Front Lines NOTEBOOK Mirror, Mirror A ccording to poet Emerson, "Beauty is its own excuse for being?' ("The Rhodora"). It is not, then, very difficult to call to mind some of the many descriptive words used to remark on someone's fea- tures, either due to coloration or size. Let us consider a few. Many a romance novelist has introduced us to a raven- haired beauty. That she had black hair just doesn't cut it. (Of course, that then reminds me of : Do you know Poe's Raven? No; what's he mad about?) Ah, but I digress ... There are also heroines who have corn silk hair: It is fine like silk. The attention is not meant to be drawn to the fact that it is mousy brown like corn silks; goodness, where is your artistic eye? Some females in the books have copper tresses. Isn't it interesting that to describe the hair as rusty is not good; to use that as a nick- name for a redhead is not so bad. Hmmm. The eyes have their own set of distinctive colorations. Black-eyed Susan as a flower is lovely; as a person, she needs social services. If one is doe-eyed, we picture eyes of a soft brown, just like Bambi's mom ... let's not go there or I'll choke up. If a character is red-eyed, he may be devilish, drunk or just arrived from a late-night flight. Apple-cheeked children just beg to be pinched by well meaning aunts. Ruby lipped models abound in advertising. And who has not Moving Up Veteran staff writer Shell Liebman Dorfman has been promoted to senior writer on the basis of her strong reporting and community watchdog skills, announced Editor Robert Sklar of the Detroit Jewish News. "Over the past 10 years, Shelli has grown from proofreading to working as a staff writer," Sklar SheIli Dorfman said. "For the past nine years, she has handled the spirituality beat as well as developing some of our toughest and most important stories in a variety of subject areas?' The Cleveland native was raised in Detroit. She holds an undergradu- ate degree in communication disorders and graduate degrees in speech and language pathology from Fontbonne College in St. Louis. She previously was director of speech and language pathology at Medical Rehabilitation Services in West Bloomfield and a voice and diction instructor at the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in Southfield. Dorfman and her husband, Michael, have three children and two grandchildren. They are members of Ohel Moed Shomrey Emunah and Congregation Shaarey Zedek, both in Oakland County. SouperBowl Helps Homeless Congregation Shaarey Zedek will host its second annual SouperBowl to host the homeless beginning at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at the Southfield synagogue, 27375 Bell Road. More than 400 people are expected to participate in a day filled with meals served restaurant-style by volunteers, activities for chil- dren, bingo with prizes, job counseling from JITS professionals and consultations with volunteer doctors. Volunteers are needed to help prepare food from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. Jobs on Sunday include welcoming guests, serving food, cleaning up and accompanying guests to and from the synagogue on buses. Volunteer hours run from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. To volunteer, call (248) 357-5544. Other opportunities include donations of cash, new blankets, toiletries, prizes and bus cards. These may be dropped off at the synagogue. Checks should be made payable to Congregation Shaarey Zedek/SouperBowl 2007 and mailed to 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, MI 48034. Include SouperBowl 2007 on the envelope. - Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor 8 February 1 • 2007 been lured by a set of pearly-white teeth? The latter are to be preferred to "eyes like stars" — they come out at night. Bearded men do not always fair well in prose. Redbeard and Blackbeard were famous pirates. Bluebeard was a killer. Greybeard — well, that could be any old man and it is usually not used as a complimentary term. The chiseled profile, at one time, was a must-have for Hollywood actors. However, one with a Roman nose was to be preferred over the pinched-nose look (think Wicked Witch of the West). The rubicund (red) nose was made famous by W.C. Fields and has been carried on by drunks for many a year. If you suffer from Dumbo ears, you can either go with it (Clark Gable and Buckwheat) or have them pinned back. However, if some- one offers to "pin your ears back',' I'd suggest leaving hastily to avoid fisticuffs. Whatever our features, they are ours and we should be content. Consider this little rhyme: As a beauty, I'm not a star. There are others more handsome by far. But my face, I don't mind it 'Cause I am behind it. It's people out front get the jar. El Key State Post State Rep. Andy Meisner, D-Ferndale, was appointed chair of the State House Commerce Committee, allowing him to showcase Oakland County's economic development tools as models for reversing Michigan's economic downturn. "Oakland County has set the standard for government involve- ment in economic development, regional cooperation and market- ing," Meisner said. "I plan to showcase some of our successes — like Automation Alley — as models for the entire state to follow." Committee priorities include moving the Michigan Spirit of Entrepreneurship Initiative, a multipoint plan to ignite entrepreneur- ship as a way to diversify Michigan's economy through small business creation. MSEI will focus on workers hit by the automotive industry buyouts and the Pfizer downsizing. The committee also will look at the Google model of business attraction by promoting investment in higher education, mass transit and community safety. "When Ann Arbor landed Google and the 1,000 jobs it created;' Meisner said, "it was not just tax incentives that attracted the high- tech firm; it was a well-educated workforce and an attractive com- munity with safe streets and good public schools. Michigan needs to invest in job attraction strategies that actually work?' - Robert A. Sklar, editor World Premiere West Bloomfield High School is staging its fourth annual WB Film Festival this weekend, highlighting student- made short films and a student written, direct- ed, acted and produced feature-length film. The short films will be shown 8 p.m. Friday, Feb 2. The feature film, Curtain Call, will pre- miere 8 p.m. Saturday. Curtain Call is a film noir comedy and more than 100 students par- ticipated in its production, under the direction of teacher Micah J. Greene. Junior Steven Tickets are $5 each or $7 for both nights. Kanter is second assistant director. - Alan Hitsky, associate editor JNenlIne This Week J Blog Arnie Goldman, 50 years young, brings back memories with his nostalgic musings about Detroit Jewish life – and life in general. Jeff Klein offers his Metro Perspectives on everything from dating to friendship. Or perhaps you'd rather read about the adven- tures of Laurie Freeman's China Punim, 4-year-old Amanda? Only at JNonline.us . Just click on JBlog on the menu on the left. E-Newsletter Want to be notified when sto- ries that interest you in partic- ular are posted on JNonline? It's easy to designate the kinds of stories you like when you sign up for your personalized e-newsletter. Only at JNonline.us . Just click on Newsletter on the menu near the top of the page. Latest From Israel Want the most current news from Israel? Check our stream- ing news from Ynetnews.com for continuous updates and longer news, opinion and fea- ture stories. Just visit JNonline.us and click on a scrolling story on the left. Results from last week's poll question: Do you agree with President Bush's assessment of the state of the union? Yes 45% No 55% This week's poll question: Has Judaism evloved into Orthodox vs. non-Orthodox streams? Visit the JNonline.us homep- age to cast your vote.