I have little time for CBS News. Like NBC‚ ABC‚ and CNN‚ its stories on the Middle East regularly treat the absurd casualty figures offered by Hamas as trustworthy‚ without the least note of their faulty methodology and their failure of elementary tests of statistical probability. They take the questionable premises of Ben Rhodes as a starting point and refer to Jewish settlements as obstacles to peace when in every bit of land under Palestinian or Muslim control east of Tunisia‚ only the barest skeleton of a Jewish community remains. These networks turn attention away from the ongoing plight of the hostages‚ both American and Israeli‚ at Hamas’s hands‚ and play up the “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza as if it were not the fault of the Hamas war criminals — as if only Israel were responsible‚ etc.‚ etc.‚ etc.‚ ad nauseum. But my editor here turned my attention to a piece that appeared on CBS on March 7‚ which‚ while typically myopic and distorted (how many ways the reality can be misread&;#33;)‚ was at least interesting and unusual. (READ MORE: Israeli Retaliation vs. Restraint) The piece begins by citing a Hamas listing of Israeli crimes — nothing special here — that suddenly veers into something weird. Abu Ubaida‚ a Hamas spokesperson‚ accused Israel of “bringing red cows” to Israel. Red Heifers Aren’t Part of a Scary Plot As an American Spectator reader‚ you are more likely than most in today’s America to know Scripture and so to guess what he was talking about: The red heifer mentioned in the Book of Numbers (Chapter 19).  You may also understand that the connection of the red heifer to any plot has nothing to do with its insidiousness. Yes‚ the Jews have prayed and continue to pray every day — at least those who use the traditional prayerbook rather than one modified by progressivism — for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. That has been going on three times a day at least since the Second Temple was destroyed. There is nothing new here‚ except for those who have found Jewish hope criminal‚ blasphemous‚ or satanic‚ many of whom are leaders of Middle East violence. (READ MORE: Surprise&;#33; The New (And Old) Palestinian Authority Is Jihadist) So‚ what is this red heifer business‚ then‚ if not a scary recidivist plot&;#63; Leviticus and Numbers set up a system by which holiness remains alive and palpable in the community’s experience. If one treats a holy place like a locker room‚ it doesn’t feel holy for very long. The Bible speaks of a system by which people become aware of tum’a‚ “impurity‚” and tahara‚ “purity. ” We tend to think of purity as meaning an absence of some contaminant. In the biblical system‚ it means an absence of life. In almost every case‚ biblical impurity is triggered by the removal of a person’s life force. The most obvious case is death‚ which is called in the Jewish legal tradition the “grandfather of impurities.” Being in contact with a corpse‚ walking over a grave‚ or being under the same roof as a corpse‚ even with no physical contact‚ can cause impurity. Under Jewish law it is a great mitzvah‚ a deed that connects you with God’s purpose in life‚ to attend personally to the dead‚ and to prepare a body for burial by washing and clothing it. Yet everyone involved contracts this grandfather of impurities. Clearly‚ tum’a is not a consequence of ungodly behavior‚ it just means that we need to be in a different state when we come into the holy grounds of the Temple or partake of food from the sacrifices or other sorts of holy foods mentioned in Scripture. Every kind of tum’a can be overcome. It is a cycle in life. Most impurities involve waiting one day and immersion in a pool of water (properly prepared) or certain natural bodies of water. Others require longer a longer wait. Approaching the Holy Mount The impurity from death requires not only a seven-day wait and an immersion‚ but it also uniquely requires the ‘impure’ person to be sprinkled with a mixture of special water taken from a spring and mixed with the ashes of a red heifer that had been specially sacrificed and then burnt. There are many details involved‚ most of them crucial‚ as outlined in Numbers 23 and elaborated on in the ancient Jewish law sources.  The problem is that the last bit of ashes from the last red heifer that met all the requirements was used up nearly two millennia ago.  