Winograd: “[the prime minister demonstrated] a serious failure in exercising judgment, responsibility and prudence.
Olmert: “[I] intend to work to fix what needs to be fixed, thoroughly and quickly”.
So, tell the Muffti, how is Olmert going to become more prudent, responsible and better at exercizing judgment? The only thing we can be sure of is that he isn’t going with out a fight.
Maybe Olmert could improve. Muffti isn’t sure and politics is a tough game. What he is sure about however, is that these sorts of political struggles to keep power generally go badly. The end is generally fixed and protracted struggles against the populaces’ will, your own parties demands and ruin to your party, if not your country. And, of course, while this always seems true, it couldn’t happen at a worse time. Kassams are falling, the Syrians are giving off only mildly ambiguous war signals and the Iranians are regularly threatening Israel’s destruction. Maybe the report will spur Olmert into intelligent action; most likely, and regretably, we have painful months of squirming ahead of us as Israel goes slowly towards new leadership. Olmert, have some dignity and quit while you are behind.
He was the crowd favorite for the last two year’s running at our festival, and now we can give back some love. Rav Shmuel has this amazing video for his song “Protocols”. Like the song, its edgy and humorous, and deserves to get Rav Shmuel some good attention.
Protocols is currently the #1 rated music video at the www.ourstage.com monthly contest and now has the chance of winning REAL recognition and $5000 towards significant publicity and management development – any up-and-coming artist’s dream.
To help Protocols win you send MVID08 as a text message to 78243! [Each text costs 50 cents, but hey, if tens of millions of people can fork over a few nickels and dimes for Senjaya.... ]
This text must be sent by tonight and you can vote as many times as you’d like. This is a really great opportunity for Rav Shmuel to get some much needed exposure – and to get the important message of “Protocols” some attention! Maybe he can tour Iran?
You can watch the video and see where Rav Shmuel is standing in the vote by going to this page: http://www.ourstage.com/judge?channel=8-music-videos
Help show Rav Shmuel our appreciation for his involvement in Jewlicious Festival! —Thanks!
The commentators on BBC had a few choice words about the debate of Democratic Presidential hopefuls. Obama was asked a simple question. Name three important allies. And did he answer the question? No.
Of course the trademark of successful politicians is avoiding the questions, so lets not be under any disillusions as to who we have here. We have a novice Senator, with great charisma, charm and potential. But is he ready to be a front runner?
So who did he mention? Does he mention Israel? England? Canada? Mexico? Nope. He mentioned the EU (sic) and then NATO, and then rambles about Afghanistan. Then Japan. Yeh, that was a good line, just after Toyota takes over as the car king, and leaves Detroit in the dust. Hmmm. In fact, perhaps Obama thought the question was, “Who are our three biggest competitors?” He mentions the EU, Japan, and China. Now you can be a competitor and an ally, but what ARE the three most important ones? Who puts their tuches on the line for the US? Which country admires the USA, even with all our faults? Its not the EU, or Japan or China. There are strategic allies, political allies, economic allies. Bu I would guess that the question reffered to which countries can we count on.
Senator, the number one country you can count on is Israel. Israel is America’s greatest ally.
Quote from transcript below, from Democratic candidate debate:
Senator Obama, what are America’s three most important allies around the world?
OBAMA: Well, I think the European Union as a whole has been a long-standing ally of ours, and through NATO we’ve been able to make some significant progress. Afghanistan, in particular, is an area where we should be focusing. NATO has made real contributions there.
Unfortunately, because of the distraction of Iraq, we have not finished the job in terms of making certain that we are driving back the Taliban, stabilizing the Karzai government, capturing bin Laden and making sure that we’ve rooted out terrorism in that region. (more…)
I must admit, Amy, I’m a little dismayed at the news – I know this is normally the time for a chorus of “Mazal tovs” and that insufferable song frummies like to sing about the cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, but I have a couple of minor objections. First and most pressing, your fiancé, the similarly ironically-named Blake Fielder-Civil, looks like something a refined person might disgorge after consuming a pint, three White Russians, shrimp scampi and the spunk of someone with a CB callsign by which he insists everyone refer to him. I know what you’re thinking – “Bashert!” – but first listen to my second objection: you should be marrying me.
