LAKERS 96, TIMBERWOLVES 90

Everyone pitches in, in the true style of championship basketball, as my Lakers advance to NBA Finals
looking for their fourth World Championship in six years. Go Lakers!

Hilarious:
P R O S A N D C O N S O F J O H N K E R R Y ' S
T O P T W E N T Y V I C E - P R E S I D E N T I A L
C A N D I D A T E S

"What is this? Terrorism? Islam? What is it? Those are not Muslims.
-Samir al-Ghunaimy, father of 10-year-old boy killed in the attack

WHAT IS MADGE GOOD FOR?

The only thing Madonna provokes with her latest tour is sadness at how lame she's become. Quite an interesting read about the woman who use to be the most original and controversial performance artist in America.

The Bush-Cheney website has a great page about The Waffler himself and the different stands he's taken since 1997 with regard to Iraq. A really great site.

Palestinian human rights group slams PA

At least 11 Palestinians who were arrested or abducted by various Palestinian Authority security services remain unaccounted for, according to a report published Monday by a Palestinian human rights group.

No word of if the group thinks the killing of innocent Israeli civilians is acceptable.

***NEW PICTURES***

Got some new pictures on Imagestation from my best friend Stella's wedding. It was a great time. Israeli weddings are a bit different then American ones. For starters they usually begin at 7 or 8 with light foods and drinks, the parents of the bride and groom welcoming everyone in. Then the ceremony, which lasts probably only 15-20 minutes starts after the bride and groom make their big entrance. In this case the ceremony overlooked the Old City of Jerusalem, a really cool experience.

After the Rabbi does his thing it's eat eat eat, drink drink drink, dance dance dance and that's for sure what we did.

Unlike in the States there is no bride and groom's table. They're expected to walk the room and greet their guests and say hello, and of course to dance. There was no sappy stories from the best man (Yakov's brother) parents or any of that kind of stuff. Just a great time.

GOT EVIL?

Neoconservativism is neither neo nor conservative. Just American.

Kobe Bryant rapes Jane Doe + new proof that Jane Doe had sex hours after she was "raped" by Byrant = Jane Doe was never raped.

We're really suppose to believe she was raped when she had sex only hours after Kobe raped her? Does this make any logical sense? I guess she was so distraught that Kobe had raped her the only thing she could think of doing was to have sex again with someone else...of course it makes total sense. I smell a rat.

The reason to care goes beyond the prewar justification for toppling Saddam and relates directly to our current security. U.S. officials believe that American civilian Nicholas Berg was beheaded in Iraq recently by Abu Musab al-Zarkawi, who is closely linked to al Qaeda and was given high-level medical treatment and sanctuary by Saddam's government. The Baathists killing U.S. soldiers are clearly working with al Qaeda now; Saddam's files might show us how they linked up in the first place.

A classic response by the GOP to Gore's umm...speech? Here it is:

"Al Gore served as vice president of this country for eight years," Republican National Committee Communications Director Jim Dyke said. "During that time, Osama bin Laden declared war on the United States five times and terrorists killed U.S. citizens on at least four different occasions, including the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the attacks on Khobar Towers, our embassies in East Africa and the USS Cole.

"Al Gore's attacks on the president today demonstrate that he either does not understand the threat of global terror, or he has amnesia."

Touche.

A solider's account on Andrew Sullivan's blog, and his response at the bottom:

"Anyway, he said that he refuses to watch the news coverage of what's happening over there. He said that the things they show are true but that the media blows everything out of proportion and makes it look like it's total chaos all of the time. He said that for the most part it's quiet and boring. And he has been in downtown Baghdad for a year in the middle of it all! He said that it's really like an inner city that has a lot of gang activity. The people that live there are happy that the troops are there and are very friendly and supportive (women and girls always blowing kisses, men waving and smiling!) They point out the "bad guys" and call them "Ali Baba"! He said that so much has changed for the good over there. Kids are back in school, adults suddenly have internet access and telephones where before they had no way of knowing what was happening in the outside world. Businessmen are tearing down old falling apart mud and stone buildings and building real businesses. J has learned some basic Iraqi including writing their alphabet (which is basically symbols written from right to left) and he has in turn taught English to some of the Iraqi's. As much as he doesn't want to go back, he sees how much the Iraqi's need help and wants them to be successful. He said that he can see them becoming a thriving country within the next 10 years. He said that all of the troops that he knows are very supportive of what Pres. Bush is doing but that Donald Rumsfeld is another story. No one seems to like him at all for a lot of different reasons."