What is the consequence of that&;#63; It doesn’t affect daily life unless you were to go to the Temple — not your local modern temple‚ but the Temple in Jerusalem built on Mt. Moriah in the place where Isaac was offered as a sacrifice and where Jewish tradition has it that the earth from which Adam was created was taken (“from the place where he was made he finds atonement”). But there is no Temple today‚ so how does that affect anyone&;#63; Jewish law holds that even though the Temple is not standing‚ holiness has never left the Temple site. That is why‚ if you ascend to the top of the Temple Mount‚ you will see signs in several languages noting that it is forbidden by Jewish law to enter the place where the Temple courtyard stood because all are presumed made impure by death and‚ without the ashes of the red heifer‚ that situation cannot be remedied. (READ MORE: A Very Unhappy Anniversary) So‚ the appearance of some heifers which still look to be properly red is the cause of some excitement‚ though of no great plot. If they are raised to the proper age and remain qualified‚ it may be possible to enter the Temple precincts without violating the biblical command. There is nothing to fear from that. After all‚ who does not respect another religion’s holy places in today’s enlightened world&;#63; Just as Jews were finally readmitted to pray in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron‚ where our Patriarchs and Matriarchs are buried‚ and have shared it with our Muslim cousins‚ no doubt something positive and peaceful is attainable here‚ too. If we do not believe it ourselves then let’s rely on the prophecy of Isaiah‚ who declared in God’s voice‚ “For My House will be called a House of Prayer for all peoples.” The post No‚ Red Cows Won’t Spark War in Israel appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Never Say You’ve Had a Lucky Life: Especially If You’ve Had a Lucky Life By Joseph Epstein (Free Press‚ 269 pages‚ $29.99) In the introduction to his autobiography‚ out this month from Free Press (sorry‚ this doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay for the book)‚ writer Joseph Epstein apologizes for having the audacity to chronicle his quiet life. He needn’t have. Those of us‚ your servant included‚ who’ve enjoyed Epstein’s insightful and amusing essays and short stories over the decades see no need to justify learning how Joseph Epstein became Joseph Epstein. How a smart-aleck high school kid in Chicago‚ more interested in sports and impressing girls than in books‚ became one of the most charming writers of the last half-century and change. A writer William F. Buckley Jr. dubbed “the wittiest writer alive.” (WFB‚ Jr. certainly knew witty.) “Over what is now a long life‚ I did little‚ saw nothing notably historic‚ and endured not much out of the ordinary of anguish or trouble or exaltation‚” Epstein informs us on page one. Well‚ our Epstein is having us on a bit here. His life has indeed been quiet. He’s never heroically led men in battle‚ stopped crime waves‚ rescued people from burning buildings‚ set athletic records‚ starred on the silver screen‚ or led a political movement. But his intellectual and literary achievements have been quietly extraordinary. Epstein’s long life — he’s 87 now — began during the butt-end of the Great Depression and has‚ so far‚ spanned a world war‚ the marvelous and atypical 50s‚ the tantrums and bad clothes of the 60s and 70s‚ and the current therapeutic and scratchy PC morass we find ourselves tangled in now. He shows no signs of slowing down. He still regularly contributes essays‚ reviews‚ and op-ed pieces to the nation’s top publications. Regular readers of the Wall Street Journal‚ Commentary‚ and National Review needn’t wait too long to encounter the Epstein byline. (I’m pleased to say Epstein’s work has also appeared in The American Spectator.) “Getting decently paid to express one’s opinions keeps one from being perpetually ticked off or dragged down by the state of the world and the majority of dopes who seem to be in charge of it‚” Epstein writes in Lucky Life. Just so.     For more than half a century‚ in more than 30 books including witty and amusing essay collections‚ elegant short stories‚ and single-subject tomes like Charm‚ Gossip‚ and Snobbery‚ Epstein has parsed the triumphs and peccadilloes‚ the genius and the idiocies of the most fascinating times of the most fascinating country on the planet. Epstein is a generalist in the best sense of the word. He will sometimes take on the big issues of the day — deconstructing the therapeutic culture‚ the politicization of the liberal arts at universities and in book publishing‚ and child-obsessed‚ helicopter parents‚ just to name three. A well-read man with a literary approach to life‚ Epstein is also a defender of the value and charm of competitive sports‚ about which he is savvy and voluble. While he can be serious about serious matters‚ his default stance and style is an amused and amusing outlook‚ always readable‚ and never in a hurry. He can shed light accessibly on Anton Chekhov‚ Henry James‚ or Joseph Conrad. (In an antic mood he described Conrad as Henry James for people who like the outdoors. Perfect.)  