Hear me out, Amy. Ever since I’ve heard you rake your voice down the back of “Me and Mr. Jones’” horn chart, ever since I’ve heard a young Jewish girl namecheck Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, Sammy Davis Jr. and Slick Rick all in the space of a few songs, I’ve been hopelessly in love. You’re like Billie with range, or Macy with timbre. You’ve got more sass than an old-fashioned root beer. You complement Ghostface better than RZA does. Your liquor cabinet is much better-stocked than mine, and your stash doubtless more potent. You should be my woman, Amy.
Sure, there are a few difficulties involved, but I’m flexible. I know you have an epic appetite for the hairier sex, and I understand you need fresh lyrical material, so I promise not to get between you and whatever you drag out from under the bar stool after last call. You don’t even have to think about me when you come. I’d prefer you didn’t, actually – mixing affection and orgasms always ends with someone crying.
In fact, our relationship could be entirely non-physical. A careful study of your lyrics has led me to the conclusion that once something has passed the event horizon of your navel, no known force in the universe can keep the singularity ‘twixt your legs from rending it asunder (”Whoa-oh, here she comes, she’s a man-spaghettifier…”). Also, given your apparent propensity for combining semi-anonymous sex with heavy drinking, you’ve probably got more clap than a Barbra farewell concert. I’m far too lethargic, and my micturition far too liquid and painless, to contend with the demands you place on cocks that fall into your orbit.
Really, Amy, all I want to do with you is get sloshed, burn spliffs, listen to Coltrane and render shrieking judgment upon the sober, non-tattooed, Gucci-toting masses whom you so viciously eviscerate. We could make a life together like that, Amy. We could be happy.
Think about it, Amy. And think about how awful “Amy Winehouse-Fielder-Civil” will look on your checks.
—
This post brought to you by: Amy Winehouse – I Heard Love is Blind
and Ghostface Killah & Amy Winehouse – You Know I’m No Good
(Vayikra, 19:2): “… Kedoshim tihyu ki kadosh ahni HaShem Elokeichem …” You will be holy, for holy am I, HaShem your God.
Kedusha – there is no real translation for this word. Its not just to sanctify, its not just holy. Kedusha is living my life above my own nature. Wherever I am in spiritual and moral terms, kedusha implores me to reach higher. Good shabbos, shabbat shalom!
Despite everything, we got nominated for several Jewish Israel Blog Awards. This years undertaking has been fraught with complications and difficulties for the organizers who have had to fight off cheaters employing bots as well as Turkish hackers who hacked their home page, the usual disgruntled comments etc. Theirs is a thankless task and despite my disdain for such awards, I went through the site and discovered a whole new world of cool blogs and perspectives.
So… go ahead. Check out the categories for which we’ve been nominated. Check out other categories. Vote for us, don’t vote for us, do what you like but understand that I support the guys who run the JIBs and that I think it’s a worthwhile exercise.
As Esther mentioned previously, do note that Michael’s blog KosherEucharist, has been nominated in several categories (with massive disclaimers about the perviness of the content!!) as well. You all should really piss him off and vote for him. That would be awesome – I am not going to point you directly to where he’s been nominated because he’ll kill me as is, but find him and vote (MATURE CONTENT, NOT FAMILY ORIENTED!). Esther is also too modest to point out that JDaters Anonymous has been nominated in the Best Humor Blog category. Show her some love.
Don’t forget to also vote for OyBay as Best New Blog because Tomer is THAT cool. Help the new bloggers out… Let’s also not forget MidEast Piece – vote for John and Matt’s blog here – but remember, it’s a homo blog and organizers of the JIBs have seen fit to let you know that it’s not “family oriented,” because we all know that the homos are the enemies of family.
Did I miss anyone? Leave a comment and let me know. Did you come across any cool new blogs? Tell us about it!
A woman was sentenced to four years in prison for stealing $120,000 from a Jewish Community Center in Ocean Township NJ. Lisa Gordon served as bookkeeper for the JCC before being sentenced for the felony of theft and failing to report her state income tax returns.
