In Case The Antimissonaries on Answers.com Keep Deleting the Correct Answers...

Why are Jews Jews?

In: Judaism [Edit categories]

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Answer:

  

Jews are an ethno-religious group. Technically, a Jew is anyone either born of a Jewish mom or dad (as the first Jew was Isaac, thus making Jacob and Esau Patrilineal Jews, and their sons Patrilineal Jews; and the sons of Judah and Joseph Patrilineal Jews) or converted of his or her own free will and effort. A person's place of birth, or the level of their practice of Jewish law and tradition, are entirely irrelevant. 

Note: Most Reform communities will accept a child born to a non-Jewish mom and Jewish dad as Jewish if, and only if, the child is raised as a Jew. However, individuals raised in such a manner are not accepted as Jews by Conservative, Orthodox, and Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews. 


Note: Karaite Jews consider only Patrilineal Jews to be ethnic Jews. Karaite scholar Nehemia Gordon notes: 


Most Karaites believe in patrilineal descent, meaning that if your father is Jewish than you are Jewish. This is based primarily on the fact that all descent in the Bible goes according to the male line. Some Karaites believe that both parents must be Jewish. However, anyone who 1) is circumcised [males only], 2) accepts the God of Israel [YHWH] as their own God, and 3) accepts the People of Israel as their own people is a full-fledged Jew [Israelite], see Exodus 12,43-49 and Ruth 1,16.

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Who or what are Anti- or Counter-Missionaries?

In: The Bible, Tanakh and Talmud, Jesus Christ [Edit categories]

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Answer:

  

Anti- or Counter-Missionaries are staunchly-Non-Messianic and ardently-intolerant Jews who believe that any Jew who believes in the New Testament (called the Brit Hadashah by Messianic Jews) has become a gentile or was never Jewish enough to be Jewish in the first place. Anti- or Counter-Missionaries zealously believe Christianity (including Messianic Judaism) to be kofer (apostate), and will even lie about Messianic Jews and Messianic Jewish organizations to push the Anti-Missionary cause and proselytize Judaism. 
Anti- and Counter-Missionary lies include but are not limited to:

1. Jews for Jesus is a spinoff of the Southern Baptist Convention (whereas in reality, Jews for Jesus is a fully-independent, 501(c)3 Messianic Jewish organization founded by Martin "Moishe" Rosen, who happened to denominationally be a Southern Baptist at least at one point in his life. Moishe Rosen was also raised an Orthodox Jew in Denver, Colorado).
2. Congregation Yeshuat Yisrael in Franklin, Tennessee is a spinoff of the same (whereas it is actually also independent and just Messianic Jewish by denomination).
3. Messianic Jews are like Hitler, trying to wipe out the Jewish population.
4. Messianic Jews are like the Crusaders, Pogromists, and Inquisitors.
5. Once a Jew believes in the historical and Biblical Jesus of Nazareth, he or she is no longer a Jew.
6. Most "Messianic Jews" are or were never even Jews (which takes and twists the fact that some number of self-identifying "Messianic Jews" are indeed gentiles who falsely-- whether unintentionally or maliciously-- label themselves as Messianic Jews once they become denominationally Messianically Jewish or part of the spinoff "Hebrew Roots" movement).

Anti- and Counter-Missionary organizations include Jews for Judaism and JewFAQ. Anti- and Counter-Missionary individuals include Traci Rich (JewFAQ), Skylar Curtis, and answer.com's own Divorah. 

Non-Anti-Missionary and tolerant Non-Messianic Jews include Michael Medved and Dennis Prager.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_or_what_are_Anti-_or_Counter-Missionaries#ixzz1iuyCgvJo

Approximately how many Messianic Jews are there in the world?

In: Judaism, Statistical Information and Demographics [Edit categories]

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Answer:

  

There is no exact or fair approximate count of how many Messianic Jews there are for several reasons. Among them: Many Messianic Jews do not know that they are Jewish and have Jewish heritage.Many Messianic Jews are not openly Jewish or openly Messianic Jewish.Many Messianic Jews are Patrilineally Jewish and otherwise"not Jewish enough" for the (for a lack of a better term) typical (Non-Messianic) Jewish person (even though Isaac was the first Jew, and Jacob and Esau were Patrilineal Jews; the sons of Jacob were one-fourth Patrilineally Jewish, and at least three of Jacob's sons had one-eighth Jewish, Patrilineally-Jewish children). 


Anti- and Counter-Missionary types of people do not consider Messianic Jews to be Jews. However, tolerant Non-Messianic Jews do consider Messianic Jews (even though they are in staunch disagreement with Messianic Jews) to be Jewish.

