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Updated 02/09/12 @ 05:54PM EST
- A poll showed that nearly half of likely voters believed the United States should use military force to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
- Rabbi Gunther Plaut, a major figure in Reform Judaism, died in Toronto.
- The application for a proposed Hebrew-language charter school was accepted by the District of Columbia Public Charter School board.
- A truck driving calves from Eilat to the Golan Heights was hijacked into the West Bank.
- U.S. Rep. Howard Berman introduced legislation that would allow eligible Israeli nationals to receive non-immigrant investor visas in the United States.
- Poll: Half of U.S. voters back strike on nuclear Iran
- Reform leader Rabbi Gunther Plaut dies
- D.C. Hebrew-language charter school accepted for review
- Op-Ed: Kick the reaction addiction on campus
- Berman moves to grant investor visas to Israelis
- Holy cow! Calves hijacked into Palestinian territory
- Report: Israeli journalist also works for prime minister
- Larry Greenfield tapped to lead JINSA
Posted in: Food fodder
11/07/09 08:51 PM
I'm checking out Ben Harris' page on JTA, and though I am not the subject of the comment re being taken to lunch, here are some of my thoughts on this controversy. I never found being taken to breakfast or lunch as a writer so bad. It's kind of like working your way across the water in a ship. You get a few perks as a writer or journalist. I've not been bought off yet for a $10 breakfast or $50 lunch. They come too rarely these days, especially something more than $15. I did an interview with a Baptist Minister recently who took me to lunch. We had a good talk on what it is to give a sermon. I had a hamburger and fries. As Religion Writer for the San Francisco Examiner website, I have to report the hamburger was second rate, but the conversation first rate. Usually, when it comes to tickets to an event I review, I do pay my own. This just happens, as I feel less beholden to write if I change my mind about doing a piece. But if the event is out of my budget, I let them give me a press ticket. Again, I never shake the feeling I'm there on a job, not to entertain myself solely. I'm sure JTA has a policy. As a bank teller, I once got a gift of a bottle of wine for the holidays. I had the job part time. In other jobs, gifts of a modest kind are okay. As a writer, it is a work kind of thing and one doesn't do it for the pay of a lunch or dinner. A friend who is a lawyer also wrote on restaurants, doing reviews. She brought me along for company. I can't remember if it was a gratis deal or she paid. In any event, I didn't. There it probably wasn't as fair, but I was glad for the company and no one complained as it gave another opinion on the food. A subject about which I know little, but what I like. That makes my full confession. Peter Menkin Mill Valley, CA USA (north of San Francisco)