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Thursday, March 10, 2011

1. Shame - I guess that everyone is familiar with a variety of expressions regarding money - such as "money talks". Another famous expression about life, or karma, is that "what goes around, comes around"

These expressions have achieved perfect synchronicity in the real world at the world-famous London School of Economics. It has been disclosed that over the years the LSE gratefully (greedily) accepted gobs and gobs of cash from Libyan madman Colonel Gadhaffi. So not only did the school accept blood money, it also turns out that - surprise, surprise - the school has taken a consistent anti-Israel stance and advocates boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel - Jewish Ideas Daily: The best universities money can buy, RED FACES AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: MELANIE PHILLIPS and Libya and the LSE: Large Arab gifts to universities lead to 'hostile' teaching - Telegraph. Better still is this story - LSE academic’s ‘slap threat’ to Jewish leader - Just Journalism.

So when the proverbial sh*t hit the fan, some genius at LSE (we are talking about very high and powerful academic intellectuals, after all) decided that the best thing to do was to pretend that its ties to Libya never existed - witness the rapid cleansing of the online biographies of any member of the school who had anything to do with Libya - Cover-up claims after editing of academics' biographies.

I do not give a damn that Sir Howard Davies, the now-former Director of the LSE, immediately stepped down over the issue. I hope that he has many a sleepless night with an extraordinarily guilty conscience, and I hope that all others who participated in this fiasco take a bullet (figuratively speaking, of course) and find their careers in shambles.

This sordid affair reminds me of thesis of the famous pre-World War II book "The Treason Of The Intellectuals", and I think it illustrates the true meaning of greed, sanctimony and corruption. I hope the LSE gets what it deserves - and I do not mean new endowments. I would not put it in charge of a kindergarten class.

And I'm sure that the LSE is not alone - as was stated in an editorial in the English newspaper The Independent:

"Sir Howard's departure, however, must not be used as a pretext for sweeping under the carpet awkward questions about foreign money in British academia. So far as the LSE is concerned, it is to be hoped that the inquiry, which will be headed by the former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, will sort out what was given, by whom, and how it was used, so that clarity is brought to the whole affair. But the LSE is far from alone among educational establishments in having benefited from links with Gaddafi's Libya. Nor is the colonel's the only dubious regime to have seduced British universities with its money.
If the soul-searching at the LSE encourages others to review their sources of recent funding, that is all to the good. The incentives given to universities to take any money that might be going, both in fees from overseas students and endowments, has brought about a situation where – it might seem from outside – almost anything goes."

2. It's Not Just Academic Institutions - Ethics failure over Libya.

But my personal favorites are the entertainers who performed concerts for Gadhaffi and gang - 'Yeah!' Usher is giving back Libya money - CNN.com and Music's Kadafi connection: Private concerts stir up controversy - latimes.com (to single out one example - a Canadian example - Nelly Furtado - $1M for a 45 minute concert in 2007 - are you kidding me?) - uh, guys, it would mean a lot more if (a) you never did the concerts in the first place, (b) you gave the money back before the sh*t hit the fan, (c) you do not think that donating the money to charity is some great act of selflessness and repentance, and (d) you did not make a bunch of bullsh*t excuses (like, "I was naive....").

If anyone knows anyone who thinks that these guys would have given back the money on their own - please have that person examined by a mental health professional immediately.

But don't worry - I have a good way to start to make amends - go and perform some free concerts in Israel.

3. What's That Smell? - Oh yeah, it's time for the annual Israel Apartheid Week hatefest. Want a nice home-grown example? Try this - Rector of Queen’s University celebrates Israeli Apartheid Week, declares Israel guilty of ‘genocide’ | Full Comment | National Post.

I'm not going to give this disgusting event any more space than it deserves, which is the amount of space available under a cockroach.

I will instead refer you to these few links - Israel Apartheid Week, and efforts to combat it, begin, MPs Baird, Volpe join forces to denounce Israeli Apartheid Week, Catherine Chatterley: A history of Israeli Apartheid Week and Israeli Apartheid Week: Political Theater at Its Worst.

And please - to the university administrators who permit this disgraceful annual event to take place on their campuses - which are supposed to be bastions of truly free speech, dialogue and the peaceful exchange of views - you are no better than the LSE - and, and since you reside in your ivory towers amongst the rest of us great unwashed, when the event on your campus concludes, please remember to flush the toilet. There's simply no other way to put it.

