Charlotte Observer: Don Norton raised Catholic, converted to Judaism, survived crash in Hudson River of flight 1549, seeks meaning of miracle

Naturally, questions and thanksgiving.

Survivors seek meaning, new purpose after 'miracle'
Passengers struggle with why their lives were spared.
By Tim Funk

Not overly religious. That's how Don Norton describes himself. Raised Catholic, converted to Judaism when he got married, rarely goes to temple.

But last Thursday, bracing himself in seat 11F as US Airways Flight 1549 headed for a crash landing in the Hudson River, he said a prayer. He repeated it, over and over, in his head.

“Please, God, don't let me die. Please, God, don't let me die …”

Norton survived, as did the other 154 passengers and crew members. Now, like the rest of them, this 35-year-old husband and father from Matthews is trying to make sense of what happened and what role God and faith may have played in the happy ending....more

Out of Sync Times' Stanley Fish Eulogizes the institution of the Professor as Americans Inaugurate Professor Barack Obama

You talk about your intellectual who just doesn't get it. You talk about your thinker in the ivory tower who can't click with the world. That's Stanley Fish.

His blog post "The Last Professor" reports to us that he's read a book by his student, Frank Donoghue, “The Last Professors: The Corporate University and the Fate of the Humanities,” that claims the coffin is sealed on the institution of the Humanities Professor. We are heading, the book apparently argues, straight for a world where trade schools rule and Universities of learning cease to have any value.

Bleaker pictures of the landscape of academe, I have not seen painted.

The big problem that I have with Dr. Doom and Gloom is that he stands at the exact bottom of an educational cycle and considers that the end of the story.

Like world economies, with stocks in corporations traded in a market, the world of learning also faces its ups and downs. We have hit the low point in the valuation of learning at the end of a generation of national leaders who despised or ignored learning for its own sake.

The past eight years under Bush were the worst. Going back, Clinton was not rabid supporter of learning, nor was Bush I, nor was Reagan, and Carter was a disappointment in this department, need we go back further?

But Mr. Fish could take a look just at the headlines. Tomorrow we inaugurate a scholar from the University of Chicago as our president.

Few universities come close to Chicago in its heritage of promoting learning for its own sake, in valuing it highly, even the useless Humanities.

Sure, we have some radical colleagues there who will tell us that the authentic old traditions of learning have been expunged from that campus. We think that overly dramatic assessment is not legitimate. Complexity and contradiction are part of all healthy academic environments.

Sure, we have friends who will argue that Barack Obama is not a humanistic scholar, just a lawyer. We think that misrepresents a dichotomy that is not so stark. He is a professor of law.

Sure, we understand how dark it looks out of the deep anti-intellectual hole we have been forced into by those who misguided us and our country for so long.

But just as sure, the light is right there standing in front of you - not at the distant end of a long tunnel. Right there waiting to take the oath of office in just one day.

Let's see if all this talk about the fate of the Humanities is just as bleak after eight years or enlightened leadership that values learning, education and universities.

Tomorrow Professor Obama becomes President Obama.

Telegraph: Only a Biblical Jubilee Yovel can solve debt crisis

How bad is it out there in the economic storms around the world? Start praying more fervently.

Two stories by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, International Business Editor of the Telegraph, paint a bleak picture indeed.

Shipping rates hit zero as trade sinks
Freight rates for containers shipped from Asia to Europe have fallen to zero for the first time since records began, underscoring the dramatic collapse in trade since the world economy buckled in October.

"They have already hit zero," said Charles de Trenck, a broker at Transport Trackers in Hong Kong. "We have seen trade activity fall off a cliff. Asia-Europe is an unmit­igated disaster."

Shipping journal Lloyd's List said brokers in Singapore are now waiving fees for containers travelling from South China, charging only for the minimal "bunker" costs. Container fees from North Asia have dropped $200, taking them below operating cost.

Industry sources said they have never seen rates fall so low. "This is a whole new ball game," said one trader. more...

Economists and bankers are never known to confuse or mix business with religion... When they start to use religious rhetoric to tell us how bad it is, then you might want to really start to worry.

Biblical debt jubilee may be the only answer
Once again, Britain leads the world in the macabre speciality of saving banks.

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

The Treasury's £200bn plan to soak up toxic debt will be followed within days by a US variant from the Obama team. Germany cannot be far behind.

