Back from the hiatus...

I've never found a break so refreshing. Now for the sad news, I have a deadline for a column that must get finished prior to Shabbas so if blogging is light on Friday, that's why. But you can find my baseball picks here.

Last night, I watched the Dick Gabriel-produced documentary about the legend of the late University of Kentucky Wildcats head coach Adolph Rupp on KET. I'm glad that it was finally aired. Rupp is a legend in college basketball, especially within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Will John Mellencamp have a new record deal soon? I don't know for sure but I would wager to guess that it is a very good possibility.

Sen. George Allen's re-election campaign has taken a huge toll on his staff. His chief of staff has taken a leave of absence to manage the campaign.

Folk-rocker Paul Simon will have a new album, Surprise due out in May. Simon will make another appearance on Saturday Night Live.

The 11-track collaboration with producer Brian Eno hits stores May 8 internationally and May 9 in North America, Billboard.com reported Tuesday.

It will mark Simon's first album since You're the One in 2000 and features guest appearances by guitarist Bill Frisell, drummer Steve Gadd and pianist Herbie Hancock.

How do things look in the TV Pilot world? It looks like Danielle Panabaker may be on the tube this fall.

Shark, from 20th TV and Imagine TV, centers on a celebrity attorney (James Woods) who becomes a prosecutor. Panabaker will play the attorney's teenage daughter.

On the feature side, the actress has been cast in Mr. Brooks opposite Kevin Costner.

Here's an article behind the saga of "Lazy Muncie."

In college basketball, LSU would become the second school to achieve the feat if both men's and women's basketball teams win the title next week.

My condolences to the family of Thomas "Red" Saltsman.

Congrats to Ehud Olmert, the next Prime Minister of Israel.

I commend and applaud Jack Rosenberg for wanting to serve his country. I applaud him for wanting to wear a kippah on his head as well. If I had my way, I'd wear one every day.

He underwent a full military background check. He had several sets of fingerprints taken. He passed the boating test and the written course.

"But as soon as I got sworn in and got ready to put on the uniform," Mr. Rosenberg said, "the commander came to me and said it's going to be a problem."

The problem was on top of Mr. Rosenberg's head. He is a Hasidic Jew, and he wears a skullcap at all times except when showering or swimming. The skullcap clashed with the uniform.

Wearing a visible piece of religious garb violates Coast Guard regulations. It says so in the Coast Guard manual, right between "Umbrellas" ("Plain black or navy blue, expandable, straight handle. Must be carried in left hand.") and "Backpacks" ("Must be carried in left hand when in uniform"). "Religious Items," the manual says. "Concealed or worn only during religious services."[...]

Things looked grim. Mr. Rosenberg's smart blue dress uniform hung unworn in a closet in his home in Rockland County. He was not about to compromise on the skullcap, which Orthodox Jews commonly wear to remind them of God's position above humankind.

"If my religion requires it," Mr. Rosenberg said, "there's not a choice."

A relative referred Mr. Rosenberg to a state assemblyman in Brooklyn, Dov Hikind, who has many Orthodox constituents. Mr. Hikind wrote on March 7 to the commandant of the Coast Guard, reminding him that a homeland security expert at the University of Maryland had recently called the Coast Guard "vastly understaffed and underresourced" and that turning away a willing volunteer might not be a good idea.

That does appear to be a problem. If I recall correctly, we have the freedom of religion in the United States.

Second City's TourCo is headed to Georgia State University today for an 8 p.m. performance.

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch was pleased by Evan Bayh's remarks the other day.

Here in New Hampshire, I think voters will be watching carefully to see which candidates stand with New Hampshire to protect its traditional role. That's why I was so pleased to read Sen. Evan Bayh's comments earlier this week. It is clear he is a true friend to the New Hampshire primary.

Candidates, like voters, understand the importance of the New Hampshire primary and the role that it can play in testing their readiness to be President.

An oldie but it will get you in the mood for MATZAH!

I've seen some interesting menus but this is one of the strangest that I've seen in my life.

Bradley’s annual postseason men’s basketball banquet, which will be themed “A Sweet Evening with the Braves,” has been rescheduled for Friday, April 21 at the Peoria Civic Center. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth and must be purchased by April 19 through the Chiefs Club Office, located in Haussler Hall.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for an hour-long reception and the dinner program will begin at seven o’clock. The evening will include several video tributes, autograph opportunities with the team members, presentation of the annual team awards and speeches by the team’s graduating seniors. Bradley Basketball Sweet 16 merchandise also will be available for purchase. The dinner menu will include stuffed Jayhawk (Chicken) Italiano with mozzarella cheese, angel hair Panther pasta and Bracket (pineapple) Upside Down Cake for dessert.

Yes, styles are different in the fourth district.

Here's an interview with Natalie Portman.

I can't help but ask: does this impress Ed Asner?