As much as I don't enjoy it, I do read Ha'aretz to keep up-to-date with the goings on in Israel even though it's very left-wing.
I just read through a typical doom and gloom article on Iraq by Tony Karon, who apparently is the senior editor of Time Magazine's Time.com.
After doing a further search on Mr. Karon's name, I came to an article he wrote about a year ago for an organization called one-state.org. In Reconciliation May Be the Only Road to Peace in 'Greater Israel', Karon writes that the "Zionist concept of a Jewish nation-state is outdated" and that "Zionism has outlived its purpose: a Jew's place is in the world." This comes even as he acknowledges dealing with "benign" anti-Semitism growing up as a Jew in South Africa.
It is difficult for me to understand what it is that allows for a Jew to feel such empathy for the local Arab population that he feels that he has no right to live in a land of his own anywhere in the world. Are the sins of Israeli Jews so great compared to any other people on Earth that they cannot be reconciled?
Friday, December 31, 2004
A terrible tragedy has occurred in Buenos Aires. 175 dead in a fire at a pakced nightclub where a concert was taking place. Hundreds more are injured. The number of dead is sure to rise as better information comes in. Right now I'm listening to Argentine radio - they're reporting that the police are not letting people into the hospitals to check if their sons and daughters are among the dead or injured.
It is common in Argentina for people to celebrate the New Year with fireworks (don't forget it's summer down there). Initial reports are that someone in the crowd of several thousand set off a firework that set the ceiling on fire.
As is typical of the Argentine, the "people on the street" are already claiming that the government is covering up the true number of dead and injured.
Pray for the victims and their families.
It is common in Argentina for people to celebrate the New Year with fireworks (don't forget it's summer down there). Initial reports are that someone in the crowd of several thousand set off a firework that set the ceiling on fire.
As is typical of the Argentine, the "people on the street" are already claiming that the government is covering up the true number of dead and injured.
Pray for the victims and their families.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
The New York Times editorial board lets the world know again how much they hate President Bush. Don't be fooled by the use of the word "we" in the headline - "Are We Stingy, Yes." What they really mean to say is "Is Bush Evil? Yes."
Before I even get started, I want to know what the NY Times Corporation has done to provide relief to Southeast Asia - they should put their money where their mouth is. The company I work for has already announced $3mm in private aid and others have done the same. I can find no such press release from the Times, nor can I even find links on their website saying how one can donate. If it's there, it's certainly not as conspicuous as Amazon.com's huge red cross on their home page.
President Bush finally roused himself yesterday from his vacation in Crawford, Tex., to telephone his sympathy to the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, and to speak publicly about the devastation of Sunday's tsunamis in Asia. He also hurried to put as much distance as possible between himself and America's initial measly aid offer of $15 million, and he took issue with an earlier statement by the United Nations' emergency relief coordinator, Jan Egeland, who had called the overall aid efforts by rich Western nations "stingy." "The person who made that statement was very misguided and ill informed," the president said.
Becuase the President doesn't update the Times editorial board directly about relief efforts, they pretend that the Presdient has been ignoring the problem. I say "pretend" because even their own paper reports today that "early reports indicate that even in a holiday week, the bureaucracy swung into gear fairly quickly."
We beg to differ. Mr. Egeland was right on target. We hope Secretary of State Colin Powell was privately embarrassed when, two days into a catastrophic disaster that hit 12 of the world's poorer countries and will cost billions of dollars to meliorate, he held a press conference to say that America, the world's richest nation, would contribute $15 million. That's less than half of what Republicans plan to spend on the Bush inaugural festivities.
That's "initial $15 million" as stated in the first paragraph and reported on contemporaneously. I can't believe the Times really believed at the time that this was all we would contribute.
I'm not sure what the Republicans are spending on the inaugural has anything to do with this. Most of the inaugural costs are provided by private donations (as they were in the first inaugural). Clinton's inaugurals also cost a pretty penny and I've seen some commentary stating that his sceond even cost more than Bush's first. If not for the Times' hatred, they would have said something like "what we Americans spend on presidential inaugurals".
The American aid figure for the current disaster is now $35 million, and we applaud Mr. Bush's turnaround. But $35 million remains a miserly drop in the bucket, and is in keeping with the pitiful amount of the United States budget that we allocate for nonmilitary foreign aid. According to a poll, most Americans believe the United States spends 24 percent of its budget on aid to poor countries; it actually spends well under a quarter of 1 percent.
Bush administration officials help create that perception gap. Fuming at the charge of stinginess, Mr. Powell pointed to disaster relief and said the United States "has given more aid in the last four years than any other nation or combination of nations in the world." But for development aid, America gave $16.2 billion in 2003; the European Union gave $37.1 billion. In 2002, those numbers were $13.2 billion for America, and $29.9 billion for Europe.
If you listened to man-on-the-street interviews before the election, an amazing number of Americans couldn't even name their current vice president, much less know offhand what percentage of the budget goes to foreign aid. Hell, I didn't know and I consider myself pretty well-informed. To blame this on the Bush administration is ridiculous.
I'm not sure why the Times goes out of their way to comapare our development aid budget to other regions' when Colin Powell is specifically talking about disaster relief aid which is different. As The Times reports today - "Andrew S. Natsios, the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, said on Wednesday that American funds for disaster relief alone were $2.4 billion last year, 40 percent of the worldwide contributions for this purpose. "We are by far the largest donor," he said. "No one even comes close to us."
Making things worse, we often pledge more money than we actually deliver. Victims of the earthquake in Bam, Iran, a year ago are still living in tents because aid, including ours, has not materialized in the amounts pledged. And back in 2002, Mr. Bush announced his Millennium Challenge account to give African countries development assistance of up to $5 billion a year, but the account has yet to disperse a single dollar.
First of all, when the Millennium Challenge Account was announced it was stated that aid would not be distributed until 2004. To the uninformed the Times is suggesting that the Bush administration has been dragging it's feet for three years - but that's what they want you to think. Also, the Millennium Challenge Account was not an initial funding but an increase in funding of up to 50% over exisiting programs. The reason it is taking so long is that it is based on the donee countries providing a specific plan for the aid instead of just sending a check to irresponsible third world governments.
Regarding aid efforts to Iran after the Bam earthquake, to blame the U.S. for the Iranians' present living conditions while ignoring the effect of Iran's government is like blaming us for the living conditions of the Palestinians and pre-war Iraqis despite knowing that autocratic regimes siphoned off billions of dollars of Western aid into personal accounts.
Mr. Bush said yesterday that the $35 million we've now pledged "is only the beginning" of the United States' recovery effort. Let's hope that is true, and that this time, our actions will match our promises.
-------------------------------------------------
There is another "news analysis" piece today in the Times - It's About Aid, and an Image
Perhaps this article from last year can dispel the notion that we can bribe countries into liking us - Iran says U.S. aid won't help relations
What I find most interesting in this fight over what is considered generous versus stingy is the following:
Congress has approved roughly $13 billion for aid related to the hurricanes that hit the country in the late summer...even Mr. Bush's critics do not expect spending on that scale for the far greater disaster in South Asia.
Before I even get started, I want to know what the NY Times Corporation has done to provide relief to Southeast Asia - they should put their money where their mouth is. The company I work for has already announced $3mm in private aid and others have done the same. I can find no such press release from the Times, nor can I even find links on their website saying how one can donate. If it's there, it's certainly not as conspicuous as Amazon.com's huge red cross on their home page.
President Bush finally roused himself yesterday from his vacation in Crawford, Tex., to telephone his sympathy to the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, and to speak publicly about the devastation of Sunday's tsunamis in Asia. He also hurried to put as much distance as possible between himself and America's initial measly aid offer of $15 million, and he took issue with an earlier statement by the United Nations' emergency relief coordinator, Jan Egeland, who had called the overall aid efforts by rich Western nations "stingy." "The person who made that statement was very misguided and ill informed," the president said.
Becuase the President doesn't update the Times editorial board directly about relief efforts, they pretend that the Presdient has been ignoring the problem. I say "pretend" because even their own paper reports today that "early reports indicate that even in a holiday week, the bureaucracy swung into gear fairly quickly."
We beg to differ. Mr. Egeland was right on target. We hope Secretary of State Colin Powell was privately embarrassed when, two days into a catastrophic disaster that hit 12 of the world's poorer countries and will cost billions of dollars to meliorate, he held a press conference to say that America, the world's richest nation, would contribute $15 million. That's less than half of what Republicans plan to spend on the Bush inaugural festivities.
That's "initial $15 million" as stated in the first paragraph and reported on contemporaneously. I can't believe the Times really believed at the time that this was all we would contribute.
I'm not sure what the Republicans are spending on the inaugural has anything to do with this. Most of the inaugural costs are provided by private donations (as they were in the first inaugural). Clinton's inaugurals also cost a pretty penny and I've seen some commentary stating that his sceond even cost more than Bush's first. If not for the Times' hatred, they would have said something like "what we Americans spend on presidential inaugurals".
The American aid figure for the current disaster is now $35 million, and we applaud Mr. Bush's turnaround. But $35 million remains a miserly drop in the bucket, and is in keeping with the pitiful amount of the United States budget that we allocate for nonmilitary foreign aid. According to a poll, most Americans believe the United States spends 24 percent of its budget on aid to poor countries; it actually spends well under a quarter of 1 percent.
Bush administration officials help create that perception gap. Fuming at the charge of stinginess, Mr. Powell pointed to disaster relief and said the United States "has given more aid in the last four years than any other nation or combination of nations in the world." But for development aid, America gave $16.2 billion in 2003; the European Union gave $37.1 billion. In 2002, those numbers were $13.2 billion for America, and $29.9 billion for Europe.
If you listened to man-on-the-street interviews before the election, an amazing number of Americans couldn't even name their current vice president, much less know offhand what percentage of the budget goes to foreign aid. Hell, I didn't know and I consider myself pretty well-informed. To blame this on the Bush administration is ridiculous.
I'm not sure why the Times goes out of their way to comapare our development aid budget to other regions' when Colin Powell is specifically talking about disaster relief aid which is different. As The Times reports today - "Andrew S. Natsios, the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, said on Wednesday that American funds for disaster relief alone were $2.4 billion last year, 40 percent of the worldwide contributions for this purpose. "We are by far the largest donor," he said. "No one even comes close to us."
Making things worse, we often pledge more money than we actually deliver. Victims of the earthquake in Bam, Iran, a year ago are still living in tents because aid, including ours, has not materialized in the amounts pledged. And back in 2002, Mr. Bush announced his Millennium Challenge account to give African countries development assistance of up to $5 billion a year, but the account has yet to disperse a single dollar.
First of all, when the Millennium Challenge Account was announced it was stated that aid would not be distributed until 2004. To the uninformed the Times is suggesting that the Bush administration has been dragging it's feet for three years - but that's what they want you to think. Also, the Millennium Challenge Account was not an initial funding but an increase in funding of up to 50% over exisiting programs. The reason it is taking so long is that it is based on the donee countries providing a specific plan for the aid instead of just sending a check to irresponsible third world governments.
Regarding aid efforts to Iran after the Bam earthquake, to blame the U.S. for the Iranians' present living conditions while ignoring the effect of Iran's government is like blaming us for the living conditions of the Palestinians and pre-war Iraqis despite knowing that autocratic regimes siphoned off billions of dollars of Western aid into personal accounts.
Mr. Bush said yesterday that the $35 million we've now pledged "is only the beginning" of the United States' recovery effort. Let's hope that is true, and that this time, our actions will match our promises.
-------------------------------------------------
There is another "news analysis" piece today in the Times - It's About Aid, and an Image
Perhaps this article from last year can dispel the notion that we can bribe countries into liking us - Iran says U.S. aid won't help relations
What I find most interesting in this fight over what is considered generous versus stingy is the following:
Congress has approved roughly $13 billion for aid related to the hurricanes that hit the country in the late summer...even Mr. Bush's critics do not expect spending on that scale for the far greater disaster in South Asia.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Fool us once, shame on us. Try and fool us twice - you die.
25 Insurgents Are Killed During Attack on U.S. Base in Mosul
"American troops and warplanes killed at least 25 insurgents who used car bombs and rocket-propelled grenades in a brazen but failed effort to overrun an American combat outpost in Mosul this afternoon..."
Zero Americans killed. Given that blame is so easily assigned when things go wrong all the way up to Rumsfeld, I'm sure that credit will at least be given to the people who oversee the defense of this outpost. Right.
Other interesting tidbits which can be gleaned from the article include the ruse used by terrorists on a successful attack on the Iraqi police yesterday:
The attackers used two subterfuges to set the trap for the police, Iraqi officials said. A Sudanese who lived in the house began firing a semi-automatic weapon at people in the neighborhood, leading neighbors to call police to the scene...
Must be one of those Sudanese-Iraqi freedom fighters since we know the insurgents are fighting to liberate "their" country.
Meanwhile, some proof that yes, Virginia, there are Iraqis on our side.
Abu Marwan, a 33-year-old commander in the Mosul terrorist group Abu Talha, which is affiliated with Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was seized on Dec. 23 based on tips from Iraqi citizens, they said.
25 Insurgents Are Killed During Attack on U.S. Base in Mosul
"American troops and warplanes killed at least 25 insurgents who used car bombs and rocket-propelled grenades in a brazen but failed effort to overrun an American combat outpost in Mosul this afternoon..."
Zero Americans killed. Given that blame is so easily assigned when things go wrong all the way up to Rumsfeld, I'm sure that credit will at least be given to the people who oversee the defense of this outpost. Right.
Other interesting tidbits which can be gleaned from the article include the ruse used by terrorists on a successful attack on the Iraqi police yesterday:
The attackers used two subterfuges to set the trap for the police, Iraqi officials said. A Sudanese who lived in the house began firing a semi-automatic weapon at people in the neighborhood, leading neighbors to call police to the scene...
Must be one of those Sudanese-Iraqi freedom fighters since we know the insurgents are fighting to liberate "their" country.
Meanwhile, some proof that yes, Virginia, there are Iraqis on our side.
Abu Marwan, a 33-year-old commander in the Mosul terrorist group Abu Talha, which is affiliated with Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was seized on Dec. 23 based on tips from Iraqi citizens, they said.
"Quick - sprinkle those kids with holy water before their Jew parents find out them alive!" - paraphrase of candidate for sainthood Pope Pius XII.
Pius XII told churches not to return Holocaust war babies
The children were entrusted to the church to save them from German death camps. But if the parents survived and came forward to reclaim their children, they were only to be returned "provided (they) have not received baptism", the Vatican ordered.