But he’s more likely to write about more familiar quotidian pleasures and peccadilloes of daily life. But people who’ve read Epstein‚ or my reviews of his work that have appeared in this space over the years‚ already know this. And they likely would enjoy reading of young Epstein’s various rites of passage in a Chicago that was not the free fire zone that it is now‚ his intellectual awakening in the University of Chicago‚ his time as a draftee in the peacetime army‚ his stint as an administrator of one of those federal anti-poverty programs in Arkansas where he learned the limitations of both government and misdirected idealism‚ his time as a college teacher (without benefit of advanced degree) where he was generally popular with his students but much less so with fellow faculty. This last could be explained by his essays with titles such as “The Academic Zoo‚” “Lower Education‚” and “Who Killed the Liberal Arts‚” where Epstein tears strips off of our current dumbed-down and highly political universities and the vacuous cultural phantasms they flog. Epstein rarely writes about partisan politics. When he does he makes more sense than those who do it for a living. He doesn’t cotton to labels such as liberal and conservative and doesn’t identify as Democrat or Republican. He says he likes to think of himself as being a member of the select Anti-BS Party. His personal politics‚ he says‚ are mainly attempting to protect himself from other people’s politics. (Amen‚ Brother. In the current political climate‚ this could be a full-time job.) Too often autobiographies are an exercise in lily-gilding or score-settling. Not a hint of these here. In his apologetic introduction‚ Epstein quotes George Orwell as saying that an autobiography “is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful.” Nothing of this in Lucky Life. Perhaps Epstein has nothing disgraceful to declare. Or perhaps‚ the traditional Epstein‚ who admits to being behind the times and comfortable being so‚ still clings to the idea that certain things need not‚ in fact shouldn’t‚ be shared with the world‚ even in an autobiography. Better not to sign off without dealing with the puzzling title. Epstein considers his life to this point to have been very lucky. But luck‚ Epstein reminds us‚ can and often does change without notice. Since 1970‚ Epstein has not had to go to an office and has been able to spend hours every day reading and then making a living by writing about whatever he’s interested in. In so doing he’s attracted a thoughtful and devoted readership numbering in the thousands. How many thousands‚ neither Epstein nor I have a clue. (But not as many as his work deserves.) Great good luck I’d call this‚ both for Epstein and for his readers. In his introduction‚  Epstein wrote: “I hope this autobiography. like a good novel‚ will remind its readers how unpredictable‚ various‚ and wondrously rich life‚ even and outwardly quiet life‚ can be.” I found that it does. The post Joseph Epstein’s and His Readers’ Lucky Literary Life appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

from Schiff Gold: Since Nayib Bukele became president of El Salvador‚ El Salvador has been in American media and global political discussion more than ever. While much of the attention focuses on Bukele’s mass incarceration of gang members and a decline in homicide of over 70%‚ Bukele has also drawn attention to his favoritism towards Bitcoin […]

by Martin Armstrong‚ Armstrong Economics: Please reside in a state that stands with your current political allegiance. This week has proved that the rule of law is no longer applicable to the whole of the United States. We are no longer united. In California‚ pro-Hamas fools blocked off the Golden Gate Bridge for hours as […]

from Lunar Landing Discussions:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Geoffrey Grinder‚ Now The End Begins: Pro-Hamas protesters in dozens of cities across America are participating in the ‘Global Strike for Gaza’ and ‘Stop The World For Gaza’ today‚ funding comes from George Soros All across America today‚ frustrated commuters were stopped for hours by Pro-Hamas supporters who united to ‘stop the world for […]

