This journal is no longer being updated for the public; this account is being used for a personal record and to occasionally read communities. Thank you.

As I'm sure (I hope) you know by now, Haiti has been devastated by an earthquake. I found out yesterday afternoon right about when it happened, thanks to friends of mine who are involved in something at Vassar called the Vassar Haiti Project which raises money for local education in Haiti by selling Haitian-made artwork.

If you can afford it, ( Read more... )

I've decided that this year, maybe I just won't do books, but also movies, music, concerts, etc.

( 2009 Books List )

Public post.

This week is Peace Week, a week-long extravaganza of events that is being hosted by the Women's Studies Department here at Vassar.

Tonight I went to a vigil called the Peace is Loud Vigil. The Vassar alum who was leading us in a drum circle told us this incredible story. He came to Vassar as a refugee from Uganda. When he was 7 ( Read more... )

Hi, it's the former
( Read more... )

Public Post.

I'd like to say something about what's been going on in the news recently. Last Wednesday, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the President of Sudan, on charges of "crimes against humanity" but not on charges of genocide, even though, last July, the prosecutor who requested the warrant ( Read more... )

I would have posted earlier, but it was family time. And I try not to be sad during family time. But it must be said:

N.Y. rabbi, wife killed at Mumbai Jewish center
Attributes of India attacks suggest outside help
Mumbai hotel survivors describe mayhem
Terrorists in India attack could be local
Mumbai victim: 'They just fired randomly'
The Mayhem ( Read more... )

1. Atonement, by Ian McEwan
   ( Review )

THIS POST IS PUBLIC BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT.

Last night, the comedy act Standup for Peace came to Vassar. Standup for Peace is billed as the "two-comedian solution to Middle East Peace," and are one Jewish and one Palestinian-American comedian touring together promoting a simple solution for peace in the Middle East: interaction.

Yes, of course ( Read more... )