The instructions, in a letter dated October 20, 1946, were sent by the Vatican department responsible for church discipline to the future Pope John XXIII, Angelo Roncalli, who at that time was papal envoy in Paris. The letter was published yesterday by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
The letter ends with the words: "Please note that this decision has been approved by the Holy Father." This may well have been a warning to the then Monsignor Roncalli who, in his previous job as papal ambassador in Istanbul, was suspected by some in the Vatican of an excessively pro-Jewish outlook.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Keeping Kosher, and Doing It With Some Style
Great article in the NY Times about how to find kosher eats, synagogues, etc. anywhere in the world. Paticular focus is given to a website called SederOlam.com.
Links are also given for Christian and Muslim travelers as well.
Great article in the NY Times about how to find kosher eats, synagogues, etc. anywhere in the world. Paticular focus is given to a website called SederOlam.com.
Links are also given for Christian and Muslim travelers as well.
Amazon has set up a special page where you can donate directly to the American Red Cross and at the same time watch the total amount of donations and donees. You can refresh every few seconds and watch the numbers go up and up.
At about midnight EST there are 15,531 donees giving $770,209. That averages about $50 apiece.
UPDATE: At 9AM EST there are 22,000 donees giving $1,138,000.
UPDATE 2: At 4:30PM EST there are 44,000 donees giving $2,521,000
At about midnight EST there are 15,531 donees giving $770,209. That averages about $50 apiece.
UPDATE: At 9AM EST there are 22,000 donees giving $1,138,000.
UPDATE 2: At 4:30PM EST there are 44,000 donees giving $2,521,000
Monday, December 27, 2004
I'll be waiting for the articles in the mainstream media on January 1 saying that the war in Iraq has turned in our favor since we've cut the casulaties in half from November, even including the Mosul bombing last week. Or maybe they'll claim it's because of the upgraded armor they clamored for (which hasn't had time to be manufactured or arrive yet). Or maybe they'll just say that the Bush administration lied by claiming that violence would go up as the elections got closer. Whatever.
Iraq Coalition Casualty Count
Iraq Coalition Casualty Count
I guess I don't need to read more blogs that I agree with, but as long as these are the facts and it's something I didn't know before, I feel compelled to keep reading.
Besides, Powerline was "blog of the year", right? They got this from the Army Times by way of Yahoo News.
Among active duty military, 63% approve of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq. Two-thirds of combat vets think the war is worth fighting. A whopping 87% are satisfied with their jobs. And one of my favorites: "60% blame Congress for the shortage of body armor in the combat zone."
None of this is a surprise to those who have been paying attention. But if all you read is the mainstream media, wouldn't you be puzzled as to how all of these military personnel could be enthusiastic about a war in which nothing good ever happens?
Or you can just read the news the liberal way wherein if you interview two soldiers who say they are dissatisfied, it means that everyone else must be unhappy but are just afraid to show it. Or when a minority of the country votes for the Democratic presidential candidate it must mean that everyone else is ignorant or uneducated.
Reality-based my a**.
Besides, Powerline was "blog of the year", right? They got this from the Army Times by way of Yahoo News.
Among active duty military, 63% approve of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq. Two-thirds of combat vets think the war is worth fighting. A whopping 87% are satisfied with their jobs. And one of my favorites: "60% blame Congress for the shortage of body armor in the combat zone."
None of this is a surprise to those who have been paying attention. But if all you read is the mainstream media, wouldn't you be puzzled as to how all of these military personnel could be enthusiastic about a war in which nothing good ever happens?
Or you can just read the news the liberal way wherein if you interview two soldiers who say they are dissatisfied, it means that everyone else must be unhappy but are just afraid to show it. Or when a minority of the country votes for the Democratic presidential candidate it must mean that everyone else is ignorant or uneducated.
Reality-based my a**.
If you're using the Firefox internet browser (and you should be), you'll want to make these changes to speed up your downloads. I did it and it works great.
How To Speed Up Firefox
How To Speed Up Firefox
Sunday, December 26, 2004
"I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours, but I think that G-d has a sick sense of humour..." - Depeche Mode
Most Powerful Quake in 40 Years Triggers Death and Destruction
Tidal waves kill thousands across Asia
UPDATE: Zarq has a good list of charities where you can donate directly to help the victims.
Most Powerful Quake in 40 Years Triggers Death and Destruction
Tidal waves kill thousands across Asia
UPDATE: Zarq has a good list of charities where you can donate directly to help the victims.
A brief summary of why the Iraqis are not the lovable scamps many on the left portray them to be.
A Battle Between Democracy and Terror; We have Met the Enemy and He Isn't Us
When those “militants” do something particularly barbaric – summarily executing civilians, blowing up police stations, beheading aid workers – the conversation never dwells long on their crimes. Instead, controversy swirls around America's failure to control “the security situation”....
The enemy in Iraq is brutal, ruthless and, yes, evil. There's no other word for people who murder civilians organizing elections, bomb churches and mosques, and saw the heads off innocents while screaming slogans and making home videos.
But they are not stupid. They know that every time they stage a massacre, millions of people get angry – not at them, but at Don Rumsfeld and President Bush and Prime Minister Blair and the “neo-cons.”
A Battle Between Democracy and Terror; We have Met the Enemy and He Isn't Us
When those “militants” do something particularly barbaric – summarily executing civilians, blowing up police stations, beheading aid workers – the conversation never dwells long on their crimes. Instead, controversy swirls around America's failure to control “the security situation”....
The enemy in Iraq is brutal, ruthless and, yes, evil. There's no other word for people who murder civilians organizing elections, bomb churches and mosques, and saw the heads off innocents while screaming slogans and making home videos.
But they are not stupid. They know that every time they stage a massacre, millions of people get angry – not at them, but at Don Rumsfeld and President Bush and Prime Minister Blair and the “neo-cons.”
Saturday, December 25, 2004
AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Please someone take this woman's children away from her! My frickin' four year old can tell the difference between Jewish and Christian beliefs and this women treats her 9-year old like an ignoramus. This is besides the fact that a Christian child could have actually been provided with a Christmas gift.
Santa Clears `Out' Basket
The last stop of the day was at 9-year-old Danielle Toler's house, decorated inside with Hanukkah cards and a ``Happy Hanukkah'' banner.
Unbeknownst to her mother, Danielle had written a letter, addressed to ``Dear Santa Claws,'' asking for a ``purple bear with a bow'' to add to her collection.
``Write me back,'' Danielle ended her letter, which included a drawing of a bear.
Danielle was ecstatic as she tore open the box containing a basket of stuffed animals, including a purple bear and a blue one she planned to name ``Blueberry.''
``Somebody was definitely reading Danielle's wish list,'' her mother, Cori, said. ``This is absolutely wonderful.''
Although the family is Jewish, Toler said her younger children believe in Santa.
``We still have visits from Santa because the children are so small and they don't understand the religious implications,'' she said.
Santa Clears `Out' Basket
The last stop of the day was at 9-year-old Danielle Toler's house, decorated inside with Hanukkah cards and a ``Happy Hanukkah'' banner.
Unbeknownst to her mother, Danielle had written a letter, addressed to ``Dear Santa Claws,'' asking for a ``purple bear with a bow'' to add to her collection.
``Write me back,'' Danielle ended her letter, which included a drawing of a bear.
Danielle was ecstatic as she tore open the box containing a basket of stuffed animals, including a purple bear and a blue one she planned to name ``Blueberry.''
``Somebody was definitely reading Danielle's wish list,'' her mother, Cori, said. ``This is absolutely wonderful.''
Although the family is Jewish, Toler said her younger children believe in Santa.
``We still have visits from Santa because the children are so small and they don't understand the religious implications,'' she said.
I wasn't going to comment on the AP reporter who seems to have been tipped off by the terrorists to an action that they were about to underatke which resulted in the deaths of several Iraqi election workers.
Please read Roger Simon's blog for further comment which includes a very poor defense by the Associated Press which basically replied that they don't mind paying people to work with terrorists.
I posted a comment there as well.
Please read Roger Simon's blog for further comment which includes a very poor defense by the Associated Press which basically replied that they don't mind paying people to work with terrorists.
I posted a comment there as well.
Doesn't it seem a little odd how Dan Barry of the NY Times goes out of his way to depress us about soldiers who've been killed in Iraq?
Below Surface, More Clatter Than Cheer
The article starts off by describing depressing sights one sees on a ride on the 3 train (and aboveground at it's various stops).
Let us meander by way of an express subway line whose symbol resembles a red tree ornament - the 3 - and rise occasionally from the bedrock to squint and listen in winter's weak daylight....
The train jingle-bell-rocks its way to Pennsylvania Station....this station is so grim in architecture and atmosphere that it imbues visitors with the urge to flee...
For some reason Fulton Street beckons....Around the corner on Water Street, three other workers stand shoulder to shoulder at an idle forklift, studying the pages of a porno magazine like fish market choirboys preparing for their next carol. At their booted feet lie mounds of crushed, fish-scented ice - the closest that this city will come to having a white Christmas....
OK, so you get the idea. Then all of a sudden, this:
The train pulls into the Franklin Avenue station. Yes, this is the right stop, just as the 3 was the right train - although in truth, almost any train in the New York subway system would have served.
The A train, for example, could have been taken to Washington Heights, the neighborhood of Marine Staff Sgt. Riayan A. Tejeda, 26, killed in Iraq. Or the 4 train to Morris Heights in the Bronx, home of Army Specialist Victor A. Martinez, 21, killed in Iraq. Or the 7 train to Flushing in Queens, near the home of Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Lam, 22, killed in Iraq. So many killed from the same sprawling neighborhood, New York City.
What was the point of the whole train ride thing? You can't see these people's homes from the train?
If the author wanted to write an article about how there are some families that are grieving at Christmastime for their dead children (which the Times has already done and rightfully so), at least be honest enough to write an article on the topic instead of bringing it up as some kind of gratuitous afterthought in an article that was supposed to describe the sights found along a subway line.
Maybe the Times should just name a few dead soldiers in each of their articles.
Below Surface, More Clatter Than Cheer
The article starts off by describing depressing sights one sees on a ride on the 3 train (and aboveground at it's various stops).
Let us meander by way of an express subway line whose symbol resembles a red tree ornament - the 3 - and rise occasionally from the bedrock to squint and listen in winter's weak daylight....
The train jingle-bell-rocks its way to Pennsylvania Station....this station is so grim in architecture and atmosphere that it imbues visitors with the urge to flee...
For some reason Fulton Street beckons....Around the corner on Water Street, three other workers stand shoulder to shoulder at an idle forklift, studying the pages of a porno magazine like fish market choirboys preparing for their next carol. At their booted feet lie mounds of crushed, fish-scented ice - the closest that this city will come to having a white Christmas....
OK, so you get the idea. Then all of a sudden, this:
The train pulls into the Franklin Avenue station. Yes, this is the right stop, just as the 3 was the right train - although in truth, almost any train in the New York subway system would have served.
The A train, for example, could have been taken to Washington Heights, the neighborhood of Marine Staff Sgt. Riayan A. Tejeda, 26, killed in Iraq. Or the 4 train to Morris Heights in the Bronx, home of Army Specialist Victor A. Martinez, 21, killed in Iraq. Or the 7 train to Flushing in Queens, near the home of Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Lam, 22, killed in Iraq. So many killed from the same sprawling neighborhood, New York City.
What was the point of the whole train ride thing? You can't see these people's homes from the train?
If the author wanted to write an article about how there are some families that are grieving at Christmastime for their dead children (which the Times has already done and rightfully so), at least be honest enough to write an article on the topic instead of bringing it up as some kind of gratuitous afterthought in an article that was supposed to describe the sights found along a subway line.
Maybe the Times should just name a few dead soldiers in each of their articles.
Argentina's economy is picking up and stabilizing - good news for the in-laws.
Economic Rally for Argentines Defies Forecasts
Economic Rally for Argentines Defies Forecasts
Just thought I'd celebrate Christmas with what hopefully will be my last post on the whole religious/secular thing.
An Orthodox rabbi's Christmas sermon by Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg
The most interesting part to me is this:
Dealing with issues of church and state is a central issue of our time. Most every country is now confronting it. But whereas in Islamic countries the effort from the very beginning was to impose religion and whereas in European countries, since the French Revolution, the effort was made to free people from religion … America was created to free people to practice their religion. And the freedom to practice requires not secularizing our religions, and not blurring the differences between religions, but learning to respect each other's religious beliefs.
But my favorite part is this:
So let's put the "Ch" back into Chanukah! And, yes, let Christians put Christ back into Christmas.
An Orthodox rabbi's Christmas sermon by Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg
The most interesting part to me is this:
Dealing with issues of church and state is a central issue of our time. Most every country is now confronting it. But whereas in Islamic countries the effort from the very beginning was to impose religion and whereas in European countries, since the French Revolution, the effort was made to free people from religion … America was created to free people to practice their religion. And the freedom to practice requires not secularizing our religions, and not blurring the differences between religions, but learning to respect each other's religious beliefs.
But my favorite part is this:
So let's put the "Ch" back into Chanukah! And, yes, let Christians put Christ back into Christmas.
Friday, December 24, 2004
The Philadelphia Inquirer seems to get the Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays thing just about right.
Christmas and Cultural Diversity Let's celebrate, not fight
The only point I disagree with is the following:
You see, in American culture, Christmas does double duty.
It long ago became a secular holiday, too, with all the reindeer-laden trimmings. In this secular feast, the powerful narrative of incarnation and salvation lingers only in attenuated form.
Christmas now serves as the epicenter of a vague, but pleasant civil religion of good will, sentiment and generosity.
Christmas was was celebrated for 1500-2000 years as a strictly religious holiday before becoming a "secular feast". By definition, they are saying that secular forces usurped the traditions of the religious to fit their own desires of what the holiday "should" be like.
I do not believe that those that practice "secular Christmas" have any right to claim the holiday from the Church that inspired it in the first place.
Christmas and Cultural Diversity Let's celebrate, not fight
The only point I disagree with is the following:
You see, in American culture, Christmas does double duty.
It long ago became a secular holiday, too, with all the reindeer-laden trimmings. In this secular feast, the powerful narrative of incarnation and salvation lingers only in attenuated form.
Christmas now serves as the epicenter of a vague, but pleasant civil religion of good will, sentiment and generosity.