In the constellation of Hollywood’s golden era‚ few stars have burned as brightly and faded as quickly as James Dean. Born on February 8‚ 1931‚ in Marion‚ Indiana‚ Dean’s rise to cinematic fame was as meteoric as his tragic demise‚ which came just 24 years later. Raised primarily in Fairmount‚ Indiana‚ after the death of his mother‚ Dean developed a passion for drama and the creative arts during his school years. His early foray into the world of acting led him to the prestigious Actors Studio in New York‚ where he honed the craft under Lee Strasberg’s tutelage‚ embracing the method acting approach that would later define his career. Dean’s breakthrough came with the 1955 film “East of Eden‚” an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel. His portrayal of the emotionally complex Cal Trask earned him a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor‚ a rare honor and a testament to his profound impact on audiences and critics alike. This was followed by two more iconic roles: as the troubled teenager Jim Stark in “Rebel Without a Cause” and as the disaffected ranch hand Jett Rink in “Giant.” Both films cemented his reputation as a symbol of youthful angst and disillusionment in post-war America. Off-screen‚ Dean was known for his eclectic interests‚ from bullfighting literature to jazz music‚ and his love for fast cars. His passion for racing and automobiles was well-known‚ contributing to his legend but also to his untimely demise. Dean’s life came to an abrupt end on September 30‚ 1955‚ when his Porsche collided with another vehicle in Cholame‚ California. His death was an ironic echo of the restless‚ risk-taking characters he portrayed. James Dean’s career was brief‚ his life shorter‚ but his legacy is undiminished. In just three films‚ he crafted an enduring image of youthful defiance and vulnerability that continues to resonate with generations. His performances‚ marked by an intense realism‚ helped set a new standard for actors and remain a high benchmark for the art of cinema. Even decades after his death‚ Dean remains a figure of fascination‚ embodying the forever young and forever rebellious spirit of the silver screen. The post James Dean: Spectacular photos of a screen legend first appeared on History Defined.

With the news of Country Hip Hop pioneer Colt Ford still in the intensive care unit at the Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa‚ Arizona‚ we wanted to take a closer look at the successful collabs between Country music and Hip Hop artists throughout the years.. This is definitely not the George Jones styled country music that I grew up with‚ and love lol.. To be fair‚ there will probably never be another George Jones‚ who was hands down the greatest country singer of all time. But like many from Zoomers to Gen-x‚ it was nearly impossible to not vibe with Hip Hop growing up too. It came to no surprise to me when I saw a 60 Minutes interview with Chris Stapleton where he said he grew up listening to Dr Dre and Snoop Dog as well as George Jones. For me it was George for sure‚ plus Lauryn Hill and Eminem. I may be a purist when it comes to traditional country music. I really don't want to hear a trap beat when I'm in the mood for George Jones. But I do love some of the current overlap with hip hop‚ rap‚ and R&;B. I also love to see charting artists dusting off some of the old classics and breathing new life into time treasured gems like Ernest‚ Hardy and Post Malone have done recently. Country music has always been welcoming that way as non genre artists like Ray Charles‚ Michael Bubl&;eacute;‚ Adele‚ and Jewel among many others have found chart success in the genre. Themes of love‚ and heartbreak are universal. As is the strong slant towards story telling in country music which is also a staple of rap music. Throughout the years‚ there have been a growing number of rappers who have partnered with country artists with very successful results due to the common ground story telling has provided. A few have even been nominated for awards in the country music category‚ and reached platinum seller status with their respective collaborations. I thought it would be cool to look back at some of the epic history making highlights of the convergence of rap‚ hip hop‚ and country music.  