According to APP.Com, Gordon said her apologies to the JCC, but didn’t seem too upset over her actions. The JCC’s Executive Director seemed dubious of Gordon’s remorse, saying “She is also still trying to make excuses for her criminal behavior.” Furthermore, the Judge overseeing the case also seemed unsympathetic to Gordon, “I have no sympathy for thieves.” Cleary said. “You used it to gamble. It’s as simple as that.”
Gordon, 38, claims to have stolen the money to support her family and pleaded with the court (and perhaps the media following the story) to take it easy on them. Not to be manipulated, the judge retorted, “”They’ve been through a lot but they’ve received the benefit of your theft. Did they not?”
Ouch. Appears that this particular courtroom battle was made for Court TV.
Greetings, sports fans! Call me Bob Uecker because this post is juuuuuust a bit outside my regular range. Tonight, instead of drafting a column or taking in a draft beer or plugging up the cracks in my windows so I don’t feel the draft, I attended a draft. And it was full of Jews.
You know the joke about the book about Jews in sports. (”It’s a pamphlet.”) But tonight’s player draft was for the inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League, and the event, co-sponsored by the David Project, Taglit-birthright israel, Heeb and a few others that (sorry, others) I can’t remember right now, celebrated the arrival of America’s national past-time in Israel.
While I didn’t write down all of the names of the draftees, I can tell you that all the players are guaranteed to look familiar. One early draft pick looked like he was follicularly channeling Nathan Englander. There was only one who didn’t resemble someone I knew, and he looked like any minute he’d be auditioning for the next Superman movie.
There are some differences: 7 innings, not 9. Tie games are broken by a home run derby. And stadium vendors will sell shvarma-im-tzchips in a lafah instead of hot dogs. (Maybe not the last one. But maybe yes the last one. We’ll see.)
The four teams–the Tel Aviv Lightning, the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox, the Ra’ananna Express, the Petach Tikva Pioneers, the Netanya Tigers and the Modi’in Miracle–named undoubtedly for Chanukah’s oil/military victory, but with the added resonance of sporting as its manager Miracle Met Art Shamsky. Three other coaches, Ron Blomberg (Yankees/Bet Shemesh), Ken Holtzman (Cubs and As/Petach Tikva), and Steve Hertz (Astros/Tel Aviv), are also former Major League players. An Australian manager, Shaun Smith, will manage Netanya, and the Tigers have yet to name their manager.
The June 24th opening night game, the Miracle vs. the Pioneers (which sounds like a conference on contemporary Zionism), will be shown live on Israel’s Arutz Sport (like ESPN, but in Israel); public broadcasting stations in the US will also carry the game a week later. Full schedules will be available on israelbaseballleague.com and needless to say, these teams don’t pitch on Shabbos. (And yes, there are plenty of other “Jews in baseball” jokes to come. So stay tuned.)
Every year, I quasi eagerly await the annoucement of the host of the MTV Movie Awards. It’s akin to the anticipation I feel at the announcement of the Oscar’s host. I haven’t been all that into the MTV hosts in forever. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Alba in recent years didn’t do much for me. At least JT can sing and dance, but still. Is he or isn’t he “with” Scarlett Johansson? Who cares. At least, she’s funny…
Anyways, this year’s MTV host is someone who is definitively NOT funny. She may have her own show on Comedy Central, but Sarah Silverman’s irreverent I’m a pretty girl and can fart act is as irritating as my upstair’s neighbors moving furniture at 11:50 PM on a weeknight. Then again, why did Comedy Central give Michael Ian Black (nee Michael Schwartz) his own show? Doesn’t he have enough gratuitous exposure over at VH1’s “Best Week Ever”?
Boo on you MTV. So very, very unoriginal. And tsk, tsk to Comedy Central while I’m at it.
I have no idea whether this party was or wasn’t sponsored by Playboy, but it warms the heart to see pretty blond Israelis claiming that they wouldn’t pose naked for any sum of money because of their concern that their children or grandchildren might see the photos one day. Where’s Jewish Mother when you need her? (I apologize in advance to all the non-Hebrew speakers for the absence of a translation. Fortunately, a picture is worth a 1000 words).