Christmas was was celebrated for 1500-2000 years as a strictly religious holiday before becoming a "secular feast". By definition, they are saying that secular forces usurped the traditions of the religious to fit their own desires of what the holiday "should" be like.
I do not believe that those that practice "secular Christmas" have any right to claim the holiday from the Church that inspired it in the first place.
Gee, look what happens when the Sec Def hears from the troops and not the press.
Rumsfeld gets friendly questions in Iraq
The questions from the troops for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld were considerably more friendly on his Christmas Eve visit to Iraq than they were on his previous trip to the region a couple of weeks ago.
"How do we win the war in the media?" asked one soldier in Mosul.
How, indeed.
Rumsfeld gets friendly questions in Iraq
The questions from the troops for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld were considerably more friendly on his Christmas Eve visit to Iraq than they were on his previous trip to the region a couple of weeks ago.
"How do we win the war in the media?" asked one soldier in Mosul.
How, indeed.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
During the Cold War, we had our share of anti-Soviet movies where Russians were the bad guys trying to take over the planet. So, I can't tell if this bothers me more because it attacks my own people or because the evil that is being protrayed is so...well...evil.
Iranian TV shows its blind hatred for Israel
From the Iranian TV series ‘Zahra’s Blue Eyes': Candidate for prime minister Yitzhak Cohen campaigns on a platform of scientific advance, which rests on organs harvested from Palestinian children.
Iranian TV shows its blind hatred for Israel
From the Iranian TV series ‘Zahra’s Blue Eyes': Candidate for prime minister Yitzhak Cohen campaigns on a platform of scientific advance, which rests on organs harvested from Palestinian children.
My faith in humanity has been restored...at least for the morning.
An Islamic Reformation
I knew - the very instant I saw the second plane hit the Twin Towers - that jihad had come to America. To my horror, the country that had given me shelter, protection and hope was under a monstrous attack from my own culture of origin.
I immediately telephoned a number of Muslim friends. Without exception, they made excuses for terrorism, denied the responsibility of Muslim culture, and concluded that 9/11 was an Israeli conspiracy.
These were not radical fundamentalists but moderate, educated and well-traveled Muslims.
I BEGAN to reflect on the society in which I had grown up.
Exposure to freedom and democracy will bring peace, stability and prosperity to the entire world. Our problem is that we think of slavery only in terms of physical labor, as opposed to the mental slavery that people suffer in so much of the Arab world.
An Islamic Reformation
I knew - the very instant I saw the second plane hit the Twin Towers - that jihad had come to America. To my horror, the country that had given me shelter, protection and hope was under a monstrous attack from my own culture of origin.
I immediately telephoned a number of Muslim friends. Without exception, they made excuses for terrorism, denied the responsibility of Muslim culture, and concluded that 9/11 was an Israeli conspiracy.
These were not radical fundamentalists but moderate, educated and well-traveled Muslims.
I BEGAN to reflect on the society in which I had grown up.
Exposure to freedom and democracy will bring peace, stability and prosperity to the entire world. Our problem is that we think of slavery only in terms of physical labor, as opposed to the mental slavery that people suffer in so much of the Arab world.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
From Jewschool, a very funny joke(?).
As an El-Al plane landed at Ben Gurion airport in Israel, the voice of the Captain came on:
"Please remain seated with your seat belts fastened until this plane is at a complete standstill and the seat belt signs have been turned off. We also wish to remind you that using cell phones on board of this aircraft is strictly prohibited."
"To those who are seated, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and hope that you enjoy your stay ... and to those of you standing in the aisles and talking on their cell phones, we wish you a Happy Chanukah, and welcome back home."
As an El-Al plane landed at Ben Gurion airport in Israel, the voice of the Captain came on:
"Please remain seated with your seat belts fastened until this plane is at a complete standstill and the seat belt signs have been turned off. We also wish to remind you that using cell phones on board of this aircraft is strictly prohibited."
"To those who are seated, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and hope that you enjoy your stay ... and to those of you standing in the aisles and talking on their cell phones, we wish you a Happy Chanukah, and welcome back home."
If you haven't made yourself familiar with the "mash-up" concept raging in the pop music world, have a listen to this Oasis/Green Day song.
Jay-Z and Linkin Park are currently on top of the Billboard charts with their mash-up album. Green Day/Oasis is more my style though.
Jay-Z and Linkin Park are currently on top of the Billboard charts with their mash-up album. Green Day/Oasis is more my style though.
How cool is this?
La Briute - Hot meals without a kitchen
La Bruite Meals contain a patented, flameless food heater made of magnesium and iron. When the enclosed salt water packet is opened and poured onto the heating element it produces real heat and steam right inside the box, and your meal turns simmering hot in minutes.
Sure it costs three times more than Lean Cuisine, but my mother always said it's tough to be a Jew.
But wait, there's more...
Single-serving coffee can heats itself
Beginning Jan. 2, consumers can buy a 10-ounce container of Wolfgang Puck gourmet latte at the store and heat it by pressing a button. No electricity. No batteries. No appliances.
"It will expand the way people drink coffee," says Puck, the celebrity chef with a growing empire.
How does the can do it? A single step mixes calcium oxide (quicklime) and water. It heats the coffee to 145 degrees in six minutes — and stays hot for 30 minutes.
It sounds like a technology used by soldiers to heat Meals-Ready-To-Eat. But MREs mix magnesium iron oxide and water and need several steps. This is one-step and self-contained.
La Briute - Hot meals without a kitchen
La Bruite Meals contain a patented, flameless food heater made of magnesium and iron. When the enclosed salt water packet is opened and poured onto the heating element it produces real heat and steam right inside the box, and your meal turns simmering hot in minutes.
Sure it costs three times more than Lean Cuisine, but my mother always said it's tough to be a Jew.
But wait, there's more...
Single-serving coffee can heats itself
Beginning Jan. 2, consumers can buy a 10-ounce container of Wolfgang Puck gourmet latte at the store and heat it by pressing a button. No electricity. No batteries. No appliances.
"It will expand the way people drink coffee," says Puck, the celebrity chef with a growing empire.
How does the can do it? A single step mixes calcium oxide (quicklime) and water. It heats the coffee to 145 degrees in six minutes — and stays hot for 30 minutes.
It sounds like a technology used by soldiers to heat Meals-Ready-To-Eat. But MREs mix magnesium iron oxide and water and need several steps. This is one-step and self-contained.
Christian exodus from Holy Land
I fully expected this piece to contain a description on how the Muslim Palestinians were making life so miserable for the Christians, that they were forced to leave. Instead it is an anti-Israel rant.
For starters, the article claims:
Throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories, Christians are losing both turf and population. Squeezed between opposing sides in an intractable war, Christians are slowly leaving the holy land.
Not according to palestinefacts.org (or anywhere else for that matter):
The absolute number of Christians has increased as Christians have entered Israel from Europe or areas in the Middle East. The Christian population of Israel has grown from 34,000 in 1949 to about 140,000 today.
Another article mentions that the Christian population in Israel was actually only 120,000 as recently as 1995, so there's been an increase of about 15% in the last decade.
I bolded "areas in the middle east" because the story also mentions a Palestinian whose Iranian-Christian bride is supposedly not even allowed to visit Israel, "much less live there". Then the old "but the Jews are allowed to live here" complaint comes up in an attempt to negate the entire rationale for the existence of the Jewish State. More specifically:
"Israeli immigration rules shut out people born in countries hostile to Israel. Yet Jews born in those same hostile countries can visit Israel and immigrate without a problem."
Of course I'd be interested in knowing how welcome an Israeli (Arab or Jew) is on the immigration lines in Teheran and Damascus.
But wait there's more...
Business transactions, marriages and family ties connected Christian communities of the Near and Middle East. The Christian communities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem drew population, resources and income from Beirut, Cairo, Baghdad and Aleppo. These relationships and resources were severed when the Israelis took control.
Israel’s wars with its Arab neighbors and nearly 10 years of conflict with Palestinian Muslims have done more to isolate, marginalize and drive off the Christian population.
Yup, Israel "took control" after their wars with their neighbors.
The worst the article says about the Palestinian Muslim population is that they "sometimes move in to seize their property and land".
Et cetera, et cetera.
Myabe the reporter should have read the following:
The Islamization of Bethlehem by Arafat
And if you thought the Jews have it (or had it) bad in Muslim countries, it ain't no piece of cake being a Christian either.
UPDATE: This doesn't seem very unwelcoming to me.
In keeping with its annual tradition, the Jerusalem Municipality will give away free Christmas trees to the public on Thursday morning.
The distribution of the small evergreens, which is being carried out in conjunction with the Jewish National Fund, will take place between 9 a.m. and noon on Thursday just inside the Jaffa Gate of the Old City, on a first-come, first-served basis.
UPDATE 2: This article from the NY Times is much more balanced in my opinion. While mentioning Israeli actions as contributing to the outflow of Christians from Betheehem, the reason why those actions were taken is made clear.
A Sad New Carol: Go Ye From Bethlehem
I fully expected this piece to contain a description on how the Muslim Palestinians were making life so miserable for the Christians, that they were forced to leave. Instead it is an anti-Israel rant.
For starters, the article claims:
Throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories, Christians are losing both turf and population. Squeezed between opposing sides in an intractable war, Christians are slowly leaving the holy land.
Not according to palestinefacts.org (or anywhere else for that matter):
The absolute number of Christians has increased as Christians have entered Israel from Europe or areas in the Middle East. The Christian population of Israel has grown from 34,000 in 1949 to about 140,000 today.
Another article mentions that the Christian population in Israel was actually only 120,000 as recently as 1995, so there's been an increase of about 15% in the last decade.
I bolded "areas in the middle east" because the story also mentions a Palestinian whose Iranian-Christian bride is supposedly not even allowed to visit Israel, "much less live there". Then the old "but the Jews are allowed to live here" complaint comes up in an attempt to negate the entire rationale for the existence of the Jewish State. More specifically:
"Israeli immigration rules shut out people born in countries hostile to Israel. Yet Jews born in those same hostile countries can visit Israel and immigrate without a problem."
Of course I'd be interested in knowing how welcome an Israeli (Arab or Jew) is on the immigration lines in Teheran and Damascus.
But wait there's more...
Business transactions, marriages and family ties connected Christian communities of the Near and Middle East. The Christian communities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem drew population, resources and income from Beirut, Cairo, Baghdad and Aleppo. These relationships and resources were severed when the Israelis took control.
Israel’s wars with its Arab neighbors and nearly 10 years of conflict with Palestinian Muslims have done more to isolate, marginalize and drive off the Christian population.
Yup, Israel "took control" after their wars with their neighbors.
The worst the article says about the Palestinian Muslim population is that they "sometimes move in to seize their property and land".
Et cetera, et cetera.
Myabe the reporter should have read the following:
The Islamization of Bethlehem by Arafat
And if you thought the Jews have it (or had it) bad in Muslim countries, it ain't no piece of cake being a Christian either.
UPDATE: This doesn't seem very unwelcoming to me.
In keeping with its annual tradition, the Jerusalem Municipality will give away free Christmas trees to the public on Thursday morning.
The distribution of the small evergreens, which is being carried out in conjunction with the Jewish National Fund, will take place between 9 a.m. and noon on Thursday just inside the Jaffa Gate of the Old City, on a first-come, first-served basis.
UPDATE 2: This article from the NY Times is much more balanced in my opinion. While mentioning Israeli actions as contributing to the outflow of Christians from Betheehem, the reason why those actions were taken is made clear.
A Sad New Carol: Go Ye From Bethlehem
The Democrats better come up with a plan to counter the increasing population of the opposition.
Unfortunately, unlike Ariel Sharon, they don't have the "disengagement" option.
Fastest growth found in ‘red states'
The 10 fastest-growing states — from No. 1 Nevada to No. 10 New Mexico — are all in the West and South. President Bush won nine of them in November's election. The exception was Delaware, ranked eighth. The Census Bureau classifies Delaware as a Southern state.
Seats in the House of Representatives are reallocated every 10 years to reflect population shifts. The next round will come after the 2010 Census.
Based on the latest population estimates, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana each would lose a House seat, according to Kim Brace, president of Election Data Services, a Washington D.C., consulting firm that specializes in the Census and redistricting. Arizona, Florida, Texas and Utah each would gain a seat, he says.
Unfortunately, unlike Ariel Sharon, they don't have the "disengagement" option.
Fastest growth found in ‘red states'
The 10 fastest-growing states — from No. 1 Nevada to No. 10 New Mexico — are all in the West and South. President Bush won nine of them in November's election. The exception was Delaware, ranked eighth. The Census Bureau classifies Delaware as a Southern state.
Seats in the House of Representatives are reallocated every 10 years to reflect population shifts. The next round will come after the 2010 Census.
Based on the latest population estimates, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana each would lose a House seat, according to Kim Brace, president of Election Data Services, a Washington D.C., consulting firm that specializes in the Census and redistricting. Arizona, Florida, Texas and Utah each would gain a seat, he says.
A nice off topic break. 10 foreign ads, most with American movie/pop stars only shown in foreign markets. I actually like that Britney/Beyonce/Pink one - I think this would have been a near-great Super Bowl ad.
10 ADS AMERICA WON'T SEE
The Naked Olympics one is very good too, although you can kind of see the joke coming (no pun intended).
10 ADS AMERICA WON'T SEE
The Naked Olympics one is very good too, although you can kind of see the joke coming (no pun intended).
Monday, December 20, 2004
Are hearts and minds coming over from the Dark Side? Sometimes a headline can't convey everything that's going on.
Blasts Kill At Least 64 In Iraq's Holy Cities
"I swear to God, even if they burn all the elections centers, we will still go and vote," said Ali Waili, 29, a taxi driver reached by telephone in Karbala.
"These attacks aim to destroy the country and the holy sites. This is terrorism against Shiites," said Fadhil Salman, 41, the owner of the Ghufran Hotel in Najaf. "They want to foil the elections, but this won't deter us."
Not too far from "Give me liberty or give me death" if you ask me.
Blasts Kill At Least 64 In Iraq's Holy Cities
"I swear to God, even if they burn all the elections centers, we will still go and vote," said Ali Waili, 29, a taxi driver reached by telephone in Karbala.
"These attacks aim to destroy the country and the holy sites. This is terrorism against Shiites," said Fadhil Salman, 41, the owner of the Ghufran Hotel in Najaf. "They want to foil the elections, but this won't deter us."
Not too far from "Give me liberty or give me death" if you ask me.