As one bail-out succeeds another at ever more inflated price tags, rescue fatigue is becoming palpable. People are bewildered, fearing that good money is being thrown after bad.

The doubts are understandable but there are tentative signs of a thaw in the global credit system. Libor lending rates in the US, Britain and Europe have fallen sharply. US mortgage rates have dropped from 6.5pc to 4.88pc since October. Companies can issue bonds again.

"It is easy to conclude that none of the Government's policies are working," said Professor Peter Spencer from York University. "We must not lose sight of the fact that they have prevented the collapse of the monetary system."

This is not does mean that recovery is imminent. Nothing can prevent a long purge as years of credit leverage give way to debt deflation.

It means only that the downward spiral – the "adverse feedback loop" feared by central banks – has been arrested.

...Taken together, the rescues may make the difference between global recession and a deeper slump that causes mass unemployment and social turmoil, perhaps destroying the open global order we take for granted. We can only guess.

There is no guarantee that the measures will succeed. The vast scale of government borrowing may exhaust the stock of global capital. Markets are already beginning to question the credit-worthiness of sovereign states. The Fed may find it harder than it thinks to disengage from colossal intervention in the bond markets.

In the end, the only way out of all this global debt may prove to be a Biblical debt Jubilee.

Creditors are not going to like that.

For reference, here is the passage of note from Lev. 25:

ח וספרת לך, שבע שבתת שנים--שבע שנים, שבע פעמים; והיו לך, ימי שבע שבתת השנים, תשע וארבעים, שנה. ט והעברת שופר תרועה, בחדש השבעי, בעשור, לחדש; ביום, הכפרים, תעבירו שופר, בכל-ארצכם. י וקדשתם, את שנת החמשים שנה, וקראתם דרור בארץ, לכל-ישביה; יובל הוא, תהיה לכם, ושבתם איש אל-אחזתו, ואיש אל-משפחתו תשבו. יא יובל הוא, שנת החמשים שנה--תהיה לכם; לא תזרעו--ולא תקצרו את-ספיחיה, ולא תבצרו את-נזריה. יב כי יובל הוא, קדש תהיה לכם; מן-השדה--תאכלו, את-תבואתה. יג בשנת היובל, הזאת, תשבו, איש אל-אחזתו. יד וכי-תמכרו ממכר לעמיתך, או קנה מיד עמיתך--אל-תונו, איש את-אחיו. טו במספר שנים אחר היובל, תקנה מאת עמיתך; במספר שני-תבואת, ימכר-לך. טז לפי רב השנים, תרבה מקנתו, ולפי מעט השנים, תמעיט מקנתו: כי מספר תבואת, הוא מכר לך. יז ולא תונו איש את-עמיתו, ויראת מאלהיך: כי אני יהוה, אלהיכם. יח ועשיתם, את-חקתי, ואת-משפטי תשמרו, ועשיתם אתם--וישבתם על-הארץ, לבטח. יט ונתנה הארץ פריה, ואכלתם לשבע; וישבתם לבטח, עליה. כ וכי תאמרו, מה-נאכל בשנה השביעת: הן לא נזרע, ולא נאסף את-תבואתנו. כא וצויתי את-ברכתי לכם, בשנה הששית; ועשת, את-התבואה, לשלש, השנים. כב וזרעתם, את השנה השמינת, ואכלתם, מן-התבואה ישן; עד השנה התשיעת, עד-בוא תבואתה--תאכלו, ישן. כג והארץ, לא תמכר לצמתת--כי-לי, הארץ: כי-גרים ותושבים אתם, עמדי. כד ובכל, ארץ אחזתכם, גאלה, תתנו לארץ.

Alex Rodriguez Spied Shopping at Park East for Silver Judaica Gifts for Madonna

From a reliable source we learned today that Yankee star Alex Rodriguez - ARod - was seen shopping recently at the famed shop of Michael Strauss Silver Smiths, Ltd. located in the lobby of the Park East Day School building at 164 East 68th Street in New York.

ARod had to be stopped and signed in by the security officer before he could enter the building and purchase some "kabbalistic" silver baubles for his flame, the famed Madonna.

Word of the Yankee star's visit to the building spread quickly through the school.

Sorry but we don't know exactly what the famed ARod (site) bought for Madonna.

