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July 24, 2008

Rabbi Berel Wein: On the road again --- and again and again

Richard Z. Chesnoff: Mideast Refugees --- Failure vs. Success

JWisdom:: Word power is about more than vocabulary by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 23, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: The Mufti of Jerusalem's Nazi ideology lives on among contemporary Islamists

The Kosher Gourmet by Joe Gray: Smoked paprika turkey meatballs simmered in red wine and tomato sauce

JWisdom:: 'Routine' doesn't need to mean ‘rote’ By Rabbi David Aaron

July 22, 2008

Yossi Klein Halevi: Dear Barack Obama

Elliot B. Gertel: Eli Stone: Self-indulgent, arrogant corporate attorney as modern-day prophet

JWisdom:: Three Weeks - Nine Days - One Purpose by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

July 21, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Spending your kids' money

Mitch Albom: A grim exchange illustrates a key difference

JWisdom:: The Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith: Hammered on the Anvil --- Severed by the Sickle by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

July 18, 2008

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: The Sanctification and Importance of Time

Caroline B. Glick: US wants it absolutely clear it has no intention of attacking Iran's nuclear installations

Mona Charen: What can you say about a people who welcome a child murderer as a hero?

JWisdom:: Living a dog's life, dawg? by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 17, 2008

Steven Emerson: Deals with devils

Libby Lazewnik: One Step at a Time

JWisdom:: Leader the follower? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 16, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Poaching humans

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Meaty pasta salad with summer berries perfect for warm evenings

JWisdom:: Keeping A Secret by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

July 15, 2008

Dennis Prager: False Equation: Opposing Same-Sex Marriage and Opposing Interracial Marriage

Joel Greenberg: Researchers look to Israeli circumcision program to help combat AIDS 'Alternatives' to Logic Won't Work

JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part V: Why Judaism ISN'T Spiritual by Rabbi David Aaron

July 14, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: A warning from Canada to those who value life

Jonathan Tobin: 'Alternatives' to Logic Won't Work

JWisdom:: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Poland's Unique Antisemitism, Part II

July 11, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: It's hard to be humble when you're great

Caroline B. Glick: A tale of two hostages

JWisdom:: Profane for Prophet by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 8, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Duty to save gullible from themselves?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Islamists have the West just where they want us

JWisdom:: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 3: The Fully Loaded Human Being by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 3, 2008

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski: A spiritual budget (TOUCHING!)

Jeff Jacoby: Israel still paying for its defeat

JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part IV by Rabbi David Aaron

JWisdom:: The Moses Method by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 2, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Appeasers Make Poor Patriots

The Kosher Gourmet By Kathleen Purvis: Slaw, y'all: For BBQs or Sabbath dinner, these southern recipes are something else!

JWisdom:: Rabbi Mordechai Becher: Jewish Rx for A Simpler Life

July 1, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. I think it's important to leave a legacy to my children. How much should I save towards this end?

Paul Greenberg:A President who is history deficient?

JWisdom:: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Poland's Unique Antisemitism

June 30, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Remembering the architect of Torah Judaism for the modern world

Abe Novick: Hulk: Still a Jew?

JWisdom: : Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 2: The Abandoned Child

June 26, 2008

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Quantum leap to evil

Caroline B. Glick: Victimized families must not be allowed to dictate policy

June 25, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Today in Biblical History: King Jeroboam of Israel prevents pilgrimage to Jerusalem

Jonathan Tobin: Real Friends and Real Enemies

JWisdom: Raping of reason By Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 25, 2008

Steven Emerson: Kristof: Never Mind the Terrorists

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: Mediterranean Flyover: Telegraphing an Israeli Punch?