4. Speaking Of Synchronicity - odd, don't you think, that these 2 stories appeared in the news at the same time? Britain expels Israeli diplomat over 'intolerable' actions of Mossad - contains video and SAS unit, diplomats bungle secret mission into Libya | The Australian. In case you missed it in the latter story:

"The BBC reported that the Britons had been approaching an agricultural compound when the mission went wrong. They were confronted by Libyan guards who searched the soldiers' bags and found weapons, ammunition, explosives, maps and passports for at least four different nationalities." (my emphasis)

5. Media - not a good week or so for the fourth estate, I'd say......

6. What If This Is True? Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas Rape, Mutilate and Harvest Organs of African Migrants - I'm waiting for the outrage.......

7. Ruth Wisse - her interactions with Norman Mailer, Saul Bellow and Irving Howe:

8. Oh, Please - does anyone have skin that is thicker than tissue paper? No BC and AD? That Spells Culture War and OUR VIEW: Drop ridiculous grab for attention, Nina

9. I'm Done With Hockey - I have been a huge fan of hockey since I was a kid. But the total inability of the National Hockey League to deal with escalating violence (and I do not mean fighting) has reached a tipping point after this week's sickening occurrence involving Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins and Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens. After Chara manhandled Pacioretty into the stanchion supporting the glass between the benches, the NHL, in its infinite wisdom, saw fit not to impose further discipline on Chara - but what do you expect from a league that failed to impose further discipline for 2 incidents involving Sidney Crosby - the best player in the world and the heir to Wayne Gretzky?

Miraculously, thankfully, Pacioretty has been released from the hospital. Canadiens' Pacioretty released from hospital His season, and maybe his career, is over - refer to Todd Bertuzzi's vicious on-ice attack on Steve Moore 7 years ago in which Moore sustained similar injuries - after which he has never played a second of professional hockey.

And to be perfectly clear, this has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the victim was a member of the Montreal Canadiens. It has everything to do with an arrogant league administration that simply cannot see the forest for the trees and a greedy players' union that blames the injury on the construction of the rink - both obviously think that the fans who follow the sport like a religion, who (used to) look up to professional players as idols - and, perhaps most importantly, support the whole damn thing with their hard earned money - are a bunch of morons.

So I'm done. Honest to G-d. All the excitement I felt last year when my beloved Canadiens upset the Capitals and the Penguins in the playoffs has simply evaporated.

Here are some links about the latest "incident", as well as the video of the incident itself.

(here's the NESN version - does anyone really believe the analysis from the home town network? - poor decision?)

(also from NESN)

(Mr. Gary Bettman - the epitome of arrogance)

10. Sorry - just not in the mood to find anything humorous on which to end. But I did find something inspirational.

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 - "antisemitism special edition"

I can honestly say that I have almost no idea who Perez Hilton is other than that I believe that he is some sort of personality who traffics in gossip about celebrities. But when even he asks about the recent prevalence of antisemitic outbursts, that is an indication of the seriousness of the situation. What's Up With This Wave Of Anti-Semitism Lately?? | PerezHilton.com

In my opinion, if anyone thinks that after World War II and the founding of the modern State of Israel that antisemitism is a thing of the past, they are sadly mistaken. Antisemitism is a disease that has been with us for a very long time, and it shows no sign of going away any time son - if anything, it is morphing into more sophisticated and virulent forms - such as the annual pack of lies known as "Israel Apartheid Week" - but more on that in a later edition.

Where does antisemitism come from? Well, this story certainly gives a clue to one major cause - Simon Wiesenthal Center Lauds Pope Benedict XVI’s Absolving Jewish Collective Guilt for the Death of Jesus | Simon Wiesenthal Center - I mean, if one preaches a message of hatred for a couple of thousand years, some people might start to believe it......

So, with all that in mind - here are a number of links on the disgraceful subject of antisemitism - broken apart by "topic":

But see:

And by the way, one of the sure ways to know that a person is antisemitic is after they make a terrible antisemitic statement, observe the virulence with which they deny that they are antisemitic and try to find some way to squirm and wiggle out of what they said - see, for example, the pathetic case of the late David Ahenakew - after saying this - on tape -

