I grew up watching the ABC local news when I lived in NJ. Bill Beutel was the anchor for a long, long time.

NEW YORK (AP) - Bill Beutel, the longtime television news anchor and host of the show that became ABC’s “Good Morning America,” has died, the network announced. He was 75.

Beutel, whose trademark signoff “Good luck and be well” closed WABC’s nightly local newscast for more than 30 years, died Saturday at his home in Pinehurst, N.C., the network said. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Bye, Bill.

Haveil Havalim is at Me-Ander’s place.

Music and Cats is hosting the second anniversary of the Carnival of the Cats. And they said it wouldn’t last!

Meantime, I’m trying to figure out why I keep switching back to 28 Days Later, when I know how much I hate zombie films, and, well, all things horror. Probably because I started watching it on HBO some time ago not knowing it was a zombie film until I already wanted to know what happened to the characters. But now that I think of it, I kept turning it off and doing other stuff then, too. Well, whatever. Either they make it or they don’t. Damned zombies. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t kill ‘em unless you blow off their heads.

Y’know, sometimes, you need to just stop for a dandelion break.

So today, after teaching religious school, I took my niece and her friend to Peak Experiences to get myself back into shape for rock climbing. The girls climbed four times each, taking about an hour or so, and my hands hurt, my arms hurt, and my legs are starting to hurt.

But damn, I feel good.

The first step on the road towards getting back into shape. I also suggested to Sorena that she tell her mother I’d like to try to do something athletic every Sunday. Next week: Rollerskating, if Sorena manages to finish her homework in time to get a few hours to herself on Sunday.

I went slightly off-diet this weekend, but hey, I’m still mostly sticking to it. Sugar and fats are way down, snacking is down, salads for lunch, and now, a hot-air popcorn popper awaits its first low-cal, low-fat batch. Well, tonight, probably. Dinner first.

See, this is why I’m never going to be one of the super-high-traffic blogs. I’d rather talk about getting back to rock-climbing, or what I did in class today, than get all exercised over Hollywood’s South Park double standard.

Oh, class today: It’s our turn for CARITAS, but this year’s group is not a good one to expose nine-year-olds to, so instead, we contributed some of the food for the dinner, and my students wrote 35 notes to put into lunch bags, mostly of the “I hope you have a great day” variety. Then we discussed the concept of tzedakah, which they’re all pretty well-versed in. Children are generally intensely generous. They’re willing to give their own toys to children who have none. I have yet to have a student who does not want to help people who are less fortunate. Last year’s class really enjoyed preparing and serving (and eating!) dinner. This year’s class enjoyed the concept of surprising people when they open their lunches.

One of the things I love about teaching: No matter what is going on in the world, and no matter how hard things are, my students always — always — make me smile.

There is a paper out that was released by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government that blames the pro-Israel lobby for everything that goes wrong with U.S. mideast policy — in other words, the Jews.

I have already received emails about it.

The excerpt published by the London Review of Books is 25 pages. The original is 83 pages.

You may have noticed, I’m not like other bloggers. Give me some time to read the source material, and you will get my point of view what is, upon cursory examination, the best thing to hit the neo-Nazi movement since David Duke’s successful run for Louisiana legislature. And with the seal of approval of an Ivy League university.

Here is a hint: In the introduction itself, the paper relies on lies, canards, and logical fallacies. I can’t wait to get through all 83 pages.