According to Norm Finkelstein himself, his book, “The Holocaust Industry” has been translated into 24 languages. We know from reports that 130,000 copies were sold in Germany alone in its first three weeks on sale in that country. If one extrapolates this sales figure and even assuming far lower sales in other countries, Finkelstein must have cleared at least six figures and possibly even 7 figures in royalties thus far. He’s already published two editions, by the way, and I believe a third is in the works.
In addition to his book sales, Finkelstein is a frequent public speaker, and although he seems to be willing to speak to some groups for honorariums of several hundred dollars, the AJC has claimed that when he came to speak at UC Irvine, his fee was $5000 plus expenses. Needless to say, even with the smaller honorariums, when he is speaking outside of Chicago, his travel expenses are covered, which is a nice way to see the world.
This, of course, is not to address the fact that his parents received $253,000 in reparations back when that kind of money could buy several houses or the fact that Norman is obviously relying on the notoriety and popularity of this book as a significant part of his application for tenure at DePaul. These issues are beside the point.
Nope, even excluding those facts, the joke appears to be on the Jewish community and organizations he accuses of benefiting from the Holocaust. It seems a key beneficiary of the Holocaust is actually the maker of his own little Holocaust empire decrying the “Industry,” Mr. Finkelstein himself.
In his “On Language” column for The New York Times a few months back, William Safire addressed presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s adept skills at finessing language. It was a thoughtful and insighftul piece (whose link I’ll get later on) about how one word’s connotation and furthermore its placement in a sentence can alter the discourse of meaning. This is not exactly rocket science I realize. In the piece, however, Safire drew comparisons with other presidential candidates and showed the difference in how Obama described certain global issues versus his opponents. In short, the thesis of Safire’s piece was that Obama is a master manipulator of the English language. (as are most of the more successful politicians)
It’s not news that Obama draws a lot of Hollywoodlefty lobbyists Jewish support. So how does a man whose stepfather was Jewish and who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia finesse his Muslim affinities with Jewish supporters?
Obama said he has probably gotten more support from Jewish donors, although he actively seeks support from Muslim Americans as well. But he said those Jews who have known him the longest would testify “that I haven’t just talked the talk, I’ve walked the walk when it comes to Israel’s security.”
Obama said while he is committed to protecting Israel’s security, he would also reach out to Arab leaders who are committed to recognizing Israel and renouncing violence. He did not repeat the position he took last month while campaigning in Iowa – that he supports relaxing restrictions on aid to the Palestinian people because “nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people.”
Obama went on to say of his quasi-native land, “If I go to Jakarta and address the largest Muslim country on earth, I can say, `Apa kabar,’ – you know, `How are you doing?’ – and they can recognize that I understand their common humanity,” Obama said. “That is a strength, and it allows me to say things to them that other presidents might not be able to say. And that’s part of what’s promising, I think, about this presidency.”
Hmmm….Sounds to me like Obama’s being a tad too transparent with his towing of Jewish-Muslim alliances, not to mention his platitudes. Give it a rest!
Remember when I met you at CSU Fullerton? I didn’t recognize you, and greeted you in Hebrew, “Shalom, ma shlomcha?” thinking you were an Israeli. You replied, “I don’t speak Hebrew.”
After your lecture, which I filmed and am posting here some clips, I was approached by an angry African American man in dreadlocks who yelled at me that all of us Zionists are Nazis. Which was strange because I had not uttered one word the entire evening. I was just filming your performance presentation.
I approached you afterwards and offered my advice that if you were to learn Arabic and Hebrew your chances for tenure would dramatically increase. I remember that one of the questions that night was about why you have not yet achieved tenure, and you replied that it was due to pressure from pro-Israel forces. Was that pressure from Zionists? I don’t remember who got blamed (I guess I can go back to that tape).
But back to my main point. I offered this advice because during my time in academia I discovered that experts on the Middle East read things written in those languages. I guess there are lots of scholarly things that scholars would want to read that are not translated into English, or maybe another language that you may speak.