"But ah, the Germans used to tell me, and I got to know them well because I played soccer against them and with them and so forth. But they used to tell me that you guys are blessed. What we know about the Indians in Canada. They are blessed. But that blessing is being destroyed by the, by your immigrants that are going over there. Especially the Jews, they say, you know. The Second World War was created by the Jews and the Third World War, whatever it is, right now that war ... that wages on Israel in the Arab countries. I was there too. But there’s gonna be a war because the Israelis and the “Bushies”, you know, the bully, the bully, the ah the bigot and so forth in the United States that tells you that if you’re not with me you are against me.
After his speech, he reiterated his remarks to a reporter, saying:
The Jews damn near owned all of Germany prior to the war. ... That's how Hitler came in. He was going to make damn sure that the Jews didn't take over Germany or Europe. That's why he fried six million of those guys, you know. Jews would have owned the goddamned world. And look what they're doing. They're killing people in Arab countries.
and:
How do you get rid of a disease like that, that's going to take over, that's going to dominate?

he then said this:

"At his second trial on hate charges he testified that he doesn't hate Jews but still believes they caused the Second World War.
"Everybody says I'm a Jew-hater," he told court. "I don't hate the Jews, but I hate what they do to people." (my emphasis)

Here are some videos on the subject - the interview with Anthony Julius is obviously very long, but you may want to pick away at it in pieces - Julius is a distinguished barrister in the UK who, among other things, acted on a pro bono basis for Deborah Lipstadt when she defended herself from libel accusations leveled at her by Holocaust-denier David Irving, and he also represented Lady Diana in her divorce from Prince Charles. The second video makes the point in Andrew Klavan's inimitable manner. The third video doesn't really add much except to show that the topic has made the late night talk show agenda - though I thought that the conversation was rather "dopey".

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

For tonight only - a totally different format - a little of this and a little of that - mostly on the lighter side..........with the observation that when your life evokes comparisons of any sort to the demented Colonel Gadhaffi, you need help.

(I don't really look like this)

(or this either....well, maybe a bit like the monkey

on the right)

(oops! - where's the proofreader?)

(unless you speak Hebrew - and I do not - please bear with the subtitles - funny)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 quick update

It's a mad, mad, mad world

1. What a tragedy........Dior moves to fire Galliano after Hitler comments - CNN.com - and Natalie Portman 'Shocked' by Galliano's Antisemitic Rant

2. More Sheen SH*T - Charlie Sheen's Interview Regrets: Mocking Lorre, Demanding Raise

3. Iranian Foolishness - they must be doing the same drugs as Charlie Sheen/Carlos Estevez - Iran: 2012 Olympics logo 'racist,' resembles word 'Zion'

WOW

Monday, February 28, 2011

1. The Main Event - just as a short while ago, Egypt was the dominant story, now there is no question that Libya is dominating the news.

Now I must say that Colonel Gadhafi sets a new high in low for brutality. And whatever planet he thinks he might live on, I don't think that it's the same planet most of the rest of the world lives on. For example - U.S. Exclusive: Moammar Gadhafi Tells Christiane Amanpour that Libya's People Love Him - ABC News.

While I must admit that Ms. Amanpour ranks rather high (for a journalist) on my extremely strongly disliked people list, I do have to admit that the good Colonel has attained far greater heights than Ms. Amanpour - he graduated long ago to the absolute and total waste of a life form list. At least Amanpour is not a delusional mass murdering terrorist - well, she is clearly not a mass murdering terrorist, the jury's out on delusional - though she seems to be quite able to get interviews with guys like the Colonel - see "Arafat, Yassir".

But as much as I extremely strongly dislike Amanpour, when she reports that the Colonel denies that there are demonstrations against him anywhere in Libya, and that his people love him, I'll give her credit for being able to write that down correctly. I guess the Colonel isn't getting the straight news delivered to him - damn you, you Libyan main stream media.......!!

One other report has the Colonel saying that the Libyan people are prepared to die for him (is that better than them loving you?) - but Colonel - you are not supposed to be the one slaughtering them - Dozens wounded as Gaddafi force opens fire: report | Reuters, Libya: 2,000 reported killed in Benghazi, 1,000 in Tripoli and Guns to Gadhafi: Libyan Arms Deals Come Back to Haunt Europe - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International.

And the Colonel must be embarrassed about his son and his democratic tendencies - Saif Qaddafi’s Democracy-Loving Dissertation | Mother Jones - after paying all that tuition, and this is the best he can do? I mean, the boy learned murder, torture, extortion and terrorism at the foot of one of the masters - what is with kids these days?