First answer by Divorah. Last edit by Nicole Czarnecki. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question]. 

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Divorah is one of the notorious Antimissionaries.

What is judaism like today?

In: Judaism [Edit categories]

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Answer:

  

For the most part, with few exceptions, Judaism is driven by one factor: anything but Jesus (Yeshua). Judaism increasingly has tended to be very Anti-Christian (Anti-Messianic, "Anti-Missionary") in nature. Otherwise, Judaism continues to be divided into divisions such as: 

1. Haredi-- Following Torah and the Talmudim (Bavli and Yerushalaymi) zealously, even to the point of seclusion from the rest of society.
2. Orthodox (including Modern Orthodox)-- Following Torah and the Talmudim (Bavli and Yerushalaymi) observantly to very zealously, but with little or no seclusion from the rest of society.
3. Conservative (Masorti)-- Following Torah and the Talmudim (Bavli and Yerushalaymi) in a traditionalist but not zealous sense. Conservative Jews do not believe in the inerrancy or infallibility of Torah and the Talmudim.
4. Reform (Liberal, Progressive)-- Following Torah and the Talmudim (Bavli and Yerushalaymi) as far as individual sanctity is concerned-- that is, following whatever they feel brings them closer to G-d. Reform Jews do not believe in the inerrancy or infallibility of Torah and the Talmudim.
5. Reconstructionist-- Founded by Mordechai Kaplan (a kohein) in 1920. Reconstructionist Jews are even more lax than Reform Jews in their belief in the inerrancy and infallibility of Torah and the Talmudim.
6. Humanistic Judaism-- Self explanatory and more liberal than Reconstructionist Judaism regarding belief in the inerrancy or infallibility of Torah and the Talmudim.
7. Karaite-- Following only Torah and believing in the inerrancy or infallibility of Torah and the rest of Tanakh.

In terms of Anti-Missionary activity, for example: 

1. Haredi-- Yad L'Achim
2. Orthodox (including Modern Orthodox)-- JewFAQ and Jews For Judaism.
3. Conservative (Masorti)-- From the USCJ website, one could read an article where Messianic Jews were compared to Hitler in trying to wipe out the Jewish people.
4. Reform (Liberal, Progressive)-- The CCAR and their resolutions.
5. Reconstructionist-- No examples at this time.
6. Humanistic Judaism-- Da'at Emet, which is more against religious Judaism and religion than it is specifically Anti-Missionary.
7. Karaite-- No examples at this time.

First answer by Nicole Czarnecki. Last edit by Nicole Czarnecki. Question popularity: 0 [recommend question]. 

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Are traditional Jews offended by messianic Jews?

In: Judaism, Tanakh and Talmud [Edit categories]

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Answer:

  

"Yes, the majority of Jews are offended by Messianics who are Christians, not Jews"-- so says Divorah. 
In truth, however, not all traditional Jews are offended by Messianic Jews (who are Jews who believe in the historical and New Testament Jesus as the Jewish Messiah). There are some traditional (Non-Messianic) Jews who may be or are in staunch disagreement with Messianic Jews and may or do even take offense to Messianic Judaism, but who are not offended by Messianic Jews. On the other hand, many traditional and non-traditional (including Reform) Non-Messianic Jews do take offense at Messianic Jews (the offense often being unprovoked and mainly because of the Messianic Jew's beliefs). 


Two examples of tolerant Non-Messianic Jews are Michael Medved and Denis Prager.

First answer by Divorah. Last edit by Nicole Czarnecki. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question]. 

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Re Jewish Presidents:

There've been three- Thomas Jefferson (who I just learned was a patrilineal Jew. See JoeSettler's blog.), Gerald Ford (nee Leslie Lynch King, Jr.; also a patrilineal Jew), and Barack Obama, whose mom Ann Dunham Soetoro was a Jew.By the way, Alexander Hamilton was Jewish and apparently a Levite.... Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_of_the_past_US_presidents_have_been_Jewish._Would_Hillary_be_the_first#ixzz1iuzcIb23

Do the Jewish have sacred texts?

In: Judaism [Edit categories]

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Answer:

  

There are several texts considered sacred in Judaism. They include the 24 books of Tanakh (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim-- i.e., Law, Prophets, Writings). The 24 books of Tanakh are also the 39 books of the Christian (including Messianic Jewish) Old Testament.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_the_Jewish_have_sacred_texts#ixzz1iv06w2kD

What are the main sacred texts of judasim?

