… folks in Israel feel the same way as they are withdrawing the current exemption for ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, men from military service. I have read that non-Haredi Israelis put up with their exemption because they were convinced that intense study of the Torah gave the Haredi special status….

.. My husband got his heart set on the recipe, so I promised to make it for his birthday, along with the chocolate-strawberry cake I told you about….

… 13 youth “accused the HI Department of Transportation of consistently prioritizing building highways over other types of transportation.” The settlement includes increasing access to public transport & pathways for pedestrians & bikes & establishing a youth council to advise the department….

… I am reminded of Ronald Reagan (RWR) & Jimmy Carter (JEC) ‘s debate in 1980 when RWR said, “There you go again” sounding like he was correcting his misguided son with loving condescension…

… As we contemplate birthdays, did you know folks all over Burma celebrated Aun San Suu Kyi’s 79th year, yesterday? According to the AP, “In the southern region of Tanintharyi, hundreds of demonstrators in Dawei district…

..The Guardian ran a photo of prisoners in El Salvador, accused of being members the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). The situation there is so bad that they are having mass trials where 500 alleged leaders are being tried for more than 37,000 crimes committed over a decade….

…According to the article, “leeches inhabit in paddy fields, riverbanks & ponds & fertilizers & pesticides caused them dead.” Clearly, they need a better translator!…

… Did the topic of immigration come up in your conversation with Jimmy Kimmel (JCK) & BHO?…

…It’s nice to have scientific evidence to back up my observations of my husband’s excellent nurturing abilities….

…Was Akinwumi Adesina making a pitch for his debt-for-nature idea of financing development in Africa?…

…How did your meeting with Pope Francis go? Did he tell you about his visit with 105 comics? … He told them to keep up their efforts to “puncture pomposity” & “help us, with a smile, to see reality with its contradictions, & to dream of a better world!”

How are things in Italy? According to the Borgo Eganzia’s website “you can live nowhere else experiences” at their establishment…..

… Do you trust Hunter (RHB) these days? Psychology Todays says, “You can be compassionate without trusting.”…

… today is the Dragon Boat Festival, a Chinese holiday on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar. Some say the day honors the life of  Qu Yuan, a brave poet who stood up to King Fuchai (KF)….

When you were in Normandy, did you see the Longest Yarn exhibit of 80 panels of DDay scenes knitted & crocheted by crafters from around the world? It’s amazing that they were able to make something so horrific look cute….