Anyway - and on a much more serious note, here are some links about this terrible situation:

and many people around the world feel like this:

2. You've Got A Friend - Farrakhan: Libya’s Gadhafi Remains a Friend - Matzav.com - The Online Voice of Torah Jewry. The .000000000000000000000000001% credibility that Farrakhan had (he is shown below holding it between his thumb and his forefinger) is now officially gone "bye-bye".

3. But There's Good News! Mallick: We've found Gadhafi's replacement — Charlie Sheen - thestar.com

4. Speaking Of That Total Moron - these guys qualify in a different way than Gadhaffi for the absolute and total waste of a life form list - How Charlie Sheen and Mel Gibson killed their careers. But never fear - Sheen has now done what all the best antisemites do - come out and said that he is not antisemitic - phew! - Charlie Sheen Is An Odious Degenerate | The Smoking Gun. And further - ComPost - Charlie Sheen is wrong about Thomas Jefferson.

Maybe Sheen and Gibson could form a trio with this idiot - Opinion: John Galliano and his videotaped Holocaust apology rant.

(he's clearly the captain of the Nut Boat......)

5. OK, Let's Get Serious Again (For A Bit) - here are various posts from people brave enough to try to interpret what is going on now, without the benefit of hindsight:

6. Egypt - The situation is Egypt may not be on the front pages these days, but it is very worrisome - Egyptian Armed Forces Demolish Fences Guarding Coptic Monasteries and Sheikh Qaradawi Seeks Total War - Jeffrey Goldberg - International - The Atlantic are but two examples. See also: Bari Weiss: The Weekend Interview With Saad Eddin Ibrahim - WSJ.com, and in particular, this extract:

"When I asked Mr. Ibrahim about the scourge of anti-Semitism in the Middle East generally, he's dismissive. "Have you seen any pogroms in Morocco or Tunisia or Egypt?" he asks rhetorically. As I point out, though, the Arab Middle East has had a negligible Jewish population since 1948, when roughly 800,000 Jews were expelled. It's hard to carry out a pogrom when Jews aren't around." (good point - my emphasis)

7. President Obama - how much more of a clear-cut situation do you need to actually come out and say something strong?

and while I am not a supporter of the President, I do find this a bit hard to believe -Obama's Secret Plot To Bring 100 Million Muslims to the US | Mother Jones.

8. Iran - again, somewhat eclipsed on the front pages by their Arab "neighbors" to the west, but again, serious stuff is going on:

9. And Of Course, Israel Is Not A Disinterested Spectator - several links:

10. More Israel - other Israel related articles and items:

Raw Footage: Israeli Arrow 2 Missile Test Off California

11. Multiculturalism Under Fire - proponents of multiculturalism are having a bad few weeks as pretty much everyone and his dog is throwing it under the bus. Andrew Klavan puts his usual comedic spin on a very serious subject. The report from France is downright alarming - though quite frankly, it is not new news. And you may not like what the speaker says in the last video clip, but I think he's correct.

Finally, this Washington Times editorial makes a good but no doubt unpopular point - EDITORIAL: Mosque surveillance a must - Washington Times

12. Useful Idiot Alert! - as noted on this blog before, the phrase "useful idiots" is usually attributed to that good old home-boy Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov - Lenin himself - but there is doubt whether that attribution is correct (newsflash - Mahmoud Abbas has just claimed that Israel stole that phrase from a Palestinian - well, why not? - he makes up pretty much everything else).

Regardless, the concept certainly worked well before (see Duranty, Walter) as well as in current times - Cheering on the Islamofascists: Inside the Mind of a Code Pinko | NewsReal Blog and Ed Driscoll - Useful Idiots, Then and Now

13. The Jewish World - some links to keep you busy:

14. Wisconsin - the battle rages on

from Victor Davis Hanson's link above:

"There are lots of issues involved in Wisconsin, in the impending financial and fuel crises, and in the sense of American impotency abroad. Yet a common denominator is a national adolescence, in which we want what we have not earned. We demand the world be the way that it cannot; and we don’t wish to hear “unfair” arguments from “bad” and “mean” people."

15. Arts and Culture - there's always something interesting here:

16. The Shoah - In New Book, Grave Robbing and Other Stories of Poles’ Complicity – Forward.com and Survivors request reparations from French railways

17. Hello, Newman! - not Jerry's way, the Uncle Leo way. Sadly, we say "Goodbye" - 'Seinfeld's' Uncle Leo was working on a memoir

18. A Bunch Of Stuff - a variety of lighter and off-beat stuff to lighten things up at the end......

and I agree - for my money, it's the best Beatles cover ever.....Version Originale