In: Judaism [Edit categories]

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Answer:

  

They include, but are not limited to, Torah, Talmudim Bavli v'Yerushalayimi, and various P'rushi midrashim and gemerot.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_main_sacred_texts_of_judasim#ixzz1iv0nIvfd

Should Jews marry Jews?

In: Marriage, Judaism, Tanakh and Talmud [Edit categories]

Answer:

  

That a Jew would marry a fellow Jew would make the marriage between the two partners work. Jews are even supposed to marry cousins per Numbers (B'midbar) 36: 
" 5 And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying: 'The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaketh right. 6 This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying: Let them be married to whom they think best; only into the family of the tribe of their father shall they be married. 7 So shall no inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe; for the children of Israel shall cleave every one to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 8 And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may possess every man the inheritance of his fathers. 9 So shall no inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall cleave each one to its own inheritance.' 10 Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad.11 For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father's brothers' sons. 12 They were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. 13 These are the commandments and the ordinances, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. {P}"

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Why don't Reform Jews keep kosher?

In: Judaism, Tanakh and Talmud [Edit categories]

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Answer:

  

According to the Union of Reform Judaism, " Reform Judaism affirms my right, our right, to make those kinds of choices." That is, choices relating to Torah and Talmud. Thus, " Each aspect worked for some Jews, once upon a time, somewhere in our history. Each, therefore, has the potential to open up holiness for people in our time as well, and for me personally. However, each does not have equal claim on us, on me. Some (the agricultural laws, for instance) are no longer possible to observe. Others (the sacrificial laws, for instance) come from a social context so foreign to our own that it would be impossible to conceive modern people finding holiness in their revival." Therefore, some Reform Jews do not keep kosher due to that they are not "finding holiness in their revival" in doing so.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_don't_Reform_Jews_keep_kosher#ixzz1iv1Gh7sS

What might reform Jews do that orthodox Jews don't?

In: Judaism [Edit categories]

Religion & Spirituality Category Guidelines

Answer:

  

According to FAQs.org, "Reform differs from the other major movements in that it views both the Oral and Written laws as a product of human hands (specifically, it views the Torah as Divinely inspired, but written in the language of the time in which it was given). The laws reflect their times, but contain many timeless truths. The Reform movement stresses retention of the key principles of Judaism (as it sees them; for details, consult the [5]Reform Reading List). As for practice, it strongly recommends individual study of the traditional practices; however, the adherent is free to follow only those practices that increase the sanctity of their relationship to G-d. Reform also stresses equality between the sexes." 
Thus, Reform Jews may be more lax in following Torah and Talmud-based halakhah whereas Orthodox Jews would not be as, if at all, lax in any way, shape, or form in following Torah and Talmud.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_might_reform_Jews_do_that_orthodox_Jews_don't#ixzz1iv1QIKae

How many Messianic Jews are there in Israel?

In: Judaism, Israel, Statistical Information and Demographics [Edit categories]

Religion & Spirituality Category Guidelines

Answer:

  

There are approximately 8,000 Messianic Jews known to be living throughout Israel. However, a true count is almost impossible for several reasons, INCLUDING THAT: 

1. Many Messianic Jews are unrightly considered to be Non-Messianic Jews by the Israeli government. 
2. Many Patrilineal and even Matrilineal Jews are already not considered Jewish enough to be counted as Jews. Couple that and their Messianic Jewishness, and they are left all the more uncounted as Jewish.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_Messianic_Jews_are_there_in_Israel#ixzz1iv28r05S


I hope that I got all of the answers that the Antimissionaries like Divorah keep trying to delete.

An Untitled Novel, Last Part

"That night, the family friend came over and said to avi, 'You're not going to believe what this kid told me about those koferim that I grew up hearing about.' He told him and the rest of us what had happened, and we all simply concluded that the kid had lo sekhel, was in over his head. That you would use them to study Anusim and compare Anusim to Yehudim and get a better picture of kol 'am Yisra'el is funny-- that is, strange. Besides, I told you about them to give you an idea of those times, and and idea of what my great-great-grandparents did versus what they did-- and thus why I did not give up my faith when I married your dad. I chose to take persecution for my faith and ethnicity, rather than to blend in and save my life which is not eternal on this Earth-- but will be eternal b'ha'olam haba."