Yep. Most of the country is "quiet and boring." I'm sure it is. If you watched the evening news in DC, and never lived here, you'd have a similar impression. I live at a center of drug and gang activity and yet for the most part, life goes on. Baghdad is obviously much more dangerous; but the notion that it is descending into chaos as we speak just isn't borne out by the facts.

Look, I was never a fan of Al Gore. But I'm seriously wondering if this guy has lost it.

From brake pads to shampoo...terror groups increasingly are turning to the lucrative trade in counterfeit goods to finance their operations.

***THEY ARE GOING TO ATTACK***

Counterterrorism and law enforcement officials told Fox News Tuesday that they are extremely concerned that terrorist groups like Al Qaeda may be planning an attack during one of the major events scheduled for this summer.

Don't be surprised, be ready.

Stupid White Men

A balanced and helpful slide-show, explaining the complex realities of fighting terror in the Gaza Strip.

Stat of the day:
Since 1995, Pew found at national media outlets that the liberal segment has climbed from 22% to 34% while conservatives have only inched up from 5% to 7%.

Ever searched Google for waffles?

IDF thwarts Hamas suicide attack planned for Jerusalem

Quote of the day:

"In their beliefs they (the members of a Muslim community) must shun submission to conjectures and not be content with mere taqlid (reason reached through submission to authority) of their ancestors. For if man believes in things without proof or reason, makes a practice of following unproven opinions, and is satisifed to imitate and follow his ancestors, his mind inevitably desits from intellectual movement, and little by little stupididty and imbecility overcome him - until his mind becomes completetly idle and he becomes unable to perceive his own good and evil."

-Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, 19th Century Islamic theologian.

I try to be optimistic about world events because that is one of the big things about being conservative in America is all about, but unfortunately Mort Kondracke knows what I am also afraid of. That America and by default the West in general will lose to the fundamentalists in the long run because, in short, the West is soft. America included. What are you sacrificing to fight the War on Terror? Nothing you probably don't even think a war on terrorism can be won. But that is neither here nor there, the point Mort makes is that "the American establishment, led by the media and politicians (and higher academia I might add) is in danger of talking the United States into defeat in Iraq; the results being catastrophic."

Political Correctness Run Amok Watch: Naval Academy deep-sixes 'men' from song

Bill Cosby to NAACP: Blacks can't speak English

Great piece by John O'Sullivan over at NRO, make's you wonder what side the American media is really on. Well I know for sure, the getting John Kerry elected side. As far as Iraq goes, very difficult to say. I find it funny that everyone at ND use to tell me how conservative Fox News is, my repsonse? No, they're just pro-American. A little different then watching the defeatists at CNN.

***MUST READ***

The Atlantic Online, has an awesome interview with world-renowned scholar of Islamic and Arab History, Bernard Lewis that is a must read for anyone trying to understand a little better what is going on in the Islamic and Arab World. Lewis is the Cleveland E. Dodge Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University and the author of more than two dozen books, which have been translated into more than twenty languages. Here's a snippet:

What about democracy? How compatible is it with Islamic law and custom?

Well, there are certain elements in Islamic law and tradition which I think are conducive to democracy. The idea that government is contractual and consensual, for one thing. According to the Islamic Treatise on Holy Law, the ruler comes to power by an agreement between the ruler and his subjects. This is bilateral. Both sides have obligations. It is also limited. The ruler rules under the Holy Law, which he cannot change and which he must obey. So these two elements, I think, of consent and contract, also have the element of limitation, and can be very conducive to the development of democratic institutions. There is also a deeply rooted rejection in traditional Islamic writing of despotism or dictatorship, of the capricious rule of the ruler without due regard to the law and to the opinion of the various groups in society.

What do you make of the thesis that Islam is another version of the anti-liberal, anti-modern dogmas of the twentieth century? Some pundits have been using the term "Islamo-fascism" to describe the ideology of bin Laden and his ilk. Do you think that the militant form of Islam stems more from recent utopian movements than from Islamic tradition?

