
Dr. Mom's BOttom Line^ Eczema can be a tough skin condition to treat sometimes. However, sticking to a good skin care routine, avoiding possible triggers, and working with your child's doctor will ensure that flare-ups are kept to a minimum. The light at the end of the tunnel is that more than half of the children who have eczema will have outgrown it by their teen years.
More on your little kid
Fever does a body good
Learn to advocate for your child with special needs
Late talker or speech delayed?

subset: commoncrawl


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Movie Review: Green Lantern
When I was a kid and spending my allowance on comic books every week, I was always very eager to get my hands on the latest copy of Green Lantern. Looking back, I'm not sure what it was about him that was so intriguing to me. Maybe it's because he was green? There weren't a lot of green-wearing superheroes back then.
So when I heard they were going to make a Green Lantern movie, I was very excited (Of course, it was inevitable, so it was really just a waiting game). I feel like superhero movies are finally getting to a point where they have a good story and don't put all the responsibility on the special effects. Sam Rami's Spider-man series did this for the most part, and Iron Man and Chris Nolan's Batman movies definitely did. Maybe it's the calibre of actor, too. But if that were the case, Thor could've been saved by its two Oscar winners. When I heard that Ryan Reynolds was going to be Hal Jordan, I knew that all bets were off. I knew I was in for superficial, sarcastic quips and very little range, and I figured my favorite hero from childhood was going to get a terrible, terrible film adaptation. I wasn't completely wrong.
The premise behind Green Lantern is that an expansive evil called Parallax–which feeds on fear–was freed from captivity and making its way across the universe to destroy its enemies: The Green Lantern Corp, a team of aliens that spans galaxies and polices them. When one of them is injured by Parallax, he must find a successor and the ring (which chooses who will wear it) leads him to earth, to Hal Jordan.
Jordan is a fighter test pilot who takes the risks that no one else does. He's fearless, which is a requirement to wear the ring. In one scene–a scene lifted almost directly from Iron Man–he leads a pair of drone fighters almost out of the atmosphere where they can't function, and neither can he. Brave! This is the type of thing we're led to believe Jordan is known for.
And the Goose to Jordan's Maverick is Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), who plays by the book and is always very opposed to his antics. We learn that the two of them grew up together, and the sexual tension between them is quite obvious. After Jordan's drone stunt, she somehow ends up at a desk job and aside from being the love interest, doesn't really play a huge part in the rest of the story.
After the ring picks Jordan (and after its dying owner stays alive long enough to pass it along with a few vague instructions), he is summoned to the Lanterns' meeting place and trained to do his duty. There is a lot of information in this section, so pay attention.
Meanwhile, back on earth, the dead alien ring bearer is autopsied by the film's one good character, Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard), who is the opposite of Hal Jordan in every way. He's nerdy, quiet, unconfident. That is, of course, until he gets the remnants of Parallax in the alien's body on him. Then he becomes a fine enemy, due primarily to Sarsgaard's incredible talent. Battles ensue, and you can probably guess the ending. But it's a somewhat fun ride at least.
Unlike the other superhero movies I mentioned earlier, Green Lantern relies heavily on special effects. The ring can bring to like anything its wearer can imagine, and when Hal Jordan is wearing it, he seems to be only imagining things from The Mask. To me, this kind of ruins the movie, or at least makes it more for kids than 30-somethings who probably read the comics. It's shot in 3D, too, which is never necessary. In this case, since it was there though, it probably could've been utilized a little more. The rest of the film was way over the top and relatively superficial, so I'd expect its main gimmick to be, too.
If you're a big Ryan Reynolds fan, or just love the comic book genre, you'll probably want to see Green Lantern. Otherwise, wait for it on DVD or just hold your horses until the new Batman or Iron Man films come out.
The Green Lantern trailer:


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The Sun Interview
The Ordinary Decency Of The Heart
Andrew Harvey On Sacred Activism, The Divine Feminine, And Loving George W. Bush
Anyone working at the intersection of mystical faith and political action will tell you that there are powers that do not want this form of activism to be born. As soon as you become sincere in this path, you are going to meet strong opposition. Sacred activists need to be awake to the existence of evil. This is why Jesus said: "I am sending you out as sheep among the wolves. You must combine the wisdom of the serpent and the innocence of the dove."