But I thought about those Suwalki koferim compared to the great-great-grandparents of imi, and about what their relative said about them. "'In a similar way to how my side of the family meant evil by pseudo conversion, bnei-Yisra'el meant evil to Yosef. Just as they abandoned their Jewish religion in order to save their lives, so bnei-Yisra'el tried to make Yosef's life to be Gei Hinnom for their selfish ends.'" Also, "'Jesus would have told them not to abandon their Jewishness to save their lives from the Catholic Poles and Russians. "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." He would have told them to stand for their faith, even if they did not believe in him, instead of convert to Catholicism and pretend to believe in him. Then again, even their considering Catholicism just to play the goyim saved their souls.'"


At that moment, I was standing between two grounds: would I trust who "'sustained the little ones of my relatives who played the goyim'"-- the little ones such as Bernie and Ed-- or would I be like my great-great-great-grandparents and "'stand for their faith, even if [I] believe[d] in him"? I ultimately decided that "'even their considering Catholicism just to play the goyim saved their souls.'" 


I thought, "Let my dad hate me for being a Jew as the Poles, Russians, and even Americans hated Jews. Let my mom hate me for converting to Christianity to save my life. But I'm not being an Anusi -- I'm saving my eternal life, not my earthly life as those koferim meshumadim did. Besides, just as their relative said, 'Yosef said, "'Fear not; for am I in the place of God? And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."' What those koferim meshumadim meant for evil by not standing for their Jewish faith brought some of their children to the true Jewish faith, the complete Jewish faith-- Christianity.


"I can be a Jew and truly believe in Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah-- Yeshua HaNotzri HaMashiach."


Then imi, my dad, and all of my siblings-- Marta, Marjia, Mara, Enumah, Tikvah, and Ahavah; and Nwoye, Obi, Okonkwo, and Chinua and Maulana all got word of my newfound Jewish Christianity and sat shiva for me. They also tried to block me from getting back in the house when I came home from a walk. "We don't want the dead here," imi shouted. "As your dad said, we don't want the dead here-- ghosts, spirits, or bodies. That your dad and I agree on your belief in Jesus of Nazareth as Mashiach is the first agreement that we have had in a long time."


Then Nwoye, Obi, Okonkwo, and Chinua and Maulana stood with my dad in traditional Kushi mourning clothing; and Marta, Marjia, Mara, Enumah, Tikvah, and Ahavah with imi in shiva clothing. They along with my dad and imi, respectively, threw me even off of the porch and out of the house altogether. Before I completely left the house as I heard an African mourning chant and "Kaddish" lifted up, my mom called out to me:


"As I told you, I told you about them to give you an idea of those times, and and idea of what my great-great-grandparents did versus what they did-- and thus why I did not give up my faith when I married your dad. I chose to take persecution for my faith and ethnicity, rather than to blend in and save my life which is not eternal on this Earth. By the way, the troublesome man who avi saw you argue with in Upper Park Heights got word of your conversion to Christianity; and was the family friend who I told you about. He hadn't talked to me in years until he called me up once he got word of your conversion-- and no wonder he sensed you to be a schvartze, a troublesome schvartze."


As I walked away from my house, I thought of that verse, "'Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.'" I also remembered a verse that I had read when I had given up my Talmud studies in exchange for Bible studies, and when I had shocked my grandparents by even considering Yeshua to be Mashiach. " And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, orfather, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."


I was glad to have given up the past Hanukkah and Christmas to go on a journey to find chayei b'ha'olam haba.

An Untitled Novel, Part 13

"Where did you hear about that mishpacha, anyway?" imi asked when I came home. "And you haven't referred to me as 'Imi' or 'imi' in a long time. You know, we used to call my mother that-- 'imi', 'my mother'." 


"You told me about hamishpacha."


"Now I remember. And I meant to tell you more about that before you went up there to explore that. Someone who claimed that he was related to that family one day came up to a family friend and asked if he could talk to him. He allowed him to. Then he told them perhaps what you told me that the other relative-- the one that you inquired to-- told you. He was using that story as part of his proselytization. The funny thing is that he even related it to this week's parsha-- he even quoted it, too. He said, 'In a similar way to how my side of the family meant evil by pseudo conversion, bnei-Yisra'el meant evil to Yosef. Just as they abandoned their Jewish religion in order to save their lives, so bnei-Yisra'el tried to make Yosef's life to be Gei Hinnom for their selfish ends.'


"Quoting from the King James Version of the New Testament, he explained, 'Jesus would have told them not to abandon their Jewishness to save their lives from the Catholic Poles and Russians. "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." He would have told them to stand for their faith, even if they did not believe in him, instead of convert to Catholicism and pretend to believe in him. Then again, even their considering Catholicism just to play the goyim saved their souls.'


