Monday Roundup

Unfortunately, it wasn't a Merry Christmas for everyone around the world.

Sadness fills my heart today as I send my condolences to everyone touched by the catastrophe that hit the 10 Southern Asian coastline countries over the weekend. How grotesquely frightening it must be to be in an earthquake of that size (I know the smaller ones are no picnic) and then to be confronted by a 30-foot wall of water that is a Tsunami. My heart goes out to them. Current death toll is put at 23,000 and rising.

Condolences also go out the fans, friends and family of NFL great Reggie White, who passed away from a massive heart attack at 43. He was at times controversial but he seemed to be on a genuine path to gain knowledge and I completely respect that. 43 is way too young to die. Read a fantastic article (I highly recommend that you check out the whole magazine site when you can) on this incredible athlete.


In other news (and let's face it, there's no good segue), congratulations to the Ukraine's Yushchenko for finally being able to get the clear victory he should have had last time. To survive poisoning is amazing enough. But to overcome everything else to finally be able to claim his rightful win is a fantastic triumph -- for him and for the good of world politics. Bravo!

Meet the Fockers set a record for the most money earned (44.7 million) over Xmas weekend. Good for them. I do wish Barbra and the bunch success -- I just wish they'd made a better movie.

Short Takes From Israel

(The Jerusalem Post -- www.jpost.com -- which you need to register before being able to access entire stories, which I highly recommend)

• Senator Joseph Lieberman to visit Israel Tuesday to meet with high ranking Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
• Health Ministry sends medical mission to Thailand
• Home Front Command preparing Asia mission

And always a must read at jpost.com and updated weekly.....

Caroline Glick: Column One
Bigotry's Harvest
If the government goes through with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to unilaterally withdraw, thereby ending the IDF's offensive operations in the area, how will such attacks be prevented?