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|DPSOA Auxillary
Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association Auxiliary
The Department of Public Safety Officers Association Auxiliary is comprised of highly motivated individuals all of whom are committed to: supporting the Texas Department of Public Safety and DPSOA in promoting the best law enforcement agency in the state; to working toward improving the lives of all Department personnel, their families, and the citizens of the State of Texas; and to promote social, cultural and educational activities that are in the best interest of all members of the DPSOA and Auxiliary.
Benefits for Current Active Members
· Member's children are eligible for Auxiliary Scholarship program.
· Members are eligible for door prizes at DPSOA / DPSOAA membership meetings.
· Auxiliary coordinates with DPS in preparation of the Memorial Garden; providing new plants and flowers for the Memorial Services.
· Auxiliary provides an annual donation to C.O.P.S. (Annual donations are all made possible through our District Fundraisers.)
· All members receive annual membership gifts.
· Provide fellowship with others whose spouses are in the same line of work.
The Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association Auxiliary (DPSOAA) is made up of spouses of DPSOA Members. We welcome membership from any DPSOA member's spouse who would like to get more involved and meet people with similar interests.
Below is a list of our current leadership. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in joining or have any questions.
Tes Rodriguez
President, DPSOAA
3/20/2018DPS Press Release - Stay Vigilent
1/11/2018DPS Press Release - Capitol Security
The upcoming calendar is currently empty.


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I do hope no one is getting sick of my fresh basil posts. My herbs are growing like crazy (despite this dry, dry weather we are having) so I am trying out new things all of the time. I seem to be on a bit of a basil kick, but it is so good! I am addicted to the purple basil; it's flavor is full but perfectly sweet. I try to use a mix of the varieties when I make a recipe so any type will do. I threw this together with some pasta I had left over from my past couple of recipes, and I couldn't resist adding a few black olives for that tangy touch.
Fresh Basil Italian Pasta Salad
- 2 – 3 ounces pasta
- 1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbs rice vinegar
- 1 Tbs sugar
- 1 tsp fresh basil
- 2 Tbs sliced black olives
- 1 medium tomato
- 1 green onion
- salt and pepper
Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse and chill; drain well. Prep basil by tossing with a little olive oil and slicing into thin strips ~ check out my fresh basil post for an easy technique. Mix together pasta, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, basil, and olive. Dice tomato and thinly slice green onion; add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy ~ Kimberly


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Tip of the day Tuesday
What better way to spend the holidays than to travel and explore what the rest of the world has to offer? You can travel to where the French Revolution took place ( France), dig in further into our country's government and how it came to be (Washington D.C.), pick up a British accent ( Great Britain), the possibilities are endless! Here's a tip to all of the potential travelers this holiday:
When you need to take a cab in a foreign country ask a local (e.g., the hotel desk clerk or concierge) to write down the destination address in the local language.
Save yourself and the cab driver the trouble. You will get a lot more done throughout your trip without the unnecessary confusion. It's one less thing to worry about it. Go out there and treat yourself to an experience that only comes up every so often. Take advantage of the holidays and travel! 🙂


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By making a gift of appreciated stock, you are able to give a valuable gift to Family & Children's Service and without incurring capital gains taxes. Things to know when making a gift of appreciated assets:
- You must have owned them for at least one year and a day.
- These gifts are deductible up to 30% of adjusted gross income in the year of the gift.
- Any unused deduction amounts may be deducted
over as many as five subsequent tax years.
Please note that it is usually to your advantage to donate appreciated stock, rather than sell it and give the charity the proceeds. Please check with your financial advisor for more information.