"Quoting from the JPS Version of Tanakh-- since he at least tried not to offend our friend in his proselytizing--, he explained, 'Yosef said, "'Fear not; for am I in the place of God? And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  Now therefore fear ye not; I will sustain you, and your little ones.'"' In the same way, Jesus sustained the little ones of my relatives who played the goyim and thus turned their backs on their Jewish religion and ultimately on Jesus by only pretending to believe in Him.'"

A Letter To Those On Facebook Who Are Cowardly Enough Not To Tell Me What They Really Think Of Me...

I've come to understand that some people have come to my mom and sister and stated that they either don't even look at my Facebook page for various reasons or look and still have plenty of complaint about what I post, etc.. First of all, I define Facebook as "Face"book-- meaning that I'm not hiding my face or anything else from you. If I have something not to hide, I don't hide it. I didn't ask you to agree with me on everything, but as I've said, I can back up what I say. If you want to agree to disagree and even not debate, you can choose to keep any reservations to yourself. But then don't come my mom and sister instead of coming to me or just plain keeping your reservations or disagreements to yourself.

Second of all, "social networking" means being social and working with what you have in the fishnet called life-- let's face that we're all swimming upstream together in at least one or another way, whether or not we like swimming up the stream of life together. When we swim together, whether or not we want to swim together, we're expected to be honest with and about each other and about ourselves to each other.

Third, as I've said before, I'm not honest about those that I don't love and don't have to love. At points, if I weren't a Christian, I wouldn't be a Christian. But since I am a Christian, I have to love even my worst of worst enemies-- some of whom have affected me to state, " At points, if I weren't a Christian, I wouldn't be a Christian." Some of these same people have also affected me to agree with Mark Twain: "If Jesus were here today there's one thing he wouldn't be--a Christian."


I could go on; but in conclusion, if you have a problem with me, you come to me or call me out if you feel that

you need to. If necessary on my part, I will respond to any charge that you bring against me; and I will always

back up what I say.

Still Not Looking Good For Geraldo; And Meanwhile...

Statistics is not just for me.  As I once said, "If I wanted to be a mathematician or pollster, I would've majored in Math or Math with a Concentration in Statistics and Political Science." As you can see from my YouTube videos and tweets last night, I'm not a mathematician or statician. Anyway, more bad news for "Geraldo":

(1/4/2012 12:33:15 PM)  I really miss the Joe Crummey show...Joe was very entertaining and informative. Geraldo is OK but I just can't listen for 2 hours... or 2 minutes...sorry. Anyone know if, or where Joe is on the air?

- G. Stowishoe

(1/4/2012 11:40:11 AM)  I used to listen when Geraldo subbed for Joy Behar about 15 years ago. He was ten times better than her but he was a little boring. Now listening to him for about one hour I am ready to go to sleep. He is to slow for talk radio. I also can never figure out his views. Just when I think hes Left he goes right. Maybe this is good if it is true non-bias...Who knows.  I give it 6 months!

- Dale Evans

(1/3/2012 3:10:28 PM)  I listened to Geraldo today. He sucked. His whiney voice drives me crazy.  McGurk was great, Simone is great, even the Curtis and Kuby show was great. But, of course, this is all about syndication bucks.  Screw the listeners, right?

- Tommyboy Even from Facebook: Douglas R Weigle Sorry Geraldo, but your radio debut was terrible! "Unlistenable!" You flopped with your interviews with Trump, Huckabee, Koch, and Barber...and why you even had Barber on was a mistake. You do not have a radio voice, obviously weren't prepared, and have no support staff! WABC is going to have to reevaluate your following the great IMUS, for by following him, you are dragging him down! Sorry Buddy...stick with Fox News Yesterday at 12:14pm ·  ... Debra Warrens Geraldo the people in Iowa do have a CLUE!http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqLZZ6JD0g9Y%26feature%3Dshare&h=lAQHoH0QEAQHQxxH8mU-j_QhgK2z4VBEjGxOq3LU2nqvl5w Yesterday at 12:26pm ·  ... Larry Hartke We love ya Geraldo and I know the radio show is new, but enough of the gushing over friends and family. Let's get to the important issues my friend.

From the WABC Comment Page... More Criticism of Geraldo...

(1/3/2012 3:10:28 PM)  I listened to Geraldo today. He sucked. His whiney voice drives me crazy.  McGurk was great, Simone is great, even the Curtis and Kuby show was great. But, of course, this is all about syndication bucks.  Screw the listeners, right?

- Tommyboy Why was nobody criticizing Erica for trying to use and peddle her influence to get Obama endorsed, meanwhile?