Well, I took a couple of days off for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. The weather here in Chicago was exceptional (70-75 degrees). The kids played outside for a good part of the two days and I caught up on some much needed sleep. I started to re-read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It didn't do that much for me, as opposed to the last 2. So I thought I'd give it another chance.

Let's see...I'm not surprised by the outcome of American Idol. I was rooting for Diana DeGarmo, but really only because I felt Fantasia would certainly get a record deal anyway.

Regarding the news about Madonna canceling her concert in Israel...

I hear conflicting reasons. At first, the news came out that she and her kids had been threatened by a Palestinian group, who had way more information on her life and schedule than should have. Now, according to the London tabloids (and they are tabloids, not newspapers), Madonna claims that she was not threatened and that her manager made her cancel due to Israel's assassination of the two leaders of Hamas.

RIGHT!

Another reason, according to MSNBC IS That since she is a "student" of Kabbalah (or at least the bastardization of it), she felt that it would be unwise to perform, due to the scorn she would receive by Rabbinic leaders.

RIGHT!

I'm not sure what to make of the Gay marriage issue. On one end, I think people have a right to happiness. If they want to show their love for one another through a "marriage", then do it. It doesn't matter what you call it.

On the other hand, where will it stop? What if in a few years from now, a man decides to marry his brother? Or a woman decides to marry her "of age" daughter? What about marrying three or more people?

It sounds ridiculous now, but a man marrying another man sounded crazy 30 years ago too. Once you define marriage as more than it's traditional meaning, it sets a strong precedent to allow the redefinition of many traditional customs.

On the other hand, certain traditions need to be redefined. Otherwise, we would still have slaves and women would not be allowed to vote.

On the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand.

Perhaps the government should be less involved and the lower courts stop using their judicial powers to force certain things down our throats. If it's an issue of health insurance, medical rights or inheritance laws, anyone should feel free to designate whoever they wish as their partner. Many states have laws that grant civil unions already. Why does it need to be called marriage.

I believe that half of the gay couples who wish to marry are doing so because they truly want to be able to show the highest form of commitment to one another. However, I believe the other 50% want to get married in order to thumb their noses at devout Christians and Jews (and other religions).

Of course this just my opinion.

Well, have a good night and I'll, hopefully, have a new article by Monday.