No, I don't. There is an Islamic saying, "The first to reason by analogy was the devil." Certainly there is a Fascist element in the Islamic world, but it's not in the religious fundamentalists. It's rather in people like Saddam Hussein and his regime and the Syrian regime. These were directly based on the Fascist regimes. We can date it with precision: in 1940, the French government capitulated and a collaborationist regime was established in Vichy. The rulers of the French colonial empire had to decide whether they would stay with Vichy, or rally to De Gaulle. And they made various decisions. Syria and Lebanon were at that time under French mandate, and these French officials stayed with Vichy, so Syria and Lebanon became a center of Axis propaganda in the Middle East. That was when real Fascist ideas began to penetrate. There were many translations and adaptations of Nazi material into Arabic. The Ba'ath party, which dates from a little after that period, came in as a sort of Middle Eastern clone of the Nazi party and, a little later, the Communist party.

But that has nothing to do with Islam. The Islamists' approach is quite different from that and has its roots in the history of Islam. Though, of course, it is also influenced by outside ideas. I would not call it Fascist. I would say it is certainly authoritarian and shares the hostilities of the Fascists rather than their doctrines.

On Iran: For example, what they have now in Iran, for the first time, is a theocracy—a country which is actually run by the professional men of religion. This is totally unknown in the Islamic past. They now have the functional equivalent of a Pope, Cardinals, and Bishops, and above all, an inquisition that punishes heretics. One hopes that they may in due course have a reformation.

On secularism: The word secular is a Western term. It has only recently been imported into the Middle East. The idea of Church and State as two distinct institutions which can be either joined or separated is a Western and more specifically a Christian idea. In the past, if you talked to Muslims about separation of Church and State the usual answer you'd get was, "Oh, this is a Christian remedy for a Christian disease"—and therefore of no relevance to them. Now I think that they are beginning to realize that perhaps they have contracted the Christian disease and that it might be a good idea to try the Christian remedy.

The "No Shit" Award of today goes to...Ireland (France as honorable mention)

Alan Dowty, the professor under whom I studied Middle Eastern Politics and the Arab/Palestinian-Conflict for over a year and a half while at Notre Dame has a new opus now being published. "Critical Issues in Israeli Society," published by Greenwood Press, explores factors that have impeded the establishment of a working political structure, such as the nation's sharpening internal divisions, its failure to forge a national identity that includes non-Jews, and the collapse of the peace process with Palestinians.

Ridiculous, In-human, Immoral, Outrageous, Arrogant...I don't know what else to say. I've seen extremely disappointed in what Israel has been doing lately in Gaza.

And the same goes for Bush's failure to condemn this blatant misuse of military power.

Couldn't have said it better myself, quote of the day:

"I am a proud Republican. I'm a Barry Goldwater Republican. I revere Ronald Reagan and his party of limited government. Sadly, that party is no longer. The current version of the Republican party is engaged in an outrageous spending binge and they're being steadied and encouraged by the Democrats... Ten years ago, in 1994, Republicans won control of both Houses of Congress. For one brief shining moment, we employed true fiscal restraint and eventually managed to balance the budget and even attain that which had seemed unattainable - a surplus! Now, at a time of national crisis, we have thrown caution to the wind and continue to spend, and spend, and spend - all the while cutting taxes. The perfect evidence of this is the number of Congressional earmarks found in the 13 annual appropriations bills. In 1994 there were 4,126 earmarks - this year there were 14,040 earmarks. Where are our priorities?"
- Senator John McCain

And a nice piece from Thomas Sowell, who I haven't linked to in sometime:

Since the whole purpose of terrorism is to maximize the pain from whatever acts they can get away with, the media are making themselves accomplices of our enemies. Yet, despite their zeal for blaming others, there is seldom a second thought in the media about their own irresponsibility, not even after Communist officials in Vietnam have publicly admitted that they were losing the war on the ground there but were depending on winning the war politically in the American media.

It's pretty sad when a Russian chess player sounds like he knows more about how to defend America's national security than the Democratic Presidential Nominee.

And the "No Shit" Award of the day goes to...France

FLIP-FLOP
John Kerry, 2000:

Release Of Oil From Strategic Petroleum Reserve Would Not Be 'Relevant'... 'A release 'is not relevant. It would take months for the oil to get to the market,'

John Kerry, 2004:

Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry on Tuesday chided President Bush for failing to offer hard-hit consumers any help.

The Massachusetts senator's Democratic colleagues plan to pressure the Bush administration to lower gas costs by demanding that up to 60 million barrels of crude oil be released from the nation's emergency stockpile.