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Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Finding Mercy
By Karen Harper
Published by Harlequin, October 2012
Alex Caldwell is in hiding; a key witness to a major international espionage incident, he has to be kept alive to testify at the trial of his former boss. After private security failed to keep him safe (although that was partly due to his own foolishness), he is taken to stay with the Amish Lantz family and pose as one of their cousins. He meets the shy and secretive Ella, a lavender-grower who has secrets of her own which she keeps hidden, and they are attracted to one another as their lives become increasingly complicated and endangered.
This is an Amish/Englisch thriller reminiscent of "Witness", parts of it were extremely well-written and got me well and truly gripped, but parts of it just did not ring true to me. I did struggle to reach the end and I was particularly struck by three things:
1/ The scene where Sarah returns to ask Ella to give a wedding gift to Hannah and is taken ill, in severe pain. As a Registered Midwife myself, I cringed at the explanation given later on that "The baby was turning inside her— got stuck against her spine, hurt her nerves" and that the medic men (presumably ambulance crew?) checked her out, said the baby's heartbeat was strong and for her to see her own doctor (presumably an Ob/Gyn) soon.
This simply would not happen. As Ob/Gyn is one of the highest litigation rated specialities in medicine, any woman six months pregnant, rolling on the ground in severe pain would be treated as if there was a potentially major emergency: any trained medic/paramedic/midwife would be alert to the possibility of placental abruption and of pre-term labour and would want to ensure an in-depth obstetric consultation, fetal monitoring, assessment and ultrasound scan to exclude these possibilities, as well as being alert to the risk that there may be one of several non-pregnancy related abdominal problems such as appendicitis/kidney stones causing the pain and which may have needed urgent surgical intervention.
2/ Later on in Florida, Alex and Ella are fleeing from the would-be assassin in a clown costume and Alex dumps the assassin's rifle in a dumpster next to a petrol station. If Alex is in hiding on a witness protection program, it would not be bright for him to handle a rifle, leave his fingerprints all over it and then dump it, with the possibility it may well be found by the cleaning crew and handed in to the police to complicate matters.... why did he not handle it with a piece of fabric, a handkerchief etc to leave no fingerprints? Here in the UK, all the petrol stations I have seen have security cameras and footage would have been checked if anything resembling a weapon had been found.
3/ At the risk of sounding prudish, I read Amish fiction out of respect and fascination for their way of life and as a way of tuning out so much of the worldliness of modern everyday life; I really do not want to be reading repeated episodes of heavy petting or lovemaking involving Englisch or Amish characters. If I wanted to read that, I wouldn't be reading Amish fiction, I would have been reading contemporary fiction :-)
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- Author: opmcmuhadmin
- Wednesday, May 29, 2013
- Categories:
Macquarie University Hospital has recently invested in the da Vinci surgical system, an advanced robotic surgical tool to boost the hospital's oncology, urology and gynaecological capabilities. Our doctors will initially use this system for urological cases, with a focus on prostate surgery. However the technology will eventually be utilised by a number of specialities. Around 20,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in Australia every year and one in five Australian men will develop prostate cancer by age 85. It is the most common form of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Australian males.
We're very excited about this new technology to equip our talented surgical team. The new da Vinci surgical system is a minimally invasive technique. The acquisition makes Macquarie University Hospital one of only two hospitals in Sydney to offer this unique and intuitive technology.
Urology is one of Macquarie University Hospital's core areas of treatment. The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic technology that facilitates complex laparoscopic procedures. The da Vinci system provides surgeons with all the clinical and technical capabilities of traditional surgery while enabling them to operate through a few tiny incisions, smaller than a centimetre. Delicate tissue can be handled and dissected even in the most confined spaces such as the chest, abdomen and pelvis.
The da Vinci has an ergonomically designed console positioned alongside the patient, where the surgeon sits while operating. Surgeons have an immersive view of the surgical field with extremely high-definition 3D vision, allowing for precision and control. Four interactive robotic arms, which are precisely calibrated, are positioned above the patient. This technology also allows each individual surgeon's hand movements to be scaled, filtered and translated into precise movements of the instruments that are working inside the patient's body. The latest da Vinci Robot also has a greater range of hand movement and visual acuity than a human hand. The high-definition 3D image provides the surgeon with unprecedented vision that enables surgical precision around vital structures. This becomes important when performing nerve sparing prostate cancer surgery.
The benefits to patients are immense. It has been well documented that patients experience a faster recovery with a reduced stay in hospital. There is significantly less post-operative pain and a lower risk of infection. Longer term results see reduced scarring and fewer post-operative complications. The Macquarie University Hospital system will be used across several areas of urological surgery. While prostate cancer will be the most common condition to be addressed, the da Vinci system will also be used to treat bladder and kidney cancer. The acquisition of the da Vinci system further enhances Macquarie University Hospital's reputation as a major centre for minimally invasive urological surgery – with one of the key treatments of urological services being cancer. Cancer services is one of the hospital's core areas of clinical emphasis. For further details click here
Guest Bloggers – from time to time MUH invites our specialists to provide content on our MUH Blog. Please note that with all guest bloggers the views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the individual and are not necessarily the views of Macquarie University Hospital.


