Husbands

The House Ethics Committee is investigating Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), who has come under scrutiny because of her husband's ties to a bank that received federal bailout funds. The panel's chairwoman and ranking member announced the committee was extending by 45 days a determination on whether it would conduct a more thorough review of Waters' conduct, but they declined to say what was being investigated. Waters, one of Los Angeles' most enduring liberal politicians, also declined to comment.

At kitchen tables all over Burbank, the debate between husbands and wives is whether the City Council is a place for a husband and wife. There's no fight at Carolyn and Phil Berlin's home on Niagara Street. Both say the answer is yes. That's because the pair are among seven candidates seeking the two open council seats Tuesday in a municipal primary election. The top four finishers in the mail-in balloting will face off in an April 10 general election.

A retired Ontario math teacher suspected of murdering his wife was arrested by police Thursday evening shortly before he was scheduled to board a Greyhound bus headed for El Paso. He was carrying a wig, a false mustache and several thousand dollars in cash, authorities said. Ontario and Las Vegas police detectives had tracked John M. Watson ever since the couple's children reported their mother, Everilda D. Watson, missing.

In an unexpected reversal, the first husband of Jennifer Lopez told a judge Friday he will fight efforts by the singer and actress to stop him from publishing a tell-all book. Ojani Noa, 31, told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Victor H. Person that he regrets agreeing to a preliminary injunction, issued June 30, under which he is prohibited from "criticizing, denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging or causing disparagement to plaintiff."

I don't know how many of you watch "Curb Your Enthusiasm," the HBO series that started its new season this fall. Larry David has split up with his wife and is living with a beautiful woman . . . who was just diagnosed with cancer. The news causes his knees to buckle. Then the doctor tells him to be prepared for mood swings, depression, vomiting and unsightly hair loss. "Your life will be mostly taking her to appointments," the doctor adds. Larry asks if he'll be able to still play golf.

I just read Sharon Lynn Bear's column ["You Know It's Serious When It Goes Offline," Feb. 9]. It was terrific and I want to join others in wishing you and Jonathan a very bright future. While I no longer serve a congregation -- I was University Synagogue's senior rabbi for 30 years -- I continue to officiate at weddings. Within that context, I have found that at least 30% of those couples with whom I stand under a \o7chupah \f7have met through JDate. What is surprising is the fact that non-Jews are now turning to JDate to meet prospective spouses.

Re "The return of the happy housewife," Current, March 5 Charlotte Allen gloats that the majority of women whose husbands support them financially are happy; she seems to think that fact repudiates feminism. In so doing, she completely forgets that most working mothers work because their families cannot survive without their paychecks. Therefore, by definition, families in which the wife is not required to work are families feeling a little less crushed by the new economy. Lucky them.

After so much glittering news about wealthy Koreans and their enterprises in Los Angeles, it was heart-wrenching to read the articles about three Korean families that were devastated by horrific murders ("The Fathers," by Mona Gable, Oct. 29). I remember news reports at the time of the murders, but these articles gave depth to the stories. If whatever killed the hearts of these husbands and fathers is more widespread than can be imagined, then may the Korean community step in to acknowledge it and start the healing process.

Re "8 ex-radicals arrested in '71 police slaying," Jan. 24 It is frightening that a professor at one of America's most prestigious law schools seems to indicate that the guilt or innocence of someone accused of murdering a police officer should take a back seat to whether they have "become husbands and grandfathers and neighborhood organizers. It's a reflection that with all they've been through, they've still been able to raise their heads high." If they are indeed guilty, which has yet to be established, what about the deception they've perpetrated on their friends, family and the public for more than 30 years?

Over the weekend I heard the story of an Orange County woman who first began to suspect her husband was cheating on her when he took her to a fancy restaurant for the first time. Seems the maitre d' greeted the hubby by name and said it was nice to see him again. That reminded me of the time a new assistant manager of an L.A. hotel got the bright idea to send out thank-you notes to guests who had spent the night there. He was soon swamped with calls from indignant wives demanding to know what he meant by saying their husbands had stayed there and calls from panicky husbands asking if the hotel couldn't just say it was all a mistake.