There are some aspects of Jewish religious tradition that are so beautiful and moving that it makes me sad for the people who don't understand them or don't care enough to want to understand.
No one looks forward to saying kaddish for a loved one and thank G-d I haven't had to do it yet. When the time comes though, I will not be satisfied with Conservative convention and will need to go to an Orhtodox minyan.
This description of a man's last recital of kaddish for his son moved me to tears. Thanks to MOChassid for the link.
No one looks forward to saying kaddish for a loved one and thank G-d I haven't had to do it yet. When the time comes though, I will not be satisfied with Conservative convention and will need to go to an Orhtodox minyan.
This description of a man's last recital of kaddish for his son moved me to tears. Thanks to MOChassid for the link.
It sure is easy to make yourself feel as if everything is falling apart in Iraq. Just spend a few minutes with the mainstream media reading about another explosion in Iraq or Donald Rumsfeld's failure to personally sign letters for the families of dead soldiers.
It would take you a few hours though, and quite a bit more digging, to truly educate yourself about the big picture in Iraq. Luckily, someone's done it for you. Go see for yourself.
Good news from Iraq, Part 17
It would take you a few hours though, and quite a bit more digging, to truly educate yourself about the big picture in Iraq. Luckily, someone's done it for you. Go see for yourself.
Good news from Iraq, Part 17
National Guardsman in Iraq picks wrong place and time for "gay panic". One Iraqi boy dead.
Guardsman killed Iraqi after sex
This happened back in May. I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more play in the media. I guess we're supposed to be more outraged at a marine shooting an insurgent possibly faking death than reporting about a U.S. soldier killing an innocent boy over gay sex.
Whatever happened to good old fashioned raping and pillaging?
Guardsman killed Iraqi after sex
This happened back in May. I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more play in the media. I guess we're supposed to be more outraged at a marine shooting an insurgent possibly faking death than reporting about a U.S. soldier killing an innocent boy over gay sex.
Whatever happened to good old fashioned raping and pillaging?
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Oy. A bark-mitvah for a dog.
Today He Is a Dog; Actually, He Always Was
"You're not going to sing a blessing over the dog?"
"A real blessing?" said the cantor, laughing.
"It's a real bark mitzvah. Give him a blessing before he pees in my lap."
The cantor did, and Boomie didn't.
Somewhere there's a 13 year old Jewish kid who's dreaming of the attention from his parents that this dog is getting from wealthy people who have nothing more to do with their time and money than to parody an otherwise meaningful religious rite of passage.
Today He Is a Dog; Actually, He Always Was
"You're not going to sing a blessing over the dog?"
"A real blessing?" said the cantor, laughing.
"It's a real bark mitzvah. Give him a blessing before he pees in my lap."
The cantor did, and Boomie didn't.
Somewhere there's a 13 year old Jewish kid who's dreaming of the attention from his parents that this dog is getting from wealthy people who have nothing more to do with their time and money than to parody an otherwise meaningful religious rite of passage.
Little known outside the Orthodox Jewish world, Wednesday is the Fast of the Tenth of Tevet. The Fast commemorates the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in the year 425 BCE which ulyimately led to the destruction of the First Temple which took place on the 9th of Av, a day on which Jews also fast as a sign of mourning.
It is from this period in time that we get the source for the english word "jeremiad" since this was time of the prophet Jeremiah who prophesied doom for the Jewish people for not following the ways of G-d. Although the word jeremiad today takes on an aspect of an overwrought complaining, at the time of the original jeremiad, the speaker could not have been more correct!
For more information about this holiday, the Chabad site is always a good source.
It is from this period in time that we get the source for the english word "jeremiad" since this was time of the prophet Jeremiah who prophesied doom for the Jewish people for not following the ways of G-d. Although the word jeremiad today takes on an aspect of an overwrought complaining, at the time of the original jeremiad, the speaker could not have been more correct!
For more information about this holiday, the Chabad site is always a good source.
The residents of Postville, Iowa come to the defense of Agriprocessors against the campaign against it by PETA.
Town rallies around firm called inhumane
On Monday, the council passed a resolution in support of the business, noting that Agriprocessors "currently employs approximately 700 local residents and purchases over $100 million of livestock annually." The resolution said the city "renounces unfounded and unproven attacks on Agriprocessors Inc., or its kosher processing."
"We're farmers here, and we make our livelihood from the land," said Sharon Drahn, editor of the weekly Postville Herald-Leader. "So far I have had no letters to the editor or phone calls [about PETA's allegations]. There are people who have said in passing, `Well, if the PETA people had their way, everybody would be vegetarians.'"
Town rallies around firm called inhumane
On Monday, the council passed a resolution in support of the business, noting that Agriprocessors "currently employs approximately 700 local residents and purchases over $100 million of livestock annually." The resolution said the city "renounces unfounded and unproven attacks on Agriprocessors Inc., or its kosher processing."
"We're farmers here, and we make our livelihood from the land," said Sharon Drahn, editor of the weekly Postville Herald-Leader. "So far I have had no letters to the editor or phone calls [about PETA's allegations]. There are people who have said in passing, `Well, if the PETA people had their way, everybody would be vegetarians.'"
A new Jewish Children's Museum has opened in Brooklyn, I believe under the auspices of the Lubavitcher movement. As is typical of many of their programs, the museum seems to be an effort to educate all people (jews and non-Jews) about Jewish life and tradition and is not meant to push Orhtodox customs on anyone (although I'm sure they're hoping that a visit will inspire gretaer observance among the non-Orthodox).
I am hoping to remember to visit on my next trip to New York with the family. Maybe I can show them pictures of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and tell my children that we have our own Santa Claus who brought joy and happiness to many people, he just wore black instead of red!
I am hoping to remember to visit on my next trip to New York with the family. Maybe I can show them pictures of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and tell my children that we have our own Santa Claus who brought joy and happiness to many people, he just wore black instead of red!
Saturday, December 18, 2004
I just know I'm going to disagree with whatever this person has to say about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when his first sentence contains this phrase:
"...the maneuverings of Hamas, a group the United States considers a chief sponsor of terrorism..."
The U.S.??? What about anyone in the civilized world?
"considers"??? Is there any doubt that they have killed civilians on purpose countless times to achieve political ends?
This is from Hamas May Give Peace a Chance in today's NY Times Op-Ed section.
"...the maneuverings of Hamas, a group the United States considers a chief sponsor of terrorism..."
The U.S.??? What about anyone in the civilized world?
"considers"??? Is there any doubt that they have killed civilians on purpose countless times to achieve political ends?
This is from Hamas May Give Peace a Chance in today's NY Times Op-Ed section.
Friday, December 17, 2004
At least one lefty J-blogger is with me in failing to understand the big to-do over Bill O'Reilly's suggestion to a Jewish caller that he move to Israel if he's uncomfortable with public displays of Christmas cheer. Now I don't feel like such a sellout to my people.
The New York Times finally gets around to reporting on the sexual abuses perpetrated by U.N. "peacekeepers" in the Congo.
In Congo War, Even Peacekeepers Add to Horror
Too bad they couldn't bring themselves to mention the U.N. in the headline. And by the way, conservative websites such as World Net Daily have been reporting this for almost a month.
Look how quickly the Times was willing to report on the gossip of Bernard Kerik's sex life (which as far as I know - see Bill Clinton - wouldn't have had an effect on his ability to be Homeland Security chief). However, like the Swift Boat Vet controversy, the Times seems to take a wait and see approach to regarding scandals involving it's liberal icons.
Now we know that if any peace plan for the Middle East includes sending in the U.N., the Palestinains will quite literally be fucked.
In Congo War, Even Peacekeepers Add to Horror
Too bad they couldn't bring themselves to mention the U.N. in the headline. And by the way, conservative websites such as World Net Daily have been reporting this for almost a month.
Look how quickly the Times was willing to report on the gossip of Bernard Kerik's sex life (which as far as I know - see Bill Clinton - wouldn't have had an effect on his ability to be Homeland Security chief). However, like the Swift Boat Vet controversy, the Times seems to take a wait and see approach to regarding scandals involving it's liberal icons.
Now we know that if any peace plan for the Middle East includes sending in the U.N., the Palestinains will quite literally be fucked.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Hanan Ashrawi, the well-known Palestinian Authority councilperson tells the Jeruslaem Post that the problem of suicide bombers in not based on formal recruiting of young people by terror cells, it's just hormones.
Jerusalem Post: How, then, do you explain the fact so many young people are being recruited for suicide missions?
Ashrawi: "It is unacceptable. I have a very clear position on suicide bombing, although when it comes to children, I don't think it's a systematic thing [recruiting them]."
Jerusalem Post: What do you mean?
Ashrawi: "There were several instances where children were recruited. But do you remember a couple of years ago, when a couple of children were caught trying to commit such an act and people were furious with Hamas, and Hamas came out with a statement that they wouldn't recruit the children, and so on?"
Jerusalem Post: Even when they're not little children, most of the suicide bombers are very young, 20 or so.
Ashrawi: "Most young people don't think so much with their minds as with their emotions. I don't want to generalize, but they're very vulnerable and emotional and have more hormonal influences than any other age group."
Maybe they channel these hormonal excesses into killing since having extra-marital sex could get them killed anyway. Might as well die a martyr instead of in shame.
When the full interview is published on Friday it will include Ms. Ashrawi's claim that Palestinian textbooks teach more about tolerance than Israeli textbooks.
Jerusalem Post: How, then, do you explain the fact so many young people are being recruited for suicide missions?
Ashrawi: "It is unacceptable. I have a very clear position on suicide bombing, although when it comes to children, I don't think it's a systematic thing [recruiting them]."
Jerusalem Post: What do you mean?
Ashrawi: "There were several instances where children were recruited. But do you remember a couple of years ago, when a couple of children were caught trying to commit such an act and people were furious with Hamas, and Hamas came out with a statement that they wouldn't recruit the children, and so on?"
Jerusalem Post: Even when they're not little children, most of the suicide bombers are very young, 20 or so.
Ashrawi: "Most young people don't think so much with their minds as with their emotions. I don't want to generalize, but they're very vulnerable and emotional and have more hormonal influences than any other age group."
Maybe they channel these hormonal excesses into killing since having extra-marital sex could get them killed anyway. Might as well die a martyr instead of in shame.
When the full interview is published on Friday it will include Ms. Ashrawi's claim that Palestinian textbooks teach more about tolerance than Israeli textbooks.
There's probably one main reason why I don't become an Orthodox Jew as opposed to a Conservative Jew - the ultra-Orthodox.
REBBE ROUSERS
Nine people were arrested yesterday in a melee at the headquarters of Brooklyn's most visible ultra-Orthodox Jewish movement, which is divided over whether the Lubavitcher founder, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, is alive or dead.
Workers at Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights were installing a new plaque on the building which refers to Schneerson's "blessed memory."
But followers of Lubavitch's "messianic" wing object to those words, because they believe Schneerson — who died in 1994 at age 92 — lives in spirit and flesh....
Lubavitcher messianists say that instead of referring to Schneerson's "blessed memory," any new plaque must say: "Long live our master, our teacher, our Rebbe king messiah, forever and ever."
REBBE ROUSERS
Nine people were arrested yesterday in a melee at the headquarters of Brooklyn's most visible ultra-Orthodox Jewish movement, which is divided over whether the Lubavitcher founder, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, is alive or dead.
Workers at Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights were installing a new plaque on the building which refers to Schneerson's "blessed memory."
But followers of Lubavitch's "messianic" wing object to those words, because they believe Schneerson — who died in 1994 at age 92 — lives in spirit and flesh....
Lubavitcher messianists say that instead of referring to Schneerson's "blessed memory," any new plaque must say: "Long live our master, our teacher, our Rebbe king messiah, forever and ever."
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Did you know why bad things keep happening to the good children of Lemony Snicket stories? This article about the film adaptation from the Sydney Morning Herald let's you know the story behind the stories.
The film is based on the first three books by Lemony Snicket, the nom de plume of Daniel Handler, a 33-year-old San Francisco writer....
Handler's father is a Jew who escaped Germany before the war; the books are influenced by the fact of the Holocaust; they deny the idea that good behaviour always gets its rewards, because the Baudelaires are good children and horrible things happen to them.
The film is based on the first three books by Lemony Snicket, the nom de plume of Daniel Handler, a 33-year-old San Francisco writer....
Handler's father is a Jew who escaped Germany before the war; the books are influenced by the fact of the Holocaust; they deny the idea that good behaviour always gets its rewards, because the Baudelaires are good children and horrible things happen to them.
Is this not proof that there is, indeed, a God?
FCC OKs high-speed Internet in flight
Federal regulators voted Wednesday to give airline passengers high-speed Internet connections while they fly.
The unanimous vote by the Federal Communications Commission means air travelers could be surfing the Web by 2006.
What this means is that I'll read even fewer books in the future than I do now.
FCC OKs high-speed Internet in flight
Federal regulators voted Wednesday to give airline passengers high-speed Internet connections while they fly.
The unanimous vote by the Federal Communications Commission means air travelers could be surfing the Web by 2006.
What this means is that I'll read even fewer books in the future than I do now.
How sad is it that this Jewish writer has received zero religious education from his parents and now happily tells of how much he enjoys his family's Christmas tree and dinners. He then claims that his memories of Jewish holiday food is so bad it's a wonder he didn't ocnvert. But, does he really need to given how proud he is of how he has rejected his Jewishness and embraced Christian culture?
A truffle under the tree
A truffle under the tree
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Cat fight! Cat fight!
George Michael Slams Elton John in Letter
"And to this day, most of what Elton thinks he knows about my life is pretty much limited to the gossip he hears on what you would call the `gay grapevine' which, as you can imagine, is lovely stuff indeed," Michael added.
George Michael Slams Elton John in Letter
"And to this day, most of what Elton thinks he knows about my life is pretty much limited to the gossip he hears on what you would call the `gay grapevine' which, as you can imagine, is lovely stuff indeed," Michael added.
I couldn't agree more. 'Who the Devil Really Was'
We have gotten used to bad news from Iraq—and there will be more. But there is good news as well. Elections are likely to go ahead as scheduled. In November, as the attack on Fallujah began, I argued that it would be a turning point, one way or another. It now appears that Fallujah altered the dynamic for the better. It's not simply that it was a military victory—everyone expected that. Far more important, the victory did not seem to generate a high political cost (something I was worried about). The uproar that was expected across Iraq in response to the operation simply did not happen. The Shia and Kurds did not complain, and even the "Sunni street" was much quieter than anticipated....
