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May 24, 2013

Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb: When I didn't so 'humbly disagree'

Caroline B. Glick: Thank you, Hafez al-Assad

Diana West: From the Brooklyn Bridge to London
Morgan Housel: Why spotting bubbles is so much harder than you think

Environmental Nutrition editors: NuVal labeling to the rescue?

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Memorial Day: Jews Serving and KIA in War on Terror; Liberace Bio-Pic; Jew Wins "Survivor"; Shalom, Dr. Brothers; More

The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen: HIDE THESE FROZEN TREATS FROM THE KIDDIES!: Sangria pops; Irish cream pudding pops; mango Lassi pops

May 22, 2013

John Thorne: They launched the 'Arab Spring' but now yearn for the good old days of a strongman

John Rosemond: 'Disciplinary math' adds up to parental successl

Warren Richey: Are prayers before public meetings OK? Supreme Court to decide
Rick Montgomery: Use of ADHD drugs as study aid raises concern on campuses

Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.: 6 convincing reasons you should keep carbs in your diet

Eoin O'Carroll: Scientists examine nothing, find something

The Kosher Gourmet by Carole Kotkin: This soup is made from one of the great pleasures of spring: A wonderful pairing of rosy color and earthy tang

May 20, 2013

Richard A. Serrano: Is Meir Kahane's assassin now a changed man?

Hannan Adely: Town raises Palestinian flag at City Hall

Melissa Healy: Genetic copies of living people from embryos no longer science fiction
Morgan Housel: When smart investors do stupid things

Sharon Saloman, M.S., R.D.: Hunger games: Eat more, weigh less, without starving

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Jews Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame; Anton Yelchin co-stars in New "Trek" film; Kutcher (but not Kunis) visits Israel; Jewish TV Star Praises Jewish Rap Star

The Kosher Gourmet by Cathy Pollak: WARNING: This WALNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE FROSTING, perfect for afternoon coffee, is addicting

May 13, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Why the giving of the document that would permanently change the world could only be done in desolation

David G. Savage: Church-state, literally? Supreme Court weighing public school graduation in a church

Emily Alpert: Recession dragged down birth rates for less-educated women
Morgan Housel: The deep downside of home ownership

Peter Teffer: Will Dutch police soon be stalking cybercriminals on your computer?

Heidi McIndoo, M.S., R.D.: Meatless 'meat' can have its own set of problems

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate! This must-try appetizer is delicate yet has depth of flavor: Corn-Leek Cakes with Caviar, Smoked Salmon and Creme Fraiche

May 10, 2013

Rabbi Berel Wein: Be all that you should be

Caroline B. Glick: The dirty little secret about Israel's Arabs

Mona Charen: Hawking's Moral Calculus: The man and the movement he embraces
Morgan Housel: The biggest retirement myth ever told

Sandi Doughton: Eyes may provide new insight into brain problems

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : The Great Gatsby's Jewish Ties; Jews in the "Time 100 list" List; People's Most Beautiful Women

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: A sweet-hot meal: Pear salsa spices up salmon

May 8, 2013

Peter Ford: Why China is welcoming both Israel's Netanyahu and Palestinians' Abbas

Warren Richey: Obama administration quietly backs out of appeal over new contraceptive mandate

Fred Weir: At Kerry-Putin meeting, US-Russia relations thaw --- a tad
Amanda Paulson: Study reveals sad truths about community colleges

Harvard Health Letters: Evidence weak that zinc, echinacea are beneficial

The Kosher Gourmet by Leela Cyd Ross : Almost too pretty to eat, this colorful salad with Sicilian inspiration will tickle the taste buds and delight your visual sensibility

May 6, 2013

Edmund Sanders and Patrick J. McDonnell: Think Israel's objective in Syria is to weaken Assad or embolden the rebels? Think again

Brian Bennett: Israeli airstrikes may show weakness in Syrian defense

Michael Ollove: Millions of ex-felons, parolees and those on probation are about to be entitled to tax-payer paid health coverage
Karen Kaplan: Most men can skip PSA test for prostate cancer, urologists say

Kimberly Lankford: How to track down a lost life insurance policy

Dream of Mars exploration achievable, experts say

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan M. Selasky: EGGPLANT WRAPS are an easy, sumptuous and scrumptious meal

May 3, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Human Courage and the Unavoidable, Disturbing Text

Steven Emerson: Attorney General Fights CAIR in Court, Lauds it in Public

Mediterranean diet helps beat dementia: study
Harvard Health Letters: When to be screened for a hearing problem

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Iron Man's Jewish Connections; Marc Maron's New TV Show; Martin Landau Grows Up with Israel; Shalom, Allan Arbus

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: A sweet surprise for Mother's Day dessert

May 1, 2013

Jonathan Rosenblum: An Improbable Journey to Orthodoxy

Jonathan Tobin: Blame Obama, Not Israel for Syria Push

Kids, kittens the Same? With employee perks at struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo! it's hard to tell
Halena M. Gazelka, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: What you need to know about implanted pain relief devices

Sandy Kleffman: Artificial kidney offers hope to patients tethered to a dialysis machine

Jessica Shugart: When it comes to math, MRIs may be better than IQs

The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: The celebrated chef on how high-maintenance ASPARAGUS RISOTTO need not be

April 29, 2013

Roy Gutman: Poland's new Jewish museum celebrates life, doesn't revisit Holocaust

Mark Clayton: Terrorism in America: Is US missing a chance to learn from failed plots?