I also offered my own services to teach you Hebrew, which you politely declined, saying you “were too old for that.” Then I asked you about Arabic, offering a few kind words in colloquial Jerusalem Arabic, that I was sure you understood, from your intense dealings on the whole Arab-Israeli conflict. I did not mean to embarrass you of course, but you also told me you don’t speak Arabic. I have sadly forgotten much of the Arabic I learned as a student at Hebrew University (That is only that name of the University- I took classes there in English and Hebrew.)
I know that you are up for tenure at DePaul, and just wanted to let you know that my offer still stands to teach you Hebrew. It is never too late. Heck, Rabbi Akiva didn’t really start learning anything till age 40. Lots of people take Hebrew during Elderhostel programs at universities. New Israeli immigrants as old as 90 even study Hebrew. I am sure that a man of your intellectual integrity and discipline will have no trouble. You can even now learn Hebrew on-line if you prefer that way of learning.
As far as Arabic is concerned – there are TONS of places and online ways to study Arabic. Or you can do a summer session in Riyahd or Cairo. Oh, well, maybe only Cairo, since you are Jewish you cannot study in Saudi Arabia. (Did you ever wonder why American Jewish students can never go on exchange programs to Saudi Arabian Universities, but tens of thousands of Saudi students study here in America? Did that ever bother you and strike you as racist?)
I wanted to just add that I agree with Zachary Lochman, the President of the Middle East Studies Association when he writes, “We urge you [The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D., President De Paul University] and your colleagues to ensure that that evaluation henceforth proceeds in a manner that conforms to generally accepted procedures, such that Professor Finkelstein is evaluated solely on the basis of his scholarship, his teaching, and his service to the DePaul community and to the academic fields in which he works.”
Since your field of expertise, according to your website and your dissertation is “the theory of Zionism,” I believe that learning Hebrew, both in written and spoken form, will inform your scholarship, teaching, and service to the DePaul community and the academic field you have chosen. In fact, you might even be able to uncover some more fascinating information on this theory of Zionism that is rarely translated into English!
For example: Jews have prayed in Hebrew for nearly 2000 years to return to their homeland Israel, for and in-gathering of the exiles, for the rebuilding of the Temple, and the restoration of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel. Cool, eh?
Seeing that your tenure process is nearing an end, I wanted to reach out to you ASAP, so that you can inform the committee that you have started studying Hebrew with me, and that will, I am sure, add great weight to your argument that you are an expert on this stuff.
I have even some ideas for Hebrew word games we can play that I used at Zionist Summer Camp as a kid, like acting out the scene: “Hey I love that house, I want to BAYIT!” Or “OMG there is a fork in MAZLEG.”
Wishing you a Chag Sameach, a Happy Independence Day— the day where we celebrate a tiny country that if it had existed before 1939, would have most likely averted the Holocaust.
(Cross-posted from Zionists Do It Better) Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) Part fact, part fiction, Cast a Giant Shadow powerfully dramatizes Israel’s historic 1947-1948 struggle for independence. Both realistic war story and passionate romance, it features an all-star cast including Kirk Douglas, Senta Berger, and Angle Dickenson, as well as Yul Brynner, John Wayne and Frank Sinatra in notable supporting roles. From the liner notes.
Cast a Giant Shadow is a 1966 film, that’s right, BEFORE the reunificationof Jerusalem, the occupation of the territories, and capturing of the Sinai and Golan. It was still two years after the founding of the PLO. The epic film was produced and directed by Melville Shavelson and distributed by MGM. It is a story based on Ted Berkman’s biography of Colonel Mickey Marcus.
Marcus (played by Kirk Douglas) served as an adviser in the war to establish the state of Israel in 1948. Marcus falls in love with a beautiful Israeli soldier in Palestine, but oops, he is married. Filmed mostly on location, Cast a Giant Shadow is not entirely historically accurate but is based on actual events. If you love the classic actors: Angie Dickinson, Yul Brynner, John Wayne, and Frank Sinatra, you will enjoy! Don’t forget some Zionist Popcorn from Dale and Thomas Popcorn (aka Popcorn, Indiana)!