Strauss lists these objects on their web site: "Sabbath candlesticks, a kiddush cup, a seder plate, a tzedakah box - these are just a few of the items that will be cherished and will become family heirlooms."

They invite shoppers to, "Come and browse in our glittering showroom. You will see exclusive, one-of-a-kind works of modern silversmiths and authentic reproductions of the treasures of European Jewry. You may choose from modestly priced gift items - a mezuzah case, a Chanukah menorah, and many others - that are ours alone. You will receive expert advice and personal attention from our highly experienced staff. Engraving and gift wrapping are available, of course."

BBC TV Blames Auschwitz on Christianity

I'm intrigued by this description from John Lloyd TV columnist for FT.com, of episodes of a new BBC series. Quite gutsy sounding TV. He says,

A series on Christianity can’t be done straight these days, so the makers of Christianity: A History (Channel 4, Sundays) are doing it aggressive. First up, the Jewish novelist Howard Jacobson presented a programme telling the Christians that, for much of their two millennia, they perpetuated a libel against Jews that ended (although in truth it hasn’t ended) at the gates of Auschwitz. I was startled when the gate with “Arbeit Macht Frei” suddenly filled the screen, and my first thought was that this was a step too crude – the Nazis hated Christianity for its softness (Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf that “conscience was a Jewish invention, a blemish, like circumcision”).

Yet Jacobson, if self-righteous, was convincing; the Nazis sought to make Jesus Aryan, as has much Christian iconography, in contrast to the hook-nosed, treacherous Judas. At least in some parts of the world – the differences are important, and he didn’t point them out – the old libel could yet be whipped into murderous use. The series has already sparked debate, not surprisingly since Jacobson’s film was vigorous, its polemical purpose was transparent, it held and gripped.

Next week, Michael Portillo will say that the Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion of himself and his empire to Christianity was a bad idea. You can imagine the bishops moaning softly over the sherry: with a series like this, with the strains of “tidings of comfort and joy” scarcely died away, who needs publicity?

Youkilis Signs for $41.25 million

Now this is news. Not a bad deal for a nice Jewish ballplayer!

Red Sox lock up Youkilis through 2012
First baseman's four-year, $41.25 million contract finalized Friday

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
Everything is right in Red Sox Nation.

Six weeks after second baseman and reigning American League Most Valuable Player Dustin Pedroia was locked up to a six-year deal, first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who finished third in the MVP voting, committed to be a member of the Red Sox until at least 2012.

After passing his physical, Youkilis' four-year, $41.25 million contract, with a team option for a fifth season, was formalized on Friday, making Youkilis part of the potent Boston lineup for years to come.

"It's exciting," said manager Terry Francona during Friday's news conference, held at Fenway Park. "Tying up young players in theory sounds good, but they also have to be good enough to handle giving your ballclub a chance to win every year, and that's not easy.

"And now, on the right side of our infield, you have a guy that won the MVP [and] a guy that came in third. Both guys are Gold Glove-caliber players, they both love to win, and we've seen them both come through our Minor League system, so that certainly provides us a huge comfort zone."

Youkilis, an eighth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2001, had his breakout season in his fifth year in the Major Leagues in 2008. The righty hit a career-high .312, with 29 home runs and 115 RBIs.

More importantly, he was a significant cog at the cleanup spot once the club traded slugger Manny Ramirez at the Trade Deadline. While hitting fourth for the Red Sox, Youkilis batted .299, with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs in 48 games.

"I never pictured myself on another team," Youkilis said. "All my buddies back home in Cincinnati said, 'You've got to come play for the Reds, we need a player like you on the Reds.' And I said, 'It's not that easy.' For me, I never saw myself on another team. I've always seen myself putting on that Red Sox uniform every day, putting on that 'B' on the hat. This is home to me."

Youkilis' signing is further evidence of the supremely talented farm system of the Red Sox, which features homegrown players like Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, Jonathan Papelbon -- who is arbitration-eligible this offseason -- and Jon Lester, along with Pedroia and Youkilis.

Hot Stove

"We've made no secrets about our priorities here, that we want to develop a homegrown core of talent," general manager Theo Epstein said. "We feel like that's the best way, the only way, to achieve sustainable success year in and year out.

"It's hard to keep preaching that message if the only players you give money to are players that you bring in from outside the organization."