Kim Murphy: Boston Bomber's 'Svengali' Revealed
Morgan Housel: He's rich, smart and old: Listen to him

Thomas Salinas, D.D.S.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: The safety of amalgam fillings

Harvard Health Letters: Tomatoes and stroke protection

Pete Spotts: Tiny satellites + cellphones = cheaper 'eyes in the sky' for NASA

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Swing into spring with lemon cream pie

April 26, 2013

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The world is a mirror

Caroline B. Glick: Time to confront Obama

Clifford D. May: Defense in the Age of Jihadist Terrorism
Kimberly Lankford: New strategies ease pain of paying for long-term care insurance

Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Too much ibuprofen?

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: How to feel your best -- with plenty of energy, a healthy weight and optimal mental and physical function -- without driving yourself batty

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jewish Major Leaguers, 2013; New Movies and Comedy Show; Shalom, 'Lumpy' (Leave it to Beaver)

The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : A bright and cheerful salad to herald the warmer months ahead

April 24, 2013

Steven Emerson: Boston Bomber Exposes Islamist Secret

Morgan Housel Admit it: No one has any idea what's going on
Harvard Health Letters: Can you get headaches from headache medication?

Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D.: How to easily get more Omega-3s in your diet

Melissa Healy: Pot in a pill: All the pain relief without the smoke

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan Russo: Chipotle Chili Butternut Squash Soup is bold, zesty, hot

April 22, 2013

Ken Dilanian: Counterterrorism's future is unclear

US man departing country arrested on terror charges
Barbara Williams: An unorthodox but growing treatment in a 9-year-old's battle against cancer

P.J. Skerrett, M.D.: How to recognize a good whole grain product

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Teen actor Jonah Bobo in New Flick: Hunky James Wolk on Mad Men; Erich Segal's Daughter Writes Prize-Winning Jewish Novel


Jewish World Review January 18, 2008 / 11 Shevat 5768

The adults have left the building

By Greg Crosby


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Most everybody over the age of say, 45 or 50, is well aware of the childishness so prevalent in all aspects of our contemporary society. Most people just go along with the flow, since there is very little that any individual can do to change it. Some adults really love it, however, and even embrace the immature, self-indulgent attitudes and activities which make up so much of our daily lives today. But some of us hate the fact that maturity and sophistication has mostly disappeared from the scene. The "adults" have left the building! We're all children now.


Plenty of books and articles have been written on this phenomenon. We see it and experience it wherever we go - there's no getting away from it. Music, theater, movies, television certainly, are all geared to youth. Most adults dress like children, act like children and speak like children. The term "acting grown up" is an archaic ideal, one that is both laughed at and avoided.


I wrote a column many years ago entitled "My Peter Pan Generation" referring to the baby boomers and how they just don't want to grow up. One obvious example of the degree of childishness in our society is the way grownup people are now being referred to by using the first name only. It's not Mr. Jones or Miss Smith anymore, it's Jimmy and Debbie. This relaxing of formal address succeeds in not only removing the stiffness; it removes respect for adults and authority, and turns everyone into equal playmates. "Bobby" may be a ten year old - or he might be eighty-five. Ashley may be a four year old at daycare, or she may be the CEO of a large corporation.


The casual address of adults has now spilled over into the professions. We have Dr. Phil not Dr. McGraw. We have Judge Judy not Judge Sheindlin. My doctor's name is Richard Kroop and I have always referred to him as Dr. Kroop - should I get with modern times and start calling him Dr. Dick?


It reminds me of when I was a kid and all the hosts of the children's shows on TV were called by their first names. We had Fireman Joe, Engineer Bill, Sheriff John, and Skipper Frank. But remember folks, these names were geared to children. The names sounded childish because they were appealing to young children. Now all those young children are now old grownups - the problem is they still want to refer to their idols as if they are still kids watching Engineer Bill.


Should we refer to President George instead of President Bush? And if Bush is President George how do we differentiate him from Washington? Next year we might have President John or President Barack or President Mitt or President Hillary. The funny thing is, they all sound ridiculous - except for President Hillary, which sounds okay somehow. Maybe it's because we're used to the press calling her by her first name all these years. It's always been Hillary this and Hillary that, never Mrs. Clinton.


Actually "President Hillary" kind of sounds like an old TV kiddie show. I can see her sitting on a throne wearing a crown and robe and holding a scepter. "Well good morning boys and girls and welcome to the President Hillary Show! I'll be reading the names of those of you celebrating birthdays today in just a minute, but now here is our first Popeye cartoon titled, "Wimmin is da Bunk."


Of all the US presidents, the only two that work with first names for me are President Jimmy and President Bill. Maybe it's because neither of them commands the same level of respect in my mind that other presidents do. In the case of Carter, he went out of his way to promote himself as "good ol' Jimmy" wearing the sweaters and combing his hair down on his forehead in that blow-dried fashion. Jimmy - just an old country boy. Even though his birth name is James, Carter wanted to be called Jimmy. President Jimmy. Sounds real serious and commanding, doesn't it?


Clinton also preferred to be called Bill as opposed to William, so it was always President Bill Clinton, never President William Clinton. It's Bill and Hill. Good old Bill. Personally, I don't refer to him as President Bill, I prefer to use his full title, "Impeached President William Jefferson Clinton."


What is it with these new age Democrats that they don't want to be referred to officially by their REAL names? Reagan was always called President Ronald Reagan, not President Ronnie Reagan. His friends may have called him Ronnie, but he used his full name otherwise. Ever hear of President Frankie Roosevelt? Or President Abbie Lincoln? How about Herbie Hoover? And what could instill confidence, strength and respect better than the name of Tommie Jefferson?


Someday we'll probably drop all titles altogether; no more Dr. or Judge or President before the name. Just Max and Ben and Becky and Hailey. Or maybe we'll dispense with names completely and just call everybody "you guys." Oh, I forgot - we do that already. Guys has become the all encompassing word for people of any age, any sex.


So until next time, play nicely, you guys!

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


JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.

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