As mainstream country leans more and more into Hip Hop‚ and R&;B‚ I think it's safe to say there will be more collaborations and artists transitioning into country music. It's great when they stay and visit for awhile‚ but not too cool when it feels like a shakedown or a smash and grab. Here are a couple of collabs that were mostly done right.. Coolio Rapper Coolio and Country Hall of Famer Kenny Rogers collaborated on a song called &;quot;The Hustler”. Kenny‚ and Coolio were friends‚ and Kenny was beyond happy to be the inspiration for the song. The Hustler was a hip-hop update to Kenny's hit &;quot;The Gambler‚&;quot; and despite the rap-country trend being more common now‚ their partnership was groundbreaking in 1998.  The song's message is positive‚ with Coolio's lyrics emphasizing the importance of standing up and helping each other. The music video features Coolio as the central character and narrator‚ with Rogers singing the iconic hook. The duo's unexpected collaboration was a great opportunity for Rogers to explore a different genre of music. Lil Nas X Old Town Road was just so darn catchy. The song was originally not considered country‚ and pulled off of the Billboard Country Charts.  Billboard's official statement‚ repeated across the media‚ was that the song “incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery [but] does not embrace enough elements of today's country music to chart in its current version.”  This was a blessing in disguise as everyone loves an underdog. Billy Ray Cyrus stepped in to show the newcomer support. The song skyrocketed to stratospheric record breaking levels after the Billboard decision and stayed a record breaking 19 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard all genre Hot 100. It is one of the best selling singles of all time and revived Billy Ray's career for awhile. The song is certified platinum 17x‚ and reached diamond status.. Snoop Dog. Did you know that in 2012 Rapper Snoop Dog was nominated for a CMA award&;#63; He was. Willie Nelson‚ and Jamey Johnson collaborated with Snoop Dog on the song &;quot;Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.&;quot; This unexpected collaboration showcased their mutual love for storytelling‚ and other things I suppose..Dear God lol..  Despite the surprise nomination‚ Snoop Dogg‚ Jamey and Willie Nelson's unique blend of hip-hop and country influences resonated with fans and critics alike‚ proving something we’ve known all along‚ music knows no boundaries. Ludacris. Ludacris‚ who also collaborated with Snoop Dog on the 3x platinum All I Do Is Win‚ made a strong featured appearance on Jason Aldean’s Dirt Road Anthem. The song was written by Colt Ford‚ and Brantley Gilbert. It was a crossover hit for Jason Aldean peaking at #7 on the all genre Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Country Airplay chart in 2011. Ludacris was also featured on Carrie Underwood's Champion song. The KLF: King Boy D (Bill Drummond) and Rockman Rock (Jimmy Cauty) One of the most interesting collabs was a song by British band the KLF‚ featuring none other than The First Lady of Country Music‚ Tammy Wynette&;#33; The song was a hit in 1991‚ reaching number two in the UK and number eleven on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song's origins date back to the band's debut album in 1987. Justified &; Ancient was the final release before the band retired. The song reflects the band's rebellious nature and subversive intent. The melody and lyrics were used in several of the band's works.&;quot; The song is definitely in the house genre with some rapping throughout. Tammy‚ of course gives a diva worthy performance. Lil Durk Morgan Wallen's collaboration with Lil Dirk ‚ Broadway Girls is still a fan fave. It also gave Morgan Wallen his first Billboard R&;B/Hip Hop chart topper in 2022. The song continued to gain traction across multiple Billboard charts like Hot Rap: #1‚ and Streaming Songs: #9. The song also crossed continents and charted on Billboard’s Global 200 as well as Billboard’s Hot 100. Lil Durk and Morgan have since collaborated on other projects. The success of these songs which in some cases span several decades and generations speaks to a musical landscape that has been changing for a while now.. As genres continue to evolve and blend together‚ artists are experimenting with new sounds and styles‚ and redefining long held beliefs of which genres can be infused with a touch of country music. There is a place for experimentation in all music‚ but let’s also save a place at the table for a little pedal steel‚ and twang from time to time.. :) Please help support these amazing charities&;#33; Matthew 23 Make A Wish St Jude Habitat For Humanity Persecution.org   Don't forget to follow the blogger on Twitter: Listen to more good country music here  Check out our music podcasts on Pandora