Youkilis' deal, which gives him a $1 million signing bonus, earns him $6 million in 2009, $10 million in '10 and $12 million in '11 and '12. If the club picks up his option for '13, he will make $14 million with a $1.25 million buyout.

The contract will cut into the first two years that he would've been eligible for free agency, but Youkilis, who turns 30 in March, doesn't see that as a problem.

"It can go either way," he said. "You could get injured and you could go into arbitration next year and not make your money. There's a lot of things that happen. Could I have made a little more money? Maybe. But I think the biggest thing, when you look at it, is, for me personally, like Theo said, it's not about the money. It's about going out and playing baseball."

Besides, for the remainder of his career -- however long that will span -- Youkilis doesn't want to go anywhere else.

"It's a great feeling to know that I might also have the opportunity to end my career here, too," said Youkilis, whose wife is from Boston. "That's one thing we've discussed. I would love to end my career playing for the Boston Red Sox. I always tell them I'm not looking to play until I'm 42, but I'm looking hopefully to end my career here with the Boston Red Sox."

Bloomberg: Jared Kushner Keeping 666 Fifth Avenue

Jared bought it at the peak for $1.8 billion in January 2007. It is worth now $1.25 billion. Citigroup is one of its big tenants. It sounds bad but Bloomberg reports:

Kushner said he has no plans to sell the building.

“We’re a family company,” he said. “We didn’t buy it to flip it. Right now as long as you don’t have to refinance today, you’re all right. There are buildings all over town with potential refinancing problems. 666 isn’t in any trouble.”

Paul Krugman: Bush Administration Must be Prosecuted for Crimes

We agree with Paul Krugman writing in today's Times. The Bush administration must be prosecuted for its crimes of the last eight years. Part of moving on involves a whole lot of cleaning up and locking up.

About Obama, Krugman concludes,

...next week he’s going to swear to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” That’s not a conditional oath to be honored only when it’s convenient.

And to protect and defend the Constitution, a president must do more than obey the Constitution himself; he must hold those who violate the Constitution accountable. So Mr. Obama should reconsider his apparent decision to let the previous administration get away with crime. Consequences aside, that’s not a decision he has the right to make.

We add - Barack wants to create new jobs.

How about 10,000 new jobs for investigators into the abuses of the last eight Bush years? How about 10,000 new jobs just for investigators into the criminal fixing of gasoline prices by big oil?

New Yorker Contest: Jewish Eustace Tilley - a Biblical Eye for an Eye Entry

The contest entries do not come from the New Yorker staff. This one stole part of my idea for a Jewish Eustace Tilley - clever - but I reject the implications of it. Israeli policy is based on many factors with political, military and diplomatic goals. Lex talionis, the ancient biblical concept of an eye for an eye, which is the text in the drawing, is not a motive of Israeli government actions.

Bergen Record: Teaneck Council Runs Amok

People who live in towns like ours don't like "surprise decisions."

You need a manager in place to run a town with a $61 million budget. Yet Teaneck just fired its manager without good cause ("her management style") and will hire consultants to find a new one BY JULY 1 - SIX MONTHS FROM NOW!. But wait, maybe they first should hire consulting consultants to find the right consultants.

Consultants? Is that one of the council's "new Ideas"?

Ever heard of classified ads? Craigs' List?

Teaneck fires township manager
BY JOSEPH AX

TEANECK — The town will begin its budget process tonight, less than 48 hours after a split council voted to fire Township Manager Helene Fall in a surprise decision.

Mayor Kevie Feit said the council will be able to handle the budget without its architect, Fall, and would work hard to reduce its size. Fall's proposed $61.9 million budget includes a 6.2 percent increase in spending.

Meanwhile, Feit said he hopes to select a new manager no later than July 1. Officials may hire an outside consultant to help conduct a search for qualified candidates.

Fall was dismissed late on Tuesday night after a lengthy closed-door discussion...

The resolution to fire Fall focused on her management style, calling her "unwilling" to try new ideas.

She will be suspended with pay for 30 days until her official date of dismissal and then paid three months of her $170,976 salary...

The lawsuits were part of Tuesday's talks, Feit acknowledged...

"What I've been most impressed with is her level of integrity and knowledge that the town will be hard-pressed to replace," Gussen said Tuesday...