The current issue of Foreign Affairs has an exchange between two scholars, Tony Smith and Larry Diamond. Smith accuses Diamond, a longtime supporter of human rights, of making a "pact with the devil" by working (briefly) for the United States in postwar Iraq. Diamond, who had opposed the war, responds: "I do not regard the post-war endeavor as a pact with the devil. Let Smith and other critics visit Iraq and talk to Iraqis who are organizing for democracy, development, and human rights. Let them talk to the families that lived under constant, humiliating, Baathist rule. Let them see some of the roughly 300 mass graves of opponents of the regime who were brutally slaughtered in the hundreds of thousands. Then they will find out who the devil really was." I can't say it better.
Watch for the left to complain that "only" 40 or 50 or 60 percent of Iraqis vote in January and therefore the election is invalid - even though barely half of our own country bothers to vote.
We have gotten used to bad news from Iraq—and there will be more. But there is good news as well. Elections are likely to go ahead as scheduled. In November, as the attack on Fallujah began, I argued that it would be a turning point, one way or another. It now appears that Fallujah altered the dynamic for the better. It's not simply that it was a military victory—everyone expected that. Far more important, the victory did not seem to generate a high political cost (something I was worried about). The uproar that was expected across Iraq in response to the operation simply did not happen. The Shia and Kurds did not complain, and even the "Sunni street" was much quieter than anticipated....
The current issue of Foreign Affairs has an exchange between two scholars, Tony Smith and Larry Diamond. Smith accuses Diamond, a longtime supporter of human rights, of making a "pact with the devil" by working (briefly) for the United States in postwar Iraq. Diamond, who had opposed the war, responds: "I do not regard the post-war endeavor as a pact with the devil. Let Smith and other critics visit Iraq and talk to Iraqis who are organizing for democracy, development, and human rights. Let them talk to the families that lived under constant, humiliating, Baathist rule. Let them see some of the roughly 300 mass graves of opponents of the regime who were brutally slaughtered in the hundreds of thousands. Then they will find out who the devil really was." I can't say it better.
Watch for the left to complain that "only" 40 or 50 or 60 percent of Iraqis vote in January and therefore the election is invalid - even though barely half of our own country bothers to vote.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that the local high school (Plano West) was going to be marching in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Now, there's a notoriety of a different kind, and it's not good.
That is a Plano West Lacrosse t-shirt. I wonder if my aunt is aware of this. My cousin, who's a senior there, is pretty close to the jocks although she isn't one herself.
Here's the article - Toxic Strength
Now, there's a notoriety of a different kind, and it's not good.
That is a Plano West Lacrosse t-shirt. I wonder if my aunt is aware of this. My cousin, who's a senior there, is pretty close to the jocks although she isn't one herself.
Here's the article - Toxic Strength
New Iraq Mass Grave May Contain 500 Bodies - PM
Laborers digging on a construction site in northern Iraq uncovered human skulls and bones on Tuesday, which interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said were part of a mass grave believed to contain some 500 bodies.
The list of crimes committed by Saddam Hussein keeps growing. And what exactly brought about this new discovery?
"...workers found the remains while preparing the ground for a new hospital near a highway in Debashan, north of Sulaimaniya."
John Kerry was right - we shouldn't be opening up hospitals (and firehouses) in Iraq! Why should we be building things that help to save Iraqi lives when Saddam could have used the space for more dead bodies! Did we arrogant Americans even bother to file for a proper change in zoning from massacre site to commercial site?
Laborers digging on a construction site in northern Iraq uncovered human skulls and bones on Tuesday, which interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said were part of a mass grave believed to contain some 500 bodies.
The list of crimes committed by Saddam Hussein keeps growing. And what exactly brought about this new discovery?
"...workers found the remains while preparing the ground for a new hospital near a highway in Debashan, north of Sulaimaniya."
John Kerry was right - we shouldn't be opening up hospitals (and firehouses) in Iraq! Why should we be building things that help to save Iraqi lives when Saddam could have used the space for more dead bodies! Did we arrogant Americans even bother to file for a proper change in zoning from massacre site to commercial site?
More anti-Chanukah craziness in Rockland County, New York.
Menorah vandalism prompts reward
All nine bulbs in a 9-foot menorah at Veteran's Memorial Park downtown were destroyed over the weekend, said Rabbi Chaim Ehrenreich, director of Chabad of Chestnut Ridge, which sponsored the display. Ehrenreich said that when he arrived for a menorah-lighting ceremony shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday, just two bulbs remained on the menorah and seven were either missing or found smashed nearby.
The ceremony proceeded as planned, using candles, he said.
The next night, Ehrenreich said, he returned to the display about the same time and found that the remaining bulbs had been destroyed and the sockets pulled out.
It's so bad, that Senator Clinton had to come to the area to speak out against it.
Clinton condemns anti-Semitism
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton came to Rockland yesterday to condemn recent anti-Semitic acts in the county.
"It's not just vandalism and not just something to be passed off," she said to the group of 60 guests at the Rockland County Holocaust Museum and Study Center. "They are an affront to everyone."
Menorah vandalism prompts reward
All nine bulbs in a 9-foot menorah at Veteran's Memorial Park downtown were destroyed over the weekend, said Rabbi Chaim Ehrenreich, director of Chabad of Chestnut Ridge, which sponsored the display. Ehrenreich said that when he arrived for a menorah-lighting ceremony shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday, just two bulbs remained on the menorah and seven were either missing or found smashed nearby.
The ceremony proceeded as planned, using candles, he said.
The next night, Ehrenreich said, he returned to the display about the same time and found that the remaining bulbs had been destroyed and the sockets pulled out.
It's so bad, that Senator Clinton had to come to the area to speak out against it.
Clinton condemns anti-Semitism
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton came to Rockland yesterday to condemn recent anti-Semitic acts in the county.
"It's not just vandalism and not just something to be passed off," she said to the group of 60 guests at the Rockland County Holocaust Museum and Study Center. "They are an affront to everyone."
Monday, December 13, 2004
Only in New York. The Challah Lady.
Soft spoken and unassuming, she strides up the steps of City Hall each week with a few toasty loaves of the traditional Jewish bread tucked into a shopping bag. She breezes past the security desk and into the mayor's press office, where she is greeted warmly. She comes bearing a loaf for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and at least one challah for the press office staff members. (On a lucky day, it will have chocolate chips.)
Among the scores of people who make their way into City Hall each week, the challah lady, Esty Scheiner, is among the more invisible. She has no petitions, no lawsuits, and no real agenda other than to build a vibrant Jewish life in Lower Manhattan. She considers merging government and challah part of that mission.
Soft spoken and unassuming, she strides up the steps of City Hall each week with a few toasty loaves of the traditional Jewish bread tucked into a shopping bag. She breezes past the security desk and into the mayor's press office, where she is greeted warmly. She comes bearing a loaf for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and at least one challah for the press office staff members. (On a lucky day, it will have chocolate chips.)
Among the scores of people who make their way into City Hall each week, the challah lady, Esty Scheiner, is among the more invisible. She has no petitions, no lawsuits, and no real agenda other than to build a vibrant Jewish life in Lower Manhattan. She considers merging government and challah part of that mission.
I was mildly disturbed by this cartoon by Lalo Alcaraz who draws "La Cucaracha" which is syndicated nationally. Not outraged, just disturbed.
Mr. Alcaraz draws his humor from the situation of lower-middle class Latinos who are not happy with the way "the man" is running things. That's fine, although like Boondocks and Doonesbury the humor is often more political than situational. I'm not sure if most comic page editors have figured this out yet - at least they haven't in Dallas.
What bothers me about this particular strip is that he seems to assume that if a family is white and religious (e.g. the Family Circus characters), they must be Republicans. The not too subtle message is that white families are not only the enemy of Latino progress, but are obnoxious about it as well. Reagrdless of the cartoonist's beliefs, The Family Circus is all about love and respect and not about preaching and is certainly not political by any strecth of the imagination.
It's a shame that in a field where so few can find success, that some have to be so divisive with respect to their colleagues.
Now let's move La Cucaracha off the "funnies" page along with Boondocks and Doonesbury. I do enjoy reading them all, but please keep them away from agenda-less comics like Dilbert and Hagar the Horrible.
Will anyone ever be loved universally like Charles M. Schulz? See this tribute to "Peanuts" by the competition, all published on Saturday, May 27, 2000 in honor of the National Cartoonists Society awarding Charles "Sparky" Schulz a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr. Alcaraz draws his humor from the situation of lower-middle class Latinos who are not happy with the way "the man" is running things. That's fine, although like Boondocks and Doonesbury the humor is often more political than situational. I'm not sure if most comic page editors have figured this out yet - at least they haven't in Dallas.
What bothers me about this particular strip is that he seems to assume that if a family is white and religious (e.g. the Family Circus characters), they must be Republicans. The not too subtle message is that white families are not only the enemy of Latino progress, but are obnoxious about it as well. Reagrdless of the cartoonist's beliefs, The Family Circus is all about love and respect and not about preaching and is certainly not political by any strecth of the imagination.
It's a shame that in a field where so few can find success, that some have to be so divisive with respect to their colleagues.
Now let's move La Cucaracha off the "funnies" page along with Boondocks and Doonesbury. I do enjoy reading them all, but please keep them away from agenda-less comics like Dilbert and Hagar the Horrible.
Will anyone ever be loved universally like Charles M. Schulz? See this tribute to "Peanuts" by the competition, all published on Saturday, May 27, 2000 in honor of the National Cartoonists Society awarding Charles "Sparky" Schulz a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Just wanted to post some comments I left on my brother-in-law's LiveJournal page relating to an article he linked to about the State of New York raising it's minimum wage over the next two years.
I am generally supportive of the increase in the minimum wage primarily because it's a good idea, and the government should be obligated to raise it periodically in line with inflation.
That being said, I'm always looking for ways to criticize the NY Times as I am constantly angered at the journalistically lazy people in charge of what used to be my secular bible.
While it is true that a year of working 52 weeks at the current minimum wage will bring you $10,712, it is not below the federal poverty line. One reason is that there's no such thing as the "federal poverty line". Second is that it's just not true regardless of the semantics.
There do exist Federal Poverty Thresholds (maintained by the Census Bureau) and Federal Poverty Guidelines (maintained by the Dept. of Health & Human Services) which are similar but have some technical differences. HHS stresses on their website that:
The poverty guidelines are sometimes loosely referred to as the “federal poverty level” (FPL), but that phrase is ambiguous and should be avoided, especially in situations (e.g., legislative or administrative) where precision is important.
Since the Times hasn't been noted for their precision lately, they invent a new term altogether - the "federal poverty line". I'd love to ask the reporter where they got their facts on the "poverty line".
According to both the "Guidelines" and the "Threshold" the amount used to determine whether an individual has enough income to avoid poverty is approximately $9,300 which is below the annual income earned at the current minimum wage. The new minimum wage of $7.15/hour will lead to an annual income of $14,872 which according to the guidelines/threshholds should almost enough for a family of three to avoid poverty.
I am not sure how things like welfare, food stamps, earned income tax credits, child care credits, etc. are calculated into these equations.
I am generally supportive of the increase in the minimum wage primarily because it's a good idea, and the government should be obligated to raise it periodically in line with inflation.
That being said, I'm always looking for ways to criticize the NY Times as I am constantly angered at the journalistically lazy people in charge of what used to be my secular bible.
While it is true that a year of working 52 weeks at the current minimum wage will bring you $10,712, it is not below the federal poverty line. One reason is that there's no such thing as the "federal poverty line". Second is that it's just not true regardless of the semantics.
There do exist Federal Poverty Thresholds (maintained by the Census Bureau) and Federal Poverty Guidelines (maintained by the Dept. of Health & Human Services) which are similar but have some technical differences. HHS stresses on their website that:
The poverty guidelines are sometimes loosely referred to as the “federal poverty level” (FPL), but that phrase is ambiguous and should be avoided, especially in situations (e.g., legislative or administrative) where precision is important.
Since the Times hasn't been noted for their precision lately, they invent a new term altogether - the "federal poverty line". I'd love to ask the reporter where they got their facts on the "poverty line".
According to both the "Guidelines" and the "Threshold" the amount used to determine whether an individual has enough income to avoid poverty is approximately $9,300 which is below the annual income earned at the current minimum wage. The new minimum wage of $7.15/hour will lead to an annual income of $14,872 which according to the guidelines/threshholds should almost enough for a family of three to avoid poverty.
I am not sure how things like welfare, food stamps, earned income tax credits, child care credits, etc. are calculated into these equations.
I should have been posting these every month - I can't assume that everyone reads Instapundit daily like I do.
A roundup of the past month's good news from Afghanistan.
Afghan authorities and political parties are starting to plan for the parliamentary election scheduled for April.....
Meanwhile, an ambitious program is aiming to rebuild the country's devastated local administration......
Three years after the fall of the hardline Taliban regime, residents of Afghanistan's capital are celebrating the Eid al-Fitr festival in upbeat mood. . . .
The growth of the media is presenting many opportunities for Afghan women....
Meanwhile, as the refugees are coming back after years of exile, the U.N. is trying to help them rebuild their homes......
Afghan women are also make progress in the arts community.....
"There has been a tremendous demand for education, since the rebuilding of Afghanistan began. It has continued to exceed all expectations." says Keiko Miwa, an Education Specialist with the World Bank . . . based in Kabul. "More than 3 million students enrolled in grades one to 12 in 2002, when only 1.7 million students were expected to enroll. In March 2003, the enrollment surpassed 4 million." Today, more than 5 million students are enrolled in schools, according to Habibullah Wajdi. "This is the most definitive expression for education in Afghan history."
That's right America - you should be feeling GOOD about what's going on in Afghanistan today.
A roundup of the past month's good news from Afghanistan.
Afghan authorities and political parties are starting to plan for the parliamentary election scheduled for April.....
Meanwhile, an ambitious program is aiming to rebuild the country's devastated local administration......
Three years after the fall of the hardline Taliban regime, residents of Afghanistan's capital are celebrating the Eid al-Fitr festival in upbeat mood. . . .
The growth of the media is presenting many opportunities for Afghan women....
Meanwhile, as the refugees are coming back after years of exile, the U.N. is trying to help them rebuild their homes......
Afghan women are also make progress in the arts community.....