JJ is the man in Dallas

The Onion isn't as funny as it was when I first starting reading it a few years ago, but every now and then they come up with one of these jewels:
34 CONGRESSMEN ARRESTED IN DC FIGHTING CRACKDOWN

Above: Congressmen Don Nickles (R-OK), Charles Schumer (D-NY),
Dick Gephardt (D-MO), and John Lewis (D-GA) minutes before their arrest.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) inspects fighting birds during a cock-buying trip to Tibet.

Jordan's King Abdullah seems to think the Middle East is changing...and interesting read nonetheless.

Doing it the RIGHT way in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has set the tone for the rest of the US
last night and became the first state in the Union to
begin issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples
LEGALLY; not like the jackass mayor of San Francisco.

The legislature went through the necessary processes
as the State Supreme Court agreed with the legislature's
decision and the United States Supreme Court refused
to intervene, and rightly so, because this is a state's
right.

So now what happens? It looks like there is about 10
states that already have drafted legislation to follow
the same path as Massachusetts. There is no reason to
think if they go about it the right way that same-sex
civil marriage will soon be possible in those states as
well, except of course if their state courts decide to
overrule the legislators or if the Supreme Court decides
look at a brief on the issue, which they've already
made clear they have no interest in doing.

It is unlikely to think that more conservative
states will legalized the process, however,
and many states are going in the opposite direction,
even goin so far as to make same-sex unions
illegal in the future. While that is their right
as a state to do so I don't really think anyone is going
to be able to control the inevitability of gay marriage
being a reality in the US.

The real question is how much these marriages from
other states will be recognized in states the
aforementioned. And the answer of course is that
they won't, meaning that couples who are going to
Mass. to get married will return to their home state
and demand that their union be recoginzed. At which
point the state can recognize it, or say decline.
Meaning it will again be sent to the Supreme Court.
It should be an interesting summer to say the least
on this issue.

An interesting piece in this week's Newsweek about the
generational divide over the issue has, perhaps, the most
logical rationale in favor of gay marriage that I've heard yet.
Not to menion that it comes from a 17 year old girl, who says,
"It used to be illegal to marry someone of a different race".

Even if you really disagree with the issue there's one
reason why you should support it: can you think of
anything better to infuriate our Islamic fundamentalists
friends in Iraq and throughout the Middle East more then
the Materialistic, Infidel, Zionist Great Satan now
allowing same-sex marriage?

Some good news out of Iraq now, I know it might be tripe but I know the American media only focuses on the negatives so some of us have to focus on the positives. After all that is one of the big parts about being conservative.

Very good news out of Kuwait as the government's cabinet approved draft legistlation to give women the right to vote.

It's pretty bad when Star Wars fans are putting out better quality films then George Lucas, check out these sweet, home-made, Star Wars short films:


Ryan vs. Dorkman


Art of the Saber


KnightQuest

A member of the Capitol Police Mounted Patrol takes a practice run
through Upper Senate Park on Wednesday. The unit will be officially
introduced in the park at 11 a.m. today.

Quote of the day:

"Look at those monsters standing there five of them and they cut the guy's head off, they sawed his head off, shouting God is great. Now that is what we are dealing with, that is the kind of people who will run the world if we do not win this war on terrorism And it is being fought in Iraq and we have got to win and that is it. Full stop. There is just no losing this thing or else the world will be run by monsters."
-Mort Kondracke, Executive Editor, Roll Call

VDH, again at the top of his game:


The Wages of Appeasement:
How Jimmy Carter and academic multiculturalists helped bring us Sept. 11.

Kerry no-shows at Senate vote to ammend Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as Democrats fail to extend unemployment benefits despite the improving economy. Instead the would-be president stumps for votes in Louisville on the popular campaign issue of American 'arrogance'.

"Terrorize your enemy"

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Saturday called on his
people to "terrorize your enemy" as he bitterly marked the
56-year anniversary of Israel'a establishment, but also
signaled that he is ready for peace.

In a speech broadcast live on Palestinian television,
Arafat repeatedly called on his people to be steadfast in
their struggle against Israeli occupation.

He ended the speech with a quote from the Quran (search).

"Find what strength you have to terrorize your enemy and
the enemy of God," he said. "And if they want peace, then
let's have peace."

Yasser Arafat won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1992.