Think of Israel. Think of shwarma and hummus and felafel, of course, but also of Krembos and Bamba and Shoko BaSakit, the iconic gastronomical emblems of the state. Think of Balashon and Zabaj, and forays into Israeli culture and language. Think of soldiers who defend, who wear olive to match their skin, whose teeth gleam with pride and mischief; think of those who fall wounded and perish, and those who return, cracked beneath the surface.
Think of Herodian stone, of walls gripping notes bearing the desperate hopes of thousands. Think of wineries and museums, of streets and neighborhoods named after matriarchs, patriarchs, battles, army units and kings of eras long since past. Think of the Oman and the Underground, of the amateurs singing and playing instruments on Ben Yehuda Street. Think of the midrehov and the tayelet, the German Colony and the Russian Compound, the beach and the Bahai, the Christians, the Muslims and the Jews.
Think of Herzl, of Ben Gurion, and of all of our relatives who had a hand in building the Jewish State. Think of the history of the ages, the passion of the pioneers, and the politics of the present. Think of advances in technology and medicine, culture and scholarship. Think of the old and the new, of the past and the potential. Today, on Yom Ha’atzmaut, think of Israel.
I present to you, Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, in all it’s metalfied glory. This version makes Marty Friedman’s version sound like Barbara Streisand channeling Yentl.
It’s an amalgamation of sound. Chugging Anthrax guitars, double octave guitar leads and even gratuitous fretboard tapping. It was created by my good friend Seth Diamond (aka DJ Blood Sacrifice) of the New York metal band Gods of Fire. Seth may look like he worships Satan, but I assure you, he is a nice Jewish boy and his sister went on birthright. Swear. Changed her life and stuff.
The cast for the Coen Brothers’ new flick was announced a few days ago already, but since I’m a fan of Coen Brothers’ movies (”Raising Arizona” being my favorite) and love Frances McDormand, I couldn’t help but share my excitement over their new caper, “Burn After Reading.”
The film is based on a Stansfield Turner novel (Burn Before Reading: President, CIA Directors and Secret Intelligence) and once again finds George Clooney in yet another movie with a CIA plot. This time, however, Clooney will be playing an assassin in this black comedy. No word yet on what role will be filled by Clooney’s buddy Brad Pitt who is also starring in the film but considering the film’s premise is a CIA agent who loses a disc that contains vital, confidential information about his life, chances are Pitt might be playing the agent.
Joel Coen will be directing the film, but both brothers co-wrote the screenplay. Production slated for August. The Coen Brothers’ last major film was “The Ladykillers” with Tom Hanks back in 2004. Here’s hoping this film aims higher.
Sometimes I wonder if the increasingly debilitating pain of having to venture out in public during the daytime might be somewhat alleviated if I could amuse myself with telepathy. What’s going on under the gel-encrusted quills of an ars? Do the Yazam cops realize that the more heat they pack, the more it looks like they’re compensating for spending all day riding on a Kawasaki Ninja built for two? Is there anything at all going on in the Breslovers’ heads beyond the persistent zzt-zzt of two remaining synapses trying desperately, and failing utterly, to connect? And, most intriguing of all, do all those seminary girls know their goddamned skirts are dragging on the ground?
Imagine if you could spend one fine Jerusalem afternoon in the area of the Ben Yehuda midrachov finding out:
The more inexplicable ruffles my skirt has, the more Hashem loves me.
Speaking of my skirt, I know it’s dragging on the ground, but my willingness to ruin my clothing just shows the boys that my daddy has money.
Ohmig-d, is that RIVKAH EISENBERG?! I haven’t seen her in at least two days! I must express my pleasure upon unexpectedly seeing her in public by shrieking her name at the top of my considerable lungs!
Are her elbows uncovered? Slut.
I mean, sure, I’ve been fooling around with Moshe from Neveh…well, and Josh from Neveh…well, okay, the entire 12:30 Gemara shiur from Neveh…but they kept their kippas on during, and I wore the skirt with extra ruffles, so it doesn’t count. I’m still a virgin.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter, what happens in Yerushalayim stays in Yerushalayim.
Ha! Like Las Vegas! I am sooo funny. Wait until I tell Aliza that one.
I wonder why I haven’t got my period yet…
Ohmig-d, is he looking at me? Ohmig-d, he’s cuuuuuuute! And look how long his tzitzis are! His middos must be even more ridiculously outsized!
G-d, my feet are sweating in these Uggs.
That reminds me, I need to go pick up my engraved heart pendant from Hadaya. The fact that I spent several hundred dollars to get my name crudely etched in a misshapen silver heart shows the boys that I have abundant self-esteem, and also that my daddy has money.
Oh, we’re at Fro-Yo. Bleh. I don’t feel like ice cream. Ever since I started throwing up in the mornings last week, I haven’t really been too hungry. I should probably go to the doctor. But for now, maybe cutting back on the ice cream and losing a little weight will be good for me. I swear, my belly is starting to pop out of my ruffles. Fat fat fat.
But at least I’m not like Adina. That denim skirt doesn’t do much to hide her tush. That’s not even ghetto booty. That’s Warsaw booty.
Ha!
I can’t wait until Zolly’s tonight. I am going to drink, like, eight drinks, and I am going to yell out “WHOOOOOOO!” after every one. I’ll show all the boys my middos. And my boobs.
Ha! Just kidding! I am sooooooo funny.
Speaking of my boobs, have they gotten bigger? Sweet!
I hope I don’t pass out at Zolly’s like last time, though…
I don’t even know whose apartment that was. Good thing I got back in time for morning shiur.
Ohmig-d, cute Israeli soldiers! I should go up to them and say “I love the army!” in Hebrew. The security guard at the sem taught me how. How did it go? Ani mufkeret?
Oh, cell phone’s ringing! Ugh. I need to get a new phone. If I keep this crappy Nokia, how will the boys know my daddy has money?
Let’s not forget all the men and women who guard Israel in many difficult and dangerous assignments. Yom Hazikaron when we commemorate Israel’s fallen is upcoming…
While we’re at it, regardless of political feelings about the Iraq War, let us not forget all of our American soldiers who stand in harm’s way daily, having left behind their families and friends to serve bravely in Iraq because that is the mission our nation has assigned them.
Shabbat shalom.
(I apologize for having lost the pic source and can’t provide a link)
This weeks Parsha (Tazriah – Metzorah) is about the way we talk. Speech reflects our attitudes and is such a powerful tool. Words, more than anything else, affects our homes, our families, our entire environment and our well being. A negative word causes destruction while a positive word has the power to bring peace to the world. That is the simple lesson of the Parsha.
The Torah teaches that if a spiritually afflicted leper wishes to purify himself he must bring a sacrifice of two birds. Why two birds? The Zohar, quoted by the Sfas Emes, explains that one bird is brought to atone for the lashon hara or negative words said. The other bird is brought to atone for the positive words that could have been said but weren’t. Even if a man or women never uttered a negative word, yet he or she held back a good word i.e. ‘you look wonderful today, great job, I think your fantastic, aren’t the Jews a holy people?’ – there is a sin of omission that needs to be atoned for.
If we could have made peace and we didn’t; if we could have made someone’s day and we suddenly have nothing to say, we are guilty of a form of loshon hara! Why do we sit quietly when we could be building the world or creating a positive feeling about the Jewish people?
Per themiddle’s suggestion, I’m posting a piece that originally appeared on my blog related to the future of internet radio being at stake. It’s an important issue and one that I think deserves a second mention/glance.
As I’ve written previously, I’m a music junkie: an office drone by day and a music PR machine by night and lunch hours. In other words, I’m always scouting out the freshest talent in the pool of indie folk acoustic singer/songwriters to be inspired by. I discovered Joshua Radin a few years back and even interviewed him, which was a blast. For the past six months or six, it’s been Ray LaMontagne and anything I find over at Reg’s Coffeehouse.
What you may not know about me is I’m not only interested in finding new music, but how music is transmitted via the internet. Back in September of last year, I attended a Pandora town hall meeting at MIT hosted by Pandora owner Tim Westergren. I later interviewed Tim and found his commitment to providing his subscribers with free quality music inspiring. As a former musician, Westergren had spent many years as an aspiring musician before founding his company.
Pandora is a free internet music provider and one of the best ways to find new musicians. You input your favorite musicians and it streams not only those musicians, but finds others that you might liked through something called the Music Genome Project. I’ve turned many people on to the site and they are always grateful.
So now comes the sad part. Pandora is in danger of shutting down due to Copyright Royalty Boards which would raise music royalties by 300 to 1200 percent. For most webcasters the new royalties exceed their revenue and they simply will go bankrupt and stop webcasting. Not only is this legislation bad for Pandora, but it’s bad for other companies/local music radio stations and translates to you not getting to sample or hear free music.
Did I mention it’s dumb for the music lobbies too because now people who might actually pay money for an album (whose sales are dropping dramatically) won’t be as inclined to since they aren’t sampling and those who download free music off the internet will continue to do so and cut into label profit. In short, they are punishing the people who might actually spend dollars on music. And these people will react by not wasting money on albums we feel bullied into buying.
As a rule, I’m against petitions and/or pleas for that matter, but I think this one warrants some serious attention on your part.
As my husband and I were in the car on our way to work this morning, we listened to an interview with comedian Richard Lewis who is in Providence this weekend doing some comedy show. Among some of the things we learned in listening to Lewis’ shtick (aside from the fact that the comedian is inherently unfunny, especially for a Jew (and one that played a rabbi at that!) and that he may claim he’s “recovering” from drug abuse, but all rambling evidence points to the contrary), Alec Baldwin’s tirade on his daughter, which is plastered all over the internet or TMZ.
Apparently Kim Basinger (Baldwin’s ex) leaked the voicemail from Alec to his 12-year-old daughter Ireland to TMZ in which Baldwin, among other verbal obscenities calls his girl a “thoughtless little pig.”
And now ladies and gents, I present to you the very talented comedian with a very dark side indeed:
That’s not all. “I don’t give a damn that you’re 12 years old or 11 years old, or a child, or that your mother is a thoughtless pain in the a– who doesn’t care about what you do,” Baldwin screams into the phone. He then warns Ireland that he’s coming to Los Angeles today, Friday, and will “straighten her out.”Baldwin is going to have to do some fast spinning to get out of this situation, especially if the tape starts getting airplay. There will likely be little tolerance for this kind of behavior, especially toward a child — and his own child, at that.
It certainly is hard imagining telling one’s own kid how angry you are because they — the child — has “humiliated” you by missing a phone call.
More from the call: “Once again I’ve made an a– of myself getting to a phone to make a phone call … I’m tired of playing this game with you. You have insulted me for the last time …You’ve made feel like sh– and you’ve made feel like a fool over and over again … I’m going to straighten your a– out … You are a rude, thoughtless little pig.”
So much for Imus and the tragedy over at VA Tech. The media now has new fodder for exploitation. And I’m not talking Michael Richards here.
He was the crowd favorite for the last two year’s running at our festival, and now we can give back some love. Rav Shmuel has this amazing video for his song “Protocols”. Like the song, its edgy and humorous, and deserves to get Rav Shmuel some good attention.
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Every year, I quasi eagerly await the annoucement of the host of the MTV Movie Awards. It’s akin to the anticipation I feel at the announcement of the Oscar’s host. I haven’t been all that into the MTV hosts in forever. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Alba in recent years didn’t do much for me. At least JT can sing and dance, but still. Is he or isn’t he “with” Scarlett Johansson? Who cares. At least, 
Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) Part fact, part fiction, Cast a Giant Shadow powerfully dramatizes Israel’s historic 1947-1948 struggle for independence. Both realistic war story and passionate romance, it features an all-star cast including Kirk Douglas, Senta Berger, and Angle Dickenson, as well as Yul Brynner, John Wayne and Frank Sinatra in notable supporting roles. From the liner notes.
[cross-posted from 