"There has been a tremendous demand for education, since the rebuilding of Afghanistan began. It has continued to exceed all expectations." says Keiko Miwa, an Education Specialist with the World Bank . . . based in Kabul. "More than 3 million students enrolled in grades one to 12 in 2002, when only 1.7 million students were expected to enroll. In March 2003, the enrollment surpassed 4 million." Today, more than 5 million students are enrolled in schools, according to Habibullah Wajdi. "This is the most definitive expression for education in Afghan history."
That's right America - you should be feeling GOOD about what's going on in Afghanistan today.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
There are renewed calls on Donald Rumsfeld to resign from some quarters, such as this article written by Carl Luna, a professor of Political Science at San Diego Mesa College.
Just a passing thought. Back in 1993, following the infamous “Blackhawk Down “ disaster in Somalia, Clinton’s Secretary of Defense Les Aspin resigned amidst allegations that he had failed to provide the troops in Somalia with the armored support they needed to do their mission. House and Senate Republicans, including several who hold majority leadership positions today, were in the forefront calling for Aspin’s ouster.
Why then aren’t these same voices calling for the resignation of Donald “As you know, you go to war with the Army you have. They're not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time.” Rumsfeld? Aspin’s Somalian botch resulted in the deaths of 18 US servicemen and the wounding of 75. Rumsfeld’s apparent failure to insure proper armor protection for US troops has already, to date, resulted in more lives lost or maimed than happened in Somalia.
There are several important distinctions between then and now, among them:
- Les Aspin reportedly rejected requests for additional armor in Somalia, while Donald Rumsfeld has overseen an increase in production which his organization helped push through Congress. The current lack of protection in Iraq comes from a change in enemy tactics to attack our rear positions, not a rejection of a request from the commanders in the field.
- In 1993, the country was upset and embarrassed by our defeat at the hands of some unknown African warlord. At a time when there was no war going on, it allowed our enemies to believe we were weak and ineffective - this created a greater groundswell of anger against the Defense Department. In Iraq, while we are having soldiers picked off here and there, there has been no combination of events that would cause anyone to believe that the U.S. means business. Any direct engagement with the enemy results in an extremely disproportionate amount of enemy casualties. Also, after two years of war in the Middle East, and the re-election of George Bush, no one is doubting our military's resolve.
- The "Black Hawk Down" incident was an isolated incident with no counterbalance. No one was claiming that our efforts in Somalia were otherwise successful, or would be in the long run. Most of the errors committed by the military in Iraq have been incidents which, though upsetting, do not have a significant effect on the outcome of the war, which is a much more complex effort that Somalia was. No war was ever engaged in without lost battles or mistakes, even by the victorious parties. We can't have the Secretary of Defense resigning every time someone decides that a partiuclar policy decision could have been better made.
In my opinion, what this professor lacks is some perspective. Say Iraq is a horrible blunder if you will, but to assume that the results of an isolated military debacle in peacetime should be the same as a poor strategic decision in wartime doesn't seem very insightful.
Just a passing thought. Back in 1993, following the infamous “Blackhawk Down “ disaster in Somalia, Clinton’s Secretary of Defense Les Aspin resigned amidst allegations that he had failed to provide the troops in Somalia with the armored support they needed to do their mission. House and Senate Republicans, including several who hold majority leadership positions today, were in the forefront calling for Aspin’s ouster.
Why then aren’t these same voices calling for the resignation of Donald “As you know, you go to war with the Army you have. They're not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time.” Rumsfeld? Aspin’s Somalian botch resulted in the deaths of 18 US servicemen and the wounding of 75. Rumsfeld’s apparent failure to insure proper armor protection for US troops has already, to date, resulted in more lives lost or maimed than happened in Somalia.
There are several important distinctions between then and now, among them:
- Les Aspin reportedly rejected requests for additional armor in Somalia, while Donald Rumsfeld has overseen an increase in production which his organization helped push through Congress. The current lack of protection in Iraq comes from a change in enemy tactics to attack our rear positions, not a rejection of a request from the commanders in the field.
- In 1993, the country was upset and embarrassed by our defeat at the hands of some unknown African warlord. At a time when there was no war going on, it allowed our enemies to believe we were weak and ineffective - this created a greater groundswell of anger against the Defense Department. In Iraq, while we are having soldiers picked off here and there, there has been no combination of events that would cause anyone to believe that the U.S. means business. Any direct engagement with the enemy results in an extremely disproportionate amount of enemy casualties. Also, after two years of war in the Middle East, and the re-election of George Bush, no one is doubting our military's resolve.
- The "Black Hawk Down" incident was an isolated incident with no counterbalance. No one was claiming that our efforts in Somalia were otherwise successful, or would be in the long run. Most of the errors committed by the military in Iraq have been incidents which, though upsetting, do not have a significant effect on the outcome of the war, which is a much more complex effort that Somalia was. No war was ever engaged in without lost battles or mistakes, even by the victorious parties. We can't have the Secretary of Defense resigning every time someone decides that a partiuclar policy decision could have been better made.
In my opinion, what this professor lacks is some perspective. Say Iraq is a horrible blunder if you will, but to assume that the results of an isolated military debacle in peacetime should be the same as a poor strategic decision in wartime doesn't seem very insightful.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Betcha didn't know that urban sprawl could have a positive envioronmental impact - at least in areas like North Texas that farmers ruined 100 years ago.
How Dallas has turned a new leaf
"While everybody complains of urban sprawl and its conflict with the urban forest, we've actually got more of an urban forest because of our sprawl," said Mike Bradshaw, executive director of the Texas Trees Foundation in Dallas.
The progression was noticeable to Steve Parker, program manager of flood plain management and engineering for the city of Dallas. Mr. Parker reviews aerial photos of the city as part of studying the environmental impact of certain development permits. The early pictures, some going back 70 years, show mainly cotton fields, he said.
"And then as subdivisions are platted, you'll see ... houses and streets. As decades pass, you'll see the area just blossom with trees," he said.....
...Studies have shown that along with standing pretty in the front yard, trees cut the cost of energy bills, help clean the air, increase property values, relieve stress, attract wildlife and stabilize neighborhoods.
Look at that - I am part of the solution!
How Dallas has turned a new leaf
"While everybody complains of urban sprawl and its conflict with the urban forest, we've actually got more of an urban forest because of our sprawl," said Mike Bradshaw, executive director of the Texas Trees Foundation in Dallas.
The progression was noticeable to Steve Parker, program manager of flood plain management and engineering for the city of Dallas. Mr. Parker reviews aerial photos of the city as part of studying the environmental impact of certain development permits. The early pictures, some going back 70 years, show mainly cotton fields, he said.
"And then as subdivisions are platted, you'll see ... houses and streets. As decades pass, you'll see the area just blossom with trees," he said.....
...Studies have shown that along with standing pretty in the front yard, trees cut the cost of energy bills, help clean the air, increase property values, relieve stress, attract wildlife and stabilize neighborhoods.
Look at that - I am part of the solution!
Even as a Jew, I find the secular anti-Christmas/Christian push disgusting. In a review of Clay Aiken's show at Madison Square Garden in the NY Times, Kelefa Sanneh had the following to say:
Mr. Aiken had been onstage for about 40 minutes when it came time for a 25-minute intermission. When he returned, the show became a lot more energetic and more interesting. The preamble was over, and now it was time for everyone to discover the True Meaning of Christmas.
Don't worry: this second act wasn't some vague celebration of friends and family and fun. Since Thursday was the third night of Hanukkah, Mr. Aiken turned his second act into a celebration of Jews. Well, one Jew: Jesus. Whereas other seasonal gatherings evoked a secular or multifaith "holiday spirit," Mr. Aiken's concert was one party where the birthday boy got all the attention.
What did the reviewer expect from a concert tour billed as "A Joyful Noise".
How brave Kelefa Sanneh must feel at being able to criticize a Christian for singing about his faith at a private event! Maybe all "holiday" music should be banned since someone is bound to be offended either by their exclusion from the festivities or the inclusion of any faith-based music if they're an atheist.
Mr. Aiken had been onstage for about 40 minutes when it came time for a 25-minute intermission. When he returned, the show became a lot more energetic and more interesting. The preamble was over, and now it was time for everyone to discover the True Meaning of Christmas.
Don't worry: this second act wasn't some vague celebration of friends and family and fun. Since Thursday was the third night of Hanukkah, Mr. Aiken turned his second act into a celebration of Jews. Well, one Jew: Jesus. Whereas other seasonal gatherings evoked a secular or multifaith "holiday spirit," Mr. Aiken's concert was one party where the birthday boy got all the attention.
What did the reviewer expect from a concert tour billed as "A Joyful Noise".
How brave Kelefa Sanneh must feel at being able to criticize a Christian for singing about his faith at a private event! Maybe all "holiday" music should be banned since someone is bound to be offended either by their exclusion from the festivities or the inclusion of any faith-based music if they're an atheist.
Bummer.
Kerik Withdraws His Name for Top DHS Job
In a surprise move, former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik abruptly withdrew his nomination as President Bush's choice to be homeland security secretary Friday night, saying questions have arisen about the immigration status of a housekeeper and nanny he employed.
The decision caught the White House off guard and sent Bush in search of a new candidate to run the sprawling bureaucracy of more than 180,000 employees melded together from 22 disparate federal agencies in 2003.
Kerik informed Bush of his decision to withdraw in a telephone call at 8:30 p.m. EST. "I am convinced that, for personal reasons, moving forward would not be in the best interests of your administration, the Department of Homeland Security or the American people," Kerik said in a letter to the president.
Will we ever know the real reason?
Kerik Withdraws His Name for Top DHS Job
In a surprise move, former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik abruptly withdrew his nomination as President Bush's choice to be homeland security secretary Friday night, saying questions have arisen about the immigration status of a housekeeper and nanny he employed.
The decision caught the White House off guard and sent Bush in search of a new candidate to run the sprawling bureaucracy of more than 180,000 employees melded together from 22 disparate federal agencies in 2003.
Kerik informed Bush of his decision to withdraw in a telephone call at 8:30 p.m. EST. "I am convinced that, for personal reasons, moving forward would not be in the best interests of your administration, the Department of Homeland Security or the American people," Kerik said in a letter to the president.
Will we ever know the real reason?
Friday, December 10, 2004
For the first time, Israelis have won Nobel Prizes in science.
Israeli professors Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose received the Nobel Price in chemistry on Friday for their work in discovering a process that lets cells destroy unwanted proteins.
Hershko and Ciechanover are the first Israelis to receive a Nobel Prize in science. Their work has led to breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of cancer, degenerative brain diseases, cystic fibrosis, and many other disorders.
Congratulations to them for doing something meaningful with their lives and reflecting well (whether they mean to or not) on all Jews everywhere.
Israeli professors Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose received the Nobel Price in chemistry on Friday for their work in discovering a process that lets cells destroy unwanted proteins.
Hershko and Ciechanover are the first Israelis to receive a Nobel Prize in science. Their work has led to breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of cancer, degenerative brain diseases, cystic fibrosis, and many other disorders.
Congratulations to them for doing something meaningful with their lives and reflecting well (whether they mean to or not) on all Jews everywhere.
Hanukkah in Legoland. I mean Rockland County, New York.
It's nice and cozy inside the mall, but outside anti-semitism lurks.
Hate symbols found
Jewish leaders yesterday expressed outrage that anti-Semitic symbols were found spray-painted on three homes and a car in Orangetown the day after Hanukkah began.
"This is not a Tuesday morning in June," said Rabbi Craig Scheff of the Orangetown Jewish Center in Orangeburg. "This is during a time when people of different faiths are trying to spread some light and hope, and an incident like this needs to be assumed to be — first and foremost — a message against that light."
One of the homes attacked is several blocks away from where I grew up. Another family whose home was attacked came here from Russia ten years ago because the husband, who is Jewish, was discriminated against at work because of his faith.
It's nice and cozy inside the mall, but outside anti-semitism lurks.
Hate symbols found
Jewish leaders yesterday expressed outrage that anti-Semitic symbols were found spray-painted on three homes and a car in Orangetown the day after Hanukkah began.
"This is not a Tuesday morning in June," said Rabbi Craig Scheff of the Orangetown Jewish Center in Orangeburg. "This is during a time when people of different faiths are trying to spread some light and hope, and an incident like this needs to be assumed to be — first and foremost — a message against that light."
One of the homes attacked is several blocks away from where I grew up. Another family whose home was attacked came here from Russia ten years ago because the husband, who is Jewish, was discriminated against at work because of his faith.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
More Chanukah time Jew-hatred, this time in Lake Tahoe.
FBI and Police Investigate Anti-Semitic Vandalism in South Lake Tahoe
The latest incident of vandalsim occurred on the first day of Hanukkah when swastikas were discovered painted on Temple Bat Yam.
A snowplow driver discovered a spray-painted Nazi SS symbol, two swastikas and an ethnic slur on the temple Tuesday morning (some of the graffiti is shown above in a photo by Jim Grant of the Tahoe Daily Tribune). Later that day, two swastikas were found painted on road signs and utility boxes along Lake Tahoe Boulevard.
FBI and Police Investigate Anti-Semitic Vandalism in South Lake Tahoe
The latest incident of vandalsim occurred on the first day of Hanukkah when swastikas were discovered painted on Temple Bat Yam.
A snowplow driver discovered a spray-painted Nazi SS symbol, two swastikas and an ethnic slur on the temple Tuesday morning (some of the graffiti is shown above in a photo by Jim Grant of the Tahoe Daily Tribune). Later that day, two swastikas were found painted on road signs and utility boxes along Lake Tahoe Boulevard.
This isn't something I'd buy, but it is interesting to listen to the sound clips.
Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda
Abayudaya: The Music of the Jews of Uganda presents a unique collection of African-Jewish music in which the rhythms and harmonies of Africa blend with Jewish celebration and traditional Hebrew prayer. This compelling repertoire is rooted in local Ugandan music and infused with rich choral singing, Afro-pop, and traditional drumming. The repertoire includes lullabies, political and children's song, religious rituals, hymns, and celebratory music, with song texts in Hebrew, English, and several Ugandan languages. This singular community of African people living committed Jewish lives has survived persecution and isolation and asserts, "We have been saved by our music."
According to Jewschool, the album has been nominated for a Grammy.
Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda
Abayudaya: The Music of the Jews of Uganda presents a unique collection of African-Jewish music in which the rhythms and harmonies of Africa blend with Jewish celebration and traditional Hebrew prayer. This compelling repertoire is rooted in local Ugandan music and infused with rich choral singing, Afro-pop, and traditional drumming. The repertoire includes lullabies, political and children's song, religious rituals, hymns, and celebratory music, with song texts in Hebrew, English, and several Ugandan languages. This singular community of African people living committed Jewish lives has survived persecution and isolation and asserts, "We have been saved by our music."
According to Jewschool, the album has been nominated for a Grammy.
I love learning about Israeli pop culture. This article in Jewsweek led me to the site of pop singer Sarit Hadad.
You can listen to some of her latest hits and check out several videos of her in action on the website. Her songs are a cool mix of Eastern influence and Western pop. I think I'm going to start a Dallas-based fan club. Then again, maybe I should actually buy one of her albums first.
You can listen to some of her latest hits and check out several videos of her in action on the website. Her songs are a cool mix of Eastern influence and Western pop. I think I'm going to start a Dallas-based fan club. Then again, maybe I should actually buy one of her albums first.
From The Right Blog. Scary.
If there is ever a movie about Kofi Annan, the Oil for Food Scandal, or any other recent shennanigans from the UN, there is only one man who should ever be considered for the role of Kofi Annan.
If there is ever a movie about Kofi Annan, the Oil for Food Scandal, or any other recent shennanigans from the UN, there is only one man who should ever be considered for the role of Kofi Annan.
Take 20 minutes out to see what your Marines are doing in Iraq. It is your right to know. It is their right to have you know. This is real.
BBC Video of Fallujah Fighting
BBC Video of Fallujah Fighting
If you don't think it's dangerous to get your news from one source, read this lie and allegation filled screed on Bernard Kerik from Sidney Blumenthal.
All hail to Caligula's horse
Now compare it to this generally positive, accomplishment filled biography from the New York Times.
A Street Cop's Rise From High School Dropout to Cabinet Nominee
Probably the most disgusting part of Blumenthal's piece includes the ridiculous claim that "Kerik spent much of his time after 9/11 writing a self-promoting autobiography, The Lost Son." How would he have any idea if that were true? I'm not even sure that he could have written and published the book within two months (it was published on November 12), even if he had taken a leave from absence from his job after 9/11.
All hail to Caligula's horse
Now compare it to this generally positive, accomplishment filled biography from the New York Times.
A Street Cop's Rise From High School Dropout to Cabinet Nominee
Probably the most disgusting part of Blumenthal's piece includes the ridiculous claim that "Kerik spent much of his time after 9/11 writing a self-promoting autobiography, The Lost Son." How would he have any idea if that were true? I'm not even sure that he could have written and published the book within two months (it was published on November 12), even if he had taken a leave from absence from his job after 9/11.
Another bomb at a Citibank ATM in Argentina. Please remind me to take lots of Travelers Checks when I go down next year.
A SMALL bomb exploded early today in an Argentine branch of Citibank but nobody was injured, police said.
A bomb squad removed a second package suspected to contain a bomb before it exploded, police said after the fourth attack this year on banks in Argentina.
The latest explosion took place at an ATM machine of the bank in the city of Santa Fe, causing minor damage, police said.
A SMALL bomb exploded early today in an Argentine branch of Citibank but nobody was injured, police said.
A bomb squad removed a second package suspected to contain a bomb before it exploded, police said after the fourth attack this year on banks in Argentina.
The latest explosion took place at an ATM machine of the bank in the city of Santa Fe, causing minor damage, police said.
"It's your religion, not mine."
An Orthodox Jew is suing his employer — claiming he couldn't get kosher fare at his office Christmas party.
Moshe Marc Cohen, a former supervisor at Nationwide Provident, one of the largest financial firms in the country, also claims in a discrimination suit filed in Manhattan federal court that he was fired because of his religious beliefs.
Cohen, who wears a yarmulke, filed his lawsuit on the eve of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights.
He said that that he volunteered to provide the special dietary food at the holiday party three years ago and that his company agreed to reimburse him.
But when he asked for the dough from his boss, identified in court papers as Tom Brennaman, the regional vice president refused to repay him on the grounds that "it's your religion, not mine."
I hate company holiday parties and it has nothing to do with the religious aspect. If you're going to spend the shareholders money that way, I'd rather have an ipod, thank you very much.
An Orthodox Jew is suing his employer — claiming he couldn't get kosher fare at his office Christmas party.
Moshe Marc Cohen, a former supervisor at Nationwide Provident, one of the largest financial firms in the country, also claims in a discrimination suit filed in Manhattan federal court that he was fired because of his religious beliefs.
Cohen, who wears a yarmulke, filed his lawsuit on the eve of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights.
He said that that he volunteered to provide the special dietary food at the holiday party three years ago and that his company agreed to reimburse him.
But when he asked for the dough from his boss, identified in court papers as Tom Brennaman, the regional vice president refused to repay him on the grounds that "it's your religion, not mine."
I hate company holiday parties and it has nothing to do with the religious aspect. If you're going to spend the shareholders money that way, I'd rather have an ipod, thank you very much.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Biggest. Menorah. Ever.
World’s largest Menorah set up at entrance to Jerusalem
See the lighting in a video here.
World’s largest Menorah set up at entrance to Jerusalem
See the lighting in a video here.
Is it still considered a scoop if you get a story first and it's completely wrong?
A week ago, the Washington Post printed Bush to Change Economic Team on page A1, which included this piece of juicy gossip (although they would call it "news"):
One senior administration official said Treasury Secretary John W. Snow can stay as long as he wants, provided it is not very long. He might stay as long as six months into the term, officials said. Friends say Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. is one possibility to replace him. Bolten also could move over.
But Republican officials said Bush is also considering well-known officials from outside, including New York Gov. George E. Pataki (R). Conservatives are pushing for former senator Phil Gramm, a Republican from Texas.
WRONG!
John Snow to Stay On As Treasury Secretary
President Bush asked Treasury Secretary John Snow on Wednesday to stay in the administration, and Mr. Snow agreed, keeping a key member of Mr. Bush's economic team in place.
The two big problems here are that the WaPost has some pretty crappy sources and that the American people accept gossip and analysis as news and not opinion.
A week ago, the Washington Post printed Bush to Change Economic Team on page A1, which included this piece of juicy gossip (although they would call it "news"):
One senior administration official said Treasury Secretary John W. Snow can stay as long as he wants, provided it is not very long. He might stay as long as six months into the term, officials said. Friends say Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. is one possibility to replace him. Bolten also could move over.
But Republican officials said Bush is also considering well-known officials from outside, including New York Gov. George E. Pataki (R). Conservatives are pushing for former senator Phil Gramm, a Republican from Texas.
WRONG!
John Snow to Stay On As Treasury Secretary
President Bush asked Treasury Secretary John Snow on Wednesday to stay in the administration, and Mr. Snow agreed, keeping a key member of Mr. Bush's economic team in place.
The two big problems here are that the WaPost has some pretty crappy sources and that the American people accept gossip and analysis as news and not opinion.
This publisher of this spelling bee for children not be anti-Zionist or anti-Semitic, but it's contents are certainly odd.
San Francisco Chronicle
The page lists 10 chemistry terms that children should know like kinetic, aerosol, equilibrium and....disproportinate. Examples of sentences using these words are provided to illuminate their meaning after which children are asked to find the definition of the word at the bottom of the page. The sentence using disproportionate is the following:
Israel came under heavy international criticism for the Gaza offensive. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and other questioned whether it had been a disproportionate response to the use of crude Qassam rockets by Palestinian militants.
Where's the chemistry in that? Thanks to Backspin for the story.
San Francisco Chronicle
The page lists 10 chemistry terms that children should know like kinetic, aerosol, equilibrium and....disproportinate. Examples of sentences using these words are provided to illuminate their meaning after which children are asked to find the definition of the word at the bottom of the page. The sentence using disproportionate is the following:
Israel came under heavy international criticism for the Gaza offensive. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and other questioned whether it had been a disproportionate response to the use of crude Qassam rockets by Palestinian militants.
Where's the chemistry in that? Thanks to Backspin for the story.
For my liberal friends who believe that criticizing or failing to recognize as brilliant those on the loony left is tantamount to suppression of free speech, there is a new TV program for you - The First Amendment Project (Watch What You Say) on the Sundance Channel.
The second episode deals with Amiri Baraka who was New Jersey's poet laureate until the state legislature took it away from him based on some controversial statements he made. Here was his response to that action from his website.
The vote in the NJ Legislature today (38-2) to eliminate the NJ Poet Laureate position is confirmation of the ignorance, corruption, racism and
criminal disregard for the US Constitution.
To their credit Assemblyman, Wm Payne and Senator Donald Tucker were the sole voices trying to up hold the poet's Constitutional First Amendment rights.
But this finally illegal vote is also a violation of Article 1, section 10(1) of the U.S. Constitution ( that neither congress nor the states could pass Ex Post Facto Laws, i.e., a law in the present that will make something that happened before that subject to the contemporary statute
The vote is also an infamous confirmation of the anti-democratic , neo fascist direction that the entire US nation has been headed since the right wing coup that passed as the 2000 National Election that brought to ascendancy and murderous power, a counterfeit President for an increasingly fake democracy.
This attack on the US Constitution has been led by the Israeli Lobbyist Anti Defamation League who cite three lines of a 244 line poem as proof of the poet's
"Anti-Semitism" ("Who told 400 Israeli workers at the twin towers to stay home that day/ Who told Sharon to stay away").
The ADL in characteristic dishonesty claims the mention of Israeli nationals is an attack on Jews, as if they did not understand the difference between the religion, Judaism and the reactionary nationalism of Israeli political Zionism. But that is done to cover the fact that American Jews were left to be killed in the World Trade Center with the rest of we Americans, because ISRAEL REGARDS AMERICAN JEWS AS AMERICANS, FIRST, Whom the ADL and the state of Israel regard only as sources of wealth and influence which they must not lose. Zionist Israel sees the American people the same way, as a cash cow and political justifier of their historic policy of ethnic cleansing of Arabs out of Palestine.
That is why it was Israeli Nationals that were warned and NOT American Jews.
Oh. I am so pissed off at Ariel Sharon for not telling me to stay home from work on 9/11. Doesn't he know how much money I give to Israel?
The second episode deals with Amiri Baraka who was New Jersey's poet laureate until the state legislature took it away from him based on some controversial statements he made. Here was his response to that action from his website.
The vote in the NJ Legislature today (38-2) to eliminate the NJ Poet Laureate position is confirmation of the ignorance, corruption, racism and
criminal disregard for the US Constitution.
To their credit Assemblyman, Wm Payne and Senator Donald Tucker were the sole voices trying to up hold the poet's Constitutional First Amendment rights.
But this finally illegal vote is also a violation of Article 1, section 10(1) of the U.S. Constitution ( that neither congress nor the states could pass Ex Post Facto Laws, i.e., a law in the present that will make something that happened before that subject to the contemporary statute
The vote is also an infamous confirmation of the anti-democratic , neo fascist direction that the entire US nation has been headed since the right wing coup that passed as the 2000 National Election that brought to ascendancy and murderous power, a counterfeit President for an increasingly fake democracy.
This attack on the US Constitution has been led by the Israeli Lobbyist Anti Defamation League who cite three lines of a 244 line poem as proof of the poet's
"Anti-Semitism" ("Who told 400 Israeli workers at the twin towers to stay home that day/ Who told Sharon to stay away").
The ADL in characteristic dishonesty claims the mention of Israeli nationals is an attack on Jews, as if they did not understand the difference between the religion, Judaism and the reactionary nationalism of Israeli political Zionism. But that is done to cover the fact that American Jews were left to be killed in the World Trade Center with the rest of we Americans, because ISRAEL REGARDS AMERICAN JEWS AS AMERICANS, FIRST, Whom the ADL and the state of Israel regard only as sources of wealth and influence which they must not lose. Zionist Israel sees the American people the same way, as a cash cow and political justifier of their historic policy of ethnic cleansing of Arabs out of Palestine.
That is why it was Israeli Nationals that were warned and NOT American Jews.
Oh. I am so pissed off at Ariel Sharon for not telling me to stay home from work on 9/11. Doesn't he know how much money I give to Israel?
I'm not so sure that the United Nations as it is currently structured is actually a force for good in the world, and I'm pretty sure that Kofi Annan and his son were mired in the oil-for-food scandal and she be held accountable. That being said, I think this comment from Joe Conason in the New York Observer is fair.
To anyone familiar with the moral standards of Congress, the assault on Mr. Annan is absurd. The Republicans demanding his head recently rescinded their own rule requiring an indicted member to relinquish leadership. They aren’t troubled when their own relatives, including Tom DeLay’s brother, get rich in the lobbying business.
To anyone familiar with the moral standards of Congress, the assault on Mr. Annan is absurd. The Republicans demanding his head recently rescinded their own rule requiring an indicted member to relinquish leadership. They aren’t troubled when their own relatives, including Tom DeLay’s brother, get rich in the lobbying business.
They say that in order to be truly wise, one must realize how much it is that they DON'T know. In that case I must be one of the smartest people around...
Every once in awhile when I delve into an Orthodox Jewish bloc or website I come across something, maybe a Yiddish word, maybe a reference to an ancient Rabbi or religious text that I wasn't familiar with. While I am always excited to "discover" something new, I also get depressed when I realize that there are five year olds who already know this stuff.
Today I learned that a shtender is the Yiddish/Jewish word for the wooden lectern that is used to stand at while davening (praying), or studying. I have seen these and used these all my life without knowing what my people have been calling them for hundreds of years. I am including a picture of a stand alone version and a unique desktop version, just in case you don't know what I'm talking about.
Every once in awhile when I delve into an Orthodox Jewish bloc or website I come across something, maybe a Yiddish word, maybe a reference to an ancient Rabbi or religious text that I wasn't familiar with. While I am always excited to "discover" something new, I also get depressed when I realize that there are five year olds who already know this stuff.
Today I learned that a shtender is the Yiddish/Jewish word for the wooden lectern that is used to stand at while davening (praying), or studying. I have seen these and used these all my life without knowing what my people have been calling them for hundreds of years. I am including a picture of a stand alone version and a unique desktop version, just in case you don't know what I'm talking about.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
I saw this at The Yada Blog. Miri Ben-Ari is probably the most widely known Israeli not known by the Jewish community. She is a hip-hop violinist who has recorded with some of the most important names in the business including Norah Jones, Jay-Z and Kanye West who was just nominated for 10 Grammy awards.
Check out the video in the Media section of her website, it's fascinating.