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In both cases, defenders were out of supplies. In NOM's case they are in critically short supply of coherent arguments. They just released a post titled Eleventh Hour Fight in Illinois. Among the claims:
They didn't have the votes to pass this bad bill in the spring session. So gay 'marriage' activists poured MILLIONS of dollars into a lobbying campaign over the past few months trying to buy up the votes they need to impose their radical social agenda.
First of all, I doubt that people continue to believe that marriage equality is a "radical social agenda." Even the Catholic Church (which NOM represents) is starting to evaluate at least the extent to which preventing gay people from marrying is a priority. I don't know how much equality proponents have spent in Illinois. What I do know is that NOM has the full weight and support of the Roman Catholic Church and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops behind it. They have also created two phony African American front groups in Illinois to further their interests. I wrote about one of these yesterday.
Then there is the enormous honesty gap.
This is nothing new. It started during the Maggie Gallagher/Robby George era. The very idea that they are defending marriage is ridiculous. Their goal is, and always has been, to ban gay marriage. To do so they have constructed curiously incompetent arguments in order to obfuscate the fact that their interest is limited to advancing the teachings of the Catholic Church. When those started to lose transaction they come up with some precooked research. When even that did not prove what they wanted it to prove, they claimed that it did anyway.
These specious arguments have been widely rejected by the courts and last November they were widely rejected by the citizenry. This has NOM insisting on the promotion of a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. Did I mention that these folks are also delusional? When they see a poll that they don't like, they dismiss it as inaccurate. The citizens of the Unites States of America support marriage equality.
NOM cannot reverse marriage equality. Yet, were we to lose in Illinois we'll just come back early next year. Our persistence is part of why equality is inevitable.


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Nest Learning Thermostat
The Nest learning thermostat might not be the sexiest gift you give this holiday season but it probably would be one of the most frequently used. This smart thermostat learns homeowners' schedules and programs itself in order to help lower the home's monthly utility bills by as much as 20 percent.
The 20% savings number apparently comes from a study conducted in the summer of 2012, which looked the savings from 45 Nest-enabled households across the United States, and compared their savings to households which did not have a programmable thermostat — or which had a programmable thermostat that wasn't programmed.
At first blush that hardly seems fair — why compare the Nest to people that have a programmable thermostat, but don't program it? Why not compare to correctly programmed programable thermostats?
Their reasoning? A 2011 study found that most programmable thermostats are not used correctly. About half the people in the study left their thermostats on "hold", which cancelled out any benefits of programming the thermostat. Another 20% had the time set incorrectly, which impacts any potential savings.
So, perhaps Nest thinks it is reasonable to compare to manual thermostats because the Nest is a "learning" thermostat, rather than a "programmable" thermostat.
What is a "Learning" Thermostat?
Just how does it learn? For the first few days after installation, the owner adjusts the temperature up or down as needed. Within a week, the device will take over the adjustments for you, creating a schedule based on the preferences it has observed. You can make additional adjustments at any time; after a few repeated changes it will adapt to your new schedule. The manufacturer says that the product typically takes less than half an hour to install and about a week to learn occupants' routines.
How do you Install It?
You can install the thermostat yourself (the manufacturer compares it to installing a simple light fixture) or find a Nest-certified professional who will not only install your new thermostat but provide a demo as well. Installation costs typically range from $99 to $300, for integration with more complex HVAC systems.
Does Nest Work with all Furnace and Air Conditioners?
The thermostat is reportedly compatible with 95 percent of low-voltage residential heating and cooling systems, making it a safe bet that this gift would work for any friend or family member. It supports two-stage cooling, three-stage heating, and emergency heat for most gas, electric, forced air, heat pump, radiant, hot water, solar and geothermal systems, as well as whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers. To learn if the Nest is compatible with your heating system, check out the online compatibility checker.
Control your Heating System Remotely
While your Nest doesn't have to be connected to the Internet, you'll be able to access more features if you configure it to use your Wi-Fi connection. More than 90 percent of connected Nest owners use the remote control feature, which allows them to turn their thermostat up or down while away from home. In addition to support on computer web browsers, Nest also offers apps for iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones, as well as Android tablets, including Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire.
The second-generation Nest is available from Amazon for $249, while the original version runs for $229—the manufacturer puts the typical payback for this device at about 12 to 18 months, although this depends greatly on the region in which it is installed.