RIP: Bea Arthur

Sadly, another Golden Girl has left us. Bea Arthur, Dorthoy Zbornak, the self-confident, "straight woman," heroine of the late-1980's/early 1990's TV program, died yesterday. It's another blow for comedy worldwide. The NY Times called her a "battle-ax," and that's such a great metaphor. Bea, we'll miss you. 

Last summer, Estelle Getty, who played Sophia on The golden Girls, died, and I sadly blogged about it here. That's two in less than a year! Hang on Betty White and Rue McClanahan! Keep going strong!

Some obits:

New York Times

Entertainment Weekly

Entertainment Weekly II (with clips)

so I'm an alarmist

sue me. 

these are alarmist times and they call for alarmist measures. 

campus was fine today, being back after almost 2 weeks, nice to see everyone. but people were responding to the news in various ways. no one knows what's going on, what's going to happen, it's all speculation and rumors and innuendo. people are panicking a little bit on the inside, but mostly we're focused on our liturgy paper. which is due tomorrow. so i'm going to get back to writing. 

campus closure

Nothing, of course, has been decided, and won't be until late June, but David Ellenson, the President of HUC, sent a letter to all students and staff last week saying that due to the dire financial crisis the college is in, the Board of Governors is going to take drastic restucturing steps, including consolidating of programs, staff reductions, tuition hikes, and/or closing of up to 2 (of 3) North American campuses.

This is huge news. Huge. Drastic. Horrid. Incomprehensible. Most likely, the one campus they'd retain would be New York - and close LA and Cincinnati. So I'd be moving to New York a year earlier. But the agony! The horror! It's got me - and many of my fellow classmates - with shudders. We're shuddering. and cowering.

Oh you silly Board of Governors and your rhetoric and your alarmism! Just don't make me relocate to New York a year ahead of schedule!

Here are some articles on the subject:

LA Times on HUC Campus closure

LA Times on HUC LA Staff Fighting Back (Yeah!)

Jewish Journal of LA on How USC may be the Savior of HUC LA

Mom in Israel

So, my Mom was here for a few weeks, over Passover. Her visit was great, really great, and while I haven't had time to blog about it (or the amazing Passover seder we had with Meredith and her Mom, Jaclyn and her parents, Ari, Lisa, and Jim) YET, I do have pictures! 

For your viewing pleasure:

Mom in Israel!