It's only Arab-Muslims...right? Right??? You won't see this story in the American Media:

Nigerian-Muslim mobs brandishing machetes and clubs attack miniority Christians in second day of rampage...


Local Christian people arrive aboard trucks as they fled the suburbs of the northern Nigerian city of Kano to seek police protection after coming under attack from Muslim mobs

Report: Global warming not so bad
Australian scientists have found the Earth may be
more resilient to global warming than first thought,
and they say a warmer world means a wetter planet,
encouraging more plants to grow and soak up greenhouse
gases.

Sorry Al.

From Andrew Sullivan:
Let's start an internet campaign to insist that the major media - including the New Yorker, the networks, the major newsweeklies, and every major paper - run a picture of Zarqawi holding up Nick Berg's severed head. It's time to release the Pearl video and stills too. Enough with the double standards. The media were absolutely right to show the abuse photos. But they are only part of the story. It's about time the media gave us all of it, however harrowing it is.

'Al-Qaeda' Video Seems to Show Beheading of American...

It's only a matter of time before Notre Dame changes their name from "Fighting Irish" to "Irish", don't believe me? All you have to do is walk through the Notre Dame Bookstore to see the phasing out of the Leprechaun as well as the official nickname "Fighting Irish" from appearing on clothing merchandise. Still don't believe me? Check out the latest university's politically correct mascot change.

``The Passion of the Christ'', Mel Gibson's Masterful Epic Chronicling the Last 12 Hours in the Life of Jesus Christ, Makes Its Highly Anticipated DVD and VHS Debut on August 31, 2004.

This Must-See Movie Instantly Became a Box Office Phenomenon, Grossing More Than $375 Million Nationwide and Earning a Spot In The Top 10 Grossing Movies of All Time

Bush courts Catholics in swing states
I guess Kerry is too busy to do this.

Here's a beauty: Security forces foil suicide bombing by a Palestinian hermaphrodite
A suicide bomb attack was thwarted with the arrest of a Palestinian woman, whom according to Palestinian reports is a hermaphrodite who goes by the name of Ahmed. Security forces arrested Amal Juma'a, 35, in the Askar refugee camp near Nablus on Sunday night.

This is about as useless as an asshole on your elbow.

At least the US Congress is doing something useful: First reports that Washington will impose economic sanctions on Syria in 24 hours. Congress has approved penalty for supporting terrorism and failing to stop guerrillas entering Iraq. Congressional sources expect Bush to curb US energy firms’ investments in Syria and prohibit Syrian aircraft flights to US.

I must apologzie to all those regulars of Al-Quds.blogspot. I have been fairly busy with school the last week or so and extremely dismayed by the prisoner abuse stories coming out of Iraq in the last few days. I know it is just the actions of a few when considering there are 150,000+ troops over there, but it really undermines everything we're trying to do in Iraq, it undermines the security of our non-asshat troops, and it undermines the President's foreign policy and new attitude towards Arabs in the Middle East. Why would they want Democracy, especially forced on them by the United States, when all the get is one tyrant replacing another and total humiliation.

Also, after reading some of Samuel Huntington's articles for my class on Islam and Democracy, I am turning more and more to my isolationalist roots since 9-11. I was, and still am, pro war in Iraq because it was necesarriy for our national security. There are no WMDs, or WMDs that we have found yet or are in Syria. Saddam is out of power. We now need to work with NATO and the rest of the EU to strengthen whatever government is put in place in Iraq.

As well we need to start putting pressure on Syria and Iran to stop whatever Nuclear or WMD programs they're developing through the UN. We need to bring out troops home, gradually, not only from Iraq, but also from Turkey, Germany, Kuwait and South Korea. We will defend our own boreders. Stop illegal immigration which, if not taken serioulsly without politically correct BS, will soon lead to America's next 9-11. We need to work to strengthen again our relations with our NATO and European allies to work together to fight the War on Terror, and let the apathetic Arabs deal with themselves. They don't want our democracy? Then we'll take our dollars and our guns, and go home.

That's all I got for now.

Great news in American-Israeli Defense Technology, as well as for the future of the use of lasers in missile defense!

"I'm a pretty cynical and jaded guy at this point in my life,"
Faulkner said of the moment with the president.
"But this was the real deal. I was really impressed.
It was genuine and from the heart."