JWisdom: Rabbi David Aaron: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part III

June 24, 2008

Caroline B. Glick: What were they thinking!?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Guilty knowledge

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Warping Innocence

June 23, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Diploma dilemma

Jeff Jacoby: A world without children

JWisdom: Rabbi Dovid Gross: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality --- Introduction

June 20, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Man: The Crowning Glory of Creation

Caroline B. Glick: Israel's darkest week

JWisdom: We aren't worthy? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 19, 2008

Rabbi Elazar Meisels: The saints who don't come marchin' in

Chris Christoff: Muslim woman demands an apology from Obama after camera snub

June 18, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Still Dancing Around Jerusalem

The Kosher Gourmet by Steve Petusevsky: Chilled fruit and vegetable soups

JWisdom: Souls Need A Check Up? by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

June 17, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Baby Einstein

Caroline B. Glick: Bush's rhetoric, Bush's policies

JWisdom: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part II by Rabbi David Aaron

June 16, 2008

Varda Branfman: Bob Dylan, won't you please come home?

Diana West: Academic dares to question the 'religion of peace'

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Positive Backfire

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review Sept. 7, 2006 / 14 Elul 5766

No Extra Charge For UFOs And Aliens

By Lloyd Garver


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | And you thought your latest hotel bill was high? Las Vegas entrepreneur Robert Bigelow hopes that within 10 years, he'll be able to charge guests somewhere between $5 million and $13 million for a weekend at his proposed hotel. Even accounting for inflation and that raise your boss keeps promising you, the price seems a bit steep. On the other hand, you'll be able to bring home some fantastic photos — because his proposed hotel will be in space.


Bigelow's idea is to send an inflatable space module on top of a rocket, and then have it inflate and orbit the earth. It's kind of a combination blimp and space station. He launched a one-third scale model on top of a Russian rocket in July, and it's orbiting the earth right now. If he can just get that other two-thirds up there, people will soon be lining up to bribe the bellman to get the best moon-view rooms.


NASA worked on inflatable space modules until 2000, when budget cuts ended the project. So they sold their plans to Bigelow, feeling that he wasn't some nut, but was a guy with a viable research plan.


It's ironic that Bigelow made his fortune with the Budget Suites of America hotel chain. At his hotels, guests often pay $79 a day for a two-bedroom suite with a kitchen. Now he's thinking of charging people thousands of times that just to go around in circles in a room where you can't even open the window.


Bigelow has had a fascination with space since he was a child. His grandparents told him about a "close encounter" they had had with a UFO; ever since then, he has wanted to become involved in space exploration.


Not everyone who works for and with Bigelow shares his belief in the paranormal. He has hired professors, engineers, and even former astronaut Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the moon. Many of his colleagues don't believe in things like UFOs, but they do believe that sending an inflatable object into space might be both possible and practical.


On the surface, it probably seems like the price tag is one of the major hurdles for the project. I know millions of dollars sounds like a lot of money for a weekend, but I'm sure there are a some super-rich people who would be tempted to cancel their weekend in the Hamptons or Vail for a chance at an outer space experience. It would have great snob appeal. They could brag that they were finally able to relax without worrying about "ordinary people" sharing their vacation space. They won't have to get upset about not being able to park their Mercedes right in front of their favorite wine-and-cheese store because some weekend tourists parked their old Toyota there.


Weightlessness could turn the space hotel into the universe's most desirable health spa. And if guests have any encounters with cute little aliens, they can always treat them as pets like those little dogs they carry in their purses.


But what about those of us who have limits on our Visa card somewhat below $5 million? How can Bigelow make this kind of travel appealing to us?


I have an idea for him. How much would it be worth to you to travel by air and actually have it be a pleasant experience? You know, like it used to be.


So, Bigelow should hire flight attendants who love their jobs and enjoy serving the public. He should let you use your cell phone in the air. He should have the air conditioning set to a temperature that doesn't freeze or broil you. You shouldn't ever have to sit next to someone who elbows you the whole flight. And passengers should be able to eat meals that are actually edible.


I don't know about you, but perks like those would make it awfully tempting to me. And when you think about it, is $5 million really that much to pay for a real-sized pillow and enough space so that your feet and your carry-on bag can both fit under the seat in front of you? In fact, I think I'm going to start saving now just so I can fly without today's hassles. If I start buying more generic stuff and make sure the living room light is turned off every night, it shouldn't take me long to save $5 million, right?

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. Comment by clicking here. Visit his website by clicking here.

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