Check out the video in the Media section of her website, it's fascinating.
Wow.
Poll: Over 50% of Germans equate IDF with Nazi army
Six decades after the mass extermination of six million Jews in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany, more than 50 percent of Germans believe that Israel's present-day treatment of the Palestinians is similar to what the Nazis did to the Jews during World War II, a German survey released this weekend shows.
51 percent of respondents said that there is not much of a difference between what Israel is doing to the Palestinians today and what the Nazis did to the Jews during the Holocaust, compared to 49% who disagreed with such a comparison, according to the poll carried out by Germany's University of Bielefeld.
I can't even begin to understand the forces of human nature that make this possible. But wait, there's more!
The survey also found that 68 percent of Germans believe that Israel is waging a "war of extermination" against the Palestinians, while some 32% disagreed with such a statement.
Israel must be a doing a really crappy job as Nazis since the Arab population is growing at a faster rate than the non-immigrant Jewish population.
Poll: Over 50% of Germans equate IDF with Nazi army
Six decades after the mass extermination of six million Jews in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany, more than 50 percent of Germans believe that Israel's present-day treatment of the Palestinians is similar to what the Nazis did to the Jews during World War II, a German survey released this weekend shows.
51 percent of respondents said that there is not much of a difference between what Israel is doing to the Palestinians today and what the Nazis did to the Jews during the Holocaust, compared to 49% who disagreed with such a comparison, according to the poll carried out by Germany's University of Bielefeld.
I can't even begin to understand the forces of human nature that make this possible. But wait, there's more!
The survey also found that 68 percent of Germans believe that Israel is waging a "war of extermination" against the Palestinians, while some 32% disagreed with such a statement.
Israel must be a doing a really crappy job as Nazis since the Arab population is growing at a faster rate than the non-immigrant Jewish population.
Just for fun, I wanted to see how many Chanukah sites I could find in a short time. Here goes:
Chabad
Aish.com
Judaism 101
chanukah.com (That's a smart salesman)
Torah.org
Torah Tots (For the kindelach)
Epicurios.com (Yummy recipes from the Bon Apetit people)
Orthodox Union (OU)
Harper Children's Books
The Hanukkah Song by Adam Sandler
The History Channel
Better Homes & Gardens gift ideas
Union for Reform Judaism
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Chanukah Songs
Ohr Somayach
A Rugrats Chanukah (OK, so I'm getting to the bottom of the barrel)
Hillel Foundation for Campus Life
Wikipedia
'Twas The Night Before Chanukah
White House - President's Hanukkah Messages (2004 not up yet - Bush was the first president to have a menorah lit in the White House residence.)
Eichler's Chanukah Store (bought my sukkah here).
Godiva Chocolates for Hannukah (not sure if kosher)
Chag Sameach!
Chabad
Aish.com
Judaism 101
chanukah.com (That's a smart salesman)
Torah.org
Torah Tots (For the kindelach)
Epicurios.com (Yummy recipes from the Bon Apetit people)
Orthodox Union (OU)
Harper Children's Books
The Hanukkah Song by Adam Sandler
The History Channel
Better Homes & Gardens gift ideas
Union for Reform Judaism
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Chanukah Songs
Ohr Somayach
A Rugrats Chanukah (OK, so I'm getting to the bottom of the barrel)
Hillel Foundation for Campus Life
Wikipedia
'Twas The Night Before Chanukah
White House - President's Hanukkah Messages (2004 not up yet - Bush was the first president to have a menorah lit in the White House residence.)
Eichler's Chanukah Store (bought my sukkah here).
Godiva Chocolates for Hannukah (not sure if kosher)
Chag Sameach!
Ignore the fact that the building belonging to Baruch Hashem Messianic is called a "synagogue" and it's congregants are called "Jewish", this is still pretty disturbing to those of us that live around here.
Synagogue Wants Vandalism Investigated As Hate Crime (Slideshow included)
A North Dallas synagogue has its faith tested by vandals as the congregation celebrates the start of Hanukkah.
Congregants at Baruch Hashem showed up for morning prayer Monday and found hateful words on the building, and in recent months several windows of the sanctuary were shot out.
The synagogue wants police officers to investigate it as a hate crime.
Off-duty officers will help guard the area during services but the racial slurs are really upsetting to members of the congregation.
"They don't understand that Hitler is really upsetting for Jewish people to hear because he killed six million of us and it makes me mad, I can't stand that," Elizabeth Keim said.
The synagogue is no stranger to violence.
In 1997 a gunman attacked the synagogue, taking hostages and claimed he wanted to kill Jewish people.
Synagogue Wants Vandalism Investigated As Hate Crime (Slideshow included)
A North Dallas synagogue has its faith tested by vandals as the congregation celebrates the start of Hanukkah.
Congregants at Baruch Hashem showed up for morning prayer Monday and found hateful words on the building, and in recent months several windows of the sanctuary were shot out.
The synagogue wants police officers to investigate it as a hate crime.
Off-duty officers will help guard the area during services but the racial slurs are really upsetting to members of the congregation.
"They don't understand that Hitler is really upsetting for Jewish people to hear because he killed six million of us and it makes me mad, I can't stand that," Elizabeth Keim said.
The synagogue is no stranger to violence.
In 1997 a gunman attacked the synagogue, taking hostages and claimed he wanted to kill Jewish people.
Are Republicans bound to dominate the future of American politics becuase they are breeding faster? This is the unspoken prediction in David Brooks' new piece, The New Red-Diaper Babies.
He does not even mention that as time goes on, the minority communities that tend to support the Democrats heavily (e.g. African and Hispanic-Americans) are having smaller families themselves. See For Younger Latinas, a Shift to Smaller Families.
Maybe this is part of a grand schemme that the Republicans have put together - if the Democrats become more distraught about the future of our country based on right-wing rule, they will be less inclined to have children. That Karl Rove is a genius!
Then again, maybe all of these mini-me Republicans will rebel against their parents and we'll have a repeat of the '60s in the '10s.....
He does not even mention that as time goes on, the minority communities that tend to support the Democrats heavily (e.g. African and Hispanic-Americans) are having smaller families themselves. See For Younger Latinas, a Shift to Smaller Families.
Maybe this is part of a grand schemme that the Republicans have put together - if the Democrats become more distraught about the future of our country based on right-wing rule, they will be less inclined to have children. That Karl Rove is a genius!
Then again, maybe all of these mini-me Republicans will rebel against their parents and we'll have a repeat of the '60s in the '10s.....
Sunday, December 05, 2004
There's nothing more perplexing to me than a Jew who is ignorant of Jewish history and then professes that ignorance in public.
In Sydney Australia's largest newspaper, a "political professor" makes the following statement under an article headlined, "When Jewish loyalty meets the brutality of Israel".
The explanation must begin with the fact that I am not now nor have ever been a Zionist. Zionists believe that because of the inevitability of anti-Semitism, for Jews to become safe they need a national home. This seems to me simply wrong. Since the end of the World War II, the place of Jews in all Western societies has been unproblematic.
Let's put aside the fact that anti-Semitism exists in some form or another in almost every country and I would like to think the Jews can live somewhere where they are the majority.
The fact that the author only mentions "Western societies" neglects the expulsion of almost every Jew from Arab-majority countries in the Middle East. He also seems to forget the entire struggle of Soviet Jewry and the million or so people that had to escape a regime that punished the practice of Judaism with prison or death.
Finally, perhaps the "professor" needs to take a look in his own backyard.
Attacks against Australian Jews rise
In Sydney Australia's largest newspaper, a "political professor" makes the following statement under an article headlined, "When Jewish loyalty meets the brutality of Israel".
The explanation must begin with the fact that I am not now nor have ever been a Zionist. Zionists believe that because of the inevitability of anti-Semitism, for Jews to become safe they need a national home. This seems to me simply wrong. Since the end of the World War II, the place of Jews in all Western societies has been unproblematic.
Let's put aside the fact that anti-Semitism exists in some form or another in almost every country and I would like to think the Jews can live somewhere where they are the majority.
The fact that the author only mentions "Western societies" neglects the expulsion of almost every Jew from Arab-majority countries in the Middle East. He also seems to forget the entire struggle of Soviet Jewry and the million or so people that had to escape a regime that punished the practice of Judaism with prison or death.
Finally, perhaps the "professor" needs to take a look in his own backyard.
Attacks against Australian Jews rise
Saturday, December 04, 2004
In the New York Post, John Podhoretz makes the claim that George Bush's War Against Terror has in some way led to the positive spirit and enthusiasm behind the Ukranian protests for fair elections. Could be.
Even Nicholas Kristof had to wonder at the pro-American sentiment he found:
Most Ukrainians love the U.S., and to be an American here - any American - is to be a rock star. Protesters overhear me speaking English and line up to ask me to autograph their orange ribbons with a big "U.S.A."
Pohoretz basically says that it is becuase of Bush's strong, unwavering belief in the spread of democracy that the Ukranians feel so passionately in their own rights.
He also gives a plug to Natan Sharansky's new book which I mention in the previous post. It really is a call to moral arms. Democracies good, totalitarian/dictatorial governments bad. Fewer of the latter means more peace in the world. Period.
I think it's time we renamed the "War Against Terror" as the "War For Democracy".
Oh yeah, and remember that other non-Democratic state affected indirectly by the war, Libya? Well it looks like not only have they given up their WMD ambitions, it's quite the tourist hot spot now.
Even Nicholas Kristof had to wonder at the pro-American sentiment he found:
Most Ukrainians love the U.S., and to be an American here - any American - is to be a rock star. Protesters overhear me speaking English and line up to ask me to autograph their orange ribbons with a big "U.S.A."
Pohoretz basically says that it is becuase of Bush's strong, unwavering belief in the spread of democracy that the Ukranians feel so passionately in their own rights.
He also gives a plug to Natan Sharansky's new book which I mention in the previous post. It really is a call to moral arms. Democracies good, totalitarian/dictatorial governments bad. Fewer of the latter means more peace in the world. Period.
I think it's time we renamed the "War Against Terror" as the "War For Democracy".
Oh yeah, and remember that other non-Democratic state affected indirectly by the war, Libya? Well it looks like not only have they given up their WMD ambitions, it's quite the tourist hot spot now.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Last night, my flight back home from NY was seriously delayed becuase of high winds so I decided to take advantage of my sister and brother-in-law's hospitality and crash at their place before an early flight the next morning.
I had some time to kill, so I went to the Barnes & Noble even though i already had two unfinished books with me. On one of the tables was a new book by Natan Sharansky, who I greatly admire, called The Case For Democracy.
Having started the book, i am glad to know that great minds think alike....
When Natan Sharansky stepped into Condoleezza Rice's West Wing office at 11:15 last Thursday morning, he had no idea the national security advisor would soon be named the next secretary of state. He was just glad to see her holding a copy of his newly published book, The Case for Democracy.
"I'm already half-way through your book," Rice said. "Do you know why I'm reading it?"
Sharansky, a self-effacing man who spent nine years in KGB prisons (often in solitary confinement) before becoming the first political prisoner released by Mikhail Gorbachev, hoped it had to do with his brilliant analysis and polished prose.
Rice smiled. "I'm reading it because the president is reading it, and it's my job to know what the president is thinking."
I remember marching as a young kid with tens of thousands of Jews and the SSSJ (Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry) in Manhattan for the right of refuseniks like Sharansky to be freed from prison. The highlight was always seeing Mayor Koch speak from the podium in Dag Hammerskjold Plaza.
Here's what Sharansky had to say after his meeting with the President...
"I told the president, 'There is a great difference between politicians and dissidents. Politicians are focused on polls and the press. They are constantly making compromises. But dissidents focus on ideas. They have a message burning inside of them. They would stand up for their convictions no matter what the consequences.'
"I told the president, 'In spite of all the polls warning you that talking about spreading democracy in the Middle East might be a losing issue — despite all the critics and the resistance you faced — you kept talking about the importance of free societies and free elections. You kept explaining that democracy is for everybody. You kept saying that only democracy will truly pave the way to peace and security. You, Mr. President, are a dissident among the leaders of the free world.'"
From one of the most famous dissidents of era of the Evil Empire, such is not faint praise.
I had some time to kill, so I went to the Barnes & Noble even though i already had two unfinished books with me. On one of the tables was a new book by Natan Sharansky, who I greatly admire, called The Case For Democracy.
Having started the book, i am glad to know that great minds think alike....
When Natan Sharansky stepped into Condoleezza Rice's West Wing office at 11:15 last Thursday morning, he had no idea the national security advisor would soon be named the next secretary of state. He was just glad to see her holding a copy of his newly published book, The Case for Democracy.
"I'm already half-way through your book," Rice said. "Do you know why I'm reading it?"
Sharansky, a self-effacing man who spent nine years in KGB prisons (often in solitary confinement) before becoming the first political prisoner released by Mikhail Gorbachev, hoped it had to do with his brilliant analysis and polished prose.
Rice smiled. "I'm reading it because the president is reading it, and it's my job to know what the president is thinking."
I remember marching as a young kid with tens of thousands of Jews and the SSSJ (Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry) in Manhattan for the right of refuseniks like Sharansky to be freed from prison. The highlight was always seeing Mayor Koch speak from the podium in Dag Hammerskjold Plaza.
Here's what Sharansky had to say after his meeting with the President...
"I told the president, 'There is a great difference between politicians and dissidents. Politicians are focused on polls and the press. They are constantly making compromises. But dissidents focus on ideas. They have a message burning inside of them. They would stand up for their convictions no matter what the consequences.'
"I told the president, 'In spite of all the polls warning you that talking about spreading democracy in the Middle East might be a losing issue — despite all the critics and the resistance you faced — you kept talking about the importance of free societies and free elections. You kept explaining that democracy is for everybody. You kept saying that only democracy will truly pave the way to peace and security. You, Mr. President, are a dissident among the leaders of the free world.'"
From one of the most famous dissidents of era of the Evil Empire, such is not faint praise.
This doesn't really surprise me.
Nearly Half of Britons Unaware of Auschwitz -Poll
I bet the same amount or fewer could name the Japanese city where the first atomic bomb was dropped (much less the second) or the name of any one of the beaches in France where D-Day was launched (much less the actual date).
And that goes for Americans too.
Nearly Half of Britons Unaware of Auschwitz -Poll
I bet the same amount or fewer could name the Japanese city where the first atomic bomb was dropped (much less the second) or the name of any one of the beaches in France where D-Day was launched (much less the actual date).
And that goes for Americans too.
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