The Passing of a Notre Dame Legend - Fr. Edmund P. Joyce 1917-2004

Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., executive vice president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, died today (Sunday, May 2) at Holy Cross House on campus. He was 87.

"Father Ned Joyce was a principal builder of Notre Dame in both the literal and figurative senses," said Notre Dame President Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C. "He served Notre Dame and her people splendidly as a priest, administrator, and friend, and while we rejoice that he is now in the company of heaven, we will all keenly miss this irreplaceable man."

Father Joyce retired in 1987 after serving 35 years as the chief financial officer of Notre Dame during the presidency of Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. The two priests took a long vacation immediately after their retirements, and Father Hesburgh wrote about the adventure and their friendship in his 1992 book "Travels with Ted & Ned."

"Father Ned Joyce was my right-hand man for the entire 35 years that I was president of Notre Dame," Father Hesburgh wrote. "It would be impossible to recount, even in cursory fashion, all the great things he did for Notre Dame during his 35 years as executive vice president. Without him, both the University and I would have been much diminished.

"When I was away, he was acting president, the man in charge. I traveled a lot, often for weeks at a time, but I never worried for a moment about how the university was doing in my absence. With Ned Joyce in charge, I knew I had nothing to worry about. He was ... a man of impeccable moral character, shrewd judgment, rocklike fidelity, and unfailing dependability."

Father Joyce was born in British Honduras (now Belize) on Jan. 26, 1917, and was graduated from Spartanburg High in Spartanburg, S.C. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting magna cum laude at Notre Dame in 1937. He worked with the L.C. Dodge accounting firm in Spartanburg and became a certified public accountant in 1939.


Father Joyce began his association with Notre Dame in 1949, when he was ordained into the Congregation of Holy Cross at Sacred Heart Church.



In 1945 he entered Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C., then the theological house of studies of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 1949, by Bishop John F. Noll of Fort Wayne in Sacred Heart Church on the Notre Dame campus.

After ordination, Father Joyce was named assistant vice president for business affairs at Notre Dame. He became acting vice president in the fall of 1949. His tenure in that office was interrupted by a year of advanced study at Oxford University in England. He returned to Notre Dame in 1951 as vice president for business affairs and in 1952 he was elevated to the post of executive vice president. Father Joyce also served as chairman of the Faculty Board on Athletics and of the University building committee.

For many years, Father Joyce was an influential voice in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, particularly in matters dealing with the educational integrity of intercollegiate athletic programs. He also was instrumental in the formation of the College Football Association and served that organization as secretary-treasurer. The National Football Foundation honored Father Joyce with its Distinguished American Award.

President Eisenhower appointed Father Joyce to the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force awarded him an Exceptional Service Medal. He received honorary degrees from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.; Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C.; the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg; the University of Notre Dame; Our Lady of Holy Cross College, in New Orleans; and Wofford College in Spartanburg. Father Joyce was inducted into the Indiana Academy in June 1990. There are three endowed chairs established in his name at Notre Dame, and the University's Athletic and Convocation Center is named in his honor.

After his retirement, Father Joyce served as honorary chair of the Badin Guild, a planned giving organization for benefactors who provide estate gifts to the University through bequests, trusts, life insurance or remainder interests in real estate. He also was a Life Trustee of the University.

Father Joyce is survived by a brother, Lyle. Father Hesburgh and Lyle were at Father Joyce's side when he died this morning.

Details are pending, but a Mass of Christian Burial will take place Wednesday morning (May 5) in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus.

Iraqis Hail Falluja 'Victory' as U.S. Changes Tack

***Rev. John Jenkins elected 17th president of Notre Dame***

In a huge move this past week the Notre Dame Board of Trustees announced that
Fr. John Jenkins will replace current 17-year President Monk Malloy in June 2005 when his present
term expires. This is really a big statement from the board who have now moved
to replace Monk, someone who I have long said is a great CFO but lacking on the
personable side like a Hesburgh, with someone who is much more like Fr. Ted.

I lived down the hall from Jenkins in my last year at ND in Sorin College. He was a great
guy, very easy to talk to.Extremely smart. A guy who always said hello as he is passing your room or would stop in and chat for a bit. He really took interest in what the students were doing. I'm very happy with this choice, I think even if all the controversey with Fr. Scully hadn't taken place last year that Jenkins is still the better choice. It's a clear signal from the Board of Trustees about what kind of a guy they want to be the leader of the University.