July 5, 2008

From Central Asia to Forest Hills

Here's an NYT article, "Questions of Size and Taste for Queens Houses," on the Bukharian Jews from Central Asia who are building vast Oriental palaces in the formerly sedate, tree-lined Queens neighborhood of Forest Hills, paving over all the lawns:

Jesse Helms, RIP

Jesse Helms died on the Fourth of July, like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. His enemies got a lot of their bile out at the time of his retirement:

Independence Day Is Not Immigration Day...Now Somebody Tell President Bush

On the Fourth Of July, President Bush was at Monticello, (Thomas Jefferson's home,) celebrating Independence Day by swearing in 3,000 new immigrants as American citizens. Here's part of his speech: