Wednesday, August 12, 2009

1. What a story!!! - Bar mitzvah boy gives Sderot $40,000 playground. This is especially appropriate as my "lead story" as today I had the privilege to meet a group of great kids from Sderot who had just finished a summer at Camp Kadimah and who are, as I write, on their way back to Israel.



2. Well, This Clears Things Up - Extremist Christians: God hates Jews - here is some of the handiwork of the disgusting members of the Westboro Baptist Church:


3. A Good Start, But There's a Long Way To Go - United Church drops Israel 'apartheid' wording and Israel question hangs over the air at United Church meeting - Holy Post (check out the comments after the story). Here's another good link (read "Who's Sorry Now"). Here's a good quote to keep in mind:
"All over the world," he [Calgary Sun columnist Ted Byfield] continued, "Christians are suffering persecution. In China, the persecutors are the Communist government. Almost everywhere else, it's the Muslim fundamentalists. Today the most powerful bastion against this aggression is Israel. That's why Islamic states want to destroy it. Now they have an ally in the United Church of Canada. The mind reels."
Finally, there is this great letter to the Editor that was in yesterday's Globe and Mail:
"Victoria University, federated with the University of Toronto, has historic connections with the United Church of Canada. However, should the church’s general council pass a resolution to advocate a comprehensive boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions at the national and international levels, including suspension of all forms of funding and subsidies to these institutions, Victoria University would stand firmly in opposition to the United Church’s position because of its strong commitment to the principles of academic freedom, which are incompatible with academic boycotts.
Paul W, Gooch, president, Victoria University; Mark Toulouse, principal, Emmanuel College of Victoria University"
In any event, let's see what tomorrow brings.

4. Peace Isn't Possible - The sole member of the Clinton team at Camp David who did not assign blame to Arafat was Robert. Malley Stumbles Upon the Truth: Peace Isn’t Possible - did he proofread what he read to make sure of the logic?




6. Release Marwan Barghouti? - Two perspectives - Growing support in Israel for Barghouti's release and Opposition leader Livni: Barghouti should not be released.


7. What Goes Around.... - What's good for the Bushies ...

8. As Much As I Take Issue With President Obama's Policies - I do not wish him any personal injury or any sort - just electoral injury. So this story scares the hell out of me.

9. Dwindling Number of Holocaust Survivors - a very important issue - As Holocaust Survivors Dwindle in Numbers, Scholars Look for New Ways to Remember.


10. Holy Huckabee - I am sure that this will stir things up - Leading US Republican Huckabee to speak at Shepherd's Hotel

11. Crazy in Brazil? - Choir practice in Brazil.

12. That's a Big Matzo Ball - The World's Largest Matzo Ball. Which reminds me of this great Seinfeld quote:



George: Anyway, I'm thinking of making a big move.
Jerry: What?
George: I might tell her that I love her.
Jerry: Oh, my!
George: I came this close last night, and then I just sort of chickened out.
Jerry: Well, that's a big move, Georgie boy. Are you confident in the "I love you" return?
George: Fifty-fifty.
Jerry: Because if you don't get that return, that's a pretty big matzo ball hanging out there.





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Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - Back to "Normal"

1. The Operation in Gaza - Israel has released a detailed document regarding the factual and legal aspects of Operation Cast Lead. It is a lengthy document, which I have not yet read, though I certainly intend to do so. Here is an overview from Ha'aretz, as well as an interesting brief note from The Jerusalem Post on a related manner - not sure where else this would happen in the Middle East.


2. World Expo 2010 - While in Canada we are preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia (about 6,250 kilometers from Halifax), Israel is getting ready for World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. Here is a video that shows the preparations for the Israeli Pavilion.



3. "Inglorious Basterds" - (the spelling "error" is consistent with the actual title) This Quentin Tarantino movie is scheduled for release (in Halifax, anyway) on August 21st. Tarantino is Hollywood’s Jewish Avenger. I liked the following quote from this article:
“Holocaust movies always have Jews as victims,” he said, plainly exasperated by Hollywood’s lack of imagination. “We’ve seen that story before. I want to see something different. Let’s see Germans that are scared of Jews. Let’s not have everything build up to a big misery, let’s actually take the fun of action-movie cinema and apply it to this situation.”

4. Campus Alert - The summer is almost over, and college life will start again in earnest in September. With that will bring the renewal of tensions, to a greater or lesser degree, with respect to Jewish students on campus and Israel - I witnessed this first-hand at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB - so this is an important read - The Campus War Against Israel and the Jews.

5. Another Good Idea Gone Wrong - the other day I posted a story about how the noble intentions of the creators of the various human rights commissions have gone wildly astray - and this story - Celebrating Hate in the Name of Multiculturalism - talks about the same thing.


6. Musings from the former US Ambassador to Syria and to Israel - Edward P. Djerejian: The United States Must Engage With Syria to Achieve Mideast Peace.

7. And from the former US Ambassador to the UN - John Bolton: Mary Robinson’s Medal. Remember the movie "There's Something About Mary"? - here's another take.

8. A Difference in Values - I am a proud alumnus of Camp Kadimah, located in beautiful Lunenburg County, NS. Two of my children also attend Kadimah. But neither them nor I ever learned anything like this - Gaza Regime Prepares Children For Death.


9. The President and Jewish Democrats - Where Obama Breaks With Jewish Democrats.


10. The President and the Senate - 71 Senators press the President to lean on the Arab States - what do they know that the President does not?

11. She Knows What She Is Talking About - Targeting the Israeli ambassador in Cairo.


"The Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem is an academic and research institute founded by its chairman, Natan Sharansky, in 2007. The Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies develops, articulates and builds support for the strategic principles needed to address the challenges currently facing Israel and the West. Israel, as the only democracy in this region surrounded by totalitarian governments, is on the cutting edge of the challenges and dangers confronting Western civilization everywhere.

As part of this overall effort, the Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies seeks to explore how the advancement of freedom, democracy, and human rights can be marshaled as an effective measure to secure and strengthen international stability and security. The Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies also seeks to examine international law in light of the new forms of asymmetric warfare and terror; the establishment of credible deterrence against guerilla and terror organizations and the states that sponsor them; the appropriate response to weapons of mass destruction; and the strengthening of Israel's relations with its strategic allies.

14. Israel, India and the United States - "Apprehensive Allies" from BESA Center for Strategic Studies.





16. IDF Spotters in Gaza - very interesting video.


17. A "New Jew" Goes To Auschwitz - This is a very interesting piece about the author's first trip to Birkenau. Having been to Auschwitz (and other camps in Poland) in 2005, I agree with his conclusion - these places are so terrifying precisely because they are so real.


18. A Trip Down Baseball's Memory Lane - what do you remember about the way baseball used to be?



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Monday, August 10, 2009 - A Change of Pace

And now for something completely different...just for a change of pace, today I am going to post only images.

1. From the Shorpy website - www.shorpy.com - a fantastic site for photography aficionados - this picture is the Federation of Jewish Farmers of America exhibit at the Educational Alliance building, East Broadway and Jefferson Street - New York, October 13, 1909. Here is the link to the high definition version of the picture.


2. Israel from Space - Tel Aviv is on the left, Jerusalem is to the lower right.


3. Kristallnacht Project - from another great photography site - http://wetplate.com/ - "Mainz Synagogue Remains", March, 2008, Mainz, Germany, 8x10 Black Glass Ambrotype.


4. Afghan Helicopter Landing - from Michael Yon's website - http://www.michaelyon-online.com/ - Helmand Province, Afghanistan. "This Landing Zone is very dangerous. A few weeks ago, another helicopter was coming into this LZ and was shot down at the last minute, killing all passengers and crew. Two children on the ground also were killed. The sparks coming off the rotors occur when the helicopters land in hot, dusty conditions. The landing itself occurs in a dangerous "brownout." Brownout danger is compounded by the sparks which light up the dust and can confuse pilots who are wearing extremely sensitive night-vision goggles."


5. Statue of Faith - I took this picture in Jaffa in May, 2009.


6. St. Peter's Church - my pictures as well, taken in Jaffa in May, 2009. When I was there, I kept thinking of the cover of the 1976 Eagles album "Hotel California" - check it out!


7. Minaret from Mahmoudia Mosque - also taken by me in Jaffa in May, 2009. In the background is the Andromeda Rock - based on a story taken from Greek mythology. The legend says that Andromeda was the beautiful daughter of a queen called Cassiopeia and a king called Cepheus. The queen claimed that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than the sea nymphs. Poseidon (the god of sea) was very mad with her so he sent big waves to flood the land. The king consulted the wise oracle and he told him to sacrifice his daughter to the god of sea. Andromeda was chained to the the rocks in front of Jaffa and Perseus (a Greek hero) saw her and saved her (the power of love). The legend says that the hero killed the monster Poseidon sent and now the remains of the monster are the rocks.


8. Memorial Plaque - for Raoul Wallenberg - in the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, taken by me in May 2009.


9. SACH - In May, 2009, I visited Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) in Holon, south of Tel Aviv. It is an Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries. SACH is totally dedicated to the idea that every child deserves the best medical treatment available, regardless of the child's nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation.


10. I think something here is redundant, I think something here is redundant - How can I pay the fine if I am dead?

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Sunday, August 9, 2009

1. Never Judge a Book By Its Cover - Homeless Holocaust survivor leaves $100,000 to university.

2. Did You Really Mean To Say That? - Gibbs: Ahmadinejad 'elected leader' of Iran. Bad enough not to have done anything to support the protesters, but now to seemingly condone the election results? In the meantime, ominous clouds are gathering - Senior Guard commander calls for Mousavi's arrest. But Hilary says that the US is not under any illusions.


3. Chutzpah, Episode 1 - The Chutzpah of the Town Hall Libel



5. You Go Bibi - Israel PM vows never to evict settlers. And Defense Minister Barak gets kudos too - Barak: Fatah's rhetoric and positions are unacceptable.

6. Human Rights Commissions - Commissions are out-of-control pit bulls - very interesting points - especially about the motivation to keep the proceedings casual - from personal experience, the intention - however naive, noble or whatever - has just not worked out in practice. I also wish to make it clear that I also know from personal experience people are unfairly discriminated against and need some sort of protection - the current systems just do not seem to work fairly or efficiently.


7. President Obama - Here is a very critical review of the President's first 6 months in office - Six Months of B.O.


9. The Artificiality of Jordan - Trans-Jordan, Fake Country, Lies, Palestine - important background information - and which shows the true state of facts and how they have been manipulated.

10. Better Be Suspicious About J Street - Why you can't trust J Street polls. This is not even spin - it smacks of fraud.


12. Mary Robinson - The Trouble with Mary Robinson - apparently she is not only anti-Israel.


14. No One Ever Says Anything About This - The USS Abraham Lincoln to the rescue - you don't hear that about too many other nations (though Israel immediately offers such help, only to often have it rejected).


15. Another Rocket - Let's not forget that rockets continue to fall in southern Israel - even if only sporadically - and that even one is too many.

16. Mark Steyn Had a Point - The Islamification of Europe

17. History of Israel, continued - have not posted this for a while - here's a segment on the birth of the State of Israel.

18. Tiger the Great - Is there anything he cannot do?

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